Nov. 18, 2013

Hey this one will be short.   Little new has happened since last week.  

 

We got to meet with our investigator Ronnie again.   Taught him the first lesson and offered him a BOM.   He still wont take one, and he asked for some time to gather his thoughts.   Don't really know what that means.  

 

We had a Ward Thanksgiving dinner this last Saterday.   One of those out reach to the Community things.   It went pretty good.   But we lost an Investigator on Saterday.   She said she wasn't interested anymore.  

 

Friday we had Zone Conference.   Talks were on being obediance, taking care of our things because the things that the Mission gives us are paid for with Tithing money, encouragement and praise for the work to be done and the work already done and a few others.   I got my picture taken with my Mission President, President Watkins.   He is really cool.  

 

Anyway when we got home, we went to leave to go and try to meet some people, and low and behold I wrecked my bike.   I know everyone knew it was coming when they learned I was in a Biking mission, but yea it sucked.   Tore up my knee, and had to stay home on saterday because it was still bleeding, and hurt really bad.

 

That is about all the exciting stuff that happened this week.  

 

Elder Melot

Nov. 12, 2013

Hey, this letter is going out on Tuesday instead of Monday, the Libraries are closed on Holidays.   That means no email.  

 

This week has had ups and downs.   We got to meet with several of the Active members of the Ward, and that is really great.   It is still a little difficult to get referrals, but I think they are warming up to the idea.   We do a lot of service for them, as much as they will tell us they need done and that seems to help them want to give us referrals.   I love this ward, is is so small and so friendly.   We have a family here in the Ward that we call our parents.   They are the Padilla family, and we call them that because they do so much for us, they have us over for dinner, they bring us things to eat.   They seem to really love having us over there to see them.  

 

Our Bishop and his family are great too.   They feed us about as much as the Padilla's do.   When there is an opening in the Calender for feeding us, it is a safe bet that either the Padilla's or the Chambers' will feeding us.   (Chambers is the Bishops last name).   This ward is so friendly I am loving it here.  

 

It was a little tough this week.   There were several days when doors wouldn't open, or the part-member family/less active people who lived there would tell us they didn't really want to see us right then.   It was a little depressing for me, I guess I came out here with some grandeous idea that everything would all go to plan, and it was a little hard when they didn't.   But I found solace in my scriptures.   In the book of James 1: 2-4 James talks about patience and faith (I'm not gonna quote the whole section, I don't have that much time, but if you feel so inclined you can find and read them yourself) and the verses really comforted me.   They reminded me that things have to happen in the Lords Time, not ours, and that when things need to happen a certain way, the Lord will make them happen.  

 

Beautiful example of just that.   After a day of little success me and my companions were contacting at the Hub (it is like a mall) we ran into this young man named Ronnie.   He listened to us and we set up a return appointment with him there at the Hub.   We have taught him I think three times now and he really seems to like what we have been teaching him.   I don't know how far it will go, but I am learning to follow the Lords time and the Lords schedule.  

 

I am no longer sleeping on the couch.   The other Elders moved out to a really cool house, built in the 1800's I do believe, that is owned by a member.   They don't get the whole house, only an area on the top floor, but it is still cool, but it is slanted at about a 35 degree angle I think.   That bit is weird.   But is nice to no longer be like the man from Cornwall.  

There was a man from Cornwall whose length exceeded his bed.

My body fits on it, but barely upon it

There's no room for my big Cornish head.

That one is for you mom. :)

 

Yesterday on P-day our zone met at the Stake Center.   This building is I swear about the size of three of our buildings in Washington.   The thing was HUGE!!   Anyway we played a lot of ultimate Frisbee.   It was really fun, and I am beginning to get to know my Zone better.

 

These past few days we have been helping a women move out of her apartment.  She is a nice Indian woman (Dot not Feather) who has ran into some tough luck.   She was so happy that we were able to help her out, and we should be finishing that today.   She is really nice and she made us curry.   But she is a cat lady.   I mean she has like 18 cats.   She saves them all, kind of like Kristen Kimball saves dogs.  

