June 27, 2011 - Upland, CA

Mom,

It has been a very short week it seems like here in California. I haven't worked so hard my entire mission but it is very worth it and i am excited to have done so.

Elder Dean and I have become quite the good friends so far. We have picked up a new investigator named Erica... We have taught her twice and she is already progressing. It is awesome to see someone really take all of this glorious gospel in watch as the holy spirit teaches them. It is a wonder to marvel over.

I don't feel like there is much I can teach Elder Dean. His 1st companion was a legend for teaching in this mission and trust me that is a lot to live up to when trying to teach a new missionary something new, though I will try. Elder Dean is from Santa Quinn, Utah, a little farming town south of Provo. He has a girlfriend back home(yuck!) who is waiting for him. i don't understand this waiting thing. I'm glad to have left on a good note with ALL my lady friends :) haha I just don't need that kind of pressure right now out here. I already have enough on my plate as it is and I couldn't possibly take on a girl with it. Though I must say, that when the mission is finished with I'm coming back to Cali to find me a wife:) haha jk Elder Dean is a good guy though he wears his emotions on his sleeve. I still love him to death. This is the last week we have a two week missionary with us and I am happy and also very sad. He will be greatly missed down here.

We had a ward party on Saturday at Memorial park here in Upland. We played softball of course and I got super dirty in the proselyting clothes that I was wearing. Don't worry though, none of them were my suit pants and my shoes got a nice little shoe shine, they were happy I could tell. A good friend here in Upland named Taylor is leaving for his mission next Wednesday to Nashville, Spanish speaking. I am stoked for him to go.

I also gave a lesson in Sunday School yesterday. It was ward conference and the stake president, bishop, and stake high council man over missionary work sat in. I was very nervous but was told that I do very well at public speaking. I guess that's what happens when the spirit speaks for me huh? :) LOVES :)
Elder C