Hey all! I haven’t gotten letters yet, but thanks to all who sent them! Thanks also for your continual love, prayers, fasts, etc. on my behalf. I’m doing well. The work is going well and my companion is great as always. The people in the ward here are wonderful, excited and work hard in their callings. I love them.
Happy March Birthdays to Mom, Grandma, Grandma, Nils, and Hna. Ale and whoever else I have forgotten! Love you!
We actually didn’t have a baptism this week. We had some scheduling conflicts, so we will see what happens. I will keep you all updated.
So, last Monday was wonderful! We climbed Cerro Michacheo (?) and had lunch. We could see all of Zapala and it honestly looks like southern/central Utah. We have mountains, desert, weeds, etc. I don’t know how allergies are going to be when fall hits. Anyway, hiking the hill was fun. I spend most of the day quoting movie lines with Elder Whiting, a newbie.
On Tuesday I got to help a less active member with his English! It was great! It made me happy to help and do something with English! My favorite part was when Martin’s face lit up when he understood and could apply what he learned! There was a sentence we were looking at that said, “It’s a nice sandwich.” I laughed because we usually don’t say that. Unless, we have met a mean sandwich before. It reminded me of The Hot Rock, “That’s a nice watch.” LOL!
We have a new nickname, “Señoras de Jesus”. I like it.
We also attended a ward activity for lunch on Saturday. It was fun! We all chilled, took pictures, etc. It was like a family reunion in Mayfield and it was nice for us to relax until lunch. We had a blast with the kids and swings.
Jay, how’s it goin’? “I’ve missed our conversations.” Saludos a su familia, Wendy, Hna. Ale, y todos en Madryn. I miss you, and pray for you. Hugs and kisses!
Well, that’s all for this week, all. Love tons!
Monday, February 26, 2007
Monday, February 19, 2007
Letter from Monday Feb 19th, 2007
Hey all! Thanks for letters and emails from everyone! Especially the valentines from all my international family! I loved them! Thanks also for your continual prayers, fasts, and love. They help a ton.
So this week was interesting. My favorite part was p-day because I am good friends with Elder Whiting. He is new, but we quote movie lines all the time. I also saw a drugstore that is Dumbo purple called Porthos. LOL!
The weather here is like Merlin’s germ “followed by hot and cold flashes”. We had rain, sun, wind, and fall is setting in early. I had a funny thought when we were knocking doors the other day. “The police are here...I am the police and they are with me...we have all your friends outside in a paddy wagon...” from Signs. I was laughing so hard. This was the “undead monkey” experience for the week.
We have a baptism this coming Friday. Our investigator’s name is Viviana Baigorria. She is really excited and I will have to tell you all about it next week. She is about 16 years old.
Oh, cool scripture experience. We read Alma 37 and talked about how we don’t feel our pain anymore when we repent and then I applied that to the other aspects of our lives because the Savior suffered for everything (see Alma 7: 11-13).
¡Felicitaciones a Marcela y Milton con su bautismo! Me alegre tanto en saber de ustedes. Sigue adelante. Con amor, Hna. Brichu
Jay, my wonderful kindred spirit, como andas, vos? Saludos a todos. Suerte con sus estudios. I want you to remember something. “You are sure to do impossible things if you follow your heart.” Without thinking about anything else, take some time and find out what the missionaries are teaching you means for you. Hugs and kisses! I’m always here if you need me.
Taty, ¡hola! ¿me hagas un favor? ¿Leerá el libro que dejé que se llama Nuesto Búsqueda para la felicidad? Puede ayudarle entender todo que estamos compartiendo. Hay esperanza y las familias pueden ser unidas para siempre. Ud. Solamente necesita alcanzarlas. ¡Abrazos! Hna. Madsen
Love all always!
So this week was interesting. My favorite part was p-day because I am good friends with Elder Whiting. He is new, but we quote movie lines all the time. I also saw a drugstore that is Dumbo purple called Porthos. LOL!
