Feb 22, 2021

 

Here is the latest update from Westin's mission adventure in Modesto.  We appreciate his humor, the ability to laugh and find joy and purpose in the seemingly mundane as he continues to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.  ;) 

An epistle to the nations:

Good week.  Found a new guy.  Had an interesting conversation in the street with a man and his friends, they go by Peter, Peanut (he doesn't like his government name), and KK.  Peter was telling us about evolution, and how when you're way up in the air and can see everything, and then he lost his train of thought.  I expounded the scriptures to the gentlemen while Elder Strobel discussed cultural taboos within the church to KK.  I really thought we were getting somewhere when I began talking about Joseph Smith, but KK has seen a documentary and asked about "the crystals" (?) and "face hat" (!?) and then a lady across the street invited all of us to have some tacos.  She was the mother of 2 recent converts, she's not a member, and her kids are kinda less active.  It was her daughters 19th birthday, but we didn't get a chance to say hello.  So we discussed more theology with Peanut and gave him the book of Mormon and the YSA Elder's phone number.  Elder Strobel and I then proceeded to speak as much Spanish as we knew over the sound of Tyga and Kodak Black.  Elder Strobel asked for green sauce, thinking I was mad to choose the red.  Turns out the green sauce was hotter (duh).  We did a lot of service this week, a member in the Spanish ward asked all the missionaries to come out to Empire to throw their junk over their back fence.  Empire is in the ghetto.  It's ok, because the next day, we threw the junk again, but this time into a trailer dump thingy a friend had driven over.  I didn't understand what was going on for most the time, I just carried and threw stuff until someone said otherwise.  Our district leader threw a tire over the fence, but it caught one of the boards and snapped it, we thought it was hilarious.  The members, not so much.  But it was ok, because the DL doesn't know enough Spanish to apologize. We went to Lula's after, it's this awesome burger place I haven't been to since last time I served here, I got a blue cheese burger with bacon and cheese and all sorts of stuff.  It was awesome!  Pictures are included.

Keep the Faith! 

Elder Gneiting