Hey Family!
This week went by really slow and REALLY fast at the same time. I wrote a few letters and was sending them every other day as I wrote them, so it felt like the week went by really slow because I kept thinking...it`s going to take sooo long for the letters to get home...I don't know how to explain it, it was weird. Also `the week went really fast because I studied a ton and we worked hard. We`re still not having much luck with filling our ¨new investigator tanks¨, but we`re working with faith, and that`s what is going to eventually pay off big time. We`re hoping for 15 new investigators this week! That means a LOT of contacting. But that`s okay, we`ve got the Book of Mormon, pamphlets, and our testimonies to help us out, so I know it`s possible. I don't have some great spiritual lesson to share this week, but I do have a HUGE testimony that we can find courage, love, and joy in the Scriptures! I love the Book of Mormon. I think I`m going to read it cover to cover over, and over, and OVER again throughout my life until I`ve got it almost memorized! haha Imagine how beneficial that will be for my family and my future kids if, when they have a problem or a question I can just rail off an example from the Book of Mormon with the accompanying scriptures. It`ll be awesome. It`s just such a fun Book to read if your really understand it and it`s simple, clear message: That Jesus IS the Christ, that he loves and teaches ALL of his people, and that he has restored His Church for our benefit today. I love you family, and BECAUSE I love you, I want you all to study in the Book of Mormon. In it`s pages you WILL find help for ANY situation or problem you have in your life currently or that you will EVER have in the future.
Okay, so the first bit of news that I got from Mom was about the accident and it totally hit me up-side the head. I wasn`t scared, I wasn`t anxious, I was just a little worried about how everyone is doing and what`s up with the Yukon. I know now that Mom and Hope are just fine, which puts me at ease. But that sucks about the Yukon! I know that Dad really loved that truck and that it was possibly the most comfortable boating SUV in the world. haha! That`s awesome that Grandma and Grandpa were willing to lend the Dodge for a while, just let me know what you guys decide to do about a replacement. Sorry, it just interests me. Keep me informed. haha Also, I was way stoked to hear that even though there was an accident, that Mom and Hope got to Arizona and were able to fully enjoy their week in AZ. I love our AZ friends with all my heart and I love the fact that all my childhood friends are all serving faithfully in full-time missions like me. Of course, I`m a little further along in the time, but I know that the mission will helps us all in our unique ways to turn ourselves from boys into the men that Heavenly Father wants us to be. I was way excited to hear about John Sheen completing a year at ASU and being on the volleyball team. That`ll be awesome to go to his games when I`m home! haha He`s further than I am in school now...SO weird! haha It was also very interesting and surprising to hear that the Sipes family is moving up to Utah. Obviously, Jason is going to stay in Payson, but I hope that Momma Sipes and Dirk move in close to Syracuse so I can still visit a lot during breaks.
Mom, hahaha you`re so hilarious, you ALWAYS get called to Girls Camp committee cuz you`re just such a dang good cook and planner! It always made me jealous when you and Dad went off the Girls Camp with your planned menu and I was never allowed to come with...I guess for obvious reasons. hahaha! Soon Hope will get to go to Girls Camp too, that`s weird... =P I`m extremely happy that Dad is completely immersed in his job, but it`s even better that he`s keeping his cool and love at Home. Awe...Daddy`s growing up! lol =P Just kidding Dad, don`t hurt me. ;) Holy crap! I was WAY excited to hear about Katie coming down to DATC! However, I never knew she was going to be into Web Design. She`s a wonderful artist, so she`ll do awesome with the design aspect of everything. It`ll be awesome to have her around a lot more when I get Home. I love that girl! =P I love you Kate, you`re awesome!
Hahaha Mom, you know me too well! Well...I guess you ARE my mother. =P You totally knew that I would want an update on how the communication was going with Whitney, so thank you for satisfying that need. I`m so excited that you all are having such a good time getting to know each other and that you`re all just so impressed with each other. haha You`re right, and I totally have to be a little prideful in this facet of my personality...I DEFINITELY have good taste! ;P Keep talking, keep communicating, get to know each other, and hey!...loosen up! haha You don`t always have to be so formal about what you`re talking about. Be yourselves, be fun! haha Now you`ve introduced yourselves, now just BE yourselves! =P I love you all, my family is just so FUN! =D I miss you all every day and look forward to the day when I`m home once again. BUT I am working hard, we NEED a boost in this area, especially if this branch wants to become a ward ANYTIME soon.
Our district, together, has put together a set of goals that we believe will help us all have better work ethics, better numbers, and more success in preaching the gospel. We put three goals down: 1) We want to use the hours from 10AM to 1 PM to contact at least 7 families or individuals, go to lunch, and then from 2PM to 9PM, between appointments and during ¨finding¨ activities we will do another 7 good contacts. We desperately need more investigators and now we`re all fed up with the slow pace of our work so far. We`re really going to put our shoulders to the wheel and get this done! 2) We are all going to have a Book of Mormon in our hands as we walk in to street and we are going to use it in all of our contacts. and 3) Every time a full hour of plans falls through, we will all be using 15 minutes of that hour to contact, looking for more teaching opportunities. So yeah, those are our goals. We feel good about them, so I`m hoping you all like them too. Also, the only piece of real news from my area that I have to share is that we put a baptismal goal with Luis Hernandez for the 1st of May. He has stopped drinking alcohol, he is quiting smoking tobacco and marijuana, and he is going to stop drinking coffee. Pray for him, and pray for us, so that we will be able to teach him everything he needs to keep the commandments we teach and to be able to be baptized on the 1st.
Alright, well I`m out of time. I love you all. I think about you often, and I know that YOUR efforts help me here in Guatemala. Read the Scriptures. Say your Prayers. Have Family Home Evenings together. I know you can ALL do it. Living the Gospel is not hard...it`s actually the easiest way to live in this filthy world. Try it out...you`ll be surprised how little changes in lifestyle effect your lives in huge ways.
Love Always,
-Elder Preston William Tucker
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