Letter of 28 January 2013

1-28-2013   Monday    (Second P-day in Chile) 

      Mom, concerning my email address:  I don't mind talking to anyone through letters. The mission president would like us to only write to family though.   If anyone is interested in emailing who isn't a brother/sister/-or /in-law, I can receive the email, but can't write directly to them on email. However, I would love to be obedient and answer them through you as part of family emails.  We have an hour and a half for email, but 35 minutes go to writing to the mission president.

          To my sister in law L----.  Haha. It's Chile, but it sure isn't [chilly]. It's hot and humid, and I would love to complain about it, but I don't think it's worth my time. Almost everyone knows what I'll say about humidity anyway. Like C--- says, you get out of the shower, and you're still wet after you towel off...

          38 pages is super good! Keep it moving! Don't stop at the Isaiah chapters. View them as poetry, because they basically are. Isaiah was a master of visual and metaphorical imagery. There's a lot packed in to one sentence sometimes. Like Elder H---- says, "Craysee!"

          Er... My address is like... ah.  Ratones! Okay. Elder H-- says go to the mission home with cartas [letters] because we don't really have a mailbox. We live in these apartment-ish things [en espanol se llama pension?]{ In Spanish is called pension} on the almost top floor, and I almost die every time we climb Mordor.

Send them there [the mission home].     Here’s my address:

Elder Jonathan W. Cattron

4 Norte 1112

Vina del Mar

CHILE

The language is much better. I still get a little frustrated with my progress because I want to help them right now, but a lot of the time I just sit there with a smile because it's all I know how to do. Frankly it's hilarious that my vocabulary forces them to repeat themselves about 14 times before I can answer them intelligently, and every day I am teased that I'm a gringo [North American] from someone in a home or on a street, and I take it proudly. - - I think that people that I pass by are super curious and confused about why an American Gringo Ginger kid is smiling at them for no apparent reason. Mostly it's because I love them, but more mostly it's because I'm happy.

I'm trying to get the ”Ewok dog”'s picture. It's perfect--but the darn thing won't hold still when I lift up my camera. I need to practice the Batman picture taking approach. Candid Camera Cattron!

We don't have a cook. But the both of us make a super great cold cereal.  - Pero, en sinceridad [But sincerely], I absolutely love our cold cereal. If there were corn flakes like this in the US, they'd be in heavy business. They don't taste like cardboard! I mean, who likes milk and Pringles? The ones here are thick and delicious. And even better, Elder H-- and I buy yogurt and use that as milk, and it's better than ice cream. I absolutely love it, and look forward to it every night when I come home starving. The Chileans eat little for breakfast and dinner at like 8 or 9, but have MASSIVE almuerzos [lunches]. There's like 2 main dishes—and a fruit which I am forced to eat due to niceness, but know I should anyway. The people here are so giving, it's ridiculous. I love them.

Yes. We HIKE. And if you are wondering if my tie touches the ground when we walk up these hills... yes. They do. At times I wonder if I'm going to fall over backwards. It is like the hike up to Rumble Lake; except constant [up]. And there are flying taxis every couple minutes that you have to be watching for or you'll probably die. I wonder if Heavenly Father is doing this to fix my knee, or kill the other one. I haven't figured out if it's good for me or not. Either way, it tends to bother me.  Not badly though.

Tell dad to study Spanish hard because it's super awesome and the mission president says if you want to talk business, speak English, if you want to talk love, speak Spanish, but if you want to talk to God, speak in Spanish. It is the "Idioma Celestial"[“Celestial Language”].   I say my personal prayers in English because I have always felt that, for me, my words and feelings and thoughts are sacred, and I want to be able to express my feelings exactly how I mean.  In my opinion, we are never too busy to give thanks, so we should do our best to remember to do so.

          Mom--Punch the raccoons in the face. Where's that scarecrow sprinkler system I told you to buy? You should rig it to shoot fire. That'd make 'em... well. Okay... Probably dead, and a burned down house.  Nevermind.          ***(He is referring to some raccoons that visit our place and eat cat food….they come looking for food even though we now feed the cats inside the house.)

