Connor got his favorite treat - anything Spiderman!!!!
Sunday, January 8, 2012
January 6th, 2012
Dear Family,
The work is going really good out here! Despite the occasional door slammed in our face or the born again Christian that wants to tell us that we are leading souls down to hell, things are going good.
It does not feel like Christmas at all here. It is so warm most days and everything is so green. In Texas everything dies during the winter, but here everything stays really really green. It is super weird.
Thank you so much for all the gifts. They are wonderful. Thank you for everything guys! My picture frame runs all the time that I am back at the apartment. Thank you also for the letter holder. Now all my letters are nice and organized.
(These are all answers to my incessant questions.)
I do have a laundry bag. Nana and Papa bought me one at the Missionary Mall.
We have washing machines at our apartment complex. We do our laundry every Monday morning.
Claire is a junior this year and really wants to go to U.T.
It sometimes can get into the 50's here, but it never gets colder than that and that is only at night/morning.
My favorite member dinner would probably still be Thanksgiving with the Keesters. They had such good ham and turkey and homemade stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes and yams. We just had dinner with them the other night and Br. Keester had Piano man music, so I played while he sang. That was really fun. He is a really cool guy. A smart doctor, helped me with my sprained ankle
Our bishop is an Asian German. His parents are from China, but he grew up in Germany and went to college in the USA and now teaches at UCI. He is an awesome bishop and really helps us out.
I am only over one ward. The youth here are actually pretty cool. A couple of them play ball with us on pday. There are some weird ones but not quite so many as we are used to. :)
So the short missionary in one of the pictures is Elder Gonzales and he was in our stake when President Kuttler was in the presidency. We got our Patriarchal Blessings from the same patriarch. Just thought that would be cool to let you guys know.
I love you guys so much and thank you for all that you do.
Love, Connor
January 4th, 2012
It was great to talk to you. I'm happy you got my car an oil change. I didn't know though that it needed two new tires.
(I told him we were trying to fix his showerhead in his bathroom.) Ha ha I barely noticed that it leaked. shows you how much I paid attention to the shower head. So is my room just basically storage now? Just full of boxes and stuff or is it still sorta my room still?
I am e-mailing you today instead of Monday because today is my P-day. We went to the temple today and it was amazing. It is a really cool temple.
Thank you for forwarding ALL e-mails to Jess. It isn't fair to her and I feel bad just because the system is working against her.
I hope Kate will have a good birthday. I sent her a card I hope that she gets it. Tell me how her Birthday goes and wish her a happy b-day from me.
I didn't get in any trouble hardly at all. I didn't even really know that I wasn't suppose to e-mail her. It's all good now though.
I hope Papa can recover. I want to go to the store again when I get back. I hope he can run again also. Is he just not able to hardly walk at all anymore?
It was so wonderful talking with Connor on Christmas. We were able to Sype and see him. He hadn't changed a bit. He looked healthy and happy. We all just love him so much!!!!
It was so wonderful talking with Connor on Christmas. We were able to Sype and see him. He hadn't changed a bit. He looked healthy and happy. We all just love him so much!!!!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Dad's letter to his son
Hello Son,
We are so excited to visit with you on Sunday. We have planned to miss church is that is the only time you can call. I think Mom might have mentioned that we are in church from 12-1 on Christmas day (10-11 your time). Let us know when you expect to call and then we can arrange it so we don't miss you.
We had a good weekend, I was in San Antonio for business during the week so being home with everyone was fun. We've determined that Annie is just not very smart. When we bounce a ball in front of her she get's excited and tries to get the ball. When we bounce TWO balls in front of her she freaks out and runs away. It's sooooo funny to watch. We'll have to show you the dumb Annie tricks when you get back.
The Aggies let us down on Saturday. Utah State was Playing Ohio in it's first bowl game since 1997 and lost on the last play of the game 24-23. The Aggies finished the year with a 7-6 record and lost five games by a total of 15 points. UGH! We were watching and cheering and thinking of you.
The lesson on Sunday in priesthood was number 47, Exaltation. I taught and we had a visitor from another branch. He shared the story of losing his wife to cancer two months ago and how his entire view in life is how to get back together with her in the next life. It was a moving testimony. I hope we can all be together Connor. I love you guys so much.
