Family Email - Feb 22 2016

Hey Family! So this week will be transfers, so it is possible that something could change here in Coimbra! I'll know by tomorrow. Haha it's kind of silly how they do it here - normally transfers are on Monday so that if you get transferred you can go to your new area and use p day to buy groceries and stuff, but President Amorim likes to do it on Tuesday. Oh well! I'll let you know how it goes! This has also been an interesting transfer because we had our mission tour with President Kearon, who is just the most awesome british guy ever who loves his wife a ton which is way cute, and because of the tour we had a 7 week transfer instead of a 6 week transfer. Pretty interesting! 

After about a transfer with a comp things start getting pretty wacky. We have laughed way too much this week! You develop little habits and "catch phrases" and inside jokes with someone you're around 24/7, and then the last week it all just kind of goes crazy and you can't stop laughing because of it. I hope that made sense! I've been doing this little "cry" I guess you could call it, where I sniffle and make a high pitched little cry noise if something makes me pretend sad, but it's really loud, and I did it on the road and didn't realize that there was a guy getting off of his motorcycle who gave me a really funny look. Haha oh well! Also! I hit seven months today! Whoop daddy! How bout it! 

Well, I think that's about it! Thank you family so so much for the package! PEANUT BUTTER IS SUCH A BLESSING you guys don't even know. And so is good cereal! Haha holy moly. I loved it! I did this crazy awesome thing today where I cut out the core of an apple and filled it with peanut butter so that I could take in on the road and not have to have a spoon or anything for the peanut butter! SO GOOD! And the shirts rock. And Ethan's comic made me die laughing and I loved Amanda's letter and Dad's too! Thanks everyone! I really loved it! Have a super fantastic week! Love all of you! 

Hi Ian and Coylou! Love you guys too! :)

Love, Elder Valentine!

Mission Conference February 22 2016

Hey Everyone!

So this week will be a little shorter, I have some emails that I haven't been able to get to for a while! But some cool stuff that happened this week - first, we had a big mission conference with the Europe Area President, President Kearon of the Seventy. We had all of the missionaries in the mission in one place! It was way cool! President Kearon talked about 3 main things that I would like to share. 

1. Start the day with energy. I think this applies really well to everyone! Sometimes we get up and are discouraged about work or school or friends or whatever else, and wonder how we are going to get through the day. But faith in the Lord brings real blessings! Believe that you will grow and have the strength of the Lord today! 

2. Start again. Huge Atonement application. We have the opportunity to start again, every day, or specifically every Sunday with the sacrament, trying our best to become like the Savior. All that he asks is the best we can give, and as Gordon B. Hinckley said, every day as we give our best to the Lord, we will see that our best was better than the day before. 

3. Be the message. This applies to missionaries obviously, but to everyone else too! We are blessed with the plan of HAPPINESS - so be happy! Show the world how grateful you are for your blessings! that's all. :)

also, President Amorim challenged us to make a baptismal invite every week. Elder Barrett and I did ours yesterday with a guy named Daniel on the street - we testified a little bit and then invited him to be baptized, and he said yes! On the street! Haha it was a super amazing experience! We are going to teach him this week so we will see if he actually really wants to, but it was an awesome experience anyway! I will inform you how it goes next week.

Also Elder Barrett and I walked around 15 kilometers yesterday. It was great! Our area is SO BIG, but it's mostly like giant forests with little towns spread every 5 kilometers or so. Haha I love Portugal!

Alrighty! Have a super good week everyone! The Lord is on your side! Don't forget it! I know it's true. :)

- Elder Valentine!

Valentine Day Pictures from Elder Valentine

Valentine Day Pictures from Elder Valentine

Big Hill - Climbed Up, Found Gypsies, They Didn't Listen!

Kinder Egg at Transfer - Bird Turns Into Donkey, What's the Symbolism??

Elder Garcia (District Leader) and Elder Valentine

The 6 Month Tie Burning!

Letter to Daddio - February 15 2016

Hey Daddio! 

Haha your new laptop is SWEET! I love it! Where did you get it? It totally rocks! I hadn't realized that your job change wasn't official yet, but now you get to go back and work with some of the same people that you did before, right? That is so cool! I remember that it was a hard thing to leave the records department and now you get to be over it again! Your job is crazy! I'm excited to get the package - I am going BACK up to Porto this Thursday, so I might be able to pick it up if it's there! I'm excited! I love getting stuff from you guys - not even necessarily the material stuff, but I love seeing everyones handwriting and getting comics from ethan and quotes from anna and everything! Thank you guys for always having me in your prayers. I feel lots of blessings from Heavenly Father every day! Love ya, dad!

