August 5, 2013
Hi
Everyone!
Thank
you! I have gotten one package which I’m assuming is some kind of shoe, because
it’s in that Zappos box like my boots were. I haven’t gotten the others yet. They
will probably be here today then! I’m excited! Believe it or not I haven’t
opened them yet! [Josh’s birthday was August 6th, so he is referring
to his birthday packages – eds.]
My
interview with President Pitt didn’t happen. During our district meeting he was
making calls to Salt Lake somewhere in the building when all of a sudden Sister
Pitt leans over, passes out and hits her head really hard on the floor. Her eyes were wide open, but she was not
moving and was unresponsive for 5 min or so. It was really scary. We had no
idea what to do. She didn’t respond to anything as we tried to talk to her and
the Zone Leader's ran to get President Pitt. He is a bigger man, and I’ve never
seen him move as fast and as smoothly as he did. But he got on his hands and
knees over her and right as he put his hand on her head she came back to
herself and was able to start talking again. I don’t know if it was a
coincidence of if President Pitt had some kind of blessing going through his
head, but it was a cool but really scary experience. She ended up going to the
hospital and ended up being ok. They didn’t let her sleep because they thought
she would have a concussion from hitting the ground. But after all of that he
postponed interviews until this week, so I will meet with him on Friday.
I am
still with Elder Price. Apparently Argentina visas take a long time. There are a few in our district waiting, and
they have been out 3-4 transfers. Dakota, Ryan, Kelly and Jordan came back to
church Sunday and loved it. What’s cool is Kelly’s mom is kind of not sure
about having her daughter go to an LDS church, but Kelly still really wants to
go and that’s good. We had a lesson with Ryan that night about the plan of
salvation and things, and we have set him on date for August 27th. We talked with him about a lot and he really
opens up, telling us about how he and his girlfriend (Kelly) have dated for 3
years and are planning on getting married, but they aren’t sure when. But he also brought up they are waiting until
marriage too so the law of chastity won’t be too much of a problem. He says he
loves being with us and Kelly does too.
They just feel peace I guess, and that’s something they have been
looking for. So hopefully Kelly will follow Ryan. He also told us about the day
we found him he was praying for someone to help him relax and things. It was a longer story that I can’t remember
to well, but it was really cool. We hope to talk to his mother soon as well,
and hopefully their family will join along with friends after seeing there
example. Pretty cool experiences
Jay
still hasn’t been to church. I don’t
think he quite understands the importance of it, but we will continue to work
with him.
That’s
exciting about the LDS Encampment! I bet you [Dad] are finally glad for it to
be over! That would be something really cool to see. It’s good that Jace has
enjoyed football. I dont think anyone really
enjoys the running though, except for maybe Jonathan
I still
don’t have an e-mail from Jake. I don’t know what’s wrong with this e-mail. Oh
well, Ill keep trying, but that’s exciting he is working on his mission papers!
I
remember you telling me about when you guy watched Monday Night Football when I
was born. I wish I knew who was playing! I guess it can always be looked up! I enjoy
telling that to people. Ifeel pretty proud about it!
And that’s
great about Aunt Teri! Tell her I love her! How are all the cousins doing? I
wish I had a temple in my mission. The closest one is either Columbus, Ohio or
Louisville, Kentucky, or DC depending on what area we are in, so we have them
everywhere around us but none in the mission.
And
$168 Million [referring to the cost of the new University of Oregon football
facility]!?! Are you kidding! I hate Oregon so much, but at the time it still
gives me butterflies imagining what it would be like to play for a program like
that. I mean those guys are 19-24 or so and they are like Gods and have the
nicest equipment in the nation. I really hope they still go downhill though. I
bet Phil [Knight] did it just because Chip Kelley left and knew they would need
all the recruits they can get and this will definitely help them. They are
starting to run their program almost like the MLB. The team with the most money
is the better team because they can buy players. Oregon “buys" players not
by paying them (even though they probably do), but they buy the best of
everything so players want to play there for the gear. It makes me kinda mad,
mostly because I hate Oregon. I wouldn’t
be complaining if UW did it but that’s because I’m biased. Oh well, this will
be a hard fall for sure being my first full season away since like forever. Oh
well, it will be that much better when I get back!
