Elder Castillo, me and Grandma and Grandpa Paxton
Haven't had a chance to play yet!
My desk
Christmas decorations
Fall at the MTC
The Wasatch mountains before I left the MTC
The MTC world map, Idaho here I come!
One of my teachers the day before I left the MTCI am going to start off by answering all of mom's questions.
I had an interview with President on Monday and he asked
me if anyone had invited us to have Christmas with them,
I told him no and he said if it wouldn't make me too homesick
and if they would pick me up I could call Grandma Paxton
and set something up. I will probably be calling from their
house but I am not sure when it will be. Between 12 and 5
I think, I have no idea. On Christmas we are going to
Grandma's around 12 and we have a dinner appointment
at 5 with a branch member. Other than that I have no idea
what else is going on.
I am doing well and adjusting very well and really
enjoying the work. I am being fed very well. We have dinner
every night and they always give me more food then I want.
We have breakfast and lunch at home and then are out until
9:30-10:00, dinner is always with branch members.
I'm not sure if we do splits often but I enjoyed going to Oregon
because they don't have any sales tax, so I bought a rubiks cube
there and am trying to not waste all of my time practicing that.
I don't know if we get transferred out of our area very often
but E. Castillo has been here for 3 months and has been in a
total of 4 areas in his year of service so far. When it warms up
I hope we will be able to do some outdoor activities but we do
a whole lot of nothing right now on p days. We do not go to the
temple every week only when we are going to Boise for something
or if mileage permits, which it never does since we live so far out
of our area, its a 30 mile drive to and from home.
If you want to know my schedule look in Preach My Gospel
it's in there. This last week has been pretty warm, it has been
above freezing all week, but this weekend it will be down
in the 20's, but there is no predicted snow.
Time is flying so quickly and I cant believe that it is almost
2010, I feel like yesterday was 2005. I also sent my memory
card home today but I don't think that you will get it before
Christmas, quien sabe.
Necesito irme pero quiero que sepan que les amo y me
gusta leer todas las cartas y emails.
que dios les bediga
Elder Paxton
This week and all the time here has just flown by. But it has been very
good and fun. I have some bad news though, I hit a person with my car
and I am going to be sent home tomorrow.
See you soon,
Elder Paxton
PS: As I am sure you already know I am joking as always.
This week I went on exchanges to Ontario and I met a guy name Joe,
when we were on our way Elder Flores(my temp. comp) told me that
Joe says that he doesn't know about the church and isn't sure about
baptism. We were planning on teaching him about how being a
member can bless your life and such. So we get there and sit down
on couch and he tells us "well I've got a lot of news, I want to get
baptized, I am getting married this saturday (lives with girlfriend)
and I want to get baptized in a few weeks. So we were pretty happy,
I can see good things coming from him, he is really interested in the
temple and wants to work to go there which is really good,
something I didn't know is that once you are baptized you
can go to the temple as soon as you can pass the temple interview.
So I have never been more grateful for sister missionaries as I
am now. The house in Ontario is just plain nasty. Our little
apartment is nearly perfectly clean, sisters have lived there
for the last year or so.
My companion has been out for about a year he is helping me
with my Spanish, he speaks about as much English as I do
Spanish, so we have some problems with communicating
sometimes but we get a long well. There is another set of
missionaries in Caldwell but they are in a different stake
so we never see them.
P day is really boring, we have nothing to do and I don't
really enjoy doing nothing, but we clean everything
(house, clothes, car etc) and then pretty much do
nothing until 6 when we start teaching.
I am getting real hungry so we are going to go and eat now
so take care all.
Also I am staying very warm and I love the snow.
Except driving.
Love
Elder Paxton
Hola everyone,
My p-day is Tuesday, since we have two temples is our mission,
President encourages that we go as often as possible. I went
this morning and as always enjoyed it, I love the Boise temple.
I have been trying to speak at least a little bit in every lesson.
This week we have taught 16 lessons, some of them were only
5-10 minutes long, but a lot of them were 30-45 minutes so I had
a lot of time to share some things in each lesson.
We have two people who say they want to be baptized, one
says that she needs to learn more before, and I just wanted to say
that is why we are here. The other is 13, I think, and his mom
is a Jehovah's Witness but says that she will let him if she sees
a change in him, like in school and his behavior at home.
My area isn't as rural as you probably think. Where I live is
in Middleton with a member, in her basement, but I am serving
is Caldwell. I live about 15 miles outside of my area. It is pretty
cold, last night when we got home the weather was on the tv
and it said that with the wind chill it was below 0. I am inside
most of the time or driving so I am plenty warm, I am actually
grateful for the cold because it got us into a couple
of doors and we taught them lessons and have another
appointment set up.
So yesterday I experienced something new. Driving in the snow,
so far it is going fine, I am being super cautious. I have only slid
on the ice once and I was going super slow and was in a parking lot
so nothing happened. When I am driving on the main roads I go so
slow, people are always "flying" past but I don't want to waste
tithing money on me or the car.
I did enjoy my birthday cake and so did the other 10 or so
missionaries, they were all very grateful that it was my
birthday too.
I am really excited to be here and to learn Spanish, and to help
E. Castillo with English. From what I hear my branch hasn't had
any baptisms in about 6 months, but now we are going to have some
where around 30 in the next 6 weeks, they wont even know what
to do with all the new members. Also our branch is a lot smaller
thanI thought it would be, there is maybe 30 or so people, I didn't
expect it to be Rio Salado sized though. We spend a pretty good
amount of time with the new members and the less actives as well
so I am getting pretty close with the members in our branch.
I hope everyone is enjoying their nice warm weather,
next time you are thinking about how cold you are remember
that it is around 20 here, I think it is going to warm up this
weekend though.
Peace out!
Love,
Elder Paxton
I am serving in Caldwell I think, I live in middleton,
I also can't remember what my address is. My companion is
Elder Castillo, he is from mexico. I taught my first lesson last night,
well sat in my first lesson, and said maybe 2 lines, and just tried
to listen and understand. I still don't really feel like a missionary yet
but maybe later today/ I think we are going knock on doors later today
so we'll see how that goes. We live in the basement of one of the ward
members. Also I started driving yesterday, E. Castillo doesn't have a license
so I have to drive, I would rather be on a bike though, presidente says
that I might be on one sometime, I hope so.
I think it is time for us to go now so I will talk to you all later.
love,
Elder Paxton
First off, I know that everyone is waiting to hear who the winner of
the turkey contest is.
Drum roll please....
The winner of over all best turkey goes to......Alex Odell!!!
Okay, now a personal note to everyone.
Roark- I enjoyed the reasons why each person got each finger.
Clark- I dig the curl and I am pretty sure that he has superpowers.
Chris- I love how happy your Turkey is.
Alex Odell- congratulations on your victory.
Burgess- Bien Hecho. your turkey was in the running for best.
Hannah J- not the normal colors of a turkey but I sure loved it.
The Seven- Oh how I wish I could be a giant squid again.
Kelsea- I love the hats and the hearts on the back.
K-momo- It really should be a Turkey memorial instead of Abe.
Alex Frazier- you are and will always be you, always needing to
be different.
David & Gigi-I wish that I could have helped make and eat
the deliciousness.
Chris McCook- The first thing that I thought when I saw yours
was before I read the name was,"Has Chris's hand-writing
gotten worse?"
The McCooks- I totally dig the spikey hair.
Jeanette- Who says that Ninjas and Pirates cant be friends.
Lola and Taboosh-Lola lose weight, taboosh keep being awesome.
Joyful- I hope hope you enjoyed the lounging in the chair.
Charlie- I wish that I could have had as good of food as you did.
Renee- I will need to buy some more gatorade when I get to Boise.
Gus-Nice job on the Turkey!!
Bowen- Did you get help with your turkey because I thought that
I was looking at a picture.
Ilah- I will sure try to visit you sometime at your house.
Lori- Elder se dice, Elder
Puppies- I miss you so much and I still need a picture.
Colie- It's not that cold stop whining haha.
Trevor- Smart turkey, way to wear your helmet.
Dad- I like that you put the cars in order of the constructor
championship standings.
Mom- where did you get those hideous feathers?
I am thankful for all of you and I am also thankful that I get to hear Two
amazing devotionals from Elder Oaks and Elder Holland.
I am out of time and need to get food before they close so talk
to you when i'm in Boise!!!!
Con Amor,
Elder Paxton
I cant believe that I have already been here for 7.5 weeks. Also
I can't believe that I am leaving in 1.5 weeks, it is so soon!