Love, yo homie! Elder Valentine!

Elder Valentine Celebrates 6 Months in Mission Field!

How does Elder Valentine celebrate his sixth month mark? By burning a tie!

Hey Family!

So I finally burned a tie for hitting my six months like a month ago! I had a way good picture of me holding a flaming tie, but Elder Barrett deleted it, so the picture I'll send in a bit is my burning tie inside of an ash tray that somehow ended up in our apartment. It was way good! It smelled way bad!

Haha so yeah, that's about the only other news I have for this week! I'll be writing responses to questions in little individual emails, so it won't be in this email, unless anyone objects and wants me to continue in this email. 

So apparently it's President's day in the states! I had no idea! Haha that literally means nothing to Portugal, obviously! Yay for american patriotism! 

So every transfer, the missionaries here buy a kinder egg, and whatever the toy is inside is the prediction for the next transfer! We have an extended transfer right now - normally transfers would be today, but we are having a big mission tour where the Europe Area President is coming to talk to our mission, so they added a 7th week for this transfer - so we opened our kinder eggs today, and mine is a bird that you can turn upside down and it looks like a donkey. So a bird donkey. I have no idea what it means but I will keep you all informed. 

We walked up the craziest hill this week and saw another part of our area that we have never seen... you'll understand why when I send the pictures in a sec! I also went on a division with Elder Garcia, our district leader, and I found Miguel with him, and a cool romanian lady who said we could come back. It was cool! 

I kind of explained the pictures I will send, so try and piece it together. Love ya family! I hope you are all doing super well! Have a fantastic week! 

Love, Elder Valentine!

Seeing Miracles

Here's Elder Valentine's letter from February 15:

Dear Everyone,

Happy Valentine's day yesterday! I hope everyone had a good time celebrating my day! We contacted and had a good lesson with some new investigators. :) #loveofchrist!

So! I'm finally feeling better, even though I still sound like a 40 year smoker when I cough! But it's okay, because I fit right in to all of the other people here in Portugal! Haha oh man. It's a struggle. It rained cats, dogs, and everything else this week, so we had a good time avoiding flooded streets and talking to people in their homes, because no one in their right mind would be out on the road... except for the missionaries! We found a bunch of really cool investigators this week! We found one from Cabo Verde named Claudino who was a reference to the other elders, because he lived literally on the other side of the street from our area, and we found an older guy Miguel who we taught with our Bishop in a really good lesson, and a little family of three who have some promise! Our Mission President made a goal for the mission to baptize 35 people in March, so we have a lot of work and praying to do to hit that goal! Elder Barrett and I are working hard with the members and with everyone we meet to share the gospel, and we are loving it! In the rain. Lots and lots of rain. 

In a big training meeting we had a couple of weeks ago with an Area Seventy, Elder Moreira, he taught about the importance of prayer. He taught us that prayer is the door to revelation from God, and that as we pray, we are inviting the spirit to reveal God's will to us! I really wish I could explain everything he said, but it was all in Portuguese and it doesn't translate very nicely. But I am so grateful for this power! Every new investigator we find is found after a prayer made in the behalf of the people we are serving. I know that God loves His children, and that through our prayers, we are really talking to our Father in Heaven. God answers our prayers, all we have to do is ask, seek, and knock. I love this work! We'll see how these new investigators turn out in the future. 

We also climbed a giant hill this week and found some gypsies who were not interested. :) 

God loves you all! Have a good week, everyone!

- Elder Valentine!

Training Outline from Elder Valentine

A couple weeks ago, Elder Valentine was asked by the AP to teach at a mission leader training meeting. Here's the outline for the training that he sent to his mission president:

Hey President! Here is the outline for my part in the training.

What is the importance of personal preparation in our search to help the people in Portugal come unto Christ?

Start with D&C 11:21 - We need the hand of God in this work.  This is how we help these people - Through the Spirit.  To prepare for this, we need to be extremely close to the spirit that in any moment, we can be worthy enough so that the spirit testifies that all of our words come from God.

D&C 68:2-4 - Our words will be the words of God and will literally be scripture, but only when we have the spirit to guide our words.

So, how can we personally prepare ourselves for this work?

Through obedience - Quote by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland that I don't have on the computer, but is about how "We start our day with obedience when we wake ourselves up and exercise..." and continue saying that even before we leave the house,  we choose how our day is going to go with our morning choices. (This makes a lot of sense in Portuguese.  He is basically saying that we choose how our entire day is going to go before we even leave the house with the obedience of the choices we make in the morning such as waking up on time and exercise and study ect ect...)

