August 29. 2016

Hey guys!

     A lot of this week was spent in the hospital. Elder Minarik hasn't been feeling good for two months, and lost 22 pounds over the course of that time. So, I finally convinced him to call Hermana Galbadón (Mission Presidents Wife), and she wanted him to go get a blood draw. So we went in, and they said the only opening they had was for the next morning. So when we went back, Elder Minarik realized that he had eaten that morning, so they couldn't take his blood. 

     Hermana Mendez was still there, so we went and talked to her for a while. President and his wife came while we were there, and I was able to talk with them for a while. They're awesome! Her Dad hunts, rides horses, and is basically a part of our family, so it was fun to swap different stories. 

     But anyway, the next day we went back for Elder Minarik's blood test, and the doctors aren't sure what's wrong. Hermana Galbadón took the results to a couple different doctors, and none of them know what's wrong, so hopefully an American doctor can figure it out. (Editors Note: His companion goes home in a few weeks) 

     The hospital that missionaries go to is pretty nice for Mexico, but still isn't very comparable to an American hospital. The nurses don't come out and get you, a security guard does, so that was interesting! Hermana Mendez is feeling better, and is out doing missionary work, but she has to go home tomorrow because I guess before she came out she had a surgery on her knee, and one of the screws is coming out! She'll only be home for a month, then she'll be back out here.

     We used to have 6 Elders, and 2 Hermanas, but the Hermanas got transferred to a different area because the area they had got closed, so Elder Minarik and picked it up. Our area more than doubled in size! (Editors Note: we asked how many missionaries were in his district)

     We still don't have water in the house, it's getting a bit ridiculous! The bill has been paid, but they haven't sent anyone out to turn in back on.

     We had exchanges again, but this time I went with Elder Finkner. It was super hot that day!

Yesterday, it rained a bunch! So we went over the Ricci family's house and talked with them for a while. We were there for a couple of hours waiting for the storm to pass. We ended up playing Jenga with them, and she fed us dinner.

     This morning 8 of the Elders got together and we played soccer at the church, which was fun! 

If you could send letters to the Mission Offices, that would probably be best! Because I'm not sure if we will be moving houses or not, and that way I don't have to worry about that during transfers.

     On Friday, our lunch appointment Lady wasn't going to be able to feed us, so she gave us money to buy food with. So, we bought ground beef and made hamburgers. They were awesome!

    

     This first month in the mission went by fast! I can understand most of what's being said, but can't say a whole lot. (Editors Note: we asked how his Spanish was coming along)

     I hope you guys are having a good time! I wish I had more time! 30 minutes is not enough! Also, can you guys send me pictures of whatever you're doing. I like pictures too ;)  Oh, and when I get the birthday package, should I open it when I get it, or wait till my birthday? (Editors Note: Does really matter what I tell him, I see the package getting opened on arrival!)

-Elder Radmall

Tuesday August 23rd, 2016

     Hey guys! Sorry I couldn't write yesterday! It's been a crazy week! So, let's start at the beginning.  Monday night was companionship exchanges which were a little weird. I was with Elder Bales. He's from Blackfoot.  He's been out for about 6 months, so he wasn't used to being the Senior companion, so I think he was pretty stressed. But we taught a few lessons, plus his house has an air conditioner. So I slept amazingly! Elder Minarik and I are trying to get one.

     Even up to today, we don't have water at the house. I guess there was an unpaid bill from before we got there, so they cut the water. The people at the offices are figuring that out today.

     Earlier in the week Elder Bales and Elder Haug had a baptism, so we took the Ricci family to it, and they had a great experience!

     As of last week we had 7 progressing investigators, and we made a goal to double that number, and as of today, we have 13! It is so awesome! We got some from street contacting and some from references. We don't knock on doors, because we've been advised not to because of the Narcos, which is the druglord gang. President says that we don't know who's on the other side of the door, and he doesn't want it to be them. Anyways, we committed 4 of our investigadors to baptism on Friday, so that was cool!

     The Ricci family made me promise them that when I come back to my mission, to come visit them. And when I get picked up.

     At home I've been eating a lot of eggs, hot dogs, and cereal. We've been getting a lot more variety in our food, which has been nice.

     The other day Elder Minarik and I were walking down the street, and he found a spatula with a broken handle.  He picked it up and was looking at it, and I knew that we didn't have a spatula for our pan, but there was no way in heck I was going to use one off the street!  So, I just looked at him and said, "No, we are not using that!" So he put it down and said "I'm turning Mexican!" It was pretty funny!

