November 16, 2009

I cant wait to see you again. For two years I have been in the service of the Lord. I have been on spiritual, physical, and emotional rollercoasters. Some of the hardest and best times of my life. Through it all, I have gained a testimony that is like a rock. I have no doubts that this is the only true church. That Jesus lives, that Joseph Smith was a prophet, that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet, that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I have no doubt that the Lord will answer the prayer of a willing child. I have learned of humility and that the Lord only blesses us when we recognize his hand in our blessings. What a wonderful journey it has been. We have had a great week here, thankyou for praying for the baptisms because they were just great. All 5 were so excited to be baptized and to make a convenant with God. I was able to baptize one of the moms. Today we played soccer with the zone for the zone activity. No injuries...hahaha. So I forgot to mention this before or in Dads email, but Elder David A. Bednar is coming this Thursday! Im so excited to hear and see from an Apostle of the Lord. I know that these 15 men are special witnesses, and that they have a different witness than I do. What examples and heros they are to me. Well thanks for talking to Sister Hill. I was never comps with Elder Hill but we were always close in the mission. So we can fix it out when we get back. Mom I was thinking about what its going to be like to see you again, and I think it will be very similar to when we go back to see our maker. I love you so much and Im greatful for your prayers and support. Im so excited.

November 10, 2009

Yesterday we were on a tour of the capital of Buenos Aires and we didnt have time to do email. It was a completely different world there and I couldnt believe it. So nice and clean. We looked at a bunch of cool stuff like the oldest biggest tree in Buenos Aires, the grove where south america was dedicated, a huge catholic church full of cool paintings and gold, tango dancing, all you can eat bbq, a famous bridge that separates the ocean and the canal, and a lot of other cool stuff. Im doing good now and am gaining my weight back. I weigh 160, mas o menos. So im excited for TJ and the courage he has to go back and serve the Lord. The hospitals here are terrible. When sombody breaks their arm or somthing they put on the dumbest bandages Ive ever seen. I went into one really bad one when I rolled my ankle and it was so nasty. I though I was going to get sick just from being there. The didnt have anyplaces to sit to look at my ankle so I just sat in the sink. But there is a private one that the mission uses and thats where I go now if Im sick. Its really nice. Thats cool that you and Adrian went to Walnut creek.... but didnt do the root drop weak! Hhahaha. And no we are not going to eat tuna for thanksgiving. So the baptisms on the 14th. 3 are from the complete family. Mom Dad and 9 yr old kid. The rest of the kids are not ready and are really into the world stuff. The other two that are getting baptized are a Mom and her 19 yr daughter. They are friends with members. So Im really excited. They all came to church on sunday also. So youve got the lists ready...NICE! Ive got some things that I need you to do please.....OK so about living after the mission at UVU. My best friend here in the mission is named Elder Craig Hill. We want to live together so he gave me his Moms name and number. Can you call her and talk and try to arrange somthing? They are from Fresno, California. He is ending the mission with me and we met in the MTC. President Benton wants me to live in a BYU ward even if im going to UVU. I want to live in an apartment and not a house. OK so thats enough of that. Im so happy and Im gratefull for the blessings that you guys are recieving at home.

November 2, 2009

That was so cool when we were almost talking through the computer. I felt that too and it was special. Im so grateful to God for the blessings that he has been pouring upon our family. Its cool how the Lord blesses us in turn for our service. OK so Im not going to try and hide it from you. I lost 10 pounds last week...yea. Seriously. Ive been really sick and it stinks. We havent been able to work too much but when we were able to go out we were really blessed and the awesome families came to church...in the pouring rain. Also one of the recent converts, Segundo, the 60yr man, came walking in just completely soaked. He said that he had taken the wrong bus and that he had to walk really far. What dedication, thats such a wonderful thing to see as a missionary. We are going to have the family baptisms the 14th of Nov. We had some great Family home evening with the members and the investigators and they are really bonding and they love each other. We are so happy for them. Gladis`s baptism was really good too. Her family came and so did a number of members. So Im doing better now and I ate my first meal yesterday. Im taking some ati infection medicine for the stomach and some mylanta. So dont worry about me Im alright and Ill try to get those 10 lbs back. Theres this evil dog here that is a german shepard. He trys to get us through the fence everytime we walk by and just goes crazy. The other day I said to my comp. "That dog is like Satan, He just hates us." I thought it was pretty funny. The halloween pics looked good. Adrian looked so healthy and happy. We didnt have halloween here. Nobody does it here in Catan. We asked a member why and she said that if you knocked on sombodys house at night in a mask asking for candy they would open the door with a gun...hahaha. Thats cool about TJ and Arturo. What a sweet journey they have in front of them. Thats what I think when I see new missionaries get here.

