The Dilemma

As the time of pens, pencils, and horrible biology teachers comes to an end I find myself in a small dilemma. With the holiday’s sneaking around the corner, and hot chocolate beginning to fill my soul, I ask myself one question. How am I going to go skiing this season?!

It's one of great importance. I haven't flown the powder, or cut through the heavenly substance called snow for some time now. The dilemma is that I can't afford a pass at this time nor do I have the equipment. So I'm left to explore other possibilities to bring my dream to a reality. These include but are not limited to the following.




1) Sell my soul to the devil.

2) Give plasma every day I can, then I may have enough to ski the last day of the season.

3) Sell all my belongings, quit school and get three more jobs. One including scooping up poop behind elephants during the parades. Where I'm going to find a parade in the winter is another dilemma.

4) Invent a bestselling app. possibly including animals skiing, flying or crashing into other animals to solve a puzzle of sorts.

5) Lastly, in a desperate attempt to enjoy the season, I could simply rob a financial institution, blame it on someone’s identity I stole and spend the rest of my life avoiding authorities.

If you have any other ideas, please let me know. Also if you know any deals on skiing I'm game.

Let it snow!

Who Knows How Words Are Formed.

Well, I'm full of turkey goodness, and there's a nice breeze coming in the window. But, before I start thinking of sugar plums and mangers, I want to reflect a little more on the great things that have happened in the last few days of which I'm grateful.

1) I'm grateful for cold weather. Without the cold, sitting cozy with a blanket and a cup of Stephen's Gourmet French Vanilla wouldn't mean nearly as much! All of my winter jackets and sweaters would be obsolete. And, seeing the world pure and white right after a good snowfall would be nonexistent.

2) I'm thankful for jobs that aren't the best. Sure I may get yelled and cussed at a lot while I talk on the phones. I may sound like a drone answering the phone with the same phrase day after day, but at least I'm not scooping up poo. Also, I look forward even more to the time where I can be sitting in my own practice giving sight to the blind.

3) I'm grateful for tools, jerks, and punks. Hey, someone has got to make the good guys look good. We may not get noticed as much, but I feel we're just gaining more and more brownie points to get the best of the best.

 So, this thanksgiving I find myself really finding the best in everything. I don't mean to complain, I just want people to know it's not the end. Have fun. You only live once, so live high and righteously. Life would be so boring if we had all we wanted. Really, who knows what's in store for us. I'm so glad I can't learn it all at once, because then I get to keep learning. If you keep looking down, then you miss all the stars above. Stop being grumpy and just enjoy what you have!

After all, there's only 28 more sleeps till Christmas!!

Old Friends

This last weekend I was reacquainted with a new friend. One I had missed for quite some time. Almost two years to be exact. A real top notch pal. The kind who always makes you feel good no matter what your mood. After a grueling weekend of studies and more studying of the complicated eukaryotic and prokaryotic world, my friend really made my weekend and helped me see that there is more to life than simply studying. Who could have guessed that I would be reunited with him so soon? I didn't even expect it when I called on him late Friday night. Yet I found myself at 11:00 pm going to the Creamery on 9th to meet up again. I only know a few people that don't get a long with him, and that's not really their fault for having a medical condition. Everyone else though can't resist the dark complexion, smooth personality and of course the delicious taste. Oh Creamery Chocolate Milk, how I've missed you!

Summer is here!

Tonight I found myself watching the Taylorsville dayz firework show from my roof. It's one of the best parts of living where we are, we can watch all the neighboring city do their fireworks, from our own roof.
Well the warm summer night and the flashing lights got me thinking of some past 4th of July experiences. Here are a few to note.
Childhood-
I remember always watching Dad set off the pack of fireworks he bought from Macey's. Of course I always wanted to light it and then when I did I found it it's still just as exciting if you don't have to light it. I also remember my sister would be watching it from her room cause she didn't like the loud noises, we kept telling her she was the loud noise.
Of course there were always the home-made ones. Competing against the neighborhood kids as to who could have the loudest M80. Plus we can't forget the giant one, MOAHB what a beauty.
You can't forget the family trip back east. I don't remember the fireworks as much as I remember trying to get back to the car. The minute the last fire work finished burning, the heavens opened and unleashes one of the most powerful rainstorms I've ever experienced. That's why I remember trying to get back to the car before we all got hypothermia.
High School-
Some of the best dates I've been on include watching the Murray Fireworks cuddled up next to a girlfriend. Of course it got a little scary when a nearby tree caught on fire.
Mission-
My first 4th of July was spent in the MTC. We had the "great opportunity" to watch the presidency put on a play about the founding fathers getting their temple work done. The acting was average, so the story saved the show. Afterwards some 3000+ missionaries stood outside the MTC trying to catch a glimpse of the nearby fireworks. My group mainly just played ninjas.
For the one in the field it was about the same as the MTC. Our apartment was too short to really see any fireworks, all we saw was a colorful glow in the sky. We did have fun with some glow sticks in the apartment.
Future-
Who knows what the rest of my 4th's will be like. I hope one time I get to play a night game where the whole baseball diamond is lit up by fireworks. Just a little bucket wish addition.
I'm excited also to see what this year and next bring. I guess I'll just have to wait and see.
All and all I realized today that summer has come. Fireworks, yard work, and hamburgers and hot dogs. All accompanied with Giants baseball. What a great time of year!
What do you remember?

