It Was A Really Great Week!

February 12, 2015 - One Year Mark

What’s up! Hey how’s everybody doing? It was so good to hear from you all this week. I am always very excited for Mondays so I can read the emails and never send any back... haha jk. Well as you’re all aware with yet another holiday, the libraries aren't open so there are like 1.3 million missionaries here at the Stake Center so I hope to get some time today.

Well, this week was freaking sweet! As you know it was my birthday. Whoo! It was so fun! The whole day was just great even the lessons we had were really good so that just made it that much better. So to celebrate my birthday we worked! Yay, haha.  Elder B** did make me a b-day breakfast and set up all the packages I got around my desk while I was in the shower so that was pretty sweet. At 8 pm the H** family surprised me with a b-day party.  I know you already know about this from all the photos and videos they posted on Facebook. I guess I don't really need to say a whole lot, haha.  It was amazing, they are the best! When we got there Elder O and Elder B were already there which was a big surprise since their area is super far away from ours and they are on foot.  It was good to be able to have them there for it. 

Elder B made breakfast and put out b-day presents!

The H** family started off the night by giving me three gifts which I couldn't believe they did that.  They got me this super nice California beanie, a card, and a big poster with tons of pictures on the front and back of all the memories I had with them over the past six months that I have been here.  It had pictures of the old district crew!  I was so happy to receive these gifts.  Words really can’t describe how much it meant to me to have people show this much love and kindness to just some random white guy they have only known for six months. After that, they brought out a chocolate cake with fresas (strawberries) on top. I know from past experience that Hispanics like to throw people’s faces into the cake before they actually eat it, but it’s supposed to be a surprise. I wasn't really sure when or how they were going to do it, but they did catch me by surprise, haha.   My giant head took out literally half the cake, haha. I had frosting up my nose, in my eye and all over my hair, etc.  It was hilarious and I have never had that happen to me! So for the rest of my life, now ya’ll better watch out because I am going to be doing this from now on, haha. I’m turning Hispanic!  The cake, the gifts and all the photos we took really made the night awesome! So glad I have been able to know them and spend time with them.  They are so awesome.

Also this week was my hump day! Whoo! Nothing too exciting, but I did burn a really old shirt that was like black in the pits and had pen stains in the pockets and who knows what else on it.  haha.  I will send more pics later.

Is this a cake or cookie?  

This week was a really good week for teaching also! We had more lessons as a companionship than I have ever had here in the total six months while serving in Long Beach!  However, nobody still came to church....Oh well, they have their agency and I can’t force them to do anything. We did have a miracle find! While we were looking for a potential who lived on a street called Dawson, we were standing there looking like fools looking for a place that didn't exist. I saw a young girl walking towards us. I decided to ask her if she could help us find this address. It turns out she knew who it was and pointed us in the direction where we needed to go. However, before we left I decided to talk to her instead as a first contact, haha. I am so glad I did too because it turns out she has already been to church before and LOVED it. She is Catholic and said "I rate the Catholic church a 6 or 7 and you Mormons a 9," haha. Whoo! We never ever hear that! What’s also great is that she is best friends with a young member in the Branch named A**, so it all works out. We had a great lesson with her and she had some of the best answers and questions I have ever had any investigator ask me on my mission. Some of the questions she asked really made me wonder if she really was 15, haha. We had a lot of success teaching her and D** this week! Sadly, D** is moving back to Mexico so today we went by to meet him and take photos before he left so that he can show us to the missionaries down there, haha. Also this week, we dropped L** and C**. Both have been ignoring us for the past 3 weeks so it’s not worth our time, we don't really know what else to do with them. Things are starting to look good here and the transfer comes to a close this week! Can you believe it will be over this Sunday? I’m scared I might have to leave, but who knows.

Mom sent a cake mix, just missing a cake pan!!

Oh...haha, also before I forget, we had the craziest experience happen to us this week. I know I say this every week, but it’s true. On Friday Elder B and I were walking on Dawson Street as before and we came across a cat lying in the middle of the sidewalk. As we got closer and got a better look, the cat had both of its ears bitten off and its leg had been chewed up! It was all bloody and was just lying there licking itself and clearly couldn't hear us since it had no ears. We were concerned and felt bad for the poor thing so we decided to call Animal Control. They told us to wait there for an officer to come so we could help him find the cat. From here, the story only gets even crazier. After about 30 minutes of waiting on the curb, this ghetto white pickup truck pulls up and a huge fat white guy with a mullet jumps out and his first response was, "Are you waiting for me?" We asked him, “Are you animal control?  Really? Haha. He said, "NO! You called them!? This is my cat and he has ear mites and doesn't like to wear his cone..." What are ear mites!? And his cat had blood all over its head and no ears... Anyway, he grabbed the cat and threw it inside the house got back in his truck. He rolled down the window, looked me in the eyes and said, "I’ll see you on Sunday," and smiled and drove off. Haha. AHH!!!  So long story short, Animal Control came and hopefully the guy got ticketed because I’m pretty sure he did that to his cat. So yeah crazy stuff here!!

Well that's about it from me this week! Things are good, it was a great week. I just hope you all have a great week as well! Love you, and thanks for all the b-day surprises everyone!

Hasta luego,

Elder Woffinden 

Happy Birthday Elder Woffinden!!

Early Morning Run along the Pier.

Hola mi familia!!! What’s up??  How’s everyone doing this week?? It’s crazy to hear that it is in the high 60s back home in the middle of February! It’s just like here only a little cooler.  Ha-ha. Well this week is one of my favorite weeks of the year because my B-day is tomorrow. Whoo!!  22 years old…wow I am getting to be an old man... crazy.  I am also excited because it’s my year mark.  I can remember the days in Whittier when I never ever thought I would get to this day... but now it’s here and I can’t believe how fast time flies. Happy Valentine’s Day! Oh wait, I don’t have a valentine so I guess that one doesn’t apply to me.
 
Okay well to start, this week we had another rough week out here in Long Beach. There were a lot of good and positive things that happened, but the part I will first explain about is our area. So with our investigators, we are sadly losing them one by one.   L**, C**, and S** have completely fallen off the map. L**'s boss told her that if she wants to have a job she will work Sundays or lose her job. She has been ignoring calls, texts and appointments with us.  C** doesn’t live in our area which makes it really challenging because we can only rely on calling her to set up times, but her reply is always "Si Dios quiere"... which just means if God wants it to... which is always no!!  If you hear someone say that, they are saying "no" in reality.. just an FYI.  It’s been really hard not being able to teach them because it leaves us with so much extra free time to just roam around and knock and contact which is always the best ways to do missionary work. Ha-ha

Elder B and Ja at Buffalo Wild Wings

However, we do have an investigator named R** who is doing awesome! We have had three bomb lessons with her and they honestly have been some of the best lessons I have ever taught.  The spirit has always been super strong when we teach her. She has a baptismal date for the 8th of March, but that is if she will be ready.   We don’t have a whole lot of people to teach and we have had tons of ones and dones lessons and people saying they want to learn more.   We show up the next day and they tell us to get lost, so it’s a struggle.

Wagon rides with a friend!

We have a mission rule and standard where we have to teach every single night.  It doesn’t matter who, but we have to teach. You can’t just hangout or walk around doing nothing which I completely agree with. This rule has made us really develop some great relationships with the members! Especially la familia F**. Last night we had a very powerful lesson and were able to score two member referrals from them!  They have truly helped us out a lot here in the branch and have made it clear that they are grateful for all that we are trying to do for them. That is always good to hear!   We have been teaching D** every Tuesday and Friday!  This guy is bomb! Sadly he will be moving back to Mexico in 2 weeks so we won’t be able to teach him anymore.  He is one of the prepared ones we look for and will be baptized eventually. On Friday, we brought him a brand new hard back cover Bible with our names inside the cover, etc.  So when he does get baptized, he will remember us. ha-ha.  Not a whole lot has changed we are just really grinding it out here in LB.

