Elder Trey NelsonCalifornia Roseville 1-10
Elder Nelson is teaching and baptizing all ages of people from 8 to 80 and being an awesome missionary up until the end. He had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner after playing football in the traditional (awesome) turkey bowl. He and his companion decided to make matching uniforms. They bought black T-shirts, then used some shirt paint found in their apartment to write Roseville, CA and make a drawing of a rose on the front that included manly thorns with a couple drops of blood coming off of them. Trey will arrive home on January 19, and give his homecoming report on January 24 and we look forward to seeing him soon. Happy Birthday Elder Trey on December 20th!
Elder McKay CrandallPuerto Rico San Juan East 6-10
Elder Crandall is still on the island of Dominica. He will for sure be there till the first of January when they have transfers, but thinks at that point he will go somewhere else as he will have been on the island for 5 months. He just got a new companion who has only been out a few months. He is teaching a couple of great young men from Haiti who speak French, English and Spanish. He said they know enough English to be taught in English, but the missionaries have to clarify in Spanish. It looks like this couple will be baptized and we are waiting for a letter to see if they have been. A date had been set. Elder Mckay sent photos today of the amazing baptism. What gorgeous photos!!!!!!
Elder Skyler ThiotNew York New York South Mission 5-10
Elder Thiot continues to serve and love being in the Benson Hurst ward in Brooklyn New York. Transfers were a few weeks ago and he received a new companion. His first companion from Utah and he is really enjoying working with him. It was great being in New York when the Yankees won! It made for lots of happy people and fun opportunities to teach. Last Sunday Elder Sky was blessed to baptize Jenna Matvyevskyy. Her husband Ivan was baptized a few months ago. Sky loved getting to teach them the gospel in their native tongue of Russian. Each week Elder Thiot sends us the Miracles of the Mission. He has been a witness to many, many miracles as the Gospel of Jesus Christ is shared with those the Lord has prepared in Brooklyn New York. His District had a Street Blitz and had some great artists who did the plan of Salvation in chalk. What a great way to get peoples attention. I asked Elder Sky what he would like to share with you dear friends and fellow missionaries. Here is what he said. “Let the other guys know that this is the greatest time to be a missionary in the history of the world. I’m sorry they aren’t in NYC, but I’m sure there missions are pretty nice too. Haha, but this is the greatest work on earth, and I’m really excited to be a part of it.”
Elder Jacob ReadingCalifornia Carlsbad Mission 7-10
Elder Reading has been recently transferred to Encinitas and is the senior companion to Elder Clayton from Hawaii. He is back near the beach, which he loves, but living in someone’s home, which he does not love as much. I think once he was on his own in an apartment, it is hard to go back to members homes. He left Rancho Santa Margarita with people ready to be baptized. He tracked out a man named Kurt. He had known a lot of members of the church through out his life. He was raised catholic, but did not feel it was the true church. He told Elder Reading and his companion he believed the Book of Mormon to be true. Jacob mentioned that you don't find people like that very often from just tracking. He said it never happens-but it did! The Lords blesses so many. So he left people ready to be baptized and went into a new area with people ready for baptism. In his new area he has been teaching a lady and her 9 year old daughter. He has readied them for baptism and the 9 year old should get baptized this month. Jacob has had so much success in every area, and he particularly loves this ward, as it is so missionary minded.
He has been studying the Bible recently. He says when people try and bash us, I can prove them false because I have been studying the Bible. People are sometimes so hard hearted and want proof or evidence. If they would just read and pray they will get their evidence.
He has had another bike accident. Not as bad as the first, just made a turn too fast and scraped up his arm and hand. It does not keep him from playing basketball when ever they can on P-day. He even bought pink socks and shoe laces to impress the other Elders. Only 7 months left in his mission. Hard to believe, but he is doing so well and loves every minute.
Elder Christopher L. MartinSanto Domingo West Dominican Republic 1-11
Elder Martin writes: “. . . this has been another great week here in this sweet paradise! Things are going real good here in Villa Altagracia! . . . the Lord continues to bless us. I wish I could show you . . . the beauty of this place. Pictures don’t give it enough credit. Anyway, the mission rocks! I am staying with my companion for another transfer and will stay here for Christmas! This will be my first Christmas on the mission. I know that this is the Lords work and we are His missionaries. I’m so grateful to be a missionary. . . The time flies way too fast!” Elder Martin continues to improve in his Spanish. He often writes the letter to his father completely in Spanish. He will turn 20 years old on the 13th of this month. Christopher reports baptisms almost on a weekly basis. Keep up the good work Elder Martin! Happy Birthday Elder Martin on December 13th!
