Caminar Alrededor de Puerto Rico

See you on Saturday!!

2011-06-16T17:58:00.001-06:00

Hey everyone
Thanks for the emails. Everything is great. See you on Saturday!
Elder bailey

So far we have set 4 baptismal dates!

2011-06-16T17:57:00.002-06:00

Hey everyone!!

Another week gone and i guess one more to go. It will be great to see all of you!! I don't have too much time today, so this will be a short one. So far we have set 4 baptismal dates here in Antigua. By the way it's the little island with the Rastas and everything. It has been way fun to be back here. And yes i will be going to Colorado when i get back, i need to make money. A dentist appointment would be great. I don't think there is anything else. I hope everyone has a great week. I love you all a bunch!

-Elder Bailey

Hey Y'all!

2011-06-16T17:56:00.001-06:00

Hey everyone!!

Sorry i wasn't able to email yall yesterday, the library closed because they didn't have any water. So there have been a few changes on my end. Tuesday morning i found out in district meeting that i would be going to Antigua later that evening. So here i am in Antigua again! We have a sweet apartment where you can see the ocean and everything. But i will only be here for only 2 weeks, my comp is Elder Sinclair from England, i was with him a little while back for a week and now we are together again for a couple more weeks. So this came as a little surprize but its cool to see my old area. No, i never had a black eye. Im super excited to see yall, Lagoon will be way fun especially because we all will be together. Well, i love yall a bunch, have a great week!

-Elder Bailey

Transfers today...I'm not going anywhere

2011-05-31T12:25:00.001-06:00

Hey Everyone!!!
Today is transfers but I'm not going anywhere. We have some cool families that we have been working with. The guy we set a baptismal date with hasn't been at his appointments. So, that's a bummer. We had a bunch of people committed to come to church on Sunday but none of them showed up. It's coming down to the wire and i hope we can prepare some families to be baptized before we go. I appreciate your prayers always! Funny story: So my comp and i are walking around in our area and this dude in a van drives by and yells, "Are you from Utah?!" And he drives away. I guess they get a big kick out of that. ha ha. Even though it is a completely legitimate question. But apparently it's funny if they say it to us in English. Then later he drove by and yelled it at us again. So i don't really have any big ideas for the day i get back. It just would be nice to see everyone. And i of course want to go to the full block of church. That wouldn't be such a good idea for an RM or any other member of the church. It doesn't matter to me when i do my homecoming talk. By the way do they want me to talk on anything specific? Also it would be nice to know if i will be released Sat. night or Sunday. Well, i guess that's all i have to say this week. I love you all a bunch!
-Elder Bailey

We set a baptismal date yesterday it was awesome!

2011-05-31T12:24:00.002-06:00

Hey everyone!!
Another week passed and gone. I had a pretty good week, we set a baptismal date yesterday it was awesome. The spirit was so strong. Then we found another family of Dominicans. It was awesome, they don't have a baptismal date yet though. So we had a pretty solid week. I don't think that you will have to send me any money. Because im planning on putting one of my suitcases inside of the other one. I think i will throw away a lot of junk that i have accumulated over these 2 years. Well everything is well and good over here. I hope everyone is anxiously engaged in a good cause. ha ha. Anyways, i love you all and have a great week.
-Elder Bailey

Yo

2011-05-18T13:07:00.001-06:00

This is a marvelous work and a wonder!

2011-05-18T13:06:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone!!

Sunday was sweet talking to everyone. Thanks for the emails as well! Well, this past week was pretty good. We continue to see miracles everyday here in the mission field. Yesterday we walked by this guy working on his car and as we walked by i felt inclined to talk to him. We turned around and i gave him, "The Family: A proclamation to the world" pamphlet. He said that he loved the commercials from the church and liked the message. But he didn't know where the church was around here. So we told him and we set up an appointment to teach him. And i also noticed that his family was also in the car. So, it's a family as well!! Woooo! That was pretty cool. I hope we continue to find more families and set more baptismal dates with them. This truly is a marvelous work and a wonder. Well, i love you all so much! Stay classy.

-Elder Bailey

El Dia de la Madre

2011-05-18T13:05:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone!!!!

This past week was pretty good. We are finding more and more people to teach. We found this really cool guy the other day that we will be teaching tomorrow. We started talking to him about the family and how families can be together forever. And he told us of how he recently went through a divorce and he only gets his kids on the weekends. He had been wondering what had gone wrong in his family. It was so cool and it felt so good!! The Lord truly is preparing people for the gospel. So we are starting to see some miracles here, its been great. So this Sunday i will be calling at about 5pm your time, so like 7pm my time. It will be great to talk to you all!! Then the next weekend we will be heading out to the islands for like 4 days i think mainly to find investigators for the senior couples to teach. Well, Happy Birthday Ashlyn!! It was great to hear from everyone! Talk to you on Sunday!!

-Elder Bailey

We had a Luau for Easter

2011-05-02T00:00:00.001-06:00

Hey everyone,

This week was pretty good. For easter we had a mission Luau. We ate pig that they cooked underground, an elder from hawaii knew how to do this fire dance thing which was sweet. So, as of right know we have 3 baptismal dates for next month. Im hoping they progress! And we are running out of time to baptise 2 families and rescue 2 as well. The weather actually has been a little bit rainy. But when the sun is out it is way hot. It was great to hear from everyone, i hope Easter went great and everyone is content. I love you all a bunch. Keep it real fam!!

-Elder Bailey

Live Strong -- Lance Armstrong

2011-05-01T23:59:00.002-06:00

Hey everyone!!
Thanks for the emails and everything. It's always good to hear from everyone. Excellent work Dad on Robie!! I will for sure do it when i get back. Sounds like everyone has been busy with a bunch of stuff. I have too, we cut our p day shorter today so we can get more work in. Because we have an activity this weekend as a mission. And we still need to get 14 lessons to families and 100 contacts to families to go to it. So we will be working hard. Plus we didn't have a chance to work Monday and Tuesday because we did some ministering to other missionaries in 2 different zones. Which was pretty cool because i got to visit Ponce again. We will be doing that every week now. Well, that stinks about school... I guess i will just figure it all out when i get back. But i for sure want to do the alarm selling!! Well, i guess that's pretty much all that happened. I love you all a bunch. "Live strong" -Lance Armstrong
-Elder Bailey

Last Transfer

2011-04-24T22:46:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone,

Thanks for the emails. Im doing good. I dont have much time to write, because we are pretty busy getting ready for this last transfer. All 14 of the missionaries that are in my group are all going to be working in one area, Hato Rey. We will also be visiting the islands twice and doing some ministering around Puerto Rico in the different zones. Im super excited!! We'll all be living in the same house too! Well, as for school... I wanted to go to BYU. And what mom said confused me. So, lets just do the original plan. Take the spanish equivalency test during the summer and try to get into the Y the Fall semester. And i guess during the summer i can do the alarm selling to make money. Well, i love you all a bunch!

-Elder Bailey

Conference Was Great

2011-04-24T22:45:00.002-06:00

Hey everyone!!!

This week was pretty good, conference was awesome, thanks for the birthday packages as well!!! Nothing new to report this week. We are still working with the family from Florida, just the wife isn't baptized. We also have some good refferals that we will be contacting soon. Hopefully we find some success in those. Next week is transfers, i don't know entirely what i will be doing but i guess i will find out when it comes around. Something to the effect of visiting old areas but i dont know yet. So, i didn't get accepted to BYU? Well, maybe i can get into UVU as a backup plan. Isn't that what everyone does when they get rejected from BYU? ha ha. Can you look into that for me? I guess for the summer i will be working for that alarm selling business hopefully. I don't know how else im going to make money. Yes, i trained the friend of Dr. Hess' son, but he's not from Boise he's from Las Vegas they just went to BYU together. I guess that is true what they said in conference, that after you serve a mission the next step is to get married. "...men are that they might have joy." 2 Ne. 2: 25. Joy is found in the family, Adam fell so that he might have joy in his family. He couldn't have a family without the Fall. It's the purpose of life and central in God's Plan of Happiness. Well, I love you all a bunch, Amber and Brandon, have fun in Mexico. Everyone else, stay classy.

-Elder Bailey

"Warning Carbon Monoxide!"

2011-04-24T22:44:00.002-06:00

Hey everyone!!

Thanks for the emails and updates and everything. So today i got an email from the mission office, i have to give them some information about my flight home. :( Im pretty sure i will fly in Boise on the 18th. The office will probably let you know once they have the flight information. I did get the package last week, thanks for the cookies and stuff! So, here's the update of the week: We haven't been able to return to teach the family, which stinks. Our baptismal date fell. Still haven't been able to contact him. But a family from Florida just moved here and the wife isn't a member yet. So we will definately start teaching them and baptise her. Also, early Monday morning at about 5 we woke up to the sound of, "WARNING: CARBON MONOXIDE!" My first thought, "What the heck is carbon monoxide?" I ran out of the bedroom confused, looking for something wrong in the apartment... nothing. My companion suggests that the fire/ carbon monoxide alarm is just running out of batteries. So, during the day we bought some new batteries to put in the alarm. But to our surprize 12 am Tuesday morning comes around and the alarm goes off again. At this point we are a little scared, what if it really is carbon monoxide? So, we take out mattresses out of the bed room and move them into the living room next to the front door and we bring the alarm with us. We also turned on some fans and opened the front door to "air it out." 3 hours later... "WARNING CARBON MONOXIDE!" "What the...? Still confused, maybe a bit more now. We barracaded off the kitchen, maybe it was something in there. The bedroom as well, maybe it was the AC. We go back to sleep. It goes off again 3 hours after that. Wierd how it only goes off every 3 hours. We call the senior couple in charge of housing and it turns out the alarm has to have a certain brand of battery and that has been on the shelf at the store for less than a year. We felt like a couple of fools, barracading off the kitchen and stuff. ha ha. So that was the event of the week. Im glad yall enjoyed the photos i sent last week. Aubrey sorry this computer im on wont let me see the ones you sent. Well, i love you all a bunch! Have a great week!

Elder Bailey

After a short spaz and freak out moment...

2011-03-24T16:07:00.000-06:00

Hello everyone!

This week was pretty good. We discontinued working in Ponce two days during the week, so now we can focus more on our own area. This past week we found a cool family that we are starting to teach. We will be teaching them again today. It's a mom, dad and 3 kids. So that's exciting. I got the package yesterday, thanks for the goodies and stuff! I sent some pictures i hope you like them. One is when we went to get Frappes. They are super good i got banana and coconut, YES!! The next one is an iguana, they were all over the place at the park we were at. The one i was holding was actually a smaller one. The last picture comes with a story... So my companion and i go to visit a refferal of a family that the Bishop gave to us. It was at night time and we go to their house to see if they are there, no luck. So we turn around to go back. I was walking a little in front of my companion and we walked around a corner and i hear my companion say, "Whoa, that's the biggest spider i've ever seen!" "You almost stepped on it!," He tells me. But stopping to look at it, we find that it has disappeared! My companion starts looking around on the ground and says, "I think its on you." Me, "No!" Thinking my companion is joking i look down at myself... I look down to find the "biggest spider my companion has ever seen" on my crotch. After, a short spaz and freak out moment i brushed the spider off onto the ground and we took pictures of it. That was a for sure unique experience. ha ha. So, that's what has been going on here in Guayanilla. Thanks for all the updates of everyone, i love hearing from yall. Brandon, that selling thing sounds better and better, that would be sweet if i could do that to save up some money. I can't believe it snowed over there, Boise is crazy. ha ha. Alexa, congrats on getting your braces off, it feels good to be free doesn't it? ha ha. Well, i love you all a bunch. It's wierd it seems like 2 years is a long time but it seems like it has gone by way fast. It gets harder and harder to stay focused. But i need to endure to the end!! Ustedes son la mejor familia en el mundo! You're the best, keep it real!!

-Elder Bailey

Guayanilla has been sweet

2011-03-23T00:33:00.002-06:00

Hey everyone!!

Well, this week was pretty good we set a baptismal date with one of our investigators, Angel. It will be for the 9th of April. Guayanilla has been sweet. We are starting to get some good potentials. There was one event this week that was pretty funny. We were talking to this student of Jehovas Witness and we was like getting angry because we wouldn't say that Jehova is God. He was like, "why wont you say it?" They always seem to bring that up. And Bible bashing with them doesn't get anywhere. It was funny though. Then when i was working in Ponce we set a baptismal date as well. We talked to this Sociology professor who is writing a book about religion. This was the 2nd time we talked to him and he seems pretty interested in the Book of Mormon. We left him with a copy. The first time i talked to him he wanted one as well, but i didn't feel like he would read to find out if it was true, but that he would just read just to know about it. But this time he seemed different. I hope it turns out well and he reads, ponders, and prays. But that is pretty much all that has happened. I haven't gotten the package yet. I did hear about Japan, sorry i can't see the video, White handbook says i can't. Also, i can't enter into the bracket thing because it's another website besides myldsmail.net. Thanks for the pictures of the kids they are way cute. Parker is getting so big i can't believe it. Well, i hope everyone is well, i love you all so much!

-Elder Bailey

Guayanilla!!

2011-03-15T15:48:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone!!
Thanks for the emails and the updates, its always good to hear from everyone. The work is going steady. We have 2 investigators that aren't progressing. Right now we are working on finding families as always. We need to teach 20 lessons to families every week. It will be difficult especially in Guayanilla because its a small town. But i hope we find families soon. In Guayanilla we were walking around contacting people one night and we got hugs from 2 drunk guys. It was funny, one was a Cuban who had a slingshot with him and we asked him what it was for and he said it was for anyone who was talking bad about him. And he gave us an example and pulled it back but it broke when he did it. And he was like, "it broke!" It was so funny. Apparently were like his best friends with him now. ha ha. Finding people to teach has been difficult. It seems like the belief that all churches are good and it doesn't matter where you go just as long as you believe in God, is pretty popular as usual around Guayanilla. It seems as though every single person we talk to says exactly that. But i wont go on more about that because then this letter would be very long. That topic gets me going. So, i am still going to Ponce Mondays and Tuesdays and i'm actually there right now doing internet. But my companion changed on those days from the Latin to this one elder from New York. Elder Black, this is his 2nd transfer. But everything has been great! I cant wait to get the package. Let me know what happens with my BYU application. The mission is the best! The Book of Mormon is amazing! I love reading it! I love you all so much!
-Elder Bailey

Off to Guayanilla!!

2011-03-09T00:06:00.002-07:00

Hey everyone!!

This past week was alright. We still haven't found anyone here in Ponce. It was fun working with a missionary that doesn't speak english. I mean i don't speak the language perfectly but it worked out. And i wont be working with him 2 days during the week anymore. I will be with a different missionary. What President is doing with that is everyone in the zone goes to Ponce for 2 days during the week to strengthen that area which is the center of strength. But today im going to Guayanilla, which is still in the same zone but in the countryside. My new companion is Elder Gordon from Magna, Utah. It should be good im excited to work there. President told me he wants my new comp to train in the future so i will be working with him to prepare for that. We have a car but i think im going to use the bikes as much as possible, because we can talk to more people that way. Well i hope everyone is doing good. Sounds like that alarm selling is sweet. I would love to do it to save up some money for college. I got my ecclesiastical endorsement and everything done so tell me if i get into BYU! Well, only 2 transfers left! time is going by so fast!! But im not going to get trunky. I hope i can keep working hard till the end. Let me know what's going on in the sports world. I love you all a bunch. You can send me a package if you want with some goodies in it. That would be fantastic! Well, i hope all is well. Remember D&C 122:7. Maybe just read the section, im not quite sure on the verse. I love yall, Peace!

-Elder Bailey

End of Transfer

2011-03-08T23:57:00.000-07:00

HEY EVERYONE!
Finally got a pic for you all. That's in the plaza of Ponce, its called, "El Parque de Bomberos". Its an old fire station that is now a museum. Ponce is a cool place, but the work is hard. We don't really have any investigators right now. The guy with 6 fingers and toes says he wants to stay catholic, haven't heard from him since. We do have some potentials but nothing solid yet. The other picture is of Elder Zepeda, my companion Mondays and Tuesdays, he's from Honduras and doesn't speak any English at all. Also, doesn't know how to ride a bike very well, he learned here in the mission. Its kind of scary to watch him ride especially when we are right next to a freeway! Well, i haven't filled out the BYU application yet, I'll do it today. Congrats Brandon on making it in the PR program. Also, i was thinking maybe you could check out some schools in Utah, just in case. And see which ones have a good med program. Let me know what you find. I love you all a bunch!
-Elder Bailey

We have 2 investigators!

2011-02-22T13:32:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!!
This past week was alright, sorry i still don't have pictures. We have been struggling to find families to teach. We have a couple investigators that we are currently working with. No baptismal dates. Hopefully we find a family soon! We have 2 investigators that said they want to be baptized. But they want to wait like 2 months. So we are still trying to work with them. It all depends on whether they receive an answer that the Book of Mormon is true. Because if they receive their answer they wont need any time to prepare, because they are prepared. So that's what is going on with the missionary work. Dad, i was wondering if you ever resolved my debit card problem. What's going on with that? Do i have money on my card? Keep me updated on sports and the BYU thing and anything else that goes on. I was also wondering how i am going to pay for school and stuff. I might have to take out a loan or something. Maybe you could check that out for me. I love you all a bunch!!!
-Elder Bailey

Ponce es Ponce los demas son parking

2011-02-06T22:28:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone,

Well another week has gone by. We have been working hard to find families to teach and baptise. So far we only have one that we have been working with. We had one baptismal date with this one guy that has 6 fingers on both hands and 6 toes on both feet. But he told us the other day that he doesnt want to continue with us. He said that he wants to stay catholic. We think his wife had some influence on that. Well, we are going to continue searching, I want a family to baptise!!!! That's pretty much all that's been going on, and yes they still speak spanish here. It is still part of Puerto Rico. I still dont know the address but we live near the church. So maybe you could look up the church building on the church website. Its on the street Las Americas in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The ward is Ponce 1. So, if you look that up, that's the area where i live. I still haven't received any information on the application to BYU. Sorry i haven't taken any pictures of the area yet, maybe next week. Bikes have been good it has been getting pretty hot down here. Its the hottest area in the mission. So far everything is good! Aubery, that's crazy that you met a guy that served in Puerto Rico. Do you remember what his name was? Well, let me know if anything else happens. I love you all a bunch!!

-Elder Bailey

I was sick yesterday!

2011-01-31T15:16:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone!
This past week was alright. I was sick yesterday, but im all good now. We had district meeting in the morning yesterday and my stomach hurt but i thought it was because i hadnt eaten. We came back to the apartment after the meeting and i almost threw up but we decided to head out anyway. We came back for lunch and right when i got off the bike i threw up, Choco Kong cereal all over the front yard. It was just as chocolaty the second time. Yesterday stunk though, my body was super achy and weak. But im much better now. Oh and it turns out i am district leader! They divided the old district into 2. So thats cool. We only have one baptismal date so far. We just got to work on getting him to church. We also have some other people that we have been working with. Ponce has been good though. Its the 2nd largest city in Puerto Rico. And we work in the central part of it. It has been pretty different than the last areas that i was in, because im in a different zone and we ride bikes. I dont have the address for the apartment, but i will send some pictures soon. I dont really need anything right now, and my contacts are still good they should last until i get home. Keep me posted on sports and how the BYU stuff is going. I love you all a bunch.
-Elder Bailey

Im in Ponce

2011-01-31T15:15:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!!

Transfers were today and i got transfered to Ponce. I dont have a car anymore, we got bikes and we are walking. Im super excited though! Im not distict leader anymore. My companion is Elder Kenison from Utah. Thanks for researching the school stuff for me. I want to try and get school going as soon as possible. I guess the visiting student will be the best so i can work to get credits to be a transfer student. I dont remember what my Net ID is. Thanks for doing all that stuff for me i really appreciate it!!! Well i hope everyone is doing well! Thanks for the emails i love you all a bunch!!

-Elder Bailey

Some Pics!

2011-01-13T20:53:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!!!!

Thanks for your emails and stuff, its always good to hear from everyone. I attached 2 pictures, one of a waterfall in El Yunque and the 2nd one is a puertorican parranda. President arranged all that for our Christmas party. It was super sweet! This past week was alright, Sunday we only had 2 investigators in chruch, which was a bummer cause we were expecting 11. Thanks for updating me on college football. That's awesome that BSU destroyed Utah. Well, i hope all is well with everyone i will keep you in my prayers!! Amber and Brandon, sounds like Disneyland was sweet, im sure the girls loved it. On the BYU situation, just let me know what happens with my transcript and see when i need to have everything done by so i can get in for the fall semester. Well, everything is chill here, we're going to be playing ball later so im excited for that. We also have another leadership meeting today and tomorrow, it should be good. I love yall a bunch. Talk to you next week!!

Elder Bailey

2011!!

2011-01-13T20:47:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone!!

This past week was good. We had a less active family come to church on sunday. They have a son that needs to be baptized so we have been working with them. But none of our other investigators came to church, that was kind of a bummer. So yesterday we had our interviews with president. Im going to be staying here in Guayama this next transfer with the same companion. We also talked about something that the group that i came out with and i will be doing at the end of our missions. So, my coming home date has changed from the 25th of May to the 18th of June. We are all going to extend 4 extra weeks. We are basically all going to be together the last 10 weeks in the same area. And we are just going to tear it up in there. Everyone in our group has been leaders so im super excited for it. And the 18th is a Saturday so that will be a little wierd but it will have to work. Also, i wanted to check with yall to make sure it was alright i dont know if you had any specific plans or anything. Let me know. Also Brandon, hook me up with some info on BYU!!!! I give you permission. ha ha. I love you all so much! Stay classy!

-Elder Bailey

Feliz Nuevo Ano

2011-01-13T20:46:00.003-07:00

Hey everyone,
So, this past week was sweet! It was great talking to everyone and also getting all the packages for Christmas. This week was actually pretty as far as the preaching of the gospel goes. We set a few baptismal dates, but on Sunday we didn't have any investigators in church. Which was kind of a bummer but we still have a ton more potentials as well. So i think we will be having quite a few baptisms coming in the future. We are reactivating a family who seems pretty cool. And one of them hasn't been baptized yet. So everything is going good here. Our apartment has been falling apart recently. Our washing machine broke today and our air conditioning broke as well. At least we still have our car though. So, did yall ever find out any more information about BYU? Maybe i could get into the summer semester or fall. I dont know, get me some info. on when my application needs to be in. Well, i love yall a bunch! Have a great new year!!
-Elder Bailey

Navidad

2011-01-13T20:46:00.001-07:00

Everyone!!!

Thanks for your emails and i did get the packages. Im in the mission office right now. This day has been crazy fun! We woke up at 4 in the morning and we have been doing tons of stuff all day. We went to El Yunque which is a rain forest in puerto rico. And we hiked around in there and there was like waterfalls and stuff it was way sweet. Then after that we went and did like a spontaneous choir in a mall. We were like eating and stuff and when we finished we got up spontaneously singing, all 200 and something of us. Then we came back here and played some basketball. Tomorrow we are going to do some more activities. But ill talk to yall on saturday. By the way you guys can just go ahead and call me at 4. Because we were told we could do that. So here's our number 787-553-4471. Cant wait to hear from you! I love you all and Merry Christmas!!!!

-Elder Bailey

¡¡Feliz Navidad!!

2010-12-15T13:07:00.001-07:00

Hey, hey everyone,

Thanks for the emails and its been sweet opening up presents every day now. I loved the CD with Ashlyn, Brooklyn, and Parker on it. They are so cute!

The Christmas season is finally here! Next week we are going to have a Christmas party for 2 days. But we don't know exactly when. Pres. Alvarado always has surprises. But I'm sure it will be tight. We might be doing a paranda. Which is Puerto Rican Christmas caroling. And no its not exactly peaceful. Guitars, other puerto rican instruments. More like a party walking through the street. By the way, we saw Santa Claus yesterday in the plaza, we almost contacted him. ha ha. And Puerto Ricans also celebrate 3 kings day which is in January. Puerto Rico has more holidays than any other place in the world. Fact. Also its rated as 3rd best place in the world to be at Christmas time. Supposed fact as well.

So as for the missionary work. We have been tracting a lot lately to find new investigators. Receiving referrals from members is the ideal situation and the work would "move forward in a marvelous way" if the members did do the finding for us. Quote from Pres. Hinkley. But it doesn't happen much here. We do have some good potentials though, we will see what happens. Question for Jordan, "Do you have a foundation for the week in your mission as well?" Because here we have to have 140 contacts, 20 lessons, and an investigator in church every week.

Any ways, on Christmas Day i will be calling y'all a little after 4pm your time. So get ready. I'm super excited to talk to y'all!! I love y'all so much! And remember its El Papa not popa. Ha ha. Just a funny thing that happened this week. Talk to y'all on Christmas!!!!

Elder Bailey (como la bebida)

New Comp

2010-12-15T00:00:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone,
Today was transfers! My companion from England left and i got a new one again. Its sweet because im going to be training this transfer. My companion is from Las Vegas and another crazy thing, remember Trevor Mangelson. His brother was one of the new missionaries that came in, Bryce. He said that Trevor is in Billings, Montana on his mission and Shawn is married and has a baby. He served in Uraguay on his mission. Apparently they live in California now. But im still district leader as well, so its going to be interesting the next little while. Im excited though its going to be a lot of fun. So, i did get the package of the 12 days of Christmas stuff. Thanks a bunch, i cant wait to open them. Well, nothing else is new here. This Christmas i wont be able to use skype but i still cant wait to talk to yall! Well, i love you guys so much. Let me know how Jordan's doing.
-Elder Bailey

Transfers

2010-12-08T11:12:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone,

Today was transfers! My companion from England left and I got a new one again. It's sweet because I'm going to be training this transfer. My new companion is from Las Vegas. Oh, and another crazy thing, remember Trevor Mangelson?His brother was one of the new missionaries that came in, Bryce. He said that Trevor is in Billings, Montana on his mission and Shawn is married and has a baby. He served in Uruguay on his mission. Apparently they live in California now.

I'm still district leader as well, so its going to be interesting the next little while. I'm excited though, its going to be a lot of fun. So, I did get the package of the 12 days of Christmas stuff. Thanks a bunch, I cant wait to open them! Well, nothing else is new here. This Christmas I wont be able to use skype but i still cant wait to talk to y'all!

Well, I love you guys so much. Let me know how Jordan's doing.

-Elder Bailey

Thanksgiving was good!

2010-12-05T20:21:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

Well, its good to hear everyone had a good Thanksgiving. Thats nuts a white Thanksgiving!! Sorry to hear that you are sick mom i hope you get better soon. So Sunday was interesting i got a new companion Elder Sinclair, President called me on Sunday and said that my companion needed to pack his stuff because he is going to a new area in 2 hours. So he left. I got a new one and its been good so far, i don't know if this is just a temporary transfer for a week or not but we will see what happens. But my new comp is cool hes from england and this was his first transfer. But thats pretty much all thats new here. We took advantage of Black Friday as well and contacted people outside of Walmart and the mall, it worked out alright. I haven't heard from Jordan in a while, maybe you could forward me some of his emails or something. So, we had turkey with Thanksgiving dinner, rice, beans, potato salad, and pasteles. I dont know how to describe what pasteles are but basically a mushy breading stuff with meat inside. Its good though! Well, thaks for the emails i love you all so much!!

-Elder Bailey

Investigator may be involved in a Murder?!!

2010-12-05T20:20:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

Thanks for the emails and yes i did get the package thanks a bunch for all the stuff! Well, its starting to get colder here as well. Maybe 80 or 75, burrr!! Ha ha. Thanksgiving should be great. Im pretty sure we're having turkey at least i hope so. If not it will be like pork or something. And of course we'll have rice and beans: The basic diet of the Puerto Rican. So as of right now we dont really have any investigators. We had the one but apparently, its kind of a long story but hes supposedly involved in a murder. The case hasnt been solved yet, and i was putting it together on how he could be a suspect. The story begins Halloween. Our investigator and 2 of his friends were at his friends home and a couple people break in to rob them. They tied their hands and feet and blindfold them. Our investigator somehow gets his feet loose and he knows the house so he ran to a bedroom. They shoot him twice one knicks his arm and the other hits his side and he falls behind the bed. They suppose that he is dead and kill his 2 friends and leave. Interesting how we had actually heard about the incident before we met this investigator. We were supposed to have a friend of a member play the violin in church a few weeks back but he didnt show up. And guess why? Because 2 of his friends had been killed in Patillas. The area that the incident had occurred and where our investigator lives. And so last sunday the violin guy and our investigator came to church. After sacrament meeting the 1st counselor of the bishoprick wants to talk with us and takes us into the bishops office. He tells us that someone who is not a member had told him that our investigator was involved in a murder and that he might be using us as an allaby. Who could have been the nonmember that told him about that at church? The violin guy! And so the case has not been solved apparently our investigator might be a suspect and heres why. His ex girlfriend after the incident had happend went back to the house where it occurred and stole a bunch of stuff. She was caught and put in jail. They might be thinking our investigator was her accomplice. So yup interesting stuff is going down. Sometimes i feel like a detective. ha ha. Well im at the 6 month left mark, it goes by too fast! I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving! I did write Cameron he just doesnt write back. Tell Kim congradulations for me! Thats crazy that she is going to be a mom! Keep me updated on BSU. Also, on the stuff about college. Dad, i hope your back gets better. I love you all so much. Something i learned today is that full- time missionary work is about harvesting not planting seeds. Why else would the field be white already to harvest? The field is not plowed already to be planted. Now is the time of the harvest!

-Elder Bailey

Long Zone Conference

2010-11-23T23:20:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

This past week was pretty good. We had zone conference on friday. Which was very long! We had to be there at 7 am and it went until about 6:30 pm. It was sweet though, we watched a movie, Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration. It just got released from the Legacy theater and its awesome. I also got my package that yall sent. Thanks a bunch for the ties, socks, pants, and the candy! Also the drawings from the kids, i liked those as well. So, the other day we set a baptismal date with a guy named Hedrick. He has already been reading the book of mormon because he is the nieghbor of a member. He has some crazy stories. For instance recently, he was shot and he showed us his gun wound and everything. Nuts! But thats pretty much what has been going on here. Thanks for researching the stuff about BYU for me. I was thinking of doing pre med, but i heard from a member here that bio-med is supposedly better because if you dont get into a med school, you can always do something else. But Pre-med you dont have anything to fall back on. So maybe check out ways that i could get into a med school. That doesnt necessarily have to be Pre-med. As for the vacation when i get back, DL would be great, that Harry Potter thing looks sweet as well, i have also been thinking about coming back to Puerto Rico as well. Do some research on that for me.

Sounds like everyone is doing well and Aubrey it sounds like your having fun in Utah! Happy Birthday Heather! Mom i cant wait for the fudge at christmas time. I love yall a bunch!

-Elder Bailey

We're still working in 2 areas

2010-11-23T23:19:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

Thanks for the emails. This past week was alright. The only bad part is that i have a cold. Yes, i am still district leader. We're still working in 2 areas. We have just been trying to learn the other one so that we can know where stuff is there. I think we will have a lot more success there than here in Salinas. We dont really have any good investigators. Thats been the problem lately. We did however get a few refferals from members, that we will be contacting soon. Just praying that theyre good ones. I dont have the package yet. Im hoping i will get it at zone conference on Friday. If you're wondering what to send me for christmas, a shoe polish kit would be nice, one with brushes and brown and black polish. My shoes could use that! And, Mom, if it is possilbe that you can send me some of the fudge that you make? Also, Dad, did you ever fix my checking account card? Let me know whats up with that. Congrats Aubrey on moving to Zion. Amber, can we work on trying to get me transfered to BYU? Just check out what needs to be done and let me know. Thanks everyone for the emails and all your support! I love yall so much! Keep me updated.

-Elder Bailey

Bummer...I have a cold!

2010-11-14T21:37:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

-Elder Bailey

Hey!

2010-11-10T10:41:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone,

Thanks for the emails. This past week was alright. The only bad part is that i have a cold. Yes, I am still district leader. We're still working in 2 areas. We have just been trying to learn the other one so that we can know where stuff is there. I think we will have a lot more success there than here in Salinas. We don't really have any good investigators. That's been the problem lately. We did however get a few referrals from members, that we will be contacting soon. Just praying that they're good ones.
I don't have the package yet. I'm hoping i will get it at zone conference on Friday. If you're wondering what to send me for Christmas, a shoe polish kit would be nice, one with brushes and brown and black polish. My shoes could use that! And, Mom, if it is possible that you can send me some of the fudge that you make? Also, Dad, did you ever fix my checking account card? Let me know whats up with that. Congrats Aubrey on moving to Zion. Amber, can we work on trying to get me transferred to BYU? Just check out what needs to be done and let me know. Thanks everyone for the emails and all your support! I love y'all so much! Keep me updated.

-Elder Bailey

In our apt at 7 for Halloween!

2010-11-09T22:39:00.003-07:00

Hey everyone!

Thanks for the emails and the pics of Halloween. Everyone is growing up! Sounds like it was a lot of fun. That's funny that Brandon was a facebook page! Ha ha. On Halloween here, we had to be in our apartment at 7. Because it gets dangerous. So, we didnt actually move apartments right now we just have 2 of them. We're just keeping the other one open until the mission puts missionaries over there again. The baptism on sunday was good. I attached some pics of it. As of right now we dont have very many investigators. But we do have some potentials. Im pretty sure i will be able to use skype on christmas but we do have a different mission president now so who knows. Its coming up fast isnt it?! As for the college thing. I dont know what my GPA ended up as, but i dont think it was that good. It would be sweet to go to the Y, but i dont know if i would get accepted. But yall can check that stuff out for me. Just give me the options. Thanks for the help, i love yall a bunch! Update me on stuff next week!

-Elder Bailey

!Traslados!

2010-11-09T22:38:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone,

Today we had transfers. My district was dissolved as well as another district in the zone. Now the zone will have only 2 districts. Im still in Salinas, but might be working in Guayama as well. The elders that were there both left so now its just me and my same companion in Salinas. I dont know if im still district leader, i should find out soon. So we inherited another apartment, we might spend a few days there during the week so that we can work in the other area. I should find out the details soon. That is a funny story of the primary kid throwing up during the program. Our baptism on sunday was postponed for this upcoming sunday. My companion will be doing the ordinance. Well, Brandon it sounds like DC was a blast! Also, if you could start searching for schools with a pre-med program that would be sweet. And let me know when the applications need to be in and when the semester would start. Another thing, it probably would be good to look for some scholarships that i could apply for as well. Let me know what comes up. I love you all a bunch!

-Elder Bailey

Reactivating Members

2010-10-25T20:23:00.003-06:00

Hello Everyone,

Hope everyone is doing well. That is scary what happened to grandpa, i hope everything is back to normal. Everything has been going good here. Transfers are next week, we had a baptism last Sunday and one this upcoming Sunday. Just trying to find new investigators. Something cool that we have been doing in the mission lately is focusing on reactivating members. We are told to teach them everything again with the commitments as well. It has been good we have one that has started to come back to church and another that is commited to come to church this Sunday. Also here are 2 pictures of the baptism we had and the other is my district after district meeting. Enjoy. Well other than that no new news. Brandon R, id love to hear what went down in washington. Had to have been a sweet experience. So how was the guy Aubrey brought home? Amber thanks for the pictures of ashyn and brookyn and yall. Today i have 7 months left in the mission. Goes by way too fast. I should be getting the package soon, just depends on when i see the zone leaders next. Sounds like Jordan has eaten some crazy stuff. Ive just eaten chicken feet, conch, octopus, and dolphin. Well, i love yall a bunch, tell Brandon B to read the book of mormon and make sure he is praying, a falling away always begins with the basics first. As well as the coming back. Update me on BSU!

-Elder Bailey

Transfers are in 2 weeks

2010-10-25T20:22:00.001-06:00

Hey everyone,

Everything is good here in Salinas. Transfers are coming up in 2 weeks, im pretty sure there will be a bunch of changes at least with my district. My comp still has a bad attitude, no change. Tried everything i can, he has his free agency. We have a baptism coming up this weekend. His name is Alfredo. Hopefully a future missionary! Other than him we have a couple of other people but no one with a set baptismal date. I havent gotten the package yet. I dont know if you have sent it yet but i should be getting it soon. This past week we caught a mouse in our apartment a few days ago. And we couldnt find a normal mouse trap so we bought this one that is basically a sticky pad that gets the mouse stuck onto it. Which was wierd cause it was still alive when i threw it away. But i think there might be one more still in the apartment. But other than that nothing is new. Just keep me updated on BSU and anything that happens in the fam. I love you all! Have a great week!

-Elder Bailey

Conference Weekend

2010-10-25T20:21:00.000-06:00

Hello everyone!!!

Conference weekend was great! We completed all our goals so we were able to go, the only zone in the mission who completed everything! I had to do a split with the other elders in the district to help them get the goals and we got it just in time. And it was cool because my district was the only district to come up with the idea of doing a split to get the goals. Conference was super good, we missed a couple talks though because the satelite connection cut out for a little bit. Well, tell me how this weekend goes, and for the package i think im good on pants, its mostly that i need to sew on some buttons that fell off. But socks would be great and im always down for ties! We have a few new people we are teaching, this weekend im going to do a baptismal interview for an investigator that the other elders in the district have. We should be having a baptism next weekend. But other than that nothing new. Congradulations to Ryan for getting engaged! Thanks Dad for sending your conversion story. You can always build off of hearing others testimonies. I love you guys. I love the gospel! Keep me updated on BSU and any other crazy stuff that happens. Ill tell you if i get the package. Cool runnings!!!

