I didn't post Bridger's letter until now because I was asked to speak and give an update on how he's doing along with the other parents of the missionaries from our ward. I didn't want to repeat things from his latest letter so am posting now. I'm also posting my talk, mostly so that I have it for Bridger's book when I print it. Thank you again for following this blog. It means the world to us that you care and pray for him as he serves.
Familia!
¿Como Estamos?
Well yep i a am sorry about last week way lame letter so i will make up for it this week 1st off Feliz dia de Padres PAPA ayer anyways some of the questions i didnt answer so its a rule in the mission not to drink caffine haha i know hard right so no coke or pepsi but we drink soda of orange banana fresca and then all natural juices which are good. Um ya if you want to send a hard letter in the mail i would love it but i dont need one every week they get distributed in our zone meetings every week and so all the elders get excited when they get something so that would be sweet um as for a package im good for right now but just for like a list some items that would be helpful are like some little stickers of Jesus for kids cause they like those elder petersen carries those and a small pic of the bountiful temple that i can fit in my scrips to show people CHEX MIX if possible and BEEF JERKY man its like the same food every day....the same food but i love it. except as i am writing this there is cow stomach in my stomach ah yep sopa de medungo....harsh harsh in my bowl i had a piece about as big as my fist wow harsh. also this week i played futbol haha dang these kids are good so good but its all they do all day everyday the whole culture here is so chill i love it . well love it in some aspects and hate it in others also it has rained like nobodys buisness the past couple days me and Elder Petersen were walking in rios! crazy anyways its still all good we are going to San Pedro today so yes i can eat some food maybe mcdonalds or something hopefully... Because you all keep talking about costco but i am no where near that i havent even seen any big store fast food nothing theres just little stands here nothing else so im stoked.
Anyways so this week was good a couple sweet strories is one night our last cita dropped so we were walking to go stop bu another person and passed this lady we got like 25 feet passed her and i was like hey elder can we go talk to that lady so went up and what a great lady way nice and she wants to know the truth like she is perfect just a nice lady so that was a boost of confidence.
Also we are teaching this family ah freaking love em there so sweet they have like 8 kids but some are older but they have 3 under the age of 12 there so funny i love going there probably cause the one thats 12 reminds me of Caleb just funny and lovin life they all came to church yesterday and the kid put a line in his hair to look like us haha way funny kid but ya they are a great family.
Ok so you talk in church well one thing this week i think is sacrifice there is a family here very poor just like well everyone but he just lost his job and have no income so they cant ride the bus to church anymore cause they dont have any money so they walk. 45 minutes to church hiking in mud up hills for the Lord. It was very humbling to listen to this. anyways also the husband does not have a white shirt he was just in a Tshirt and Elder Petersen had a shirt and tie for him which was way awesome. But ya isnt it amazing the faith that people have. Ive learned alot about that this week i gotta have it because for the language this week was pretty humbling i didnt do so hot but im gonna just keep trucking forward and The Lord will be there for me i just have to keep going.
Well i hope this letter was better next week I PROMISE i will send some pics PROMISE well i hope you all have a great week Caleb keep just being you man i love you Stetson keep working bro its a great thing to learn and stack that ca$h by the way who did dave fire Mom man i Love you thanks for being so great and for all the supoport. Dad your the man and my example thanks for everything love you all
PAZ de Cofradia
Come what may and love it...
Love ELDER BRIDGER CLAYTON
My letter to him...
Hey Pal. Happy Father's Day! Do they celebrate Papa day there? It's been a quiet week here at home. Caleb decided to go to Bear Lake with G&G on Sunday so dad took him out to their house after church and he stayed with them while I worked all week. Dad joined them at the house on Friday and as of my writing this letter they are on their way home. He's so funny, every time I asked him how his day was he told me OK, but boring. I'm sure he would have been bored here, too. But, makes me feel better knowing he was being somewhat entertained by Grandpa and Grandma while I was at work. Stetson mowed all the lawns that they do this week so he kept quite busy. He is still holding down the fort at SCB. They let someone go last night so he has worked a double both Friday and Saturday nights. I'm so lucky that I have such good/hard working kids and never have to worry that they show up for work late or don't do what they are supposed to.
Oh, before I forget I have to talk in church next Sunday. Can you give me something that you want to say. Any stories from who you are teaching, any adventures or whatever. I only have to talk for 5 minutes or maybe 6 but it would be great if you tell me what you want me to relay to our ward family.
