August 31, 2006 News from the Pabsts

Unfortunately I once again missed a telephone call from Sister Pabst who was kind enough to call to let me know how our favorite Elder is doing. He has been transferred from North Adams to South Cambridge. This is much nearer to Boston. The really amazing news is that he has been made Zone Leader. We didn't hear from our hero this week, so hopefully next week we'll get the full scoop and hear about his new comp.
Stay Tuned.
Debi aka Mom

August 21, 2006

Oh wise one!
no seriously. Linneya enjoyed the response. she said it made her think a lot. i totaly agree. Its like that in so many aspects of life though. No matter how we look at it. Look at the life of a gospel follower. We spend our time being in the world, trying to be free from it, however, we try soo hard to measure up to the ideals of morality placed by the world. The teachings of Christ are not of this world, yet so often we compare, rationalize, and compete again the wordly views as if they were. It so much of a "greater law", that we cant even really grasp it entirely i dont think. for example, law of consecration? just imagine the type of attitude everybody will have?... Even that idea of peoples attitudes is compared to what the worldly attitude is. it would be interesing to live in the city of Enoch.

Im so excited to hear where Zak gets called to! I HOPE ITS THE MBM!!! THATD BE SICK. i would request to train hahah, thatd be so much fun.

Its a small world in the church; and its not on accident, or just coincidence. thats all i have to say about that.

Yosemite, eh? fun! well...... maybe they will send me to Martha's Vinyard in the spring!!! so HA! thats just me trying to not be jealous... ::Sigh::

We commited Meg to baptism! she is excited, and she is doing SOOO great. its amazing. her whole attitude is better! im so excited for her. We are going to commit Linnaya to baptism, just to see how serious she is about investigating, or if its just somthing to do, ya know? Shirley is moving up the street,a nd said she isnt ready to think about baptism right now, but after the move she will be.... AND her son. Ken now believs in J.C, and wants us to teach his sone who just had his kidney out. There are so many blessings here, i am privledeged to be a part of it! im glad that thigns are going well right when i leave, it makes me feel like its safe to leave lol.

The Pabsts are leaving the 4th, and they have family dropping of their RV here soon. they are taking us to Jimminy Peak (alpine slides, etc) next P-Day! im excited. i love them so much, and will miss them. Im going to miss the whole branch! i feel like a part of em, ya know?

Well, im looking forward to a transfer however, i think it will be good.Love you, miss you, take care!

Elder Onken

August 15, 2006

Hey Mom!
That was an awesome e-mail!!! I think Linaya will really apprecaite and respect that reply. She already says she would like to meet you someday.
Happy b-day Jamister!!
Thats cool that yuo went to the temple! Elder Egberts sister is a missionary at the LA temple Visitor Center. that would be cool if you saw her.
I recently got a dictrionary of early chrisitna quotes by gospel topic. itll been fun to help suppliment talks, and lessons etc.
I knew you would enjoy the pictures. I want to send you a picture of Ken Demers some time, you will laugh, and love him. he is the coolest guy EVER!
This week we had interviews. I was told by Coach that pretty much im going to be x-fered on the 31st. He said "7.5 months? anticipate change". So, thatll be good i guess.
It has been sad anticipating the Pabsts leaving, and now im going, so North Adams is going to get white washed pretty much!! So much is going on. Linaya, Shirley, Ken and Meg are all doing so great! we hope to have Meg baptized beofre the x-fer is over, and Shirley and Linaya maybe have baptismal dates. that would be so awesome.
I will be leaving the berkshires right before fall, which is a bummer. im told that fall is the best season in the berkshires.
Im anxious to see where i will be going.
well, not a whole lot of news besides that... time flys! its crazy! im turning into a seasoned missionary, its unreal! Well, i miss ya, love ya, and hope all is well. take care, ttyl!
Elder Onken

August 8, 2006

Mom,
P-day are mondays, but a lot of the time we cant get time at the library, so we have to come on tuesday (or wed, if tue is too busy).
Im sad to hear about Oma being so frail. I miss her, and pray for her every night. i really feel Opa here helping me in the work. call me crazy, but i do.
The smell of cigarettes is ever prevalent here. I think i am practicaly immune to it now, i hardly notice it. No joke, EVERYBODY smokes. i saw a 12 year old smoking at the street fair in Adams the other day.
So it sounds like the Lord is blessing you with cool things lately! Congratz on your new furniture!
hahah, of course Chelsea is allergic to her new Cat. it followed her home i hear? thats funny. reminds me of that one time that Squirrle followed me back to the Arnell's house.
3 more weeks till transfers. I dont know if im staying or not. we shall see.
This week has been kinda crazy. We set up this booth, and just spent most of the time staring at the ground, or the sky, because the spirit there was WAAAY off the babylon-scale. We actualy picked out every aspect of Isaiah's definition of the last days state of the world. it was funny, yet scary/upsetting.
Things with the work are going well ig uess. i gave a training at Zone Conferance about planning for study. im known as the missionary that studies a lot. i get random calls from people asking "hey, what does this mean?", or "hey, is there any referance to this?" etc. so i have a giant list of mini-papers of i written and fax to people on topics such as: Why is the Sabbath on Sunday, not Saturday?, and Was there scriptural imperfections in the time of the Apostles? etc.
Other than that, same ol same ol.. Ken now believes in Jesus, which is HUGE and exciting! Linaya is asking for a priesthood blessing. Meg is comming to church on time and reading the BoM, Shirley is praying about hte BoM and J.S and might get baptized. so things are going well!
Oh, btw, Linaya wants to know if the RS does any type of "Fall Madness" type activites... ::shrug::, and, she wants to know what you think about this quote,that and "LDS" lady sent her: "i take my daughter to other churches to show them that women are important". i dont know... maybei should give her your email lol.
I got a letter, and pictures from the Saxey family which was sooo cool! tell them thanks so much! i dont have their address, so maybe you could get it for me so i can write them back?
Im sending some pictures home. be expecting them!
Welll. its cooling down out here. things are going well. I love ya, and miss ya. the mission is the best and hardest hting ive done. take care, and thanks for everything!
Elder Onken