7-25-16 I LOVE my mission here.

Bula na noqu matavuvale wananavu!

So I'll keep this one a little shorter because I have sooo many pictures to send and about two hours before a lesson.

I LOVE my mission here. I absolutely love the people and the work I get to do for/with them. Elder Sinden continues to be a wonderful trainer and example to me.

Our most promising investigator at the moment would have to be L. Thomas, and I'll talk about him for a little bit. We visited him in his home a few days ago to set up another appointment and teach him how to set up referrals online. While we were there, he asked us about family history. Elder Sinden showed him Ancestry and Familysearch. L's father grew up in slavery, like his fathers before him, so their family history is almost lost. We, all three together, discovered the names of L's grandparents. That's more than L. ever knew above his father who died early on in Ls life. He really wants to look more into family history. When you first get on the site to create an account, it asked whether you're a member or not. He said "Nope, not yet."

Yes, he said "yet". Elder Sinden and I looked at each other immediately, it was nice to hear. We plan on extending the baptismal invitation (again) this week, and hopefully he'll agree. We think he's ready, but he doesn't, which is fine. Anyways, L. and all our other investigators are showing some real promise. I'm so blessed to serve in this particular area amongst this particular people!

My week has been great, I actually love all the walking. I've lost 15 pounds in the last two weeks! That's due to walking for hours in the sun every single day and a good diet. We eat healthy in the flat but these Coloradians like to spoil us. What a burden.

It storms a lot here, which is interesting and pretty cool. I've heard hail (BAD hail) is also super popular but I haven't seen it yet.

OH I forgot to mention this last week, and these are two things that make me certain that I'm in the right place at the right time. First thing, Elder Sinden and I are covering two areas now! Because Elder Hirschi went to Jamaica and his companion was relocated to a different area, we took theirs. It's definitely tougher to manage the days and appointments and dinners and visits and whatnot, but I love meeting all these new members and investigators. Six hours of church yesterday haha. Second thing: Fort Collins temple open house starts soon! It's a new temple, recently finished, so it's an EXCELLENT opportunity for non-members to go in and see and feel what the temple has to offer and what it's all about. Elder Sinden and I don't get to go unfortunately, as it is outside our bounds, but I'm still way excited for the people that do get to go. Temple open houses don't happen very often!

Quick funny experience:

We've covered Tallyn's reach since I first came in, and now we cover Southlands. We met with a Southlands investigating family a few nights ago. The Martas, incredibly strong spirited Spanish family. We knocked on the door to their apartment and they answered. "Hello!" Brother Carlos Marta said to Elder Sinden as he shook his hand.
"New missionaries! What is your name?"
"I'm Elder Sinden!"
"Mui bien!" He then looks at me and his eyes seem to light up a little bit.
"Holla! Cual es su nombre amigo?" as he extends his hand to me.

Oh boy...

"I'm Elder Ishibashi!"
"...Oh I see!" *realizing I don't speak spanish*

It was so funny, I honestly expected to be mistaken as a Mexican at some point here, but not by one...

I'm gonna finish up now, sorry for the short letter! But I did hear that there's a big storm approaching/hitting(?) Hawaii at the moment. Please be safe, you guys are in my prayers.

I love you guys so much! I'll start sending off pictures now (which should total near a hundred), which adds so much more to the letter anyway haha.

A few questions! How's Uncle and Aunty progressing? Where are the Bonds from exactly?

Again, you folks take care and be safe. Thank you guys for everything you've done for me in my preparation to serve a mission, and in making me the man I am today. I love you guys so much, I'll talk to you guys again next week!

Au lomani kemudou sara dina,

Moce!

Elder Ishibashi

MTC PICTURES:

-President Willes (Gordon B. Hinkly's nephew!)

-Moce Brother Heath!

-Moce Brother Siga!

-Moce Samoa Elders!

-One time for my warriors

-Miss em

-Them too

-VITI BOYS TIKOGA

-Lomani oqori

-District

-I WAS SO HAPPY I had been trying to get a picture of this bird for four weeks

-Hawaii united! (from left to right)

Sister (oops) from (oops, east Oahu), Sister Mataele from Aiea, Brother Beckman from Kapalama, Elder Tiafala from Mililani. Missing: Elder Kaitoku (son of Herbert's Bishop) from Laie, Sister (oops) from Waianae.

-Squat

-Gross

-Vinaka!

-Moce MTC!!

DENVER COLORADO NORTH MISSION (Temporary assignment):

-Train

-Train platform taking us to the airport

-Bula Denver!

-Denver airport

-Elder Sinden

-Study quarters

-Walk home from church

-Back yard

-Freshly grown corndogs at the peak of their harvest

-Deer in the back yard

-You can kinnnnd of see the squirrel in the middle

-Prairie dog holes!

-Prairie dogs!

-Birds

-Prairie dog skull!

-I kept it! I will be sending it home with my other things, so do not be alarmed and be reaaaally careful with it please love you guys. I also have some rocks for Lehia.

-These things are everywhere

-At the church building

-More deer

-Blue jay

-Blue jay going frustratingly fast

-Poor guy fell out the nest

-They're literally everywhere and people hate them

-Dead snake and its murder weapon. Elder Sinden scolded me immediately after taking this because we had just left an appointment in the park and he was like "Elder you can't just say goodbye to someone we're teaching the gospel to and lean over and take a picture of a dead snake." I understand that now.