Washington!!

Hola! 

This past week has been a fantastic adjustment to the mission field! I can't even remember everything that's happened since my last email. I wasn't able to get an email out last week though, as my P-day has switched in the mission field.

The last week in the CCM was muy chido. the last couple days were similar feeling to the last days of school. Our schedule was still packed, but I was saying goodbye to people by Sunday night. Then, on Monday night I had to say goodbye to my beloved district 9A. Tuesday I was with a temporary companion, and we had an epic time. It was quite chaotic getting plane tickets and such sorted out, but we got to end off the day watching a live broadcast from the Provo MTC (mi hogar!) of Dieter F. Uchtdorf. And who was directing the missionary choir there but none other than Dr. Mendenhall! That's two times now I watched a livestream at the CCM with him in it! (He rocks)

Arriving in Washington was very chill. As we got off the plane, we saw another group of missionaries who had just finished their missions leaving. Then Presidents Quereto took us to the mission office where we got yummy food, had some training, and got assigned our companions. My companion, Elder Keller, is very epic. I pretty much lucked out. He rocks.

Proselyting has been an interesting thing. And I've learned how much I hate bothering people. It's been really great so far getting me out of my shell. We don't do a ton of just going from one house to the next knocking. each morning we try to find previous contacts that haven't been talked to in a while, and then we knock the houses nearby. Elder Keller sets up appointments like a fiend, so we've got tons in our schedule most of the time, but most of them fall through. That's been the strangest thing here. People will set up appointments, but then just not be home, or not answer. A key phrase is "Otro dia!" (Some other day) because I suppose most people find it tough to just say "no"

We've had a couple really great lessons with people, though.

My roommates are a hoot. We've already had some tie trading going on, and every night brings something new we're laughing about.

One thing that has scared me is the food situation. I always knew in the back of my head that I should learn how to cook, but now that's biting me in the butt. I had no idea what to get the first time we shopped for food, so each day was just wondering whether I would have a next meal. I'm getting my bearings though, and I did a little bit of meal planning. So I've got a good range of PB&J's, burritos, cold cereal, chicken and rice, and Oatmeal.

I did end up accidentally making something around 2 gallons of spaghetti. So now half my fridge is containers of spaghetti, and I didn't get enough sauce either. The lessons that I learned: Get more sauce than you think; Cheese makes everything good; and accept ridcule as it comes, offering pasta to your roommates to be courteous.

A sentiment that I hear repeated a lot is that 'the work is not about me'. The point here is to invite other people to come unto christ. It's easier said than done though, when I'm still trying to catch my bearings and figure what I'm doing. Another point that I'm told is that the Holy Ghost is like my third companion. The holy ghost really does the teaching, if we can listen to its guidance and find where we are needed. I trust that through Christ, and through steady prayer and daily scripture study, I can find ways to implement both of these things.

Moroni 10:5

"And by the power of the holy ghost, you may know the truth of all things."

or,

"Y por el poder del espiritu santo, podreis conocer la verdad de todas las cosas."

Que dios les bendiga,

Elder Duncan

Elder Keller and I and a Volkswagen beetle manual transmission. I'm going to own one of these someday!

If it has fruit, it can be considered breakfast

Spaghetti.

Saw a Tagalog BoM and thought of my dad

Saying "Hasta pronto" (not goodbye) to the best district on the planet