DEC_11_17_MOM_GBRG

 Here is my new address:

617 Cabin Hills Drive, Greensburg, PA 15601

Love ya!!

Elder Gonzales

On Dec 11, 2017 11:06 AM, "Jacob Eric Gonzales" <jacob.gonzales@myldsmail.net> wrote:

Dearest Mother, 

Wow, what a week it has been. There's lots that I could talk about, but I know the information that you want to hear about first: WHERE IN THE HECK AM I GETTING TRANSFERRRED??

I found out on Saturday night that I am headed to the Irwin area, in the Greensburg ward, in the Pittsburgh Stake!! It's like 30 minutes east of Pittsburgh!! I'm like super excited!! That is actually where Elder Payne served last, and where my ward mission leader, Brother Skalka, grew up. So I've already heard LOTS about it, and I could not be MORE stoked!! Better yet, it's a DRIVE area!! So, after 6 months of being on bikes, I'm going to be in a car. That will be a really weird transition. I'm gonna have to be concerned with miles, filling up gas, and.... well, DRIVING.  I'm not the most experienced driver, so this'll be interesting. But I'm sure I'll get better :) It's not a college town, but there may be colleges in the area that we will be Proselyting in. We'll see. 

My new companion will be Elder Hsin An Lin. He's from Taiwan, I think, and from what I understand, he's just barely learning English. So I don't really know WHAT to expect. He just got done being trained, so he's been out less time than me. That'll be a new dynamic as well. I know absolutely NOTHING about this guy, but I'm excited to meet him on Thursday (that's when transfers are). Obviously, lots of thoughts have gone through my mind, about how he will be, and what our teaching dynamic will be like, but I really don't know. I hope he's a cool guy. Who knows? Maybe he plays tennis?? 

I don't have the address right now, but I'm getting it today. So I'll shoot it to you as soon as I get it. Thanks again for thinking of me and sending me a Christmas package. 

Yeah, it snowed for the first time here in Lewisberry on Friday. Like a typical Southern California kid, I was pretty stoked. But then we went out and worked in it, which was not quite as fun. We didn't really have too many concrete plans, so we used it as an opportunity to bike to the far reaches of our area and try some former Investigators and less actives out there. And then go tracting. In the snow. It was honestly pretty fun, although we didnt' have much luck. According to Elder Payne's watch, we walked 11 miles and biked 11 miles that day. Don't worry, Sister Reeves (the nicest lady EVER) let us come in and enjoy hot chocolate in her house for a few minutes before and after we were done tracting. 

I have heard lots about these Southern California fires. Sister Reeves has a son serving a mission in Ventura, and he had to evacuate his apartment. I'm glad that you guys are out of the path of the fire. Let me know if there's any developments. 

Okay, this week has been so bittersweet. I love these people in Lewisberry so dang much, and I'm bummed to be leaving them. I keep telling myself that I'll see them again, so we've got to find a way to make that happen lol. Saying goodbye is never fun. I've just been taking pictures of everyone and everything, because I don't ever wanna forget this blessed place. I'm gonna miss the service projects I did every week, at the food pantry and senior center.  I'm gonna miss all of the awesome members, and everything they did for me. But most of all, I'm gonna miss the crap out of my recent converts. Saying bye to Stephanie, Tyler, and Jadyn was hard as heck. I say bye to Carlos and Cheryl tomorrow. Carolina is still in Maine, and saying bye to her was just so hard. And Michael Martial was so hard to say bye to as, well, even though I wasn't here when he was baptized. 

I'm grateful for the time that I had to serve here in Lewisberry. It's always gonna have a special place in my heart. But on to Irwin, right?? I'm excited to mee the people there, and all of the adventures I'm going to have.

But anyways, this week was awesome. Elder Torgerson and I were on exchanges here in the bike area, and we were able to find this SUPER cool dude named Joe by showing the Light the World Video to him. He's had a rough past, but has such strong faith in Jesus Christ and God. We taught him the restoration on Wednesday, and I felt prompted to commit him to be baptized at the end of January. He said yes!! And then he told us that he doesnt' think it was a coincidence that we met on the street that day. And that he has been thinking for a while that he needs to be baptized. The Lord puts those who are ready to hear the gospel in our paths, and it's like the coolest thing ever. I hope he continues to progress while I'm gone. I hope Elder Payne keeps me updated!!

