We didn't get a chance to email yesterday because of transfers. Those are always the busiest days of the mission. Our baptisms were great!! Everything went well. There was a very interesting picture taken right before the baptisms with everyone who'd be wearing white. The two people being baptized stood in the center and the two performing the baptisms stood on the outside. When we looked at the picture, there appeared to be a shadow over the two middle people and the people on the outside were glowing. Then after the baptisms, we took more pictures. Everyone was glowing. The spirit is not so invisible is it? We can't see a shape or anything, but we can tell by looking at someone if they have the spirit or not. Is that too judgmental?

Anyway, thanks for sending the music, I'll be waiting. I have to perform in front of a bunch of people for some creche festival thing...and I have nothing to play, so hopefully I'll be able to sight read everything. Go ahead and send some Jim Brickman music and some Paul Cardall. I like their stuff. I just don't like playing it. It's hard to explain. Maybe it's because I'm a missionary, that I tend to like that style of music because it's not quite classical, but it's spiritual enough at times to be considered "approved music."

I'm trying to think of all the things we did this week...We cleaned our homeshare pretty thoroughly. It looks nice-ish now. We found out that we will be moving out by the 30th. We still don't know where or when exactly. . . it could be any time now. We just have to wait for the Housing coordinators to call us and tell us what's up. With transfers, Elder Erickson is staying with us for at least this transfer. He'll be the District Leader too. We are still covering both wards.

So you know how I told you about the homeless guy a couple weeks ago?? Well, we went back to that place and talked to a couple more people. hahaha and um...well we left after about 1 minute because it was just scary. Then we stopped at a baseball park where a game was going on. I walked up next to some guy pretending like I'm actually watching, and started to chat. I said "What age group is this?" he said "17, 18, high school level" We were just talkin like normal people for 5 minutes before I said anything about us being missionaries and what we do. I asked if he had a kid playing baseball and he said yes. He also told us that he is an undercover detective! Not so undercover now huh!?!? anyway, he told us about all his crazy experiences in Riverside with getting guns pulled on him and getting knives pulled on him and getting in high speed chases where he is the one being chased and so on. I was intrigued. But it was getting late so we left.

I've been reading the New Testament lately. Starting in Matthew. I'm in chapter 20 now, but there are a lot of really cool things throughout! This part of the Bible makes the disciples look bad. They get rebuked by Jesus at least 3 times. So, with the memory card you sent back, it still has all the pictures on there. I don't know if I should just delete them all, or send it back?? Thanks for the Christmas CDs they are good. Thanks for the Thanksgiving card. It's so cute. So when I played the piano at the baptisms, I just decided to play Brahms Intermezzo Op. 118 No. 2 of course, and would you believe it-I couldn't remember it at all. So half way through the song, I just had to make something up and end in the right key. Nobody said anything so I guess it was alright...but I felt very bad about it. UGH!!! I can't forget that song! Next time, I'll just stick to the hymns...even though it doesn't take any talent to play them hahahahahahahahaha okay yes it does.

I really don't know what else to say, I wish there was something more profound or even intelligible. I've been eating bacon every morning for a few days now...and drinking mt dew during that time...I told myself yesterday that I need to go on a diet. I'll just drink water or something and start doing some real exercise in the mornings. I weigh 170lbs now. Look at me! I'm a big fatty!!!

K bye, Elder Peck SoCaL

Deaf Baptism

To answer your questions, the baptism was kinda funny. The guy doing it messed up and didn't bring his arm to the square after signing, so he had to do it again. And he messed up that time too. So on the third time, he made sure to not mess up and it went well. And about the homeless guy, sorry if that's not what you want to hear, but I'm not going to stop telling you how scary it is to be in this area. :) I have not been to the Temple lately. We go every 3 months. So we should be going soon...I hope. With the red light thing, I called and they said I have to go to court...and they said that they will tell me how much I have to pay, but probably around 500 - 600 bucks. I remember running a stop sign near the high school back home, and just thinking "crap" but running a light here, especially when they take yer picture, is more than "crap".

Anyway, I got my shoes, thank you. I played soccer today and did fine. They are kinda small and they don't breathe at all, so it's kinda uncomfortable to run around in, but oh well. We haven't moved yet, but it's a good idea to send mail to the mission office for now. Also, I have been picked on for my piano skills a lot lately. Everyone wants me to play for something. I would like you to send the Jim Brickman Christmas songbook "The Gift" so I can try to play something in there. Send it as soon as possible. Thank you. If you can't find it, darn it.

