Elder Wride in California: Week 15

I don't know how to write emails anymore. For like the first 8 weeks I loved writing emails but I don't know what to say anymore.

1. Update on things

2. Homeless Guy

3. Christmas

4. Bald Spot

1. Our goals for this area this week was to have 0 Baptisms, 4 People on Date, 15 at Church, and 5 People added. 15 sounds like a lot, but we honestly could do it, we have enough decently solid people. But this last Sunday we got 2. Oof. And we had 3 on date last week, but now we have 2. Oof. In our lesson last night with Tony, who the Sisters put on date and it was our first lesson with him, he said he didn't feel ready. So we took him off date and we're gonna keep meeting with him. But our 2 people on date may not be baptized for a hot sec because they haven't been coming to church. Something Elder Hayes and I talked about is that in the normal world I feel like people show up to things they say they will, but in the mission, 40% of the time they don't show up for lessons, and 75% of the time people haven't come to church when they say they will. Those aren't exact figures, but still. It's fun to see how things go super right or super wrong, like Satan trying to mess up what he can, but God will help us when He needs something to happen. But after falling short of our goals, we will walk into the next District Council with our heads down. Unless a miracle happens before Thursday.

2. I can now say what the weirdest thing that happened to me on the street was. It's not super weird, so don't be like excited. But all the weird people here are normally on the same level of weirdness so all the interactions kind of blend together. So yesterday we were walking down good old El Cajon Blvd. There was this homeless guy sitting down. I try to talk to everyone so I go over and ask how he's doing and all that. He just ignores me which kinda bothered me so I asked him again, and then. Elder Hayes was like cmon let's go. So I was like whatever. Anyway, about 40 minutes later we had looped around and were walking down that same part and this time, the guy was standing up in the middle of the sidewalk with his arms fully extended, facing up with his eyes closed. It's not anything super weird I guess. He's just doing his thing. So Elder Hayes is like "Just keep walking". But, I decided there's nothing wrong with just waving and swing. So I do, and the guy opens his eyes and turns around saying "I'm doing something" in a pretty aggressive way. I'm like oh, sorry, I didn't mean to mess up what you're doing, something like that and this guy I think said I disrespected him. It's kinda hard to tell because he didn't talk very loud and there were cars going by. But he looked pretty upset and his eyebrows were like really squinted? I sound like an idiot, but I don't know the proper way to say it. But it was to the point were I didn't really feel threatened because this guy is overreacting. That was until he started kinda growling and I was like what? Anyway, he kept saying you disrespect me and I can hear Elder Hayes behind me saying cmon let's go. I almost decided I was gonna teach this old man a lesson but I didn't. So I just said sorry, have a good day and he's still upset and looking at me. So we just start walking away and I'm like what the heck. I think the best part is that there were people in the restaurant right next to us, Elder Hayes said they were watching but I didn't notice. But they must've been like "Oh shoot! It's a Mormon vs A Homeless guy!". So that was fun. Also, everyone uses the term Mormon here, even the members. We try to correct them when we can but I don't know if they all got the Memo.

3. I know Christmas comes before my next email. I forget that it's almost Christmas, because A. No snow B. We're working and don't do Christmasy things. In Christmas day we'll just keep working, it's almost like we don't even celebrate Christmas. But whatever, I'd rather just keep going because then I'll get trunky. We don't even get at least a day off? P day doesn't count by the way. But like people with jobs have weekends and people at school have summer and other breaks. My break is when I go home I guess. Anyway, but it's fine. It's all good.

4. Elder Vickery is gone, but we still have our Messenger chat. And he sent a picture of me on the floor for whatever reason. Anyway, like what the heck? I have a bald spot on the back of my head. I guess thats a trial with brown hair is that your skin contrasts with it when you have a bald spot. But that was from a few weeks ago, the other picture is what it looks like today. But I can't be going bald. It was nicer to know, Elder Hayes said he never noticed a bald spot until Elder Vickery sent that. But Prayers are appreciated during this time. Oh, also, I was on the floor because I was still coming to terms with the reality that a lot of our lessons cancel. Our last lesson for the day canceled, and I think that day we had 1 out of 5.

Anyway. I love you all! I hope you have a Merry Christmas.

- Elder Wride

1. Me on the floor