Dec. 23, 2013

                                                  Look who came to see us!!!  SANTA

                                              MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU!

 What's up? I am so excited to talk with you guys on Christmas and hopefully you can do Google plus or something and that everyone can be there. Maybe you could invite Jordan and the King family maybe haha that would be cool but whatever works for you Yes I Got the package and I will admit I have been wearing some nice warm things on my feet but I haven't looked in anything else haha hope your all having a good Christmas love ya

Elder Bracken Smith                p.s. Talk to ya Wednesday

December 9, 2013

       Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas!  Tree, ornaments, window cling, and of course my                                     new pillow case!  Thanks everyone who helped!

                                                I get to be with these awesome people!

What's up knuckle butt's (haha!) love ya!

This week has been a good one kinda slow but good. Well the cool thing is we have a baptism this Saturday at 10 our time 9 your time, but we are so excited. The weather here has been crazy, if its windy its cold as all get out and if its not its fine. We got a lot of snow yesterday and was the first time we have had snow since I have been here. Don't worry about me I know how to stay warm I don't want to be cold at all but someday's  I wish I had my waders that are warm and water proof haha. I Honestly loved the package you sent me and man THOSE FOUR TIES WHERE SO SICK!!!!!!!!!!! Brand Q is an awesome type of tie. Thank you so much. Who all Helped with it? and of course you had to put someone in the mix of our family haha(Jordan) so I was going to see if you could get me that big package of razor blades we found at Sam's club and get me one of those. but other than that I have no idea what would be good. but I did want to ask what you guys would like from Iowa that I could send to ya Duck Dynasty is really big out here. I think we can skype home Christmas day and all so I might be calling you on Christmas eve and setting all that fun stuff up and I'm so excited to hear from all of you. see if you can have Jordan there or something if that's not a big deal haha. I love you and all the things you do for me. hope the family is having fun and don't forget to smile because you never know who is looking!

Love Elder Bracken Smith

Dec. 2, 2013

                                               All of us missionaries at Amber's baptism.

                                                     Me trying to disguise myself

                                   On the streets of West Des Moines!  Lights!  Lights!  Lights!

                                                         Lots of Christmas Lights!

 How is my wonderful family doing on this fine Monday?

Well first off my thanksgiving was decent wish I could have had some of grandma Owens famous banana cream pie but oh well two more years. Judging by you already seen the picture brother Newman sent to ya ha-ha ya me and him had a couple laughs about Bear River and Box Elder and we shared some high school memories of course his was back in the day ha-ha. I know I look good but thanks for the comment it really does help ha-ha. well so I found out a couple weeks ago and I totally forgot to tell you but the mission is getting I pads in April so I will have my own I pad to use and I think we get to take it home when we are done with our missions so I might be coming home with a new I pad mini but don't quote me on that. wont that be something? we get to use them for our proselyting and teaching people around the world it will be awesome to see how much more we as missionaries can do to help further the work in the world. oh ya what's up with this thing that john got transferred to bear lake? does that mean he will be able to be my guide when I get back? so are you getting your blood taken today? how's everything going? don't worry about me I'm doing OK just hope that this next couple weeks flies by so I can get a new companion but oh well we got to role with the punches. I cant believe Kody is going this week it seems like yesterday we were just doing what me and him do best (raise heck) but now its going to be great when me and him get done. well hope your all doing good and having fun it sounds like when you went with Justin and his family you had some fun with them oh that reminds me I met a guy yesterday at church last name Greene and he said he knew Justin Roberts and his family and he said he knows Justin's brother but I cant remember his name. but ya that's all for now I will tell you when I get your package and such but as of right now I don't know what I need or want so I will have to think that one over so ya love ya 

Love Elder Bracken Smith

Thanksgiving Day with the Newman's

                                    Dear Dutson Family, Smith families and Bowden Family:

