3-24-14

This week was good. I really was faced with some of the new responsibilities as we had some problems to deal with. Normally we see the mission president twice a month for meetings, but this week we either saw him or talked to him on the phone almost every day. I didn't realize how lucky I was to have Elder Coburn as a trainer...missionaries like him aren't super common, and I was blessed. As ZL's, we technically are over the Sisters in our zone, but there is a sister leadership position called a Sister Training Leader (STL) now. We have one in our zone. And that is a Sister missionary who is assigned to sort of take care of the needs of the sisters in the zone, and to go on exchanges with them and what not. So we are friends with the sisters, and get along with them and associate with them, and they still call us for permission to do certain things, but they turn to their STL for most personal needs. Interestingly enough, the STL in our zone was called to a mission in Brazil, but has been here in our mission waiting for a visa...for over a year! Well this week her visa came in, so she will be going down to Brazil next month for the last 5 months of her mission...it is kind of funny...but she is worried that she isn't going to remember all of her Portuguese! I am just so happy that stuff didn't happen to me. 

What is the name of the guy in my ward whose sister you know? Sorry we have a huge ward and I am still new here. I am getting to know people slowly, but so far I haven't found you a new 'Brother Felix' yet, but I will keep you posted. Sorry. 

Sorry about the not running thing, now you can join the rest of us in the bleachers at races! Haha probably not what you wanted though...Its all good. I am just glad everything turned out so well! Thanks for keeping me posted. [Laura went to a doctor appointment, and found out she isn't allowed to do any jarring moves like running for the next 6 months.]

I will get you a picture of my new companion as soon as I can...We are so busy all the time and on so many exchanges during the week that we are still building our relationship (as weird as that sounds). But I will make sure to get that. Time is flying by so fast here. Elder Holbrook told me that "Your mission is over once you become a zone leader" and now I am starting to see what he means by that. Time just goes by so fast! I can't believe it is Monday again already! We are just so busy all the time! I can't imagine how fast it goes for the AP's! Anyways, my companion is super cool. He is a great teacher, and very good about being persistent with people, which is hard for me. I learn a lot from him, and we tend to get a long well. This week I really came to appreciate how obedient he is, as I am slowly realizing how rare that is...it is sad. 

My mission president isn't trunky in the sense that he can't wait to go home...but we are seeing certain things like how hard he is coming down on disobedience now (not to say he didn't before, just even more so now). He is working really hard to make sure everyone is doing their best and worthy of all the blessings that are available through exact obedience. So maybe that is because he is almost done, and wants to leave here better than he found it, which no doubt will be the case. His wife is a saint, and is equally as dedicated. She just radiates love to all those around her...she is awesome. So it is a good thing they aren't trunky, because that would make it hard for all of us. 

Sorry I haven't been giving you a lot of details recently, we have reports due every Monday, so we are pretty busy. This week was good, for the most part. We are having a lot of success in finding new people to teach through part member families. Last night we were at one of our LA PMF's home, and his wife came in to talk with us as well (she is the non member). Well turns out she is an active Jehovah's Witness....it was crazy! We were there for a long time and it was weird because it wasn't confrontational bashing or anything like that, but it was very civil. We even got through most of the Restoration lesson.  They are an awesome family, and invited us back for dinner in a couple weeks, so we are going to keep talking then. There was another family we started teaching a couple weeks ago and we committed them to be baptized in a few weeks! It was sweet! We have a lot of work going on here, and it is awesome to be a part of. 

I would like some more long sleeve shirts. I guess I just like how thin and fitting the ones from Mr. Mac are, although the ones you sent most recently (From Macy's?) is good too...I guess I just have expensive taste...haha which is not a good thing!!!! Anyways, I am surviving out here, and am doing great, so don't do anything crazy for me. I am doing great!

 We have been taking survey's each week about our iPads and there was a super long one this past week asking about all different things, and then it asked us if we would prefer using a smartphone, mini tablet, full size tablet, or laptop for the rest of our mission, which I thought was a crazy question!! They told us that they needed all of this info for a meeting they would be having with the brethren before General Conference this next week...wonder whats going on! 

Thank you for all of the love and support. I appreciate the time you put into writing letters, packages, and emails. Thanks for the prayers, and I hope that everything goes well this week. Take care!