I finally got the antelope I was after on Friday. I went with a friend from the ward and we had lots of fun. Saturday morning I went to Yuba Lake with Jenine to get pictures for an article for Cabelas.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Taekwondo Tournament
We attended our first Taekwondo tournament today. We are still newbies so we learned a lot from watching what everyone else did. Mariana did well in her free sparring competition. You can see her scoring a point with a kick in the picture. Isaac enjoyed the breaking competition.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Samuel's Mission E-mail September 22, 2008
Everyone:
Well, I'm now officially in what may be my last area. It's called Malaga Cove. If you have a map of LA, it covers the southern part of Redondo Beach, Torrance, and Lomita, with a little bit of Rolling Hills Estates thrown in. So, some of it is kind of rich. My companion is Elder Mijares, from Colorado (His ancestry is from Spain, though). He actually goes home in December, and he's a district leader, so I'm junior again. There's not really much Spanish in our area (I did speak Spanish with one guy yesterday), so I guess they figure I don't need to work on my Spanish or something (or maybe they've just despaired of it ever being good, haha).
As for our week, on Tuesday we tracted and got ready for transfers. On Wednesday I transfered over here with Elder Mijares, and we tracted.
On Thursday, Elder Mijares had a meeting, so I took Elder Fliton (who's being trained this transfer) tracting for a bit, and then we had weekly planning, Elder Mijares did a baptismal interview, and Elder Mijares took me to meet a couple important people in the ward.
On Friday, we had our Zone meeting (Have I mentioned our mission goal this transfer? Our goal is to increase the number of investigators we have at church by 50%), we tracted, and we worked on contacting a list of people that Sister Alexander, a counselor in the Relief Society, gave to us, and found out that a lot of them had moved.
On Saturday, Elder Mijares had another meeting, so I took Elders Webb and Fliton (the other district leaders' companions) and we helped clean the Malaga Cove ward building. After the meeting, we tracted and worked on the list some more.
On Sunday, we had our church meetings, so I got to meet Brother Madrid, our Ward Mission Leader, and various other members. We also tracted and spoke briefly with some less-actives that the ward had asked us to visit.
Today, we played some kickball with the zone.
Well, I think that's it. Hopefully we'll find some investigators here soon. Given that this is probably my last area, it's about time for me to try some different things for working here. We'll have to see what we can do.
Elder Samuel Stephens
The time is far spent; there is little remaining to publish glad tidings by sea and by land
Then hasten, ye heralds; go forward proclaiming: Repent for the kingdom of heaven's at hand
--Hymn #266
Well, I'm now officially in what may be my last area. It's called Malaga Cove. If you have a map of LA, it covers the southern part of Redondo Beach, Torrance, and Lomita, with a little bit of Rolling Hills Estates thrown in. So, some of it is kind of rich. My companion is Elder Mijares, from Colorado (His ancestry is from Spain, though). He actually goes home in December, and he's a district leader, so I'm junior again. There's not really much Spanish in our area (I did speak Spanish with one guy yesterday), so I guess they figure I don't need to work on my Spanish or something (or maybe they've just despaired of it ever being good, haha).
As for our week, on Tuesday we tracted and got ready for transfers. On Wednesday I transfered over here with Elder Mijares, and we tracted.
On Thursday, Elder Mijares had a meeting, so I took Elder Fliton (who's being trained this transfer) tracting for a bit, and then we had weekly planning, Elder Mijares did a baptismal interview, and Elder Mijares took me to meet a couple important people in the ward.
On Friday, we had our Zone meeting (Have I mentioned our mission goal this transfer? Our goal is to increase the number of investigators we have at church by 50%), we tracted, and we worked on contacting a list of people that Sister Alexander, a counselor in the Relief Society, gave to us, and found out that a lot of them had moved.
On Saturday, Elder Mijares had another meeting, so I took Elders Webb and Fliton (the other district leaders' companions) and we helped clean the Malaga Cove ward building. After the meeting, we tracted and worked on the list some more.
On Sunday, we had our church meetings, so I got to meet Brother Madrid, our Ward Mission Leader, and various other members. We also tracted and spoke briefly with some less-actives that the ward had asked us to visit.
Today, we played some kickball with the zone.
Well, I think that's it. Hopefully we'll find some investigators here soon. Given that this is probably my last area, it's about time for me to try some different things for working here. We'll have to see what we can do.
Elder Samuel Stephens
The time is far spent; there is little remaining to publish glad tidings by sea and by land
Then hasten, ye heralds; go forward proclaiming: Repent for the kingdom of heaven's at hand
--Hymn #266
Update
Dear family,
I guess we need to update our life for you. It doesn't seem like we have anything significant to tell you. Ruth is busy teaching the neighbor girt to sew and to design her own clothes. I just try to keep busy. My latest project is to prepare a history of mom and dad's life in Star Valley for the Star Valley Independent news paper. They are trying to compile a history of the early days in Star Valley. I will send copies to the paper, the library in Afton and the mayor of Alpine when I get it completed. In working on the history I've discovered that two of the brothers that we work with at the temple (the Weeks') are cousins.
