Week #85 and #86

As Autumn hits Utah back home, the climate change is notable here too. In the mornings during the studies I will usually put on my sweater. But when it is time to leave, and during lunch, I am easily sweating in 2 minutes. I am a bit nervous to see (or touch) snow.. It will be the middle of winter when I get home! My poor body will freeze..

I was asked if the election is making news in Mexico. Honestly, I have not heard much.. Just once in a while people will ask me "What do you think of Trump? He hates Mexicans, do you hate Mexicans?" . . . Obviously not.. I love you ... and your food! Hahahaha. I just tell them if Trump wins the election. . . I am coming back to Puebla.

I will probably gain a few pounds coming back home.. Having all my little snacks that I can eat 24/7 that I have missed so much.. Just think of it. But honestly, I am so excited to present "la comida mexicana" to my brother and dad when they come! They have talked of coming to Mexico to pick me up. Keaton says that he eats "super spicy food" . . . Hot Cheetos here are bascially candy! It has been hitting me. I will miss the food a loooot. Eating with tortilla has become so natural. When I tell people that we don't eat tortilla in every meal, they are soo surprised! Asking, "But. . . how can you even get full?" Hahah it is funny.

It was hard hearing the news that a friend (from church/neighborhood/school) passed away. I heard it from both my mom and another missionary from the neighborhood.  I thought that he was doing well. I remember when I saw Kody in our home after my farewell. I never had the thought that that would've been the last time seeing him. Why would I have thought that? Here I am so close to the end of my mission, and Kody was one of the people I was hoping to see afterwards. I know very little of all the challenges and difficulties he has been going through. I surely will miss Kody, we had numberless fun times together. 

***Between Brothers***

10022016 #85

Dear Landon,so almost every week is going to be mostly about basketball. I'm just going to tell you the last game was the craziest. In the first game, we won by 2 points. It was against the first team we played and the first time we lost to them. We got revenge. In the second game, we played what it looked like were 9th graders! We lost by a lot because they has tall guys and small really fast guys. I think they were the best team in the league. Now moving on to the 3rd game. It started out really bad in the first half. We are losing by 5 when the second half starts. The third quarter wasn't so good either. But in the fourth quarter, I get about 10 points in 1 minute, we are losing by 3 with about 3 minutes left to go in the game then they give the ball to me for a three and I make it. Then they take a shot but miss, we grab the rebound, bring it upcourt, I'm open for three and I drain it! So they have the ball and they take a shot and airball! So they give the ball to me and I'm open for three but when they jump out at me, I pump fake it, then I go in for two and make the jumper. So they are coming up with the ball then I swoop in and steal it! I finish it off with a left handed layup. We end up winning 23-16! That was the best run I've ever done in my life! So pretty much basketball every week now. Any way love you man!          ColtBolt

Dear Landon, I did a lot of walking with the Pokemon GO ever since the buddy system update came out. I only had 7 Jigglypuff candies, and I needed 50 to evolve. And with the buddy system, I need to walk 1km for 1 candy, and I didn't catch 1 of them in the process, so I walked 43km for this evolution. And I am going to do that all over again, but with Clefairy. So far, Middle School is definitely a lot harder than elementary. I have only been late to one class, but the teacher didn't mark due to a misunderstanding. So if she did have everybody tardy, around 10 people would have been. And I have already turned in two assignments late, because I have had so much more homework that I just forgot about it. But I was lucky enough that they still had not have graded them, so they don't have to mark the assignment late. And earlier today, we went to Maga's house, and it was pretty fun. A lot of the younger kids spent most of the time in the backyard playing a game sorta like "Jackpot."    Love, Cooper

• PS. Did the Brothers not write me? I don't see their email. (Colton and Cooper wrote, but I kept waiting for Keaton, who never got around to it. Then I forgot to send it. But see boys? Landon looks forward to your letters!)

10072016 #86

Dear Landon, sorry I didn't write you last week. I think I just forgot to and went to bed. Anyway... I've got pretty good grades right now. On Wednesday, we did grade runs in 4th period for basketball class. Basically a C was a lap around the track, a D was 3-4 laps, and an F, or a no grade, was 6 laps. My worst grade was an A- in Spanish lqtm. I blame the teacher because he never tells us when we have homework, and we have to print it out on our own. Haha but Mason ended up having to run 6 and a half miles because he's been gone a lot for golf. That day, I just did a lot of push-ups, bear crawls, and duck walks for other people. Just a few more days till the end of the quarter, and I'll have my license! Sure there's that to look forward to from Driver's Ed,  but the better thing from that is NO MORE EARLY MORNING!! So yeeeaaaahh... Wuv, Keat

Dear Landon, so the term is almost ending, and overall, my grades are really good. The only "bad" grade I have is in Science where I have an A-, but tomorrow it should go back to an A because he made a mistake on Skyward and said that I have an F for not turning in a starter which he has actually graded (and I got an A). This week was the last for Football in Gym Class, and we ended up winning the championship. We were really overpowered compared to the other teams, and we had a record of 7-0. I haven't been playing a lot of Pokemon GO this week, but that is just because I am more focused on other things like basketball or other sports, homework, and keeping up on how the NBA is going on. And if you didn't know, when it was my birthday, I didn't get a lot of stuff. So with the Pre-Season in NBA starting up, she got me League Pass and NBATV. But yeah, I do think it is stupid that we can't watch any Pre-Season games without buying channels, but it will be good for regular season as well.        Love, Cooper

Dear Landon, this Saturday I had to miss one of my games because it conflicted with one of my other games. We went against the team that beat us 4 points in the championship and we were down by a lot in the fourth quarter then we went on a run. We brought it up to only a 5 point difference but the game still ended up us losing. In our next game, I think we went against the second hardest in the league and we lost by a bit. But I did get assists and 2 three pointers. They had one really small kid who can do everything. He was so good at drawing the foul, I got 4 fouls because of him! I dont really have anything else to write about this week. So love you man!!           ColtBolt

• Dear Keaton: Eso es un buen chico.. Bien que te va bien en la escuela. Tuvieron que correr por tener grados malos? Que feo! Jajaja Mason.. que chafa! Ya vas a tener tu licencia? No manches.. Loco! Y ya tienes tu propio coche para manejar! Tienes mucha suerte.. Sigue así, hermanito mío..
• Dear Colton: Dang.. Chance for revenge and they still won.. Darn.. That can be rough.. But it doesn't sound like you are complaining too much. Just enjoying the game, and that is the most important. Haha now he wasn't flopping right? That is when it is just dumb.. Just one more and you would've been pulled out! That really sucks. Haha you need to be doing something else apart from basketball everyday.. How is it going in school!?
• Dear Cooper: Haha Skyward. I remember well that experience. It is really awesome in fact! I imagine that it has changed quite a bit in the two years I haven't used it. Sounds like you are doing a lot better than I did.. I only got a 4.0 maybe 2 times.. Yikes. But keep doing good! I saw a bit of Pokemon GO when a member was playing it.. I still don't know how it works.. But I will learn in about 4 months..! 4 months! Crazy right?!

Week #84 - Quick Change

Here we are entering into the third to last change of my mission. I think it will be a few week until I get a call from one of the secretaries to plan my flight.. I remember hearing of the possibility of Dad and Keaton coming down to get me? Maybe we need to be sure of those plans now.. So talk about it, and let me know!

This change blew by. Although it feels normal for us because we had the emergency changes only 3 weeks ago. Oh well. So for that, we don't have changes.

In the district there were little changes. 3 of us didn't have changes, 1 closed area, and the last one was a simple change of companion. My "mission dad" Elder Gutierrez closed area with his companion, and they sent him to Manantiales (my last area)! What luck! So my dad will "die" in Manantiales.

With them closing area, I thought an elder would come to train a new missionary, but no... ANOTHER companionship of sister missionaries! That means that the district is my companion, myself, and 8 sister missionaries! My district has now become the Relief Society. I will tell you how it goes.

The best thing that happened this week was the wedding! One of our investigators that has had quite a bit of time going to church finally got married! That was the only thing that was impedding her from getting baptized, so.. that means 2 baptisms next week! Not this Saturday, because of general conference, but the other week! 

I think we are just coming out of the rainy season (thank goodness! I don't like wet books..). I can already tell the difference in the days, they are getting shorter. A little bit cooler. That will be nice. I like winter here. But I don't think I will be ready for winter in Utah..

Just wanted to give that quick update! I am super well, super happy, and super busy in the work of the Lord! Love you all!

*** Between Brothers ***

09252016 #84

Dear Landon, a lot of basketball again. I found out that I have three games every Saturday! This Saturday I won one of them and lost the other two. I did really good. In the first, we won by 4. The last minute of the game was about 4-5 minutes long because all the fouls. But I got the last like 7 or 8 points. I also really jammed my thumb in the game. In the next game, we got destroyed and my coach got ejected! He said that the ref that ejected him hated him for 10 years! In the last game, we lost by only 5! I played really good that game. I got around 6 assists I bet and about 10 points I think. We went bowling with, Livi, Will, Aidan, and Amare. (And by "we" I mean me Cooper and Keaton.) I didn't do so good but Amare, Aidan and Will all got some strikes! I got about nothing more to write about this week, so Love ya man!            ColtBolt

Dear Landon, apparently they changed my classes because the other class didn't have a whole lot of students. And it wasn't just me, it was like 6 other kids as well. The counselors thought our schedules were easiest to change, but it is ending up alright. I found out that my friend from math is there, and we talk all the time, and I have made a few more friends in there. I haven't made any friends in the new art class, but I did judge the teacher to quickly. When I said I didn't like him in the last letter I wrote to you, it was probably because when I change schedules, I was just really pissed off. But he is actually a really good teacher. Since Softball is now over, we are moving on to Football, which I am destroying at right now. We are playing with 9th graders (which is weird) but It's alright because they aren't guarding me. In the first game, I ended up with 4 TD's 2 interceptions, and 3 extra points. Dad told me he was driving to Salt Lake, so I tagged along for Pokemon GO purposes. He drove me around a lot for PokeStops when I was at a good amount. When we started, I had around 60 PokeBalls, no GreatBalls, and 2 UltraBalls. But I ended with 228 PokeBalls, 34 GreatBalls, and 10 UltraBalls. I know I already told you that I am back to playing Ping Pong again, but when you come back, I would want to challenge you. I have really improved and I even beat dad in a game to 21, score being 16-21. So I think it would be cool if I would play you, since you (maybe) haven't played in nearly two years.         Love, Cooper

Dear Landon, I don't understand why you're so excited about me dating lqtm! Jk, I guess I get it. School is killing me right now! I like my physics class because I have a lot of friends and we do some pretty wack stuff in there, but the teacher sucks so bad! He never tells us when homework is or even what is! We have to like go on two different sites for weird quizzes and assignments. I have a C+ in that class because of him. It's his first year teaching and he even told us at the beginning of the year that he's a nerd (and he is TOTALLY a nerd)! My Spanish teacher is kinda the same because he never really tells us when we have homework and when we do, we have to print it out ourselves. I still like that class and that teacher though. On Thursday, the high school basketball teams had Fall games at Sky Ridge. Sky Ridge is a new high school built almost the exact same as Corner Canyon. Those schools are friggin' litt! Anyway, the sophs had two games, both against Sky Ridge. The first game, we sucked, but we played an awful team and still won by 10. The second game, I went off! And everybody else said I went off lqtm. I scored about 20 points and got back-to-back, eyeball 3's! It was awesome, and the second team was a lot better (but they still sucked lqtm). So yeah... It's crazy seeing how fast these last 6 months are going. Wuv, Keat

Week #83 - Party Pictures

 Interchanges

Crazy week.. As usual.. Being district leader again is great and all.. But a lot of work with 5 companionships under your wing. Three being sister missionaries. They are awesome, but can sometimes talk a lot.