I haven't written to Sister A--- yet. I had a letter in my art notebook, but didn't get to finish it. Maybe I can today. but I started it about a month ago in the MTC.... er.... haha.  If you feel like it, I'll read some blog posts if you send them in the mail. Don't email them cuz I don't have time on here. We pay for our time on computers in some crazy spaceship thing. I feel like I'm in an old arcade room. 

Is it good that postage went up [there]? Does that mean the government is doing better or worse?

I have been recording names to remember them.  I met a lady today at the place where Elder H-- did something for his passport or I. D. or something.  The lady is getting baptized on the 2nd of Feb! She lives in the mission. She's the first person that I've had a conversation with by myself that I actually understood all of. That is a bench mark in my language progression. I plan on becoming a master... at some point.  I recorded her name in my journal and her city but that's the best I could do with my speaking skills.

          I don't know all the Missionaries. Still don't have enough time here to know.  Just elders that use the same chapel building because ours in Esperanza is being reconstructed due to some temperature issues and the American ceiling tiles breaking cuz they're cheap... says one of the super cool dads/brothers here. I need to figure out their names... oops.

I can write stuff like that as long as you remove the important personal  information.

Keep asking me, and eventually I'll know. Elder T--- and Elder M--- are the only ones I know so far.

I have 5 minutes left! ah!  Picture uploading time!

Elder Cattron VI

More pictures 1-28-2013

  

Pictures 1-28-2013

Elder cattron sent pictures after emailing his letter on   1-28-2013  ---

 More pictures.  My compy and stuff. and one of the dogs we see all the time. he's not the ugly one......... i'll get him one day.......
                                     

Elder Cattron & companion at Provo MTC Dec2012/Jan2013

Jon and a group of missionaries at Provo MTC Dec2012/Jan2013

First week in Chile!

Chadlykizzlets! Thanks for the email.  I am really learning that what you said “es verdadero (is true).”  Yesterday was my AHA! moment where I got over the newbie fever of not being able to speak the language and just talk to people, and laugh with them at my tiny Spanish vocabulary.  I am picking up quickly, but these Chileans speak so stinking fast and leave out 90 percent of the syllables, it´s nuts.  [It´s kind of like in English “Immonago to the store" (“I am going to go” to the store.”)] And then they laugh because I don't understand when 5 words are violently mashed together in their amazing speed of talking. Soon... very soon....... 

Mom, Dad, and Everyone - This week I realized that one of the reasons I was sent here to Chile is FOR that reason. I hate not understanding, and not being understood. I have a general fear of it, just like my fear of talking on the phone. Which yes, even after calling the Branch President and  Zone Leader at least 4 times a week, I still hate talking on the phone. But at least right now I have an excuse to be confused because I'm learning the language. 

This email is starting to sound rather whiney - So I'm going to stop real quick and say also "YES CHILE IS THE PERFECT PLACE FOR ME."  The Prophets and Church leaders really know what they're doing. I wrote in my journal the other day "With all this that's happening, I'm feeling stressed. But somehow I can't seem to get over the feeling of how easy it is going to be to love these people." ...They're absolutely beautiful in heart and appearance to me. It's like something about them just makes me smile.

And all these dogs! What in the world?! It's nuts! The ONLY thing I really hate about this place is how I can't pet the dogs because most of the street ones have fleas. Especially the ones that look like Chewbacca, (which is surprisingly about 1 in every 10 dogs you see, and there are a lot of dogs). And when I say Chewbacca, I mean hair, face, body, teeth—and there are other dogs that look like super angry Ewoks.  (Why is everything about Star Wars right now?)

So yeah. Chile is rad. The people are wonderful, and the language is coming along beautifully.  Yesterday was an amazing day.  My companion Elder H and I spoke in Church (wow! my first Sunday! Haha) and I just had to share a scripture and a little about myself and my testimony. I didn't prepare anything until I got there.  I had the impression to share the story of Ammon and his first conversation with King Lamoni—how he would serve them (quote) "perhaps until the day I die".  Of course I'm not going to die here, but essentially, if I ended up spending my whole two years here in this first area, I would be just as happy.  Actually probably more, cuz these people in our area [Esperanza, Chile] are so cool.

