New Years Eve

President Morales texted us this picture tonight.

Elder Erickson and Elder Thomas eating Polose at the Morale's house New Years Eve.

The bowl and glassed they are useing are HUGE!

Week 53: The Holidays

hola Que onda!?

It was so good to see all of you on Christmas! I couldn't believe how much Hannah has grown! and Eli too he is still getting taller! and Jamie....she has grown a bit too. Its still weird to think about. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! Christmas here was very different than what I'm used to but it was still good! 

This holiday season is rough all around. Missing the family...Just a tiny bit. Not getting snow! and worst of all is that it just gives everyone a new excuse to use when we try and talk to them! Ive heard some pretty dang lame excuses! One of my favorite came from this past Thursday during hour of power! It was really bitter cold night and it was raining. It was just like I'd imagine tracting when you think of it being horrible haha. We starting working in a new area, it is pretty run down and trailers are just kinda where ever. Its a good place!...anyways we knocked a door and this white guy came to the door and he looked like Santa in a wife-beater. He looked at us and before we could get a word out he was just like sorry my door's stuck,  can I help you.....? haha so I asked him how he got in to his house then? hahah It was so funny he just looked at us and slammed the screen door. We wanted to ask him if he needed help with is door but didn't get the chance!

The good part of the Holidays is we get a lot of sweet culture experiences! Making tamales and what not! It has been so awesome to spend the time with the members and get to know them! I've really loved that part of the holidays and having to branch out and fill that need of love during the holiday seasons from members and my Heavenly Father! The Holidays are great! but I do miss spending them with y'all.

For our investigators right now we have been getting a lot at church consistently but they all have crazy stories I feel like. As for Armando we moved his date back to the 20. I hope he can make it. He is doing a ton of work at his home and so he hasn't come to church more than just the one time. But he studies like crazy! We went by the other day and he had 2 pages of notes on who Laban was. Sadly he thought the Laban from the Book of Mormon was the same as the one from the Bible. People here in the bible belt are just used to studying the bible so in depth, trying to find something new to start a new church off of that, they over look the simplicity of the book of Mormon! Senaida is another person who has been coming a lot, I cant remember if I told you her story! Let me know and if I didn't I will next week!

This transfer is one week shorter and I'm not sure if we will be touched by it or not. Usually president likes to leave the new elders in the area and give them the responsibility of taking it over but the past few transfers he has been switching it up so I'm not even sure what is going to happen. it is very likely I could be leaving. I hope not though. I Love it here!

Today for new years we are going to have some Posole with the Morales family! They are so awesome and always love to have the elders over for the holiday traditions!

Love you all!  Feliz Ano Nuevo! Hagan sus propositios!

Con amor y respeto

Elder Erickson

 Cooking Masa

Wrapping Tamales 

Christmas

Week 52: Christmas Skype

Being able to skype with Ethan was a great Christmas gift!  We thought we would have about 40 minuets to skype with him but Ethan said that there mission president's direction on the call was " be reasonable".    We ere able to have a good groupe chat  with him.  It was so fun to talk and laugh with him and be reminded of Ethan's wit and fun energy!  We each got a few minutes to talk with him individually. The time went fast and it was hard to say goodbye but the amount of time felt "reasonable"!  We ended up skypeing for about 2 hours.  I was great!!!  the first 15 minuets we were trying to get the video feed to connect both ways - so it really was 1 hour and 45 minuets.  It was so good to hear and see Elder Erickson.  He loves doing the Lord's work and the area he is in.
He was able to go golfing with the Mission President yesterday on his p-day and showed off the blister he got on his thumb from his game.  He skyped from the Branch Presidents home President Morales and his family really take care of the missionaries.  Ethan said that he feels spoiled by all the blessings he has in this area!  
We feel blessed by the pictures that President Morales texts to us. On Christmas Eve he texted this pictures to us...

I am so grateful for the the care the Morales family give Elder Erickson

We were making our traditional Christmas Eve pizza and texted this picture back. 

It was a tender mercy from the Lord to feel a little more connected to Ethan on Christmas Eve!

Week 51: "Boom!!! it was sweet!"

Buenas!

 First things first. Skyping. I think we will be doing it at Pres. Morales's house. The best time for us is probably going to be early afternoon. Around 12 or 1. I will let you know a for sure time next week but plan on that for now. To be honest I haven't even tried setting anything up, I kinda forgot it was coming up! Not that I'm super stoked to see y'all but it just so busy! haha and that brings me to my next point which I will prove to you with the lovely Bible. I wanted to get everyone a Mexican or Texas type gift for Christmas but its just not going to happen right now. (vease a Lucas 9:58-63) I don't have a bible in front of me but its somewhere around there! Thanks for understanding! 

I guess I forgot to tell you the story of Michael and the Serrano family. My first week here the Serrano family just showed up at church. The grandparents of Michael were baptized about 2 years ago and went less active. They leave at the very bottom of our area, about a 35 minutes drive going fast. We didn't even know they existed because they weren't on our records either. So once they showed up we started visiting them and teaching Michael and his mom. Its a really weird situation. Michael's mom Eva was 15 when she had him so the grandma raised them and Michael sees Eva as a sister...they don't even live together. But we met with them a lot, they are a blast. Doctrinally they don't know anything and so it's always fun to teach them new things! Hno Serrano needed a little preparation so we taught him along with Michael so he could baptize him.

Other neat things that have happened -

We taught my fan group again. They keep telling me that I look like Prince Harry or something and I didn't even lie but for some reason they think we are related. But last time before we left we told them to write down any questions that they had and we would answer them next time...I meant it as if they had questions about what they read, but when we showed up one set of parents where there and they brought another friend. So we asked for questions and they pulled out their phones and had a whole list!...I loved it. Sitting on the hot seat and answering all the tough questions! haha but after we cleaned that mess up we taught the restoration again to the parents and the new friend! It was awesome again!! The new girl/ Bianca, was kinda confused at first but we explain the holy ghost really good and then shared the story of Joseph Smith and when we asked her how she felt she just said, "just like you said I would" boom!!! it was sweet! The parents were even pretty interested. The mom is pretty hard catholic but we used the bible well in our teaching and got her and her husband very interested as well! It was a sweet lesson.

Armando and his wife didn't come to church last week sadly! but we saw them and they are still doing good!

New family -

Ruth Rodriguez, She lost her husband about 4 months ago! We shared the plan of salvation with them and it was super sweet! She came to church last week with her 3 kids and 2 of her step kids! It was really sweet!!!

