October 28, 1985 Lehi, Utah

Dearest Johnny; Roy; Bob, Claire, Michael & Laura; Rick, Jean, Ricky, Barbara Jean & Mary Ann; and Ron, Ann, Susanna, Jessie, Russell & Lee Anna:

Well - it's Monday night and I'm just getting my letter written!!! We got home last night and there were so many things to do today after our long trip and I knew I couldn't do justice to my letter until I had things put away, etc.!

It was too late to go over to Mamies to get our mail last night so we had to wait until this morning and we were thrilled to pieces to get your letters Johnny - in fact, Daddy and I have been on cloud nine after reading them - YOU ARE DOING JUST WONDERFUL! Our trip would have been more worry-free for me if we could have had at least one letter from you from Chile before we left - it was really kinda' hard not knowing if things were okay with you. Your letters are so complete and descriptive that we feel like we know how things are with you - we were thrilled to read your feelings about your companion and the other Elders you're working with - we know they will love you and for you to have such kind things to say about them indicates you have the right spirit in your calling. I think it's great that you have Spanish speaking Elders to work with and yet at the same time I'm sure it is frustrating. I'm going to quote what you said in your letter today that helps us realize the challenges you're faced with - "Try and think of all the words you know. Look around the room and name everything you see, and then think about having to learn all those nouns in another language. That's what I'm in the process of doing". I thought at one time I would try to go take some Spanish classes at the "Y" but I have changed my mind - I don't believe I could do it! We hope you will be able to find a larger place to live - your room sounds like it was made for midgets! We're so happy you are going to try to heat the water for your shower - a cold shower would be the PITS! You are sweet to say the food is really good but I appreciate it -I guess I worry about that more than anything - it's a good thing you like bread if you have a lot of it. PLEASE safeguard your health and don't take any chances with eating some of the food no matter how hungry you are - if you're not sure that it's okay to eat wait until you can get some that you're sure of. The reason I mention this is because when we went into Juarez the other day they had some of the most delicious looking tacos for sale and I was so hungry for good Mexican food that I was really tempted - Daddy hardly let me get close to it let alone eat it. Did you stay in the Mission Home the first night you got there - you said that your Mission Pres. & his wife are super nice and we were thrilled to hear that - we had a nice letter from them too (After sending out 426 of them Daddy knew it was written by the Secretary and more or less a form letter but we still appreciated it). Johnny you're headed for nothing but happiness with your wonderful positive attitude and desire for study and work - there is only one way to gain the strong testimony you have and that is the way you're doing it - it really is an individual thing that no one can give you. Can I send you anything? I would so love to mail you cookies - do they get there? Let us know! We loved what you said about the people there - "The people here are the neatest - they are super humble but have pride where it counts and we have church is an old house w/dirt walls and an old cracked wood floor, but a church isn't what it's made of, it's what's inside and these people's testimonies are as strong as anyones." WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU!!!!

We had a simply marvelous trip - traveled over 9,000 miles without any car trouble or health problems. We appreciate so much the kindness of Bob & Claire and Roy & Patrice. We visited with Bob & Claire first and it was really wonderful to become a little better acquainted with Michael & Laura - what darling, darling children. Michael is so grownup and full of self-confidence besides being so cute and little Laura is everything her parents have been telling us she is for the last two years - Ha! We were so impressed with their lovely home and yard and all the things Claire has done (Bob tells us she is responsible for everything that is done around there). I get the feeling that both Michael & Laura feel so secure that a new baby is going to be accepted very matter of factly and that's great. Patrice - you were so sweet to assure us that we could bring our friends into your apartment home without putting you out (course I know we did) and we will never forget that night when we got there - we were so tired and felt so welcome and at home with fresh flowers in our bedrooms, delicious brownies and "herb" tea and just everything. We also appreciated the delicious breakfast the next morning with every good thing imaginable in one breakfast and that "yummy" coffeecake to take with us. Roy, it was great for you to give us "your day" even though you had only had a few hours sleep and I do believe the Smiths saw more of Boston than they ever thought possible - Daddy and I could do that all over again any time - I really loved the J. F. Kennedy Library! We are so proud of all of you and just wish you were closer so we could be with you more often.

