Sent: Monday, March 14, 2011 11:00 AM
Subject: Hello Everyone
HOLA! or i mean HOWDY
i hope you guys are excited to hear from me. I'm in TEHACHAPI. its just like utah. Tons of cowboys and mountains, and cows, and farms... not what i was expecting when i came to california. But the drive here was cool. My companion Elder Pulham is awesome, he's a proffessional roper and he's from payson utah. And he drove us home from transfer meeting. Since we live up here in the mountains we get to drive a Chevy Colorado! Sweet huh? Who knew i'd have a truck as my mission vehicle! Its pretty dope. The ride here was awesome, i got to see citris feilds and the ocean and out here in Tehachapi there are wind mill farms. TONS of wind mills. hundreds. everywhere!
Anyways if you dont already know i got out to the mission field monday, and my companion from the MTC didnt make it, poor old guy had back problems and woman problems, he's a stud though. Went and taught some people my first night. And then i went to Tehachapi where i'm in the church writing this email. Me and my companion cover two wards. So sundays are CRAZY. Church was SOOOOOO long, but its ok. My Second day here i got chased out of a house with a gun. This guy named Randy burst out of his house with a pump action rifle and yelled "I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU MISSIONARIES TO NEVER COME BACK" i just stood there like "What the heck is going on?" And my companion was already half way down the street. All is well though. Randy's wife is an active member and he loves the missionaries. They were tryin to trick me but i kept my cool.
The first day i got here, i was able to wash some clothes, the other two missionaries that are up in Tehachapi have a washer and dryer. so we are able to do laundry whenever we want. Its nice. But first night here we went to all the scheduled appointments. It was nerve wracking, but i'm breaking out of my shell and me and my Trainer (My Daddy) are having a good ol' time. I'm getting an accent out here i swear! Everyon has an accent and its growing on me.
We taught a lesson to a mother and father, they've been investigating the church for a while. But they have never committed to anything... We invited them to church last time, and the spirit was way strong, the mother was crying. and then when we called them saturday to make sure they knew where the church was, they said they were going to a different church... We were pretty angry. but we'll gettem!
I'll have to take a picture next to a lancaster sign. They are all over! I'm right next to Bakersfield and Lancaster. so yeah i'm way close. I'm in ONE of the THREE places that it snows out here... Figures huh? Its so dumb haha. Some days are nice, some days are chilli. But for the most part... there hasnt been any snow, and i'm ok with that.
I think i've gained around 15 lbs? all the scales are different that i try. But its ok, i look good. Not fat, i work out everyday. we have some weights at the apartment..
My companion is amazing at roping and he's teaching me how, because we have a youth thingy where we'll be roping and tying and stuff... so i'm gettin' goooood.
Ummmm i've done some service, there is a lot of service to be done out here... there was a guy who had an electrical line from the box going to his house, and it was buried, but not protected and GOPHERS ate through it, they had been running on a generator for a month! and this guys property line is HUGE! like its about 3 or 4 football fields from the box to his house, so he's got a big ol' digger thing and we went and helped protect the line and bury it, we're going back today to put up fences and stuff. it was SO FOGGY, it was awesome!
Its so weird, the kids here are so mature, the kids back home are a bunch of shy wimpy babies but i could carry a conversation with a toddler here! And we went to a blue and gold banquet which was pretty fun. And everyone knows about sandy utah here! Some guy was wearing a Beetdiggers shirt at the blue and gold banquet. I feel like we drove to another part of utah... i'm in california right? And the other day we went to this ladies house, sweetest lady in the world, SO NICE. she played ping pong with me, mind you she's in her like... 80's and she just loves missionaries. Gets permission to hug them. And she tears up when she talks aobut the past. She's just so cute. and her and her husband used to make these little wooden things, like homemade train set, or windmill or fort and they would have a scriptural message on the inside, and her husband is WAY sick, he has cancer and she gave me one. And THEN! i was walking through her house looking at the pictures of her grandkids and i GRADUATED with one of her grand daughters! I was like HEY!!! i know her, so they called her up and the girl thought it was so crazy! it was Brooke Steenblick... If anyone reading this knows her, i met her grandparents! And they are so aweomse!
I really like the mission... but what i hate are all the meetings. Such a waste of time... and my companion only hase about 3 months left so he's trying to get as much done as possible so he forgets about food, and we went to a members house and it was about 8 or 9 and she was like have you eaten? and i said no... and she whipped me up 3 omlettes and scolded my comp haha he just gets really involved in his work. He doesnt want to leave, but his girlfriend waited for him, her name is Shelby. and he'll marry her so fast off his mission.
Everyone i speak to tells me i'm in the best zone, and that it is all downhill from here... literally... i'm in the mountains haha. but also the work is so much harder anywhere else.
Hmmmm what else could i tell you.... The other night me and Elder Haynie, he's a missionary that serves here too, me and him took the top off of a nerf gun bullet, and put a tac in there and melted it in place with electrical tape.... yeah that thing is SO LETHAL no joke. We are planning on hunting squirrels and birds. and get this! my companion used to see quail in the road, and hit them with the truck, then pick up the bodies, throw them in the back and eat them that night haha he's so crazy!
Now for the things i need.... So SCOTT pay attention. Cuz you can do this stuff easy. I need you to go the the ARMY SURPLUS store and pick me up one of those big bags that you can toss all your crap into... you know what i'm talking about right? Just like a duffel bag kind of but its just an army bag, usually green i think? My laundry bag is a fail, it rips and tears, so if you could please go get me one and send it pronto! I neeeeeeed it. and also i need you to go to my stuff and find the skinny little box that has "Sam's Shoes" in it, i need my red white and blue basketball shoes. Send those pronto too... haha my new leather Chucks are already so trashed :( I'll buy some when i get back though.... SO Scott! That's your task, i need them please! I blew a hole in my running shoes, like the little air pockets in the back... yeah everytime i take a step it pushes out air and makes funny noises.
and..... tax return, dont forget to do my taxes and put it in checking please :) i budget my money pretty well. I'm gonna make my comp. some crepes cuz he doesnt even know what a crepe is, and i'll make him blintzes. My comp eats a dozen pickles every night... its sick haha.
other than that... i cant think what else. Just send me packages and letters. i like it. When you send mail make sure it is first class forever stamps, and if you send packages make sure you do Priority mail through the US Postal service otherwise it takes months to get to me!
Oh yeah, logan leaves next week i think? Kid's a rebel. he was listening to music and stuff in his residence at the mtc haha he's funny. Got some pictures with him!
I'll try and attach pictures now. ok attaching pictures didnt work, i'll try and send them to sarah and she'll put them on the blog!
Love you all and i'll see you later.
My address is
California Ventura Mission
260 Maple Ct. Ste. 120
Ventura, CA 93003
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