On the Down Side of the Mission Now - Saturday 25, 2012

Mamá cómo estas? The movie This Means War sounds good. I did meet Reese, she was nice. Farmington sounds way nice what they are doing at Station Park. It will look so different when I get back. Bummer about your email. I did get one message that I deleted cause it said it was a virus. Another trip to the Philippines with the Beus's will be so fun. You will have seen so much of those islands after that. I can't believe Elder Card only has 17 weeks left. That is great that you two keep in touch I like that. I want to plan a trip to Washington sometime after my mission and meet his family. I think he leaves in September or August but I can't remember exactly. Coming up fast though. The mission office is always an ice cube and sometimes I actually get really cold. We also have air conditioned cars so when I take a bus somewhere or go on divisions I think how hot it is. We have a fridge in the office and use the stove, microwave, and toaster oven to cook meals plus we eat around the city many times. A member washes our clothes but because we have 6 we have two different ladies. Mine is much faster and better plus she is cheaper. My shirts are doing so well. It is hot here still but we are coming up on the rainy season in two months. We have a nice apartment a block away from the office that we only use to sleep and shower. President lives by a nice shopping plaza and has a nice house in a private community. I have the responsibility of paying their light bill and it can be a lot there. We do get to go to the Family Home Evening of President a lot. In fact we went this last Monday. Elder Gardner gave the lesson and had us think of one of our heroes. I thought about Grandpa. I wrote some things about him. That he is so faithful and a great disciple of Christ. A family man and successful. He is the closest thing to a father for me and i love him a lot. I want to be like Grandpa. We talked about how our heroes emulate Christ. And Grandpa does. You are also my hero Mom. You did so much for Jessica and I and you always made sure we were taken care of and happy. You taught us good things too. I love you and am glad you are my Mom and my hero. President said how parents are heroes because of their kids. So you are also amazing because you made your parents amazing. President read my email I sent him explaining about my experience with prayer and the lost money. He gave me some good advice that I really did not think of but I will use for the rest of my life. He said write her a thank you card for her honesty and hard work and buy her some flowers. $25 of flowers is better then a loss of $3000. So I made a card on the computer, wrote an amazing letter about her great character of honesty and hard work and how more businesses with people like her would have more success. I bought some flowers but the flowers were not really what I wanted. Turns out the only flowers I could buy that day were roses. But I could not give her just a bunch of red roses cause that would be weird. So I also got some yellow ones. The guy wrapped it in newspaper. Well I can't give it to her in paper so I stopped by a craft store to make it better. To make the roses a little more awkward the only cellophane paper they had was covered with red hearts. So I enter the bank with roses wrapped in heart paper and a card. I felt very strange. And everyone was looking at me. I gave it to her and said we are thankful for all your work and your honesty. Your help with the 3000 is much appreciated. She kept apologizing but was happy and grateful. President thinks people will ask her about it and when she explains it will make others work harder and more responsibly. Smart man. This week we had a day and a half without light. It was so terrible. We could do nothing in the office and we had no water to shower or shave too. We were very thankful to shower and have power again when it came back on. We are pretty useless in the office without power. I hope you have gotten used to outlook. We used it and I like it. Takes a little bit to get familiar with the program but it is good. In your letter about the new missionary moms you mentioned Hermana Argueta. She is cool. I talked to her a little about California. Her family is from Guatemala but they live in California. Elder Heaps has a friend serving in California that was in her ward and told her to say hi to Elder Heaps. Small world. Chris has sent me a dearelder in the mission. Only one and it was short saying how he is proud I'm on a mission and I can write him if I want to talk about it. I have not. I went on divisions in Malacatan this week. I hit one year there and bought me a Twix, so yummy. I can't believe a year has gone by already. I only have 9 changes left. Wow time has gone by quickly. I feel that this year will go by much faster too. Especially because I think when I leave the office I will only have about 6 months left. I have so much to do still. However I am excited for the things I will do and have in my life after the mission. This has been a great year. The Elders I was there with did not know I was completing a year. When they found out the next day they said why didn't you say anything. It was good. We stayed there two nights. Last night we stayed in a way nice hotel. We ate a really good breakfast there of pancakes, eggs, fruit and bread by the pool. It looked so nice. I'm pretty lucky to see more of the mission, work with many missionaries, and stay in cool places. I'm going to make this year really good. Today we had no internet connection so I had to use a cafe. Been a while since I have done that, how strange. I read about Crispin and how the family is concerned about him not serving a mission. He just needs to find it for himself. Look how long it took me to figure it out. He is a very good kid, I'm sure he will make the right choice. We can't give up on him. I love that kid and think he would really enjoy a mission and be good at it. He probably just wants a little time to have college grown up life. I hope your next week will go very well. How are you doing with the reading of the Book of Mormon? I found a copy of the Miracle of Forgiveness in Spanish in the office and I have started reading that. It is very good. Mom the mission has made me think of families a lot. I love you and my family and want us to go to the temple together. I have thought about marriage in the mission a lot too. I don't know if I can do it but teaching has brought it to my mind from time to time and I want to get married after the mission. I have also had the experience this week of realizing how amazing the organization and program of the church is back home. I have seen how important it is to have visiting and home teachers that really do it out of love. I will work hard to fulfill all my assignments in the church after I come home and never stop serving others. Especially my family and my future wife. Well I love ya and miss ya. I will work hard to serve my Lord and bring more blessings to our family. I know this church is true and serves the children of God out of the deepest love. We are blessed and have such a great knowledge of the plan of salvation. That blesses our lives. The Book of Mormon is here to help us grow and return to Heavenly Father. I love you so much Mom and you truly are the greatest. You are my HERO and I can't wait to talk to you again. I'm writing a letter to Nana and Grandpa but if you can also hug them and tell them thank you for the amazing care package. I love the candy, music, and ties. They spoil me.
Love you mom!
Elder son