Elder O. doing the BWW Challenge

Not a whole lot happened this week.  We did however add another missionary to the Buffalo Wild Wings champion ranks.   Elder O** did the challenge on Thursday and barely made it in time, he had 30 seconds remaining on the clock.  He has joined the ranks of me, Elder C and Elder P.   We have four Elder's pictures on the wall at the BWW representing the LB missionaries. Whoop!  Whoop!

The mission is going good! It’s very hard, but it’s very worth it at the same time. The language brings its own struggles and stresses, but I am improving each day especially with taking "classes" with some of the members every week.  Ha-ha.  I’m doing good!  I hope you all have a great week! Thanks for all you do and also thanks for the B-day package!! I just want to open everything already, but can’t till Tuesday!  Ugh!  

Have a great week, you’re all in my thoughts and prayers.

Love you!
Elder Woffinden

Love the Month of February!

Hey what’s up! Thanks for the emails! I always look forward to reading them every p-day. Sounds like things are pretty normal back home. Yes, very aware about Super Bowl Sunday, it was on my mind a lot and when I found out the Seahawks lost I was livid! Ha ha  Oh well, if I don’t stop now I’ll be talking about sports all day.

Well another week has come and gone and we're now in February!  It’s personally the BEST month in my opinion :) ha-ha   It is crazy how I am coming up on my year mark pretty soon! I had a sister from the MTC send me a letter last week and she was talking about how she only has 6 months left! WOW!!! That was a reality shock to me! But anyways, this week was a pretty successful one if we’re going to count numbers for us. Ha-ha We found 4 new investigators which was a huge blessing! We are in a desperate need for more people to teach. Three of the new ones were from referrals we received early last week so it was awesome.  Sadly, the most solid one is moving back to Mexico in 15 days for good... He wanted us to teach him at a local park which I am usually not down for because they usually never show up.  However, he was there like 30 minutes early.  Ha-ha. We had a great lesson with him.  I have never seen anybody so excited to contribute and share thoughts and beliefs in a lesson. Towards the end of the lesson we were sharing with him the BofM and explaining how it’s the key to receiving answers about what we have shared.   When he found out it was "free" and he didn’t have to pay for it he about cried. Ha-ha I’m not kidding he was super happy! This man will be baptized in Mexico, no doubt in my mind.

This past week we also found and have been teaching a woman named M** and she is from El Salvador. She is an older woman and she is so cool.   She has just tons of energy and just lets all 301 grand kids she has running around each lesson climb all over her pull her hair, clothes, jewelry etc. I don’t think she really understands what we are trying to teach her as it is a bit noisy during lessons. Who knows what will happen with her. We weren’t able to teach C** besides on Monday which was a real bummer! She is our Golden investigator but works a ton and doesn’t live in our area since she is the friend of a family in the Branch. However, we are planning on seeing her this week so I will for sure keep you updated next week.

As for L** she is really starting to struggle. We can see that we are literally in “spiritual” warfare out here. It’s no joke!  She has been having trials and problems popping up left and right and even stopped reading in the BofM.  We missed her all week since she cancelled three of our lessons.  Two of those lessons, we had a branch member planning to attend.  However, we saw her on Saturday night and were able to talk over some things and to help build her up.  Her biggest problem is that she just barely got a new job and she works every Sunday from 8- 1 pm, which is when church is... yeah big problem. We decided to teach Sabbath day early and to promise her that if she has faith and prays for help from God to get the courage to take Sundays off or to change her hours that the Lord will help her to come to church. She is a little skeptical about it, but I really hope and pray she is able to.

Well that’s about it for our investigators this week. Mom you asked about M**, she moved to TJ Mexico... so no more of her I’m pretty sure.  As for my new companion, we are doing great! We get along really well even though he is quieter than most of my other companions. He plays the guitar and is actually really good so I am hoping to take some free lessons here pretty soon.  Ha-ha. He is a good teacher and has very good Spanish for the time he has been out.

As for other events that happened. Last week Elder O**and his greenie Elder B**got called to the hospital to give an older Hispanic woman a blessing who was dying. Elder O**called me to come with him since he needed another Spanish speaker.  I agreed to go. It was super sad when we arrived and she was all hooked up on machines and gasping for air with her family all around her. I didn’t know what to say.  We gave her a blessing for comfort and especially for her family.  I was sad to hear that she died the next day.  I just hope her family is okay.  Anyways, that about sums it up for me.  I hope you all have a great week! Love you all lots!

Mucho Carino,
Elder Woffinden

Busy Week in Long Beach East

Heading out to teach!

HEEY!! What’s up! How is everyone doing this week?? I hope well! It was good to hear from a lot of you this week and I love following up on the events that are occurring back home especially con mis hermanas embarasadas.  Ha-ha. But anyways, this past week was really good! It was full of all kinds of great events that happened so I am looking forward to trying to sum it all up into one e-mail.

To begin, I will start with the missionary work. So as of right now we currently have three solid investigators and each of them has a baptismal date set for the end of February. Sweet!  So with L**, I will just say that she is super awesome and so prepared! She actually reads and prays when we commit her to do so which is a big change from the investigators I have been used to teaching. This past week she was out of town so we only saw her once, but we had a really awesome Plan of Salvation lesson with her that really helped answer the big questions of why am I here, where did I come from and where am I going. She really enjoyed the lesson and the member we brought with us really helped add to the spirit that was there and to helping her feel more fellow shipped and not alone.  We have a set with her tonight so I am very excited to get her going again towards her B-date in a month or so!

Ja hangin' with Michael J statue

Okay so also this week something amazing happened to us on Friday! We had just gotten back from dinner and I was feeling really sick because I’m pretty sure I have ruined my stomach from all the Hispanic food and hot salsas and spices every day.  I get sick every time we eat, but anyways, I had the impression to text a member in the branch who has a friend named C** who they have been wanting us to teach. We hadn't been able to teach her and so I figured we never would, but I decided to text the member to ask if we could maybe meet with her some time in the future.  Within like 20 seconds after sending the message, she responded back with, "She’s here right now! Come teach her!"  I was shocked because to be honest our night plans looked pretty bad, but now I was on Cloud 9!!  I was so excited. We taught her at the member’s home and set a B-date for the end of February.   She came to Stake Conference yesterday and is excited to meet with us this upcoming week! Pretty sweet miracle!!

Also this week on an exchange, I taught English to a group of Cambodians.  I was the instructor to help them study for their citizenship test coming up, it was hilarious!  I had no clue what they were saying.  All I did was read the questions and waited for their memorized responses in English.  Ha-ha   They were very loving and said I was" funny" so it was a fun experience.

Elder S heading home!

I want to tell you about some more crazy experiences we had this week.  On Thursday night, I was on exchanges with elder T** in the Cambodian area. We were off to a pretty good night when as we were walking down a busy street.  We saw a lady sitting at the bus stop bench crying. After getting a closer look, I was overwhelmed with the smell of alcohol and knew she had been drinking a lot. So we decided to talk to her to see if we could help her. We tried to talk and even shared a scripture with her to help lighten her mood.  All of a sudden, she looks at us and says, "Okay you can do one of two things here, go buy me another beer or watch me kill myself by walking in front of the next oncoming car in the road"   -__-    That was my facial expression as we had just been put into a terrible situation.   We tried to call her bluff and then she got up and started walking across the street with oncoming traffic. So we freaked out and chased after her getting her across the street alive.   Long story short, we walked her to a bar and pretended to follow her inside but didn't. She had given us a card with her son’s name and phone number and a note saying, "I’m sorry!"  We called him told him where she was and then left. It was insane! I am so glad I didn't have to witness her getting hit by a car.

P-day - visiting the music store.

Well on a better note to end my email.  On Saturday, we were able to attend a conference where Elder Ronald A. Rasband spoke. It was fantastic! Probably one of the best ones I have attended. He gave a lot of great advice and came here because he felt like he needed to help the Long Beach mission out which was pretty cool! But that's a quick review of my week. We had a lot of good times and bad times, but it was overall a great week. Hope to hear from more of you next week!!

Thanks for all the love and support.

Con mucho carino,
Elder Woffinden.

Adjustment to Senior Companion

I am going to miss my companion, Elder Allred!

