September 10, 2013
The first day here was good. I met president Castro and his wife they are both very nice. After meeting them we had dinner and then interviews with president Castro. I didn't get to meet with him the first night, we had 35 new missionaries so I had to wait until the next morning. I spent my first night with a family they were very nice. That night I took my shoes off and my feet were very swollen, like I had had been bit by hundreds of mosquito. It felt really good to take my shoes off. The next morning I got to meet with president Castro, he asked my why I came on a mission and about my family. He then told me about my companion. Before he told me his name he said "Elder Fyffe, for some reason I get the feeling that you are a very loving person and that you care about people". The mission president went on to tell me that he was putting me with a special companion and that he is the best and that I needed to take care of him and help him with anything he needs. He said that I need to watch what he does and learn from him. After speaking with president Castro I went to the chapel to wait with all the missionaries. They stared to call people together, then me Elder Austin Fyffe will serve with . . . . Elder Spackman in the Santa Sussana 3rd ward in Simi Valley. I stood up and looked for my companion, he looked happy, just smiling. I almost teared. Elder Spackmen is cool, he is smart and funny. He walks with a limp but that does not stop him from doing anything. He has a twin brother on a mission in Germany. I could not ask for a more perfect first companion. I love him.
Our first day was good. We went to In-N-Out for lunch and took my bags to our apartment. We went shopping for the week, and it only lasted a week. I bought my bedding and stuff I didn't get before I came. I wont be getting a bike yet, we have a car. The first person we were going to meet with was a kid named Anthony, he was having problems going to seminary. We talked to him about the importance of going to seminary. After that I went home to get ready for the next day.
I think this is where dad lived when he was young!
We get up every morning and say:
In the Great California Ventura Mission . . . .
1. We are Preach My Gospel missionaries.
2. We Baptize.
3. We obey with exactness.'
4. We seek to be trusted more then loved.
5. We teach with power and authority.