Week one of the transfer is done! Elder Minkler went off to San
Rafael. Elder Smith headed to Vacaville. I was bummed to say goodbye
to them, but I'm hoping to be going to Vacaville next transfer to
serve with Elder Smith. Vacaville is cool because it's just a Spanish
group inside of an English ward and that companionship is the only
Spanish companionship in the whole city. I think that sounds like the
best thing ever.
So Elder F. is from Colorado. He's 26. He's into magma and anime.
He's from Elder Minkler and Elder Teran's generation. God wants me to
learn something from these He's pretty nice and he likes Vallejo a
lot. He says this is the most booming area he's been in since he was
in Vacaville last summer. So Vallejo is awesome! The other new Elder
in the branch is Elder T. He's from Puebla, Mexico. He's super
cool. My companionship is the only companionship without a Mexican.
It's a bummer, but I'll live.
So we went to go teach our investigators from Mexico City, Marco and
Norma. They had written down questions, mostly related to what our
services are like and what we do as missionaries. We taught them the
Restoration and they are super super solid. They said that they'll
read to find out, like they just have so much true desire. They said
they'd be baptized and that they would come to church this next Sunday (we taught them yesterday after church). We're going to teach them
this Wednesday and we'll set a date with them. They are so sweet.
We also got the Castañedas to come to church! They fed Elder Minkler
and I dinner on Tuesday and we had the coolest family home evening.
The spirit was super strong. They just opened up to us and told us all
of their doubts and worries. They understand that they need to come
and that church is where they need to be, but they said that every
week that they don't go it gets easier not to, and they are trouble
waking up since his work schedule is ridiculous. They are the sweetest
family in the world, they have three kids that just love us. Samuel is
18 months and he's so cute, the other is 5 years old, Daniela. The
other one is 5 months.
Adrian and Jackie are doing well! Even though they didn't come to
church he told us that he just opened up his triple and he actually
read D&C 31, which I had read the week before. It touched him really
deeply, he's doing super well.
We're still just out contacting 20 a day. It's super easy here in
Vallejo. It's trying to just focus in on the Hispanics that gets hard.
We are checking out some formers this week that are in areas we
couldn't really get to on the bikes. Pretty much we just park our car
after lunch and go and pros until dinner or on certain days facebook,
and then after dinner we just park the car and keep walking and
finding and teaching. It's super nice not having to get up the Vallejo
hills. We'll probably keep biking twice a week just to keep in shape
and talk to more people.
That's about it! With transfers things have been a little crazy, but
it's been a good week. We have 2 member present lessons set tonight,
so that should be way good!
Love you guys! I miss you! Have a great week!
Monday, July 14, 2014
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Week 72
So to start off, I think it would be safe to say "No era penal!!!"
Haha it's all over Facebook right now. Hermano Cortez posts like 8
different pictures of it every day and even mentioned it in his
testimony yesterday.
So transfer doctrine came in yesterday. Elder Minkler is getting
transferred, that was expected though. He is going to San Rafael! My
new companion will be Elder Ford. He was in the MTC with Elder
Minkler. He's 26 (I think) and that's about all I know about him. I've
never met him. The best news- we're getting a car! The bad news- the
car that we are getting belongs to the Elders that we live with. So
they are going on bike and they are kind of ticked. Good news- Elder
V is coming here and I'm living with him! He's the Hmong Elder
(think Gran Turino) that I served around for 3 transfers in Fairfield.
And also Elder Jorgensen who is from Murray and worked at the Sam's
Club we shopped at. Elder Smith is leaving, and that makes me really
sad. I was there when we was born into Fairfield, and I served 2
transfers in Vallejo with home. Yesterday he bore his testimony in a
sacrament meeting and he talked about how much he loved the branch and
I started crying. I've seen Elder Smith change so much since he
started. He's going to Vacaville, and I'm pretty sure he and I will be
companions in the future (unless President knows how well he and I get
along. And how much we talk about comics and Pokemon.). I'm going to
miss him a ton. The day after he gets home he and I are going to the
Pie Pizzeria at the U. That's about it for transfers though. I'm
excited for a change, it'll be good.
So Adrian and Jackie- we taught them twice this last week. We went
over the baptismal interview questions with Adrian just so we could
have an idea of where he is and what to teach him. So the next few
lessons will be the Word of Wisdom, Tithing, and Follow the Prophet
(from lesson 4 in chapter 3 of Preach My Gospel if you guys want to
study it!). He's doing really well. They made us lunch on Wednesday
and she put cumin in the chicken. I almost died because I could only
think of Drake and Josh where they put cumin in the waffles and Josh's
dad is allergic to it. We also taught them on the 4th and he gave us a
ride home.
We picked up a family from Mexico City. Marco and Norma. They are
really cool, we just did some how to begin teaching points (chapter 10
Preach My Gospel) and we did like a little overview of the
Restoration, and we were going to leave them with that, but they had a
ton of good questions and they wanted us to stay and teach them so we
taught them and they are so solid. They said they would be baptized if
they knew it was true. They should come to church next week! They
didn't this week because of camping.
So now what you guys really want to know- how was the Fourth of July?
Well- it was lame. Waaaaayyyyy lamer than last year when we did the
barricades at the parade. We just weekly planned and them ate dinner
and then taught Adrian and Jackie. We had to be at the pad at 7 and so
we just chilled. The people below us were listening to music so we
just listened and we can see 6 Flags from our pad so we watched the
fireworks show from our apartment. Just like Halloween isn't Halloween
without Oingo Boingo, St Patricks day is weird without the Pogues, and
Christmas isn't right without the Vandals, the Fourth of July was a
little different because of a lack of good "stick it to the man" punk
rock. Where was the I Wanna Riot by Rancid? Where was the I'm So Bored
With the USA by the Clash? Well, seeing as I can't listen to that,
here are some punx scriptures
---
Ether 6:22-23
22 And it came to pass that the people desired of them that they
should anoint one of their sons to be a king over them.
23 And now behold, this was grievous unto them. And the brother of
Jared said unto them: Surely this thing leadeth into captivity.
---
Alma 59:13
13 And it came to pass that Moroni was angry with the government,
because of their indifference concerning the freedom of their country.
