hooray for pictures!!

Elder Sean has been serving in Everett with Elder Martin since April 21.  He LOVES living with the Snel's - (I love getting email updates and pictures from Sis Deena Snel).  Elder Martin will finish his mission in 6 more weeks - He's been in Everett, living w/ the Snel's for 7.5 months!!  Transfers will be anounced tonight... Odds are he'll be transfered.  They've enjoyed good times together.  He's from Bountiful - His father happens to work with Melinda at Schriner's. 

 

The Snel's home!

yet another reason the experience w/ Snel's has been a cut above all the Elder apartments he's called home since Oct 2007...  i also hear he's had access to a guitar lately!!  We look forward to hearing him sing and play around here again later this fall!!

This was taken last night at a dinner celebrating transfers tonight, and celebrating the Snel's "hump day" - one year since Elders began living with them!!

Sean loves his mission. he loves the Hispanic investigators and members with whom he shares the teachings of Jesus Christ, and shares his own faith, life, love, and their Spanish and culture!

we've been in letter HEAVEN!

When it rains, it pours!

For the past few weeks Elder Sean has finished up and mailed several letters he'd rounded up, in addition to scratching out a page or more to Olivia, Calvin, Koki, and Cherie individually.

Also, just today we received an email from sweet sister Wendy Engel - (Sean's surrogate mother in Mt Vernon) letting us know that he had not been transferred yesterday. Her willingness to keep us informed makes ALL the difference.

bless her! (now i know where to mail his monthly box tomorrow).

In last month's box i was finally able to include a DVD of Oli & Ben's wedding reception, (as well as the longer version of the video of Calvin's mission call).

The following is some of his response to me from late February:

"Wow, Mom, you were right! That DVD was worth the wait! and I'm sure if i had been in Calvin's place, I too would've wanted you to wait for me to edit and add titles, etc. Sorry to hear the technical process was such a struggle. (I can't say I'm really looking forward to troubleshooting electronics again).

My compliments to Calvin! The transitions between scenes, clips, etc, was really nice & smooth. I also liked the titles. (Do you know if he had to compress or lower the quality to get it all to fit on that one DVD?)

I think i was most surprised by how much I'd really forgotten about how life was really like back at home. The whole thing was a nice refresher of where i came from :) I was blown away by how much i was reminded of by watching it.

Olivia's wedding looked like a lot of fun, and a lot of work too :D...

My compliments to Josie too, for being such a great camera woman! I can't say I could go around and talk to everyone like that and have such a good time!

It was wierd hearing Chino, Mario, Papa Moisés, and others speaking Spanish and suddenly being able to understand them!

They were speaking the same language I've always heard them speak but this time my brain could put meaning to the sounds! I've always been around Spanish being spoken by them all, but it caught me off guard when my brain instantly handed me imagery and comprehension for all those sounds. Even though I've been hearing and speaking Spanish for the past year and a half, this was completely a whole new experience! It was exciting!

I want you to know that I'm doing well. I'm safe, I'm happy, I'm learning, I'm loving, I'm overcoming. i can already sense how much I'm going to miss it. I feel sad that the time is so short. At the same time, the longer I'm out here the more i realize that all the challenges and struggles will be no different when i get home. As much as this seems like a break from real life, it is also an introduction to real life. It's as if the Lord is saying, "you're going to need to deal with this in a couple of years, so here's how I'll help you prepare..."

In other words, I'm practicing with the process of involving my Heavenly Father in the things I do all day everyday. And I'm learning that when i do that, I'm happier and I can accomplish more. Which will help me mucho in the years to come. So there's that.

...I have several other thoughts to share with you soon, Mom.

FYI, our P-days are changing to Mondays on May 9th. So i'll have a pday Thurs the 5th and another Mon the 9th. I'm looking forward to Monday's...

LE QUIERO MUCHO, MOM!"

THIS IS WHAT MOM WAS TALKING ABOUT. CAN'T READ IT? CLICK TO ENLARGE. OR MAKE A COMMENT & LET US KNOW & WE'LL TYPE IT IN...

WORTH THE WAIT!!

YES!

 

After a few l-o-n-g weeks without any news from Elder Sean Marco - zip, zilch, nada...

We finally got a long letter today, complete with details and photos!

  

Thirst quenched!  

  

Wow, that analogy just now reminded me of something from half my lifetime ago... (Yup, roughly 25 years) -- A little Proverb that was printed at the top of crinkly parchment pads of stationery sold to those of us serving in the Ecuador Quito Mission in the early 80's:

 

  "As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country."    (Proverbs 25:25)

(Even though my mind is always filled with minutia and random memories, NO... i could not still remember the whole phrase, just the jist.  But HOORAY for the web, for lds.org, and the ability to type in the word 'news', and simply click and find, no mas!)

I'll have one of the faster typists around here type in his letter soon.  

He's full of joy and full of investigators that are progressing.

TTFN,

cherie

TAKE AN HOUR TO MAKE SOME MEMORIES!

DEC 26

Familia!

I just got off the phone with you about five minutes ago, but of course I still had a lot to say. Or more like I FEEL like I have a lot to say, but really I'm just excited still. It was so good to hear that you were all doing so well and so happy!

I think I have an idea of what Olivia meant when she described her coming home as "weird how weird it wasn't." After three phone calls, I've found it somewhat anti-climactic to talk to you all because of how ordinary and normal it seems. Sure I haven't actually seen you face to face for a year, but we're just the same as always. :D I think I kind of want it to be more dramatic, but I'm glad it's not. That would make it a lot harder.

MOM-I'm always amazed how alike we are. :D Both of us were so excited we couldn't think of anything to say! I was hoping there would be lots of crazy news from home, and I think you were thinking the same. Ha ha...:) One of these days I'll really get that video chat set up, I promise. It was nice to hear how much more relaxed you sound these days. You've definitely been blessed with plenty capacity to fulfill your calling as "Mom". How you've endured so many years of so much stress is literally a miracle. "by all accounts it doesn't make sense..." Thanks so much for the birthday presents! I really enjoy seeing what makes it into the package because it really says a lot. :) But I want you to know I'm very grateful and really appreciate your selfless service in preparing those. It shows your love. Unlike Papa who never sneds me any letters because I never send him any. ;D

Well, I was going to put a little not to each family member in this quick letter, but I decided I'll just make them individually. That way I can add to them individually until I lose them, then find them again in a couple months and then finally send them. We'll see.

