December 22, 2014 from Mom

Hello my wonderful son!  How was your week?  We have had a great week… full of excitement for Christmas and getting to Skype with you!  I'm gonna keep this letter short because I know you received lots of emails this week:)  We really just need to nail down the Skype plans.  I know Elder Flygare was able to call his mom for 2 mins to set up a time.  Can you let us know today what you think will happen?  

Tell me about your week!  Are people more interested in listening to you because it is so close to Christmas?  Do people decorate for Christmas?  

Noelle, Josh and Allie came in late Thursday night and Gregg and spencer come tomorrow.  We drove down to highland park tonight just to drive thru the streets and see all the Christmas lights.  The homes are gorgeous.  I got a pic of a long horn in lights just to remind you of Texas. (Texas Forever)  We are having a great time but you are always a topic of conversation and we all miss you sooooo very much!  

There has been a lot of talk among members of the church recently about how many missionaries that are coming home early.  Noelle's stake president is working on a panel with the quorum of the 12 to address this.  They have come up with 2 things.  #1 - A mission is hard work and many young men/women can't handle the hard work. They haven't learned how to work hard before.  #2 - We need to let them know more before they leave that this isn't the "best 2 years of your life" from the standpoint that its so entertaining and fun… but it's the "best two years for you" meaning, it will make you a better person and your life better because of the experiences you have and the good service that you do.  I'm sure you can agree with both of those things, right?  It is an amazing thing you are doing, my son.  I never forget that!  You are in an extremely difficult situation, but you have already changed lives and most significantly, your own. You are thriving not just surviving.  Your face just looks happy! I'm so tremendously proud of you!  You are an amazing young man and I'm constantly thanking my Heavenly Father for the opportunity to be your mother.  I love you so much, Sam!  I CANNOT wait to see you and talk to you!  (by the way, I have re read your letter  to me 100 times! It is a true treasure to me!) 

4 days!!!!!  I can't believe it!  I love you more than the sun, the moon and the stars and infinity + infinity!  

xoxoxoxo

momma

December 16, 2014 from Sam

Soild week!  We continue to work hard.  Ana Lusia who was our most progressing investigator moved to a different zone :( but we got her in contact with the missionaries in the other area so I hope she continues to progress.  Right now we don't have a ton of solid investigators were doing a lot of searching.  This week we found a bunch though and a lot of families!  

We also got to go to the temple today and it was awesome!  Everything you do in the mission is just a whole different experience in that you're normally so close with the spirit and you just pay attention to everything more and its easier to learn and everything.  For example I think I mentioned it back then but General Conference in October was so great just because i was so focused on everything being said and learned and felt the spirit so much.  Its the same with the temple.  Its such a spiritual experience everytime I go!  

We had interviews with President Crapo this past week.  It was short only about ten minutes long because obviously he has 250 missionaries to interview this week, but it went great.  He's a really solid mission President and I respect him a ton.  He kind of helped me with what I was talking about last week with the question "who do we baptize?"  He said essentially its crucial that we have faith.  We read D&C 20:37 which is basically the "standard" for baptism for lack of a better word.  We are all commanded to be baptized.  But again if we don't endure to the end and don't continually keep the covenants we make at baptism, our baptism doesn't mean anything.  But this scripture says (off the top of my head because its not in front of me) if one comes to the Lord with a broken heart and a contrite spirit having truly repented of all their sins then they are ready and willing, it's our job as missionaries to look upon our investigators with more faith and less critically.  He used the phrase, "with eyes open more with the love of the spirit", and i loved that.  It helped me a ton!  

I feel like the greatest thing that my mission has done for me by far is I feel I have truly come to know the love of Christ.  I'm constantly comforted by Him in prayer and scripture study.   I just feel so close to Christ and continue to feel His love stronger and stronger.  This Christmas season is truly amazing and so different on the mission.  Obviously I'm so much more focused on the meaning of Christmas rather than all the other distractions.  One thing I've been doing in our lessons a lot this month is sharing the picture of Christ knocking on the door with no handle on the outside.

One Christmas song that I love says, "find a way, make Him room, Let Him in."  Christ's door is always open to recieve us even when we have sinned, because thanks to Him, we can always repent.  It is our job to let Him into our lives.  He is constantly knocking in different rhythms and tones trying to find the right one that will get you up to answer.  Find a way.  Nothing is more important than He. Make Him room.  He will comfort you and love you in a way that you have never felt before.  Let Him in. He is always knocking.  That's my invitation for the week :) And remember why we have this amazing holiday!

