Elder Lott has arrived in the Philippines

 Aug 17, 2014

Hey Everyone!! Sorry it has been like 2 weeks since I have emailed, I didn't get a p day at the Manila mtc so we didn't get the opportunity to email. I have been in the Philippines for about 2 weeks!! It is super hot here!! I sweat like crazy! That is cool that you could track my flight!  Everyone that was on that flight that day, we left on thursday and arrived in the philippines at about 12:30 a.m. so we skipped friday!! I got my new companion and his name is Elder Arorong!! He is pretty cool, Here in the philippines they call white people Joe so I get called Joe a lot!! I also have everyone staring at me
wherever we go because there is not really any white people here. Also the filipino girls like white guys so they always wave to me. Don't worry I definitely am not going to marry one! So pretty much everyday in our apartment we have lizards on our walls eating bugs, also my first night at the apartment we had a couple spiders in our apartment. That one in that picture was my shower buddy because it was in the bathroom...they are pretty big here!! We also have a bench and dumbells in our apartment. The bench is two rice cookers with cement in them cemented to a bar, and the dumbells are pretty much the same thing just much smaller!! I have my own fan so that is freaken awesome!! I hope everything is going well at home!!  I love you all

Love Elder Lott

                                    Finally to Cauayan

 The new companionships.  Elder Lott with Elder Arorong

 

 

 Still can work out.  Check out the weights- cement in rice cookers.

 

 

 

Gross.  Apparently they didn't kill this.  It eats bugs for them.  Personally I would rather have the bugs than this.  Yuck.

August 24, 2014

 

Hey everyone its been another week!!  I am adjusting to life in the philippines.  A couple of days ago I did my laundry and it was all by hand because we don't have a washer or dryer.  I have to admit that it sucked really bad.  It has been raining a lot here.  Last night me and my companion where out teaching and when we were on our way home it was poring.  By the time we got to our apartment I was soaked.  It was raining so bad that there was little rivers in all of the roads.  Me and my companion have two progressing investigators but we have like 10 in all.  The language isn't getting any easier though.  The food here, lets just say that I am not a very big fan of it.  I have been living off of french toast, eggs, and peanut butter sandwiches at our apartment.  I will send some more pictures next week.  My camera broke last week.  There is number 2 already.  Also my pin number doesn't work on my card so could you fix that so I can use some of the money on it.   Everything is so cheap here, but you have to pay for everything like transportation.  Our transportation is a motorcycle with a little thing on the side of it were we sit.  I can get some pictures once I get a new camera.  My area is a lot of farm land.  There is a lot of rice and corn fields.  Thats crazy that school is already started for them.  Have fun.  I love you all.  I will send a bunch of pictures next week if I have a new camera by then. Also thanks for that care package I got it yesterday.  My companion says thanks also. Love ya

Love Elder Lott

 

 

We are thrilled he is doing good.  We love him very much and are so proud of him.  Thank you for everyone's continued support.

 

 

Here is his mailing address for anyone interested.

 

 

 

Elder Alex Michael Lott

Philippines Cauayan Mission

78 Burgos Street

3305 Cauayan City

Isabela

Phillipines

 

(postage is $1.50 to send.  They have special international stamps at the post office or use three stamps.)

On a funny note (sort of), he has already had two cameras, a watch and a suitcase break. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lotts of summer fun

Why must the summer come to an end??   Didn't it just begin??  I recently mentioned to someone that I guess all good things have to come to an end.  She replied, "Or other good and new things start."  I told her that I liked that better.  So here are all the good things that we have done this summer and soon I will post about all the other new and good things that we will have started.

 We had fun camping up in Logan Canyon.  It rained a lot and the kids saw a few rattlesnakes while hiking.  Luckily we had no major accidents.  We enjoyed yummy dutch oven food and just spending time together as a family.   Thank goodness for baby wipes.  Ethan wouldn't wear shoes and his feet were as black as coal.  It was the first time in our new/old trailer and wow, that was great. The wind did blow one night and collapsed our canopy shade again for the second year in a row.  I found the humor in the situation even if Mike didn't.  I guess I will order a few extra replacement parts this time and plan ahead for next year.  We had a blast and can't wait to go again. 

 Adam loves being a cub scout.  He had so much fun during day camp up at Camp Kiesel.  Mike and I were the adult leaders (it was our date for the week) and we had a nice day watching the boys do various activities.  Adam's favorite was archery.  He has been working hard on his wolf and should receive his award next month.  I am still the Bear leader in our ward (along with my awesome mother-in-law as my assistant) and we have a lot of fun doing activities.  Ethan is thrilled that he usually gets to join in.  Adam usually joins in as well because we only have two Bears.

