Training with mission president, baptism, Meet the Mormons

February 23, 2015

We have got some major sleepy kittens going on over here. This week was super busy, and this next week is going to be just as busy.

We had a training this week with our mission president, and it was really really nice. But, things were stressful at the same time. On Wednesday, we had to buy the snack for the whole bunch (36 people). You can easily spend 500 pesos on water, juice, small cookies, and an apple. (We live on 800 pesos every two weeks, so 500 is a large sum.) Also on Wednesday we had to move 7 huge tables from one church to another. There is nobody in our ward with a large truck, so we had to contact someone from another ward. We waited for him for 2 hours. Every half hour he told us just a little bit more, but we made it. 

Two elders that came from far far away came and slept at our house, so they could get to the training on time.

Thursday we got up bright and early, and got everything all set up. The training was mainly focused on how to work better with the members and how to involve them better in missionary work.

This week we had a baptism with our super mega investigator Angel. He has been investigating the church for a long long time, and he was the one that last Sunday we taught him and got him to accept a baptismal date. The bishop baptized him. The bishop also got to the baptismal service 30 minutes late, so that was spectacular. Punctuality is the coolest. But everything turned out super good in the service - the talks were short and to the point, the service was done and Angel was super pumped stoked excited. One of the best parts of our work is helping people enter into this amazing covenant with God. Wahooo. I will do my best to send you guys a picture of his baptism, buuuut my camera just got another virus, so that is the coolest. I think when I get home I will be buying a macbook, because I am sick of virus´s and want to deal with them never again.

Today, was super duper duper great. We had to be in a different chapel at 730am for a super mysterious mystery meeeting and we had no idea why. When we got there, our president was talking abnormally giddy--ish, and then he let us know that we were going to watch the church’s new movie Meet the Mormons, Honestly, it made me feel the spirit strongly, made straight up tears fall out of my face. I was a super great experience. I hope you all can see it and enjoy it as much as we did. 

I also made quesadillas today, so not much is better than that...

Love you all so much. 

Elder Hulme.

These three guys all went to Timpview

Zone activity, Esther

February 16, 2015

This week was a good one, full with a good large amount of trials. BUT WE LOVE Life.

We bought a super huge giant pizza, so that was a good thing.

Today was one of the busiest days of my life. We cleaned the house super thorough, held the zone activity - full of about 40 minutes of playing soccer as a zone, and then a scavenger hunt that Elder Lopez and I arranged full of crab walks, leap frog, follow the prophet, (everyone with their eyes closed except the prophet) and pizza. Not the whole zone could go, but those that were there had a good time. 

We had a super miracle yesterday. We have an investigator who has been coming to church every single week. We have taught him all of the missionary lessons about 103 times, and his wife is a member. We had invited and invited and invited him to be baptized. We had a lesson with him and his wife this Sunday after church for like the billionth time. We talked about how to receive an answer from the Holy Ghost, but there was something different this time. The spirit was ever so strong, it made tears fall out of your eyeballs. At the end of the lesson there was a super silence, we asked him what he thought, and he said, I want to be baptized, I´m ready. So now we have just got to get everything all lined up for his baptism for this week.

I really love this gospel. The happiest moments in my life have been those in which the Holy Ghost is testifying in a small room with 2 missionaries, 1 investigator, on occasion a member, and the strongest presence of the Holy Ghost. It has an effect on me that afterward I cannot quit smiling - where I can forget the moments that have happened and it just rocks my world. 

We have another investigator, who has had about 1400 baptismal dates, and every time we get one all set up, some sort of catastrophe happens. This week he had to go on a super quick business trip to Colima Mexico and totally ruined everything, but that is alright. God’s team always wins. 

Glad to hear that there are some new bikes running around the house. Now I just hope that you kids ride them; ride their guts out. 

Unfortunately, I did not eat anything crazy or weird this week.

TODAY I am about as tired as I have ever been. I feel like we have ran everywhere and there is just a whole bunch of thoughts feelings and everything going on in my brain. 

I read a little bit of the story of Esther this week. If only we could all have as much faith as she had, fast the way she fasted, and be cool like Ester.

I love this gospel, church, I love being able to thank and ask my heavenly father for blessings, and that he always listens. I know that Christ lives, and that he directs this church.

Elder Hulme.

