Hey Family,
Life is pretty good! We had a baptism yesterday which was sweet. the Kids name was Michael Reuter. He is 18 and way cool. It was great.
I am doing alot better. I realized that I just need to relax some cause I was getting way to pumped up over everything.
Today is our P- (preparation) day, so we went to Skyline Chili and Graeders ice cream. Tell Jennie Smith cause she was wondering, that Graeders was way good and Skyline was incredibly average. I had the chili with spaghetti noodles and it was just way greasy and not very impressive, but it is a Cininnati staple so I had to go there at least once right?
We went down town today and had a good time we walked around and went to the top of the Crew building. Its like 49 stories we took pictures and it was pretty cool. Its a pretty cool downtown... its a bummer the rest of the city is not half... nay... a quarter as nice as downtown is! But anyways, life is good.
Funny Story:
So we were short on miles for our car we have a limit of 1175 per month, so we decided to bike on thursday. We planned to surprise some of the other elders that are in our ward that live like 5 miles away and sleep over at their house. I was excited and thought it would be fun... It is a pretty hilly area so it was alot of work but it was kinda a nice change of pace. When we left it was sunny probably 92 with 75% humiditity. So we rode to our appointments. On our last appointment of the day, We had been there like 45 minutes it started pouring.... like Texas pouring! We changed into our sleeping clothes "gym shorts and t-shirts" and headed to the other elders condo. (I call all apartments condos no matter how nasty they are... it sounds more luxurious) We got to their apartments just after nine and they were not there so we called and they did not answer. We assumed they were running late and just in the rain so we just went to the taco bell and waited to see them ride by. While we were there, a black man told us that all white people had leprosy, and finally at like 9:30 after they had not answered we went back to there condo! STILL NOT THERE! Just then they called us back. They were staying somewhere else for the night!!! Luckily the ride home was mostly downhill but it was POURING and we just blasted down these huge hills and when we got home we were absolutely drenched. It was kinda fun, but I dont have any interest in doing it again... at night its kinda intense!
Other news;
My companion had told me he was going home in December, but it turns out that he is going home after this transfer. Kinda funny, I did not know until he was doing a farewell talk for zone conference!
Because my comp. is going home soon, this one member is taking us to Boi Na Braza on the 4th of July!!! sweet huh?
Thanks for everything I love you all!
Elder Stiles
Monday, June 30, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
more photos
This is Kelley Pike, a family friend, she was on her way to Samara, Russia
This is my apartment complex
in Cincinatti.
This is my room
This is my apartment complex
in Cincinatti.
This is my room
Week 2 Cincinnati
Life overall is pretty good. I am pretty worn out by the end of the day, and my bed feels pretty good. My companion is pretty cool. Overall, things are pretty good.
The areas around us are mostly black with a little white and latino thrown in. They all live in a few apartment complexes. We work till exactly nine pm at the earliest because we dont want to miss anyone.
The spirit is really strong and everyday it seems like we need it more and more. We are currently teaching a guy named Keith. He is 16 and his grandpa was actually a member of the 70, and his mom got offended at something and she quit going to church. So he basically believes in nothing. Our first discussion with him was incredible. I have high hopes for him.
Ok so here is the funny story.
We were on our way home and we decided to knock on a few more doors so we walk up and there is a guy sitting on a porch with a pipe in his hand. I asked him "how are you doing?" his response, "smokin weed" I thought about it, and realized that when I used the word "how" he figured that if he answered with smokin weed, I would just assume he was doing well, and it prevented the pesky "why" question that people always ask after finding out that someone is doing well. We quickly tried to get away by directing the conversation to the church. Problem is, he liked that. This is when he told us his well developed theology. He said to us, "I believe in Johnny"
We started laughing. He then followed us back to our car, just chatting us up. Wehn he mentioned that he had been waiting on his friends porch to console him over the death of a loved one. I was thinking how great of a counselor he must be if he can even help people when he is drunk off his rocker and high as a kite. He explained that this is the reason he was so dressed up! Jeans shorts, sandals, silk shirt withthe top 4 buttons undone. My companion asked, "what do you normally wear?" and Johnny replied "Balla Clothes", or something to that effect, and did a sweet crossover w/o a ball. (ok, i have done that before!) But then he went straight from the crossover into nice "ib @ the club style dance moves. He kept this up for a good 30 seconds before singing in a sort of Zena warrior princess war cry...
