Dashing through the hood...on my bike in the rain Dec. 12

Dashing through the hood...on my bike in the rain

That is the delightful song a black homeless man started singing to me as we were waiting at a stoplight. I added the second line on my own.

Family, it has been quite a week. Since KT seems to like to take everyones thunder, what with announcing her pregnancy after I opened my mission call and having Ellie right before thanksgiving, I figured it was time to show her up. And here's my news for this week.....

It's a boy!!!!

This has been quite the transfers week. For those who haven't been on missions, I'm training this transfer! My new companion is elder Moore, he's not really a newbie, the way the new training is it takes 12 weeks. So he served one transfer already, and now I'm finishing his training. So he's really my stepson. It was really funny, he was in my zone at the MTC, and we used to joke that I would train him. And now I really am! It's crazy. I don't feel qualified at all, but with a little faith and a lot of help from the Lord, we've actually had a pretty incredible week. I'm in the same area, so by the time this transfer is over, i'll have been in this ward for at least 4 and a half months! It's really good to have a new companion. Me and Elder Goll had some good times together, but it's been really nice to switch it up. Me and elder moore are having a great time so far, and being senior companion has really, really helped me. I don't know what it was, maybe just a lack of confidence, but I always felt like I was doing something wrong with my trainers. And that really kind of hindered my ability to teach with the Spirit. Because this whole week, I've never felt more guided in my teaching. It's been amazing. I've had some of the best lessons of my whole mission this past 5 days. We had a great lesson with Y. on wednesday. When we were teaching, I felt like I should ask her to pray about which day she should be baptized. She wasn't ready for yesterday, so I asked her to pray about which day she should be baptized, 18th or the 25th. And we went back the next day, and she told us that she got an answer! She said she started crying, and felt really, really happy. And that's what we've been waiting for, is for her to really feel like she's gotten an answer. So guess who is going to have a white christmas? Elder Reichman! She wants to get baptized on December 25th! Which is also her birthday! and she wants me to baptize her! And then, thursday was such a good day. Right after our lesson with Y., we had a lesson with our investigator named S. And she's been progressing slowly, she's very hesitant, and we extended a kind of shaky baptismal date for the 25th for her, but she didn't seem very committed to it. But on thursday, we went by her house, and she told us she'd been thinking about it, and she really wants to get baptized on the 25th! So, if all goes well, and I'm not seeing an problems, we'll have a double baptism on christmas! And, the two kids of M, who I baptized my first transfer, should be getting baptized then too! It's been so cool. It's been an amazing week. And yesterday, I had the best lesson I've ever had, with N. It was so good, that lesson was completely guided, the Spirit was truly giving me what to say in the moment I needed it. Teaching was never easier than it was that lesson. It was amazing. She's not progressing, but I'm really hoping she'll start reading for real and get an answer after that lesson. After my best lessons with N, I always run into crazy men who drive the Spirit away. I always get out feeling a million bucks, and then run into crazy guys. It's really weird. (that cur did it again. The frequency of it is starting to make me doubt it's accidental nature). I feel like I'm living in the "can I have your number" video. I wish I could video tape my life here, I could have a few Youtube sensations by now. But anyway, it's been an awesome week. I've never felt more guided by the spirit than I have this week. And, I realize, the more success I get, how little I really do. Every single thing is given to me. I just try and show Heavenly Father that I want it. It's very humbling, and also relieving. It's been a really great week, and I'm really excited for this week too! We've got a lot of solid investigators, and I really think even more of them are going to start progressing. I love you all so much family, and I hope you enjoy the snowdogs at cornbird for me! Have a great week, and don't forget to read the Book of Mormon everyday!

Borsh! That stinks that Lily and Kola are both sick! That really stinks. My church is at 11 right now, and it switches to 9 soon. I'm fine with that, but I feel attendance will drop 50%. We have a hard enough time getting people to church as it is! I hope you can endure through school this next week, and have a great time at snowbird!

B-I always hated finals. I don't know who you are. That stinks there hasn't been any snow. We haven't had any either! It's started raining today, which is always interesting on a bike. Hopefully Snowbird will get some snow in time for you to ski!

M@- A penas recibio su playera? casi olivide sobre eso. Su playera dice "por eso tengo calor" verdad? Con Mario? Yo no puedo recordar. Yo probi arroz con leche. Usted tuvo eso mucho? no me gusto! yo no podia acabarlo. todos los personas aqui nos llamen hermanos. no elderes, solamente hermanos. y tambien, no hay a nadie que pueda decir mi apellido. voy a salir el barrio, y nadie va a recordarme. Porque, nadie saben mi nombre haha. Tenga una buena semana!

Amy-I've been wanting to make oreo truffles for so long. You have no idea. I remember when we ate all those truffles. That was awesome. I eat so much. Carne asada, sopes, papusas, mucho arroz, cosas asi. I do remember our Adele sing a long, that was awesome. Me and elder Moore have just been singing "dashing through the hood the past couple days". That's so crazy Anna and sarah are both getting married! I cant e'en b'lee dat. You need to tell them congrats for me. And Cary is finishing pilot training? What? that's really crazy. I can't wait to hear where you're going next! That's gonna be so interesting. That's really too bad you don't have good mexican food in Del Rio. I actually don't eat much mexican food. Mostly Salvadorean and guatemalan actually. I've only eaten with mexicans a few times, oddly enough.

