June 9, 2010

Hey family!! its been a great week! honestly we had the greatest conference. we learned about how to receive your own personal revelation. it was great....i saw the group in front of me give their dying testimonies and it was really spiritual...then after the conference it hit me once everyone started saying...Westergard your next, i don't think I'm ready for that yet...it just feels like I'm done now that I'm the oldest missionary but i heard something that an Elder said that hit me hard and made me want to try hard this last 4 minutes of the 4th quarter of Mt View haha and it was...we have 2 years to serve a mission, and all of eternity to think about it....wow!! i want to remember how i finished forever and strong. so it was very good conference for me!

This week we found even more investigators and its starting to turn around. 2 older girls stopped us and said, i took lessons for 2 years but never got baptized, come by my house i want to learn more! so that was awesome, and we will go by there some time this week. Me and my comp had some weird experience. We were walking past that American house i posted and the guy like called us in, he's Dominican but was raised in the states and he starts talking to us about who knows what and like million of topics like how some guy in New Jersey gave pills to his mom and killed her, his wife's a drug addict in the states, some dangerous kids, the USA embassy and a whole bunch of stuff. When we left we just laughed and said that was the weirdest thing that has happened to me. haha so it was pretty good.

Today we played basketball and wow i was rusty the first game, then i got my shot back and nailed some threes in a row to win some games. elder nelson was a beast down low! he is my godson in the mission haha he wanted me to say something about him, hes sitting next to me. but ya it was a really good day, i got a little sunburned.

well sounds like all of you are doing good, except for Jakelle being sick in girls camp, way to stick through it Kell. I wish i could go sleep in Matt's cabin haha maybe ill go with him when he gets back. So dad i was thinking that we should do the 1 day in Santiago, 4 in the plat, and last in Santiago, that would be perfect! i think its a good idea to get those shots, the only other thing i can think of not to do is eat fish when you get here...that's all. so dad give me further info on how we will get to the plat, and how your getting to the hotel from the airport, a car or what...

Well family i hope you guys have a great week, never stop doing what is right, read the scriptures and the conference talks. I know the church is true, in the name of Jesus Christ amen! love elder Jesse Westergard

Hey family! well there are 2 way important things that have happened this week...both of them today!! well today 8 missionaries went golfing at a really hard course today! in the middle of the jungle pretty much and really pretty and green! there was jungle for rough pretty much and it was super fun!!!......yet a hard course. to grade the difficulty....i would have to say it compares to Las Sendas from the tips in hardness, but dad remember what i told you on mothers day...i was going to come home shooting 77 at the club...well prepare yourself because today i shot 74!! i started of bad on the front but then had a couple birdies and then shot even on the back nine! my driving stunk way bad...i hit like 30 percent of the fairways but like you know, my irons and short game was killer. i put it 2 feet from the pin on a par 3 from 160 out. so I'm looking forward to playing you guys and i have confidence now haha. ill put up pics and some videos on flickr of it. (is this seriously what he thinks is way important?? Sometimes I just don't know)

Now! just about 30 minutes ago i received the most unwanted thing a missionary could ever want....the FAT LETTER aka TRUNKY LETTER that tells me about going home and when and all that after mission stuff...i didn't want to take it from the office missionary, Sister Powell, and we took a pic to show how my expression was when i got it...you guys will like it haha.

Well this week was alot better!! we have 3 new investigators and a family we are teaching! they are all sooo cool and we will see how that goes. When you work the blessings do come..but after the trial. This week was really fun! we had a good district meeting and then we had our interviews...only 1 more. but other than that stuff that's all about whats going on, I'm excited to teach these new people and build Gods kingdom here. I'm reading Jesus the Christ and I'm on like page 200 and wow...this book is amazing. I'm learning so much about his life and what all the things meant and wow...i have grown to appreciate him more in my life and do more every day! i also bought a new triple in Spanish and am re reading the Book of Mormom in Spanish! so that will be fun!

I'm so jealous of dad about playing the south course, that will be so awesome! oh!! i got some email from apple and it said if i buy a macbook i get a free 8gb itouch....SWEET!!! haha well have a great week everyone i love you all so much! always remember that this is the true church and there is no other. Jesus lives and is ready at all times to lift the heavy load off our shoulders if we come to him....3 Nephi 9 says for this reason have i given up my life, and have taken it up again, so the we can have eternal life! wow i love this gospel. bye!

love Elder Westergard

US Missionaries

21st Birthday

Birthday

Mesa Boys - Elder Frazier and Me

Overlooking Bella Vista

I really reacted like this when I got it...my fat letter aka trunky letter.

