Week 35: A Tie, Tag and The Spirit

Today I would like to start my letter off with something that slapped me if the face pretty hard this week. I was sitting in a couple different lessons with people who I have never ever seen in my life, talking to them in a language I didn't even really know anything about until a few months ago,  and I'm sitting in there living room while they are offering me food and drink and just giving me their whole life story. Three white guys in the evening knocked on their door and they let them in. That's when I realized how crazy this whole ordeal is. I started thinking about all the houses I'd been in and all the people I have talked to. It crazy what a tie, a tag and the Spirit can do. People have welcomed me into there home and told me things that are very personable things I don't think they tell to just anyone. It really is a way awesome thing to be in the position I am in and have the opportunity that I have.

This week was pretty good! I'm starting to get to know the area a lot better and can figure out where I am. I'd say the area is about 54% Hispanic 44% Black and 2 % white. I Love black people. they have a whole culture all to themselves. I've also learned quite a few new words from them! haha but unlike Denver Harbor we don't even contact them at all. Since English elder actually work this area too if they are English we don't do very much unless they say something or we knock into them or of course the spirit tells us to. And we never teach them. Its way easier to pass people off here since they are so close. In Denver Harbor the elders would only come if we had someone who was already progressing pretty much and they never worked the area really so its nice that way. the ratio is different here but there are just way more people so we never run out of spanish people to teach. And since this area has so many apartments a lot of people are straight from Mexico and don't know any english. where as DH was more houses they neighborhood was more established. But that also means and lot more people disappearing from us. 

Good news though: Music rule has been changed. The rule now is anything that invites the spirit. and doesn't take us away form our purpose. Just straight out of the white handbook. No other rules. pretty big change. but those CD's from Nashville tribute band and EFY are all good. So if you could be so kind to send a few of those. and anything else that invites the spirit. I don't want to go over the top but some good music makes the day brighter. like some Josh G. you raise me up and what not! haha And Dallin if you could find some good stuff in Spanish! that would be super sweet! I don't know if they have EFY in Spanish or anything but send what you can find! haha

I got the bear lake pictures! Looks like y'all had fun after all! haha I can't wait to see the calendar here in a few months! haha 

DH update. Javier has a date for baptism now! and Janet got kicked out again so she moved in with the Ortega family for a few months until she gets a stable job or enough money to go to Honduras! its crazy! 

But I love you all and hope the first week of school goes good for everyone! 

Con amor y Respeto!

Elder Erickson

Trio and other elders in our ward.

The other Elder Erickson still has his suit coat on. Elder Jaynes is far right

This is at our ward mission leaders house for dinner! its crazy there!