 The boys love to swim.  Check out Adam.  Maybe we have a Olympian on our hands.

Silly boys.  They came down stairs ready to box, and yes that is underwear on their heads.  Hopefully it is clean.   I let them go at it for a little while.  I got it on video and it's really pretty funny.  After a minute or so, Ethan had enough after getting hit in the face. 

Ethan came up with this idea on his own so the onions wouldn't hurt his eyes as he helped me make salsa.  Clever boy.

August 12, 2014 

(from the August 2014 Ensign.  There are so many wonderful messages throughout.)

I recently heard this quote.  "You will heal, but you are never the same."  This is so true.  I will always have a longing in my heart for my sweet Ryan.  And I will have joy, but it won't be complete until we are all together again as a family.  I look forward to that joyous reunion with all my heart.  With all I have gone through, I have learned so much and gained so much.  Much of this I wouldn't have been able to learn unless I went through what I did.  My testimony and love for my Savior is stronger than ever.  It has to be for me.  It keeps me going and gives me comfort and strength to endure.  I know it will all be wonderful in the end and I just need to be patient.   My Heavenly Father loves me perfectly, even though I am so imperfect.  And that's OK.  He sent his only Son to make up for where I lack.  And he sacrificed him so I can be with mine again someday.  My Savior loves me and my Heavenly Father does answer prayers.  He knows what's best for us, even if we don't agree at the time.  This life time is but a moment and eternity is what counts.  I try and look for the little miracles and blessings I receive ever day.  Even in a tragedy there are miracles and answers to prayers. We are never alone.

 Enjoying nachos at an Ogden Raptors game.  The boys are crazy about baseball  right now and love to practice with one another and with Mike.  I have to hide the metal bats as I am not in the mood for any head injuries or broken window.  The other day we went to the park to practice a little.  When I got up to bat Ethan told Adam (who was in the outfield) to move up closer.  How rude.  I showed him and hit a good one.

 Go Longhorns.  We went to the Weber County Fair.  The best part was the yummy kettle corn.  It's crazy we paid to get into a fair to pet goats and see chickens and cows when we have our very own little petting zoo at home.  The kids did have fun getting up close to these, which we do not have yet.  Just kidding Mike.

We went to a putting green for Family Home Evening.  Ethan was thrilled to get a dollar for getting a hole in one.  I even got a par.   We had to play super fast because a storm was coming in.  It was very fun and the kids can't wait to go again.  They love to practice with a set of Alex's old golf clubs in our yard.  Once again, they aren't supposed to use them unsupervised due to the fact that I do not want any broken windows or heads.  Apparently it's a secret but a ball has hit our house and one of the boys did get hit in the head with a club.  I can't remember which one though.  And thank goodness neither was too bad.  It's a good thing that Ethan isn't good at keeping secrets.  He always comes up to me and tells me he knows something but he can't tell me.  Luckily it doesn't take much to get him to spill the beans.

 We attended the Ogden Temple open house.  It was beautiful.  Ethan had fun pretending like he was a usher and directing us in the line.  He also loved to touch everything and sit on every couch and get a drink from every drinking fountain even though we asked him nicely not to do so.  I guess he felt pretty safe in the temple and knew he wouldn't get into much trouble.    Mike and I are excited to be able to volunteer on Sept 6th at the temple.  That will be a special opportunity.   I can't wait to be able to start attending this beautiful temple.  We are so blessed to have so many close by.  What a special opportunity it is to attend the temple and help those on the other side so they can be blessed to have their families with them forever.  It's also special to know that my dear sweet Ryan is doing a special work on the other side and we are working together in our Heavenly Father's great plan.

Ethan enjoyed wearing the shoe cover as a hat afterwards.  Silly boy.

Poor Ethan dropped a 35 lb weight on his toe.  He was so brave.  He cried for a few minutes and then was up and playing again.  It hasn't held him back.  I really hope he will now see why we have made the rule not to play with the weights.  I am just glad he didn't break his toe or worse.

 So soccer season has started and the boys are thrilled.  Yesterday Adam got his uniform.  It was huge.  I put it on and it fit me.  I guess I will try and shrink it in the wash or start hemming it.  Apparently they we expecting a giant 8 year old on the team.  Hey maybe I will just join in and play. 

I used this quote in a Relief Society lesson I gave a few weeks ago.  It is a great one and I wanted to share it.

The boys had so much fun making these little tool boxes for a scout project.  Don't be fooled, they came from a kit and only required four nails and a dab of glue and paint.  It was a perfect project for my two little boys and for me as well. 

