25 June 2023
VOLUME 11 – NUMBER 509
Dennis Sr. with Israel in Wisconsin
Hey everyone! A couple weeks ago, I spent a week with my dad in Wisconsin, before heading back to Utah. It was so much fun being able to spend sometime with my dad. He showed us the tractor that he drives for work.
A few of his coworkers got together to BBQ, and they invited us. We had a blast. James had fun driving the four wheeler around, and Israel tried to ride a horse!
The next day, the boys and I headed out for Utah. It was such a long drive. I drove about 24-28 hours, I’d say, but it was all worth it to be close to family again.
James driving four-wheeler in Wisconsin
Camp Helaman was a total blast! I was a bit worried to go because of some past drama with some of the young men from the second ward (one of them was in my zone), but I ended up mending some things, and had a super fun time.
I got to meet some new young men throughout the stake, and now we are pretty good friends. Some of those young men include Joe and Andrew McKasson, Reid, and Wesley. They are all super cool guys, and am glad that I stepped out of my comfort zone so I could meet them.
A lot of the guys there were super girl crazy (maybe me included) but the whole time we were joking about the fact that the young women's camp was "only" 18 miles away, and that we could easily run there to say hello. I won’t lie when I say it did feel good to see girls again after camp!
I also had a good spiritual experience there. When we did the blindfolded ropes course, I may have ended up being last with Andrew, but it made finishing so much more rewarding, and meaningful.
I also liked the final testimony meeting. Hearing all of those testimonies really strengthened mine, and helps me want to strive to be more like Jesus Christ.
Monte and Quinn in their newly cleaned room
Cougar’s family planned a trip to St. George this week. Cougar had to finish his finals for the spring term so we headed out a couple days late. Cougar drove all the way there and back while I laid down in the passenger seat trying not to be sick.
When we got there we ended up spending a lot of time with the nieces and nephews, since half of the adults were sick with a stomach bug or a cold. We went swimming, and got to see Cougar’s grandparents who came over to visit on Saturday morning.
When we got home we headed up to Yarima’s for dinner. Cougar said he felt like it was his birthday because he got to eat delicious, all-you-can-eat tacos!
James and Israel on Wisconsin trip
During Sunday School, Dad taught us an amazing lesson. The topic was about getting us students to participate more, and to let the class be more of a discussion, rather than a lecture.
Dad named called it a "Potluck Lesson." He named it that because in a potluck dinner everyone brings their own food (or in this case we all study and bring our own questions or topics to discuss).
This is how the lesson worked, Dad handed out a paper plate to each of us. He then told us to study the list on the back of the paper plate, which was our Come Follow Me lesson for the coming weeks, and to check off each one when we were finished.
Dad’s pot luck plate for Sunday School
Once we were done with the back side of the plate, he told us to write down two questions or topics to discuss on the front of the plate, from what we learned during Come Follow Me.
We would bring our finished plates to our next Sunday School, and we would then write down our questions on the chalk board. Then we each put our name under one of the questions we thought we could comment on or answer.
Once we were done with the lesson, Dad handed out a few treats to those of us who did the "Potluck Dinner Lesson." (which was everyone the first Sunday).
I learned a lot from this lesson, and it inspires me to be more of a participant during classes, whatever the topic may be.
Early morning family temple trip
This week has been the best part of my summer because I had the chance to go to Camp Ester, which was stake camp for young women ages 16-18. Since I am on the stake youth committee, I was in charge of some of the parts of camp, like a devotional and a cabin.
I loved the people we had in our cabin. I felt like I made a good friendships with all of them the first day. I liked all the devotionals we had all week.
The food we had was so good and we had a soda bar every night. One of the days we had a water day and did a big water slide. We also went tubing down the river that was right next to our camp.
The nice thing about camp was that there were showers also. On the last night we had our testimony meeting. It was emotional during the whole time for a lot of us.
On Sunday I had to give a talk in my ward in Spanish, and Riley came to support me, and he really liked my talk.
Caleb and new companion, Elder King
Elder Angilau went back home and I found out that I'm staying here in Los Sauces probably another three months at least, because I'm training!
Who knows? I might just finish here! Honestly, it would be kind of cool because I would really know everyone, and after training I'll just have one transfer left! It's finally dawning on me that I've got less than three transfers left. I also have really felt that I really am among the most experienced missionaries.
Anyways, my new companion’s name is Elder King. He's from Oregon. He's super awesome. and if only I had spoken Spanish as well as he does when I got here! He's super awesome and loves being a missionary.
I feel like now my teaching and training abilities have increased and I actually have a lot of…you might call it wisdom to share. I'm excited to train, and hyped to keep serving! I am also continuing to be a district leader.
Shaiel received the Holy Ghost and priesthood last Sunday, and we're now getting ready to go to the temple next week as a branch!
Mom with granddaughter Charlie
Kai and I went to Endia's and Cougar’s this week, for a Spanish immersion week that they wanted to do for us. It was very helpful, and I was able to learn a lot more Spanish.
The rule was we had to at least say one Spanish word in every sentence, or what we were saying had to be related to something Spanish.
It was really fun. We played a video game called Overcooked in Spanish, and I learned a lot more foods. It was also really funny because sometimes we forgot the words and we were like stuttering and trying to say the words before the timer ran out on the food order we were trying to finish.
I really enjoyed spending the week at Endia and Cougars, and I hope I can go again.
Joanna and Ellie in swimming gear
Dad is our new Sunday school teacher and he makes it fun. I like dad as a Sunday school teacher. He has us do plates and we check them off when we finish the one thing. Then we write down two questions that we have.
So Dad is doing potluck, and I am not in his class, but Dad said that every one of us that are not in his class can still participate and get a treat like his class does when they finish.
When I did it, Braden came over and it took a little while. I learned what Come Follow Me was because before, I would always go straight to what it said to read, instead of reading the page first, and so from then on I was able to do Come Follow Me right.
Ashton at his new desk in the MTC
This is the first week in my new position at the MTC, and I love it! It has been a little unique because the mission presidents seminar has been going on right now, so we are working in different places at the MTC than we normally will, but it has been so neat to see some of the different general authorities and leaders of the Church this week.
Me and a lady named Melanie both started our positions this week. I am the training coordinator for non-language instruction, and she is the training coordinator for language instruction. It has been nice because she has a ton of professional experience. She has a PhD, and has worked as the dean of English programs at different colleges. I've learned a lot from her.
She is new to the MTC though, so I've been able to help her out with some of that information, and it has been a lot of fun training during such a special week. We do have to take the stairs up to the fifth floor everyday though, since the elevators are reserved for seminar use only, but it is a great way to stay conditioned!
On Friday I went on another date with Sophie. We went to go get lunch at Holy Taco, and it was really good to catch up with her! She's going to be gone for the next few weeks on family trips and as an FSY counselor, but I'm hoping we can do something again when she gets back!
Ashton with Sister Mena at the MTC
Two funny stories. First of all, a year or so ago, while eating corn bread, I was explaining to the children that in the old days, corn bread was sometimes called “corn pone.” The next time we had cornbread, Troy spoke up with enthusiasm, and said, “Can I have some more corn porn?!”
Try as we might, we could not stop giggling about that one, and occasionally Troy is reminded by the family about his slip up.
Second funny story. Recently, London and some of the other children were at Yarima’s house making amigurumi—3D crochet toys.
After they had made several items, London sent me a short video (see picture below). She was holding a corn cob in a little green husk suit. Then, she suddenly pulled the little corn cob out of its clothes, and said, “Corn porn!” Let’s just say I laughed more than a little bit at that!
London with corn porn