Studying the lessons and scriptures - Our treasure chest that was explained in the training - The spirit can't testify about things that we don't know!  D&C 84:85

Application - If we don't use our own teachings that we testify about in our own lives, we can't obtain the power of God, because we don't know through our own testimonies the things we teach.

Language - Also applies with our studies because we need to know all the words necessary to testify with all of the power of the spirit.

Invitations, Practices, Questions and discussing attributes of how Christ also applied this, if necessary.

This is the Outline.  Thank you!

-Elder Valentine 

Letter to "Daddio"

Hey Daddio! Holy cow! Your whole big conference sounds amazing! I can't believe, like, everything you told me about it! You're a star! So, I didn't even know the super bowl was happening... #gobroncos but was it even good? Both teams are super good defense so it sounds like that could be unexciting. But super cool! How were the commercials? Way good? I want to see that couch! 8 people?? PARTY! Haha! I am studying 2 Nephi in portuguese right now, and it is slower to understand everything since it's not native language, but it's a really good experience. And chapters 1, 4, and 9 in preach my gospel, and the Atonement. Everything I can do to help our situation improve. I'm not discouraged, just frustrated! It stinks, and I really want this transfer to be a good start for Elder Barrett. Anyways, I love ya dad! I hope we can talk for a sec, just because I love talking to you. Bye!

Love, Elder Valentine! 

Sickly Elder Valentine!

Hey fambam! 

So yup. I was way sick! It's like the flu, but it's called "gripe" (greep) and is a lot worse than the flu. So, lamesauce. But! I'm getting over it, so that's good! Holy moly. I had to go to the doctor because my DL Elder Garcia called Sister Dial, the senior sister of helping sick people, even though I told him I knew that it was JUST THE FLU, and she told me to go to the doctor because it could be strep or something, so she scheduled me to go to a hospital ALL THE WAY ACCROSS COIMBRA even though there are like 5 hospitals that are closer, and it took us 1 bus ride, 3 confused direction givers, and like and hour and a half of freeway walking to finally find the hospital, all in the rain, with me being sick, all for the doctor to tell me after a minute and a half that it was just the flu. Like, I ALREADY KNEW THAT! Hahahaha. It was a party. Elder Barrett and I had a good bonding time while we walked around the whole stinking city. Good stuff! Besides that, I am really trying to apply the Atonement in my life and find people to teach. It's super hard to not teach! And a little frustrating. But I only have myself to blame! So we just keep working! If any wise people have wise advice in a time like this, I'd love it! I will write to those who wrote me individual short little messages. Thanks family! I love ya a super bunch! Have a fantasticalicious week! 

Love, Elder Valentine!

The Atonement

Hey Everyone!

So this week, I got super sick, and was under house arrest for most of the week by one of our lovely senior sisters, so it wasn't necessarily the most exciting week ever. But! We did come accross SIX different people from angola, and every one of them was interested in the gospel! If you know anyone serving in Angola, they are probably baptizing like everyone, because they are elect! Unfortunately, I think that every single one of them lives outside of our area, so we got really good references to give to other missionaries. Haha! Oh well. I hope they all receive those elders! It doesn't matter who they are taught by, because it's the PEOPLE who count, not the numbers they give us. 

Well, while I was sick, I got to do a lot of studying! I've been studying a lot about the Atonement lately, because of the promises it gives in Preach My Gospel for understanding the Atonement. One of those promises is that as your understanding of the Atonement grows, your desire to share the gospel will increase. I think that is just spectacular! I thought a lot about why that would happen. Why would just understanding the Atonement make us want to share the gospel? Well, what is the Atonement? Christ paid the price for each one of us to be eternally happy, and we can receive this gift if we follow Jesus Christ. That's it in a nutshell! Obviously, there is SO much more to it than that, but if we really understand just that statement, it would make our lives so incredibly happy and full of purpose! And then we would want to share that happiness with everyone! I just gave you a weeks worth of sick study in one paragraph, so there's lots more to it than that, but that is my conclusion. So why is that important? Well, for me as a missionary, if I always have my eyes set on serving and blessing people's lives because of what I have, then my missionary work will be way easier, because my goal isn't about numbers or fulfilling a quota. And for you, if you aren't on a mission, you can bless the lives of everyone you meet just because you understand the Atonement in this way. The Light of Christ will shine from your faces and people will wonder why you look so happy. And then you can go tell them! And you'll want to! It's so great! The prophet David O. McKay said "every member a missionary." And the Atonement is the key to helping us have the desire to be a missionary every day! Sorry, this letter is all over the place. I hope you understand my thoughts today. Basically, I am super grateful for the Atonement, and I am so happy to have the knowledge and blessing of it in my life. PMG Chapter 3 Lesson 2, first page, has a list of Book of Mormon chapters that testify of Christ and His mission, and I highly suggest that you read them! You can get to Preach My Gospel on the Gospel Library App really easily, so no excuses! I recently read 2 Nephi 2 and Mosiah 3-5, and they are all amazing. I love my Savior! I'll work extra hard this week to pay off for my sick week, so I'll talk to you next week with an amazing story that we had! Have a good week, everyone!

