Retiring this blog

I am retiring this blog. I have started a new blog at http://thespanishbrothers.blogspot.com/

That blog will be dedicated to posting emails from Ross and zach on their missions.

I need more sleep - 09 June

Dear family,
Well it sounds like you guys had a full week this week. For Me I am
just doing a bunch of street contacts and just trying to find more
investigators. We have this family of five girls that we set baptismal
dates with three of them for July 12th. The first time we met this
family was because a member brought her our first Sunday in
libertador. We have also watched the testaments with the oldest one.
Our ward needs a lot of help though. We have a lot of inactive people,
but the bishop and everyone seem excited to have us here.
Oh one cool thing we did this week was the four elders in our
apartment went to a evangelical church called the Madaen. The church
is inside this huge dome type thing surrounded by a bunch of smaller
offices and a soccer field. It was so funny there were people just
dancing around like idiots. It was more like going to a rock concert
than a church. The whole reason we went is because one of our
investigators is a dj for the radio station. The radio host actually
interviewed my companion. It was just who we were and what we were
doing in Argentina. But ya we got thrown out because one of the elders
was video taping stuff. The two Utah boys that we share a pension with
were all like they are possed by evil spirits and stuff. I just
thought it was hilarious.
Our apartment is a really tight fit in the mornings. A lot of times we
will start studying early then just progressively get ready through
out the morning. Also all of us have been having crapy sleep since we
got here.
The farmers are still on strike and we saw a long line of tracketers
heading in to centro last week. Like a line of 50 of them.
My Spanish is progressing so much. Everyone say that I am speaking
better, which is a good sign.
Man I almost have 7 months in the mission it just flys by. It is a
little cooler down here but still pretty nice.

The question about the guitar is it is allowed. So I am probably going
to go to centro next week and Buy one.
Hey when dose the new Narnia movie come out because they are already
selling bootleg copies down here? It looks pretty sweet.
Well That all I can think of right now so,
Tu amo,
Ross

Mom and Dad,
Well it sounds like you guys are having a crazy busy first part of
summer. I have not gotten any other packages yet but I will probably
get something this Friday. It feels so weird that Seth was visiting me
a year ago. Man how a year flys by. Sorry if my letter are not longer
but I am writing in my journal so after the mission you guys can get
more details.

Zach,
Si, manda me carta con Jack Johnson y yo traduciré para usted. Usted
es muy anamiable por al terminar de School. Okay I tried to write more
Spanish than usual. Man you are going to be an elder that is going to
be de diez.

Justine
Only a couple more weeks and then its end of school, can I see your happy dance?
Have you got your drivers yet?

Madison,
How was your party? Did you finish your movie for your friend? What
movie did you guys watch? Send me pictures of your wallet. Tracy is so
much fun.

Electric Avenue - 02 June

Dear Family,

Well living in cordoba is diffrent than my last area by the fact that
we have a bunch of other Elders close by. Also we have bigger stores
to shop at which is k-po. My area is in the Villa (Slums) but it is
not really that scary.
Elder Fusté my compaion is a great guy. Him and I are just working up
a storm. The lord is really blessing us in this area. The memebers are
way excitied to have us as they have been sharing missionarys with
another ward. Our ward attendence is not so great right now like 50 or
so. So we got to help them with that. But our good memebers have a
bunch of people that they want us to meet.
On Sunady a memeber brought a friend to church and this lady is so
chosen. She is 21 years old, she has 6 people in her family. We are
going to teach her this week so that should be good.
I also live in a pension of four missionarys now so that is cool. It
is neat to have more than one person to talk to. One of the guys only
has a transfer in the mission. He is still geting used to not being in
the states. So he is sometimes a jerk to my compaion. The other gringo
and me are trying to get him acosutmened to latins. Our appartment is
pretty small with the four of us cramed in there. It would be perfect
with two but four is a strech.
Oh my compaion from the MTC finally made it out here this transfer. He
sounds way excitied from this email.
Two memeber have shown me how to make empanadas now so I think I have
it down. So i will show you guys once I get home.
Because it is my birthday this month I think I am going to by myself a
guitar. It should only cost me about 30 or 60 dollars with the
conversion. My compaion said he will teach me.
The spanish is going way good with a latin comapion now.
Well Love you all,
Elder Ross Blaszczyk

PS Mom and Dad,
I have not recived anymore packages but Hopefully this week. So Jason is
finally geting married. Oh isn´t that just exciting. Are they geting
married in the temple or no? Well I´m excitied to hear from Grandpa
about the whole stock thing.

PS Zach,
Well it was good to hear you had a good time at grad Zach. Okay you
need to tell me about this whole stock thing next letter if grandpa
dose not send me any info. Hey can you send me some jack johnson
guitar tabs? ¿Como esta estudindo por sus probras?

PS Madison,
How is your film going? Dad says you have been working on it for
awhile. You little creative person you.

PS Justine,
What are you listening to right now justine? Sorry to here your first
dance sucked. Did you dance with any boys? If not why? Well Le amo
todos de ustedes

Happy Birthday Mom - 28 May

Dear Family,

Well transfers are here and I have left Villa Maria and I am serving
in Cordoba. The neighborhoods is Levatdor. My new compaions name is
Elder Fuste, he is a latino from Neo ken a province here in argentina.
He has about 18 months in the mission, I have heard from others he is
a problem with disobedence but he seem to be a pretty cool guy. He
should really help my spanish to improve.
I am in a four man pension, with two other gringos. One elder has a
year and the other has 3 months. So a wide varity of experince.