I'm so grateful for my Savior and His love for me.  Although I miss my family, I will continue to share this amazing message we have with all.  For, "No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light." (Luke 11:33)  

Merry Christmas!

Elder Gurksnis

December 14, 2014 from Mom

Hello my sweet son!  I'm sitting here listening to Christmas music and it's killin me smalls!  I miss you my boy!  Christmas won't be the same without you here.  Incomplete.  But I'm comforted by knowing what you are doing right now.  I love the pictures you sent this week!  I can see you have a "family" away from your family and I can see that you love them and they love you!  I can see why at the end of your mission, even though you'll be so excited to come home, it will be bittersweet to leave the people you've grown to love.  ps. Tell little Maryuri that I think she is the most beautiful little girl!  

Nothing too eventful this week. Abby and I finished painting stripes on her wall.  I think she's sending you pics of that.  I'm busy getting ready for christmas.  All the decorations are up.  I changed up your stocking a little:)  See attached pics:)  Noelle and her family get here sometime at the end of the week.  Probably Friday. Spencer and Gregg don't come til next week.  That makes me nervous considering Gregg's track record.  He might just miss Christmas! (haha sort of)  I've got to finally get into your closet and clean it out so they have room.  Don't worry… I'm not throwing any thing out.  Although Abby likes to wear your t-shirts so a few of those might be misplaced.  

An interesting bit of news is that gas prices are down to $2.14 ( I think they were about $3.65 when  you left).  Can you believe it???  It's due to all the natural gas drilling going on I guess.  

Gray took the ACT for the first time this weekend.  He didn't study or anything.  It's just a benchmark to see where he needs to improve.  My guess is he probably did pretty well but he needs to speed up his answers to get more questions answered. I went back into your ACT account and forget how well you did. You got a 32 in math (highest perfect score is a 36) and a 31 in English.  YOu tanked in reading and got a 21 so it brought your overall score down.  But, dang! you did good!

How did your meeting go with the Mission President?  What did you think of him?  Tell me what you talked about.  I wonder how much interaction you get with him throughout your mission?

How is the Spanish going?  How about investigators?  Who are you working with?  What about the girl that you told us about that found out she is pregnant.  How is she?  

What are you doing on Christmas day? Any details yet?

The pictures of that marketplace look kind of cool.  What do they sell?  

Any word from Manning?  I don't know why, but I really feel badly for him.  What is the situation with you and Taylor?  I never asked what she thought of your letter and the BOM.  

On the Missionary Mom FB page, I was reading about this Mom telling about how her son did so well in the MTC and then he got out in the field on Monday and its been so hard.  I noticed that she is married to a good friend of mine from BYU (he was the kicker for the football team) and so I shared with her about your first few days in the field (getting locked out of your apt, sleeping on a tile floor, etc).  She was really glad to hear your stories and know that you are doing so well now.  It gives her hope that he will get passed this difficult time and do better soon.

I was having a conversation with someone this week about why we have to pray if God already knows what we are going to do anyway.  I told her (what I may have already told you) to think why God only provided enough manna for one day at a time for the Israelites when they were lost in the wilderness.  Certainly God could do whatever he wanted.  It would be more efficient to give them enough manna for the week all at once.  But he gave them only enough for one day at a time.  I believe he was trying to teach them to depend on Him daily.  They had physical needs that they turned to him for daily (food) and we have spiritual needs that require us to depend on Him daily.  I also told her that I believe there is power in asking for the blessings and answers we need.  Then I read this in the Bible Dictionary under Prayer :

As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are His children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part (Matt. 7:7–11). Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings.

The interesting part is that God has blessings he wants to give us but they require us asking.  It makes me think that really he just wants his children to talk to Him and come to Him for the things we need.  Kindof like our emails.  If I didn't get to talk to you thru emails once a week, it would make me feel distant from you and sad.  But instead, you write such wonderful emails to your momma that I feel like we are closer than ever… even though there are miles in-between us.  

I pray for you every day!  More than once.  Some days I notice that I just have a constant prayer in my mind and heart for you throughout the day.  I pray for those you teach too.  I always pray for your protection… that Heavenly Father will send angels to stand around you and protect you.  I pray that you will always listen to the spirit guide you and warn you and that it will help you teach the gospel.  You are precious to me, my son!  I love you so very much!  I hope you have a wonderful week.  By next pday our Skype will be just days away!!!!  

