The Adventures of Boo Boo and Tee Tee 9/28/15

Hello family and friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How exciting to hear that Austin my bro was playing in a varsity game!  I'm so proud of you buddy.  Just don't break anything. hahahaha (knock on wood)  Keep it up stud you will do great things; I know you will! That stinks that BYU lost.  They had some AMAZING wins with the Hail Marys and with that new quarter back who's only a freshman, that's crazy!?!?!?  Dad, Elder Richens is in love with BYU probably just as much as you.  He is always up to date with how they're doing.  Also, did you guys ever get a chance to watch those 12 steps to change!?!?!?!?! You'll have to let me know what you think and to tell me which ones are your favorite and why. A few of my favorites are 1. Honesty 4. Truth 8. Seeking forgiveness 12. Service.  These are the ones I like the most but you have to watch all of them.  They are so good!

Anyways, lets get started shall we!?!  This week we did quite a lot of traveling.  We went all the way to Pitt again for MLC and I got some great insight on how to teach better by using Preach My Gospel and how feasting off of it can help me be a preach my gospel-centered teacher, missionary, example, whatever it may be. I want to be able to teach as the Savior taught. I love the way President Johnson presents.  Being a former CFO of REI, he gets serious and also provides humor.  He is a very good public speaker and he is a natural! However the meeting turned south real quick when we had a special speaker.  It was a man who was head of the missionary department of safety and he installed this box in our car that calculates our speed, how fast we accelerate, how hard we brake, how hard we turn.  It is GPS smart so it knows the exact speed limit in that area!!!!!!!😭😭😭😭😭 Everyone hates it.  I don't speed or anything but when it's a 25 and people are going 40 you hold up a BUNCH of people and people don't like you very much... So that box is awful. I hate it.  I call it the Black Box. So we got down to the meeting in about 4 hrs. And to get back home we had to stay in Warren because it was too late. So far no one is enjoying the black box.  Then we head to Bishop Dupont's on Thursday.  We go to cut wood and mom your gonna hate this story but before I tell it I'm FINE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anyways, so we are cutting wood and one of the logs we cut rolls towards Bishop's new truck so I run to stop it and as I did so, my right ankle got twisted and I heard a pop. I thought immediately I did something bad and I stopped and checked on it.  It hurt a little but long story short, nothing happened!!!!!!!! There was a pop but that's it.  I walk and run on it with absolutely 110% NO PAIN!  So everything's okay.  I'll tell you what though, I've never prayed so earnestly before.   I was praying non stop!!!!!!!  Hahahaha

Also remember the story of the guy, "K" who answered the door with no pants?  Well I don't know if I've kept you up with him or not but he's a member.  He has Type 2 diabetes and both of his feet are cut off halfway and he has to use a wheelchair to get around.  He doesn't own a car nor can he drive.  He also has other issues.  He really wants the Melchezidek priesthood. We really developed a relationship with him.  He is now attending church- not only that but participating in all 3 hours!!!!!!! How awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Anyways, after church it was just me and him talking and he says to me " I just wanted to let you know that you and Elder Tengberg have changed my life."  He said I moved down here in April and I had no friends and all I did was smoke and drink and my life was awful.  Everything that could go wrong went wrong. He said, "Then you two showed up and even though I have things to work on, I really have a desire to stop (doings harmful things) and be better. I'm going to church which I haven't done in months and I have friends that care for me and they are willing to take me to church each Sunday."  He said he really appreciated us.  I said to myself that is the reason I'm out here- not to get baptisms or be the best but to change someone's life.  Not to plant seeds but to change lives!  That's when the Spirit hit me hard assuring me that I'm supposed to be
here.  Even though some days may seem long, I know that if I think of others instead of myself it will all be more than worth it in the end. 

