Hey everyone!
This week was alright, the few days down in Anchorage was fun, its always nice to go back to civilization and see trees and all that fun stuff again. (Ashton flew to Anchorage for transfers) I bought a new camera while I was down there since my other one broke. We stayed in the mission home our last night there and we got to see all the departing missionaries leave. That was pretty crazy, one of the missionaries leaving came out with me. He left a transfer early to get training for college basketball. My new comps name is Elder Garcia, hes been out for like 17 months, and he's from Texas. It's kind of funny how many times since he's been here that I've heard the joke about, if they split Alaska in half, Texas would be the third largest state. I'm sure he hates that joke though. He's a cool kid, he just came from eagle river, from the meadow creek ward. The weather's finally warming up, it's supposed to hit 77 degrees today! The ice decided to float back to Nome again, but thats ok as long as the weather stays nice. I found a few more trees the other day up here in Nome to, so that was exciting haha. It sounds like something stupid to be excited about, but in Nome there aren't very many trees at all so its actually kind of exciting to find trees you didn't know about before haha. (Nome is a VERY barren tundra - few trees) Today we moved a washer for a lady here, that's why youre getting this email so late.
A------------'s good, we were going to meet with her the other day and try to get her on date but she left with her family to go hunting. So we're going to see her this week hopefully at least once. I------------ doing good, we saw him and taught about faith and hope. Hes doing good though, he came to church yesterday too. Hes going to be moving again but this time hes going to be living in a tent for the summer. Hes going to be living over at camp with the other miners that he's working with. He's gold dredging for the summer.
I'm glad everyones doing so good back home. That's awesome that Brolin got 2nd place in that iPhone photography contest! Congrats!
Sounds like Cayman was pretty fun, that's cool that you got to do stuff with the missionaries over there.
That's awesome that Braedon did so good on his GRE test last week! Congrats!
You guys got the chicken coop haha, it looks pretty good, a kid from Provo High made that? That's awesome!
I'm glad you guys are all doing so good! Sorry this email isn't longer, but I gotta go. Love you guys!
Love Elder Ashton Roney
Monday, June 17, 2013
Saturday, June 8, 2013
"Dying" in Nome Alaska
Hey everyone!
You're probably wondering why you're getting my email today, today is our pday because were going to be flying to Anchorage on monday. (He'll be flying into Anchorage to pick up his new companion) So I got my transfer call this morning, I'm staying in Nome for my last transfer and Elder Allens going down to Homer. We're both pretty happy about this next transfer. I was completely expecting to leave so when President Beesley told me that I was staying we were pretty surprised.
Last pday was good, but the weather wasn't very good haha, the weather decided to be foggy from now on. We tried driving out this dirt road to go to a big dredge (gold mining machine thing) but the road was completely washed out. There was no way we could get across, so we went back to the apartment and just relaxed for most of the day. The gap in the road was like 15 feet across and 7ish feet deep haha, I'll send a picture of it. We got haircuts again though, so that was good. For dinner we ate at Ians place on the beach, it was a pretty cool, haha. (Ian's a member who mines gold on a dredge in Nome.) I'll send pictures of his place and of the beach where all the miners live. I finally got the package you guys sent in the beginning/middle of may! (His birthday box) The cake was pretty grody but everything else was just great! Thanks so much! So remember how we kept popping our car tires over and over again? We talked with our vehicle coordinator and convinced him to send us new tires that are more durable and he sent us some new, thick, super heavy duty, mostly Nome proof tires! So we're good for a while haha.
We were able to see A---------- this week, we were planning on seeing her twice but only saw her once. The first time we ate dinner with her and her family, and we were going to go back the next day. But the road had washed out the previous week and the temporary bridge kept breaking. They were working on it when we went back. So we haven't been able to see her since we had dinner with her. I don't know if I told you guys but when we were there one of these last times she told us that she's going to pray to know if she should be baptized. When we go back to see her we're going to follow up and hopefully put her on date for baptism. I really hope to see her get baptized before I leave Nome.
