Find the spirit in violent places

Howdy folks

This week was quite exciting!

We talked to several black friends, more drunk friends, more high off their minds friends, and as you can imagine, that was very fun. LA is loud, gave a blessing to the sick, Elder Hwang crashed his car, did an exchange with Elder hosea 230 ib Tongan boy. 

I have a slight correction so I am based in Compton but I'm in the Figueroa ward, I was mistaken from the first email, 

Anyways the infamous Figueroa street is a great place to find and do bad things, (which we never do) although we have several friends who live on or near that street so at least twice a week we are walking on that street, just to give some insight on Figueroa street: a nice man offered me some fine coke I graciously declined, several prostitutes surrounded our car, we handed them some law of chastity pamflits and told them God delights in the chastity of his daughters, and swiftly drove away!!! And another drunk guy hit me on the shoulder but it was in a loving way.

So! That's Figueroa street, very exciting, once again I'm the only white person out here, the only ones here are Latino, Chinese, or black folks.

We have a friend named Julian who lives on the this street he is about 23 or so and he is so sweet and is a bit shy. Our area is right in line with the LAX airport so literally every 4-6 minutes an aeroplane 800 yards above us comes cruising in for a landing, julian and several other of our friends prefer to have lessons outside so ITS LOUDDDD.

Hence the subject title, a constant miracle I've seen this week is how the spirit stays with us even when that loud plane is over us, when a drug dealer pops an F bomb around the corner, or when the cholos are blasting their sweet Latino music making their little trucks bounce. 

The spirit dwells in peaceful calm scenarios although here in LA that is rare and I can testify that the holy ghost dwells in people if they are willing to listen, no matter the circumstance.

I had an awesome opportunity to assist in giving a blessing of health I am very grateful for that experience, the gift of tongues is real, I didn't give the blessing but I anointed the oil so it wasn't much Spanish but when Elder Robledo gave  that blessing I understood everything, and I could tell that wasn't his words, it was the words and blessings of our heavanly father, main reason I say that was because afterwards I asked him if he remembered what he said, 

 and he couldn't remember.

This week we got to go on an exchange, my companion is district leader so I've gone on 3 so far, this time Elder Robledo went with Elder Hwang and Elder Hosea came with me, now some back story, I've been here in LA for 3 weeks ish same for Elder Hwang. Robledo has about a year, and Hosea 23 months (he's about to die) that's just what they say, and about a year ago Elder Hosea lost his driving privileges for the whole mission, so Hwang has been driving them around.

Until last week Elder Hwang ran into a light pole on church property so he lost his privileges just for 2 weeks or so, and there wasn't a need for me to drive so I haven't got my driver card thingy set up yet

So I was in charge of leading one of the largest areas with 3 week experience, no car, and a 230 ib Tongan Elder. I have a bike. Hosea does not, we borrowed a bike from some elders, he sat on it and popped the tire. Borrowed another bike, it stayed true.

A block down the road he shouts "uhhh is it bad to ride on a flat tire??"

I'm thinking oh great!

So we walked the bikes home and began to walk, hopped on the bus, walked some more and finally made it to Rodolfos house. In which, we got to our 2:30 appointment around 5:00, it was great though! Elder Hosea is hilarious and we get along super well! We met a lot of great people that day! 

Sidenote black and Latino cultures are so fun and sooo different although somehow they work well together in this crazy city

Anyways thanks fo readin foos 

      Elder Sandberg 

-Obtenimos los ponchos

-Elder Hwang y sus tijeras grandes 

-Elder Hosea y yo

-Elder Hosea y su bicicleta roto

-Elder Robledo y yo

-Ay muchos perros aqui

-La ciudad de Los Angeles a las atardece