Another week bites the dust!‏

This week went really well, a tiny bit stressful, we had 3 baptisms, each one was from a different family, so we had to coordinate and plan a lot to get it all to work out. It went well. The Spirit was strong, and they`re now members of the Church of Jesus Christ. These last few days I`ve been reviewing the Liahona from General Conference again, I know that each one of the leaders who spoke in that General Conference were called of God. The Spirit is so strong listening to them, and reading their words. I love finding new investigators who tell us (I don`t know what it is, but I feel at peace when we`re with you, what is it?) The Spirit is our constant companion as members of Christ`s Church, and the people can note that. Trust in the companionship of the Spirit as you do your best to serve God and lose yourself in the service of others. The Spirit will touch the hearts of your friends and loved ones and they we`ll receive the restored gospel. Never lose that hope. I appreciate all the letters of love and support and hope all is well for each and every one of you. Until next week! 

Love,

Elder Lohberg

Aaron: hi mom

Mom: Hey! Sorry I didn't see that you were on!

I've got about a half hour before I have to head out for the funeral

how are you?

sorry I was making breakfast for Sam & Kari - they are here visiting this week :)

Aaron: I`m good sorry mom I was reading your other letter. I`m good. I heard that Latu passed away, super sad to hear that. Must be super hard for Mosese, is he going to serve a mission?

I`m cool lets do it, I`m down to go to the temple and be temple worthy and worthy of the blessings. I`m not perfect still, but I`ll do my best effort always. 

Mom: ya it's super sad - I don't know if Mosese will serve or not - but Malaki wants to and I know Ma'ake does as well.  

Truly this experience has made me reaffirm my desires for an eternal family - doing whatever it takes for us to have that blessing.  I'm truly grateful for each of you kiddos who have grown into amazing young adults who love the Lord and want to serve Him!  Truly - it is the biggest blessing I could ever receive here on earth!!

Tell me about your week! I have about 10 minutes or so before i have to head out :(

Aaron: It was good we had 3 baptisms Saturday, super stressful getting it planned well, more than anything for the members haha but i found calm in it all. President was there, he gave me some good advice and left yesterday for the states.. he`s sick and needs to find out what he has and the doctors here don't know. 2 got confirmed Sunday, 1 next week and he`s a priest age young man.both his little brothers told me they want to be baptized now haha=D so he`ll probably baptize them this month, the moms still behind a bit, doesn`t feel ready. But in time in time. She invited her friend and her son to come, but they live like 30-40 minutes in bus from the church, so it`d be hard for us to visit them, but we`ll see if they get there! =D The work is progressing,I can`t complain. another guy came, he had gone 4 years straight with his family but he couldn`t get his divorce in Nicaragua to go through so that he could get married to his future wife who lives with him and all his kids.. so he and she went to church for 4 years every single week, but he got offended one Sunday and they had a whole year of not going and no one had visited them. Then we showed up=D And he finally went to church again, it was awesome. His family didn't this week but they all went 2 weeks ago without him.. Now I just need to see them all together! =D 

Mom: wow that is so cool!! Miracles can happen! You can be a part of that - you ARE a part of that! how cool to see people change in the gospel!! It's amazing how people can change and the joy that comes into their lives because of the light of Jesus Christ and the knowledge of the gospel.  

That's frightening about President - hopefully they will find out what is happening with him quickly.

i have to leave now - but if you reply - when I get down there I will message you from my phone until the meeting starts.  

LOVE YOU!!

Aaron: Don`t worry mom, I love you, say hi to them for me, and tell them I`m sorry for what`s happened, but remind them for me of the promise of eternal families. Elder Holland said ¨Some blessing come fast, some come slow, and some don`t come until heaven, but for those who keep the commandments of our Heavenly Father, they come.¨ I`m certain of that. Christ knows their pain, and suffering and He loves them, trust in Him. 

Sad and Happy.‏

Today officially marks the first day of my last change here in the Mission in Costa Rica. It`s a sad feeling but it has a little happiness underneath. I love being here, I love the people, I love sharing the gospel. I hope to learn everything I can while I`m here and find all the people the Lord wants me to find before I leave. 