We saw I--------- this week too, we finished teaching him everything he needs to be taught to be baptized, now he just needs to make the decision to be baptized :)
Everything's good though, I'm glad I get to stay in Nome for my last transfer, it should be good. I hope everyone's doing good back home and down there in cayman. Enjoy the sun and the warm weather for me :) Love you guys!
Love Elder Ashton Roney
You're probably wondering why you're getting my email today, today is our pday because were going to be flying to Anchorage on monday. (He'll be flying into Anchorage to pick up his new companion) So I got my transfer call this morning, I'm staying in Nome for my last transfer and Elder Allens going down to Homer. We're both pretty happy about this next transfer. I was completely expecting to leave so when President Beesley told me that I was staying we were pretty surprised.
Last pday was good, but the weather wasn't very good haha, the weather decided to be foggy from now on. We tried driving out this dirt road to go to a big dredge (gold mining machine thing) but the road was completely washed out. There was no way we could get across, so we went back to the apartment and just relaxed for most of the day. The gap in the road was like 15 feet across and 7ish feet deep haha, I'll send a picture of it. We got haircuts again though, so that was good. For dinner we ate at Ians place on the beach, it was a pretty cool, haha. (Ian's a member who mines gold on a dredge in Nome.) I'll send pictures of his place and of the beach where all the miners live. I finally got the package you guys sent in the beginning/middle of may! (His birthday box) The cake was pretty grody but everything else was just great! Thanks so much! So remember how we kept popping our car tires over and over again? We talked with our vehicle coordinator and convinced him to send us new tires that are more durable and he sent us some new, thick, super heavy duty, mostly Nome proof tires! So we're good for a while haha.
We were able to see A---------- this week, we were planning on seeing her twice but only saw her once. The first time we ate dinner with her and her family, and we were going to go back the next day. But the road had washed out the previous week and the temporary bridge kept breaking. They were working on it when we went back. So we haven't been able to see her since we had dinner with her. I don't know if I told you guys but when we were there one of these last times she told us that she's going to pray to know if she should be baptized. When we go back to see her we're going to follow up and hopefully put her on date for baptism. I really hope to see her get baptized before I leave Nome.
We saw I--------- this week too, we finished teaching him everything he needs to be taught to be baptized, now he just needs to make the decision to be baptized :)
Everything's good though, I'm glad I get to stay in Nome for my last transfer, it should be good. I hope everyone's doing good back home and down there in cayman. Enjoy the sun and the warm weather for me :) Love you guys!
Love Elder Ashton Roney
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
50's and 60's
Hey everyone!
This week was pretty good, the weathers been so nice this week, it got into the 50's and I think into the 60's a couple times and the suns been out all day, every day this week so we've been walking around a lot instead of driving, I didn't think I would ever be so happy to get a sunburn in my life. For p-day we didn't do anything very exciting, we drove out one of the roads out to salmon lake to see it, it was still frozen over though.
On Wednesday we drove out to teller to see William T, a member who lives up there. He's a super solid guy. The village up there is tiny, there's probably only about 250 people who live there. Teller is an interesting place, we were talking to a guy who lives there and he described it as its like its own little third world country. Ill send some pictures. We got a lot of really weird looks from people there haha, we got out of the truck and there were a bunch of guys standing in front of one of the houses and they just stared at us until we drove to another part of the village. We met a couple really cool people though. It was a good trip anyways, it took a couple hours to drive there but it was worth it. When we got back we found out that we had another slow leak haha, so we switched out our tire and took the tire in the next morning and got it fixed. The best part is that after we got it fixed we drove back to our apartment to have lunch, and when we got out of the car to go inside we had another leak on a completely different tire! So we immediately got back in the car and drove back to the tire shop, a small rock punctured the tire haha. We have the worst luck with tires ever. We talked to the mission vehicle coordinator and hes going to send a set of new, better, thick, mostly Nome proof tires up to us.
