three weeks

7/7/17
OH MY YOUR FINGER!!! I'm so sorry!! That looks so painful ah that's awful. And what the heck you fell down the boat stairs too?! That's so sad I'm so sorry. And thank you so much for getting a package together! I would really appreciate that. And also if you were to send some baked goods, i would KILLLL for some homemade oreos, or whatever else you make its all amazing. Leftover enchiladas would work too, we've got a microwave... 

CHARTER ARGENTINA WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU SERIOUS!?!??!?! Im so stoked for him!!! He's seriously going to kill it there!! Ah that makes me so happy. And hes going to love it here in provo. There's SO much good food and everything is awesome. He'll most likely be in the new buildings too! they're so sick. but man im so stoked for him!! that's seriously too awesome!! 

haha that powell trip sounds like a dream im so jealous. and Brian seriously looks too good sitting on that hot dog thing. and what the heck how did kennadie get up on the surf board?! seriously so proud of that. all of those pictures are amazing please keep it up! 

THREE WEEKS?! how can that be. haha kennadie is gonna looooove her last year. im so excited for her and so proud of her hard work towards her education. thats seriously so impressive the things she's doing and the things she'll be able to do later on because of them. and im so excited to hear about reaghan killing records as the best track star on the planet . and i want to hear reese playing the guitar and speaking french soon okay. 

the MTC has been great still! the language has gotten soooo much better. like seriously, the gift of tongues is a real thing, i can't exaggerate that enough. the second day we got here we started teaching our first "investigator" and we had to write out scripts and we were stressing out like crazy all throughout the lesson and had the sweatiest armpits in the galaxy. but by the third lesson we didnt need a script and now a few more lessons in and we just pray and go in and have full length discussions with nothing but our french Book of Mormons (or Books of Mormon i dont know im not that far into the MTC yet). its insane to see the progress in only two and a half weeks. i just want to go up there right now, but i know i have a lot to learn. 

im still gaining weight so thats awesome. for the first week and a half Elder Brough and i ate two of each main course and one or two maple donuts depending on how much ice cream was there and then we would eat the ice cream. but then we received personal revelation while working out in the gym the other day that we need to change our dietary plans. we were both dry heaving and dying. so now we only eat one main course and then this thing called a "wrap" or something? im pretty sure its just a fat burrito but apparently its healthy sooo whatever. and then if we still feel good we eat some ice cream afterwards. we're literally the kings of health town. ill let you know how that goes. 

we got over 700 new missionaries dropped off on wednesday. that was insane. i hosted a bunch of them and got to be the one that separated them from their families for two years on the curb of the MTC. that was kinda a bummer to watch but i did my best to cheer up the guys when i showed them around. but man, 700 new missionaries in one day. thats insane my friends. this church is so true and pretty soon the whole world is going to know it. 

but yeah, anyways im so stoked to be here as always, the days feel like seconds and i seriously cant wait to get to Montreal where ill get to fulfill my purpose as a missionary. this gospel is amazing and i cant exaggerate how grateful i am to have had so much influence to live it and love it. i love you guys so much and im so lucky to have you all in my life! congratulations charter on your call man, i know for a fact that you're going to do the most amazing things that no one else would be able to do, thats why God chose you specifically to go there. im so stoked to hear about the people that have been ready their whole lives for you to come there. and Braxton im SO stoked to see you up here man!! Elder Stott and i have been talking about it since he got up here. youre gonna love it here man. i hope everything's awesome for all of you!! the church is so true and there isnt a single thing i would rather be doing than to share the happiness it brings with everyone! love you guys!!

-Elder Halliday 

On Thu, Jul 6, 2017 at 10:05 PM, Cherise <cheriseandjon@msn.com> wrote:

So we've missed your many injuries and urgent care visits so I thought I would pick up where you left off-I fell down the stairs on the house boat and got banged up...dad and Brian Melcher came running out and I lost consciousness, which dad loved. 🙄 but fortunately I think I probably just cracked a rib or two and got some bruises. Then tonight we were supposed to have charter over for burgers and I sliced my dumb finger with a knife trying to get the pit out of an avacado and had to go get stitches.  I feel a little like a walking disaster haha. I love love loved your letters!  We are working on your package, don't worry. Just waiting on something I ordered. You should get it Wednesday or Thursday next week. We are going to try sending baked goods-if it doesn't work don't feel bad about throwing them out, but they should be good in this special packaging. And I'll send your razor and hopefully music.

    We went to charters mission opening last night. It was small but good. Argentina-so exciting!! And he has 3 months to work. Provo MTC. love that kid!

     Lake Powell was incredible-it was funny because it was kind of a mix between fancy living with the big nice houseboat, AC all day, bathrooms, gorgeous surroundings, boat and toys, but then we were totally hillbilly-ing it, floating in inner tubes eating popsicles all day. The Melcher's are just some of my favorite people. I actually miss them after spending 24/7 with them for 6 days, which is amazing. It was funny to sleep under the stars all together every night-LOTS of farting, sleep talking/yelling/walking, Cade is the worst. I caught him peering over the side of the boat in the night, saying he was looking for his pillow, "I feel like it's in the lake..." haha. Our favorite activity was probably riding the hot dog tube-Linlee, kennadie and I, behind the boat. We had a big crash where kennadie went under Linlee and I but I pulled her out of the water with one hands like a freaking super hero (it didn't hurt that she had on a life jacket and also it was in water where she weighs literally nothing) but it looked pretty heroic. But she pops out of the water and says "so this is how I die-smothered by mothers" freaking kennadie. She is hilarious. But it was such a great trip-hopefully they take us again in a couple years. You'll love it!

      School starts in like 3 weeks!  I'm still trying to get kennadie to say she is a senior-she looks confused anytime someone asks her what grade she is in.

     I'm sorry but I've got no healthy eating tips-I'm happy you're putting on weight. Enjoy the food!!! I'm glad you're getting a chance to work out-it's good for you too!

   Your video cracked us up. "You can do hard things" haha!!!! If you need/want anything let me know tomorrow (Friday) and I'll include it in your package. Also what music can you listen to? What do you like?

     Here are some pictures. It's been an exciting week, and now it's almost my favorite day, Pday!!! Love you so much. Your letters are my favorite thing ever. You're doing so great, I knew you would. We pray for you every day. Love you more than words can say. Work hard and be good. Love always-mom

Oh and I had a cool dream the other night, aliens invaded and we basically lived in a war zone and you and I were soldiers and we fought aliens together and Mayor Daniels was our General but you and she always disagreed on military tactics so I had to mediate between your arguments because she was worried about saving as many lives as possible but you were worried about defeating the enemy once and for all and it was kinda cool.  But it was weird because I woke up feeling like I had just spent all night just hanging out with you and it took me a full day to realize that wasn’t possible and it was just a dream. -Kenna

i love that dream!! im so glad i am like that even in your dreams. wish we could hang out killing aliens. and thats so awesome with the canadian  site! genius!! id love some legos. also some more pictures of the family would be awesome! id love some printed ones if thats okay! especially one of all of the girls when they were little. and maybe some extras of reaghan as a baby to cheer me up if im down. love you so much!! 

i appreciate it so much! just being here without all of the stress and everything of having a phone or a job or school is so amazing, i can go all in with the language study and its just the best. thank you so much!! whats everyone up to??

On Fri, Jul 7, 2017 at 1:26 PM, Cherise <cheriseandjon@msn.com> wrote:

Good for you!!!  I hope you can keep that appreciation for living in the moment and interacting with people even after your mission. And I'll try to find a small speaker dock...we are on a mission to get you some music!