Canada Day, July 4th and Answers

** Editor's Note - In the previous blog post, "A Big hike, double dinners and a new companion" I mistakenly labeled some of the photos as Elder Gregory. Those photos are actually of Elder Chatterton. My apologies for the error ** 

Happy Canada Day !

Hey Mom, how are you doing ? So this week was pretty normal. I am going to answer all your questions then I'll give you the highlights of the week. 
First the pictures of Stampede made me super homesick but thanks. 
July 4th was slow as everyone was at parties and no one really wanted to talk, but it was cool. We had to be by 7 because of all the parties but I kept busy from 7pm on. My two comps slept, so I finished 'True To the Faith' and read almost halfway through the 'Pearl of Great Price'. In 2 hours you would be surprised how much you can read :) It was fun. I did not see any fireworks but I heard them. 
** I told Elder Routledge that I have a goal to read the Book of Mormon in 90 days. This was his response ** 
90 DAYS OH YOU COULD TOTALLY DO IT. I HAVE FAITH IN YOU!!! (With that kind of faith, how can I NOT finish it in 90 days lol). Okay, so here is a good way to do it. We study for an hour in the morning but you can read 3, 4 maybe more throughout the day, that way it's not all bunched up and you get bored. Read 2 in the morning, 2 mid day, 2 at night. 

One of the other Elders in the photos is Elder Chatterton. He is my other Canadian friend from Lethbridge. Mexican food is not that spicy, but all Mexican food has some kick to it. 
(When asked what planning days were for) Fridays we plan for the people we are going to see that week and what we are going to teach them, and what things we can get them to commit to do that will help them get to baptism. It is really just making sure we keep busy through the week. 

Elder Peterson

Elder Peterson (the 17 year old boy) asked to do a mini mission to get him ready for his real mission in a year. It just trains him and will show him what it is really like, and then he can decide if he really wants to do it. He is the test trial for this mission. If it all goes well, they will start doing them again. Our mission used to do them, but was stopped because some missionaries could not be trusted. President will open it up again if Elder Peterson gives a good report. He is doing very well and learning lots, so it is really cool to see. 

We haven't seen that guy again (that was Mormon bashing us last week). We have texted him to see if he read the Book of Mormon yet but he hadn't but said he would. 

Simi Valley District

So a crazy story about him. Well he bothered me a lot and I was starting to get bad thoughts. I prayed for the knowledge and truth of this gospel at the opening of my studies on Tuesday and well, I read that the Holy Ghost does not always testify truth with strong powerful feelings. Sometimes it is just peace and that hit me hard. As I continued to study I kept seeing stuff like, "You're a servant of the Lord" and my blessing said my testimony will help convert people. Well when I stood up, I just felt peace come over my whole body and I read that He (The Holy Ghost) revels truth through peace and to me that was the Holy Ghost saying, "DON'T THINK BAD THOUGHTS. THIS IS TRUE!!' That was very cool. 

Transfers are July 14th and I think Elder Gregory and I are done. Staying with the same Elder for 3 transfers is very rare. I'll have to see and will know by next week's email. 

**I also asked if we should be counting weeks or months (they are actually different). This was his answer to that ** 

Okay, so I don't even care ha-ha. You have fun with all that back home as long as you don't make me home sick by counting days. I am fine, you do what you want back there haha. 

Elder Gregory 

Oh, in your last email you asked if you should keep writing "Find Joy in the Journey". You should. I look forward to that every week. And these emaisl you send me make the other Elders jealous because they are so long. So keep up the long emails. I love it short or long. I love hearing from you so don't worry even if they are not all 3000 words hehe :)

I will not lie. The fireworks and bbq made me soo homesick. But it was okay because I know I'll live 60 more years after my mission and they will still be there when I get back :)

**When asking if he had heard of the passing of President Boyd K. Packer**

So President tells us about the news and it just killed me to hear another apostle had passed. It broke my heart and I just wanted to lie in bed. I have no idea why it hit me so hard, but it did. 

No Ipads!!! They keep saying we'll get them, but we probably will not for awhile yet. 

Another cool thing that happened was Elder Lopez and Elder Hidalgo, my last roommates came back to do a baptism and it was soo cool to see them again. It was soo cool to see one of the Spanish Elders investigators get baptized. Sooo awesome. 

Well, mom, dad, Shel and Scotty. I love you and miss you all. I'll talk to you soon. Love you soo much and keep making me proud. I love you all soo much :)

Simi Valley District