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.