---
Alma 60:36
36 Behold, I am Moroni, your chief captain. I seek not for power, but
to pull it down. I seek not for honor of the world, but for the glory
of my God
---
Doctrine and Covenants 98:16
16 Therefore, renounce war and proclaim peace, and seek diligently to
turn the hearts of the children to their fathers, and the hearts of
the fathers to the children
---
Romans 14:21 (ok this is more straight edge)
21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing
whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
Haha those scripture are pretty punx, but for real, being born and
raised has been a huge blessing. Even if I make fun of the culture and
stuff, I'm way more blessed than a lot of other people.
Well, I love you guys a ton. I'm glad you had a good fourth. I'll end
with two quotes.
"Hate is baggage. Life's too short to be [ticked] off all the time.
It's just not worth it."
Danny Vinyard
"I believe that The Lord is anxious to put into our hands inventions
of which we laymen have hardly has a glimpse... We shall use these
inventions... to awake interest and acquaint the people of the world
to the truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ."
Spencer W Kimball
Think and pray about how you guys can use the internet to share the
gospel more. God will let you know how!
Elder Mufosta
Haha it's all over Facebook right now. Hermano Cortez posts like 8
different pictures of it every day and even mentioned it in his
testimony yesterday.
So transfer doctrine came in yesterday. Elder Minkler is getting
transferred, that was expected though. He is going to San Rafael! My
new companion will be Elder Ford. He was in the MTC with Elder
Minkler. He's 26 (I think) and that's about all I know about him. I've
never met him. The best news- we're getting a car! The bad news- the
car that we are getting belongs to the Elders that we live with. So
they are going on bike and they are kind of ticked. Good news- Elder
V is coming here and I'm living with him! He's the Hmong Elder
(think Gran Turino) that I served around for 3 transfers in Fairfield.
And also Elder Jorgensen who is from Murray and worked at the Sam's
Club we shopped at. Elder Smith is leaving, and that makes me really
sad. I was there when we was born into Fairfield, and I served 2
transfers in Vallejo with home. Yesterday he bore his testimony in a
sacrament meeting and he talked about how much he loved the branch and
I started crying. I've seen Elder Smith change so much since he
started. He's going to Vacaville, and I'm pretty sure he and I will be
companions in the future (unless President knows how well he and I get
along. And how much we talk about comics and Pokemon.). I'm going to
miss him a ton. The day after he gets home he and I are going to the
Pie Pizzeria at the U. That's about it for transfers though. I'm
excited for a change, it'll be good.
So Adrian and Jackie- we taught them twice this last week. We went
over the baptismal interview questions with Adrian just so we could
have an idea of where he is and what to teach him. So the next few
lessons will be the Word of Wisdom, Tithing, and Follow the Prophet
(from lesson 4 in chapter 3 of Preach My Gospel if you guys want to
study it!). He's doing really well. They made us lunch on Wednesday
and she put cumin in the chicken. I almost died because I could only
think of Drake and Josh where they put cumin in the waffles and Josh's
dad is allergic to it. We also taught them on the 4th and he gave us a
ride home.
We picked up a family from Mexico City. Marco and Norma. They are
really cool, we just did some how to begin teaching points (chapter 10
Preach My Gospel) and we did like a little overview of the
Restoration, and we were going to leave them with that, but they had a
ton of good questions and they wanted us to stay and teach them so we
taught them and they are so solid. They said they would be baptized if
they knew it was true. They should come to church next week! They
didn't this week because of camping.
So now what you guys really want to know- how was the Fourth of July?
Well- it was lame. Waaaaayyyyy lamer than last year when we did the
barricades at the parade. We just weekly planned and them ate dinner
and then taught Adrian and Jackie. We had to be at the pad at 7 and so
we just chilled. The people below us were listening to music so we
just listened and we can see 6 Flags from our pad so we watched the
fireworks show from our apartment. Just like Halloween isn't Halloween
without Oingo Boingo, St Patricks day is weird without the Pogues, and
Christmas isn't right without the Vandals, the Fourth of July was a
little different because of a lack of good "stick it to the man" punk
rock. Where was the I Wanna Riot by Rancid? Where was the I'm So Bored
With the USA by the Clash? Well, seeing as I can't listen to that,
here are some punx scriptures
---
Ether 6:22-23
22 And it came to pass that the people desired of them that they
should anoint one of their sons to be a king over them.
23 And now behold, this was grievous unto them. And the brother of
Jared said unto them: Surely this thing leadeth into captivity.
---
Alma 59:13
13 And it came to pass that Moroni was angry with the government,
because of their indifference concerning the freedom of their country.
---
Alma 60:36
36 Behold, I am Moroni, your chief captain. I seek not for power, but
to pull it down. I seek not for honor of the world, but for the glory
of my God
---
Doctrine and Covenants 98:16
16 Therefore, renounce war and proclaim peace, and seek diligently to
turn the hearts of the children to their fathers, and the hearts of
the fathers to the children
---
Romans 14:21 (ok this is more straight edge)
21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing
whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
Haha those scripture are pretty punx, but for real, being born and
raised has been a huge blessing. Even if I make fun of the culture and
stuff, I'm way more blessed than a lot of other people.
Well, I love you guys a ton. I'm glad you had a good fourth. I'll end
with two quotes.
"Hate is baggage. Life's too short to be [ticked] off all the time.
It's just not worth it."
Danny Vinyard
"I believe that The Lord is anxious to put into our hands inventions
of which we laymen have hardly has a glimpse... We shall use these
inventions... to awake interest and acquaint the people of the world
to the truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ."
Spencer W Kimball
Think and pray about how you guys can use the internet to share the
gospel more. God will let you know how!
Elder Mufosta
Week 71
Wow! So many good things this week. It seems like after 2 transfers of
hard work, this area is booming. Lots of new investigators again, lots
of miracles and blessings.
So I guess I'll start off by thanking you guys for your prayers. On
Monday night, Elder Minkler and I were walking and the Spirit told me
to be incredibly careful. I told Elder Minkler "Cuídate" and about
three seconds later we found out why. It was a pretty dangerous moment
where he and I were singled out, but we made it out ok! So I want to
thank you guys so much for your prayers about protection. I definitely
felt the hand of The Lord in that situation. We were very protected.