Anyways,
iI love you guys! Thank you for everything!
Elder
Latimer
August 12, 2013
Hi Everyone!
I’ll be
sure to check at the post office [regarding his missing birthday package –
eds.] after I’m done with e-mails! Thank you.
I’m sure it’ll be there.
I wish
I could be at the lake this week! I did take for granted the opportunity I had
to swim and do those kind of things, especially with how hot it is here. When I see a pool or a river or something of
that nature all I want to do is go jump in and hang out for a bit. Oh well, I
guess it will be just that much better when I get back! That doesn’t surprise me about Jace [going
paddle boarding on the lake]. He doesn’t seem scared of anything really, and
that’s cool he made a friend up there, especially one who is a lot older!
I wish
I could have gone with Jonathan [to Wyoming to play with a friend – eds.]! They
have all those things out here... but as you know we aren’t allowed to do any
of those things. Although we get invited to all the time. It kills! That’s cool
about Encampment! I bet it’s nice to have it over finally though. I have heard
Chad Lewis is a great speaker and the liaison for the NFL to China. My
companion said he had him speak to them in the MTC and when he was asked to
translate a game for the Chinese, he accepted but forgot he only knew mission Chinese
-- not football Chinese. So he testified that Tom Brady was throwing true passes!
That’s
too bad about the Edens! I guess I’ll just have to tell the mission office to
give me a layover in Colorado on my way home and then he can stop by the airport
while I’m there!
I did
get an e-mail from Jake today so that’s good. i just have to write a whole new
e-mail so he can receive it.
It’s
going good here! On Friday we spent the whole day helping out at a wedding, and
I’ll be the first to tell you I’m never going to one of those again. It was so
boring! I think you might be happy with this. When I get married it will be as
simple as can be. I think you guys already know I don’t care for any of that
extra stuff. There was an exciting part... kind of, I guess. When they got
married they poured this colored sand into a glass thing. I have no idea what
for but they did right before they were married by the preacher... but after
the bride’s sister was carrying it in and right in front of everyone in the
middle of the room, she dropped it. It
shattered and sand was everywhere! So that was a nice change of pace. That
whole cutting cake together and helping each other take a drink and stuff – not
happening – that was the corniest thing I’ve ever seen! Anyway other than that
it’s been pretty good here
Dakota
is still on date for the 17th but we may have to move it back because of his
tea drinking, but we will see. We set Ryan and his brother, Jordan, on date for
the 24th! So that’s pretty exciting. They can help push each other to get
there. We hope to get their mom involved as well. Last night we taught Jordan
the Plan of Salvation. He told us he was so happy just hearing it and seeing it
(we drew it out for him), and he feels like he understands it perfectly like he
has learned it before. When we told him that he did, in the pre-existence, he
just lit up! And it brought him to tears (a 16 year old boy keep in mind)! It
was a really cool experience. He said he is hanging it up on his wall!
The
night before he and Ryan got in a big fight, which involved punches being thrown
and Ryan got kicked out, which is crazy because he is the nicest guy in the
world, and always tells us how bad he feels whenever he has a bad thought. After
things cooled down we talked with him and Jordan separately. Ryan told us how
he feels sick to his stomach just thinking about what he did, and how he has
never done that before. Jordan was just crushed because he doesn’t have a
father in his life, and Ryan is his role model and the person he looks up to
the most. After our lesson with Jordan we had him pray. He prayed that Ryan and
him would work things out and for him to know he forgives him, and talked a lot
about how much he loves him and things. Later that night we got a text from Ryan
telling us how he sent a huge apology text to Jordan and everything is all
right now. We hope that brings them even closer together than they already are.
Other
than that not much else is going on, just working with those 3 mainly and
playing basketball, continuing to find people to teach.
I had
my interview with Pres Pitt. It went really well. He was just so excited to
talk about the work happening in Pennsboro and wondering how we are doing it. He
was just so excited to talk about it and told me how in his time being mission
president, Pennsboro has never gotten anyone to church, and we have been
getting 4 consistently now! It sounds as if I may stay another transfer here
and before I would not want to, but now I do want to stay because the work is
progressing, and I have made some really good friends here in Ryan and
Jordan.