Senaida- we taught her a divorce lesson and how she has to get divorced before she can be baptized, She told us she had to work so she could come to church, I told her just to call her boss and tell him she couldn't come in. (some what in a joking sense, but serious) She ended up showing up at church even though it was a huge rain storm and half the members didn't show! HAHA !

She's got great faith, now we just need her to be single then married again! HAHA

Ayala's texted us and told us they were sick so they didn't show up and we didn't get to see them!

sorry that's super messy but just trying to give you as much as I can! haha

The work is rolling on!!!

Love you tons!

I cant wait to see your faces!!!!

Con amor y respeto

Elder Erickson

A Surprise from President Morales

Todd was surprised to find a message and these pictures that had been texted to his phone late tonight  -
                " Here are pictures of your sons at our Branch Christmas activity last night.
                  Thank you for sending a well prepared missionary into the field.
                  We love them very much!
                   Respectfully,
                   President Morales
                   West Lake Houston Branch (Spanish)"
                   

I am so grateful for the members in Ethan's area that help him and love him so much!  I hope someday I get to meet President Morales and thank him for all that he has done to help Ethan.

I love these pictures, it really warmed my heart to see Ethan looking so happy - I would like to  give President Morales a big hug right now!  But instead I pray that the Lord gives him and his family extra blessings for all that he does to bless Elder Erickson.

Week 50: Ayala Family Looking for a Church

Hola que tal familia!

Como les ha ido?

This week was crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First off a Miracle story I forgot to tell last week! Last week right as church was starting Pres. Morales, our branch president, and I were walking to Sunday school and we saw a member of the english ward who had served a spanish mission talking with a man who neither of us had ever seen. We went over there and the guy that was there was named Domingo Ayala. He was just driving by the church and stopped and came in. We talked with him for a second and  he was saying how him and his family want to start coming to church here, and how they wanted to some help with their son and wanted someone to come and visit him and help him to learn more about God!.....We were both shocked, so we go his information and set up an appointment. He works crazy hours so we had to setup a time with just his wife and son but they were all super nice! 

We went by that Tuesday and talked with the wife and son. The son was really cool and told us he has been asking to go to church and finally his parents said ok. He is 17 and just said that he wants to find the right path and avoid all the negativity from high school. The house that they live in was freaking nice! super decorated! I felt like I was in Rome or something! They had tons of statues and paintings and rugs. It was really different than what I'm used to. We had a pretty good lesson with them and set a baptismal date for the 13th of January ;) haha. He asked us too if there were any activities that he could go to during the week instead of just things on Sunday!

Sadly he wasn't able to make it to mutual the next day. And they called us an hour before church and said that they had a family emergency and wouldn't be able to make it to church but all of the family was planning on it and that they wanted to set up another cita. Which was a real shame because we would have had a crazy day at church if they were there. It already was a out of control day. 

We woke up at 6:28 from a text from our branch president that said something along the lines of "Elders two things, can you be at the church at 8:45 for branch council, second Can you teach Gospel principles starting today?".....We didn't even have a gospel principles class before this at all! haha. We also already had planned that day to met with Armando to have him follow us to church! So we ran to the church then ran back to Armando's house and then back to the church!...then we taught gospel principles...it was a plan the lesson one step ahead of what we are talking about type thing! I was super stressed out! 

We had 14 people at church yesterday! Only 12 really were investigators but 14 were non-members of baptismal age ;) So trying to get them situated and in the right place was crazy! and to make it better our stake presidency was talking...who don't speak spanish....so we had a member translating with the whole head phone system so we were trying to make sure everyone had headphones and what-not! It was great!....the best part was Armando! He is so awesome! and to see his whole family there was the best part of the day! He is having a little trouble with is parents supporting his decision. I don't know if it was literal or figuratively...still need to clear it up next visit but what his dad told him when he told him we wanted to be baptized "Mormon" his dad said he would kill himself if he did...kinda extreme but we are really praying that the Lord will soften his fathers heart!  

Sadly the high school kids had to cancel on us! so we didn't get to see them this week....we have another time set up this week so hopefully we can get back and visit them before they forget those feelings that they felt.

Yes we will be able to skype for Christmas! I'm sure we will be able to find a member to let us do that so I will get back to you on that when I know a little better what our plans will be!

Thanks I Love you all!

Con amor y respeto!

Elder Erickson!

Week 49: "One Direction"

ya esta Deciembre!

This is crazy to me that it is already December! I feel like it was just barely December and I was just barley leaving! Time is flying for me!

So first to start off the week I got to start with a funny story!...So I don't know if y'all know about the band One Direction...I don't know who they are but all teenage girls have their shirts and stuff...looks like 5 JB's (Justin Bieber's) who sing together, but anyways last Hour of Power we knocked on a door and this girl about 17 or so answer and she had a One Direction shirt on. I don't know why I did this,... probably not the best missionary thing to do, but hey, it worked. I told her we were from one direction and what not. Two guys with white shirts and ties, name tags and we both had jackets on. She started freaking out....and before I could say I was just kidding she called all her friends over, they were having a party/hanging out. There was 6 of them. 2 guys and 4 girls...she starting yelling for them to come and she told them what I said and they all ran to the door...I should have let them know who we really were...but come on, this was way too good and way too funny. So I told them there had cameras and everything. They asked us if we were from England, I guess that's where they are from. So I said yes! haha It was so freaking funny, after a few minutes I finally told them who we really were. They let us in and all of them listen to our message.
They had some really good questions. We shared the Joseph Smiths story with them and explained the spirit really good, what it was, how they would feel, and what it would mean if they felt it.  So when we shared the Joseph Smith story, them all being catholic said, "I'm confused". We asked why and they said, "because this goes against everything I was raised on"...so we are going back this Friday night for their "party with the Mormons" haha.

And now for the Baptisms!

They went awesome! It was so sweet!....I baptized Zenia and Elder Thomas had his first baptism with Jailene! and We got Michael's grandpa ready and he baptized his grandson! It was so awesome! Everything went well! We had a little scare the night before but it all got worked out! and The spirit was so strong during their baptisms!

Zenia and Jailene  are the family that we found through the area book and they had the son who was killed by the cops? I'm pretty sure I told that story! but if I didn't let me know!

Con amor y respeto

Elder Erickson

Elder Ericskson, Grandpa, Michael, Zenia, Jailene, Elder Thomas and Clayton

Zenia's sister and mother, Zenia and Jailene Elder Thomas, Clayton and Erickson  

Michael's family with the Elders

Week 48: Armando "his book"

Thanksgiving here was pretty good! We spent a lot of time cooking actually!

