Last letter home.

So, we are down to days. Two days to be exact. This is Tab's last day to email home. We all wrote him our final letters for FHE on Monday and expressed our love and gratitude to him for his example to us over the last two years. He has truly blessed our family beyond measure! We are anxiously awaiting his return and look forward to seeing his face when he walks off the plane. 

Now, we await HIS last letter. And here it is.........


hey mom,

sup?




Yep........that would be my boy! 

ONE more week.........

Only ONE more week! He's busy packing and trying to stay in the work. Our letters are short, but that's okay. It's what we expect. Can't wait till next week. We are all sooooo excited!

Hey mom! 

I haven't been able to hop on the computer to do emails until today. I did send a package this week - it was 42 pounds and it cost $71 to ship! HOLY MOLY! haha I just used the money you sent me so don't worry. The shipping cost more than the value of the package...    I think using flate rate boxes may have ended up being cheaper because flat rate doesn't factor in weight. but who cares. 

Aaaahhhh........it's the Del! yes please. it's Angel! he's my buddy. 

Love you!

Another surprise!

I love getting those surprise emails from sweet moms when your missionary is out serving. I got two this week. One from a sister in the ward Tab is currently serving in, and the other is the Relief Society President, Sister Parker. As usual, it made my day!

These are the messages they wrote:

Your son is visiting for a wedding. We love him! He is a very seasoned missionary. You should be very proud of him.

Hi! I'm Sister Parker the Relief Society president. I love your son. He is an amazing missionary. And is a hard worker. We also like his style. We will miss him!

 Elder DeJesus and McLain

Elders DeJesus and McLain with Sister Parker.

SEPTEMBER!

Two words..........TWO WEEKS! Yep, that's all. Then it will be time for my boy to return home.  I can't believe we are really at this point.  So excited to see him!

Hey mom! 

Labor day yesterday so we didn't email but I've got a minute today. Hopefully you are around to see I'm on.

I am having a good day. I'll send you some photos from today. We usually email from the library but today is from the church since we had our meetings over here earlier. 

No boxes yet. I'm going to get some. I haven't sent anything yet, though. I haven't taken time to decide what to keep and what not to keep! Oh I'll be keeping the blanket and my coat. I paid for that coat! It's nice. but things like my blue suit... I want to give it away but then I don't. My suits are not thrashed. I am nice to them. That's why I'm somewhat tempted to keep them. Eh. Plus I put a lot of tlc into my blue suit... I skinnied them pants! 

The ward is pretty good. But for some reason it isn't growing very fast... It's sad. The ward council and everyone are champs but somethings not right.  It should be exploding! 

This wednesday is the temple trip and then the 8th is the Statue of Liberty. 

Sup Colby! you're lookin mad hipster in them photos. Nice hat - that's ma boi.  In reply to your comment:

That is what we call "the Chad" look. 

"He's a Chad." 

"Look at that sweet bro."

"Watch out, it's Chad."

"Did you invite that guy? No, that's Chad."

Oh and if that was a jedi braid I'd a yelled. Only a headphone! what are you listening to? Yes we will play golf soon! Oh of course I will help you. 

Hey do you know when and at what time my homecoming talk is? Elder Priest wants to know. 

Isaac better not have gotten a tomtom. 

love you!

tab

Hi Dad!

We had a decent week. Not as good as the last two. We did have one of our new investigators become serious! She is a single mother (her husband passed away in November) and she has two young boys. Her name is Kathleen. She desperately needs the Church in her life. So, naturally, she's taking the things we teach her seriously. So that's good. We still gotta get her to come to church. She said she was dead set on coming on Sunday but she didn't show up :( That was a big surprise to me. We are still working with a couple others but we've filtered many of them out and we're on the find again. Samir and Samantha are still in the hunt...

Oh, our fishing trip wasn't much. We got all the gear, but I had no idea what to do with it. We had mini poles that are only 3-4 feet long. They are called dock demons. But I have no idea what rig to use and where to go. Trying to fish as a missionary and have success is quite hard. But, I am excited to do some real fishing when I get home. You'll have to teach me. Last week was more just to say we did it. 

We usually email at a library in Woodbridge and we only get an hour or so there but since we had zone meeting at the church today we're using the computers in the family history center. I don't enjoy emailing that much so I am usually brief either way. 

Thanks for mentioning that about your campus ward... I've been wanting to move back to New Heritage. I loved it there! Perhaps I can live there again when I go back to school. Maybe even get some of the same roommates! 

Thank you for your little message. I had my departing interview this week with President Taggart. It wasn't much, but he talked about some of the things he did after his mission that made a big difference in the end. I haven't planned anything really, so that was a little bit of a wake-up call. I am going to need your help making some post-mission plans, but I'm not thinking about it too much yet. I feel that my time and energy is best to be spent on my area and my companion for now. Even then, I find it hard to focus. 

I am losing a little bit of motivation these last few weeks. For example, today in zone meeting our leaders committed us to do a few things for the zone goal and our mission president also asked us to do some things different starting today. I would be gung-ho about it all, but I am going home in two weeks! It's difficult to keep my head in the game and plan ahead for when I get home. I am not really enjoying this last transfer for that reason. It's like I'm being tugged at on both sides. Thankfully they're both good things to think about. 

well that's about it. Thanks for being the bomb. 

Love you!

Tab  

Tim's advice.......

My only advice is to be obedient and work hard. Build up your companion — don't drag him down.  Only do the essential going-home things and let everything else wait.  Most going home things can wait until your last couple of days. We can take care of the other things when you get home.

Be good — I know you will!

Love,

Dad