"Enfermos"

Well this week was great and fast as usual! Just more class as usual...I'm grateful for it though! It's much needed! I will be leaving on Tuesday...and from what I've heard, our trainers will be picking us up here! I'm going to miss Elder Warren. He has been a great companion...he's a hardworking potatoe farmer from Aberdeen, Idaho and loves to get to work as fast as he can. We get along really well! So I will be missing him!
Well...I feel like in the past my letters have just been info info info...so I'm trying to make this one have some emotion! My room mates are cool! Elder Soto and Elder Martinez! We're pretty good friends! Elder Soto always calls us Elders "Enfermos" which means "sick". haha because the food does things to our body! Not good! It hasn't been that bad though! I miss you all! I pray for you a lot!! But I'm focused...when it's time to work, I put my concerns in the Lord's hands and leave them there. I'm getting better at that. Something should be said as well...of course I want to think of you! But I know the harder I work, the better it will be for the ones I love, my investigators, and myself! So I am working and am so grateful for your support and letters! They mean the WORLD to a missionary!

Right now I'm wearing shorts and my BYU shirt and sandals because it's Preperation Day! I LOVE being a missionary! I haven't even been out in the field yet...but the Lord is definitely with you always! You also have to be very good at kicking Satan away...I can't say I've been thoroughly tempted...but any temptation is easier to avoid the earlier we cast it off...and with the Spirit, we know how to do it all! OH! The other morning we went on a temple walk...and saw THE CUTEST little black girls! They were 8 years old and twins! With their brother who was 11. Waiting outside for their Mom to get out of the Temple! They were so cute! But my beautiful nieces are still cuter!

When we have power points...I'm the computer guy and help the President operate the computer while he's up front talking! Uh...I can't wait to get out and serve! It'll be incredible...and I haven't been sweating nearly enough!!! I'm quite interested to figure out who my trainer will be! I love you all and HE LIVES!

Elder Ethan Mecham

Dots & Swedish Fish. . .

Ethan will be entering the Mission Field on March 30th!

========================================

Hola!

Love Being a missionary! SMILE! :)‏

Hola Familia! All is well! I will try to make this a super good Email! :)

First of all, I saw my Mission president right before lunch today!!! Just shook hands…he’s awesome! Whenever you send another package…perhaps Swedish fish…dots…lots of dots…haha stuff like that!

I still haven’t got your package or letters yet! Still waiting! If you could…please let me know when you get my letters and stuff! I just never know if you get them or not! Tell Shawnie happy Birthday! :) It is going great! I’m have my rough days…but there is an endless supply of turning to the Lord :) I’m so grateful I was raised in the Gospel! I love this Gospel…I love my Savior! I’m so grateful for His sacrifice!

Why are there Riots at the University?

No se! I mean…I don’t know! :) Español!

Can you see the Beaches or have you seen your Sunset yet?

No beaches…and I can see sunrises when I go down the stairs to Breakfast! Sunset is just over the trees!

What is it like to be in a acutal companionship?

Much different?NICE! Less to worry about! And making progress is a lot easier!

What kind of success have you had at the University?

We place a lot of pamphlets and at least a book of Mormon each time! It isn’t to hard to place things here…usually they are just happy to receive things!Is it intimidating to talk to the College Students in Spanish?With the Lord…No! With the Lord I am able to understand quite a bit and respond…but I of course still have to say...lo siento! No entiendo! (Sorry! I don’t Understand!) But yesterday we taught two 22 or 23 year old girls about the Word of Wisdom…in Spanish! That was quite an accomplishment! NO COFFEE! Just accept it!! Haha

So does chocolate melt pretty fast there?? I was going to send you something but I dont want to have it be melted when you open it

Not here…I want some…but I’m thinking it melts on the plane? Or in the delivery process…but if you do send any… :) send the boxes with Snickers and musketeers and milky ways! The sams club ones! :) or whatever works! I was just craving that the other day!

I love you all! I’m doing great…I love being a missionary! I’m already scared for the day I have to drop the badge! We’re going on two months…crazy!

