Emails 6-30-08

The Mommy-From what I have heard there are about 1200 fires throughout the state. There are a few that are kind of close, but not close enough to do anything to us. We have however been surrounded in smoke all week. It is nice because it has kept the temperature down all week, but it sucks because it makes you feel like a heavy smoker. No problem with the info for Mickell. It is the least I can do for the third Amigo. I do have a street type tire on my bike. It is the same thickness and such as an off-road tire, but it does not hum while you ride on the road and gets a little better wear than off-road. The tool I was talking about is just called a bike tool. It has like alan wrenches and other things on it to help put together a bike and to do some maintenance or repairs.My companion had NEVER been grocery shopping before. He was not sure quite what to buy or anything. It was kind of fun to see him struggle through it, I did help him though on a few things. Yep my ankle got better and than I decided to hurt my shoulder again. The medical Senior missionaries have told me to refrain from throwing or anything stressful for a while. I was really freaked out to tell you honestly when I first did it. I felt a pop than my arm went kinda numb. I just rolled my shoulder forward and pop it went back in. I now get to do all my shoulder exercises again and build up my shoulder again. For dinners here in Lincoln, we usually are with members. We do have the occasional cancel or no dinner, but for the most part we get fed. They are going to try something new for the month of July so I am a little worried that we may starve, but we have some fall back people that said that we could call them and they will feed us.I would love to hear about Mickell's farewell. I cannot believe that he is already heading into the MTC. I am so stinking excited for the kid, he is going to be a great missionary. As for Kyle I have not heard much from him, but more than likely from what I have learned thus far on my mission, he will likely be released three days after he entered the MTC so I think the 23rd of Sept is about right.We are not "off" for the 4th. We do get to call it a day a little earlier than usual. At 6pm we get to call it a day and just go hang out with members (well sort of) or something to that degree. Things are going well other than the smoke. We have gotten more investigators and a few more potentials so that is really cool. My companions bike actually sort of broke this past week so we have to get it fixed and I am going to get my bike tuned up. We also gave talks in Sacrament meeting on Sunday. They were short only 2-3 minutes, but the sister that talked after me asked if I could go longer so I took about 8 minutes for her. We just talked about missionary work and bore our testimonies about the work. I got made fun of for being short, my comp is 6' 3", so I took and stood on the little kids stand thing to boost my height, it was really funny. Some of the Elders do want you to make cookies again and send them out however, they liked the chocolate ones that you sent to me. I am doing well though and staying in one piece, for the most part. Well how are things going for you? Is there anything new and exciting going on? I hope all is going well and that you are doing well. I love you mom.Love,Elder Brickey

Hello!I think I would be a little more secure if I were to be carrying a gun, just in case. It does sound like you are meeting quite the interesting people for sure. I think it is really funny though that it was a bunch of little jr highers that were making so much trouble. Stinking little skater punks. The drunk/high guy though would have been really funny. I probably would have messed with him a little though. I do agree with you though about people and the information that they tell to others freely. It is really weird being in the mission because I think everyone thinks that we are like priests and if they confess to us they are all good. I have heard some REALLY MESSED up things lately. It is funny because my greenie will ask me after if it is usually like that in the mission. I told him that I am still kinda new at this to so I am not sure. I think one lady got really mad after I talked to the bishop about some of what she told me, I think she thought I could not tell anyone or something I don't know. It sounds like you have your hands full with those two kids of yours though. I think that it is funny how big they are getting and I love the fact that I cannot be blamed for anything that they learn, because I am gone! Though I think it would be funny to teach D to say kvah (?) or something along those lines. I do have to laugh at you though Shan, you sent your email to my yahoo account. I actually had to go on there to get an email and there was your email. That sounds like fun, falling asleep on your kids bed, not very comfortable but fun. Na I really love your kids they make me laugh. Than again I miss all my nieces and nephews they are all really fun. Well it sounds like you are all staying really busy. As for me here in Cali I am staying way busy. We have been tracting SO much and we are concentrating on finding right now. I cannot believe how much work there is, but yet how hard it can be to find those that are ready. Well things are going well here for me and I hope that things keep going well for you back home. I love you all and wish you all the best. Give the kids a kiss and a squeeze for me. Love ya and take care.-Elder Brickey