Only in the DR, security with a shot gun on the golf course , told you it was a nice course.

Mesa Temple on my new scripture cases.

Book of Mormon!

Sweet River!

House in my area, he loves the States, not American haha!

haha the sign says he is looking for young women and fill the holes in his heart.

Golden State Bridge in the DR haha!

Someone lives in that little thingy.

The 3 stooges (brothers) haha (is it me or does he look like he could be one of their brothers)

How are you all doing? wow where did this week go! it went by so fast i cant believe it, we had splits on Monday and after it was done on Tuesday my comp was like, tomorrow is pday, ! i was like no way!!! so ya it was pretty awesome feeling. Well this week was really good and alot went on. WE FOUND AN APARTMENT and bran spanking new and 3rd level which means a breeze! im so excited, we will move next week. On Monday we had splits or as we call them in spanish, intercambios. and i went to the other area with the district leaders kid and it was a really good day, and experience. His kid is very excited about the work, and it rubbed off on me, its what i need going on this down slope finishing and all. On Tuesday we had zone conference yesterday and it was really awesome! We talked about a ton of stuff in one conference, but the only bad thing was that it was 5 hours long haha, i had a headache at the end, and it was hot in the chapel. We talked about adapting to changes, inviting people to baptism, repentance, pride, and honesty! wow i was so enlightened and it was a great conference. I feel so blessed or the knowledge i have gained on my mission these last 21 months. I have grown spiritually so much.

In the conference we watched a movie called, who moved my cheese! haha it was awesome and it talked about changing and how we need to adapt to them, not just stand around and wait for the good things to come. and president talked how its never late to be a better missionary and change the way you are, i really loved it!

in our zone conference on monday they told us to only work around the chapel and find people close because the people far away aren't prepared to receive the gospel and wont want to walk all that way to the church, the bad thing is that my area is far away from the chapel and now i have to dump all my investigators and go into the sisters area and find people. We have like no one now and its very difficult...im really upset. but a quote comes to mind...i never said it would be easy, i only said it would be worth it...so i need to obey and look for the fruits of my labors.

today we woke up early and went to go walk around the city, we went to mcdonalds and i ate a mcmuffin and wow it was so good! after we were done doing errands we went to pricesmart like always and ate with all the missionarys. I ate a calzone and it was also really good! now im just here writing you guys. it was a really good week, and i hope to have another good one. i cant believe transfers are already in 2 weeks. has it really been that fast...friday i hit 21 months and then its may! wow!

I hope the Suns win and continue, but i dont want them to play the Maverick's or the Spurs...the refs are racist to us when we play them, especially the spurs, but we will see what happens.

Love Elder Westergard

Elder Robertson the day he went home.

Herculese

Service Project.

We picked up all the trash out of a dry river.

Elder Grigg from my group.

My Comp Elder Delafrance, at conference.

We had to lift all of this trash out of the river, and it was super heavy.

Shoveling Garbage.

Me and Elder Leonardo

klk mi familia como ta to pa ya en Arizona, trankilo..... espero k si. did you understand my dominican tigeraje....haha thats how they talk here, its really como esta todo para ya haha they like cut out words to make sentences shorter haha. and trust me im really good at it. (I have no idea what any of that said). Everyone new i meet here in Santiago say i talk way good and sound Dominican, so that's a good thing. Well this week was a fun one! I find myself talking more in lessons now cause my comp does not teach alot with the lack of Spanish speaking, but its alright. Its new for me to have an American again, its been 6 months since the last one but were getting along really good and what seems to bring us together the most is....YOU GUESSED IT....quoting Brian Regen and movies, especially Jim Carry hahaha!

This week was filled with working, teaching, looking for houses, and MORE chores to do for the sister missionaries. trust me mom, i also love when guys are here to in my same city so they can come over for lunch or something and pday. but its ok and this is for Jakelle because i said it last night and i remember how she hated when i said it....I KNOW RIGHT haha. miss you Kell. We had interviews this week and i realized that i only have 1 more real one left, then my dying one about going home and life and girls and stuff....that's weird. but he straight up told me like it blew me away....Elder Westergard your going to train your last 2 transfers and be District Leader. i was like.....sweet! haha it was like weird, but sounds good, end the mission with some new blood and animo to work. i had some profound doctrinal questions for him to and we talked and read the scriptures for like 20 minutes. it was really cool and inspiring.