Love
you guys!
Elder
Latimer
August 19, 2013
Hi Everyone!
Dakota’s
baptism date was moved back to the same time as Jordan’s. Ryan left to go to
school in Parkersburg and said he wasn’t ready and was not sure if he could
keep those covenants he would have to make.
We like to hear that because he takes it seriously. But Jordan and
Dakota both should make their date for the 24th! It just depends on getting
their parents to sign consent and to make sure they are both off of work so
they can be there. Jordan and Dakota are both really excited! The mom isn’t
taking the lessons yet but we have talked to her a little bit, and she is
really nice and likes us to come over. We think that after Jordan gets baptized
that it may spark her into investigating. So that will be good!
The
ring [Josh’s lacrosse state championship ring] fits on my index finger, but not
my ring finger. I think that will be fine cause it still works, and I don’t
know when I will have time to stop by a jeweler.
That’s
cool about Jordan [Murray], I think from what my companion says Brazil visas
come a little faster than others. [Jordan was called to serve a mission in
Brazil] My companion says his usually takes around 3-4 transfers in the field
to get it. So I bet Jordan will get his pretty soon. William [Lange] sent me an
e-mail today, so that was cool seeing how he is doing.
That’s
good Jace is enjoying football! We just went to Jordan’s high school scrimmage
Saturday to watch him play with Ryan and Kelly. It was really hard watching
high school football again because all I wanted to do was play! Especially with
them being a 2A school, and when I played we were a 4A, I think. So the
competition they were up against seemed like middle school kids. I would have
loves to play against them! Oh well, maybe I can play again if I can find
enough weights to put on another 25 pounds out here and take a 2 or 3 tenths of
a second off my 40 time. I don’t think that will happen out here, not enough
time/resources. Oh, and I’m out of protein again . . . could you send me
some more please :) If you could some pre- workout formulations? That’s one of
the few ways I can get up to work out in the AM. Well at least work out hard so
I don’t have to do it at night! I’m still at about 150-153 now. It changes depending on how much water I
drink because of the creatine, but I’m at least maintaining!
It will
be bitter sweet this season with the Hawks – being so good and supposed to win
the superbowl this year and I’ll miss it! Oh well, I guess it’s a blessing in
disguise. I’m going to have to have you buy me a newspaper too if they win! Can
you get your Seahawks CFO friend to get me some signatures please!? :)
And
that’s funny about the wedding. I’m not surprised at all though! I would debate
going just for the interesting experience! I’ve talked with some companions out
here when we see people do things that are so weird! We always want to know
peoples thought processes to see how they got to the decision that what they
did/said was ok. I think that would be pretty funny to see that!
Oh and
I was wondering if you could possibly make some copies of Elder Holland talks
on some DVD's so that I can use them to show investigators. Sometimes those
talks can do a lot more than we can. Just whenever you can find time. I don’t
need them anytime soon. The ones I would want are
"Safety
for the soul"
"My
words... Never Cease"
"The
only true God and Jesus Christ Whom he hath sent"
"Lord
I Believe"
Anyway,
other than that I’m doing good, and it’s a toss-up whether Elder Price or I
leave. I’m not sure what I want to happen, but either way I’ll be happy with.
President Pitt made it kind of sound like I would stay another, but he never is
for sure until the day before transfers. So we will see I will know if I leave
in about a week or if I stay, so I’ll let you know!
Love
you guys!
Elder
Latimer
August 28, 2013
Hi All!
Well I found out last
night that I am staying here in Pennsboro another transfer, which I’m not too
sad about. I’ve come to love it here. Especially the people and great friends I
have made! Even better news is I am going to be serving with Elder Shaffer, who
was my companion in the MTC. We got along
really well. We are extremely similar, and
he loves basketball, which may be one reason President Pitt decided to have him
come here. Also I heard that he has gotten big into lifting since he has been
out here and has over 100 pounds in weights and a couple bars and a pushup assist
that adds 180 pounds to your push up! Not to mention he will have plenty of
protien and pre-workout as well! I plan on being close to 160 after this
transfer if my body lets me get there naturally! It will be an awesome
transfer! And I get to continue working with those we have that are so close to
baptism! I think we could have 4 or 5 this transfer is the Lord wills it!