Our lesson in Relief Society today was on Love at Home. I couldn't help but think I hope we did/do a good job with that at our home. I decided I am going to start emailing you the weekly letter of happenings and so on and also writing you a memorable letter to mail on Mondays. I hate to admit I haven't mailed you one yet because I know it takes a long time to get to you and I want to keep you up to date. This way it won't matter when you get the regular mail letters and you can reminisce with me about your life. They asked about what type of activities we did as a family that strengthened our family and taught lessons and I talked about how you started mowing lawns at such a young age and how dad would accompany you to do the string trimming and how one day you just did it your self and how you've bequeathed or passed on the jobs to your brothers. How we didn't realize the lessons and responsibilities you were each learning. I'm so glad that each of you understand the importance and value of hard work and the payoff and satisfaction you get from a job well done.
As I'm typing this I'm listening to Sounds of Sunday and the song, Live you like Believe is playing. I love this song. Just thought I'd tell you that. So, when you hear that song playing on your ipod, think of me. I hope that is how I live my life. How is your ipod anyway? Do you listen to it?
I'm sure dad will tell you this in your letter, but he studies your pictures you've sent (which try and send more) and he realized that it is your shelf and stuff we are looking at. The rolled garments, the towel, the shorts on the shelf. Funny huh. Thanks for being tidy, I was proud of you for that.
I so hope we get a bigger letter this week. We felt like we weren't able to talk or correspond to you last week and it seems like forever. How in the world did people do it when email wasn't even an option. It makes it so much easier knowing that we will hear from you each Monday. I so look forward to them.
Are you eating ok? How's the walking? Do you remember to change your shoes each day? Do you need anything. I so want to send you package, but don't know what you need. Are your socks holding out ok. The email group of moms say that sometimes the sisters that wash the laundry do such a great job that they put holes in your shirts are yours ok? Let me know.
We are planning on going to Elder Peterson's welcome home. We actually are quite excited. It will make us feel like you are closer than ever. Oh, Masen sat with me in Sunday School today. He's such a great kid. He's excited. He thinks October is a long ways away, but as you know it will come and he'll be out before you know it. He told me that John Kendrick is going to WA, not sure what mission and Tanner Johnson is going to Baltimore MD. There are others but I can't think of who. It's Caleb Rodgers farewell next Sunday then a Lund boy and Devon Christensen going to Farmington NM, and then finally Matt Cowley. Seems like he's had his call forever. Oh and Luis Calquian got his call to ...Colorado Denver North Mission. Other direction from his brother in Boise. He leaves August 17, that's really quick compared to the others.
I am feeling back to normal. Excited to be able to start exercising again on Wednesday of this week. I truly feel I have been blessed to be back to normal so quickly. I feel great, it was not that bad. I think I told you we started another round of Biggest Loser, I was in first place this week. Surgery and I also had a braces adjustment this week. Couldn't eat as you know so it paid off. It would be nice to actually win a round of this darn game.
Well, I love you son. I'm so proud of you and your service. I saw some pictures of Elder Peterson on his mom's FB. I may have told you about this last letter, but he was Father Christmas for the children and he's walking in a street up to his waist in water. Also, he is walking or balancing on what looks like a tightrope in the jungle.
I hope you're doing well. I think of you so often, at least every hour. In fact, did you see the moon the other night. I think it was on Tuesday night? They called it the Strawberry moon. It was beautiful. I was hoping you were looking at it too and thinking of home. Know that we are all fine. We miss and pray for you everyday.
I love you so much, be safe and obedient.
Mom
I work today (Monday) but am at lunch at 1:00 so I hope to be able to be on at the same time as you are on. If not, it's ok, talk/email to dad. We love you so much pal. Please remember that always.
And here's my talk...
I have to admit I am thankful for this opportunity to speak today and give an update report on our son who is serving in the Honduras San Pedro Sula Mission. Just 102 days ago, not that I’m counting, we took that long drive down to the MTC to send Bridger on his journey and begin his mission. Upon arriving at the temple grounds to take pictures, we were leaving to go get back in the car and Bridger turned around to see one of his good friends that had just finished a session and was on his way back to the MTC. Brock told Bridger how much he loved the MTC and that he would too. After we drove around the temple a couple more times to give us a couple extra minutes together, we drove through the gates of the MTC. With tears in my eyes I watched as the brother of the friend we had just talked to at the temple was there to greet and host Bridger. It was at that moment that I knew of the love my Father in Heaven had for me and Bridger as it was a witness of a tender mercy that we would be leaving him in good hands to enter into this unfamiliar territory. Bridger loved the MTC, he did not have very much in common with his companion, however he was put in the same room with an Elder Peterson from Clinton, UT who was what could have been another brother. He had a fun personality like Bridger and a love of the big Nixon brand watches. I know that they were put together for a reason and another witness of being watched over from above.
