December 25, 2009

One down, one to go. Wesley had his first Christmas in Jasper Texas. His new companion is Elder Gardner. His New address is:

Elder Wesley Christensen
328 North Zavalla St. Apt. B
Jasper, Texas 75951

Wesley said he had Christmas Eve dinner at a members house. They served Fried Shrimp (unshelled). I asked him if he had any and he said NO. He is not a lover of the sea food. He opted for the pig in a blanket instead. This morning he had Christmas Breakfast at another members home. He said they fed him pancakes. He was also able to call us from this house. He said it was tough being away for Christmas. He misses everyone and hopes they had a good Christmas!

december 23, 2009

We got our phone call from Wesley this morning. It was great to hear from him. He sounded like he was ready to get out to Texas and get busy. We will be excited to hear from him on Christmas day to find out who his companion is and where he is at.

December 21, 2009

Can't believe I fly out on Wednesday. I got some pictures sent off to be developed. I will mail them today or tomorrow. I will also mail the SD card in my camera back tomorrow so you can get the pictures I took yesterday and Saturday. Feel free to e-mail me now. i'm pretty sure I get more e-mail time out in the field. Don't send any Dear Elders after today because I don't know if I will get them before I leave.

Yesterday at breakfast Elizabeth Smart sat next to me and started talking with the elders across the table from my district. She asked us all where we were from ( She only asked me because it was polite). I didn't really talk to her but I was talking with the Elder from my district. I also saw yesterday an Elder from school, The one who said he was coming to my farewell but didn't. Turns out he tried, but went to the wrong building. He said they were talking about someone dying or something. Elder Mayne, the Managing director of the missionary dep. (or something like that) talked to us yesterday. He showed us alot of the TV spots he helped to make.

So the 4 Elders going to Australia of the 9 Elders in my district are flying out tonight. Last night MOST of the elders in my district wanted to have a slumber party in one of our rooms. I only went because I coun't sleep in my room alone. MOST of the Elders (not me and my companion) wanted to "penny lock" the rest of our zone in their rooms during the night. Penny Locking a room is pushing on the bottom of the door so hard that the door flexes, then put pennies between the door and the frame to keep the door under pressure so that there is so much force on the lock that the friction between the frame and the part of the doorknob that goes in the frame will make it impossible to turn the knob. If that makes sense. So most of our district went out to do that at 11:00 pm, but they got caught by the zone leaders who said they reported it to the branch presidency. So, we will have to see if there is any kind of punishment. Don't worry, my companion and I stayed in the room, well, I peaked out and left the room once for a few seconds to see how they did it and what they were doing.

7 minutes left.... I'm getting my PMG laminated. Oh Yah, I with drew $ to pay for the $56 shot and get some spending money. Did you PUSH DOWN on the "tide to go" for Cameron' s science fair experiment? Because it seems to do wonders here... Go figure I have not bought a recorder yet, but will today.

Apparently Australia has different cuss words than America. Like Drap is and the H work is not.

Oh Yah, the ceiling above 2 of our showers fell out. That is one of the pics that is on the SD card. I am sending this because I am almost out of time.

20 seconds left.... I 'll call Dad on Wednesday.

Wesley

December 16, 2009

I got my travel plans today! I fly from SLC to Houston 10:30 (local time). I have to be at the travel offic at 6:00 A.M.!!

I got 3 more letters today for the other Elder Christensen, along with yours, because his family/ friends don't specify his mission or middle name.

The temerature problem did not get fixed it just got warmer outside...thus warmer inside.

Write you soon,
Wesley

December 14, 2009

So today I did laundry. I folded all my garments and white shirts. I left the rest in the laundry basket until about 15 minutes ago. I found only one pair of white socks! I don't know where they went, gut unless I find them I will definitely need more. Please send more.

You asked about what I am doing. This is what my typical day is:
6:25 A.M.--Alarm
6:30-- get out of bed
7:00-- be at class
7:00- 8:15-- Personal Study
8:15- 8:45-- Breakfast
8:45- 1:00-- Class
Class may include:
Companion Study
Mission directed time
being taught
working at the referral center
role playing
teaching members
1:00- 1:45-- Lunch
1:45- 6:00-- Class
6:00- 6:45-- Dinner
6:45- 9:00-- class, gym, devotional ( Tuesday), firesides and films (Sunday)
9:00- 9:30-- Daily planning
10:15-- Quiz time
10:30-- Lights out
On Wednesday Gym is at 6:35 A.M. Thursday is service at 6:30. Monday is P-Day.

Good Night!!

December 14, 2009

Hi,
Okay I lied. Dear Elder is not guaranteed same-day. It is either guaranteed same day or next day. I did get the card that was post marked on the 30th, thank-you. Although I have gotten the other Wesley Christensen's Dear Elder letters. Every Tuesday a General Authority speaks to the MTC. Last Tuesday was Claudio R.M. Costa from the Presidency of the 70's.

