I leave today. It's kind of bitter sweet. I'm going to the Spanish Branch in Anchorage. So here are some of the bitter parts. I love Ketchikan and Anchorage is completely different from here. I'm leaving right before the weather gets good here and right when "break-up" happens in Anchorage where all the ice melts and it's gross. Buuuuttt I get to learn Spanish. I get to meet more missionaries. I get to have meetings in person. I get to do stuff with more than just my companion on P days. I might see the northern lights. haha so it balances out. Oh and I'll be in a trio companionship so that will be interesting. I guess we'll see what happens. Okay so to this past week. Guess what I got to do on Friday! We went to Metlakatla to kind of recon the area and see what we can do about getting missionaries there full time eventually. You know what made that trip even cooler? We took a float plane haha. Isn't Alaska the best??  So yeah we took the float plane there then some members showed us the town a little. Then we prepped in the chapel ( which is the only brick building on the island) (and the phase 1 like the one in Livingston before we got there.) so we could know who to visit and where they were and stuff. It was kind of difficult because we were on foot and none of the streets were named or labeled I guess. We visited some members and people who missionaries had talked to before. Asked about how the area would receive missionaries and all of that. It was pretty fun. Oh and it's a reservation so there was a casino there. But yeah, that was the highlight of the week for sure. I'm just glad we got to do it before I left. Oh Anghel took and uploaded that picture while we were saying goodbye to them. They're some goofy kids. I'm going to miss Ketchikan a lot but I guess it's time for me to go and experience other types of missionary work, people, and adventures. So as usual all is well in Zion.   Elder Waddell

Email from Elder Tellez 3-12-12

Hello again everybody,

As you might have guessed, I am still alive. Nothing new happened really. We had a baptism this saturday. As you can tell in the photo, there are 4, but the little girl didn't get baptized after all. She was scared of the water and the people, so E. Lastra closed the curtain, but she still didn't want to E. Lastra said that he was just going to say the prayer and then dunk her, but she was latched onto her mom. So we only have 3, but she will get baptized later in life. We have 3 more for this Saturday, we'll see how that goes I guess, haha, and a couple more the week after. This is the last week of this transfer, we'll see if I or E. Lastra get transferred (cross your fingers), if not, it will be 5 1/2 months with him and in the same area. I still don't have the trust of the members, I really don't even think they like me. But, I just keep my head up, smile, and show love to them, haha. As long as I am doing what I am doing and living a Christ-like mission, it will all be good. I got the email from E. Newell, he seems cool, in the few words he wrote, haha. Haha, Nyah will play the saxophone, yea buddy!! Just thought I'd throw this out there, I don't like Conte at all, watch out for him. Haha, my mom is a Jack in the Box employee, re-living the old days at Burger King. You are going to end up working more days and doing more things, because that is how it is at Jack, you want a job just two days and just doing prep, but the thing is that all employees need to know every station in the store. All managers know that, it doesn't matter if they are friends, haha. But it is all good, you are working, you will meet new people and make money. Gramma, thank you for all of the emails and quotes and things. So, I only had like 20 min on the computer because it kept on crashing, now E. Lastra is done, because he had his full hour and is impatiently ready to go. So, with that being said, I bid you all adieu. Hope every one is safe, healthy and faithful servants of the Lord. Love ya -Elder Tellez

