transfers

hello!

So Saturday night, I was really not feeling too well, so I went to bed around 9:30. We were expecting calls from the Zone Leaders to let us know about transfers. I wasn't too caught up in finding out what would happen. I just wanted to rest. Finally, at 10:30pm.... the Zone Leaders called and let us know what would be happening. Elder Felix and Elder Jackson and I will be staying as a trio, covering Woodcrest and the Deaf Branch. It was surprising to me because I thought that we were only a trio because Elder Felix's companion went home for surgery and it would go back to normal after the transfer...but seeing the progress we've had the past several weeks, I can see why we are staying together. It's good. I'm happy with it.

 

The confirmations were good. I was only there for Mick's. He cried as he stood and shook hands of those who stood in the circle. It was also Branch Conference...so the Stake President spoke. It was good. Of course he had an interpreter the whole time because I don't think he knows any ASL...Anyway, after church, we were talking (signing) with Mick and his girlfriend Edith. They told us about how they have some friends who are interested in learning about the church and getting baptized. So we are waiting to hear from them and when we can meet up. In Woodcrest, Maryann (baptized last week) has been bringing her older sister to YW and other things. She's already registered for girls camp and youth conference and other things! She'll probably be next to get baptized if their dad doesn't get their first. We're hoping he does, so he can be the one to baptize her and the rest of his family.

 

Um...I don't really have any other stories. . . OH! So last night, we came home and the Salem's (homeshare) had a guest over. His name is Tarek. He's from Cairo.Yeah! Egypt. So we said hi and went to bed. This morning, I woke up and put a pot on the stove so I could breathe in the steam and help my coughing problem. Tarek was sitting outside smoking. He came in and sat down. I finished breathing steam and sat across the room from him. We talked about life and religion and had a good conversation. I was able to share Joseph Smith's first vision as well as a lot of the Book of Mormon with him. He's Muslim as are most Egyptians, and shared with me a lot of their main beliefs and things. He asked questions like "How are Mormons different from Christians?" Which is the same question that Corey Bobryk asked which started the lessons which led to his baptism! Anyway, I thought I explained myself pretty clearly. His response was basically that "That's your belief, and you have the right to believe whatever you want, as long as you believe in God" He made mention that "all roads lead to Rome" implying that all forms of religion lead to God or to Heaven. So I just let him continue talking for a while, and sharing some of his life stories and so forth. Then he went out to smoke again.

 

Kind of a weird story, but I enjoyed it. anyway...bye!

 

Elder Peck

Hello

I'm sick. I have the flu. It hurts. This morning, I cut an orange in half and squeezed the juice into some hot water and drank it. Kinda weird, but it's what I was in the mood for. I don't think it helped my throat much. My body aches as if my blood has been poisoned. My sinuses are in pain, too. My skin is sensitive, especially my scalp. I'm very tired. I didn't sleep last night.

 

The baptisms were really good. We had 2 yesterday. One in Woodcrest and one in the Deaf Branch. It all seems like a dream. I'm just waiting to wake up. I feel like the excitement of having another baptism was gone. It was just another day. I've been dreaming of the same place for over a week now. Every night I'm somewhere on a mountain. There's a temple. It's beautiful. There are lots of hotels and big buildings. It's a very wealthy place. While I'm there, I always fall into the water. Whether it be a lake, a river, or somehow the ocean, I lose my footing and slip into the unknown. I've survived each time despite the risks. And I keep going back, looking for something. I assume I haven't found it yet.

 

About those other baptismal programs, I was involved with one since I started my mission. Elder Mercy and I would teach her. During the time I spent out of the branch, the other ASL missionaries finally baptized her. The other one, was a referral from some guy Elder Figueroa and I found. I guess I taught him once or twice before he was baptized, and we've seen him a lot since then. But I just included his program because I know him well. I'll send two others soon. I was more involved with them.

 

Um...transfers are this weekend. I'll probably just finish in the Deaf Branch with Elder Jackson for 6 more weeks. Sometimes I wish I could be transfered somewhere different with new experiences and new people to teach.

 

k bye

 

Elder Peck

Standard #3

Well, we got standard again. 5 at church. 22 lessons. 8 member presents. So...good news. We'll be having 2 baptisms next week. And 1 the week after. If not 2. They are really good stories. So I'm thinking of telling you later. When I'm home. There's an Elder here, Elder Peterson. From Arizona. Every time I see him (pday) he holds up his fingers with the number of weeks I have left. Today he mistakingly held up 7. I was a little confused for a second, then realized he's not far off! So now, it's hard not to think about. I've been going through my mission in my head every night before I sleep. I think about coming here and meeting all the people I first met. I still run into those people all the time because I've never been transfered far enough. I wont know about transfers until next weekend. But most likely...like I'm 99% sure I'll be in the Deaf Branch only. I'm sending home a couple baptismal programs with the sd card. Just some more people that made it to baptism ;) So, I went shopping last week. I bought some clothes. I got some new jeans, shoes, a shirt, and belts. Fun.

 

The Lord really is hastening His work. And it really can't be stopped. Everything is moving really fast. This year so far (as far as I know) the Riverside Stake has had 19 baptisms. That's a lot aleady. For a month and a half. It's only going to get better. It's the best time to be a missionary. I'm sad that it ends soon. But when I'm home, and the name tag comes off, I'll keep the things I've learned and use them throughout my life. I can't stop being a missionary. Even in Spanish Fork, Utah. There are people who need that ordinance! Anyway, ttyl.

 

Elder Peck

Good afternoon family,

 

hello. So like um...hey. This week was really good, like last week. We got the standard of excellence (reached our goals) for the 2nd week in a row. This includes teaching at least 7 lessons to investigators with a member true friend present; getting all necessary contacts throughout the week; teaching at least 20 lessons total; having at least 4 investigators attend sacrament meeting. We had 5 investigators come to church, we taught 26 lessons, 7 member presents, and all our OYMs. (open your mouths) An oym is a conversation you have with a person during the day. You need 10 per missionary each day, so that's 30 people talked to for us. By the end of the week, that's ...210. We haven't missed a day in many months.

 

My stomach is feeling better. I had a migraine yesterday. Starting at 8 in the morning. I decided not to take pills, because it was fast Sunday and I'd have to drink water to take the pills, also, pills on an empty stomach will upset my stomach, so I would have had to eat something and break my fast...so I didn't take them. After church, I couldn't wait any longer, it was getting bad. So I used the drinking fountain and took my pills. Then we went to dinner. YUM. Pot roast with mashed potatoes and gravy. corn and bread. and Asparagus. The best dang food ever! After an hour or so, my headache went away. I think I just needed some food in me. Like right now, I'm getting a headache and I haven't had anything to eat...so maybe I should eat more? And get fatter? nah...

 

Yay for the Seahawks! I'm glad they killed Denver.

I did receive a package today finally. Thank you. I will send the full sd card back asap. It has a lot of pictures.

I also got my travel itinerary emailed to me. Wow. It's weird to get that. Less than 9 weeks? Is that all? oh man. I'm scared.

 

The skin on my face for whatever reason has dried up completely. I think it's because I have been putting lotion on. Doesn't really make sense does it? I think my face it conditioned to the idea that I will provide moisture to it. So, if I condition my face to think that I have stopped putting lotion on, it will decide to moisten itself. ?? It's super dry. Everything. It kinda hurts. My lips. My cheeks. My nose. My forehead. My chin. Yeah...So we are going to in&out for lunch soon. I'm hungry. I'm going to eat a lot and get huge huge huge! (in a really deep voice) OOOHHH