Please show support to our Family Missionaries:
Elder Cory Metcalf
Sister Marilyn Orme
3738 Glen Oak Boulevard #14
Sioux City, Iowa 51104
Landline: 712-239-1651
Missionary cell: 412-204-3055
****************************************************
Dear Family,
Ok, this is a really lame letter, but I am in the middle of finishing up my masters this Saturday and I have no time to write—but I did want to let you know (with some encouragement from sarah.. ;) that I got engaged January 24th.. it’s official, ring and all! His name is Dustin Hunt and we are getting married in Boise on June 27th.. and you are ALL invited.. I would love to see as many of you as possible!! My email address is
rachellovestulips@yahoo.com if you want more details.. once again, sorry for the lame email.. after Saturday, my life can return to normal.. !
Love, Rachel
*this photo was stolen off Rachels facebook by the editor of this newsletter. :)
***********************
Dear Family, Sorry we haven't written a newsletter lately, we're just not that interesting! J Brian is still going to Boise State, and studying really hard. He has made the dean's list every semester! I think he's pretty smart. J He still has his pest control job, which he does during the summer, on school breaks, and picks up hours here and there when the school work load is light. He is going to start volunteering two days a week at a free health clinic pretty soon, so that should tighten up his schedule a little. He also spends a lot of time on his calling, which he is really enjoying. He's working with all the young men, helping them get their Duty to God awards. He has really loved getting to know the boys, and working with them one on one and with their families. Since he isn't doing much else, he has also recently decided to train for a marathon. Crazy if you ask me, but his deal. J I am still working at Idaho Dept of Parks and Recreation, in their fiscal department. It's been a good job, and I am really enjoying my new work schedule. I started working 4-10s a few months ago. I take Fridays off, and am really enjoy my long weekends, although I spend most of them doing homework from my online BYU classes. I have the best calling in the ward, and then some. My first calling is the primary pianist, which is super fun. Along with that, I'm the ward choir pianist, as well as the secondary ward organist. So the ward either doesn't have many musicians, or there are people who just aren't fessing up, because they know they'll get three callings! J We moved out of our ghetto apartment about 6 months ago, and are now living in a basement apartment on a really great end of town. The old woman that lives there is Brian's sister-in-law's grandmother. (Always hard to explain.) She doesn't like living alone, as her husband passed away a year ago. But she gives us super cheap rent, Brian gets to use his home-improvement skills (which he loves), and we get a yard, a garage, and all those other things you miss when you're in apartments. It's really close to everything too, and in a great ward. It's been a great experience for us. I'm sure news has spread to a lot of you, but for those of you who haven't heard, Brian and I are happy to announce that we are expecting our first baby. J The due date is July 27th, and we don't know if it's a boy or girl yet, but will find out on March 20th! So far, mother and baby are both doing great. I got really sick right after I got pregnant, but haven't had anything since then. The first trimester was a constant state of nausea, which was immediately relieved by the start of the second trimester…thank goodness! J So we're just having fun looking at baby stuff and thinking of names. (Suggestions are welcome.) J That's about it for us. Other than our big news, we're pretty boring. J But we hope that you all are doing well, and we'll talk to ya later!
Love,Sarah and Brian Ellsworth
***********************************
from: Laurie Metcalf
Tue, Feb 3, 2009
Here are some snippets from some of Elder Metcalf's letters. On Feb 4th he will have been serving for 8 months:
Dec 18, 2008 letter: "We haven't really taught anyone in Warrenton yet, except Mr. Sharp he's 80. We also have another investigator we taught who is 89, Mr Fishback. We are going to teach another guy Mr. Pendleton who is in his 70s...can you see the trend? ... of course they're going to invite you back, they're 80 years old and lonely and they love Jesus. It's hard because they can't really remember anything either and they can't read very well either. I don't know its just kind of funny. "
December 31, 2008 letter:
Saturday we tracted from 10 am -8:45 pm. So the first strange encouter was Thomas. He is a scientist. He was asking us about religion and basically trying to prove that Reilgion was just invented to give people a sense of peace and sanity. He said his God has satellites and mind control. Then later that night we met a Paegan Witch. We knock this door and a lady on the phone answers and says into the phone, "Oh guess what mom it's latter day saints." That's when in my mind i say, oh crap. She invited us in and finished her phone call. She gave us something to drink, and started educating us on Paeganism, but on top of that she was an extreme feminist. At one point she says,"I am a Paegan Woman Witch." In a very distinct, forceful voice with very good diction. It was just kind of funny! she was trying to bash us and and all that stuff. Oh so later after that we knock on this door and this guy opens up, again on the phone and he says," oh Mormons! Dude i got some Mormons here hold on." "I'm Christian, you guys are gonna hate me." So we walk in and his wife is on the couch also on the phone and she says,"No, no we're not doing this tonight." and the husband says, "ok. get out of my house guys." I said a quick prayer of thanks in my heart, and as we were walking out the door this guy says laughing, "haha you guys are going to burn in hell." I said ok and we went to the next house. It was pretty funny. The way people are. It was a pretty fun day. I've found the most interesting and memorable days are those spent tracting the entire day. What else is funny is that those encouters at the beginning of my mission probably would've shaken me a little bit, but now it almost gives me more strength.
Well I better go, i love you guys.
