Loving Burbank

Spencer's bike Accident

This is Spencer's district.  That face he's making, his entire pose....all of it.  It is soooo Spencer!!  

This is the explanation I got for this one:  "So there is a very steep road leading up to the church building.  We were riding down it after district meeting and I was standing up on my bike with only one hand on the handle bars.  (I was trying to fix something on my bag) when one of the other elders came by and spanked me.  I went straight over the other side and ground off half of my elbow.  It wasn't very pretty, but ya."


I believe this was his first convert baptism.  She's 9 or 10, if I remember correctly.

Shrum-Dog Millionaire..... Finally an update!!

I have to apologize- I don't have a good excuse.  Spencer's communication has been a bit patchy over the past month.  We don't get much information from him through email anymore.  Just a quick hello and how are you all type of thing.  He is sending weekly letters- I have just neglected to sit down and type them out for the blog.  Very pathetic- I know.  So here is the last letter we received last Friday.  His letters are usually very long.   He is doing really well and sounds very happy.  


Dear Mother,

So yesterday was the same as any other P day.  But we've finally started to get invited to meals from the  members.  Sweet! So we ate with the A family last night.  I really love them.  He is so cool.  I found out yesterday that he has a flippin bullet bike!  So sweet!  It just made me remember how badly I want a bike someday.  Great stuff.  They're a really cool family though.  He's from Romania and she's Armenian.  Love them!

Today was good.  We had district meeting.  Then we went to the bike shop to fix some stuff on our bikes.  50 flippin dollars later!  I have a got nice hand pump.  (My tires get super flat and I haven't had a pump for a Phixie, so I got one.)  And I had front brakes put on.  I only had a rear break and that wasn't the safest thing.  (That's where I'll leave that.)  So I thought I'd put on the second for a little more safety.  The rest of the day was good.  I'm on an exchange with Elder Ballard right now.  He's so cool!  Different than me, but the most amazing person you'll ever meet.  Oh!  Fun fact for ya.  We got another sister in our ward.  She's deaf.  So everyone is trying to learn sign, so that they can talk with her.  I knew they were coming, so I was really hoping for Sister McNeil.  But no.  Sister Ingram was her MTC companion though.  So that's still cool.  But ya, that's all for today.

So yesterday was good.  I went out with Elder Ballard that morning and taught a guy the restoration in the park.  Kind of cool.  We had a good conversation with people everywhere we went, which is the mission goal right now.  He is pretty good at that.  People just open up to him and talk.  I am trying so hard to be like that.

(next day)  It has been a super long and short week.  Every day has been so very long, but this week has flown by.  One of the shortest weeks of my mission.  I can hardly remember what happened a few days ago.  So the exchange was so super good.  We went out and worked the rest of the night.  Coolest thing ever.  That night we hate dinner with the Flinders (Elder Flinders great aunt and uncle from our ward) and they brought a non-member.  This guy is Greek, about 84 years old?  But he is a flipping rocket scientist!!  And he went to school with NEIL ARMSTRONG!!  He knew the guy.  Crazy!  I love being able to meet all these amazing people.  So Cool!  The rest of this week was really slow.  Elder Shrum has had a sinus infection, so we've been taking it each moment at a time.  He's really not feeling well.  He has a low tolerance for pain.  Ha ha.  He is one of my favorite people ever.  Truly, I like him so much more than most any of the missionaries I've met, but ya.  He doesn't love pain.  So this week has been slow.  We had a lot of dinners this week though.  That was really good.  I'm finally starting to love the ward.  It helps sooo much when you love the people that you serve.  Oh my goodness!  It makes this thing worth it.  This is an amazing experience, and I so completely and absolutely love life right now.  But without a love for the people, I'm not sure it's worth it.  Living on my own is a blast, studies are the greatest, I LOVE Burbank!!!  But none of that really matters.  That wouldn't keep me here.  The people really are the best part.  I love them so much.

