Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Opening a New Area



October 14, 2014





Nathan comparing America to Canada via Milk

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Hello Family

   How are you doing? Sorry my last email was a little short and this one is a little late. Transfers and National Holidays. You know what I have learned on my mission?  Holidays are the worst. Sure normal people like them, but to a missionary it just means that nobody wants to talk to you and they all have legitimate excuses as to why not.  We did get fed on this Canadian thanksgiving though. Good'ol turkey dinner. It was really fun having it with a family. Everybody here is super excited to see us because they haven't had missionaries here in awhile. We're practically celebrities. The work is a bit harder because we're opening the area and all, but I'm optimistic that it's going to be a good transfer. You know what is awesome? I can see America from our apartment. We are four minutes from Niagara falls. We sometimes get to watch the fireworks display from our apartment. If you would like to know how the work is going, its slow. We just opened the area so we only have two investigators so far. One's named Vern. We were dropping by to see someone in his apartment and we were able to ninja our way in. We figured out the code on the buzzer. He apparently met with missionaries once before but didn't remember most of it. We retaught the restoration and invited him to pray. You would be surprised how many people have no idea how to pray. Once he got the hang of it he said a very nice one. That is your missionary experience. have fun with it.


Dear Nick 
  Aren't you a little young to drive a moped? Hamsters are fun though. Just make sure you don't buy a pregnant hamster. we ended up with more than what we bargained for. Happy birthday you little genius you. Also, ask for a ps4 and destiny. love you i also sent you a few pictures pf me comparing Canada and America. happy birthday.

 
Dear Dawson  
(Dawson went to a huge birthday party this week of his friend's "Golden" Jensen, Nathan had a good time with that name)    
Sounds like you are kicking it at football. But before we get into that, You have a rich friend named Golden? Would you say that you have a wealth of friendship with that guy? Meeting him must have been a golden opportunity. Really found the diamond in the rough with that one. I bet you have such enriching conversations. Truly friendship is the greatest worth you can find. I would make more jokes but I'm feeling a bit bankrupt. Anyway, back to sports. You should try out for basketball. Ask anyone who has gone though high school and they will tell their junior year was the best. Except for me. I hated my junior year because I wasn't doing anything. I got a little into theater towards the end, but the rest of the time I was bored and didn't have that many opportunities to be with my friends and my grades suffered because of it. I would tell you to get involved with as much stuff as you can in high school, because being involved was when I had the most fun. Anyway, You're a smart kid and I'm sure you'll be good either way. Also, keep being awesome. Love you


Dear Ryan  
  I have told Nick to get the game you wanted him to get. I have done all I can do. What do you mean you're having trouble with your costume? (Ryan is going as a caveman to the Halloween dance) Is it outdated or something? Do you plan to go clubbing after? I've been feeling really punny lately. Anyway I hope you have fun at the Halloween thing. And keep being a trooper at football. love ya bro.

Dear dad   
It seems like the boys are butting heads again. Just let them rage for a bit and get it all out. Then go and give them a big bear hug. That would probably work. Old wards can be fun. I have served in mostly old wards, And despite it being the number one honeymoon spot in the world, Niagara is full of old people. Is there a way you can put an attorney or someone on your companies payroll to get the insurance agencies to pay sooner? Just a thought. Love you dad and I am praying for you.

Dear Mom   
 I think we live at 5257 drummond apt#602....I think. I've only been here a week. I haven't quite got a coat yet, but I am working on it. I talked to Dawson about stuff but If he really doesn't want to, he shouldn't. It seems like Zack's mission is off to an exciting start. I remember the first time I was hit by a car on my mission. Good times. Grandmother and Papa Joe also seem to be doing well. They write me every week as well. Like I said, I am optimistic about this transfer. Love you mom
 
I love and miss you all Elder Erasmus



October 6th, 2014
 
Dear family

     It's that time again. Transfers. Remember the Prince? Well now I am serving with him in St. David's. Niagara falls is in that area, so I'll probably go back and get more pictures there. I am kind of disappointed  I'm going back to a district I already served in, but it should still be alot of fun. Other than that, most of the exciting things that happened were conference talks. I really liked Robbins talk on Saturday. Everything else has been relatively smooth sailing.

Dear nick
   It sounds like you had a fun time at conference. My companion also kinda broke his ankle last week. he's been hobbling all over the place. It's kind of funny. Be more careful drinking hot chocolate. That's how people die. love you bro. keep being awesome.

Dear Dawson
   Sounds like you had a rough game. It's also good that you are helping mom around the house. Just remember to stay chill. It needs be that there is opposition in all things, but you don't have to create the opposition. Love you.

