The Spirit is Amazing!!

All of the following pictures are from his last SD card he sent home.  So they are pictures that are from his time serving in Cumberland.  I find it very funny to see some of the things these young men take pictures of. :)

Exploded bag of Sugar Smacks.

Boys love cars!  Even when they are missionaries.  Ben had about 5 pictures of this yellow car. Apparently they thought it was a sweet ride.

 Elder Paxman sporting his wedding tie with his P-day clothes.

Dear Mom,

Weren’t you supposed to speak in church today?  If so, how did it go?

Ok, so yea as far as the speaking in church goes, well I still haven't because out of the almost 5 weeks I have been here I have only been to church once!! All other times have been cancelled due to extreme weather. So overall that has been interesting.

How are you and your companion getting along?  Still good?  Do you feel as if you are becoming friends?  Speaking of my companion, we are getting along well; Oh so before I forget I don't think I mentioned that my companion lived in china for 3 years, although he doesn't really remember any of the language. So he was curious what part of china Regina is from and also who the sister is that is coming to speak to her? He thinks he might know who she is.

Are you still enjoying driving the car?  Be extra careful.  When you are transferred and you are using a car do you still have your bike with you? I am still loving driving the car because it is so cold here, and also our area is huge.  To arrive in a town called Monticello where a family that is less-active we are teaching, it takes about 30 min to drive there... So I am very grateful for the car. My bike is not with me, we were not able to get it with us to Logansport so it is in Elkhart still.... So I will be working on getting it back with time.

Here the missionaries said that bringing someone back into activity is just as important to them as finding nonmembers to teach.  Do you feel the same about teaching the less active members? We also feel the same about the Less-Actives here in Logansport, if you can bring one back it means just as much as finding a new one. So we are working on that a lot as well.

Have you had much opportunity to use your Spanish this past week?  IF so, how, teaching lessons or just talking with a few members?  Didn't you say there are a few Spanish members in your branch?  Do you study your Book of Mormon in Spanish much, I know the mission President suggested studying in your native language.  As far as Spanish goes I would say it is maintaining. I am still reading and studying, but it is not as effective in helping me as much compared to teaching and speaking full-time.  As far as using my Spanish goes it is usually with a Less-Active named Eliseo because he only speaks Spanish and when I speak to the few members in Spanish, other than that not much... So we will see I am holding it though, but I want to keep improving on it, not just maintaining. I still study the Book of Mormon in Spanish in the language study period. But I feel I will be here for a couple more transfers, I hope I am, I really like it here and it has a lot of potential.

I was wondering how far you are from Purdue University?   I was just curious.  Some of Regina’s classmates told me when they graduate this year they will be going to Purdue in the fall.  Apparently there are a lot of Chinese students there. We are about 45 min from Purdue so don't freak out over the shooting thing, also there are a ton of Asian people there, in fact we will be getting two Mandarin speaking missionaries for that area.

How has your health been this week as well?  I know I ask every week, but I always wonder how you are feeling?  Do you feel like you are sick less often than earlier in your mission or more often?  My health has been pretty good, I have gotten a feel for when things don't feel quite right and I usually just don't eat, even if we have a member meal. But I have been feeling pretty good. I think I am sick less often, but still too often if that makes sense at all.  Being sick at all is too often for me though haha.

I think we have tracked down an older GPS that will work for your needs. Sweet the GPS will be much needed, it just has to get us from point A to point B in a good time.

I am going to send you a package this week.  If there is anything special you want me to include in your package make sure to let me know. I would be happy to add some things. I still want a good photo of Christ for my desk.  It would be even better if it was a smaller version of the one that is hanging in our house where Christ is saving Peter from drowning. If not though you can always send me pictures of other good ones you like and can find. Other than that, feel free to surprise me with stuff haha.

I hope you are taking a lot of pictures.  You will wish you had them when your mission is over.  Also make sure to write in your journal often.  It will help you to remember many great things from your mission.  I am taking lots of pictures and writing in my journal.  I am trying to get better at the pics so we will see.

Daddy and I were just talking today about how you have been gone almost a year and it has flown by so fast. The time has indeed flown by, I just wish it wouldn't.  It is going too fast I am now almost a year old in the mission.   In a little less than two weeks I will be 20!!!! That is freaky...

It sounds like a fun week at home, lots of adventure and new things.  This new connection might be super nice, especially with the China because it is on my bucket list! I want to see the terra cotta warriors and a few other things in China. I am glad that you had an impact on the mother that will always be a good thing.  Make sure to keep in contact with her so you can continue to talk with her, but remember that in China I don't think it is allowed so be careful with that and make sure that Regina wants to learn and be a part of it.  That would be a cool experience to see her progress and such in the gospel. I am glad that Collins Farwell went really good, I hope you congratulated him for me. I am glad he is going out to serve and I know he will do great.

