You can check out anytime you want - 03/10/14

I've made a terrible mistake, guys. Yesterday morning, I prayed for patience. So, naturally, yesterday my companion had a breakdown: suicidal comments, wanting to call President, throwing stuff at walls, the whole nine yards.

He's taking his medication most of the time, but he still has had a few missed doses and a couple meltdowns. He told me last night that he feels like nobody understands him and he wants to tell people that he's suicidal but nobody cares. I try to handle him the best I can, and reassure him that God still loves him and that he's capable of dealing with things. In fact a lot of the ward knows about his depression because he's not shy about it, and several of them have offered a lot of support in kind, thoughtful advice and conversation.

So yeah. That's where I'm at. The missionary work is taking a backseat to handling my companion's mental condition, but I'm used to that. I'll keep on chugging along.

I had a pretty happy birthday! It was a p-day, which was nice, so we played a couple rounds of Settlers of Catan. My missionary buds took me out to Buffalo Wild Wings and even paid for my wings. That was fun. Our dinner that night canceled, though, and we didn't teach a single lesson that night. But over the course of the week I got some cool mail, some wicked sweet California socks, delicious girl scout cookies, money (that will turn into computer components someday), two birthday cakes, and a hug from one of the moms in the ward. I consider this a victory. Thank you to everybody that cared!  

Exchanges on Friday were the coolest. The other companionship in the apartment was on exchanges with the APs, and I was with my DL, who is an old friend from Murrieta.  We had a lot of fun that night, and at lunch, and when we met back up at the end of the day. Elder "J" and I did some good work, despite things falling through and plans not working out. But the phone calls that day were the best.

My companion and Elder "J"s' companion called and told us that they had encountered a person that was possessed. Apparently neither one of them knew how to cast it out, so we told them. They were pretty shaken up over it, and we gave them priesthood blessings of comfort that night. Not every day do you get a phone call asking "How do I cast out a demon?"

Well, not even five minutes after that, we got a phone call from the ZL/AP companionship, asking "How do I perform a citizen's arrest?" Apparently they ran into a very inebriated man while trying to contact a referral, and they called the police while following him driving very drunkenly to a taco shop. We were in the area, so we swung by and watched the police show up and arrest the guy. I think I'm going to add a spot in my Preach My Gospel for "people arrested". 

My thought for the day: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things. We had a speaker on Sunday that spoke about how the things we do in the church are to make us happy. We think that taking a few hours or a couple of days to do our home teaching is a huge burden and such a hardship, but really that's what makes you happy! God knows what we need and the commandments are given for our benefit.

I feel like there was another significant thought I was going to add but I didn't write it down and my brain damage is keeping it from surfacing. I'll tell you guys all about it later, I'm sure. Love you all! Thanks again for the mail, it was wonderful!