It was sweet. We finally found a chance to get away and left, but, first we gave hugs, of course, "because thats what old friends do!!!" But anyway, life is great.
We have lots of people to teach. I cannot wait to see Michaels Baptism, he is awesome. He and I connected pretty quick, and he is ready.
Alright, well, thanks for everything. Life is good. Tiring but good.
Write me back, I would love to hear from you.
Love,
Elder Stiles
The areas around us are mostly black with a little white and latino thrown in. They all live in a few apartment complexes. We work till exactly nine pm at the earliest because we dont want to miss anyone.
The spirit is really strong and everyday it seems like we need it more and more. We are currently teaching a guy named Keith. He is 16 and his grandpa was actually a member of the 70, and his mom got offended at something and she quit going to church. So he basically believes in nothing. Our first discussion with him was incredible. I have high hopes for him.
Ok so here is the funny story.
We were on our way home and we decided to knock on a few more doors so we walk up and there is a guy sitting on a porch with a pipe in his hand. I asked him "how are you doing?" his response, "smokin weed" I thought about it, and realized that when I used the word "how" he figured that if he answered with smokin weed, I would just assume he was doing well, and it prevented the pesky "why" question that people always ask after finding out that someone is doing well. We quickly tried to get away by directing the conversation to the church. Problem is, he liked that. This is when he told us his well developed theology. He said to us, "I believe in Johnny"
We started laughing. He then followed us back to our car, just chatting us up. Wehn he mentioned that he had been waiting on his friends porch to console him over the death of a loved one. I was thinking how great of a counselor he must be if he can even help people when he is drunk off his rocker and high as a kite. He explained that this is the reason he was so dressed up! Jeans shorts, sandals, silk shirt withthe top 4 buttons undone. My companion asked, "what do you normally wear?" and Johnny replied "Balla Clothes", or something to that effect, and did a sweet crossover w/o a ball. (ok, i have done that before!) But then he went straight from the crossover into nice "ib @ the club style dance moves. He kept this up for a good 30 seconds before singing in a sort of Zena warrior princess war cry...
It was sweet. We finally found a chance to get away and left, but, first we gave hugs, of course, "because thats what old friends do!!!" But anyway, life is great.
We have lots of people to teach. I cannot wait to see Michaels Baptism, he is awesome. He and I connected pretty quick, and he is ready.
Alright, well, thanks for everything. Life is good. Tiring but good.
Write me back, I would love to hear from you.
Love,
Elder Stiles
Friday, June 20, 2008
Day 1, Cincinnati, Ohio
Hey!
I am here safe and a real missionary! "a little nervous, but
ready". My mission president was a little more intimidating than I
expected but he seemed very nice and his wife seemed very nice too! We
spent the night at their house last night and went out to our areas
this morning! It seems like today is soo long. It is P-Day, which I am
pretty neutral about.
My companion does not like sports and is pretty
funny, first impression was that he was like Kevin Wood. He speaks
good Spanish and we mostly try to speak Spanish with each other. He
says he is from New Zealand but his accent comes in and out so I do
not know if it is a joke or that is just the way it is. His name is
Elder Lantz.
I am in an English speaking ward that is suburban with
some urban areas. It is in Cincinnati. I hear that the chances are
slim that I will go outside of the city, but you never know. I am not
sure how hard of a worker my companion is, Which scares me, and makes
me think I am going to need to work hard to stay working hard, and
make sure I do not get lazy.
We have a baptismal Date set for next
Saturday so that is cool. Apparently its an 18 year old kid. Cool
Stuff. It is really green here. It is virtually the same as Pittsburgh
in EVERY way. Our apartment is not way nice but not bad. its big,
old, and the hallways outside smell Like Cigarettes. But it is very
clean and livable! I look forward to tonight being able to go teach!
We are going to teach a Spanish Family. I cannot wait to do that. We
went shopping and I have 60 for the rest of the month.... Talk about
budgeting! I cannot believe I am a missionary... It is nuts. I cannot
wait to really get out there though! Thanks For everything, I love you
all!
Elder Stiles
Our Address is;
Elder Scott Stiles
1600 Thompson Heights Ave #207
Cincinnati OH 45223
Please have people write me, I could use a little pick me up!
Ps. More fun facts:
We have cell phones "the whole mission"
We drive a Mazda 3
The Average missionary will only see 2 Baptisms... "I will see 20 times that"
There are 4 missionaries in our ward.
