Family,

 Well week has gone by fast. We also had changes and well I’m staying here with my comp Elder Lopez again. I’m pretty excited and I’m sure I will learn a lot from him. This was a pretty good week with a lot of ups and downs. I guess I’ll start off with the good news first. Saturday we had a baptism! His name is Emanuel and he’s a young  kind about 7 years old.... jk ha-ha he’s 11 almost 12. Just about everyone in Emanuel’s family are members but were in active. When I and my comp got here we found their names on a paper and decided to go over and see what’s up. So we did and we found Emanuel in the process. We have worked a lot with the family to get the reactivated in the church and they have been coming faithfully for several weeks. Emanuel is a really smart kid and had a lot of questions that we were able to answer. He was really excited for his baptism. The baptism service went smooth without any problems so that was a huge blessing from above. 

 On the other hand I felt horribly sick this week! I still don’t feel too good right now but I’m getting better. It all started Friday afternoon. Long story short it got to the point where I had to go home and have my comp give me a blessing. I had a really bad fever, head ach, and body aches. It wasn’t fun at all. After my comp gave me the blessing I laid in bed for a couple hours with a wet towel on my head to try to keep cool. We went to the doc Friday night but they turned me away from a checkup because they said it was too late. Luckily they did give me some pills to take which helped a lot. Friday night I threw up a couple times and didn’t sleep at all. Saturday I spent all day I’m my bed resting until 630 when we went to our baptism. But it’s all good I’m just glad that the baptism went well and that Emanuel was happy. It was also my comps first baptism so I’m happy for him. 

   Thanks so much for all the pics that you sent me I really enjoyed seeing all of them. Also you’ll have to tell Dillon congrats for me! I know that this letter is going to be short and probably boring but I have to send some things to the office so I had better go. But don’t worry I’m doing well and I’m enjoying the mission also I will get to talk to you all soon since Christmas is only a few weeks away!!! But until next week,

Love E. Hope 

Que Onda?

   Yo what’s up family! Wow what a good week. It’s good to hear that Jim is doing better and I hope that everyone has a good Thanksgiving, I’m about 100 % sure we will just work that day like we did last year so everyone eat a little for me! That’s sweet to hear that the football team took state! good for them and tell CJ congrats! Tell josh I want to see the deer that Jody shot this year and also to be careful hunting, I just heard the other day that an elder in our zones brother died in a hunting accident so BE CAREFULL! 

   So much went down and I would like to tell you everything I did but I’ll probably forget something cool or won’t have time but I’ll try anyways. Saturday I went to Puerto Escondido’s again for a meeting with all the DLS AND ZLS with Pres the assistants. All I have to say is that the mission is changing like CRAZY! The short version is that they basically don't want us to have to knock doors anymore! Actually there are nine missions here in Mexico where they don’t ever knock doors and they have more success then us ha-ha! the plan for the mission is that we will work more with the members and that the members will step up and support the missionary program here in Mexico so all we will have to do as missionaries is teach. It’s going to include a lot of work but I’m supper excited to be a part of all the changes. So Saturday we spent just about all day there. On the way back president gave us a ride back to Pinotepa which is a 3 hour drive from Puerto. I learned that pres is a crazy driver that day, we made the drive in trip in less than 3 hours, hit a couple topes (random speed bumps they have in the roads here) and almost took out a huge Iguana that was crossing the road. It was a sweet trip and I learned a ton.

   Sunday was sweet also because we had a district conference with all the little branches here including Cuajiniuilapa, Huaxsolo and Huaxaltepec. We filled the building with 27 investigators! It was awesome; Pres Leyva and all the other members gave a super sweet talk and filled the building with the spirit. Pres Leyva spoke about tithing and fast offerings and did a fantastic job. He’s such a smart guy and I love listing to him speak. We had a sweet Investigator come named Susana come even though so was so sick she could barely walk. She said she felt horrible but really enjoyed the talks and even though she was sick she knew she had to go to church. Also ever since I got here we have been visiting with a less active member named Marilena, I must say I was pretty happy when she walked in and sat behind us. She too also loved the talks that were given. It was a supper good week and It went by way to fast, this is also the last week of the change so we will have changes this week but I’m sure I will stay here... at least I think so! But I had better go once again I love you all so much and I hope you all have a good week! Take care and know that you are all in my prayers!

Con Amor ELDER HOPE!

AKA Buscavidas!

WOW!

   It sounds like a ton of stuff has been going on back at home! I hope that everyone is doing good and being safe. I did hear that Pres Obama won again so that's interesting...... ha. 