So last week was pretty much more of the same. But we had so cool
experince though.
Elder Neeley and I found this lady while contacting. She said she
belived more in sicence than god, but she said we could pass by. When
we Passed by she explained that it was not that she did not belive in
god but all the other churchs did not give good answers or were
corrupt. So we had a K-po lesson with her just answering her
questions.
Then we had a cool little dinner cita with another investigator
family. The Father is this way less active memeber but the wife is not
a memeber and they have a cute little 8 month old daughter.
Saying goodbye to people sucks. So you can all know. Sayong goodbye to
the gyspies and one other memeber was the hardest. They are all such
good people.
Well i think it is offically winter here and that it is here to stay.
Right now it is rain and it is the coldest it has been since I got
here. But still not as cold as Canada.
I can not think of anything else that exciting to talk about
So I love,
Elder Blaszczyk

PS Mom and Dad,

Oh Happy Birthday Mom!! Sorry Dad that your plans to treat Mom did
not go over to well. Just try again next year. I did get the pictures
but just not have printed them.
I am in mosiah 8 right now in the book of mormon. How are you guys
doing? Stay strong during the summer months.

PS Madsion,
Thats to bad to hear that this Brooke program got shut down.
Remeber though that you have 4 weeks left then you are free from
elementry school forever. So enjoy it, enjoy recess.

PS justine,
How is studying going for you? Are you excitied for summer and are you
going to get a little summer job or is baby sitting going pretty well
for you?

PS Zach,
Freaking Francis, at least you guys did some damage. So grad sounded
like it was fun. So what about this stock tip from grandpa, what is
it? Write me before Monday about it I told dad yes, so do what ever
you feel is right.

My mother told me - 19 May 2008

Dear Family

Wow I got emails from all of you this week that is impressive.
I got to work with jordan again this week on monday. A Couple areas in
our zones got together to
to play so Basketball. it was pretty intense. Ate some choriso
(Argentianan sausage) and bread, and you know just goof around. But
After P day Jordan and I got put together to work.
So we just went contacting since it was not either off our areas. So
we just had fun talking to random people.

Oh important news I got the Miamaids package. Thank them for the
toothpaste and deodrent. You were right justine it was kind
of wierd but the gum is good. Sorry geting days out of order.

Tuesday Basically can be summed up into everyone figed us on our citas
so that always sucks. But one point of interest is that we had our ward
mission meeting.
And they told us we had to have an activity planned for this up coming
week. Elder Neeley and I were both like what! It does not help that our
members do not do anything church related
of their own incitaive. Enough of my ranting

Wednesday we found some cool people while tracting. We had a pretty cool
lesson with one of our progressing investigators.
This lady name is Mareila, she is about 30 something with a kid but no
husband. Her brother is a member though. So we taught about
tithing and the brother shared a bunch of cool stories about how
paying tithing has blessedd his life. We also watched the lamb of god
video with her
Which was pretty sweet. On friday we also watched the testaments with
her. She was really touched by the spirit of the movie.

Thursday got my hair cut. Pretty much normal day. We were over at the
Rosales familys, the gypsies, place last thing. Pepe , the dad, had
received a thing from his exwife
saying she wanted Pedro,their son, to be with her in Buenos Aries.
Pedro wants to stay with this dad and keep going to church. If he went
with his mom he would not be able to.
So we gave pedro a blessing. He is such a great kid. Any ways He does
get to stay with his dad. Jesus ,the nephew of Pepe, is one of the
gypises we are teaching. Basically we had Pepe and
Pedro teach him. They did a way better job than we could have.

Friday we had district meeting. I was in charge of the game. So we did
this activity involving object lessons. The most crazy one was baptism
and relating it to siccors.
So that was pretty entertaining. That Afternoon We went back to couple
of street contacts and had a cool experince.
So week knock on this house and the person we had contacted was this
lady who´s name is Doli. But a guy comes out and just starts reading
our name tags and asking how much time we
have in the mission. The guy was this way inactive memeber who married this nonmemeber. But both of them are way k-po. So we are going
to visit them this week.

Saturday went and did contacting in the morning no really cool stuff
happened there. had a nice little dinner with the Gyispies. freaking
Indiana Jones and the temeple of doom was on
the Tv. it was so funny to here it in spanish though.

Sunday was kind of a let down. We only had two investigators in
church. I could not feel the spirit in sacrament meeting. It was crazy
all the kids were runing around. and this was not todlers or anything
this is like 6
and 8 year olds. The parents did not do anything. So that is always frustrating.
Weather wise though this week has been really nice. Around 25 degrees all week.

Language is steady as she goes. Today I am with a latin compaion
because Elder Neeley is a district leader so him and another district
leader had to go into cordoba toady for a meeting so lots of
Fun. I am in mosiah 4 right now in my scripture reading and that is in spanish.
Next week is transfers so I will write you on wensday next week.

Oh and what is with the Boehmers moving?

Well that all for this week loved ones
Love
Elder Ross Blaszczyk

PS Mom and Dad,
It is good to hear that you guys are enjoying your callings. So will i
even recongizes the house when I get home?
It is so weird sometimes because Homesicking is kind of like a roll
acoaster in that it goes up and down. I was really missing you guess
yesterday during church. What can i say about those stories. I am just
good at not geting caught.
I can not think of anything just send more candy Love You
PS Zach
What are you doing for after grad? and be safe. You need to send me
some pictures of you in your grad suit.
How did the tests go? Tell me about indiana Jone movie that is coming
out this next week dude?
Con vaya a Dios mi Hermano

PS Justine
Please tell me you got pictures of this anime convention. If you do
please send them.
Castle in the sky is a pretty cool movie. Only a month left are you
not excited? Grad 9 next year the
Big kids on the block.
Love Been

PS Madsion
I do NOT have your Urim and Thumin Madie. Throwing random music lyrics
in throws me completely off.
But ya I love you too. Cool options thoguh they sound like a lot of
fun. Keep rocking in the free world.

