We are some good lookin guys that are going to meet up in Utah.

My good friend and great comp.

Baptism of Anderson, we found out about this Tuesday before changes. 

New Companion - October 29, 2012

Well I did not have changes thankfully. I stayed in Rio Blanco. I went to changes and got to say goodbye to Elder Escobedo and Elder Evans. It was kinda sad. I got a new comp named Elder Guerra. He is from El Salvador. I know him a little from before and we get along great. I told Escobedo that he is invited to my house and we will see each other when I get home. Elder Evans too. I really hope Presidente keeps me in Rio Blanco for the rest of my mission. Still have the runny nose and cough but it is much better. Our shower has been great and nice and hot. I’m glad Corinne’s family loves the letters. What are the names of Connie’s kids? That concert sounds amazing. I would have loved that. I’m glad you went and really loved it. Do you remember the names of the singers? The concert sounds incredible. Crazy how involved everyone got. Lots of fun. It snowed! That sounds terrible. Here it is starting to get to the coldest time of year but it is still not that bad for me. Wow you leave the 16th. That is coming up so fast. You are going to have so much fun on your trip. I can’t wait to hear about it. Jessica’s trip to Disneyland sounds really fun also. I can’t think of anything for the package. I know anything you share will be great. Chocolate and habanero almonds are always a fav. Oh something else nice about changes is that we stopped at Wendy’s on the way back. So good. This week was pretty mellow. We did find one of our investigators Saturday and carried their stuff all the way to their house. Just so happens that their house is an hour away, but I’m glad we got to help them. When we were there we met the family. There are about 16 children there. The mom and family are very nice and we were able to teach 8 of them. They understand well but still do not understand the need to be baptized with the authority. We will keep trying. I have much faith for them. In church Sunday I directed the music. I liked seeing everyone’s face and smiling at everyone. I felt really really happy this day. There was a couple members that just got their privileges back and they both spoke. It was amazing to hear the excitement and love in their talks. I’m so grateful for the gospel and the power it has to change people and bring true joy into people’s lives. I was so happy Sunday and that reconfirmed to me how loving our Father in Heaven is and how true this church and the gospel is. I love you Mom and I love that we are a sealed family for eternity. I love that you are my mom and do so much for me. I can’t thank you enough. I hope you have a wonderful week and that you are happy and healthy. Can’t wait to receive your letters and hear from you again next week. You are the best! I love you Mom!

Love J

Thanks for the Letters - October 22, 2012

My week was good but went by way to fast. We taught a guy but at first he told us a story for an hour and we couldn’t get one word in. In the end he was not responsive to anything we had to say. The good thing that came from it was I discovered a cool analogy. He talked about a dr visit when he was in the U.S. So this is my analogy I got from that story. We go to the Dr to be healed. The Dr (God) knows what will give us the most out of life and help us. He gives us his prescription or order (the scriptures and the gospel). Even though he explained it well we don’t always understand. We apply what he gave us but not in the correct way that he prescribed it. So we need a translator (Prophet) to come and explain or clarify the orders of the Dr to our understanding. That way we receive the most benefit of the prescription. Kinda cool that I thought of that especially since I’m going into the medical field. We had a great lesson Saturday with a woman that is reading so much of the Book of Mormon and believes it is true. She feels something every time we talk with her. We taught her about the Sacrament in the church and she said she would be baptized, but she will not accept a date for some reason. I know she can be baptized. She said she will come to church but didn't. A guy we found last week that is really positive has accepted the Book of Mormon, says he believes what we teach and said he would be baptized. We put a date with him. He has been through a lot and is so positive and bright. He came to church yesterday and is so awesome. Two more assistences and he will be baptized. That makes me happy that his life is improving. Thank you for helping me get the book for David. I’m anxious to hear what he has to say. He is such an amazing guy and really is my brother. I know our friendship will last forever. That sounds fun dinner with Jamen and Camden. I thought he was older than 26. The pool is winterized and no more pool fun :( If they would have jumped in it would be like taking a shower here without the heater burr. This week I didn't shovel poop but we helped a couple members one night carry their tamales that they sell. My comp and I saw the door was open to a member’s house that they sell to. We snuck up and shouted TAMALES! the older woman and her daughter about fell over from shock hahaha. It was pretty funny. The members we were helping were laughing so hard the whole night. A 4 day weekend sounds nice, but too bad you can’t spend it in the pool. Diabetes is crazy. I don’t understand how it randomly goes super low and then a little later super high. Sounds scary. I pray that you will be able to control it and not get sick. I’m going to be on the edge of my seat all day today. Tonight I hear about changes and I don’t think I will have any. I don’t want any. I really want to stay here. All the members really love us. We talked in church yesterday and I talked about the Book of Mormon. It is amazing how many members really have not read it. I talked about the importance of it and how it does no good if it remains closed or we don’t know all that it contains. I have had a runny nose and a cough the last couple days. As I was talking I started to cough and couldn’t stop or complete my talk. The District President said he would get me some water. Here comes the funny part. I was expecting some water from the drinking fountain, but two seconds later he is next to me with the sacrament cups. I took a drink and was able to finish but I felt a little strange and had to laugh about it. At the end I challenged everyone to read the Book of Mormon in 3 months and follow the paper I will give them. After three months all that finished will come to a party activity we will have. So I really want to stay here the whole time to be here for that. I hope Richard and his family are doing ok. They will be in my prayers. I got some dear elders this week and I can’t express my love and gratitude for them. Thank you so much Mom, Nana, and Grandpa. They are letters filled with love and inspire me to do even better. I don’t know what I would do without all the letters. I am going to give each of you a big hug when I get home but for now Mom I give that duty to you. I’m sad for this change because my comp is going home. It will be different. He said he wants to meet you and that he will come to my homecoming. He lives in a little town in Nevada but is going to BYU. Mom I love you and love even more that you are my mom. I love that we have the gospel and the many blessings it brings. I’m thankful for all that I have and the opportunity to improve and learn more. I can’t wait to talk to you again next week and I can’t even explain how excited I am to talk to you in Dec. When is your trip? That will be so fun. I’m thinking about the after mission trip you talked about in my dearelder. I love you and pray for you. I hope you and the family are happy, healthy, and filled with so much love and blessings.

