June 25, 2007

Mom,


Well, there would have been like 2 burned DVDs and 1 photo CD. Its the only ones ive sent from Nashua. That should asnwer that question. Let me know if you didnt get them, because i dont want to delete my pics.


Anything for my B-Day? havnt really thought about it much. I cant think of anything. I dont really neeed anything. clothes? socks or somthing... no more candy, ive got to cut down. I enjoy it too much. Maybe just put some money away into a bank account for when i get home... I dont really need anything out here.


So i got this really cool recipe from a member of our ward. Brother Eberhard. He is awesome. He is from Germany. Its like the healthiest stuff ever, and he said it helps your cholestoral, so i think Dad should eat it. Its called Beuhur Muslig (or somthing like that). its Oatmeal, Sugar, Milk, Blueberries, Straweberries, bananas, red grapes, and raspberrys. You soak the milk oats and sugar for like 2 hours, then cut up and add the fruit. Its pretty good too.


Yup, still in Nashua. Im glad to have stayed here. We have a lot going on, and id like to see some baptisms. I totaly forgot about chicken casesar salad pizza. good deal. Oh, btw, Elder Householder wants more Debi Dip. Its a hit here. ahh, 6 months. i remember when i was there. it seems like yesterday, seriously. It goes sooo fast. Elder Anderson (my old comp), Elder Johnson (friend when i was still in North Adams) are going home in 5 weeks. WEIRD!! Elder Reyna is home. Almost all of my companions except for Elder Egbert, Householder and Walker are home now. geeze!!


Matt is engaged?! CRAZY!! gosh. Im glad Chels has made some new friends there! thats sooo important. Im sure the bishopric doesnt want to put a spotlight on her or anything.


Did you go eat at Longboards on the pier? I LOVE THAT PLACE!! the chocolate cheesecake ::drool::. Gosh, you should call Kolin or Clayton (he should be home now) if you ever need a chaparone.


Today we had a special leadership meeting in Belmont, so P-Day has been cut kinda short. Its okay, because i was able to see my Son (Egbert) who is now serving with Elder Foley!!! im sure they are telling a lot of stories. Also saw a bunch of other missionaries who i havnt seen forever.


Things are going well, but nothing too exciting to report.


What "key" for the wireless router? are you talking about the WEP? you have to look it up on the router.


Well, I love you and miss you. ill ttyl!


Elder Onken

June 18, 2007

Mom,


FIRST, before i forget:
1) Thanks for the package. i think it was probably from Dad? why? because a giant bag of peanut M&Ms... i dont know. Thanks!!
2) Did you get the pictures and CDs i set home? AND, Did that package with my books ever get home? let me know, i insured it if it didnt.


It sounds like Father's Day was fun! We spent it at the Bentalls. A great family. It was fun, and productive!!


Im glad chelsea went to the YSA ward! it sounds like shes just jumping right back into things!! thats important. do i know the Brandenbergs? do i know Rene? im not sure! the ward must be very different now, i can only imagine.


Things are going well here. I will find out tommorow night if im getting transfered. Things are going by quickly for me. Im still with Housholder. Things are good. I found out that Scott (from cambridge) is now fully active, has been to the temple for baptisms, has a calling, and is preparing to get his PhD so he can become a professors (maybe at BYU i think). Im excited!! the program that i worked with him at has also exploded. he just got a 45,000$ grant to expand it. Its been a hit!


Raquetball court was flooded, so no more of that. But we play soccer and frisbee at the church, its fun! the training is going well. Ive maxed push-ups, sit-ups, and almost pull-ups. my basketball throw is at 87 feet (102ft max). and i havnt had the time to work on my shuttle-runs and mile run. Its tough with only 30 minutes, and p-days! and even then I cant force my comp to do stuff that he doesnt want to do.


I love you and miss you. ill let you know about x-fers ASAP.


Love,
Elder Onken

June 11, 2007

All i can say is "WOW!". That would have been such an awesome day in the temple!! Gosh... thats sweet!!!


Awww, Yang Chow rocks!! Im jealous. Im sure that was a good start for Dad's b-day. I think he will like the gift you give him BOTH of them


Yah, about leaving the Garden, our original home. A lot of people have interesting ideas because of that imagery. The early church fathers would often state in their epistles (Clement, Augustine, etc..) "To those of you sojourning at [place]". Because truely we ALL are travelers, and strangers here in a world that is not our native environemnt. The temple is the bridge BACK to our original home. It sets the chaos of this world and our awkwardness here into exact alignmnent. I love how in Alma 26, when speaking of the anti-nephi-lehis, we learn that none fell away, although the ammount of change for them was HUGE. and how was it done? well in Alma 26 it says because they were "gathered into the garners". D&C 101:65 tells us what the garners are. the very place we must go to recieve the blessings of eternal life and celestial glory, in other words, where we go to become what we are meant to be, and return to where we whence have come. the temple. They learned from those nephites who encircled them in protection after their conversion. We must be examples and do the same thing to those around us, that "none shall fall away".


Yah, i emailed Chelsea last week. Things seem to be going well for her. Im glad that she has decided on a major for school. She is going to be GREAT at it. Im sure all the guys were checkin her out lol. Hows Natalie? send me her address, id like to write her a letter.


This week is interviews. Transfers are next week. Will know NEXT tuesday. ::shrug:: things are good here. since the start of june we have gotten 8 Member Referals. Its exciting. we had a meeting with Pres. England and teh stake pres of Nashua stake, and were talking about the success. its exciting!!!


Well, we should be seeing a lot come from it. A less active lady (sister Lauth) has already set up a cottage meeting with her friends, and we are teaching them on Wed. and Thurs!! tis sweet. Taught them this week at the church, and gave them a tour. Its exciting. I think her friends will get baptized! tuaght a part-member family last night, and had a great heart to heart with another LA. Thigns are going great. love it, and love the area.


thats it about now! today is my 17th month mark. its going sooo fast. gosh.


well, i love ya. ttyl!


Elder Onken

June 4, 2007

Mom,


Im sorry about your toothache. The infection in my throat is still bad, but i think its actually going away. Havnt had the time to go to the doctor. this week has been crazy!!!


What kind of truck did dad get for work? what for anyway? was it an excuse to get a big truck? Dont become like the Nephites, and their desiring of costly apparel (they would desire costly cars too if they had them).


Thats cool that Nick had a big party.


Steven, and Rob went to Europe and are touring around there with Clayton before they get back. I want to go visit around europe sometime in the future, and i guess they will be pro tour guides for me then.


Im glad Sister Parker is on my side. i have an advocate for the anti-scooter-taking-my-room pact.


We drove past Hillary Clinton this week. She was in Nashua prior to the Democratic Debate. It was a huge deal.


I think im going to be transfered. Im not sure. ususally ZLs find out around 1/2 Council (wednsday). We will see. transfers in like 2 weeks i think. it FLIES by.


Things here are going great. we have gotten 12 member referals last month, and already 3 for this month. We are trying to get 25 a month, and make that our primary teaching pool. You should all try to be that member that the missionaries need; refers their friends, and invites them over for the dicussions. It makes the work grow in the ward when others see that its not that hard. The missionaries will be much more effective.


well, i love ya and miss ya!


Ill ttyl,
Elder Onken