I Arrived here on last Tuesday. I had to wake up at 3:40am to get ready and get to the airport that day. It was not fun... i didn't go to sleep till 12:50ish lol. I mean come on, it was my last day in the MTC, it would be the last time i would be able see and talk to a lot of people for 2 years. Anyways, at the airport, i was worrying hard about my baggage weight. i don't know how, but i somehow got 10 more pounds on each bag after arriving at the MTC. They weighed in at 50 and 51 pounds at the airport, and i didn't have to pay for any overage fees, phew! Also i got to call family before i left, and i cant believe i was close to crying! I dint really ever fell homesick, but something just gets to you when you get to talk to your mom finally after 6 weeks.
Many others and i arrived in the Ontario Airport in CA at about 10:40ish. Mission president Mullen was there to receive us. We left and headed to the Mission home building, and i had to endure 5 hours of Orientation, gross i know. i was super bored, and i just spoke Spanish to the Elder beside me, because he was from Mexico. But later that night we had dinner there and after wards i was given a Trainer, Elder Patterson. The funny part about this was, i already knew who he was, because his girlfriend was in my MTC district! She talked about him all the time, and i even email him in from the MTC once, just for S's(ships) and G's. Kinda Crazy huh?
Well this last week here in Riverside have been kinda rough at times, but not too rough. I had to help give a blessing in Spanish, the night i arrived... . Totally was a great experience tho.
My first area here is actually right in the heart of Riverside. There are many, many Hispanics here. But i love the people, they are so nice, even when they aren't interested in our message. Side note: we don't go door to door here, we street contact 100%) Anyway, Hispanics are way nicer than white people haha. Everyone else here are just really rude to ya. I don't know why! Also, comprehending Spanish is pretty hard right now. i can put together the message they are saying, but i can only pick out words right now, its like i cant process them fast enough to understand at the moment. Elder Patterson does most of the talking, because sometimes they talk so fast I'm just lost. Yesterday though, we met up with this guy named Geronomi, and he spoke 200MPH. neither of us could understand what he was talking about. He slurred all everything he said, it barely sounded like Spanish... .
We get feed here really nicely. Every night we have a dinner appointment, and the food is delicious! Authentic Mexican food maybe the death of me. I definitely will gain alot of weight on this mission, but hopefully i can even it out with some exercise, i guess we will see.
Another cool experience happened yesterday. We were out looking for a Referral and we knocked on the wrong door. However, a young woman named tony opened up (she spoke English) , and absolutely loved our message and video we showed her. It was a video about Jesus Christ and his atonement, and after i said a prayer to end our little meeting she had tears in her eyes. The Spirit Definitely touch her. She invited us to come back this week!
Last thing, and i know this is super long, but if you made it down here, you loyal, hahaha. Anyways, we attend a baptism yesterday for 2 young girls. Elder Patterson and i had to give a presentation on The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, all in spanish to the ward. I wasnt nervous until i saw our mission president was there. However the presentation went really well! President Mullen and his wife, the Stake president, and the sister missionaries, came up and Told me i did sooooo great, and my spanish was super good to be out for only a week. Elder Pat. just stood there and was like, "Hey what about me! i've come a long way too!" Jelly much? HAHA.
Hope you all are doing well!
Elder Bailey
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