Kt-Squee! ellie looks super adorable, albeit a tiny bit grumpy. There are tons of Christmas lights here, and as missionaries in the LA mission, we are incredibly lucky because we can go to the temple and the visitors center with our investigators! We went with yecenia on saturday night and looked at the lights, it was a really awesome experience. and she really loved it. I'm sure I'm going to get some tamales this Christmas! I'm excited. It's gonna be a great christmas.

Momma! The tree in a box was the best thing ever! Me and elder moore were stoked this morning when we put it together! I'll send some pictures. and I'm being obedient, and I haven't opened the brown box yet! aren't you proud of me? I am running out of time, but I sure love you and can't wait to talk to you soon! and I will probably end up calling in the afternoon, so it should all work out great!

Pops-I got sick this past week too! It's made this week more interesting. It makes church hard. That's great that bro D. got released, I know how excited he is about that. I think they need to call you to be bishop down here. I'm sure that you talking over the pulpit in your english/japanese would be great for them and help pull this ward into shape.

I'm all out of time, but I love you all, keep me in your prayers, and I'll always keep you in mine! I love you!

I have pins and needles I am sitting on - Dec 5

Hi Family!

Esta Semana tenemos traslados! No tengo ninguna idea de donde me voy. Creo que yo voy a permanecer en mi area, y creo que elder goll va a salir. el lleva 6 meses en esta area, y el quiere ir. Pero, tenemos mucho potencial y es mejor para tener una persona que conoce la area, entonces, creo q

I don't know why that sent so early. But anyway, transfers are this week! I have no idea whats going to happen. I am pretty sure Elder Goll is going to leave and I'm going to stay, but I have no idea what kind of companion I will end up having. I'm excited and not about that idea, we've got some great potential in our area, and I think we could have 3 baptisms, easy. But at the same time I want a new area. I think if I stay, I will begin to wage war against the cockroaches in my apartment. They're getting out of control. But everything is going good over here! Our investigator is doing really well, and I think she'll get baptized this sunday. But I won't know for sure til thursday when she has her interview. We have a few new investigators that I could see getting baptized this next transfer, and a couple others who are just so close, but something just isn't quite clicking. I went on exchanges with the zone leaders last saturday, and I had a really cool experience. I was with Elder Patten, the night was almost over, we were trying to decide which former investigator to visit, and he asked me to pick one. I picked one, and it ended up being one we'd already tried to visit earlier that day, but we decided to go anyway. We get there, and knock the door, and found out that he actually moved away. We started walking away, and I just started thinking, there has got to be a reason we're here. We saw a guy walking across the street, and we decided to go talk to him. We contact him, and found out he only speaks spanish, so I started talking to him. Elder Patten is an english elder and doesnt speak spanish at all, so I did all the talking and listening here. It was kind of scary. I gave him a Finding Faith in Christ card, and we were talking about how faith in Christ can help us. He started telling me, yeah I already know that, and then I asked him if he'd had any experiences that helped him to know that. He then told me that he had a dream two days ago where Christ talked to him and told him he needed to change his life, and that the picture on the card was the same picture he'd seen in his dream! It was a really cool experience, and it was amazing looking back and seeing the guidance of the Spirit even when I didn't recognize it in the moment. It was one of the coolest experiences I've had on my mission, and kind of amazing, because to be honest, I wasn't looking for it. I didn't feel particularly inspired, I was tired and not feeling well, and Heavenly Father just gave that to me out of the blue. It says in Preach my Gospel that you know the Lord is pleased with your efforts when you feel the Spirit working through you. And that was awesome. The spirit definitely worked with me there, and it's amazing how Heavenly Father is so merciful to give me that kind of experience, often when I don't feel like I'm even doing that much. That was probably the highlight of the week. Along with the Christmas devotional last night! That was awesome. I felt like President Uchtdorf and President Monson's talks were just for me. And I felt an urge to read the Christmas Carol, which is something that has never happened to me before. Maybe it's just because It's been so long since i've read anything other than scriptures. Something that President Monson talked about, and something I've been thinking about a lot, is how it's so important to remember why you're doing things. It's easy to do a lot of good things on a mission and forget why, kind of the same with all the Christmas stuff. The whole end point of all of it is to help others and point ourselves more towards the Savior. And when we do that, everything else just comes with it. Well, that is my week! I hope you've all had an awesome week, and you're as excited about christmas as I am! We read the Christmas story with a less active family in the ward, and by the end of it, the spirit was so strong, and the mom and daughter were crying. It's really a special time of year. I love it. They have lights at the temple here, and programs every night, it's really pretty and great for investigators. Sadly a lot of the best Christmas things are harder to do with people who speak spanish. But It's alright. Anyway, I love you all, and I hope you have a great week, and thank you for all your letters and prayers and support! completely honestly, I would not be here without it. Thank you for all you do!

Borsh- hey borsh! I hope your keeping the advent calendars up to date for me! I'm glad it sounds like everything is going well. Have you been playing with Kola and Lily in the snow a lot? I almost forget what snow is like, I probably won't see it til two years from now! We were biking on wednesday night, and the winds were crazy! They were almost blowing us off. I hope you had a great week bud!

