Thursday, May 27, 2010

Hola!

 
So as you have heard, I am in good old Warden, Washington.  And yes, it is small.  Let's just say there isn't even a wal-mart, and no places to even eat.  I'm starting to get used to it though.  This morning we had to go to Othello.  There is a wal-mart there and some restaurants.  Like subway, burger king, mcdonalds, kfc, and a&w.  I think that's about it though.  So it's also a very small town.  But it felt like today that it was huge.  I'm getting used to the little town.  At first it was pretty weird.  My companion is actually from Kearns.  Originally from Mexico though.  He moved to Kearns when he was about 13.  So his spanish is amazing.  A lot better than his english.  But here in Warden, we are the only missionaries.  So we are responsible for the english and spanish.  So I still speak way to much english.  I'm getting to where I understand a good portion of the spanish, but I still can't speak it very good.  So it's hard in spanish lessons.  But it is coming slowly.  You would usually get an e-mail earlier, but the computers in Othello were broke so we are back in Warden.  Tony Spencer's parents are in our spanish ward here.  I guess it's there calling or something.  But so far things are going good.  I have a lot to say, I just can never remember anything.  This last week has been long, but good.  We have a car, but we bike a lot too.  We bike around town but then whenever we need to go out of town like for dinner appointments or whatever we need to drive.  Things are spread out.  We live with members.  That's alright.  We just live in there basement.  It's not finished.  My companion takes way long showers, well yesterday they said something about there water bill was probably going to go up, so I guess we need to start taking way short showers.  My companion is great and is trying really hard to help me out.  We definitely stay busy.  His last companion was a little lazy but that has changed for sure.  He has been here in Warden for a long time.  So he will probably be transferred really quickly and I'm guessing I will take over the area for 6-7 months.  We will just have to see.  Some things I could probably use are, some short sleeve shirts, probably like 2 or 3, then a sweatshirt type thing.  Like a nice black fleece one that buttons up.  That way I can wear it with any of my pants instead of my suit coats.  I hope that makes sense.  Then just some cheap black and brown pants from di or something.  Just some that I can bike in and tract in and not care about.  My companion also said to ask for an electronic translator.  I guess cosco sells them.  But if you can't find it, or it's way expensive then don't worry about it.  He wouldn't take me shopping for food or anything this last week, so I haven't eaten much this last week.  Mainly peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  But we went and got stuff today so I'm happy.  We have dinner appointments on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday nights with members.  Then if we can get them throughout the week with none members then that's great.  We did service in one ladies yard, I got to mow it, so that's always fun, but she fed us some good carne asada after.  With home made tortillas.  Then we got to do another service project too.  We drove by a house and a lady and guy were up roofing it.  So we stopped and asked if we could come back and help.  So we went back the next day.  She said she had just barely prayed to god for those two boys to stop bye.  So that was pretty cool.  We got about half the house shingled then we had to go.  My companion had talked to her a few weeks ago and she wasn't very nice.  This time she told us we better come back no matter what.  So it's cool to see that doing service get's you in the door.  Another pretty awesome story...  We went to this house and this lady asked us to "pray" over her mom.  So give her a blessing.  We said sure.  We went back in the back room and this lady has cancer.  She was in bad shape and looked like she was almost going to die.  We gave her a blessing.  Two days later we swung bye, and she was outside walking around.  She said she knew that what we did helped her for sure.  And the cancer was rapidly going away.  So those were some cool experiences I've had.  Almost everyone here lives in trailers.  It's like a giant trailer park.  It's hard to tract because people are either working, or sleeping so they can go to work in the middle of the night.  Most of them working on dairies or potato farms.  The county here is the second highest in the nation in producing different varieties of crops I guess.  The circle farms are everywhere and they are gigantic.  It's pretty cool.  We went out to a farm yesterday to talk to a guy.  He let us get in the tractors and start them up and everything.  It was cool.  I will try to send pictures.  We have been teaching a lot of lessons too.  We have a few people we are trying to get baptized on June 26th.  But we will see cause it's so hard to catch people at home.  The best way to tract is to go out on bikes and just look for people outside.  So it's pretty ghetto here, but it's cool to see how happy people are with what they have.  They just need to the gospel and they will be more happy.  It definately provides a structure to families. I'm about out of time though!  My address is 212 E. Hillside  Warden, Washington 98857.  It was kind of a lonely week for letters and stuff!  But oh well.  I'm sure I have a lot more to say. I just can't think and am out of time.  I love you all so much and thank you for all you do!  Oh yeah, I do have one more quick story.  So we were tracting and ran into this guy and lady.  My companion says to the lady.  El es su hijo verdad?  Well the lady quickly responded.  No!!  El es mi esposo!!  It was hilarious.  I know this gospel is true and I am so glad I am blessed with the oppurtunity to bring others into it.  I love it so much.  I love the book of mormon and the guidance it brings into everyones lives. I know god listens, and answers prayers.  And I do know that we have a living prophet on earth today!  That's a hard one for people to understand.  I love you all so much.  Have a good week!!

Monday, May 17, 2010

Finally some pictures!