- Elder Valentine!

Proof of the WAXING!

Oh, boy. President Amorim needs to keep these boys a bit more busy . . .

Elder Valentine - Before Waxing 

Elder Valentine AFTER Waxing (!!??!!)

Advice from Elder Valentine

I sent Elder Valentine an email asking about how I could better increase the faith of one of the Priests in my ward (I am currently serving as the bishop in the Layton 7th Ward). Here's his awesome reply:

Yo daddio! I guess my biggest suggestion for how to increase faith is just to act! I have a huge testimony that when we follow the commandments given to us, we are blessed. D&C 130:20-21 is a good scripture for that. Because of this testimony, I know that every time that I act according to God's will, I am blessed for it! So if anyone is feeling low in faith or if you are teaching it, the best thing is just to act! Read the scriptures, pray to feel Christ's love, pray to know that the gospel is true, or whatever, and God will give us the blessing we are working to fulfill. I hope this can be applied to your lesson - If you want more, just let me know. Love ya dad! Good luck this week! 

Wax . . . no, what??

This one was a real surprise . . . You never know WHAT your missionary might be doing out there!

Dear Family,

So I definitely didn't want to bring this up in the big email, but I did something horrible. Truly horrible. I'm sorry I let you guys down. I feel awful and I can't fix it. I hope you can all forgive me. 

I waxed my legs. 

HAHAHA! Holy moly! I don't even know... what. Elder Garcia (My DL and super chill elder in my house) and I got back from the training Thursday night and our comps were not coming home till the next morning, so he said "hey I've got wax strips, want to have girly legs?" and I said "...why not?" So yeah. Now I have girly legs and it is just about the strangest thing I've ever done. It feels kind of good though. HAHA oh man! Every time I think about it I just do a face palm of "what the heck was I thinking???" So yeah. That happened. Also we didn't have enough strips for both legs so for like 2 days I walked around with one hairy leg and one very not hairy leg. I got pictures because it made me laugh way hard, especially during the morning run with shorts on for the whole Portuguese world to see! 

Also! The training was super super good! Dad - the president told me that I did a really good job and that he expects "big things." All in Portuguese, but that's the translation. Nothing crazy. There were a few different people involved, mostly just a few other leaders that the President invited to do some of the training. My old companion Elder Johnson, who also came in with me to the MTC, gave a part as well. But he already speaks Spanish so it's easier for him! Also I just got out of training. I'm just trying to justify myself, but really it was awesome. And super super good luck with your crazy conference this week! I can't wait to hear all about what happens! Prayin for ya!

Mom - I'm so jealous of you people getting to see star wars 5 or 6 times. I see like one poster every few days, and that's what I get. Haha but seriously that makes me happy because it means it will be super good for when I get home! That's way cool that you and dad got to teach together - I don't think I have ever heard you guys do something like that! And I really loved that quote today - it makes me happy to hear that even the people who reject the missionaries can feel the spirit and come closer to Christ! 

Anna - Sup sister! How was that reading marathon? did you die? I never did anything like that, but it sounds way fun/super long/way spiritual! I LOVE reading the scriptures - if I had time, I'd read the Book of Mormon like every day. It's seriously the best book ever. I hope you read it lots! God loves it when we read His words! Hows your cute dance partner?? Are there any other cute boys at school? Wait don't answer that. Not until I'm home and can kick them into shape. Haha love you, Anna!

Ethan - BRACES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Haha para bens, irmão! I'm way sorry taht you had to have your braces on during your klondike camp, but dude! You're gonna look like a stud in no time! Can you still whistle? I couldn't figure it out with braces on. Oh snap. I think I was supposed to wait for you to tell me. Pretend I said nothing. 

Ethan - Uh, sup bro! Hows the normal, no-metal-mouth life going? I had the strange urge to ask you if your mouth had something weird going on. I don't know why! Haha how was the science project? who are your counselors for Deacons quorum? I hope it all went well! Love ya home grass smeller!

Well, I'll send some pictures of my waxed legs now. Oh no. Haha I love you, family! Don't let me forget to answer any questions or emails if I don't! Sometimes I just get confused but I want to respond to everything. Have a super fantastic week!

