Rats :(

Hello family!!! How are you all doing? So I hear that y'all are getting ready for Tonys Grove, well you all have loads of fun for me. Because I will miss it so much and I wish that I could go with you, but I am on a mission and that is very important. So what is up with y'all? How has your summer been going? I hope it has been super fun and that you all are having a great time. Well I am doing good down here in as the locals call it the "Training ground for Hell". Yes they really call it that because it is so stinking hot down here. This week has been good, still kind of slow because everybody is gone for the summer. But I know that things will pick back up soon, and we will find lots of people to teach! Ok so on to the stories of the week!!

Story 1 Ok to on wednesday we met a man named Bob (names has been changed and you will see why), he used to be really active and loved the church. But then he had a few trials and has not been back to church. So we decided that we would go see him. When we told everybody (the Elders, and a few ward Members) they told us to be careful and to not really talk doctrine with him. Then our district leader and his comp decided that they would come by if they could just to see how things were going, and because they like Bob and said that he is a really nice guy. So we had a member couple with us and we head over to meet Bob. And for a little while things are going good and we just talked about Christ and faith, and other things like that. But then the conversation turned south... And we found out why Bob has stopped going to church. Someone brought up the topic of eternal marriages and families, and Bob told us that this was just a wordly idea that the church taught and it was found no where in the Bible or in the Book of Mormon. Bob has had some trials in his life and so his views on things are a little skewed at this point. He also has issues with Joseph Smith and The book of Mormon, but we wont get in to that.  So he and I talked for a while and he would quote scripture to me and then I would try to give him the best answer that I could. The elders would talk every so often and the member that we brought with us bore a very beautiful testimony. And we did this for an hour or so, till we had to go home. But he was very nice and asked if we could come back another day. I feel so sad for him because he has fallen very far off the path, and I want to help him get back. So that is a kind of sad story but it was a really neat experience to talk to some one that crazy.                

Story 2 So this week we had an appointment with a less active family. So we go over to see them and they bring out this whole plate of cheese!! Not normal cheese but things like stinky cheese, blue cheese, cheese that tastes like eggnog, bree, and squishy cheese. And so I had to try all of them naturally and I can tell you one thing for sure. Stinky cheese tastes just like it smells, nasty!! And the other cheese were all so icky, except the squishy cheese that was ok. And then to top off the night the two girls bring in... Mom you may want to skip to the next story right now.. They bring out 2..Huge..RATS!!!!!  YUCK!!!!!! And they put one in a ball and just let him run all around the room. It was a very hard thing not to thing of Dewys hamster  in the ball, and fight off the urge to kick it. And then they let the other one just crawls all over the couch and us and everything!!! It was so nasty!!! I HATE RATS!!! So needless to say that we left very shortly after the appearance of the rats. 

Story 3 So I live in a desert right? And it is supposed to be really dry in the desert right? Well think again! we have had so many rain storms in the past week that you would think that we live in the rain forest!! On Tuesday we were leaving our dinner appointment and it started to lightly sprinkle. But by the time we got in the car and down the street it was pouring. And I mean that the streets were flooded in a matter of 5 minutes!! It was so bad that Sister Brown had to pull over and let me drive because she was to scared. And then I even had to park on the side of the road for a few minutes till the hail stopped. And then all of the sudden it just stopped. And then on Wednesday after we met with Bob it started to pour again but even harder then the last storm!!! And we were out in chaparral and it dark so sister Brown was to scared to drive again and so I drove home. That was one of the coolest drives I have ever had!! The thunder and lightning were so amazing looking, and it was just sop beautiful to see the power of nature uninhibited. And then it rained all night long and continued in to the next day. But for living in a desert we sure do get a lot of rain!! 

Ok so that was the week. Yeah sorry only 3 stories, again it was a really slow week. But hey things are going to pick up and I will have loads more stories to tell in the next few weeks!! I love you all very much and hope you are all doing well. Write back soon!! 
Love Sister Chatwin!! 

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• So I notices that these are the countries and

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•  how many people have looked at Jenns's 

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• mission blog. If you are interested in learning 

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• how to find happiness in your life go to the link 

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• below and find out more of the gospel of Jesus 

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• Christ and the missionaries in your area.

United States	389
Russia	98
Germany	13
Venezuela	9
South Korea	8
Estonia	3
Croatia	3
Hungary	3
Australia	2
Canada	2

• mormon.org/missionaries

Still in El Paso

Hello!! How are y’all doing? I hope that you are all doing well and that you are enjoying your summer!! So what are y’alls plans for pioneer day? I hope that you have fun, because they don’t really celebrate it down here.  But any way so what are y’all up to and how have you been? Oh and the videos that mom put on my IPod were the best!! I loved to see Brynlee, Avery, Blake, Hailey, Grant, and everybody else too.  I sure do miss y’all and hope that you’re doing well.  Well life down here has been pretty much the same we have been teaching lots of people and having lots of fun!!

 Ok so now for the stories of the week!!

 Story 1

So last P day we went to the ZOO!! It was so much fun!! There were Giraffes, and monkeys, and Lions!! They also had wild turkeys and a donkey... Yeah I guess that those are really exotic animals down here. But any way it was lots of fun and we went with all the sister in our zone.  It was a very nice day also because it was on 95 and cloudy, so that was very nice!! Yeah it is kind of sad when 95 is a nice temperature but what can you do.

 Story 2

So this week I have been sick :P I have had the worst head aches every and have just been so tired. And it hasn't helped that the weather has been bad all week, because it has rained so much this week. And its not just a light sprinkle no it is a torrential down pour!!! It’s like God forgot to turn off the bath tube and it has over flown over El paso. But Yeah so I haven’t been feeling very good this week but that ok. Because I feel much better know and the weather is back to its normal hotness. Which I am not sure if it is a good thing or a bad one.

 Story 3

So we got transfer calls on Saturday, and I am not going any where. Yep that's right I will spend 1/3 of my mission down in the west Texas town of El Paso. So I get called to the Albuquerque New Mexico Mission and I have yet to even serve in New Mexico. Well  thats not true Chaparral is in New Mexico but it doesn't really count because its not really a place. It’s more of this random trailer park out in the middle of NO WHERE!! So yeah that really doesn't count. But yeah so there will be no change of address or waiting to find out were I am going. And sister Brown is also staying here with me. So I know that whatever work I have to do here is not done yet so I will just have to figure it out before to long. I do love it here and the people are fantastic. If only they would talk to their friends about the gospel then it would be pefect. 

So that really was the week. Yeah sorry its not very busy with summer, everyone being gone, and me not feeling well. But I do feel much better and I am very excited to be a missionary!! I will forever be grateful for all your prayers and thoughts that you send my way. I love you all so very much and I hope that I have more stories next week. 

I love you all so much and hope to hear from you soon. Tell Coco hi and give her a hug from me!!

Love Sister Chatwin

P.S The file attached needs to be opened in Itunes I think... Or something that plays MP4 files. I hope it works so that it will make up for my lame letter. 

SO SORRY WE COULD NOT GET HER VIDEO TO OPEN:(

More news from Jenna, Hotter than Hot

Hi everybody!! How are you all doing? How is life up there in Utah? How is your summer going and what are your plans for the rest of it? I hope that everything is going well and that you are having lots of fun! Well life here in El Paso is pretty good, we have been teaching lots and its just been super fun! So mom had a question about the Dear Elder letters, and I get hers just about every week. And i also get one from Mary and her family which is very nice. But you should tell Rachael that she must be doing something wrong because I have only gotten 2 of hers. So now on to the stories of the week!!

Story Number 1
 Last Tuesday we had interviews with our new mission president. He is very nice and ready to get started! He has challenged us to talk to 10 people a piece per day, so that is 20 people a day per companionship! He wants us to be interested and not interesting, so we are supposed to be interested in them and show them we care instead of cramming the gospel down there throats. This will help people trust us more and show them that we really are just normal people. But President and Sister Miller are very nice and are just so excited to be here. And I know that this is were I am supposed to be. 

Story Number 2
On Wednesday we went to go see a less active out in Chaparral to see ow she is doing. So we go in and start talking with her when her husband walks in sits down and starts asking us all of these odd questions. Like where in the body is the soul, If lazuras died then why didn't he tell weither he went to heaven or hell. Ya just lots of odd questions that are not really important and that he was just asking us because he wanted to rattle us. So we answered his questions the best we could, because he would only let us use the bible. Because he is a Jehovah witness and his father was a baptist minister. So we answered the best that we could and he still just looked at us like we were crazy. But I was able to bear my testimony and tell him that I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph smith was a prophet. He still thinks that we are crazy but we were able to ask him questions that stumped even him. And he said that we could come back, so it may take a while but I think that he will see the light.

Story Number 3
We met this girl named Wendy at church on the 11th, and here friend asked if we could teach her because she had questions. So on thursday we went and saw her, she is a Jehovah's witness about 23 and is very interested about what we teach. So we started to tell her the first vision and all about the restoration, and the spirit was so strong! We know that she felt something, and when we talked to her friend she tolds us that Wendy said that she was really considering baptism!! I know that she will commit and she will be baptized! 

Story Number 4
On Friday we stopped by to see Tara to teach her a lesson on temples. We watched a video that showed pictures from different temples, and the spirit was just so strong. I love the temple and I wish that I could go more often, but unfortunately the closes temple is in Juarez. Which is A out of our mission and B a very dangerous place. But Tara is very excited to go with the youth up to Albuquerque and go do baptisms for the dead. I feel so blessed to have been able to watch her come on to the gospel.

Story Number 5
So we had the opportunity to speak in sacrament meeting yesterday. and I bet that you cant guess what our topic was....The Law of chastity!! No just kidding it was on missionary work. While I was talking I realized how much I love to be a missionary! This is a marvelous work and I feel very honored to be apart of it. So if you have any friend who is ready for the gospel just invite them to church, or give them a pass a long card. But be sure to always be a good example!! 

I love you all so much!!! Oh and one more thing transfers are next week so if have anything to send be sure to send it before Thursday. And I will let you know next Monday if I am staying or going. Well I love you all so very very much and miss you tons!! I hope that you are all doing well and remember that I love you all!!

Love Sister Chatwin

P.S. SQUIRREL....Hi there! 

115 degree weather in El Paso

Hi family!! How are you all doing ? How was your 4th of July? Were the fireworks cool? I didn't get to see any because I had to be in bed by 10:30 :P , but I did hear lots of them!! How was the parade? I really missed driving the candy cart and having homemade raspberry ice cream! So how is everyone's summer going? Morgan said that you laid sod in 109 degree weather, and I thought I wish it was 109 here.... Because it has been 115 and we had to go trackting. Yuck!! I almost died!!! Well not really but it was so hot that the air conditioning was almost not working!!

Ok now for the stories of the week!!!

Number 1 So lst P-day (after I had already written you all) we had a district p-day. So that means that all of the comps in our district are supposed to get together and do something fun. Well naturally the boys wanted to do something very stupid that we could not do. But there is a less active family in our ward and they have lots of out doorsy things so the said that we could come to there house and do something there. And so the boys agreed and we all went there to see what they had. They had lots of things that we could not play with like guns, ATV’S, and a dune buggy. But again the white book of blessings (WBB) tells us no. But they did have bows and arrows!!! And no where in the WBB does it say that we cant do that!! Oh man it was so much fun !! Brother Shaffure had two bows a 30 pound one and a 50 pound one. He had everyone try both and the boys could pull both, sister brown could only pull the 30, and I could totally do both!! Well I got to be the guanine pig and shoot first and I actually did not do to bad, and just kept getting better! I did not shoot any bulls eyes but I at least made it on the target... most times. But hey I still did pretty good. And then every one else tried and then I got to try the 50 pound bow. And by that time my shoulders were so sore that I could not pull it any more :( But they all know that if I would have shot that one first that I would have been able to fire it!!

Story 2 On Wednesday we got to meet the new mission president and his wife. So there was a member who was willing to drive the 100 miles or so, thank heavens because it would have killed our miles!! So I got to sit in the back of the truck and listen to a 5 year old sing call me maybe at the top of her lungs and have my hair pulled by the 2 year old. It was really fun, especially when the 2 year old fell asleep. We get to the meeting and they start the way that they normally do then sister Miller spoke to us. She is very nice and excited to be here, I just love her already! Then President Miller talked to us and had everyone stand up by zone and say their names and where they were from. And he apparently really likes names and so he was asking where they all came from. So if you have any info on the Chatwin name let me know! But he is an amazing man and he is going to do wonders for the mission. I can’t wait to see what he has in store for us!

Story 3 So here is how I spent the 4th.. planing in the apartment all day. Exciting right! Then our dinner canceled on us so Sister Cadd Invited us to her house. She made the best fish I have ever tasted!!! And yes I said fish. It was so stinking good, and did not have that fishy taste, it was very good. After dinner we helped her sew quilt squares together for her daughters wedding. So sister Cadd and Brown pinned them all and I sowed them. Mom you would have been so proud, I sowed over 100 5 inch strait lines!! Ha yeah sister Cadd was amazed at how fast I could sow them. After that we went home and walked around the block to see if we could find any families. But apparently almost everyone goes out of town for the 4th. So we only found an African American man who was locked out of his house, who had no phone and did not know any phone numbers. He was also very surprised that 2 white girls would just come up and talk to him. We talked about the church for a little while and gave him a card. But he was very nice and I hope that he will feel prompted to go to the web site.

And story 4 So we were out visiting a less active who was sitting out on his porch. He was telling us that he just had so many questions and that the lord was not answering them. And everyone he talked to just kept telling him the same answers of pray and read the book of Mormon. So we talked for bit longer and I realized why he had not received his answer. He was praying and he was reading every so often but he was not living in line with the standards of the church. So I just told him," You are not receiving the answers you want because you are not living your life worthy enough to have the Holy Ghost with you. And it is through him that we receive all our knowledge." And he just stared at me and said "Now that is an answer that I have never gotten from any one." He did not understand that if you want to receive revelation from the lord you have to be living your life worthy to get the answers you are seeking. And as we left he said that we had given him lots to think about, and he would talk to us more the next time we came back. But the best part was as we were saying goodbye and setting up another appointment, a Hispanic guy comes over and starts talking to all of us. Right a way we knew that he was wasted, he was so out of it and still had a drink in his hand. So I give him a card and told him to put it in his pocket and look at it later. He asked what it was about so I told him about God and Jesus, so we talked for a few minutes more about church and stuff. As we were leaving I put out my hand to shake his mainly because it is a habit now, and he shakes it and tells me the following. " If God treated me half a nice as you do then I would be a very happy person." And then processed to kiss my hand which he has still been shaking. So I pull my hand out of his and we go to the car. I don't know what it is but drunk guys seem to like me a lot.... And I am not sure if that is a good thing, but probably not. Ha Ha Ha ;)  

Well that has been my week!!  I hope to hear from y'all soon I love you and miss you so much!!! Tell all the kids to stop getting so big and that I miss them!!

Sincerely Sister Chatwin

P.S "Snoz Berry who ever heard of a Snoz berry"  

July 1st from Down in the West Texas Town of El Paso

Hello everybody!! How are y'all doing? I miss you all so much and I love to get your letters!! So what is going on and how has your summer been? Have you done anything fun or exciting? What has the weather been like? It is still very hot down here, but it is nice today.

So life here has been pretty slow this past week. With it being summer and the 4th of July this week, it seems like everybody is out of town. So we mainly taught members, recent converts and less actives this week. But I will try to think of the best stories from the week.....................Ok I have a few.

Story 1 So I have not said very much about my new Companion so her is some info. Her name is Michelle  Brown, she is 19 and from west Jordon. She is very nice and excited to learn everything that she can. And I am trying to be the best trainer that I can and to teach her how to be a good missionary....Even if I haven't completely figured out how to do that by myself yet. But I know that with heavenly fathers help I can do anything!!

Story 2 We started the new member lessons with Tara Gosseck this past week (the 17 yr old read head who got baptized on the 22nd). So we are going over all of the things from the first lesson, and asking her questions. She has learned so much in the short amount of time that we have been able to meet with her! Then when we start talking about the book of Mormon and how she has read it twice already. She corrects us and tells us that she has read it 4 times!!! I mean wow right!! It is a really good motivator to keep reading the Book of Mormon over and over again!! I mean she has been a member for a week and she has read the book of Mormon more than I have!! ( I have read it about 2 and 1/2 times all the way through) So her example has motivated me to read it as many times as I can on my mission, and not to stop when I get home!

Story 3 Yesterday after church we were walking out to the car when we see the Hall family. There youngest Son Rowen had a tissue up his nose and blood all down his vest. So I asked what happened, and it turns out that he was picking on a girl and hit her. So she hit him back in the face!!! His nose just started gushing blood and he just kept screaming "She did this to me!" Ha I wish that I could teach in primary it would be so much fun!! And so the moral of the story is if a boy his you punch him in the face!! Ok no that is not the missionary answer that I should give but still I would have hit him too. Rowen can sometimes be little violent and mean, so I don’t blame Vivi for hitting him back!

Story 4 On Friday after District meeting we all go to district lunch. And this week the elders wanted to go to this Burrito place where you can get big burrito's for cheap. So We went to the this little restaurant and we order a burrito. I ordered some sort of pork stuff, I think. Yeah I am not quite sure what it was because the menu was in Spanish, and the elders description was that good and not to spicy. So we sit down and wait for the food and then they bring out this long tinfoil log and didn’t know what it was. But it turns out to be the district leaders burrito!! I was wondering what it was exactly he ordered when they but a giant burrito in front of the rest of us!!!
This burrito was as long as my elbow to the tips of my fingers!! And it was very good and very spicy!! And so because to the size and the spiciness I could not eat all of it!! But the best thing that we ate this week was ....wait for it.....Homemade.......Giant....Reese...Peanut butter...Cups!!! Oh my gosh they were so good, and so big!!! Dee Dee Garcia made them and made sure to save us some!! And again they were so stinking GOOD!!!

So there are all of my stories of the week. Yeah not much but it has been very slow. But I love you all and I cant wait to hear from you. And can you believe that I have been gone for almost  5 months!!! I mean in 1 more month and I will have 1 year left!!! Wow it is crazy how fast time flies!! I love you all very much and miss you tons!!

Love sister Chatwin

P.S   "We are painting the Roses red, we're painting the roses red!!" This song has been stuck in my head since march....I don’t know why but it has. 
 

Jenna with her Giant Burrito!!!