Another Transfer, Come and Gone June 22, 2014

June 22, 2014

This week has just flown by. Super fast. It is pretty crazy to think that this transfer is over and that I only have 4 more of them left. I am sure you have all been awaiting the transfer news. I am sticking around here in the downtown area for at least six more weeks. I guess that shouldn't come as a huge surprise, seeing that I have been in my previous two areas for much longer than I have been here. My District isn't even changing all that much either...Just one sister leaving. So I am looking forward to getting to know the new sister as well as continuing to get to know all the other sisters in my District. :)

What else has happened this week...? I guess I will start with an awkward/funny story. So, we were walking like normal and we pass by this couple...sitting in the middle of the sidewalk...absolutely drunk. As we walk by, they just start making out. Gross. Then the lady started yelling at us, but we ignored her and just kept walking around the corner to our investigators apartment. As we were leaving though, we came back into their view and we just kept walking trying to ignore her, until she said, "Hey! I really want to talk to you!". We looked at each other and turned around. She then asked if she could say a prayer with us...and prayed the most...ridiculous prayer I have heard in my life...complete with a couple lines from the song, "Sweet Caroline". And then she proceeded to grab one of our hands and kiss them. Haha. We walked away disgusted and in shock. Just another day in the life downtown.

Other than talking to crazy drunks on the street, it was a pretty good week. We have started teaching like 3 new people. One of those people, we are gonna have the YSA sisters teach...which is a kinda a bummer, but it will be better for her. It was really kinda cool how we met her, Jacklynn, though. We were actually headed home for the night after talking with people at the river. She was walking down the sidewalk on the opposite side of the street, and she yelled to us asking what we were doing, because we "looked all official". We explained to her that we were missionaries, and she asked if we could baptize her. Which we responded positively of course, but explained to her that it was a big commitment and that we would like for her to learn more and come to church and everything first. So we had a lesson with her later on in the week, and we will be introducing her to the YSA sisters this week :) We also started teaching a young man by the name of Rodney. He is one of the kids that was in the group with all the skaters I mentioned last week. We taught him about the Restoration and the Book of Mormon. He agreed to read and pray about it. Things are continuing to look up. We are still trying our best to help Kimberly and Calvin. Just trying to get them out of the ruts that are holding them back, because that is what they have known for so long. It really is a daily battle.

Speaking of a daily battle, I had a thought this week. It came to me just before we left the apartment in the morning. The thought was, "What makes me continue to do this, day in and day out?". This missionary stuff is hard work. Naturally, it made me think of football. What in the world made me do that day in and day out? Both are a daily battle. Just in different forms. The love for it is what has and had kept me going in each situation. People think I was crazy for running around, knocking heads in 100 degree weather. People think I am crazy for walking miles and miles in a shirt and tie each day to talk about the gospel. Who cares? I love it. It really pays off. This weekend, I have the opportunity to attend the temple with Juan. I am stoked. That is what keeps me going. Love. It is a powerful thing :)

I believe that is all I have to report on for this week. This morning, we woke up early to go play some ball with some of the young men in the ward. That was fun, and we have some more activities for later this afternoon. Life is good. I really can't complain. I hope you all are having a good Monday as well :)

Dad- All I have to say is just continue to keep up the good work :) It seems to me that you have had a pretty good week. You will just have to let me know if you find any better options for a replacement. I would say a mini cooper, but you would probably run into a similar problem as you did with the jeep...as well as another one as far as price goes. I admire all the minis that drive around downtown :) I love ya and miss ya Dad. Have a good week :)

Mom- Hayden has beat me for breaking a bone and passing out...haha. Not that I am jealous or anything. Poor kid. His swoosh looks good though :) I am glad you have had a good week though. Regardless of all that craziness :) I love you Mom and miss ya! I hope you have another good week :)

Jeri Lin- I always appreciate the little funnies of your kiddos :) So, thank you :) Well I am glad you are all continuing to do well down there in that Texas humidity. Thank you for sharing that lesson. Sounds like it went well, and that was a really cool activity. I always am trying to think up some good activities to have during my District Meetings :) I love you Sis and miss ya! Have a good week :)

Keila- I miss ya! Have a good week :)

Sydney- Well thank you for your emails this week. I am glad to hear that you enjoyed Girls Camp and especially glad that you are enjoying church. That is one thing that I have come to love on the mission. Not having my family close by, has helped me realize how much a ward is really like a family. It is cool to see that you realize that now :) I am glad you are doing well and you will have to let me know how your Birthday goes. Happy Birthday a day early by the way! :) Also you will have to let me know how the rest of your trips and things go :) I love and miss ya! Have a a good week :)

Leslie- I will be looking for your letter! Have a good week! I love and miss you :)

Brooke- I hope you are having a good summer! :) I love and miss you!

