Frijoles Chévere Mas Fotos

Hey y'all. 

Things are awesome. 

The weather is so awesome. I hear Idaho so cold but I'm doing just fine here. I hope y'all are doing awesome. 

This week I had my first opportunity to talk by myself to Latinos. I went on a blitz and went out with a Creole speaking Elder in an all Spanish area. It was awesome. I got to share scriptures and talk with people. I could definitely tell the the gift of tongues is real and I definitely had it. The Lord wants to help us. 

We found an awesome new friend this week. He had talked with the missionary's before and has a Book of Mormon and want to learn more. He said the missionary's never came back. I'm so excited for him. It's hard to find people who are prepared and arnt just nice to us. 

This Saturday we went to a huge party. It had over 100 people all for a 15 year olds birthday party. It had fireworks, a DJ, a color run. It was fun. We got to meet a lot of people and it was fun. I'll share some pictures. 

I love biking. It is fun. Especially during the night. It's super relaxing. I am trying to learn new tricks to get kids attention. Like riding with no hands, which is hard, but I haven't fallen yet so that's good. 

Me and my companion played a super fun game that y'all can play. It's called Book of Mormon Baseball. So one person starts filling through the book of Mormon. The other yells stop. And they choose column 1, 2, 3, or 4. Then the other person says what verse is in that column and the other chooses a verse. They read the verse and the person has to say the book and chapter it is in. It was so fun. It would be a great activity for y'all and your families. 

Food, Food, and Food

Holy cow y'all, I love the food. The members also feed us sooo much. Yesterday we had lunch at 1 with a member and I was stuffed. Then at 4 we went and had dinner and I ate 8 more tacos and ice cream. I am going to get so fat. Our neighbor baked us a cake one day. I had Arepas Saturday and they are so good. On Thursday we went to this Colombian hamburger place and it was the best hamburger ever. I have a picture below or somewhere in the email. 

The weather here is nice. It’s been super windy so I've loved it. My companion is awesome. We talk a lot and it's fun. We always ask each other questions to get to know each other more. Last night 2 other Elders came over and we had a sleep over. They are cool and it was fun. 

One miracle we had was one night after we worked we went to Pollo Tropical ‘cuz we had not eaten. We were there for a while and just kinda didn’t leave, I don’t know why. I was starting to want to get going but didn’t say anything. Then a lady came up to us and started talking. Me, not knowing Spanish well, I had no clue what was going on. Then her husband came over and we talked. After they left I asked what just happened. 

Elder Alvarado said that they were some old friends who he had not been able to get in contact with for a few months.  Here is what happened: They moved houses and her phone got destroyed so they lost all contact. Their daughters are members of the Church and when they moved to America they promised their daughters they would talk to the missionaries. Before they lost contact she said she had a desire to get baptized. AMAZING.

So we got all their information and they were so excited to see us. It was amazing. What a blessing. 

The work is going so well and we have a lot of fun while we do it. In one of the areas we have been knocking there are a ton of kids. I love kids and most kids know English, so that's perfect for me. I play basketball with them for like a minute. I am like, “if you make this shot I will give you all something cool.” After a couple tries I make it and I give them all little pictures of Jesus. The next day I was like, “I have a cool story to share”. So I told then about the stripling warriors. I love all those kids. 

Whenever we go knocking and we talk about families. I always show a picture of my family and it is so cool. I have probably shown like 25 random people my family but I love it.

Anyway, things are super good here. I love it. 

Love,

Elder Isom 

September 15th - 21st

9/15/19

Dad: Elder Isom, I am not sure where this week has gone. I do know I am missing you harvesting the apples but there's not to many do we will get by. Julie is a big help but Blakely is a busy girl. The other helpers are not very good yet. It seems like Chance was not to good the first year he helped us then last year you two were so good. I did not worry about picking or bring them in at all. He starts school tomorrow. 

We are still working on the financing for the new cabin. It is a lot of work for Mom sending papers every where.

Here is the update on the Royals farm teams. Wilmington won their league. Isbel had a .216 BA. Lexington won their league. Burlington lost their championship game. DSL Royals won theirs. The best news is IF won theirs. They beat Ogden today. They beat them twice down there. Their overall record was 38-43. The poor Dodgers can not win it all.

I have been slacking on my reading the Book of Mormon. I read daily but I have been so tired I only get a few verses a day read. I worked today then Tuesday and Wednesday then I am off for two weeks for harvest.

