August 29, 2016

On Sun, Aug 28, 2016 at 10:43 PM, Sharon Lancaster <slancaster@kellerits.com> wrote:

Well, how was your first week in the mission field?  Your companion sent us a letter. He must have used google translate to send it because some of the stuff didn't really make sense. Tell him if he is going to write us he can just do it in Spanish and I can have Taylor read it to me. It was really nice that he wrote and I wrote back to him so maybe you'll need to translate for him😊.
So, tell us all about your week. Where are you living? how is your apartment? Are you in a house with a family? You mentioned that you were. Do they cook and do laundry for you?  What are the people's names? Are they nice?  Are you in a branch or ward?  How many members?  How was your first Sunday in the mission?  I want to know all the details.
This week was good. We spend most of it working on the deck. It's really weird that we don't have things to rush off to every night after work, but hopefully we will be able to get all the projects done before the snow flies. Which with as much as the temperatures have dropped in the last couple weeks probably won't be long. Dad and I went to the cabin yesterday after Carson's football game for our 24th anniversary and the leaves are already changing up there. It's gone from mid to high 90's to low to mid 80's in a week.
School starts tomorrow so we will be back to a routine which I am excited about, but not the early mornings. I have really struggled getting up early this summer. (More than usual). I suppose it will be a good excuse to get back to a more regular exercise routine and maybe I'll get more things done. I have noticed that I only have to do laundry once a week and the house stays pretty clean for the most part and I really only cook once or twice a week and the rest is leftovers. It's amazing how much time I seem to have on my hands with only one child to chase. I will have to admit, I'm quite enjoying the slower pace. Not that there still isn't a million things to do, but most of them don't have to be done immediately. We can pretty much do them at whatever pace we feel like. Which hasn't been very fast. 😂
We were talking about all the time we seem to have and I said I guess I need to take up triathlons again but then I was like eh maybe not. That sounds like a lot of work to get in good enough shape to do that again. 😳. I'm not sure I'm up for it. I guess we will see. But first the fall projects have to get done. Finish the deck and window wells and salsa are the most important at this point.
I think we are going to try to go to the cabin this weekend for Labor Day after Carson's football game but we can't go unless the deck is finished.  So that's the goal for this week. It's taking FOREVER.
I've had a few teary moments this week as I was getting your package sent off. I don't know what's wrong with me, I'm ridiculous. But it's all good. I know you are where you are supposed to be and doing what the Lord has asked you to do. You will be an awesome missionary!
You said you have baptisms scheduled. Did that happen yet?  I am super excited for you. Always listen to the spirit. Don't let things get you down. Study your language super hard and it will come and don't be afraid to talk and get something wrong. It won't be the end of the world.
I sent Kyle's email address to you and I think I forwarded Bro fullers email address. Mrs. Adams email is stephanie.adams@ccsdut.org in case you wanted hers too. If you want me to get anyone else's, let me know or I can send your letters to whomever you would like. I did start a blog and I have shared the link on my Facebook page. Send us some pictures.
Have a great week!  Work hard, love the people and have fun!!
My favorite quote this week--"without hard work, nothing grows but weeds" President Hinckley.
Hank Smith -When I was a kid my dad would burst into my room at 5:30 am each Saturday singing, "Rise and shout the cougars are out..."  He would then tell me about the great day of work we had in store for us.  He was so happy and so excited to move, to sweat, to build, and to create.  For years I just thought he was crazy.  Not just a little, but institutionally cray cray.

Somewhere along the line, it clicked for me. He finally got it through to me that work is the key to a happy life. Hard, exhausting, push-you-to-your-limits work is the one and only path to dreams becoming realities.  Work is a remedy that fights off discouragement and depression.  Set goals my friends, incredible and outrageous goals.  Identify the work that will get you started on the path, roll up your sleeves, put on your favorite music, and get moving.

I truly believe that!  I always like to be busy doing something worthwhile.
Hopefully we have taught you the value of hard work.
We love you and think or you and pray for you everyday.
Love
Mom

Well okay.  My compañero is good. He is teaching me some good Spanish. I had to speak in sacrament ha not really just bear my testimony. It was crazy. I'm in a ward which is nice. We live by ourselves and the Gongoras only feed us and cook for us. My apartment is okay. It could be a lot worse. We have filtered water so that is really good. We teach a family whose mom is supposed to get baptized this week. Ha her daughter is my snake it is hilarious I had no idea she was into me but it makes sense. I don't have a lot to say but I teach a lot of lessons and practice my Spanish a lot. I haven't got your package but i'm sure it will come soon. I'm going to the temple tomorrow which is super chivo. I'm gonna buy some shoes because my shoes get wet because it pours and umbrellas don't help. So they probably cost $40 and I'm getting a backpack too because the shoulder bag blows. Sorry but not sorry. I also passed the sacrament this Sunday it was a lot different. I love you to death mommy keep it real back home :) The first pic is from Guatemala the 2nd is by my house. The 3rd is service with machetes and the 4th is with the rabbit I'm eating tonight!!! Oh by the way I ate dog already. 

Love 

Elder Lancaster

OK- A couple things that are making me laugh now that I finally got to see the pictures because I couldn't get them to download. grr  Where the heck did he get that Ronald Reagan Shirt?  That rabbit is still alive in that bag!!!!! GROSS! and Jackson finally got the Machete that he and Taylor have been asking for for years!  LOL!

Mom: So what do you mean she is your snake?  I don't get it.

Jackson: Snake is a girl who only likes me because I have a name tag and I'm a gringo. 

Mom:  That's kind of what I figured but I just wasn't sure.  Is she cute? Jk. How are the lessons going so far. Have you taught very many? 

Are the people more welcoming are they pretty offish about the gospel?

What did you do for PDAY today since you didn't have to do laundry?

Jackson:  Funeral.  They love it. Hey gotta go have family home evening with my snake ;) love you mommy :)

So how far away from the temple are you? I didn't think that you'd get to go while you were out in the field.