Elder Kade Jorgensen: Week 1 in Cali: Offically a "Greenie"

"GREENIE" dinner with the Smith family!!

Well family and friends... I made it to California safe and sound!! Got here last Monday and the group of elders and sisters I was traveling with were forgotten about and we sat at the airport for 3 hours. Super fun!!! That gave us a great first impression of the mission President...Lol. Well I'm alive and surviving. This has been a super weird change for me and I honestly have been struggling... I'm going through normal feelings that all missionaries go through, and it's hard!!! Missions are so hard!!! I got my companion/trainer... Elder Steed! He has been out for 21 months and goes home in July. He's from American Fork...He is a great missionary, but is not like me at all and he doesnt like to talk about anything but church stuff. He also sings all the time out loud!! haha but I seriously love the guy and know I'll learn a lot from him however long I'm here! We have finally been able to really connect and talk. Now that we are talking I feel so much better. God is definitely testing me before I go to India. He is truly preparing me in his way and in his time.

I have been getting a lot of exercise in... cause guess WHAT!!! I got sent to an area called Fruitvale... which is a biking area! It's the hottest area in our mission. It also has spider's. I don't think God has any intentions of sending me anywhere that doesn't have spiders... He is so funny!! Well this week has been filled with ups and downs, but the best thing for me so far has been dinners with the members.. I love them and they make me feel like I'm at home every single night. Nothing beats good old Highland though... Well this isn't one of my best weeklys, and I find my self getting more busy everyday! We haven't taught a lot, but we have done a lot of contacting and seeking with faith (proselyting) and that has been such a great learning experience. We also have a baptism scheduled for May 27th!! Well this is way longer than it should be sooo I'll end with a spiritual experience/thought and then say bye:)

I heard a quote in sacrament meeting from a girl who was giving her farewell talk. She said "without change we can not improve". I think it's so true... missions are so hard, life is hard and we all have moments when we want to just give up or stop going. When we give up or don't accept the change we are not able to improve and become what the Lord wants us to be. As we take on change and challenges and push through them we improve and the Lord shapes us into the son or daughter he knows will bring us the most happiness and success in this life. As we are patient and "trust the process" we improve, learn, grow and become more mature. My last two weeks have been so hard, but I can't wait to improve and become what the Lord wants me to be!!

I love being a missionary. This church is so true!! I love you all and hope you have such a good week:)

-Love Elder Jorgensen!!!