Hey Hope!
Dont worry about not writing specifically for me lately. I understand how the end of the school year is, but I am so glad to hear that you have been working your buns off to help mom and do your best at school! That end of year trading activity sounds fun! I hope you win yourself a lot of Beaver Skins! Glad to hear that Bear Lake is awesome. You always are the first one in the water, even if it is cold. =) It makes me smile to hear that you and Kendal had a great time hanging out together at the Lake House. She`s a good friend and I think you should try your very best to stay great friends with her. She could end up being like Josh is for me. Wouldn`t you like that? I can always trust and rely on Josh and I know how important it is to have a friend like that in your life. When I was your age I didn`t have a lot of friends, but I do know how nice it is when you have a good friend that you always enjoy being around. Hold on to that. Be kind, sweet, generous, and loving like I know you can be and everything will go well in your friendships and at school. I`m sure you`re already really enjoying the Summer. Just try not to make Mom go crazy with keeping her busy. Continue to help her in the house and be patient when you want something. Patience will pay off in the end, I promise. That`s the only thing I`m really struggling with right now in my mission is patience...I want to be home, I want to see you and Mom and Dad, I want to enjoy the Lake House, the new boat, the summer with you and all of our family...but right now I need to work. Just keep sending me news and I think I`ll be alright. Dont forget EVER how much I love you Sis! You`re my whole world cuz we get to be Family Forever. You mean more to me than I could ever express. ALWAYS remember that your Brother loves you. Write back soon and I`ll be waiting. =)
Love Always,
-Elder Preston William Tucker
P.S. I have three baptisms so far! And I`m sending pictures home on the next memory card so you can all see who I got to baptize. Being about to baptize them reminded me SO much of when I got to baptize you and it was such a wonderful feeling...remembering you and doing my missionary work at the same time. I love you! Be good!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Email - Received Monday, June 29, 2009
Hey Mom and Dad,
I already sent letters to Hope, Josh, and my mission President, so I dont have a lot of time, but...I`m hoping you can glean a bunch of my sentiments and feelings and the events of my week from the other emails too. If you`d like, I wouldn`t mind it if you posted those two letters on the blog too. The one to Hope and the one to Josh. I sent them both the Mom`s email. As for right now...I have about 12 minutes left to write...sorry. =/ I`ll try my best to write everything I can.
Not a lot happened in terms of lots of work this week. We had Zone Conference which lasted two days from about 9AM to 3PM each day and that was very interesting and fun. The theme was Establish the Church and the focus was the Book of Mormon and how we should be using it in every aspect of the work. We had the opportunity to learn from President Baldwin and that was great. The Assistants he has chosen are very thorough and they teach very well too. Monday was P-Day this week...not a lot happened. After we finished Zone Conferences, my companion and I got sick and were laid up for a bit of every day afterwards. He has a flu and for some reason my back has been giving me problems...but dont worry...we`re getting better. I AM taking care of my self Mother...don`t worry. =P We also had a Trainers Meeting in the capital at the Mission Office and that was fun. I just basically got the chance to see all the missionaries that entered with me and we all had the opportunity to report on the work we had been doing so far. I felt so proud when I was able to stand up and report, in Spanish, that my companion and I are having success in a wonderful ward. When you two come to get me after I`m done with my mission, I would definately love to bring you to Promision to meet these wonderful people. Some have pretty big challenges and none of them have life easy, but they are wonderful people and I love them so much.
About the news from Home. I wrote to Hope about her news and was excited to receive a letter directly from her this week. Mom, I`m glad you had the knowledge and the means in order to help Metzie resolve her...(stiffles a laugh) getting stranded in Willard issue. ;P Just joking Metzie, I love you! Glad you`re safe. It`s good to hear that my family is interested in hearing about the work I`m doing for the Lord. I`m glad you enjoy my testimony. I know how thankful I am for it right now. It`s my favorite part of teaching...getting the opportunity to testify of things that I know in my heart and my mind and in my soul. It`s probably my favorite part of the mission so far. Testimony...gotta love it! =D
I got letters from Kim, Sis Poulsen, and Mom this week! Thank you all so much for the wonderful news and I will try to write back soon! I love you all and I will be sending new pictures home soon too. I`m sorry Mom and Dad, but my Mission Journal is kinda just falling through the cracks...I`m hoping my letters are sufficient...for now. Just, at this point in the work...I haven`t figured out how to fit it in. Maybe I will in the future...at this point I cant tell. I REALLY enjoy sharing my mission with you all through my emails though. I love you all and am out of time for this week. Write back soon and keep us in your Prayers! Trust in the Lord and He will trust in You!
Love Always,
-Elder Preston William Tucker
I already sent letters to Hope, Josh, and my mission President, so I dont have a lot of time, but...I`m hoping you can glean a bunch of my sentiments and feelings and the events of my week from the other emails too. If you`d like, I wouldn`t mind it if you posted those two letters on the blog too. The one to Hope and the one to Josh. I sent them both the Mom`s email. As for right now...I have about 12 minutes left to write...sorry. =/ I`ll try my best to write everything I can.
Not a lot happened in terms of lots of work this week. We had Zone Conference which lasted two days from about 9AM to 3PM each day and that was very interesting and fun. The theme was Establish the Church and the focus was the Book of Mormon and how we should be using it in every aspect of the work. We had the opportunity to learn from President Baldwin and that was great. The Assistants he has chosen are very thorough and they teach very well too. Monday was P-Day this week...not a lot happened. After we finished Zone Conferences, my companion and I got sick and were laid up for a bit of every day afterwards. He has a flu and for some reason my back has been giving me problems...but dont worry...we`re getting better. I AM taking care of my self Mother...don`t worry. =P We also had a Trainers Meeting in the capital at the Mission Office and that was fun. I just basically got the chance to see all the missionaries that entered with me and we all had the opportunity to report on the work we had been doing so far. I felt so proud when I was able to stand up and report, in Spanish, that my companion and I are having success in a wonderful ward. When you two come to get me after I`m done with my mission, I would definately love to bring you to Promision to meet these wonderful people. Some have pretty big challenges and none of them have life easy, but they are wonderful people and I love them so much.
About the news from Home. I wrote to Hope about her news and was excited to receive a letter directly from her this week. Mom, I`m glad you had the knowledge and the means in order to help Metzie resolve her...(stiffles a laugh) getting stranded in Willard issue. ;P Just joking Metzie, I love you! Glad you`re safe. It`s good to hear that my family is interested in hearing about the work I`m doing for the Lord. I`m glad you enjoy my testimony. I know how thankful I am for it right now. It`s my favorite part of teaching...getting the opportunity to testify of things that I know in my heart and my mind and in my soul. It`s probably my favorite part of the mission so far. Testimony...gotta love it! =D
I got letters from Kim, Sis Poulsen, and Mom this week! Thank you all so much for the wonderful news and I will try to write back soon! I love you all and I will be sending new pictures home soon too. I`m sorry Mom and Dad, but my Mission Journal is kinda just falling through the cracks...I`m hoping my letters are sufficient...for now. Just, at this point in the work...I haven`t figured out how to fit it in. Maybe I will in the future...at this point I cant tell. I REALLY enjoy sharing my mission with you all through my emails though. I love you all and am out of time for this week. Write back soon and keep us in your Prayers! Trust in the Lord and He will trust in You!
Love Always,
-Elder Preston William Tucker
Monday, June 22, 2009
Email - Received Monday, June 22, 2009
Hey Mom, Dad, and Hope!
I love hearing so much news from Dad about you guys. I miss you and think about what you might be doing every day. It`s good to know that all your plans and fun times are starting to come to pass for this summer! I`m happy that Ben got to fly in and see the family. It`s too bad that you all didn`t get to go out with him on the boat, but just imagine if you were trying to enjoy boating season here in Guatemala...where it rains at least once every day! =P Most of the time it`s not bad, but last night we forgot our umbrella and on the way home we got completely soaked. When half of your clothes are being washed and the other half are wet from running in the rain...it gets a little frustrating. Luckily everything dries pretty well over night. Anyways, Dad, by mentioning big breakfasts, Crown Burger, and Tucano`s...are you TRYING to make me go insane? =P On an extremely serious note...I miss the food in the States and especially at home! Mom, get ready because you`re going to have one very HUNGRY man on your hands in about 21 months. =D Here we get good beans, bad rice, and very good fresh bread for almost every meal, but we hardly every get meat and when we do, the portions are definately not Preston portions. ;) Anyone that reads this and has seen me eat knows EXACTLY what I mean by a ¨Preston Portion¨. Yup, definately planning on gaining weight when I get home. =) As to that subject...everything is getting big on me. My suit is still comfortable, but my shirts and pants are starting to show how much weight I`m losing without even stepping on a scale. It`s kinda cool to see actually. =P And guess what? Remember my temple pants, how we had to buy 42`s? Yeah, well now they`re my baptism pant and I definately have got some extra room to move now. ;)
Speaking of which...guess who has THREE baptisms now?! =D Elder Preston William Tucker! Haha And I actually got to baptize two of them! Denny Lopez and Debora Valladares. I dont know why they chose me to baptize them...but it was a WONDERFUL experience! To have such success with such wonderful people is a taste of the delicious, sweet fruit of Lehi`s Dream. To see Salvation begin for someone...is just spectucular! I got pictures and I will be sending home another memory card soon! =) I just wanted to share with you all the pure JOY that I feel for the decisions these people are making to follow Christ`s example and be baptized into the one True Chruch. I even had the opportunity to bear my testimony to a room full of members, loved ones, and friends of those that we baptized. Everything flowed, and I was able to say exactly what I wanted to express. By no means, was my Spanish perfect in that moment, but it was close. ;P Thank you for your prayers and love for these people that you dont even know, but that I can feel that you care for just as much as I do. They still need your prayers, but I know that they`ve taken their first step and it`s all about joy and eternity from here on out.
