Nativities, coastal driving....and meeting an APOSTLE OF THE LORD!!!

Life here was crazy this week. We had to drive up and down the coast 4 times this week (geez, that must have been tough!) for different meetings, and training and having....Elder Ballard and Elder Hallstrom...but I'll get to that in a bit. 
So...a lot of coastal pictures, it was cool. 

Nativity Event

We had a big community nativity event, hence all the nativities, it was a great week for that. (Answering some of my questions), Elder Mitra tells me about India every week and it sounds crazy haha. Jeanne was a girl I knew when I was here the first time around, I built a tree blind for her in January. Anthony does run the golf course and he is great. He and his family want to take me to Disneyland..haha..and he got me a Star Wars shirt for Christmas haha, I love them.
Man, I can just feel in your emails, you screaming, "5 weeks!" and everyone I talk to always say, "We know your mom, you know she can't wait to see you" haha. It's kind of funny, people I don't even know, know you. 5 weeks mom, that is all, hang in there for a bit. (Hmm....think I'm maybe a little too excited...haha). 

Beautiful California

Elder Ballard was life changing. When he first walked in, we all stood in such reverence and as we're all quiet, he is cracking jokes and talking the whole way up to the front. All of us missionaries got to shake his hand and meet him and Elder Hallstrom said, 'hi Elder Routledge' and asked if I was okay haha. His address was insane, mom. Both Elders talks were, but his literally made me cry the entire hour he spoke to us. He talked about so much stuff, missions and life and talking to everyone and being fearless and about how important it is to go home and not become worldly. 
I had plans to shave my head on the sides and grow a beard and all these things and I just don't have a desire to do any of it anymore. (Thank you, Elder Ballard!). I will say I am nervous because my back is not getting better and coming home limping off the plane is nervous to me. I am a bit nervous I might fall back into old habits, a few petty things, but he really helped me feel good and the Spirit that was there was like nothing I have ever felt. It was like Jesus was flicking me in the head saying, "Now do you believe it's true? Right there, look at that man, he represents me, as do you. Listen to him". It was crazy. He talked about how we are the same as them (Apostles), we just cover California and they cover the entire world. He told stories that made me weep. This email is not even coming close to describe the Joy and the Power of Elder Ballard. 
He is one of the less talked about Apostles but he, by far, is my favourite. He looked at us with the eyes of our Saviour and it was almost like he saw what we were going to be, like he saw what we were going to do and he smiled at us and bore testimony and he just made me believe so strongly that this is true and the only way. When I....when I see you, I'll tell you these stories, because email won't capture the fire he said them with. Have you ever felt so happy that literally all worries are gone? Well, when he was speaking I had not a single worry about anything, I had no fear, no regret and no sadness. It was, by far, one of the most amazing things I have and will ever experience in my life. 

That was my week. Lots of driving, service at Jeanne's, back pains and all the joy that could be felt as I shook the hand of an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. 
I love you all, I hope you have a great week and know that I know that this is the true church and baptisms is the only way we can live with our Father in heaven again. By righteous living and keeping the commandments we can receive so many blessings that would never come otherwise. 

This week I read about Zeezrom in the Book of Mormon. He was a wicked lawyer and very cunning man. He questioned Alma and Amulek to snare them, BUT after witnesses of Christ bore testimony he could not deny, and he started asking diligently to know and in turn, had a change of heart and was baptized. You just have to diligently seek and ask and you will find. That is the Lord's grand promise to us.

I bear testimony that this is the ONLY true and living church on the face of the earth today. I know it. I promise you it is, please just ask. 
I love you all so much. Have a great week and I'll talk to you all soon. 

Love Elder Routledge

Transfers, Egg Nog...and Miracles

Mom, this week could not have been better! 

I was back in the Santa Maria 3rd ward this week, so I got to see all of my old favourite members, so that was awesome. I am staying with Barb and Dan and my other SM1 ward homies and I have Elder Shaw as my new companion. I know him pretty well, so that's going to be cool. 
I got to be with Elder Du Plessis his last week of the mission as his companion, so that was cool. I also figured out how to send pictures with the new camera haha. 

I wanted to say, mom, how much I love and cherish our relationship. A lot of people dont' have what we have. I love you more than words can describe. You have raised me to be the man I want to be and the man God wants me to be. You have supported me ever since I first drove you crazy. Man, I really am amazed at how far you have come and how much you have grown. I love you with my whole heart and I am going to get down to the dirt and dig my last t6 weeks. Mom, I hope you know that you make me so proud and I hope I can make you and others proud, even with all my flaws. 

Monday was our Pday with Elder Mitra so we made Nachos and had some good conversation with him and our district. We joked around and had a blast and also saw Barb and Dan that night, and mom, THEY SPOILED US LIKE CRAZY, giving us all kinds of treats. I love that family so much. It was a good day for us. 

