O Brother Where Art Thou?

Family guys!

This is going to be a challenging letter because the keyboard I’m writing on literally has no keys on it (like I can’t see the letters on it at all).  So please excuse any crazy, weird errors. Family, yesterday was just about amazing! I’m so thankful I got to talk to you. Those 40 minutes felt like I was home. Really, no exaggeration on that. You all sounded so great and happy; I loved every single moment of it. I’m glad everything is going great and that the call went smoothly. I’m so grateful for that.

It was an action-packed night. Literally an hour after I talked to you we got transfer calls and yes, I did leave my beloved Aeorparque for a new area far, far away....well, it’s in the next zone. I’m still in Jujuy but this area is kinda by Centro.  It’s called "Chijra" spelled like that, no error, but it’s pronounced like “cheek-ruh”.  It’s a very nice little area and I'm with a very cool comp. His name is Elder Adams. He has been out for about 20 months. He is a cool, easygoing kid from Kansas who loves cars. He’s got a George Clooney (in O Brother Where Art Thou?) vibe to him. I think we're gonna get along swimmingly. We live in a 4-man pench in a second story apartment. It’s pretty puny but cool. I live with Elders Langston (from Richfield, Utah I think) and Munoz from Columbia. They are cool, easygoing guys as well. I bet this is gonna be a sick area! I’m very excited.

I packed up last night and left this morning. It was a surprisingly easy transition. I thought I was gonna be sad from the phone call and then leaving Aeorparque but I was happy the whole time and it was a smooth transition from one thing to the next. I only got to say goodbye to one investigator and that was Gisela. She ran and gave me a big hug and said “thank you, thank you!” I don’t think we are allowed to hug but I was like, “whatever” cause there was nothing I could do about it then so it was very nice.  I miss hugs. Me and elfer skipenz said our goodbyes, it went well. The guy chilled out a lot later into the transfer.  He was still a little "ahhhhh!!!" at times but it was survivable.

Those 2 things were pretty much the dominating things that happened this week.  I told you I got my charango—which sounds great!  Also, I was going to say goodbye to Maxi and Noelia yesterday but they weren’t there. The word is that she went to the hospital to have her baby. I hope all is well with those guys. We kinda had a rough week cause we had run out of people to teach so we are pretty much referral hunting. I went on divisions with Elder Mori this last week and that was fun. We ate lemons with salt in a nasty little concrete block house and unintentionally bible bashed with a crazy Pentecostal lady at another house. It was terrific! I had a moment when I told her straight up that the only way you’re gonna know anything is true scripture-wise is to pray about it. I asked her, "Do you know who God is?" She came back with, "Who is God?”  “That’s the question" I said then told her that God is her Father, He loves her, and He wants her to know the truth and it’s only through prayer that you can do that. Its was cool, while I was saying that everything went silent: The cars in the road, the noisy kids in the street, everything went into silent mode. The spirit was undeniably there and we all knew it, even her. She kinda went silent from there. Its was a cool moment for me that I got to do that and have that help from Heavenly Father. Other than that nothing really happened this week so I guess it’s onto questions.

Any cool teaching experiences this week?

• Pretty much the story above is all that happened this week as far as teaching goes,  But there’s more to come!

Are your shoes holding up o.k?

• The eccos are still, literally and figuratively, kicking butt—I love them and they are still very comfortable.

Do you do much “door touching”?

• Now and then. I heard we were gonna touch a lot of doors here but we haven’t done a ton.  When we do, people are usually cool. Either they are nice and will want to talk now or sometime later on. Some people will try to be nice and blow us off kindly or else will get nervous and lie horribly to get out of that situation by saying something like "Oh....well...we have some...stuff...we have to....BYE!" or just something like that. It’s fun and you get to see the whole array of how people act on the spot.

Are you able to say pretty much what you want.

• Yeah, pretty much.  Getting all the grammar right still kills me. But really, it’s the listening I struggle with but I will keep working on that. Pray pray!

Well family, I best wrap this up. “High and Dry” by Radiohead is playing in this cyber and it is making me think of good old Austin, Ethan, and Kevin—oh those boys! But I just want you to know that everything is all good. So far, I love my new area, comp, the other elders in the pench, and everything. Its gonna be a good transfer, I can feel it. I loved talking to you guys yesterday. It felt so good to talk to all of you and hear your voices. I miss you all like I can’t believe but I know its all good and that you guys are happy and well. I am too. Thank you for all your letters, prayers, temple visits, and love. You are all golden! I love you guys so much. It’s really all good!

Con mucho amor,

Russ 

p.s. I did hear Molly say, "Hi Russ!" Hahaha that was just about the best!

One Phone Call Away

Russ at zone conference

Russ and Elder Scipert

Hoy, Hoy!

Greetings from the crappy cyber with the shouting, swearing, stinky 11 year-olds playing “Left For Dead” and the computer with a horrible broken keyboard. Glad to hear things are good on the home front. The lacrosse is lacrossy, the chives are chiving, and it’s almost the end of the school year. That’s what I love to hear (:  Oh, and yeah, that on Wednesday I’ll be a fourth done with my mission. F'reals, time flies, its crazy! 

I’m glad your week was splendid, so was mine; it was a nice, tranquil week. Nothing much exciting happened until the weekend. We had a pretty good work week: Taught a few folks including the sister of Ivan (the kid who just got baptized) she’s very cool! She is about ten years old and is kinda like Lauren’s twin. We’ve just started teaching her this week.  Other than that we just kinda taught our regulars: Maxi and Noelia, Laura, Manuel and his brother Victor, and Gisela. This week was very exciting 'cause this week Gisela (the girl with the funny 3 year old I talked about) wanted to be baptized! We had the interview at Maxi’s and Noelia’s house and ‘cause Elder Scipert is the district leader, the zone leaders had to do the interview. So I waited outside with Maxi and Noiela while Elder Scipert went with one of the zone leaders to go to a cita (appointment) we had. One of Maxi's and Noelia's neighbors named Lidia (who is a member) came out to talk to us. I held a 45 minute conversation with her. Half of it was about childbirth ‘cause she’s a baby doctor. But, none the less, it was a conversation!

Gisela passed the interview and we scheduled to have her baptism on Saturday. We were at the church prepping for the baptism and a weird, chunky little kid came up and tried to steal my tag. I tried to take it back and he started biting me! Not hard but still nasty! I got the tag back (without punching this kid in the gut bag, I might add). After the baptism being delayed 3 hours (I think its a law that baptisms are not supposed to start on time in Argentina) we got things under way. She was baptized.  The person that baptized her seemed kinda nervous at first but once he got in the cold, sketchy water, he got her whole long name right, baptized her, and the baptism was a success.  Oh, I may have forgotten to mention, the person that baptized her was me.  Yeah, that’s right, your boy’s first baptism! IT WAS SOOOOOO COOOOL!!!! I felt so great! The water was incredibly cold but it was a huge honor! I'm so happy for Gisela. She really needed the gospel in her life. She just was so in need of peace in her life. The gospel is what she needed. We are now teaching her little brother who seems pretty interested.  His name is Lucas. He’s got a Spencer Hulsey vibe to him—super cool kid!

Now onto the sad news:  Maxi and Noelia (who are not baptized only ‘cause their wedding papers are super complex! Yet they know just about everything about the gospel. For example: Maxi read the Book of Mormon in 2 days and read all of PMG, Gospel Principles, Our Heritage, etc. Heavens knows what would happen if he got his hands on Doctrines of Salvation by Jos. F. Smith) but they are super legit and pretty much my best friends. They didn’t show up to the baptism. Strange, ‘cause they are at every baptism, church function, bar mitzvah, etc. so we went yesterday to go talk to them. Turns out Maxi went to the hospital on Saturday ‘cause of back problems and he got a test and this test said that its a 50% chance he has a kidney infection or a 50% he has kidney cancer. He is super scared and just doesn’t know what to do.  His baby is due next month and he wants to live and help raise his little baby and be a good father, a good husband, and a good member of the church. I gave him a blessing.  It may have not have been grammatically correct but the sprit was there super strong when I gave him the blessing and that’s all that matters.  It kinda helped me realized a little more that its the spirit that counts in the conversion.  He’s going to Salta next week to get some tests done so I hope everything will be all right. I made sure to tell him that "its all good" he said it really is all good. It will be (: 

Well, that’s just about it for the week guys, its time for some questions!

• What do you want in your birthday package?

Betos!!!!!!!......Maybe some more candy (Cadbury, non-sour gummy worms, Airheads, etc).  Maybe another long-sleeved Missionary Mall shirt and some pictures. I’ll let you know if I think of anything else.

• What’s the biggest difference you’ve noticed between Argentina and the U.S.?

Hmmm, tough question...Here there are no copyright laws, underage drinking/ driving/ smoking/ everything laws. Everyone has a “moto” like Rod had in Hot Rod and the sky—its pretty much another world over here.

• How are things going with you and your comp?

He’s pretty chill now. I think the stress of him being a district leader kinda made him crazy for a few weeks but now he has settled down.

• Do you ever get to play futbol anymore?

Not much, every once in awhile. Its still fun to play but we hardly play it anymore.

• Tell us something about teaching.

I’m liking that promise we have in D&C about knowing what to say, when you need to say it. It really works. Its like you don’t need to think about what you have to say next, it just comes to you. That and I like just teaching in general. I’m starting to be more ‘laxed and everything in the lessons, it’s awesome!

• Are you still teaching Griselda and her son?

Nope, not as much, they just aren’t available to talk as much anymore.  They always say "come back another time" or something like that. Sad but we'll keep trying.

• Are you ready for a transfer?

Yes...no....I love Jujuy!!!!!!!!!!!! But a change does sound exciting. Scipert is a good teacher, he knows his stuff but a new comp does sound exciting. I’m just gonna live up my last week here. Nothing but wine boxes from here on out!

Well fam, I best be going. This kid next to me has been playing the same Cumbia song for an hour and I’m going to kill him. I believe this Sunday I’ll be calling you guys around 6 p.m. here. which is like 3 p.m. for you guys so be prepped for that. They are being super Nazi about the phone calls so it can’t go over 40 mins. but oh well, I guess. I hope the phone calls all work out. I’m a little bit worried about how to call but I’ll be guided through it. I’m more than incredibly excited to talk to you guys. I love and miss you so much. I can’t wait to hear your amazing voices this Sunday! I can't believe its been 6 months. Thank you all so so much for your prayers and fasts in my behalf. I love and miss you guys more than you know. Until this Sunday! I love you, its all good!

Con Amor,

Russ

I (Heart) Dogs

Well hey hey!  

I’m currently writing this while sitting uncomfortably between 2 stinky, sweary kids playing Grand Theft Auto and on a slow computer which has a keyboard that has just been used by somebody who’s been drinking syrup (and it is all over the keyboard so you have to punch every key super hard). Half the power went out in Jujuy today and we had to find a cyber in an other neighborhood. Just saying, it’s great fun.

But hey, family! How goes things? I printed out your letters today and it sounds like everything is smashing! This week was pretty smashing in itself. I made up a “family night-owing” (FHE) on the spot (or a "noche de hogar" as they are known here which literally translates to "night of home"). We were on divisions with the youth so I was solo with this kid who’s name is Maxi—he’s a cool guy). I planned to watch a DVD at this member’s house for FHE but they didn’t have a DVD player so I made a lesson up on the spot and it went really well. I was surprised. I was really happy that it went over well. I celebrated by giving my self a mental high five.

I got informed that my comp had to go to Salta to redo his papers to be legal here so we did divisions that night at the zone leader’s pench. I was with goofy Elder Nuñez. He’s a good scout, a klutzy man but good, none-the-less. It was nice, I got to hang out with all the funny elders over there: Elder Thomas from Texas and Elder Angell from, I believe, Washington. They are really funny, good guys and it was nice to hang with them. While I was over there the power went out.  It also happened to be the time that Jujuy decided to be super cold so we didn’t have heat for that night but the next day we ended divisions and I was very excited to come home to a nice, warm pench—not so. I guess last month someone forgot to pay the power bill so we had to be wrapped in our little bundles until Thursday. We have a little heater and I have sweats and a hoodie that I sleep in so, for the time being, I am good with that. Other than that it was a chill, little slow, and cooooooold week this week.

We were at a "cita" (an appointment) and there was this dog next to me. I thought nothing of it until I heard a trickling noise, that’s when I realized that this stupid black lab was peeing all over my leg! Before I had time to smack it with a shovel (like in My Dog Skip) the owner came back into the room so I just had to gaze vengefully at the dog the entire time and hope that, somewhere in the cosmos of time, I will have the chance to punch it in the face. Speaking about my favorite animal, since its getting cold here people are starting to put sweaters and little shirts on their dogs to keep them warm.  It’s about as horribly cheesy a sight as you can imagine.

Oh, Mom. I forgot to mention but I believe you would love it here. Everyone spits. I mean everyone. I saw a lady in her 50s hawk a nice one the other day but fear not, I am not a spitter because I know my mom would have a thing or two to say about it if I did.

We had stake conference on Sunday and Elder Rubén L. Spitally (that’s absolutely not how you spell his name) from the 70 was there. It was nice. I actually think I knew what his talk was about. But he sounded and looked like a nice guy. The choir there sang "Be Thou Humble" which I know is a favorite of yours, Mom but, like every choir I've heard here, they all love to sing in monotone and in 6 different keys and always fail to hit the high note in the song. It was kinda like when those girls were trying to sing that mesh of songs at the singles ward music program. I believe you remember that all to well, Dad.

But guess what? WE HAD A BAPTISIM!!! Huzzah! It was yesterday for this kid named Ivan. He is a 17 year old punky friend of Esteban’s (the kid who got baptized a couple weeks ago) but he is so good and so humble and just needed the happiness of the gospel in his life. The baptism started at 9 (always an hour late in Argentina) and a youth named Nata (a way cool kid) got to baptize him. It was really nice. We were worried Ivan’s family wouldn’t show but exactly 2 seconds before he was baptized his mom and family came. He was so excited to see her and so happy. The baptism was a smashing success! We had empanadas and coke to celebrate (and Malta which tastes just like coffee cept its not. I like it, though).

Well, that was about it for the week. Things with me and my comp took a turn for the better this week. He has been more nice and open and more tranquil. I know it’s through the prayers of all of us and through our kind, dear Heavenly Father that things are getting easier. I had a great week and hope that next week will be even better. Thanks so much you guys. Now, onto some questions…

• Do you know when and how you’ll call home for Mother’s Day?

Now, from what I heard, I think we call in the afternoonish part of the day and we call from the church and we can talk for like 45ish minutes ( I wish it was more). That is about all I know so far. I’ll letcha know for sure when I know more about it but I'm stoked to talk to you guys!

• Any trouble getting your packages?

No not much. Usually someone goes to Salta randomly and I have them get it. So as that string of luck pulls through over and over we should be good. For example, my comp got my package when he was in Salta this week (thank thank thank thank you, family!)

How are your investigators coming along?

Good good.  They're doing good. We are trying to find new people at the moment but they are doing fine. Keep praying for them though.

• So is it finally getting cold?

From the little story in the letter, that’s how the cold is and it’s…fun?

• Are  you getting enough time to read and write your email?

Yeah kinda (it's now a strict only 1 hour...bahhh) so I might skip out this week on writing you back Anna and Lauren (sorry, I love you guys and thank you guys so much though, keep on keeping on!)

Well family, I’ve got to go, I’ve got about 2 minutes left. But I love and miss you guys so incredibly much. Thank you for your amazing letters (really, your advice is helping me soooo much) keep writing. Thank you for your love and prayers. I can always feel them. You guys are incredibly wonderful. I love you all so much. Its all good!

Con amor,

Russ

Brady Bunch And Booze Cake

What up home skillets?

Its ya’ boy here! How goes the good fight? I’m glad to hear the week went well and you’re all doing great, that’s what I like to hear. Also,  hooooooollllllyyyyy amazing PARAGUAY, Zach! That is so cooooool!!! Half of my district at the MTC is in Asunción (‘cept I can’t remember if they are north or south). But if you run into elders Bingham, Leechman, Isrealson, May, or my tri-comp elder Beal (call him "sweet, sweet Bealy Boy" he´ll love it!) then tell them elder Allphin sent ya. They are like my brothers, those boys, those boys. And Davis, Lima Peru—sick! Elder Mori, our penchmate, is from Peru and I presume that all Peruanos are about 3ft tall like him but anyway, I digress.

I guess I’ll start off by saying sorry about last week’s letter. It wasn’t fair ‘cause my comp's almost always (I use the word “always” carefully) chill but he just sent me over the edge right before I started typing you guys last week so I guess I was venting. Sorry about that. The dude is ok. Yes, we are opposites and he doesn’t follow President Hinckley’s “Don’t take yourself too seriously” mantra. He can also be one of those "don’t joke around with him" guys. For example:  We were planning a zone meeting happening in a couple of weeks and he said Pres. wanted us to sing at it so I asked, "Are we supposed to sing like a Brady Bunch kind of a thing?"  He responded very seriously, "No, I don’t think the President would like that". We also have some donkeys by our pench and Elder Rasmussen and I would have endless fun talking about those "asses" over there. I’m afraid if I dared mention the slightest donkey joke to my new comp I would be in danger of the council. But I can bear up with your advice. Thank you for the suggestions in your letters (and for sending Steve Brule.) I’m glad to hear this really is just some kind of mission puberty. Your suggestions helped a lot, I’m going to apply them post haste. Thank you, thank you so much!