Infinity + infinity

xoxox

Mom

p.s. We need Skype details. Are you going to "call us?"  Do you know an approximate time?  

p.s.s. I sent another box on Tuesday:)  Keep an eye out for it and let me know when you get it:)  Dani sent me a Christmas gift for you but I received it the day after I mailed your box.  So now you won't get it for a while.  I'll probably send something out near the end of January or something.  We can open it over Skype.

psss.  I never got a letter from you.  Dad, Gray and Abby all got one about 2 weeks ago.  I thought you said you sent one but I still haven't gotten it:'(

December 8, 2014 from Sam

Howdy everyone!  Yes I hit day 100 in 2 days so only 630 left to go ;) 

I know my letters are getting shorter and shorter but its just because mission life gets more and more normal.  haha.  And some of the stuff that's not so every day in the states is just day to day stuff to me now.  BUT we did have a great week!  We baptized Maryuri M on Tuesday which was a bit of a surprise because she originally wasn't going to be baptized until late December but we visited her that day and she said she couldn't wait anymore and her mom agreed!  It was so awesome. 

She's another great baptism who i know will stay active in church.  That's one thing I've learned.  One thing that bugs me about the mission is numbers and stats.  They're necessary because President needs to know who's working and who's being a chambon(lazy).  But some missionaries get caught up with the numbers.  Some baptize those who aren't ready and who aren't going to endure to the end after their baptism and I don't want to be one of those missionaries.  Because if one doesn't endure to the end, their baptism doesn't mean much.  I think 2 Nephi 31 20 ish in the Book of Mormon?  ("Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.  Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.") Not sure but I do know that even though I may have less baptisms at the end of my mission that I'm not going to baptize anyone unless Ive prayed really hard about them and know that they re going to change and not just be baptised but truly have a change of heart.  Because this gospel is a lifestyle!  Not just something you can say and it be fine, you have to live it.  One great thing Ive learned on the mish.

One (kinda) funny thing that happened this week was I left a shirt on the floor for like 2 days and didn't see it.  It was absolutely destroyed by rat poop and urine :)) Hope it was a comfy poo!

The Christmas season has been great and super hard at the same time.  As expected.  I miss my family so unbelievably much and sometimes I torture myself at night with Christmas music and pictures haha.  Last night i was reading through all the Christmas cards my family sent and the ward sent.  My niece, little Bailey Smith's read "Dear Sam, I hope you have a great Christmas!  Love B.S. !"  I laughed pretty hard and couldn't help but think Erik or Kevin put her up to that. But anyways we have an amazing opportunity especially this month to share this gospel and especially focus on Christ.  We have these cards that we've been contacting with that have a picture of Mary and the baby Jesus that say El es laDadiva, which means He is the Gift.  We get to tell people that no matter the celebrations and gifts we receive there is no greater gift ever given than that of God: His only Begotten Jesus Christ. With our investigators we share this video which is a beautiful video.  Its about 3 minutes long and I encourage all of y'all to watch it :) 

I wanted to leave yall with one thought that I had this week.  We have been using the members a lot recently especially with these little cards for references and I think it'll be a big success. We gave each of them one card and said we expect next Sunday for yall to have given this to a friend or family non member with a day that we can come with you to their house to share the video and a short message!  When i was sharing with them our idea I just asked them 1. How are you growing your own testimony? What do you do on a daily or weekly basis to grow closer to Christ and His atonement? Are you truly and sincerely doing everything you can to strengthen your testimony? 2. How are you growing the testimony of those in your family and growing your relationship with each individual member of your family?  Are you having family home evening every Monday and family scripture study and prayer? Are you spending quality time with your family on a regular basis? and 3. How are you helping with missionary work?  Are you constantly looking for people who are ready to receive the gospel and trying to share this thing that is most important in your life with others? Because missionary work is very unsuccessful without the help of the members.  The blessings that we receive for doing the Lords work are simply remarkable and this opportunity and challenge that we have given you is a great way to start!  So I would encourage all of you to think about those three simple questions!  And i would encourage you this Christmas season to involve yourself with the missionaries as well as immerse yourself in service.  We as Americans have so much to be thankful for and especially in Prosper, we have so much.  Take this Christmas season as an opportunity to give to those who don't have as much.  