President and Sister Martin & AdamCalifornia San Fernando Mission 7-12
President and Sister Martin are preparing to send home their fourth group of missionaries this Tuesday. There are 10 leaving us this time. We have 19 new ones coming in on the same day! It is good to be growing as a mission. This year we hope to have at least 400 baptisms. This has not been done in a long time on this mission if it ever has been done. Still we long for more people to teach. We know the field is white. About a month ago President Martin was asked to perform his first baptism. A young man named Alex Torres was taught in our home. He was a golden contact. He asked Adam to speak at his baptism (which he did). Adam is enjoying going occasionally with the missionaries who cover our ward on splits. A mission president’s work is never done. It is a 24/7 job. President and Sister Martin enjoy driving between mission locations. We put a lot of miles on our mission car and get in a lot of good visiting time with each other.
Elder Adrian Etherton
Idaho Boise Mission 8-11
Elder Etherton is happy to still be serving in Kuna, Idaho. One of the advantages to serving so near the Boise Temple, which by the way looks a LOT like the Dallas Temple, is that he gets to go quite often. Preparation days are on Tuesdays so the temple is open. The weather in Idaho is feeling a lot like winter. Down in the teens during the night and in the 30’s in the day time. Elder Adrian has a new companion, Elder Oliveira, who is Brazilian and has been teaching him to speak Spanish. His Mission President has called him to now be a Spanish speaking missionary. He has been hard at work learning a new language, and teaching the people of Idaho. He is excited to serve the Lord in anyway he is asked. He wanted to let everyone in Plano Fourth Ward know that he loves and misses all of you, and hopes you have a Very Merry Christmas!
Elder Joseph Calcote
Georgia Atlanta Mission 10-11
Elder Calcote lived with his mom, in the Plano 4th Ward, between June and October 2008. He then returned to his dad’s home to prepare to go on a Mission, he turned 19 in March 2009 and got his papers turned in shortly after that. After waiting for his calling for almost four months, he was excited to receive his letter at the end of August. He has been called to serve his mission in Atlanta, GA and entered the MTC on October 28th. Joe is the son of Lisa (and Tony) Mane of Plano, TX and John (and Michelle) Calcote of Elk Ridge, UT. He is the oldest, and first, grandchild to serve a mission in his family. His heritage is long lines of both missionaries and Utah pioneers from Christensen, Van Orman, Hirschi, and Van Setters families. His maternal grandparents are currently residing in Sao Paulo, Brasil serving the LDS Regional Presidency in South America. He has a younger brother who is a Senior at Salem Hills High School, three older step-siblings and two half-brothers in the Calcote family and four younger step-siblings in the Mane family. His extended family is in Utah, Boston, Seattle, and Clinton, IA. While his home ward is in Elk Ridge, UT, Lisa thanks the Plano 4th Ward for including him with our Missionaries.
Elder Adrian EthertonIdaho Boise Mission 8-11
Elder Etherton is happy to still be serving in Kuna, Idaho. One of the advantages to serving so near the Boise Temple, which by the way looks a LOT like the Dallas Temple, is that he gets to go quite often. Preparation days are on Tuesdays so the temple is open. The weather in Idaho is feeling a lot like winter. Down in the teens during the night and in the 30’s in the day time. Elder Adrian has a new companion, Elder Oliveira, who is Brazilian and has been teaching him to speak Spanish. His Mission President has called him to now be a Spanish speaking missionary. He has been hard at work learning a new language, and teaching the people of Idaho. He is excited to serve the Lord in anyway he is asked. He wanted to let everyone in Plano Fourth Ward know that he loves and misses all of you, and hopes you have a Very Merry Christmas!
Elder Joseph CalcoteGeorgia Atlanta Mission 10-11
Elder Calcote lived with his mom, in the Plano 4th Ward, between June and October 2008. He then returned to his dad’s home to prepare to go on a Mission, he turned 19 in March 2009 and got his papers turned in shortly after that. After waiting for his calling for almost four months, he was excited to receive his letter at the end of August. He has been called to serve his mission in Atlanta, GA and entered the MTC on October 28th. Joe is the son of Lisa (and Tony) Mane of Plano, TX and John (and Michelle) Calcote of Elk Ridge, UT. He is the oldest, and first, grandchild to serve a mission in his family. His heritage is long lines of both missionaries and Utah pioneers from Christensen, Van Orman, Hirschi, and Van Setters families. His maternal grandparents are currently residing in Sao Paulo, Brasil serving the LDS Regional Presidency in South America. He has a younger brother who is a Senior at Salem Hills High School, three older step-siblings and two half-brothers in the Calcote family and four younger step-siblings in the Mane family. His extended family is in Utah, Boston, Seattle, and Clinton, IA. While his home ward is in Elk Ridge, UT, Lisa thanks the Plano 4th Ward for including him with our Missionaries.
Elder Andrew Santiago
Utah Ogden Mission 1-13-2010
Elder Santiago is busy getting ready to leave for his mission. He is on the six week count down, remember how that felt? He has an appointment to go to the Dallas Temple to receive his endowment on the 10th of December, his 19th Birthday. He is way excited for this opportunity and blessing. Andrew reports to the Provo MTC on January 13, 2010. It’s going to be great sharing his mission with him.