3-6-12

Hey. Well sorry I didn't email yesterday. President and the Zone leaders were down here in Ketchikan so we spent the day taking President and Sister Beesley around. So it was another slow week as far as the work goes. Not a whole lot of progression from people we're teaching and actually not really any teaching. We have a few potential people lined up but that's it. On Tuesday we had our weekly District meeting over the phone. Then on Wednesday we had a few hours of training over the phone. Then on Thursday President and the Zone Leaders came down. So we did Interviews and went to training for the Ward Council. We tried to go on splits with the Zone Leaders as well. Not a whole lot happened. Friday we kind of did the same stuff with them then dropped them off at the ferry so they could go to Prince of Whales Island. So we tried to get some stuff done and invite people to the fireside that President was holding on Sunday. Then Saturday we spent pretty much the entire day doing service. On Sunday one of our investigators that we hadn't seen all week appeared at church so that was good. The downside was that she took off and didn't talk to us. Oh yeah part of the reason this week was slow was that there were regional basketball tournaments going on so everybody was doing that. Everybody! Anyway, after church we picked up President and the Zone Leaders again. (They flew back on a float plane from POW) The ward fast started on Sunday as well so we went to some members to break their fast and talk to them about missionary work. Then we went to President's fireside. Only 2 people that we invited showed up. Anghel and Jhasen, but not their brother Rheman. But it was a really cool fireside. Then Monday, like I said, we spent the day with them showing them the Island. It was a beautiful clear day too. But today it snowed a few inches and is raining and snowing right now. But the cool thing that happened this last week is that Bishop Davis convinced President to try to get missionaries in Metlakatla. So guess who's going for a test run tomorrow? We are! We get to take a float plane over there in the morning and another one back in the afternoon. We're supposed to visit as many people as possible and look for a place the missionaries could stay in case of emergency or to stay permanently. So we're pretty excited about that. Not everyone can say they got to ride in a float plane for their mission. Oh and this is the last week of the transfer so if Elder Satini is training next transfer we'll get a call tomorrow night. If not we'll get a call on Saturday morning for what is happening. During the interview with President he said he would like to get me in the Spanish branch with an Elder that's about to go home this transfer before he goes home. So we'll see I guess. Meanwhile we're still trying to find people here. All is well in Zion.

Elder Waddell

Email for John on 3-6-12 title: "Hello, Is it me you're looking for?"

Getting this email on Tuesday instead of Monday was very nerve wracking. It was all I could do to not email his Mission President asking what happened...lol...I think he likes his birthday present I sent him. The Plan of Salvation teaching aid in Spanish :-) I can't believe he got the package so soon....Enough about me...lol...Here's John....

Hello again, I am alive and still kicking, haha.

So, I recieved the package this past Wednesday. That must be a world record or something, haha, less than a month. Yesterday, the whole town didn't have Internet or cell phones, so I couldn't write. But, here I am, haha. Gramma, the reason why we only had rice was because we were poor and didn't have money therefore, we couldn't buy groceries. But, we recieved money this past Wednesday and yesterday, we went to the Bodega Aurerra (an incredibly, small, offspring of Walmart). Now we have food, I bought my own food because E. Lastra buy things like rice and crackers. I bought stuff like yogurt, cereal, canned fruit, Cambell's soup, kool-aid, things like that, of course I looked for the cheapest brands, haha. I probably will be in this same area for another month or so. Once I am transferred, I hope to go north. I'm glad the gumbo was great, I really want some. Mama, you don't have to send a package soon, you can wait for a couple of months. I don't want you all to spend money to send a package right after you sent another. Thank you. Ok, now I recognize the elder that was there in Liberty almost 2 years ago. The translation of my spanish is: The time has gone. Now I am going to eat. See ya later. Have a good one. Be careful. I love you. Haha, that crazy translator. Now I must be going, because my companion decided that he would want to only write for 30 min, not the usual hour. Love you all, send many emails and pics. Bye -Elder Tellez

Trinity 2-27-12

Hey! thanks for the email. That's a pretty good leap Megan. My Birthday was just a day ,haha, not much to speak of. I was kind of sick from the day before. We did go to an Inactive members house for her birthday and then at night time for some reason they were shooting fireworks from the top of Deermountain so I guess that was cool. We were supposed to have a baptism but that fell through. Not too much of a surprise. Did I get any presents? no ha but one of our recent converts said Happy Birthday haha I did get the box you sent but I accidentally opened it a few days before my birthday sooooo oops . How did her dance competition go?  I'll send her a thank you card the problem with that is that the only thank you cards I have are ones that she sent me haha. I'll get a different one. Yeah, I got a letter from Regan, I'll reply. The girls want to go to London eh? That sounds like an adventure. Wouldn't they need passports as well? Day trips out of Austin for spring break? That sounds like it has pretty good potential. Of course there are no day trips out of Ketchikan so maybe I'm just missing that possibility. Well this week has been interesting. We taught 4 total lessons this week. I've had weeks with almost 20. So, things have been moving slowly. But this week we did some more finding and actually talked to more people we had never met before. So we have a few possibilities lining up but so far no breaks into a lot of work anywhere. Our ward is starting a 40 day fast and it just so happens that on that same day President Beesley is going to give a fireside in Ketchikan. That works out pretty well I think. President and Sister Beesley and the Zone Leaders are coming on Thursday for some ward training and interviews. Then they're going to Prince of Whales then they're coming right back on Sunday for the fireside and they're leaving Monday morning. So it will be another interesting week. Then, 5 days after he leaves here we get transfer calls. exciting stuff. So yeah I guess it's just the normal happenings here. It was beautiful and sunny the past 2 days and of course on our P-day it would start snowing for the first time in a month haha!!  I can't wait for winter to be over. I want it to be warm, maybe even hot! I at least want the sun to be out.  It would be cool to be able to do things outside as well. But I will miss the waterfalls everywhere. I don't know if I've mentioned that there are always hundreds of waterfalls going down cliffs on the side of the road here. It's pretty sweet. Well I guess that's enough of my pointless rambling. I'm glad things are going well. I'm kind of envious of what your weather is right now but, all is well in Zion.

Later….

Yes I am having a good day. I think we're going to play basketball with some members today. I wish I could swing dance. I miss dancing and music, definitely one of the biggest things. I can't wait till I get back and D'nel is taller than Megan haha! She should stay in band until at least 8th grade. But yeah force her to do piano. That’s one of my top regrets is not knowing piano already. Thanks for the email! love you!
Elder Waddell

Email from Elder Tellez 2-27-12

Hi sweet family of mine,

Thank you all, as usual, for your emails. Gramma, the weather has been crazy down here too. Wednesday and Thursday we incredibly hot, the sun was insane, and to top it off we had to literally walk from one end of the city to the other and we are dirt poor so we couldn't take a taxi or buy water to hydrate. But we are still alive, haha, and still kicking. Then, Friday and Saturday were incredibly cold and like a mild hurricane type of wind the whole two days. I'm sorry to hear about the internet and somewhat glad that I don't have to worry about the internet being out, or, having internet at all, haha. I have that liahona from 2010 that has that article by Elder Bednar, it is great, and I think I actually used it for one of the Family Home Evenings that I gave to one of the families in the branch. We have soooo many Liahonas in our house that it isn't even funny, and I read every single one of them. I also have read "Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple" and "Our Heritage" and I am almost done with "Our Search For Happiness" and then I will tackle "Jesus The Christ" both in english and spanish. Bianca, I would expect Tosha to have enemies, haha, she is hard to get along with and not exactly the best employee. But you haven't answered my question, who is manager in Dayton? I am glad that you are hanging out with a guy and going on dates (it's about time!!). If he likes you, that is good. If he doesn't like you, then it wasn't meant to be. Mama, I still haven't gotten the package yet and I won't get it until the next conference in Veracruz, which is in April and then I might get it, haha. I have the check, I can't cash it because I can't go to the only place in the state of Veracruz that is capable of doing so, Plaza de Las Americas in Veracruz. Ohhhh, haha, Presidente Maza, my branch president old me to tell you to send him some beef jerky (they don't have that here), so, when you send the next package (don't rush it or anything) can you send some beef jerky, it is highly doubtful that I will be in Isla when that happens but I will most certainly eat it. Also, can you send church music, like that CD that I have of InsideOut. We have a Western Union here, but I don't know if I can go inside, you will have to ask my mission pres. I also eat a bunch of chicken in almost every way, haha, I'm not a big fan of chicken right now, haha. We eat mole, carne guisada, and I can't think of what else, oh yeah tamales. In our house, all we have is rice, so that is all we have been eating here, luckly I watched closely to how you make it and others, and boy do I make some good rice, haha. Since we are poor and all of the members went to the temple saturday, we couldn't eat with the person that we were scheduled to eat with, but luckly we have investigators that love us. Bueno, el tiempo ha pasado. Ya tengo que comer. Nos vemos. Que les vaya bien. Cuidense y otra cosas. Les quiero.

