Well, this week has been pretty good. The best part about it was that last Thursday.  After my email we found a game we play now, and it's called hallway soccer. We pretty much just start at the water fountain and then try to get it past two other guys and get it in our doorway at the end of the hall. It's a stroke of luck that we have the perfect room for that, 'cause nobody else can really play with their rooms on the side. Oh, and the fact that we found a tennis ball too.

I'm pretty sure I have like a ton of stuff going home. Over the weeks I've collected like 20 bottles of shampoo and I'm selling them for 50 cents a piece and making quite a bit of money. we are also going to give away all the other food we have collaborated. But besides that I need to send home the sheets, some shorts, some t-shirts, and maybe a few other things. (I still don't have the fitted bottom sheet so if you can just send it straight to California.) I also don't have that sd card and you never told me if you put that stuff on the computer yet...

Besides that we had a rare opportunity this week on Friday to give our old teacher, Sister A., a priesthood blessing because she was having a really hard time teaching her new class. They made her cry by telling her dumb things like they don't think that she should be going away from the curriculum and that she isn't teaching what they need to know, ie: to love and care for your investigator and to teach the investigator and not the lessons. Then the four of us went into her class and taught them about what it takes to be a successful missionary and that you don't have to know everything and speak the language perfectly to feel and have the spirit testify. Then we all bore our testimonies on how much she helped us and how we have changed and I think that made a huge difference in their attitude.

Oh, which reminds me! Hermana D. left so it's just us four boys now. I love it! and besides that it's just smooth sailing till Wednesday.  I leave for the airport at like 5:30 and we will probably be at the airport at around 7 to 8 and I will call you then. Now remember that is about 6 in the morning on Wednesday.

I also haven't received any letters for about 4 weeks now from anybody but J so if you see any of my friends tell them to shoot me an email.

I'm sending a few more of my journal entries this week but they might be a little boring. I think that Mo and Dain will enjoy them though.

I think that I will love Cali and the Spanish people. Can't wait to get there. It feels like this is the longest week in existence.  My ankle has been getting really swollen and sore after each gym when I play soccer and it kinda does this popping thing when I move it (hard to explain). So that's the reason I'm going to the doctor. Nothing really to worry about.


(Later that afternoon)

Well, I'm glad the family's doing good, it's so weird thinking of  Mo driving around places it's crazy!

Mo, remember car's aren't go carts.
Dain, go play outside.
Mom, keep feeling good, it's good for you.
Dad, you make me crack up.
Buster, go on a frickin diet you fat pig. I love you and you better not die before I get back or I'm gonna kill you.

Nope! didn't get Britt's letter yet! I've only been waiting forever though so I thought he might have forgot. Thanks for sending the sim card. We don't get dearelder Monday or Tuesday and we fly out on Wednesday morning. I got the return address stamp. There is evidence all over our room. Dang roommates. Haha. They decided everything had to have our address on it. :)

Thanks for checking with Ryan. Oh and by the way I may email you once or twice this week if I need to get a hold of you for anything so just check each day if you can. (They're a little nicer when you're getting ready to go.) I'll just send home one of the top sheets then and take the other with me and pick one up there.

Brogan, send me some pics of that shed if it ever got done. Love ya bro. keep it easy. :)

Love,

Elder Channing Winterrose

PS The answer to last week's message is: And I hope that your classes are very marvelous and that you don't have too much homework my buddy. But you need to remember that if you want to have success, your habits in your studies are the greatest part.

My Notes and Thoughts From Elder Holland's Talk

Hey Everybody!

 
Hey all you!  How's my family doing?  It's officially my 8th week and we get travel plans today!  I'm so excited!  It has been an awesome week and very eventful.  We hand an Apostle of the Lord come and visit us!  It was soo cool!  I even got to sing in the MTC Choir for him, and he said we did GREAT!

Hope you are all doing great.  Thanks for the picture.  It's my favorite and I really needed boxes so thanks for sending them.  

I hope you all continue to do great and enjoy school!