DEC 26

So life around the house has changed quite a bit hasn't it? It's always hard to imagine everyone so grown up! I talk to little member kids who are 8 and I think "so Ashton is this big right now!" I'm used to the Ashton that would sit next to me and work on models! Olivia isn't even living at home anymore, Calvin practically takes care of himself; Josie's living up the dating/driving/highschool life; Carmen's just starting it... sheesh! Do you miss the times when we were all there in one house everyday? Do you reflect very often on the hectic lifestyle but the satisfaction of being able to manage it all? I know I miss those days. I never really realized that as soon as I left those days would be relatively over. I can imagine the home life getting pretty quiet and boring as all of us kids grow older and leave the nest. I always had the most fun during those day-to-day interactions. Still, I don't think we'll ever be too far from home. Even so, you might think about picking up blogging or scrapbooking or something, 'cause pretty soon here you'll have a lot of time on your hands and you'll have no idea what to do with it. :D As soon as the house gets clean, organized and well furnished there'll be no one left to use all those bedrooms! You'll have to rent them out to BYU attendees. But who knows right? Not too much to do but just disfrutar the time you've got now! Take an hour and make some memories! Things to remember when you're old! Things for Ashton to relate to people who have never had happy memories like that when he serves a mission! After all, those are the things that will really last. Memories of Chris VanAllsburg, coming down the stairs, always doing advent calendars, receiving our Christmas books, etc. Those are priceless memories to me.

Anyway, I hope you don't feel like a terrivle parent right now, 'cause I sure turned out pretty good, but don't forget to make those moments happen. And please tell me about the good ones that I miss! :D

LOVE YOU,

ELDER SEAN

L. DURSEAN is now 21!!!~ ~ and was TRANSFERRED last Tuesday!

¡feliz cumpleaños, mijo!

~

How fun for you to be in BOTHEL in the Lake Washington Ward again... same as you were last Christmas! We can't wait to chat in 5 more days and hear the details, and get your current address so we can update this blog... so so glad the Monroe Elders were prompt in getting your bday/Christmas mail transferred.

Meanwhile, loved ones and blog followers, use the mission office PO Box address - Bothel is only a stone's throw away from Millcreek.

21 shots of SEAN

IN REPLY TO A POSTCARD FROM MOM & PAPA ON THEIR VACATION TO SAN FRANCISCO

Dear Mom, (and Papá)

Well, I've got a little sliver of time right now for "lunch" but I wanted to take the opportunity to write you back! Based on the postmarked date it only took two days for your letter to arrive, so hopefully this will come Wednesday or so.

It's so good to hear you and Papá have been able to get away for a while and have 5 minutes peace. I'm sure Calvin won't mind taking care of the younger ones to give you a moment to relax.

One thing I really miss about normal life is the chance to relax on Sundays. It seemed so weird to me at first, to be working every day of the week except Thursday. But I've since come to recognize that I can still feel the same Spirit on Sundays, while busily engaged in the Lord's work.

Having been out almost a year now, and being mostly familiar with the way things work, I'm starting to look at it all in different ways.; I'm beginning to recognize how much happiness and joy can be found in this great work of the Lord. Lots of times it seems we do our work each day so that we can get to the time when we can do the things that "really" make us happy or that are "really" fun.

Today I had somewhat of an epiphany as a cool couple with their new-born baby were following us down to Bothell to the Spanish ward. I found I was stressing out, worrying about how church was going to be; if we'd be early, etc. That's when I realized that such a wonderful thing as their coming to church should be something that brings me joy to see! After all, they were my brothers and sister, and they were doing the things that would bring them joy int his life and fullness of joy in the next. Why wasn't I feeling happy? And then, I did! I was rather surprised the lasting kind of happiness I suddenly felt in that moment. It was very satisfying, and an incredible "break-through" so-to-speak. I know as I continue to look for the promised joy that missionary work brings, I'll have an even greater desire to share it.

Anyway, that was my cool moment for the past couple days :). I love those learning experiences. They always help me to know that the Lord is continually mindful of me and all his children.
The snail mail is really fun for me now. I really had a hard time with it at first, but I'm used to the slower pace now. It was just hard getting used to waiting a week or so before getting a reply. :) But have no worries. At least from this end, you too have become a lot better and following through with the mail process. Not just for you, but the kids too! So don't feel too bad; you're making a lot of progress. :)

That's cool to hear your Red Iguana story. Hey! Recado! That's what it's called! I've had mole a bunch of times and really like it! I remember hearing that it had cocoa in it, like the sauce you put in chuchos, but I could never remember what it was called! Wow, it's amazing to me how different the Guatemalan & the Mexican cultures are! I always assumed they'd be a lot alike, but up to now, it seems the language is the closest thing. And even then there are many differences! Have you ever had posole? We eat that all the time too!

Wpw, you slept in?! 'Till 11:00!?! Jeez! You must have really needed the break! It's good to hear you're making the most of all of it, even if it isn't in Italy.

There are plenty of tiendas all over the areas I've served. There's a taco truck called "Tacos Pihuamos" that makes great tacos de carnitas. I've even gotten a burrito de lengua that was great too! Still haven't done the Ducales thing though. But we get "paid" on Wednesday, so I'll be sure to grab some on P-day.

Hey, how come we (as kids) never heard about all that getting married stuff between you and Papá? All I remember is Papá not getting a ticket, but instead being escorted back to school (or work?) by a policeman after speeding down I-15 from a date with you! But that's okay, I love you anyway!

Con gran amor,

Elder Sean

P.S. Give my love to Brig and Tara, and tell them thanks again for the shirts! Oh, and I liked the "Ord Brothers" Logo. :D

18 SEP 2008

Oh my family,

Thank you as always for the letters! I received Olivia's and Papá's today. Perfect timing. :)

I've always thought the more centered I am on the work, the less I think about the mail. And not only that, when a letter comes, it's even more of a pleasant surprise! The letters i've been getting lately have been most enjoyable. Therefore, I'm on the right track. :D

The past week has been great. The transfer is winding down and there's been a relief of pressure. We've still been working hard and this past Sunday it really payed off! We had 4 Spanish-speaking investigators at the Spanish ward!


Sunday morning was particularly stressful. We drove from house to house, making the final follow-up on those who had committed to church. (The "Sunday Morning Roundup", as its sometimes called.)

The biggest challenge we have when it comes to Spanish investigators is getting them to the Spanish ward 20 min. away. Just imagine finding and teaching people in Provo, but having them attend church in American Fork. On top of that, not many are able to spend the money on gas so we usually set up rides for them with members.

One of the great Spanish ward members, Hno. Sotello lives here in Monroe, so usually we ask him to give rides. The problem is he likes to be at church about 15 minutes early and those who need a ride have to be ready early too.

