Week 29 - Swap Meet

Hey Everyone! Hope you all are doing fantastic. This week was alright, still feels slow even though we had more going on. But I'm gonna make this one shorter.

1. Swap Meet

2. Our people

3. Spiritual thought

1. So we went to this thing called a Swap Meet this week. Basically there's a lot of people there and you can get random cool stuff for cheap. It was pretty cool. Totally felt like I was in another country. I'd guess at least 60% of the people there were Hispanic and spoke Spanish or another language. And the tents, random cars driving through the crowd, etc. San Diego is America, but there are definitely places where it feels like you just go through a portal to another country or something. While we were there we also got bashed by some guy in a wheelchair. He didn't say anything new, saying stuff like you can't earn your way into heaven, and there's only one God, we can't become like God, etc. So that was fun. My first English bash in person. After he was done we were just like ok cool and left, but it was pretty wild. I also got a pair of sunglasses for driving. I am allowed to drive without my glasses on, but I couldn't see as well with just the sunglasses so I probably will only wear them to look cool.

2. We have a family of 3 on date and our goal is to get them Baptized April 23. The Mom hasn't been coming to church because she works night shifts and doesn't get off till 7 am. But, she plans to attend the other ward here which starts at 12:30 and hopefully will make church more important to her because it's not a priority for her. Something else exciting is that Vanessa from my last area is on date for Baptism on April 16th. Really exciting, Elder Tillman has been doing a good job. There are still some things they need to go over, and my biggest concern is that she won't like the idea of the Priesthood being given to Men only. She said when she was a kid she gave her Dad a blessing by the laying on of hands and spoke in tongues... So hopefully that's not a huge obstacle.

3. Something I have been thinking about recently is the Spirit. I feel like a lot of times we do things that detract from the Spirit and make it less strong in us. For example Movies, Video Games, our language and actions, etc. Because we are imperfect and a fallen people, a lot of these things can sometimes seem more appealing than things like reading the scriptures, going to the Temple, etc. Can you imagine how much more strongly we will be able to have the Spirit with us when we do become perfect? It baffles me how much we deny ourselves being able to receive the Spirit and keep it with us. My opinion is that this is a large reason why we have the Gift of the Holy Ghost. I think we are undeserving of having the Spirit with us sometimes, but the Lord has given us this gift that we can have with us as long as we are keeping His commandments. Take that as you will, but that was just a cool thought I had this week.

Anyway, hope you all had a good week and I would love to hear from any of you so send me an email if you'd like. I'll try to respond. Love you!

- Elder Wride

1. I cut my hair badly in my opinion. I'm glad if you think it looks fine 

2. The Swap meet. I wish I captured all of it better.

3. Meme

Week 28 - Tracting

Hey all, hope you're having a good day. It's been a pretty long week, it feels. It's my first week in a new area so it makes sense but still.

1. Easter Devo

2. Tracting and Dogs 

3. Elder Pedlow

1. We have an Easter Devo coming up on April 10th. They've had a lot of practices, and I wasn't going to be in it because I don't sing. Well, Elder Pedlow is in it so I had to go with him for the practice. I thought I might just try and get some Facebook or Areabook work done, but there wasn't anywhere for people to go who weren't gonna participate. So I ended up getting drafted into the choir. You guys should know this, I'm not a choir person unless it's like Duel of the Fates or something. But now I'm in the Bass section. Best part of a choir is that you can have your voice behind everyone else's. I felt kinda stupid because I didn't know what was really going on. I had to rely on my saxophone music knowledge from 7th grade and I got by. 