Dear Ryan.
    So you broke my car. I guess I might have to come off my mission just to smack you upside the head. Just kidding, but seriously, don't break my car. What are you going to the Halloween dance as? Go as a pirate, or an astronaut, or a monkey. Be a monkey. and she can be a banana and you could tell people that you find her a-PEEL-ing. Do that. Love you bro.

Dear dad
   So oupa really tore into Ryan. It's good that he can have a few humbling experiences. He just needs to realize that somethings need to be thought out beforehand. How are you doing? It seems like everything has been a little bumpy state side with Shelby's arm and now my car. I'm going to pray for you. I hope you guys are doing ok.

Dear mom
    It's getting colder, but i haven't needed the coat because i am in a car area and I haven't really had time to get one. Preparation days are a lot more stressful than they used to be, but I'll try to get one at Brampton when I go. Is Ryan really doing that rough? Tell him that he just needs to think about what kind of person he wants to be when he's older then try to be that person now. Also tell him I love him. Love you too.

I love and miss you all



Sept 29th

Dear family

     This week has been a rather challenging one. I broke my glasses and only have one spare contact left. I have also learned that most optometrist in Canada will only serve you if you have ohip (The Canadian health care thing) so I have been very careful of my contacts. Other than that we did our usual finding activities. We also went to an old folks home to give a member a blessing. One of her roommates claimed to be a member and tried to do temple things with me. It made me very uncomfortable. At least we get to go to general conference this week. We watch it in the church (apparently that's just what Canadians do) and there may or may not be a pot-luck in between. 

Dear Nick
    Jogathons are great. what place did you come in over all? Also it's great that you got a touchdown. I don't have any pictures of me , but here's one of my shoe.
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 Share it with mom. the strap at the top isn't connected. Your doing  great in scouts it seems, your football seems awesome, and you seem to be enjoying school. Keep being awesome you little stud.

Dear Dawson
   "Dear Nathan, school is easy, I'm amazing at football, and I'm pretty much the coolest person ever." It seems that you are doing pretty well in your high school career. Just remember to do what you love and have fun and you will definitely be a champ. To answer your question, I had a sickle because my mission has been sick...le. That sounded better in my head. Love ya.

Dear Ryan.
   Told you you'd be back in your pads by no time. It also appears that you are being quite a lady killer. Go easy on them bro. Just remember who you are and have fun while you can. Miss you bro.

Dear dad
   Dawson shaved his legs? I actually shaved my legs last winter with my trainer because he told me it would help my thermals keep me warm. It didn't help my thermals keep me warm. Having prickles down there is not fun. Did uncle noel and oupa have this house before I left? I don't remember it at all. I'll have to spend some time there with you when I get back. Love you Dad.

Dear Mom
   Transfers are actually this weekend. I'm actually hoping to get transferred. I need a change of scenery. Its good to get to know people but I'm getting stir crazy. It seems that grandmother and papa Joe are enjoying their time in Africa. The letter they sent me makes it sound like the life in some refugee compound. I hope you have a fun time with the smaller primary. Love you mom.

I love you all and I will keep you in my prayers

Elder Erasmus



Sept 22, 2014


Dear Family
   
  This week was fun. We had another zone conference this week. This time Elder Craig a. Cardone came and taught us on how to offer an invitation to pray to an investigator.  I got to see Elder Olson again and a bunch of other people I served with. It was a pretty cool conference. We also went tracking alot this week. It was mostly unproductive. We were inspired to drop by a former. We got him as he was entering through the door. He even came to church. It is starting to get cold here, but we're still good. 

Dear nick
  I see you are becoming quite the young scout. Very good. I do wish that I could of baptized you too, but I think Ryan enjoyed it. Especially since he beat you in monopoly...I wish I could play board games. It is also awesome that you got to see the temple dedication. As a missionary, I really started to appreciate how awesome temples are. Stay awesome little bro.

Dear Dawson
    How is the house boring? you have your brothers, Your video games, your friends, You get to celebrate holidays, And you can go play football and be an undefeated champ. Sounds like things should be exciting. Either way, it is great that you are rocking at football. My experience with Alta reminds me that high school football is not easy and for you to be doing this good as a freshman is awesome. Keep being the champ I know you are. Love ya.

Dear Ryan
   Did you go on the date with the same girl who you went to the dance with? haunted houses are fun. So you're going to play football again next week? That's great. Don't push yourself though. Just because you can play doesn't mean you have to be the superstar right from the get go. Just remember to pace yourself. Stay gold bro.

