Time flies

I have discovered if I do something for my kids I actually do it.  For instance, when I am pregnant I exercise, eat wonderfully, go on bedrest, get proper sleep, etc. just for the baby.  I worry about not getting this blog updated each week cause it's for my kid.  Perhaps I should set up all my goals in life with the welfare of one of my kids as part of the deal.  Hmmm.  Food for thought.

Now, while I'm thinking about that, you enjoy the email we received this week.

Hi Mom!

 

Haha, I remember making that CD! Years ago, woah...so I got 2 letters today from the Weavers! Jacob is 9? Uhhh, when did that happen, I remember the kid being born..

Just a slight what happened to time moment. I have been a missionary for 10 months and my comp for 4.5 of those is going home in a few days.

Mmmmmm, cheescake. Huh, oh, I'm awake. Your package is on it's way too! Well, kinda, it's coming with E Palmer, and he will probably come over about a week after he gets back and heds up to SLC. He is being flown right into St. George, which is nice.

Woah, get Jo a blessing and bed!

 

Ok, I have to tell you about the lady we found this week. Went over to a member families house to see her before she goes into hip replacement surgery(today) and she tells us that she has a friend that left her church the day before, wants to join our's and wants to hear us. And that she is ready. Now. Well, we go over and teach a first lesson, she starts reading that night and calls her friend with questions. Comes to the activity the next day in the church for Independence day, we teach the plan of salvation that night and it all goes great. She just is perfectly happy to accept and cumplir with any commitments and has no problems. And, she is an english teacher, which is just cool.

Name=Lilian

Age=59..ish

:)

She's going to get baptised. That is really the most exciting thing to hàppen teaching wise.

Oh, lie, we taught Brisa and Rocio again after quite a while and we just had an overview of nearly everything. Well, we say once again how she can know the BoM and the church are true by praying and she tells us ''I know it's true'' Oh, really? ''Yeah, I asked God and he told me'' Then little Rocio pops in ''You should ask him too!'' Well, now we have too baptise her, since she gained a testimony and all.

 

The activity in the church went well. 25 de Mayo revolution that led to the independence day. We all dressed up in clothing that made us all look about 200 years old and had theater acts, stories, all good.

 

It rained for about 5 days straight before that though. Thick, nasty, humid, warm rain that made everything mud. Blech. Thank heaven for coats.

 

Pday, E Palmer's last Pday ever. Writing to his family for the last time ever. It's good. Had luch with the zone in an all you can eat place, walked around, played on the beach, took pictures with the ocean and everyone. Guess who got eaten by 2 monster waves on the pier? Yup, E Wartena. It was cold with the wind, and very salty.

 

Tell Jo thanks for me!

 

So, the package is coming with a Cd of all the pictures and videos up to this point, so you will have a copy of everything.

 

Oh my goodness, I thought I understood a little of Isaiah before I came out here. Then I spent a month and a half and 50 pages of study journal in Tres Arroyos on Nephi's quoting.

Ugh.

I have been reading a little of D&C every day, studying lessons and chapters in PMG, and reading John in the NT. D&C always strikes me as one of the oddest books we have. It is almost llike a collection of pat. blessings to the early saints/words of instruction and reproof. I like it alot, very helpful to read from a missionary mindset. I decided I needed a better testimony about the Savior, so I started John, that's all.

PMG is an inspired work. Amazing book, I wish I had read it more before.

 

So, how do I feel when I feel the Spirit? Honestly, it's kinda weird. I feel like God is slightly pushing me physically in a certain direction and saying ''come on, you know what this is, just do it, I'll take care of it.'' Which gives me 2 options, obey or not. When I obey, ''Good job, I told you so, Elder, look how I can use you to help other people and don't you feel good?'' Not obeying '' (open hand hitting me accross the head mentally) what was that? You knew it was my spirit. Repent and go fix that.''

I'm slowly fetting better and recognizing and obeying immediately.

 

Well, tell everyone hello for me, and gives hugs all around. I will be sending a big ol video letter to everyone, show you some stuff, etc. But that's pretty much how it is here. Just going along. Thanks again for the emails and the prayers. I love you all so very much.

 

Your missionary son and brother

Elder Joshua Wartena

 

''And THAT is why the Lord created man...'' 2 Nephi 2:25

Love to all for another week.

Signing off for now,

The Mama

Enjoy.

