Peter and I heard on the radio yesterday morning (March 17, 2014) that an earthquake measuring 4.4 on the Richter scale had occurred near Los Angeles just before dawn.  In our email to Emily, we asked her if she had felt the earthquake, and she said she had.  She described it as "exciting/scary/exciting!"  Here is Emily's main email for the week:

Someone from the ward gave me a green lantern ring. Apparently he gives all the missionaries one once he zones in on their 'strength' o algo asi. Each color of ring means something different. I don't really even know if this comes from a movie or a TV series or comics.... but he awarded me with a green one which means: will--as in willpower. His radars blew up with that color and he didn't even have to wait to hone in. Ha:) This ward is really great!

I love the ward mission leader. He is the sweetest man. His name is Hno. Sacor. He is trying so hard to magnify his calling so that he can earn blessings for his family. I am always touched by him and his eagerness. He bought a manual so that he can truly do what a ward mission leader needs to be doing.

I remember in my last area I started wondering if an earthquake would come because we are always just waiting for one.   I basically hoped that one would come and that I could use my preparedness bag and practice my survivor skills.  Hna. Herrera and I would use earthquake preparedness as the reason why we were running every morning--haha to be ready to "hunger games it" when the city crumbled.  Don't worry. The first thing we did when the earthquake came was gather in the door frame and I said a prayer.  Don't worry about me while I'm on a mission because Heavenly Father will protect us from all dangers.  

Like I said, this ward is really great.  The members have noticed--and think it is hilarious--how easily I blush and so now at dinners that becomes somewhat of a game. 

Enio is one of my favorite people.  I know I haven't told you very much about him, but that is mostly because you need to experience him.  He just barely got baptized my first week here.  I try to take very good care of him.  We took him to a first lesson that we had with really solid potentials.  He was absolutely the perfect member.  To describe Enio in one word would be: tender.  

He is from Guatemala, about 41, single, has one adopted daughter still in guatemala, most spiritually sensitive person ever, trusting, delicate, reliable, willing to help.  He is just a small little adorable man.  The couple that we took him to are named Yolanda y Teodoro and they are also from Guatemala.  She sells tomales that she makes and when Enio found out that she makes ones like the ones from Guatemalteca, he was so excited!  They exchanged numbers so that he can come and buy some from her!  They are about the age that his parents would be and I'm hoping that they can form a family friendship.  My heart was so large and bursting with happiness to watch them interact at this lesson.  Enio had been a little nervous because he'd never been taken to a lesson, but his sweet sincerity and excitement for life and faith in Jesus Christ just radiates from him and you can't help but love him.  He was touched when we told him that we would always be here for him.  

There are just things that you have to see to really understand them.  There really aren't words for the spirit we had during the lesson.  They both have baptismal dates for the 6th of April.  

I love you so much.  Happy anniversary!  I'm excited for you to get my package!  Enjoy the card!

Love, Em

This is at one of our investigator’s houses.  Terry and I are both Sagittarius and so he gave me milk in this cool matching cup so I could eat it with my Mickey Mouse brownie.  These are his specialties.

My area just doubled in size!  The combination of the two areas is shown with the light yellow line.  The missionaries that were in this area previously got suddenly moved and so now we work both areas.  I love it there!  It's exciting and feels like Canoga Park!

This is called Pan con pollo and it is delicious!  It is basically a work of art.  It is from El Salvador and one of the tastiest things ever.  This was made out of season and on special request--usually it is eaten as a Christmas dish.  So many of the women in this ward seem to really love me.  They love teaching me things.  When I come home, we are going to have this for Christmas or at least try to have this :)