News from our amazing missionary! Sept. 29, 2013

Hey Guys!!!

Good to hear from you again! Sounds like another awesome week. Rats, i was looking forward to another story from "Ben the Beast", but it looks like im gonna have to wait another week to hear about these 150 rushing yards and 15 sacks next week, right Ben??? Well, good luck at your game this week buddy, play good, and win!!! Sam, sounds like you have some really good games this week to. Four sacks, that's really good, keep up the good work. Sorry you didn't win your JV game, but it sounds like it was pretty close, so keep up the good work, you'll get em next week. And concerning the varsity game, i don't think Preston has beat Blackfoot for over 7 years, so that is quite an accoplishment. Keep up the good work there bud, and good luck with you audition pieces for bass. David!!! Sorry, your cleats look red in the picture, but orange is cool to. Congradulations on your goal buddy!!! Left footer? Not bad, keep up the good work, and make sure you are improving every time you play or practice (be careful with these Rec. games, im still pretty sure you can't play in two leagues). Also David, HAPPY STIKING BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK!!! Dude, you are so old. 12 man, i remember those days, scouts and such. I had such an awesome time with my Deacon's quarum and i know that you will to. AND YOU ARE FINALLY OUT OF PRIMARY!!! WOOHOO! Have a great Birthday this week buddy, party hard, and do some good!!! JONATHAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Sorry to hear you crashed your bike dude, that really is not fun, i remember when we used to live in Cedar City and i crashed my bike and had gravel in my hands for the next two weeks. I know how you feel buddy. hope it gets better. Thanks for telling me your story you read in the Book of Mormon this week. Abinidi and King Noah, that is a really good story and we can learn alot from it. One thing that sticks out to me in this story is even though Abinidi probaly felt that no one listened to him, we find out then and later that Alma was converted to his words and in the end he ended up being the High Preist over the people in the land of Zerahemla. We can liken that to our lives, in that sometimes we don't think people listen to what we say or watch what we do and for this reason, we sometimes think that what we say and do doesn't matter. But as we learn from this story, our words and actions can and will indeed affect others. This being the case, we should always strive to be desciples of Jesus Christ, to say what he would say, and do as he would do. Even if you sometimes feel to little Jonathan, or if sometimes it seems hard to choose the right, i promise as you do, you will bless other peoples lives and these people will look up to you and admire you. Cool!!! Let me know what cool story you read this week buddy!!! JACOB MY MINI MAN!!!! How ya doing? I got the package you sent me for my birthday, those cards we really pretty and they made my day. I hope school is going great, and i hope you have a fantastic week man, take care!!! Hey Mom and Dad, sorry i already opened the package, but i haven't opened all the presents yet if that's any incentive. I would have waited, but i really needed a coat and sweaters this last week, cause it's raining cold! So, i hope you will forgive me and know how thankful i am for the gifts!!! Have a great week!!!

Ok, my week:

Monday: Well, you heard the majority of Monday last week, playing at the funeral and emailing you guys

Tuesday: We had district meeting and then we tried to make a vor bei, but unfortunately the place ended up being a lot further then we thought it would be, so we didn't get it quite done, but we had a great German class with Ijaz again and later had GMK that night.

Wensday: We dropped some flowers off at a former investigators house. She has cancer and had been in rehad the last month or so. She wasn't home, but we left them anyways. We went contacting most the day, and we actually had some good success!!! We have a couple termines for this week so hopefully they all work out. Later that day, we went and helped Frau Sherer again in her garden. She's a hoot and shared with us a bunch of strories from the "Good ol days". Didn't have time to teach her a lesson, and i don't think she was really in the mood to listen. That's ok though.

Thursday: Tausched with Elder Young and we had a lesson with Andreas. We taught the first lesson, and he seemed to really get what we were trying to say and how we beleive that it is the authority from God to lead his Church that sets us apart from the other Churches. Went really good, Elder Young taught really well (he is a transfer younger than me).

Friday: We had "Singen Uben" with the other Elders in our district in preperation for this singing thing we are doing in Neuatine this Friday. Then we had Mitagessen with Familie Krugel and had a great lesson with them (first lesson). They also told us that they had been thinking that they would wait for Afra (their daughter) to get baptised (probaly a couple years). They said they wanted it to be her choice, and that it is something she is sure she would like to do. We both agreed that is a wise decision seein as they have not been to Church in over a year. It was good. Later that night we met with Schwester Kissler and talked more about putting our trust in God, this time tying it into the Plan of Salvation. It went really well, and our joint teach John Lindstrom was awesome. He offered picking her up for church and she ended up coming to church because of that. It was awesome!!!

Saturday: We had mission putzen tag so we cleaned till about 3, then we went and helped Bruder De Fillipo work on his house the rest of the day.

Sunday: Went to church, had some awesome meetings and then did weeklly planning the rest of the day.

 

Well that was my week, went pretty well. To close i just wanted to share a cool experience that i had on Sunday. On Sunday, an older lady from our ward asked all four Elders if we would give her a blessing and of course we said yes, but she asked me specifically if i would seal the annointing and give the blessing. I was actually shocked that she asked me, but said yes even though i had no idea exactly what to say, or if i would even half way say it right. It turned out to be a really powerful experience for me. I said the prayer really slow trying and concentraing 1. To say the right words and 2. To conjugate the words right. As i gave the blessing, i felt extremely guided to the point where i know for a fact that what i said came from God and it was what this Sister needed. After i closed the blessing, she said the same think i had been thinking, that that was what she needed and she told us elders that she knew we really called from God to serve here in Rosenheim at this time. It was a really neat experience and i hope that my description of it can serve justice. I don't share this story to "Glory in myself" and my "wonderful" German, but simply to Glory in the power of God and his love and willingness to help his children do his work here upon the Earth. I know it was really only through him that i was able to say the things i said during that blessing, and i know that the things i said in that blessing came from God. I challenge you all to seek out how God can help you in your Church Callings, to look for what he wants, and not for what we want or think. I know as we all do this, that we will be greatly blessed and be able to "magnify" our callings in the church that our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ have generously given us.

 

Well that's all folkes!!! I hope you have a wonderful week, know how much i love and miss everyone of you guys, and know that you are always in my prayers!!!

 

Bis Später,

Elder Seamons

 

PS: Hey mom, thanks for your letter this week, it was the best Birthday Gift you could have given me. Please know what a wonderful mom you are, and please don't ever doubt or question your successfulness as a mother. Your the best mom anyone could have and i know all your "little boys" love you very much. Take care, have a great week!!!

Ramblings to our missionary Sept. 29, 2013

Dear joe

How is Germany? We had a bye this week so no exciting tales about Ben the beast. School still sucks. I went to the farmers market with Papa Joe this week. It was good. Jordan’s mom says hi. He is doing well. Do you think I should do basketball or wrestling? Have fun. Do some good.

Ben

Dear Elder Joe,

Well this week was pretty good first of all I had 4 sacks in my game, I haven’t had that many sacks since little league so it felt great. We still lost thought 20-12 so that was the sucky part of this week I start D-end right now and linebacker depending on the formation but 99% of the times in games I have been D-end, we should have won this game and the Rigby game but Talbot quit and Conner Durrant is injured so right now we only have one original starting linebacker (Kyon), but Jesse and Colten Keller are doing alright right now though, right now we run a 4-3 defense right now 4 lineman and 3 linebackers. The Varsity beat Blackfoot 7-3, man I have never seen them so mad, Keaton Wardle the kid I beat from Blackfoot 17-3 in wrestling and he was the Broncos starting D-end and I think Sargent is injured right now because I didn’t see him play but it looks like he will probably be going my weight. Coach Despain was happier than I have ever seen him before; he must really hate Blackfoot because he went wild after the game. We might actually might have a chance at the playoffs this year if we keep up the way we move. Well hope things on your mission turn out great.

