Lotts of fun at Disneyland

 

 

 

 

We had a wonderful trip to Disneyland.  We made so many great memories.  I admit the first day we all shed some tears remembering the last time we had come.  It was back in the fall of 2011.  It was our last family trip with Ryan.  We will treasure these memories forever.  We hope to be able to go again once Alex gets home from his mission.  We missed having him with us as well.   When we go again when Alex is home, it still won't be the same without Ryan but I know he will be looking down on us from heaven.

 

 

 

2015

 

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

Lotts of Disneyland pics

 

 Ethan is patiently waiting to ride the shuttle back to the hotel because it was raining.  The poor little guy had to go to the bathroom really bad.  He made.  Thank goodness.

 

 

Did you know there is a little petting zoo at Disneyland??  Yes, I realize we have our own goats but these were much more fun to pet.  Right??  Adam put his Utah State hat on this Aggie fan after he stroked it's beard multiple times.

Mike's cousins were at Disneyland the same time we were.  It was fun to hang out with them.  Ethan was smitten with these cute ladies.

Ethan carried 5 backpacks all the way back to our hotel.  He probably did this for at least 1/2 a mile.  He was a pack mule and was so proud of how strong he was.  Where does he get his endless energy??   Oh yeah, he sucks it from his mom and dad. 

Ethan was disappointed that you have to be 7 to be able to ride any of the kid rides alone.  (I hopped in after taking this picture.)  I see the logic behind this rule as he still doesn't always follow directions and use common sense.

 

 

 

Ethan- the newest Jedi in training

 

Last time we attended Jaime was picked and also got to fight Darth Maul.  Adam was happy to watch from the side lines.

 

Ethan's favorite ride was Thunder Mountain.   I remember crying the first time I rode this when I was 8.   Mike has some priceless video taken on his phone.  Ethan can't stop giggling.  Way to go Eth !!!  He didn't like riding California Screamer.  Adam rode with Mike and loved it.  I rode with Ethan.  When the ride speed up he got a look of terror on his face.  He was so scared no tears came out.  I talked him through the ride and got him some ice cream afterwards.  I am proud of him for trying. 

The Lotts and the Lintons at Disneyland

 

 

Fun memories- past and present

 

2011

 

 

2015

 

In all the years we have tried and tried, this is the first time someone with us has ever pulled the sword out of the stone.  Adam was so excited.  It's funny his teenage cousin tried before and after he got it out without any luck.  I guess we have a new king....   King Adam!!!

 

 

Enjoying a giant turkey leg.

 

 

 2011

 

 

2015

 

  I tried it this year and it was actually really good.  The kids were starving this year and we got two.  They are expensive $10 each.  I didn't want to eat much as it gets kind of gross once you are down to the tendons and bone.  That didn't stop the boys though.  Whenever we see a giant turkey leg we  think of Ryan.  He started this family tradition the last time we were at Disneyland and we hope to continue it.

 

 

 

 

fun at the beach

 2015

 

 2011

 

 

The little boys enjoyed the beach and playing in the sand.  It was a little chilly but they didn't mind.  We had fun looking for star fish and other creatures around a rock pier.  It was fun to watch the birds hunt for fish on the water and we even saw a seal swimming not to far from us.  We missed having Alex and Ryan with us.  I am sure the little boys would have had a blast with them in the waves. 

We watched the beautiful orange sunset.

2015 here we come....

 

December 29, 2014

Hey Everyone!!  Christmas is now over, until next year.  Last tuesday our zone had a christmas devotional.  Me and that elder are from the same batch coming into the mission.  Me and him have probably lost 60 to 70 pounds combined!!  The christmas devotional was pretty good.  The food that we had after was just as good!!  On christmas day me and the missionaries that live with me went to a family party in our ward.  The house that we went to, the people that live there are members.  The people that live next to them aren't though.  They are all family but the house right next to where we were everyone was getting drunk.  It wasn't a good party.  Not that it was bad but it was super boring so we didn't stay long.  I had a great time skyping with you on christmas!!  I was glad to see all of you.  It wasn't a white christmas this year for me!  Our ward christmas party wasn't that fun.  There was a fun event that the missionaries were involved in.  We had to pass an egg on a spoon to the next person in line and the spoon was in our mouth.  My team won of course...haha just kidding, but we did!   I am still living off that package!  I have made creme a wheat a couple of times now and it is way good.  I can't believe that 2014 is over!  So Happy New Year!!  Lets make 2015 a good year!!  I love you all so much

Love Elder Lott

 

 

 

Jan 5, 2015

 