Ha ha.  So something I've recently figured out, you know how I used to say that it was hard to love the people because I didn't have a specific culture to learn to love? Well, I was wrong!  This place is Little Armenia! So many Armenians living here.  Their culture is interesting.  I don't know if America has a motto or anything that we go by, but theirs is "We'll mess you up before you have a chance to mess us up."  Something to that effect.  They are the craziest people ever- ha ha ha- but I love them sooo much!! They are so interesting.  Their accent- it's like a mix of Russian and Spanish.  It's hard to mimic, but that's what Elder Shrum and I try to do.  Walk, and talk like Armenians.  I love it!!  They think they are the biggest and baddest nation out there.  It's so funny to me.  We'll knock on a door (the houses all look the same) and some big, yoked man will come out, close the door, fold his arms and say, "What do you want?"  Just standing there in his tight black tshirt and gold chain necklace.  Armenians are the best!!  The Arcadia mission, just next to us, has missionaries that are called and are Armenian speaking.  I'm sooo jealous!!  But they serve in Glendale, literally Little Armenia.  Highest population of Armenians outside the country of Armenia.  They're slowly spreading to Burbank- that's why we see so many.  So great!!

So, we had a few baptism this weekend.  One of the kids from the ward, and another from the Sister Missionaries.  A woman named L.  They taught her for a month and she was baptized.  Such a good experience!!  I love convert baptisms.  They're the greatest.  But we were asked to teach the first lesson at both.  Good experience.  Having to teach a detailed lesson in less than 10 minutes isn't the easiest- requires a lot of prep.

(next day)  So today was so great.  We had an absolutely amazing district training by Shrum-dog Millionaire.  So good.  We all talked about why we are here.  We did pretty poorly this week, as a district.  So we really needed a booster/pep talk.  I hope we see a lot of results soon.  Elder Shrum and I are working hard to make things happen.  I'm not sure if anything else happened.

Tell Lincoln that I'm super proud of him for the choice he's made to be baptized.  Baptism is quite literally the most important thing we will ever do.  That sounds wrong, but baptism leads to all other important eternal choices.  Isn't it interesting that Father allows people to make that choice at such a young age?  Baptism is such a big deal.  Taking that first crucial step to becoming like God by following Jesus Christ.  Or by making the promise to follow him.  Look at the power it gives you.  The gift of the Holy Ghost.  Probably the most important gift we've been given.  The chance to have a member of the Godhead with us at all times.  To lead and guide us.  To help us make choices that will make us eternal happy.  Little things every day that will bless us and everyone around us if we're worthy and if we're paying attention.  So easy, and yet is such an enormous blessing.  That added with the fact that when we have the Spirit, we are able to brush off any temptation like nothing.  Crazy how God has given us all of this and a sure way to get something a million times better.  He really loves us.

Okay, I have to get to bed.  I'll send this tomorrow in the mail.  I wish so badly that I could be there to watch Lincoln get baptized.  So badly.  I miss him so much.  I love him and all of you.  I hope you're all doing well and that you're safe.  Please be safe!

Love, Elder Sharp #2

P.S. What has the weather been like?  Did you get me Mary's address?  What else is going on in the younger 2 boys' lives?  I never know what to pray for them about specifically at night.  Any blessings they need?  How is dad?  Are you feeling good?  What's going on for you?  How is the youth conference planning going?

P.P.S.  Sorry- yes!  I got the package you Saint of a woman!  Thank you sooo mcuh.  I really loved it.  I liked those Kashi bars and the shirt.  Thank you so much!  I really am so grateful for you.

Y'all'a'momons???

**So this is just some emailing back and forth that we finally did on Tuesday. I didn't get an actual 'email' so I pieced this together. He sounds well.  He likes both his companion and the new area. 

Hello Beautiful woman! no, I couldn't. It was mlk Jr. day, and the library was closed. I only have two 55 min sessions and I have 27 left on the first one. I might come back later for the second session. I really hope you get this on your phone! I love you!!! I miss you SOOO much!