Home

Well, it's done. I can't believe it but I have finished the best 2 years. It was incredible. I see that my parents posted some of my letters here, well they only describe half if that, of what I experienced. If you want the whole story your going to have to ask me. I'd love to tell you!

My parents decided to shock me back into te world by taking me on a week long cruise to Mexico! Personally I think they were just using me for my spanish. Well I had a blast! And well, the stage couldn't keep me away for too long cause on the last night on the boat I was in costume, singing and dancing as... James Brown! A small white kid playing a black guy. There's a first for everything.

As far as now, it's getting on with normal grown up life. I got a job a week after I got back. I do customer service for Propay. Some calls I even take in spanish! I'll be starting school in August. Hopefully starting the journey to become an Optometrist (eye doctor). So in the meant time. I'm looking for a car! I never thought finding a car would be this tough! I'm a little nervous cause the loan is in my name. Which means I actually have to become a responsible adult! Bleh!

Well that's it for now. Pictures coming soon!

Well it has been quite the interesting week here at beautifil beach city Malaga Cove. (The city is actually Torrance, Redondo Beach, and Lomita, but the area is Malaga Cove)

Last monday we had a great dinner/ FHE. It was with the Zimmerman family and the French Family. Bro. French is somewhat investigating the church and has been for awhile. We listened while Sis. Zimmerman talked about CTR and what it stands for. It was really just an oppurtunity to show Bro. French how the gospel is made for the family. After that we checked a less active who actually answered the door and let us in! She had been out of town for a few months and that why neither of us really knew her. The coolest part was when she started talking about the eye disease she has. I don't remember what it's called but she told us of how she has a plastic cornea, and take chemo-drops. I loved listening to her describe the procedures and stuff the doctors had to do. I think I'll be an optometrists just so I can fix mine and her eyes.

Tuesday was pretty good, we did some tracting in the morning but didn't have a whole lot of success. Then we had our lunch appointment with Sis. Duffin. Somehow we started talking about my eye doctor and she was describing where her doctor's office was (cause he's a member) and she said something about Yogurtland and E. Garrett got really excited. Neither of us had been there but had heard that it was a really really really good frozen yogurt place. So when she found out we hadn't been she gathered her kids and car keys and took us. E. Garrett has gone everyday since. Not me cause I had splits, but it is really good. There's only two in the mission and we are lucky to have one in our area. So after yogurt and candy on top, we walked down to have a lesson with Robert & Rita. This was at the Villar home. What a great lesson! We set a baptismal date with them for August 29th. We are now trying to keep them excited about it up until them. We had them write it down and promise they are going to write it on their calenders and everything.

Wednesday we had to do our weekly planning cause we had Zoneconference on thursday, so we didn't have as much time as usual during the day since weekly planning takes 3 hours. However we still got some good done. We had a little scare at dinner, well not even a scare just a funny story. Sis. Bluemel asked us to do the tea bag lesson, but we didn't have any tea bags on us. So she goes and gets her own, which were huge! Anyway we do the lesson as usual and Elder Garrett held it in his hand. Usually we ask whoever were teaching to hold it, this time for some reason I asked E, Garrett. So we light it on fire and watch it burn. If all is right it's supposed to fly up in the air before the flame hits his hand. I don't know if it was the tea bag or just bad luck but it didn't fly up and soon Elder Garrett was getting the flaming bag off his hand as soon as possible. Luckily nothing was burned, except his hand was a little red. It was pretty funny and I'm sure Sis. Bluemel wont let us forget it. I pack tea bags in my bag now, and they are the kind I know will work.