Love you All.
Elder Mecham

Sweat, Blood, & Love

Hello Family!

I miss you all so much! …. We went yesterday to the University instead of the usual Tuesday because there was a riot on Tuesday! We do service on Thursday also where we usually clean the University but today there is a riot again, so we will be here!Spanish is great! I feel like I'm excelling quickly! Only thanks to the Lord! I'm working hard at it and loving it! Well, this week was great. WAYYYYYYYYYYY fast. I know they all will be. OH!

I got the flu on Friday! The worst flu I have ever had by far. I didn't sleep at all on Friday night...threw up all of Saturday, got a blessing for Elder Warren, and was back up the next day. I have never been that sick...but I have never been healed that quickly! Priesthood! As of 20 minutes ago, I am now, for the first time in a companionship!. It was an answered prayer to stay in my room and my District, just because I am comfortable there. I will make sure I show the Lord I'm grateful for this! I just got done weeding the temple grounds! It was great! Physical work for my Lord! Love it! One kid (Elder Winter) said I reminded him of his Dad. "My Dad was raised in Morgan and he is always WORK WORK WORK. You'll do good in your mission" That made me feel good. I was working my tail off! But I enjoy it...& it's the Lord's House...Why shouldn't I be? Tell Grandpa and Dad thank you for the "work blood"! :) I'll make them & their name proud. Promise. I'm so grateful for my farm job!

Okay, I don't really know what to say...but I am doing great! I miss home and my nieces and my mom, and work, and service around Morgan a lot. But the Lord helps me snap out of it. I think it will be easier when I can literally GO & DO in the field. Not just....okay ready....LEARN! haha it's kind of harder...but I'm working my hardest in class too!
I love you all!
**Just a note from a hand written letter we got from Ethan the day after he got there...
Ethan Said that they let you take naps there, but he said he is not going to.. LOL A nap how funny!!..

Mmmm Dryer Sheets & Pop Rocks!

Hello Family!

You were close Mom! BuenAS DiAS. :) Haha good to know you're learning Spanish! The reason for the Subject of the email is just because I was reading about my nieces...and about Zane's itch for Golf...& Judy Johnson...and all of those little things about home...it made me tear up...but please tell me all the little things about life! I'm doing good! It's flying by! The more focused you are, the more you get done, and the faster it goes! I don't necessarily want it to go quickly...but in the awkward MTC stage..it's a little more difficult not to think about it! The way you did the questions is great!

Here it goes!

How is your food?

It's good! Breakfast, juice, oatmeal & cereal (raisin bran, corn flakes, & fruit loops) and bread, lunch, sancocho (a soup which is interesting...I described it in autumn's letter I'm sending today), or most commonly, rice, chicken, & beans! Dinner, same! But it's good! The body definitely has issues with natural laxatives! haha

How many are in your room?

Just 2! My companions! Elder Finn & Elder Warren! Good Companions! We have fun! The Haitians leave next week & the D.R. Natives come! But since we're at trio...I don't think we'll have anyone come into our room! That will be kind of nice! I am on top bunk...I like it because it's more personal up there and you have a little space!

Do you have the same basic schedule each day as the MTC?

Pretty much...it's a little more laid back here...with rests on sunday and what not. But at the same time...I can't find time to study my spanish notecards!

What is the University all about?

We walk over to the University, (North-West) of here. About 10 minutes. And teach! We get pamphlets (folletos) and L.D.M.! We have placed four, committed one to church on Sunday, & talked a lot! The language is going good thanks to the Lord!

Have you met your mission President?

Nope! But he lives in a tall building RIGHT next to us!

How is your health?

Good! I'm getting a cold right now...sore throat, but I will be able to fight it off quickly I think.

Is the CCM airconditioned so you wear your suit?

Yes it is airconditioned! But no suitjackets! That's nice! Just on Sunday During meetings!

How often do you go to the Temple?

Once a week! Thursday! P-Day! I went earlier today! All in English again!

How is your Laundry doing?

