July 26, 2010

Hi,
I'm sending this now so you might be able to read it while I'm writing the rest. You don't need to send me those CD's When I asked about them it was because I thought we had a copy already @ the house Dad could copy them. Honestly, I want as little money spent on me as possible. I already feel guilty about the monthly payments, and using the Debit card to much.

You said something about sending me a preach my gospel? I guess a small one would be kind of cool.

Hey there,
I'm glad you made it back safe! Summer break is more than half over! People around here say it normally doesn't really cool down until late September, sometimes October.

We had to push back our baptisms this last Saturday because the mom smokes. Which REALLY stinks because President was talking at a Specialized Training meeting ( basically a Zone Conference) about how we had gotten more baptisms this month than any other month in the last 11 years he asked every one in the room who had baptisms this Saturday (7/24) to raise their hands when we didn't he asked us about it. We told him we had to push our dates back. He then told everyone that IF that had been the case we would have had 44 baptisms this month
more than any other month in the last 11 years (goal was 43) So this month we wound up with 40 Baptisms, the 2nd highest baptizing month in the last 11 years.

Hey would you ask Holly if when they lived on Guam if they new any members with the last name: Tuituu? One of the Elders in the new PMG DVDs is from Guam and his last name is Tuituu, he is serving in California, (San Diego I think)

My heels have been hurting lately. I'm going to try some Dr. Scholls Heel cushions. It's not a full sized insert it just goes under the heel of the foot so I don't think it will affect the fit of my orthodic very much, if at all. I have not had any Planters faciaties* or what ever it's called since we had those made in Nov.

Could you ask Dad to research if there has been any scientific findings to prove that Tea and Coffee are bad for the human body. I hear Tea is supposed to have "Tanic Acid" in it. If he could just do some digging and let me know what he finds next week that would be great.

Maybe one of the reasons my heels have been hurting is because we have been doing A LOT of tracting. We tracted one street from 3:00-5:00, 5:30-7:30 yesterday. Fortunately it wasn't that hot. We have had to drop most of our investigators because they are too busy, or not interested, mostly not interested. Our apartment was inspected last week, we passed, but were told to "Reduce the amount of food in this Apartment." Go figure! Most of it is canned food, Peaches, Tomatoes, Green beans and then later that day, the ward gave us a box of food left over from the youth conference! wow!

I'm almost out of time got to go.
Love you all Bye

July 19, 2010

Hey, well today was transfers. Neither Elder Hugentobler or I got transferred so I guess it is another 6 weeks. (Hey, that's the rest of summer break!) Yes, I got the shirt. I sent you some mail while you were at the hill, hope you got it in time. I sent it on Tuesday.

This past week has been HOT!! I never thought I would say that I love the rain. Yep, that's because it cools everything down. I've got some pictures I'm going to send in another email I think Dad will get a kick out of some of them. Do you have wicked Pageant tans?

On Friday we have a meeting in Beaumont from 9:00-2:00. We are going to watch all the new PMG DVDs and talk about the teaching changes that are happening.

We will hopefully have a baptism on Saturday, a black lady and her 3 daughters. We also have one planed for the 7/31, if he can quit smoking this week. President is really pushing right now for us to try to have more baptisms this month than any other in the last 10 years.(42+) (right now we have approx. 28)

Mom, I think I might have my thyroid, or whatever part of my body that controls my body temperature, checked because I feel cold if the apartment is colder than 70-72 degrees. I think you gave me whatever it is that makes you cold. Which is kind of a problem when your companion likes it at a fridged 60-62 degrees. Seriously, I sometimes where a sweatshirt in the apartment.

You asked how compatible we are. Well I'll say this, it is scary how similar our relationship is to the relationship I had with Elder Clark, only I'm Elder Clark and Elder "H" is me. (If that makes sense) I was really hoping I would get transferred, I'm not looking forward to the next 6 weeks. That's all I'll say about it. You know it's weird, as a missionary you do things you would never normally do for fun because you don't have anything better to do (Glue a cockroach to a pencil) (that wasn't Me Promise)

I'm almost out of time, Praying you travel safe I'll talk to you later, Love you!! Bye!!!

When does Ethan go to BYU?

Sorry for being such a big pain in the past

July 12, 2010

I thought I would start out today's letter with some pictures of Louisiana.

Here you can see the elevation change.

I thought this was pretty funny.

I thought the population was 1 Billion?

Hey there, I got the letter with the postcards, but no package. Sounds like the only difference in weather is that your not spending the whole day in a white collar and tie.

You remember the videos about missionaries we watched before I left? Well they have a set of DVDs about the same missionaries illustrating different principles of missionary work. The reason I'm telling you this is because we had President interviews the day we went to the MTC so President Moldenhauer and his wife were nice enough to drive us down since he was headed back to Kingwood anyway, he told us to relax, maybe even nap while we were traveling, I think that is the only time my mission president will tell me to relax or nap! Anyway, he told us that as of July 1, the brethren have come out with a new set of Preach My Gospel DVDs and are significantly changing the way they are training missionaries and teaching missionaries how to teach. They are also changing the way missions run, I don't know how it was when Dad was on his mission, but President interviews and Zone Conferences used to be once a transfer (6 weeks). Now they will be once a quarter (3 months). President also said we will be going to the Temple again in August. Don't tell anyone because I'm not supposed to know, but one of the MTC trainers let it slip that President is trying to work it out for the mission to go to NASA (that's all I know.

Is it getting easier to teach? To a degree. I'm definitely better at teaching than I was in the MTC.
Transfers are in a week, exciting times.

