Missionary Monday on Wednesday ;)

So, I must be following in his footsteps as he is always listing his top five or top three but I have to say this might be one of my top 3 favorite letters. I was laughing out loud as I read his play by play of the bus fiasco and then picturing him and his companion running towards each other on the streets of Paraguay. In my mind it is in slow motion with legs and arms flailing and music is playing in the background as they reunite after the 13 block run. We miss having him in our house with us but we sure feel his love coming to us. It is a great experience and I am grateful for two more sons who have made it their plan to also serve a mission.
Hey family how are you?
Sounds like a lot happened this week and a lot
is going on in life. I love life when its busy it makes it mas fun. Logan with a nasty pick against Clovis stud. Make sure we save a video of that.
Que pucha varsity didn’t hold them off its alright you guys can just regulate in the Valley Championship game. Im just glad you left concussion free. Ha that was so funny slash scary last year. I still laugh thinking about it.
And Melanie’s swimming!!! That’s awesome. I knew she was going to be good at swimming, I remember she used to race the kids during swim practice and always won. When’s you first meet Melanie? How do you like it? It’s probably a little tough right now but give it another week or two and you’ll adjust. Im excited to hear how its going next week from you.
K funny story. Every Monday we take a bus from Paraguari to Ita. Its about 30 to 45 mins. Depending on how full the bus is and what year it was made. Luckily this morning it filled up quick, as in all the seats filled and two people standing up in front of every seat if that’s sense. It was a bus meant for 40 with 102 on it. If that makes it easier to picture. So we didn’t stop for anyone along the way cause it would be impossible to get on. Mom would go cray claustrophobic on these buses. But this morning the bus flew and we got there in like 25, and the whole time my comp and I were talking and didn’t realize that we got there. So we had to push our way to the front and were like jumping on people and stepping on them cause were a good three times bigger then the rest of them. Anyways my comp made it to the front grabbed his backpack and got off with me following but i couldn’t find my backpack! So I started looking for it and the bus took off without my comp!! and me without my backpack panicking a full. So I'm grabbing all the bags trying to find mine. And the sun was in my eyes and I could see anything so I couldn’t tell which one was mine and I wanted to cry cause the bus was just going fast and fast. And people were all looking at me weird cause I was alone and they could tell I was about to have a panic attack so I finally yelled CAN ANYONE SEE A MOCHILLA NEGRA!!!! And some kid handed it to me and I ran to the front got off now a solid 13 blocks from my comp and started sprinted to my comp, I cant remember running that fast in my whole life. After 3 blocks of running I say my comp at a dead sprint as well coming towards me. The only thing he said was WHAT HAPPENED YOU WERE RIGHT BEHIND ME?! I just laughed. It was pretty funny and i don’t think im going to forget that feeling again I was scared straight. Dang now I only have 5 min.
So I went to the temple for the first time in 7 months and felt so good. Like being clean after a baptism again. I also had an Entrevista con el Presidente that was wonderful. He still kinda scares me but I like him a lot. He says hes happy with the way im working and that helped me out a lot. Cause sometimes I just feel so little. Like im working my hardest and there just isn’t enough time or hours in the day to get everything done and we just aren’t having the result we want. I think part of that problem is we have been working in 4 areas trying to do the work of 6 missionaries with just us two. But President said that he sees a lot of potential in our areas especial in Acahay so next week myself and a new missionary are headed out there to live and work all the time focusing on priesthood and Families. I'm really excited Ive been thinking about a lot of things that could help those people out and I think we are going to have a lot of success.
Other note we went to Guasuqua and found a little house to sleep in ill sent pics next week of it. And we found 15 people and got 30 other referencias so we pumped about that next week were going out there again. Ill let you know more about it next week. But we need to go back and clean the pension its gross. Also tomorrow Elder Audikitus is coming and we are having a Mission Conferience im PUMPED. That man knows how to drop the cane. K I love you all.
Your amazing and I cant wait to hear from ya next week. Good luck in the Freedom Bowl. When one of you scores, dedicate a sammy sosa to me.
Ps I Got the Package it was sweet!!! Thank you so much Candice and Nicole. I didn’t even eat that chuchi of candy in the states. And that Tie is beautiful im wearing tomorrow to the conferencia. K I love you all