I`m so happy that Rob`s Farewell went well! I know he has the skills and intelligence needed to become an excellent missionary. He was well prepared for this throughout his life by his family and the Lord and now He`s going to make us all very proud. Rob, if your get the chance to read this before you go, I love you and miss you, but I know that what you are doing is right. It`s the right decision at the right time in your life and I have no doubt that the Lord will keep you in the hollow of His hands. He will protect you, love you, and support you like you`ve never experienced before. Trust in His power and love and you will do wonders. =D That`s called Faith cousin, and you`re gunna need every drop that you have to serve the people of Spain. Do your absolutely best and the Lord will do His. And I testify that the Best of the Lord is enough to accomplish absolutely anything in this world because it is His, we are His, and this work is His. I know that this Chruch is True, that the Book of Mormon is full of the True Gospel of Jesus Christ and that it contains answers to all of your questions and problems, and I know that the Light of Christ is in all His children...waiting for you to awaken their rememberance and lead them back to their Father in Heaven. I love you cousin, I`ll see you in about 25 months. =)
Dad, Happy Father`s Day, late, but it`s all I can do. Love you. I`m so glad that you`ve gotten the opportunity to use your boat and enjoy your summer with your family so far. I miss you and at times really wish I could call you for counsel and just talk, but I know there will be plenty of time after this work is done for me. =) And also...I have no idea what an Orbital Buffer is... Hahahaha! Sounds like Metzie has really been pushing to get the basement in Bear Lake ready for summer. Take pictures, beacuse I want to see what yòu all have done with the place =) Enjoy your summer and use Bear Lake to the fullest. Say hello to the Sessions Family for me. Tell them I love em and I wish the best for their missionary too!
I`m actuially not surprised to hear about your emotional moments at the Farewells of Josh and Rob, Dad. I knew you probably wouldn`t miss me to the point of tears, but I knew before I left that you and I truly are Best Friends now. I miss you too and I`m proud of you too. I woudn`t be here without your guidance and loving support. Know that I appreciate everything you have ever done for me. Gain a Testimony of your Son`s Love for you. ;) Because your son loves you more than he can express. You`re my Hero and my Friend, but best of all you`re my Father. I love you and I`m grateful that we`ve been given eternity to be together as a Family forever.
Sorry I don't have much more time. We used a new place for email this week and the computers are on the fritz...I`ve already lost two other emails I started to you and I dont want to lose this one. So I have to say goodbye for now. Thsi week is Zone Conference. I`m excited for that new experience and I`ll be thinking about you a lot over the next two days as I receive training and counsel. Mom, stay strong, enjoy your summer, and keep up your studies! I love you to the Sun and back 10,000 times! Hope, Dad tells me that you`re doing the best you can to do well in school and help out at home. Thank you so much for listening to me. I love you and I want the absolute best for you in this life. I`m so extremely grateful for the opportunity to be your brother for forever. I miss you and think about you every day. Keep up your good work and we`ll have plenty of time to hang out when I`m home! =D Dad, you know now how much I love you. Keep me up to date and keep doing your very best for the Family and for your Work. Succeed! That`s an order! ;P I would love to hear more about how the company is doing and what your current interests and cool experiences are, so fill me in when you get the chance. Love you for eternity and I cant wait to hear more from you. Until next week...
Love Always,
-Elder Preston William Tucker
I love hearing so much news from Dad about you guys. I miss you and think about what you might be doing every day. It`s good to know that all your plans and fun times are starting to come to pass for this summer! I`m happy that Ben got to fly in and see the family. It`s too bad that you all didn`t get to go out with him on the boat, but just imagine if you were trying to enjoy boating season here in Guatemala...where it rains at least once every day! =P Most of the time it`s not bad, but last night we forgot our umbrella and on the way home we got completely soaked. When half of your clothes are being washed and the other half are wet from running in the rain...it gets a little frustrating. Luckily everything dries pretty well over night. Anyways, Dad, by mentioning big breakfasts, Crown Burger, and Tucano`s...are you TRYING to make me go insane? =P On an extremely serious note...I miss the food in the States and especially at home! Mom, get ready because you`re going to have one very HUNGRY man on your hands in about 21 months. =D Here we get good beans, bad rice, and very good fresh bread for almost every meal, but we hardly every get meat and when we do, the portions are definately not Preston portions. ;) Anyone that reads this and has seen me eat knows EXACTLY what I mean by a ¨Preston Portion¨. Yup, definately planning on gaining weight when I get home. =) As to that subject...everything is getting big on me. My suit is still comfortable, but my shirts and pants are starting to show how much weight I`m losing without even stepping on a scale. It`s kinda cool to see actually. =P And guess what? Remember my temple pants, how we had to buy 42`s? Yeah, well now they`re my baptism pant and I definately have got some extra room to move now. ;)
Speaking of which...guess who has THREE baptisms now?! =D Elder Preston William Tucker! Haha And I actually got to baptize two of them! Denny Lopez and Debora Valladares. I dont know why they chose me to baptize them...but it was a WONDERFUL experience! To have such success with such wonderful people is a taste of the delicious, sweet fruit of Lehi`s Dream. To see Salvation begin for someone...is just spectucular! I got pictures and I will be sending home another memory card soon! =) I just wanted to share with you all the pure JOY that I feel for the decisions these people are making to follow Christ`s example and be baptized into the one True Chruch. I even had the opportunity to bear my testimony to a room full of members, loved ones, and friends of those that we baptized. Everything flowed, and I was able to say exactly what I wanted to express. By no means, was my Spanish perfect in that moment, but it was close. ;P Thank you for your prayers and love for these people that you dont even know, but that I can feel that you care for just as much as I do. They still need your prayers, but I know that they`ve taken their first step and it`s all about joy and eternity from here on out.
I`m so happy that Rob`s Farewell went well! I know he has the skills and intelligence needed to become an excellent missionary. He was well prepared for this throughout his life by his family and the Lord and now He`s going to make us all very proud. Rob, if your get the chance to read this before you go, I love you and miss you, but I know that what you are doing is right. It`s the right decision at the right time in your life and I have no doubt that the Lord will keep you in the hollow of His hands. He will protect you, love you, and support you like you`ve never experienced before. Trust in His power and love and you will do wonders. =D That`s called Faith cousin, and you`re gunna need every drop that you have to serve the people of Spain. Do your absolutely best and the Lord will do His. And I testify that the Best of the Lord is enough to accomplish absolutely anything in this world because it is His, we are His, and this work is His. I know that this Chruch is True, that the Book of Mormon is full of the True Gospel of Jesus Christ and that it contains answers to all of your questions and problems, and I know that the Light of Christ is in all His children...waiting for you to awaken their rememberance and lead them back to their Father in Heaven. I love you cousin, I`ll see you in about 25 months. =)
Dad, Happy Father`s Day, late, but it`s all I can do. Love you. I`m so glad that you`ve gotten the opportunity to use your boat and enjoy your summer with your family so far. I miss you and at times really wish I could call you for counsel and just talk, but I know there will be plenty of time after this work is done for me. =) And also...I have no idea what an Orbital Buffer is... Hahahaha! Sounds like Metzie has really been pushing to get the basement in Bear Lake ready for summer. Take pictures, beacuse I want to see what yòu all have done with the place =) Enjoy your summer and use Bear Lake to the fullest. Say hello to the Sessions Family for me. Tell them I love em and I wish the best for their missionary too!
I`m actuially not surprised to hear about your emotional moments at the Farewells of Josh and Rob, Dad. I knew you probably wouldn`t miss me to the point of tears, but I knew before I left that you and I truly are Best Friends now. I miss you too and I`m proud of you too. I woudn`t be here without your guidance and loving support. Know that I appreciate everything you have ever done for me. Gain a Testimony of your Son`s Love for you. ;) Because your son loves you more than he can express. You`re my Hero and my Friend, but best of all you`re my Father. I love you and I`m grateful that we`ve been given eternity to be together as a Family forever.
Sorry I don't have much more time. We used a new place for email this week and the computers are on the fritz...I`ve already lost two other emails I started to you and I dont want to lose this one. So I have to say goodbye for now. Thsi week is Zone Conference. I`m excited for that new experience and I`ll be thinking about you a lot over the next two days as I receive training and counsel. Mom, stay strong, enjoy your summer, and keep up your studies! I love you to the Sun and back 10,000 times! Hope, Dad tells me that you`re doing the best you can to do well in school and help out at home. Thank you so much for listening to me. I love you and I want the absolute best for you in this life. I`m so extremely grateful for the opportunity to be your brother for forever. I miss you and think about you every day. Keep up your good work and we`ll have plenty of time to hang out when I`m home! =D Dad, you know now how much I love you. Keep me up to date and keep doing your very best for the Family and for your Work. Succeed! That`s an order! ;P I would love to hear more about how the company is doing and what your current interests and cool experiences are, so fill me in when you get the chance. Love you for eternity and I cant wait to hear more from you. Until next week...
Love Always,
-Elder Preston William Tucker
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