16 July 2023
VOLUME 11 – NUMBER 512
Youth of stake visiting tabernacle
This week we went to the Tabernacle as a service project with our ward. They have a life-size Old Testament tabernacle set up on a church property in West Valley, and they invited stake youth groups to come and be the tour guides for it.
We went the night before to tour the tabernacle so we could kind of learn the rules and figure out what they wanted us to do when we were there.
Then when we got there the next morning, we had to dress up in our Sunday clothes. Each of us had a post where we would stand, and when visitors walked through your area, we would teach them about the thing that was there.
I was at the laver of water with Isaac and Tegan Kemp. We were outside in the courtyard of the tabernacle, so we were out in the sun for about two hours. It's kind of good, though, because I have new Sunday clothes that are very breathable.
Ward young men camp
This weekend, we also went to young man's campout for our ward. Dad is an unofficial young men’s advisor (the bishop is afraid to call Dad officially, since he is the stake clerk, and Obispo doesn’t want to get in trouble with the stake president!), so he was able to come with us.
It was kind of cool, because we took the Tesla with our little trailer attached, and because there was a charger about 10 minutes down from the camp, we had no charging issues (not like our famous father’s and son’s Tesla campout disaster in 2022!).
Tessie with camping trailer attached
Dad slept in the Tesla at night, which he said was pretty nice, and we also brought our family 12’ x 24’ tent, so that all twelve of the young men could sleep in the same tent on our bunk cots.
I really liked the campout, and we had some cool devotionals and had a lot of fun. We played a ton of volleyball (sometimes with a young women’s group that also had camp in the same area)
We did an obstacle course thing that was super cool, except that I cut the back of my knee open while doing it and I had to kind of walk on one leg the whole way.
Isaac on obstacle course at camp
For our ward activity we went to see the Old Testament tabernacle and to get a tour of it, and then the next day we had to talk about it while people came to see it.
We all had a script to say, and it was out of my confert zone, because I don't really like talking to people that I don't know, but it was a really fun and cool experience.
Free Slurpees on 7-11 day
This week was 7-Eleven day, and we got free slurpies. I got a Coke, with some fruit and other slush in it, and my hands got pretty sticky, but it was delicious.
I know it has taken me a while but I have almost finished the second book of Beyonders. It is so good! After that I'm going to read the Hunger Games. I can't wait.
This week we also went on the 5th Ward young mens Ward Campout, and it was great, we brought our tent, and cots, and slept in them. We had scheduled activities each day, and they were all great.
One of the days we went to the archery range, and me and another person in our ward named Marcelo, hit a bullseye.
Isaac’s bullseye at camp
We also played a lot of volleyball, like a lot. On the last day, while we were playing, there was this bee that kept chasing me around. It would fly by my ear and I would shoo it away, but it would keep coming back.
Eventually, when I left the volleyball court, it flew over to my ear, and I shooed it away, but I actually hit it! I panicked, I ran straight back up to the camp as fast as I could. When Dad pulled up with the car, I got in. It was all really fun though.
Volleyball at ward young mens camp
I went to the temple again with Elizabeth, Aiden, Riley, and Monte. On Tuesday we went to go see Sound Of Freedom. That movie made me cry in the parts when the brother and sister reunited with their father.
We also had a stake activity, where we went to the Old Testament tabernacle and walked though it. Wednesday we had to be the people who explained the area that were were in. I was with Levi Weber and Erik Bucio from the 1st Ward.
I also went to see Newsies at Hale Centre Theatre, and it was mind blowing to see it! I really liked it.
I also went to Lagoon with Riley, Austin, Ben, Alex, Tyler. We went to Lagoon-A-Beach for a little, which was nice because it was pretty hot. After that, we went on rides.
Then we went and got dinner and headed home. I went to Riley's house after Lagoon and we watched a movie and then I went home.
Ward young mens camp
The youth of our stake participated in the Old Testament Tabernacle. We didn't just walk through it, we were the tour guides. We would read a script and then ask questions. I had a good time, although it was pretty hot.
