Another Week in the life of Elder B

I cannot believe how fast the weeks seem to fly by! I am absolutely amazed. I am approaching my 11 month mark (like 2 weeks away) and it seems like it was yesterday I went into the MTC! Where have the past 11 months gone? Truly interesting how time seems to fly by when one is truly focused on the eternal scheme of life and progress. There's my profound thought for the day, I'm done.

I have been so tired lately. I realized that it has a LOT to do with the amount of water I drink. The heat here is getting WORSE. I don't know how that it possible, nor why it happens, but it does. Semana Santa, the Holy Week, is coming, and supposedly that is the hottest week here in Nicaragua. We'll see how I handle it all.

Okay, now to get going...

Funny Experience:

SO this week my companion and I were walking to visit one of the families that we are teaching. We were walking to their house rather quickly to inform them that we would be arriving a little bit later that night with a member to talk to them and help teach them. We were on the road walking when we saw a bucket full of tar with rocks and stuff all over it. I thought nothing of it, as we see trash all over the place in the city, and so we kept walking. Soon enough, we walk up to a drunk man, also a very common occurrence here, but this one was different. This man looked crazed, there was something really wrong about his whole person. He got close to me, touched my shirt and name tag and told me that i had to give him 20 cordobas, i.e. 1 dollar. I told him no, and hit his hand off of me (mind you, he looked like Satan incarnate). He pestered my companion, so we decided to keep walking. We took about 5 steps and the man started to STONE my companion! I was absolutely amazed. He literally threw rocks at us and hit my companion. Well, our investigators came outside and started yelling, throwing rocks and sticks and saying mean things to this Satan man in Miskitu. He fled and we remained completely surprised.

We also witnessed the biggest guilt trip from the Aunt of one of our investigators when we asked her if he could get baptized. She went off on how he knew who he was, when and where he was baptized, but that he could make his own decision. Then, we went to go take him to church and he had "left with the pastor" of the Evangelical church. Apparently the Aunt didn't notice anything, she was too busy working inside the house that she didn't notice that anybody had come or gone. Lie #1. She then said that she didn't know why the pastor had come by to visit her nephew (question: how did she know that the pastor came to visit her nephew if she never saw either one?) and that maybe it was because he hadn't been to church in a while. Lie #2. She drove me nuts. So, actually being polite, I said thanks and left with my companion.

Quote of the Week:

"I told you that I was teaching a family in your area and that they were going to get baptized." Favorite line of the week.

"Do any of you have questions about the Priesthood?" -My companion asking a question to Melchizedek Priesthood holders. Silence. Then the response: "What's the Priesthood?" Classic.

Lesson Learned:

This week was full of lessons. Mainly I learned the following: never trust a missionary. They will do anything to baptize, they will do anything to be right, and they will not hesitate to be brutal about pretending to be honest. My companion and I have had some funny experiences with the missionaries in our zone this week. I find them funny and slightly frustrating at the same time, but this is a time of growth and learning, so I'll enjoy it while it lasts.

I also learned that the reasons why I have dreams that I am at home. #1: I am afraid, deep down inside, of going home and being out of the expereinces here in the mission and having to deal with my own personal problems instead of the problems of others. #2: It's so that I can secretly escape my mission and do things i used to do like read books, watch movies with my family, go to church in a well-established area, being protected by the law, you name it. So keep comin dreams!

I love this place, the culture, the languages and the many opportunities that I have to become a better person and to work really hard. I love you all so very much and hope that you might find happiness and success this week in your lives.

Sincerely,

Elder B

From Alan Pitts

Dear Cuz:
How are you, I think of you so often and do trust that you are doing well.
Do you remember the UTOCO service station across from the Ford Dealer in Price?
I worked there and the price of gas was 32.9 cents/gallon.
I long for the old times with my current rate of pay of course.
I'm headed for SLC to visit my mother, this coming weekend. It's the weekend that my sisters all (3) have decided to go to Hawaii for  short vacation.
I've never been and would like to go there as well as Israel and other places.
Hope you are well.