These are my notes and thoughts from the talk given on August 30, 2011 - Elder Jeffery R. Holland.

 
Okay, this is officially the coolest day in my life!  One of the twelve is here.  And we are singing for him!!  I don't know why, but I just about cried when he came in, the Spirit was so strong.  I feel kinda dumb, because I'm soooo excited to hear him talk!  It's like it's actually coming true!

Alma 7: 23 & 24 And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works. and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.

• This is the only one that will not go through apostasy. 
• We are the chosen dispensation.
• Almost all missionary work that will matter will be done in this dispensation.
• (Read Mormon 8)
• We (Missionaries) are the most prayed-for people on the face of the earth.

The most universially accepted icon in the world is the picture of two missionaries.  Everybody loves missionaries.  We do not have the right to comprise that image; to damage that image.

...a missionary who can come home and forget what he is doing here (in the field)...  Four hours ago someone gave their life for this church.  Don't come home and turn against this.  Don't pretend it didn't happen.  I want you to go into this forever.

What is the most important thing that Christ wants us to know?  That EVERYTHING he said was true.

You are going out to help people not suffer.  He suffered so we don't have to. 

3 best pieces of advice:

1. Go on a mission.
2. Marry as directly and as honestly as he could.
3. Get as much education as he could get.

People pay for your brains.  "I like people who know how to do things."

What is the greatest gift we can give to the Lord Jesus Christ?  Our Heart.  "...they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." 


Why does God love us?  There is not anything he wouldn't do for his children.  This is why God loves us; we are his children.


Welp, that was the best day in my entire life.  Probably because it was in a point of time in my life when I could be old enough to remember, as well as a point in time when I needed it most.  I know that God loves me.  I know that feeling that everybody has been talking about now.  I know that we are here, doing the Lord's work.  I don't think that, as a grown man, I would cry if it wasn't so powerful; so true. 


I am Important.  I am afraid of the future.  I am afraid of the past.  I know that if I work one day at a time and love the Lord and trust him then I won't have to think about the past or worry about my future.  


I've already gained so much by going on a mission.  I had NOTHING.  And now I have everything. 


I owe my future family everything God has given me.


Final thought:  I am not who I left behind.


Love you all,

Elder Channing Winterrose

Well, we have officially started our 8th week it has almost been 2 months.  First things first, thank you to all who have been supporting me. Thanks everyone for all the birthday wishes. I have had a roller coaster time here at the MTC.   I promise, I can't go a full day without having a point where I'm feeling like I'm gonna die, and a point where I'm on top of the world. It is almost enough to give me whiplash. We also never have the same teacher the same two days in a row. Brother U. and Sister A. were our original teachers, but then we lost four from our district to the Peru MTC.  Then Brother U. left on vacation for 2 weeks and we had like a billion subs, and some days subs for those subs, so we never knew who it would be. A week after he left, we adopted another district of 5 elders because their teacher moved to a new class for a week, but then they left. So we had Bro U. for like a week, then they took our teachers, and now were in a class with another district until we leave.  And we keep getting subs cause they don't really know who our teachers are!!! We've kinda been the ugly stepchildren that nobody wants... Besides that it has been THE best week because of one thing...... Elder Jeffery R. Holland.

That's right, we finally got one!!!!! It was so sweet. Ahhh, I will have to send you my notes in a letter so be expecting them. I was having a pretty crummy day because Hermana ("Sister " if you haven't translated that yet) _____ was just being a rude dude and being bossy and bugging the crap outta me.  Then when we were practicing our choir song I noticed that they were doing like a ton of different security checks and I knew it. WE WERE GETTING AN APOSTLE. And it came true. it was such an awesome experience. You just gotta wait for the notes.

Welp I gotta say, Mo, you did it! Confreakingradulations! That is AWESOME. And I hope you don't get suspended :)  By the way, for some reason people think I look like Mclovin when I wear my glasses, but then again I think we're getting desperate because we haven't seen real TV in almost 2 months. Mo, Mrs. ___ is el diablo , stay away from her!  Get anybody else. Mr. ____ is okay but just remember, he WILL be strict and you WILL get in trouble for no apparent reason at least once. Just comes with the class. And you just gotta be prepared to roll with the punches 'cause at times he's like a nerd on a power trip. 

