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
Saturday, July 12, 2014
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!
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Week 66
Wow! My first transfer in Vallejo is done. I can't tell if it was
super super fast, or really slow. Kind of both with being sick and
everything. Good news- we are no longer sick! Bad news- I fell on my bike on Thursday. I was going from the street into a driveway, and you know how there is like a little one inch lip, well my back tire got stuck on that and I just fell to the side going about 10 miles per hour. Pretty pathetic. well the moral of the story is I thought I
jammed my wrist, then when it hurt the next day I thought I broke it, and then on Saturday I went to the Instacare in Amcan, but on
Saturdays it was closed! It feels better now. Still hurts, but at least I can bike again. Oh well!
Transfer info- Elder Minkler and I are staying the same! But moving to a different apartment in our complex so that the new sisters coming in to the Singles YSA area can live in our pad. Elder Alvarado is gone, Elder Delgado is coming in with him. I don't know him. Elder Grisham and Elder Nelson are leaving, and... Wait for it... Elder Wright is coming in!!!!!!! My son :'D I'm so excited. He's also a Zone Leader! Looks like I didn't do so bad after all. I actually got a letter from him too, I love that kid! I'm stoked. So is he! He's coming here with Elder Carrillo, my old ZL from Napa. Elder Payne (Peine) is leaving, and another elder I don't know is coming with Elder Smith. Ok now for the best news- remember the cholo investigator I found in Fairfield, Ortega? He's getting baptized in June! And Elder Smith and Wright and I have all taught him. What does that mean? We're going to his baptism!! Woohoo! Also, the Diaz family is super stoked, they're taking Elder Wright and I out on my birthday.
More good news- Adrian our investigator and Jackie his less active
girlfriend (well... It's a weird situation. Not really less active but
kind of) came to church here!! They loved it. He's been going in San Fran because of his job, but they decided to come here! And his divorce is finishing up this next week, at which point we will be
talking to them about marriage and baptism!! He's so nice. They love us a ton, they bought pan (like the sweet Mexican bread) and manzanita sol (really good soda) for our lesson last week. So he'll get baptized in the near future.
So we were out on our bikes, and we here this guy yell "Hey Mormon guys! Come over here!" And so we go over, he tells us he's on his way to the store and he wants to buy us some water. So we're walking with him- turns out he lived in Utah, remembers going to temple square as a little kid and his older brother got baptized and served a mission in the Philippines. So super nice guy, he takes us to the sketchiest convenience store I've ever been to. I'm pretty sure you had to be 21 to get in, but we went in anyway haha he bought us each 1 liter of water, then he bought a 40 and some cigars. But you know, water is water.
So also, we found the most awesome family. Ok it's a long story and there is a funny, unrelated story in the middle. On Wednesday we locked our bikes at a stop sign in front of a house. We were pros
walking, and we saw this gold RV. In cursive letters, it said across
the side "The Twerkulator." There were people outside, filming
some.... Dancing. So somewhere on YouTube there are people...
"dancing" and two Mormon missionaries in the background trying to leave. I wish I could explain it better. Just know it's super
hilarious. Ok back to the main story- on Saturday we are walking and we see the guy walking with his daughter and we heard them speak Spanish. So we go up, we start talking to him, he's super nice. He's from El Salvador, we tell him we love pupusas. Then his wife comes up, and asks us if we locked our bikes on the sign that day and we said yeah and she said she was going to talk to us, but was on the phone and couldn't. So basically, they asked for the address of the church, told us they are going to come next week without us even inviting them. They gave us their number, told us to call them so we could visit and one day they are going to make us pupusas. And also told us just to lock our bikes in their backyard from now on since, you know, any street with "The Twerkulator" is not the greatest street. Oh, Vallejo. I love this place so much!
