California Trip

So this past weekend I took a trip to California.  It was a blast.  I originally went on my mission to Riverside, CA.  After about a year of being home I wanted to go back.  Because I served a rather short mission, I only wanted to visit one area: Palm Desert.  I also wanted to see San Diego and other sights that I didn't get to as a missionary.

So first I had to find someone to go with and share the expense of gas with.  I was fortunate enough to serve around a missionary named Elder Howell for 6 months, or 4 transfers in the desert.  He was my favorite missionary, and I wish I could have been comps with him, but he was a Spanish missionary.  I did get to for a weekend when I had no companion.  That weekend was awesome.  His first name is Ryan, but it's kind of awkward for me to call him that.  He calls me Summit, and I call him comp, or Howell.

Anyways, we had originally planned on going with my brother, who wasn't able to.  So it was just the two of us.  About a month before I almost decided not to go as my best friend's missionary farewell was that Sunday that I was going to be gone.  I wanted to be there to support him, but something told me to go.  I believe it was the Spirit.

On our way down to California we ran into a huge storm.  It was snowing from Provo to St. George and raining after Vegas for the rest of the trip.  It was hard to stay awake, as I had had 3 hours of sleep prior to leaving.  But we made it safely.

We stayed with a member named Rey, who lives in Morino Valley.  Rey is awesome.  I wish I had known him as a missionary.  He drove us to San Diego, which was awesome.  We attended a temple session and took a bunch of pictures.  That temple is the temple I want to get married in, I've decided.  Now to find the girl to take there!

After the temple we went to Carlsbad to see the Pacific Ocean.  It was the first time I had ever seen an ocean.  I went to Washington D.C. as a teenager, but never saw the actual ocean.  I saw the Potomac River.
I took quite a few pictures, including a video of me sticking my hand in the serf.  Now I can die happy.. :)

After the beach I went out the desert.  Howell stayed in MoVal to visit some people there.  I went and visited the Smiths that night. They were one of my favorite families there.  They fed us dinner most Saturday nights.  Another Elder was visiting them with his parents: Elder Daniel.  He had come out to the desert to replace me.  So we talked for a while about the area after I had left.  He told me of some people we had taught, and other things about the area.  It was awesome visiting with him.

That night I stayed in a hotel, which was nice.  Their breakfast doesn't compare to the one of the hotel I work at.  We have a much better one.  I went to church at the Park View Ward, which was my favorite ward of all time.  There were so many people I knew and got to say hi to.  As more people arrived many recognized me and shook my hand.  The bishop came over and asked how so many people knew me.  I told him I had served in that area.

I must confess that I am not that great of a returned missionary.  I went to In-n-Out on Sunday.  It was the only time I had time too.  I love that place.  It is sooo good.  But after church I went to see the Willinsky's.  Rick and Maggie are some of my favorite people in the world.  Rick isn't a member, (yet) but he is so cool  We visited for a while then I went to the Lewis's.  I showed them pictures of when I was there.  I miss them. I loved living behind them.

After the Lewis's I went to dinner at the Jackson's.  She also invited the sister missionaries over.  It was fun to visit with them and Sister Jackson.  She was like a second mom to me when I was a new missionary.  We would eat at their house most Mondays.

After visiting with Sister Jackson I finally got ahold of Jessica Mercado, who was my first convert.  I didn't have her number to call before hand, so I had to ask around to get it.  But I finally did, and she took me to a mexican restraunt because she said she didn't have food at her house.  I didn't know this but she and her husband Ron have a 1 year old baby.  I am soooo glad I got to see Jessica.  That made my whole trip worth it.

So Monday we drive back to Indio, over an hour out of our way home, to see a convert of Elder Howell.  They feed us breakfast, which makes it worth it.  We drive 11 hours to reach Provo around 8.  After parting with Howell I go out to Erda, to stay the night at my friend Brian's house.

All in all, it was a crazy weekend.  I maybe slept 20 hours in 96 and drove 1,500 miles during that time.
I visited the ocean and was within 30 miles of Idaho.  But it was worth it!