Dear Dad April 29, 2013

April 29, 2013

Dear Dad,

Well, I am glad the draft didn't focus on quarterbacks for once. It looks like Coach McCoy and the crew knew what the team needed too. I couldnt be happier with the picks. It looks like our first two picks will have a good time getting made fun of their rookie year. I mean...just look at that lineman's face...and nose. haha and then Manti...for all the garbage that happened in the news. They have a lot to prove. I hope they can do it. I am excited to see what happens in this upcoming season. The Jets are retarded...I didnt know they got rid of Revis...doesnt matter who they got to replace him...he creates a no fly zone on whoever he covers. And they got Geno? I do no understand at all. That is just one team I guess I don't have to worry about for playoff contention though.

It would be awesome to attend the draft though. I wouldn't mind that one little bit. Maybe we will be there for me one of these days ;) Anything is possible, right?

The weather here has been so nice for the past week. Mostly in the 70's and 80's....but you never know when it will just randomly snow. SO...I can't get too comfortable. I honestly wish it was as warm as it is there, here. Yup...you probably think I am weird.

The projects will come and get done eventually. Just gotta be patient.

What is the job that would have you travel out here? Is it a job for out here? That would be weird. I wouldn't mind living here though...as long as we lived in the Highland Ranch Ward ;) As far as the grass being greener...I can tell you it literally is just a different shade of brown here ;)

That is awesome that Emily got her mission call. She will be an awesome missionary. Man...I need all of the addresses of these missionaries going out. I would love to stay in contact with them. :) And that is right...I have almost been out 5 months...in fact my five month mark is on Mother's day. I was talking to Brother and Sister Jimenez last night, cuz we had dinner with them, and they signed up to feed us on mothers day as well and said we could use their computer to skype you guys. I was wondering if you guys know how to get that all set up. Like do we have to set up accounts? Just let me know :)

I think that is awesome that you guys are signing up to go out with the missionaries. We have been doing that as well. We go out on Wednesday nights with High Priests from our ward and they usually go pretty well. We are still looking for more investigators, but we do have a lot of potentials and we continue to work very closely with many of the less active families. And on Saturday, we had the opportunity to lay sod in a non members yard that live across the street from the Jimenez family. It was awesome. We walked up and introduced ourselves, and the guy goes "He's a Chargers fan, I like him already!" I was wearing my Eric Weddle shirt. So hopefully we will be able to get over there and get a good relationship with them and begin teaching them. The work here is getting there...we aren't quite there, but it is coming along.

And tomorrow, Elder Flake and I will be picking up another new missionary at transfers. Yup...I am double training. We will be a trio. The new missionary is a visa waiter, so we don't know exactly how long he will be here. But I will be training him, until he leaves to wherever he is goin. I am just glad I am not going district leader like all the rumors were saying. So, we will see what happens. I love you dad. I hope you have a good week.

love your son,
Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle

Dear Dad April 22, 2013

April 22, 2013

Dear Dad,

The gallon challenge...oh how wonderfully awful it was. haha. We all eventually lost our cookies. However, I won. I finished the most of my gallon and I was the last to puke. I think I could have done it though, but I had to force myself to puke, because we had to go to dinner with a member later. I think I could have done it. I guess we will never be for sure though :) The fields are so sweet though, we have a blast. Our whole district looks forward to it every week. I love football so much. I really do want to work my butt off so that I can try out for ASU when I get home. I feel like I have improved a whole lot by just playing and running around every week :)

I am glad you survived your hike, and I think it is awesome that Coach Rhode is doing that. I really hope you do get selected and get to participate in that opportunity. I hope to be able to work with Coach Rhode when I get home, but I know he is a busy guy. So we shall see what happens.

The mission calls. They keep comin! I am especially excited for Keaton though. He wont be too far from me! I love that kid tons, and I think it is awesome that he is making the decision to go. He loves baseball so much, but I respect that he is putting it off for two years. He is so awesome.

That is a perty good sunday school class you got there though. Seems to me like it would be pretty darn fun. I really hope I get to work with youth when I get home. I was just thinking about you last night though. I was thinking and kinda laughing to myself...wondering what you were like when you were in your teen/mission years. :) I dunno exactly why...but yeah.

I am also glad to hear that you all had a good time with Hyrum and that he is doing well like always it seems :)

I heard that the Seahawks and Chargers are playing each other! I thought that was super cool, and am bummed that I won't be able to watch it with you and give you a hard time ;) I bet I could tell you most of the players playing if I was home and knew everything that has been going on like I used to. I also heard that the Chargers have been predicted to win the Super Bowl. Sounds like a good idea to me. We will have to see what Coach McCoy can do with the new system, and see how the players will take it. I am excited to hear how it goes :)

Thank you for the email Dad. I look forward to them every week. They really do help me. Thank you for the prayers as well. I couldn't ask for a better Dad and family. I love and miss ya!

Love,

Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle

Dear Sister April 15, 2013

April 15, 2013

Dear Jeri Lin,

I love you so much too! Thank you for the example that you set for me. It really means a lot. You truly are one of my very best friends too. In fact, I have been talking about that a lot lately. When we have dinner at families homes, we share a spiritual thought. My thought the past couple months has been on the importance of families. I share the scripture Alma 43:47. I also share with them the book that you made for me and sent to me for Christmas. So thank you for that. They all seem to enjoy it as much as I do :) Speaking of books, I was wondering if you would be able to make any more of those for me? Like could you make one for each area that I am in? I know that they cost money, but I just thought it would be kind of cool :)

As far as reading my patriarchal blessing, it has been a little while since that last time I read it, but I do think of it often. One part that really sticks out to me is where it says that I will have a big effect on the youth of the church. For the longest time I thought that one day I would be called as a Young Mens President or something at some point in my life. It means something else to me out here though. As you may already know, we play basketball on Fridays and football every Monday. And of course we invite all the youth to join us. We have a really fun time, and I have developed a really good relationship with a lot of the youth because of this. They can see that I am a missionary, but I am still a teenage boy. A normal guy. The other day, I ran into Brother Jimenez while he was walking his dog and he said, "Hey, Danny tells me you are a pretty good football. That is a lot coming from him. He doesn't offer compliments often". And according to Isaac Terrases I am a "baller". The stats here may not always be where we like them to be. It is ok though, because I still feel like I am making a difference here. Some of the best missionary work is just being an example. And that is why I love it here, I don't get super discouraged. I love the people and we have a lot of fun.

I hope that you guys can figure out what will be the best for you and your family. You guys are always in my prayers. Especially Hyrum, I am glad to hear that you are teaching him well. Especially how to pray. I think that is something that we take for granted sometimes. It is one of the things I have the biggest testimony in though. Prayers really do get answered.. I know that. I can see it every day.

I actually read 2 Nephi 32 this past week. It is a good one :) Heavenly Father really does have a plan for us. Everything happens for a reason. I can see that more so than ever out here in Sparks. When I read my mission call, I will be honest with you, I wasnt as excited as I thought I would be. I know that this is where I am supposed to be though. I can see that just with all the people I have met. I love it.

I love and miss ya big sis. You are the best older sis I could ever ask for. Stay awesome!

Love your brother,

Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle

A couple of pictures with my friend Austin...

 And the milk challenge...

Dear Dad April 8, 2013

April 8, 2013

Hello there Mi Padre!

You said it...conference was excellent this week. There were so many good talks. My favorite session was priesthood as always. I loved that talk by Elder Beck...when they showed the picture of the football team, I could tell that it was queen creek. Which is awesome. That is seriously one of the very best ways to do missionary work I think. Just being an example. Just yesterday...Sister Corbridge was telling me that one of the little boys in our ward is wanting Sister Corbridge to cut his hair now, because he knows that she cuts mine. He says I am the missionary with the "cool hair". Then at the Metcalfs, one of the kids said that I am always smiling. They look at me, and notice things. It is kinda crazy. I am setting an example though. It doesn't go on the stats every week, but it is missionary work.

