SEP_4_17_MOM_LEW_From your Sportscaster Mother

 Dear Mother, 

Wow. Being the guy that I am, as soon as I received your letter, the first thing I did was scan the paragraphs for an update on the BYU-LSU game. Shows you where my priorities are (sorry, but I REALLY wanted to know how it went). I figured that they had lost because absolutely NOBODY was talking about the game during church yesterday, and I assumed if BYU had beaten LSU, it would have been a BIG deal. But wow. 27-0 was NOT what I expected. I don't even know what to say. It's like the Michigan game of 2015 all over again. That's just dang embarrassing. We're always talking about how we want to be in a big name conference, and then we play a game like that. I agree. The team had better get their act together if they want to have a good season. And ESPECIALLY because we've got the University of Utah game his next week. Who knows? Maybe there will be a miracle?? But I am definitely not sad to have missed the LSU game. Sounds like there wasn't much to watch. I hope you're hanging in there. I'll just try not to think about it.

I'm sorry to hear about Jesus's mother passing away. I knew that she had been struggling for quite a while, but that can't have been easy for him. Tell Lucy I said hi, and that I miss her. I hope she is beginning to feel a little bit better and that she is enjoying herself at our house. I'm assuming she's staying in the girl's room? It must be nice to have guests and NOT have to vacate your bed for a change.

Yeah, I've heard all about Hurricane Harvey and the devastation that has come as a result. I obviously haven't seen much news about it, but it sounds like it's very similar to Hurricane Katrina. I feel terrible for the people in Texas. Rebecca, one of the girls that I went on several dates with at BYU, is currently on a mission in Fort Worth, Texas. From what I understand, that's pretty far from where the hurricane is impacting. I really hope she's doing okay. The missionaries and church are going to have their hands full with aiding those in the hurricanes path. That's why we pay fast offerings every month, right? I'll definitely be praying for them.

The weather here has been... interesting. And by interesting I mean that it pours rain one day, and then is completely fine and sunny the next. Biking in the rain is QUITE the experience. My pants are soaked, my hair is dripping, my glasses are covered with rain droplets. It really makes me feel like a MISSIONARY, you know?? I actually kind of like it. I was laughing while I was biking the other day at the pure ridiculousness of what I was doing. Being on a mission is so fun and unpredictable.

Thanks for the Roger update!! Both you and John are so faithful in your sports updates and I really appreciate it. Sounds like he's doing okay. But the second week of the major tournaments are always the hardest. It's cool thinking of you and John sitting on a couch watching tennis WITHOUT me. I hope your love for tennis and Roger Federer as an individual are growing steadily while I'm gone haha

Mondragon sent me an email last week, sort of updating me on her life. Apparently lots has changed. I sort of joked around before I left that she should just work at DI since EVERYONE works there at some point. And now she's there!! And apparently she broke up with her boyfriend?? Which is GOOD news. Hopefully she finds someone that's a better influence on her. And I know what you're thinking. NOT me. That ship has sailed. But yeah, I'm glad you were able to see her. Crazy how much the ward is changing once again. All of the youth are leaving. The new Era continues.

So. The headaches haven't dissapeared. The doctor gave me some migraine medication to take. The specifications as to WHEN I can and can't take the medication are very complicated and somewhat frustrating. And I only have 9 tablets, and I've already gone through more than half of them. The medicine... may be working? It's hard to tell if it is or not. But I may be going for another doctor visit soon. Who knows? I apologized to President Bednar in my last weekly email to the president. I apologized for the frequent doctor visits and expensive medication. And he basically told me to stop feeling guilty and just follow the doctor's orders so I can get feeling better. That dude is awesome. I wish you could meet him.

Sorry about the lack of detail in that last paragraph. There isn't much to tell you about the headaches that I haven't told you before. If this medication doesn't work, I'll have to go see the doctor again so he can try something else. I told him about hitting my head on the showerhead, and the tenderness of the side of my head. So he had me get blood work done to see if I had some sort of rare disorder or something. Something that happens to old people. He didn't explain it. So I had to fill up four different tubes with my blood. That was fun. Then the doctor called the next day and told me that all of the tests were normal. So that's sorta irrelevant. But I figured I would tell you.

As far as the work is concerned, things couldn't be much better. We had exchanges this past Thursday, and I got to lead out the area for the first time!! I was with Elder Stratford, the greenie, so it was sorta nice because HE had no idea what he was doing either. I think I led the area pretty well. Sorta like a little sneak peek for when I take over the area when Elder Marcum is gone. It was cool to see what I was capable of, in terms of teaching and navigating. Elder Marcum tends to do a lot of the initial talking during lessons, getting to know the investigator, that sort of thing. But it was all on me this time, and I think I did a pretty good job. Definite confidence boost. It was fun.

News of the week?? We committed Jadyn, Stephanie and Tyler's 9 year old son, to baptism!! He is to be baptized on September 23rd!! Let me tell you, teaching the Restoration to a 9 year old kid is NOT easy. But I think he understood the gist of it. So we're like REALLY excited for that, because Jadyn  has expressed fear towards being baptized in the past (because of the crowd and the water). I think seeing his parents be baptized allowed him to see that it wasn't really all that scary. And the best part?? Tyler will be able to baptize him!! We conferred the Aaronic Priesthood to him yesterday during the second hour of church. It was such a tremendous experience that I will never forget. It brings me so much JOY to be here in Lewisberry, and see these people that I love so much receive the gospel. Now these kids will have the priesthood in their home. Wow. The Church is true.