Well in the mission field this week not a whole lot is new... With the really bad cold weather a lot of people are hibernating I swear!!  We have worked a lot with less actives and such, and with members to really get them into the work and help them build a good relationship with the missionaries. One neat experience I had this week with a lesson and an investigator named Katy.  She is living with a member as his girlfriend and that makes the law of chastity an issue.  So we went in and taught a Law of Chastity lesson.  We took a member who offered her home to Katy because she has a big home and felt so inclined, it was really good. She also was a great help in the lesson and provided a lot of really spirit directed guidance overall.  We gave them the challenge to commit to live the Law of Chastity and Katy was in tears.  At first I thought she was in tears because of things I had said, because I had been very bold but loving in the things I taught.  But, she said the tears weren’t because I had hurt her feelings or offended her, but from what she was feeling.  It was one of the strongest law of chastity lessons I have had on my mission and it was a really great experience!!

Well Mom I hope everything continues to go well and that all will be well with the new changes. I am excited to hear of all the new things that happen over the next little while.  I did get invited to food and watch the super bowl so we told the investigator we would come, but for food and to teach..... Bummer, I would love to watch the game, but it is what needs to be done so yep. Well I love you all so much and I hope you have an amazing week.  I am off to go bowling with the zone. J I also really liked the quote you sent because it is so true. Anywho love you and have a great week.

Love, tu hijo Elder Paxman 

The Quote I included this week, not a spiritual one, but good nonetheless:

"America will never be destroyed from outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." ~Abraham Lincoln

Stand up for what you believe in because the best people know better!!

Excerpt from Elder Paxman’s letter to Bailee and Kyle this week:  We taught a really good lesson this week, my companion and I brought up some really good points that our investigators needed to hear.  The spirit is amazing in how it works in each of us. Even when its in ways that we may not be thinking about, we must simply obey and do what we know is right and as the spirit directs and we will see the blessings of heaven in our life and in the lives of those around us.

Change Brings Progression

Check out my haircut. :-)

Dear Mom,

 First off I actually got to watch a bit of the game bwahahaha!!  (Bronco football game) I know I am so evil, we got a text from the Ward mission leader and his wife and they said they were making cookies for us and others at some in-laws and invited us over, but they said that they would not turn off the T.V. I was like ok that is pretty usual. So we went in and it was the Smily's (the ward mission leader and his wife) and his parents and a sister. They were watching the game and doing some other stuff so I got to watch bits of it in between playing dominoes with some old folks, hahaha oh the life of a missionary... They were a referral but were not interested, so we taught a lesson and hung out, also saw a bit of the game so it was good haha. Anyway thought I would mention that... (He is a Bronco’s fan and his dad has been keeping him posted about their success through the season) I received a few letters from the primary kids and from the young men and from Bishop. Oh and also the Hairs, will you let them know I hope to be writing them either today or next week I have even time scheduled for it!

I am doing really good this week, my health has been alright I got pretty sick once, but was able to shake it off pretty well for the next day. I really enjoy Logansport it is quite a pretty town, at least parts of it anyway. It is also the most textured city I have been in so far! Thank goodness at least some tiny hills. Also it covers another couple towns, one called Monticello which we are going to for the first time today, and I am told it is very pretty, so we will see! It does seem that I am getting into the swing of things a little, between being senior companion, adventures of both English and Spanish, just the whole shabang. We are still working with Pat and Donald although, they have still not come to church.  It doesn't really help that church has been cancelled 2 out of the 3 times that I have been here. Next week I have to give a talk, it was supposed to be this week, but they cancelled it and post-poned it till a later date. I will talk a little bit more about that maybe later.

We have been able to work with a few more people one a Less-Active named Eliseo who only speaks Spanish so that is a good time for me, but he has stage three bone cancer over his entire body which is sad to see... How is Shauna doing by the way?? I have been curious and remembering her in my prayers. We teach a lot more English than Spanish, but that is also because of the weather, we have been fairly busy and we have not had a chance to find new investigators really.  We have found 2 in all of these three weeks I have been here.  I do feel like the work is progressing in this area, I think that hopefully it will continue to progress at a very quick rate. I think I mentioned that there are over 200 less actives here and this branch used to be a ward so my dream for this area is to make that happen once again, but that is a way out there goal that most likely won't happen, but if there is a will there is a way. The members are not super helpful so each week I schedule lessons to be taught to members, like an investigator where we go and talk with the members and build those relationships and see if we can get them encouraged in the Gospel and the Work. The Branch President is a really cool guy, but he is beyond busy so I have not really had a time to meet and talk with him, but our mission leader is awesome!! I really like him and his wife! I feel my Spanish is maintaining maybe improving slightly, I have some opportunities to use it but not a whole lot, but we will see. Although something interesting this next transfer we are getting 2 Mandarin Speaking missionaries!!! WHAT!?!?!?! I know right I guess there are just tons of Asians that go to Purdue and IU, so that is kind of cool haha.

(I asked him what he has been cooking to eat and if the members feed him) Food that I cook for myself, freezer meals, garlic bread, cereal, chocolate milk, chips, and leftovers when we have them hahaha healthy I know!! But my health has been pretty good so it must be ok haha. Also some healthier stuff like pancakes, I drink lots of water, and other stuff like that.  I will cook more meals when I get the chance. As far as members feeding us I think it happens about once a week... So I am hoping also with the building a connection in the Branch that will help with that too, and just bringing the missionaries and the members together. Although, a little funny thing, I got hit on by some young women probably about 16, it was really weird or at least I think she was hitting on me, I don't even know anymore hahaha oh goodness....  