Amy!- the past couple weeks, I've been hearing adele songs. and it's so hard to not just bust out my best Adele voice and serenade the people at the bus stops. But I'm resisting. And it always make me think of you! and our great jam sessions. and our Hey Soul Sister dance. You better practice and keep your skills sharp. I'm so glad that you ate enough for the both of us when you were home, that really means a lot to me. I have been eating a lot lately. I think i'm getting a tortilla belly. But it's so good! and I'm so hungry at dinner! also, i forgot to mention, I'm learning how to cook! A lady in the ward taught us how to make papusas! It was really fun, and now, I'm going to open a papuseria when I get home! And, speaking of cooking experiences, I cooked bacon the other day. and learned the grease can't be too hot if you're putting it in a plastic bottle. Because if it is, the plastic shrinks, and you're left holding a really tiny plastic bottle overflowing with scalding bacon grease! At least, that's what I heard. Anyway, I love talking about food with you too amy! I'm gonna have some awesome food stories for you by the end of my mission. Love you amy, say hi to cary for me!

B-Ah. Shred up snowbird for me B. That's so crazy that the semester is already coming to an N. I can't even b'lee dat! I can't say that I agree with your dating policy, because Christmas time is the best time for dates! although I understand the whole break thing, that gets awkward. But you have your own judgement. Also, I had a great brentism the other day, I think you'll like it. I was trying to say that our dinner cancelled. But I accidentally said our dancer kenelled. Luckily elder goll didn't catch it. Anyway, love you B!

Matt-! I've got some pretty good names here, I can't wait to compare names and stories someday. We're going to have a lot of similarities but a lot of differences too. I was very glad to hear you didn't have diarhea on your birthday, and also glad to hear your joke. Mango de mantillo? Now i'm ready if I hear that. Anyway, I'm running out of time, but love you Matt! and I love you too Lauren! Thanks for your email! and I'm so glad to hear your dad has a possible job!

Kt and Todd! Ah! KT, I am so proud of you for your decision to wear pants everyday this week. And I sympathize with todd that he has to do it everyday! It's rough doing it everyday. I'm kind of sick today, and all I want to wear is my footie pajamas. with a tie over them. But I have to wear real clothes too! It's so sad. I'm so glad Ellie is still adorable, and I can't wait to get more pictures! And I'm sure you'll rapidly be able to leave the house and get dressed. at least by the time I get home.

Mops-I love you! Also, if you wanted to send me another journal, I'd be alright with that. And I think I need a new credit and check card. I rode with my wallet in my pocket for my first couple weeks, and that took it's toll on them. I can almost fold them in half right now. Love you momma!

Pops- I can't believe you have so much snow. I wear a short sleeved shirt pretty much everyday. It gets a little chilly, and everyone here thinks its freezing, but it's really not too bad for me right now. Also, is Elder usevitch still in our ward? I found out this week that he was elder golls district leader in the MTC! It was kind of crazy. small world huh? I'm sad to hear that baby it's cold outside got voted down in high council, I think that would have gone over really well. I'm still playing piano in our ward, and I played our first christmas songs yesterday! that was fun.

Anyway, I am all out of time. I love you family!

I'm an aunt!

AAAAHHHHHH! I CAN'T E'EN B'LEE DAT! I'M AN UNCLE!

That is really unbelievable. I'm not old enough to missionary, and KT is definitely not old enough to be a momma. She's not a momma, she's nothing but a sister! Wow. She looks completely adorable, and what I wouldn't give for a thanksgiving onesie with turkeys on it like her. Squeeee! Wow. Typing is really just utterly inadequate to say what I want to, I want to see her so bad! I'm so happy for you Tatie and Kodd! And I'm glad Todd didn't faint during the whole thing. I had a lot to be grateful for this week, and I was very grateful that everything went so well with that.

You all are probably wondering why I didn't write last week. As for me, I was also wondering that last week. We finished the turkey bowl and started emailing down in the family history center right next to the mission home, and I wrote my letter to my mission president and was just opening my letters and looking at little Ellie and getting super excited and emotional when they told us the center was closing! So we left, and I didn't send a note because I figured we'd get home in time so I could finish my emailing. Unfortunately, traffic was really bad, and it took us an hour to get home. And let me tell you, reading about Katie having little Ellie made me all sorts of happy and emotional, and then having to leave like that, killed me. And then we got stuck in traffic, and by the time we got home we had to go to appointments. It killed me. I was one unhappy little Elder Reichman, and I am so sorry that I didn't get to write last week. But Kt, I hope you know how happy I am for you, even if I don't get to be there, and i'm so happy and grateful that everything went well and that Ellie is everything you hoped she would be! And I'm so proud of you! Reading about how amazing it was to have Ellie, and realizing that because of the gospel, you would be with her forever, really helped me realize how grateful I am for the gospel and what the joy of the gospel really is. I don't always do a very good job of telling/showing it, especially in my limited email time, but I hope you all realize how very much I love you and miss you. You all mean everything to you, and I can't tell you how grateful I am for all you do for me, with the packages, and emails, and prayers, and I could not do this without you. I love you all!

Well.

