OCT_30_17_MOM_LEW

 Dear Mom,

HALLELUJAH!! I'm so glad to hear that BYU has finally managed to win another game at LAST. And against SJSU too. I absolutely hate San Jose State. We've had WAY too many close games with them in the past, so it's nice that we beat them by such a large margin. Yeah, I totally agree. Hopefully next week we will end up beating Fresno State. I mean, Fresno's not THAT good, right? We should at least be able to contend with them. I hope. Then again, I have no idea how terrible this tea is, so what the heck do I know?? How's the basketball team doing?? I mean, I'm sure it's just a bunch of exhibition games that they're playing right now, but are they looking good? Who's playing at center, now that Eric Mika is gone? Did anything ever happen with Eric Mika? 

Mama Dirle is the absolute BEST. As I'm sure she told you, I gave a talk in Sacrament meeting yesterday. It was most definitely NOT the best talk that I've ever given in my life. To quote Brian Regan, "I had 9 months to work on it, and I did nothing." Okay.  Not quite that long. But still. I basically procrastinated it until the last two days, Friday and Saturday. The talk was on Cheryl A. Esplin's October 2014 talk entitled, "The Sacrament- a Renewal for the Soul." So yeah. I talked about the Sacrament, and how we can make it more meaningful for ourselves personally. After I was done, Mama Dire came up to me and told me that I did a great job. She wanted me to give her your number, so that she could get in contact with you and let you know some stuff. I had no idea that she was actually gonna call you. I figured she would just text you or something. It's really cool to think that you've talked to her, that you've actually talked to someone out here in Pennsylvania, someone who means a lot to me. We call her Mama Dirle for a reason. She takes care of us. I absolutely love her.

So, to answer your question... My head and jaw haven't felt a whole lot better. In fact, these past few days have been pretty dang hard for me. I'll go ahead and paste the paragraph where I talk about it to President Bednar from yesterday's letter:

"This week has been interesting. I already informed you of everything that the dentist told me regarding tooth grinding. He told me that I have to make a conscious effort to avoid grinding my teeth during the day, and to wear a special mouth guard at night to prevent me from grinding while I'm asleep. He seemed fairly confident that this would diminish the jaw pain and get rid of the headaches. Well, I have been trying my best to stop grinding my teeth during the day, which is easier said than done. It has not been easy by any means. My conscious effort has actually resulted in more tightness in my jaw, perhaps due to the fact that my upper teeth no longer rest on my bottom teeth? My headaches have not diminished either. I think that as time goes by, and I learn other ways to manage stress (other than teeth grinding), I will start to feel the improvements. Once again, just being patient and diligent. I have another doctor's appointment this Thursday, to evaluate my mental and emotional condition. This is just a follow up appointment, as it has been a month since I started taking 10 MG. I'm not sure if I have previously informed you of this appointment, so please let me know if there is anything I need to do in terms of Missionary Medical."

I've been doing lots of studies recently on HOW to access the enabling power of the Atonement. Because I know that I can't get through this alone. Jesus Christ took upon himself all of our sins, but also all of our physical pains. I have determined that I need to have FAITH, keep the commandments, and submit cheerfully and with patience to the will of the Lord. THAT is how I will be strengthened. I hope that at some point soon, God delivers me out of bondage, just as he did with the people of Alma in Mosiah 24. Mom, I really want to get better. I really just want this pain to go away. And I think it will, so long as I exercise faith in Him. Faith is hoping for things which we don't see, which are true, right? Well, I know that God keeps his promises, every single one of them. So although I haven't seen miraculous improvement, I know that his promises are true, and that he will strengthen me if I keep my end of the bargain. I'm really trying my best. I really am. 

I haven't contacted that girl from Delta Dental yet. I guess I'm just sorta nervous. But Elder Payne and I are getting kind of desperate. We have very few progressing investigators. It's just been a rough couple of weeks. I'm convinced Elder Payne doesn't really like me all that much. I don't really want to get too much into it, but it's been a struggle. He just doesn't seem to have a whole lot of motivation to do missionary work. I don't know. It's just frustrating. I'm gonna confront him about it sometime soon. I just don't know how to go about doing it. 

The first few weeks with Elder Payne were great. He is so much more relaxed than Elder Marcum was, which really helped. But then again, he may be a bit TOO relaxed, if you get my drift. Which is  nice, because sometimes I need to rest, but other times, it leaves me feeling guilty because I don't think we're being as effective as we could be. Meh. I said I wasn't going to get into it, and here I am, getting into it. I'll figure it out.

Brief Update on Carlos: He received the Priesthood yesterday!! He's doing great!! It's crazy to think that 3 weeks ago, he was smoking cigarettes, and now he holds the Priesthood. We are working on getting him to the temple as soon as possible. Also, I heard from a member in our ward that Carolina went to the Boston Massachusetts temple recently. So she seems to be doing great as well!! It's nice to see my recent converts progressing in the gospel. Sometimes I worry about their retention. I pray for them every day. I hope to be able to find some more progressing investigators soon.

