December 12, 2011

Hi Mom!

Ok to answer some of your questions:

I Serve on the White Oak YSA Ward and The Rosedale Ward. We go to church at 11:00 in Rosedale then we leave after sacrament meeting  and go to the YSA Ward that starts at 1:00 and stay for the whole thing. We live in the Rosedale ward and its probably about 3 miles by 3 miles since they split it. It used to be one of the biggest in the mission! Now i think its probably the second smallest, but we have the most members! Haha. The YSA ward is a tri stake ward, pulling leadership from all stakes. It is based in the East Stake, but we meet in the South Stake. We cover the Bakersfield Stake. The YSA ward is the biggest ward in California (Area wise) with probably 700-1000 eligible members. Some choose to go to their home ward, so its a little different. We have the biggest Zone in the mission, Covering 11 Wards and 1 Spanish Branch, and 26 missionaries including us. It’s a lot of work!! :) I love it.

It is about 2 hours from here to Ventura. We take the 99 down over the "Grapevine" which is just a huge road going over the mountains. It is WAY steep in a lot of parts. It’s so fun to drive! There are TONS of trucks going over it all the time. It’s like 4-6 lanes each way. The mission home is up on a hill overlooking Ventura and the Channel Islands. It’s beautiful!

There are no temples in our mission, so we can't go except once a year (In our birth month) or with investigators that we have baptized that are going to the temple, or with our companions on their birthdays, etc. It wall works out! For most of the mission we go to L.A., but up here in Bakersfield we can choose L.A. or Fresno. Part of our Zone actually covers some of the Fresno Mission, so last week I was in Brennan's mission! It was way cool.

As for Christmas:

To: All Missionaries

You may telephone your parents or guardian on Christmas Day (Sunday, December 25th). These phone calls should be kept “short (preferably no longer than 30 or 40 minutes)” (see Missionary Handbook, 37) and should not distract from your missionary service. Please follow the guidelines below when you call home this one time: 

If Calling Within the United States 

You are authorized to use the mission-provided cellular phone to make your call.

DO NOT USE INTERNET VOICE OR VIDEO OPTIONS LIKE SKYPE (PLEASE DO NOT ASK FOR EXCEPTIONS)     ·        

As always, these calls should not create an inconvenience to members or others. Neither missionaries nor members should purchase any additional equipment in order to make these arrangements. Weekly letters home should continue to be by postal services or e-mail only.

This is just what President sent us today, so we will probably be calling around the afternoon sometime, since we have church from 11:00-2:00, we will probably be calling around 3:00 - 4:00. We're having Christmas at Bishop Kesler's house, and apparently we can use our phones and theirs, so we can do it pretty quick. Sound OK?

As for this week, it was pretty good! We had ZLC and it (as always) was wonderful. We watched part of the video they showed at the Christmas Devotional - the one with Mary - the we had a great evening with the Castro's. They are so sweet! I can hardly wait for you to meet them.  We had a great discussion the next day, and enjoyed learning from President and the assistants.

We went to Delano for an exchange there and it was WILD!!! Delano is Crazy, and I think the church is a little less true there. Haha just kidding. It is just a predominately Spanish community and its very backwards. I saw a 19 year old breast feed her 3 year old. I quickly put my tiny book of Mormon over my eyes! Its a different place. When you come to visit, we will NOT go there. :) We also sent home a missionary for "Medical Issues" this week. That was tough, but it' what he wanted. So, we got a new one on Saturday! Its great.

Umm as for Christmas. I don't think i really want anything. I know I mentioned a camera? But i understand if that’s asking too much. Don't worry about it. I think thats it, just whatever else you think! :) Thanks so much momma! You are the best.

I'm sending home a package in a little over a week. Our wad mission leader is going to Rexburg for Christmas, so i'm sending home some junk that i want, but don't need right now. I'll also send some stuff for you guys. I love you all so much! Any requests? hahah!

I’m loving the 25 days of Christmas things! It is so much fun! :) Thank you so much.

The Pictures are of Beehive and the destruction and also the decorations we put up, and sister ricks. There were two mirrors in the back room where we emailed and i walked past and my coat caught them and the just tipped over and shattered in 1.672 Billion pieces. The Billboard is one in Delano. That should give you a taste of how the city is.

Well, that’s all for this week! Chase came to church with the kids all by himself! Miracle. He is so ready for Saturday. :) I'm happy as a clam. I love you all!

Elder Matthew Monk

  California Ventura Mission

          Jan. 2011 - Jan. 2013