There has been a lot that has happened since I last wrote you. My Thanksgiving was very good, I ended up having two different thanksgiving dinners and at least 3 different desserts. I wanted to die when I got home, being so full of everything and then biking was a fun experience. I had a lot of turkey, and also some tamales for thanksgiving. It was definitely a little different! It was a little hard to focus this week, what with the news of Ellie and Thanksgiving and everything. But the people here are so nice to us, especially in the food department, and I really have a lot to be grateful for. A lot more than I realize. I have so much I want to write in this email that my thoughts are getting all scattered and I don't know what to say, so if this email gets all rambly and scattered, please forgive me! The work is going pretty well. We should hopefully have two people getting baptized this next month! This past week was really tough, we had tons of appointments but nobody was home and nobody seems to be progressing much right now. But this week will be better. Our first investigator will be getting baptized probably dec 11th, and she's going great and everything, she just doesnt have a very firm testimony of the Book of Mormon yet. and our other one is going well, we just only see her once a week so she's not progressing as fast as we'd like. It's been a really interesting week. Biking is still very exciting. I had another fall last week, it was good. I was trying to go over a curb and just didn't angle quite right and went flying over the handle bars. It was exciting. And fairly painful, and the black guys across the street laughed at me. But i didn't get injured, the only casualty was my front tire, it got bent a little bit. Brent, Matt and Pops, remember how I used to be afraid of mountain biking? I don't think I will be anymore. Biking here is like mountain biking where the boulders are trying to hit you. And after USc games, it's like mountain biking where drunk boulders are trying to hit you. And the streets are full of potholes, and if you ride on the sidewalks, the trees grow really close, and the routes push up the sidewalk and make random mountains in the middle of the sidewalks. It's exciting!

I don't have time to say all that I want, and I really just want to write some personal notes now! So here goes!

borsh!- That's so cool that you got modern warfare 3! It sounds really cool. all the buses around here have giant billboards on them, so I see ads for movies and video games all the times, and it always make me want to play them! Just tell me it's not very fun ok? Your letters are awesome Josh, they make me laugh all the time. Thanks for all you do for me buddy!

Kt and Todd!!!!!!!!! Congratulations! It's a girl! I'm so happy for you two! You're gonna be such great parents. I can't wait to hear even more about Ellie, and I've loved seeing the pictures! I want to type so much more, but I just don't have time! I just hope you know how happy I am for you, and how much I love you! And I got your package today, and it made me tear up a little bit! Thanks so much KT, I can't believe you sent me a package and had a baby! You're amazing! I'm loving my sweet beatz already, and I've already made a significant dent in my M&M's! I love you so much sister!

B- Happy Birthday B! You're an old fart now! One year older and one year closer to being a menace to society! Hooray! I hope you ate double for me at Thanksgiving.

Amy- Amy, Last week, I got a carton of ice cream. By the end of the week, it was gone. and I ate the whole thing. myself. out of the carton. with a spoon. I thought you'd be proud of me. also, Mops sent me a giant bag of peanut butter M&M's, and I ate the whole thing in 3 days. I can't believe how much you've been running lately, that's crazy!

Matt and Lauren- Happy Birthday Lauren! And I can't believe I forgot about Matt's birthday too! Please forgive me!

Mops and Pops-Thanks so much for the package Mops! I loved it! and I ate all the candy way too fast. The nativity is hanging on my fridge as we speak though! Thanks for all you do, and I'm so sorry that I didn't write last week, I felt terrible about it, and I hope you didn't worry too much!

Ah. Family, I'm sorry. I was so unhappy to not write last week, I'm trying not to think too much about it or else it will just make me sad again. and I'm sorry for this letter too. I feel very weird about it. I feel I haven't even written a hundreth part of what I want to, and you guys deserve a much better letter than this. But thank you, thank you, thank you, for all your do for me. I'm so very grateful for all of you and every letter and every prayer, and I don't deserve the half of it! This week made me realize how grateful I am for you, which made it hard to be away. I love you all so much, and I'm going to write a much better letter next week. Once again, I love you all so much, and I'm so grateful for each of you and what you do for me. Have a great week!

Dia de pavo viene! Vamos a jugar futbol americano el proximo dia de preparacion por nuestro turkey bowl! Estoy muy animado por eso y nuestra zona va a ganar. Los latinos no tienen thanksgiving. Es un dia de festivo americano. pero, tuvimos una actividad del barrio por thanksgiving. o sea, dia de pavo. thanksgiving esta llamado dia de pavo en espanol. La actividad fue muy bien, tuvimos muchos investigadores y tambien encontramos nuevos! La conferencia de zona fue muy bien, y vamos a tener mucho exito esta proxima semana!

Matt’s translation:

Turkey Day comes! We are going to play American football the next P-day for our Turkey Bowl! I am very excited for this and our zone is going to win. The Latinos don't have thanksgiving. It's an American holiday. But we had a Thanksgiving ward activity, or Turkey Day. Thanksgiving is called Turkey Day in Spanish. The activity went very well, we had a lot of investigators and we also found some new ones! The zone conference was great, and we are going to have a lot of success this next week!

Hi family! Happy week before thanksgiving! I forget that it's already november. Probably because I haven't even seen any snow! I've done a little bit of bike riding in the rain, but I haven't seen snow yet. I probably won't either. Time is going by very weird. I feel like I just wrote you all! This week feels equally long and short. Can you believe it's already 4 months? That's weird. It still hits me sometimes. I'm just riding along, and I'm thinking. And I realize, I'm a little white boy. I'm riding a bike around los angeles teaching people in spanish. What the heck happened? It really hit me yesterday. They had a special latino fireside last night from salt lake. And at the end, I was like wow, I just listened and understood that entire fireside in spanish. And not only that, I enjoyed it and I learned from it! It's really pretty amazing when I think about it. I didn't know any spanish at all four months ago. Nada. And now I do! Lets see...what news from this week