Another week -- actually the beginning of week #44 we figured out today -- another email.  It is amazing how fast this mission is going by.  Enjoy the email.

 

Hi Mom!

 

Hey, it rained all night long here too...but we woke up to fog and humidity. But no worries, all is good and beautiful now.

I will give you the quick rundown of the week before anything else.

Had divisions 1.5 times (they forgot the keys and had to come back, that is 1.5) and it went...well. Neither of us like divsions too much, we are too used to teaching with each other

Nancy likes the BoM and the church, but doesn't see why she has to get baptised or why she can't just share catholic with Mormon...back to square one

Javier is giving up drinking, smoking, and swearing! And we haven't even had a commandments lesson yet...just goes to show what a real ''change of heart'' does to a person. He was so proud to tell us too, it was just great. Went over to their house and they were at the table reading the BoM! Needless to say, an excellent lesson on prophets. (aka, spirit and interest were there)

The ward still sucks, that is all.

Not really anything interesting happened, I mean, I broke into Miramar's house with the dist leader after divisions because it was cold, the other companionship had the keys, and I didn't want to just stand outside at 9 pm.

Visited the old Mar del Plata water tower today. Much cooler than it sounds, I will have pictures up hopefully next week.

Went to Caisamar on the other side of Mar del today as well to visit a family from E Palmer's old area. We are sunburned for some reason

After 8 months Elder Cox and I saw each other again! Anticlimactic, yes, but it was cool to have Elder Backhorse, Elder Cox, and Elder Wartena all together again.

Oh, went to another big catholic church and had holy water flicked at me (let's just say that some missionaries are less...respectful haha) it burned.

I think I was put on a dist./zone leader list. I am getting mission newsletters, zone stuff, and dats for everyone in the mission...cool I guess.

 

The raingutter boats look cool, good job. We were talking about pinewood derbys this week actually.

 

AGH! You already have the conference edition!!! I am jealous, we don't have it yet. Ah well, I guess patience is a virtue...Last conference was the best one I have ever heard, the church is so true...

Thanks for sharing all that with me, Mom.

 

Well, 40 weeks huh...wow. One more transfer and 1 year. WOAH! I am turning 20 years old! I just got that weird feeling of realizing stuff like that...woooooah.

 

I am afraid to report that I am falling victim to the missionary aging effect...your emails become shorter as time goes on. But I'm also in the process of writing letters to send home next week with Elder Palmer (who is still working spectacularly and doing great) So you can hear about the girls who tried to get us to come to the casino/21st birthday party today in centro, the ocean, my camera almost breaking, and all that good stuff in your letter.

 

But yeah, still just plugging along down here. 2 little engines, weeeee...

Thanks again for the emails every week, I love reading how everybody is doing. Keep doing well, give hugs, enjoy the sun, etc.

VAMOS TODOVIA!!!

 

I love you all!

Your missionary son and brother

Elder Joshua Wartena

Every week we look forward to our special time writing and sending emails.  When your child/brother is thousands of miles away you just have to treasure every little moment of communication no matter how it comes.  Happy trails to all.

Signing off for now,

The Mama

After Mother's Day

Our talk with Josh on Mother's Day was just wonderful.  He is doing great.  He has decided he wants to serve a mission with his wife one day because that would have to be the Celestial Kingdom on Earth.  Enjoy the email.

Dear Mom,

Ok, so I will just tell what has happened since sunday.

 

Not much.

 

Had a dinner with Javier and Paola again, DELICIOUS chcken thing. Drool...

Also had breakfast that day with a great new couple in the ward who wanted to get to know the missionaries. We're ok with that. Same day we had lunch as canalonies...yeah, we're still pretty full.

But now full enough to turn down a BBQ today! Woot, dist. activity. I will put some pictures up of where we went, what we did, all that good stuff. Having sister missionaries in your district makes activities alot funner. Adds difference.

Oh, para que sepas, sea lions may be the nastiest things I have ever smelled.

Talked with Cato, the hippie guy who likes to learn about different religions and came to church. He loves the book of Alma, and wants to be baptised.

We don't think it is for the right reasons though, he just likes churches. We'll teach him and see where it goes I guess.

Yeah, talking to alot of people in the street, fun stuff.

Weather is about the same here. MASSIVE amounts of humidity and a ton of fog this morning. But still stays pretty cold apart from the middle of the day.

 

Ok, I have changed my mind.