Hey!!! How’s it all going?? Thanks for the email! And I’m so jealous that you were able to head down to St. George to escape the weather back home.  Wait, it’s actually pretty nice weather here so I’m not too jealous!!  Ha-ha. What else is new back home?

My first week as a senior companion was a looooonnngg one for sure.  Ha-ha.  My new companion is Elder B**   He is a really cool kid from Rexburg, Idaho. He served about 4 months in Peru at the start of his mission, but then got sick and was sent here to finish his mission. He is a really quiet guy and doesn’t say a whole lot, but he is a good obedient hard worker.  This week was a crazy one having to drop off the Elders to the airport, and then realizing that I was now in charge of the area.  This means all the planning, teaching, contacting etc.  The area isn’t thriving like I would hope it would and we don’t have a whole lot of people to teach.  We are still in this "finding mode" for like the past month.

Our district - The serious side of a missionary

The crazy side of missionaries!

We do have L** however and she is doing really well!! We had two super spiritual and powerful lessons with her on the First Vision and Book of Mormon then we followed up with a Gospel of Jesucristo lesson. She has been reading in the B of M and truly believes that we were an answer to her prayers when we came knocking on her door for the first appointment. However, she still doesn’t feel ready for baptism and says she needs to work on some things and with her relationship with God.  We had a church tour scheduled with her on Friday with a member and we were going to set a new baptismal date with her after we showed her the font and chapel, etc.  At the last minute, she cancelled on us which was a huge let down...I had been looking forward to that for like 8 or 9 days.  Super frustrating.  That pretty much sums up what Elder B** and my week has been like.  A week full of cancelled appointments, people hiding and pretending to not see us or know us and a whole lot of walking around.  I mean a ton!

Another positive note, we did find one new investigator named M** while we were out knocking by some formers and potentials.  She was very receptive and was willing to have us come in and teach her right then and there. We started to teach a lesson, but the lesson soon turned into the world’s biggest Novela of all time. It is very difficult to teach in another language when they start talking about their own personal affairs and are giving detailed explanations of their lives etc.  We did get another appointment set up so hopefully that one is a little more organized.

Elder C- heading home!

I am going to miss these guys!

It’s been a very long and rough week for us both, and I am so glad that it’s over. All the stress of being a senior companion really slapped me in the face and our area needs a lot of work.  The Spanish needs to improve quickly, but I feel that with all the new changes I have been making and how much more I actually have to talk now in lessons, contacts etc, it will improve as time goes on.  It’s still good down here in sunny CA! The weather is awesome and the beach is fantastic :) We go every day! Ha ha (jk)  Well, that’s it for me this week!  It is a holiday and tons of missionaries are waiting for computers here at the stake center. Hope everyone has a great week! You’re all awesome! Love you!

Mucho Carino,

Elder Woffinden

I am staying in Ximeno - Long Beach

Greatest district of Elders!  Half are leaving to head home tomorrow.

What’s up family!!!! How’s everything going?? This week was great! Pretty hard, but a good one for sure. So to begin, I will say the transfer facts so as of now I am......... staying here in Ximeno Long Beach and I am now a Sr. Companion! Whoo!  My new companion is Elder B.  I don't know a whole lot about him other than the fact he served a couple months in Peru, but got sick and has been here in Cali for like 2 months.  So, that's what happened with me! My whole zone and district got completely changed up sadly! Three new greenies are coming here tomorrow from the Mexico MTC! So it’s gonna be crazy here.  Ha-ha. I am excited for this new start and change that's about to happen, but I am going to miss Elder A** a lot! He was an awesome companion and really knew how to work hard and love the people here.

So, this week was one full of trunkie missionaries all packing up getting ready to leave and not a whole lot of success teaching and finding.  However, we still had some :)  So with P** (the miracle find up on Signal Hill) Elder C** and I taught her on Tuesday while our companions were at the temple. It was a really good lesson, but she really didn’t' show a whole lot of interest.  In fact, I only recall her really talking to us like two or three times. Ha-ha   We would ask her questions and try our best to get her involved, but she really didn't know what to say.    Maybe she just needs a little warming up before she opens up to talking.

