Jay's Letter 7-18-11

with Elder Menoncal

Hey guys,
Well, to be hoenst, not too many exciting things happened this week in Argentina. I am going to attempt to write my best here to make things exciting and fun to read (:
Can´t believe Ana turned 14. Holy freak, I was just talking to Erin about our grown up family. Haha, and Ana is going to stake dances. Tell her to write me if she ever gets asked to dance. Hahahaha, just kidding. So mean. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ana and Erin. Sorry i could not send you guys anything way sweet.
It´s getting pretty weird weather wise down here. We wake up freezing cold and I just want to put on two sweaters and thick socks and sit next to a heater. Then, as the sun comes out, I feel like I could easily pull off a short sleeve shirt and do the missionary work like that. So, needless to say, mother nature is bi-polar down here in San Juan. The best way to do things is to go out with a short sleeve shirt with a sweater over it (: That´s the best way I have found to keep up with the weather here.
Hahaha, so thanks for the package. Everything was great and I had a fun time looking at the graduation announcments. Made me laugh looking at Lexi´s. It was so her. It also reminded of working at copies plus, and making grad announcments for Jose. Remember that? Those looked sooo good. We did a great job (: Anyways, thanks for that. Way fun stuff to read and look at. The garments fit like a charm.
I remember Mom always trying to get us to drink powdered milk, and we never did. I don´t know why, because now in the mission it´s like the best thing ever! I don´t know if it´s super cheap out the states, but down here it´s a pretty good deal and mixed with cereal it does pretty good. I think I will try to convert my self to powdered milk when I get back.
Well, we had lunch with the Bishop yesterday, and the Bishops wife made a waaaayyy good soup thing. The coolest thing is that she used hardly any meat, but it was so delicious. Reminded me of Mom´s cooking. Mmmm. Anyways, they were talking about how their son, Marcos ws misbehaving. How the more he mis behaved the less things he could have. He is coming up on his sixth birthday and they told him that if he was misbehaving in church they would take away his brithday party. He supposivley didn´t do to good and they are not letting him have his birthday party, but will make a cake. Okay, so why would I be telling you this story? It made me think alot about our Heavenly Father and us, here on earth. The parents, obviously hurt that they couldn´t give his son the birthday party, if anything, they really wanted to. But, they knew that he would learn/recieve something better, by taking away the party and that it would serve him in the long run. Sometimes, when we don´t repent or disobey, Heavenly Father takes away blessing. In reality, he wants those blessing (or "birthday parties") for us sooo bad, but he knows better and won´t because he knows that we will learn something from it. Interesting thought I had yesterday while eating with the Familia Alvarez. Good family.
Me and my comp, we saw a robbery the other day. We were on the bus coming back from Centro, and when the bus stopped I just heard all these screams and saw a kid out the windows of the bus running full speed with a purse. It was so surreal, it was like I had been caught in a movie and didn´t know what they heck to do. Couldn´t really do much.
We found some sweet people this week, but we are working on other things first so we can get along with the work (: Thanks for all your prayers and everything. I love you all. Happy Brithday Ana and Erin! You guys are way old (: hahaha.
Love,Elder Valle