Then we had a dinner and everything, and went looking for “nuevos” [new investigators]. That was cool—I guess. There are so many hills here.  No - not hills. Cliffs.  Your tie basically drags on the ground... Death... I will come back thinking I enjoy hiking for fun.    Blech.

And it's okay about (-‘s) letter cuz it’s in Spanish. Make sure you say I'll send another, cuz I decided to write a letter, which happened to be another one for (-) during language study class. . . yeah. So... unless (-) wants to learn Spanish...

The weather here is annoying.  Just like (my brother who served in Honduras) says,” you take a shower, dry off, and you're still wet.”   I need more short sleeves. All the stinky dogs keep getting their claws on my back and putting mud on my shirt. Even though I think it's hilarious, I still need my short sleeves. Don't send me any though. I'm fine with my ...like…10 or something.   I'm still trying to move everything in so I can get used to it and ready for the next 12 weeks.  I'm pretty sure this is the last area for my companion.  He's been here in Esperanza for 6 months and on his mission for a long time.  I don't know.  My Spanish brain hasn't really translated the “how long he's been out on a mission” part.  And frankly we work too hard to think of anything “trunky.”  It's a wonderful feeling cuz every night I feel accomplished.  Not just tired.  Completely exhausted, yes, but moving, and accomplished. 

I sleep like a baby. But this week I've had a sickness probably from the States or the 20 hour plane ride with hardly any water. Which was fun ? haha.  I dunno.

Yes. We only walk, taxi, or micro[bus]. And I almost fall over sideways every time I get on the bus. In case you were wondering...

During the flight layover in LA, I called everyone except (J----). Her phone wouldn't answer or something from the pay phone I used. But I'll say that I tried calling about 5 times.  I wanted to call other people, but we went to eat and get on the plane.

I was going to ask you to record it. Thanks. You're smart, mom. Love you.

The mission president is the bomb and so is his wife, and his kids. They're all just absolutely wonderful. He speaks English, and his wife understands bits and pieces of English. They're one of those typical families that you would call "Super awesome." 

It's about 12:52 now.  I'll probably send at 12:55.. .ah!  Pollo!  I need to write the Mission President now...

Let me explain the plane ride: We went to Los Angeles, called some family members, got on the plane, stopped in PERU, then switched planes again, and ended in Santiago, Chile. During this 20 hours, I had probably had half a glass of water. And the air was super dry, and I cried in my head the whole time. I studied a lot though.

But let me explain my first impression of Chile: it was super dark, couldn't see anything past my eyelids.  Yes, I slept the whole way from Peru.  But we did get to take a picture of us in front of Vina [Vina del Mar, Chile]. 

Then as tradition, they gave for each MTC companionship a Book of Mormon, a contact card, and said, "Here's the Mission Home address.   We'll see you there. Don't have the Book of Mormon with you when you get there. Come with the person's information. Love you. Listos,”        Ya!

Did my suitcases arrive with me?  We prayed for the suitcases to work. They did. Both mine were pretty good.   

We have lots of goals and stuff for this week. The mission goal is one baptism a month. It's possible. Elder H. has had 4 in one month a couple times. He’s a hard worker—always.

Sorry. Most of these questions you asked I don't know the answers yet--but there are a few Elders and sisters serving near us.  The only couples serving are in the mission home as... nutrition... and ... I don't remember what else they do.   Honestamente, no me importa mucho. (It's not very important to me yet. I still have to get used to this first.) 

We just had a baptism in the area yesterday. The man had a lot of faith. He was in an accident recently which made it so he couldn't bend his leg--which as you can assume, made the baptism super difficult. But all is well.  The missionaries are smart.

Tell brother (H----- in K-2) I love him too.  He was an awesome Home teacher, even though I was super shy and not willing to talk back then.

