Nathan's Weekly Letter October 14th 2013

Hey Mom, and Dad

Sweet! Go Seattle! 

Car hunting huh? I guess that means that...oh yup, Dad got a new car, and he got rid of the pathfinder. I knew that was coming, still, it was kinda expected at some point I guess. I'll miss Red Dog and the adventures we had in that Pathfinder. 

Coda...still the same old stupid dog. I love him, and miss him. Can't wait to see what happens when I get home.

Week was good. No baptisms. That's in two weeks, but I'll be sure to get you all some pictures. I'll actually have a new companion this week.  Anz. Curzola is going to Olbia, Sardegna, and I'm getting Anziano McIntrye. It's interesting. Anyways. 

How am I losing weight? I don't eat as much, I work out, and the food is a whole heck of a lot healthier as well. It's really nice, the food tastes really good.

There's really nothing to see in Foggia. Because it got heavily bombed in WWII, a lot of the historic stuff isn't around anymore. If you want to see stuff you have to go out of the city. That's all. Yes, the tomatoes are so delicious, and I don't know about the watermelon, since they are now out of season.

Yeah! Missionary work in Primary for all of October! Sorry, that you miss me, but it's good that ya'll are talking about it. I'm glad that the Tadd's house is now occupied. I didn't even know they moved. 

Sorry about GMA. 

Yup, I'll be able to tell you when you watch Montabano that the subtitles are all wrong! It'll be great. Yes, actually, I am getting back to chattiness, but I'm still quiet. I'm naturally very quiet, until you get me around people I like. Then you can't get me to shut up!

Well, the next thing I want to do is train (a new missionary), and then maybe spend the rest of my mission in quiet solitude doing good works. So, yeah.

Best meal here in Italy I've had is Fried Chicken. It was super good. 

Dad: Thanks for the epistle. It's exactly what I needed to read this week. 

Well, quello è tutto da me questo settimana. Ciao!

Vi voglio bene,

NaNa

October 9th 2013 Email

Two separate emails this week:

To Mom:

So, I was going to do the combined email, but when I typed this one out it was rather long, so Mom, here's your personal email, and I'll send one to dad as well.

All right Mom, I will definitely write Kendra this week. Let her know, okay? For now, I'll just say that I'll be sure to give her comfort. I'll also write Marcus as well, to let him know that things will work out. While, yes, we are weird, I think he's used to it.

Drat! I can't believe that Seattle lost, oh well, not a problem. They're still leading, and they're still awesome, so I'm okay. Well, I would love to continue to hear about the great things that my team does each week, so yes, please continue to update me.

I'm glad that you are enjoying work. It's a good thing in life, makes things a lot easier. It snowed? What the heck is snow? All I know is rain, rain, rain and more rain. It just rains all the time out here. We just had a few storms in a row this week, including today, so yeah. Glad Dad had a good time.

Yes, you will get pics of the new zone and my comp, I just need time. I'll get them this week, and send them to you next week. We watched General Conference via the computer in the church, for the English speakers. I absolutely loved Presidents Eyring's talk in the Sunday session, and Elder Scott's. It was wonderful.

All our investigators are great, and all are progressing. I'll just tell you and Dad now: three have baptismal dates, and all will make it.

Okay Mom, later.

NaNa


Hi Dad.

Glad to hear the observing was good. Sorry you got cold, but I can sympathise. Things have gotten a tad bit colder here as well. It rains quite a bit, and with the humidity, it can get cold. I've taken to wearing my long pajamas and night. You being tired is good? What?

I remember that we had some fun times with the Pathfinder with observing stuff (our adventure to rescue Red Dog 3 was fun).

Well that's good that you listened to all of Conference. I though for a minute that you would ignore it since you were out observing. Of course, I thought that you would always listen to conference at some point. Well, what were your favorite talks?

Thanks for that thought Dad, I really appreciate. I don't know why you needed to share that either, but thanks anyways. I really enjoyed that. Maybe you can send me one of your typical epistles next time.

Well,  as I told Mom, we have three investigators with b-dates, and all will make it. Two are next Saturday.

