No time to email this week - 12-15-2013

Hey mom I got no time to email this week. Transfers happened and I'm not training anymore! Kalio moved out! I think I might be leaving to an outer islad in the next couple months so I'm just working with an Elder from California named Elder Faleono. He is the funniest cat ever!

So yeah interesting week! Didn't expect to train for just 4 weeks but alright! It's neat! I can't believe this is 11 months for me like what the Heck it just goes by so fast! It was good to hear all about what happened this week! Give Macey a big hug for me! Same with the boys! And Dad!

I gotta go now but know that I love you. The internet place is having problems so hopefully I will even get to email you next week! Love you babe

A skype date with my girl (MOM) soon! - 12-8-2013

Mommy!!! Sooo…. I’m sitting here next to Sister Tofa!

 

Anyways, this week was pretty bomb. I get like no time to email this week so I have to keep it pretty short. This week was great with me, and Kalio is a champ. Little rough start especially just not being able to really talk to him and have conversations in English, much less Marshallese… its hard. Tanner and Logan had it easy!!

 

Sounds like you had a good week!! I got that package Dad sent me with Thundershocks plates in it!!! That was legit!!! All the Elders here are so jealous!! Haha Everyone wants the plate! Haha I think when I get home I might get a plate that is in Marshallese - that would be legit as!! We'll see! I can't believe I get to see you in 2 weeks!! [On Skype] That will be really fun. I call on Christmas day here at 12:45pm. So that’s Christmas Eve for you guys and idk what the time is.. maybe 6? I think. Idk have Dad figure it out. It stinks I don’t get to call on Christmas for you guys but it will be okay! Make sure everyone is there!! I am so excited to call you guys and see you guys!! Hopefully I find a tight white shirt to wear so I can look ripped when I see you! Haha

 

What is your calling in the church? I forgot.. haha I’m gonna go with not a primary teacher. But I can't remember if you are the Relief Society President or not still.. either way your time spent is well done! [Yes, I am still the Relief Society President!] You are awesome! Keep it up. I wish the Relief Societies here were stronger. I wish the church here was stronger. I never realized how amazing our ward is until I left. I can't wait to come back to it!! Haha

 

I have a girl getting baptized in 2 weeks! She is the granddaughter of the members and is way excited to be baptized! Its fun teaching her. Jenrok is a small place. I think the whole village has about 4,000 and is probably the size of 2 of Cub Foods parking lots…. Haha tiny!! Its sooooo crowded! No matter where you go there are people! Haha you can't hide from them! Haha its nice to be able to just talk to everyone and have a little fan club of kids haha

 

I’m gonna die in the cold and snow when I get home…. [It is minus 15 degrees here in MN today!]My BYU professor for mission prep always said that going home is scarier that leaving… hahaha I always thought that was a joke… but its soooo true!! Haha too many changes and just so much stuff is gonna happen! Haha I heard the BYU bookstore sells daily planners for RM’s that are the same as the planners we have on the mission! Haha that would be funny to get. I feel like if I didn’t plan out my next day I would be completely lost…. Haha its awesome.

 

Well, I gotta bounce.. Sorry this email was pretty lame.. I hope you can forgive me haha I will talk you to soon!! Cant wait to have a skype date with my girl! :) haha love you mommy.

Elder Ingalls

I am super happy - 12-1-2013

Hey mom!!
So the internet is being really lame once again so I can't promise you too strong of an email. I might have to just sign off soon and try and finish it tmr or next week :/ This week was good and bad. I taught the most lessons in a week that I have ever reached on my mission! I haven’t received any packages yet but today I am going to check so I think it will be good! Sounds like black Friday was a waste this year! It's was always so fun for me to go just to go! Haha I never had any money but it was still way fun!! I remember going with Steve and some friends a couple times!! Haha soooo funny! But that’s cool you bought a tennis racket!! Too bad its not going to be used for months until that shiny white stuff disappears!! Its weird to think that this is December… it has been raining a ton here for at least this place is trying to have snow!! It was 78 degrees and I was freezing…. I wore a long  sleeved shirt and everything!! Haha but anyways… Merry Christmas!