Samuel

Dear Joe,

How’s it going in Germany? We tied our game 3-3. I made the first goal with my left foot! And Ramon (Ra-m-oe-n) made a goal on a PK right between the keeper’s legs! And Paton made a goal too! It was 3-1 in the 1^st half and I don’t know what happened in the 2^nd half. If it wasn’t silent Saturday we would have won because our team wasn’t listening in the second half. In the Rec. game on Monday we went against the Jankee’s team and won them 3-2 and boy them were such poor sports because at the end of the game they didn’t give us high 5. And they were trying to trip us.  I went against Coach Reynolds team and we lost to them 2-1. At least we got a goal on the goalie. The goalie had no goals scored on him before so that is pretty good.

From,

David Seamons

P.S. My shoes are orange not red and I got them from the D.I.

P.P.S. Those pictures were of my Rec. soccer team (Neon green is our uniform for Rec.)

P.P.P.S. I wasn’t kicking with my toe I was doing the power kick.

Dear Joseph,

Well it has been a wet week. Jared cut Bishop’s hay last weekend and all it did was rain on it ever since. It is pick the apples off the ground and put them in buckets and then feed them to the cows season. And this year there are quite a few apples on the trees. We haven’t had a deep freeze yet because the garden is still green, but it is producing a lot slower now. But I sure hope that it warms up again for another 3 months it would be nice to have a long Indian summer; it has been awhile since we’ve had one. Sam had a good JV game up at Blackfoot even if on one of his sacks the ref decided that he needed to help Blackfoot’s team by calling a personal foul of 15 yards on Sam because he pitched the ball on an option right after Sam was wrapping around him. I, myself thought it was a pretty sweet play. Anyway the JV lost that game. Then next night Sam got to dress up again for varsity and got to do three plays on special teams when they did the kickoffs and returns. But the varsity won their game so Sam was happy. Today at church Tyson Hall got ordained an Elder. Rico spoke for his farewell talk today also and he did a pretty good job. Tanner Daniels was in the newspaper this week he is getting married in the Logan temple. He has been working at the NAPA auto parts store for the last while. Last week Macy Jepson got her mission call to Cambodia she will be leaving in February. But right now Macy and McKenna are in Italy with BYU study abroad so if you see a bunch of BYU looking people say Hi because you might know someone. Robert Kemsley also got his call this week he is going to Puerto Rico he is leaving the first week of January and will be going to the MTC in the Dominican Republic. Papa Joe’s brother Bob is coming to visit them this week it was just about 6 weeks ago that Bob’s wife Elizabeth passed away from cancer and Papa Joe and grandmother went to Oregon to the funeral. The leaves up on Peaky and South Canyon are starting to turn this week which is about 3-4 weeks later than normal but they aren’t that bright of colors this year. Well I got to get going to a standards night with the boys, so I’ll write to you later you have a great week and take care. Love, Dad Dear Joseph how are you. And my bike crashed. And I crashed on the tip of the handle. It really hurt a lot. So mom gave me medicine but it still hurts a lot but it is getting better and that’s all I did this week. I read about Abinidai and king noah. They burned abinidai. King Noah told them to run away from their families. Then they burned king Noah. And I made a comic book. Called Super Underwear. I will send you a copy. Love, Jonathan

Dear Elder Seamons

So, I want to know if you are okay and if you made it through the month with no money, since you were scraping the bottom of the barrel. Why does it cost to email in Germany? I would be happy to make sure you had more money, if you’re not getting enough, please just let us know, because we want you to keep emailing and we don’t want you to starve!

I’m so sorry to hear about the family that lost their baby. That was really hard, I bet. I’m glad you got to play for them---I’m sure that was comforting. We have kept them in our prayers this week and hope that makes a difference for them. I can’t imagine losing a child. How has it gone with your other investigators this week? Did you finally find the less active person you looked so long for? I hope you have had a successful week. How are you and your companion doing? I hope that you are starting to feel comfortable together. Make sure that he knows that SATURDAY IS YOUR BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!! You are no longer a teenager! How does that feel? You might need a cane or something now if you have to walk too far!

I just can’t believe I have a son that is 20!!!!! That’s amazing! How did that happen to me? I can still remember the excitement of having you before you were born. I think Dad and I tried on about 100 different names, and we couldn’t decide what would fit! I think you were supposed to have been named Joseph McPherson Gregory Scott Seamons---good thing we shortened it just a bit! I was thinking of what a rambunctious little boy you were. Eyes always opened wide!----loving to wreck your room if I put you in time out----I remember the one time I left you in there and it got too quiet and too late, I realized that you had taken a jar of Vaseline and smeared it all over the rug and walls---wow, what punishment for me for putting you in time out! Then I remember that you wanted to run away all the time and we lived on 300 W. which was a pretty busy street, so I told you that if you kept running away that the police would come and put you in jail----not really one of those nice sweet things that you’re mother is supposed to say to you----but I think I was a little desperate! I remember telling you long stories before you’d take a nap or go to bed---Peter Pan was a favorite, not that you wanted to be Peter Pan—more like Captain Hook! I was thinking of how we dressed you up as a baseball for Halloween and how appropriate that was, because you were in love with balls from the minute you could hold one in your hand or kick it with your foot. I think every house we have ever lived in has some permanent dents in the sides of it from your eternal kicking. David was asking me if he played like you and I had to say that he’s not knocking the sides of the house down, so he probably has a ways to go still. I loved watching you play soccer. Whenever you played it was like someone turned the light on and pushed the acceleration button and you just went wild. ‘Perpetual Motion’ I think would have been a good term for you! I have loved watching your games and feeling the excitement of each game and also being proud of the way you treated your teammates and the respect you showed them when you played. Well, except for some of the Ref’s during your Avalanche days! But I’m sure they deserved your wrath! (No, actually, I shouldn’t say that!)

I loved how you put your whole heart and soul into everything you did----soccer, wrestling, track, music, school, moving pipe, work, church, etc. I think you can feel proud of the fact that no matter how it ended up you always gave 150%. I know that’s the kind of missionary you are too! Even when things are probably not going the way you’d like, I know that you are still giving it your all. And the blessings will come from that effort, because it is who you are.

Of course, I loved being part of your music also. Today Kerry Christensen was teaching RS/Priesthood combined meeting and he was giving an example of how Jyllian likes to play the violin and some days she likes to practice and some days she doesn’t, but he wanted to know what his responsibility would be as a parent on the days she doesn’t want to play. Of course, someone said, “well, you should just not make her play when she doesn’t want to.” Others said that it was important to make her do it so that she knew she had to keep her commitment, even when she didn’t want to. George Rasmussen asked me afterwards why I didn’t say anything and he wanted to know what you would have said--If you would have been glad that I made you practice or not. And I said that I really didn’t ever feel like I had to make you practice---I reminded you a lot and made you do it sometimes when it could have gotten squeezed out of your busy schedule, but I didn’t feel like I made you do it, but maybe I did. If I did, I’m glad I did, because I love the way that your soul sings through your violin. Today, once again, we had the musical number Savior, Redeemer of my soul---it must be the popular sacrament song, since we’ve had it twice in the last 2 months. Anyway, Tate Bradfield sang and Diane Petty played the violin part and it was okay, I mean, it was good, but the violin just didn’t sing the way you make it sing! Anyway, I’m glad that I got to be a part of that part of your life---going to lessons, ISSI workshops, Suzuki concerts, district and state solo, Lyceum, Bennet Cup, playing for others with your brothers, etc., they are all good memories of time that I got to spend with you and get to know you better and share my love of music with you. So, I guess I’m glad I MADE you do it! I hope that it will be something that enriches the rest of your life.

I think the turning point in your life came as you graduated from high school, made some mistakes and got back on the right track. I don’t think that I have ever loved you more or been as proud of you as I watched you struggle and work through the process of being able to serve a mission. Actually, I didn’t like going through that part of your life with you at the time, but in the end I was able to see the amazing young man that you were to be. Also, through your service in the YM’s presidency I was so impressed with how you ‘went about your Father’s business’ with mature leaders and were not intimidated by them, but contributed your unique talents and gifts to the building up of that program in the Stake. I also remember the amazing talk you gave at the Stake Standards night when the Youth Council presented it your Senior year and the amazing talk you gave at Seminary Graduation and of course, the amazing talk that you gave at your Farewell. I know you felt bad that you could never get through speaking without shedding a few tears, but I think that’s what made your words sink a little deeper and people feel the spirit a little stronger. You do carry a unique gift for helping others feel the spirit---through your words, actions and music.

