Hey,

 

So here I am, back in the Deaf Branch. Woo hoo. no really, I am excited. I love it here. I'm just kinda down because it's like being torn between cultures. I never thought I'd come to like the Deaf Culture. It's different and weird and I'm not Deaf...

 

Anyway, the Branch is doing very well. There are a few really solid potentials we are working with. I don't know what more we can do for them. It reminds me of the vineyard story in the book of mormon. (Jacob 5) How the Lord of the vineyard says "what could I have done more for my vineyard" or something like that. And the servant says "spare it a little longer" or something like that. It really matches perfectly with the Deaf Branch because it's not like we find new people to teach all the time. We have to keep working with the people that we already have. They've been taking the lessons forever. We just have to prune them and dig about them and dung them and nourish them and graft the natural branches to them and all that good stuff. So that they don't have to be "hewn down and cast into the fire."

 

Anyway, that's pretty much my week. . . any questions?

 

k bye

 

Elder Peck

So, like...I'm 21 and it doesn't really feel much different. Actually, my birthday came and went almost without a thought. I forgot it was my birthday until someone said something about it...

 

I got the package! Thank you! It's really great and made me happy.

Transfer calls...I'm no longer Zone Leader. I'm no longer English.

I'm being transfered to the De Anza ward (Spanish speaking) for the next 6 weeks at least. 

I know that God has prepared me for this even though I feel like I know absolutely zero spanish.

I will learn and study and do great things. It's going to be fun!

 

Just kidding. Gotcha. I'm going back to ASL!!!! No really.

Elder Jackson is my new companion. He's been out about 6 months?? or 8? anyway, he's cool.

 

Elder Kava is going to the Perris ward in Menifee. We are having a baptism next week for sure. The investigators name is Moi. He's 18. Raised less active catholic (like most people here) He's inviting his family to the baptism which could spark a few more. Another one will happen a few weeks later. And a couple more are looking pretty promising in the La Sierra Hieghts ward. But I will probably be there for Moi only. 

 

In the Deaf Branch, there are 4 people prepared for baptism. A family of 3 and a "golden investigator" who visited SLC and wants to be baptized. Great! I'm excited to start signing again. It's been too long. 6 months english.

I am thinking that I will probably end my mission in the Deaf Branch. 4 more transfers. Not that I'm counting. . . 

 

Anyway, We are super busy today because we both have to move and stuff.

Thanks again for the package. I love it.

Sounds like things back home are good.

Tell Granmda thank you so much for the card! I miss her.

 

Elder Peck

I got a haircut. Shaved it all off. I look weird. But when I wear a suit, it looks ok. I was just getting tired of trying to do something with my hair. It was getting long, too. You know how it gets curly? Well, it got curly. So I just buzzed it all off. It feels good.

I have been a little bored during our Pday activities lately. I cannot break my precaution rule and participate. I have to sit and watch as everyone plays games and mingles. It's lonely, being injured. I tried jogging lightly the other morning. I ran about 3/4 mile and did some military press. The next day, my back was terribly sore. I want to be able to run again. I want to be healthy. I have a plan in my mind for the future. That I will eat only healthy foods and excercise daily, however, once a week I will treat myself to whatever I want. I have tried that a little on my mission. As much as I can control. And, when we go out to eat at some fast-food place, it feels awful. Like a slimey, sticky, slowing mess pouring through my body. So, in the future, when I can control what I eat completely, I will choose something better than fast-food. Ugh. I don't think I'll go to Taco Bell for my birthday this year. It's Stake Conference, so I'll just do that.

Our investigators are a little slow to getting their answer from God about the Book of Mormon and everything. I pray for them often. I really want them and their families to experience all the blessings God has for them. But they still have their choice. If they fully understood the message we share, they wouldn't hesitate to get baptized. Maybe we aren't teaching good enough. They must not understand.

Thanks mom, for sending birthday stuff. I will probably get it this week. I know I don't ask for anything, but I still like getting stuff. So thanks. Today in our District Meeting, the Norco sisters (Tucker & Mendoza) brought ice-cream cake for everyone. Because of birthdays. There were two others that had birthdays in Sept. And I guess they knew about mine because of our Multizone Conference when Sister Smart handed out candy. They are nice.

How is Riley doing? I haven't heard anything from him. I guess I haven't tried contacting him either, but I'd like to know. How's Grandma? How's the Ward? What is the general reaction from the ward to the whole "hastening the work" thing? I know there's not a lot of missionary work to do in Wolf Hollow 2nd Ward, Spanish Fork, Utah. Are you going to do Less Active work? What's the response?

I'm afraid to send home my sd card. I don't want it to get erased like the one you sent me. I guess I'll just do it and pray that all those pictures are preserved. There are some good ones.

I'm kinda done writing friends...I email a couple, but I guess I lost the desire to keep in touch. I'm pretty sure they are moving on with life and moving away from mine. Should I be ok with that? Is there another option? Do I really have to come home and make a bunch of new friends? At least I have Rowdy and Maggie! and my longboard! and the piano! and Harry Potter!

I listened to some very good songs a couple days ago: "And then shall your light break forth" from "Elijah" by Felix Mendelssohn. "The Ground" by Ola Gjeilo. and (for organ!) Sinfonia to Cantana No. 29 by Bach...arranged by Robert Hebble. I got really excited when I heard the organ song. I really want to learn it. I'm a freak! Exclamation point!

I guess that's all I have to say this week. Thanks for everything. BYE!

 

Elder Peck

hey, so like...this week was super fast. We had meetings all week and then GC on top of that. So it was fast. 1 investigator came to church...I guess it's better than 0! :) General Conference was really good. I liked all the talks. I took 10 pages of notes. The music was my favorite. Listening to the choir and the organ was the only time I really felt the Spirit, I think. I really like the organ. Especially after watching Clay Christiansen play. He's good. They're all good. I wanna see them compared to Don. I bet he's better. haha. I'm going to study and practice organ a lot when I get home. I'm going to get keys to the church somehow and just go play for hours. Yeah. that's the life. :)

2 more weeks until transfers. I have no idea what might happen. Missionaries are already talking about their predictions. Whatever transpires, I know God is in it. I know I'll be in the right place. Whether that be planting seeds or harvesting, it mattereth not. 

I remember about a year ago, Elder Mercy and I were still companions. He was about to go home. I was still green. I didn't know what was going on. Even after a few months of being a missionary. Being in the Deaf program allows you to live a different life than the ordinary missionary. Being a Zone Leader for almost 6 months has shown me what a "normal" missionary does. It's fun. Well, I guess ZLs aren't really normal are they? I'm not normal, that's proven 100%. 

I'm trying to think of an entertaining story I can tell... hmmm...I'm practicing an arrangement of "the lord is my shepherd" for a stake conference with Elder Packer (of the 70). The leadership in the church here in Riverside is well aware that I can play the piano. There will be singers...I think I already mentioned this last week...or the week before. Anyway, it's been on my mind. I love the song. It's a good arrangement. Usually I dislike arrangements that change keys, but it's not too hard and it sounds really nice. I'm glad I have been able to use my talent lately. It gives me hope that when I go home and find hours to myself, I'll have something constructive and beneficial to do.

 

Elder Peck