with Zone Leader, Elder Burns

Jay's Letter 7/11/11

Hello Family,

Not tooo much happened here in Albardon this week. The biggest news is that they changed the prices of the buses to 4 pesos! So that´s killing our budget a little but, we are survivng and becoming good friends with the mission accountant getting some reembolsos here and there. OH and we did have....INDEPENDANCE DAY here in Argentina. Needless to say that everyone takes holidays as a day to not work, and they don´t celebrate too much to be quite frank. So I woke up and I was heading near the back of our apartment to go take my shower after I had a very sweet, low key work out. And when you head to the shower you have to pass by the back door that has a glass window. I was walking past the door and saw this huge flash as if an UFO had just landed in our backyard, curious as could be I opened it up and BOOM! something exploded because the sound was so loud...wasn´t quite sure what it was but I swear someone had just shot a gun....that made flashes...or something. Well, it happened again and then I saw a firework two, and then I got it. Our neighboors were doing huge fireworks at seven in the morning and it was 9 de Julio, and so of course, fireworks were a must. I felt it was a pretty fitting introduction to the all the fireworks that we saw the following day. Nothing like the 4th of July, really. But good enough.
We met a new investigator who came to church this week. Her name is Ana. She got in this huge motorcycle accident and it kinda damaged her head, and so she doesn´t have a ton of hair. She wears all kinds of funny hats to cover her head and she is a way nice lady. The only thing is that when we talk to her, its way hard because she talks about the most random thing and talks about it forever (common thing in San Juan, the people here are like that). For example, when we went to go pick her up for church, she wanted to sit down and talk about her chickens and how they were fighting with the neighboors dogs, and we were already pretty late for church. Luckily, we had one of the high council members with us who is a San Juanero himself, and cut her off and said "We have to go....now". OH man. Sometimes, as missionaries, it´s hard to be firm with people, but to cut people off, it´s just a tough situation. So, pray for Ana because she doesn´t have a testimony yet and needs to hear the truth. We hope and pray for her progression.
Well, this morning all us missionaries in San Juan went to Centro to meet.......Presidente Avila. Oh MAN! He is just a BOSS! He is waay cool. We also met his wife. Okay, just one cool cosita. A couple days ago was my companions birthday, Elder Williams. She just got a her a couple weeks ago, and this is the first time we have ever met the Hermana. We were all in a line doing the hand shake, mucho gusto, big smile, chest out, clean cut missionary thing. She came to Elder Williams, Shook his hand, and right as she was moving on, she short stopped her self put her eyes back on williams, and said "oh yeah, happy late birthday elder williams". Oh man! What a sweet hermana right? We were a little freaked out about how she remembers all that but it was way cool. He talked about some waaay cool things, and knowing that was an ex area seventy just makes him way cool. Him and Lindahl are both big bosses, but in their different ways. Lindahl just makes money and gets work done and complete. Avila just smiles and gets whatever he wants and explains spiritual truths and doctorine so simply, it almost blows your mind.
Me and my comp are starting to run 3 miles for our exersices. Man...you could tell it had been a while since I slipped in my Nikes. We have to get out pretty early, and so we are just freezing. My left side that doesn´t sweat was just searing cold. My blood in my fingers might have had to been defrosted, but we will see how it goes! i am trying to get back in shape...have a little stomach going on. I bought Brocolli and carrots. Should be good.
The mcdonalds probably didn´t help. OH MOM! I also found Cilantro here!!!!! PLEASE SEND me your salsa recipe, but make it easy to understand. I am dying to eat salsa. biggest food i am missing right now. I wanna make it. so, your homeade fresh salse recipie please (:

I love being a missionary to be honest. This is not only such an enriching exprience, but it is wicked fun. Me and my comp talk to the weirdest people and we have bad tiem and good times, and every day you learn something new. i was talking with my comp last night, that how before the mission,I probably didn´t have too many ganas (what is ganas in english?) to read church books or much of the old testament or read the bible dictionary for fun. now, I am just dying to read hinkcley biography and talmage stuff. it´s great what the lord blesses you with being his missionary.

I got your package, but I have not opened it (: Just got it like an hour ago. When the president came and they brought mail to all of us. Way nice (: (: well, I hope you all are having great summer days in Nampa. I thank you guys for everything.
Love, Elder Valle

Jay's Letter- 7/4/11

Hello!
Well, needless to say, crazy stuff has happened and is happening here in San Juan. Transfers is today and we found out that me and Elder Williams are staying together in the same area. We were both shocked because President Lindahl promised to move us...I guess, we really need a change. To be honest, me and my comp talked and we really don´t see how things are going to work out with us and six more weeks. We have respected each other for the last transfer, but being together for the next six weeks could cause some problems...so, we will see if we actually stay together. Pray for me and for him, so that if we do, we can get things done. I don´t want to write anything bad or mean, because we both struggle in different areas, and so we are hoping God can help us in his work.

Talking about crazy stuff...right now is the Copa De America! Everyone in South America and Mexico (and Japan got invited) are playing in this huge cup...and guess what...it´s in Argentina!!! Crazy! So, what happens is all the teams play but the play on soccer fields that are all throughout Argentina. It started on Saturday with Argentina and Bolivia and Messi didn´t do a good job apparently. Hahaha, and that took place in Mar de Plata in Buenos Aires. The second game is Chile vs. Mexico...and you won´t believe where it takes place! San Juan! I know right? We are not going down today because we have lots of stuff to do, but the other elders called us and told us that there were just a ton of Chileans and Mexicans in Centro today and that everyone was going crazy. I guess we will see who wins, but it´s like a mini world cup and it´s actually way fun having it around. And people don´t lie when they say that Argentina goes crazy when they are playing. Like...don´t you dare knock a door, because who knows when Messi is going to make a goal right? I wish the states were playing. That´s ok (:


