Hey Jacob,
So, you guessed it! I'm in Arizona. Have been since Tuesday night. The whole of getting things moved out and cleaned since Sunday was CrAzY!
Well, luckily for us, and something that saved us was Isaac Garcia. Last week, when we went to the youth baptisms, he volunteered his time to come help us on Monday. Well, Sunday we were feeling a wee bit overwhelmed with moving, and we got the text for help on Monday. We both hesitated in accepting the help, because we didn't feel any close to packed. But he came, at 10am to help us. And we are so grateful he did. He even said that he bought his truck (that he used to help us) for all the service he could offer. Well, we bought a storage unit that is super close to where our apartment was while he was with me. It was a 10' x 10' unit, and while I was signing all the paperwork for the unit, he unloaded all on his own, all the things that he had brought in his truck on the first trip there. And we had had a lot of stuff. He surprised us with how helpful he was. We had furniture like a mattress and taken apart bed frame, a table we used as a desk, a mirrored coffee table, a five drawer-ed dresser, a tv stand and TV.
We have been doing our best to sell our furniture since Saturday (I think) on craigslist. We had found out on Sunday that a family in the ward needed a couch so actually, the Charry's and Moncaleano's came to pick it up from our apartment to take it to the Morales family. Then, Sister Harris came to buy the rest of the meat that was in the refridgerator that we hadn't eaten that honestly was worth a lot. Terribly, we had had totally forgotten about her visit and were on our way elsewhere when we got the text that she was at home, and traffic was bad.
Then, we had asked Isaac if he could come later in the day (after the meat was sold) to pick up and help with the Fridge. Well, he came, and he brought his dad, the bishop, and his mom and his brother, Jacob. Boy were they all a blessing to us in the hour or two that they were with us. Isaac and his dad took control in helping me dismantle and rebuild the refridgerator outside our house (because, I don't know if your remember, the the fridge was too wide to fit through our front door without taking the doors off). Then they helped us take it to storage. Sister Garcia and Jacob helped us pack the boxes that were already packed in the car to take to storage, so it was amazing that she was there to help as well.
All that help was a Godsend, for sure. And since Tuesday, we have sold a little more than half our furniture. Sis. Garcia actually told us to try Facebook market because it was faster and reached a lot of people, and we have had lots of success with it.
So that was Monday. I told Aunt Kerry that I was going to leave Tuesday afternoon at 3pm for Gilbert. Well, time just went by so fast on Tuesday, it was super crazy. We had time to go over the list of stuff I needed to pack and make sure I brought with me, plus extra stuff that was able to fit in my car. I did my best to help Sarah with all the rest of the stuff, but time was extremely not on my side. Finally, after doing all I could, and then being told that I must go, I left 45 minutes after the scheduled time of departure. I felt so bad because after all that I could do til the scheduled time, it seemed like I was leaving Sarah with this monumental task and not taking the responsibility I could take. Sarah finally did finish packing and cleaning the apartment the following day, 1 day later than we had wanted to. She had tons of help from the sister missionaries in the ward. They loved being there with us, because they definitely loved talking to Sarah. Sarah made all the hard decisions of what to finally pack and what to finally get rid of.
I also felt bad, because I didn't really have time to say bye to mom and dad since Sunday. I had left without doing so.
I left for Gilbert at 3:45pm and enjoyed the few sights on the way, like Blythe, the Colorado River, Casino Morongo and the windmills, the hundreds of them, the cactus that seem to populate when you pass the border. After that, it got dark. I didn't actually arrive til about 10:38 or so, and the parking here can be horrible after 6pm, so I parked super far away from Kerry and Jesse's house. But I made it, 5 and a half hours later (or so). Gracie was there to greet me at the door, along with their dog Melanie. Kerry and Jesse had already gone to bed. Right before I got to Gilbert, I was talking to Sarah and then to mom right before I got there. I just updated her on our lives.
The next morning, the tios were up early because they had to go to work and they have made a tradition of eating breakfast as a family. I told Kerry that mom sent her greetings. Kerry had started work already and Jesse also has work during the week. So, I have been spending a good amount of time with Gracie. She shared an Anime episode of One Piece with me.
I have been studying for the NES Special Education test, which I plan to take tomorrow at 10:30am (prayers are always helpful). Every morning, after spiritual study, I took a 150 practice test that I owned. One each day since I've been here. I need a 220, the first and second day, I took the test with answers that I could check as soon as I answered a question. Those two days, I got a 221 and 217. Friday, Sarah encouraged me to sit down and take my last and final practice test I own and seriously complete it without answers given to me after. I took it in the scheduled time (actually, I finished it in half the time) and I got a 228! I was so happy! It was definitely a great morale booster. Especially since I have been feeling a bit disheartened. I feel that I will do well tomorrow. And I'm grateful for the encouragement from everyone, including my wife, my parents, and the tios and Gracie.
Testing has taken a lot of my days, but I have done things in the evening as well. The first night, I went with Gracie to their ward building. I really wanted to meet the bishop, but he wasn't in office at the time. We then went to the supermarket Safeway to get the family oatmeal, which is their normal breakfast meal.
