February 27, 2012

Hey,

     Things in Littlerock are good. Still only about 1,000 people that live here. The branch is good, I guess. The first two weeks at church were not very good but this past week was really good. Most likely because Pres. Martin was one of the speakers and the guy that gave the class actually gave a class instead of reading a couple of paragraphs from the book, ask "Any questions?" and then continue on. The members, they're... supportive. They like to feed us but after that, that's about it. They don't like coming out with us too much (except for one family that is simply awesome). To combat that, we started doing the same thing that they doing in El Paso 11th, where we pass around a calendar and they can sign up for a day that they want to come out with us. It's not getting very filled up, but at least some people that normally would not come out with us will start coming out with us. We passed it around for the first time yesterday, so we'll see how it works. 

     The weather is no longer too cold. The stuff I have is fine. Yes, my coat is warm enough.

Elder Black is good. I don't know how much I've told you about him. He's from Houston (Hempstead) TX, hunts, fishes, camps, does all that good stuff. And we both hate knocking doors. So what do we do? Knock doors for 3 hours a day. 

     This week was a good week for finding people. We got about 7 new investigators, which is (according to Elder Black) more new investigators in one week than they had the whole transfer before. But it was tough work. We knocked on one door and this girl answers and says "Hi!!! Can I get you some water?" That was the most friendly treatment I've received knocking doors. They invited us back later that week and it was the nicest family. Most of them speak English but the mom speaks Spanish, so that would be our investigators and not English elders. 

     The biggest problem we have here is finding Spanish people that want to be taught in Spanish. There are Spanish people here, but they would much rather be taught in English and go to an English ward. A lot of the people that Elder Black and his former companion were teaching are Spanish people who would much rather be taught in English and go to an English ward, so we're having to give them to English elders. 

With that being said, we haven't been getting too many lessons a week. Things here in the desert are different because you can only meet with investigators about once a week; otherwise you're too pushy. In the valley, you could meet with investigators two or three times a week. However, here in the desert you can actually set appointments and they'll be there, whereas in the valley you go to an appointment and they're never there; you just have to find them at home. 

     We have one progressing investigator: Natty. Basically, she just has to get married to her ex-missionary live-in boyfriend and everything would be set. 

     Elder L. Tom Perry will be visiting our mission on Mar. 12th and have a meeting with all the missionaries. Some pretty exciting stuff. Guess who's playing the organ for that meeting? Mhmm.

     And dad, here's a question for you. Yesterday, we were talking to a guy and we were talking about his mission and stuff like that. I came in a little late to the conversation, so I didn't hear where he went. Then he mentioned he speaks guarani. I was like "Oh, you served in Paraguay?" He served in Paraguay, right around the time that they were doing the pick between 18 months and 2 years. I'm pretty sure you said you served right around that time. His name is Curtis Gerrick. So, dad, do you know him?

     Anyways, I think that's about it. 

Con amor,

Elder Nathan Gruenewald