We have had a great pleasure of hosting your fine missionary sons today in our home.  They are all four serving in our ward here in West Des Moines, Iowa.  You all have GREAT sons.  We love having them with us and sharing our Thanksgiving traditions was so much fun.  Three of them are sharing their first Thanksgiving away from you.  I remember that one well as I served my mission years ago in Germany.  We also have a son in Brazil on his first Thanksgiving away from home.  His chances of being fed turkey are slim today!  With temps in the 20s, it was a beautiful winter day here.  We ate dinner, played ping pong and cards together and shared pie with your sons.  Thank you for raising great young men who are now representing the Lord for these two years.  They have that “light” in their eyes and have been so courteous and loving.  Here are some pictures for you to enjoy.

We love you as parents and families of missionaries.  We enjoy that bond with you.

Mark and Lisa Newman
West Des Moines, Iowa

November 18, 2013

                                              Baptism day November 16th. Yeah buddy!

Let me Just say wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I never thought that it would be so awesome to get the chance to baptize someone. I had to do it twice because I forgot to say a word. Darn it. But hey she was baptized and that's great. I will send some pics for ya. The weather is strange here. On Monday last week it snowed and then it was a little cold for the first couple days, but then it went back up in the 60 and today its like 45 so its kinda dumb weather.  We find out if we are getting transferred today so I don't know what will happen but I think I will be staying, if not I will see if I could send you a message or something to let ya know. I am going to need grandpa Smiths address from ya so I can send him a thank you letter. Tell the people in the Fielding ward I love them so much and they are the best ward I have ever been in. I will have to send a letter to the bishop so he can read it in sacrament meeting or something like that. Kody sounds like he is doing good I miss that kid and I cant wait to get back together with that kid and cause some trouble with him again ha-ha  sounds like he did good on his talk though. Thank you for everything and all you do for me I sent a letter in the mail and it has all of you in it so when you get it read it with the family You, Dad, Weston, Colt, and Sharlee 

well love you all and stay warm and don't forget to smile!

LOVE ELDER BRACKEN SMITH

November 12, 2013

                                                         Loaded and Dangerous!

                                                               He still loves guns!

Hola mi Madre ha ha guess what I'm going Spanish ha ha just kidding. OH TELL DAD I SAID HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Man I love hearing from you guys and I know I have slacked on writing people back but I will get better. so how has your week been? I hope all is going good there and nothing bad is happening. so this Saturday I have the opportunity to baptize our investigator named Amber Schafer, she asked me to do it so I will have two pictures to send to you of my latest baptisms how sweet is that? we also have 5 people we can set a date with and 1 that has a date for the 14th of December so that is awesome the lord is just blessing us with good things and he wants us as a mission to reach our goal of 550 baptisms this year. we need 75 baptisms a month tell the year is over to reach it but we all have the faith that we can. I hope the pheasant hunt is going good and I need to see some pics so you have a good rest of the day and week love ya!!!

Elder Bracken Smith

Oct. 28, 2013

Hey Mom and family

Thank you so much for the package. Yes I did get it and loved all the things inside. yes even the spiders. My new companion is from Nampa Idaho. the only reason I haven't sent any pictures is because the computers we use to email don't have a place I can stick my sd card into so I might have to go get a converter for it so I can plug it into a usb port or something. Oh there is one thing that sucks. I found out that when we wear sweaters they have to be a solid color and they cant have a pattern on them which sucks. I was so disappointed when I heard that because you sent out one ah I was a little upset. but rules are rules. I will see what I can do to get you some pictures sent to you. Oh just a funny thing I noticed when I was looking at the picture of all the boys at Landon's ordination is that Jacksons face looks like he doesn't want to be there. and also another thing it looks like Colton needs to shorten up his tie haha looks a little bit to long for him even though that looks like a nice shirt and a good looking tie haha but thanks for everything I might be sending home some things that you might get a kick out of. Hope you all have a great day and a great week miss you all oh and another fun fact for ya on the 22nd of November, moms birthday, I will have been out in the mission field for 6months thought that was cool. but love ya

Elder Bracken Smith

November 4, 2013

                                           Me, Myself, and Garth and the other Elder Smith!