-elder metcalf
Jan 7, 2009 letter:
"It's so crazy to me, I have never heard any of my companions share the First Vision or Joseph's story in a lesson. Since I was trained it's been me, somehow, everytime. I'm not exagerating either. It's awesome though, I love it. I love how the lesson can be a big discussion and it can be all noisy, but once you start telling Jospeh's story and you begin the First Vision, they are always silent and listening intently. It's been those times when i feel the spirit the strongest, and i can truly feel it testify through me to them. Man Joseph Smith is my hero. "
****************************************
Dear family,
Greetings to you all. We hope everyone is propsering and living the good life. Our family is doing just fine. Our nest seems to get emptier and emptier. Jake headed back to Logan and school at USU after living at home for 8 months. It was fun having him here and we miss him! Austin especially misses the "dead arms!" Not! They got into going to the gym together and we got use to having impromptu wrestling matches whenever they passed in the hallway. All in good brotherly fun! Jake has declared English as his major with an eye on law school following graduation. I don't envy him all that writing....and I even enjoy writing! Austin is having a wonderful junior year of high school. He has a slew of friends to hang out with. He's playing basketball on a city team and is looking forward to playing volleyball on the school mens' club team. When the snow melts, he'll return to work at the golf course and get to use the new irons he just got for his birthday! He purchased a pair of those shoes (think of the "don't touch Jimmy" Seinfeld episode) that are suppose to build your calf muscles and increase your vertical leap. Except they look ridiculous! He likes to wear them when he goes places with ME! We get some looks! Whitney is doing great at BYU. She's always happy and always busy having fun! We're so thankful she likes to come home each Sunday for dinner. She tells us every detail of her life and we eat it up! She and her friends are planning a trip to New York in April. She injured her knee playing volleyball last September and it put her out of participating in any sports until just now. That put a big damper on things for awhile. She loves her intramurals! Elder Metcalf is having a great mission. His letters are very positive. I'll include a couple of paragraphs from him. Joel and I are great. We have great children who are doing good things and they make life fun and interesting. I'm no longer teaching seminary. In the middle of the school year, our Bishop called me to be R.S. president. That totally shocked me - - - to leave in the middle of the year! I must admit that not having that stress has been wonderful even though I truly miss my students! So much! But it was the hardest thing I've ever done...but so rewarding. Any-who...
May the Lord bless each one of you with your righteous desires. We love you!
Laurie, Joel, Jake, Whitney, Cory and Austin
P.S. In case mom doesn't get to write: I got to drive her to her mission in Iowa last November. It was a quick, two day trip across the plains of Wyoming and Nebraska...ON TWO WHEELS! That's because the wind blows hard and continually! It actually felt like the car drove in a perfect line, eastward, balanced on the left front and rear tires! Wind coming from the right side. My hair is still standing on end in a northeasterly direction. Mom should have gotten her companion, finally, just this week. Her original companion got engaged (yes, it's a senior sister) just prior to reporting to the MTC. It happened to be N. Eldon Tanner's daughter! When people heard that in the mission field, they would say to mom, "So! What do you think about N. Eldon Tanner's daughter as your companion!?...are you nervous?" So mom began to reply, "No. I am Merlin Orme's daughter." I love that!!!
Our family on Christmas Eve, 2008 (minus Elder Metcalf)
and Austin with the motorcylce he purchased.
***********************************
January 28, 2009
Hi Orme Family!
This family has been pretty busy traveling. We went to Utah for Christmas and had so much fun! We stayed at my Mom and Dad's house but did lots of visiting with David's family too. On Christmas Eve after the kids were in bed, David and I drove up to Orem in a total blizzard by the way, and picked up our puppy! He is such an adorable pup! He is a golden retriever and his Dad was more of an English Cream golden so he's really light colored. We named him Sundance to remind us of how much we love Utah and the skiing. I think it was an appropriate name because he just LOVES the snow. The kids were so excited when they awoke to a yipping noise on Christmas morning! It was so much fun. Mom and Dad were super nice to allow him to stay in their basement kitchen area. 
After christmas break we drove home in one day! We got up at 3am and drove all day, arriving home around 11:00pm. It was a long day, but everyone did so well. We passed the puppy around and stopped every 2 hours for him to do his business. At home he loves his acre of grass to run around on and is doing really well with the house training. We are just so excited to have a dog! This one is a keeper!
David is having a really great semester at school. He has moved on from gross human anatomy to a brain anatomy class. Each group has the brain from their cadaver in a little container and it takes a whole semester to learn it. David says that Neurology is almost impossible to learn. “Everything just looks like gray matter!” he says. Kirby...any words of advice? Ha ha But the best part about this semester is that David is on rotation with an orthopedic surgeon. This Doctor has been so nice to David and lets him come to hand and spine surgeries and on rounds. He gets to go in 2-3 days a week with him. Last week he let David scrub in on a surgery, stand on one of those special stools and hand him instruments. David is in heaven!
This week we've experienced what it's like when the cold really hits Oklahoma. We have had a sheet of ice over everything, ice raining down (that sounds really loud on the windows at night) and finally a couple inches of snow on top of that. School has been closed for a few days and the kids are enjoying playing in the cold. Today David and the kids put on their skis and skiied around the neighborhood with Sundance in tow. I wonder what the neighbors thought? The first day the ice hit I was told I could come pick up my kids at school. I got in the van backed up and promptly flew across the driveway and slammed into the basketball pole! I had to leave the van on the grass till David got home. So I was really grateful that I had just bought a weeks worth of groceries and milk and that we haven't lost power.
