Fortie Family Flyer
June 1 – 7, 2009
Dear Family and Friends,
I am so grateful the hot days of summer have been postponed for a while. These cool days are just right for bike rides in the canyons. I was checking out the weather channel (the new digital TV channel 5-3) to see what it was going to be like for Jennifer’s camp this week and noticed that the record high for today was 104 and the record low was 35, glad we didn’t get near either of those. We are in the 60’s and 70’s this week with a few sprinkles now and then. The clouds have made for some beautiful skies all week.
I am trying to listen to President Eyring’s conference talk on BYU.TV while I write this letter but it’s not going very well. His talks are the kind that you have to pay attention to so it’s almost impossible to focus on writing and listening at the same time. I’ll have to listen to it again later.
How blessed we are to live here and now. Great things are happening and greater things are coming; I think I must get more oil in my lamp. In my personal scripture study I am going through Jacob chapter 5. This is the chapter where Jacob quotes the writings of Zenos about the parable of the vineyard. I am writing a summery of the chapter and am going to create a list of each event and try to match these events in the parable with actual events or groups of people through history. It is going slow but is very interesting.
Tami has been very sick this past few weeks. She called around to a few specialists and they couldn’t get her in until mid July. She finally found one that could get her in at the end of June so we made an appointment. We almost took her into the emergency room on Monday but by Tuesday morning she started to improve a bit so we decided to wait for the appointment. She was very pale, weak and tired.
I had play practice a few times this week and am slowly learning my lines. I have noticed that because I am new to this performing on stage thing, that when I go through my lines by myself I seem to have them down fairly well but then when I am on the stage interacting with others there are several times when I go blank. I hope I can get used to this whole thing so this going blank thing won’t happen during the performance. We have about a month to go, wish me luck.
I am trying to get back in shape from a winter of sitting at a desk. I have gone on bike rides 3 times this week. Twice in the canyon and once just riding up hill in our subdivision. The few miles and 400 foot climb in the neighborhood seemed almost as hard as going up the canyon. On my Wednesday ride up the canyon I took my camera. The trail is absolutely beautiful this time of year and I got some good shots. I put them on Facebook and had a few people after seeing the pictures ask how to get to the trails so they could go their to ride, hike or run. More people should be up there enjoying such beautiful scenery instead of sitting in front of the TV. I was alone for most of the morning but around eleven I ran into a few people on horses as I was coming down. Then near the parking lot I ran into five or six hikers and another group on horses. I’m sure most of the hikers don’t know that the most beautiful part of the trail is beyond where many of them will go. It takes effort to get to that which brings the greatest joy. Many never know it is there and never know what they are missing out on.
After play practice I dropped by the Riverton Arts Festival to see some of the booths there. I wanted to get some of my work into the art contest but they only allowed people to bring their work in for 2 yours Friday night and I couldn’t. There were some good artists and great work at many of the booths, too bad people don’t have the money to support these people. A few I talked to said it was a bit slow this year; maybe the weather and the economy.
Tami and I went to see the movie “Taken” on Saturday night. It’s about a girl going to Europe and getting kidnapped. People told us if we watched it we wouldn’t want Michelle to go to Europe next summer, they were right – it was scary. She is going with a group with lots of adults but it will take us a few weeks to get over the fear created by that movie. It was very action packed. You might want to go see it.
On Sunday, after choir practice, I talked to Brother Mike Mueller and suggested that we might go visit members each Fast Sunday to find out where everyone is at with their genealogy. If we keep visiting it might get more people advancing so they will have something new to report to us each time we come over. We went to Brother and Sister Gardner, the High Priest group leader (my next door neighbor), and Brother Blaine Butterfield. We had a nice visit and got them working on getting records from relatives and starting the work on their own family histories and genealogy. I think if we can keep that up it will be a good thing. Now I need to get going with my other 2 callings, Ward missionary and the Cultural Arts Specialist. Maybe I can put on some plays about missionaries and get them both taken care of with one activity (lol).
I am reading a book I got at the BYU Bookstore when I went down there to drop off pictures a few weeks ago. It is called The Wisdomkeepers, it is messages from Native American Elders. One told the interviewers that an important part of life is finding your own song. It is amazing how different cultures are. He says that everyone has a song and you must ask the creator to help you find your own song. He also said that everything has a song including healing of sickness and disease. It was interesting to hear his perspective. It reminded me of a few months ago when I heard the tune the cord to my reading glasses made in the wind right by my ear and then I saw the tree in front of me with the branches that were the same size as the cord and I realized that all trees in the forest must have a unique song that the creatures of the forest, with their large ears, can hear. We are missing most of that. I think I am still looking for my song. I hope it is not too late to find it. I’ll keep searching and asking.
School is finally out. Michelle is a junior now and Jennifer is moving on to 8th grade. Wow, they are growing up way too fast. They have had some great activities with the temple celebration and parties this week. I’ll try to get them to write things down.
Well, that’s it for this week.
Make sure you know your own song,
Ken and clan
Nathan and Paige – Are getting settled in their new apartment near Fort Lewis in Washington State. They finally got their furniture 2 ½ weeks late they slept on Nathan’s old mattress on the floor until it got there. Nathan had a week or so off after returning from over seas but is now back to training for his next mission.
Address:
Nathan & Paige Fortie
2308 Brookdale Rd. E.
Apt. I 303
Tacoma, WA 98445
Chad and Alicia –
Chad has signed a contract with a middle school in Utah County for next school year to be the theater teacher there. After signing he had Riverton High School contact him as they were finally getting around to figuring out next year after this expensive split ($30 million). Chad works for a fireworks warehouse for the summer, filling orders and shipping fireworks and fireworks stands around Utah and one or two other states in the area.
