Going into Week 3 September 22, 2013

September 22, 2013

Dang. So...this will be week three of the transfer coming up. After this, we will be halfway through already. I will have been here for three months now. It hit me last night. I love it here. I really do. After leaving Sparks, I never thought anything would even compare. I have been blessed to serve in the two best wards in Nevada. The Highland Ranch ward and the Spring Creek 5th ward. I have been blessed with awesome companions. My mission has just been absolutely amazing to say the least. This week has been no exception. This week we were able to have a church tour with Nancy. It was awesome to say the least. The spirit was definitely there and I believe it helped her at least feel a little more comfortable with the building and what actually happens there. She said she may be attending this coming Sunday. I will be speaking this Sunday, so hopefully we can use that to our advantage in helping her want to come. We shall see. Then we also were able to meet with Brenda and her kids a couple of times. I think as of right now, we are just trying to work with scheduling for their baptisms. I will be sure to let you know when we get those set up. They all came to church yesterday. Then last night we went over and we played with the kids while Travis and Brenda talked about some things so that they can be ready for baptism. Afterwards though, we gave them all blessings for school. They don't have a dad that can give them, so they asked us. Connor wanted me to give him the blessing, so I did. It was perty awesome. We have had some good lessons and hopefully should have some good ones this week as well. Just doing what missionaries do in the creek. The church is still true.

Dad- Well I heard about that first Chargers game. They better figure out how to play all four quarters. I was glad to hear that they did come away with the win. I also am happy to hear that the Seahawks did work on the 49ers yesterday. I actually saw The BEAST score a touchdown. I also saw Sherman get run over at one point as well. He is supposed to keep his head up when tackling. Haha. And that is awesome that ASU won. I hope they continue to kick some butt.Anyways, I am glad you are continuing to work out even when it gets tough. Keep your eyes focused on the goal. I love and miss ya Dad. Have a good week!

Mom- Well, first of all, thank you for your note and all the pictures. I really appreciate it. That is good that you are doing pushups. You are gonna be tougher than me. :) Thank you for the scriptures you shared and that analogy about the police and their ways to communicate. Prayer is so very important. I have definitely come to know it more so out on my mission than ever. I love you and miss you. Have an awesome week!

Jeri Lin- You have to speak in church this week and I have to speak in church this week. That is perty crazy. I have gone 9 months without having to speak. I get to speak about my favorite missionary. So I am looking forward to it. I am always interested in your busy weeks. I am glad that you guys are still alive and well and it sounds like Lindi is doing very well. I love and miss you guys. Have another good week!

Get those applications out ;) and I didn't write it. It was from the Las Vegas West mission. Pretty funny though. I have sent one to Lisa and Heartlee. We shall see what the results will be. :)

Love
Your Son
Your Brother
Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle

Picture Update and My Week - Sept. 9, 2013

September 9, 2013

This week hasn't been too bad. It was transfers week...so I had to say goodbye to Elder Fajardo again. He is headed to...or actually he is in Fallon now. It was good to be able to spend some time with him for 6 weeks though. What else has happened....RAIN! Rain has happened. It made getting out a few of the days a little tough, but we did get some work done. We were able to meet with Nancy and do some more weeding for her. Yes Mom, It is good that you taught me how to pull weeds ;) We had a lesson with her and it went well. She told us that she has been reading and praying. She also said that she hasn't received her answer yet...but she said she would still continue to try. This week we are planning on taking her on a church tour. It is just to help her maybe get rid of a little anxiety and get more comfortable with what actually happens there. I will be reporting on how that all goes next week. I want to say that I had an awesome day yesterday. So...we had church. Normal. Nothing too fancy. On Saturday night, while planning, Elder Anderson and I were trying to figure out what we should do after church and dinner. Anyways...before sacrament started we sent a text to Brenda asking her if they were gonna be at church. She then told us that her kids were at their Dads house and that she had to work. Then she said basically that there isn't much rest for a single mom. I then asked her if there was anything we could do. She said sure. So...last night we went over and helped plant some trees. Then the kids got home and I threw the football around with them and then we played some Ghost in the Graveyard. Conner told me that I am like the older brother he never had. That made my day. Also...I had a good conversation with Brenda while planting trees. She has had some concerns about a couple of things, so I just asked her if she believes the church is true. She responded by saying that she has received nothing but positive answers. She has also said that the things that she thought would be hard, have gone over very smooth. Telling her mom, etc. That is an answer to prayers. They also told us that they would like to be baptized within the next 6 weeks. Hopefully all works out. Life is good here in the creek though. I have some corn growing in my garden. Always trying to get better of course.

Dad- I have just been thinking about that experience this past week. I had some members asking me about it last Monday. Good Times. I am wearing my Chargers tie today. I am sad that I will be missing out on the game tonight. I would love to watch it whether they win or lose, oh well though. I heard about the BYU game...that is crazy that the coach got fired for that. Dang. I also saw that ASU won 55-0 against Sacramento State. I expected them to win..but that was good. I am so glad to hear that the weight is coming off. Keep up the good work. I have been working out alot as well this past week. Lifting weights. Trying to stay in at least some shape other than round. I got some protein as well, So hopefully it helps me bulk up a little bit. I love and Miss ya Dad!

Mom-Thank you for the good news! It is good to hear that Vince and Amanda are doing well. That is also good to hear that you will be signing Hayden up for football. Are you thinking just flag football or tackle. I hope he can do well with whatever he does and is able to get over his anxiety. I wish I could be able to be there and help him and coach him. As for the Rubix cube...my fastest time so far has been about 3 min 10 sec. I am trying to break that three minute barrier. One of these days I will get it. I love you Mom!

Jeri Lin- You know what just came to my mind when I read your email? That song by Hillary Weeks...To Do list I believe it is called. That is good that you guys are staying busy...it definitely does make the time fly by faster.I am glad all in all that life is going well though. I love and miss you Sister!

Your Son and Brother,

Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle

 Elder Fajardo

 Elder Munns ER escapades

 The Haglers

Kimmi - she has a crush on me

Emergency Rooms, Transfers, Baptismal Dates, Gardens, and....yeah September 2, 2013

September 2, 2013

I am happy to report on yet another successful week in the Creek. On Tuesday, I was able to spend three hours in the emergency rooms. Good times. I have pictures, but I forgot my camera cord, so I will have to send them next week. Patience is a virtue. ;) Also, transfer calls have come in and I....am...staying. Nothing in our whole zone really changed. Other than one of the other wards is getting a set of Sisters to go along with their Elders. Then Elder Fajardo is being transferred out. I was bummed by that one. He has been here nine months though...so it is pretty understandable. I am gonna miss him again. He is my friend. This week has been pretty good as far as teaching goes though. The lady we met tracting, Nancy, now has a baptismal date set. October 5th. We think she will be ready. We are gonna keep working with her and pulling her weeds. The next step is to get her comfortable with coming to church. It should be fun :) Then Sarah is now off to New York. Her little daughter, Kimi was very sad to leave me. I did get pictures with her though. So...they should be good. I am gonna stay in contact with them and hopefully get a referral sent off to the missionaries up there. It will only be a matter of time with her :) And then we are continuing to work with Brenda and her two kids. This past week they were able to go and witness a baptismal service. I believe they are meeting with us on Wednesday. So we shall see what comes of that. :) In other news...I have planted a garden. Indoors in a tin foil cake pan. I am growing cantaloupe and corn. Sister Hermansen told us to start looking for little miracles...so I threw some miracle grow in there. Hopefully my little miracles start popping up within the next couple days ;) And...I now can solve a Rubix cube. I am pretty proud of myself...it only took me about three months to get it down. Elder Stevens started to teach me in Sparks, and now Elder Munns and Anderson finished my teaching out here. Pretty exciting, huh? :) It has been a good week. I am having lots of fun and learning tons.

Dad- Well it is a bummer that all the plans that you kinda had fell through. Oh well though. That is a bummer that you didn't get to weigh in this week. I always look forward to that. It is good that you still got to work out though. Keep it up :) The members do help us a lot out here. Not so much with referrals, but we do have quite a few that join us in lessons, which is always good. So yeah...no complaints :) Thank you for the Roster. I am looking forward to this season no matter what preseason looked like. I would also like to hear how Russel Wilson is doing. I like that guy. Probably my favorite non-charger. Thanks for everything Dad, I hope you have an awesome week :) Love you!

Mom- Hey Momma! Thank you for your message. I really do appreciate it. Tell Papa and Grams Happy Anniversary for me. They have blessed me with an awesome family. That is also pretty cool that you got to work out with Coach Rhode. I love that man. I am jealous that you all get to work with him. I really want to when I get home so I can be nice and healthy and buff :) That is also good to know that you are enjoying work. That is also something I don't think I would be able to do very well. Good thing we have people like you. I love you Mom and Miss ya. Have a good week! :)

Jeri Lin- Well thank you for your short little note. Nothing better than loving sisters :) I am glad things are working out. Just gotta remember to be patient. It is something we are all working on I believe. That is cool that you got called into Primary again. I think that would be tough for me. I definitely want to work with the Youth after my mission. We shall see though. Maybe I will end up like Tony. Who knows. We just gotta make the most of what we are called to do. One thing that I have learned is that if you serve someone, you definitely are able to love that person so much more. It is kinda crazy how it all works out. I love you big Sis. Keep up the good work. Have a good week. :)

Keila- Hey...talk to me. :) I miss ya.

I love you all. Tell everyone. Have an awesome week!

Love your Brother and Son,

Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle

P.S.  Oh! and I didn't go to the Emergency room...well I did...but I was just the Driver for Elder Munns. He had meat stuck in his throat so he had to go into surgery to get it removed. The nurses and I had a pretty good laugh at him. He is alive and well. Remember to chew up your food!

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