     Then on Sunday, it got really crazy. We went to church like normal. We have two sister missionaries in our area, Hermana Mercedes, and Hermana Mendez. And Hermana Mendez all of a sudden was not feeling good at all! She was sitting in a chair crying, and she didn't want to go to the hospital. We finally convinced her to go, and when we got there, she was so weak, that she couldn't move or talk. We put her in a wheelchair, and when she got to the hospital room, she started convulsing. When that stopped, she couldn't breathe. President and his wife showed up, and talked with the doctors. She started breathing again, which was good. They ran a bunch of tests on her, and yesterday they had to pull some fluid out of her spine to run another test. We spent a lot of the day in the hospital yesterday, which was why we didn't have time to email.

     This week was pretty crazy! I love you guys! I hope you have an awesome week! School sounds like school! ;)

Elder Radmall

     ​Sorry, when I was trying to put on the pictures, something happened, and erased all my pictures. The only new ones that I can't retake, are of me and Elder Minarik going to Carl's Jr. for lunch. Sorry, I'm not sure what happened.

Monday August 15, 2016




             (Elder Hunt from Twin Falls)                                   (MTC instructors)
​
Hey guys!

     Well... It has been really hot and humid! It rained a ton the other day! 

      The other day Elder Minarik, who has been out 23 months, and I ate some tacos on the street. They were really good! He told me afterward that the meat inside was cow brain!

     We still don't have any air-conditioning yet, but we're hoping to get that all situated this week. Tonight I have to go on splits. I guess splits are for 24 hours, so I had to pack up some stuff, which sucked! We may be getting an hour for e-mailing soon, Hopefully! 30 Minutes is no where near enough! 

     (Elder Radmall with his trainer Elder Minarik who is                                                                                                                                from Washington State)

     Two of the pictures are of me washing my clothes. We have to wash them by hand, which sucks, but oh well! Today I bought a backpack, which has been extremely nice! In the store we shop at, there's a little McDonalds that just sells icecream, but it's awesome! I've bought a sundae a couple of times. I've been eating super cheap so I can buy some things to snack on too. We get 400 pesos every week, and I still have 200 of the pesos from last week!

(Editors Note: 400 pesos is 22 US dollars, sooooo 200 pesos is 11 US dollars)

(Editors Note: Chores, they never end)

     

     I'm starting to be able to understand more Spanish, which has been awesome! My testimony that I bore at church was very simple, but I was able to do it. I wasn't too nervous for it. I've been taking a part in every lesson, which has been good. We have seven progessing investigators! I'm super excited for Ian too! That's awesome!  (Editors Note: Ian is Forest's Cousin and was just called to Peru Lima South)

     There's a missionary here who has seen my video of me opening my call! So, that was kinda cool! 

(Editors Note: Elder Radmall's Casa)

     My address is:    Constituyente Gral. Luis G.

                                   Monzon 2135

                                   80180 Culiacan Rosales, Sinaloa

                                   Mexico

                                   

(Editors Note: The building Forest attends                                                                                                                                                   church)

(Editors Note: Streets of Culiacan)

     (Editors Note: we had a few questions for Forest, such as when does district meeting start and where do you want our letters sent, Mission home or your personal address, and what part of Culiacan are you in, which he was able to send right back)

     P-Day goes to 6, which is when the district meeting starts.

     Send my letters in the mail. We almost never go to the mission home. 

     I'm not exactly sure what part. I think we're pretty far to the west.

 I miss you guys! I love you all!

-Elder Radmall

Monday August 8th, 2016

     Yes! I really wish I could have some of mom´s cooking!  (Editor's note:  We told Forest about Dylan's birthday dinner and cake in our last email.) Here we don´t have dinner appointments, we have lunch appointments. We mainly have tacos, which are pretty good, but I wish we could get more variety. They don´t eat lunch here at the normal time. They eat lunch at 2, which has been kind of hard to get used to. 

     This week has been pretty crazy! Our house didn´t have electricity or water. As of today, we have both of those things. 

     Elder Minarik, my companion, said that this has been the hardest area he´s had his whole mission. Which makes it hard to get into the swing of things for me, but it´s nice to know that it´ll probably only get easier. 

     I haven´t taken any pictures yet, because we´ve running all over the place trying to figure stuff out, so I´ll try to take some this week.

      Our ward is really small, but I bore my testimony, in Spanish! It was very simple, but I did it!  

      I´m loving the area! It´s a lot different than anything I´ve ever experienced! The buses here are insane! The roads here are dirt and gravel, so the feel of the bus ride reminds me of the dirt roads back home. It´s been super hot and humid, which has been weird to get used to. I love you guys!