2. Things are a little slower here than College. The members are really good so that's why they have success, but the work is not as good in Street Contacting and Facebook. So, we got to a point where the most productive thing we could do was go Tracking. Maybe not the most productive, but we had extra time that we couldn't find anything else to do with. And man did it take me back to summer sales. It was funny because Elder Pedlow also did sales, but he did it for a whole year. So we both had ptsd from the ring doorbell sound. We only went for like 30-45 minutes and only had 2 people answer the door. Tracting is not fun. I would also like to take some time to rant about dogs again, and I'm sorry if I offend any dog lovers, just not really. I just can't stand these big hairy animals that smell and slobber. We were walking this couple's huskies once and they were somewhat small. After them doing their business on the sidewalk and getting hair on my pants I was having a really hard time withholding my anger. I just wanted to see how far I could punt that thing. We also had another member's dog who kept on nudging me to pet it and got mucus on my clothes. I'm just saying it's going to take a lot of convincing, and probably bribery, for me to approve my future family getting a dog. 

3. This is now the segment where I talk about my companion. Elder Pedlow is my 6th companion so far, and the 3rd one I'll be sending home. He is from Austin TX. Here are some weird things about him. He really likes country music and likes to play it on speaker in the shower. He also hates California drivers and gas prices. I've heard about it probably at least once a day and it's pretty funny. Also, when he will go over what he studied during personal study he'll give a whole summary of what happened and it's hilarious. I wish I could make a show called "The Scriptures According to Elder Pedlow" and have him talking in the background with illustrations showing the Book of Mormon characters. If anyone has any expertise in these fields let me know because this could be big.

I love you all!

- Elder Wride

Pictures. Sorry for not taking more.

1. Choir Practice 

2. Transfers last week

3. Meme

Week 27 - Goodbye College

Howdy there. Not a whole lot happened this week, but here it is

1. Transfers

2. Vanessa

3. Goodbye College

1. We have transfers today, and my new area is Otay Lakes closer to Chula Vista. I've heard really good things about the area, it's like one of the most successful areas. In the past 43 hours that I've known about transfers, I've heard it called the Promised Land, Bountiful, etc. Right now we have a family on date for Baptism. My new companion is Elder Pedlow, who is the 3rd Missionary I'll be sending home. That's half of my companions over the course of 6 months. But, I'm doing good. I'm not trunky. In the past few hours I've been in Otay, I have learned that it is very nice. Nothing like City Heights in San Diego. The streets are clean, there isn't an aroma of weed, and it's not overcrowded. There were some like fields of grass by the highway and that was nice to see. 

2. We had 2 really good lessons with a lady named Vanessa this week and her mom and son. It's just so awesome to find those people that are ready for the Gospel, and to see them learn things like the Restoration, the Book of Mormon, and the Plan of Salvation. It's all just been clicking for her, she's come to church, and just hit the ground running. I wish I could see the rest of her progress, but we'll keep in touch.

3. It has been a good past 18 weeks in College, and I have learned a lot there, spending the majority of my mission there. I just feel good leaving the area satisfied that I worked hard for it and helped the people, members, etc. It's just that I left my first area, Lake Poway Ward, realizing I didn't really leave much behind. I was so sure that I was going to stay there for another transfer, that when I learned I would be leaving, I realized I didn't do much for the area. Yes, the work was slow there and I was a greenie, but I could've done more over those 6 weeks. So when I went to College in November, I was pretty determined to make a difference there, and I can confidently say that I did. It's very satisfying. It's just important to me that I serve an honorable and satisfying mission. So I would encourage you all to make the most of what you have and where you are. It won't last forever, so do the best you can with it, and involve the Lord, because He will help you. 

But I think that's it. I'm doing pretty good, just keep on keeping on

Love you all!

- Elder Wride

1. Weed Whacking

2. My Last Cali Burrito from Papas Fritas

3. This is what's known as the Elder Wride building

4. Last P-day eve

 A few pictures from Hyrum's phone call today - Peter and Natalie playing with the phone filter.

Nice Natalie - 

Joseph and Wes were able to talk too

Week 26 - Orthotic Devices

Hey All, this past week I hit 6 months! Feels weird and not quite real to be 1/4 of the way done. Also, it's apparently supposed to go even faster as time goes on...

