Monday, April 29, 2013


Que Onda?

   What’s up family sounds like everyone is doing well? I have a couple little things that I should probably tell you before I give you all the low down on my week.

First off I was looking at my driver’s license and I discovered that it expired back when I turned 21, not sure if you’re aware of that or not but just so you know. I don't really want to take the driving test again when I get home, after living here for 2 years I’m afraid some of their driving habits might have rubbed off and I’m about 100% sure they won’t pass me if I have to take it when I get home. 

Second I found my debit card so forget my comment I mad last week. 

   Alright, this was another busy week so I’ll just give yawl a brief low down. This week I went to a little pueblo called Comitacillo to do divisions with an elder who is kind of struggling. Long story short everything went well, I’m not the best elder and I know I still have a TON to learn but I was able to give him a little advice on how to work a little more efficiently and also with the members. As we were visiting a member we ended up cleaning and plucking chickens. That was a first. I’m not going to lie it smelt bad. I’ll send you a pic.

   The other day I had a testimony builder. We were asked to give a presentation to all the elders here in our Zone along with their missionary leaders on "What their purpose is". My comp knew about this a while ago but remembered the night before. Long story short I got a little nervous and felt really unprepared. Minutes before the meeting I said a prayer asking the lord to help us. Long story short everything went really well, and we had a good conversation for about an hour on how we can improve the missionary work here in Juchitan. He hears and answers our prayers of that I testify. 

     We also had a meeting with the stake president and all the bishops in the stake. He planched them for not giving the missionary's more references of people to teach (planched means burned). Were excited to see what happens. 

    This Sunday was neat because Santiago received the priesthood. It’s amazing how much I have seen them change in such a short amount of time, him and his wife, Lourdes are so much more happier. You can see it in their faces. I'm amazed. 

We put the goal for them to go to the temple and they accepted, there great people.

    I know this might be short and might not make sense but there’s so much to do ha-ha. I’ll have to let you know the plans next week on when we will be calling home ight. I love you all so very much and thanks for your prayers I know they help!

Until next week, 

Elder Hope

 

Hey Family what’s up?

Congrats Jeff and Becky on the new baby! What’s her full name?

Dad hope everything goes well on your trip and that you’re able to travel safely, you’ll have to let me know how it goes.

This was a pretty crazy week, like I said last Monday we went to Oaxaca for a training that went well. President talked a lot about hoe to be more effective and how to plan our days and week more efficiently. It went well and I learned a lot. I’m still surprised on how much of this stuff I will be able to use when I get back home. The mission prepares you for a LOT of stuff.

Thursday was a great but busy day, we had a meeting with half of the zone here in Juhitan and shared with them all that we learned at the meeting we had in Oaxaca. As zone leaders we basically just pass all the information we receive from president to all the other elders. Thursday night we also had our baptism which went great! Other than Stefani, the girl I baptized freaked out when I dunked her so I had to do it again. The second time I dunked her I really had to fight her to go under. I know that this might not make any sense but it was a fun one. The next night we went over to her house to visit with the family she accused me of trying to drown her. She’s 9 years old. One day she’ll thank me ha-ha. But the parents are super happy and this Sunday we learned about temple marriage. I heard Lourdes (the mom) lean over to Santiago (the dad) and say we need to get married there. They are a sweet family. One of their little girls died when she was 2 so they love the idea that families can be together forever.

Friday we had another meeting and taught the other half of our zone out in Ixtepec which is 45 mins outside of Juchitan. It went well and I feel like the things we shared will help out the zone. My comp stayed out there in Ixtepec to do divisions with the DLS and I went back to my area with a fresh new gringo. It was a lot of fun and I had a good time working with a Verde.

P.S. On the other hand it might be possible that I miss placed my debit card... I haven't looked good yet so don't worry. I’m pretty sure it expired anyways but I’ve been good with my money throughout my mish and I really don’t need any so don’t worry. I’ll look for it today.

Well everything is going good here, Time is going by fast. My comp only has 4 weeks left in the mish so he’ll be going home soon.

I love you all so very much and I hope all is well back at home. Have a great week!

 

ELDER HOPE

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Hey!
Hola! What’s up family, wow once again this week has gone by pretty fast! Dad, thanks for the pics of Gracie’s Baptism everyone is looking pretty good. Gracie Congrats on your baptism!!!! I can’t believe how much you have grown up. I hope you always remember that day.
Well we also had a baptism! Daniel and Dolores were baptized Saturday. It went great and there were no problems which was awesome. Here in the mission the president has asked us to invite them members to do the ordinance of baptism so we had the bishop baptize Sister Dolores and were planning on the bishop baptizing Daniel also but a couple hours before the baptism we got a call from Dolores and her family saying that Daniel wanted me to baptize him. It was a great experience and I really enjoyed it. Sister Dolores grandson played a special song on his guitar right before the baptism which was awesome and truly invited the spirit. Sister Dolores husband also came to the baptism which was cool because at first he didn’t really want anything to do with the church so were hoping now that he has felt the spirit he will change.
This next Friday we should have another baptism, brother Santiago and his family which includes his wife and their daughter. We went with them last night and they seem pretty excited. They will be great members here in the church.
Tonight I will be heading to Oaxaca for a concilio or "council" with all the other Zone Leaders together with the president. I’m excited and I’m sure I’ll learn a lot. We leave at 11.35 pm and will get there at about 6.00am so it’s going to be a fun night..... Well come back that night and then teach the zone what we learned so it’s going to be fun.
Everything is going good here In Juchitan, It’s a little hot and humid so I’m sweating A LOT but I’ll get over it. Everyone here is telling me that next month will be worse so I’m really looking forward to that ha-ha. But for the most part I’m doing well.
I know that this is short but we have to get a bunch of papers from the other elders in the zone and take them with us to Oaxaca so I had better get going. But I just want you all to know that this is the true Church. You’re the best family there is!
Hope everyone has a great week and until next time,
Elder Hope