Emails 6-23-08

The Mommy-It is pretty crazy to be senior companion and such already. I do like having the zeal of a new missionary though. There are only two Sisters in my district. There is usually only two Sisters per zone so I am the lucky one to have them in my district.President Pendleton actually comes in on Friday. I have heard that the Mission Presidents and their wives get "SPECIAL" treatment and the missionaries get the shaft. Oh well I am just glad that I did not have to deal with that. I took my Ogio backpack with me. It is kinda big, but I really like having it. Some missionaries like having the saddlebag type so they can put it over the frame of their bikes, or just a strap over the shoulder when they are tracting/on foot. It just needs to be big enough for your personal scriptures, maybe pass along cards (which are not to big), some copies of the Book of Mormon to hand out, and maybe some DVD's that you hand out. Oh and for District Meetings and Zone Conferences you take your Preach My Gospel so you can carry it or put it in the bag as well. As for a bike.....I really love my Specialized. I would recommend having a lighter bike and having road type tires on it. The bikes with more dirt tires and are knobby wear out quicker. They also are really noisy going down the road. There is also a bike tool that I would recommend getting so he can put his bike together when he gets there and if he gets a new companion he can help them out because most missionaries do not bring one. I am not really sure other than that. He could get a pump and make sure a good lock, usually not the ones that are all curled up like a pig tail, they are really annoying.I wish in a lot of ways that I could be there and go through the temple with him, but oh wells. I take it that Grandpa Walker is going to be his escort. I really enjoyed having Grandpa and Dad there when I went through. They both made sure that I had everything done right and took really good care of me. Things are going really well here in Lincoln now. The work has been a lot of finding but that is okay. The new companion is also really good. He is learning really fast and doing really good so that is nice. It is way fun to see him do his first door approach and see him get better and better at that, and to see his first like everything in the mission. I took him shopping for the first time in his life, which was CRAZY to me. That is great that now President Pendleton has two such great examples to compare me too. Just kidding it is cool. I would be the same way. I am not surprised at all that she went up and introduced herself. I love my grandma. I always think it is funny to spend time with her because then I know where you get your weird little quarks from. I miss and love my family!Tell Mickell that even though they do not recommend a video recording camera to just find one that he likes that is DIGITAL. My camera has video on it and it is almost impossible to find one without it. I do recommend a nice(ish) one with a good zoom and higher mega-pixel. My camera is a Kodak with 7.1 mega-pixels and like a 3x zoom or something like that. There is a problem with missionaries doing dumb things and than after their missions putting it on youtube.com. Our mission president said that if you do videos just make sure that you either do not have on your name badges or that it is something that you would be willing to show to your grandma. Well how are things going there in Utah? I keep having people in this ward go to Utah and tell me that they can call you or drop off anything that I have to send home. It is weird cause I almost want them to mail me home sometimes. I am doing well though and loving the work. I cannot believe the amount of blessings that I am getting from just trying to do my best. I love you and hope all is well. Take care. Love,Elder Brickey

Curley's-Yep a senior comp, trainer, and DL all in one transfer. I teased President Perry that he must be getting desperate if he is using me for all that. He just looked at me and told me that he knows I am a good missionary and will do a good job. It is kinda weird though having the sister missionaries in my district, but it works out I guess. I like planning District Meetings and such but sometimes I wonder what I have gotten myself into. I turn 8 months tomorrow and already am in quite the leadership spot, what will I be when I hit like 18 months? I know it will not be AP, I will say no thank you to that one.My foot is doing fine now. It is still a little tender in some spots but I have been taking good care of it so it is doing well. We do still play basketball, but we also play this game called Suzleball which is a combination between soccer and ultimate Frisbee. I actually sorta kinda threw my shoulder out when playing last week so I have been benched by the Medical Senior Missionaries. I was also told to start doing my shoulder exercises again and more often. I am doing okay though my shoulder is still working just a little sore at times.Wow Ryan it sounds like you were getting hit on, 1288. I probably would have said yes just to screw with the guy. Then again I would have been in your shoes, which you did not answer my question about wither you get to carry a gun or not, and I would have had a little fun.It sounds like your kids are just growing and growing. I will come back and Saedy will be talking full sentences and Dallin will be huge. That is not a fun thought to think about every one of the nieces and nephews being all grown up. Things are going well here in Lincoln. The work is a lot of tracting, but that is okay because my comp has the fire and the desire to get out and do the work. One of the missionaries would actually like some more of the cookies that mom sent to me in my package. It seems like everything that you all send me is a huge hit with the other Elders. Other than that though things are going well and I am doing pretty well. I am not sure that I need anything right now though. I may need some cotton-poly bottoms though, I keep destroying them it seems. I don't know. Well how are things going in the big UC (utah county)? I hope all is well and that you are doing well. I love you all and wish you all the best. Take care and I will talk to you later. Love,Elder Brickey

