7/15/18 - Family Letter to Emma

YOU GOT SICK!!! WHAT?

I 'm so sorry!!!

Life has  been weird.

Guess  what ... I'm writing my own musical. it's called the cookie maker .

I got the idea for me and Adree making cookies.it about

a girl who thinks she has the right dude for her but then she finds the cookie  maker.

🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪

Please don't get sick . you had me woried

little sister

Mari

A white girl rapping

on the Brazilian streets

Got a blue-book map

and looking kind of lean,

got a cool name tag

making Satan scream

help spread the word

and keep it clean!

OOOOHAAGHGOGHHOHAHGHOAHG!

:)

Imagine that with the "Jump" track in the background!

Miss you lots! So you were sick? Ouch. Stay healthy! (or else)

Love HYRUM   

M,

I need to add an addendum to the Abrahamic Covenant info I sent to you.  I mentioned the covenant begins when we get our patriarchal blessing.  It starts at baptism.  The blessing lets us know how we fit into the covenant.  The old three fold mission of the church explains how we attempt to fulfill this covenant.  Proclaim the Gospel, Perfect the Saints, Redeem the dead.  I created some extensive notes on the subject.  Holler if you want them.  It has been funny to think I have been studying the Abrahamic Covenant while your Mom is fulfilling it with her research into Odin.

I have a question for you.  You mention some mission jargon in your letter that I don;t understand.  what do you mean when you say "transfer"  As in, "We got more done then last transfer combined".  I have no idea how you are using this.  If you could clarify that would help.

Not much has happened around here this past week.  I think we have recovered from Girls Camp and are back to what we call normal.  We are have a very productive Summer.  We have created a list of projects and have found it helps to organize our weekend efforts.  We cleaned out the garage and found an instruction manual for a baby carriage we would attach to a bike.  We were overdue.  Your Mom has been very efficient.  We had had the most productive Summer I remember.  Your Mom was asked to lead the singing in Primary today.   We learned the song we will be singing for the Primary Program.  I helped her with the learning visuals she used.  She had the kids pick a song and then we sang that song a few times.  She then would ask if someone wanted to come up and testify about the gospel principles in that song.  It was a very powerful spiritual experience.  Mom said it was even better in Senior Primary. 

When Hyrum has his bday next month he and I will be Ministering partners.  I'm looking forward to it.  I feel like I have all these things to teach young men and I only have one son to influence in my current stewardship.  I hope I don't ever ask too much of him.  Work is going well.  We have a lot of changes coming up.  Changes are hard on every age level.  I hope I can adapt to whatever happens.  As long as they keep paying me I should be fine.  We are getting ready for the Scout camp hike this next week.  I will be joining them half way through the hike.  We are going up Mount Timpanogus with camping backpacks.  It will be about 50 miles.  I will be joining them for the last 13.  I hope I can sleep.  It like camping but I never rest well.  I'm trying a hammock this time and hope I keep warm.  We purchased a bunch of freeze dried meals to try before we go up.  They were all OK.  I thought the testing was a good idea until Tiffany tallied up the cost of our testing.  that meal cost us about $60.  Yikes.  We also bought Hyrum some Flavor pellets for his water that will restore some electrolytes.  It isn't cheap to go camping and stay healthy.  He found a few he likes.  I think they are all nasty.  I guess if I cut out meat and sugar and exercise my flavor preferences might change and I will start to like these things.  I just got back from the Yeagers and they are lending me some gear so we don't have to buy too much equipment.  They take this stuff seriously and have a ton of quality gear.

We are happy to hear you are finding contacts and the Ward is starting to trust you.  I have found that many people have potential investigators they could hand over to the missionaries but they are waiting for the right missionaries to give them to.  These are their friends and they want them to have a good experience.  You must build trust with the Ward and once that is earned the referrals will begin to flow.   Once you get them take special care.  This is a member referral, not a street contact.  In my experience they are different.  A member referral often times have some understanding of the gospel.  they have already asked some questions.  Take special care of them.  if you do, more member referrals will come.

Love you kid!  We are supper proud of what you are doing.  I'm very happy the language is no longer a major barrier. 

Love

Dad

Sweet Emma,

It is so fun to hear about those you are teaching and how you are being yourself (I LOVE the story about how you were rapping with some teens!)  I am so impressed that you are able to learn Portuguese so quickly!  You are very blessed.  I'm proud of you for being worthy (not perfect...but worthy😊) to receive help from Heavenly Father.  Keep up the good work!

