10 Weeks to serve: "Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee."

Dear Mom,

I am doing pretty good mom. Although you won't want to hear this, I am tempted to keep my SD card till I come home, to make it more of a surprise hahahaha.

How are you and your new companion settling in? We are settling in pretty good. We are different, but we get along well. I am interested to see if I will finish my mission with him and here in this area. We will see I guess.

If your companion is from West Jordan, did he attend West Jordan High school or Copper Hills? He went to West Jordan for a little bit, and then went to Itineras or something like that

How is your health?  Did you get over your cold? I am feeling pretty good. I have mostly gotten over the nasty cold, only thing left is the cough and it is good except at night. My belly has been doing alright. The drink was working really well, so I wanted to see if I could go without the antibiotics. I have been really tired lately, but I think it is just from the lack of sleep from the cough.

With transfers are you still a District Leader and if so were there any changes to your district besides you getting a new companion? I am still DL and we got a new sister. Her name is Sis. Bulman she is from Iowa. The sisters are really nice, other than that, the district is still the same. The number hasn't changed there are 3 companionship's including ours.

We are trying to plan our trip to Indiana for July.  How many days do you think you need in Indiana and which areas do you want to visit? As far as how many days visiting, as many as we can get! hahaha I would like at least 2 Sundays.  Mainly so I could go to some of the Sacrament meetings. We would have to hit two or three in one day. So it would be a little hard. Maybe do like Logansport and Lafayette Sacraments on the same day, and Indy and Columbus on another. I am not sure. I would like to take you to all of the areas, if I could. Although I am not sure how much time we will have. Elkhart only needs maybe one day. Logansport and Lafayette maybe 2 or 3. Indy maybe 2 or 3 and Columbus probably 2. So maybe like 10 days total in the mission area, just in case you want to see anything else. Also so I can take you by as many people as possible. It would help to plan if I could get in contact with people better. That will have to wait till I get home though. Also I will need to check with church times and everything. We can definitely talk more about it on Mother’s day. Also that way I know how many days the family wants and can spend and stuff like that. That way I can plan a little better on how to do things. So maybe like 18 days total trip. (He is delusional… 18 days. Ha ha :-D ) Also the thought came to me just barely if we only want to spend like 8 days in the mission that is okay. I can come back on the bike with dad or something again. Or me solo. Whatever works.

Mom.. That isn't good that Brooklyn has been really sick! Take her to the doctor! Goodness it reminds me of the time I broke my wrist nice and well, and it took you and dad like freaking 2 weeks to take me to the doctor. That is not exaggerating either! Okay so maybe it was like one week, but still, freak! hahaha.

That is good you did some yard work. I have been doing the same hahaha. Service of course.

You mentioned that you had a lesson with Franklin, isn’t he one of the people that was baptized a few weeks ago.  Do you keep teaching them after Baptism? We do keep teaching them, and they become a LARC after that. We usually keep an extra record with us for about 1 year. We teach them less, but still try to teach them when we can.

How is the teaching of Margarita going?  How has the work been this week?  Have you taught many lessons? Keep praying for Margarita mom. She is so close, so so so close. I can feel it.  She is coming to church every week pretty much, she knows it’s true.  I really hope I get to see her be baptized either before I leave this area, or before I leave the mission. You know whichever happens first. We teach an alright amount of lessons. We are really really working on trying to find more people to teach. Especially the elect. I kind of set a passive goal for me to find teach and baptize a family by the end of my mission. I really hope I can accomplish that goal. I will try my best. If not, that is okay as well. But I think it would be an awesome way to finish it out. Also baptizing anyone else I can find haha. If not though, at least make the difference in someone's life, even if it is just my own. (Which has already happened a lot!).

How was your Sunday?  Did you have a dinner appointment? We usually eat with President Horton and his family after church.

What are you plans for P-day?  Anything fun? Also as far as today, we did laundry, lounged and just the normal stuff. Tonight we will play b-ball with some members and that should be really fun.  We also have an FHE with some other members so that will be really nice.

