FEB_12_18_MOM_GBRG_From Mom

Well, hello there Mother.

You know, I've been trying to come up with things to write you for this week as well. Seems as though We've both had relatively run-of-the-mill weeks. Nothing all that spectacular has happened. We've primarily been doing a lot of contacting. Like I said last week, (at least, I think I said it last week) so many people are sick,and so it's been difficult to have lessons and get into people's homes. I know that this flu epidemic has traversed all States, which is kinda frightening. I'm grateful that thus far, me and my Companions have managed to stay clear of it. But it makes for some slow and uninteresting weeks. For whatever reason, NOBODY wants to text us back, message us on facebook, or call us back. Ugh. Just another day in the life of a missionary, I suppose.

We did have a few lessons this week, which has been GREAT. I'm confident that I am an absolutely terrible trainer. Elder Petersen is just... nothing like me. He wants to do everything, and corrects me all the time because I don't do something his way. And so, because he wants to do it his way, I let him. And then he gets frustrated because we're not getting anything done. I don't know when to let him make mistakes, and when to take charge and say, "If we do it this way, it will be more effective. I know this because I've done it your way, and it doesn't work." But I probably say it in a not so kind and loving way. How can I be patient with someone who I view as prideful and arrogant? It hasn't been easy. OH, and he's a Utah fan. GAG ME WITH A SPOON.

Thanks for the updates on BYU Sports. According to John, it was quite the nailbiter. I'm glad that we at least managed to beat those two teams. It sounds like it's been yet another decent year of BYU basketball. Not the best, and not the worst. Hey, at least we beat Utah, right? That's something. And we've got those cool royal blue uniforms. Goodness, they're gorgeous. I'm content just looking at them.

Mom, TREAT YO SELF. Go get some lunch with someone. Make it happen. I thought you were the social butterfly of the family now?? PROVE IT. (unless you don't want to. I can't tell you what to do. You are my mother, after all. Love you.)

So, I'm kind of hurting for news to tell you, but here are a few highlights from this week.

- I tried a homemade dog biscuit at the home of a less active member we are trying to reactivate. Not bad. All good stuff in there. 

- I'm teaching the sisters in our ward to juggle, and they're actually getting pretty good!! At least, Sister Schilling is. But it feels good to see them improve.

- Father, we ARE playing the ping pong ball/crystal game that you invented. So I have now converted my Companions to bolero, ping pong game, and Inca Cola. Yuup.

- We are singing Army of Helaman in Sacrament Meeting next Sunday, and are going to sing the last chorus of the third verse in Chinese. So I'm learning how to do it. It's not easy, but I don't think I did too bad.

- We received a referral from the Elders in the Plum area. So we had a video chat lesson with a girl named Samantha who absolutely Loves he Bible. We're doing bible study with her on THursday. We had her read John 10 aka "Other Sheep I have which are not of this fold." We're trying to figure out how we can subtly introduce the Book of Mormon to her.

- We have plans to visit tons of lonely, single people on Valentines day. We'll see how that goes.

And that's about it!! I hope you have a great rest of your day!! I love you to death, Mom. Thanks for all that you do. You're right. We've got a pretty dang good family. And forever to be with eachother. No biggie. 

Elder Jake Gonzales 

On Feb 11, 2018 10:49 PM, <perucalica@aol.com> wrote:

Sunday, February 11, 2018

Hey there Jake the Cake,

How the heck are you?  I hope the answer to that question is FANTASTIC!   Everything here is pretty much run-of-the-mill.  That isn’t necessarily a bad thing though.  I’ll take run-of-the-mill over drama any day.

I’ve been thinking about your meeting with the Seton Hill crowd.  Has anything come of that?  I also listened to the sisters radio show.  That would have been a nerve wracking experience.  I thought they did well.

The best news is that tomorrow is a no work day for me!  Yesssss!  I thank Abraham Lincoln for being born as it gives me a day of rest.  I guess that I will be on my own tomorrow as Dad has to work so I guess that it’s just me and my bed tomorrow.  I can’t think of anything that sounds better than that.  We get next Monday off as well and we have George Washington to thank for that one.  I’ll take a day off whenever I can get it.  I was thinking that it would be fun to go out to lunch with someone tomorrow but since Sister Knudsen left I haven’t found another willing lunch partner and so I guess that that will be a no go.

This last week in BYU Basketball was great.  We played Loyola Marymount on Thursday in Provo and won by 25 points or so.  Yesterday we played San Francisco in Provo.  It was a nail biting game the whole time.  The lead kept going back and forth and with about a minute left San Francisco was ahead by 7 points.  I pretty much thought it was a done deal.  Somehow, we caught up and Elijah Bryant shot a 3 pointer to tie the game.  So we went into overtime.  TJ Haws shot 2 free throws at the end of the game to win it by 2.  It was a great game.  It is hard to believe that the season will soon be over.  We only have about 3 or 4 more games and then they go to the WCC Tournament in Vegas.  If they don’t get chosen for the NCAA tournament (and I don’t think they will because they have too many losses) then it’s either the NIT or nothing.  Then we’ll go into that sports drought that we all dread.  What am I going to do when there’s nothing to watch as far as BYU sports go?

As for ward news, I was talking to Sister Gardner asking her if all the wedding plans were going well.  She informed me that Colby and his fiance have moved up their wedding date and are getting married this Saturday.  They’re not going to have their reception until March, however.  I guess they just figured that they didn’t want to wait any more. 

Well, I’ve said it before, but since your siblings are so good at writing you I have nothing to talk about as I don’t want to repeat everything about them that they can tell much better.  I’m proud of the way that your siblings have rallied around you.  I think that we have a very special family and I’m soooo glad that you are all mine.

So, that being said, I’ll close for this week.  I’ll try and do something exciting enough to tell you about next week.

Love you,

Mom