DEC_18_18_MOM_GBRG

 Hey Mom!!

Goodness gracious, this has been a crazy week. Transfers are fun, but they are also some of the most hectic things ever. I'm loving my new area, but it is just SO DIFFERENT from Lewisberry. There is definitely going to be a learning curve, but hopefully soon we can get the ball rolling and the work will start progressing forward. It's been kind of frustrating, but I'll get past it. 

The Stanley's are just the most awesome family EVER. We had dinner with them on Thursday, and I can already tell that they are going to be some of my favorite people in this area. They're just so kind and HILARIOUS, and have already taken Elder Lin and I under their wing. They basically treat us like family, which was EXACTLY what I needed on my first day here. Apparently Brother Stanley loves to take pictures of missionaries and send them to their parents, so I'm sure that picture that he sent you is the first of many more to come. We might be spending Christmas with them, and calling you on Facebook at their house. I still haven't figured everything out, as I'm still new to the area and have no idea what I'm doing, but I will let you know. Plans for Christmas (and this week in general) are kind of up in the air right now.

OKAY. So this apartment that I'm staying in is just ridiculously AWESOME. You're totally right, it's not even an apartment, it's like a two story townhouse!! The Elders in the area used to live in Irwin, but they just barely moved here to Greensburg because their apartment over in Irwin was not the best. Plus, we do a lot of work here in Greensburg anyways, so it helps with miles and whatnot. Our church building is in Greensburg as well, so we're a lot closer to that. This house is just great. It makes my apartment back in Lewisberry seem like a shack. We've got two stories AND a basement, complete with our very own washer and dryer. Plus, a water heater that we don't have to share with anyone else. Goodness, it's just so nice. Ever since President Bednar arrived, he has been ensuring that the Mission apartments are up to par, and are in safe neighborhoods. This new townhouse was a part of that effort. But man, this place can't be cheap. I'd be fine with a smaller apartment, but I ain't gonna complain. 

So. Elder Lin. He's quite the character. He's from Taiwan, and has only been here in the U.S. for like 4 months. He doesnt' think his English is that good, but in reality, it's a HECK of a lot better than he gives himself credit for. I just have to talk really slow to him, and he'll understand me. He doesn't really like talking to other people, though, because he feels like they can't understand his English. So we're gonna have to find a way to get him over that fear. He just got done being trained, but from what I understand, his trainer basically did everything, and Elder Lin just chilled on the sidelines. I am NOT about to do everything. So I'm going to be working to help him develop confidence in his english, so that he can teach and contact people like a missionary should do. He has the desire, he's just scared. And I totally know how that feels.

Technically, since Elder Lin has been in the area longer, he should be leading out. But the fact of the matter is, he has no idea what's going on. His trainer, Elder Wang, basically just did everything without consulting Elder Lin, or telling him what they were doing or who they were visiting. So Elder Lin doesn't know how to do... like, anything. He doesn't know how to fill in Lesson reports, he doesn't know who anybody is or what their names are. He doesn't know how to calculate miles, or where anything is. So it's almost as if we got doubled into the area, and are both starting fresh. These past few days have been hard, because I have no idea where to start, or who anyone is. But I know that the Lord will help me, and that soon everything will make sense. 

The ward is great, but they're not very missionary minded. We're gonna have to work on that. I mean, they'll come on team Ups with us and everything, but not much more than that. We only have correlation with the Bishop and Ward Mission Leader once a month, which kind of sucks, especially since I don't know anybody, and would love to talk about the ward. Like 60 percent of the Ward are post graduate students, who are only here for a few years to study anesthesiology at a local university in Latrobe, PA (out of my area). The anesthesiology program lasts about two and a half years, so every year we have a cycle of people that come in, and others that leave. Several of these young families won't even accept callings, because they don't want to get too attached or receive added responsibility. There are TONS of kids in the ward, which means sacrament meeting is LOUD. Apparently that's been a problem with investigators in the past. So yeah. This funky ward is gonna be interesting. 