Me and my comp did some research via members and figured out that Messi is a little bit taller than I am. We were hoping super bad that I would be the same heights...but, that´s ok. He has a couple inches on top of me, but whatever.
We realized that in every part of the world, there are different callings that Bishops can give. For example...In Idaho, Orchard Organizer and Girl Camp Organizer, while in the Philipines...there is probably the bamboo safety leader and mens spear hunting ward specializer. We realized that while us in the states share gardens that in Argentina people share Animals. For example, in our ward a while ago, they got everyone chickens so that people could be self sufficient. They had the choice to kill it and make food or let it make eggs. Then they designated one of the ward members to have the male chicken or rooster or whatever and he would go around getting the hens pregnant so that they could make eggs or something. We realized that this is how the sacrament meeting would go...
"It is proposed that we sustain Hermano. Juan Flores as the Ward Poultry Fertility Specialist...all in favor. Any oppose?" And then the ward would have something to talk about before church starts. Just a thought.
OH man....President Lindahl is gone. WEIRD. I didn´t even know what to do with myself. President Avila is now in place and it´s weird having a President you don´t know. So we don´t really know what to expect or when we will meet him, because we live rather far from the offices. If anything crazy changes I will let you know.
So now that the Boise, ID Temple is closed...Dallan, can´t get married any time soon right? Thought so. Perfect (:
Sorry I don´t have anything way sick to talk about today, I guess I am just pretty weirded out about transfers and stuff. I hope you are all doign well in the 28606 (that´s still our zip code right?) Have a great week.


Love,
Elder Valle
p.s. having dreams where we eat mexican food. oh, it´s just so lovely.

Jay's letter 6-27-11

Hey Guys!
I feel quite flattered that you compare me to the big JB. What an honor, considering is is the newest teen sensation right? hahahaha. I can´t wait to watch this Justin Bieber movie, sounds like quite the thriller.

Wow, you guys had a cool week, and that totally stinks that the Idaho Temple is closing...ugh. Oh, another thing I need to clarify...I called the Mission nurse and I am officialy diagnosed deaf in my right ear. Crazy right? Oh well.
This week is the last week of Pres. Lindahl! Oh my...us missionaries, don´t even know what to think. What we are going to do with ourselves, we don´t know. He is just such a boss and getting used to a new President might be tough. We will see I guess. This week was pretty exciting! We did service in this town called Angaco. Way out in the middle of no where. We helped a member build her roof out of bamboo canes. It´s actually way way easy and way sturdy! Don´t know why we don´t do it in the states. Then we went over to her mini farm thing and milked a goat. The udders were way weird feeling and I was a little scared at first but then I got the hang of it. Not to mention, it ws rather warm when it came out of the body, so that was kinda cool. I drank it after I milked it and it was a little sour, but I think with some sugar it would have been super super good...and maybe more healthy than cow milk...who knows?

I had a fun adventure in the collective this week. The collectivo is the public bus. As I was going down to get off of the bus I jumped off too soon and I thought the bus would have stopped by then or something, but the doors opened and I thought that meant it was done moving or something but, I jumped off the bus with the collectivo still going pretty brisk pace, and biffed it on my but. My pants got little rips (nothing big at all) and I had gravel going into my pants. Way weird. it didn´t hurt to bad but my companion was laughing waaay hard.

We had this terribly nasty lunch this week where she made yellow rice and then cooked in like all of the parts of the chicken that no one eats. The lungs, the neck, the galbladder, the weirdest parts of the chicken. Anyways, that was a tough lunch, but I made it through.

This week I went on divisions with people in my district, where I was in the same apartment as Elder Burns. We talked about Nampa and life and just all about Idaho. It was way fun...forgot to take a picture. Sorry. hahaha.

It is getting WAAY cold up here in San Juan. I had to pull out my big huge black winter coat, hop into my thermals and throw on a cute plaid scarf. Me and my comp have a way cold apartment, and so we fill up old coke bottle with boiled water and sleep with it and that gives us some good heat. and we do the hot rice bag thing. Hahaha.

Everyone in my ward calls me elder "valley" because they think my last name is from the states, and so they try to pronounce it as if it wasn´t a latin last name. Pretty funny, but I don´t correct them. Makes me feel at home I guess. hahaha.

Well I gave a way sweet talk about Matrimonio in church last week. Awkward but everyone loved it. I talked about how marriage will be hard, but the blessing are uncountable, so just stick with it. Haha.