The first thing to mention this week would be celebration of independence day! Here in Mexico it was the 15th of September. And it gets crazy! If I had to describe it in a few words... fireworks, music, and loud drunk people We had a little party with the members of the ward, and ate a lot food! Maybe it was the rootBEER that got to us in these silly photos.

(Landon also sent a video of him trying a drink recommended by one of the Brothers in the ward ... raw egg and a coke. Ummm, yuck! These elders are a little crazy loco!) 

On Friday we had a special conference with the mission president. We talked a lot about "covenants", but I am going to say it in Spanish (convenio) because it is a lot easier for me! We have focused as a mission on personal convenios, meaning we make a deal with God to do a certain task, and ask that He would bless us, if we had completed such task. Frequently we do a deal as such "Okay, we are going to talk with 30 people in the street today. But God, we would like you to bless us with a family, that you have prepared to receive us."  Normally the experiences shared during the conference, the missionaries were very specific in what they were asking... and the testimonies are impressive! It sure requires diligence, but I am sure it is worth it to have a miracle! 

The last thing I'll mention would be yesterday (Sunday). There was a little stake priesthood conference, gathered here in La Libertad.  I have had three area placements here.  It was great to see a BUNCH of familiar faces. From Manantiales, from Forjadores.. Ahh... good times. Man I am so old. Doesn't matter. There is work to do. Thanks! Love you all!

*** Step Stats ***

I haven't done a step update in a while. Landon wasn't great about sending me his steps and I didn't bug him about it ... but without checking in on him, I wasn't really checking in on any of the boys. Callahan is completely missing from this list, which he shouldn't be. I just found out his Fibit isn't syncing, I'll have to look into that. 

Monday, September 12 ... 27840

Tuesday, September 13 ... 10939

Wednesday, September 14 ... 14317

Thursday, September  15 ... 15093

Friday, September 16 ... 14050

Saturday, September 17, 18440

Sunday, September 18, 13993

Landon said they played a bunch of ball on Monday, thus the high step count there. 

*** Between Brothers ***

Dear Landon, yeah Homecoming is on October 1st, but even if I was planning on going, the girls in my grade probably wouldn't be 16 because I'm like one of the oldest in the grade. Cal asked a girl tho lqtm. I'm challenging the meaning of the title: ***Between Brothers***. I think it should be changed to: ***Conversations with Brothers with Mom in the middle, secretively listening/reading***. It just makes much more sense ya know? I got a black eye on Thursday, so Cal and I kinda understood why people said we looked alike because he got one about a week and a half ago. But take away the black eyes and you get two very dissimilar people lqtm. Dad smoked for us pulled pork yesterday and steak today. The steak was way good! Not much more I can think of for the week except that Language Arts is just getting worse and worse as we have to read To Kill A Mockingbird, and that Matthew Hansen came home on Thursday. I heard him speak today and it was funny because he definitely had an accent, and there were some times where he had to stop and think of a word in English because he couldn't remember it lqtm. So yeah... Wuv, Keat

Dear Landon, I got a schedule change that really pissed me off. I had to switch my 1st period (Art) and my 4th period (Gym). What I hate about it is that Art was one of my 2 classes where I had Elementary friends from, and I had a really good teacher. They switched me to a class where there were fewer students, and of course, a different teacher. And now I have a teacher that I don't like. And now I have Gym 1st period, which just seems so early to start going outside and and doing whatever we have to do. I probably just woke up! Also, at the beginning of the year, I knew no one in in the class, NO ONE. Then when they switched my schedule, I already had made friends with over half of the class. I was considering arguing with the counselor or was changing my schedule, but I knew what she was going to say. "You're gonna make new friends in your new classes." Speaking of Gym, the Softball tournament had ended, and it ended in a tie. We had a regular season record of 7-1, and then in the Championship, it was a hard-fought game ending with a score of 12-12. But I think this will basically be the remainder of what my letters will be to you from now on. Just talking school, 'cause that is all I am doing right now.    Love, Cooper

Dear Landon, I don't really have anything to write about other than my three basketball games in one day on Saturday. I technically won all three games because the only one I "lost" was bullcrap. They called a double-dribble on one of my teammates when he stole the ball and hit the ball with one hand then started dribbling and hit a layup at six seconds left to put us in the lead, but since it was a "double-dribble" they took away our points! In the other two games we destroyed. I also hit a layup buzzer! It was a fastbreak with five sec left and the ball got stolen from my teammate but then the person who stole it started to lose the ball then I just swooped in there and grabbed it then hit the layup. We won by about 25 that game and the other game was just crazy. We won by about 50 points! I don't know how many points I got but I know I got so many assists! Nothing else to write about, like I told you just basketball, love ya man!  ColtBolt

• Dear Keaton: So what? Callahan has got lots of lady friends that you can ask.. Haha imagine a double date with your older brother. *awkward turtle sign* or who knows. Maybe it could be a blast! But hey, I am waiting very anxiously to hear about the first date experience? Don't worry, I will ask Callahan about his lady friend he has asked. Haha okay, that is pretty funny! But you know when you look at two people of another race, and you say "hmm they look the same." That first happened with me here, thinking "all Mexicans look the same!" but I now have learned to see the differences. I also show them a family photo, and they will look at it, look at me, then at the photo again... Then ask me, "this is you right?" Well obviously! "You all look the same!" . . . really.? Haha I don't feel that I have an accent.. But maybe I do.. But it is true about forgetting words in English! Oh my gosh! We have a new sister missionary in the district that is "americana" and is struggling to learn. I usually help out translating things, because I am the only other missionary in the district that speaks English. And I can say on various occasions that I would forget a word.. Haha it makes you feel a bit dumb.. But oh well. te amo.
• Dear Cooper: But why did you have the change in the first place? Doesn't sound like there was much reasoning for why they had made the changes? Weird.. That is pretty sad.. Oh well, what can you do? Gym really sucks to have for your first period. Because then you get all sweaty at the beginning of school! Right now in fact, I smell like wet dog.. I am so sweaty after playing and walking in the sun for a long time. And now the sky is falling.. It is raining super hard! But oh well. Make school fun, becuase it surely can be fun! te amo.
• Dear Colton: Wow.. 3 games in one day? That is quite crazy! Hahah que chafa.. That is a little saying you can say "that sucks" Hahahah. Dang.. How is that even possible to win by so many points? Why do you tell me about school? NOTHING is happening in school.. I don't think so! You are in school 7ish hours a day! Haha anyway . . . ENJOY SCHOOL. te amo.

Weeks #81 and #82

Mustaches from Mommy (part of Landon's birthday box)

We've had a pretty crazy week with the emergency changes... and after all the dust has settled, I am district leader again.In this district, there are 5 companionships. Us, another pair of elders, and 3 sister companionships! And as district leader, I have to call all of them, everyday... not including the zone leaders talking with me.. ahhh it is crazy. While my old companion did that every night, I very much enjoyed going to bed about a half hour early.. That is why I would usually write big letters too, because I would take a bit of time to write everyday, but now I have lost that luxury.

Now, we are also going to a gym in the mornings! Hahaha there is a famous boxer in a neighboring ward, and we got permission to go workout in his gym, which is pretty cool. 

I had a pretty cool birthday! It was my first district meeting I'd done in a while on Wednesday (my birthday), and the zone leaders were going to be there, because we were going to do interchanges. But there was another surprise... But first, the only thing I remember from my last birthday was that the mission president called me in the morning to wish me happy birthday. On Wednesday, there was no such call. Then I thought "haha how hilarious would it be if he showed up to my district meeting to wish me happy birthday?" . . . And it happened. He showed up with his wife and were part of my district meeting. He kept it cool to the end, and then made a little joke. Because in the closing hymn, some of the missionaries messed up the rhythm and started to laugh. At the end, he got up to share a few announcements of the mission, and the last thing he said was, "as a district, you need to work on your singing... because that last hymn was bad... but you can all practice right now because it is your district leader's birthday!" They sang, I shared some of the cookies you sent me with the district, and we went back to work. I was with Elder Balam, and I was sooo excited to do interchanges with him, because he is such a bomb and my good friend. 

We had an awesome day working together. And towards the end of the day, we went to visit a family of the ward that I didn't know well. We shared a message, and then the mom of the family said "well I've got some cake to share with you before you go." (The family are actually Americans) And that is when I told her "oh hermana, you are so awesome!" She asked why, and I said "well my birthday has been great, but I was just missing the cake!" They all laughed and were happy to provide me my bit of cake for my birthday. So yes, I did have a good birthday.

This was OUR celebration in the USA ... "big head" stand-in with the cake.

Happy Birthday Landon!

*** Between Brothers ***

Outgoing September 4, 2016 #81

Dear Landon, actually Dad sold the Suburban yesterday! He didn't even tell me, but he said it would make more logical sense to sell it and have a little more pocket money for a better car. I had my meeting with the Bishop this morning, but I'll be ordained in 2 weeks because next week is Stake conference. There'll be me, Cal, Travis, Jacob, Jarod, Ethan, and this new guy in our neighborhood, Braden. He's pretty cool. I got a lot of stuff for my birthday like socks, shoes, cliff bars, candy, a pillow case, some other close, a ring toy-thing, and a bunch of gum! This week we got out a bunch of the nerf guns. We couldn't find any of the clips, though, so we can't use all of the guns. The fall clinics for basketball have started and we've done about 3 already. Oh yeah! I also tried Nutella and it's so fleeping good! I hadn;t tried it for so long because I thought I was allergic to it. So yeah... Wuv, Keat

Dear Landon, sorry I didn't write last week. It was just that when we came back from Bear Lake, I was so tired and sandy, I took shower and went to bed. But I think Colt and Keat told you enough about what happened last week, I can tell you about how school is going. When I thought orientation was really crowded, I knew it was going to be way more crowded on regular school days. It's alright except for some parts of the day. Like the transition from 1st to 2nd, and 5th to 6th. There is one turn where everybody is. And my friend Parker is with me in 2nd period, so we stick together and get through the mob. Anyway, this is my schedule: 1st, Art Mrs. Gonzales, 2nd, Language Arts, Ms. Orgill, 3rd, College and Career Awareness, Mr Mineer, 4th, Gym, Mr. Downs, 5th, Utah Studies, Mr. Fife, 6th, Math Ms. Johnson, and 7th, Science, Mr. Melrose. Right now, my favorites are: Mineer, Johnson, and Orgill. And I hate that Mr. Mineer is my favorite teacher, because I only have him for one quarter. Any of those teachers sound familiar to you. I think that Ms. Johnson would probably, because first day of class, she noticed that she had taught one of my brothers before. And mom said Mineer sounded familiar to her. And this week was a really good Pokemon GO week, because of yesterday. I went on a trip with mom to the grocery store, and then we were going back home, a Raichu appears on my nearby. I started freaking out, when it appeared. But since it is kin of a starter evolution, I thought it would run away. But I caught it in one great ball. But today at home a Charmeleon was on my nearby and spawned. And after throwing like 15 Poke Balls, it ran on me. But I caught a Raichu!     Love, Cooper

Dear Landon, I have absolutely nothing to write about this week. We just went to Derek and Danielle's place for Westra Waffles, I took some of the headbands, tiaras, and bunny rabbit ears and acted like a princess in front of Annie and Leila. Nerf has come back! Cooper and I keep having wars with the guns and it is so fun. Every week we are going to go bowling with Livi. We went to Red Robin and I saw the wife of my basketball coach working there. As I told you, I have nothing to write about this week. I have been so bored, nothing interesting at school except we got reading buddies this week and mine is so awesome. Anyway, love you man!!           ColtBolt