Bday, letters, nothing else. For this year and next year. You don't need to send me money, nothing, just little stuff like pictures and letters.

Why do I say this? Well, I may have bought a bday present for this year...and next year...yeah.

Yeah, I got a bday present.

Bought it from Elder Palmer, who traded his basketball shoes we wanted to sell and Javier absolutely loved for the jacket that Javier wanted to sell and I loved. So Javier has shoes, I have a jacket, and E Palmer has money.

I will put pictures, but to buy in the states would run you about 250 dollars. I got it for about 70. 

Well, Fernanda is actually the one who suggested calling! We didn't know what to do and she saved us! She says it was a pleasure though, when her son goes on a mission she hopes he has someone to help take care of him there too. :)

Ah, tell Dad not to worry, I won't be able to email him this week either. We have to run to an appointment and got here late because we had to clean up at the house after the BBQ. Just you today I'm afraid. Don't you feel special? I sure do, get an email from my Mom every week.

 

People all having babies, getting married, what is this!? I am going to come home to a completely new family.

 

You are going to have to write a book about teenage boys after we are all grown up and gone, Mom. But seriously, that would be a good idea.

 

Oh, ummm, I have started telling people that I was born in spain and we moved to utah when I was a little kid. This way they don't think I am just a stupid N American who can't speak at all. Amazingly, they don't have problems understanding anything when you say this...placebo effect anyone?

 

That is something I see in our mission pres, actually. I had never thought of it in that was though. He doesn't say that there has to be a huge change NOW. But rather, you make goals, plans, and work as hard as you can to do the best you can.

Make 48 changes per day!

 

I really liked that talk too. I even liked the talks that were directed to the ladies, jeez that was a good conference.

I will try to remember to put in your letter with your present how I feel about all that revelation stuff. Not anything profound, but just how I feel when I feel the spirit.

How do you feel when you know the spirit is talking to you, Mom?

Little study for the both of us, we will come back next week with answers, deal? Ok, awesome, thanks.

:D

 

Well, it must needs be that I run again. Such is the life. Wait all week to write, and then have to rush as fast as you can! Haha.

Thanks for all the love, Mom, I love you guys too. I just like letters every once in awhile from the brothers is all. I like email more, but every couple months a letter from one of the bros or you or Dad unexpected just helps.

 

Well, keep chuggin' along! We'll keep working hard here in Argentina and keep you updated. You guys are always in our prayers.

 

Love you all

 

Your missionary son and brother

Elder Wartena

Happy wishes being sent your way.  Thanks for sticking with us through this mission.  It sure is fun and educational.

Signing off for now,

The Mama

Only 4 days till the Mother's Day Call--and All is Well.

We are very excited here as we anticipate the arrival of Mother's Day.  Yes a call from Josh will be coming, one of two we get each year.  Wish us well connecting.  We wish you all a Happy Mother's Day as well.

HI!

Ok, so we were in centro for pday, and got back late, had to change, and don't have alot of time. Normally I would feel bad, but...I'm calling you in 4 days so I don't.

WOOT!

I will tell you about all our investigadors sunday, deal? Remind me to tell you about Javier and all the lessons, Nancy/moving and taking the cigarettes away from her, the hippie, and Hermana Gigli.

That is all about the investigadors. (Oh, and I caught an awesome pass in the end zone of the beach today, Dad can be proud.)

Bday, ok I have a list actually

Dickies work pants, my black pants are begining to get nearly see through thin in the rear

Marshmallows

 

That is all.

 

I paid for the doctor visit with personal money, which is what you have to do for the eye doctor. The mission will pay for other doctors, but eyes no. It cost about 25 dollars to get a complete check up. It was cool though, he used these hand lenses and had a huge box of them.

Speaking of birthdays, I have your's and Nathan's presents, they will come home with Elder Palmer.

 

Thank you for the garlic and onion stuff! I took some garlic the other day and was really wondering how I could just get some oil and well, everything you sent me. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

 

Thanks for the info about Sadie. I'm very glad to know she is ok.

 

Ok, so I was talking to E Palmer about the best people in the Book of Mormon, or ones I really liked. Nephi is probably on my top 5, just...amazing. Yeah, I don't know how to explain my thoughts on that, but I really want to meet him after this life.

I felt the Spirit reading your testimony, Mom.

Did you know you are a missionary, it's true. You have 6 converts, us!

The church is true, and God loves us more than we can comprehend. If we all remember and feel His love it will turn our all right.

