March 19, 2012

Three good things about the week?

1. Woke up early to go play basketball at the chapel on Friday. I was playing like Jimmer. I probably went 10 for 11 on three balls. So that was nice.

2. Finally had our first lesson in the area.

3. Zone Conference.
Something funny that happened?

I kinda chuckled a little bit when you sent me those pamphets. I am already well familiar with those pamphets haha. We have about 50 of each of those in our apartment. It was funny because I just visualized that you saw those at the Distribution Center or something and thought that they would be really useful. Little did you know that I already had a ton of those.
Teaching experiences?

Well, we only taught 2 really short, really crappy lessons. We had Zone Conference on Wednesday which was pretty good.
Anything you need?

Just to talk to President Bowen more than anything.
More info about area and companion?

What do you want to know?
Are you being fed in your new area ?

Very well. I heard that this is the best-feeding ward in the mission.

March 11, 2012

Well my greenie has arrived. My first "son" in the mission field. His name is Elder P., from Stockton California.  He is a pretty nice kid, kinda quiet and shy.  He is a fluent spanish speaker, having been born in Peru, which is a really good thing. Me and him are going to practice spanish a lot, so I'm pretty excited about that. But we seem to get along pretty good.

This week was really boring however. Elder P. wasn't able to attend the MTC in Provo, so they threw him a little mini-MTC in the mission office. It was probably something really important for Elder P., but I was board to tears haha. But it was good. I was pretty happy when it ended haha. But it had to be done.

Our new area is really good, I'll let you know how the people are when we meet them. Unfortunately, for having to attend the MTC, we weren't to make too many contacts or even get to know our area. I have yet to see the area in the sunlight haha. The weird part about the new area as far as I have seen so far, is the trek that we have to make just to get there. We live a little bit outside of the area, in Tustin, so to even get our area in the first place, we have to cross the bridge the goes over the 55 highway. In fact, the voyage to the area is longer than our area itself. But its all good.

The ward seems pretty nice. Absolutely swarmed with missionaries. There are 7 of us in the ward, so it gets pretty crazy. The mission gave us a nice mini van to make room for us to pile in for church. So all the members got a pretty good laugh of all of us slammed in the van for church haha. But all in all, the new place seems pretty good.

   Who will you miss most from your former area?

Um, probably this lady named Nallely Garcia. She is 26, single and has 2 kids. Elder Z. baptized her right before I came to the field. She was super nice and always took care of us right nice.

How is Santa Ana 11 Central?

Its alright. Its really different. The people are all so different.

How far is it from your other area?

Not very far at all. Its just like the next ward over. Our area is from 4th street to Warner and from Grand to Main in Santa Ana. So its pretty small. But its a new area, so we don't know anyone there yet.

How is your new apartment and what is the name of the complex?  I want to look for it on my google maps.

We live outside of our area in Tustin. We have to ride across the highway to get to our area. We live in a place called Nogal Feliz. Its on the corner of Walnut and McFadden.

How is your new ward?

Pretty good. Really small. Probably only about 50 members were in church on Sunday.

Did you enjoy spending time with the other Elders while you waited for your companion?

I suppose. Those two guys are really strange. The one from Spain is a really straight laced guy and the guy from Sandy is kind of a arrogant jock-type. He lives right across the street from Greg Miller, so he is absolutely loaded.

Name of new companion?  Where from?  He speaks both English and Spanish?

Elder P. He is from Northern California, by Stockton. He was born in Peru, so he speaks them both.

How was your first week together?

Pretty boring. Elder P. doesn't have American citizenship, so he wasn't allowed to cross state borders and go the the MTC, so they held a mini MTC here for him this week. So we had to spend all day, everyday this week at the mission office to get him trained.

Any contacts this week?

Didn't have a chance.

3 good things about the week?

Ugh, this week was so boring, I couldn't think of anything.

March 5, 2012

So I am finally out of my first area! I'm a little sad, but a little not at the same time. They sent me to Santa Ana 11 Central as a trainer! So I'm going to be helping a new guy out in a whitewash, area opening situation. Its really exciting. I haven't met my greenie yet, he comes in tomorrow. I'm sure we'll get along great. President Bowen told me that he was going to speak both English and Spanish, so I don't have to worry about teaching him either of the two, which makes me especially excited. But it is a lot a of pressure. We had a couple meetings this last week in preparation for the new guys, and President Bowen said that a trainer is the most important position in the mission. Which is moderately stressful. But he also said that he has complete trust in me and that the Lord does as well, which is always good to hear. So I'm pretty excited. Still on bike, though, which isn't too fun, but all well. But I don't have a whole lot more as far as details go. The comp isn't here, the mission is still putting together my apartment (brand new!) so I haven't been in it yet, and I haven't been in my new area yet. So tomorrow is going to be quite interesting haha. Can't wait.

Tell me about your new companion and area.

I haven't met him yet. I haven't even really been in my area either. He comes in tomorrow and I'm picking him up at 5. Right now I'm spending the day with the Elders in my new district, and tomorrow I'm going out with another companionship as a trio.

3 good things about the week?

My head is kind of spining right now. They are taking me to a brand new place so I'm trying to get a feel of everything.

   Did you get a chance to say goodbye and express your love to some of the special people in Santa Ana?