It's getting DANG cold here. And pretty wet as well. I am NOT looking forward to the inevitable snow. Like I said last week, I was able to get two sweaters. Elder Payne has a winter Coat that he's willing to let me have. In addition, the Sisters in our district said that some Elders left winter coats in their apartment when they moved out. And they're willing to let me have one of those. So I'll take a look at them at District Meeting on Wednesday. Because I'm going to need them shortly. I'm trying to save you as much money as possible. But I'm going to need to buy some warmer socks and gloves pretty soon. It's hard because we don't have a car, and nowhere near that sells any of that stuff. But I'll figure it out. Because I am NOT about to freeze.

I didn't take a whole lot of pictures this week, but I will send the ones that I DID take. There's a member in our ward, Brother Steinburg, who served in the Peru Trujillo mission. He brought me Inca Cola yesterday!! It was awesome to be able to drink some. I feel like it's been WAY too long haha. I recorded Elder Payne trying some, and he did NOT seem too happy about that at. He didn't have the reaction I was hoping for. Good old Elder Payne. Also, There's a picture of the "Holey" Ghost. Enjoy.

I love you, Mom. Please keep praying for me. Unfortunately, this isn't over. But it WILL end. I'm gonna need as much help and faith as I can get. 

Once again, I love you. Never forget that. I'm loving my mission. I love this gospel. I love Christ, and all he did for me. All he DOES for me. I know this Church is true.

Elder Jacob Gonzales

On Oct 29, 2017 7:55 PM, <perucalica@aol.com> wrote:

October 29, 2017

Hey There Buddy Boy!

How are you this fine day?  I do so love the weekends.  By the time I get finished with work during the week I am so fried and ready for a couple of days of rest.  The thing that I seem to do best is “nothing”.

Well, I will start by singing you a little song “Ding dong, the witch is dead.  The old gray witch is dead….”  Yes, I know that it wil be hard to believe, but BYU actually won their game yesterday.  They played San Jose State and even though SJSU is considered one of the worst teams in the league, it was still nice to get a win after 7 losses.  One of the best/worst parts of the game was a hit by Braden El-Bakiri on one of the SJSU’s players.  BYU had just kicked off to SJSU and their player (Rashead Johnson) caught the ball to start the return and El-Bakiri nailed him going full speed.  El-Bakiri outweighed the guy by about 50 pounds and so he just laid him out flat.  Needless to say, the player didn’t return for the rest of the game.  We play Fresno State this next week which will be a little more challenging so hopefully the momentum from this game will continue into next week.  Basketball games have started and so now we kind of get a double dose of BYU sports.  Life is good! 

I got a wonderful phone call today from “Mama Durell (sp?)”.  She called to tell me that you had spoken in church today and how much she enjoyed your talk.  She was very complimentary of you which makes a mother’s heart proud.  She mentioned at how much you have grown as a missionary since you have been in the area.  She also mentioned that she hopes that you won’t get transferred because she wants to have you over for Christmas.  Our conversation was short but it brought a smile to this mother’s face.

We received your email about your dentist visit and I’ve been wondering if having the mouth guard has brought any relief to your headaches and jaw pain.  Can you tell a difference at all?  Do you belive that your anxiety medication (Lexapro) has helped?  I hope that by now you are feeling wonderful and can now concentrate on the work rather than your health issues.

Everything here at home is going well.  John and Sarah are busily trying to get their wedding plans finished up.  I don’t think that we will have much to do this time as she has planned most of it.  It will be nice to not have so much responsibility this time for the reception.  They are planning on keeping it very simple, which helps.

I have a busy week at work this next week as it is Parent Teacher Conference time.  The kids will go home early but the afternoon will be filled with a bunch of yapping.  I’ve had kind of a sore, scratchy throat these last few days.  It never fails.  I always have to do conferences with a raspy voice.  Hopefully it will hold out.

This coming Tuesday is Trunk or Treat at the church.  They say that they’re serving hot dogs and donuts.  I guess if I’m going that I better go buy some candy because I haven’t done that yet.  Are you going to be celebraitng Halloween with your ward?  Don’t tell me, let me guess.  You’re dressing up as Mormon Missionaries.  Hopefully someone will recognize you.  It’s hard to believe that in a couple of days we will be in the month of November.  I am looking forward to having some time off of work as we get the whole week of Thanksgiving.  We also get a day for Veteran’s Day.  Dad and I haven’t decided what we’re doing for Thanksgiving this year as John may be going with Sarah T. up to her brother’s house in Northern California.  So, that will leave us alone.  I know Dad has mentioned about having his family over for dinner but I really don’t want to do all the cooking so, our plans are still up in the air.

I sent you that girl from Delta Dental’s email address.  Did you get it?  That’s all the contact information that I have for her.

I was happy to hear about your two sweaters that you bought for a buck.  I apparently have made a thrift shopper out of you.  It was bound to happen.  You can’t avoid it.  You’ll have to send me a picture of you in the sweaters.

Well, that’s all the exciting news I have for you this week.  Sorry there isn’t more to tell you but as I’ve told you before, my life just isn’t that exciting.  I love you sooooo much and I miss you everyday.  Be good and do good.

Until next week,

Mom