Time Flies August 26, 2013

August 26, 2013

I have been here in Spring Creek for 5 weeks going on 6. This week is the end of the transfer. Holy Smokes. It is crazy how fast time flies when you are working. Oh boy have we been working. We now have a new investigator. The one we did the weeding for. We had our first lesson with her last Wednesday, and have another with her this Wednesday. Pretty cool. She has committed to reading the Book of Mormon, so we will be checking up on that this week. We also are continuing to teach Brenda and her kids. Which is going really well. We tried to set a baptismal date, but she isn't ready to commit. She was at church yesterday though, and they are going to be attending a baptismal service this weekend, so hopefully that helps her out a bit. Love them to death. :) I guess I will have news on transfers next week though. Not expecting anything too dramatic, but you never know. It has been a good week all in all. :)

Dad- Of course the Chargers beat the Cardinals. Easy as cheese. ;) That is awesome that the Seahawks are doing so well. I am sad I am gonna miss out on fantasy, but oh well. I will get back on it and kick butt when I am back in my Arizona home ;) I am glad to hear that you are doing so well with the biggest loser competition. I can't wait to see how much different you look with your buff self when I get home. :) You lucky dude...I wish I could head to San Diego and have fun with you guys. That is by far one of my favorite places to visit. When we get back home, we will have to make a trip there some time and go to The Strip Club (steak house) since I will be 21 :) I hope you guys have fun though. I am glad work and all that is going well though. Just keep on keeping on. I love ya Dad!

Mom- Thank you for your little notes and pictures. They mean a lot. Just letting me know that you love me. I want you to know that I love you. Very much. You have taught me a lot. You have taught me how to work. I really don't think I would be doing as well as I have been if it wasn't for you and the things you have taught me. Keep being an awesome Mom. Our family is super blessed :) I love ya Mom! :)

Jeri Lin- Well, thank you for all the good news. I can honestly say that I was worried that Hyrum would forget me. It is good to hear that he hasn't though. Lucky me :) It is also way good to hear that you have started running. We try to run at least a few times a week. At least two miles. We were doing it every day for a while...but you kind of get tired. Missionary work is quite exhausting, but I love it :) That is good that you are pushing yourself. I love doing that :) Continue to keep me updated on the news of your family. I hope that the job, house, and all that good stuff works out. It will...so just keep doing what you are doing :) I love you!

Well I hope you all have another good week. Thank you for your prayers and all you guys do for me. I though of something that could be sent in a package...my Oakley sunglasses are now Brokeleys...so a pair pf sunglasses? Preferably white...like those blue and black ones Jeri Lin has. Also...ties are always a good commodity...so if you ever find any cool cheap ones. That is all I can think of though. I love you all!

Your Son and Brother,
Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle

Picture Update August 19, 2013

 Elder Stevens

 Juan

Spring Creek

Good Week! August 19, 2013

                                    August 19, 2013

Dear Mom, Dad, and Jeri Lin,

Well...this week has been awesome. We taught a total of 17 lessons this week. Our goal was 20. So we are getting there. The people we have started teaching are awesome. So let me start out by telling you a little bit about them. So...we have Brenda and her two kids in our area and then her boyfriend and his two kids in the other elders we share the ward with area. All four of us teach them together. They are super cool. We have another lesson with them this Saturday. I think they will take a little time before baptism. I think we will shoot for the middle of October, but I think it is just a matter of time if they keep going like they have been. We also have been teaching a girl named Sarah. She will be moving back up to New York at the beginning of September. I am gonna miss her. She has been living with her in laws while her husband (less active) has been over in Afghanistan. Her mother in law is from Arizona...so we enjoy talking about that :) And Sarah like 3 year old daughter has the biggest crush on me haha. They are active members and Sarah was given as a referral to us from Elder Fajardo. Remember him? Yeah...my good friend has been here in the Creek since the start. It has been good to be able to catch up with him. Anyways...we also found a potential investigator tracting the other day. We offered a blessing on her home, but she declined so before she could close the door I offered that we could do some service. She agreed. So the other day we went over and pulled weeds for a couple hours (still a lot to do), but then asked if we could come do some more service and teach a lesson in return. She agreed, so we have a lesson with her this coming Wednesday. Needless to say, it is going well. :) OH! and I like being on bike....haha I get some good laughs when Elder Anderson crashes or nearly crashes. It is a good time :)

Dad- I am sorry this week went a little backwards, but like you said, just gives you more motivation to do better. I know last week our lesson count went down a few from the previous weeks, but we were able to bounce back this week and lead our district. So just keep working hard. That is awesome that the Seahawks won. I got to rub that in Fajardos face when we go play football a little later :) I am glad you got the hats. That is all thanks to the Haglers. The speakers are good though. I mean they work. One of these days if I can find a cheap one at Ross or something, I may get an ihome though. We will see. Let me know about the job search as well.

Mom-Well now that school is in, the craziness starts to pick up. It sounds like you all are doing pretty well though. Which  I am super happy to hear. I hope Sydney will do well with swim and that all the other kids are doing well in their activities. I pray for all of you every night. I am glad Papa and Grams are doing well too. That is awesome that he is gonna be a substitute. I think that can be kinda stressful though too. I am sure he will do great :) Thanks for the updates. I hope you have a good week! Be safe. I love you!