I have been so blessed to have learned and grown from the many experiences that you have shared and I am grateful that I was chosen to be your mother. I KNOW the choice was made more for my benefit and not necessarily for yours. I can feel in your letters that you are continuing that growth in the mission field and through your service to the people in your mission. As you truly come to love and serve them, you will continue to be blessed to become the man you are meant to be and the servant of the Lord that Heavenly Father needs you to be. I am grateful that you are sharing those experiences with us in your letters. It is a great blessing to our family----especially for your brothers to whom you mean so much.

Anyway, just reminiscing about my little boy that has grown into a man and I’m wondering how so much time could have passed so quickly? Thanks for all the many good memories I have of you----I miss you so much, but I’m grateful to have you where you’re at blessing the lives of many, as well as ours. I hope that you have a wonderful birthday and remember that we are celebrating here for you—along with David and Grandmother! Make sure that you have a real party on your birthday! We want to hear about it!

Love you forever, Mom

Seamons Scrolls from Sept. 22, 2013

Dear Joe

We won! 30-13! It was a really good game. I had a lot of good blocks and good tackles. Their running back was huge. He was at least 10 pounds more than me and probably was 1 pound under the weight limit. Plus he was black. I still stopped him. It was really cool playing under the lights. So yeah our teams in shape now and there is nothing from stopping us from the dome. I didn’t really run much during the game. Only about 3 or 4 times. That’s probably because I was blocking so well and we did a lot more passing so I caught one for about ten yards. But there RB was huge. I bet he was over. They also had a little fast receiver that probably gained 90% of their total yards. It was really fun playing LB. So other than school that’s my week besides practice, Church, and mowing Brother Wilcox’s lawn. Have fun. Good luck. Ben

Dear Joe

I am going to orchestra on Tuesday and Thursday I’m not sure I like it because Miss Durant yells a lot. I played soccer on Saturday. My team did really good. I play Defender a lot but sometimes I play forward or midfield we lost. The goalie was kind of slow we read about Jacob and sherem this week. I love you. Love Jonathan

Dear Joe,

How’s it going in Germany? We played the Best team called, Ruckus. We were doing really well in the 1^st half of the game. And then in the second half I don’t know what happened to the defense it’s like they just gave up so my coach got really mad so Romeo (Roe-moe-n ) and I got put in the defense ( We were Defensive Mids. ) I took the place of Joana who is the reason of all their goals and he just says ’’It’s just a game.’’ I do not like I when people say ‘’It’s just a game.’’ So ya do you have any tips for me and my team? So see ya.

From,

David Seamons

Dear Joseph,

I guess we were wrong about Ben having more career points than Sam because the previous 2 seasons Sam was the PAT kicker and he put quite a few of them through the goal posts. So I think that it will take atleast 1 more and possibly 2 more touch downs for Ben to get ahead. The weather around here feels like it’s preparing to turn to Fall. There were a few patches of frost down the creek two days this week. The trees in the mountains haven’t really changed any color but as dry as the summer has been they might just turn brown then fall off. I saw president rounds this week at work he has a scar on the side of his head by his ear where the cut to remove the tumor from his head. He started chemo and radiation this week. He looked good but he said that it had made him really tired. Yet he seems to be taking it well and doing well so we have been asked to remember him in our prayers. Take care, love,dad.

Dear Elder Joe,

Well It was our bye week his week so not a lot happened this week except for practice and lots of it. Since it was our bye week this weekend I went up to Bob Firman Invitational and I thought I should have done better than I did. I did improve by about 20 seconds but The course was way easier than Soda’s was but I have been sick all week and my nose kept clogging up and on Monday I got hit in the back of the shins and whenever I ran it would throb like crazy, I thought it would be good by the meet but no it throbbed the whole time and my other leg started to hurt to. We play Blackfoot this week so got to do good and pickup another win or I don’t know what we’ll do. Well hope your week was better than mine because it sucked and I still fill sick (Everybody on the football team is sick right not) and there is a 9^th grader on the XC team who is a little version of Ryden because he ran as fast as the fastest kid on the Varsity team (Kaden Shumway, Kendon won’t be back until districts) and he hasn’t even ran at all this summer he got a 18:24 which is what I would like to ideal get this year by districts but if not I’ll still have a lot more endurance than the other wrestlers especially those around my weight so it will turn out good in the end. Keep doing good on your mission.

Samuel

Dear Joseph,

How has your week been? It seems like they are flying by for us. Some new things that got added in this week were Samuel’s bass lessons. He’s needing some help in getting ready for All State auditions at the end of the month. Since he didn’t have lessons all summer, the lesson was spent getting back to basics----metronome, slow, intonation practice, etc. I hope that he will implement these suggestions, because right now he is fast and flying through everything with not a lot of accuracy and intonation issues. Anyway, always good to get back to lessons. Ben had lessons in Rexburg this week too, so I noticed that on Friday I filled up my car, drove everyone where they needed to go---back and forth to town a couple of times and then drove to Rexburg and was totally empty by Pocatello---395 miles and then 108 more by today. Seems kind of ridiculous, but I’m not really sure of what to do about it. Fortunately Sam had a bye this week, so we didn’t go to games and couldn’t get to Boise to the cross country meet, which was sad not to see Sam run, but nice for us not to have to have football games in the middle of that, too. I didn’t get to see David’s game on Saturday, but I saw part of the game on Tuesday (comp) and I thought David was doing pretty well. It was 5-2 at the half, but then ended up being 10-2---kinda sad for him. It’s hard for me to sit and get the continuity of the game, since Jacob is not too keen on holding still! The comp team is supposed to be going up against a Tremonton team that’s not quite as high level as the other teams they’ve been playing so maybe the score won’t be so discouraging. I’m not sure whether I should leave him on this team next year and hope they get better or look for a different team. I subbed on Monday for Alice King in an EMT class and talked to Michael Winward, who’s on the soccer team and he said they weren’t doing very well this year---about equal on wins and losses. He seemed kind of discouraged. Eli was homecoming king---I thought that was kind of funny and Colby Hendrickson was one of the princes? Not sure. Anyway, I hope that the team does better. I told Michael that you would probably yell at them if they didn’t do better---they were playing Century this week, but I didn’t hear how it turned out.

Ben did well at his game and they seemed to gain a lot of confidence from that win. They played really well in the first half and Ben blocked really well, opening up holes for the running backs. He wasn’t able to catch very well himself---not sure why, just kind of off that night, but I think he was happy with the way that his team worked better together. I’m not sure of how good a team the Raiders were, but Preston pretty much dominated in that game. It was nice for someone in this house to get a win! Yey! It was a fun night. I didn’t get to see Jonathan’s game either, because I was in Rexburg with Ben, but I guess it didn’t go very well from what he said. I hope all these game losses will build character, or something like that.

Today the Bishopric spoke on preparing for Conference. Br. Beardall talked about what Elder Porter taught the youth last week (we thought it was only the presidencies that were supposed to go to last week’s Stake Conference meeting, but apparently it was for all the youth, so Ben and Sam missed out!). I guess Elder Porter said that the youth should be reading the book of Mormon twice every year from the time they are 12 to the time they are 18---hmm, I guess that’s 12 times! I have to say, I’m not even sure I’ve made it through it half that many times, so I have some work to do and so does everyone else in this house!