So this last week (Friday,Saturday) we went to the MTC in Kingwood, it was a lot of fun. Elder Frakes and I got some Mango slices offered to us while we were tracting. :-) That was a first for me.

I'm almost out of time I hope being cast team leaders is going well. Are you going to put Flat Elder in the Family costune Picture? Remember to stay hydrated and stay safe.

Love you BYE!!!!!

Did I ever tell you I dropped My PMG in a puddle of water? Well I did.
Actually the apex of my cooking right now is throwing a frozen pizza in the oven.

July 6, 2010

Hey there, I got your letter from the 29th (Tues) today. Your are right that does sound like stuff that would happen to us. Just watch, you'll go home and the water tank lid will be found in less than a day. I'm glad you made it to pageant safe. Did you take Flat Elder with you? Which specific apostle is Dad Portraying? I can't believe that was a year ago that we were there.

If it makes you feel any better my life has been just as hectic and crazy as yours.... well crazier than normal anyway. So we have this investigator , a one handed,(cancer) 23 year old, Jamaican kid, who has been investigating for about 3 months. Apparently, for some time his plan has been to get baptized between August and the end of the year. Well, on Wednesday (30th) he called us and told us he wanted to get baptized in a week (Weds. 7th @ 10:00). Then he called us two days later on Friday, and said he wanted to get baptized the next day (3rd) with the Sulphur missionaries investigator. Well, a couple of frantic phone calls, an interview, and 30 hours later, he got baptized. In a week he went from being baptized before the end of the YEAR, to being baptized before the end of the WEEK. Go figure! And at the last minute he asked Bishop to baptize him instead of Elder Hugentobler. So bishop had another member run by his house and bring him a towel and a change of clothes.

Yesterday we had Zone P-Day. The zone got together in Orange Tx. and we played crab soccer, ( didn't work to well with shorts + Garments, we only played one game) Basket ball (well, I didn't) and Volley Ball. Today my whole body is sore! Especially my legs and back.

On Thursday Elder Hugentobler and I are going back to the MTC (]Mission Training Camp) in Kingwood Tx. this time with Elders Frakes and Jensen. I don't know why we are going back, but it is not unheard of for more experienced missionaries to go to the MTC. I am excited, Elder Frakes used to be my Zone Leader and I'm glad I have the opportunity to serve with, and spend time around him again.

I got some Louisiana postcards for you. I am going to try and mail them to you next Monday, (Jacque gave me the Pageant mailing address) 10 min. left.

Would you ask dad if he ever held any leadership on his mission?( Trained, D.L., Z.L.) and what he did with his companion(s) (if he had any) that didn't want to work? Don't worry about me, Elder Hugentobler is a very hard worker. Elder H____, (the Stuart's relative) is trying to train a missionary that ( as I understand it) has no work ethic and no desire to work. and that got me wondering about what I would/will do if/when I get a companion that doesn't want to work(hard).

I'm running out of time I love you, hope you all have a great and safe time at Pageant Bye!!

June 28, 2010

Hey there, you traveling family. I hope the car ride is a little more comfortable with only 6. I hope you can listen to the audio with what ever dad does for the Internet while you are away from home.

Elder Clark brought my package and coat to Zone Conference last Wednesday. I will just hang on to them until you get back then I will mail the package out to you.

Just remember, however hot and humid it is out there, tell the kids it is probably not as bad as down here. Remember that day we flew into Atlanta Ga. I don't know about you but I could feel the humidity and heat as we went into the airport. If they remember that, it is probably as close to here as they can relate to. I can't really complain though, it could be so much worse, and I'm sure I have adapted somewhat. We were talking with someone and they said whoever settled here was either crazy, or they settled in the winter.

Could you get me a mailing address for you at pageant?

I just realized, we will still be an hour different, but now you'll be the one an hour ahead. I'll be going to bed while you're preforming. Sorry I ran out of Missionary Support Funds (MSF) this month , I don't know where it all went, that has never happened to me before.

When does pageant end? I ask because transfers are on the 19th. I would be surprised if I moved but you never know.

I'm almost out of time please be sure to let me know what parts you get at pageant.

The missionaries in Sulpher (in our ward) our having a baptism on Saturday, so that's good. We have a family of 4 we are hoping to baptize on the 17th, A mother and 3 daughters. We also have a one handed 20 something Jamaican guy we are hoping to baptize in August (he had his hand amputated because of cancer).

Love, Wes

June 21, 2010

It's officially, the first day of summer! Boy is it hotttt!!

I did the math and decided if I start reading the Bible 3 pages a day then I will finish on my 2 year mark. Right now I'm on page 6.

I will talk to Elder Clark about the packages at Zone Conference on Wednesday. I did get the package you sent out, thank you.

My new area's pretty cool... except it's LA. everything is backwards! I think I liked Jasper better though, the members were more friendly.

Last Tuesday we tracted out a lady who has been looking for a church to go to because they held her parents funerals in her old church and she sees the coffins every time she goes. she thought it might have been a sign that we came because she was just telling her kids that they needed to get back into church and then we knocked not too long after that.

Hope all is going well with Pageant. Please email me pictures if possible and tell me what roles you get. hopefully the Drive won't be so bad with only 6 people. You can send the books out if you want, sounds like a good idea.

Hope you don't stress to much. Looking forward to pageant updates love you

Sorry it wasn't longer. I think a mission is like pageant, you almost kill yourself, but after all is said and done you love it.

Love you, Wes