So I know you guys are probably done with the punk stories, and last night I was thinking "hmm, no punk rock encounters this week" until we were walking at 8 and I saw a bumper sticker (I'll send the picture) with the words "WWHRD?" Yes. What would Henry Rollins do. I almost peed my pants. So we knocked on the door, the people were super nice. The lady said "Of all the things I thought we you going to talk about when you knocked, Henry Rollins was last on the list!" So they're not interested, but planting seeds. All I'm saying is, I've been waiting my whole mission to talk to people about this, I'm super glad there are people here who know what I'm talking about! It's like specific prayers get specific answers. I think I'm going to pray to meet Tim Armstrong. Or at least more punks.
I really do love Vallejo. It's so much fun to be here. The branch is
probably my favorite. It's hard to beat Fairfield, but I mean, I love
it here. Everyone is amazing. Loving and willing to come out with us, making us good food, and understanding how the church works. The people on the streets are always nice, and it just feels good. So even though it might be dangerous, it's the greatest. There is no where else I'd rather be than Vallejo!
Love you guys! Miss you!
super super fast, or really slow. Kind of both with being sick and
everything. Good news- we are no longer sick! Bad news- I fell on my bike on Thursday. I was going from the street into a driveway, and you know how there is like a little one inch lip, well my back tire got stuck on that and I just fell to the side going about 10 miles per hour. Pretty pathetic. well the moral of the story is I thought I
jammed my wrist, then when it hurt the next day I thought I broke it, and then on Saturday I went to the Instacare in Amcan, but on
Saturdays it was closed! It feels better now. Still hurts, but at least I can bike again. Oh well!
Transfer info- Elder Minkler and I are staying the same! But moving to a different apartment in our complex so that the new sisters coming in to the Singles YSA area can live in our pad. Elder Alvarado is gone, Elder Delgado is coming in with him. I don't know him. Elder Grisham and Elder Nelson are leaving, and... Wait for it... Elder Wright is coming in!!!!!!! My son :'D I'm so excited. He's also a Zone Leader! Looks like I didn't do so bad after all. I actually got a letter from him too, I love that kid! I'm stoked. So is he! He's coming here with Elder Carrillo, my old ZL from Napa. Elder Payne (Peine) is leaving, and another elder I don't know is coming with Elder Smith. Ok now for the best news- remember the cholo investigator I found in Fairfield, Ortega? He's getting baptized in June! And Elder Smith and Wright and I have all taught him. What does that mean? We're going to his baptism!! Woohoo! Also, the Diaz family is super stoked, they're taking Elder Wright and I out on my birthday.
More good news- Adrian our investigator and Jackie his less active
girlfriend (well... It's a weird situation. Not really less active but
kind of) came to church here!! They loved it. He's been going in San Fran because of his job, but they decided to come here! And his divorce is finishing up this next week, at which point we will be
talking to them about marriage and baptism!! He's so nice. They love us a ton, they bought pan (like the sweet Mexican bread) and manzanita sol (really good soda) for our lesson last week. So he'll get baptized in the near future.
So we were out on our bikes, and we here this guy yell "Hey Mormon guys! Come over here!" And so we go over, he tells us he's on his way to the store and he wants to buy us some water. So we're walking with him- turns out he lived in Utah, remembers going to temple square as a little kid and his older brother got baptized and served a mission in the Philippines. So super nice guy, he takes us to the sketchiest convenience store I've ever been to. I'm pretty sure you had to be 21 to get in, but we went in anyway haha he bought us each 1 liter of water, then he bought a 40 and some cigars. But you know, water is water.
So also, we found the most awesome family. Ok it's a long story and there is a funny, unrelated story in the middle. On Wednesday we locked our bikes at a stop sign in front of a house. We were pros
walking, and we saw this gold RV. In cursive letters, it said across
the side "The Twerkulator." There were people outside, filming
some.... Dancing. So somewhere on YouTube there are people...