1. Duolingo

2. Car Contacting

3. Orthotic devices

1. So I got Duolingo a couple weeks ago and it's been good trying to learn Spanish. I give credit to my junior high and high school years for bringing back a lot of simple words to my remembrance. In Duolingo they also have a leader board for whoever gets the most points. And as a Missionary, you don't have a lot of avenues to compete with others. So I just have done a lot of grinding on Duolingo. It's not even about learning Spanish anymore, it's just about making sure that Anna and Emily know their place (see image below). I plan to be in first place every week.

2. We have been encouraged to look for new and creative ways to find people. A new method Elder Tillman and I have developed is called Car contacting. Basically when you pull up to a red light, hold up a Book of Mormon and roll down the window to get their attention and then try and give a super brief pitch. Most of the time it's just like "Do you want a Book of Mormon? It'll change your life". We haven't had much success. Except one time some probably intoxicated college boys wanted one but they were a couple lanes down and we weren't able to get them one. But each Book of Mormon has a Restoration Pamphlet, contact info, church address and everything. 

3. A couple weeks ago I saw a Chiropractor to get my feet casted because I have some foot issue. Basically, I lean on the outside of my feet and it can lead to long term damage to walk like that. So, he is helping me to improve my walking performance with these little insole molds to wear in my shoe. And they came this past week in the mail! It does feel weird walking around a lot with them on, but it hasn't been painful at all which is good. The night they came in the mail I tried them on and it actually felt good. My feet were a little sore and it just felt like a foot massage because it hit all the right spots. I don't know if that last sentence made sense. But yeah I'll be wearing this for the rest of my life so that's exciting. But I'm actually super grateful to have these. I will now segway into my spiritual Thought which is related to this section. Basically, this past summer I got a summer job, from which I hoped I would be able to earn enough money for college, and maybe my mission. It was originally sales, so I wasn't sure how much money I could make. I was in sales for a whole month without a lot of success. So after talking with some leaders and my parents, I switched to technician work. I wouldn't make as much money as I could in sales, but I knew I would make money. Over the months I was worried I would not make enough money to be able to pay for school. I was working 12 hour days, 5-6 days a week and I felt like I was doing all I could. I wanted to quit and go home, because I didn't see the point if I wouldn't even have enough money afterwards. Through one Sacrament meeting I was able to change my mindset. I don't remember what the speaker was saying but the phrase that hit me was "Trust in the Lord". That really stuck with me. I was doing what I thought was right, and what was in my control, so I just needed to leave it to the Lord. So yeah. I think I may have explained it better in my farewell talk, but whatever. But I am still going through this process of being like "hopefully I'll be able to avoid student loans, because right now money will still be pretty tight after the mission. The reason this relates to the Chiropractor is because I feel like this is the Lord watching out for me. The doctor (who is a member) talked about praying and trying to figure out what to do with me. The original whole program they offer costs $6k. I definetely could not pay for that myself, even though my parents would probably take care of a lot of it, if not all of it. But this doctor decided to give me these devices for free. I did not pay anything. The only thing I had to get was new shoes. This is kind of where the spiritual Thought ends, but if anyone wants more details I'm going to continue typing. But if you want to stop reading here is a good place to do it. But I'm just so grateful. To explain all the details, I ran into this doctor because I went to a members home to give the dad a blessing (Dr. was the grandfather). And the Dr just happened to be there and they were supposed to leave earlier than they did but they stayed. I think it's also cool that they even noticed that I needed help, because I didn't know. I knew it probably wasn't good for me to lean out like that, and my shoes didn't look well, but I figured it wasn't a big deal. But he noticed my shoes were worn, checked my feet out and then said i could come by to his office. Then, when I got there he casted my feet and gave them to me for free. It's just so cool. There are so many other variables that play in: me being in this area, me going to the house because we weren't planning on it, it was sort of a last minute thing, etc. I'm also so glad I was able to get this problem addressed at 18 years old, and not further down the road where more damage would've been done. I just really feel like the Lord is watching out for me. 