Sterling started basketball when we got back from Christmas and is really loving it! His rag-tag team hasn't won any games, but they are totally having fun! 
Alexis is getting ready to turn 8 on February 12 and is really excited for her baptism. She is so thrilled to start Activity Days. She won the reflections contest overall in her school for a drawing.
Rylie has been using her Karaoke every day that she got for Christmas, and is still working on learning to read.
Weston hasn't had any more trips to the ER, thank goodness. His latest obsessions is getting Sterling's gerbils out of their cage without being found out. Oh boy!
Love to you all!
Sarah and Family
*****************************
Dear United Family,
From the Irvine Ormes: Greetings! Miss Lana and I hope you are all doing well and growing...taller, smarter, older, wiser and better looking every day. We are enjoying being together here in Irvine and enjoying the closeness of Heather and Haley and their lovely families. Lana is still at Child's World, but has cut back to only teaching Tuesdays and Thursdays. That way she doesn't have the shock of a sudden withdrawl from the company of such wonderful people as 4 and 5 year-olds. She was also teaching the Book of Mormon in Primary to 9 year-olds (and boy did she ever get well-versed in the Book of Mormon), but now she has been given the 4 and 5 year-olds at Primary, too, so it is that age group at work and the same at church, except you can't smack 'em around when they get out of hand at church. Just kidding! Miss Lana would never smack anyone around that she wasn't married to.
We have a new chapel this year and I really like it. We were in a huge back-to-back chapels type of Stake Center (in fact, I think we invented the huge back-to-back buildings right here in the Irvine Stake), and that was nice, but now we have a small, new, cozy building that fits just right and in which the choir sounds really good. There is plenty of parking, too. Oh, yes, the best part--It is a 5 minute drive from our house.
I wish they had a calling for Relief Society Compassionate Listener. Lana would be great in that calling. In fact, that's what she does. Today we were spending a quiet day off together when the young woman came over to tell Lana all about her court date and result. Apparently she assaulted a postal worker and was sentenced to anger management. In the middle of hearing all this (hours of it), the lady called who retired this year and now has all the time in the world to visit her children and grandchildren except they don't really like to have her visit that often, which is sad, but she needs someone to check in with when she gets back, someone who cares that she got back to town safely. But the postal assaulter scarcely took a breath while the other woman was on the phone and then the woman with the 35 year old child called. Her little girl is middle-aged, but still home and now that she has finally gotten the masters degree, is having trouble finding a good reason to keep on being their little girl. All this before noon. And now it seems the schizophrenic woman who relied on Lana has moved back to our ward. Even if it's not a calling, Lana does it well.
As for me, I am still flying the world's neatest little jet even though I am really getting old. I'm getting so old that I don't ever see another pilot this old. I rather enjoy it in good weather, but there hasn't been much of that this winter. I was, for example, in Cleveland at the little airport right on Lake Erie (Burke Lakefront) trying to get the little jet out of there before it got stuck there until spring, but the snow was falling at the rate of an inch per hour and the guys who drive the snowplows couldn't get to work because of the snow on the streets. I got the airplane de-iced twice and once I took a big slippery skid on the taxiway while I was trying to get to the runway, turned 90 degrees and had no control whatever, but missed the parked airplanes and managed to stay on the taxiway. I finally parked it, put the engine covers on it and went home. I was trying to get that airplane out of there for 2 days and when I finally gave up, I was exhausted. Old age has set in. Usually in the winter I get to go down to the Carribean, but not this year for some reason. I did get down to San Jose del Cabo at the tip of Baja and that was warm, but the real bananna belt has been here at home. After I left Cleveland I came home and played golf at 80 degrees. Almost too warm. Cold isn't always bad. It was zero degrees and blue skies forever when I brought the folks out of Sun Valley Idaho the other day. Of course I had to get the little jet (Little. Only 62 feet long.) up and above other traffic as quickly as possible so I climbed initially at 6000 feet per minute. I love it when I can come up with an excuse to do that. The best part was when I flew into Spirit of St. Louis airport and layed over. I got to visit with Stan and Rauna and Aimee and Seth. That was fun.
I could bore you with every out of the way airfield, every crosswind and every flock of birds, but that's not news so I'll end this and look forward to hearing from all of you.
Love from,
Lana and Doug
***************************
Jan., 2009
Dear Orme Family:
I think we have all heard from each other due to Christmas Cards. We had a wonderful Christmas, in fact, this was the first Christmas in my life that I haven’t wanted to take everything down quickly, instead, some of it is actually still up. I’m thinking of putting hearts up on my greenery boughs, then I’ll finally take the remaining Christmas décor down. Outside we have lights on our evergreens, and they will stay on til the snow melts, which will be about April.
