Umm, Excuse Me Mr.....Your Tie is a Little Crooked. Merry Christmas! December 23, 2013

December 23, 2013

Dear Familia,

News, News, News. Where to start. This week has seemed to fly by, but when I look back at it, there was a lot that has happened. I wouldn't say there were a whole lot of huge, crazy things happened...just a lot more little things. Now it is Christmas time. It got here so fast. It is also super weird to think that this week will mark my second Christmas away from home. I am just looking forward to being able to talk with all your beautiful faces this Christmas. :)

Ok, but like I was saying, this past week has flown by. It was a good one though. I have a couple experiences that I would like to take away from it and share with you. You all know that Brenda and her two kids have decided to be baptized on January 4th. So on Tuesday, we met with them to go over the baptismal interview questions. They did a great job, so we went ahead and set up the interviews for Thursday. We got a ride into Elko from my good friends, Elder Prescott and Martindale. They interviewed the kids. (Who Passed with Flying Colors). While President Shumway, Second Councilor in the mission presidency, interviewed Brenda. He, President Shumway, called us all in after Brenda's interview and told us that it was right for this baptism to move forward and happen. Then he gave us the opportunities to bare our testimonies. Pure Awesomeness. That is what it is all about. I have had two other experiences such as this one on my mission. The feeling is just the same, and it never gets old. It happened with Juan, Raina, and now Brenda and her kids. It makes all the hard work and struggles worth it. In my opinion, it has made this Christmas just that much better :) OH...and I almost forgot to explain the title of my email...so while we were all gathered together after the interviews, President Shumway was talking to us and Connor raises his hand and say..."Umm...excuse me Mr...Your tie is a little crooked" Eh..no big deal. Just telling him like it is. I just had to laugh. I love the kid :)

Also speaking of Christmas surprises, I had one at church yesterday. I was just sitting there...standing there...at the door, handing out the programs. Normal Sunday. THEN. I. SEE. Kelly walking through the door. I am not quite sure if I have really talked about her. She is the mother of Seth, who was baptized right before I was transferred out here. So we have been working with him as well as her. She decided to surprise me as well as Elder Anderson, and show up for Sacrament Meeting. It was awesome. :)

I think that is the most exciting news from this week though. I am looking forward to the stress of making preparations for the baptism. :)

Dad- Happy Late Birthday! And may I just say that I hear you when you say that what is it with getting junk food when you don't want it. This past week has been...ridiculous. I am grateful yes, but it is quite overwhelming in a sense. Just hoping I don't get fat I guess. Thank goodness for P-day basketball ;) Let's just say I will be looking forward to the workouts with you after the mission :) I am sorry to hear about you 'Hawks...poor guys. I am glad the Chargers won. Now I just need Baltimore and Miami to lose, and we have to win next week. Basically...it is gonna be tough for us to make it this year. Oh well. I will just be happy if they finish strong. I am looking forward to talking with you guys. Swimming in December. You lucky dog. Haha. I really miss water...in its non-frozen state. I am glad to hear that Hayden will be able to enjoy it though. He is gonna bounce back and hit the field hard, just like Adrian Peterson. MVP! haha I love and miss ya Dad! I will see you on a screen in a couple of days. Until then! Have a good week and Merry Christmas :)

Mom- That picture you just sent me is super cool. Thank you for that :) And thank you for those happy Christmas wishes. My Christmas just seems to be looking like it is getting better and better each and every day. I am most looking forward to being able to see everybody and talk with everybody while you all enjoy my warm, relaxing birthplace :) I love and miss ya Mom! Have a good week! Merry Christmas

Jeri Lin- Ok...so I feel super bad. For some reason, I was thinking that you and Tony were gonna be in Texas or Utah this Christmas. I was planning on making you a card or something...but I didn't know your new address. So..I am a slacker, and didn't prepare anything for you for Christmas. I am sorry. I can still do something, it may just be late. I am looking forward to seeing all of you guys on Wednesday and seeing little Lindi and goofy Hyrum. I am a lucky uncle :) Thanks for your email! I love and miss ya! Have a good week!

I love you all and miss ya! Have an awesome week. I will see you soon!

Love,
Your Son
Your Brother
Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle

Year Marks and Pep Talks December 16, 2013

December 16, 2013

Dear Family,

Obviously, this week was the week of my year mark. It was spent at zone conference and at the Elko and Spring Creek Christmas party. I had a good time spending it with my Big Hawaiian friend, Elder Prescott. My fellow Arizona peep, Elder Martindale. And one of my very good friends Elder Stevens. It was fun. It was a fun time. :) It definitely was what I needed. I had a rough start to the week. Which brings us to the second part of my letter.

