Elder Everett Escobar 

Hey Danny!

That's way cool that you were able to get your Arrow of Light that's quite an accomplishment, pretty soon you will be working on your eagle project like Aaron is now. It's good to hear that you are doing well in school in your behavior and your grades. Keep it up! Keep going strong, try to make the Honor Roll. Do you still get an allowance based on your grades? Now I know that you want me to tell you 'all' about my mission, but that's very hard to do because a lot has happened in these past 2 years. It's very hard to sum things up. It will be a lot easier if I just told you everything in person in about 4 months time (: However, the mission as of right now is going well. We had 1 lesson with an investigator, who is getting baptized on April 21st, and we had 21 lessons with members throughout this week, so we stayed busy and we made a lot of progress with less-actives in our area. We had 3 less-actives that we have been working with, show up to church yesterday. So I'm having fun. We are going bowling today, so that will be relaxing. I have been exercising a lot, both morning and night. I'm glad that I have good genes from Dad to put on lean muscle. I have been seeing the fruits of my labors. I really want to be a trainer again right before I die as a full-time missionary of the Lord. Now on the topic of Yugioh cards. Just be patient, you have waited for over a year and a half. You can probably wait for 4 more months, now don't have an anxiety attack over that okay (: You will see me before you know it. I love both you and your brother, Aaron. Keep working hard and choosing the right.

Love,

Elder Everett Alan Escobar

Elder Everett Escobar  03/24/2013

Well HOWDY to h'all yah fellers down in Tayxoes!

We have had a good week of strengthening and uplifting the members of our ward. I feel like there is a greater sense of unity now. We have been working well with the Sisters, they are awesome! We went to Ward Council for the first time yesterday, it went well. I don't have very much to report on investigator-wise, but things are going well. I feel like we need to re-convert and strengthen the people that we already have, before we can actually move on and strive to bring more people into the church. I saw President Packard the other night at the Stake Easter Celebration and he mentioned that he had talked to you, I'm that you had a good conversation with him.

Wow it's amazing that Gilberto got to baptize his girlfriend. It sounds like he's just cruising in the gospel. And Aaron's going to be getting his patriarchal blessing pretty soon, that's great. Time goes by way too fast (and I'm pretty sure I've said that at least a thousand times). Sounds like Danny had a good birthday, I guess when I get back we can play a few rounds of Rockem Sockem! Mom your going to start working again?! That's cool, you've been talking about that for years. So is it really going to happen? Like you for sure are going to start working again?

Ok so I will call Mrs. Moreno as soon as I can and fill out the form. I will print it off later today. I can't print things off at the library that I am currently at. And I will be on the look out for my contacts. So if the letter seems kind of short I just don't have all that much to report on, even though we have been very busy. Anyways, I hope you have a great week as well.

Love,

Elder Everett Alan Escobar

Elder Everett Escobar 03/18/2013

Mi familia! Buenos dias! FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS DANNY!

Estoy haciendo bien. Esta semana fue muy bien. I did understand those sentences, you might have had one or two spelling/spacing errors, I think. You never did respond to my text that I sent you asking if you had mailed my contacts. I have some news for you. Right before the mission-wide conference on Saturday, President Packard came up to me and told me that both he and Sister Packard feel as if I need to go to school and that they want me to go to school this fall semester, of course if I still wanted to go. He also said Sister Packard came up with the idea of putting mini-missionaries within the area after I leave till the end of the transfer. So that the area won't have to be hindered in any way and the work would still be able to go forward. It's good for the youth of the church and it's an easy fix. So you should expect a phone call from President Packard sometime soon. I will be talking to him today, I have been praying and fasting. So flight plans might change...
The meeting with Elder Russell M. Ballard, Elder Christiansen, and Elder Eyring was awesome. That was a very, very spiritual day. I don't think that there was any bit of negativity within that whole entire day it was great. There weren't any big, dramatic changes in the mission, none of the boundaries were changed or anything like that. Elder Ballard gave us the commission to become 'Master Teachers'. The whole meeting was about bettering ourselves and those around us through our words and actions and creating true, loving relationships with the members.

