Letter from Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Well...I wasn't really expecting an email from yall today. I thought that I became old news and that my shrine over the fireplace would turn to a Chloe shrine..but I guess ya'll still remember me hahaha
1. I rode a bike about 3 weeks ago. But now, I am just "ridin dirty" around SD haha (that's how you say it here)
2. We have a McDonalds, Jack in the Box is next door, In and Out, and Subway. We usually go to a lot of taco shops, those are the best.
Well it makes me glad to know that no one forgot about me this week with Chloe and Brooke's big day haha. I thought that I was going to be old news, but I guess my family really does love me hahahah. This week has been what I have called the "miracle week". I can already see the smiles on yalls faces, this one is going to be good.
Besides the fact that it is a miracle that me and my comp get along really well, everything else has been miracle after miracle it seems like this week. Not too much happened last week until Sunday. On Sunday, I went to the MCRD and the recruit Gibson came up to me and told me (with a big smile on his face) "you ready to baptize me?" I laughed and we went and did it. Another Elder had a baptism too so it was a dual-baptism which made it even more special. Then, for the first time in a while, me and Elder Guennete had someone at church and she is way excited. Then, yesterday was what we are calling the "MIRACLE DAY" (its a new holiday). Yesterday, we went to one of our investigators house just planning to do a quick lesson before him and his brothers went to work. The family is recently baptized except for 2 of the sons, Oriel (16) and Erwin (14). Oreil didnt want to talk with us (he is not that interested) but Erwin wanted too and so we went down to his patio and talked. We did an object lesson about putting the things of God first in our lives. Elder Guennete bore his testimony and he said something that made me think, he said, "God blesses us when we do the things he wants us to do first." Then the question came to me and I said this, "Erwin, what does God want you to do first in your life?" He looked at me and said, "be baptized." I smiled and said yeah, he does. It was amzaing. 3 weeks ago Erwin did not want to be baptized. But, he told us he had been thinking about it and now he is excited and is getting baptized on the 10th. Also, we got 2 more people with dates for Oct 17. It was one amazing day!
Well everything is going really good here. I just love my mission right now. Everything is just clicking and it seems like I am not even doing anything to deserve this. Its just all the hard work and pereserverance that occurred last transfer is paying off this transfer. When we are happy, we work harder and better. But, yesterday, it was way hot in the 90s all day. So I was draggin a little bit (you know how I work better in the cold hahah) but after that appt with Erwin, it got a lot better!
I love everybody and can't wait to talk with yall in 3 months. It'll be some good converstations. I love yall and cant wait to hear from yall agin. Thanks for everything that yall do!
Love
Ross
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Letter from September 21, 2010
Letter from Tuesday, September 21, 2010
(This is when Ross found out he had officially become an Uncle!)
DANG!!! I'm Uncle Ross...I was going to give your number too someone too today, I am glad I didn't.
1. Well it feels the same I guess...since I dont get to hold her. Maybe when I see pictures it will be different hahah I hope everything is going good with her and Brooke and Ryan now
2. My new comp is Elder Guennette (Gun-net) from Quebec Canada. He is a way cool guy! He speaks french, english and Spanish. He laughs at my jokes and he cracks me up too...and we are really working well together.
Well, I am an uncle. That's pretty cool. It sounds like everything went smoothly which is way good. Everything here is going great. The day me and Elder Guennette got put together was awesome. He has been known for being really strict and I wasn't too excited when president read our names together, but it has been way fun lately. We laugh and we work hard and we mess around doing it haha he is just a crazy frenchie. Everything seems to be going better. Last week our zone only had 6 people with baptismal dates which is pathetic. So we decided to have a meeting with the DLs. I just flat out asked them, "why do we only have 6 people with a date" It finally came down to having more faith. By the end of the week, we tripled our people with dates to 17, had 2 baptims on sunday and 7 lined up for this week. Things turned around and we are focusing on "keeping our head down and our feet moving." Just like pushing the truck and the sled in football. Thats what I say now,"Great job on the baptism elder (or sister), now just keep your head down and your feet moving and keep tearin it up". Everyone laughs and we are getting along really well.