It is doing great! I do laundry tomorrow! I would like dryer sheets! They don't smell like anything when they're done!

Thanks! Que mas....hmm...OH!!!! The best day this week! Monday! we went and did some Haiti

Relief! FINALLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK! We transferred over a thousand bags of rice from one trailer to another! :):):):):) it reminded me SO much of home! Especially Lances farm! I was working my tail off...I worked so hard. It was such good therapy! I was taking on two jobs. We did assembly lines, and so I would be at the end stacking, & then when people would drop any along the line, I would go and pick two or 3 up. I LOVE that kind of work! And man did I sweat!!! wow! But it was incredible :)

On Tuesday I showed the Haitians pop rocks...they were FREAKING OUT. They had never seen anything like them! This gospel is true! The misssionaries need your help! Find so they can teach! I know this is the best work! Press forward! :) love you all, I'm doing good, the Savior suffered more than any of us! See you soon! Haha! :)

Elder Mecham

How Sweet

Ethan had these roses sent to Mom. .

such a good boy!!

We sure miss him!

Here is a Map of New Mission Boundaries

Brown Showers. . . .

Hello Family!
It is Thursday, My P-Day...and it is going by quick! Wow...so much to say! First of all, I love this gospel! :) it's incredible! Okay...mail comes on Tuesday's or Wednesday's....and leaves here on friday Morning. I didn't receive any yesterday...so please (anyone) feel free to send DearElders! No biggy though! Uh...no pictures here! President says that they provoke unwanted behavior so he won't let us use them. That's a huge bummer...but it's okay! I don't have much time to write letters here....although the email isn't timed we still are only supposed to be here for a half an hour. The only other time we have is about 45 minutes to just write actual letters. I miss you all! I'm focused though! It's hard to grasp the handle on missionary work in the MTC...but I'm doing my best! We went over to the University on Tuesday...and wow! It was incredible...I still have a long ways to go on the Language...but with the Lord's help...I understood quite a bit of it! I'm seeing the gift of tongues in a large manner. But I am very grateful to the Lord for enabling me to hear and speak better day after day
This will be choppy...but I'm going to try and type all of the stuff that I wrote in my notebook that I wanted to tell you...There a lot of Haitians...and I've learned a LITTLE bit of Creole. It's cool because we sing in Spanish, & they sing in Creole
A Quorum of the 70 came! That was cool. Couldn't Understand his name though! The lights go out quite a bit...but the generator they have kicks on after about 7 seconds! I went to the Temple today...and it was incredible. It was all in English. They had translation for the Haitians. There was something about it...it was so quiet in there. The Spirit was so strong. Loved it.
Well our showers are interesting! I am the first to shower in the Morning so I wake up at 6:15. The other Morning I turned it on and it was brown...and spurting a ton. It was like a scary movie! But it was cool because It means I'm actually over here! haha They aren't warm all the time. In the end I just splashed water on me to shower! I LOVE THE HEAT! If you're going to sweat...sweat a lot!!!Oh...and I have no idea what my spelling is going to be like in the future....spanish might mess me up!
Love
Elder Mecham

(Disclaimer: This is not his acutal sink I just found this picture on the internet!)

Pictures from the MTC

HERE IS SOME PICTURES ETHAN SENT

MOM LAST WEEK

HE IS OFFICIAL NOW, HE HAS A NAME TAG

ETHAN & HIS ROOMIES

I WILL CONVERT YOU!

AT THE TEMPLE

THE WHOLE DISTRICT

SOME MORE MISSIONARY BUDDIES

Elder Warren is in the Middle and is

Ethans Current Companion in the CCM in the DR

He has arrived!