Tuesday, April 9, 2013


Hey family,

   

   Yo! How’s everyone doing? Sounds like you all have a pretty busy week planned. Conference was great! I loved Pres Monson talk; it was great along with all the other talks that were given. My comp, Elder Monson to be honest was not too sure how far down the line I’m sure he is. Whenever members ask he just says yes, he’s my grandpa. I always shake my head in agreement. So half the people here in Juchitan think his grandpa is the prophet. 

   This week went by super fast with conference and all that. We had five of our investigators show up which was great and they all loved the talks. This next week we should have two baptisms. Their name is Dolores and her grandson Daniel. Dolores is really cool and already calls herself a member of the church; she is one of those people the lord has prepared. I was shocked on how much everyone talked about missionary work. It’s great for us missionaries’! I hope the members realize their part in the lord’s work. 

   This week I actually went back to do divisions in my old area with my old comp who took my spot as D.L. It was sweet to get to go back after three days. I didn’t have the chance to say goodbye to any of our investigators or members so while we worked we passed by some of the members so I could say bye. The sister that we ate with that day was mad at me for the first 10 Mins because I never went and said goodbye. Actually when I walked into her door she hit me in the arm ha-ha but she got over it.  

   Tomorrow were going out to Ixtepec to go to a district meeting and see how everything is going out there. It’s about 45 mins from Juchitan. The members here are pretty nice. I still haven’t met all of them but I’m excited to be able to work here. We just got some new gringos here in the mission and we got some here in our zone so we have been making sure that they get used to Oaxaca and that everything is going good for them so that they stay animated. It’s the first group of Americans that we have got in the mission in over a year! Long time huh. 

   Well I’m glad to hear that everything is going well back at home, there is so much that I would like to tell you all but there’s just not enough time. I just want to let you all know how much I love living the gospel. It really does help people live a happier life. I hope you all have a good week, pray for the people here in Oaxaca because they pray for you.

Until next week,

ELDER HOPE

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

CHANGES!
   Well I forgot to tell you all the other week that we were going to have changes... I was pretty sure I was going to be staying in my area, Libertad. Well long story short I was wrong. Turns out there sending me a place called Ochxiclan or something thing like that.. Actually I’m here in my new area. It was a whole ten mins away from my old area. I’m still in the same Zone that I was before; actually I’m in charge of it! I guess Pres. wants me to finish off the mission strong and doesn’t want me to "die". I’m now a Zone Leader here in the Zone Juchitan Las Flores. My comp is the Giant, Elder Monson the one I sent photos of the other day he's 6 feet 8 inches tall or something like that. I’m really excited, but also a little nervous. I went from being in charge of 6 Elders to 24 so it was a little bit of a jump ha. I know that as long as I rely on the lord that he will bless me and help me. I’m excited because I know that I will learn a lot these last three changes. I’m also sure that I will end my mission here in Juchitan. 
   Well a lot went down this last week so I will try to fill you in as best as I can. This week was awesome, we had a baptism Sunday. His name is Gabby and he’s 11 years old. He is a really smart kid. He was a reference from the branch president who is his uncle. The baptism went great; Gabby got baptized with his 8 year old cousin Valentine. I would send you a pic but I don’t have my cable here with me so it will have to wait until next week. The baptism was in zapaespanol (half zapateco and half Spanish) nevertheless it well. Sunday we helped confirm him which was also a blessing. I love being part of the lord’s work it’s the best thing one can do. 
   As for the earth quake to be honest I didn’t feel it but they did call everyone to make sure everyone was ok and that everyone was ok. I’m glad to hear that everyone is ok. That’s good that the snows is gone so that you can all get out and get to work ha-ha.
   The other night president invited my comp and I as well as the ZLS to eat some Tlyudas which was a pretty good time and I got to know President a little better, (he thinks we all drive tractors instead of cars back at home). 
   We have spent all day at the bus station sending Elders to different parts of Oaxaca and we have to go back, so right now we’re going to go eat and then head back over there to send elder off and receive those that come so I had better get going. I love you all so very much and I hope that everything goes well back at home this week. 
   I LOVE YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH, I CAN SEE THE BLESSINGS from your prayers. Keep praying for the people here in Oaxaca because they all pray for you! 
Until next week,
ELDER HOPE