Dear Mom,

Things are fine here, although I had a bad experience today. Just as we were getting on the Trax, THE GAY PARADE DECIDED TO PASS IN FRONT OF US!

My chicken dinner went very well, actually.

No, I do not cook for everyone very often.

Yes, I am still at the JSMB, even though everyone else in my apartment works in the Family History Library.

I love you all so much, and miss you all terribly.

Love,Elder Huston

Dear Mom,
Things are going pretty well over here. And yes, we have a new elder in our apartment. His name is Elder Mortenson. He is from Florida. I am going to make a chicken dinner for my apartment tomorrow. It just rained yesterday. I am so glad that Jack does not have leukemia. I put his name on the temple prayer roll again. Sending me that jelly and those shirts is about all I could really use now. Oh, and thank you for the treats, especially those fortune cookies.
I love you all so much and I truly hope all will go well.
Love,
Elder Huston

May 8th 3 months out

Dear Mom,
I am doing just fine, and man, do I have some funny stories to tell you guys! I will be calling you at around 8 AM tomorrow; however, you should know that it will not be from my phone, as I sent it in the package I sent you for Mother's Day. Which reminds me: I AM VERY SORRY THAT YOU WILL NOT GET THE PACKAGE IN TIME! There was a mix-up in the mail, which I will explain tomorrow. By the way, did you get an email from a company called Family Odyssey? If so, I hope you responded with a yes to it. I love you all, and am also very excited to talk to you. Talk to you soon.
Love,
Elder Huston

Mom's questions are in blue:
Dear Mom,
The answers to your ?'s, in order, are: Did you get a chance to go to the temple?
1. Yes. What is your favorite thing you have cooked so far on your mission?
2. Rocky Road Cookie Pizza. Will you be able to call me on Mother's Day? 3. I hope so. Hey, what happened with the report thing, did you figure out how to get it to the mission president?4. Yes, I figured it out. It's getting pretty darn hot out here, what's it like for you. Is the snow pretty much gone now?5. It snowed JUST LAST WEEK out here, for the love of Pete!!! IN THE SUMMER!!!!
Do not worry, I will be sending the camera to you very soon. I can't promise it will get there in time, but I can promise I will send it, along with my phone, ASAP. Oh yeah, and when you check your email and you see an offer to beta-test a game, SAY YES! I got the people at the NGS (National Genealogical Society) to offer you guys the chance to test a new FAMILY HISTORY VIDEO GAME, FOR FREE! You can thank me by sending my good umbrella up in my next package, along with some snacks.
I love you all so much.
Love,
Elder Huston

2 months and 3 weeks

Dear Mom,To answer your questions, in order, are:
How's your new place? What's it like? Are you still as close to the temple as you were?
1. It is pretty cool, has a lot more space, and the apartment complex I am in now is right next to the old one.
Hey are you interested in us sending you general conference on CD what about any kind of music? Do you have a CD player in your apartment?
2. No, I am good.
Any other requests for your next package?
3. I would greatly appreciate it if you could send me some more cookbooks.
Tell me the greatest or most faith promoting thing that has happened these last couple weeks.
And 4. I had the craziest experience, the details of which are something I would only feel comfortable telling in person. But the synopsis is that I met a a man who claimed to be the son of an LDS bishop, and man was this guy drunk, and yet I had the impression that he still felt the Spirit. I would have to tell you the details at a later date, as it would take far too long to tell.

I will try my best to get Jack's name in. I am going to go ahead and get the last of the pictures taken, and then I will send the camera along with my phone.I love you all so much, and miss you terribly.
Love,
Elder Huston

2 months and 12 days out

Hey Mom!
You'll never believe 2 things: 1. As of May 1, young downtown elders are not allowed to own cell phones! And 2. They are closing down our apartment and giving it to a married couple!!!!! We are moving out on Monday! It royally STINKS! Anyway, I am probably going to have to send my cell phone back to you pretty soon.I love you all so much, and I really miss you guys.
Love,Elder Huston

Out 2 months and 5 days

This picture was taken right after General Conference. Some friends of ours just happened to see Tres walking across the street. Thousands of people everywhere and they see my missionary! (Thanks Betty and Charlie!)

Here's Tres' latest letter with mom's questions in orange:

I'm guessing you didn't get a chance to check your email last week because of conference.

Hi Mom!You are correct there, the Library was closed for Conference.

Did you get to watch conference?

Did you get the Easter package I sent?

Was it all melted ans scattered everywhere?

Do you get to call home on Mothers Day?

Are your allergies making you crazy yet?

Are you staying in budget?

The answers to all of those is yes. (thanks for eleborating...NOT!)

Are you taking pictures?

I am taking pictures, but only of very special or VERY funny moments (although most of the ones I've taken so far lean more towards the latter).

Any requests for treats or anything in your next package?

Since you asked, do you think you could send me the following: a collared shirt (e.g. polo); a pad of graph paper; a lined paper notebook (for personal use); a zip-up tie/clip-on for quick occasions (like when I am emailing you);some more cactus jelly; some more of those disposable eyeglass wipes; a hoody; and some kind of awesome Arizona-themed tie tack? If you could I would greatly appreciate it. All the elders wanted me to thank you for the Easter baskets, by the way. Thank you for everything.

Love,

Elder Huston