We drove out to A------------s camp this week and part of the road was washed out a couple days earlier so they built a one lane bridge for now on that part of the road. We asked the construction worker if it was ok if we drove across yet and he said, travel at your own risk and if the bridge is washed out when you come back then too bad. Except it was phrased differently, he phrased it in a very hardened, true rough Alaskan way that isn't appropriate for me to say, especially as a missionary haha. We watched her cut up a seal that they shot the day before, then they gave us a plate of it to take home. I don't know if were going to actually eat it though, she gave us some of the intestines, I think she gave us a liver, something else, and a little bit of the meat. yumm...
We taught A------------- the gospel of Jesus Christ this week, it was after we watched her cut up the seal. She wants to be baptized but she wants her husband to be baptized at the same time. We invited her to pray to know if what we taught is true and whether or not she should be baptized, she said she would do it that night. So tomorrow or on Wednesday were going to go see her again and follow up with her, and hopefully get her on date for baptism.
Iskanders doing good, hes been busy getting ready for the mining season so we haven't been able to really teach him anything this week unfortunately.
Sounds like your guys week was pretty good, and busy. Thats pretty sweet that Avery graduated and passed his eagle board of review, congrats bro! Why did they switch doing all the graduations at UVU instead of the marriot center this year? Just curious. That sounds like tons of fun for Brolin doing that hike up the canyon to a secret waterfall and going to lagoon too! The giant BBQ sounds like it was a lot of fun up at uncle Brookes Go Away ranch. That's awesome that Elder Anderson was the one to do Kylers temple sealing. Dad bought a chicken coop? haha nice. And no I haven't gotten my birthday box yet, hopefully it comes this week, was the cake the only thing in it? The mail system up here is the worst. Anyways, I'm glad you all had a pretty good week for the most part, I gotta go now, love you guys!
Love Elder Ashton Roney
This week was pretty good, the weathers been so nice this week, it got into the 50's and I think into the 60's a couple times and the suns been out all day, every day this week so we've been walking around a lot instead of driving, I didn't think I would ever be so happy to get a sunburn in my life. For p-day we didn't do anything very exciting, we drove out one of the roads out to salmon lake to see it, it was still frozen over though.
On Wednesday we drove out to teller to see William T, a member who lives up there. He's a super solid guy. The village up there is tiny, there's probably only about 250 people who live there. Teller is an interesting place, we were talking to a guy who lives there and he described it as its like its own little third world country. Ill send some pictures. We got a lot of really weird looks from people there haha, we got out of the truck and there were a bunch of guys standing in front of one of the houses and they just stared at us until we drove to another part of the village. We met a couple really cool people though. It was a good trip anyways, it took a couple hours to drive there but it was worth it. When we got back we found out that we had another slow leak haha, so we switched out our tire and took the tire in the next morning and got it fixed. The best part is that after we got it fixed we drove back to our apartment to have lunch, and when we got out of the car to go inside we had another leak on a completely different tire! So we immediately got back in the car and drove back to the tire shop, a small rock punctured the tire haha. We have the worst luck with tires ever. We talked to the mission vehicle coordinator and hes going to send a set of new, better, thick, mostly Nome proof tires up to us.
We drove out to A------------s camp this week and part of the road was washed out a couple days earlier so they built a one lane bridge for now on that part of the road. We asked the construction worker if it was ok if we drove across yet and he said, travel at your own risk and if the bridge is washed out when you come back then too bad. Except it was phrased differently, he phrased it in a very hardened, true rough Alaskan way that isn't appropriate for me to say, especially as a missionary haha. We watched her cut up a seal that they shot the day before, then they gave us a plate of it to take home. I don't know if were going to actually eat it though, she gave us some of the intestines, I think she gave us a liver, something else, and a little bit of the meat. yumm...
We taught A------------- the gospel of Jesus Christ this week, it was after we watched her cut up the seal. She wants to be baptized but she wants her husband to be baptized at the same time. We invited her to pray to know if what we taught is true and whether or not she should be baptized, she said she would do it that night. So tomorrow or on Wednesday were going to go see her again and follow up with her, and hopefully get her on date for baptism.
