A big hike, double dinners and a new Companion

Hey, how is it going ? So this week was pretty good. I finished the Book of Mormon for the 2nd time and that was sweet, but now I'm going to start all over :)

View of Simi Valley 

Monday was fun. We had a big hike. Many of the photos I sent are of the hike and some parts of it were climbing. It was sooo fun. The view of Simi was so great and we just had a blast up there. It sure was a big challenge for me, I was a little tired at the end of the day. It was very cool !

Elder Gregory in the middle 

Tuesday was really good. We went and walked dogs and that was cool. It is always fun doing service there. Then we went and had lunch with some of the other Elders and well...that was just lunch (love that he gives me play by play of his days ;-). The one Elder is making me a purple toque, so that's awesome. After lunch we went and helped a member. This time we dug a hole for a tree to be planted. After that we went to Manny's house for dinner and he had an authentic Mexican taco dinner. It was sooo good. They are Hispanic, so they make real Mexican food...soooo good. We ended the night off with our Book of Mormon class and that was really fun. 

Wednesday I was on an exchange with Elder Harper. The really, only exciting that that happened today was we went to do service for this couple who live in the middle of nowhere on a big farm in the middle of the Cali dusty back desert area. They all had guns on them and in their houses, but it wasn't as scary as you think. They were all active members. It was fun as we moved some stuff around and cleaned up an old shed, so it was cool. 

Elder Routledge and Elder Chatterton...in a tree?

Thursday was our district meeting and that was good. There was a very good talk on pride THAT HAS OPENED MY EYES AND HAS GIVEN ME SOME NEW WAYS TO BE A STRONGER ELDER. Oops, I didn't realize that was all caps..ahh...just go with it ha-ha (love this kid!). Well it was a good meeting.

The hill they hiked up 

After the meeting we had to go to the dog place to help them out last minute and help move some heavy cages, so we did that. Then we went and say Manny and had a cool lesson on service. 
After we had dinner at the Cambers and then went and had dinner at Blonca's house. She just fed us and well, you don't deny food...so we ate twice (This boy just doesn't stop eating !!). 

Another view of Simi Valley

Then we met with a recent convert who has the most amazing conversion story I have every heard. I'll try to get it on paper so I can send it. She gave a talk in church on Sunday and it blew me away. Her story is so powerful.

Friday we had our weekly planning and then went back to the drywall house and cleaned up the dust to prepare for painting. That was about it today. 

Saturday we picked up our new Elder. He was set apart as a missionary but he is 17 and just doing a mini mission to prepare him for his real mission. He is a totally normal 17 year old Priest missionary. He is very cool. A lot like Nick and Austyn back home. Very smart and big into video games and all the stuff they are, so we click pretty well. Jared I love you, my brother and I sent you out a letter, random I know, but yeah :). 
Then we took Elder around and met some of the members of the ward. It was pretty cool. I'm very excited to work with him. 

Elder Routledge, Peterson, Gregory

Elder Chatterton

Sunday was our Sabbath day and it was really good. We just tried people all day but last night Sam, our new missionary (he is 17 so we don't call him Elder, we just call him Sam) got a taste of a real Mormon hater. We were on our way home and "hi" to this guy and he asked if we were Mormons. Then he went off about how we are all going to hell and Joseph Smith was a wicked man and all of this, but we just kept bearing testimony and backing up what we said with scriptures and even got him to take a book of Mormon and he promised he would read it and tell us what he thinks. We all have faith the Spirit with testify of it's truth to him.  

Well mom, I have got to go. I love you all soo much back home. Keep doing great. PS I bought new shoes today for $30 because mine are falling apart. I also got my teeth cleaned today as well :-D
I love you all and talk to you soon. 

Not sure why he continues to send
me pictures...of SPIDERS!!!...Yuck !