This week has been good. Our zone conference was really good. I really enjoyed it. I'm meeting a lot of new people, because they changed the zones all around and all the people I know aren't around me anymore. But I really enjoyed it. We had a pretty cool experience this week. We did our weekly planning on thursday. And our zone goal is for every companionship to baptize this month. And as we were planning, we realized that we didn't have anybody who would be ready in time. And the month was already halfway over. But we prayed about it at the end, and then we went to contact a referral. Elder Goll had taught her before, she wasn't interested, but we got her information again. We went over there, and within the first two minutes of the lesson she straight up told us she wanted to be baptized. It was pretty amazing, the more I think back about it. I think she could be ready by the end of the month, which will be really cool. I'm realizing more and more how much sucess is given to us. We work for it, we do our best, but in the end, Heavenly Father just gives it to us. I also went on splits twice this week. Which was pretty fun. On friday, me and my district leader, street contacted for 5 hours! but we found 5 new investigators, so that was good! and then we had a ward activity too. I felt really weird, because towards the end they turned on the music and people started dancing. Which is apparently what they do at latino activities. I had a good few moments imagining dancing at our ward activities with Brother bush telling jokes in the background. But I felt very out of place. But it went well. We had a lot of investigators show up, and got some new ones, and it really helped our investigators fit in. The one who wants to get baptized - I think she found some friends in the ward. she's 18 and from El Salvador, and has only lived in the united states for 5 months. It was really good for her I think. And I really enjoyed it because I just got to talk to people for a few hours, and I really love the ward here. It's fairly dysfunctional, but I still love them, and there are some really great people here. And I'm still enjoying being the ward pianist! haha. I'm trying to get out of it, but it's hard. I played two songs I'd never played before in sacrament meeting this week. That was exciting. Well, That's about my week. I feel like I don't have too much to tell you, but it was a good week, and we worked hard. President Baker has challenged us all to read the book of mormon again before the new year, hilighting every mention of faith, repentence, baptism, the holy ghost and persevering to the end. I'm really enjoying it, it's helping me to learn a lot, and helps me look a little deeper. And I'm doing it in spanish! My insight from this week I found on the back of the conference Ensign. It's from President Monson. And he just says, "God is closer to us than we realize. We don't know how close he's willing to go and how far he's willing to go to help us." And I know that's true. I can look back throughout my life and see Heavenly Fathers hand, even when I couldn't then. And I know he's always watching over us, even when it's hard, and we can't always see it. I feel like Nephi this week. There's a lot of things I don't know, but I know He loves me. And I love you all too, and I hope you have an awesome week!

J-Borsh! Ah you're so close to thanksgiving break! I'm so jealous. You have to eat twice as much for me this year, since I won't be there. Those whale texts are awesome. You and Matt should feel lucky that I'm not there to compete, with all my artistic talent. And the x-men game thing is so cool. I'm really jealous about that. But I love you bud, and have a great week!

YAM- A half marathon?! what in the heck. i can't believe you're my sister. I can't even think about doing a half marathon. That's so cool! I'm so impressed. I mean, i've been running in the mornings too. It's kind of a big deal. I can't wait to get a package from you, that'll make me so happy! and hopefully the chocolate won't melt this time! Tell Cary hi, and I hope pilot training is going well!

B- I'm so glad you got the friendship application! I hope Morgan accepts it. Put in a good word for me. School sounds terrible. I'm glad I'm not doing that right now. Keep up the good work B!

M- oh man. I got your funnies this morning matt. it might have been your best batch yet. I laughed out loud numerous times. It was so good. Thanks mafew! I felt a great kinship with you this week. I was eating at a members house, and I ate a chile verde. At least that's what they told me it was called. and oh man. me pico mucho! It was so hot. I was crying, and just trying to eat and drink everything in front of me at the same time. But I loved it. I felt like a real missionary there. And also, turkey bowl is on monday for us. So in a week or so you'll see pictures from it! Anyway, tell Lauren I say hi, and I'll try and write her next week!

KT-AAAAHHHH!!!!!! You're going to be a mommy soon! and I'm going to be an uncle! that's so weird. And Todd is gonna be a dad. I think that's even weirder. reading your pillow story about Todd made me LOL and the other missionaries looked at me weird. Poor bundle D. all he wants to do is sleep. and don't worry KT, I wear my helmet all the time. It's a mission rule. and I have lights on the front and back at night. I can't believe Lola is coming soon! I'm gonna be so excited. And I want pictures ASAP! Good luck KT, I love you!

Mops and Pops! As for the voicemail, I'm not sure. We'll see. Lily does not like the cone of shame. I'm sure she doesnt! Poor Lily, speaking of which, I've still never seen pictures/videos of her! She sounds adorable, even if she's not quite housebroken (kind of like Brent, but you still keep him around). Thanks for all your help and letters, and I can't wait to hear from you next week! good luck with all the craziness!

Love you all!

Las cucurachas, las cucarachas, ya no pueden caminar, porque las mate, porque las mate, las cucarachas en mi casa!

Hola famila! como estan? todo esta bien aqui. Hemos tenido una buena semana y hemos econtrado muchas buenas investigadoras nuevas. Tengo mucha esperanza por esta area y este traslado tambien, creo que vamos a tener mucho exito este traslado. Hay cucarachas en mi apartamento! no me gustan. Yo he matado muchas. Muchas cucarachas en mi cocina. Pero, esta bien. tambien, tuve la oportunidad para asistir el templo y estoy muy agradecido por esta oportunidad. no tengo muchas historias por esta semana, entonces, esta carta va a ser un poco mas corto. Lo siento!

(Matt’s translation) Hello, family! How are you all? Everything is good here. We've had a good week and we've found a lot of good new investigators. I have a lot of hope for this area and this transfer as well, I think we're going to have a lot of success this transfer. There are cockroaches in my apartment! I don't like them. I have killed many. A lot of cockroaches in the kitchen. But, it's OK. Also, I had the opportunity to attend the temple and I'm very grateful for that opportunity. I don't have many stories this week, so this letter is going to be a bit shorter. Sorry!

