La Mesa!

Hello everyone!

This last week was a little bit of a change of pace for us. My companion had a stomach flu for a day or two, and once he got better, I got sick with a cold. We still worked, but we weren't able to do as much. We were able to have personal study this week, something we hadn't had for about two weeks since we were on an absolute sprint the last six weeks.

Last Tuesday though, we picked up all the new missionaries at the airport in the mission's big twelve passenger van. We basically took them on a field trip around San Diego while we waited for a few reassigned missionaries to arrive at the airport. In the past, the new missionaries would be assigned to their trainers before they arrived. But President Merritt wanted to have us get to know the new missionaries before we assign them.

So, after spending all day with them, we had a quick meeting with President Merritt and the SSTL's where we talked about which new missionary should go with each trainer. We started with a prayer and everything seemed to click so easily. 

After that, we got together with all the trainers and new missionaries and basically held an NBA draft-style game show, where we announced the assignments. It was an awesome and very spiritual experience.

Since we "bluewashed" into the La Mesa ward (meaning we replaced the Sisters that were here previously), we have been getting busy with meeting all of the ward members. We reached out to all of the ward council to set up lessons with them - we've already had dinner at members' homes 3 times! YSA ward was fun, but man, a regular family ward is great!

We are going back to the airport today to pick up two new missionaries - One is going to be speaking Farsi (Persian), and the other is a deaf Elder from Romania who will be speaking American Sign Language. He will also be getting hearing aids sometime this week, so he will hear sound for the first time. That will be awesome! As a mission, we are learning how to sign President and Sister Merritt's motto to Elder Serban, the incoming deaf elder:

"We love you now, we'll love in you twenty years, and we'll love you forever."

Elder Pettit

P.S.  I'll probably reply all to this email later with pictures from today. Hope everyone has a good week!