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

My First Transfer!

Hello everyone,

 

After 5 1/2 months of being in North Hollywood, I am being transferred. It came as a really big surprise to everyone, including all the missionaries, because everyone was pretty sure that I would be training again for one more transfer. But no, the Lord had other plans for me.

I'm being transferred to Little Rock, a little town with a small Spanish branch about 30-45 minutes from Palmdale. Elder Bushman will be staying here in North Hollywood. My new companion's name is Elder Black, who I basically know nothing about. So I get to go up to the desert in the same zone as Elder Hawke. In fact, he is my zone leader. And I get to be a normal missionary now!! No more being a trainer or being a trainee or being a district leader!! No more 2 hours of companionship study that takes forever and we don't get out of the house until 1:00!!! And no more staying up late trying to figure out last minute goals and numbers and fixing problems!!! I can just be a regular old missionary.

As far as the Little Rock area, I'm not too familiar with it. From what I know, the area is really struggling right now, kinda like our area was struggling about three or four weeks ago. I think I'm gonna be one of those missionaries that gets sent to certain areas to bring an area back up to speed, 'cuz that's kinda what we did with North Hollywood 5th. So I probably won't have too many baptisms. 

I'm kinda sad to leave. I have a really close connection with the ward here (which is probably the reason why I'm leaving in the first place). It's even more sad because our district and our area is at this point where we are so close to having success and I won't be there to see all the success happen. Our area has two people ready to get baptized, the hermanas have two people ready to get baptized and the zone leaders have one. Hopefully I'll be able to come down and see those people get baptized (we're allowed to come down and see people we taught get baptized).

I learned a lot from being a district leader and being a trainer. It was a really good opportunity for me to learn how to be an effective leader.

Nicolas came to church yesterday, so we were really excited about that. We think the situation with his wife has settled down a bit, so I'm hoping that everything will go well with that.

Not much else to report on. This week was kinda a slow week for us.

Take care.

 

Con amor,

 

Elder Nathan Gruenewald

January 30, 2012

Hello,

No, I did not visit Uncle Wayne. I knew the missionary going up to Lone Pine and I had sent them a note with him just saying hey. Guess they got it.

This week has just been a roller coaster week. We found out that Nicolas's wife isn't too happy with us because we drank some of her freshly squeezed orange juice that was apparently only for her. He didn't show up to church yesterday either so we might have a little bit of a problem on our hands. We have tried to set up a time when we can visit with both him and his wife, but we've just been unsuccessful in doing that.

We had some interesting experiences on Saturday. We were doing some visits when we had an impression to go visit a lady named Lilian (don't know if I told you about her). When we got to her complex, we saw that Isabel's door (which is in the same complex) was open, so we decided to go there instead. We get there and she said "I knew you guys were going to come over. I was going to close the door but then something told me just to leave it open for you guys. So I did." We had lunch with her. And we found out that she has a husband. The first time we visited her, we thought she was single, but she's been "married" (we're not really sure if it's really married) for 13 years. So she invited her husband to come talk to us. He seemed pretty receptive, and she's just been soaking it up. So now we're teaching them together.

Right after that, we got an impression to visit Emily. When we got there, she left, so we talked with her sister Cathy. Cathy must be a typical teenage girl (she's 18) because last time we were there, she said she wanted nothing to do with us, that she doesn't agree with anything we say, blah blah blah. So we dropped her about a month and a half ago. This time, she said that everything we have said is right, that we're great people, and the only thing she doesn't agree with is Joseph Smith. So we told her to pray about that and to go to church to find out if those things are true. She even asked one of our members for a ride. Did she go? No. But still, it was a kinda weird change of heart.

Again, we are still having a problem with getting our progressing investigators to church. I don't really know what to do because we have tried so many different things to get them to go to church. But we keep on going.

We had another baptism for our district yesterday. That was really cool because it was a lady that had been kinda putting it off for about a month and a half.

I am still in my "greeny" area. Transfer calls come up this Saturday. The chisme (gossip) around the zone is that I will be training again. I don't think I'll be going anywhere this transfer. I think I have another 6 weeks here before I get sent somewhere else.