"Another Week of Missionary Life"

Group email from February 1, 2016:

Hey everyone! 

There was really not a better title for this email, because I wasn't even in my area this whole week. I was back in Porto for the big three day training that was given to all of the mission leaders! I gave my part of the training which went really well, and I learned so many good things about being a missionary and a leader from President Amorim and the other leaders. It was a way good experience! President Amorim showed a video of recent converts and their testimonies with us, and I was bawling like a baby. It makes me want to go share the gospel even more! I love happiness! My son Elder Barrett went on divisions with an Elder from my MTC district, Elder Gabbitas, so that's cool. 

Since I wasn't in my area, we didn't have a lot going on, but we did have a cool experience knocking doors last night - we found an old lady who has been catholic her whole life, but has never felt happy or satisfied with what she learns or has from the catholic church. We taught her about the Book of Mormon and the Restoration and how to be happy, but unfortunately, she wasn't super interested. But this has a point! She said she had never felt happy in her religion. I am so glad that I can say that I have never been happier than being here, serving the Lord, in His true church! The comfort and REAL peace that I have because of this gospel is indescribable. This quote by Joseph B. Worthlin is a really good description of how we can have peace through Christ's gospel.

 “Be assured that there is a safe harbor. You can find peace amidst the storms that threaten you. Your Heavenly Father—who knows when even a sparrow falls—knows of your heartache and suffering. He loves you and wants the best for you. Never doubt this. While He allows all of us to make choices that may not always be for our own or even others’ well-being, and while He does not always intervene in the course of events, He has promised the faithful peace even in their trials and tribulations.”

Anyways, sorry this week wasn't super exciting to talk about - the Portuguese people are stubborn, but me and my greenie comp are working hard to spread the word! I love you all! Thank you for your examples and for supporting us missionaries out here in the field. have a good week!

- Elder Valentine!

Elder Valentine Training Outline

Elder Valentine was honored to be asked by his mission president to teach in a mission leadership training meeting. Here is the outline he sent me . . . in Portuguese!

Ola Presidente! Aqui é a revista por meu parte na treinamento.

Qual é a importância de preparação pessoal em nossa procura a ajudar as pessoas aqui em Portugal achegarem-se a Cristo?

Comece com D&C 11:21 - nos precisamos a mão de Deus nesta obra. Isso é como nos ajudamos este povo - por meio do Espírito. Para preparar por isso, nos precisamos ser tão perto do Espírito que em qualquer momento, podemos ser dignos suficiente pelo Espírito a testificar a todos que nossas palavras vem de Deus. 

D&C 68:2-4 - nossas palavras serão as palavras de Deus e serão literalmente escrituras, mas somente quando tivermos o Espírito para guiar nossas palavras.

Então, como podemos preparar-nos pessoalmente por esta obra?

por meio de obediência - citação de Elder Jeffrey R. Holland que não tenho na computador, mas é sobre como comecemos a dia com obediência quando despertar-nos e fazer exercícios, e continua dizendo que cada manha, mostramos como nosso dia correrão através de nossas escolhas antes que sairmos da casa. 

Estudando as lições e as escrituras - nosso caixão de tesouro que foi explicado no treinamento - O espírito não pode testificar sobre coisas nos não sabemos! D&C 84:85

Aplicação - se nos não usarmos os ensinamentos sobre que nos testificamos em nossas vidas, nos não consigamos ter o poder de Deus, porque nos não sabemos por meio do testemunho as coisas que ensinamos. 

Idioma - também aplica com os estudos porque precisamos saber todas as palavras necessárias para testificar com todo o poder do espírito.

convites, pratica, perguntas, e desenvolvendo atributos como Cristo também aplicam, se necessário. 

Isso é a revista. Obrigado!

-Elder Valentine

Letter to Fam - January 25

Hey family! Jeez, things are kind of going crazy right now. My area is not having a ton of success, but me and Elder Barrett are doing our best. We have taught a few lessons to potential investigators, but none of them went through! But that's not the important thing right now. We just keep working and trying to find people to teach. We are doing a big thing with the members right now where we make a huge list of everyone they know and then help them find ways to help all of these people come closer to Christ. We hope to get some solid references out of it! But yeah,