Pictures - 12 May 2008

Just some pictures of the past week. My comp is the guy with the blond
hair. it was his birthday this week. So we had a party I will put more
in it in my letter

Mothers day - 12 May 2008

Dear family,
Well it was fun to talk to you guys yesterday. So about this past
week with more detail.

Well I lost another missionary´s football over fence and a dog ate it
so that was cool. That day was also a zone activity so there was lots
of us at the chapel just goofing off and eating. We got a pretty good
game of soccer going for a while until Jordan lost the football over
the other fence. We got the ball back but most of us were unfocused by
then. But then we did a splash in our area. I got put with Jordan, it
was pretty fun. We just did street contacting and we just talked about
the family and stuff. He is a really funny guy.

On Tuesday We had this really cool experience. We were at a lunch
appointment with some members. Their name is Villareal it is an older
couple with a grown up son. The food is also really good. But their
phone rings and they hand it to my companion and it is another member
saying we have an investigator for you meet us at the church at 5:00
pm. So we show up at five and this lady is way cool. Her name is Rosa
and she has been having a rough time with her boyfriend. So we just
talked to her and gave her a priesthood blessing. It was cool just to
see the change in her at that moment. She has also come to church and
we had another cool lesson with her on Thursday. She also has two cute
little kids one is 2 years old the other is like a year old.

On Wednesday we had interviewes with the president. Mine was about five
minutes long. So that was nice. Then we had a party with the gypsies.
They made this awesome chiken thing. In argentina they tug on your
year instead of giving you bumps. They also invinted a less active
family over.

Thursday nothing really cool happened except that lesson we had with
Rosa. Friday we had a good district meeting. Saturday we got a hold of
some cool member refrences. Hopefully they will become new
investigators.

Language is going well just got to work on congiations.
Ya it was really fun to talk to you guy yesterday.

I love you all
Elder Blaszczyk

PS Zach,
I hope you get that job at the tailsmen center. The next time I get
to call is Christmas, so I will try to send a video on dvd or
something sometime soon. Well that exciting to hear that you are
enjoying Rugby this year. You got to tell me about iron man.
Well love you bro
Quiden Se

Fwd: Pig skin - 5 May 2008

Dear family,
Okay For the phone call on Sunday. I am going to get a phone card. I
will phone around one. That is the easiest way for me to do it I
think. My companion is going to show me what phone card is the best.
Some cool experience I had this week was with this recent convert and
we had taught about the temple and prayed about her list of people .
Then she was I can not believe it. The name that came to her was her
son in law. She was like it was on a big sign. So that was a cool
experience. We have been trying to work with this guy for a while so
hopefully he will see the blessing for his family.
My companion and I are doing really good. We place two baptismal dates
this week with this lady and her son. This lady's brother is a member
so thta is really k-po. The only thing is that I will probably not be
here when it happens because of transfers.
Okay one gross Argentina food experience this week. Its this thing
called locro. It is this stew with pig skin and fat. The only thing
too is that there was pig hair in it! So both of us is this is
disgusting. My companion had a nipple in his. So ya that my gross
experience for the week.
The language is really improving. My companion really encourages me to
speak. So that is really good. Everyone say that my language is really
improving.
That All i can think of right now.
Love you all,
Elder Blaszczyk

PS Mom and Dad,
It sounds like the house is coming a long nicely. So Dad did you guys
win or lose your game. The secret with the young teams is just to
injure them all. Okay that might not be a good plan.
How is nursery treating you mom? Could you please send me some family
pictures in the next package our letter you send? They really are
helpful and I do not want to wreck the calender by carrying it
around.

PS Zach,
How is rugby going? How is all the grad stuff coming?

PS Justine and Madsion,
How are my two sister doing? Are you guys excited for summer vacaton?
IT is finally starting to get a little chilly here. So that is nice.
Well I love you.

Fwd: quick as lighting - 28 April 2008

Dear Family,
Some clarifying points I am still in the same area, different companion. It is so funny because my current companion trained Elder Toone. So this name is Elder Cameron Neeley from California. He is so funny. A Really good missionary. Really good language skills.
We have found so many cool people this week. President wants us to have 4 groups of progressing investigators by Thursday right now we have 3 so we should make that goal. I also had Zone conference this week it was good. I understood what was being said this time so that was good.
We have been having some crazy storms this week. So I got some pretty cool pictures of that. Sorry for not sending them I forgot to bring my camera to the internet place.
The Farmers are getting ready to go back on strike this week so that should be interesting. So please pray for us.
Language is really improving because my companion is a really big help. He also encourages me to speak lots so it is a really big help. We are also doing a ton of contacts.
Oh more gypsies moved in with our current ones and a couple of them want to be baptized so that should be way k-po.
Okay Amanda is getting married , CRAZY. That is so weird, I´m gone for six months and everyone is getting hitched. Jordan is going to las vegas. Do you guys know if he will be in the same mission as the Galusha's?
I am in Jacob right now in my book of mormon reading in Spanish. He has just dropped cain for law of chastity and then is talking about the vineyard. It is so cool.
Love you all,
Elder Blaszczyk

PS Mom and Dad,
Things seem to be going good. That email journal sounds like a cool idea. The House sound like its is going along nicely. Post some pics on the blog soon. Ya mission life is always interesting. Well love ya.

PS Zach,
Man you sound like you are going to be crazy busy this up coming month. How are the mission papers coming? Good luck with painting the car. Are you going to use brushes or are you going to attempt air brushing it?

