In search of something.

Marc and I have the opportunity to attend the most amazing Sunday School class. Our teacher is a man with great wisdom and insight into the human frailties of men. Today we were talking about finding your passion. When I was searching for times when I felt passionate about something, I thought about the trip Marc and I were able to take to Haiti. There were many nights that were spent with no electricity so as soon as the sun went down, my mind went to work. I wondered why these sweet people lived in such dire poverty, but I also wondered why happiness is so hard to find in America where we have most every convenience at our beck and call. I ran across this quote and know it is time for me to help and hope that this will bring some direction to my search for what I can do to do more.
"Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty, suffering, and injustice when He could do something about it.”

“Well, why don’t you ask Him?”

“Because I’m afraid He would ask me the same question.”

(Anonymous) -a quote from A Hole in the Gospel, by Richard Stearn, President of World Vision
I know of wonderful charities that give 100% of donations directly to those in need with no costs towards admistration. One is here and the one I want to become involved in right now is here.
C.S. Lewis said, ”I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare…If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us,… they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditures excludes them.”

Is it really 2010?

Okay there have already been two birthdays this year. I want to post pictures of my two birthday kids from January so this is just Jordan's letter for now. I recommitted to read scriptures daily with the family and I am admitting publicly to the world that once again we haven't been the shining example sooooooooooooo, of course our missionary is reminding us to do it. OUCH-so if you see me ask me to keep me accountable how we are doing on marking our scriptures as directed by the boy in Paraguay. Here is his letter and I hope it will touch your heart. Once again, thank you to all of you who love him and have played a part in helping him to be the wonderful servant that he is.
> Familia, les quiero mucho,
>
> Well once again the Lord has blessed me with another amazing companion. My last Comp, Elder Lytle moved up to AP cause hes a stud, and President put me with ELDER OLSON!!!!!!! who is just a missionary machine!! this elder was just born to be a Missionary, lives in Placentia, near Anahim(sp), comes from a family of 10, youngest of 8 who have all served missions, and whos parents are currently in Mexico serving a mission. i hope that helps you understand what im working with here. Im pretty sure as a child when asked what he wanted to be when he grew up the answer was A MISSIONARY! and he probably said it in Spanish. Just know that im really excited and feel very blessed to be with him.
>
> Zone wise. everythings going great we have 2 brand new district Leaders who are looking for guidance and molding which i love cause we all going to be on the same page this change. and Elder Laughter my homie from the young years is in my zone as the other district leader. and on top of all of that they opened two new areas in out zone. which makes 26 missionaries!! AHHHHHHH!!!!!!! its going to be great, last change i did a lot of worrying and stressing out but i think i have a better understand of my calling and what the Lord expects from me and im going to do all i can to complete that following and trusting in Him.
>
> Well you all sound great, Basketball season is always an interesting time for Liberty. Logan just keep being a Baller, someday somebody will realize the Game and the blood you got. Until then you just gotta keep your head. and the jerseys should be there this week or the next they were sent the 30 of diciembre.
>
> side note thank you Grandma for the package`i i loved it and am reaping the blessing of american taco seasoning and koolaid.

Also just wanted to share something about my personal study that i have been doing. President Callan challanged the entire Mission to re-read the entire Book of Mormon tapa a tapa marking all references to the Savior. His names, his attributes, his words, his Doctrine. each one of those in a different color. counting how many times the Book of Mormon talks of Christ. Almost every page in my book looks like Rainbow from all the marks that i make. i have found a better understanding for the Book of Mormon and my testimony has grown from doing so. By taking this challange i testify with more power and clarity everyday. those that read this aswell are invited to do the same go by a brand new copy of the Book of mormon and read at least a chapter a day marking all references to the Savior, Jesus Christ. i promise you that your testimony of Him and the Book of Mormon will grow and your understanding of the two will be strengthen.
Ps those in immediate family, i would like a response to my invitation, Dad down to Melanie.

pss the other day i started laughing mid-read thinking if our family was the family of nefi mason would be jacob, in ch 4 ver 1 when he was complaining about how hard it was to write on those stinkin plates. haha. kid never could write a clean sentence. jk Mason Ether 12 26 God gives you weaknesses to make you strong and someday you be scriptist (word?)

Ive been praying for you dad and i hope everything turns out great with whitney, the place changes lifes. testigo de eso.
pss how is Carla Lewis doing as well as uncle Dale. i have been praying for them a lot. but i havent received an update.

k gotta go love you all and feel the power of your prayers daily. i lvoe being a missionary.

