Monday, August 29, 2016

Week 3 August 29, 2016

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Week 2 Aug 23, 2016

Who is this that goofy looking kid in a shirt and tie riding a bike in
LA traffic?  Is that a bike helmet and a messenger bag? Oh, that's
me..

Two days ago I had finished one month. 23 more to go.  Its only been a
month but it has gone by pretty quick. It feels like its only been a
week from when I left home not a month. Which is a good thing I think.
Hopefully it's like that the rest of my mission, but then again my
mission is awesome. I love it here. I am in El Monte where the
population is half Hispanic and half Asian with two white missionaries
thrown in there.    That's ok though
because we have Spanish and Chinese speaking missionaries too.  I
really love El Monte. I tell the members that too and they tell me I'm
crazy because there is a lot of bad stuff that goes on here and it's
the ghetto, but I really do. It's kinda like home but with a new
twist. It's a suburb area but all the houses look just a little bit
different. The trees and flowers look just a little bit different than
back home. There is always something new to see here.
The people here are awesome.  The work for missionaries is really
strong here. Just about everyone wants to hear the gospel and our
message.  I don't know what more to say than that.  I've been teaching
lessons everyday and meeting new people each day that are interested
in the church.  When I teach people that haven't heard the gospel
before its so cool to see the atmosphere in the room change and the
Holy Ghost take over and they can feel that. It's a cool
experience. I taught a lesson the first night I was here. I was pretty
scared but once I was in there and teaching I loved the feeling I got
from it.

This Saturday marked a full month out on the mission but it also
marked my first baptism and I was the one who got in the water and
baptized him. His name is Umberto Perez. He is 21 and has a wife who
is already a member along with four kids who are all boys. His oldest
is 7 and Umberto hopes to baptize him next year when he turns 8.





Week 1 Aug 16, 2016

Hey guys! I made it to Arcadia! Aug 9, 2016

I'm doing good! August 2, 2016

I've been doing good I've even gained a pound since I've been here.  Anna has this countdown app and it says that I'm already 1% done with my mission.  So that means that if my weight gain pattern keeps up by the end I'll end up weighting 235 lbs haha....  The food here is really good but it's in smaller portions so I usually grab two plates... and I usually eat a few ice cream bars each meat too (Including breakfast).  I am really doing great. I get along with everyone and I'm making new friends everywhere. I had to say goodbye to a couple of friends who left yesterday to go to their missions.  Alot of lone peak kids came this week and it was really cool to see them. The day's are already going by really fast and they are starting to pick up.  I saw Austin and it was really nice to see him.  He's in my residency on the top floor and I'm on the bottom.  We got a couple pictures together and I'll send you some. 
And a picture with Elder Mickelson!
My branch is the best!