Can you believe Kate will be 12 on January 1? She's going into the young women's program. I swear she's grown another inch since you left. She's quite the athlete and enjoys running with Mom, and playing all sports. She still loves to dance as well. She'll be trying out for ODP soccer in early January, not sure if she'll make it but the experience should be good for her.
Jaylen and I fly to Orlando on the 30th for her Disney Showcase tournament. She will play over the new year in front of college coaches. She has written to Utah, Utah State, and BYU so far. I hope you don't hold that last one against her. When we get back we'll celebrate Kate's birthday since we will be gone on New Years.
I hope you are doing well. Tell us more about the details of your mission. None of your stories are too boring and trivial. We really love to hear from you.
May you feel our love over the holidays son and know we are always thinking of you.
Love Dad
Have fun in Disneyland!!! Will you get to go while you are there?
We are so excited to visit with you on Sunday. We have planned to miss church is that is the only time you can call. I think Mom might have mentioned that we are in church from 12-1 on Christmas day (10-11 your time). Let us know when you expect to call and then we can arrange it so we don't miss you.
We had a good weekend, I was in San Antonio for business during the week so being home with everyone was fun. We've determined that Annie is just not very smart. When we bounce a ball in front of her she get's excited and tries to get the ball. When we bounce TWO balls in front of her she freaks out and runs away. It's sooooo funny to watch. We'll have to show you the dumb Annie tricks when you get back.
The Aggies let us down on Saturday. Utah State was Playing Ohio in it's first bowl game since 1997 and lost on the last play of the game 24-23. The Aggies finished the year with a 7-6 record and lost five games by a total of 15 points. UGH! We were watching and cheering and thinking of you.
The lesson on Sunday in priesthood was number 47, Exaltation. I taught and we had a visitor from another branch. He shared the story of losing his wife to cancer two months ago and how his entire view in life is how to get back together with her in the next life. It was a moving testimony. I hope we can all be together Connor. I love you guys so much.
Can you believe Kate will be 12 on January 1? She's going into the young women's program. I swear she's grown another inch since you left. She's quite the athlete and enjoys running with Mom, and playing all sports. She still loves to dance as well. She'll be trying out for ODP soccer in early January, not sure if she'll make it but the experience should be good for her.
Jaylen and I fly to Orlando on the 30th for her Disney Showcase tournament. She will play over the new year in front of college coaches. She has written to Utah, Utah State, and BYU so far. I hope you don't hold that last one against her. When we get back we'll celebrate Kate's birthday since we will be gone on New Years.
I hope you are doing well. Tell us more about the details of your mission. None of your stories are too boring and trivial. We really love to hear from you.
May you feel our love over the holidays son and know we are always thinking of you.
Love Dad
ELDER HINCKLEY'S REPONSE
I'm excited to call you guys also!!!!
I'm excited to call you guys also!!!!
Ha ha I could have told you that Annie wasn't too smart. I was the king of teasing her. That's why she really didn't like me :)
Dangit that sucks about USU and aTm. At least USU got to go to the bowl. They are getting a good program going and that coach is really building up that team. When does Utah play and who are they playing?
Tell Jaylen that she can't go to BYU....... no ha ha it is okay I guess..... one of our investigators Bob has a daughter who is a senior in High School who is really good at soccer and he is trying to find a good college for her.
December 19th e-mail to family
I can't wait for Christmas either. I will call you in the afternoon here. My church gets out at 2:00 so I will call you after that. Can't really tell you a specific time though. I will definitely pray for papa I am glad he is doing better though. ( I had told Connor that papa had just had his hip replacement.) I'm glad Sam was able to get him taken care of.
Tell Kate I had an experience just like that during the primary program when I was her age. I hated it and felt awful and actually started to cry. I think dad was my teacher then. (I had told him about Kate messing up when she was accompanying the Activity Days girls while they sang "Picture a Christmas during Sacrament meeting.) (And I do remember Connor did the same thing while accompanying during his very last Primary Program.)
Good luck to those people who bought Grandma Jane's house, especially with that driveway of death. (I told Connor that Grandma Jane had just sold her house and moved into an assisted living apartment.)
