Hey,

What’s up family? Sounds like everyone is doing pretty good and things have settled down a little bit with all that went down the other week. I’m glad that you have been praying for our investigators because this week all of our prayers were answered and Feliza was baptized!! I’ll give you a quick rundown on the week.

Tuesday we went to Oaxaca for the multi-zone meeting. It was pretty good and I learned a lot, everyone that works in the offices talked to us a little bit and answered any questions that we had about paying bills and all that fun stuff. Later the Pres talked with us a lot about the rules because there has been a lot of elders doing stuff that there not supposed to do... long story short we were there from 10a.m. to 6p.m. and didn’t get home until 7p.m.
Wednesday we were able to go to the temple with the zone which was pretty awesome. Afterwards we went right back to our area and got to work.
Thursday was a normal day for the most part and latter on during the day our bishop called and asked if we could go to the temple with the ward on Saturday if the president gave us permission, of course we said yes.
Friday was also a normal day and we had a couple pretty good lessons with some new investigators which was awesome.
Saturday with the permission of Pres we went to the temple with the barrio de Etla. We did two sessions which was way awesome. This is the first time I have been able to go to the temple 2 times in 1 week so it was super cool and it defiantly helped me and my comp out. Saturday night we had a very important meeting with Feliza. She comes from a little pueblo and has been having problems with her job not letting her take a day off to go to church. She works everyday from 6 in the morning to 7 at night for 100 pesos a day ( 7.69 dollars a day). We promised her that if she went to church for her baptism she would receive blessing from above and that everything would be ok. Long story short she and her sister dropped both of their jobs so she could be baptized, that is faith. I really want to tell the whole story but I have a bunch of stuff to do so I better go.
Jc good job on the grades! That’s awesome that you pulled a 4.0 I’m jealous. Dad and Mom it sounds like your both pretty busy with work but I hope all goes well. You’re all in my prayers and I love you all so much! Until next week,
Elder HOPE

What’s up family?

   Well first off it sounds like you all have been really busy. Jc I hope that you’re feeling a little better with the doctor’s visit and the spinal tap... doesn’t sound to fun but I know how strong you are. That’s good that they were able to get an idea on what might be wrong, keep me posted. I hope that medicine they gave you will help. Dad that’s good that your class in Boise went good. It sounds like you had a pretty crazy time when you got back! Maybe they should have checked who the gang’s rivals were before inviting everyone ha. I’m glad to hear that no one got hurt other than the two gang members.  

   Sorry I’m writing this so late, we were doing a little service project for a member here. She is a cook and has a little store and asked us if we could paint the list of food she sells out the outside of here wall so we did. It didn’t turn out as good as I thought it would never the less it looks ok... I’ll take a pic if I remember the next time we visit her. As for my talk that I gave this week it went pretty well. Like I said I have never been a fan of talking in front of a lot of people so I’m glad it’s over.
   Tomorrow were going to Oaxaca for a special meeting for all the Zones in the city, the word on the street is that some more elders have been pretty disobedient so the president wants to talk to us. (Don’t worry I’m being a good boy and following the rules). Wed were also going back to Oaxaca because it’s our turn to go to the temple again! Its defiantly one of the benefits of being close to the city. 

   This week has actually been a pretty hard one, were discovering that all of our invest. that have baptism dates are having some pretty serious problems. Two of them need to find a new house before they can get baptized, another needs a new job, and a couple are really struggling with some commandments. I and my comp have been pretty stressed but who said the mission was easy? all we can do is keep praying and looking for solutions. If you remember pray for the people of Oaxaca and everywhere else, they need the help. 

   Sorry this is short but it’s late and we need to go. I just want you all to know how much I love you. OH I got the package! Short story I’m loving the ties! so thanks for that. You guys really are the best and I love you all so much. Have a good week! 

Love your boy

Elder HOPE! 