"dancing" and two Mormon missionaries in the background trying to leave. I wish I could explain it better. Just know it's super
hilarious. Ok back to the main story- on Saturday we are walking and we see the guy walking with his daughter and we heard them speak Spanish. So we go up, we start talking to him, he's super nice. He's from El Salvador, we tell him we love pupusas. Then his wife comes up, and asks us if we locked our bikes on the sign that day and we said yeah and she said she was going to talk to us, but was on the phone and couldn't. So basically, they asked for the address of the church, told us they are going to come next week without us even inviting them. They gave us their number, told us to call them so we could visit and one day they are going to make us pupusas. And also told us just to lock our bikes in their backyard from now on since, you know, any street with "The Twerkulator" is not the greatest street. Oh, Vallejo. I love this place so much!
So I know you guys are probably done with the punk stories, and last night I was thinking "hmm, no punk rock encounters this week" until we were walking at 8 and I saw a bumper sticker (I'll send the picture) with the words "WWHRD?" Yes. What would Henry Rollins do. I almost peed my pants. So we knocked on the door, the people were super nice. The lady said "Of all the things I thought we you going to talk about when you knocked, Henry Rollins was last on the list!" So they're not interested, but planting seeds. All I'm saying is, I've been waiting my whole mission to talk to people about this, I'm super glad there are people here who know what I'm talking about! It's like specific prayers get specific answers. I think I'm going to pray to meet Tim Armstrong. Or at least more punks.
I really do love Vallejo. It's so much fun to be here. The branch is
probably my favorite. It's hard to beat Fairfield, but I mean, I love
it here. Everyone is amazing. Loving and willing to come out with us, making us good food, and understanding how the church works. The people on the streets are always nice, and it just feels good. So even though it might be dangerous, it's the greatest. There is no where else I'd rather be than Vallejo!
Love you guys! Miss you!
Week 65
So to start off, the shift key on this computer blows, so if I miss capitilazing stuff, I'm sorry!!!
So this week was awesome! On Tuesday we had the coolest lesson ever. It was with an investigator who is living with a less active, and they are getting married as soon as his divorce finished from his wife from Mexico. it should be done this may. But Presidente Tobias came with us. It was awesome. We talked about the Book of Mormon, and it was like one of those Golden lessons where everything falls into place and the member just does exactly what he needs to. And since then, Presidente Tobias is on our "missionary wagon." I don't really know exactly how to explain that, it's a Sister Alba thing. So it was awesome.
and at this said bible class at the church, I made a great discovery. We have this member, all tattooed up and everything. He was at the class, I'm talking to the members, when I notice he has a pin on his shirt. As I got closer, I noticed it was for GBH (I don't like them, but you know, at least they're punk!) and so we started talking about punk! so he was in Punk bands in Mexico City. And so we talked about bands like Minor Threat and Gorilla Biscuits, and even bands from the east bay like Operation Ivy and Rancid! He has an Operation Ivy back patch. Oh man it was so cool, he's like the first person that actually understands!!!!!!!! It was awesome. He's into a little more street punk than I am, but it was still super funny. Hermano Cortez was laughing at us.
Also, I may or may not have contacted a guy who played drums for Fear in the 80's. I'm not sure if what he said was true or not. Do they have a drummer named Kelly? if you don't know them, they are the ones who played on SNL in the 80's on halloween and SNL freaked out. I think they also have a song in SLC punk. the singer is an actor now.
Also, we were at a member's house eating tacos, and it was kind of us just standing around or sitting on the couch eating. There were quite a few members there. But the member whose house we were at noticed that I was eating a lot of cucumber with limes. And she was all like Do you like cucmber? and I was all, yeah, my mom plants it in the garden and I miss eating it! and at the end of the dinner, she gave me two cucumbers! the members here are the best!
We also had zone conference. It was sweet, check out the video The Butterfly Circus. A little cheesy, but pretty cool anyway.