Well I had another great experience at the the MCRD again this week. I don't know what it is with me and marines, I guess I just get along with people my age. This time his name is Andrew Gibson. He was given to me by another elder and the elder told me to get him baptized asap. I went and talked and before sacrament meeting I told him to read 2 Nephi 31 (baptism and the Doc of Christ). I came back after sacrament meeting and we talked. I asked him if he read it and he did. I asked how he felt about it, he said "those 3 words are just ringing in my head, FOLLOW THOU ME. (v 10). I asked him what he thought that meant. He told me that I needed to follow Christ. So I said, "Gibson, will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized next Sunday?" He looked at me and then at verse 10 again and back at me and said, "yeah...I need to be. Let's do it" I almost jumped out my chair, but I stopped and composed myself and said, "Alright, let's get it done." We shared a moment that very few people ever get to share. A moment, like it says in D&C 50:12 or 20 (IDK)..when both of you rejoiced together and were edified by what was happening. I gave him a bro hug and I left, he started to cry so I sat back down. He told me that he was struggling so much and wanted to quit. I told him that he isn't alone and after next week, he would have spiritual strength, mental strength and physical strength. He cried a little bit more, gave me a bro hug and I left again. Never, never, have I felt that way or the way I feel as I tell you the story...
Everything is going great! I love my mission again! I am glad to hear popa is doing better..tell him I said, "portate bien" (I can't think of the english phrase but it means something like act good". Well I promise I will get that letter in the mail this week. I love you so much!
Ross
(This is when Ross found out he had officially become an Uncle!)
DANG!!! I'm Uncle Ross...I was going to give your number too someone too today, I am glad I didn't.
1. Well it feels the same I guess...since I dont get to hold her. Maybe when I see pictures it will be different hahah I hope everything is going good with her and Brooke and Ryan now
2. My new comp is Elder Guennette (Gun-net) from Quebec Canada. He is a way cool guy! He speaks french, english and Spanish. He laughs at my jokes and he cracks me up too...and we are really working well together.
Well, I am an uncle. That's pretty cool. It sounds like everything went smoothly which is way good. Everything here is going great. The day me and Elder Guennette got put together was awesome. He has been known for being really strict and I wasn't too excited when president read our names together, but it has been way fun lately. We laugh and we work hard and we mess around doing it haha he is just a crazy frenchie. Everything seems to be going better. Last week our zone only had 6 people with baptismal dates which is pathetic. So we decided to have a meeting with the DLs. I just flat out asked them, "why do we only have 6 people with a date" It finally came down to having more faith. By the end of the week, we tripled our people with dates to 17, had 2 baptims on sunday and 7 lined up for this week. Things turned around and we are focusing on "keeping our head down and our feet moving." Just like pushing the truck and the sled in football. Thats what I say now,"Great job on the baptism elder (or sister), now just keep your head down and your feet moving and keep tearin it up". Everyone laughs and we are getting along really well.
Well I had another great experience at the the MCRD again this week. I don't know what it is with me and marines, I guess I just get along with people my age. This time his name is Andrew Gibson. He was given to me by another elder and the elder told me to get him baptized asap. I went and talked and before sacrament meeting I told him to read 2 Nephi 31 (baptism and the Doc of Christ). I came back after sacrament meeting and we talked. I asked him if he read it and he did. I asked how he felt about it, he said "those 3 words are just ringing in my head, FOLLOW THOU ME. (v 10). I asked him what he thought that meant. He told me that I needed to follow Christ. So I said, "Gibson, will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized next Sunday?" He looked at me and then at verse 10 again and back at me and said, "yeah...I need to be. Let's do it" I almost jumped out my chair, but I stopped and composed myself and said, "Alright, let's get it done." We shared a moment that very few people ever get to share. A moment, like it says in D&C 50:12 or 20 (IDK)..when both of you rejoiced together and were edified by what was happening. I gave him a bro hug and I left, he started to cry so I sat back down. He told me that he was struggling so much and wanted to quit. I told him that he isn't alone and after next week, he would have spiritual strength, mental strength and physical strength. He cried a little bit more, gave me a bro hug and I left again. Never, never, have I felt that way or the way I feel as I tell you the story...
Everything is going great! I love my mission again! I am glad to hear popa is doing better..tell him I said, "portate bien" (I can't think of the english phrase but it means something like act good". Well I promise I will get that letter in the mail this week. I love you so much!
Ross
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Letter from August 31, 2010
Letter from Tuesday, August 31, 2010
1. Well my area is directly east of San Diego. The earthquake happened at night and Elder Mendoza woke up and freaked a little bit. I just kept sleeping. I woke up for a second because I thought I hit my alarm clock off, but it was the shaking that knocked it off.
2. I am back to 1 o'clock church. They do the wierd stuff here. Sacrament meeting is last. Also, I work at the MCRD (Marine Corps Recruiting Depot) in the mornings from 730-11. I will tell you more about that later in the letter but just know, it is the most spiritually intense situation I have ever been in.
3. We have dinner appointments but not many. Elder mendoza doesnt like them because they take too much time. I kind of like it that way..I'm gaining weight, but without appointments, I don't eat as much.