Elder Card bowling
I'm bowling in Guatemala, Crazy
The Office
Mi Presidente
Amazing lunch for Pday at a fancy restaurant

Prayers are Answered - February 18, 2012

Mi semana fue poco loco porque los cambios. The new people came in on Tuesday and I had to give another short presentation about money and their cards. Then I had to buy them food for lunch and pay for the dinner at Presidents house. Wednesday was changes and I had to pay for the breakfast of the new people. I cashed a check that morning and I went through the whole check that day. I had no idea what goes into running a mission. We opened up two new areas but it was a scramble to get the beds and things for the houses. Then I had lots of people asking me money questions. President said that changes are the busiest day for the financial secretary and boy do I agree with that. I did however get to spend some time with those that are leaving cause their mission is over. They were here at the church until around 12:30 or 1 in the morning when their bus left. I got to watch Tangled with them so that was way fun. They finally left and I got some of my work ready for the next day and finally left the office close to 2 am. Very long day. I had a cool experience this last week with prayer. I was preparing a check for the mission a couple days after I had received and cashed the other check. As I was preparing the check my program said that I was missing 3000 quets. I was shocked. I had just cashed a check on Friday and I did not make any large purchases since that day or give out that much money. I was really stressed about where that money was. We were short on money and I needed the new check but I could not get it until I had fixed the 3000. I searched all over almost tearing my office apart. I was searching and searching through my brain about what I did with the money. I said 2 or 3 prayers about finding the money. I finally really needed more money so I worked out the paper but I was still missing the 3000. I had a thought it could have been a fault with the bank but I did not know for sure. 2 days later when I went to the bank for a different check. One lady that works there said she needed to talk with me. She said she had made an error and has 3000 quets I was missing. My heart and spirit jumped for joy. I did not lose the 3000, it was the bank like I thought. I was relieved and strengthened my testimony of prayer. My problem was not made right in the instant I wanted it to be, but I prayed and put my faith in God, did all on my part to find it. Then a little later my prayer was answered and I knew I was being looked after. It was very amazing. It was strange seeing the others leave. I thought wow, that will be me in a year. Does not feel like it. The Book of Mormon page is great. I read it in Spanish in 2 months and 11 days at the very beginning of my mission and I did it in Spanish. Very exciting. But more then anything it is a cool paper to track your progress. I love that we can be together forever. That is one more reason I'm so excited about going to the temple with you and the family is to get a preview of what it will be like together in heaven. I really liked sending the card to Card´s mom. (haha that sounded kinda fun card to Card's mom. Or imagine when I send a card to Card. haha). They are great people and I would love to plan a trip later to go see Elder Card and his family in Washington and see Seattle. But she is right you are an amazing mother and were great to me and raised me very well. What a nice Valentine's Day. Roses, a great sounding movie, and steak and lobster. Sounds delicious. I think it is great you are mixing Spanish and Ingles. That is a great way to learn. Say all you can in Spanish and what you can't say it in English. Just keep practicing and learning and you will get it in no time. I remember in the CCM we played Cabeza, cara, hombros, pies. It was fun. we also played a word game that has to do with saying limon and a number and if you mess up you lose a limon. You say what someone elses number to pass to them. It was to work on saying words faster. That's cool that your teacher learned in España on a mission. I want to take some more Spanish classes when I get back I think to keep improving my Spanish. I am way happy you're learning and liking it so we can talk and you can understand things from my President and mission. I got a great letter from Grandpa and he said when he was in his mission for about a year he was a secretary in the office too. I love the letters that Nana and Grandpa write me. Grandpa is my role model I want to be like him. I also got a great letter package from the Stevens family. Jessica's niece made me a picture, I got letters from the family saying they really love me and are so proud of me and are excited to share with me when I get home. I got pics too. It was very kind and thoughtful. I keep thinking how blessed I am and that I am one of the luckiest guys in the world. I have a mom who is the best missionary mom, correction the BEST MOM ever. I have a family that loves me and supports me. Grandparents that love writing me and pray for me, and put my name in the temple all the time. Aunts and cousins that cheer me on and let me share with them. Friends extremely close to me, my brother David who is willing to do anything for me and really looks after me. Jessica and her family that think the best of me. It is through the love and support of the many incredibly wonderful people in my life that I know without a doubt that my Heavenly Father loves me. I love you mom and I am proud to be your son and have a mom like you. I love you with all my heart. Can't wait to hear more about your week and hear more of your wonderful Spanish. Te amo con todo mi corazon y estoy anticipando su proxima carta.
Your loving Elder Son