Brian:
Hello La Familia,
This week has been filled with lots of things to do and see.
On Monday for Family Home Evening my singles ward went to brother Davis’ in the Bishoprics home. We had a lesson where pictures of all 16 of the later day prophets were hung up. We were divided into teams of about 4 (8 teams) and each given two quotes or biographical descriptions. We had to think of who it was and stick them on the picture we thought it matched. Ours was one that said, “when I was called to be a bishop the song went through my head ‘just say no young man, just say no’ and I never served a mission.” That one I knew was President Monson. Our other one said that they were raised by an inactive father and was a lawyer. We figured it was either President Hunter or Lee. Someone had already put a quote on Hunter (and once one has one on it you can’t put another one on unless you convince them to take it off.) So we stuck it on Harold B Lee. Well it was wrong it was Howard W Hunter. We got 1 out of 2. Some of the ones people put were obviously wrong and ridiculous like “I didn’t serve a mission because I thought some other guy would steal my girl while I was gone, and I loved scouting.” Someone put that on Joseph Smith. Come on. They didn’t have scouting or full time missions for every young man back then. Or on Brigham Young’s was “I went to school in Idaho and love to play the Piano.” I don’t think Brigham ever personally set foot in Idaho. He sent colonies there. It was great. Brother Davis gave a really spiritual message about getting to know the Prophets. During the lesson I got a strong answer to a prayer. I had met with the Bishop last Wednesday to talk about missionaries for the ward. He gave me a list of the members who had no callings to pray over. One guy is like 21 or so and still a Priest, he had a rough teen life and got in a rut. He’s turned around and is coming back. At the lesson while brother Davis spoke I looked over at him and the spirit said “that’s your guy.” I just got the really strong feeling that he should be one of my ward missionaries. He’s got a fire about him and a spirit that is truly trying to change. He blessed the sacrament for the first time last week and was way nervous.
I talked to brother Davis after about learning about the prophets. See I have this goal. I have a testimony of prophets in general, because I know the priesthood keys were and are passed. I know Peter gave them to Joseph Smith and they are still on the earth. So automatically every President between Joseph Smith and Tomas Monson was a Prophet. But on an individual basis I have a personal testimony of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young (from Mountain of the Lord’ ‘A man without Eloquence’ and a few other things) David O. McKay, Spencer W. Kimball, Gordon B. Hinckley and Thomas S. Monson.
The Later two were my Prophets, and I have taught and learned enough about the others to know who they are. But I have a goal to gain a specific testimony of each one of the 16 as Prophets Seers and Revelators; as individual men, not just as fillers between when keys were restored and where they are now. I just don’t know enough about each one, or who they were. So brother Davis let my borrow a book about John Taylor. I’m excited.
Tuesday lots of studying, I went down to the U.V. University to check out some more DVD’s on Anatomy and Physiology. I watched a DVD there on laceration and synching and one on the development of the four-chambered heart. Enough of that you say, right.
On Wednesday I went to the park and we played ultimate Frisbee and then volleyball with a group from the ward. They tend to want to keep me up late, like midnight, and I like going to bed at like 10:30. They are forming this habit I don’t want formed. So that impedes me getting up early, all their strange college hours. I detest sleeping in, I feel so groggy and lazy. If I wake up past 8 I feel miserable and unaccomplished all day. I’m going to have to lay down some rules of no starting any movie after 9 or so. But none of my friends want to do anything at 7 in the morning. Sigh.
Thursday I have been keeping a stringent schedule whilst looking for a job. I study anatomy from DVDs and a book, read John Taylor’s biography and read physics and a History book. I don’t let friends do anything till after 7 usually so I can get stuff done. At night Chad, Isaac and some people from the ward went to a park and played capture the flag.
Friday was way fun. So since we usually clean on Saturday and we cleaned a bunch Friday I thought it was Saturday and around 1 O’Clock I thought “oh no, the temple open house!” So I got dressed in my Sunday clothes and rode to the church. Finding no one there I called the Bishop and said “where is everyone?” He said “um, that’s on Saturday Brian.” So I felt dumb and went back. I changed my shirt and tie into a T-shirt, but hadn’t changed my pants and shoes. So Isaac shows up at 7:30 to take me to the regional Singles barn dance (which I also forgot) and I’m half way through a change. So I had an interesting ensemble, T-shirt and Sunday pants.
The dance was so fun, and there was a lot of people. Culture is gone out of our culture, everyone just plays video games now. At the start everyone just sat there on the sides, so I walked out to the center and said “Everybody! This is not a Sit, It’s a Dance! Get up!” and people sort of looked around like “oh yeah, but we don’t know what to do.” It took a bit to get it going. Me and a few others made a point to go ask the girls that were all just sitting there not being asked. Get them out of their comfort zone. I went around and asked everyone’s names that were sitting. We did the Polka and holy cow that is a cardio work out. I was the second the last one on the dance floor, my partner and I trying to out dance the other couple (cause they just kept playing and didn’t stop) and I got a cramp so I was done. Oh well. By the end everyone wanted to go to a movie but it was like 11:30 and I was all Polka’d out so I hit the sack.
Saturday our ward met at the church and carpooled to the Oquir Mountain Temple Open House. We had 50 tickets reserved but only 21 came from our ward. Not even half. And no one brought a non-member or less active. But I can’t blame them. I didn’t either this time around (I am taking someone next Saturday). The spirit there was very strong and it was absolutely beautiful.