I was thinking about what will happen when I get transferred out of here. I'll probably cry. I have such a good connection with this ward and with this area. I love my investigators so much and I love the ward members here so much. I'm just hoping I don't get transferred this weekend. I feel I still have some unfinished business to take care of here.

Can you believe that I've been out here in California for almost 5 months? And can you believe that I'll be hitting my 6 month mark this Friday? Crazy, crazy.

Well that's about it. Sounds like you all are doing great.

Con amor,

Elder Nathan Gruenewald

January 23

Dear Family,

This week was a really rough week for us as far as our numbers, but if you were to look at the number of miracles we had this week, our numbers are through the roof.

Nicolas is doing great. He wasn't able to go to church this past Sunday. This past Sunday was stake conference, so really it was hard for anyone to get any investigators to church. We set a firm baptismal date for the 5th of February and he seems really excited to get baptized. In fact, he wants his wife to start taking the lessons, though he says that she's a really hard-headed person and probably wouldn't change right now.

We were able to find what seem to be some really good investigators with really good potential. We found one lady named Isabel who said she recently became very religious and is spiritually hungry and looking for the right religion. We also found another lady named Lilian (both actually live in the same complex) yesterday who was wondering why there were so many churches. We didn't have a lot of lessons, but all the lessons we had were quality lessons. It was excellent.

I was actually sick over the weekend a little bit. I had a major headached Saturday and Sunday. I attribute it to the flickering lights that we have in our apartment. Ever since I've had my concussions, flickering lights (strobe lights, lights that just go on and off, etc.) just really give me a headache, and the lights in my bathroom have been flickering a lot. It hasn't been fun. We have to get it checked out by the housing coordinators.

Yesterday was stake conference and it was one of those broadcasted stake conferences. It was pretty good. Elder Perry spoke, Pres. Snow of the Presidency of the Seventy (who also was the former mission president here in the San Fernando Mission) also spoke and Barbara Thompson spoke. It was good and translated into Spanish.

It's snowing today. Okay, so it's more like really cold and raining and every once in a while we see a "raindrop" that's fluttering and not following the normal line of rain. So we call it snow.

So that compliment by Coach Floyd gives me a lot to think about when I come back from my mission. I'm not too concerned about it right now, but you know, whatever.

Oh, we had interviews with Pres. Martin this past Wednesday for the zone. I just want to tell you how much I love that man. He is just an awesome person. It was a very good interview. I will most likely be staying here in North Hollywood 5th for another transfer. It was funny, that conversation. "Elder Gruenewald, you've been in your 'greeny' area for a long time. How long have you been here?" "This is my fourth transfer." "Holy cow, Elder Gruenewald! You've been here a long time!" "Haha, yes, president." "We need to get you out of here. The only problem is that none of the missionaries in the ward have the relationship that you have with the ward. We'd have to find a good missionary to replace you." I paused for a moment. "President, I feel like I need to stay here for one more transfer." He looked at me in the eye, thought for a few seconds and said "Are you willing to train?" Pause. "Yes, president." "Well, it's settled then." So now it's a pretty sure thing that I will be staying here and training again, unless a major development unfolds.

So I heard about my jury duty notice, but I still haven't gotten anything from dad... Hopefully that comes within the next 35 minutes.

Yes, I got the package.

Well, this is a short letter. Not too many other things to tell you about. Thrift stores here have the greatest selection of ties. Thrift stores here are awesome... when you can find the things in my size...

Have fun.

Con amor,

Elder Nathan Gruenewald

December 27, 2011

Hey Family,

     Sounds like your Christmas dinner was good. Better than my shrimp patties with mole.... Oh goodness.

     I enjoyed talking to you guys too. That was nice.

     So, on Sunday, dad gave me the address for Wayne and Donna in Lone Pine. Later on that day, I found out that one of the elders that I know in the other zone is being transferred to Lone Pine in English. So I wrote a little note on sticky-notes (I didn't have any real paper) and gave it to him and gave him the address. So he'll be going up there and giving the note to them.

