Man, it's been a good week! I don't even know what to talk about first.
There were tender mercies of the Lord this week. A real big one is what happened at the temple on Friday. So, I didn't really feel like going to the temple on Thursday. But I had Sarah commit me to attending on Friday. She reminded me that afternoon because I asked her to. Well, I leave kinda late, so that I arrived like 10 minutes before the session started, which is definitely not enough time to get ready in the locker rooms. I was hurrying in. But I got dressed in like 4 minutes and walk up to the waiting room in the Gilbert temple. They asked me what session I was there for. I asked if the one that started in five minutes was available. They told me it was, and to sit as close in front of the chapel that I could. So I did. The biggest thing that I noticed is that there weren't as many people there as there usually is on a Friday night. Since that was the case, I knew that I could choose to sit anywhere in the endowment room, because there would be enough room to sit anywhere. When this happens, my inclination is to sit up front, or as close to the front as possible. I noticed a few seats open by the witness couple. Well, as I pass the male witness, I take a double take, and notice that it is a man name Carlos Santos acting as witness. Who is Carlos? Well, he and his wife go to the Branch that I want to move into when we both move out here. I say, Carlos. And he looks up and smiles at me and I got to sit next to him. I waved at his spouse. Obviously, we didn't really talk during the session. But afterwards, once he and his wife passed through the veil, I chatted them up, for at least 20 minutes in the Celestial Room.
If I haven't really told you about him or his wife before, or in case you forgot, they are a young couple (most likely my age or younger) who just got married in June (so about the time you went out on the mission). They live in Tuscany Palms, an apartment that Sarah and I want to get in to. She is actually a native of Mexico and he's from Arizona himself. We talked and they find out that I was going to go to the apartments Saturday morning, and when they heard that, Carlos told me that he'd like to accompany me. It was definitely a nice gesture on his part. Being at the temple and not being by myself reminded me of Single's Ward times, or when I would get to go with Sarah. It just felt right, as many things have since I have been joining the Guerrero Park Branch.
So, the next morning Carlos accompanies me to the Tuscany Palms apartment management office. It was good not to be alone. Then afterwards he invited me over to his apartment so I could look at it, and we talked a little more. Just about life and what our plans are and things. He and his wife are so nice. And they're willing to help out with anything. I told them that after I was done talking with them, I was planning on going to watch the BYU vs. Wisconsin game. They were like, we hope they win.
Turn to today; I notice during Sacrament meeting that the Stake Presidency of the Mesa Arizona Stake are all sitting up on the stands. I obviously wondered why we were graced by their presence. But, I shortly find out that the Branch Presidency was being reorganized. It was definitely a surprise to me. They called a new Branch President, Ramon Castaneda, same first counselor (I think), and, you guessed it, Carlos Santos as Second Counselor in the Branch Presidency. Afterwards I congratulated him and told him I'm willing to serve in any capacity and he just expresses his thanks to me and complements me.
Well, somehow, I was able to go to the room as they set apart the new Branch Presidency. The Stake President actually know Spanish and he set apart Brother Castaneda. When they get to Carlos. He sits down and as they ask him to call people to the circle to set him apart, he points to all his male relatives, and then to me last. I was actually able to help set him apart. I was super honored. I am grateful for his friendship, that is for sure. And I really feel close to him and to the branch. Actually, the previous branch president asked me if I was related to Carlos in some way, and I was like no. And then he was like, well now, I guess you are apart of our branch family. Well, I felt really needed and included then. I was in the meeting because another sister found out that I played the piano and brought me in there. There is a missionary fireside tonight at the stake center, so I hope to introduce myself to the Stake President and Mission President of Mesa Arizona.
Well, you probably want to hear about the game. Well, last week against Cal, it was just drudgery to watch, every second of it. We lost by a little last week but it felt more like there was a wide gap in score because of the way we played. This week, however, was super different. We felt uplifted and like we had nothing to lose. And guess what? We never trailed the whole game. We were either on top, or we were tied. But, we were never behind Wisconsin in score. Every piece of the puzzle were doing their part, offense and defense, and we felt refreshed. It was suspenseful, but I never felt bad or ashamed at how BYU performed, and what did we get, a beaten #6 team. We are now ranked #25 in the nation, can you believe it. This definitely feels good. Now we feel like we can conquer the world, and hopefully we do. Postgame show people said that after the Arizona game Kalani felt relieved, and after this game, he was elated. We just are floating on cloud nine after this win. Hopefully, we go on to have a 11-1 season or something! That would just be crazy, of course, but with this new found confidence, anything is possible. McNeese State, here we come, and a week later, Washington. Uncle Steve invited me to come watch with him, and it was just a fun game to watch, that's for sure. They said that I have a long standing invitation to their house to watch the games. Of course that makes me really happy.
Nothing too crazy (that I can think of) happened this week at school. We have a new aide that I had met earlier named Celia. She is super nice, a little elderly, but she is sweet. You can tell that she wants the best for the kids, which is cool. A person from the district has been in there to help Eva (the teacher) with her teaching by modeling out to her and us about how we should treat each student. This is the same girl that gave me the complement last week, Jamie Peterson. She taught the kids a more age-related lesson, which I thought was a bit interesting, as these kids can barely say a word. Although, some know how to point and obviously choose between choices. The lesson was about rulers and types of governments, such as monarch, democracy, and dictatorship. I gotta give her props for finding ways to get the students involved.
I mean, you know Gavin: he can barely sit down for a minute, much less a whole lesson about government. She had me take Gavin's chair and wedge it in between to other student's chairs, so that he wouldn't have room to get up and get out. Then, to further keep him from leaving his chair, she had me get a cracker and cheese set to feed him every time he participated. It actually kinda worked. He was definitely being more vocal, expressing "Buhhhh" when I asked him a question.
I think it was at the beginning of this week where I took him out and he ran, but not just once, four different times and at full speed. I was okay, because we were out in the field, but I was definitely feeling super hot and super tired after that bout of running after him.
I've been making friends with one of the aides named Tiffany. She just got married and wants to be a nurse. I found out that she has had wrist surgeries and back surgeries, mostly related to playing softball. We help each other change the kids, and I help her get the lunches for the kids. Wednesday was super weird because it was a late, late start day. And Friday was weird because there was an assembly (which we didn't go to).
I've been seeking out another job. I asked the manager at Mesa High School if I could possibly take off Thursdays and come in earlier the other days. I asked that because I want to get a Wednesday, Thursday overnight job at Amazon in Phoenix. I actually have an interview with them this Wednesday, and projected starting date is like the 26th or something.
Sarah is finally back from her excursion to Utah. While she was up there, she was able to hang out with our sister Sarah. She's been going to conferences about how to expand her clientele and be a really good and successful life coach. Shaunna's mom's funeral was last Saturday. Shaunna had stuff to take care of so they finally made it back to Cali last night.
Well, life is good. I hope it is good for you! You are doing great! Keep up the good work and send me a line if you can.
Your brother,
John