I ate at a Mexican market today for the first time
My companion says he never really eats... (Como Se Dice "No Bueno")
It is weird to be in the REAL world!
I cannot wait to do this work... I know I am here for a reason, and the Lord has prepared people who only I can reach... I am going to make it happen.
I am here safe and a real missionary! "a little nervous, but
ready". My mission president was a little more intimidating than I
expected but he seemed very nice and his wife seemed very nice too! We
spent the night at their house last night and went out to our areas
this morning! It seems like today is soo long. It is P-Day, which I am
pretty neutral about.
My companion does not like sports and is pretty
funny, first impression was that he was like Kevin Wood. He speaks
good Spanish and we mostly try to speak Spanish with each other. He
says he is from New Zealand but his accent comes in and out so I do
not know if it is a joke or that is just the way it is. His name is
Elder Lantz.
I am in an English speaking ward that is suburban with
some urban areas. It is in Cincinnati. I hear that the chances are
slim that I will go outside of the city, but you never know. I am not
sure how hard of a worker my companion is, Which scares me, and makes
me think I am going to need to work hard to stay working hard, and
make sure I do not get lazy.
We have a baptismal Date set for next
Saturday so that is cool. Apparently its an 18 year old kid. Cool
Stuff. It is really green here. It is virtually the same as Pittsburgh
in EVERY way. Our apartment is not way nice but not bad. its big,
old, and the hallways outside smell Like Cigarettes. But it is very
clean and livable! I look forward to tonight being able to go teach!
We are going to teach a Spanish Family. I cannot wait to do that. We
went shopping and I have 60 for the rest of the month.... Talk about
budgeting! I cannot believe I am a missionary... It is nuts. I cannot
wait to really get out there though! Thanks For everything, I love you
all!
Elder Stiles
Our Address is;
Elder Scott Stiles
1600 Thompson Heights Ave #207
Cincinnati OH 45223
Please have people write me, I could use a little pick me up!
Ps. More fun facts:
We have cell phones "the whole mission"
We drive a Mazda 3
The Average missionary will only see 2 Baptisms... "I will see 20 times that"
There are 4 missionaries in our ward.
I ate at a Mexican market today for the first time
My companion says he never really eats... (Como Se Dice "No Bueno")
It is weird to be in the REAL world!
I cannot wait to do this work... I know I am here for a reason, and the Lord has prepared people who only I can reach... I am going to make it happen.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Sorry it’s a Grammatical Disaster!
THANK YOU MATT for the Wendy's!!! (moms note: Matt and his good friend with connections went to the MTC one night with a big bag of Wendy's and dropped it off with Scott. Scott was VERY Suprized to see Matt, not only that, but he was bearing gifts of food.) Fast Food!
Matt is appreciated by our whole zone. Funny story, I was so surprised to get the food and was so excited. Then I started to feel guilty about it right before I ate it. So I went and told my Branch president and he replied "well if your mom sent you brownies would you eat them". His logic was superb. He then said he appreciated me bringing it up with him. So i settled on sharing with my whole district that way no one felt like they got left out or offended. It was perfect ‘cause everyone was so excited about it and so I gave the burgers to my best buddies, and shared everything else and told everyone not to be greedy. They liked it!
Life is great, but I don’t have a ton of time today so this may be short... sorry, just getting ready to go is not too quick... pretty much all business in this one, I will real life talk to you on Monday... not sure how long that will be but we will see!
First off, I have not yet received your package, but to anyone considering sending me a package I have determined that those peanut-butter chex things mom sent me reign supreme as the best treat!
Life is great. I understand all of the Spanish concepts that we have learned and can do them ALL on paper, but when it comes to speaking them all I am not so great, I am ok "not great" at conjugations and future tense, and subjunctive. But Direct object and Indirect object is wrecking me. But I am still above average at speaking it so I am fine. I have worked hard so it will come... Just a slightly humbling experience!
I have had the opportunity to talk to Elder Johnson quite a bit. He is alot of fun and we have actually become pretty good friends in the week that he has been here. It’s crazy because after all these years we have been able to just pick up and be friends again. It’s cool!
Laur thanks for the Dear Elder! I did not want to write you back and have you not get it for like 2 weeks so I will write you once I have a chance in Cincinnati. Have Fun and Be Safe!
Dad, Good luck tomorrow at your meeting. I know things will work out and this will be successful. I love you and am proud of you for doing this. PS happy fathers day!
Ok so that’s about it for me!!!
