Last Transfer! Fall comes to West Virginia; Trunky Papers Arrive

Trunky Letter Received!

Squirrel!

Country Roads!

October 14, 2014

Hi All!

So things here are getting better. I told you about Kim and how he want to be a Mormon, and he is bringing "Mama Sharron" to church with him whom we see also. She is the mother of Paul who was getting the divorce from Kami (who is Kim’s Daughter). Anyway, Kim called us the other day and told us Paul and Kami had been talking about things they need to remove from their lives and things they need to implement, and I guess Paul and Kami told Kim they want to start going to the Mormon Church! So we went over that night he called us and talked about it. Kim was ecstatic, and so was Mama Sharron! Then when Paul and Kami got home they saw us and just had a huge smile on their faces and gave us two big hugs. It was awesome, because he and she both actually looked happy for the first time in like 2 or 3 weeks. So we should have at least 4 of them at church every Sunday plus their kids when they have them.

Other than that not much else has been happening we have a few potentials people we will see again this week and hope that goes well.

And that’s crazy there was a tornado watch in Seattle! There was actually one here too last week. Nothing happened but it was interesting to wait and see.

And I’m pretty excited for Friday this week because we play basketball every week and Ryan (from Pennsboro) is coming down to play! So that'll be nice to see him again it’s been over a year now!

The fall is in full swing now and the leaves are pretty cool! Although I have to take a break from my contacts. I can wear them for a week or 2 and then my left eye gets really irritated and red, and feels super dry for like 2 days and waters all the time. I take my contacts out every night and keep them in the solution, so I don’t know what’s up with that.

And I talked with President Salisbury, and he said I may be able to serve with Elder Thueson again for my last transfer! He didn’t say it was a for sure thing but he will ponder and pray about it, but that it’s a possibility. I’ll know a week from today who I’ll be with!

But nothing else to exciting is happening or has happened. Maybe because I’m so used to the culture and the people that everything that was weird and funny is now normal to me? I don’t know.

And that sounds good, and I’m excited to go look around when I get home. And I also forgot to put those classes together. I had them picked out, I just didn’t write ‘em down. So i can probably send you a quick e-mail with them later this week when we do mormon.org time. 

And thanks, I will make sure to go get a shirt! That’ll be nice to have again! 

And sorry I’m so needy all the time but I’m out of protein.... can you send me some more please? Or do what we did last time and have me buy it? Either way works.

Thanks!!!

Not to mention I got stretch marks on my biceps :) It was a good day! And I’m at about 160 pounds now!

[Here are his letters to Jace and Jonathan]

Jace:

Hey I think someone told me you were a girl or something!? Just kidding! How are you doing man? People here all talk funny. I’ll have to teach you some words when I get back so your friends can look at you funny! 

Jonathan: 

Hey how is school and sports going!? Are you going to play lacrosse again this spring? I hope so! I hope you are still kicking butt at XC! Let me know how it’s going!

October 22, 2014

Hi Everyone!

So about the weights, I was thinking the same thing, but I know with the USPS Flat rate boxes you can ship up to like 72 pounds or something in one, and the weights can break down, so maybe I can try and see if they fit in a large one of those, although I’ll have to probably ship 2.

And as a District leader I think everything is the same, at least from what you said it’s the same. But District meetings vary, because our mission is so spread out some districts can do every week but others can only do 1-3 a transfer because of the mileage limitations. So for this district we only do 2 meeting. So that’s nice I don’t have to do too many!

I haven’t really had any crazy stories as of late, unfortunately. Winfield is kinda secluded but everyone who lives here usually has a nice job and works in Charleston, so the people stay pretty normal which is a bummer! Although we did get a member to fix us some squirrel the other night! It wasn’t too bad! Although it was kinda weird cause they fried it and you could still tell which were the legs because it looks just like them! So I’m glad I can now say I’ve eaten squirrel in WV!

And I dont have anywhere in particular I want to live in Boise, anywhere is fine. As long as I will like my roommates that would be great! Although a mission has taught me how to kind of deal with people I don’t get along with and it’ll be easier because I don’t have to hold their hand 24 hours a day!

And speaking of new companions, I will be staying in Winfield and serving with Elder B.

I heard the Hawks lost! I’m kinda mad because I’ve been wearing my lucky tie every game day! At least it’s not like college football in the sense that 1 loss puts you out of a national title hope. So I hope they can pick it back up. I’m not surprised UW lost either even though I always hope for that little miracle like what happened in ‘09 vs #3 USC! 

It was crazy this last weekend. Well not for us, but WVU beat #4 Baylor, and there were riots up in Morgantown. You may have heard, but the cops were shooting tear gas and rubber bullets. Cars got flipped, poles were torn down and dumpster and street fires were everywhere! They made it a felony to burn couches up there because that used to be their tradition after a win... so i guess they just burned and broke everything else. That’s the US's #1 Ranked Party school for you! 

It’s a good thing Nana isn’t here. It is almost weird to meet someone who is either not carrying or even owns a gun! And speaking of that I need my concealed permit :)

But that’s about all.... Wish me luck these last 6 weeks! 

Love you all,

Elder Latimer

October 27, 2014

Hi All! 

Things are going well and I’m enjoying my new companion so that’s a plus! It’s nice because we are able to actually go and see people, instead of going to the same 3 families for 6 weeks...

Did you say your gonna shave Oliver except for his white patch? You have to send me a picture of that when you do it! I don’t know what we plan on for Halloween, usually we stay inside or spend the time with members. You could imagine how tracting on Halloween would be. People already always think we are JW's! I’m sure we would get some candy out of it though!

I remember that Adventure time show! i thought it was the stupidest thing too... cartoons kinda suck now!

As of of now, there is Kim who could be baptized, but it would be a miracle because he wants to be baptized but he is an alcoholic. He drinks probably at least 30 beers a day, if not more. So we have to try and get him off that and smoking... 

But we are hoping we can actually find people now because again, we can do some other work other than visiting the same 3 people. That’s kinda frustrating that UW was so close to taking it! I guess it’s still a transition year. I look forward for them to be like they were in the early 90's again! I’m glad the hawks won... although I don’t know what’s wrong with them this year. They don’t seem to be in control like they were last year. It seems like the offense can put up points but the defense is allowing too many? At least it’s not like college football where one loss takes you out of the running!

And yes I did get the shirt and I love the tie! It’s nice to have a shirt that doesn’t have a tear in it!

Love you all!

Elder Latimer

November 3, 2014

Hi Everyone!

Things are good here and its nice because we are actually seeing people and getting things done.

We had a great time at the ward Halloween party. There were 350 people there it was nuts! And then we had to judge the costumes of the youth from nursery up to 18 years old. And of course it was awkward because after the winners were announced we had a couple crying children... woops.

Our investigators are doing alright, it would go a lot better if they weren’t alcoholics. Oh well, we will have to work on finding some new people. So that will be the main focus.

This last Friday we went down to Roanoke, VA to go to a meeting with Elder Renlund of the 70. It was really good, and he taught a lot about teaching simply. He was a really good teacher and it was nice to see a ton of missionaries again!

Also, we will see what happens this transfer, cause Elder B. has a doctor appointment to get an MRI on his brain to check for "Kiarie 1" (Spelling?) but I guess he has the symptom for it and 2 of his siblings have had it. So depending on the results and his mom’s decision I may have to get a new companion or be transferred somewhere else for the remainder of my mission. Although I do have a dying request if that does happen and that is to serve with Elder Thueson again, and he is serving with another Elder I go home with. So that would be a blast but we will see!

Glad the Dawgs won and the Hawks. I’m hoping they pick it up to. On a sad note, we found out today iPads won’t be here until January or February, but that’s alright because I’ll be home and that’s good enough for me!

But other than that, that’s about it!

Love you all!

Elder Latimer 

November 10, 2014

Hi All! 

All is well here. We had a slower week this week, but we are still working hard. What has been hard is not only in West Virginia do they not understand how to logically number the houses (many do not have numbers because they were trailers just dropped off on a plot of land and if they do have numbers you need binoculars to see them from the car) on top of all that there had been a 911 address change, so now the 75% of the ward roster is incorrect. But they just showed us a website in ward council and if we enter their old address it will tell us their new number. so that’ll help keep us busy!

Also this week the youth are having a talent show... and Zach Satre wants me to make up a weird dance with him and dance to a frozen song... I’m still debating whether or not to do it. We will see! It would be interesting!

Other than that this week has been pretty plain for me as well, not a lot has gone on. Although it supposed to get cold this weekend, highs in the 30's, so we will see how that goes. Shouldn’t be too bad

Anyway, that’s about it!

Love you all!

Elder Latimer

November 17, 2014

Hi All!

Things here are getting colder. The high for tomorrow is supposed to be 25! Apparently we are supposed to get some snow this weekend. I sure hope so, I love snow! The poor sisters cracked their bumper and so we are loaning them bikes to use this week. That would be miserable! That’s cool Krissa got home! I think I might be completely the opposite :) Movies and music all day! Haha. But that’s just me. I’m ready to get back into the swing of things as soon as I can. The longer I delay it the longer I’ll be awkward...

I’m glad you have gotten all the appointments set up that makes things easier, and hopefully I won’t need to go to jury duty. That would suck!

That’s good joe is applying to BYU and BYU-I. That will be good. 

And poor Oliver! Haha! That’s funny he has to hop around on 3 legs!

Not much has gone on again this week, although we were on exchanges, and we were tracting and ran into a preacher who let us in to of course try and rail on us. Anyway we let him carry on for a while and then when we were about to leave we offered him an opportunity to read the Book of Mormon. Then he told us he wouldn’t ever want one in his house because when Jesus comes back he doesn’t want one in his house. So we said, “whatever” and just left. As we were walking away Elder Hollembeak looks at me and says, "Elder Latimer, I did a mean thing." I looked and said, "What?" He said, "I left a Book of Mormon on his piano." Hahahah! It made me laugh so hard!

Thanks for getting those classes for me that’ll be good! I heard about UW and the hawks. That’s rough! Oh well at least with Seattle and the NFL playoff system, they still got a shot.

I’m wondering how you all want me to go about sending some stuff home? 

That’s about it for this week. 

Love you all!

Elder Latimer