We also had a breakthrough with Michael Martial, the recent convert, and his wife, Valarie. Michael has been really hesitant to receive the Priesthood ever since his baptism at the beginning of the year. He just hasn't felt, "ready", despite our insistence that he is. He's been going through a lot of rough stuff recently with immigration, but FINALLY got it all sorted out. It's a HUGE weight off of his chest, and mine. Now that this craziness has passed, we were able to commit him to receive the Priesthood at the beginning of January!! And then, acting on a prompting, Elder Torgerson was able to commit Valarie to be baptized at the beginning of January as well!! She has been on the fence for a long time. We had a great lesson with them yesterday, and she was fully engaged, which was GREAT to see. 

Hopefully gonna say bye to Alyssa and Ariel today, as well as Brian and a few other investigators. I'm hoping that I have left Lewisberry in a better state than when I found it. Elder Nuttall will be Elder Payne's new companion, and he knows how to work. So I'm not too concerned. 

Also, I emailed that Brittany Odoi woman, but no response. I'm not sure what else I can do. 

Next time I email you, I'll be in Irwin!! Can't wait!! 

I love you Mom. Glad you're feeling a bit better than you were yesterday. Feel free to take a day off work if you need to. You have my permission.

Elder Gonzales

P.S. Sorry if some of the stuff in the weekly letter is the same. I'm still trying to figure out how to avoid being repetitive. I always write your letter first, though. 

On Dec 10, 2017 8:42 PM, <perucalica@aol.com> wrote:

December 10, 2017

Hey Buddy Boy!

How are you this fine day?  I hope that everything is going well for you.  I’ve been thinking about you a lot this week, mostly just about transfers.  You mentioned that you should find out about transfers on Saturday (which was yesterday) and so I’m thinking that you know what’s going on by now.  What day do you actually travel to your new area?  We’ve been wondering how it will all go down because we need to send you your Christmas packages.

I see that it has been snowing back in New York.  I'm assuming that you may have gotten some snow too.  What's the weather like there these days?

Everything here has been a little crazy for the past couple of days.  Dad and I went to the temple yesterday morning.  I wasn’t feeling all that great as I kept having stomach cramps.  Fortunately, I made it through the temple session, Dad and I stopped to eat at Café Rio on the way home and then we just came home.  All day yesterday there was just a nagging, overall feeling of not feeling good.  Last night the “black and white cookie had a war” (Seinfeld reference)  in my stomach and that was all she wrote.  Needless to say,I didn’t go to church today.  Fortunately, I am feeling better today but it was really strange how it all went down yesterday.  I don’t know if it was something I ate or just something I caught from one of the hundreds of my students who have gone home sick these last few days.

We watched the BYU game last night.  They played Weber State and they almost beat us.  They had to work pretty hard to keep them from going ahead and they actually did a couple of times.  They were breathing down BYU’s neck the entire game and so it wasn’t a game where they could just sit back and do nothing in order to win.  They earned their scholarships last night.  They’re supposed to play Utah next Saturday in the Marriott Center and so I’m sure that that will be an “interesting” game.

I’m seeing on Facebook that they dedicated the Cedar City Temple today.  President Eyring did the honors and Elder Holland assisted. So, now there is yet another dedicated temple in Utah.  I’m sure the people there are very happy and that it will be a blessing to those in that area.

I think I told you last week that Dad and I have to speak in church next Sunday.  I’ve been trying to get my thoughts together in my brain but at some point I know that I will have to sit down and actually put them down on paper.  Hopefully my thoughts will come out in some type of orderly fashion and what I say will make sense.  More importantly, I hope that it will help those that hear it in some way.

This next week is the last week of work before Christmas Break.  To say that I am excited about having some time off is an understatement.  It has been difficult to just keep the kids from swinging from the lights this last week and I’m sure that this next week will be no exception.  We have our Winter Program for the school on Wednesday of this week and so our kids are performing.  I know that they’re hyped up about that plus the fact that it’s almost Christmas just adds fuel to the fire.  Pray for me! 

It has been very windy here this last week and you’ve probably heard that half the state of California is on fire.  We are fortunate that none of the fires have been in this area. I feel for those who have been affected by this fire.  It’s never a good time to have your house burn down but it’s especially difficult at Christmas time.  Hopefully they’ll be able to get the fires under control soon.

Well, I’m anxious to hear about the details of your transfer.  We’re particularly anxious to get your address so that we can get these packages off to you.  Enjoy your last few days in New Cumberland.  The place and the people will be memories that you’ll have for the rest of your life.  I still think about the places and people that I met while I was on my mission.  I know that no matter how old you get that you never quit loving them and wanting the best for them.  You’re fortunate that social media will make it easier for you to stay in touch with those that you’ve grown to love.

I hope that you have a wonderful week this next week.  Just know that your Mom will be thinking about you at any given time of day or night.  I love you sooooooo much.  Be good and do good.

Until next week.

Love,

Mom