PS Madison and Justine,
How is it going? 92% Justine that is way good. I am glad I have such smart sisters. Keep smiling you two. How are the books/ Shows going ? Remember I love you and so dose the lord.

Fwd: Hotel California - 21 April 2008

Dear Family,
So another week has gone by. Oh wait I wrote just on wednesday. Oh well
Well my new compaions name is Elder cameron Neeley, he is from California. He has 22 months in the mission. He has trained twice ,my trainer included. He is way cool and funny. This past weekend he told me about fight club and a bunch of other movies. So he is way k-po.
We have already found some way cool people we are going to start teaching. It is cool to see how other missionarys do the work. Where elder toone really liked working with members, Eldery Neeley knows how to keep it more balanced.
Oh We finally got our bikes we have been trying to get for the past 4 weeks. Mine is way k-po. Way super fortifed and it has hand brakes. Which are not that common here. They are basically beach cruisers.
Also this weekend we went to one of our investigators weddings. It was totally weird because it was  a north american wedding which is taotally not how they role down here.

I heard about the smoke in Benous Aires but we have not had any problems with it here. So that is good. Warmed up about Wednesday last week and is still pretty nice out.
I will hopefully send pictures next week of some cool stuff.
My language is really improving, I am just trying to speak more so that is really helping.
To answer a question that Dad asked me. A Remi is a taxi.
Is mothers day the 11th of may this year? I am probably going to phone around 1-1:30pm mountian time because my comp has a 5 hour time diffrence. But tell me what works best for you guys.
I also got Grandma Blaszczyks letter this week. Ya Gypsies are pretty cool people, once you get over the crazy funny factor. No but I really enjoyed that letter. Keep writing me about your childhood it is so cool.
Well love you,
Elder Blaszczyk

PS Mom and Dad,
Those kid need their snacks, good job dad.
Put pictures on the blog of the finished tile for me. I have not received any packages yet but it will probably arrive sometime. Oh make sure they are all under 2 kilos. I would really like 6 bean bag like from the dollar store. Why you might ask because I want to learn how to juggle on pdays. I have faith the main floor will be done by the time I get home, the rest of the house no but the main floor yes. Good luck on slow pitch.

PS Zach,
Is the girl you are dancing with on the blog your grad date. She is pretty decent. Man your life sounds crazy right now. So how is rugby going this year? Are you just trouncing. I am going to write you a separate letter about the other stuff you asked in your email.

PS Justine,
It is so good to hear from you. You do not know how much easier this makes writing people when they write me. So how is the foot? What are these two books you are reading about? Just go for broke on the grad things justine , you can do it.

PS Madison
Definitely saxphone and sleep.

Watch how I soar 16 April 2008

Dear wonderfull family,

So transfers came on Monday. I am staying in Villa Maria for another transfer but I am getting a new companion his name is Elder Neely. He was Elder Toones trainer so he has only two transfers left in his mission. So that should be really good. Really help with the language. It was really sad yesterday because Elder Toone had to go say goodbye to everyone. Elder Toone is going to Catamerca to be a zone leader. I went on my first splits with a latino last week, which went pretty well. There was some confusion but we still got some work done in his area. It is really weird because I understand about 70 percent of what people say to me, but I can only express things really simply so there is still a communication gap.

It is officially fall here now at a chilly 14 degrees. All the people here are all bundled up in their jackets and i find it pretty funny wearing my long sleaved shirt. Um weight wise I am still the same so that is not good or bad.I don´t know why but I have really been missing you guys this week. It might be because I hit another month mark this week Nothing really cool happened this week so. Ya.
Love you all,
Elder Blaszczyk

PS Mom and Dad,
Your question about the mission allotment covering expense kind of depends on the area. For my area we take Remis a lot because it is so lagre but hopefully that will be fixed once we get our bikes. Otherwise yes it dose cover my expense. It sounds like the house is coming along nicely. I love you guys so much. Oh because I don't know if madison shared this and it has been really pressing on my mind. On the silver computer in my personal folder under genolgy there should be a family file. on it is our family research. Their is a famliy named Cox The work is done for a couple of them (inculding our direct desdeant) but can you please finish the rest of the family. If you have time that is. I have had this feling all week that I need to get it done. So please take a look.

PS Zach,
ooh the ACT is always hard to gauge the time. You probably did beter than you thought. How is becoming a life guard coming?
Well just want to tell you I love ya. How was BE kind rewind? Was it funny? is it a must see? tell me.


PS Justine,
How is the injured girl doing? I expect a letter from you this week. What are You reading right now and have your friends returned the twilight books yet?
How was Mia Maid activity?

PS Madison,
How is life treating you? I have not goten any new news about you in moms and dads letters.
So write me and tell me whats New?

Grad Fashion Show

Sorry for all the posts at once, but if we don't blog when something happens you may never get anything new. Zach has been involved in the Grad fashion show and tonight was the production. It was a take on Alice In Wonderland. They had several song and dance routines. Zach and his grad date Chelsea were doing the jive. 

Here are some more pics of the evening. They had the formal wear donated by several companies in town and it was fun to see them all dressed up. 

Spring is so nice in Calgary

Well after seeing Allison last night and reassuring her that the weather in Calgary is supposed to be warm all weekend, and that we are going to have summer like temperatures, this is what we woke up to.  We did have some nice weather not too long ago, in fact Zach and I even got our motorcycles out and drove around for a little while. It was great, and if we had known that was all we were going to be driving we would have enjoyed it a little bit longer.  

Oh well life in Calgary I guess. It snowed off and on all day but by 5 pm the roads were clear and the snowfall had finally started to stop. 

