Meeting Max at the Airport

December in Honduras

Selected Pictures of Chad at the MTC - More at Christmas Time

Elder Champlin the Younger at Home in Houduras

Attached you will find a few short videos and pictures sent by Elder Champlin the Younger along with a transcription of the letter he included.

November 13, 2008

The Fam,

So what's up? I am just chillin in my mansion of a house (see video and pictures below.) Getting ready to go to bed. So I'm sending home a disc with all my pictures on it so far. There are a bunch of pictures from the MTC and my first change her with Elder Morales. I took a couple videos too. One of our house and a couple others of of some sweet waterfalls we got to go to one P-day. There are some pretty sweet pictures, I hope you enjoy them.

So yeah, the mission is pretty sweet. It has its ups and downs, but right now I am doing great. So yeah, I'm loving it. I just thought I would write a little letter to go along with my pictures. So today was pretty sweet, I got to go on divisions with a gringo. That was awesome, we worked out butts off and had a good time doing it. His name is Elder Powers. We taught thin one little family about the importance of the scriptures and Prophets. Then we got to the subject of Joseph Smith. While we were teaching and testifying of Joseph Smith the spirit wasso strong. It was awesome. Also this morning while I was studying I read my farewell talk and it just reminded me again how awesome my famaily is. You are all so awesome and I am so grateful for all of you.

Things are going good here in the great land of the Lamanites. The mission has been such a sweet experience. I have had some experiences that I will always remember -- good and bad, but the good out weigh the bad, that's for sure.

My testimony has grown a ton and I have come to realize how much of a blessing the gospel is and have come to receive a sure testimony that the Book of Mormon is true.

Tell Talia thanks for the package. A few more things that would be cool if you sent them are church music (All the EFY music is in his Christmas package,)Disney music. Can you send another moleskin journal? Mine is filling up quick. Pictures are always good to get. But if you send picures, you should send a littel picture album thing too, for me to put the pictures in. Also, the book Our Search for Happiness, I think I left mine at the MTC, and pretty much anything else you feel like sending, I would love to have it. For now this is all I can think of that I want. Oh, I still need a picture of Trisha! She is the only person I don't have a picture of.

So yeah everyone take care. I love you allso much, it is unreal. I am so grateful for this gospel and for the plan of salvation, for our opportunity to a be a forever family. I know that Jesus Christ lives and that he suffered for our sins. And he also knows how we feel. No matter what we go through, whe we feel we can't take it anymore, just stop and think about Jesus Christ, He's been there before.

I know the church is true and I am so grateful for it. Thank you everyone for always being good examples and for helping me get on a mission. It really is the best thing I could be doing right now. It hasn't been easy, but I have recieved so many blessings and answers to my prayers. Thanks for everything, especially your love and support, and for your prayers.

Keep in touch, I always love hearing from the fam. I have the best family in the whole world, hands down, no one else even comes close.

I love you all and thanks for everything.

Your Bro, Bro-in-law, and son, uncle, whatever....

Chad

Casa Royale

Elder Champlin and Elder Morales

"Hey, only White Boy, take me north!"

I couldn't figure out how to load the videos....I'll keep trying.

Unhappy Americans

I can across the following while reading the comments to an article on the Herald Journal Website.

"'What are we so unhappy about?''

"A.. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7
days a week?
B.. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the
summer and heating in the winter?

C.. Could it be that 95.4% of these unhappy folks have a job?

D.. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and
see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

E.. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the
Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present
identification papers as we move through each state?

F.. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find
along the way that can provide temporary shelter?

G.. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from
around the world is just not good enough either.

H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up
and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you
to the hospital.

I.. Perhaps you are one of the 70% of Americans who own a home.

J.. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a
fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top
notch equipment to extinguish the flames, thus saving you, your family,
and your belongings.

K.. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a
burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a
bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack
or loss.
L.. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias
raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers
own cell phones and computers.

M.. How about the complete religious, social, and political freedoms we
enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world
has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. yet has a great
disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed
people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have,
and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we
live here.

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no
plan to get us out? The President who has a measly 31 percent approval
rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days
after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of
recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in
the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe
from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army
that is out there defending you and me?

Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this
news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look
around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about
it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you
personal pain OR is it because the 'Media' told you he was failing to
kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day."

Americans are an interesting bunch of people

Back Roll

Wakeboarding

I love Wake boarding