So i decided that i want to get back to the house like ripped and huge so i work out now when i wake up at 630. haha im seeing some big results, even though i have been doing push ups almost my whole mission, I'm not fat which is good and I'm alot stronger than when i left the house haha. I honestly concure with what Ryan said in his email for the letter about teaching people who know its true but deny it because they are lazy and don't want to keep covenants. we talked to a lady who understands everything, reads the Book of Mormon, and everything but she was like i prayed..and i said ok what happened...the Lord told me to stay in my church!!!!!! wow i was like about to frwak out on her and be like then he is a liar and he didnt tell you that.....but i kept it in my head and was like what do i say to that or do or teach....i just said ok keep reading and saying your prayers, then we ended with a prayer and left, i don't think we will go back. its a bummer i hate dropping people its the worst. but on the bright side i have my first baptism here in Santiago on Saturday! on in like all the Republican but noe in the city, haha his name is Luis and he is a really cool kid, he loves the church and even goes to our English class.

Well sounds like everything in Arizona is going good, I'm so sad about Eddie passing away and i feel bad for Grandma, tell her im sorry for her mom or dad next time you talk to her. Well sounds like dad is busy but its almost over, sorry mom what you said about dad not going to Hilton head is wrong...remember the family golf trip you guys promised me when i get home....well i haven't and i hope you remember it to haha.

Today we had our zone activity and we went to the steak (that would be Stake, can't correct that one for memories) center to play basketball and games aka risk!! love that game. but i will tell you something, my game has never been better, my shot is more money than in school, i can dribble alot better and with the left hand, I'm faster, i drive alot more and you might as well just call me the WONDER of the mission haha sorry the is like really egoistic but today like 5 Elders were like how do you do that stuff! and say like one day i will be as good as you haha. well that's my brag story for the week for you guys. (a little humble huh?)

well ok i love you guys so much, i will put some pics up for you guys on flickr, so check them out later!

Elder Jesse Westergard

First of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! sounds like you are doing really good! so does that mean you will just give me your computer you had....haha sounds like the Ipad is sweet, i got really hungry when you told me you ate at The Keg, i love that place. Sounds like everything is going good there, except that earthquake! scary stuff, now you know how i feel, but the one here was worse and i was close to it. So Josh is walking again huh...great for you bro, soon enough we can go golfing or something when i get home. That's good Dad about your thumb, maybe next week you can go golfing! you need to tell me how it goes. ok I'm so bummed that I'm going to miss the Masters with Tiger woods, you guys know me and what i do when one of the 4 majors is on....NOTHING!! i just sit down stairs with coke and watch the rounds over and over haha. then cry when Tiger doesn't win, but ill be home for the next major i think, or not....

I cant believe DUKE won! that's awesome, i love Duke, Schayer was a senior this year right...good for him, i loved watching him play, hes super good. I have heard of Butler, but that's weird that they got to the championship...but came up short. Wow so Melissa moved to Chandler...that's awesome, I will have to go visit her when i get back. Landon wrote me a loooooong email! it honestly made my week. He told me whats all going down and that he misses me so much. If there is anyone i miss so much from back home its Landon, he was always there for me, he told me how in 4 months we will continue to hit up In and Out, shoot hoops out in the garage, go to QT, play video games, and all that fun stuff, hes so anxious for me to get home its so funny haha.

Well this past week was super amazing and went by very fast!! i love my companion Elder Delafrance. He is super humble and ready to work. I'm working just as hard , maybe harder here. Our area is awesome but VERY small! so its good i like it. My house is really bad haha were trying to move, there is never light and hardly ever water. Things are broken and its on the main noisy street but its whatever, we will be looking for another apartment this week. We have a ward where we are at and we share it with the sister missionaries. ok!! Dad remember when we went to Las Sendas with Uncle Richard from my last round of golf, and you told me it stinks being with sisters because they ask you for everything....ITS FINALLY HAPPENING haha. My first full day there...Elder Westergard come bless my house, second day....calls me in a lesson, we don't have any Tylenol can you go to your house and bring me one, all the farmacies are closed...day 4...can you help us with a lesson, he speaks English and is only learning Spanish! and still to go haha but they are cool so its whatever.

General Conference was so amazing!! wow i cant even tell you how much i loved it! the talks were amazing, and uplifting! and once again, he never fails...Elder Holland blew all us missionaries away!!!! i loved his talk..and when he said pornography will blow a crater in your mind forever, wow! it was so much fun being here in the city! you guys were right, after the first session on Saturday we went to the mall and ate food, i got Kentucky Fried Chicken! yes that's here in the city, its like im in a completely different mission now, i love it. Then we just hung out between sessions the whole weekend, i have alot of friends here in Santiago, on Sunday we had a member make us food, it was super good, rice and chicken and juice.

