June 14, 2010

I think this picture accurately represents my last transfer.

Hey, my address is:

1531 Country Club Rd.

Lake Charles, La.

Box # 826 70605

I wrote the wrong address on the envelope, the address the mission office gave you (above) is correct.

I was actually just thinking the other day that you will probably be leaving in about 2 weeks....good times. Maybe you will get a taste of what I am living in down here.

Talk about humidity, that's fog as I was leaving Jasper

My new area is a city I would say pretty close to the size of Layton...all of Layton. That means lots of houses which means lots of tracting. Last Saturday almost all of our appointments fell through. We did a lot of tracting in the sun. We have probably 3-4 "searching" investigators. The ward seems pretty cool, it's nice to have a ward mission leader that is "on the ball" (he's actually an assistant to the mission leader, the W.M.L. is away working on the oil spill.) We don't get fed as often here, it seems like the members are more hospitable in the country. Or maybe it's just Louisiana.

THIS PLACE IS CRAZY!!!! people say drivers in Utah are bad.... they're practically NASCAR drivers compared to these ragin'-Cajuns.

For their sakes' I am glad Elder Clark never served with Elder Hugentobler. They both want to work hard, but are pretty much the opposite in every other way. Elder Clark was a goofball and had a temper, Elder "H" is serious and more patient. More like myself I think. Technically I am a senior companion by 1 transfer- but that doesn't mean I am a better missionary.

How am I doing? I'm' learning a ton and sweating just as much.

The voice recorder needs a program to put recording back on it. The device came with the program but the library computers won't let me install it. I think if I can install the program on the recorder itself instead of on the computer I might be able to listen to files emailed to me. I need to try it first though.

Could you please get me Tyler Christensen's Mailing /E-mail Address? I think it would be good for him to kind of know what to expect.

This was on the back of a semi truck.

I'm going to send this now so I can send some pictures. love you bye!

June 7, 2010

Hi,
Was Dad praying for me to go to Cajun country? That's right, I'm in Lake Charles Louisiana. It's a pretty big city, well big compared to Jasper any way. My new address is : 1531 Country Club Road. Box: 826. We stay in some apartments, their pretty nice. Sorry, no pictures or voice today left them both in the car. I seem to have misplaced one of my memory cards during transfers. I think I know where I left it in Jasper, but if not it's alright. There weren't any pictures on it that you don't have.

Tell me about it! I love Gatorade, especially in this heat and humidity. It is supposed to be in the 90's with the heat index in the 100's all week I heard. Outside right now, the only way I can describe it is like the first summer we went to pageant. This is the first time I think it has really been this humid...or maybe it is just more humid because I am that much closer to the gulf. Have you heard if the oil spill is supposed to affect the weather at all?

My new companion is Elder "Hugentobler" (I think I spelled it right) He is from Manti. He came out one transfer after me and has been here for one transfer. The elder that used to be here was Elder Farley, the elder who had been in leader ship most of his mission. He got transferred home, he flies out on Weds.

I lost my copy of Mo. Tab. "Showtime" if you could send me another copy of that along with the soundtrack to the New Testament seminary videos (not really sure what it is called, but I know it is available to buy) I would really appreciate it.

I'm really tired right now. It is probably because I got up at 6:00 and haven't had any breakfast or lunch. On the bright side, the scale at the apartment said I weighed 195lbs. in full missionary dress, shoes and all. (Jasper didn't have a scale)

I wish the summer meant I could relax and sleep in. The good news is that Elder Hugentobler doesn't have a bike, and the area is really big so no biking for at least 6 weeks probably more. Elder Clark is supposed to be sending a package home for me today. I'll make sure he remembers. Oh ya, no more bunk beds, not in this apartment anyway.

TEXAS BBQ!

The barbecue last night was really fun but I felt kind of gross afterwards. Not sick, just Blah....

Leftovers !

10 min left.... hmmm. Is Ethan going to BYU in the fall? or summer?

Well, we'll see how things go, talk to you next week, Love you! bye!

Photos are of Micheal Ratclif's Birthday BBQ in Jasper Texas.

June 1, 2010

Hi everyone,

It's June!!!! AHHHH here comes the heat!! Transfers next Monday! I'm pretty sure I'm out of here. I would be very surprised if I stayed.

We had a really fun time yesterday, we played 6 vs.6 Volley Ball, Soft ball, and Ultimate Frisbee all 3 games were going at the same time we just rotated. I didn't use sun block, my neck got it pretty bad. President even got out and played softball w/ us.

