Week 22

Hey y'all

It's been a blast of a week.

I honestly didn't realize how much fun I could have in a trio in a city I already know, but it's actually awesome.  Ceres was cool, but I wasn't finished with Modesto.  Tuesday morning, I drove down to Fresno and met up with Elders Falke & Leishman.  They are from Germany (Hamburg area) and Canada (Cardston, Alberta area) respectively.  We drove the 2 hours back up to Modesto, and when we got to the apartment, it was ill-kept.  We spent most of the day throwing away trash, cleaning out the fridge, the bathroom, the kitchen, and the bedroom.  There's only 2 beds in the missionary apartments, so we got a mattress from some other zone leaders and it's on the floor and that's my bed for now.  We live in a duplex thingy, and we have a grill in the back, and we used it on the first night. 

Wednesday was a good day to settle in, we got used to having 3 elders and also got to drive around the area, not too much success that day but definitely a good day to settle in and check stuff out.  Thursday, we went out and contacted some members and formers, and we ran into a member I had already met in my training.  He's got some issues so we were able to bounce outta there while staying cordial.  I had been studying in the kitchen so we boonked a table from some sisters in our zone that night.  Friday was a runaround, we met with members and people we're teaching, and that night we had a Christmas party with the ward.  The ward is small and old again but it's okay cause I know how to work with that now.  Saturday we met with the Elder's Quorum president, and got more information on how to work with them to help build up the ward.  Things are kinda slow with the climaxing of the Christmas season, but we're planning on continuing momentum after the new year.  We also helped load a piano and deliver it to a members home from a donut shop that she frequents.  It was the first time I moved a piano like that, and I hope I don't have to again soon, but she gave us cookies so maybe it was worth it.  We also had a lesson with a recent convert and he bore his testimony on the gospel and the friendliness of members which is awesome.

Sunday, we went to our ward meetings, we talked with our ward mission leader, and we scheduled to meet with our members for the next transfer.  We had member visits, meals, contacts, and then that night we met up with a friend from my training area, Elder Falke also served there previously, and we visited another member who is housing a German exchange student, so Elder Falke was able to talk to her and while we were there the member realized her dog was missing, so we prayed right then and like 10 minutes later we went out and found the dog.  We decided we'd get their missionaries to come over soon and to get the exchange student in contact with German missionaries when she goes home. 

It's been a good week, and I'm happy to be back in Modesto.  I'm excited to do work and I like being in a trio.  I hope y'all are having a good holiday season, whatever holidays you might celebrate, and I hope you have opportunity to share charity and good will with your friends, family, and neighbors, as Christ would.  Drive safe in the snow for me!

Elder Gneiting