Well, Sunday morning at 10:20, we stopped by a potential investigator's house to see if he was planning on coming. The week before we'd stopped by at the same time and he wasn't there, but he said later that he was planning on us coming at 10:30. "Ri-i-i-ight," we'd thought.

So we stopped by and knocked on his door at 10:20 last Sunday to find that again he had ditched us. We decided to wait and see if he'd be there at 10:30, but in the meantime, Hno Sotello was leaving so the investigator (José) wouldn't have a ride anyway!

I started stressing out when an older woman came out of José's apartment telling us she had him on the phone and he said he'd be there (to his apt.) in 10 minutes! Where were we going to find a ride for him now?

In that situation, some would say, "well, throw him in the back of your car and get him to church! You tried to get him a ride but it didn't work out. It's for the greater good!"

Suddenly it became a huge trial of my faith. Could the Lord provide a way for us to obey the rule of not providing non-member rides and still get José to church?

I've always maintained the belief that there is always a way to accomplish what we've been commanded to do (help people repent by coming to church for example.) And still keep the rules that have been given to us by prophets and apostles. Now, it seemed, I was being proven to see if I practice what I preach.

From certain other experiences I've had throughout my mission, I'd witnessed this principle in action, and seen the Lord pull through every time. But of course, we must do everything we can first. "Have I done everything I can to find him a ride?" It thought, "No."

I was praying hard as I called an RM form our English ward, making a last-ditch effort to get the ride. I had to promise him blessings, but he eventually agreed to leave Sunday School and help us out.

It was a tense moment waiting for the both of them to show up, but at almost the same time, they both pulled in and I knew that we were home-free. I knew, and so did my companions, that the Lord helped us out. Calling the RM was totally a shot in the dark, but it all worked out way too well to have not been divinely prepared. José even brought a friend!

In retelling the story, it seems a lot less cool than it really was, but in the moment, it felt like taking a step onto water trying to be fully confident you would not fall in. It's one of the coolest feelings I've had out here, but takes a lot of work. It's in those moments that I've learned what faith really is.

And speaking of cool feelings, another awesome experience happened on Tuesday. A 10 yr old girl named Raeven was baptized! The coolest part was that I played a crucial role in the process, even though she was taught and baptized in the Zone Leader's area.

(Okay, let's see if I can make this short...)

My comps and I were playing soccer with some Hispanic kids on a field right by the ZL's apartment. While kicking the ball around I was talking to Chris, a boy the ZLs were teaching who was going to be baptized soon.

Raeven was standing nearby and heard us talking about the baptism. "What's baptism?" she asked. I took the advantage of the teaching opportunity and told her about how baptism was something Jesus Christ told us we needed to do. It was something that could make us happier! We could have all the bad things we've done washed away because Jesus Christ died for us.

I basically taught her a really simple 3rd lesson when I could have just answered her question. Honestly, I was surprised by her interest and excited to tell her about that oh-so important aspect of the Gospel.

After a minute of my explanation she said, "I want to be baptized!" It was so cool! Whether she ended up actually being baptized or not, I thought it was the coolest thing that she would be so teachable and willing.

After talking a little more I pretty much handed her over to the Zone Leaders.

I was sitting there at her baptism that night when an intense feeling of gratitude came over me. It was such a great blessing to me to have been able to see the fruit come of the seed that was planted. I can't really say I planted the seed--it's the Spirit that does the real teaching, right? :)

So the moral of the story is, it doesn't take much! Who knows how many people we know that are "only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it." Or how many people we don't know, like neighbors, etc. ;)

----

Hey, now it's Saturday, and time to get this in the mail. I'm at the church, waiting for the font to fill! melody's baptism is in an hour! it's a great day. I hope life is not too crazy managing school/work schedules back home and that you still have time for "good times" moments!

LOVE, ELDER SEAN
P.S. So there are lots of cool web-spinning spiders this time of year in Washington. And lots of these dinosaur-sized mosquitoes that are actually "Mosquito-Hawks" because they eat mosquitoes. Anyway, I've had lots of fun catching the Mosquito-Hawks and watching the spiders do their thing: Bite it, wrap it, and wait for its innards to dissolve! So cool!

IN OUR MAILBOX TUES, SEP 17

Dearest Family,

THANK YOU THANK YOU for the package and most of all--the letters! I've been doing a lot better lately. I'm very happy and having fun. It's still challenging, of course, but I like the challenge. I've always preferred it that way--but sometimes it gets me into trouble. I bite off more than I can chew. :) Story of my life.

Anyway, as the story goes I was transferred here to Monroe. It's been nice so far. It's slowly growing on me. Admittedly, I haven't been with the area but I have no reason to dislike it.

My companions have been great. Elder Ainscough, (who was midnighted a week into the transfer), is from Denver, CO. He's a transfer older than me in the mission. He's a hard worker and we get along well. We have different styles of missionary work, but it's been good. I've already learned quite a bit. Elder Guillan has been lots of fun and we've had a great time. He's from Highland and spent lots of time in Provo so we're able to relate a bit. He knows a lot of the Provo Podcast people and spent lots of time at Velour and Gray Whale. He's been out three transfers or so, so about 5 mo. together, we make a pretty good team.

The work is going well too. We're teaching an older woman named Melody. (I think I may have mentioned her already.) Her baptismal date is Sep. 20. She's been doing well and the ward has been doing a fantastic job fellowhipping her! We're excited for her, and for the much-needed blessings she will receive for the good choices she's making. Aside from her, we've been teaching several Mexicans and tracting only in Spanish, looking for those elegidos who have been prepared to embrace the message. And most importantly (and difficultly,) come to church. We take our spanish-speaking investigators down to the Spanish ward in Bothell. It has been so cool and so much fun to see all the warm familiar faces! And to see recent converts still firm and active in the faith! One family and I talked about all the time in my Bothell days was Aymara and Victor. They needed to be married before they could be baptized, but Aymara needed a divorce from her ex-husband in Mexico. Well, though they still haven't been able to get it all worked out, they've still been coming to church each week! Their oldest son will be turning 8 soon and being baptized! I'm so happy for them and maintain the faith that the Lord will provide a way for them to accomplish the commandment to be baptized that he has given them. :0 (1 ne. 3:7)

Being a district leader has become a lot more fun lately, as I get the hang of the routine. I'm excited for this next transfer and the opportunity I'll have to help (in a greater capacity.) the Dlders in my district, especially the brand new ones.

