Week 78

I feel like there is so much to write about this week and I don't even
know where to start. I think the best place would be to answer the
question that you are all asking. What is happening with transfers?
Well, I'll start off with the branch. Elder Albertson is staying,
Elder Delgado is going to Petaluma. Elder Carrillo is finishing his
mission, and Elder Wright is staying. Elder Dunlap is going to my old
area in Woodland (I looked through my planners and made a list of
people that I want him to go see, like potentials and former
investigators), and Elder Tepox is staying and training. I,
unfortunately, am leaving the city of Vallejo. Where am I going? To a
place sometimes called the promised land, but known to most as Death
Star, the Eye of Mordor, the Chamber of Secrets. The city of- Santa
Rosa. My new companions will be Elder Whitaker, he came out with me
the first day in the mission, he's from Georgia, and Elder Grisham aka
Grishy Bear from Anchorage, Alaska. I'm in a trio again! As far as
why? I think it's a joke from President since I said that it's been
taxing being in a branch with 8 missionaries (Woodland, Vallejo), he
decided to make me the 9th missionary in the branch! Very funny,
right? I thought so at least. Well the good news is is that I'll be in
the same branch as Hermana Fernandeth, the one from Spain, and the
same zone as Hermana Hernandez, who just got moved to English for her
last transfer. So even though I don't really know the Elders in the
zone, I'm with the 2 coolest sister missionaries. But the point is,
I'm really, really, really going to miss Vallejo. Like really really
really bad. I love this city. Even though we we come back to visit the
mission, we probably shouldn't stay nights here because you know. It
is kind of bad.

I'm glad that the funeral went well! It sounds like it was good to
have the family altogether. I wish I could have been there with all
the cousins. When was the last time that happened? Hopefully we can
all get together for something that is not a funeral when I get home.

This week Robin Williams passed away. He lived in Sam Rafael, a few
missionaries had contacted him (I've seen a video of it actually, not
just rumors) he's not too cool with the church, but he was still a
very funny man. In addition to that, Jay Adams, the famous Z Boy, just
passed away.

Also, Chris Evans (Captain America, evil ex#2 from Scott Pilgrim) is a
Mormon and lives in Santa Rosa, he went to church last Sunday and some
missionaries posted a picture of it. Maybe I'll see him!

So I guess we'll get going on the week! Elder Wright and I FINALLY got
to go on an exchange after 2 transfers, and it was probably the
greatest exchange of my whole mission. We were knocking doors and then
this guy opens the door and signals for us to come in. Well, it's this
family from Iraq. They didn't speak any English, but he was Christian,
she was Muslim. They had a 14 year old son named Abraham who spoke
Arabic and English, and acted as a translator. They had just moved
here from New York, and they were looking for friends and a church. We
shared with them the message of the Restoration, translated through a
14 year old. The spirit was there really strong. So that was a super
cool experience, the bad part was that I broke soda edge. They didn't
ask us if we wanted anything because of the language barrier, and just
brought out 2 ice cold pepsis. Not wanting to offend them, I suck it
up and drank it. It was the best tasting soda I've had in my whole
life. That must be what heroine feels like.

Sauri and Jackie are doing really well! They were super bummed when I
texted them on Friday night about transfers. We are visiting them
today as soon as we finish emails. Really, I love them so much. They
came to church yesterday and it was really cool. I sat next to them
while Elder Ford sat next to our other investigators (I'll explain
more later.). But anyway, I told them about our trip in February out
here, they're excited for that. I'm so glad I've been able to teach
them. They really are a beautiful family. And it's kind of weird, but
I feel kind of like an Uncle to Andres, their son. I've seen him grow
up a ton. When I got here he couldn't even walk, and now he's running
and he always sits right next to me at church. When I get back, he'll
be talking.

The branch is pretty bummed that they are losing their "chilango." I
think part of it is since we've been having a lot of success with
people coming to church they don't want change. I'm sure things will
still be good. Tonight we are visiting the Guzman family. They hosted
a Barbeque on Saturday in a park for all of the missionaries that are
leaving (without habaneros, thankfully.). I'll send a picture of that.

So Marcos and Norma. Unfortunately, we couldn't teach them this week,
just conflicting schedules. We called them on Saturday and we left a
message, we weren't sure if they were going to come out. But when we
walked into the chapel after Elders Quorum, they were sitting there in
the chapel! I was so stoked. Hermana A did a great job and sat
next to them. And after Sacrament Meeting, we went outside to take a
branch photo, and they were in it and everyone was talking to them,
they had huge smiles and felt so welcome. They even said they've found
their church! The cool part is that they asked Hermana A what
time classes start so that they can come! Solid. We are teaching them
one last time tonight. Even though I won't be around to baptize them,
they will be baptized and I'm so glad that I was able to plan that
seed. We are teaching them tonight with Hna A.