Hey mom and family

Sounds like you had a good week and had fun driving down to vernal YEAH!! I got a letter and picture of her and she is cute. Hope it all went great. well some things have changed I no longer have Elder Jordan as my companion. he had to go home because of some medical issues with his knee. long story short he went on a mission to the central pacific in kidibus by the martial islands and got dangi fever or an illness like it which attacked his patellar tendon its sad but I get an elder that is coming back out elder Dutson so I will send you some pictures soon of him and my last comp. but other than that its been a slow fast not much happening week that's cool how Weston shot a bird congrates on that buddy love ya and that's good meeka did good I was a little worried about that.

love elder smith

Oct. 21, 2013

 How's the family doing? Its been a crazy last couple weeks so sorry if I haven't sent anyone a letter. with transfers and packing and going to a new area its been go, go, go, go, go, everyday. We are doing a lot of teaching in my new area so its hard to find time on days to write letters but hopefully I get on today or something wrote for this last week. The new area is sweet we have a baptismal date for November 16 yessssssssssssssss and she is solid ready to be dunked and its great. Tomorrow I will have hit 5 months out its crazy some part of me is like man that went by fast and others its like wow has it been two years yet. But its been great its crazy the other day i was trying to think about what the house looked like back in good old Fielding Utah but for some reason I cant picture it. I did draw a map of Fielding so I can show people what a small town looks like out here. but Mo says its getting bigger and bigger. so how's Weston doing in school? I bet he's not doing as good as I did because I was smrt. hahaha I'm glad your doing ok and hope your doing something fun this week. Tell dad I love him to more than he will ever know. Also tell Weston he needs to stop growing because he is going to make me feel short. haha but I love you to thanks for everything.

Love your favorite missionary

Elder Bracken (bud) Smith

October 14, 2013

 What the heck is going on in Fielding Utah?  I am here in West Des monies with my new boy Elder Jordan.( what a coincidence?)  I love this kid so much he is by far the best comp i have had in a while. me and him talk about football and hunting and all that guy stuff. he is so awesome. my new address is 2108 Grand Ave apt  #5. it was hard to leave Mason City but now I feel it was needed because I knew everyone there and all that fun stuff. but I'm glad I'm here. sounds like you have been having fun with the garden and getting ready for the winter months. if you can find any cool sweaters or something send them because we got a new dress code where we can wear them instead of our suit jackets which is so much better. how's the family doing? its getting colder each day but it feels so good. I cant wait to get the package you are sending I'm so stoked!!!!!!!!! I love it when I get things from family. tell colt and sharlee I am sorry I haven't wrote them a letter but I will soon like today or during the week but I haven't forgot about them. I have just been so busy with packing things and getting all moved to a new area its been crazy. well hope you are all doing good and keep on keeping on love you guys have a good week and smile.

love your favorite son :)

Elder Bracken Smity

Oct 7, 2013

Hey family just so you know I'm getting transferred to a different area and I will not have the same address that I have now so either send them to the mission office or just wait till I can get my new one to you guys. OUR baptism was so good she was glowing the whole time. We couldn't have done it without the lords hand knowing that he helps in everything. I am so grateful for being able to help someone out in the mason city area before I left I'm so glad I was able to see it and be apart of this neat experience it means a lot. Well general conference was so awesome. when your a missionary you cant watch T.V., but when you watch general conference you get so excited and take a lot of notes. Our mission president told us to go into conference with questions on how you can help others in your areas or in yourself. I was thinking of some questions but I couldn't think of any for the mason city area. I thought that was the crazy thing because I always am getting new ideas for the area. But now I understand that I didn't need to get personal revelation for mason city I got it for some other area that I will be going to. So the lord works in mysterious ways. It was one of the most inspiring general conferences quoted by Thomas S. Monson. Its great to hear form you and hope all is going well I love each and everyone of you so much you don't know. LOVE Your son ELDER BRACKEN SMITH

