Aloha!
Wow, it sounds like it's been an interesting week in that neck of the woods! Always something new! And at least with Grandm this year, dropping te frozen turkey on her toe isn't quite as bad as spilling the grease all over her foot...was it the same foot? Maybe for Christmas, you can get her steel-toed boots to wear while making turkey! And maybe some of those heavy-rubber pants they use in fishing! It would be great!!
Thank you, and everyone, for all the birthday wishes!! I got a card from Grandma and Grandpa Black, a box from the Merrills, and cards from the Nores and one from the Osborns as well!! It was a very fun birthday - We made and ate arepas! They're a specialty from Venezuela. Super good! We made them with the Longobardi family (Jose Luis). I had some pictures I wanted to send, but then I realized that I don't have the card to transfer pictures from my camera to the computer...and the computer is locked behind a wooden case. SO! Next time, I'll have to make sure I bring it!
And by the way...I'm not getting transfered! Still here for another one! There is a lot going on here, and a lot to do! We just received some Senior Sisters in the ward, and we had the opportunity to meet with them yesterday, to talk about the area book, the area, and what we're going to do to work the area. It's going to be interesting - I've never done this before, and there's a lot to do! But the Sisters are awesome -One of them works in the mission home, so she said that she will be really busy today and tomorrow (with the departing and arriving missionaries), and so they will start on Wednesday around 3. We've got a lot of work to do, and on the 11th, we'll be meeting in the new chapel!! It's coming up quick! And it looks really cool, except for the fact that it doesn't have a baptismal font, so we won't be able to do that part on the Church Tours...
As for Thanksgiving (Kind of jumping around a lot in my responses to your letter), we celebrated with the Longobardi and Delgado families, both from Venezuela! They made some super good turkey, and they had empanadas, salad, potatoes, and rice. A super good Thanksgiving dinner! We tried to find some people, and we may have found some hopefuls. Unfortunately, they're in other areas, and I think they speak English...
Wow, everyone is already heading back to school, and James is getting all set! I'm super excited to hear about what BYU and BYU-I respond. It would be great if we can both attend there! Just going and having a blast (And, of course, studying )!!
As for what we're doing in our area...We're putting a lot bigger focus on the members. We've started to lose that a bit, even though this year is the year of the member. We need to get back on it. Especially with the new ward, we need to help all the members get to know one another and help one another to keep going strong, because there are a few people who had been attending Bering and Houston 1 ward for a LONG time, and they're having a lot of difficulty moving over. It makes me think about my first little bit of time in Oroville: We live in Table Mountain Ward boundaries, but the entire family goes to either Oroville 1st or 3rd. But after a while, I just really came to love Table Mountain. We have so many good people there, and the quirks that we sometimes think bother us end up being the things that we start to hold most dear, and then the ward becomes our ward, not just another ward somewhere. Just thinking about that a bit - Table Mountain really fell well with me, and I didn't even realize it! A great place to learn and grow!!
Elder Lyman and I have been doing pretty well. It's interesting how the good days and bad days come and go, and sometimes I don't even know why the bad days come, or what makes the good days good. It's a very interesting learning experience, but I wouldn't want to open up this area with anyone else! We're learning a lot together, and hopefully making some good progress!! I love the ward, the people who are trying so hard to make it work, and how, little by little, things are coming together. I feel really blessed to be here in the beginnings of Houston 8 (There was an old Houston 8, but only about 5 people from the original Houston 8 are in the ward boundaries, so it basically is a completely new ward), and I'm excited to see where it goes, especially as time goes on and more and more people begin attending. We've been asked to create a Ward Mission Plan, and then present it to the Bishop. Another learning experience, but the Lord wouldn't have put us here if we couldn't do it. We might have to struggle a little bit, but He always makes sure things get done; we just need to give it our best!!!
Well...as for Courtney - I guess she's not 'the one!' It really doesn't bother me all that much. Could you send a copy of it out here? I'm not really sure what to say, but I guess "Congrats!" works pretty well!! I guess life goes on! It's always an adventure! But let me tell you, it's AWESOME to have the work of the Lord be the only thing that we have to focus on. Everything else...it'll come in time.
How is the Torricelli family doing? Last I heard, they were going to Disneyland...but that was back when I was with Elder Rodriguez, so a little while ago...maybe in May. So just kind of wondering how they're doing. What they've been up to.
Well, time to get going!! Thank you, one and all for the birthday wishes! It definitely made it a great birthday!!
I love you! A infinidad, y mas alla!!
Con mucho amor,
Elder Devin Collins
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