All Good in the Hood

First off: the earthquake. Don't you worry, I'm fine. I slept right through it, and nothing happened to anyone I know. My picture frames on my desk didn't even fall over. My companion woke up for it, but he said it felt like when you pull up to a red light, and you rock forward in your seat a little bit. Seriously, we're good.

As far as the work goes, I've gotten to teach about 8 lessons last week, but all of them have been with less active members, and we're just trying to get them to come back to church and stuff. So no new investigators yet... But it's been super humbling seeing how so many people are living. Even in San Francisco. I've been in apartments that are smaller than my bathroom back home. and it's just packed with junk. and it only has room for like, a bed. So everything they own is piled on the foot of the bed, and they must just sleep curled up in a little ball or something. But they're always smiling. It's a really humbling experience for sure.

But since we haven't really had any new investigators, I have actually been kind of discouraged this past week. It's just hard walking miles to try to visit somebody, and then having them yell at you that they're not interested, and then having to walk miles back home... :/ that happened like 3 times.

Other than that, All is well. We are trying to set up lessons with a girl named Mila, Betty's sister. And I should have to teach an English lesson to spanish speakers pretty soon. So I'll let you know about that.

Love you all! Oh, and PS, some of you were asking, and my mission home address is

4945 Lincoln Way

Oakland, California

94602-2594

Thanks! Elder Webster

So I'm in CA Now!

So I'm in California now! My first area is San Francisco 6A, which is apparently really lucky! it's right in the middle of the crazy active city, and lots of missionaries actually never get to serve there the entire mission. So that's cool. My trainer's name is Elder Castleberry, he's cool. We get along fine, but I don't know, it's hard to compare him to Elder Otto just cause we got along super super well. But Elder Castleberry is from Urtah and plays the banjo and the harmonica. I've seen pictures of his massive neckbeard before the mission, and he's just an interesting guy. haha but in all seriousness, he knows his doctrine really well, and his Spanish is quite a bit better than mine. The one big thing is that I'm a lot more out going than he is, he has kind of a hard time talking to strangers, and he always compliments me on how I'm doing with stuff like that.

Elder Castleberry and I are "shotgunning" the area, which means we are both new to San Fran, so we don't know the area, or have any investigators... So we haven't gotten to teach anyone yet, but we set up some appointments with people we met on the streets.

I get so many weird reactions when people are like "Sorry, I don't speak English!" and then I (being super white) start a conversation in Spanish. Some people are like: dang it, I was hoping I could walk away now... but most people (especially the native Mexicans) are super friendly and will have a super friendly/normal conversation with us and will take our cards and invitations and stuff. Actually, no joke, Mexicans are so nice. It's hard to talk to the white people because about 50% of the ones I've met are super rude. But only about 5% of the Latinos I talk to have been difficult. Honestly. They are so nice. And I get to speak Spanish quite a bit.

My apartment is about as big as my bedroom back home. and it's got a loft (where I sleep) above our desks, another bed for my companion, a kitchen in the corner, and a bathroom that doubles as our closets. There's not a lot of walking room, but we're not usually there during the day, so it's all good. But we live on Mission street and 22nd street if anyone wants to look that up. (Dad)

Our area is a "walking/public transport" area, so I get to ride the "bart" (subway) basically everyday. But normally we just walk everywhere.

I might email a bit later, because my comp wants to go eat... haha more later!

Elder Webster

So there's this one lady, Hermana Betty. She's from Guatamala I think, and she's this little ball of energy. She's about 40, and has a couple kids, and she LOVES the missionaries. She only speaks spanish, but I can understand quite a bit of it. Anyway, She feeds us every Thursday, and I just love her already. I showed her son, (age 6) , a coin magic trick, and he totally freaked out. He's pretty funny too. I can tell we're gunna get pretty tight in this area.

Today, I went and checked out pier 39 and "Fisherman's Warf" and Alcatraz and all those tourist spots, because they're right here in our area. It was so crowded, and we usually get a couple honks and handshakes and stuff in crowds. I think if there's one thing I've learned about this culture is that the latino population just loves the missionaries. they're so welcoming and friendly. Even if they aren't interested in lessons or the church, it's always nice to talk to them. I just love the people here.

Oh, I saw a lady get mugged the other day. That was scary. She's alright now, and her boy friend got her purse back, but it was sketch.

I realize most of this hasn't been spiritual, we haven't gotten to teach anyone yet, so I don't have many spiritual stories. But If there's one thing, it's that the gift of tongues is real. I'm not fluent. Not even close. But whenever I'm talking to someone about the gospel, it all just comes out. So for reals, no joke, the gift of tongues. so good.

I'll send some pictures in a second. I didn't get to take any of the graffiti, but I'll get some for next week. the street art looks so cool.