Just like mom makes at home!!  Yum 

Later on Tuesday night, we received a text from the zone leaders with a referral of a girl they had contacted earlier in the day while walking in the street.  They said we should go by and meet her, and that's exactly what we did.  Her name is L** she is 25 and has a little girl and she is a miracle find! When we got to the door she came out and was so happy to see us! She told us she has lived her whole life blaming God for her problems and for never being there for her in her hard times, and also that she was tired of blaming God.  A couple weeks ago she decided to try to get God back in her life. The missionaries contacted her and she knew that was an answer to her prayer, and that's why she was so happy to see us finally! We had a really good lesson with her and her answers and participation were perfect. She knew what we were talking about was true and she accepted a baptismal date for the 31st of January!  However, with being here in CA all houses and apartments have locks and so we didn't get a chance to visit her again.  Our last lesson fell through because we weren't able to get a hold of her to invite her to church.  So we are going to have to move her date to the week after since she wasn't able to attend church.  We have dropped a lot of people so we don’t have a lot of solid investigators to teach right now, but I guess that’s what we are going to do this next transfer is to find and Baptize!

The week flew by so fast and when it was finally Sunday, I couldn’t believe it! Elder A** gave a really good talk in church and we had our investigators, R** and A** come to that!  The drought of nobody at church has finally been broken! Whoo!

Down a few pounds!!

I’m a little worried now since all the older missionaries are now gone, it’s now up to Elder T** and I to be the top Ximeno branch dogs... This means doing all the dirty work (aka translating, speaking in church, etc.) ha-ha.  That’s probably going to happen, but it will be good for us. So Sunday night was the missionary despedida for all those Elders going home. Last night was a really hard night for me and also a really good night! It was hard because ALL of my friends have or are leaving tomorrow to return home. (Elder Pecht) you don’t count you left earlier. Everyone is now dead.  Halford, Allred, Campbell, Tucker, Williams, Schooff, Taylor, Robinson and many many more and it was hard because that’s the only generation of missionaries I know out here so I am back to square one of making friends again. Ha-ha.   Last night was also one of the best nights because I saw everybody from all my previous areas!!! I saw T** (my recent convert) and all the families of Whittier and Compton that I have grown to love so much. Also investigators like J** from Whittier and people I never thought I would see again.  Words cannot describe how happy I was to see all of them! Especially T**. He started to cry and was thanking Elders Beck, Halford and myself for bringing him the gospel and for how it has changed his life in many ways. He has been struggling up in Whittier, but last night really boosted him up. The mission is awesome!! I can’t even describe how good it makes you feel to see people again you have taught or have come to know and love.  It’s amazing!!  I can’t wait for my despedida, a year from now, so I can call them to come down and see them all again!

Well that about summed up my week. I’m doing really good and I am very nervous, but also excited for what’s to come in the future. Tomorrow is a new day so pray and wish me luck as a Sr. Comp! Ha-ha   I hope you all have a great week and stay safe!!  Love you all,

Con mucho carino,
Elder Woffinden

A New Year!

Decorating for the branch New Year's Eve party!

What’s up!!! Happy New Year everyone!! Wow 2015 is here!! I have already had the craziest year of years!! It’s only been 5 days.  Ha-ha.  Sorry my email today is going to be a little crazy so just bear with me here.  Today Elder C** and I did the Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin Wing Challenge!!   This is 12 spicy wings in less than six minutes! It was incredibly difficult to do. I have been eating spicy foods for the past 11 months day after day, but this made my whole face go numb and I felt my nerves in my hands and feet start to tingle the whole time. Ha-ha. Both Elder C** and I did it in like 5 minutes and won our t- shirts and our pictures on the screen in the restaurant.  The best part of it was that the wings were free since we did it. WHOO!! So much fun.

How many missionaries can we get in one car?  Looks like trouble!!

