Hey Mom, Dad, Brian, Joclyn JoAnn, Jordan, Chico, and all
other family and friends reading this e-mail,
Sorry I was unable to e-mail yesterday. Libraries were
closed for Labor Day, so we were unable to get that done at the library. But
today the libraries are open, and thus we were given permission to e-mail
today.
A lot has been going on this week. We have been working hard
to help the obra misional (missionary work, for all ye non-Spanish speakers)
grow here in North Hollywood. We go out to work sometime around noon or 1 and
generally don't get home until about 9:30 at night (we're supposed to be home
at 9, but if we get permission from the district leader, we can be out until
9:30. And since Elder Hawke is the district leader, we always have permission).
But yeah, missionary work is just awesome. The people here
are just awesome. The only thing I have to remember is never to call them
Mexican. Most of the people here are not Mexican. Most of the immigrants are
people from El Salvador and Guatemela who came about 20 years ago when some
wars were going on in those two countries. They tend to get offended when I
accidentally call them Mexican. So I have to get used to calling them Latinos
or Hispanos.
We do run into the occasional Mexican, and that's when I'm
at my best. I'm able to connect a lot more with the Mexican community than with
the El Salvadorian or the Guatemalteco (that's what they're called
in Spanish) community. I just talk about how I live 10 minutes from
Mexico, that I could throw a rock into Mexico from my middle school (ok, so
that's not entirely true, but it really is a stone throw away) and how
dangerous it's become and how our temple is in Mexico. Once I talk about the
temple, it's an easy transition into gospel topics. Guess I kinda found my
niche with the Mexicans. With the El Salvadorians, I talk about pupusas, an El
Salvadorian delicacy that are pretty common around here. And with the
Guatemaltecos, well, I still haven't really found anything. I just talk about
someone I know that served in the Quetzaltenango Mission, which shows I know a
little bit more than just Guatemala City. But I'm still trying to find out how
best to approach Guatemaltecos and El Salvadorians. Eh, I've got 23 more months
to figure it out.
Speaking of which, can you guys find out where Bro. Diaz
served his mission? I'm pretty sure it was Guatemala but for some reason, I
also think it was Nicaragua. Just let me know.
As for the actual missionary work, the past week was really
successful for us. We had 9 new investigators, which was really really really
good. And we have a couple more people that we still need to teach, which would
add to our new investigator pool. Most of our new investigators came from
former investigators. We have two investigators that have really progressed and
we think can be baptized in September. One of those investigators has 3 kids,
so that would be really awesome to bring that whole family closer to Jesus
Christ through baptism. We also had 4 investigators at church on Sunday, which
also was really good.
Yesterday for P-Day, we went on a hike up in the mountains
as a zone activity. Kinda reminded me of an El Paso hike, where we find a tiny
little stream of water, call that an amazing thing of natural beauty, and want
to take a huge hike to bask in the serenity of mother nature. It was still
really fun. We have a really great zone, and we get along very great. They are
so much fun to be around and I love all the other missionaries. Afterwards,
with our district, we went to the park and just kinda hung out. Played cards.
Talked about stuff. I really love our district too. We're a very diverse group
of people. 2 Mexicans, 1 Canadian, 1 Colombian, 2 Texans (cuz you know, Texas
is its own country) and one Idahoian (Idahoan? Idahote? Eh, who cares. It's
only Idaho). It's fun stuff.
I just realized how much I love using parentheses.
Oh, we invited one of our investigators to the zone
activity. And he came... kinda. We all met up at the church building and were
gonna drive up to the park near the trailhead. Only, he got lost. And we all
got to the park and he didn't. And there was really bad cell phone reception at
the park. So we couldn't find him. Elder Hawke and I felt so bad. And this was
one of our investigators that has really progressed. So we hope he doesn't hate
us because of it. That would be terrible.
Like I said last week, the members love to feed us. And it's
really really really good food. It's funny because it's always pollo, arroz,
tortillas y frijoles (chicken, rice, tortillas, and beans). I'm not complaining
one bit. I absolutely love it. Just one of those things that I thought I should
point out.
Wellllllllllllll, I can't think of much else to write.
Please write letters to the mission office (which is the address on my facebook
notes). Especially those of you at BYU or UVU or wherever that have just
recently moved into a new apartment because I don't have your new apartment
address (*cough cough* Kelsey Louise Allan, Dana Allan, Beka Altorefer, Rachel
Kelley and all you others who know who you are). Once I get a letter from
there, I can give you guys my return apartment address so I don't have to wait
a whole week to get the letters.
Mom and dad, you guys can send me e-mails through here. It's
okay, that's approved. And actually, I think any family member can.
That's all folks. Miss you guys and hope you guys are doing
well.
Con amor,
Elder Nathan Gruenewald
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