October 26, 2009

So this week I got to read two emails. That was good. Sounds like you had a great bday and I didnt even know they were going to do a surprise birthday party, pretty sweet. Ok so dont talk to me about chuys yet. My mouth is already watering. This morning my comp and I did make bisquick panckakes though. Im so happy that the family is doing great. Thats funny about you asking the lady if she is still smoking. I think I do that everyday and make people feel bad everyday and then try to bring them up. The only way one can do it is through the spirit. Here we have had a great week. The Elders went back to their area and are still living in the same apartment. They have new locks on the doors though. They told me they have seen the kid though who did it and that he is from a less active family...go figure. We have just been so blessed this week though. We were walking on a muddy day and I saw a little alley between two houses...its called a pasillo. There is almost always another little house back down the alley too. Well I said lets clap this one. We went back there, and 4 dogs just went crazy and tried to get us. I just tried to stand my ground and the dogs stopped right in front of us and just barked like crazy. An older man who looked like he was drunk, said come on in. Him and his wife are married, they have 9 kids and many of them live at home. The mom said that she had been waiting for us and that they want to go to a church and that they have mormons in their family. Well we taught them lesson one and it was so spiritual. The cool thing was that about a week ago I asked Heavenly Father to give us a complete family. I got an answer during the lesson that this was them. Well we went to get them to go to church on sunday and they live really far away from the church in the country. Like 30min walking. The Mom and Dad were waiting outside for us with two of their grandchildren. We took a bus in to town and they just loved church. The members helped us so much and we set up another lesson with some members that live close it was so cool! They are going to get baptized the 14th. So in total we had 5 gators in church. Two others are a mom and a daughter that is another miracle that Ill write about in Dads email. Well Gladis didnt get baptized last saturday. Her mom called us saturday morning and told us that her daughter was on her period...dangit. So she was a little uncomfortable and wanted to wait till the 31st. Oh women problems. Hhahaha. So we are doing great here.

October 19, 2009

Yesterday was mothers day here in Argentina. One member said that we should call home anyways. It would have been nice but no. So your big BDAY is coming up. I hope that you dont feel any older, but hahahah. 50! Well we have had a pretty crazy week here. Some Elders got robbed in our zone and are living with us. Dad has the full story. And we had a pretty funny meeting with President Benton and some american tourists. I also wrote that in Dads email. So you can read that together because its pretty funny. My companion and I are doing great. We are going to have a baptism this saturday too. Its a 13 year old girl hows name is Gladis. Her grandparents are members. We want to baptize her mom too, but she doesnt want to stop smoking. Oh brother. I saw a picture of Alex just booking it during his cross country race. What a stud. Im proud of him and cant wait to see him in the army with me...hahaha. But seriously. If he comes up to Utah with me he will definately join. I hope that Ben is doing well too. Adrian told me that she got a cool job in Austin training triathletes or somthing like that. And sammy and her cool picture of her as a nurse. She could fix all of my injuries. We are teaching some great people and helping them get ready for baptism. I just love the mission and love to feel the spirit. Yesterday in sacrament meeting I was feeling a little down/worried about the investigators. Since it was mothers day, we had some difficulties getting people to church. We went to look for about 8 and two came. Well I was sitting there in sacrament just thinking about that and the spirit wispered comfort to me that all would be well. Those are the little things that make me know there is a God who loves and cares about his children. This morning too during personal study I realized how much I treasure the scriptures and how much I have grown in the mission in scriptural knowledge. The other day these Jehovas Witnesses contacted us and I just accepted their pamphlet and told them thankyou. Well many times during the conversation I thought of the many scriptures I could have showed them and proved with their own bible that their church is false...but I knew that it wouldnt help, that contention is of the devil, and that real conversion is spiritual. So Mom I hope that your having a good week and get to talk to some of your real good friends on the phone or somthing. I know that Heidi, Sis McNeil, Sis Waites, and Sis Heywood are just some of them. Mom I love you and I know that this church is true.