Today in the Church News, President Eyring spoke to new mission presidents.  He said to praise the missionaries for what they are becoming rather than for what they have done.  He said, "You will feel in wonderful moments that the approval of most worth is from God, who knows what you have become."  From Preach My Gospel: "When you have done your very best, you may still experience disappointments, but you will not be disappointed in yourself.  You can feel certain that the Lord is please when you feel the Spirit working through you."  President Eyring told about his experience as a missionary when he was "lead by the Spirit to a person who was prepared to receive the message...but that guidance comes most often at the end of a hard day of speaking to people and being rejected.  "It has seemed to me that the prepared person is the next one you find after you and your companion decide to keep working..."  That's when you find that you have had the Holy Ghost as your unseen companion.  That is when you will know that you do not labor alone.  That's when you find joy in the harvest with the Lord of the harvest.  And that's when you feel approval. And that is how you know your heart is changing."

So many people comment to me about how much they enjoy reading your letters.  They are wonderful!  We are all so proud of you!

Funny story from home:  Kenneth Smith got married yesterday.  They are a darling couple...but they played a trick on Nate and Gwen (who are living in Arizona with Anna and Ronald).  Kenneth sent his mom his wedding invitation and photo.  Gwen said the photo was of Kenneth and Whitney wearing hoodies in front of a cabin.  Gwen said they looked "like a bunch of hoodlums".  Gwen was very troubled that this was their wedding photo.  Being Gwen, she decided to pray to find out how to approach this.  Should she say something to them, or just look past it and love them anyway.  After about a week, she decided to let it go and just love them.  Later, when she went to visit her mom, she noticed a beautiful wedding invitation and photo on her fridge.  It was a beautiful photo of Kenneth and Whitney...the actual one they sent to everyone EXCEPT Nate and Gwen!  Rotten trick...and funny!

Eve and I had some fun at DI.  We found a Mary Poppins Coat!  We bought it to add to our costume box! (It's adult size small).  I also got a few things to update Fanny Fiddlewitch.  They invited me back to do a few shows.  I will be doing a dinner show with two other witches.  This show is geared to teens and adults (not adult content, just not kid stuff).  If you have any ideas of fun acts to get people involved, please let me know!

Stake YM/YW are starting to plan TREK for next year.  Boston Anderson got her mission call to California!  Ashlyn Memmott should have her baby anytime now.  We went to Chick-fil-A cow day with the Chandlers and the Butterfields.  We had Jacob most all week while Christie was at Girl's Camp.  Hyrum got to experience having a brother: For example, I took Cob and Hyrum to the temple, Hyrum was so tired that he fell asleep in the front seat on the way.  When we arrived, Jacob saw that Hyrum was asleep and he slapped him hard, right on the cheek and said, "wake up Bro!"  It made Hyrum laugh...and then they went into the temple.  (I thought he would've been mad!)

Anyway, I love you!  I hope you have a wonderful week!  Please know that we continue to pray for you every day!  We are so proud of who you are becoming!

💜Mom

Sweet Emma,

In my rush to finish your letter before midnight last night, I forgot a few things:

You English classes sound great!  I'm so happy thing are turning out well!  Cute idea with the sparklers!  Will you be celebrating Pioneer Day with them too?  You could teach them the "Handcart Song"...some must push and some must pull as we go marching up the hill!  Haha

I'm glad you are getting along with your ward!  Eve is having fun interacting with some of the YW in your ward!  I think she "talks" to them every day throughout the day through google translate.

When I read about your experience with the Baptist preacher, I thought of Grandma and Grandpa Barlow and how before they joined the church in Georgia, Grandpa was a Deacon in the Baptist Church.  Those whose hearts are humble enough to seek, will find!

Ukulele:  do whatever you feel is best.  You will likely have this instrument for your whole life, so make sure it is what you want.  Even if it's a bit expensive, it may be worth it.  Ask yourself, when you return from your mission, will you regret not buying it?  If the answer is "no regrets" then go ahead and buy it.  I put $300 in your account last month.  You should have enough if you decide to buy it.  Also, if you are needing anything, others who have served in Sao Paulo say you can obtain almost anything at their amazing stores, and it's much cheaper to buy it there because you don't have to pay import fees.  Because of that, if you need more $ to buy what you need, please let us know. 

Have a wonderful day!

💜Mom