This Christmas for me will be one I know I will never forget!  I have a testimony of this gospel and I know that Christ is my and our Savior of the world.  His birth is an amazing story that I'm so grateful that I can share with these people of Guatemala.  Isaiah 9:6 - For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

Have a great week!  Don't forget the reason why this time is so special :)

Feliz Navidad!

Elder Gurksnis 

December 8, 2014, From Mom

Hello my son!  This week felt long.  I'm so used to getting pictures from you but other than your pooped in long johns, I haven't had any pictures in a couple of weeks.  I think they really do help me because I feel more a part of your experience.  I thought maybe you feel the same so I'll make sure I send at least a pic or two each week.  

We have all been sick around here this week.  Grayson has already had strep throat 2 times in the last month and now he's coughing and sick again!  He also rolled his ankle at his last game so its all swollen and hard to walk on.  Dad got it too so he's home from work today.  Ama is finally getting better from her medication withdrawal.  I can't believe how long she has been sick!  She is headed to the doctor this week so hopefully we will get some answers. And Pop Pop was down with the flu! 

Well that's all the bad stuff.  Now the good news.  Erik got the job with the ER!  He has definitely decided to move forward with nursing so this will be great experience and help make his resume strong.  Kevin has a new girlfriend!  And the most interesting part… She is 33!  She seems nice.  I've only met her once but she was perfectly comfortable with our family and really nice.  Of course she is very pretty.  I've worried about him feeling so lonely so I'm happy for him.  I know they decorated a tree together and even just that makes me happy for him.  We will see where this goes…  I've been busy working on a new website for my business.  I'm trying to work a little more consistently.  We need to be more aggressive saving for our future.  Being unemployed 3 times in 10 years takes a huge toll on your savings:)  I had a guy design a logo for me and it turned out great.

So Trevor has been home about 3 weeks, right?  I guess he and Julia Richardson have been joined at the hip since they both got home about 2 days apart from each other.  Trevor went to be released as a missionary from President Platt and he had just had the same interview with Julia an hour earlier (she came home from her mission in chile after 9 months… not sure why but it wasn't anything she had done wrong) and President Platt says to Trevor, "Im not sure why I'm feeling this, but I just feel inspired to tell you to contact Julia."  THey have been together ever since that day!  I was going to set him up with Sydney but I think that isn't gonna happen at this point.  haha!

I have another box I'm going to send out today or tomorrow.  Just a few things you asked for.  Any last minute requests?  Hopefully you'll get it in time for Christmas.  There isn't anything wrapped in there but it would be fun to have a few extra things.  We are all on Christmas count down… not for the gifts but for the chance to Skype with you!  We are sooooo excited!  As you get more info about your schedule on Christmas, will you let me know?  I want to try to get through breakfast and stockings here before we Skype so everyone else can open gifts and we won't hold them up.  You said you're doing a service project.  Do you know what you're doing?  Also, Konold told his mom that a couple of zones or districts are getting together.  Are you part of that?

How are your clothes holding up?  Shoes?  Do your feet hurt when you walk so much or are the shoes helping?

How is the language?  I can't believe how well you're doing after just 3 months!  

I talked to Stanton for a while this weekend at the basketball tournament.  He ALWAYS reads your letters.  In fact one week he didn't get it for some reason and he emailed me and asked for it:)  Here is his email if you want to shoot him a quick email sometime.  shaunmstanton@yahoo.com .  I think when you get home he thinks you guys will be great friends.  He is excited to see all the ways you have grown and changed.  We also had a long talk about Gray's friends.  Stanton is worried about Parker and Nate but especially Will Scholl.  He thinks they are getting into trouble.  Gray doesn't really like Will very much but Parker does so he is spending more time with them and I think its not so great.  Stanton said that he has never heard one bad thing about Gray.  But those guys are struggling a little bit I think and its just another reason why Gray misses you so much.  He's such a good kid.  And you influence him so much even though you aren't here physically. I think Gray is the only one in that group determined to serve a mission at this point.  I hope that will change.

