The King of Hearts, Elder Arnett update

I am the undisputed King of Hearts as evidenced by this past weekend's total destruction of Lex, Mal, Cam, Lacy, Austin and P-lope. P-lope actually played better than her mother. At least she chewed up the cards rather than be chewed up by me.

Here is this week's Elder Arnett installment with some photos.

Dear Mom and Dad,

Geez, what happened to make Duffy and Jr to get in a fight? That makes me angry, but good choice... and how the heck did Duffy lose? Tell me he got a few good strikes in.

So, I do keep a daily journal and will do what you told me to, but you have to realize my schedule is never the same so I never know how much I can write. I do the best I can though.

I hope Uncle Cliff is ok. Tell Cam and all the cousins I say hi and love em. Tell them to drop me an email one of these days too. I'm happy for Cameron. That's so great he's doing this for real-- no more faking it-- its awesome.

So this week was difficult. If you want the defintion of ineffective missionary work it's this, ´street contacting in the middle of preparations for the biggest gay and lesbian party that literally brings hell´. Try crying repentance in that situation.

Last monday was Elder Lui´s birthday. He's the Italian elder in my apartment with me. We went bowling and had lots of fun. In the innen stadt (innercity) there are always booths with people trying to save some sort of animal. So there were about 12 missionaries standing around cause we were deciding what kinda lunch we wanted and this kid walks up and starts talking to us about whales. Someone said we were American and he starts talking English with us. He's from Jacksonsville. Fl and has this "gansta" accent. He asked us what we were doing here. One of the Elders mentioned we were missionaries. His attitude totally changed. He got all reserved and started acting like he had somewhere to go. We are used to that -- all Germans do it. He was standing next to me while I was doing a rubics cube, just showing off my madd skillz to the other Elders, and I asked, ´´what, are you scared of us?´´ He looked around and said no. I asked him if he knew what we did. He said not really. He had such a bad attitude. I told him we pretty much did what he did, but instead of saving fish, we were saving souls. I asked him if he wanted to be saved. He said maybe. I laughed and said when it is a yes to seek me out. He told me ok. His name is Thomas. I've seen him alot since in the innenstadt.

My districkt was laughing so hard. They couldnt believe that I did that. Neither could I really. It was P-day, and I had a rubics cube in my hands. I go crazy when I have a rubics cube in my hands.

Tuesday we had district meeting in Mulheim so we had to travel a bit.

After Tuesday, we just did a lot of contacting, but we had to be really careful. The gay Loveparade really hindered the work. I was pretty upset about it. I can't believe so many people showed up. It should have been young single adult heaven, except for two factors, they were all drunk and they don't want god in their lives. It's ridiculous.

On Saturday, the day of the Loveparade, we were locked in the church all day. President Thompson wouldnt let us out. We had to stay in Essen, though, because we had a few appointments. That night we had a ward talent show. It was a blast. The three other elders and myself lipsinked to "The Lion Sings Tonight". It was funny and the ward loved it. My ward here is awesome. There are a few guys who are American and I love talking to them. On Sunday, we went to the Stake President's house.That family is so funny. We had root beer floats! I was so stoked! I haven't had rootbeer in so long. All we have here to drink is tea, carbonated water, and apfelshorle (carbonated apple juice, weird I know, but I love it.) and water outta the faucet. But you have to be careful. My general rule of thumb is if it's brown, don't drink it, if it's green, dont drink it, if it's clear and you drink it, you still might be in trouble later that night -- and here I was thinking Europe was civilized!
We kind of live in the ghetto. I love it though. There are thugs everywhere. They walk around flashing their blades. I walk around flashing my missionary badge. Elder Lewis is scared for me--he thinks I'm gonna get stabbed.

I saw a girl get hit by a bahn (train), it was a suicide attempt. I was very scared. Elder Lewis said that he's seen 4 people die... people jump in front of things all the time. The German people are just so depressed. They need the gospel really bad.

Yesterday in church, there was this young man in the ward who was set apart as a missionary. He has been called to the Frankfurt mission, just south of me. It brought back so many feelings. After all the meetings were over, the ward members came into the chapel and all the kids around my age got up and sang "In the Hollow of Thy Hand" to him. It was very emotional. All four of us missionaries were up there and I think we were all tearing up. The Stake President put the piano bench in the front of the chapel and called him up. His dad and the bishop came up with him. He gave his girlfriend one last hug and walked up. He walked past us elders sitting on the side. He looked at us, he was so scared and excited. I remember that feeling, in fact I still get it.
Then, he was set apart as a missionary. A miracle happened as the blessing was being pronounced. I understood it! It made me think of my setting apart with Bishop Graham and President Greer and you DAD. All of us missionaries were crying, it was a tender moment and one that I will always treasure. It made me realize how much I apprieciate this opportunity. Yes, its a sacrifice... a huge one, but it's such a priviledge.