Wow this was a long letter haha well i better end and get going. i love you guys so much. mom and dad let me know if you have figured out anything on the plans to come get me ok.... have a great week and ill take pics of my comp and i and stuff and send them next week. love you all!

Elder Westergard

Wow i cant believe what happened! i got transferred to SANTIAGO!!!!!!!!! oh my gosh you have no idea how i feel. I'm so excited right now. I just had lunch at Price Mart, aka Costco, with all the Santiago missionaries. It was so awesome! my area is called Hato Mayor, my comps name is Elder Delafrance, he is American haha ya i know sweet name. He has 5 months in the mission so I'm his step dad, that's my 3rd step kid!!!! in 4 transfers. He's really awesome and from Nevada. I'm pretty sure this is my last area here, but i have so much animo to work because the city is so much different than the campos, aka my whole mission. So were going to have some great times together.

This week is Semana Santa its really dangerous starting Friday till Sunday, but the good thing is that everyone eats abichuelas con dulce! oh man its so good! but many people are talking about Christ and stuff and have a desire to talk to us, so it will be really cool.

Well on Saturday Miguelina got baptized, so that was a record breaker for me, 11 in one area. but i know numbers don't matter, but you can see the fruits of our labors. On Monday and Tuesday i had to go around saying goodbye to all my friends and families and baptisms. it was sad and i really miss Dajabon. I think it grew to my favorite area, over Puerto Plata, we will have to go visit there when you guys come. Its awesome! this morning i woke up at 5:30 and get everything ready, catch a bus at 6:30 and travel for about two and a half hours. So I'm pretty tired right now. but really I'm really sad right now. my best friend in the mission went home today, remember Elder Robertson? he was in my house in Puerto Plata and he is like Samoan. He left today and now i know like no one, I'm almost one of the oldest missionaries here and all the people i know are home. so ya its me my comp and the elders of my group pretty much.

I'm so excited for general conference on Saturday and Sunday! it will be so awesome. I'm super excited for elder hollands talk....its always powerful, well i better go, love you all!!

love elder westergard

March 17, 2010

Well to start things off, happy St. Patrick's day! if your not wearing green pinch yourselves for me because as you know its physically impossible for me to do that to you guys right now! haha well i hope you guys are having a great time and a spring break!! right now it is really crazy in the streets right now! its what they call the Carnival! look it up on the Internet, everyone dresses up in masks and costumes and its a very huge Carnival! its so awesome i was not able to see it last year, but its so cool! all the kids have whips and just whip them loud. i had a member make me one as a reminder of the Carnival, its cool and I'm learning how to whip! they call them fuertes here in the DR.

This week was very good! we baptized Pamela, the sister of Jean Carlos who we baptized like a month ago. it was very special and i had the honors of doing it, well like i always do haha. We try to get a member to do the baptisms but they all want me to do it and no one else, its like i have a special glow around me and everyone wants me to do the baptism! but that's ok with me because i love doing them, the spirit is always strong.

This week is Zone Conference and President Viñez, President of the Carribe, will be there to talk to us! I'm super excited and cant wait to here what amazing things he has to say.

I had an intercambio with a fairly new missionary on Monday, and at night we ate pizza, and i tried to do the prayer in English and.........lets just say it was sad and i started to read the scrips in English only so i can get my English back, i don't want to look like a fool on my homecoming talk.

Today the whole zone went to go climb the mountain at the beach again but me and my comp decided not to so we could rest, clean, and rest some more haha. Were working super hard so we need a break. I cant believe next Wednesday is the last regular pday until transfers on the 30th, that means only 3 left to go. Weird haha. oh i was wanting to know, how is the planning on the trip here to pick me up.....thought about it yet.

Mom the title of your email said where a green tie, i will do that but it will be for like one hour haha after pday we have a meeting then play basketball, so maybe i will use one tomorrow to, a late celebration. How is Utah, is it cold, i hate the cold! its weird i always say that but something inside me wants to go to BYU, haha but that wont ever happen, i don't think i could get in with a 3.4 average. but who knows.

Wow sounds like your getting better Josh! i really hope that you start walking soon, watch tons of March Madness for me and remember, GO TAR HEELS!! and SUN DEVILS!! Dad how is the best Bishop ever doing?....need any more advice with things or any questions...just let me know and you know I'm always here. Have you played golf lately....man you don't know how bad i miss it. I want to play with you the day after i get home on my favorite course....can you guess what it is....yes you guessed it! LAS SENDAS! we got a deal......

Well i better end! i miss you guys and hope you have a great Spring Break. i know that Jesus lives and that he is the Christ, read and pray everyday and you will be happier and have success in all you do!

love Elder Westergard