With Elder Mitra at the ocean

Tuesday was a bit harder. We took Elder Mitra to Santa Barbara really early and we had some time to kill before we took him to the airport, so we went and got some beach photos before he left. Then we sent him off to fly 20 hours to India and it was pretty sad, I really liked him, he was a great companion. Then we went and saw Anthony and that was pretty cool. They are another family I love. 

Wednesday was cool. We taught a girl we contacted the day before and she was pretty cool. We taught her the first lesson and it was good. She has the funniest pugs, it was pretty fun watching them just run into things or run around. 

Thursday was cool. We went out to Jeanne's farm and pulled weeds and I found a frog haha. I love her as well and she just adores me, haha, it's so cool, I love this area. It was a fun morning, and later that day we had Elder Du Plessis' last interview with President and that was pretty cool for him...kind of. 

With his new frog friend 

I also go to do a baptism interview for a family I tried to work with when I was here the first time and the husband was LA (less Active) and is now active. The wife was very anti-mormon and is now getting baptized, so I did her interview and that was really cool. We had a great dinner with Barb and got me a full carton of Eggnog. She doesn't know this...yet haha, but I drank it so fast that I almost got sick haha. Man, Christmas time is the best!

I kind of mentioned a family we picked up last week, Marissa and her family. Well the dad is a LA member and we asked the mom, Marissa and her two daughters to commit to be baptized January 7 and they said yes!! Dad is hopefully going to get ACTIVE AND DO IT!! That was pretty cool. We also picked up two kids we're teaching now and one of the kids was in a car crash and lost his hand. It was sewn back on so he has a sweet scar so I am excited to teach them. 

Friday was just as busy. We had our last district meeting and that was awesome. Everyone bore testimony and it was just so cool. It was a pretty cool meeting. So...this is where it gets insane, so...

Elder Du Plessis

Sister E. is the older woman I was teaching. She decided to come back to church when I was here the first time and I was dying to see her. Well, we thought we would stop by because she fell away again, and I wanted to see her. We went by and she was upstairs and her husband said, "Not now" and she yelled from upstairs to call first and don't just stop by. I told him who I was and we left. We got a call later that night from our WML (Ward Mission Leader - He is friends with Sister E) saying she was crying when she found out it was me at the door and she didn't come down. She asked me to come back. 

On Saturday at the SM3 ward Christmas breakfast I see her (Sister E) and we talk, kinda hug and she said I have to come over and see her on Sunday (just wait for that insane news). Both the SM1 and SM3 parties were great and we had Becky get baptized today. It was just great. 

Sunday...are you ready for this...So I get to go to two wards and bear my testimony twice. Once in my current ward and once in my old ward and see all my old homies as well as my current ones, so cool!!! 

Jukebox...& a toque?

Now the lesson with Sister E, just to make you realize how crazy this was, this was the only lesson on my mission where I cried. She told us why she stopped coming back these past few months after I left and some other stuff she had to endure. While I am crying bearing testimony to her why she needs to come back and how I dream of going to the Temple with her one day, she starts crying. She is softening up when she tells us that one of the missionaries went by and said she was not worth their time among other things. I was so angry at this missionary for dropping Sister E when she needed us the most and honestly I had to forgive him which is still so hard for me. It broke my heart to see how hurt she was. Mom, I love this woman more than anything. She is my mission miracle, and I am pleased to announce that she has decided to come back to church again and I gave her the biggest hug and we left. 
This has been so crazy and one of the BEST weeks I have had in a long time with transfers to all the miracles, it has been great. 

I love you all and I hope you have a great week. MUAH. Have fun together and please know how much I love and appreciate and adore you all at home. MUAH

Love Elder Routledge

Saying goodbye to Elder Mitra....and I think he's getting "trunky"...

With Elder Mitra

This week is crazy. We have had some fun things happen. Elder Mitra is going to India tomorrow and I know I have not talked about him much, but he is one of my favorites. He is just so awesome, so it's sad he is leaving but I am going to tri-pan with the Zone leaders and go back to Santa Maria 3rd ward so I'm pretty excited to go back to my old ward, even for a week until transfers. 
We had some cool things happen this week. We have already found a few little acts of service to do for people in the area, like helping some guy move his car that died in the middle of the road and jumping another guy's car. It's been pretty cool. 

Yeah, this Apostle that is coming is going to blow my mind. I'm going out with a bang!!! I am excited and you will be in a few weeks when I tell you who it was ;).
We had some cool contacts this week and met some cool people on the street. We met one girl named Tina, she is pretty cool. We also picked up a family, Mom and 2 daughters and her less active husband, so that was pretty cool. 