My companion Elder Castleberry on the right

My crib

Some sea lions

That's the Oakland Temple. Seriously. So pretty.

The Favorite Third Wheel

You may be wondering: "Elder Webster, why are you emailing me on a Tuesday? Are you dumb?"

Well. No, I am emailing you today because I leave for San Francisco tonight at like 2:30 in the morning, thus missing my normal P-day on Thursday.

Anywho. My companion (Elder Otto) (Love that guy) left for San Fernando CA on Monday morning, So I´ve been in a trio with two other elders who are going to San Fran with me. (Elder Arrington and Elder Lotulelei.) both from Utah. They are like, the 2 people I was closest to other than my companion. So it´s cool. But now that main insult is "Come along Third Wheel" whenever someone is being slow.

Something cool happened this week! Hermana Buxton (I think I´ve talked about her before, she´s the one who told me I am a good missionary, and started crying when I was practicing teaching a while ago) Well, she also left for San Fernando this week, and she asked me if I would give her a blessing! Super spiritual, super cool, and she is officially the first person I´ve given a Priesthood blessing to.

Also. this is hilarious. Prepare yourself. Apparently, "picking favorites" is pretty normal in Mexican culture. Or maybe my teacher is just funny. But I was walking with Elder Otto when all of a sudden, my teacher (Hermano Sanchez) suddenly appears behind us and offers to buy us candy. You might have to know him to understand how funny it was, but he like, very sneakily and 007-like, takes us into a store on campus and gets us to pick something out. :) Man... Mexicans, am I right? Teachers aren´t supposed to buy us stuff, but he bought me a Grapefruit fresca. (Delicious and Mexican Soda) because apparently we´re just his favorite companionship!! :) hahaha Then on the last day with everyone together, he was like "I´m really gunna miss you all. Especially Elder Otto and Elder Webster" hahahahaha Classic Hermano Sanchez. Man, I love that guy. Also, he´s going to BYU I think next year. fun fact.

Anyway, All is well. Spanish is good. I just printed out my plane ticket for tonight. Thanks for all the emails and concern. Love you all. I may or may not get to email again when I land in Cali, sooooo... yeah, I have no idea.

Love you all!

PS. I officially made it the entire 6 weeks in the CCM with out getting a single letter.... I know a couple of you sent stuff, but none of it came yet. :( it will probably just get redirected to San Fran.

Hermano Sanchez

Dawn of the Final Day

Firstly, It´s awesome how often I have people tell me that they read my blog. that means a lot! :) love you all, and I love hearing from you! This is my last P-day in the CCM! and we are OFFICIALLY the most experienced noobs. if that makes any sense.. It all gets pretty repetitive, except for I learn different stuff each day. :) But I fly to California next Wednesday, and that should be super exciting! :)

So. The Futbolita tournament. It was pretty rad, there were 19 teams, and they all had an assigned country to represent in the "World Cup" type thing we had going on. Elder Otto and I were Portugal. We basically destroyed the competition. Actually, we got 3rd. which is basically like 2nd place... which is basically like winning. but we lost to Presidente Torres, who´s like 40, and his "companion was his 20 year old son. so. they cheated. haha Just kidding, but they are super super good at futbolita.

Investigators are going well. Eduardo, the "Doctor or God" guy, is still really difficult to teach because he usually comes up with questions that were designed to stump us and make us looks dumb. like... Bible bashing type questions almost. but we can usually handle them and give him decent answers... it´s just hard to get him to realize what he NEEDS to know... and that it doesn´t really matter what the garden of Eden smelt like... but His baptismal date is this week, and he seems basically ready. Jorge is doing good. we got him "baptized" last week. And Meredith is so awesome. she´s always super obedient and tries so hard to do everything we say. gotta love them.

Elder Otto and I got asked to be Hosts yesterday because we are in the experienced group her at the CCM, and I ran in to my friend Nic Neser (elder Neser) on his first day. I haven´t seen him for a couple years because I knew him in Irvine, but It was nice to see him looking all confused and lost. it made my day. :)

Oh, and Elder Funkes is officially in San Diego! I think he left on Monday. maybe Tuesday. I´m gunna miss him. He was always a good friend of Jace´s but me and him got pretty close in the last 5 weeks. I gave him my purple tie as a good luck/goodbye gift. He´s gunna be a great missionary.

As I said, I should fly out next Wednesday, and I´ll let you know what my new address is, because I know some of you were asking.

Here are a couple pictures!!

You may notice, in one of them, I´m wearing Ethan Fredrick´s tie. it´s one of my favorites. :)

Love you all!

Elder Webster

Me and Elder Funkes after wrecking some kids at Volleyball.

And me and Elder Neser this morning wearing suits before breakfast.

Me and Elder Otto playing futbolita.