Br. Christensen talked about how we can receive personal revelation during conference, even when a talk isn’t on the subject we need the revelation for. If we are preparing ourselves to hear the word, we will hear the things that we need to for our lives. He bore testimony of such experiences that he has had. Bishop talked about really knowing what the prophet is revealing to us in our day. He gave the example of a member talking to a non-member and explaining that in our church we have a prophet that receives revelation for us in our day. When the non-member asked the member excitedly what the prophet had recently revealed, the member was stumped and couldn’t think of a reply and the non-member was quite disappointed that the member wasn’t able to give any examples of modern day revelation by a living prophet. He also counseled us strongly that we need to get on the technological bandwagon and take advantage of having all the church resources at our finger tips. Well, I was trying to take advantage of this this morning when I was substitute teaching Ben’s class and had my notes and scriptures on my Kindle, only to have it come up missing minutes before church started. No one has a clue of where it is! So, I struggled through without any technological help! I am thinking that I will ground everyone from their games until someone ‘remembers’ what they’ve done with my Kindle. As I was teaching the Sunday school class and about half the kids had he scriptures on their phone or device, I couldn’t decide if I’m as forward thinking as the apostles and prophets, because I am worried about what’s on their devices, and I think they are distracting sometimes when you are trying to teach and you’re not sure what the kids are looking at---maybe it’s scriptures, maybe not. Anyway, like I said last week, I’m not sure I’m on the bandwagon of having kids govern themselves and giving them suggestions---I guess it’s just the power monger in me! It is so much easier to use a device to look up scriptures, etc., but there’s also something about holding your scriptures and Ensign in your hand and leafing through them and finding what you need. I guess It’s just my middle age inabilities that are speaking out here! We have survived without internet for at least 6 months now, but it isn’t very convenient, and I’m not sure if I’m closer to a solution. However, I know that the technology we are blessed with today is to help us help our dead and forward the missionary work. So…..I guess we will figure out how that works for us!

The lesson I gave was on how keeping the commandments helps us live and understand the gospel better. The video we watched was of Daniel and his friends when they were in King Nebekenezzar’s court (spelling!) and asked if they could keep their covenants by not eating meat and wine and then by keeping this covenant they were given power to interpret the King’s dream. I thought it was interesting in the video that it kind of ends abruptly and doesn’t include what the interpretation of the dream was and the kids were kind of upset about that and I was thinking that it didn’t really matter what the interpretation of the dream was for the King, because the King was probably just given the dream so that Daniel could interpret it and the Lord could show forth his power in his righteous servants. Anyway, I was thinking that could be a lot of how life is----sometimes we are experiences we are given may not be for ourselves, but may be for the benefit of others and to show forth the power of God---which in a way, is like baring your testimony. I also shared Helaman 10 with them, because I remembered that you suggested reading it a couple of letters ago, and I thought it was so powerful and a great example of the power Nephi received because of his obedience.

Did you get our package yet? If you did, remember, you CAN’T OPEN IT UNTIL YOU’RE BIRTHDAY!!!! No cheating! I wish we could talk to you on your birthday, but hopefully you will have a great day as a 2 decade old dude (as Jonathan says!). We really hope that you enjoy playing the game we made you! It’s quite unique!

We pray for your investigators daily and hope they are making progress. I was thinking we could probably be more specific in our prayers, so I will look for any suggestions that you send. Did I give you Sowensky’s address----I think sowensky.lumene@mylds.net. He sounds good! I hope that he enjoys the MTC and his mission.

Rico Crosland had his Eagle Court of Honor tonight—also David advanced to first class and Ben to Life—Samuel still needs to finish up his project and get 4 more merit badges before Eagle---they aren’t hard, camping, communications, and physical fitness (which should be a piece of cake for him!). He’s just hesitant to get it done, but hopefully, he will be motivated as it gets closer to Christmas and he wants to get his license! I’m hoping.

I think that is it for the week----more bus drama with Jacob, Jackie made some new rules for Jacob, we didn’t like them and complained and Kevin’s been driving the bus now, so it will be interesting to see what the resolution is tomorrow. I could have been a lot nicer and not lost it with her----I’ve tried to be friendly and get along better, but I think I shot it all out the window by losing my temper so badly at her last week. I need to figure out how to fix that!

Take care! I hope you are feeling good and feeling good about your work in Rosenheim! There was an interesting article in this months’ ensign about missionaries and realizing that when you set goals, even if the evidence shows otherwise, you show faith by going out every day and bearing your testimony and those that hear it and are meant to hear it will receive it---even though the numbers may not all line up like you’d hope they would! We love and pray for you and are grateful to have the bestest son in the world!

Hey, your German was great! Keep it up! Jonathan felt pretty special with a german message just for him!

Mom

Sept. 23rd Letter from our missionary

Hey Guys!

Sorry, im not going to have much time to email today 1. Cause we don't have much time and 2. Well.....im kinda scraping the pot of money for the month (I swear, i have bought more train tickets in the last month then anybody should in there entire life, oh well, Lords work must be done!!!) and emailing here is pretty expensive.

 

Ok enough complaining.

 

Well it sounds like you guys have had another great week!!! Ben, you guys won!!! Thats awesome, but if im thinking right, you have to win the rest of your games to make it to the dome. Keep it up buddy, Hit hard, run hard, but play clean. Sam, sounds like you had a pretty good bye week. Mom sent me a clip from one of your games, and that was a pretty sweet diving tackle you had!!! Best of luck this week, have confidence, and know you can win!!! Sorry also about your shins, that suck that they are injured, but have you tried iceing after practice? I think that might help. Talk to Nate, cause it aint no fun running on hurt shins!!! Good job at Bob Firman, you should email Daniel and tell him how your life is doing, he would really like to hear. David, dude, your cleats are super sick!!! I love the red, where did you get those at??? Mom sent me some pictures of you and it looks like you are doing well. Couple of tips: When you kick the ball, DO NOT KICK WITH YOUR TOE!!! I could see in your freekick picture you kicked with your toe and also, you are not finnishing your kick. Your should be kicking with the inside or top of your foot and should have your body leaned over the ball as you kick, and should be landing on the foot you kicked with (this is probaly making no sense. Ask Sam or your coach, they should both know what im talking about. If Sam doesn't know what im talking about slap him, Just kinding, don't). One other tip i will give you is i noticed that you are deffending a little bit with your legs wide open and on your heels. You should doch be on the balls of your feet (your toes) and should have your legs staggered not even with eachother (again, wenn du nich vestehst, sollst du den Samuel oder deinen Coach fragen).Cool!!! JONATHAN MY MAN!!! What's up!?!?!? Sorry you lost your game, but you looked like you were running and working so hard!!! Keep up the hard work buddy, it will pay off in the end!!! I hope school is going great for you, keep working hard and choosing the right and i know you will have a great year at school. That is cool that you read the story about Jacob and Sheram. We can learn alot from that story. One thing i have learned as i have read that story is that we always need to be reading our scriptures, saying our prayers, going to church, and having FHE, so that we don't fall off the straight and narrow path like Sharom did. Cool man, let me know what cool story you read in the Book of Mormon this week!!! JACOB!!! What's up mini man!!! Sounds like your still going to school and everything. Sorry the bus is so difficult, man, i never really liked the bus either. Keep working hard and always keep  that smile on your face dude!!!

 

OK my week:

Monday: Found a really cool guy named Hillary. He is from Uganda and we are going to go by him sometime this week. Also, the other two elders found a guy named Carlos who lives in our area. We are also going to go by him sometime this week. Later that night we had GMK. (Gemeinda Missions Konferenz)

Tuesday: Had district meeting then had a finding day in Traunstein. Made out an appoinment with a man me and Elder Armstrong found named Andreas. We will go by this week on Thursday, should be great!!! Also that night we had a super awesome Gemeindarat!!!

Wendsday: Oh man, this was quite a trip. We went by on a referal from Salt Lake in the middle of nowhere and also went by on a less active this day. The referal wasn't home and there is no house where the less active supposidely lived at. The gegen was beutiful though i actually took pictures so i'll send them to you guys....one of these days!!! That night we had dinner at a sinkin fancy restreaunt compliments of Preister Schmidt (our Catholic priest frieind). We talked quite a bit over both our churches beleifs and had a great time. What a cool guy!!!