I want to say thanks for all the support you`ve given me throughout my 2 years here. Hopefully my emails haven't been too annoying, especially with their bad subject titles haha. 

Thanks for everything,

Love, 

Elder Lohberg



Aaron: hi mom

Mom: Hey you!!  So....last transfer staying in Turrialba??????

Aaron: yup, sorry i was reading everything 

Hmm. This week it appears we have 3 baptisms.. hopefully everything goes out well=) 

I got sick last night, and today i woke up pretty sick with fever and everythin 

so today we probably wont do anything.. i might buy parts to fix our shower head. i have 5 months to shower in cold water.. i got used to it but now it`s cld in the morning and i`m sick so i might fix it hehe. 

This Saturday baptisms are Jose Luis he`s a wood worker, he makes tables and stuff like that, he`s 62 years old

Romario, he`s the soccer player, 20 years old he`s cool

Rolando he`s 16 he`s part of a group of 4 people we`re teaching a mom and her 3 kids.. he told us he wanted to get baptized.. setting the goal for his fam and he`ll probably end up baptizing the rest of his family next month but not 100 percent sure 

Mom: oh I'm so sorry you are sick :/  Cool about the baptisms - and how cool would it be for this kid to be able to baptize his family! I'm sorry you aren't feeling well :(  Will the mission pay to fix the shower? or do you have to pay for it yourself? Or does Randall have to fix it? How does that work?

Aaron: Technically Randall i think would have to fix it, but he hasnt wanted to hehe because it makes the light bill a lot higher. I`ll use mission money to buy the part, it only costs like 2 mil 4 bucks to fix it i think.. not too bad. And I`m going to fix it. 

Mom: well for sure do that - why take a cold shower in cold weather if you don't have too!! 

So - do you still have a fever now you think? do you feel achy? 

Aaron: yea i have a fever.. my teeth ache and my body and my eyes

 and im congested and the cough is starting SATAN GO AWAY heehe 

Mom: I'm so sorry :(  No chance for any sort of flu meds there I'm sure :( so drink plenty of fluids so you can get stuff out of your system.  Chicken broth would be good too and rest - lots of rest!  I'm sorry you're not well.  Glad you aren't having changes with feeling yucky! small blessings :)

Aaron:  i love being here, I love it. I`m going to cry a ton I think when I leave, or if not I`ll go into denial and cry a ton in the house haha. 

Mom: so I talked to the realtor here in Washington today (the one who is selling our house) and we are going to list the house I think August 18th - so just before we head out to Utah - She said if we need to push it out a few days because we don't want to deal with the house being shown while we are still here that would be fine too.  

I'm going to start packing up books and stuff that I can easily do without for a while and get things ready I guess.

I can't remember if I ever sent you any pictures of the house and what it will look like?  I can send you pictures from the model home - we will have a similar look but with some differences as we wont put in all the options they did.

I can also send you a map of where it will sort of be located as well if you are interested.  but no worries if not as there is PLENTY of time for you to see all of this :)

Aaron: send the pictures I have 15 minutes still!! 

Mom: Not sure if you can go to this link or not?  Try it - this is the model home - again - we won't have all the finishes this has - but some of it for sure!! we will not have a fireplace - and obviously we will have garage doors where they have the office now.

could you read the book pages I sent to you?? not sure if you are able to open them or not?

Aaron: im going to print them out. 

It`s a pretty nice huse, but it doesn't have a garage or anything? And with windows so big couldn`t people break in pretty easily??? How much square feet is it? 

Mom: it will have a 3 car garage - so like how this does but this one has windows where the garage door is because that's the model home office :p

Jessie says hi!! I'm on the phone with her right now!

It's actually 2650 finished square footage and if we do the basement it would be 4400 square feet

Aaron: HI JESSs. HEY THANKS FOR REMINDING ME. HaPPY BIRTHDAY JESSIE!!! MAN ALL WEEK REMEMBERING AND I GET HERE AND I FORGET!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESSIE!!! 

gotta go mom love you bye! Have a good week! 

Mom: ok Aaron - hope you feel better soon!! best of luck with the baptisms on Saturday!! LOVE YOU!!


**SIDE NOTE: Randall messaged me on Facebook and this is his account of the choking from last week:
Hey Kim!!! How have you and the family been?

Good! How are you guys doing?

Thank you for saving Aaron's life he told me about choking! How frightening!

We're fine thanks!!! You're welcome... I don't know but that night i went to help em with a rat trap (we having some little problems with those disgusting animals by the way..) because i felt like a kind of impression to do it... It was weird... At the beginning i thought it was coughing normally but then i could see that he wasn't breathing... To be honest i was scared... Thank God he came back... Of course he was very scared...

Yes! I'm truly grateful! So frightening! I told him to be careful! He only has a few weeks left! So be careful so you can come back to me! Hopefully he will be careful

You're right!! No worries!! He will be careful!! We will try to help him!!! Yeap he only has a few weeks here!! We're going to miss this guy!!

no general again :(

Aaron: Hey i don't understand, you bought a house? You walked into a house and said, this is the one! But then you said lot? I`m like what... is there a house or no? haha. That`s crazy, huge change of plans he? 

The areas going good.. WE had a baptism Saturday, and she got confirmed yesterday. The soccer player is set up for the 25th, and he could also MAYBE be accompanied by 1-5 more people, haha, we`re trying to see how they progress. We had 4 investigators in church, it was good! I talk to zach sometimes but i haven't asked him that. That`s cool with the schedule. I want to play soccer with my niece hehe!! not to excited about buying more gifts hehehe, i`ve always been bad for buying gifts. Okay yeah, send me the Other side of Heaven next Monday (Changes) I could have changes, we really never know. I don't think so but who knows. 

Mom: we bought a house :)  But it is going to be built - so we had to pick a lot and pay for that - so it's a new house basically and it will be built this year.  It's not what we had planned to do - we planned to just buy a house (already built) but buying a new home has advantages (like things don't have to be fixed, roof doesn't need replacing etc) but disadvantages are - the basement isn't finished and it takes time to build it.

Mom: That's AWESOME!! Was the baptism Saturday Josemaria's daughter??  Pretty cool about the other baptisms coming up too - hopefully those follow through :)  I'm so happy that you are enjoying these last few weeks as a missionary!!  

We are excited to move to Utah to be honest - to be closer to all of you guys - have a family dinner once in a while instead of once a year :p Will be great I think!!

Aaron: I`m not going to write a general mail today.. the comp is fetchin slower than slow. It`s going through a super slow phase right now and i don't have time to write. We`ve been killing rats in our house, I killed 3 already, the 4th one got away.. and we`ll see if we can kill more, who knows. Yeah jose marias daughter. I almost died on Saturday, we were trying to set a rat trap and Randall was with us, he felt something to go upstairs to our apartment, and we couldn't set it so i got mad, and he was trying and telling a joke while i drinking water, and i like laughed coughed drank or something,. and the water got stuck right in my throat it was a horrible painful feeling and I couldn`t breathe or swallow or anything and i felt like iwas dying it was a TERRIBLE feeling, to not be able to breath, and randall saw.. .my comp just stood their looking at me haha. so Randall came and started smacking my back and doing like the heimlich and everything, and i spit the rest of the water out.. passed the whole night with adrenaline in my body and shaking and stuff.. i actually thought i was going to die.. it was just horrible as a feeling. but the baptism was sick. we`ve been doing good, cant complain, cant complain. 

Mom: OH MY GOODNESS!! that is frightening!! I'm glad Randall could help you!!  

RATS?? YIKES!! 

You never told me - are you wearing your permathrin regularly?? I hope so!! Start if not as the Zika virus is pretty serious and you can be a carrier of it - dont' want your future children harmed :p

I understand about the general email - I may try to put some snippets from our little bit of chatting going back and forth together and send that - will see 

Aaron: I do use it, but i stick mosquito bites either way.. like 1-2 bites every day or every other day. 

Yeh. I thought I was going to die mom, haha scariest moment of my life, but i didn't feel like worried about dying just that I wanted to have a family some day hehe here on earth =) 

If i`ve got Zika diay.. oh wells.. I cant do anything about it.. the Moquitos keep biting me. Pray a ton 

Mom: well I'm going to call the CDC and see if we can get you in when you get home to be tested - I don't think they know how long it stays in the body at this point.