Happy New Year.  I had a pretty good New Years.  On New years eve there was a lock down so we had to be back at our apartment by a certain time.  Before that we were at a members having dinner.  We went back and starting playing some card games.  Later that night our bishop came to our apartment with some more food.  At about 10:30 me and one other elder made this huge fire.  We burned this piece of furniture that was just sitting in our apartment and also the cardboard box that came from our new fridge.  The fire got so big.  It was way hot.  It was the year mark of the other elder that was with me, so he burned one of his church shirts.  It was my 6 month mark so I burned a tie!!  I only have a video of that though.  It sucks you can't send videos through the email.  So our apartment is right next to the governor of alcala.  That paid off.  We had a front row view for the fireworks.  They launched off a good amount of fireworks.  They did a thing called juda's belt.  It was way loud it sounded like gun fire.  This morning I went to the gym.  We found one in Tugue.  It was awesome to finally be able to lift like I did before my mission.  I obviously have lost muscle since I have been out here.  I was really happy though when I got 200 lb on my bench.  So I have lost a little strength.  I have also lost more weight though.  The gym that we went to had a scale.  I weighed myself after and I am at 170 lbs!!!!  The work is going good!  We have a good amount of investigators and a couple of progressing investigators.  This past sunday at last minute I was picked to teach gospel principles class!!  It is a good thing that class started a little late but I still taught the class for 25-30 minutes!!  All I know is that I don't like teaching class on sunday.  I wish I could have been there for that christmas party that you had.  It sucks that everyone was sick on christmas though.  I definitely would have loved to do that sledding.  Not me on the sled, but me on the horse!!!  That is so redneck!!  That is why it is so freaken awesome!!!!!!!  I love you all!  Have a great week!!

Love Elder Lott

 

 

 I made cream of wheat with some toast.   It was good

There is our huge fire.  At one point it was hitting the roof.

 

 

 

Jan 12, 2015

 

I am surprised that another week is already gone.  This past week went by really good.  On Tuesday I made that jiffy pop popcorn.  It was way good and I didn't even burn it.  What makes that even more impressive is that I have only cooked like one or two in my whole life.  The work is going really good for us.  We have 4 investigators with a baptismal date.  When we were walking to one of our appointments we stopped and talked to this guy.  He said he was a Mormon.  Which is really funny because he was drunk and smoking a cigarette!!!  On Saturday the other two elders had a baptism.  Yesterday me and Elder Pawin went to Tugue with some members in our ward for a broadcast.  All of us in bishops van were members.  Bishop stopped on the way home at a Mang Inasal.  He bought all of us dinner.  I wouldn't have bought anything but he was buying.  It was alright, but I was also pretty hungry.  We had a piece of chicken and there is unlimited rice.  They give you more if you finish the stuff you already have.  There is my week.  Time is flying buy fast.  Love you all

Love Elder Lott 

 

 

 

Jan 19, 2015

 

This past week a lot of things happened.  I was sick for one of the days and then my companion was also sick for a day.  On thursday our zone had interviews with President Rahlf.  That went good, I wasn't in any trouble.  Thank goodness.  After that we went to lunch at mcdonald's.  It is really suprising how good a quarter pounder and some fries are.  On friday I went on splits with Elder Brandon.  He is the other american elder living in our apartment.  He is also our district leader.  That was a really good day.  I learned a lot from him.  He is a really good worker.  We went working in their area.  A couple of odd things happened during the day.  They both happened within ten minutes to.  So we walked into a tindahan which is like a little store.  They are everywhere.  We walk in and a lady walks up to me with her child in her hands.  The kid is like probably 2-3.  The kid sticks her hand out.  Anyways the mother says to me "bless."  That is it.  I had no idea what she was talking about.  Elder Brandon told me a little later it is a way to show respect.  You have the little girl touch your hand to her/his forehead.  Normally you do it to someone older or someone with a position.  It is to show respect.  I have done it before, but I didn't know it had a name.  Then like 5 minutes later I was looking for a drink to get.  Then a pregnant lady walked up to me.  I had no idea who she was.  She said that I am the Godfather of her child.  I was so confused.  I finally just said ok.  He told me later that godfathers and godmothers are a popular thing for catholics, so that is why I had no idea.  But that was a really weird, awkward 10 to 15 minutes!!!  Yesterday 2 of our 4 investigators came to church, which is really good but now we will have to move their baptismal dates back.  The two that came to church.  I will tell you about them.  The mothers name is Analyn Yakas, I think she might be in her thirties or something.  And the other one is her 8 year old daughter.  I am not sure what her name is though.  The names of the other two.  There is a girl that is probably 14 or 15 and her name is Judith.  Then there is probably a 18-20 year old guy who's name is Rodel.  I also found out that I have to speak in church next week.  I am not looking forward to it.  I think I would be fine if it was just in english.  But it is so nerve racking to speak in sacrament.  Do I speak in English or Tagalog.  It is so hard.  So I have something to look forward to next sunday, yay I am so excited!!!  So the work is going really good.  The language is coming good for me.  I can understand a little more.  When I speak it though it is more broken, but Elder Brandon told me that I am doing good for being out 6 months.  That made me feel good!!   Have a great week at Disneyland!!  I love you guys!!