Outgoing September 11, 2016  #82

Dear Landon, I had an intense basketball game this week, we ended up losing by 2 in the end though. I only got 2 points but I also got a few steals and a lot of assists. At the end of the game we were only down by two and my teammate shot it from halfcourt at the buzzer but it rimmed out! Right after getting back from the game, I hurried took a shower then rushed over to my friend's house for a birthday party. We did a basketball shootout and I dominated him. I got 76 points and he got 54 points. We went to the lake today, it was so much fun, I hit like a 4 foot wave. I also went on the tube with Keaton. After being on it for a while, he decides to purposely jump off. Once he was off, the tube instantly flipped over on me. That is about all that I have for this week, soooooooooooo love you man! ColtBolt

Dear Landon, so happy birthday to you and Oreo! It is so weird that Oreo is now 2 years old, and it is even weirder that you are 21. We all seemed to have special birthdays this year, like me turning into a teen, Keaton getting to the age to drive, and you getting to the age to be an adult. Anyway, school is really fun, especially gym class. We will do basketball near the end of the semester, but it is an indoor sport, so it is better to do it in winter. But we are doing softball right now, and my team is the best right now. We are 6-0, and we will start the playoff tournament this week. But are team hits dingers! Like in elementary school, most girls would not participate. But the girls on our team are actually really good. And when we were beating a team really bad, I did a 1 hand hit and got a run.   Love, Cooper

Dear Landon, I can't really think much about what happened this week except for basketball clinics. I did have my second ranges for Driver's Ed yesterday and it was kinda fun because I did a lot better. Happy birfday four days ago! I guess that means Oreo is now 2. Dang he's so old lqtm. For school, my worst class is EASILY Language Arts. The subject in general is probably my worst and also I have the worst teacher EVER! He's a fricken dictator. He docked me 20 points for not having a blue pen. He's so annoying too. We have to repeat everything he says when he snaps and when he says "Got it?" we have to say "Got it." If we don't say it, then he knocks off participation points. I have to read the first three pages of To Kill A Mockingbird by Tuesday. On Friday, we had a 45 minute-long starter! We had to read a book and do a page-long objective summary on it. AND WE DIDN'T EVEN TURN IT IN AT THE END OF CLASS!! My three other classes on that day are the best ones. He just ruins the whole day for everybody. Recently, I've actually been taking quite a few naps lqtm. I remember when you and Cal would take a nap and I would just wonder how you guys even did it. I guess that's high school lqtm. So yeah... Wuv, Keat

• Dear Colton: Always busy with basketball right? #nevvverends haha tubing is quite the blast, and you aren't big enough to hold it down! You hit a little wave . . . and adíos! (goodbye). Hahah pack on weight! That is what I am trying to do. I have a personal goal to beat Dad in an armwrestle when I get home.. Shh don't tell him..
• Dear Cooper: I know, I know.. I am old. Don't remind me. Actually, at this point of my mission.. I feel like a grandpa.. Because I find myself saying too often "I remember when I had 3 months" or 5 months or a year... Yikes. I am OLD. Everyone is so new now. Almost all my friends have gone home already! So sad. Haha it is better to do basketball in winter. But I have nevver cared for softball.. ever.. it is so boring.. Volleyball or basketball, I AM GAME. 
• Dear Keaton: I sure don't blame you at all for hating language arts.. That was always the class I hated most. Sounds like with a teacher as such, it would be unbearable! That's the "sueño" (sleepiness) that is hitting you now for being a high school student. Fun right? Enjoy it while it lasts. OH OH OH! Question! That is very important! Now that you are "of age" when you going to go on that first date? hahahahahaha I heard from Mom that a dance is coming up for Copper Hills? Get on that son! Haha

Week #80 - Happy Birthday to Brothers

 a touch of Utah...

Last Wednesday we had a special conference with an area seventy, Elder Salinas. Hands down the best conference of my mission. It was impressive how this area seventy would talk about missionaries he had known in his lifetime that left an impact on him. It made me think, am I doing enough that I might be remembered by someone like him? Obviously I'm not looking for that kind of fame, but just wondering if I am truly consecrated to the Lord? It is no easy task, but there is no greater reward than to receive eternal life. And so we left, ready to work. 

We were excited and ready to go and give the Lord our all. We were working really hard, but without results. But we kept working. There have been some struggles here with the bishop. Some members have gone inactive and some investigators were hesitating to be baptized after interactions with him. We were a bit worried. But the local church leaders also went to the conference with Elder Salinas. This bishop went, and since then we have seen a change in him. We are hopeful. 

It's birthday week at home ... happy birthday to my brothers!

*** Between Brothers ***

Dear Landon, so all that I'm going to be talking about is Bear Lake. The first I will say is that it is pretty cold there. We went to the lake the lake for about five hours and I forgot to put on sunscreen! Cooper, Keaton, and I are all really sunburned. I think I am sunburned the most, it's on my face and on my back,  shoulders. Dad's friends brought a little trampoline floatie thing to put in the water. It wasn't that bouncy, like a couldn't land a front flip. The water was so shallow. You can got out 100 feet and have the water barely at your waste. This part by the water in the mud where you can run in place and it would bury your feet with mud. It was so cool, Cooper and I did so many times. After, we went to a restaurant, I don't remember the name of it but is was so good. Cooper started to feel cramps and stomachaches so we headed home early. Dad let me watch Star Wars The Force Awakens to help me go to sleep. The next day, we went to the lake again, but we didn't take the wave runners out. So then we went to like the only Shake place in all of Bear Lake on Sunday so we had to wait about 30 minutes for a famous raspberry shake. I liked it at first but after a while it started to taste weird. Anyway, that is about all I have for this week. Soooooooooo love you man!            ColtBolt

Dear Landon - School, Bear Lake ... and my birthday. ♥Cooper

Dear Landon, the first week of school was pretty wack! I already did my first ranges for Driver's Ed and I think I have all the supplies for my classes. Basketball class is just nothing like you would have thought. They say it's bad, but it is just really bad. On the first day, 6 people puked and one of my friends passed out. Friday was really bad too. Just gotta blow by the conditioning. Dad, Coop, Colt, and I went to Bear Lake on Friday and got back today at like 6:00. The lake was really cold and shallow, but the trip was fun! Of course, we got the raspberry shakes because they're amazing. We forgot to put on sunscreen the whole trip though lqtm. I'm really excited to sleep without sand tonight lqtm. And today is Coop's birthday! So yeah... Wuv, Keat