Christmas tapping
Adoring Rowan as the Baby Jesus
We have gobs and gobs of snow. Big snowdrifts on each side of the road so you take your life into your hands pulling out onto the street – well not really since there aren’t that many cars driving around our roads. But nevertheless, we have soooo much snow. At Christmas time everyone was outside sledding, JC and Don did a good job of stomping down paths from the bottom to the top of the ski run. Don blew a path entirely around the house which helps too. Sarah got a pup for Christmas, and that path really was nice for the potty training. The sledding was great fun to watch, and it was so sunny up here, we felt we were at a ski resort, as we pulled out the wicker furniture and sat on the cleared path watching all the fun. Don and I always take a few sled runs ourselves.
What dinner time looked like during Christmas Break.
Sarah on Christmas Morning
Little Carter, 2 yrs young, would get on the back of any sled going down. He loved it. Don had to adjust the jump as the children were sailing 6 feet in the air and coming down rather hard – tears and crying but it didn’t keep them from trudging back up to the top for another run. He got it adjusted perfectly so no one took air. Later after our Christmas people went home, we got tons more snow so that Jed and Will could jump off the deck and softly land in the snow below. Really quite dramatic to watch!
Sarah came for Christmas, Lizzy lives here, and Jessica came 2 days after Christmas, so we had half the family here. We all worked and worked cleaning and helping to pack up Lizzy and jed so they could move in with us. Jed will be gone for 4 mos. training in N. Mex for his border patrol job. And then Lizzy and kids will move to their new place wherever he is assigned. But in the meantime, it’s been a very nice time for all of us, the little kids are so cute and nice and Lizzy and Jed are very helpful house-guests. So this Christmas time for us was really a blast. Puppy and all.
What a 3-year old looks like at Dinner.
Don and I are kept busy shopping all the sales, we always have tons of birthdays to give presents for. Tapping has started back up for me, Don is busy as always with his computer projects. My quilting, Camerata Musica, and our empty nester’s activities keep us busy. We go to basketball games tons and volleyball games are a real blast. Don is dieting, he’s losing lots of weight! He’s doing soooo good. We talk to Marilyn quite regularly, but now that she has her new comp, that may come to an end. Congrats to Rachel and Dustin – cool, so happy for you guys!
The biggest news of all tho is that Tricia got contacts. In all my years, the Ophthalmologist's have said i could not have contacts. But with new advancements, this year the Dr. said I could try them. So I went to the optometrist and he said it probably wouldn’t work, but we could try. So this is my third day wearing multi focal contacts. He said it would be hard for me cuz I only see with one eye, but alas, they are working. It’s hard to read with them, which made my shopping a strain, but I persevered. I can read, play piano and shop with them, but when I go back in 2 weeks, he may be able to tweak them for better reading. I can drive with them, just fine, quilt and tap. This is so exciting for me as I never was made for glasses! They are like a little piece of saran wrap and I can’t see them on my finger or in their case without my glasses, so it’s quite an operation getting them in and out as I’m deathly afraid I’m going to lose them. I mean you can wad the flimsy things up and they’re fine! Have mercy.
Snow-blowing has taken the place of mowing for Don. Jed helps out too. Because of his diet I have to sneak all treats. “what is that I smell Tricia?” asks Don. “Oh, nothing, I don’t smell anything.” Responds Tricia. “What is that crunching sound Tricia?” Inquires Don. “The TV.” Answers Tricia. And so it goes.
Our friends in the Nigerian Temple Pres. Reported that the Mission pres. And the two AP’s, were kidnapped at Christmastime, but after 3 days of negotiations they were returned. I’m sure this happens a lot. Don is still the best clerk in the church, and I’m loving playing organ. I guess that’s all our news. We pray morning and night for Stan and Rauna and family and Aimee and kids. Tough times. We are taking an institute class on the D & C and also read a book on Emma Smith – I tell you, those pioneers, what they endured. And the Mo. Orme’s are enduring and we Pray and ask the Lord that He will comfort and provide opportunities and miracles for you. We love you!
I hope everyone writes, I can’t wait to see as many as possible at Rachel’s wedding, any chance to get together as a family is so important and enjoyed so much by us. Love you all. Don and Tricia
**************************
Hey family!
Dont Have much time but some cool things happened.
We had our first experience with witchcraft, Im not supposed to talk about
that stuff alot, but it was weird, I guess its just another thing for you all to
read in my journal when I get back haha
Scary story of the week, we were eating at a members house and it was fish.
It was good, I leaned back in my chair, (Like you do after eating a huge meal)
And I asked her what kind of fish it was. She said She didnt know... Either did
the vendor. I sat forward very quickly, I reallyu thought I was going to be
sick.
I have a scripture for Aunt Haley 1 Tim 4:3
We were trying to get a hitchhike to church, With my smiles and looks we got
a ride... With a big rig! It was sweet pulling up to church in a big rig. Also
with those same smiles and looks we got a ride home. With a gay mexican guy..
After 30 sec in the car, I looked at my comp, we said thanks for the ride, but
we were going to walk the rst of the way.
An investigator called and said she couldnt come to church. The drug guys
had killed her boss, IN the store. Then cut is fingers off and put them on the
counter. Hmmm, Ive heard excuses for not coming to church, but this was by far
the biggest.
During lunch, my comp had his taco open and was talking to the member and
turned around. I took advantage of this opportunity and put habenero salsa in
it. He started tearing up immediately, He had no idea I had but it on. Me and
the member lady were laughing so hard.
During a lesson on the savior we watched a mother beat her kid, like
actually beat him, not just spanking, this was hard core beat down. Definatly
couldnt fel the spirit after that, no matter how hard we tried.
Church is true everywhere right? IN our branch th bishop gave 4 baby
blessings to kids that were aged 3-11. Like full on baby blessings. I looked at
my comp and he had no idea what was going on. He was like, are you allowed to do
that?
I have seen some weird things here in the church haha, like really weird.
Last story. We were at a store at night right before we went home and my comp
was looking at drinks and i wanted some coconut candy. He wasnt paying attention
and I asked him what the word for coconut. Can you already see where this is
going? Well i went to the front and asked the guy. He said how much and I said
not alot. Then he brought out a small bag of sugar, or maybe it was flour...... I
dont know.... I looked down at it, then back at him, and was like hmmmm.... no
thanks actually. It was crazy, What do you say after that to him? Like ¨No, no
the chocolate covered kind¨ So another first, I saw cocaine and yeh
Love you all!
Elder Wertner
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2008 12:26 PM
Hey Family!
Elder Wertner Here in Mexico Just thought I would write the family an email or
something, Haha.
Well We had transfers this week, Guess where I am? Caborca still. All Is
well, but my companion got transfered to Obregon. They gave me a new companion,
Elder Celis. I have 1 more day than him in the mission. Really crazy that the
put us together. He LOVES FOOD!! When we are having lunch at members or talking
to investgators, heloves to talk food after the lessons. Like Loves Loves Loves
talking food. We have a little bit different personalities with some things, but
what matters is the gospel is being taught to others and that we ae bringing
others unto Christ.
I love being a missionary, Like really really love it. I had a dream the
other night that I was asleep, and dreaming that i was on the mission. And then
I woke up from the fake dream and I was in my Apartment takin a nap, I looked
over and there were pictures of my mission on the table, and I looked at them
and then was really sad that my mission was over. What a strange dream!
Needlessto say I am happy here.
I got my package from Aunt Haley, Oh my goodness, made my day. Like hands
down made my day. Its weird getting american candy, im used to all these chili
suckers and fun candies that the american licorice was like super super rich.
AHH I love It. Oh and the didnt open it!
I call the house for like 2 min or 1 min on chrstmas eve, just to say this
is number. I cant remember if I call you or you call me on christmas day. I keep
forgetting. Im so excited! What to talk about? Maybe how he NBA basketball
league is, or gas prices, maybe what boy Alyssa is talking to this week! Just so
much to talk about.
This week was a cool week. I want to share this experience I had with the
baptism of Jesus. I realize I havent been sharing even 1% of the spirtual
experiences I have here in Mexico. I figure maybe people wouldnt write me if I
didnt put all the cool stories in there, Haha. Just kidding. Well Jesus is 8 yrs
old. Nicest kid ever. Any american candy I brought with me to mexico, went to
him, haha. I just love this kid to death. Reminds me of Lauren, Always sharing
and caring about other people. Whenever I would bring something, He would share
it with everybody until there was only a little piece left for himself. Every
visit to his house was a spiritual experience. You all know what happened with
his family and stuff, but hes a stud! He chose me to baptize him!! How
awesome!!!! Remember the thumbs up that the wertner boys always do. Well No one
here does it, I taught it to him and Now he always has the thumbs up, I think
one of the pictures is of him with the thumbs up. Well I baptized him, and what
a great missionary, he brought 3 of his friends. Words cannot describe the
feeling that I had when I baptized him. Hands down the greatest feeling of my
life. I really felt like a accomplished something when I baptized him. It went
perfect and afterwards he was just happy and went outside and wrestled with his
friends, I kind of joined for a second. Haha.
Family and friends, I got to be honest. This was the coolest thing ever. I
know I will remember that baptism for like the rest of my life. For those that
are in the outside world, if your a priest, its like finding out she likes you,
and shes a member, her family loves you, dad doesnt on any guns, and hes letting
you use the mustang to take her out, TIMES 10. Maybe I will remember it because
of the 20 cockroaches that i had to get out with papertowels, or maybe that
there was about 8 inches of dirty water that we had to get out with a mop, and
then drain the mop and then do it again. Maybe it took us 2 hours to make sure
we wouldnt get sick from the water, But we DID IT!
I really don´t remember that much else from the week. We have so mny
invitations for xmas eve and xmas day. Everyone wants the gringo. Mission
president told us we can go to 2 food appointments on each day for those 2 days,
sweet!
I love being a missionary. Before the mission I had so many Rms tell me to
have fun, the biggest regret theyhad was no having fun until about a year in.
When that many people say the same thing, i took the advice. Every bad thing
that happens, is an opportunity to learn, to grow, and to convert someone else.
My other companion, the last thing he said to me was , ¨Elder Wertner. I love
you man! You taught me to have fun on the mission but to work hard while doing
it, You only have 1 transfer in mexico, your not supposed to figure it out until
later on in the mission¨ I really love being out here. Last week In my broken
spanish I was able to explain about resurection during a sunday school class,
because the teacher didnt know one part of it.
Spanish.... Hmmm what to say about it. I understand literally almost
everything, except specific words. talking is a different story. I imagine I
sound like a 5 yr old, but thats ok. I can be very direct with my sentances
about the gospel, and people pay special attention. Maybe I will just do it the
entire mission so people listen.
We have a problem getting people to church. Investigators that is. Any
Advice from B. Clyde, Kirby or anyone else? We have it at 9 Am, not in our area,
and people are usually partying all night. Weve tried teaching special lessons
on sabbath day and its importance. Invest. need to go to church twice to be
baptised. We have people that are ready for baptism but cant because of church.
We lost 2 baptism the day of, what a bummer. One dropped the bomb on us and
told us they werent married legally. Well time for a wedding this week. We lost
one more Bdate because of smoking, but we are trying to help him with that. Zone
Leaders arent liking the whole not many investigators at church thing. We don´t
either. We have a lesson with them the night before, and then say we will pick
them up in the morning. They wont answer the door, or be there. Looks like we
need some prayers from the good people of San Diego.
I Love the dusk and dawns here. Downright beautiful. Its been very very cold
here in the morning. I miss being warm in bed, Haha. Just kidding mom, My bed is
warm!!!
Last thing is please to all that is reading this article. Do me one favor por
favor. I am in mexico serving a mission and trying to help the good people of
mexico to become closer to their savior. This Christmas Please Please Focus on
one person or family that needs help, not with money or worldly things, but with
spiritual help. Pray to know who arounds you needs that boost of faith in the
savior, and do all that you can to help them feel the saviors love. Our Heavenly
Father and Savior Love every single person, they love the poor boys here that
call me bad words in english, or the old lady that makes perfect warm tortillas,
or even the companion that pees all over the toilet seat, and the ground, or
eats your special candy from your aunt Haley. So show faith in Jesus Christ and
Help Someone feel his love.
I have a testimony of this work. I know the work of a missionary is of God.
I know that The spirit can touch even the hardest of hearts, that miracles can
happen, and that Everyone is a child of God. I know that my savior lives, he is
everywhere, I see his hand in all things that are good. If you dont have a
testimony of the Savior right now its ok, Because I know he lives, and I have
that testimony and you can lean on my testimony, because he lives.
Love Always, Elder Wertner
P.S. I teach those boys new words, and say they are cool or slang words in
english. But the words are, Gospel, Faith, church. Oh I love hearing them yell
with those words at eachother.
Also, What did I do when my comp ate my special candy, you might ask?
You see I have been taught and love by 2 great parents. Yet each has a
different approach. I had 2 ways I could have gone. The mom way, ¨Not say
anything, and maybe offer him more¨ or the dad way ¨Take his candy walk into
the room eating it and just sit down, then later offer some of my candy that I
have, and then say, oops theres no more! Someone ate it!!¨ I took the Mom
route this time, maybe I will try the Dad route next time!!!
Church is True!!!!
From: Brian Wertner [mailto:BrianJWertner@myldsmail.net]
Sent: Monday, January 12, 2009 12:22 PM
Hey Family!!!
Ok, I know You are all looking forward to my pictures. But they take sooo
Long, and its either A- I dont have cool ones this week or B- I have cool ones
but I cant show them because Nana and Mom would Kill me, and then Dad would
think they were cool, but then send them to someone else, who would think I was
very stupid. Well I will describe 2 of the pictures I have. 1 is of about 30
vultures eating a dog. Its gross, But its really cool. Man when the Vultures
screech and flap their wings, its songs like some animals straight from like the
firery pits of you know where. They do not sound like something from this world.
It gave me the chills the other day. They are about the size of My upper half,
with wings the length of my arms, THEY are HUGE!!
The other picture is of me, getting into the house, when we locked the keys
in the house. We live on the 2nd story, I climbed up the ladder, made of half
inch re-bar, sauddered together. Very Very dangerous, when I got to the roof, I
lowered myself down, and was standing on the window ledge, because the window
was open. I was able to wedge my knee in the upper half of the window, and let
go of the roof, only held by me knee wedged in the the top of the window. I got
in and opened the door, Quite a heroic act. I kept trying to feel if the spirit
was prompting me not to do it, but I didnt get any bad feelings about it. Thank
goodness Im living my life in standards with the missionary standards, or who
knows what would have happened.
Therefore I cannot show those pictures. Hahaha, I LOVE the mission.
Tuseday we were walking trying to get a hitchhike to an appt. We saw a dog on
the side of the road and it had been hit by a car, a little chiahua. Then we saw
Sister Samano Walking out to the dog. She reminds me of Nana, Exactly like Nana,
and is one of the ladies that tells me to put my sweater on. ANyways, I realized
it was her dog. The same dog that last sunday for dinner fell asleep on my lap.
Sister Samano, was like , ¨Get out of here you crazy dogs, or i will beat
you!¨ (Nana Right?) Well I said, ¨Hermana Samano, I will hold it on my lap,
its just a little baby.¨ Haha. It was really funny, But then it fell asleep on
me. Anyways, enough of memory lane. We saw it laying there, and I was like,
Please no, Not That dog. And it was still breathing a little, and Hermana Samano
was just balling, so I was like, Hna get the car and we can take it to the vet.
Just I picked up the dog, and it was bleeding, and I got blood all over my
shirt, and on my Name tag, My name tag,the white part, is stained with blood.
And we said a prayer in the car for the dog. And then we got to the vet and Hna
Samano couldnt watch them work on the dog, so I had to keep it calm. And then,
we had to go, but we told her everything was going to be alright, that we were
praying for her and her dog. And 3 days ago, we went and checked on it, and it
was doing awesome!!! Prayers can help everyone, even dogs that are almost dead.
We came home the other night and to our suprise were 2 homemade blankets, and
cake, From Hna Samano, and Hna Amezquitoa. She is this old lady in our branch,
We had lunch at her house, and she brought out 100´s of pictures of her kids,
grand kids, and even great grand kids. She was so happy to talk about them, and
to have someone to look at the pictures with her. We arent supposed to spend too
much time at members, but I figured that this time was ok. So the 2 sisters got
together and made us blankets, and Cake. Man, Just makes you so happy after a
long day to get something like that.
Quick thought. Alyssa and Brook Need to Get the Valor Award Next year, Im
thinking maybe snowboarding trip with me if they get it. They can come up in 2
christmases, Haha.
Yesterday, that boy Jesus That we baptized, brought a stray dog into the
church. His poor mom was just dying, she felt so bad. You didnt see it in the
picture, because he took the one of me on the roof when we were building his
house, but he climbed up there with me and helped me put their roof on. I think
He is the one teaching me all these bad habits..... Haha
Friday we were walking to an appt. We took the train tracks, a car goes
speeding by us under the tracks, then a cop car comes speeding by also. (This
all happened in like 30 sec) Then 2 cops get out, rush to the car, yank the 2
passengers out, point their guns at them, a pull a huge bag of marijuana out of
one the guys pants. I wish I had my camera ready. It was very random, just
walking to an appt, thinking, and out of no where this happens.
We had a lunch appt wednesday and the lady gave us like this fruit juice. I
drank some of it, and it didnt settle right. And then I had another glass, and
it just tasted weird. Well I got done and the bottom of glass had stuff in it.
Turns out it was home made iced Tea. I was like, ¨oh man, mom is going to kill
me, oh man, Heavenly Father is not going to be happy either.¨ I felt really
bad, and quickly asked for water. We told her we can´t have this, its against
the word of wisdom.
Do you guys know that I can remember how many actual showers I have had here.
like actual, water coming from a faucet and showering you. Its been 2. The rest,
every 3 or 4 days, we heat up half a gallon of water, pour it into a 5 gallon
bucket, and fill it up with water from the sink. Then we use a cup, its reminds
me of when i was like 4 and mom used to use a cup of water and bathe me. The 2
times Ive taken actually showers have been in other missionaries house during,
exchanges. When they tell us we are doing splits the next day, and im going to a
house with a shower, I get every excited. Pack up my towel, and my bar of soap,
and just am so stoked to take a shower. Woo Hoo, if there is one day that I look
foward to in the month. Its Showering Day.
The family that we baptized last week, and 2 weeks before that. There were 2
baptism for their family. Well we went to check on them and gave them a lesson
on the temple. The little boy, that I am holding in the baptism picture. He was
trained by the devil himself. Man that kid thinks like a demon. Hes 4. Well that
day we were over, he went into the room and lit the vase full of fake flowers on
fire. The small house got smoke all inside and i threw the flowers out the
window. And that boy was laughing and laughing, until is mom took him to the
back room. Then he stopped laughing very quickly.
We are teaching this woman named Ramona. Shes like 45 and was this beauty
queen when she was younger. I thought to myself, This house reminds me alot of
the lady I used to take care of her animals, in San Francisco. She was this
beauty queen, and then went crazy and kept dead animals in her freezer. I kid
you not, exact same feeling when I walked into Ramonas house. I did not like it
at all. She came with us to church. Shes slightly crazy now. Apparently, her
husband shot himself in the head, right in front of here, like 15 years ago, in
the exact same house that we were in. I was like , ¨What the freak! We are out
of here¨ And she didnt want us to leave, Im telling you it was really weird
there. The rest of the day, I had a very bad feeling about her. We talked to our
branch president, cause we had lunch at his house, he said shes a witch, and
that the other missionaries like 3 years ago had problems with her also. My
companion got excited, hes into all those goblins and creature, dark stuff. I
was like, ¨Not a chance, not a chance I am going back there!!¨
This american was in our branch yesterday, he was visting a companion from
his mission who lived by us. He got my number, and said he wanted to call you
guys. Ive given my number to like 5 american members that say they want to call
you guys and tell you how im doing. I don´t think anyone has called, but if he
does, that is kind of neat.
I know this is a long letter, but please rmember this. I have aksed like 100
people for Jordan Hepworths adress. Please can someone get it for me? Its been
since like the 2nd week in the MTC. And im like 4 and a half months out. PLease
PLease PLease, Jordan Hepworths Adress. Thanks! You guys are the best.
Oh cool quote of the week, its from Grandpa Orme in one of his letters he
wrote me in 2006, I thought its a neat quote for the upcoming year, ¨Young Men
must be willing to Attempt the impossible¨ I think Im going to keep that quote
in my mind when it comes to people that are not as open to the missionaries. By
the Way, if you get a chance, can you ask Gpa Orme, to write me another book, i
think its about time. Dont worry. He will know what it means.
Sounds like all is well in Wertner Household, as well as here, IM holding
down the fort. Oh yeh, We had Sushi this week, a member took us out. I didnt
sick. But then Again, I have years of experience of eating sushi with Old man
Wertner.