Yea mom, I love you so much! I had a daydream of me jumping into your arms it was so weird, because I know it is not that far off. 
Dad, you never told me who won the Grey Cup haha. Hey, you're an Elder now...so go Proselytizing and baptize hehe. 

Well, I miss you all. Shel, love you girl!! So much!!
Scotty, haha I love the kitten! Miss you Scotty. I hope all is going well out there, keep busy brother :)

Hey Brando and Jared. Miss you guys. Austin is doing good, he is almost at a year, haha crazy right? Miss you guys. 

Love you all and talk to you all soon!!

Love Elder Routledge 

Christmas Church Video, Upcoming Apostle Visit...and Home talk

Well mom, I destroyed my camera. It fell off a selfie stick...but you know Scott, yea my brother, him, do you know him?? Okay, well, he gave me his camera just before I left and I have never used it because I had the Canon but I had it and it works and now I have a camera so pictures will still be coming thanks to Scotty!! (Thank you Scott!). I did have quite the adventure trying to find a card for it,but I found one. 

Elder R's Zone

I also had another doctors appointment this week and finally I got some decent information after ten doctors. Not really, but after like 4, he told me it was a pinched nerve and if I do these good, but very painful, stretches for 2 months, I'll be fine. So that's good to hear. 

So as for February, I don't think I am going to come out after all. I have been thinking and I think I want to wait until maybe August and just see my folks (Yeah!!) I don't want to rush back, I want to get settled in and spend time with all of you at home. I've also been thinking about school this week, and Hawaii is really feeling right so I am going to look into that here soon as well. But enough about home talk. 

Things here are going good. We killed a Satan spider this week. It was on the roof and we squashed it but it didn't die. It fell on my bed so we decided to vacuum it up and then the vacuum started to smoke billows and so we ran outside. It was crazy, haha, a crazy spider adventure. 

We got training this week from President on the new church Christmas video. It opens on November 25 and is called, 'Serve 25 ways over 25 days'. The church wants us to do one act of service a day this season. Go to LDS.Org, it should be on there, check it out, it's going to be so cool. We also have an Apostle coming to our mission on the 10th, then a big mission Christmas party, so it will be busy for me haha. And I won't tell you which Apostle, you will get a bit jealous haha.  

It is going to be a busy last 8 weeks. Elder Mitra is a visa waiter and he goes to India in a week, so I'll have to get a new comp for a week. It has been busy haha no stop, go, go, go. 

Elder Stormtrooper

Well, I love you all so much. I am doing good. I am at a high point right now. Things are moving forward, still a bit nervous for the next few months, but it's good. I love you all so much. 
Take care, keep busy and I'll talk to you soon!!

Love Elder Routledge

Sushi, Needles...and Future Plans

Sorry I am late again, man, I am just getting popular. People are like, "hey coming home? Sweet, how's life?"...so yea that's fun. 
There are so many pictures of my mission you have never even seen because of sending issues. It took too long to send, so I couldn't send them, but Barb and Sister Peterson can help you out there. We'll go through my camera and I'll explain all the thousands I have sent, or have not sent, and I'll show you the 100's of videos I have taken that you have never seen.

This week was good. I was busy talking to Sister Halliday again...sorry haha. I'm kind of kidding. I have a potential investigator for the YSA, so I have to keep in contact..see missionary work :) 
Let's see..oh haha..so Monday we stopped by to see Anthony real quick and well...it turned into us having dinner with his family. It was so cool to see them. 
Let's see...we saw Barb this week and man, she just loves you and dad. 

On Wednesday I tried sushi and that was crazy. The first time, it was not too bad. I am not super converted, but maybe over time haha. We got some cool referrals this week so that was pretty cool. You know, this week was good. We had a great zone meeting in which we received some training on how to have the Spirit with us more. We tracked into this girl named Kathy and she is from Guam. We gave her a pamphlet and we went by to see if she liked it and she said she just felt that it was true. 

We got to go to an all you can eat buffet and I did not eat all I could. I have turned into a wimp. I honestly think the 20 meds I take a day take away my appetite. The first 4 needles were not too bad. It just went in and out and is supposed to help release the tension of the nerve. It did make me way nervous, so nerve nervous, see yea, it works hahaha. 

Man, mom, I don't even know. I have, like, so much to tell you but it's like I just want to wait to tell you in person haha. 
I hit 22 months and I have no desire to email haha..what the heck. So a few things...ummm February. Who is coming and when did we want to go, or I go or whatever? Do you know how that's all going to work? I have also been doing a lot of praying for career plans in my spare time and stuff. You are not going to like this, but a police officer is really sticking with me. It seems like all the members we eat with have some relation to that and we talk about if for the whole hour. It's weird but yea, I am not sure yet, but that's what I am feeling right now. Maybe go to school for criminal justice or something like that.
It's been good, we're seeing some good success. I was looking back at my early mission this week and realized how much has changed, it's so crazy. 

