May 5, 2014

Getting ready for Mother's Day!!!

     This week I had to ask Carson some very specific questions in my weekly letter to him.  I've been asked to teach a lesson in homemaking (Encrichment, Relief Society meeting...whatever you want to call it) next week about how to prepare your children to serve a mission.  So I asked Carson to help me out a little bit.  He gave me some awesome ideas!

Hey Shikamoo

This week is going great yes lots of rain Still. That is awesome and dad and ashlee filled me in about ashlee wanting to do basketball. She was still kind of uncertain. But dad was just saying God Sure blessed me this week and thank heavens and thank god stuff like that. It was very nice.

Ok so anwers and question time. So first any story is free game you can use which ever you want.

1.   When you started your mission and were in the MTC...did you feel like you had prepared enough at home?

1 Yes in the MTC i felt for sure i was ready they made the food for us and we only need to show up for class. so ya for sure i was ready.

2.   Is there anything that you feel that you could have done to be more prepared?  Or that would have been helpful to know before you went?

2. Not really no realisticall i would have liked to have learned some simple ingredient recipes and how to wash close in a bucket but other than that no i felt pretty prepared.

3.    Do you feel that your parents did anything to help you prepare...and what was it that they did that helped you?

3, Yes the helped me by being great examples and helping and supporting me in helping me get and fulfill my mission papers and all of the visa/ pasport requirments done. For sure mission papers kind of just fell in to my lap and all i had to do was sign.

4.    How did you prepare spiritually for a mission?  How did your parents/family help with that?

4. I just went to seminary and had fun playing those church games on the ipod. For sure it was Seminary the majority and even With you guys you were all ways there to answer the questions that i had, and you had taught me from a young age the principle of family home evening. Really helped me their.

5.    How did you prepare financially for a mission?  How did your parent/family help with that?

5. I saved every dirty penny i could find. Every since that one stupid place you sent me to figure out school. I always bought glow sticks but then this one day this kid walked out with a very nice toy truck and i just said i wanted that, And another story would be you guys starting to teach me about bills and taxes and other stuff. i would come home with my pay check and you would always say after taxes and paying for the water bill you would be left with 20 bucks to do what ever you want with. A even in the start with that pig bank with the 3 slots "fun/ Tithing/ Mission" at first it was just fun to sort the money in to different slots but then in the end i was just this is boring now lets just save as much as i can and see what happens.

6.    How did you prepare temporally for a mission?  (Like practical skills preparation...cooking, laundry, personal hygiene)  How did your parents/family help with that?

6. For sure know all i do is watch people and see how the make/ do things and i can somewhat do it to. So you helping me learn to cook and home Ec. etc helped me alot. Personal Hygiene was weird for sure at the start it was almost a waste of time but i would always feel self conscious if i didn't have it on and girls sure started to notice when i was smelling and looking fresh.

But on mission i sure have learned alot.  Being dirty isn't the way i want to be. Dad would always so Do you want to look like an orphan.  We have an elder here how doesn't like to wash his shirts. He has big sweat marks from the days that he is working and even his pants and shoes are covered in mud. All the missionaries complain and laugh at him and even a member went over to his house and forceful taught him how to wash his clothes. Even me at the start i wasn't that dirty but i was kind of slacking. But my comp was quick washing his clothes and i walked by and he was like. oh look i'm washing like elder Williams." Since that day i beat the dirty out of my clothes. Parents just showed us being clean is the best way to go. Cleanliness is next to godliness.

7.     What advice would you give to the moms and Sisters in the ward about how to help their children prepare for a mission?  

7. ??????????? i don't know. Make sure the come to church, participate in seminary, read the book of mormon with them, have family home evening every monday night, Teach them the gospel and always remember to teach them what other people should see them as and teach them to always be polite.

8.    Now that you are out in the mission field, what can your family do that would help you stay focused on missionary work?

8. Don't talk about gopher Hunting...

Ya for sure sunday we are getting the credit to phone home what time do you want me to call. like early morning or when you get back from church,

Yup thank you soo much hope this helps you out with what ever you need it for love you lots.

Elder Williams

Oh Carson....you make my heart smile!  Those are some great ideas you

have.  I'm glad to know that we did some things right for you.  Did

you always want to go on a mission?  Was there ever a time when you

didn't?

I don't know what I should say about mother's day.  When is the best

time for you or when are you allowed to call?  We go to church at 10

so that would be 7 in the evening for you.  And when we get home from

church, that would be 10 pm for you so...what is best for you?  I have

no problems getting up early to talk to you.  I probably won't be able

to sleep anyway.  Are there any rules about how late you can call?

Just make sure you know what your phone number is in case we get

disconnected again.  When you call us...do you just call the number or

do you have to call the operator first?  I've never made an overseas

call before.  How hard was it to get it done?

Yes i had always wanted to go on a mission, nothing would have stopped me, but for sure i look at my friends and because of them i would have wished i waited kidogo. (slightly) but now i have new friends and i'm helping lots of people so i wouldn't have it any way. Anytime on sunday is good. not really but i can only talk for 30-40 min, me i know the number i dial 000-1-***-***-**** for me once i figured out the area code it was easy but i don't know how you guys would phone me, Probably should leave it like that,

Really?  You wish you would have waited a little bit?  I didn't know

that.  But I guess I'm glad you are where you are now and not just

starting like some of your friends will be.  Who knows.  I was hoping we'd get a little

longer than the 30 - 40 minutes.   We have some important things to tell you too so we

want to make sure we don't get cut off in the middle.  But...it will

be great just to hear your voice.

for sure i will try to see what i can. and that was awhile ago but now i really feel this is where i am supposed to be,

Well, I'm pretty positive too that you are right were the Lord needs

you to be.  you are a huge asset to the missionary program for sure.