October 12, 2009

So we just had transfer meeting and Im here in Catan still with my same companion Elder Zollinger. Im very happy to be here and to finish here too. Our last week of the transfer was a hit. 2 great baptisms, new family of gold, the perfect storm, and helping an old man back to his home with blood running down his face. Segundo and Aldana were both baptized saturday night. They were confirmed sunday after a 6 peso taxi ride because it was just raining bad. So the perfect storm formed to try our faith and we over came it. Yes my shoes are still wet and the apartment is muddy from our shoes, but we got it done. So we were walking down the street sunday after noon and we see this grandpa walking toward us with a lot of blood running down his head. We stop and talk to him and ask him what happend. He was all normal and calm and said that he was robbed. He had a huge gash in his forehead and I said, I think you have to go to the hospital. He was like no Im fine. Well we kept walking with him to help him to his house, even though he didnt want us too. When we finally got to his house, I told the neighbor in front to come over. I started talking to him asking him if he could help the old man out. Well the neighbor told us that its really the old mans son that hits him. Poor guy. After we said our good byes he asked us for 2 pesos...go figure. In church sunday our ward misison leader told us that we had done a contact with one of his moms friends and that she wanted us to come back. She was just like any other contact and said that she was busy with a party for her daughter. Well we decided to go back for what the member had said and we finally found the house after a 30 min search because we didnt write down the address. Well we found it, clapped our hands, and she came out with a smile. She let us in and we taught her, her daughter, and two family friends. It was one of the most spiritual lessons Ive been in and one of the girls started to cry during the first vision. We are going to visit them in the week with the member that is her friend. Also they had a church movie in their house which I asked about. She said that her friend gave it to her and that they watch it when they are feeling down. It was so sweet! So Im doing great mom. I hope you are too. Ok so I hope you buy me some protein upon my return so I can become large in stature. In 6 months, Nephi would just be scared of me...hahaha. Well I would say about 60% of the converts are women. So I have definately found true friends in the mission. And more than 1. Here are some of the best men and I know I will find them after the mission. Well tell sammy girl that I love her and that I miss her.

October 5, 2009

Conference was awesome and we had some good investigators there. The talks were just great, and yes I was blown back by Elder Hollands talk, just amazing. I really like Elder Hales talk on Saturday, and Elder Christoffersons talk sunday. He speaks spanish so he translated his own talk, so that was nice to hear his voice, not some spanish translator. Yes we always watch it in spanish, interesting huh? The members were so glad to be there too. Thanks for booking some spots to go when we get back, Im excited. Also I need you guys to book me a visit to the dentist...yea sorry. Well I have been brushing and flossing the whole mission but a lot of my teeth just hurt. So we will be having two more baptisms this saturday. An older man named Segundo, it means second, and Gladis. Segundo is 60 years old and I always enjoy baptizing priesthood into the church, because that what the church needs here. So yes I do have all the names and addresses written down of the people I have baptized. When Ringwood got up to talk I nudged my comp and said that he went out with my mom. I told him that he read every street sign on your road trip and that was enough, hahaha. He did give a great talk though. What tsunami? I just dont hear about anything here. So tell me where it happend and what? Im glad that you all enjoyed Dads bday. Yours is coming up. Thats so cool that Ben and Emily took a trip to California and stopped by the temple. When I prayed about Ben I got an answer that I just need to keep working hard till the end of my mission. I hope that him and her will look to me as an example and they too will come to the truth. President told me during our interview that I will be a Nephi for my family, and I was just humbled, what a blessing. Mom I love you so much and Im greatful for the example you and Dad have been to me. I love the Lord and know that this is his church.