As far as this week goes and the events that took place...there's not much. The baptism was the highlight I guess. Oh, we got another Deaf guy on date for Dec. 15th. We'll see if it actually happens. I should have more faith but this guy is basically Jehovah's Witness. And they are tough to crack. I have a feeling we'll have 3 baptisms in December in the Deaf Branch. This Saturday we'll have the two from the Hearing ward! They want me to play the piano there too. I have no idea what to play. I'm really not that good. I can't just come up with something on the spot.

We've had like 5 families offer to feed us for Thanksgiving and the first one was a family who is known for making missionaries puke from their cooking. We've eaten there a few times and it really is awful. When I saw that their name was on Thanksgiving, I said NO!!! CANCEL IT NOW!!! So we did. Now, we are planning to eat with a part member family. We'll probably spend the day with them too. The Christmas music CD would be really nice to have. We have been listening to MOTAB, and The Goofy Movie soundtrack. I have all the songs memorized now. I feel pretty cool. But...they are stuck in my head 24/7. We used to listen to a bunch of classical but...that just kinda stopped. :(

Anyway, I don't have any cool stories off the top of my head, but I'll try to remember what happens throughout the week a little better for next time. I'm thinking I need to be more...captivating? yeah. ok well I'll talk to you next week. Thanks for being my family and everything.

Elder Peck SoCaL  

November 13, 2012

Well, this week was ok I guess. Not a lot to mention. Thanks for letting me know about the postage thing. I'll be sure to send mail from the Post Office. We have been getting home kinda late this week so we don't have a lot of time to sit and talk before going to bed. The time between planning and sleeping, is the time I spend to clean the apartment. It's a mess. The blinds were likely cleaned for the first time in 10 years. I had to use that spray-can cleaner thing you use to clean the inside of an oven in order to get the "dust" off. I don't think it was really dust. They were dirty. I still have a lot of cleaning to do. Elder Henrie is funny. While I clean he'll just stand behind me and watch and say things like "Wow Elder Peck, you're really good." or "Elder Peck! Look at you go!" It took me over an hour to do the dishes. Yeah. So I'm learning to clean!

I went to the store and bought some new ties. They are really nice. I'll have to take some pictures and send some. We got a bunch of old ties from a couple return missionaries. My collection is growing! There was a watch in the apartment when I got there - which belonged to Elder Given I think, and it was way too big for my wrist. One of our investigators works at a jewelry store and she said that she would re-size it for free! So we did. Now I can wear it. It's pretty nice. *I need a new white long-sleeve shirt for going to the temple/baptizing. I guess I can go to the store and find something.

During this week, the only story that comes to mind, is what happened to us last night. Elder Erickson was teaching a lesson with some members while Elder Henrie and I went to go talk to people. First, we tried Kmart. The manager approached us and told us that we were breaking the rules. So we left. We went to our usual place which was just a parking lot. There are a bunch of little stores so people are always walking in and out. We parked the car and started walking. We talked to a few people before meeting this man. He pushed a shopping cart full of random objects including a baby pit bull quietly sleeping. The man had an mp3 player and head phones. He was listening to hip hop or something. When he saw us, he opened his mouth, astonished to see such fine, young, white fellas walking down the sidewalk. Our initial thought was "Yes! Someone to talk to!" But as the conversation went on, I grew more and more uneasy.

The 47-year-old colored man had deep wrinkles in his cheeks and his fingers were crooked. His hands were dirty. He wore a baseball cap and his clothes were quite average. He had a couple friends who would walk by every now and then, giving him something to drink, and a pack of smokes in exchange for a handful of coins. He seemed religious enough to keep talking to. He knew the Bible, and he had heard a little about our church. He walked back and forth. Towards me, and away from me. Each time getting a little bit closer. At the time, I didn't realize it. I thought he was just being weird. But looking back, I can see that this man was conditioning us to the presence and the closeness of him being there. And eventually, he would jump us. He was a distraction while his "friends" slowly gathered (out of sight) and formed a circle around us, and when we least expected it, they would move in for the kill.

I had a strong feeling that this man was not talking to us to be spiritually fed. I knew without a doubt, that he had a weapon in his pocket and that he was going to steal all of our things. I had a cell phone, GPS, my wallet, my watch, my shoes and my belt that seemed like a nice addition to their collection of oddities. The reason we were not attacked last night, (mainly) is because God was protecting us. We only lasted as long as we did, because we are missionaries. Another reason, is because two security guards came up to us, told the bums to get lost, and so they did. The armed guards talked to us for a while. Telling us that this particular area is really, really bad. They told us that they won't even take out the trash at night. After telling us to be careful and that this is not the place to do missionary work, I asked them if they were interested in hearing our message. They politely declined.

