4/18/18 Family Letter to Emma

Hi Emma!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How are you? We've really missed you, but we see you shining brightly like a beacon of hope and light to the world on behalf of the lord, and know we have reason to rejoice in this wonderful work that you are helping to fulfill. (sorry, I just got supper exited) The temple celebration is going so well, but everyone in the ward is affected, if not directly, by your absence, but like me, are extriemly happy for you and the people you serve. Stay strong in the lord, and remember we love you lots!

Hyrum Barlow

 Dear Emma,

WE MISS YOU!!! WE LOVE YOU!!! YOUR AWESOME!!!😘How is it in the ctm? What is your apartment like? ever sense you left it hasn't been the same.What is the food like?Do you have any new recipes? Emma I now this mission was ment for you. Your person nalaty is amazing.

                  your youngest sis

                                                        Mari

Sweet Emma,

You are so loved!  I am so pleased that you are adjusting to life in the CTM.  I'm glad you get to go out into the city.  I can't believe you've seen 2 different temples in Brazil!  Huge blessing!  I'm glad you are making friends with those you serve with.  You have so much to offer.  The Lord will magnify your efforts, even if YOU think your offering is small.  Be patient with yourself!  So many people say they didn't start understanding the language for 6-8 months after being in the country.  What you have to offer is enough!  He will bless your efforts and add to what you can do as you keep trying!  I'm sure you already know more than you think you do.  If you keep your Spirit strong and thankful,  the Lord can use you, regardless.  Dad, Hyrum and I are all trying to learn Portuguese on Duolingo.  No bueno! (Did I even spell that right?)  I keep getting "menina" and "muhler" mixed up, among other things.  I want to see a picture of your new scripture case!  I've also met Maxiny De Paula of the Accessory Shop near the CTM.   We talked over messenger.   I sent her a picture of our family (the one we took at the Jordan River Temple Open House). She said we have a beautiful family. She says you and Sister Bybee are sweethearts.  She said she will take care of you while you are in Sao Paulo.  She said you will love the members of that ward.  She said it is her home ward.  She also told me about what it is like to be a member of the church in Brazil.  She is awesome!  

Eve's election is over.  She gave a strong effort, but it's not in her plan this year. She submitted her PLT application today.   Hyrum's posters are up now.  His speech is on Monday.  He is excited, but I have no idea what he will say. He has become even more of a flirt.  It's hilarious!   Mari has been working on her County report for 4th grade.  She chose Sanpete County (I wonder why?😊).  We are currently building the Manti Temple out of Rice Krispie Treats for her 3-d project.  It looks cute.  Poor Eve still hasn't been answered for Morp (it is this weekend).  She is trying to plan stuff with her group last-minute.  I know she will figure it out but it's hard to watch her stress.  Mari's birthday party is this weekend too.  She is having a "Girl's Camp Junior" themed party.  She has invited 35 girls.  We will do it in the back yard (fire pit and movie on the fence).  The girls will have bandannas, crazy toe socks and flash light necklaces.  We will play "Moose-moose" and "Ride that Pony".  We will have hair stuff if the girls want to do each others hair.  Mari seems excited to just "hang out" with her friends.  That girl is developing a unique style.  Today she went to school wearing a neon pink striped shirt, jeans pulled way up with black suspenders, decorated shoes and crazy socks.  He hair is always in that crazy messy-bun.  Gotta love her!

I've been busy with Celebration stuff.  I got to go help set up the Outdoor Concert today.  On Sunday, the committee had a special fast that the weather would be tempered for the concert and set-up.  It has been snowing all morning and the stage and sound equipment were coming at 1pm.  Miraculously, at 12pm the clouds parted right over South Jordan and the snow melted, the water on the roads evaporated and we were able to set up! (I will send a picture) The weather should be great for tomorrow (Wednesdays) concert!  Dad and Mari will also be there.  Hyrum and Eve will be going with the youth of our ward.  I have a special  badge that they say means "I have the answers, so I can help you"....I hope I know the answers as I represent the committee tomorrow.  I also get to sell merchandise for the performers.  There will be 12 food trucks.  One of the food trucks (it is an Indian food truck) approached the committee and asked if they could come participate.  They said they are newly in business and would love to come to our concert.  We said "YES! (And maybe we'll send the missionaries over to them!)  The READY t-shirts look great!  We will take a picture for you!  Eve and her friends are wearing their READY shirts to school tomorrow!