September 30, 2009

Ok so they changed pday on us for this week. The temple is closing for refurnishing and they let us go one last time. I really enjoyed it and got some answers. So last week was great. We did have 5 baptisms that turned out really well, apart from rain and cold, shy girls not wanting to get in the water, and sister against sister fights it all turned out well. We also have 4 other people we are preparing to get baptized. Im excited to bring them and more to conference. So Dad is now an old hag...hahhahaha. You will be too shortly, no jk. I love you mom. So yes I do have enough money for the quads. Ill have to tell you later how I changed the gift cards for money. The interviews with pres were great. He asked me a lot about my short term goals after the mission, like 1 year. He was really impressed by some of my goals and gave me some good suggestions too. So the referal system. Nice! I really want to teach JW when I get home with the missionaries. And thats so funny about sammy girl, the sacrament and King. The kids here are so funny too. When we see them playing in front of the house we tell them to call their moms. They do and then say, oh shes not here. We say well ask her when we can come back. They then go and come back and say, she said another day...hahahah. So what did you give the missionaries to eat? What did you give dad for his bday? We have been eating pretty well here. Empanadas, bbq, pastas, fried meat, usual argentine food. Im not sick either. Well last week we had a miracle that I didnt share in my email to dad. We are working with this family. The mom is a member, her husband is not. They have a daughter who is like 25 and she has a little baby girl. Well the baby got her shots on the day before the visit. She had not slept all night and had kept the family up with her crying. They all looked tired and the baby cryed through the whole lesson. At the end they asked us to give her a blessing. When we put our hands on her head she was just balling and screaming. I could barely hear the annointing. Then I gave her the blessing and prayed that she would be fine and able to sleep. During the prayer her head began to droop and I thought that she was just jerking it around away from us. As we all said amen she was sound asleep. The Priesthood power to heal is real. I know that this is the only church that posses it as it was restored through a prophet of God. I love you mom.

September 21, 2009

Hi Mom,Sounds like you have had a busy week as RS Pres. So yes we do open the windows and just think of the bbq that is cooking below. Last week we didnt have lunch one day so we decided to buy some. Meat and french fries, what more could you need? We have had a great week here. Lots of work, 10 inv in church, and we have 7 baptisms for this saturday, and 19 in total in the zone! We are really excited. We have interviews with President tomorrow too. I love interviews with him because he is such a great man and gives me great advice. Last transfer he asked me to write down my goals. (Long term, short term, what I want to look for in a wife, and how I will maintain the spritituality after the mission). I wrote them down and will talk to him about them tomorrow. Thats funny that the Elders still ride bikes there in Austin. I figured that all of them just had cars now. Yep the ward meetings with the RS Pres and the missionaries and all the others. Our RS Pres here went and invited some investigators to a bday party last week. They loved it and we were so glad that she was helping us. People here really havent been talking about Poroto. Kinda weird because they just go crazy when an Argentine does somthing good. I hear about Ginobli from the spurs all the time. Well I got sprayed from mud from the street as the bus passed by this week, hahaha it doesnt even bother me anymore. I just laugh about it. Ok so when you go to the temple this week, if you are not going to be able to make it out there before I get back, I would like you and dad to buy me some more garments for when I get home. Yea after 2 years they are pretty NICE! I like the full neck, not the celestial smile. Cotton or Drilux. Im just about the same size 32 waist. Not a fat fat. Well Mom Im glad to be here and Im really enjoying the work. I love you so much.

Septembeer 14, 2009

Hi Mom,Mom not get an email...yea right. The cracker email place was broken and I only got off Dads and Alex´s. We decided to go eat lunch in the apartment and try another place in the afternoon. Mom just so you know I love you so much. I recognize all that you do and Im so greatful to have a mother like you. So the dead cat didnt smell, but then again all the houses smell a little weird anyways. The sewage just isnt good here, you know. So the mud has dried up and now its dust, NICE! We are kicking and just doing great. There were 9 investigators in church on sunday. This big family will be getting baptized the 26th and we are really excited. I really love this work and I love seeing success in it because it changes people. So we still havent taught the witch grandma but we did invite her to church and she said, no I dont go to that church...OK...well see you later! Then I think she tried to cast a spell on me but it didnt work. So the apartment is really nice actually. One of the better ones Ive been in. We keep it really clean and even have a little crappy washing machine that works kinda. No drier but we hang dry everything. Its above a restaurant that has a grill and ice cream thats pretty good. You walk in and its a big room that has the kitchen in it. Then theres a little hall with the bathroom on the left, and our room just pass it. Our room has a bunk bed for us, our study desks, and two wooden clothes things to hang your clothes. I cant even think of what thats called in english. My comp and I made a rule that we were going to talk spanish in the street and english in the apartment. We do very well. With my last comp the canadian, we always spoke spanish.

