C-c-coooold!

Good afternoon Elder,

This letter were sitting here watching the eagles vs 49ers. The eagles lead 21-7. The 49ers lost their 4th string about in the second quarter. I’m rooting for Britain Covey. He’s caught several punts, but no run backs. I just think it would be cool for that little kid we have pictures of on our Utes wall to end up with a Super Bowl ring.

This week was pretty busy at work. The big shock was layoffs in our department. I’m safe, as is the little group I manage. We lost a bunch of campaign managers and some of the events staff. On the campaign side, the let go of some good people and kept some bad ones. Between you and me, the events people sucked, so I’m glad the new boss saw through that. I think it generally shook up the group, but the way my previous boss had set up the department was always confusing to me.

Later in the week when I had my one-on-one with my boss Ali, I felt bold enough to ask here what she saw my role as. After some conversation she basically told me to write my own job description. Now, I’ve been working for a while now, so I know that when your boss tells you to write your own job description, you do it, because it’s a very positive opportunity that rarely comes around. She also wanted my input on how to proceed with the development of the department as a whole. I gave her my opinion, and she listened. I feel like I’ve been listened to and validated professionally more this week than at any point since I worked for Rip and Alan at LegalShield. It’s amazing what a little confidence can do for you. 

As I think about you, I think the culture of your old mission President was like that of my old boss. Nice, professional enough, but not really a culture that leads to collaboration or cooperation. Those environments promote selfishness and self promotion. It sounds like you’re old culture was like that, and some of the missionary leadership is still like that. That’s why people like your lying companion thrived. It sounds like you’re new mission President is different, but it takes a while for a leader to turn a culture like that around. As the missionaries buy into his new culture, they’ll start to change too. Too bad he didn’t come in a year earlier. I would just encourage you to trust him and continue to put your best foot forward. 

Garret Blattman didn’t seem to have his badge on, so I guess he’s done. He asked about you and when I told him you were down to six months left and he was pretty impressed. I think you boys have made it so that the Rivera’s are pretty hard core serious in the gospel and missions and stuff. We know we do our best, but we also know how much more we could and should do. So Jacob, you are both a hard core committed missionary and and imperfect servant who knows that they could do better. Stay committed and try to do a little better your whole life and you’ll be just fine. I feel bad for Garrett, he’s a good kid that’s had a brutal year between this and losing Teagan in that accident. I hope he can power through that.

Wednesday night for YM Joe trained the new priests on blessings the sacrament. He did an incredible job, the younger boys (the only ones that show up unless they’re being entertained) seem to really look up to him. Joe had me read the scriptures that list the duties of a priest. Of course I gave a lecture on how priesthood responsibilities are far more serious than just hanging out with buddies and waiting for adults to entertain you. And how precision in their duties was vital to allowing the church members focus on their covenants. Then of course I put in a pitch for missions. Today two of the youngest boys were up there early with Joey. It was fun to watch them look to him for direction and to see it happen. They both blessed, the both did it really well. I really think that the kids that are committed to their priesthood responsibilities will continue that commitment through their missions and beyond. Those that don’t? They may be okay, but they may end up following the world.

Speaking of the world, yesterday there was this field craft presentation that some of the off-road community was offering at the Land Cruiser Museum. I wanted to get out of house and Ben came with me. Well, instead of learning about what equipment you need or how to use it, this guy started talking about how you can’t depend on society or churches and how civilization is going to fall and all this and if you’re not prepared to fend for yourself you’re screwed. He talked about You’ll never survive if you’re fat, or old or weak, and not  prepared to carry and use a weapon you’ll never make it. I looked at Ben and gave him a nod to leave. It funny how he was so serious he sounded as if he was preaching. It never seems to fail that ungodly people take their own beliefs and passions and turn them into their religion, then start to preach that religion and try to pull others into that. They do that not because they want to save or care for those people, but they want to capitalize on them, profit from them. 

After we walked out we wandered through the museum and left. On the way home we stopped by a Jeep dealership and drove one of those Gladiators I told you about. It was pretty cool. I wanted to do it with Ben to see if he would fit. He fit fine in the front, and even a little better in the back because there was more headroom than the 4Runner. The gladiator was a little peppier than the 4Runner, but also noisier and les comfortable. I think it’s narrower too, so on those rare trips when all five of us are together, it may be brutal. Ben says it’s not especially roomy in the back of the Toyota either though. So I’m still fairly sure I’m staying with the 4Runner, but if they call me with a great offer or something, you never know. 

When we got home I started making the parts for an updated fireplace mantle. I’m building it out of MDF, so it’s not like fine woodworking or anything, but it’s really enjoyable to use my tools and skills that I’ve gathered up. We’ll see how it turns out. It will take me weeks if not months to finish and install it. 

I took the Fiesta ST to the car wash then took some pictures to get ready to sell it. I hadn’t wanted to sell it because I really enjoy it. But it doesn’t look like we’re ever going back to the office full time so I should probably let it go. I probably won’t post the ad for a week or two simply because mom’s having a shower here next week. We’ll see if it’s difficult to sell or not. 

We’re going to the bergs for dinner tonight. I don’t have much left to say in this letter, but I’ll finish it and send it after we get home.

Well we’re home, auntie Selena made fajitas, it was pretty good. It’s really fun to be with the family, I love my sisters so much. It dusted snow before we went then got really cold. People don’t adjust their speed for slippery weather and we saw a whole bunch of fender benders and runoffs on the way. They closed rosecrest road but it was easy enough to find a detour. The boys watched the end of the Bengals Chiefs game. I guess it was an exciting ending.

Tomorrow I have a conference in Provo all day. I plan on sneaking out for your call, but message me first if possible.

It’s supposed be 10° in the morning with a high of 20°, burr. 

I saw the picture from your zone conference, you really do look happy. I love the photos of you with your old Mexican comps. You both always look happy.

Love you bakey, as always, I’m proud of you beyond my ability to express it, as is my love for you.

Pops