Hey!!!

Well this last week was pretty slow.  I don't really know why.  Cause of the new year probably haha.  It was still good though.  New Years was fun!  President said we had to be in by 7 that night so we went home and played BANG!  One of the Elders we are rooming with has it.  The newer versions have changed a lot of stuff in them!  That was fun though!

Last Monday night was fun too!  Did I mention it in last weeks letter?  We went to this thing called The Living Desert.  Which is pretty much just a zoo with a bunch of desert animals.  Except all the animals were asleep.  So that was a bummer.  They even have camel rides at this thing!!  Which we also didn't get to do cause they weren't doing them that night.  They have a ginormous toy train setup thing though.  It's pretty sweet.  The other cool thing they had was a carousel.  Which we did.  That was a party too!  We went with the Sister Missionaries and a Part Member Family from our ward.  Actually, the same family who let us use their computer to Skype.  They are great! 

Past that though, not much happened last week.  Sadly.  We spent a lot of time making a huge map of our area though.  It's massive.  Like, it takes up our whole wall.  And it has a all our members plotted on it.  And we are working on going through and labeling all the Actives and Less Actives.  It's a pain. 

We haven't been able to meet with Robert again either.  He's been super busy with work and stuff.  We try and see him pretty much every day.  We will get him one of these days. 

Anyways, that's what happened last week.  We still don't have our own apartment yet.  Probably not until the 18.  Like 3 days before transfers.  So we will have spent an entire 6 weeks on a pullout bed!  Yay! 

It sounds like you all had a fun week last week though!!  I'm totally jealous of Norms!! Uncle Kurt did send me a pic.  Man that place is delicious!  And Sadie and Lucie are totally spoiled. 

A lot of members have been telling us about Frozen.  It sounds great!  Can't wait to see it!!  

I can't believe Adam is in the bishopric!!!  That's awesome!!!  I'm totally gonna email him now haha.  He'll be fantastic!! 

And I'm so excited for Lucie!!  I've got to find someone to baptize on the 6.  Haha it'll be awesome! 

And K'Ann sent me an email.  I can't wait to go over and see them!!  I'll call them this week and set something up.  It'll be sweet!

Well, I love you guys!!  I don't have much else to write about.  Hopefully next week will be better.  Love you!!

-Elder Wise

The Desert

Hey guys! Man there is a lot to talk about.  Well let's see.  My new companion is Elder Weaver from Cedar City UT.  He's been out about 6 weeks longer than I have.  Last Wednesday all the missionaries getting transfered met at the mission office in highland, found their new companion, and then drove to their new areas.  There wasn't any meeting or anything.  We just kinda showed up, said hello, and drove off again. 

My new assignment is in the Park View Ward.  Cover all of Rancho Mirage, about half of Cathedral City, parts of Palm Dessert, and all of Thousand Palms.  It's a pretty big area and currently we live like 5 miles outside of it so we definitely get a car while we are out here.  It's kind of interesting. Both Weaver and myself were whitewashed in our previous areas, and now we've been whitewashed again!!  That means that we are opening up a new area.  I guess President figures we are just both pro at starting up new areas or something.  I personally feel like someone else should have the pleasure haha. 

As a result of being whitewashed, we have no investigators or anything at all really.  We've spent the last several days figuring out where we are, finding maps, getting ward lists, and all sorts of things.  And we aren't even finished mapping everything out yet.  It's a chore. 

To add to the frustration, we don't have our own place.  Like I said we are currently living outside our area in a tiny apartment with some other elders.  So we are on the floor.  Well, I'm actually on a hideaway bed, but It's probably worse then the floor.  There's  a spring that digs into my back all night long.  But oh well haha. 

One of the definite perks of the area though is the cars.  I thought the cars in Yucaipa were nice but they've got nothing on the stuff out here.  Let's see, I've seen a Ferrari 458, a McLaren MP4-12C, an Aston Martin, countless Porsche's, and several Maserati's.  It's kind of unreal.  The McLaren is probs my favorite though!  I want one. 

It sound's like everything is pretty fun at home!!  I haven't gotten the candy or music package yet but I'm sure it will get here pretty soon.  I can't wait!!  I finally got the Christmas countdown!! It's awesome!! Thanks so much!!  I love the little tree haha. 

Oh!! Big news!!  I think I'll still be able to go to Chris's wedding!!! I talked to President about it and he said I could! I just have to arrange a few things.  So hopefully that will work out!! 

Well, I can't really think of much else to say.  Sorry if I missed something haha.

Have a great week!!!  Love you guys!! 

-Elder Wise

P.S.  I'm super glad Jared is gonna go play chess!!!! ;)  Haha Francis will love it :)