Dad, you can go ahead and send Mike my address. . . I don't know how it will all work out because we are never acutally home...but sure, we'll see what happens.

 

Hello. This week was good. Better than last week. Ok it was really good. The baptisms were great. After the 3rd kid, one of the witnesses started closing the door...and everyone was like "No!!! There's still one more!!" haha it was funny. They will be confirmed next week...I don't know who will do it.

We finally taught 20 lessons in the week. I don't think I've ever done that. It was not easy.

So I'm sure you've heard about the new missions and stuff. Our mission will be affected by the creation of the Redlands Mission. It will start in July. hmmm It's exciting to be on a mission while all these changes are happening. There will be a lot of missionaries...everywhere.

 

I dont' really have any stories...everything is kinda...confidential? Anyway, things are good.

 

Sorry this email is kinda bland. I should have come up with some creative way to explain the baptisms. That was the highlight of the week for sure. welp...bye!

 

Elder Peck SoCaL

February 19, 2013

Hello. This week was good. Probably our best so far. We reached more goals than ever before. I wrote a letter concerning such goals and you should feel free to put that letter (when it gets there) on the blog as well. Thank you.

I am happier than I've been in...a long time. We worked really hard this week. And the barefaced blessings are great. I am eager to experience the many more favorable developments and unpopular deteriorations that serving a mission brings. (Ups and downs)

There was, however, a time during this week where I was at my lowest. It's crossed my mind that I could be suffereing from bipolar disorder. Just because of this week. Up and down and up and down. And not by just a little. Possibly, it's the presence of the Spirit, and the absence of the Spirit. And I just happen to be sensitive to it. ?? anyway, I wrote a little about it: "Hanging on like grim death, I spare no efforts in maintaining my mental stability." And many more things did I write concerning these feelings. I'm sorry I don't have a lot to say, I thought I would write much more today. 

I saw snow in Yucaipa the other day. Snowmen. It made me think of home. I miss snow. I took pleasure in pushing snow with a shovel. It's one of my favorite things to do! 

I am making friends in California. At the beginning of my mission, I decided to never visit when I'm done. But now, I really want to come back and see my friends. 

I never had the chance to talk to my High School ASL teacher and tell her about my calling. I don't know how you could contact her, but could you try for me? Her name is Pamela Bond. She is Deaf. I'm pretty sure she lives in Spanish Fork...She's probably still teaching at SFHS. That was just a thought that crossed my mind. 

I was able to play the piano yesterday for P day. We went to Eastvale at a homeshare with some other Elders. There was a Yamaha black grand piano, and a clavinova electric keyboard. Of course, I spent more time playing the electric one because it can sound like a million different things. But overall, I was bored with the piano. I feel like that desire has left me completely. In church, I frequently get asked to play for Sacrament or for Priesthood. I enjoy playing then, but it's still different. I cannot explain it. 

I was reading in 1 Cor. 14 and 15. These two chapters talk about several things I've only ever heard the Mormons talk about. Do other religions just ignore these chapters? Anyway, I really liked it. Probably one of my very favorite scriptures. 

 

ok. I have to tell you of an experience I had this last Sunday. (Feb 17) We were going to teach a man for the first time. Ron is married to a member and they have a 5 year old girl. We sat in his living room and got to know him. We talked casually for quite some time. It was getting later and later, and we still had a lesson to teach. So I started talking. I talked about Joseph Smith and about the Restoration of the Gospel. I tried starting the lesson off by telling him the overview or summary of the lesson. I couldn't speak. The only thing I could think of, was "Invite him to be baptized on March 10th" again and again. I couldn't talk. I almost tried to ignore this prompting because if there were to be a baptismal invite, it would be after the lesson. That's how it always is. But I went ahead and invited Ron to be baptized - before the lesson. I told him that I felt that God had prepared him and he could be ready by the 10th of March. He smiled and said "Yes". 

 

 

Elder Peck 

Hello Family. This week was kinda fast and slow. I feel busier than normal. I saw Elder Mercy today. I talked with him for a little bit. He has a mustache now and he looks a little bit...less tubby. Good to see him. He said something about seeing Chucks name on some paper in NYC. Cool. Um...We will be having 4 baptisms this month. Not this weekend, but next. All of them can hear just fine. They will be going to the Arlington Ward.

So...about that ex-cop murdering dirt bag...we are at the library right next to where it happened. People have placed flowers and posters on the sidewalks where the cops were shot. Kinda crazy. I guess it's a pretty big deal to find this guy. The police in Riverside killed 3 civilians in an attempt to stop him. Wow. This guy was trained to survive on nothing. He has a plan. I guess he is somewhere in Big Bear right now...they haven't found him yet. They probably never will. He has a hit list to take care of first.

Um...so concerning our baptisms. Three of them are a family. Johnny, and his two kids: Alex and Benjamin. We have had several very good lessons with them. We meet at Ramona High school. In the back by the baseball field. There are these tables we sit at. Anyway, last night, we met with them. Johnny asked us if we would bless Alex and Benjamin. We did. Johnny said that the Spirit finally told him everything he needed to know. He said he just felt it. He said that he is ready for baptism. And that he is anxious to get baptized. Really cool. The other baptism is a little boy, Donavan. His three brothers were baptized in Nov. He just had to wait until he was 8. His parents are not members. I only know of his mother...she's baptist. But doesn't go to church or anything. She let her other three boys get baptized, and now we will baptize the last. We have a couple other referrals to check out. I am very hopeful about them. The members in the Arlington Ward are really great. The work is progressing, and nothing can stop it.

We got a new car. Well, it's a 2010 but it has half the miles on it compared to our malibu. It's a red corolla. Holler! I like it. It feels cheaper than the Malibu, but it's a better car.

Interesting ASL story, Dad. I wonder if they understood anything you said. You will have to learn some signs!

I guess I really don't have any more to say. Thanks for everything.

E. Peck  

So, this week was ok. It's starting to get hot already. I don't want it to get hot. I love cold weather. That's why I was sent to SoCal huh? I saw Chan's blog. Wow! I heard about the wreck but I didn't see pictures or anything. Which made me wonder...could you put pictures on my blog? Whatever you want to spice it up a bit. I'm glad Chan is having fun and that he is still so imaginative. He relates everything to a movie. That makes life fun.

Um...I really have nothing to say yet again...I'm trying to come up with a cool story. Yes, cool things happen often, but I must be getting used to them because I don't think much of them anymore. Hmmmm...oh! I must have slept on my neck wrong, because it is very painful. I can turn my head left, and I can tilt my head back without too much trouble...but if I turn to the right, and try to tilt back, oh boy, yeah, that's bad. I guess I just have to wait a few days until it stops hurting??

Um...I'm excited for Ty. Tell him to email me or something. Oh wait, I want a letter from Minnesota! It's probably not possible, but I think that would be cool. . . .

Sorry. I got nothin.

Next week. You'll see.

Spicying it up  - Elder Peck and Elder Henrie