I missed you too for conference, but I promise you that I was well taken care of. Maybe slightly spoiled.

I am almost 1/6 of the way done. That truly is crazy. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else though. I love the relationships I have been able to build with the people out here. You know...at first to be honest, I wasn't ever to sure about serving in Reno, Nevada. This is the best place I could be though. I am having a blast.

That does sound like a pretty lame NCAA Championship. Bleh. And that is a bummer that your laptop died. Darn them computers.

I kinda wish that it was that warm here. It is snowing here today. And it was super windy yesterday...which stinks on a bike. Elder Flake and I got soaked by sprinklers that were spraying the golf course because it was so windy. Haha good times. I hope you can get over that cold though, because that is no fun at all.

Thank you for everything. I love ya Dad. Tons. Stay Awesome!

Love your son,

Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle

Dear Sister April 8, 2013

April 8, 2013

Dear Jeri Lin,

It is so good to hear that you are doing well in school and getting so close to the end. I wish that I could come party with you guys. But that's ok, there is plenty of opportunities to party in the future :)

That is a bummer that he never heard back from the Houston job. You guys are always in my prayers though. Just remember that. It will all work out eventually.

I am glad to hear that Hyrum is doing well too. I miss that little guy, but it is good that he has a good friend named Hayden. I am sure they are goofballs. Which is good. That is the Shinkle boy way! :)

I am glad you had a good general conference. I definitely did. Yesterday, we went to the Corbridge mansion, ate cinnamon rolls and watched the first session. Then we went to the Metcalf' home and ate steak and lots of other good stuff. Then we watched the second session, and ate the very best peach cobbler I have ever had in my whole entire life. Sister Metcalf is awesome. Then we went and had chicken burritos at the Smiths for dinner. We are so blessed out here. :) My favorite session was Priesthood as usual though. Which we went to with Bishop McDoniels and Bro. Metcalf. And they took us out to the Vista Grill afterwards. I went in with the question of "What do I need to do to be able to find new people to teach?". My question was also answered. Conference is awesome :)

Thank you for all the prayers. They mean a lot. I love and miss you big sis. :) Stay awesome!

Love,

Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle

Dear Dad April 1, 2013

April 1, 2013

Dear Dad,

Well it kinda stinks that we wont be watching Duke win it all again this year. I am proud for how far they got though. As for who I will be cheering for...Witchita State I guess...just because they are the underdog. That poor guy that broke his leg...I cant even imagine. On Friday I got a little bit of a black eye while playing ball. I went up for the rebound and got smashed in the face...it felt worse than it actually ended up looking, but I still got the rebound :)

It really was a good experience going and knocking doors and having someone actually answer. We are still waiting to meet with them, but Yajaira has said that she has been reading, so that is good. We also met with Tom Dawson yesterday night. He is a non member who is married to a member. He has investigated the church before..but is always super busy..so it is hard to get over and help him and invite him to make the commitments to come closer to Christ. We planned to go over and just start from square one. That isn't how it worked though. His wife wanted us to talk to the daughters who have been struggling with their testimonies. And then go and talk to Tom. We were there talking for two hours. It was one of the most spiritual experiences I have ever had. And now we are gonna come over on Wednesdays to hang out and share spiritual thoughts with them, the Mom feels like that will be the best. I am excited to do that. Elder Flake expressed to me, after our companionship prayer last night, he said " I almost wish it wasn't pday tomorrow". You can imagine my expression...I asked him why. He said..."I want to keep doing missionary work". I then told him...it never stops though. Even on pday. I am so blessed to have a companion who helps me and has such a desire to work. It is awesome.

Just keep those people in your prayers as well though please. I love this area so much. Sometimes I wish I could just spend my whole mission here. I know that isn't possible...but I have developed such a great relationship with the people here. I love it. I love my calling. And most of all, I love my Saviour, Jesus Christ. I have the best job in the world.

You are in my prayers. Always.

Love your son,

Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle

 Easter basket from Sister Metcalf

Elder Flake from Mesa, AZ

 After Football

Mini Missionaries 

A friend we found in the bushes