Dad - our training right now is going well! Elder Barrett is learning the language very quickly which is awesome. We practice lessons and talking to people and he is doing well with it all. We take an extra hour and a half to do this kind of training, so sometimes the new missionaries get antsy to go out and work, which I love! Right now, we are trying to get with this older lady who knows a sister from the ward, and we are going to read the Book of Mormon with her and get her to church on Sunday, which would just rock! Besides that, not a lot. Not an excuse, but we live and work on the very outskirts of Coimbra, so all of the people live far away and are spread out. It makes for a lot of cool views of the night sky! I saw a shooting star last week! I don't know if I said that. We actually had a WORLDWIDE missionary training last thursday with a few of the apostles and some other general authorities over the missionary work. It was so so good! The theme was "preach repentance and baptize converts" and talked a lot about being worthy of the Spirit, which is kind of the theme of the training I am going to give on Thursday. It was two hours long, but if you could find it, it was really good! I personally am trying to not eat a lot of food right now... we ran out of money because the three trips I have taken to Porto are expensive, so we ran out by like the 13th... haha oh man. Elder Barrett eats a TON. Struggles. But it's all good! Haha I'll write ya a little more in a bit. Love ya!

Mom - That story is so cool! Man, I hope that I get to go to Madeira at some point in my mission. Apparently it's gorgeous. But even more important is that story! I love the strength that those Elders had to make that invitation. I big problem for missionaries is being brave enough to invite people to make that covenant, but in a recent study on "preach my gospel" I read that if we as missionaries don't invite people to make this covenant, we are essentially denying them the Atonement. It is our duty as servants of the lord to teach and testify of the validity of the Savior's work in His church here on earth, and invite people to follow His path through baptism. Thanks so much for that story! I am so glad that you guys got to go to the temple! That is seriously something that I miss a ton. But don't worry. The mission is the best trade off! I haven't heard from Ethan, so I will bug him in just a sec.

Kimber and Kevin - man you little cute family you! Both of your kids are growing SO much. It's insane. The differences just between pictures is huge. I don't know if you guys see it, but fo' reals. And kimber - yeah, the Portuguese people basically listen to ONLY american music! Haha it's actually really funny! Any time we are around a lot of people we hear an american song. I've heard/tried to ignore some new songs I hadn't heard before the mission! Congrats on your callings! I know that you guys will be a huge strength to the ward because you guys are awesome. :) I'll pray lots for your niece. That's so sad! But I'll say lots of prayers. Love ya!

Ethan - bro! What crazy fantastic exciting news happened this week? Let me know homes! I have been praying lots for you with the science project and with your choosing of counselors so I hope everything is going well for you. Love ya bro!

Anna - I hope you are being careful with that cute dancer boy. And my beautiful car that I left you. ;) What are the dates of your show? I realized that I don't know! 

You guys rock! I have to write the president about my training thing so I gotta go but I love you lots! Hi uncle Adam and Shaela and all the kids! :)

Love, Elder Valentine!

Yeah, Spencer's Dad is a Rock Star

I sent Spencer a link to a video I made at work in the Family History Department. This was his response:

Haha that's an awesome video dad! You're a star! Sometimes I forget that you're like super important at FamilySearch and it's way cool to see you do stuff like this. You're awesome, dude! Uh, Dad! Bishop!

6 Months on the Mission!

Sup family!

I love ya'll lots! Man, I did 225 pushups this morning for my work out. Be impressed! Because I can barely type this email! Haha! 

Daddio - You should send me a little plot summary idea for your new book that I haven't heard of! I was thinking recently about some of your books in the past. I don't remember the names, but I remember one about the "lightning rod" and the guy who is a psychologist or something but gets hurt so he's like only half human (I hope that made sense) and it just made me happy to think that you are fulfilling your goal of publishing books! Your RootsTech conference sounds like the bomb! I love telling people that you have crazy responsibilities like that. Not to brag. But you're pretty cool. I might die of excitement before I see Star Wars just from all I hear about it! Also, I'm in the progress of a letter for Grandma and Grandpa Valentine. I don't have tons of time but I'm trying to get it done!

Mom - Wow! I didn't realize that you actually started with your choir! That sounds so fun! That's so nice that you are doing something like that! I hope it all goes super well. I totes thought your anniversary was on the 24th for some reason! But Happy Anniversary mom and dad! Oldies! Ha! Just kidding. I didn't say that. But I always love to hear when you guys have fun! It makes me happy. :) Elder Barrett and I are working hard and are finding more people than I did last transfer, so it's going a lot better! We've taught a few lessons and had like 7 less active members in church so things are going well! I think about your prayers every day and try to be worthy to receive the blessings that you all are sending me. And guess what? I saw a shooting star a couple nights ago! It was super gorgeous! I loved it! Thought you would enjoy that for some reason. :) 

Manda - I already talked to you, but yeah. Super super super a good thing and I love my niece! You should tell me about your trip, actually! I'd love to hear the kinds of things you do when you go work somewhere else! I love you lots!