I'm glad Randall didn't message me Saturday about this - and I'm super glad I didn't get a call from President with bad news!! Wow how frightening!!  BE CAREFUL! you only have a few more weeks to go!! make it home to me bud!! I LOVE YOU!!

Aaron: Love you too mom, I was just reading about Zika it seems like it only stays in the blood for 6 months? Or idk hahahaha, fetch.. i`ll start putting repellent and see if it helps.. but it`s dumb because if i cover my legs where they bite me most, they bite my knees, or they end up biting me in other crazy places, like on my fingers and hands.. 

Gotta go! Tell everyone I love them!! Have a good week mom!!! =) Stay safe! 

Mom: I will!! LOVE YOU!! Be safe!! have a great week!! Will keep good thoughts going your way - hopefully your baptisms come through!! excited for you!!

Por Fin! Finally!‏

It´s been a few weeks since I´ve been able to write a general mail, but everything should be back to normal now. Today, we had a zone versus zone soccer game (We won 4 to 2) it was a lot of fun. We bought shirts and everything. We´ve been finding lots of new investigators in our area and I think one of the things I was most excited about is that we finally got our Liahonas of the general conference!! (We get them late in the country places haha) I love reading the words of the Prophet and his apostles.. I know that they are called of God, they are His chosen servants. I know that what they spoke and speak is exactly what God wants for us, for those who feel an emptiness in your life I invited you to fill it up, with the word of God. Elder Eyring explained like 4 times in the Saturday morning session that the word of God is the seed, the seed and grow and fill our emptiness with joy and happiness and with truth. Seek the truth, because the truth will set you free! 

Love,

Elder Lohberg

Aaron: Hey mom, the areas going well. today we had a zone versus zone soccer game, teams of 11 with changes and everything when we got tired. We won 4 to 2 officially and with the extra 20 minutes that we played after it would´ve ended 5 to 3, I didn't make any goals but I had two good assists for the goals as I was playing center and right and left laterals. The game was fun. Cartago versus the Paz we had shirts and everything in our zone. we have lots of investigators who are progressing and are close, they just have a Little bit left to change, a little bit left to prepare themselves.. I get along well with my comp.. he´s kind of like a young kid still but he´s funny and cool. Send it to Randall Wednesday!!! 


Mom: ok!! cool!! I'm glad you won your game!! How exciting!! yes I will send the picture to Randall :) Super exciting!!

Aaron: Yah, they´re going to send me pictures of before the game and after but who knows when. Everyone was like cheering us on haha because we were in Cartago walking around 20 missionaries with Cartago team shirts haha, it was cool=) 

Mom: awesome! I bet you were eating that up :)

So - are you at an internet place or are you wanting to send a general through me - and I promise to actually send it out this time

Aaron: I´m at an internet place in San Jose, I can send it.. then we´ll take a bus for our area. any luck with the house seach?? 

Mom: no not really - the crazy realtor didn't have a way to get into the houses so we came back home - she is supposed to be showing up to take us out now that she has keys - but I haven't heard anything from her - stupid!! 

Aaron: pfft what poop. gotta wait then? 

Mom: well we are heading out as soon as she gets here to look at homes - but ya basically a wasted day!!

Aaron: haha and what day do you go back to Washington?? 

Ben and I are planning to see if we can go on divisions with the missionaries the Saturday i get back to visit all our friends and see if we can then pass him in his car and me in mine for all the investigators that Sunday to take em to church. we´ll see haha.. Are you sure we don't need to renew my license?? 

Mom: we go back to Washington on Thursday after we've gotten to see Jessie's ultrasound on Wednesday :)  haha so wait - you are talking about here with Ben after you get home?  Cool if so.  I think you renew your license this year I believe when you turn 21??

Aaron: Are you sure, can you make sure?!?!?! It would suck to find out I cant drive haha or that I have to take the test again.. 

Aaron: Will I have to take the driving test again?? 

Mom: haha no you don't have to take the test again - your license shouldn't expire until you are 21 - so I think you renew in December actually - but you should be fine - when we get home though I will check your wallet :) but I'm PRETTY sure you are fine :)

Mom: You will drive again my son for sure :)

Aaron: Hey i saw that there´s home remedies to get rid of freckles, we´ll need to do that too! 

Aaron: When do i have to take the test again, sometimes you have too right??!?!?! 

Aaron: Gotta go mom, I love you!!! going to take the bus back to turrialba, have a good week! Hope you find a cool house, take care and we´ll talk next monday!! i think in the morning.. we dont have any plans that I know of. Love you and dad, bye!! 

Mom: love you Aaron!! Have a safe ride back - talk to you soon!!! LOVE YOU!! HUGS!!

Forced a general letter out of him - terrible internet options lately :/

Hey this week went well and last week too, we have been having a lot of success and have been finding really special people. I love this work so much, everyday we go out i can see some small miracle that heavenly father gives us and my love for him grows more. He is blessing us a ton out here, one of the women we are teaching told us shes ready to be baptized now and we have a 20 year old young man whose been progressing super quickly hopefully they both are able to be baptized these next 3 weeks. I encourage you all to invite the missionaries into you home, even if only for 10 minutes like we do here, let them share there testimony with you and your family. They are true representatives of Jesus Christ. Let them bless your home and families. 

Love,
Elder Lohberg



Aaron: Hi mom
Not really sure lol I'll ask next week remind me. 

Mom: hey! you're on super late - what did you get to do today?? something fun??
ok I will try to remember - I just thought about it when I was looking at the flight info and noticed it didn't say anything about luggage on there - I think the mission pays for it - but not sure - so ask if you remember to next time you email the office.

Aaron: We played soccer to practice for a soccer challenge we are going to have next week, our zone versus a zone from San Jose.. it should be good haha, we are going to get shirts and everything with our names and what not haha. Does it say I'm writing with a tablet???? Its 'cuz the internet has been closed when we get to our area so Randall lends us his comp and a tablet to use
Well see I'm going to ask next week for sure;) how's Kara?

Mom: I wondered if you might be having to use Randall's internet/computer today - as it's late for you ;)

Glad you are having fun playing soccer though :) Shirts and everything eh??? so next week you will email late again you think??

to be honest I haven't heard a peep from her since the reception when she left on her honeymoon!  I think they were to return to Orem today - so maybe I will hear something from her soon. I didn't want to be THAT mom that emailed/texted/bugged their kid on their honeymoon ;)

hey don't forget to write a general this week since you didn't write one last week - check in with everyone and tell us about your past 2 weeks (whatever you can remember!!) :)

Aaron: Yeh we are going all out

Mom: haha sounds like it!! So how many are in the zone that are playing?? Are the sisters playing too? what position are you playing?

Aaron: They might play not really sure.. it seems like i might play a forward but they wanted me to play goalie because no one else wants to lol but i don't either.. so well probably put someone who's not too good as goalie

I cant write a general.. it doesn't let me make messages like that only reply.. 

Mom: hahaha - you played forward when you played soccer I think - right?  How is your team? are they any good??

write a "general" and send it to me and I will forward it to everyone as the general - like Laurzia does.

can you get your new investigator that used to play soccer to play as a ringer ;) haha 

Aaron: No i played defense. Its a missionaries only soccer game haha sadly. We're pretty good.. i think we will win to be honest but i don't know the other team too well either

Mom: oh - I couldn't remember what you played back then :p  Are the other elders "experienced" soccer players :p haha??  To bad about not adding in your ringer ;)

thanks for writing a general - I know it's a bother but I also know people love reading what's new with you :)  I appreciate you doing it for me ;)

so how much are the shirts costing you??  Who's printing the names on them or are you just writing them on with a sharpie ;)

Also - did you want me to put more money into your account then?? if so - how much?

Aaron: Like 4500 o 9 bucks i might need more money if you can put it on.. gotta go mom i love you have a good week!!!

Mom: doh!! such a fast week!! Remember next week we are searching houses so i will try and watch the phone - have a great week!! I will put some more money into the account - LOVE YOU!!