I received a little package and story about a camel from a family I have come to love very dearly out here on my mission. The Hagler family.That brings me to the second part of the title of my email. It, the story, was definitely a pep talk that I was in need of. The start of the week was looking like it would be one of the best. Monday was pretty good. Then Tuesday came. We are sitting in District Meeting and our phone rings. Nancy is calling us, so my companion walks out and answers the phone. I here him yell in the hallway...walks back in, throws the phone at me, and says, "Nancy, just dropped us." I was confused as...ever. Ha. I just kept trying to think what happened to make her want to "take a break". My thoughts kept going back to my patriarchal blessing...when it tells me, "Not all will follow upon what they feel". I kept wanting to do more though. I then got that package from you on Wednesday. The part that stuck out to me was the part where it talks about the importance of prayer. I have a very strong testimony of prayer. I know Heavenly Father listens and answers. I had been praying, but that was a nice reminder to help make my prayers more meaningful.

Other than that, things are going well. The baptism for Brenda and her two kids is still on track for the 4th of January. We have a new investigator as of Monday, his name is Brandon. He is a kid in a part member family that we are working with. We are also working with his little brother Blake, who is 8 years old. Pretty cool. We have a few more potentials that we will hopefully be meeting with this week. Things are going well. Time continues to fly by.

As for Christmas...I would like some Khaki pants. Jeri Lin, have you made a book for me for this past six months? I love those. But honestly...I think you guys know what I like. I don't think I am in dire need of anything though.

Dad-Well it seems to me that I have a family full of crazy fools. Haha first it is Mom, then it is Hayden. It seems that things are going pretty well though. I was so happy to hear that the Chargers pulled it off. I am glad you are doing well with your workouts. I don't think I know Justin Wright, but that is cool that he supported you and that you are supporting him. I am glad that workouts have been such a blessing in your life. Keep it up :) I love and miss ya.

Mom- Thank you for your short sweet messages :) I totally understand that you are super busy, so I am glad that you at least take a little bit of time to write me. Thank you for being my Mom. You are definitely one of my super heroes :) I love and miss ya!

Jeri Lin- To answer your question...it feels super weird to be halfway done. Time is racing by like Lightning McQueen. Ka-Chow! I think I answered your other questions about wants and needs for Christmas. I just had another thought. Nike Socks. I like dem. So..if at all possible :) I am glad your family is doing well. I love ya Sis. Thank you for everything :) Say hi to the kiddos for me. Have a good week, I love and miss ya! :)

I love you all. Tell everyone hello for me. I miss ya. I will be seeing you guys on the Skype next week! Have a good one :)

Love,
Your Son
Your Brother
Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle

The Smigelskis. They are on their way out. Gonna miss Elder Smigelskis jokes and training. Mostly his jokes ;)

Stevens, Martindale, and I. Buddies.

Stevens. Gutierrez, and I. Mas Buddies.

Super Heroes and Birthdays December 9, 2013

December 9, 2013

So...Title explanation. No, I did not dress up as a super hero for my birthday. No the Knudsens did not hire a super hero to come surprise me on my birthday. To be completely honest, the two have pretty much absolutely nothing to do with each other. So...just be patient and I will get around to explaining as this email continues to progress. :)

First, I did not get the birthday package until this morning, but thank you so very much. Hopefully those thermals will keep me warm...because it has been absolutely freezing. I HATE THE COLD. We have arranged with some members to get rides and everything though. So we should be alright. It does help getting into peoples doors though. Sometimes. Haha. Again, thank you mucho. My birthday was really awesome. I got a package from my Hagler family and Juan who are back in Sparks. I got a Taylor Swift calendar from Elder Munns. PRETTY SWEET. I also got a book from the Knudsens. No Excuses, No Regrets. The Eric Weddle Story. :) Super Awesome. Then Brenda gave me some cake and gave me a mint plant to give my appartment or basement some nice plant life and a small way to freshen up my breath from time to time. Pretty neat, eh? :) President didn't call me though...pretty bummed about that. He just sent me a text this morning at 6:29. Come on President...I still have one more minute of sleepy time. ;) Then we had dinner and cheesecake at the Knudsens. Dinner was some good old fried rice and Orange Chicken :) haha. It was a good birthday all in all. My year mark will be spent at Zone Conference and at a Mission Christmas party for Elko and Spring Creek.

Now for the explanation on super heroes. It all began about...last night. While I was sleeping. I had a dream that me and a bunch of missionaries that I have served around were dressed up as super heroes. Kinda weird, right? It got me thinking though, that is for sure. I thought I would share with you those thoughts. Here it goes. Elder Stevens and I have been spending a lot of time reminiscing about the good times we had in Sparks and the people we helped and bonded with. Juan for instance, we are now eternal best friends. I could venture to say, and I don't think he would disagree, that we are a couple heroes in his life. So my thoughts are that. I am a super hero. Along with all missionaries. Pretty neat, right? :)

News on the investigators. Brenda just sent us a text saying that the plan for the baptism is January 4th. I am so excited for that. Especially since it is right before transfers! So I will be able to see them baptized right before I leave if that is the case. I couldn't be happier. :) As far as Nancy goes, she has finished reading the Book of Mormon. Our focus right now is just to help her to receive and recognize the answers to her prayers. Things are definitely going well. We have two lessons set up tonight. Both with Part Member families. And we are continuing to work with the Less actives and find more of them to visit with. It almost seems like it is weekly thing. But yeah...as far as work goes, it is progressing :)

Dad- The Chargers play on my year mark. I really hope they win, cuz it would just make it that much sweeter. Too bad the Seahawks lost, I guess it is a good thing that it wasn't really a "must win" game. I think they will make it all the way. I am super impressed by Wilson. He is a champ for sure. I am glad Snickers is still doing alright, even if he has slowed down a bit. He is a good dog. Miss him. Too bad that ASU lost. I am still impressed on their improvement this year though. Gotta keep moving on up. Thank you for everything you do for me Dad. I love and miss ya. Have a good week!

