The Christmas Village

As most of you know, Ryan and I watched Matt and Deelynn's kids a couple weeks ago. While we were there the kids wanted to make gingerbread houses. Since I am not Betty Crocker we just covered boxes with wrapping paper and decorated them with candy. It's a little ghetto, I know, but the kids were content. It wasn't long before the village slowly started to shrink , a window here, a chimney there. Matt's kids and candy are like peas and carrots. Avery asked me to take pictures so she could eat more and not wait for her parents to get home to see it. They all did a great job. Ryan even took part in constructing our little town, which I didn't think would happen.

We had a great time with the kids building our village and going to the park. They are wonderful kids. And props go out to all the mothers with more than one child to care for. Going from one to having six was quite an eye opener. Deelynn you are my hero.!

1977 - Church Children Family Photo

Here's my contribution to the Church family photo flashback... I'm not sure who the "dark-headed" beauty is, standing behind the ever suave Matthew in his Parker Stevens pose, but it's a cool photo none-the-less.

For the old men...

Matt turned 40 last week.... so we wanted to post some pictures in honor of the birthday boy.

**There is another infamous picture of Matt cleaning in a rather odd outfit (or lack there of) that we wanted to post but couldn't find. If anyone has it please do share.

Stephen also hit the big 40. Heidi threw a 80's party for him, it's a good look on them!

I forgot how great scrunchies were.

I just had to post this picture. It explains a lot.

An MTC Note

Editor's Note:

This email finally came as I gave up hope that we would hear this week. I gues the system was down at the MTC, but apparently came up just in time for him to get in a few words before bed. We should get a regular letter in a couple days with pictures.

The missionaries told me Sunday that Elder Fitzgerald, who was in Ian's MTC Spanish class and is now in the Lauderhill Ward, reported that Ian works really hard at his Spanish. I was glad to hear it because his Spanish 1 teacher in high school deflated his confidence in ever catching on. His second year teacher worked to change his attitude and encourage him. I emailed her yesterday to let her know about his mission and that her efforts four years ago are now bearing fruit.

Jorge Azabache is a Peruvian surfer who has been in the ward for years and started teaching Ian to surf in middle school. He is excited that in two years Ian will come back home and speak to him in his native language. Sunday I told him Ian's favorite hymn is page 88. I got out a Spanish hymnal from my library supply and he snagged his mother from the hallway. They stood together and sang it to me. It was very sweet. They were so earnest. When they finished I had tears in my eyes and he smiled and said, “This was my mission song.” They were surprised to learn it isn't in our English hymnal so they translated it for me. It is a powerful message about loving the Lord so much that we will do everything we can to serve in his vineyard. Very often I have unexpected spiritual experiences in the library.

Thank you to all who are writing and sending packages. He is getting lots of attention and I hope sharing his treats with elders who don't get any. His address is in the sacrament program every week and I am surprised how many people tell me they have written to them. This week he mentions hearing from the YM president.

Also, since Todd is the only family member I know of who speaks Spanish, a reminder to the rest of you that Ian's continual reference to "hermanas" means the sister missionaries.


MTC
July 30, 2007

Mom,

Sure, send those white sandals, I packed up my blue ones. I returned my dorm key, so fight the fine. Tell them I'm on a mission.

I wrote a letter today because the email wasn't working, so I'm almost out of time. I got to go to the ER again, this time to watch the ice cream sandwich breaking elder get an ultra sound. I sent pictures in the mail.

Send those sandals, the shirt, but also send that 'chocolate' backpack so I've got something to travel with.

Elder Fitzgerald is an amazing guy. Trent Boggess sent me a nice letter. Call Dita and find out her Utah address for me before I leave. Tell Casey, 'hey'.

I teach in Spanish tonight for the first time. Its not that easy. I'm just not scared whatsoever to go to Argentina. The hermanas are all nervous wrecks.

Jordan Flake sent me such an awesome package. I included some pictures in the letter today intended for Marcus. I talked to a kid who's brother went to Resistencia and he went Crocodile hunting with Guarani Indians. He was being a big shot and was like "You ever been croc hunting before?" I just looked at him and was like "nah, but I got friends who've caught them." He was so taken a back. He didn't know where I was from. Just a poor chap from South Jordan trying to make me feel like Argentina was less exotic than Cambodia.

Send some of that shampoo as well. Say 'hi' to Adrie. I talk surf with the Hawai'ians at least once a week. The Rhodes sent me letters from Ecuador. I have a huge burn on my hip from 4 square, but it's all good. I just try not to get so heated over it. But I'm okay.

I think I miss music the most out of anything. I had plenty of music that would be fine, but it would have been too much of a temptation. Everyone. EVERYONE walks around humming "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing", including my companion. I think hummed hymns go around like a disease. I think I'm the only white kid who a month in is still constantly humming reggae songs without knowing it.

