Week 1 in Washington

WHAAA!!!!!!!!!

Hey everybody!!!

Today marks my first full week here in the mission field! What an exciting time that it has been!

The first half of the first day was filled with meetings and an interview with the Mission President, who is one of the funnest people to be around! But then I met my companion.

Elder Abbott. Really awesome guy!! He's a runner for BYU, so he's constantly trying to remain in shape to ensure a spot on the team when he gets back. So the morning workout sessions are full of 700 plus push-ups and whatnot. So he's pretty confident that we will get some rad companion 8-pack, WHAT NOW!! XD

We shopped, dropped my stuff at the apartment, then bounced (left to go teach). We had a number of investigators to meet with. One being an awesome old couple. We had a really good lesson on the Plan of Salvation, then we got on the subject of Halloween and pumpkins. They then offered us this sugared pumpkin. Both the texture and taste did horror to my gag-reflex. I felt bad because I was trying to hide it and fight it. It wasn't too bad....XD

The work here is amazing! We are in the city Kennewick, in the only branch found there. And the work is growing pretty well. Just this last week, the spanish missionaries had about 17 new investigators. The branch is small...at the moment! And we have plans to help build it to be a ward and individual zone.

We are also working hard to help the members work to having more opportunities to share a gospel message. So we teach them the topic out of for example, the pamphlets, then help them understand how they can share. The work is just exploding on both sides of the callings. "Every Member a Missionary." Never is that more true than now. And it's still progressing.

The food is absolutely amazing! The people just love to eat and help others eat. When we are finished clearing a pan of BBQ carne, another full pan comes out. :P

At the moment, the language is SUPER hard. But I feel that I have really improved. Some of the lessons, I'm pretty quiet. It's hard to hear and understand what is being said, but that will come the more that I practice. I have though, started translating the Book of Mormon from Spanish to English, which has REALLY helped me!!

SO much has happened, so hard to say it all. The spirit is strong here, no matter how hard the moment may be. I have the strongest desire to help as many people as I can to find what they may be looking for. I just know that this gospel can bless their lives in so many ways. "Our purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ, our tool is language."

Thank you all for the love and support that you all give to me. Moments may be hard, but I absolutely love my mission!!! You all are in my prayers!

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Elder Glen Wright Washing Kennewick Mission