I did. I got up in sacrament meeting, said thank you and goodbye. After church, I took a bunch of pictures and even signed a couple autographs haha.

   Tell me a little about the money you have been spending.  I am not upset, just wondering.  Is your bike   
ok?

Yes, I just had to replace a tire and buy a lock.

Did you leave Elder S.with good feelings?  You expressed some frustrations in the letter I received in the mail on Friday?

Yes of course. He is a good dude, but he just a 'holier than thou' attitude. I told him some of the things I liked to do with my friends before the mish and he just absolutely condemned almost all of it. So it was really confusing and upsetting. But the letter you sent me helped out a lot. Its just weird. A lot the missionaries here act like they never have never done any wrong. Its frustrating that I can't really relate to anyone here. They are all so different than my friends. I don't think I would hang out with any of these guys in anyother situation. 

Can I share some of your concerns with Grandpa?  He has always been very helpful to both of us in the past. 

Please. 

February 27, 2012

Well nothing too exciting this week. Lots of struggling that's for sure. Its amazing sometimes how little control we have over a particular situation. We were teaching this one lady, Antonia. She actually accepted the baptism invitation a few weeks ago with a smile, but lately she has been dodging us. So its really frustrating that the people seem to forget almost instantestously that they have just accepted an invitation to follow the Savior. But it really is out of our control. All we can do as missionaries is extend the invitation and try to be obedient. So we're already doing those two things, so hopefully things will come together sooner or later.
Transfer calls come in on Saturday. I'm supposed to be getting transferred this time around. I'm not really sure where they will send me. But I'm really excited. This area is really all I know about missionary work, so it would be really cool to try a different place out. Hopefully I'll go somewhere that actually has good stores and places to eat haha. I'm really tired of La Pizza Loca haha.


Also, could you sneak me some sports update with the packages. NBA standings especially.

About how many lessons do you teach a week?
About 10. we should be teaching more, but the majority of our appointments always fall through.

How do you decide to stop teaching someone?
we just talk about it as a companionship and we decide to drop them if they aren't keeping their commitments (reading, praying, going to church etc.) if they don't have a desire to work towards baptism, there really isn't a point to keep teaching them.

Do you think you will stay in your area and train the new missionary or move to a new area?That same night, President Bowen told Elder S. to get comfortable in the area. So I'll be doing a white-wash. Rumor has it that they'll send me to open a new area in orange-anaheim.

3 good things about the week?  Pretty average week. I went through my journal this
morning and I couldn't find anything too exciting.

Something funny that happened?
Nothing that I can pinpoint exactly.

Did you get your pants replaced?
I'm going to Ross later to take a look there.

Do you need anything?A couple of things I don't need. Gum. We can't chew it, so you can
stop sending it to me. I have about 5 unopened packs in the apartment haha. The other thing, is good and plenty. I decided that those suck haha. Also, can you send the Predicad Mi Evangelio that I sent home from the MTC. I need it now.

February 20, 2012

Well I think that the highlight of the week had to be on Thursday. In the morning, we were going through our plans and trying to think of a member we could bring to a lesson that we planned for that evening. We started joking about bringing President Bowen, when suddenly the phone rang and we saw President Bowen on the caller ID. I was a little scared because President doesn't usually call just to chat haha. So I answered and was surprised to hear "Elder Facer, I'd like to go out and work with you two this evening." It was a real shock haha. But it was real good. We went to the lesson, it went fairly went and the three of us headed back to the apartment. When we got back to the apartment, President Bowen dropped kind of a big bomb. He acknowledged that it was probably a little early to tell us this, but he was so impressed with our progress that he wants both of us to train new missionaries next transfer. So that was really cool. I'm really excited, but I'm also really nervous. I'm going to be whitewashing my second area with a brand new Elder in a couple weeks. That's kind of a high pressure position. Hopefully when the time comes, I'll be ready. But more than anything I'm really excited. It was real fun.


How is Elder S?  Is he healthy?  Are you healthy?  You have never mentioned being sick since you have been gone.
He is good. He just needed to get a new prescription so we went to go get it. I am stinking lucky. I have yet to be sick.

How is the Shake weight exercise plan? 
Pretty good. I'm getting pretty ripped.

I was really glad to hear you say that you were Good and Happy!  I hope that is continuing.
Indeed. We had a fun week.

3 good things about the week?
1. President Bowen  went with us to a lesson on Thursday.
2. He told me that he wants me to be a trainer next transfer.
3.  I finished my 388 page Spanish book that I have been working been working for 2 and half months.

Something funny that happened?
Can't think of a particular moment.

Have your legs recovered from the 30 mile/5 hour adventure to the hospital?
Of course.

Any developments with the MTC referrals you received?
Nope.

Anything new with the Mora family?
We are dropping them tonight. They haven't gone to church yet.

Tomorrow is your 7 month day!!  I can't believe it.  How do you feel about that?
Crazy!

Sammy was so happy to get the little note from you.  It was also fun to see you write in Spanish.  Does it amaze you how much you have learned in the past few months?
No actually. I still feel like I'm racing against the clock haha.

Do you need anything?
One of the pairs of pants that you sent me for Christmas got ruined in the wash. and they were my favorite pants too. there is a kohls not too far. maybe one day i could go over there for a new pair.