Safety and Protection

Hello my dear!

Everyone asks me how you are doing. They love reading your emails! I love seeing the pictures. The rain and standing water! Holy smokes. It’s crazy. Please be careful! Who knows what kids of creatures are floating under the surface?! Make sure there are no downed power lines either! Also, please stay out of the sewage.  Oh my word. Make sure when you shower to wash everything good with soap. It’s a miracle you aren’t sick around the clock. The hot pot looked amazing though! I’m sorry that the girl you were teaching will not be able to come anymore. Very disappointing. But I’m glad you’ve met some new kids to teach! And hopefully they will continue to pray and let you visit and develop a true interest in the gospel. I’m glad Xi Long it still coming and making progress. Little by little you are making a difference in the lives of the people you teach and interact with. I hope you have a nice relaxing p-day, and have a great time at zone conference!

This is what we've been up to this week:

1. On Sunday we had a full house for dinner. Allison and Zach’s family was in town, so we invited my mom and dad, and Andrew & Giannina’s family. But my friend Aspen was also in town to drop her daughter off at BYU, so I invited her and Kayden to join us. It was a fun night! Good food and company. Giannina made raspberry jello.  Yum! I was hoping Kayden and Michael would have a little bit of time to talk, but that didn’t really happen, so I’ll have to invite her up for dinner again sometime and maybe introduce her to some of Michael’s friends.

2. On Monday we celebrated Labor Day together at Cherry Hill. Even Dad and Michael came! We mini golfed and swam one last time before they closed for the season.

3. I had another super early day at work on Tuesday. The Allemans drove home and Michael moved the rest of his things back to BYU. I was supposed to work another early shift on Wednesday, but blessedly got out of it!

4. Tuesday evening Michael took a group of friends hiking up to a spot where they were going to rock climb. It was a spot Ethan Coster had taken him to before. Michael was leading the group. He climbed up over a ledge and took a step toward a boulder, but the earth gave way under his foot and dislodged the boulder. He grabbed onto it—trying to prevent it from rolling off the ledge and hitting his friends below. In a split second he decided to follow the boulder over the edge and was able to alter its course just enough so that it didn’t hit anyone else. He fell about 10-15 feet on rocky ground and got a little banged up. He cut his chin and hand, banged his knee, sprained his ankle, and had a couple of goose eggs on his head. But luckily was not seriously injured. The boulder falling caused a small rock to ricochet and it hit one of the girls in the head causing her to bleed pretty badly. Caden acted quickly to tie a shirt around her head to stop the bleeding. Then he picked her up and ran down the trail to the car to take her to the emergency room. She needed 4 staples in her head, but was otherwise ok. Michael was really impressed with how Caden and Britney (?) kept their calm. But it was definitely a scary experience for all of them. He’s feeling grateful for safety and protection.

5. Michael started his classes at BYU, and I think it will be a great semester for him. He’s taking Chinese, Econ, & Religion. He is also taking an internship class and thinks it’s going to be a good project and learning experience. He says two of his roommates still haven’t moved in, so they are making plans for the extra bedroom space!

6. On Friday I got to go in to Jett’s classroom and teach his class for an hour about finance and bank services. They were eager learners and I think it will be fun for them. Tomorrow I’m going back and we will practice writing checks. Half of the kids don’t know how to sign their names in cursive, so I gave them a challenge to learn how and I’m bringing treats for the kids who practiced.

7. Friday night Blake’s football game was at Corner Canyon for their Homecoming game. It was pretty brutal. Of course Corner Canyon has an amazing program. But our team just didn’t play their best. I’m really hoping to see things turn around. I’m starting to blame the coach, because really there is no good reason we should be losing week after week. Blake is playing well.

8. While I was at the game sitting by Michael I got a text from Heidi Bird asking if she could set up Michael to go out with her cute nieces who go to BYU. He’s suuuuper excited.

9. I randomly found my Apple Pencil that I lost a few months ago. But now I can’t get it to pair with the iPad. So, to be continued. . .

10. Today M’Li Brock gave her homecoming talk (Knoxville Tennessee), and Missy Wood (Concepcion Chili) spoke in her ward as well. I talked with Brady’s mom too. Brady left for the MTC on Wednesday, and I think it’s been a rough transition and he’s feeling a bit overwhelmed. Welcome to missionary work Elder!

Hopefully this week will be fun and uneventful. And hopefully we beat Mountain Ridge on Friday!

Love you Ty!

Xoxo, Mom