May 24th

Wow! I Love My Mission! I'm learning loads!..Mail is only coming or going 3 times a transfer(6 weeks)now. I'm not sure why but its a trial for sure. Well! Quite the day! We Moved! Elder Blake and I. We are on the 3rd floor. Just a little house and quite nice! Problem...we dont have a fridge, stove, or clothes washer.. and we wont get that stuff for 4 weeks. haha! quite funny! Alot of missionaries are dealing with that right now though because they are trying to get every companionship living in their area. And when they send out the Island Missionaries (in 4 weeks in the transfer when they start doing that!(I dont think theyll get much mail)there will be a surplus of fridges and what not! So we'll see what happens!

Well I love Life! Luiz is doing good.. The Lord is permitting a great work here! I am coming so close to him. I have a desire to serve Him and it grows everyday.

I am praying for you all. This is his work! He leads this Church!

Adelante!!!

Love Elder Mecham

Ethans Scripture covers that

he had made for him

May 17th

Ethan and Elder Blake at a Baptismn
Streets after it Rained
Rosanna, Ethan and Elder Blake ..

Ethan Buzzed his hair, and hopes we all still love him.

I do believe he looks a bit more like his Father now!
A very cute Puppy

A Great Sunset from Ethans Zone Leaders Apartment
Ethan Loves Sunsets

May 3rd Email

My Compantion is great. VERY smart. we get along great! He is going to BYU! SO I hope to see a lot of the people I¨ve met here! Transfers are next tuesday...but we don´t find out if we´re moving until sunday!
Well this week was great! We had a baptism, Oliver, he is 13 and is going to be the first young man in the ward! We have ZERO. So we are working on that! Estamos en eso! we usually have light at night and then it leaves in the middle of the night and don´t have it in the morning! we don´t really need it though...mainly for the fans! We are baptizing two little 10 year olds Lismin and Roselia (girls) on the 15th. And probable and 14 year old Named Gabriel. He is a GENIUS. Wow. The D.R. you see on a cruise is not what you see here! It´s definitely different! A lot of garbage alleys...& you don´t really notice you´re in the Carribbean...it´s just another place! The only hints you have is the weather, palm trees, and the people! But I love it...I really do... I´m doing good and loving it! I love all these people! I don´t have much time...but I am doing great! I´m happy, & doing my very best everyday. Trying my hardest not to waste a second! I love you all so much! Miss you like crazy & so grateful I have you! I love my Savior. He´s everything to me...and I want to do everything I can to be the best for Him...in every way possible. Onward, Onward!!! He lives and has a plan for us! =)
Love Elder mecham...

Ozama Mama

Hi!
I haven´t read your e mail yet! but we´re in a different internet place today and it is faster so it should go better! thank you for putting me there in carboard! I can´t believe shes married! I´m so happy for her! Teaching is...coming...haha you´d be surprised how hard it is to express your deepest emotions (the gospel) in another language! But the Lord is helping me! yes we baptized baslai and meres, two haitians! Thank you for the notes, and the memory card. i really want jelly beans, SWEDISH FISH reeses, snack stuff like that!
I got through it SO fast!!! Notecards!! just the regular size with lines on one side! Different colors please! I am doing them for scripture memorization daily and each month is going to have a color!
.i am in zone-ozama....area-alma rosa....yeah! sorry i don´t know what to tell you! we´re booked each day! you´ll have to let me know what you want for the blog...cause i LOVE talking like this! and i will just answer questions for the blog
i will be calling from our cell phone though! i´m sorry what that costs! i need to go!

So Official

These are some pictures sent home on his memory card

Don't really know for sure what & where they are

so will update that when we get it!

I really love this one, he looks like an

official tourist/missionary!

His companion Elder Blake

This is just cool looking!

Try packing those home. . . .haha

He is an official Dominican Republican now!

Oh! this is kind of big!

(sorry it is constantly hectic and cannot remember anything!) I baptized someone on Saturday! Ellis Rosanna Botello Nuñez. she is awesome! great faith! and speaks english! she is about 40 and is now a member! uh....we have two getting baptized on Saturday, two haitians Jonathon and basely.