Something hit me in there. In one of the rooms I touched a chair (all the rows of chairs for lots of people) and I thought, “you know, the Lord doesn’t sit, he doesn’t need chairs, and certainly not this many. These are for us, when we come to his house. It hit me in an instant. His house is for teaching. Its main purpose is instructing us. So the places were teaching occurs best is the home. Our homes where we are taught as kids the gospel, and the Lords house, we go to be taught more. The BD says the only place on earth that can compare to the Temple is the Home.”
At night we all went to the church (a group of us about 15 from the singles ward) and ate pizza and played “poison” it’s too much to explain but it’s a lot like doge ball only cooler. Anyway, something really funny happened. When you get out you just sit down on the floor right where you are, and if someone gets the person out that got you out you get back in. So I had been out forever just sitting against the wall where I was assassinated. Finally someone hit the guy who got me out, and I rose to my feet slowly, with a maniacal laugh, and my hand clenched up in the air, as if I had just been freed from some eternal curse. Well John Isom, who is this tiny kid like 4 foot 11, was right next to me, with a ball. I didn’t see him out of the corner of my eye. So here I was getting up and laughing like a crazy man, and he hit me with the ball and I immediately sat back down. I was back in for 6 seconds and died again. Everyone started laughing so hard they all fell over and started coughing, including me. I didn’t even see him, or see it coming.
Sunday at testimony meeting, it was amazing how confirmations from the spirit work. And I miss those frequent ones from my mission. Well two of the people I have felt should be ward missionaries got up and bore their testimony and I got a confirming witness on both, that it was the right choice and they will do well. It was amazing to me.
In Elders Quorum we got chewed out. I guess through the grape vine the EQP got word that the sisters are complaining that there is not enough dating in the ward and the guys never ask them out. So we had a lesson on dating. They talked a lot about confidence. At the end Andrew Sacket, turned around (To understand this, you must know that our ward did short movies about 3 months back, in groups. Ours was about a kid getting the courage to ask out a girl, called “a mans search for awesomeness.” I played a character in his inner psyche called “Mr. Awesome” that encouraged him to be brave.)
So he turned around and said, “just exercise your inner Awesome, and everyone laughed. One kid said “Awesome, (about ¼ of the ward still calls me that) will you go on a double date with me?” it was funny.
Well this is way long, I better get it off. Hope everyone is well. Love you all.
Brian
Elder Fortie:
Okay, so the madness explanation. Okay well the dust is settling and things are coming to a close. So I've been running around going crazy the past 2 1/2 weeks because I am the district leader of 80% of the central zone! I am the district leader over all the Spanish and all but one of the English districts in the zone. Why I am the district leader over so many people, your guess is as good as mine, but I don't question, I just work. So it's madness, I spend a lot of time working on district meetings, dealing with numerical stuff, and working with how things are going to pan out. I am also district leader over the 3 A.P's (yes we have 3 in my mission, they needed a third wheel cause things are insane here) the zone leaders, and the trainers. So that's a challenging district meeting and what not, it's also weird when the zone leaders and A.P's have to come to me to ask my permission for stuff or get my keys to get into church buildings etc. etc. But, I do my best and let the Lord do the rest. So as to what will happen to the area's of the San Francisco mission, they will still have some missionaries here, but not many, there will be about 1/6 as many missionaries covering the same areas. Or in other words where 12 missionaries used to be, there will only be 2. So they aren't giving up all hope, just most of it haha. As to what exactly will be my new boundaries I don't know, but I'll find out soon. Most likely I will stick around here for a little while to keep things running when the transitions happen because I am in a leadership position over 80% of the zone, so the new pres. will likely keep me here because I know how things work here and he will have no idea, but one thing I have come to learn about this whole experience with a closing mission, nothing is certain, and nothing is a surprise.
So last night They hosted a huge fireside/ social for President and sister Keller going home. It was so sad! They were both just crying like babies, and we presented them this huge picture one of the missionaries (who is an amazing artist) drew of them kneeling and praying, that we all signed. They are such amazing people, and I have truly grown to love them, I cannot imagine a better mission president, President Keller does an inspired work here, and runs this mission as perfectly as it can be run with a level of respect love and obedience that is incredible. One of the speakers from the stake last night at the fireside said "President Keller, we want you to know, you will always be our mission president" and it rang so true to me. He will always be my president.Well I gotta go, I forgot my new address, but I'll have it next week. I love you all and I'll talk to you all later!
Love elder Fortie
Michelle:
What up peeps?!? :]
So I gotta catch you up on a lot that has been happening lately, because, yeah… it’s been a LOT! So please excuse these brief awkward lines.
Since I can’t really remember where we left off and what we have and have not covered, I guess I’ll just cover major events of the past… monthish.
First we start with my broken nose. Sadly, my first broken bone was busted a few weeks ago. It also has quite the strange story to go along with it. Sit back and relax as this odd tale unfolds. In a moment like that, everything moves in slow motion. A Samoan falls, curls into a ball, and bullets toward Melissa and my waiting arms. Our faces collide, and Melissa’s forehead cracks against my nose. That’s how the whole adventure began. That act so simple and so routine brought me into the broken bone club within a millisecond. But this is more than just a story of a broken nose. It’s a story of doctors, swelling, black eyes, cover-up and make-up, surgery scares, hockey ,masks, and romance… okay, not so much the romance part. It just really sounded like it fit.