Iskanders doing good, hes been busy getting ready for the mining season so we haven't been able to really teach him anything this week unfortunately.
Sounds like your guys week was pretty good, and busy. Thats pretty sweet that Avery graduated and passed his eagle board of review, congrats bro! Why did they switch doing all the graduations at UVU instead of the marriot center this year? Just curious. That sounds like tons of fun for Brolin doing that hike up the canyon to a secret waterfall and going to lagoon too! The giant BBQ sounds like it was a lot of fun up at uncle Brookes Go Away ranch. That's awesome that Elder Anderson was the one to do Kylers temple sealing. Dad bought a chicken coop? haha nice. And no I haven't gotten my birthday box yet, hopefully it comes this week, was the cake the only thing in it? The mail system up here is the worst. Anyways, I'm glad you all had a pretty good week for the most part, I gotta go now, love you guys!
Love Elder Ashton Roney
Monday, May 27, 2013
Memorial Day
Hey everyone,
This week was good, we were able to say pretty busy this week and teach alot. Last Pday we didnt do a whole lot, we ended up just hanging out at the apartment because weather was no good. Luckily the past couple days have been nice, some of the ocean ice is all melted, its the first time seeing the actual ocean where the city part of the beach is. Its so nice, the suns out and its warm and birds are here and the whole town just comes to life really. Weve been walking around town since the weathers been nice and its pretty funny how many people are walking around and doing things outside because the sun came out and its warm. Angelas brother shot a grizzly bear out at their camp because it was about to charge him, so she went out and helped butcher it and everything. We ended up going down to see her because thats where she'll be for most of the summer and she ended up giving us each a bear claw from that bear, its pretty awesome, they told us a bunch of crazy bear stories too. They said that where their cabin is, is basically bear alley, they said that one night a couple summers ago they had 11 grizzly bears around their cabin trying to get their food and checking out their cabin.We went to the high school graduation to support some people that invited us, it was a really cool graduation, nothing like what we had. There were only like 30 kids graduating so they had a slide show for each kid graduating, they presented scholarships and diplomas and a bunch of other stuff. It was 2 and a half hours long but we were only there for maybe like an hour of it. It was pretty cool. We helped a family move some furniture and stuff into their conex box that they have, theyre moving to hawaii and using the conex box to ship down their stuff. They ended up giving us their snow shoes because they werent going to use them in hawaii, same with some sleds that we have to get rid of since we cant go sledding. I havent gotten the box yet, I might today if Im lucky. Alaska has the absolute worst mail system ever, thats too bad that dad made the extra effort to get it up here in 2 days and it didnt happen like they said. Its really irritating how bad they are with mail up here.
Today should be fun though, were having Ian teach us how to gold pan and then maybe drive out somewhere since the roads are open now. And on wednesday were driving out to the native village Teller and making it a day trip. It should be good, theres one member of the church that lives there and were going to visit him since he hasnt had any real contact with members in a while.
We were able to see Iskander, we taught him about the 10 commandments, hes been taught just about everything we teach people before baptism, hes doing good right now. Were going to try to get him baptized or at least on date before we leave.
We saw Angela, we taught her about the plan of salvation and taught her briefly about the word of wisdom, she completely accepted and agreed with it all, even about tea and coffee, and she loves tea and coffee. Shes doing great, at the end of the lesson she asked us if its alright to revert from her church to ours haha, we told her of course! Next time we see her were going to put her on date for baptism, which will be in June. Ill attach a picture of her cabin.
Weve been meeting with the dad of a less active family everytime we go over there for dinner. Hes a really good guy and definitely wants to at least learn what we believe, he was in the national guard, hes pretty funny and super cool guy. Ill let you know more about how thats going next week.
It sounds like you guys had a pretty crazy week, you guys had tons going on last week, and the next week sounds like its going to be insane. Congratulations to Brolin for getting 2nd place in that photo show, thats pretty awesome! Im glad everyones staying busy and happy! Love you guys!
Love Elder Ashton Roney
This week was good, we were able to say pretty busy this week and teach alot. Last Pday we didnt do a whole lot, we ended up just hanging out at the apartment because weather was no good. Luckily the past couple days have been nice, some of the ocean ice is all melted, its the first time seeing the actual ocean where the city part of the beach is. Its so nice, the suns out and its warm and birds are here and the whole town just comes to life really. Weve been walking around town since the weathers been nice and its pretty funny how many people are walking around and doing things outside because the sun came out and its warm. Angelas brother shot a grizzly bear out at their camp because it was about to charge him, so she went out and helped butcher it and everything. We ended up going down to see her because thats where she'll be for most of the summer and she ended up giving us each a bear claw from that bear, its pretty awesome, they told us a bunch of crazy bear stories too. They said that where their cabin is, is basically bear alley, they said that one night a couple summers ago they had 11 grizzly bears around their cabin trying to get their food and checking out their cabin.We went to the high school graduation to support some people that invited us, it was a really cool graduation, nothing like what we had. There were only like 30 kids graduating so they had a slide show for each kid graduating, they presented scholarships and diplomas and a bunch of other stuff. It was 2 and a half hours long but we were only there for maybe like an hour of it. It was pretty cool. We helped a family move some furniture and stuff into their conex box that they have, theyre moving to hawaii and using the conex box to ship down their stuff. They ended up giving us their snow shoes because they werent going to use them in hawaii, same with some sleds that we have to get rid of since we cant go sledding. I havent gotten the box yet, I might today if Im lucky. Alaska has the absolute worst mail system ever, thats too bad that dad made the extra effort to get it up here in 2 days and it didnt happen like they said. Its really irritating how bad they are with mail up here.
Today should be fun though, were having Ian teach us how to gold pan and then maybe drive out somewhere since the roads are open now. And on wednesday were driving out to the native village Teller and making it a day trip. It should be good, theres one member of the church that lives there and were going to visit him since he hasnt had any real contact with members in a while.
We were able to see Iskander, we taught him about the 10 commandments, hes been taught just about everything we teach people before baptism, hes doing good right now. Were going to try to get him baptized or at least on date before we leave.
We saw Angela, we taught her about the plan of salvation and taught her briefly about the word of wisdom, she completely accepted and agreed with it all, even about tea and coffee, and she loves tea and coffee. Shes doing great, at the end of the lesson she asked us if its alright to revert from her church to ours haha, we told her of course! Next time we see her were going to put her on date for baptism, which will be in June. Ill attach a picture of her cabin.
Weve been meeting with the dad of a less active family everytime we go over there for dinner. Hes a really good guy and definitely wants to at least learn what we believe, he was in the national guard, hes pretty funny and super cool guy. Ill let you know more about how thats going next week.
It sounds like you guys had a pretty crazy week, you guys had tons going on last week, and the next week sounds like its going to be insane. Congratulations to Brolin for getting 2nd place in that photo show, thats pretty awesome! Im glad everyones staying busy and happy! Love you guys!
Love Elder Ashton Roney
Monday, May 20, 2013
Elder Roney
Hey everyone!
This week we were in anchorage until friday morning for zone conference, it went pretty well. Elder Zwick was the 70 that came to talk to us and he says hello to uncle Blake, he shook hands with all the missionaries in the mission and when I was up he recognized my name and asked if I'm related to uncle Blake and to tell him hi for him. It was a really good zone conference and a good week in anchorage. While we were down there we were working in Elder Allens old area and my old areas, it was fun to see people that I knew again. On Wednesday we went to the temple in the morning and that was awesome. Most of the bush missionaries went to the temple. They came in from everywhere, from Kodiak, Dutch Harbor, Sterling, Homer, Bethel, Nome, Valdez, Kenai, Soldatna, Cordova. We had interviews with President Beesley while we were down there, he told us what's happening to our area even though i'ts 3 weeks before transfers. He's going to white wash Nome and he hinted towards sending me to Fairbanks for my last transfer. While we were down there we met up with the missionaries in ---------- to do a district tract with them, and I was reminded how dumb missionaries are, haha. There were 10 elders, no sisters and there was alot of jokes about farting and playing pranks on other missionaries. It was funny but a reminder of how dumb elders are haha. So when we left Nome to go to Anchorage it was becoming spring and warming up and when we got back from Anchorage it was winter again. And it's been snowing every day since weve been back! Weather here is all messed up and confused. Yesterday was my birthday, haha pretty uneventful but still a good day. We went to a pre graduation thing that we got invited to, there were a couple speakers and some musical numbers and hymns (it was at the lutheran church). I didn't get my box yet, I should get it hopefully today or early sometime this week.