Also, another experience was at the "C's"- the lady who is afraid of water is getting baptized Saturday at 10:00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   So Elder Tengberg started calling me Boo Boo (a short way to say my original nickname, Baboon, which came from Bishop.  So a few people have caught on and call me Boo Boo now too.  I don't mind it.  If anything it makes me smile so I like it!!!!!!  Anyways, we knock on the "C's" door and Bro. C opens it quickly and says "Look, it's Boo Boo and Tee Tee."  We started laughing.  Now Elder Tengberg has a nickname too!!!!!!! The funniest though was when Brother C got called in to work for a few min.  We were sitting outside with Sister C and when we saw Brother C drive up, I waved and shouted "Brother C" and he shouts back "Boo Boo!!!!!!!!!!!" Hahahahaha  It was the funniest thing!!! We couldn't stop laughing.  It was hysterical!!!!!!!!!!  We had another cool experience with Brother C.  His back story is just amazing.  He was a member when he was younger and then he moved to L.A.  And he was a big Harley guy so he got into drinking and smoking and being Mr.Tough Guy.  But, "W," has been Brother C's home teacher for the past 35 years!!!!!!!!!!  Now that's how home teaching should be done!!!!! "W" asked if Brother C wanted to take the discussions again.  He said yes and that year was baptized.  He is now the most fun-loving gentle, old man you could ever meet!!!!!!!!!! Well,  told us that Wade has been reading The Infinite Aonement.  "W"  told Brother C that as he read the book, the more he thought of him.  Brother C was so touched; he loves "W' so much.  Brother C said that he was overwhelmed with the spirit.  As we were talking with Brother C about the atonement, I said to him "you know the hardest part in the repentance process isn't to be forgiven but to forgive ourselves."  With tears in his eyes he said "yea, it really is."  The spirit was so strong.  Brother C is so amazing!!!!!! He says to Elder T and me, "If you ever need a place to crash or a place to rest your head for the night when you get home off the mission, don't you dare hesitate to call us.  You come over immediately."  I was so touched.  That's when I learned that the atonement doesn't just fix our problems but it literally changes us to become more like the Savior.  And mom I'm just letting you know that when I get home from my mission, if we are going to stop by and see anyone it's going to be Brother and Sister C!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I need to see them when I get home from my mission!!!!!!!!! Well I love you all sooooo much.  Have a great week bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️

Boo Boo

Are We There Yet? 9/21/2015

Hello family and friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's so good to hear from you!!!!!!!!! Man FHS lost to Durango again? They're pretty tough but nothing's impossible.  We almost had them last year- the dumbest game EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We won't talk about that.  When you are varsity you will play loads more!!!!!!!! I know about the BYU game.  Elder Richens informed me about the game.  He is wayyyyyy into BYU.  So he was
really angry with them (kinda like dad)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dad, you and BYU have an awful relationship. Hahahahahaha😂😂😂 so mom I have some unfortunate news for you.  Since I serve in Olean, NY, whenever we have a meeting we have to drive 4 hours to get there!!! So this week and next will be pretty boring because of how much we be traveling.  We will be doing is sitting in a car hahahaha!!!!! So right now I'm actually in Warren with Elder Richens and we are having so much fun!!!!!!!!!!!!  I'm making so many memories but I will share 1 spiritual experience. So we have been teaching these 2 less actives, Chuck and
Judy.  They live in Bradford, PA which is about 30 min. from Olean.  We only have 1 church building and that's in Olean and them getting to Church takes gas money which makes it difficult for them to come.  But this last Sunday we heard a guy say can someone show me how to tie a tie?  We turned around and right behind me were Chuck and Judy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!😃😃😃😃😃😃 I was so excited!  Well i gotta go.  God bless.  Love you.
Bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Elder Cahoon the (baboon) Ape🐒

Evolving from Baboon to Ape! 9/14/15

Hello!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Awwww man sorry for not emailing you all last week. We got super busy on P-day and had to make some appointments that day.   Sorry about all that!!!! Dad I'm so glad that you had a good time in Vegas with Grandad.  Mom you are doing tap dance!?!?!? How fun!!!!!!!! That's so cool.  You'll have to tell me all about it. I'm so excited to hear that!!! So you and Grandma J can tap dance together!!!!!!! So mom with the family just set some goals individually and with each other.  In front of
one another say how you are going to accomplish the goals and how the family can help you accomplish them. Help Austin understand the importance of goal setting.  We set goals everyday out here in the mission field! Austin, you are a hard worker and if you want something you have to work for it. I think getting together as a family to do this would be good (at FHE and other times). I never felt like we did that and I think that would be good.  Also, follow up on those goals that you set as a family and as individuals.

 Austin what the heck man!?!?!?!? You're getting hurt already??? Hahahaha jk But really I was scared when I got that email from Dad.  I hope you are doing okay I'm praying for you and hope you are doing okay. I LOVE YOU BRO!!!!!! The last thing mom needs is someone else breaking something (knock on wood).  That's a tender mercy that it was just a neck spasm and
not some greater injury- that would be bad!  Also way to go beating Belen.  They whooped our butt last time we played them so good for the team.  Let the kids on the team like Tanner, Tate, Diego, Jack and others know that I said hi.  Let me know how they're doing! If you want you can ask for their email or give them mine.  I can email some of those guys and others if they want!!!  Before I forget- I just benched 255 pounds!!!!!!!! Yea I'm a straight monster!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So its been a little while so let me tell you what's been happening.  Last week was a lotta fun.  We went with Bob out to a lake and we walked with him and talked with him and had a lot of fun.  Then we ate some lunch and went and did some service.  That night we did some service where we cut wood with Brother "R" and that was awesome!!!! That's when the baboon evolved into an APE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I went straight ham and was cutting wood left and right!!!!! I wasn't messing around and Brother "R" said, "Elder baboon?  More like Elder Ape!"  So I was pretty pumped about that! Oh check it I weighed myself last night and I'm around 186!!!!! That's muscle not fat!  Anyway, so this week we went and saw a man name Brother "I."  He is a less active his wife is nearing her end due to cancer.  We were talking with him and I shared the scripture Omni 1:26.  I said to him, "Brother I do you want to come unto Christ?"  He was a little shocked that I asked that kind of a question.  I was as well.  I was like I just offended him.  Oh crap I take back what I said!!!! However, he looked at us and said yea I do want to and the spirit was so strong.  I knew he felt it and we did as well because the Spirit taught the lesson.  We committed him to pray to his Heavenly Father.  He did pray because when we talked to him last night and he said, "I didn't get any answers but I felt the Spirit."  Then Elder Tengberg said, "Well then you got your answer."  After he gains a testimony of that, he will come
to know this church is true!

