Healing a Broken Car...kinda

April 16, 2016

Hey Guys,

This week has been really pretty interesting as we have been trying to get all of the things for the car taken care of. As I previously mentioned, the car is a little sick after having been slammed into a pole pretty hard... So it is my job as financial secretary to pay for damages to public property and tows while the other secretary talks to the insurance company about how we are going to pay for this. It's been quite the stressful situation, but we now officially have the car in our possession, just waiting to someday be able to move again. Hopefully we can take it to the shop this week and have it before the end of May. You know, maybe.

Today for P-Day we went to Planeta to buy some crazy ties and drink giant shakes. Well, the ties were not a disappointment (I bought a dinosaur tie and a Mount Rushmore tie), but the shakes were closed, so we ate some chicken. Normal missionaries have a sister from their ward who they pay to cook for them, but, as secretaries, we don't have solid enough schedules to be able to do that, and we end up paying a ton extra for food. I am slowly but surely learning how to cook. My companion is really good at it, so maybe he can teach me a thing or two. So far all I have learned how to do is not burn ramen. Haha. You gotta start somewhere.

This week we will hopefully be saying goodbye to one member of our trio, as my new companion Elder Rosales is all trained and ready to go. We are hoping to prove in these next couple of weeks that the secretaries are missionaries too. We have a few people that we could baptize before my time runs out, and I really hope that everything goes well. I'm not trunky, but Elder Rosales will be my last companion if there are no emergencies, and that is definitely a crazy thought. I only really have about a transfer and a half, and I am ready to sprint to the finish, then sleep for my first few days home. Haha.

I hope that you all have an excellent week. You know the drill: read your scriptures, say your prayers, give references to the missionaries (and food. food is nice too).

Elder Aldrich

Change Week

April 4, 2016

Hey Guys,

As the title points out, this week was change week, and I have a new companion, and the old one I had before as well. We are in a trio until Elder Rosales learns his new responsibilities as the Immigration Secretary. I have known Elder Rosales since he started his mission, and he is an excellent missionary. I am really excited to have him as a companion and finish out these last two changes working hard. He is from Guatemala and speaks fluent English. Although I will never have a gringo comp, this is as close as I can get, and I am content.

Wednesday was a rather bittersweet day, because Elder Ramirez, my companion from back in Miramar and one of my favorite companions, finished his mission. It is really cool when you get to have a companion that you get along so well with, then get to be his district leader, then drop him off at the airport. We really got to be great friends,and I hope he will make a trip up to the Estados Unidos to make a visit.

Saying goodbye to Elder Ramirez at 3 am.

The highlight of the week was conference. It was so good! I really enjoyed the Priesthood session. Elder Owens' talk about being a great leader and a great follower was probably my favorite, followed close behind by Elder Holland's pep talk. Elder Holland's talk reminded me a lot of his talk "An High Priest of Good Things to Come." Also, I was excited to hear President Monson talk, and while his talks were short, the both of them were incredibly powerful. I love to listen to the prophet and apostles speak, especially in English. Haha.

We had an investigator and a inactive man who hasn't been to church since the 80s in church this weekend. I am really excited to see the slow and steady progress our area is having. I am excited to keep working hard in the office and in the field, even though our lack of car makes getting from one place to another kind of difficult. I hope you all have a great week.

Elder Aldrich