PART OF GOD'S ARMY

Hey family! Como estan?

Man, its crazy reading about "real life," you guys are insane. I do miss the crazy random life we all live at home, man, but I think the Lord is blessing me with an opportunity to mold my mind in a more structured environment, hahah, no just kidding. Well, kinda. Ha. Is it weird that I don't mind getting up at 6, and 6:30 feels late? Yikes...

PLEASE tell Jeffrey and Heidi and everyone to write up some of those stories, that sounds priceless... tazer? Sheesh... Hey, congratulations on the play everyone! That sounds amazing. I'm sure everyone was fantastic - Amy, why didn't you ever put your hair in a bun when I was home, hmm?? You will all have to recreate the play for me on the "trampoline stage" sometime.


I'm not sure exactly what I'm writing this week because I have a limited amount of time here today, since this is about the busiest P-day I've had yet - cleaning about 400 plates and tupperware out of the apartment that missionaries have been given for dinners by the members and accumulated for years, trying to rescue my laundry from a washing machine that was being taken away for repairs, helping a lady carry stuff into a store and getting stuck receiving a free sample herbal health breakfast to "cleanse my body", go to an appointment, a lunch with Pati Torres, a haircut... man, its crazy...

Mom, don't worry about my food situation. We in Utah are fed more than any other mission, especially in the Spanish program. In some areas the members feed the missionaries breakfast lunch AND dinner. We get by with dinner every night. Of course sometimes that's questionable... I haven't eaten Cow intestines yet, but its a matter of time. I don't ask questions about most of it - but its not anything we'd serve at home, heh... I really like the food though, its delicious usually... some of the south american food needs some work though. Just load up some chilies and it burns the taste buds off (sound familiar? bringing back old tricks). So far I haven't died, so...

Thank you for your prayers for Pati, they've helped. Man, she has more faith than anyone I've met. She was sick with pnumonia for 10 days, and thusly couldn't work. And couldn't pay the rent. She called us last week and still sounded bad - and told us that they were kicking her out of her aprtment in 3 days, her boss made her work sundays now, and life was going up in flames. But we talked with her the next day, and were worried about her, and all she did was shrugg her shoulders and said (in Spanish) "I know this isn't normal - its Satan trying to attack me because I got baptized. I know its because I got baptized into the true church! And God's not going to leave me alone." She made some plans and is able to stay. On Sunday she decided to just come to Church and not work - she was confirmed a member and received the Holy Ghost. It was very cool. Man, a lot of faith there...

Other highlight was Mission Conference - we got all 190 missionaries together and met for a day here in Ogden. It was kinda sad - President and Sister Joyce were saying their goodbyes for it. It was very spiritual - amazing man. You could feel their love for us - we are a "mission family" and like our families, our "mission family" is eternal too, as Sister Joyce says. That night we met at the Tabernacle by the Ogden temple and did a Musical Fireside, featuring... us! and The Joyce's spoke between songs. That was a great experience. It's powerful to stand with 190 missionaries and be able to sing out loud - sometimes I feel like going out and shouting that this is true, that these people need to hear this message - it felt good to be able to shake a building with 200 people in it with my testimony. President Joyce is an amzing musician, and he accompanied us on the Organ - the last song, after his amazing remarks and farewell to Ogden and us and the people there. He went over and sat down at the organ, and the building just started shaking with a fanfare - Praise to the Lord, the Almighty - and then we began singing. It had been raining - the sun broke out and flooded through the curtains. It was powerful. I felt like part of God's army, a soldier for Him. As we left the building and walked back up 21st street to our apartment, the sky was on fire with golds and purple and blue and yellow and orange, with the temple and tabernacle sillohueted against it. 200 missionaries flooding out of the temple grounds to return to their areas. It was a crazy experience. Unforgettable.

I know this Church is true. I know its all true. This week I felt the Spirit coming to me, felt myself conquer parts of me that needed conquering, and felt a greater power accompany my work. This is the truth. This is hugely important for all to know. I don't care if I interrupt a conversation to tell someone, or if people think we're crazy - this used to bother me. But they need to know! This is what they're looking for! I wish I could write more, but I can't. Know that I am well, and I love you all! Keep safe, and be happy!

Love, Elder Christhopher The Thelin who can't type his name....

All the tupperware and various dishes that were left in our apartment for years on end, just before we donated it all to DI...

