*Greetings Family

I took this just after I got my District Leader call.

Greetings family. This has been an exciting week. I Remember looking at my calendar and thinking this is the day KC and Savannah are getting married. KC I am so proud of you!!! I will try and send a letter when I can find some time to congratulate you both on your new marriage.

We found this cave on our way to the nature reserve.

     I also can't believe Kirk and Kayla are having Ammon soon. I feel this one had snuck in on us really quick. (Please send me some pictures when he is born I would love to see my new nephew) 

Sea Urchins...we ate some
of their eggs. 

     Mom, that's an exciting calling to have! We had the primary program last week and it made me thing of how special those children are. We are currently friends with a part member family who are raising their grandchildren who are primary age. These kids are very special to me and my companion and are by far our favorite place to teach. 

     On my end I got some news to share. Both me and my companion are staying! President also felt that I needed some extra responsibility (LoL) so I am now a district leader. My district only included me, my comp and the zone leaders. So it is a very small zone. But I am grateful for this opportunity because it will make me stretch myself  (plus it will help make sure I stay out of trouble. LoL)

     The topic I thought about sharing this week is on family. I've been thinking a lot about family, especially about how I would want to raise my family. As I look about how prosperous our family has been, with the future birth of Ammon and the marriage of KC and Savannah and close behind the marriage of Matt. I can see how blessed our family is. Many families in Hawaii are part member or have less active kids. Because the parents went less active during their kids childhood. I can see how much a difference it makes to have the gospel in a family. I can see how much of a difference it makes. Especially when it's not just going through the motions. I am grateful for the childhood I had and being taught the gospel and I can see how it has blessed our family. Even if it is just the Esplin name In general I met 3 families that knew the Esplin name one old man said that the Esplin he knew radiated the love of Christ. That comment had a profound impact on me, it made me think: we are asked to teach that "The gospel blesses families" but I feel our family is an example of how it does bless our lives. This is the way I want to raise my kids.

Hiking the nature reserve trail

     This thought has been on my mind for quite frequently this week, and this feels like a perfect timing to share this. 

     I have one more thing to share real quick. We taught the youth camp again this Sunday and we decided to do it a little differently. We decided to split the class into boys and girls. I taught the girls and my comp taught the Boys. We taught them the ten commandments and hand signs to remember them. Then I had a discussion with the girls on how the commandments applied to our lives. I invited them to each share what was  a commandment that they wanted to do better at. They were excited to share but at that time the class recombined to continue the lesson. They were disappointed they did not have the chance to share so I promised we would split back up so we could finish. When we finally got together again they all shared a commandment they were going to do better on (there was a lot of #7s mentioned). It was awesome seeing them take such an interest in wanting to obey the commandments. So many people see them as a restriction. They were eager to try to improve their lives and come closer to God one step at a time.

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