We had the baptism of Emlise this week. Everything was falling out of place at the last minute but we pulled it off, and better yet...i think our zone won the cup!!! I will find out next week. If we did, I get a DL trophy....way way excited!

Hope you all have a great week! I love you guys and miss you. Enjoy the heat!
Love, Elder Valle

Jay's letter 6-20-11

Family and Friends,

This week was just a little crazy up here in Saint Johns! It´s getting super cold and I had to wip out the Thermal G´s to keep my self from freezing over. In the morning it´s pretty cold and at like one until five, it´s gets pretty warm and then from six on, it gets way cold again. So, It´s been fun to turn on the heaters and wear socks to bed once again. In the mission they make these things called bolsitas de arroz. Some ladies made the cloth bags full of rice. like mini pillows. And, when you microwave them they get way hot and them you put them near your feet or your head or whereever when you go to sleep. So I have using the rice bags quite a bit. I was thinking how funny it would be to make a fake rice bag, and actually fill it up with pop corn kernels, so that the next missionary just has this exploding bag of "rice". Hahaha, not going to do it, but it was way funny in my head.

We had interviews with the President and training by the Hermana this week. Man, so like...you guys have seen the blindside right? Sandra Bullock does a great job and all....but, I think Hermana Lindahl would have done even better. She is exactly like that lady in real life, except with the gospel. She trained us on keeping our apartments clean and that Gods greatest gift is health.Hahaha. Everytime we get with the Hermana, we have a quiz. It´quizzes you on mission rules and cleanliness and just whatever she wants to quiz you on. If you get it right, she makes you a brownie. So, we all took the last quiz by Hermana Lindahl this week. It was way easy and the brownie was way way good. Also, me and my comp won.....BOOM! Cleanest Apartment Award! (second time, thank you). We got some way good expensive chocolate from Mendoza and bragging rights. Way sweet right? Needless to say sometimes we do get intimidated by the Hermana, but she definitly puts those lazy missionaries in to shape. Good Work.
My interview with Presidente was WAAAY sweet. He talked half the time about my style and my tie and how like, to go into job interviews that i should never try to look to good and told me never to bleach my teeth. He said..."your shirt was probably twenty bucks...and mine was 175 bucks, but can you tell the difference? no." hahahaha, and told me about how i need to let my personality shine more than my shoes and it was waay good. And after him telling me how much he makes, i think that´s the richest man I might ever know personally. TONS of money, and he told me..."some millionaires celebrate by spending half a million and putting the other half in the bank. but when i get a million, like when i sell a hopsital, i put it ALL in the bank and maybe buy like a 3000 dollar watch. that´s what you have to do elder valle. you make a lot of money and you forget about it and keep working. but buy something small to celebrate so that you have an incentive to keep working".

The Malla family is doing way better about the death of the son. The dad of the son who is anti missionaries and like anti church, came to church this week and it was a huge surprise to erveryone. i think he saaw the support that came from the ward and just really felt love and the spirit in such a hard time. we will see what we can do with him.

we were working way hard with the familia martines (yes, with s). they are a family of 4 girls who want to get baptized and love the book of mormon. they were GOLD. we went to the house sunday morning to pick them up in a remis (which is like a taxi, but waay crapy and old) and they wouldnt come because their father was going to come pick them up. oh man, it was SUCH a downer. it totally killed my week and i was soo down on sunday, because they would have been baptized this week and yeah....it was just tough. so, that was the bad news i guess i was just way excited for this weekend.

so Ana, i got your letters. oh man...they are JUICY! It was way fun to read and thanks for revealing that HOT information. Hahaha. Man, like...when did you start having amazing hand writing. you are just getting way teenager ish it seems. I read the letters and had to double check they were from you because it´s grown up how you speak and write. keep it up!

so this week, we were just walking to a members home, to give them blessing, and then all the sudden we see this white family there. turns out they were visiting argetina with their son, who served there a while back. and ever crazier is that they were from BOISE! We were out in the middle of no where, seriously and way far away and we found this boise family who is building a house in Kuna and the kids are going to Boise State. So, it was a little weird, but waaay fun. and mom and dad, like, just so you know, i would have no problem if you came down to pick me up. i saw how fun it was for his parents who didn´t even speak spanish and how fun it would be for you guys and me. so anwyays, if you happen to win the lottery and want to come pick me up and if the new president is ok with it, you totally should. i would love it!

