FEB_19_19_MOM_TOW_From Mom
Hey Mom,
Yeah, this new announcement threw me for a loop too. Just ask Elder Seeley. We didn't find out until 9pm that evening, and I just kept screaming WHAT? WHAT? WHAT? I never anticipated anything like this to happen. Like, ever. I can see the purpose for it. It will definitely benefit missionaries like me, who experienced a lot of emotional trauma at the beginning of his mission. But now that I've been out for 20 months... Its cool and everything, but I don't know how neccesary it is. I think I've developed sufficient independence that I don't need to call you each week.
With that being said, I still definitely want to talk with you and dad at some point. Like you said, though, it'll be a logistical nightmare. I could potentially talk to you during your lunch break, or even before you go to work in the morning. I'm down with whatever but you need to let me know when you're available for both of those times, since I am the one that needs to initiate the phone call. Obviously, after work wouldn't work at all, because I'll be back to proselyting by then. Let me know when you're available and we can work something out. I have no problem calling you every week on Monday, I just need to know when and for how long. Lemme know.
I hope all this logistical stuff doesn't get in the way of the fact that I LOVE YOU and WANT to talk to you. If this is something that the First Presidency thought was best, I'm all for it and want to use it. I've already talked to John, Briana, and Sarah about it and they understand if I don't call them. Obviously, I've got to prioritize my time on P-Day. Im still a missionary who has things to do and people to see. I can't dedicate my whole P-Day to talking to Family, no matter how much I might want to. It probably wouldn't be the healthiest thing to do. I need to get out and do stuff on P-Day that will allow me to let go of some of the stress that I have. Otherwise I'll die lol
So yeah. That's where I am with this whole thing. I will call you when I can. I want to. But please don't be offended if I don't call every week. I will still send you an email each week with the stuff that I did. That's not going away. And I still want you to send me an email too! I look forward to them!
Alrighty. Now that we've got that figured out, my new companion is good. He's very diligent, which is great. I've been adjusting pretty well to him. I had a little spout of anxiety yesterday and this morning, just because I got a little overwhelmed with my calling as a district leader. But other than that, it's been good.
A few things about Elder Seeley:
- He is a licensed pilot. He wants to fly for a German airline when he grows up.
- He can play 6 different instruments, including the guitar and ukulele!
- He js a super good swimmer! Like, amazing! Like Olympics good. He's raced against Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte. Like, in a competition, not just a friendly match. He lost, but that's beside the point lol.
- Basically, he's a Renaissance man. It's pretty cool.
He's a good missionary. I'm happy to be with him. He's a lot more diligent and Obedient than some of my past companions. I think he'll be good for me. I just don't want him to run me to the ground like Elder Marcum did. That was the worst time of my life. But Elder Seeley got sent here because Pittsburgh was too much for him. Way too fast paced for him. He thought he was working too hard and it was wearing him out. So President sent him here with me. Partly because Towanda is NOT fast paced, and partly because I'm not fast paced. I'm a good missionary, I'm Obedient and Charitable. But I'm definitely not fast paced. That's not good for me. So I'm hoping I rub off on him more than he runs off on me. That we're able to be diligent, but not overly urgent, if that makes sense? Because then I just get headaches and nausea and nobody's happy.
Unfortunately, Elder Seeley and I are not closely related. We're 10tb cousins twice removed. Sorry Mom.
Yeah, those pictures Sister Lehman took of me were interesting. They're cool and everything, but I would have preferred that she had let me smile more. The one that she got of me smiling I look super chubby and fat. Oh well. You can't win them all. I like the one of me and Elder Foster the best. I loved that kid and was grateful to be companions with him.
He only branches around me are th Lockhaven and Mansfield branches, both of which are sisters areas. So the likelihood of me going to either of those places are slim to none. The Mansfield Sisters are in my district, though. If you tell me Brother Loesseins friend's name I could ask the Mansfield sisters if they know him.
Investigators are doing... okay... We've been dropped a lot this week. Once by the family that I found a couple of weeks ago. They wanted to stick to their methodist faith. Then again yesterday by a girl, Lizzie, who wants to stick with her Catholic faith. And now Jason and Chelsee are going through marital troubles, and as a result, we have been unable to meet with him at all for the past week. He's virtually unresponsive. It's pretty frustrating. He was doing so well for like 2 weeks and then all of a sudden, he's stopped getting back to us. I wonder if Chelsee has turned him away from the church.
We also got dropped today by a kid we met a couple of days ago. And Bill got a job in Bloomsburg so he will be moving next week. We went from having a ton of people to teach to virtually no one. It's honestly a really big bummer. Just when it seemed like things were starting to improve, everybody dropped us. But I'll keep forging ahead, I guess. Do what I've done for the past 20 months. I just hope that our diligence will be enough and we'll find more people soon. I thought Jason was for sure gonna get baptized. But now, it's looking less likely.
Sorry for all that stuff. But that's honestly been my week. Obviously there's been some good stuff as well. For example:
- I got to feed a baby sheep! Expect a picture!
- I got to meet up with Alyssa, a girl I taught in Lewisberry, while I was in State College waiting for Elder Seeley! She's not receiving lessons anymore, but her dad is being baptized next month!
- I tried Sour Patch kids cereal. It's quite an experience.
- I drove for 6 hours total in one day to pick up Elder Seeley it wasn't fun. But at least now I know I'm capable of it. ROAD TRIP TO UTAH WHEN I GET HOME.
Overall, it's been a busy week. But one that I'm grateful for. I'm excited to see what Elder Seeley and I can accomplish together in this area. We think pretty similarly, and have some of the same experience since we've served in the same areas. I think it'll be good. Prayers would be appreciated nonetheless, though!
Love you Mom! Hopefully I'll be able to talk to you soon!