If I had to say there was one thing I miss, It would be all-you-can-eat sushi
outings with Papa Wertner. Cough cough, I mean the family, It would be the
family. Hahaha
Love you all!!! And miss You (Sushi outings)!!!
Elder Wertner
P.S. We gave a blessing to a man that had a heart attack. We tried to baptize
his wife, and 2 kids. He threw a fit and said not a chance in the world. I
thought to myself. He needs something in his life to happen to bring him closer
to god. Then they can be baptized as a family. Its so horrible, but he had the
heart attack 2 days later!! He is doing great, getting back to normal, the day
after, he asked his wife for us to bring him the pamphlets on the restoration and
the plan of salvation. It made me reflect on the ways that our Heavenly Father
works. When something gets in the way of his plan, he fixes that something.
Never Ever think that just because we want something, it will be that way. God
has a plan, his plan is like the big steam roller, that just keeps on going. You
better get with the plan, or your in trouble, no matter what, his plan goes
forward.
***************************
Dear Orme Family,
We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Our family enjoyed looking at everyone's pictures and reading the newsletters. I was trying to think of what to write, our kids are all so busy but when I think of what you would be interested in hearing I second guess myself. So I will just tell you what we are doing. Tim and I spend our time raising 6 kids, serving The Lord in our family and Church callings and driving our kids all over town to all of their activities. It is a great life. Tim and I are both serving in the youth programs at Church. We both love it. I am busy working on New Beginnings right now, I am very excited and hope it will be as much fun as I think it will be. We look forward to Mondays in our house, that is when we get our email from our oldest son,"Elder Wertner" Jacob. He is serving a Mission in Hermisillo, Mexico. He is doing well. I did forward a letter he wrote in January. We have watched his testimony grow and have seen our family blessed by the Lord as he serves. I have felt a great sense of peace, and havn't worried very much about his safety. Jessica is having fun at college. She just turned 18 is legal now. It was kind of scary sending your 17 year old off to college, be she has done a great job. I think it was hard for her to go back after Christmas break, but she quickly got back into the routine and is having so much fun. Alyssa is a sophmore in high school, she is so busy and there are many days where she leaves the house for seminary at 5:45 am and doesn't get home from cross country/track practice until after 4. She is in pre-season track workouts now and is very excited to run the 800 like her brother did. Brooke is in 8th grade and is busy with basketball. She plays on 2 club teams which involves alot of practices and games. She turned 14 and has gone to a few church dances and had so much fun. Justin is in 6th grade and is also just as busy as his sister Brooke with basketball. He is a Deacon now and is passing the Sacrament, and enjoying all the fun scout adventures. I just try and not think about what they are doing on those campouts. I learned from my older son, it is just better that I don't even think about it. Then when they are out of scouts they can tell me all the scary stories they want. ha ha. Lauren is in 2nd grade, she is seven and can't wait until this summer when she will her Baptism. She is excited because she just moved from addition to times in math. She likes to play soccer and takes art lessons. We are very excited to read all of your newsletters.
Love, Heather, Tim and family
****************
I’ve decided this year is going to be the best year ever! My kids are growing up and giving me some time to get things done, and I am loving it! All those years of a baby on my hip, and now it’s over. Carter, my baby will be turning 3 the end of March, wow! Lizzy is 5, Calvin 7 and Mikaala is 9.
I’ve started a program from the R.S. (even though I’m not in there), called the University of Excellence. You chose a major and accomplish all the requirements. It’s an amazing program, you all should look into it for your ward. It was written by a lady Riley Walker, and has made it to our ward. My goal is to get a PhD in Theology, so it’s a lot of reading of the scriptures, and the lessons each week for R.S. and Sunday school, saying your personal, family and couple prayers daily, reading scripture as a family daily, missionary related activities, take an institute class and many more. I decided on this major because I thought it would help me spiritually to grow and in turn help my family grow stronger. JC is amazed at my dedication.
I’m still playing volleyball 4 days a week for 2 hours. The last couple weeks I’ve been running a mile before practice, that’s 24 times around the gym, if anyone wants to know. I bring my iPod and hook it up so we can play to my music. I’m sure everyone loves listening to it, High School Musical, Jonas Brothers, Jesse McCartney….. I’m young at heart! HSM3 comes out Feb 17th, I’m so excited! I told my friends I’m going to have a HSM3 party and watch the DVD. They all just rolled their eye at me. You have to love me right?
Mikaala and Lizzy are going to start taking Polynesian dance lessons once a week from a lady at church. It only costs $5/ hour! I am so excited to see how they like it. The teacher is Lizzy’s primary teacher, so she will already be comfortable with her. Calvin has been asking to play soccer, but that costs so much! I need to find someone in the ward who wants to teach that too!
JC is going to a conference in March to SLC. I’m excited to see if he meets someone who could give him a job. He could work at a company doing research or at a university. He doesn’t care as long as he has a job. I always thought he’d be a professor, but…..at this point! Who cares! I’m sure we’ll finish the year out here, or longer.
So that’s it from Hayward. Love you all!
Jessica
Calving with his new baby cousin.
Lizzy's first happy meal. 
Mikaala and the snowman we made in Idaho. 
Carter loved holding his new baby cousin.
************
