December 10, 2012 (Perth Amboy)

This past week was nuts. Being in a trio + running two areas + adjusting to teaching styles + getting in a minor car accident + exchange + worst phone call ever = a slight step above being a normal missionary.

It was fun to work with Elder Storey (my trainer and father) again. He helped Elder Giglio and I out with a bunch of stuff and it was cool to visit all the people in his area and see how his investigators are doing. He's an awesome missionary. We found out yesterday that he's getting a new companion today, so things will be easing back into the norm starting tonight.

The pizza? Hmmmmmm.... don't know what you're talking about.......

[We had a Blackjack pizza delivered to our house on Friday night, with a message, "Happy Birthday from New Jesrsey." It was Finn's birthday--Matt]

Anyway, life's been great. We worked really hard this week to keep regular visits with our investigators. Referring to the "worst phone call ever": We received a call from Maria yesterday morning, just about 5 hours before her baptism. She sounded really stressed out and was a little upset with us. We finally found out that she had been researching a lot of things on the internet and told us that she wanted to learn ALL the deep, random doctrine and history of the church before she was baptized. Also, she felt like we and the church were "hiding" things from her because we didn't teach her about spirit children of Jesus Christ or how many kingdoms we will inherit in the Celestial Kingdom. We know the real reason: she got scared and the devil worked on that fear a little bit. We tried to talk to her but she was pretty upset and a little hardened. We asked her if we could visit her right then and there to talk with her and give her a blessing but she refused to see us. She said she would call us later, but she didn't and she hasn't, and she's been dodging our calls and not answering her door. I was really discouraged when I got off the phone but we had a prayer and a couple hours later I felt better (having taken the sacrament and being in church and all). We know that we did our part as missionaries but we are continually trying to help Maria to understand the reasons why she needs to be baptized.

So that was a bummer but we have full faith that things will turn out for the best.

That was the biggest thing that happened this week. Also I went on an exchange on Friday with our district leader Elder Tippets, from Ogden UT. He's awesome and a really good leader. I always learn a lot when I'm with him. It's funny because Elder Tippets has his funny, 21 year old, dirt biking, rock climbing, partying, "keep 'em girded" (a phrase he loves to say to us: the Danger District) side of him. And then, he has the District Leader side too, where he's strong and stern and counsels well. But sometimes he combines them and it's hilarious and strange. We visited a TON of people and we did role plays for comp study and he was being his investigator Steve, a black man who's "always prayin'." I kept busting up laughing while I was teaching him because he was making weird Steve faces and it was super funny. Anyway, exchanges are always good for me because it gives me a little time to talk in English as a teacher and as a kid with my companion.

As for me: I am doing well. Excited to hear about all these awesome new missionaries coming in. Also, the program we did last night was rad. The "Noche de Luz" piece was great and sounded cool (Darmis recorded a video for me. I'll send it to the family soon). I had a lot of people come up to us afterward and say that they were touched by the music and the spirit that was there. I love sharing that spirit with people through music.

LYDIA: Got your Cd's. You're seriously the best. Love you.

Chris: I expect a Christmas letter from you.

That's all for now. Love you all. I know Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

EC

ps - Confirmed Darmis yesterday. It was a really cool experience. She is "super feliz" now.