Monday, Nov. 24, 2014

Friday night at the jones house we watched "heaven is real". It was pretty cool. Didn't hear most of it, but I understood it.

I related it to when joseph smith saw the vision, only his family believed him and everyone else was making fun and didn't believe. 

I thought it was dumb that those "Christian" people wouldn't believe in heaven. They were all quick to judge wrongly. They even fired him from his job? I didn't hear that part, except for 'we need to find another person'.  

You'd think that people who believe in Jesus would accept such news.  I also like how Colton saw his unborn sister. But it was weird that she didn't have a name, because everyone has a spirit name, and their earthly name.  And even though the picture of Jesus wasn't what we're used to, it was still nice. Short hair with green eyes,  Why not? As long as he looks friendly and loving, it is well with me. 

For the end of my mission, they want me to write a short "faith promoting" story for the mission history. As well has have 10 pictures for the departing slide show.  I can do the story, but I don't know what kind of pictures I have that are what they are looking for. 

Majority of my pics are of my district and families from last wards. I kinda don't feel like showing those. They are more personal memories. So I was saying that we need to go on a picture-taking frenzy to get ten good pictures. But each? That's kinda tough. I was thinking good pics would be like from activities done through zones or wards. Like cleaning up the veterans hospital was a stake thing, last year, and earlier this year. And not very many people who went there are in my departing group. But then there's the storm cleanup pics. But everyone leaving wasn't involved in that... Except me. Cuz I'm so old.   So that won't work, it would be things they've heard of, and things I've experienced. 

As for the short story, I think I'll tell of last week when we fasted for the jones family, to get somewhere with them. And we got two baptismal commits, the mom started to stop smoking, and has improved a lot, even though it's hard. She's started working out, which makes it hard to smoke, or the other way around. As well as cut out drinking Pepsi, because she saw that she was addicted to it, and she stopped that, and started drinking better things. So the miracles are there, they take a while, but if you build it*, they will come. (*it being faith)

We are doing a district-wide fast today for our investigators and members. And have some good food at the bradfords to break the fast. 

Oh, btw! The guy we went to the temple with, Donald, he went back to the temple the next day! And stayed there all day doing all he could! 

Today is a good day, all missionary companionships have someone at church. We have two investigators, maybe more. The elders have one or two,  the sisters may have someone, I don't know now. But it's good. 

   And on Friday we had the ward thanksgiving party. It was cool, we had all 6 jones girls there! (mom+5 daughters) it was pretty crazy. But that's normal from them. And the sisters had an investigator there as well. 

   This area is doing well, and I can see a lot of good that will come in the next few weeks, until the end of the year. We think we can get 3 baptisms, and 4 more to church. We would have one to the temple, but Donald already went, and the other member we are working with needs to quit some things, and start others. 

I just need to not worry about being done, and keep working. A few days ago I woke up not caring about things anymore. But mostly about what happens to things. Temporary things. Like the condition of my pad. It was pretty nice until vi came. Now it's messy and the carpet padding that covers the floor is and bunched up in places. But I won't be here longer, and he's going to continue to be here, and has to take over. Even if the pad looks bad. I don't care. 

Or when my pants get dirty, I don't care no more.  But I still care about the people and such. 

My back hurts real bad again this morning. It might be because I had a pillow under my lower back through the night. It might be because my back sucks. Or maybe because it's Sunday and it usually hurts worse on Sunday's. If I was back home I would just lay on the floor and chill. But it's kinda hard to do that on a mission where you're not supposed to not do anything. 

   It's one of those things that if they want me to work, I have to heal. And in order to heal I have to rest. But when you have a comp who is ready to work, I fee bad because he has to stay put while I lie in pain. Or sometimes they think that if I'm not walking but sitting, I'm okay. But truth is, if my legs are up off the ground and have no weight on my feet, then I'm okay. But if my feet are off the ground, that means we aren't working.  It's tough. There are ways to work without moving. Calling people, facebooking people. 

   I need to just survive a few more weeks. Then I can chill to the max when I get home. And hopefully there won't be someone who I weigh down if I can't move. 

I started the mission with $1,000 from my own savings. I've used it here and there. And now at one month left, I have around $50 left. I need to try to save it for my trip home. They said I need to have about that much for food or emergencies. I'm pretty bad at managing my money but it's actually quite amazing that i still have some now. 

I technically have three pdays left, but I feel like I have to use them to get ready to go home. I need to make sure I have everything and know what can or can't fit. What I could send home in a box, that can't fit..? Mainly the afghan. 

Thanksgiving is coming up, and that means the dreaded turkey bowl. It's going to be freezing as it was last year. I hope not as bad though. I really do hope it doesn't go like last year. Because we have told the jones family that we will go to their house to eat. And if we don't, they'll either kill us or never forget it. And I'd rather get killed than have them constantly remind us that we broke a promise. 

SO MUCH FOOD. I'm sorry mom, I don't think it's possible for me to be @ 250 after such a day. Like I said before, we don't have a scale, so I don't know how much I weigh. And people don't stop feeding us. I feel slightly lighter, but that's all going to change. 

Pdays are always hard because you have to please everyone. And I just want to be on the computers and organize things. Like I have so many notes and contacts on the iPad, that I'm emailing myself because that's the best way to keep them. And I want to make that look nice. I like to organize things. 

But then there's the other companion(s) who don't want to do that (plus we can't use the computers for longer than an hour, at this library). 

I literally just want to chill all day. But no one likes to do that. They have to do things. But I'll stop complaining about that. I don't have to worry about that much longer. 

I bet you don't want to hear me complain all the time. 

One thing I didn't expect about the mission is how many lies we tell. 

Mostly related to food that is nasty but we say it's great. But then there's also the secrets we have to keep. And the rumors... It's more emotionally stressful than I thought. Well, I didn't know what I was getting myself into. I didn't think it was possible to be emotionally stressed. 

As much as I don't want to do anything when i get home, I know that's when I really have to start doing things. 

Oh yea, I never answer your questions. I am okay with being back in my old room. But how is it going to be set up? Where's my Xbox going to go? Remember to watch out for the cable in the ceiling. I'm sure you can take care of it. I hope it still works. I bet it does if Brian just got a new game.  Also because it's old and I've taken care of it, and there's no way I'm buying a new one. I need to save money for more important things. Like coming back to NY.  I know I should be worried about things like my Xbox, but I am. 

There's another huge email. I will end now, while I'm not complaining. 

Adios. - Elder Peck