Love you forever Mom,

Your boy, J

Earthquake and Farm Work - October 15, 2012

I still hope I will get Nanas package. I have no idea what I would give people here for Christmas. I will think about it. This week was interesting. We went to go visit a young woman that is a member but she was not home. So we helped her mom that is not a member with some farm work. I can now officially say I have had my closest experience with farm work. We went into her barn and she wanted us to shovel the cow poop into a big pile so they can use it as fertilizer for the corn. Well no one had cleaned it for months. I have never piled so much poop. It was tiring. I felt bad though because she said if we were not there she would have to do it herself. Well after a while of making a giant mountain of poo we cut some fire wood and that was also very tiring. I felt good that we helped her though. What is Scott’s fav color? It is red right? We had two really good lessons with investigators and they are looking very positive to be baptized. Only problem was we invited them to church and set up a ride because they live far away but on Sunday both were sleeping and did not come. I had a couple fights with my comp but that is normal because we are two different men. I actually learned a lot from it. I have a better challenge of being more patient and selfless. I can think more before I react and try to only speak blessings and good things with calmness. Things are great between us and I’m glad I can learn to be even better. I got a good idea about challenging people and placing a date for baptism. I am an authorized representative of Jesus Christ with His authority. I can promise as His representative and with authority that by the date of baptism the person will receive an answer and if they do their part they will be prepared to make that sacred covenant with the Lord. I know I can always do that but it came with more power right now and I need to make that promise more as an official missionary of Jesus Christ. Late Sat night I was awaken by my bed shaking. We had a pretty good earthquake that shook things up. It was probably the biggest I have felt here. Pretty crazy! That is way cool that Holly and Steve came to visit. You really canned a lot of tomatoes. I love tomatoes and the soup. I have some good recipes with tomatoes and peppers from Guatemala to make you when I get home. They are very simple but really delicious. 21 people at dinner is a lot, I miss all the family and that would be a fun time. We really have been so blessed with the family we have. I have a much greater desire to really enjoy and spend more time with all my family. I love them all and I’m eternally grateful that you are my mom and for the wonderful relationship we have. I feel we can talk about anything and have been talking a lot more. Another blessing from my mission. Your trip to the Philippines is coming up very quickly are you excited? I love you Mom and love Mondays when I get to hear from you. My time is winding down and before I know it I will be giving you a big hug and a kiss. I love you Mom. Take care, be healthy and happy. How are the blood sugar levels?

Love you and anxiously await next week.