Elder Tellez 2-20-12

So, as always, I'm alive and kicking another week. So I have like 2 or 3 weeks til I celebrate my half-year mark. We finally had another baptism, a 9 year old boy named Beto. His mom is a member but inactive, I mean INCREDIBLY inactive, like 8 years with out going to church. But we brought her back. Her daughter (seen in the pics) doesn't want to ever get baptized, ... The other two little boys in the pic with Beto are his friends and they want to get baptized too, they even go to church with us. We have a couple of more people with baptismal dates for the next couple of weeks. I'm not sick anymore, I just can't [eat]like I used to for some reason or so fast and you know how my companion is, rushing and rushing, haha. Thank you mama for sending the package, I love you. It turns out that we have the worst missionary home in all of our large mission. The rest have normal walls, lights, some have AC, hot water in the shower, and many other things. It's all good though. Like I said, I'm still alive, haha. The conference was great. It was for a special purpose. The whole mission was gathered. President Treviño had amazing news. He was personally told by the Quorum of the Twelve that because of the rapid number of baptisms making this one of the most successful missions in the world if not THE most successful, they are dividing the mission, North and South! The north mission will be called the Xalapa Mission and the south will be the Veracruz Mission. 100 of the 200 missionaries that are in this mission will be in the new mission. This will all take place in June or July of this year! My mission president, President Treviño will be the president of the Veracruz Mission. So, depending on where I'm at, I might be in the new mission. Other missionaries keep saying that I will go there. I kind of actually hope to, haha. My companion in the MTC who is up there in Poza Rica, a city in the north part of Veracruz says that in just his little area he has a Walmart, 2 Burger Kings, Mcdonalds, and 3 Little Caesar's! I have heard that it is so nice up there. You can look up pics of that area, Xalapa, Poza Rica, Papantila(not spelled correctly) and other places and tell me about it or maybe even send me pics. So that is the exciting news. We also heard the one of our neighbor missions, Puebla, is being split into two missions as well. I have 2 friends serving there. When the changes happen this year, Mexico will have 26 mission!! The church is growing so much down here. The saints in Mexico have such great spirits and testimonies, but they can't sing or play the piano to save their lives. Ahhhh, and for that I sing so much louder in sacrament and other meetings just to drown them out, haha. Thank you for the emails Mama, Gramma, and Bianca. Mama, I'll take both thick and thin socks, yup black, haha. Gramma, if you wait 18 months, I'll go on a road trip with you, we'll go to Utah. Bianca, it doesn't matter if you have something to write or not, just write alot. Like what shows you watched and what movies you have seen lately. What you have been eating. Things like that. I love long emails. Wow Mama, that cake looks awesome, I want a piece, haha. About cakes, it seems all of the cakes that I have had here have been the tres leche one, but decorated for birthdays and other things. The elder looks kind of familiar. Time for me to fly and eat more soup, nasty!!!!! Love ya all. -Elder Tellez

Trinity 2-20-12

Hey! Thanks for the picture. Are you trying to make me miss Hawaii??? haha We have not been super busy. And I'm feeling alright.  Yep in a week it will be 7 months. I'm just moving right along. In ways it has seemed fast but in ways slow. But mainly it's just been fast. haha Well I'm glad Regan is doing well. I wouldn't know because she doesn't write to me. ha (I hope you read that Regan) But President Beesley said that our friends could email us and we could send short replies to them. So maybe that will make it easier for her. Man, yeah Provo just doesn't like us. I think when I get home after a year of straight A's in Hawaii I'm going to apply for Provo then when they accept me I'll deny them haha. Or that could just backfire and they not accept me.... but either way. So where is Emily going to room if Megan and Sammi are already rooming together? Man, why do the schools and youth groups always do cool things after I leave???. Well I'm glad everyone is doing well. Things have been slow here this week. We realized the other day we went from around 11 Investigators to 2 without us really knowing what happened . So we've been trying to find people. And people haven't wanted to listen. So we're going to have to change our tactics on finding. It is time to talk to more random people and such. But pretty soon the ward is starting a 40 day missionary fast and we're going to be working with them a lot on that. The only problem is I'll probably leave a week after they start it..... haha But hopefully the members take this to heart and actually act beyond just not eating for their assigned day. That's how they're going to get their ward goal this year, and any other year really. We had three kids get baptized on Saturday so that was pretty exciting, a good ending to a really slow and kind of frustrating week. So I feel like I'm being prepared for something in my future by who I've successfully taught so far on my mission. Out of the 9 people who have progressed to baptism that I have taught only one of them was an "adult". I think wherever I go from here I'm going to feel just like a brand new greenie, especially if I go to the Spanish area. I'll probably just sit there with my hands in my lap wondering what in the world they're saying. So I'll be almost 8 months out on my mission and won't have a clue as to what is going on ha, kind of sad. But I guess it'll be time for me to learn some real humility haha. Oh yeah did you save the pictures from my card onto the computer at home? There are only like 20 on that card right now..... Well I guess things are going alright here. We're planning on heading to Metlakatla next week then President Beesley and the ZL's are coming down for a fireside and interviews and such. Then transfer calls will be the next week. We're halfway through the transfer. fun fun. I hope all is well in Dayton. I miss the flat and green. All is well in Zion.
Elder Waddell

Trinity 2-13-12

6 months out!!

