22 Oct. 2001

Dear Family,

How's everyone doing? I'm doing pretty well. This week has been one of pretty big change. Elder Castillo got changed to Barquisimento Thursday, and the day before that (Wednesday in the morning) I got a call from Elder Howard (the same one from my group who got sick in the MTC) who's the new AP to tell me that President wanted me to train again, so early Thursday morning Elder Maxfield became my new companion - and my second "son." He's 19, from Centerville, UT (close to Bountiful), he has 3 other brothers and 2 sisters, and he's #4. He played some football in HS and he's a big singer. Thursday morning Elder Castillo wanted to see the face of someone taking malta for the first time, so us 3 went to a little store and bought ourselves a malta. Needless to say, he (Elder Maxfield) didn't like it too much.

BRB - gonna go change so we can go shopping -

But I have faith that he'll grow to like it. Kinda like vegemite. :P

Anyway, I just got finished giving Elder Maxfield a haircut, using a buzz machine and scissors. Didn't turn out TOO bad . . . his spanish is really good for straight out of the MTC but, as normal, he has a fairly hard time understanding the people. But we've already taught a bunch of charlas together and our program is blossoming. We've got 4 people with baptism dates in the program, a record for this area. We've got one lady, Matilda, who's a widow and is way rad. She understands everything and strongly feels the need to be baptized by the proper authority for the remission of her sins. I can't wait for the 4th charla to tell her that she will be able to be sealed to her husband forever. We've also got a guy of about 25 years, named Felix, who contacted us in a little store. He accepted the baptismal invitation without hesitation and went to church yesterday for the first time, which he liked. Next comes the nephew of a sister in the ward, Miguel, who's 14 and who loves the church. He lives with his aunt because his 2 parents didn't want him as a baby, so he's lived all his life with this sister. And we've got Emilia, who's address we found in the area book - history of missionaries who've served here in the past. She's really concerned about the future of her 10 year old daughter who we'll start to teach Wednesday.

I was soooo stoked and surprised when they called me to train again. It's pretty rare that a person trains twice, so when they called and asked to speak to me I was pretty baffled because that didn't even come to my mind. But I was sooo excited, because the fact that I've only got 4 fast Sundays left is always on my mind and I didn't want a companion who was already set in his ways and who could maybe interrupt the way I wanted to work to finish up my mission. But when I found out that I would train, I was sooo happy because that would mean that I could mold him how I wanted to. :) But he's way rad and I know that we'll kick butt. But I've noticed just how horrible my english is, not only speaking but hearing it, too. Ha! Better hire an interpreter for my first month home. Right now I'm looking over letters dated Sept. 18, 27, and 1 of Oct. and 10 of Oct. Hi Mrs. Karn!! How are you? I can't believe you remember me. Say hi to John for me.

Chelsea has a phone??? As soon as I leave the house all hades breaks out . . . :P Man, Mom and Dad, you guys are getting weak! Ha! Keep it up so I can get some cool stuff, too! And Sky getting all fashion? This is news. That's funny that he's got glasses - I'm going to get some too, I think. Should be cheap here, I hope.

As far as the statement "nothing you'd want to know" usually means just boring stuff; don't sweat.

So the Ventura mission's MP let them stay home and watch TV? They have a TV in their apt?! Maaaaannnn . . .

As for the trip to Venezuela, I say stay home and keep the cash. Not because I don't want you to come visit me here, but it wouldn't be the most prudent thing to do.

My wishes for Xmas and B-Day? I want (1) you to keep the tree the decorations up until I come home!!!! (2) just put any presents given to me in the bank. That's it!

And Kristen wrote me? That's odd . . . pretty funny. I'll see how she's doing :)

Well, I'm doing "calidad", as the Valencians say it . . . "al pelo cochino", as the Maracuchos say it . . . and "carteluo", as the Caracans say it.

Chao, pues

Elder Onken a.k.a. "Nick"