Any unusual adventures this week?  As far as anything unusual I gave a golden statue of an angel to Margarita. It was in our apartment, and when I saw it the only thing that came to my mind was... "Has anyone heard of the story of Moses with the snakes? Anyone! Goodness freaking Idols in my apartment freak! I was going to junk it, well probably throw it in a river, (more fun), but she wanted it. So I thought that would be better than chucking it in a river.  Hispanics are super superstitious, I knew that before, but she did not want us throwing out that angel.  We are working on listing, which is where we get a street index and write down all of the Hispanics we can find on the streets so we can go knock on those doors later. So finding will be the big push here soon. I think I might have already told this story, but if so that is fine. So the Rodriguez family a while back with Elder Trapp and I, we were getting super duper close. So now I feel really close to that family. Well we are teaching Sis. Rodriguez and Jocy some English at times. Well this is some background. Other than the 2 kids that are with them here in the states they have two other daughters. One of which is dece. (Pronounced dees). Ask Bai or one of my friends what it means if you can't figure it out. So anyway she talks about them a lot. So Elder Trapp and I are leaving, and as we are walking down the hall to leave the apartment building she calls down the hall. "Goodbye son in laws!!" Of course Elder Trapp and I try not to lose it so she doesn't feel bad. We say bye mom, and get to the car. We laughed for a good 30 min. It was hilarious! So we told her and she laughed about it after. So it was really funny. I really love that family mom, they are amazing. Jocy reminds me a ton of Brooklyn it is crazy! Anyway so that was a funny story of the week. We had a few others, but I feel as though you would have to be there for them to be really funny. Also I play the hand slapping game with them; I think we call it bloody knuckles. They are either very slow or I am like freaking lightning!! hahahaha I wail on them, especially Jocy, she thinks I am magic or something. So that always makes for funny stories. Okay maybe one more. We were with the Rodriguez family and as we were talking Sis. Rodriguez stops and is like, you sound like a little kid Elder Paxman. She thought my voice sounded like a child. I was a little offended it reminded me of all the times people would mistake me for you or my sisters over the phone. So we laughed about that, and then she looks at Elder Labrum and says, although he looks like a giant baby... I couldn't help it I started dying hahahahaha mainly because people used to tell me I had a baby face all the time. It was really funny because he didn't understand what she was saying either!!! I got a kick out of that. Another awesome part about that is then the next like 5 lessons and meals with members they all said he looks like a giant 12 year old. I got a good bunch of laughs out of that one. I have felt his pain many a time.

How about the weather?  No chasing tornados..:) The weather has been warm, sometimes borderline hot. Some days have been rainier and cold though. Like today and yesterday have been pretty rainy and cold. hahahah I knew dad would agree with me about chasing a tornado, I mean come on, if you are going to have to go through one, might as well get pictures while it is still coming.

What do you think about me adding a countdown to the title of your blog?  I was thinking weeks. You can do a countdown if you like. Although days might be easier. Seeing as I only have like 68 or 69, something like that.

Okay so now onto more the spiritual. Again, as my mission comes to an end I think a lot about the blessing of being able to return. I expressed it to Pres. in an email once about I was curious what some of the reasons I was able to come back were. He has mentioned a few. This was from the response I got to that letter this week. There are probably a myriad of reasons you returned, but most important has been your example and influence on your companions and the members. You are also growing spiritually and establishing the church in each area you have served. You have an opportunity to help Elder Labrum become a confident and more effective missionary. Helping him realize his potential through your example of faith and diligence. That was really touching to me. It made an impact on my mind and heart. Also he said in an Interview once, that one of the things I needed to learn from coming back on the mission was Confidence. So I have thought a lot about that lately. I think Confidence comes from many things, but to me it is more directly related to the attributes of Faith and humility. Although I want to know what all of your thoughts are. What is confidence? How can it be built? Why is it important?  I have never seen myself as an example of anything to really anyone. I am but a young man trying to do my best. I do hope that I have impacted others for the better though. My second mission as far as I call it, has done many a thing for me in my life. It has been one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. That is for sure. I really hope I can be worthy of all the faith and love people place in me. I hope to touch the lives of people when I return home as well. I love you so much. I know that Jesus is the Christ, and that He indeed suffered for all mankind. His love for us is so amazingly unknown. I hope to prove myself worthy at the last day, so that I may obtain the blessings of an eternal family.  I know and have felt that this life is indeed a time to prepare to meet God. We will all meet Him again someday, and I look forward to it. I am so far from perfect or even tolerable, but I am trying to be better every day. “The man who travels the journey of a great distance risking nothing and has no troubles learns very little. But the man who makes another Journey, with the intent to learn, grow, and try to do things no one else has ever done before, they are those who learn a great many things, and help others learn along the path.” They are those heroes we think of. We all have our own heroes. And we all have our Champion, even the Savior Jesus Christ. I hope to be the man he needs me to be, so that I may not only be on the best path, but help others on theirs as well. I think often of Peter, who denied his Lord three times and whom later would have a personal appearance of the Lord. I wonder what happened in that moment. I am sure many tears of joy and sorrow were shed. Let us try to live our lives so when we come to meet The Savior of the World and Our Father of the Heavenly Courts, that we may be as Peter and say "Lord, Thou knowest that I love thee". So we may be worthy of all the blessings we deserve and wish to obtain. Well have a great week and I hope to hear from you again here soon!!

Love, Elder Paxman

P.S.  HR just told me he is getting married!!!  On the 27th of June!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOO!!  I will just miss it by 3 days dangit!!!

I felt like I ate a Cactus!

Elder Paxman and Elder Blood on exchanges

This picture shared to me by Elder Bloods mom via facebook.

Dear Mom,

You have snow on the mountains? I do love the mountains when they have snow on them; they look just amazing when they do. Although I prefer no snow, so I can go hike in them a lot easier. This week I am doing... Well I’m hanging in there, let’s go with that. Ha ha.

I heard that Indy had snow one day last week.  Did you get snow down where you are or just rain?  Are you keeping warm? We did get snow on Halloween night and I am staying warm for the most part. We have only had a few days of bitter cold, but we are getting more as the days go on.  I will get a blanket sometime; it is not on my priority list though.

I received a picture of you and Elder Blood. Did you guys have exchanges recently and in what town was the picture taken? Didn’t he come out with you just 6 weeks ago? He did come out the same time I arrived, and he is Elder Rowberry's greenie. I really like him; he is a good kid, with a good heart. We were on exchanges in Columbus and that picture was taken about oh three weeks ago or so.

I taught my first lesson to the Sunbeams this past Sunday, it was about music and the way it can make us feel.  I gave them all kazoos, harmonicas and little flutes to play.  Bribery works.  It is true the amazing influence that music has on each of us. Speaking of which where is that CD? I am bored with the CD's I have. Anyway, hahahaha man crazy kids, the parents probably didn't like you very much for giving the little monsters a bunch of loud noise making objects haha. But hey as long as you don't have to hear it right?!? Totally joking. (I did not refer to them as monsters, that is just Ben talking)

Every week I check Facebook and give him updates on his friends lives. Bro. Smiley I love that man, I bet his Facebook posts are just a riot and a half. At least Bro. Smiley is still staying on point with all the new social hub-bub. I knew about Tyler that started to develop right before I left. Summer is getting married!!!!!!! Freak Mom!! They are dropping like flies.  That is tons of excitement, I remember the last time I saw Christina it was in the MTC actually and she hardly even recognized me, mainly because of the new height and weight thing. Now I probably look even more different, seeing as I don't have the chunky squirrel cheeks anymore!! I give her till the time I get back and she will be married. So that is what 8 months. Joel does come home in December; I still do keep in close contact with him, usually once every other week if not every week. Cameron is every week, Trenton is usually every week, and my companion from the MTC Elder Johnston is every week as well. So yea I still keep in contact with a lot of the old buds. We are already planning a time for what we call. "Story time with the Bros" Or in other words where we just all sit around and B.S. and have a good time. (Is it bad that a missionary includes B.S. in his email..... Ah ni modo).