We are still enjoying beautiful weather. The garden is almost done for this year. We had lots of peaches, cucumbers, squash and tomatoes. I've been keeping the neighborhood supplied with goodies this summer. It will all come to and end pretty soon. I'm sure we will get a killing frost fairly soon now. Our butternut squash is the size of pumpkins.
Mom here, We were over to visit Grandpa K. last Friday. He is about the same, not anything major wrong. He would like to be out on his own but realizes that is not possible. He is using a wheelchair to get around. He moves it with his feet because he can't stand for very long. His hearing is getting worse as is his eyes so it makes it harder and harder to communicate with him.
He went out with Dee a couple weeks ago to get a sub sandwich and drive around in Dee's truck. We can never get him to go out with us.
We will be down to Harvey's sealing. Just hope it doesn't get postponed again. We love you all and wish we could afford to visit more often.
Dad and mom
I guess we need to update our life for you. It doesn't seem like we have anything significant to tell you. Ruth is busy teaching the neighbor girt to sew and to design her own clothes. I just try to keep busy. My latest project is to prepare a history of mom and dad's life in Star Valley for the Star Valley Independent news paper. They are trying to compile a history of the early days in Star Valley. I will send copies to the paper, the library in Afton and the mayor of Alpine when I get it completed. In working on the history I've discovered that two of the brothers that we work with at the temple (the Weeks') are cousins.
We are still enjoying beautiful weather. The garden is almost done for this year. We had lots of peaches, cucumbers, squash and tomatoes. I've been keeping the neighborhood supplied with goodies this summer. It will all come to and end pretty soon. I'm sure we will get a killing frost fairly soon now. Our butternut squash is the size of pumpkins.
Mom here, We were over to visit Grandpa K. last Friday. He is about the same, not anything major wrong. He would like to be out on his own but realizes that is not possible. He is using a wheelchair to get around. He moves it with his feet because he can't stand for very long. His hearing is getting worse as is his eyes so it makes it harder and harder to communicate with him.
He went out with Dee a couple weeks ago to get a sub sandwich and drive around in Dee's truck. We can never get him to go out with us.
We will be down to Harvey's sealing. Just hope it doesn't get postponed again. We love you all and wish we could afford to visit more often.
Dad and mom
Monday, September 22, 2008
No hurricane damage in Utah
I feel a little left out because we have been having a beautiful fall. We've had a little rain and wind, but nothing that would constitute a significant storm. We are glad the Texans are okay and I am impressed that Newel's family could go a week without power. I'm sure that would be a huge challenge.
We are just plugging along. Creed is working full time now at the car dealership and also playing soccer several times a week. It is quite different now that he is playing at an adult level. There are some big strong bodies and some major collisions.
The past two Saturday's I've left right after his morning games to drive to
Wyoming to hunt antelope. My area is near Evanston so it is only a two-hour drive. I haven't shot one yet because I am looking for a really big one. I hope I get lucky soon. Anette went with me last Saturday and it rained on us much of the time so we did not see as many antelope as usual.
Jenine and Brandon are now living in their own apartment in north Orem. We added one more person to our household though. Parker Edwards' family used to live in our neighborhood but moved to Washington two years ago. Now they are trying to relocate back to Utah. Parker is living with us so he could go to school here and not have to switch. Parker has been a friend of Creed's for many years.
We are all looking forward to Harvey's sealing in a few weeks. He was with us much of yesterday. He is a happy boy and I think he must be powered by Energizer batteries that never run down. He knows how to tease and I think Anette is going to be a frequent victim.
Thanks for the birthday cards and wishes. I'm feeling old a lot lately--especially after moving hay or digging holes.
We're glad everyone survived the storms.
We are just plugging along. Creed is working full time now at the car dealership and also playing soccer several times a week. It is quite different now that he is playing at an adult level. There are some big strong bodies and some major collisions.
The past two Saturday's I've left right after his morning games to drive to
Wyoming to hunt antelope. My area is near Evanston so it is only a two-hour drive. I haven't shot one yet because I am looking for a really big one. I hope I get lucky soon. Anette went with me last Saturday and it rained on us much of the time so we did not see as many antelope as usual.
Jenine and Brandon are now living in their own apartment in north Orem. We added one more person to our household though. Parker Edwards' family used to live in our neighborhood but moved to Washington two years ago. Now they are trying to relocate back to Utah. Parker is living with us so he could go to school here and not have to switch. Parker has been a friend of Creed's for many years.