   Well this was a pretty good week. Like I said last week I went to Oaxaca and the trip went well. I was pretty tired when I got home but it was worth it and let me tell you why. When we were in Oaxaca we went and filled out all the papers and then we had some extra time before we had to get on another bus to head "home". we talked to president a little bit and he gave me Elder Graves permission to go to the temple and attend a session so we went. You wouldn't believe who I saw there..... As I was walking out I say EDDI my first convert!! It was super cool and really exciting. I had no idea that he was going to be there. IT WAS SUPER COOL TO GET TO TALK TO HIM A LITTLE BIT. He seemed a little nervous; it was his last week before he leaves on his mission. I was able to give him my email so that we will be able to keep in touch. When I got back to the offices I told President what happened and he was super happy for me. I love President Leyva he’s such a good guy and I can really tell that he loves each and every one of the missionary's like his own child. All in all it was a pretty sweet trip and I was super excited to talk to Eddie once before he left and congratulate. I will never forget it.

   On the other hand there have been a lot of little earthquakes here the past few weeks. The other day we were in the church and everything started to shake pretty well. Everyone here says that the world is going to end. What are the people saying back at home?

   My comp has been teaching piano classes every Saturday here in the church. In fact he was asked to play yesterday in another ward so that they could do their primary program. He really likes to play and I could tell he has a good time teaching piano. Oh I also got the package you sent me and that was awesome! I have loved eating the candy, drinks (I love the drinks they send me on a memory trip back home of me eating breakfast on the couch upstairs before I would go to school so I love it ha-ha)  I have to fight the other three elders that I live with to keep them away from the peanut butter ha-ha its worth more that gold here. 

   So many things have gone on that I would love to tell you all about but I just don’t have time! I’m keeping a pretty good journal so that when I get home I can share more stories with you all. I had better get going once again but thanks so much for all the support! I love hearing from you all every about what’s going on back at home. I hope that everything will go good for you all throughout the week and that you will all be safe! I pray for you nightly,

Con Amor, ELDER HOPE

YO!

   What’s up family sounds like it has been a pretty eventful week back at home, I hope that Jim is doing well and that he will be able to recover, tell grandma and them I say hi. That’s sweet that Madison is winning, it sounds like they have had some pretty good games so far. 

   This week was pretty sweet like I said I got to go back to Puerto this week where we had a multi zone meeting. It was super cool because we got to hear from Jose Alonzo, a 70. It was a super cool meeting and I learned a ton! The way Elder Alonzo taught was really cool. He’s a funny guy and is really good at motivating people. He spoke a lot on asking people for references and inviting them to be baptized. He also shared a lot of cool scriptures with us from the Book of Mormon and from the Bible. I wish I had time to share them with you but I don’t ha. I only hope that one day I will be able to know as much as he does when it comes to the scriptures. I wake up every morning and read from the book of Mormon on a little balcony that we have (we live in an apartment about 4 stories up) I love it because it looks over the city. It really is a pretty place here in Pinotepa. There have been a couple of little earth quakes here, I don’t have a bed frame and I sleep on the floor so I always feel the little movements of the building. 

   Hey so what’s going on over there in the states? I heard that there was a really bad hurricane that hit New York and that a lot of people have died is that true? Maybe you can send a little clipping and ill print it off next week to read. 

   I just found out that tomorrow I will be heading back to Oaxaca tomorrow night at 8 to fill out some more papers for my visa. So it looks like it will be another long night on the bus ha-ha but oh well. I’ll stay there for the day and then head back home wed night at 9pm.  I still haven’t got the package that you sent me but I’ll keep an eye out for it. Maybe when I go to the offices wed it will be there. 

   Well once again I’m pretty much out of time so I better get going, Once again I love you all so much and I hope everyone is having a good day. I’ll let you know how my trip to Oaxaca goes next week. Love you all have a good week!

Elder Hope!    

Family,

What’s up family? Wow this has been another crazy day and week. I and my comp are still working pretty hard to find some new people to teach here in Pino, we have found a couple of pretty cool people. Tomorrow I’m going to be going to a different state!!! Turns out our mission goes a little into the next state over, Guerrero so tomorrow I’m going on divisions with the elders in the area of cuaji so ill be chilling outside of Oaxaca for a day crazy huh! 

 My new comp is elder Lopez; he’s from Sonora and has about two months in the mish so I’m just finishing up the training. He’s a pretty good kid and is a really good teacher. It’s been really fun to be with someone straight from the MTC because he’s ready to work and wants to talk to everyone. We live with the Zone Leaders and there both pretty cool guys, one is named E Hollis he’s from Arizona and we get along really well. He’s also kind of teaching me how to play the guitar in our spare time. 

We found a pretty cool family this week. It actually just started off contacting. We met a lady who was really nice and let us in her house to teach a little bit. We taught about Joseph smith and the book of Mormon she accepted the lesson really well and we placed a date to come back. When we went back her husband was hanging out in this hammock reading the book of Mormon! He told us he has never seen it before and he was really excited to learn more about the church. There both really cool people and I can defiantly see them progressing in the church. 

