Dusty's Email -- 7/27/2009

Hey family,

This last week was a very good one for my companion and I. We found a lot of new people and many of them came to church, which was especially good. I’ll explain why in a minute. But the week went well and I’m looking forward to this week coming up to build off of the success that we had. We were able to baptize on Saturday a man named Miguel. He`s really cool and super excited about the church.

Ok, so on Sunday as Elder Fillerup and I got to church with a couple of investigators, we sat them down and I began to pull out my hymn book, when Elder Fillerup comes walking by super fast and says to me in passing that President Bulloch is seated on the other side of the chapel. We were both nervous because we didn’t know why the heck he was there. We were nervous that he came because something bad had happened or to get us in trouble. So we went up and shook his and his wife’s hand, and he smiled and asked us if after the meeting we could meet with him. The entire meeting we sat nervous and stressed, not knowing what the heck he was going to say to us.

At the end of the meeting the Bishop asked President Bulloch and his wife to come and share their testimonies. They did, and when President Bulloch got up, he said that the missionaries are like thier children, and how he loves the missionaries so much. Then he said two of their kids where there in the meeting, referring to Elder Fillerup and I, and then asked if we behave well and if not to let him know. Everyone laughed. But after he talked about Elder Fillerup and I for about 5 minutes. He said that we are two of the best missionaries that he has and just a bunch of compliments about us in front of everyone. It was so cool. It’s one of the best feelings I`ve had to see and hear that.

But anyways afterwards we talk to him about the transfers. That was the real reason that he came out to our sacrament meeting. After he told us about the changes. His eyes got all red and he looked at me and then he looked at my companion. He said, “Elder Fillerup the Lord has called you to be my assistant”. It was so cool. Everyone for the last 7 months, the last 5 transfers, has said that he was going to be called up to be assistant. And finally it happened. It was so cool.

President Bulloch afterwards turned to me and thanked me for a lot of things that I had taught Elder Fillerup and told me that he put elder Fillerup here for a reason. And then said how much he trusted me and just a bunch of really cool things. It was one of the best moments that I’ve ever had in my mission. I`ll never ever forget it. Elder Fillerup is awesome and will do great. So tomorrow I get my new comp. And I think that it’s going to be an American again. Haha, we`ll see.

In the next package can you send me a big ol’bag of laffy taffy again? And the candy bar laffy taffy too. Some blue slacks if you can, mine have like a purplish tint to them now.

Well thanks for all your letters and support.
Elder Howard

Dusty's Email -- 7/20/2009

Pictures from last week's visit to the Pyramids:

Hey,

This last week was good, we found a couple of new investigators. Four of them contacted us in the street. It was 4 girls. They listened to us, but didn’t want to come to church or continue progressing, but wanted us to still come over and see them. So there were other intentions involved. Ha-ha. But whatever.
Transfers are coming up in a week, and I think that I’ll be involved but I don’t know yet. This transfer is looking like it’s going to be a crazy one, just the changes that are going to go down. This week we need to search for a house. President is going to open a new area so he asked us to find the house that the new companionship can live in. So we are going to go find one tonight.
There isn’t much that went on this last week. How was CJ`s camp?? He’s still got some activates left this summer right??
I appreciate your comments Mom and Dad, I liked a lot of the quotes that you put in this last letter.
Sounds like Curtis is a different person, that’s awesome that the mission has changed him a lot. Hopefully he stays that way and keeps up that way.
It’s good to hear that the twins are well and healthy.
That’s about it here.