So that's the current status on me, familia! The Lord has been blessing me in ways I never imagined. I am constantly humbled by the love and mercy he has for all his children. It is amazing how filling and satisfying it is to be feeling the Spirit so strongly so many times each day. I hope youa ll are continuing to invite that sustaining power into your lives on a daily basis also. I don't know how I ever survived on the spiritual equivalent of a pop-tart each day. I'm sure it was the constant nourishment I received from the love you all showed me, and I thank you for it. I wish those letters could communicate more of the love I have for you, but if they could, I don't think I could fit them in the envelope. :)

CON CARIÑO, ELDER SEAN

AUG 28

Family that I love:

This past week has been filled with cool experiences as well as the typical trials.

But here's a quick taste of what's been going on:

Whenever we tract or street contact, we almost always hand out one of the pamphlets on one of the lessons. We always put our contact info on the back, and up until about a week ago, I'd never had anyone actually end up calling us. We were in the church building making some photocopies when we got a phone call form a woman named Melody. She informed us that she had been talking to other missionaries (or that she'd gotten a pamphlet from them,) and she had a question about something in it! We met with her and found out she was a former investigator. In fact, she had investigated about three times before but she had never gone (or had been able to go) to church. She told us a story about how she got in a fight with her daughter, who she lives with and had been threatened to be kicked out. She felt she needed help, and more spiritual strength. So she was reading her Bible, and it kept on saying she needed to be baptized! She found one of the pamphlets the missionaries had given her, and called us up to see if we could help her out! She told us that she didn't have a job anymore, so she would now be able to come to church and that she wanted to be baptized! To make an already long story shorter, she's now come to church, she got a ride from a member, she has a baptismal date for Sept 7, she's committed to stop smoking, and she reads the chapters we assign her in the Book of Mormon! I'm so excited for her and it's been so cool to see someone who really HAS been prepared by the Lord to receive his gospel and enjoy the eternal blessings of baptism and confirmation. It's been amazing to see it change her life too! She's seemed so much happier ever since she's started making the changes in her life that bring about repentance.

I learned something cool the other day as I was preparing my district meeting. In the scriptures it says all over the place that the Elders/missionaries of the church are to cry repentance. I've never completely understood that, but as I was reading about the importance of commitments I learned that extending those commitments is how we cry repentance, because as our investigators keep their commitments they bring about repentance in their own lives. So if we don't "cry repentance" by inviting them to make and keep commitments, we aren't fulfilling our purpose.

As you, (family,) invite people to church or to read/pray about the Book of Mormon, you are helping (or inviting) them to make changes in their life that bring about repentance and make their lives happier. Cool eh? :D

Anyway, Monday we fasted to find new investigators. So we payed extra special attention to those guiding promptings of the Spirit. And we ended up finding 5 new investigators as well as just having an amazing day spiritually speaking.

It's been amazing to me to recognize how much better the lessons are as well as the reaction of those we're teaching as we feel the spirit really driving a lesson, as opposed to just saying words at somebody. When the Spirit is there and when it's not is beginning to become bery clear to me.

Well, I hope you all are enjoying this end of summer as much as I am. Though the sun is out less often, it's beginning to smell like fall. And for some reason, it reminds me of spring-ish time in Provo. Anyway, this place is great. I'm still getting used to Monroe, but it won't be too long. If I thought time was moving fast before, it's gone in a second now. I hardly have time to think before a week has gone by. I'm almost a year old! That's weird...!

Well, I love you all as much as youlove me. And you love me a lot. ;D Be happy and have fun!

LOVE, ELDER SEAN.

POSTMARKED 22 AUG

Family:

Wow, so this "district leader" thing has been crazy. But I've been having a lot of fun. It's been a very humbling experience, which I'm grateful for. As I've relied more on the Lord, I've seen his hand more in the work.The only downside is that there are 3 elders "dying" this transfer (in my district) and one that dies next transfer! needless to say, I've got a pretty trunky district. Still, It's going great so far, and if I stay here in Monroe, (which it looks like I will,) there's a pretty good chance I'll have a bunch of younger missionaries in my district who I'll be able to help and influence a bit more.

So this "three-pack" thing is GREAT. But it doesn't look like it'll last very long. This past Monday, one of the companions was "midnighted" (so basically President called him up at 3:00 in the afternoon on Sunday and told him he was going to be transfered the next morning) It was done so another spanish Elder, a new one who was going to go home, could be able to be with a companion who could help him more. So now I have a new companion named Elder Ainscough. He's hitting his year mark today! It's weird seeing all the older missionaries go home and slowly becoming one of the older one's in the mission. But it's all part of this progression towards eventually going home. But I gotta say, I've been loving it. - but about the three-pack: Like I said, We've been having a great time. It's a lot more interesting as well as helpful when you've got a third person to talk, share experiences and testify. It really comes in handy having Elder Guillen as a native speaker. Though he isn't quite as fluent as some of the other spanish elders. He learned all his gospel Spanish in the MTC. Either way, I couldn't be happier with the current companion situation.

Monroe isn't a bad place either. It's not quite as rural as Mt. Vernon, but not as city as Bothell. It seems like Monroe and some of the neighboring towns were once mining towns. In the parking lot of a Gocery Outlet store there's a huge smokestack coming out of the middle of the parking lot. So this is an interesting place, but not quite as interesting as Mt. Vernon. Or maybe it's just because I don't know Monroe as well. I was really excited to train last transfer, and now i'm not as much. I guess I really liked the idea of being able to train in Mt. V, but probably because I knew it so well. But I'm not too worried that I won't know Monroe just as well by the time I train. Which looks like it will be coming up here in November. The big turnover of the mission will be happening in the next little while as groups of about 20 missionaries go home and 20 or so new one's come out. I'm kind of excited for it, because it'll give us a chance to more easily guide the mission in the right direction and fix the general trunky attitude of the mission. :)

Anyway, thank you all for your letters along with the tie! I hope all is still well over there in Provo. Let me know how everything goes with Olivia's reception! It's comforting to know you're able to see the blessings in some form or another of my service. The Lord's definitely taking care of you! When does school start? Wow, it's weird to think the school cycle is starting all over again! The days are slowly cooling down over here and it won't be too long before the leaves start falling. Crazy... Anyway, love you all!

ELDER SEAN

POSTMARKED: 15 AUG 2008

Querida familia:
So it finally happened! They transfered me! I really thought I was going to be staying in Mt. Vernon for a while, but when I got the phone call from President informing me that I'd be a district leader instead of training, it soon became clear Monroe would be my destination. With the six or so new missionaries coming out this transfer, (at least that will be speaking spanish,) the older spanish elders needed to be placed in certain areas where it would be easy to move out the jr. companions.

