Jake's from August 20, 2012

IM FREAKING 20 YEARS OLD. IM OLD.  And because of the mail strike I just want to wish Ethan a happy birthday and sorry about not sending a card. Well thanks for the pictures and the music playlists. I was trying to guess some but I could not figure them out. So I got some mental relief. So this week has been nuts. It's been raining all week. But I didn't get too soaked. And we got an investigator in the church yesterday. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaay. And her name is Augustine. She's eight and she's super quite and she doesn't want to get baptized just yet. But we will work on it. And her sister is my new snake. Yippee. Good think I'm leaving here in a week. The most you can stay in one area is 6 months. And I have been here for 6 months. That seems like forever, but it went by super fast. And I don't have a lot of time this week to write but I just want to say I love you all. And man I can see the blessings from the mission every day. I hope you guys can too. Maybe it will be a hard week or day, but I always see at least one blessing every day. Love you all

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Con Amor  Elder Salmond

Jake's from August 13, 2012

Well this week has been very disappointing because we haven't had success like I want. We are just knocking doors and all don't want anything and it sucks, there was a day where we just sat on the side of the road for 20 minutes. We got super down. And our leaders here are just going nuts. They are getting mad and dropping the Cain for every little thing. And they are just getting on my nerves. And I'm almost at my breaking point. I mean president has told us in person and thru letters that we are doing great, but our zone leaders treat us like stupid little kids sometimes. And they live around the corner from us and so they burst into our house at random moments just to drop Cain or catch us doing something. So I'm just getting sick of it. I've almost broken down like 3 times already and I'm just super angry as I'm writing this here letter. So all of the miracles with grandma are pretty amazing to hear. I'm glad those happened. I think I'm past the sad stage. But she will be missed. Marilyn's talk was amazing. How is Luke doing at Arbys? Elida tells me is a good little boy. I hope that's true. Does he like it? What does he think? And I've been talking to Elida thru email. Because of the stupid strike. But she told me that felicity, my old girlfriend, is pregnant. Wow. That's crazy. Sorry my language but ----... good thing we broke up before she did that. But it's ok. I'm past her seductive ways. And I'm super tired... I can't explain it. It's just a deep sleepiness that doesn't go away. It's hard some days. But it's bearable. So how are things back home? I hope all is good but if not just turn to the lord and he will provide a way for you. I miss you all..Bye

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Con Amor  Elder Salmond

Jake's from August 6, 2012

Well I can say that this has been the very hard week. But I think I’m past the shock stage. So how is everything holding up? I saw the pictures too. It looked good. The President helped me a lot and the call made it a lot better. But it still hurts. It’s still hard to teach the plan of salvation without tearing up. It sucks because they ask what’s wrong but I don’t want to tell them. And also our area is not doing so good. I don’t know why. Our numbers this week were horrible but I feel that we put in a big effort. But I guess I’m just getting tested. Who did you all see at the funeral? Was it a fight like grandpas funeral? Or a lot calmer? Well some fun things happened this week. I threw flaming knives into a door in our house. That was fun. And dang I can’t think of anything else right now. I think I’m gaining a little weight here, but that I heard is to be expected. I just want to get thin. And we have our zone conference tomorrow. I guess we will see how that goes. And we are having a bunch of General Authorities come to the mission soon. First one of the 70 then we are having Elder Scott come. Ya its exciting but I’m also scared for all of the guilt trips and dropping the Cain. But I think I can handle it. It’s only an Apostle of the Lord....ahhhhhhh!! Ok I’m normal again. And my house has been interesting because we just talk about video games all day. So they have convinced me to buy some when I get home. Well I love you all and don’t worry about me. I will be fine. It was the shock and I think its wearing off...love ya'll

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Con Amor  Elder Salmond

Jake's third e-mail on July 30, 2012

I quickly replied again with the following....

Hi Jake,

This is a tough time. We have been looking at the last 18 months of my Moms life and we have all had a chance in one way or another to say our goodbyes to her. Maybe not in the way we would have liked knowing what we know now. We have a picture of you with your Grandmother the day of your mission farewell and it is one of the best pictures ever of you both. She was allowed to see so many people that day, even though for some it was the last time in this life it was made possible. There are so many events like that over the past little while that Heavenly Father truly had us and her in mind. I hope you saw my quick response to your email and don't have to through the entire week. May the Lord bless you at this time Jake. You are in our prayers.

Love,

Dad

Then he responded with this...
so when is the funeral. what is everyone else saying?

Jake's second e-mail July 30, 2012

I saw Jake's first e-mail and quickly sent him an email trying to explain everything to him and that we didn't say anything because his Mission President was suppose to contact him first... I also briefly told him of all the miracles that had taken place leading up to her death. Here is his second email that day...


so the mission president told me that grandma died. i dont know what to say. i didnt even get to say goodbye... im super sad and... i dont even know what to write. when is the funeral. did you guys get to talk to her or what. did grandma say anything when she died. i dont know what to do. i forgot what to write. sorry but i doint have much to write now. but can you take alot of pictures for me and stuff. and also could you have luke give my email address to elida at arbys. and whats wrong with jake.  is he ok. what does he have. love you all...bye

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Con Amor  Elder Salmond

Jake's e-mail July 30, 2012 ...

DID GRANDMA DIE?
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Con Amor  Elder Salmond

Jake's July 23, 2012 post...

Well first off if you want a satchel you need to put in about 70 dollars. And just let me know if you did that and I'll try to get it for you. But it's pretty nice and it will last because its leather. Well changes were last week. And the first night my comp elder Williams took a big crap in ht bathroom and it clogged the toilet. And we plunged it and it didn't do anything. So we got a flexible stick from outside to unclog it. But it didn't do anything. And by this point the bowl was filled with crap. And I mean full. So we were all joking with a youth in the ward. We asked him to stick his arm in and we would pay him 50 pesos. But we dint make him do it. So elder Sorensen who is in the house with us voluntarily stuck his arm up to his elbow in crap to find the problem. It was epic gross and funny at the same time. We all took videos. at first he's explaining the situation then he just goes in to the bathroom and starts doing a gag and laughing thing then he just shoved it right in. it was so gross. He was not trying to throw up and he eventually just backed out because he couldn't find the problem. It was awesome and he is my new hero. And in our house of 4 missionaries we just talk nerd stuff. We are all white and nerds before our mission. So it's like I'm at home. We just speak nerd and English. And we have an investigator who has been one for 2 years and she can finally be baptized. She had problems with a divorce and she's living with another man. So she broke up with him and she's ready. We just need to wait to have the dust settle. But I'm so excited. And I think we will be famous for baptizing her. Oh and I got another guys info for the scripture cases because the others weren't as good as I thought. So this other guy is from Argentina and I heard they were really good. And also my pictures on my phone. What's the situation because I think you can copy them on the memory card and then email them to me. And also the mailing situation here is bad. So I guess there is a strike in the postal system here and they don't allow anything to get in or out of the country. So it's bad. So I had a surprise birthday card for dad in the mail. So if he didn't get it sorry. It's late but HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!! So that's why it's been weird here. Love you all and talk to next week. Oh and congratulate Halen and his mission call for me. That's so cool. I met a guy here who lives in Columbus Ohio. I need to get his info so he can contact and baptize him. Weird huh?? 
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Con Amor  Elder Salmond