We quickly walked to our car, being sure to keep an eye on our 6, and drove back to a better part of town. I made a rule with myself, to not talk to homeless people. Yes, they are still sons and daughters of God, but in most cases, they are not mentally fit to accept and live what the Gospel offers. They'll have to wait until they get to the Spirit World. Satan is real and He works in and among us to harm us. Pray always, that you may come off conqueror yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work. Anyway, that's the story for the week.

As far as Thanksgiving dinner goes, we have had a few offers. The Zone hasn't announced anything, so I guess we'll just go eat with some members. I remember last Thanksgiving very well. I went to Tony's house to watch him open his mission call, then we went to dinner. I heard "Harry Big Nose" say "Smell my bellybutton" and Charlie can confirm that. I could not stop laughing. Do you remember me laughing my head off at dinner?? Then I took a nap on the chair, then I went to work at the Post Office. Fun day. Those post office days where we actually had dinner together were funny. I remember having uncontrollable laughing fits. They were joyfully painful.

Me and my comps aren't really working out anymore. We just kinda do individual things in the morning. I tend to try to make something to eat because I've never made that important meal a habit. Elder Henrie just gets in the shower and then studies. Elder Erickson either does some sit ups or studies as well. I think it would be smart to make a goal to exercise more often and to get rid of my love handles. HAHAHAhaha...

Thanks for everything. I'm looking forward to getting my shoes. Thanks for sending them. I'll write you again next week. K bye

Elder Peck RIV

Greetings. Once again, I feel as if I haven't emailed home in a couple weeks or so. I got an email from Charlie and he seems to be having fun helping everyone clean out their destroyed basements and trees from their yards. I honestly feel like I have nothing to say this time. Um...we've been teaching people, we'll have a baptism on the 17th, and two more on the 25th. Then another soon after...not sure when. But there is success! Two of those are in the Deaf Branch so I have been keeping my sign language alive. I feel fluent now. Not to the point where I'm 100% comfortable in the culture and understanding and expressing, but fluent.

I was able to play the piano for a while today and on Halloween. It felt good. Not quite satisfying, but good. I feel more responsible for a lot of things now. I don't know why. Kinda like I'm in charge of something. It's almost stressful - especially because I can't remember what I'm supposed to be checking up on! Ah! The weather here is great. I ran a red light the other day...and I got a notice in the mail today. Some deaf guy told me that he ran that light and he had to pay $620.00. I hope I don't have to pay that much. Or anything. No more red lights for me. I hate driving. Traffic makes it bad. Rules make it bad. Race car drivers have it so easy. I guess they have a lot of rules too, but they can still speed and get away with it.

So...in the Hearing ward, the dinner calendar was passed around and filled up maybe two weeks ago. Yesterday, in the Deaf branch, I finally got the calendar and there were quite a few people signed up for dinner. I didn't know what to do, so I got up in front of the branch and told them that the other ward beat them to it, if you want to sign up for dinner, you have to do it earlier. So I basically cancelled everyone's appointment. Then after church, the woman who's in charge of the calendar came up to me and was freaking out about how hard she worked on getting people to sign up. So with me being the biggest push over in history, I said okay, I'll call everyone in the hearing ward and cancel with them. Either way, I have to cancel with someone. And my silly common sense told me that since the hearing ward beat the deaf branch at getting dinners for us, they won. But I guess everyone loses when I'm involved.

Next time, is planned to be better but I highly doubt it will be any better. It's too much information for the Deaf branch to take in. They don't understand that the hearing ward WILL feed us if they don't. And they started passing the calendar around a long time ago. Snooze, ya lose. right??? wrong. Snooze, you get to feed the missionaries anyway. OR, the other option, is to go on splits for dinner on those nights where we have two families feeding us. And some of those "families" are single women. They don't know the rules about missionaries so we have to explain to them that they will be feeding 4 people in addition to whatever you were planning. Which is not nice for us to impose. So we just cancel and eat at home. We have been eating out for lunch a lot lately. I feel FAT.

Emailing is harder for me to come up with stuff. As you can plainly see by my interesting dinner calendar story. When you get the chance, I would ask that you send my indoor soccer shoes. Please. Every once in a while, we will play soccer in the cultural hall and I would like to show off more than usual. Thanks. They are the white ones with the orange sole and navy swoosh or something like that. They should be easy to find. I don't have any missionary experiences to tell. Like the one with the Priesthood blessing. I'm going to read some of my blog now.

K bye!!!