It's been fun being with Gracie. The first day she actually sat down with me and we took the 150 question practice test together. Talking it out with her was actually really helpful. On Friday, the tios asked me to take their dog Melanie to the Doggie Daycare for a free 4 hours. We dropped the dog off. It was quite funny, they asked Gracie to fill out some paperwork, and I noticed she put me on their as a contact and spelled my name the way Peruvians spell my name: Jhon. Actually, she spelled Melanie's name something like: Meline. She had prefaced it to me saying she doesn't really enjoy spelling. The person at the desk wanted Credit Card info but we got by without having to give it to them since it was the dog's first time there. They explained that the they have a process of introducing all the dogs there one at a time so as not to spook the dogs and cause accidents. They also said that those things could take the full 4 hours, and that the dog would be playful at first when we picked her up but then would be exhausted later. We picked up Melanie and she actually peed on the floor. Before, we went to McDonalds to get Gracie a drink and then we went to the Goodwill that is right next to the daycare for a few minutes. I love Gracie to death.
Gracie and Kerry have been working out a lot recently. I told you about Lennis sp?, I think in previous letters. Actually, looking back, I don't know if I did. Lennis is their trainer that they see twice a week. Well, on my first trip here, when Gracie told me about Lennis with Aunt Kerry, she raised her eyebrows, and she has continued to do that every time I mention him. It is pretty funny. They have been super diligent about going to the gym. It is actually quite inspiring.
Gracie starts school tomorrow, and actually, I'll get to pick her up tomorrow at 3:30. Gracie is super great to be around. She has an attitude and demeanor that I really get along with. We joke around like brother and sister. I goad her into telling me about what kind of person she's looking to marry (I don't even really know if I was thinking about marriage this early {she's 13, almost 14}, oh wait, there is Leslie, haha). She has mentioned that she's okay if she is taller than the guy, but she won't budge on age, he has to older. She wants to be a house flipper and she wants to get married in the Tahiti temple, preferably with a Rugby player from New Zealand or something. It is all so funny.
Slowly, but surely, I am getting use to living here in Gilbert. I've driven around several times. I actually spent yesterday looking for the testing center I am going to be taking the test at in Tempe. It was weird, because the parking lot was torn apart. So, we'll see where I can park tomorrow. I also spent yesterday looking at the three wards I decided to go visit. I went to see the three church buildings. I originally had plans to go to the Liahona 1st Ward's church today for church, but after looking at the Guerrero Branch's building yesterday and praying about it, I decided to switch it up and go there today, as led by the spirit.
Church was so good. The Guerrero Branch has sacrament meeting last, so I got to Sunday School kinda early. I talked to the first two older women that were sitting down. Get this, the first lady that I talked to has the last name Gonzalez. She said that I would like the ward and want to come back, and I'm telling you, after being with them for three hours, I do want to go back, and even to perhaps live in the Branch Boundaries. She came up to me before sacrament meeting and said have you chosen yet? Haha, I told her I needed to talk about it with my wife.
Hermano Camargo taught a really nice lesson on the Wisdom and Foolishness of King Solomon. He had me introduce myself. I really liked him a lot. Priesthood was okay. Sacrament was really nice, even though testimony meetings are the Sundays I dislike. I introduced myself to the Branch President Raul Cruz. He seems like a nice man. And then, right after Sacrament, the 2nd Counselor in the EQP (who is my age and his wife of a year) Carlos Santos, introduced himself to me. I told him that yesterday I had looked at the apartments called Tuscany Palms and am really interested in them, and he was like that is where we live. They have renewed their lease to another year. It was good talking to him. The branch actually has four missionaries, a pair of Elders and Sisters. I look forward to meeting them. I do have a good feeling about this Branch. They have grown on me. Next week is Stake Conference so I'll probably go to the other ward I had planned, but this Branch is a high contender for a place I want to live in. The building is actually not your traditional chapel. And a member told me that many people come to visit it when they come to Mesa, for the history of it.
I went to the Gilbert Temple with Gracie on Thursday morning just to visit it with her, and Friday night for a session and one round of initiatories. It's a beautiful edifice. I have some stories that I think you'll appreciate that I'll send to you in a different email. It was quite the first experience to go to that temple anew. But it was refreshing. Except they showed the oldest video I know, not one of the three new ones.
I called Mom and Dad on my way home and told them about my experiences.
Sarah actually went to the Juniper Ward's campout at Silverwood lake this last Friday and Saturday. She had so much fun. The Juniper ward really support us so much.
I went with Uncle Jesse and Gracie to go see her new school and drive in the line they want us to to pick up the kids. It was fun.
Also, Jesse just offered me a blessing. It was so beautiful. I'm so grateful for faithful priesthood holders in our family.
Well, I'll leave you with some good thoughts. I love you. Thank you for all the prayers! We feel them.
Send me a line, if you have a chance.
Your Brother,
John
