August 19, 2013

Dear Mom,

It sounds like the suburban is finally about to die, haha. Have you thought recently about getting a new car? I can't believe that she's going to college already. She just doesn't seem old enough. Archery! Wow, that sounds fun.

Man, I feel bad for Kyle. I want to try and help him out when I get home. I want to help him with school and stuff and make sure that he does well. I'll have some time before I start school up later on, so hopefully I can help him make some good habits at studying.

Is the book Added Upon the same book that you found at grandma and grandpa's house? Or is that a different book? You'll definitely have to save that book for me when I get back so I can read it. I've been thinking about trying to get a job at Deseret Book when I get back. That way I can look at all those cool books... and maybe get a discount, haha.

Speaking of Mt. Timp, I found a picture of the Timpanogos Temple in our apartment. It's probably my favorite picture of that temple because they shot the picture at an angle to where you can see all the mountains behind it. In the picture you can see the tiny little dot where the shack sits at the top. It also shows a part of the American Fork canyon where Seth and I hiked multiple times. It doesn't quite show the "G" though, but that's fine. It's an awesome picture of that temple though. I'm excited to hike that mountain again. I hope that Kyle is into hiking next year around. I'd love to hit the mountains a lot.

I have no idea when I get the itinerary for my departure from New Jersey. President Jeppson didn't say anything about my age in the mission other than, "You're in the fourth quarter of your mission Elder Gajewsky! You're a veteran!" So I guess it'll come when it comes.

Q of the W:

1. In the scriptures, you know the story of the Brother of Jared when he prayed to Heavenly Father about it being dark in the barges? Was it Heavenly Father or Jesus that he saw touch the stones?

It was Jesus Christ. From what I've seen in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, the only time when the Father really shows up at all is to bear testimony of His Son. In that part in Ether, Jesus Christ actually tells the Brother of Jared that the body that he sees in his spirit body. (Ether 3:13-16)

2. What is your favorite book in the Book of Mormon?

I would say that I love the ending chapters of 2 Nephi the most. I also really love Moroni a lot. I would say it's a tie between those two.

3. Did you hear they changed the missionary dress and grooming standards? Have they told you anything about not carrying backpacks?

I have heard about that. I did hear that they want to get rid of the backpacks. I don't know why exactly. But they did tell us that they're slowly fazing them out. I'm guessing Kyle will not bring a backpack with him on his mission, but I'm also guessing that they won't make me buy a shoulder bag. Maybe it looks more professional.

This last week we had it a little rough. People didn't show up for their appointments too often. When they do that, we call it juking appointments. It's really annoying and it makes me pretty frustrated. That happened a few times this last week and it just makes it hard. We did make up for it on Wednesday and Friday when we were going to appointment after appointment and we got a pretty good lesson count in.

On Saturday we had an interesting experience in giving a blessing to an older lady. She is actually originally from Italy, but she served a mission in Uruguay a long time ago and then ended up living there for like 30 years. She knows Spanish just as well as she knows Italian. She hasn't been active for a while, but she wanted a blessing from when she had fallen. It was cool. Hopefully she'll come back to church soon.

Well, I'd love to tell you a few more experience from this last week, but the other missionaries really want to go now, so I have to go. I get a little frustrated at this too sometimes. They email faster because they only send one email out, but I want to talk to other people. Can't wait til I have more time...

Love you!
-Justin