No general email this week :(

No general email this week - he had a bad internet connection - I actually went through and corrected a bunch of stuff or you would not have been able to read it - all the words were connected :/ 

Aaron: Hi mom
The week went pretty well
How was the wedding?
The family week was an activity that thy planned to do in each ward in the stake but we combined ours here with the open house, it was basically just a week of different activities like playing ball and sports genealogy work open house presentation of he history of Turrialba and a talent night. It happened this week. We have a new investigator named Tomario who showed up at the church with his girl friend and he's super awesome. I'm almost positive he will be baptized o the 18th. That's the date that we gave him. And the volcano i can see it eruption a ton, when its not cloudy but lava no i cant see jeje but they say it might erupt like 100% so maybe i will be able to in a bit haha

Mom: The family week sounds cool - so it's a church thing? or it's a Costa Rica thing?? I saw a picture posted on Randall's facebook page that I could see you in it - you were playing basketball I think??

The wedding was excellent! We had the BEST sealer :) He had some really insightful things that he said - and Jarom was getting choked up as the sealer talked about the gift that Kara was to him and how to treat her etc.  Truly it was wonderful.  It rained of course!  

Oh - the photographer posted a picture of them online - let me download it and send it to you!!

Aaron: hats awesome.. they look so happy. They leave for Utah now right? Its a church thing, an activity. 

Mom: ya they are gone - they left after the reception for their honeymoon - they are still in Seattle I think - went to the zoo today - leave in the morning to drive down to the Redwoods - then spending the night there (camping) and then off to lake Tahoe for the rest of their honeymoon.  They head back to Utah I think next monday?  Then we head out the end of that week to go for the reception out there on the 4th of June - and then we are planning to stay the following week a few days to look at houses I think.

so all you can see is the ash billowing up then? have you had any ash fallout by you? and no lava glow that you've seen eh?? So what do you mean when you say "they say it might erupt like 100%" do you mean like truly blow - with molten lava bombs being sent out?? I'm so freaked out about like a Pompeii type event happening :(  i don't want you to be encased in lava :/ so be safe!!

Aaron: Nahh i don't think it will be that bad haha but yeah thy say its close to blowing

Mom: so how are things with your new companion?  And tell me about your new investigator Romario - did he just show up to church on his own or how did you find him? How many discussions have you had with him?  You said he came to church with his girlfriend - does he know any of the members or ??

how far away would you say the volcano is from you? do you know? Like how many miles ?? Is Turrialba the city at the base of the mountain? 

Aaron: Yeah his girlfriend brought him. Its going well with my comp we get along really well, no problems no problems. He doesn't know how to make pupusas though haha.  So we are teaching him now. He's cool haha hes 20 years old and he played on the Turrialba soccer team and on the national volleyball team

Mom: you comp played on the Turrailba soccer team? or the investigator?  Is his girlfriend a member then?

Aaron: Don't really got much to say in a general mail right now so just gunna leave it, it wot let me choose the group of contacts either soo

Mom: if you want me to send it out I can do that - just send it to me and I will insert your last email list you used for the group email.

You should say something about the volcano erupting - people have been asking about that since it's right by where you are at 

Aaron: The investigator haha.. how would my comp from El Salvador who just got here have played o he Turrialba soccer team haha??Its because there really isn't anything to say about the volcano and I'm on a tablet because all the internet places were closed at this time of day.. the volcano doesn't affect us at all but it's cool to see the smoke rise up and i've taken pictures but any affect from the volcano hits the rest of Costa Rica.. we're fine and lucky for that

Mom: well....you were talking about your comp and then went into the whole soccer team and volleyball thing and I was confused :P 

Your comp doesn't know how to make pupusas though right? ;p  And Romario then has the girlfriend that is a member and he is 20 years old and was on the Turrialba soccer team and the national volleyball team - and you are currently teaching him now - there - did I get that correct? :D

Aaron: Yup

Mom: That's good that it isn't effecting you at all - I too am thankful for that!!  I was wondering actually if we would hear from you today because of the ash fallout - on the Tico Times they made it sound like the rain made the ash just drop and they showed pictures of the ground covered in ash - so that must be west of where you are at then.

When is the next Zone conference? 

Are you still teaching Josemaria's daughters at all or did they move?

did you read Tyler's email from this week? Do you two email each other or no?  In it he said he is a counselor in the branch presidency in his new area! Over Primary! haha - that is so interesting!

Aaron: Gotta go mom! I love you have a good week!!! Thanks for writing me, 

Mom: ok Aaron - have a great week!! LOVE YOU!!