Tell Kate I had an experience just like that during the primary program when I was her age. I hated it and felt awful and actually started to cry. I think dad was my teacher then. (I had told him about Kate messing up when she was accompanying the Activity Days girls while they sang "Picture a Christmas during Sacrament meeting.) (And I do remember Connor did the same thing while accompanying during his very last Primary Program.)
Good luck to those people who bought Grandma Jane's house, especially with that driveway of death. (I told Connor that Grandma Jane had just sold her house and moved into an assisted living apartment.)
I did get your package and it was wonderful!!!! Thank you so much. I am copying my pictures to my flash drive right now to put them on my picture frame. My sweater is perfect also for nights that it gets in the low 60s. Thank you so much and I love my letter book. Lets me read my letters that you all have sent me.
I bought a flash drive that was on sale for 10 bucks. I will be putting my pics on that and just sending it to you in the mail. It is a lot easier that way then uploading and I will try to describe everyone on the pics.
Sing Joy to the World I really like that song. (I had asked him which carol he wanted us to sing when we were at the Night Tree.)
Good luck with your party I love you and business parties sound like the dumbest parties ever. Parties for me have music dancing and board games. Maybe bring some of your own board games and music and make it a real party!!!!!!
Attached is a photo of us with Santa at the ward Christmas party.
December 12th e-mail to family part 2
Our church building has a family history center so we go there or else we would go to a library and check them there. (I asked where he checks his e-mail.)
I hope Cori finds out what she wants to do. She is waiting for a man though, a man who will sweep her off her feet be rich and smart that she can live off of lol. I'm not so great don't worry I only have one year of college under my belt that isn't much lol.
My acne is fine and doing good. I just wash my face every night and take a pill. I have an occasional zit her and there but nothing too bad.
Things are going good, besides the occasional argument with the comp it's okay. But those always happen. He gets really jealous of me and Jess when he sees how many letters Jess sends me and gets super angry and depressed usually on Thursday because I have packages and letters and he is lucky to get a letter. It is also because I am a greenie so I get a lot more mail. People say after the year mark it starts to taper off really fast lol.
We are teaching a couple people,
George Lee is married and has two kids, they are all baptized in the church and he is just the last one to baptize. He works a ton and it is hard to get in to see him and teach him. He said he want's to be baptized next year though which is good.
Bob Lewin is our eternal investigator. He has been taught by missionaries for two and a half years. He tries to trip us up on our words but he really does want to know if there is a God out there. We are working on making his prayers more meaningful and not mocking God. He is in his 50's and has a daughter who is trying to get into a college for soccer. She is really good, guest played during surf cup and guest played on the Mexican National team.
Arnold Villarvet is about 30 and has a child and is married. We have taught him four times and they have been really good. He is reading a ton of the Book of Mormon and is praying to know if it is true. He is a super scriptural and knows the Bible really well.
That is about half our investigators.
December 12th e-mail to the family
Connor must have been bored during this study session.
I miss you guys too :) Thank you so much for the package you send me it was amazing. I will have pics and more in my other e-mail. I e-mail the mission pres every week just about how I am doing and I see him usually four times a year when he has interviews with us one-on-one. The Zone Leaders go and get the mail for us at the mission office and then they give it to us on thursday during district meeting.
Sister Garlick probably has to call Nate because it is out of the country and costs too much money for Nate to call her. I get to call you though and it'll be just fine. It will be Christmas day and probably in the evening not so sure. We can also Skype. It is new this year and they have given us permission to use a members computer. So if you want to install it on dad's mac because it has a camera. I might be able to do that. We will be spending Christmas at the Kuenutsons and they are really cool couple so they said I could use their computer. More detail on that later.
December 5th email to family
Good luck on reading your scriptures. I am reading through the Old Testament right now lol it is way hard so wish me luck also. Thanks for feeding the missionaries you will be blessed for it.
150 dollars a month is plenty if we are fed every night. When we aren't fed we are in trouble. I'm making it fine though just eating a lot of chef boyardee, Mac and Cheese, and Tomato Soup. That is basically my diet right now lol.
I haven't gotten a package yet so I will probably get this Thursday. Thanks so much for sending me all this stuff. :) your amazing.
Jess did tell me you were buying her a card. Did you get my B-day card to you? That is crazy about the wind storm though. I wish I was there to see those trees be brought down. I hated going and sucking up those leaves when it was so so cold outside lol. Clare told me that Jaylen did awesome at he tryouts and that everyone agrees that she is going to be on Varsity. Tell her good job and that I am proud of her. Clare is doing well I don't know if I told you that her Grandpa died at 61 years of age. It was sudden and unexpected so she is trying to go through that right now.
What has been your favorite missionary dinner at a member's house?
Probably at the Rockers!!! That is really their legit last name. They have one son that is 16 years old. Is amazing at guitar. They love classic rock and have been to a billion concerts so I got to talk to them and they told me about Alice Cooper concerts and and what not. We also had Thanksgiving at the Keesters which was amazing she was a wonderful cook. He is a surgeon and has found the cure for scoliosis. He also takes trips down to panama to find the brass plates because he thinks that he is close to finding Moroni's library down there.
Where did you watch the General pres. Christmas message?
We aren't allowed to.
Have you gotten your white pants fixed yet?
Yes I have and they cost 17.50 :( it's okay though everything is super expensive.
Have you seen a store called Trader Joe's. That is my dream store. What is it like? I really want to go to one.
We go to it every week almost. They actually are pretty cheep and they have almond milk which Elder Catmul drinks because regular milk makes his stomach flip flop. They are such a hippie store though with organic this and organic that. You would like that store. We are lucky to have one in our area because we aren't allowed outside our area.
I guess I'll go through a regular schedule for us. I will use this last Saturday Dec. 3 as an example. Also attached are some pics of my zone and president and sister Bowen and our Stake President and his wife.
So we wake up at 6:30 and go and work out for thirty min. I usually do pull-ups, sit-ups, and push-ups. A lot of "ups" I guess. Then we only have one shower so we take turns showering while the other one eats. then at 8:00 after we get all ready and all dressed we have an hour of personal study. Then at 9:00 we have two hours of comp study. We would normally only have one hour but because I am training we get two. Then at 11:00 we have an hour lunch. At twelve we go out. On tuesday we knocked houses in the Triangle till 1:00, Then from 2:00 to 5:00 we knocked streets in turtle rock stopping back at the apartment first to use the rest room. Then from 5:00 to 6:00 we went and visited Less Active members to try and get them to come back to church. Then from 6:00 to 7:00 we went to our dinner appointment with the Ryersons and shared a message with them and invited them to pray and think about someone we could teach in their home. Then from 7:00 to 9:00 we contacted students up on UCI campus. Then at 9:00 we head back home and from 9:00 to 9:30 we plan out our next day. Then from 9:30 to 10:30 we get ready for bed then we got to bed at 10:30 and wake up and do the same thing. Sometimes we have teaching appointments during the day. They don't go more than an hour or so. I love contacting the most. That is when you don't knock on people's houses but walk up and down streets talking to people walking because I like chasing down people when they take awkward paths to avoid me. I have seen old ladies risk their lives crossing the street full of trafic to make sure she didn't have to walk by us. I just laugh and chase after her. I give everyone a pass along card :) Things are going good though.
So remember those free pair of shoes I was suppose to get from Missionary Mall. I just got them this last Thursday lol. They are really nice shoes and I wear them every Sunday because my other ones are all scuffed up because we walk so much in them. It is a bit late that they sent those though lol. Just took em like three-four months.
Love you guys and miss you tons. Pray about some one you all know and invite them to be taught in your home by the missionaries. Doesn't have to be a big thing just invite them like this. "Hey we were having the missionaries over at 3:00 next Tuesday and they were going to share a message with us. We would love it if you and your family could join us." I give you guys a challenge to do that during these next two months. It is so great for missionaries to be able to teach in a member's home. The spirit is already there and the investigators don't feel defensive because they are comfortable because you are there. So pray to know who you should invite and call in get in touch with the Elder's on this! I love you guys so much. Stay strong and be wonderful, read and pray every day!!.
Found first letter to us when he got to CA.
Hey guys. How are you? I'm on the plane to California right now. There are 14 elders with two sister on the plane going to Anaheim. Seven elders and two sisters are Spanish speaking. The rest are from my district and English speaking. When we land we will be greeted by our mission president. Then we will most likely go to the mission home and have orientation. That is where we find out all the rules and regulations for the mission. Also, we will get our trainer or our new companion for six weeks. Then we will most likely be doing street contacts or training for the rest of the day. We don't waste any time here. I am so excited to finally be out in the mission field. I am also really scared. It is going to be a huge change from the MTC. I saw Tyson Stratton a bunch before I left. He is going to the Ventura CA mission, which is two mission above me. We are about to touch down, so I'll write more tonight.
So it's October 5th now and I love being a missionary. I've maybe been out here for four days and it is awesome. I'm only allowed to send one letter a week and can only write it on p-day. P-day is Monday for us. My companion is Elder Catmul and he is awesome. He is just like me. We both love basketball and love to joke around. We are awesome missionaries though and he is really hard working and doesn't mess around. He even knows Jess and went to high school with her. We both love board games also. He even makes up his own board games just like me. That is what we are going to do on p-day and we are excited. He is an awesome trainer also. He knows his stuff and teaches me so much every day. We get along really well. We teach well together also. So Anaheim is the birth place of Anti-Mormon literature. Everyone here knows about the church and usually is full of anti propaganda. There are many great and abominable churches here just like Texas. They are all giving out sermons about the Mormons. We taught a very, very Catholic man today and he called us followers of Joseph Smith and said we changed scripture. We didn't bash with him though and his heart was softened and actually agreed to read the BofM by the end of our conversation. The Jewish people hate us here and yell at us in Hebrew all the time. The members here are so amazing though. Every single night we are fed wonderful meals. The ward mission leader is awesome also. I am doing awesome and I love you all so much. This church is so true and you guys are amazing. I love you.
Love, Connor
p.s. Can you send out my mech warrior game? We want to play it on p-day. It should be in a shoe box on my shelf in my closet. Don't worry it isn't against the rules and we only play board games on Monday. Thanks so much.
So it's October 5th now and I love being a missionary. I've maybe been out here for four days and it is awesome. I'm only allowed to send one letter a week and can only write it on p-day. P-day is Monday for us. My companion is Elder Catmul and he is awesome. He is just like me. We both love basketball and love to joke around. We are awesome missionaries though and he is really hard working and doesn't mess around. He even knows Jess and went to high school with her. We both love board games also. He even makes up his own board games just like me. That is what we are going to do on p-day and we are excited. He is an awesome trainer also. He knows his stuff and teaches me so much every day. We get along really well. We teach well together also. So Anaheim is the birth place of Anti-Mormon literature. Everyone here knows about the church and usually is full of anti propaganda. There are many great and abominable churches here just like Texas. They are all giving out sermons about the Mormons. We taught a very, very Catholic man today and he called us followers of Joseph Smith and said we changed scripture. We didn't bash with him though and his heart was softened and actually agreed to read the BofM by the end of our conversation. The Jewish people hate us here and yell at us in Hebrew all the time. The members here are so amazing though. Every single night we are fed wonderful meals. The ward mission leader is awesome also. I am doing awesome and I love you all so much. This church is so true and you guys are amazing. I love you.
Love, Connor
p.s. Can you send out my mech warrior game? We want to play it on p-day. It should be in a shoe box on my shelf in my closet. Don't worry it isn't against the rules and we only play board games on Monday. Thanks so much.
Connor's Birthday Card to his mom
November 28, 2011
I love you mom. You're awesome and amazing. Thank you for everything you have done for me and given me to make me into who I am today. The life lessons, the skills, and the love you have given me have helped me out so much on my mission so far. I don't think I could have done this or gotten this far without you. I know you love to read so I got you a card with a bookmark so when you mark your page you can think of me. I hope you have a good birthday and don't have to drive around everywhere for soccer and dance. Just know that I will be thinking of you. Mom you're wonderful in everything you do and I love you. Have a super amazing birthday.
Love,
Connor Boy
(Boy, I love my Connor boy!!!!!!)
I love you mom. You're awesome and amazing. Thank you for everything you have done for me and given me to make me into who I am today. The life lessons, the skills, and the love you have given me have helped me out so much on my mission so far. I don't think I could have done this or gotten this far without you. I know you love to read so I got you a card with a bookmark so when you mark your page you can think of me. I hope you have a good birthday and don't have to drive around everywhere for soccer and dance. Just know that I will be thinking of you. Mom you're wonderful in everything you do and I love you. Have a super amazing birthday.
Love,
Connor Boy
(Boy, I love my Connor boy!!!!!!)
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