Spanish of a week

Hello everyone!! This week has really flown by! Cant believe that I'm writing for the next time.

The week has really been moving forward! 

The cool thing is that we've been able to get with many people during the week. A lot of work is slowing down a tad...although it's slowing to allow workers a second to relax in order to survive the apples starting up the 15th of this month! I'll tell ya...the picture of the apples I sent a few weeks ago really dosent say much to the amount of apples that we'll be getting this harvest. Many workers at the moment are working hard to "board" and support the trees that have started to droop with the amount of apples they are carrying. It's going to be really cool and crazy. We've been thinking during the harvesting, maybe we can follow one of our investigators and help them out for a little! But we'll see!! 

So last monday was just an amazing way to start off the week. Thank you everyone who really made the day amazing!! I loved every message and letter! 

As well, that evening, we were able to go and enjoy a little bit of the evening with the Ruiz family. Super fun to do a birthday in a different culture!! They cooked us a really amazing chile relleno, and got a amazing cake!! Had fun, pushed a face into the cake, and enjoyed some great company!  Love that family!!!! 

So enough to say that the evening was really amazing!! 

That next day, we woke up early in the morning, got equipment together, and headed for Wanachee and Pateros, where the fires have been hitting. It's really hard to describe what I saw and did throughout the day, but many of the situations these people were put through were really hard. But it was amazing to see and be a part of the Helping Hands to turn their lives back in order. We worked all day in the heat, and got back with enough time to wash up and get to bed. 

Service is such an amazing thing!! That was the main theme and focus we noticed yesterday during our Sunday meetings. We have such a fantastic opportunity and a duty to find those in need and help. On the outside looking in as well as the inside looking out, it's really hard to describe. What an amazing thing!!! 

One of the fun activities that a DL gets to do is go on even more exchanges, this time with the Zone Leaders! I was left in Mattawa, and received Elder Duanna-hammond, a super cool missionary from Gana. 

I really love exchanges! Everyone says that the most amazing miracles are able to happen during them. I have had some amazing exchanges and miracles with exchanges, but this one really was amazing. 

The area of Mattawa has gone through ups and downs, and at times if your not really careful, so can the attitude of the missionary towards the area he's in. The season's been hard, but this exchange really had a large impact of the perspective. The day was full to the brim with amazing lessons and moments we were given to meet people who were prepared to hear a message. There is so much potential in both an area, and each missionary in the area. 

Furthermore, really putting your trust and faith in each action and motion to know that this isnt your own work really transforms the work you're able to do. 

Then, on an ending to the week, we were able to go down and help out at the Food Bank. Usually we are put into the back, where we're hauling large boxes or something manly like that! I might have said something so someone in Spanish, but they took notice, then put us in the front checking everyone in. It was really fun to really be put of the spot in speaking Spanish. It was a little frustrating with the computers not working...and asking people to refill some applications, but it was a blast!! Both of us by the end were just tired!! Now that's a better workout that lifting anything in the back!!! 

Spanish I feel is still coming along. I still love it just as much, and am trying to work just as hard to get it in my head! It's so much fun to learn a new language/culture! I love the people here! 

That pretty well encloses my week so far. Things are still moving forward...although still at a really accelerated speed. Havent been able to fix that of yet.... 

Thank you all for the amazing support and love I feel from you! Work hard and enjoy every moment!!! Love you all!!!

Chao!

--

Elder Glen Wright Washing Kennewick Mission 

Ruiz family, dinner with Branch president

Last week as a mini missionary

Bueno bueno!!!!

I hope...and heard that everything this week went really amazing for all of you!! Things here, especially this week have been absolutely amazing!!

The start of the week really set the stage for everything! We had a really hard time last week, and we took some time to talk about what we needed as a focus to help things move forward. It's just been really weird to have to work around things that happen like around here...especially with workers out and about each day, but this week has made it a miracle.

It started with Monday. Goodness, I am so grateful that missionaries are able to have a bit of the day to prepare for the week. Not just going and getting things they need, but to mentally click off for a moment and get your head back into place...just away from the day to day stress of missionary life.

On Monday, we as a zone were invited to play a good number of fun sports and such as a members house. That was SUPER HOT! But it was absolutely amazing! It got the both of us pumped and ready for the week!!!

Things this week have been hard as well, and that's just the work for the season. But, as we worked with our focus, and acted not just BY, but WITH faith, miracles were seen each day!!

Even the first moments after our activities in Othello were amazing! There were many people that we talked to, and found interest, then we were able to get in touch with our WML's sister, who had been investigating for a good number of years. We sat down and really got talking (she had been really sick a few days before, where we gave a blessing, and it really hit here hard, especially with the influence with her brother and mother).