Stinky cyber, glorious m&ms, we found a family, jackfruit

The kid next to me in the cyber is watching Go Go Power Rangers videos, and I hear it all. This cyber smells exactly as you might think a 4x7 meter room with 17 video game addicts between 14-19 years of age, all of which are sweaty and stinky pills. So it is a riot. 

Every week is the fastest thing in the whole world. Honestly there are some problemitas in our zone, so on frequent occasions we have to be super duper gypsy ladies, and go help them study, to make sure they are studying efficiently and getting things done. We studied with a companionship, that in the last two months, has received 4 big Costco bags of m&ms. After an intense study learning session, we ate a large amount of m&ms. GLORY.

We have been on a wild goose chase for new investigators - but not just people that are willing to listen, but people that are prepared to accept the gospel, that are ready to have their lives changed through the atonement and gospel of Jesus Christ. This Saturday this vision was done. I honestly felt like Martin Luther King Junior, having dreams and such. Saturday, all of our plans had fallen -- hard. We took a looks to someone that we had wanted to contact from a couple of weeks back, and when we got there, he was not there. But someone that works for him was, and we started talking to him and started a lesson (the house is super nice and I felt fancy pants.(nice break from the usual)). After about 15 minutes, the family that we were originally looking for showed up, and it was like the first time someone mated peanut butter with chocolate -- glorious. Pretty much we found a family that is super willing to learn and accept the gospel. They have their problems and doubts, but we are going to do everything that is in our way to help them to exaltation...... 

The weather is a bit tricky right now. It is crazy crazy cold in the mornings, and then in the afternoon, it isn´t so much hot out, it just feels like the sun is a laser and that it is melting your skin with its fiery beams.

Today I bought a green tie, so that is a plus. I also ate a bowl of oatmeal and a bowl of Choco Crispies for breakfast, so we can all say that I am good. 

Last week I tried a new fruit called YAKA (Jackfruit?). Supposedly, it tastes like 7 different fruits: papaya, mango, banana, and I don´t remember the rest. It is a crazy little fruit and it was really quite tasty.

I really like being a missionary. I love sharing the gospel. Sure love you all. 

We have got another really busy week coming up so wahooo. 

Elder Hulme.

¿¿¿¿WHY DIDN´T ANYONE TELL ME YOU CAN WRITE IN COLORS?????

These notes were written to the mom separately:

Just a real quick favor. I know that there was no sort of bad intention...Just for the future, they don't want the families to send any sort of toys or little cars or anything of the sort. Turns out they can get you in doggy-doo-doo trouble. Don't  worry, all is super well. Just a head's up. Luv your guts mom.

Hey Mom, just wanted to say happiest birthday. This week it is your birthday and that is fun stuff. I hope you enjoy it and sorry I can't be there. But just you wait - I'll be there for the next one. You're the best mom a boy could ask for. Don't forget it. Have a stellar week.

Balloons and goals, sleep is a long lost friend, no cats in the bible

February 2, 2015

This week was suuuuuupers wild. 

Monday was normal, Tuesday as well.

On Wednesday we had the lidership counsel with the zone leaders sister training leaders, and the Pres. Camarillo and his wife.  We did a super fun activity about completing goals in which we had to set a goal of how many balloons we could blow up as a companionship in 1 minute. We did it, analyzed how well we did, and then afterwards set a new, higher goal, and did it again. Let's just have it known that Elder Lopez and I blew up 18 balloons together in 1 minute. Lungs r good. The meeting ended really late, we got all the packages for the zone, and were waiting for a taxi. A member showed up, gave us a ride and took us out to eat a Burger King (considered nice food over here). It was honestly quite tasty.

Thursday is always full of gummi bears as we do our weekly planning, so that makes things niiiice. And in the night we were getting everything all set up to give the zone meeting all souped up and ready to go.

Friday, we had the zone meeting, full of pretty much everything we did in the lidership counsel. And afterwards we had planned out to do companionship exchanges with Tonala 1. So once again, I got to return to my area. It was super great because I got to see a lot of the investigators that I had found over there and some of my favorite members. And I took a picture with my favorite neighborhood drunk.

Saturday we got back into our area and had a good little day. In the whole mission, we are struggling a bit to complete goals, namely in finding new investigators, getting investigators to go to church, and a whole bunch of things. So we have been giving a ton of follow-up with the district leaders, and pretty much our life is nuts. Sleep is a long lost friend. 

This week a got the nicest card from the Cope family, with a super shredding christmas cd.  I still listen to it. I wrote them a letter back, I just have to send it. But if you see them, tell them thanks. 

I sure am glad that I have gotten to get to know my Savior, his gospel, and his church. I love what I am doing, and love you all so much.

Thanks for all your support.

Elder Hulmje.

We sent a photo of one of Oli's old seminary tests to him. Notice his answer for #18.

(I should have paid better attention in seminary, turns out it never talks about cats in the bible)

Favorite Tonala neighborhood drunk

About Elder Lopez, drove car, gummi bears & stake conference

January 25, 2015

I eat quesadillas, by the dozen, not really but I eat a good amount.

This was a really fast week, and I have no idea of what to write you guys about.

I don´t know if I told you guys, but my child Elder Martinez is now in the zone, so on Tuesday when all the districts have their district meetings, I chatted a few good minutes with him and it was a jolly grand time. It is fun to see old companions, and catch up with them.

Mom asked about elder Lopez. I love his gutz. We never fight and get along really good. He is a super smart guy- he went to 1 year of college before being a missionary, is from Oaxaca, but lived in Puebla for a couple years. He likes to play basketball and had a basketball scholarship before coming out here. I have no idea what he says about me to his family, probably this.. he eats vegetables, sleep talks, and likes having sober fun in the streets. Pretty much the both of us just like getting work done and want the zone to work a little bit harder. But we love life.

I don't know what is going on in the world, but a ton of people are dying out there, and it is sad. A good friend of the zone his grandpa just passed away this week. I talked with him for a minute after stake conference to see if there was anything we could do to help him. But jeezth, it's a tough world out there.

This Saturday and Sunday was stake conference which means gummi bears in the suit coat... it was super great. On Saturday, the best talk was from a seventy, Carlos Walter Treviño, who is here. He is an ex-mission president and is super rad. He gave a stellar talk about the faith and the miracles that one can acheive with buckets of faith. 

After the Saturday night session, Elder Lopez and I were chatting with a member, and sister Camarillo came up and said, President wants to talk you two right now. (We both were like, oh crap what´d we do this time.) We went to President and he just says, "who has their driver's license?" We both raised our hands, and then he handed me his car keys and told us we had to move his car because it was blocking people. 

I drove President's car. No one in the mission has ever done that because no one has permission to drive in Mexico. WE BROKE HISTORY KIDS. Even though I just backed it up and moved it about 25 yards, history was broken.

Sunday was another super spiritual experience in stake conference. children cried. a lot.

I am really thankful for my life. I am so thankful that God loves us all so much to send his son Jesus Christ, so we would not have to suffer. I am so thankful that the gospel and church of Jesus Christ have been restored and that we have the Book of Mormon. I am grateful for my friends and family and the support you give, and for the chance I have to serve the Lord

It is a struggle to find new investigators over here. Keep us in yourz prayerz pleaze.

Elder Hulme.

Starfire is alive ma loves

Superman outfits, great interview with Pres, rosebushlike throat

January 19, 2015

Reader’s disgression (VH-I think he means discretion) advised:

This week was one where there was little work done.
MONDERZ One of our missionaries had some sort of a crazy bulge on his leg (it was gross), and it got pretty bad last Monday, so they were in the hospital getting that all taken care of. They didn´t think that they would be there for long, so they didn´t take anything with them. But he had to be in the hospital for 3 days. Elder Lopez and I got our Superman outfits on, and went and helped them out so they could have fresh clothes, stuff to study, and some super great EFY music from 2003 (sarcasm.) We took a taxi home, and with permission, got home at 9:30. 

TUEZDERZ. Was a pretty normal Tuesday. The kid that was sick is the district leader, so I gave the district meeting that week. He´s got a pretty fun district. It was just a normal day. 

WEDNEZDERZ. Every 3 months, President Camarillo has interviews with all of the missionaries. It was our turn. The role of the zone leaders with the interviews is: the night before, we must find where we are going to do the interviews, at what time, and how fast the pres. is going to do them. We also set up the order of when everyone will be interviewed and give the missionaries the list of all they have to bring.
Then on the day of, we have to revise/check all of their area books, daily planners, and Spanish/English study books. We got there at 7am, left at 4:30pm, and ate at 5.