Hispanics don't really use time. We showed up at our investigators house at 2:30. She told us it should be ready by 3:30 so we thought we would go help! When we got there the bird and just gone in the oven...and that was about it! She handed me and Elder Thomas a ham and told us to cook it! haha. We did a good job! Glazed the sucker and everything! But we didn't end up eating until like 6:15!! I was starving! But the food was really good! we were lacking a few things though! There wasn't any corn!!!!....and there was no mashed potatoes! It wasn't the same! haha but its all good! I still ate my heart out and loved it! Most Hispanics I have talked to so far all didn't even eat turkey! They all had menudo! gross!

So on the spiritual side I had one of the most spirit filled lesson for me in my mission! We were teaching Armando and he is still doing great! readying and knows the Book of Mormon is true! Sadly he hasn't come to church yet but he is awesome! He thought we were inviting him to come with us and do the mission! He said he was willing but he would have to talk to his family and get his parents approval!...luckily we were able to teach him how the family is the most important thing and how he needs to be with is family, not with us. He liked that! but I was on exchanges and so the other elder asked him where he was from and he said he was born on the reservation in Oklahoma!...what??? I was confused! I asked him then why he spoke Spanish and if he was even Hispanic! turns out he is mostly Cicapu Indian!!!! I was smacked with the spirit when he said that! and how this book is not just a book of God but it is "his book" It was so crazy for me! We read the part in the intro again about it being the ancestors of the Native Americans and it was just so crazy to see him when he realized it! I'm super excited to keep working with him!!!

We found Armando knocking at about 8:45 at night! haha...It was a rough night and everything fell through but me and Elder Clayton weren't going in early so we started knocking and found a family of 9 that we were stoked about, but they ended up dropping us. But they told us after we contacted them, that the people across the street were Hispanic too, but that we need to be careful because they got robbed in the street right in front of their house about a week ago by some gang so they told us to be careful walking the streets. So we decided that would make for a great door to knock so late! haha. But that is how we found him!

Baptisms are still on track for Zenia and Jailene. And also for Michael! so we should be having 3 this Sunday! We met with both of them last night and everything looks like it should be on track!

I'm glad you all had a good thanksgiving!  I missed you and so grateful for you! but I'm also so thankful for my mission, so y'all suckers can wait one more!

Con amor Y respeto

Elder Erickson

Alma 37:44 The Words of Christ point us to Eternal Bliss

Thanksgiving dinner with Chris and Ericka Solis 

(investigators that need to get married so they can get baptized)

Week 47: Felt My Personality Come Out

Hey family!!!

Sorry just a shorter one this week! We only have a half p-day today. Then on Thursday we have an all day p-day but no libraries will be open so I'm just going to try and send a short up date!

Everything went pretty good this week! We ate dinner with the Polanco's last night and they are so sweet! So we should be good to go for the 2 of December! One thing this week that I really noticed that was different was I felt my personality come out so much more in my contacting....which means a lot more joking around! haha but It was a lot more fun for me! People who don't want this message still didn't want the message, it didn't change that fact very much, but it made it more fun for me to be able to joke around with them at least! haha Elder Thomas is doing great! We are getting along pretty good and there isn't anything that we have hit heads on yet.

We have one investigator named Armando who I want to try and tell you about, he is the most humble guy I know. He is super sweet and really smart. We've met with him a few times and taught the restoration and Book of Mormon. He is super open to everything and studies a lot. When we went back for a lesson the other day the first question he asked me was "What tribe is Nefi From?"...what the heck? I told you to read the introduction!....He know his bible like crazy and so he actually understands the old testament and the tabernacle, "when" he goes to the temple he will be one of the few people who actually understand. haha But he asked some questions I've never even thought about before and were kinda tough, things about he brass plates and the history behind all that happens in the first 6 chapters. It was intense. But he told us how when he studies he goes to the library so if he needs to look something up he can! He is super awesome and I just love how humble he is, cuz really he is super smart but doesn't act like it. I kinda feel like he is just waiting to catch me in my words and bash but he hasn't.

Oh also something I almost forgot! I taught a JEW! haha that was crazy and a first. Really tough! I don't really know who the relationship works. The wife is a Jew and the husband is a Judio Mesianico i think. Messiah Jew in English, I've never heard of it. But he believes in Christ but other weird stuff...he pulled out his Hebrew "bible" and also the pamphlet we left and started trying to pick it apart. I really wanted to show him what was what but we just left him a Book of Mormon and Ir'd-nos. haha

Thanksgiving should be pretty good! We are spending the Day with Chirs and Ericka Solis! the ones who need to get married. She is a really good cook and I'm sure I'm going to stuff myself! The only bummer is she said she probably wont be making mashed potatoes...lame. But I'm excited! Last time we ate there we had some awesome Lengua! (cow tongue)

Con amor Y respeto

Elder Erickson

Alma 37:44 "The words of Christ Point us to ETERNAL BLISS"

yummy...this is the same house we will be eating at for Thanksgiving!  haha

Week 46: Running, Running, Running

Buenas tardes!!

Wow, I never thought It would be so stressful! I kept having dreams that I forgot to studying for a test in school or I didn't write a paper and I'm super stressed out about it because I'm running trying to get everything done and do it by the books since I'm training and I'm running until I lay down at night! ha ha so that just carries over into my dreams!

Being DL I have to call everyone in the district at night and talk with them, follow up on commitments and stuff like that. We have a district of 10 so that means I have to call 4 companionship's every night! And since I'm training I try to make sure we have good planning sessions, but he doesn't know the area or anyone yet so I pretty much have to do all the planning! And Hispanics love to meet late so we are usually pushing it to get home by 9:30 so that means we're done planning by 10:00 and that leaves me 30 minutes to call everyone and get ready for bed. Man I'm stressed just typing it! ha ha But its fun! I Love it!

My companion is Elder Thomas. He is from Salt Lake. He went to Cottonwood high school and graduated in '11. He did a year fo school at the U of U before he came. He is the Youngest of 4 Kids. And his social is 6479-25-953. ha ha just kidding. He has really good Spanish though for just coming from the MTC. He is really Gun hoe about the work and so we have been working hard from the second he got here! We don't have the same personalities but they aren't that different either! So we Get along great. Not like Elder Clayton and I though. I miss working with him already! But it's all good! I Love training. Everything he sees that is new to him and he doesn't really know how to act.  

