So this week was bomb fo show!!!!! 9/28/09

Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:35:09

So this week was bomb fo show!!!!! We started this week teaching Pepe because he was going to get baptised. And it all came to gether for show! It was amazing. he said in his testimony after he was baptized that he wanted to end his life and was in a state of darkness and confusion. But through this church and the grace of our heavenly father his life was changed for ever. I couldn't help but cry mom. He really is a man who has been filled with the spirit of God. On tuesday I went over with the Zone leader Elder Gove and spent the whole day with him going on splits and contacting. It was actually funny all of his appointments juked him. I laughed so hard when I realized that maybe I am like a jynx for the Zone leaders. Anyways, on wednesday I finally got home and we went and visited this with Pepe again. He was really happy and excited for the baptism. I figured he would be. ON thursday we had our usual weekly planning session which was kind of interupted because one of the members daughters was having a birthday. So we met up with the members sons (moises) who is bomb! He does everything for us. He is about to leave on his mission as well. So we set up for the daughter and went back to planning. We then got juked by a couple of appointments and had dinner with Gabriel and Yawdy They fed us chip, sandwhiches and........ fried catapillars! I couldn't even believe I ate them but I did.
The food might not have been amazing but the Yawdy and Gabrial, they are really great! Gabriel can't wait to be baptized on November 8th but before that Married on November 7th with Yawdy! Well Friday we had corrolation with Hermano Duran (our ward mission leader) He is reall dedicated and shares his testimony only about the deepest doctrine I can even fathom. We also visited with the Family Samora(recent converts 2 years ago) and met with there son Fernando. We are hoping to get him to be baptized. He is a kid though. Just moved down from Dominican Repulic. Also, during the night on friday was Pepe's interview for the baptism and I don't think any person can top the word our district leader(Elder Lambert) told us...."he's ready!" :) Well saturday was all about preparing for the baptism which I must add was amazing. Pepe and his non-member wife gave their testimonies. they were beyound amazing for show! Well the next day I confirmed Pepe all in spanish.... Yes it is possible. Genaro(Yawdy's dad) got the Aaronic Priesthood. and about half the other members of the priest hood including Hermano Samora who recived the Aaronic and melquesidic, Moises who recieved the melquesidic, and Norbert who is another future missionary who recieved the melquesidic. All in all the metting was so spiritual! We left church and met up with one of the Bishopbric members from Chile Hermano Quesada. He was sitting there asking us how to say words like baptisms for the dead, and he starts going off about the deepest doctrine I have ever heard! It was flipin amazing. He is a man of God, that is for show! Well after my mind was done exploding from all the spiritual knowledge I recieved. I went home and went to sleep.
I just want you to know mom this place is the best place I could ever be. The gospel is true and I know that without a doubt.
With love,
Elder Gamez

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Ssesanga 09/28/09

morning maam am doing fine this side its cold now but it getting to summer its qiute diffrent from uganda because its always hot no winter and summer. but its ok am good with it. i dont have any family in usa apart from u maam so if u live me i will be alone.......my maam in uganda she i not a member of the church it is just me and my young brother. i have not meet Elder mandenhall and i try to ask who he is but i have not found him. what i know is soccer and the teams i know are soccer teams in usa but its so nice my young bros playing sport like that i wish to watch them one day when they are playing. i love u maam. it will be better if u send me ur adress and write my conversion in latter because its easier. bye maam.

**I had asked him to shout out to Elder Mendenhall for us and tell him that he was for the Cardinals and not the Dallas Cow"girls" !!   I have sent him a picture so he can do his homework !!

Honestly this letter left me a little teary eyed.  I'm so appreciative of Sister Mann asking for people to adopt Elders in the Durban South Africa Mission.  It's strange that I actually have something to write to this Elder every week.. 

Elder Gamez' thoughts on his Ugandan Brother: What a good guy. Any guy that is nice to my mom is cool with me :)

The long letter 09/21/09

Dear Mom,Ok mom can I say how much I loved the pictures that you sent they were fantastic of max and charlie and you at his party. I hope that he is doing well.  Can you call him right now and tell him how much I love my brother. Then emidiately after that go give charlie and big hug and kiss and tell him that i am so proud of him and happy for him and his so far undefeated record. Keep working charlie.

Ok so as far as the mission is going mom. This sunday was Stake conference. We had all the spanish Wards in the whole Union City and West New york area. It was great. There are alot of spanish members out here. Anyways on monday we had a metting with Pepe the investagator who is going to get baptized on the 26th of September. That's right this week. Ok and you are never going to believe this one. He asked me to confirm him as a member of the church! I was like................speechless..................because I can barely teach in spanish let alone confirm the guy. "Sigh" but I know that heavenly father will help me.