Y yo esperanzo que tus classes son muy marvillosa y que tu no teneriste demasiado tarea mi amigo. Pero necessitas que recordar que si quieres que tener exito, tus habitos en sus estudios son el mas grande parte.

Well, have fun translating that one, the answers will be in next week's issue next to the comics section.

Dain all I can say is video juegos rot your brain. Remember, you need to be as chill as you can be to get all the ladies. Don't let video games change your attitude. Continue to be loving and don't let yourself develop a short fuse. Being here at the MTC, I have seen what happens when Elders played too much at home on the x-box and it is ugly. They are always getting mad about dumb things and they are very confrontational.

Remember, there are bikes in the garage and a hoop in the driveway! I love ya and I expect you to be Jimmer status when I get back!

Okay, I may not be a physics major but I am pretty sure there is nooo chance that Dad could make it up a coconut tree on this planet. Sorry Dad, the laws of physics cannot be broken! ;) I'm sure I will find one on my p-day and take the challenge.

I told you I got some good letter writing skills, that only took 20 years!

Yes we have met Elder Blackhan (going to Los Angeles). He just got here like a week ago. We were expecting him because he's from Orem and our teacher, Brother U. played basketball with him at church and heard he was coming here. Brother U  also knew Tyson (Elder) Cantrell because he has a class at BYU with him, and he said hi for me!

Welp I gotta go to breakfast. Remember, I never got that Micro SD card so I need to know if you got it on the computer and I will probably need a new one. Also I do have the phone card so no worries.

Britton, I love you.  Keep on keeping on. Do the Lord's work - he is on your side.

Mom, Dad, I love you both, and you did a great job with me, don't worry.

Gotta go.

Love ya,

Elder Channing Winterrose

PS We should get travel plans tonight, so I am super excited.  I just mailed off the notes I took on Elder Jeffery R. Holland's talk and you should get them Monday. It was sooooo amazing.

Also, my favorite picture by far is the one you sent me.  I don't know how he does it, but Buster has like one eye that is super surprised and the other one looks like he is the most bored dog in the entire world. Hahaha, it was perfect. :)

Well, I love ya still.

Hey! It is going great here at the MTC. I think it just hit me that we only have a little while left in here, but it may just be because it's p-day. Anyways, last week we had a great week, our real teacher just got back so we haven't had to have our sub anymore.  We all missed him. He went down to Texas to visit some families that he taught. This week I have learned a lot.

My personal study subject has been on teaching with the spirit and being positive. Lately we as a district hadn't been really 'feeling the love'.  Our solo sister was given to a companion in another district, so we didn't have to take her everywhere. I think that might have helped her realize that she needed to be nicer if she wanted to hang out with us. :) It definitely worked, she has been a lot nicer, and in turn, the mood of our whole district has improved. That made me super happy. So over all this has been a great week.

My companion and I are also doing much better. We had a companionship inventory and I told him that being negative affects all of us and that when he makes the decision to be negative there is only one person who can change that, and that's him. I also told him to be more open in our discussions and he is going to try working on that. He had been having a hard time because he just didn't feel comfortable. Soo, also yesterday we weren't having a great lesson because he was kinda just pouting for no reason (I didn't know why) but it kinda just affected the general mood of the lesson. So we stopped the lesson and we all went outside kinda just to restart. I took this chance to kinda explain to everybody that we are all here because we love the Lord and we are here to serve him, not to sit around moping. Then we read something from the first chapter of PMG on like page 10 and I read the sentence that talked about how we need to not compare ourselves to others and how we also need to not become discouraged because it weakens our faith. Our faith is the only thing we have out here.  If we don't have a strong foundation of the gospel, and a solid testimony, what will happen that one time we do something that tries our faith? For example what if we follow the spirit in a lesson and it offends the person, and that causes us to lose our investigator?  Things like that will come up and, without our testimonies being sturdy, they could be shaken. Anyways that was the first thing that helped us out.

I think people are starting to take it a little more maturely now and that has been helping us out a loooot more.  Also I shared that we need to invite the spirit in, and that we need to get past pride, lack of trust, and fears of saying the wrong thing, and follow the promptings of the spirit more readily. I think that I am having no problem with being open, but I need to use more doctrine so that is what I'm going to be working on this week. This week has been such a great learning experience for us and I'm glad we have finally started taking down those barriers that were in our way.

Hey, mom I am soo glad for the package, tell Grandma and Grandpa thank-you. Which reminds me, I finally found those thank-you cards and sent them out.  I made sure to make them much more personal for each family, so they should be worth the wait. I also got an awesome care package from J, she is amazing! She got me some new shorts and two athletic t-shirts that work great.

I totally know what you mean about getting another suitcase, I might have to get a cheap carry-on or something that I could split my things in.  I have sooo much food. We are really practicing this food storage thing pretty well, the prophet would be proud.

I am soo happy you guys got to shoot the gun! I told you it was the coolest experience ever!

Britton had some HUGE fish.  That is remarkable!

I'm glad you're seeing the blessings coming in mom, you will probably have no problem finding some people to keep you company.

Good-luck to all of you in school.

Britton keep your chin up, follow the spirit, be as bold as you are loving, continue to find the blessings of every day, don't dwell on the negative and don't let your companions either. Positivity is the higher road and they came on a mission to be truly converted - that is one of the biggest steps of conversion. Positive thinking also has another name, FAITH. So keep them straight!

Love all of you and I'm thinking of you.

Elder Winterrose

PS I didn't get that SD card because I didn't know it was in that package and I also double checked the box. I don't know where it is but I hope you backed up everything on the computer.  If you can please send me another 2 gig or something? Muchos gracias. Also I got the krispy cremes....... and the 80 candles.... I got a picture of the candles in them, but we didn't really have anything to light them with.... anyways I gotta go! Bye!

Hello Everyone!

Ahhhh, don't remind me! (His birthday's tomorrow.) My roommate was giving me crap because, now when we die on our missions, we won't be part of that teenager statistic. Now I'm going to be in that 20 - 50 range with all the old farts. Oh, by the way we decided when 2012 comes around Heavenly Father is going to cast Los Angeles into the sea just like he did with Atlantis. That's right, Atlantis. Look it up. 

Okay so first things first. I forgot to answer some of the things from the last letter.

• This guy in our district drew that picture with all the warriors.  I before he left for Peru. I told him that I wanted Captain Moroni's armor.  He got it spot on.  
• Yes the tree smells like cream soda.
• The picture is of my district and I'm going to steal that one when we leave and send you a real copy too. 
• Oh, and yes, Dad, my companion is like a mix between Britton and Jacob Campbell and it is sooo annoying!  (In the best possible way.) He has Britton's laugh so it's really weird, and he has the tendencies of Jacob - like when you are talking and he just kinda zones out, then when you finish talking he just changes the subject like you weren't talking to him. Hahaha. (But you know I love Jacob!)

This week we haven't really been up to much, we just found out that the last two weeks we'll be here they are stealing our teacher, kicking us out for some newbies, and putting us in with another district because ours is so small. But really, every week is the same except for the dumb stuff we say that sometimes gets a laugh.  Haha, I've realized now how easy Britton had it. I am pretty much fluent in español and there isn't much more to do while teaching besides practice more and try to get our teacher to get baptized in her "investigator" persona (which is her as herself, just not Mormon and with way-hard questions). She is impossible some days, but we love her to death. It's funny though because we have been teaching her for 5 weeks so far and it's like impossible to teach the real lessons because she has ADD sooo bad!

