Hola Elder

Hola Familia,

For the past few months I've been, in my journal, keeping a running total of the number of consecutive days I've written in my journal. I have found this to be amazingly effective in providing me with the motivation to write daily. Right now my running total is 76 days, with my previous writing-streaks being (from first to last) 2, 2, 1, and 20 days, with only a day at most separating those runs. This is possibly the most well-cataloged period of my life. It's pretty amazing to think about.

On a similar note, I've realized recently that I've been back in the mission for more time than I was set apart for Round 1. I'll admit that I was a bit wary as the week approached, for fear of history repeating itself, but it looks like I'll be fine. What's also weird is that I technically hit my year anniversary just a couple weeks ago. It's a wee bit strange just thinking about it.

We found a two new investigators this week, which basically tripled the size of our rapidly shrinking teaching pool ("What do you mean you're spendingsummeringuatamala/droppingus/absurdlybusywithmedicalissues!?").

The first is a person who identifies himself as a "Deist", which I guess translates into having some vague belief in a Judeo-Christian higher power but nothing really specific or personable. He says he's into meditation and studying religions, though in the latter case it seems like he means he reads a ton of crazy apocryphal/pseudopigriphal stuff. Whatever the case is, he accepted the challenge to read the Book of Mormon, so there's hope.

The other investigator is a Christian guy who we tracted into. During our short lesson with him, he said (several times) something to the effect of "I think what you guys do is great but I don't agree with you doctrinally." But then he said some things that he thought were our doctrines, after which it was clear that he had us confused with the JWs. He has a pretty decent understanding of the Bible and actually knows quite a bit of the Old Testament, it seems, and he readily accepted the opportunity to read from the Book of Mormon, so provided that our next lesson with him goes well he seems promising.

Yesterday somebody we were randomly talking to decided to stop talking with us after we told he that we don't follow the news. I think that's a first.

Also yesterday, I taught the Gospel Principles class because the normal teacher was gone. The lesson was on the gift of the Holy Ghost. I think this was the first time I competently taught a class in such a setting. It wasn't really exciting, but the Spirit was definitely there.

My journal entry for Thursday says "Today I saw some people walking llamas."

Attached is a picture back from transfer day. I would have been more dressed had I known that my new companion would have been arriving later than advertised.

Sincerely,

Elder Alex...putting the 'j' in 'p' day.

- Elder Oeste

Week 5...it's all about forms.

Nearly ready to pour. A little extension of the forms, a little more gravel, a little more compacting, a little larger post holes and we're ready.

Still a little tweaking to do...scope creep, scope creep...

...scope creep...notice the sidewalk snaking off from the top left corner?  Scope creep!

Week 4 1/2

I didn't post any pictures last weekend - partly because they didn't show a lot of progress, but this week might deserve two rounds of pictures...if the rain lets up.

Here's the progress Mike (and his crew of 2) made this week:

The main patio is framed, post holes started for the deck supports, and much of the gravel is compacted.

The framing for the walk is half-way done.

Week 3...You first have to tear down...

...before you can build up.

I thought I would be spending this weekend working on the front yard next to the driveway.  Steve and I did get the big ugly bush chopped down and dug out, but that's as far as we got with that.  Why?  Because we signed the contract with our cement guy - and he's planning on starting this coming Wednesday.  While Steve is out of town.  That gave us two days to get rid of the deck.  Turns out, it might have been nice to have three.
 

Danny and I took the railing off by ourselves on Friday.  It wasn't too hard, but that's as far as we got on Friday.

On Saturday, Steve pried the decking off while Danny and I pounded nails out of boards.

Steve then proceeded to take off the supports.

Once the supporting beams were gone, the posts were easy to push over. Especially since none of them were attached to anything!

Danny and I now have 2 days to finish cleaning up the boards and moving all the crap boards and stuff out of the way.  The good news is that we'll have a birds eye view of any work being done in the backyard once the cement crew is here.

The only nails that were pounded in this weekend were the four that are holding the safety board in place. 

This coming week: It's all about the prep work.

Week 2 - Curb Appeal?

Before

    After-ish (yeah, not done yet...avert your eyes from the far side of the driveway. Look away! Look away!)

Another before.  Notice the ratty looking bushes near the sidewalk?  Yeah, they were much worse in person. Much.

We ripped everything out of this bed except for the heather in the bottom right corner.  I know what you're thinking: "She'll never get a job as a landscaper.  My answer: "You're absolutely right, but then, I would hate to be a landscaper."

I dug out about 3 wheelbarrow loads of crap bee balm and over crowded daisies from this bed.  Danny and I  put in the border, and then I planted a bunch of stuff. Flowery stuff.

Some flowery stuff.

More flowery stuff.

Wild Lilac (more flowery stuff).

Goal for this coming week: Tame the wilderness aka The North Side of the Driveway.

Hola Elder

Dear Family,

This has been a cool week. We've had quite a lot of opportunities to give service.

 

First off, on Tuesday and Wednesday we helped install a wheelchair ramp for somebody in the ward. Most of the work was done by a member of the ward who does this kind of construction for a living and thus actually understood what needed to be done, but we were able to lend a hand often-enough. During the moments where all I could do was just sit and watch, I pondered about how Nephi and Moses and Adam were all received revelation and instructions on how to build things. We had the chance to be a bit more active the second day, since digging a post-hole for a hand rail is not a very technical task. I'll send you some pictures of me working on it. The hole was surprisingly deep, to say the least.

Secondly, on Wednesday and Friday we did some yardwork for a recent widower that somebody referred to us. He's a really nice guy, but he's having some trouble given how close he was to his wife. For instance, when we were pulling weeds in his backyard, he gave us a couple plush knee-rest thingies so we wouldn't get wet or dirty. One of them was a reserved, vaguely-masculine, solid color, and the other had a girlish flower pattern. He really likes us when we come over, so we're hoping that sometime he'll let us teach him sometime. 

Also on Friday, we saved somebody's life. We were walking down a street, and some really guy saw us and called us to help him. He was very old, laying down in his front doorway, and said he couldn't breathe. We immediately called the ambulance, gave him a blessing, and then waited until the situation was resolved before leaving. The whole episode took only about 15 minutes.

Saturday I was on exchanges with another missionary, this time Elder Bowles. We also had deep cleaning of our apartment that day, which was fun. Now our shower looks like it's no longer the nemesis to feet everywhere. And apparently some stuff that I though was just sloppily done caulking was actually some unholy form of soap. (Don't ask.)

Recently the mission president has authorized us all to make mormon.org profiles. Mine should be up within a few weeks, as soon as I figure out how to condense my vaguely-existential ramblings (the "Why'm I a Mormon" part) under 2000 characters.

Proselyting-wise, this week wasn't super exciting, and I feel like I've written enough for now, so:

Sincerely,

- Elder Oeste

And so it begins...

Steve and the sod cutter.  Let the games begin.

Bend with your knees! Bend with your knees!

Dirt. I imagine we'll be getting well acquainted this summer.

Are we there yet?

Rolling right along.

Make a left turn at Albuquerque.

Even Danny pitched in for a bit (thus proving that we still live in an age of miracles).