Carolina got up and bore her testimony during Sacrament Meeting yesterday. I could not be a more proud missionary. We are all set to go to the Philadelphia Temple with her on Tuesday, September 12th to do Baptisms for the Dead with her. I could not be more excited :) the mission policy for temple attendance is VERY strict, but everything has aligned for us to go, and we've already received permission from our mission president. I don't think I'll be able to do an endowment session, but I'm just grateful that I get to go. This temple trip counts as my P-Day, so my email schedule may be a little bit of that day. You can expect my next email to come sometime on that day. I apologize in advance I don't write everyone back that day, as it will be an extremely busy day. But I'll be sure to take tons of pictures. Who knows when I'll be able to go to the Philadelphia temple again? Or any temple for the rest of my mission? 

Cheryl is still good to be baptized on September 16th. We've taught her all of the difficult Commandments at this point. Chastity, Word of Wisdom, Tithing, etc. She seems good to go. I still have concerns about her keeping the Word of Wisdom, however. I'm not sure if she's being completely truthful about it. You have to be keeping the word of wisdom for a full two weeks before you're baptized, so this is sorta a big deal. We have a lesson with her tomorrow, so hopefully she's keeping it. Her baptismal interview is set for this Thursday, so fingers crossed!!

Well, that's about it for this week. Thanks for your faithful and diligent email writing!! I love you so much!! Let me know your plans for the family reunion as your plans solidify. That would be so much fun!! Have a great week!

Hi Buddy Boy,

It’s now about 9:30 p.m.  I’m late getting my letter off to you tonight.  It has been a different day.  We have had Lucy staying with us since yesterday.  I don’t know if anyone mentioned to you that Jesus’ mother died and so he is currently in Peru.  Lucy is staying by herself, which she is not crazy about, and so since we are home on the weekends, Dad tells her to come over here.  She stayed here last night and will stay again tonight since tomorrow is Labor Day and we don’t have to work.  We have also had John’s girlfriend, Sarah here since yesterday.  She has moved here now and is currently living in a house a couple of blocks from us and so we have spent some time getting to know her better.  So, between the two, you’re getting a letter written later than usual.

It was a pretty typical week here as far as work goes.  I’m so glad that tomorrow is a holiday.  I can honestly say that I need every holiday that I can get.  Dad started working on Tuesday and so things are slowly but surely getting back to normal around here as far as work schedules go.

I’m sure that you’ve heard about all the crazy flooding in the Houston, Texas area.  It has been all over the news and so it’s pretty hard to miss.  The weather this last week was brutal here as well.  We had one full week of temperatures in the 110 degree range.  Those temperatures also bring on thunderstorms in the afternoons.  The other day it started to pour here and the wind was blowing so hard that it sounded like rocks were hitting the windows.  It has been pretty crazy.  I never thought I would be so glad for temperatures in the 90’s but I would even take those over what we’ve had this past week.

As for your sports report this week, I wish that I had better news.  The BYU game against Louisiana State was one of the worst games that I have ever seen BYU play in the history of BYU football.  It was embarrassing.  Just to give you an idea, BYU never made it across the 50 yard line the entire game.  The time of possession was LSU 42 minutes to BYU’s 18 minutes.  Needless to say, the BYU defense was exhausted because they were on the field almost the entire game.  The score was only 27-0 but I think that LSU was just being nice by not running it up.  It definitely was a hostile environment as they ended up playing in New Orleans due to the flooding in Houston and about 50,000 or so people were LSU fans.  We had a just a handful of people there.  All I can say is, if the O-line doesn’t get their acts together this is going to be a joke of a football season.  I’m not sure what’s going to happen next week with Utah.  I guess we’ll just wait and see.

On a happier note, Roger Federer played in a match yesterday against Feliciano Lopez (from Spain) and won the match in three sets although it seemed to me that he was kind of struggling as well.  Hopefully things will go smoothly for him in the rest of his matches.

We got word a couple of days ago that there is going to be a family reunion in Hurricane the weekend of October 13 and 14.  As far as I know, the majority of my brothers and sisters will be there and so I guess that we’ll make the effort to try and get ourselves there as well even though I’ll have to take time off work to go.  I’m sure that all the grandkids are invited  although I’m not sure who all will be able to make it. Neither Briana nor Sarah have mentioned if they’re going to try and come.  John hasn’t mentioned it either.  I guess whoever comes, comes and whoever doesn’t, doesn’t.  We can’t try and please everyone with a date.  I’m looking forward to it.

Your father and I were at DI yesterday and we ran into Naomi Mondragon.  She is now working there.  She says that she has been there for about a month.  We didn’t get to talk to her too much as she was busy with customers.  As for other ward news, Alex Song reports to the MTC this Wednesday.  Kelly Christensen is taking off on Wednesday for BYUI and Naomi Call has already left to go to BYU Hawaii.  So the face of the ward is changing yet again.  Everyone in the ward keeps asking how you’re doing.  Sister Song was asking about you today as well as Elena Johnson.  They both told me to tell you hello, so HELLO.

I hope by now that you are feeling much better.  What did the Doctor say to you at your appointment on Wednesday?

As Granny often says, I’ve run out of news so I’ll close.  How are your investigators doing?  I hope that the work is progressing in your neck of the woods.

I love you soooooo much.  Remember, be good and do good.

Love,

Mom