Hi family! Greetings from LA! I just want everyone to know, the weather isn't always perfect. Me and Elder Goll had to ride in the rain at least for a couple hours this week. And it actually gets down to about 50 at night, which is a tiny bit chilly on a bike. I'm still enjoying being a bike elder, except my gears on my new bike don't shift quite right. But I got it fixed today, for free, so it's all good. But the exercise has been good for me, because I think i get even more food here. And elder goll loves to bake, so he makes cakes and stuff all the time. Sadly, with a disappointing lack of shrimp on the barbie. Although, they're called prawns in australia (austria). He's refusing to teach me how to speak in an australian accent, but hopefully I'll be able to pick up enough to fake it. His spanish is a little interesting, because he doesn't say r;s at all, let alone roll them. My spanish is actually a lot better than his, both with pronunciation and grammar. But he can still understand better than me. But I really don't have too much to report. I also had my first bike accident this week! I don't really know what happened. But I was cruising, and I hit something. Rolled over the handlebars and and hit the pavement pretty hard. I ripped my pants and put a couple little holes in my rain jacket, and scraped my knee, and I'm a little sore, but surprisingly I'm not hurt. Heavenly Father has definitely been watching over me this week. I've come really close to a lot of accidents, and I should have gotten hurt more from that accident. He's definitely protecting me. I feel like this week went by really fast, but nothing big happened. We've found some really cool new investigators, and hopefully they will continue to progress well. Me and Elder Goll got to go to the temple with a family from his first area, because they were getting sealed. It was a really cool experience, and definitely the highlight of my week. That's the real fruits of our work right there, and our goal with everyone we baptize. This mission has a real focus on the temple, and finding and baptizing the investigators that are going to get there. But it was really cool. I hope I have more to tell you about next week, but I'm running out of time, and I don't have too much left. By the way, I loved your letters this week! They were really great, and I LQTM'ed multiple times. Which is embarassing because I'm typing in the family history center underneath the visitors center. Also, I just ran into the two elders serving in Summers ward! They took a picture with me and promised to tell them I said hi, so that was cool. As for christmas music, it should bring the spirit and not be distracting. That's really our basic guideline for our mission. Anyway, I love you all, and I can't wait to hear from you again next week!

Josh-Hey buddy! you know something weird? I'm probably not going to see snow my whole mission. It rains here during the winter, but no snow. I can't believe it's already november, and you're getting snow! I hope you're getting ready to play in the turkey bowl, because I sure am! My mission has a turkey bowl, i'm really excited for it. Too bad about that snow day, hopefully you'll still get it!

B-oh man B. That picture is amazing. You look just like tobias. It's almost scary. Your paper on gravitational waves sounds as exciting as watching paint dry. I'm glad I don't have to do school for another two years! Anyway, I hope everything continues to go well, and I'll talk to you next week! And I hope you still have your white handbook so you can help the fambly pick out christmas music.

A-AH! Sarah is getting married? what the heck. I thought she was going to wait for me. But that's great. I'm happy for her, make sure you tell her to send me an invitation. I can't believe how much you're running. That's insane. Although, at the rate i'm going, I might just be able to match you. I'm getting legs of steel from my bike. I'm glad Cary is doing well, and not as stressed, and Abby is continuing to be adorable. Love you Yam!

M-Bien triste hermano. I hear that so much. But I can't believe how long your letter took! sad day. But thanks for, it was great. I hope you and Lauren are doing great, that's so cool you work so close to each other now. Oh man. Matt, I know about the timing differences. I played those two on sunday, and man, it is impossible to play with them. You should have heard our last song. It was so terrible. I've been appointed the offical ward pianist, and everyone thinks I can play everything. Which was bad yesterday, I played at a baptism, I'd never played it before, and I slaughtered it. Completely. And President Baker was there, and everything. Super embarassing. Luckily, they slaughtered it too. Tell Lauren I say hi, and i'll write her more next week!

K&T-AH! two weeks!??!?! how in the heck. You are not old enough to be a mommy. In the same way I am not old enough to be a missionary. That is so weird. But it's sounds like everything is going so well with you two, and I'm so excited to hear about Lola and see pictures! ah. I cant e'en b'lee dat.

Mops and Pops-once again, I am out of time. I'm sorry! As for a christmas list, I'd say my present desires are more short sleeved shirts, ties, and socks. And music. and candy. and bread. and stew. and a puppy. But that's really all I want. I love you two, and I will write you again next week!

Love you all!

Happy Halloween!

Man. I think Halloween is the only holiday I don't know how to say in spanish. But hi family! I hope everything is going well. No tengo mucho tiempo hoy, porque yo quiero enviarles fotos! entonces, creo que no voy a escribir mucho en espanol, pero, todo esta bien, y mi espanol esta mejorando mucho! Esta semana fue loca. muy muy loca. Estaba muy ocupado. Tengo una buena noticia para Matt, yo comi mole! por mi primera vez esta semana pasada. Usted no va a creerme, pero, me gusto mucho! creo yo tuve un buen tipo. Pero, fue muy rico.