President Joyce accompanying the Great Utah Ogden Missionary Choir


On the way to Mission Conference, the Ogden Tabernacle by the Ogden Temple


President Joyce and I

The Spanish Missionaries' parting gift for the Joyce's, a Mexican flag signed by us

The Ogden Temple

The Ogden Tabernacle

The Joyces, saying goodbye :(

WEEK OF MIRACLES

HEYLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO FAMILY!
How are you all doing? From the looks of your email, everything is right on track, crazy as usual - -that story about the yard was awesome, that's exactly what our house is like, haha... man, boat trips, summer plays, girls camp -- it sounds like you all are living the good life. That Outer Banks trip looks amazingly fun, hope everyone has fun and stays safe. I can't say I envy the water though - we've been fairly mojado (wet) for the past week, its just poured and poured, it looks like a tropical area in Columbia right now... but now the heat is coming back, joy...

Tape the play! That sounds so cool, my sisters are going to be little Chinese girls. Heidi, you're really taking the stage lately, huh? what is this, 2 plays this year... so far?? Very cool. Girl's camp will be great. I only went once for an hour or three, but it seemed to be a very fun place :)

Man, this week was really cool. It was a week of miracles. The Lord is blessing us for our faith. Last week, after we'd set that goal of 4 baptisms and everything, Elder Gurrola and I had a lame night on Tuesday. No one was home, we walked like 3 miles for "nothing", he stepped in dog poop, etc. He was talking about how nothing was working out, how there was nothing to do in this area, etc. And I got tired of it, so I said "NO." and shoved him off the curb, and wouldn't let him back until he changed his attitude. Then we decided to try having faith, and trusting the Lord. We'd done all we could. So, we started walking. We wanted to visit a man in Riverdale, and had no car. I decided to try the Lord and see if miracles could happen: I said "we are going to walk to the nearest bus stop and there will be a bus." (there's never a bus. ever.) We walked there, and, as we got there, a bus pulled up. Miracle #1. We got on. Elder Gurrola didn't have his bus pass. They let him on free. (that never happens). Miracle #2. We sat there on the bus kinda with our mouths open. We turned to our side. There was a small Scottish man who had never heard of the LDS missionaries before. "Can we send some English elders to your house?" "Sure, why not, I've got plenty of time!" Miracle #3. Get off. Near our old house, a random man asked if we could use a ride in a bit - why, yes we did need a ride, we needed to move a bunch of stuff (our CLOTHES) to our new apartment. Sure, he said, I can help you after you teach your lesson! Miracle #4. It was amazing. And that was only the beginning. We've seen the Lord pour out blessings. Check this out:


We were kinda bummed because some of our investigators didn't show up for church, but we trusted that the Lord would provide. So, we went out to work. 8:45 pm . 15 minutes left of our day. Instead of heading back to the apartment, we walked down the road. "I've always wanted to knock those 2 doors" E. Gurrola said. So we did. No one home. We stepped away, and heard whistling. A man was walking towards us. "Hey! (in spanish) How're you two young men doing? That's my house, what can I do for you? Come on in..." Turns out Sisnesio was hearing the missionaries a year ago.
"You've probably been invited to be baptized, huh?"
"Oh yes. I wasn't ready a year ago, but you know what, I think I feel a lot more ready now. I don't drink, I don't smoke...."
He mentioned he is a Christian. We randomly decided to ask, do you have a Bible?
He goes to the closet and pulls out... a hardcover Book of Mormon. "Yes! And I also have this, does this work?"
"uh....... YES...."
It was incredible. Definitely one our miracles.

And yesterday morning durning personal study at 8 in the morning... *ahem* (possibly the coolest thing in a missionary's life:) ...we get a call. "Hello! are you the Missionaries?"
"uh.... yes? Who's this...?"
"Rosario Cuadras. When are you having a baptism next?"
"Probably in a week or two..."
"Can you have one sooner? Beacuse I'd be intesested in being baptized..."
The Lord is handing us miracles right and left. It's amazing. We love it. Elder Gurrola is going to finish strong.

You're right mom, I am starting out with a lot of success - but as always, its not us. We're just the tools. The adversary throws all kinds of stuff at us, at the investigators, and sometimes He requieres a sacrifice before He steps in. But He always does step in. Put in the hours. But it works out, its worth it. Thank you for your prayers. Its cool to see people coming to what they've been searching for, telling us that they feel the Spirit more now, feel God's hand in their lives, delivering them from all manner of problems, and coming unto Christ more than ever before. Way cool.

