Elders going home...

This week has been interesting, I suppose. Huge bummer, but Elder Hall went home today. He's had a lot of stress and anxiety and finally just got to a point where it was best for him to head home. I love that kid. He's been so much fun to get to know. But I'm glad that he'll finally be able to be in a place where he can be him without the stresses of missionary life.

Serena came to church this last Sunday, which is good considering that her baptismal interview with President Plocher istomorrow. We're fairly confident (95%) that she'll be ready for this Sunday, considering that we've taught her for 4 months straight. She had expressed some concerns on her end about whether or not she should get baptized, which isn't a surprise. I've answered every question that could be asked by a non-member, multiple times. It was really just her getting cold feet, and we asked her what she thought of it all. She said that she was really glad that she went to church because she felt the spirit through all the testimonies that day. Which is good. Fast and testimony meetings are a wild card for missionaries. Someone will either get up and give a bomb testimony for the spirit to testify of, or they're get up and rant and just drive the spirit off. Sometimes people will get up and say the most insane things. Like how they know the Book of Mormon is true based off of a fortune cookie. Which is fine, if that's what got the witness, but it sounds so bizarre coming across the pulpit. Anyway, she said that the meeting helped put away her concerns and warmed her feet up. She'll go down this Sunday. I'm bummed that Elder Hall won't be here for my birthday. I can't believe I'll be 23. The fettttchhhhh. That's 7 years away from 30. WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?! WHO LET THIS CRAP HAPPEN?!

President and Sister Mullen threw Elder Hall a going away breakfast this morning at the mission home in Orangecrest. The mission home is pretty nice. Modest, obviously. But nice. I haven't been since I dropped McClain off and it was the first time I'd actually been in the house. President and Sister Mullen actually seemed...relaxed. President pointed out that I was the oldest missionary there. Like, how long I've been out. I'm older than President and Sister Mullen. He called me the "Patriarch" of the missionaries there. When did that happen?! I've been out almost 11 months, which seems weird. 

New Years was good. We just hung out as a Zone and played chair soccer and Phase 10. I've never been able to play a full game of Phase 10. I always get to like phase 4 or 5 and have to leave. It's a fun game. How was New Years for everyone?

Reyanna is doing...okay. She isn't progressing the way that we would like. We've been meeting with her for about 3 months or so and she still doesn't have a witness about the Book of Mormon, which is the only thing she needs. So we're trying to find a new way for her to get it. So...praying for that one. She's so close. She grew up Seventh Day Adventist, which is similar in a lot of ways to our theology, so she pretty much believes everything...expect El Libro De Mormon. (dats Book of Mormon to the lame...lamos).

*Slaps hands back and forth* Anyway, give the deets on everyone's drunken apostate New Years parties so I can chastise accordingly.

Luh you...I guess.

Elder C-dizzle G-string. (Guyzzzz, it's okay. I have a black companion.)