Wow I can not believe that it taken me so long to discover writing in Microsoft word. Ha, now my emails will be for the most part correct in spelling and all that.
Dad told me that they white washed the area. I am sure there was something passing with those missionaries that made them like that. People always need help in those kinds of things and sometimes there is a person in the mission who can just lift them up in the time that they need. For me I really feel like the Family Reyes, and Borris and Nora and other members have really helped me in my mission keeping me on the right path.
I want to teach you a principle that we have learned here in the mission. I think it is something that maybe can help a lot. It is what we are having all the missionaries do here in the mission and we are seeing a huge improvement. We are having all the missionaries focus on what it is that they themselves can do better to help the companionship. We are seeing that a lot of time the missionaries in their companionship's blame all their problems on their companions, when in actuality the problem is coming from the same person. So when the elders are doing their companionship inventory, they are talking about what problems they themselves have and how they are going to do better. Then the only time that someone is allowed to step in and give counsel to another person, or talks about the other person, is when the person invites the person to say something about them that they can do better. For example, if I was to talk to my companion about our companionship and what we could do better, I would say it like this. "Elder Castro, I really feel strongly that we are doing great. We have the spirit when we teach and we really get along great. I feel like I am lacking a little bit on our morning routine, which in turn is making us lack on having our studies. I was hoping you could help me have our studies so that we can have the spirit more in our companionship". That way Elder Castro would not feel attacked at all, but he would get the hint that we need to have our studies. I never once said the word YOU. President Stay tells us that Satan is the person that says you, and that Jesus is the one who says me. Satan says you need to change this, and Jesus says, be like me, and do as I do. I feel like it is a universal principle and something that not only missionaries should apply but all people. It would stop the gossip that happens in the world and saying things to people that is offensive. We need to be there for people when they want us, but if we are always calling out their problems, they will soon stop asking for advice. The only time we are allowed to give advice, which really is criticized is when something like this happens. "Elder Castro, I feel like there are things I can do better on, but I need you to help me know what those things are. Do you think you can give me some advice as to what I can do so that we can be better Servants of the Lord"? But yeah something I learned and I thought it was really neat.
Garrett told me he is not coming home early. He says he doesn’t want to do that to cheat his mission. Ha plus he told me he wants me at his homecoming. I think that would be great to have some of those basic classes. Get them as online classes though so that I can work a lot. I really want to focus on working a lot and getting a good base of money so that I can plan on moving out and living responsibly and alone. But yes, just like Pima English, and math. I am not exactly sure what it is that I need so just the basics. I think I might end up going to U of U, in Salt Lake. I have not thought about it too much. We will see when I get home. I will research it then. Just sign me up for the online classes though. That way it will not be so stressful.
I can not wait for General Conference. Can you believe that it is my last one? That just blows my mind. I feel like it is only my second one.
Ha, I noticed that I have gained quite a bit of weight too, so I need to start my diet again and working out like a mad man. I am starting up President's work out again. So we will see how it goes. I think I will be pretty strong afterwards. Of course I will still be able to take Eric down. I will always be able to. What are the Hunger Games about? Are they good? I will have quite a bit of movies to go see when I get home.
That is really neat that you are going to Amber's wedding reception. I can not believe that she is getting married. Everyone will be married when I get home. But yes take lots of pics and send them all to me.
My companion is great. I love that kid and we are truly learning a lot together. The president has us on divisions practically the whole time. So it is sad, I barely get to see him but we have a good time when we are together. I am learning so much from every missionary that I go with though. It is a blast. I really do miss elder Chaves though, he was a great guy. Anyway, I saw elder Call on Monday, he is a great guy. Really funny and incredibly nice. I was trying to sell him a Snickers bar in the office. It was funny.
We are having a baptism tomorrow. It should be pretty sweet. I am really excited for it. It is a little girl who is being baptized and she is super excited for it. By baptizing her we will be completing the family. I have given out all of your testimonies. The people here loved it.
So, my week went a little bit like this. We did quite a bit. I was able to go on divisions with my buddy from my group Elder Woodfield. He is amazing. We worked so hard and we just had so much fun. He is a new zone leader right now and he will do a great job. It is so cool because his mother is in the MoTab and he is so happy to see her soon. She was there in Phoenix too. He is also the missionary that trained Elder Hayes. After those divisions we came back to the area where we worked pretty hard. Then we left on divisions once again with some other zone leaders. Elder Martinez is who I went with. We also had this new couple come into the mission now and so I have been helping them out a lot. I love them. They are Elder and Sister Jensen. They are so nice and funny. Anyways, we are doing house inspections with them, and so on Friday I showed them around in zone Florida. I was in that zone so it was pretty cool to see some of the houses that I know there. We ended up eating dinner at Mamalindas. It was so good. I love eating over there with her. So it is funny because Elder Jensen is always giving me this advice on what I should do for when I start looking for a wife and etc and the things I should look out for and all that stuff. It is so funny. I am learning some good tips though. Sister Jensen is happy that I always get the door for her, she said that I will be a great boyfriend and husband if I keep that up. So yeah, these next couple weeks we will be passing in that, doing inspections but also doing a lot of work in our area. We are finding some great families and we are having a lot of hopes for them all. Well, I need to get going. Back to work now. I love you all and I miss you dearly. We are not to far from the last call of the mission. Ha, now we are full of a lot of lasts again. These next couple 5 months will fly by. It is all a part of enjoying the journey though. Ha, hope you caught that. Well I will talk to you next Saturday.
Love Always
Elder Daniel W. Shipley
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