Monday May 20, 2013
Hey family! I’m not sure if you have
been getting my letters? I mailed one as
soon as I got to the mission home.
It was great to talk to you on the phone at
the airport. After we talked we went and
got McDonalds breakfast which was suppper good, I was so sick of MTC food. Then
we went back to our gate and I tried calling dad but my card was out of money.
I was pretty bummed I didn’t get to talk to him.
We had a short flight and landed in Cali.
California drivers are crazy!! We drove past like 3 in- n- outs on our way to
the mission home. There is 4 of us new Spanish speaking, 2 are already fluent.
There were 19 of us total! A big group that came in. We took pictures with the
mission president and I got my bike which is super sick, it’s like a road bike.
My companions name is Elder Morell from Texas. He’s super sweet, he had a full
ride scholarship to Wyoming for football but came on a mission. I like him
alot. My area is El Monte south, which is pretty much Mexico. I never see white
people. Not gonna lie its pretty ghetto. Our apartment is super tiny, way
smaller then mom and dads room. There are cockroaches but it’s all good. Apparently
there is a problem with bed bugs in the mission which isn’t good. There’s a bunch
of like x gang members that live all around us in our apartments with their parole
straps around their ankles its pretty funny. At first I was scared but they
love missionaries, no one ever messes with us.
So Tuesday night I didn’t even unpack we went
straight to a less actives houses to teach and eat, all Spanish. It was the
smallest house I’ve been in, about half the size of Seth’s cabin. I can barely
understand anyone haha this is fore sure the hardest thing I’ve done in my
life. The weather is super nice though. And it’s crazy, you drive 2 miles and there
is really nice houses. Right now we are
at the Arcadia library. Mom you can send letters and packages to the mission
office, we go their every p-day.
We’ve taught so many lessons, it’s so different
than Vancouver. People always want to talk, we have so many investigators, it’s
hard to choose who is worth keeping. And sooo many people. So in our district
there are 8 of us, and we are all in the same ward. It’s so different. The
Spanish ward was crazy too, I am no where close to knowing Spanish, its frustrating
most of the time, but I just need to be patient and try. The people are sooo
nice. On Saturday we had 3 dinners. We would just be riding our bikes (I am on
a bike everyday, I love it) and people would say hey come here, we have food!
It was weird, there was so many parties on ever block with Mexican music and
those blow up jumpers for kids everywhere. I am legit in Mexico!!
I need to get use to the heat and just sleep
with a sheet and the fan, no AC.
I could go on forever talking about it. I
can talk a little bit to people I will share my testimony, a few lessons and a
bit of small talk. My trainer didn’t know Spanish very well when he first got
here so he helps alot.
Pres. Becerra is Awesome! He totally knows
the Pilling’s! He was sad when they left because they were a strong family in
the stake. I wish I had taken pictures for you, I will for next week! It’s definitely
a culture shock being here, so many people and single mothers with like 7 kids
in a tiny little house. Right now the biggest thing we are doing is trying to
get investigators to go to church.
Thanks for all the pictures and email’s! It
always helps. Whenever I get really frustrated or sad I just think of you guys
and what you’ve said or that you are praying for me. It helps. I’ve never had
to be so humble or rely on the lord so much. God has really prepared me for
this over the past few months.
I am looking forward to getting your package
mom!! I think I will get it today! Send reisens or smarties and candy too! Mail it to
the mission office. I hope you don’t have any more questions! Talk to you
later!
Love you all!
Oh yeah ps. Wednesday we did a zone fast,
which was tough I didn’t have to do it but I knew it would help me. After we
had in-n-out it was so good! Then we had another dinner appointment, haha don’t
worry, I wont get fat!
PPS. Tuesday was the longest day of my life,
4:00am to10:30pm travelling to California and then going back 1 hour.
Love Elder Garry
