Still in Tonala, family of five, family prayer, mission conference, Holy Ghost, district leader

One of the coolest songs ever made is Red, Yellow, Blue, by the Born Ruffians. It talks about how the guy would start his own country. If I, Oliver Pdiddy Hulme, started my own country, it would be a law that you had to get married. This week we have found way too many people, who want the gospel, some of whom want to be baptized, but they are not married, AND IT'S FRUSTRATING.

Mom, the bed bug story is that our beds had bed bugs, so obviously we weren't going to leave the poor sisters with bed buggy beds, (and it would be weird to be living in the bed of a girl, gross, cooties), so we carried one of the mattresses from house to house, I have a picture I'll send it.

Yes, this new house has an oven, I am still yet to figure out if it works, I am a bit weary of it, because the ovens and stoves here use a ton of gas, and gas is crazy expensive, and I don't want to have to buy gas again.

This week was quite humbling. We visited a ton of less active members. Whenever we visit the less active members, they always say that they will come to church, but usually very few do. But this week we had 11 come to churnch, needless to say I was stoked. But then to top it off, we are teaching a family of five, the mom the dad and their 3 kids, and they are a killer family. They live very humbly (don't have a single piece of furniture), but we had a lesson with them this week, and a member came along with us. We talked about the restoration and their spirit was crazy strong. We invited them to come to church, and they came as well, but not only did they come, but they enjoyed the crap out of it. I've done lots of praying for and with this family, I've have always loved to pray personally, but there has always been a lack of family prayer. I want you guys to start praying as a family, more than just at dinner, either in the morning or at night, or both, the more the merrier. But I've learned a lot about prayer, families, and how the both are dependent of each other. COMMIT TO DO IT, AND DO IT. I can promise you guys that there will be more love, more unity, and more blessings.

Good work for going on mini family vacation, but you crazy kids, missed church. That's allright, you didn't miss the sacrament, that is the most important part. But yes, I have done the Little Wild Horse hike, I love it, and I love Goblin Valley. And yes, I have seen the Black Dragon petroglyphs - Dad took us there after the young mens river rafting trip. We were in the old Volkswagon van, and all the scouts were grumpalumpagouses.

Also this week we had a mission conference, and it was super cool. An elder from one of the 70´s came and spake to us, *did you guys know there are 8 quorums of 70's?* Pretty much everyone talked about the Holy Ghost. This morning I was studying about the Holy Ghost, the difference of the gift of the Holy Ghost and the presence thereof are very different. Every single one of you has the gift of the Holy Ghost - use it wisely. I am now district leader, and I have a feeling that I am going to be studying the Holy Ghost a lot more, in how I can always have his presence.

I sure love you all a ton, and HAVE AWESOME WEEKS.

Oh, we had transfers yesterday, same area, same companion

Moving the bed-bug infested mattress one mile to new house

Elder Verdugo

Elder Rey

Elder Mcclellan, Pocatello, Idaho

Elder Dominguez and Elder McClellan

Elder Cruz

The old district

I bought myself some new sandals, huaraches, for loafing in the house at night

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LOTS OF LOVE

Elder HHHHH

Bed bugs, trials, money root of evil, Christmas in February

The nursery rhyme tells you that if you have bed bugs, to not let them bite. Well, when you don't know that you have bed bugs, they just bite and the next thing you know your body is covered in these bites that are about the size of quarters, and you're just itchin' allllll week. Bed bugs are rough, and because we found out we had bed bugs and we changed houses with the sisters, we had to change all the mattresses and everything as well, (probably a good idea). We embarked in the street, found a random large truck, and knocked on the door and offered him 100 pesos to help us move a bunch of bed stuff. He said yes. But he only wanted to help us for one round, so Elder Cruz and I carried a mattress from the old house to the new house. It's about a mile walk. It was really amusing.

Dont lose your voice as a missionary.

Today we had a district activity. It was really good, but it was in Guadalajara, and it was 3 hours long, with the 2 hours of bus time, so there is ZERO time to write.

I've done a lot of studying about trials. The Lord is giving me some realllllll good trials right now, despite my desires to work my absolute hardest and to do everything possible to be the best missionary I can.  But once again none of our investigators came to church, even though 3 told us there was no chance they'd miss. 

1timothy6. says that the love of money is the root of all evil. I can testify of that. 

Numbers 11*7-8, the children of israel ate tortillas (that is what Elder Cruz shared with me this morning)

This week we had a zone meeting as well, and I GOT YOUR CHRISTMAS PACKAGE. I almost cried I loved it soooo much. That was such a clever card and I love the calendar. Also Give my love to Grandma Dot. She sent me a birthday card in October and it got here today. Also Lisa Furner has sent me numerous cards that I got this week. Thanks a ton for the mail, it is the best.

This morning I was reading in 3nefi12-15. All of those chapters are pretty much the same as matthew 6*7*8. Lets just say that the scriptures are super great, and 3 Nephi is fabulous. Missionary work is going reall goods.

And wohoooo!!! Xander is officially married, I'm wicked glad that everything was pulled off and that the two are happily married. They'd best not have a child before I get back. 

I sure do love you all so much and I love to see all the photos of the wedding and what not.

Keep up the good work. Play hard this week and have amazing memories.

With lots and lots and lots of love

Elñder ladskfñHULME.

Sleep talk in Spanish, Jose, Eduardo, Famine vs. Hungry

All you cats are crazy busy, but that is good, and hey from the few photos mom sent me the shop looks really great, good work. yayyyy.

This week has somehow gone by incredibly fast, this week, yet again we had divisions, this week I was in Guadalajara again, but I was with Elder Rey, who was one of my friends in the MTC. He is super funny and gives you lots of useless information about My little ponies. I love Guadalajarrrrrrra.

This morning we had crazy house changes, we swapped houses with the sister missionaries in the ward, our zone leaders told us on saturday, so we had saturday night to pack and monday morning to finish packing and cleaning, it was pretty nuts. Our new house is a major upgrade - I feel really bad for the sisters, because their old house was a lot nicer. BUT, all these houses are nicer than what we had in Morelia, so no complaining.

I still sleep talk, but Elder Cruz says I sleep-talked in Spanish, wahoo.

This week, this dude came up to us on the street, saying that he was sick of tobacco, and that he wanted to leave it. We went to his house and talked with him. He had a large knowledge from the other churches he had been a part of. His name is Jose, and we taught him to pray. He prayed when we finished the lesson, and his prayer was a beautiful experience. He was just begging, begging God to help him to leave his habit, and to help him find some sort of truth. It was magical. He promised to come to church, and didn't, that was a bummer.

Eduardo is shredding it, he has got mad desires to read the scriptures and I love that man like my brother, but he also did not come to church this week, so that also was a bummer. I wish that the people that said they´d come to church would come to church. 

In d &c 89, where we get the word of wisdom, it says to only eat meat in times of famine and winter and cold. In spanish the translation is just the word hungry, so everyone thought it just meant hungry but it means famine, like about to die, because it also talks about famine in helaman 11. I explained that to Elder Cruz and he reacted like his leg just fell off.  He is a super funny elder, total goofball, and I've grown to love him a lot more this week. We've had super funny experiences together. 

Things in tonala are good, its pretty hot, it has only rained a couple times, we eat lots of rice, lots of meat and lots of tortillas. I work really hard to keep my shoes nice and shiny, but then they get all dustified in about 7 seconds. I'll live.

Have awesome weeks, stay sane with the wedding and all

I <3 (heart) you all

Elder Hulme