Dad has been a rockstar through all of this.  He as always so calm and supportive.  I hope I can return the favor one day when this is all over.  Yesterday was our Stake's day to help with the Temple Open house.  Dad the Kids and I were going to help put shoe covers on but our shift was cancelled at the last minute because of the high winds.  We were really disappointed!  Eve heard that Al Fox was supposed to come to the open house yesterday.  Dad took us to the movie "Peter Rabbit" instead.  Dad finally saw "Greatest Showman" and we bought the movie!  The Chandlers are borrowing it right now.  The other day Hyrum and Logan were over here playing the video game  "Fortnight", while singing songs from "Greatest Showman".  Dad and I were laughing because the "shooting" on the tv did not match the music that they were singing.

Please know you are loved, by your Heavenly Father, and by us.  Thank you for setting a good example for your siblings.  They look up to you so much.  We all pray for you.  We are blessed because of your service- thank you for serving!  The other day, Keith told me how glad you and Kade are both serving in Brazil.  He said that you two have always been good cousins and this is something else you will share.  So many people ask about you every day.  So many people love you!

One final thought:  This morning as we were listening to General Conference for family scriptures, we listened to Elder Bednar's talk on Meekness.  "A distinguishing characteristic of meekness is a spiritual receptivity to learning from the Holy Ghost and from people who may seem less capable, experienced or educated.  Meekness is the principal protection from the prideful blindness that often arises from prominence, position, power, wealth and adulation." Matthew 11:29 "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."

Have a wonderful week!

💜 Mom

M,

I hope you are having an awesome experience!  We pray for you many times a day.  The language will come.  Keep plugging away with your lessons and keep progressing.

Update on the kids:

Eve

Normal election cycle drama.  A lot of emotions.  She gave a speech similar to Dwight's from the Office.  "BLOOD ALONE MOVES THE WHEEL OF HISTORY!!"  The best part of the speech is as she finished she closed it like a talk at church.  "In the name . . . "  I laughed for a few days over that.  She did not make it and found out while she was on tour.  It was hard for mom to not be able to be there for her.  As soon as she got back from tour she had some drama with MORP.  She still has not heard from her date.  He has not answered her and when she attempted to talk with him about it he would get a little weird.  She decided that she is not going to MORP and he took to long to answer her back.  There has been some fallout and she asked her friends what they think.  They all have different opinions and she is now not certain what she will do.  Eve is going to get to play for the recording for the temple celebration.  Another benefit of having Mom involved.

Hyrum

Hyrum is a player.  We went to a movie tonight and he started talking to girl he thought he recognized from school.  He has some courage.  I took him to the mall to pick out his "scent"and since then he has even a little more confidence.  We purchased The Greatest Showman and he keeps singing the songs as usual.  I was working on some food in the kitchen and I caught Logan and Hyrum singing songs from the musical.  I called them out on it saying dudes playing a first person shooter do not normally get caught singing show tunes.  They were not worried and kept on singing.  Hyrum is starting his SBO elections and running under a cute campaign.  He copied a picture of him as a baby saying Vote for Baby Hyrum.  I don't understand his strategy but it will likely work. 

Mari

We are concerned that Mari is going get lost in all the temple celebration prep.  We have the big concert party tomorrow that she will get tot go to.  She is still struggling missing her dance for the actual celebration.  She has decided she wants to stop dance and start singing and acting lessons.     I think this will help with some of the drama she is having with dance.  She is having her birthday party this Saturday under the Pre Girls Camp Theme.  they are going have a fire, fix each others hair and watch Once I was a Beehive outside.  Mari has invited about 30 girls.  I'm wondering if I can take Hyrum to go do something.  Likely I will be needed for crowd control.

The adults are doing well.  I'm still attempting to get your Fidelity Account opened.  They opened you account under the name Emma Banow.  I have them look up the app and it looks like Banow.  We still can't get the account opened due to you having no credit.  We are sending in more info on you to try and get this fixed.  Right now you have an account, debit card and checks all under the name Emma Banow.  I will get the account opened soon and attempted to get you invested.  Dodgeball is going well but every family event seems to be scheduled for Thursday night so I struggle to make it to all the games.  This is my 5th season.  We have just started talking about the Triathlon.  It thought that it might have died with the new Stake Presidency but they want to keep it going.  My calling has high reward and is hard to fill.  I think I will be doing this for a while.  My CTR 4 class is awesome!  they are high spirited.  We are starting to see some of the young girl drama enter into the class.  As long as I take them out for a run during the 3rd hour they do OK.

I asked Nate to right you a email about learning a language on a mission.  I don't know if he has done that yet.  He he can learn Chinese I have no doubt you can learn Portuguese.  Keep plugging away and do not get discouraged.  It will come.  The Lord needs you to learn this language and he will provide a way.  Like most thing, it will come after a trail of your faith.  It is something that must be earned.  Love you kid and I'm super proud. 

Love

Dad

Ether 12:27