Cupcakes and Conferences

Here is the latest letter from our sweet missionary. Thanks for keeping him in your prayers. -K.

I just got done playing 4 hours of basketball. I'm so tired.  lol.  We literally play basketball almost every day. We go to the church at 5 in the morning to play. I'm so thankful for dad teaching me how to play because I'm actually pretty good! Too bad I was a punk most of the time about it. Tell him sorry. To be fair, I just never liked how serious people took it. There are better things to take seriously.

This week was really busy! We had zone conference this Wednesday and I gave a training in front of a lot of people. I've decided I really like giving trainings. I made a metaphor where I gave someone a cupcake and was like "Sister Gaytan, will you eat this cupcake." and she did and she said it was good. Then I went to someone else and just gave them a raw egg and said, "Elder Ames, will you follow the example of Sister Gaytan and eat this egg? She just ate an egg." And we did the same thing with a bottle of oil and flour and whatnot. The point is that you cannot teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ as individual things. Like you can't just read Faith as one thing and Repentance as another and pop a baptismal invitation completely out of context and void of significance. Because that's gross. Just like eating a raw egg. It was super fun. And then on Friday we went to the temple and it was so nice. The Celestial Room in the Manhattan temple is probably one of my favorite ones I've decided. I really like the windows. The temple is wonderful. I can't wait to go with you A LOT when I get home. Because you're so sweet. Like a cupcake. 

Church this week was really nice too. We had a lot of investigators come and it was super fun because YSA's are the kings and queens of fellowshipping. When they stood up to introduce themselves (all of them are seperate groups of people with no ties to each other) they were like "Hey I'm --- and I'm not a member but I want to be." YSA is the best. They're actually making a YSA stake now. Wowza. I'm busy. Little sleep deprived but that's chill. I'll nap when I'm home. On your floor. 

Next week is the All Mission Conference where the entire mission gets together and plays games. I'm excited. We have to think of a chant and decorate a flag and make a skit about the Alma the Younger and the Sons of Mosiah. Kind of a fun one. Speaking of them I was reading about them this week and it made me think a lot about motives. I like theirs. They would tremble and shake at the thought of a perishing soul. I'm trying to aquire their level of charity. A lot of times it's easy, especially as missionaries, to do things for the praise of others. Kind of a pharisaical manner of doing things. But theres a world of a difference and it depends on their concern for others, and not themselves. That's a huge difference. Idk. I just think we all should care about each other more and things would be ok. I really like that new video that the church put out that I posted on Facebook. Because it's true! We can be patient and kind and not judge others.

Today we're going to go to the store to buy groceries and probably end up taking a nap at some point. Naps are great. You're great. I love you. I hope you're really happy and know that you have a boy who loves you SO SO SO SO SO MUCH. SO MUCH. SO SO SO MUCH. 

xoxoxoxoxo
--jackson.