Woah crazy..‏

Well.. today they sent me my flight plans.. super crazy.. when I saw them I actually felt pretty sick inside. 

This week went amazing, we`ve been finding new investigators and lots of investigators that we already had have started to progress more. My new companion and I get along super well, we haven`t had any problems, he works hard, he`s got a desire to learn and so we`ve been working well together. I think I already said it but he`s from El Salvador. To those who have never tried a pupusa, you need to try one, they`re pretty good. =) The Lord`s work is progressing! Something I remembered this week is our need to have the Spirit, we need to do everything we can possibly do to have the Spirit with us, so that God can direct us in our life. Strive to have the Spirit, keep the commandments. The Spirit will direct you in all that you do.

Love,

Elder Lohberg

Aaron: hi mom.

**He emailed his flight itinerary with this comment "Only because you were asking for it haha.. i got it today.. makes me feel sick.. "

Aaron: that`s crazy. tons of stuff then. The volcano actually doesn`t effect us at all.. I can see the smoke and ash coming out, but lava no. all the ash goes towards San JOse and Heredia (It`s a weird feeling.. in Heredia I was getting hit by it and now I`m seeing where It comes from haha..) start and end. My comps cool, he`s a hard worker, he`s new but he strives.. his feet smell but that`s not too big of a deal haha. He talks to people and is trying to get better. He`s from El Salvador, like 30 minutes from where Toledo is from.

Aaron: Hey, We have a mini Christus in the house right!?!!?! in stone 

Dad: I don't think we have a Christus anywhere. I'll look around but we have a picture of it I think.
this is Dad I'm on mom's comp now. 

Aaron: this is dad right? 

Aaron: i had an idea but i`m going to send it to your email.. something i`m thinking of doing 

Dad: Yep this is Dad, I'm trying to reach mom.

Aaron: Okay okay, Me parece bien=) 

Dad: We have so much to get done before the wedding, Mom is running around like mad trying to get them done. She is sooo sad she is missing you. She wants you to know she loves you and wishes she could be talking to you.

Dad: Ok Mom is cutting my Mom's hair right now (she doesn't have any other time to do it) she is going to cut like mad and hope she can make it home to talk to you.

 Aaron: I have 30 minutes left, I dont think she`ll get home in time haha. No big deal, next week we can talk =) 

Dad: Maybe, I think she said in her email to you that she wouldn't be able to as she will be taking people to Seattle for a tour. I'll set her up so she can do it on her phone or something. I'm so glad to get to talk to you. Glad your comp and you are doing good. Why do his feet smell do you think? buy him some foot powder LOL. "nothing personal but you um need this"

Aaron: idk almost all hondurans have HORRIBLE feet smell.. and his feet are kind of like that, I was tihnking about buying him the Tree things that smell nice that they put in cars, to put in his shoes, so that when we get home his feet smell like vanilla or something haha.. powder doesn`t help much for them. 

that`s true she told me that, I`ll see if we can right later int he day so that we can talk.. but i cant remember what time this internet place closes.. if they close early we`ll be jacked either way to be honest haha.a 

Either way, I`m super happy, our love isn`t shown by digital emails sent through a computer, but in the knowledge that we`re part of the family of Christ sealed together for time and eternity. There are always things to do in life, always, and sometimes we get our communication, but that doesn`t mean our love isn`t the same. I know that you both love me, and you both know that I love you too. Even though we can`t right today, I know that you still love me haha, It`s all good=) I`m happy to be honest. I love what I`m doing, I love where I am, I love the people. I have no reason to be sad, no reason to have regrets, and no reason to be worried. All is well, All is well. =) 

Dad: bummer but we'll try to make it all work. I'm looking forward to learning of your interest in soccer by the way. Not sure I'm going to go full bore in watching it but Its worth looking into. I see you are coming home on the 4th, wow time went fast. Thanks for sending those, Mom was looking for them and they didn't come to us. Keep working on the investigators you never know when a principle will make it all snap into place. We have a member here who is trying really hard to live the law of Chastity but he moved his girlfriend in with him. Bishops calls it a huge sword hanging over his head. He's been doing good for a bit now but like all temptations it can't be avoided forever if you surround yourself with it.