I wish I could tell you more about what is going on. The last week is kind of a blur with transfers coming up. Elder Gardner got assigned an Assistant to the President. We all knew it was going to happen, President really likes him, we just didn't think it would happen so soon.

6 months tomorrow!!!!! Since it is against the rules to burn a tie on my 6 month mark I think I'll drown one in the washing machine. (don't worry, it'll be an old one) I realized tomorrow is exactly 1 year from the day I graduated. I will have been on my mission the same amount of time I was out of school, Crazy!

Our two investigators finally came to church the other day. They are children of a less active family. We have been doing a lot of tracting lately, lots of ring-around-the-collar....lots of Gatorade too. It has rained a couple of times since last Mon. One time was so bad we had to pull off the road and into a pawn shop for 30 minutes or so until it lightened up.

I have started carrying my scriptures in a case I made from a Captain Crunch cereal box. Mostly because it is lighter, and the members love it.

I gave myself a haircut yesterday it is a #2 again. Luckily that was enough hair to keep my head from burning.

Oh, ya, did we have a CD of the primary songs at home? I seem to remember one. If we do would you please copy it and send it out, if not that's alright. Also, I can't find my Mo.Tab. "Showtime" CD. Could you please have Dad make another copy and send it out after transfers?

Well, got to go. Talk to you later. Love you!

May 24, 2010

Hey there,

It's getting hotter down here....and it doesn't cool down when the sun goes down.

Yes, I got grandma's card, but it doesn't do me any good right now because the DQ people won't take it. I'm thinking about selling it and using the money to get a tie from Bealls.

I'll tell you right now, the pics were taken at a members house in the country.... so the country area, of a country area.

Yesterday, when I was in the shower, the power went out. I closed my eyes, opened them back up and seriously wondered if I went blind, it was pitch black. the power came back on before we got back from church so the house was not "Texas hot" thank goodness.

We have 2 kids (9 &11) that we are working with (Branch pres.'s nephew's children....the same way Grace & Emma are related to you, I think.) They are doing well and progressing but their parents (less actives) haven't brought them to church. They don't even have to bring them, just get them ready so someone can pick them up. But they sleep in each Sunday morning....Church is at 10:00 by the way.

We were also working with a 16 yr. old boy, but he is moving to California for at least the summer. So we're not sure what is going to happen. We're doing a lot of tracting to try and find new investigators.

This is my planner

Got to go, by

May 17, 2010

Hey there,

Yep P-days are on Monday now. Kind of weird. The reason why they moved it was so that we can use this new utility the church came out with to include our weekly numbers in our email, if that makes sense. Our numbers week runs from Sun.-Sun. so on Monday we now report our numbers from last week to our mission president along with our weekly letter.

So as you saw and maybe listened, I bought a recorder from Walmart. It was an RCA brand for about $35. I can email the files, but I can't put files from the computer back on to it and listen to them. So, I am going to return it today. I think you will probably have to ask the "missionary moms" which one they use. If we can't figure it out I will probably just buy another one like this and send you the files.

The misquotes (and other biting, flying insects) are out! They have been feasting upon my arms. Oh, I did get the package and the watch thank-you!! I did get your letter. That is really weird he got called to Houston Texas. I was thinking how weird it would be if he (Tyler Christensen -cousin) came here....and even weirder if I trained him. So close.... I wonder if any of the 3 of us will ever get transferred into each others missions if they rearrange the stake boundaries again. I was also thinking about how nice it will feel when next summer comes knowing that it will be my last one and that Tyler still has 2.

I cut my hair yesterday, It is now a #3 on top and a # 2 up the sides. It is getting hotter and hotter, and it doesn't cool down when the sun sets. Not much anyway. But I think I am adapting somewhat.

Last Thurs. I went over to Woodvile on exchanges. We did service and put insulation in the top of this small barn/shed/thing. It was like 86 out side, at least 90 inside and at least 95 (probably more), up in the rafters. I don't know that I have ever had sweat from my face drip into my eye before. It wasn't that bad, but we were in service clothes not a white shirt and tie. I also don't know how humid it was.

President also announced on Weds. that on the 31st we will be having a bi-zone p-day in Vidor. He (president) said that he, his wife, and the assistants will be coming also. He said he wants it to be a day for us to "let our hair down"....says our bald mission president. We think we are going to be playing softball among other things.