Jaime  8th grade

August 20, 2014

Adam  3rd grade

   The first day of school.  Exciting times, except for Ethan who doesn't start kindergarten for another week.  He was up and dressed at 6:30am and couldn't understand why he couldn't just ride the bus with Adam.  We spent the morning playing some games to keep his mind off his heart ache.

Here's to all the good things yet to come.....

How's it going Elder Lott

Making treats to send to Alex at the MTC.  Check out the huge zucchini we got from our garden.  Ethan called it his baby and was sad when I shredded it to make bread.  We did add some choc chips to the zucchini bread and hope Alex was brave and tried it.  He said all the other missionaries liked it but never commented on it himself.  Some day soon when he's eating something strange he'll be wishing he had some of my yummy zucchini bread.  Hee Hee    (We also made some cookies for him.)

 

 

 

 

Our first letters from Elder Lott    July 5, 2014

 

The MTC has been really crazy.  As soon as I got here I went to my room, dropped off my stuff, and met my companion and then went straight to class.  Yesterday was a hard day.  We barely have any Tagalog under our belt and yesterday all of the companionships in our branch had to teach and investigator separately in Tagalog!!  Me and my companion think that we did pretty well and we took up like 25 min.  Of course not all of that time was spent in tagalog we spoke english when we didn't know how to say what we were thinking in Tagalog, but the investigator only spoke tagalog the whole time.  Yesterday all the missionaries had a devotional and we watched a movie called 17 miracles.  After that we got to go outside and we saw about the last 30 minutes of the stadium of fire.  It has been really hard here but I know I can do it I love and miss you all.  Love, Elder Lott

 

 

 

 

July 12, 20014

 

Hey family!!  Life here at the MTC is good!! The food is not to bad but I swear it gives every missionary gas!!! So during class all the Elders are just letting them go.  My district is just elders with no sisters so there is no problem with doing that!!  I can't believe its already been 10 days!! It seems like it has went by so fast. So everyday we get like 1 hour of gym time and there is quite a few things that we can do like basketball!!  But sadly the gym is closed for 2 weeks because they are redoing the floor which really, really sucks!! They have a field that you can play soccer, frisbee,kickball, and beach volleyball courts.  Yesterday we had a zone soccer game and it was really fun.  I would say that I balled it up haha!!  They have a weight room it is not that impressive though it only has like bikes, pull-up machines, and free weights but i can still get a decent workout in!! I have been doing like 150 push ups a day so hopefully I don't loose all of this muscle haha!!!  So the first week we were here we found out that we had to teach an investigator in Tagalog and we barely even knew any tagalog.  It was a challenge but when I was teaching I just felt so happy.  Even though I couldn't understand anything that he was saying!!  Our last lesson was on monday and me and my companions lesson flowed really nicely.  We committed him to baptism!!  The next day in class I walk in and he was there and we found out that he would be our new teacher.  I knew he was just role playing for the lesson, but I was like I hope I didn't sound like an idiot in front of him.  He is actually way tight.  Last night we were in class and he was teaching us and he was telling us about the Philippines and his experiences there.  He said that when he hadn't been out there that long they killed about 3 rats in their apartment!!  I wouldn't be worried about killing them I would just be worried about them chewing on me!!  So as you could imagine all the elders were listening intently because we are all going to the philippines.  He told us that cockroaches come out at night and lay on you,he said that snakes like to lay on the road at night in the philippines.  So one night when they were walking back to their apartment and out of nowhere a cobra popped up.  The cobra was just laying on the road and he almost walked right over top of that so he said that you have to be careful about that!!! He ate balute in the philippines and he really likes it.  That makes me want to throw up!!!  He said that when he was in the philippines that he lost 35 pounds and he said that he isn't really that picky!!  So I am going to come home really skinny!!! I think it will be fun!! He said that he had a machete so that will be feaken sick!! I do need to ask some favors though!!  I need a new camera!!  I don't even know what happened to it! I turned it of and the lense didn't go back in and when I turn it on it says lense obstruction!!  I need to take pictures to have memories and my camera doesn't even work!!! Last night I wished I would have had it because our district had P-day eve and everyone pitched in with food so there was a whole bunch of food and we played games and stuff and joked around it was really fun!!!!!  Thanks for the brownies they are really good!  I wouldn't mind more care packages..haha!:)  I love you all and miss you!!

