Email: February 5, 2018 - CLAM changes, Smartphones, Mini Missionary and Driving

Welcome back one and all! This week has been super crazy!

So, the biggest thing is the CLAM is having its boundaries changed on July 1. The San Fernando mission is getting dissolved. We will receive 4 of its stakes (roughly half its mission) so all of that is to the north west and we will receive all of the missionaries. To balance things out the CLAM is losing 2 zones. Torrance North (my current zone ) and Torrance Palos Verdes will be going to the Long Beach mission. All of the missionaries in those zones, when the changes happen, will remain in Long Beach for the rest of their mission. So, there is a chance that I will not be an LA missionary in the coming future.

On Monday we did an escape room for our p-day activity and it was super fun. It was area 51 themed. It was pretty difficult, but we were able to make it out with 2 minutes to spare. But, let me tell you Elder Williams is a genius, and if it wasn’t for him, we would not have made it out. And Sister Muno absolutely loves aliens so she was having a blast. If I can get the pictures in time I'll put them in.

We also received smartphones this week. They are super nice. They are Samsung J7s (the sound quality on them is insane) it’s not really a major change but it’s nice to be able to finally understand people over the phone.

On Wednesday we helped some new members move in and they have the nicest home I have ever been in. Super fancy, 3 stories, in home elevator. I’m gonna really miss Manhattan Beach when I leave

I also had the chance to go on exchanges Friday down in Redondo 2nd which is a very hilly bike area. I now understand, and have sympathy for, those have bikes in hilly areas. But hey, at least your legs will get ripped.

On Saturday we had a mini missionary with us. His name was Chris and he was super cool. He got the full mission experience. We got yelled at, and proceeded to bash with someone the street, and basically got verbally assaulted (he straight up asked us what it would take to give up our faith. We proudly told him nothing and that kind of shut him up) After that fiasco we had an awesome meal with Masaru! Masaru is so awesome! He came to all 3 hours of church and he is excited for his baptism next Saturday!!

On Sunday Elder Styer's eyes started to hurt because he needs glasses and he hasn't gotten them so it counted as a medical emergency. So, even though I don’t have driving privileges, I have been able to drive. It’s been so nice to drive again. It relieves so much stress for me. I really missed it.

Sorry this email wasn’t as long we have been pretty rushed today.

Elder Kyle Barton

One super cool experience I totally forgot to share. When we had or lesson with Masaru we asked him what his turning point was in his conversion. He mentioned how our lesson with prayer really struck him and how he began to see the blessings when he prayed! It was super cool. But even cooler he mentioned how after that lesson he stopped drinking coffee, tea and gave all of his alcohol away. He is so ready and excited. I never thought I would have an experience like that, but hey, the mission is full of surprises

This is Kevin Bark who was mentioned a couple weeks back

(yeah he is actually a dog)

Another awesome sunset out here