Tonala, tons of dust, no shade, crush on shoes, low water baptism

Moms questions first:

1. Things are really good here in Tonalá. There is a saying in Guadalajara which is "qué dice,... Like, qué dice tonalá." It just means what's going on, or what's up, and now when people ask "qué dice tonalá," we respond "puro pulvo," which just means pure dust, because seriously there is crap tons of dust here. I get my shoes reallllly shiny, and then I leave the house and they are dusty yet again. All the roads are dirt.  Things are good, we had tons of lessons with investigators this week, but I cannot seem to get the members to help us out at all. We had 7 lessons with investigators, without members, which is the worst, but things will pick up again.

I love you sunsets

2. No we have not ridden in Starfire II again. Well Elder Cruz maybe, because we had divisions this week and Hermano Meza helped again.

3. Eduardo is true love in a man - He always reads his scriptures, always remembers exactly what we teach him, and asks wonderful questions. He is this rad little dude, with one eye that looks at you and the other somewhere else. He works some sort of construction for very little pay on the daily.

4. Twisted ankle is good. I think I did some internal damage in the MTC, because I have some sort of weird scarring, that looks like scabs on the inside of my FLESH, yummmm. But it still gets really swollen, so I'm still using my brace.

5. My companion is good. We had some little contentions this week, but my strategies are ignore what I can and try to do everything I can to help him out. Sometimes the kid makes me sad, so I cook him breakfast, FRANCH TOAST.. (I eat carrot and clementine smoothie with toast, it's tasty.).

Service cleaning up trash (everyone litters here)

 Woohoo for a new fridge, and my is it fancy, and large. Turns out mini fridges aren't that cool. Just so you guys know, the dishwasher is going to need to be replaced soon as well, I can feel it in my blood and guts. 

This week we had divisions, I was in GUADY LOOJARA. Let's just say I am in love with that city. I was there with Elder Verdugo, (District leader), he is the Mexican equivalent of Soren Jensen; looks the same, talks the same, smells the same, and he is great. It was lovely to work in Guadalajara. It's a big ol' city and their area is really small, but it was nice because there is shade. Tonala has no shade. Sometimes at about 12p/1pm, I feel like I am melting on the inside. But I love it here as well. Also Elder Verdugo has a man crush on shoes, so we talked about shoes for a good amount of time. Also he eats broccoli for breakfast like me. He is a killer elder. He turned 25 yesterday, and he works hard, which I like, because sometimes I feel like I'm herding sheep in my area. But it's what the Lord and Presiden Camarillo want.

 

Baptism

Glad to hear that the bike shop is going and that you kids got it all done. I almost cried seeing the old space all cleared out, but it will be incredibly interesting to see what will go there, and I can't wait to see all the photos of the new space. I HOPE YOU DIDNT FORGET MY BIKES.

I bought some vitamins last week. I figured I needed them, because for pretty much all the meals we eat rice, tortillas, and some sort of fleshmeat.

Organization is key. The sisters had a baptism this week at eight, and we showed up at 10 to eight, because they said they did not need any help setting up. We got there, there was no water in the font, no chairs set up and nobody there. Good planning sisters. We did what we could to fill the font up, and Elder Cruz did the dunking. (Church site still only has size 52 baptismal pants.) But the water was so low, (about mid thigh on someone who is 5.8) that the investigator had to sit down, and Elder Cruz had to kneel. The two of them lack a lot of grace and he hit his head on the wall, I had to hold in my laughs real good. Needless to say, it was a fiasco, and if we have learned anything, plan your baptisms good, sister missionaries.

Sure love you all so much, and you guys are the best, 

Have awesome weeks. Xander is getting married in less than 2 weeks, jeezth.

Elder Hulme. <3

Starfie's twin, Lord sent gold, twisted ankle

*This week we did some visits with a member by the name of H. Meza. He drives a 1992 mazda b2600. It's in a lot worse condition than Starfire, but a lot of the interior is identical. It was super fun to be in that lump of steel again. I love you Starfie.

*This week I did a lot of studying in 1st Corinthians. 1Cor. 13 is a cool short chapter, it just talks about how charity is suuuuper important, BE CHARITABLE.

*you can buy 2 heads of brocolli, a bunch of carrots, 2 jicamas, 4 cucumbers, a head of lettuce, 3 tomatoes and 3 apples for 30 pesos if you do it right.

* The 2nd package that  you sent did not come. I have a feeling that it isn't going to make it. The Copes sent me a christmas card and an amazing CD. Someone please tell them they are the coolest.

*This week we were doing some less active member hunting. We made a huge list and went out searching. We also were doing everything possible to find new investigators, seeming as we have few, and none are willing to do anything to change their lives. Finally, the Lord sent us some gold. We were searching for a less active sister, and we could not find her house. We asked a neighbor and then started to chat with him. His name is Eduardo. We introduced the gospel and he said that we could come back on Sunday. We went yesterday, talked with him about the restoration, and it was amazing. Once again, this is another person where alcohol had caused some large problems in his life and he is ready to change. But this man, this man seems special to me I don't know why. I can't wait for our next lesson with him. 

* Things are going well with my companion. I have figured out strategies to make things work, and oddly enough, time is passing by really quickly, despite the lack of investigators. The elders before me would just waste up to 3 hours in the houses of the members. When my companion told me this I said, oh well that is great and that is exactly what we are not going to do.

*This week i finally convinced my companion to go running with me. We got up early and went running, and after about 15 minutes, I stepped poorly and twisted my ankle reallll good. I was really frustrated, but it feel pretty good now, so hopefully we'll be able to start up again this week. 

Well it seems like you guys are all pretty darn busy getting things all set up for the wedding and the bike shop. Best of luck to you all. Love you all tons.

L derrrr hume hume hume

First week in Tonala, scriptures are the coolest

Hahaaaa, I do lots of laughing in my brain lately. Here is a list of silly things about my new companion. Stares at me, when I change, when I study, for multiple minutes - it's really uncomfortable. Moves a ton when he walks, somehow moving both arms in different directions, his head, his knees and ankles and face. It's silly. The best way to put it is he lacks a ton of social grace, I feel a bit bad for the dude, but he is very bold and strong headed, even when wrong, so it levels out. Has 3 suits (still don't know why).

Tonalá is the name of my new area. Its different, the people live a lot more humbly, and don't have much. Pretty much every day I am thankful for what I've got. But Tonala is a little artisan town on the outskirts of Guadalajara. I think my president is playing mindtricks with me, because he knows that I want to serve in Guadalajara, so he says we'll put him real close. Today we went to the downtown part where there is a ton of super rad little shops, cool hand made mugs and plates and beautiful things. Also there is a part of our area where we overlook Guadalajara, which is so incredibly massive.  There are few asphalt streets--mostly dirt or these really spiky rocks--so there is tons of dust everywhere which makes for very dirty boogeys. Also it is a lot more warm here. Morelia was the coldest thing in the world. 

My companion is from Mexico City. He is 18 years old, he was born in the covenant, his parents are converts, his younger brother is 17. He does have a girlfriend. I made him buy a watch today. He is skinny and sheds about as much hair as Decca. Man I am funny. No but he is good. Patience is a goood thing to have in the mission. Mine has definitely improved, and I still lack a lot.

I honestly don't have too many great stories from this week. I'm trying to get to know my area as quick as I can, but I've already got the majority of the buses that we use, and know a lot of the people, but there is tons of stuff to work on.

Let's just get one thing right, the scriptures are the coolest and everyone should spend more time in them. Everyone have good weeks, that is an order.

Love you all a lot. 

Elder Hulme

Transfer to Jalisco, New Year's

January 6, 2014

Okay here we go. On Saturday Elder Lux got a phone call from president, saying that he was going to train a new companion. Which means see you later Elder Hulme. Part of the 2014 resolutions was that I was going to make everything as good as I can with all of my companions. So we will see how it goes. So I'm in a new area. I'm in Jalisco, my Zone is Reforma 2, and my area is Tonala. And I'm here with Elder Cruz, and it's going to be awesome.

I was incredibly sad to leave Camelinas and Morelia because I love that city so much. And it is especially a bummer that we had 4 secure baptisms for the month of January, so pretty much a large portion of my blood sweat and tears, mostly sweat and tears will be inherited by some new elder. But that's alright - its the mission and I already left Morelia. I don't know much about my new area. Our house is super large and it has a microwave, and the boiler is NICE! So it'll be interesting to see how the next little bit goes, but we are going to make it work.