This weekend we are supposed to get up to 19 C. It should make driving fun (remember to get extra washer fluid)

Fwd: I´m a leaf on the wind - 7 April 2008

Dear family,
Conference was really good this year for me.  The first two Saturday seasions were in spanish because we could not find a cord to hook up another tv, but all the rest were in english. Which was really good because I did not understand the first two seasions. But  at least that gives me something to read when I get the ensgin in june.
We did not do anything afterpreisthood because it was 11:00 pm so we had gridio the night before. Sunday was awsome the talks by Holland and Bednar were really good. We thought that Holland was just going to start droping the cain.
Also for this weekend we had two other elders over because they do not have a satelite in their town. So it was fun to just talk and work with them this weekend.

Let see what else happened this week oh the farmer protest is over now for 30 days like april 1st so hopefuly the goverment will work something out or its going to be worse than before.  So we finally have meat. It´s asuasdo time.

Oh this is the last full week of the transfer so I will be writing on wednesday next week.
The Bets are that I am staying and getting a gringo, while elder toone leaves opens an area with a missionary about to leave.
Exciting new a weighed myself this week and I am 142 kilo. So I have lost ten kilos already. Doing the happy dance.

Well love you all,

Elder Ross Blaszczyk,

PS Mom and Dad,
That is so cool to hear about the kitchen almost being done. I have been thinking this past liitle while about how I could have done more to help around the house, so sorry.
How is your art class coming mom?  

PS Justine and Madison,
No letter this week form the two of you.  um but beside that I heard that there is a twilight movie coming out in december of this year. Hope you are having a fun time. Tell me about this little retreat you are going on justine.

PS Zach
Geez that concert sounds pretty cool. How is the studing going for the Act it is more about knowing how to take a test that actual knowldge. So you should do fine. How are the papers coming. First guess okay Tonga thats my guess okay but I want you really to come to Argentina Cordoba because that would be so k-po. Well love you brother.

Fwd: Banana pancakes 31 March 2008

Dear family,
It was good to hear you got home safely from Utah. I´m just chillen here in argentina. I had my first official splash this week. Hey Dad is that what you called it back in your day when all the elders in a district got together in one area and just worked in that area for  the day. It was pretty fun. I got paired off with a Zone leader, so it was cool to see him work and make some contacts. But ya six guys in one appartment means a bunch of goofing off . Zach I think would have approved that we had a airsoft gun.

Oh if you are sending me a package please make sure it is under two klios. I have not received the young womens package yet. But ya the farmers are protesting against the goverment. so that means road blocks so it takes forever to get stuff. But don´t worry we are all safe just with out meat. Send Candy and black socks.

Essentialy all is going in our part of the vineyard. I am so excited for conference, and yes we get to here it in english which is really good. I am so pumped for priesthood because we are going to have another set of elders staying with us for the weekend so we will eat junk food.
I have really felt my spanish has grown over that last couple of weeks. Especialy this week I am really starting to understand people and how it all works out.

We got bikes this week which should really help us out in the work.

Love you all,
Elder blaszczyk

PS Mom and Dad,
Sweet the house might be done by the time i get home. Okay that was bad joke. It was goo d to hear that you guys had a good time. Your classes sound really cool Mom. Your going to be an advertising machine when I get back.
Okay really important i had a thought this week about my tax return. Could you take my tax return and put it in an Ing(the guy with the orange comerical) high intrest saving account. So I could have something when I get back.

PS Justine and Madison,
First off Madie What the heck was with this weeks email. Was it about young womens conference. That meeting is so k-pa. I love to hear the leaders of the church speak. Oh and did mom take you out for cheese cake after. You guys need a tradtion or something.
That's sad to hear about your Camera Justine. How is the count down coming for the next twilight book.

PS Zach,
How was rugby ? and working with little kids? So what happened on the trip mom did not tell me? For myself no new real adventures. Como fur su preparar por Grad? Teine su corbata?

Here's a link on the farmer's strike in Argentina

I want candy - 24 March 2008

Dear family,

Ya this week was super long. Elder toone was sick for two days this week and still recovering for like three. So that basically killed our week number wise. Vansea, The lady we placed the date with, we found out this week is not married to her spouse even though she said she was. So ya that always is fun. But we still have hope. We also found two really good people this week so we are excited about that.

But Pday last week after email Elder toone and I went and played some serious basketball with our zone leaders and some members and one guy we just invited to come from off the street. It was pretty fun.

I also broke my watch this week while wrestling elder toone so that is always fun.

For easter in argentina, the catholic church dose a bunch of stuff. Like last night they had a rock concert outside the Cathederal. And they don't eat meat Friday for some reason. But like all thing argentina they pretty much just chill. Oh it still like 30 degrees out so they have baraques.

The Spanish thing is coming along nicely. I am understanding and being able to express my self more each day. But it is still a struggle sometimes.

Well love you all and be safe driving home this week
Elder Ross Blaszczyk

PS Zach,
Okay you need to post some pictures of your legs man. Also of your gradate. But you beat logan that is good. Oh and nice choice of song for youe grad date video I finally found a computer with speakers.

PS MOM and Dad,
That is so fun that you guys went to Utah for the week end. I can understand why your comp dad thrugh the tennisball at the wall now because I was at that point this week. You can only do so much studying.

PS Madison and Justine,
How is Easter break? How is the choclate? Um ya Keep smiling and being happy. Send me an email this week its hard to write you stuff when I don´t know what is going on.