(Matt’s translation --- I don't have a lot of time today because I want to send you all photos! So I don't think I'm going to write much in Spanish, but all is well, and my Spanish is improving a lot! This week was crazy. Very, very crazy. I was very busy. I have good news for Matt — I ate mole! For my first time this past week. You aren't going to believe me, but I liked it a lot. I think I had a good kind. It was very tasty. Editor's note: Ryan needs to lock his heart. It's the Holy Ghost, not the flavor of the mole, that he is feeling. I've seen it a hundred times.)

Oh man. This week was crazy! Let me esplain. no, too long. let me summarize. So, first, transfers were crazy! This was a very, very different transfer. Because they made two new zones in my mission! So Elder Watkins left to go be the zone leader in one of the new zones, and then something very interesting happened to me. First, it's weird in the first place that i'm losing my trainer after one transfer, especially with the new training program they're doing. And second, they moved me to a new area too! I'm actually still in the same ward, i'm just one area over. Elder Watkins trained an elder before me, and his parents are columbian, and he went over to this area, but now he's back in Jefferson Park training and I'm with Elder Goll in his old area. It's all very mixed. So I still see most the people from my old area at church, i'm really just on the other side. It's interesting. Also, I'm now a bike elder! I bought a bike today, and surprisingly, I'm actually really enjoying riding my bike so far. It helps me to stay focused I think, plus it's easy to feel like you've worked hard all day when you get back to your area dead tired with your legs on fire. My area is really interesting. It's fairly similar to my old area, but USC is right in the middle of it! so there's this weird mix of latinos, black people and then lots of kids with very rich parents. Also, saturday night was a USC game, and they had a Halloween rave. We were trying to ride to an appointment, and the streets are just filled with cars, and drunk people, and all sorts of stuff. I don't think I've ever felt more out of place. Or enjoyed it more. Halloween is a very interesting day for us. It's really the only day we don't dress up and knock doors! We don't get to go out Halloween night, and I can see why now! So I get kind of a interesting p-day today, we have a teaching appointment during the middle of it, and then a zone activity tonight, and then time to do whatever. It's interesting. And also, my companions name is Elder Goll, he's 26 and he's from Australia! I included a picture of him on this email. We actually get along really well so far, and we've been doing well. We had a really cool finding experience this week, when we were planning I felt like we should go tract on Browning street. So we did, and then our second to last door, this girl opened. She just kind of looked at us for a second, and then invited us in. We couldn't stay long, but we just talked for a second and set up a return appt. I reached in my backpack and reached for a restoration pamphlet. And I was almost positive I had one. but then after I gave it to her, I looked in her hand and it was a plan of salvation pamphlet! I was really confused, but I just decided to let it be. And then as were walking out, we explained just a little bit about the plan of salvation, and she told us that she had just been to a funeral that morning and was thinking alot about what happens after we die. It was a pretty amazing experience. We were completely guided there, and we didn't really notice it until afterward. but that was my cool experience of the week! We have an appointment with her tomorrow, so I hope it turns out well! Also, you guys aren't e'en gonna b'lee dis. Sunday was a really crazy day. I confirmed the woman we baptized! in spanish! That was so scary. My heart was beating a mile a minute, I was so nervous, but it actually turned out really well. she's doing really well so far, and her son has started talking to the missionaries too! It's really cool. She's really sad that me and Elder Watkins are gone, and I'm sad too. It was unexpectedly hard to leave my area. I didn't realize how attached to it i'd gotten. But that's my week, and now time for personal notes! I'm scared to not write them now...haha. Also, if anybody was feeling especially creative/loving this week, I would love to get some Christmas CD's within the next couple weeks! I know KT has already started listening, but I can wait til after thanksgiving. And Amy asked me what I would like for packages, so I just figured i'd include this for everybody (i'm not saying you have to send me stuff i'm just saying it'd be nice....). Probably what I would want right now is just music and food. And I love all your letters, and it amazes me every week how inspired everyone is with their letters. It's almost as if you guys consulted together, but all the letters seem to tell me something I need to hear. I love you guys, and I can't wait to talk to you next week! Happy halloween!

Josh- hey buddy! ok, I got a deal for you. I love writing you personal notes, but you gotta give me more to work with here! What's going on? how's school, frisbee, lily, de todo! I'm still waiting for pictures by the way! I hope everything is going well with you, it's all good here!

B- oh man B. I can't wait to see pictures. That sounds amazing. I think you should wear that costume at least once when you're skiing. School sounds good, I am so glad that I don't have to take physics classes right now. Good luck with everything b!

amy- Amy, I know how you feel with choir! because you are now talking to the unoffical pianista del barrio por barrio sexto! My spanish ward here does not have a pianist! So i got to play on sunday, and I had to sightread two of the hymns! it actually went surprisingly well. I was just super nervous because of that and my confirmation. But all your treats sound really good! email me some! I know what you mean about the texting, I still sometimes find myself reaching in my pocket to text people. It's so weird. I hope Cary is doing good, and i'm glad he's not a pararescue person either.

Matt-Dishonor on you, dishonor on your family, dishonor on your cow!

Lauren- Thanks for the email Lauren! I love getting emails from you, I hope everything is going well, and I hope Jeff is enjoying his time at BYU! Say to him for me too.

K&T-KT, I almost squeed myself to death here. Your super prego! and hilarious! your costume is amazing. What was todd? I can't believe i'll be an aunt i mean uncle soon! And even weirder, you'll be a mom! I still kind of feel like you're just babysitting Lola. In your tummy. for 9 months.

Mops-thanks for the letters mops! I got a little teary eyed reading it, I sure miss you! but I love you, and thanks for all you do! for me and for everyone else. I'm glad everything is going well. I love you!