Love you
alan

Al Pitts
Manufacturing Engineering

My New Address Should be Holiday Inn

Ann Olsen wrote: Great thinking!  Just one question:  Could I please share a room with you, Myrna?  There would never be a dull moment & we could live it up in our old age!   (I better start saving up!)

Love,  Ann

Ann wrote in response to a humorous little piece circulating on the internet that suggests, instead of going to a nursing home, folks should check into a Holiday Inn! With the average cost for a nursing home care costing $188.00 per day when they get old.

Reservations at the Holiday Inn, for a combined long term stay discount and senior discount, are $49.23 per night.  That leaves $138.77 a day for: Breakfast, lunch and dinner in any restaurant, or room service, laundry, gratuities and special TV movies.  Plus, they  provide a spa, swimming pool, a workout room, a lounge and washer-dryer, etc.   Most have free toothpaste and razors, and all have free shampoo and soap.  

After several paragraphs it ends:
So, when we reach that golden age,  
we'll face it with a grin.  
Just forward all our email  to:
The Holiday Inn.  

General Conference Week

Funny Story:

This week I went to visit some people the we had invited to church but NEVER expected to come. They arrived for the Sunday afternoon session of conference and then left right after the closing prayer, not giving me time to catch up to them. We went to their house afterword and started talking to them about conference and stuff. After a while we were talking about the different people that I knew in the area. I mentioned that I knew a few of the witches in that particular part of town and the woman just started laughing uncontrollably! I didn't know what happened, so I waited until she stopped and then she just said, "I have lived here for a very long time and I only know one witch. She doesn't even do witchcraft anymore. How is it that you know like 4 just in this area?" I started laughing and realized something...I find the WEIRDEST people to teach here in Puerto.

Quote of the Week:

"Well, looks like all of the Apostles have just macheted all of us execpt for Bolton. He wanted to get married right after stepping off the plane." Yes, I want to get married...what of it? Hahaha. (Don't get it...go to www.lds.org and look at half of the addresses that tell men their first objective after serving a mission is getting married.)

Learning Experience:

This week I had an extraordinary experience. I was teaching a family that my companion and I are teaching. We went with the intention of helping the woman to know that can, in fact, be baptized again. We brought a Miskitu-speaking member to teach the couple. The woman, in time, changed as did the man; their faces looked very different. They were learning in their ownlanguage and were learning truth. Eventually, the member told me that the man would like to tell me something. I told him to speak in his own language and I'd gladly try to understand what he was saying. He began to say that for six months has been praying to know what the Lord wants him to do and exactly six months after he started to pray, we arrived at his house. I testified with power and authority that I clearly felt that I came to his house not by chance, but to help, to answer his prayer. When I met him I was looking for his wife's cousin, but I found his wife and she said I should come back to talk to her husband. What a miracle, how extraordinary! I followed the voice of spirit, and now I am helping a special child of God. I learned that I can have "Preach My Gospel" experiences in my mission, as bizarre as it is.

Well, I absolutely loved conference this time. I saw Every. Single. Session. Yeah. Crazy luck, especially here in this crazy place. The power went out right before the Priesthood session, but after the missionaries in the chapel prayed the power came back on, the satelite warmed up and we only missed one talk! I learned so much and had ALL of my stupid little "life questions" answered. I am so excited to see conference again in six months, but even more excited to get the English sopy of the conference addresses!

P.S. We were sneaky this year and watched it all in English! SO cool!

Love you all so much and wishing you all success in your lives as you try to become more like Christ, become stronger Saints, and as you try to fight through life's many and varied problems.

Much love,

Elder B

Articles of Faith Easter Egg Hunt

Melanie wrote: Thanks! This gave me some ideas for the scavenger hunt that I am in charge of for the Beehives/Deacons this Tuesday. I had the clues all put together, but didn't know how to hide them. I will hide them in plastic eggs! Fabulous!

Melanie

Myrna wrote: I was hoping it might help all of you with your callings. It sounded great to me but not the kind of thing I can use in Temple Prep.

From an article, curiously enough, written by someone named Melanie: Divide everyone into two teams. Place all of the articles of faith on the same color paper. Choose a color for each team. Place the articles in the eggs with the candy. Tell everyone that they may only keep the color of their team. If they find another color have them replace it into the egg and move on. When the team has assembled all 13 pieces of paper have them place the articles in order. So by now you know that you do not place a number on the article. The team has to work together to order the articles. First team to have all the articles in order is the winner. (Kate)

 What I did was print two copies of the Articles of Faith cards without the numbers and cut them out into individual articles. I had 42 old plastic eggs, which I could divide by "warm colors" and "cool colors" (pink, yellow, orange and green, blue, purple) into 2 teams. I put each Articles of Faith in an egg, along with some candy, for the other eggs, I just put candy (no chocolate, because we live in Arizona). Then I hid the eggs in my backyard.  Each team had to find only their color eggs, and then, when all were found, dump out each egg into a bowl, get the papers, and number the articles from one to thirteen. Then they split the candy evenly into Ziploc baggies. (Amanda Evans)

 Article of Faith Egg Hunt

 I did one the other day that turned out pretty well. I divided each Article of Faith up into seven pieces. Then I numbered the eggs. Each girl was assigned specific numbers to look for. For example, one had to look for eggs number 1, 2, and 3. It was a lot of fun because they tried to not let the other girls see where they were looking if the egg wasn't theirs. Anyway, after all the eggs were found then we went in and tried to put them into order. I of course helped, I had a couple of older girls who happened to be there and so they helped the younger ones. After they were done putting them into order we read them out loud to make sure we put them together right. The 13th egg I divided so each girl had to find only 2 pieces of it and then we put it in order together. It was a lot of fun! (Cathy Updike)

Poetry Punctuation

Kirsten, I am seeking your help. Should the comma after wept be a period instead?

Easter Morn
First Easter morn, a world asleep,
Awake, arise, all you who weep.
For on this holy day we find,
Our Savior, Lord, freed all mankind.
Saved from death all those who wept,
Emmanuel His promise kept.
~Myrna Trauntvein


Kirsten wrote: I guess it depends on your meaning.  If I remember right, poetry doesn't have to follow the same rules, right?  On first line, I would end with a semicolon or period.  Change the comma on "For on this holy day," instead of "for on this holy day we find,".  I might do semicolon after wept because your joining the two concepts.

Does that help?

Love you!
Kirsten


Myrna wrote: Thank you! I read and re-read and decided to ask for help. I just now remembered that, if you write it out as sentences it helps. You were right on. Actually, it is better if poetry follows the same punctuation rules as regular writing. Word order can be changed for poetic effect but not punctuation.

Easter Morn
First Easter morn, a world asleep. Awake, arise, all you who weep. For on this holy day we find, Our Savior, Lord, freed all mankind; saved from death all those who wept. Emmanuel His promise kept.

(Unless, of course, you are e.e. cummings.)


Kirsten wrote: Why did you choose to place the comma before "Our Savior?"  I think it reads fine without it.  Wondering if you did it for emphasis.

Kirsten


Myrna wrote: I did it for emphasis. I hope that was the right choice. When I was young, I didn't worry so much about little things. Age has made me concerned over little commas. I just realized that I misunderstood your advice of, "Change the comma on 'For on this holy day,' instead of 'for on this holy day we find,'." The following is what you were thinking, right? UGH! I have now run it off and I don't know that I want to do it again. It is my verse for the Easter cards.


Easter Morn (This is your idea of the punctuation?)
First Easter morn, a world asleep.
Awake, arise, all you who weep.
For on this holy day, we find
Our Savior, Lord, freed all mankind.
Saved from death all those who wept;
Emmanuel His promise kept.


(This is what I did.)
First Easter morn, a world asleep.
Awake, arise, all you who weep.
For on this holy day we find,
Our Savior, Lord, freed all mankind.
Saved from death all those who wept.
Emmanuel His promise kept.


I just realized that the first line needed the punctuation changed from a period back to a semicolon or else it would be a sentence fragment. Do you know me? Do I have a name? I swear I am just wearing a box on my shoulders. It's an empty one at that.

First Easter morn, a world asleep;
Awake, arise, all you who weep.
For on this holy day we find,
Our Savior, Lord, freed all mankind;
Saved from death, all those who wept.
Emmanuel His promise kept.
~Myrna Trauntvein


Kirsten wrote: I don't think so.  I think you were right with the period.  I thought fragments were ok in poetry if they were complete thoughts.  Does that make sense?  I might do a colon, because you need two complete thoughts for the semicolon to work.  First Easter morn, (describes the morn)  a world asleep.  Awake!  Arise!  All you who weep.  If I were writing that for an introduction to a story, I would leave them as independent thoughts.  The punctuation should be used to help the reader know how to "speak" it.  Right?

I think how you had it was fine.  Don't stress so much.  I find mispunctuation in scriptures even. :)

Two Easter Poems

Did Jesus Really Live Again?,

Did Jesus really live again?

Yes, when the third day came,

He wakened and he left the tomb;

He called Mary’s name.

Did Jesus come to those he loved?

Yes, people touched his feet,

And of the fish and honeycomb

He did truly eat.

And there were nail-prints in his hands

And a spear wound in his side.

Did Jesus really live again

After he had died?  Oh yes! And so shall I!

Words: Mabel Jones Gabbott

On a Golden Springtime

On a golden springtime,

underneath the ground,

A tiny seedling lay asleep

until the sun shone down.

Awake, awake, O little seed!

Push upward to the light!

The day is bright.

With all your might,

push upward to the light!

On a golden springtime,

Jesus Christ awoke

And left the tomb

where he had lain;

the bands of death he broke.

Awake, awake, O sleeping world!

Look upward to the light,

For now all men may live again.

Look upward to the light!

On a golden springtime,

in a forest glade,

The Father & the Son appeared

as Joseph knelt and prayed.

Awake, awake, O nations all!

Receive the gospel light!

The gospel true is here for you.

Receive its glorious light!

Words by Virginia Maughan Kammeyer

Helen's 80th Birthday

Myrna wrote: Did you mean to send the link that was enclosed?


Nanci wrote: No.... sooo sorry... this email has been hacked.  I can't stop it.  Please disregard.  However, also let me know a good Saturday in July that you guys could come up for my mom's bday asap.  thank you!!!  xxoo  still trying to pull off a surprise
 xoxo
Nanci

Myrna wrote: Nanci, we do have the church for the your mom's birthday. It is all reserved and ready. We warned the caretaker that it was a SURPRISE and to not tell your mom.

We have arranged everything for her actual birthday. In addition to the church, we have made several other arrangements. 

Pineapple Walnut Cake

Ingredients
2 c all purpose flour
2 c sugar
2 large eggs
1 c walnuts, lightly chopped
1 can(s) crushed pineapple (20 oz)
1 heaping teaspoon of baking soda
FROSTING
1 bar cream cheese
1 stk butter, softened
1 c powdered sugar
Directions
1 Grease and flour a bunt pan, Preheat oven to 325. 2 Mix your dry ingredients together and set aside. Add the wet ingredients to the dry. 3 Pour in to well greased and floured bunt pan, and bake at 325. I never recieved a baking time from him, I just kept an eye on the cake and stuck a tooth pick in to check for doneness. 4 Let cake sit for about 10 min, remove cake from pan and let cool completely. Make frosting , cover your cake and enjoy.

BYUtv - Turning Point: The Clarks & Eagle Eyes

Myrna Trauntvein wrote:

You will want to watch this: BYUtv - Turning Point: The Clarks & Eagle Eyes
http://www.byutv.org/watch/2164-101?sms_ss=mailto&at_xt=4d9403 =


Kirsten wrote: Oh my gosh, Mom!  I have been sitting here crying for the past 20 minutes watching this.  How incredible!  The gifts our heavenly father gives each of us are so amazing!  Thank heavens for people who enrich their talent an don't just bury it.  So are you and dad up for 11 more? :)

Love,
Kirsten


Myrna wrote: I watched it all, crying, as you did. It is so wonderful that there are special angels on this earth. I SHOULD have done more but, at 70, I'll bet the adoption agencies would just laugh at me. I wish that I had the technological knowledge to do something as wonderful as freeing the minds of those who were trapped in low-functioning bodies.