The baptism went great! ... well it had a rough start. Emily was grumpy and wouldn't come out of the bathroom. I guess she didn't feel comfortable in the jump suit and she had been camping the weekend before with girls scouts and so she didn't sleep at all there. But we finally got her to come out and then it went good....except for when I started to say the prayer for Erin. I was so focused on getting Emily happy and to come that I started the prayer "Emily" then just stopped for a second Erin habiendo Sido..." it was bad...the whole rest of the prayer I could hear Elder Clayton standing at the top of the stairs laughing but trying not to make noise. It was pretty funny!

Crazy story. 

We stopped at Walgreens to get some meds for Elder Thomas. This black lady walked by speaking Spanish, So I figured she was from Honduras. She came and asked us a questions  in super broken English, because she thought we worked there. I spoke to her in Spanish and she said back to me "sois hablais espanol"....vosotros kinda threw me off guard. Turns out she is from Equatorial Guinea or something like that. It's in the middle of Africa and they speak Spanish there! but its from Spain so she had the lisp and total. ha ha it was so funny! Elder Thomas thought she was speaking french because she kept speaking to us in Vosotros. She told us she comes here when she is 8.5 months prego to have her kids then goes back so they will be American! ha ha talk about beating the system.  But we are going to teach her Wednesday!!!

Also Zenia and Jailene are doing awesome!! They are reading and understanding! Jailene knew who Laban was and what the brass plates were so I was really impressed!

hope I got everything!

Con amor Y Respeto

Elder Erickson

 At Transfers - 

  Elder Thomas, Elder Erickson, Elder Clayton

 Emily and Erin's baptism

Elder Clayton,  Emily and Erin Solis, Elder Erickson

Thumbs Up!

Elder Clayton, Emily, Erin, Elder Erickson

Week 45: Trainer and District Leader

Hey family!

To start Mom told me I haven't said anything about Zenia Polanco so I better get that story out first because its an awesome one!

When I first came to this area I came from Broadway where we used the Area book really well but when I came here I tried to carry that over. Elder Clayton and I went through it and felt like we should go visit this lady. It said she had a brother in El Salvador who is a bishop. So we went there and she was very nice and let us right in. She lives in Crosby so its far away and hard for us to get to her but turns out shes had quite the life. Her mom sister and brother were all baptized in El Salvador. Her mom and sister live with her. Her son was involved in an accident where the cops ended up shooting him when, from the way she tells it, wasn't needed, and it all happened in her own house. But anyways she has been super prepared. She was taught before and the thing that kept her from being baptized about 2 years ago was coffee, turns out she quit 2 months ago because her mom kept telling her to. She also has a daughter named Jailene who is 13. They are becoming one of my favorite families very quickly. Her sister is the happiest, always smiling person. I Love being able to go over there!  We actually went over there last night! They have come to church 2 times and are reading! We set a date with them for the 2 of Dec. A little father away than we were originally thinking but they seem much more excited about this one!....Moral of the story is that we were led there at the right time by the spirit! It's awesome too because her brother is coming to visit form El Salvador this next week!!

Sad part is that Elder Clayton wont be around to see it. He is leaving. He got called to be Zone leader! that's the 3rd comp. I've had that has gone zone leader. He is going English though.

For our other investigators we have a baptism this Sunday for Emily and Erin. The Solis daughters! That family is so solid! We taught them tithing last night and she was like "yeah...were already paying" and we were also talking about transfers and coming back to visit them...and she said "well you will all have to come back in a year." we didn't really get it so we just looked confused at her and then she said "we will be getting sealed so you better be there for that" We haven't taught a thing about that stuff yet either. They are so awesome!

We also have other investigators but those are our main ones! We had 9 in church again this Sunday! and 94 attendance! that's awesome since a year ago it was 25!

Other news is that I will be staying here in West Lake Houston for at least 2 more transfers! I got a call last night from President and I will be training! I'm pretty excited and nervous. And to pile it on more I'm the District leader here now too!

Love you all!

Con amor y respeto

Elder Erickson

 Elder Erickson and his District 

 Elder Erickson and his Zone

 Zenia and Jailene are the two middle people...and then the sister and mom are on the outside of them.

Elder Erickson and Clayton eating Elote en Palo that a guy bought them.

Week 44: 10 Months

Wow. I can't believe it's 10 months...somehow I've managed to change my entire lifestyle and the way I think in these 10 months, And I understand how returned missionaries are just bags of stories. There are things that happen every day that would make for a great story! So much has happened and changed In 10 months! even our furniture! ha ha But it looks good! I like it! I'm excited to get home and fall asleep on those couches at night! ha ha. I'll have you know that I haven't fallen asleep anywhere but in my bed at night - yet!

So today was the first I've heard anything about this storm that's coming in! sounds like a dozy! We went and did our laundry today and saw the news and it was just 100% about this storm coming in. I hope all the good souls over on the coast are alright! The signs are coming! ha ha Its actually been pretty cold here. Ive been rocking the sweater because its so cold. Kinda different! nice though!

Church on Sunday we had 8 investigators again! We had a couple new faces though! Zenia Palanco and her daughter came!! They are super sweet! She is the Lady whose son was killed by the cops last year. Did I tell you about her? Her whole family are members in Salvador! She has a pretty crazy background story and I think there could be a lot of potential with her! She came though with her daughter her mom that lives with them, who is a less-active member. They seemed to really like it and the daughter made some good friends! one of which is the Rivera girl! She is from the family that the dad is the soccer player! Liz Rivera (Raul's mom) who is a member came from Monterrey to visit and she is pretty blunt with Raul and they argue a bit over it. But she brought Sesali to church and her and the Palonco girl got along really well and were hugging by the end of church so hopefully those two can help each other out in the process!

Yesterday we had a pretty bad/good experience. Bad because I think I drank straight Grease!  Good because we met some sweet people. We were contacting and we saw this Hispanic family outside having a party so we went and talked to them and they asked us to say a prayer for the family so we did and then got out of there. We ended up teaching the next door neighbor on the porch and as we were leaving that the family called us back over and this 24 or so year old guy, who and been a punk to us the first time we went by, was all "I wanted to give you something to eat so I'm glad we caught you again"   they had a huge grill covered in meat that they call pastor. and they they just through a ton of oil on the grill and cook the meat in it and the tortillas! They gave us two to start with and just picking them up, grease was squishing out! Biting them was just horrible! They tasted really good but I couldn't enjoy it because I knew I was eating a bypass for the future! ha ha After we got those two down they gave us a plate of three more...then more...then more... I stopped and just let them pile up for a bit. Then everyone kept telling me to eat. When people would turn around I would hide them under others napkins of those who were done eating, then offer to take their plate for them! ha ha, I escaped some but I still felt pretty gross! ha ha Then to top if off our next investigator had some Mexican sausage for us! yum!