Emails 6-16-08

Hello!It is cool being a trainer actually. My companion is Elder Pancheri (pan-carry) and he is from Nampa, Idaho. It is weird being in charge and showing how to do everything. I think that it is weird that I am only 7 months out and I have a newbie. CRAZY! I would not be surprised actually if I stay here for another transfer. Than again I have no clue because on the 27th we get the new mission pres and I have no idea of what he will be like. That is cool that Dallin has moved up to a big boy bed. Though I do not want them to grow up because they will be different than when I left. Oh well I guess. I am a little worried about the high heel thing though. I remember what Shanna and Nicole use to do to me when I would do stuff like that and I do not think that he wants to have the memory of "Cousin Daisy" or something. If that makes no sense ask Shan about "cousin Katie" though SHE IS DEAD NOW! HAHAHAHAHA just kidding but seriously she is dead.That is cool a professional bodyguard. I think that would be kinda a cool job to have, especially if you can carry a gun!That sucks that there is not going to be a Walker Vacation this summer. It seems like everything that we did is falling apart now. I loved all the different things that we would always do as a family. Thanks for putting my name on the card for dad. It is weird being away for all these different holidays that I am use to being there for. I had members offer to call and let me talk to dad yesterday, but I said that I wanted to be a good missionary and would not.Well it seems like things are going really well here. I cannot believe that I am training though still. It is cool, but at the same time it is really crazy. I will just give it my all and do my best. Well I hope all is going well for you all. Love you and take care of yourselves.-Elder Brickey

The Mommy-Yep I am a TRAINER!!! It is actually not as bad as I first thought. My new companion is Elder Pancheri (pan-carry) and he is from Nampa, Idaho. It is cool because I am the youngest in our family and first to go on a mission and he is the oldest and first to go on a mission. I have found that it is a lot easier to follow the rules now and to do all that I should, because I do have to set an example. I think that I will do better at training that with kids. For the most part missionaries do not wake you up in the middle of the night crying and you do not have to change their diapers. The guy said that I could not carry the pillow on because I already had a carry on and it would count as another carry on and I would have to be charged for it like $25. Though there is a new thing for luggage. I guess on Delta you can only have one bag so when I come home I will have to pay for my second bag to be checked. Stupid airlines and fuel prices.Oh I am not only a trainer and senior companion, I am also the District leader. I guess they must be hard up for good missionaries or something. No just kidding it is actually because I am the oldest, mission wise, in our district. Than again there is only Elder Pancheri and the Sister Missionaries and Myself in our district. Yeah the temperature here has been in the high 90's low 100's this past week, which has been no fun whatsoever. Though I am getting a pretty good tan and tan lines.The garments are awesome thank you so much for sending them to me. They are really nice for p-day because they stay and wick away moisture really well. I would recommend the cotton-poly as well though. They are the other ones that I have that I like a ton. I actually would recommend for shoes either Echo, Hush Puppies, or Havana Joes. My Linden Bournes are a little bit harder on your feet when you do a lot of walking. I would also recommend very light weight slacks for summer time. I really like my gold toe socks that Shan and Ry sent me for christmas, but than again I like my other socks as well because they are really thin. With ties polyester are good, than again so are silk. Basically just whatever you like, though I would recommend more than the 8-10 that they say. It is really the only thing that you get to change daily and so a variety is really good. Well things are going well here in Lincoln. We were able to hand out 4 Books of Mormon in three days so that was cool. We have been tracting though for about 2-3 hours a day though. Well how are things at home? Other than the construction which I am happy that I do not have to deal with. Anything new and exciting? How are the dogs? Has Oreo learned any cool tricks yet? Well take care and I hope all is well. Love you mom.-Elder Brickey