I also have to drive EVERYWHERE, because Elder Lin does not have a driver's license. You already know I suck at driving. I didn't have too much experience before my mission, and then I had 8 and a half months of no driving whatsoever. So driving has been HARD. These Pennsylvania roads are nothing like what I've driven on before. They're thin and windy. TONS of One Way streets. Goodness gracious, it's been kinda scary. But we haven't died yet, and my driving has improved a little bit these past few days. But yeah, prayers would be appreciated. Especially in the snow. 

In terms of investigators, we have a few prospects, but not much. I haven't met hardly any of them, so I'll be sure and let you know what they're like next week. I'm gonna do everything in my power to get this place popping. 

BRADEN TOLD ME THAT BYU BEAT UTAH OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG that's AWESOME!!  He sent me a bunch of pictures of the game as well. BYU is wearing royal blue uniforms now!! Wow!! That's amazing!! They look so good!! Especially playing Utah in the bright red. It seems like it was a great game, based on Braden's description. He said that the team has been playing pretty dang well this year, and that it might be a good thing that Nick Emery is gone, because other players have stepped up. I have no idea, but it sounds like it was a great game!! And we're 9-2!! SWEET. 

I'm so excited to see the family next Monday!! Unless I let you know otherwise, be ready to video chat at like 9am your time. I really have no idea what time I'll call you, but we'll set it at that time temporarily. I still need to figure out Christmas plans. It's hard. But we'll definitely talk on that day, don't you worry.

Prayers are always appreciated, especially now. Dont' worry, I'm okay, it's just been a crazy week.

I love you to death!!

Elder Gonzales

On Dec 17, 2017 11:34 PM, <perucalica@aol.com> wrote:

Sunday, December 17, 2017

Hey There Buddy Boy!

What a nice surprise it was to get a text on Thursday night, open it up and see your wonderful face in a picture taken by Brother Stanley.  I had been thinking about you all day wondering how things were going, whether you had gotten to your new area safely, etc.  The text just made my day.  Next time you see him, thank Brother Stanley for me.

So, how is your new area going? And what is your new companion like?  I told you that I looked up your address on  Google Earth and it seemed like your apartment is pretty nice.  I know that it beats any apartment that I ever lived in when I was on my mission.  Is it a two story townhouse?

Well, I am a happy person because as of now, I am on vacation.  Yipee!  Dad and I had to speak in Sacrament Meeting today and now that that is over with I can say that I am free for a while.  Dad and I went hometeaching to the Bodens today and that pretty much sums up the whole day. Sarah flies into town tomorrow and so I am excited to see her.  Briana and Tony will be here on Saturday afternoon sometime.  Of course, John is already here.  The only thing that would make this time more perfect is if you were here to be with us.  We will miss you but we are glad that you will be able to call us and we can see your lovely face.  By the way, how is all of that going to come down?  What day and time are you going to call and what means are you going to use to call, Facebook? Skype?  Let us know!

(Dad was just cooking something and set the smoke alarms off.  We couldn’t get them to stop for some reason.  We just had to pull some of them down.  After pulling about 4 or 5 of them down, they finally stopped ringing but I am now deaf.  So, you may have to learn sign language in order to communicate with us from here on out J.)

Well, I guess the best news of the week is that BYU played Utah last night in basketball and we beat them.  Of course the Marriott Center was packed to the brim and the fans certainly let Utah know they were there.  Fortunately, there were no sucker punches thrown this year and the team did pretty well at defending them.  We won them by like 16 points or so so it wasn’t even a close game.  That makes the vicotry even more sweet.

So, I hear that you are in a car these days.  How is that working out?  I’ll give you the same advice that I gave your father when he started driving in the snow for the first time,   GO SLOW AND LEAVE DISTANCE BETWEEN YOU AND THE NEXT GUY!  Also, don’t assume that just because you put your foot on the brake that you’re going to stop.  Be wise in your driving.  (You know that your mother always worries about you, no matter what.)

Well, there just isn’t much to tell this week so I’ll close.  I guess that next Sunday will be Christmas Eve and Monday will be Christmas Day.  What are your Christmas plans? Just know that you are always in my thoughts and prayers.  I love you soooooo much.

Mom