The weather here is like Merlin’s germ “followed by hot and cold flashes”. We had rain, sun, wind, and fall is setting in early. I had a funny thought when we were knocking doors the other day. “The police are here...I am the police and they are with me...we have all your friends outside in a paddy wagon...” from Signs. I was laughing so hard. This was the “undead monkey” experience for the week.
We have a baptism this coming Friday. Our investigator’s name is Viviana Baigorria. She is really excited and I will have to tell you all about it next week. She is about 16 years old.
Oh, cool scripture experience. We read Alma 37 and talked about how we don’t feel our pain anymore when we repent and then I applied that to the other aspects of our lives because the Savior suffered for everything (see Alma 7: 11-13).
¡Felicitaciones a Marcela y Milton con su bautismo! Me alegre tanto en saber de ustedes. Sigue adelante. Con amor, Hna. Brichu
Jay, my wonderful kindred spirit, como andas, vos? Saludos a todos. Suerte con sus estudios. I want you to remember something. “You are sure to do impossible things if you follow your heart.” Without thinking about anything else, take some time and find out what the missionaries are teaching you means for you. Hugs and kisses! I’m always here if you need me.
Taty, ¡hola! ¿me hagas un favor? ¿Leerá el libro que dejé que se llama Nuesto Búsqueda para la felicidad? Puede ayudarle entender todo que estamos compartiendo. Hay esperanza y las familias pueden ser unidas para siempre. Ud. Solamente necesita alcanzarlas. ¡Abrazos! Hna. Madsen
Love all always!
Letter from Monday Feb 12th, 2007
Hey all! Thanks for letters last week from Mom, Dad, Maxine, Diane, Noelle (Thanks for the Link pics! I love them!) and Lisa R. Dunn. Thanks for emails this week from Diane, Kelly, Cori and Rene, Alex, and Mom. Thanks as always for your love and prayers and fasts!
I had a great discovery last week in the scriptures! We read 1 Nephi 1 and I realized that Lehi hears the words of the prophets and then prays to know for himself, just like Nephi does with the words of his father! That’s so cool!
So, the ward is wonderful. I have been very grateful this past week for the storm clouds, wind, and a companion that is there for me. There are many people that are wonderful here in Zapala, even though I still don’t know many names or where they live. Hna. Riquelme has been in the area for one transfer, this is her second one here.
OH, Kelly, I hear the funniest song last week about mullets! “That guy’s a girl, that girl’s a guy. Yep....nope” LOL!
Dad asked about perfumes. Yes. It is a latin america thing. But here in Argentina I don’t know what is worse the perfumes or the aerosol deodorant that everyone seems to think works great. “Who knows.”
Alex, congrats on work, school, etc. Keep me posted.
Congrats to Kelly, Heath and Alex for making it to green belt in karate! I will have a ton to learn! I’m so proud of you all!
So this week we had winds and clouds! I saw a licence plate that said “cuc” LOL! and a trash can that said “residuos” LOL! I thought of “prodigeonuous” from October Sky. I have been told be members that I speak Castellano clearly. I have also been told by the primary kids that I speak like a little kid. I said, “That’s good, because I’m still learning how to speak.” Oh, and I’m staying in Zapala for a while because Heavenly Father told me to. There are interesting smells here. The other day I smelled Disneyland (Gepetto’s place-the accordian music helped add to the illusion), and Splash Mountain, and Maxine’s school, and grass in the summer. It was beautiful!
There are a few investigators that I remember. One of them is Yisel. She has strong desires to be baptized and do the right things. We had a few very powerful lessons with her. They were powerful because the Spirit was there.
Jay! Kelly tells me that you are finally in touch with her! Yea! Keep writing! How have you been this week? ¿Me hagas un favor? Por favor, empieza un diario. Escriba lo que siente, porque escucha a las misioneras, sus deseos, todo. Okay, that was a horrible attempt at Castellano. But please start a diary or journal. It will be important to you later. Hugs and kisses, my kindred spirit.
That’s all for this week, I will try to answer other questions in other emails if I can. Loves always and forever!