Love Elder Lott

 

I made those blue berry pancakes.  They turned out really good!!

 

 

 

Oh I forgot to tell you what that other picture is.  Last night a member in our ward bought us some balut.  It is a baby duck that has been fertilized and has started growing.  The filipinos love it.  I think it is gross.  I will try it before I come home but not last night.  So that is what it is, pretty nasty!!!

 Elder Pawin eatin balut!!!  Yuck!!!


Jan 26, 2015

There goes another week.  I can't believe this cycle is already over.  The time just flew by.  So I got a chicken noodle soup mix from the regens and I cooked it last Monday night.  Me and elder brandon bought some chicken from the palanky in the morning and put that in it.  It was super good.  This week wasn't much different than the past couple weeks.  It is getting hotter though which sucks.  The summer here starts in march.  So we still have a month to go before it should get super hot.  Oh I almost forgot about speaking in church.  How could I forget that.  I thought that I did pretty dang good.  This morning we bowled as a zone.  It was pretty fun.  The balls are about the size of a softball or maybe a little bit bigger.  And instead of a machine resetting up the pins, there was a man back there resetting the pins up.  They are also probably half the size of normal bowling pins.  About 15 minutes after we were done with bowling we got the transfer list.  After 6 months in my first area I will be transferring.  I have become pretty close with all of the members in my area.  I wish that I could stay an extra cycle because me and elder pawin have only been comps for one cycle.  Also we have a baptism in like 2 weeks, which I wish I could be here for.  Another thing that is kind of funny, me and elder reynolds my mtc comp will finally be separated.  We were companions at mtc and came out to the field and were in the same district.  It is not for sure yet but Wednesday it transfer day.  So I will find out then what area I am going to and who will be my companion.  So tomorrow is packing day.  Next week I will be in a new area with a new companion.  I hope there is a McDonald's there and I am not joking!!  Or that pizza place.  I like both.  That way I don't die or something.  I love you guys have a great week

Love Elder Lott

 

 Chicken noodle soup!

 

 

 

 

 

Feb 2, 2015

 

 

Hello everyone.  I am no longer in alcala.  After being in my first area for 6 months I was transferred.  My new are is Cabaruguis.  I think that is how you spell it I am not sure though.  My new companion is elder thayn.  He is from green river utah.  It is just 2 of us in our apartment.  I forgot to take pictures of our apartment but I will try to do that next week.  It is not that bad.  If I had to pick which apartment I like better I would say my first one.  I have already had a very interesting experience.  We went to an investigators house to teach and there were 2 other guys there visiting.  Anyways my companion got into like a 2 and half hour debate with them.  One of them was an Ingesia ne Christo, which means church of christ.   It was my first time in one of those debates.  I wanted to leave but they just kept debating.  In the end there was no winner or loser and since it was at our investigators house it left them really confused.  So it was no help for us and it left me with a huge headache.  We also have an investigator and she has her childrens umbilical cords, which is freaken disgusting.  They say that they keep them for luck.  We also have an investigator with a monkey.  I got a picture of it.  It is pretty cool.  On friday I was in a lot of pain.  I still went out to work but I was hurting a lot.  I think that I drank some unfiltered water.  I don't know for sure but my stomach was bloated and I couldn't put any pressure on it or it killed.  I am fine now but that day sucked.  I have also had a cold since Wednesday.  Yes I love being sick, not.  This morning we played basketball and then we ate at greenwich, which is the pizza restaurant.  So my prayer was answered I was transferred somewhere with good food...haha.  Yesterday at a dinner appointment there was a plate of chicken feet.  I was thinking about trying one but I ended up not trying it.  They just look so gross.  I am also happy that the pats won!!  I just wish that I could have watched the super bowl.  Of course my family has a super bowl party the year that I am gone!  It is cool that you all got to go to disneyland.  Way to go adam and ethan for riding california screamer.  I would say that ride and space mountain are my favorite!  Well I love you all.  I will try to take pictures of my apartment this week and stuff.  

Love Elder Lott

 

 

 

(Elders he came in with)