How was your weight at your appointment?  Your blood tests were sent to me, your Iron is still low, your platelets still high.  Sounds good with Doc. Flynn I am still taking Oral Iron, which doesn't bother me one bit.  My weight was 165 so it has gone up a little since I have been out here, I think because of my awesome muscles hahahaha, not really but hey one can dream. I will keep eating, don't worry.

So you did get Colton's bike?  Have you had it since transfers?  How is it working for you? What did you do with your bike?  Will you continue to ride a bike in the snow as long as you are in Seymour?  I got Elder Hjelms bike and we just talked for a brief second, and I think you are paying his mom, he said that the moms were working it out, and I said sounds great to me. I have had it since transfers and it is really nice to have. It makes biking not as much of a pain, we will probably still bike or walk in the winter so that will be interesting.   I still have the old bike and it will sit there or in a dumpster till a time and a place when it is needed haha.

Your prayers are more appreciated than many people realize, I can feel it as a tether that keeps me above water in the moments of darkness. I have always found it best to just jump in and get to work, but maybe for others it needs to be different.   I will elaborate how the work is going for me later on.

I did get your package and it was awesome thanks mom! I did realize that one was for my companion and I did see your little note scribbled on the side of it. I really liked all that was in the package.  Thank Nancy Thoreson for the banners they are awesome!!  I loved the food, everything thanks for that mom. The cologne did survive and it was much needed thank you.

(added after his mission was complete)  Elder Paxman's greenie at this time really struggled and we omitted all of the information from his blog, I'm now adding it so it will be in the printed version.

Well Elder Seegmillers parents worries might become reality, for a few different reasons, one some stuff might need to be fixed for him to function as a worthy full time missionary, and we are working on that stuff. Another is he is really down a lot of the time because of that whole issue. Things are getting better, but some of the work has had to take a hit, so I can try to address personal needs more. I do not know if talking with his family helped at all, I sure hope it did. It went well with President I think it was just for him, so they are working things out, we have some other meetings for him today too, so we will see how things go. The plan of attack is wait and see. Other than that I am not too sure. I feel like him and I get along really well, I hope I have helped him in these hard times. I want you to do something for me though if you can. It is asking a lot and I hope it is not over stepping bounds. I would like you to get his mothers number and call her for me, or reach out somehow. Whether just you or Dad and you it does not matter. I want you to just talk to them, imagine if I was struggling greatly in the mission and if someone were to call you. They need just as much help as he does in this situation, because even if this does go south I want both him and his family to know, that there are some people not far off who are here to help. I know it is asking a lot of you, but if you could do that for me I would be forever grateful. She is even welcome to email me if she wishes. Just be friends to them if you could. The example that comes to my mind is when I came home, I never asked what it was like for you or Dad in the process, but Aunt Deb, and some others told me a little bit about it. I really want to help him and his family, even if it turns out that he does not stay, I want them to know that I will not leave him hopeless or abandoned. So please if you could do that it would be great. Your prayers are more appreciated than many people realize, I can feel it as a tether that keeps me above water in the moments of darkness. He seems to be doing better, maybe because I have slacked off on the driving force of the work. I always found it best to just jump, but maybe for him it will be different. I can get him out to do the work the problem is he feels sick doing it, and that it just puts him in this mood as if someone just smacked super hard and is making him feel guilty. 

How is the work?  How are your investigators, especially Bertin? The work: So we have no new investigators and this week was really slow. One, because I got sick twice! From the same stinking restaurant, so I will not be going there anymore. It’s called El Nopal or the cactus in English and it was like I ate a freaking cactus with all the spikes on and everything, it was awful!! It was even bothering my companion. We pretty much tract to find people and sometimes PC, but it is very rare that we do that. Lessons, number wise was really small, Bertin is coming along slowly but surely, he should be coming with us to church again this Sunday, which will be great for him. He is so close I can just feel it; I am just not sure what we need to teach to get him to just fall off the fence so to speak.  I have a few funny experiences I want to share, but they are kind of long and I am running low on time so I will share some another time, also they probably aren't as funny in English...?

Okay, now the spiritual thought I want to share, and how I am doing go hand in hand. Honestly mom, at times I feel like just rolling into a ball and rocking myself to sleep. It takes a lot out of me when I see investigators and others struggle. I always seem to feel like I have not done enough... like I can never do enough. Overall these events of recent have really gone toe to toe so to speak with my emotions and spiritual well-being. I love this mission with everything I have, if that has not been blatantly clear, then I do not know how else I can say it. I have fought for it many a times and I will fight again. This week we had a pretty in depth discussion. The central idea was this. "How do you know that God loves you?" As this question was asked to me, I at first did not know quite what to say, all I knew is that he does and I could not deny it. I remember trying to tell people what it feels like to feel his love, but never being able to come up with just the right words.  I pondered back on moments in my life where events transpired to the point where I was either alone or in the hospital or really sick or whatever it was. Several thoughts raced into my mind. One was of an experience I have told no one about.  I feel it appropriate to share at this moment a little bit of those thoughts.  I of course will still not disclose all of the experience though. It was the day I came home from the mission, I tell people about that day, but always leave out the part of getting off the plane in SLC.   I was walking through the concourse and nearing the area where I come to the escalators to see my family waiting, those who you have waited so long to see.   I stopped in the hallway that has windows on one side and the little moving walkway and pictures on the other. I just looked outside and thought to myself... "So what is the purpose behind all of this? What is everyone going to think? Am I going to still be able to stay strong in the gospel? How long till I recover fully? As well as many other questions. I remember I hadn't even said a "prayer" so to speak, besides the one I try to carry in my heart always. But I had this kind of gradual sense as if someone was standing beside me supporting me, looking out the window with me.  It was so real, I looked to see if anyone was there, and there was not. I remember almost an audible voice yet not, almost as if someone was placing thoughts into my heart and then kind of giving me a nudge in the right direction. That feeling, to this day rings in my heart as well as many others. I remember looking back out the window and seeing the mountains and everything I had given up to serve, I almost didn't want it; I almost wanted to go back to the flat lands of Indiana. Those thoughts were swept away in an instant and I had the feeling that “this is where you are needed... This is where you belong at this time in your life." I then looked at where I knew my family would be waiting and walked on, while putting a huge smile on my face. I do not know if I have ever felt as alone as I did in that moment, even though there were streams of people around me. It didn't even matter, the feelings I felt in that airport that day are a living testament to me that God loves me and all of his children. Even and maybe especially when we feel abandoned or alone in this home away from home we call earth. Everyone can feel of His love if they but seek it out. I don't know if in the airport I was seeking it out, but it sure did find me in the moment when I needed it most. I knew I was where Heavenly Father wanted me to be. Now even though I am back on the mission, I know as much as I have ever known that going home was what was needed at that time in my life, I don't know why, and I may never know exactly why. Heck there could be a thousand different reasons, but I am indeed forever grateful that I was needed elsewhere than the mission field at that time in my life. I have grown stronger because of it. The Lord and our Father in Heaven work in often mysterious ways. Unto which small things in the sight of man bring to pass mighty things. Who knows maybe one day I will look back and be able to see why I went home or at least one of the reasons.  (Fingers crossed to meeting a hot wife in the mission!! Ha ha Just kidding.  Just lightening things up.) But not knowing is also some of the surprise I think. Anyway I have probably rambled a little.

Well Mom I love you so much and I hope that everything goes well for you and the family back at home. My prayers are often with you. I am excited to hear about the next weeks adventures, and hopefully this letter was needed by someone. Well I love you and I can't wait for the CD and the day when I get to see all of your smiling faces again. (Well actually, I can wait for a nice long 8 months ;))  Love you all and have a great week.

Love, Elder Paxman

There is work to be done and people to help...

This picture is from the summer...I have no words to describe what they were doing.

Dear Mom,

I again sent Elder Paxman a few questons… I learned this great trick from Elder Griffiths blog. (Ben’s friend from our home ward) It’s a fun thing I like to do every once in a while.

1.  Do you use those Pamphlets when you teach investigators.  The missionaries here brought 3 to Regina.  One about the restoration, one about The Plan of Salvation and one about The Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Of course the ones they brought us were in Chinese, but it made me wonder if you use them in Spanish. haha yep the pamphlets are indeed widely used throughout the world, I use Spanish ones quite frequently, they are nice tools to use and really help people to understand things more simply.

2.  Do you feel you are service oriented on your mission at all?  I have seen on Facebook a lot lately missionaries doing service.  Like shoveling snow, working with scout groups etc.  Just service type things in the branch/ward.  I wondered if you and your companion ever do service?  We do lots of random acts of service like shoveling snow or pushing cars out, or things like that, but with planned service not as much, it just depends on how busy we are in the week and what kind of service there is to do.

3.  Have you tried using the GPS?  Does it work? We have tried the GPS It does work, but the maps need to be updated which I guess you can do for free, but seeing as we can't really search the web It is hard for me to do it, not to mention I don't have the cable I need to do it. Overall, though it works alright for now.

4.  Maryann Hair sent you a birthday card.  She was so excited because she sent it in just enough time for you to get it before your b-day and then found out it went to the Elkhart address.  Did you by chance get it?  If mail goes to one of your old addresses do you eventually get it?

I have not gotten the card from the Hair's yet, but if it went to an old address I will get it eventually, it just depends when.

5.  Have you gotten your bike back yet?  Is someone else using it or is it just being stored somewhere?  I have not gotten my bike back yet and as of right now it is just being stored, but it is in the works of finding its way to me.

6.  How many name tags do you have?  What kinds?  I didn't know this, but apparently you can order more, different types, like with magnets or clips or what have you. This is true you can get more name tags, as of right now I have two a clip one and a magnet one, the two they give you in the MTC, I will probably get more eventually.

7.  How did your meeting with the President go?  What was the main purpose of your meeting? The meeting with the President went great, we talked about the area, and how I am doing overall.

8.  Where exactly is your companion from?  What stake and ward?  What is his first name? My companion is from Riverton up near the high school, his stake was the Riverton Copperview stake the 7th ward, and his first name is Alexander or Alex for short.

9.  Do you elders in Indiana make covers for your planners/scriptures.  Our missionaries make them and they are cool!  I took some pictures and sent them in a different email.  If you don't make them, I would be happy to try to make one for your scriptures.  Apparently they make them after 9:00 when they are at home. They make the cases out of a cut off cereal box and put pictures on it using packing tape.  I think they are so cool!!  I have seen the coverings and have made a few for planners, but it is very time taking. And I am not that artsy, I usually throw on a quote and maybe one picture, it depends really, I also don't have the tape for it, and I don't want to buy it. As far as a scripture case goes though I like the ones that you actually open and they are like a cover for the scriptures, those are very popular out here and they protect the scriptures better when on bikes and what not.

10.  How do you like your companion?  Are you still getting along really well? I really like my companion a lot!! He is a little shy and green but I really like him!

11.  How is your health?  I did not like hearing that you were down to 167.  That is about a 15 pound weight loss since you left the MTC.  Do you feel healthy?  Are you concerned about the weight loss? Are your clothes getting baggy? This up and down of your health worries me. My health is hanging in there. I got really sick on Saturday and my weight is moving around so much that it worries me sometimes, but not too badly. I am at 170 as far as today goes. I feel normal and healthy every once in a while, other than that not sick but not peak shape either. My clothes are not getting too baggy although I am just tightening the belt a few notches for a couple weeks than loosening it other weeks so it is interesting. Yea it is a little worriesome, but can't let it drag me down there is work to be done and people to help.

12.  You should download a few pictures and send them.  I haven't seen a recent picture of you since you first went to Elkhart. (Christmas)  :)  I will send some pictures maybe next week; I don't have my camera with me this week.

13.  Your sister Bailee sent you a package for your birthday?  Did you get it? I did get Bailee’s package that she sent on Valentine’s Day.

