Goodbye to Surprise

GOOOOOOOOODBYYYE SURPRISE  And just in time too, a lot of maintenance was being done on the Rangers' Ballpark and people have started to play catch in the field in front of it.

 

Dear Family,

 

This week was hectic. Saying goodbye to my pals over there was bittersweet. I say 'over there' because Surprise is really isolated and I am more in the mix of things now. I am the closest to the city you can get in the mission. Since we lost the pure Phoenix stakes this is the closest. In fact, our chapel burned down here a few months ago so we are relocated at a different chapel on 59th and Indian School that is in the Tempe Mission. I am in the Maricopa Stake, West Maricopa Zone. There are 2 spanish units in the zone and 3 companionships each unit! This is the only zone with Spanish Zone Leaders so it is kind of fun having them around. My Ward is called the ESTRELLA ward. Kind of lame huh? Haha. Mabe I will serve in Estrella my whole mission. This area is a lot like my first one in Peoria. It is HUGE. The Spanish work is really sparse in the area, in fact, even most all the members are in the two Sister companionship areas. Our district is Me, Elder Ramos, and 4 sisters, 2 of which came out on the mission with me. All of this is a lot of adjusting for me. I think it will really help me to be a flexible and adaptable person. Life as I knew it on the mission has kind of been turned upside down. But it is okay, I will learn a lot and a lot of the good, basic things of being a Representative of Jesus Christ are always the same. Elder Cardoso served in the zone for 14 months so since the time we were together in May talking about it, I have wanted to serve here, so here I am!

 

I definitely miss Surprise though. For a few days this week I was missing it hard core! Everything I loved over there is just gone so fast. I felt a little pathetic for about a day too haha. I missed my roommates, Elder Fife, the members, Elders Nelson and Jones, the investigators, knowing the directions, the church building, the food in the pantry. I kind of just missed everything. and again, I had just gotten things under control in my brain then it all changes. But I had some great good-byes over there. Tuesday night, most of the branch was at the church so that was very nice. I said goodbye to Mario, Glenda, and Cassandra, Brother Handley, Hermana Mata, President Aguirre's family, Hermano Zayas, the Sorianos, the Hammonds, all the other Elders, Hermano Godoy, the Flores family, Hermana Lopez, the Jenkins, and more. The next morning on the way to the meetings I called Clemente, Jose Hernandez, the Cobos and a few others. I wish I had more time! I will cherish all the memories I had with my companions, friends, members, and investigators there. I learned a lot of good things from the Branch and my experiences over there. However, I have not a doubt in my mind I am where I am supposed to be. I am excited.

 

Here in Barrio Estrella there hasn't been a lot to do so far. I feel like I was busy every single day from April to January in Surprise compared to what we are up to right now over here. I am in the cities of Avondale, Tolleson, and Phoenix. Again, there isn't very much Spanish. Most of the neighborhoods are pretty established in middle- to upper-middle income houses. Elder Ramos is my companion (We didn't have time to get to a computer this weekend so I texted sister Taylor. You got the address right? I feel like most missionaries are really scared of her and President Taylor and they don't really understand that they just want to help us...) . He is from San Salvador. He was in the MTC for almost 4 months because of a heart condition and he just got finished being trained by Elder Arave, one of my great friends serving with me in the Agua Fria ward in Peoria. He and his family are converts to the church. His older sister served in Uruguay. Just like Elder Cardoso, all of Elder Ramos' friends and family and anyone he knew served in South America and he got sent here. It has been really cool my first week with him. I see a lot of similarities between Elder Ramos and Elder Cardoso as they both adapted to the English and the States. It has been funny to see the typical 'foreigner things' I call them. I can't think of anything specific, nor are they negative, but there are just funny things done in a certain style by those two. Elder Ramos has a heart of gold. His testimony is very strong and he is indeed very humble. He prays like Enos and Alma on a daily basis. He was taught great things by Elder Arave and, to me, he basically looks already converted. I am learning a lot from him already. He didn't know any English before the mission so communication has been fun. We understand each other fine in both languages but I am already getting better in Spanish and I am really challenging him in English. When I saw the transfer text I decided that I wanted to be much better at Spanish and speaking it regularly so i commited to talking it in 100% with my next companion whoever it is. It was funny because once day 2 hit I told Elder Ramos I would rather that we speak 100% English for him. Haha. He is learning though. One sec, I think the computer is going to shut down. I might write a little more in a bit. 

 

I know it is your job to spoil me and send me stuff and I am so grateful and happy every time you send packages and goodies. Really, they are fun; but could you make the one you send this week and in the recent coming weeks a little less extravegant than usual. My companion and his family had to live off of food storage and canned food for over a month so that he could serve. It has been a big adjustment for him in the states seeing people live in abundance. You could replace stuff you want to give to me with stuff for him if you want, he LOVES candy. The Elders in our apartment call him Willy Wonka. Thanks!