The bros have all emailed me so thats been pretty awesome!! Macey has been lacking… haha but I forgive her… she's so busy with those boys [Actually, its just one!] haha and Thanksgiving was awesome!!! We all got to go to President's house and eat there and we got the best turkey and potatoes and just everything!! Sooo good I got to eat so much!! Usually I eat in really small portions but not then!!! Haha and no Black Friday shopping… hahaI tried to go but there are no stores… haha
This week was fun with all the people we saw and lessons we had. We sure were busy. Its awesome being able to bear my testimony of this gospel all day to people. Its fun. I never got to do that before my mission and after my mission I won't do it as much! But kinda will. I can just live as a testimony of my faith. And that’s what I'm going to do. It's fun to grab some pamphlets and just walk up to
people and tell them about our church. I got to tell a lady this week that we don’t worship and pray to Joseph Smith! However she took it, I was glad that I could tell her the truth! It's fun to find people who are searching for the meaning of life! Its hard though because I have to do everything and carry on every conversation. That’s probably why they say I'm so good… haha It's been a good and also challenging week for me.. next week will be better! I’m doing super well and I am super happy!

I love you all a lot!! Have a good week 
Love, Elder Ingalls

Thanks mom for everything you do for me - 11-24-2013

Mommmy!!!! Helllloo!!!

Dang that was a long email I hope I can respond to everything that you said!! [I did tell him last time that I would write a longer one this week to make up for the short one last week!] So to answer all the questions you had for me! They don’t celebrate Thanksgiving.. but all the elders on the island are going to President's houses to have a nice lunch!! Haha hopefully we get to have the traditional food of turkey, too bad its like $100 for one… haha well see!! I will let you guys know! I didn’t even know that it was Thanksgiving this week. Haha I thought it was last week!

 

Elder Kalio is the man!! Still a little shy but so is every elder. I really work hard to joke around with him and make him feel comfortable. It's difficult working with someone who doesn’t understand English or Marshallese,but no excuses. I act like he does know them because that’s the only way he's gonna learn is if I don’t baby him. This week we came home and he was just exhausted and he said “Elder Ingalls you push me way too hard.” And I was about to feel super bad, but then he said “And that’s why I’m going to be the best missionary on this island someday” ….I was pumped. That was an awesome compliment and just makes me want to go hard and teach him everything and just whip him into the best elder ever. He will be the best at the language some day because their languages are so close and all the Marshallese people think he is Marshallese! Haha they never make that mistake with me… maybe I just gotta tan more? :)

 

As for Tanner and girls… hmmm its just hard for me to believe. Like it just seems too perfect that when I (the family enforcer) leave the house, things click for him… but regardless, I have the desire to believe and I bet he is just loving life right now. I expect a lot out of this random girl… so keep me updated. I still expect more pictures!! Haha I wish I could just look on facebook!! Haha Speaking of facebook Mommity added me…  She's sooo funny. She saw that you were on my facebook and when I went to talk to her she was super mad at me saying I broke mission rules and I had to explain that it was you! Haha she wants to add you on the facebook so she can get gossip about me… haha if you want to go ahead. She's really nice.

 

I’m working on Conner's present! I will let you know!! I really wanna get him something from here but I don’t have the money to send anything!! So I am debating what to do and I will let you know by next week!! And I have only gotten that one package so far 2 weeks ago but no worries I am going to check again today! Don’t worry have some patience they will come!! I am not worried! So you don’t worry either! I am the most patient boy ever! [That is something new! He was always in a hurry and wanted things right away! A mission does wonders for a boy!]

 

This week we found 3 new investigators! haha all of them are girls ;) haha but no worries they are all older ladies… haha finding is really difficult especially when its just me that has to do all the talking and thinking of what to say to these people! But its going well! We are getting busier and teaching a lot of people. I wish we didn’t have to whitewash so that Kalio could do more and teach more but these weeks its all on me. Haha But its all good :)

 

Give my congrats to Macey for her dance!! That is awesome to here! I would have loved to go see her! It was always fun checking out the girlz… hahaha But that’s legit!! And she's only a sophomore too!! She is going to be so good by senior year. Just don’t let her get that dance brat attitude that ever dancer gets… haha They think they are the best. And in truth, I’m the best. So its hard for me to get along with them haha Keep telling her that she's awesome for me!!!

