Tuesday, June 19, 2012

What up family!
  First off happy father’s day dad I hope you had a good Sunday, and mommy happy birthday!!!! I sent you both a card not too long ago and I hope that you got it or will get it soon. Dad like you said it has been raining quite a bit here, I guess there was a little hurricane that passed by the other day. It killed two people in Oaxaca and 18 others are missing in the state next to us so it was pretty bad. The other day we were stuck in a house for a good two hours because our leader called us and told us we couldn’t go out until it calmed down a bit. When it’s not raining it’s pretty warm. I’m still great full I’m in the city because it has the best weather in Oaxaca so I know God loves me ha-ha.
   I’m glad to hear Josh made it home safely, he looked a little tired in his pics ha-ha but I’m sure it was a pretty exciting week with everyone home again. It sounds like Josh did a good job on his talk and I look forward to hearing it. I’m sure going home is like leaving for the mission, your happy, sad, nervous, and have no idea what’s going on the first couple days but I’m sure all he needs is to mow some laws and he’ll get back into the swing of things ha-ha.
   This was a pretty good week with a couple ups and downs. We’re teaching an investigator named Perla right now and she is so close to getting into the water, all she needs is a little push. A week ago she told us she received an answer and wanted to be baptized. However the other day when talking to her she shared her story. Her family is very un sportive in her decision to be baptized and they told her not to do it. We did the best we could to give her more confidence in her decision and encouraged her to act on her answer. She left happy and excited. Sunday she didn’t come to church so we called her up and was like what’s up why didn’t you come to church? She then told us that she no longer wanted to be baptized and didn’t want to cause more problems in her family. We were pretty shocked and didn’t understand how in one day her decision could change so fast (were starting to think she’s bipolar....). Anyways were still working with her and we hope that this week she will be baptized so remember her in your prayers. Were also hoping this week that we will be able to find a couple new investigators throughout the week.
   Well I know this is short but I had better go I hope that you are all doing well and that you guys have fun on your trip. Make sure to take some pics so I can see what Oregon looks like and also be safe. How long of a drive is it there 7 hrs? I just want to let you know how grateful I am to be born into a family with a firm faith in the gospel. There is defiantly a difference between families with the gospel and families without it. There’s so much more peace and love for one another, were so lucky.
I love you all so much and I hope all is going well at home. Until next time love ya boy,
Elder Hope

Monday, June 11, 2012

Crazy!
   First off I can’t believe Josh is going to be home this week!!!! That’s so crazy. It really doesn’t seem that long ago when we sent him to the air port and now he’s going to be home! Wow the time really does go fast. You guys will have to break him in and take him fishing or something so he can get back into the swing of things.
   Well we had changes yesterday and will be staying here in Etla 2 for another change with my same comp, Elder Torres. I’m pretty excited there is still a lot of work to do here in Etla, the area is so big that after 3 months of being here I still don’t know the whole area and all the little pueblos around us. So I’m excited to be able to work another change here and help those in need.
   We had our little activity this Saturday and it went pretty well. To be honest it was pretty stressful, we have been planning this activity for a month and assigned member parts to help us, however when we went to the church Friday afternoon to see how we could help the members decorate to our surprise there was no one there and nothing had been done.... long story short we worked all day Friday and Saturday with the help of the other elders and some members to prepare the activity. We worked right until people showed up. We had a pretty cool experience too, about five mins before we were supposed to start it started to rain.... HARD! The bishop was like well were going to have to cancel the activity because no one will come while it’s raining like this. All of us were pretty bummed because we worked super hard. We had the idea come to us that we needed to pray so the four of us went into a room, knelt down in prayer and prayed that the rain would stop so that our investigators and members would be able to enjoy the activity we had prepared. And guess what... as soon as we ended the prayer we walked outside and the rain had stopped. Our prayers were answered by our loving father in heaven and soon after people started to arrive. About 250 people showed up and everyone enjoyed the activity. All I can say is that I’m extremely grateful for a father in heaven who listens to our prayers.
   I love the work here in the mission, it’s hard and sometimes the days are supper long and at times all our appointments fall through, but it is the most rewarding thing ever when someone enters the water of baptism. The feeling is indescribable.  I love you all so much and I’m so great full for all that we have. I have the best family and I’m so glad that one day we will be able to live together for eternity. I know that this work is true and I’m glad I have the chance to share it with the people here in Mexico. I have to go but until next time,
Elder Hope

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Family,
   What up family? Another week has come and gone, it’s pretty crazy how fast it goes bye that’s for sure. Sounds like everyone is doing pretty good back at home and it sounds like there is some pretty good weather other than the wind but that’s Rexburg ha-ha. The weather here is a little warm.... ha but it’s all good I shouldn't complain it’s a lot hotter on the coast than Juchitan. We have changes coming up this week so I’m hoping I’ll stay in the city for another change or two until it cools down then I wouldn’t mind going to the coast. Yesterday it rained on us pretty good and by the time we got to the house we were soaked. It was probably the hardest I have seen it rain here, I tried to take pic. of it but it doesn’t do justice.
   This Sunday Feliza was confirmed a member of the church. She was pretty happy and the good news is she found a better job in which she won’t have to work Sundays! The lord really does prepare a way for us when were obedient. (1 Nephi 3:7) The last couple weeks we have been preparing an activity with the ward here called (trip to Hawaii) in which were going to decorate the church out and make the inside look like a plane. However, on the way there we crash and everyone dies (I know sounds horrible). An angel will then enter and take us on a tour of the three kingdoms of glory. In each room or kingdom there will be member explaining what they did in their lives to be assigned to that kingdom. Long story short at the end the angel will tell them that they all have another chance to live so make it count and choose the right. Hopefully that all made sense, if all goes well were hoping to get a lot of new people to teach. SO with all that we have been busy making invitations and inviting people.
   For the most part that was my week there’s a lot more I would like to tell you guys but there just isn’t enough time :(  I have a letter here in my hand that I’m going to send right after I leave the center so in a couple weeks be looking for it. I just want to let you all know that I know the church is true, I have defiantly seen the lord help us and our investigators in our lives. I’m so thankful for the gospel we have and for the opportunity I have to share to it with the people here in Mexico. I know as long as we are faithful the lord will always be there to help us in times of need. I love you all so much and I KNOW I have the best family in the world.
Until next time, Con Amor Elder HOPE