Well we have been making the transition with the new Sister missionaries, Sister Rivera and Sister Crane (I have known Sister Rivera for quite some time, she's cool. Sister Crane is straight out of the MTC, she is quiet for the most part but she's nice.) The work has been progressing within the ward we have received more referrals from the members as well as dinners. We expect to have quite a few new investigators in the coming weeks.Sister Rivera and I made a big push with the bishop to let us be at Ward Council. We knew that the bishop had refused permission to previous missionaries from the meeting, but we were determined to get into that meeting. After an hour long conversation of petitioning and amending we were granted access to go to Ward Council (: Boo-yah! Finally. Now we will truly know what's happening in the ward and how we can best help the members.

That's so cool that Chelsea is having her baby! Please tell Serena that I hope that everything goes well and that she feels better. It's good that the missionaries got to speak in the ward.

Wow you're buying tile already, the upstairs must be coming along fairly well, especially if you are working on the small details now. Such as the door handles, faucets, knobs, and what not. No you hadn't told me that Matt and Kristen moved to Utah, I had heard that they were in Utah, but I didn't know that they had actually 'moved' there.

Hope that you are successful in all of your endeavors and that the Spirit of the Lord will continually go about you throughout the course of this week.

Love you,

Elder Everett Alan Escobar

PS I won't QUIT. "I'm too legit, too quit" (Not that I'm prideful or anything, I'm quoting a movie).

Elder Everett Escobar  03/11/2013

You might be wondering why I didn't e-mail you on Monday, that's because we had a short 5-week transfer. And we have good news neither I or Elder Metcalf are leaving Worcester and we are getting Sisters in our area as well. Do I feel a little heat, yes. Spanish is going horribly, I haven't studied for quite some time now, however with the down time that we have had for the past few weeks the apartment has been cleaned (have some pics for ya). By the way I'm not sure if I get 'chilly willies' haha. 38 degrees sounds alright to me right now. I can't wait for spring when everything turns into a vibrant green, I will have to make sure to take a lot of pics then. Elder Metcalf is doing well, he's not drugged up any more, which is nice. The area seems to be turning around, we have been meeting with the ward auxiliary leaders and have been trying to gain their trust, in one of our meeting with Sister Herrera who is the Primary President, we got 6 member referrals! So now we have a lot of things to work on and more auxiliary leaders to visit. So yes I would say that things indeed are a lot better than they were before in this area. We've been hearing rumors that there are going to be a lot of changes in the mission and the mission boundaries might be tweaked and Elder Ballard (Apostle Ballard) is visiting our mission on Saturday and will be holding a live broadcast with us and the Manchester Mission, hmmmmmm...I think I smell something fishy(: I will let you know what happens next p-day.

So this week I have been contemplating more heavily about leaving the mission and working instead of going straight to school. I felt and still feel good about it, but I wanted to know the reasons as to why I should go forth with this decision so I started to pray. So a couple of days later in my studies I decided to read my Patriarchal Blessing and I came across the line which states: "Not long after you return from your mission, you will meet a young lady who you will take to the temple to be married for time and all eternity." Right as I read that I felt a greater abundance of the Spirit and I just started balling. I felt like I couldn't control myself or hold back the tears at all (Answer to my prayers? I think yes.) I was reading my Patriarchal Blessing for personal inspiration and that was definitely the highlight of what I read. Although I don't know to the fullest extent what all of this means, my guess would be that the time is near at hand for me to meet my eternal companion and that I need to keep preparing myself both spiritually and physically. Oh I don't know if I told you this but Elder Metcalf is dyslexic so he has a hard time studying and memorizing the discussions. So a few days ago I was praying to know how I could help him have a better study and I received some inspired revelation as to how I could help him, it kind of just popped into my mind. So I'm having him read each principle in the discussions individually and visualizing what the passage is saying in his mind. Then I have him draw out what he sees on paper and after he draws these principles out I tell him to shut his Preach My Gospel and explain to me what each drawing represents and it works! He remembers! So now it's just going to be the repetition of this process that will have the discussion ingrained in his mind. So anyways, it's been a good week. You should keep talking to Mrs. McCracken and her family and you should invite them to family home evening. Ask the missionaries what you/they can do, they can help. That would be good. I love all of you. Hope you have a great week.

