Jun 13

I landed yesterday. The flight was nice. I was a little bit sick from the motion but I'm fine now. It is like a greenhouse here. The smog is nasty and traps in all the heat. It's only going to get hotter.

I have only met and explained what I'm doing in California to one person so far. But I just left it at that because they were working. It was the librarian. I figured out that he has been working in a library for 15 years. Now I have a 3 year library card for the Riverside Public Library!! I got to pick out a card so I chose the one with oranges on it.

Speaking of which, I'm living with the George family on their orchard. Yes it's all oranges and I think there are some grapefruit. I don't see much of them because our living quarters are in a separate building. It's hotter inside than outside but it cools off at night. The place is a mess. There's hardly any room to put my things. The kitchen can fit one and a half people.

One of the sister missionaries said she would let me borrow her GPS because her companion already has one and they don't need two. So that saved me about 100 dollars. for now. It's interesting driving around and on the freeway in the dark not knowing where anything is and having to take my eyes off the road to see if my companion is telling me where to go or not. But if I act clueless, he usually taps my arm and points in the direction I need to go. I'm driving a Chevy Malibu. It's silver and dirty. But it's one of the newer ones so it's nice.

I played the piano at the mission presidents house for a testimony meeting. Then we had dinner. we ate pulled pork sandwiches and potato(e) salad. and ice cream for dessert. mmmm. Elder Mercy is great. He is sometimes hard to understand but he seems to understand everything I try to say perfectly clear.

P day is Monday. But I guess they are letting me email today?? I have a dinner appointment tonight with a member named Auman. Then we are teaching Jeff...I hear he's a werido. We'll see. I have about 60 dollars on my mission money card thingy. the beginning of each month I get 125. By the end of the two years, the money that I don't use will be put back into the mission.

When you send letters, just send them to the same address you have. 5900 Grand Ave. Riverside, CA 92504. That is the mission office. I went to a pizza place for lunch, and met an old Deaf woman named Sharon. I told her my name and that was about it. She said "nice to meet you, see you around" Later, Elder Mercy explained that she is a dry Mormon. I guess that means she knows a lot of Mormons and likes them but doesn't care to join or go to church or anything. I have already learned a few new signs from Elder Mercy too.

We went running this morning around a sports park near the George's home. I can't run! But I did it anyway. There are a lot of people here. Mostly Hispanics and so forth. Which means most people are even more scary to approach. I wonder how many Mexicans know ASL. . . anyway, I'll email again on Monday probably.

K bye