Hello my sweet son!
How has your week been? I imagine you are getting close to changes again. This seems like it was a fast transfer. Do you have any feelings as to what will happen? Are you and Elder Larsen still getting along? Can you share with me something you've learned from Elder Larsen?
How have your lessons gone this week? Any people that you are helping to reactivate? This area has been a little tough to teach, right?
We had the missionaries for dinner this week. We have two really good ones right now. They think Dad is the funniest person ever. I love having them in our home and taking care of them. It makes me feel closer to you:)
Well next week I'll be writing you from Hawaii!!! I'm getting really excited although I don't like flying in a plane across the ocean without my family! But I'm sure its going to be a fantastic week. I'll have a great tan and some pictures to share with you. We are going to the island of Kauai which I believe is pretty quiet and remote. I'm looking forward to some good hiking... like 1-2 mile long hikes... not like the ones Gray wants us to go on that are like 7 miles each way! There is an area we will be right next to called the Napoli coast that looks gorgeous. Big cliffs next to the ocean. You can only see it from the ocean or by a long hike. So I think we'll go by boat. LOL
Ama is doing better. She is about 2 1/2 weeks from her surgery and the pain is becoming more manageable. It has been pretty tough on her but I think she is at the point where she will start feeling much better now.
A friend of mine from college had a horrible tragedy this week. His name is Sam Arnett and he is from Mesa. I don't know if you know any Arnetts from Mesa but there are a ton of them. My cousin Erin married Fred Arnett that is Sam Arnett's nephew. Anyway, he came home from work and found his house on fire. His wife and youngest son were trapped and died in the fire. The youngest son is 12 and severely autistic (can't really speak) and has become fascinated with fire. The fire investigators believe he lit some towels on fire and the whole house went up in flames in a few minutes. The mom was trying to rescue the son and became trapped too. It is truly awful. He was renting the house and didn't have life insurance or renters insurance either so he has lost all of his possessions too. It has been amazing to watch his community and his ward rally around him and his other kids. About $150,000 has been raised already to help him pay for funerals and rebuild his life. I can't imagine him waking up each morning and how he must feel, but I am incredibly grateful for the plan of happiness and eternal families. It is the only hope that can make his pain bearable right now.
I mentioned to you last week that you are a man in every sense of the word. I was studying something this weekend and that came up so I wanted to share it with you. I was reading D&C 121:45 "Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven." The context of this scripture is (talking a few verses earlier) about how many are called but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen? Because they don't do the two things mentioned in v.45. 1. Let your bowels be full of charity and 2. let virtue garnish your thoughts UNCEASINGLY. The root word for virtue comes from virtus (meaning moral strength and courage like in battle or war) and it also is a root for the same word as "man." In other words, be a man of the most high moral strength. That is the sign of a real man. It is also interesting that the word is tied to war and battle. I believe we are in a fierce battle with Satan and in order to defeat him, we need people of the highest moral strength. Hope this makes a little sense. I just like the way it focuses on the need for noble men of virtue.
Do you want me to keep sending you conference talks?
You should be getting your package this week. They are delivering on February 2nd I think. Were you able to get some letters or any items you want to send back home? They need to be there before the 2nd.
I have emailed and texted Cliff Carter and he has not responded to me. So I'm not sure what to do next about him. I will call Lanai today and just see if I can get you a contract and what that procedure is. Is there any other complex you want me to look into? We will get it figured out. Don't worry about this, ok?
I love you young man! Have an amazing week. And remember that your family loves you so very much and prays for you every day many times! Infinity + Infinity!
oxoxoxo
mom
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