Dear Family, writing Jan 28. 2013
The weather is a little funky here in Far Rock. We had a big
snowstorm last Monday night. I saw snow on the beach. It was unbelievable. One
minute there was snow, the next there was sand and water. So crazy. The next
morning we decided to go around and shovel snow for people as a service
project. So that was pretty cool. The rest of the week was mostly just super
cold weather. In the 20s and a really cold wind chill. The wind is the worst
part. If it wasn't windy, it wouldn't be bad at all. But the wind is killer.
Then on Sunday, it was in the 40s or 50s. No wind at all. It was warm compared
to last week. And this morning it was snowing again. So I don't know what's
going on with the weather. It's ridiculous. I just know that I have a nice,
warm jacket that my mother helped me buy. And thermals to wear underneath my
shirt that keep me nice and warm.
I was sick for a bit last week, but it was really just a
cold, I'm doing fine now. It's been pretty cold recently so I've still got a
bit of a runny nose, but nothing too bad. I just keep drinking those fluids.
That's about all I know how to do.
Here in the branch I play the piano every week for Primary.
It's only for a half an hour. Yesterday (Sunday) I found myself teaching all
day. I played for primary then found out the young men had no teacher. So Elder
Munday (he's an AP right now) and I taught the young men a short lesson. Then I
taught the youth Sunday school class with Elder Munday again. Then they have
seminary after church here, that way more kids don't have to struggle to find
rides to come. The seminary teacher is out of town for the next three weeks and
the elder who was going to teach it had to do an interview. So I went and
taught an impromptu lesson on John 6-9 with that elder's companion. I just
teach youth lessons on the spot, that's all I do on Sundays. Because I had no
preparation for any of those, we just saw a lack of teacher, so we jumped in.
They were pretty good lessons though. Elder Munday and I make a solid team.
The mission president has decided that we need to have a
member attend every lesson that we give. This member lessons thing is pretty
tough. I think in a stronger branch it might be easier. But it's rough here.
Lack of English speaking members and sound knowledge of church doctrine. You
have no idea how many crazy people we have here in the branch. It's scary. I am
almost afraid to bring investigators to church because I don't want the members
to tell them crazy things and scare them.
Aside from that, things are going well here. We actually got
to go to the temple last Saturday! The youth in the Rockaway Branch were going
to go do baptisms for the dead and they didn't have enough
Melchizedek Priesthood to go with them. We got permission from President
Calderwood and we got to go! Manhattan Manhattan Moroni
Not too much else happened last week. Scott Madden is
getting ready to be baptized next Sunday. That will be my first baptism, I'm
really excited about that. We taught Lisa and Terrance again, although Terrance
was busy working on things to put their house back together. We had an awesome
lesson with Lisa about the Gospel of Christ. She's pretty much ready to be
baptized, we just have to work with Terrance a bit more. They are such a cool
family, I love them.
Things are getting exciting, we're going to be working more
in the areas that the Mormon Helping Hands worked in. Our plan is to go around
and see how people are doing, offering our help either with things to be done
on the house or to hear a special message about Jesus Christ and eternal
families. I'm really excited to get started with it.
So yeah, life is good out here. I'm not looking forward to
the snow that started earlier today, but I guess that's life. Snow isn't so bad
once you get used to it. I love you guys and I hope you're doing well in California
Love,
Elder Erickson
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