-Elder Bailey

Leadership Training

2010-10-03T21:04:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone,

It has been a little crazy the past couple days. We had a leadership training monday and tuesday, i might be moving from this area for a little bit and switching places with an elder in my district. But it wont be a transfer. The training was good mainly focusing on the fundamentos of Preach my Gospel. (I dont know why i forgot that word in english) Its like the basics or principles of preach my gospel. Which my mission is a test area for it. It wont be released until like june of next year. Problem is is that the missionary work in Puerto Rico is rough and has been struggling for a while. So, we first need to contact at least 140 people each week and teach at least 20 lessons. (A lot easier said than done) But we have to do it, if we dont finish it by saturday this week we cant go to general conference on saturday and have to work through it. So, missionaries in puerto rico will now be leaving earlier and finishing later in the evening to do it. Pretty much do anything we can to do it. So things are a little crazy here. My clothes fit good and everything, mostly just falling apart and have stains on them. And i think i have holes in all of my socks. So you could send me some socks, black and brown ones. Well, i hope everyone is well and keep me updated on BSU. I love you all!

-Elder Bailey

New Investigators

2010-09-22T17:25:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone,

This week was a pretty good week. We have a few new investigators and a new baptismal date. His name is Freddy, he is the grandson of the ward mission leader. He seems pretty cool and is willing to learn and listen. The lawyer that we have been teaching came to church on Sunday and he liked it. He wanted to get a Gopel Principles manual so we gave him one. We are going to try and set a date with him tomorrow. Next week will be the leadership meeting again, but only Monday and Tuesday this time. Thats cool to hear about Boise State. So, are they undefeated? Keep me updated on their games and stuff. Well its good to hear from you guys. Dad, i was wondering if you could email me your conversion story? I t would be cool to hear your story, i think i heard parts of it before but i dont remember exactly. Tell Brandon to write me, thats sad that he's not going to church. I love you all a bunch thank you for your prayers!

-Elder Bailey

Transfers

2010-09-22T17:24:00.001-06:00

Hey everyone,
All is well here. The zone leaders gave me the package on Sunday. Thanks for the goodies its nice to have something to snack on every once in a while. Sorry to hear about Alexa's bike accident. I hope she heals up fast and everything is good. That's good news that Brandon got accepted in that PR firm, that will be sweet to go to Washington D.C. and everything. Keep working hard Brandon, good job! That's cool that Shane Bowen spoke at your stake conference, we didn't have a general authority at ours. Our stake conference was good though, it was cool to see some of the members in my old area and its cool to see the fruits of the things i did there. A family that i taught and baptized while i was there had a son that was baptized after i left and i had taught him a lot while i was there but he was never baptized. And he received the Melchizedek priesthood on Sunday, so that was cool. So, nothing is happening with transfers, only one missionary in the whole zone is changing. Everyone else is staying. Keep me updated about what's going on with Boise State and everything. I don't know who all reads this but can you forward it to Aubrey and tell her and Brandon to write me too. I love you guys so much, remember, the only thing that you are allowed to hate is sin. Pray always. And i know we are always told to "choose the right" CTR, but strive to always have a "current temple recommend" CTR. That's more for the adults i thought that was cool.
-Elder Bailey

We Got a New Car

2010-09-12T21:22:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone,
So, we finally got a car this past week. Its nice because now we can contact some referrals that we have received. It seems like the work is starting to pick up a little bit. We have stake conference this Sunday so that will be cool to see all the people from my greenie area again. Transfers are coming up next week, i don't think anything will change but who knows. But everything has been good here, we have a few new people we have been working with. The lawyer that we have been working with is cool, he has almost read all the way to Alma. But we are still working with him to go to church. President has wanted us to work on activating the inactive members more. So we have been trying to visit them. Last week we had 6 that said they were going to come to church but they never came. But we will try our best to find those who are ready to return. We were told to teach them the lessons again as if they were investigating the church, and commit them to read and pray about the Book of Mormon again. So we will see what we can do. I love you guys so much. The church is true.
-Elder Bailey

Hurrican Earl Was a No Show

2010-09-12T21:21:00.000-06:00

Hey yall,

Thanks for the emails. Hurricane Earl passed by on monday. Well, turns out he was a no show for us on this part of the island. We had rain all day except for the time that he was supposed to come. San Juan got the worst of it. We basically just didnt have electricity for a couple hours and thats it. The area im in is Salinas and Guayama is near, its not Guyana, thats in south america. The roaches in the apartment have kind of left, they only show up every once in a while. Everything else is good, you can send me a care package if you want with some goodies in it. Hopefully we will get our car soon. This is not a walking area, so its a pain. Tell me if BSU wins their game on monday. Thats awesome that Parker and i weighed the same! We will have to wait and see how he grows. Remember they always said Barry Sanders was too small as well... Well, there's no new news here. We have 2 investigators that are kind of progressing, but havent gone to church yet. What i think would help a lot is if my companion got a better attitude. I dont care if we are getting referrals from members or have to result to tracting, no matter what you do you do it with a good attitude and do it right. Thank you for your prayers, i still need them. I love you guys so much. Nothing can stop the work from progressing.

-Elder Bailey

Two Weeks worth of emails

2010-09-03T21:04:00.003-06:00

Sept. 1st email

Hey yall,

-Elder Bailey

August 25th email

Hey everyone!!

Wow, Parker is finally here!! Thats so exciting! Thanks for sending the pictures, he looks just like Brandon. Now you guys have 3 kids thats crazy! Well congradulations, another adventure begun. Well it was good to hear from yall. Everything is alright here. We dont have many people to teach but we have a few potentials still. Hopefully we will be getting our car this week. Yesterday we had a meeting with Pres. Alvarado in place of the District Meeting. They want us to activate more of these less actives we have here in Salinas and maybe ill be working in Guayama part of the time as well. Because Guayama is where the chapel is. I dont know but we'll be figuring that out soon. Not much other news though. I love you guys so much, keep me posted on how Parker is doing and everything. You guys are the best!

-Elder Bailey

Tyson's lesson on Atonement

2010-08-22T16:38:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone,

Well, so far this week we had the confirmation of Jomary on sunday and this is pretty much it. We had zone conference on monday, and Elder Vinas (70) came and spoke to us. He told us a few things that we need to work on in Puerto Rico and talked to us about the Atonement. Which was sweet! For someone to have a true conversion to the church they need to understand, experiment, and feel the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Understanding it is the doctrine basically, to experiment it is to repent, be baptised, and to feel the Atonement is the fruits that come from doing those things. For instance we feel joy and relief when we repent, happiness knowing that we have been forgiven of our wrong doings, and that leads to peace in our lives. But to feel the Atonement you have to go through the process. and if it is a true process the fruits will come. The same way you come to love someone, come to understand them, experiment life with them and then the feelings will come. I love you all so much, you are the best family ever! Tell Brandon and Aubrey to write me! I will be praying for Amber that everything goes well and that Parker is healthy. Thats good that Heather is alright, i always keep you guys in my prayers. I could use your prayers as well my comp doesnt like to do much. I feel like im doing everything!

-Elder Bailey

We had a Baptism Sunday!

2010-08-16T19:57:00.000-06:00

Hey yall!!!

It was good to get some emails from everyone. Thanks for the forwarded emails of Jordan, its always cool to hear about him. Could you send me some pictures that he might of sent yall as well? Well, we had a baptism on Sunday, Jomary was baptised. Her kids are crazy, when she got in the baptismal font one ran around to the bathroom to try and get in with her! But it was a good experience, its always cool to see a baptism. So right now we are really hurting for investigators, we have a couple potentials but nothing solid. We will keep working hard though, there are always fruits that come from work. Hopefully the fruits of our works are good. Well i love you guys, tell everyone to write me its good to hear from everyone in the fam individually.

-Elder Bailey

We got in a head on collision!

2010-07-30T19:50:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone,

This has been an interesting week. First of all we dont have a car anymore, we got in a head on collision on monday, and its not driveable. The car got towed, so we will be getting bicycles. And now we will be moving out of our apartment we are in now within a week because of the cocroach problem and the leaking problem we have there. It is not the same place i have lived before, usually missionaries live in their proselyting area. It will be sweet to start using bikes, now i will have been in a car area, walking area and now a bike area. Transfers are also next week. We have a baptism scheduled for next weekend as well. She is starting to quit smoking now and she is reading the book of mormon and everything. She is a single mom with 3 kids and she really wants to change her life around. (And thats where the restored gospel comes in) To live a higher quality of life and filter out the things of the world and do the things that our Heavenly Father wants us to do.

Well, thanks everyone for your emails, i love you guys so much. Its good to hear that my emails are doing something! Ill send some pictures of the accident. What had happend is the guy in the other lane had fallen asleep and merged into our lane. We couldnt dodge him, i wasnt driving, we were on a bridge and who knows if we werent there he could have gone off the bridge and could have died. But everything is good im fine and my companion as well.

-Elder Bailey

Boot Camp Week

2010-07-22T21:44:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone,

im emailing today because this week is a leadership training boot camp thing for the next 4 days. And im district leader so i have to go. It should be fun, but its kind of wierd leaving my area for a week. Our investigators are doing great, our baptismal date and her dad came to church on sunday and they really liked it. They are planning on coming next week as well. So they are progressing well. Its just rough cause now we are giving satan a week to work on them. And he does work hard it seems. So we have to be working harder. We gave her a few chapters to read and a movie to watch, so she doesnt sit in idleness. Well im hoping to learn a lot this week with the training and everything. I love you all so much, remember to always share the gospel, share spontanious testimony (it doesnt have to be "i testify" or "i would like to bear my testimony" but as simple as "I know God lives" or "the church is true"). Remember the purpose of the church on the earth is the vicarious work for our ancestors, perfecting the saints, and PREACHING THE GOSPEL. Well, i have to go cause the internet at this place is expensive. Remember to send me a Mormon Tabernacle Chior CD! We dont have any music to listen to here.

-Elder Bailey

All is well here in Puerto Rico!

2010-07-14T00:42:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone!!

All is well here in Puerto Rico. We had a tropical wave come through here, my companion and i bug bombed our apartment (it didnt work), and thats pretty much it. We have been working with a few investigators but no baptismal dates so far. We had a meeting with our new mission president and he seems pretty cool. He is a lot different than president dewsnup was though. A lot less strict on things. Which i am not used too, president dewsnup is an attourney and was a general in the airforce, so he was really strict and i loved it. When the rules are strict there is less contention, is what i have come to find. But i guess the reason why we have so many commandmentsa nd things is because we are dissobedient. Like the children of israel had many strict laws and much more strict than ours today. It was because of their dissobedience. Maybe after the new president is in for a while he will make things more stict because of disobedience that arrises. So Jordan is already done with 1/4 of his mission?! Thats crazy! Time flies when youre engaged in a good cause. Its interesting how in the book of mormon, it talks least about the times when the church was flourishing. For instance the 200 years after Jesus Christ visited the americas. Not much is recorded about what all happend. The time just flew by as a result of good choices and living the gospel. Much like a mission, all we do is preach the gospel and time flies by! Well all is well here, we just need to find people to teach! The church is true the gospel is true. I love you guys so much, share the gospel with everyone you know! You dont know who is prepared until you ask them. Well, i love you all, have a great week!

-Ekler Bailey

I'm All Settled in Puerto Rico!

2010-06-30T16:44:00.002-06:00

06/30/10
Hey everyone,

So im all settled in to Puerto Rico! Everything is going well here we have 2 baptisms coming up the 18th of july. My companion is Elder Mata'utia, hes from Samoa. The members here are great and its good to be speaking spanish again. The distict leader thing is not entirely new, i have been district leader for the past 7 months now. Just in 3 different areas. It is a different apartment than before, each area has its own apartment. Also, we have a new mission president, President Alvarado. I havent met him yet but we might be having a meeting with the whole mission in a couple weeks or so. Thanks for the pictures you sent, Brooklyn and Ashlyn look so big! Tell Brooklyn happy birthday for me!! I havent heard back from Jordan yet. And dad have you been able to get the missionaries to meet with Patricia yet? Well, i love you all so much! Keep the emails coming!

-Elder Bailey

Hey Everyone!

2010-06-16T14:16:00.001-06:00

hey everyone-

All is well in Antigua. Were safe, staying away from dogs, (i hate dogs now) and eating well. Its been great because we have had water lately. It only is off in the evenings and at night. Zone conf. was great as always! It was Pres. Dewsnups last one. I will miss him he was an outstanding mission pres. No baptisms this week, maybe soon though. Sounds like yall will be empty nesters soon. ha ha. I received the package from yall recently, thanks for the stuff, and the t shirts are sweet. Well i will find out if ill be transfered on monday! It doesnt really matter where i go, cause ill go where ever the Lord wants me to go. I love you guys so much!

-Elder Bailey

Last 2 emails!