Anywho, this week was good; slow, but good. We have a new investigator that is friends with Maxi and Noelle. Her name is Gisela and she is a few weeks away from being baptized. She is super cool. She has a 3 year old daughter who is very funny and we had lunch with her yesterday and she and I talked about Jake and the Neverland Pirates (which they have here) and all that jazz. I have a feeling Molly and I will pick up where we left off when I get home cause she will be 3 then.

I also got to jam with Ras Trent. This Ras guy was just jamming outside and he had an extra guitar so I started jamming with him. It was soooooo cool! ‘Cept he was pretty fried. He said the closing prayer after our discussion and in the prayer he asked that he and I could get big in the U.S.  with "our band" and that we would make millions....I pray for the same thing.

I had the best cake of my life this week. It was so chocolately and tasty and I really wanted to know the recipe. The lady we got the cake from said it’s "easy to make.  After the cake is cooked just pour a bunch of booze on it".  She was serious, it was a cake with alcohol in it (and not baked in). I just laughed and laughed said “oops” but my comp was very nervous about it so called the zone leaders to see if it was ok to eat...goodness sakes!
I also went on divisions with elder Habel this week and it was super awesome. He is a good kid.  He is way cool and it’s always good to have another friend in the mish.
And on the “whoa” side of things, we are teaching a girl and her boyfriend. The girl is pregnant (sooooo common here) but turns out she is14.  Yeah, a 14 year-old pregnant girl who got pregnant when she was 13.....so how ‘bout that, yikes!

It has been a little cold this week so after a hard, long day's work I made some hot chocolate (which you have to make out of Nesquik...don’t cringe) and elder Mori was wondering what I was doing. I simply told him, "bate bate chocolate" which he thought was an absolute hoot! He is a really cool, funny, good kid. He brings light and happiness into the pench and yet he can still fit into the palm of my hand!
But other than that, this week has been pretty normal. The dollar is still at 5 pesos, the pant suit is still king around here, you still find good-sized veins and feathers in your chicken at lunch, and every time at church, the congregation continuously requests we all sing "Secret Prayer" at every single sacrament meeting.  Something has got to be done about that, in the words (and voice) of Lois from Malcolm in the Middle "I HAVE HAD  IT!!!"

Well anyways, onto questions, kiddies!

• How are you doing on sunscreen?  Can you get more if you need it?

I’m good so far with the sunscreen. I used a lot when I first got here but I hardly use it now cause the clouds are always in the way and it’s getting cold.

• Is there anything we can send you?

Yes, there is something you could get for me. As I have been showing our investigators pictures of like you guys (which is super awesome, they love it) they always ask if I have pictures of my friends. So maybe you could hack onto facebook and find some
pictures with me and my friends and print them off or something like that.

• Are your glasses holding up okay?

Yes, they are working out smoothly but I have been talking with some missionaries and they said that even here they use contacts. I’m intrigued.  What is you guy’s opinion on wearing contacts here?

• Did your baptisms go through?

No, not this week, alas, but this next week we are hoping to have one for sures!

• Did you get your last packages?

Yes I did. They arrived fine (they smell like America!) They always arrive in tip-top shape, thank you so very much!

• If you want to buy something, go ahead and get some money from your account.

Ok cool, I will for sure do that. I have been talking with this kid about buying a charango so is it cool if I withdraw from the account this week?

• Any funny stories?

The donkey and Brady bunch stories were the ones I was going to tell you last week but don’t worry, me thinks there will be much more to come!

Well, that’s about it from me this week. Sorry I didn’t have time to write you, Lou Lou Bell, but thanks for the letter and I do loves ya' a whole bunch and I hope you have a great week as well.  Dad, I had a dream last night that I was at the house of one of your companions from your mission and he showed me your Book of Mormon from your mission. You had written notes on the sides of the pages in it and on one pages you wrote in big, pink, super-girly handwriting: "The Lord loves ya'--Don´t ya' forget it".  I believe giving me that dream is proof the Lord has a sense of humor.  At least that’s what I think, ha-ha!

Thank you so much for all your good, home-filled letters and for your prayers and sacrifices. This week went by really well and I felt more comfortable and happy even in ridiculous situations. I love you all and miss you so much. I hope you have a fantasmic week.
I love you. It’s all good!

Con Amor,

Russ

Cyber Space

Ahoy guys guys!

 How goes things? Glad to hear St. Gabbels was a smashing success full of friends, cats, and shopping goodness. I was planning on sharing a lot about the week with you guys but under the new rules instituted by new comp, I can only type for a little bit.

We went in the cyber just now and, in my mind, I thought we had one and a half hours (as usual) but he started freaking out and telling me I had to call all these people first so I did. When I got back on the computer I started reading your letters. He freaked out again and said that reading letters is a waste of writing time and that I should print them off cause, as of now, I only have 30 minutes of writing time. I’m about to explode cause I love my reading and writing time on p-days.

I’m sorry but this guy seems he is just out for total perfection and numbers. He doesn’t like my teaching methods all that much and stresses me out about the language. I just don’t get him. He’s cool sometimes but I just don’t know what to do. He gets really mad about the littlest things and it’s just getting super difficult. He wants me to get rid of all my English materials and only use Spanish stuff cause "that’s the only way you’re gonna learn this language.”

I was totally at peace until about a half an hour ago but now I’m a bit of a wreck. I really need some advice on what to do. I’m trying to pray to feel better but this week I got super homesick and got very worried about all of the responsibility and the possibility of failure. I really don’t know what to do. I pray and pray and but I’m just at a loss—advice? Advice on learning the language, not getting homesick, and getting along with a new comp would be of great help. Sorry, I’m just feeling a little bit frazzled as of now. Is this just normal mission puberty? Like really, is this just a little trial or something? In spite of feeling a little bit stressed, this week was, for the most part, good.

I got you guys’ package full of gushers and strawberry breakfast and the scripture cases. Thank you ever so much! I love you guys so much. We also had a baptism this week! It was Esteban. He’s a kid we’ve been teaching for awhile and he finally decided to take the plunge.  It was very hectic to try to get his baptism scheduled but we got it done none-the-less. It was very nice, a youth in the ward baptized him. It was a great and very spiritual event. We hope we can baptize Maxi and Noelle next week! Sorry there’s not a ton of detail on that but next week I’ll fill anymore questions you guys have on it for sure. It’s just that now I have no time to type. We had a pretty good week. Teaching wise. It was very nice so there is that. Sorry this is a lame letter I’m just, again, typing on no time.  Now, onto the questions.

Who is the new Elder in your pench?

• Elder Habel! He’s from Orem he’s pretty chill.  He and I like a few of the same bands and he’s a good guy

How’s the other Elder in your pench?

• Elder Mori? Yes, he is such a happy, good little guy.

Do you ever get to talk to Elder Rasmussen?

• I talked to him a little last week on the phone but not for long.  Hopefully we can talk soon, though.

Is it getting cold there yet?

• Today was perfect  for long-sleeves! It’s ideal weather outside and I hope it stays like this.

How are you getting on with your new comp?

• Other than having a few little anxieties, everything else is good.

Any other baptisms coming up?

• Yes! We have about 3 we hope we can get baptized in this next little while.

Do you think your Spanish is improving every day?

• Yeah, a little bit. I’m making phone calls a ton now and going on divisions.

Any cool experiences with finding investigators?

• Well, we are talking with this one lady who just really wants to find happiness in her life. She has a little girl and just wants to be happy. I bore her my testimony that happiness is found in the gospel and through it she can always be happy.  I think she is a potential baptism candidate.

Any funny stories from the week?

• I was gonna share a good long story but since I have no time, I’ll tell you one other thing that happened this week. I got splashed by a bus that went through a mud puddle—classic, right? It was straight out of the movies. I actually didn’t mind it at all (and I’m not being sarcastic).

Well fam, sorry ‘bout the sad letter once again. Hopefully next week I can talk things out and get a writing system figured out but until then: Write, pray, help me, send lawyers guns and money and have a great week. I love and miss you guys so incredibly much and I’m, worlds without end, grateful for you guys. I love you, its all good!

Con Amor,

Russ