It's been a good week.
I was at our parent's home sunday night. Dad and I talked in his office for a long time that night, probably until about 3am. What about? Well, I had initially gone to his bedroom to help him with an earlier request. He wanted to connect to Instagram. He had a two-pronged reason for doing so. I only thought it was because he wanted to follow his family, and more importantly Briana, for Cohen updates that she adds daily, but then he surprised me when he said he also wanted to learn how to post onto Instagram. He didn't actually post anything, he just observed, and copied down notes, as I showed him how I post onto Instagram, posting almost all the selfies I had taken at last week's birthday party. He wanted to learn for his own personal paintings and drawings that he has done. He followed Briana, Sarah, you and me. Well, that probably lasted an hour, then we discussed sending pictures using the Google Photos app. He took notes, and now he should be able to do it. I showed Dad the private videos that I have put onto YouTube. Then, we discussed blogs. We didn't actually set up a blog for him. But I found out that he wants to publish pictures and articles and books that he has written onto his own blog. I showed him the countless blogs I have. In all, it was a good conversation (despite the time it took, and the hour of which I went to bed).
Sarah picked me up early the next morning. We did some errands before I had to be at the Greyhound bus station in San Bernardino at 10:20am. We got breakfast together and ate in the car in the parking lot. Well, I left her, kisses and hugs complete and entered the station. They checked my bags (not so thoroughly, but checked nonetheless) and I waited to board. I was one of the first, as I didn't have luggage to put under the bus. I quickly got a window seat in the middle of the bus. I noticed that some people had blankets, and I soon found out why. The crevice in between the wall and the window was bellowing air, cold cold air (which I'm grateful for since we were travelling to the desert). But it was non-stop and soon I was freezing, wishing I had a blanket or something to rest my arm on the crevice. Well, quick thinking later, I reached into my backpack and pulled out my pajamas. I wrapped my right arm (the arm touching the crevice) in my pajamas, which gratefully shielded me from the frost.
There were many people on the bus. Thing is, they tell you there is free WiFi, but what they don't tell you is you cannot stream any type of movie. I tried Hulu first. Then Netflix. Then YouTube. Lastly, the videos off of lds.org. All to no avail. I wasn't too happy about that, but oh well, what can you do. I was on my computer from the ride from San Bernardino to Blythe. In Blythe I talked to Sarah, and she told me to be social. When I first got onto the bus, a man sat next to me and I quickly told him that he could use the outlets that were connected to the wall. Well, after the Blythe stop of 30 minutes, I got into a conversation with the man next to me. Turns out, he was gay, but he wasn't weird. He told me he loves volleyball and was invited to the Randall Building in Fontana to play with the Tongans, because he too came from Tongan heritage. He was travelling to Georgia, all on the Bus, all in two days. He wanted to take the bus to get the experience of travelling across country. He was going to live with his Aunt to help take care of her, and then fly back to be with his husband.
It was cool. I found out that they want to adopt. But first he needed money to do so. He also told me about how they wanted to have surrogate child. I had an idea of what he was talking about, but I asked him just the same what he meant by it. Anyways, he was a good guy. We got to Phoenix, where the scheduled wait time was 45 minutes, but it lasted an hour or so, and they switched buses on us. I really disliked the Phoenix Greyhound bus station. They had a deli, where I picked up a sandwich, but what really got me was that they were very unclear as to what was happening. It was definitely a bigger station than San Bernardino, and there were tons of people there. I was so confused as to what was happening. They finally called us to board, after a long wait. And then we got onto the new bus. Another girl sat next to me but I didn't talk to her, as we only had a 20-30 bus ride into Mesa. There, Uncle Jesse was kind enough to pick me up and drive me to where I had parked my car at the Friday before.
I learned upon arrival, that the whole Williams family had been sick over the weekend. They had sinus issues, headaches, and other different things. Gracie stayed home from school several days this week. On Friday, they found out that she had a double ear infection. Kerry and Jesse went back to work the following days, and Gracie stayed home with me the other days that she was sick.
On Monday morning, Mesa Public Schools got a hold of me by phone (while I was still in Fontana). They said I could go to their district office in Mesa any of the following days to fill out paperwork for the Job Aunt Kerry was able to get for me. I did on Tuesday. I went to the office that day, filled out the Application to be an Instructional Aide (IA) at Mesa High School. Then I filled out the tax forms and other forms that they had for me. Then, I took a picture for my badge, and they took my fingerprints one by one. Fortunately, since I had my fingerprint card, the fee was waived. They told me to add my college transcript and resume to the application, which I did while I was there after the fact, and also fill out a form online for retirement that all Arizona employees must fill out. Then I was done. I decided to go to the sixth floor of the building and visit Shaunna's sister-in-law Debbie Lee. She is such a nice lady, and she gave me some leads into apartments I should look into. She told me to go to the MCC (Mesa Community College) Institute building. Which I did after I talked to her. There were three postings on a bulletin board in there of which I took pictures. Also, that building reminds me of the Rancho Institute building, but much much bigger. I then went to DI in Mesa, where I bought some $4 jeans (mine had rips in them). I also went to the Mesa Deseret Book. Nice place.