Oh I also had to buy a new helmet today!...mine got destroyed....ha ha. So that's what the charge is on the card! thanks :)

real quick...remember how my comp is the pitcher for Oregon ducks? well we went and played catch one day...remember how long I played baseball?  Me either that memory isn't there cuz I didn't! ha ha...I've never been more nervous on my mission!....and I took one right in the shin! ha ha I have a huge bump there still! Just thought that would make y'all have a good laugh!

Tengan una buena semana! esten bien

Keep smiling!

Con amor y respeto!

Elder Erickson

Elder Erickson and Elder Clayton showing their carving skills.

Elder Erickson had his helmet hanging on the handlebars of his bike.  He loaded it onto the bike carrier on the back of their car and forgot to take the helmet off.  He noticed it fell off while they were driving.  They came back for the helmet and got to in just in time to watch someone else run over it.  Time for a new helmet!

Week 43: Cowboys in Texas

Sounds like another eventful week back home! We had a pretty bummer filled week as far as our investigators progression, but it was still a great week cuz every week in the service of the Lord is a good one!

The highlight of the week for me was we had Stake Conference yesterday and because I am in the Summerwood stake I got to see the Ortega's!!! I was happy to see them!!! I imagine it was a preview of what I'm going to fill like when I get home and get to see all of you again! We had a meeting an hour before the Stake Conference for all recent converts of the last year with the Stake President. We were walking through the halls trying to find the ones from our branch and we turned the corner and their whole family was standing down the hall. Abi and Reyna both ran and gave me a huge hug ha ha! I didn't know what to do! I really wanted to hug them but with the whole rule thing I kinda just stood there....It was really awkward but oh well. It was so awesome to chat with them and see how they are doing! They are still doing great and counting down the months until they can go to the temple!

We had a lesson with the Solis family this week and found out that Erika could have her divorce done really soon. As soon as one week. But Chris is going to take a little longer....they said they were talking and came up with a date that they think they can get the papers and wedding all done and be ready for baptism...Jan. 19. three months out. Not what we really wanted to hear. It was kinda frustrating because they are so ready! We taught word of wisdom and dumbed all the alcohol down the drain with them and threw away the coffee. So now it has become a waiting game with them just like Margarita and Jose....who are going down hill. Last lesson with him he told us he is going to go to a baptist church because they'll baptize anyone and they don't ask if you are married or not. So that was a frustrating lesson.

Our other dates are with Norma. and Eva and Michael. Norma's date is for the 11 of Nov. She came to Stake Conference and said she really enjoyed it but she doesn't think the 11th is going to work. She says she's really confused because her family is feeding a bunch of garbage about the church so we always have to reteach and re-correct things with her. But she said she's still willing to try for the 11th but right now she doesn't want to. So at least she is still trying.

Eva and Michael also were for the 11th. But they didn't come to conference. We met with her the night before and she said she was going to come. Well she said. "Si Dios Quiere" (God willing) which is my  least favorite saying out of any Hispanics mouth. But we texted her and she said she had to go to San Antonio. So we are going to visit her tonight and hopefully we can set a new date with her that she will be willing to work for.

So as you can see this week was one blow after another! but I did get to go on exchanges this week out to Dayton! It's a super country tiny town! It was fun and more of what I imagined when I opened my call!...I was with an English speaking elder so I didn't really use Spanish but it was still fun! 

One funny story was on the way back we were going on this overpass bridge thing and there was a horse loose running around and these town cowboy guys trying to catch it and trap it with there truck but they couldn't.  It ended up stopping traffic as this horse just ran back and forth on this pretty big bridge. But in just about every car was a cowboy and one after another would open the door and look what was going on. Some would get out and run to help and other would just sit back down. But probably 90% of the cars where cowboys, that's when I really felt like I was in Texas. ha ha

Hope you feel my love back home! I'm sending it as much as I can!

Con amor y respeto!

Elder Erickson

So I searched Dayton Texas on my iphone and found the bridge that Elder Erickson must be referring to ... "pretty big bridge"!!!    ha ha what a place to try and catch a horse!

Things I Have Learned

Posted by Elder Erickson's mom -

Elder Erickson has set a pattern of sending a hand written letter to a member of his family each week.  My turn was coming up for her letter and  I asked him this question:

"In your letter tell me some of the things you feel like the spirit has taught you in the 9 1/2 months you have been a missionary. "

Elder Erickson's response:

"So I haven't really even thought about a list of things that I have learned so this will be good for me as well. 

The first one that sticks out to me is how key obedience is.  I never really even thought about it before. I always saw commandments as a restriction.  Now I've learned their real purpose and can say why I'm willing to live them, other than that's how I was raised or out of fear from parents or God.

Another thing my testimony has really grown in is the scriptures.  The first time I went through the Book of Mormon it was like I got slapped in the face every time I read it.  It's so clear and simple.  I remember reading some at home and just getting so frustrated cuz I didn't know a thing that was going on.  Now it's a totally different story.  I know that without the Spirit I couldn't ever have learned the things I have.  As I am thinking about this I don't think their is really very much spiritual wise or doctrine or testimony wise that hasn't improved!  I was kind of a tool back home when it came to this stuff.  Not that I was bad before, but I never really applied myself to these things.  

The first time I read 2 Nephi 31 in the MTC I was like WOW! how did I not know that, luckily you and Dad know your doctrine and I was able to hold my own form just remembering thing y'all said. The kids in my district actually thought I knew a lot of doctrine but really all it was, was me regurgitating what you and dad have said.  So getting out here and not only knowing how to say with my mouth but actually understanding the doctrine with my head and feel it with my heart is a whole new thing for me.

I don't know if that's what you were really asking but that's what came to mind when read the question.  I can't really say all that the Spirit has taught me because I knew so little compared to what I know now, even though it's hardly anything.  I know the Spirit has taught me all of it."

I miss Ethan so much but letters like this make me so grateful that he is out serving a mission. He is learning things that can only be taught by Spirit. 