 

My most spiritual experience for the week was bearing my testimony to a lady about Joseph Smith. She always thought that we just worship him, but I taught her everything and told her how he died for what he believed in and she had teared up a bit and the Spirit was just really there and I couldn’t believe how fluently I was speaking and just what was coming to my head. I felt like I was just a mouthpiece and it was just a great feeling!! They look past how I am saying and they really take in what I am saying. It's awesome. I loved it. I want those experiences in every lesson!

 

I’m thankful for my family, the gospel and my friends. My family pushes me hard to be my best and to do what I wanna do and go all the way. That’s exactly what I am doing! I love you guys so much. I work everyday really hard so you guys can receive the blessings too. I’m a firm believer that the hard work pays off.

 

I am doing awesome out here. I love it more and more each day. I love Jenrok, I love my companion, I love working here. I have like 14 months left… That is  if I ever come home!! Its going to be hard. I love these people so much. I’m thankful for a family that loves me and that helps me so much in life. I just love life. Thanks mom for everything you do for me :) Love U :)

Elder Ingalls

I felt like a million bucks! -11-17-2013

Hi mom!!

The birthday was LEGIT!!! I got one package so far and maybe I will get the others today! And I got shorts, candy, a shirt and a hat!! WAY AWESOME!!! I really needed the shirt and the shorts!!! And the BBQ was legit! I got a cake and cards and everyone sung to me! The members here in Jenrok are gonna throw me a party too even though they don't know me!!

 

Its been an awesome week!! I got my son and I am officially training now!! His name is Elder Kalio and he is from Pohnpei. He's pretty cool. He doesn't talk that much probably because he doesn't know a lot of English and he's new! But he's cool. It's gonna be a long 12 weeks but I'm gonna force him to talk and learn the language! He is surprisingly really good at Marshallese!! It is awesome. He loves to go out and work and just has a desire to do his best. He is way further than where I was when I first got here!! It was cool to see him answer questions that I didn't think he would be able to answer!! Way cool!! He's gonna be legit by the end of our 12 weeks! This week the computers at the College are down so we are emailing some where else and we have to pay for it so I can have the luxury of using spell check and also telling you every single detail about everything. This week I had an amazing talk with President just about everything that has happened on my mission and I just came out of that interview feeling !!! I am super pumped to work! I got move to the crazy area of Jenrok! It is double as densely populated as Hong Kong!! haha its the most packed little village in the world!!! AND I LOVE IT!! The kids here are obsessed with us and we just started there so we are really new and don't know anyone!! Its hard working with a new guy because I basically do everything after he talks to them for 20 seconds, buts it's fun to help him along and see what I can do for him!! He's gonna be the best speaker in the mission for sure because his language and Marshallese are close and they sound the same... haha lucky kid... 

 

I really enjoyed your email!! When you told me about that story where Tanner's car died, I thought you meant the girl he was dating... I was sooooo confused!!! haha But sounds like he is doing well!! I feel so bad I am basically only going to get to email you this week with the time I have but its okay. You're the only girl one that matters ;) haha I wanna see more pictures of Conner and Logan!! I wanna see if they can even compete with me these days!! haha I am getting ripped and going hard at the gym still every morning and I am just forced to eat really healthy because its the cheaper food!! haha

 

Macey... haha Idk what to even say about that girl. I know that the Elders here think she's cute so she can just wait for one of them. Maybe Kalio... haha he said she's "Hot" hahaha it was so funny because he thought she was my girlfriend, and after he said that, I told him that she's my sister... haha he felt sooo awk... it was funny!! It's cool that they talk about that stuff. Talking about things that far ahead in the future are really difficult on people. Makes them anxious. Just keep that in mind so you can help her out. And BTW, Steven still has to marry her so then he can be my brother... that was a deal we had made a long time ago... just saying...