Your son/brother/friend,

Elder Everett Alan Escobar

Elder Everett Escobar  02/25/2013

Hey,

We are on the computers earlier today and yes there has been quite a bit of snow. I'm kind of getting tired of it, even though it is pretty and fun to play in. So we haven't really had church for the whole entire span of time that I have been in this area due to the snow, it's kind of ridiculous. And the last snow that we got was heavy and slushy. We have been able to work, but of course the snow does get in the way. I don't know how New Englanders go through this year after year. Eck! Snow is nice every once in a while but not all the time. We have been working with members primarily, as of right now we have 2 investigators and one of them has a baptismal date set for April 21st, there's a lot of work to be done here in trying to pick up the missionary work. 

Now about the room. Most of the stuff that you see scattered about the room, is not mine. The stuff on the desk is mine, I always have a messy desk. You should have seen the apartment when I first got here, I'm working on it one room at a time. I have cleaned the kitchen, living room, and bathroom (now the bathroom was filth). Elder Metcalf is not much help in cleaning right now. By the way, on Wednesday we are going to go to Boston to get Elder Metcalf's finger detached from his palm. Then he will be going through therapy. We are going to be getting a membership to W.O.W. (Work-Out World) which is only $10 a month so that we can really workout in the mornings. 

So just like last week we went to Brother Ciunci's hockey game and it seems to serve as a good opportunity to share the gospel, by talking to people that are watching the game and it's fun. 

Sounds like things have been tough for Elder Morales, hopefully everything continues to go well. It's pretty cool that Dad was able to give Gilberto the Holy Ghost. No he hasn't written me.

New England is beautiful Mom, but you would hate to be here right now. I guess beauty has it's own price (I have some pics of a part of our area). 

I'm glad that Aaron got his Eagle Scout Project approved but what is it? What's the project? I don't think you ever specified. Sounds like Aaron is definitely on the ball with things. Danny is growing up fast! Before ya know it he will be a deacon. By the way, Danny I've heard a lot of good things about you from someone (and no it was not just from Mom, Dad, or Aaron) keep up the good work.

It's good to hear that Grandma and Grandpa are doing well, of course extend to them my highest regards for me. And please continue to tell everyone that I love them very much. Continue to stay strong physically and spirtitually. Hopefully, I will have church this week (fingers crossed).

Love,

Elder Everett Alan Escobar

ELDER EVERETT ESCOBAR 02/19/2013

Good morning!

Well these past few weeks have been interesting, due to Nemo. Don't worry Disney I think that we have indeed found Nemo...you can stop the long search already. The night before transfer meeting I said goodbye to the Candelarios, it was hard and I miss them (I have some pics of them and me). I told them that we would definitely stop by when we tour the mission. At transfer meeting, I saw a surge of missionaries going home. Most of them I knew fairly well, Elder White (my companion in Weston), Sister Broekhuijsen (we were in the MTC together), and Elder Mitton & Elder Woodruff (were some of my favorite ZLs) were among the group. Elder White's grandparents came from Rhode Island to see him bear his testimony at transfer meeting. I dislike seeing people that I worked alongside with just leave, it's just so weird because you know that it will soon be your turn to be at that same podium giving your last witness to the mission. I don't even like thinking about it. Anyways, my companion is Elder Metcalf. He is a pretty cool cat, however, he can't do too much because he has recently had surgery on his hand. Before the mission he was in an accident playing tug-of-war and his finger literally popped off. They got his finger back on, but while he was in the mission field the same finger got infected so part of the finger had to be removed. So now his pointer finger is sewn to the palm of his hand right now, apparently that's how they are doing a skin graph on his finger. Talk about a series of unfortunate events, eh. So he can sometimes be in quite a bit of pain. I love our Ward Mission Leader, Brother Rob Ciunci, he is a recent convert that goes above and beyond his calling and he's pretty darn funny. We probably get 10 or more calls/texts from him checking up on us after lessons, meeting, and what not. He actually owns the apartment that we live in. He's a little over 50 years old, but he's a ball full of fun. He took us to one of his hockey games last Thursday evening, it was cool. That was my first time at a hockey game (I have pics of that too). So I have already started a list of memories for the Worcester 1st Area. I haven't quite been to church due to snow, so I haven't met that many members of the ward. We have 2 investigators that we are working with right now and hope to gain 2 more investigators this week. This area reminds me a lot of Weston, because you have a little bit of the city and you have the boonies!!! I love it. So Nemo was alright, we played a bunch of board games and saw a lot of gospel-related movies, it got tiring being at the apartment for so long though. We got 3 feet of snow where we were and yes we had to shovel it, otherwise we wouldn't have been able to get out of our apartment. It was crazy seeing the blizzard because the snow wasn't just coming down, it was coming down horizontally and everything was swaying back and forth. It was kind of like a hurricane, it was quite a sight. Anyways, yesterday we had the opportunity to go to the temple since it was a holiday. So we took the opportunity and had a great time and we also spent some time in Boston. I was reliving the days that I spent with Elder Yim, I enjoyed it. I think that sending mail to my apartment would be alright here is the address: 700 B Main St   Boylston, MA 01505. 

