5 June 2022
VOLUME 10 – NUMBER 455
Boys playing video games at the Boys’ Bash
Christian
All the boys (except for Troy and Quinn) went to a boys’ bash with Ashton, like what Braden used to do every year. Before we all went to the place, we had to decide where we wanted to go. Ashton showed us three different places where we could go.
One place had a small TV on the wall, but it had nice beds, so that was my first pick. The second had a normal TV and a ping pong table which was also cool. The third had a huge movie screen on the wall. They were all cool places, but in the end, we chose the third one with the huge screen. It was really cool playing on such a huge screen.
There was also a trampoline in the backyard, and we brought Spikeball with us so that we could go outside sometimes. The new game we played on Monte’s new PlayStation 4 was called It Takes Two. It was a really fun game, because you had to really work together to finish the game. I really enjoyed the retreat and am grateful that Ashton did this with us.
Endia and Cougar
Endia
New Haven, where I work, is a program that takes about a year to complete, because that amount of time helps students make a more permanent change that sets them up for the best success in their future. Because of this, I get really close to all of the students and get to really know and love them.
This week was the transition or graduation of two of our students. I have worked a lot with both of them, and with their parents, so I was so happy to see all of them together, going home to start the next part of their lives. I love to see all of the growth that they made individually and together, and it is the most rewarding experience working here!
It is also very sad for me, because transitioning means that they leave, they get to move on, and I don’t really get to see them again. With two transitioning, and a third student leaving the program it has been a very emotional, but fulfilling week at work.
Endia with a parrot
After work one day, I went to a park to start my run and saw an old man sitting at a table…with a beautiful bird perched on his shoulder! I walked up to him and started talking and he let the bird come over and hang out on my shoulder for a minute! He was such a nice man, and I could tell that he really loved and took care of his bird, King.
King said hello to me and waved and even did a funny little dance. I also got to see him and the man fake fight together, which made me laugh. It was such an amazing and unexpected experience, and I couldn’t help but smile for hours afterwards!
Cougar came down this weekend for his niece’s baby blessing, and since his class was cancelled, he was able to come earlier than expected on Friday! We went out to a duck pond where we saw a bunch of geese and baby goslings! In the evening we watched Coco, because he had never seen it before, and I cried like I always do during that movie.
Quinn and Joanna at Smith party
On Saturday, I still had to work, but as soon as I was done, I went to the last bit of his nephew’s Spiderman birthday party. On Sunday we helped set up for a baby blessing luncheon at a park in Provo. It was just Cougar and I at the park for a little while, so we played around on some of the equipment until other people showed up.
After church we went to West Jordan, so that Cougar could meet Braden and Brooke while they are in town. Because some of my siblings have been cast in a Book of Mormon video about the Ammonite people, we listened to Dad share the story of the Ammonite fathers and the stripling warriors, to help them prepare for the scene. I love that story so much and think that their faith and love of Christ and their covenants is admirable!
We played a fun new game with Braden and Brooke, and then Cougar had to head out. Then Braden, Ashton, Dad and I played a good game of Acquire that Dad won, but we were well matched.
Ellie eating McDonalds with uncles
Dad / Arkin
On Saturday, Cougar took Jenny and I out to lunch. We had a very enjoyable time, and it was great to get to know him a little better. We are so happy that Endia has him in her life!
Caleb with missionaries and members
Caleb
To start off, this week was really wet! It rained a bunch, and I was basically soaked about a good 60% of the time. Just today we went to the store and bought some good rain jackets and pants, so now I'm a little excited to get outside in the rain and try them out. Ja ja! [Ha ha! in Spanish]
This week was pretty good. Many people in the ward are so kind and awesome! Our bishop and his family are amazing examples of love and service! Also, another member, who does a pretty good "asaito" (BBQ), has waterproof shoes that, if they fit me, he'll gift them to me. But there's a little bit about that!
We've slowed a bit with being able to find people, but we're planning on serving by teaching English classes. We have two people that we're already teaching that have also said they would like to practice or learn more English. So, this week we looked a lot more into doing it and are preparing to do something this Friday.
Caleb with missionaries and members
Also, we're trying to plan some fútbol games to meet more people and their friends. That will be a lot of fun and I'll have to learn some good fútbol tricks. Ha ha!
But yeah, me and my companion have come a long way with our chemistry, and oneness in teaching, so that's good. It's pretty great how far you can come with just serving and loving!
I'll end with this. I'm grateful to be a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ! We're more blessed than we know, just for being members of His church and living his Gospel. God will bless you and complete His promises!