2010-06-02T18:21:00.001-06:00

Hey everyone,

This past week was great we had 2 baptisms on saturday. Reef and Ann. I will hopefully send yall some pictures at the senior couples home today. Well, happy birthday dad!! Its sounds like it was awesome. I cant wait to do it when i get back! Everything is pretty normal around here. Hurricane season started yesterday, its supposed to be an active one. We will hopefully have 3 baptisms this saturday as well, if everything goes as planned. Well, i dont have any other news so i hope everything is going well with yall. Tell me how Aubrey's graduation goes. I have emailed Jordan but he hasnt answered me back yet. I wrote to him in spanish, im not quite sure how much he understood. Well, i love you guys a bunch, keep me updated on whats happening and tell Jordan to write me back!

-Elder Bailey
June 2, 2010

Hello everyone!!

This has been an interesting week so far. Yesterday my companion and i went to the house of one of our investigators for an appointment. My companion went to pet his dog who was tied to the front porch of his house. I stayed back, because i dont pet dogs, let me tell you why.. My comp is petting the dog and a guy is walking by and says to him, "Hey, dont pet that dog man it will bite you!!" Elder Schmutz looks away toward the guy and when he looks back the dog lunges to bite him. It latched on to his wrist and he tried to pull away but it was on there good. He finally pulls away from it and i come running up to him, "Elder! are you ok!" I look at his wrist and blood is pouring out of two holes in his wrist. I havent seen that much blood in a while. Hes going to be fine we got some instructions from Sis. Dewsnup and hes good to go. But that is why we dont pet dogs, i dont think he'll be petting them any time soon. So thats the story of the week! And this weekend we will have 2 baptisms and the sunday after that we will have 3 more!! I should be getting the packages you sent me at zone conference the 11th of june. Well, tell Kim congratulations on the wedding thing. Please, forward this to Jordan too. I love guys so much thanks for the emails all the time!

-Elder Bailey

2 Baptisms Lined Up!

2010-05-19T19:13:00.001-06:00

Hello everyone!!

This past week has been pretty normal. We are preparing for 2 baptisms coming up, one on the 30th and one on the 6th of June. They are progressing well and i hope no problems arise. Well it sounds like everyone is busy back home, graduations, birthdays, weddings, etc. I have the same companion, Elder Schmutz. I got a really sweet haircut, they use a razor to like cut out your hairline and it looks so fresh! Have you gotten any pics from Jordan, i would love it if you sent me some. My new mission president was in the church news recently, to be announced as the new mission president. Well i hope all is well at home, keep writing and send me some pics of Jordan!

-Elder Bailey

Short and Sweet

2010-05-12T15:52:00.001-06:00

Hey everyone!!

Well sunday was awesome it was so fun to see and talk to you all. By the way Happy Mothers Day mom!! I think i might of forgotten to mention that. Well nothing new has happened, transfers have passed and my comp and i are staying in antigua. This will probably be my last one here. Well i love you guys a bunch!! Tell me how Jordan's doing!

-Elder Bailey

I get to call on Mother's Day!!

2010-05-12T15:51:00.002-06:00

Hello Everyone!!!

Everything is going good here, transfers is in a week. I will most likely stay here for 1 more transfer. Sunday i will be getting on Skype at 5pm my time so thats 3 pm your time. Hope that works for yall. So our baptismal dates are moving around. We had to get rid of a couple bums who dont do any of the commitments. But we will for sure have at least one this month. Sounds like Jordan is doing great, wow he gained weight! I didnt think that was possible. I havent really changed, maybe actually lost a few pounds. So the other night we ran out of plans for the day and we decided to go check up on one of our baptismal dates, she wasnt there but her mom was along with a neighbor, she was plating (braiding) her hair. We got to talking to her and she was contentious. She was argueing with us about a rule we have that we cant teach a single woman with out a man present. But we diverted it to the gospel and were going back and forth for a while. But we bore testimony and did our best to not contend, (even though we could have wasted her) we were about to leave and the girl that she was plating her hair asked us if she could have a book of mormon, so we were happy that something came out of it, we have a return appointment, im so glad we didnt get contentious. Its amazing how you never know who could be listening. But i cant wait for sunday. And CONGRADULATIONS Amber and Brandon on the little boy you will have!!! That will be so much fun for you guys! Well Ill see and talk to yall sunday!!

-Elder Bailey

The Work Has Picked Up!

2010-04-28T15:47:00.000-06:00

Hey!!!!

Sounds like everyone is doing good! Thanks for forwarding Jordans email, im always stoked to hear about him. Sounds like he is having some success in Mexico. The work has started to pick up again here, we had zone conference in st kitts last week so that was a blast. And recently we set a bunch of baptismal dates, we have 6 coming in the month of May. I got the shoes at zone conference and they have been working good, just breaking them in so i got a few blisters. Im not quite sure when mothers day is but we are allowed to do Skype instead of calling on the phone, so it would be sweet to see you guys and you can see me too! Its like a web cam thing. So if yall could get that for mothers day that would be awesome! By the way thanks for the candy and stuff too. Well, i love you all so much, keep me updated on whats going on, tell me whats happening with ambers baby. And Happy Birthday Amber!!! And Jordan!!! I missed his too. Well, all is well here, I love you guys!!

-Elder Bailey

Rainy Day in Antigua

2010-04-20T20:26:00.001-06:00

Hello!!

Everything is good in Antigua. Were pretty much starting over with investigators, but we have some really good potentials coming up this week. One who we contacted the other day on the street, he said he hasnt been to church in a while and had some questions about God and everything. We answered them and it was awesome, because he understood and then my companion told him of the story of Joseph Smith and you could tell he was listening intently. We gave him a Book of Mormon and we have an appointment with him this weekend. Its interesting how some people grow up in a church and then they find out its a false church and just automatically cancel out all the other churches. So, sunday was our first day in our new building. It has been 10 years since they had first bought the land, so there has been some anticipation. We had a 2 hour testimony meeting, (first time i had that!) But it was good, but the worst part was this one dude who was a Seventh Day Adventist who came and bore his "testimony." Mostly just preaching how it doesnt matter what church you go to just as long as you believe in John 3:16 (and he quoted it wrong). So the spirit was sucked right out of there, because there was no truth to that, the spirit only bears testimony of truth. But then one brother got up there and bore his testimony of the first vision and how this is the only church with the saving ordinances. So it was interesting. Then yesterday it was an eventful day, not very successful but it was fun. We had a tropical wave come through and it rained all day straight, pretty much with out stopping. In the morning i had the only umbrella and when we were going back to the apartment for lunch we were huddled under the one umbrella, because my comp didnt have one. So, we walked like a mile in this massive storm of rain and there were like rivers running through the streets and stuff, it was crazy and when we got back we were soaking wet. So all is well here, you can send pictures over email cause its faster. Hope you had fun in Disney land!!! Please forward this to jordan!

-Elder Bailey

Happy Easter

2010-04-20T20:23:00.000-06:00

Hey,

Thats awesome that you got the pictures, i sent those a few weeks ago. I havent gotten the shoes, because i dont get packages from the mission office until zone conference. And zone conference isnt until like the 23 or 24th of april. But everything is going good, so far we are ordering a book of mormon in Hindi and Arabic for a couple people. Its crazy how many different cultures there are in the caribean. We watched conference on sunday at the church, through the internet. It was way awesome. Especially because it sounds like theyre raising the bar for the youth now. Its amazing to see how the church is truly guided by revelation. We have been having a rough time with our investigators, they havent been progressing and we are close to dropping a couple of them. Thank you for your prayers, please keep them coming. I love you guys so much, i hope youre having fun in disney land.

-elder bailey

The drunk man we met...

2010-03-29T12:30:00.000-06:00

Hey,
Dont have much time, dont know why, but they only gave me 20 minutes. Everything is good here, i wont get the shoes until 23rd of april, thats when zone conference is. Heres a story for ya, we went to go buy a drink yesterday at a store when we went back outside there was a guy who i started talking to, aparently drunk. We started talking about a bunch of stuff and he was like, "I smoke marijuana." And he like kept saying it and my companion is like, "I believe you." And he was like i dont shoot chemicals or anything, i smoke marijuana. and we just kept saying we believe you! It was funny. There was another time when we were talking to this one lady, and she was telling us all this stuff and then she's like, "and im losing my mom." Then my companion was like, "we know where your mom is." (Its times like these when i just cover my eyes or just look away until the awkwardness of the situation wears off) Then she's like, "Oh, you do!" (sarcastic). Then afterwards im like, "elder, her mom wasnt dead, she said she was losing her mom!" Its so funny, stuff like that happens all the time with him. My weight is fine, i actually think ive gained a little muscle, doing push ups and situps every morning (except sunday). Well, everything is good with me, keep the emails coming, and ill be sending my bracket to yall!
-Elder Bailey

All is well in Anitgua!

2010-03-22T16:41:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone,
All is well in Antigua. Hopefully we'll be seeing some baptisms either the end of this month or next month for sure. We have a bunch of investigators, now we just need to separate the chaff. Yesterday the zone leaders flew in for a trade off with us. It was good, we learned a lot and now we know what to work on. BE BOLD. A lot of times it seems like i have to answer all their questions, when the only question is is asking God if the Book of Mormon is true, then all else falls after. The scripture of the week is, Alma 32:26,27. Faith is not a perfect knowledge, experiment on the words, exercise a particle of faith, and even if you dont have faith, but only a desire to believe let that desire work in you. Remember all you need is faith the size of a mustard seed and you can move mountains and nothing shall be impossible unto you. If you have faith exercise it and it will bring forth fruit and by the fruit you might know if it is a good seed. Well thats the spiritual thought for the week! I love you all so much, pictures are on the way! I will try to print off the bracket! Oh, and Amber, we took a plane over for zone conference.
-Elder Bailey

Waggoin!

2010-03-12T13:36:00.001-07:00

Waggoin!
(i think thats how u spell it) It means like whats up. But everything is chill here. Just enjoying life in the caribean. Sounds like the annual disneyland trip is in the works. That will be awesome. I dont know how it feels for yall but it seems like when i was back home was a different life or something. And i just basically talk with a computer every week. Anyways, i havent used my US bank card in awhile, because the last time i tried it didnt have any money on it. But i will check it out soon. So yesterday i got back from zone conference in St Kitts. It was sweet, zone conference is always fun. The new mission president in July 1st, will be Jorge Alvarado. So that will be interesting. So we still have a few good investigators with baptismal dates, that wont be until the end of this month. Hopefully it picks up a little more when we use the stuff we learned at zone conference. But all is well with me, keep me updated on March Madness!
con amor,
Elder Tyson LeRoy Bailey (signature)

6 Investigators at Church!!

2010-03-04T16:56:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!
Another week gone by! On sunday we had 6 investigators at church. There were some people from Idaho as well who were visiting. They were going to call and say hi for me. So, lately we have had a bunch of new people to teach, and 3 baptismal dates. The way things are running we have like 7 people who could be baptised in the future. Yesterday i had to go to immigration to renew my Antigua visa. I was in line for 6 hours. So that was a lot of fun. ha ha. But everything has been great here so far. My companion and i get along well and it was funny one time we were waiting for a guy for an appointment, outside of a store. And there was another dude standing there, so my companion started to talk to him and asked him what his name was. He said, "i dont want to tell you my name. Why do u want to know my name?" It was funny. Another time we were walking and we saw a guy doing yard work or something and we were like, "hey do u need any help?" He said, "I dont want help from u, you people(whites) treat us(blacks) like dogs." And that kind of stuff is just a daily occurance. But it has been a lot of fun here, i learn something everyday. Also, i will need yall to send me some new black shoes, mine are pretty much done, i have blisters on my feet because i basically walk on my socks now. Im a size 12. Please send ASAP. So i hope yall enjoy the new dog and the new roommates. The scripture of the week is 2 Nephi 26:33. I love yall so much, keep sending the emails!
-Elder Bailey

Hello Everyone!

2010-02-28T19:07:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!
Well it was my first week with my new companion, his name is Elder Schmutz and hes from New Mexico. Its funny cause he doesnt ever stop talking but i have a lot of experience with people who never stop talking (Brandon). Ha ha. No but he is cool. Everything has been great here, Im so excited for Jordan to enter the field!! It'll be tight. So, we have a baptismal date with one of our investigators, he says hes going to bring his family to church as well on sunday. So weve got high hopes with him. Well i hope all is well, by the way you can send me packages, the Pres. Dewsnup just brings them at zone conference. Well, i love you all a lot, keep sending me emails!
-Elder Bailey

Going well over here

2010-02-28T19:06:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!!
Everything is going well over here. Antigua is great and for the past little while we have had ash falling and stuff from the volcano in Montserrat (an island nearby). I guess the dome collapsed and shot ash and smoke 50,000 feet into the air and a little lava came out. So that was exciting. We have a few good investigators but no baptismal dates. Hopefully they will be baptised this next transfer. And speaking of next transfer, my companion will be leaving and i will be getting a new one. I will also be district leader again. My new companion has less time than me in the mission and i will be senior companion. Thats crazy that Amber and Brandon are moving to Utah! Well i wish them the best down there. I still cant believe Aubrey is almost done with school, it blows my mind. And thats really sad to hear about Nick Bacon. Oh and i have been emailing Jordan and he sent me some too, he says he will leave on the 22nd but he has other dates as well that he could leave on. With Mexico its never really secure when you're heading out. I will try and write Taylor, ive just been really busy here and its hard to find time. Well i hope all is well and keep the emails coming! Oh and the address is the same so its just the mission office. And i get mail once a transfer. Well, i love you all so much and keep writing me every week!
-Elder Bailey

All is well here!