The LAST thing I thought I'd be doing this transfer was be a district leader. It TOTALLY took me off guard. Her I was, so sure I'd be training but if the Lord wants me to be here, so be it. I was looking forward to some added responsibility, but not THIS much! I feel very incapable, but it's comforting to know that I'm entitled to the extra measure of assistance that I need from the Lord, that I need to fulfill my duties. That's probably the only thing that has been keeping me from stressing out--knowing that as long as I do my best, stay humble and ask for help, He'll make up for what I lack.

I'm sure in a transfer I'll be loving the call, but until then it looks like I'll be doing a ton of praying. I'm glad to know that I'm trusted enough to be a god example to those in my district, but I sure hope I can fulfill the other half of a leader's responsibilities and "lift, encourage, inspire, and bless."

--3 DAYS LATER
"I tell you what, wow!" This is turning out to be really nothing like I imagined. After three days I'm starting to really appreciate the flexibility and leadership of previous district leaders I've had. i'm so used to just focusing on and taking care of the work in my area, but now I have to keep tabs on everyone else's area too! I have to be available for whenever I'm needed by the elders in my district. And then, still, my area is supposed to be the model, example area for my district. So basically, I'm not used to having so little freedom of time to work with investigators, members, ward leaders, etc. I'm finding it rather annoying, mostly because it's a change in the manner and style I work. But it's good! It's a fun challenge for me right now. I have to revise the way I work -- remove as much dead time as I can and be as efficient and effective as possible. Do the same amount of work in less time.

So I'm in a "three-pack" right now with Elder Guillen and Elder Martin. One of the new spanish elders, Elder Cordada, is going home in a couple of days (I'm not sure why, he just wants to go home.) So Elder Martin will probably be "midnighted" tonight or tomorrow. It's been really fun though while we've been together.

BACK TO ORIGINAL DAY OF WRITING?
P-day was pretty fun though. We went hiking up to a huge waterfall! It was the first hike I've been on since I've been here in Washington. I think I figured there'd be more hikes to go on if I was serving a mission in Washington. Anyway, they say that's pretty much all there is to do here in the Snohomish zone. :)

I'm excited to be somewhere new again and to have the chance to get to know a new companion. And to see all the spanish ward members I knew.

How are things at home? Already getting ready for the start of a new school year? Are Olivia and Ben back yet? How's the bike-riding to work going? Any more new additions to the house? :) How was everyone's summer? Were there any family reunions this year?

Well, I hope you all are doing as good as I am and are being excellent to each other. I'll be sending a package home soon with the shirt I promised Calvin along with another late birthday surprise. Just FYI.

LOVE, ELDER JUAREZ

AUG 7-9ish

FAMILIA:

Today was a great day. So it's about time I properly updated you and brought you up to speed. The transfer's winding down again and there's talk among the Spanish Elders about who's moving where.

I've been oddly excited about training since about four weeks ago. It was rather random at the time but slowly the idea has become more and more likely. One new Spanish Elder is coming this next transfer (Aug 12). He'll be the first one to have spent the 8 weeks in the MTC learning Spanish. I'm one of two elders that could train. The others either have trained in Spanish already, or don't quite know enough Spanish to train effectively. So I've been going through the past week or two anticipating getting a greenie. However I still know anything could happen. It wouldn't be the first time I've been surprised with how they work it out.

The of course this past week has been quite the reality check. The closer we get to transfers the more I'm sure it'll be NOTHING like I'm expecting. Maybe that's what excites me the most. :) I've realized I don't feel completely ready to train, but if I did, it wouldn't be a challenge. i suppose I'm mostly ready for the change. I'm ready for the increase in responsibility. I'm ready for a rude-awakening to the sense of my duty. Elder Herrin and I have become very good friends and work well together. But as a result, we've become lax in our work. Thankfully, having to speak Spanish has kept us uncomfortable and humble enough to remember we still need a lot of help from the Lord.

We were pleasantly surprised about two weeks ago during a zone mtg. while "training-modeling" a lesson plan for the second lesson. We practiced teaching two other elders two principles from the Plan of Salvation. Though we felt our model was decent, we were generously complemented by our zone leaders, the assistants, and President Showalter on the effective way we taught. It was comforting to us to know that though we did a great job from the "outside" we still felt there was a lot we could work on. It was evidence that we had actually been making a lot more progress than we realized. But of course, "no good deed goes unpunished" and we were called on in Zone Conference this past Monday to training model the WHOLE lesson in front of half the mission AND Elder Richard G. Hinckley who had come to do a mission tour! Of course we felt even WORSE about how we did (compared to before,) but we felt the Spirit as we taught and testified. And to our surprise, more comments were made about what we did well than what we could work on. Personally, I was satisfied with the fact that I felt the Spirit while teaching, but to know that my other teaching skills were at a level stable enough to ALLOW me to focus on inviting the Spirit was MOST comforting. There is still much we can do to improve, but in the meantime, we're doing a lot of things right.

With only two months left to the half-way point, I've been doing a lot of "looking back." Am I where I wanted to be by now? Am I living up to my original expectations? Though the entire process is stressful, (because I've still got a long way to go before my year-mark deadline,) It has been really fun and humbling to see how far I've come.

I can approach almost anyone in Spanish without worrying first what I'm going to say. I can have a simple conversation without having to translate it first into English in my head. I gather about 90% of what is said in what WAS "really fast Spanish" six months ago. I recently fumbled reciting Joseph Smith's First Vision (in English) because I couldn't translate it fast enough from the SPANISH version I was reciting in my head! I'm more comfortable street-contacting in Spanish than in English. It's hard for me to believe Elder Cole and I taught and baptized so many without even knowing how to correctly conjugate in the PRESENT tense! "El evangelio bendicir familias. Yo se mi familia recibir bendiciones en pasado, y usteds son recibiendo mes bendiciones tambien!" (Literally: "The gospel bless families. I know my family recieve blessings in past and you are receiving more blessings too!) It's further testimony that it is the SPIRIT that does the teaching. Like Preach My Gospel says, (quoting Ezra Taft Benson): "The Spirit is the most important single element in this work. With the Spirit magnifying your call, you can do miracles for the Lord in the mission field. Without the Spirit, you will never succeed regardless of your talent and ability."

I don't struggle to relate to others anymore, and walking around with my hands out of my pockets doesn't feel weird. Small talk comes easily, though it still has its fair share of awkward silences. I have a nice bank of scriptures to use and draw from, but somehow they rarely seem to be the ones I need. :) I can call anyone (whether I know them or not) without feeling anxious about what I'm going to say. I can smoothly extend a "will you" commitment, though I'm not as disappointed as I should be when those commitments aren't kept.