 

 

Sept. 30, 2013




Just one of the beautiful sunsets in Iowa

Hello Smith Family

This last week was a slow but good week. it kinda went fast at some points then just dragged on at others. We have a baptism this Saturday after the first session of conference. im so excited, her name is kourtney Hearn. she is so ready to be baptized and has already had her interview for it and is ready to go. its crazy how the lord blesses you when you are doing what he wants you to do. we have also been teaching a guy named Jim, he is somewhere in his 70's and said he has been wanting to get back to a church. We set a date for him to be baptized on November 16th so hopefully im still in mason city when he gets baptized. It kinda sucks though because at the start of the transfer we have had to share a vehicle with the Clear Lake Elders. We have had to walk a lot this past week but oh well, I am kinda jealous that you get to play with Claire i still haven't seen a picture of her or heard anything back from them. But oh well doesn't keep me up at night, The other day I was thinking about how Weston writes a little paragraph every time he sends me a letter. He still hasn't answered my question about the whole girl thing but don't worry he will tell me before any of you.

 About the Halloween package I wont know until Saturday if I will be staying in mason city or leaving but I will let you know next Monday or something but I don't think we can hand out candy but it still would be nice to get some,(jolly ranchers and werthers maybe) we were able to watch the movie 17 miracles with the senior couple the Haworth's they are some of the greatest people you will ever meet. they remind me so much of grandma and grandpa owen.

 how has your week went and have you had any fun things happening me and sister Priestley got a laugh that night she called you. She is such a awesome lady.

Well hope all is well in the small town of Fielding love you all

 

Love ELDER BRACKEN SMITH

September 23, 2013

                                           Fighting evil with the lint roller and a CTR shield!

September 9, 2013

                                We didn't know the Egyptians made a pyramid in Iowa??????

                         Me and Elder Curtis teaching a little statue girl about the Book of Mormon.

                                   What our ward mission leader came to church in yesterday.

Well hello

Yes I know this week has went by kinda quick but I have been so excited about the package you sent I couldn't wait for it to come. Yes I did get it today!!!! we were standing outside talking to a member and the mail lady shouted across the street and said she had a package for one of us. So she said she would go grab it and I was so excited it was like the best day ever!!! Thank you so much ah I'm so glad I have the best parents in the world that do things for me you guys are the best I love you all.

 

So this week we have found some people that we are teaching and have another date for the 27th of September. it was so awesome how we found her. SO a members son, his wife is a non member and she has come to church for the last 3 weeks and asked us if she could start taking the discussions and be baptized! I honestly didn't know what to say I was so shocked I have never had anyone come up and say that while I have been out here. she is so ready and prepared it is so AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

Glenn is starting to go down hill then he seems like he goes back up and then down and I don't know what to do with him anymore.

 

This week we have a general authority doing a mission tour and we get to go and hear him talk and things. Also President and Sister Jensen want to talk with me about some things. But don't worry its not bad. I will be OK.

Me and Elder Brooks like to sing country songs so every time we forget how a song goes or cant remember a lyric we help each other out so we can finish the song. let me tell you it is hard when your not listening to music trying to remember the songs. but once we get the beat and the some of the songs down it just clicks its so awesome. He is by far one of my favorite missionaries. he always says he wants me to take him hunting and told me if I do that he will take me snowboarding. He is great we get along so well.

Elder Curtis and I are a little different but I know I will have more companions where I need to just work and not worry. I know I do worry a lot and I get some bad anxiety sometimes but I'm working on that.

 

Well hope you guys are doing good and loving the back to school season. I haven't read the letters yet but I'm going to today when I have time. thanks again for the package means a lot to me. oh and I don't know when but Sister Haworth recorded me and elder brooks doing the dishes singing primary songs after they fed us yesterday. So she said she would send it to our moms so they can see how there boys do dishes while on a mission. it was funny.