And on Friday we heard a gunshot really close. Like really really
close and everyone in the streets ran inside, but we didn't feel the
spirit warning us or anything so we just kept walking. Oh Vallejo.
Actually on the Fourth or July we have to be in by 7, so after dinner
we are going to go teach Adrian (more about that in a little!!) and
he'll give us a ride home.
---
God answers prayers. And when we're obedient, be it on the mission or
in the real world, we receive some pretty amazing blessings. So elder
Minkler and I have been contacting 20 a day like we've been asked to
do. And so this week we were about to teach 12 lessons, which is the
most this area has had since November. Not only that, but there was
the greatest answer to a prayer ever. I've been praying for the last
two weeks that Adrian and Jackie would call us. Every single night I
prayed for it because they're just the best and I love them a ton. So
on Thursday we go to Hermano Cortez' house to paint his house for
service. Hermano Castañeda is there with his son Samuel, who is the
cutes. Well it was super fun, I swear Hermano Cortez was in the cartel
before he was baptized. I told them I wanted to go home and study
Spanish and Hno Castañeda said "your Spanish is great Elder! Don't
worry about it!" So that was super cool. Ok, I'm getting distracted.
Anyway, we're painting the house and I feel my phone vibrate. I pull
it out of my pocket, and Jackie is calling us. So we talked for like
10 minutes, she's just like "I want the Spirit that you guys bring to
be back with us" so we set an appointment for that night. We finish
painting, eat delicious mole that Hermana Cortez cooked, and we went
back to the pad to change.
We taught a lesson with a member to a different investigator at 7, and
then at 745 biked waaaaaay fast to get to their apartment. So we
taught them and it was awesome. They just talked about how when they
read as a couple the feel the spirit (remember, he is an investigator
and she is a less active) and we just caught up. We told them that the
problems they are having would be easier to solve if they lived the
Gospel. It was sweet, and we set a lesson for the next day, to which
we invited the Cortez family.
So we're going to sidestep (I realize this email is confusing, just
follow me here.). We are walking to Adrian and Jackie's for the
lesson. I have to go to the bathroom really, really, really bad. So we
are passing a Taco Bell and I'm like- Elder Minkler, I've gotta go.
Give me a sec. So we go in, I use the bathroom, and as we're leaving I
notice this guy sitting with some other people and he's wearing a
Strike to Survive shirt. And so I went up to him and I said "I love
Strike to Survive. I saw them in Salt Lake back in 2011, and my band
played a show with them last winter!" And so they were all like what
the heck is this missionary talking about? But I got to know them
better, turns out that there was a hardcore show next to the CVS, and
they invited me to go with them. I explained that I couldn't, but they
were super super cool guys.
So we go to the lesson, the Cortez family just testified hard about
how much baptism had blessed their lives, like it was super duper
awesome. Adrian said that the divorce will be finalized in October,
that he will get married to Jackie and get baptized ASAP. All this
time, their 1 year old son is sitting on the couch asleep next to me.
It was adorable!
Ok so now- we're walking back to the pad, and I hear the show. It
sounded amazing. And then I hear- "Hey Missionaries! Come over here!"
So it's the guys from Taco Bell! I didn't go in, but believe me, I
wanted to so bad. Anyway, those guys have a great impression of the
church.
----
Ok so that's the Adrian and Jackie story. Last night we had the most
spiritual lesson with the Castañedas. They promised us to come back to
church which was awesome.
Also, I didn't think that it mattered that much here in Vallejo, but
the work was slow yesterday since Mexico lost. People cooking big
carne asadas, but they weren't talking and no music. It was definitely
a sad day. No one wanted to talk. Hopefully today will make up for it!
We have 3 member present lessons planned. Hopefully they all go
through!
So I guess two more things.
Isaac is Hno C's son. He's 5 years old, and he comes to church
with glasses. I was like- hey! Nice glasses! You know, Peter Parker
has glasses, too! And so he tells me- yeah, Spider-Man does! And you
do, too! So I felt super, super cool!
Last thing- starting today at 6, I will be starting my new 7 month
fitness program. No soda/ sugary drinks (nope, not even Mountain Dew
or Arizona), only eating out on weekly planning Friday, running every
morning and working out every night. I'm going to get slim and lean.
And we have an unlimited supply of Muscle Milk since we live with
Vallejo 2nd Ward, and their bishop works for Cytosport. That means you
can expect me looking like Edward Norton in Fight Club by the time I
get back (but not like him in American History X. Aside from the bad
tattoos, I don't think I can get that big as a missionary. That comes
after!). So get ready for Fitness Foster!
Well, I love you guys! Stay safe, read the scriptures, pray and all that jazz.
Love,
Elder Foster
hard work, this area is booming. Lots of new investigators again, lots
of miracles and blessings.
So I guess I'll start off by thanking you guys for your prayers. On
Monday night, Elder Minkler and I were walking and the Spirit told me
to be incredibly careful. I told Elder Minkler "Cuídate" and about
three seconds later we found out why. It was a pretty dangerous moment
where he and I were singled out, but we made it out ok! So I want to
thank you guys so much for your prayers about protection. I definitely
felt the hand of The Lord in that situation. We were very protected.
And on Friday we heard a gunshot really close. Like really really
close and everyone in the streets ran inside, but we didn't feel the
spirit warning us or anything so we just kept walking. Oh Vallejo.
Actually on the Fourth or July we have to be in by 7, so after dinner
we are going to go teach Adrian (more about that in a little!!) and
he'll give us a ride home.
---
God answers prayers. And when we're obedient, be it on the mission or
in the real world, we receive some pretty amazing blessings. So elder
Minkler and I have been contacting 20 a day like we've been asked to
do. And so this week we were about to teach 12 lessons, which is the
most this area has had since November. Not only that, but there was
the greatest answer to a prayer ever. I've been praying for the last
two weeks that Adrian and Jackie would call us. Every single night I
prayed for it because they're just the best and I love them a ton. So
on Thursday we go to Hermano Cortez' house to paint his house for
service. Hermano Castañeda is there with his son Samuel, who is the
cutes. Well it was super fun, I swear Hermano Cortez was in the cartel
before he was baptized. I told them I wanted to go home and study
Spanish and Hno Castañeda said "your Spanish is great Elder! Don't
worry about it!" So that was super cool. Ok, I'm getting distracted.
