J.J.'s Mission: June 2010

31 May 2010

Hi Family!!

Thanks for the great emails and birthday wishes! It feels really weird to be writing my very last email to you as a missionary... Not really sure where to start..

My birthday was great yesterday. The members that we ate lunch with made me lasagna and another Mexican dish that was really good. They put balloons up all over, sang to me and even covered me in confetti. It was really kind of them to go all out for me. Then at the end of the food they pulled out a cake and we enjoyed that. Of course they had to do the "mordida" like they always do on birthdays which means "bite". That's where I go take a bite of the cake and they shove my face in it! Got it all up in my nose. Haha. And then the birthday person cuts the cake for everyone and serves them. It was a fun day. In the evening we went with a different family, the one we ate with when Shawkey and his parents came. They made us a late dinner and had a cake and everything. So of course I got my face shoved in that one as well... ;) Overall, it was a very enjoyable birthday.

Mission President Fuentes with Elder Green.

Sounds like the remodeling of the bathroom will be quite a task but I'm sure it'll look completely different when it's done. That'll be really nice to have. Thanks Dad for getting everything ready on my bike. I also hope that you don't have to leave on 8 June on business, I'd really enjoy riding with you. But if you do then I understand and we'll go riding as soon as you get back. I can't wait to hop back up on that bad boy! :)

The plan for June 7th sounds great to me. We'll hang in the airport for a while, no hurry there. Then go to the Stake President's home to get released. I'm assuming that isn't a very long appointment. And then back to Green Gardens for crock pot chicken with the family. Sounds perfect! Can't wait. Feel free to extend the invite to some close ward members as well. Like Jamie Pruden and maybe some old leaders that I had. I'd enjoy seeing them as well.

To answer Mom's question, the DL's and ZL's in the mission are about half and half. Half American and half Natives, just depends really. Most of mine have been natives though. I'm not sure if I grew any taller or not.. maybe a little wider though.. haha.

Elder Gardner, J.J.'s comp Elder Gonzalez , Elder Green and Elder Aylesworth.

My journey home will play out as follows: (As far as I know at least) On Sunday I will go to church in the morning. I don't think I have to be in the mission offices until around 4pm, but they haven't told me yet. So after church I will go eat, a new companion is coming that day I believe to stay with my comp. Then a member is going to take me to the mission offices and he'll drop me off there. I think that night I'll just be with the secretaries. I will NOT have a final interview with Pres. because this pres doesn't do that. So I won't be able to get my temple recommend extended. Plus, I heard he only extends it for a few weeks. I'll have to do that when I get home. I could've done it earlier but it's too late now. Then, Monday morning the secretaries will drop me off at the airport and I'm on my own from there. And Monday evening I'll be in SLC. :)

Cutting his birthday cake.

As to the work here. We have several people we're working with that should be able to get baptized in a few weeks or so. There is a young couple that needs to get married but as soon as they do that then they can be baptized. Also, the lady that was baptized two weeks ago, we are working with her family and they seem very interested. So I'm sure there will be progress there. There are several others too who are progressing slowly, but overall it's been a really good baptism for me. I think I had 9 just in this ward alone. It's great to go to church Sunday and see the Gospel Principles class full of all my recent converts. It's been a successful area for me and I've really enjoyed it.

Thank you Dad for all the info on the airplane. I'm sure everything will be fine, no worries there. Thanks for answering my questions.

The members J.J. spent his birthday with.

We had our zone conference last Wednesday. It was President's last one along with mine. He said his goodbye and talked a lot about respecting the new mission president and following his council. Then he said his goodbye and we took a photo with the whole zone. I was also able to get one last picture with him since I think that was the last time I will ever see him.

I got a few letters last week from you all. One from Chez, one from Shantaye, and one that didn't have anyone's name on it... I think it was from Mom though. I'll check this week to see if any last ones arrive. Am said she sent a letter out to me but I'm pretty sure it won't get to me in time. I don't think she planned ahead enough. Maybe they can forward it to our home, not sure on that. But thank you very much for the letters! They were great to read.

The zone Culturas.

We had our meeting in the morning today instead of in the afternoon like usual. I got my last pictures with everyone and said my goodbyes. I took my suit into the dry cleaner's afterwards so it will be all ready to go.

Thank you Mom and Dad for everything that you've done for me while I've been here. It's been a great experience overall. Had some tough times but that is normal. I learned a lot and my testimony grew a great amount and I'm very grateful for that. Thanks for all your love and support. I don't know any other missionary here who's BOTH parents wrote him an email EVERY single week for two years. Thank you so much for that! You've been a great support to me on my mission. I can't thank you enough for that. I love you all more than you know and I can't wait to see you all again! The time was long but it went by very fast. Crazy how that happened. But I feel very pleased with my mission and I'm happy to be coming back home to you all. I know I'll miss this place a lot along with all of the great people I met.

Thanks for everything Mom and Dad. You're the greatest! I can't wait to see you on Monday and give you a huge hug! I am very, very, very excited to see you all as well on 7 June. This week is going to fly by!

Well, I think that's about all. I will SEE you all next week. Hope you have a great week. I love you very much!

Love,

Elder Green

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Monday, June 7, 2010

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

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