Hayden- Well your hair looks good. :) I am sorry you passed out though. That is no fun. Keep up the good work in swimming! I love and miss ya little man! :)

Well that is all I have for now! :) I love and miss you all :)

Love,
Your Son
Your Brother
Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle :)

Howday! June 16, 2014

June 16, 2014

I am clean cut and ready to email. Now where to go from here. This week has been one that I had to push through physically. Tuesday night, I was awakened by a sore throat...tried to sleep it off, but eventually caved and took some meds. Wednesday and Thursday were rough. I couldn`t breathe hardly and I just felt achy. I was in a "I want my Mom" moment. I kept on doing what my Mom would want me to do. Kept going out and kept working. Hoping that maybe I would sweat it out. Luckily I have some very good friends here in Nevada that are willing to help and take care of me, so now I am back in a more normal working condition. Thank goodness for Pdays in giving me at least a little bit of time to have some time to rest and relax.

Other than being sick, this week hasn`t been too bad at all. It is looking like we are moving the baptism dates again for Kimberly and Tristy. Not too far in the future. I am just hoping that I am able to stick around for them. Transfers will be happening on the 24th. So calls will come on Sunday. It really is a toss up of what will happen. If I do end up being moved, I hope that it is nearby, because Juan is going through the Temple the day after transfers. Some other exciting news happened with Tony yesterday. He came to church! He stayed for all three hours and everyone there already thought he was a member. It was good. We did miss Calvin and Kimberly as well as Tristy this week though. Just trying to get them to keep coming.

What else...we have some potential new investigators. One of which we will be meeting with this coming Saturday. We just decided one afternoon to go down by the river and talk to some people and this group of teenagers on skateboards started talking to us, so I asked them if I could try a trick. So I attempted to do a kickflip a couple times. Couldn't quite get it though...but it got their attention, and like I said, one of them wants to hear us out on Sunday. That was cool. Another cool experience we had happened just before dinner on Friday. We were running just a few minutes ahead on our schedule, and we didn't want to be too early to dinner...so we just decided to walk up the street a little ways and then a little dog was chasing us down, but we chased it back to its owner. Then...standing in the middle of the street, Elder Reynolds suggested the we just knock on the door of the house behind us. So we did. We met the Lady that lived there, and asked her if we could leave a blessing on her home. She agreed and then said we could come back another time, so we are gonna check back this week. :)

Things are continuing to go well for me as a District Leader. I am coming to enjoy it and my District helps me be able to enjoy it. They all are good missionaries and have fun while they do it. I really can't complain :)

Dad- To be honest, I think for the most part, I have felt like my week was pretty similar to your week. Just kinda the same old stuff. A scripture was shared this week that really stuck out to me. "And let us not be weary in well doing: For in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" Galatians 6:9. So, I guess that is my advice to you. Keep up the good work! You are such an awesome Dad, and I am truly blessed to have you. You are truly one of my very best friends. The time will soon come when we can hang out again together. :) Have a good week Dad, I love and miss ya!
One more thing....any feelings on the world cup?? I think it will be Germany.

Mom- Well thank you for sharing your experience and insight. The struggle is real, that is all I know...but just like you did, we just got to push through :) I also see a lesson in not having the boat. That is a lesson in attitude. You all kept a good attitude and were still all able to have a good time. :) That was actually what one of the trainings was given on in our zone training. Attitude makes a huge difference. :) I am glad all is well. Tell Brooke that I am sorry, I will be better at responding when she writes and emails. I still love and miss her :) I love and miss you as well Mom. Have another good week!

