Another week

This week wasn't too too eventful.

Monday We went hiking up in the canyon. Wow. It is so nice to breath AIR! Santa Ana air isn't the same as real Air. It was quite beautiful up in the trees and rocks. Looking back over the valley we could see the whole mission. It's pretty small geographically. Population wise... I'm sure it beats Maine's with a stick. SO MANNY PEOPLE!!! So little time.

Tuesday: We taught Tweety. Good lesson about the Restoration of the priesthood. Later we taught The Ages and Demon family. (Which I realized as i was walking away from the library last week that I didn't explain why I call them Angels and demons. Mostly it's because their daughter is... Evil. During conference last weekend they made it to the last session and we were able to get a hold of a coloring book for the kido and we got some crayons and expected everything to be fine. And it was... Until she looked up at my companion and promptly snapped each crayon in half viciously and then flipped open the coloring book and scribbled on the page, turned the page- scribbled on it, turned the page- scribbled on it. All the while looking not at the book but At my companion with that scary look that you only see in lame horror movies. Yeah.. Angels and DEMON!!!!! ) It was a good lesson on the plan of salvation. Funny Quote:

"So, do you have any Questions?"

"No we're good."

"you sure? Any questions at all... About the plan... anything..."

"Oh I do have one."

"Ok great!"

"Do you guys have shirts with Jesus on them?"

"..."

ha ha ha. later we taught English class. it's getting better... i think. In the evening we got a phone call from some other missionaries telling us that they saw Tweety Smoking at the park. Oooo Not good news.

Wed We met with Tweety and as it turned out he didn't smoke. It was just an illusion. he was holding a pen in his hand and His Friend was smoking near him. Whew that was a close one. Later we had dinner with a Philippino/Mexican family. Wow. Philippino food is soooooo good.

Thursday: was leadership training. Very long. I heard through the grape vine that Mexico and Japan were hit by another earthquake. Whoa. Lot's of signs of the times.

Friday was... Friday.

Saturday We met with Tweety and talked about the importance of confirmation and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Then we had a lesson with a less active member, and later with a man who told us that he had an experience similar to Joseph smith's Vision. But instead of seeing God and Jesus Christ he saw the Virgencita de Guadalupe. Hmm... cool. Later we read with a fam that didn't read... OY! I guess the old saying is true. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. In the evening we met with a recent convert and went over the law of chastity with him. We talked to him about how it's interesting that the world seems to have forgotten some of the commandments of God. Keeping the Sabbath day Holy (by not working on the Sabbath or by turning our foot from doing our own pleasure) The Word of Wisdom (God's health code [after all he designed our bodies: Who would know better what to stay away from?] Alcohol, tobacco, tea, coffee, drugs) and the law of chastity (not engaging in sexual relations before marriage and strict fidelity within marriage). What is the world coming too?

Sunday Tweety was confirmed!

And that was that.

I hope all is well in your neck of the woods.

thank you for the cards, letters, emails, prayers, thoughts, and all that jazz.

love ya!

_elder barker