The weather warmed up for a few days, but it goes up and down usually never above 38 and usually stays around the twenties it seems. Oh before I forget I need a street GPS In the biggest way we have had a heck of a time getting around especially if we are just going off an address we have never been too before, it is really rough!! So if I could get one that would be great, it can just be a cheap Garmin but as long as it gets me place to place I am good. (of course we just gave an older one to the DI) I hope you guys get more moisture so you don't struggle with that later on in the year. Man! I was hoping the foreign exchange student came on Thursday. I am way curious what that is like.  You will have to let me know for sure how all of that goes.

Brooklyn wrote me about her trying to decide if she should make a school change.  Make sure she makes her own decision without you and dad showing any favors to one side or the other and that is going to be hard. This is going to be a hard time for her no matter what the choice. That is good though that she got into that Broadway kids show, those are really fun and she will enjoy it and make friends out of it I am sure.

Well Other than that not a whole lot is new this week... Although for my talk the topic that I chose (because I got to pick my own topic) was Sacrifice and Service. I really like it so far and have gotten some really good insights and I will let you know more on how that goes when I give the talk in church... If I ever get to go to church goodness, hahaha. Other than that my more spiritual thought for today is just similar to one I shared earlier about realizing blessings through past events. Lately I have been pondering a lot about why certain things have happened to me and where they have gotten me and the choices I have made through my life and my mission. It is very interesting to look back and see the hand of God moving me about; I have always felt that my life has been exceptionally blessed, more than I can often comprehend. Then I get a feeling that I must be important or have some kind of work ahead because there have been more than enough times where my life should have been taken or seriously changed in some way, but it was not. I always tell people that the Grace of God has affected me and my life more than many, and that I feel as if sometimes I am living off of borrowed minuets if that even makes sense.    Which makes me even more grateful for all the blessings and hard ships I have received over my short almost 20 years of life... Well that is about it for this letter, lots of teaching and studying, and the nearest baptism we have is on March 1st maybe sooner depending on how well he keeps going. We are also teaching lots of Law of Chastity lessons.... Goodness it is an issue for the world.

Well I love you all so much and don't get too stressed with all the change, change is a good thing it shows our growth and progression, often times I feel when we are 100% comfortable something is a little off, change brings challenge, challenge brings hardships, hardships bring increased prayers, and increased prayers brings more spirit, peace and progression, so overall in the long run many times Change is a very good thing indeed. I love you all so much and hope that everything goes well, and I hope to hear from you soon

Love, tu hijo, Elder Paxman

Hope is NEVER lost!!

Dear Mom,

I am going to answer the list of questions and then go from there.

1.  So with your companion just finishing his training period does this mean you are the Senior Companion? What are the different responsibilities of being a Senior Comp?  I am indeed senior companion, there are not a whole lot of added responsibilities. Just the normal stuff. He is super green, I would like to teach him some of the good things I have learned as far as being missionary.

2.  How many miles is your area?  Is it in a stake with wards or branches?  Do you attend the same branch/ward each Sunday or will you rotate?   I do not know how many miles my area is, I just know that it is a big area and that is about it. It covers several cities. We do attend the same branch; there is only one in this area.

3.  You said you will have a car in this area, are you the driver now?  If so, how does it feel to be behind the wheel of a car after so long?  What kind of car are you guys driving? Does driving make you nervous at all?  I am the driver now, driving a car is a little different after such a long time, but overall it is not too bad. The snow is sometimes a pain for our little Chevy Cruze.

4.  Is your apartment in a house or in an apartment complex?  Our apartment is in a house it is divided top and bottom, so other people live upstairs from us.

5.  How did you survive the cold weather?  What did you think of the weather?  Was it a crazy experience?  Was it like anything you have experienced before?  I would love to hear all the details about the week of bad weather. The cold weather survival was rough, but overall not too bad. Lots of layers, and freezing anyway.  They also kept us in for the most part of it.

 6.  What did you guys do during all this bad weather?  Were you able to get out at all or did they want to you stay indoors? We got out during the weather a little, but not that much overall.

7.  If you stayed indoors what did you do with all of your time? While we were indoors we got to know each other, and cleaned the house a little.  This place is an absolute pig sty and it drives me insane because it isn't even my mess!!

8.  Are you and your new companion still getting along?  What are your thoughts about your new comp?  We get along really well.  I like him.

9.  Have you had a chance to get out and interact with the people?  Are you teaching anyone?  Are there many members who speak Spanish?  I have had a chance to get out an interact with people, so that has been good. There are only 3 members who speak Spanish and they are really nice.  One is a recent convert and is kind of going less active.

10.  What do you think of the area?  Is it nice, etc.? I really like the area, it will be great!

11.  Will you be working with both English and Spanish speaking investigators?  If so how will that work?  I assume you will get out and try to find Spanish investigators.  What are your feelings about the members in the area?  Are they nice?  I did teach my first Spanish lesson alone yesterday and we have another tomorrow so that will be really good. We will be working with both English and Spanish investigators and as of right now we only have English because of the weather and our limited time being able to get and search for investigators.  But now the weather is improving, so hopefully we will get some here soon. Also, all of the investigators are English, because I opened this area to Spanish people. I really like the members there are a lot of older folks out here so that is nice. There are only a few younger families so we are hoping to find more of those with time. There are also over 200 less actives with this branch.  It used to be a ward a little over a year ago so we are hoping to see if we can't boost those numbers at all.