Then after the interviews this week we met up with this family the parents names are Josi and Cristian. They have one daughter who's name is garella??? I think. Anyways, we stop by there home and taught them. We also, scheduled a baptismal date with Cristian but not his wife. We'll have to do that next time.Next was Yawdy and Gabriel. They both are so ready to be married. In fact they scheduled there wedding for the 7th of October and the very next day Gabriel will be baptized. Sad story to go along with them is that Yawdy has a dad. His name is Genaro, and Genaro is a recent convert that Elder Ellsworth worked with once he first came to the area. He actually is going to have sergery for a Hernia( I don't know how to spell it but it's when you lift stuff to much and the pain in your side) Well he has that and they are really working to get the money to pay for that.
Next, Leidy is doing really great. We saw her at stake conference. Leidy was like there are alot of people and we were like yes leidy there are :) I love new converts.
Anyways a really weird story actually is this lady named Nacisa who invited us over to teach. Well we get there and find out that the only one's that we are really teaching are these 3 boys of hers it was crazy they are only 12, 10 and 6 years old. But it was a bomb lesson non the less.I have never been so busy mom and I love this place so much. Today me and my comp's are working on preparing the baptism.

Elder Gamez 9/21/09 - the short message !!

MOM!!!!,You are so right mom loving the people and being patience with them is the best thing you could have said mom. These last few days have been a little rough but I am working really hard

Tell charlie how proud I am of him. I think it is so bomb that his team is literally destroying the competitions. buh ha ha. **(I think that was supposed to be an evil laugh)

It has been getting a little cold but nothing to drastic yet. I bought a blanket so that I can stay a little warmer at night.

Elder Ssesanga 9/21/09

hi maam, its so nice to have somebody like you i really enjoy your company because i dont here from my mother from uganda now my family is in usa that so nice i think i have started to realise blessings from my mission people to care a bout me its so important i like it. even am working on christ like atributes in preach my gospel because is the centre of missionary work. christ is the father of missionary work from the begging of the world even before so if i apply them every thing will be easy for me. you can change my profile picture with that i love u maam take care. bye

awesome day, and cake to boot

Charlie was totally surprised

to have all his friends

@ our house for his birthday..  

Charlie's Golden Day

I am a firm believer in the tradition of a "golden" birthday.  This day,  is a birthday like no other.   If you are born on say the 25th of the month, then you can know, without a doubt,  that this birthday should shine above all others in your life.  Now for those who are born say on the 2nd, you might not remember your 2nd birthday,  so I think you get an extra chance with your 20th. 


Case in point.  My golden birthday was July 25th.  On that day my niece Rosana was born.  It has been a memorable day ever since that date..  My son Joey was born on Sept 2nd, so he was lucky enough to have a 2nd golden birthday this year.  He spent that day as his first day in the mission field in New Jersey.  I know he will never forget that day !!


Tomorrow,  September 17th,  2009  is my lil' baby.. (well not so lil')




Charlie's Golden Birthday !!! 


I don't know what awesomeness will prevail that day,  but I do know this.   He will always remember the day, and it will go down in HIS history if nobody elses!!!  


If you get the chance to shout out to him, do so... 


I'll keep you posted on the culminating events of his most awesomeness of days!!

Elder Gamez 09/14/09

Dear mom,Ok mom so the computer today were mega slow!!!! I hate it. but oh well I will do my best to type fast. OK so.... this week we baptised a girl named Leidy. She is an 18 year old girl who lives out here and her aunt and uncle are members but her immediate family are not. She then got confirmed on the follwing sunday. So baptized saturday. Then we taught some of our other investigators one named Pepe who is a perubian who is golden for sure. Ok so he is getting baptized on the 26th of september. And I was the one who asked him to get baptized. In spanish. I am doing ok in the language says elder Sopena. Then there gabriel and Jawdy.... strange name I know. but anyways they are getting married soon. That's right mama we got a couple to get married before they could get baptized :) I am so happy for them they love the missionaries so much. Ok So I read your letter about charlie please tell him how proud I am of him and that to not loose his work ethic. Keep pushing his team to be better. I know that his team is better than just 2-0 but non the less woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!! doggy!!!! I love it!

I love you mom and I am so proud of charlie. ok I think that I can put some pictures up here but I will need to put them into another e-mail. The librarian gave me some more time :). Go missionaries :). So elder sopena is the dark brown one and Ellsworth is the white kid. Then Elder Macdonald as well as his companion elder Bronx. I love you mom have a safe and good week.

My Adopted Son from Uganda ...Elder Ssesanga 8/31/09

I adopted a baby recently... well actually not such a baby.. He's 21 years old and about 6'1"  His name is Henry Ssesanga and he is serving in the Durban South African Mission.  He is from Uganda..  Here's his first letter... I like the end where he apparently is worried that I'm a stalker, wondering how I got his info !!!
Hi this is your son elder ssesanga, maam how are today i recieved your mail which is still making me............i dont know what to say but thank you very much for your testimony and your love i have accepted to be your son and i will keep writing to you and my brother Gamez. now am serving in a place called umbhedula there good here who love the gospel. i was very happy to be called to serve amission because this is the best way to get closer to my father in heaven and even to give thanks to all blessings that he has given i know thru this work i will be able to learn about him and serve other and express my love to him. am so greatful for ur effort about me. am 6.1or 2 feet tall, am 21 years my birth day is 15 Nov. i like soccer and volley but i enjoy to watch tennis too.


i have some questions for you maam.

were did you get my name?

and were did find my picture?

how did get to know me? maam i love this is what i have for i promise when i get to see Elder Mendenhall i will give him ahag.

September 11th.. Still Remembering

In my mind there are MANY unsung heroes  of that tragic day.   The ones that I particularly remember are my children's school teachers.   That day was so tumulous and full of anxiety,  I can imagine what being in a classroom must have been like.  My son Joey's 6th grade teacher that year was Joy Penaskovic.  Joy,  in my mind,  is one of the most awesome unsung heroes of that day.  Just after the bell sounded and children were in their seats,  the news came that there were problems in New York and the new was trickling about the towers.  Joy is actually from that area of the country.  From what I recall her mom worked in the area of the towers.   How she kept her cool with 30  kids in her care I will NEVER know.   Joey told me she explained to the class that she would be using her cell phone, and trying to reach her family.  She also calmly explained the circumstances of what was happening in NY.  I would have been a screaming lunatic.  I can't even imagine what was going through her mind at the time.  I can only hope that my first thought would have been to the children in my care,  however,  I don't know that.  Wondering about my family would have had me consumed.  My point here is that I have admired teachers for who they are and the efforts they make every day with our children.  They certainly are everyday heroes.  However,  on that day,  when our world was changed forever,  my heroes were the teachers in the classroom at Catalina Elementary School.  I will forever be grateful for their strength and for the way they took care of my kids when I couldn't.   When they say teachers don't get paid enough,  I agree.  I can only hope that this post is a little extra pay that they honestly deserve. 

1 am- wondering...

I often wonder what other people are doing right now.  Are they sitting at their computers with foggy feeling contact lenses in their eyes? Are they looking at the grocery store ads,  wondering what else they can get 10 of in one purchase?  Are they snoring and keeping others awake in their home?  Are they looking for rainbows?? Are they working to fill the time and emptiness?  ME?  I just like to wonder............ If you read my blog and see this note,  just tell me,  what you're generally doing on a Wed night Thurs morning @ 1 am.  I'm just wondering...

Michael Ashton Obituary: Michael Ashton’s Obituary by the Deseret News.

This is the link to my friend Mike's guest book,  Strange thing to post,  but I love him and appreciate his example..

Michael Ashton Obituary: Michael Ashton’s Obituary by the Deseret News.

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MAMA!!!!!!! I'm in Jersey :)

MOM!!!! I am here in New Jersey! Finally :) I hope you got my letter. Ok so do I have some exciting News for you. Ok to start off. I got my new companions.... Yes a trio again!!!! The first is Elder Sopena a native of Puerto Rico!!! Then Elder Ellsworth a native of..... Utah ;) I love them both. They are like spiritual giants to me. Everyday I learn something great, new, and interesting from them. Hey mom I was informed to start asking you to make a page of some sort that informs others about what is going on in my mission. If that is possible please do so mom because president Bahr wants us focused on the work. Ok secondly you are just gonna flip when you hear this one :) ok so you know that Kaiden Macdonald is in the New Jersey mission as well right...... well I live in the exact some appartment as him 8) I know crazy! huh!!! I was like No Way!!!!! It was great I mean I couldn't beleive even thousands of miles away heavenly father still puts us together ;). OK so also even more amazing news...... OK so when I got here we had a total of 3 baptizems. Well now we have 4 and guess who gave the commitments???? Me baby!!!! woooooooooo!!!!! I love this place. The Name of the investigator is Pepe. he is a short Perubian man who in 7 days has had 7 lessons :0 ooooooooooooo snap moma you know! I mean this place is amazing.
Ok also mom there must be like a millions different kinds of spanish people out here from dominicans, pureto ricans, el salvadorians, guatemalians, tons of latinos. I can't even walk down the street without talking to some. OH yeah I serve in the Union City area.
With love,Elder Gamez

The first of many, many, many...............

I'm trying to be obedient and do as I've been instructed.

Yesterday I received an email from Joey, that's my son Elder Gamez, stating that I should be letting people know where he is and what he's doing. Apparently that is MY job now. And, well, if you know me, then you know I was probably born to be a blogger anyway....

So, since this is my first blog, I'll do what I want to do, and dedicate it to my friend and little big brother Mike Ashton. I've been wanting to find a way to "WRITE". Mike was an awesome writer, maybe Debbie will let me post some of his stuff sometime. His efforts to share his thoughts left me with a void I wanted to fill as well. Soooooo even though I might have crappy grammar and punctuation. I over use letters, and exclamation points !!!! I hope that what I post will be enjoyable to all, and I'll feel FULFILLED !!! LOL.........