 

Sounds like you are going to have some craazy times at home these next couple of weeks! Thats fun though!! Keep me updated and take a picture of me and hold it up in all the family pictures so I can be in it!! haha And speaking of pictures, when it snows, you should take some pictures of the stake center and print them and send them to me!! I wanna show these people the snow and the church!! Half of them don't believe me! :) 

 

So this last sunday was the primary program and the kids got up and shared and it was literally the best most awesome thing in the world!! haha and when one 9 yr old got done she went to sit down in the stands and gave her friend a high five and it was really loud and just so funny! Everyone was laughing!! I miss being a kid and just making everyone laugh at the stupid stuff I did! haha

Thank you for the birthday/christmas packages! I won't open them until 3am on christmas day :) haha I'm gonna grab a small coconut tree and put it in the house!! haha and put the presents underneath it! I'm pumped to have Conner!!! Let me think of something this week and I will email it to you next week! It's gonna be major. Thats all I'm gonna say about it.

 

Definitely have the missionaries over! They need all your help (especially your cooking skills) haha You are awesome. Get Conner to go out with them once.. that would have helped me so much but I was lazy and didn't wanna.. haha wish I did! Well... I gotta get going but I had an awesome week and this week is going to be even better!! Sorry that I can email you a ton, and that the spelling and grammar it sucks.. sorry babe. its the meaning though not the words :) I love to you to the moon and back. You take care and keep being my mom :)

Love, Thee Elder Ingalls Son of Richard <3

Luv u suga - 11-11-2013

MOTHER!!!

What's new? Well, about this time 20 years ago give or take a day I came into this world ;)  I am having the time of my life out here. I got some of the coolest emails from Steven today!! He got a bunch of our friends to take pics saying happy birthday to me and sending it to me!! I know I’m loved, but dang it is good to see it!! When he gets home give him a big hug from me!!!!

 

It was so good reading your email this week! Sorry if I sounded down last week, I was a little bit upset with everything that was going on but I’m way better now and just happy as can be!! So Elder Duiriba left to Delap just this last Wednesday and I am showing Elder Tekeikai the area so he will be ready to get his son before I leave to Jenrok! I go to Jenrok most likely this Thursday or Friday! And I will be getting a son. He is from Pohnpei. His name is Elder Kalio. I am just getting sooooo pumped up to work with a new kid that I can just do so much with. I heard that the members in Jenrok Ward are some of the best and they have a ton of YSA guys that can help me out and that I can chill and play volleyball with!! So that will be good!!

So, time for Q and A with Elder Ingalls

 