Well when we were leaving one airport, they messed up on my flight plans again. I had to run back alone and print out my ticket on the other side of the airport cuz the machine apparently printed out the Montana to Utah flight only and the Chile flight probably got stuck in the machine. I almost didn't get to go to Peru [the flight to Chile]!

I love you all. I think I will upload some things next week. I didn't do well taking pictures this week. In fact I took zero.

 Oh yeah, and we had an investigator lesson, where the lady was super teasy about my Spanish. But then I said a prayer to be able to understand, and something miraculous happened. I never once during that lesson had to have her repeat herself. I understood everything sufficiently enough to answer the questions, and she told me to continue when I started talking about my life before the mission, and how hard it was to accept that I really needed Heavenly Father to help me, and I couldn't change on my own. I didn't know how I knew what she needed to hear, but she really wants to change, and didn't believe she could.  This Church is true, and I will never deny that. I know it is true because the Spirit testifies as I speak the things that I know to be true and have personal experience in. Never think that you are alone in anything. There is someone there to help.

Mas si os torneis al senor... [Mosiah 7:33]

Give everyone hugs for me.

Ciao.

-Elder Cattron

PPosted by Jon's Mom.

First Photo in Chile

"Yes, Child, I am really here"

·         "Yes, Child, I am really here"‏

Jonathan Cattron   1/10/2013    11:53 AM      

          I was sent an email that sparked my interest from our wonderful L------. She's awesome.  Definitely my favorite sister in law named L------...  She said "I [had] a children's song going through my head this morning. It is called heavenly Father. I love the lyrics. "Heavenly Father, are you really there? Do you hear and answer every child's prayer? Some say that heaven is far away but I feel it close to me time I pray."

I want to focus a little bit on this in this email.

But first the responses from your “dearelder” letters:

          J-----. I'm sad that the bird got shot, but happy that you told me that story. I love crows, and they humor me. Something about them just makes me smile and relate somehow. Maybe because I like to jokingly annoy people... hmm. One of the speakers this Tuesday spoke about the sadness he felt when he was about 8 years, he threw a rock to get a goose to move so he could see her eggs. He threw a bigger rock, and the goose moved, but it landed on the eggs... and broke all of them.  He thought about all the eggs and the pain that the mother felt from her unborn children. It really hit me, because I love animals, and I was reminded of all the times that I have seen animals being bullied, like a snowball to the face of a Cow in Montana... As interesting as it sounds, my jaw dropped, and I felt terrible just seeing it, because I knew then that all animals have their own characters and feelings just as we do. I'm learning more of that and growing more in appreciation for pretty much any living thing...  - - Please be kind to those animals. And don't hurt anyone or any animal just because you think it's funny or they deserve it. And give a cow a hug this week.

          Did I address the sickness of last week?  1/3rd of the MTC got sick in one night from this dumb gastrointestinal virus that made you... well caused issues for 48 hours. It wasn't very fun. I had it and stayed in my room for 2 days. I threw up 3 times, but was laughing the whole time, and I have no idea why.  I think I just thought it was funny how I sounded to everyone else who was in the residency. I also had a very positive attitude... somehow. When we were told we had to go to the MTC doctor to make sure we were getting enough fluids and everything, 3 of us went together, and there I was... smiling like a 3-year-old. Everyone I talked to thought I was just walking the other 2 Elders from my district there. I also doubt that the doctor/nurse even thought I was sick and probably gave me sugar pills or some Flintstone vitamins that looked fancy.

          Sorry about the razor heads. Turns out I only needed 2. They are supposed to be changed every 18 months... I read 8... sigh...

          Mom, I should say I want a few more things because it's fun to get mail... but frankly, really all I want is to get on the plane.  I'm nervous out of my mind, but I feel like I'm ready to go.

