Dear Dad May 28, 2013

May 28, 2013

Dear Dad,

Well you were right, I wasn't able to email yesterday. So here I am today :) Did you guys have good memorial day? Anything exciting? Our ward had a big bbq...so we went to that. In our pdays, haha people kept thinking I was just a teenager. Which I am, but they didnt recognize me at first. We played volleyball, basketball, soccer, and football. I was a little bit tired and beat up by the end of the day, but it was good. Also, Bro. Jimenez was coaching me up in football. He was helping me with my throwing form. It helped a lot. I miss being coached up like that. It was a good day.

I am sure everyone is excited for summer to be here. I know all the kids here are pretty anxious to be out. They don't get out till about the beginning of June. It sounds like you guys have some good plans though. And I am glad that you and Mom were able to have a good anniversary, even if it was pretty simple. New pillows are always nice :)

I am also glad that you guys had a good time at Kortni's wedding. That is unfortunate that it isn't a temple wedding. Being out here on a mission has just affirmed to me that I will not settle for anything less than a temple wedding. It is cool that you guys got to see all those old friends as well.

That is awesome that Melissa is doing that. Definitely intense. Wouldn't be on my first list of things to do though. I guess that is why there are people like her. That is way cool.

It is crazy to think that I am about 25% of the way done. When I think about it, it feels like it has gone by pretty fast. Other times I think about it, and it feels like it is never gonna end. Especially when I look at people such as Elder Shamanis. Just gotta keep working all the time though.

I still am not a fan of this trio thing. I hope I am not in one for very much longer. I guess we will see though. I don't want to leave this area. I feel like I have made it better than I found it though. So if the call does come to leave, I will leave with no regrets. This week we have an appointment with a previous investigator and his two kids. I have developed a relationship with the less actives, and allowed them to really open up with me. It is amazing. 5 months ago, we were just strangers meeting each other. I know I am here in Sparks for a reason. I have spent a lot of time this week looking at my patriarchal blessing. It awesome to realize those things that are coming about that it mentions. Also, Elder Shamanis has a young man that is going to be baptized this weekend. He is 18 years old and has a very dark past. He has come played football with us a couple times on Monday.Him and I really hit it off...I am not sure why...but it was really cool. He has requested that I say the prayer at his baptism this week. I am excited to be able to do that...and very humbled. This week has just been...spiritually filled. I hope to have many more of these weeks in the near future. I will let you know what happens.

Thank you for all you do Dad. I hope you have an awesome week! I love and miss ya mucho!

Your Son,
Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle

Dear Dad May 20, 2013

May 20, 2013

Dear Dad,

I am sorry that things are starting to be a little slow. I know how that can be...the work here isn't always the busiest. We just gotta keep a positive attitude. This weekend seemed to be the weekend of cancellations. I don't think a thing we really had planned went all the way through. That can be a little discouraging at times, but there is nothing I can really do about it. So, I just keep moving forward. It will all work out in the end.

That is cool that you got mom something cool. Where are you guys gonna keep it? Since it is just a show piece. That would be cool to have American Restoration work on it though. And I hoping that this Biggest loser thing works out. I would love for you to be able to have that opportunity. I wanna be able to come back and work out with you, I think that would be awesome.

I am excited to hear that the Chargers got Freeney. Woo! This is gonna be a good season I think :) As for Irvin...that is too bad. I understand that he came from a rough past, but hopefully one of these days he realizes he needs to leave all that behind. I think he is a great player and guy...he just needs to figure a few things out like a lot of people.

I hope you guys have fun at Kortni's wedding. I also hope that you and Mom have a great anniversary! I wouldn't be here and be who I am today if it wasn't for you two. Thank you for the example you both are to me.

This week was pretty good though. We set up lessons with a previous investigator that we found in our area book. He works in Bishop, CA every other week, so we don't have anything until the 29th, but I really am looking forward to teaching him and his two kids. And we continue to try and work with Yajaira and her busy schedule. I am glad I have got the work moving here a little more though. I feel like I have made a difference. Also, this week, I was able to meet Elder Dallin H. Oaks. It was cool. We attended the fireside and got to learn from him Saturday night. The biggest thing that stuck out to me was when he was talking about the General Authorities and saying that he wishes we could see them on a daily basis. Most of the time we just see them at General Conference, which is a time to be serious. But he said that they enjoy life too. Life is meant to be enjoyed. I really liked that because as a missionary, people expect us to be almost robotic sometimes. We are still people too. We can goof off and have fun, but when the time to be serious comes, we can do it. A lot of people don't seem to get that sometimes...even some missionaries. SO...I enjoyed those wise words of wisdom. :)

I hope you have a good week Dad. I love and miss ya. Thank you for all your prayers. You are always in mine.