But one of the greatest things that I was able to notice with this week, was our attitude when trials did come, when the moments were just as hard. It was changed and done with so much joy and patience, for both of us! Truly was an amazing miracle to see unfold here!!

And still working off the amazing exciting note...HAIRCUT!!! Always really in need and multi-color highlights on our calendars!

Haha!!

But on the same level of that, we were able to go down to Othello later in the week and attend another Zone Meeting. I love being able to go to these!! They are amazing and really help bring an edifying Spirit to help us move along in the work of the Lord!

The focus and inspired theme that was expressed was the amazing opportunity and blessing to work alongside members!

Being a missionary is one of the greatest things that I know that I can do now in my life. It brings so many blessings and joy that is indescribable! and it's even cooler to think that all that strive to reach out and share the Gospel, can as well, have those same missionary experiences.

I goes back to whenever I think of Elder Holland talking on missionary work. "This [missionary service] is as close to Real Life as you will ever get." Now, how can that apply to us all a members? I know that I will strive to continue with his further invitation for these missionaries, two years to learn and apply the Gospel to our lives, practice it, and learn from it. Then to learn how to do missionary work at home. The greatest blessing is that we dont have to stop having missionary experiences, and we shouldn't! "How great is our calling?!"

but on another note, thank you all for everything that you have done to help me out! Especially for today, which marks my 19th birthday! I love you all!

Yesterday was especially a really special day that marked my last day as a "mini-missionary" (not what the slang is for that here, just a name I thought of). I am very grateful for the priceless blessing to be here, especially to be able to start the first parts of my life here. I cant even imagine where I would be right now this day if the age didnt change, and it dosent matter, because this is the one place that I know I need to be and want to be right now. I know that the Gospel is true and is meant to be continued every second of our lives. That is what was meant, and that is our greatest blessing!

Obedience and the ability to confide and give to the will of others is something greatly rounded at in today's society. But I know that is the way we are meant to walk as we follow the steps of Christ, up to the feet of the Father.

I know that God lives, I know that His Son is our Savior. I've always thought of how a living prophet can be of great help over a dead prophet. And I know as well, that we have a living Christ. And what an amazing though and blessing that is! He knows us and continues to strive to help us! "Choose not to be what the world is looking for, but what the Lord is working for!"

Thank you all for the love and support that I feel so strongly here! I love you all and pray for you! Have a great week! Know that you made my day!!

--

Elder Glen Wright Washing Kennewick Mission 

Orchards and the end of the season

July 28 Trials bring about some of the greatest lessons

Hello everyone!!

Holy cow!! It's pretty weird to think that today is another P-day! This week hasnt really slowed down that much!!

The work is moving along really well. We are still hitting some hard patches with many things that have and are coming up here in the Mattawa area, but it has been an amazing learning experience.

I always find it an amazing, and rather funny blessing on how many of us progress and gain attributes we ask for. One of my first thoughts that came with this was when I really was starting to think about what will happen during my mission (this was before I left). I was probably thinking something along the lines of, "I can't wait until I am able to help all these amazing people!! And now I get to spend 2 years helping and inviting people, and seeing the amazing change in their lives." Oh...but how amazing and brilliant are the ways of our Lord and Father. There is so much more to it!! It goes back to my favorite quote: "Be all that you can be," and "Let Me make you all that you can be."

If we have a desire to build on an attribute to change in our lives, He's not going to do a "bippody boppody boo" kinda change. But lasting and full ability to grow comes through a bit of a "refiners fire," which is the best description I can think of.... The biggest example that Mattawa has really helped with me so far has been my struggle with Humility. ...well, never mind with that, I'm already that most humble Elder here...I've got it down enough, so I'll move on to another...jaja no!

There has been so many people, including and especially my companion, who have been very good examples of humility. And there are so many situations that have really helping me use more humility. To make a change to help the situation for the better. What an amazing thing to be able to see. Not only the joy to be a part of the amazing conversion process of my brothers and sisters, but to really see an even greater change in me. Frustrating at times to kill off that natural man, but it's been an amazing blessing and experience for me.

Mattawa is still going through a little bit of a roller coaster with the apples starting up now. We might also join the crew and work alongside some of our investigators one of these p-days, so I'll have to keep you updated on that when and if it happens!!

But the work is going well. It has been a little bit of a refiners fire, frustrating at first. But keeping in mind that we are not here to worry about us, nor it being our own work, but the work of the Lord. What an amazing place! Mattawa is by far one of my favorite areas that I have been able to serve in!!! I love the people here!

We're still working along-side Vicente. We're very excited for him, and will help him through!! There are just so many amazing people that we really want to help and share this amazing blessing with!!