Well I just can't keep it in any longer. I had another baptism this week. This is probably the most special one because it is mine. No I am not being prideful or anything like that, but I solo taught this guy, so it means more to me. It was just me and the Spirit.
You are probably wondering what that is all about. At the MCRD there is an LDS branch where we work and go to church on Sundays. There are a lot of members who are in the marine boot camp, and they love to bring their non-member platoon members. These guys are amazing. Really, when it comes down to it, the recruits are looking for something to hold on to, some solace, a break from a man yelling in their face every minute of every day breaking them down. So as missionaries, that's what we give them. Now I want to tell you about this special recruit, Marc Mandel.
I met Marc my second week at the MCRD. Right away I knew he was special. He came up to me and asked if he could talk to me. We sat down and he told he wanted to get baptized and wanted me to help him do that. So I was like, "Well Marc, I can definitely help you do that." We talked more and it turns out that Marc is married to a member and he grew up in St George. He knows pretty much everything about the church. So we set a date to be baptized the following week. The recruits go up north cali to do training, but they have a branch up there to so he was going to be baptized there. I went the next week not expecting to see Marc, but I was walking aroung looking for someone to talk to when I saw him sitting down reading his Book of Mormon. I went and said, "Marc, what are you doing here bro?" He told me that his DI(Drill instructor) didn't see him pass part of his physical test, so he got dropped and had to stay another week. He told me that it was the hardest thing he ever has gone through. He couldn't even talk to his wife when he called and told her he had to stay another week because he was in tears. This guy really loves his family and wants to get back to them, but because he didn't pass his test, he has to stay another week. He said he felt like going home. So I was sitting there listening and then asked, "So why didn't you Marc, what turned things around?" He looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, "I did like you told me. I prayed." Mom and dad, this kid prayed for a straight hour and he said," I just opened up my heart and told everything to the Lord. I just pleaded with him to help me. And the next day when I woke up, everything made sense. I knew everything was true. I wasn't mad or sad, I was determined. Determined to do everything I could to get back to my wife." When he was telling me this, I almost started crying. So I talked to him about getting baptized before church, and he said he wanted to wait for his friend to do it up north next week, because he had already passed his test and everything was good to go. So I talked with him some more after church, gave him a hug and told him I would see him in 3 weeks. So this past Sunday(8/29) we went to the MCRD like usual. When I got out of the car, another elder came running up to me and said, "Mandel is here! He wants to get baptized right now!" I ran inside and found him. He had the biggest smile on his face. I asked him again, "What the heck Mandel, what are you doing here." He got an ear infection so he got dropped again. He said after that happened he was sitting, taking the last fire watch on top of one of the buildings and he was praying and told God, "God, if that spotlight out in the distance that is spinning around stops on me, I will get baptized tommorrow and do everything you want me to do." He said he looked up and saw it spinning and then it stopped. It stopped right on him and then he knew, he had to get baptized. So we got it done that day. He was baptized, confirmed and recieved the preisthood all in one day.
Mom and Dad, this story is evidence of just how much the church is true. These marines are the most humble people I have ever met. They just are looking for something to hold on to and the Lord gives them the gospel for comfort. I will always have a bond with Mandel and he told me he wants to hang out once we BOTH get done with our missions. He wants to go on a couples mission with his wife when he is older.
I love yall so much and I can hear your prayers every day. They truly mean a lot to me and they leep me going. Thanks for everything that you do. I sent a package to dad the other day with some stuff, I hope he got it. Thanks for everything and I LOVE YALL!!
Ross
1. Well my area is directly east of San Diego. The earthquake happened at night and Elder Mendoza woke up and freaked a little bit. I just kept sleeping. I woke up for a second because I thought I hit my alarm clock off, but it was the shaking that knocked it off.
2. I am back to 1 o'clock church. They do the wierd stuff here. Sacrament meeting is last. Also, I work at the MCRD (Marine Corps Recruiting Depot) in the mornings from 730-11. I will tell you more about that later in the letter but just know, it is the most spiritually intense situation I have ever been in.
3. We have dinner appointments but not many. Elder mendoza doesnt like them because they take too much time. I kind of like it that way..I'm gaining weight, but without appointments, I don't eat as much.
Well I just can't keep it in any longer. I had another baptism this week. This is probably the most special one because it is mine. No I am not being prideful or anything like that, but I solo taught this guy, so it means more to me. It was just me and the Spirit.
You are probably wondering what that is all about. At the MCRD there is an LDS branch where we work and go to church on Sundays. There are a lot of members who are in the marine boot camp, and they love to bring their non-member platoon members. These guys are amazing. Really, when it comes down to it, the recruits are looking for something to hold on to, some solace, a break from a man yelling in their face every minute of every day breaking them down. So as missionaries, that's what we give them. Now I want to tell you about this special recruit, Marc Mandel.