Sweet Sixteen in Every Way

My little boy Logan is now sixteen. I know he is not little but for his entire life he and Mason were the little boys. It stuck and I need it now for psychological reasons, so just humor me. I am amazed at how fast his life has flown by. He has truly brought joy into my life for all sixteen years. He has a smile for everyone he meets and tries to keep peace. I have tried to make him dance at Stake dances and he has put his foot down so that is a battle I have given up. He love his sports and we are very impressed with how hard he works to succeed at whatever athletic event he is currently involved in. He is a great brother to Mason and he will sit and watch Melanie's favorite shows with her. I know that the friendships he has with his brothers and sisters will last forever. His favorite people are Talia and Tristan and he plays with them and never tires of it. He has always loved kids and still does as he plays with his cousins no matter their age and loves to be the ring leader. I feel grateful to have him as my son and look forward to the next two years of high school, then his mission, and then college. It will be a great ride.

Fall

I miss Box Elder canyon. I love living in California BUT I could love moving to Utah and seeing the splendor of what it has to offer.

Once a Patriot always a Champion

I have to admit it. I was dreading the BHS vs.Liberty football game. I want to die watching my boys play football. I worry they will get hurt, I worry they will hurt someone else, I worry they will miss their tackle, etc. etc.. Pretty much the worry cycle of a mom. Well I left after Logan's game to take Melanie to a birthay party and the just tried to waste time before the Varsity game because I was just too nervous to go face the game. I waited in line for Logan's dinner for 20 minutes at Jack in the Box and finally got to the game 15 minutes late. At Jack in the Box I could hear the screams of the crowd but wasn't sure shich way it would be going. Well imagine my surprise when I arrived and we were in the lead 7 to 10. Yipee, skipee for us! The game was amazing and I was nervous the whole time. We were leading by 10 points with 4 minutes left and people were leaving. HELLO did you not know BHS came back last week to beat Stockdale? It ain't over until .... Well when the game ended this fat lady SANG! I had a smile on my face the whole night- so happy for my two boys and the great games they both played.

Monday's update on the Missionary

hey so im writing again im just doing it slower then the dickens. (mom why did you always say that and what does it mean) so im writing from a computer out here in acahay and im pretty sure this was one of the first editions from 1984 it was sweet back then but come on can i get SOMETHING to open up with in my tour time limit. Well i hope everythings going great back home. We are doing great out here. My comps learning fast hes understanding a lot better he is still a little bit timid about talking so he stops a lot in lessons to ask me if he said that right. its kinda funny. but im thinking by the end of this change he will able to teach all the lessons without my help, well thats the goal. He keeps me laughing all day cause he just gets so excited about everything, even if its something small like some someone saying that theyll come to church during a contact. Most people just say that they will come to get us to stop talking but he just has so much faith that they are going to be there on sunday. Which i guess is good cause in Ether it says we cant receive any miracles unless we have faith. So hes really been helping me have more faith in these people.
we are still pretty house empty we have beds and a closet and a fridge, but no silverware or bowls or plates or any cooking item. so for the past 6 days we have had sandwiches, oranges, cookies and cereal from the bottom of a cut out water bottle and the top of a can of chocolate used as a spoon and thats about it. so im pretty stooked for the new kitchen were getting next week.

Miracle wise we were expected heavy rain this Sunday and we had blue skys!!! huge blessing and now everything is set up for Conferencia General. We have a baptism of 13 planned as a District if everything goes well. Which it will cause our district is amazingly obedient and all guapos (means hardworkings in paraguay, cause we actually got some pretty ugly looking dudes out here. i think thats why they sent them our here in the sticks) Im really excited for our Family, Familia Domínguez, they are all super pumped for there baptism, they all read and pray and even have question about what they read sic you love as a missionary casue you know that they are actually studying. The Dad is going to be the make or break for this week. They arent married yet and hes not 100 percent sure if hes ready for it. but we taught him the law of Castidad and he felt kinda bad i think he knows he needs to do it he`s scared. so pray for him a lot please (fermin). Paraguari the area that i was in last week is also having a baptism of 5 so thats way exciting. This week is going to be great we are going to need a loto f fasting a pray but i think it will go great.

This is the Lords work and there is no greater work sobre la faz de la tierra.

Love you all spell check forgive me please
Dont forget to pray

hey mom got back on to print off the email from president callan. just to let you know i have pdays every monday and once every two months i have it on wednesday for changes so ill let you know when i have wednesday pday. also i will be getting on early now in the day casue we dont meet together anymore cause its just to far to travel out here. so it would be better to write me sudays. also we arent moving again we just havent received our kitchen stuff so that will be here tomorrow. i feel like a little kid at christmas.

Words of wisdom passed along to my posterity

Here us a picture of the luxiourios Hotel del Paraguay. Bug netting is included in the price of the room.
Jordan started his letter with a quote he remembered from his mother. Ohhh, I hope there are other things he can recall besides the random thoughts that came out of my mouth and into the ears of my children.

The term "the dickens" means "to the point of ridiculousness"

Therefore saying "slow as the dickens" means you are being ridiculously slow

(Writer Charles Dickens was known for the fact that is his books he would often take a minor detail and exaggerate it for sake of comedy)