Here is a bit of a different/funny experience. We'll title it, "sometimes other people get you in trouble." Mission rule, You have to be in your house at 9:00pm but you can be out until 9:30 if in a lesson and you have permission. We had a lesson on Thursday, we brought the bishop along because it was a new investigator and we wanted him to get to know people. **note-The bishop always talks a ton** So we got there about eight, we had anticipated the bishop causing us to be late so we asked for permission. Elder Lux and I finished the lesson had the prayer and everything was all good to go at about 9:05, so we would have plenty of time to get home. At about 9:06, the investigator asked a simple question, that started a wild fire in the bishop's mind and mouth. He figured at that time, it would be a good time to explain the 10 Commandments, semi-thoroughly, and that took up until about 9:22. So he finishes the commandments, and I'm just like shut up shut up shut up we have to go home... With our lovely luck, the investigator had a question about tithing at 9:22, the bishop looked at me and said I'll answer this one. Needless to say, we got home late and when that happens you have to call president and get a royal PLANCH. It all turned out fine, but honestly there was 100% nothing else we could do. And the bishop knew exactly what time we had to be home. Oh well its over. 

New years eve and day in the mission are tricky because everyone just gets drunk as can be, and then the go out and shoot their guns in the air -1800's saloon style. So those days we had to be in the house at 7pm because it is crazy dangerous. 

I'm super glad to hear that all is well back home, and that the tortilla maker is being used with frequency. Mom, How are you doing the dough? Do you buy it or do it yourself? 

Is it snowing?

Don't worry I've learned to be a pretty clean person, because I cannot stand living in missionary filth, but I still have not learned to put my shoes away. The other day I had the insoles of some shoes, my shoes, and 2 pairs of flip-flops on the floor, and I thought, man Mom would be proud. 

I love missionary work to death. Sometimes it makes you wish that death was a bit closer, but it's usually pretty rockin. Also the best part is having lessons. 

What goes on with the missionaries in ward? Are there any? I only remember seeing them once every fortnight or so.

Well kids, sure love you all a ton and you guys are the best and have awesome weeks and don't do drugs because those fry your brain.

--elder hulmme

Fountains

cows in the streets want to go to the tiendas as well

Cesar never goes to church but pretty much has the scriptures memorized and works out a ton

Hermana Cidel Christmas tree

We found the top of Morelia and I love that city

Part of the Israde family (I'm convinced they are angels)

Elder Perrett

Elder Anastacio

Baptism, New Toilet Seat (Last letter from Morelia)

December 30, 2013

XANDER'S GETTING MARRIED. I teared up when I read that and I don't even know why, but really Xander I'm so excited for you. I'll let you know all that in your own email. but wahooooo.

Seeing all you crazy kids on Christmas was the best, it was so killer and super fun to see you guys. And also I'm really glad that you guys have used the tortilla maker. That pleases me, and I hope that the art is mastered by the time I get home, so I can never quit living in Mexico, or just so I can continue in my tortilla intake.

Saturday we had our baptism for JCP. It was awesome, Elder Lux did the dunkin', and someone in the ward did the confirmation, For converts we do the confirmation in sacrament meeting on Sunday. I honestly was super giddy and smiley for quite a while, and it was awesome to see JCP make this change in his life. That night I was thinking a lot about miracles. Miracles are good things to have. At the beginning of the month our zone leaders asked us for our baptismal goal for december, we said zero, because we had no prospects. They then gave us a "planch" (planchar means to iron in spanish, the equivalent would be a lecture), so they planched us, and we were like okay, well we'll have our goal be 1, but hopefully God knows who we are going to baptize because we sure don't. And then we found JCP not too long after. It honestly was a miracle, and just to spice things up, his parents will probably be baptized in 3 weeks. WAHOO.

This week we had divisions again, I get pretty sick of divisions, but the missionary manual says we have to do them. 

Meals are really different here. This morning I ate KFC at 10am. So that was different. This morning, we had extreme home make-over bathroom edition. Well not really, but we installed our new toilet seat. This one is not foamy with gross rips in it, and I am stoked to use it, (sorry for the potty talk, but not that sorry, you guys like it.)

How on earth did Erich Gublers 2 years already finish? That blows my mind, but that sounds like a cool sacrament meeting with all those missionary happenings, and that is interesting that Elder Palmer and his sister will be serving in the same state. Speaking of states, when people hear you are from Utah, they ask you if you know someone, and I always end up explaining that Utah is well a state, with thousands and thousands of people and that I probably don't know that person, but it's good. 