1. What are you going to do for your birthday? It's your pday right? All the mission is getting together this week for combined p-day which happens to be on my birthday today and were going back out to the west side of the island to have a bbq on the beach and play sports at the ball field there!! The Ap’s said its my birthday party, but I think it just might be a nice coincidence! Haha but I’ll roll with it!! and yes ,all Mondays here are P-days except if I go to Ebeye, then its on Tuesday! But I will let you know!
2. Did you get the 2 packages I sent you for it? I get to check for fan mail and packages when I go to the mission office after emailing… so fingers crossed hopefully I get it!!! I am praying that I do I need some lovin from the fam!!!
3. What was even in those packages (if you got them)? I sent them so long ago, I forgot! Ummm…. Idk yet… but I’m praying for some certain stuff so hopefully it happens!! I will be sure to let you know what you sent!I laughed when you asked me that… you don’t even remember… haha I’m trying so hard to get a package home to you guys… but its like, send a package home? Or eat this week? Unfortunately I always choose the latter…. Sorry. But soon! haha luv u baby ;)
4. How does it feel to be 20? This is a special one indeed! Well it’s a good feeling, its sad that I’m celebrating it more as a missionary than when I was at BYU! Haha the elders are funny, I got like 14 happy birthday texts from all the companionships on the island at midnight… haha they all set alarms to wake up, text me, then go back to bed! Haha the finer things in life J and I plan on living til I'm 200 so I guess I'm a tenth of the way done! Haha its monumental!!
5. How much do you love your Mommy? I <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3<3< 3 <3<3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3<3< 3 <3<3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3<3< 3 <3<3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3<3< 3 <3<3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3<3< 3 <3<3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3<3< 3 <3<3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3<3< 3 <3<3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3<3< 3 <3<3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3<3< 3 <3<3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3<3< 3 <3<3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3<3 <3 <3 you. Is that good enough? Maybe I will continue that in a second email
6. What do you know now that you didn't know when you were in High School? Silly question babe, I know Marshallese haha but on the real, I know whats important to me and whats not.
7. Where is your Heaven on Earth? The Ejjit watering hole The forbidden swimming hole that when I return to these islands I will be going too!! And also wherever you are ;) (cuz there is usually food haha)
8. Do you remember some of your past birthdays or birthday presents? MY BUG BIRTHDAY!!!!! Heck yeah I remember that stuff!! I’m just upset I can't have a themed party like that now!! Haha I guess, island style theme is what we're gonna do later today haha ;) haha and presents… the infamous palm pilot from Richard< 3 <3 <3 and Thundershocks vow of allegiance to me last year 
9. If you could go back and change anything from your past, what would it be? In 3^rd grade….. I had a reading assignment and I had to read “Turtle Watch” which was like 3 pages and do something for it… well, I didn’t do it. Then under the parent signature I forged Dad’s name and Wrote “Rickard” in a colored pencil….. Some of the darkest hours of my life right there…. Mrs. Hendricks asked me if I had anything to say about it… and I lied and said “No Ma'am!!” haha dang…. That is so funny right now… but at the time I thought my life was OVER!! But on a more serious note, probably being a better example for my friends.
10. What is the happiest moment of your life so far? Too many to mention, but probably being able to baptize all my investigators out here on my mission! That honestly is just the coolest thing and its soooooo cool to help them enter that path to their Heavenly Father.
11. Did you hear from Steve for your birthday? Sure have!! He sent me pics over email of our friends saying Happy Birthday to me!!! Sooooo freaking cool!! Haha …I just realized I already told you all of this… haha

 

It sounds like everyone is doing decently well back home!! Its so funny hearing Tanners love story about his likatu - so cool to see him all happy like this, even if she does end up dumping him for someone better like me ;) haha just kidding! He probably loves that she's a figure skater and wants to try and play tennis every now and then! Haha And Logan… that kid has taken the bull by the horns and just has done work. I’m pumped that he’s going to BYU!! Is he taking a car out there or what? And what's up with the Durango these days? I never hear about it at all! Who's driving what!! I need reports, mileage reports, how my baby thundershock is doing… etc… please and thank you J

It's all about the cars for me!! Haha when I got that memory card from you I thought it was gonna be of cars and stuff like that… haha but it was all of Macey!! Haha the other elders loved it… haha I swear you did that on purpose! Haha but that one pic of Conner flexing!!! YEAHHHHH BUDDY!!!!!! That got me way pumped up and after looking at it I decided to do 100 push ups!! Haha I’m going super hard at the gym and putting up work right now. Getting way big like that cat! Haha I hope he can go out to Provo and be there!! He will meet some awesome people out there!! And all the girls I met my freshman year, they will love to meet the bigger version of me ;) haha I think you guys need to help him as much as you can!! He’s a stud, just get him going again. Jump start that kid! I will be home in a year and a couple! That would be awesome to see him off on his mission. Maybe he wont get out as early as we all did. not. I have met great 18 year old missionaries (well, they are immature, but lets be honest I am too) haha and I have met 26 year old missionaries. Its all the same. And as for Macey…… the car…. Boyz…. Dance team…. Being all grow up… daring to drive my car… whats next? Marriage? Haha just kidding. You wanna know what's funny is you got married when you were 19? That’s like 3 and a half years to go for Macey ;) How does that make you feel??? At least I will be home to take care of that little one 

 

I really liked the quotes you sent me. I was able to watch general conference and I got some future quotes and tweets for you too.

“The Stronger the wind, the stronger the trees”

“There is safety in a strong testimony”

“Maybe I can’t change society as a whole, but I can, and will change the people around me.”