Thursday: Did the amazing trip part 2 only to find out that yet again, these less active members do not live where they are supposibly supposed to be living, and our other referal from Salt Lake wasn't home, but we did get his phone number off of his front door. Later that night we went by Rita who has been really sick with a bacterial infection she got from an injury in Thailand. We talked about faith in Jesus Christ and gave her a blessing. It was so awesome, wish you could have been there!!!

Friday: Frau Ford dropped us, said she just could not beleive in Adam and Eve, but we did have a good lesson with Shwester Morgner. She has been really having a hard time with her son, but i think the things we said can help her.

Saturday: We had a aufstellung (propeganda stand) in Neuettine (helping the other elders in our District). Went pretty well, Elder Jerman and I found a really cool kid named Tabal. He took a Book of Mormon and said the misisonaries could come by later. He has already read the Bible and the Koran!!! We also had a less with Frau Sherer that night!!! It went pretty good, but she sure likes to talk alot!!! Later that evening, we had dinner with Familie Schmullius and had a member lesson with them.

Sunday: Church was great. Had a way to long eating appointment with Familie Berka, but was super fun trostdem. Did studies that night, that was really it.

Today: I played "Nearer my God to thee" at the Funeral of Schwester Unterehar's baby that died last week. If you guys could keep them in your prayers, i know it would be much appreciated. They need all the help they can get.

 

Well, that was my week. I don't have much time left but i want you all to know that i love you very much and wish you the best week ahead. I want you all to know that God is real and he does hear our prayers. He does hear and answer every one of his Children's prayers. He loves us more than any one of us can possibly comprehend. He sends us the Holy Ghost to confirm this love he has. He watches out for us, and wants nothing more than to see us happy. This is his life and his joy, that we may know him and one day live a life worthy to live with him for the eternities. Take care yall and know im always praying for you!!!

 

Elder Seamons

Pictures from Sam's, Ben's David's and Jonathan's games

Life at our house as written to Elder Seamons on Sept. 15, 2013

Dear Joe

I now have 6 more points than Sam has ever scored. We had a really good game this week. We should have won but we lost in overtime 16-14. I scored the lone touchdown in regular time. We did a lot better this week and I'm excited for next week because we played the cowboys and they've gone to the mini-dome 3 times. So we're going to win this week. On my touchdown we were 5 yards from the goal line and I knew it was my touchdown. We ran a 31 dive, right up the hole right by the center on the left side. The ball snapped and I moved up the hole clapped onto the ball and tucked my head down and plowed right through the linemen knocked down the linebacker and plowed right over the line. I had a bunch of tackles. I was ray Lewis. On one of our punts the kid was running to the outside and I came up to meet him. The kid looked in my eyes and instantly covered up the ball. I hit him so hard he was knocked 5 yards out of bounds. I made a couple of kids cry.  I had some monster blocks. So we're going to win this week. Tyson Hall got his mission call. He's going to Chile. School still sucks.  Have fun. Do some good.

Ben

P.S. I'm so mean I make medicine sick.

Dear Elder Joe,

Well this week was good kind of, the Varsity team lost in overtime to Rigby who are actually #1in 4A right now so it was pretty good they beat Poky. The JV game was heartbreaking because we were up 14-0 at halftime than they came back and won us 20-14 so we were pretty mad after the game but hey we only had 19 kids on our JV team so I thought we were doing pretty good. We head into our Bye week this week so we got to get ready for shelly or Blackfoot were playing one of the two so we got to go win them next week and get back on our winning streak all the teams are 1-2 right now so we got to get back on track. Well keep up the good work and put your shoulder to the wheel. I still start kickoff and kickoff l

Samuel

Dear Joe,

Ok first things first I was center defender on the left side but I might get moved around. We had 7 humongous thunder storms this week. Jonathan finally got some broccoli from the garden. The Rec. reffs is DUM! Because Uncle Randy's team did a bunch of fouls! So see ya!

                                From,

                                     David (a bit distracted today, but he loved the advice you gave him!)

Dear Joseph,

I had a soccer game on Saturday I am midfielder and defender. David helped us do drills before the game. I had pack meeting this week. I got my wolf, religious knot and 3 arrows and 2 belt loops. Here is my story about faith. Nephi and his family needed the scriptures so they tried to get them from Laban but he wouldn't give them to him. Nephi had faith that Heavenly father would help him get the plates. So he went back found Laban drunk and cut off his head. Then he got the plates and went back to show his brothers. It was important for Nephi's family to have the scriptures so Nephi had faith Heavenly father would help him get them. I love you.                            Love Jonathan 

(Jonathan had to write a story about faith for his religious knot and he wasn't sure if he did it, so he wrote his story to you today, now he feels like he legitimately got the religi0

Dear Joseph,

Today in stake conference they read out Tyson Hall's name to be an Elder.  Ben found out he got his mission call to Chile somewhere on the west coast in the central part of the country.  He enters the new MTC in Mexico City on Jan 14.  Yesterday Sam, Ben, Papa Joe and I went to the Utah State vs. Weber State game.  It was USU's home coming and the beat Weber 70-6.  It started raining half way through the 2^nd quarter so Sam and Ben decided that we would leave when USU got to 70 points or when Weber got their 2^nd first down for the game.  So with a couple of minutes left in the 3^rd quarter Utah State got 70 points and we left.  We listened to the rest of the game on our way home.  Weber got their 2^nd first down after Utah State put their 3^rd string in in the fourth quarter.  Ben's game on Saturday went quite well.  They played some great ball but missed the win in overtime.  Ben put the first 6 points on the board when they handed him the ball on the 5 yard line and he just plowed his way into the end zone!  Thursday mom went up to Rigby to watch Sam's game and they came up shy at the end to hold back the Rigby JV.  Then on Friday for the second week in row Sam got to dress up for the varsity game for his special team assignment of kick off and kickoff returns.  But Preston never got in a position for him to see any non-special team time on the field.  Grandma Seamons woke up again with Vertigo just like she had last spring so she is really dizzy.  So please remember her in your prayers so that the dizziness will go away and she can be back to walking well again.  Sam didn't think he needed to take anyone to homecoming this year so some poor girl in the high school missed out on an opportunity to go to the prom this year.  Well let us know more about your new companion.  We hope that all is going well and that your German keeps improving.  So take care and be well.  Love,  Dad

Dear Joseph

Another week has flown by.  It's been a good one.  It sounds like you ar e liking your new companion, I hope that it continues to be a strong companionship for you.  I know it helps so much to feel that you have someone that you can work well with.  I'm sure as you work together you will see some good success in Rosenheim.  We have been praying for your investigators and less active members and hope that they will be able to take the steps to enjoy all the blessings of the gospel in their lives. 

We had Stake Conference today.  It was really good.  Tyson was made an Elder and apparently got his mission call last Thursday.  He is going to the southern coast of Chile and will report to the Mexico MTC on Jan. 15.  Sis. Hall says they're kind of sad that it will be such a long wait for him, but maybe he's in school and needed to wait until it was out.  Anyway, I knew you'd be excited to hear about him.  I hadn't seen him for awhile, so I didn't realize he was progressing towards his mission so fast.  I'm very happy for him.  I have been trying to find Sowensky's email and found his facebook page, so I messaged him, but I haven't heard back from him yet.  I think he went to the MTC on the 12^th, so I'm guessing his email will be something like sowensky.lumene@ldsmail.net.  Anyway, I'm not sure, but that's my best guess, I thought I'd give it a try and see if he responds. 

The Stake Presidency talked at stake conference.  Pres. Swainston talked about just pushing through sometimes when we hit things that block our path.  He used a football analogy, which I thought was pretty brave of him, since he admitted, he didn't know much about football.  But he talked about how sometimes the guy running the ball just plows through the line and the blockers trying to hold him back, but still he makes some progress towards his goals as opposed to trying to run around the obstacle---like running way out to the side, but not really going forward or gaining any yardage, because of running around the obstacle.  Anyway, it was a good talk and he told us to listen to a talk by Elder Christofferson called trials, or something, I need to look it up, but apparently it's a fireside talk.  So l'm anxious to read it. 