 and the others elders are Elder slaughter and Elder Mconal

Week 34: Broadway West Trio

Well I made it so my new area. The area is called Broadway West. I'm in the Broadway 2 Ward. I really didn't move too far from Denver Harbor, really I probably never will. The majority of the Spanish missionaries are right here close on the boarders of our mission to the west side. That's where all the Spanish speaking people are so that's where most of us are. There are only 6 missionaries outside of that area. But then again there are only 30 Spanish missionaries. I'm also in a Trio. It's been a pretty crazy situation. The apt. we have isn't set up for a trio and when I got there I didn't have anything. No room, no bed, no dresser. haha. Luckily they brought a bed that day, and I got a dresser Saturday so now I can finally unpack! haha 
My new address is:
7950 Bellfort Av. #75
Houston, TX 77061
My new area is way more busy than Denver Harbor. We have a few main streets that are like 2 or 3 lane freeways that we cross all day long! i wish i had a go-pro so I could film it! sometimes it gets pretty crazy. I'll figure a way out to film it. I feel like I'm playing forger all day to get to appointments. especially with three of us having to cross. My new companions are Elder Jaynes and the other Elder Erickson. haha its pretty fun trying to explain to people what elder means and then why they both say Erickson. It's super confusing for them sometimes. But they are extreme opposites so it should be an interesting transfer. Elder Erickson played football for Bingham High and is pretty funny. Elder Jaynes loves physics and theories about the speed of light and gravity! So I'm learning something from both of them that's for sure! I think it will be fun though! I was going to send a picture but my camera died! But if you could start putting my first name of letters that would be nice so we know who its really for! haha One thing you have to do if you Google earth it is go to Broadway street and go about a mile south of where my apartment is. Broadway street should be the first big street to the west of where I live. But there is a place called Broadway square. MILLIONS of apartments! I got lost going in between buildings! It's crazy! There were hardly any apartments in Denver harbor and now there are so so so many! its pretty sweet! I Love Knocking and Contacting in a trio! there is just a herd of us trying to squeeze into the small doorways! and we look like a biker gang when we cruise the streets! 
The ward is here way different than the other. We actually had PEC and talked with the bishop about what we are doing in the area and he actually offered to help and gave advice and stuff. And also this is the Biggest Spanish ward in the mission! the member are way sweet and love to help is what I've heard so it will be a bit of a change. I really do miss Galena Park ward though! There were some members their that were way sweet! So I've got to start over here and make friends with all these people! It should be an adventure!  These Elder Jaynes and Erickson were together before so they already have a system and I just trying to get into where ever I can! it's kinda hard during planning cuz they both know who and where everyone is so I'm just trying to learn quick so I can give my 2 sense! 
Teaching its pretty crazy! sometimes I think we talk too much.  I like to let the investigator talk more but others like to talk themselves more so we still haven't adapted to each others styles yet. But it should all be fine soon!
Hope everyone is enjoying the end of the summer! live it up! 
Con amor Y Respeto
Elder Erickson

Week 33: Good-bye to Denver Harbor

Ya me Voy!....de hecho....Ya no VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yup that's right Dallin...and anyone else who speaks Spanish.....were both leaving DH. We are getting white washed!!!!! its freaking crazy. I'm stoked and super sad all at the same time! I feel like I've been here for so long that I grew up here and I know everyone! I'm pretty ready to move on to a new area. But both of us....all our people that we have made relationships and connections with are going to be lost! There is a good missionary coming in and he is going to be training but still I don't want to lose everything we have work for and built up! I know the Lord made these changes and that this is supposed to be what happens but it's kinda hard for me to say that too. We have just gotten super close with one investigator who is the boy friend of a member. He said he will get baptized soon. When we told him we were leaving he was pretty bumbed and was like dang, I wanted you to help me purpose to Karen in a couple months! ahhh! I wish at least one of us were staying! but oh well. The places I could go are Pasadena. Broadway, or all the way out to Beaumont! It's really just a toss up. These past few days have been super stressful trying to get teaching records all up to date. And both of us are trying to pack at the same time, having to explain to people whats going on, saying all our goodbyes, and we are writing page after page about investigators and whats going on with the area. It's pretty dang crazy.

But on a good note Yaneth got baptized on Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it was so sweet!!!! I'll send pictures. She was crying through the whole service! It was super spiritual and she knew for sure that she was making the right choice in her life! It is a super awesome way to end a transfer! I'm pretty scared though that we are just kinda dropping her in the laps of other missionaries and we are leaving her! I'm sure she will do great! She knows so many members now and really doesn't care for the missionaries as much as other converts do! So that's kinda sad for me but good for her! HAHA  Hno. Guillen baptized her and Hno. Velasquez confirmed her. She didn't even consider us, which I think it a pretty good thing!

Another super awesome thing was last Sunday we had word council meeting and Hno. Ortega has gotten his calling to work in the Sunday school pres. so he was in the meeting!!!!!!!!!!! I think it's super sweet to see someone go from knowing nothing a thing about the church to getting baptized, passing the sacrament, blessing the sacrament, sharing it with his family, speaking, and coming to ward council!!!!!!!! I think one of his daughters actually got baptized yesterday as well in Humble! So I'm pretty excited about that!