Jeri Lin- Well I am happy to hear that your trip went well and all. I am glad that Syd enjoyed it as well. Good luck to her if she does end up going there...I could never do that. Too darn cold. Haha. Sounds like everyone is doing well even with peeing pews and not walking...the joys I have to look forward to ;) I am glad you all are staying busy. One of these days we will all have to come up to the Biggest Little City Temple. It is pretty neat. :) Hope you have a good week! I love and miss ya Sis :)

Keila- I am doing good today :) I hope you are doing good. I am glad you had a good week at the lake. That is cool that you know what you are doing for school now. You will have to keep me posted on when you start and how its going and whatnot. I miss ya and love ya too. Have a good week! :)

Sydney- Well it looks like you enjoyed Idaho. That is good to hear. I hope everything else is going well. Love and miss ya! Have a good week :)

Leslie- Hey, I love you! Have a great week :)

Brooke- Well I haven't heard from you in a while. I hope your summer is going well! Sorry that I have been kinda bad at writing back. I hope you can forgive me. Let me know how you are doing! :) I love ya and miss ya!

Hayden- Hey Little Brother. I miss ya man. I hope you are getting tough. I can't wait till I get to see you again. Stay awesome. I love ya and miss ya :)

I love and miss you all!
Have a good week!

Love,
Your Son
Your Brother
Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle :)

Full Week :) June 9, 2014

June 9, 2014

Hello! Since the darn network at our church building has been down, I have been stressing about how and when I would be able to get this sent off to you. I must have figured it out since you have this email now :)

Now what to report on this week? I feel like a lot has happened since last week. On Tuesday, we went on splits for the evening. I was with our ward mission leader, and Elder Reynolds was with one of the newly returned missionaries of the ward. My night was filled with meeting with member families and going over the ward mission plan with them. Elder Reynolds on the other hand was setting our investigator with a baptismal date. It is a 9 year old of a less active family and she is planning on the 21 of this month to get dunked. We may move it, because that is the day our ward will be getting home from the Trek. It also may be the day that Juan goes through the temple. So we will just have to play it by ear and see :)

Let me see...what else. Oh! I got to see my friends on Friday. They were in town for our mission leadership meeting. We had a good time learning and catching up there. The AC in the building was broken though...so you can imagine how nice it was sitting shoulder to shoulder in suits. Haha Other than that, it was good. On Tuesday, I also gave another training at District Meeting about Talking With Everyone and asking everyone for referrals. That was a good time. I also gave the sisters all a copy of a picture I drew of our district. There will be pictures of that sent here pretty shortly. Things as a District Leader are still going well. I am enjoying it. Even if it adds some extra stress.

Funny story of the week. I had a crazy psychic lady feel my energy at Kimberly's house. She grabbed my hand and told me that I was insecure and that I needed a girlfriend. Also I will be, "the husband of all husbands". Hahaha Elder Reynolds and I were laughing so hard along with Kimberly. The lady was insane.

The good news is that we were able to find a new investigator by the name of Tony. The guy has a Ph. D. in Bio Chemistry. He is crazy smart. Before our lesson with him yesterday, he stayed up from 9:30pm till 5am doing research on the church. Who does that?! So we are gonna be plenty busy trying to answer all his questions. Prayers have been answered with him though. We have been trying so hard to find good, new solid investigators, and it happened for us :)

Also! Calvin finally came to church for the first time! The last time he was in any kind of church was when he was 16 years old...that is like...57 years. Super stoked. Kimberly was also there and some of the other less active members we have been working with. So it was a successful week. We are working to have another great week. I can't complain at all :)

So yeah, that was my week!

Dad- I am happy to hear that you were able to get back to working out again :) Sounds like a pretty fancy gym :) To answer your question, the training was good. Also, I didn't think I would ever hit 18 months. Time is just cruising. I will just be happy to be home and hang out for Christmas this year. Whatever we decide on doing :) Thanks for all your support, love and encouragement :) I love and miss ya Dad. Have a great week!

Mom- Hope you are having a great time at the Lake. I love and miss ya! Have a great week :)

Jeri Lin- Well you will have to let me know how your trip to Idaho goes. I am glad to hear that everything else is going well :) Oh, the new investigator, Tony, has a daughter that is 4 days older than Lindi :) Anyways, I love and miss you too and hope you have a great week! :)

Keila- Love and miss you! Have a good week :)

Sydney- Thanks for your email :) I hope you have a great time in Idaho. Flying isn't that bad. You will do fine. I love and miss you Syd. Have a good week! :)

Leslie- Love and miss you! Have a good week! :)

I love and miss you all!

Love,
Your Son
Your Brother
Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle :)

Dos de Junio

June 2, 2014

It is dia dos de junio. #TimeFlies
I am also typing you all an email. Should I keep stating obvious facts, or move on withthis email? Alright, I will move on :)

First of all, I need to take the time to apologize for last week. Last Monday was pretty counter productive, because usually it is the day I just get to relieve some stress and relax, but last week I was just stressing out big time. I could see it in my emails. I totally forgot to answer some of your questions...and I felt bad. So that wont happen again.