12.  What types of food have been being cooked for you?  Are you eating more English food?

Food wise we have only been fed by the Spanish people.  Pretty much we have been given goodies by the other people, but as far as food goes still Hispanic so far haha. (We were hoping being in a split area he would get fed more English food, and giving his stomach a chance to improve)

13.  How is your health?  Make sure to continue to avoid foods that give you issues.  Make good health choices. :)  My health is good and I will continue to watch my health mom don't worry.

14.  Do you interact with other missionaries at all in this area, or are you guys on your own there in Logansport?  We do interact with the other Elders a little bit, but not a whole lot.

15.  What instruction have you received from the local priesthood authorities on what they want from you as far as Spanish goes?  The local authorities say go for it with the Spanish, but they have no idea, so it will be interesting. We do interact with the other elders a little bit, but not a whole lot. I am not a big fan of them. This is not to offend anyone or anything but it just seems that the Spanish Elders are a little more on top of the game and not as lazy... That is just my observation.  So I am trying to break my companion into a different work ethic that I was trained with, so we will see.

(Last week we received a letter late in the week and I haven’t put it on the blog, but he talked about meeting with Pat and her adult son Donald and having an experience where the spirit was really strong and he felt prompted to challenging Pat to pray.)We did meet with them again and had another really good lesson, about baptism and families. So that was really good, she did pray but she doesn't think that it will work, but I really feel as if it will. I know it will if she truly does it with an open heart.

(We attended a Music Theatre program at the high school that all the alumni from that program were invited to attend and sing.  A lot of people asked about Ben.) That is really good that the MDT thing was great it would have been super cool to be able to participate, but I wouldn't trade this for anything. haha They still remember me!?!? Well that is good.  If you see any of them again tell them I say hi too.

So today marks my double digits sadly... 10 months. "Double digits the big One O!!”  I know some people have told you it seems I have been gone for a long time, but for me the time has been so fast.  Too short.

So far my health has improved and I have had less sick days but we will see.  I already love and enjoy my mission so much I wish I could jump back and start again with the knowledge I have now, but that is not my place in life.

(Our ward starts each year with a theme.  I told him what our new theme was for the year, it is from D&C 4 about serving with all your heart, might, mind and strength.) I like the new theme it is a really good theme.

(We are getting a foreign exchange student from China this Thursday, and we told him all about it.) THURSDAY!?!?!?! WHAT DA HECK!!! I AM ALREADY GETTING REPLACED BY SOMEONE AND I HAVENT EVEN HIT A YEAR YET!!!!!!!!!!!! hahahahaha I’m just kidding, It doesn't really bother me I just like to complain about it. |:D That is crazy you are going to have to prepare really fast and then learn whatever you can in Chinese in less than a week!!! That is super crazy, and that there is going to be a new kid in the home, that will probably be nice for Brooklyn and hopefully it will be an amazing experience, make sure you council the lord in all of it. That is sad to hear about Shauna Dumont tell her she is in my prayers as well.

Well my experience story for the week before I wrap us will be this. So yesterday was fast and testimony meeting, because of them canceling church the week before. So we had that in our small branch. I have taken up the tradition that on my first Fast and Testmony meeting in every branch I bare my testimony and share a little bit about me. So I got up about 45 past and went up there. While up there I told the story of how I found out I was going to Logansport and told the members about everyone’s input on being in a stripe.  I even shared my own thoughts on the subject, one of which being I am getting banished and am not going to be able to speak Spanish and my mission just went to hell in a hand basket.  I said that over the pulpit, so maybe not the best choice of words for a missionary. (mom sighs here, naughty boy)  I continued to tell a quick story to show people who I am, a lot of people were laughing and stuff. Then I got more into the spiritual part and my actual testimony.  In all the other testimonies before there were always babies crying and things of that nature going on, you know like a ruckus. My companion told me something, that I had never heard before, he was like your testimony is one of the greatest I have ever heard and it brought the spirit so strongly it is unbelievable. So I start getting into some of the more spiritual things I feel,  one of the things that my testimony has grown in so much is the love of God for each and every one of us no matter our circumstances.  I talked about how I believe so much of this church is based off the Love of God and our love for him. So I start talking on how none of us are less loved than the other in the eyes of  god, Using a good scripture from D&C 18 I believe it is very popular and I quoted it. I said "Every soul is great in the eyes of God" I continued to emphasis this over and over, as I was talking I paused for a moment and saw a few people crying and it was dead silent, there was no noise... In that moment I REALIZED just how much I have grown since I came out. Coming out here I had been a very blessed child with many blessings and challenges. But I always tell people that my life has been an easy one, they usually scoff and say yea right shortly after, but to me it is true in some ways. Yes I have been through a lot, but there is one thing I know for sure and I will use some of the words from Elder Holland and others to express my point, but I shall use them as my own so I will not quote them. And those thoughts are these. Hope is NEVER lost! Ever in all my experiences I have always seen that, even in the darkest night there is still hope for the glorious break of dawn just beyond the horizon and that is what moves us forward, that brightness and hope for a new day. Because to every dark night the Dawn will always break, that is a Promised blessing of God.  I know it and have lived it and no one can say or do anything to convince me otherwise. As long as we strive to be better every day and we continue on the long path ahead, the winding road the treacherous climb whatever it may be, even if you only get 10 yards down the trail... Isn't that farther than you were before? And don't you already have that much more perspective and Gratitude for those 10 yards because you had to give it your all to have them! Overall this gospel is a promise of Hope, not for those who are perfect because that does not exist in this life, but for those who are broken and scarred and fighting with all they have just to be a little better today than they were yesterday! And when we get to the end or that tomorrow or that judgment seat of God we can or at least I hope to say with tears rolling down my cheeks, I know I failed in many ways, but I have given it all I have and I hope you forgive me and that that is enough. He then will crouch down beside us as we feel his loving arm on our shoulder and says you have done amazing, and I could not wish for a better son. We all have the bright promise of a better future, today is the day to start and to make what you want to happen come to pass. I know that God, Our Loving Heavenly Father loves us, each of us the same, and even though we may go through the darkness of adversity if we keep going with hope for a brighter future we will be one day enjoying the sunrise as it splits the darkness around us.