• Dear Colton: I'm guessing you meant the water was cold? You must have had some warmth and sun to get a sunburn! Sorry, that sucks. I have gotten some pretty nasty sunburns here too, no fun. Hard to imagine that shallow of water! Have to beach the wave runners way out! And even with a wait, how can you complain about raspberry shakes? They are delicious!
• Dear Cooper: Happy Birthday Bud! I can't believe you are thirteen! You are an official teenager. Oh my goodness. I hope you enjoyed your birthday. Sounds pretty fun with the Bear Lake getaway. I hope you are enjoying Elkridge too! I bet it has changed completely since I was there. What is your schedule? What teachers do you have? Anyone I know?
• Dear Keaton: Cumple anos feliz. Rayos ... Los 16 ya? No puede sec ... Entonces. Ya vas a tomor cantal del Suburban ahara? jaja. Culdado con ese tonque. Okay, enough Spanish. So have you talked with the bishop about being ordained a priest? Now you can bless the sacrament. Question - how many priests are in the ward right now? I've lost track of who all from your "generation" is around. Hope you had a good birthday!

Weeks #78 and #79

Well hello all! It was QUITE the crazy week. It was the last week of the change, and we got a call from the assistants on Wednesday morning. Just a simple question, to ask us if we had printed off a talk the mission president had sent us. With that call, we though we were "safe" ... but NO. Another call a bit later and ... closing the area. 

It's not too surprising really if you think about it. The house was a disaster, and there was no work in the area. President wanted to switch out the Elders for Sisters, but certainly couldn't have sent sisters in with the house in the condition it was in. They probably would have preferred to go home! So, the president needed some Elders to come in and fix up the area, and the house. Elder Diaz and I got the call. We fumigated and cleaned up the house, met with the members and even had a baptism. All fixed up. So we closed, and sister missionaries will open and try their hand.

Honestly, I was pretty sad to leave Mananatiales so quickly. Even with very little time in the ward, I learned to love it. All the members were so ready to work with the missionaries, it was a blast.

Now I am in my new area with a new companion, Elder Cocneja from El Salvador. He is a convert of about two years. We actually already me in Apizaco. He was in one of the neighboring wards and we had one day of interchanges. It has been fun to reconnect. 

 Getting settled in ...

New View ...

My new area is in the same stake (LaLiberatad) in Antequera. It is bigger, richer ... and dirtier. Here the cornfields have disappeared and are replaced with businesses. Again, we are opening the area. It's a similar situation to how I found Manantiales (the previous missionaries hadn't worked very hard) but at least the house is clean!

These changes remind me that I am old. The sister missionaries that I was with in the CCM and going home. That means I am down to the last four changes of the mission. Got to make it count!

*** Between Brothers ***

08142016 #78

Dear Landon, I drove to Italian Village and Maga's house this weekend. I'm getting a lot less nervous driving, but I still have flaws lqtm. I really hate backing out though. Si, yo tengo seminary para la clase 2 con mis amigos (nuestra mama no tiene una idea que estoy diciendo porque estoy escribiendo en español teehee!). It's been a while since I've talked in spanish, so sorry if that doesn't make sense lqtm. Yeah, I would have much rather taken Driver's Ed in the summer too, but it was the same week as Dixie, and Dixie was the same week as Seattle. Which didn't end up happening :( so... Sophomore orientation is this Friday only for like 3 hours. I'm not excited for that. Summer is too flipping fast! I went to Seven Peaks on Friday with some of my friends and it was sooo fun! I went on all of the slides, and my favorite one was a straight-up drop off! My friends were watching my from the bottom and they said they saw my whole mat and feet not touching the slide. I was flying!! We're probably going to go again this week. There's this new DC-ish movie that came out called Suicide Squad, it looks so cool! It's pretty much most of the DC bad guys being good guys to kill aliens or something. Idk, but the trailer is litt! This Thursday I'm probably going wave running with my friends and Cal and TraviClaus. Yesterday, Dad made ribs on the smoker and I think they were the best ribs yet. I had two of my friends come over and we had so much fun just doing stuff downstairs. So yeah... this week might just get crazy XD Wuv ya boi, Keat

Dear Landon, the Rio Olympics have been very cool right now, and we have finally been able to watch some USA Basketball. They do have some really good players, but some of the best ones are not. That includes: Stephen Curry, Lebron, Harden, Westbrook, Isiah Thomas, Anthony Davis, and that is just to name a few. They are definitely not going to win the gold medal if they keep playing like they are playing, because the three games they have played have been within 3 points. And they have not been against the 2nd or 3rd best teams yet. We have been watching a lot of other Olympic events, but it is harder to explain them to you, because it isn't basketball. But we have watched a lot of running and swimming events. I got a 10km egg in Pokemon GO, so I wanted to hatch it fast, because they have the rarest Pokemon in them. And these past few days, I walked a lot, and when it hatched, I got a.... Onix. I've already caught like 5 of them, and I could of gotten a Lapras, Dratini, an Aerodactyl. But I had to get an Onix. I got my shots for middle school a few days ago at Walgreens. They didn't hurt a lot, but I was kind of nervous to get the shots. There is less than a week of summer left, which is really weird, but it will be cool to see my friends again.    Love, Cooper

Dear Landon, the Olympics have been happening now, all I really like watching is running and basketball. I had a double header this weekend, I lost one and I won one. The one I lost was against the hardest team in the league, but we only ended up losing by 11. This team has won others by 50+! We held them to only 38 points. They have gotten to 72 points before! My teammate actually dropped someone and finished off with a three pointer in the game! In the second game, I don't exactly remember the score, but we dominated. I got six points. I also got like five assists and three steals! We went to Italian Village earlier today, all I can say is that it was soooooooooooooooo good. The pizza benders is delicious. I only got sausage and pepperoni on mine. Next weekend we are going to do another sleepover in tents at Maga's backyard. That all that I have got to say. So, love ya man! ColtBolt

08212016 #79

Dear Landon, So on our campout to Maga's house, it took me  hours to fall asleep. It was still really fun though. Addie, Will Aiden and I kept trying to balance and walk around her garden. I got the most in a row at 5. I almost got 6 in a row. The movie we watched there was, "The Angry Birds Movie." In the morning, we were going to have breakfast at a little place by the prison. Right when we got there, we found out that it was closed on Saturdays. So we ended up just going to McDonalds. The Olympics are over now. USA has won the Gold Medal because they just obliterated Serbia by a lot of points. We had just gone to Italian Village. While we were waited, we played Paper Football on the tables. Dad, Keaton Cooper and I played and I got the most points at 45, Keaton got 2nd with 39, Cooper was 3rd with 24, and Dad came in last with 12. After dinner, we went to Maga's house to celebrate Courtney's birthday. It was a lot of fun. That is all I have to say, so love ya man!           ColtBolt

Dear Landon, a lot happened this last week of school. First of all, I got to go to my new school (Elk Ridge), and got to see where all of my classes are and where my locker is. I got my combination down, and I am still working on where to go to my classes, but I have been doing good. My orientation is tomorrow, and I hope I will do good, because it will be a lot more crowded. And it sucks that I only have 1 class with 1 friend out of 4. I still need to see if any of my other friends have classes with me. But our lockers are pretty close to each other, so we will get to talk in between classes. And we had the backyard campout at Maga's. A lot of Pokemon had spawned there, but I had no Poke Balls, so that blew. The movie we watched was the Angry Birds Movie. It was a great movie, and had a lot of funny moments. Then it was time to sleep, but I did not want to sleep in the tents. So I slept on a recliner under the stars. It was kind of cold, but it was also very comfortable. But the things was that I wasn't used to sleeping that way. So I woke up multiple times in the night. And the Gold Medal game was today with USA going against Serbia. The first time they went against each other, USA only won by three points. This game was a lot different, with USA blowing them out by 33 points. So they claimed the Gold Medal ending the Olympics.   Love, Cooper

Dear Landon, orientation was just as easy as I thought it would be. The night before, I had a bunch of people texting me because they were nervous and didn't know what to do. On Wednesday, my friends and I went to the school and found all of our classes. I'm not scared at all, I just know that I'm going to get criticized my Cal's friends for stupid stuff they'll make up and then his other friends will stand up for me and then make fun of something else. That's just what they do. I have at least one friend in all of my classes, and I have 7 of my 8 classes with one of my best friends and 6 with another one. So I'm pretty much set. We had a backyard campout at Maga's 2 nights ago and it was way fun! It's become pretty obvious that I've officially taken over your position of occupying the little ones (Amare and Sam are with me all the time lqtm). I just slept on the ground in a sleeping bag without a tent. In the morning, we were planning on having breakfast at a cafe near the prison where some in-mates are working, but it was closed on Saturdays, so we just got Micky D's. Everyone, except me, was really scared about going. I wanted to go though because I thought it would be cool. Cal and I have our first day of school tomorrow and Coop has orientation. So yeah... Wuv, Keat

Weeks #76 and #77

Times flies ... it's August? 

The weather here sure reminds us it is August. At noon, it is super hot and dry, but YOU are wet because you are sweating. In the late afternoon, the wind kicks up and the dark clouds set in. Rain. The toughest thing is the roads! A lot of the roads are underdeveloped and turn into a muddy mess. Luckily, I have my boots. 

August here is also the season of "chiles en nagada" ... this specialty food is famous here, and only made in August! Basically what it is, is a big chili pepper that is stuffed with  different types of meats and cheese, then packed with nuts.

Now nuts are a problem for me (I'm allergic) but the family that made us  chiles en nagada was kind enough to make a special no-nuts batch just for me! It's pretty good and I'm hoping to eat some more while it's in season.

I mentioned Miguel Angel was baptized a bit ago. We saw him recently and talked to him about getting the priesthood. He's been attempting to share the gospel with his friends. We talked about missionary work and told him he could come and do divisions with us. We ended up teaching his mom as well.

We've been working with another couple too. Issac and Leslie. They are a young couple with two little girls, like many Mexican couples, they are not legally married. They run a shop from 8:00am - 11:00pm. EVERY day. Quite the workload! So teaching ... we are there in the shop, standing the entire time, with people walking in to buy things.

Yesterday we had an interesting experience. We were locked out of our house. We were in a rush to catch the bus to get to church when we closed the door without the keys. Ultimately, we had to go to a neighbor's and crawl through a little connecting space. That was a fun experience!

Changes are coming soon .. and entering the last six months of my mission!

*** Between Brothers ***

07312016 #76

Dear Landon, lqtm lqtm means laugh-quietly-to-myself lqtm. It's just more realistic than "lol" lqtm. Mommy is not supposed to say lol lqtm. She texted me that one time and I said, "mommies do not say lol lol!" She lol'd and told me not to say that because she will wake Daddy up. Mommy told me to write this lqtm. I love Danimals. Mommy told me to write that lqtm. She bought some and they were so good because they're like yogurt that you drink! I got a root canal last week, and I had to go back to our dentist the day after so they can do the stuff you do after a root canal stuff. My mouth was numb 3 times in a week! They had to take my bottom wire off the first time so the specialist can do the root canal. And since my wire was off for a week, it's sore rn! So yeah... lqtm lol haha ne (nose exhale) Wuv, keat

Dear Landon, keaton is the best brother ever. I wish I could be like him. He is soooo goooooood at e'rything u know? Im gonna tell mommy to tell Santa to make all my presents for Christmas into Keaton presents u know? Happy Saint Patty's day bye bye. Sencearelie Colt and coop (But it was actually Keaton)