Emails 6-9-08

The Mommy-My ankle is doing better now. Though at times it still does give me a little bit of grief, but so far so good. I have not gone to see a doctor, I figured that if it was not doing better by today I would call and get an appointment with a doctor.The pillow that I took to the MTC I had to throw away when I got to SLC airport, it made my bags to heavy and I could not carry it on the plane with me. I think that the guy was just in a REALLY bad mood when he was dealing with me. The new one is awesome though. I seem to be able to sleep a bit better than I did with the pillow that I got while in Mt Shasta. I got the package of g's, cookies and the announcement the other day. Thank you for sending them they are very nice and help out. I went to the Sacramento Temple a few weeks ago. We went with the missionaries from Lincoln 3rd and 5th ward and a future missionary from their ward. He is going to Argentina or something like that and he wanted to take the missionaries to the Temple before he left so that was really cool.Well with this transfer I will just be with another Elder while I wait for my new companion. I actually found out that I am going to be TRAINING this transfer. So I get some new grunt straight from the MTC, this could be fun. I will not find out who my new companion is until Tuesday at around 4 pm so that is a little crazy. Everyone else in the Zone knows who their companion is and such, but mine is still a bit of a mystery.The weather has been warm here in Cali. I think that we had a day or two that was a little bit cloudy, but no rain or anything like that.The only thing that Elder Remington and I are doing is packing all his stuff and making sure that he stays under 50lbs on them. We burned all his old garments and such to make room, that was an interesting night. All the kids in the complex came over when they saw the smoke and then they wanted to burn stuff or roast mallows or something. Well is sounds like things are going well back home. Let me know what is happening and if there is anything that I can do.LOVE YOU MOM.Love,-Elder Brickey

Curley Family-Well there is not a might, I AM TRAINING! I cannot believe that I am only 7 months out and that I am being trusted with a missionary fresh from the MTC! They might regret their decision afterwards, but I will have fun with the kid. I will admit that I am nervous though. I will be the missionary that this missionary looks up to and gets his first dose of the mission from. I am terrified that I might mess him up, but I know that I will do okay as long as I try my best so that is just what I will end up doing!So far my clothes are all holding fairly well. I have been kinda hard on my g's it seems like though. I have not been bit by a dog, well yet at least. I have not really had any problems with dogs since I was little though. I have always been the thing that scared dogs away. It is definiatley weird to think that I have already been in Lincoln for 3 months. I will admit that I am ready for a change so it is good that transfers are tomorrow. Though Elder Remington goes to the mission office today at 5 so I will be with another missionary until tomorrow. Than tomorrow at 3 I go to Yuba City and meet my GREENIE! That is going to be really weird.My ankle is doing a lot better, still a little sore at times but okay for the most part. It was weird how I just seemed to fall all the way to the ground and then it was game over and it was probably the worse sprain that I ever have had. You do need to take care of yourself. Especially since you are also taking care of my new neice as well. I need you all to be healthy and safe or else I am going to whoop on someone.Well things seem to be going well for you all. I hope that you are all doing well still and that you have a wonderful week. Let me know how you all are and what is going on. LOVE YA!!!!Love,Elder Brickey

Emails 6-2-2008

The Mommy-Okay two weeks ago after I had emailed you all, we went to Rocklin and were playing basketball with the entire zone. We played a few games and then we played speed, lightning, bump, knock out or whatever you want to call the game. I went and got a layup, but when I came down I landed really weird and my foot and ankle said go forward, but the rest of my body went backwards. I just thought that I would take care of it and if it did not seem to be doing well in like a three weeks or whatever I thought that I would go and see a doctor about it. I did a really good job on it actually because it is still a little bruised and swollen, so I might need to go and see that doctor.I got the pillow thank you for sending it. The pillow that I have was quite annoying and it is nice to have a decent pillow so I can sleep better. Wow that is right I forgot that Kory was also 8, that is crazy. That is awesome that Mickell baptised and confirmed. I am so excited for that kid and the opportunity that he has to serve a mission.It actually is not hard to find people during the morning or early afternoon. It is however hard to find people that want to listen to you at those times. Sometimes we wake people up or we catch them as they bring in their groceries. So the truth is that we are finding people, but we are not finding quality people who want to be taught.We meet with the Mission President about twice a transfer. We see him at Zone Conference and than at Interviews. President Pendleton comes in right before we have Zone Conference so we will meet him that way more than likely. We do not really have a "going away party" but at the last Zone Conference we sang to them "God Be With You Till We Meet Again" and another song that I cannot remember. We got some pictures and said our good-byes so to speak there.I do not care if I get a calender with the brithdays or just a paper with whose birthday is what. I can remember yours, dads and all the brother and sisters. I just have a harder time with the in-laws and neices and nephews and like grandparents and such. I guess I am not a good enough brother-in-law or uncle or grandson or whatever since I cannot seem to remember. I do remember DJ Broadhead, he use to hang out with the Starkers before his mission and tease Dellan and I. I was also in the same age group as his two sisters, Aubree and Ashlee. Cancer, that is to bad. He changed a lot on his mission and he was a lot nicer and "more grown up". Well I hope that things go well for them.I actually was able to go to the Sacramento Temple. It was very nice. The Medford Oregon Temple is like 10,000 sq ft and the Sacrament Temple is like 15,000. It was definiatly a bigger temple, but still REALLY SMALL compared to Mount Timp or any of those. Well things are going pretty well here. We are still working on finding some people to teach. We are also working with the ward in trying to get them more missionary minded. We have a few of the members that are working with either friends or neighbors trying to get the opportunity to introduce us to them and see if they are interested in the gospel. It is really fun to be apart of and to see how excited and the fire in the members eyes as they work with these people.Other than that things are going well. I am still in one peice and alive so that is always good. Well I hope that things are going well back at home. Let me know how all is going. Love you mom.Love your son,-Elder Brickey