Week 42: Pray For A Miracle

Well its was another exciting week in the life of a missionary this week! We had a tri-mission conference with three members of the 70. Elder Hawk who spoke in conference, Elder Ellis, and Elder Calister! it was so awesome! we learned a lot. Elder Calister spent the whole time teaching us the plan of salvation from the Bible. i think it was to make sure we could hold our own in the bible belt i guess! ha ha I got to see Bryson Howell there! it was so great to be able to talk with him! He is doing really good! I'm jealous he has had comps from Mexico, Columbia, and Honduras! Lots of natives! It felt like I was just back at high school talking with him!

This week we set a baptismal date with all the Solis family. They are the family that has to get divorced still and married but they both said that they are pretty much done with the paper work. Closer than we thought. So last night we talked with them about really pushing for it and praying for a miracle that they come and will be able to be baptized by the 4th of November! it's super quick. But they are ready other than the marriage so if the paper comes, then we are good to go! So keep them in your prayers if you will! thanks.

Josefa came to church this week! I think I explained a little about her in my letter to dad. She came with a member and sat with a member and we really didn't have to do a thing, it was really awesome and she had a great experience. She does think she is a member however. We still haven't figured how we are going to break that news to her! ha ha She was taught by sister missionaries a long time ago and then she says baptized in a river with 40 other people. So were pretty sure its so evangelical church cuz its not uncommon for them to do that. But as for now we are just working on getting her to live all the commandments. And she changes things very well because she thinks she is already a member so she has to live them! ha ha If I didn't explain her in the letter let me know and I will give more of a back ground on her!

Other than that the work has been trying to get people married and finding new people!
There are a couple of families I am pretty excited about that we found and actually have an appointment with them tonight! When we knocked on the door they recognized us and told us how they had seen the video "The Testaments" and how they were crying when they saw it! its La familia Franco! We sat down and had a really good lesson with them on the porch for just a few minutes because her husband wasn't home.  They are a more established family and have a nice house. I think there could be a lot of potential with them!

Thanks for everything family! Enjoy the colors and cool air! It was still 93 the other day here! ha ha

Con amor y Respeto

Elder Erickson

Oh PS to everyone...I thought I'd just let you all know I shaved my head again...But this time I did it myself in 15 minutes after I worked out this morning....I'm pretty good....but man I miss Halli. Short hair isn't my thing. 

Week 41: Bring'em out!

Bring'em out! Bring'em out! It's hard to hear with more missionaries!

Bonus point if anyone can come up with the song the Subject of this email came from! ha ha

So first off the point that just changed the way every teenager is thinking! ha ha I'm so pumped that everyone can come out younger! I think it will be such a good thing to have the young men younger. My comp right now actually had to write a letter to the First Presidency so that he could leave early and come out. He graduated early. Went a semester at Oregon and played baseball and then left when he was 18 so he could return to be a part of the draft. ha ha He had been out for about 9 and a half months before he turned 19. We we both left when we were 18. Even thought mine was only a few weeks early I think it will be way sweet to send them out earlier! 

And as for the young women I think it's super super awesome! The experiences that you have on a mission are so awesome and I think this way young women will have more of an opportunity to have those experiences instead of it being kind of a last resort thing if the are single at 21. Not saying that that's how most do it. But the "typical" story I've heard from the sisters here was well I was 21 and didn't know what to do so I decided to go on a mission. But now they can make that the first priority and prepare from it form the start and leave at 19! I'm pumped for everyone to have these experiences!

Eli!....You could have your call here pretty soon,.....Giddy up soldier! ha ha yeah! 

Conference was so sweet! We got to watch all 5 sessions!!! Sat. we watched at the Stake Center. Priesthood we watched at our normal building and had a dinner with the branch and the English ward before. Then for Sunday morning we went with an investigator family (that is sooo awesome! just not married) to our President Morales's house and watched it there and then we went to the Stake Center for the last session! The weekend was pretty busy! In between sessions we went out and taught a couple lessons and reminded people of conference. We got 7 investigators to watch it this go around! 

I Loved Elder Nelsons talk as a missionary! He is so right and I hope everyone that saw that who isn't a member asks us those questions cuz we got the answers! I also loved Elder Hollands, as did all I'm sure, It was super powerful! Also Elder Clarks from Sunday afternoon, did his sound familiar to you? He is the guy who came to our mission and he gave us a similar spill! just 5 hours long and a little more direct! ha ha But I sent you those 5 things earlier I think! 

Real quick before I forget!...I told you about he lady and Elder Viitanen eating his shoe if she came to church right? well, I wonder what he would have said he would do if she got baptized?  I hope he would have followed through. She is getting baptized in a few weeks. I'm shocked. For me it was a lesson to get out of the heat and she was always there. 

To explain the pictures....ha ha yes we had permission! ha ha We got to go to a high school football game! The stadiums here are freaking amazing! So nice! and huge! It's a whole new world! but the Rivera family I told you about invited us because their son is the drum major and the half time shows here are huge too! So we asked President and he let us go! I was super pumped! This is the guy who played for Los Tigres...doesn't look like it now but he was 17 when he started with them so it has been awhile! ha ha

Sorry I ran out of time again, as always! Sorry if I forgot anything! I didn't mean to and don't take it personal! 

Con amor y respeto!

Elder Erickson

 Sr. Rivera, Elder Clayton, Elder Erickson

Elder Clayton and Elder Erickson

Moreno Family

When Elder Erickson sent his new address today he forgot to send his apartment number.  He realized this after he was done with his email so he called Candie Moreno and asked her to email it to us.  Candie is the mother of the family that Elder Erickson taught in Denver Harbor when he first got to Texas.  He has grown very close to this family!

Todd responded to Candie's email and thanked her for all that she has done for Elder Erickson.

This it the reply that we got back from her:

> 

> No need to thank me. I love Elder Erickson, I see him like a son. He's never gave up on our family, always pushed for us to be at church and baptist our kids. He actually baptist our middle son, my kids see him as an older brother. 

The Moreno Family with the Elders.  

Candie is to the right of Elder Erickson

The Moreno family moved out of Elder Erickson's area while he was in Denver Harbor, they gave him this Astro's hat before they moved.  Elder Erickson treasures this hat!

This email reply shows how the missionary work that Elder Erickson is doing blesses peoples lives and how his missions is blessing his life.  Elder Erickson loves the people in Texas.  They have become part of his family.  I look forward to the time when Elder Erickson's family in Utah can meet his families in Texas.  This Mom in Utah loves how happy her son is doing missionary work in Texas!