Okay, on to the next thing. I got the cards from the family and it made me so happy.  I love the one with the bird, it made me laugh. It was awesome. Oh, I also got a package from Grandma Billie just yesterday and we tried to do as much damage as we could to it. We made a huge dent! She sent some great snacks.  We already ate all the chips, beans, nacho cheese, and onion dip. Sounds gross, but it was awesome.

Now we have soooooooooooooo much candy and food it is ridiculous. We have (like no joke) 5 boxes full of candy and snacks from all the guys that left. It is awesome. (That's why I sent you that emergency email because I still had some time left and we can't take like anymore food or we won't finish it in a month!) Unless they're Krispy Kremes, then we are alllll for those.  Those are like the light on my darkest days, seriously. I also have like enough laundry detergent for the next 2 months cause we got everybody's that left and also all the soap and body wash we could ever need because we constantly raid the free box for what it has. Sooo, I think we have that year's supply thing down!

I am afraid of Morgan having his license - there I just had to say it.  I just think of the time when I backed the van "into the driveway" via the mailbox and how Britton was a "drifting pro" but somehow he managed to nail a curb. Haha.  Just think, at least accident-wise the Winterrose boys haven't involved anyone or anything they couldn't handle! ;)

I am so jealous that you guys get to hang out in Utah! It's awesome.  I think I can say I'm ready to get out of here right now.  We keep learning these awesome things, but we can't get out there and actually try them! It's a pain in the butt! And when people from LA come here and tell me about it, it drives me mad! Haha, I think I'm getting MTC fever.

Well, I'm missing you guys a ton but I gotta go and do the laundry, so I will message you later!

(later)

I am doing fantastic! I have some down days, but today I took a 3-hour nap (best birthday present ever!) and Elder Casper cleaned our room. It smells like half a bottle of Fabreeze and we finally passed a cleaning check!

Well, I gotta go.

Love you Poot, Mo, Dad and Mom! You too Brit! Baptize the ____ outta them! ;)

Elder Channing Winterrose

PS I don't think I found the SD card, so I will go double check for it.

Okay, there's a lot to write back today!

So far I still haven't received the care package, but it is nice to know that you sent one. I'm still in need for those bike shorts so I hope you got them in there. It's a pain in the butt (to pick up packages) cause they usually put a note in your mail box and we can't check it till after dinner, so sometimes we get there at like just before 6 when the post office closes and they have closed early or something dumb like that and we can't pick up our packages. It has been a kinda slow week, I pulled a muscle in my back on Monday so I went to the doctor and he prescribed me some ibuprofen to help with the pain.  It helps a lot. Oh and yesterday I was playing soccer and I went for the ball at the same time as this other guy on the other team and our shins collided. That hurt soooo bad, and now we both have a lump on our shins haha. So Brandon said that his cousin, (one of the Wilde's) is here but I still haven't met him yet. I don't really know what he looks like yet... but I'm keeping my eyes open.

We have been teaching our Investigators and doing well. They are progressing a lot this week. It's like were finally understanding what they need. (I've known all along but nobody listens to me) which leads me to a story. So, Monday in class we were talking to Casey, our teacher's investigator. (They're not a real investigator, they just act as one.)  And she was not very into the lesson and she would tell us she forgot what we talked about, and that she didn't read a lot of the book of Mormon because she only got through like 9 chapters... So we had a time out, where we kinda just freeze and talk about it.  We talked about how it's going with the investigator, soo everybody was like, "I think something happened because she isn't talking a lot."  (Again they were making dumb assumptions). At this point, if it is what they thought, they should have said something to the investigator... Sooo then I said she looked bored cause we kinda just launched into the lesson and she DID read a lot and that we need to point out the positive and not make assumptions on the negative. Sooo after this everyone else was like "I dunno if that's right."  After that I was like, "Whatever..." I was done trying to reason with them. Then out of nowhere my teacher said, "I just want you all to know Elder Winterrose was exactly right. Every assumption you guys have made was wrong. She was just bored.  She just didn't feel entertained," and then she thanked me. This was the best I TOLD YOU SO moment so far. Since this they have stopped being ignorant and I have started being a little more open. But honestly, they still got something to learn. Anyways that was my favorite moment of the week.