He has been in Honduras for five weeks now. He was given a companion from Cedar Hills and they were sent to open up an area. It’s called Cofradia and is in the mountains. Bridger’s first letter from Cofradia reads, well, it’s true the nine weeks at the MTC for Spanish was no help. It’s crazy, they speak so fast here. I have no idea what Honduras ranks on the fastness for speakers scale but I guarantee it’s way high. The humidity was something he wasn’t prepared for. He had been told it would be hot, but until they actually landed and the heat him he had no idea exactly what they had been talking about. His first bus ride was very crowded and he did not enjoy a man who was yelling at him and he had no idea what he was being told to do. When they then got to where they were to get off, In his words, “they threw our luggage to us and then we had to pull our luggage on a dirt road for about a quarter of a mile or so where we met a member who put our luggage in the back of his 1970 mitsibishi truck with no windows no door panels no console no nothing it honestly was a box with wheels and drove to our house. Man this place is very pretty, very green but extremely poor! We got to our house and just unpacked because we are both new to the area. So other than not being able to understand anyone it’s good. We eat and drink fruit every day. In our yard we have a mango, coconut, avocado and orange tree. It’s sweet. We made some limeade from fresh squeezed limes Our area is huge and we live in the middle of it but close to the church. It’s about 15 miles by 15 miles which is huge, and we walk wherever we tract. Its hot never gets cold ever. Oh haha some other facts so our house smaller than my room for sure. Anyways por favor pray for me I need some help with the langauge. Love you all hope I can hear from you next week. So yep come what may and love it right.... I hope so anyways. That was his first letter. As his mom that was a hard letter to read. However, each letter has gotten better and he’s doing well. Two weeks ago, we got one small paragraph from him that stated the power had gone out and he had lost all of his letter that he had typed and his time was up. I did not realize how much I missed knowing what was going on until this week’s letter arrived. This is what he reports.
One night our last appointment dropped so were walking to go back to our house. We walked by another person and passed this lady. We got about 25 feet past her and I was like hey Elder, can we go and talk to that lady. So we went up and talked to her what a great lady, way nice and she wants to know the truth like she is perfect. Just a nice lady. That was a boost of confidence.
In Bridger’s mission it is a rule to have a part in your hair. This is not his favorite, in fact at the MTC one of his teacher’s had him put one in there and he called it a comb over. His latest letter stated that it is a rule in his mission that a part is required so he says he’s sporting another comb over. So, this part of his letter made us all laugh. Also we are teaching this family ah love em they’re so sweet they have 8 kids but some are older. They have 3 under the age of 12 they’re so funny i love going there probably cause the one that’s 12 reminds me of Caleb just funny and lovin life. They all came to church yesterday and the kid put a line in his hair to look like us haha way funny kid but ya they are a great family.
Well one thing this week was how these people sacrifice. There is a family here very poor just like well everyone but he just lost his job and have no income so they can’t ride the bus to church anymore cause they don’t have any money, so they walk. 45 minutes to church hiking in mud up hills for the Lord. It was very humbling. Anyways the husband does not have a white shirt he was just in a T-shirt and Elder Petersen had a shirt and tie for him which was way awesome. But ya isn’t it amazing the faith that people have. I’ve learned a lot about that this week. Faith, I gotta have it especially for the language. This week was pretty humbling i didn’t do so hot but im gonna just keep trucking forward and the Lord will be there for me. I’ll just have to keep going.
Thank you for all the prayers, they are helping me out tremendously. Please eat a SpankyS sandwich for me, I would love one about now. Tell everyone I say what’s up.
I again appreciate the opportunity to let you know how he’s doing. We live in a wonderful ward. Thank you so much for your generosity and kindness to our family. And for asking how he’s doing, it means the world to us and for understanding the tears, they still keep coming.
I love the gospel. I always have. I know that I love it enough to send our son to give the people of Honduras the same blessings that I have always been fortunate to have. It is a small sacrifice with huge rewards. Our family has already seen the blessings of having a son and brother serving a mission. For that we are grateful.