Yo,
Well hey again this is going to be a short letter because well I already told you a little about my week. It was really good getting to talk to all you and hear your voices, I hope I was able to answer all your questions that you had. Dont worry about sending money like I said the sisters house that we called from has a plan where she can call anywhere in the United States and Mexico for a certain amount every month so its all good.
I got the pics that you sent of Jc and one of her dance pics,  JC it looks like you had fun and  Here is the name of the song you guys can youtube and check out. Its called Ti Feo by Camili Nanga. Part is is spanish and the other in Zapateco... Enjoy!
Like I said this is gonna be short, right now were with some other Elders that slept in our house last night and they are going to be staying at our house again because in their area there was nowhere for them to call  home so they used the phone in the church.
I love you all so much and I hope all is going well for you guys, I miss you all, I hope that your all being safe! Untill next week,
con Amor Elder Hope!

May 8, 2012

Hola,

What's up family, man this week has gone by pretty fast.  It sounds like you have all been busy with the yard work again but that's good.  Before I forget 5:30 should work out pretty good, I'll have to check with the family I'm going to be calling at but there pretty good so I don't think that they will mind.  If not I can always try calling you guys from another house so no worries.  I'm pretty excited to be able to talk to you guys again hopefully I can answer all of your questions.  Dad, Mom it sounds like you had fun at the concert so that's good.  Also crazy that people from Oaxaca are up there studying but that's also really cool.  Jc I hope all is going well with your fake little baby ha-ha I had a couple of friends take that class and from what I heard it was kind of a pain but you have had a lot of practice when it comes to that stuff so I'm sure you'll do fine!

Well I have a new comp, his name is Elder Torres and he's from Mexico City.  He's pretty new in the Mission and only has three months.  I'm his second comp in the mission which makes me a step-dad.  He's pretty cool and has a lot of desire to work hard which is really good and I'm pretty excited for this change.  The other day we got a call for the Zone Leaders at 11pm telling us that we had to go to the city of Oaxaca the next day so Elder Torres could have his final capacitation with the president.  During the meeting president wanted to do a demonstration of how to introduce a scripture to a invest.  Well long story short he ended up choosing me and my comp (I've never really liked talking in front of a bunch of other people so I was a little nervous).  Luckily there were only about 22 other elders, the pres., and his assistants there so it wasn't too bad...it actually went really well and he gave us a couple tips of how we could improve so we all learned a lot.

This week we had 9 invest come to church with us so I was pretty excited.  It was also a little crazy trying to help them all out in our classes and what not but since we go to church with two other elders they were able to give us a hand.  We have found quite a few good invest and a lot of them really like the gospel however half of them have a fear of entering in the waters of baptism so please pray for them that they will find the strength they need to enter the water.  I'm really enjoying my time here in Etla the members are relly cool and they help us out quite a bit.  It took a little work to get their confidence in us because the elders that were here before weren't the best...if you remind me when we talk I'll tell you a little bit of the story. Sorry this is short but I want to have some cool stories to tell you about when we talk this Sunday so I better jet.  I love you guys so much and I'm excited to get to talk to you all soon!

Take care and until then,

Love E HOPE!

May 1, 2012

Buenos familia,

Buenos Dias, what's up?  I'm going to try to keep this short because I'm writing this at a member's house on their computer, before I forget I better answer dad's question.  We had changes last night but I'll be staying here in Etla and will be receiving a new comp, with that said I asked the family that I'm at right now if I could use their phone to call this mother's day and they said yes so just figure out the time you want to call and let me know.  I don't have their number but you still need the area code for Mexico.  The number is 951-521-2663.

This week has been pretty good and crazy with a lot going on with the changes and what not.  We also had a surprise baptism this week of a little kid named Joshua.  He's 8 years old and his mom is a recent convert (her name is Gullimina not sure if you remember me writing about her or not) anyways the baptism didn't count for the mission or anything but right after church he was baptized.  It was still pretty cool to see because we have worked a lot with his mom to get her confirmed a member so he was there in all the lessons and what not.

It sounds like you all had a busy but good week with all the yard work and homecomings.  That's kind of cool that they built a track out by the house ha-ha I'm going to have to try that out when I get home!  Sorry this is so short but were also washing our clothes (there are a couple members here that have a washer and dryer...how cool is that!!) so p-days are a lot nicer here in Etla.  I'm doing good and having fun I have grown to like Etla a lot more and I'm excited to be able to serve the people here in Etla a little bit longer.

I love you all so much and hope you have a good week!  Take care and be safe.

Con Amor, Elder Hope!