If you could pray for Pati Torres, that would be good - after the baptism, she got pneumonia (not from the water, though she thought so, lol) and she was dying. Literally, she had to go to the hospital, which is way expensive and hard for these people. For 10 days she couldn't move, and was hacking up stuff, really, I've never seen anyone so sick. We thought she died during our blessing. She almost got fired, and she's a single mother. We gave her a powerful blessing, and she's a bit better now, but her boss is making her work still, and the evil boss is making her work Sundays. It's a mess, so just pray for her, and for the other miracles that we need, because we need a lot - there are many that want to be baptized and can't be unless some miracles happen, so miracles! They're possible. With enough faith, its possible.

Well, running out of time here, I just wanted to share those miracles. Real quick, our new apartment is a batcave, its.... special. Can't get attached to things like apartments... sniffle...

My Spanish is way improving, and it has to be the Lord, because I rarely have time to study. I've got a long ways to go, but I can carry on a lesson or a contact or dinner conversation almost without problems. When the members start joking around with me I have more trouble understanding, hah (Tayleen, you;ve got manchas (spots) all over your bright new shirt! Tayleen, you're a rich gringo boy, you;ve got 7 blisters and have only been working 5 minutes!" etc... heheh).

[Girls addition to the story: Heidi viewed the "YUB-YUB" ing creatures suspiciously. A little tiny one seemed to like Amy, and was pleased when she sat down at the campfire with him to cook a hotdog on the beach. Holly, having a way with animals, a sort of "animal whisperer" if you will, spoke to them. "JABBA YABBA DABBA!" she announced. The critters seemed agreeable. "Oh look! They think we are princesses!" Holly exclaimed. But unfortunately, Holly had mixed up her Jabbas and Yabbas, and had actually told the creatures that the girls were "very YUMMY!" before they knew what was happening, Heidi, Holly and Amy were tied to bamboo poles and it looked like they were about to get roasted over the open fire for dinner! Just then...]

Story: Just then Tippy and Tanny ran out of the woods and started barking at the critters. THey started jumping up on them and knocking them down, all in good fun, but all the same the Yub Yubs all ran and climbed up the trees. Tanny knocked over the bamboo stick, and the girls fell safely to the ground. Amy cut everyone loose with her pocket knife. The Yub Yubs were looking at them from above. Maybe they can help us know where to go, Holly thought... she opend her mouth and said... (to be continued...)

Thank you all for your prayers and for being so good to me. I love you all and miss you (dad, ha, I had ribs on Father's day, what a coincidence - a guy was trained to be an American cuisine chef in Mexico, go figure... trained to make authentic hamburgers and ribs and chicken kabobs... lol) I love you all, and I know this gospel is true. This is it! This is what people search for all their lives! I know it is true, beyond any doubt. Come unto Him, every day.

Hasta luego,
Elder Christopher Thelin of Ogden. just for now...



My blisters, poor gringo hands....

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE

Well hey there ho there!
Wow, so much happens in a week, yet it seems like it was just Tuesday... weird...
Weeeeeelll, hm, lots of stuff in the works here, its hard to know what you'd want to hear about.

We're just trying to survive here - we have about the largest walking area in the world (jk, i don't know, but it's ginormous). It's pretty much crazy. AND they made us move finally to Ogden where we are closer to the action, less walking, etc. We had a sweet apartment in Riverdale... but they called us up, and announced that they were coming to take out the washer and dryer, and all our furniture... so we kind of had to move. But we "rebelled" and got caught in Riverdale two nights in a row, and slept on the floor. Without furniture. Or clean clothes. Roughing it here...haha.

So yeah, we had to leave the nice, quiet suburbs of Riverdale, where there is a beatiful view of the sunrise over the mountains and all, plus couches, a spacious kitchen, rec room, study room, etc etc etc.... to Ogden, which is.... Ogden... the thumping Hispanic music above us during comp study is so wonderful. Heh. Weheeee...

Well, as far as our work goes, we're walking everywhere... eeeeverywhere. And our investigators CAN'T get baptized because they all refuse quit living in sin to get married... it's a fun problem. I know Joey once wrote about it - its interesting being 19 years old and trying to be a counselor and suggest people get married and such. Oh yeah.

