Mole, Members Helping Missionaries, Zone Act. in Guadalajara, Spanish is Good

March 17, 2014

My whole first transfer in Tonala, we didnt eat mole, until this transfer and we have had it about 5 times, and it is the best thing in the world.

I would like to hear the talk given by the missionary about how the members can work with the missionaries, I would also like to know what it is like to be a missionary in Utah, because there are so many members, and it probably wouldn't be so hard to find a member to work with you. But really if they ever invite you to work with them, GO WORK, because when there are members it seriously makes a huge difference, With all of our investigators that have baptismal dates right now, we have a ton a members that help us out with their teachings and everything, it helps them feel a lot better and a lot more comfortable. Last night we had a lesson with the Pacheco Hernandez family, we had 2 members with us and taught the law of chastity, the both of them bore super powerful testimonies, and when the investigators see that real people (not just the two goofballs teenagers) live these laws and rules, it helps them a lot too.

This week was a pretty normal week, it went by crazy fast. Unfortunately none of our investigators came to church, E. finally found work and went to work, and the mom of the family got kidney stones and has been going to the hospital with frequency, she also might be pregnant.

We had divisions with the zone leaders this week, I was in my area with elder Mcclellan from POCATELLO, Idaho. He is a cool guy, he finishes his mission in two months, but is still working extremely hard, which I like a lot. A lot of times you run into the missionaries that aren`t really there to work, which frustrates me. Why on earth would you dedicate yourself to one thing for two years if you are not going to give it your all. **If you go on a mission, work your hardest, there is nothing better to do, and it is not worth having the guilt of wasting God's time.

Today we had a zone activity in Guadalajara. It was good, we ate pizza and I brought stir fry, and some other stuff,  we played capture the flag, all a good time, but we lose 2 hours in the bus and 2 hours in the activity, leaving us with not many hours. 

Mom, I think I sent you a list of the items I needed, also I am dominating pants some how, my favorite brown ones have pretty much gone to pot. But don't worry about it, I can buy them here. 

The spanish is really good, I've been about a month where I don't ever have troubles understanding the people, especially in lessons, 

I have been sleep walking a ton lately, mainly when I get up and start getting ready for the day. Last night at 12:28am I got up, started the water boiler, sat down to do my morning business, and that is when I realized that my body was not ready because I had only been asleep for 2 hours. Silly body.

Sure love you guys. 

Do your family prayers dangit.

LOTS OF LOVE FROM THE SON AND BROTHER

In Guadalajara, the church La Luz Del Mundo was formed (The world's light/the light of the world.) They have a huuuuuge temple and they light is up with all sorts of fun colors every night. We can always see it from my area, and let's be real - it's really cool.

Gamboo, Oregon House, New Shoes

First things first. hahaaaa mom, it was super cool to see those Mexican breads, they have them pretty much everywhere. The conchas are super tempting at first look, but the part on top is not very sweet. But yes they have little bakeries everywhere. In Tonala I only know of one, but in Guadalajara there are a ton.

This week I got da gamboo. I was in Guadalajara on Tuesday doing divisions, and in the night I started to feel a bit ill, but all was well. In the morning I felt terrible. I called the mission president's wife to see what was up, took some ibuprofin and we worked all day. That night I woke up at 11:55pm and vomited everything out, brushed my teeth, and have been good ever since. Wahoo. I don't know what I ate, because I didn't eat anything strange. But don't worry. I just have a stuffy nose right now.

I am pretty sad that Grandma's Oregon house will no longer be there. I don't know how I'm going to live in Oregon with Grandma after my mission if she doesn't live there.

This week was good. Oddly enough it went by a bit slow. But we had tons of success finding new people. Every day we try to talk with as many people as we can to find new investigators. Because we don't knock doors, and rarely do we receive references from the members, it is pure finding on our own accord.

The investigators are doing super well. Eduardo has faced a lot of trials in these past few weeks, lost his job, and has been searching super hard for a while. He occasionally finds odds and ends jobs, but only for a day or two.

The Pacheco family is doing really well. Unfortunately they did not come to sacrament meeting, because the mom got sick in the morning and went to the hospital. Also in a releif society activity the oldest daughter was playing with another kid and broke her arm. Poor lil' gal. The investigator from Texas who sells water is good. We visited him today - he is an awesome dude, and has had some of the wildest experiences in the world.

Things with Elder cruz are good, there are a lot of things that must be ignored, but I will be able to say it was a good experience, some day.