Today Marc and I went to a memorial service for Debbie Austin. She was the youngest in a family of 10. We knew her as a bundle of energy willing to offer her opinions as well as her love. As I listened to her family share thoughts and memories of growing up in a large family I was overcome with memories from my own life.
I thought of the time when I was only 4 or 5 and I was feeling left out in a house filled with teenagers. I was sitting under a chair in the dining room of our California house. My big sister Susan came to find me and comforted me while the house was filled with her own friends. She told me she would always be there for me and she was.
I remembered my sixteenth birthday when my sisters Teresa and Shelly planned a surprise birthday party for me at our cabin. My friends were hiding in the playhouse out back. They were both at busy times in their lives but took the time to make a spoiled little sister feel loved and adored. I also remember that my sister Teresa didn't kill me when I wore her beautiful red leather "soft as butter" shoes and ruined them. I don't know where I wore them or what I did but I know that somehow somewhere I did in fact ruin them.
I think of a small arrangement of flowers sent to me by my sister Dayna (Steve's wife) when my friend Melanie died and I thought my heart would burst. They were in law school and I am sure that a floral arrangement was not in the budget but it truly soothed my heart to know that they would know I was hurting.
I remembered driving to deliver treats to football players while my mom came up with clever verses and rhymes, all the while laughing at our clever selves.
I thought of my Aunt Beth and her stories she would tell us during the time she spent living at our house and her famous BINGO games as well as her books filled with stories about nurses.
I really have a horrible memory and can hardly remember anything about my childhood. When we have reunions and everyone reminisces, I wonder "where was I?" since I don't remember most of the things they are talking about. It was nice to have my mind opened and feel the love of my older sisters. I feel grateful to have sisters that I was able to look up to growing up who had the patience to deal with their little sister. I had a wonderful childhood and am grateful to not only be blessed with the family that the Lord sent me to but that I was able to marry into a family that I would choose to spend eternity with. Life is good and I am so grateful that I am able to have my children with me - and my heart aches for my friends the Austins who have wonderful memories of their sweet daughter and would choose to continue making more memories that include her. But that was not part of the plan. Sister Austin is an example of everything wonderful, graceful, and strong that embodies motherhood. She was a hero in my book today as I watched her countenance shine with love for a daughter that left too soon.

hoooooooooooollllllaaaa!!!

hey hows life fam? im so pumped for football this year i better get good updates. you two better wreck some fools. your probably all in school right now. LOCO!!!! Masons a senior, i cant believe it.

k so this week was mas o menos. we had a lot of downs but luckily the ups out numbered the downs. i let you know what the downs were first. the first and mas grande was with Tomas and Maura. they didnt come to church last week and we ewre like alright their not realy to progress so we dropped them. then they called and said that want to come to church and get baptized. so yours truely was dumb and believed them and we took the to Asuncion to get Mauras cedula aka identification. And they were all happy and reading their book of Mormon they had questions and were just golden then i dont know what happen they said they would be there Sunday we tested their faith and let them try and come on their own. Didnt work so we went and looked for them and Maura saw me coming and ran from me. i wanted to cry. the day before she was showing me here marked scriptures and telling me what parts she liked out of 2 nephi 31 and the next day she acted like she didnt know me. And had no interested in going to church. so i told here if you change and want our help and the lords help come to church but were not going to there house anymore. So that was a bummer. The other bummer was everyone in Acahay was mad at the president cause he said they were lame-o´s for not coming to church last week and going to the party. So we got problems to fix and we have to try and do it in Guarani which is like asking an marc Urmston boy to fix a computer. its just not going to happen. so there is my venting now for the Bendiciones!!!!


So yessica aka stud of the year came to church again this week. she even came home from Carapegua where she works a good 30 mins in bus from Acahay to make it. And she had a big-o smile on like always. Anyways my comp went out there on Sunday and gave the sunday school lesson and taught lesson 2 the plan of salvation. and then gave a talk as well and taught lesson 1 the Restoration. it was perfect. so were going out to acahay tomorrow to do the interview of her and Manuel a 9 year old who has been coming to church that we already thought was a member, habia sido, hes not! bendiciones 2 so were going to baptism the two on saturday. In a River!!! im so excited, especially for Yessica shes so ready. i just hope she can get work off.
Other blessing this week in paraguari we had a bunch of poser good investigators but none of them showed up on sunday. i wish i could just MAKE them understand how important this Gospel is for them. But i think someone already tried that plan, and it didnt turn out that Hot for him. (i guess i should say "it didnt turn out so cool for him" ha you know what im saying!) Anyways i was kinda bummed out on sunday cause no one really came to church. but come to find out Gayoso a recent converts, his mother is not baptized and she come to church every week. But we thought there had to be something wrong with her if she has not been baptized yet, like she need to get divored or algo asi. but we asked president and he was all. Oh i forgot to tell you last week she talked to me and wants to get baptized. we were like what!! OK!! so we went to her house and are going again tonight and hopefully she can get baptized this weekend. YIPEE. i love baptisms.

