Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Aca' andamos en la lucha! (We're still perservering in the fight)
What's not to love about these pics?!
Yes, I got the package you sent me. I had to pay 147 mangos for the box package but nothing for the express mail envelope. But, it's all worth it. I love things from the States oh and the pics and letters from home. I got the credit card so you can activate it. That would be nice because I'm going to need personal money. Money doesn't go far without having lunches with members and the traveling we have to do in and out of Varela and washing the clothes out here each week. An Elder is going to stop by to visit you and bring you a letter. (YAY...I love letters)! He's a stud. He made me laugh so hard, so now we have a missionary from Solano. He was in the Coast with me. He's been way sick so we've been working in a little trio every little bit. It's fun working in trios. We both teach so I don't have to give the whole lesson.
Today for P Day my comp had to do his documents so I had to sit in the offices all day. Kind of lame, but I finally got my 'trunky papers' turned in so the office elders were happy about that! We had to wake up at 5 to be there at 8 and didn't finish until like 2 so it was a long day. Not to mention that we've been without water again. I have bad luck with water in this country! (No me gusta Gav!)
But good news...we're baptizing Maria and Luz this Saturday. It's gona be sweet! Angela and Beatriz were going to get baptized but Angela's son got stabbed so she's been with him in the hospital making it hard to be able to see her very much. (No me gusta eso tambien Gavin! Stay safe por favor)! We're going to have to push her fecha back which is a bummer. But, her son is doing pretty well. They'll find out today if they have to operate because I guess his lungs are full of blood. Poor guy! This last week was kinda crazy. I'll be excited to baptize this week. Your lives sound busy and complicated. Hope you're all happy. Tell Greg congrats on the wedding and thanks to Vicki and Dawn for writing me dear elders. Thanks for your letters mom and dad. They were great! I like being updated on everyone. I really enjoyed reading the talk you gave at your cousins funeral. It was super good. I'll help you out with your Spanish if you write up my papers for me in school. Deal? Deal!
Love you all,
Love,
Gavin
An actual letter in the mail...
I have basically given up on racing to catch the mailman for letters from Argentina. I live for my Monday emails each week instead. Only this week, I was pleasantly surprised to receive a hand written letter in the mail. All in Spanish mind you, but that's okay. He said he did that to help me and Big D with our language skills for our inner city missionary experience. There's just something about snail mail that does a mother good. English or Spanish, I'll take what I get because Gavin seems to write a little more of his deep personal thoughts on paper than hurriedly typing out his weekly email in the cyber. He always puts a smile on my face. To quote some things he misses from home:
1. His niece and nephew. He's hoping that there will be at least 4 by the time he gets home. (Don't think that will happen since he'll be home now in 5 short (long) months!
2. He misses my chicken rolls, tacos, burritos, roast beef, broccoli, chicken and rice and the 'drink fridge' that was open to any and all who came to visit.
3. He misses his family and wants me to promise him that we will do all we can to keep our family together, obeying the commandments so that we can be worthy temple recommend holders and a forever family.
The things I enjoyed in this letter were his testimony of the Gospel. How he loves the Church. That even though he's in a different country, it's still the same. He misses the good members of our home ward. He says that it's sometimes hard to be away from his family and all those he loves, and yet, it "vales la pena". (It's so worth it) He hopes that his service has been recognized by the Lord and has been a blessing to his entire family. (I assure you Gavin that that is the case! We thank you for serving with your whole heart, mind and soul)! He is so grateful for his knowledge of the Gospel. He has a strong testimony of missionary work. He told Daris and I to wear our missionary plaques with pride! That we are true representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. (We do proudly wear our badges and hope to be a force for good with our new people in the inner city mission)!
Gavin's final quote in his letter was, "YOU GUYS ROCK"! Well, we think that you Gavin, are dabomb.com!
Thanks for your letter...it was the highlight of my day!
Your Mom
1. His niece and nephew. He's hoping that there will be at least 4 by the time he gets home. (Don't think that will happen since he'll be home now in 5 short (long) months!
2. He misses my chicken rolls, tacos, burritos, roast beef, broccoli, chicken and rice and the 'drink fridge' that was open to any and all who came to visit.
3. He misses his family and wants me to promise him that we will do all we can to keep our family together, obeying the commandments so that we can be worthy temple recommend holders and a forever family.
The things I enjoyed in this letter were his testimony of the Gospel. How he loves the Church. That even though he's in a different country, it's still the same. He misses the good members of our home ward. He says that it's sometimes hard to be away from his family and all those he loves, and yet, it "vales la pena". (It's so worth it) He hopes that his service has been recognized by the Lord and has been a blessing to his entire family. (I assure you Gavin that that is the case! We thank you for serving with your whole heart, mind and soul)! He is so grateful for his knowledge of the Gospel. He has a strong testimony of missionary work. He told Daris and I to wear our missionary plaques with pride! That we are true representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. (We do proudly wear our badges and hope to be a force for good with our new people in the inner city mission)!
Gavin's final quote in his letter was, "YOU GUYS ROCK"! Well, we think that you Gavin, are dabomb.com!
Thanks for your letter...it was the highlight of my day!
