Notes

We get to talk to Ethan twice per week - Tuesday and Saturday.  Since he is talking to us twice each week, he doesn't have a lot to write on p-day. I thought I would write some things he tells us that he didn't include in his letters.

Sunburn: Ethan and his companion have been doing a lot of service.  A week or so ago they helped a member pull weeds for a couple of hours.  Ethan sunburns very easily so I have told him to put on sunscreen.  He said that after being in the sun for hours pulling weeds, he noticed that he wasn't sunburned at all.  He said that was a huge blessing he has seen since being out on his mission.

Cookies: I have a google doc file with all our family's favorite recipes that I shared with Ethan when he went on his mission.  He uses it when they don't have dinner appointments.  He made chocolate chip cookies but they didn't have a mixer or a cookie scoop and...he mixed up Tbsp with tsp so they were really salty.  Luckily he was able to try again and redeemed himself.  He now is an expert at making cookies.

Members: They had a member in their ward ask them the other day to give them a shopping list.  So they made a shopping list for food and stuff.  The family went out and bought everything the elders needed on their list!  So Ethan didn't have to spend his money this past week...which helps out because there is a bit of confusion about the "feed the missionaries" sign up.  

Feeding the missionaries: Ethan is in an area that they just split so the members aren't used to having 2 sets of elders to feed.  So only one sign up sheet gets filled.  Ethan's been good-natured about it.  I'm sure it's because they haven't been able to really get to know many members because they only go to church once-in-a-while.  He has taken care of himself...he ate 40 chicken nuggets and 12 chocolate chip cookies the other day.  He's eating. ;) 

Apartment: They are sharing an apartment right now with another companionship.  They were supposed to get another apartment but with all the new missionaries coming in at once, it didn't happen so they are trying to find their own.  There is an opening in the apartment complex they are living in now so they have applied and are hoping to get into it.  The apartments have washer/dryer hookups so Ethan said they rent the machines.  That makes it so they don't have to go out to the laundry mat to do their laundry.  Ethan said it is kind of a pain though because he is last to do his laundry and sometimes forgets to switch it so it takes all day.  

Area: Ethan's area is really large.  It has mountains and he said that planning to go and help a member who is in the mountains means that their entire day is taken up with that one service project. It takes a while to drive to and from and then you figure in the service time.