5 out of the 9 elders in my district are going to Houston. The other 4 are going to N. Sydney. The good news is the N. Sydney Mission Pres. sounds way more strict than mine. We got a new district last Wednesday with 8 elders going to Indianapolis and 4 sisters, 2 going to S.L Visitor Center and 2 going to D.C Visitor Center. Most of our other district left at 5:00 this morning. 6 went to Las Vegas West, 1 went to Cincinnati, 2 are still here and 1 from East Layton (by 193) is going to Jamaica tonight at 12:30. The last one is going to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. I heard that there are Spanish speaking Elders who were called to Toronto but were told last week they are going to South D.C. instead even though their travel plans say Toronto. Not sure whats going to happen, but that would kind of stink.

Congrats on getting into Pageant. I wish I could go so bad! I have already learned 10x more than what they taught us at there. We get to go to the temple every P-day but it is closing for renovations on Friday so today was my last day. The BYU Mens choir came and sung last night.

There is a place here where I can print up digital pics although it might be broken at the moment. It takes a couple of days to develop, but I'll try to send some pics before I leave.

Tell everyone not to send me any cards with sparkle (glitter) on them! Sally sent me one with sparkle snow on it and it just got everywhere!

I had to sit through my first choir practice on Sunday, because my whole district was going. I would rather go to the dentist than go to another one. { says the boy who has never had a cavity}

Getting up in the morning is still really hard. Thanks for the Extension cord. My clock cord was about 2" to short. Thanks for all the packages. The biscuits were delicious! I am starting to put on a little weight. On Saturday my weight was 196 lbs.

Got to go times almost up.
Bye

December 7, 2009

I can only use the computer for 30 minutes on P-day. Please write me at dearelder.com (tell everyone, please!). As long as I am at the MTC it is free and same day service. They will print it up as a letter I can read anytime. I think the letter from my mission Pres. said no I-pods, but I don't know. I got my debt card today.

My companion is from North Carolina going to North Sydney. There is another Elder in my district that is from North Carolina and has never seen more than 2 inches of snow or a snow plow before. It is funny to hear him.

It is freezing down here. I would appreciate it if you would send a hat (beanie or something like that), gloves and if possible that space heater we use to have. We are in the basement of our Residency Halls and relatively close to the main stairwell. I have resorted to putting both blankets (MTC issued and Comforter from home), pants and socks on at night and am still waking up cold at about 6:00 ish.

Everyone says that after Yesterday things go by faster......we'll see. The first day I ran into Elder Casey (here for 9 weeks!), Elder Larson, and I am in the same building with an Elder I went to school with. I saw Elizabeth Smart yesterday at dinner. I didn't know she was still at the MTC. I was really homesick at first, but that too is also getting better. I figured that this morning marked the longest I had gone without seeing my family. Hopefully, I am setting a record that I never have to break. You can tell Donna that my response that night was "HOLY CRAP!!!!" I figured I read about a page a day 97 days, 100/99 pages in between my call and getting to the MTC. { I don't think he finished this thought.}

Apparently, Missionaries at the MTC have a tradition of trading/bartering ties anytime someone leaves. It's actually pretty funny. The first 2 days I stained 2 ties! But no more since, thankfully.

Each companionship in the district got an Ensign. It was kind of depressing since President Eyering's message was all about being home for Christmas.

I'm almost out of time so I gota go. Tell Ethan his letter really meant a lot to me! {Ethan snuck a letter into his suitcase the night before} I miss all of you and can't wait to hear from you and see you all in 2 years. Only 724 more days!

Bye
(I will try to send a letter each P-day, also)

We also received a written letter. I think it is mostly things he forgot in his e-mail.

I forgot to write that for breakfast, lunch and dinner I get at least 1 cup of skim milk. {Our family milk consumption went from 5 gallons a week to 2 a week} The reason why Ty {our neighbor} was so desperate for Dr. Pepper is because they don't have ANY Dr. Pepper here. I have already seen 2 Elders with HCP (Hill Cumorah Cast) shirts, 2005 and 2008. Also please send an extension cord (nothing big). Just had a fun time with the Racquetballs { we sent some with him}. I can't wait to have a "REAL" bathroom.

Hope to hear form you, Wesley

December 2, 2009 -The MTC

December 2, 2009 was MTC day. We stopped for lunch at In and Out Burger on the way. We had to stand in line outside and it was freezing cold, but it was all fun.

Our next stop was the MTC- Mission Training Center. We passed Bed Bath and Beyond on our way and Wes asked it we could stop and visit the Beyond, way Beyond part first. Ha Ha




We parked across the street from the MTC and walked over to take some pictures by the sign.



We say our good byes and give Wesley a big family hug!

Here we are at the "Kiss and Drop". Basically, we pulled up to the curb and the Missionaries were there to greet Wes and help him with his luggage and take him inside. It was a very emotional spot for everyone.

Good Luck Elder Wesley Christensen on your next 2 years!