Though I've come far, it seems there's so much left to learn and so little time. But there is nothing else I'd rather be doing. I am having so much fun and I am in love with my mission. :)

It's good to hear everything's going well at home, too. Whatever happened to that Spanish-speaking family you fellowshipped that lives kitty-corner to our house?

Anyway, so it is.
LOVE YOU TONS!
-ELDER SEAN

TRANSFER TIME

Goodbye beloved MT VERNON ~

Hello mighty MONROE...

New address:
Elder Sean Marco Juárez
610 W Elizabeth Street #7
Monroe, WA 98272


Bless you for finding a moment to send a "hello" and making Sean's day!

Go ahead and Google Monroe...


http://maps.google.com/maps?q=610+W+Elizabeth+Street+Monroe,+WA+98272


The stunning photo of Sean and Aiden was captured by Sister Wendy Engle (Aiden's mom - surrogate MOM to Elders - and wonderful email lifeline to Provo MOM)!! What will Elder Juárez and Cherie do without her in Monroe???

Dig that polyester suit from the missionfield "Segunda"*

* (Mexican Spanish for thrift store)

Querida familia,

Well, first, apologies for the lack of news the past three weeks or so. I have a few letters started that need to get finished. Mom would know what I’m talking about. ;) So, in order to guarantee completion, and a speedy delivery, Wendy Engel offered her services on my behalf. I’d speak, she’d type, and you’d know I’m still alive and well. :)

TRANSFER 7

Elder Herrin and I were excited but surprised to hear we’d be staying another transfer. The recent trend has been a max of three transfers in one area, so we assumed one of us would be leaving and another Elder coming in to learn the ropes for this area. Since we’re both staying, (making three transfers here in Mt. Vernon for the both of us,) we instead assume one of us will be here for four transfers, (= 6 months) which seems like a long time to be in one place—a quarter of your mission! But, it’s just what the President told us he would do— keep us in areas for 6-8 months. So, how do I feel about it? Fantastic! I’ve loved it here. It’s been hard to believe that Elder Herrin and I got here back at the beginning of April! It’s almost scary how quickly time has been moving; already another transfer gone, with seemingly not much accomplished.

I received a letter from Elder Yeo recently that reminded me a lot of the “vision” I had in the MTC of the missionary I wanted to be. I could tell he was “living the life,” (in my opinion,) or embracing the unique opportunity we have on a mission to forget worrying about ourselves and to get lost in the service of others. It was exactly where I wanted to be and I took it as the Lord’s way of reminding me where I could be, (spiritually speaking,) and what I could be doing if I simply chose to. I realized if Elder Herrin and I didn’t pick up the ball that I would wake up one morning with six months left, realizing my mission had just passed me by. I don’t want to feel that it all just happened to me. So, Elder Herrin and I have donned our white shirts and cool ties and decided to really put our shoulders to the wheel. Unfortunately, we are still far from actually giving it our all, but we’re getting better! :) We’re definitely being blessed for our renewed commitment and have had amazing success! We have 3 with a baptismal date already, and one of them is the mom of a family we hope to baptize this transfer! There’s SO much work to be done here, so many people with so much potential. All we really need to do is start teaching—not even finding! The field is already there, all ready to harvest.

Elder Herrin and I are getting along fantastically, we’re able to speak to each other in Spanish, and we are unified in working hard—the situation couldn’t be more perfect. It is SO fun to see the Lord provide as we show we have “a desire to serve God,” and his children. Life is beautiful.

9 MONTHS

The recent changes in the district included an Elder Ellingson (who came out with me, but was in a different MTC district,) being made our district leader. So, it’s been fun reminiscing with him. He’s also training, which has only increased how much we’ve reflected on how we were way back then, but not that long ago! Por ejemplo, we remembered how, as a greenie, we’d count down the hours to the end of each day. You’d think “okay, only 2 hours until dinner…” or “it’s 7:00, just two hours, I can make it two hours…” :) It seemed so grueling back then, but now it’s no big deal at all!

I think the 9 month reality hit me hardest the other day when I realized I’d been speaking and learning Spanish not just for 6 months, which for some reason, I was used to saying, but I’d been speaking it 9 months! That’s a good long time. I should be pretty good right now. Y ya puedo hablar el español muy fácilmente, sin pensando mucho, pero si hablo muy rápido, todavía lo sale de mi boca un poco embarrado. No he estudiado con la misma intensidad como el principio, cuando vine aquí a Mt. Vernon. Pronto continuaré estudiando, “resolviendo las torceduras,” y corrigiendo los errorcitos pequeñitos en mis estudios. Estoy contento con el cuanto ya sé, y mi progreso hasta ahora. También sé que no estoy fluente. ¡Gracias por la información sobre vos! Pensaba que me hayan decido que no era diferencia de conjugar entre vos y tú.

NOTETOFAM: Interestingly enough, I guess we weren’t given the TALL book. I assumed it was the red Spanish Phrases and Grammar book. Para que sepan, I was given the standard works in Spanish, the yellowish textbook, the handy-dandy red book, and a Bantam Spanish Dictionary, (the same, in fact, that I received from you in the package. :) I was referring to the Langenscheidt Spanish Dictionary that’s thicker than the bantam one, as opposed to the pocket-sized version. My comp. has the pocket-sized one, I was using the larger one checked out from the library.) I’ll be putting in the request for that TALL book, though.

I’m so glad to hear you’re all doing well at home! Though I can’t really do much for you here, (except simply be here,) I want you to know that I am very much grateful for what you’ve been doing for me, be it letters, drawings, photos, or prayers! :)

¡Les quiero mucho!

Love, Elder Sean.

9 MONTH MILESTONE TODAY!

We miss you badly, Elder Sean-Boy... but we're pleased beyond measure with the joy you've found in serving.

This picture was taken a week ago at CJ's baptism, and sent to me by email from precious Wendy Engle of Mount Vernon, WA ("Foster" Mom to CJ - friend and caretaker of the missionaries!) Bless you WENDY.

Carry on, carry on, carry ON!

PART I: THE EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER

HEY YOU GUYS!! I think I've finally gotten a taste of the emotional roller coaster this mission can be. This past week has been so much fun! I learned once again I don't have to let myself get caught up in someone else's choice of feelings.

I was on exchanges with Elder Farris, our district leader on Saturday. We were talking as we drove to contact a few refferrals and he was sharing some practical wisdom with me. "Some missionaries just get so cuaght up in things that they don't have fun. They let it get to them so much that they get so down and depressed about it. Some of us just need a reality check. Yeah, it's hard, but life is hard. Just pick yourself up and keep going. Don't stress about it if you don't have to." I don't know what part of what he said was what hit me like a ton of bricks, but suddenly I realized some of the challenges Elder Herrin has are just because of how he is. I've been stressing and worrying about so much, I've been drowning in not only my problems, but everone else's too. Elder Farris pulled me up out of the water and suddenly I could breathe again.