Love you Dad,

Nathan

Pictures of Anziano Eads at the Taranto Zone Conference

Now Nathan isn't serving in Taranto he had a zone conference there. Here are some pictures that Sorella Waddoups took of the conference. On a side note, on the night of November 11-12th, 1940, the British Navy using an all airborne attack, first time in history, destroyed 1/2 of the Italian battleships/capital ships that were at anchor in the harbor.  The Japanese used this attack in their planning for Pearl Harbor.  Here is a link to Wikipedia. Now pictures of Anziano Eads

If you know Nathan, this IS a CLASSIC Nathan look.

Below Nathan is role playing, something they do at zone conference. 

Nathan holding the words to their Mission Song. 

Nathan holding the words on the far right ad singing.

Holding the words and singing. 

Nathan studying his scriptures. 

Can you find Waldo? I mean Nathan? Lots of missionaries singing their mission song.

Weekly Email October 2nd 2013

Well, Nathan is in his glory being sarcastic (in some ways, in others he is sincere).

Hey Guys!

Well, I find it funny that I was right yet again! I love it when I can predict things really well. Well, here's hoping the government gets up and running again! Although I do find it hilarious that you could still sign up for Obamacare.

Zone conference was really good. It was combined with the Taranto zone, and so that was fun, because there's a huge group of missionaries from my MTC zone in the area! It was awesome to see everyone again and see how things were going.

At this Zone Conference, it was about obedience, and I just want to say, that I called it again! I knew it was going to be on obedience, and I was right. Anyways, that's not important. So, yeah it was obedience and it was good.

No, I haven't been sick yet, and my headaches have all but gone away. I still get some small ones from time to time, but that's a rare thing nowadays, so no issue for me. Still as healthy as a horse.

Hopefully I'll have some new shirts at least, because, yeah, these ones I have right now are way to baggy. So, until then, nope I haven't bought anything Italian yet. Don't worry, I'm going to fix that. There's a few things I'll get on my list. Wait! I did buy some ties. Basta though.

Honestly, I just notice the gelato place that we pass by everyday. I'll let you figure out why!

Sorry to hear about GMA. Here's hoping that things work out. I really hope they do.

Well, it's about time. Anyways, let me know how it goes, and if I can provide any moral support, because I'm really good at that. Believe me, I am. Dad's going to be leaving you alone all weekend?

Dad, how could you do that to my mother!? I mean, I know that star-gazing relaxes you, and that it's really fun, but c'mon! You can do so much better! Take a week off next time. And just dress warm, I don't want you freezing to death on me.

Anyways, yes, the apartment is a lot bigger for all of us, we have plenty of room. It's very nice.

Sweet, thanks for letting me know about my Christmas present! I do love surprises! So, yup, that's about if for me. Thanks for everything you guys! Talk to you in a week.

NaNa.

Companion Letter to Mission President

Well over at the Waddoups Misison President Blog they post letters (without the names) of the missionaries. Today there was one of an Italian missionary serving in Foggia. Well, there is only Anziano Eads and his companion there. I hesitated to post this but thought I would since it shows what Anziano Eads' (Nathan's) companion is thinking and what they as companions are doing. My take away. As always, developing a plan, praying for the Lord's help and then acting with faith results in wonderful things.

This letter was on Sister Waddoups blog. It is from Nathan's companion(he mentions Foggia so that is the give away). I thought you might want to see it.

The majority of our missionaries are English speaking, but approximately 10% are from Italy.

questa settimana è andata molto bene. Abbiamo ricevuto molto aiuto nel trovare nuovi simpatizzanti sia dal corso d'inglese che dai membri. In particolare, volevo condividere con lei un episodio successo domenica. Io e il mio collega avevamo deciso di andare a fare ricerca in una via specifica di Foggia e avevamo iniziato fin dal giorno prima a pregare che il Signore mandasse lì le persone che avevano bisogno di noi. Così siamo andati e una famiglia ci ha accolti con gioia e ha accettato di ricevere le lezioni missionarie. La madre, Michela, è stata sempre religionsa, ora, però, è un po' in crisi. Vuole conoscere di più di ciò che abbiamo da dire riguardo a Cristo. Sono
contentissimo.

Here it is in English via Google Translator so it's not perfect.

This week went very well. We have received a lot of help in finding new supporters from both the English course and from the members. In particular, I wanted to share with you an incident that happened on Sunday. I and my companion had decided to go to do finding in a specific part of Foggia and since the day before we started to pray that the Lord would send people there who need us. So we went and a family greeted us with joy and agreed to receive the missionary lessons. The mother, Michael, has always been religionsa, but now, though, she is a bit 'in crisis. She wants to know more of what we have to say about Christ. I am very happy.