I had a great discovery last week in the scriptures! We read 1 Nephi 1 and I realized that Lehi hears the words of the prophets and then prays to know for himself, just like Nephi does with the words of his father! That’s so cool!
So, the ward is wonderful. I have been very grateful this past week for the storm clouds, wind, and a companion that is there for me. There are many people that are wonderful here in Zapala, even though I still don’t know many names or where they live. Hna. Riquelme has been in the area for one transfer, this is her second one here.
OH, Kelly, I hear the funniest song last week about mullets! “That guy’s a girl, that girl’s a guy. Yep....nope” LOL!
Dad asked about perfumes. Yes. It is a latin america thing. But here in Argentina I don’t know what is worse the perfumes or the aerosol deodorant that everyone seems to think works great. “Who knows.”
Alex, congrats on work, school, etc. Keep me posted.
Congrats to Kelly, Heath and Alex for making it to green belt in karate! I will have a ton to learn! I’m so proud of you all!
So this week we had winds and clouds! I saw a licence plate that said “cuc” LOL! and a trash can that said “residuos” LOL! I thought of “prodigeonuous” from October Sky. I have been told be members that I speak Castellano clearly. I have also been told by the primary kids that I speak like a little kid. I said, “That’s good, because I’m still learning how to speak.” Oh, and I’m staying in Zapala for a while because Heavenly Father told me to. There are interesting smells here. The other day I smelled Disneyland (Gepetto’s place-the accordian music helped add to the illusion), and Splash Mountain, and Maxine’s school, and grass in the summer. It was beautiful!
There are a few investigators that I remember. One of them is Yisel. She has strong desires to be baptized and do the right things. We had a few very powerful lessons with her. They were powerful because the Spirit was there.
Jay! Kelly tells me that you are finally in touch with her! Yea! Keep writing! How have you been this week? ¿Me hagas un favor? Por favor, empieza un diario. Escriba lo que siente, porque escucha a las misioneras, sus deseos, todo. Okay, that was a horrible attempt at Castellano. But please start a diary or journal. It will be important to you later. Hugs and kisses, my kindred spirit.
That’s all for this week, I will try to answer other questions in other emails if I can. Loves always and forever!
Monday, February 05, 2007
Letter from Feb 5, 2006
Hey all! Thanks for emails from Kelly, Diane, Cori and Rene, Mom, and Alex.. Thanks so much for your love, prayers, fasts, and tears. I don’t know if I have any letters since here in Ruca Hueney, Zapala, we don’t meet the Elders until 1:30. Anyway, thanks for letters too!
¡Feliz Cumple a Marcela!
“I hate to worry you, Johnny, but it’s gettin’ hotter.” I know I said that at the beginning of summer in Puerto Madryn, but holy hanna. That was nothing to the cloudless summer heat here in Zapala. My companion is Hna. Riquelme from Buenos Aires. She is wonderful and upbeat and loves the people. I have a lot to learn from her. The ward is wonderful. Our ward missionary lent me her shoes becuase the ones I have aren’t helpful for this area.
Alex will be interested to know that we met a lady named Iris. I also had an interesting lightbulb moment. We were talking with a returned missionary and he said something to the effect that when you feel you don’t have anything that’s when you need to give everything. I’ve tried to remember that, but it has been hard. The members here are nice. They say I speak very clearly and that I don’t have a yankee accent. That’s kind of them.
So, what is Zapala like? Imagine San Francisco hills only not so steep, no sea, moutains in the background, more hills and pavement on the Wyoming trek route. Yep, that’s Zapala. I love seeing the mountains, but I miss the sea now. Zapala is beautiful. There are no Welsh that I know of. We have Mapuche and Argentine people. So I get my Native Americans. I live in an apartment with no windows. It’s great!
Kelly, you will be happy to know that a couple of years ago, Argentina won the Vollyball World Cup. There is more here than soccer.