 

Well, I gotta bounce and go to my birthday party ;) I hope I get to hear from you soon!! I can't believe I get to skype you next month! What the heck where does the time go? I am nervous to speak so much English that isn’t about missionary work or anything! But  soooooooooooooooo excited to see your preeeetty face! :) You be good and don’t you miss me! :) Love you mom. Thanks for everything. Thanks for a good life! luv u suga

Elder Ingalls

PS One more time I love you!

 

 

 

 

The savior doesn’t require immediate perfection - 11-3-2013

Hey mom

Whats up? This week has been pretty hard for me.. I read a super good mtc address by tad mcallister or something like that this week about being a consecrated missionary. Dang that really hit me and I wanna start being better! I just gotta start with the small things first.

 

So just some random things about this week first off before I get to your email. This was a long week. Haha it basically rained hard everyday and we couldn't really get out and work that much because when it rains, the work just stops because people just sleep or don’t wanna study because it is raining!! Haha We had a way fun Halloween this week. The kids here are adorable, they draw random stuff on card board and get some string and that is their costume. I wanna just buy all these kids cool stuff and just do everything I can for them. I freaking love these people. But the best thing I can do as a missionary right now is to teach their families and help bring a more permanent form or happiness into their lives. And that’s what I'm doing. Its so cute seeing all the little kids huddled around their parents and I teach them lessons. Its amazing. They don’t really understand, but they can feel a certain spirit of the elders entering and leaving their houses. That’s one thing I felt with the missionaries back home. I regret so much not helping them out more and working with them. But now from being on both sides of the spectrum, I can see why I was busy, and I can see why the elders keep hitting me up to work with them. Haha I do the same thing here with the cool members that I know.

 

I may be moving areas and training… so that will be whitewashing for the 3^rd time in a row… haha what the heck.. its so hard to build relationships like that!  But I'm way excited to train. This kid is gonna be legit. I just know it.  For sure he's gonna be cool and I'm gonna love the kid! idk where I'm gonna train, but next week (MY BIRTHDAY) I will let you know everything!

 

(BIRTHDAY EO AO EJ JUON WEEK JEN KIO) *for non Marshallese speakers* my birthday is one week from today!! Haha just letting you all know so that my fan mail comes on time ;) haha

This week I was visiting some less actives when a couple of appointments fell through and they had some questions about some stuff in the bible that they didn’t understand and they asked me about it and I was able to read it and explain in Marshallese to them and I had never read it before!! It was so cool to just be able to open up the scriptures, read a random verse and then explain it in a way that these people can understand!! Haha so cool!! A couple months ago I thought I would never be able to do that!! But here I am today!! It'll be way fun reading though all my posts someday!! I still think it would be way cool to get all of these emails home to you printed some day and have that as one of my missionary journals!! Haha I don’t even care if there are mistakes it in! haha I write these emails in a Microsoft word document so it will help me with spelling and grammar as much as I can haha yeah I'm smart ;)

 

So it was pretty funny, I was translating for the mission president and he was talking about how we can do our part to live with god in heaven and to say heaven, you say “aelon in lon” but I accidently said “aelon in lal” which means next month… so instead of saying being with our father in heaven, I said we will be with our father next month…. Haha that was awkward…  I caught myself when they all gave me the strangest looks of amazement ever!

 

It’s too bad you weren’t able to email me too much this week but I forgive you :) haha I’m glad I just get to tell you a bunch of random stuff and just vent a bit, and get my thoughts out to you. You are the best. I would be sad if I wasn’t able to write you. But don’t worry, I'm here for awhile. Tanner and Logan and dad all emailed me and filled me in with info for the week so I guess it is like your week off!! You are the best. I hope you guys all have a good week and are reading everyday, praying constantly, and going to church and getting stuff out of it regularly! “Just do the easy stuff” – Elder Ingalls

 

Tweet for the week “The savior doesn’t require immediate perfection from us, but he does expect immediate progress” :) be better than you were yesterday.

 

Love you fam. Love you mom. Lets play 10 questions next email. If you don’t send me some I'll just make up some ;) hahaha peace out. See you soon

Elder Ingalls the 4^th

Ps love you