DEC_4_17_MOM_LEW_From your madrecita

 Dear Mom,

You're absolutely right. I totally was watching the Christmas Devotional last night, just as you were watching it. That's a pretty crazy thought. Elder Payne and I were just watching it in our apartment, as we totally forgot about it and hadn't arranged any way for us to watch it with our recent converts/investigators. It was a good meeting. All three of the talks were ON POINT. I think that the Primary Presidency Counselor did a good job. And her flashing golden dress was very Christmasy, so I approve. 

I will find out where I am getting transferred this Saturday at approximately 8:30pm EST. I am like so stoked to find out where I'm going, and who my new companion is going to be. To be completely honest, it's been kinda difficult to focus for these past few days, knowing that I won't be in Lewisberry that much longer. I'm really starting to get all nostalgic, realizing that I only have a few more days with these people that I have grown to love. I'm gonna have to take lots of pictures over these next few days, of all the people and places that I'll miss so much.

I'm happy to hear that the BYU Basketball team is doing somewhat okay. I don't recognize a lot of the names that you mentioned, which just feels WEIRD. I haven't been this out of tune with sports in years. Goodness gracious, what is happening to me.

In terms of health, not much change. I talked to Sister Bednar about it at Zone Conference on Friday, and she said we may try to get a second opinion about the situation. She doesn't want to me to just suck it up and live with it, which is what I've sorta been doing these past few months. So we'll see what happens. Here's what I told President Bednar in my weekly letter to him: 

In terms of health, I am doing alright. The headaches haven't really dissappeared, but they do seem to be not quite as frequent, which is great. I talked to Sister Waterbury fairly recently, and she provided me with a few more helpful tips and tricks that I have been implementing. She told me that my symptoms and anxiety will never truly go away, but that worrying about my physical symptoms only make them worse. So I've sort of decided to just accept the fact that I have physical symptoms, and try to be optimistic and work through them. But on the other hand, others tell me that my symptoms should go away, and that I should keep trying until I have found the ultimate solution. So I suppose I am a bit conflicted, and am not sure if patience is the best course of action here, or if finding alternative treatment would beost beneficial. I'm not anywhere near the point I was 3 months ago, which is AMAZING. I have gotten better, and feel a lot more confident and happier now. So I really don't know.

But anyways, that's enough about that. I will get better. I know that. You know that. So It's all good. Now on to the good stuff. The work.

Brian and Alyssa and Ariel continue to progress at a snails pace, but it's progression nonetheless. We had a lesson with Alyssa and Ariel this past Saturday, and once again reaffirmed their desire to be baptized. They don't know if they'll be ready by January 13th (I don't know, either), but they were willing to make that day a goal. Ariel seems totally gung-ho about the whole thing, while Alyssa is still somewhat skeptical. And then there's Charlie, their father, who's been sitting in on all the lessons, and who seems to like the church and mormons, but doesn't like organized religion. It's just this big thing. They're all at different levels of their conversion. It's very challenging but so rewarding at the same time. I love their family so much, and hope that I can continue to help and strengthen them while I'm here.

Brian came to Book of Mormon class on Wednesday, and really enjoyed it. But we had no investigators at church yesterday, for various reasons. So that kinda stunk. It's easier to get investigators on date to be baptized than to get them to church, let me tell you.

As for the recent converts, they're all doing GREAT. Stephanie and Tyler are on track to receive their Patriarchal blessings sometime soon. Carlos is on track to go to the Philadelphia temple to do Baptisms for the dead. Depending on when he gets his reccomend, I may be able to go with him. It'll be tight, though. I emailed Carolina a couple of weeks ago, and she is doing great as ever. She went to the temple in Boston again. And loves her Relief Society president up there in Maine. Michael Martial, a recent convert from Haiti, came back to church of his own accord yesterday. So that was awesome. And Cheryl... well... we're working with her. She hasn't been to church in like a month and a half. It pains me, but we'll get her back. I know we will.