I have been studying the talk "the Merciful Obtain Mercy" by Dieter F Uchtdorf. it's so good! In addition to the mormon messages Bullying Stop It and the Other Prodigal (which is slightly a little racist, but I like it anyway). And then on church we had 2 talks on forgiveness and Presidente Tobias gave a class on the Prodigal son. It was awesome. Even if I do feel like I suck at everything now. I like what he says
"Haven’t we all, at one time or another, meekly approached the mercy seat and pleaded for grace? Haven’t we wished with all the energy of our souls for mercy—to be forgiven for the mistakes we have made and the sins we have committed?
Because we all depend on the mercy of God, how can we deny to others any measure of the grace we so desperately desire for ourselves? My beloved brothers and sisters, should we not forgive as we wish to be forgiven?"
Well, I love you guys!
So this week was awesome! On Tuesday we had the coolest lesson ever. It was with an investigator who is living with a less active, and they are getting married as soon as his divorce finished from his wife from Mexico. it should be done this may. But Presidente Tobias came with us. It was awesome. We talked about the Book of Mormon, and it was like one of those Golden lessons where everything falls into place and the member just does exactly what he needs to. And since then, Presidente Tobias is on our "missionary wagon." I don't really know exactly how to explain that, it's a Sister Alba thing. So it was awesome.
We also had lessons where two sweet members came out with us.
Also, we had a... good and bad lesson with our investigator mauricio from Gutamala. we were teaching the restoration, and we got to the Savior's Earthly Ministry. We read a scripture from Ephesions (efesios. Or whatever.) and then his brother's friend comes out. and he starts asking us questions about the Book of Mormon, almost bashing with us. So then I just get heated, and I throw down on him. So that was the bad part. but the good part is that Mauricio also said that he believes that Joseph Smith was a prophet. He should be coming to a class this wednesday that we have at the church. Also, Spanish is his second language! he's Mayan, speaks Mam, and learned spanish in school. and at this said bible class at the church, I made a great discovery. We have this member, all tattooed up and everything. He was at the class, I'm talking to the members, when I notice he has a pin on his shirt. As I got closer, I noticed it was for GBH (I don't like them, but you know, at least they're punk!) and so we started talking about punk! so he was in Punk bands in Mexico City. And so we talked about bands like Minor Threat and Gorilla Biscuits, and even bands from the east bay like Operation Ivy and Rancid! He has an Operation Ivy back patch. Oh man it was so cool, he's like the first person that actually understands!!!!!!!! It was awesome. He's into a little more street punk than I am, but it was still super funny. Hermano Cortez was laughing at us.
Also, I may or may not have contacted a guy who played drums for Fear in the 80's. I'm not sure if what he said was true or not. Do they have a drummer named Kelly? if you don't know them, they are the ones who played on SNL in the 80's on halloween and SNL freaked out. I think they also have a song in SLC punk. the singer is an actor now.
Also, we were at a member's house eating tacos, and it was kind of us just standing around or sitting on the couch eating. There were quite a few members there. But the member whose house we were at noticed that I was eating a lot of cucumber with limes. And she was all like Do you like cucmber? and I was all, yeah, my mom plants it in the garden and I miss eating it! and at the end of the dinner, she gave me two cucumbers! the members here are the best!
We also had zone conference. It was sweet, check out the video The Butterfly Circus. A little cheesy, but pretty cool anyway.
I have been studying the talk "the Merciful Obtain Mercy" by Dieter F Uchtdorf. it's so good! In addition to the mormon messages Bullying Stop It and the Other Prodigal (which is slightly a little racist, but I like it anyway). And then on church we had 2 talks on forgiveness and Presidente Tobias gave a class on the Prodigal son. It was awesome. Even if I do feel like I suck at everything now. I like what he says
"Haven’t we all, at one time or another, meekly approached the mercy seat and pleaded for grace? Haven’t we wished with all the energy of our souls for mercy—to be forgiven for the mistakes we have made and the sins we have committed?
Because we all depend on the mercy of God, how can we deny to others any measure of the grace we so desperately desire for ourselves? My beloved brothers and sisters, should we not forgive as we wish to be forgiven?"
Well, I love you guys!
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