I’m sorry for the absence in
my letters, but I would like to inform you that I am still alive and
still doing the Lords work. I didn’t even realize how many weeks had
passed since I last wrote. Times seems to just be flying right now. It
seems like I just got into this area, but I’ve been here for a whole
month now! I’m starting to realize that this mission isn’t going to last
forever, I have 7 months left. It’s weird because now the members are
starting to ask me what my plans are when I get home, like what? I’m not
going to go home, I still have a lot of time left... oh wait. Even
though 7 months seems like a long time, I know it will be gone before I
know it, that’s what it seems like what happened with the last 17
months, holy cow... where has all the time gone, I honestly can’t tell
you.
My companions just finished his training,
so I’m considered his “mom” or his “greenie breaker” it’s pretty fun
being with a new missionary. It makes me feel old. I think this is the
first time in my mission where I’m starting to feel old. There has been a
huge influx of new missionaries to replace all the ones that just went
home. All the new missionaries have Samsung tablets, while older
missionaries like myself have iPads, it’s really interesting to see all
the people with Samsungs. I often see other missionaries look at me when
I say, “ yeah last Christmas this happened” or “ last year it rained a
lot” most of the people in my zone are all in their training. It feels
good to feel old for once haha, even though sometimes it feels like I
just got here.
My companion, E. Stone, has
been killing me. This boy is some sort of Olympic athlete. He always
rides his bike like it’s a race. He use to be into cross country and so
he has a build for endurance. I feel like I’m a pretty fast biker, and
most of my companions I’ve had always tell me to slow down, but this guy
is nuts. Out of pride I never tried to show that I was struggling
keeping up. I’ve kept up with him pretty well most days, even though I
can taste blood in the back of my throat. This is the biggest biking
area I’ve had on my mission. The church is 4 miles away, all up hill.
Everything’s up hill here. I’ve been surprised the last couple days
because it feels like Elder stone is slowing down and it’s easier for me
to keep up. But in reality he is still going just as fast, but I’m
starting to get use to it. I’m pretty sure we bike at least 20 miles a
day, it’s honestly crazy.
I’m sure most of you
are reading this letter, snuggled up in a nice comfy blanket, with a cup
full of Swiss miss enjoying the fall weather... well let me tell you,
In the last month we have stayed mostly in the 100s, I’ve been sweating
so much! Luckily for me we are finally getting down to the 80s this
week. It’s funny I sometimes look at Elder stone and say “ it’s going to
be another hot 2 summers for you!” I’m excited that I’ll be able to dip
out for this next summer and dodge most of the sunny southern Cali
heat. What a blessing.
We have been working
with so many cool people, I honestly love this ward, and the people. I
think that my attitude has changed in the last part of my mission, I’m
just enjoying every second. It’s hard, a mission is the hardest thing
I’ve ever done, but I’ve never been so happy. I love my mission. I
seriously love it. I just wished I learned to love it earlier on, but
maybe that’s just how it works, that’s probably why missions are 2
years, for boys like me.
This weekend was
Lauryn’s baptism, I didn’t get permission to go, and I was pretty bummed
out. I put 5 months of work into that girl. Elder Stucky came back for
the baptism, he said he wanted to take me out to breakfast with my
companion. I was super excited, Elder Stucky is one of my favorite
companions, we had so much fun together. He showed up on Saturday
morning and said that he parked the car down the street. To my surprise
it was Lauryn’s car! It was so awesome! I got to have breakfast with
Stucky and Lauryn even though i didn’t get to go to the baptism. I can’t
express quite how I felt at that moment. Me and Elder Stucky are
Lauryn’s original Elders, so it was something super special. It almost
brought tears to my eyes with the amount of joy I felt. I realized that
this is why people serve missions. I am so grateful for what I have
learned, the people I’ve met, and the person I’ve become. Serving a
mission is the best choice I’ve ever made for my life, and I’m excited
to be able to give it my all the next 7 months. I love the Lord, and I
love this church. I hope you all can find the joy that the Lord is
offering you in your lives, there truly isn’t anything sweeter, I feel
like I can stand with Lehi of old and testify of the sweetness of the
tree of life. There is no greater joy.
Until next week,
Elder LeBaron
The
last photo is a picture of the Flores family, we’ve been working with
them for a while, we were speaking in church and they finally came, we
wore floral ties to celebrate.
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