Other good news this week we are going to guasukua, a little pueblo of about 500 that had about 20 members and a couple investigators that need the lessons. so were going thursday on a bus through a dirt path for an hour and a half. the the only problem is that the bus gets there at 10 and then leaves at 11, and there isnt any other buses. So the President gave us two options go for an hour teach a full and run back to the bus. OR go buy hammocks and find two trees load up with mosquito spray and stay the night!!! we picked number two. Im so pumped its going to be crazy. The best part is there is already2 families that have enough assistencias get baptized now! so thats another huge blessing.

So what i need to do is grow up take our trials like a man. Put more faith in the Lord and appriecate the Blessing that come. When life gets hard and i fell like giving up there are two things i like to do one is read Ether 12, which is all about faith and the testimony that comes after the trial of our faith. And the other is to read a quote that Elder Pitcher likes to shared one time that helped me out a lot. im not sure who ts from but it says

True faith is shown when the mountains dont move and the waters dont part.
mom thought(this might be one of my new favorite quotes!)
So just push through your trails and keep that eye of faith and the Lord will bless you ( a good friend ones shared d yc 121 7-9, that one really helps me as well.)

k gotta jet i would send you some pics but some punk kid erased the last four months of my mission yesterday. i want to cry. but next week there will be pics of baptisms!!!

also a small wish list

efy cds
skittles
starbusts
new pants, the dark brown ones form walmart are my favorite. Puritains 34 x 32
for christmas the Iron Gym for pull ups and the full body work out.
mike and ikes
fireballs people down here freakout with those.
and thats it for now

k love you all be happy and good luck with school and the big game this week.

Young Women's Camp 2009

How can one week be so amazing? Our theme this year was "Because I Believe". Each day we tried to have a daily theme that built on the day before. Tuesday it was Strengthen Home and Family, Wednesday was Stand with the Savior, Thursday was Live Temple Worthy, Friday was The Light of the Gospel shines through Me, and Saturday was Be an Example. The food was organized, cooked, and served by ladies who can do it all. The kitchen at camp is one of my favorite places to hang out. They get it all done all while laughing and building up everyone around them. I worked with ladies who this year all roped our husbands into coming and helping out. We truly relied on their support for so much of camp. I am overwhelmed by the number of people who take time off work and family responsibilities to share all their wonderful talents for a week at Big Meadow. We had almost 200 girls in 6 different groups this year and each group had leaders that went above and beyond in every way. Thank you, thank you for all you do. It was another year filled with the spirit, fun and work.
In one of Jordan's letter he commented on how work was fun and I truly will have to agree that doing the Lord's work is fun. I just wanted to post and tell anyone who reads this thanks for whatever part you played in helping to pull together camp this year. I truly feel that the Lord was pleased with the hearts that were touched and the testimonies that were strengthened this year.

Pictures of the Missionary

He said the buses are crammed full with up to 200 people.

Here is a picture with an investigator who makes bricks.

Another great week in Paraguay

(His greeting must be in Guarani, or he was just having fun on the typewriter? We still are amazed at the happy spirit that this boy has and are so grateful for his service to the Lord and especially the fact that the Lord blessed our family by sending him to us!)

Mba`e tekopio familia porá.

Hey family, whats up. So another loco week with amazing milagros and blessing with out end. starting with the 8 investigators that came to church that was awesome. Thats really like the final grade that your teacher would post on the wall fridays bofore the weekend. And if it wasnt high enough that meant that it woud be a crappy weekend or for missionaries, P Day, but having 8 people in church just tickles my fancy (who says that?!?) the only problem is the 3 familias that are suppose to be baptized this week didnt show up meaning they have to come church next week, si o si if they want to get baptized the 31 de julio. the all had decent excuses but i just dont like excuses, i just want the world to come to church.

Sad Moment of the week_ went to go pick up javier to take to church, who is the 20 year old who is supposed to get baptized within 2 weeks, and the man couldnt even stand up cause he was so drunk. he saw me walk up and started crying, he came over and hugged me and i really didnt want to touch him cause i was so mad and dissappointed in him, but his girlfriend who he wanted to married left him the night before and moved to a different city with another man. I felt really bad for him but it jsut made me sick to my stomach that that is his only solution. And it is the only solution for many people when life doesnt go as planned. before the mish i didnt really care if you drank i just didnt want to see it or be around it. but now i have 0 respect for the people that get wasted every weekend and just waste their lifes and ruin their families. seeing Javier like that made me want to cry but it will just make it that much better seeing him get baptized.

k enough with sad stuff. Big Blessing aka the big double B of the week would have to be the Call that we got from an X-missionary slash branch prsident out in Guasuquá. Which is a small pueblo that is in our area. its about an hour away on Bus on a dirt road, and i guess every Sunday they have sacrament meeting out there. well this good man called and said that there are 3 familias that have been coming on and off for the past 2 years and they want to be baptized. so all we need to do is get out there teach a couple lessons and then marry two of them and then baptize all three of them. its going to be great. Im still in awe ( i dont know how to write that but amazed demasiado) how blessed we have been lately as a district.
The four campanionships in the district combined had 37 investigators in chuch which is amazing.

