Justin is in Lufkin, Texas and going well.
Tana passed her praxis test so she can now be a certified teacher.
School started today.
Tana is teaching 4 music classes in the High School and running the district Elementary Music program.
Kendrick is a Sr. in High School.
Shane is now in High School in the 9th grade.
Trent is in the 5th grade in the newly remodeled Elementary School.
Bryce is in the 2nd grade in the same school as Trent, the same school I went to when I was in the 1st and 2nd grade.

I have no idea if you are even getting these emails i'm sending becuase I don't get one back ha ha! this is my thrd email (I didn't write one last week) This week has been good, we speak solomente espanol now. Es muy bien, perro no se espanol y me es muy dificil. Pienso it will get mas facil. Nesecito mas cartas! ha ha, chiste, perro they are nice. Gracias por la paqueta! La pictura was very shocking to me. I laughed a little. Hope shane is doing well though. I know what that can be like.
It´s still tough here. that´s something i don´t ever expect to change really. it´s good for me though. Mi companero es muy bien tambien perro no pienso el comprenda espanol. Tratamos y se que hablaremos espanol mediante nuestro trabajar diligencia y mediante el espíritu santo y la ayuda de Dios. The work is great, the food bearable, the days are long, and the weeks are short. I never remember if weve eaten lunch or dinner or anything. I´m just trying to work hard all the time. Planning and goals are important. No pensaba metas fui importante. They really are. One of the 12 said he feels quite certain that unless we learn to master making goals and planning to achieve them, we can reach a ripe old age and look back to see that we did absolutely nothing with our life. Make one goal a day and one a week and make them happen! It´s a wonderful feeling. One quote for you I heard and really like ¿why do you do what you do, when you know what you know? I miss you all a lot, I really do. More and more i see how important family is. It´s nice to hear from you all and to know how things are going.
It seems crazy that the summer vacation is already half over for you all. It seems like it just started. How´s work goin for everyone? how´s life on the farm? Kendrick lookin at college? does dad have his speakers in the car yet? did mom like her day at the spa? Tell me more tell me more, like deos he have a car, tell me more tell me more! giggle. how are the cows, the horses? time goes so so fast here. faster than i ever thought possible.
I have kinda a more serious question for dad. how did your mission go? do you feel you were successful? there are constrasting emphasis here about baptism. i don´t mean to pry, but i just want to know what your views are. Also! did you know an Elder Richardson on your mission? we have a teacher who is an absolute stud whose dad served in Finland and i think it wouldvé been about the same time you did! his son is a big guy and played BYU foot ball for 2 years and at snow for 2 years so the dad may be the same.
always be happy, in studying faith more i´ve seen it´s hard to be grumpy and have faith at the same time. it´s hard to be anything but happy with the gospel. It´s a beautiful day! make the most of it!
I´ve had the chance to sing in 2 devotionals here now and play the piano for zone meeting and sacrament and such. i´m glad mom gave me that kick to get me started with all that. the fireworks for stadium of fire were great! we all got to stay out late and watch them, we we´re all singing and having a great time ha ha. Sand volleyball is still way way fun, we´re gettin pretty darn good ha ha! The work is amazing, i miss you all a lot though. I miss all the things i left behind, but not for a moment have i regretted it. this is amazing beyond belief. Kendrick, get ready now! in all honesty what are you waiting for? just do it.
Love you all and I look forward to hearing from you!
Love
Elder Esplin
¡Ánim0

Photo of Shane's Thumb

I have been struggling trying to edit the last post, and decided to try to make a new post for the photo of Shane's trauma.

We just got back from the emergency room with Shane. He has 5 big stitches in his left thumb to hook it back together after trying to cut it off with a hatchet on a YM/YW activity up Nephi canyon. It missed the bone but cut about 1/2 way through the thumb just above the bone. It took out a nice little chunk of the thumbnail. Two of the stitches are through the thumbnail. He has to go back in about a week to get the stitches taken out. The Dr. said that he can't leave them in as long as normal because the thumb nail will grow and start to pull on the stitches.

Letter From Justin

Hello My Dear Family,
So we had a cool experience the other day. One of the Hermanas, Hermana Montague from Heber. She was feeling pretty down so she asked the Branch President for a blessing at district meeting. As we got up to give it to her, she looked at me and asked me to give it. I was shaking, but it went well and it was good for all of us. I beg to tell people to write me ha ha. We live for mail. It's like Christmas everyday at lunch and dinner when I go get mail and the sisters get all their letters and Elder Hansen gets his daily package from his mom. he gets enough candy and food to feed the districk and everything has motivational notes attached to them. If you could send me pictures soon I'd love it. Also I need my container of oil on my key chain and a key ring to put it and my key on.

The MTC is really full. They're running out of stuff from keeping missionaries that are supposed to go but are stuck here on the flu lockdown. We have another district of 12 people (that's big, same as mine) coming to our zone tomorrow.

Also because of the flu, we can't shake hands or give hugs or play soccer or basketball. One of the elders in our zone got out of quarantine on Sunday. I'm not worried at all about getting sick though. I'm being careful.

Pray for me, I need all the help I can get.
Love, Elder Justin Esplin