Your Mom
That's what I call Exito! (Success)
Apparently he can cook now!
A little World Cup action?!
Could he really like cats now?
That's quite a fire! Not sure if it's for warmth or food. I'm sure he learned that in Scouts!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Love is in the Air...Bridal shower for Holly Timmons and Greg Terry
Sweet Grandma Whetman
My beautiful girls...missing Whitney :(
The "extremely" happy couple...hunky SkyWest Pilot meets Dr. in training...
Happy group!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Respuestas...
Gavin didn't want to risk getting a virus on his camera today so once again, no pics! Makes for another long week for me! Oh well, what's a mother to do. Here is his latest update and answers to my many questions :)
Alright, so yes, I got my "trunky papers" mom. And all they just ask is if I want to leave on a special date and if I want to travel by bus or plane. I'm still strugglin' with that decision. I was hopin' I could come home riding a horse...and they also just have directions and stuff to make sure everything is correct. Nothing too great. I don't know what friends you are talking about living with, but I don't want to think about living with other people and all that jazz until I get home. I kind of want to save money. Viste'? (understand?) (Yes, I get it Gav!)
Mother's Day, yes, I will be calling but I don't know what time yet. I'll let you know when it's closer. It's still far away. (Not that far away! Yay!)
Yes, I was way sick for 2 days and just kinda sick for a week. (No me gusta)
The people we're baptizing are the family that threw the surprise bash for me. But it's just their kids because the parents aren't married yet. The other people getting baptized are Angela and her daughter Beatriz. Some people I really, really, really want to baptize we've really been working with them and are really hoping that they "llegar". They're way cool. She's like your age mom and her daughter is like 20 something. Okay, so I answered all the questions (muchas gracias mi hijo) now I can tell you happy anniversary !! That's a long time (31 years) Congrats! Sometimes the mission feels like a long time but it's just two years. 31 years is a very long time. Felizidades!
This week was pretty good. We found some pretty good investigators, but they also have tons of marriage problems and all that jazz. It's so hard to find some one married who lives with his other married partner. Freak! It's frustrating! But her name is Eli and she has read a ton of the Book of Mormon as well as Tomasa who we found who has a ton of kids and is separated from her husband. She used to live in Jill's area in Hurlinghan, and the missionaries helped her build her house. I've built like 3 or 4 house on the mission. I think when I get back I'll just build one in the backyard in the corner by the fence. I just need wood, chapa, nails and a hammer. haha, (I'm down with that Gav, you built a pretty nice one in the backyard of our old house in South Mountain. Guess that prepared you for your mission!) But, it sounds like there are a lot of good things going on with the family. This pleases me. Can't wait to talk with you all come Mother's Day. Happy anniversary again! Love you all,
Love Gavin
Alright, so yes, I got my "trunky papers" mom. And all they just ask is if I want to leave on a special date and if I want to travel by bus or plane. I'm still strugglin' with that decision. I was hopin' I could come home riding a horse...and they also just have directions and stuff to make sure everything is correct. Nothing too great. I don't know what friends you are talking about living with, but I don't want to think about living with other people and all that jazz until I get home. I kind of want to save money. Viste'? (understand?) (Yes, I get it Gav!)
Mother's Day, yes, I will be calling but I don't know what time yet. I'll let you know when it's closer. It's still far away. (Not that far away! Yay!)
Yes, I was way sick for 2 days and just kinda sick for a week. (No me gusta)
The people we're baptizing are the family that threw the surprise bash for me. But it's just their kids because the parents aren't married yet. The other people getting baptized are Angela and her daughter Beatriz. Some people I really, really, really want to baptize we've really been working with them and are really hoping that they "llegar". They're way cool. She's like your age mom and her daughter is like 20 something. Okay, so I answered all the questions (muchas gracias mi hijo) now I can tell you happy anniversary !! That's a long time (31 years) Congrats! Sometimes the mission feels like a long time but it's just two years. 31 years is a very long time. Felizidades!
This week was pretty good. We found some pretty good investigators, but they also have tons of marriage problems and all that jazz. It's so hard to find some one married who lives with his other married partner. Freak! It's frustrating! But her name is Eli and she has read a ton of the Book of Mormon as well as Tomasa who we found who has a ton of kids and is separated from her husband. She used to live in Jill's area in Hurlinghan, and the missionaries helped her build her house. I've built like 3 or 4 house on the mission. I think when I get back I'll just build one in the backyard in the corner by the fence. I just need wood, chapa, nails and a hammer. haha, (I'm down with that Gav, you built a pretty nice one in the backyard of our old house in South Mountain. Guess that prepared you for your mission!) But, it sounds like there are a lot of good things going on with the family. This pleases me. Can't wait to talk with you all come Mother's Day. Happy anniversary again! Love you all,
Love Gavin
Venna and Daris Called to Serve
Baptism of Victor y Yolando. The day after they were married.
The happy couple! Married at last...
Pres. y Hermana Holtkamp. We are so blessed to be able to work with him as our branch president.
Big D trying to communicate with the kids...hard to change from German to Spanish...You can do it Big D!
Fun day to celebrate with the happy couple!
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