It sounds like you all had a good, fun week. It's crazy that Averys so close to graduating, congrats on graduating from seminary! Anyways, sorry its a short email, but I gotta go, Love you guys!
Love Elder Ashton Roney
Ill attach some pictures of the trip down to anchorage.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Elder Roney
Hey everyone,
This is going to be pretty short since I talked to you yesterday. Happy Mothers Day yesterday!!! It was super fun to talk to you guys yesterday! Its weird that its my last time skyping, see you guys in a couple months. Today we arrived into anchorage from nome, its great theres no snow here and things are starting to turn green! I forgot how much I like trees until today, theyre great to have around, trees are a good thing. I lost my nametag today somewhere between nome and girdwood too, I currently have no name. We drove down to Girdwood today, thats where the big ski resort in Alaska is and its super pretty! Its the same drive you take down to Homer but only like 45 minutes down the road, and I forgot how pretty it is down that way. So I forgot to tell you guys during skype but last week during our comp study we saw a wolf out behind the church when we looked out the window, pretty sweet right? I got a new temple recommend too, President called yesterday after our skype sesh and interviewed me because mine expired in April. I love to see the temple, Im going there wednesday. Zone conference is on thursday, Elder Zwick from the 70 is coming and doing a mission tour, should be good. Ill let you know how it goes and Ill send pictures next week,
I forgot my camera cord and card reader in nome. Welp, love you guys! Bye!
Love Elder Ashton Roney
Monday, May 6, 2013
Elder Roney
Hey everyone!
This email probably won't be too long, sorry. On pday we drove out towards one of the villages to see how far we could get, we only got like halfway there but it was a cool drive. On the way out there we stopped at the train to nowhere and took pictures of it. It's a train that they were building from Nome to Council but something happened that stopped them from finishing so now its just a rusting old train. I'll send pictures of it. We drove through an old village called Solomon. It took less than a minute to drive through and we only saw one house that looked like people were living there, the rest looked pretty old and abandoned. We're getting kuspuks made for us by some people here, we're pretty excited, they're gonna be neat. Kuspuks are like the traditional eskimo shirt/sweater thing that they would wear seal and bear hunting, and they wear them when they dance. The lady had us buy our fabric and trim and everything. I never realized that so much went into something that looks so simple. We saw another herd of muskox the other day while we were on the way to an investigators house. They're definitely a weird animal. Weather was goodish for most of the week, then it snowed again today, haha. This weather makes me never want to live in alaska. Then we got a call from the assistants with our flight information to go down to zone conference, we leave on the 13th and come back next friday.
We were able to see Iskander this week, he's doing good. We taught him the law of chastity. He's having a hard time accepting it though, we're gonna work on that with him though. We weren't able to see Angela because she went out seal hunting with her husband/family last week. Then they got back and the next day or so they left to go bear hunting and have been out of town since. Hopefully they shoot the bear soon so she can get back and we can start meeting with her again.
I sent out a letter to you guys, you asked for my birthday list so I sent it to you, it's pretty short. I haven't gotten your package yet, but it should be coming in pretty soon, hopefully today. To answer your question dad, eskimos have a few tribes but some of them are mainly inuit, then there's yupik, siberian yupik and there might be more but those three are for sure.
I'm glad everyones doing so good, it sounds like it was a pretty fun week for you guys with the wedding and the art shows and everything else. Well I gotta get going, love you guys!
Love Elder Ashton Roney
And here are some pictures :)
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