 

Anyway, I think that is the most of it.   Love you all.   Have a great day.  

November 4, 2013

Okay so big week this week.   Lots has happened.   Lots to say and a half hour to do it.   Lets see how this words.  

 

Elder Oleson and Elder Merritt and I woke last Wednesday around 3:45 to get dressed and ready.   We had packed most of the night before.   We got dressed and ready and we were still late getting to the travel office.   Elder Oleson even forgot his wallet.   But that was okay.   When we got to the travel office at the MTC we dropped off our keys and our locks, grabbed our travel info and went to the bus.   We could have sat at our room for an extra hour though.   A pair of sisters was slow getting there, so we didn't leave till around 5 instead of 4:30 like originally planed.   The bus ride was fun, we got to talk with the other Elders and the Sisters who were going to San Jose as well as us.  

 

When we got to the airport Elder Oleson, Merritt and I had to print our boarding passes since this was kind of last minute.   Then we paid for our bags, and headed toward the plane.   We still had an hour or so before we had to board, so we tried to call home.   I was sadly unsuccessful at reaching my momma, but I did get a hold of Grandma.   Then we got on the plane.   This thing was tiny, like two rows of two seats barely big enough for a normal person to sit in, let along a giant like me.   My head was brushing the top of the plane as I walked to my seat.   The flight passed without anything happening.   I slept a little bit.   Then we landed in San Jose.  

 

We were met by the AP (Assistants to President) and one of the Presidents Councilers I do believe.   Then we picked up our things and headed to the institute building where we would eat lunch and meet the President.   We went through a little introduction stuff and then we met the Mission Presient, President Watkins and his Wife.   He talked with us for a little bit then we all had a short interview.   After that we were sent out to Contact.   The Mission President explained to us that we don't do tracting around here.   We do lots of service, we try to help reactivate less actives and we talk to everybody we meet or pass on the street about our beliefs, trying to get numbers to go to peoples houses to teach.   So Elder Merritt and I went to try some contacting.   We actually didn't do to bad.   We had a few good talks with people, gave out some pass along cards and it was actually pretty fun.   We did get a lot of people who told us they weren't interested, but that was okay.  

 

Then we went and reported back and all the other people left to go to the mission home.   The three of us visa waiters were given to our companionships.   We all have two companions.   My companions are Elder Rollins my trainer and Elder Arnell, the Junior Companion of the two.   There was no down time.   We got me a bike, got to the apartment, dropped my stuff off and then went to a few lessons and a Dinner appointment.   The days have been like that almost consistently.   Service, lots of appointments to see people, lots of doors not opening and dinner appointments with ward members.   I have been fed by the Bishop, and the Relief Society President and a few others planned for this week.   Lots of great people who make great food.  

 

Our apartment is small.   For the last six days it has been me, and Elder's Arnell, Rollins, Housekeeper and Mossure.   There are only four beds.   I have been on the couch.   It isn't to bad, although the couch is not really big enough for me to sleep on.   We are living in the add on part of a members house.   The member is Brother Taylor, the High Priest Group Leader.   He is a great guy, and we have a few really great investigators.   The ward is so small.   There are maybe eighty people in the ward.   

My zone is great.   We even have a pair of sign language Elders.   I got to go on Splits with Elder Le Beau, because his companion was sick.   I learned a few things while going to completely deaf appointments.   Number one, I don't know as much sign as I need to to be able to contribute to lessons.   I learned how to pray in sign language, and I even got to help with a blessings in sign language.   That was really fun, and a great learning experience.  

 

I love how people recognize us.   My companions and I will be biking along the road and some guys will drive past and yell "Mormons" or some kid will see and yell "Hey I'm Catholic by the way" or the most funny is when people see us and then cross the street, or turn around, or wont respond to a simple hello.   I just love how people know who we are before we open our mouths.  

 

Hey before I forget my new address is

 

38741 Glencoe Dr

Fremont California 94536

 

I am already loving it here in San Jose.   Can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for me.