Busy Week - April 28, 2012

May is pretty much here; this month went by so fast. Your fund raising event sounds nice. Good food and good entertainment. I want to learn to play the piano and the violin. I wish I could sing better too. I don’t think I have a very good singing voice but I do like to sing to myself. Wow 5 shots a day and check 6 to 8 times. You're a pin cushion hahaha. That would be hard though. Mom I am so proud of you that you did the shot on your own. I’m sure that first time was really hard, sweaty face and palms and just getting the courage to poke yourself in the stomach. But you’re so strong. The Dr was right you just have to do it and then you will start to get better. Way to go Mama! Kinda scary about the swelling. Do they know why? Wow, crazy how quickly your life went to lots of shots and tests and pills. I think that is a good thing you got some rest, I'm sure you really needed it. That is good you got the sprinklers working at Lois'. Crazy Utah weather. I don’t really miss it but I would not mind a little cooler weather sometimes. That's crazy though, record breaking highs then snow and cold. I think you have been very blessed with your job. The more I hear about it the more I think it is awesome and you work with really caring amazing people. Definitely an improvement from your last job. I agree with your ward presidency, there are so many blessings from the temple. The Lord must be communicating to him for me. That’s great that he is challenging you to the same thing I am. Funny that you asked him if he has been talking to me. I really think even if you don't go right away to the temple you should at least get your temple recommend. The prophets have said that every worthy person should have a current temple recommend. I think you will be blessed just having a temple recommend. You will be really blessed if you use that recommend to go to the temple. I love the new things we learn at the temple. If you got one you could come to my wedding in a year. That would make me so happy and blessed. It is my dream that you are there when I do get married. Your presidency also did what I am going to do when I get home. He went to every temple in Utah. I have been to 4 of them so far. The Ogden, Bountiful, Salt Lake, and Provo. It would be so incredible to see them all and take advantage of the blessing of having so many temples close to us. I’m kinda excited that you are getting really good at counting and watching what you eat. I want to be healthier. When I get home you can help me get better at my diet and what I eat because you will be a pro by then. This week we had two more trips to the temple, I was there to get food and supervise so I did not enter again. On Tuesday when I was there outside all day I got a bit of sun. It's crazy here in Reu I don’t ever get sunburned but when you’re in the mountains where it is not hot you get fried. We also had a couple training meetings for new missionaries. This was all kinda stressful because with the conferences we had with the general authority and the temple trips and training meetings there was lots to do. I had so much work to do and dealing with the food and transportation was very difficult. We reached our budget for the month. I did get something awesome this week. I got a package from Jessica. Inside was a wedding announcement from her older sister, Easter eggs filled with candy and CTR rings but in Spanish (HLJ), lots of amazing candy, and some letters. When I opened the box the eggs had spilled open and the beans were all over the bottom. I moved the stuff out of the box to get the jellybeans and found over 50 large ants that had entered my box at the post office. I hate ants; they always get at my candy and ruin everything. I salvaged what beans I could. There is so much candy. Kit kats, dark choc mm's, Swedish fish, and a bunch more. I really loved the letters. They said their family is always talking about me, they all are on the Jensen fan club. They love me and are excited for when I come home and am part of their family. I love that family too. I get spoiled so much from you and Nana and Grandpa and the Stevens. How did I get so lucky to have so many amazing, loving, supportive people in my life? I guess a lot of people at the hospital still talk about me and ask about me, even some people that surprised me. Basically what I have thought about a lot lately is how blessed I am to have so many amazing friends and family in my life. There are so many people that have impacted my life and so many people that really care about me. I love all the friends I have and that we get along really well. I love how much you and I have grown closer over the past year. I really love talking to you and when I get home I will not miss out on opportunities to sit with you and chat about things. You're amazing Mom and I love that you listen to me and love to talk to me. You’re such an incredible mom. I’m going to tell you that several times when we talk in a few weeks. I know you’re excited about that, I am too. You're such an incredible mom. I’m so proud of you for your strength, especially with what you’re going through recently. You've always been really strong. Thank you for all you do. One last thing, where are you now in the Book of Mormon? One more thing, when are you going to talk with the bishop about the temple? I think that would be an amazing goal if you choose to do it, definitely would not be short on blessings. I love you Mom and pray for you every day. I’m very grateful for your letters, they give me a powerful boost. Be healthy, be happy, be safe. I send you special J hugs and a kiss. Love, J

