Ski+Beach in same day? I think yes!

                                     
                                      

Finally got to do the ultimate Cali steez and go ski in the morning and then hit the beach in the afternoon, courtesy of going to the BEST SCHOOL ON EARTH!!! (think Other Guys here). Anyways we left at 6:15 in the morning which meant I had to get up at the ungodly hour of 5:20 to get loaded and stuff, but totes worth it! So we took two big buses (like a Le Bus) to the resort about an hour away. Of course the driver took the wrong road cuz lets be honest, it was hard to tell where the snow even was. When we pulled in the parking lot I def thought we were going to have to take the lift up to a higher part of the mountain and then ski up there, but nope, apparently not how they roll! After we rented some gear (that made me appreciate my own stuff haha) we came to the most important decision of the day: what to wear. We knew it would be hot, and so eventually decided to be DFTH and capture the true spirit of ski-beach day. I took off my ski pants and coat and wore my swimsuit and a tank top. It was great.

First run I saw some nwb skiing backwards and looking between his legs, pretty sure not on purpose, cuz he quickly got to the end of where the snow existed and crashed hard onto the dry rocks that were everywhere but the 10-20 m wide run haha. Sad but also a little funny. We found a higher lift and ended up taking that all day and there was a little terrain park on the way down which was kinda fun. But besides the skiing two buddies of mine and me took our skis off halfway and went for a mini hike, layed out, and juggled pinecones in ski boots. Good times, not much pow. Hahaha. Just check the pictures…Oh also people were doing pond skimming the last run which was too bad cuz I wanted to try. But basically theres like a 50' long pool that you approach going fast and try to waterski basically across on skis or a board. Some people made it and it was tight!

Went down to Newport beach and it was cloudy and colder than at the resort, maybe 60F? Went in the water anyways just cuz you have to for ski beach day, otherwise youre lame. Turned out to be pretty fun and not feel that cold (as it was already quite chilly outside so the temp difference wasn’t too bad). Did some bodysurfing and took some pics with my goPro. Also walked along the beach and saw a dead baby seal which was sad. Of course when we got back from the walk everyone was already in line for the tacos, horchata etc, that was being catered so Vinay and I waited like 30-40 minutes L But def worth it cuz they were delish! Pounded 3 and some rice and beans and then immediately polished off three more.

Anyways that’s a brief overview of my Friday (Cesar Chavez day so no school), how was yours?!? Cali treats me well!

Hope all is well, and take it easy!

Pdub

Dear Friends

It has been almost six months since I left you guys and was dropped off on that curb in Provo Utah. I can already tell you it was the best decision I have ever made. In Chile I have learned a lot of things. First Spanish. Who thought I would ever be speaking with Chileans.  I love the mission and  I love walking in the street all day because that is what we do. I love to focus on Christ everyday!. 

I miss you guys a ton and I cant wait to see you again in 17 and a half months.  Time flies my friends.  Also if you play good soccer Latinos like you more and if you have good jokes  .It is awesome to live with three latinos too

Paz y amor

Elder Christensen

Ri-Pdub Joint Spring Break!

To all the home slices out there:

            I know I’ve been a little off the blog-grid, this is partially because I forgot I had my gmail to which all the stuff about the blog and Glange--your messages, have been coming, but thanks to the memory of moms, I can do it all now! Also many apologies for the long post, I know you guys don’t have much time, but maybe you’ll read it piecewise…

            I wanted to give a little update about Ri’s trip out to visit me like a week ago, cuz it was good times, fun POW! He got into Ontario at like 4 in the afternoon, and of course I went to pick him up, but we did run into a little trouble. See, I had bio lab (a long one mind you) and I don’t think I finished until 5 (with rushing). I had a zipcar booked with my friend to go get Ri, but turns out she lost her keycard to pickup the card in some bag somewhere. So I got my lab partner to book a car later on for 5:30 (you need a membership to get a zipcar). Soooo: got the zipcar…Drove it! Got lost! haha and eventually found Rily watching some 30 Rock on his phone. Pretty sure we figured out he spent more time waiting for me at the airport than he spent flying from UT, yeah whatevs it was chill.

            So even though I had class ‘er day we still did some down shii: Friday we made the decision to repel out of my second story room into the courtyard below, so after dinner we cruised over to the Outdoor Education Center and I said “I want a couple harnesses, beaners, and 60 meters of rope… FURR FREE!” Got the harnesses and rope, went back to my room, waited for dark, are then set up the steez! We wrapped a few times around the column that made up structural support between my two windows so there were two rope tails hanging down. Of course we repelled simultaneously, like BAMFs. I have it goPro’d but its dark so you cant see jack. But after we got to the bottom I realized I left my keycard in my room some 15-20 ft up, and you cant get in the building without a keycard. So we tried to pull ourselves up the rope (which doesn’t work just the way the repel is set up) and also scale the building while hand adjusting the rope through the beaner as a ‘safety mechanism,’ holding it with one hand… yeah it was a little sketch but so what this is college haha. We decided to just knock or whatever, and as we were exiting the bushes we see a flashlight poking around…naturally we tried to hide but I was right by the sidewalk at this point and the beam eventually found me crouched down. I came out to talk to Campus Sec. He asks me what I’m doing (he hasn’t seen Ri) and Im like “just hangin out in the bushes” then he’s all “what’s that device?” pointing at my climbing harness that Im still wearing. So I told him straight up my name and what I was doing. He verified I was a student (cuz remember I didn’t have my ID) and thats when Ri decided not to come out of hiding which was a great call for he was never seen (and of course does not attend Pomona College). So luckily camp sec is super chill and just documented the incident, but little did they know, and would never find out, that we had bigger plans in the works!