Mom- I just want to say thank you for the birthday package and note. I am sure I will be a little bit warmer now. Thanks to the Thermals and the help from the Spring Creekers. I love it out here. I am having tons of fun and doing good work. Thank you for everything you do for me. I love ya and miss ya Mom. Have a good week!

Jeri Lin- Well I hope you have a fun week with the Browns and Goodwins. Also hope that you keep staying safe with your new security system. I am glad everyone is doing well. Love and miss ya Sis! :) Have an wonderful week!

I love you all. Tell everyone Hi for me.

Love,
Your Son
Your Brother
Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle

 Balloons

 Cake at Brenda's

Cheesecake

 Munchies and Mountain Dew

T-Swizzle Calendar

Side note: The beanie is a birthday gift from Elder Stevens

19 Years of Age December 2, 2013

December 2, 2013

This is the last email I will be sending as a young whipper-snapping teenager. When I come home...I will no longer be a teenager. *Sighs* Oh well. I think I have a pretty good Birthday planned out. If everything goes according to plan of course. Thank you all for your birthday wishes thus far. Even if it does make me feel like an old man. :) But like I was saying...it should be good. Sister Knudsen is gonna make me a cheesecake and we may even have dinner of there. Then the Harwart family, a part member family also offered...well their thirteen year old daughter offered to throw me a birthday party. Haha. We shall see what happens. I love those people. I dunno if I have told you the story on them yet. So I think I will do that now.

Elder Anderson and I met them as we were trying to clear up our ward directory. We had records of a family that may have moved out, so we went to the house just to double check and make sure that was accurate and to see if the people that had moved in knew where the people who had moved out were. Just so we could get the records moved out of our ward. We knock on the door and hear someone say, "It's the missionaries!". Long story short, we meet the Harwarts. The kids have all been baptized. April, the mom, was a convert in Reno a few years back....and has kind of had a rough go, with family and what not. I don't want to go into personal details. Anyways, she is now married to Donald, who is not a member of the church. Such an awesome guy. Anyways...this past Saturday, we went over there. April asked for a blessing on their home. So we did that, and then they asked for personal blessings as well.

(side note) I remember the first time I gave a blessing. Pretty darn nerve racking. Now...I still get a little anxious I think, but it really isn't that bad. :)

They also had a non member friend there that wanted a blessing as well. I was able to give her a blessing. After we left, we got a text from April saying that Fate, the friend, definitely felt something and that she was almost crying. Hopefully we can have more opportunities there. :)

Let's see. What else happened this week. My good friend Tyler got his mission call! He has been called to serve in the good country of Mexico. It was cool to be able to watch him have that experience and then reflect on my own. Boy was that a long day waiting to open mine up. I remember just watching NFL Network all day just trying to get my mind off it. Then, everyone was gathered around. Waiting. Anticipating. Nevada Reno Mission. Woah. Haha weird. Ok. I can do this :) And after this week I have been reflecting a lot about it. I am approaching a year and I am so thankful for the opportunity I have to be a missionary here. I am working to make the most of it. Thank you for all your support :)

Dad- Well it sounds to me that you had a pretty darn good week. With Thanksgiving and all. :) My Thanksgiving was good. We spent lunch with Brenda, her kids were in Reno, and Travis and his two kids. Played spoons and some bball. Well we played speed to be exact :) But that was fun. Then we went and had dinner with the Knudsens and played Scum and Double Scum the card game :) It was fun. :) Brenda, her kids, and Nancy are still continuing to progress well. January for Brenda's baptism. Then we will be meeting with Nancy on Wednesday. And it is kinda weird to think that I will be with Elder Anderson for that long. Things are going well though, so I can't complain :) I love and miss ya. Hope you have another good week!

Mom- I too am hoping to see the progress of Brenda and Nancy continue to move forward. They are doing well. I am doing well too. Not freezing too much yet. I really wish they would give a car to this wimpy Az boy. Oh well though. I am glad to hear that you had a good Thanksgiving as well. Poor kid. I was telling the Knudsens about Chocolate gravy. Boy do I miss that stuff :) I hope you have a good week Mom! I love and miss ya!

Jeri Lin- Wild week for sure. Jimminy Christmas. I am glad that everyone is alright though. Hopefully everything will work out in finding them. It seems that other than that things are going well though. I hope work continues to go well. Before you know it Tony will be working like 10 jobs it seems like. Haha, but that is a good thing. Cuz then you will be able to pay for your security system. :) But for real. I am glad you are doing well. I love and miss you!

I think that is all I have for now. I love and miss you guys. Thank you for everything!

Your Brother
Your Son
Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle