Email Letter - 30 April 2008

Mom and Dad,

So things are going well and we made another baptism date with another investigator named Nora. She is awesome and I’m hoping that all goes well and we baptize her within the next month.

We have transfers next week and I don’t think that I’m going anywhere and I don’t think my comp is either but you never know. The transfers are on Wednesday and I don’t really know how they work so I might not be emailing next Wednesday just a heads up.

We have interviews tomorrow with President Shakespear and I’m looking forward to talking to him because he is such a great man. He always has a smile on his face and only wants the best for us. He is like the dad more than the President which is cool. I’m going to miss him and the Hermana.

The more I hear about other areas the more I think that I lucked out, I’m starting to think even though I think that the people that are in my area are poor they are pretty much average here. It’s crazy how different things are.

I was happy to hear about Josh and Kevin H. but more happy to hear about Trevon because I was worried about him. It sounds like he should be okay though.

I sent off a package for Mom today but it also has pictures from the last week in the MTC and the first few weeks here which you should enjoy. It should be there in 15 days from today and if it’s not then tell me so that I can get my money back. When you send things the special way they are guaranteed and they should be a little bit faster. It sounds like the tape got there faster than the 15 they said so that’s good.

The other thing is for mother’s day I will be calling you because its cheaper for me to do that then it is for you to call me. I should be able to email or call you about that next week so that we can set up the time and everything.

So last Friday we had an activity in the Roma (branch) and only like ten people came. Sad huh. We´ll try another one in the next few months and I think that it will be a better turn out when I can actually help plan. Ha-ha.

I’m still getting better and better at Spanish as they weeks go by...or at least that’s what I’m told. the problem is that they speak in Vos so some people I can understand and some I can’t but I’ve figured out a way to study verbs better and with the Lord’s help I’m figuring it out as I go.

To be honest with you I have been pretty sick for the last few days. It’s the same cold as I had in the MTC but it’s getting worse because of all the dirt so I’m working with Hermana Shakespear on that and with prayer I’m hoping that it gets better soon.

I’m looking forward to talking to you in just over a week and I think about you often. I love you all and thank you for all that you do for me. You’re the best family I kid could ask for. Thank you for helping me get to where I am today. Love you.

Tay

Email Letter - 23 April 2008

Hey mom and dad,

So this week as been good. We are actually in our own area for p-day which is a nice change but the bad part is the computers aren’t as nice or nearly as fast. Oh well.

I’m glad to hear that the trip went so well and that you all had fun. It was different for me not being there either but I’m on a nice trip myself...if you can call it that.

We have had some interesting things happen the last few days, we were contacting on Sunday afternoon and we ran into this guy that was sitting on his porch with is daughter drinking maté of course but we started to talk to him and he invited us to sit down so that we could teach him a lesson. Turns out that the guy and his wife are having some problems getting along so we decided to turn the lesson toward families and busted out the proclamation to the world on families and started to read bits and pieces with him. Eventually his wife showed up and we talked with both of them. We are going to start teaching them this week and have a really great lesson planned.

The other was on Monday night we were contacting again and ran into this older lady, when we started talking to her she started crying as well and talked about how she is sick and how her kids are all having problems with their spouses and how hers left her awhile back...she’s like 70 so I felt bad about that. She asked if God really loved her why would he let all of that happen to her. We talked to her about the Atonement a little bit and are excited to go back and talk about that more with her as well.

We finally made a baptismal date with the Do Santo family that I told you about on Saturday for May 10th. They came to church and are really excited. We just need to get the inactive dad to marry his...well girlfriend that has had 7 kids for him and they are golden. Remember that the dad is just inactive and we´re trying to work with him as well.

After what mom said in her email about guys calling about my package I’m a little worried that it’s not going to get here and that’s not a good thing. The other day while doing service for a family in the branch I tripped in the ditch that we were cleaning out and I twisted my knee...oops. It’s a little sore but not too bad when I take the ibuprofen. I’m still trying to get over this cold that I’ve had since the MTC and all the dirt isn’t helping with all my sneezing but I’m really doing just fine. Just small things that aren’t too bad. I eat well and I think that I’m still around the same weight as I was when I left the MTC.

It has been really hot as of late and the sun just beats on you like you’re getting punched in the face and its horrible when the humidity is really bad as well but Hermana Shakespear made a rule that we all have to have a cowboy hat or some sort of protection from the sun on days like that so it’s a little bit better when I’ve got that on.

It’s awesome that the jazz are doing so well and keep giving me updates because I’m not allowed to check for myself. As far as Quin goes I think that you should play him up if he wants to. I think it would be better for him to get into the system and work with the better coaches but tell him to start working with Josh or Sean or someone on throwing the ball if he wants to play quarterback...this is when I wish that I was at home to help.

Tell Sean that I’m proud of him and Carter as well in stepping it up in school. I got mom’s present done today and I should be sending it out next Wednesday when we´re in Saenz Pena again for interviews with President. I only get my mail when I’m there because the zone leaders get it and we´re two hours away so it’s hard to get it from them. I love you all so much and think of you constantly.

Love, Tay

Email letter - 16 April 2008

Mom and dad,

Things here are going okay. I'm doing well and we are still working hard. We are going to be making a baptismal date with that large family that I told you about and hopefully on the 10th of May they will be members of the church. That’s really the only good news that I have for you.

We had our zone conference last Thursday and I know that I’m going to miss President and Sister Shakespear so much. They are amazing people with such great testimonies but I’m looking forward to one more conference with them. I had to stand up and bear my testimony because I’m new and that was fun. Ha-ha.

My comp thinks that I speak so well that he tells everyone how good I am and the people think that I’m fluent or something and just go off on me. Ha-ha. It’s fun though because I’m learning a lot from my comp and from all of the people. I think by the end of my next transfer ill understand just about everything and then try to pick up and be able to talk the way that I want to. It’s been good having a native companion and I’m grateful for it but I love to do divisions so that I get English sometimes too.

Overall things are going well. Sometimes my comp and I have little tiffs but that happens to everyone I think. We are working well together I think. I have my first transfer in two weeks but I think I’ll be staying put and with the same comp for this one as well but maybe the next one I'll leave. We have transfers every six weeks. I hear stories about other mission houses and I’m afraid to move but we´ll see how it goes.

We have been spending a lot of time in Saenz Pena with our district and zone leaders. We are here again today for p-day and I worked here last night on divisions with our district leader. It seems like we come here once a week which is like five hours of travel both ways. To be honest I don’t mind it at all because like I said I get to speak English when I'm here.

I just want to tell you how much I love you mom and dad and how much I appreciate all that you have done and continue to do for me. I’m so grateful for such great parents that love and support me in all that I do. I’m grateful for your example to me and how well you raised me and prepared me for my work now and for my life in general. I love you so very much and I miss you as well. Thank you for your prayers. Send my love to everyone and let them know that I’m grateful for their prayers as well. I love you.

Tay

Email Letter - 09 April 2008

Hey Mom and Dad,

So things are getting better here this week.

I spent the last weekend in Saenz Pena with one of the zone leaders so that I could watch conference. What an awesome experience to listen and to sustain a new prophet. I think that I liked Elder Holland’s Sunday afternoon talk the best. Of course both sessions on Sunday were in the afternoon but you know what I mean. I couldn’t help but think about the family during many of the sessions because that all they talked about. I did love this conference a lot though.

Things are getting better and my knee is doing better as well. I can feel the blessings when I pray and you pray as well. I’m glad to hear that everything is going well there and that you’re all excited for the trip.

I’m back in Saenz Pena right now for divisions with the district leader and then we all get into a van in the morning and head to Resistencia for zone conference...5 in the morning. Oh dear!

To answer the questions about my bathroom and stuff, yes I have a shower but it’s just the bucket that heats up the water and we do have plumbing but it’s different and it’s taking some getting used to but it’s not so bad. Compared to other areas I lucked out with my house.

The Branch President’s wife does our laundry for 20 pesos a month which is awesome. They are a great family.

We have been teaching a lot and have 1 person with a baptismal date on the 26th, let’s hope it doesn’t fall through.

I have a funny story...last night when were out contacting there was a hole in the sidewalk and my comp didn’t see it and fell in. I felt so bad but it was so funny. He's okay, just a few scratches but he´ll live I think.

I’m getting used to only having Spanish in my life but it’s still tough to communicate sometimes.

I’m trying to figure out how to use the mail and when I do then I’ll send some paper mail to you. It should only take about two weeks to get to you but unfortunately yours takes forever to get to me. Don’t use pouch because that takes twice as long.

I have decided now hearing from other elders that you should send a package every 3 months because that acceptable I guess. Ha-ha.

I’m starting to get a hang of things but it’s starting to rain a lot and I don’t like the mud so now that just one more thing to get used to I guess. I think I’ll probably buy some boots to wear so that I don’t have to wash my pants every day.

I’m starting to do better with my Spanish and I can pretty much understand almost everything they say if they talk slow for me. We did our first service yesterday, cut down a lot of weeds from the branch presidents house using a shovel and spade which was hard and now I have blisters on my hands but that the difference here...no weed eaters. I’m going to run now but things are going better and I love you all very much.

Tay

Email letter - 02 April 2008

(Papi's note - I hesitated to post all of this, because it's clear that TK is struggling a bit, but I wanted to share it with everyone, and also need to preserve the trials as well as the highlights, so included everything... TK also mentions a chat that we had - it lasted for just a few minutes, and the extra information from the chat can be found in my note at the bottom of this post.)

Hey mom and dad,

Things here are good but I’m stuck with a native companion that knows pretty much no English. I’m learning a lot but it’s hard because he can’t understand me. I can understand him and pretty much everyone if they talk slow. The members in my area are really nice but there are only about 30-35 or so. 

We have been teaching a lot and I love it but I’m having some problems and I don’t know if I should talk to President about them or not. My knee is locking up and I can’t straighten it or bend it all the way. I’ve been praying and taking lots of meds but it doesn’t seem to be working. Next Thursday we have zone conference and that’s when I’ll talk to him if I decide to but we´ll see.

I’m not going to lie this is really hard and I try not to but I often think of you and I makes me cry. I miss you guys and I need you. I knew it would be hard but not this hard. I don’t mind the heat or the dirt or even the blisters on the bottom of my feet but it’s hard without my family and with my knee acting up. 

There are so many dogs around here but they just lie around and do nothing. I don’t think that they belong to anyone so they just roam the streets and do whatever. The culture is way different obviously and I’m trying to adjust. I’m learning a lot of Spanish but I still can’t get everything out that I want to especially with my comp so it’s a little frustrating but it is coming.

It’s just me and my comp in our area that’s about the size of Provo...or at least it seems like it. It’s called Villa Angela and it’s in the Chaco province which is about three hours from Resistencia. We had to spend the first two days with some of the zone leaders in Resistencia because there is a nationwide strike with the farmers because they aren’t getting enough money for their crops or something so they took all their trucks and tractors and blocked off all the roads which means no busses.

After two days the assistants to the President just drove us here on dirt roads. That was an adventure. The only roads that are paved in our area are main street and maybe one other road. Which means...yes dirt and lots of it. I don’t mind it so much though.

Let me tell you about our house. When we got there I almost threw up. It looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in years so I made my comp help me for the first hour to clean and stuff and now it’s better. It’s just us two and it’s basically a kitchen connected to a bedroom. Our bathroom is outside it’s like a little outhouse building.

I miss speaking in English and I’ve been trying to figure out how to chat with dad but it’s not working. 

We should be emailing about this same time every week I hope so if you wanted to chat with me and make it work that would be great. I’m not really sure what else to say. I’m glad that everyone is doing well and tell Sean that I’m very proud of him and that I’m sad I missed it but right now there are more important things I guess.

The grocery store is way different and I don’t really know what to buy that I would eat so I’ve been living off of frosted flakes and the nasty milk that they have. Ha-ha. We went shopping again today and I got some fruit and stuff so I think I’ll be better this week.

My companion is Elder Avalos and he’s from Buenos Aires and he’s nice but like I said it’s hard to communicate with my limited vocab. Things are going well and I’m still alive so that’s always a plus.

We have an appointment with a family tonight that I think we´re going to baptize. They love the gospel and are ready so I think we´ll set a date with them tonight. There are six, a mom and five kids that are old enough. The dad is just inactive. I’m excited about that.

Well I’m chatting with you now so I’ll end this but I love you all very much.

 

Tay

- Note - the following additional information from a chat session:

- TK and his companion walk 12-15 miles a day by his estimation. This is contributing to the problems he's having with his knee. It is our hope and prayer that his body will adjust and that he won't need any real medical attention to resolve the issue.

- TK has not been able to get any physical mail since arriving in Villa Angela because of the strike. He and his companion were not able to attend their district meeting.

- TK is a foot taller than his companion, and believes he could "take him" even with his bum knee. (Humor shining through the struggles !!!)

- TK and his comp will head to Resistencia next week for Zone conference, and will likely collect his physical mail then.

- When TK and his comp are tracting, they don't knock on doors, the stop outside the fence around the home and clap.

- TK likes his comp, and despite the language barrier, they are getting along. But he does get a little frustrated, because his comp only seems to want to teach families with a father, and there are many families with no man in the household which they are passing by right now. He is working to help his comp understand and begin to teach these families too.

- TK will be using his gmail account as his primary email from now on because it is much, much faster than the myldsmail account.

- TK will try to upload some pictures next week.

- TK sends his love to all, especially his brothers, and made careful mention that we make sure that JK knows he is thinking of him too.