" A successful missionary must have the Spirit of the Lord with him. No amount of knowledge or skill can compensate for the absence of the Spirit, for only by the power of the Spirit can a missionary magnify his calling. A missionary who has the Spirit can succeed in spite of weaknesses such as poor Grammer or limited knowledge of customs or language, because in a very literal sense the Spirit compensates for human weaknesses. With the Spirit as his guide, a missionary's limitations, background, and physical characteristics become insignificant. President Ezra Taft  Benson has said ' The Spirit is the most important matter in this glorious work.' "( Mission Presidents Seminar, June 21, 1975)

What is your address so I can send you regular mail too. 

I am so proud of you being a missionary. I hope you have a great week. Excited to talk tomorrow. Love you.

Dad

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9/16/19

Me: That's great news. Isbell will be fine. Everyone struggles in willmington. I love it here. I miss harvest. We have moved a bunch of boxes for food from the hurricane because even tho it doesn't hot us we are still super effected. Mainly because people dont work for a week and need food. People are poor and dont have much but are awesome. We had lunch at a recent converts familys house and it was so small. It was just one room. 15 ft by 15 feet. it was only one big room with a bed couch TV and and a kitchen. And a small little room with a bathroom. 

I love it here. We have a lot of fun

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9/21/19

Dad: Football scores

BSU 30. Air Force 19

Gooding 28 SR 26

Sugar 56 MV 0 

USC 30 Utah 23.

Have a great day. About to leave for markets. We got all the loans approved so it looks like Island Park is a go.

Me: Hey dad I tried calling. I am sure you are super busy with all the work and at farmers market. Just wanna say happy birthday while is was at the church still. Love ya and thanks for all you have taught me. A lot of my good traits that are helping me as a missionary has come from you. I am super patient and know how to work and can get up on time.  Thanks for everything and good luck with the apples. Thanks for the updates on the scores. Love you and will talk to you Monday 

Love,

Elder Isom 

September 8th - 14th

9/8/19

Dad: Elder Isom, I have been thinking about what I can share with you before leave for Florida Tuesday. Sacrament meeting today was on tithing. It is the only commandment where the Lord challenges us to try it and see if I will bless you. I can not think of a specific tithing story of our family but we have always managed to pay the bills because we have paid it. 

I was thinking as I was traveling to Lava today, of how well you are with children and they seem to be "attracted" to you. I feel it is your spirit. You are a very valiant son of God and people especially children can feel that. You will be able to use your heavenly gifts to influence others to investigate the church or recommit to activity. You already have made a difference in people here. 

Don't get overwhelmed with everything. Just take it one hour or day at a time and things will get into a routine and more familiar. Once that is in place don't get out of it. You like to be obedient and you already know the blessings that come with that. The windows of heaven are opened and blessings poured out. 

I love you. You are doing such an awesome job. 

Dad

PS Boise State did not allow Marshall a single yard in the second half. 0 yards gained.

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9/9/18

Dad: Have a good flight. Love you.

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9/11/19

Dad: Glad you finally got to Florida safely. Christian Yelich broke his knee on a foul ball yesterday in Miami. SR remains #5. Sugar 1 then Homedale, Gooding, Timberlake. BSU up to #22. CFS at #17

September 1st - 7th

9/1/19

Dad: We are reading in 1 Corinthians 14 about speaking in tounges. I like verse 19.

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9/3/17

Dad: Boise State is #24 this week. Utah 13 and Clemson still #1
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9/7/19

Dad: Elder Isom, I hope you had a great week. Mine went by so fast. Monday was a mess with staffing at work. Most of the problem was caused by not enough work and to much staff in the month of August. There was some hurt feelings. 

Tuesday we went to the rodeo with the Mecham's at the fair. It was really good. I think it will be our only chance to go this year. Tuesday Joe brought Cole Gillins and Levi, he lives in Atomic City, to lunch. I fed them French toast and bacon. Mom was busy working.

I am missing you already in the harvest and it has not even started yet. It was a fun harvest last year with you and Chance. You made it so we had such a successful harvest. We are going to start selling on the day you fly out to Florida.

This new cabin has kept us busy getting the financial stuff  done. It is coming along. We are taking Julie and her family up there this afternoon.

Snake River won again last night against West Side. They are the #1 A2 school. It was 7-6. I don't know any of the details because the Morning News does not but in any high school sports now days. 

Last night Mom and I went to Twin Falls to watch one of her workers in a play. It was really good and fun. We got home at midnight. 

I can't believe six weeks have gone by. As I was reading the chapters in the Book of Mormon on Isaiah, I tried to relate them to our day and not his day and they were much easier to understand.

I am so proud of you and you being a missionary. I am looking forward to hearing great things and testamony  building experiences. 

I love you. Have a wonderful flight.

Dad

Me: That's so cool. I'm happy football is doing good. And I love the cabin. You and mom are having fun. I am going to the temple now so I will call afterwards.

Dad: Sounds good

Me: Anything else new in the world and at home

Dad: Boise State beat Marshall last night 14-7.