Sounds like a lot of goals have been set in the stake back home, 1 million names to index, that's quite a bit. And it still sounds like great things are happening in Liberty Ward, especially with Gilberto's baptism. Tell him 'CONGRATULATIONS' for me. By the way, thank you for answering your phone yesterday (: Oh and I was told at the Walmart where I got my new prescription that I could get both contacts and glasses and that I would be covered. So could I get glasses here? Just curious because my frames on my current glasses are starting to take there toll and they aren't my current prescription. Anyways, love you and tell everyone that I love them.

Sincerely,

Elder Everett Alan Escobar 

Elder Waddell 6-17-13

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Hey hey. Well I hope things are going well over there. 

Things are going great here. Some of the people we've been trying to teach are panning out and we're beginning to teach more. It's been beautiful here. 60's and 70's for the past two weeks. Supposedly it's rare for this to happen, and what's even more rare, you know how when a hurricane is coming you'll be watching tv and randomly it will switch to the national weather service stuff and warn you? Well I guess that happened here but the reason being is that it will be in the low 80's here and they're not equipped for that kind of weather. haha I don't think most people have air conditioners. 

One of the strangest announcements I've heard in Elders Quorum. 

yep so things are fun here.

This whole "the end of the mission" thing is weird. It's really teaching me the concept that you can't tell yourself not to think of something. for example, if I told you..... don't think of a purple alligator. .....you just thought of one, immediately it flashed through your mind. But if I don't want you to think of a purple alligator in reality I should just keep your mind engaged with other things.... So that's what I'm learning now. I've been doing pretty well in losing myself in the work for the past two years I just need to stay lost in it for a little while longer and keep the momentum of progression going after my mission. I'm not going to be the same person when I get back as I am today and most definitely as I was two years ago. 

life is exciting.

well I hope you're enjoying the Texas heat. I was sweating the other day when it was 65. 

love

Elder Waddell

Elder Tellez 6-17-13 email

How is everyone? I am good. We baptized yesterday. It was a crazy miracle. We found him on Tuesday. His brother is the ward mission leader in another ward here in Tuxpan and his mom is a member too. He had already gone to church many times before. He has a strong testimony in the church, but he didn't want to get baptized yet. So, we invited him to a baptismal service in another ward and we handed him some white clothes and said, "ready to get baptized" and he said "yes". So he changed into the clothes and his brother baptized him. This Sunday, we are going to be baptizing his wife. I am thankful that we have a Loving Heavenly Father who watches out for us and answers our prayers. You know something? Tuxpan reminds me alot of Galveston. Today we recieved our washer a AC!! Tonight will be the first night that we don't suffer, haha. Time for me to go. I love you all.

Elder Waddell 6-10-13

I am great. I got my last transfer call, no transfer. I will be dying on the Kenai peninsula near the river. 

Man the Toups are moving? What are they going to do in Katy? 

What's youth conference going to be on? We shared our testimonies at the youth conference here. The youth are soooo excited for missions here. Is it the same there? 

Things are great here. We're really working with the ward to try and have some awesome missionary experiences happen around here. It's been kind of dead for a little while so we're trying to resurrect it. It's been fun.

We're also going to be fishing on pdays.... hopefully and we're possibly going to Kodiak.

We just got a lot of potentials this sunday. little miracles happening all the time! wellllll after the trial of our patience haha 

sorry I gotta go again. love you!

Elder Waddell

Elder Tellez 6-10-13 email

How is everyone? I am good. They haven't fixed the AC yet. We didn't baptize this week but we will baptize this week. The picture is of my zone here in Tuxpan. It is still super hot here. Nothing new has happened this week. I'm sorry. I'm healthy. Is everyone reading the scriptures and praying? Family Home Evening? Time to go. I love you all.