Till next week.
Elder Howard

Dusty's Email -- 7/13/2009

Preparing to Burn the Shirt - A mark of one
year in the mission


Hey,
Another week has passed. Time is just flying by. We are already about a week and a half from knowing about transfers. I think that I’ll have transfers, but who knows. I only have 3 cycles here in Tecamac. My comp had 5 cycles in his last area, as a zone leader - that’s 30 weeks. Next Sunday I’m going to have 18 weeks here in Tecamac. Seems like I have more, but I think it’s just because a lot more has happened here. So it seems like time has just flown.
There are a couple Americans that have transfers almost guaranteed this cycle so I might be thrown on the mix just to mix more things up. Who knows? One of the Assistants to the President (AP) is going home next week, and everyone is saying that an American is going to be brought up. We all say that it is Elder Pickup, my last companion, but that means that an American district leader will be brought up. So there are going to be some crazy changes going down this coming up transfers meeting.
The week went well for us. A lot of work, as always. We just got back from the pyramids about 2 hours ago. We left this morning at about 7 am we got there at about 8. They are so amazing; I’m going to send you guys’ pictures if the computer lets me, it is kind of acting up. But they are just so cool.
Thank you for putting in money, because I was able to get a camera before we went on this trip to the pyramids.
Sounds like the babies aren’t too much work yet, besides the whole getting up every three hours.
I`m glad to hear that CJ blessed again this last week and that he`s getting his head on straight. Also I a glad that Dad’s foot is feeling better, besides the one day where it felt like it was asleep the whole time.
So I’ve been kind of frustrated lately because I’ve been trying to put on weight but I’m just at the same problem where I just can’t, I eat more than my companion. But they are the ones that get fatter. Uh. Blasphemy.
It’s good to hear that Marcus is doing well, try and give him my email address and tell him to send me a letter or get me his so that I can write him. I’d like to keep in touch with him.
The weather here has just been off the chains. It’s hot for part of the day and then rains the rest of the day and is freezing at night and in the morning. Just ridiculous.
The work continues to progress, I don’t think that I’ve ever seen so many miracles in my life. I`ve grown a huge testimony on the reality of miracles. The Lord truly works according to our faith and works. The work is true.
Mom I’ll let you know next week what I need in the next package.

Thanks,
Elder Howard

Dusty's Email -- 7/06/2009

Hey,

On Thursday I got your package, everything was in it I hope. Elder Fillerup and I and our whole zone couldn’t figure out CJ’s message, so I don’t know if everything was in it. I`m going to guess that I got everything. Thank you so much, I’ve just been eating all these elf fudge cookies the last couple days. And not sharing....hahaha.

The week went well work wise, we found some new people, but they didn't come to church. So we were bummed out about that. We had a family that we found, we talked to them on Saturday and they said that all was well and were excited to go to church. But since yesterday morning, we haven’t been able to find them. We call and text them, and they just like disappeared. We`ll see how that goes.

Sounds like CJ`s EFY experience was a great one, I’m really happy that he was able to find the answers he was looking for.

We had zone conference this last week and President gave the same talk that he gave in the leadership meeting, and asked all the missionaries to sign the Title of Liberty that he made. It’s pretty cool now, because it’s got like almost 220 signatures of all the leaders and the missionaries. The talk was a powerful one. I feel like every time President gives a talk or sends an email it’s more and more powerful every time.

Mom, I haven’t heard anything about Wade. Remember they moved away and I didn’t get his email or phone number, so I got no idea.

Elder Fillerup and I celebrated our Fourth of July eating some of the best hamburgers that are made. This guy has these salsas that he puts on, that it’s just so dang tasty. I love them burgers.
That’s kind of ironic about getting twins again. But cool Curtis Wallen came home this last week right??? From July till I get home, there is one of my buddies that comes home every month. Crazy huh???

Dad, happy early birthday.Hhope that the big four five goes well for you and that you enjoy your day.

We`re about 3 weeks from ending this transfer. The time has just flown....I think that I say that just about every time I write...but it’s because its true.

I got a bunch of pictures that I want to send home but I didn’t bring my USB, so you`re going to have to wait, one of those is the video of burning my shirt.

I`m real excited for this week, we should go to Teotihuacan this week coming, next Monday. We just have to get permission.

Well that’s about it for this week. Thank you all for your love and support while I’ve been out here. Oh and one more thing. Dang! everyone is just getting bigger and older. I`ve been looking through the pictures like crazy and everyone is like different. The pictures that I had of Brady was when he was born back in September. And Alenna too. They are so big now. I’ve seen the pictures that you sent me of them every now and then, but I’ve now had time to examine them, and wow, Brady’s going to be a stud. And CJ looks bigger, and better with his hair cut short. The most recent picture I had of him was when we went to San Diego before I left.

So it’s was good to see you all. Thanks so much.

Love
Elder Howard