School's out? Sweet! It sounds like you all are doing the typical Thelin summer, packed from end to end. That's the way to do it. There are hordes of children here who are spending their entire summer riding bikes from 9 am to 10 pm (not kidding, swarms of them), or sitting in the mud, eating bugs, etc etc... do something productive, for their sakes, lol...

Good luck at OBX, jealous, that sounds awesome. King and I is going to be a hit, of course! And I loved the Monkey geometry thing, that sounds crazy cool.

Ryan is in Brazil?? a YEAR? What the heck? Its crazy hearing about everyone doing stuff like that, man - I heard a ton of people are getting married, like Zack Foxley and well, everyone... nuts.

Glad to hear Grandma is doing well! I've been praying! Thank you for the letter, too! It was awesome - I loved hearing about how everyone is doing, and it sounds like things are going well there - thank you!

I like that quote, about the difficult and the impossible. [He is referring to a quote I sent him that says: The difficult we can do at once. The impossible may take a little longer."] Lately we've been struggling a little, working with kind of a new area, and we've lost a lot of investigators - we don't have any baptisms lined up, so its tough. But last night my companion was talking about getting close to his time to be going home and all, and we decided to have faith, and set a goal. It will be hard and require being obedient, seeking the Spirit, and talking to everyone with all we've got - but they said something in Zone Conference - when we set goals, we usually don't see past the number. We think, ok, 4 people, that's going to be hard to do - but very likely, when we set a goal of finding say 4 people, and have faith in it, our Heavenly Father has a list of people that He is preparing. If He knows there are two missionaries who want to do this, He will help us find 4 of His children. And there has GOT to be 4 people in Ogden who need the Gospel by July 7th. At LEAST... so we're going to try to do the impossible, or at least, what looks impossible.

Hey, congrats Steven on the Graduation! I want to hear your version of Amersterdam when I get back... Oh babylon, oh babylon... it's kinda hymn-like... but keep going, be awesome!

...and HAPPY BIRTHDAY/FATHER'S DAY Dad! It's hard to speak to everyone like this, and I only got to say a few words on Mother's day, but thank you for everything. You really are an amazing father. I'm learning patience and humility here, and, well, thank you for all your patience, love and support. My patriarchal blessing talks about me being born into a home of deep faith. Thank you for providing such a great family and home for me. I see examples of the polar opposite of that everywhere. I have no idea what its like to have a father who drinks constantly, who doesn't try to uplift his family, etc etc. Thank you for all you've done, and have a great birthday! Love you Dad.

Heidi, thanks for the letter! That was awesome! You all sure sound busy! But it looks like you are all having fun - that article was great Heidi, thanks!
Mom, thanks for your letter too - and Jill's!

Well, I can't really say half of what I was going to - we need to go play basketball apparently (I am a pro. Sigh...) I'll keep everyone in my prayers; thank you for all of your prayers for me! The faith of so many people in prayer is a big help combined, it lets the Lord do miracles. And He will - if we only have faith. I know this gospel is true. I know Jesus Christ lives, and loves us. We have a Heavenly Father who loves us more than we will ever know, and He wants our eternal happiness. Seek Him. What the world says is important usually isn't - make sure we are on the path to Him. I heard a good quote the other day. It said: "If we don't change direction, we will get where we are headed." We always need to make sure we are moving a little closer to the true target. Its true, people!

Love you all, and talk later,
Elder Christopher Thelin

(ps, mom, I'm eating well, ask next week, haha..... and send those baptism pictures to sis joyce, please!)


Our Riverdale Apartment (upper left apt)



Mountains from our Riverdale kitchen window in the morning...


New Apartment on Madison Ave



That glass there is our main room


Inside the spacious new apartment...



Our goal

CUPCAKE IT UP

Hey Family!
How's it going? Is school out yet? These kids have been out for about 2 or 3 weeks, not fair huh? Are all the plays done yet? The tests? How'd everyone do? thank you very much for all the pictures and the package - that was really cool. I wish I could have seen the plays, Heidi, it looks like you did a great job! I hope you had a ton of fun, looks like you were up front and center, singing away! And I'm sure Jeffrey's play was amazing, as usual. You'll have to find a way to tape them for me so I can see them some day. Weird, watching a play seems like such a foreign concept... the printout of the Grandpa Murray story was way cool too, I feel really proud to be related, and I'm glad Dad got to go!

And you'll have to bury the Jupiter globe - it's just another sign of the times, I guess. We've been saying "By the power of Jupiter" a lot lately, lol. Who knows why.