Anyway, even though I had a bit of a rough start, the rest of the week got better. On Tuesday I went for round two in giving another District Meeting Training. I felt like it went a whole lot smoother than the first. I guess that is why they allow me to give more than just one training...so that I can learn and be better :) The meeting I mentioned last week, the training for all the District Leaders in the mission, is going to be this Friday. I am really looking forward to that. Anyways, all together, my calling as a District Leader has been enjoyable thus far. I really don`t have much to complain about. I mean, I don`t even have to do exchanges or splits with other missionaries in my District like most District Leaders. Having all sisters is a blessing :)

I do, however, have to go on exchanges with one of the Zone Leaders at least once a transfer though. I had the opportunity to do that on Friday. It was enjoyable. It was one of those days where everything just seemed to work out. Also on that day, Juan opened his mission call as I am sure you are aware. The Colorado Denver South Mission, reporting August 13th. I am so stoked for him! It was one of the greatest feelings I ever had when I received that news. There are many experiences that I have been able to have on my mission that make it all worth it. That one is by far one of the best. I am sure hoping that I will also be able to share the Temple experience with him as well. I am so blessed to have Juan as one of my very best friends :)

One of the other highlights, and I guess the final highlight of this week was our Fast and Testimony meeting that we had yesterday. Most often, missionaries are terrified of fast and testimony meetings when they have investigators there. I admit, I have had those moments on my mission. Yesterday was awesome though. The overall them was basically just to keep pushing forward and to become better through living the Gospel. The whole time, I was just thinking, "Yes, This is exactly what Kimberly needs to hear" :) She enjoyed it. As I was sitting there though, I also realized something else. I was thinking of others and not of myself. I was happy. When I was in Spring Creek, my goal was to become more selfless and yesterday helped me realize that I was on the right track still. I also then realized that those testimonies were for me as well. It was perfect :)

Life is good here in Reno. The best kind of Gatorade is Cucumber Lime by the way :) Also known as Limon Pepino :)

Dad- Well I am glad to hear that Vegas was a good time for you. I figured you would be going to the buffets...so I guess it is a good thing that you walked a bunch as well. I have that opportunity each and every day. Minus the buffets...unless the Casinos have a separate entrance to the buffet, we aren't able to go. Maybe one of these days in the future I will experience that part of Reno :) It is definitely nothing compared to Vegas though. I will have to take a look at the Ensign more in detail later. I just skimmed through it this morning and I will look at that article :) As far as Juan and his decision to serve a mission. I know his parents aren't like jumping up and down. The last I checked was that his Mom was more supportive than his Dad. He has a lot of support from his ward family here though and then missionaries families such as ours. That is awesome that you have joined a gym, and yes, that is early. I found that once I get into a routine though, it becomes a lot easier. That is what I have had to do on my mission. Just keep up the good work. I love and miss ya Dad. have a good week! :)

Mom- I, like you, am super excited for Juan. He is amazing :) Thank you for being so willing to help him out. He is gonna be an incredible missionary. It has been wonderful to see the change and progression he has had over the past year and a half. It will be great when you all have the opportunity to meet him in person one day :) I am glad you were able to have a good time in Vegas and it sounds like your birthday was good as well. One of the Sisters in my District has the same birthday as you. I was thinking of you . :) I am grateful to have such a wonderful Mom and I hope you have a good week! I love and miss ya :)

Jeri Lin- Well I hope you have had a good week. I also hope all your kiddos are doing well. I love and miss ya Sis and hope you have a good week this week :)

Keila- Hope you had fun in Vegas! Love and miss ya :)

Sydney- Well thank you for your email! :) I hope you stay safe and have fun with all your activities and turning 16 this year! Just stay awesome and be doing the little things and everything will be ok :) Remember that :) I love and miss you, Have a good week!

Leslie-Thank you for your email...I can't believe you have an iphone. Haha I am quite jealous. Haha I am stuck with a dumb phone for now. Maybe one of these days our mission will get iphones and ipads. Who knows? Or maybe I will just have to wait till I am back home and have money again :) Keep up the good work. Especially in swim. Also, have fun :) I love and miss ya Sles. Have a good week! :)

Well I think that is all I got for now, So I am out! Stay happy :)

Love,
Your Son
Your Brother
Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle :)

 My buddy

My district