Transfers!!! So, big changes for me again. I'm in a bordering zone called Jurupa Valley. They area was just divided into two zones. Ours is called La Sierra. I'm still a Zone Leader. My companion is Elder Kava. He's Tongan! He's been out for 18 months. He's from Hawaii. But he's Tongan. This is just weird not being in Riverside. Well, I'm still in the city of Riverside, but in an area that's a little unfamiliar to me.

As far as the work went in Woodcrest, we did very well last week. We will have a baptism on the 11th. I'm going back to be a witness with Elder Figueroa. I'm still trying to send the sd card back. I haven't been able to get to the post office in a long time.

Apparently there are some opportunities for me to use sign language in this ward. I don't know how...but the bishop told me that there is a family that knows me, and they know sign language, and they want me to teach their son's non-member girlfriend. Hmmm...we'll see about that. Um...I can't really think of anything else. There's a lot going on in my mind as you could probably imagine.

I'm very happy to hear about Chuck and being able to serve again! Honestly, my body feels as though I really shouldn't be serving. I should be resting at home for a while. But I have less than a year, and I'm pretty tough. So I'll just do it. I have to.

I'm probably going to need to go to the Dentist very soon as well. I can feel multiple cavities well over-do.
I will send that package soon. With my new home address on it.


Elder Peck (Big Dog)

Email from Monday, July 22

Heyyyy,

 

This week was a little slow. But still good. We found 4 new people to teach. We have a couple baptisms set up for August. I don't know anything about transfers yet. Next week I'll know. I'm excited. It's like I don't know what to expect now. I've always been able to predict the outcome of transfers. I'd be in the Deaf Branch...with the same companion. Month after month. But now, I'm English, and I will likely stay in this area but with a new companion. It's likely. But like I said, I have no idea what'll happen. 

 

My back is no bueno. oh, that reminds me. I understand a lot of Spanish now. I still can't speak very well, but I comprehendo a lot-o. So yeah, my back. . . This morning I woke up and it was super bad. Worse than it's been in months. I thought I was getting better. It might be because I've stopped visiting the chiropractor. I'll go back soon. 

 

I found another tarantula and played with him, too. He was a little defensive so I let him go after just a few minuets. I kinda got scared and didn't wanna hold him anymore. 

 

Um...I'm trying to think of some cool story for the week. Meh, I got nothin.

Welp, thanks for everything. I'm waiting on that package. :)

 

Elder Peck

Email of July 15

Hey,

This week was good. The baptism was super good. We had two investigators come and see. They felt the spirit for sure.

Mom, don't feel sorry for being concerned for your baby boy who hurts. I would have kept it to myself and probably never had any help. Thanks for being a good mommy! My headaches are easily treated, it just takes time. I've had to deal with them since middle school. My back is...eh. My meeting with the President was short. What I got out of it was I'm going home in the Spring and I can last that long. Then I'll get some real treatment. I figured that would be good enough. I really don't like taking time out of my week to go get an adjustment. My body is addicted to the feeling of popping. After an adjustment, my body aches in need of twisting and pulling and hyper-extending. I lasted about 2 days of aching before I gave in and popped everything. Well...it still aches. I wonder if the future will have better ways of figuring out a medical problem and solving it sooner. That would be nice.

President Smart sent a quote to us. I like it:
“The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities. We need men who can dream of things that never were and ask, Why not?" Pres. Kimball.

We were trained on expecting miracles and increasing our faith to baptize. The Assistants trained on testifying and teaching by the spirit. It was really good.

So last night, we came home from dropping off a team up and pulled in the driveway. I saw a black hand, tip-toeing across the cement. -It wasn't a hand. I searched in the trash can for something to catch him in. A small, empty butter container was perfect. I quickly placed it on top, careful not to squish his legs. I jumped for joy and shivered with fear knowing that I had just put my worst enemy in a slippery situation. ;)
I carried him through the house and onto the back porch. Then I let him crawl on me.
What was I thinking?!?!?! Holy moly!

Um...I was going to write more but I had those pictures to send. So I thought I'd write the rest on another email. I kinda forgot what I was going to say though. . . hmmmm
Here's pictures of the baptism. :)

I can't stop thinking about that spider...

anyway...I'm getting along with myself better than usual. So that's good. I miss a lot of people and things and places now. Even people on my mission that I haven't seen in a long time. I want to see them again. As far as people back home, everything is changing. I'm emailing some friends. They are getting married, having kids, working like crazy, going to school...etc. I'm so lucky I don't have to deal with that. If I could serve a mission the rest of my life...I probably would. I get a place to stay, free dinner, free gas, I get money every month on a little card, I see so many benefits from being a missionary that simply cannot be if I were home. The best part though, is all the experiences and people that I meet. I would probably never meet people if I weren't serving a mission. It's super great.