Thanks for everything family and I hope all is well back home! I miss you so much and had some flash backs when I had to say bye all over again to people! But it's worth it! so I'm off to make some new friends!

Con amor y respeto!

Elder Erickson

trivia: I'm guessing everyone is done with this  game?

but if not.....what is the deadliest Bridge in the Book of Mormon?

Yanet's baptism 

Elder Erickson, Yanet, her daughter Yasmin, Hno. Guillen, Elder Brunell, Elder Viitanen

Estrada Family 

It is hard for and Elder Erickson 

to say good-by to the friends he has made in Denver Harbor.

"I feel like I've been here for so long that I grew up here and I know everyone!"

Hno. Rendon , Elder Erickson, and Hno. Caetano

Caetano is the one from Jantz's mission. He loves soccer and is super sweet.

Elder Erickson and Hermano Ortega

Rivera family

 the family with Javier and Karen...the kid who wanted us to help him purpose

...he is in the blue she is in the black.

Elder Erickson, investigator Polo, Elder Viitanen

"... so I'm off to make some new friends!"

Week 32: Yanet's Baptism Set for Saturday

Hey everyone!
Sorry I didn't email yesterday! they switched our p-day this week....we are having some big zone p-day and all the zones are coming together and we are going to BBQ and have a Soccer tourney! I'm pretty freaking stoked! but we don't have much time because we have to go all the way to Atascacita for all this so we have to jet soon! I read everyone's email and I'm glad to hear that y'all are having fun at Bear Lake.....This week kinda is tough! I have the Bear Lake calendar hanging next to my desk and every time I look over I see the whole week with all the pictures on every day of fun and I get a little home sick!...usually followed by una grita! I'm sure its quite boring without me there. Actually Bear Lake is never boring! If y'all are still there say hi to everyone! 

quick update on Yanet!
We just taught her tithing last night along with the word of wisdom so she has been taught everything and is living everything so its all systems go for this Saturday at 5th if you care to join us! She is super excited and tells everyone to come so I'm sure she would love any visitors! haha....sadly she decided to send her little girl, Yasmin, back to Honduras. She leaves the 21st of Aug....a few members of the church have offered Yanet a place to live and all, so she should be alright. As of right now I think her goal is to get enough money to go back to Honduras! She said that she has been telling her husband there to start going to church! So hopefully he can become converted and they will stay active there!
Another investigator that we have is named Polo! He is so sweet! He is a huge joker! He has diabetes really bad though and has already lost one leg because of it and now his other foot has a cut that wont heal and it may have to be amputated. Every freaking mexican has diabetes! but I'm pretty sure he knows that he is getting close and so he is trying to make things right with him and God! He is reading a lot and we have a date with him for the 25th of Aug. So hopefully it goes well with him! We will probably have to move it back a week because he didn't come to church this last week! But he really is like our grandpa! He's the coolest man, when we go over to his place he always gives us Tunas, they are a mexican fruit that are super good! Look for them and try them! They kinda look like cactus! 

Another investigator that could make it is Javier. He is a member boyfriend that we are teaching has he has been coming to church with her, he is 23 and way sweet. We haven't set a date with him yet, but we are planing to this week!

Sorry this is so short but real quick a funny story!
There is this lady that we have been teaching for a long time and she never will come to church. She always has a different excuse! So we went and we were dropping her pretty much, just saying - here is our number call us when you have a change of heart and want to come. She kinda was rude and tried to bash us about how church isn't important and how we can't tell her that...well when we left we gave her a card with the number and elder Viitanen said, "the day you come to church is the day I eat my shoe".....haha. She got so excited! She kissed the card and was like..ok I'm coming. What time is church? As we walked out the door she called me back and said "Elder. domingo. pasen por mi." hahahahaha faith in Jesus Christ won't get her to come but Elder Viitanen eating his shoe will....so we'll see what happens!
MUCH LOVE IN BEAR LAKE AND ALL
Con amor y respeto!
Elder Erickson

No one got the trivia so you can all try again!