          J [R]'s home already? Tell him I'm happy for him and give him a big abrazo[hug], and tell him, "Le amo. No pare sus habitos de la mision. Nos vemos, casa-hijo."    **translated: I love you. Don’t lose your mission habits. We’ll see you at home.)  [**see Mom’s note at end of blog entry]

          I started a new thing here at the MTC that will live on. I slide my hand down the person's tie if I think it's a cool tie. Some of the other elders do it to me just because they think it's funny. It came from the joke "Is your tie felt?" "No"  "Oh, now it is!"--then you feel their tie. 

          Here's something I thought of during personal study:  If by the grace of God we are saved, and we are supposed to become like Christ, then we must also have grace to be saved. Christ went from Grace to Grace......... [Now look up the definition of grace and any words in the definition you don't know.]  It's a pretty cool thought and an encouraging idea to keep on progressing and improving yourself.

          Okay.  Finally to the first point I wanted to make. Heavenly Father, yes, He is really there. And He does hear and answer our prayers.  Sometimes I worry that my desires aren't in tune, because I don't receive an answer right there. Then I have to remind myself that one of the things we all need to work on is patience, then I smile to myself and say "Okay. In His own time and in His own way. I can be patient."

          I can testify that when we pray, if we stay still and pay attention, we can feel our Heavenly Father's love, and know that he is smiling for us. He does not see us the way we see ourselves. He does not see things to a certain point and frown because we didn't make a right decision. He may feel sad that we are not choosing what he knows will bring us the most happiness, but He is even more loving and kind than we can imagine. He wants to help us in our times of need, and even in our times of happiness, and help us remember that "There is always more", especially with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

          Never think that we've progressed to our peak. They say that it is at this moment, when you say "I can't progress any further" is exactly when you can.  Remember the words of Isaiah: "His arms are stretched out still."

Remember the words of Alma to his son Helaman. Alma 36: 27.  --  And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will STILL deliver me."

          I urge all of you - who are at many stages in life - to put your trust in Him, and to be diligent. Diligence is not necessarily working 25/7. It is simply working hard when you work, and never stopping by thinking you're fine where you are at. His arms are stretched out still. We always have his strength and his love, and along with that, everything He can bless us with. We just need to put our trust in him, exercise that faith, and then move forward.

          Place those righteous desires in your sight, and only look back to see how far you've come. 

          I can promise that the feelings that come with progress and bringing yourself closer to the open arms of our loving Father in Heaven is something that can bring peace, joy, and comfort to every portion of the soul.

"And now, O my son[s and daughters], behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions..."

His arms are stretched out still.

 I love you all.

-Elder Cattron VI

[**Note to readers from Mom] -- I got a giggle out of this because even though he thinks he is ready to fly to Chile, he is still just learning the language.  I don’t know much Spanish but had to get this translated because it didn’t make sense.   It didn’t make sense to his sister-in-law J---- when I asked her to translate it either.  I have to share her comment:    J----, would you please translate this into easy English.  I put it into internet translation, but the last part was translated too literally and doesn't make enough sense.  Mom

To: Mom  -- “I love you. Don't stop your mission habits. We'll see each other, house- son.”       He'll find his mistake soon, no worries.  J---- C----- 

The airplane account in his own words

Jonathan Cattron 

1-3-2013  Thursday     4:17 PM      To: Claudia Cattron    

Elder Anderson Says "Tell Claudia I say hello" [he's an elder in my district. you'll hear about him from the letter I send home today]   Oh and So does Elder O'Harra
Ey! I get to Email again! Right on.

I will first address things you wrote in dear elders -
I still don't understand puzzles. But I guess it's a good way to practice patience and diligence.  "I couldn't wait to finish so i could put it away"... haha. just sounds like a pain. "well it almost made me mad" 

I don't want sweaters. Maybe I'll suffer later and give in, but for now, I don't ever feel like I would wear one.
Thank you Jared and Jenn for the nifty gift. I have already used it to make a banana smoothie... haha
Of course you love me. Why would I ever question that?
Of course Heavenly Father and Christ love me. - It's the letting other people know they are loved part too that's difficult.
I marked all my socks last night with the pink thread. Still have a bunch of other stuff to mark though.