I had an absolutely lovely interview with President Camarillo; it was one of the best parts of the week. When we started my interview, he pulled out his iPad, and pulled up the picture where dad carved my face into a pumpkin. Dad, my mission president thinks you are ingenious and a super artist. So that is a good compl(i/e)ment.

THURZDERZ. I woke up feeling a bit sickly. We did a whole bunch of walking, and at about 7pm I felt terrible. I was told to get a thermometer and some medicine and to go home and rest. We got home at 8. I had a fever of 39celsius,(bummer ted) and my throat was awfully rosebushlike (spikey). 

FRIDERZ--. I went to the clinic-like place to get checked up, and my super mega tonsel tonsil tonsuls were mega swoll, and covered in a nasty pus. Turns out I got a pretty good throat and ear infection. They prescribed me about a gallon of medicine, and told me I had to rest for 3 days.

REST OF FRIDERZ
SATURDERZ               
SUNDERZ    These three days were boring, fevered up in bed sleeping and reading. It was funny because every night this week from Thursday, I woke up in the middle of the night in a mad sweat, and my sheets always had a huge Elder Hulme print in them. Gross. Time to wash sheets. 

On Sunday night we got the list of the exchanges for the whole zone and got everything all prepared for the whole zone to come and go. My child, Elder Martinez, is now in the zone, so I am super excited to see him a lot more.

MONDERZ We were in the bus station all morning long, helping missionaries not get lost, and making sure there was order. We got back at 2pm, and cleaned the house to the ground. Right now I feel like 100bux because I can get to work again. Elder Lopez and I have lots of plans to get lots done.
Good news... God answers prayers. I am pretty much 100% cured.
The best news: The gospel has been restored. We have proof of it, written in a small lil book of 520 pages. We have a living prophet and we can have the ever so important priesthood in our lives. I know it.
I am really sorry to hear about Becky. That is too bad. I will keep them in the prayers.
I hope this letter doesn´t sound like I am complaining, I am really happy.

I LOVE YOU
Long letter. Sorry.
Elder Hulme, Occasionally disguised as DOCTOR HULme, pill popping siempre.

Once while I was sleeping they dressed up one of our favorite members as a super gangster. NOE IS IN DA HOUSE

Gross tonsils

1000mg = 1 gram. Super massive pill
I don't know what Amoxicillin is, but it seems to work.

So many tacos, cybers, accordion, I want to be a baker

I eat so many tacos, I can't believe it.

Mom had questions about what cybers are like. But pretty much, you have to understand about how all of Mexico is like. For the most part, there are not any rules if you are going to open up your own business. If you have the space, you can do whatever kind of selling, renting, or trafficking as you please. Soooo, lots of stores and little joints to buy things are just people's houses, where they take what would be the garage/parking space and sell things there. 

The cyber we usually use has about 15 computers. It is where all the gamers come, and they just lather in their chubbiness and it is the funniest. Rarely is it full, but if it is full, we just go and look for a different one. The nice part about not having rules, is that there are cybers and little stores and everything you need on just about every 6 blocks.

This week was good. Last night I played an accordion, so what else could you want in a week?

We have a super sweet investigator who has an accordion. He is 18 years old, and is totally named Luis. He got to know the church a long time ago, but has just started coming to church with us. He has 2 years playing the accordian and is super totes mega hipster. 

He invited us to eat hamburgers.

Yesterday I ate MOLLEJA which as far as my dictionary says, it is gizzard. Lets just say, I would not recommend it to absolutely anyone. 

If you ever have stomach problems, in which nothing wants to leave, buy a whole bunch of raisins, and you are good in about 6 hours.

We have an investigator named Roman. He is a baker, and every time we visit him, it makes me want to be a baker. This week I was on divisions with a new elder from Spokane Washington. We went with the baker, and I fell in love (with the thought of being a baker, not with the baker.)

We are seeing certain challenges in the zone, but we are working our booties off to get everything all taken care of. 

Sure love you all.

I have had a cold all week, so pretty much I have been looking rudolf-esque, but now I am feeling healthy and strong strong. 

Luis plays the accordion

Oli plays the accordion

This is my new t shirt I got today. I am pleased.