You always amaze me with how positive you are.  Is there anything that

you don't like about the mission?  Sorry I didn't teach you how to

wash clothes in a bucket.  What kind of simple ingredient recipes

would you have wanted to learn how to make?   I sent you that

recipe/advice book so you would have a few of those.

Sure love you Carson.  And so proud of you.  Thanks for all your

advice and for answering all those questions.  That was really fun to

hear your ideas.  Thanks.

just like small and simple recipes. Sawa

Love you lots

Carson

Well, you must be out of time, and it looks like I have to get going

too.  Can't wait to hear from you next week.  Did we figure out a

time?  Just tell me what is best and easiest for you.  I can make our

schedules totally adapt to you.

probably either 3-4 or sometime at night, what ever is easiest. Also tell dad i'm working on what the future will hold for me and i am thinking medicine. but that is as far as i've gotten.

Well...do you think you can call us after 10 pm your time?  That would

mean we would be home from church and we could be unwinding while we

talk to you.  Also, then maybe I wont be such a bawl baby when I get

to church.  I will just be excited to hear from you.  Will that be too

late though?  I mean if you call about quarter after 10 or about 10:30

pm...that would mean you would be up till after 11.  Is that breaking

your curfew or anything?  Hate to make you break rules!

Medicine sounds good.  Might be a lot of schooling but I think you

would be great at it!

for sure that is ok. just looking for some ideas. i took a test just barely and it says i should either be an Architecture or medical so we will see what i can do. but i don't want to go to school right after mission maybe after 6 months of being home or something like that, if you will allow my to rent with you guys.

Great!  We have a plan!  We will rush home from church and be home as

close to one oclock as we can.  Then we will sit and watch the

phone...and watch the phone....and watch the phone until you call!!!

Yeah!  I can't wait.

Sounds like you have some good plans there.  Good to be thinking about

it.  But don't lose too much focus on the mission.  Live in the moment

too.  And I think we could work out some kind of arrangement.

(Hopefully you can get Kaylee to give you your room back!)  But you

always have a place at home!  Love ya lots son!  Any big plans this

week coming up....besides Mother's day phone calls?

No not really any plans. Just seeing people and helping them out and trying not to drown but other than that everything is going good. For sure dad scared me when he was like WHICH SCHOOL WILL YOU ATTEND NEXT YEAR. WHAT CLASSES WILL YOU TAKE. i was like wow this one wants me to go from school, to mission, to school, what after that Death,

but oh well thank you soo much and please don't laugh at my accent.

\Love Carson

I know what you're saying.  Dad is all about having a plan.  He thinks

that I don't want you to have a plan so that when you come home, I can

have you all to myself and will just lock you up in the house so that

I can look at you all the time.  But...really, I would like for you to

come home, take a breath, see what's out there so that you can make a

true, focused decision, and then start applying for school.  I think

even taking a few general classes at the college or university would

be ok.  But...Dad doesn't want you to waste time or money.

Remember...you are old enough to decide for yourself.  And you DON'T

have to decide your entire future now.  So...keep the future in

mind...but don't stress about it.  It will happen when it happens.

Dad just loves you a lot.  He didn't really have anyone that pushed him or motivated him when he was your age...so he just wants the very

best for you.  He's awesome that way!  Love ya lots Carson.  You'll

make the right decision when the time comes.

Oh I will be laughing at your accent...but only because I adore it!

And because I know you earned that accent by working hard and getting

right into the whole swahili thing.  Never be ashamed of that.  I

laugh because it's better than crying.  And I'm super duper proud of

that accent!

Well, I gotta get going Carson.  It's been SOOO nice chatting with you

this morning.  Thanks for all your help.  If you think of anything

else, you can tell me next week too.  The homemaking thing is for next

Wed...the 14th.  Anyway, love ya lots.  Have a great week.  Stay safe

and eat some vitamins!  Don't lick the dirt, and wash your hands!!!

Thinking of you all the time.  Love ya lots!!!  Say hi to Elder O for us.

Love ya.

Bye

sawa talk to you on sunday.

And then....here is his letter to Ken...

Shikamoo (Hello)...    Then you say Marahaba (Thank you) Hujambo...   just shows respect for those of the higher generations. and Hujambo is How are you?

Sijambo... I'm fine

Hey that sounds really good home seems to not have changed much. and for sure a love your letters i hear you voice when i read. THANK GOODNESS. for sure i enjoy reading your letters.

Ashlee wants to play basketball and volleyball interesting. at least now you won't be bored out of your mind at those stupid dance off eh? now you just have to figure out how to get them out of band and show choir. Good luck with that.

there is alot of fish in the sea like you say. Especially in Dar es salaam. I need to get out of this area. These Nnyabo i don't know if it is the rain or what but these nnyabos are getting very fine. President i think i need to be moved.

For sure everything is going good hope your are too.

We had another baptism on sunday it was really nice. A lady was baptized by her husband and a young kid by his older brother. It was a very nice experience.  and then after church they had a big supper because it was the wife's birthday. It was

alot of fun and we where able to eat cake, It was lot of fun and for sure if i do move i'm going to miss this place.

This week has been alot of rain and alot of work but alot of fun. Really enjoying mission. And hope to here from you on monday.

Love you lots

Carson