Elder Card and I at the Xela Temple

Got to go to the Temple! - April 21, 2012

Hola Mamacita! My week was very busy, but really good. Elder Gavarret was very nice to meet. He and his wife live in Bountiful and he said after my mission I can go to lunch with him so that is very awesome. The conferences were very good. His wife gave some great talks and made me want to be even better. She has a very captivating way of talking. The parts that I heard of Elder Gavarret's talk were really good. Unfortunately with my calling I am in charge of getting the food for the conference which is disappointing when there is a 70s here because it means I leave during their talk. So I did not get to listen to all his talks. However, it was really amazing that I got lots of compliments from President and Elder Gavarret about the great job I did with all the meals. Gavarret said my job is really hard and he is grateful for what I´m doing and that I'm doing a great job. For the last conference it was with the bishops and leaders of the mission. I got lots of juices and sweet bread for a snack and set it up on a table with some nice table cloths and at the end President said we had prepared a snack for everyone. When we opened the curtain and they saw it President was very proud and impressed. Hermana Gavarret gave me a smile and thumbs up with my good work and Elder Gavarret was impressed. I felt really good. I’m glad it all turned out so well. I really enjoyed talking with Hermana Gavarret. Thursday was very exciting also. I finally got the opportunity to go to the Xela temple for a session. I went and the room was absolutely packed with missionaries. I remembered when I went to a Spanish session at the Guatemala temple while in the CCM. I did not understand much of it and when I had to talk I needed lots of help saying and remembering the words, I kinda mumbled a little cause I did not understand what the guy said. This time I understood all the Spanish and learned new things. I enjoyed remembering the covenants I have made and how I can devote myself more to my mission and serving the Lord. When I had to talk I remembered it all and I did not need any help. I even corrected the helper that was trying to help me. He was very impressed with me and my Spanish. I felt so amazing that I remembered everything and could say it quickly and without help. When I entered the Celestial Room I was the 2nd to last person. I saw a room filled with missionaries and President Maravilla and his wife, both with a huge smile on their faces. Once everyone was there President stood up and looked around the room smiling at all of us, he got tears in his eyes. I felt this is what it will be like in heaven. Surrounded by missionaries, my loving President, my loved ones throughout all eternity, prophets, and my Savior and Heavenly Father. How incredible of a feeling that was. The whole time I was at the temple I felt so at peace and like the world was miles away. I could not stop smiling and felt the most happiness. I can't imagine the happiness I will have when I go to the temple with you and my family. My wedding in the temple will be the happiest day of my life. The temple is the best and I miss going to it all the time. It is hard not going to the temple 3 or 4 times a week, or at least once a week. It just gives me a recharge and a strength. We have to go after I come home. It was also really amazing at the temple that I got to go to another session at the temple and in the 2nd session I was with Elder Card. He is the greatest guy. I will send you a pic of us at the temple. I told you his mom sent a couple things for me in his package. Well I got 5 packages of gummy bears, a microfiber towel with my name on it, and a shirt for the soccer team the Seattle Sounders. It was so amazing. I’m very grateful to Elder Card and his mom. The Great Shake Out sounds like a good idea. Better to prepare than to have something happen and have everyone scrambling around. I have probably felt a couple earthquakes but only one big one that I remember. I was in the office and I felt the whole building shaking for a couple minutes. It was crazy. Dang 5 shots a day. How do you do it? For a girl that does not like shots you are being one brave mama. I’m so proud of you testing yourself 5 times a day. With some time and courage I think you can give the shots. At first it will be really hard but I think once you do it a couple times and see that you can do it then it will be much easier. Your job is more of a blessing every time I hear about it. How wonderful of a boss and job that they let you go get help from Scott. I don't believe your old job would have done it. In fact I think they would have been poops about this and made you even more stressed and feeling terrible. So I think you got that new job for a reason that when this happened you were somewhat prepared and had a very understanding boss. I’m glad you have Scott and Lois to help you with this so much. I agree that a blessing would be a wonderful idea. You could even ask Grandpa if you want. Your last Spanish class already. That went fast. Are you going to try and find another Spanish class to take? That sounds awesome to eat out only speaking Spanish, but it is sometimes hard not to say some things in English. I do that here, I will say some things to other Elders in English. I need to try and speak just Spanish more. Sounds like the rain is all over. We are getting crazy rain here already. The high 70s and 80s sound really nice. I bet you are really anxious for the warm weather. I know Grandpa is ready for spring and to get out in his garden and yard. Sounds like with the cracked cement you have lots of work with the yard and pool. I hope you can get things fixed and finish the pool soon to enjoy it for the most of the summer. I love Saturdays because I get to read your emails and write you. I don’t really care about the other stuff I do Saturday, mainly the writing. We don’t get checked for parasites, only if you are sick for several days. That would be hard and expensive to get tested regularly. I think a lot of us know we probably have some but unless you have boo a lot and are sick for many days you just go about like normal. At the end of your mission you get some pills for a week we call "the bomb" that clean out the parasites and things. Health wise I am very good. I put on some weight in the office. Not a lot but more than I had in the field. I go to the gym a lot so that has been nice to stay healthy. I really feel so much better when I go to the gym everyday. My knees still are not the best. I have had a few days were they are kinda achy but they are doing good right now. I might get them looked at when I get home. Also I would really like to look at surgery for my eyes when I get home. I am pretty blind and I can’t imagine how nice it would be to see first thing when I open my eyes in the morning. I can’t think of anything I need right now. I think next week I get to go to the temple again to supervise. Not sure if I will get to do another session or just be there to watch over, but I sure hope I get to go again. Jessica’s older sister got married. I’m not sure what temple but she is very happy and has a great guy. He has some kids and they really love her sister. Her brother and his wife are 2 months away from having their 2nd child which is exciting. Jessica's younger sister that cuts my hair enters the MTC next week and will be going to the LA temple visitors center Spanish speaking mission. That is way cool. I’m proud of her and know she will be such an excellent missionary. I hope she gets my Spanish teacher in the MTC. Jessica’s dad had some talk of 2 new boats but so far nothing is for certain so he still lives in Cali but visits all the time. Jessica just got a new job with Clearfield dispatch. I’m excited for her and know she will do great. She was nervous about taking a polygraph test cause she has never taken one. I think it would make me a little nervous too. So she is working a lot and spending a lot of time with her mom and her niece. She is doing well. She really misses me and that makes me feel good. She writes me all the time which I like. Her mom still says she loves me. Everyone at the hospital tell her mom that they are on team Jensen. hahaha. I have made some strong impressions on people. Her family has already decided I'm part of the family. I love them too. Jessica tried to send you an email last Christmas before I called home but I don’t think you got it. I’m not sure why she has not talked with you more. I think she is a little intimidated by you two and thinks she did not make the best impression when you first met but she wants to make a good impression so that you really like her. I know you like her. I want that you two are really good friends because you will always be a big part of my life and I believe she will be a big part of my life in the future, she is a big part of my life right now. One thing I want to do when I get back is do more things together with her and you so everyone can get to know one another better. I’m so grateful for all of you in my life. I really don’t know what or who I would be without all your prayers and letters and without all the support and letters of her and her family. You all are the family I want forever. Mom I am so glad you are so far and doing so well in the Book of Mormon. I love that book. I regret that during my life I have not devoted more of my time to memorizing scriptures from it. For some reason I can remember countless lines from music and movies but tend to struggle a little more with memorizing scriptures or "little packages of light" as was mentioned in conference a year ago. Mom I love the temple. I feel closer to the Lord there and feel a peace like nothing else. It is one of the biggest dreams of mine to go to the temple with you and as a family. I know that dream will come true in the not too distant future. I really really want you to be in the temple with me when I get married. I can really see myself getting married within a year of when I get home. I need you there. We still have plenty of time to worry about that later, more than 10 months to be exact. But something to think about and maybe start working more with bishop about what we can do. I love you so much Mom with all my heart. You are a huge pillar of support in my life. I don’t think I would be the man I am today if I did not have you as my mom throughout my life. I’m super excited we get to talk in a few weeks. So I was thinking about my call letter while Hermana Gavarret was talking and I’m kinda sad I did not think about making a copy of my acceptance letter. I did not copy it before I sent it, right? I asked Elder Gavarret if there is a way to get a copy and he said talk to President Maravilla. I am writing him a letter so I will let you know how that goes. If you have a copy there of it that would be a lot easier, so let me know. Well Mom I have made this email into a book longer than Harry Potter so I will wrap up by sharing a couple simple words. I LOVE YOU! Those are probably the best words. I pray for your health and happiness. I look forward to reading your letters and talking to you again next week. Hugs and kisses Mom, Love Elder J

Thinking Of You Mom - April 14., 2012

I read your dearelder yesterday and I was surprised by your recent news. Type 1 diabetes would be a shocker. That's crazy that it would manifest now later in life, because like you said it is usually common to young children and adults. Was there signs of it before? Can it just all of a sudden manifest itself? Insulin for life is a bit of a change, even more difficult if you can't give yourself the insulin. I know you can do it, you have gone through so much in life this is nothing. Poking yourself will be hard at first but it will be really good for you to do. That will be a large accomplishment. Do you go to Davis Hospital for the instruction? I think they have good people there. The diabetes center is nice, I have had meetings there for work. If you have to go there a lot you will probably see more of the people I worked with. I hear they love me and are on "team Jensen" so you will get wonderful treatment if they know you are my mama. I hope you get those readings down. That is like Brad my old boss that is a fire chief. There was a couple times his blood sugar was above 400. That is kinda scary. I was just reading some things about diabetes. They said a good diet, exercise, and support is important. You are very blessed that you have Lois, Milt, Nana, Connie,and many others who have it or have family with it that can be there to talk to you about it and give you help and support. Sounds like your diet is really good, a bummer to miss the sugars and candy, but I want to be on a healthy diet when I get home too. I try here but for a missionary it is a little difficult. I will support you with diet and exercise. I don't always like getting started with exercise but once I'm doing it or finish I feel much better. Things sound time consuming. A new schedule to adapt to and learn a new phase of your life. Do your fingers look like swiss cheese from all the poke holes? hahaha. I wish I could be there with you during this. I will just have to do many wonderful things when I get back. You know you are always in my prayers. This makes me think of something I studied recently that sticks with me a lot, just from my past experiences and other events in my life. We receive new challenges all the time and they can seem very overwhelming and often at the most inconvenient time. We can wonder "why me?" "how can I live with this?" I think about conference messages and lessons I have learned from the Book of Mormon. The challenges are opportunities to grow and learn. Everyone gets them. They help us draw closer to Christ and increase our faith. We are never alone. We are not the only one experiencing the problem. Because of the infinite blessings of the Atonement Christ knows what we are feeling and what we are going through and he will help us to rise above our trials. Some scriptures have come to my mind that I think you will like and I need to remember more during my own personal trials. They are: Alma 13:28 that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering; Alma 7:11-12 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people... that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities. And one last one I thought about right now that I really like DC 122:7 Know thou, my son (daughter), that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. I love you so much Mom and will help you in any way I can. I'm excited to read about your Spanish class in my dearelder and the pool progress. Did I tell you I wanted to have a pool party right when I got home cause it would be complete but then I remembered that it will be February and pretty cold. Crazy Utah weather. I really do not miss the snow. I do miss the nice spring and cooler weather but in no way the snow. We are starting to enter the rainy season and it has been raining more here. When it rains it is like the rain you talked about. Just from the car to the door we get drenched. Today we had groceries and things we bought in the back of the truck and we got drenched getting them out and to the office. I kinda hope I'm still in the office during the rainy season hahah. That is so amazing you are in Alma 57. You most definitely will finish in less then three months. I started reading the Book of Mormon again and you have passed me. I would like to hear some of your thoughts or things you felt while reading. I'm very proud of you and really happy that you agreed to my challenge and are reading the Book of Mormon again. I mentioned a week ago that the mission did a Book of Mormon marathon. I have been a little slower at it cause of distractions with the office. I need to push on. But I have read to Alma 42 in 16 hours and 40 mins. I'm hoping I will motivate myself to focusing more time on completing it then going back to study more in depth over things. It has been really cool and exciting. Sometimes it is hard when I did not get so much sleep and after a few hours of reading straight I start to doze off. But I will finish it. Last week I struggled a little bit. I was feeling a little lonely in the office. I felt that there was some contention between a couple of us and I really did not like it. So I really have to remind myself sometimes about President Uchtdorfs two word sermon "Stop It!" I felt there were plans or decisions made with out me and sometimes for me. I felt that there was only about one or two Elders that were willing to be around me. I did not like that at all. I really miss having Elder Card as a comp. He really was the best and my friend that I could really get along with. Well I got over it. I'm trying harder to not let some things bother me and really trying to grow into a better man. There are still a couple people that we have some struggles but things are better this week. One thing I do not like about my call is that when I go certain places we usually have to wait a while in a line. I think many of the office Elders no longer want to go with me because they do not like waiting in line. I'm very glad I have lots of patience so the lines don't bother me. It is hard doing my job when I have to go with someone else but no one wants to go. I think this would be so much easier if I didn't have to go everywhere with someone at my side, but I'm learning from it and getting better. I know that when I am married I will have someone by my side all the time but it is someone I choose that I really love so it will be very enjoyable going with them. That might be something I need to try doing more here, loving the person more and making the most of it, making it fun. This next week will be very busy, but exciting and very spiritual. A member of the 70s Elder Gavarret is coming to talk with us for three days. I love having general authorities come to visit us. I learn so much. This is the second general authority from the 70s, not including Elder Falabella our area president, that has come talked to us since I have been in the field. I will make sure to let you know next week how that went. Not much happened this week. Some divisions here in Reu and lots of office work. Seems like all of the mission is having phone problems and I don't have any phones to help them. That has been hard cause people keep calling me and telling me what they need but I can only wait to receive them from my contact in the area office. I am finding solutions though so we are getting it taken care of. This call has things that I don't like and are very frustrating, but I think I am learning a lot from it. I really like that I know I have the support from President. I also love the support and love from so many people in my life. Elder Card got a package and his mom sent several packages of gummy bears for me cause she knew they are my fav. She is such a great woman. Did you ever get together when she was here? Jessica's older sister got married last week and at the wedding lots of cousins, her bishop, and others that have met me kept asking about me. That made me feel really good. That I had made a positive impression on them and that I'm important in Jessica's life. Everyone at work asks about me too. Lori that cuts Scott's hair is also very sweet to ask about me. I love the people that are in my life. I feel so blessed with people that love me and care about me and that I can get along very well with most people. How is Scott's health board position? Any more news about Sis and going to Weber? Tell all the family I love them, I miss them, and I'm grateful for them. I truly am very blessed. Mom I love you so much and I know you are so strong. Stay healthy and happy. Keep reading. Also I want to hear about your progress with the temple. When will you be going? Can't wait to read your letters and get your next email. Before we know it we will be talking on the phone aaaahhhh! Excited! Love you Mom!