Hey! Thanks for the pictures and emails! The address here is po box 6321 Ketchikan, AK 99901. But by March you probably shouldn't use that one anymore or March 5th or so. I'm glad things are going well there. I'm a little upset I wasn't there for the donkey basketball.... but I’m sure there are videos I'll see in a year and a half ha. It's strange that D'nel will be in the youth group so soon.... she's getting old! I bet the girls are ready to get out of there. I doubt that they'll miss it once it's gone either. Yeah when I finally do leave it probably won't be too fun.  This week has been interesting. Half really fast and half slow. We had Elder Denison from Prince of Whales Island up until Thursday so that time went by fast. There weren’t a whole lot of lessons taught this week so that made it seem slow. Another person decided they want to be baptized so that was good. But then she didn't show for church.  But Ian got the priesthood on Sunday and his mom came for it so that was really good. Anghel, Rheman, and Jhasen are all set for this Saturday and they're excited about it. A lot of stuff has been happening in their family recently so this should be really good for them and the rest of their family. Oh I finally burned my six month tie. It was a little late but it was pretty cool. and we saw some sea lions swimming at the same time. Oh somebody left a box of baked goods on our doorstep the other night. That always worries me a little because there is no name or anything but we figure they're safe to eat haha. I'm still the same size but I think I’m losing muscle (I don't have a lot to spare) so I need to get back on top of the morning work outs haha.  Those baked goods aren't going to help too much haha, but things are going swimmingly here. But i can't lie I am excited for the winter to be ending here. I'm tiiiirred of the rain... soooo much rain. But other than that Ketchikan is great and I'm going to miss it immensely when I leave and I'm definitely visiting after my mission so I can do all those cool things missionaries can't do here haha All is well in Zion.

                   Elder Waddell 

Trinity 2-6-12

Hey, sounds like everyone is still keeping busy. That's always a good sign. We had a baptism on Saturday so that was pretty nice. We're trying to do what Pres. said and finish up what we started here. This week was a pretty good one though it seemed a little slower than normal. We helped one of our investigators more fully understand the need for the Atonement so she's one step closer. We are trying to get another guy to just realize he already knows it's all true. We taught him everything and he likes it all and now he's just trying to get his knowledge of it or a sign or something. So he's a step closer. We got another couple set for baptism at the beginning of March. So hopefully things keep going well with them. But we can see a few things that might cause snags in their progression. Those three kids that are the cousins of Ian and Lianne are on track for the 18th so that's great! They all came to church and to the baptism on Saturday. One of our investigators who has come to church a lot but never stayed for the third hours stayed this week so that was awesome. The kid that got baptized was the son of a recent convert who senior missionaries taught in Dutch Harbor. So for the baptism one of those missionaries called in on the PolyCom and gave a talk. So that was pretty good. I got to baptize him but I forgot to step on his foot so he almost floated to the top! All of his family was there. It was a good day, oh and we always have to stay there while the font fills up (which takes like 4 hours) but this week there was a pinewood derby so we had some entertainment ha. Brother Taylor confirmed him on Sunday and it all went swell. So yeah it’s been a pretty good week. The Prince of Whales elders just got here today and they don't leave until Friday so that'll make an interesting week. Oh I've been trying to finish the Old Testament recently. But that's a pretty big book, and pretty tedious at points. But I'm almost done! I'm in Jeremiah so the only "big" book after that is Ezekiel so I’m pretty excited,  I'll try to think of something that I want for my birthday, I'm a missionary I can't have too much ,haha too much traveling. D'nel is a big girl she's got it covered.  Besides, something like that always has to happen. It's just an opportunity to grow and learn. Consider it a blessing and it'll become way easier. Well things are going great and they don't look like they'll slow anytime soon so I think it's safe to say all is well in Zion.  Elder Waddell