Yesterday was extremely windy. 27+ mph winds. And temps in the 40's.
It's getting cold fast.

Saturday we visits both families. They are both crazy in their own
ways. The jones are just ghetto black people. And the rodriguez family
has only one young kid, but when their cousin comes over, she's
slightly older than Frank, so they play together. But it's always loud
and interrupting. But the rodriguez family are nicer and cleaner.

They both feed us, which are two very different foods. Jones have
given us fried chicken and fried fish in the past, but yesterday was
pancakes and turkey bacon. And the other usually gives us desserts.
And we found out why. Jorge, the dad, works at a factory where they
make cakes and other yummy desserts. And they gave us a ton of it
Saturday. But they also give us Dominican treats. Really good. Like
pineapple rice drink.

The oldest jones girl, lataya, came to church. And she liked it. She's
been before, like a year ago maybe. There was a girl there that
remembered her and said she should come back. All the jones girls said
they'll come next week. Knowana, the mom, said she was going to go,
with the girls. But she went to her church and left Elise to babysit
Nyah. Nia didn't come, for no reason. But sister Bradford cake to pick
them up, and asked if they will come next week, and they all said they
would. So hopefully they do.
    It was nice that when taya got there, the other black family was
walking in, and I pointed out that there are other black people In our
church. *because Knowana didn't know there were any*

That's cool Brian got to go down for that. That is nice Cali is so
close. Compared to NY. but I'm still coming back. I have to. This is
my home now. I've lived here more fully than I ever did in Utah. I
didn't really do much at home, I only had few friends I talked to. On
the mission you go out and talk to people all day, and gain
friendships. And when you're talking about the gospel, those
friendships are built on righteousness. So they are strong and last
forever.
   I have a huge handful of friends that I love, and it's more of a
need to come back, rather than a want. I need to see how they are
doing in the church. Especially Mike.

This Friday a returning member is going to the temple and elder Wright
thinks it would be good for me to go along. The guy-Donald- has been a
member for more than ten years, but was less active for the last few
years. And it was a group effort between all the elders to teach him
and bring him back. He's come back almost 100% in the past few months.
A few weeks ago he even blessed the sacrament!
 He just need his recommend signed by a stake representative.
But I have mixed feelings about going. Sure it'll be nice, but I don't
want to make it look like I'm taking the credit. I only taught him a
couple times. But elder Wright says that that's good, a little bit
helps.
So I'll think about it. But I might end up going. Not that I don't
want to, sure it'll be a good experience. And I gotta make the day
about him, and not myself. Because I'm supposed to be selfless by
helping this soul come back to church. Even though he's kinda weird...
But that doesn't matter.

Dad- as for mission music, I don't know what to say other than generic
mormon music. Because music rules are different for all missions. If
Mariah is requesting the iPod, then I'd think the music lifestyle is
like our mission. Well..... What the white handbook says should be the
basis on what people listen to. And that's different for everyone.
It's a personal feeling. One song to me is completely fine, could make
someone think about a past girlfriend or something, so that song
wouldn't be listened to- By them. But that's what it's been like for
me all mission long.
   I've heard some mission presidents say you can only listen to
MoTab. Which everyone I've talked to said they would go crazy if
that's how it was here.
So first off, I'd say Vocal Point-lead thou me on. But I have a
feeling she already has that. They are good, and that album is great.
  The other favorites in the mission are: Chris August, Brandon Heath,
Tenth Avenue North.  Those are all Christian, I actually wish I had
more of the latter. I have two albums of Chris, and one from Brandon.
  You can check them out if you want.  Leaving Eden by Brandon Heath
is what I got, it's good.  He has a wide range of sounds, like blue
mountain is almost country-ish. My favorite of Chris is No Far Away.
And of course the Lower Lights.
To make it easier, I'll end there.


We have a handful of people with baptismal dates, but no one is really
close. We haven't gotten much investigators this last week, but it
seems that the weak ones are weeding themselves out from the beginning
of the transfer.

I don't feel bad about not being in a set, called leadership position
in my mission. Because I have had a lot of leadership opportunities
without being a ZL or DL or trainer. Senior companion is a leader,
which I found out not too long ago. But also anyone can be a leader if
they try. Even those who just came into the mission, they can lead by
example, because of their "greenie Fire" is like an incendiary bomb.
And can stir the hearts of us old farts who's fire might just be a
pilot light. Or an ember, depending on things.
I've had plenty of learning experiences and I continue to. There's a
chance to learn in any situation. There's also a chance to lead in any
situation. No matter who (or what) you are.

    I can't really think of much else to say. I feel like I'm
forgetting things. I'm sure I'll think of something later.

See ya - Elder Peck



"Good morning!, and in case I don't see ya, good afternoon, good
evening and good night"