I spent Wednesday finalizing an application for an Online Tutoring company. Sarah helped me with content and I sent it in. And Thursday, I spent the day looking at and comparing apartments in the Mesa area, including $$, amenities, ward and stake we would be in, and websites. I got it on a google doc and spreadsheet.
Aunt Kerry was home on Friday. She took Gracie to the doctor to get checked out. I went to the Gilbert Barnes and Noble. Gracie had warned me that the building was two stories. I went to check to see if they had an NES Special Education Test book, which they didn't have. The B&N is in a mall called San Tan. The day before, I had gone to the Deseret Book in Gilbert. I like it, but not as much as the Mesa one. I have been wanting to get the biography of Russell M. Nelson. Sarah and I made a goal to read and study all of his talks since he was called as an apostle and now prophet. I spent the day learning about him, reading a talk and later the biography that was printed with the Ensign when he became president of the Church.
Yesterday was fun. I got to go to the temple. Sarah went at the same time as me, but to the Redlands one. BTW, I posted several birthday wishes to you and Sarah on Instagram and Facebook. I'm sure you can see them. I am honestly grateful for the prayers that you offer on my behalf while you are on your mission. I can surely feel them. Later that day, I posted a side by side picture of Sarah and I at the temple. My time at the temple was not as eventful as the first Gilbert experience. But stuff I noticed is I was in the first endowment room (the first time I was in the middle one, which meant now windows). This endowment room had windows on the left side. But as they showed the movie, outside curtains covered them, and after the video, they uncovered the windows. It was super cool. I sat in the way front, and the crowd only filled up half the session. I also got there early so I could print out a name I got from Sister Garcia from Fontana.
When I came home, I found Kerry and Jesse cleaning the house. While I was at the temple, Aunt Ann took Gracie to the movies and out to eat. However, she came soon after I came home. I offered my help and Jesse asked me if I could cook several things. The first was two loaves of meatloaf. This was the first time I ever made it. I looked at the recipe, though, after he asked me to make it, and it is pretty simple. If you've never made it, you should try making it. (Although, I am unsure of how it tastes as we were saved it for another day). I also formed three hamburger patties, and after I cooked the ground beef for taco meat and other things, Jesse asked me to make them. Throughout, I was listening to conference talks and things as I was doing it. We ate dinner. I had it between bread, Kerry had a ground beef salad, and Jesse had it between two leaves of romaine, I think. I was glad to help, though.
I went to a different branch today, the Liahona 3rd Branch. They meet in the building that is right next to the Mesa Arizona Temple. (However, the Mesa Temple is undergoing renovations for the next two years or so. I was able to meet the branch president, and he showed me where Sunday School was being held. Of course, I told him about how I am trying out branches and about how I already attended the Guerrero Park branch. He, of course, said that this Branch was better. Well, I really enjoyed Priesthood meeting, out of all three meetings. Many people introduced themselves to me in Priesthood. We learned about Job (or Hobe, in Spanish), in Sunday School. It was a good lesson.
During Sacrament meeting, I had the thought to contact my first companion in the mission, Elder Steven McLaws. I did, and he invited me over for dinner tonight. It was a great time. They fed me stuffed cheese ravioli with veggies and mashed potatoes. I got to know his four kids: Megan, Melody, Dallin, and Zachary. Their oldest, in that order is 5. I had lots of fun getting to know them and talking to each one with their own little personalities. His wife is pregnant with their 5th. He has a nice house, with a big backyard. We went outside and played a game called Sharks and Fishes. The kids had a lot of fun. We also kicked a soccer ball around, and the kids played on their swing set. They definitely have a nice house. It's so new. We then came inside and played two games of Uno with the kids. Then I said my goodbyes and E. McLaws called me his "Hijo." Also, during the prayer on the food, he said, "We're glad to have juancito here with us to share in this meal." We talked about what we were up to and stuff. I love E. McLaws. He was a good dad. Still is. Haha.
As far as branches to attend, I'm still leaning towards Guerrero Park Branch. But who knows where we'll actually end up.
I love you Brother, So Much. You're a great motivation to me. I'm grateful for the things you are doing out there. Happiest of Birthdays to you.
Send me a line, please!
Your big bro,
John
