NOV_6_17_MOM_LEW_From Mom

 Dear Mom,

Thanks again for your email. You always say that you have nothing to talk about, but that's TOTALLY okay with me. Just hearing that you and Dad are good and enjoying life is good enough for me!! 

Firstly, just a brief update on my health: No significant differences. I'm not feeling too bad today, so that's good. Just continued prayers would be great!!

As you already know, I'm staying here in the Lewisberry Bike area for another transfer!! I have mixed feelings about it. I'm like SUPER excited to stay here, because I absolutely LOVE the people in this area. I don't really want to say goodbye to Carlos, or Stephanie and Tyler, or Cheryl, or Mama Dirle, or ANYONE. So the fact that I have an additional transfer to spend with them is awesome. I can delay the inevitable for a little while longer! By the time I leave this area (most likely), I will have been here for a total of 6 months. That's just crazy. One fourth of my mission. But I'm so happy that this was my first area. I've learned a lot, and will only continue to grow and develop as a person and missionary.

Admittedly, I was also a little bit bummed that I'll be staying here. Elder Payne and I have been struggling together. He just... doesn't have a whole lot of motivation to do missionary work. He just never looks happy. I asked him why he's out here on a mission, and he basically told me that he's here because he has nothing better to do at home, and that he doesn't want to let his parents down. Not the answer that I wanted to hear, really. I feel like I'm doing a lot of the work, and he is not really contributing to the extent that he should. So I had a really long conversation with him about it. He told me that it wasn't the first time one of his companions gave him that lecture, and it probably wouldn't be the last time. He told me that anything I ask him to do, he'll do it, but it doesn't seem like his motivation has increased at all. For a few days, things started to improve, but now he's sorta reverted back to his original state. He's like super chill and happy with other missionaries, but not so with me. I'm trying my best to make things work. We're gonna be together for another 5 weeks (this is a short transfer, to like December 16th), so we'd better figure something out. 

So yeah, I probably won't be here in Lewisberry for Christmas. Mama Dirle won't be able to have me over for her special Christmas breakfast. Darn!! But the Kauffman's have already signed up to feed us for Thanksgiving, and I'm super excited for that. I love them so much. They're the ones that took Elder Marcum, Carolina, and I to the temple, so I have a special place in my heart for them.

Elder Payne and I have been doing lots of finding recently. Saturday in particular was COMPLETELY dedicated to finding people to teach.  Not a whole lot of success. We passed out a couple of Books of Mormon, visited a few Former and Potential Investigators. Hopefully something will come of it?? The biggest success and miracle of the day was towards the end of our finding session. We were about done, and were walking back towards our bikes to head back home for dinner. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a dude walking on the sidewalk, about to intersect with us. I was exhausted from talking to people all day, and was about to walk past him. Fortunately, I didn't. I looked at him, gave him a winning smile, and said, "Wow, man, I'm loving those shades!!" He was wearing some pretty cool sunglasses. We talked to him for a little while, told him who we were and what  we were doing. He was super nice, and told us his name was Jesse Beshore. He told us that he's actually been looking for a church to take his new wife and future children to, and would love to come stop by our church sometime. He wasn't at church yesterday, but we have his number and hopefully can get in contact with him soon. So yeah. That was our little miracle from that day. Hopefully we can see him again soon!! Pray for it!!

No, I have not yet gotten gloves or socks. Elder Payne is letting me have one of his winter coats, and I was able to acquire another one from the Sister MIssionaries, who had one in their apartment. I haven't had any occasion to wear them yet, as it has been cold, but nothing a sweater can't handle. It's supposed to cool down a bit more, over these next few days, though. I'm hoping to get some winter gear soon. Once again, it's difficult, due to the fact that I don't have a car and the closest Walmart is like an hour bike ride away, UPHILL. One of these days, though. For sure. Like I said, I'm not about to freeze. I ain't about that life. 

Carlos passed the sacrament for the first time yesterday, and did an impeccable job!! He actually showed up to church in a white shirt and tie for the occassion. It was super funny though. Immediately after he was done passing the sacrament, he went out to his car and changed into a polo. I was busting up laughing. The dude just hates ties. But he was willing to do it to pass the sacrament. Tyler passed the sacrament yesterday as well!! I was talking to Stephanie, and she said that she's been assigned to speak in Sacrament Meeting next week, and that they have both received callings as well, which will be announced next week. AWESOME. We have such a good ward up here in Lewisberry, and it's great to see these recent converts staying true to the gospel and being fellowshipped. 

We've got a few other Investigators that we're working with. Brian Walters and Shawn McCready are showing some promise. Both are set to be baptized in December. We may have to push back their baptismal dates, as they aren't progressing at the rate we'd like them to, but hopefully they can see the reason for our visits and feel motivated to exercise their faith soon. Both have had rough pasts, and have significant hurdles to overcome en route to baptism, but the Atonement covers all. I know that to be true. Pray for them as well.

