JUN_11_18_MOM_PITT

 Hey Mom!!

So. I'm here in Downtown Pittsburgh. I'm sure by now you've had an opportunity to look at my apartment building and see that I WASN'T KIDDING. It's totally right in the center of Pittsburgh. The second you walk outside, there are MILLIONS of people to talk to. To tell you the truth, it's unlike anything I've ever experienced on my mission thus far. I don't really like it too much. It's very intimidating. 

Thus far, I've been in Lewisberry and Greensburg, two relatively small, rural areas. Now, this place has totally thrown me for a loop. It's like, everything that I've learned this past year on my mission is completely useless. I feel sorta like a fish out of water. I feel kinda self conscious as I'm walking through the city. Like I don't belong here, you know?? Kinda like that one time we were in Kansas City, Missouri, and you sent the boys out to go and find a restaurant!! I'm surrounded by these incredibly tall buildings, and tons of people who all have their own agenda and don't want to be stopped by a white California Mormon. 

Elder Jones is okay, I guess. At least, he's not super weird, which is gratifying.  We get along fine, although his voice is kinda drab and he doesn't seem to get too excited about anything. He tweaked a nerve in his neck just before I got here, and so these past few days (Thursday-Saturday) all we've done is chill at home so that he can ice it. So we literally haven't done any missionary work, really. Basically I've just been sleeping a lot, since there's not much else to do. I've also been cleaning a bit, since this place is an absolute MESS. I don't know if Elder Jones is a slob, or WHAT, but it was not habitable when I got here. I've managed to clean it up a bit, but its' still not up to par. Elder Jones goes home at the end of this transfer, so I'll have to lead out this area pretty soon.

That's kinda intimidating too. I have no idea what I'm doing. I guess I should give myself a little bit of time to get acclimated to the area. I've literally only been here a day ( I'm writing this on Friday since I've got nothing to do.) I guess a few comforting words would be nice?? From you, or Dad, or any one of the siblings. 

It's not all bad, though. The fact that we're on the 20th floor is pretty cool. I wish I could just go outside and people-watch. The diversity of people here in Pittsburgh is just ridiculous. I'm hoping that after a few more weeks, I'll start to love it a bit more, like everybody seems to. I'm sure once I meet the ward on Sunday, I'll feel a bit better. But right now I'm just a little shell-shocked. And when I get shell-shocked, I get headaches, so I'm trying to calm down as quickly as possible!!

FAST FORWARD TO MONDAY

Well, here I am, updating you on my life after having read your emails. Elder Jones and I were able to actually get out and work yesterday, which was nice. We contacted a few different former investigators, and even managed to find a new investigator, Nicole. So that was pretty cool. We take the busses EVERYWHERE, and talking to the people on the bus is so nerve-wracking!! You'd think that at this point in my mission, talking to people in public would have gotten easier. Well, unfortunately, that is not the case. It's still pretty dang scary!! But I'm hopeful that soon enough I can just "forget myself and go to work." 

We were late to Sacament Meeting yesterday morning, because a Gay Pride Festival Downtown shut down all of the busses. Yup, that's what my morning looked like. And then, when we finally got to Sacrament Meeting, I thought the place was empty. But as it turns out, that's how it is like every week. I guess there's just not a whole lot of people that come to the Pittsburgh 1st Ward, unfortunately.

We haven't had District Meeting yet, but I can already tell that this district is gonna be a HECK of a lot different from my last district. We've got Elder Aguinaga, who is on his last transfer. He only has one transfer left. And he was a Zone Leader for most of his mission. Then we've got Elder Jones, who's only got one more transfer as well. And then Elder Rucker, who's been out for 18 months and was the District Leader before I got here. And then there's me, the young buck. I dont know what makes me qualified to lead these people. I'm probably more terrified and nervous than any of them. Basically, they're teaching me everything.

I feel bad because I feel like every missionary in this mission dreams of going to Pittsburgh, and now that I'm here, I just really don't like it. I'd rather be in a small town. That's where I feel comfortable. But I guess comfort is secondary when you're a missionary haha. 

And not to worry you or anything, but I have been having a couple headaches again recently. Probably just due to to the stress of being in a new area. So yeah. If you could just pray for me that I'll learn to love Pittsburgh, I would greatly appreciate it 

Anyways, enough about me. Sounds like the travel bug has gotten you!! That's awesome!! I'm glad that you're able to stay busy, rather than just chilling at home all day. Who knows? The baby could be coming right NOW. No, NOW. Yeah. I can see why that would be a little scary. 

To answer your one question that I haven't gotten to yet, our ward meets in Oakland, which is where the University of Pittsburgh is. 

I love you too!! I hope you have an awesome week!! 

Elder Jake Gonzales 

P. S. The one Pic I'm gonna send you this week, my hair is a little crazy and tall. In my defense, I had just woken up from a nap. Cool view, though.