I know you won't believe this but we camped out five of the nights we were gone and we just loved it. Chris had fixed seafood gumbo and white beans and ham and we warmed them by the campfire (really in an electric skillet in a campfire setting) and they were so good. I really didn't contribute anything to the food except suggesting places to eat out. Daddy & I slept in Johnny's little tent and Chris & Wayne slept in their van - one night it rained and that sweet Wayne got up in the middle of the night to tilt the awning on his van that we were sleeping under so we wouldn't get wet - we were in KOA camps except for one night when we stayed in a State Park in New Hampshire (and the mosquitoes just about carried us off). I am so tired of motels after living in them for three years that I really loved the tent but I believe if we go again, Daddy and I will have a Van. Johnny - you air mattresses and tent really are comfortable and we took good care of them and we stayed nice and warm in our sleeping bags. We went in every State along the New England coast except for Vermont and Rhode Island and we were very close to them - the Autumn leaves were unbelievable beautiful. We really enjoyed Halifax in Nova Scotia and Daddy & I would have liked to stay there longer (Chris & Wayne don't like to see as many things as we do). Halifax was the place where they took the survivors of the Titanic when it sunk and we visited the museum there that has so much ocean and ship "stuff" in it. We also bought four huge cooked lobsters there and took them back to our motel cabin to eat - would you believe Chris & Wayne stopped and got Kentucky Fried chicken to eat - Daddy and I ate all four lobsters by ourselves. We also bought some cod that we smoked and Daddy & I thought it was delicious but the Smiths wouldn't eat it because it was raw - it didn't taste raw to us! We took three rolls of film and will have fun showing our pictures to you and telling you more about our trip.

Daddy and I left our car at Bob & Claires in Tennessee and we went straight down the coast to Alabama where we had planned to stay for a few days and then The Smiths were going back to work on their Hot Springs home so they planned to take us back for our car. We go to Alabama on Monday, the 21st and Daddy & Wayne fished that night out by their home and then t he next morning they went out in the bay (or gulf) and did some deep fishing - while they were gone Chris received a phone call from her mother's doctor in Arkansas telling her she had had a stroke and he though Chris should come. SO their few days fishing trip turned into just one day but really that was long enough - Wayne's boat didn't work so they had to go out with someone else and it was so hot and humid I thought I was going to die!!! The only bad thing was that we missed seeing Bob & Claire and the children when we went back for our car - they had gone to Atlanta for a medical meeting and their baby sitter had taken the children somewhere - we waited for about two hours and then decided to leave and that was hard to drive away without seeing them. I believe if we had it to do over again we would have stayed in Memphis until Saturday and then gone to Little Rock where Cissy & Charles were putting on the musical "Zion" - we would have been able to see a lot of our friends at that and that would have been fun.

We came home by way of Dallas, El Paso, Phoenix and Lake Powell - we wanted to go by Lake Powell to see if Roy & Patrice would enjoy going there when they come in November. We decided they would be disappointed going at that time of year - there are very few people there and it would be more fun when it's warmer and they could water ski, etc. We really loved Lake Powell - we ferried across from Hall's Crossing to Bull Frog Landing and it's just beautiful. It would be fun to take our trailer there - there are a lot of places to camp. The houseboats were all "put up" for the Winter.

It was kinda sad to see our Little Rock home - it really needs painting and the yard isn't as pretty as when Daddy kept it. We visited with Dorothy & Pete but I couldn't bring myself to go through our home. We will always love that neighborhood but it's good to be in Utah too!!! We visited with Angelo & Mildred in Phoenix and our old home there is just beautiful - we took a picture of it. We also saw other friends there too. My space is gone. We love all of you so very much. PLEASE TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOURSELVES AND BE CAREFUL - Let us know how we can help you!
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