                                                                                                    Love, Elder Lott

 

 

 

                                                                 July 19, 2014

 

Hey Family!!! Another week has passed, I only have 2 and a half weeks left in the MTC!  I just want to get out to the Philippines, cause I think it will be so cool!!  So this week there was a couple unusual things that happened.  So you are probably wondering what is happening in that picture with all of the mattress's?  So we found out that if you get a ton of mattress's, that you can block people in their room, so that's what we were doing and it is super funny what happens!!  After we blocked they people in there rooms we were messing around with the mattress's and made like a human mattress sandwich and it was pretty funny!  I am glad that I wasn't on the bottom!! So there is an elder that has been feeling sick for awhile.  So yesterday me and my companion got chosen to go to the hospital with him.  It was weird we were sitting on a bench and I looked over to my companion I was like, It is weird that we haven't rode in a vehicle for 2 weeks and he was like that is way weird.  The elder that we went to the hospital with he had to get some dyes injected in him and then he got an MRI for an hour!!!!  So were there for about 3 hours total at the hospital!!  Did you get my letters yet?  Because I met a lady at the hospital and she said one of her best friends is named Loraine Lott and they live in Alpine, UT so I was just wondering if you know if we are related or not?  The food here is good but it is getting old.  They don't really have that big of a menu so we have the same kind of food quite a bit!!!   The other picture in this email is our P-day eve party!!  We have been doing them every Friday night!!  They are pretty fun!  We just eat food and chill!!! So things are going pretty well here. So keep sending letters cause I like getting them!!  Love you all!!

                                                                                                  Love, Elder Lott

 

 

He's the one in the middle.  He already looks older.

 

We are thrilled he is doing good.  It has been fun to send him messages almost daily via dearelder.com.   I am amazed he loves to hear from us so much.  He has even mailed us all individual letters which was very touching.  I didn't expect to get those.  His p day is on Saturday and we are always anxious to hear from him.  We have sent him a few packages and he loves them.  We are so proud of what he is doing.  He is in the Lord's hands and we have already seen little changes in him in just the few short weeks he has been gone.  We are pretty sure he flys out on Aug 8.  It will be wonderful to be able to talk to him on the phone while he's at the airport.  We love him so much and can't wait to hear about all of his adventures- spiritual and culture once he is in the Philippines.  Elder Lott is doing hard things with the help of the Lord and we couldn't be more pleased.

 

 

Where has the summer gone

Ethan wanted a suit so badly (I got Adam one as well).  Thank goodness for eBay.  He wants to wear it everywhere and show everyone.  He struts around so proudly in it.   He even asks if he can sleep in it.  He tells me, "I am going to preach the gospel."  Once he even went outside and ran the doorbell.  He was so happy when I opened the door and acted surprised to find him there tracking.  He also really wanted his own missionary badge.  He was thrilled when I came home with a 'Future Missionary' badge that I had gotten from Seagull Book.  Looks like Alex's example of serving a mission is already paying off. 

 

 

We found this little snake in our backyard.  The boys had so much fun playing with it.  Adam was crazy and even put it in his shirt and let it crawl around on him.  Gross.  The poor thing was probably scared to death and I bet was so happy when I finally made them let it go.

 

 

Mike and I were in need of a trip after months of preparing to get Alex ready for his mission-  shopping, packing, yard work in anticipation of guests for the farewell, paperwork....

 

We headed back east and did a multi-state tour.  We traveled through Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Vermont.  We had a wonderful time.  It was so beautiful to see the light houses in Maine and we took the back roads through most places to see the local scenery.  There are trees everywhere.  I loved it.  There were also beautiful white churches everywhere.  It became a joke of Mike and mine if we hadn't seen at least one church in every town.   

 

Here are a few pictures from our trip in no particular order.

 

The famous Cheers pub in downtown Boston.  We weren't able to go in due to the fact that Mike forgot his wallet and they didn't think he looked old enough (JK).  The lunch menu actually looked great but we had already eaten.

 

 

Seafood was abundant everywhere.  We were brave and tried these little guys.  Even with the heads attached they were actually quite good.  I am glad we went out of our comfort zone and tried something new.  Ha Ha

 

 

 

 

 

 

One day we took a ferry from Massachusetts to a small island called Nantucket.  We enjoyed the day there as we rode around on rented bikes.  We walked along the beach.  One of our favorite tv shows Wings was based from this island.  It was fun to go places that were mentioned in the show- The Club Car restaurant and the airport.

   Wearing orange for Ry

July 12, 2014

One of the light houses in Maine.  We saw about seven.  There are actually probably close to twenty of them.  Most of them that we saw don't function anymore but it was still fun to see them.

