A few Thanksgiving photos

It was really great to see everyone in Provo over Thanksgiving.  I drove out with Annika and Mia and, apart from one speeding ticket near Soldier Summit, the drive went very well.  Although a bit long it was actually nice to get a chance to talk in the car.  Also really nice to spend a few days with family in Provo.  We had many great conversations, lots of wonderful food, and just good times hanging out together.

Here are a few photos I took of our amazingly attractive family members (plus a few nature scenes):

Updates from Mia!

Hey everybody!

I know I will be seeing most of you very soon for Thanksgiving, (and I am so excited) but I thought I would post a little update about what's been going on with me for the people I'll be missing and anyone else who I haven't talked with in a while!

As you know, my birthday recently passed. Thanks, everyone, for the birthday wishes! And thank you, Grandma and Grandpa, for the gift and the card. It doesn't feel too different being 17... it's just a little bit scary how fast time has been flying by!

I'm still very involved with my school's Women's Choir. We had a fall concery recently that went really well. Here's some pictures from that:

(My Choir Director and Me)

 

Our Christmas Concert is coming up soon, and we're also doing a senior home concert. I've been enjoying choir quite a lot and I may be trying out for the school musical (Man of La Mancha) after Thanksgiving break.

I've also been getting involved in Young Life, which is a youth group near my school.
I went to one of their camps, with a group from my school and a few other high schools in the area, up in Buena Vista. It was a really fun experience and I met so many new people.

These are the girls from my cabin and our wonderful leader, Emily, in the upper left corner. 

And this is the group from my school.

So, that's pretty much all that I've been up to!

I was so excited to read Henry's letter, and I'm glad he's having a good time. 

I can't wait to see everyone and tell you more about what's been going on over here in Colorado.

Love you guys!

Mia

Henry's Missionary Letter No. 1

This is Gwen.  I am putting Henry's first missionary letter here!  Soon we make a separate blog so that friends/other family can see his letters.

Hello from the MTC, family! (Mimi included, of course)  

The first two-and-a-half days have been awesome here at the MTC.  I'm really enjoying the classes and my district and companionship.  Since I speak German already, I was put in the international branch.  My district has 6 other missionaries.  Elder Baloaloa [Ball-Wall-Wa] (said with very pure, German sounding vowels) is my companion.  He and Elder Castro are both from the Philippines.  Elder Baloaloa is going to San Diego Tagalog speaking, and Elder Castro is going to Anchorage, Alaska Tagalog speaking.  Elder Castro's companion and my other very good friend is Elder Wilson from Samoa.  He is going to Anchorage, Alaska Samoan speaking.  They are all awesome, and I love them all so much.  We keep on joking with Elder Castro and Elder Wilson that they will freeze to death when they go to Alaska, and they're actually pretty scared of that .  There is a picture near the cafeteria of a missionary baptizing a new member in an icy lake, and we keep telling Elder Wilson that that's him.  He always says "no, no, no is bad" and covers his eyes.  None of them speak perfect English, but they are all quite good, and we can understand each other well (with me translating English to English sometimes).  We all room together, and we are having a great time together.  I am so glad I am in the international branch, and I'm really excited for Sunday.  The other people in our district are sisters.  Sister Pirreda from Italy is going to serve in the temple square mission; Sister Qaqa from Fiji is going to serve in the Okland, New Zealand visitor's center; and Sister Melendez from Belize is going to serve in the London, England mission.

Anyway, now for some journaling/goings on.  On Wednesday when we very first got here, our foursome of Elders didn't really have companionships yet.  We all kind of walked around together, and we all got to get really close with each other.  I'm the only American that I know of in the international branch, and every thinks it's really funny that I live in Provo, and I could practically see my house from the MTC if there weren't trees in the way.  We had a good time joking about my drive from my house (which took about 5 minutes), when all the other members of my district had to take really long flights to get here.  I am already feeling the blessings of serving a mission.  I feel stronger and more committed to my own conversion and love of the gospel.  It really strengthens my testimony to be with the humble international elders and sisters and hear their testimonies in non-perfect English.  The days are so jam-packed!!! It's crazy!  I knew that a missionary's schedule was tight, but we never have a time between 6:30 AM and 10:30 PM when we aren't doing something.  My mind is always focused and I feel good.  I have also met up with some German elders and sisters and gotten to speak some German with them.  They all have complimented me and told me my German was good.  I have also seen a few people I know from Timpview and otherwise in the MTC.  Elder Checketts is awesome, and I got to talk with him and his district (who are all going to Frankfurt).  Life is good.  I miss you guys, but I haven't really had too much time to wallow because I'm super busy.  I haven't even had time to read all of your letters yet.  Right now I am writing from a crowded laundry room for a few minutes since it's P-Day.  I have P-Day onFriday in the MTC, but I don't know if that will change while I am in the field.

This morning I had a wonderful experience with Elder Baloaloa.  I got to be the escort for him as he went through the Endowment for the first time.  Elder Baloaloa is one of the most humble and kindest guys I have met, and I am so grateful that I am him companion.  He has been assigned to be our District Leader, and I am his senior companion.  We had an incredible experience in the temple, and Elder Baloaloa loved it.  During the endowment session, he got to listen in Tagalog on a headset.  After he went through the initiatory and before we went to the endowment, the Temple President talked with him for a while, and that was really nice to hear him talk about the temple.  I remembered again a lot of the blessings that the temple brings and that I am entitled to.  I was extremely touched as we were waiting for the Temple President and Elder Baloaloa had the hymnbook open to Hymn 219 "Because I Have Been Given Much."  Elder Baloaloa isn't wealthy, but he is grateful and he loves his life and the Gospel.  In the temple, I saw both President Reineer and Brother Dodge!!  It was fun to see them and introduce them to Elder Baloaloa.  After we got out of the temple, I saw Mom!!!  That was awesome.  I have a sneaking suspicion that Brother Dodge might have called her and told her I would be there, but maybe it was just the Lord intervening haha .

I miss you guys a lot, and I love you so much.  I pray for you all every night.  Tell Leah thanks for the package, and that I will write them a real letter as soon as I can.  I will probably go after this and write another letter to you guys and include some more letters to give to people because I am running out of computer time.  I love you guys so much!  Show this e-mail to Mimi as well.  Mimi, I love you so much too!!!  Thank you, everyone for your letters, and I will hopefully reply to them on paper soon.  I love you all, and I love Roose!  I'll communicate with you again soon!  The first two days of the mission have been awesome.  I know it might get discouraging at times, but I am loving it right now!

-Elder Henry Davis