Week 46

One more week down and into a new year! I can't believe that it is 2014 right now. It's super crazy. It feels like only a few weeks ago that I spent the New Years at a ska and cheese party. I can say that I celebrated like I did last year a little. Last year Jake and I bought some Lemonade and Honey Arizonas. This year, I bought a gallon of Lemonade and Honey Arizona, and I drank half a gallon (Diabetes, I know. It was a new years splurge.) . I can say that I didn't throw up, but I stayed up until about 11:30 urinating because I drank so much of it right at 9. It was a good day! 

Elder A and Elder V have both been sick, so they have been chilling at the apartment all week long, and this next week all of the Zone Leaders are going to MLC in Camp Liahona for 3 days, so Elder S and I have the apartment to ourselves for 3 days. It will be a little weird. 

We had a really succesful week as far as proselyting goes. We found quite a few new investigators, set a baptismal date in our area and a baptismal date for a lady in Mexico through Facebook! She is meeting with the missionaries down there currently. 

The bad thing about this week was pretty much the whole town of Woodland is sick. We had 2 investigators that were pretty solid to come to church yesterday. On Saturday night we went to visit them to see if there was anything we could do to help them attend. We walked into the first lady's home, and she told us that she was sick and couldn't go. You could tell that she was being serious. We watched a Mormon Message with her and got out so we didn't get sick. We then went to the second lady's house, and she was even more sick! I was so chapped because they need to come to church gosh dangit! So right now, I am taking 1,500% of the daily amount of Vitamin C just to be safe. But for real. Both of them sick?? Come on!!! 

But now for the good part- We had 8 less actives at church. One family, and two other guys came. It was sweet to see the results of our efforts. They really enjoyed it. 

Good thing #2- Old Spice is now making shampoo. I have said always that the only problem with Old Spice is that they don't make shampoo. But now they do. I am currently using Wolfthorn deoderant, body wash, and shampoo, and Old Spice pomade. Should I be an old Spice salesman??? 

#3- we ate dinner this week with the elders Quorom President. He is hilarious. His name is Joel R. He was converted at age 8, served a mission in Mexico, then came to the states a few years after. He is 34, speaks good but funny English. The dinner was pizza and juice, and I don't think I've ever laughed so hard. He told us things like "Sin el bautismo, you don't even can see the Celestial Kingdom. You don't even can see it!" or when telling us the story of how he met the lady to whom he is now engaged "La vi, y empece a mirarla como un fox!" I was dying the whole dinner. But he likes me a lot, and pretty much told me that whenever we need him for a lesson to call him. Score!!!! 

Well, it's been a good week. I miss you guys!!!! Hope all is well. 

Elder Foster 

Week 45

Christmas week! 

So I'm sure everyone wants to know how Christmas went! To start off, thank you for all of the presents. I'm a spoiled little kid ;) And I willl probably never have to buy shaving stuff again! I might actually be able to grow a full beard before this 2 years ends!



Skyping you guys was definitely one of the most positive experiences I've had on my mission. I miss you guys, and that gave me the strength I need to keep going and keep working! Even though I wasn't with you guys, I felt your love on Christmas.

After we Skyped, we went and visited some less actives who don't have families and gave them Christmas cards. One of the guys was really really thankful, and he came to church yesterday! So that felt really good. It felt nice to get out and spread some of the Savior's Love on Christmas Day.

After that we went to a park and played Ultimate Frisbee for about an hour and a half. It was really fun, good to get out in the sun (it was warm for the first time in a long time!!!) and play some sports.

 

Then we went to a member's house in Esparto. There were 10 missionaries! All of the spanish missionaries from the Woodland Spanish Branch, and then one companionship of Spanish sisters from Winters. It was crazy! In addition to us, the Branch President and his family came. It was awesome. We ate chicken, tortillas, tamales, carne asada, menudo, and pozole for dinner. After that we ate dessert, which consisted of flan, milk jello, and this weird sweet potatoe stuff  that is awesome. So it was a huge Mexican party, and it felt like family.

As far as the rest of the week goes, just normal work. It has been slow as far as teaching lessons with the holidays. but from 6PM-9PM tonight we have 4 lessons planned, and 2 with members coming. I don't know how that's all going to work, but it should be good! Finding has been good, we are contacting lots, but I like knocking doors, and Elder A and Elder S didn't do that as much, so we are going to start doing that more! We are finding lots of cool people though.