We are all looking forward to Harvey's sealing in a few weeks. He was with us much of yesterday. He is a happy boy and I think he must be powered by Energizer batteries that never run down. He knows how to tease and I think Anette is going to be a frequent victim.
Thanks for the birthday cards and wishes. I'm feeling old a lot lately--especially after moving hay or digging holes.
We're glad everyone survived the storms.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
We're Fine
Well, after a huge build-up, with the forecasters telling us how bad it was going to be, and to be prepared for high winds and power outages, we got next to nothing! We've had much worse just from thunderstorms. It was kind of disappointing actually! It went just east of us. We got lots of rain, but not even any flash flooding.
We've had beautiful weather all week. Sunshine and temperatures in the high 70's, low 80's. And cool enough at night to need a quilt on the bed. It's like fall!
I haven't been able to post because our week has just been extremely hectic. We had our normal school routine, plus a girl's activity day that I was in charge of, plus a little birthday get-together with Lynette's friends. I even forgot to send Newel a birthday card. Then the day before his birthday I figured I would just call, but I never had a chance! I was busy with teaching 11 kids in a co-op class at my house in the morning, then I had an emergency preparedness dinner at my house in the evening. So, I hope you had a good birthday, Newel, (once the power was back on)!
Oh, the kitten's name is Jet. We tried Stormy for several days, but it just didn't seem to work. She and Devon get along fine, but Devon still gets a little too excited, so we still have to watch them pretty closely.
LaDawn
Friday, September 19, 2008
Samuel's Mission E-mail September 15, 2008
Everyone:
Well, this transfer ends on Wednesday, so I may be in a new area and almost certainly with a new companion come next e-mail time. Depending on where I go, it may also be a Wednesday the next time I get to e-mail.
So, as for this week, on Thursday we had our normal weekly planning, and then we had a car-free day, so we had to walk over to my old apartment (which fortunately is not far from my current apartment) and pick up my bike. Before we did that, though, we got a call from some Spanish speakers who were visiting a relative of theirs in the Downey hospital that wanted a blessing, so we walked over there (also not a large distance) and gave him a blessing. After we picked up my bike, we tracted and had dinner.
On Friday, we had our normal zone meeting, and then we had Downey 3rd correlation. Then Elder Brixius went tracting with Alex Grow of the Downey 1st ward while Elder Monita and I worked on the programs for the fireside. On Saturday, we had Santa Fe Springs correlation, we practiced for the fireside, we tracted, and we visited a couple people we had invited to the fireside to see if they were coming.
On Sunday, we had church, and then in the evening we had the fireside. It went really well--the choir that sang was formed of missionaries and stake members, and they did a really good job. Elder Harper, one of our zone leaders, is very talented in the musical field, and he did a great job of organizing and practicing with the choir and everything. My part, the visuals from some of the church movies that were timed to coincide with parts of the songs, went pretty well. There were parts that were still rough, but that's just because we had to make do with what we had.
Well, we'll see what this next transfer brings. It's crazy that I've only got three more transfers here on the mission. Hopefully I'll be able to show that I've learned something.
Elder Samuel Stephens
Well, this transfer ends on Wednesday, so I may be in a new area and almost certainly with a new companion come next e-mail time. Depending on where I go, it may also be a Wednesday the next time I get to e-mail.
So, as for this week, on Thursday we had our normal weekly planning, and then we had a car-free day, so we had to walk over to my old apartment (which fortunately is not far from my current apartment) and pick up my bike. Before we did that, though, we got a call from some Spanish speakers who were visiting a relative of theirs in the Downey hospital that wanted a blessing, so we walked over there (also not a large distance) and gave him a blessing. After we picked up my bike, we tracted and had dinner.
On Friday, we had our normal zone meeting, and then we had Downey 3rd correlation. Then Elder Brixius went tracting with Alex Grow of the Downey 1st ward while Elder Monita and I worked on the programs for the fireside. On Saturday, we had Santa Fe Springs correlation, we practiced for the fireside, we tracted, and we visited a couple people we had invited to the fireside to see if they were coming.
On Sunday, we had church, and then in the evening we had the fireside. It went really well--the choir that sang was formed of missionaries and stake members, and they did a really good job. Elder Harper, one of our zone leaders, is very talented in the musical field, and he did a great job of organizing and practicing with the choir and everything. My part, the visuals from some of the church movies that were timed to coincide with parts of the songs, went pretty well. There were parts that were still rough, but that's just because we had to make do with what we had.
Well, we'll see what this next transfer brings. It's crazy that I've only got three more transfers here on the mission. Hopefully I'll be able to show that I've learned something.
Elder Samuel Stephens
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