Elder Ross - 17 March 2008

This week's picture is of Linda's Uncle Marvin, her sister Carol and Ross when he first entered the MTC.
Dear family, and blog people,
This week was a lot of travel. We had our zone conference this week in Cordoba. So ya
A whole day killed there. The conference was really good. Just we need to talk more so I am going to work on that.Also Jordan is in my zone so that cool. Then I had my interview with President Olsen the next day. Which means another morning not working but it was really good. We talked about the need to be humble and asking people for help which I do everyday. Then Elder Toone had to go do a baptismal interview on saturday, in a town about an hour away so ya the bus. It is always fun to go the interviews because I get to talk with other missionaries.
Oh I placed a baptismal date this week. It was with this lady named Vanesa she is 25 and has 3 kids, one of them is eight so we hope to get her too. Some other Elders had found her before Elder Toone came and white washed but Elder Toone and his companion were unable to find her. So we found her just a couple of weeks ago. She also came to church this week so that was good. She is way k-pa. Her husband is not ready though but we are going to work with him. It´s hard though because he works away from home all week and is only home on Sundays.
Also we had out time change yesterday. We went back an hour because it is getting to be winter. But with that we have different work hours. Now its 6:30-10:30 with prosletying 10:30-9:30 but the Argentina people are really night people. They like to stay up late. So a lot of our teaching appointments were from 8-10 before the change all well just got to adjust.
That all the exciting new for this week,
Te Amo,
Elder Ross Blaszczyk

PS Dad and Mom,
Okay the picture with Jordan is from when I first arrived. I don´t really see him that much because our zone is spread over a very large area like 5 citys. But I totally love the blog. Just keep up dating it. Oh could you please send me a family photo either through the mail or internet just by it´s self so I can show it to people. The house looks really good to with the tile all done for the back splash and all. I am now 144 Kg so keep going parents.

PS Zach
You are a creative genies with the grad date video. It was funny with out sound. The response was also funny. Still need picture of grad date. The spanish is coming along ever so gradually. But it is coming. Man your almost a life guard that is so wicked.

PS Madison.
Your project is so cool. I could not view the video though so that made me sad. Keep writing ,smiling and laughing. Drama would be a cool option to take. Something I have learned on the mission we grow the most when we go out of our comfort zone.

PS Justine,
How is life? What are you reading right now? How is art coming dad says you are drawing a lion. Post art work on blog please if you have time.

---

Renovation Update

(I really don't like the way blogger displays pictures, thank heaven for the HTML edit features)
The pictures are as follows . Zach helping with tearing down the dining room wall, The new door installed, several pictures of the living room. I built the archway wall between the living room and the front entrance. Several pictures of the kitchen including the famous fridge and freezer. We installed the double doors leading to the backyard from the kitchen)











Lorraine mentioned in her post that she would like to see some pictures of the renovations. Other than the shudder down my back whenever I think of the renos, its interesting at how much our family experiences have changed as the renos progressed. I have been collecting photos over the last few weeks and to to think that we tore down the first wall the Canadian thanksgiving before Jeff went on his mission and that he is now back is totally depressing. Oh well, at least hopefully the results will be worth it. I have been called into a bishopric and released, have one son graduate with the other graduating this year, have one daughter go from grade school to almost finishing junior high, have sent one son on a mission, and the other is getting ready to leave, have no children in Primary anymore and had a dog invade our home only to leave because he couldn't stand the mess. An interesting journey.

As for the renovations, the house is a typical Canadian 70's multi level home about 1100 square feet. The main floor is around 600 sq ft. The front door opened directly into the living room. The living room and dining room were connected in an L shape. The kitchen was a small box with a door leading to the back hallway that lead outside and downstairs. We demoed the wall between the dining room and kitchen, the back hallway and the front closet. We added a wall between the living room and the old dining room, the wall between the front entrance and the living room and expanded the doorway between the front entrance and the kitchen. I added archways from the front entrance to the living room and the kitchen. In the kitchen we reoriented the sink from the back of the house into the old dining room. We removed the old dining room window and replaced it with a standard window. Removed the window in the back of the house (the old kitchen) and replaced it and the back door with the Double doors. I had to rebuild the double door frame as the frame was for a 6" framed house and ours is only 4" as well we wanted it to swing out rather than in. We installed hardwood in the living room and front entrance, installed new lighting everywhere. In the kitchen we are going to do tile. We did a blacksplash around the sink, shelves and behind the cooktop area. I built all the kitchen cabinets and still need to make the fronts. The cabinets have been built around the appliances
we have purchased through the years. The oven and dishwasher were special purchases through ebay. The boys and I went down to California to pick them up (with the trip it was still cheaper than buying them in Canada). We built a pantry and installed a hood. As well I am also building an island in the kitchen.

So I have been the brunt of many a joke in the family, the last being that I would have the house finished before Ross left on his mission. This time I am actually hopeful that the renos will be complete by the summer. I guess time will tell.

Lorraine hope the information was sufficient, its been fun to see my skills inprove but am looking forward to it being finished. Linda is as well, she already has another list ready to go.

Ancient Greece Day

Today was my Ancient Greece day, for grade 6. And I made a video for it! I have to say I'm pretty proud of this video. I spent 2 weeks getting the music, pictures on it. It took me about 2 months to get the info. So I really hope you like it!!
My class also did three plays. My class was put into three groups, in my group I was a sister and Apollo-god of the sun. My teacher wanted us to make up a fake myth. I did mine on why the sea is blue.
We also had to dress up as some one from Ancient Greece, I dressed up as Athena-the goddess of wisdom and of the moon, sister of Apollo.

Why The Sea Is Blue
Zeus stared out of the window. Hades and his son, Ares were trying to compromise on how many wars should take place every year, Hestia was helping Aphrodite with her long blonde hair. Apollo and Athena were playing sweet music on their lyre and flute, Hermes was doing summer-salts, and Demeter was talking to Artemis about the seasons.
They all were so happy. Zeus sighed, he wondered if he could ever be that happy.
“Hey! How's my big brother!”Poseidon laughed.
“I swear you keep forgetting we're twins!”Zeus smiled.
“Want to come to the beach with me? I could use the company.”Posiedon came and stood beside his brother.
Zeus shook his head. “I can't I have an important meeting with the mortals in half an hour.”
“That's in half an hour.”