Breakfast on young mens camp
Tuesday, Braden and I went to go see the new Mission Impossible movie. It was so good! Braden recommended a couple of the movies leading up to it to get me caught up to speed before seeing it, so on Monday night I watched the sixth Mission Impossible.
For those of you that haven't seen it, I won't spoil anything, but there is a scene in the movie that perfectly sets up another thing that happened this week...
While there was no motorcycle or high speed chase involved, thankfully the connecting link between the scene and Saturday morning was a PARACHUTE!
Ashton, London, Brit, Brianna skydiving
We actually went skydiving this time! It was unreal. There's no way to really describe what it was like, other than that it was awesome! I would definitely do it again.
I was not nearly as nervous as I thought I would be, since the last time we weren't able to go I was pretty nervous, but this time I don't know if my mind just didn't comprehend was was actually happening, but it was such a neat experience.
We were free falling for about a minute and then when the shoot was pulled, the guy I was with let me steer and do some tricks with the chute and I was definitely smiling the whole time. I would recommend it to anyone!
Ashton, London, Brit, Brianna skydiving
On Saturday London and Ashton went skydiving and after that, they picked us up to come visit them for a little while. First, we went to the park to get all sweaty.
We played top secrets agent where we would have to go around the obstacles and come back. We couldn't touch the ground, and the bars were hot, so we couldn't touch them for long.
We finished and then we did a rope sit on wheel. It could pick up fast, and it was scary because you might fall off.
Then we went to the splash pad. It was really cold water. We all went under the bucket, and it felt nice and refreshing. Then we did a water ballon fight and volleyball with towels.
We also built a fort and had dinner and watched Kung Fu Panda. It was very funny. In the morning we went to church with them, and then went home. It was an awesome weekend.
Youth of stake visiting tabernacle
We went to the dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Point with my friend from high school. Ellie was thrilled! She especially loved the interactive displays and spent a long time playing.
I loved watching her enjoy herself while catching up with my friend. We spent a couple hours there and probably could've stayed longer if Ellie had her way.
We got some ice cream after, which made Ellie more willing to leave the museum. It was a fun day and definitely wore Ellie out!
Ward young mens campout
There still isn’t much going on for me. I’m feeling a little less sick and Cougar is staying really busy with school and work.
We were able to make it to the temple this week. I don’t think I was quite ready for it though, because I almost passed out, and a couple helped catch me from behind before I made my way out of the room. I ended up throwing up in the hallway. I’m sure these will all be great funny stories some day…
Cougar goofing off at a family dinner
It would've been cool to be in two places at once this week. On sunday in the town of Puren, Daniel, the boy who was baptized last week, got confirmed a member of the church of Jesus Christ and also received the gift of the Holy Ghost. Sadly we couldn't be there, but we were here in Los Sauces seeing a lot of miracles.
A couple we're teaching (one is a member and the other has a baptismal date set) came to church after a little over a week of us not being able to contact them!
They invited is to their house and told us they would be going to Argentina next week for a little vacation and wanted to attend church there!
Caleb, Elder King, and the cows
We also found sweet family while looking for some members that have distanced themselves from the church.
One of the kids is named Bruno. He’s nine and probably has ADHD, but he also has a photographic memory. He is so funny, but also close to God. Pabla is his 15-year-old sister who's really kind. Matias was baptized nine years ago and is now 25. All three of them came to an activity on Saturday night and it was awesome.
While walking people home that night at about 9:00pm, we ran into some members from a town that's about three hours from here that were stranded with a troubled car! Fortunately we helped them get a mechanic, and we went on our way.
We are down here gathering God's chosen children! Love you guys take care!
Youth of stake visiting tabernacle
Well, its’ official. Over the past couple weeks, I have informed my direct supervisor that I will be leaving, and the president of the company also sat down to talk with me.
I will be working at AtlasRTX through mid-August, and then I will use up my last couple of weeks of vacation, and I’ll move on to exciting and a bit scary new adventures!
This was a busy week for our children. We had the youth of the stake involved in the Old Testament Tabernacle, and Monte, Isaac, Kai, and I spent three days on a young mens campout. It was great spending time with all my youth-aged children this week.
Hill boys at ward young mens camp