September 7, 2009

Hey Mom,Yes it was a great week. This place is just so beautiful and ugly at the same time. Anybody who was not a missionary would never come here. Thats why its so great as a missionary because the people are usually willing to listen. We had 8 investigators in church sunday. We had more but they dont count if they are not married and living together. So we found this great family of a lot. The Dad is a member from a long time ago, then became a devil worshipper, and now wants to come back to the church with all his family. So we were going to enter in his house and he says, dont get scared, my mom is from another religion. Well there are a lot of people called bandistas here. They call spirits into their bodies and weird stuff like that. So we walk into the house and see a big sign that say, bandista temple...NICE! There was a skinned cat...please tell alex, hanging on the wall, tons of weird like devil statue things, african hats and necklaces to worship and lots of weird stuff. So we taught a lesson right there. All the kids loved it and the Dad said he needed a hair cut. My comp cuts hair and has a machine. So we said we would come by to cut his hair and teach again. We did on sat, and they all went to church with us yesterday! Its was sweet. So in the next couple weeks we should have a number of baptisms. We have great members here. The stake pres lives in our area. Everybody is poor here and the zone looks about the same. The Elders are really working too. Alls well. So the zone is not in the campo. Its more central but not nice. There is campo in the areas, like country and stuff like that, but its fairly close to the city. My comp is so cool. We like just about all the same stuff. We get along great and we made panckakes this morning with my bisquick that you guys sent. We made steak and mashed potatoes for lunch too. Dont worry about him cutting hair, hes not like that, hahaha. I checked out the blogspot. I look a little weak weak wetted down. I couldnt hear the song though. I like it a lot. So Im glad to hear that the family is doing well. Hows being RS Pres? I love you Mom and I know that this is the Lords work.

September 7, 2009

Hey Dad,
> The first week here was great. We taught a ton of lessons and some with member too. We were able to have 8 investigators in church sunday. The members here are great with investigators. Our bishop is a good man, and the stake president lives in our area. We are going to visit a family with him this week. The zone here is sweet. Most of the Elders are working really hard. We have an ex zone leader that is just working his area over. Of course there are a couple areas that are a little lazy. We had a meeting with president and the leaders last week. We ate bbq and got to play basketball at the end of the meeting. This guy gave a presentation on safety during the meeting. He is in charge of all the safety here in south america. He protects the general authorities when they come too. He was in the Marines, for 4 years here in argentina and then went on a mission. Well he did a couple practices of what we should do when we are robbed. He selected me to come up and get robbed. Well when I stood up all the missionaires said, uuuuhhhhh. The guy put a fake gun in my stomach and said give me everything. I looked at all the Elderes with a mad face, and then gave him all I had. Just have too as a missionary. He said that is the best thing to do always, and that when he was a missionary he hit a man that was hitting his comp...and they had to close the area. That would be by far the worst thing that could ever happen. The kids in the neighborhood here are pretty familiar with the missionaries and its all good. Well tomorrow we have a zone conference. My comp and I have to give a workshop on adapting the teaching to the needs of the investigator. Its going to go well. TELL SAMMY THAT I SAID HI. The roof looked like a mess with all the workers there. Well eat an eclair for me. So we are doing great and made some bisquick panckakes this morning. Almost as good as yours and moms. Well Dad I know that Im doing the Lords work. Love you Dad.