LOVE YOU SO MUCH

Elder Bracken Smith 

Sept. 4, 2013

                                   Elder Smith with Elder Horn for the last time.  (Transfer day)

      Elder Smith with Elder Jackson on transfer day.  He said he is going to miss both these Elders.

                      The new Clear Lake and Mason City crew ( me, Brooks, Curtis, and Davis)

                                           Elder Curtis my new companion from Cache Valley

                                Your sexy stud of a missionary son, Elder Smith! ohhhh baby!

 

                                                               Cool little stream

                                                    Me and Elder Brooks being dumb on p day!

 

Hey so my new companion is from cache valley up by hardware ranch. his name is Elder Curtis and to tell you the honest truth he is much different than Elder Horn was. I got bad anxiety the first couple days because it was a big change and you know I don't like that. I have prayed a lot asking for the strength to get through this transfer with him. But how was Beaver Mountain?  I remember all those fun memories up there and going four wheeling. ohh how I miss that. I'm glad you are all doing ok with breeze gone she was the best dog when I was growing up. me and her were so close it honestly was a bad day when I found out she had died I kinda cried a little but oh well. I sent you a letter with some pictures I hope you like them. hope your having a good day. tell everyone I said hi.

LOVE ELDER SMITH 

 

 

August 26, 2013

Hows it going?

This week has been good. Me and elder horn went down to Hampton for exchanges with our district leader and helped them out in there area. It was cool but crazy at the same time. So Hampton is a Spanish branch and everyone speaks Spanish so when we were in lessons i couldn't understand what they were saying. but i could pick up a couple words here and there but not alot. we then taught a guy on the road which was sketchy, Then some how all four of us missionaries ended up at the same house and elder Jackson our district leader translated for us and we were able to help teach the lesson through him it was a cool experience. We were also able to see a baptism this week not one of ours but another areas that was also a good experience. Well this last saturday we got called and told that elder horn was being transfered and i was going to stay in mason city. so this thursday i will be getting a new companion, which is also going to be the new district leader so hopefully he is as cool as elder horn. Im really going to miss that kid.

I was a little depressed when i read your email about breeze, she was a good dog and i will miss her. i remember when she was a little puppy and she would follow me everywhere. its crazy how long she lived though. just keep dad occupied with meeka and he will be fine. HAHA better yet just get him a new puppy:)

Well i miss you guys and wish you good luck on the new journey you and weston will have when you go back to school, sounds like fun. I cant believe it this summer went by fast.

LOVE You Guys

ELDER BRACKEN SMITH

August 19, 2013

                                                                Guarding the Corn

                                        "Bambi its ok to come out now I mean Elder Shmity...."

 

                     Hey Family

Sounds like you have been having one of those fun weeks!!! I really don't miss those days ha-ha. this week has been good. we have had a lot of meetings and such. Monday was fun we had a couple of elders come and play basketball with us and hung out with them. Tuesday I didn't feel to great and we didn't do that much. Wednesday we had interviews with the mission president and were able to talk with him and how everything was going. Thursday we had zone training so we the last two days have been meetings and we haven't done much teaching because of it. but on Friday and Saturday and Sunday we were able to teach a couple lessons and were able to teach glen and see how he is doing with the whole drinking thing. We are going to see him tonight and hopefully he hasn't drank or we will have to move his baptismal date back which will be sad.

 

How's everything going? That's funny how you and dad have to get up early now. But I don't know how well dads going to like that. just hang in there. Its crazy to think that on the 22nd I will have been gone for 3 months. Its crazy because it doesn't seem that long but at the same time it does. But don't worry its a good experience and im glad I have the chance to be out here!