(I had asked several questions that he started to answer.)

ok. so, yes. its hot. My shirts look rank. before long theyre going to look as bad as Hansen's.

Something funny..we were walking last night and we saw two thug-ish men walking toward us. they yelled, "y'all'a'momons. huh?" We said ya. They said have a good two years and kept going. They were dressed like missionaries. Well. like someone who was trying to make fun of a missionary. White shirts, khaki pants, and buttons instead of tags. We were a little weirded out. We found out later that they were going around talking to people about the bible. It actually depressed me a ton. I got super angry. That wasn't really funny. ok...We were walking out of the apartment, it was really dark, when I heard something crawling up a tree. I just thought it was a squirrel, but it still scared me. (the squirrels here are really big.) So I looked over and screamed outloud. There was this GIANT rat climbing up the tree. Turns out it was a possum. (they're pretty much r.o.u.s.'s, though. disgusting.) I sat there and took pictures of it while shrum walked around trying not to cry and being freaked out about it. he has a phobia of rats, so the possum was super difficult or him. 

 

What do I eat? Well we eat Subway. The members only feed us about 2-3 times a week. if we're lucky. So we have to get ourselves stuff. I still make a lot of chicken and rice. And I eat 4 eggs every morning. With a small cup of cereal. I'm not eating as well as I'd like, but it's whatever. I'm losing weight. a bit. I'm trying to copy Shrum's diet. So I'll trim up even more from that.

It is the hardest. Mom, do you remember the hill going up to Lexi's house. That's my entire area. Its so hard. My legs are getting huge. My pants are tighter. I hate my phixie, but I'm going to deal with it. (*His bike is a 'Phixie'.)  Its better for me. Shrum and I live alone. President doesn't really like putting missionaries together. too much fun;)  Ya, it's a wealthy area. I  literally live 10 mins away from LA. I really, REALLY like this area, though. This is the only place that I've seen this whole time that I would actually want to live. It's like Herriman up higher on the hill and like a small version of slc at the bottom. But it's like the gaslamp and the district also. I really like it. I think I told you in the letter. We have a baptism. Kind of. Non-active family that has a 9 year old who wants to be dunked. Its still good, though. The area is REALLY picking up. Moving really quickly. BOY DID WE WORK last week. It was hard, and strange, but we hauled.

 

Tarzana. I lived in Reseda, but my area was Tarzana. Do I like the area more? Yes. But the Tarzana ward was the greatest thing on earth and I miss it a ton. I'm in the Burbank 2nd ward.

Well, I need to go. I love you. I miss you a ton!!!!!!! I would really like a letter from clayton. I really miss him. I miss all of you. I'll talk to you next week. BYe.

Elder sharp

Anxiously Checking the Mail Each Day

Came across this picture today.  I seriously miss him!!

Headed.... To a 'Bike' Area

Hey Sharp Fam!

 

This was an interesting week. I knew it was the last one with elder hansen, but I didnt really think I would be leaving Tarzana. I said I was and I tried to convice myself that I was so that I wouldnt be too depressed when it actually happened, but it didnt work. Im leaving, and I hate it. I got the call Saturday telling me that I was headed to a bike area. I really dont even care about that part. My legs are going to get huge, but thats about all that will change. Im just sad to be leaving. I really never thought I could learn to love a place so much. Learn to love a group of people. (The ward. Im still struggling to love the people here in the valley. I dont have a specific culture that I can learn to love. Its just like learning to love people. Just PEOPLE. Everyone. Thats why I am having such a hard time with it.) In my patriarchal blessing, it talks about how I will grow a love for the people here like I've never felt before. A love I've never known. I thought that was funny. One of my spiritual gifts is that of love (also in the blessing). I thought that I had loved in all the ways. Except for parent stuff. Obviously, I was really wrong. I truly love the ward. I was telling someone in my email, "its like leaving home all over again. Like leaving a giant group of your closest friends." Totally how I feel. I absolutely hate this.