I am way excited to go. Kinda nervous about starting off at the bottom of things again! I can see now that I needed to go Spanish speaking because I needed this 9 weeks to help improve myself before I could possibly go teach other people.
Love you all
Elder Stiles
Matt is appreciated by our whole zone. Funny story, I was so surprised to get the food and was so excited. Then I started to feel guilty about it right before I ate it. So I went and told my Branch president and he replied "well if your mom sent you brownies would you eat them". His logic was superb. He then said he appreciated me bringing it up with him. So i settled on sharing with my whole district that way no one felt like they got left out or offended. It was perfect ‘cause everyone was so excited about it and so I gave the burgers to my best buddies, and shared everything else and told everyone not to be greedy. They liked it!
Life is great, but I don’t have a ton of time today so this may be short... sorry, just getting ready to go is not too quick... pretty much all business in this one, I will real life talk to you on Monday... not sure how long that will be but we will see!
First off, I have not yet received your package, but to anyone considering sending me a package I have determined that those peanut-butter chex things mom sent me reign supreme as the best treat!
Life is great. I understand all of the Spanish concepts that we have learned and can do them ALL on paper, but when it comes to speaking them all I am not so great, I am ok "not great" at conjugations and future tense, and subjunctive. But Direct object and Indirect object is wrecking me. But I am still above average at speaking it so I am fine. I have worked hard so it will come... Just a slightly humbling experience!
I have had the opportunity to talk to Elder Johnson quite a bit. He is alot of fun and we have actually become pretty good friends in the week that he has been here. It’s crazy because after all these years we have been able to just pick up and be friends again. It’s cool!
Laur thanks for the Dear Elder! I did not want to write you back and have you not get it for like 2 weeks so I will write you once I have a chance in Cincinnati. Have Fun and Be Safe!
Dad, Good luck tomorrow at your meeting. I know things will work out and this will be successful. I love you and am proud of you for doing this. PS happy fathers day!
Ok so that’s about it for me!!!
I am way excited to go. Kinda nervous about starting off at the bottom of things again! I can see now that I needed to go Spanish speaking because I needed this 9 weeks to help improve myself before I could possibly go teach other people.
Love you all
Elder Stiles
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Thanks for the Packages!
Hi Everyone,
HEY THANKS FOR ALL THE PACKAGES!!! HOLY smokes everyone came through this week! and everyone in my zone appreciated it! I am still having fun and doing GREAT!!! I cannot beleive that I am only eleven days from leaving its nuts!! I cannot wait but I also have enjoyed this alot more then I thought I would!
Spanish came along really well this week! it seems like every week I have a period where it feels like I will never learn the language then, it all comes together and I feel like I will be able to actually really speak it some day. and this week was no different. Sunday it felt like I could not put to spanish words together then on Tuesday "yesterday" when I taught in the TRC in spanish I literally just talked and I did not even really feel like I was speaking spanish. I got done and I kinda looked at my companion like was that spanish or what? and he said that it was the best I had ever done! I was kinda excited about that! He has kinda been struggling with spanish so he usually gets frustrated and has me teach alot of the time. the thing is that he has alot more vocabulary then me and is ALOT better at memorizing stuff, but he just gets nervous I think... He is a smart kid and he is alot of fun, he will figure it out!
Ok for the funny story of the week, the zone across the hall from us in our Condos "we call our rooms the condos" are really really like uncomfortable and just kinda boring, its one thing to be obedient, and its one thing to be boring, and THEY are boring. So I have started talking to some of them and kinda become friends with some of them that are trying to enjoy themselves at times and so I was walking through there hall giving out stickers "which emily sent in her package" and most of them have erally supportive sayings on them like "your number 1" or "Keep on Going" or "A+" and so I was coming out of the bathroom one night when I had a idea... and it was a fantastic one. I started giving out stickers to people after they came out of the stalls and saying cheesy sayings like " do you know what you are... Your NUMBER 1". Basically I would find a way to associate whatever the sticker said on it into what I told them. It made a few really uncomfortable, but most of them really enjoyed it!
