EVERY SOUL IS GREAT in the eyes of GOD!!!

Elder Paxman and Elder Trapp on Easter Sunday.

Picture sent to me via text from the Branch Presidents wife. 

Dear Mom,

Were you able to watch all of the sessions of conference?  Where did you watch it?  Did you get any food as part of your conference weekend? I was able to watch all of the sessions of conference and they were amazing!! I loved them so much! We watched them at the church, like usual. We had food with Priesthood and also with the Sunday afternoon session.

Did you hear the people who opposed the sustaining vote of the First Presidency? Yea it made me mad, we laughed a little after the fact though, just imagining like a shoe flying from the audience and nailing the person who objected in the head, hahaha it made us giggle. People are ridiculous, they even managed to get President Uchtdorf in a little bit of a mood. Which I thought was impossible.

Did you have any favorite talks? Sister Burtons was one of my favorites. She did give an amazing talk, as did everyone. I loved Elder Holland's!! It was amazing, I really loved many talks this conference. Dad better get Saturday off for this next one in October, so our dinner tradition continues when I return!

Did you get your package? Was it all intact or did it fall out of the bags? I did get the package and I did get the candy, although my comp did not want any, and it was a little mixed up, so that means more for me!! Which is yummy, but sucks, I am getting fat mom!! I can't get fat!! I am though I am getting a gut!

Did you understand what the itinerary for the cruise meant when you saw it? I did and I was stoked to see it!! That made me excited! It will be fun to go and speak my Spanish as well! Plus by then hopefully I can shed all this weight and look lean and mean.

Transfers are this week?  Are you staying?  Is your companion staying? As far as transfers go I will be staying and Elder Trapp will be leaving. I will miss Elder Trapp, and I hope I get a good companion for this next transfer. So we will see how everything goes.

It seems like you had a really fun time with the wedding and everything. I wish I could have been there, but I am glad that I am out here. In fact I am really sad that so little time is left... I wish I could extend or something. Although that is never going to happen.  I did the math, and I will already serve a little longer than most missionaries. So that is a bonus.

How is the work?  Were you able to meet the goal of 20 lessons a week? The work is going good. This week we were not able to teach as many lessons because of conference and we did a lot of service. It was still great none the less. We did not meet the 20 lessons a week goal.  We were able to tract a little and we found a young man from Guatemala, he is really nice, so hopefully that goes well, and we meet with him tomorrow. The less actives we are working with are doing alright as well. They are hanging in there. Nothing too ground breaking.  We are going to keep working with all of them and hopefully things will continue to progress. We had Franklin and Santiago's baptism yesterday that was amazing. I had to conduct which was not fun... But it was really good overall.

How is your companion Spanish?  Does he hold his own or do you have to do most of the talking? I have to do most of the talking as far as Spanish goes, but he has a good heart and he is trying. So I think he will do just fine. He struggles with it at times, but he has got a good work ethic so it will all pay off. He is only 18 weeks in the mission.

Do you still do language study each day?  Do you still read the scriptures in Spanish as part of your language study? We still have language studies; we always try and have them. I am still reading in Spanish I also found the BOM in Spanish on CD here in the apartment. It is kind of nice when missionaries leave behind old stuff. So yep that is going good. I still do that, but Elder Trapp and I haven't done it together, but he reads it and I do.

How has your health been? My stomach health has been good, but I have caught a doozy of a cold and cough. Now it is mostly just in my throat. I hate colds, more than flu's. My throat is still bothering me, but other than that I am doing alright.