Love Elder J

Easter - April 7, 2012

Happy Easter! No Easter celebrations and no April Fools' jokes either. However this week has been Semana Santa here. We were out to take a fridge to one of the hermanas houses and almost all of the streets were closed. For Semana Santa they put colored sawdust on the streets and right in front of the hermanas house I saw them starting to put the sawdust on the street. It was kinda cool. This week the mission had a Book of Mormon marathon, to read it in less then 36 hours. We in the office read for six hours and got to Jacob. In the office we got paused for a bit cause one of the elders was sick but I'm going to continue and try and read all of it. It is pretty exciting. That is awesome that you listened to conference in the car. I loved the quote "Stop It" also. I also really liked the talk from President Eyring, once again I felt like I was listening to Grandpa, in the midst of our challenges are many blessings. The Lord had many trials for me so I can pass through much smaller trials for the Lord. During the talk from David S. Baxter I thought about you and our family a lot. It makes me appreciate you and all you did even more. You did the work of 2 people alone. That is really hard. But in your years you will be blessed for the work you did raising two kids on your own. During this talk I got a thought that I completely agree with. My achievements are accredited to you. You're my mom and taught me many things. From our experiences I have become who I am today. I know there are so many blessings from eternal families and I'm glad that we are one. I also want the best with my own family and be the best dad for them, I think there is a strong desire and goal of that because I don't want them to grow up without a dad. You have helped teach me a lot of things about always being there for your family and supporting them even when things appear impossible. I love you Mom, thank you. What were some other things you liked from conference? I can imagine they were giving you some strange looks when you stopped for a potty break in flip flops and pool warm weather clothes. Makes me think of when I went for my scuba class with Jessica to Blue Lake. We woke up in the morning to go diving. Put on wet, cold, wetsuits which was really hard got to the parking lot and were waiting for the others in the snow. They canceled because of the snow so we were kinda bummed especially because we woke up and went through the trouble of getting ready. I got a pic of me in my wetsuit outside in the snow. As we were coming home we stopped at the Crater near Park City and we ran to the building carrying our gear in only swimsuits. When we were done diving there it was still snowing and I had to carry the things to the car. It was very cold in just my swim trunks and flip flops. I changed into my sweats so fast in the parking lot. That's a bummer that is was bad weather still the first day and you couldn't really do much other then sleep and chill around the hotel. However, I would not mind a day of sleep and nothing haha. Laying by the pool sounds so nice. I'm glad Nana and Grandpa could enjoy that time with you also. I wanted to lay by a pool today so bad. It was really hot. I will be anxiously awaiting good weather when I get home to use our pool. One time I thought for a moment about when I come home. I thought sweet the pool will be done and I can have a pool party. But then I remembered, wait it will be February that will not work hahah. Utah is still crazy. No snow, than an inch, than it is gone the next day. I think that is funny and awesome at the same time that they know you by name at the hotel. I like going places where they remember my name. I think even though you have a pool you will still make a couple trips to St. George. They have fun plays to go to that you can't get here but it will be hard to leave the pool that is just outside our door. I think that Jessica going back to WSU for automotive would be such an amazing decision and opportunity. Take advantage of the time she already spent there. I believe that would improve her future so much. I always liked talking about Jessica being in the automotive program. She is super smart and with a degree from there and being a girl she will get much better opportunities. Do you think because there is only one girl in the program that Jessica could get help financially, a scholarship or something like that? That is very kind that Jaime is working to help Jessica go to school. I love sis and want the best for her. So I highly support her in this. I bet she will have fun in Denver. Probably more fun when I drove there with Mason for spring break and we slept in a tent in a field behind some houses. We did not do anything there. The zoo and a baseball game sound a lot more fun then my Denver trip experience. I hope Jessica does not get beer spilled on her this time at the baseball game. That was in Denver when we went to see Aunt Holly right? I remember a lot actually about that time with Aunt holly. I remember watching Gumby on her tv and falling asleep on the yellow bean bag or the futon. I look forward to reading your dear elders about your week and your thoughts about conference. Did I tell you that two big impressions I got from conference are teaching and raising children and being a stronger family. I don't know if someone is trying to tell me something for after my mission, family and children. But I still have lots of time to focus in the mission and learn the things that will help me have a strong family and bless my children both physically and spiritually. Crazy how quickly the time is going by. I love you Mom. I love that we are family. The family is sacred and I know how important it is to spend time with them. I'm very blessed. There are things I knew before, but the mission is really helping me understand some of these things even more. Hope you have a wonderful week. I pray that you are protected and happy. Thank you for being the best and being my loving mother. Give yourself a big hug for me. Love you Mom!