“So what do you think? Should I let the girls go to school?”Zeus tilted his head toward his brother.
“I think you should do what ever you want. You make good choices, like when you gave me the sea, I've almost never been happier.”Poseidon laughed, but he didn't seem to be happy like he had been at Mt. Olympus.
It was always like this, all the other gods would look at him like he was going to hit them with lightning bolts or something.
“Oh... My...Goodness! Zeus I think I found your soul mate!”Poseidon gripped his brothers shoulder.
“Ow! Let go! What are you talking about.”
“Look, over there by the rocks! Isn't she beautiful!”Poseidon smiled, “Go on, go talk to her!”
A young beautiful girl was sitting on the rocks, she was collecting oysters.
“No! You go talk to her, I have to get going, I'm going to be late for my meeting.”Zeus walked off.
Poseidon shrugged. He walked up to her.
“Mind if I sit down?”
“No. Not at all.”She replayed.
“Hi... I'm Poseidon. I like your owl necklace.”Poseidon stretched out his hand. The girl took it and shook it.
“I'm Hera.”The girl smiled. Poseidon nearly fell into the water, her smile was like the joyful memories of spring finally coming after a long harsh winter, like butterflies flying around you in the warm windy air on a summer evening.
“So...um...want help?”Poseidon bent over and stared helping.

“Zeus, Hades! You should have seen her smile! Oh man, she is so smart! She thinks that war is really over rated, and she likes bees and spiders. Can you believe that! A girl who likes spiders! Spiders!”Posiedon fell into a big arm chair beside his brothers.
“Wow, was she really that pretty? Wow. I'v never seen you this excited about any thing.” Hades in his entire life, had never seen Poseidon smile so much about one thing, it normally took hours just to get him to smile. but when he did smile or laugh it was hollow, with no feeling or happiness.
Zeus drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair.
“Would you shut up already, you're giving me a head ache!”He roared.
Poseidon and Hades spun their heads in the direction of their brother.
“Zeus, we need to talk!”Hades pushed his brother through the door, Hades had to be one of the bravest people on Mt. Olympus in order to push Zeus like that, that was a death wish!
“Who do you think you are?”Zeus thunder. His voice shook the floor.
Hades stood up straight. "I am Hades! God of the Underworld! And the eldest brother of Zeus the god of all gods and Poseidon, the god of the sea! I speak for him now. You have no right to be angry with Poseidon, the god of the sea.”
Zeus just;stood there. His brother had finally taken the oldest brother role seriously. Hades had always acted like the youngest of the three.
“Hades, answer me with truth. Why does he deserve happiness, and I do not!?”


Three Months Later...
Poseidon and Hera were always together. There wasn't a single day that pass when the two were not together. Poseidon even let Hera come to Mt. Olympus, every one enjoyed her good sense of humour and talent to make even the most depressed person laugh a wholesome laugh. Even Hades enjoyed talking to Hera. Zeus had found out why. But the happiest person of all was Poseidon, He laughed like he hadn't laughed for tens of thousand of years (which he had).
“So, when are you going ask the big question?”Aphrodite asked one night.
“Hey! I'm not going to. But just out curiosity when should I ask, I mean not that I'm going to or any thing.”Poseidon looked around at the group of gods, who all wanted to know the same thing as Aphrodite.
“Well, first you need to know if she loves you to. We already know that.”Hestia pointed out.
“Tip, don't do the same thing I did. Just grabbing the girl and running away, never works!”Hades added.
“Oh I know when and where!”Aphrodite yelped. “Go do some thing she really likes to do, but make sure it's a clam and romantic thing, and make sure it on a full moon night. Ahh. I can hear the bells already.”
“Guys, I think she zoned out...again”Hermes shook Aphrodite. “We should be more worried about when Ares is going to ask Aphrodite the big question!” The gods laughed at the joke.
“No one is going to be asking Hera anything. There's only one person who I give permission, and that person is ME!”
“Oh...Hey...Big...Brother.”Mumbled Poseidon.
“You don't even know her though!”Screamed Athena and Apollo.
“Yeah! You don't even know her!”Echoed Herems, Hades, and Aphrodite who had just zoned back in.
“Silence! I'm top god, I'm top dog! You can't tell me what to do!”Boomed Zeus.
Hera walked up the steps, she knew that this was going to happen, she didn't know why but she knew none the less.
“Please stop. If I don't have a choice to any one else, than can you two go against each other. A challenge. To see who is smarter?”Hera bent her head down, so she wouldn't see Poseidon's betrayal.
The twin brothers nodded.
The next morning Hera stood on the courtyard's soft grass, but to her it felt like she was standing on broken glass.
“All right. Well I thought about what challenge I should give you. The challenge is who can make the sea disappear!”
Zeus gave a mocking laugh. “I am the great Zeus, the god of all gods! You fool even Poseidon can't do that. But I can.”
“Wise choice, Hera.”Poseidon nodded, turned around and walked into the temple. Little did anyone know that Poseidon was smiling. He knew that Hera believed that he could some how make it at lest look like the sea disappeared.
After Poseidon disappeared Hermes pulled Hera aside.
“What do you think your going!? I thought you loved Poseidon? Don't you know that Zeus is powerful? He could not only make the sea disappear but the sky!”
“Have you seen him do it?”Hera looked Herems in the eye.
Herems seemed shocked. “N-no, but... What are saying?”
“Poseidon said to me once that the sea has a mind of it's own. You can not command it, you may only lightly suggest it's movement. Poseidon is the god of the sea, after all.”Hera smiled. But Hermes was sure she was about to cry.
“I hope he can. I believe in him.”
Poseidon walked down the halls, he wasn't sure how he was going to make the sea disappear, but he was sure that he was going to make it happen! He just had to. He had already planed how he was going to ask her. Poseidon stopped, he loved Hera, and she loved him. He was going to make the sea disappear.
Zeus walked down to the shoreline of the sea. He was going to make the sea disappear. But he didn't even know why. Athena and the other gods were right. He didn't know her. He thought about it for a long time. The answer was one he was proud of. He was a lonely person, he wanted someone to talk to. Why should Poseidon be happy, why should his brother be happier than him. If he couldn't be happy than no one could. Zeus let out a low growl.
“So... How do I make the sea disappear?”
Poseidon knew that he must make the sea disappear when Zeus was at the sea, so he would believe him.
“Ok. Sea pleaseee help me, just this once.”Poseidon begged.
“I call forth the sea, and the waves, for I, the god of you callth of your help. I, the god of you need to make your existence hidden.”Poseidon was amazed that he still remembered that poem.
The moment he called for the sea's help, the sea at first turned black then a blood red, then... nothing. Poseidon was staring at what seemed to be a really deep hole, he couldn't even see the bottom. He did it! Poseidon had mad the sea disappear! Poseidon ran up to the temple.
“Hera! Hera! Hera I did it!!”Poseidon didn't even see Hera walking around the corner, until they banged into each other.
“Hera I did!”Poseidon wrapped Hera in his arms.
“See, I knew you could do it!”Hera laughed.
“What!? Poseidon you made the see disappear!? Yes!”Herems yelled, who had run down from his room to see what all the commotion was about. “I need to go tell everyone.”True to his word he flu off, in 5 seconds everyone at Mt. Olympus knew.
“Oh yea!”Aphrodite clapped her hands. “I hope I'm a bride's maid!”
“Wait, you actually want to be a bride's MAID!?”Hades teased. Aphrodite made a face.
Hestia ran to were Poseidon and Hera were still sitting on the floor.
“Congraulations!”Hestia helped Hera and Poseidon up.
“POSEIDON!!!”The temples front doors flew off their hinges. “HOW DARE YOU!!”
“Hera go with Hestia and hid. Please”Poseidon let go of Hera's hand. Hera nodded.
“Please don't get hurt.”Hera whispered. Hestia lead Hera up a stair case.
“Zeus, calm down. I beat you fair and square. We both agreed to the challenge. I hoped you understand that.”Poseidon clenched his hand, to his surprise he felt some thing in his hand. He opened his fist, there in the palm of his hand was Hera's necklace of the owl. The sight of it gave him strength.
Zeus seemed not to hear his brother's words. He raised his arms and in a split second Poseidon was flying through the air. Poseidon crashed into a pillar, not that it stopped him. When he regained focus he notice a burn mark on his arm. Poseidon looked up into his brother's cold eyes. Zeus had made a whip out of fire.
The other gods had come to see what was happening.
“Poor Poseidon. I wish we could help.”Ares shook his head. His father some times had a really short temper.
“Apollo what should we do?”Athena, who was in tears, leaned on his shoulder.
“I wish I knew.”Apollo turned away.
“What's going on?”Hera asked. Even though Hestia had pushed her into a room.
Hades and Apollo tried to turn her around and walk away from the fight, but Hera wasn't someone to be pushed so easily.
“Wha...Ahhh!”If it weren't for Apollo she would have fallen off the balcony. “Why won't someone stop Zeus!”Hera was in tears, right along with Athena.
“We do, we really do, but Zeus will hurt us, and what use will that do?”Aphrodite replayed.
But Hera was already down the stairs. She stood in front of Poseidon.
“Please... stop.”Hera could barely make the words come out. “Don't hurt him. I wasn't going to marry him any way. Why would I want to marry the god of the sea, when I could marry the god of all gods?”
Poseidon just; stared up at Hera. Then in a flash he was up on his feet, not very steady, and ran. He didn't look back.
Poseidon kept running until he retched the sea. He walked into it an stood there. When he had stood there for 5 days and 5 nights he started to weep. Hera was gone. He now knew that Hera was not coming, not going to be his bride, and not going to help him with watching over the sea. He cried for a thousand years. Now all gods hardly cry. But when they do, their tears are not like a mortal man's. Their are sapphire. And because he could never get over the lose of the one thing that made him happy, the sea would always remain blue.
That is why the sea is blue.

Epilogue:
Hera never wanted to marry Zeus. Why would she? He was mean and scary. And poseidon would never talk to her again, Hera no longer had her talent to make even the most happiest person laugh. How could she, when she herself was not happy?

The Grad Response

So basically this is how the response went down. First she filled up the backseat of the civic with a whole bunch of balloons. But inside a balloon was a clue! I personally thought that there would be more but there was only one so whatever I go to school the next day and clues keep popping up in my locker! Sweet, but unfortunately I left the other piece at home thinking that that's where I would get the other pieces too. This was not so. So last period of the day I have seminary and lo and behold the last piece of the clue was hidden in my scrips. Carefully I followed the instructions after class and there was a green bucket behind the sem building filled with gravel. I thought to myself, "Is this actually meant for me?" And as I examined further there were hidden words on the back of the larger rocks. By now some of my friends from sem had come around back and were helping me to sift out the rocks and start piecing together the message. In the end it took 5 of us like 10 minutes to figure it out, but we got it! And this is pretty much the whole story. So yes, she did say yes.