Life is full of irony. I, who hate doctors with every fiber of my being, seem to find myself visiting them much more often than the average person. It seems that God has quite the strange sense of humor. None the less, with this little incident, I found myself visiting yet another doctor. And I’ll tell you, my story isn’t exactly the easiest to explain to the nurses and doctors. The words “I hit my nose on some girl’s face” never received such skeptical looks. The x-rays came back and the verdict was: BUSTED!
Friday, I went to school, trying to pretend that nothing had happened. That was harder than it may seem seeing as my nose was the size of Manhattan. I walked into gym and coach freaked out from the start. When I finally talked him into letting me play softball, there was one condition; I wore a lovely accessory on my face… a hockey mask. It made playing difficult, but I was content just to play.
Finally the day came and with a panging feeling of the pain that loomed ahead, I headed to the surgeon’s office. I had been told that surgery would be necessary, and I was not looking forward to it in any way! I walked in and was instantly terrified. The man that was supposed to be straightening my nose had the most crooked and warped nose I had ever seen in my life. I wasn’t sure whether or not I trusted him with my face, seeing as I kind of need it for the rest of my life. He then proceeded to do the thing that all doctors do that I absolutely detest. He began to wiggle and poke the very thing that hurt me so much in the first place. He then decided that he thought it was straight enough and that there would be no need for surgery. So I guess I escaped that death sentence.
But it has left a permanent mark on my life. I can no longer say that I’m one of the select, cool few that have never broken a bone. Word on the street is that I’ve had a nose job, even though it’s not true at all! My brothers call me Michael Jackson. Brian also jokes that I am Cyrano de Bergerac. An emotional permanent scar has been left with me.
So that is my nose story. Now that we’re done with that exciting piece of my life… let’s move on to the next! The temple celebration! We had the opportunity to take part in the celebration for the opening of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple! It was a huge deal at the Conference center and the prophet was there! There were about 7,000 youth performing in about 12+ dances and a youth choir that sang along to some of the dances! I was in the baseball dance as one of the baseball players on the winning team! :] There were about 20 youth on the baseball team and then we had our 100 backup dancers! It was a lot of practice, but also a lot of fun! In the beginning of the dance, I’m sitting on the side of the stage doing a kick line and hand clapping part of the dance about 10 feet from the prophet! While I was doing it during the performance, I looked out and smiled at the prophet! He smiled back and started doing that hand clapping part of the dance with me! I was so amazed and got a little distracted, but no worries, I got right back on course!! He had an amazing time and we were all so full of energy by the end of everything! It was amazing! Then we ran back to our seats and continued to watch the other dances and laugh and clap along with them. At the end, everyone started to sing “I Love To See The Temple”, and as we sang, a replica of the temple rose from behind the fake mountain that was on stage. The temple was about 2 stories tall and it was pure white, and glowing. Tears came to my eyes. The spirit was so incredibly strong it was almost tangible. By the end of the performance, none of us wanted to leave. It was such a remarkable feeling, you just never wanted that feeling to leave you. But alas, after all of our time, hard work, and dedication… it was over. I was so blessed to be a part of this.
Well, I have more to write, but I have to get this off in time! So I’ll write more on a coming day! I love you all and hope that things are going as well for you as they are for me! Remember to make the next 60 seconds worthwhile, because you’re trading a minute of your life for it!! Good luck!
Love,
~Michelle!~
Jennifer:
Hi everyone!
We have a new Microsoft program so if anything turns out weird blame Michelle! She installed it, little computer nerd. J Well let’s see this was my last week as a sevy ever again! Thursday was my last day of school and it was super fun! We had the teacher verses students softball game and then our year book signing party! It was all a blast and we were all acting crazy! Then the last five minutes hit, it seemed to finally kick in to everyone there that this year actually is over. People kept coming up to me and saying do you remember when we slid down the main hallway on our binders or do you remember that time when we kicked the guys butts at football and so much other stuff, I (of course) started crying as our whole group went over all our memories of the crazy, sporadic but most of all fun stuff we did that year. The list was endless as we went through our times when we broke out into song and dance in the classroom, stuffed our face with food we made in cooking and so much more! Then when I was walking back to the locker that would soon be no longer mine then a person tripped and knocked into me and my year book flew out of my hands into the main hallway where there is like 400 kids going threw at once I looked down just to see it getting kicked around by feet that didn’t even know it was down there, it was like a wild stampede and when the dust cleared it was gone. I kept looking around but it was nowhere to be seen so I ran to the office to see if it was there but they said they had not had any turned in so I went home, went to bed then woke up freaking out because I was late for school! Yah took me about twenty seconds to realize that hey I don’t have school! Then mom walked in and with her came… my year book! Someone had turned it into the office! I was so happy! But yah it was all great! Then on our last day my seventh period art teacher Mrs. Clegg was moving her furniture into a different room and another girl and I were helping her then on the last load she said she didn’t mind if we “stalled” a little bit on the way back, so we did just that! We had this lovely cart with wheels on the bottom to hold the boxes on so I got this brilliant idea about how fun it would be to sit on the cart and roll down the main hallway, well that thought became life and we pushed each other down the hall, it was so fun!
Work is amazing! I’m still trying to have fun with them and come up with new ways to have them use their imagination! But something very, very, very happy is that all electronics were banned in their house and I’m not talking about lights I mean the wii, all D.S. games, computers and TV! They had WAY too much time on them so now they have none! It has made then a lot better behavior wise though. But other than that no big news!
Well I should probably stop boring you all so I should just stop here! Remember the lord has put you were you are for a reason; you just may or may not know it yet! He won’t give you a challenge that you can’t face!
- Jennifer Fortie
June 1 – 7, 2009
Dear Family and Friends,
I am so grateful the hot days of summer have been postponed for a while. These cool days are just right for bike rides in the canyons. I was checking out the weather channel (the new digital TV channel 5-3) to see what it was going to be like for Jennifer’s camp this week and noticed that the record high for today was 104 and the record low was 35, glad we didn’t get near either of those. We are in the 60’s and 70’s this week with a few sprinkles now and then. The clouds have made for some beautiful skies all week.
I am trying to listen to President Eyring’s conference talk on BYU.TV while I write this letter but it’s not going very well. His talks are the kind that you have to pay attention to so it’s almost impossible to focus on writing and listening at the same time. I’ll have to listen to it again later.
How blessed we are to live here and now. Great things are happening and greater things are coming; I think I must get more oil in my lamp. In my personal scripture study I am going through Jacob chapter 5. This is the chapter where Jacob quotes the writings of Zenos about the parable of the vineyard. I am writing a summery of the chapter and am going to create a list of each event and try to match these events in the parable with actual events or groups of people through history. It is going slow but is very interesting.
Tami has been very sick this past few weeks. She called around to a few specialists and they couldn’t get her in until mid July. She finally found one that could get her in at the end of June so we made an appointment. We almost took her into the emergency room on Monday but by Tuesday morning she started to improve a bit so we decided to wait for the appointment. She was very pale, weak and tired.
I had play practice a few times this week and am slowly learning my lines. I have noticed that because I am new to this performing on stage thing, that when I go through my lines by myself I seem to have them down fairly well but then when I am on the stage interacting with others there are several times when I go blank. I hope I can get used to this whole thing so this going blank thing won’t happen during the performance. We have about a month to go, wish me luck.
I am trying to get back in shape from a winter of sitting at a desk. I have gone on bike rides 3 times this week. Twice in the canyon and once just riding up hill in our subdivision. The few miles and 400 foot climb in the neighborhood seemed almost as hard as going up the canyon. On my Wednesday ride up the canyon I took my camera. The trail is absolutely beautiful this time of year and I got some good shots. I put them on Facebook and had a few people after seeing the pictures ask how to get to the trails so they could go their to ride, hike or run. More people should be up there enjoying such beautiful scenery instead of sitting in front of the TV. I was alone for most of the morning but around eleven I ran into a few people on horses as I was coming down. Then near the parking lot I ran into five or six hikers and another group on horses. I’m sure most of the hikers don’t know that the most beautiful part of the trail is beyond where many of them will go. It takes effort to get to that which brings the greatest joy. Many never know it is there and never know what they are missing out on.
After play practice I dropped by the Riverton Arts Festival to see some of the booths there. I wanted to get some of my work into the art contest but they only allowed people to bring their work in for 2 yours Friday night and I couldn’t. There were some good artists and great work at many of the booths, too bad people don’t have the money to support these people. A few I talked to said it was a bit slow this year; maybe the weather and the economy.
Tami and I went to see the movie “Taken” on Saturday night. It’s about a girl going to Europe and getting kidnapped. People told us if we watched it we wouldn’t want Michelle to go to Europe next summer, they were right – it was scary. She is going with a group with lots of adults but it will take us a few weeks to get over the fear created by that movie. It was very action packed. You might want to go see it.
On Sunday, after choir practice, I talked to Brother Mike Mueller and suggested that we might go visit members each Fast Sunday to find out where everyone is at with their genealogy. If we keep visiting it might get more people advancing so they will have something new to report to us each time we come over. We went to Brother and Sister Gardner, the High Priest group leader (my next door neighbor), and Brother Blaine Butterfield. We had a nice visit and got them working on getting records from relatives and starting the work on their own family histories and genealogy. I think if we can keep that up it will be a good thing. Now I need to get going with my other 2 callings, Ward missionary and the Cultural Arts Specialist. Maybe I can put on some plays about missionaries and get them both taken care of with one activity (lol).
I am reading a book I got at the BYU Bookstore when I went down there to drop off pictures a few weeks ago. It is called The Wisdomkeepers, it is messages from Native American Elders. One told the interviewers that an important part of life is finding your own song. It is amazing how different cultures are. He says that everyone has a song and you must ask the creator to help you find your own song. He also said that everything has a song including healing of sickness and disease. It was interesting to hear his perspective. It reminded me of a few months ago when I heard the tune the cord to my reading glasses made in the wind right by my ear and then I saw the tree in front of me with the branches that were the same size as the cord and I realized that all trees in the forest must have a unique song that the creatures of the forest, with their large ears, can hear. We are missing most of that. I think I am still looking for my song. I hope it is not too late to find it. I’ll keep searching and asking.
School is finally out. Michelle is a junior now and Jennifer is moving on to 8th grade. Wow, they are growing up way too fast. They have had some great activities with the temple celebration and parties this week. I’ll try to get them to write things down.
Well, that’s it for this week.
Make sure you know your own song,
Ken and clan
Nathan and Paige – Are getting settled in their new apartment near Fort Lewis in Washington State. They finally got their furniture 2 ½ weeks late they slept on Nathan’s old mattress on the floor until it got there. Nathan had a week or so off after returning from over seas but is now back to training for his next mission.
Address:
Nathan & Paige Fortie
2308 Brookdale Rd. E.
Apt. I 303
Tacoma, WA 98445
Chad and Alicia –
Chad has signed a contract with a middle school in Utah County for next school year to be the theater teacher there. After signing he had Riverton High School contact him as they were finally getting around to figuring out next year after this expensive split ($30 million). Chad works for a fireworks warehouse for the summer, filling orders and shipping fireworks and fireworks stands around Utah and one or two other states in the area.
Brian:
Hello La Familia,
This week has been filled with lots of things to do and see.
On Monday for Family Home Evening my singles ward went to brother Davis’ in the Bishoprics home. We had a lesson where pictures of all 16 of the later day prophets were hung up. We were divided into teams of about 4 (8 teams) and each given two quotes or biographical descriptions. We had to think of who it was and stick them on the picture we thought it matched. Ours was one that said, “when I was called to be a bishop the song went through my head ‘just say no young man, just say no’ and I never served a mission.” That one I knew was President Monson. Our other one said that they were raised by an inactive father and was a lawyer. We figured it was either President Hunter or Lee. Someone had already put a quote on Hunter (and once one has one on it you can’t put another one on unless you convince them to take it off.) So we stuck it on Harold B Lee. Well it was wrong it was Howard W Hunter. We got 1 out of 2. Some of the ones people put were obviously wrong and ridiculous like “I didn’t serve a mission because I thought some other guy would steal my girl while I was gone, and I loved scouting.” Someone put that on Joseph Smith. Come on. They didn’t have scouting or full time missions for every young man back then. Or on Brigham Young’s was “I went to school in Idaho and love to play the Piano.” I don’t think Brigham ever personally set foot in Idaho. He sent colonies there. It was great. Brother Davis gave a really spiritual message about getting to know the Prophets. During the lesson I got a strong answer to a prayer. I had met with the Bishop last Wednesday to talk about missionaries for the ward. He gave me a list of the members who had no callings to pray over. One guy is like 21 or so and still a Priest, he had a rough teen life and got in a rut. He’s turned around and is coming back. At the lesson while brother Davis spoke I looked over at him and the spirit said “that’s your guy.” I just got the really strong feeling that he should be one of my ward missionaries. He’s got a fire about him and a spirit that is truly trying to change. He blessed the sacrament for the first time last week and was way nervous.
I talked to brother Davis after about learning about the prophets. See I have this goal. I have a testimony of prophets in general, because I know the priesthood keys were and are passed. I know Peter gave them to Joseph Smith and they are still on the earth. So automatically every President between Joseph Smith and Tomas Monson was a Prophet. But on an individual basis I have a personal testimony of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young (from Mountain of the Lord’ ‘A man without Eloquence’ and a few other things) David O. McKay, Spencer W. Kimball, Gordon B. Hinckley and Thomas S. Monson.
The Later two were my Prophets, and I have taught and learned enough about the others to know who they are. But I have a goal to gain a specific testimony of each one of the 16 as Prophets Seers and Revelators; as individual men, not just as fillers between when keys were restored and where they are now. I just don’t know enough about each one, or who they were. So brother Davis let my borrow a book about John Taylor. I’m excited.
Tuesday lots of studying, I went down to the U.V. University to check out some more DVD’s on Anatomy and Physiology. I watched a DVD there on laceration and synching and one on the development of the four-chambered heart. Enough of that you say, right.
On Wednesday I went to the park and we played ultimate Frisbee and then volleyball with a group from the ward. They tend to want to keep me up late, like midnight, and I like going to bed at like 10:30. They are forming this habit I don’t want formed. So that impedes me getting up early, all their strange college hours. I detest sleeping in, I feel so groggy and lazy. If I wake up past 8 I feel miserable and unaccomplished all day. I’m going to have to lay down some rules of no starting any movie after 9 or so. But none of my friends want to do anything at 7 in the morning. Sigh.
Thursday I have been keeping a stringent schedule whilst looking for a job. I study anatomy from DVDs and a book, read John Taylor’s biography and read physics and a History book. I don’t let friends do anything till after 7 usually so I can get stuff done. At night Chad, Isaac and some people from the ward went to a park and played capture the flag.
Friday was way fun. So since we usually clean on Saturday and we cleaned a bunch Friday I thought it was Saturday and around 1 O’Clock I thought “oh no, the temple open house!” So I got dressed in my Sunday clothes and rode to the church. Finding no one there I called the Bishop and said “where is everyone?” He said “um, that’s on Saturday Brian.” So I felt dumb and went back. I changed my shirt and tie into a T-shirt, but hadn’t changed my pants and shoes. So Isaac shows up at 7:30 to take me to the regional Singles barn dance (which I also forgot) and I’m half way through a change. So I had an interesting ensemble, T-shirt and Sunday pants.
The dance was so fun, and there was a lot of people. Culture is gone out of our culture, everyone just plays video games now. At the start everyone just sat there on the sides, so I walked out to the center and said “Everybody! This is not a Sit, It’s a Dance! Get up!” and people sort of looked around like “oh yeah, but we don’t know what to do.” It took a bit to get it going. Me and a few others made a point to go ask the girls that were all just sitting there not being asked. Get them out of their comfort zone. I went around and asked everyone’s names that were sitting. We did the Polka and holy cow that is a cardio work out. I was the second the last one on the dance floor, my partner and I trying to out dance the other couple (cause they just kept playing and didn’t stop) and I got a cramp so I was done. Oh well. By the end everyone wanted to go to a movie but it was like 11:30 and I was all Polka’d out so I hit the sack.
Saturday our ward met at the church and carpooled to the Oquir Mountain Temple Open House. We had 50 tickets reserved but only 21 came from our ward. Not even half. And no one brought a non-member or less active. But I can’t blame them. I didn’t either this time around (I am taking someone next Saturday). The spirit there was very strong and it was absolutely beautiful.
Something hit me in there. In one of the rooms I touched a chair (all the rows of chairs for lots of people) and I thought, “you know, the Lord doesn’t sit, he doesn’t need chairs, and certainly not this many. These are for us, when we come to his house. It hit me in an instant. His house is for teaching. Its main purpose is instructing us. So the places were teaching occurs best is the home. Our homes where we are taught as kids the gospel, and the Lords house, we go to be taught more. The BD says the only place on earth that can compare to the Temple is the Home.”
At night we all went to the church (a group of us about 15 from the singles ward) and ate pizza and played “poison” it’s too much to explain but it’s a lot like doge ball only cooler. Anyway, something really funny happened. When you get out you just sit down on the floor right where you are, and if someone gets the person out that got you out you get back in. So I had been out forever just sitting against the wall where I was assassinated. Finally someone hit the guy who got me out, and I rose to my feet slowly, with a maniacal laugh, and my hand clenched up in the air, as if I had just been freed from some eternal curse. Well John Isom, who is this tiny kid like 4 foot 11, was right next to me, with a ball. I didn’t see him out of the corner of my eye. So here I was getting up and laughing like a crazy man, and he hit me with the ball and I immediately sat back down. I was back in for 6 seconds and died again. Everyone started laughing so hard they all fell over and started coughing, including me. I didn’t even see him, or see it coming.
Sunday at testimony meeting, it was amazing how confirmations from the spirit work. And I miss those frequent ones from my mission. Well two of the people I have felt should be ward missionaries got up and bore their testimony and I got a confirming witness on both, that it was the right choice and they will do well. It was amazing to me.
In Elders Quorum we got chewed out. I guess through the grape vine the EQP got word that the sisters are complaining that there is not enough dating in the ward and the guys never ask them out. So we had a lesson on dating. They talked a lot about confidence. At the end Andrew Sacket, turned around (To understand this, you must know that our ward did short movies about 3 months back, in groups. Ours was about a kid getting the courage to ask out a girl, called “a mans search for awesomeness.” I played a character in his inner psyche called “Mr. Awesome” that encouraged him to be brave.)
So he turned around and said, “just exercise your inner Awesome, and everyone laughed. One kid said “Awesome, (about ¼ of the ward still calls me that) will you go on a double date with me?” it was funny.
Well this is way long, I better get it off. Hope everyone is well. Love you all.
Brian
Elder Fortie:
Okay, so the madness explanation. Okay well the dust is settling and things are coming to a close. So I've been running around going crazy the past 2 1/2 weeks because I am the district leader of 80% of the central zone! I am the district leader over all the Spanish and all but one of the English districts in the zone. Why I am the district leader over so many people, your guess is as good as mine, but I don't question, I just work. So it's madness, I spend a lot of time working on district meetings, dealing with numerical stuff, and working with how things are going to pan out. I am also district leader over the 3 A.P's (yes we have 3 in my mission, they needed a third wheel cause things are insane here) the zone leaders, and the trainers. So that's a challenging district meeting and what not, it's also weird when the zone leaders and A.P's have to come to me to ask my permission for stuff or get my keys to get into church buildings etc. etc. But, I do my best and let the Lord do the rest. So as to what will happen to the area's of the San Francisco mission, they will still have some missionaries here, but not many, there will be about 1/6 as many missionaries covering the same areas. Or in other words where 12 missionaries used to be, there will only be 2. So they aren't giving up all hope, just most of it haha. As to what exactly will be my new boundaries I don't know, but I'll find out soon. Most likely I will stick around here for a little while to keep things running when the transitions happen because I am in a leadership position over 80% of the zone, so the new pres. will likely keep me here because I know how things work here and he will have no idea, but one thing I have come to learn about this whole experience with a closing mission, nothing is certain, and nothing is a surprise.
So last night They hosted a huge fireside/ social for President and sister Keller going home. It was so sad! They were both just crying like babies, and we presented them this huge picture one of the missionaries (who is an amazing artist) drew of them kneeling and praying, that we all signed. They are such amazing people, and I have truly grown to love them, I cannot imagine a better mission president, President Keller does an inspired work here, and runs this mission as perfectly as it can be run with a level of respect love and obedience that is incredible. One of the speakers from the stake last night at the fireside said "President Keller, we want you to know, you will always be our mission president" and it rang so true to me. He will always be my president.Well I gotta go, I forgot my new address, but I'll have it next week. I love you all and I'll talk to you all later!
Love elder Fortie
Michelle:
What up peeps?!? :]
So I gotta catch you up on a lot that has been happening lately, because, yeah… it’s been a LOT! So please excuse these brief awkward lines.
Since I can’t really remember where we left off and what we have and have not covered, I guess I’ll just cover major events of the past… monthish.
First we start with my broken nose. Sadly, my first broken bone was busted a few weeks ago. It also has quite the strange story to go along with it. Sit back and relax as this odd tale unfolds. In a moment like that, everything moves in slow motion. A Samoan falls, curls into a ball, and bullets toward Melissa and my waiting arms. Our faces collide, and Melissa’s forehead cracks against my nose. That’s how the whole adventure began. That act so simple and so routine brought me into the broken bone club within a millisecond. But this is more than just a story of a broken nose. It’s a story of doctors, swelling, black eyes, cover-up and make-up, surgery scares, hockey ,masks, and romance… okay, not so much the romance part. It just really sounded like it fit.
Life is full of irony. I, who hate doctors with every fiber of my being, seem to find myself visiting them much more often than the average person. It seems that God has quite the strange sense of humor. None the less, with this little incident, I found myself visiting yet another doctor. And I’ll tell you, my story isn’t exactly the easiest to explain to the nurses and doctors. The words “I hit my nose on some girl’s face” never received such skeptical looks. The x-rays came back and the verdict was: BUSTED!
Friday, I went to school, trying to pretend that nothing had happened. That was harder than it may seem seeing as my nose was the size of Manhattan. I walked into gym and coach freaked out from the start. When I finally talked him into letting me play softball, there was one condition; I wore a lovely accessory on my face… a hockey mask. It made playing difficult, but I was content just to play.
Finally the day came and with a panging feeling of the pain that loomed ahead, I headed to the surgeon’s office. I had been told that surgery would be necessary, and I was not looking forward to it in any way! I walked in and was instantly terrified. The man that was supposed to be straightening my nose had the most crooked and warped nose I had ever seen in my life. I wasn’t sure whether or not I trusted him with my face, seeing as I kind of need it for the rest of my life. He then proceeded to do the thing that all doctors do that I absolutely detest. He began to wiggle and poke the very thing that hurt me so much in the first place. He then decided that he thought it was straight enough and that there would be no need for surgery. So I guess I escaped that death sentence.
But it has left a permanent mark on my life. I can no longer say that I’m one of the select, cool few that have never broken a bone. Word on the street is that I’ve had a nose job, even though it’s not true at all! My brothers call me Michael Jackson. Brian also jokes that I am Cyrano de Bergerac. An emotional permanent scar has been left with me.
So that is my nose story. Now that we’re done with that exciting piece of my life… let’s move on to the next! The temple celebration! We had the opportunity to take part in the celebration for the opening of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple! It was a huge deal at the Conference center and the prophet was there! There were about 7,000 youth performing in about 12+ dances and a youth choir that sang along to some of the dances! I was in the baseball dance as one of the baseball players on the winning team! :] There were about 20 youth on the baseball team and then we had our 100 backup dancers! It was a lot of practice, but also a lot of fun! In the beginning of the dance, I’m sitting on the side of the stage doing a kick line and hand clapping part of the dance about 10 feet from the prophet! While I was doing it during the performance, I looked out and smiled at the prophet! He smiled back and started doing that hand clapping part of the dance with me! I was so amazed and got a little distracted, but no worries, I got right back on course!! He had an amazing time and we were all so full of energy by the end of everything! It was amazing! Then we ran back to our seats and continued to watch the other dances and laugh and clap along with them. At the end, everyone started to sing “I Love To See The Temple”, and as we sang, a replica of the temple rose from behind the fake mountain that was on stage. The temple was about 2 stories tall and it was pure white, and glowing. Tears came to my eyes. The spirit was so incredibly strong it was almost tangible. By the end of the performance, none of us wanted to leave. It was such a remarkable feeling, you just never wanted that feeling to leave you. But alas, after all of our time, hard work, and dedication… it was over. I was so blessed to be a part of this.
Well, I have more to write, but I have to get this off in time! So I’ll write more on a coming day! I love you all and hope that things are going as well for you as they are for me! Remember to make the next 60 seconds worthwhile, because you’re trading a minute of your life for it!! Good luck!
Love,
~Michelle!~
Jennifer:
Hi everyone!
We have a new Microsoft program so if anything turns out weird blame Michelle! She installed it, little computer nerd. J Well let’s see this was my last week as a sevy ever again! Thursday was my last day of school and it was super fun! We had the teacher verses students softball game and then our year book signing party! It was all a blast and we were all acting crazy! Then the last five minutes hit, it seemed to finally kick in to everyone there that this year actually is over. People kept coming up to me and saying do you remember when we slid down the main hallway on our binders or do you remember that time when we kicked the guys butts at football and so much other stuff, I (of course) started crying as our whole group went over all our memories of the crazy, sporadic but most of all fun stuff we did that year. The list was endless as we went through our times when we broke out into song and dance in the classroom, stuffed our face with food we made in cooking and so much more! Then when I was walking back to the locker that would soon be no longer mine then a person tripped and knocked into me and my year book flew out of my hands into the main hallway where there is like 400 kids going threw at once I looked down just to see it getting kicked around by feet that didn’t even know it was down there, it was like a wild stampede and when the dust cleared it was gone. I kept looking around but it was nowhere to be seen so I ran to the office to see if it was there but they said they had not had any turned in so I went home, went to bed then woke up freaking out because I was late for school! Yah took me about twenty seconds to realize that hey I don’t have school! Then mom walked in and with her came… my year book! Someone had turned it into the office! I was so happy! But yah it was all great! Then on our last day my seventh period art teacher Mrs. Clegg was moving her furniture into a different room and another girl and I were helping her then on the last load she said she didn’t mind if we “stalled” a little bit on the way back, so we did just that! We had this lovely cart with wheels on the bottom to hold the boxes on so I got this brilliant idea about how fun it would be to sit on the cart and roll down the main hallway, well that thought became life and we pushed each other down the hall, it was so fun!
Work is amazing! I’m still trying to have fun with them and come up with new ways to have them use their imagination! But something very, very, very happy is that all electronics were banned in their house and I’m not talking about lights I mean the wii, all D.S. games, computers and TV! They had WAY too much time on them so now they have none! It has made then a lot better behavior wise though. But other than that no big news!
Well I should probably stop boring you all so I should just stop here! Remember the lord has put you were you are for a reason; you just may or may not know it yet! He won’t give you a challenge that you can’t face!
- Jennifer Fortie
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