this week me and elder burns did divisions in my area to go teach the martinez family. there was a girl there was a little crazy and told us that she was catholic and she was already baptized. we explained a lot of things and then we finally looked at her and told us..."actually, yeah, i think i would like the get baptized too!" hahahaha, way crazy right? but she still, le falta algunas enseñanzas. anyways, it was a fun division with another fellow nampa friend. we surprisingly didn´t talk to much about home, more about the investigadors. way fun though! we also talked about all the people that never went on missions...crazy.

well, i hope you all have a way fun week and all working way hard in the church! get some way sweet blessing, ok? ok.
love you guys,
Elder Valle

Jay's Letter 6-6-11

Man! This is so weird seeing Dallan home. I really am just going to pretend that he is still serving just because it feels weird that he is home. it sounds like a great time you guys had exploring the yellowstones. i don´t even no where that is....montana? that´s cool. man, this ward is way huge and like, nobody comes to church. it´s way annoying. this week we have worked with just a ton of people trying to get them to church so we can get more priesthood holders in the capilla every sunday. it´s a fun work, but i also want to baptize. my and my comp have a hard time getting a long 24/7 but i am learning the importance of talking about things and learning about patience and stuff like that.

we have this crazy dog we named rufus that stands in front of our aprtment door and doesnt let us in...like he wont move. and so we threw rocks at it to get it away and then we realized that if we opened the door it would probably go in. way annoying....so it peed on our door to get mad at us and then ran away. i am going to try to take a photo of rufus for you guys.

i had a family tell me while i was in lunch....they said..."you know elder....you are too correct" and i was like..." what the heck does that mean?" and they said that i act really good and am just way nice, but sometimes it can be too much...and i was way confused. so i will have to ask them the next time i am there.

man, how´s dallan? is it way weird to see him home? i bet he doesnt know what to do with himself.

well, its getting way cold up here in San Juan. like...one time i went out with just a long sleeve shirt and the hermanas from the ward gave me like a ten minute talk about how i was going to die if i didn´t wear a sweater and how that is being really prideful thinking i don´t need a sweater. it was way weird but me and my comp got a good laugh out of it.
we are teaching this girl named emilse. she is like a perfect little angel girl....(don´t worry she is only nine years old). but she learns fast and is way perfect. we are kinda hoping to baptize her soon. my area hasn´t baptized too much...soo, i am hoping to change that. my comp is "burning". he really can´t wait to get home, and it´s really hard on me because i feel so strongly to work and talk with everyone and he just looks forward to lunch all day. it´s a little hard but i pray. i don´t want to make it sound like i am better than him or anything, because i am not.

today i complete 8 months. crazy right? I hope you all have an awesome week! just cause dallans home doesnt give you an excuse to not have family home evening!!! be a strong family in the gospel!!
love you all,
Jay

Dallan's Last Letter 5-23-11

I`m not going to write a lot this week. Sorry but I`m going to send the letter I sent my President and my mom or dad will translate it for you. I cant believe this is the last letter I^m sending home but it is. It`s going to be a fun week. I^m going on divisions with the president this week and if all goes right, and I mean all goes right, I`ll be going to a sealing of Carlos and Aleida this week. I baptized a year and a half ago. Pray that it will happen because nothing will make me happier. I love you all. I`ll SEE you all next week.

Love Elder DallanValle

Hola Presidente,

No creo que tenga mucho que decirle más que gracias por todo de lo que me ha enseñado. Doy gracias a Dios por todo lo que he aprendido en mi misión. Amo mi misión con todo mi corazón. No me arrepiento por nada de lo que he hecho porque sé que lo he hecho bien. Sé que lo hice como el Señor quería que lo hiciera y para mí no hay nada que me da más gozo que eso. Sé que Dios vive y también Su hijo Jesucristo, me he dado cuenta que real es lo que yo hago. He disfrutado tanto sirviendo el Señor, es un privilegio servirle y claro que sí Presidente que entregaré todo a Él como me lo pidió. Lo haré para siempre. Gracias por todo. Nos vemos pronto

Con amor,
Elder Valle

TRANSLATION:
Hello President,
I don't think I have much to tell you other than thank you for all that you have taught me. I thank God for all that I have learned on my mission. I love my mission with all my heart. I don't regret anything I've done here because I know that I have done good. I know that I've done it the way the Lord wanted me to do it and for me there is nothing that gives me more joy than that. I know that God lives and also His son, Jesus Christ and I've realized that what I have done is real. I have enjoyed serving the Lord so much, it is a priveledge to serve Him and of course, President, I will give to Him all that he has asked of me. I will do it forever. Thank you for everything. I'll see you soon.

With Love,
Elder Valle