I've started reading Jesus the Christ.  I just finished chapter 2.  YOu are right… it is dense but so filled with interesting info.  Here is one thing that stood out to me in the beginning of Chapter 1. Its talking about the war in heaven and who took which side.  He says, "The majority either fought with Michael or at least refrained from active opposition, thus accomplishing the purpose of their "first estate."  I never thought about that.  That some people were more valiant in defending God's plan while others "just wanted a body" and sat on the sidelines to see what would happen.  I guess that helps me to understand why some people act so disinterested in defending good today.  They are the same spirits possibly that stood on the sidelines in heaven but were given the incredible blessing of coming to earth.  Your patriarchal blessing says "We know by gospel teaching that we lived with Him in the pre-existence; there you were taught at His knee, both by Heavenly Father and by our elder brother Jesus Christ.  You were valiant in lifting your voice in defense of His plan of happiness for His children.  Many of the blessings that have come to you in this life have been the result of the valiance and obedience you exhibited in that pre-mortal realm."  That sounds so much like you!  I feel such a strong conviction of the spirit as I write this to you.  I know you were an extremely valiant son of God in our pre mortal life.  And because of your obedience and faithfulness, you have been blessed.  What a tremendous knowledge to know how much they love you!  This is from my patriarchal blessing from 1979:) … "You are special and choice to Him...You were a noble spirit in the pre-existence.  You were valiant and you desired to come to the earth and be faithful and you wanted to do your part so your spirit was withheld to come in this day and time, which is the most wonderful time to live upon the earth and many had sought to do so, but it was your privilege to come now."  We come from a long line of valiant people.  And because we have been given so much, much is expected.  You are living up to that, my son!  This mission will be hard and gut wrenching but so wonderful and amazing at the same time.  I have seen so much growth from you!  Keep yourself in check!  Keep looking for ways to fine tune your obedience so you don't get slack with the rules.  See what miracles will come from your obedience.  Stay focused on those who need you there right now.  You are selflessly giving yourself to them during this time.  Don't hold anything back.  When you come home don't have any regrets.  Leave it all on the field.  Whenever you feel discouraged, try to imagine what you will feel like when you come home and feel such a sense of accomplishment that your served valiantly for 2 years and what joy you will have!  "His Lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou has been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."  Matt 25: 21

I love you so much Sam!  Keep working hard and stay focused on the work.  I'm sure there are times that you feel like you are missing out on things at home.  But I promise, nothing going on here is worth distracting you from the people that need you there.  You will be home soon enough and everything here will still be here.  I'm so incredibly proud of you!  I know if you stay focused there, you will have many opportunities to teach people that need you specifically, maybe even some will be companions or other missionaries, you will have opportunities to lead and influence others.  I can only imagine how difficult it is at times.  It just makes me all the more proud of what you are doing!  I love you infinity + infinity and miss you like crazy!!!!  Keep up all your tremendous work!  xoxoxo

Mom

ps. You will hit your 100 day mark in 2 days:)

pss.  Only 17 days til SKYPE!!!!

pss.  How are you doing with your Matthew challenge?

December 1, 2014 From Sam

Welp hit day 90 today and 3 months on wednesday.  Fastest time of my life thats for sure! 

Not too much crazy happened this week except we did have to drop 2 investigators because theyre extorsionists :)))) aka hitmen, well women in this case.  We always saw them using the public phones every day even though they had cell phones but never thought anything of it.  But one went to jail this week and a woman in our ward told us the same day that she overheard her on the phone and yeah theyre totally hitwomen lol hashtag limonlife

I was sick almost all week including thanksgiving and lost a good amount of weight lol but we didnt get to do anything thanksgiving anyway it was just a normal day!  That morning Elder Turley our zone leader and buddy in the zone sent a text to all the nortes just saying happy thanksgiving!  And it was somewhat long and thoughtful and then at the end he put Solomon 8:8 and i went to read it... just started dying laughing hahah yall will just have to go look it up in the king james version haha it was such a Turley move it was really funny.

I gave a talk this past Sunday in church on humility that was about 12 or 13 minutes long.  I think it went pretty well i put a lot of thought into it!  Just basically saying how not much is more humbling than this whole situation and having to learn a new language.  But I think it went well!  

We have two baptisms set for this month and then we committed Ana Lusia to baptism as well!  In fact marriage too haha she has children and her and her husband arent legally married so in January our bishop will perform a legal marriage and hopefully her husband will have had time to have heard the lessons by then and can be baptised with her. Then in a year they can have a temple marriage!  Pretty amazing.  

But yeah somewhat of a slow week but Im feeling better now and were gonna hit it hard this week!  

Hope you all had a great thanksgiving!  You all have a lot to be thankful for especially our amazing country and state and everything that we have and the luxuries we have in the states.  Thankful for all of you! 