Well mom, you know I would talk your ear off if I could, but I am getting email lazy haha. I love you so much though. Barb could not tell me enough how great you are. You're doing amazing, keep it up mom. Dad I am sorry I did not email you, but I love you, my man. I love you so much, you're my hero and if I do become a cop, I will every time. I'll be bigger and stronger haha. 
Shel, you're on fire girly!! Keep it up, you're a rock star!! 
Scotty and Brittney, love you guys. Miss you Scotty, keep going man, I'll make a trip out to see you. Love you so much, Scott, you have no idea how much I look up to you!!

I love you all. 
Love your Friend, Brother and Son, Elder Routledge

No photos...and Shortest. Post. EVER!!!

I just got back from Santa Barbara this morning. I had to go there for medical tests. It has been a long morning. So I have a pinched nerve and the doctor is pretty nervous that it has lasted 3 months. I have to inject myself with a needle every week for the next 4 weeks so that sucks, but I'll get to do it myself haha so yea. 
The doctor is a member and super confident that these shots will get me fixed, so we'll see. I have seen so many SM (Santa Maria) members this week and it has been awesome. My email is going to be maucho short, but Mom, I am better finally !!! 
I met with President for interviews this week and it was amazing. I just had so many burdens lift from me. We will all have struggles but things are going so good. I am definitely out of the rut I was in. Mom, I am in Santa Maria not Barbara haha wrong Santa (oops...I knew it was Santa something). 
Elder Mitra is a great man. He is awesome. He is a visa waiter and is going to India, hopefully not anytime soon, but yea he is pretty awesome. 
Alright, the Atonement can allow us to forgive, so forgive me for this email haha. 

I love you all so much. You all make me so proud. I hope things are going good for you all today. I have not really emailed anyone, I have been all busy. 
Well Muah mom, dad, Shel and Scot!!!

Reconnecting with old friends, Becoming District Leader once more.....and extending by 6 weeks??!

A few of your questions from last week. I have been writing Sister Halliday every week for the past few weeks, she is pretty cool. I am also writing Elder Hubbard's sister, cause why not haha. 

YSA Halloween Party 

I am going to Santa Barbara to go see a doctor this week to get more meds, but I think it is getting better. It is hard to walk at times, the pain alot of the time goes down to my right leg and it's a challenge to move, but I think it is getting better. 
So that's good, life is good here. Do you think Sister Halliday will end her mission there. That would be cool, but the fact that you all want her to probably means she will leave. That is how it works. Shel is doing great as always, that is so good to hear, keep her strong. Her and I are going to YSA it up in a while. So...I talked to President and I am extending my mission 6 weeks....so yea. (That had BETTER be a joke!!!) 

This week was pretty good. Life is still moving forward sadly. I am really trying hard to stay focused and each day I get more nervous and just not excited to come home to the world. I love it here, but I have been dreaming alot about home life. The whole ward knows I have like, 3 months left now...thanks to Elder Mitra, my companion. Barb is sure happy to have me back and being in the old area is pretty cool, weird but cool. The first 4 days here were hard, I just wanted to go back to YSA, it was so hard for me to leave all of them. The missionaries I served with, and the members, it was a challenge for sure, but I am getting better now. Meeting the members here was good, they are all really awesome. 

I am back as a District Leader and that is really cool. My whole mission I have either been a DL, or a DL comp besides two transfers when I follow up trained the first time and when I was with Elder Bronson. 

District meeting on Friday was a bit rusty, I have to get back into the swing of things but it was good. We have some amazing missionaries in the district so that is cool. I have seen some old friends, and I still have to see the Barba's before I go. I am so excited to see those 4. Yeah, it is cool to be back and be around some great missionaries. Life is going good, my back is getting better finally and yea, it's picking up!

Elder Routledge & Elder Mitra

Well mom, Barb told me you had a rough week...but know that I love you. She told me 80 something days. I can not believe you have a day count haha love you mom so much (What he doesn't realize is I've had a countdown since the day he left!!) Dad you fireman I love you so much. SHELBY YOU'RE AMAZING GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah, that's all my excitement for you. We're going to go to the Temple some day. Don't get overwhelmed, just keep doing the little things, listen to the Sisters, they receive revelation for you girl. Keep it up I am SOOOOO PROUD of you, so proud. I have told LITERALLY everyone about the change you have had. Muah girly, muah!! 
Scott my brother, I love you. Thank gosh you finally got settled haha. I hear you're never coming back, well January, ugh no home talk. Anyway I love you brother. Keep it up, and hey, if you have time, you should check out a restoration pamphlet ;-) Love you Scott. 

Love your Brother and Son, 
A disciple of Jesus Christ 
Elder Routledge