And, that's my week in review. Here are some pictures just to show how I'm doing and where I'm at.

Much love.

Elder Arnett

What the world needs now is love sweet love...

From Elder Arnett,

hey. sorry guys, but this one is going to be way short. i have so much to do and we have to get out of the innenstadt, inner city, cause the love parade is starting soon and we gotta go! this week has been good, but not so good for the work cause the love parade is here in essen. if you dont know what it is, keep it that way. its discusting.... pretty much a huge gay and lesbo fest. ew. naked people dancing is just not appealing. we stick to the outskirts of our area and pretty soon we wont be able to go outside. luckly it should be done by next week and we can get back to work.

Here are some photos of Elder Arnett in the MTC and in Essen. $5 to whoever can name the Elder with glasses --full name and his parent's name.

The fishing trip is on, it's just when we are going. If anonymous gives his or her name we can decide.

I received an email from cousin Chet Arnett. His son Joe is serving in India Bangladore. He's been out for a year. His experiences are very interesting. Getting people to listen to him is not the problem. Getting them to listen because they are interested in the gospel is a problem. It seems the Indians want to hear any American speak so they can imitate the language. They want to sound like an American as they take your job. You know everything is being outsourced now.

Fishing trip!

I'm planning a fishing trip sometime soon. I hear Dave is interested, but no firm committment yet. I think he needs to check with his social director, Lacy. It's gonna be the first week of September. I'm going to Blythe. Chad is out he is busy. But, if anyone is interested, please post now or forever hold your peace. This will be a real fishing trip. You know, the kind where you catch bass (striped, largemouth, smallmouth and maybe crappie or bluegill). It will be an overnighter. I will leave in the afternoon, fish that evening, then fish in the morning and if things are good fish later that evening. Durning off times, I am willing to show Arnett shrines such as Cibola, 7th street, etc. There will be an obligatory stop at Starbucks for a vanilla creme something or other. I can't remember, but it's cold and good. I could be talked into fishing for catfish if I have to, I guess. It will be Dove season there, so someone could do some hunting between fishing. My dog will go so no other dogs allowed. There will be a campfire, food and fishing lessons taught be me. Wive's are invited if they can stand the heat and the smell of the fish and the men. Staying in a motel in Blythe is always an option for those that can't hack the bugs, snakes, coyotes, or other critters. If several want to go I could arrange for additional floating devices to accomadate. We would have a floatilla. Also, perhaps Aunt Cathy could importune upon her Brother for a place for us to camp in his backyard where there are no critters. Or, maybe it will just be me and my dog. That will be fine, too. I like him and he likes me.

Chad's first email (letter) from Germany

PARENTALS!!! (AND EVERYONE ELSE!!!)IM IN GERMANY!!

Ok first off the y and the z are switched here so when zou see a z think y cause im not gunna take the time to fix it.Oh meine gutte. Germanz is so crayz. but I love it!