Kade is in Spokane as of this morning! I talked to him on the phone for about 5 minutes while he was at the airport and he sounded really excited. He said he will be spending tonight at the mission home in Spokane and then tomorrow he will be going to wherever his area is. We're not sure when we will hear from him again since we don't know yet when his P-Day his. He sent his memory card home so we finally have some pictures from the MTC. I will post his new address as soon as I have it. We are so proud of Kade and love him so much!




I had to post this one because I couldn't believe my eyes... it looks like Kade is singing, and he seems to be pretty into it.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Last MTC E-Mail!!

I think in the first sentence he meant to say Elder Holland is awesome just because he is so BROAD not bored.
So last night was good. Jeffrey R. Holland came and spoke to us. It was so awesome just because he is so bored. He didn't even have a talk either. He just goes all from his head. He talked about how we need to convert one person on our missions, ourselves.. Then he talked about how he doesn't understand how someone can serve a mission then become in active. It was way powerful. He talked about how we need to use preach my gospel and learn it inside and out. We heard it was going to be someone good coming, i was hoping either the prophet or elder holland. Sorry, sometimes the shift button doesn't work on this computer. But this week was good. We also had a way good experience yesterday where we go teach people and they give us feedback. The guy yesterday told us we were the two most powerful missionaries he has every had teach him in the mtc. it was awesome. he also said we answered one of his prayers. i have enough white shirts right now but will probably need some short sleeve ones in the field. like two or three. Sis, thanks for the brownies, they were great. i'm up 19 pounds now, it's all your fault. my pants still fit though so it's all good. i know that elder who's mom you have been talking to. i think he is from georgia. tonight i get to do something cool. my teacher nominated me. only like 8 companionships in the mtc get to do it every week. when the new missionaries come in, they go to a meeting that night where they watch missionaries teach a pretend scenario. so maybe nick will get to watch me teach. i hope so at least. it's gonna be way cool. i might try and go to the chiropracter here. depending on how it charges insurance or whatever. i just know my back is way messed up from sitting so much. and i feel like it would be good to jump out into the field with a fresh back. so i might do that on friday. i can't believe the bike shoppe charged you that much. that's ridiculous. from now on just go to biker's edge. that bike isn't even worth to much more than that. oh well though. that's crazy dad finally got a new car. hopefullly this one actually starts. i thought this week would drag on but it's beginning to go pretty fast actually. i can't wait until monday morning. i leave here at 5 in the morning. my flight is delta #3069. it leaves here at 8:53 and gets there at 9:43. there's a time change though. and yeah i got the calling card. thanks. so i'm not sure when i will try and call you, but i will sometime. i think i'm most excited to get to the airport to finally eat not cafeteria food. it's good, but not to good. Today we are fasting for a while. just for our new trainers and stuff.  So tell everyone, those that write me at least, not to send anymore handwritten letters here. just send them to washington. i don't know the address or anything but it should be in my packet. one elder here is from washington and his grandparents don't live far from spokane. he said they will take care of us. i'm just curious about everything. curious to meet my trainer, curious for my first area, curious to meet the people. i'm just excited. it's hard to stay focused here. my language has improved a lot and somethings i can say pretty quick. so that's nice. i have faith that it will come pretty quick in the field. i know i will have a lot of head aches, but it will come. our new district of 12 elders is really cool. it get's a little crazy at times, and there room is really gonna stink after about another week. but they will make good missionaries. one is from Syracuse and knows some people i knew from work, and also knows eric woodruff. i thought that was pretty cool. There's others in that district that are really weird too. it's so funny to see how everyone is different and how everyone was raised different. i'm glad i was spoiled, but i'm glad i had to learn how to work too. it's amazing to watch people do service. you can totally tell who has been given every little thing and never had to have a job. and the service here is so easy. just wait until they get into the field. i need to start packing some stuff today, then more on saturday and sunday. i hope i can fit everything. if stuff needs to be sent home i will have one of the sisters do it monday. cause she doesn't leave until wednesday. i think i will make it all work though. i will probably charge some more on my credit card this week. just to get some stuff before i leave. i figure i might as well buy it here cause it's 40% off. So watch my credit card, and just transfer money from my checking account please. not a whole lot more this week. i have grown alot. i can't wait to get out there in the field and start the work. i know this gospel is true. i know that jesus christ is the son of god, and that he did suffer for all of us. he has felt all that we feel and all that we ever will feel. i know that through him, anything can be done. through pray we can communicate with god, our father in heaven. the book of mormon is real. it is the word of god. joseph smith saw god and jesus christ. as a 14 year old, that would scare the heck out of me. i know that this is the work of christ. not the work of us, the work of christ. if we do it his way with his spirit, we will convert. i'm so glad to have wonderful examples in my life like all of my friends who are out in this same work. i love hearing there stories. especially brody's crazy ones. it's so cool to know that we are all out in this work. we will all be so blessed for it, and our families also. i can't wait to see nick. i will get to see him a few times i'm sure. if not, i will figure it out so i can. he will love it here. and for jace, the time will fly by. it's so good to hear from everyone and know that everyone is doing good. i love you all and next time you hear from me i won't be in Utah!!!! i'm excited to leave. so have a good week and i'm not sure when you will get another letter cause i have no idea when p-day is. i will send my memory card home pretty quick with pictures on it. i love you all so much and thank you for all your prayers and support. i love you!!!