Anyway, we're painting the house and I feel my phone vibrate. I pull
it out of my pocket, and Jackie is calling us. So we talked for like
10 minutes, she's just like "I want the Spirit that you guys bring to
be back with us" so we set an appointment for that night. We finish
painting, eat delicious mole that Hermana Cortez cooked, and we went
back to the pad to change.
We taught a lesson with a member to a different investigator at 7, and
then at 745 biked waaaaaay fast to get to their apartment. So we
taught them and it was awesome. They just talked about how when they
read as a couple the feel the spirit (remember, he is an investigator
and she is a less active) and we just caught up. We told them that the
problems they are having would be easier to solve if they lived the
Gospel. It was sweet, and we set a lesson for the next day, to which
we invited the Cortez family.
So we're going to sidestep (I realize this email is confusing, just
follow me here.). We are walking to Adrian and Jackie's for the
lesson. I have to go to the bathroom really, really, really bad. So we
are passing a Taco Bell and I'm like- Elder Minkler, I've gotta go.
Give me a sec. So we go in, I use the bathroom, and as we're leaving I
notice this guy sitting with some other people and he's wearing a
Strike to Survive shirt. And so I went up to him and I said "I love
Strike to Survive. I saw them in Salt Lake back in 2011, and my band
played a show with them last winter!" And so they were all like what
the heck is this missionary talking about? But I got to know them
better, turns out that there was a hardcore show next to the CVS, and
they invited me to go with them. I explained that I couldn't, but they
were super super cool guys.
So we go to the lesson, the Cortez family just testified hard about
how much baptism had blessed their lives, like it was super duper
awesome. Adrian said that the divorce will be finalized in October,
that he will get married to Jackie and get baptized ASAP. All this
time, their 1 year old son is sitting on the couch asleep next to me.
It was adorable!
Ok so now- we're walking back to the pad, and I hear the show. It
sounded amazing. And then I hear- "Hey Missionaries! Come over here!"
So it's the guys from Taco Bell! I didn't go in, but believe me, I
wanted to so bad. Anyway, those guys have a great impression of the
church.
----
Ok so that's the Adrian and Jackie story. Last night we had the most
spiritual lesson with the Castañedas. They promised us to come back to
church which was awesome.
Also, I didn't think that it mattered that much here in Vallejo, but
the work was slow yesterday since Mexico lost. People cooking big
carne asadas, but they weren't talking and no music. It was definitely
a sad day. No one wanted to talk. Hopefully today will make up for it!
We have 3 member present lessons planned. Hopefully they all go
through!
So I guess two more things.
Isaac is Hno C's son. He's 5 years old, and he comes to church
with glasses. I was like- hey! Nice glasses! You know, Peter Parker
has glasses, too! And so he tells me- yeah, Spider-Man does! And you
do, too! So I felt super, super cool!
Last thing- starting today at 6, I will be starting my new 7 month
fitness program. No soda/ sugary drinks (nope, not even Mountain Dew
or Arizona), only eating out on weekly planning Friday, running every
morning and working out every night. I'm going to get slim and lean.
And we have an unlimited supply of Muscle Milk since we live with
Vallejo 2nd Ward, and their bishop works for Cytosport. That means you
can expect me looking like Edward Norton in Fight Club by the time I
get back (but not like him in American History X. Aside from the bad
tattoos, I don't think I can get that big as a missionary. That comes
after!). So get ready for Fitness Foster!
Well, I love you guys! Stay safe, read the scriptures, pray and all that jazz.
Love,
Elder Foster
Week 70
So I don't really know how to start out this email. There has been a
lot this week! Lots of good lessons. So I guess I'll start off with
the bad news- Adrian and Jackie. We've been trying hard to contact
them because they are so nice and so solid. Like we love them so so so
so much. But they haven't been responding to our calls or texts. So
we're worried that maybe something happened that maybe embarrassed
them or is making them avoid us.... Lots of things we've thought
about, but since we don't know it's just guessing. We've decided we'll
just text them once a week and if the Spirit tells us, we'll stop by.
I'm really sad because I love them a ton. Like a ton a ton. So it's
been hard because of that. But I don't really want to talk about that
too much. We also stopped by Gustavo and Maria's house. It's he family
that promised me their daughter. Well we were pretty firm with them,
and asked them if they knew it was true if they would be baptized and
they said no. So we dropped them, too. So that's the bad news of this
week.
Well here is some bad/ good news and a good lesson I learned. So I was
on Facebook (I'm teaching Logan's friend in Africa and he's
probably going to get baptized!) and I saw the set list that Saves the
Day played from Mesa, Arizona the other day. I was devastated. I felt
betrayed. They played the entirety of the cd Can't Slow Down from
front to back. It's my favorite Saves the Day album ever, but it's old
and I had given up any chance of ever hearing songs from it live. So
when I saw that, I felt like the other prodigal son (which you should
watch if you haven't. It's super good!) like... I'm out here doing
what I'm supposed to do and Chris Conley goes out and throws a party
without me. Like... It was a weird feeling. So the next day I take out
Preach My Gospel for studies and it falls out of my hands and opens up
to the the letter from the First presidency that says "El Señor le
recompensará y le bendecirá grandemente a medida que le sirva con
humildad y un espíritu de oración. Al trabajar entre los hijos de
Él, recibirá más felicidad que la que jamás haya experimentado." I
don't have it in English on my iPad, I'm sorry. It's like the last
paragraph on page V if you want to look it up. So I was like God will
make it up. And then on Friday Elder Smith, Elder Dunlap, Elder
Minkler and I went to the Habit for burgers and we heard Ghost Town by
the Specials. And I was the good version, where the original singer
does the "Do you remember the good ol days before the ghost town." So
even though it wasn't Saves the Day, God blessed me with some free
beats.
Last Monday we played baseball. It was probably the most fun P Day
activity I've ever had. Not only was it cool because we played
baseball, but Presidente Tobias and his son and Hno Cortez and his son
all came to play with us. It made it super fun and definitely
increased the relationship between us and them. We also heard a
gunshot while we were playing, and then we heard the Vallejo National
Anthem (sirens).