Really glad Amy doesn't have lyme disease, that's a relief. Amy has to wear a bubble outside from now on... and I hope Grandma can start improving. I can't imagine. There's a reason for it all, but it's hard to see the end from the beginning. That's something I'm learning over and over again. We can't understand everything here. This life is our test, and the first thing we're tested on is our faith and trust in God. We have to step into the dark, even when we feel completely unsure - we have to trust Him. So, we're not going to understand what is in store, why this or that happens, but we can know that it is for our greatest joy and happiness, and He won't leave us. I keep thinking of Aunt Donna when I think about faith - the trials we have are given to strengthen us. If they lead us to the Savior, then they are worth it in the end. It's still very hard, but I think that's the perspective that will see us through.

We saw 2 more baptisms this Sunday - the mother of the 3 teenagers we baptized, Maria, and Pati Torres. Pati was baptized by her son Edson, who I baptized. It was way cool. He was so nervous, memorized the prayer all day. He did it perfectly. And a miracle happened (well, like 50 did, but...) A month ago only 15 people came to our first baptism here. The people in the branch didn't care much or something - they didn't know WHO we were baptizing at all, and then they never made friends with them. But we've been trying to concentrate on teaching the members, we passed by 15 of them this weekend to sing to them, give blessings, help out, teach how to do a family home evening, how to pray or run a young women's program... we call it Plan Buenaventura Overhaul. And it worked! At the baptism on Sunday, just one month after those 15 came, we had 70 people attend the service, supporting the people we were bringing into the kingdom of God. It was really cool to see that.

Things are changing, people are getting the Spirit more and being happier. In our zone conference yesterday President Joyce actually talked about Plan Buenaventura Overhaul, and how vital members are. Very cool. Sweet Zone Conference - I feel a renewed sense of why I am here. They said that there were 150 baptisms last month, that is just a number... yesterday they put up a slide show of pictures of all the people that got baptized last month - its very different to see the faces of those people. They look happy, light... that is 150 people that stepped into the fold of God, and are being led on the path back to Heavenly Father. They are learning how to have joy, who they really are, who Christ is. It helped reaffirm that this really is a sacred work, and it is true. I realized more then ever that Jesus Christ is real. He isn't a character in a book, isn't an ideal - He lives. In this moment. He is a real being, and He loves us. I think of Him more and more as an actual person I can know, that actually exists. Its true.

Well, I think that highlights my spiritual ponderings this week. Oh man, Jeffrey, I have a new phrase for you. Elder Rodriguez, our temporary 3rd companion left today for Guadalajara, Mexico. Miss him a lot, hilarious guy - he'd interpret the gang signs on all the buildings for us, and had some great lines he'd throw out - but when Elder Gurrola was talking too much on the phone, or to a member, and just chatting and stuff, Elder Rodriguez was like "Man, stop cupcakin' it" - it was the coolest thing ever. Cupcakin', cupcake it up, stop cupcakin'... take it or leave it, I can see you saying that. Other one liners would be

"Don't act like you're not impressed,"

"It's not the life I love but its the life I live,"

"West Valley till I die..." Oh yes. Good stuff. You kinda had to know Elder Rodriguez.

Well, I gots to go... thanks for everything, for writing, sending stuff (Mom, that license is hideous....), for being there and, well, everything! The gospel is true, hold to it, pray about it, rely on Christ - He is real, and He loves us - seek to know Him. It's awesome to see lives touched as they begin to feel in their hearts that He lives. You can see it in their faces, and feel it in the room. It's true.

[The elephants in jet fighters dive bombed the giant eagle, who let go of the van, sending it plummeting towards Earth...)

Girls: Just then... Amy and Holly opened the windows and threw up some blankets - and made a parachute! and, well, it worked! The van floated carefully down to the sandy beach below on the island. Heidi almost had a heart attack, but they were safe. "Well, let's go out and look for Chris" Amy said. They opened the doors and stepped out. It was verrrrry quiet. They looked at the trees by the beach - something was in there. Many somethings. Sudden;y they were surrounded by little fuzzy looking creatures, kinda like ewoks. They looked a little angry. "YUB YUB YUBBB!" yelled one of them at Heidi. All she could think of was "Uh-oh...."

You are all the best! Good luck ending school, and take care! Love you!

