Nerf Guns, Flip-Flops, New Companion, New District Leader, and Pinewood Derby

So there haven't been any updates to the blog for the past 2 weeks mostly because I've been swamped and also because Elder L. didn't really provide his usual public email. I will give the highlights, though, then follow with the email we received today.  Bob L.

From March 10

• Elder Jennings (zone leader) went home which delayed Charlotte's baptism.
• Witnessed a drug deal.
• Got shot with nerf guns.
• Wrestling champions.

 

• Met with Jamey: Jamey is like 50 years old and has tattoos and  went on some tours for skateboarding and then he came back to church and teaches in Elder's Quorum now. He has an amazing story of how he left that life behind after his son went on his mission and he couldn't go to the temple with him because he wasn't worthy. It hit him pretty hard so he decided to quit his job for Skull-candy and now he works at 7-11 and couldn't be more happier with his family.

From March 17

• Elder Arney goes home for health issues.

Seeing Elder Arney Off at the Airport

• Charlotte gets baptized.

• Elder L. gets a new companion - Elder Kiser.  Turns out his companion left rather suddenly as well. Apparently without telling anyone.  I hate it when that happens.

Today's Email - March 27

This week has been pretty long! When Elder Arney left we didn't have too many people we were working with, but this week we added like 7 people so we are slowly building our teaching pool back up. Elder Kiser is a really hard worker. We have a lot in common. We are both terrified of going bald and we both love Nordstrom Rack. So this Pday is going to be sick! This week I don't have to go play sports, or watch my companion play sports haha. 

So my toe got pretty bad this week. I had a podiatrist look at it a month ago and he took my in-growns out.  Then the nail got super loose so I just pulled the nail out. Now its infected haha. So the Podiatrist's wife brought me some antibiotics. She came from Elder Kisers old area so Elder Kiser asked if she could stop at his old apartment to get his back stretcher that he has haha. So we meet her at the parking lot and she pulls up in a Convertible with his stupid back stretcher hanging out of it haha. She told me that I shouldn't be wearing shoes for a while and Sister Schmitt agreed (mission president's wife is a doctor) so I'm rolling in flip-flops right now. Elder Kiser has a lot of stuff. I don't even know how he got a back stretcher but its in our tiny apartment now and takes up a lot of space haha XD. 

So since Elder Arney left my District had been without a District leader and we had district meeting coming up on Friday morning. It was Thursday night and we still didn't know and then at like 10:15 President calls and told us that I'm the new district leader! That didn't give me too much time to plan for district meeting but it still went pretty well! 

On Saturday night we had the Pinewood Derby/Chili Cook-off in our ward. We ended up judging the Pinewood Derby and it turned out to be the most dramatic thing ever. Friends were made and lost and tears were shed. It was too much to handle. It took me back to when I was a Cub Scout and freaked out because I got a trophy that said "Most Unusual Car" haha. It was pretty crazy.

Today Elder Kiser and I went shopping because this is the first time on our missions we have had a companion that wanted to go shopping too. It was the best/worst idea ever. We are both broke now. haha XD

The Archer

Cupcakes and Ceilings and Stuff!

This week has been pretty crazy. A lot of stuff to talk about! Elder Arney and I are getting along really well! Even though we are COMPLETE opposites we make it work to our advantage! Transfers are this week but its all good because we are both staying. Pretty crazy that we are both staying another 6 weeks! Elder Nielsen (my trainer) is also staying in the zone which is good because we get along really really well too.

So last Tuesday, after emailing, Elder Arney and I went to the temple to do baptisms for the dead with our recent converts and youth in the ward! We ended up having 5 people there for the first time not including the youth! They also all had family names! Even Elder Arney and I had names but I couldn't get baptized for my names because of my toe that I had surgery on last Sunday. But Elder Arney was able to baptize Peter (My first baptism) for my family names, which was pretty cool!

 

 

On Wednesday we had MTE's. Which is when a couple of zones get together and go on a big exchange! I ended up leaving Sweetwater and going to Otay Lake with Elder Boasten! Elder Boasten is pretty sweet! He played college football for the University of Alabama Birmingham. We had a really good day. We also found a street in that area called La Rochelle which is pretty sweet!

On Thursday we went to the Mormon Battalion with Charlotte who we met 3 weeks ago. She is getting baptized next Saturday! 

On Friday I went on exchanges with my zone leader Elder Jennings! Elder Jennings is a pretty sweet dude, he is like the happiest person I know haha. He doesn't have anything bad to say about anyone.

On Saturday we went to 2 baptisms for a different ward and Charlotte also had her baptismal Interview and she killed it! Elder Arnsten (my other Zone leader) told us that she is the most prepared investigator he has ever interviewed. 

 

After the baptism stuff we went and did service for Sister King. Sister King has had some problems with people breaking into her car at her place. So we went over there with Brother Beebe to set up a security system. Elder Arney was in the attic stringing wires from the cameras outside.While he was up there he tripped and fell through the ceiling! He caught himself before he actually fell to the ground and pulled himself up but he ended up putting a huge hole in the ceiling!

 

It was pretty crazy stuff! Sister King wasn't mad though. She was very calm and understood that things happen. She also gave us some groceries and she owns a cupcake business so she made us some cupcakes! She even made me some sugar free cupcakes which were way good!

Sunday we taught 2nd hour which went pretty good! We had dinner with all the Tongans in the ward! We ended up getting 2 referrals from them and giving one of them a blessing which was pretty cool. 

Yesterday was pretty crazy weather-wise! Right as we were about to go out the door it started hailing! It was coming down super hard I stepped outside for like 5 seconds and it looked like I just got out of the shower. We were driving around as it was hailing and no one was out haha. The roads were empty which was crazy haha XD. 

 

Last night we went over to Sister Kings again with Bishop to fix the hole in the ceiling. After 3 hours of trying to get the sheet rock to be the right size we realized that we got the wrong sheet rock and we have to redo it all over again haha. 

That's it for this week! Love you all!

 

Elder LaRochelle