Week 40: West Lake Houston

Well my life just Changed completely again!!!

My new area is called the West Lake Houston area. Its a small branch that was set up about 9 months ago. So pretty much when I left for the MTC. I'm as old in the mission as this Branch is. When it started there was only about 10 people who came regularly! Now its up to about  70 or 80! The area we cover is pretty dang big!!!! We follow around The 8 from below the highway 10 all the way up to Humble! We cover a ton of rich areas! It's so different! I'm not really used to it yet! haha

I really like it though! my Companion is Elder Clayton! he is from Idaho and was in my district when i first got here and trained Elder Mallard. so we already have a pretty good relationship. They have been having a ton of success in this area right before i got here! we actually had 5 confirmations this Sunday in church from baptisms the Sunday before i got here! I didn't even really know one of the girls but i got to confirm her so that was pretty sweet! We also had 7 investigators in church besides the five that we confirmed! So the work in going great here! I hope I can keep it moving! There aren't too many members so it should be really good for getting close to them and getting to know them good! They are all pretty well established and most of our area are really nice homes! There are a quite few trailer parks that are all Spanish that we go to and also there are people who have nice homes that are all Spanish speaking families mixed in with everyone else! so knocking is way different! We don't just go door to door! We bike a little, thank goodness, and we bike until we see things that are hispanic and then we knock those doors. After everyone we talk to we ask them which house are hispanic and then we go from there and keep the chain going all the way through the  neighborhoods! haha its pretty fun! I'm actually surprised how much spanish contacting we have been doing! Usually they know some english and can get by but spanish is still better for them so we just speak spanish too them so we can practice and make it easier on them! Its a really sweet area though! still really new!...I'm only the 5th elder in the branch...the 3 before me have already gone home too so me and Elder Clayton are the only missionaries that have been in the branch that are still in the mission field. 

Another sweet plus is the apartment...haha our apartment is super nice. really nice. I feel pretty spoiled, no actually really spoiled. It's probably twice the size of the one i just came from with the three of us in it! haha. I have my own bathroom and Shower.....?! This is the first time in my life! haha. I'm not sure how to take it! I'm pretty excited about the area though! not so much about the car yet, The members feed us a lot so I'm going to get fat really fast....but other than that I'm really excited to be here! 

We have a couple families that we are teaching right now! Two of them have to get married at then they will be baptized! I'll give you more updates on them next week! but another family that we are teaching is the Rivera family. The dad played soccer in Mexico for Los Tigres! it's a pro team in Monterrey! He is a way sweet guy and has an awesome family! His whole family is pretty much ready for baptism- just waiting on the dad to break. He is a little stubborn. 

President Crawford actually met this family and taught them with Elder Clayton and the elder here before me. He really like them and invited them over for dinner in the mission home. So last night we got to have dinner with this family and President and Sister Crawford in the mission home! It was way sweet! I haven't been back there since the day I got here! Also they don't speak any spanish so we had to translate for them! It was really sweet! We invited him to be baptized and he said no....but he was a lot better about it than I guess he was in the past so he is making progress!

As for the other families we are meeting with them this week to have a lesson with them as for what needs to happen to get divorced and married. Other than that hold up they have all said they would get baptized. So after those lessons I'll give you an up date on them!

My new address is 

15100 Golden Eagle Dr. # 503

Humble, TX 77396

I Love you all so much!

Con amor Y respeto

Elder Erickson

   

  

Week 39: ya me voy de nuevo ( I'm Going to Back )

Hello to all!,

First off I'll start by talking about the past week. We did a lot of finding and tried working some more stable areas this time. So sadly we didn't meet too many crazies! We did run into a couple of people who were a little more educated and knew who we were and had some things to say. One lady who had ancestors at Mountain Meadow. That was interesting, especially because neither of my two companions knew what it was. But other than that we talked to a lot of white people which was weird!!  I haven't seen white people who weren't homeless in a very long time! 

We did find one lady during hour of power that was pretty sweet! She seemed interested and really wanted us to come to help her learn about Jesus because she doesn't really know anything and has never gone to church or read the Bible! So that will be nice because we won't have to re- correct her on all the things that the stinking Spaniards forced them to believe ha ha, sorry Dallin but its true your country is the problem for all these die hard Catholics who never go to church and don't know why they are so die hard. ha ha. So we were pretty excited about finding her. Sadly Pedro and Maria didn't come to church again...and we weren't able to meet with them at all either! So the investigator pool is a little low still. But as of today it doesn't really apply to me because I'm leaving again! 

We got the call on Saturday, Me and Elder Jaynes are both leaving! I'm a little upset about it.

 1) Because I really like this ward! The members are way sweet and really willing to help with things. 2) Because all the areas that are opened are car areas! I really don't want to go to a car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love the bike and meeting all the crazy people! But it's all going to change I'm afraid but 3) that overrules everything... is that God makes the choice so I'll go where he wants me to go dear Lord!! ha ha

The areas that are open are Humble with elder Leiva! He is from Chile so that would be way sweet to be with a native! Humble is a huge area and not very Spanish. There is also an area right next to Humble called West Lake Houston that is kinda the same deal except the elder there is Elder Clayton. He is the one who played Baseball for Oregon. He is really cool so I wouldn't mind going with him. There is Port Arthur that is a ways away. Its more of a country feel, from what I've heard. The Elder there just finished being trained. And then there is Channel View, which is in the same building as Denver Harbor.  I would be able to see people from that ward again which would be fun! I've heard that area is really black though!....so we'll see! either way I'm not going to a very Spanish area! ha ha 

I was going to try and send a box home with a bunch of Mexican candy and Houston stuff but no one is going shopping today because Elder Erickson will be training next transfer so were not going to a store so I can't buy anything to send home! sorry! y'all just have to wait until I get back into Spanish land before I send anything! ha ha. But good news is that in a car I can finally make the recordings of the pictures and send them home! 

Elder Jaynes with the Mountain of Pancakes

Elder Erickson showing the pancake pile

These pictures show what we walked into the other night when we went to go teach some less actives! ha ha. We got there and they had a mountain of pancakes for us and they also gave us a ton of eggs too! ha ha I could only put down three pancakes and it didn't even look like we made a dent when we were stuffed!

Elder Erickson, Jaynes, and Erickson

The other picture is of us all wearing the "trio-tie" Elder Erickson's mom send them to us!