Texas Forever 

Elder Gurksnis

December 1, 2014 From Mom

The caption over your poop picture... I seriously have been laughing for 2 days!  It's equally gross and hilarious.  I hope you're getting lots of use out of your Tide pens that I sent with you. HAHAHAHA!

How was your week my boy?  On Tuesday, you will have been gone for 3 months!  1/8th of the way through.  It seems so fast and yet so long at the same time.  I know you are growing and becoming such a great young man.  I guess I will trade this time for the chance you have to grow in such a tremendous way.  I'm so very proud of you my love!

We had a nice break from school.  Grayson had a basketball game on Tuesday and he played great!  Much more aggressive and looked great out there.  We had Abby's group of friends over a few times.  We have had great missionary discussions with them.  Then proud missionary moment for your sister... she brought 4 friends to church today!  I'm not sure what will come of it.  They may just have a curiousity.  But Abby and I have had many conversations with them.  You'd be proud:)

Speaking of missionaries, we had them over for dinner and I noticed they all wear the same PRO ring that you got from that girl at EFY one year. Do you know what I'm talking about?  Was her last name Taylor by any chance?  Because the new mission president here is President Taylor and he has them made and gives them to each of the elders here.  They were surprised that someone else had one because they thought it was personalized for their mission.  Haha.

We had a really nice Thanksgiving.  Notice the picture... we have your picture pulled up on the ipad but it didn't work like I hoped it would.  Really good food. We talked about lots of your experiences.  We all miss you so much!  But especially me:)  When we went around the room to say what we were grateful for, I was the letter "E" so of course I said "Elder Gurksnis."  Our family just doesn't feel complete without you here.  We feel small.  We take up hardly any room on the pew at church.  I don't like it!  

Ama has been having a tough time for about 2 weeks.  She had to go off her back medicine because now that they are retired and have Medicare, their insurance no longer covers that medication. So she has been going thru total drug withdrawal. Throwing up 10 x per day, dizzy, can hardly get out of bed.  I think she is getting to the end of it but I think the withdrawal has been really rough on her.  Keep her in your prayers.

We had our Matthew 25 family home evening tonight to kick off the Christmas season.  We drew one for you.  See the picture below.  You still have to do it.. no getting out of it.  Let us know what you do.  I made the kids promise that they would be really thoughtful about it this year and not do something lame.

A few questions:

Have you heard anything about Elder Manning?  I've been praying for him.  I wish I knew what happened.

How are things going with Fredrick and Marco?  How about your investigators?

How are things with Elder Cano?

Where do you go to write emails each week?  Is that where you will Skype?  I'm going to work with Sis Opfar this week to figure out all the details of skyping.  Did you have any luck finding a calling card?  Just to have as a back up...

Here is something I found from President Hinckley.  As a checklist, how do you think you are doing?  I can see that you have already received many of these blessings... 

10 Gifts to Bring Home From a Mission. President Gordon B. Hinckley 

1. Knowledge of God and Christ. 

2. Knowledge and love for scriptures. 

3. Increased love for parents. 

4. Love people who you serve. 

5. Appreciation for hard work. 

6. Knowledge of importance of teamwork. 

7. Recognition of importance of good dress and demeanor. 

8. Appreciation of the beauty and value of personal virtue. 

9. Faith to act and courage to try. 

10. Humility to pray. 

I love you so much Sam!  You are in our every prayer and our thoughts constantly.  You are part of many of our conversations.  I miss you tremendously!  I hope you have a stellar week.  Please be safe and listen to the spirit.  I was talking to someone this week about a vision that Brigham Young had after Joseph Smith had died.  Brigham asked him (in his vision) if he had a message for the saints.  This is what he said:  “Tell the people to be humble and faithful, andbe sure to keep the spirit of the Lord and it will lead them right. Be careful and not turn away the small still voice; it will teach you what to do and where to go; it will yield the fruits of the kingdom” (Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1846-1847, 529).  Joseph Smith had ONE thing to say to the saints and it was to stay close to the spirit and live worthy to have it.  It shows you how important it is.  I know it will guide you to those who will listen to your teaching of the gospel and it will give you protection as well.  Two things that give me peace about you being so far from home serving the Lord. 

I love you so very much!  Infinity + Infinity and even more than that! 

Be safe my boy.  xoxoxoxox

Mom