Sad though, this may mean that I'm leaving Buenaventura next week - the way the mission dynamics are shaping out, I'll probably be out of here next week. Bittersweet - Ogden is the armpit of Utah, but I know all the members here, and they kinda feel like family - they all know me now and I've got inside jokes with some members ("Oh, esta llevando a Tilincito a la primaria? Tilin, dibujaste algo hoy? Lo vas a poner en el refrigador?" "Oh, are you taking little Elder Thelin to the primary? Did you draw a picture today? Is it going on the refrigerator?" Hermano Uscanga thinks I'm going into 6th grade. I still can't figure out any comebacks in Spanish...)
Sounds like Michigan was a memorable experience! Sigh, jealous, but WHATEVER, I'm ENJOYING the scorching heat and riding my bike up hills and such...Gotta get the girls water skiing by 2011, so we can go back there and do it again... The ThelinGroovy sounds like a pretty sweet boat too - we'll see how much its evolved by then... we'll get this whole family on the water by the end of this... (let's move to Michigan!) (although Utah has lakes in the moutains MADE specifially for water skiing...)
Hey Jeff, I got stung by a bee too, so yeah, cosmic brotherly bee sting or something - not even fair, Elder Minson trapped a bee and a spider and shook them up in a salsa jar for 2 days, they died (bee killed spider, sweet) and then I am the one that got nailed by a bee in revenge. Grrr... good luck with the ear... that sucketh.
Nice on finding the keys in the popcorn,Mom, that's typical.
CD with BYU pics? keep it. I could watch it - we have access to computers and such (a flash drive if we have an extra might be nice, can back up my pics before mailing them... but not necessary by far, only if we have an extra) I'm not sure I need the copy of the drving record and um, sure, I'll take the extra black journal, I might use it. I don't need more white shirts (though I've ripped a few holes and stained some pockets with pens...) Mine are much whiter than the others' still. The only problem with collars is I have a collar tan and a watch tan. So cool.
I'll be sending my package today hopefully.. be ready, not too much inside, but its cool...
Man, this week's FLOWN past - I was JUST emailing everyone, WEIRD. I'm trying to think what happened in this little time...
...last Tuesday we hiked Waterfall Canyon again, cool hike, saw the valley from above, relaxed with the zone, took naps under the waterfall...
...um, have decided that trying to teach the principle of the Law of Chastity with children present is awkward - we're teaching a 70 year old lady, totally awesome, and she makes like 10 kids in her neighborhood sit and listen to us (they even came to Primary!) and she tried to explain the law of chastity to them. It was pretty awkwardly hilarious.... (used the word pompis, which caused fits of laughter...)
...um, my gift with little kids...I made a cross-eyed face at a 2 year and he burst into tears uncontrollably, and basically delayed a lesson for 10 minutes...
...we gave Sinesio a Preach My Gospel manual and he read it until midnight one night... he's also read 3 quarters of the Book of Mormon! Crazy, he has few friends, so he loves it when we stop by and listen about his pueblo in Mexico, his service in the army, his raising horses, his son who is a scientist in California, etc etc... he calls us sometimes to chat...
...Chantal and Carlos had their baptismal interviews!! annnnd failed to buy their license again, so baptism POSTPONED AGAIN !! Grr, I want to see it! [clarification: they need to get married rather than just live together before they get baptized--forsaking sin and all that, you know].
Taught another lady, Lupe, up on Madison Ave around 23rd, but when she went to church she didn't go in beacuse she saw people wearing nicer things! Gah! Frustrating, she walked back home! The Lord is giving us golden people all over, its cool. Some people are very prepared - ha, like Lupe: she said she met missionaries 2 years ago, and they gave her a book, and said they'd come over at a certain time, but they never did! 2 years later, we're here, and she's excited because she has tried to find God, and read the book, but she doesn't understand it. We asked her to bring it out so we could read some of it with her... and it was a Jehovah Witness bible! Kinda funny, so we gave her a Book of Mormon in addition, and are using both to prepare her for baptism - so, like, the Lord used the Jehovah Witnesses 2 years ago to help prepare her for us...!
I think that's all we've got for this week. Just crazy, like usual. But I feel good about it. Ha, I agree mom, I'm never living or raising kids here, Utah's weird, but its also interesting. I think the Anti-Mormons just come here for kicks. They're ridiculous sometimes -cant help but laugh at their insults, they never make sense. I like what you said mom, everyone has some good in them, even if it doesn't show all the time. We feel like Batman (forgive me if I've said this before) - some people want to just burn Ogden and start over, but we've gotta be Batman and fight to help - "There are good people here, Ogden's not past saving." Of course, the Lord's planning on burning the earth in the end... but the analogy breaks down at that point...
Anyhow, sorry, random letter, but yeah, it sounds like the family is doing really well, everyone's playing board games (keep it going Heidi) and everyone's having fun! Just need to lance Jeff's ear and get dad off pain killers, hah...
I know this gospel is true! Christ is the Savior, and I know His cleansing power. I know that through baptism we can be made clean . I'm excited to serve here, to grow and help people learn what the Spirit is, that Heavenly Father is here for us, and can speak to our hearts and change them. People praying for the first time can be powerful - there's a lot we take for granted in our lives. But I know we can all come unto Him, and learn who we really are. You're right mom, I might have had a best friend before this life that I promised to find. It's all pretty mind blowing, but its also true. I know its true, and we're preparing for the coming of the Savior. We need to do our best to prepare with all we have, dedicate ourselves to being our best. It's a crazy world, but its still a beautiful place, and only a shadow of the life that we're preparing for.
Love,
Elder Thelin! (who is trying not to look like a government "secret agent" worker, sheesh, people mess with me here. Sinesio still thinks I look like I'm going to be a government agent or something, guess I shouldn't be so serious... I'm just not sure how to translate my weird humor into spanish still...no comebacks to defend myself!)
PS The dragon had smoke swirling out its nostrils. The baby panda began to whimper. Luke tried to take out his pool noodle sword, but the dragon ate it in half. "Hello, nice dragon.." Holly began to say, but the dragon lunged and they all began to run. The 3 girls, Luke, the baby panda, and some koalas jumped on the backs of the platypii and they charged through the jungle - the dragon close behind. RUNNNNNN!!!! screamed Heidi. Fire was flying past, scorching bamboo huts, and they were getting away until they hit a WALL. "Uh oh"... said Amy...
PPS ok fam, I think were gonna cut this off till next week, PEACE OUT, get ready for school, hahaha! IM DONE WITH THAT, BWAHAHA!!! Love you all, bye!
Odgen from Waterfall Canyon, a block up from the tall building was the apartments that burned down...
Elder Minson y yo
Stefan's 6 Months...
6 months!!! Bet ur tan lines are quite awesome by now. As far as teasing goes, "tu cara" is a rough translation for the English comeback "ur face". You could try that...
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