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Happy Cinco de Mayo!!

So I guess american's celebrate cinco de mayo more than mexicans. Kinda random huh. Yes mom, I am taking pictures. Not a whole ton, but I am taking some. And I have written in my journal everyday so far. I will send my memory card home in about a week. We didn't get our flight plans yet, I guess we will get them tomorrow. I can't wait... It's so crazy. Happy Birthday yesterday mom!!!!! And thanks for the package this week. It had everything I needed in it. Gina sent me a package yesterday. She's keeping me alive with Mountain Dew. I always get crap for it but I don't care. And yes, tell her I do like jerky. And tell her thank you so much for the package. That's awesome Brady is doing his papers. It will be cool to find out where he is going. This week we went to the rc again. I totally got shut down. I wasn't gonna make any calls cause I have a goal to get through Alma and Mathew before I leave here, so I was just going to read. My companion told me to make two calls. So I did.... Both answered. That never happens. Both of them shut me down. But it's all good, one of the caller back ringtones was some rap. It was weird to hear music. I think it was Snoop Dogg!! It was crazy. Then we went to the TRC on Saturday night. The lady we taught spoke only Spanish. I think she was like 125 years old too. Well anyways, her spanish was all slurred together. It was crazy. We understood like 5 words she said. It was really discouraging but good. It was really humbling. We went in there with pretty big heads thinking our spanish was pretty good....... SHUT DOWN!! But it's ok. I'm over it. My companion and I are working the hardest at the language than anyone in our district. And we know we are in for it in about a week and a half. So I am worried about everyone else. I think you should start missionary mom's pretty quick. I was thinking Cody's family probably moved so they might not have internet up. I have heard from him once so that's good. I met a sister, Sister Dredge. She went to Fremont and graduated in 2007. So she knows Kevin and Mikey and all of those guys. My retarded toe is looking pretty terrible. It doesn't hurt, but it's looking bad. I have been painting it. I think I will have to have the nail completely removed in a couple of months. My Mission Pres here said just to roll with it until it starts to hurt, and that was my plan anyways. People get sick here and immediately go to the doctor. It's so weird. Like they will cough and go to the doctor.  I guess I just don't really go to the doctor unless I can't walk or breath. My companion is the same way. We get 12 new elders today in our zone. It's gonna be kinda crazy. Luckily I'm almost out of here. A member of our Branch Presidency here said that me and my companion are two of the best missionaries he has seen come through here in the past year. We could tell her really meant it too. Some things I could use this week, probably a calling card for the airport, I dunno how that works. Then a copy of my mission map. Also try to find out if I will be getting a new mission president. Someone said I will be. But I don't think so. This dictionary is good. Underwear is good. I just don't like wearing garments to gym. The other night we had a thing in our district where we all went around and shared things we liked about everyone. Well this sister, Sister Miller talked about me. She is so cool. She's the one from Hawaii. You and dad need to look her up cause she is serving in Salt Lake and go meet her. But she said some stuff. She explained how she knows I know what I'm doing and how I'm more mature. But then she went in to talk about stuff after my mission. How she knows I have so much potential after my mission to and how I'm a good leader and stuff. It was nuts because a couple of things she said were like right from my patriarchal blessing. It was seriously like she had read it. She also talked about my ability to touch lives of anyone. Doesn't matter who. That meant a ton because lots of people have said that. So it was way good to hear that stuff. Then it was my companions turn to talk about me. He said it made him happy to hear people say good things about me. That was cool too. The two of us together work really good. I keep him working, he keeps me having fun. It sounds like all my friends are doing good. I haven't heard about Brody or Weston for a while. Jared sounds like he is having the time of his life. I just can't wait to get out and have those experiences in the field. I feel like I'm ready. I can't wait to get my flight plans tomorrow. Time is starting to move right on by. It's crazy. Almost 2 months already. Kent sent me a Dear Elder, I'm very jealous of his steak dinner he was going to have that night. It's so good to hear from everyone. I think I'm up about 17 pounds now. When I left I think I was really low though. I think I'm about averaged out. And yes, this sounds funny but some of it is muscle. I have been working out a lot. That's about it for this week though. I love you all and am so grateful for you. You are all in my prayers. I know the book of mormon is true. I love it so much. I have never ready it like this. The stories are so cool and I know they're true. When reading them, I picture them. It helps so much and it's so cool. I know Joseph Smith saw god and Jesus Christ. It all makes sense from a logical point of view, and a spiritual point of view. It's so cool. I'm so glad I have the oppurtunity to take 2 years and devote them to only serving the lord. I can't wait to get out there and do work!!! i love elder nelson !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ha, alright whatever. My companion just wrote that. But yeah, thanks for everything you do for me!!!! Keeping sending the letters! I love them. Have a good week everyone and a good Mother's day too!!! I love you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!