I Have an 18 Year Old Son Now

 October 21, 2024

 Heyo friends and family! I didn't get an email out last week because we had an incredible pday meeting I'll touch on in a bit. But that means yall get 2 weeks of adventures... Kinda. I don't remember much of last week, but that is the life!

          Father-son Duo

      We had an exchange last week, and with Elder seals as our district leader, I got to go out to his area and work with him for the day! It felt just like old times (8 weeks ago). We taught a few people, including someone who's entire mantle above their fireplace was covered in fireball shots. Two thoughts here: 1. That is a LOT of alcohol. 2. Who in their right mind puts a fireplace in a house in Curaçao?! It is 85 degrees and 95% humidity year round! Anyway, it was a fire exchange, and I once again learned a ton from him!

          Pday Festivities 🏈⚽⚾🇨🇼

     Pday the last two weeks have been a blast. Both weeks we found a huge soccer stadium and then played on about 1/8 of it. But we played mini soccer, kickball, and wiffle ball. Then on Monday we did pretty much the same thing again, but President rolled up and kicked everybody's trash. President Van Gils is one of the nicest men on the planet, but put him on a soccer field... Merciless. Our team still lost but President was carrying us through the game.

           Wise Words from President Stanfill

     On Monday, we had a Missionary training with Elder Stanfill, an area 70 over our area. President and Sister Van Gils flew out to Curaçao with them, and we had a 3-hour meeting and then dinner with them. It was an incredible experience to be able to talk with them. He talked a lot about the importance of planning ahead and letting God help you achieve your goals and how important it is to love the people of the place you're in. I also got to hear Sister Stanfill's conversion story; it was a great experience having them in Curaçao with us. 

           T-Doc Curveball

     This Saturday was Transfer Document. In the mission it almost gets treated like an NFL draft in the way it gets talked about. Just think of each island as a team, and you're halfway there. "Dude, I wonder who Aruba's getting!" "Oh, I bet Corbridge has got ZL!" It makes it a lot of fun because everyone is so stoked to see who's going where. This TDoc I figured that I would either stay here for another transfer with my current comp, or I'd be off to Aruba with another elder. But coming home from lessons that night, we saw a text on our phone from President. Ahhh, scary, one of the two of us is leaving. I'll set the scene for you really quick: Tdoc drops in about 15 minutes and anything we thought was happening is out the window. President talks to Elder Schiffman first, and tells him he will be heading back to Bonaire.

President: "Elder Aldrich! Is your papiamento as good as everyone says?" Me: "I hope so, sir!"

President: "Perfect. Well, Elder Aldrich, how would you feel about training a brand new greenie?"

Guys. I am slightly terrified and pumped out of my mind. So come Friday, ya boy here will have a brand new greenie out here in Buena Vista with him.

Highlight Reel

-Gamenight Glory: last week, I destroyed people at Dominoes (they can't guess your strategy when you don't have one), and this week, I missed the soccer goal countless times. In my defense! The goal is about 3ft by 2ft, and I can't aim a ball to save my life. But we still won 😎

-We had a day this week that was so strange I was confident I was going to get mauled by a car or a donkey or something crazy. It was too weird of a day for me to have been surprised.

     Remember that you are a child of God and that he loves you deeply and dearly. He's not going to let you go through life alone, so don't push him away. I love you all!

-Elder Aldrich

Baptism day pictures

Exchange with pops

T-doc sunset