Dear Landon, I did a lot of Pokemon stuff this week, and not much else. So I did a lot of playing on Platinum until I beat the Pokemon League, and I did. Turns out, there are 5 wandering legendaries in the game, and I just need one more. I have caught Mesprit, Zapdos, Moltres, and Cressilia. I just need Articuno now, but that will still take a while. I have also been on walks on the canal with mom to feed the ducks, and it also helps with my egg-hatching on Pokemon GO. And today my 10km egg finally hatched, and I got a Snorlax! He is one of the rarest and strongest Pokemon in the game right now, so I was really happy about it. Livi came over again, and this time she did mom's hair. She dyed it blonde... super blonde. And after that we all enjoyed some Skookie (I don't know how to spell it). Mom got some of that drinkable yogurt called Danimals. I bet you have never heard of it, but it is really good. Dad, Colton and I went to see the Secret Life of Pets. It is a really funny movie, and the cat in it totally described Oreo.      Love, Cooper

Dear Landon, actually I didn't have a basket ball game last Monday but I'm going to have one this Monday. I had a practice that wasn't fun because in the start I had a bad headache and felt like I was going to throw up. A little late in the practice I started to feel better. Just earlier, Dad, Cooper, and I saw a movie called the secret life of pets, it's hard to explain but it was really funny. On fire red, I beat the pokemon league and the game again, and my party was, Charizard, Gyradose, Rhydon, Raichu, Hitmonlee, and Alakazam. Anyway, almost nothing happened this week soooooooo, love ya man!           ColtBolt

08072016 #77

Dear Landon, I had two pretty tough games this week. In the first one, I got seven points, one of my baskets was a buzzer at the end of the game and I barely got it off. In the second game, I only got two points but I still really did good. My next game is against the hardest team in the league. I have started to play Bloons Tower Defense again, it is really fun and I like it a lot. We just had Westra waffles. We also played remikube while we were there. That is all the stuff that happened this week, well for me, anyway I love ya!          ColtBolt

Dear Landon, I spent a lot of this week on the tramp, because I made a new game. It's a mix between lava ball and basketball. The rules are kind of complicated, but I have convinced almost everybody in the house to play it. We have not been to the church in a while to play basketball, I just don't feel like it anymore. But I still have been playing a bit outside, and it is so much hotter. But I really like to sweat. It seems weird, but when I start to sweat a lot, I just feel better. I think I'm done playing Platinum, but not Pokemon GO. Cal is done because of the new update. Some people who updated the game, all of their data got erased. Unfortunately, he was one of the ones who had all of their data erased. I hatched a lot of eggs, and got a lot of new Pokemon. And whenever mom goes somewhere, I'll go along and hit the Poke Stops and catch some Pokemon. We got Wii Fit U, a few days ago, and it has more stuff than the regular Wii Fit. Like it has a new category of dance. I tried it, but it was no fun and kind of hard. And we can also register pets into it. So of course we registered Oreo and Joy. I don't think it is very accurate because the second day, it said they gained 1.1 lbs. But it was a pretty fun week.     Love, Cooper

Dear Landon, we had the Westra Waffles today and I drove us there. Dad and Cal couldn't come though. I'm getting more comfortable driving and I should be getting my license after the first quarter of school because I'm taking Driver's Ed early morning. If I were to take it during school hours, I'd also have to take an extra worthless class for the next quarter in the semester Driver's Ed is in. School is starting in about 3 weeks though. Summer went by too fast (like it always does lqtm). That means only a few more times of wave running :( Dad is wanting to take me and my friends and same with Cal. So yeah... Wuv, Keat

Dear Landon: Trek was actually really fun. I got to the church at 6:00 that Tuesday morning to leave, and at that time I really didn't wanna go you know? But you come so close with your families so fast that it doesn't matter. I also learned that we had an ancestor who was in the Martin handcart company which is really cool because with her and her family then we could be living somewhere completely different and possibly not in this church. But I was really glad I went and it was a great experience. I surprising even thought it was fun. We even did a little square dancing. To be honest it wasn't very hard it was just long. We even had a camera crew filming our group the whole time which was different. I learned that Andrew McMullin just left to his mission in the Phillipines while we were on trek when I was talking to his brothers. Ammon Maynes also got really sick and is really skinny and is back for a while until he can go back out to his mission. I also have a lot of friends for the basketball team who have their calls and are leaving. It's just crazy how fast time flies and soon enough I'll be leaving. I miss you so much and can't wait for you to be home. Callahan.

• Dear Colton: Dang, the superleage is quite tough! Good that you still enjoy it. BTD never gets old, right? They haven't made a 6th one yet? Rumicube! I had to think about that when I read it, what is that again? I think my mind went to Rubik'sCube, but that is completely different!
• Dear Cooper: Isn't it ridiculously hot outside to be jumping on the tramp? I'll have to try out your new game with you when I get home. You like to sweat? I HATE sweating! Oh well, personal preferences. Pokemon Go keeps going on. It has hit here in Mexico as well. We'll be on the buses and see people playing. Is it still just the 151 Pokemon, or are there more now? Wii Fit U ... I remember Wii Fit, and it being quite fun.
• Dear Keaton: I remember being so nervous the first time driving out to Grandma's house. So if you are taking driver's ed early in the morning, do you have seminary during the day? I do remember many of my friends complaining about that extra "worthless" class. I took driver's ed during the summer. Take advantage of these last few weeks. Love Susie and Roxy all you can.
• Dear Callahan: I remember the trek feelings. It is very true though, you bond with your "families" so fast. Question: Who was your Ma&Pa? I don't really know any of the youth your age, but as they had the older kids being the "parents" I might know some of the "oldies" like myself. We never ended up with a movie of our experience, never even saw many pictures! Andrew McMullin, Parker Littlewood .. gone on missions! Who else of that "generation" is left? Too bad about Ammon, our ward has had quite a few missionaries who have had to return early. Knock on wood! You are the next generation. Be prepared!