Okay. My stuff.
First - My thanks - Thank you dad, for the great letter of things to remember and to do. It's hard for me to read cursive at times, but that's good because then each word is considered as I read.

Airplane story..... Sigh... alright:
So it starts with me sitting for the regularly scheduled hour long wait to get on the plane to Utah.  I was bored, so I started writing in my journal. Then I decided I should probably use the bathrooms that are for people who aren't claustrophobic - Aka, the Airport Bathrooms.  I was in the bathroom, having a wonderful time trying not to get my suit touching anything and my backpack off the floor. Then I sat for a few minutes in wonderful pondering where I heard some muffled noises from the intercom thing outside about a different flight, so I payed no attention.
I came out of the bathroom and realized that it was time to board my plane, and they were loading my portion of the plane. I grabbed everything up, got out my ticket, and got in line.
When It was my turn to say hello to the nice agent lady, she scanned my ticket with a confused look and said have a nice flight. . . something tugged at me, but I took it for excitement.
I helped some girl on the plane put her luggage up on the rack stuff, and then went to my seat. I had only been sitting for a grand 2 minutes when someone was staring at me saying "Um... is this your seat?".  I showed her my ticket and we both confusedly apologized and then she talked to the flight lady, but she shrugged it off and had her sit in the front [of coach seating, sadly].
The flight attendant then started speaking about the flight and introducing herself and pointing at all the Exits. . . She then said the flight number... which didn't match mine. . . and that we would be stopping in Minnesota... I freaked out for a second... then started to ask around. [Hey, minnesota!]
"Where are we going?" I said to the man next to me.
"Well we're going to a connecting flight which we'll end up in Salt Lake after"...
"Oh... um... alright. This still doesn't make sense. What flight number is this?"
They started pulling out of the terminal.
"Flight 5555 [or whatever]" someone replied.
I looked at my ticket... 5533. I started piecing things together. same seats... weird look from flight scanning lady... different flight numbers.
I'm on the wrong flight, I thought - My words weren't going. My heart started to skip. My eyes widened, and I started to scre--- well okay. no. but I did panic a little. I had no way to communicate with my wonderful relative who would be meeting me in SLC!
Finally I said it out loud. "I'm on the wrong flight!"
And I stood up with my things and walked toward the flight lady saying "I'm on the wrong flight."
"Sit down sir."
"Yes, I'll sit down here. But I am on the wrong flight."
She tried to 'calm me' -  "No, you're okay. You're on the right flight".
"No, you don't understand, I am on the wrong flight."
She shook her head and continued her monologue about the seatbelt lights. So I showed my Ticket to the people around me saying "What does your ticket say?"
Soon people were speaking up. "He's on the wrong flight!" "He's not supposed to be on here!"
Finally the lady stopped, looked at my flight number, then her eyes widened and she turned around and told the other lady to talk to the pilot, who then said we'd take care of it.
After several calls were made, and some guy freaking out about 'how he was going to miss his connecting flight, he's already 15 minutes late' and facepalming for all he was worth [and I was sad, but laughing on the inside], I was told that they would pull back to the terminal and let me off. . . In other words - prepare for the long walk up to the front of the plane in shame.
They stopped the plane, and I waved to everyone and blew a couple kisses [minus the kisses] and apologetically accepted the laughs and light hearted "Woohoo! This is fun" kind of cat calls mingled with "Poor guy, how are you not hiding your head right now?" questions by putting a hand in the air and expressing a sad but 'o esta todo bien' smile.
I then exited the plane and walked with the lady who scanned my ticket back to the booth and I found out:
1. Somehow the computers didn't care that it was the wrong flight.
2. My plane arrival time was delayed
3. The plane I just exited was early
4. My plane would be arriving in an hour
5. It was going to be late because they found out there was a bird in the cabin after it flew around after take off...
6. They announced #s 2-5 when I was sitting on the toilet.

On the bright side, I got to meet a guy who was a member, and also this group of guys that were going to a board game convention in Texas.... Maybe you will read about all them in my journal or something.
but I gotta go.
Love you all.

[Elder Cattron]