Caleb with missionaries and members
Monte
On Tuesday, me and two of my friends went to Lagoon amusement park. This is the first time I used my Lagoon season pass. It was so much fun, but motion sickness always gets me. It was nothing a little Arby's couldn't solve J. I ate lunch, had a nice drink and it rejuvenated me. We went on so many rides and had so much fun.
A day before, I bought a PlayStation4. It is amazing. I love it, and the first game I got was Insomniac's "Spider-Man." It is so fun! I also bought a game called "It Takes Two," which was an amazing idea.
We mainly played that at the Boys’ Bash (boys go and play video games for three days). It was such a cool two-player game, and the story was amazing. I think that I got the most sleep out of all the boys.
Misha and Israel
London
I have been doing a lot of family history work recently, and I have really loved finding out more about my ancestors whose names I take to the temple. I have tried to be better about seeing them as the real people that they are, rather than just a name on a piece of paper.
To do this, I started looking at the sources attached to each person on Family Search, and using those details to learn more about them. Looking at the actual sources often gives more insight into their lives. I record all the information I learn about them and their family in a spreadsheet where I keep track of all the ordinances I have reserved.
Once I'm ready to go to the temple for those people, I write down their story on the back of the ordinance card, so that I can remember who is who. This has also helped me to think of them and why these ordinances may be important to them.
Grandma Arlene with Israel
Last week, Ashton and I went to perform sealings for five of my ancestors. It seemed like a random group of women, but I ended up helping one ancestor from each of my grandparents' lines, which was pretty cool! I let Ashton read their stories while we were waiting to begin.
After the first daughter was sealed to her parents, the sealer noticed the writing on the back of the card and asked where I got all the information. I explained to him what I do to find their stories, and he seemed very touched. He then took 30 seconds or so before each sealing to read the snippet I had recorded about that person.
I felt so much more connected to those individuals as I was reminded about them and their lives. I love the temple, and I'm so grateful for the blessings that can be received there, both for the living and the dead!
Visiting Mabel’s puppies
Alex
We recently had a Boys’ Bash with Ashton! It was awesome we got to do video games with him, like It Takes Two and more. We had treats, and our screen that we had for video games was huge. We also did some Spikeball games, and played on the trampoline. We did Twister and we were laughing a lot.
Also, at home I drew a chalk drawing of the mountains in the forest, combined with a canyon. I don't know why I did it, but I just thought that it would be a really fun and cool idea. When Dad saw it, he really liked it, and asked me to write about it!
Alex’s chalk drawing
Troy
This week was really fun because we got to go and get to see Mable and her puppies. They were so cute, and we got hold Mable’s puppies and give them Marvel character names.
We also got to see Jezzy's puppies, and name them Star Wars names. One of the puppies with a red collar was Darth Maul, and another was Darth Vader, because it had a black collar.
Troy visiting puppies
Gloria
Having a fish has been the best! I play with him by putting my finger close to the tank, and Eddie follows it. For our activity on Wednesday, we made our trek bucket lid cushions.
We also got to have James and Israel for the week that Jen was gone in California. It was fun spending time with them and taking care of them. Vanessa, Veidi and I set up the tent in the backyard, and Saturday we went to two birthday parties.
Family at Smith birthday party
Vanessa
While the boys were gone with Ashton, me, Gloria, Veidi, Quinn, Troy, and Joanna stayed home and watched our TV show. We like watching Manifest with Mom. It is a really awesome show so far. Veidi and I also played Lego Star Wars, and it was pretty fun.
We also had James and Israel. While we were playing, Quinn said that his neck was burning like a hot dog! We also went to the park and played with the kids. Veidi, Gloria, and I set up a tent in the backyard and slept in it that night.
Quinn at Smith birthday party
Veidi
Me, Quinn, Joanna, Troy, Mom, and Dad went to go see Mable and her puppies. They got bigger than last time. They could open their eyes and almost their ears. We had fun pretending to name Mable's and Jezzy's puppies.
Mable's puppy group was Avengers, and we did the color of their collar for each character. For Jezzy's puppy group we did Star Wars. Me, Gloria, and Vanessa went to Bella Rosenlof's birthday party and we did Jackbox. We also played Truth or Dare, and then we listened to music while we played games.
Boys playing spikeball at Smith party
Kai
Me and the boys went on a boys’ retreat. We stayed in an AirBnB. We played a lot of video games. We also jumped on a trampoline in the backyard, while playing Spikeball.
We got a game called It Takes Two. It is a really well-thought-out game and I really liked it. Monte also bought a Star Wars game called Battle Front. I had a great time at the boys’ retreat!
Boys retreat