I wish at times but part of me doesn't, that I could sneak a peak at what Anziano Eads' writes. Perhaps when he comes home IF he chooses to share that.

Weekly Email September 18th, 2013 with pictures of the Vatican

Lynda and I have noticed that of late, Nathan's emails have been shorter and he has shared he is too busy.  So we made an adjustment via the promptings of the Spirit of sending just one combined email to Nathan, and then only having him send one email back to us.  Here is his reply.


Hi Mom & Dad,

So this weekly combined email thing is going to be the best. I would try to do two separate emails, but I don't know if I'll have time for that anymore.

So Herriman High flooded? That's pretty awesome. Mom really does know her stuff. I just wished it had happened in winter so that the floor would've frozen over. Ice skating to class would've been fun, or dangerous...one of the two.

SEATTLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry Dad, but HA! We won, we won, we won! Don't worry, I still love you and I hope you  can still love me too. (But we still won!!!!).

So Marcus may be moving in huh? I thinks that's probably for the best and will be a very positive experience for him.  I wish I could help Mason in person, but I'll make sure to keep him in my prayers. Kendra will probably have that placed spotless. As for Zack and Amber, yeah, they are way to young to get married.

I will remind everyone that I know a BYU Cougarette, that her Dad is the Assistant Athletic Director of UVU, a wrestling coach who is protective and so thank you for the gift. I'll be sure to use it with the  other missionaries.

Okay Mom, good luck with the new job. I'm pretty sure you're going to love it, just from what you've told me. And Dad, I know things are going to be busy, but don't worry, I'm sure things will calm down. I wish that for you.

The Vatican visit was cool. Saw a lots of cool stuff, and some other things that I don't necessarily agree with, but still cool all the same. It was really fun in the Sistine Chapel. No pictures of that though, not allowed.

Foggia is a great city. We have three investigators with Baptismal Dates, with another two to have them really soon, and I know that they'll make it. Anziano Curzola is a really great guy. He's a bit of a tough guy on the outside, but inside he's really a nice guy. He's dying next transfer, and I'll probably kill him. (meaning I'm the companion he goes home with when he finishes his mission next transfer).

Well, that's it for me. I'll send you those Vatican pics. Next week, the members of Sassari.

MUCH Love,
NaNa


Well, Nathan did deliver on his promises of sending pictures so here they are. They are of his trip to the Vatican.

Weekly Email September 11th, 2013

Hey Mom,

Frick you are so busy! I really hope I never get that busy. Being serious.

Happy Birthday by the way, I sang to you in my head on Sunday, so hopefully you heard it.

Wish I had been there in person, but I love it, out here in the field. Yup. The food sounds like it was really good. I really do miss your cooking. Nothing beats Mom's home cooking.

Foggia is nice. It's a bigger city than Sassari, so there's that. The Vatican was interesting, but cool. Saw the Sistine Chapel, but that was super cool. I really wanted to see the table that shows the line of authority for the Pope's. I didn't but oh well.

I'm basically speaking solo italiano adesso, but I don't mind. It's nice. I'm back in a ward, but I miss my branch. Oh well, whatever. The apartment is so much bigger than Sassari, which is nice. I'm probably going to learn how my Italian is, and how to really love the people.

Pictures will come next week. My camera is charging.

Love you,

NaNa



Hey Dad,

Sorry Mom's a little busy, but I am as well, so short email this time around...again.

I like Foggia so far, it's not to bad. I've only met the people in the city, since we're our own district, so yeah. Anziano Curzola is a great guy and we get along really well. He's been here for a transfer. I'll definitely get better at the Italian, so I'm not too worried about it. Will I be fluent, probably, but we'll see. I'm at a 6-7 in my opinion right now, so yeah.

From what I've seen of the bishop he is very awesome, so we'll see. Haven't talked with him a whole lot, but I plan on it. Most people said I'll love Foggia, so yeah, I believe it.

I'm just serving everyone I can, even the other missionaries. I guess that's what the Lord needs me to do. So, yup, that's what I'm doing.

Okay well, that's it for me, talk to you next week.

Nathan,