Kimber and Kevin - para bens for getting into your new house! I hope that things are all still going super well for ya'll. I love hearing from you guys every week and getting advice from Kevin and it's all just super good. Thank you for loving me! It makes missionary work a lot nicer when you have a lot of family supporting you! I try and apply all of the advice that Kevin gives being an RM and I love hearing from Kimber about your family. You guys rock! Love ya! Oh P.S Kevin! Do you know a Tim Hodges that served in your mission? I think he might have served around the same time and just wanted to ask!

Anna - Your experience with the money is super awesome! Holy cow! What a huge blessing! It's amazing to see how the Lord answers our prayers. And, uh, just remember how I feel about cute boys. Also. It's funny that mom doesn't think you are a good driver. :) (sorry mom. she said it, not me!) I'm glad that things are going better for you with school and everything. Sophomore year is stressful, I know! But you're doing great! Just do your homework on time. For reals. It solves all problems. Love ya!

Ethan - oh, my bad. Dearest, Your amsmellylikeygrassyness. Bro sauce! Thanks for writing me back! So for the project... well, i know that bacteria has to have a stable climate to grow, but I'm sure that's not the problem. It depends on where you got the bacteria too! I'm sure you've looked up a bunch of stuff, but getting bacteria from a stagnant pond is way good. Oh wait. It's winter there. Dang. Um, I'll pray lots for you, okay? And for your new calling! Man! You stud! That's a big responsibility that you will fulfill with the help of the Lord. It's always with His help that we accomplish our goals the best! I love you, man! 

I love you all super a ton! Thanks for your prayers. For real, I really try to be worthy of being prayed for. We are working hard and will find solid investigators soon. Thanks, Family! Love ya!

Love, Elder Valentine!

Fam Email - January 18 2016

Sup family!

I love ya'll lots! Man, I did 225 pushups this morning for my work out. Be impressed! Because I can barely type this email! Haha! 

Daddio - You should send me a little plot summary idea for your new book that I haven't heard of! I was thinking recently about some of your books in the past. I don't remember the names, but I remember one about the "lightning rod" and the guy who is a psychologist or something but gets hurt so he's like only half human (I hope that made sense) and it just made me happy to think that you are fulfilling your goal of publishing books! Your RootsTech conference sounds like the bomb! I love telling people that you have crazy responsibilities like that. Not to brag. But you're pretty cool. I might die of excitement before I see Star Wars just from all I hear about it! Also, I'm in the progress of a letter for Grandma and Grandpa Valentine. I don't have tons of time but I'm trying to get it done!

Mom - Wow! I didn't realize that you actually started with your choir! That sounds so fun! That's so nice that you are doing something like that! I hope it all goes super well. I totes thought your anniversary was on the 24th for some reason! But Happy Anniversary mom and dad! Oldies! Ha! Just kidding. I didn't say that. But I always love to hear when you guys have fun! It makes me happy. :) Elder Barrett and I are working hard and are finding more people than I did last transfer, so it's going a lot better! We've taught a few lessons and had like 7 less active members in church so things are going well! I think about your prayers every day and try to be worthy to receive the blessings that you all are sending me. And guess what? I saw a shooting star a couple nights ago! It was super gorgeous! I loved it! Thought you would enjoy that for some reason. :) 

Manda - I already talked to you, but yeah. Super super super a good thing and I love my niece! You should tell me about your trip, actually! I'd love to hear the kinds of things you do when you go work somewhere else! I love you lots!

Kimber and Kevin - para bens for getting into your new house! I hope that things are all still going super well for ya'll. I love hearing from you guys every week and getting advice from Kevin and it's all just super good. Thank you for loving me! It makes missionary work a lot nicer when you have a lot of family supporting you! I try and apply all of the advice that Kevin gives being an RM and I love hearing from Kimber about your family. You guys rock! Love ya! Oh P.S Kevin! Do you know a Tim Hodges that served in your mission? I think he might have served around the same time and just wanted to ask!

Anna - Your experience with the money is super awesome! Holy cow! What a huge blessing! It's amazing to see how the Lord answers our prayers. And, uh, just remember how I feel about cute boys. Also. It's funny that mom doesn't think you are a good driver. :) (sorry mom. she said it, not me!) I'm glad that things are going better for you with school and everything. Sophomore year is stressful, I know! But you're doing great! Just do your homework on time. For reals. It solves all problems. Love ya!

Ethan - oh, my bad. Dearest, Your amsmellylikeygrassyness. Bro sauce! Thanks for writing me back! So for the project... well, i know that bacteria has to have a stable climate to grow, but I'm sure that's not the problem. It depends on where you got the bacteria too! I'm sure you've looked up a bunch of stuff, but getting bacteria from a stagnant pond is way good. Oh wait. It's winter there. Dang. Um, I'll pray lots for you, okay? And for your new calling! Man! You stud! That's a big responsibility that you will fulfill with the help of the Lord. It's always with His help that we accomplish our goals the best! I love you, man! 