Anyway, sorry for the long thought, but it's a good one I think. I hope you all had a good week. Shoutout to my sister Melodie who just completed her mission from Brazil . Also, sad news, this is my last week in College Area. No its not YSA, it's just the family ward around SDSU. They're changing the name. But I have been here since November and it's been a really good area.

I love you all so much!

- Elder Wride

1. Duolingo

2+3. My old shoes (angles)

4+5. Orthotic devices (Angles. They're like bullet proof. The lump at the top is the most uncomfortable)

6. Clerks office doing some media work

7. District

Week 25 - True Respect

Hey everyone, this week's been pretty good. But time is just so weird.

1. Russia and Ukraine: Alma 35

2. True Respect

3. Elder Tillman

4. Spiritual Thought

1. Even though we don't pick up on all news as missionaries, word still gets around. We heard about Russia invading Ukraine from a friend this past week and it did sound pretty bad. The next morning Elder Tillman was talking more about how crazy things are going on in Ukraine. It's sad. We started talking about how crazy it would be if we got sent home to go to war. Later that morning as I was thinking about it, I got to Alma 35 in my Book of Mormon Reading. I got a little shook when I read verse 14: "And Alma, and Ammon, and their brethren, and also the two sons of Alma returned to the land of Zarahemla, after having been instruments in the hands of God of bringing many of the Zoramites to repentance; and as many as were brought to repentance were driven out of their land; but they have lands for their inheritance in the land of Jershon, and they have taken up arms to defend themselves, and their wives, and children, and their lands". I was like uhhh, does this mean something? Nothing has happened yet. And for now, we will proceed to do Missionary work as usual.

2. I just wanted to record this moment. Elder Tillman and I were street contacting talking to a guy. And while we were talking this black guy, who likely was intoxicated, comes up behind me. He grabbed my left shoulder so I turn to him. He gives me a firm handshake with a little, confident, grin, and then continues walking down the street. This was all while Elder Tillman was talking to this other guy we approached. But it was just so awesome. I have never felt so respected. 

3. For all my companions I try to introduce them by pointing out the weird things about them. I realize I never gave Elder Tillman a formal introduction. He has been my companion for a month now and things are going good. He's from Texas and turned 19 a couple weeks ago. It's harder to describe a guy like Elder Tillman, but here are some random things: He likes to scream randomly sometime, or just likes being a loud person in general. He is also the designated driver so I don't always feel safe. Sometimes when I'm backing he likes to go in reverse really fast and thinks it's funny when he almost hits me with the car. I have come closer to being hit than I'd like. So a lot of the time I'll just stand on the curb or somewhere he can't drive. These all sound like bad things, but I need to get out the weird things about my companions to someone. He is a good guy, has a strong testimony and a good work ethic, I just may end up in the Hospital, or in a Let's Get Real segment of Safety Zone. 

4. Today's Spiritual thought comes from Alma 36, the same day I read Alma 35. This is when Alma is talking to his son. My favorite verse is verse 5: "5 Now, behold, I say unto you, if I had not been born of God I should not have known these things; but God has, by the mouth of his holy angel, made these things known unto me, not of any worthiness of myself". I don't think I would have a testimony of this Gospel and be a Missionary if I didn't grow up in the circumstances I did. If I hadn't been born in the church and was given the opportunity by missionaries or something, I probably would've done what a lot of people do and brush it off because they've got other things going on. But because I went on a mission and was given the time and resources I feel like I was able to realize how important the Gospel is. So I feel like I have been born of God like this scripture says: "Not of any Worthiness of myself". In the past I've felt bad for being unwilling to invest in the scriptures because I just never made it a priority. I needed to be given the time as a Missionary to really invest in the church. Which that's why I'm so grateful for the environment of the Mission, and for being in the true church. 

Sorry I don't know if the spiritual Thought made sense. I don't have much time and I'm writing it while multitasking, but you should be able to get what I mean.

Love you all! Sorry I didn't take any pictures this week

- Elder Wride