I am sad my mission is coming to a close, but I will do my best to work hard and still have fun. You know me mom... Okay so now as far as the spiritual thought goes.  The thing I have been thinking of a lot and was even addressed in conference is this; Nobody is too far gone! This is a very powerful and sometimes hard lesson to learn. We hear it so much from Apostles and Prophets, but I thought maybe from an ordinary young man, who has committed mistakes just as much, if not more than many who will read this, it would have more of an effect. If we are willing to give up those things we do that are wrong and return unto Him there is no distance too great nor too difficult. This is true for many reasons, but for one that I have believed for most of my life, and that is this: "The worth of EVERY SOUL is GREAT in the eyes of God." I have been blessed to see a fraction of the worth of many souls in this life. Believe that you are a daughter or son of God; you need not ever doubt your worth. No matter the sin, the mistake, the trial, the heartbreak, your worth to Him was enough to make worlds, send a savior, and offer as a sacrifice his only Begotten. Along with many other things. I wish to have a few words brought to your remembrance... "He is not here..." and because He is not in that tomb nor ever will be again, ours will only be a temporary place as well. If I could grab people by the shoulders look into their eyes, and peer into their soul, I would tell them that you mean something to HIM! I cannot say I love all of those who will read this email, for I have not met some, and others I know very little. This does not matter, whomever you are and whatever you have done, you are never too far from His loving embrace. The question is, are you willing to give up whatever it is to get there? It is a question I ask myself often, and sometimes it is harder than one thinks to give it up, but it will always be worth it, it will be worth more than we even thought. If we keep bettering ourselves and keep trying we will obtain the promise in D&C 90 (I believe), (This is the Lord speaking) "...You will see my face and know that I am..." What a great promise. I wonder when that opportunity comes, to see His face and know that He is, what will my reaction be. What will your reaction be? To me this changes as the days go by, but I hope that when that moment does come, I can look Him in the eyes and hear those sweet words "Well done thou good and faithful servant, you have been wise over a few things, I will make you ruler over many". Although I wish to change it a little. This is what I think it will be more like, "Son, peace be unto thy soul you have done as I have asked, come and inherit what is laid up in store for you". Many of us have and will fall short on the things He has asked us to do, but just because we fall short once does not mean we are doomed to fall short forever. Today is the day to turn around, to start heading back, the way is long, and hard, but it is with many journey's: The destination is only as good as the worth of every step. The journey is part of the destination. “If you do not ponder on the pathway of thy feet, both that has gone by, and that is yet to come, you will never reach where you wish to go.” Every day is a journey in and of itself, every week a legacy, but the life we live is just part of the adventure to be had. In my mind an adventure is the combination of a lifetime of journeys, and a journey is a combination of exhilarating events, we can perhaps call those seconds. Anyway I probably phrased that all funny. It is hard to put how you feel onto paper at times. Although I may never do it justice one can but try right? No pen or pencil can write the true feelings of one’s heart right? Or at least not all of them at once. Well this has gotten long. I love you so much and hope that you have a great week. You are in my prayers often. I hope this week treats you to many fond moments on the journey which makes an adventure. Anyway love you and I am excited to hear from you next week!

Love, Elder Paxman

"Be Still and know that I am God"

 Elder Paxman, Elder Rowberry, Elder G
 and the Diaz Family.  These pictures were sent to us by Sister Diaz
via facebook.

Elder Paxman LOVES this family!

Dear Mom,

I am doing pretty good Mom, although first off this week’s letter might be a tad shorter, because of transfers.

So Transfers are this week and I know transfer calls go out on Sunday so you must know if you are getting transferred and where you will be.  What's the news?  So the news with that... I am staying in Seymour and Elder Golledge is leaving. Oh and something else...... I am getting a GREENIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My first Trainee, it is crazy I am way nervous.....

On our family Vacation we ate at a place he loves called Family Tree in Santaquin.  We saw tons of scarecrows in Scipio and Torrey Utah. We did some antique shopping and we drove on the Hog’s Spine, a road that is the devil of scary. I love those scones and we will need to go there when I come back, which by the way I finally received my official release date! June 30th!! So my mission overall actually got extended!! It’s awesome! Antique stores, they are really fun to go around and look in. That one sounds really cool though. Scarecrows, I am surprised you didn't freak out thinking of Supernatural!!  hahahaha There are a few scarecrows out here.  I got a good laugh of the pictograph poses. Bailee and Kyle look more Asian, Brooklyn looks like she was a bug nailed on a windshield and dad and Egyptian; so I laughed about that one. Dad was probably goofing around like we would usually do before the pictures hahaha. Ba ha ha.. Oh mom you and heights. Dad and I will have to take the Bikes on that ride!! And the family can follow behind in the Van or something. (He is referring to my fear of the scary road)

The pictograph Picture we took

It sounds like an amazing trip I am way jealous and we will definitely have to go when I get back!! While staying at Ruby’s Inn we visited with a missionary who served in Indiana with Ben. ELDER SYRETT!! I love that kid! I am glad you got to talk to him, I really like him. I also know Elder Brinkerhoff he is a cool Elder too, I do not know him as well though.