I got letters from J, my friend T, you guys, and Brandon and that has made this week pretty sweet! We also finally had a talk from someone who wasn't in the emeritus 70. Now that it's August, they are off vacation. (I guess they all go on vacation during July or something.)

That is soo cool that you guys are going to Kanosh, to go shoot guns with Ryan and the hot air balloon ride is thee-best. You guys will love all that stuff. GREAT catch Britton! I heard about that fish, that is just flippin' remarkable! I want pictures soon so I can show them off to my buddies k? :)

I am so jealous of all ya.  It kinda stinks not being able to do anything I need to, let alone anything I want to. But I know that from my diligence and perseverance I will be blessed. (But really if you can find any way to send me some plain Krispy Kremes for my birthday, like 2 dozen, I would be eternally grateful.) Everybody else is getting them and it pains me to see that.

I miss and love all of you, I love being out here doing the Lord's work.

The Church is true,

Elder Winterrose.

Hey, I got a few more minutes.  I liked the email from Scott and it was really good, thanks.  I also got like 3 boxes full of awesome snacks and candy from a bunch of the missionaries in our branch, so I don't need much food anymore!

Oh and did you get the bike shorts in the box you sent? If not, just throw them in the next one cause that would help when i work out. If you can find those black sambas that are in good condition (I think one of those pairs isn't too bad) then send them my way, but you said you couldn't find them so I might have to ask for them for my b-day present. Oh, and one more thing! If J comes over then get a picture of her with Buster and send it to me please! I wanna pic of my two favorite people in the world!  Well I am not sending out a letter today cause I'm replying to a bunch of others, but I love you guys lots!

Take care!

Elder Winterrose

Hello,

I started riding the bike in gym this week and it makes me feel better.  Which reminds me, I need some more shorts and briefs. I have 3 pairs of briefs and I go through one a day during gym... I never really thought about that till I realized I had no underwear... It sucks running out because then you gotta find the least-dirty pair and that's just bad. Haha. I also need more shorts... I only brought two pairs for p-days but like I said, here we have gym every day.  Oh, and if you can throw in those specialized shorts and that red, black, and white castelli bib, I could just wear those under my shorts and that would help me from getting so sore after the ride. Thanks bunches.

Haha, no problems with the language, I think I've got it. I do have a sinus infection so I've been on antibiotics, decongestants, and a whole cocktail of meds this week. 

I only wrote in my journal like every-other day last week and it was just a boring/rough week, so I sent home the good one. Plus copying those things is spendy after a while. I sent J a bunch of pictures too, make sure to send them all to Britton in an email or something cause I could only print out a few. I'm trying not to use too much money.

(Note from Mom - We had a lesson on Sunday that talked about the dangers of pornography and were encouraged to talk with those we love about the topic, including asking the last time they were exposed to it - this is his answer.)  Umm, I would say it has been a long time since running into something, I remember some weird guy tried showing me a funny text message while I was working at Amazon and the answer to that was an obvious, "No thanks I'm fine". Then someone else exclaimed, "Dude! That's just wrong," after looking at it, and told him he was a retard for doing that at work. So that stuff is seriously just everywhere. You don't even have to go looking for it. It's sad. You have to make a decision early in your life that you don't wanna be a part of that generation!

This email is crazy long. I gotta change my laundry so I'll be back in a sec.

***

Haha, sorry to Poot, that stinks about your phone dying.  I don't know what I would ever do if my phone died, it would suck. (But I guess I'm living without it now...)  I got 1:48 left so I will try being quick. I love all you guys and I keep you all in my prayers. I know I am doing the Lord's work and the church is true!

Okay, if you can send me krispy kremes please do, I need some soon! Send my black Sambas if you can, also.  Bye!!!

Okay, I got a few more seconds.  I gotta say, please send me more pictures if you can cause I miss seeing all your pretty faces, and Busters!

Love you.

Bye!

Elder Channing Winterrose