Mz first area is a huge citz named Essen. Its so awesome. ITS STORZ TIME!!!Ok, so mz first daz we prettz much spent traveling. it was a 6 hour bahn (train) ride. Boring. But whatever.It was still fun seeing the countrz.
Mz trainer is named Elder Lewis. He rocks. He's waz cool and waz good at missionarz work. I'm gonna learn tonz. So we get into Essen right, and we meet our third comp., Elder Leigh. We're working as a dritte for a week or so until his comp. comes back from Oberhausen. It's a long storz that I don't wanna go into -- an apostate missionarz and new zone leaders and a girl here. Ya it's kinda bad! But whatever.
So, then we went out and did a little contacting that first daz but reallz we just wanted to get to know the city. There are a few areas we need to avoid, but overall it's a waz cool place. Then we had a dinner appointment that night with the Kotzlik's. Sister Kotzlik is the onlz member so it was kinda fun. Her son. Daniel is 17 and waz funnz. I wanna get to know him better. The food was amaying.
The next daz, we had a two hour planning session for the week. Just to set our goals and stuff. That's where I first learned why Elder Leigh is so negative all the time. He sazs the work is dead in Essen, but it's the most sucessful place in the mission.
So we went outside and tried to find some people. It didn't reqallz work. Then we went to stop bz some less actives. That was cool. None were home, but I did mz first contact. I talked to this black guz named Pastor Tony. He's funnz. I went up and started talking to him and he was like, 'zou speak english dont zou?' I laughed and said za. Then we got his info and stuff. He admires the missionaries and wants to talk with us. We'll call him tonight.I'm sorrz, but so much has happened so I'm gonna hit the kez points.The next daz we had an apointmnent with a referral. We met him at the kirche. Sorrz thats church. We sat down and started talking about what he has learned. He's been taught before. Then after about 5 minutes he said before we go anz further," I think zou should know, i want to be baptized". I wanted to hug him
I was so stoked! We meet this guz off the street and he wants to be baptiyed! I'm so excited! So september 8th, mark it down..
Then we went to this park where the stake plazs soccer on saturdazs and we got to talk with him and have him meet some of the members. I love the ward here... some reallz great people live here and thez're waz helpful. But, we found out alot about Lahib Marcus. That's his name. He comes from Iraq. He's been Christian his whole life so he and his familz have been reffugies for their whole life. Thez have been trzing to get into Greece for a long time and kept getting sent back to Iraq. It's crayz some of his stories. He's been living in Deutschland for some time and knows he can't go back. He sazs he will -- two dazs before he wants to die. He wants to see his homeland.
Mz real comp., Elder Lewis has built a real good relationship with him and I've tried. The language is a definate barrier though. But I understand a lot actuallz. I understand more than Elder Leigh who has been here for 7 months. Sometimes I can respond which is cool.Then sundaz rolled around. It was a blast. I bore mz testmonz, I had to, and itss was so funnz. I got up and said hi, and it was mz first week in Germanz and mz Deutsch was bad. Then I started to talk and whenever I'd start to sound out a word the whole congragation would be nodding their heads encouraging me. It was waz funnz..
I reallz like the ward. Thezre sweet, although we have some crayz people too like this guz who has been excommunicated 2 times and just got rebaptiyed. A lot of people are like that here though.
Then I met this girl named Ronja Krane. We were teaching this Young Women's class and she was there. She's not a member but she stazed (foreign exchange student) with a familz in Springville, Utah, that mz cousin James Arnett married into. So, she knows mz name. It was so sweet. I wanted to kneel down and thank God right then. She wanted to know about an English class and stuff so were gonna set up a conversation class. Her English is perfect though. She doesn't even have an accent. I'm just gonna trz to be her friend first and invite here to things. I think shes interested. but she said her parents weren't too excited that she wanted to go to church. We'll see...
Then later that Sundaz we taught Lahib the first lesson. It was waz good cause we had a member familz, the Danalakis there. Thez've gotten to be friends with Lahib. He's reallz exxcited and so are we.

We then went to the Bishop's house to talk about the ward and find out part members and less actives and all that stuff. He told us about this ladz who wants her 9 zear old baptiyed. So we have to teach her. I cant believe it.I cant believe how guided our lives are. It's amaying. This week has been such a miracle. Seriouslz, mz trainer is so cool and good. mz apartment is the nicest in the mission, but it is still prettz getto. I'll send pics next week. Mom, you would never live here. We have a bathroom, a kitchen, a bedroom and a studz. I think the apartment is onlz 35 square feet. We will have 4 elders living there bz the end of next week.
The people here aren't that rich... actuallz reallz poor compaired to our standards. But I love emand I love it here.Well we have a teaching appt. here in a little.I'm so stoked to be here now. I know everzone is sazing hang on and it will get better, but I'm having a blast. It's so sweet here, I love it. I wouldn't trade it for the world.I love zou and miss zou. Talking to zou from Paris was so good. I loved it. We'll talk in 4 months though. I can wait, can zou?Love,chadPictures will come soon.. I love zou so much.Oh and i need like 50 to 80 € on mz personal account. I have to get some stuff like a new backpack. Mine wont work cause it rains 24/7 here. I have to get one here. Sorrz. I love zou though! and I have to get some scripture cases so za. chuß.

In Essen, West Germany Province.