Anyway that is it for this week I love you all so much and hope you have an amazing week, you are all in my prayers, and I hope that you may feel the Love of the Godhead in your lives. Love you.

Love, Tu hijo Elder Paxman  

Ice on My Eyelashes!!

This is Celeste at her baptism.  This photo is from when he served in Cumberland.

Dear Mom,

Ok, first off this email will be short because we are emailing in the clerks office and there is only one computer.  I will only be on for a little while, and then hopefully I will be emailing again this Thursday, because that is when the Library re-opens because of the weather.

Yes it is freaking cold here!! I feel like I am a pioneer from 17 Miracles!! Yesterday and today it was a lovely -15 degrees!!! Tomorrow a little better at -5. So yea freezing cold. I have a full time car because our area is huge. Although, I have not gotten to see any of it because of the bad weather.  They have had us stay in for most of the day. I had to walk like 5 blocks yesterday and by the time we got to the place we had ice on our eye-lashes and my legs were numb with shooting pain, hahaha adventurous right?!?! Anyway I am in Logansport IN.

So for transfers, first off the reason they called me to stripe is because the stake has wanted a Spanish Elder for this area for a while now, so they picked me.  I am the only Spanish speaking elder in my entire zone!! So that is crazy. My companion is a Greenie. He just got done training and his name is Elder Busath, his cousin Elder Hardester, the one I served near in Elkhart is a Spanish elder who has been out for about 4 and a half months.) Anyway my companion is about 6'3 and 290 pounds. He is very nice and excited to learn Spanish. Which is good because he technically does not have to, but he wants to. It is an all English branch, but there are a few Spanish members, the area (Logansport) has the potential to have a good Spanish ability as far as the work goes, but with the really cold weather we have not been able to get out and find any. Our apartment is really big and I like it a lot, we have our own washer and dryer. 

I have not heard from Gma or Gpa, but I am glad that they enjoyed the MTC, I really did.

We have been fed 2 times so far and both times by the two Spanish people I know haha. Health wise I have been good except  I was sick last night and today, so hopefully I can shake that and get back to tip top shape.  Church in this branch is also at 9 so that is fun. Well like I said I have pretty much no time so I can hopefully e-mail Thursday or sometime later in the week, but if I can’t I will email more next Monday. Well I love you all so much and hope you had a great week, other than that I hope I can email you later but who knows love you all and talk to you later.

Elder Paxman  

Oh I almost forgot apologize to everyone for me if I don't email them this week and just tell them the situation with the weather. Nick S. and Michael H. both emailed me so tell them I will email them next week. Love you and sorry for the shortness of it all.

No Letter

We didn't receive an email on Monday January 6th. I assumed this was due to extreme weather.

I didn't even know where in Indiana Elder Paxman was currently serving because he had been transferred late last week.

Some very kind members of the branch in Elkhart who are my friends via Facebook, saw my questions and checked into it.  They informed me Elder Paxman had been transferred to Logansport Indiana.

I figured since they are having this arctic blast of cold air it's probably an unusual occurrence, so I wanted to document it here on Elder Paxman's blog. So, I of course Googled their weather...

This is what I found..

This weather forecast image is for Indianapolis which is quite a bit further south than Logansport, but it gives an idea.

From the Pharos Tribune: "Snowpocalypse: Local residents dig out from snowfall."
Just after 8 p.m. Sunday, the city of Logansport was declared in a state of emergency.  Below zero temperatures and wind gusts are forecast to bring the wind chill factor as low as negative 30 to 40 degrees fahrenheit.  Local residents dig out from excessive snowfall.

I'm sure he is having an adventure.  I can't wait to hear all about it when he does email.  Which unfortunately might not even be until next Monday.

I'm going to STRIPE!!

Dear Mom, 

I am also glad that Kenny was there when we had our video chat, it was nice to hear from him and see him. I really enjoyed talking to you all as well!! 

