AHHHH!!!

Im excited that we are going to Sea Side today! Its going to be sweet. We are ganna go to the Nike Outlet Store. Nike stuff here are relatively cheap since Oregon is the home for Nike. My compa bought a set ao $90 shoes for $15 at Ross. The best thing is that there is no sales tax. Ill tell you what I bought later.
Last week on P-DAy we had Zone Activity. We went down to Portland to play some soccer and some basketball. We were also ganna go to eat at a Peruvian restaurant but the Elders that I went with decided that they wanted to go to the mall, so we went. We went to the Lloyd Center. It was nice! It felt kinda weird going in a mall after more than 7 month of not setting foot in one. I had fun though. I saw some nice ADIDAS that I should have bought but for one reason or another I didnt. I regret it!
Thursday I was not too enthusiastic. It was just one of those days that you want to end as soon as possible because you know that tomorrow will be a better day. After that It was really good. I was reading my old journal entries and looking though my old planners and it made me feel a lot better. I felt rejuvinated. It brought back all of those memories. It's weird how I can remeber most of the days like yesterday although it has been a long time.
Im really excited for Thanksgiving (AKA: Turkey-day). We were ganna have Zone Training then but our Zone Leaders had mercy on us. Now we can go out and have a Turkey Bowl. Its ganna be nice. Well I really wish that I could be with you all but at the same time I don't. Wish you all a great Thanksgiving. Dont eat too much cause I will!

ELDER ARCIA
(stripplingarcia@myldsmail.net)

This week was great! It started off with the Mission Conference. Elder Robbins from the Quorum of the Seventy came and spoke to us. It was really good. He talked about how the most importnat thing that we are trying to accomplish as missionaries is not to baptize, but to help others find faith in Christ. After we do that, everything else will fall in to place. He also gave a lesson about how to truly pray, and how we can find the "instructions" in the scriptures. That was a really inspiring talk/lesson that he gave. It set up a good attitude for the rest of the week. I also enjoyed seeing all of the other spanish missionaries. We went to eat at a Chinese Buffet and talked and messed around like only 19-21 year old know how. It was fun!
On Wednesday I had exchanges with Elder Jimenez, my District Leader. He is a good missionary and a great example. We woked hard and had fun at the same time.
Friday we did some service for a member's friends. We helped them move from apartments. They are really nice people and have a lot of faith. They at first were not so fond of having missionaries over but now that we softened their hearts through service, we have a chance to teach them and share the gospel.
Saturday we had interviews with the President. They were a little unexpected since we got the call at the time they were going on. But the experience is what counts. Im grateful for having the opportunity to sit and talk with him.
Sunday we had Stake Conference and it was a good end to this great week. After that we went to a members house and he made us tacos de carne asada. They were so good I had to eat 20 of them. The craziest thing about it is that I've been eating like crazy and I lost weight.
Well I love you all take care.

ELDER ARCIA
(stripplingarcia@myldsmail.net)

WAAAA!!

Well this week had its good and its bads. The bads: we spent a lot of time moving apartments. It took most of the week trying to get our stuff together and cleaning it all out but we are finally done. That about all of the bad. Except that we didn't get too much time to knock. The good:I love my new apartment!!! Also we had, in my opinion, a really good Zone Conference. We talked about The Doctrine of Jesus Christ. we read 2 Nephi 31. I learned a lot. Its crazy what you can understand from the scriptures if you jsut have a different perspective. I got so much out of this conference. Some of the stakes in our area had a Missionary Fireside. It was good. We had the president from our mission give a talk and Elder Robbins from the Quorum of the Seventy. I enjoyed all the talks and testimonies.
I had exchanges with the Zone Leaders and I had a blast. We worked hard and brought some kids into repentance. We layed down the law! Its always good to go out of your area and help other people.
We also had a "Family Home Evening" with the branch. It turned out better than I thought.
I bought this sweet sweater! It has a map of Oregon on it with big Old English letters "OREGON". Its nice I must confess. The best thing is that I bought it at a GenX store, so its pretty "Cholo" (LOL).
Thank you for all that you for me and because you are always worried about my needs. Also thanx for the sweet camera. Its ganna come in handy. Peace and Love!!!

ELDER ARCIA
(stripplingarcia@myldsmail.net)

November!!

I can't believe its already November. Time flies by so fast. I remember like it was yesterday that I was at home with my family playing Rockband and watching Lion King. And that I was all excited for all the new moveis that were ganna come out. Too bad I didn't get to see any.
Ah... this week has been really good. I had exchanges with Elder Cardenaz and got to be with him in Aloha (his area). It was fun. I got to know him a little better and learn from him. We ended up getting a little lost because none of us knew the area well but we got through it. Saturday night (Halloween) was fun. Since the mission president didn't want us to go out at night, we went to play basketball with the assistants and other Elders from the surrounding zones. I really enjoyed it. On Sunday, we had testimony meeting and the spirit was strong. All six of us Elders in the branch shared our testimonies. The meeting went over like 20 minutes because of all the members that wanted to share their testimony. Then, later that night, we went to Santiago and Inez's baptism. This branch was pretty much all there to support them. I love this branch.
I just love doing this. Missionary work is awesome. I have not felt so good doing something than right now. Its just been good all around. yesterday we went to go do service at Brother Newberry's house and today Im so tired and sore but I feel good.
Good news. Tomorrow I get a new apartment!! WOOT WOOT!! Bad news. We have to move it all. I guess you can't win them all. I have a couple of cameras that Im going to get developed (yes I have been using disposable cameras) so I'll have new pics soon.
Well I love you all. Send me some pics so i can show you all off to my friends. See ya!!

ELDER ARCIA
(stripplingarcia@myldsmail.net)