My companion is such a lumberjack; ask him his blood type and he'll say "cedar". It's taken him a month to come out of his shell, but he's funny now. I'm senior companion.


Ian

Best-Ever Cole Slaw Dressing

Hi Everyone:

This will be my first posting - hope it works!

We had a wonderful dinner/visit with Heidi on Sunday at our home and both she and Holly asked for this recipe so I thought I'd follow Nancy's example and post it for everyone to enjoy. There is no mayonnaise in this recipe and that's one of the reasons Heidi wanted it because apparently Stephen hates mayonnaise! I originally got this recipe from my friend Brenda Smyth in our old ward (her husband doesn't like mayonnaise either).

Best-Ever Cole Slaw Dressing
1 cup sugar
1 cup salad oil (I use canola oil)
1t salt
1 small onion, minced in food processor
1/2 cup vinegar, white distilled
1t celery seed
1t dry mustard

Beat ingredients together until very creamy. Store in covered pint jar in refrigerator. Keeps very well.

NOTE: This makes a lot of dressing - more than enough to cover 2 bags of ready-made coleslaw.

Smiles... Stephanie

Boys Will Be Boys - Even When They're Elders

Editor's Note: The Elders in our ward reported Sunday that at their meeting Friday they met Elder Fitzgerald from Ian's MTC Spanish class. He is south of us in the Lauderhill ward and hopes to have an exchange or split up here so he can get a picture with us to send Ian. I want to get more information about what Ian's reputation is among the other kids. I will snoop further.

This is not a newsy letter, but showcases his endless knack for tall tales. The MTC sounds like a crowd control nightmare. Fans of "The Office" will understand his comparisons better than I. Though, one can never be quite sure of the truth where Ian is concerned.

On a more spiritual note it does sound like he's putting his grandparents' gift (Spanish hymnbook) to good use – it's the first time I've ever heard him admit to a favorite hymn! So he has turned over one new leaf!

MTC
July 23, 2007

Hi,

I'm going to send Marcus a letter at some point during his 6 weeks home.

Yeah, I'll need a phone card to call from the airport, and to deposit money you deposit to the Wachovia account.

Yeah, Elder Fitzgerald is the nicest guy. I gave them all our address and your phone number and Jamel's. Look out for Fitzgerald, Stewart, Shick and Mortimer. Stewart taught me everything I know in foursquare.

I got a letter from Dita last Monday, and I opened it, and it said "Dear Elder Subandriyo" and then the entire letter was in Indonesian. So I think she put letters to me and her brother serving in Atlanta in the wrong envelopes.

Yeah, send that shirt, but send me some sandals, either my blue ones, or Marcus was supposed to bring me back some sandals from Hawai'i. I just need some sandals. My blue ones I hiked the whole Na Pali coast in, so it would be nice to keep those at home, so see if Marcus has some sandals for me, or if Jamel wants to give me the ones he brought back. I just need some soon. Yeah, get some of that lotion and some more pyrithium zinc shampoo to send with the shirt. Thanks.

I'm glad Jamel's getting the car done. That's so cool. Ask him if he's going to take Alyx on his kayak or what. Oh yeah, we answer the phones for the people who call for the free Book of Mormons and Lamb of God videos etc. Someone hung up on me the other day, so I sent their Lamb of God video to our house so you guys could have it.

Nothing else has happened here. I talk to Elder Tavete from La'ie about surfing Goat island all the time at night. Tell John to look out for Elder Tavete in the LA mission Spanish Speaking, or take him to lunch or something. Everyone gets along great. Except one guy in our room is literally another form of Dwight from “The Office”. He worships the ground his companion walks on (like he's Michael Scott), laughs at all his jokes hysterically, never gets him out in foursquare and answers questions for him. He's also the most obnoxious person I have ever met. He gets on my case all the time if I don't make my bed like "lucky we don't have room check today, that's a disaster zone up there" and then today his bed isn't made, and I just don't say anything. I am always cool to him. One day I was walking down the hall, and someone tripped me and I turn around and he's laughing and running the other way. In class I asked him what the heck he was thinking, and he's like "you didn't trip, what's the big deal, if I wanted you to trip, I would have pushed you." like that somehow justifies it. I told him I would get him back , but when he least expects it. I told him I would trip him down the stairs in the airport so he has a 10 1/2 hour flight with a broken leg and then kicks off his mission in a wheel chair. I'm glad he's going to Bahia Blanca. I don't think he realizes how nice we all are to him in our room. It's so ridiculous. This and that about everything. I don't think he fully understands that I could literally knock him and his 85 lb companion out. Maybe I'll just bottle up this contention and bust his chops in the airport 'cause we're flying to different missions.

love, Ian

P.S. Thanks for everything. Thank Ellen for the cool picture of dad. Also have someone sing hymn 88 for you in the Spanish hymnbook, its a Spanish only hymn and it's my favorite. It's "Placentero Nos Es Trabajar".