Brian

Email from June 24

Hey,

This week was good I think. I am starting to forget everything that has happened and my mind is constantly thinking ahead. Um...our lesson with the Guadarramas was good I guess. I wasn't there. we went on splits but I heard good things. They didn't come to church...but I'm sure they will next week. um...

I'm trying hard to come up with a super great story to share. . .

Oh! Today, for Pday activity, I went straight to the organ and played a lot. I loved it. Then I went to the piano (which is a Steinway btw) and played for another long time. I loved it, too. I haven't played like I did, since I've been on a mission. Today gave me hope that I still have a talent - even though it has been over a year since I've played. Hymns don't count. I love the Hymns, and other church songs, but it's not anything like playing what I tend to play most often. Chopin is a genius. He's up there on my list of people to meet when I die. Along with Joseph and Hyrum Smith, and Tchaikovsky.

Anyway, I guess I'll email next week.

Elder Peck

July 8, 2013

Hello!

Um...this week was good. . . you just HAD to mention the 4th of July. Just a heads up, Holidays as a missionary only means that it's harder to make appointments and harder to get people to listen to you. It doesn't mean you get the day off. It doesn't even mean you get to go see members! (unless it's Christmas). So honestly, this 4th of July was less than great. The package made it better!

The main reason the 4th was bad this year, is because I had a stupid eye headache all day. It was pretty bad. It started around noon during lunch. Some members fed us these huge New York steaks and potatoes and salads and stuff. By the time I finished most of my steak, I was too sick to eat anything. Then they brought out dessert. Some kind of cake with whipped cream and heath bar stuff...I took a very small bite and it just made it worse. I am the designated driver, and since my companion wrecked the car earlier, I had to drive us around all day with a migraine.

At dinner, the family was having a barbecue outside so I went inside and lied down on the couch. People kept coming up to me and asking what's wrong and offering to help, and although there intentions were good, they only made it worse. My hearing became supersonic and I listened to every one's conversation going on outside. It was horrendous. They talked about the dumbest things. Maybe I only thought that because I didn't want to hear anything...hmmm.

After dinner, we walked around trying to talk to people. I wasn't in any condition to start preaching, so I kept my mouth shut most of the night. The missionaries in the Zone were at the church playing games and watching "the other side of Heaven" while we went home and I tried to go to bed. Perhaps my memory of last year's 4th of July made it even worse. Elder Mercy and I went to Big Bear Lake and just chilled. That was way fun! breaking rules is the best! But this year was worse for the headache reason, and because I now know better to not go to Big Bear. :) It's weird thinking that it has been a whole year since that time.

Nothing scares me more than turning 21. October is close. Another session of General Conference is close. Then it'll be 6 months and I'm home. Weird. That's still a long time, and there's a lot of work to do here. I'm keeping my focus now that my head is a little more clear. We will be having another baptism this weekend. It's a cool story. The father of the family is Mormon. He married a non member and they had twins. 9 years passed and the missionaries found two golden investigators! Their dad baptized them and missionaries started focusing on the mother. 10 months passed, and she is finally getting baptized. She started out with no testimony of anything. She has since then come to know that Jesus lives and loves her. Now, their family can be sealed for all time and eternity in about a year. Such miracles!

I have been blessed with many. I wish I could do this for the rest of my life. I love it! After my mission, I'm going to move somewhere where there is a low population of Mormons so that I might be the means of bringing those souls unto Christ. There is no better feeling. No better way to gain a testimony than to share it. I'll try to send an sd card soon. Thanks for everything! K bye!

Elder Peck

Monday, July 1, 2013

I'm jealous of ya'll being in Warshington. Sounds like fun. Even though it's hot. Boo hoo.

I was able to play a little basketball today without too much pain in my back! I guess that's improvement.

But, as my history will show, my back will likely be hurt again, and I will have to stop socializing with other missionaries on P day. I did play the organ and the piano a lot. That was really fun. I miss it.

 

This week we had 2 baptisms. It was kind of late notice for everyone. But it went really well, and they are super happy.

One of the investigators had a dream that she was baptized and remembers feeling really good about it. What a miracle!

Not much else happened...mainly we were just preparing for the baptism and all that...

We should be having another in a couple weeks. I'll send the programs and pictures.

 

It's getting hot here. It has been over 100 for the past few days. I guess it could be hotter...

We will have a very busy week this week. We have two exchanges to go on, Mission Leadership Conference, and Zone development meeting, and the following week we have multizone conference. Plus, the mission finally split. All the missionaries that were serving across the border will stay there. I'm not sure how the Deaf Branch missionaries will travel around.

 

K bye!

 

Elder Peck