-Elder Christopher Tay-leen tay-leen (now all the members just call me that, tayleen tayleen. Apparently it sounds like a little bell to them, they all pretend to shake bells when they see me sometimes... one actually has bells hanging from his ceiling fan, and shakes those... weird....)

PS Hey mom could you send the baptism pictures I've given you to Sister Joyce please? Thanks! (since you have extra time, lol.... sleep is necessary, sorry)

Edson Torres baptizing his mother, Patricia Torres (Pati)! And the rest of their family... and us...






The Velasquez/Baray family at Maria's baptism





Another quirk of Elder Rodriguez, he signs EVERYTHING


Posterity ties: your father (trainer) gives you a tie as a heritage, and signs it. In turn, you sign it and give it to one of YOUR sons (missionaries you train). At zone conferences, ties with the longest posterity are always admired. Some go about 10 years back, others cross over to missions across the world...



At zone conference in Riverdale

HOW MANY, MANY FEET YOU MEET!

Hey there all!

Wow, it looks like things are busy at home! You guys really know how to keep things insane... I hope everything is alright with Grandma and Amy, I will definitely be praying for them - and I won't worry mom, but thank you for letting me know. Grandma is on the Ogden prayer roll. Amy, hang in there, and get back to school. And when you're on adventures, keep the outside outside...

Weeell, busy week here too of course. Actually insane, as well. Like I said last week, they combined two areas, and cut out 2 missionaries - which doubled our area. Without a car. It was already the largest walking area in the mission.... we also picked up Elder Rodriguez, who I knew at the MTC. It's weird being in a trio, but fun - Jeff, you'd like this guy. He's crazy...

And with a new area, we gained like 10 new investigators - we are working with 10 baptisimal dates, like 16 investigators, no car, and trying to save a branch. It's intense. But it’s cool, we've seen things happening - we got to teach 21 lessons last week. Outrageous, since before we were getting about 5, and the mission record is 23 in a week. We set 5 baptismal dates in 2 days. Things are exploding.

But we still don't have a car. Heh.

And we have three people to take care of, until Elder Rodriguez gets the go ahead to go to Guadalara -- apparently the Lord has something for him to do here still, since he's been to the consulate 2 times now, and both times essential machinery broke down, and now the swine flu is exploding in Mexico apparently, as well as the MTC - I did hear about that, crazy. All it’s done to us here is keep Elder Rodriguez here longer and Elder Gurrola is using his Swine Flu voice...

We've also seen more miracles this week. We walked past a lady, and tried to talk to her for several minutes, but she couldn't hear us well or something - anyways, we kept trying, but weren't getting through. But suddenly a lady came out of the house, and we turned to her, and told her that we were missionaries who helped to prepare people to be baptized. I was thinking that was kinda bold, but her next comment was "What does it take to be baptized?" and "Does the whole family have to be baptized, or can just one get baptized at a time?" BAM, golden. We taught her on Saturday! Also cool, we taught her with Edson Torres, our recent convert – It’s part of our plan to take recent converts teaching with us, doing missionary work. It is great for the investigators plus it makes the convert stronger. Edson was testifying and teaching people with us of tithing, of how the gospel of Christ has already begun blessing his family. Sweet stuff. He and three other of our converts just received the Aaronic Priesthood on Sunday. Miracles. Two of those will be participating in baptizing their mothers next Sunday!

Of course, the devil is also working against us here too. Pati Torres, our sweetest investigator right now, found out that for the first time in 3 months, she HAS to work next Sunday on her baptism day. But we've figured out ways around that, and we're going to go eat lunch at Carl’s Jr and talk with her boss....

Hmm, anything else happen this week? Lots of stuff happened, but I can't remember half of it, it all seems like one long day with burning feet .. we have had the chance to talk about temples in many lessons, and it was awesome, very spiritual - I have a strong testimony of the temple.

Hmm, well, I can't remember much else significant enough to write, but I know the gospel is true. Christ lives and is the Savior. He is ready to heal, bless, and lead us. Heavenly Father lives, and is anxious to hear our prayers, and bless us. It’s true, of course.

I hope all goes well this week, be healthy and safe, good luck singing and dancing and such, and I love you all. Tell the Daily Herald I never got any papers, lol.

Adding to the story: um, the elephants are in jet fighters...haha
[to clarify: the girls had added that they were saved from the hungry giant baby eagles by elephants.]
LOVE YOU ALL,
ELDER CHRISTOPHER THELIN!


The Ogden Temple