(I will preface this next bit, Benjamin was very sick on Christmas Eve and Christmas day.  Sick enough that it worried him and the branch president in his area.  They wanted a list from him and me of things the members should not feed him.  They said he is to polite and embarrassed to tell them.) Ok first health. I have been good since Christmas and I have made a list of things I shouldn't eat. Mainly by observing what has had an effect on me in the mission. So it is this. 1. Soda 2.Corn. 3. Lettuce 4. Celery. 5. Anything super spicy, and that is about it. Beans actually have not bugged me out here on my mission at all, which is nice because they make them a lot and I really like them, especially Black beans yummy. I also am going to be drinking either that fruit drink or the Kefir more frequently. I stopped because of the issue we talked about, but I am going to pick it back up. Another thing I am going to do is get my heart rate up. When I work out in the mornings I usually do things like lift weights (small ones) or something like that, but I am going to start really working out my abs see if that helps, and also more cardio work outs like squats, lunges, mountain climbers, stairs, jumping jacks, and stuff like that.  See if that helps, I don't know if it will, but we will see, plus help me not get fat. (him getting fat is the least of my worries, he has lost weight) Oh another thing I am going to do is eat less, or if I know I am going to have a meal at a members, eat less that day so when I am there I can eat plenty, so I can be more polite. Other than that my health has been good these last few days, and I hope it continues to get better. (In his photos on his SD card there were containers of Muscle Milk, we didn’t know if this was his but told him he should NOT be drinking that) Second, the Muscle Milk, it is not mine, come on now, If I am going to bulk up I am doing it by hard work, not trying to fast track it with Muscle Milk.  Plus Elder Mancilla had me try some, it tastes worse than Ensure, and you know how much I did NOT like those, I have never been much of a supplement taker.   

(During our conversation with him, he was at the Branch Presidents house, the President came on the video and told us how much they loved the missionaries and our son etc.  He was such a sweet man and told us that they are small people but that they have very big hearts. I of course started to cry while he was talking.) I did see you start to cry when he was talking, I really like this branch a lot. hahaha Unfortunately you and I both cry at everything….. (thanks by the way for that...) haha.  I hope the Spanish sounded good, because it is going to have to get good really quick!!  Also, you can start to learn a little right now. All three of those people who you are friends with in this Branch are very nice, and Hna. Romero speaks a fair amount of English. Now to learn, this is going to sound weird and will probably be a pain for the first few times, but anytime you comment on Facebook or anything like that to any of them do it in Spanish, go buy (or find) a Spanish-English dictionary, and make out the sentences, use Google Translate to help with the structure if you need too. If you do this you will eventually pick up some Spanish, a fair amount too, also have Bai talk to you in Spanish, this will help a lot too. You can also ask me about Spanish stuff and I will help in any way I can. You and Dad should both do this, one it will help for the vacations you want to go on, and when you come back here with me, it won't be as hard for you. Now I am not saying it is going to work quickly or that you will learn a lot, but you will pick up things and at least get a base for things.  

The people we are working with are doing well, we have one Jonaris who will be baptized here shortly, and Manuel who is doing good as well, they are both Part member families and it won't be long till they get baptized, at least as far as I know. Church was really good today, a lot of people took pictures of us just in case, and I really enjoy attending this Branch. 

(I told him that his grandparents enter the MTC today) I remember that night before going into the MTC as if it were yesterday, man it feels like a few weeks ago I was there.  I can just see how Gma and Gpa would react to that stuff.  That feeling also comes back pretty much every six weeks as we wait for the call or whatever to find out what is going on for transfers.  I can't believe in this next transfer I will turn 20!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is so crazy, everyone is like what were you doing last year at this time, and I pretty much have three more months till I am saying, oh I was on my mission!! Also 2014 is my missionary year!! The entire year I get to be a missionary, that is super sick!!!  Time goes by way too fast, I feel like I am still very very green, but I am getting to be one of the old dogs...  

Ay mi madre Gilmore Girls Hijole, not that again... Oh the good old Card game nights with your friends, those where always fun, it is really nice to have that group of people to go hang with.  That is how this Branch is, there is a gang or group of friends just like yours, and it makes me laugh.  

(We learned about the dispensations of the gospel in Sunday School yesterday) I don't even know a whole lot about the Dispensations, but that is sad that he won't be teaching anymore I really like Duncan, he will do great wherever he goes though. Speaking of Old Testament, I have started to read the Bible, and I am determined to finish it before the end of my mission, So I started at the very beginning and I am not very far, it is hard to read sometimes, haha. I did love the Book of Mormon, it was amazing, I will probably start it again, in a way, I am going to read it verse by verse, one a day and really ponder what the verse has to say, because each verse is filled with power. It is said we can draw something from every verse, so I am going to try that, at least until I start it more as a read through again. But first, I am reading the Bible, and the Doctrine and Covenants, just a section a day. Sometimes more if it is a tiny section. So I read kind of everything.  

New Year’s here, we have to be in at 6 or at a members, so as of right now we have nothing planned.  We will probably go to the Branch Presidents house or something on that day. I really enjoyed Ephraim's Rescue I thought it was super good.  