Yeah, I've been hearing some not-so-good things about Nick Emery recently. I heard from a member up here that him and his wife are now divorced. Apparently they know Nick's ex-wife. I don't know what to make of it. Once again, good time for me to be on a mission, right?

You have no idea how stoked I am for Briana and Tony. I sent them an email last week, telling them how excited I am for them. OMG OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG.. I'M GONNA BE AN UNCLE. That's the news I've been wanting to hear since I've been out on my mission. That and John's engagement. Now both have happened!! Then Sarah's gonna get engaged while I'm gone too, and by the time I get back, our family's gonna be a whole lot bigger. No complaints here!!

Alright Mom, that's all I've got for this week. I love you and Dad to death. Please enjoy these pictures of me praying in a prayer garden at a methodist church and a parking spot for their organist. You got gipped. You deserve your own parking spot. I'll see what I can do.

Elder Jake Gonzales

On Nov 5, 2017 9:53 PM, <perucalica@aol.com> wrote:

November 5, 2017

Hi Buddy Boy!

Yet another week has passed and I’m pretty much hurting for news.  Not a whole lot has happened this last week which can be seen as both a good thing and a bad thing.  I guess you can say it’s a glass half empty, half full kind of thing. But, I’ll do my best to try and scrape something together.

This last week was full of Parent/Teacher conferences.  It’s always interesting to meet with the parents of my students.  I have learned over the years that generally the apple doesn’t fall from the tree.  I still have a few parents that didn’t show up for their conferences and so I’ll have to do my best to try and track them down sometime which isn’t always easy.  The good news in all of this is that we have only a 4 day week this next week because we have Friday off for Veteran’s Day and then after we get back from that, we have a complete week which then leads us into Thanksgiving Week.  I am so looking forward to that.

I’m still not sure what our Thanksgiving plans are.  We’ve talked about it a bit but haven’t come to any definite conclusions yet.  John was originally talking about going up North with Sarah T’s family but as it turns out, she is going to have to work and so she can’t get away to go and so I’m supposing that they’ll be spending it with us.  This year, the Loessins have decided that they’re going to host a Thanksgiving dinner at the church for all the empty nesters.  They said that they would provide the turkey and that everyone else should bring something to contribute.  So, if it turns out that if John and Sarah T. make other plans, we may just go to that.

One positive thing that has happened lately is that the weather has cooled off considerably.  It’s cool but not too cold.  Speaking of cold, were you able to find or to buy a coat?  Did you get yourself some gloves and some thicker socks?  If not, that would probably be a good thing to concentrate on in the next little while.

Well, as for BYU news, there’s good news and bad news.  The good news is that it appears that they’re now starting to semi-gel as a team and the offense is starting to play a bit better.  The bad news is that we lost yet another game yesterday to Fresno State although it was a fairly close game.  The final score ended up being 20-13.  Tanner Mangum was playing on his ankle that he sprained several weeks ago and slipped and went down again last night and now it appears that his right ankle/knee is messed up.  He may be out for the rest of the season so Beau Hoge may be getting some more playing time.  We just can’t seem to catch a break this season.  Obviously, losing last night’s game makes it impossible to become bowl eligible.  I guess it just wasn’t our year.  I believe that the basketball team begins regular season play this week.  I don’t know if you have heard but they are investigating Nick Emery for NCAA rule violations (accepting privileges from a team booster) and so he cannot play until that is cleared up and who know when, and if, that will happen.

I am curious to see how you feel after the increase of your medication has a chance to kick in.  I am hoping that what the doctor has told you is true and that increasing the meds will cause your other symptoms to improve.  I was also glad to hear that you will not be transferred this time.  This transfer should get you through Christmas, right?  I know that Mama Durl (sp?) will be pleased to hear that you are staying for another transfer as she mentioned to me on the phone that she wanted to have you at her house for Christmas.  I know that your companion situation can be rough.  It is difficult when you don’t always see eye to eye on things and when you have a different way of going about things.  You can just look on this time as preparation for marriage.  That’s what it’s like trying to get along with a spouse and working things out.  Just be patient.  Talk to him about how you feel in a nice way and see if there isn’t some improvement.  And remember, you won’t be together forever.

Everyone here seems to be doing well enough. I went to the doctor on Friday to have my eyes checked to see if the diabetes has caused any damage.  The good news is that everything checked out OK.  I was not happy though about how long they made me wait though.  My appointment was at 3 and I didn’t leave there until 5:30.  I would say they were slightly over scheduled.

I talked to Briana today and it seems as if she is really excited about the baby.  Can you believe that you are going to be an Uncle and that your Dad and I are going to be grandparents?  Pretty crazy, huh?  When you get home, you’ll have a little niece or nephew; and who knows, perhaps John and Sarah T. will be waiting for a little one as well.

Well, I really have rattled on long enough.  I know you probably get tired of hearing this but, I love you sooooooooooo much.  I think of you everyday and I always pray for you.  I hope that you can feel those prayers.  Remember, be good and do good.

Until next week,

Mom