Pops- thanks for the email pops! I can't believe it's already snowing there. It's not even close to snowing here. Weather is still perfect. It's only rained like 3 days too.

Well, I am all out of time now, but I love you all, and i'll write you all next week!

Yo nade

Yo nade

Pretend that there is an accent above that e in the title. And it means, I swam! Our baptism went really well! And man, I ended up being the one to baptize her! That was really cool, but it sure didn't help with the whole feeling stressed thing. The baptism went really well! It ended up being a double baptism, one of the other companionships in the ward was baptizing too. The guy Elder Watkins trained before me is in it, but his parents are from Colombia so he's already fluent in Spanish. Elder Watkins said it was weird training somebody who spoke way better spanish than him. But it was a double baptism, and the ward had some great support for us. We couldn't even talk to her after it, because the Relief Society was was surrounding her. That was so good to see. she's already made friends with the ward, she loves the Book of Mormon, and I think she's going to be such a blessing to the ward. Another fun fact about the baptismal service, I sang in spanish as part of a musical number for it! Me and two other elders sang "cuando me bautice". It could have been better, but mostly just because I got sick this week so my throats a little scratchy, and one of the other elders was super tone deaf, but I think that just helped us fit in with the music here. And then, I baptized her! I was really nervous, but it all went smoothly. Except I think I forgot to say amen at the end of baptismal prayer. But the bishopric and the witnesses said it was good, so I guess I'll trust them. But it went really well, and she seems really happy. I know that we've really made a difference in her life, and that's amazing. It still feels unreal to me though. I almost feel like I'm still practicing at the MTC. And then I remember that these are real people and it scares me. But it went really well. And one of the coolest parts about teaching her, is me and Elder Watkins taught her everything together. We found her together, taught her and baptized her together in one transfer! That's really cool. She was definitely prepared, and we were definitely guided to find her. The more I think about it the more I realize how much we've been guided in this process. It's amazing. Speaking of being guided, me and Elder Watkins had a really, really amazing experience this week. I think it was thursday, we were just out knocking doors, we were tired, and just not really accomplishing anything. So elder Watkins suggested we go back to the car, and say a prayer. We did, and as he was praying he said a name came into his head of a former investigator. I was devoid of revelation, my mind just had flies and bits of fluff, so we went with his suggestion. And as we were driving, we noticed a helicopter flying overhead, and then we started seeing police cars everywhere. We had to park about 3 streets away, because about 6 blocks were covered and barricaded with cop cars, there must have been at least 30 of them. And a helicopter flying super low, only a couple hundred feet above the palm trees. It was so crazy. Apparently there was a bank robbery or something and the suspects were somewhere in those 6 streets. We found out that the person elder watkins thought of lived right in the middle of what was going on. So we were just like, what the heck? There's no way we can get to her, we'll definitely get shot. As we were walking a guy shouted at us that we weren't in Utah anymore, which made Elder Watkins mad because he actually is from utah. I thought it was funny, so I started talking to him. And turns out he lived in Utah, and just moved here a few months ago, and he was waiting outside because he couldn't get back to his house. He seemed really interested, and said we could come back, so we asked for his address, and it was the same address of the lady we were looking for! He was her nephew! It was a miracle. It was incredible. There is no way we would have ever done that without the guidance of the Lord. It was amazing.

That's my cool stories for this week. It's been a really weird week. It's been tough. This is kind of a sad city. There are a lot of people who are just destroying themselves. And almost everyone lives with someone that they are not married to. It's sad, and it's hard to see. We had some really challenges come up for some of our investigators this week, and we haven't had a lot of outward success this week. But we've also had some truly incredible experiences. And some funny experiences. Elder Watkins had a brentism! It was awesome. He said he received a friend from a letter. And then I kept laughing and he thought it was weird that I thought it was so funny. Also, they have the coolest restaurant here. It's called Famous Louisiana Fried Chicken, Chinese food and donuts! It's so weird! I'm not even making it up! Sadly, they don't have a combo that includes all three of those.

Me and Elder Watkins ate there on saturday, and it was good, I took a picture of the sign and I'll be sending some pictures soon. Also, did I ever tell you you can see the Hollywood sign from my area? it's cool. Except on days when it's really smoggy. Also, I'll for sure not be with elder Watkins next transfer. I'm most likely staying here in Jefferson Park, and I don't know anything past that. I'll find out tomorrow!

One more cool experience: Last night, I was feeling stressed. It was a super stressful day with the baptism, and I was sick, and I just felt terrible all around. I went in the bathroom of our house, and I just got down and prayed on my knees for help. I went back, and I was sitting at my desk, and I just had this feeling I should get out my Book of Mormon and read Helaman 5. I've read Helaman 5 probably 20 times. It's a great chapter. But I just felt like it was written for me last night. It was amazing. God really does listen to prayers, and he helps. He will give us answers, especially in the scriptures. I'd say probably the most important thing I've learned on my mission is how important prayer and the Book of Mormon are. Almost all the problems I've seen with the people here are when they stop doing that, and they make bad decisions. and I know that it helps me more than I can say. Just make sure you never stop doing that! Anyway, my time is short, but it's been a really good week in a lot of ways, and thank you so much for all your letters! they lift me up so much, and everyone single one helps. Thank you for all you do for me! I love you all, the church is true, and the Book of Mormon is true, and Heavenly Father is aware of every single one of us. I know that. Have a great week, and I can't wait to hear from you next monday!

(P.s. I got my halloween package today! And I already ate half of it)