Jake's email Oct 15th

Well hello there. It turned back to hot weather here and I got sunburned. And it’s all humid. But it’s going to rain again today. But the last week of rain has been causing some problems here. First it gets everything wet. But Paysandú is next to a river and it actually flooded. It’s moved up an extreme amount. There was about 100 meters of land that’s now under water and it’s covered about 4 streets. People’s houses are flooded. They actually evacuated a part of my area and most of the zone leader’s area. It’s super sad. They had huge trucks carrying people out. And a bunch of people are going in and robbing the houses now. So everyone is going back to their flooded houses or not even evacuating in the first place. We actually went to the flooded part of the city and it’s a good 3 to 4 feet in some areas. The kids love it but they don’t understand how bad it is. And it’s interesting because it happened to one of the worst parts here in Paysandú. So that's a little news about our area. Oh and I forgot to mention that they just legalized abortion here in Uruguay. That sucks. Now everyone is going out and having sex and they won’t have any consequences to their actions. And they are about to legalize marijuana here too. I mean everyone smokes it but it’s not legal just yet. But they are working on it. I'm getting kind of scarred for this place. And on the news they say that the states are going in the same direction. Is that true? And how are the elections going? I voted for Romney and sent it in. I hope Obama does not win. He will make the country like here and I really don’t want that.  But just let me know when you have a chance. Well the family room and TV sound exciting. I want to see some pictures when you can. I bet Halen is nervous. But he will do fine. He’s strong. Hahaha. But it’s normal. And he won’t even have to speak Spanish. So that’s one less thing to worry about. Wish him well for me. Oh and could you do me a favor. Could you send me more clothes? Like more missionary mall socks and some white shirts that are a little bit smaller. And the rest of my ties in my closet. That’s a lot to ask but if you can do it, that would help a ton. And we have this 49 year old investigator named Gabriela and she is golden. She wants to get baptized and she knows almost everything. And she went to church yesterday and to the conference. And she is a gimp. But she has a strong desire to follow Christ. And her daughter was there and she’s not a member and she told us that she knows that the church is true thru multiple prayers and spiritual things she has had. But she went back to Montevideo yesterday. So that was a bummer. But she’s going to get baptized on October 25. I’m super excited. And she was a reference from another ward. So that is something new and cool. But nothing else too exciting happened. So bye..

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Con Amor  Elder Salmond

Oct 7th Jake's email

Well this week has been good. It has rained all day this week. And the
streets here are horrible. They have no drainage in them. So when it
starts raining the streets get flooded and it’s about 8 inches of
water. And it’s like a river. And my shoes are not made for that. I
have been walking around in wet shoes for about a week now. And my
other pair of shoes broke. So I can’t use those ones either. But I’m
doing good. The conference was amazing. And yes I did listen to it in
English. I like the voices better and it’s easier to take notes in
English. But I can understand it all if it were in Spanish. And that’s
cool about the new TV. Is it nicer? And how’s the new floor. I bet it’s
amazing. Well as you know changes were this week and I’m staying here
and with Elder Pyeatt. So that wasn’t out of the blue. I guessed the
entire change that would happen. And we had some zone shirts made. It’s
the Mountain Dew logo, but it says Paysan on the mountain part. Its
super cool looking. And I found out the Elder Oaks conference will be
this 27. And is going to be the two missions in Uruguay that are
going. And I bet he is going to drop cain. They are always a lot
stronger to us when they are just talking to missionaries. But in
General Conference they go easier. But that is ok too. Man time just
flies by here. I feel new but I’m almost half done. And now there are
going to be younger missionaries. I’m super excited for it but I’m just
going to feel older. But I guess that’s life. Oh and I still haven’t
bought anything with my birthday money. Everything is too expensive
here and I didn’t find anything I want. And I find myself thinking of
how to prepare others to go on missions because I wasn’t prepared at
all. I just think I could have had a better start. And I could be
better now. And during interviews I told president that and that I was
super discouraged. And he kind of talked to me and told me there is
bigger things awaiting me in the mission. I don’t know I still feel new
and like I can’t speak or teach very well. I’m learning a lot form Elder
Pyeatt thought. He’s from New Mexico. And he can teach really well. So
I’m learning some from him. But what I learned from the scriptures is
all I can do is my best. God is not going to judge me for doing more
than I’m capable. I just know that he is pleased and he will do a lot to
help me. But any advice? I need all the tips I can get. Well how’s
everything back home? Still normal? It’s weird to think that I have been
gone awhile. What’s the biggest difference without me there? Silence, 
peace, no more jokes...? I don’t know because I’m not there. Well
chau...talk to you next week
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Con Amor  Elder Salmond

October 1, 2012 Jake's email

Well hello. How are ya'll doing there in Utah? I hope all good. I’m just tired and hot. It’s starting to get hot again here. It just seemed to be cooling down. But it’s not. Oh well. What can I do? I hope your week has been going good. Mine has been doing well. We have a good investigator named Leonardo. Oh and his mom Maria. They are super cool. We actually gave his mom our last copy of the Book of Mormon. We actually have been having problems getting them to the mission. I don’t know why. We gave her a part to read about infant baptism. Because she is super Catholic and she also has had that doubt before. Well we went back and she wanted to give us the book back and said she is always going to be Catholic. So we asked her if she read. And she said yes and she believed what she read and that it gave her an answer. So we asked if we could explain a little more. And she said yes. So we sat on her patio and explained the Book of Mormon better and all that. At the end of the lesson she was totally interested. And we gave her another part to read and she said she would give it another try. She is so going to be baptized. The family is like a typical member family. They are so nice and open to us. It’s great. The only problem is I think most of the kids are the smoking partying type of people. But they can overcome it. And I’m so excited for General Conference next week. Do you think it’s going to be on the second coming or the end of the world? Because everyone thinks it’s going to happen at the end of the year. People ask me all the time about it. But it’s not because no man can know when or where it’s going to happen only god can know. So everyone is wrong. But who knows. Oh and can you send me more stamps because I don’t have any. And I got the Halloween card too. Yeah. Super cute dog. Oh and did Halen leave already. If he did Yeah. And was he nervous and stuff. It’s been going by super fast. It’s nice. I’m almost at a year. When I think back it seems like I got off the plane a couple of weeks ago. I guess they were right. Wow I always think of a ton to write beforehand but I can’t think of anything. Hmmmm...... I got nothing. I’m gonna start writing my ideas down so I have more to write to you. Sorry if I’m not telling too much.... bye I will have more to say next week... oh and I’m in ether 5 in the book of Mormon....

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Con Amor  Elder Salmond

Jake's email today...

Well this week was good. We had a visit from Elder Vinas. He’s a 70. He talked to us about less actives and our ward. He kind of dropped some cain on some people. But overall the conference was good. Which reminds me we are going to have another visit from Elder Oakes the apostle. And I’m super excited for that one. And I’m also excited for General Conference. It seems like I just watched the other one. Time is flying by. And I just reached my 11 month mark too. I have almost a year. That is super crazy. I don’t get how I did it. It’s awesome. And this week was kind of boring because all of our investigators went out of town because it was school vacation. So we didn’t get any in church and hardly any lessons done this week. But I’m hoping that we are going to have success this week. And our investigator named Jonathan is super evangelical. And he bible bashed with my comp the other day. It was super weird and it almost lead into an argument. But it didn’t. So that was good. But we think he is being discouraged by his pastor. So he has all of these scriptures. Oh and the 17 point thing did help. Because I studied that a day before that lesson. So it helped me answer his questions and his scriptures. But evangelical people are weird. Their religion is loud and fast. They pray really intensely and it’s everyone at once. And they play rock music during their reunions. It’s cool that I have actually learned more about other religions and I can see that ours is even truer than those. But it also helps because I can defend the church better. And teach them what they need. But yeah. Cool stuff. And I’m in the point in my mission that I might go up to senor comp next change. But I don’t want to, because I don’t feel ready. But it’s what the lord wants. And my comp is called Elder Pyeatt and he is from New Mexico. And he’s not a bad guy. He just got into some bad habits from some of his other comps. But he’s doing a lot better now. We are working a ton. It’s just hard because our area has very few members. And all are too old to help out. They can’t walk or sometimes think straight. So it’s difficult to get some help from them. But yeah. It’s easy to find people here it’s just hard to teach them. They all are not home or don’t want anything after the first lesson. But it’s super easy to find people. Oh and today we played dodgeball and I got drilled right in the eye with my glasses on. They didn’t break. But man did it hurt. I couldn’t see for a good 10 minutes. And my face got all red and swollen. But it’s just a fun story now. I’m good. It doesn’t hurt too bad now. And I also spilled all the beans about the Bigfoot stuff to our house. Super funny. I’m getting everyone interested. I have told them some info and some stories. And even the elder from Paraguay is even interested. The other two elders actually slept in our room last night to hear some more stories. And I think they were scared. But they wouldn’t admit it. And they are my zone leaders. Ya I live with them. I don’t know if you knew that. And thanks for the photos. I look sooooooo weird in them. I didn’t recognize myself. Super weird. But they are cool and I’m going to show them to members. Well that’s all for this week. Bye!!!!!

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Con Amor  Elder Salmond

Jake's e-mail from Sept 17, 2012

Well this week went by super fast. It’s weird how fast the time goes by here. It’s like I’m in South America or something. Well something interesting happened. We were walking and then I heard a huge crash so I turned around to see a dog flying in the air and a man on a motorcycle crashing. He hit my backpack that I had at my side. If he were to be 4 more inches closer I would have been hit. And the dog flew and had a broken leg and the man and his bike flew forward and landed in front of us. So we ran over to help him. He was ok. He was wearing a helmet. But he was just sad that his new bike just got messed up. Then he just took off again. It was super crazy. But oh well. I feel bad for the dog. And I got three packages and some letters. One letter was sent a year ago. That’s nuts. Stupid mailing system. And the packages are very appreciated. I have food for a week now. And it’s all super good. Thanks. And the card was cool too. And thanks for all the advice for studying and the scriptures. It was all cool. And I have to go study them. If you get anymore tips or scriptures please do tell. It helps a lot. And were you ever a district or zone leader in your mission? Just wondering. Well thanks for all the prayers and love from you. It helps. I see it every day. And I testify that prayer is very powerful and with faith it can do miracles. Well Chao... 