Sometimes it doesnt make since how blessed we are as missionaries. but im not going to complain. i love you all and hope you have a great week. One of the most important things that i have learned to this point in the mission is that all blessings are given through sacrifice and obedience. so be obedient and be greatful for your sacrifices.

I love you all and pray for you always

Picture Day

Italics are comments from the MADRE
que suerte para ustedes!! i love the beach!!! i hope you have fun and make sure you take a lot of pictures. tell everyone i say hi and i love them all. Brain Blast (I think that means he has an idea)have them write me letters one night. Like we used to have to do at Aunt Daynas and were always punks about it. ha that be sweet if not dont worry.

well another successful week down in Paraguay. thanks everyone for letters they always brighten my day. And make sure someone gives chelsea a fat hug for me cause she sent me two. i also got a killer B'day package and it reminded me that i miss skittles. they are the bomba. but even more importantly we were able to maintain those numbers that we had from last week. Which i was way pumped about, we missed one day of contacts which is kinda sad but ill get over it. k over it. Best part of the week was the two baptisms that we had on Sunday. they both passed their interviews with flying colors and were both super excited for Sunday. Everything with Diego went perfect except he was a little upset we didn't have white socks or a tie for him. but i gave him my socks and he was ok. he was smiling the whole time and was so nice to everyone there. Its amazing to see the change in these peoples lives as they start to accept and understand the Gospel. Now the day with jessica didnt go as smoothly as planned. for the past two weeks she has been waiting for her dad to get back from Argentina to ask for his permission to get Baptized, but he never come home so he wasnt really sure what she wanted to do. She had full support from her mom and other faimly members, but she was still worried about her dad. So she came to church and towards the end she started crying she said she wants to get baptized today (Sunday) but doesnt want her dad to be mad at her. We told her we can call and see what he says, she says no; we said we can do it with out calling him, and she started crying again. well we prayed together with President Armoa and his wife in his office and she said she felt better. we walked her home and she was still way nervous. We asked what we can do to help her and she said Fast and Pray. Which was amazing to me that she had a testimony that that would help her. So we didnt eat lunch that day and prayed like crazy until her Baptism. We got to the chapel at 2 an hour before it started to heat up some water to add to the font (note didnt help it was freezing!!) And the whole time i was there waiting i was so nervous i felt like i was going to throw up. I felt exactly how i felt before every swim meet but like a really big one. Like state times 10. i was hurting. But just kept praying that she would show up, and at 240 she walked in, still not completely emotionally ready but she was there, and that was good enough for me to know that she wanted to get baptized. the first 10 mins she was there she didnt say one word she just walked straight over to the baptismal font leaned her forearms against the railing and just looked at the water, thinking, about what i dont know. but after a few pep talks from my comp, PRez and myself, and then the one that probably help the most, from her mom. She got ready we took pics and she got baptized. and when she came out of the water she had the biggest smile i have ever seen on her. it made it all worth it. After words she was very content with her decision and loving life. Definitely top 5 greatest days of my life. now we just Pray that her dad will be ok with her decision if not it will just give her another trial and another opportunity to use her faith and receive more blessings.
(I had read a blog where the mom said her son had told her serving a mission in Paraguay was like camping in a suit for two years. I'm sure many of you who served missions in foreign countries felt those sentiments at times. I am so grateful when I read his letters at the joy he feels as her serves the Lord. It is humbling and amazing to watch the Lord guide this sweet missionary of ours through this experience.)

MOM QUESTION- do i feel like im camping in a suit for two years

the answer would be... somewhat. like some of times i feel like im camping since everyone cooks with charquel (carbon in spanish i dont know how to spell it in English) and we wash our clothes by hand also the inconsistent shower temperature definitely reminds me of Leo Carrillo, and i do walk a dirt trail all day. But then again we have a very nice restaurant up the street from our house, and some pretty descent size houses on the other side of the town. But now that i think of it you could say that it does feel like im camping. but in a really nice camp ground with maybe a trailer. Not a motor home thats to comfortable, like a fold out trailer. so i guess you could say we are camping "comfortable" for two years but i only wear my suit Sunday for 3 hours so change it to
"camping comfortable in white shirts for two years".
and i can testify for you.

well im out of here love you all

Con todo mi amor,
Elder Camba (means darkness in guarani) me and my comp picked guarani names last week. his is cambú´he´ë it means sweet milk or rubio aka white boy. ha Paraguayians find it hilarious. and so do i