Jeri Lin- It is so good to hear that you and Tony are doing well and spending time at the temple and doing missionary work. I heard about the new movie and one of the members here said that I kind of look like the new Satan. True? Keep up the good work. :) All craziness with work...still there. That is awesome that you got a job though! I am sure you will do awesome. Somebody has to do it...I cant. Not my cup of tea. :) That is cool that you went to that open house, and it is so true what you said. You will have a special place for the Shalimar ward. I definitely have a special place for Sparks. I think about the people there quite often. 

Thank you for everything! If I think of something for a package, I will let you know. I love all you guys. I hope you have an awesome week.

Love your Son and Brother,

Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle

Another Week in the Creek August 12, 2013

August 12, 2013

Dear Mom, Dad, and Jeri Lin,

Well another week come and gone here in Spring Creek.

Dad- Dang...at least it is Pre-season. I am excited for football season again. Even though, I don't get to follow it as closely as I would like. Oh well. I will be awaiting the updates :) Dad...You are awesome. I am so glad that you had such an awesome week with the weight loss. I am very much on the proud side for you. Keep up the good work!

Yeah...the dog story is a fun one :) As far as the nerf guns...my companion has multiple. SO...I can defend myself sometimes. We have had a few good wars with the other missionaries we live with this past week once we were done with our planning or just randomly during lunch and whatnot :)

The work here in my portion is slow. It should be better this week though. We have some appointments set up and hopefully should have some set up more. Now...as long as they don't cancel, it should be good :)

I definitely want to show you around these places one of these days. I love them. Lots :)

Mom- Thank you for the short little notes. That is awesome to hear about Vince. That was some of the best news I have heard :) I love you Mom. Thank you for your hard work and example :)

Jeri Lin- I am glad to hear that your little family is still doing really well and that the blessing went well. Nothing better that family. For sure! Things are going really well. Just trying to get the amount of work for one area in half the area. I enjoy it though. :) And yes, The members here are good about feeding us as well.

Well this week I wrote a poem. SO here it is.

At That Moment

I will follow Thee!
To the world I was sent
My whole soul filled with glee
At That Moment

Life is hard, Life is rough
My heart with sorrow Rent
I have had enough
At That Moment

Now a scene in my head
As I sat discontent
From a story I read
At That Moment

It all became so real
Into the Garden He went
Just to go and feel
At That Moment


My troubled soul to lift

Now able to repent

Such a precious gift

The Atonement


Well...that is what I have this week. It is going well. I love you all and miss ya.


Love your Son and Brother,

Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle

Clydesdales

 Welcome to Spring Creek!

To One and All August 5, 2013

August 5, 2013

Dear Mom, Dad, and Jeri Lin,

Well first of all...I think I will have to sending emails in a group form. I seem to have made a lot of friends in Sparks that like to email me as well....so to be able to have enough time and make sure no one gets left out, I will have to do it like this. I hope you understand.

Dad-
I am happy to hear that your trip went well and that you are still losing. A little at a time is better than none at all. It has been a pretty good week with Elder Anderson though. Other than the fact that he shot me in the ear with his nerf gun to wake me up this morning. I wasn't too happy about that, but oh well. We were both put in here this transfer though...double transfers. Gotta love them. They split the area we are in, so there is a total of four missionaries in the Spring Creek Fifth ward. The other two missionaries are pretty cool. I really like Elder Munns, a small town country boy from Utah. The other is Elder Walsmann...I went to High School with him...so it is interesting, but good. Oh! and the member we went to dinner with last night (Hathcocks)...Bro. Hathcock is Coach Hatcock's cousin. Pretty cool I guess. It isn't bad living with member though. I enjoy it.

Mom-
Well it sounds like you had another crazy busy week. I always have you in my prayers that you will be able to do well and function with everything you do. You are amazing. Thank you for your example. And the pictures..they were kind of hard to really see. Maybe just try attaching them instead of pasting them in the email itself. :) I love ya Mom.

Jeri Lin- I am glad things are going well even though your little babies may stink or be sick. You are a pretty awesome Mom. :)

Well I do have a story for this week. SO...we live with a member. Old guy Brother Preece. He works at the mines and has a crazy schedule...but anyways. He has two dogs that live in the yard. Well, Elder Anderson and I had gotten home and we opened the gate to put our bikes in the shed. Well as I turned around to shut the gate, one of the dogs booked it out the fence. I immediately reacted by sprinting after the dog. Brother Preece is gonna kill me just kept going through my head. I kept up with the dog for a while...leaping and bounding over the sage brush at full speed. I finally ran out of gas and the dog kept going. I was praying so hard that I would be able to find the dog and bring her back home. Elder Munns and Walsmann came in the truck and we just kept walking around looking. Wait! She ran up to Elder Anderson....and was gone again. Dang it. Anyways...I just kept on praying. Finally! We see her again...Munns jumps out of the truck with his lasso and we finally get her. What an adventurous night. All I can say...is that I thought the dogs were supposed to be doing the chasing of me and not the other way around. Moral of the story. Heavenly Father answers prayers.

I love you guys and hope you have an awesome week!

Your Son and Brother,


Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle