October 20, 2014

Short and Sweet

Hey!!!(:

I honestly have no idea what the single biggest faith building thing has been..... i would say being able to see an honest change in people as they come to realize that the Gospel is true, it's awesome to see what some people will do to finally find and have the truth in their lives.

and im super sorry but i have like no time this week!!:/ but thats awsome to hear the the boys are getting in to some work! im so thankful for all the little odd jobs that i did haha, maybe call up Bro Gallego and see if he still has that pool cleaning business haha(; or maybe they'll take a liking to the scrap yard! i loved working there haha!(: but i love you guys and ill do my best to write more next week and take more pictures to send!! i love you guys!! THE CHURCH IS TRUE!!!!

This was a zone meeting last friday!! sorry, these are the only pictures i have to send!!

Must have been a busy week for Elder Dayton- only one pic and a few words of wisdom!

LOVE MY MISSIONARY!!!

October 13, 2014

Ten Months Out!!

so we had to make a trip down to a coastal town called Portimão like 5 times cuz my son Elder Roberts had to get a root canal.... haha. but anyways it's always weird to see boats and water after spending so much time in Beja where it's all just farmlands and tractors haha

Zach sent home some fun gifts for my birthday!!

Hey!!(:

haha i have no idea, you can probably put whatever you want in the rooster haha! i just figured it was something that i could see on your desk back home haha(: and im glad you guys got the pin drive! and no way!! i'll never grow up! when im married with kids, my kids will be telling me to grow up! haha(: and in that picture i wasn't flippin the bird!! haha, i did the peace sign, but my other finger got cut off!! haha. and hey just for the record, I've never lost a wrestling match on the mission! and we don't wrestle too much... but we do love to goof around together. i think it would be so funny if the whole world could see what goes on behind the scenes of a missionary's life, cuz holy crud i used to think that missionaries were all serious and calm churchy folk.... but we're all just a bunch of goons in the right place at the right time trying to do the right thing hahaha, honestly being a missionary is the funnest thing that i have ever done(: 

and yea its been getting freezing here!! but nah, there's nothing i need(: i've been buying my self a sweet wardrobe slowly over time, and i think that im just about perfect right now. just last week i bought myself a new rainproof and windproof jacket for 13 bucks, and a sweet sweater for 7 bucks(: haha im gonna be rich after the mission just cuz i love buying cheap stuff haha. like the stuff i got is really nice, but its so awesome to not buy super expensive stuff(: haha. 

and yea i got the package, thank you so much!! but i have one more question for you, could you try and send me the Les Miserables sound track over email? i think you should be able to send them just right in the email. and i want the ones from your computer, the soundtrack from the movie.... i appreciate the old broadway ones.. but they're not the same haha(; 

and yea i write holden and brandon every week(: haha, i miss those losers!

well i have to run, but i love you guys so much!! ill talk to you again next week!! Love you guys!!!!(:

this picture doesnt do it justice, but im like 6 feet out and like almost 30 feet high over the water....

I was trying to do the karate kid pose but i almost fell haha, and my son took the pic while i was flopping around hahaha

this one is a little better haha

my son is getting so big..my son is probably my favorite comp so far, its a wonder we get anything done haha

my son being champ while getting his root canal!!

Zone Meetings!!

 so its been raining a lot here... this is what happens when you let your son lead the way at night...... good thing these combat boots aint sissy!!















aaahhhhh...... i just wish this country sold these bad boys

this is Miguel, the 1 year old son of our branch president. His parents bought him a tiny little suit!! hahaha he wore it to church that day, and just looks like a little boss! 

 my big bugaloo buddy Elder Horne!! saw my onezy and could turn one down for himself, if i dont serve with this guy before he goes home im gonna cry




welcome to our house..... My son (Elder Roberts) is asleep on the couch in his Raccoon Onezy, and this is Elder Rusnell in the Blue Dragon Onezy. he's in his first transfer, and his dad (or trainer) is currently doing his laundry in the other room in his Raccoon Onezy..... and i took the picture while i was in my Batman Onezy..... we don't mess around

October 6, 2014

While we were in San Diego...

Hey!!(:

Aw man Cali looks awesome!! thats like my favorite weather at the beach you lucky punks!! just yesterday the temperature dropped a bunch here! its like 3 in the afternoon right now and its almost chilly!! haha, its gonna be a cold winter! haha. yea we got to watch just about all of conference, and in English, which rocked! haha. and yea, that brazilian guy we just turned off the translation to english and listened in portugues, cuz its way better without a translation, you get all the emotion in the voice, so it was super cool to be able to switch like that. and also that guy who spoke in spanish, portugues and spanish are so close that we could just listen to him and know what he was talking about almost perfectly, which was sweet too! 

yea im gonna cry a bunch too when i have to leave this place, the people here have all become my family, and it will be so weird to have to say goodbye to them:/ and Elder and Sister Jeffers are a missionary Couple that just got assigned to our city of Beja with us, which totally rocks cuz they are sooooooooo funny and so nice and just all around awesome, ill be sure to take a bunch more pictures during this coming week!! And elder roberts and i are getting along great! i think he is my favorite comp yet, he's really loosened up and isnt too stressed, and we just get along like best buds, it makes the work so much better. and it makes living with him so much easier haha(; 

I think Elder Holland's talk and Elder Richard G Scott's talk were my favorites. I took so many notes on the talk by Scott, i love when they talk about families and what we can do to make ours the best it can be. Cuz my patriarchal blessing talks about my future family, and... well you guys know what it says, i just want to make sure that my kids have the best defense possible for all the crud that they are going to go through. but i've still got quite a while before that(; haha

well i gotta run, but i love you guys so much, and i miss you guys all, but time is flying and i'll be home before we even know what the heck is going on haha(: LOVE YOU GUYS!!

 best 20 bucks i ever spent!! That's what I'm talking about!!

my main boys... elder Roberts (my son (on the left) ) and elder Beckstrand (on the right) repping the onezys like nobodies biddness...

September 29, 2014

Denis and Lucas get Baptized!!

Sorry it was blurry...

DENIS AND LUCAS GOT BAPTIZED!!!! Denis is in my right arm, and lucas is in my left, i fricken love these kids!!

Hey!!(:

The baptisms of Denis and Lucas went awesome!! Like all of their family and a ton of friends from their neighborhood came, so church was super packed and super loud on Sunday haha, it was soooo awesome!(: The parents aren't super interested, but we're gonna be working super hard with them this next transfer (by the way im still here in Beja for another six weeks!) because we really want to get their whole family in church! 

haha dont worry, i could never forget about my own momma's b-day! haha, so be on the lookout for TWO packages either the end of this week or early next week!!

and thats awesome! im so stoked to have Joseph out here, he's gonna love it out here! and did the McBride boys ever get their calls??

Make sure you take a ton of pictures of Lax and the Beach pretty please!! i think one of the first things im gonna do when i get home is go to the beach in cali haha, but that's for later(;

we'll get to watch the Saturday morning session saturday night (cuz of the 8 hour time delay) and then the Saturday afternoon session and the sunday morning session and Priesthood session on sunday, so im pretty stoked about that! and speaking of technology, in January apparently we're getting iPads!!! we have to buy them ($400) but then we take them home with us after the mission, so that'll be super dope!! 

and hey really quick, in that package could you throw in some more Flamin Hot Cheetos pretty please?? haha, i think those are one of the things that i miss most! haha

well i love you guys sooo much (i know that you know but ill still say it every week haha) and i'll talk to you again next week!!!(: LOVE YOU!!!!!

I got to baptize Denis, and Roberts baptized Lucas, it was so sweet! 

this was right before we got in the tank

Denis got baptised first, and this was us watching the baptism of Lucas

and this was us 4 watching the baptism of another lady (named Alice) that the other elders baptised the same day..... it was such a sweet day

the is the Jeffers, a new Missionary Couple that is moving down to our city of Beja, and holy crap they're hilarious haha. They took us out to Mcdonalds last week, we're stoked to have them herethis is Elder Ryan, he's a stud from Ireland haha, he goes home this week. and the kid in the back is a smiley Brazilian named elder Altheman (pronounced all-cheh-man)

My son Roberts had to go to the dentist! hahaha

September 22, 2014

Elder Dayton and Elder Roberts are helping the primary grow in Portugal!

i think its safe to say that Denis and Lucas are our new best friends haha

HEY!!!!

My week has been awesome! its been raining like theres no tomorrow here! and yesterday there was some MAD thunder for like 30 minutes straight haha, it was pretty nuts! it reminded me of monsoon season, but its cold here haha, im already not looking forward to winter and its only September haha(: but the week was awesome anyways(: 

And yea i got the package! thank you for all that stuff, that was acutally a really good idea!(: and im so stoked to have some more smores haha(: and the teaching Denis and Lucas is going great(: im so stoked for those two punks(:

i have no idea how long I'll stay here, we have transfers on the 28th of Sept, so this coming Sunday. Most likely ill stay here with elder roberts, cuz training usually goes for 2 transfers, but its not a for sure thing... so pray that ill stay here!! haha, im not ready to leave here yet!!(: 

We're allowed to listen to music that isn't too crazy haha, so don't worry, no Rage Against the Machine or System of a Down... at least until after the mish(; haha, but yea stuff like that list is totally allowed(: 

and holy crud... the boys are getting sooo big!! Brig and Mace look soo stinkin old! haha, it's so cool to see them together at RM like that, they're so lucky to be so close in age! i bet those kids are just tearing the school up haha... i think when i get home im gonna just buy a backpack and go to school with them every day... i've got plenty of teachers that would totally let me stay with them... haha(: by the way, who are all the boy's teachers this year? 

Lately i've just been studying the previous conference talks in the Ensigns like crazy, and holy crud our Prophet and Apostles are amazing. 

well im sorry its such a short letter, but i dont have much time today:/ I love you guys so much, and im hoping that some time during this week i'll be able to send off this package i've been getting ready(: LOVE YOU GUYS!!(:

So this is Denis! He's 8 years old but he's fricken huge! him and his 10 year old brother Lucas are gonna be baptized this coming sunday!!

Denis calls me Robo, cuz i always put him on my shoulders and run around like a robot punching my comp hahaha

This is Lucas, denis's 10 year old brother! i know it looks like im flipping off the camera, but it was just the peace sign... im a good missionary i swear haha

this is Denis with my son Elder Roberts! it was sunday morning on the way to church, and Denis wanted to wear my coat jacket hahaha, this kid is such a stud(:

and this was during church... when i wasnt playing the piano i had to come down and help keep Denis quiet while Elder Roberts worked on keeping Lucas quiet during sacrement haha

playing robots on the way home from church....

P-day soccer and basketball just got sooooooooooo much better.... USA!! USA!! USA!!

September 15, 2014

Zach is a working with Giants!!

these guys are fricken behemoths... Elder Horne is the one kissing at me, he played D-pole in lax all throughout high school, and him and i are dying to serve together before he goes home in February. Him and i are gonna go hunting together when i get off the mish haha. and the other one is Elder Bryan, he's a pretty cool dude too.... they're both 6ft 8in.... i need to grow haha

Hey Momma!(:

Yea, i got all the packages, i've actually got that football in my lap right now haha, we're gonna go play in a little bit(: We had to get our hair cut today, so i don't have too much time, but i will do my best to answer the questions, and if not ill answer them all next week!

The 4 elder house is a flippin blast! we don't wrestle, but we mess around with each other so much haha. like a few weeks ago the power went out in our house for two days, so at night i hid under elder beckstrands bed and scared the crud out of him haha. 

And Denis wants to be baptised!! this week we worked with him and his mom and his brother to see if they could be baptised, and the mom finally said that if they want to the can, and Denis and his bro Lucas want to!! IM SO EXCITED!! at first they were saying no, and it was really getting me down. i dont know what it is about this kid, but i just love him so much, and so when they were telling us no it was pretty tough. so i decided to fast so that Heavenly Father could open the hearts of his parents, and He did!!! and now they are marked for the 27th of this month!! it was a huge relief, and a huge testimony builder for the power of fasting for me(:

and im good on contacts, but yea im about out of antibiotics and hair gel. and im out of Flamin Hot cheetohs too.... hahaha(;  and don't worry, im good on money(: but i was wondering, do you guys know what my balance is in my personal account? 

i gotta run, but i love you guys so much! if you get a chance, read or listen to Pres. Monson's talk from General Conference in May of 2012 called "Willing and Worthy to Serve" or something like that... holy crud its a good one(: 

LOVE YOU GUYS!!!(:

the other elders (elders beckstrand and mubai) had a baptism on saturday, which was awesome!

So this was our killer soccer game from two weeks ago, but last week i forgot my camera haha. It goes (left to right) Elder Mubai, Luis (a 14 year old kid in our branch), Me (the most important one obviously), Romeo Tavárez (a recently returned missionary who's living in our branch right now) Elder Beckstrand, and Elder Roberts (MY SON!!!!!!!)






the aftermath of our soccer game.... it was dang hot

MY NEW P-DAY GETTUP!!! we play basket ball and soccer every p-day, and now i can rep the good ole States all day baby!!!! much thanks to elder morris haha

looky what Holden sent me for my b-day... such a good friend...

September 8, 2014

Zach's Day to Day in Beja

No photos this week... He forgot his camera :(

Hey!!

first things first... i forgot my camera today, so i'll just have to send pictures next week, sorry(: haha

And about that family from ANGOLA haha(; a few weeks after i left, they went to spend the whole summer in Angola, so i really don't know if they're even back yet, or who is in Tomar now :/ 

and the day to day for us starts off with a bunch of different studies and what not in the morning until about 11:30 (after an intense workout from 7 to 7:30 haha obviously(; ) and then we hit the streets and talk to people, or if we have and appointment we go to that, then come back for lunch at 1pm until 2, then Elder Roberts and I have language study from 2 to 3 cuz he's still learning the language, then after that we hit the streets again(: every thing from knocking doors to talking to people on the street to going to marked appointments to passing members to see how they are, or passing nonmembers to try to get them do stuff to become members haha, cuz we have a TON of nonmember friends here. There's a neiborhood here that everyone calls Texas, and there's an 8 year old kid there named Denis who reminds me soooo much of Ammon. they're like the same size and even kind of look the same, but he's brazilian so he's got dark skin and dark hair, but he's crazy like ammon too. he's like the luckiest kid every cuz i can't help but spoil him, like seriously he's got a special place in my heart that lucky punk! haha, and i've finally got him to really start liking me... so when you guys all come to get me at the end of my mission we gotta come back by here and they gotta meet!!

And here about every week we have between 30 and 40, but we're really trying to get at least 55 people and i think 12 priesthood members by the end of this month so that this Branch can become a Ward(: and yes, i am the full blown Pianist every week in church, other than about 5 or 6 songs that i can play with both hands, i plunk along with the top hand hahaha, but it goes pretty well(: and thankfully we have enough priesthood to do the sacrament (2 to bless and 2 to pass) but Elder Roberts passes every week just cuz its good for him to do something hahaha(: and no we don't usually talk in Sacrament, i still havent since i've been here. The Branch Pres here is awesome, and he wants all the members to do it so that they all grow stronger(: but we bear our testimonies every week, which is usally enough haha(: and i would say the most significant growth in my testimony has been how much more i know Jesus Crist. we've been doing so many studies on the Atonement (it is afterall the single most important event in all of forever haha) and to really go into depth about what He went through for us... it's mindblowing. 2 Nephi 9 is an awesome chapter worth giving some time(:

well i hope i answered all of your guy's questions, but im running out of time again, we've got a mad soccer tournement every monday now haha(: well i love you guys all so much and i miss you guys! time is flying by here a little too fast! but ill talk to you guys all next week!! oh and one more thing! PLEASE FEED THE MISSIONARIES!!!!! every set of missionaries always has a favorite member family because they always feed the missionaries, and im getting taken care of pretty well here, so please return the favor!!(: I LOVE YOU GUYS!!(:

He is Doing GREAT!!!

Miss him a TON!!