I met Marc my second week at the MCRD. Right away I knew he was special. He came up to me and asked if he could talk to me. We sat down and he told he wanted to get baptized and wanted me to help him do that. So I was like, "Well Marc, I can definitely help you do that." We talked more and it turns out that Marc is married to a member and he grew up in St George. He knows pretty much everything about the church. So we set a date to be baptized the following week. The recruits go up north cali to do training, but they have a branch up there to so he was going to be baptized there. I went the next week not expecting to see Marc, but I was walking aroung looking for someone to talk to when I saw him sitting down reading his Book of Mormon. I went and said, "Marc, what are you doing here bro?" He told me that his DI(Drill instructor) didn't see him pass part of his physical test, so he got dropped and had to stay another week. He told me that it was the hardest thing he ever has gone through. He couldn't even talk to his wife when he called and told her he had to stay another week because he was in tears. This guy really loves his family and wants to get back to them, but because he didn't pass his test, he has to stay another week. He said he felt like going home. So I was sitting there listening and then asked, "So why didn't you Marc, what turned things around?" He looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, "I did like you told me. I prayed." Mom and dad, this kid prayed for a straight hour and he said," I just opened up my heart and told everything to the Lord. I just pleaded with him to help me. And the next day when I woke up, everything made sense. I knew everything was true. I wasn't mad or sad, I was determined. Determined to do everything I could to get back to my wife." When he was telling me this, I almost started crying. So I talked to him about getting baptized before church, and he said he wanted to wait for his friend to do it up north next week, because he had already passed his test and everything was good to go. So I talked with him some more after church, gave him a hug and told him I would see him in 3 weeks. So this past Sunday(8/29) we went to the MCRD like usual. When I got out of the car, another elder came running up to me and said, "Mandel is here! He wants to get baptized right now!" I ran inside and found him. He had the biggest smile on his face. I asked him again, "What the heck Mandel, what are you doing here." He got an ear infection so he got dropped again. He said after that happened he was sitting, taking the last fire watch on top of one of the buildings and he was praying and told God, "God, if that spotlight out in the distance that is spinning around stops on me, I will get baptized tommorrow and do everything you want me to do." He said he looked up and saw it spinning and then it stopped. It stopped right on him and then he knew, he had to get baptized. So we got it done that day. He was baptized, confirmed and recieved the preisthood all in one day.
Mom and Dad, this story is evidence of just how much the church is true. These marines are the most humble people I have ever met. They just are looking for something to hold on to and the Lord gives them the gospel for comfort. I will always have a bond with Mandel and he told me he wants to hang out once we BOTH get done with our missions. He wants to go on a couples mission with his wife when he is older.
I love yall so much and I can hear your prayers every day. They truly mean a lot to me and they leep me going. Thanks for everything that you do. I sent a package to dad the other day with some stuff, I hope he got it. Thanks for everything and I LOVE YALL!!
Ross
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
8/17/2010
Letter from Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Lets get to the questions...
1. There are 28 missionaries total in my zone. And I am in a different zone than before..and there are 8 zones in the mission haha
2. Well, the weight loss is slowing down....I am in a car. Great, now I have to eat healthy haha
Well my first full week as a zone leader is complete...and I am exhausted. But in a good way. We have had a really good week. We had 2 baptisms on Sunday. And in the intermediate part, I went up there and spoke for about 15 minutes on baptism (In spanish) It was pretty nerve raking but it was cool. We have been doing really well and I have been doing great too.
We taught a man yesterday who was a former investigator. We were in there and me and Elder Mendoza both felt the spirit envelope us. We bore testimony and I remember saying, "Felix...we aren't here to convince you of anything. God sent us here to help you. He cares about you and wants you to find what you say is missing. God knows what's missing in your life." Then it was silent for literally 3 minutes. I wanted to break the silence, but everytime I tried to open my mouth the spirit told me not too. It was probably the most spiritually intense lesson I have ever been in.
Well that is everything I have for now. Thank you so much for everything. I love you!!
Ross
Lets get to the questions...
1. There are 28 missionaries total in my zone. And I am in a different zone than before..and there are 8 zones in the mission haha
2. Well, the weight loss is slowing down....I am in a car. Great, now I have to eat healthy haha
Well my first full week as a zone leader is complete...and I am exhausted. But in a good way. We have had a really good week. We had 2 baptisms on Sunday. And in the intermediate part, I went up there and spoke for about 15 minutes on baptism (In spanish) It was pretty nerve raking but it was cool. We have been doing really well and I have been doing great too.
We taught a man yesterday who was a former investigator. We were in there and me and Elder Mendoza both felt the spirit envelope us. We bore testimony and I remember saying, "Felix...we aren't here to convince you of anything. God sent us here to help you. He cares about you and wants you to find what you say is missing. God knows what's missing in your life." Then it was silent for literally 3 minutes. I wanted to break the silence, but everytime I tried to open my mouth the spirit told me not too. It was probably the most spiritually intense lesson I have ever been in.
Well that is everything I have for now. Thank you so much for everything. I love you!!
Ross
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Playing catch up....
I haven't been posting Ross's emails from the past few weeks for various reasons, but decided I better play catch up real quick! On July 27th Ross hit the sixth month mark...only 18 more months to go! Ross continues to love his mission and the people with whom he works. He celebrated the six month mark with what he calls...
An ESPN Top 10 Most Memorable Moments in the First 6 Months:
10. My first teaching experience in the MTC
9. Leaving the MTC for the Field
8. Elder Nelson getting transferred
7. Being Elder Nelson's companion
6. Arriving in San Diego
5. Leaving mom and dad at the MTC
4. First baptism
3. Training
2. Getting to be District Leader at my 3rd transfer
1. Being closer to the Lord than ever before
(He wrote this list as well as the below message in his Tuesday, July 27th email)
Everything this week has been pretty good. I rolled my ankle in basketball today, but you know me, I'll be alright. We have 2 baptisms coming up this week either on Sunday or Tuesday. They accepted the date for Tuesday but we are going to move them up for Sunday.
This week we had President interviews. In mine he asked me how I was doing physically. I said, "Well president, I am pretty good. But my mom is a little worried about me." He said, "Why is that?" "well i have lost 30 lbs and she says that it is unhealthy." Then he threw me a curve ball....HE FIST POUNDED ME!!! and told me, "Elder Little don't slow down in anything. Weight, missionary work or anything. You have great things ahead of you and you can not slow down. I've got plans for you." That is the 3rd time he has said that...I am beginning to believe him.
Other than that the week was pretty chill. Sorry this is a short email, but I don't really have a lot to say. President has been calling me a lot lately. We have a bunch of new sister missionaries coming in to work at the MOBAT (Mormon Batallion) and he is going to put a set in my district. We have to rearrange the boundaries in one the missionaries that are already there so we can put them in. He says that I am just as important in this as he is. And this also means I will now have 10 missionaries in my district. But, as of right now, my district has 12 people with baptismal dates and we had 10 people at church last Sunday so we are doing really well.
Well thanks for everything!!! It really does mean a lot the things you send me, and I promise I will get a hand written letter in the mail some time. (I'm pretty sure this has yet to happen!! My poor parents!~Hillary))
(This is from his Tuesday, August 3rd email)
Transfers are tomorrow and I am not very happy about it... yes, I am getting transfered again. I don't know what this plan is that president has for me, but it sure is weird and I can't really understand it. The worst part of it is, is that there are 5 open spots in the desert...where it is currently 117*. So it is looking like I am heading out there, or a bunch of missionaries are saying that I could be going to be a ZL in Sweetwater in Elder Nelson's old area or I could be a ZL in the desierto. And to top it off, 2 of my best friends left to go home today. Elder Nelson and Elder Hanks. They reached the end and they are home right now with their families. It is a tough day today, and I don't have a lot to talk about.
Well, this week has been pretty slow. Our area is just inching along right now and the week before transfers is always the hardest. We, or I guess I should say Elder Avalos, has 2 baptisms coming up on Sunday and a few more later this month. It will be tough, because it seems like just when an area starts to get good, I get moved and pick up another area. It is crazy. But, just like Coach Byrd, President Donaldson sees something in me and I know that he has the keys and recieve the revelations to take care of me and put me where the Lord wants me to be. I just have to put my trust in the Lord again and hope everythings turns out for the best. It usually does, but sometimes it takes a while to figure it out haha. But, dont feel like that I am depressed or mad or angry or on the verge of going AWOL. I will be ok, its just when transfers come around when I feel safe, I'm not, when I feel not safe, I am safe. CRAZY!! I just remebered I have to pack again. Dang, I hate transfers. But, it's alright the Lord has a plan for me and if that plan has me going to the desert to taste a little bit of what h*** feels like, then so be it.
Speaking of Satan, he has been working big time on me. Like you said mom, I do have to give a lot of girls the "get thee hence satan" look, and sometimes not even that is enough. My area is right next to SDSU (San Diego State University) so there are college girls galore. Let's just say that it is like A&M in the summer time, except everything the girls wear are tighter and 6 inches shorter. And mexican girls love white boys. The funny part is that when we walk by they speak spanish about us and think we cant understand and then I hear what they say and usually turn around and say, "gracias! soy guapo, ya se" which translates too, "thanks, I'm cute, I know" hahaha they get embarrased and walk off. But, Satan puts these "beautiful daughters of God" in my path as temptation. So me and Elder Avalos have been singing a lot of hymns lately hahaha. I know I know, sounds corny, but it's the only thing that works.
Well, that's about it, so I guess I'll just close. Thanks for everything you do and be looking forward to next p day when you can find out where I am and what I am doing. Thanks for everything mom and Dad!!! les amo muchimsmo!
(And finally, this is from today's email, Tuesday, August 10th)
Well where I am.... I am now in Logan Heights...just a few miles down the road from City Heights. Mom, I wouldn't google this place, it's worse than City Heights. Oh, and now I am a Zone Leader. Yep, Elder Nelson left and I took his place as Zone Leader in the Sweetwater zone.
At the end of every transfer, president sends out a letter to the zone leaders on Tuesday and they call the people leaving. Then, Wednesday at 10 we have a transfer meeting where president announces who is going where and who their companion is. That's basically how they do it in most places.
Well yeah, I am a Zone Leader now. 2 transfers as a junior companion, 1 as a trainer/district leader, and now a Zone Leader. The theme for my mission as of right now is, "Whom the Lord calls, He qualifies." Wow..when president called my name, he looked at me and said, "well Elder Little how long have you been out?" I said, "just hit 6 months." He laughed, "Well, I just keep throwing things at you." Then he told me I would be the ZL in Sweetwater with Elder Mendoza. It's crazy. I guess you could say I am following my "father's" footsteps...Elder Nelson was here for 2 transfers before he went home.
Well all I can say, is just like dad said, I am out of the preseason and into the regular season. I am finally starting to understand how to follow the spirit in working.
Well that is all for today. My companion is from Houston!!! Baytown, TX. We are the youngest ZLs in the mission. He has been out 8 months and me almost 7. It is great, I will write more in a letter!!!! Thanks for everything mom and dad!
Ross
An ESPN Top 10 Most Memorable Moments in the First 6 Months:
10. My first teaching experience in the MTC
9. Leaving the MTC for the Field
8. Elder Nelson getting transferred
7. Being Elder Nelson's companion
6. Arriving in San Diego
5. Leaving mom and dad at the MTC
4. First baptism
3. Training
2. Getting to be District Leader at my 3rd transfer
1. Being closer to the Lord than ever before
(He wrote this list as well as the below message in his Tuesday, July 27th email)
Everything this week has been pretty good. I rolled my ankle in basketball today, but you know me, I'll be alright. We have 2 baptisms coming up this week either on Sunday or Tuesday. They accepted the date for Tuesday but we are going to move them up for Sunday.
This week we had President interviews. In mine he asked me how I was doing physically. I said, "Well president, I am pretty good. But my mom is a little worried about me." He said, "Why is that?" "well i have lost 30 lbs and she says that it is unhealthy." Then he threw me a curve ball....HE FIST POUNDED ME!!! and told me, "Elder Little don't slow down in anything. Weight, missionary work or anything. You have great things ahead of you and you can not slow down. I've got plans for you." That is the 3rd time he has said that...I am beginning to believe him.
Other than that the week was pretty chill. Sorry this is a short email, but I don't really have a lot to say. President has been calling me a lot lately. We have a bunch of new sister missionaries coming in to work at the MOBAT (Mormon Batallion) and he is going to put a set in my district. We have to rearrange the boundaries in one the missionaries that are already there so we can put them in. He says that I am just as important in this as he is. And this also means I will now have 10 missionaries in my district. But, as of right now, my district has 12 people with baptismal dates and we had 10 people at church last Sunday so we are doing really well.
Well thanks for everything!!! It really does mean a lot the things you send me, and I promise I will get a hand written letter in the mail some time. (I'm pretty sure this has yet to happen!! My poor parents!~Hillary))
(This is from his Tuesday, August 3rd email)
Transfers are tomorrow and I am not very happy about it... yes, I am getting transfered again. I don't know what this plan is that president has for me, but it sure is weird and I can't really understand it. The worst part of it is, is that there are 5 open spots in the desert...where it is currently 117*. So it is looking like I am heading out there, or a bunch of missionaries are saying that I could be going to be a ZL in Sweetwater in Elder Nelson's old area or I could be a ZL in the desierto. And to top it off, 2 of my best friends left to go home today. Elder Nelson and Elder Hanks. They reached the end and they are home right now with their families. It is a tough day today, and I don't have a lot to talk about.
Well, this week has been pretty slow. Our area is just inching along right now and the week before transfers is always the hardest. We, or I guess I should say Elder Avalos, has 2 baptisms coming up on Sunday and a few more later this month. It will be tough, because it seems like just when an area starts to get good, I get moved and pick up another area. It is crazy. But, just like Coach Byrd, President Donaldson sees something in me and I know that he has the keys and recieve the revelations to take care of me and put me where the Lord wants me to be. I just have to put my trust in the Lord again and hope everythings turns out for the best. It usually does, but sometimes it takes a while to figure it out haha. But, dont feel like that I am depressed or mad or angry or on the verge of going AWOL. I will be ok, its just when transfers come around when I feel safe, I'm not, when I feel not safe, I am safe. CRAZY!! I just remebered I have to pack again. Dang, I hate transfers. But, it's alright the Lord has a plan for me and if that plan has me going to the desert to taste a little bit of what h*** feels like, then so be it.
Speaking of Satan, he has been working big time on me. Like you said mom, I do have to give a lot of girls the "get thee hence satan" look, and sometimes not even that is enough. My area is right next to SDSU (San Diego State University) so there are college girls galore. Let's just say that it is like A&M in the summer time, except everything the girls wear are tighter and 6 inches shorter. And mexican girls love white boys. The funny part is that when we walk by they speak spanish about us and think we cant understand and then I hear what they say and usually turn around and say, "gracias! soy guapo, ya se" which translates too, "thanks, I'm cute, I know" hahaha they get embarrased and walk off. But, Satan puts these "beautiful daughters of God" in my path as temptation. So me and Elder Avalos have been singing a lot of hymns lately hahaha. I know I know, sounds corny, but it's the only thing that works.
Well, that's about it, so I guess I'll just close. Thanks for everything you do and be looking forward to next p day when you can find out where I am and what I am doing. Thanks for everything mom and Dad!!! les amo muchimsmo!
(And finally, this is from today's email, Tuesday, August 10th)
Well where I am.... I am now in Logan Heights...just a few miles down the road from City Heights. Mom, I wouldn't google this place, it's worse than City Heights. Oh, and now I am a Zone Leader. Yep, Elder Nelson left and I took his place as Zone Leader in the Sweetwater zone.
At the end of every transfer, president sends out a letter to the zone leaders on Tuesday and they call the people leaving. Then, Wednesday at 10 we have a transfer meeting where president announces who is going where and who their companion is. That's basically how they do it in most places.
Well yeah, I am a Zone Leader now. 2 transfers as a junior companion, 1 as a trainer/district leader, and now a Zone Leader. The theme for my mission as of right now is, "Whom the Lord calls, He qualifies." Wow..when president called my name, he looked at me and said, "well Elder Little how long have you been out?" I said, "just hit 6 months." He laughed, "Well, I just keep throwing things at you." Then he told me I would be the ZL in Sweetwater with Elder Mendoza. It's crazy. I guess you could say I am following my "father's" footsteps...Elder Nelson was here for 2 transfers before he went home.
Well all I can say, is just like dad said, I am out of the preseason and into the regular season. I am finally starting to understand how to follow the spirit in working.
Well that is all for today. My companion is from Houston!!! Baytown, TX. We are the youngest ZLs in the mission. He has been out 8 months and me almost 7. It is great, I will write more in a letter!!!! Thanks for everything mom and dad!
Ross
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Pictures! Finally...
If you've been keeping up with Ross's letters on here you may have picked up on his weight loss comments. Yesterday, July 27th was Ross's 6 month mark (18 more months to go, but who's counting really, right?!). In the past 6 months, Ross has lost 30 pounds. It's crazy because all through high school, as a football player, losing weight was not by any means a priority. And it's not a priority now that he's on his mission either. Ross has either been riding his bike or walking everywhere, add that to being pretty sick for a week and voila....there goes 30 pounds. Anyways, we've been bugging him to send us a picture of his new self. So here we go:
So way to go Ross! :)
So way to go Ross! :)
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Letter from July 6, 2010
July 6, 2010
Well this week has been crazy, so lets get started:
1. City Heights is pretty rough, but fertile. There aren't any restrictions, but if it is one thing that I know, Cholos don't mess with people that have Jesus Christ written on their chests. We go every where and talk to everyone.
2. We really didn't do anything to observe july 4th. We just went in early. We went to eat at a members house after church and then worked for a while and then came home. No one was home, and if they were they were drinking, so we called it quits for safety haha
3. I upgraded apartments. Our apartment now is really nice. We live in the same complex as 3 other sets of elders, 1 set of sisters, and 2 sets of senior missionaries. And you know they put the senior missionaries in the nice apartments so yeah its nice. We are about 5 minutes (walking) from the church.
Well to the week, I sent you a letter this week that described some of my week and some of the problems, and i put in my memory card of imperial beach, but after i sent it, i realized I didn't take any pictures after like week 3 which is when i started losing weight, so ill take some more and send some.
Well, i was sick this week. And we are talking sick sick. I had a stomache virus from tuesday to saturday. It was terrible. All the nasty things mixed with no sleep, no eating, and a missionary (me) who doesn't want to sit at home all day = a bad combination. Yeah, thats right. I went out and worked. I would sleep/rest till like 2 every day and then go work till 6. Come home and sleep till 7 and then go out an work till i couldnt go any further. It was bad. Never have I wanted to come home so bad and never have I wanted to die so much either. At one point, I told Elder Avalos to push me in front of a car that was coming and just relieve me of the pain i was feeling. But not to worry, I am better now! I am eating again (more than i would like, but i need to cathc up, i lost another 5lbs last week alone) and im am slowly getting my energy back to normal. We talked to some more sweet people and we have 2 baptisms lined up for the 25th. and possibly 2 more if we can get 2 investigators progressing again.
Elder Avalos is doing well. We got mail already this week. I got 1 letter from Mimi and Popa (I picked up my golf clubs on thursday. She wanted me to get them out of the way!!) and Elder Avalos got a package and 2 letters from his mom and friend. I was happy for him, it was great. He is doing really well. He is a pretty big guy and he told me this week that he tore his ACL before the mission and he tore it again after the surgery and it has been bothering him, but he doesn't want to tell president because he will make him sit in the office for a while (who does that sound like ?!?) So i just take it easy with him and not push him harder than he can go. He is really quite, so i sat him down and told him that this week, we were going to work together to help him feel more comfortable talking. We practiced during companionship study and by the end of the week, he taught most of 1 lesson by himself. it was really good, i couldnt stop him. All of the other missionaries are really loving and help him feel welcome.
Well that is really all this week.
Love Yall
Elder Little
Well this week has been crazy, so lets get started:
1. City Heights is pretty rough, but fertile. There aren't any restrictions, but if it is one thing that I know, Cholos don't mess with people that have Jesus Christ written on their chests. We go every where and talk to everyone.
2. We really didn't do anything to observe july 4th. We just went in early. We went to eat at a members house after church and then worked for a while and then came home. No one was home, and if they were they were drinking, so we called it quits for safety haha
3. I upgraded apartments. Our apartment now is really nice. We live in the same complex as 3 other sets of elders, 1 set of sisters, and 2 sets of senior missionaries. And you know they put the senior missionaries in the nice apartments so yeah its nice. We are about 5 minutes (walking) from the church.
Well to the week, I sent you a letter this week that described some of my week and some of the problems, and i put in my memory card of imperial beach, but after i sent it, i realized I didn't take any pictures after like week 3 which is when i started losing weight, so ill take some more and send some.
Well, i was sick this week. And we are talking sick sick. I had a stomache virus from tuesday to saturday. It was terrible. All the nasty things mixed with no sleep, no eating, and a missionary (me) who doesn't want to sit at home all day = a bad combination. Yeah, thats right. I went out and worked. I would sleep/rest till like 2 every day and then go work till 6. Come home and sleep till 7 and then go out an work till i couldnt go any further. It was bad. Never have I wanted to come home so bad and never have I wanted to die so much either. At one point, I told Elder Avalos to push me in front of a car that was coming and just relieve me of the pain i was feeling. But not to worry, I am better now! I am eating again (more than i would like, but i need to cathc up, i lost another 5lbs last week alone) and im am slowly getting my energy back to normal. We talked to some more sweet people and we have 2 baptisms lined up for the 25th. and possibly 2 more if we can get 2 investigators progressing again.
Elder Avalos is doing well. We got mail already this week. I got 1 letter from Mimi and Popa (I picked up my golf clubs on thursday. She wanted me to get them out of the way!!) and Elder Avalos got a package and 2 letters from his mom and friend. I was happy for him, it was great. He is doing really well. He is a pretty big guy and he told me this week that he tore his ACL before the mission and he tore it again after the surgery and it has been bothering him, but he doesn't want to tell president because he will make him sit in the office for a while (who does that sound like ?!?) So i just take it easy with him and not push him harder than he can go. He is really quite, so i sat him down and told him that this week, we were going to work together to help him feel more comfortable talking. We practiced during companionship study and by the end of the week, he taught most of 1 lesson by himself. it was really good, i couldnt stop him. All of the other missionaries are really loving and help him feel welcome.
Well that is really all this week.
Love Yall
Elder Little
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