Well I'm almost out of time. Cameron only needs to be in a cast for 2 weeks?

got to go love you Bye

May 11, 2010

Hey,
It was great to talk to you on Sunday. Made me kind of homesick though. 6 1/2 more months to Christmas.

So, I'm not sure what to tell you, not much happened yesterday. In the middle of a lesson at about 3:00 I got really light headed and dizzy. So we had to go back to the apartment so I could lie down. It got better after a nap, but it didn't really go away until I woke up this morning. No idea what it was or what caused it, but it's gone now.

I decided for my 6 months mark I am going to go to Bealls, the only Dept. store in Jasper,(it was like walking into Kohl's or JC Penneys at the mall, it was refreshing) and get a nice 6 month tie. I wish I could think of something else to say. I know you want to here more.

Oh, you'll get a kick out of this. I got a suit from goodwill for $16 it is a little small but for $16 I think it is worth it in case I ever need a suit for tracting or whatever. It is gray w/ faint light blue pinstripes.

Oh, I saw an improvement in my teaching this week. Normally I struggle on transitions
(between principles) but in one lesson this week I made a excellent transition without really doing anything different. It definitely was not just me though, it was mostly the spirit.

No I haven't received the package yet. I hope I get the watch today. I don't think those recorders will be at Walmart, you can check though. I will keep my eyes open for them too.

I recommend if Cameron wants anything out of my room he should have someone else email me the question. It is difficult to follow all of his letters and I forget what questions were asked in the letters.

Please tell me when you know where Tyler Christensen (cousin) got his call to.

Well, I'm almost out of time, can't complain though. I remember when I got only 30 minutes and no exceptions if the computer was stupid.

Alright I'll write you all next Wednesday!
Love you Bye!!!

May 5, 2010

Hey there,

Did you get last weeks email? I sent it again to both you and dad just in case. I am going to start doing that with all my emails in case one doesn't work for some reason.

This week Elder Clark got sick. Sunday night he was up for like 3 hrs. puking. Or so he tells me. I think the spirit prompted me to put my earplugs in, (I got them because he had been snoring in his sleep). It was the first time I had ever slept with them in and I slept through the whole ordeal.

So, Monday night we got a couple of lessons in. Yesterday I only left the apt. to go out to the car, didn't even get dressed up. Having nothing to do and being bored just before a phone call in not good. It makes you homesick and trunky. So one of the things I did yesterday to preoccupy myself was reminisce of our trip to DC. I put all the monuments/museums we visited as favorites in the GPS. I also marked the SLC, Bountiful, and Logan temples, the Conference Center, and all the addresses on that orange piece of construction paper you gave me. Speaking of that, could you ask Carrisa and Kyle for their new address? Also, when I went to put Shane and Donna in there was already a little car on a lift over their address that said Egan automotive I thought that was kind of cool. Needless to say I was bored yesterday.

F.Y.I. P-day will be on Tuesday next week. So I won't get any letters written on Wednesday morning.

It is starting to get really humid down here, not looking forward to the summer. I also hit 5 months on Sunday, can you believe that?

So our monthly miles budget is 1465 miles. Last Thursday 4/29 we were at about 1405 miles. Well, we had to go to Beaumont for a leadership meeting. We drove to Sillsbee so we could carpool with those Elders the rest of the way. Ya.... their battery was dead, and they had to give a blessing at a hospital. The GPS could not find the hospital. Then we had to drive over to Woodville so Elder Clark could do a baptism interview. By the end of the day we had gone 236 miles. That's almost a 5th of our monthly limit in one day....at the end of the month!

I wish I could tell you a really cool spiritual experience because I know that's what you want to hear but I can't think of any at the moment, sorry! We don't have anymore baptisms line up until the start of June (5th) just before transfers.

Elder Gardner says he sent his pictures of our baptisms in Jan. & Feb. home. So, you could email his mom for copies of them. I never took any, I always left my camera in the car and meant to copy them off his memory card, but never did. I've filled up all the micro cassets I have so I will send those home either today or next week. I might send the memory card with them.

Well I got to go, talk to you on Sunday.
Love you Bye!

Yes, and I got the GPS it came on Saturday. Go figure, one package takes 6 days another 3 days!

I will probably call Between 2-3 central no promises though church is from 10-1 here plus branch correation meeting until about 1:30 so defenitly after that. We're going to talk with members today about using their phone on Sunday.