I love you all super a ton! Thanks for your prayers. For real, I really try to be worthy of being prayed for. We are working hard and will find solid investigators soon. Thanks, Family! Love ya!

Love, Elder Valentine!

I've Got a Kid - Not What You Want a Missionary to Admit

This email came January 18, 2016:

Hey Everyone! I ran out of time last week talking to my family. I still love you all. 

So I am training this transfer! My companions name is Elder Barrett, from Washington. I didn't think I would be training so soon with the language and everything, but the Lord doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies the called, so I'm pretty excited to get qualified quick!

I am officially a resident of Portugal now! We get our residency after three months in the country, so that happened. I'm pretty happy about it. I get a card and everything!

Elder Barrett and I taught this young guy João who doesn't believe in anything. He had lots of doubts about how God could be real and how there is no proof and a lot of kind of negative stuff. It was still a good lesson, but it really made me think about how I KNOW that God is real. We talked about the feelings of the spirit and gaining knowledge, and this week I just want to say that if you have any doubts about the basic doctrines of the church, the best way to know is to study it and then ask God if it is true! There is a talk by Elder Scott that talks about how, out of all of the creations God has made and all of the things He can do, He wants to hear our personal prayers. He wants to hear us, and give us the answers! This dispensation was started off of the prayer of 14 year old Joseph Smith. We are able to talk to the most Supreme Being in the universe and ask Him to answer our questions. I love it! I've needed lots of prayers lately as a new Trainer, and I know that my prayers are being answered. I love the gospel! And our Heavenly Father!

It's raining cats and dogs here. That's all! 

Love you all! Being a missionary rocks! See you next week!

-Elder Valentine!

January letter just for Anna and thousands of online friends

This was originally sent January 11. Sorry, Anna, for sharing with the world . . . !

Hey Anna! You know what stinks? I just said your name and it sounded funny to me because I don't say it very much! It was weird. But how are ya?? How is school going and the preparation for the play? The big long rehearsals were always my favorite. I hope you like them! Hey, so how are things going with friends? Are some of them still dummies? I hope it's going better right now. And how is driving??? I seriously cannot believe that you are driving. Super mega weird. I've been thinking about your situation in general and I don't know everything that goes on with you, but I just want you to know that I love you a ton, and that you are amazing. Seriously. The thing that stinks is that because most of the best people are the most humble too, sometimes we don't see ourselves as we really are. You are super talented and funny and cute and people love you! And you are a huge example, especially. One of the things that we are blessed with as members of the church is the Gift of the Holy Ghost to guide us and to help us be lights to other people, and you're really good at being that light. Always be worthy of it! Keep being a good daughter and friend and member of the church, and pray lots, because that's how we can really be happy. I love you, sister! Talk to you next week! Bye! 

Love, your bro, Elder Valentine!

Letter Just of Ethan (and now everyone!)

This email was originally sent on January 11. It's a great example of Spencer's fun personality and the great interaction of brothers...

Bruh! Dude! Home skilley! How are you doing??? I saw a picture of you in a sweet little Downton Abbey getup and you looked slick! Lady Killer! Too bad you're only twelve. Those girls would be swooning! Haha but for real, How are you doing? I loved talking to you on christmas - seriously, you have already grown a ton in the almost six months that I've been gone. Don't cry when you read this, because I am just a little, but I miss you a ton. I've been thinking about the times that we got to have fun together as brothers and I'm super grateful for you. You are a huge example to me! And, you're a huge example to the people around you. Know why? Because you have the gospel and you live it. I've never met a nicer, smarter, more mature twelve year old than you, and that's the truth, 100%. I just want you to know that if you are going through hard stuff ever, maybe with school work, maybe with friends, whatever - that you are an amazing man, and you have so much to give to other people. And I know that as you do your best to read scriptures and say prayers and be a good son and a good student, and most importantly, a good disciple of Christ, that these little things won't even matter! I keep saying it, but you are an EXAMPLE to so many people. I know it because the spirit is telling me right now. Even if you don't see it, others do. Keep being a good kid! I love you a ton, Ethan! You am the smell like grass if there ever was one. Love you, buddy! Have a good week at school! Next time you write me, tell me how you are doing for reals, so I can say lots of prayers for ya. Kay? sweet. Bye! Love ya!

Love, your big bro, Elder Am Smell Like Grass Valentine!