Tyler bore his testimony in Priesthood yesterday. He said that he wanted to do it in fast and testimony meeting, but was kinda nervous and wanted to practice on us. I was able to get a video/recording of it. I'm never gonna forget Lewisberry, or the people here. I love this place.

Anyways, that's about it for this week. Mom and Dad, I love you so much. Dad, I was wondering if you had your priesthood line of Authority, and if you did, if you could copy-paste it and send it to me. I think it would help a lot with teaching about the priesthood. Especially for Carlos. After all, your Line of Authority is the same as mine, right?

Have a great week! Let me know if you have any questions!!

Elder Jake Gonzales  

On Dec 3, 2017 9:57 PM, <perucalica@aol.com> wrote:

Sunday, December 03, 2017

Hi there Buddy Boy!

I just finished watching the First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional.  I was thinking the whole time that you were probably doing that too.  Somehow that thought brings me joy.  It makes me remember the movie about a little mouse that sings “Somewhere, out there” that talks about how everyone is under the same moon no matter where they are on Earth.  I guess, even though you are far away, you are still close because we are doing the same thing at the same time.

Everything here is going well. We are looking forward to Christmas and to having the other kids here with us.  We will be missing you in person this year but I’m glad that we can talk to and see you via the computer.  You will have to give us all the details about when that call will take place as soon as you know them.

I briefly considered putting up the Christmas decorations yesterday but then I got lazy and it didn’t happen.  Sarah will be home on the 18^th and so they may have to wait until then to get done.  There’s a lot that will be packed into these next couple of weeks before Christmas vacation starts.  I have report cards that need to be done but before I can do that, I have to do all the testing and grading.  That is never fun. Our school is also doing their annual Christmas Program on the 13^th and we’re also busy getting ready for that as well.  The kids, of course, are getting excited about Christmas and have already begun the Christmas countdown everyday and so they’re getting harder and harder to keep in control.  You gotta love being a teacher at Christmas time.  I am, however, looking forward to having 3 weeks off.  I am sooooooo ready for that.

Our ward had their Christmas party last night.  They served a turkey/ham dinner with all the fixings.  There was a good turnout.  There were people there that I did not know so that is a good thing when it comes to missionary work.  It was hard for me passing by the dessert table and seeing the Loessin’s candy there and not taking a piece of it.  You know how much I love their english toffee.

Brother Johnson asked your father and I to speak in church on December 17.  He said that the topic is gratitude, which they’ve been talking about for the last few weeks.  It kind of hard to think of a new twist on that topic but I guess that I’ll have to see what I can come up with.  The devotional tonight kind of gave me an idea that I might try.  I’ll have to see how I can make that idea work.

Well, there’s no BYU football news to report until next season so I guess from here on out it will just be a basketball report.  They played 2 games this week; one against UVU and the other against Utah State.  I’m happy to report that they one both of them.  They played exceptionally well against UVU but last night the game against Utah State was just downright ugly.  Neither team could make a basket to save their lives.  After about 15 minutes of play, BYU only had 9 points.  The Utah State team was playing with a vengeance.  They were crazy people.  I think that by the end of the game there were well over 50 fouls called.  I’m glad that BYU could squeak by with a win because in the beginning it didn’t appear that that would be happening.  They have a new player on the team named McKay Cannon that used to play for Weber State who just became eligible as of the UVU game to play.  He has done really well for the team coming off the bench.  I’m sure that we’ll be seeing a lot of him this season.  There are a couple of other players that are new this season, Jashear Hardnett who is really good and another player whose last name is Brown.  So far, so good this season.

I’m hoping that things are going well with you and that your health is continuing to improve.  I’m curious to hear about your transfer and where you will be.  I’m sure that you will let us know about that as soon as you know more.

Well Buddy, I’ll finish this letter just by telling you that I love you so much and am so proud of you.  I couldn’t have asked for a better son.  Be good and do good.

Until next week,

Mom