     Yesterday was transfer day. Hna. Busch has left the district after 7 1/2 transfers (11 months) in this ward. That was nice for her. She will be missed because she was such a good misionera. But we got Hna. Beauchamp, who is also a great misionera.

     Elder Vazquez is also leaving to go whitewash an area with a greenie. That was kinda interesting and totally unexpected because Elder Vazquez dies this transfer (goes home), and usually you don't train your last transfer. We're getting Elder Banuelos to replace him as zone leader. He also dies this transfer.

We set a baptismal date with Emily. Emily is the 14 year old daughter of one of our eternigators (eternal investigators) that really hadn't been taught much in the past. So we're really focusing our efforts on her. And we're excited for her.

     We also are focusing a little our efforts on Karen, Elizabeth's daughter. The only problem is the baby’s daddy. Karen wants to get married to him, Elizabeth does not want her to get married to him. Nor do I want her to marry him.

     Miriam and Chris have been sick and busy and out of town and family in town and just everything relating to busy-ness. But we still want to visit them.

     And that's about it.

     Thanks for everything.

Con amor,

Elder Nathan Gruenewald

December 19, 2011

Hi Everyone,

     Things have been really difficult this week. Two to three weeks ago, we had 20 investigators, we were teaching like 20 lessons a week, and things were just fine and peachy. As of yesterday, we have 8 investigators, we might be dropping another one depending on whether or not he reads, and we struggle to get over 10 lessons. One of our golden investigators decided to move, another one of our golden investigator referrals feels more comfortable with English, and none of our other investigators want to keep commitments. It's tough right now. We've started spending about 6 hours a day just knocking. We're really good at finding people, we're just not doing a good job of finding people that will let us in the door, and not doing a good job of finding those prepared people. And we're really good at setting citas (appointments) but they always fall through.

     And the difficulties aren't just in our companionship's area. Our whole district is really struggling. The zone leaders also only have 8 investigators, but they have one progressing investigator, which is good. And the hermanas are also struggling with finding prepared people, but again, they have one or two progressing investigators. It can get a little frustrating and even a little discouraging at times, but we keep working.

     But there have been a few bright notes, a few fun moments for us this week.

     On Monday, we had a cita with a less active member (less active, as in, hasn't been to church in six years) and his wife. The wife was toda borracha (totally drunk). It was the funniest thing. Poor Elder Bushman, the lady was making fun of him ("Ay, mi ganchito, porque te ves tan enojado? [Oh, my little blonde boy, why do you look so angry?] She repeated that like 20 times in an hour) and he had no idea what was going on. She kept telling us to get her purse and pointing at it, only her purse wasn't where she was pointing. And she tried to give us the phone number to her work, except she gave us only 9 digits and when we asked for the last digit, she said that that was the right number. That will be a lesson I remember for a long time.

     But, in that same lesson, we talked to the less active member for a while (who was only slightly drunk). He showed us his stake missionary plaque that he has and he said that even though he's been inactive for six years, he's still an elder and still has the Melchezidek Priesthood and he has not been living worthily of holding that. He wants to come back to church, but work has kept him away. Fortunately, with the time change, he can start coming back to church. I think he could be a real strong leader in the church. Just kinda got that impression when I met him.

     We also went knocking for about 7 hours on Saturday and that was a lot of fun. We had some really funny moments. I knocked one door and some white lady answers the door. I say "Hi, I'm Elder Bushman, and we're... Wait a second, I'm not Elder Bushman, he's Elder Bushman, and I'm Elder Gruenewald." The lady just kinda stood there and looked at us blankly. It was kinda a lost cause, but we were laughing so hard after that one.

      We also knocked into an Armenian guy that didn't speak English or Spanish or German (which are the only three languages I could do door approaches in) and we realized that we didn't have anything Armenian. So we made our own Armenian pass-along cards. We found an Armenian pamphlet that said "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints" (in Armenian, of course) and we copied that down onto some Mormon.org pass-along cards. That was pretty fun.