The next day was so calm inside my head. It was such a good day. Despite a bad day Elder Herrin might have been having or whatever might have been going on around me, I was happy and was happy to these around me. If something went wrong, no sweat, just roll with it, make the most of it and move on.

I had to adjust my attitude to accommodate and work with Elder Herrin's attitude. It was no big deal, I just should have done it a long time ago. It goes along with something else Elder Farris said: "If there's anything I've learned on my mission, it's that peope are SO different." I've come to realize the same thing. Thus, just because the way I did things worked with Elder Mose, doesn't mean they'll work with every companion. So, I've finally been able to adjust and find what works with Elder Herrin. It's cool to see how much I've learned about getting along with different types of people. Though it may seem like they are the ones who need to change for you to get along with them. There's actually a way to be happy no matter who you're wokring around by adjusting yourself.

...

PART II: THE SUMMER CONFERENCE

This past Wednesday (June 18) was our mission's "Summer Conference". All 7 zones got together for lunch and a sports tournament-type thing. Each zone had two teams that played the other zones' teams at ultimate frisbee, volleyball, and kick ball.

Every year, each zone makes shirts for their teams. I ended up being the one to design them and figure out a cheap way to produce 17 for the whole zone. They told me they wanted to play off the "M" of the logo for Monster Energy drinks. (Some background: Energy drinks like Monster, Rockstar, Red bull, etc. have been popular among most athletic of missionaries since I was with Elder Cole. They've never really appealed to me, but apparently they became so popular that it came to our President's attention. In the last Zone Conference, he asked the mission to stay away from them as much as possible, though, he didn't ban all caffeine/energy drinks, but advised us to be respectful if it is something that would offend other members/investigators.)

With permission, I ended up working on them for a "couple 3" (Washingtonian for "a couple" or "3") days. The design was no sweat--figuring out how to put it on the shirts, was.

We first tried a stencil and spray paint, but it didn't adhere at all. The member at whose house we worked was an artist, so we tried some acrylic paints he had and successfully produced a bright green Monster "M".

The whole process was so much fun for me, it was like being at home again designing wedding announcements, except the whole time I was dying to hage the Mac with all its time-saving programs. Instead, I did it the old-fashioned way and went with Microsoft Paint/freehand. They came out looking fantastic. The stencil/painting process was a pain in the neck, (literally), because it involved pinning down and dabbing paint onto 17 shirts, so it was also time-consuming. BUT, they looked awesome and the zone loved them.

At summer conference the senior couples ended up voting on their favorite shirt, and our zone won! I was very satisfied with myself and at the same time was extremely grateful that I'd been given that talent from the Lord, for the blessing of others' lives.

The rest of Summer Conference was really fun. I said hi to Elder Cole and his new greenie, Elder Cordada. Our team went undefeated too! We were 5-0, but two other teams were 4-0, (when it came down to the championships.) The two 4-0 teams played each other and we played the winning team. It was the first team we'd played and had beaten before 7-3. Somehow, they ended up killing us in the finals 1-5. It was pretty disappointing, but I went home happy, 'cause even if we didn't play the best, we sure looked the best! :)

PART III: BEN WANTED TO BURN THE BOOK OF MORMON

I had a cool experience last night. We met with Ben again, for the fourth time or so. In the last appointment, he'd explained to us that it was funny that we were trying to convert him, because he was trying to convert us! We had only ever answered his questions or defended the faith (instead of teaching lessons) as we'd met with him, so we decided unless he was willing to make and keep commitments, that we were going to drop[ him. We really loved the kid, and wanted to clarify the misconceptions about the church, but we were also wasting the time we could be spending teaching someone who was ready to learn.

We said a prayer in the car (he excused himself the second time we met with him, when we asked if we could say a prayer) and met him on his front porch again. He showed us the new book he'd gotten from the Christian bookstore (The Facts on Mormonism or algo así,) and how it had references for all the quotes, etc.

He then asked to see my BoM, (he wanted to read some verse that proved it wasn't true.) As I handed ti to him, I asked what happened to the copy we gave him. He kind of smiled but ashamedly stammered "W-well, the real reason I wanted the Book of Mormon is so that I could burn it." He apologized and said he didn't want to offend us but he didn't want to lie either. At first I was really hurt - or wanted to be - but I wasn't, (or I didn't let it show that I was.) I calmly told him that was fine, he had the right to do whatever he wanted with it, it was a free country and he could do as he chose.

I calmly and honestly asked him why he did it. He explained that he hated the devil and that he hated anything that was meant to draw people away from the true word of God, or in other words, he hated all cults (anything that is not part of the orthodox Christian church.) He hated the Koran, he hated the Watchtower, etc. But he just ended up ripping up the Book of Mormon. Still, he apologized, telling us that he didn't hate us, he just hated those false doctrines.

We proceeded and mostly just sat there as he read quotes in the books he had about how Joseph Smith was an occultist and had revelations by looking at a seer stone inside of a hat (quoted by "Dr. Whitmer"); how we are polytheistic because we believe that "God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are all Gods" (-McKonkie); how we believe we can become gods, how we don't believe in the creation of matter from nothing, how Joseph Smith was a polygamist (even though we explained to him that David and Solomon were too,) how we believe the Bible is "unreliable," (I quoted the 8th Article of Faith) and on and on. In all of it we occasionally would explain how things the book said were not true, but mostly we said, "Well, I know Joseph Smith was a prophet from the witness I received from God." He simply couldn't grasp how we could believe that when there was all this evidence in his hands to the contrary. He hadn't read the BoM, but all these scholars had, and they had so much proof that it wasn't true. I told him I'd take God's word over a man's any day. If God told me he was a prophet, he was a prophet. I went back to what I'd said before. The comforter of Holy Ghost was sent to teach us all things, and in Galatians it said the fruits of the spirit were love, joy, peace, etc. The same feelings I felt when I prayed about the BoM. He tried to explain what the real meaning of that scripture was. I explained it was what it was. We know through our feelings. He told me we shouldn't trust our feelings becaue we can lust after a woman and feel good, even though it was a sin. I told him it was a physical feeling, not a spiritual one.

We honestly and sincerely tried to explain it to him, not in a contentious way. He told us he wasn't trying to say we were wrong, but that the doctrine of the Mormon church was wrong. I pulled out my ministerial certificate and explained to him that I was a representative of that church, called by a living prophet of God and given power and authority to teach what really was the doctrine of our church, the true doctrine of Jesus Christ.