Almost 3 Weeks Down!

Editor's Note:

Jim Pitchforth always writes a Pre(r)amble before his sons' letters, but I haven't come up with anything as clever. If anyone out there has a catchy suggestion so you don't have to see "Editor's Note" heading each missionary letter, let me know.

Marco Garcia is a boy from our ward who is finishing up his mission in Chile. The "sacrifice" Ian refers to is Marco's decision to go on a mission even though he may not be able to see his family again. He had to return to Chile for the church to issue the call legally and I guess the government told him he could not apply to return for at least ten years. His family cannot visit him because they will not be able to get back into the U.S. We do not know all the details of their circumstances, but the Stake President was very emotional a few weeks ago when he told us how excited he is for his son, Spenser, to return in a few weeks while at the same time Marco cannot return to his family. His mother told me that he repeatedly wrote home that he has no regrets and knows it is the best decision he's ever made.

The MTC is a vortex of church member connections. It's like the degrees of separation are down to 1 or 2. I guess part of it is that my friends around the country are all sending kids on missions. It's exciting to hear of his old childhood friends and where they're headed. It feels like we're reconnecting briefly to all the people we've watched pass through our ward.


July 16,2007

Hi,

Thanks for the letter.

First, one of the teachers here served with Marco Garcia, not as a companion, but with him in Antofogasta. His last name is Chandler. I told everyone the sacrifice Marco made, and they realize how foolish it is to feel sorry for themselves.

I don't need white clothes; the ATM account is fine. The only t-shirt I want is a yellow one from Hawai'i that says "Ainokea" on the back. Send that if you could.

I'm going to send some things home like books and stuff to save weight. Tomorrow the Ft. Lauderdale elders leave. I'm setting them up with our address and number, so look out for Elders Fitzgerald, Shick, Stewart and Mortimer. They're all cool guys.

On Wednesday I got to go to the Provo ER because my companion dislocated his finger playing basketball. His finger looked like a lightning bolt. It was at 6:30 a.m. gym, so there was no doctor at the MTC. We had to go to the ER. They make you sign all this stuff when you leave like you won't buy anything, etc., etc., but we left in such a hurry we were in gym clothes and didn't sign anything. Can you believe that the Provo ER doesn't have a single coke machine? It's the cleanest, most empty ER Ive ever seen. It looks like an upscale Pediatrician waiting room. I got to learn how to pop a finger back into its socket. Our nurse went to Resistencia. It was great to leave. I'll send a picture of my companion's finger.

Raquel Delgado, Brother Delgado's daughter, works in the mail room here. I saw her, but I don't think she saw me or recognized me.

Thank the Schwartz's for the package.

That's good Jamel sold the truck and is getting the VW set up. Ask him when he's going to take Alyx out in the kayak like he promised.

The consulate was fine, he just talked for 2 1/2 hours. He talked about each mission, and he made Resistencia sound like the gnarliest place in the world. "jaguars, anacondas, Indians, impenetrable forests etc." and then he made all the other missions sound like pansy missions compared to it. When it was question time, kids asked the dumbest questions I have ever heard. They are talking to the Senior Consulate of Argentina, and all these idiots can come up with is "what does dulce de leche taste like?" "Do they hate Americans?" "How much are the steaks?" and it just went down hill. Ignorance in youth of this church about the world is ridiculous. I can not stand it. Anyway, I raised my hand and said "is Che Guevara a good subject to bring up?" and he just looks at me, kind of cockeyed and goes "He is on lots of t-shirts, yes. But that is all he is, a t-shirt. He left Argentina as a young man and never returned, he went to Cuba, Bolivia, whatever. He is from long ago." Then he went on to incorrectly give some facts about where Che was born, etc. So, I know more about Ernesto "Che" Guevara than the Argentine consulate and he is "nothing more than a t shirt" to the government of that country. He asked us where in the world we have been, and some kids had been to Brazil and Mexico. I didn't say anything, and some kid (probably the dulce de leche kid) says all proudly, "Canada", and everyone including the consulate just started laughing. It was really funny.

Grandma Nan sent a bunch of envelopes with enough postage to go to Canada for my companion, along with a list of elders from Alberta who served in California in '82. It was nice of her. Also, there are pictures of missionaries in Osaka, Japan all over my floor, from '85 and that's when Chuck was there, yeah? I only have three minutes left, but find out Mitch's address at UCF and his email for me. Don't give out my email to my friends until I leave. I get an Argentine ID when I get there, too.

Love you,

Ian

Who needs Notre Dame's Touchdown Jesus

Can't believe Stephen and Heidi haven't posted this one yet. This little tiger's got game!