(On his SD card there was a picture that looked like a big flat screen was in his kitchen, I have since been informed it’s cabinets not a flat screen.  I posted that picture to his blog. My eyes must be going bad) Hahaha you goob, I told you it was not a flat screen T.V. Now everyone probably thinks you are crazy and that I am super Jack, well there goes anyone looking at my Blog hahaha   

I loved the candy in my stocking (as always) I loved the package and so far have really liked the Ipod and music, I like a lot of the music you put on there, so that was good. I did figure it out it was a little confusing at first, but now it is easy.  

The weather has been decent it got warm for a day than cold again so the same pretty much and it has been really nice to have a car.  

It is transfer P-day, and I still have to write other people. So it won't be much longer. I really appreciate what Trenton has said about me because I feel the same with him, I am glad I get to see his Homecoming. He has always been a dear friend to me, and it is also nice to be in contact with him on the mission. Well to wrap up I am getting Transferred!! I only did one transfer here in Elkhart!! Which is super sad, because I love it here and I love the people here.  Although, something interesting is happening to me. So I get a call from President yesterday and he is like, “well Elder Paxman I have a special assignment for you”... Instantly in my head I am thinking "Freak!! What is it?" “He then says this is going to be a great opportunity for you, so I was talking to a Stake and we have decided to do something. Elder Paxman you are going to open a new area and stripe !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” WHAT DA HECK!!!!! Who does he think I am?!! I have to open another area!! and stripe it!! Which means, I will be the Spanish speaking Elder, and I will be with an English Elder!! So pretty much any Hispanics we teach will not be we, it will be ME!! I am freaking out so much, but I am also super excited to see how this is going to go down.  This is good and bad, one because it shows the President has confidence that my Spanish is good enough to teach on my own, and that I am a good enough missionary.  It is bad because my companion will be able to do absolutely nothing with Spanish, so I am going to need some major gift of tongues or something because this is going to be an adventure and a half that is for sure. President also said it has pretty much not been touched by Spanish in the past, and to plan on being there for a good couple transfers!!! So yea, that was a whopping bit of news for me this week.  

I just want to share one quick thing I really enjoyed from my studies this week.  It was a quote or a part of one that says "At one moment or more in every man’s life he will be backed up against the wall of Faith and there he must make his stand!" This quote is a big inspiration to me and I really like it. I would normally evaluate more, but I have taken forever on this email.  So next week I will let you know where in Indiana I am at, and who my companion is and everything. It will be really interesting to see how all of this goes. Well I love you all so much and hope your week goes great, I will hear from you soon hopefully, and remember and realize that our Father in Heaven is by our side constantly and is watching over us always. 

Love, Tu Hijo Elder Paxman. 

Heavenly Father answers our Prayers

 The construction sight of the Indianapolis Temple.

Elder Paxman and Elder Hjelm goofing off. :-)

Dear Mom, 

Ok, so first, yes we can Skype, but I don't have an account or anything so I need you or Bai to make me one, and then when I call tomorrow to set things up, you can give me the info and stuff so I can log on, and get all of that sorted out. Most likely we will be Skyping around 6:15ish our time so definitely after 4 your time. Or if you would rather just have a phone call we can do that too. I will let you guys decide.

(His mission President had us send his Christmas package to the mission home so they could be distributed at a special Christmas Conference.  We mistakenly thought this would be on Christmas day, so we sent his whole Christmas.  When we found out it was actually on the 19^th we were distraught thinking that he would then not have any letters or packages to open on Christmas day) I actually didn't open the box seeing as I thought it might be the 25th day of Christmas, so I indeed have not opened it, so I am glad you didn’t mention to me anything that is in it.  

The Christmas Conference was really fun, the first couple of hours was more like a mission training, so that was cool, and the topic was Christ-like Attributes, which is Chapter 6 in Preach My Gospel. So that was really good, I really enjoyed a lot of the talks, and the spirit that was there!  It was really great!  A guy also came and sang and he was really good, he sang one of my all-time favorite Christmas songs, which is "Mary did you know" I love that song. After that part, we went into the Gym and all had lunch, which was yummy (it was ham with mac and cheese and beans by the way). After lunch we stayed in the gym socialized, played a few games and then, a talent show. So there were all sorts of talents, and some I would say not quite mission appropriate, for example one was the Assistants rapping and dancing, it was really funny, but maybe not so missionary like haha. There were also some singers, dancers, piano players and some other talents, of course some weird ones haha. After the talent show we all went into the Chapel and watched Mr. Krugers Christmas which was really good, and I hadn't seen it before the mission, so it was really fun to watch. (I swear we had watched it before…but maybe not) Then after that they told us our family and friends had sent us packages and letters. So they sent us out by Zone and let us pick a Tie out of a massive selection (or a scarf for sisters) and then we went into the Gym and they had some tables set up with all the missionaries stuff that were in our Zone. We each went and got our stuff than drove the 3 hours home, we didn't get home till about 10:45, but my companion and I had split up, because we didn’t want to take our car. So he got there a little earlier than I did. (That little bit of info will come in handy for a story later). (he never relays the story….I will have to ask him about this next time) So overall the conference was really good.  