September 1, 2009

Hi Mom,Im doing great and am in the best place in the mission. Gonzales Catan. This zone is called the heart of the mission. It is all dirt and mud streets, villas, very dangerous, no sister missionaries, and tons of baptisms. This is why its called the heart of the mission. Im so happy and excited to be here. Its a privledge to be here. My companion is a capo (stud) named Elder Zollinger, from North Dakota. He has a transfer less than me. We are so excited to be together here in Catan. We are going to baptize a lot of people and are ready to do work. The zone looks great and we are really stacked to have a good transfer. I do miss my last area, but am so excited about this new area. I said my goodbyes to the people I really liked, and some I didnt...no jk. We had a couple good meals before leaving too. We didnt have any baptisms last saturday but the week before they were great. The people are happy and are going to stay active in the church. Some people do get attatched to the missionaries though. Many have told me that they stopped going once the Elder left. The family sounds like they are doing really good. Im so proud of you and your new calling. What a challenge! The RS Presidnets here are such great women and I know that you will be a great RS President. Here in spanish the word for relief society is really close to the word, society of wispers. I like to say it wrong in front of the RS President to see her reaction. You should ask Bro and Sis Riquelme what Im talking about. My I love you and I know that this is the true church. I have no doubts. Somtimes I have questions but I always find the answer. I used to be scared to question and looks for answers, but that is the only way to make your testimony sure. Love you Mom.

August 25, 2009

Well its seems like I will be getting transfered this coming monday. Im pretty excited but will surely miss this area. And stop calling me surely. Airplane. Unfortunately today I dont have time to check the blog. We have a meeting with pres and the stake pres in about an hour. Well Mom order an extra chimichanga por mi. Today we played volley ball for about 4 hours. Yes Im sore and thats so weak. We also ate a ton of bbq. Well I hope all is well and I love you mom.Ok Mom so I didnt have time to finish my email because we had to go to a meeting that didnt happen. We got there in Ramos Mejia which is an hour away by bus and we waited for about 15min outside the offices. Well finally the Elders showed up and told us that they had forgotten to call us and that we didnt have the meeting. Then we had to wait about another 30min to get a ride home. So it was a little crazy. The weather is getting hotter here. Its nice now though. 70s. I heard that its been really hot down there so I hope alex is mowing lots of lawns...haha. I dont have alergies anymore. The vicks and a few kleenexes and a few push ups got rid of them. So Im good. I just saw my last companion Elder Grange and hes doing great. We had so much fun together and worked so much. We are definately going to be close friends after the mission.

August 18, 2009

Hi Mom,Thats so funny about slick rock. Yes I did do the whole trail. I did it alone the first time and with my buddy seth the second time. You turned left right? You have to turn left. But yea either way its still really hard and yes you can die on that trail. That what I told Adrian when she wanted to go. So I will gladly volunteer to go with you the next time, and yes I think I could explain very well how you passed on...died. Hhaha. The pictures from graduation looked great. All of you looked happy too, especially George, hahaha what a nice hat. So the baptisms went great. My last comp came back to see them too. Him and I did the baptisms and they were swell. The girls were really happy and so were all the young women. We had 3 investigators in the baptisms and they loved it. 2 of them will be getting baptized this Saturday! So all is well. It is starting to warm up a bit. Thats nice. I felt a little sick last night so I bought the vicks tea. It helps a lot if you take it right as you think you might be getting the flu. Hopefully its not the pig flu? Does it mean you have the pig flu when you want to eat bacon? Ok that probably wasnt too funny. We have interviews with President this Friday. I hope he tells me where I will be going to finish the mission. Ive got 2 transfers left and surely will be going to my last area. I want to go out to campo if its possible. My comp is doing great too. We are having fun and working hard. The zone is doing pretty good too. So hows Ben and Alex? Let me know. Mom I love you so much and am greatful to be here right now.

August 11, 2009

I have grown so much here and haved learned so many things. Doctrine, how to preach, teach, baptize, answer difficult questions, speak a new language, patience, and to recognize the spirit. So many good things. So finally we got some more stuff done with that couple thats getting married and then baptized. Its a mess with all the paper work here and stuff. Well the investigators are doing good and should be getting married the 27th and baptized the 29th. We have 2 baptisms this Friday! They are two young women that are almost as tall as me! One is named Barbara and the other is Joana. They are sisters and their mom was baptized about 30 years ago and went inactive about 29 years ago. They are 15 and 13 years old. The youth just love them and really helped us out with them. They love mutual and all and really have testimonies. There are some other great ones that will be getting baptized the 22nd and the 29th. We had 10 investigators in church last sunday! I think thats the most Ive ever had in the mission. Its was sweet. Some came with members. Some with us. And 2 came alone. The zone is doing pretty good too. My comp is applying to BYU and I have been helping him with his essays a little bit. Hes going home one transfer before me in October. Well they just split the ward too. Our area is now half the size but its no big deal. We usually work on the other side anyway. Also last sunday one of our recent converts Kevin 16yr, blessed the sacrament. It was so cool to see him up there. Well Mom Im doing good and all is well.