            On Saturday morning we made the decision to buy a slackline and practice hard so as to be able to hit up the BIG ONE the following Thursday. We went to REI and I bought one and we proceeded the next few days to practicar mucho out in the big quad we have here at Pomona. Unfortunately, due to dumbjassness, extreme procrastination, and history essays we couldn’t slackline Tuesday or even Wednesday. A real travesty, I will decree. In any case we decided we would be DFTH anyways to go through with the plan, and the plan was this: We were going to set a slackline from my dorm window two stories up, across to a tree some 10 meters away in the courtyard and walk on it. We planned a bunch and setting it up was a real pain. My 6’7” friend (yeah he’s taller than you glange!) Graham threw a rope throught the first fork of the tree and I had to grab the rope from both sides and with a little boost I had to hand-over-hand pull myself up—mind you the tree had some thorns on the truck which I was none to fond of. Got up there and had to put the slackline around the second fork in the tree, and after much trouble accomplished this, after which Graham brought the line across and tied it to a rope Rily had lowered from my window. He hoisted it up and secured it around the column. I then clipped onto the set up slackline and pulled myself across to the window and climbed in. Now I’m trying to attach a video edit of this sesh that went down and of course some pics, but before you make fun of us for not being able to get all the way across, remember that the tree moves, so one of our anchors is bending, and the line is 50% longer than what we had practiced on (three times, two days before) so it was super swayee not to mention scary AF! We got mad sore and bruised and scraped, but all def worth it.

             Besides this super steez we just had a BLAST scrotin around all the days, even just in my room. So nice to have a homie there that just gets all my jokes and references and I get theirs!!! We had an absolutely heinous episode talking about how stoked we were (for the slackline) which quickly turned to stok-o-meters, dangerously high stoke levels, resident stokologists…really I won’t try and explain, but it sure did escalate quickly! Hmm not sure what else, maybe Ri can supplement with his brain…

            After much waffling around and changes of plans, Thursday night Jackson and his mom came to pick up Rily, I flew home Friday for a long weekend for a deposition (under oath and asking questions) of Johnny, be he pulled a Jacob and flaked hard (just kiddin I love you bud!). Thus I was reduced to a miserable four-day ski weekend…psyche! Now Cobb you’ll appreciate this: some kids built a jump on Wildcat like two slots down from punk rock landing kinda where step up jump run in is, and I befriended them. So in the afternoon I hit this kicker a few times and tried a cork which turned into an underflip that I almost landed, as well as a backflip. Also on punk rock I butter three’d and my favorite: hand drag three’d! Super stoked about that! Sorry to brag and make y’all jealous about the snow, I just couldn’t resist ;)

             Espero que todos usteded esten teniendo experiencias buenísimas y que esten aprendiendo el español (y portugues) muy rápido. Ustedes me faltan mucho pero quiero que ustedes sepan que les amo y siempre les amaré! Dos años no es mucho tiempo, hasta pronto! (Cobb I figured Spanish was so similar to Portuguese that you’d be able to figure this out haha).

The most love,

P-dub

This week we destroyed!

Well last week was a little rough leading my sector for the first time and making all the decisiions and talking in spanish all the time. But this week we destroyed! we had 18 lessons which is the most we have had for a long time and we are working really hard with a 10 year old and his mom.   I feel like I am teaching Ben the Gospel when I teach him. It is challenging but also fun at the same time. We have to search and find different ways to teach the Gospel and help hime understand it is like an Adventure and I am always ready for that!!

So I think i have reached the stage where I can communicate and talk with everyone so they understand almost everything I say, but my understanding of spanish isnt so good still. So this Change I am trying really hard to work on my understanding so I can be a better messenger. Also I am trying to polish myspanish and study up on the grammar so I can sound like a missionary and not a 3 year old with spanish. But It is hard to measure progress with the language I just talk and hope it is correct.