2010-02-10T17:12:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,
All is well here! We have a few strong investigators that are coming to church and everything. One we met yesterday, he's from the Dominican Republic and he loves America. We were talking with him and he said that he believes it's true. He said that nobody else could answer his question of why there are so many churches today. So he sounds very prepared. We have had to drop a few of our investigators as well, because they weren't coming to church. Well, that's sweet that Brandon got to go to Virginia. Im so excited for the new baby! (I hope its a boy) Its crazy to think that Brooklyn is so big now. When i left she was still a baby! So transfers are coming up next week it is very possible that my companion will leave. I will be here for another 3 transfers at least, so until June or so. Well, i hope all is going well over there. I heard the Saints won the Superbowl! (yay!) Keep the emails coming, I love you all so much!
-Elder Bailey

Hello Everyone!

2010-02-03T15:22:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!
Everything is great over here. Sorry, this computer wont let me look at the pictures. We have a few investigators, one's Hindu, one's muslim, and a couple others. We had one that read the verses we highlighted for her and she said that she believes its true. Im still learning the crazy language here. "Nyam" means eat and they only use like he, she, me, we for everything. No I, his, hers, our. Its really wierd. We meet on sundays at this little rented out building for now, but we have a church building thats been built and now were waiting on a guy from Dominican Republic to check it out. It looks pretty much like a normal church building, but a little smaller. Oh a funny thing that people say here is when they ask you where you're from they say, what part of New York are you from? So, everything is pretty chill here. Tell me who wins the Superbowl on Sunday, im rooting for the Saints.
I love you all so much!-Elder Bailey

Short but Sweet

2010-01-30T14:59:00.002-07:00

Hello Read family!
Im doing great. We had the confirmations of our 2 baptisms on sunday, i was able to do one of the confirmations. It was all really cool. My comp is the district leader, hes pretty cool, he reminds me a lot like brandon read. His name is Elder Hardy and hes from Arizona. Well sounds like everything is alright over there. Tell Brandon im not allowed to look at the blog and tell him good luck with the job stuff. Hope yall had a fun trip to vegas and everything! Cant wait to hear from ya! By the way i havent heard from jordan yet.-Elder Bailey

Greetings from Antigua!

2010-01-13T14:09:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone, So at transfers i got sent to Antigua! Its a small island and people drive on the left side of the road. I'm speaking English now. (well kind of) But its just incredibly bad grammar. My companion is Elder Hardy from Arizona. He reminds me of Brandon Read. So i have been here a week and it has been amazing. I don't have a car anymore so were walking everywhere. It was so great to hear from y'all. I love the pictures, send more. Doesn't Jordan have my email, tell him to email me. Its been pretty cool this past week, there are tons of rastas here with like dreadlocks and stuff, its been way fun. We see huge cruise ships come in like everyday. We use E.C. money here, (Eastern Caribbean) 3 dollars here is 1 dollar in US. I will most likely be here till May or June. We have a couple baptisms coming up this Sunday so it will be sweet my comps going to baptize them in the ocean. New years was great my comp and i woke up at 12 and went outside to see the fireworks. This was back in Caguas so it was crazy it sounded like a war zone. Puerto Ricans love their holidays. How is Jordan doing? I want to hear from him! Thanks everyone for the pictures and the packages and cards at Christmas time! I love you all so much!-

Elder Bailey

Feliz Navidad!

2010-01-05T22:45:00.002-07:00

Merry Christmas!!!Hello everyone, thanks for the emails, i always appreciate them. So on sunday we had the baptism of Fernando, and it was way cool, i was able to do the ordinance. Then today we had the surgery of my companions toe, he had an ingrown toenail. Sounds like Elder Bailey the 2nd is well prepared for the MTC. Please send me some pics of the drop off. He will do great i just know it. Tell Grandpa M. thanks for the $50, will probably go to Marshalls and buy a couple ties. So tomarrow we have our Mission Christmas Party, it should be fun, im hoping my packages are there at the mission office. I will have to check and see if they have a G.P. book but i will let you know what happens.So christmas day i will be calling from a member's home at around 2:00 p.m.(your time) So have everyone at the house at that time, so that i can talk to them. Im so excited to talk to everyone! Well heres some pics hope you enjoy them. I love you all so much, have a great Christmas!

-Elder Bailey the 1st

Jordan's in the MTC!!

2010-01-05T22:44:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!! So today is the day Jordan enters the MTC! Im so excited for him. I seem to tell everyone i meet that my brother is going to the MTC. When does he enter the field? Tell me how the curb-side drop off went, and make sure he has my email. The first couple weeks in the MTC go by slow, but it picks up really fast and before you know it you have 7 months in the mission. Like me. ha ha. And it doesnt slow down, it speeds up every week. Its amazing how much you learn and continue to learn in the mission. I cant wait to write Jordan in spanish!! Make sure that he emails me, every week. He will do awesome, i just know it. Obedience is everything! Preach My Gospel, white handbook, and missionary library. I am so excited for him, i hope i can write him soon. Well, everything is going great here. Our investigator, Fernando, is progressing really well. Pretty much all we have to do is teach him the commandments in lesson 4 and do the baptismal interview. He is 100% prepared, he call it a golden investigator. He has had some cool experiences, 1st he said whenever he prays he recieves an answer that the Book of Mormon is true, 2nd he said that before he has had problems disconnecting from work and had problems sleeping, but now he reads every night and it helps him to sleep at night. 3rd he was having money problems and was praying that he would be able to pay the bills and the next day he recieved a Christmas bonus check. His baptism is this weekend. Well, thats all the secure investigators we have for right now. I hope that all is well, no more heart problems, or hernias. I will keep yall in my prayers. Next week you will be receiving a call on Christmas Day!! So be ready for that i will try and establish a time when i will call, but that will be in the next email. I have not received any packages yet or cards so i hope they come soon or i dont know if they will be coming. Can you send me some scripture mastery cards (bible & bom), the new gospel principles book (spanish or english surprise me). And of course whatever else you want to send me. I found out that i can read books that are written by apostles, prophets, those are the only acceptions. Man, it seems like my english gets worse and worse everyday. Well, i hope all is well and everyone had a great good-bye to Jordan, I mean Elder Bailey. The MTC is so fun he will have a blast. I cant wait to hear from yall, next week i expect a report from each one of you about what's going on in your lives (Mom, Dad, Brandon, Aubrey, etc.) Include pictures if necessary. I promise i will write you back! This will be graded and is 10% of your final grade in the class of, Writing Elder Bailey on His Mission. As of right now the grades dont look good. ha ha. Its a joke but seriously write me. i cant wait to see the BMW, that is awesome, im sure Jordan was stoked. Oh and it was crazy my companion has a nasty ingrown toenail, i actually got one too last transfer but i fixed it using my superior medical knowledge. Well, thats all i can think of to write right now. Its really starting to feel like winter here, people here actually think that like 75 degrees is cold, and thats only at night. I hope all is well, keep writing me!! I know you can do it! I only received one email this week. Well, thats all have a great week!! I love you all so much!-Elder Tyson LeRoy Bailey

All is great over here

2010-01-05T22:43:00.000-07:00

Hey Yall!!!All is great over here in La Isla Del Encanto, this week has been great, we have a new baptism coming up!! He is a guy that came to church one sunday, so we arranged a time to meet with him. We taught him the Restoration and we gave him a Book of Mormon and a pamphlet and a movie to watch. After the lesson we asked him if he would give the closing prayer and ask if these things are true. He did and he said after that we felt something inside of him, like a feeling or something. We told him it was the Holy Ghost bearing witness to him of these things. Yesterday we called him to see how he was doing, he is doing wonderful! He read the pamphlet, watched the movie, and is continueing to read the Book of Mormon. He told us that we wants to be baptised and that it is all true, he said, "I know my date is for the 20th, but i will be baptised whenever you think im prepared, but i know this is true and i want to be baptised." We are so excited for him, he will be a great member. All we have to do now is teach him everything. So, thats what has been going on here. It is still like 90 something degrees like everyday. But the night gets down to a ice cold 75 degrees, wow thats freezing! My companion and i are going to buy a small christmas tree today. Getting into the holiday spirit! I was just thinking the other day that i am going to be missing mom's fudge this year:( Maybe yall can send me some, ha ha. Oh and can you check out sending me the new Principles of the Gospel book. I really want it. No did not get the package, maybe it is just extremly slow or it's lost. That is crazy that Kim is getting married! I guess it is about that time for everyone to get married huh. District Leader has turned out to be pretty fun, i am in charge of district meetings and calling the sister missionaries every night to see their progress and help them be successful missionaries, then i report the progress of my district (My companion and I, and the sisters) to the zone leaders and they give me counsel on my district. It is fun though. And i am a lot busier! Wow, that is sweet for Boise State, tell me if they win or not. I have pretty much everything i need here, our fridge is stuffed full of food from members. My companion and i get along really well, i has been so much fun, he has been teaching me a lot about music and how to read it, and he is way good at the guitar by the way. Brandon Bailey would think he was funny. Oh and ask Grandpa M if he knows someone named, Phoebe N Hemmelwright, its my comps great grandma, she was born in Beaver, Utah in 1916. She died a while back but maybe he knows her. That would be really crazy. I am so excited for Jordan he will do so great. Preach My Gospel is everything! Read it, study it, live it. ha ha. I love you all so much! Have fun in the cold and snow, i will always be here in the heat and rain. Keep the letters and stuff coming!-Elder Bailey

Old San Juan Pictures

2010-01-05T22:23:00.006-07:00

Here are TONS of pictures of Old San Juan!!!

I'm District Leader!

2010-01-05T22:14:00.003-07:00

Yikes! But it looks like Tyson's having fun!

Holy cow pigeons everywhere!

Hey everyone, Thanks for the emails, i appreciate them all! All is well here. Im starting to get used to being District Leader and senior companion. I cannot rely as much on my companion anymore. But it will be a great growing experience for me. My thanksgiving was good, i ate too much and it was a little different than im used to. Basically was just normal Puerto Rican food but with a side of turkey. And NO mashed potatoes and gravy! Its not really a very big holiday here. So it was just like a normal meal with turkey. But it was good. Also last week i went to Old San Juan, yay!! I took some pictures and videos. I hope that yall like them. Oh and my new companion is Elder Bryan from Washington. He is a pretty cool guy, we have had a lot of fun so far. So this past week we have been waking up at like 5:30 or earlier because we have been so busy. My spanish is improving and i learn more and more every day. Sounds like yall had a fun thanksgiving. Oh and i remember that yall said that you sent me a package a couple weeks ago? I havent gotten it yet. But tell Jordan when he gets to the MTC to look for a Elder Rosarrio, and if he is in there until like the middle of january to look for an Elder Negron. Just some guys from the ward that are leaving on missions. When does Jordan enter into the field? How is he feeling now that its getting close? ha ha. He will do great just as long as he is 100% obedient. Oh and yall can send me whatever for Christmas, packages, letters, etc. Well, keep the emails coming, its great to hear from yall. I love you all so much!-Elder Bailey

I'm staying in Caguas

2010-01-05T22:08:00.002-07:00

Hello everyone!!!!Well all is going great here. We found out last night what is going to happen with transfers. My companion is leaving and im staying here in Caguas. But im going to be District Leader here, so i have more responsibility. My companion is Elder Bryan and he has 2 transfers in the mission, so President Dewsnup told me i need to teach him how to baptise. Basically this will be my test, one of my companions told me either my 3rd or 4th transfer will be my test. So, it will be my 4th. Now i cant rely on my companion at all, its basically all me. I will do my best and hopefully i will do well. Things are starting to pick back up here, we have a baptismal date and we have some appointments this week. We have a lot of potentials so, i hope it works out well. Last week we had a Thanksgiving Luau. It was pretty sweet, they cooked a pig under the ground like in Hawaii, it was all really cool. This Thanksgiving should be good we have an appointment to eat at a members house and they always cook pretty good. Tell Lexi good job for me, and tell her i have to give a talk on sunday too, but in spanish, ha ha. Well thats pretty much it. I love you all so much! Oh and when does Brandon go to the temple? Thats interesting, i dont know if he knows why, because its for when you are going to get married or go on a mission. Obviously he plans on getting married, but i just think its interesting. Well, i hope all is well over there, keep the emails coming and prayers too! -Elder Bailey

It's another pday!