This week we went on exchanges and I was down in Warren with Elder Miller.  He is training Elder Richens (my MTC companion).  E. Miller is from Alberta Canada.  He played football and is a pretty big guy! He reminds me of Ty.  I am taller than him though.  So we went on a 3-day exchange for the sake of miles because Stake Conference was this week.  We taught a few lessons and we actually got a new investigator while I was there in Warren.  His name is "R" and his mom is a less active that never got her records transferred to Warren so she was a lost sheep that Elder Miller and Richens found contacting one day.  Anyways her son is 13 yrs. old. He didn't know too much about the church and he got some false info on missionaries from his dad.  He told him that we were rude and mean and scary.  But as we were talking we were making him laugh and he was having fun and he said, "You guys are so cool.  I dunno why my dad doesn't like you guys."  The coolest part was "R," a 13 yr, old boy, went into the kitchen, got both of us a glass of water AND offered us chocolate chip cookies AND asked if we wanted anything else!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I was so impressed with him.  He was impressed with us and looked up to us.  We taught him about Jesus Christ and even gave him his own personal B.O.M.  He said he would read it and pray.  I was so happy and pumped after that!  We left and gave "R" a big ole hug because I give everyone hugs hahahaha!!!!!!! 

We contacted people that next day.  We contacted this one guy and what was weird was when we said hi we are missionaries of the LDS church.  He immediately said, "Actually guys I'm an antichrist."  Elder Miller and I looked at each other and were like uggggh does he know what he just said and we thought he was gonna catch fire.   hahahaha It was funny that we both thought of Korihor and how he was the antichrist.   Now I dunno if you've ever heard about this.  But there is a thing in this mission we refer to as "The Pennsylvania Ramble."  We met 2 of those ramblers at once.  They were both talking for a straight HOUR AND A HALF!!!!!!!!!!! About who knows what I can't even remember but these 2 ladies never even took a breath.  We got there around 6:00 and we left at 7:30 without having even shared a thought!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Elder Miller gave me a haircut and I'm looking good.  I look like a brand new man and feel like a stud missionary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll send you the pics but this is how I'm wearing my hair when I get back home.  I love it so much. I call it the "Elder Miller Special" 'cause this is how his hair looks but only longer on top!!!!!!!!!!! Mom you were asking if I feel confidant in my lessons and I do. I feel like I can hold my own.  It's not that hard it's just that you have so many things to remember.  I was getting so stressed but now I clear my thoughts and just teach simply, not worrying about what I have to say next.  I also am teaching in my own way so it's gonna differ from others- not that it's bad it is just because that's how I like to teach.  That's how it should be.  I'm really strong at just talking to people.  My problem is I don't let there be enough silence.  I need to have my investigators think and ponder more.  I'm good using scriptures.  I need to use the pamphlet more because it's there for me to help me teach more simply. 

ATTENTION TO ALL WHO GOT THIS LETTER: LISTEN UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I want you to go on to Mormon channel and check out these videos.  They're called 12 Steps to Change.  It's a series about individual's stories with addiction and how they overcame that addiction through the steps in the program.  Each step is a person's individual story and how that step changed their life.  Seriously, check it out.  Have others check them out.  These are real stories.  I love these videos they've strengthened my testimony and they testify to me of the atonement of Jesus Christ and how all can be forgiven!  In fact, Mom, Jason, our cousin, is the actor for the series in one of the videos.  He's in the 10th one and he is the husband of the wife who was addicted to cocaine. I thought that was so awesome.  If you can get me his email or call him.  I wanna know how the filming was done for those.  An Elder in my district was really intrigued as well so let me know okay??!!  But show these videos to members and friends- they are amazing!!!!!!  I love you all sooooooo much have a great week.  I'll send pictures when I get to the church for wifi!!!!!!  Love you.  BYE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️

Elder Cahoon the Baboon