J

Conference was Amazing - October 8, 2012

Conference was an amazing spiritual two days. I really loved it. We tried to set up the TV to watch it in English but it was not configured so we could not get it. There has been problems with the internet in the church also and we have not had it for over two weeks. Well we were very blessed because the internet was working Saturday. We watched it the two of us on the computer in English. Priesthood was the only session we had to watch in Spanish. All the talks were amazing and I look forward to talking to you about them. Can you believe this is my last conference in the mission? That is crazy. That is crazy the age of 18 for males but more crazy 19 for females. That is huge for the women. I imagine many more sister missionaries. I did not know Heather would be able to put in her papers in a year, wow. Pres. Uchtdorf's talk was one I wanted to share with you today. I loved the biking story. Enjoy the journey, especially right now in my mission. When he talked I thought about spending more cherished time with my family after the mission. I loved that happiness is available all the time if I choose it. So when times are rough I can choose to be happy still and look for the good. Be thankful for all the small things in life. So powerful. I have said this before and I will say it again. Every time I listen to Pres. Eyring I cannot help but think of Grandpa Walker. His spirituality, love, humor and so much more. I imagine that is the same advice Grandpa would give me. Helps me feel Grandpa is close even though he is in another country. I can’t wait to talk with Grandpa when I get home and receive advice from him too. I love him with all my heart. He is like a father to me. Don’t forget Grandpa, you are very loved. The ask the missionaries was wonderful I hope more people ask us. During the two days of conference we had 7 investigators come to conference. That was wonderful and I hope that they felt the spirit and will progress. I finally got David’s package this week. It was wonderful. An incredible letter from him and one from Nancy. Fruit snacks, candy, vitamins, beef jerky, meal shakes and a shake blender bottle, and some other wonderful stuff. Oh and really amazing pics. He appears to be very healthy and doing great. Still no word about Nanas package though. Not sure if she can talk to the post office about it or if they can even do anything. But I will keep looking. Elder Escobedo and I have a funny joke amongst us. In some of the bible videos it shows people renting their garments. We love it and joke about doing it when something is really crazy. Last week we played volleyball with the members and my shirt came untucked in front, hanging out of my sweater. I invented the missionary version of renting your garments. We were losing in volleyball and I had tucked my shirt back in. Well as we were losing I did this motion of grabbing my shirt in the front and untucking it in a forceful downward motion. It is pretty hilarious to see. So now when the two of us have something happen, like a lesson that gets canceled we do the shirt untucking. I will have to show you when I get home. The area is still pretty hard but I really think I want to end here in Rio Blanco. I love the members. I feel refueled by conference and I’m ready to make miracles here in my area. I thought about you and the family during the conference and I cannot explain how much I really love you and I’m grateful for you. You have helped me in so many ways and your continued love and support is uncomparable. I pray that you will be healthy and blessed by our loving Heavenly Father. I love you and am very excited to talk to you more in a week. If it is like this last week it will pass very fast. Love you and send my love to all the family.

Your Baby Boy!

 

October Already?! - October 1, 2012

I’m so glad that you got the letters. When I was visiting with her I could not pass up that opportunity. Her family told me yesterday that you got the letters. I’m glad that everyone liked their letters. Not sure what would be a good gift for them. I’m sure you will get them something wonderful and thoughtful. That is crazy that your blood sugar is dropping so low. Any reason why? Bummer you missed the baptism. I’m sure she loved the ring and hymn book. That is a tuff question for things for President. I know that he really loves Snickers and Dr Pepper. But something thoughtful would also be good. The bananas are a good idea. We sprayed some spray and cleaned all the blankets and that helped but I think last night a flea tagged along with me from a members house cause I got attacked. I have been eating a lot of bananas lately so hope that helps. That is so cool that you got to swim the last day of Sept. This week Elder Escobedo and I were walking and it started to rain so hard. We had umbrellas but our shoes and pants still got soaked. We started to have fun though. As we walked with our umbrellas we were singing "Singing in the rain" and dancing and splashing in puddles. I wish I had it on video. We laughed pretty hard. Wednesday was our activity. We had drinks, popped lots of popcorn, and had Mormon messages as trailers. Then we watched How Rare a Possession. Unfortunately only about 10 members came and only about 6 investigators. I was disappointed but what can you do. Yesterday was hard because only 27 people came to church. Our goal is 75. We are dropping a lot and I don’t know why. We really talked with the branch and told them we all need to do more. So today we are returning early and sacrificing our pday to train and practice with the members on inviting people to conference. Hopefully with more member visits more people will come to church. It has been hard in Rio Blanco. I believe it is really going to teach me how to rely on the Lord and how to follow the spirit better. I’m trying to learn and improve. This week we also ate flour tortillas with a member. They are so good. I ate about 8. I also got to eat real figs right off of the tree. It was neat and I’ve never ate a real fig. Speaking of, I can’t really think of anything for Christmas except chocolate (maybe kit kats) and some fig newtons. I’m sure whatever you do will be great but I don’t expect anything. The letters from you will be the best. I’m so excited for conference and can’t believe it is already here, or my last one in the mission. I would love to share conference thoughts with you. Mom I love you and think you are the super duper best. I love you and can’t wait till we can talk again. I pray for your health and happiness. Have an incredible week and know that you are so loved by your boy. I send hugs and kisses and my smile.

Love J