I have no idea what this is - but it looks like hotdogs with guac  on a tortilla:)

Make sure you absolutely get something for yourself to remember you special time there. I don't think the car deodorizer will work on his shoes but maybe. I think the real problem is all the moisture in the air that makes the shoes themselves stink (along with the foot odor) and just FYI are you sure your shoes don't smell either?

Aaron: That`s true.. yup August 4th.. 11 more weeks. Crazy how fast time goes. 

La Liga lost.. again haha.. i`m thinking about changing my tico team.. but maybe not.. i`d change and then they`d win.. they made it to the end, beat their rival 5-1 (humilliating for the rival and everything) and then lost 3-1 to another team haha... the mormon team.. 

Bayern Munich lost to Atletica de Madrid 2-2 (atletica made a goal in Germany which counts for 2) 

Galaxy ( I have no idea because the states teams are kind of iffy either way) 

No mine smell too.. but not that bad.. haha.. i put the car tree in and it helps.. my foot comes out smelling like sweatty berries 

Dad: I'm rolling in laughter, that is so funny.

Aaron: I don't get this scored a goal in Germany and got 2 points (what?) I didn't even think that was possible.

Yeah, like apparently if you score a goal in the other teams field, like in their home turf, it counts for two, (but for ties) 

Dad: I'm going to have to look that up. I don't know that rule (then again I don't know all the rules for Soccer either) I had to look up and research a lot of the coaching stuff I used when I was doing that. I didn't remember a lot of the drills I used to do. There is a big difference between playing and coaching (learned that the hard way)

Dad: what fun things are you guys going to do today? soccer / sightseeing / basketball? etc.

Mom is home!

Aaron: I`ve learned super fast too be honest.. if i dedicated time at home to practice, I could pick up the stuff pretty fast with muscle memory. 

Mom: I'm here Aaron!! How has your week been??

Aaron: Hey mom, pretty good!!! how`ve you been 

Mom: I'm good! super stressed out but good!!  Did you write your general email already and I missed it?? I'm trying to read through what you have written here -  NEXT WEEK - I have to take people to Seattle - so we will leave here like 9ish our time (so 10 yours) and probably wont be home until 2 our time or so. So that's like 3 your time :/ Not sure how that will work for you time wise. Are you doing anything fun today??

Aaron: im writing it now haha to finish up. Today we`re going to go shop, buy food, buy a new cologne Hugo Boss I hope, i feel like they smell different once they mix it with alcohol.. so i`m going to try one, even if i don't like it at first and see if i like it after with alcohol lololol.. risky hehe? cuz the last one i bought wasn`t hugo boss but i liked it, then when they mixed it i couldn't stand it. today no i don`t think so, next week maybe,  we`ll see 

Mom: Lisa Henry just messaged me and said that Spencer is comps with Elder Colindres (spelling??) - that was your kid right?? He says he's a good worker and they are getting along great!

Aaron: yeh they`re comps haha.. No, hès not my kid.. but i get along supr well with him. 

Mom: Alcohol man haha!! That's why it's so cheap :P  Does it burn when you put it on?? haha!  I have a new bottle of it here for you when you get home - it's ready for you :)  Probably doesn't smell like you remember since you've gotten accustomed to the cheap stuff :P

Aaron: i`ll try and write at 3 next monday.  but it`s a mix, we buy the best they sell which is 50-50, 50 percent essence 50 percent alcohol, it lasts all day. but i think when they mix it changes the smell of the essence a bit 

Mom: what was your kids name then?? I don't know why I thought that was your kids name :??

3:00 your time or mine?? I will try my darnedest to be home then by 2 if it's your time - let me know 

I'm sorry you had to send me your flight info and that it made you sad :(  I know you've grown to love Costa Rica and the people there - and that you love being a missionary - I'm so happy for that!! Truly I am!!  It's now home to you - I understand :)

Aaron: my kids name is Contreras. 

my time or your time idk.. i`ll see haha. i have to convince my comp. he said that`s okay. so yeh unles something comes up

Gotta go mom1 I love you=) it was nice to talk a bit, have a good week, dont stress hehe=) 

Mom: ok - love you Aaron!! Have a great week!!