2010-01-05T21:52:00.002-07:00

Hello Everyone!!

Its another pday!! Time seems to be going by faster and faster. One week from now is transfers. Im counting down the days till Jordan enters the MTC!! Im so excited for him. But all is well here, same stuff as usual. I didnt hear about anyone dieing on Halloween so thats good. We have been doing a lot of service the past week and its a lot of fun. Yesterday we cut down a pana tree and we started a coconut tree but we didnt have enough time. We also destroyed a wall at the Mendozas house (the family we baptised) They have been redoing their house and so we have been helping them a lot. But Thanksgiving should be fun, ( it is an american holiday mom, but Puerto Rico is part of the U.S.) Im pretty sure they do the traditional thanksgiving dinner, but probably puertorican style. So there will be a side of arroz y habichuelas and tostones and some other creations. ha ha. And it seems like the whole ward wants us to come to their houses and eat so it should be great. No, i havnt gotten food poisoning yet, but i have gotten used to having diareha, ha ha. So, we have been teaching a few people but they keep falling, so we dont have anything secure right now. Its been really interesting hearing about all the different religions lately. Its pretty funny too. Ive heard a lot about the Jehova's Witnesses, and have talked to a few. Its a really depressing religion. ha ha. We talked to a guy recently that read about the church and wanted to know more so he contacted us and we taught him and gave him a Book of Mormon and then he dissapeared. So that was a drag, we thought he was golden. Oh and a few days ago our house got flooded from the rain one day and our living room and kitchen were full of water, so we spent like an hour sweeping it all out. Its fine now though. But thats pretty much it in my world. Keep the emails and letters and stuff coming, by the way i havent gotten the package yet. Heres some pictures. I love you all so much!!-Elder Bailey

A picture of service, we destroyed that wall, and a really really short video, sorry its the only one i can send but it would be a cool picture if it was one. Hno. Mendoza is in the background cutting down a tree and its basically just me and my companion standing there. ha ha.

Hello Everyone!

2009-11-30T14:46:00.003-07:00

Hello Everyone!!
Its another pday!! Time seems to be going by faster and faster. One week from now is transfers. Im counting down the days till Jordan enters the MTC!! Im so excited for him. But all is well here, same stuff as usual. I didnt hear about anyone dieing on Halloween so thats good. We have been doing a lot of service the past week and its a lot of fun. Yesterday we cut down a pana tree and we started a coconut tree but we didnt have enough time. We also destroyed a wall at the Mendozas house (the family we baptised) They have been redoing their house and so we have been helping them a lot. But Thanksgiving should be fun, ( it is an american holiday mom, but Puerto Rico is part of the U.S.) Im pretty sure they do the traditional thanksgiving dinner, but probably puertorican style. So there will be a side of arroz y habichuelas and tostones and some other creations. ha ha. And it seems like the whole ward wants us to come to their houses and eat so it should be great. No, i havnt gotten food poisoning yet, but i have gotten used to having diareha, ha ha. So, we have been teaching a few people but they keep falling, so we dont have anything secure right now. Its been really interesting hearing about all the different religions lately. Its pretty funny too. Ive heard a lot about the Jehova's Witnesses, and have talked to a few. Its a really depressing religion. ha ha. We talked to a guy recently that read about the church and wanted to know more so he contacted us and we taught him and gave him a Book of Mormon and then he dissapeared. So that was a drag, we thought he was golden. Oh and a few days ago our house got flooded from the rain one day and our living room and kitchen were full of water, so we spent like an hour sweeping it all out. Its fine now though. But thats pretty much it in my world. Keep the emails and letters and stuff coming, by the way i havent gotten the package yet. Heres some pictures. I love you all so much!!
-Elder Bailey

Short and Sweet

2009-11-15T16:56:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone!!
Thanks for the emails. This week was good. Im going to be short because i wrote this all once but i deleted it on accident. The baptism was good the spirit was really strong and i did the ordinance. The computer im on wont let me download the pictures so ill do it next week. I wasnt able to email on wednesday because it was veterans day and the library was closed, so pres. gave us permission to email today. Money is best if pres. Dewsnup says so. Wow, thats sweet for Aubrey, hope it works out well for her. Ill keep an eye out for Elder Martel the next transfer meeting, maybe ill be his trainer?! Tell the ward missionaries need referals, every member a missionary. Members need to find the people, missionaries teach them to baptism. Well thats all i hope all is well, keep the emails coming and I love you all so much!!!
-Elder Bailey

Trick or Trunk

2009-11-13T14:47:00.002-07:00

Hey Everyone!!!
Thanks for the emails. This past week was good. For Halloween we had to be in at 6 because the mafia was going to start killing people. So just normal stuff around here, ha ha. So, we have a baptism this weekend!! Im stoked, im doing the ordinance too. Hopefully we get some more baptismal dates here. Thats crazy how Brooklyn is growing up so fast! She is getting so big. And the rest of the kids too. I have been writing Trevor, im so happy with how well hes doing, hopefully he will serve a mission now. Oh my comp is from Argentina but he has a Brazilian last name because his dad is from Brazil. Elder Pereira Do Carmo. Sounds like Thanksgiving should be a blast. Our ward here is having a Luau for our thanksgiving party. Well, love u all a bunch, thanks for your prayers and your letters! Here are some pictures from Trunk or treat, the puerto ricans call it like trick and trunk and pretty much everything else except the correct way, haha. Oh and when they trick or treat they have like a song they sing at every door, i thought that was interesting.
-Elder Bailey

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-29T17:42:00.002-06:00

Hey everyone!!!Thanks for the emails! I love hearing from yall. So, im doing great. I heard about the explosion that happened and we could see a big crazy looking cloud, but we didnt find out until we were like tracting and a guy told us about it. He was like, "Dont you watch tv?" ha ha. The explosion happened in the area of the assistants and the president but everything is fine. So, we found some new people to teach. We have 3 baptismal dates, so were working for those next month. Wow, im sorry about Aubrey, i will pray for her and i hope she gets better. Shes not going to eat bacon again! Well sounds like everyone is sick over there, im glad im here, ha ha. Well thanks for the emails, here are some pictures i told my companion to take while i was driving!! I love you all, have a Happy Halloween!!!-Elder Bailey

Sorry Oct. 13th & Oct. 21st Emails

2009-10-27T18:22:00.001-06:00

Oct. 21st Email:

Hey everyone!!So, its the beginning of a new transfer again, wow its going fast. I am still in Caguas! This transfer we will have halloween and thanksgiving. My companion is Elder Pereira Do Carmo, he is from Argentina, and yes that is just his last name, ha ha. He has a year in the mission and he knows english too but i plan on really working on my spanish this transfer. And no i am not senior companion yet, ha ha. So, we have some good plans to find new people, i will tell yall how it goes. The ward has like 80 people i would say i heard it was one of the biggest. My glasses are working out well, my clothes are fine, ha ha. Thats crazy that everyone has the flu overthere! i hope no one else has gotten it. Wow, thats surprizing that Caleb went through the temple and is going to go on a mission, thats great for him though! Grandpa told me about the windows he was installing, it should work really well. Tell grandpa happy birthday for me!! Sounds like a good primary program ha ha. We had one here a few weeks ago, it was funny, they are all the same no matter where u go! Ill try and get some more pictures to yall, its just hard to take pictures all the time cause im constantly doing stuff and we cant look like tourists and i always drive so i cant take them while im driving. But all is well here, there was a protest last week about the governor of Puerto Rico. But everything has calmed down now. Dont hear much about sports or anything really, ha ha, but its all good. Weather is the same here the coldest it has gotten down to is like 76 or something like that, but its mostly like 90 something. Well, i love yall so much, keep me updated on Boise State and everything else thats going on! Keep the letters coming! -Elder Bailey

October 13th Email:

Hey everyone!!Thanks for the pictures and stuff. It was good to see the fam all in a picture. Brooklyn is getting so big!! Wow and Ashlyn too! But everyone else looks the same, ha ha. Well, sorry i dont have any pictures for today. I forgot my camera when i went to the bowlera and stuff last p day, i was so mad! But i will be sure to get more to u, because i wont forget my camera again. So, this past week we went to a funeral, which was good, the member who died was 109 years old! It was crazy. And im emailing yall today because tomorrow is transfers and im getting a new companion!! Im staying in Caguas though, im not going anywhere yet. My companion is heading out to St. Croix, which sounds sweet. He is way excited. Wow im so excited for Jordan! Im so excited for him to leave in December. Then i can write to him in spanish! So, Lexi has braces now, thats a fun time.. ha ha. So, i tried to cut my hair by myself again and i messed up so i had to shave it all off again. ha ha. Well ill make sure to get more pics to yall, keep the emails coming!!-Elder Bailey

Mi Casa!

2009-10-12T19:47:00.003-06:00

Tyson's House

Tyson's lovely room

Hello everyone!
So these are pictures of my house, theres one of the bedroom and the plank of wood with a handle on it in the background is to the bathroom which is like 5ft by 5ft its tiny. Then the other picture is of the kitchen its actually pretty nice and we have 2 couches to like the right of where i was taking that picture. We have 1 other room which is our study room that basically just has tables, maps and books so i didnt take a picture of it. Ill send more pictures in the future!!!
-Elder Bailey

Yo tengo fotos!

2009-10-12T19:32:00.003-06:00

The Dad was baptized 1st then he was able to baptize his family later.

This is what Tyson learned to cook and makes everyday for lunch

Hey everyone!!
Finally got some pictures, just a few but i will have more next time because we are going to Sizzlers and the Bowlera today! One picture is of the family that we baptized the father got to baptize the rest of the family. They have been doing great so far. Then the other picture is of pretty much what i cook every day. Arroz, habechuelas, y pescado frito. We eat that like everyday for lunch. So this past week was great we are starting to get more appointments and we have a new bapismal date. So one day we were driving and theres usally like one day a week when we have a lightning storm, so it was one of those days and we were driving and we saw a huge lightning bolt like a half a mile away from us or closer and then we felt this huge shock wave it was so cool. Oh and something funny thats been happening is when my companion is saying the morning prayer we will be praying and then i hear a long pause and im like elder wake up. And hes like oh did i fall a sleep again, dang it! It is funny, ha ha. So thats pretty much it for this week. i might need some more money in my personal account i had to use some of it for glasses and stuff. Well this transfer is almost over! It will be interesting to see if i leave or go this time. Well i cant wait to hear back from yall, tell everyone i love them and keep encouraging Brandon to serve a mission! I love u guys!!
-Elder Bailey

Still Lovin' the Mission!

2009-09-24T22:46:00.001-06:00

Hey everyone!Thanks for the emails. I love hearing from everyone. So this week was pretty good, we are preparing a family for baptism this upcoming sunday hopefully. and we are trying for new investigators, we havent had any in a while so were working hard to find them. We might have to drop the feminist because she isnt progressing. The next appointment will make or break it. And the 19 year old that has the pastors for parents is having a hard time too. So sound like everything is great in Boise, its good that Aubrey's dating an LDS guy, but he will be leaving on a mission for 2 years so we will see ha ha. Oh and i dont need slacks or anything, actually have too much stuff, im still trying to get through the stuff i bought back home, like toothpaste and etc. So just make sure u dont send Jordan off with too much stuff ha ha. I did email Brandon, i really want him to go on a mission, i cant stress how important it really is, Jordan will know soon, he will feel how i feel. It is a commandment to preach the gospel, i just dont want him to make the wrong decision and miss this chance. Thats so awesome that Jordan gave 2 talks, tell him to brush up on some spanish to prepare for the mtc. Well, i love u all so much and keep the emails coming!-Elder Bailey

Hey Everyone!

2009-09-16T21:40:00.001-06:00

Hey everyone!!!Thanks for the emails! So on sunday we had the baptism of the father of the family we are teaching, he wanted to be baptised sooner than we had planned. So the rest of the family should be baptised in the coming weeks, im so excited! We taught the feminist last night and basically she prays to a God & Godess & she aparently didnt like the catholic church so she baptised her own children at home. Shes really interesting ha ha. We will see how she progresses. Basically we get all of the good investigators through references from the members. Knocking doors hardly ever works. Like one day we tracted for like 2 hours and we only got 1 return appointment. Which will probably fall. So references and member work is were it is at. So the 19 year old girl is having family problems now so we delayed the baptism for this upcoming sunday or saturday. So tomorrow we have zone conference and a general authority is coming, Elder Coleman of the seventy. Im so excited. Well sounds like everything is going great, i love hearing from yall.-Elder Bailey

Thanks for the emails!