Pres. Rounds talked about how grateful he was for everyone's prayers and referred to a talk given at conference that talked about trusting our youth more and letting them make decisions for themselves.  I have to admit, this is a hard one for me.  I don't know if I just gave suggestions, if anyone would even hear me talking, but I guess that's a weakness I have.  He talked about suggesting to his boys that they take a look at their ipods and see if there was anything on there that they might not be comfortable with and suggested that they might even want to include some hymns on their listening lists.  Anyway, of course, they took his advice and willingly found things they thought they should get rid of and added several conference talks and hymns to their ipods, all voluntarily.  Hmmmm, this is just not something I see happening in my family.  I guess I just need a little more faith! 

Pres. Keller talked about loving one another and loving the Savior and seeing others as the Savior sees them---of course, he always talks about love.  Anyway, it was good and of course, I'm sure anyone might change if they felt the love he shows to everyone so freely.  Elder Porter of the 5^th quorum of the seventy was the concluding speaker.  He talked about revelation, love, following the living prophet and brief prayers.  He told a story of an experience when Pres. Packer visited his ward and suggested that the opening prayer be brief and then told him to come to his office later and he would explain why.  The why was simply that we needed to express thanks more than we should ask for things we need or want.  Anyway, needless to say, the closing prayer was brief! 

We have worked on getting a better situation for Jacob at school, so tomorrow he starts a half-day of kindergarten on Mondays and Wednesdays and then a half day of Preschool on those days as well.  On Tuesdays and Thursdays he'lll just have a half-day of Preschool in the afternoon.  I had hoped that we could make this Kindergarten/Preschool schedule happen every day, but I don't want to kill him off either, so we'll see how it goes.  We finally got an aide for him to ride the bus to school and be with him during Kindergarten, so cross your fingers and say a prayer for him that everything works out well.  I really want him to try and catch up a little this year so he isn't so far behind, but that will depend on how he does with this schedule, I think.  I am happy with his kindergarten teacher and think he will really like her.

I drove up to Sam's JV game in Rigby on Thursday night.  He told you it was a heartbreaker, and it was.  I'm going to try and post some pics/video from that game, so look for that in your email.  His number is 51 and he has the fancy blue and orange shoes.  Ben had some pics from his game as well.  His number is 31.  Anyway, hopefully you will be able to see some of their highlights, although I've been told recently that I'm not the best videographer!  Oh well.  It's hard to watch the game and the camera at the same time.  I also got a flat tire in Rigby and had to track down Jaden Panter's Dad to come and help me change it and then drive home on the donut tire at 35 mph.  It was a really long night!

The homecoming game was quite thrilling!  I thought Preston played really well, Johnny Iverson played well as well as RJ Harris, Preston Hobbs, Kaden Cole, Austen Smellie, Mckay Dodge, the Coleman kid, etc.  I asked Sam which guy on varsity is playing his position and he sayd it is McKay Dodge and then I guess Owen Sparks backs him up.  Which, prejudiced as I am, I think Sam might be able to back Mckay up just fine, but he seems happy to be on the kick off team right now.  I told Sam I thought the tight end looked like a good alternative position for him, but that is what Johnny I is playing right now, so don't know if he'd have much chance there as well.  Ben was thrilled that his team did better this week and that he scored a touchdown!  Ben and Sam and Dad and Papa Joe went to the Utah State Game last night and had a great time as USU beat Weber 70-6, kinda slaughtered them, I guess.  David had fun playing a rec game on Sat. morning.  Since I already paid for rec, I decided to have him play when he could.  They lost to Josh's team---and David was sure it was the ref's fault.  He did play pretty good though.  The cutest thing was him helping warm up Jonathan's team, he just went out there and lined them up and passed to them and had them then try to kick into the goal, then he tried to play keep away individually with each one of them.  I'll try and send some of those pics also.  He was really good with those little kids.  Jonathan was looking a little winded in the game and not putting much effort in, until I pointed out the fact that Ella was constantly in motion and doing a lot without looking very tired, he seemed to straighten up a little then and quit moaning about being tired.  I think he could be talented, but doesn't have much endurance right now, plus has David's pessimistic streak in that every time they are behind he wants to quit or cry about it.  I'm really not seeing David do that this year, which is nice.  I think he's finally maturing a bit in that area.  I hope David's coach does move him around so he has more chances to play in different positions.  But for now, he seems okay with defender. 

Well, that's about our week.  Sam starts bass lessons again tomorrow night, so we'll add that into the schedule.  When I was reading off the schedule to dad tonight, he said, so is this just a nightmare week or is this normal, I said it was just normal and actually we're lucky that Sam has a bye this week, so we don't have to worry about his games.  It does seem like we are constantly running, but I'm not sure how to change that.  Just one day at a time, take a deep breath, and keep on plowing ahead, I guess!  Anyway, we love you and pray that you are safe and have a wonderful week.  I did send a package off to you on Monday, so hopefully, you will get it soon.  Please let us know when you get it.  We love you and are very proud of your dedication to the Lord and his work.  Hey, I forgot to tell you that Rivkah Steele got married on Friday.  Sis. Steele asked me if Stuttgart is in your mission, because she has a brother that's on a mission there.  I wasn't sure in looking at the map, but it could be.  Anyway, maybe you'll run across them if that area is in your mission.  Take care, be safe, we love you, Mom.

Another letter from our ausgezeichnet missionary!

Hey Guys,

Good to hear from you again and good to hear that everything is still going well. Ben, that is super cool you got to score a touchdown!!! Thanks for all the indepth details, i reallly appreciate that. Im glad you felt you played good, and i hope you and your team get the job done next week!!! Good luck buddy! Sam, sounds like you had another good week at football. Sorry about the loss bud, but it sounds like your team is playing alot better together. Keep up the good work buddy, stick in there, and.....WIN!!! Hey David, thanks for telling me your playing center defender on the left side. That is really cool, and hopefully my letter can help you understand a little more on how you could play your position better. I would be careful though David, i don't think you are allowed to play both rec and competitive soccer. It was against the rules when i was younger so be careful. Also, did you not have a Competitive game this week? You should tell me more about your games, i would love to hear more! Anyways, have a great week buddy, play hard, score some goals, but most importantly, play good deffense (oh and have fun too)!!! Jonathan my man!!! Wie geht's dir?!? Es freut mich von dir zu hören!!! Wie geht es das Fußball speilen? Hast du es gern? Wow, das ist wunderbar, daß du so viel in "Scouting" getan hast! Es freut mich das zu hören!!! Danke für die Geschichte von Nephi. Ich mag diese Geschichte und wir können so viel davon lernen. Du hast es recht, der Glaube ist ganz vichtig. Wir müssen Glaube immer haben, damit der Herrn uns helfen darf. Wenn man keinen Glaube hat, ist es ganz schwer zu leben und Glücklich zu sein. Johathan errenerst dich das immer und ich verheiße dich mit meinem ganzem Herz, daß du immer glücklich sein wirst!!! (Tell mom not to judge my German). Jacob!!! Glad to hear that you have finally got to start school!!! How is it? Are you having fun? I hope you have as much fun in Kintergarten as i did!!! Watch out for the girls, they got cooties!!! Take care little buddy, and i hope you have a wonderful week at school.

 

Ok here is my week:

Monday: We did a FHE with one of the less active ladies in our ward (Schwester Morgner). It was nothing more than a lesson and essen, but i think it helped her alot and she seemed really happy to have someone visit her. We talked about putting our trust in the Lord and how that when we do that he will bless us and make our burdens light. We tried again to commit her to chuch, but she is still thinks that nobody in the ward really likes her. AHH!!! Kind of frustrating, but we'll keep on working with her, im not giving up on her.

Tuesday:  Had District Meeting and then we went contacting most the day cause our German class fell out. We found a really cool young man though who had interest in life after death. We swapped numbers and gave him a Book of Mormon, hopefully we can meet with him this week.

Wendsday: We did service for Schwester Morgner, then we had another Less Active lesson with the Less Active member we found in Bad Endorf. His name is Peter Schlesinger, and it seems like he has had alot of health problems the last couple years. He also got kicked out of his house earlier this year and is living in a "concentration cell" at the edge of Bad Endorf, which is really sad. Despite all that has happened though, his faith seems as strong as ever. He has a year bahn card which means he can travel free from here to Denmark, so he says he tries visiting a differnet LDS Church in Germany or elsewhere every week. Super cool guy, hopefully we can meet with him again.

Thursday: Basically went searching most the day trying to find this less active member in our ward. The good news is we found him, the not so good news is it took three hours to do so. We took a bus down to Nussdorf, and stopped there thinking that he lived in that stadt (it's what it said on the Mitglied list) but it turned out that he lived about 6 kilometers out of town in a little dorf over the mountain. It was amazing we found him, cause we only had a map of the city of Nussdorf, and really had no idea exactly where we should go. What was really cool was after we had been walking for about an hour looking for this member, Elder Jerman and I felt impressed that we should stop at this one house and ask if maybe somebody knew where this street was or the member we were trying to find. Well, we knocked on the door and an older lady answered. We asked if she knew where this strasse was at and she actully did, in fact, she knew the member we were trying to find. That was super cool, and after getting directions from her, we went to his house, unfortunately he wasn't home, but hey, we know where he lives now!

Friday: We had an eating appointment with the Krugel family and actually started teaching his little girl the lessons in preperation for her baptism. She wasn't to interested in listening and left about half way through our discussion. We then attempted teaching Bruder und Schwester Krugel about how because Joseph Smith was a Prophet that the Docterine and Covenants is indeed scripture from God. It went a little to long, and it ended up turning into a an argument at the end. Im not gonna lie, i was getting pretty frustrated with him but luckily Elder Jerman took control of the situation and we left them with all of us laughing. I don't know what to do with them though, it is super hard and im not really sure what to say to them. Bishop Kainz is going to come with us next time, so hopefully he can help us resolve some issues, including if there daughter will be able to get baptised when she turns 8.

Saturday: We did service again for Familie De Fillipo then later that day we met this guy who was trying to get to Budapest, but for some reason got stuck in Rosenheim with no money, and no way to get home. He really had nothing with him, his cell phone was dead and he didn't have enough money to take the train to Budapest. So, we talked to him a little bit gave him some money and said we would come talk to him in the morning.

Sunday: Had church went well. Found somebody's wallet on the side of the road and walked 5 km to give it back to him. Bought our Budepest friend dinner, great day.

Monday (this morning): Woke up and went jogging with a BOM auf Hungarien trying to find our Budepest friend before he left. We found him, talked to him a little about the BOM, got his address back home in Budapest and told him we would send our missionary friends to his house sometime.

 

So ya, that was my week pretty awesome. To close, i would just like to add my testimony to that of Jonathan's that when we truly have faith in the Lord, he will indeed make a way possible to do what he asks. It is really interesting that Jonathan chose this story to share with me, cause for personal and companionship study today we studied this very topic how faith and hope are tied into one. Briefly i would like to share a scripture i found today in Romans 4:18that talks about Abraham and how despite the fact that he and his wife were super old and it was, as most people would think, impossible for them to have children he never doubted that the Lord would keep his promise and provide a way for him to indeed be "the Father of all Nations". He had faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and he also had hope that the Lord would indeed keep his promise. I love what it says in Ether 12 about this topic. In verse four it says: "wherefore whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world...which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men." and in verse six it says, "and now i Moroni would speak somewhat concerning faith, i would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for which are not seen which are true....for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." I bear testimony that as we have faith and hope, trusting in the Lord and his atonement we will be deleiverd through our trials and tribulations and in the end have the "knowing" that Jesus is the Christ and all things are possible through him.

Ok well i got to go. Take care you guys, have a wonderful week and remember you are always in my prayers. Love ya!!!!

Life at the Seamons house Sept. 3-Sept. 9 as written to our missionary!

Here is our letter to Joseph this week, just a little insight and an attempt to keep a journal!

Dear joe

How are you? We lost to marsh valley by 6 points because we were running a stupid offense were all thyey had to do was send five blockers right up the side. I got a bunch of tackles though. I didn't really run as much though. I only ran up the middle. They had a really big running back though. He was bigger than me. He was a pretty good linebacker too. I still got pretty good yardage though. but this week I'm gonna make sure my team works a lot harder so we don't get beat. It was really dumb though because all they would do was send 4 or five blockkers at me and the tackle so they had enough time to make the cut. Any way school is still terrible. My student teacher can bench 600 lbs, squat 800 and leg press 1500lbs. He was going to go to the olympics but he shattered his knee. He played football and wrestled in highschool. He had like 7 sacs his senior year as a D-Tackle. He also use to have  a wrestling record of fastest pin in 7 seconds,he's really big. well have fun.

Ben

Dear Elder Joe,

Well this week was pretty cool we destroyed Marsh Valley in football this week, the JV won 26-22 ( It was pretty much freshman on that team with a couple sophmores), and I only played Varsity this week but we creamed them 34-7 in the game, the only reason they scored is because we had our backup backups inby then and the refs also called back three touchdowns on us so it should have been closer to 60-0 but oh well what can you do. I started on Kickoff and Kickoff return and then played some D end and got a couple tackles in the game including the last play of the game where I layed out the kid. Are coach was happy because we won even though a bunch of people quit this week we still won the game. Kaleb Talbot quit, but honestly I don't blame him because he had a friend die and his dad had a stroke on the same weekend so I guess he just needed a break for a while but I think our team can still play well we just have to play smarter. Anyway hope things are great this week in Germany and I'll try to beat Rigby this week for homecoming.

Samuel

Dear Joe,

What's going on in Germany.  We lost our soccer game on Thursday but we got a little better. But the defence wouldn't listen to the coach like he told us to set the line on a certain spot on the field but they just didn't listen and cost us a goal. And another time I told the defence to go up because they were right by the goaly. So we lost. Do you have any tips? I had a pretty usual week. Mr. Shumway is mean because on a question I did a decimol answer and he expected everyone to do a remander answer. So he got mad.  So see ya.

                                                         Love,

                                                                   David

Dear Joseph

we went to bens game. we worked on laborday. we went to the movie called percy Jackson. we went to sams game they won the game. I played with my kitties. we picked up apples. we went to church.  how are you. I read harry potter. I love you             Love, jonathan

Dear Joseph,

Guess what time of the year it is?  Right. Is pick up apples, put them in buckets then feed them to the cows season.  So this week we've made several trips to the cows with lots of apples.  Also after a dry hot summer we now had a few good rain showers to help moisten up the earth.  Mom actually turned off the sprinklet outside for the first time in months of constant sprinkling.  Sam was happy this week because they beat Marsh Valley pretty soundly and he got to play Varsity which meant that he got to have the big dinner with the varsity team thursday evening after football practice.  Sam got to go in the last 2-3 minuts of the game and really shined well; the anouncer even finally mentioned sams name over the public address system.  Then on saturday Papa Joe had to take David to his soccer game down at Hyde Park while Mom took Ben to his game in Jokeatello and Jacob and I went to Soda Springs to see Sam run in the cross country meet up their.  Their were 15+ teams there.  Sam ran in the JV race he did pretty well he came 54th out of 193 runners with a time of 20 min. 50.3 seconds(that averages 6min 37 seconds per mile).  I think he did quite well for his first x-country race in years and his first 5k race.  He was the second Preston JV kid to cross the finish line.  He did say that it was harder than he thought it would be, but felt good about it.  Most of the rest of the week seemed to be fighting with the school and district wondering why they werent prepared to take Jacob into kindergarten this week.  It wasnt as busy at work this week which I guess is good after a long extremlly busy summer.  So how is your new companionship going?  We pray that all is going well for all of you and for your investigators. Take care.                  Love, Dad

dear Joseph,

Hope you have had a great week!  Have you gotten your new companion yet?  I'm sure this will be different to be with someone besides your trainer now.  I hope that you are a good match and that your companionship will be a good one.  How are your investigators doing?  We have prayed a lot for Frau Sherer and Familie Ojo and Andreas, I hope that they were able to make good progress this week.

I hope that I'm making sense tonight because it is late again and I'm trying to get this done before midnight.  This week has not been my favorite.  We have had lots of struggles with the school district and getting Jacob to school.  It just feels like all we've done all week is complain, write letters, and complain some more, without much progress!  But hopefully, we will get things rolling this week.  I did go to kindergarten on Tuesday with Jacob, last week, but it wasn't a very good experience for either of us, so hopefully, we will be able to find something that will work better for us this week.  I hope that we can resolve this problem soon, because I don't like feeling so much at odds with  the bus driver, the teachers, the principal and the superintendant.   Unfortunately, Jacob is caught in the middle of everything and so his first week back to school has probably been very confusing for him.    Kind of sad that we have to fight with the district about everything for him.  Anyway, I'm determined that we will have a better week, or at least get something done, instead of waiting and talking and waiting and talking and doing nothing.  Argh!!!

Samuel had a great time playing varsity against Marsh Valley.  He did well and I thought the team played well together.  I think it meant a lot for him to play up on varsity and he seemed pleased to finally win a game!   Ben really struggled in his game this week.  He played well, but his team really should have done better against the opposing team, as they were very small and Preston was a much bigger team.  But they seem to have a hard time working together or being aggressive enough.  Ben was quite discouraged, but he still did his best and made a lot of good plays.  I didn't get to see David's game this week, because it was on Saturday, while I was in Pocatello with Ben.  David did Farmer's Market with Papa Joe, so Papa Joe took him to his game.  He is still quite frustrated with his team, I do hope they are able to get better and play better together.  Jonathan is still waiting to play his first game this week, so it will be interesting to see how we are able to be in 4 places at once on Saturday!  I guess we weren't thinking very well when we signed everyone up.  We definitely need another driver.

Today at church, Br. Clare Christensen and his new wife, Linda spoke on missionary work.  They did a great job and Sis. Christensen offered a unique perspective about looking at the journey, rather than the end result of missionary work---baptism.  She talked about her second husband, who apparently wasn't LDS, but was a devout Episcopalian.  However, the ward, especially her home and visiting teachers really fellowshipped him well, and he received a testimony of temple work and did a lot of genealogy that went all the way back to one of the orginal translators into english of the bible.  I guess this man developed cancer but was comforted by the gospel and the members of the ward.  He never was baptized, but prepared a lot of names for temple work, that LInda and Clare will be doing soon, and also as his family members attended his funeral and learned more about the people who served him in the ward, they were impressed with the church and took back a good impression to their own homes.  It was a good reminder to us, that even if we don't always see the end result of baptism, that many people will be touched along the journey if we are good examples, truly love them and fellowship and care for them.  I thought it was quite a unique talk.  Kyle Beardall also gave his 'homecoming' speech.  He did a good job, but seemed to have so much to say and could barely express the half of what he'd experienced on his mission.  He gave one example of having an investigator write down a question that he had of the Lord and then flip through the Book of Mormon and read the first scripture that he came to to see if it answered his question.  I'm not sure if the Lord wants us to make the Book of Mormon appear ''magic'', but I think he does want us to know that the answers to our questions are in the scriptures, and they are his words to us.  Anyway, it was good to hear Kyle talk.  He seems very happy these days and is dating a cute girl named Rebecca Frandsen.  I hope it works out well for them, they are a cute couple, she reminds me a lot of Aunt Brenda---similar look and very outgoing and nice.

Can you let us know if there is anything you need?  We are going to get your birthday package sent either Monday or Tuesday.  So if there's anything in particular that you want, please let me know and I will send it.  What about your black wool coat?  Would that be good for the coming cold months?  Otherwise, you will probably need to buy a coat there, so start looking around and asking the elders what they think is the best solution.  Shall I send the package to Rosenheim or to the mission office address?  I think the last package took about 3 weeks, so I am probably cutting it a little close!  Can you believe you are no longer going to be a teenager!  Wow, Jonathan thinks 20 sounds pretty old and Jacob liked finding a 2 and 0 to put on your card.  Two decades old now----I'm sure you are full of wisdom!

Well, I know this letter seems a bit rambly and short, I think my brain is having a set back from all the late night canning I have been doing!  I can't seem to think of anything else remarkable that we have done this week.  Anyway , it's probably because everyday seems to get a little faster and the weeks are already flying by!  It's that good old Fall sports/school/harvst mania that happens every year.  I guess we just keep going with it!  We had a good lesson about being unified in RS .   It was one of the Lorenzo Snow lessons.  One of the scriptures I liked in particular in John 17: 19-21, especially 21 that says "That they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou has sent me. "  I thought  that really put forth that if we are not one, we can't bear testimony to the world of the Son and his mission.  In the manual it says that Jesus prayed to his Father that those he had given him out of the world might be one as he and the Father were one, and says he, I pray that thou wilt give them the same love which thou hast for me, that I may be in them and thou in me, that all may be one.  There is something very important in this, and we have got to practice ourselves until we become like the Father and the Son, one in all things.  Later on he says that "For unless the Apostles and those that believed on them were united, the world could not believe in the mission and purposes of the Savior. "  .....If we have division in our midst; if we be divided either spiritually or temporally, we never can be the people that God designs us to become, nor can we ever become instruments in His hands of making the world believe......In order for us to effect the purposes of God we shall have to do as Jesus did--conform our individual will to the will of God.....in all things, and to live so that the will of God shall be in us.   And then later he uses the example of David and Jonathan, as they were bound together and had the heart of one.  I think it is interesting to think of what an amazing friendship these two had, when Jonathan could have become bitter like Saul did that David was the chosen one, and yet he chose to love David and no more do him harm then let his arm be severed from his body.  (1 Samuel 18:1).  Hmmmm, I remember naming my boys David and Jonathan because of the great friendship that existed between these two great men, but especially because of Jonathan's great love for David (the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul).  I hope, that my sons will become as these great men. 

I'm kind of preachy tonight, but maybe it's because I've felt so at odds with everyone this week because of the problems we've had at school.  I can see that if we are not unified and our hearts are not knit together, that it is hard to get anything accomplished and the fruits of contention are dissatisfaction, restlessness, and the feeling of not being able to accomplish anything.   I guess I'm the one that needs to learn how to be more unified with my neighbor, my family, my ward, my leaders, etc.  Otherwise, life can be frustrating and nothing is accomplished.  I liked Pres. Snow's first example as an introduction to the lesson of how Brigham Young asked him to ask the saints that had come to Utah to begin contributing to the Perpetual Emigration fund and he felt very hesitant at doing so, because they had suffered so much and had little or nothing to give, but as he asked them to give, they did so willingly and gratefully and from many small efforts combined together, they were able to accomplish great things in bringing many more saints to Zion, who would not have been able to.  I guess that's another way we are unified is in serving each other, even when we ourselves are in need---kind of ironic.  Just take the focus off ourselves and focus on others and our burdens become lighter. 

Okay, Okay, I'm going to bed, I hope all this rambling makes sense or at least gives you something of worth for the week.  Oh, one more thing.  I subbed at the high school this week and was helping out in Mr. Smith's room (ha, ha,.....I know I was not helping with geometry, just taking notes for students) and I was introducing myself to him as Joseph and Samuel's mom and he asked how you were doing.  He came and found me later and said:  "I just wanted to tell you that Joseph was a really good kid, but he was more than that, there was something really special about Joseph, he meant a lot to me, there is something really special about him."  Anyway, I thought that was great!  You are something special, and I'm grateful to be your mom.  I know the Lord has many great and wonderful things in store for you.   Your mission will be a great journey in discovering what he has in store for you!

Love you, Mom