On Sunday the Diaz family who Ben and Elder Hjelm converted and baptized almost a year ago sent me pictures taken with him at church.  However, they live an hour away from where he is currently serving.  So I was surprised to see the pictures. I asked him if he knew they were coming or if they surprised him. I was surprised by the Diaz family so it was amazing to see them! They are like family to me, like a goofy aunt and Uncle and two awesome cousins. I am excited for the day when you get to meet them. I didn't get to chat with them long, because, we were getting ready for church and had a few meetings before I saw them. So it was more rushed than I would have liked, but oh well. They gave me some food, and stuff, which was so nice of them. It was just so amazing to see them!!! I love them so much! The members really enjoyed that they came as well, because they stayed for the first hour, which ironically enough I was giving a talk that week. A surprise one at that! The night before church the speakers fell through and so Elder Golledge and I had to prepare them with only like 2 hours total prep time. But a lot of people liked it so I think it went well.

How is the work?  How are your investigators? The work has been much the same. Magdalena a lady we have been teaching only recently, came to church, but it was a weird Sunday because of meetings and stuff so I hope she liked it. We should get to see her again on Tuesday, so hopefully all goes well there.  B. is struggling at the moment, but not in too bad of a way. So I ask all to pray for him!! He is trying to decide which church he should be baptized into, ours or the Evangelical church. He believes in the Book of Mormon, but he wants to know he is doing the right thing. So please pray that he may get the answer from God that this is where he needs to be.  Gods only true church on the earth, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 

Alex told me about his new job so I am excited for him. How did the Dinner go with Aunt Brenda and family? What do you think of the new boyfriend? How is Parker treating Rachel? I am glad she likes him. He seems to be a good kid. Don't forget the music list that I sent you a few weeks back in the email. I want that music sooner than later :) thanks mommy.

Okay now like I said this letter is going to be a little shorter. But could I first ask a favor of you. I need you to put my name in the temple this week. Not for anything grave, but just to help me to know how to best train this new missionary, and that both he and I can be edified in doing the work. It would mean a lot to me if you could do that. I am nervous for this calling so to speak. I know the Lord qualifies us for our callings and is always there to help us, but I would still really appreciate it.

Okay story time, so like I said about Bertin He is having a hard time right now trying to decide and more than this get an answer. We were teaching him, and I had already told him, and testified, and done all I felt I could. I feel as though this happens many times throughout our lives, we reach a point where we feel we have done all we can, it may not be the same circumstance, but it is still the same. We do all we can to help influence those around us, but there comes a point when we have nothing left to offer, we are all out of ammo so to speak. So we were talking, and I just remember saying a few words that I had left. I remember saying something similar to... You know Bertin, we have taught you many things over the last few weeks, but all we have taught you, and will teach you, will mean nothing if you do not take it into your heart, and strive in believing them to be true. He knew as I did in that moment, that I was speaking the truth and that WE were and are Representatives of God. I had been pondering the last few days in some moments of hardship, questioning if I had made the right choice in returning to the mission, and if so how will I know it. Because as far as everything else had gone, with frustrations, teaching very little, not having much success and feeling like I was drowning. I remember asking God this question deep in my heart; of did I do the right thing. And when I taught B that simple truth and felt Gods love for him and the Spirit of the Lord in abundance there was no doubt in my mind that I made the right choice. Yes things will still be hard at times, and yes I have much to learn, but I know just as I knew back the first time that I am called of God, as his Servant and Friend in helping bring to pass "the immortality and eternal life of man"!!! I know it and I know God knows it and that he wants me to be happy and be proud of the decisions I made. That is the advice or spiritual message I have had this week. We must when all things seem dark, push forward and know that we have made the right decisions, for if we have, God will be there to greet us on the other side. We will know without a doubt that we served him the way we should have, and we will never be disappointed in the decisions we make, if God is involved in the making of it. So yep this week was really hard and great at the same time. Now, look forward to the next day and the next Dawn and the next challenging horizon.

Well I love you so much and hope that everything goes great this coming week.  I hope that you enjoy your calling, for it is of God, if you have felt it, and even if you haven't, trust in his servants and move forward knowing and following his council. "Be still and know that I am God".

Love, Elder Paxman

Tomorrows battles are easier won...