Hey also thanks for the Christmas gifts. The yoyo is a bit dangerous because sometimes yoyo-ing is a way better option than studying, but I have learned a lot of self control, I think I have a picture of all the goodies I have, seriously thanks, you guys HOOKED a brother up. 

Well, I sure hope that all your weeks are super great. 

LOVE YOU TONZ. 

--elder Hulme..

Also if anyone of you ever get the chance to read Johns story of the atonement, I think its in John 18-20 give or take, it's super great.

Too many coconuts, grocery shopping, skyping, royal planching

We had to make a gift for the mission Christmas party. I made a really crappy snowman to hold your photos. I apologized to the girl that got it.

Elder Lux, Elder Hulme, Elder Perrett (Zone Leader)

Elder Maughan, Elder Jenkins 

Elder Miller, Elder Hulme (from same MTC district)

Giant snowman pinata with Elder Lux

This week we made friends with a people that have a coconut selling firm, well a small business that is a little sketchy. The two coolest dudes are named d and e. D gave us free coconuts. I ate wayyyyy too much coconut. Xander, you know exactly what happens when you eat too much coconut. bahaaaa. Needless to say, coconuts are tasty.

Mom, yes I got your big package a few weeks ago. The small package I have not seen. But we only get mail once a month, because the mission offices send it to us via the zone leaders. So I'll probably get it in January.

Grandma Dot is Number 1! I got her package. The silverware poked through the wrapping paper, but let her know that we loved the treats that she sent, especially the chocolates. Elder Lux devoured those. As did I. And we are excited to get the silverware and the other mystery present. Grandma is the best best. 

I did my grocery shopping today. I'm a big boy now. Mom, to answer your question, this is what I bought:

one canteloupe

some strawberries

3 avocados

a ton of bananas

apples

soap

sugar

toothpaste

cookies

milk

I eat oatmeal every day for breakfast, but then I hook my oatmeal up with tons of fruit, like strawberries, bananas, apples, and guavas. It's super tasty. 

CHRISTMAS. I will Skype you guys at 4:00pm MEXICO TIME. Which I think is 3pm your time. But yeah, skype skype, (I will do everything I can to be punctual at 4pm mexico time sharp, but mexicans are late, always, with everything). I cannot wait to chat with you kids.

This last week we had our christmas activity with our president and all the elders and sisters from Morelia, and another district. It was fun, but at the beginning, we got a ROYAL PLANCHING. To planch someone in spanish means to iron them, or grill them. President has got some new and very difficult expectations for us, but that is no reason that we shouldn't complete them. 

Man every week mom hooks me up with everything that has happened during the week, which is a ton, how do you guys have enough time to do all of this things, going to parties and going to wedding receptions. I forgot that Budders Walker was getting married, that is crazy, but WAHOO. 

This week was good, a little tough but good. Right now everyone is out of town or at parties all the time, so we have had multiple days of pretty much just trying to find people to talk to because no one is home. Mexico loves parties, and they party hard. Starting on the 18th, pretty much everybody goes to a different "pasado" (huge party), and parties. From what I can tell they usually start around six or seven and go all night. That is another fun thing, they are not afraid to stay up all night and do fireworks the whole month of December. 

You guys are the best, and I hope you all have the best christmaseseses ever.I sure love you all so much, and I hope yours Christmases rock da hawwwwssss. 

say hello to all the family

-elderhulme

ps, don't be afraid to send pictures via email because I can print them here.

Jello, best dude ever, Christmas tamales, ponche

Hello my friends, 

There is literally very little time to write emails today. I got sick yesterday. I called the mission president's wife to tell her I was going to take some ibuprofen because I didn´t feel well, (it's a rule), but then she told me I had to go see a doctor. I didn´t like this order, because I know that it is just a cold, and what-not. Moral of the story, when you wake up on Sunday, and it feels like there is a large cactus in your throat, just take the ibuprofin and don´t ask questions. But no need to worry, I ate some jello for breakfast and feel great. JELLO. If any of you knew how much jello we eat here, you´d be astonished. Seriously we eat tons of jello and I have no idea why, but I really like jello now, especially flavor purple.

