Email Letter - July 25, 2011

Hi everybody! so this week has been so great! I'm going to organize my emails into 3 categories from here on out. A basic summary of what happened, the good news and the bad news. sound good? it had better because unless i change my mind that's how it's going to be! so, this week has been very busy, getting out to Cali, meeting Pres. Weston, meeting my new comp Elder Garner, and so on. Very much fun. This week I've found myself in Yuba City, which is the 'central' area in the mission, and i'm in a biking area so I'm very happy. more news on that later. In short, I love it here, I'm very glad to be out in the field finally. We have 4 progressing investigators now, and we just contacted a few new ones while tracting. Lovin' it! Another thing, is the older missionaries in the zone all give out nicknames to all of the younger missionaries. for me, they're deciding between Franky, as in Frankenstein. As my head is very boxy according to Elder Lyman. Or hook, short for hooker. yep. Even here. They just had a missionary leave that played rugby that taught them about the positions, and when they heard I played, they asked what position. and now it's stuck.
The good: so the very good comes first, as it's the best. I had my first baptism! And I can count it because I taught him two lessons before the fact. His name is Dan Martinez, a used-to-be gangster. Seriously. Look up the episode of Gangland about the Fresno Bulldogs, he was part of them. pretty nasty group if I say so myself, but I love the guy, he's so great.According to Elder Garner, he has made a huge transformation since they first started teaching him. His wife, who grew up in the church but was 'less-active' is interested again too, and now his son, DJ is starting to sit in on daily scripture reading! Maybe some potential for him, hopefully. It's so great.
More good: Elder Garner is freaking awesome! I love this guy. So, the first thing I thought when I saw him was, "When did Trent Andrus grow 5 years younger and come on a mission?" I looks just like Trent, and it's kind of scary. But moving on, he likes the same kind of music I do, plus just about everything else that someone could have in common. It's pretty ridiculous really but I love it. We get along super well.
The last good: as I said I'm in a biking area, which makes me very happy, we serve in the Hillcrest ward which feeds us very well and takes care of us in every way possible, my district is pretty much the best. We have some really awesome elders, Lyman and Tervort, and Wooley and Poll. and also some sisters, Reid and Hurtado. Everyone works super hard and pretty much kicks butt. It's pretty great
The bad: This week we decided to study and learn about patience, as we decided to study a different Christ-like attribute from preach my gospel every week. Anyway, as I'm sure the more experienced people know, when you pray for and study about patience, you're going to be tested. Thursday was a very patience trying day, we had borrowed a bike from a member the night before, my bike didn't get into my hands until friday, but while we were studying in the morning we hear this pop and leak sound, but didn't think anything of it. While we were wheeling out the bike we noticed that the back tire had zero air in it. Frustrated we walked 3 miles or so to our appointment. on the way back we stopped at another member's house, and they offered us their bike while they tried to fix the first member's. So we took that and rode off to our dindin appointment. We got there and pulled our bikes behind their house, and we heard a leaking sound again. Not thinking it was the bike, as we were next to a dripline that was running, we went in and had dinner. As we came out and were wheeling the bikes out to the curb, Elder Garner jokingly told me to check my tires. Sure enough, flat front tire on the bike. UNBELIEVABLE! two tires, on two different bikes, in one day! It was a very, very long day.
The other bad: nothing, I just felt that the bad needed to have two sections.
Anyway, that's about it! except for the things I need sent to me. Items such as: a blanket, and a pillow. That's all! Note: unless otherwise noted, please send packages to the mission office, to guarantee that I get them. It may not be timely, but at least I will get them 100%. That's the 8583 Watt Ave adress, in antelope. Thanks! I love you all very much, and I'll talk to you next Monday.
-Sean