We weren't able to meet with Elvis this week. He started a work-training program to become an electrician and it is in San Diego, which is about a 3 hour drive each way with normal traffic. So he is leaving super early and getting back super late every week day. This Saturday he said his parents were on him to clean up the house a bit after moving in with them and Sunday he went to the church he had attended a couple of weeks ago just to let them know he is still looking for a church. So a lot of unfortunate circumstances, but he is still interested, just a little busier than before. The Ward has really latched on to him, and so they aren't going to let him go.
The weather is starting to warm up some. The highs are normally in the 80's or 90's now. Today is kind of overcast so it's only going to be a high of 72, but that's alright. We keep hearing rumors of rain but nothing much has really happened for a couple of weeks.
My district leader is Elder Vang. He was in Corona when I first arrived in the mission. He goes home in two transfers and he is from Sacramento. As for the rest of the district, it is Elder Andrew and I, Elder Simpson who is with Elder Vang, and then Hermana Tobler and her companion, Hermana Jordan. Hermana Jordan also goes home in two transfers. So a lot of changes will be happening with transfers and leadership over the next couple of transfers because so many people will be going home. We'll see how it all shakes out.
This week for P-Day we're having another cook-out at the Redlands building. There will also be ultimate Frisbee for those that want to play, and possibly a "dew" pong tournament as well. We did a similar activity last transfer, and so many people were preoccupied with "dew" pong that Frisbee didn't really happen. But it was also really windy that day so I can't blame them for not wanting to play. Hopefully today will be a better day for Frisbee.
This past week was pretty good, though filled with meetings again. On Tuesday we had our monthly zone meeting, so that took half of our Tuesday, and then on Wednesday we went up to Riverside for the Trainer/Trainee meeting which took up half of our Wednesday. On Friday we went on another exchange. This time Elder Andrew took over the area and I went with Elder Simpson into his area. Elder Andrew had an awesome day on Friday. He finally was able to meet with Ketunge. She had wanted to meet us at Stater Bros, which was sort of an odd request. So after wandering around the parking lot for like 20 minutes they met up and talked to her and gave her a Restoration pamphlet for next time. Also on Friday they were able to meet with Jonna, one of the new investigators from a couple weeks ago. She is super cool, and he took Sister Norman over there. Sister Norman is a great friend for Jonna. When she heard her kids were sick on Saturday she ran over there to check on them, and then went and bought medicine for them. Unfortunately that meant Jonna couldn't come to church because her daughter was throwing up. But we have lots of fellowship for her and the ward is super excited to help out.
We were kind of bummed that no one was going to come to church though, after all the work we'd put in with members and our investigators. And then, we were sitting in the middle of Priesthood when Sister Norman comes and asks for a Book of Mormon. We give her one, and then we see her in the hall afterwards. She said that a Kenyan lady had walked into church looking for a place to worship and so Sister Norman jumped on that. When we heard about her, we thought that Ketunge may have somehow found her way to church on her own, but it turns out it was actually another Kenyan lady named Lois who lives only one street over from Ketunge. Either way, it was definitely a tender mercy to see that happen and the Relief Society was so welcoming to her that I'm confident they'll make sure she gets back next week.
This ward is a great ward! They are responding really well when we ask them to get involved. I think it's just been a little while since they had things to do and they got out of the habit. There had a talk in Priesthood from the Stake on missionary work, so that will help them get excited about it as well.
See you soon,
Elder Cornaby