I have been loving the 25 days of Christmas things.  My favorite stories, well, I really like all of them, but I lately enjoyed one about the Red Marbles, that was super good, also the one about the string of blue beads, I loved that one (maybe because I have no females to write and a good romance story was needed hahaha). I also really enjoyed the one about Friends and relating them to angels. They have all been really good, and I only have the 24th left than my Christmas package!!! The Branch Christmas party was really good, they had food, piñatas, and music. It was just overall a fun time.  Oh all of us missionaries also sang Micheal Buble's version of Feliz Navidad, so that was fun, but there might be random videos now of us missionaries going around the web haha.  

We actually did get hit with some snow the last week or so, about 9 inches is all in total I would say. Although the last two days it has been raining, which is worse because then you are just wet and freezing.  We are supposed to get some freezing rain here soon which will be cool to see.  

(I asked him if he drives yet.) My compa drives, I am still Junior Companion, which usually means he drives, but he doesn't really like the snow so he got permission that whenever there is a lot of snow on the roads that I can drive.  

As far as transfers go I have no idea, I am guessing I will be staying here in Elkhart with Elder Mancilla for another transfer, but he thinks he is leaving and if not leaving going District leader here in Elkhart.  We will see what happens. We find out on Sunday. Although, I am pretty sure we are both staying. I do really want to stay here in Elkhart though, I love it here and hope I can stay here for a while. Although in these transfers that are coming up we will be getting at least one new Spanish missionary, so we will see, I might train, I doubt it, but it is possible.  

As far as teaching anyone new, we found some people here recently, but seeing as we have only taught them once we will see how things go.  Less-actives, we have not found many, a lot of them have moved, so we are trying to get in contact with them. I definitely feel the same about the re-activating, I really enjoy doing it, when it happens as well as teaching new people of course, I just love the work in general.  

I do indeed keep in contact with the Diaz Family.  I e-mail them every week. I am going to have you search her out on Facebook here soon, she says she has tried to find me and can't.  I gave her your info hoping she can friend request you, so who knows with the Facebook thing. Yea anyone that I have developed a relationship with I try and keep in contact with, so that is nice. Once we get permission from the President we can e-mail pretty much anyone as long as they are not in our area.  

We still have Electric heaters, but we do have Hot water.  Our landlord is working right now on installing the gas heater. We do have pretty much everything we need, the only thing we are missing is a microwave, but we have been able to do without it.  

As far as the other baptism pictures on my SD card, yes that is Celeste's Baptism and that was an amazing experience. I did receive an email from Gilda Paxman and gave them the informations about the Elder they were asking about.  That is such a nice thing for them to do.  It was nice to hear from them. 

I am glad you liked the pictures, and yes I am wet all the way down my legs from the pouring rain.  I am glad you liked the little bit of deeper things, (his thoughts about what he is studying) because I will be including more of those I am sure as the time goes by. My health has been good, I started the pills after I got pretty sick to see if they will help at all, the member say I am looking healthier in the face so we will see. Sister Cleveland asks about my health whenever I see her, President not so much, I don't think he wants to stress about that so much. 

I am not going to include a whole lot more in this letter because I will be talking to you on Wednesday!! So if you have questions or anything you want to ask me, write them down, so you can ask me. That way you don't have to think too hard unless there are more that come to your head that you want to ask. I also heard someone suggest recording the conversations we have as a cool keepsake after the mission, I thought that was kind of a cool idea.  

I will be calling tomorrow to verify and set up everything so be ready for that.  I do not know when we will do that, but I will have about 15 min to set all that up and stuff.  

This week not a whole lot has happened work wise because of all the holiday events, I think it will be the same this week and the next, (especially if either of us are transferred). Well as far as studies go I did finish the Book of Mormon, which was awesome!!! Another thing I have been thinking about is outlook, which I have had to think about a lot lately. One of the things that I have remembered from growing up is that a positive outlook makes everything better, even on those days when it isn't super positive.  If you can at least hope for the day dawn to break, than it makes everything much easier.  Also I got a commitment from my District Leader to study a point in Preach my Gospel, it is at the back of Chapter 8, using time wisely. It is in the personal study part in the back, the second point.  I invite you and dad to look at that. I started to get a little choked up about it when I read it and did the activity. The commitment was to do that several times before the end of my mission, so I won't spoil what I got from that. I want you to do it for yourselves.  I would like to bear a little bit of my testimony and end. Really, I just want to say that Our Heavenly Father loves us so much, and that he is willing to answer our prayers at any moment, we must needs only ask with real-intent and a pure heart and he will gladly answer us. Also, that this work (missionary work) is not a hard work.  I had to give my first talk on my mission yesterday and it was on Missionary Work, and I read a few scriptures that simply say to bring about the work of the Lord, which includes missionary work, all we must simply do is Believe, this is so true because even if we are not sure if we can do it, as long as we believe, that Jesus is the Christ the Holy One of Israel and the Prince of Peace, that he died to atone for our sins, then this work will go forward and we will all be a part of it, because if we truly love this Gospel and all it stands for, it no longer becomes difficult to share it with those around us, even if it is just by our example.   

Well I love you all so much and hope that you have a great Christmas, and I am looking forward to talking to you on Wednesday, (and a little on Tuesday). Love you all so much have a great week and hear from you soon. 

Love, tu hijo, Elder Paxman