Elder Jake Gonzales
Yeah, this new announcement threw me for a loop too. Just ask Elder Seeley. We didn't find out until 9pm that evening, and I just kept screaming WHAT? WHAT? WHAT? I never anticipated anything like this to happen. Like, ever. I can see the purpose for it. It will definitely benefit missionaries like me, who experienced a lot of emotional trauma at the beginning of his mission. But now that I've been out for 20 months... Its cool and everything, but I don't know how neccesary it is. I think I've developed sufficient independence that I don't need to call you each week.
With that being said, I still definitely want to talk with you and dad at some point. Like you said, though, it'll be a logistical nightmare. I could potentially talk to you during your lunch break, or even before you go to work in the morning. I'm down with whatever but you need to let me know when you're available for both of those times, since I am the one that needs to initiate the phone call. Obviously, after work wouldn't work at all, because I'll be back to proselyting by then. Let me know when you're available and we can work something out. I have no problem calling you every week on Monday, I just need to know when and for how long. Lemme know.
I hope all this logistical stuff doesn't get in the way of the fact that I LOVE YOU and WANT to talk to you. If this is something that the First Presidency thought was best, I'm all for it and want to use it. I've already talked to John, Briana, and Sarah about it and they understand if I don't call them. Obviously, I've got to prioritize my time on P-Day. Im still a missionary who has things to do and people to see. I can't dedicate my whole P-Day to talking to Family, no matter how much I might want to. It probably wouldn't be the healthiest thing to do. I need to get out and do stuff on P-Day that will allow me to let go of some of the stress that I have. Otherwise I'll die lol
So yeah. That's where I am with this whole thing. I will call you when I can. I want to. But please don't be offended if I don't call every week. I will still send you an email each week with the stuff that I did. That's not going away. And I still want you to send me an email too! I look forward to them!
Alrighty. Now that we've got that figured out, my new companion is good. He's very diligent, which is great. I've been adjusting pretty well to him. I had a little spout of anxiety yesterday and this morning, just because I got a little overwhelmed with my calling as a district leader. But other than that, it's been good.
A few things about Elder Seeley:
- He is a licensed pilot. He wants to fly for a German airline when he grows up.
- He can play 6 different instruments, including the guitar and ukulele!
- He js a super good swimmer! Like, amazing! Like Olympics good. He's raced against Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte. Like, in a competition, not just a friendly match. He lost, but that's beside the point lol.
- Basically, he's a Renaissance man. It's pretty cool.
He's a good missionary. I'm happy to be with him. He's a lot more diligent and Obedient than some of my past companions. I think he'll be good for me. I just don't want him to run me to the ground like Elder Marcum did. That was the worst time of my life. But Elder Seeley got sent here because Pittsburgh was too much for him. Way too fast paced for him. He thought he was working too hard and it was wearing him out. So President sent him here with me. Partly because Towanda is NOT fast paced, and partly because I'm not fast paced. I'm a good missionary, I'm Obedient and Charitable. But I'm definitely not fast paced. That's not good for me. So I'm hoping I rub off on him more than he runs off on me. That we're able to be diligent, but not overly urgent, if that makes sense? Because then I just get headaches and nausea and nobody's happy.
Unfortunately, Elder Seeley and I are not closely related. We're 10tb cousins twice removed. Sorry Mom.
Yeah, those pictures Sister Lehman took of me were interesting. They're cool and everything, but I would have preferred that she had let me smile more. The one that she got of me smiling I look super chubby and fat. Oh well. You can't win them all. I like the one of me and Elder Foster the best. I loved that kid and was grateful to be companions with him.
He only branches around me are th Lockhaven and Mansfield branches, both of which are sisters areas. So the likelihood of me going to either of those places are slim to none. The Mansfield Sisters are in my district, though. If you tell me Brother Loesseins friend's name I could ask the Mansfield sisters if they know him.
Investigators are doing... okay... We've been dropped a lot this week. Once by the family that I found a couple of weeks ago. They wanted to stick to their methodist faith. Then again yesterday by a girl, Lizzie, who wants to stick with her Catholic faith. And now Jason and Chelsee are going through marital troubles, and as a result, we have been unable to meet with him at all for the past week. He's virtually unresponsive. It's pretty frustrating. He was doing so well for like 2 weeks and then all of a sudden, he's stopped getting back to us. I wonder if Chelsee has turned him away from the church.
We also got dropped today by a kid we met a couple of days ago. And Bill got a job in Bloomsburg so he will be moving next week. We went from having a ton of people to teach to virtually no one. It's honestly a really big bummer. Just when it seemed like things were starting to improve, everybody dropped us. But I'll keep forging ahead, I guess. Do what I've done for the past 20 months. I just hope that our diligence will be enough and we'll find more people soon. I thought Jason was for sure gonna get baptized. But now, it's looking less likely.
Sorry for all that stuff. But that's honestly been my week. Obviously there's been some good stuff as well. For example:
- I got to feed a baby sheep! Expect a picture!
- I got to meet up with Alyssa, a girl I taught in Lewisberry, while I was in State College waiting for Elder Seeley! She's not receiving lessons anymore, but her dad is being baptized next month!
- I tried Sour Patch kids cereal. It's quite an experience.
- I drove for 6 hours total in one day to pick up Elder Seeley it wasn't fun. But at least now I know I'm capable of it. ROAD TRIP TO UTAH WHEN I GET HOME.
Overall, it's been a busy week. But one that I'm grateful for. I'm excited to see what Elder Seeley and I can accomplish together in this area. We think pretty similarly, and have some of the same experience since we've served in the same areas. I think it'll be good. Prayers would be appreciated nonetheless, though!
Love you Mom! Hopefully I'll be able to talk to you soon!
Elder Jake Gonzales
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