 

And leaving Elder Hansen is hard too. I know I will see him again, a few times, but that is like leaving all of my brothers again. But not quite as bad. I love him, but it doesnt compare to my brothers. Its weird. I really have no time. I emailed a few people and I have less time than usual. Transfers are AWFUL!

 

We went on two different exchanges this week. One with the assistants and another with a trouble elder from the district. Some people.. It was rough. I loved going with Elder Wright, though. He's the AP from Coleville Utah. Such a good missionary! I love him! I learned so much about talking with everyone and really bearing your testimony when you talk with them. That is, with true doctrine.  It's the only way that we'll be able to bring the Spirit to people. Im sorry, Im super distracted.

 

I'll talk to you later. I have to go. I love you. I'll write you tomorrow from my new address and tell you what really happened this week.

Elder sharp

What Does the Fox Say

Hello wonderful Family!!

 

It sounds like you guys have a fantastic week. Seeing the family, skiing, adding on to the house, buying the masks for the What does the Fox say? (I really wish you guys would have redone that. Also, I made that HUGE in our ward. Apparently they hadnt heard about it, so I showed it to C and everyone started watching).    It sounds like a blast.  

 

I miss Brigham soo much. Im not able to see the video that you sent to me. Sorry. Its on youtube and the computer wont even let me get on it. I really wish that I could have, though. What was the song?? I saw a little bit of the movie at the C's house. I read that and I was grinning the whole time. It made me so happy. That really is the greatest family. and she is a fantastic girl. I met her a few times, but if she's anything like her mother then she's the best any of us have ever found. I really love the Ws. E sent me a Christmas card. It was so nice to hear from her. Shes a gem. The fact that she is a master pianist doesnt shock me at all. Thats totally W. They are the best. I wish I could have heard them singing to Brig. What a hunk. That kid is going to get sooo many girls when he gets back from his mission. Cuss. Im jealous. 

 

Speaking of Brig, the papers. I dont know how I feel about that. I dont want to have to wait to see him. At all. But I also know how hard that is going to be on you and dad.  What are the other reasons that you dont want him leaving so soon? I feel like as soon as Preston comes home you'll be a lot better. Him being there is going to be so good. Haha:) wow. Thinking about his homecoming is making me get teary. I just think its crazy how quickly time is going. It has crawled by, but for some reason this week I've felt like I have so little time left. Its like a tiny bit of time before Preston gets home and Im only a few months after him. Crazy!!!!

 

This week was pretty good. I had a LOT of changing experiences. I learned a lot. We had another exchange with the ZL's. I went with Elder Schroppel. He is a good missionary. I learned how to really "teach when You Find" I had a lot of REALLY good studies, too. I found out that unconditional love is not the same thing as charity. Not even close. I dont know if I really have charity for anyone. That sounds terrible, but thats how it is. Charity is Loving someone more than anything else. Actually, I wont go into it. I could go on for a while. I've also been reading a lot about the fulness of the Gospel. And a bunch of other stuff. I cant WAIT to go home and talk to Preston about all the things that we've both learned out here. And you and Dad, because I expect to have long late nights when I get home. So ya. Study up;) I love studying the gopel. Its so amazing that we can never stop learning. I believe it, because I know so little, but its so crazy. No other Church is like that. We will one day know all, but never in this life and not for a VERY long time.  Anyway, I've been learning a lot. Studying is not bad. Its not like I have to work out and make breakfast to get a break from the Gospel. Those are actually just things I have to do until I can study. They're whatever. Studying is really when you grow your relationship with Father and His Son and learn about the incredible plan that they've set up for us to become like them. Thats one of the most important parts of the mission. Having good studies where you're really learning something, and making it a spiritual experience that making your testimony stronger.

 

I have lots more to say, but I'm out of time. I love you guys!

Elder Sharp #2