Hello Family!
I'm here! And my goodness it is pretty! It is SO warm! Perfect temperature!
Well, we landed last night, walked out and there was a Dominican holding up a sign that said, "La Iglesia De JESUCRISTO de los santos de los ultimos dias" so we followed him out. We had a ton of luggage with 14 Missionaries total going to the C.C.M. So, the Dominican grabbed two other dominicans so we could all fit in their vans. They threw some luggage on top, and filled a van with luggage, then we all hopped in the other vans. The luggage on top was interesting...not mine! haha 25 mins later we saw the temple as we pulled up. The C.C.M. (THIS IS THE MTC THERE) is exactly north of the temple. It's on temple grounds! We went through the gate to get to it! We are just doing orientation right now! So they're letting us email! :) the rooms here are way nice. We have our own bathrooms instead of community ones! That's really nice! I'm in a trio again!(Elder Warren & Elder Finn) Haha it'll probably change in 3 weeks when 25 Dominican Republic Missionaries come & Elder Chacon leaves. Uh, there are only 24 Missionaries here. 14 of us that just came, and 10 Haitians. They're awesome! Breakfast was cereal, banana, juice, & bread with bread and peanut butter! My P-Day is on Thursday...and I only get 10 minutes to e mail. So I'll do my best! I love you all! I'm serving with absolutely everything that I have! The language is coming thanks to the Lord!
Gotta go...love you!

Ethan is on his way to the Dominican

Ethan left the MTC this morning at 3:00 AM to go to the airport.
He called Mom about 5:00 and talked to her and Shawnie

(since Dad is up in Casper) for about 15 minutes for so.

Mom recorded him talking about the First Vision in Spanish.

It's so awesome.

(So crazy he can speak Spanish that well!)

Cody (who works at the airport) was also able to see

Ethan before he boarded & got a picture with him.

He landed in Dallas about 8:40 or so and now they are

just getting ready to board (9:40) to fly to Miami

and then off to the Dominican Republic!

Email from 2/17/2010

Ethan Emailed Mom & Dad on Wednesday.

He is doing well and his Spanish is coming along great.

He loves being in the MTC and being surrounded by the spirit.

Some new news about his mission.

They added 3 areas to where he can serve:

Aruba, Bonaire, & Coracoa

He was really excited about that since he will be able

to see more of the caribbean!

Surprise Email from Ethan

Surprise

Bet you weren't expecting this! I went and got more time put on! But I have class in less than thirty minutes so I'll type as much as I can! I just got done with dinner! It was chicken, mashed potatoes, & green beans. I didn't feel very good so I didn't eat very much. I'm fine though. Just a little nauseated! I sent you something you're going to love today!

Well, since I answered your questions in the letter I sent today...I'll just tell you what has been going on! The Spanish is coming along good...I'm excited to be surrounded by it in the D.R. though. I love learning the Gospel!

Anyway, the more important thing, is through that contrast I'm learning how to be a better missionary! It makes the line very bold and solid! So, steadfast, immovable and onward! The more I learn about the Atonement, the more I want to serve him! It's incredible what He did for us...and I still complain about the littlest things. I want to serve Him to the best of my ability! For He deserves So much more! We sing so much here! I love it!!

Well, I leave on the 18th! 3 in the morning! Two lay overs, one in Texas, the other in Florida! Then on to the D.R.! I'm excited! It'll be interesting! All of the info is in the letter/package I sent you! I hope you enjoy it! I want to bear my testimony in Spanish to the best of my abilidad!

Yo se que esta Evangelio es verdadero. Yo se que lo! Yo se que Jesucristo es mi Salvador, y agradeco por el expiacion! Lo necesito! Yo se que Jose Smith fue un profeta do el restaurado, y yo se que Thomas S. Monson es el Profeta de esta dia hoy. Mi amo mi Salvador! En el nombre de Jesucristo, amen!

Translation:
I know this gospel is true. I know it! I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior, and grateful for the atonement! I need it! I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet do the restored, and I know Thomas S. Monson is the Prophet of this day today. I love my Savior! In Jesus' name, amen!