So that's it I think. It's been a good week. They changed transfers to
Tuesday so I'm leaving tomorrow and tonight is my last night. But I've
been super glad and grateful for the chance to serve in Vallejo. I
don't think that this area has only changed my mission, but pretty
much my whole life. I've learned so many lessons here. Some were
learned the easy way, and others the hard way, but I think that this
place has been a defining point of my mission. I can definitely say
I'm not the same person that I was when I came in. One of the big
things that they say is "Leave your area better than you found it."
Well, we bumped it up from 3 lessons a week to 10-13 a week. We have
found families that are attending church and that are going to get
baptized. We got Sauri and Jackie to come to church consistently after
they had been being taught since January without coming. I can
definitely say that this area has taught me a lot about hard work and
prayer. I may not have baptized, but looking back on these last three
transfers, I can say without a doubt that I put my all into this city.
The only regret I have from here in Vallejo is not taking enough
pictures. I really am proud of what I've become here and the work I've
been able to do. I mean, I know it's all God. But I feel like God has
worked through me here. I don't mean to sound cocky or prideful. But I
love this city and I really am sad that I have to leave.

I'll let you know all about what the Death Star is like next week. I
love you guys!
XstayXstrongX
Mufosta
Well, as i was emailing a friend, I just got a bomb dropped on me.
Like a big bomb. No longer am I going to Santa Rosa. I'm going up to
the great white north. I'm going to the farthest north in the mission.
I'm going to Crescent City. It's an English area, I'm serving there
with an Elder Yepez. He was called to serve English, but he speaks
Spanish. So basically I'm going to an English Ward, serving English
and Spanish. I am now a zebra! Pretty crazy. I never thought that it
was possible. Well, that's crazy!

Week 77

This is kind of a weird week to email. First off, I'm so sorry for the
loss of Grandma Janice. I'm not sure exactly how to respond. It's not
too fun hearing about the loss of family members on a mission, because
it would be nice to be home for the funeral and be able to help the
family. On the other hand, I know that this is exactly where I need to
be, and that she wouldn't have it any other way. Out here I have
gained a more full knowledge of the Atonement and of the Plan of
Salvation. The most comforting truth that we have as members of The a
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is that Jesus Christ came
with the purpose of rescuing us from Physical and Spiritual Death, and
by doing so makes it possible for us to live with God and our families
again perfectly and with perfect bodies. I think the video "Because of
Him", explains it very well "Death has no sting, the grave no
victory", or as Paul states it in the New Testament,

"55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord
Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your
labour is not in vain in the Lord."

1 Corinthians 15:55-58

Also check out Alma 22:14. While writing this, I thought back to last
conference, and the talk that President Dieter F Uchtdorf gave. He
said

"In light of what we know about our eternal destiny, is it any wonder
that whenever we face the bitter endings of life, they seem
unacceptable to us? There seems to be something inside of us that
resists endings.

Why is this? Because we are made of the stuff of eternity. We are
eternal beings, children of the Almighty God, whose name is Endless
and who promises eternal blessings without number. Endings are not our
destiny.

The more we learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ, the more we
realize that endings here in mortality are not endings at all. They
are merely interruptions--temporary pauses that one day will seem
small compared to the eternal joy awaiting the faithful.

How grateful I am to my Heavenly Father that in His plan there are no
true endings, only everlasting beginnings."

Well guys, I love you a lot. I'm so sorry that we had to lose Grandma,
but she's not gone forever. I know that one day we'll see her again,
and because of the power of the Resurrection, she will not be held
back by weaknesses, physical or mental.


So I'm sure you guys still want to know what happened this week. I'll
give you a run down. If I keep it in a light tone, I don't want you to
think that I'm not sad about Grandma. I am, but I have to keep going
and I want you guys to see how blessed of a week we had.

So last Monday was P Day. We went to the gym and worked out, played
basketball, all that jazz. After that, dinner was with the C
family in a park. The Cortez family and Hna G also showed up. So
anyway, we eat carne asada, rice, beans, your typical Mexican party.
And then they bring out a little surprise. Habaneros. So anyway, they
are like telling us to eat them, so Elder Ford, Elder Delgado, and
Elder Tepox eat one. And then the members are all like "Elder Foster,
you're not going to eat one? Come one!" and I'm like "if I eat one,
I'm going to cry." But the. They start chanting "chilango, chilango,
chilango" which is my nickname in the branch. So you know, how could I
refuse? So I pop it in my mouth, bite once and swallow. Let us just
say that I cried. Hard.

So that was a good start to the week! I also went to Benecia with
Elder Albertson on Tuesday, but we took a bike trail through Benecia
State Park and it was super easy and beautiful. While we were there,
we were blessed. You see, there aren't that many Spanish people in
Benicia, but almost everyone we talked to was Spanish. So we would
talk to one Spanish person in an apartment complex, ask them if there
were more in the same complex and they would say no, but in those over
there there is one family, so the first door we knocked was Hispanic
and it happened like 5 times. It was sweet.

So we had the sketchiest correlation meeting in the world ever. It was
pretty much the Vallejo version of the place where the Underground II
was in SLC, next to the animal shelter. It was at a chop shop, where
people sell stolen cars and they chop them and sell them for parts. So
we are on this dirt parking lot, everyone is looking at us like we're
freaks. Hermano G brought seeds and so we were all eating seeds.

Elder Ford got sick Saturday and Sunday, but he's better now, so we're ok.

Best part of the week- Marcos and Norma and Sauri and Jackie came to
church! Woohoo! Marcos and Norma loooooved it. They felt super welcome
and they even set up an appointment with us and invited Hermana A
to come. It was sweet, and all the members were telling us good job!
It felt good.

Well, I love you guys. Stay strong and help out Grandpa. I'll pray for him.

Elder Foster