My district is really cool. I have the Hermanas from Dixon (one of which is from Spain, the other knows sammie, her name is Hermana L), the zone leaders, and Elder S. District Meetings are in Spanish, which is fun and a good challenge.

It's been a good week! Hopefully this next week will be an awesome one for you guys as well.

Elder Foster

Week 44

Sooooooo a lot of stuff happened this week.

To start off, we had the Christmas devotional! It was a wonderful, uplifting experience. I don't think the actual talking about Christmas had too much of an effect on me. It was touching and spiritual, but nothing incredible for me. And then!!! We had some special musical numbers. I can honestly say that I have never felt the spirit that strongly when I listen to music. It was wonderful to hear all the missionaries singing and praising the birth of Jesus. 

Then, we had the party. It was so great to see all of the missionaries that have made a difference to me on my mission. I saw Elder L (who I haven;t seen since he left), Hermana B and W, Hermana Ch Elder W,F, and S, Elder W, and just so many missionaries that have blessed and changed my life. If I had never decided to come on a mission, I never would have had the opportunity to meet these missionaries. I loved it.

 

Woodland is great. It is a large branch with many youth. We had a Christmas party with over 100 people show up. We had 10 people that we invited show up. It was so successful! And the tamales were great. I don't know why we can't be hispanic!!! We are mostly biking. The area is good. There was not a lot of finding done last transfer, so we are trying to build up the teaching pool! Elder S is awesome. A little republican, but I can deal with it. That's why we're on missions! But it did teach my that I would like my wife to be on my end of the spectrum. Darn politics. 

We have so many members willing to teach with us, and the branch is on board with missinionary work. I love it! 

I don't know what else to write about. I'm super excited for Christmas. I love you guys and hope all is well! 

Elder Foster 

Week 43

After 6 months being in Fairfield, I have now left to Woodland! It looks like they're just moving me along the Geographical line! 

So I guess I'll start off with my last days in Fairfield.

I have though a lot about the things that I have learned. I have learned how to love other people, even if it was hard to love them. Even the tool missionaries that I couldn't stand, I ended up loving them. I learned a ton of Spanish. I gained a lot of scriptural knowledge. Even though we had problems, Elder L and Elder W are friends for life. Even this last week I've been missing serving with Elder W. 

 We went around and said a lot of goodbyes. To missionaries, to members, and investigators that I had taught. We went and saw J. W. (AKA "G West on the HOOOOD" As Elder L would say), Brother F, the O family, and many others that I might not have written about. I think the most important goodbye was the goodbye of the D family. It was probably one of the hardest things I have had to do on my mission. For the few months that I had taught them, I truly learned to love them. I love them like I love family. They are a family to me. I know, 100% and without a doubt, that I came to this mission, that I came to Fairfield when I did, and stayed as long as I did, to help that family enter into the covenant of baptism. They are so special to me, and to the Lord. I gave them the scriptures, and they said to thank you. They thanked me for making the decision to serve a mission, to come to them, and to learn a new language in order to help them find the Gospel. They gave us thank you cards and wrote me a letter. I plan on writing them every month until I go home. I don't think that I can fully express into words what that family means to me. When we got into the car to go, I had to make Elder W drive, because I couldn't hold in the tears anymore. 

Well, after that somber note, I will change the subject! President called me (4 days late, might I add) to be a district leader. So that will be fun. The members of my district are elder A, V, and S (my new comp) And Hermana L (who Sammie knows) and Hermana F (from Spain. Directly.). So that will be fun. Pray for me on my district meetings! 

Elder S is from Federal Way Washington. He loves planes, trucks, and guns. His Spanish is good, and he went to BYU for a year. I think President Alba sent me here with him because I know what it's like to be with Elder A for a transfer, and he wants me to repair the damage. 

Also, I am in YOLO county. There is a bus called the YOLOBUS. And so that's cool. 

The branch is cool. There are lots of youth. Lots! A good change. President P is super missionary minded. 

We are driving a 2014 Corolla with 500 miles. 250 were used my first day here, so we will be using bikes A LOT. It is the hottest area in the mission during the summer, but it's cold right now. I am always wearing a sweater or a jacket. ALWAYS. 

The water is gross in Woodland, so I am buying 3 gallons of water a week and recycling the bottles. You would too if you were here. 

There are also tons and tons of Hispanics here. A good change of pace. Our area is awesome. 

Well, that was the week. I will send you some pictures! 

Love,

Elder Foster

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Week 42

Week 42!

The other day I received revelation (if you can call it that) but a year ago last week, December 5th to be exact, I received my mission call!!! I can't believe it's been that long. Time flies when you're working hard.

So this week was a mediocre one by ths numbers. We doubled the amount of lessons we taught, but it's not hard to double one lesson! So that is good? Bad? I don't know. We worked hard though and contacted like crazy. So I feel as though I've done my part and acted in faith to work in a hard area. But! We received Transfer Doctrine. I will be going to Woodland! With and Elder who came out last transfer, Elder Sabin. He is Elder Smith's MTC comp (Elder Smith is the Elder in the picture of us with the Sharks hats). I'm excited and sad.

I'm going to go tomorrow to say goodbye to the D family. I'm sad to be leaving them. A few weeks ago we ate with them, and they made us this good coconut dessert. I told them I love coconut stuff.  This last week I was on exchanges and didn't get to visit them, but they had made macaroons for me and Elder Wright. I missed the macaroons because of the exchanges, but when I went to Stake Conference Saturday Night for the adult session, L and B had made more and given them to me! I love them so much. I will visit them when I go back. I'm pretty bummed to leave!

I'm glad though too. I've heard Woodland is awesome. My companion's Spanish is supposedly really really good.

Right now I'm writing the email, but in the background I can see the first volume trade of the new 52 Batman series by Scott Snyder. Just so you know!

It's been cold here. We wear coats and sweaters every single day. Because it's COLD. Around 45 during the day, 30s at night, and 20s on the morning walks. No snow, but colder than I would like! And it's been rainy. Not good for tracting when two guys in overcoats that look like the FBI are knocking on the door. Good for sympathy if they actually open though.

Elder Garity goes home today.

We went to another Mexican Party with O(the investigator, not President Or). There were some girls trying to perreonar with Elder Garity, so we left.

That's about it for the week. I can't think of any more crazy stories. I'm glad that I have had 6months in Fairfield. It's helped me grow and change. I love the members here, and will be sad to leave. But at the same time, I'm ready for a new adventure, a new branch, and teaching lessons!

Love,

Elder Foster

Week 41

Thanksgiving week!

I suppose everyone wants to know about Thanksgiving, so I'll start there.
We woke up at 6:30 like normal, walked for 30 minutes, showered, ate, and then... We put on normal clothes!!! To start the day off, we played Ultimate Frisbee (With the frisbee you guys sent me!) in a park. The park was cold and wet, and we all had a great time! We were all sore and worn out after. I must say, I felt really weird playing outside in a park on a Thursday morning with a bunch of other missionaries.

After that, we went to brunch with Cordelia 1st ward. We ate delicious cinnamon rolls and something really similar to poop casserole. I did eat it, but with lots of apple juice as well. The guy we ate with was a jerk though. As we left, all the missionaries were talking about how funny he was, but I'm just glad that I was raised in a family where intellect and manners are cherished, and being a Grade-A uneducated moron is a loss. Well, live and learn. I should probably learn humility, too, but it will come, surely.

We then went a raked leaves.

After that we went to dinner (a 2PM dinner) with the S. There were 11 of us, and 5of them. Their son had just been  released from being a missionary that morning (he served in Kentucky) and so he stuck with us most of the time. We played pool, darts, and a game called Labrinth. It was a lot of fun just to relax and play some games. Then came the dinner. It was pretty good! We had applewood smoked turkey (definitely the best thing there), mashed potatoes, yams, green bean casserole, peas, and cranberry sauce. The usual. There was probably more there (just imagine a normal, american thanksiving and you've got it.) Then we were were done eating we played some more in their basement with their son, and then dessert was ready. We ate apple pie, pumpkin pie, cheesecake, berry tarts, oh man it was all so delicious. I had been losing weight, but I for sure picked it all up again. Worth it? I think so. I loved it all. We also got plates to take home dessert and dinner.

Then we went and visited some members, ate some tamales, hung out for the night. It was a good day, and a sorely needed break.

 

Other than that , I would say a pretty normal week. We went tracting, and this cat came and started following us around. We named it Tiger, and it let us pet it and everything! We decided that it probaly wouldn't ever happen again, so we went back to the car to get a camera to take a picture of our new friend. while we were headed back  to the car, a member from the 2nd ward stopped us and told us to come to his house. So that scared the cat away (thus we have no pictures), and we headed to his house. There are 2 spanish people that live on his street, and he told us to visit them. Neither was home, but now we have 2 referrals. Miracle gato? I'll let you think what you'd like.

 

Also, The picture with Hermano P. Remember the P family from Napa? Well, he came here. Elder Garity is finishing his mission next week, and so he asked Elder Garity if he could take him out to lunch, and asked if I was still in Fairfield so that he could take me out too. Well,  am in Fairfield, and so he took us to Chipotle and brought us Inca Cola! And he gave us marriage/ life advice. I wrote it all down, since this was actually pretty good advice (Better than Hermana N's advice: "Hazme tamales y hazme tortillas, y depues te puedes casar conmigo!).

 

I think that's it for this week. Nothing too special, but a good week all in all. I'll leave you with a though from the Book of Mormon. So we know that Moroni was abridging the plates, he was writing on Gold plates. And you can't erase stuff that you write on Gold Plates. There's this part where Moroni messes up. It's talking about when the Lamanites were being converted and they buried their weapons. Alma 24:19 "And thus we see that, when these Lamanites were brought tobelieve and to know the truth, they were firm, and would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin; and thus we see that they buried their weapons of peace" Did you see the mistake? Weapons of peace. Since he can't erase, he continues "...or they buried the weapons of war, for peace." and that's the verse. I can just picture Moroni saying "I HAVE BEEN ABRIDGING THESE PLATES ALL GOSH DARN DAY, AND I WROTE WEAPONS OF PEACE. COME ON!!!!" Ok so maybe it's not so funny in email, but just maybe try to imagine how angry you would be.

Well, I love you all!

Elder Foster

Week 40

So this week was a fantastic week!

We were slammed with a lot of rain and doors this last week. And it was cold, too. So lots of sweaters, lots of coats, and some wet garments.  It was nice though, it has only rained here twice since I've been in Fairfield. It was a good change!

This week, we have had some great food. Last monday Hermana D made us some enchiladas, and they were so good! We are eating with them again tonight. Such a great family! They seem like they have been members for 100 years. We also ate posole, and you can't beat posole. Especially on a rainy week like last week. Also, with our branch food coordinator we ate some chiles from her garden. I might have shed a few tears. Or a lot of tears. It didn't hurt my tongue too bad, but my throat was on fire. I was tender the day after, too.

Also, I made a wonderful discovery. At 711, they have Game Fuel!!! The exact same kind as last year! I took the first sip and got a little trunky! I remember band practice with Matt and Tyler. We were fueled off of that stuff and burritos. I almost cried.

Speaking of Soda, I'm pretty sure I'm losing weight because of soda. I know that sounds weird, but hear me out. When I was in college, I drank a lot of soda. A lot. And I was skinny. Really skinny. Then I came out on my mission, stopped drinking soda, and gained 30 punds. But! I have started drinking soda again, and I have lost weight. Coincidence? I don't think so. Elder Wright thinks it's because of the protein/ nutrition powder I've been drinking for breakfast insted of eating cereal, but I think he's crazy. I might right a book called "How Soda Changed My Life: A study in the effects of soda on weight loss" By Dr. Foster and I will send you what will be my on the back cover.

Also, this week, I have seen more punx than I have seen in the last 9 months of my life! I saw a guy wearing a Leftover Crack shirt on Monday, then when we were going to do service, I say 2 guys with vests with patches, and then I saw a different guy with a Dead Kennedys shirt! And every time, we had to go to a meeting/ service or something I couldn't talk to them! What the heck???

We went to the temple this week. It was wonderful! We went with Brother A, whose brother is a member of the 70. Brother A was the head chief of security in the temple for 23 years, and everyone there knew him. EVERYONE. It was awesome.

While in the chapel, I read a part of D&C 88 63:67-78 or something like that. It really touched my heart and helped me know what more I have to do to become a better missionary.

When we left the temple, it was raining. The way the temple looked with the rain was really cool. I will send you a few pictures.

Hermana D was called to give her testimony. She shared her conversion experience. She talked about how when Elder Lopez and I walked in we carried a peace and she felt the Spirit. And how she was grateful that Elder Wright and I would learn Spanish in order to bring her family the Gospel. They are such a special family. Of everyone in Fairfield, I will be sad to leave them.

On Thanksgiving we are going to play Football for 90 minutes. After that, we are going to rake leaves until dinner at 2. After dinner, we will continue visiting families from the branch. It should be a good day. I'll send you some pictures. 

So I think that that about covers the mission this week. I am trying to think if I left anything out. I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving!
Elder Foster