"Oh where oh where did my companion go"

My Family!

Wow so good to hear from you and your adventures this last week! I am so glad that Tate and McCray and Shad got to see their hero this weekend! I as well got to see my hero this weekend as well! I want so so bad to someday be as Bold as Elder Holland, as Intelligent as Elder Uchtdorf as Meek as Elder Eyring and as Happy as our Prophet Thomas S. Monson!

I have had a week like you guys wont believe... Tuesday after i wrote you last my companion Elder Lopez received a phone call from the Assistants that blew us all for a loop! He was called to be the Secretary to the President in the middle of a transfer and would be leaving the next morning at 8... This was very weird that they would do this right now and not wait until next week when the transfer ends... So we packed up his stuff and he was on his way.... Well idk if it clicked to you that that leaves me to run my area in the most successful busy time the mission has seen... with 6 Baptisms coming up and not knowing my way around.... I literally did not even try to learn the area when i was with Elder Lopez because i figured i had another 2 months with him to learn it.... Boy was i wrong... only 1 month here and can only but spit sentences out in Spanish.... None of us knew who my new companion would be or where he would come from... well i didn't get anyone new... For the first time in the time of President Benton he formed a trio with Elder Quakenbush and Elder George the other Elders in my pension...When President came to get Elder Lopez we had an interview in my room and he told me that the Lord had told him this was what needed to be done and that i was ready... because the Lord qualifies those who he calls...

So that left us 3 to plan for our 6 baptisms this transfer and our 4 other dates for the next... and their 4 baptism for this transfer and 1 other date... So we immediately knelt in humble prayer as we begged the Lord to help us plan effectively to do all that we had been asked to do! We planned for the next hour how we would do this and get to the appointments we had already planned... we had to re arrange things so work on my side for half the time and their side for half the time...Remember how much running around we did before... It was nothing... We had the Help of the Assistants 2 days this week but we literally ran around in all of General Rodriguez.... 60 miles from one end to the other... we averaged 19 miles every day this week!!! I have NEVER EVER experienced anything like this... I LOVE IT SO MUCH! We laughed and laughed as we looked forward to the challenge that had been placed before us... as we tried to figure out together where to find our investigators house in my area... haha i am glad i kinda knew how to use a map! We missed all but 2 of our lunch appointments because I couldn't remember where they lived.... whoops! The best part about the whole thing is that one of the days we were ankle deep in water... when it rains here it rains really really good!

Well we got through the week and we were able to keep the Baptism of Brisa and her dad made it from Spain to witness it.. how special it was... She was so ready... but only very few knew it because she is so shy... but when she opens up she is such a little sweet heart! This was on Saturday morning!

Conference here is so differen, nobody has a TV to watch it at their house and our church doesn't have the big screen to watch it either so we had to travel to Moreno which is two hours away to watch it at the church there, so the church rented a bus and everyone met at the church and 65 people squished onto a bus no bigger than the ones we ride to school.

The people here have made me have such a greater love for the prophet, they were so so excited to listen to his words... the way they talked about Thomas. S. Monson was so sacred...haha so so amazing... the people have so much fun here, I love them because they are so lay ed back and they could care less what people think of them... Def. not like that in the States.... We all sang the hymns of zion in a bus full of hot sweaty Argentines!!! hahaha nothing i would rather be doing at this time in my life! Good news together we had 17 investigators come with us, 13 from the area of us and 4 from the area Elder George and Elder Quakenbush.


This is an all day event, we don't go to the session and then go back home and come back again, we go to the church and stay their till the last session ends! SO the first session here started at 1 in the after noon... the second at 5 and the the priesthood session was at 9... so by the time we got to bed it was past midnight and we were up at 6 knowing that we have to be exactly obedient in this work!

When set apart to be a missionary I am 100% positive we are set apart to have a better understanding and desire to listen and learn the gospel of Christ! As I sat in a room with Elder Goodworth listening to the sessions in English for 10 hours I was like Delanie watching Dora... I sat in amazement as I received more revelation there than I have thus far in my life, I know that those men are called of God and have the power to talk to the church in general conference but through the spirit to each one of us individually! I took 16 Pages of notes and I will pick and choose 5 of my favorite quotes with you.

If your looking for an easy church... this isn't the one! It is hard to be a latter day saint, but in the long run it is the only one that will bring you salvation... Boyd K Packer

I love this work... It is work.... So drag your families into the work with you so they too will know how to care for others! Henry B. Eyring
Families can be like ropes... as we all do our parts... like each individual strand woven together to make a strong rope we can do hard things... I loved this one because I thought of you guys and the fact you were watching those ropes in Vegas, it was by Richard J. Mayes
We often don't find the answers to our prayers when we are on our knees... but rather when we are on our feet serving others! Dieter F. Uchdorf
I have to go but what an amazing week it was... I feel so insignificant a I think I'm only one person but as I think of the power that we have holding the priesthood I know that I will be able to do hard things! I love this gospel... I love this work and I am SO proud to be a missionary and a member of it! I am a disciple of Jesus Christ and I will be ready when he comes!!!
I love you all
Keep it Real. Keep it Clean Keep it Sexy
With all the love I have
Elder Quade Clifford Foster

A REAL BUSY WEEK - HOW ARE MY MISSIONARY FRIENDS?? SUNDAY APRIL 27, 2011

Hola Familia!!!

Another great week has come and gone in this journey they call a mission, I will first respond to your questions and comments, I hope you are all enjoying your Spring Break together in Lake Havasu, I couldn't help but think of our long journey mom with Hailey last spring break, what an adventure.

So you will have to tell me all about it the next email and what things happened and what you did and how the weather is and the whole works! Oh the good ole Enriquez family  I love them they are some of the nicest people and truly are some of our families greatest friends, we contrast well with a family of all boys and a family of all girls. Good for Brittney I hope all is well and the man she marries treats her well and she is happy.

Tate and McCray are such hard workers I bet they love that job so much, so are they going to work for both Steve and Brother Richardson? They are going to love being around such a happy optimistic man all the time, that is the key to the mission let me tell you, be optimistic and you can go so much farther and work so much harder.
Mom and Dad seem just as busy as every... you always have your hands in so many things and I've learned that is the way life should be, I cant believe I never realized how amazing you two were until I'm gone... you know just how to handle life don't you! haha
Nana, what a lady, I Love her so much I see her picture everyday it is in my white handbook just like Grandma Lila was in Dads blanco Biblia.  I am happy that she is going to get her eyes taken care of but I feel bad for the poor lady she has been through a lot in the last year, give her a kiss for me. Does she just absolutely love her laptop... so thoughtfu of you guys for getting it for her. Ill be looking forward to a letter from her in the next...mmmm year...hahaha! just kidding I bet she will get if figured out real soon.
High school dances man  I loved those so much, I sure hope they enjoyed themselves it sounds like they got spoiled so much... I never really liked having the girls pay but it was kinda nice every now and then, haha Payson Erickson looks like he is 12, but I guess he is 16 now.

I haven't heard from Rochelle since my first month in the MTC how is her job, how is she doing? And wow I'm so happy to hear about Rana and I'm so glad you told me I will pray for her.
Thanks for the address of Elder Jolley I'll be sure to write him in the next couple weeks, Mom have you heard from any of my other friends? Elder Richins, Bone, Huntsman, Anderson, Tommy Higham. How is tanner? If you could get their addresses I would love to send them a letter, we don't get to write them, Elder Richins emailed me but I never emailed back because we cant so I want to hand write them.

Well now its time for my week, it didn't slow down to much but it did just a little because we have a little bit more help, I will apologize for not having pictures right now because the card reader we use was stolen last week right in front of our eyes but Elder George didn't want to confront him cause they are only like $5 or 20 pesos here... I was gonna buy one but didn't get the chance so I will make sure to this week so I can send pictures next week.

Our baptism last week was moved to the 2nd and it is a for sure thing because her dad is coming from Spain to watch it, she is way excited. All of our investigators we are teaching will be baptised on the 9th because we have a rule that they have to be in church 3 weeks before they can be baptized.

We know we were blessed to have all these investigators right now during conference this week because we have 100% faith that as they listen to the words of a prophet of God they will have all their questions answered, I never realized how great of a blessing it is to listen to the words of a prophet... the people here are so excited and I have learned so much from them.

We bought little note books and put a picture of the prophet on them, we gave them to our investigators so they can write their questions down and take notes from the talks, as a mission we have a goal to have 300 investigators attend conference, we will do our part as of now we should have 12 that go.

The branch is getting a bus and having a breakfast Sunday morning and we are all going together so it should be really good, we are still blowing up and so excited for our success that we CANT complain...but I'm sure once it dies down in the next couple weeks it will hit us.
Every week I keep a sticky note in my agenda and whenever something happens I want to remember I write it down so I wont forget, it all starts to run together, so these are some of the things I wrote down.

#1 the Argentines love the Norte Americanos,  Ana and Jamila Mollo stole a picture of Tate and I from my little book of photos that I have to show to investigators and they wont give it back, Ana is in love with Tate... So Tate if you ever can't find a wife learn to speak Spanish and I got one here for ya haha!!!

I was home sick for the first time this week - We are teaching a 12 year old boy named Kevin who is exactly like shad, I kid you not, a little Argentine version of Shad, I am going to baptise on the 9th, he has the same cute little hands and pudgy little face that makes you just want hug him, he loves to watch T.V. and loves guns and Army but LOVES to read, he has read all the pamphlets we have and is so ready for baptism, I got homesick thinking of this little boy that I know named Shad that is the exact same way.... but that passed and we have a jolly good time!!!

They love American music, all of the Eminem songs and Black Eyed Peas and Usher and that kind of stuff is always blaring here, especially at the parties, wow can these people put on a party, they have no money but they can manage to have parties for 50 people with blow up toys to jump on and clowns and everything.

It doesn't change much for the church, we had a branch party and when we walked into the gym they were blaring "Tonight's gonna be a good night" by Black Eyed Peas... haha and all the kids had their faces painted running around and just madness, for the first time since I have been here I sat back and said to myself, wow I am in a different country, likeI can't even imagine Dad or Bishop Leckington or President Browning being the lead of a human train dancing around the gym throwing their hands up... haha well it happens here!!! hahaha! ahh how I love this country and these people.

I had two really good meeting this week, every two transfers we have meetings with the President. My interview was really good, I love that man so much andI know he is called of God to lead this mission and its missionaries, he was very straight forward and honest and he was very impressed and hadn't seen a better companionship his whole time being here the last 2.5 years.

He told  me I would be very successful in my mission and in my life, he made me promise that I would tell you to this from President Benton. You must have done something right to have a kid, a missionary, like this.... so there it is... and let me just add to tha, I love you two so much and I am eternally grateful for the principles you have taught me and helped me to learn to be here on the mission! I can NEVER repay you.... but I WILL make you proud!
I only have three minutes left till I have to go so I will just tell you I love you all so much, I hope and pray you are enjoying your time together as a family, I'm excited to be with you all for eternity!
Les Amo Muchisimo
Keep it Real Clean and Sexy and may the Lord bless this week!
Con todo mi Amor
Elder Foster