Dear dad.
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I got you a picture of half the mission. I'm in there somewhere. It seems that you are keeping busy with all these activities and such. That is great. Too bad about Shelby's accident though. I hope she gets better soon. Love you.

Dear Mom
    THERE ARE SO MANY MISSIONARIES! That is incredible how many of us are out. Is everybody doing ok? Some of the news I have been receiving sounds less than super awesome. Let them know that they are in my prayers. how are you doing with primary? Is everyone still ll rambunctious? Love you mom.

I love and miss you all. have a good week.



Sept 15, 2014

Dear Family

   This week has been interesting. We have had a thousand and ten referrals that we contacted. Guess how many of them decided to become investigators. That's right, none. Weird. We also had Zone conference this week. We had zone council the week before, zone conference last week, and on Saturday we are going to have Elder Cardon coming to speak to us. We just keep packing on the meetings. It's all good though. We did quite a bit of tracting this week. Got some potentials. Not much else happened this week.

Dear Nick
   Sounds like you had a fun week. You got a party and got to run the ball in football. Really moving up in the world. Just remember that you are awesome and you can do anything. love you buddy.

Dear Dawson. 
    So you are a freshman taking college level physics classes, and you think school is easy? What the heck? Are you some sorta genius football player? ARE YOU BATMAN?!?!?! Corner canyon gets to do homecoming activities and stuff? Alta shut all those down after my sophomore year. Did you guys get a wii-u? How are you going to play these awesome new games? More importantly, how will I play them when I get back? Stay awesome bro. Love you

Dear Ryan
   Looks like you had fun during home coming. Are you two dating or are you just friends? Either way. mom says you had some issues with deodorant. I'm sorry, but you have to admit that it sounds funny. Hows your shoulder doing?  Keep on keeping on and you will be back in the game in no time. Love ya stud.

Dear Dad
   Why do people in the book of mormon have such sore legs? Because of all the nephites. Are you laughing now? Good. Ryan really took an atv ride again? I guess the past is in the past.  How are the other boys doing? You're coaching Nick, right? So did the guy get his insurance company to pay for him? That's good, right? Business is booming. Love you dad.

Dear Mom
   Well I finally had to buy new shoes this week. My old ones literally would not hold themselves together. I might send them home just so you can see how worn they were. So Elder Holland came to Ryan's football? That's crazy. Did his relative play for corner canyon or the other school? Maybe he is now in the boundaries of the ward. I can't believe that they already changed the boundaries that many times. I love you mom.

I love you all and bid you adieu 

Elder Erasmus



Sept 7, 2014

Dear Family
   
    This week has been pretty good. We found a ton of new investigators. We also had a baptism. that makes 5...Well two of them were 9-year-olds but still. Earlier this week we had a zone council. They used to be called zone training, But President Clayton thinks calling it a council will prompt more participating in the training. We were basically told to stop teaching "humble" people. We're only suppose to focus on families and kingdom builders. Kinda makes me feel like a zoramite but I see what he's getting at. All is good this week.


Dear Nick
   Sounds like you are doing really well in football. 19 to 0 is pretty nice if I do say so myself. But more importantly, YOU GET IPADS!!!!! What the heck? How come I didn't get ipads in school. You young kids have all the luck. Just remember how blessed you are bud. Love you.
PS, I promise to try not to call 911 as much.

Dear Dawson
   it's ok that you don't email me. It's not that I look forward to talking to my family only once a week. It's cool. How's football doing? Are you still a giant, or do you have to deal with people your size now? How is school doing? Love you bro.

Dear Ryan
   Sure there are things that I regret doing, but that's what repentance is for. I think the biggest change I had so far is just understanding how to use the atonement. Everyone knows that Jesus died for them but not very many people know how to tap into that sacrifice. You already got your sling off? It's only been a week. You'll probably be playing football again by the end of the month. keep on schmoozing the ladies though and have fun at home coming. Love ya sport.

Dear Dad
    Sounds like a scary week for Shelby. Why didn't they just snap the bones back into place when she first got admitted? It's good that she is getting better , but geez. This week has been a bit cooler. we have had crazy thunder storms almost every day. One kept shooting lightning for almost four hours. That was pretty nuts. And as for the signs. I can't tell you how many investigators didn't progress because they didn't get a sign. Some were pretty solid too...Oh well. love you dad.

Dear Mom
   You had to watch a video for training? What kind of video was it? As a missionary, we are only allowed to watch videos that have been produced by the church. maybe we can watch this one. Sounds like the boys are doing well in football. That's good. I love you mom.

I miss you guys a tonne.

Elder Erasmus