That’s crazy how much it has snowed over there, right now I’m sweating! I wanted to go snowboarding pretty bad the other day but I know that can wait. I can’t believe that Thor is a dad of 7 ha-ha you’ll have to send me a pic of that also. As for the shoes everything is ok there still holding p pretty good. But I could use a nice razor and some extra blades. Also our mish just banned iPod touches and guess what I have an iPod touch so I’m thinking that I’ll send it home the next time I send a package. I still haven't got the last one you sent me but this week we are going back to Puerto Escondido's for a zone conference. The area president is coming to talk to us so if the package is in the office I should get it there. Thanks for keeping me informed on what’s going on at home I like to hear the news. I love you all so much but I had better get going. I hope you all have a good week and ill write again soon! 

Love Jake  

Wow these have been a crazy last two weeks, sorry about not writing last week Josh was right we had transfers and I totally forgot to tell you guys because one I was about 100 percent sure I was going to stay but Nope! Right now I’m sitting in the coast in a place called Pinotepa. It’s about 12 hours away from where I used to be. I left Sunday right after we got the calls and stayed the night in Juchitan with the L.Z. then I woke up left Juchitan at 7 and headed to my new area. I was lucky and got to stop at the coolest place here in Oaxaca it’s called Puerto Escondido I took some pics and if I have time I’ll try to send them off to you, but if not look it up on the computer it’s amazing! I was only there for a couple hours while I went and ate with some other elders. I got there about 2 pm and then I got on another bus and took a three hour ride from Puerto to Pinotepa. I found out this week that president is one of those guys that like to rip the bandage off fast because he moved me up to district leader. I’m also training my new comp E Lopez, and were re-opening our area so it’s quite a big load but I’m excited and I know that I will learn a lot here.

I’m living with 2 other elders, our LZ so that’s pretty cool. One of them is named E. Hollis. He was in etla before I was and one of his converts that I worked a lot with got sealed this week in the Temple and we both got to go! So me and E. Hollis rode on a bus from Pino to Oaxaca (WHICH IS LIKE ANOTHER 11 HOURS) over night. That day we went to the sealing and it was awesome. I actually was teaching the sister of the lady that got sealed and she told me that her sister is now baptized and with the new change in age limit for missions she is wants to go on a mission. Her name was Epifania. It was super cool because I got to see a lot of the members from Etla and talk to them a little bit. That night we got on another bus at 9pm to go back to Pino. So these last couple weeks I have been on a bus for a really long time and I have been all over Oaxaca! But I loved it.

It’s hot here in Pino, not as hot as Ixtepec but the problem is our area is all HILLS so I’m sweating like crazy here. Were about 40 mins away from the coast so it’s also a little humid. I’m still just getting used to the change. Our branch here is tinny! This Sunday there was like 35 members there in total so we hope we will be able to add a few numbers to that. I’m sorry that this letter is all over the place and I hope it all makes sense but I have better go so I can try to send some pics. I love you all so much and I love hearing what’s going on around the house and with the local sports so keep that up. I hope all is well and I hope you all have a great week. Take care and be safe.

Love Elder Hope  

Hey!

   Wow this has been a crazy week and so much has gone down so I will try to fill you in on all that has happened this week. First off I guess I will tell you about my trip to Oaxaca. Well the tables have been turned and Monday I found out that I was the illegal one! Right after I got done writing you last week I got a call from my leaders telling me that I had to go to Juchitan to catch a bus that was leaving for Oaxaca at 11 pm. so I headed to Oaxaca to sign some papers. It was pretty much just a day trip but it was cool because I got to hang out with all my old Friends for the day. We almost got to go to a Temple session but the temple was closed so president let all the elders from my generation to go out and eat together.

   Friday we had a little stake activity that went pretty well. It was pretty much an open house and inside there were members who would answer questions. It was a pretty good turnout and the elders that live with us had a baptism afterwards. It was good because a couple of our investigators were able to see how the baptism goes, Oh ya we also had interviews with president Friday morning and that went really good also.

   Saturday and Sunday we headed back over to JUCHITAN to watch Conference. We ended up staying over there for the night so that we wouldn’t spend so much money. Conference was great and I loved it! There are so many parts that I liked and I would share them with you but I just don’t have time. It was super cool because here all the wards from around Juchitan go to the stake center to watch Conference. Well it was awesome because I was able to see a lot of the members from my old area Xadani! It was super fun to get to talk to them and see how they all have been doing. I loved it. While talking to them a member came up to me and started telling me about an investigator that w were teaching when I was back in XADANI. His name was Radelio and he was an older guy that lives off fishing. He told me that the recently went over to visit with him and found out that he had fallen sick, death bed sick. They started talking and the member told me Radelio started talking about me. He said that I had told him something that he wouldn't ever forget I honestly don’t remember what I said to him but I’m sure it was something inspired by the Holy Ghost. Whatever it was I hope that he will get better.

 Well once again I had better go I’m about out of time. I just want you to all know I love you and look forward to hearing from you every Monday. I hope all is well and that you have a good week. Love Elder hope