Love your Son,

Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle

Dear Mom/Dear Dad May 13, 2013

May 13, 2013 

Dear Mom,

It was so good to see you and talk to you yesterday too! It is nice to have letters and emails, but being able to just see you and talk...that is the best. We really are blessed :)

That is a crazy story for Jaron...haha man. I haven't had anything nearly that crazy out here in the rich suburbs of Sparks. I have heard some other crazy stories though, just mostly crazy people. So...I guess it is only a matter of time before I get something funny/crazy. The most I get is people calling us dorks or cussing us out as we walk down the street.

I think that is awesome that you are gonna be inviting people to the temple open house. Good goal to set. Set a date to ask them! :) I wish I could go to it, but oh well.

Thank you for the short note. And the pictures. It means a lot.

I love you.

Your Son,

Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle

May 13, 2013

Dear Dad,

I agree, it was really nice to be able to see and talk to all of you. I am definitely grateful for the Jimenez family and their willingness to let us Skype in their home and for the food they provided for us. It was nice. I am definitely blessed out here in Sparks Nevada.

I am glad that you enjoyed my Portuguese testimony. I thought you would have, and I wish I could have memorized it...but oh well. Remember, by small and simple things are great things brought to pass. We shared that Chapter with Yajaira this week. Everything is a process, we just gotta be patient. :)

Thank you again for working on getting an ipod to me. I appreciate it. I just thought of something else I could use, more socks. I would prefer some just black nike ones, but I guess whatever works.

My area is the best, and I am glad you enjoyed learning more about it. I honestly cant wait to take you guys up here with me after the mission. I remember thinking when I first got out here that I wouldnt ever be able to memorize and figure out this place. Now I know my way around like a pro. Who knows how much longer I have though...sometime I will have to figure out an entirely new area. We shall see what happens.

Thank you for the short note. It really is better than nothing. I look forward to writing and seeing what you have to say every week. I wouldnt want to be anywhere else. I honestly think it is one of the best decisions I have made. I love my mission. Called To Reno. CTR. I wouldnt want to be anywhere else. :)

I love ya.

Your Son,

Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle

Picture Update

Elder Hannig before being shipped off to Fallon

More P-day football (a tradition Elder Hayes and I started)

Dear Dad May 6, 2013

May 6, 2013

Dear Dad,

So...the cactus has come and gone. Haha it sounds like you guys had quite the party getting that thing out. Doesn't it feel good to get something hard like that just done though? I love accomplishing hard things, it makes me feel good. I am sorry that your eye got hurt, I hope it isnt anything too bad and that it gets better soon.

I only have one companion now. Crazy story about that. Elder Flake and I received a call from President at about 10 o'clock Monday night. There was an emergency where an Elder went home last minute, so they asked Elder Flake if he would accept a last minute transfer call. He did. So my first son is in my neighboring area of Wingfield Hills. We were both really bummed...we hope we will get to serve with each other again one of these days. My new companion is Elder Torrescano. He is from Pasco, Washington and he is waiting for his visa to Curitiba, Brasil. So...now we take an extra hour for language study...I am not a huge help though. As far as how long he could be here...we have no idea. I could be days...or months. I was worried that he was just not gonna be wanting to be here in Reno though, I mean...knowing that he has been called to Brazil and everything. He has surprised me though...he has such a good attitude and is here to work. He has honestly made myself a much better missionary. This week has been exhausting. It is awesome though.

That is crazy and good that there is so much growth out there. I think on the...19th..the Sparks stake will be split...I have heard there are about 15 wards and branches or so. That is the rumors I be hearing anyways. So we shall see.

I will definitely keep Bro. Lewis in my prayers. Hopefully he is alright.

Scottsdale is awesome. I wouldn't mind at all being there with ya guys. I do hope you guys will have fun. It is crazy that Jeri Lin is finishing that up. I haven't even started :P I am proud of her, I hope to be graduating in the Maroon and Gold one of these days as well.

I also have my Skype ready. bryton.shinkle. I talked to the Jimenez family and we were thinking that I would call around like 3 or so. I hope I can talk to everyone. I am sure that everyone will probably want to.

As far as excitement goes this week...we had a good recent convert lesson yesterday. Even though I had almost no idea what was going on the whole time. We had it over at the Jimenez home and we invited Juan's parents and my zone leaders who are Spanish speaking Elders so that we could introduce them to each other. We were teaching the plan of salvation...I started the lesson off in English...but it quickly went to Spanish shortly after. I was the only one that basically had no idea what was being said. But all that matters is that Juan's parents said that they would go to the Spanish branch and Juan told me afterwards that it was a good lesson. It was just funny. :)

Thank you again for everything dad. I really do appreciate all that you do. You are always in my prayers as well. I hope you have a good week!

Love your son
Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle