Caught in a downpour!

Monday, May 31, 2010

"So many good memories with them!"

May 31, 2010 - WUZZUP FAMILY???
What’s going on Fam? How you all doing? I am doing super great!!! So, my companion and I are in charge of P-Day today and what do you think we are going to do? That’s right. You guessed it… We are going to play VOLLEYBALL!!! “Don’t put us in charge of anything because you know that it will end up being volleyball!” :) Just kidding. We are super excited because we will have even more time to be able to play today. We filled up 200 water balloons last night and this morning to punish the losing team. We are going to form teams, play two sets to 11 points, and the team that loses gets soaked with water balloons. Then we will scramble up the teams and play again and again and again and again. We are sthuper-duper excited… :)
HAPPY 19 MONTHS!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT???!!!??? Today is the last day of May. It is incredible how time passes. June is going to fly by. It is President and Sister Pèrez’ last month in the Mission and then they are going home to Uruguay. I might be seeing them only one more time… I am surely going to cry when they go home. They have been my Mission parents while I have been out here and I got soooo close to them when I was in the Offices and especially during the Holiday Season!!! So many good memories with them. I can never thank Heavenly Father enough for the time that I had with them… Only 5 months left. Time will pass too fast…
Chase??? Chase??? I got a message from Chase??? School must be out. Wahoo!!! Thanks Bud for the lyrics in Spanish to HSM. They will be put to good use. Now if you could get them to me from HSM 2 and 3, that would be even greater. I would appreciate it… Have so much fun at Graduation!!! I am so happy that you are going to be free of every responsiblity. Enjoy the summer because it will be your last and it is going to go by so fast and then your older brother will be home… WAHOO!!! Be safe and have fun…
Dallis, you are too funny. Good for you with the 4.0 and I am glad you won’t have to put up with any dumb teachers anymore. Have a fun summer and keep keeping track of movies and music… Have fun driving this summer and be safe…
Mom and Dad, I LOVE YOU!!! I am super excited for you. I can’t really telll you anything more than I love you. I love you! I love you! I love you! Have so much fun in school Mom. I know you love it and I’ll be there soon to help out. Dad, keep busy with work and the home so that time just keeps flying by. You two deserve a long vacation. Leave the two boys at home with Kenzie and Maddie or with Grandma and Grandpa Quinn. Go have a fun get-away. You deserve it. I love you so much. Take care until next week. I love you family!!! (5 and Counting…)With much love, Coco

"I am indebted to him..."

May 24, 2010 - My Special Family,
Oh my gosh…oh my gosh!!! I love you guys so much!!! I love you so so much… What a week. It was Change Week and I’m staying here in Pucallpa. It’s beautiful here. We haven’t had any rain for about a week-and-a-half which has been nice because we haven’t had to be walking in mud, and it also wasn’t super sun-shiny hot, so we weren’t sweating to death this week… It was super nice. All the members say that the month of June is a cold month, which means it gets a little bit colder, but it doesn’t rain. I am totally okay with that. It makes working much easier because we don’t have to survive the beating sun or avoid the rainstorms. It will be way nice. :)
All the members were so excited to hear that we didn’t get changed. I feel so comfortable with the people that surround me. We have great friends here. The parents love that we play volleyball with their kids because it helps to keep them out of trouble. They know that their kids are going to the Church to play volleyball with the Missionaries and lots of the adults even come to play as well. It is so much fun and I know Dallis would have a blast if he were here. (Don’t worry Bud, I already told them that when we come down to Peru together that we are going to have a huge volleyball tournament. But you need to work on your game because these teenagers from Pucallpa are almost professionals… :) They are helping me learn how to bump, set, spike, and serve the ball better. I am getting really good at spiking, and I can now serve the ball overhand instead of having to hit it underhand… It is so much fun!!! Honestly, it is something that all of us look forward to all week long.) We play every P-Day. We have to or they all start complaining, “but Elder Quinn, come on, we have to play…” We tease them a lot that we aren’t going to play and they all whine for a sec, and then we tell them, “just kidding”… and they all just start laughing. Volleyball might be my favorite sport now…actually I think it is… I remember when I used to go early on Saturday mornings to play Ultimate Frisbee. Volleyball has now replaced Ultimate Frisbee… :)
We had a big French Toast breakfast as a Zone on Saturday morning. It was super fun, but they surprised us at the end by making us eat SURI…AAHHH!!! But it was much smaller than the one that I ate with Hermana Luna, so I got through it much easier. I just put it in my mouth, bit off the head, and swallowed it whole… It was a much better experience.
Speaking of Hermana Luna, Rachel now because she is already home in Texas. She is getting married in December!!! She sent me a DearElder Letter telling me all about it. And you’ll never believe who her fiancée is. His name is Elder Sanchez. He served here and they both finished their missions together. He is super nice and knows a lot about the Gospel. The coolest thing is that he is from Costa Rica!!! But Rachel Luna is so sure that he is the one. I think that it is so good for her. She is so excited to get married and she will be sending me the wedding invitation… She is saving up her money to make a trip to Costa Rica and the wedding is going to be held in Texas. Isn’t that so cool and weird and fun??? I love it. Good for her…
We had two baptisms this week: Mirellya Isabel (11) and Kelly Victoria (9) Rios Ramirez. They are two young sisters who are referrals of the Vela-Panaifo Family. We are currently teaching their parents so that they can get baptized as well, but we have to help them get married first… We want their whole family to be members and receive a ton of happiness in their humble home… They are such humble people and so deserve to have the Gospel in their lives. Mirellya started crying after she got baptized because her dad showed up to the baptism, which was the greatest amount of support that she had ever had from him. He usually isn’t around… This is why I always tell you that I am so thankful that Heavenly Father blessed me to grow up in a home where I had you Mom and Dad, two loving parents who were always there for me and supported me in everything that I did growing up… It is a blessing that we can never thank Heavenly Father enough for. I am indebted to him for blessing me with the two best parents on earth…
Never forget that I love you and miss you more than anything on earth. I am super good. We are so excited to just keep working here in Pucallpa. Please keep praying for me and for those that I am teaching. Special people to keep in your prayers are: Joysi Huanuire who has a baptismal date for the 12th of June, Marinel Rojas who has a baptismal date for the 19th of June, and Carlos and Ester Saravia Tolentino who are another couple we are helping to get married and baptized. They basically are already members, only they aren’t baptized, but this month of June, they will be… :) I love being a Missionary and am having a great time here in Pucallpa. Don’t worry about me. I am totally fine. Just take care. Enjoy school, enjoy the new home, and never forget that I love you!!! Love you Forever!!!
Love, Coco

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

"I guess there is something that God wants me to learn still..."

May 17, 2010 - Hey Special Family,
I was really sad that I didn’t get to call you guys up and talk with you yesterday... I was so wanting to just pick up the phone and be able to hear your voices, but at least we won’t ever have to do it again. :) It was the last time that we had to say goodbye and now the next time we talk, we will be talking in person. How cool is that? It makes me feel really good and happy... :) It feels amazing that this much time has passed in the Mission. It really does go by fast, but you do have to live it to believe it...
This week was super. We had a good hard-working week, and we were able to enjoy a Ward Party that we had on Saturday. The Elders Quorum held a special party for the mothers in the ward. We played volleyball and it was a lot of fun to play against the mothers. We were only missing you Mom... Dad, you would have loved to have played as well... :) I had a good day in Church yesterday as well. I will be finding out in a few minutes if I have a Change or not... I am super nervous... I love the members in my ward. They are so genuine and nice. And they love that we started a volleyball-playing tradition because no other Elders have ever done it before...
We had some cold weather at the beginning of last week, which was crazy. I was wearing a sweater in the mornings and even slept with my sweater on. That’s how cold it got, which was super crazy for being in the jungle. Then yesterday was the most beautiful Sunday we have had with clear blue skies and a hot bright sun. It reminded me of waking up at our house in the summertime and sitting down at the breakfast table eating french toast with good milk and watching the sun come up over the top of the Mickelsen’s home... Oh, what good times... It was a really pretty day... And it was super hot... Mom, if it's not too much trouble....could you please send me some more handerchiefs. I have lost the ones you sent me. I would really like you to send me another set. I loved carrying them around because they always reminded me of the loving Mother and family that I have every time that I used them... I would really appreciate it... I love you...
Mom, I love that you are taking school, but it makes me sad that we can’t chit-chat every Monday morning, but it will be for the best... We don’t have that much time left to go... Only 5 ½ Months... Wow, that’s nothing... I’ll keep busy here in the Mission, you keep busy in school, Chase and Dallis keep busy in school and SUMMER VACATION!!!, and Dad keep busy at work, and time will just fly by... I love you guys so much and I am so thankful for your support and your love and inspiration that you give me. Never forget about me and keep praying for me, my companion, and my investigators... I love you so much!!! Love you Forever!!! Love, Coco
I just found out my Change!!! I am staying right where I am... :) I will be staying another six weeks here in Pucallpa. And Elder Padilla, my companion, is staying as well... That means we are staying together for three changes... How cool is that? The members are going to love this news. We are just going to work hard and have another successful change together. Wish us luck so that we will get along and that everything will turn out well. I guess there is something that God wants me to learn still... I love you guys. Take care!!! Love, Coco

...the time left becomes even more precious"

May 10, 2010 - Hi Amazingly Cherished and Incredible Family,
Did I ever tell you that I loved you? I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH!!! What a phone call we had yesterday. It was so good to just hear your sweet voices and share some good laughs with you and at the end a little bit of tears, but that can only mean good things. I love what Mom said that this is the last time that we had to say goodbye for a while. The next time that we’ll be talking, will be in person when I am sitting right next to you… That feels so weird, but it also feels great!!! That means that time is passing. Look at how far we have come. We have come so far and there is not that much more to go. It will pass by before we know it. So we better take advantage of every day and use it to it’s best, keeping us occupied, and I know that time will pass like nothing. I slept great after the phone call. I went to bed crying, but fell asleep fast and was dead out until the morning came. It was a great night, but I think I’ll be needing a nap in the afternoon. :) We are going to play volleyball again today with our ward. I am super excited because it is so much fun… :)
Only a week-and-a-half left of this Change. It is going to fly by and then I will only have 4 Changes left. You really have to live the Mission to realize how fast it does go by. It honestly seemed like an Eternity at the beginning, but now, it seems so possible that the time left becomes even more precious. I know Heavenly Father still has a ton more in store for me… We’ll see what happens in these next few months…
As for packages: candy, a toothbrush cover, a sweet letter, the i-Pod, and whatever other little surprises you want to send me. But don’t send me too much because I really don’t need it. I’ve already lived without it for a while; and I know I can do without it until I get home… Wahoo… What a “trunky” family we have… :) But that is okay… It just lets us know how much we really do love each other…
Chase and Dallis, only one month left of school!!! WAHOOOOOOO!!! Just keep working hard and don’t procrastinate so that you can enjoy the rest of the school year… Keep learning Spanish so that you can speak it with the people down here and really try to get rid of the Gringo accent. Watch HSM 3 in Spanish, and listen to the accents and try to understand it. I have watched it in Spanish and I understand all of it. That just tells you how Spanish-educated I am… :) I understand it!!! Wahoo!!! I love Spanish!!! Dad, please get the yard done before I get home… :) Just kidding. If you need help, I will be there to help you without any problems… Just make sure the vacations get planned… We are going to vacation as a family a ton!!! Mom, I don’t know what else to say… I think the laughs and the tears and the good talk yesterday tell us how blessed we are… :) We are so blessed. Have fun in school and keep loving it. You are the best Mom!!! I love you family. Just keep going strong and pray for me and my investigators always. I love you so much.
Wish me luck in all that I do...
Love you Forever, Coco

"I just don't want to lose the Christmas Spirit."

May 3, 2010 - Hey Super Family,
I don’t have a ton to say, just that I am superdy duper excited for the phone call we are going to have on Sunday. I can’t believe that this is going to be my last phone call in the Mission. It is amazing how fast the time is passing. It seems like just yesterday, I was calling you guys on Christmas Day, just getting back from the greatest sleepover ever at President’s house. 2010 is just cruising by. And doesn’t it feel great... It feels more than great. We’ve already made it 18 Months!!! WAHOO!!! 6 Months from today, I will be arriving in the Salt Lake Airport about midday!!! We will go to lunch and just have the greatest time ever!!! Oh, I cannot wait...
Not much happened this week... We had interviews with President Pèrez. His wife came as well and it was so good to see her. :) I love Sister Pèrez. In my interview, President told me that they forgot to bring me banana muffins that Sister Pèrez always made for me and promised to bring them the next time. He told me that more that just being a Missionary to them, they consider me like a son and a good friend. I absolutely love them to death... We went to lunch after the interviews because my District won in the month of March. President and Sister Pèrez took us to El Braserito, a really fancy restaurant, and we had a fun conversation. Sister Pèrez said that when she went to check my house, that she turned on the Christmas lights that I have hanging around my bed and said that she loved it. I just don’t want to lose the Christmas Spirit. They took us back to their hotel afterward to buy ice cream, which was way fun. It was a great day, just like old times in the Offices... I got a little trunky that day... President wants me to just keep progressing and I hope that I do. I feel like I am, in my study and knowledge of the Scriptures.
We are working super hard, but not really having a ton of success. We aren’t having baptisms, and we are in the jungle. I don’t know. I feel like we are working alone. We don’t have the support we need from the members. We love them and they love us, but when it comes to working, no work is being done. I could really use your prayers to help me just keep going strong. I am not sad at all. I am super happy, but I would really like to start seeing success in my area. Please pray for me to always have the Spirit with me and that it may touch the poeple’s hearts so that they will have more desires to get baptized. I need your prayers in my behalf and in behalf of my investigators. Thanks for supporting me in all that I do. :)
I have a huge and super suprise for you guys... Our whole Zone is going to Lima today!!! We are going to fly as a Zone to Lima because Elder Gavarrett from the Seventy is coming and so we get to go see him. We are all going to fly into Lima in the nighttime and then we will come back to Pucallpa tomorrow night. Isn’t that super fun? I am so excited just to travel. I can’t wait. We 14 Missionaries are all going to travel in rhe plane together. How much fun is that going to be? It is going to be too much fun... Just pray that we will be protected in our flight... :) I am so excited!!!
I am loving the Mission. Time is passing like crazy. We are already in May... A year ago, Yolanda, my precious adopted grandma, got baptized. I haven’t heard from her since then so I am really anxious to get to Iquitos and see her along with Mishel and Anthony... I miss them, almost as much as I miss you... :)
We are still dying of hot sun and strong rainstorms down here. The rain is amazing down here. We love just getting super soaking wet... You will have to try it out when we come down to Peru. You are going to love the people, but keep preparing and improving your Spanglish so that you can speak a little down here. You will be overwhelmed and overjoyed with the love the people have down here. I can’t wait for you to meet them. Everyone is expecting me to come back in December so we better start planning now. Go get your Passports and shots and everything else taken care of. It is going to be too much fun... :) I love you so much family and cannot wait for the phone call this Sunday!!! Happy Mother’s Day Mom!!! Your oldest son’s last phone call in the Mission... :) (Oh, could you please tell Whitley “Happy Birthday” from me? She turns 19 on the 6th of May... Thanks)... I love you family. We’ll be hearing each other in a week!!! I CAN’T WAIT!!! I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU! LOVE YOU FOREVER!!!
Coco