Happy Valentine's Day - February 11, 2012

Buenos días Mamá, estoy muy bien. Hoy está bonita y estoy feliz para leer su carta y escribirle. That is sad that Kahlua was sick, got cancer, and was put down. That would be really hard for sis because she has had that dog forever. I agree that it was good that Corinne was there and that Nana and Grandpa had a dinner and talked with her. I send her my love. It sounds like you have had a very different winter. Sounds very crazy that you have so much rain you have to buy a bigger water pump. Will it be a little more difficult to complete the pool because now there is a house next to us so you can't bring trucks in there? That is so cool about your Spanish class. It's very true that you will be able to understand it more by reading and even hearing but speaking is a little different. Mainly cause you have so many conjugations for one word and many for past preterit, past imperfect, present, future, and conditional. But I'm excited that you are learning and can understand. Sounds like a good idea about speaking, writing the words, and drawing pictures. That is what the program Rosetta Stone does and people learn much faster. I would like to continue to practice and talk with you both in Spanish when I get home. We can have taco Tuesday but include only speaking Spanish or Spanglish. What I really want is that you can understand Spanish when I give my final testimony of the mission. I think it is cool that in your Spanish class you met some people that really like scuba diving and became friends with them. Did you tell them about your 2nd trip to the Philippines? I like your idea a lot about coming home to get released then returning and visiting with you and with your friend that knows Guatemala really well. I would like that more because first I would finish my mission completely and 2nd because it would be nice to come back being released and not needing a comp. Would we come back shortly after I got home or what would you be thinking? Of course we have a lot of time to plan this later and think about it. Last Saturday we watched a movie together in the office. We saw Charly. I have never seen that movie before and it is really good, but sad too. It made me think about how blessed we are that we have the gospel and the plan of salvation that no matter what heartache or pain comes our way things will eventually be better and we will have each other for eternity. The movie really made me think of the blessings of the temple and once again marriage and my own family. I don't think I have ever thought this much about marriage and family before. Seems like the mission really brings that to my mind. The general conference talking a lot about marriage, teaching about eternal families, the goal of preparing others for the temple, learning habits and skills that will bless my future family. I'm ready for the next phase of my life after the mission. We had a very interesting day Thursday. Two of the office elders were coming back from Coatepeque in the Corolla car. I was in the office that night and it started to rain and rain very hard. The power went off a couple times in the office and then went out for a couple hours. The church has a large metal fence/wall outside with a remote controlled door to let the cars in and out. When the power goes out the doors don't work so we are stuck in the office. It finally came back on and we received a call from the two elders out in the pouring rain. They got a flat tire then the battery died in the car. We drove out to rescue them in the truck. We got very wet, and a bit cold. We changed the tire and gave the car a jump but after that the car would not go faster then 10mph. Not sure why. So we ended up towing them but with a little rope we had, this rope is the width of my finger and we used it to tie some beds down we were moving in the truck. Amazingly the rope did not break and we safely arrived at the office at 12:30 at night. Still not sure what is wrong with the car. We are waiting for someone here to fix it. What another adventure here in the office. Oh and I have a little bit of sad news. This week we got 4 new sister missionaries from Mexico and had a little change meeting. I got to give my first presentation about funds and money. I did pretty good. But after, the sad part is, that Elder Card got changes and left the office a week before changes. So once again I had to part ways with Elder Card. It was very sad because we get along very well. He is very funny, nice, and spiritual. He is a great missionary, my best comp, and my dear friend. However, because I'm in the office I have more chances to see him and I think I will be here for his last change meeting so that is exciting. Well Mom I have written you a small book. hhahah. So I will tell you I really love you. You're the best mom ever! Happy early Valentines Day. I cho-cho-choose you. ahahaha. I love you and love your letters. I am very glad you are going to read the Book of Mormon completely. I just finished and I really loved it again. I'm going to send you a paper I used that is a guide to read the Book of Mormon in 3 months. You can do that or read it in a longer time but it will be fun to keep track of your progress. Love you much and I keep you in my prayers. Hope your week is wonderful and I can't wait to hear about it next week.
Love forever Elder Son