You learn and change a lot in the mission. Some things don't change - I bought some new shoes today, and I already justified it. I have pretty much worn my black shoes every day of my mission, except when I wear my suit (when I wear brown).  But I figured if the black ones can handle 6 months of pretty much every day use, the two of them together can handle every other day use, and then I got some new ones to use with the suit. THEY ARE PRETTTY. Yaayy

I LOVE YOU GUYS A LOT AND PRAY FOR YOU KIDS ON THE DAILY

Elder kid

Alfajor, Investigator from Texas, Cars in Mexico, Studying Holy Ghost

Food of the week: alfajor. It is the best coconut candy treat in the world. I found out about it when I had divisions with Elder Verdugo a long time ago, but it is some tasty stuff. 

This week was pretty different, we had a lot of ups and downs. We still struggle with people that are not married, we had 4 investigators who aren't married in sacrament meeting this week, and it is tricky because they cannot progress if they are not married.

Also we had a family home evening with the Pacheco Hernandez family. At the end the mom asked us if it was a problem If they weren't married. I was about ready to punch a whole in the wall, but as we investigated a bit more, we confirmed that YES they are married LEGALLY. We had clarified it earlier, but she thought she had to be married into the church before.

This week we talked a lot with people on the streets and what not. People are cool and fun to talk with, it is incredible to hear the stories and different ways that people think about Things. We have one investigator who used to live in a mansion in Texas, had a Rolls Royce and a Mercedes Benz, he has a degree in Quantum Physics, and knows 5 languages. He got sick of the greed and the ridiculousness of the people, left everything and now sells water in Mexico. I like to talk to him, because nothing worldly matters to him. Now he just helps people out. He has read a ton of books, and distracted the bishop beyond all belief in the gospel principles class yesterday. 

Mom you asked about the cars. I saw a lot more cool cars in Morelia, the coolest are some of the Peugeots, Audi has a few models that don't exist in the states, as well as Renault, but maybe it is just cool because they don't exist in the states.

Stuff the sisters left behind when we traded houses with them.

I've been studying a lot about the Holy ghost. When we recieve the gift of the holy ghost and when we fullfill our part of the covenant we are promised his company. If we have his company he will always be there ready to tell us what to do, who to talk with, what not to do and what to say. But, being the carnally minded humans that we are, a lot of times we are too dense to realize these promptings. I have been working a lot to be more keen to the promptings of the spirit and to always have the spirit more in my life.

How is the family prayers going? DO THEM!

Sure love you all a lot. And really count your blessings, becasue the Lord treats us well.

lOTS OF LOVE

elmers Glue.

Tejuino, Grow an Ankle, Talk on Love and Charity

February 24, 2014

*Tejuino is a stellar fermented corn beverage that is both healthy and delicious. (yes I checked with the authorities and it is not against the word of wisdom) But tejuino, they have it all made, then when you buy it, they put salt sugar and lime in the cup, and its TASTYYYYYY.

*Today I washed my watch band for the first time, 4 months of mexican sweat does a number, but now it smells fresh as can be, and back to the regular color.

*I am ready to chop off my ankle and grow a new one, like a lizard, I keep on spraining it even though I wear my brace every day, I will send a picture of the roads one day and  you will see why.

*Don't worry about the bed bugs mom, we super killed them all. If you buy this really strong chemical, and soak the mattress in it, they go away, we are fine.

*There is this soap that is made of hay, and it is the best smelling thing in the world. 

This week was marvelous, even though it went by super slow. But yesterday, yesterday was a day. The family of five without furniture (family pacheco hernandez) they all came to church again and loved it. AaAAAND, Our investigator Eduardo came to church, Eduardo is stellar, because he is always reading his Book of Mormon, but he understands everything and thinks about everything and applies everything. Every time we have lessons with him I just want to invite him to come be a missionary with us, mainly just to hang out, because I love him.

We got a new sister missionary in the district this week. Poor little thing doesnt understand a lick of Spanish and got sick in her first week. It is really hard for her and her companion, but I do what we can to help them.

Things with my companion are good. I have to do a lot to avoid contention, and sometimes I have to lay down the law with a lot of love, but it is all good.

I spoke this week in church about Love and Charity. I think it went really well, especially since it was in spanish and I prepared it 1 hour before chruch. 

I'm reading in Revelation, that book is nuts.

Get married  (if you're living with your boy/girl friend) before you tell the missionaries you want to get baptized, it makes things easier.

District leaders have to do divisions with every elder in their district every transfer, which is rough, because we have a district of 10, but 2 are sisters. Still, I have to do 6 divisions, but all the other elders are in Guadalajara, which means I get to go there more, wahoo.

Things are going super well here in the missionary life. As a missionary you learn a lot about patience, which is a good thing, also humility, you really just learn a ton of stuff, and I love mission.

Mom and dad, you guys should start thinking about buying a house here, It would definitely be worth it, homes are cheap cheap cheap and Mexico is the coolest.

Keep on keeping on and do your family prayers!.

Lmer Hme

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

.

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