      We also had a few interesting moments...

      On Thursday, I got an impression to knock an apartment complex that I had never been to before. So we went. And we stood in the complex for like 5 minutes trying to decide which doors to knock (we can only knock like one or two doors in apartment complexes before people get mad and kick us out). Then we looked and guess who we saw... JESUS!! No, not Jesus (said in a Hispanic accent), Jesus Christ!! Yeah, crazy. Someone put a Jesus Christ pass along card that we give out on their door. So we looked at the card, and it was from missionaries about two years ago (we know that because we read the area book a lot and we get to know what missionaries have been in the area in the past). We knocked on the door... No one was there, but that was kinda an interesting experience. We'll keep knocking that door.

      Yesterday, we talked with Helio (we found out his name is Helio, not Heliot). And we had one of those interesting Ammon experiences where the missionary stays silent for a long time while the investigator thinks. We stayed quite for about 15 minutes while he just thought. Not quite an hour, but still a long time.

      Well, I think that's about it.

      Oh yeah, calling on Sunday. Well, I'll be calling probably somewhere around 2:00 or 3:00 o'clock. In the morning. No just kidding. In the afternoon. What was the phone number again? Kidding....Ok, now I think that's it.

      Hope you got my Christmas card.

      Well. Merry Christmas everyone. Hope you have fun. Remember the reason for the season... Presents!! No, that's not the reason for the season. The reason for the season is Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son, who was born in humble circumstances, who suffered for our sins and was crucified and was resurrected the third day, so that we can have the opportunity to return to live with our Father in Heaven.

      Feliz Navidad.

Con amor,

Elder Nathan Gruenewald

December 12, 2011

Hi everyone that reads this letter,

     This week has been somewhat of a difficult week.

     Mission packages sent to the mission office take a while to get to me. We have to wait for someone in the zone to go to the office up in Santa Clarita and then we finally get it. Usually, people are up there once a week.

     We made Christmas cards!! So hopefully we'll be sending those out today (knowing us, it probably won't get done until next P-Day, but you know, it'll get to you).

     We just keep going through investigators. Picking up, dropping, picked up, being dropped, finding, teaching, dropping. Not so much baptizing. It's kinda tough to get anything going, and our ward is starting to get a little upset with us because of our lack of success in baptisms, whereas the sister ward NoHo 4to is baptizing left and right. We're just in a bit of a rut right now where we just haven't been able to have the baptismal success that has been seen in the past. But, I'm really not too worried about that right now because I know that we're working our hardest as a district, and that's all I really care about.

     I went on exchanges with the zone leaders this past Tuesday. I had requested that I do my exchanges with them earlier in the transfer because I felt like I needed to learn as soon as possible so that I could be a better trainer sooner and a better district leader sooner.

     We have a few progressing investigators. Karen Mendez is the daughter of Elizabeth (my first baptism). She wants to get baptized and knows that this church is true. Two problems: 1) She doesn't want to go to church because she's being lazy. 2) She is not married to the guy she is living with. They want to get married. Elizabeth is completely against them getting marired (I don't blame her). So that becomes a pretty big issue. We're not really sure what to do.

     Miriam and Chris are progressing, especially Chris. We found out that one of our good young men (Alfredo) is going to go to the same school as Chris, and they really hit it off. That was pretty sweet. The only problem is that Chris always seems to go out of town on the weekends (Palmdale, San Diego, places like that) where it makes it tough for him to go to church. He did go one week, and he kinda liked it. The young men were a little rowdy that week (except for Alfredo, he's always pretty good).

     We had a Christmas music devotional. Guess who got asked to play the piano for basically all the wards about 30 minutes before it started... Mhmm. It was really nice though.

     Elder Bushman and I have been pretty sick recently. Yesterday, my voice was completely gone. We couldn't get any lessons yesterday because my companion can't speak Spanish and I couldn't speak period.

     It's raining right now...

     Everything else is going well... I guess.

     Well, there's not much else to report on.

Con amor,

Elder Nathan Gruenewald