HELLO!!!!

This week has been great! I have so much to say... so let me begin.

First off, I have never had so many comments on my name in my entire life. Everybody looks at my tag, gets intimidated, tries to pronounce it, then usually ends up butchering it. No matter who I talk to they ask where my name is from. I'm so proud to be a Catchatoorian with a name that's memorable! I tell everyone to just call me Elder Catch so that they don't hurt themselves.

California is beautiful! Believe it or not, it's actually really chilly right now! So glad I brought long sleeves. I'm in a city called Hemet. It's south of Riverside (go look it up on a map)! It's an awesome area with quite the mixture. Now I know what people meant when they said California is totally different. It's so different from NC but I've been really enjoying it. The mountains are not as big as UT's and they aren't as small as NC's. A real nice cross in between. And I have never seen so many palm trees in my life! They're everywhere! My ward is the Fruitvale ward and it's VERY small! I don't know why it's not considered a branch. Most of the people in the ward are older. They call it the land of "Newly wed or nearly dead". So true. There's no in between! It needs lots of work done and my companion and I are willing to do whatever it takes to improve, grow, and strengthen the ward!

Speaking of my companion... his name is Elder Johnson! And he is SUCH A BLESSING! He is incredible. I thank the Lord every day for this man. He is known as one of the hardest working missionaries in the field. Everywhere we go all the missionaries look up to him and respect him. He's a champ forsure. I think I was given the best trainer in the field. And I'm not just saying that either. ;) Elder Johnson is from Ohio and he's been out for 15 1/2 months. He's the fourth of 6 kids and he is an athlete/bodybuilder/hulk. Literally. His biceps are bigger than my face. He drinks protein shakes throughout the day and wakes up at 5:30 every morning so he can have extra time to work out in the apt! He's cray. I never want to make him angry cuz he could bust me up with his pinky. I don't let him know that though... I have no fear. ;) He hopes to play football for BYU when he gets home but if he doesn't make the team he'll just stick with rugby! As you can tell, we obviously aren't too similar because I'm a skinny Indian boy that hates sports, but we get along just fine! We both have a passion for missionary work and want to work hard so we do what we do. I think we make a good team! He's showin' me all the ropes and I don't know what I would do without him. Praise the Lord!

I've said it before and I'll say it again: being a missionary is hard. When talking to people in the street I can honestly say I get rejected 90% of the time. But something within me won't stop. I just keep going. When people walk away from me while I'm talking I just smile and follow them awkwardly to finish what the Lord would have them hear. I reach a point where I realize it's their salvation, not mine. I'm doing everything I can to help them and if they don't want to listen, that's okay. As long as I do everything I can I can't do anymore. That 10% of people that take a minute to stop and listen makes it all worth it. The people that are willing to receive Christ's blessings makes me want to keep going. I don't care about being rejected. It honestly doesn't bother me at all. It just makes me want to work harder. I truly believe that God is enabling me with power. Because if this was just me doing this I would've given up a long time ago. God is right by my side and I feel of his presence every day.

One thing I enjoy as a missionary is being able to see peoples' potential, even if they don't see it. There are so many people that would be a perfect fit for baptism or would grow and be such an incredible asset to the gospel of Jesus Christ if they just took that leap of faith necessary. It's sad that people don't see the capabilities within themselves. I can say motivational things all I want, but it will mean nothing to if they don't feel the spirit confirming it to them. I just want everybody to come to the knowledge of the true gospel here on this earth. Everybody deserves a chance to hear it. I just pray and hope that I will be led to the people that are READY to hear it.

I am busy allll day, every day. I used to love being a night owl but now I look forward to bedtime. I wish I could go to bed BEFORE 10:30! Elder Johnson and I are both new to the Hemet area and are on bike. We have to bike no matter what the weather conditions are. No excuses! It's tiring and my legs get a lil sore every now and then but I really like the workout! Biking all those years before I had my car is such a blessing now. It prepared me to do this. Elder Johnson said he was glad that I'm a good biker because the last elder he trained always crashed into him or lost control... what a struggle. It's weird how certain aspects of my life have prepared me for my mission. I didn't realize it then, but I realize it now.

Our apartment is NASTY. We live with two other elders and they treat it disgustingly. Mom, you would be horrified. The shower was the nastiest thing I've ever seen in my life. It had dirt 2 inches thick with hair in every crevice. Being raised the way I was raised, I did not stand for this. My second day in the field I went to Walmart, bought soft scrub and a brush, came home and scrubbed the crap out of that shower. Today is cleaning day so I am going to be leading all the elders in transforming our apartment to hopefully livable conditions. I can't live with what it is now. It's so gross. And the water here is unclean and nasty! It's like we are in a different country because we don't dare drink from the faucet. From now on I'm going to have to buy bottled water. It's all good, though. I'm actually excited to clean today and make the apt somewhat nice!


I love each of you more than words can express. I think and pray for each of you throughout the day, every day. Stay strong and keep enduring! I get to skype you on Christmas! :D Mom and dad, so sorry your race got cancelled but I love the pictures! You both look sooo good! Slim and trim. ;)

Talk to y'all next week and once you get my address, write me!!!

LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU,

Elder Catch