Also I think this is the thing I need to change the most. I am a missionary and I talk about Christ all day everyday but still I forget him. I forget him when we hard walking house to house and everyone we talk to is not intrested and doesnt want to hear anything. Then I remember him when we talk to someone and they say ya come in I have some questions for you. Well it is never like that but the point is I remeber him in the good times but not the hard times. I am trying to focus and him always because this is not my time this is his time. And when we focus on Christ we are focusing on others too. Thats the Goal

Ether 12 Says to search for Jesus in our lives. Are we all searching for him. or are we just living lives waiting for him to find us.We need to Search him out because he is there but it is our job to take the step of faith and act. He is waiting for us to find him by helping others and searching the scriptures and doig all good things. Moroni 9:6 Says we should work until the end and if we dont we will be under condenacion. This life is the time to work and prepare to meet god and the next is the time to rest from our labors. I LOVE WORKING!!!

Les Quiero

Elder Christensen

quick little blurb for the homie blog

What is up all you Terry Harwards! Elder Ely here. only have a sec, but i wanted to drop a line for the homies and tell everyone all how i am doing. i think you all are getting my emails, but for a quick overview of whats up in my neck of the woods, here it is. so as everyone knows, im keeping busy here in Sao Paulo, Brazil. i am serving in a little area called Residencial Cocaia, its super small and ghetto, with favelas everywhere and stuff like that. But im doing well! weve baptized four really solid peeps already, and the work is just amazing. really here, my personal conviction and testimony of the Gospel is growing so much, as i see how it literally saves people. wow i have to go already. i will drop another line next week, but i want to let you know that i love you all so much, im proud of you, and well all have a wild reunion in 2!

all my love, Elder Ely

SOOO here I am. Nueva york!

I'm in the library right now and there's some guy just snoring quietly in the corner haha.But what a crazy transition it's been! And I say that it's crazy because it honestly has been the smoothest transition. It's crazy because I don't feel like I'm in New York at all, I could almost be convinced that I'm just outside of the MTC in Provo wandering the streets. But then I realize that I'm DEFINITELY the minority. So I guess you guys were already told where I will be, but the Bronx! Kingsdale or something? Man how can I not even know the name of my own area?! Oh well. In time I guess. 

So once I met my Trainer we went back to the Apartment where I unloaded all of my few belongings into my home of the next 3 transfers or more most likely. There's another companionship in our apartment because it's so expensive to live here in New York. I guess that's how most of the living situations work out. The apartment is...nice.... it will definitely do. The hallway smells about what I probably should have expected, like smoke and old building. Then we went by a grocery store thing and got a sandwich from the deli that has some sort of name. I guess it's a popular lunch of choice for the missionaries.

As much as I don't feel like I've left Utah, New York is TOTALLY different. Jay walking is expected, garbage is everywhere, the cultural diversity is like jumping into a jug Burty Bots of every flavor jelly beans, except there's just a whole dang bunch of Dominican Jelly Beans. The buildings are simply just not 1 story or 2 story buildings. That's a rarety more or less, just lines and lines and clumps and endless apartment buildings. They all clump together too. I've got my metro card and can already tell how incredible the public transportation system works out. I've got a lot to learn about this place.

I've learned that the spanish that the dominican's speak is going to be more like learning a new language or dialect than just an accent or something like that.... okay maybe not that bad. But it's like they are talking with marbles in their mouths and they don't pronounce their S's. Instead of como estas it'll sound more like como ta. And just trying to imagine whole sentences is going to be a nightmare. Somebody gave me an example of how they talk and it really does sound like a mouth stuffed with marshmellows, it's just a big blob of sound. But it's cool! I'll work on it, and it'll come soon enough. Nobody's seemed to give it enough attention to make me think like it'll be a long term issue. But then there's the whole speaking Spanish and not English, like not my language. That's pretty scary and difficult in and of itself. But awesome! I'm so excited to learn it and come home and speak it to you guys and bear my testimony at my homecoming and all of that! But it's going to be maybe a little more difficult to learn the language because I'm not completely immersed in it. I don't know! I guess we'll find out. IT'S JUST ALL SO MANY UNKNOWNS.

I just love you all so much! Tell me what's the haps back at home! And that means all of the things that you don't find interesting that are happening in your life, because there's not a thing I'm not interested in. 

Your favorite elder and loving son/brother/friend,

 Elder Johnny Durham

Hi Guys!

Hey! so good to hear from you! it was so sad to see Gardner and John leave but at the same time im so happy for them and i am WAY excited for them! they are going to do so great!!!!! im out in a week and a half!!! it is going by SO fast! im going to have to learn spanish when i get home so i can talk to everyone! haha but i am loving Russian! it is so much fun!
i absolutely am loving the MTC!  the spirit is so strong and ive learned so much! and choir with the guys was so much fun! as much as i love it here and as much as im learning and i am really excited to leave and anxious to get into the field! My testimony has strengthened SO much while ive been here and i cannot wait to go preach the Gospel to the people of Russia! and i am really excited to get updates from the homies! i have the picture of us infront of the map but i dont have my camera on my right now :( but i will send it next week i promise! its a great picture! i love it!
sorry i dont have a whole lot of time to give a better email but m off to go get ready for the temple! 
Love you so much! and miss you! but as much as i miss everyone back home there is nowhere id rather be! this is the best thing ive done in my life!!!!!! 
LOVE YOU
Elder Sven Ninow!