     So, I forgot to tell you guys about the Ricci family. They own the house we´re staying in, and they live just around the corner from us. They are our best investigators. It´s a mom and her two daughters. The husband isn´t interested in the church, but is super nice to us. They give us buckets of water to shower with, which sucks to have to do, but I´m glad they´re willing to do that for us. They fed us dinner two nights in a row, and then again last night. They´re awesome. The guy that lives across the street from them, got shot twice in the face! That was crazy! 

Elder Radmall

Monday August 1, 2016

     I don't have very much time, but I just have to tell you that I made it to Culiacan. I will be serving here in the city. Tomorrow my companion and I will be opening up a new area. I'm not sure how to spell his name, so I'll just have to tell you the next time I get to email. I love you guys!

-Elder Radmall

(About an hour later).....

     Hey! So, my companion needed to email, so I get to email too. His name is Elder Minarik. He´s from Washington State. So I guess the old mission president gave the missionaries two hours to email, but the new one only gives us 30 minutes, including the email to him, that has to be in Spanish. So, my emails will probably be getting shorter.

       It´s really humid here, which sucks. It just feels hot all the time. I feel pretty overwhelmed, but I´m sure I´ll get into the swing of things. I hope you guys are having a good time. I miss the Idaho weather. It really sucked leaving my district. I had a really good time at the CCM, but I don´t really miss it. I like being able to walk around, but I miss the people that were in my district. Well, I gotta go. Next time I´ll make an outline so I can write more things. I love you guys!

(Editors Note: Forest was in District Seven thus their sign)

     Also, there are a ton of stray dogs here! I guess my companion got bit by one last month! It´s so crazy being able to walk around the streets!

Love, Elder Radmall

Wednesday July 27th, 2016

Hey!

     This week has been a pretty good week, but it went by so fast! I wish my Español was better, but I guess it'll come with time. I'm really excited to go to Culiacan, but it's gonna suck leaving these guys behind. We've come to be really close. There are a lot of meetings I have to go to this week! I leave on Monday at 5:30 a.m. We had some awesome fried chicken this week! Not as good as mom's, but it was still pretty good! (Editors Note: Mom is smiling)

      I went to the Temple again today, which was nice. So, every Sunday we watch an LDS movie, and I've been trying to convince the MTC President to let us watch 17 Miracles, so hopefully. Elder Meadows got a package this week, he was super excited! I still haven't gotten Brother Kellogg's letter yet. If you guys sent any letters this week, I haven't gotten them. (Editors Note: Dad was able to chat back and forth with Forest when his email came through, so he was able to re-send the letters he didn't get!) 

     We were told that we have to take a Spanish Test to get out of here, so I'm a little nervous for that, but we've been told by other missionaries that it's pretty easy. Yesterday we went to Hermano Pavia's soccer game, which was fun, it was against Hermano Ortiz. Pavia scored a goal, and Ortiz had an awesome bicycle kick. Ortiz also got a red card for sticking his hand out to block a shot haha! Yesterday we were told that this MTC received 400 new missionaries. 120 of them were supposed to come here, and the rest came from Chile and Peru MTCs. I guess they're remodeling them. I don't know if that's true or not, but if it is, that's a lot of missionaries here! It's been fun to find scriptures in the Bible, that are answered in the Book of Mormon. Read John 10:16, then 3 Nephi 15:2. I'm having an awesome time out here! Hopefully you guys are having fun too! I think my P-Day in Culiacan is Monday. I love you!

(Editors Note: Here are some of the emails Dad and Forest exchanged on Wednesday)

(Dad)

 So sorry, you didn't get our letters, we sent some, but the company said they were having issues.

(Forest) 

That's ok. I got some from both sets of grandparents, which was nice. Hopefully they get here before I leave. Sorry I didn't get any pics this week.

(Dad) 

Good luck on your Test, We love ya kid, I hope you'll be able to email us when you get in Field. 

(Forest)

I'm pretty sure I arrive on my P-Day, so hopefully I get to email. and Thanks!

(Dad)

So how much time do you get on the computer today, chatting with you is awesome. I miss being able to talk to you.

(Forest)

We're supposed to take an hour, but it doesn't kick you off, you just can't log back on after you log off. Yeah! It sucks not being able to just talk to you! How's work been going?

(Dad)

I'm sending you the letters you didn't get!

(Forest)

Thanks for sending it! I can't access my blog here, but I probably will be able to once I get to Culiacan. We wash our stuff together to save on laundry soap. Sundays are awesome! We have a lot of devotionals. I have not had to speak yet, but since this Sunday is my last, and I'm the Zone Leader, I probably will get called on. This is my last P-Day. I leave on Monday at 5:30 in the morning. My Spanish scriptures are separate, and they're black. I did not get to choose. Hopefully you and Sam had fun at Bradley!