To really help both the unity of the members as well as investigators, we planned and carried out a branch activity of volleyball and hamburgers!!

We werent sure how the turnout for the whole thing would be, but as the activity started, more and more people came and had a grand old time!!!

Although...the volleyball game didnt last all that long...and quickly turned into a very fun football game! I love these people!!!

Another highlight to the week was my first real act as District leader to take hold of the first weekly district meeting. Although, we officially changed to Sistrict/Relief Society meeting.

It went really well. I'm not much of a person who likes to stand up and just preach to a bunch of missionaries for an hour and a half, so we used it more as a discussion, which turned out really well!

I guess that with time, it only gets easier, and it should really help me be able to build up my teaching skills!! This is going to be fun!!

So, kind of wrapping up the letter, I'd like to close in the words of Peter: "Beware of dogs."

There is the lesson to be learned there!! jaja!

No, but two days ago, one of the sisters in the district get into a run-in with a German shepherd. ER room, and 6 stiches above and under the eye, just missing it by a few inches. She all good though and as happy as ever!!

But I love you all and hope for the best!! Keep moving forward and dont forget to read the Book of Mormon!! I was just able to finish it and start it up again!! SO GOOD!

Thank you all and have a fantastic week!!!!

--

Elder Glen Wright Washing Kennewick Mission 

Fields and the Fires

July 21st

Hello everyone over there in Utah!! And wherever else you may be!!!

Transfer week!! And it's been pretty awesome!!!

It's always been a different world when transfers happen, but being in the middle of nowhere just adds to everything. When neither move, it's a normal day, but you see everyone else move and leave, but for us, we just had the most normal day...pretty weird. BUT the Sistrict sounds really cool, so I'm super excited for the transfer! 

So I guess I can go through the week in chronological order. 

So my bag went though a pretty rough week.... It all started with a HUGE 6 month-old black lab owned by the family we ate with...love the family! ...not too much the dog now. Let's just leave it at he got super excited to see me, and now all the dogs owned by our investigator are spending all their time sniffing it out. 

We had a pretty amazing Noche De Hogar (family home evening) with the Ruiz family, and our investigating family, Cruz. We really hit it home with a fantastic lesson and activity on the Title of Liberty; which, by the way, is a fantastic story!! 

But we all made our own titles of liberty, all of which were really cool! 

But for the ending family game, we played a game of Hot Potato (papa caliente). In this version, you repeat the tongue twister of Papa se quema(potato is burning), quema se papa, repeated until you say papa se quemo(potato was burning), and that's when they have to stop. 

BUT for me, what I heard...and did on my turn was: Papa con crema, crema con papa, and to stop: papa con queso!! 

I dont really know something better to help you realize how little of a language one knows...XD Super funny, but really was hard! 

I always have a good side to the story!! That night was my first time that (as I remember), I DREAMT IN SPANISH!!!!!!!!!!! It was by far one of the coolest things to have happen, as well, it was Heaven-sent to really help me keep going on Spanish. Such a hard language for me, but it really is something amazing!! I highly recommend all to learn!! 

Dont really have a way? I DO!! El Libro de Mormon, otro testamento de Jesucristo. I will tell ya, it's one of the best ways to get up on a language. I have also really started listening to it as well, and it has really amazed me how much it really is helping! I LOVE SPANISH!!!

To add to the fun, this past week has really turned up the heat! It's actually brought about a few really large fires, some of which I will post in pictures! Crazy!! We are hearing something of 100 or so houses already hit, and the wind really isnt helping. We had a large one off the top of Wanapum dam, which wasnt able to be fought due to the hills and wind. But these past days have looked a lot better, so we are hoping that will mark the end to them! Something as well to keep in prayers!!

But the work is going really well! I have really had a lot of fun working the the Relief Society as the President. It's going to be a bit of a roller coaster, but I am super excited for it!! ...have no idea what or how I'm going to do the District meetings, but I know Someone who does. 

We are still keeping busy with many of our fantastic friends! These people are just amazing! There have been struggles and hard times, as well as triumphs and miracles. And I have a testimony that this is truly the Lord's work. When an amazing blessing to be a part of it!! 

This upcoming week will mark my 10 months...it has just gone by SOOO fast!! 

I love the work, I love the people, I love Spanish, I love my mission!! Things cant really be better, right?! 

Thank you all for the amazing support and love that I feel strongly here as I serve! Please keep praying for our investigators, there are so many of our wonderful brothers and sisters who have truly taken in the Gospel and felt its power and truth! 

I love you all and hope the best for each of you!!!

--

Elder Glen Wright Washing Kennewick Mission