After all there's only 4 more sleeps 'til Christmas... Day

That's the Muppet Christmas Carol song if anyone didn't catch that.

First things first... Investigators!

I think I told you about Jose last week. Wow! Jose is so prepared to hear the gospel. He did throw some curveball's here and there but so far, he should have his interview on saturday or sunday! He's been one of the best investigators any missionary can ask for. Here's an example why, we went by his house this morning to teach him the 3rd lesson with the 10 commandments. (3rd is Faith, repentance, baptism, holy ghost and endure to the end) We get ther and he had not only read Alma 32 which talks of faith, but he had gone on the church website and looked up "the gospel of Jesus Christ" and when we got there this morning he had the entire thing mapped out with questions on the sides answered with BOM scriptures. Like "what is faith?" and he wrote Alma 32, and a Mosiah scripture. SO COOL!! We're going by and teaching him every day so he can still get baptized the 30th. I know president said we would see miracles in December but I never expected anything like this. So awesome the people the Lord has prepared for us to meet. He's pretty much teaching us!

Guadalupe and Marco are still as solid as ever. They had some questoins on the word Apostasy the other day. Oh yeah they got that question cause they were reading the Gospel Principals book. They are just about the coolest mexicans I know. It was really fun we went with them to the Ward Christmas Party and just ate and talked for a while. Marco and I started talking about our most memorable Christmas, he alsmost got teary eyed, It was really cool. I felt like he really opened up and just let me see the real him. They've had so many big aswesome chasnges in their lives with the gospel, I love the power it has to bless those willing to seek for truth!

We set a baptismal date with Yanira, I dont' know if I talked much about her, we had tracted into her and later her boyfriend joined the lesson. He ended up not being interested but she still was. She's a Mother of 3 but all 3 are still in El Salvador while she tries to earn money here in America for them. They all want her to come back but she wants them to come here. She's really curios about the Book of Mormon and really wants to know it's true. The problem is getting her to do what she said she'll do. She'll read, it's the coming to church that's hard. Other then that she's doing great!

Tito, pues, Tito was a referall. He says "puess" every other word... you think I'm exagerating. "Pues" is a filler word like "well". Anywho, he is really smart and know a lot. I just don't think he listens very much, or if he does he's having troubles connecting the dots. We still committed him to baptism and I hope he goes through with it, we haven't been able to contact him in awhile though so I hope it wasn't just a one or two time thing with him.

Nancy and Maria, we tracted into them this week and they turned out to be really really interested. She read and prayed about the Book of Mormon and got... somewhat of an answer. She's still caught up on the fact that Joseph Smith saw God. She keeps saying that God is so powerful that nobody can see him. We tried to show her other prophets like Moses talked with God face to face, but she still isn't 100 % sure on it. I think it will disolve when her testimony of the Book of Mormon gets stronger. Her and her Mom Maria are really awesome though. The other night we were going over to teach them and saw the Mom outside working on the car, we stopped by and asked to help but she was just waiting on her husband but we did get to help with some yard work. So we were raking leaves and she was still waiting by the car, she comes over to us and askes us if we would say a prayer with this drunk guy who started talking to her. He comes over and starts telling us how bad he feels, how he feels like Gods trash and that God never would listen to him. He was really wasted. So knelt down in his driveway, Elder Thiriot gave a great spanish prayer, then it took another 20 minutes to get him off and on his way. I don't know if it helped him but the situation really just put us in the right mood. After the prayer we had a good spirit and had a great lesson with Nancy and Maria. Still want to know more before they commit to baptism but I think they are well on there way for it. I can't wait to see them baptized, I just know it will make their lives so much happier. They're a great family already, and I know the gospel can only make things better for them.

Well with all that, we only had Jose, Guadalupe and Marco show up to church. Just means we gotta keep working harder!

So... I get to call on friday!! I did get some more information on that. Since you didn't really tell me any time I'm guessing anytime will be fine with you. I can only call after 7 here so that will be sometime after 8 there. So that's when you can expect my call, sometime between 8 and 830. I only have 45 minutes but I'm excited.

That's about it, I'm sending a little package with some dumb things in it. Not a lot though cause I don't have much to send. I'm sending it today though so you probably won't get it for Christmas.

Other then that I'm floored that Liz is engaged, sorry to hear that linda passed away, and proud of my older sister clearing up a lot about the church with her co-workers, that makes our job as missionaries a lot easier, especially when they know we don't worship Joe with our 6 wives. :)

Well, I'll talk to you on Friday!!

Elder Groves