So get this. Exactly one year ago, Lupe Garza got baptized! I can't
believe it. Even though my Spanish wasn't perfect back then, she is
still very close to me. We are definitely going to visit her after the
mission! Elder Hansen also finished his mission the next day. So time
flies!
Last night we went out with Hno Cortez to go visit a less active. He
took us out at like 815, the less active wasn't there, so we headed
back to the church because it was late. But when we got to the church,
we see this van pull up with a blown out tire. And it was our former
investigator! Not the one we just dropped, but this guy with the van
is an eternagator. Super nice guy, just doesn't progess. Well anyway,
we changed his tire so that was a pretty cool miracle.
So Elder Or, the Elder from Hong Kong, is the greatest. He came to our
pad on exchanges, and Elder Teran had taught him this song when he was
in Davis and we were in Woodland. It goes "Por qué despreciaste mi
amor, lo hiciste para un lado, sin decirme ni un adiós, por qué
rechazaste mi amor...." So he and I sang and he had his Hong Kong
accent and it was super funny. He also says fetch all the time, and
when we play basketball he screams it and it's hilarious, so I texted
him and I said "Elder Or, when I go back home and am in a band, we are
going to start the cd with you screaming feeeeetch!" And so he told me
"that is maybe best idea I hear." I love that kid!
Other than that, we've just been talking with a lot of cool people on
the street and knocking doors. We have a lot of potentials that we can
go visit. We went last night to visit a few and some were solid, some
weren't. That's how it goes! But the finding is going well.
I also finished the Book of Mormon this last week in Spanish for the
second time! And this time I felt really, really sad as I finished.
Just sad that the Nefites died, and pretty sad just because the story
was over. Does that make sense? Well anyway, that book is super true.
It's like the only reading material that I can understand 100% in
Spanish. And plus, it just feels true when you read it. So it was a
good experience. I'm not sure if I told you guys, but we're doing a 90
day Book of Mormon challenge, so I was in Alma 1 when we started so
now I have to at least get to Alma again. It's been good though, it's
a lot of fun to read it.
Well, I love you guys! Be safe, keep healthy!
Elder Foster
lot this week! Lots of good lessons. So I guess I'll start off with
the bad news- Adrian and Jackie. We've been trying hard to contact
them because they are so nice and so solid. Like we love them so so so
so much. But they haven't been responding to our calls or texts. So
we're worried that maybe something happened that maybe embarrassed
them or is making them avoid us.... Lots of things we've thought
about, but since we don't know it's just guessing. We've decided we'll
just text them once a week and if the Spirit tells us, we'll stop by.
I'm really sad because I love them a ton. Like a ton a ton. So it's
been hard because of that. But I don't really want to talk about that
too much. We also stopped by Gustavo and Maria's house. It's he family
that promised me their daughter. Well we were pretty firm with them,
and asked them if they knew it was true if they would be baptized and
they said no. So we dropped them, too. So that's the bad news of this
week.
Well here is some bad/ good news and a good lesson I learned. So I was
on Facebook (I'm teaching Logan's friend in Africa and he's
probably going to get baptized!) and I saw the set list that Saves the
Day played from Mesa, Arizona the other day. I was devastated. I felt
betrayed. They played the entirety of the cd Can't Slow Down from
front to back. It's my favorite Saves the Day album ever, but it's old
and I had given up any chance of ever hearing songs from it live. So
when I saw that, I felt like the other prodigal son (which you should
watch if you haven't. It's super good!) like... I'm out here doing
what I'm supposed to do and Chris Conley goes out and throws a party
without me. Like... It was a weird feeling. So the next day I take out
Preach My Gospel for studies and it falls out of my hands and opens up
to the the letter from the First presidency that says "El Señor le
recompensará y le bendecirá grandemente a medida que le sirva con
humildad y un espíritu de oración. Al trabajar entre los hijos de
Él, recibirá más felicidad que la que jamás haya experimentado." I
don't have it in English on my iPad, I'm sorry. It's like the last
paragraph on page V if you want to look it up. So I was like God will
make it up. And then on Friday Elder Smith, Elder Dunlap, Elder
Minkler and I went to the Habit for burgers and we heard Ghost Town by
the Specials. And I was the good version, where the original singer
does the "Do you remember the good ol days before the ghost town." So
even though it wasn't Saves the Day, God blessed me with some free
beats.
Last Monday we played baseball. It was probably the most fun P Day
activity I've ever had. Not only was it cool because we played
baseball, but Presidente Tobias and his son and Hno Cortez and his son
all came to play with us. It made it super fun and definitely
increased the relationship between us and them. We also heard a
gunshot while we were playing, and then we heard the Vallejo National
Anthem (sirens).
So get this. Exactly one year ago, Lupe Garza got baptized! I can't
believe it. Even though my Spanish wasn't perfect back then, she is
still very close to me. We are definitely going to visit her after the
mission! Elder Hansen also finished his mission the next day. So time
flies!
Last night we went out with Hno Cortez to go visit a less active. He
took us out at like 815, the less active wasn't there, so we headed
back to the church because it was late. But when we got to the church,
we see this van pull up with a blown out tire. And it was our former
investigator! Not the one we just dropped, but this guy with the van
is an eternagator. Super nice guy, just doesn't progess. Well anyway,
we changed his tire so that was a pretty cool miracle.
So Elder Or, the Elder from Hong Kong, is the greatest. He came to our
pad on exchanges, and Elder Teran had taught him this song when he was
in Davis and we were in Woodland. It goes "Por qué despreciaste mi
amor, lo hiciste para un lado, sin decirme ni un adiós, por qué
rechazaste mi amor...." So he and I sang and he had his Hong Kong
accent and it was super funny. He also says fetch all the time, and
when we play basketball he screams it and it's hilarious, so I texted
him and I said "Elder Or, when I go back home and am in a band, we are
going to start the cd with you screaming feeeeetch!" And so he told me
"that is maybe best idea I hear." I love that kid!