Okay well to start off on Wednesday night, the 31st we spent our night at the church setting up decorations with globos (balloons) and streamers and all sorts of sweet decorations in the gym for the Branch’s New Year’s Eve party! It was freaking sweet! We spent 3 hours hanging everything and doing all the work while we had the HNA's in the branch just freaking out because it wasn't how they wanted it. Ha-ha Oh well, in the end it looked great! There was a pro DJ there, too and they danced all night… or so we were told because we weren't able to attend since it didn’t start until 9:30 pm... all work and no play!!... Ha-ha.  While we were blowing up balloons, I had one explode right in my eye and it was bad.  My blood vessels all broke and I couldn't see for like an hour after.  It was funny, but pretty painful!

Choir practice for our district!  We sang during the holidays to everyone. 

Okay well New Year’s Day comes along. We finished up with all our usual meetings and then headed out to work at around 4 pm. We had an appointment set at 4 with a guy named A** so we were pretty excited to get there and talk to him. Sadly, he wasn't home so we decided to go visit a potential that lives in the house behind his. We came to a gate that was about up to my waist, and I was in front of Elder A** so I opened the gate and we started to head over to his door. All of a sudden I saw in the corner of my eye a black and white figure walking towards me it wasn't running it was just walking slowly and that's when I realized it was a dog! Ugh... was all I could think of when it got to about my foot and without any growling barking or anything immediately jumped up and bit me right in the worst area possible to get bit!!! The dog went right for the knock- out punch with success!! I was in agony, but out of reaction I punched the dog square in the face and it made a little whimper noise and we started to head for the gate to escape! But the dog came right back and bit into my right hamstring and ripped my pants all down the back, by this time I am beyond furious so I took off my backpack and just swung it like a bat completely annihilating the dog into the ground and so we were able to escape. I was in pure pain and just lay on the lawn trying to get my breath. Blood started to stain my underwear and back of my leg which freaked me out so we had some missionaries come with a car and take us to the urgent care so I could be inspected for rabies and any other damage. Thankfully nothing severe, but I have some nasty bite marks and cuts which make walking very unpleasant, but I am alive and had my first dog attack!! Sweet ha.  So that's how I started my new year off.  Whoo!! In the urgent care!

A little "fake" snow for the holidays.

So for the work we have been doing, it’s been pretty tough. We don't have any investigators right now. We have just been teaching lessons here and there to potentials that clearly don't want anything to do with the gospel.  We have been trying our best to work on finding by contacting or going by our members to seek referrals because that's the best way to find people to teach, but have been having very little success. Crazy that Elder A** goes home in about a week!! I feel pretty bad because we don't have the most success in the world for him to go out with a bang, but we are doing our best and that's all that matters.

Temple Day.  Love these guys!

We did find a super sweet potential on Friday while we were contacting on Signal Hill (which we never do) since it’s super far away to walk or even bike to. But as we were walking the streets, I could see a woman walking with her three little kids, and I was impressed to go talk to her. I ignored the thought at first, but kept getting the impression to do it so we did. Turns out her name is P** and is super cool!  We had a really good contact with her and found out that she lives far away from us, but said she has all the time to listen to us but had to go at that moment. What ended up happening was we got her address and she said to come by anytime during the day!! Sweet! Maybe this could be the one who takes the steps necessary to be baptized! Who knows I hope so!  Also, we have been working very hard with the LA's in the ward and especially the T** family which have five boys.  We have been helping them read the B of M and try to start praying on their own, but man it is hard!  Video games, movies, music and all of the above just dominate their life which makes them not willing to do anything. We are being patient and are trying to help them as much as we can because in honesty they are solid guys they just need a little push.

Well, that's about all that happened this week for me! I wish I could say more about investigators or lessons we have been having, but honestly we just have been going through a really long dry spell and haven't been seeing the success like we would have hoped. But that doesn't mean to give up! The Lord has us go through trials so that we can gain experience and grow stronger for the trials we will have later on in life.  I'm doing okay so I don't want you to worry about me! The mission is good! I love it and I have learned so much.  I am happy I decided to go and have no regrets.  I hope you all have an amazing week! My thoughts and prayers go to you all back home!!

Nos Vemos!!

Love, Elder Woffinden

The branch mission leader was Mr Olympian
in 1990.  You know how Ja loves a good work-out!