We went to Sharon, Vermont to see where the prophet Joseph Smith was born.  These stones mark the perimeter of the house and the stone Mike is sitting on is original and was the doorstep.  The church owns 300 acres and it is so beautifully kept.

The USS Constitution.  It is a war ship that was built in the 1790's.  It was neat to go on it and look around and see how people lived on it.  I can't believe that 500 men manned it at one time.  It didn't seem that big.

 

 one of the many white churches

Mike thinks I am nuts but I like to hold my breath when I cross a state line.  If I miss it we turn around and go back and try again (jk on that part).

 

 

 

 We had hoped to attend a session at the Boston Temple but found out before we left that it would be closed for cleaning.  We were disappointed but still enjoyed walking around the beautiful grounds.  It surprised us that it is a full sized temple.  It was huge.  You can't see how big it is from this angle.

 

 

 

 

 a light house

 

 

 

 

  We took a tour of the Ben and Jerry ice cream factory in Stowe, Vermont.  We got to sample some yummy ice cream.

 

 

 

 

 

On a side note, if you carefully pack a bottle of Vermont maple syrup (wrapped up in many bags to catch leakage- just in case the pressure causes it to explode) in your luggage it will look suspicious and your bag will be searched.   

 

The big day has finally arrived...

Alex's farewell was on June 29.  He did a great job with his talk.  We were very proud of him.  Afterwards we held a luncheon at our house.  Thank you to all those who came to support us and for all those who couldn't come but were there in spirit. 

July 1, 2014  

Alex is officially a missionary.

Afterwards we went and got ice cream.  Later we played some basketball in the front yard in the dark with the porch lights on.  We had fun playing "lightning" and not keeping score so Ethan wouldn't be out right away.  The little boys found a big toad to play with.

The kids had one last slumber party together in Alex's room.  This was only possible because I made him clean his room before he left.  The little ones were happy to spend this special time with their big brother.  They are going to miss him so much.

 

July 2, 2014

The tears started as we pulled out of the driveway.  It was going to be a hard day for us all.

saying good-bye

I recently read something that Brigham Young said many years ago.  He said, "Every good Latter-Day Saint in the spirit world is busy.  What are they doing there?  They are preaching, preaching all the time, and preparing the way for us to hasten our work..."    So I have two missionaries- one on each side of the veil.  I know they will be working together.  What a comforting feeling it is to know that they are truly making a difference.  I am proud of both of my boys.  And I look forward to the day when I will be with them both again- one in two years and one in another lifetime.

 

 

 

One last meal together.  We had a delicious meal at Tucanos Brazilian Grill in Provo (it's better than Rodizio).  It was exciting to see a few other missionaries with their families as well.  Adam and Ethan loved being able to get all the meat they wanted.  We were all brave and tried the chicken hearts.  Yes, even Alex.  Poor Ethan gagged his down and I admit I needed some water to get mine down.  It was kind of chewy and it didn't help knowing what it actually was.

We all ate way too much.  This normally wouldn't have been a problem but with anticipating what was coming up (the goodbyes) on top of a full stomach, mine started to hurt a little.

We went to a park across from the Provo Temple to say our goodbyes.  There were many other families there as well, but we had no problem finding a private area.  The kids (including Alex and Mike) all played catch with the football to pass the time.  We only had about 30 minutes until Alex would be leaving.  We took many pictures and then it was time.  The tears flowed from us all.  Actually Ethan wasn't crying and that was a huge blessing.  Poor Adam sat on the ground and I went to console him.  This was much harder than I had ever imagined.  I felt like my heart was being ripped out for a second time.  I almost couldn't handle losing another son, even though this one would be coming home again.  It really takes faith to do hard things.  I know our family and many others will be blessed by Alex leaving.  So, yes it was hard, but it is so worth it.

 

 

 

 

The MTC is only a minute or so from the park.  We cried the entire drive there.  I was so proud of Alex.  He shed tears, but he was brave and kept it together.  Not once did he rethink his decision.  I am glad he couldn't read my mind.  I almost told Mike to just keep on driving.  The truth is, that had we brought Alex home I am sure we would have been arguing like mothers and teenagers do by the next day and then I would have wanted to send him back.

  We had a few more minutes as we unloaded his things at the MTC for the "final hugs" and more tears.  And then he was off.  He walked away and then looked back to smile and wave.  Someone had told us to tell him to do this and I am so glad.  I am so happy that the last thing I saw was a huge smile on his face.  He was in the Lord's hands now.  All would be ok and we would be reunited again in two years.

The Lotts can do hard things!!!

We will miss you Elder Lott.  We love you more than you can imagine.  We are so proud of you.

See you in TWO !!!!