Time has been flying here. I realized that I have learned more
Spanish in the two months that I have been here than the entire
4 years that people took in high school, it is ridiculous how fast
you can learn when you have the spirit teaching you. We have
learned every grammer principle now and we are just reviewing.
I'm not completely sure but I think I could carry on a
conversation, for the most part, in spanish, but I know that when
I get to Boise, it will be a tremendous wake up call. I really
should bring my journal with me when I come to write these,
it is always so hard what happened when, and what I have told
you already. This sunday(I'm pretty sure it was this sunday)
Sheri Dew came and spoke to us, it was a really good fireside
on how Satan is going to try to bring us down, and what we can
do to prepare for it. Also a fun fact that i am sure everyone
knows but I just found out is she isn't married, you learn
something new everyday. So far the famous people we have
had speak to us have been, Sheri Dew(I always want to type
drew ha) L. Tom Perry and Richard Edgely, of the presiding
bishopric. And the word on the street is that Jeffrey R. Holland
is coming on thanksgiving, that should be very excited, I am
pretty sure I am going to camp out all night to get a good
seat for that. I also cant believe that I am turning 20 in 9
days, I have no idea what I want for my birthday, I don't
really want anything. I don't really need anything either,
not that I can think of at least. Elder Tate says that I
want a ton of granola bars, for my companions(him).
I guess I still have some time to think about it. Maybe
you can send Zoe up for a little while, I can pretend that
I am blind.
This week has been a little crazy, we got 700 new
missionaries in and on wednesday night, for dinner,
all 700 were in the lunch room, all at once, on top of
the couple of hundred already in there. to say the least
it was insanity. Also now gym time is a lot busier,
which means I get to play less volleyball, which doesn't
really make me happy but I'm almost out of here so it
won't be to bad for too long. I cant remember all that
happend this week or if it happened some other week
which is very likely, everyday is the same, so I think
this shall be good for this week, and if you don't like
it you are just going to have to deal with it, because
there is nothing you can do about it haha.
Queiro que sepan que les amo(i think that is right)
Adios,
Elder Paxton
Hola,
These past couple of weeks have just flown by.
Real quick, Elder Orchard, one of the elders in my district just
got backfrom shoulder surgery, he was totally crazy and
speaking in Spanishwhen he was coming out of it. I really want
to see his cut it goes from the top of his shoulder to his arm
pit hopefully I can get pictures soon. Oh also I think it is funny
that he got all cut up on Friday the 13th. Anyways, time has
totally flown by. I really can't believe that I am going to be a
real missionary in the field, I don't feel like I am becoming a
missionary yet. I am sure I am but I don't feel like it. Spanish
is getting a lot easier, me and my companions are teaching 3
progressing investigators all in Spanish. It is kind of hard but
also kind of easy at the same time. Thank you for all of the
letters I really enjoy getting mail. Thanks for the package too,
I am enjoying everything that came in it, I have already used
my leatherman for so many things, and I really liked the
pictures of Trevor. Although I still would like pictures of the
doggies, I miss them a lot too. Well its almost dinner
time so I need to get going, seeing as I'm a growing boy
and what not. Necesiti ir adios.
Con amor
Elder paxton
Hello all,
My Ties...
My Hall
Elder Archibald, Elder Paxton and Elder Tate (he's coming to Tempe)
My district
I don't have very much time. I have been very busy today, but I
am alive, and still loving it here. Spanish is going well and it is
getting a little bit easier now that I have to use it all the time.
Tonight we are teaching in Spanish. I need to go to class now but
I will write a letter tomorrow telling more about this week.
Con Amor
Elder Paxton
Sorry I didn't send an email last week I couldn't get my
email to work. Also unless I get special permission I can
not log into my email on any other day besides p day,
it wont let me.
I cant believe I have already been here for a month.
The time is just flying. All the days blur together.
It is starting to snow a little bit here, there isn't any
on the ground but it is falling. Today is the second time
it has. You should see me today I look pretty awesome. My
jeans are dirty so I am wearing my shorts and all of my
short socks are dirty too so I am wearing my dress socks,
and it is snowing so I am wearing my big coat. I look
pretty sweet but I am plenty warm, and I am actually
looking forward to there being snow.
Spanish is going okay, we learn so much so fast it is
hard to remember what exactly I have learned. Next week
we have to start teaching the lessons in Spanish and as
of now I don't know much about how to do that so we will
hope in the next two days I can learn enough Spanish to
maybe barely stumble through a lesson.