Chad arrived in Hamburg and stayed there a day or two. He was transferred to Essen which is just outside Dusseldorf which is not in his mission. Go figure. Dussuldorf is in the Frankfurt Mission. Essen is an industrial city of 600,000 in the most populated area of Germany. His companion is Elder Lewis. He is as far away as you can get from the mission home. The Good news is he probably is in the Dortmund zone which is the zone that the older couple that Devry is now related to resides. Hopefully, we can see some photos on their blog in the future. His P-day is on Mondays. If you email him, you need to do it on Sundays as there is a 9 hour difference. His email address is: chadarnett@myldsmail.net. Here are some pics that the mission president sent today. He is from SLC and was a bigshot with IHC.

Since Chad is headed to the Fatherland...

Chad leaves Tuesday for Hamburg. He flies from SLC to Chicago to Paris to Hamburg. If you want his address to write him, which you all should because he has no brothers or sisters, email Pam. I promised the rest of the words to the song I wrote him. And, thank you Dana (the only one) who wanted to read them all. Here they are:

Sprekenzie deutsch in the mtc
how's it going in there without a tv
I know this song's not Mormon tab
I hope you all will cut me some slack
Mutti and vater are so proud of you
Doing the Lords work is what you should do
We miss you oh so much
But nothings too hard when the Lord is our crutch
Don't think about material things
About bottled beasts and Scary Kids
Or hair that's everywhere
Here comes a chord change right here
I know I don't sing this part well
but that's okay cause you miss us anyway
I know I dont sing this part well
but that's okay cause you can only listen to this on P-day
What do you hear from the Elders from home
Law and Tanner and old Bigelow
Is learning German oh so hard
It will come to you soon son, your not a retard
Preach my gospel that's your Bible now
learn it all -- it will teach you how
to show the people the truth
It even worked for old Sean Bluth
The MTC is like a boot camp
Everythings tough but worth it at last
Not to worry about things back home
Think red and big...I'll have to take out a loan
Don't think of material things
of bottled beasts and Scary Kids
Or hair that's everywhere
Here comes a chord change right here
I know I don't sing this part well
but that's okay cause you miss us anyway
I know I dont sing this part well
but that's okay cause you can only listen to this on P-day.

On another note, I'm giving you a movie review. I know it's not as deep as "Water" which Lance loved so much, but it's on Bourne Ultimatum. Pam, Cameron and I went to see it yesterday. Here's my review......Yeah, baby! Pure unadulterated violence. Yeah baby! My kind of movie. Just a little hint, at the end of the movie pay special attention to who leads Bourne down the hall to his indoctrination into the program. Just an important hint for the next movie.

Okay back to Chad. Here is a copy of an epistle he sent to the Young Women in the Ward. They wrote him as a group acitivity. He writes us maybe 2 lines at most but writes them the following:


THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF ELDER ARNETT THE MISSIONARY TO THE PEOPLE OF THE WARD CALLED PIONEER.
1 Now behold, I Chad, Son of Jeff, have somewhat to say concerning you, the people of the land of my inheritance. Yea, I would that I may speak unto you because of the fullness of my joy.
2 Yea, for now is the time that I prepare to ride upon the wings of that great metal bird to the place that the Lord our God has called me. And I have been instructed in the manner of the way of the Elders before me; therefore, I do know how to pack.
3 Now I Chad, son of Jeff, the husband of Pam, who is great and fair in the eyes of the Lord, do have somewhat more to say concerning the Young Women in the Ward Pioneer. Yea, I do rejoice in your writings, for they did find me. And oh, how great the timing and tender mercies of our Lord! For it is no coincidence that your writings did find me in a state of sadness. Yea, for I was grieved at the hardness of the language of German; yea and for many other reasons was I
grieved.
4 But behold, your letter did find me and did lift me up. Yea and for this cause do I direct a portion of my writings unto you, the Young Women of the Ward Pioneer in the land of my inheritance. My soul does rejoice because of your words.
5 Now my people, I do bid thee adieu for a time. Yea, for this shall be the last of my writings from the "Empty Sea" (MTC) for on the seventh day of the eighth month two thousand and seven years from the coming of our Lord, yea even Jesus Christ, I do embark into destiny. Behold, I do go unto the land that is torn because of the Wars of the World, and do preach of the goodness and mercy of the One and True God of Isreal.
6 For He truly is the Light and the Way.
7 So now I do send these, my writings. I pray they find you in health and safety. Yea, and this is the desire of my heart. Chuss.

For the enrichment of mankind

Things you should tell our children and grandchildren about your ancestors.

Uncle Cliff was the fasted Anglo-Saxon for miles around. He ran track in the 100 and 220 and was on the award winning 4x100 yard relay team. The only white caucasion. He used to run about a 10.3.....one time he ran a 9.9 -- wind aided and didn't count.

Uncle HB used to look like a bobble-head doll when he ran. He was clocked also at a 10.3 but it was in the 60 yard dash. He does still hold the record for most points scored in a city league game...84. He was 17 and playing against 6 graders.

Uncle Larry and I witnessed the "confirmation" the Sunday before all worthy male members receiving the priesthood back in 1978. Ask him about it.

Candy always wanted to be a baton twirling artist. She never was-- see the video on H.B's site.

Howard used to castrate cattle with his pocket knife then come home and cut roses off our front bushes with it and give them to Ethel. He also used to peel potatoes for dinner that night with that same knife. I'm still not sure if he cleaned it first.

Ethel was an incredible gospel doctrine teacher. She would spend hours each day with her bedroom door closed surrounded by books studying. Her preperation was meticulous....first studying everything she could then practicing in front of the mirror. That's right. That's why she was so good. She taught for many years. At her funeral, some people from out of the country found out about her death and traveled to Mesa just to be there because as they put it, "she was the best teacher we ever witnessed and they had to be there to say goodbye." They had been winter visitors in Quartzsite for many years.

We had a little 2nd grader boy stay with us for awhile. He was one of Mom's students. He had witnessed his Dad shoot and kill his Mom. The only person he would let be around him and talk to was Ethel.

Howard had to bail Tommy Lee (the farm foreman) out of jail a couple of times. The worst was when Tommy got mad at one of the farm workers and stabbed him a few times. Dad said he was cut up pretty good.

HB used to drive a red Austin Healy that hardly ever started. Uncle Cliff drove anything he could get his hands on. Larry and I drove the old "Sweat Hog", our family Impala. We also got a Volkswagon Beetle Bug. It was the original Bug with the rubber band sounding engine. We were great at driving stick-shift Frances.

We had a TV room. I don't know how we did. It was one of the bedrooms. But that is where the TV was. We used to all go in there and watch TV....all seven of us. It usually ended up being six quickly as Ethel used to make HB (Harold) go outside due to his constant flatulation. She actually made him go out of the house many times. He was quite proud of it.

Uncle Cliff was the one that taught us how to play the guitar. Ethel made us all take piano lessons for awhile. Larry was good enough to play for priesthood and on his mission. She made HB and me take clarinet. It didn't take. More things you should tell your children will come later.

A comment on comments

Okay, let's tell it like it is. We blog, not for the enrichment of mankind or for personal purification or anything of the sort. We blog to get comments from other bloggers. It's an A.S.S. thing. Okay, maybe Cathy doesn't have A.S.S. and she is doing it for the right reason, but I'm positive everyone else is doing if for the comments. So here is my problem. Some of you new bloggers have put a restriction on who can comment with the google account user thing. I would have commented on alot of things like...nice cakes, sorry about the eye doctor, Josie is cute, Tana is cool, vacation in California looked fun, wished it rained here as much in Flagstaff, etc., but I refuse to type in my user account name each time. There, I've written it. Also, a couple of other things. Channy start posting. Just make stuff up. No one cares, we just want to comment anyway. Jantzen, new post please. Way too long without a post. Heidi, you are really funny. I never really knew that. I thought you were funny, but now I know that. Why are Candy's blogs
"deeper than mine". Sorry, but Chea is better than all of the other photogs listed on everyone elses blogs. Sorry, I know it cruel, but it's true. Look I'm not trying to be elected president here, I'm just trying to get comments. Two blogs I look for everday....Wendy's and Lacy's. I don't know why I just do. Lindsay, I've cut you some slack on blogging regularity, but more post's please. And Megs, our newest blogger, don't be afraid to tell us all your feelings and thoughts about the upcoming nuptials. I went back to Devry's wedding blogs, they were great.
So this is how I start....I type in www.dev and Explorer comes up with Devry's blog address, then I read her's. Then I start the link thing. Sometimes I get to all of them, sometimes I don't. The links are somewhat convoluted in that I have to go to another blog to get to the others. Now I must confess I don't go to blogs of people on your links I don't know or care to know. Is this starting to sound like Andy Rooney? He's got A.S.S. Anyway, after reading them all, or all I can stand at one time, I end up at LD's. Why? Because his is always the newest. Pretty much something new each day. Also, I like the witty bantering back and forth between LD and CS. If two MAC laptops could talk about what was erased before being posted. That's it. Amen....fade to a picture a clock ticking the minutes of 60 minutes.