Anyway, I love you all so much! Thank you! I love you all!
Buenos Dias!
HE LIVES!
How merciful is our God!
Elder Mecham

February 3, 2010

Here is the first Email that we received from Ethan

Hello Mother & Famiy! My P-Day is Wednesday! I love you and miss you all! I am doing much better, but still adjusting. I am grateful to be here of course!I have seen the hand of the Lord so much already. I am constantly receiving comfort and inspiration! Thank you SO SO SO SO SO much for the packages! The batteries are the right ones! :) The peanut butter cups are amazing and an Elder on my floor (Elder Jensen) says you are now his second mother. They ALL love them! I am using them sparingly for sure! Oh and those Address stickers....YOU ARE AMAZING. The night before, my Comps were saying how they should get their Mom's to send them some because it would be so nice! Then you sent them! You are so amazing! I love you Mom...I miss you. Thank you for all you have done and do for me. I miss you, family. You wouldn't even believe how much it helps. Hearing from you girls' makes me so much stronger. Please never hesitate to send things or letters. I love them. There is never better than getting letters when mail time comes around TWICE a day. (After lunch and after dinner) And I love grabbing mine from the District Leader and reading them. Really, thank you for your letters, I love you girls' so much. Please focus on the Gospel all you can. Please stay close to the Lord, if for nothing else, for me! I need your spiritual strength. Pray, read your scriptures-above all! Read your scriptures!They have hidden strength that is manifested ONLY by reading them & studying them. I am getting a greater testimony of that everyday.
The 2nd counselor in my Branch Presidency, is an exact replica of Frasier's Grandpa on Frasier! The way he acts and everything! I love my Branch President! He is amazing!

HOW MERCIFUL IS OUR GOD
Elder Mecham

Letters!

We have received 2 letters from Ethan so far. He is very overwhelmed and has asked for our prayers. He said that President Uchdorf welcomed them the first night, and that was awesome . He had one companion that spoke fluent Spanish, and so now that Elder has been moved up a class. Ethan really liked him and was hoping to get to know him better..Now he has 2 other companions from St.George that are going to Paraguay. He is missing home very much, but said he knows he will be okay. So if you can all remember Ethan and pray for him to start adjusting he will and I will be so grateful.
Thanks for all the support you have given him!
Teresa

The MTC

Ethan was dropped off at the MTC on

Jan 27, 2010 at 1:15!

He looks so grown up!

Apparently they are all going with him!

What can I say? Just a cute pic!
They finally like each other. . . ;0)
Father & Son
So excited!!!
They are both confused!!

We love you Ethan and will miss you

but know that you will be

an awesome missionary!

Morning of MTC

At the house before leaving yesterday morning

Ethan & Mommy Ethan & Dad


We went to IHop for Breakfast before Mom, Dad, & Shaw
took Ethan down to the MTC. It was yummy & fun!

This is the look that will convert people!

We will miss that look!!
All the kids!
Kiss, Kiss, Kiss!!!
The Girls

The Whole Fam!

(The boys had to work and kids were at babysitters already)

Setting Apart

Ethan was set apart Tuesday Jan 26, 2010

at the Stake Center.

His blessing was very beautiful and comforting.

What? I don't leave right now???

Elder Mecham with Mom & Dad

The 'BOYS'
Uncle E with his girls!
Zane, Ethan, Addy, & Shae
Cassie, Kenzlee, Ethan, Kairi, & Cody

Mallori, Ethan, & Katelyn

Ethan & Shawnie

The Whole Fam
Ethan and G&G Mecham

Everyone that came for finals goodbyes!

The Farewell

Ethan's Farewell was on Sunday.
He got to talk with his guy friends from the ward

and they all did an awesome job.
Ethan's talk was amazing and he sounded more

like a returned missionary than one leaving!
I will post some pictures of the luncheon later when

I can get them from mom!

Temple Day!

Ethan took his endowments out on Saturday
at the Ogden temple!

We can't belive he is old enough to do this!

We are so proud of him!

Looking very handsome & grown up!

The Proud Parents!

The whole fam with Auntie Rae!

The Boys!

The Whole Fam



The whole Fam with G&G Mecham

Proud Parents & Grandparents


Ethan with Grandma & Grandpa Mecham

Ethan with Autumns' Family

Ethan & Autumn

We enjoyed a very yummy & busy breakfast
at IHop after with all the family that came
to support Ethan