2009-09-14T21:31:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone thanks for the emails!Im doing great here. This transfer were trying for 7 baptisms. Which would be so cool. We have been teaching a family of 5 and they are seriously the coolest family ever! And we are teaching this one girl who has parents that are pastors in the Pentacostle church. When i had my previous companion we were having a lesson with her and it had to be at the church because she hasnt told her parents that she was meeting with the missionaries, but shes 19 so its fine. And my companion commited her to be baptized and then we asked her if she would pray on her knees with us for her to know that the church is true. And i swear we were on our knees for 20 mins. And she started to cry and my companion felt inspired to give her a blessing. So we did and the spirit was so strong, she is going to be baptised this sunday, i am so happy for her. Oh and this sunday we have a lesson with a lady who is a major feminist and has a degree in theology and believes in hinduism and pagan gods. Ill tell yall how that goes. ha ha. So, im not senior companion, my companion has been in the mission for a year. And you can give my address to whoever, im happy to hear from anyone. My spanish is getting better everyday, and im so glad i get to stay here in Caguas. I love watching the investigators progress and build their testimonies. Oh and dad shouldnt have messed with the bee sting. You are supposed to not touch it and if it has a stinger you use tweezers to put it straight out. So dont touch it!! i had a bite on my arm the other day and i scratched it and it started to spread on my arm into a bunch of little bumps and so i left it alone and now its fine. We are told to be really careful here with the bites that we get. Well, email me back, cant wait to hear from yall!!
-Elder Bailey

A new companion tomorrow

2009-09-01T22:32:00.001-06:00

Hey everyone,thanks for the emails. I love hearing from yall. So its the end of the transfer and like i expected im staying here in caguas. My companion is heading back to curasou and he doesnt want to leave. So since he is my trainer we call eachother son and dad. Hes my dad. ha ha. So since he is leaving im killing my dad. I dont know its just what they call it. Its funny because now i have like uncles and brothers and maybe ill have a son in the future. ha ha. So yup tomorrow i get a new companion i dont know who it is yet but i heard hes a good missionary. Im excited but nervous because i will have more responsibility now. So thats pretty much it for me, still preaching the gospel and learning tons. I went and bought my glasses today they wont be done till next week. Please try and convince Brandon to serve a mission. I was afraid of giving talks too but the mission pretty much got rid of that because its a whole different story when u have to give a talk in spanish. Doing stuff in english seems so easy now. I dont know why he didnt email me back, ask him about it. Well i love hearing from yall, i love u all so much.-Elder Bailey

I can cook rice!

2009-08-30T21:15:00.002-06:00

All of us at the Dominican Republic MTC

Hey everyone,
Thanks for your emails, i love them all!! I just heard from Jordan that he's going to Mexico! Wow, its going to be so cool. Im so excited for him. Well, everything is great here, we have had a lot of heat because of the hurracaine that passed by it sucked up all the clouds and rain so we have had nice weather. So on sunday i baptised an investigator for the hermanas in our district. It was a great experience. So, sending me the prescription for my glasses would work. I dont really need anything else except letters!! I cant believe i only have one week left in this transfer then im not a greeny anymore!! I will most likely stay here in Caguas though. Oh, and tell Brandon i tried the sofrito and it is amazing and actually i have been eating it since i got here and my companion taught me how to cook with it! Well, i love to hear from yall. I love you all so much!
-Elder Bailey

August 19, 2009 Letter

2009-08-23T22:39:00.003-06:00

Another Baptism!

Yummy food in the Dominican Republic MTC

Hey everyone!!Thanks for the emails everyone, keep them coming! So this week was great we had a baptism and 2 confirmations, but the bishop does the confirming. And my companion did the baptism on Saturday. The picture is attached. So lately i have been trying a lot of different types of food. I had no idea there were so many different fruits! The best is mango with ice cream! ha ha. I had these skewers of meat too called pinchos & they are so good. Dad & Brandon Read would love them. Plus my companion makes me lunch every day, arroz y habechuelas con carne, its sweet. He makes the best rice i have ever tasted. So lately we have had a lot of rain we had a storm come through and that was the most rain i think i have ever seen. We had a hurricane scare but it turns out its heading north and is going to miss us. Wow, i cant believe this transfer is already almost over. We only have like 2 weeks left. I will for sure stay here in Caguas though, because its my greeny area. So my companion told me that here in Puerto Rico there are mongoose, i havent seen one but we saw turtles and this one time we were tracting and we were walking by this bush and i saw this big black bug flying around and i was like whoa, what is that. And my companion said it was an african bee, and i guess they sting u really bad and the sting swells up pretty bad too. So we have to be carefull around them. So we were parked at a stop light and theres always people who come around and beg for money & one of them his skin was like being eaten away by AIDS it was nasty. So my companion told me that a little while back one of the elders healed a lady of her blindness. Which was way cool, but she wasnt even baptised. I thought it was crazy but when u think about it Christ performed all those miracles and was rejected as well. So i can totally see it now. Well, thats pretty much it, keep the emails coming and letters are good too! Oh and heres a picture of what we ate in the CCM of dominican republic every day and its pretty much what my companion cooks every day!-Elder Bailey

New Pics

2009-08-23T22:35:00.000-06:00

Domincan Republic temple!

Hey!! Hey everyone!

2009-08-23T22:30:00.002-06:00

Hey!!Hey everyone!! Well its another p day and heres the update for me. So the city im serving in is Caguas. Im not next to the ocean, but we have some really cool mountains. Whenever i drive up into the mountains it feels like were going through a jungle. So its funny because my p day is like my busiest day i have and its supposed to be a day to rest and prepare, but we just do a lot of preparing. Ha ha. The language is coming along well. My companion says ill be fluent in a few weeks. We will see what happens though ha ha. So, so far we have had 3 baptisms, one every week, and we have another this week too. I baptized 2 people so far. Its an experience like no other. So the ward i go to is pretty small, but apparently its one of the biggest wards in the mission with 50 people!! The churches are pretty cool too theres like an outdoor courtyard & the class rooms and everything surround it. Emailing is difficult because i have to go to a library. How is brandon reads spanish coming with his rosetta stone? It would be fun for us to send emails in spanish back & forth. I havent gotten my glasses yet, idk if u have sent them yet, so i thought i would let u know. So, the other day there was a iguana on our fence, i took a picture of it. And this is just a baby one. So i eat rice & beans every day, so now im addicted to arroz y habechuelas. My comp cooks them everyday. Oh, Jordan finally told u guys. ha ha. Yeah i already knew he was preparing. Its the best decision he could make. I wish i could say how much a mission means to me now, & how much ive grown because of it. I wish i could show everyone who is debating on going on a mission how important it is. The only choice a person has to make is whether the chruch is true or not. If they dont believe it is they wont serve. Well, i cant wait to hear back from yall! I love you all so much!! Update me on Jordan's progress.-Elder Bailey

Buen Dia!

2009-08-06T07:38:00.002-06:00

Hey Everyone!!
Finally getting out some pictures! So far in Puerto Rico its been great. Missionary work is so much fun! So far every Sunday I've been able to baptize someone. It's such a cool experience. The language is coming good and my companion says that ill be fluent in 6 weeks, so that was good to hear, ha ha. The weather is nice here but its pretty weird sometimes. It will pour rain for like 2 minutes and then dry up and be hot for a while and it pretty much does that throughout the day. My apartment is cool, we only have air conditioning in the bedroom so it gets hot everywhere else. And my companion Elder Centeno is way cool - he's from Columbia and helps me a lot with my Spanish. Plus he always makes me Colombian food and stuff. Well everything is great I cant wait to hear from y'all.
-Elder Bailey

My first letter home...

2009-08-03T21:30:00.003-06:00

My Mission President and his wife

MTC Pictures!

2009-08-03T21:06:00.002-06:00

My MTC Companion

Elders of our MTC Branch

Hola, todos!

2009-07-16T14:28:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone,

Well, its my last week in the MTC, and i am so excited. I only have 4 days left and I'm in the field, wow! It went by so fast! I cant wait to get out there and do some real missionary work. So, i got the dearelder package and idk about the other one but i might be getting it later tonight. But that's the cookies and stuff are great, oh and i forgot to tell y'all that beef jerky is not allowed in the DR. I don't know why but i guess it is. I got it though so i guess they didn't search it. ha ha. Well, this week was great. This has been such a great experience so far. I feel like a completely different person. We went to the university again this week, it was way cool. We handed out 3 book of Mormons and we got 3 references which was our best so far. I cant wait to be doing that all day every day. So today was the last time i get to go to the temple for a long while. But it was good. So i appreciate the emails and hearing from everyone. So here's my mission address for y'all! I love you all and i cant wait to hear from u! oh and i might be sending pictures too!!
-Elder Bailey

Elder Tyson LeRoy Bailey
Puerto Rico San Juan East Mission
Urb Jardines de Caparra
500 Calle Marginal Norte
Bayamon PR 00959
Puerto Rico

Weird

2009-07-09T11:52:00.001-06:00

Hey, I don't know if yall got the last email or not. I'm not sure if theyre being put on the blog or not. So, im just sending this to everyone. So, anyways, I'm doing great here and still learning tons. So, i havent gotten the packages yet, butn i did get the letter from Taylor a couple weeks ago. I wrote a letter to her before i got hers, so just let her know i got it. And idk how long packages take to get here, it seems like they take like 2 weeks or so. So dont send me anymore here. Start sending them to the mission address. And i think the reason why i havent gotten the dearelder package is because theyre based out of utah and the packages arent boxed up, so im surprised the order actually went thru. But that would be great if it actually did. ha ha. Anyways, on tuesday we went to the university to talk to people and such. And me and my companion handed out 2 book of mormons. Which was really good. We were so excited! So that was the highlight of my week. I wish i could go there everyday! So, we havent had any real big storms yet. We got a little bit of one, but it wasnt anything big. So, im doing good here, the food is the same as always, some days we get this one soup thats really wierd, it has like bones in it and these wierd potato things. Sometimes i dont really know what im eating. And we sometimes have like those wierd potatoes with this wierd meat that kind of looks like bologna but its not. So yeah it gets interesting. ha ha. But the best is when we have sandwiches. Ive craved sandwiches ever since i got here. I just want like a normal sandwich, but here we have to have chicken sandwiches, they dont eat food that isnt cooked here. Its pretty much always hot, except for breakfast. But anyways everything is great! Its always good to hear from everyone! Well, I love you all, I cant wait to hear back from yall!

-Elder Bailey

Actualizar

2009-07-02T14:04:00.000-06:00

Hey Everyone!!!

Well here's another weekly update. I have 3 weeks left here in Dominican! I'm starting to get super excited for the mission field. So we got some new missionaries this week from Latin America. Its pretty crowded in our room now with 4 elders. Theres just not enough room! But its all good because we get to practice our Spanish. So i did get the package, i actually got it like an hour after i emailed y'all. And i loved it its nice to have some normal snacks for once, ha ha. Oh and thanks for the flashlight, ha ha, the power outages aren't that bad because we have generators, they're only out for a few seconds and then they come back on. And if ur going to send me more packages make sure there is enough time for it to get to me, or just send it to the mission address, mom and dad should have it. So ya thanks for everything!! I took some pictures recently and I'm going to try and send them if i can thru email. And if u don't get them its because i didn't send them, ha ha. Well keep the emails coming and by the way I'm not allowed to chew gum anywhere except for my room, so i basically don't have any time to chew it, ha ha. So just send chips, goodies, chocolate, etc. anything American!! ha ha. And to be honest with u I'm not surprised that Carson got stitches again, ha ha, that kid is crazy!! And forward this to everyone who didn't get it or just let them know its on the blog!

-Elder Bailey

Hola Todos

2009-06-25T14:24:00.002-06:00

Hey, everyone!!

Well, another week flew by again, so ill update u all on whats going on. Thanks for the emails and the dearelder.com. I haven't gotten the package yet, it will probably take a while I'm guessing on Wednesday next week. They only give us mail on Wednesdays here so i really don't know when ill get it. Thanks for the pics of Brooklyn's b day, she is so cute. Sorry i can't send pictures, the president wont even let us take pictures until like the day before we leave here. And i still have to figure out how I'm going to get them on the email. ha ha. So this week was good, my teacher was late to class one day and he said he was late because a guy got his head chopped off by a machete. So yeah that's crazy. And we do go into the city here. We practice at the university nearby, and were going to the park in a little bit to pick up trash. So, that helps a lot with the Spanish. The food here is getting old, its the same every day, beans, rice, meat. So, I'm hoping my package has goodies in it. ha ha. but if not its alright. Thanks for writing me, i love you all, and miss u all so much!!

-Elder Bailey

?Que Pasa Cabron? -- June 13, 2009

2009-06-14T09:27:00.001-06:00

Hey everyone!!
I made it to Dominican and it is crazy! We stayed in the airport last night and we got a hotel room so that was nice. Thanks for the emails and keep them coming. So far this has been way intense over here, it really is a culture shock. Well, i was told i had to be brief so i will talk to ya´ll later. Sorry i dont know how to work this key board yet so i cant do underscores so just forward it to everyone who didnt get it. I love you all!

-Elder Bailey