Ocean-Side Visits, Another Baptism...and Singing in the Choir !

MOM !!! THIS WEEK WAS GREAT!!!

Monday was so great. We went to the fire halls and I got a Ventura shirt so that was cool. We also went to the pet store and I held a blue skink, but this one hated me and pee'd on me. Man, I miss Blue now. She actually likes me. We also went and got some Christmas ties and then to a kids book store and I saw some old books you used to read to me, so that was a fun flashback. We had dinner with part member family on the ocean front. 

Tuesday was fun as well. We went and did some service for a less-active lady named Penny, we did some stuff on Mormon.org where I got some talks and all that good stuff, and then saw Sister Tanaka again. 

Wednesday was cool. We went to the dry cleaners and the guy started to bash us, then I kind of flew of the handle. I talked to my Comp after and he told me to do better, so I am going to try. We had a good lesson with Mark and I got to play and talk about his lizard again. After that we had a cool bible study and visited with Laura. 

Thursday was good. We went and did some service for Sister Hanawalt. She was the one we had dinner with on Monday. We pulled out like 20+ boxes of Christmas stuff for her, some from her garage and some from a tiny, spider filled attic, so fun, fun, fun. We had great weekly planning, where we pretty much did a self check and talked about how we can both be better Elders. It was pretty nice and a good breath of fresh air. 
We had dinner with the Colvens and Brother Colven is a freaking tank. He is like probs 6' and is like a modern day Nephi. It was good. 

Friday was great. We had a cool district meeting and I gave a talk that I did crummy at, but it was all missionaries so I brushed it off. We spend the majority of the day down by the water seeing people and had dinner with pulled pork sandwiches at the Stassforths and some good ole pumpkin pie. After dinner we met one of our cool investigators, R. They invited us in and fed us and we had a great chat. 

Satuday...ahh yea this day was good. We saw Sister Tanaka and had some birthday cake with her. We saw Nancy and the Tennisons and then went to Oxnard. I baptized Josh and Elder Payne baptized Kenna but that was a fun night. Man, that was so great. We had an awesome service and a really nice snack, dessert thing and I also met a wonderful young lady there at the baptism. I know, it's weird, but yea, I'll go into details later, least to say it was a great night haha. I also got permission to continue to email the mom, so that is sweet. 

Sunday...okay, hang on mom, I did somethings I never do. First, I bore my testimony about our 7 year mark coming up and about dad's baptism. We had a great meeting, the Spirit was glorious. Second, I watched the Christmas Devotional and payed full attention and took notes. That was just so amazing, a great start to a great year ahead. Now, this next year is what we call the Black Out year of my mission, it is the full year on your mission, the year start to end. 
OKAY...you ready? So I am getting nervous just saying this to you...I know your probs like, "What is it!?, tell me already"...okay so mom, Elder Bronson and I....joined...BOTH the Stake and Ward choirs!!!! So I am singing for both the Stake and WArd in a week and I love it, so I will be joining the ward choir back home, after I fix up my voice. Got lots of practice to do. It was so much fun, it felt like the first time I really sang and I felt powerful, so great. (This is a BIG deal, as I had been asking Elder Routledge to join me in the choir for ages! May have to join the choir in my new ward :) )

Okay mom, dad, Scott, Shel...MERRY CHRISTMAS!! Try to give lots this year, check out the new video at Christmas.mormon.org and have a great week. I love you all back home. MUAH and we'll talk and Skype soon !!! 
See ya, 

Elder Routledge