Curley's-That is good to hear that you do not find my emails boring. I look forward to every Monday and hearing from the family. It is probably the highlight of my week.It sounds like you did have quite the busy May. Though that is cool that Jason is married. It sounds like by the time that I get home it will only be Scott and I or maybe just me that does not have an attachment. That would be really weird. Almost all of Steve's family is married, and if I remember all of Ryan's family is married. Nicole is getting married soon, well sooner or later. Than there is Scott and I. It is a good thing that Kyle will be there, well he says that he will be anyway. That is crazy to think about. It seems like the family is keeping really busy. Dad with his working and always being gone doing this or that. Mom and just staying busy with life. Than you and your family. Goodness I think I like the missionary life more than the sound of that. Than again I just love the life of a missionary.I am sorry that the pregnancy had been uncomfortable. I won't lie that I am worried/nervous to deal with that when the time comes. Well not myself, but my wife that is. Yeah anyway that is a while a way.I think it is funny how little kids like to be with the bigger kids, that way they feel older or whatever. I was the same in a lot of aspects though. I hated it when I had to leave before everyone else left or before I was done with my games, which would mean never because my games with Mickell and Kyle would last FOREVER!!! I can say though that I am not like Saedy, I HATED talking to other people. Though I now have to talk to all strangers that I see! Maybe she will stay outgoing and go on a mission and convert billions!It can get a little frustrating when you hear a lot about home, especially when you have over half your mission left. Oh well it is a trial that I have to overcome. From what I have been told.....I might be training. Transfers are on the 10th so I will find out in a week! We are getting the new mission president on the 27th of this month actually. I love President Perry and am really sad that he is leaving. He has really been focusing on getting the mission up to par for when the new president comes in. He has always been really focused on the work and how it is doing. It will definitely be interesting to see what the new president does though. I never thought of that before, the being out longer than my Mission President thing. That will really be weird and kinda fun actually. I sprained my ankle playing basketball, or speed/bump/knock out whatever. My right foot came down and landed on my toes. My ankle and foot wanted me to go forward, but my body went backwards so I had a really good sprain. It is still a little swollen actually so I might be going to a doctor here soon to see what is going on.Well I usually buy two gallons of milk every other week, one gallon for $3.29 or two for $5.49. I also buy some cereal depending on my mood as to what one. I sometimes buy the Hersey's chocolate syrup to make chocolate milk. Sometimes I will buy brownie mixes and make them up. I get eggs, bacon, bread, bagels, oysters, saltines, mac and cheese, ramen, and other things that I cannot think of right now.I can check the blog, well I think I can. That is cool though another girl. Dallin better step up and be a good big brother to those girls. I know he will, I will coach him when he gets older on what all to do. I had ideas of what to do to guys that you sisters would date, but I was younger so it would not work. I will live out my older brother fantasies through Dallin. Yeah that will work, my evil plans are coming together now....EXCELLENT!!!!Well I have just been doing the usual missionary thing. We have been working on finding new investigators through tracting and through the members. I think that tracting is a pain in the butt, but what else can you do? We have been getting the ward more missionary minded and they are getting more and more excited about it so that is really cool. I won't lie, last week I was actually really down/depressed. It felt like all I wanted to do was come home, since that is all that I hear about lately. I was also a little frustrated at the fact that I could not really do anything to work out my frustration since I hurt my ankle. I did however decide that I cannot let other people affect the way that I am feeling. So far it seems to be helping. I already know that I am going to have a lot of up and down moments in my mission and that as long as I rely on the Lord and those that I love, things will work out for me. You are all such a great support system to me. I really do not know where I would be without the family.Other than that things have not been to terribly exciting, just doing all that I can and making the best of everything. Well I hope that you are doing well and finding time to rest. I love you and keep you all in my prayers. Thank you for all that you do for me.Your Littlest Brother(in-law)-Elder Brickey