I finally said to him, "Ben, we really appreciate everything you've done to try and help us. We're glad that you're seeking the truth, but everything you've said hasn't changed the way we feel or the things we know. I know the Book of Mormon is true. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet and that we have a living prophet on the earth today. I know that you can also know these things for yourself if you go and ask God. I know he will tell you through the spirit, just as he told me. I know I have more authority to say that than any of these scholars. I know that even though you may have not converted us and saved us, I know he is happy with your efforts to choose the right and to help us. I also know you should at least read the Book of Mormon for yourself, because you will be held accountable for the things that are in it. Our time is valuable and we'd love to keep visiting you, but there are others who want to listen."

He looked like we'd just told him he failed some test. I knew he really was trying to help us, but he'd been blinded by the "craftiness of men". As I testified to him it came with such clarity and power as I'd never felt before. The words came out on their own. I wasn't even thinking about what I was saying or what I was going to say. I didn't have any doubts that what I was saying was true. I didn't have to double check, "wait, is this right?" Though I felt bad that Ben hadn't listened to the Spirit that I know was there when Elder Herrin and I tetified, we had done what we were called to do. We had reaised a warning voice.

It was an amazing experience. I realized there are a lot of pretty good arguments against our church. I don't know them all, I don't know all the answers to them, but I know I received an answer back when I prayed about the BoM. I knew I probably would have been shaken pretty badly if it weren't for the trust in God that I have, and the continual witness of the Holy Ghost that these things are true. I knew all the facts, reasons and explanations in the world wouldn't have been enough to convince Ben the Church was true. The only way he could know for himself would be by going to the source--asking God in prayer. Until he could humble himself enough to do that, he would never truly know.

So my beloved brothers, sisters and parents: If you ever wonder or have any doubts or questions, ask and you shall receive. And it doesn't matter how weak we may think we are, when it comes to preaching the gospel, the Lord will make up for what you lack.

Hopefully this helps oneof you. :) Either way, I love you, "the church is true, the book is blue, and God is a Mormon". ;)

LOVE, ELDER SEAN

!FELIZ DIA DE PAPAS! (PADRES?)

Wow, it's been a crazy week. This transfer in particular has been quite the growing period of my mission. Almost like going through my greenie transfer again. It's kind of like I've been going through the fundamental, foundational (?) skills one by one and revising them-or checking them for accuracy. It's been a proving ground. The biggest impurities are being removed. Yet I'm not exactly sure what recent events cause me to feel that way--it's weird. I guess you'd have to be inside my head to understand :).

I had a great week! It was my turn at senior companion again. I've been working on goals. (I'm not sure if I mentioned in the last letter,) and using them as motivatino. For the most part, when we set goals they're mostly empty numbers. We decide during our nightly planning sessions - how many of each key indicator we can get the next day. But we never, (or I never), look at them again the next day. So I've been trying to go about the days saying to myself "okay, we gotta get two lessons with a member present." Then, if plans fall through, by loking, praying and having faith, teach a lesson with a member present somewhere else. ?Comprende? It was fun, and better yet, we had the best numbers we've had in a long time! It was cool.

Now, this week, (Mon-Sun) It's been a lot harder. We have a District Leader that goes home in two weeks, so he and his companion will come over and hang out at our apartment. It ends up being one of those situations where we jr. comps sit there, talking, wondering when we're going to leave for exchanges, almost killing time. You can drop hints and come out and ask "when are we leaving?" but we're at his mercy. (To a point) It stinks 'cause he's a fun guy and was a fantastic missionary, but he's opting for being "dead" his last transfer. His comp and my comp are 18 mo. and 15 mo. so they don't mind a break. It's just a new set of challenges for me to superar. :)

I'm still having a great time. I LOVE Mt. Vernon. We have more and more Spanish work! In the midst of some fo the gloom, there will be a ray of light! Nothing will be happening and then suddenly we'll find someone who will almost be expecting us. There are really cool experiences that'll happen every once in a while.

The other day Elder Farris (the district leader) showed us some people we could talk to that he had taught. I went with him to talk to one of them. It turned out they had moved, but the lady that lived there turned out to be a nurse at a dementia hospital. One of her patients was LDS and would always get frustrated while reading the Ensign. So this woman would explain to her (the patient) what was going on. So she told Elder Farris & I that she wanted to be able to explain things more clearly and had some questions of her own. She asked if we could please come back, though, since she had just gotten off work and had some things to do. Elder Farris and I walked away both with a strong Spiritual confirmation that we were in the right place at the right time.

CJ, who we've been working with is super-solid. His baptism was postponed though so his sister could come. We're excited for him though, because we know the gospel will have a big impact on his family. During the lesson we put him on-date, Elder Herrin later told me he "saw" his parents being baptized in the future! It was powerful.

Lots of our recent new investigators seem really promising too! I'm really excited. And we're only going to be working harder. If there's anything this recent adversity has caused, it's a greater desire in Elder Herrin & I to work harder.

My favorite thing has been maintaining a 'cheery countenance' no matter what the situation. It's fun, but harder than I thought--especially to really mean it. :) I think of Jessica Barry's effervecense, and try to emulate. :)

SPANISH: it's coming along, slow & steady. Speaking comes without too much effort. I don't have to think in English first, as much. Whenever I read though, I find myself feeling like I'm looking at a blurry picture. In order to get all the depth and clarity, I ahve to translate it in my head. It's the verb tenses that get me. Even when understanding someone else. When I speak, I can say it in the right tense, no problem. Subjunctive is still a challenge to work into my speech, but pase a paso, no?

One other thing (with Spanish)... well, I'll include it on a sticky.*

Meanwhile, THE GREAT ROOM LOOKS AMAZING! So do the new stove & fridge! I LOVE it! It's going to be fun to see in all its real-life glory. :) MUCHISIMAS GRACIAS FOR THE FOTOS!

Well, best-beloveds, I hope you're enjoying a relaxing summer. Please keep filling me in on the happenings at home, and I promise I'll have lots more to tell you proxima semana.

WITH LOVE AND SOME WASHINGTON RAIN (IN JUNE!),

ELDER SEAN

So I noticed in letters from Mom & Melinda a different way of accenting commands than I'm used to. I was wondering if it was a Guatemala thing or just a principle/rule I haven't learned yet.

*EXAMPLES:
Cuidate------Cuidate
hacelo------hacelo
dejalos------dejalos
no te preocupes------...preocupes
asegurate------asegurate
segui------sigue
They keep popping up so I assumed it wasn't a mistake. But I'm confused, so if you could, ayudame (ayudame?) Thanks!