I am glad you like having the missionaries over, it will help them a lot and I am sure they appreciate it. Holy Cow Maryann had a baby!!  Have I been gone that long? I am glad she is doing well, give her my best wishes

It still feels like winter here, it is supposed to be in the 20s all this week so still cold... Although we had a few days of 40 it was so nice. Yes I need new Spanish scriptures; my English ones are still fine. And some covers for those, but individual covers, one for each set of scripture, and cool ones too, they have some cool ones I have seen.

There is a Facebook group called Missionary Mommas and they are getting together this weekend for dinner and visiting.  Some of Ben’s companion’s moms will be there.  Oh goodness the missionary moms retreat... Oh boy here we go. Elder Hjelm and I only served for 4 and a half months though haha. Also look for Elder VanHaren's mom if you are there, me and him are pretty tight. Elder Hjelm has been one of my favorite companions for sure, so hopefully nothing too bad will come out, haha. Elder Hjelm and I chatted about that missionary mom stuff, it was kind of funny.  He said that his mom was a freak about it, haha and I said mine too probably, it was fun.  You should go though it should be fun, just don't be all freaking out(whatever that means, how do I freak out?) I embarrass myself enough as is, and don't need help with that.

I am still trying to stay up on the Spanish, being in a stripe, it isn’t improving, but also not getting worse, we are also going to start focusing on Spanish work a little bit more so that should be good. (Stripe=one English speaking Elder and one Spanish speaking Elder)

The work has been good, we are getting ready for our baptism on Saturday!! I am stoked, we will most likely be doing the confirmation, so that should be really cool. (he mentioned last week that a family he baptized earlier has not been out to church and dodging the missionaries because they were offended.  I told him I thought he should just email them a letter of love and hope that they are doing well and that he would hear from them soon.  Just to keep doors open or conversation open) You read my mind with the Diaz Family, that is what I had sent them last week so will see how that goes.

As far as the work goes one funny moment, we were helping some recent converts wash their dishes (the Davis family) and during it their daughter blasted me with the freaking sprayer thing, little devil. Than my companion tried to throw the towel on my head and I pulled it off my face and said oh it’s my turn now and started whipping it at him making really good cracks, and well about the fifth one I nailed him really good, but probably in not a great spot.  He instantly starts jumping around freaking out and holding his crotch while the rest of us laugh. It was funny, but I felt a little bad... OH Something COOL that just happened is we got permission to GO TO THE TEMPLE every six months for personal worship and if members go!! So I need my temple clothes prease!!!! I am so excited it has been a year since I have been in the temple pretty much and I am stoked plus another possible two temples off the list!

The last comment you made to remember to enjoy every minute because my mission will be over too soon is all too real and sad. I have started making my mission bucket list which I am excited to have and complete those goals, but it makes me sad, because I am so old. Other than that not much new is happening out here, and nothing has really stuck out to me in studies, so next week I will have more to write. Although we have been contacting less-actives so we will see how all of that goes. Anyway I love you guys and hope you have a great week.

Love, tu hijo Elder Paxman

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father’s Day DAD, 

I hope it was good, well I don't have like any time.  We are trying a new library because we are doing stuff more near our home, but it only allows for 35 min which makes this near impossible.  I haven’t even written mom yet..... and I have 5 min left. Well I hope works get better, and that was hilarious about Bai I can see her doing that stuff hahaha she is such a goof ball.   

Well sorry I haven’t written a (snail mail) letter back it has been a crazy week but in a good way.  The mission Pres. Is leaving in like 13 days so it is crazy getting ready for the new one and everything else. Anyway my letter, I am hoping to get it off tomorrow or Wednesday.  I hope your father’s day was great and You and the fam are always in my prayers. Let mom read this too because I don’t have time to write everyone and there is only like 2 min left.  We found a new investigator that has been lost for like 6 weeks, they were so close to baptism when I got on my mission and then they just disappeared.  We got back in contact with them and taught them twice in 4 days which was good, because they are a ways a way so we normally only get to them about once a week.  I have to wrap up but I love you all so very much and I hope that things are going well for you at home.  I want to hear all about Palisades and the trip to Grandma's.  Next week I will include more, tell mom I am sorry, I might have more time later today but I doubt it. 

Love, your son Elder Paxman