 

Love you all so much

ELDER BRACKEN SMITH

 

Well hey there family          Aug 19,2013

I want to say first of all sorry i haven't wrote you a letter back for a while. Its just been so busy that I haven't had time. This week we had to move our baptism date for Glenn back because he drank. That was one of the most disappointing moments i have ever had on my mission. it made me want to yell and just be done for the day. We are still working with him and hope that he will be ready some time soon.

Saturday we are going to get phone calls to see which one of us will be getting transferred to a different area or not. so next week i should know if I'm staying in mason or I'm getting moved to somewhere else. just a heads up.

Hows everything been? Is Weston still working? yes I did get his letter and Colts, Weston had a creative one. its always cool to hear encouragement from your brothers. How have you and dad been? Dad and Weston asked me if there was any good fishing and hunting places in mason, well for one i cant go fishing which is stupid, and two i cant go hunting which is devastating. but people do say there are some good spots so we might have to come back and try them out.

Today we are chilling with the Hampton elders, Me and elder Jackson ( from Arizona)  were talking about hunting and fishing the other day and said he would like to come up and go with me one day when we get back off our missions. he is a way cool kid.

Well hope you are all having a good week and staying out of trouble!!! Talking to Weston on that one:) and everyone is doing great. I will write a letter today and tell a little more.   Love you guys!!!!

Elder Bracken(Bud) Smith

 

3 Generation​s!

Elder Firth (grandpa), Elder Horn (Father), and Elder Shmitty (son).

Elder Firth trained Elder Horn, then Elder Horn trained Elder Shmitty(Smith)

 

 

 

                            The Elders and Sisters with the new mission president, President Jensen and Sister Jensen.

Aug. 5, 2013

Hey there family!!!

This week we have focused on Glen and helping him see the important of not drinking and how it will bless his life when he stops. we have talked with him 3 times this week and he was drunk for all of them. :( hopefully as we keep meeting with him he can stop by the 10th of august so he will be ready to be baptised on the 24th. yesterday Sunday we had a great sacrament meeting. as I'm sure you heard from sister Priestley i got up and bore my testimony. i got a little choked up but i did OK. then we went to Glens house and cut up all his tea bags and talked with him more about how much he had been drinking he said he would try to be ready and we pray for him to have that strenght to quit. Then on Saturday we went and did service for a lady in our ward. took almost all day so we were in shorts and a tee shirt so it felt different not wearing a white shirt and tie. i know that sounds funny but its not.

 

The mission has had its ups and downs but its helping me grow more and more each day. Love you guys and hope everything has been going well

Love Elder Smith

July 29, 2013

                                             Elder Smith with Elder Coy from California.