 

Ok, I have to go, but I will talk to you soon!

Love you

Your missionary son

Elder Wartena

Signing off for now,

The Mama

Surprise call. . .shh.

Oh, how I love Josh's Mama in Argentina.  She is great, and a sneak.  She and I share the same birthday.  She dialed up my cell phone on my birthday.  Then when it worked she handed it to Josh and surprised us both with a call.  The 2 minute 6 second call cost 35 minutes on my cell phone--Eeek, but was well worth it.  Enjoy the new email and have a great day.

Signing off for now,
The Mama  (in the USA)

Haha, I will tell you the story.

We were waiting for her (Mama in Argentina's) b-day dinner and she asked, ''You got to call your Mom today, right?'' 

"No, I will in 2 weeks though!"

''That is just horrible, what is her number Elder, I am at least going to send her a message, she deserves that, the wonderful woman. This is me, not you, don't worry.'' 

I gave her your number not thinking there was a chance of a cell phone in a concrete house in Argentina getting to your's in UT. 

''I don't know if that went through, I will try and call her, does she understand spanish?'' 

"Yeah, sure, she understands, go for it."   

I did NOT think this was going to work, actually, no one did. Her son, and 2 of his friends (one male, one female) were there, too, and we were just talking when you answered!!! 

She said, ''Hello,'' and then looked at me and gave me the phone.  ''Talk to your mother elder!''

I thought I heard Dad saying I shouldn't talk to you and realized that it was probably an expensive call, that is why I cut it short!  It was so nice to talk to you. Both girls in the room kept talking about your screaming and how much I was smiling. Elder Palmer thought it was just great too (he called his Mom on her b-day as well to say hi)

Yeah, happy birthday, Mom. Your present is coming home with Elder Palmer, along with Ben's, and Sadie's.

So, I am going to buy about 30, 40 pesos of phone cards here and use that to call, it should be alot cheaper. Don't be suprised if you get another call a few days before to make sure they work and don't eat up the minutes. (the 2 minute call used 7 pesos here!)

Elder Pranter was one of the best missionaries I ever met. Great district leader, he LOVED his mission. To a point that is inspiring. He was NOT going to go before (we kinda knew each other before the mish) He was the lead guitarist in a heavy metal band, was making a TON of money at his job,(hence the NICE car) and several other things. Gave it all up and COMPLETELY changed. He even had hair before...

Story time!

Ok, not much of a story this week. But Nancy came to church! We kinda taught her again in the street (she wasn't there when we went over, but we called and got an appt. for later.) It went well! She likes the church, and her husband and father in law read the BoM too!

Javier and Paola and still good! Javier read and prayed and really liked it! I told you about them right? If I didn't, remind me, I will tell you next week. He then started asking questions about death and stuff. Cue, plan of salvation this week. HAHAHA. If only they were married...

So, I was kinda feeling bad for not having alot of ''success'' awhile ago. (we had divisions with our new dist. leader this week, did not help...ugh. I will tell you about that in a letter, as I am not supposed to share negative stuff over email. Sufficent to say, well Elder Palmer said it. ''We work so much smarter, oh, the whole time I was thinking ''where is Wart? We wouldn't doing this right now!'' I was doing the same thing.)

Because of what the Lord has allowed us to do in this area, we have:

Introduced the gospel to 14 people who have come to church, read, kept commitments, and would be baptised if they were married or older and able to be.

Reactivated one of the best families in the ward nad baptised their son

Helped a new ward missionary program get on it's feet and actually work

And lots of other stuff

I stopped feeling bad for not knocking doors all day long. 

:D

Holy cow, look how the times flies, I should have learned to type faster, you were so right.

I love your spiritual thoughts btw.

I found a new great missionary scripture! D&C 24:8

''and if God be for us, who can be against us?'' (that is in Romans I think...yeah)

Remember the Lord is always with you, Mom, ask to feel his spirit when you are down.

Hugs and kisses from Argentina, I will talk to you soon.

Love you all.

Your missionary son

Elder Joshua Wartena

Read the Book of Mormon in two weeks

Here is a fun letter.  It also has a very nice spiritual moment.  Enjoy!

Signing off for now,

The Mama

Haha, we tried to make a cake this week! Well, cinnamon rolls, it failed miserably!!! Probably something to do with substituting ingredients and possibly bad yeast.

So, I love the photos! I used to ride that bus to school every day. Now I ride buses in Argentina almost every day! The difference, a bus here costs about 50 cents...

Well, mirá vos. I was just telling E Palmer about how you guys are doing the house. That's cool! I am excited to come back to a different house.

Jealous of your weather btw, it is very cold here. Or at least getting there. If there is sun and the wind stops blowing, not that bad, but brrrrrr! I am thankful for bringing good clothes.

 

This week I finished the book of mormon! The mission wanted us to read it in 30 days...I got stuck studying 2 nephi, as usual. So I essentially read it in 2 weeks, half english, half spanish. Now I am going to finish it all in spanish. Really interesting reading it FAST fast. You see how it all works together, how the problem is nearly all the same, and the solution too. It's the same today! While I was reading, I saw Jehovah's Witnesses with the Zoramites, the wards here in the Nephites (not at the Nephites' good times) heard General Conference all over again with Jacob, King Benjamin, and Alma. Was reminded of Pres Deflefsen in Mormon and Moroni, and wanted to write in my journal after Nephi.

It's just so good!

I will tell you a spiritual experience. We were street contacting, not exactly the funnest part of the work, but we needed to find people. After going through the normal I'm too busy, I'm catholic, and the random crazy religious person you always seem to find, we were walking down a street, when we saw a lady a block or so down a cross street and both kept walking. Well, about 5 ft later we both turned around in unison and said, ''Alright!  We'll go talk to her.''  We just knew that we should. I don't know how the spirit always talks to us, or how we respond, or how it sounds. But as a missionary you just KNOW you have to do something. Sometimes it doesn't matter how loud it is outside, you KNOW without any shadow of a doubt that you HAVE to do something.

This happens on probably a daily basis, whether it be studying something, seeing someone, or going somewhere. Something doesn't always happen, but as a missionary I feel like that is the strongest impressions of the Spirit we have on a regular basis.

Oh, this lady is awesome! She said we could walk with her and her 1 yr old to the park (she was pushing a stroller) and talk with her. Then she started asking us questions about the church, what we believed, and we pretty much taught the 1st lesson, gave her a book of mormon, talked about the family, and walked with her to her house too. (it was getting dark, and there were alot of...not good looking people out, we would have walked her home anyway. But, she wants us to come back saturday (she is married too! AGH!!!!) and teach more. She likes how we talked about the family being together forever. Her name is Nancy! WOOHOO!

 

I think the resting part is the hardest too.

 

So yeah, that's about all the exciting things that happened this week. I mean, a little dog bit my ankle then ran before we could kick it (no broken skin, no worries) the eye doctor told me my eyes are perfect, but should go to a regular doctor, I walked in the atlantic ocean again today, and we had the Gigli family's friends at church, along with Martin's gma! I will keep you updated as we teach them!. :D

 

We're still doing well, still happy.

(oh, I am staying here with Palmer until he goes home in 5 weeks. I will be his first and last comp to be with this long. But he says I am his best comp too, so it's ok!)

 

Thanks for everything Mom, I love you too. Hope this week is great. Enjoy the weather, keep smiling, and give everyone a big hug and kiss for me.

 

Love you all

Your son and brother

Elder Wartena

New photos on the flickr site. Go see!

Dear Mom,

AGH!!! What is happenening to Orem!!?? The park is all different, you can no longer have the cool bike thing with the slides, the make out hills are gone, and you can't get scared jumping off the stage for the first time!!! Harmons is all different, next thing you know State Street will get new crosswalk things that actually work properly!!!
I'll just stay here in Argentina, so there.
Kidding! Speaking of Orem, we had dinner last night with the family who has a son in the Provo mission close to the mission HQ. There where showing us pictures of him at the Provo Temple, of a church on 8th east, it was pretty trunkyish. Then they had to bring up the photos of when he was in St. George, and E Palmer just about died. Anyways, it was a good dinner. They have a son on a mission, one a year away, and a 1 year old. Whoops...
Good family.
Well, I am much more good looking than when I left, no worries, but not as strong I am sad to report, juggling...yeah. I took out my beanbags to practice the other day and very nearly cried. Lack of practice hurts. And when E Pranter goes home the end of this week, I will feel less humble about my guitar playing skills. (he is REALLY good) Oh, I will be sending Dad's present home with him and some letters, I will let you know his address next week if you woulnd't mind driving a few minutes. (he was in our stake before, so it isn't as though he lives in Idaho, no worries.) Your's and Ben's gift will come home with E Palmer, they haven't be finished yet.
The food, hahahaha...so, methinks I ate something that gave me a weird reaction, and our neighbor says that is what happened. I at first thought it was a bug attack, but they weren't bug bites, and there were more thank 25 on my bicep area alone. Well, they are pretty much gone now, but it was a good experience. (thank heaven for anti itch cream and already having chicken bites and vaccinations, we knew it was none of that)
Yeah, food is pretty much the same of Tres Arroyos, lots of Rice and Pasta. Empenadas, Milenesas, Pizza (kind of...Argy style) Meat meat and more meat! Sorry I haven't sent as many photos, I don't carry my camera around with me all the time anymore. Tres Arroyos was safe, but in Mar Del stuff can get stolen.

Ben is baptized, that is weird. Very very weird.

So, I have nearly finished the BoM, it will be done by sat. (this would be reading it in under a month, phew mission goal was in a month, but I got stuck studying Nephi!) And I have been paying more attention to the whole family unit in the BoM. Maybe something to do with EVERY TALK in gen conf being about the family, I don't know. But the scriptures are really just stories of families. Bible starts with Adam and Eve and their family. BoM, I Nephi, having been born...etc. I think the Lord is trying to tell us something. We are all family!!! He loves us! Yeah, it's kind of obvious, but struck me this week.
So, I think there is a problem with the mail, with my address, something, because I have not recieved anything since December. Thank heaven for email...

Well, I will let you know what is happening with all our investigators here.
Nothing
Yeah, our ward mission leader is frustrated. ''When the missionaries work, we have no help from the ward, and vice versa, why can't we coordinate!'' The bishop is kinda falling apart, and just exhausted. He is a young guy, and really hasn't learned how to delegate everything, and no one is helping him, and it is just sad.
So what do we do? Well, we go through the area book again, knock doors, and just do what we should. Stuff happens, but it doesn't seem as though we are teaching many new people. Still haven't had contact with the girlfriend guy since the first good initial lesson. Same with Brisa and Rocio, just can't get catch them. School requires time or something ridiculous like that. :) We are having some fun contacts though, this old lady last night who gave us 2 of her church's magazines. Essentially the New Era and Ensign. The have 12 apostles, a head apostle, laying on of hands, baptism, holy sealings, and started in 1850. We were trying to teach her, but she was convinced we were basically the same church. Really really weird... We had a good time looking through their magazine though. Let's just say they do NOT have ''for the strength of youth'' or the young women are required to wear much less clothing to confirmations. Speaking of other religions, we contacted 2 Jehovah's Witnesses the other day, we were so bored. They turned out to by 13 and 15, so we let them go, bwahaha. They could get in trouble for talking to us, you have to be like a level 5 to talk to a Mormon. I got a book though! What the Bible really teaches. Fascinating stuff, I had no idea that God prefers us to die than get a blood transfusion...man am I glad to be in the true church.
However, we are still working with the brother in law of the ward mission leader and his inactive wife. Following the example of Ammon and helping him build his house (Ammon, service, yeah) He is alot more willing to have us in his house, so we are moving along.
Oh, English class is fun. I don't think I will ever not laugh when someone asks me what the F word means, or one of it's variations...especially in church.

I really like that Mom, the whole big paragraph. I have been reading old conference talks we have in the house, and have once again decided that I love James E Faust. I have several things, lists in my journal. Including, life goals, movies to see, quotes, books, just things like that. And I really like this poem I found in one of his talks (I added it to my quotes, that is why I brought that up. Oh, your email signature thingy is in there too, btw)

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
Yeah, that is just cool stuff.

The mission is getting better, now that all of the old people with the old bad habits are gone. I guess the last mission pres was a lot more lenient. But yeah, we are doing well.
Really decided to redo my obedience goals again. To make them more a part of everything, and not something I have to decide. Just to make the rules more part of life and less of a thing to worry about. If that makes sense...reading in Alma about all that amazing missionary stuff, I will let you know more about it next week. The Zoramites were esentially Jehovah's witnesses, without the missionary work!

haha, thanks for that Mom, I miss grocery stores too...

Well, thanks for everything and I will talk to you next week!

I love you all
Your missionary son and brother
Elder Joshua Wartena

Favorite part? Just knowing that you can have the spirit with you all the time and have a greater awareness of it because of the time you spend working with the gospel