A Week of Conferences - February 4, 2012

Mi semana fue muy bien. This last week we had a conference with the zone leaders on Tuesday, a conference with the district leaders, and Thursday we went to different zones to be a part of their planning session and share things from the conferences. The conference was really good, I learned a lot from President Maravilla. That is one thing I really love about the office. I get to go to many conferences and learn from President and because he comes to work in the office a lot I get to talk with him more and learn other things. We had a good talk in the office the other day about studying the scriptures. He is very spiritual, loving, and a great man. I really look up to him. We had a office meeting before the conferences and it was very spiritual. We were talking about some changes to the mission and I could see the revelation that President and the Elders had. Very awesome. I felt the earthquake a week ago. It was crazy I was working in my office and the building started shaking. Biggest earthquake I have personally felt. You're getting neighbors? Wow that would be weird to see the empty field now changing and with time turn into a house. They sound like good people. Only downside is that will make the pool a little more difficult to complete right? But no biggy. That is so good you're taking a Spanish class. I really want you to. It will help a lot only speaking in Spanish. That is what my teacher did at Weber, and it helped a lot. That is so cool. Now we can practice Spanish together and you can understand more of the news letters and even President if you ever talk to him. Lunch sounds very fun. Nana and Grandpa have wrote me about the tv and how they really watch a lot of movies now. They love the tv and did not know how much they like relaxing and watching a movie at the end of the day. I'm happy for them, they really have had that tv for a long long time and I'm positive that they are loving the difference of quality. I want to see this fish tank when its done. I have seen pics of tanks like that and they are very cool. Has she done anymore with workers comp? So I don't know if you have heard, but Nana wrote me about their day with Kembree. For dinner they used the old place mats that you girls had. She got to pick any of them and she chose yours with the Colt and the Mare. During dinner Grandpa wanted to teach her a little and was explaining about what you call the mama horse and baby. Every meal she would use the same placemat and ask Grandpa again. When they went home she told her mom that she was eating on a Coke and Mary. What a little cutie pie. She would also look at the pics on the wall and see me and say that's my Jensen, then smile. I love that little girl. That is also cute that Camden asked about me, he misses his buddy at our house. I'm almost done reading the Book of Mormon again. I just started Ether. The Book of Mormon is so good and I have learned a lot. For my pday today we are going to try and go bowling. I never imagined I would do that in Guatemala. We tried last week but some kids had the place for all day so we couldn't go. Anyways this week has been good and I'm excited for the change meeting in two weeks to see my friends and learn new things. I think the office is a great experience for me. Mom we as missionaries focus a lot on commitments and putting dates with people so I'm going to try one with you. When is the soonest you could get a temple recommend and go do some temple work? We talked about temples the other day with President. There are so many people here in Central America that have to drive 8 hours to go to a temple. We are blessed in Utah with so many temples right by our house that I want us to take every opportunity we have with this great blessing. They are amazing blessings that will help us all. I know I am going to go very often when I get home. I even have the opportunity to go to the Xela temple a couple times in the mission. President got permission that we can go this month or next month. That is so exciting and amazing. Big news for the mission. I love you and love reading your letters. I love your support and everything you do for me. We are best friends and I'm one proud boy that you're my mama. Can't wait to read your next letter and write again. LOVE YOU! Love Elder Son