When I first got here I set s goal to read the Book of
Mormon before I leave and Sunday seeing as I am very
close to being halfway done with the MTC I am right on
schedule. I am in Alma 17 which just so happens to
be one of my favorite parts of the Book of Mormon. Also
I thought of an extremely cheesy joke, in preach my
gospel it says that the Book of Mormon is the answer to
every problem, so I thought instead of dropping bombs
in the middle east we should be handing out BOMs.
(try to contain your laughing I can hear you from up here)
I am adjusting well to being in a three some, teaching
is still a little interesting but we'll figure it out.
I gave Elder Tate(the one going to Tempe) our address
and drew him a map to our house from the mission
office. I told him to go over and mow our lawn so
if there is a strange man mowing our lawn give him
some food, I sent him.
I look forward to getting everyone's mail
and my package.
okay bye!
This week has gone by so quickly. Estoy aprendando
muchisimo espanol, I think that's right. I am really
enjoying all of my classes. one of my teachers
is totally intense and we learn a lot and the other
is totally laid back but we still get a lot done.
I am so excited to be able to speak very good
spanish, I know it wont be for some time but it
will be so good. I am trying to speak as much as
possible. Just today I had my first conversation
completely in spanish. This guy asked how I was
doing and I said bien and then I asked him and he
said bien. It was amazing (not really).
Trevor, did you ever have Elder Bednar speak in
the tuesday night devotionals? I think it was in
2005 so it was probably before your time. it was
a really good talk on becoming a missionary. He
gave 3 principles on how to be a better missionary
and such.
I'm sad that Elder Erickson is leaving to go to
lima peru next wednesday. I think I am going to
be put into a 3 some. Hopefully with the two guys
I am rooming with, that way I dont have to move
all of my stuff.
So in case you didn't know it is a real small world.
Brother Shumway's brother is my presidente and one
of my room mates is from Canada and is totally
awesome and my other roomate is from Colorado
but he is going to Tempe. So you will all have to
look out for a shorter guy named Elder Tate.
Dad; the spirit is so strong here it is amazing!
Well my time is running up soon and I am tired of
typing so I shall say so long to you all,
until next Friday....
Well, there was a little delay in the 2nd week email and
posting. I ended up getting 2 emails today I am not sure
what happened last week. It was great to hear from Elder
Paxton.
Momma P
Hola everyone,
This week has been going very well. Today I got to go to
the temple which is always so wonderful. I look forward
to going every week. I love going to the temple. The other
day I was in the call center, where people call and ask
for free stuff,bibles, copies of the Book of Mormon and
other dvds, and I called this woman to see if she had
received her bible that she ordered and she said that
she hadn't and that she was really surprised that we, the
church, called her back. so i told her that I would send
her another one no problem. When I said that she called
me a God send and that made me feel really good, even
though I didn't really do anything except click some
buttons on the computer. I wanted to share more about
the church and possibly send the missionaries to her
house but she said that she had to go to sleep to get
up for work early the next day.
I still haven't gotten used to the fact that I look like
a missionary. Like when I go into the lunch room I
look out and see a whole bunch of elders and I forget
that I look exactly like the rest of them. or when
people call me elder in my mind I think my name is
Chris not Elder. Maybe one day I'll get used to it.
I'm really getting along well with my companions
and everyone else in my district. I am a little
sad though because my comp is leaving in two weeks
to go to the MTC in peru, so I think I am going to
be in a three some maybe. but i like everyone in
our district so what ever happens will be fun times.
General conference was so amazing. Probably because
I was forced to stay awake by sitting in a really hard
uncomfortable chair for forever. Also I took so many
notes. I think my favorite talk was president Eyrings
talk during priesthood session. I liked it a lot
because the night before I consecrated oil for the
first time, so it was very personal to me. Also who
couldn't have liked Elder Holland's bomb of a talk.
Can you and Jeanette have peolpe write me? I like
getting mail. Tell them all about dear elder, it so much
easier. I don't know if I can send pictures home through
email, basically everything is blocked on the computers
and I can only email or write letters on p day.
Another great thing about p days is something called
personal time. which means we can do anything we
want, with our comp which to me means nap time so
I'm planning on every friday from 10-11 I will be taking
a very wonderful and much need nap.
Love you all,
Elder Paxton