JAY! My wonderful, kindred spirit, and eternal friend! Thank you so much for writing to me! As we both knew would happen, I cried. Actually I cried every day this week. I know things will be different, well, are different. I want you to know that I think about you and pray for you every day. Thank you for your friendship and for seeing me in a way that I often don’t see in myself. You are a choice son of God and he loves you. “Keep on keeping on” as my Dad and Grandpa tell me. Or in other words, “Sigue adelante.” You can make it. Do what you need to because you know it is true. This Gospel and this church are true. Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. He died for you and I had the priveledge to share that with you. The Book of Mormon is true and Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. We have a Prophet today who leads and guides us. There is nothing more important in this world than this, because if we stick to the Savior, we will gain the best reward and we can be with our families for forever. Keep on keeping on. You can make it. Hugs and kisses! OH, and please say hi to Wendy and Hna. Ale for me!
This poem is for Kelly and Jay. I wrote it when I was traveling to Zapala.
STRENGTH
“Be strong”
“Don’t cry”
“Be stronger”
Tears show
Weakness.
They must
Never show;
For if they do,
We become
Prey
To the Enemy.
But tears
Are
Not weakness.
They are
Signs of
Strength.
Strength to love.
Strength to sorrow.
Strength in compassion.
Strength in humility.
Through tears,
We release
Our burdens,
We renew
Our strength.
Then we
Get up,
Rise
To the challenge
In the strength
God has
Given us
Through Christ.
“Jesus wept”
And He was
The strongest
Of us all.
¡Feliz Cumple a Marcela!
“I hate to worry you, Johnny, but it’s gettin’ hotter.” I know I said that at the beginning of summer in Puerto Madryn, but holy hanna. That was nothing to the cloudless summer heat here in Zapala. My companion is Hna. Riquelme from Buenos Aires. She is wonderful and upbeat and loves the people. I have a lot to learn from her. The ward is wonderful. Our ward missionary lent me her shoes becuase the ones I have aren’t helpful for this area.
Alex will be interested to know that we met a lady named Iris. I also had an interesting lightbulb moment. We were talking with a returned missionary and he said something to the effect that when you feel you don’t have anything that’s when you need to give everything. I’ve tried to remember that, but it has been hard. The members here are nice. They say I speak very clearly and that I don’t have a yankee accent. That’s kind of them.
So, what is Zapala like? Imagine San Francisco hills only not so steep, no sea, moutains in the background, more hills and pavement on the Wyoming trek route. Yep, that’s Zapala. I love seeing the mountains, but I miss the sea now. Zapala is beautiful. There are no Welsh that I know of. We have Mapuche and Argentine people. So I get my Native Americans. I live in an apartment with no windows. It’s great!
Kelly, you will be happy to know that a couple of years ago, Argentina won the Vollyball World Cup. There is more here than soccer.
JAY! My wonderful, kindred spirit, and eternal friend! Thank you so much for writing to me! As we both knew would happen, I cried. Actually I cried every day this week. I know things will be different, well, are different. I want you to know that I think about you and pray for you every day. Thank you for your friendship and for seeing me in a way that I often don’t see in myself. You are a choice son of God and he loves you. “Keep on keeping on” as my Dad and Grandpa tell me. Or in other words, “Sigue adelante.” You can make it. Do what you need to because you know it is true. This Gospel and this church are true. Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. He died for you and I had the priveledge to share that with you. The Book of Mormon is true and Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. We have a Prophet today who leads and guides us. There is nothing more important in this world than this, because if we stick to the Savior, we will gain the best reward and we can be with our families for forever. Keep on keeping on. You can make it. Hugs and kisses! OH, and please say hi to Wendy and Hna. Ale for me!
This poem is for Kelly and Jay. I wrote it when I was traveling to Zapala.
STRENGTH
“Be strong”
“Don’t cry”
“Be stronger”
Tears show
Weakness.
They must
Never show;
For if they do,
We become
Prey
To the Enemy.
But tears
Are
Not weakness.
They are
Signs of
Strength.
Strength to love.
Strength to sorrow.
Strength in compassion.
Strength in humility.
Through tears,
We release
Our burdens,
We renew
Our strength.
Then we
Get up,
Rise
To the challenge
In the strength
God has
Given us
Through Christ.
“Jesus wept”
And He was
The strongest
Of us all.
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