This past week we got to go to the temple again! It was really nice! I Love the temple! I Learn something new every time! especially since I'm studying so much! I have learned way more already about the gospel than I ever thought I would! I really look forward to my studies! I didn't realize how much amazing stuff there was in there! I just want to mark it all! I have to really focus to only marking the super super good stuff or my Book of Mormon would be a coloring book! ha ha But anyways the last picture is a district picture at the temple!

Love you all so much! 

Con amor y respeto!

Elder Erickson

Elder Erickson with his District at the Houston Texas Temple

Week 38: Crazies and More Crazies

Hey! 

Ok so I'm glad I got some shorter emails this week cuz I have so much to try and regurgitate onto this screen I don't think I'm going to get it all done! HAHA  but here goes

First off with Pedro and Maria

We had an appointment set up with them to meet on Wednesday. The way their work schedules work out Maria is only off Wed. and Sun. and Pedro's work is just hit and miss. He works for a construction company and they just call him when they need him because work has been really slow right now. So he told us that he might not be there. So we tried to get a member to come out with us just in case he worked we could still go into the house. But we never found anyone. And sure enough when we went over there on Wed. he had gone into work. So we couldn't go in. We talked to her for a bit on the porch and she said she had read a little bit and that they were coming to church. So we left them and tried other days throughout the week to meet with Pedro but he was never there when we knocked. So Sunday rolled around and they didn't show up to church either!! I was pretty bummed!...so were planning on going to visit them last night when they are usually all home but something came up with I, will explain later on. So anyways, we haven't met with them at all in this last week! only talked to Maria a bit on the porch! but she said they were reading and wanted to come to church so just got to keep the faith that something happened and they'll come next week. We did text Pedro and he texted back and said he doesn't know when he'll be able to meet but he does want to meet again so at least were still in contact with them!

The Trio is going ok...its still really crowded, its hard to keep things clean. One of them doesn't really clean up after himself and I don't want to do it cuz then I feel like he'll start just relying on that so that's one thing I'll be excited for next week! Things will be cleaner! We have gotten good at teaching and figured it out a little better between transitions. Me and Elder Erickson like to talk a lot and Elder Jaynes doesn't really. So door contacts and usually just me or him and then lessons its usually pretty evenly spaced out. Elder Erickson and I are a lot a like in some ways and for that I think it makes us a little competitive ha ha.  We went running a few mornings and we were only running maybe a half mile at the most but it always ends up being a sprint between us ha ha. Don't worry I won but I feel like throwing up after! ha ha, we don't run anymore. But we get a long but subconsciously I think things become a competition, but other than that we get a long great. He is a really funny Elder and always keeps us laughing.

So the first crazy guy we met is named Empris.(we were pretty much English elders this week) he is this black guy who was in the church when we went for district meeting! He used to be a preacher and knows a ton about the church and church history! We started talking to us and then preaching to us! turns out he almost got baptized a year ago and then backed out but still has been studying. Its a weird situation and all, but he knows things like 1000 years is 1 day to God and just doctrine stuff like that. But he started preaching to us and so we just invited him into district meeting. He ended up preaching through the whole thing! and it was actually really good stuff! ha ha. I'm not going to go into a ton of detail of what he said because I recorded the whole thing! hahaha We listen it all the time! It's so funny! but at the end we tried to get his address and he wouldn't give it to us. Finally we got his number so we told him we'd call him. He was thinking he should get baptized right away. And if we didn't want to baptized him he was just going to leave it alone. Really strange. But anyways we tried calling him later and the number wasn't working, but he had called us from his phone so we knew it was really his number. He did end up coming to the English ward and later that Sunday we got a call from him and met him at subway. We talked with him about church and he just kept saying how he had already has been interviewed and accepted the teachings of Joseph Smith so he should be baptized. So we were at a loss for what to do. Luckily there was a baptism that night and President was going to be there so we brought Empris (this is why we never got to go and try and meet with Pedro and Maria) but we had him talk with President. We left once the had talked for a second because we had a lesson with a man named Cooley. (who I will explain more also) but as we left president said he doesn't know much. Which was weird because he knew more than most life time members. But I think he missed the whole reason for baptism and what not. Because he knew the whole authority thing. You'll see in the recording. But we'll see what happens with him. 

Preacher on the balcony- When were in the same apartments as Coolie, the guy in the next  paragraph. We had a return appointment with him and as we were leaving some guy started yelling at us about "knowing Jesus" I love black people. This whole thing is recorded as well so I'm just going to let you listen to it! hahaha I love this recorder! Now you can see how many crazy people we meet a day! but he just yelled and preached from his second story balcony thing to his apartment about useless knowledge of Jesus and God is love and 2 or 3 in his name is Church...all good stuff but wasn't really making a point. I hope is sends through! ha ha We tried giving him Book of Mormon and I had him read 2 Nephi 33 about believing in the words or the Book of Mormon and believing in Christ so all the people who had gathered would hear it too! It was quite ridiculous. I hate getting preached to. and I had my fair share this week! ha ha 

Coolie. Another black man who gave us another strange story. We were looking for an investigator in these super ghetto apartments and this guy with black yellow orange and red  dreads came up to us, knew who the missionaries were, and started asking us if marijuana was a sin. He was actually real so we decided to meet with him, It made me think of Jon and his mission in the West Indies. ha ha We went into his house and he had rasta stuff everywhere! along with a bunch of other stuff.....ha ha. But he were talking with him and he was so hard to understand. so for a trivia this week I'm going to give you one of his questions he asked him and see who can figure out what he was trying to say. 

Sorry if none of this makes sense I'm just trying to get it out fast! ha ha...once you get the recordings it will all make more sense!!

Con amor y respeto

Elder Erickson

Trivia: Ur Hrs Urnge lie Mn. ( He is from New Orleans) I'm learning two languages now! ha ha 

Elder Erickson and Empris

Here are a some answers to questions we had : 

 We get fed pretty good by members though! usually they just take us out to eat and drop stuff off! i kinda like eating at home though! then I can control what I eat! haha. I just usually cook chicken and veggies! 

i havent gotten the box yet but ill keep my eyes out for it! :)

For English Class we usually only have 1 recent convert there! but last week we had 5 people and 3 were non members! So we just teach from the book they gave us in the MTC cuz it has  both spanish and english so we have taught the alphabet and things like how to say you, us, them, me and i. Its super hard but I enjoy it! 

Our last hour of power was ok! we knocked a lot of doors and got one contact because the guy and a bunch of Real Madrid stuff up do I was able to talk to him about that! but other than than it must have been someone else's turn to find someone good! :)