Using the simple past, past continuous or past perfect (and CR)

[Narae]

I'm always confused about using the simple past, past continuous, and past perfect.
Could you check this out?

   What a coincidence! When I was traveling in the United States, one day, I had stumbled on a wallet in the street. I picked it up and checked it. There were a few dollars and ID card, which had a picture. At first, I wanted to throw it away except for the money. However, I realized there were two letters between the money, and I started to read them. One was from Wisconsin, and it had a return address. I guessed, the letter was written by the wallet owner’s grandmother, Maria, who lived nursing home. The other letter was not legible, but I could read one sentence. It said, “I regret to tell you that your grandmother passed away a week ago.” I thought the first letter must be the last letter from her, so I decided to track down the owner. First, I had looked up a phone book, and I got her number. However, when I called her, someone said she had moved, and he had not got in touch with her. I hesitated for a moment, and I asked my host family what could I do. Luckily, Maria was one of my host mother’s friends! Finally, I had restored the wallet to its owner, so I felt well.

If there is any mistake, could you let me know?

[유진승]

had stumbled: this means you stumbled before you were traveling. / had looked up a phone book: no need for "had". Just say "looked up a phone book and got..." / had restored the wallet: no need for "had" either.

[유진승]

Dear Narae, how is Jeju? The tense is quite tricky, isn't it? For you, I searched a similar question I answered before and posted it in the 어휘/문법 board. Please take a look.

[Narae]

Thank you!! and I'll take a look about the tense in the board. By the way It's very windy in Jeju. I hope I can see sunshine tomorrow. ;)

[lucee]

have stumbled라고 해도 되죠? 굳이 'have를 쓰고싶다면..