We had a haitian member translate for us and jonathon speaks english creole and spanish! thats nice! i dont know what to say! i will always email from an internet cafe! its not really a cafe...but it is a place with computers! Im still in the city...is isnt necessarily far from the beach...but i still havent seen the beach yet! and one of the more richer areas!
....pdays we went to the park today! just a big soccer field! i got some sun! no glasses!contacts are great thus far! dont have a microwave...but we have already opened a pack of popcorn and put it in a pan...didnt work so well! haha!spanish is coming! i dont know what else to say! slowly but surely! theyve said i know a lot more than others!

Always on the clock

Well I am doing great! I don't know exactly what to say!

First I'll answer questions as best I can!

I live with my comp and two others, Elder Clase and Elder Cabrall. Two natives!

Schedule:

6:30, wake up, i write letters new scripture to memorize and review the others,
7:00 get ready,
7:30 make breakfast, (whatever I can find)
8:00 is personal study,
9:00 is comp study,
10:00 - 1:00 we go to appointments and such,
1:00 - 3:00 we go back to the house and eat lunch and study,
3:00 - 9:00/9:30 if we're in an appointment we go to appointment or tract if we need to.
then i shower at night, eat and go to bed!

Well, our area is on fire right now. We have 19 people in church...that is MONUMENTAL. My companion said up to now he has never seen this kind of success at all. This was supposedly the hardest area...but the Spirit is doing a great work.

cooking..i'm learning how to make pastas! i boil noodles and put condensed queso in it, and today i bouth sharp queso and sour cream and onion seasoning. we'll see how that goes!

humidity is great! if you're going to sweat, sweat a lot right!

there is absolutely NO TIME out here. it flies by and so you need to learn to master it!

i'm doing great...thank you for your prayers! they are needed! this work is moving forward and no one can stop it! one quick thing...GET INVOLVED you can't imagine how much missionaries have to do! David A Bednar counseled us...it is the job of the members to find, and the job of the missionaries to teach. just befriend them, reference them to the missionaries, and do what you can to help the missionaries! itis the greatest work!

i love you all! remember God as He remembers you!
D & C 101...7-9

Alma Rosa!

Alma Rosa is the area where Ethan is Serving at:

Elder Mecham & Elder Blake

This is Ethan with his companion & trainer Elder Blake

Oh so cold in the Caribbean. . .

Hello!

Well...13 days without a pday really throws you off!

I’m here and safe and all is well! .I just think I will do my

best to tell you what is going on! so first of all...the

keyboard isn’t that great...so pardon my grammar...

2nd I’m doing great!

The apartment... nice...kinda...all showers are freezing

...the toilet has to flushed with a bucket of water,

the shower is the only access to water we have...

i sleep on a mattress on the ground and

so far i have been sleeping fine! Thank you SO

much for the package!!!! Í love all the food and

especially the chocolate! The washer is tiny and

basically just mixes your clothes around.

I’m doing great! Staying busy!

My trainer is elder Blake...and yup his mom is a MM! :)

he is a hard worker and is teaching me well! i love you all!

I’m going to send this in hopes that you are there

More info.. We have a lot of investigators

that are doing great! I’m loving it. Just getting settled in!
SO hectic right now! Love you all so much! He lives!!!!!!

Have a great weekend!

Talk to you on Monday

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

Pictures from the Mission Home

Autumn found these on the mission website:

Ethan with the Mission President & His wife

Group Shot

Another Group Shot

Lost & and now Found

Ethan just emailed me at work (This is Shae)

He is online at an internet cafe right now and wanted me

to tell Mom but she is Ogden going to lunch with

Cassie for her birthday!

So she is sending him emails from her phone so

we will have more info from him when she checks her email

later today. But he said is good and loving it and they went

to the Temple on today. His pdays will now be on Mondays

so we will get to hear from him again in a couple of days!

No Word Yet. . .

We have not heard from Ethan since the week

before he left the CCM, but Mom writes with other Moms

who have sons out and has been in contact with the mom of

Ethan's companion (Elder Warren) from the CCM.

She wrote Mom yesterday and forwarded this picture on

of the their CCM group.

Ethan is two left of center from the sister missionaries.

Wearing a lovely pink tie!

I'm Leavin. . . .

Ethan left the CCM (MTC) in the

Dominican on Tuesday March 30.

He is now officialy out in the mission field

and his trainer will be picking him up!

Good luck Ethan!

We love you and miss you!

"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!)