Sadly the baptisms did
not go through. It was interesting how it happened though. We had both of them
interviewed and they both passed and were extremely excited last Wednesday. Dakota
and Jordan both need parental permission because they are under 18. (16 and 17)
and with Dakota we could just never get in contact with his mom who is always
so busy with work. She is the one who is an inactive member, but all for him
being baptized. His step dad is a Baptist so obviously against it. Although
since she is his biological mother we only need her signature, but we were not
able to meet with her in time. So we hope to visit with her this week or next
to get the baptism ready.
Jordan was the weird one,
I guess. We had his interview last Wednesday and our District Leader said he
was more than excited during the interview and he had been studying all day for
it. He passed, and we got his mother (who is a single mother) to sign the
baptismal record. She had known all along that he was taking lessons and
planning on being baptized. After we made sure to answer any questions she had
(which she had none) we went back to the apartment. About 5 min later we got a
text from Jordan telling us his mom doesn’t want him to be baptized anymore
because she doesn’t think he is ready. I think Jordan was more frustrated that
we were. He is still a little bitter about it.
He was so excited! So we hope to talk with his mother some time and to
help her understand this is a good thing and he is ready.
Other than that things
are still going good. Jay (the African man) we are teaching came to church with
his son, Marlon, on Sunday, and he loved it! He told us that his fiancé had a
lot of worries about the church, and said he is going to bring her and she will
have all her problems resolved just by coming! Also, since he and his fiancé
are obviously not married and live in the same house, he can’t be baptized
until they get married or move out. So after Sunday school we talked to him
about marriage and how it is important and its something he needs to do before
he can get baptized. We knew he was short on money and told him that our branch
president can do the wedding for free. And they he can begin to tell his family
their wedding will be in one year when they get sealed in the temple. We showed
him some pictures of the DC temple and told him how he can be married for time
and all eternity there... and for free!! He seemed pretty excited about that
and began to ask us questions on what all he has to do to get married! Of
course, I had no clue so he went and sat down with President Schweinbraten, and
they talked about it. I think they may make that commitment, talk about acting
on your faith!
One of my favorite families
here has been the Colkets. They are a great family who have a huge property on
the top of a hill to themselves! Steve Colket, who is the father, is so COOL!
He is an 8th degree black belt in just about everything I swear. He has a dojo
in Harrisville where he teaches 5 or more kinds of different martial arts, and
he is an avid hunter. And by avid I mean he has a whole cabin built full of
stuffed animals from turkeys - deer- bear- buffalo. He has just about every kind of animal you
can hunt there. It’s like the ultimate man cave complete with a fridge, microwave,
A/C unit 70" plasma that always has the hunting channel playing, and over
15 rifles and pistols! Diana, his wife, is an amazing person and very strong in
the gospel and a hard worker. It’s always amazing how she can stay so active
and have a testimony like she does. But anyway, they are an awesome family and
Steve has told me when I’m off my mission I have to call him to have him take
me on a hunting trip as well as to get my concealed weapons permit!
And that’s cool its
Bishop McArthur now! I can totally see him being the bishop. I’m surprised it
took this long!
Thank you for getting
the Elder Holland talks ready. That will be awesome! I can actually put music
on from the library. The computers have itunes on them and other missionaries
always have CD's, so I put their music on my iPod as i go. But thanks though!
I’m way to excited about
the football season. Too bad I’ll miss it! Its bittersweet the seahawks are
doing so well! I want them to win the superbowl but not while I’m out here! Oh
well, it’s better than them going winless I guess! Will you save the Huskies
ticket for that first game in the new stadium? I would love to keep that! The
only problem with a UW vs. BSU game is I don”t know who I want to win! It’s a lose-lose
situation, or a win-win I guess. Oh well, I’m sure it will be a fun game!
Anyways things out here
are going good! Could you possibly send me the other half of the ties I got
before my mission?
Love you guys!
Elder Latimer