Other than that, we've just been talking with a lot of cool people on
the street and knocking doors. We have a lot of potentials that we can
go visit. We went last night to visit a few and some were solid, some
weren't. That's how it goes! But the finding is going well.
I also finished the Book of Mormon this last week in Spanish for the
second time! And this time I felt really, really sad as I finished.
Just sad that the Nefites died, and pretty sad just because the story
was over. Does that make sense? Well anyway, that book is super true.
It's like the only reading material that I can understand 100% in
Spanish. And plus, it just feels true when you read it. So it was a
good experience. I'm not sure if I told you guys, but we're doing a 90
day Book of Mormon challenge, so I was in Alma 1 when we started so
now I have to at least get to Alma again. It's been good though, it's
a lot of fun to read it.
Well, I love you guys! Be safe, keep healthy!
Elder Foster
Week 69
One more good week in the numbers! It was super fun. Lots of
contacting, lots of teaching, and picking up new investigators.
So to start off- we did not eat pupusas last Monday. Which was sort of
a blessing, because Hermana Alonso made the biggest burrito for dinner
and I couldn't even ride my bike after eating it because it was so
big. So anyway, we didn't eat pupusas. However! There is this lady
whose door we knocked on a few weeks ago from Guatamala named Edith.
She was pretty nice, she told us to come back on a Monday. So we went
back not on a Monday night (Mondays are busy) and set up an
appointment (which later fell through) but after setting that
appointment we talked to this guy on the street and we asked for his
address and it was the same one. So I was like- hey do you know Edith?
And he was all- yeah, she's my sister in law. And so then we were like
what are the chances? But anyway, we went back for the appointment,
and she wasn't there. So last Monday was like their last shot and she,
he, and her husband were home. We taught them and picked them up as
investigators and have a lesson tonight at 8 with them that we're
bringing our branch mission leader to.
We also hit the goal of 20 contacts every single day this week,
including P Day, the day with the half mission conference in
Fairfield, and Sunday which was not only church but also a fireside
and we only had like 90 minutes that day.
We also taught a lesson to the family that was going to make us
pupusas, but on Wednesday. They PROMISED us they were going to come to
church, we texted them on Saturday night and Sunday morning like they
asked us to, and hey didn't show. Everybody say "Dangit Bobby." That's
an Elder Minkler song thing that he says when things go wrong. I'll
show you when I get home.
On Thursday we did this service project that the missionaries do every
year where we get to clean out an elementary school to help prepare
for summer. A member teaches there and she organized it all. It was
pretty fun, quite a bit of moving around books, desks, and chairs. I
talked a lot with the bilingual teacher there. He helps out the
Spanish kids that come to America that can't speak English, or that
can't read or write. He was from El Salvador. Really nice guy with a
lot of questions. Super fun service project!
So on Friday we had a half mission conference in the greatest city in
California, Fairfield. Ok maybe not the best, but it was my first time
there in about 6 months and it was awesome! So Elder Falabella of the
70 was there. He is from Guatamala, and his English is a little hard
to understand. Some of the things he talked about was how the mission
is like a university for life, and how things like setting goals many
making plans, studying, and prayer need to become part of who we are,
not just what we do on a mission. I'll send an email with all my
notes, but the cool thing was that he had invited us to find 2
families to teach before the conference, and we found them José,
Edith, and Victor (1) and Manuel and Berta and their kids (2). He had
also asked us to invite families to come eat lunch with us and then
share their testimonies in front of all the missionaries. Elder Wright
and I invited the Diaz family, so Mauricio, Danny, and Luz came. and
it was really cool because as she was sharing her testimony I got to
translate for her. It was just a really special moment. They also saw
a Elder Walker for the first time since he and I left Fairfield. After
the conference we got an OG Fairfield photo. It was a foto of All of
the missionaries that I served with in Fairfield that were there at
the conference (except Elder Terrill. He was busy fixing iPads). Some
of my best friends for sure. After that conference we visited Jim West
(aka G West On the Hood as Elder Lopez would say) and Ortega, my cholo
investigator. It was super cool. And then we ate dinner with my
favorite family in Vallejo, the Cortez family. I'm pretty sure he was
in the Mexican mafia before being baptized, because he just thugs
everywhere and I love them. She's like the coolest member ever too.
He's coming to play baseball with us today for P Day!
President Alba gave a fireside last night for all Spanish the members
of the Napa Stake last night. For the Napa stake, the Spanish
organizations are the Los Santos Branch (Vallejo), the Chapel Hill
Branch (Napa), the Spanish group from Sonoma, and a few Spanish
Members that go to the Saint Helena English branch. Elder Minkler and
I were the only ones from Vallejo, but let me say that even though we
love the farthest away, Vallejo repped hard. We had, including the
youth, about 20 members from our branch there, and outside of
missionaries, there were probably 40 people. So our branch had a
strong presence. It felt super awesome, and it was very proud of our
branch! After that we had a little snack and I saw El Tigre de Napa,
Hermano Avila! And a few other members from Napa. It was really fun!
We also just got a new high counselor over our branch, Hno Holyoaks,
who served in Guatamala. He came up to me after and started talking to
me in Spanish, asking if I could email him the phone numbers, names,
and areas covered in Vallejo. Well all this was in Spanish, and then
he said something in English, and he was all- oh sorry, do you speak
English? My pride level went up very high at that moment. He didn't
even know I was white! I mean he is white, so it wasn't as cool as a
Spanish member telling me that, but you know. It made me feel good!
Other than that, just a lot of finding. We have lots of cool potential
families that we've talked to, we've been finding a lot of Hispanics
in Vallejo. There are a lot here, the difficulty is just finding them,
because they are not all concentrated to one area.
Sent from my iPad
contacting, lots of teaching, and picking up new investigators.
So to start off- we did not eat pupusas last Monday. Which was sort of
a blessing, because Hermana Alonso made the biggest burrito for dinner
and I couldn't even ride my bike after eating it because it was so
big. So anyway, we didn't eat pupusas. However! There is this lady
whose door we knocked on a few weeks ago from Guatamala named Edith.
She was pretty nice, she told us to come back on a Monday. So we went
back not on a Monday night (Mondays are busy) and set up an
appointment (which later fell through) but after setting that
appointment we talked to this guy on the street and we asked for his
address and it was the same one. So I was like- hey do you know Edith?
And he was all- yeah, she's my sister in law. And so then we were like
what are the chances? But anyway, we went back for the appointment,
and she wasn't there. So last Monday was like their last shot and she,
he, and her husband were home. We taught them and picked them up as
investigators and have a lesson tonight at 8 with them that we're
bringing our branch mission leader to.
We also hit the goal of 20 contacts every single day this week,
including P Day, the day with the half mission conference in
Fairfield, and Sunday which was not only church but also a fireside
and we only had like 90 minutes that day.
We also taught a lesson to the family that was going to make us
pupusas, but on Wednesday. They PROMISED us they were going to come to
church, we texted them on Saturday night and Sunday morning like they
asked us to, and hey didn't show. Everybody say "Dangit Bobby." That's
an Elder Minkler song thing that he says when things go wrong. I'll
show you when I get home.
On Thursday we did this service project that the missionaries do every
year where we get to clean out an elementary school to help prepare
for summer. A member teaches there and she organized it all. It was
pretty fun, quite a bit of moving around books, desks, and chairs. I
talked a lot with the bilingual teacher there. He helps out the
Spanish kids that come to America that can't speak English, or that
can't read or write. He was from El Salvador. Really nice guy with a
lot of questions. Super fun service project!
So on Friday we had a half mission conference in the greatest city in
California, Fairfield. Ok maybe not the best, but it was my first time
there in about 6 months and it was awesome! So Elder Falabella of the
70 was there. He is from Guatamala, and his English is a little hard
to understand. Some of the things he talked about was how the mission
is like a university for life, and how things like setting goals many
making plans, studying, and prayer need to become part of who we are,
not just what we do on a mission. I'll send an email with all my
notes, but the cool thing was that he had invited us to find 2
families to teach before the conference, and we found them José,
Edith, and Victor (1) and Manuel and Berta and their kids (2). He had
also asked us to invite families to come eat lunch with us and then
share their testimonies in front of all the missionaries. Elder Wright
and I invited the Diaz family, so Mauricio, Danny, and Luz came. and
it was really cool because as she was sharing her testimony I got to
translate for her. It was just a really special moment. They also saw
a Elder Walker for the first time since he and I left Fairfield. After
the conference we got an OG Fairfield photo. It was a foto of All of
the missionaries that I served with in Fairfield that were there at
the conference (except Elder Terrill. He was busy fixing iPads). Some
of my best friends for sure. After that conference we visited Jim West
(aka G West On the Hood as Elder Lopez would say) and Ortega, my cholo
investigator. It was super cool. And then we ate dinner with my
favorite family in Vallejo, the Cortez family. I'm pretty sure he was
in the Mexican mafia before being baptized, because he just thugs
everywhere and I love them. She's like the coolest member ever too.
He's coming to play baseball with us today for P Day!
President Alba gave a fireside last night for all Spanish the members
of the Napa Stake last night. For the Napa stake, the Spanish
organizations are the Los Santos Branch (Vallejo), the Chapel Hill
Branch (Napa), the Spanish group from Sonoma, and a few Spanish
Members that go to the Saint Helena English branch. Elder Minkler and
I were the only ones from Vallejo, but let me say that even though we
love the farthest away, Vallejo repped hard. We had, including the
youth, about 20 members from our branch there, and outside of
missionaries, there were probably 40 people. So our branch had a
strong presence. It felt super awesome, and it was very proud of our
branch! After that we had a little snack and I saw El Tigre de Napa,
Hermano Avila! And a few other members from Napa. It was really fun!
We also just got a new high counselor over our branch, Hno Holyoaks,
who served in Guatamala. He came up to me after and started talking to
me in Spanish, asking if I could email him the phone numbers, names,
and areas covered in Vallejo. Well all this was in Spanish, and then
he said something in English, and he was all- oh sorry, do you speak
English? My pride level went up very high at that moment. He didn't
even know I was white! I mean he is white, so it wasn't as cool as a
Spanish member telling me that, but you know. It made me feel good!
Other than that, just a lot of finding. We have lots of cool potential
families that we've talked to, we've been finding a lot of Hispanics
in Vallejo. There are a lot here, the difficulty is just finding them,
because they are not all concentrated to one area.
Sent from my iPad
Week 68
Well, here it is! My first email as a 20 year old.
How does it feel? Not too different actually. Doing the same stuff
day! So here are some good things from this week.
On Monday after P Day we went to go visit a family from El Salvador that we contacted. They were so nice! They let us in, we did some how to begin teaching points and the spirit was really strong! They had a church, but it was relocated to San Fran a few years ago. Well he has a 19 year old son who got here like 7 months ago and doesn't speak any English, and a 14 year old son on his way over. Manuel (the dad) has no idea where his son is right now since it's pretty much like crazy getting over here, but he's sure he'll be here soon. The 19 year old is super funny, he's pretty glad to have people his age talk to him in Spanish, he's super nice. We have a lesson with them tonight and they're making pupusas! So I'm stoked for that.
We also taught a cool lesson to Gustavo and Maria, some other
investigators. We mostly go over because she is really solid, but she works on Sundays. And their daughters are super nice and love us, but hate their parents. So we taught the parents family prayer and promised that it would bless their family a ton. They said they are going to start doing it.
Last night we taught a less active as well. It was the first time I
had ever met him. Elder Minkler had met him, but never taught him.
He's really busy with work, he still has a testimony that the church
is true, but since he works 7 days a week he can't really do anything
about it.
So now for my birthday! It was super awesome! I got the package on my actual birthday! You guys are the best. The shirt fits perfect and looks super good! And the cards were funny. When I read what Sam wrote about Streetlight Manifesto, I laughed so hard that I cried. It was the best! And you guys know just what snacks I like too, so thanks so much!
After I got the package, Elder Wright and Elder Carrillo picked us up and we met up with the Diaz family at the church! We went to Rubios. It was so good to talk to them again! They are doing really well. They were really happy to see Elder Wright and I together again. So they gave me some good news- in Fairfield, Elder Lopez and I had this investigator named Dulce. She was nice, but we got to the point where we were teaching too many lessons and she wasn't coming to church so we dropped her. At the CDA cares dentist service thing we did, I told the Fairfield missionaries to go visit her. Well they did, and Sister Diaz said that a few hours earlier Dulce had gotten a call that a family member had been killed. They taught her the plan of Salvation, and she's been going to church!