HOWS IS EVERYTHING GOING? ITS GOOD TO HEAR YOU WENT TO THE SMITH FAMILY REUNION... HOW WAS THAT? YOU NEED TO TELL KODY TO TELL ME WHERE HE IS GOING!!! THIS WEEK HAS BEEN A GOOD ONE. WE HAD A GOOD WEEK. WE TOOK AN INVESTIGATOR ON A CHURCH TOUR THE OTHER DAY. HE TOLD US HE WOULD BE AT CHURCH YESTERDAY BUT AS ALWAYS WITH HIM HE DIDNT COME.... IT KINDA MAKES YOU MAD WHEN THEY TELL YOU THAT THEY WILL DO SOMETHING AND THEN THEY DONT... BUT WE HAD ANOTHER LESSON WITH ONE OF OUR POGRESSING GATORS AND WE SET A DATE FOR HIM TO BE BAPTIZED ON THE 24TH OF AUGUST. HE SAID HE WILL TRY AND BE READY BY THAT DATE AND I KNOW THAT IF HE KEEPS DOING WHAT WE TELL HIM AND LIVING THE WORD OF WISDOM THEN HE WILL BE READY. WE ALSO WENT TO CHARLES CITY ( WHERE SISTER PRIESTLY LIVES) AND HAD DINNER WITH THEM. HER DAUGHTER TOLD ME SHE WAS TRYING TO FIND ME ON FACEBOOK BUT I GUESS SHE FOUND YOU.. I THOUGHT THAT WAS FUNNY! I NEED TO GIVE YOU MY FACEBOOK LOGIN STUFF SO YOU CAN UPDATE IT OR SOMETHING. WE ALSO WENT AND VISITED A LADY THAT IS HOME BOUND IN CHARLES CITY AND LOVES THE MISSIONARIES AND WHAT WE DO AND WE SHARED A LITTLE MESSAGE ABOUT "LISTEN" ITS IN PREACH MY GOSPEL IF YOU EVER GET A CHANCE READ IT!!!!!!!! IT HAS A GOOD QUOTE FROM ELDER BALLARD IN THERE THAT IS GREAT. TODAY WE ARE IN HAMPTON FOR P DAY AND HANGING OUT WITH OUR DISTRICT LEADER AND PLAYING SOME BOARD GAMES AND HAVING SOME FUN ( AS MUCH FUN AS OUR MISSION RULES WILL LET US) I HOPE EVERYTHING IS GOING GOOD AND WESTON IS STAYING OUT OF TROUBLE. YOU AND DAD TOO. I CANT WAIT TO SEE SOME PICS FROM HOME IT WIIL BE COOL=) LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH!!!!!

lOVES

ELDER BRACKEN (BUD) SMITH

July 8, 2013

                                             A duck tie that Elder Coy has that I want!!!

                                                 One of the many sunsets I get to see.

                                               4th of July BBQ. Elder Jackson and Elder Horn

                         Brother Drew Thompson, one of our ward mission leaders loves that stuff

                               4th July party with Hampton, Clear Lake, AND MASON CITY Iowa.

                                               ME and Elder Coy look a little high. hahaha!

                                                                   New Bling baby!

                                                    I'm like a PRO at chess now .

                       One of the Elders that served in mason city came back and visited us. 

                                                                 ( Elder Russen)

 

                                             My b-day cake Sister Haworth made me!!!!!!!

                   

Hey you guys.........

 This last week has been so crazy with the 4th. We were able to go to clear lake where the other elders are in our district and have a BBQ with them and the senior couple and our district leader and his companion. They were SOOOOO SICKKK!!!!!!!! They were so much better than anything I have ever seen. During the week we had a struggle finding things to do and keep busy with because everyone was  doing stuff with there family. But somehow we ended up finding two new people we can teach and we have went back to one and he wants to become a member. SO maybe there could be a baptism in a couple weeks if it all goes well...:) Sunday was my 19th Birthday crazy how im getting so old ha-ha. We were invited to the nelsons house for lunch after church, and they had no idea it was my b-day. So when elder horn told them they had to sing there best worst happy birthday song to me. IT was funny. Then bro. Nelson asked if we could help him go home teaching and we went with him, It reminded me of back home going with bishop Pete. it was an awesome feeling. After the senior couple asked us to come over for dinner. they said it was just like having the grandkids over. They remind me a lot of grandma and grandpa Owen ha-ha. They surprised me with a birthday cake don't worry I have a pic for you I will send. Oh but the other day in the mall we were looking at some things and I will have to send you a pic next week at what I got its SOOOOOOO SOFT. also I spoiled myself with a new toy. Saturday we had a baptism for a little girl and her grandma. We had two of our investigators there so they could see what its like and what will happen to them when they decide to commit to baptism. it will be awesome when they do. Please pray for them!!!!!

   Mom. Sounds like dad is going to drive you crazy with all that time he has off. what's this I hear your going camping again????? I wish I could do that but hey in 221/2 months I can go as many times as I want. That's cool how Shannon had her baby I knew it was a boy hahahaha. And hopefully today i will get your package hopefully.

   Dad- Dang man take some vacation time. hope your still keeping my dog fed and she isn't dead yet. Thanks for everything.