August 4, 2009

Hi Mom,Are you driving back from Arizona? Hope you and sammy girl make it back safe and fast. Are you going to beat my record of 12 and a half? Hhaha. I dont think dad was too happy about that one. Well all is well here. Hope you like the pics. We have some great people getting ready to be baptized. 2 young women the 15th. A young man named Ariel that was a reference from a member the 22nd. Two 25 year olds that are living together that are not married are going to get married the 20th and then baptized the 22nd! We are so excited for them because we´ve been pushing them for this and we went 3 times with them to set a marriage date in the public offices. For whatever reasons we couldnt the first two attempts, but 3rd times a charm. We also have 3 girls from a family that should also be getting baptized the 22nd. Alls well here. My comp is a great guy. We made pancakes this morning that were good. Not like yours and dads but good. We really need a good pancake griddle here. The pan over the stove is just not the same. The middle is always raw. Thats what people say about me. Hhaha. Well Mom I love you and hope that you get back home safe.

July 29, 2009

Hi Mom,
Sounds like your having a great time in Arizona. All the mountain biking is making me a little sick to the stomach but Ill be alright. So Sammy girls first tooth came out? Hhahaha. That so funny that Grandpa and her made a special pillow and all. She is growing up so fast. I have sent Dad just about all the pictures I had, but my companion has to send me a couple more so I can send them to you. The last 5 that got baptized I dont think youve seen them. Of the 12 people who got baptized 3 were from a less active family, 8 were 2 families that we found clapping houses, and 1 was a reference from a member. My companion said that the Calgary stampede is so sweet and that we have to go when we get back. He said that the carriage races are very dangerous. He also said that lake Banff is amazing. We get along well. He is very calm and spiritual. He loves all sports too. We went to the temple today and I put Bens name in the temple. We just had a great conference with Elder Zivic from the 1st quorum of the seventy. He is very powerful and taught us many good things. We have found some great investigators this last week. One family was basically just waiting for us. They have been passing through some hard times and were waiting for a priest from a church to give their grandma a blessing. Well we showed up and gave the blessing and taught them the first lesson. They loved it and Im sure will be getting baptized soon. We have 1 baptism planned for the 8th and 2 for the 15th right now. Ok good you guys sent the card to buy the covers. Also if you and Dad were going to apply my to BYU you have to do it before Oct 1st I think. Well Mom I love you so much. I know that this is the Lords work and that he guides us.

July 21, 2009

Hi Mom,
So your still kickin it in Arizona. Well guess what we finish this transfer with 12 baptisms. What a miracle. The next highest companionship had 6...YEA! Dont worry my head is not too big and I recognize the hand of the Lord in this work. Our zone also had the highest number with 24. It was so sweet. I also got a new companion and he is from Canada. His name is Elder Archibald. He is from Alberta. We are both zone leaders here and he has a transfer more than me. Im glad to be with him. No I didnt kill the volley ball on a sister but I did on my companion and he got so mad...hahaha! By the way the wrestling was during the game...I dont really remember how it started but I do remember how it finish. The ward is doing great about the new members. Some are really poor and the members brought them tons of clothes and diapers for the babies and stuff. OK I was actually just about to ask you guys for money to get those scripture covers. They are so sweet here and have some of the best pictures that I have ever seen. Seriously, the work is excelent. I want one for my quad and grandma wants like 6 right for quads or what? They cost 120 pesos each so thats like $40 a piece. They are worth every penny. So I dont know how to get the money here. I heard that you could send me a debit/credit card thats new in the mail...then you could email me the password so that nobody can use it. I would love to get some so tell me what you think. Plus the lady that does them can put any church picture on them because "copyrights" dont exist down here, making them even sweeter. Hhaha. So keep doing that good temple work. Ill keep doing mine and we can bring many souls to the presence of the Father. Mom I love you so much.