Wow, Maggie's gonna be a mommy huh? Do you have any idea who the dad might be? Which breed is he?

Just send pictures of the pups. I'll see them on Christmas too, right? presh.

 

So, this week was ok. I don't remember much. I remember being on exchanges in the Woodcrest ward! It was good being in that area again. Elder Sorensen and I had fun. We had a lesson at Cherry on top - (it's totes the best fro-yo) with a couple recent converts. Kristina Medina and her boyfriend DJ Deckard. It was so rewarding to see that they are still strong members after almost 6 months. DJ was preparing to bless the sacrament for the first time. It's easy to forget that new members don't know everything. We talked to him about what to do with the cloth and the trays and the microphone and the card reading and kneeling and everything. He was nervous about it. Then we had dinner with some other recent converts. It was good.

 

Elder Jackson and I do not get fed by the Deaf Branch as well as we could be, so one day that we didn't have a meal, we decided to go to Ruby's diner. Yum. I had a turkey burger with cranberry sauce on it. And I had a strawberry cheesecake shake. We only eat out like that maybe once a week. The other days we eat at home. I have tortillas and peanut butter and jelly. I have mac'n'cheese. I have orange juice. And chips and salsa. Yeah. Good dinner. Last night for dinner I had cookies and milk. :) Last night we went to the church for an annual Christmas musical concert thingy. It's called the Messiah Sing In. It was better than last year. There were cookies, but I didn't eat any since I had my fair share for dinner already...I was the only missionary there who was there last year. I've been in this zone longer than anyone. I've been on my mission longer than any other missionary in the zone. That's a weird feeling.

 

For Christmas, the mission will gather at the Moreno Valley Stake Center on Christmas Eve to have a talent show, and lunch and distribute gifts. So, any packages sent here without "do not hold till Christmas" written on the outside, will be held until that "get together". Last year I actually got stuff from a few friends. I feel badly that I can't really afford anything to give. We get about 4 dollars a day to use for food, and everything else. So, Christmas shopping doesn't really happen. I know I'm supposed to get something for cousin Kayla...and Mom's birthday...haha I was going to call but I'm obedient. Mostly. haha

 

About Ridge...I'm trying to think of a story that you (dad) could share during your talk. Um...I can't really think of anything. Sorry. Oh wait....I got one. So.........it was Escalante. We were camping in the sand. The gnats were horrendous. Their bites were worse than mosquitoes. They would fly in your ears and your eyes and your nose and all over. Ugh. Anyway, One day, we had a couple hours of free time before the group would drive to a hiking place. Ridge and I looked around and spotted a tall rock formation in the distance. (Now it was the tradition of all young men, that as soon as they see a rock formation, they would climb to the top) So Ridge and I set off on our way. We hiked and hiked. We walked and walked. We were careful to watch for snakes and scorpions. We finally reached the face of this rock wall and tried climbing up. It wasn't happening. Much too steep. We walked around the rock formation and found an easier way up. It was still steep, but looked do-able. With his basketball shoes, Ridge's feet often slipped on the flat rock, causing small rocks to tumble down. We finally reached a point that both of us knew that if we fell, we would die. But we weren't to the top yet. So we kept going! We scaled some very tricky spots with the help of each other. I was shaking. I hate knowing that if I slip, I will die. My throat was dry and I wanted to turn back and give up, but Ridge kept going. I couldn't leave him. The buddy system was drilled into me as I went through the scouting program. I followed his lead. We finally reached the top. It was beautiful. It was also really windy. That did not bring a calming feeling whatsoever. We looked over the edge straight down probably a couple hundred feet. We saw our campsite in the distance. We saw the other young men. We stayed up there a while, feeling accomplished and strong. Now, for those of you who are familiar with hiking, you know very well that it is easier on the way up, than it is on the way down. So as we carefully made our way down the steep slippery rock, I prayed in my head that we wouldn't die, but that we would make it back to camp safely. I slipped a few times, but not enough to lose my step. Ridge, on the other hand was jumping down the rock like a jackrabbit. He wasn't afraid to fall. I slid down on my bottom until I reached level ground. We made it. We quickly made our way back to camp and pointed out the tall rock formation that we had just defeated. We were proud and soon, others were jealous and wanted to climb it, too. But it was too late. The group was getting ready to leave. So Ridge and I were the only ones to do it. If I were to go back to that campsite, I would never attempt such a climb. I would fall for sure. Back only a few years ago, I was able to do things like that. I sound like an old man, but it's true.

 

Anyway, that's a story about Ridge and myself.

 

Elder Peck