I really like the new district from last week. They are really cool and not doing anything stupid. And we got a new district this week which puts our zone at 33 people. they all seem really cool and there is a kid from cincinnati who said that the spanish missionaries there are definately the cooler ones and he says he knows a whole bunch of them. so that is cool, and I met a kid whose brother went there spanish speaking and said he learned spanish like he would of had he gone to mexico! so that is always good to hear! on other news There is one bedroom in our hall that is not in our zone, and I saw this big Elder talking outside it and I was like whoah, is that Quentin Johnson! The answer is yes and he is not in my zone but sleeps 3 rooms down from me. We had a nice talk, he seems like a nice kid and it will be fun to kinda catch up with him considering I probably have not talked to him in 8 years or so!!!
Basketball has picked up here. all the kids who were in college are now here so it is far more competitive!!! I have been playing with all the best players and holding my own... I ruined a kid who was on a full ride at QB for BYU in football and was like some star basketball player in high school he is 6'5''... He dunked on me but I outplayed him outscored him and blocked him silly... and my team won... and his team was way better. I like basketball alot better then soccer. my 10 year scoring streak ended cause I played goalie. so there is nothing to play for anymore!!!
So the jist of this email is that life is Great, I cannot wait to get to cincinnati, but I am actually gonna miss the MTC. I have made so many friends and learned so much it has been really a great expirience for me, but with that said I am not going to ask to stay back or anything!
I love you all and thanks for the packages! It is always nice to get mail!
Love Elder Stiles
HEY THANKS FOR ALL THE PACKAGES!!! HOLY smokes everyone came through this week! and everyone in my zone appreciated it! I am still having fun and doing GREAT!!! I cannot beleive that I am only eleven days from leaving its nuts!! I cannot wait but I also have enjoyed this alot more then I thought I would!
Spanish came along really well this week! it seems like every week I have a period where it feels like I will never learn the language then, it all comes together and I feel like I will be able to actually really speak it some day. and this week was no different. Sunday it felt like I could not put to spanish words together then on Tuesday "yesterday" when I taught in the TRC in spanish I literally just talked and I did not even really feel like I was speaking spanish. I got done and I kinda looked at my companion like was that spanish or what? and he said that it was the best I had ever done! I was kinda excited about that! He has kinda been struggling with spanish so he usually gets frustrated and has me teach alot of the time. the thing is that he has alot more vocabulary then me and is ALOT better at memorizing stuff, but he just gets nervous I think... He is a smart kid and he is alot of fun, he will figure it out!
Ok for the funny story of the week, the zone across the hall from us in our Condos "we call our rooms the condos" are really really like uncomfortable and just kinda boring, its one thing to be obedient, and its one thing to be boring, and THEY are boring. So I have started talking to some of them and kinda become friends with some of them that are trying to enjoy themselves at times and so I was walking through there hall giving out stickers "which emily sent in her package" and most of them have erally supportive sayings on them like "your number 1" or "Keep on Going" or "A+" and so I was coming out of the bathroom one night when I had a idea... and it was a fantastic one. I started giving out stickers to people after they came out of the stalls and saying cheesy sayings like " do you know what you are... Your NUMBER 1". Basically I would find a way to associate whatever the sticker said on it into what I told them. It made a few really uncomfortable, but most of them really enjoyed it!
I really like the new district from last week. They are really cool and not doing anything stupid. And we got a new district this week which puts our zone at 33 people. they all seem really cool and there is a kid from cincinnati who said that the spanish missionaries there are definately the cooler ones and he says he knows a whole bunch of them. so that is cool, and I met a kid whose brother went there spanish speaking and said he learned spanish like he would of had he gone to mexico! so that is always good to hear! on other news There is one bedroom in our hall that is not in our zone, and I saw this big Elder talking outside it and I was like whoah, is that Quentin Johnson! The answer is yes and he is not in my zone but sleeps 3 rooms down from me. We had a nice talk, he seems like a nice kid and it will be fun to kinda catch up with him considering I probably have not talked to him in 8 years or so!!!
Basketball has picked up here. all the kids who were in college are now here so it is far more competitive!!! I have been playing with all the best players and holding my own... I ruined a kid who was on a full ride at QB for BYU in football and was like some star basketball player in high school he is 6'5''... He dunked on me but I outplayed him outscored him and blocked him silly... and my team won... and his team was way better. I like basketball alot better then soccer. my 10 year scoring streak ended cause I played goalie. so there is nothing to play for anymore!!!
So the jist of this email is that life is Great, I cannot wait to get to cincinnati, but I am actually gonna miss the MTC. I have made so many friends and learned so much it has been really a great expirience for me, but with that said I am not going to ask to stay back or anything!
I love you all and thanks for the packages! It is always nice to get mail!
Love Elder Stiles
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