Dear Mom,

Ha ha funny enough we actually do not have any parties or anything set up for Cinco De Mayo... So who knows?  We did get invited to one, but we have a lesson planned, so if the lesson cancels or something we are going to go.

As far as transfers go, I am staying and my companion is leaving. I will be getting a new companion and I have three options/ideas of who it will be. I will also put them in what I think the likeliness of it happening is. I think it will be Elder Rowberry, Elder Thurston, or Elder Mancilla. We will see who I end up with.

(We received a cute picture of Elder Paxman with a little Chihuahua and I asked him about it, and I asked if he was still taking a lot of pictures.) I am glad you liked the pictures of me with the puppy.  Yes it is her dog and it is adorable!! hahaha Mom you are more emotional than me which is hard to get sometimes. Although, I have found I am not as emotional as I used to be or mainly just different things trigger my emotions now. I am glad you liked the picture. My camera is still working, it’s a little beat up around the edges but it still works. I have been taking a few, but Elder Markward (my companion) doesn't like pictures so I haven't been taking as many, but there are a few on there. I will probably be sending my SD card home here soon.

(I sent him pictures of our outing to the Tulip Festival and told him about what a fun family outing it was.) That sounds like a really fun outing with the family and one we will have to do when I get home. Also that is a freaking ton of flowers.

I am sad to hear about Rachel. I hope all goes well for her with her health and she can continue to do whatever the Lord has in store for her... I hope all goes well with her future plans, tell her I say Hi when you see her and that she can always email me if she wants.

Well they haven't let us know anything about the calls for mother’s day, so I will let you know the night before as usual.  But I really have no idea on details right now. We have church from 11-2 so my guess is it will probably be at night time. So I will let you know how that goes when the time comes.

The work this last week has been really good, we taught quite a few lessons.  We were able to get some less actives to church which was amazing. We actually keep track of how many lessons we teach in a week and this week was 21 which is really quite good for our area. When we are not teaching we go door to door or stop by formers or Less-actives.  We can keep busy doing service or a variety of things.  Usually it is going by formers homes and potentials and stuff more than going door to door. Overall we are pretty busy.  We never have down time except the breaks that are planned, but most of the time we just eat and sleep during those. One cool thing that happened was a less-active got up and bore his testimony and it was an amazing testimony!!  It was very strong and the spirit was amazing. So that was great for him and he has been coming for the last 2 weeks and I believe he will keep coming as long as we get him a ride, so that was awesome. We are going to hopefully be finding some families or something like that we can work with, because right now we are not teaching any families and I find that the gospel is better accepted in families and I love teaching families anyway. Yea Spanish is rough but I am still going along and it gets better weekly so that is good. Also I am behind on my Book of Mormon challenge reading because in Spanish you have to read like 9 pages a day, so it has been rough.

(What will you be doing for p-day, anything fun?) We will be playing sports and stuff as usual which is always fun.  My health has been hanging in there I haven't gotten sick really, I still feel weak sometimes, but for the most part good.  I have a little cold I am trying to shake, but it isn't too bad. I go back to the doctor in June so not for about a month. (I asked about his weight because I thought he was looking a little thin again) Actually we don't have a scale so I have not been monitoring my weight, my guess is probably around 170's but I have no idea without a scale.

Oh one other amazing thing is Drew was down here on Sunday and I got to see him before church, that was amazing and he is doing really well, so that was really nice for me to see him.

This week from my studies, I always study a Christ-like attribute from Chapter 6 in Preach my Gospel every Transfer and this upcoming transfer is going to be between two of them and I haven't decided yet.  It is either going to be Humility or Faith. So I have been studying about those a lot. It was interesting, I was reading about Faith and it was talking about how even though the Diligent seeker can obtain faith it is still a divine gift from God.  That is how some people have the spiritual gift of faith. Also we can strengthen our faith by hearing others testimonies, which was something I already knew. But it made me think about how many times I had slept during fast and testimony meeting as a youth at church back home and I felt a little guilty haha. One part that I really liked is that Faith is a principle of power and God works by power and that he works through our faith to perform miracles, but how often times our faith needs to be tried and put to the test. To me it reminds me of the tempering of steel and how it must go under intense heat and pressure to become as strong as it can be, because it helps get out all the impurities. I feel this is the same with us, often times we are put through hard moments to help get the imperfections out of us, in a way and manner that is most beneficial to us, and of course at times very trying. I feel as though I have been through many of those moments in my life and am continuing to have them. They are not always big events sometimes they are small things within the caverns of our mind, the small day to day thoughts and actions that are almost rote to us. We fight the battle in our minds on a daily basis of Faith versus doubt, or Hope versus Despair and even though sometimes it is hard to pick the good side, it always pans out for our greatest benefit in the end, because the higher the heat and greater the pressure the better the steel, and when we have better steel, tomorrows "battles" are easier won, because we are better equipped.  These are just some thoughts I had as I studied this past week.

Well I have taken a lot of time and have to get going soon. Well I love you so very much and hope that all continues to go well back home, and I will be giving you a call this Saturday in the night probably to let you know about the details.  It  will only be for like 5 min though just to set up the Mother’s day stuff. So I love you mom and hope you have a great week.

Love, Elder Paxman  

It took a Perfect Son

Dear Mom,

So for today’s email I will start with answering questions.  Now of course I do not have a lot of time because it is transfer p-day, so we will see how well this goes.

Will you be transferred or are you staying in Logansport?  Will you be keeping your companion?

So I am staying here in Logansport and my companion is leaving, so I will be getting a new one which should be really fun although I have really liked mi compa.

Did you get your birthday package?  I sent him a framed photo of the Savior and Peter, but behind it I also put two other pictures, so next month he can change it out, to have variety.

I really enjoyed the package it was awesome, we have not had a chance to make the cake though so I will do that here in the next few days. I had no idea that there were more photos behind that one. That is freaking awesome!! I love the one that you got me, I have never seen it before and really enjoy it. I did think of one more thing I do need, but can wait for my year mark, and that is a new set of Spanish scriptures, a nice set and also some cases for them, my last ones are really beat up from the bad weather and the extreme cold. But they work for now so I am in no dire need of them. Overall I loved the package and I will probably go on the dinner with my new companion as a b-day thing and also to get to know him.

So, if I remember right you said you would be speaking in church one your Birthday.  Did this happen and if so how did your talk go? (I also spoke on his birthday and shared some of my talk with him.)

 I will talk about my talk later on in the letter.  I really enjoyed your talk though I liked it a lot, yours was a lot shorter than mine too hahaha. Although, I already knew the thing about the Flamingos I never thought of it in that way so that was super cool.

 I got invited to join the private page on Facebook called missionary mommas.  I LOVE it!  It has over 1800 members, all mothers of current missionaries.  They just post whatever, and when I joined, it asked me to tell a little about my missionary and where he is serving.  There are about 12 other Indy moms in the group, but so far the Spanish one I have found is named Elder Stone.  Do you know of him?  Anyway I do know Elder Stone he is from Colorado, near Grand Junction. His Spanish is really good, although I haven't served around him for about 3 months or so. He is really cool!!. What are some other people who are on the mama facebook thingy?? I might know some of them.

How has your health been this week? My health has been pretty good this week, I haven't really been sick, my intestines though have been flip flopping and I haven't been very hungry

How do you like your Mission President, now that you have had him a while?  Do you have much interaction with him?  I like our mission Pres. He is awesome, although we do not have much interaction because I am not in a position of leadership. Although I do have an interview with him soon, so that will be interesting.

What are your thoughts about the crazy weather and cold you have had this year?  My thoughts on the cold are that I do not like it, but it doesn't feel like the worst I have ever been in. Except when it gets to below the negatives that really bites haha, overall though we stay pretty warm, they also don't want us out for more than 15 min. at a time in the open air when it’s really cold. That is not good with the snow-pack hopefully things will get better with that here in the next few weeks so you won't be in such a drought this year.

Ok so now for the work stuff. So I did give my talk yesterday in Sacrament meeting, it went really well as far as people tell me. I got a lot of people who came up and told me how well I did. Although, good story about that. So that day we were not expecting many people to show up to church because of the storm and everything which gave us about 5 inches and lots of ice. So my companion and I were to bless the sacrament that day,  so we were sitting up on the stand like usual and this really tall guy came walking in and shook our hands and sat down on the stand, now I knew a high councilman was coming to give a talk as well with me for church. So that is who I assumed it was, but before the meeting started and we were finishing up the last minute things this short guy came in and talked to us and said he was the high councilman, so than I was thinking who is this really tall guy?? Now only about 45 people showed for church so that was nice because I was really nervous and all the ones who showed up I knew pretty well, although I was still nervous because of the high councilman.  Anyway, while we are singing the first hymn I nudge my companion and ask who the tall man is. He pauses and is like "oh that is the Stake President" I had a flip out right there!!! The Stake President!! I have to talk with him here!! It made me nervous and I thought I might have a nervous breakdown. J  Well long story short, I had been praying a lot that the message I would tell would be what people needed to hear and that the spirit would be there with me. Well I gave my talk which was on Service and Sacrifice; it was a really good talk I felt. So I went first and took a good chunk of time and then it was the High Councilman, and then the Stake President took a few minutes also.  We all gave our talks and I felt mine went well and people said they loved it.  Although, it was funny this lady came up to me afterward and said that I was an amazing public speaker, but that I need to speak in the mike better, she than gave me 15 min. lessons on how to do so, I laughed and said sounds great thanks for the help, she is kind of an older lady haha.

Other than that this week has just been really really good. We have taught a lot of people and are coming along good with a few of them.  Drew is scheduled to be baptized on the 1st of March.  We area also excited for the Davis family a less active, recent convert and part member family, that is working towards the temple here in April. So everything is going really good. We also housed a puppy for about 8 hours until we found the owner during the massive storm, and companion got the car stuck absolutely sideways in a long driveway at a member’s home. So overall a week filled with a lot of fun and adventure.

I will share a little bit of my talk and wrap up because of the time constraint and a lot of people emailed me because of my B-day. So in my talk, I talked a lot about how sacrifice is often a part of service that is essential yet often times not so desired.  I shared some thoughts from Elder Holland's talk about "missionary work and the Atonement" It was really good, I will share a brief piece I used that talks about why service and this life is not easy. He talks about why this life and missionary work and other things are not easy, even when we do our best and are earnestly trying.  He continues, and says he firmly believes that this life is not easy because Salvation was never easy, it took a perfect son to suffer and bleed from every pore to atone for the sins of the world, and shouldn’t we be willing to at least do a little bit for our fellow man. He goes on with a lot of great thoughts, but overall a really good talk that you and the family should read, I really enjoy it. Anyway I love you all so much and hope you have a great week, I will tell you more about my new companion and all the new stuff next week, I love you and hope and pray that you have a great week.

Love, tu hijo Elder Paxman

Indiana Here I Come!!

Here are a few pictures of my District and our two teachers.

 Love these missionaries and friends.

 One day during free time we had a huge Nerf gun war.  It was so fun.

Dear Mom, 

I guess I will start with the questions although the screen is blurry because I was crying... (our little family dog passed away and we had told him about it) 

The airline I am flying with is US Airways.  It is a direct flight and I have to leave for the travel office at 4 A.M.  I don’t arrive in Indiana till 4 P.M!!!! 12 hours of transit total.  I am a little nervous, I fly with 19 people to Indiana, but they say most will either be a layover or be English speaking... When I get to the airport in Indiana I have no idea what will be happening, they never told us...  So I hope someone will be there to help us.  I have a travel companion but I have no idea who it is.  

Yes the SD card is sent and there are about 220 pictures on it. I hope it doesn’t break in the mail.  The scripture thing is driving me insane, I have too many I love... It is hard to pick which one of God's passages of wisdom is my favorite. :/  Well since they need it, put Matthew 11: 28-30 on there.  That is a really good one, or the entire section of D&C 6, 11, 33, or the entire Chapter of Luke 15. There are just too many!!!! 

Packing is going well.  We have dropped some weight so it shouldn't be a problem with weight. I am so excited to leave, but we are all really sad to see our district go... They keep saying that they will never see anyone from the District for 2 years, but most all of them have at least 2 people from the district in there Zone... EXCEPT ME!!!!!! (From his MTC district all of the other missionaries are going out into the field in pairs or more.  He is the only one going to a mission completely different from the rest)

Today, seeing as it is our last day we are having a fiesta with a piñata and everything. Also tell Bai that Spanish people still laugh like hahahah not jajajajaja whatever the heck that means.  

I forgot to tell you, RICHARD G SCOTT came and talked to us on prayer, and it was amazing.  Me and my companion were like 20 feet from him and sang Nearer My God to Thee with the choir, it was awesome. Overall the CCM is going great still and we are having way too much fun.  Although if Lauren or one of our older cousins needs to be set up, my teacher is available...:)  (he did not tell me to say that) His name is Ammon Halstead. We were also his last district in the CCM.  It was sad because he was my favorite, but we have a last class with him tonight.  I have gotten all of their email contacts so we can hopefully stay in touch.  

Well I have to go change over my last load of laundry in the CCM. Funny story of the day from the CCM, my companion (Elder Johnston) doesn’t know how to shave.  I had to teach him.... it was really funny because he stuck his razor up his nose to get his nose hair.  I could not stop laughing. A very similar experience happened with shoe shining.  I told him if you want to get a really good shine on the second coat you get it a little wet (which is true) so my ingenious companion looks at his shoe for a minute then he bends down and gives it a big long lick. It was way funny though, because he then proceeded to be disgusted because he had shoe polish on his tongue, Well I love you all so much and I hope it is going well there. Most of what is in the hand written letter is for Bai and Brooklyn, because I forgot their emails... so yea love you all

Love, your son, Elder Paxman. 

Dear Dad,

I actually really like the short stories and quotes you sent me, especially the 5 important lessons one. I really enjoyed that one it was great. The dog one is great, I love it.  Although, it was kind of blurry, I was tearin’ up when I read about Caesar passing away. 

I really hope that we have the opportunity to talk as well.  When I get to call, I might end up calling shortly first with a few quarters just to see if you will pick up then use the card thing.  

I hope the garden does well too, that is one thing I miss a lot here in the CCM, is not being able to just go outside and lay in the grass or enjoy a nice day, but that’s ok. Oh and you are more than welcome to give Dan and Aaron or anyone else that wants my email, we can email everyone now and they are increasing our time. Our branch pres. also said that he would not be surprised if they start having missionaries use facebook, which was a very weird.  He said the church has been testing it out and seeing how it runs. When you get my SD card if you or the family see any pictures and are confused you can always let me know afterwards, and I can tell you how or why I took them. Do Not delete any of them though.  

It has been interesting talking with the other missionaries, most of them think I am some outdoor nut because of all the stories I share, but I don't really see it.  It  is way fun here, we got all of the mattresses and played dominoes with like 20 missionaries and the spare mattresses it was really fun. (this was in our free time of course)  

If you have any more of those quotes or stories or anything I would love them... Even if you just get them off of the Internet. I love the creed that you sent me like a year ago, I still have it and carry it with me wherever I go. Spanish is going good I guess.  I can generally get across ideas that I have but there are times when I definitely struggle.  The teachers have told us to not worry about the language because we will not be fluent for another 5 months!!  

The Hermanas are really sad, as we all are, that we have to break up the district.   But, I'm ok with it... They are amazing people and I would gladly spend more time with them, but it is on to greener pastures. The Gospel knowledge is way intense, there is so much, I have a hard time keeping it straight.  In fact if you get the chance I suggest you read the last chapter in 1st Peter it is really great. 

In gym we have been playing volleyball which everyone says I am very good at for my size and stature, but compared to the Polynesians,  it is terrifying they are HUGE, it is really fun though. We had our last gym 4 days ago and now I get real stir crazy by having to be in a class for 14 hours a day.  But it is still awesome even when that does happen. We have a piñata for our last day and a bunch of candy.  It has been really nice having P day as our last day.  We all took a nap because the first of us have to be gone by 3 a.m. and we are all so anxious we are having a hard time sleeping. 

I showed some of the pictures of me from when we were hiking and they think that I am a wildman, but it is way fun sharing stories and being able to talk with everyone before we leave. I am getting all of their contact info before we leave so we can stay in touch. (I wouldn't mind dating some of the Hermanas when I get back in 2 years if they are still single, which won’t happen. hahah) Well I should probably go so I can Iron the remainder of my non packed clothes, then pack them and weigh my bags... before I head off though I would highly suggest reading the scripture I put earlier and Luke 15, the entire chapter it has 2 of my favorite parables in the entire scriptures in it. You will have to let me know how you like the pictures I took.  Tell everyone I love them and I hope your trip is going really well, good luck and I hope to hear from you tomorrow at like 6 in the morning. 

Love, your son, Elder Paxman