One last picture of Carlton Reininger

As I posted Elliot's email and pictures on the blog yesterday, I realized that those were likely the last images we'd see of him before we see him at the airport next Thursday, August 16. And then I got a picture of Carlton Reininger from Argentina, who will return just one day before Elliot, and realized that would be the last picture of Carlton as well. We've featured Carlton on the blog several times. He and Elliot received their calls on the same day and opened them together, were in the MTC at the same time, will return one day apart, and will speak at the same church meeting on August 19 (details here). So we certainly have a soft spot in our hearts for Carlton. Here's the last picture of Carlton from Argentina, and we look forward to seeing him in person very soon.

Newhall First Ward missionary newsletter

Here is the most recent Newhall First Ward missionary newsletter from Sister Connie Hollingworth (pictured), with reports from Elliot, Kyle Hill Javan Hatch, CJ Norris, Adam Martin, Carlton Reininger, Travis Rylander, and JK McKeon. We really appreciate Sister Hollingworth putting this together every month!

Enjoy the newsletter after the jump.

53 Days Left

Of the 735 total days that Elliot will be gone on his mission to Oklahoma, only 53 remain. We try not to get too excited about his return, since that will just make us crazy. And we certainly try to avoid reminding him how little time he has left, since he needs to stay focused on what he is doing and not worry about what he will do when he returns home. But we're obviously excited.

We recently received his travel itinerary from the Church. He returns August 16. For those who like to plan ahead, he is scheduled to speak about his mission experience at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 19, at the LDS chapel located at 24915 Peachland Avenue, Newhall, California (map). Everyone is welcome. His friend Carlton Reininger returns just a day earlier from his mission to Argentina and will speak at the same meeting, so it should be a great day.

Newhall First Ward missionary newsletter

Here is the most recent Newhall First Ward missionary newsletter from Sister Connie Hollingworth (pictured), with reports from Elliot, Javan Hatch, Kyle Hill, Adam Martin (his first appearance in the newsletter since he recently reported to the MTC in Brazil), JK McKeon, CJ Norris, and Carlton Reininger.  We really appreciate Sister Hollingworth putting this together every month!

Enjoy the newsletter after the jump.

Newhall First Ward missionary newsletter

Here is the most recent Newhall First Ward missionary newsletter from Sister Connie Hollingworth (pictured), with reports from Elliot, Javan Hatch, Kyle Hill, JK McKeon, CJ Norris, and Carlton Reininger.  We really appreciate Sister Hollingworth putting this together every month!

Enjoy the newsletter after the jump.

Newhall First Ward missionary newsletter

Here is the most recent Newhall First Ward missionary newsletter from Sister Connie Hollingworth (pictured), with reports from Elliot, Javan Hatch, Kyle Hill, CJ Norris, and Carlton Reininger.  We really appreciate Sister Hollingworth putting this together every month!

Enjoy the newsletter after the jump.

Recent pictures of Carlton Reininger in Argentina

It has been a while since we shared pictures of Carlton Reininger here on Elliot's blog. Carlton and Elliot spent several years together in the Newhall First Ward and at Hart High, received their mission calls on the same day, and were in the Missionary Training Center at the same time. Carlton is currently serving in Lujan, a southern suburb of Mendoza, Argentina, in the shadow of the Andes. Mendoza is over 600 miles due west of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and is much closer to Santiago, Chile, than to Buenos Aires. And it's the middle of summer in South America, so there was no white Christmas for Carlton.

Here are three recent pictures of Carlton. He looks like he's having a great experience.

Newhall First Ward missionary newsletter

Here is the most recent Newhall First Ward missionary newsletter from Sister Connie Hollingworth (pictured), with reports from Elliot, Javan Hatch, Kyle Hill, Ian Loveland, JK McKeon, CJ Norris, and Carlton Reininger.  We really appreciate Sister Hollingworth putting this together every month!

Enjoy the newsletter after the jump.

Newhall First Ward missionary newsletter

Here is the most recent Newhall First Ward missionary newsletter from Sister Connie Hollingworth (pictured), with reports from Elliot, Javan Hatch, Merisa Hicks, Kyle Hill, CJ Norris, and Carlton Reininger.  We really appreciate Sister Hollingworth putting this together every month!

This will be Merisa's last contribution to the ward newsletter. She returns home this week. It will be great to have her back.

Enjoy the newsletter after the jump.

Newhall First Ward missionary newsletter

Here is the most recent Newhall First Ward missionary newsletter from Sister Connie Hollingworth (pictured), with reports from Elliot, Javan Hatch, Merisa Hicks, Kyle Hill, Ian Loveland, CJ Norris, and Carlton Reininger.  We really appreciate Sister Hollingworth putting this together every month!  Enjoy the newsletter after the jump.

Newhall First Ward missionary newsletter

Here is the most recent Newhall First Ward missionary newsletter from Sister Connie Hollingworth (pictured), with reports from Elliot, Javan Hatch, Merisa Hicks, Kyle Hill, Ian Loveland, CJ Norris, and Carlton Reininger.  We really appreciate Sister Hollingworth putting this together every month!  Enjoy the newsletter after the jump.

Newhall First Ward missionary newsletter

Here is the most recent Newhall First Ward missionary newsletter from Sister Connie Hollingworth (pictured), with reports from Elliot, Javan Hatch, Kyle Hill, Ian Loveland, CJ Norris, and Carlton Reininger.  We really appreciate Sister Hollingworth putting this together every month!  Enjoy the newsletter after the jump.

Snow in Argentina for Carlton Reininger

In stark contrast to the extraordinary heat Elliot is experiencing in Wichita Falls, Carlton Reininger is in the middle of winter in Argentina.  His latest email included a couple of snowy pictures.  It looks like he's having fun! 

Newhall First Ward missionary newsletter

Here is the most recent Newhall First Ward missionary newsletter from Sister Connie Hollingworth (pictured), with reports from Elliot, Javan Hatch, Merisa Hicks, Kyle Hill, Ian Loveland, CJ Norris, and Carlton Reininger.  We really appreciate Sister Hollingworth putting this together every month!  Enjoy the newsletter after the jump. 

Newhall First Ward Missionary Newsletter

Here is the most recent Newhall First Ward missionary newsletter from Sister Connie Hollingworth.  We really appreciate her putting this together every month!  Enjoy the newsletter after the jump.

Pictures of Carlton Reininger

We received two new pictures of Carlton Reininger from his mission in Argentina.  He looks great, and has even learned how to make empanadas, a favorite food from that part of the world.  Elliot's dad ate a lot of them in Paraguay.

We appreciate Carlton's parting advice to Elliot:  "PS.And tell Elder Adair to try not to fly away during a visit with one of his investigators."  We don't think Elliot flew away in the tornadoes but suspect that things must be pretty chaotic where he is.  Thus, no email this week.

Enjoy the pictures of Carlton after the jump.

More new pictures of Carlton Reininger

Shannon Reininger sent some new pictures of Carlton Reininger.  These pictures come from the blog maintained by Carlton's mission president and his wife, the Lindahls.

And if you're wondering why we don't post more pictures of Elliot, he told us today that he left the charger for his camera in his last area, Clinton, but just got it back this week.  Hopefully we'll get some new pictures of Elliot soon.

Enjoy the pictures of Carlton and other missionaries from the Mendoza Argentina mission after the jump.

Newhall First Ward missionary newsletter

Here is the most recent Newhall First Ward missionary newsletter from Sister Connie Hollingworth.  We really appreciate her putting this together every month!  If you've been keeping track, you may wonder why there is no letter from Amanda Beach.  She returned from Brazil very recently.  It's good to have her home.  And you'll see that Brett Gardiner will return home this week, just in time to help his parents move to Newhall Second Ward.  Enjoy the newsletter after the jump.

New pictures of Carlton Reininger

We just received new pictures of Carlton Reininger from his mom, Shannon.  Looks like Carlton is doing great in Argentina!  The baptism picture is with Elder Mitchell.  The other picture is with Carlton's new companion, Elder Whittle.

Mormon Messages for Youth: "Dayton's Legs"

Before his mission, Elliot loved to participate in the Valencia Stake Triathlon at Castaic Lake.  I found a picture of him (right) at the last triathlon before his mission, with his teammate Carlton Reininger.  So I'm sure Elliot would really enjoy this story about Spencer Zimmerman and Dayton Hayward.  Spencer is a 13-year-old Deacons Quorum president from Gilbert, Arizona, and he and Dayton are friends and triathletes.  I'll let the video (below) tell the story, and here's a link to an audio interview and some photos. 

The story of Spencer and Dayton may ring familiar if you've heard of Team Hoyt, an amazing father and son triathlon team.  If you enjoy the video of Spencer and Dayton, please watch the video posted after the jump, which tells the story of Team Hoyt.  It's hard to imagine a more motivational story than that of Dick Hoyt and his son, Rick.  Fair warning: have a box of tissues handy.  This story really gets to me.