And the challenge is for the family but for the individuals. So I have already started...I’m going to win!!

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Con Amor Elder Salmond

Jake's e-mail from Sept 11, 2012

How is everything going back home? It’s good here. I had a good week. The area is starting to pick up and it’s nice. We actually have an investigator now who speaks English perfectly. She is 22 years old and she lived in the states for 10. She lived in Georgia I think. But she totally has a southern accent. It’s super cool. But she said that she has had a rough life and she has no family. So she went looking for God. And she eventually went to a Baptist church here. Then we found her. And we taught the restoration to her and she loved it. She had all sorts of questions. So we told her to pray to get an answer. And we asked if she were to receive it what should she do. And she responded that she would need to be baptized and go to the church. So we gave her a baptism date. I’m super excited. She is going to get an answer. She is. And we have this other investigator that plays the violin and paints. And he went to the United States. He has just a cool life. But he has known of the church for 50 years but has never gotten baptized. He knows a ton and is very interested. So I’m excited for that too. And many years ago President Heaton. The mission president served here in Uruguay for his mission. And this week we found one of his first converts. His name is Adan De Costa. He is super cool and he went to church yesterday. And we gave him the president’s number to see if he wants to call him. That was also very exciting. This week had just been good. We actually beat our district leader in numbers. I know it’s not about the numbers but its making me smile. It’s been a good week that I haven’t had in a long time. Wow this was a good week. 

And can you give me some advice on how to teach and study. I feel that I’m lacking in those parts. And why haven’t I heard too much about dad’s mission. Like what’s your converts names and how many did he have. And the places. Any cool experiences. And can you send me some pictures of his mission so I can see them and show them to people.

Well I hope you feel better. That isn’t very good. Did you get a blessing? I’m sure you will feel better. Just a bummer that it happened from Red Robin. You should be careful. I bet I have gotten food poisoning here too but didn’t feel the effects for some reason. I eat meat here that I wouldn’t even look at back in the states. I have eaten horse, armadillo, weird meat that I don’t know the origin of. And a lot and a lot and a lot of rice and pasta. That is one thing I don’t want to eat at home. And everything is covered in mayo here. They use a bag every meal time and the bags are huge. It gets pretty intense here. 

Well love you all and pray and read their scriptures. Most people take the scriptures for granted. I did all my life and now I can see that they are life changing. When I read them now I get my answers to my prayers and it’s different every time. I got a challenge. Everyone who starts and finishes the book of Mormon. Cover to cover by the end of the year, I will by a futbol jersey for them. And I will send them in a package to get there faster. And don’t cheat because that is against the rules. Don’t be late like I did to read the book of Mormon. It was a bad mistake. Well I love you all bye....

The challenge is for the family...

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Con Amor  Elder Salmond

Jake's e-mail from Sept 3, 2012

Hola hola. Well this new area is a lot different. Because it's almost all city compared to the last one I was in. and our area is super huge. I'm kind of scared that I won't learn it and I don't know. But my house is super huge. And we live with the zone leaders. They are super chill. They don't drop Cain or get all in your business. The only bad thing is the bathroom is disgusting. I will have to send pictures. I almost gagged when I first saw it. But it's super big. And the house is on the second floor. And its right on the main strip here in Paysandú. It's kind of cool going home at night and just walk the strip home. There is actually a casino right across the street from us. So it's super nice. But the area is a little hard, because my comp doesn't know it. And there are not very many members and even less are active. And my comp is a little disobedient. It's kind of sad. He says that being obedient is not necessary to have success. But that is totally wrong. Look at every example of missionary success in the book of Mormon and they are all doing what they need to be doing. But I can't force him to do anything. All I can do is help him. I hope he will change. But sorry I haven't been writing too much lately or sharing spiritual things. I just got bored for a little. It just seems like I do everything the same over and over again. But I'm almost done reading the book of Mormon in Spanish. It's interesting to think that I can read and talk in Spanish. I still have problems believing it. But I do learn things new every day. I learn that I can walk a little farther and talk a little more every day. And last night we got stopped by a group of 6 drunken men asking about drugs. So we taught the word of wisdom. Then we just jumped to every other subject. It was kind of scary but we handled it good. It just scared the crap out of me when one man grabbed a brick. But he just held it. And at the end of the teaching one of the men pulls out this little wad of paper and sniffs it. That is the first time that I have seen someone sniff cocaine. Really interesting. And all were smoking weed too. But I knew I would be safe. And I also saw a prostitute get out of a man's car and I saw him pay her. That was also interesting. But it's good here. So don't worry. But I do have a question. How do I better study the book of Mormon to help people and explain it simple? I feel like my teaching skills are lacking a little. I just need to explain things better. And I get super nervous too. Well if you can help thanks. Well I got to go...love ya'll

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Con Amor  Elder Salmond