Also we had to go to a foot doctor today for Elder Lux. He's been rocking a gnarly ingrown toenail for a month now, and decided it was time to check it out. wahoo.

Jeez, you kids had a crazy fun week it sounds like, and mom thanks for the christmas wishes and all that good stuff. I already know what I'm getting myself for christmas, this week. A sister in our ward is going to the temple, and I've got her all hooked up with money to buy me these really cool spanish scripture cases that say Mexico all over them. I'm pretty excitered. 

This week we found the best dude ever. His name is Jose C. He has been a drunk for farrr too long. He came to us, and said he was sick of being a drunk, was sick of feeling like a bum, and was spiritually lost, and wanted God to be a part of his life. GOLDEN. We had our first lesson with him on Tuesday, we told him and did everything we could to help him leave his alcoholic ways, he has been sober ever since. On Tuesday when we first met him, he looked like, well, your typical drunk, grubby clothes, raccoon eyes and scrappy beard. Kind of *tuesday-esk* We had another lesson with him on Thursday, and when we got to his house, he was in the other part of the house, so we were talking with his mom and dad for a little bit. He came downstairs and looked like one million bucks. 1000000$$$. He had completely changed up his clothes shaved and looked all spiffy. I didn't recognize him to be for realsies. We have been trying to keep him involved in whatever we can, to keep his mind away from alcohol. One of the other wards had their christmas party last week, so we took him to that, he also came to church on Sunday. The lessons that we have had with him have been incredible, because he actually wants to change. He says that he'll do anything to get his life back together. It's lovely to finally have someone who wants to go to church, and who has the desire to become closer to God, even if it requires the slightest amount of effort. We have another lesson with him today, really soon, and I am STOKED. we love Jose C. 

Dad, it was your birthday, I love your new trombone, and you'd best be practicing every day. 

Also in that christmas party we were at they had some amazing tamales. They had tamales flavored red, green (CHRISTMAS SPIRIT) And also a sweet tamale, that was flavor pineapple. Lets just say that christmas tamales are great things. There is this stuff here called ponche, its pretty much just like a cider, or wassail, but it is made with red fruits and served hot, and it is tasty tasty tasty tasty tasty stuff.

You guys got to see all of your friends this week, the olpins, the fishers, jon hansen, and mom had bookgroup, what could get better than that. Speaking of friends, the tienda that is right by our house is called *abarrotes Fer* A couple weeks ago I asked the owner his name and it is fernando, thus he calls his tienda  abarrotes FER. He is this frompy dude, with a funny haircut, that knows a little bit of english and always talks to me in english, he is the best and is one of my friends. He is a good friend.

Tomorrow we have a christmas party of sorts with the president with everyone in my zone and another zone. It will be a good time I think. 

Mothers questions:

1. I don't know when the next time I go to Guadalajara will be, probably not for a while, those last couple weeks were just extra special special.

2. This week was good, very stressful, and at times very disappointing, and at times very rewarding. I think that is how missionary work is in general. But one of our investigators didn't show up to three of the appointments we had with her during a week, so that stank. But it was a good week. It went by crazy fast.

3. Spanish is good. If the setting is controlled, I feel 94% confident. But there is hardly anywhere quiet in this city; there are always cars driving crazy, car alarms, dogs barking, babies crying, cars honking, and music playing somewhere. To celebrate christmas everyone does a ton of fireworks all the month of December. So at times it is REALLY hard to hear. 

4. We don't know exactly where we will be on christmas, I have somewhat of an idea, but it is not set in stone.

Christmas is just next week, that is nuts crazy. I'm pretty darn excited to talk with you guys. That'll be the best christmas present ever. I feel like I haven't talked with you kids in forever, but it has been 2 months. Also, I have been reading a lot in the bible, I like the bible, I mainly love the scriptures now. But for reals kids, this year, I feel like everyone is old enough to really get their minds set on the reason we celebrate christmas. JESUS. I love the tradition that our family has of reading the christmas story every year, but try to keep christ in mind and think less about gifts, giving or receiving. 

Love you all the most, hope that your weeks were super great, and that the skiing is good, and that the snow keeps falling, and that you drink way too much wassail, and eat way too many christmas goodies. (nobody here uses their ovens to bake tasty desserts, they just eat jello. I MISS HOMEMADE COOKIES).

with lots of loves love.

-HULME.