Love your son, Elder Cox

Conference Begins! - March 31, 2012

Buenos días mi Madre,
Mi semana fue rapido. Tuvimos cambios miercoles y esta vez era preparado. The changes were crazy. Even though I had planned a lot better and it went much smoother then last time I still had a bunch of people come to me with last minute problems so I still got a little stressed. We got a new assistant because Elder Dennis was leaving for his house. The new AP is Elder Evans and I know him pretty well. I think he was the perfect choice and will do very well. Plus we really get along so I'm excited to have him with us. Those that were leaving got to go to the temple Wednesday. I was pretty jealous. I still have not gone yet and I'm so anxious to go. President said we will be going at the end of the next month. I'm with you, this week I have been very tired. Last night we went to President's house because we talked Hermana Maravilla into making us her special chicken that only she can make. It is a sweet chicken and boy was it good. I ate another plate. That is cool Scott is the guest speaker at the conference. You two are going to have so much fun there. That is awesome that Nana and Grandpa are going too. I would like a week of reading, shopping , and pooling. I can't wait to do that when I get home. That is way cool about David Archuleta putting aside his large career to serve the Lord. I wonder if he will have problems with people in Chile, if some people that recognize him will only meet with him because he is famous. That would add a very difficult aspect to a mission that can already be difficult at times. However, how cool would it be to be comps with him. You would make friendships that would last forever. Crazy! I feel bad that he gets swarmed everywhere. He is a very good person to not let people distracting him from his food and date bother him or get frustrated. I did not know Gladys Knight was LDS. Dancing with the Stars gets some very entertaining people. No way! Another Anchorman movie. I had no idea. And how lucky that it is in 2013 when I can watch it. There are so many good movies that came out and are coming out before I'm home and it is very hard for me. I love movies, they are one of my biggest passions. That will be fun. I remember the Anchorman in our house. I don't know how you let me keep it up for so long. It made me laugh. It was huge. That is cool that there is a Facebook page to share pics with one another. I believe I know Elder Jacobson and Elder Bassett. That is one nice thing about the office is I get to meet and know a lot more missionaries. President has a Facebook page for the mission but exclusively for the return elders and specially invited people. That is awesome. I'm about to watch conference in the office. We have the projector set up and it should be very fun. I am way excited. So I got your letter speaking about my baptism. Thank you so much. There was lots I did not remember. You mentioned that you wish we got where the elders are from. Well I did some searching and came across a webpage of Alumni of the Ogden UT mission. Someone had posted a lot of newsletters that they could get a copy of. I searched through several months looking at the elders names that entered and left the mission and I came across Elder Bryce Roberts from Amily,OR and Elder Shane Fitzgerald from Colton, CA. Now I want to search for them on Facebook when I get home or do more searching to find them. I think it would be very cool to write them and tell them what things their baptism has done in this life. So I'm excited about that. You mentioned about our family becoming inactive. As much as I regret it and think a lot about how my life would have been different had I always been active and where would I be now, I have learned some valuable things from those experiences of my life. I have learned the difference in my life between having the Gospel and not having the Gospel. I saw a glimpse of my life without it and there was no real happiness, no lasting joy, no true hope for the future. It was a life that I did not like. Now that I have the Gospel in my life I'm eternally grateful for the blessings and hope I have. For the future I have been given and the love that I receive and am developing. Sure my life would have been different if I had always been active, but my life is different now. I gladly look forward to what is ahead and increasing my knowledge of the Gospel. I anxiously await the not to distant day of starting my family in the temple. Thank you Mom for always believing in me and supporting me in my times of trial and wondering to my better life of living the Gospel and serving my Lord and Redeemer. I feel so happy to know you are in my life and will be my Mom for all eternity. I am going to write you about conference. It was an incredible session and went by too quickly. Love you Mom and pray you are well and happy.
Love Son