Dear Mom,

 

Diego is 14 years old. I hate it when people don't answer their door or their phone. I don't know why some people have phones because they never use it. That one guy that just came to church is Homberto. We couldn't visit him this last week, but he did come to church again. I think he's serious so that should be great!

 

If the missionary work is going to explode with that many new missionaries, I honestly don't know where they're going to put them all!

  

I talked to my zone leaders about the November 1 thing. He said that the reason they say November 1 is because the mail gets backed up really easily. If you send it in before November 1, you'll be sure that I get it on time. You can send it in after that, but it reduces the chance that I get it in time for Christmas.

 

Yes, I got the absentee ballot. I'll finish it up and send it in.

 

I hope they don't change out President Trent quite yet. He's been such a great Stake President for so long. I actually have a Stake Conference coming up soon for the Scotch Plains Stake. They're changing out the Stake President here. Someone from the Quorum of the Seventy is coming. So a General Authority might come to your Stake Conference if President Trent is being released.

 

We're kind of excited for Halloween coming up soon. We're seeing Halloween decorations everywhere. I went to a new District Leader training at the Mission Home with President Jeppson and some other new District Leaders. They basically taught us how we can be better District Leaders. Sister Jeppson had the Mission Home all decorated with Halloween stuff everywhere. We also had lunch afterwards. It was definitely a mom-meal. I haven't had a meal like that in a while! It was so good. And it was just a baked potato with some side dishes, but it was really good.

 

But about Halloween, I guess anywhere but Utah, Halloween night is pretty dangerous. You don't go out. I guess that gang initiation night. To get accepted into gangs you have to kill someone is what I've heard. So in the past years, all the missionaries go home early on the night before and the night of Halloween. We're planning on have a party. We'll probably order pizza and play some card games. We'll be safe!

 

So this last week has been pretty fun. We've decided that we want to start teaching members more about Preach My Gospel. That book is the best!! If you want to be a good missionary or even a regular member that knows the Doctrine, read Preach My Gospel! It's awesome, I love it. So we decided to start sharing with members how we know what to teach by telling them about Preach My Gospel. We went over to a family in our Branch named the Narvaes Family. We taught them the Restoration of the Gospel straight out of Preach My Gospel. They loved it! They want to help us teach more people now. It's great!

 

This last Wednesday was Zone Conference. We met with two other zones in Morristown. President Jeppson was amazing as always. He talked about finding new people to teach and a lot about the purpose of temples. He shared with us a few scriptures from Doctrine and Covenants about the purpose of temples and how they have been so pivotal since the Old Testament times. I forgot to bring the notes I took with me today, so I won't be able to share everything I learned. But the temple is somewhere where we can receive instruction for any calling that we have. President Jeppson is just such a great guy! Zone Conference was amazing as always and I look forward to the next one which I believe is in December.

 

Nothing else really happened this week. It was a good week though. I'm enjoying it.

Q of the W:

 

1.  Will you be able to listen to Christmas music?  Need any CD's?

 

I would love some Christmas music. I was actually thinking of some. I was thinking of Donny Osmonds Christmas, Michael Buble's Christmas, and also Mormon Tabernacle Christmas.

2.  Have you taken any naps yet on your mission so far?

 

A few accidental naps. A couple during our hour of lunch. I just grab something quick to eat for lunch and then use the last 30 min for a nap. But nothing else. I've had a good amount of energy lately!

3.  Need refills on Diovan or contacts yet?  It seems like it has been awhile...

 

I'm still doing alright. I'm trying to remember to take Diovan everyday. I'm trying to make the contacts last as much as I can. Maybe a refill on both for Christmas.

 

 

Love you mom! Miss you! Talk to you soon! Like in two months!!

 

-Justin