Well we ate at Rubios, and it was just so nice to visit with them! We talked about their sealing. We talked about the branch and even the good old times when we used to go teach them. We all laughed about how apprehensive they were to let their kids learn since they didn't want their kids to be confused, how Danny didn't really care too much at first, and about how scared they were for the interview. It was super awesome. They gave me a super cool card. It actually would have been super cheesy, but like since it was from them it was super special. They said they think the card company made it especially for me.
After that we did a blitz, which is where we go off on exchanged with another missionary to one area and the whole zone works around in that area. It was way fun, and as a birthday present I even heard someone blasting Ben Folds 5 in their garage. Good free beats!
We went to dinner with the Mora family. It was actually the birthday party for their daughter and a ton of people were there so they just put us in the garage. It was actually super nice just to relax and eat and have fun! Unfortunately, Victor, who is he brother of Brother Mora wasn't there, and he always listens to the best Spanish ska music. So no free beats there, but I'll live.
And when I got back to the pad, there were 6 elders waiting there and they yelled surprise when I walked in and I almost had a heart attack. It was super funny. We all drank a glass Mountain Dew. Fun times. Elder Or even told me I was his favorite Spanish Elder, which is good because Elder Or is a stud.
On Sunday our branch mission leader and his wife (she teaches gospel principles) brought cake to gospel principles for my birthday haha.They also gave me a tie. I'll send some pictures!
So all in all, it was a good birthday! And a good week. We contacted on the streets and knocked doors a lot, but unfortunately didn't teach as many lessons as we would have liked. This week will be better for sure!
Love you guys!
Elder Foster
Sent from my iPad
How does it feel? Not too different actually. Doing the same stuff
day! So here are some good things from this week.
On Monday after P Day we went to go visit a family from El Salvador that we contacted. They were so nice! They let us in, we did some how to begin teaching points and the spirit was really strong! They had a church, but it was relocated to San Fran a few years ago. Well he has a 19 year old son who got here like 7 months ago and doesn't speak any English, and a 14 year old son on his way over. Manuel (the dad) has no idea where his son is right now since it's pretty much like crazy getting over here, but he's sure he'll be here soon. The 19 year old is super funny, he's pretty glad to have people his age talk to him in Spanish, he's super nice. We have a lesson with them tonight and they're making pupusas! So I'm stoked for that.
We also taught a cool lesson to Gustavo and Maria, some other
investigators. We mostly go over because she is really solid, but she works on Sundays. And their daughters are super nice and love us, but hate their parents. So we taught the parents family prayer and promised that it would bless their family a ton. They said they are going to start doing it.
Last night we taught a less active as well. It was the first time I
had ever met him. Elder Minkler had met him, but never taught him.
He's really busy with work, he still has a testimony that the church
is true, but since he works 7 days a week he can't really do anything
about it.
So now for my birthday! It was super awesome! I got the package on my actual birthday! You guys are the best. The shirt fits perfect and looks super good! And the cards were funny. When I read what Sam wrote about Streetlight Manifesto, I laughed so hard that I cried. It was the best! And you guys know just what snacks I like too, so thanks so much!
After I got the package, Elder Wright and Elder Carrillo picked us up and we met up with the Diaz family at the church! We went to Rubios. It was so good to talk to them again! They are doing really well. They were really happy to see Elder Wright and I together again. So they gave me some good news- in Fairfield, Elder Lopez and I had this investigator named Dulce. She was nice, but we got to the point where we were teaching too many lessons and she wasn't coming to church so we dropped her. At the CDA cares dentist service thing we did, I told the Fairfield missionaries to go visit her. Well they did, and Sister Diaz said that a few hours earlier Dulce had gotten a call that a family member had been killed. They taught her the plan of Salvation, and she's been going to church!
Well we ate at Rubios, and it was just so nice to visit with them! We talked about their sealing. We talked about the branch and even the good old times when we used to go teach them. We all laughed about how apprehensive they were to let their kids learn since they didn't want their kids to be confused, how Danny didn't really care too much at first, and about how scared they were for the interview. It was super awesome. They gave me a super cool card. It actually would have been super cheesy, but like since it was from them it was super special. They said they think the card company made it especially for me.
After that we did a blitz, which is where we go off on exchanged with another missionary to one area and the whole zone works around in that area. It was way fun, and as a birthday present I even heard someone blasting Ben Folds 5 in their garage. Good free beats!
We went to dinner with the Mora family. It was actually the birthday party for their daughter and a ton of people were there so they just put us in the garage. It was actually super nice just to relax and eat and have fun! Unfortunately, Victor, who is he brother of Brother Mora wasn't there, and he always listens to the best Spanish ska music. So no free beats there, but I'll live.
And when I got back to the pad, there were 6 elders waiting there and they yelled surprise when I walked in and I almost had a heart attack. It was super funny. We all drank a glass Mountain Dew. Fun times. Elder Or even told me I was his favorite Spanish Elder, which is good because Elder Or is a stud.
On Sunday our branch mission leader and his wife (she teaches gospel principles) brought cake to gospel principles for my birthday haha.They also gave me a tie. I'll send some pictures!
So all in all, it was a good birthday! And a good week. We contacted on the streets and knocked doors a lot, but unfortunately didn't teach as many lessons as we would have liked. This week will be better for sure!
Love you guys!
Elder Foster
Sent from my iPad
Week 67
First week of the new transfer is now done! So we moved into the new apartment and I'm tiiiiiiiicked. Super duper chapped! We cleaned out our apartment for the new sisters and it was shining. Well, all 4 of the Elders living in the apartment we are in now were whitewashed out and they left it in shambles. Trash everywhere, so much food, and a ton of clothes that are now being given to goodwill since they didn't pack them up. We spent a goooooood amount of time cleaning.
I went to instacare wednesday for my wrist. It is sprained, I have a brace for it, and no bike riding this week. And some super strong ibuprofuen pills that I got a prescription for. But it's all good! Love you guys! Take care!
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