"The following takes place between 12:00-1:00..." cue theme song for "24"

Jan 16, 2012

Dear Mom,

This week has been interesting. I was transferred to Modesto 8th Ward on Wednesday. It has been interesting to go through the process of learning a new area again. I still feel slightly Dizzy.

Modesto is about 20 Minutes north of Turlock, and is extremely Close to the Boundary of the Mission. We will discuss that later.

My companion is Elder Mangum from Emery, UT. He was Elder Roberts' MTC Companion. He is also the District Leader, which has been interesting.

Back to the City of Modesto being near the mission boundary. We are in Modesto Stake, Modesto North actually covers the DMZ. (De-Missionaried Zone) (I just made that up, not particularly Funny... But oh well.)

I had been in the area probably about 3 hours, and we went to contact a Potential Investigatior Named Dr. L, an OB/GYN here in town. We knock on his Door and he says," Hey! Let me take you out to lunch! I have some questions to ask you and we can talk."

We thought "Hey, that is cool. This guy is only a potential. This will be cool!"

"You can put your bikes in my Garage." Said Dr. L.

"Cool. They won't get stolen. That is really nice of him."

So we start driving in his brand new BMW M3... Nice car. Then Dr. L says, "I have a CD for you guys to listen to, Then we will talk."

"CD!?!!?"

So we keep driving. Elder Mangum notices that we are leaving our area and asks," Where is this burger place?"

"Oh, just a couple minutes farther," Says Dr. L.

So we keep driving. All the while Dr. Lee is talking about tithing and how it says in Deuteronomy that Tithing is supposed to be taken to the Temple and eaten... Made into a party. That was kind of weird.

Then, we get to the Freeway. I-99. Which is not in our area... Or our Zone. We turn onto the Northbound on ramp. Elder Mangum asks, "Where is this Burger Joint, anyway?"

"Manteca, It is only about 10 Minutes down the road," replies Dr. L.

"Wait, Salida isn't 10 minutes away... That is the last town in the mission! ABORT! ABORT! MAYDAY, MAYDAY, this is MIKE-FOXTROT-FIVE-NINER-BRAVO-ZULU REQUESTING IMMEDATE ASSISTANCE!! I AM PUNCHING OUT..... CANOPY IS STUCK. REPEAT, CANOPY IS STUCK!"

Meanwhile, Dr. L puts on a CD that both of us Objected to listening to. It was what we expected. Anti-Mormon. Having never heard much "Anti" stuff before, I didn't really know what to expect, Although, I didn't really expect it to be exactly what I expected... Meaningless Hogwash and scare tactics. Not really any actual facts in there. I won't detail it. It wouldn't be worth my time. I kept praying that we would be able to get Dr. L turned around.

Mostly what I felt at this point was trapped, which I was. I was in someone elses car travelling at 70 MPH headed toward Manteca. And the Mission Border.

I tapped Elder Mangum on the Shoulder.

"Manteca is outside the mission." I whispered.

"MIKE-FOXTROT-FIVE-NINER-BRAVO-ZULU, THIS IS SIERRA-PAPA-ROMEO-INDIA-ROMEO-TANGO, ASSISTANCE GRANTED. X-RAY FLIGHT. DISTANCE 30 MILES CLOSING AT 300 KNOTS. WEAPONS FREE. REPEAT. WEAPONS FREE. OUT."

Elder Mangum told Dr. L that Manteca was outside our mission and that we couldn't leave it. After some prodding, we finally got him to turn around, in Ripon, which is outside the mission. We ate at Red Robin, while he asked us questions that we can't tell if they were sincere or intended to shake us. We did eventually get home. And realized that he intended to do that to us. He took control from the beginning, us in his car, our bikes in his garage. We couldn't "Punch out"

Needless to say, we won't be getting in any stranger's cars anytime soon. I also keep my U-Lock on my backpack, just in case we get abducted again. It was probably good that I didn't connect that I could have brained him with it while I was in the car with him... he hadn't done anything wrong, legally, at least and causing a wreck isn't exactly my idea of a good day.

Other than that, the week has been good.

SHARLENE HAD A BABY?!?!?! That is weird.

I had better go. I still have to write President.

Love you all!

The Church is True!

Elder Coles

Dad,

It was hard to leave the people in Turlock. I understood, to some extent, what you meant when you said it was harder for you to leave your mission than it was to come out. I am trying to learn the new ward as fast as possible and work my tail off. Thank you for teaching me how to work hard.

Elder Coles