(Dad)

How long till your hour is up...HAHAHA, and if  you don't pass the test how much longer would you stay?

(Forest)

I'll stay here until everybody is done, so I'm not sure how much longer that will be. And I'm not sure how much long I'd have to stay. I've heard 1 week and I've heard 2 weeks. Hopefully I pass and it's 0 weeks! haha

(Dad)

You'll pass, trust in the Lord, I love being able to talk to you, Sam says Hi as does Dylan. How's the weather?

(Forest)

Hey guys! The weather isn't too bad. It gets a little hot during that afternoon, but the evenings are nice and cool. Everybody else thinks it's cold, but I think it's perfect!

(Dad)

Well, we've been checking the weather in Culiacan, and it's HOT! Mom and Holly are at camp, I'll see them tomorrow. Do you need anything?

(Forest)

No. I wanted some shorts. Like plaid ones, but not plaid if that makes sense. They're like the 5:11's but in shorts. They were like $5 in the Tienda, so I just bought them here. What's the temp in Culiacan?

(Dad)

Temp is 106 but feels like 125!!!!! Sam wants to tell you, he went on a horse ride in the south hills 15 miles with Grandpa Tucker, he had a great time.

(Forest)

That's awesome bud! I was just thinking about how I wish grandpa would take you guys on horse rides! I miss it so much! That temperature is crazy! I'm gonna melt away! That is soooo hot!

(Dad)

Wouldn't it be cool if Clark Atkins was your trainer? (Editors Note: Our Stake President's son is serving in Culiacan Mexico too!)

(Forest)

I don't know if I want Atkins as my trainer or not. I really want to be his companion, but I kinda want a Latino Companion who doesn't speak English, so I have to speak Spanish. 

(Dad)

Yes, I agree you need a latino trainer. Brother Ward is so proud of you, he loved the story of you cracking that kids knuckles! (Editors Note: Brother Andrew Ward is one of Forest's heros in our Ward)

(Forest)

Haha that's awesome! I have to go. I'll talk to you guys next week! I love you!

Love,

Elder Radmall

Wednesday July, 20th 2016

Hey guys!

     So, this week was pretty good. Yesterday, we got yet another district. So now we have five districts in our zone! So, our zone is 7B, and we made up this sign for our district, just by crossing your arms and holding up the number seven. It's kinda dumb, but it drives the other districts crazy, so of course we continue to do it. When we went to get our visas, Elder Mockbey from 7C came with us. He is also going to Culiacan. And we like converted him over to 7B, and he holds up our sign every time we see him. It drives his district crazy! Then also Elder Clark has been converted to our district. What makes that one funny, is that he is one of the District Leaders from 7C. 

     I don't know if you remember Cole Hunt, but I ran in to him this morning, so that was cool! He's going to Texas. I do need the Ward's email. Thanks for keeping me updated on the ward. And thanks for the pictures. (Editors Note Forest wanted pictures of his metal art work) My district thinks they're awesome! 

     It's crazy to think that I only have one more P-Day here at the CCM.We play a lot of basketball here, and our district is amazing at it! When we actually try, nobody can beat us. I'll have get a picture of us playing ball, and a picture of our "sign". 

     Last week, Elder Meadows accidentally left a pen in his shirt pocket when we washed our whites. So, when we pulled them out of the dryer, there were black dots on everything. So we went to reception, and they put something on them, and it took out the pen. We were very grateful! 

     

     On Sunday we watched "The Testaments" and the spirit was super strong! I felt complete joy and better and better! I look forward to the letters sent from home. I read them over and over. They're a great comfort! My Spanish is continuing to improve. I just need to have more confidence in speaking it. 

     On Monday we got moved to a new classroom, which sucked! Our classroom was like our home! It was on the corner of the building, and the door opened to outside. It was awesome. The new classroom is bigger, but it echoes, and is in a building. So we have to walk down a hallway to get to it. It really sucks!

The cookies you and grandma and grandpa sent were amazing! I took one box to class and shared it, then the other one Elder Meadows and I just kinda snack on. The sim disk card reader thing is exactly what I needed! I only have two pictures this week, sorry. They're of the same flag, just taken from two different perspectives.

     

     I have not received Brother Kellogg's letter yet, but his daughters drew me pictures, and Sister Kellogg took pictures of them and sent them to me through email. I'm really excited for Bryan Lawrence, that's awesome! I can't wait to see where Ian and Darin Tschida go. I can't remember if I told you this already, but in our room and in the bathroom, when you flip on the ligh tswitch, the lights flicker a couple times before they turn on, which took some getting used to. I miss you guys! But I'm having a great time out here!

Love, 

Elder Radmall