To all Drew's Mission followers:
You might have seen by now, but Drew has returned to us at home.
All is well, and he will be returning to the mission field again. He needs to put some things in order and prepare more. He is happy and will be staying here at home for a while. Please feel free to send him your support! He will need the momentum! Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers on his behalf so far. He will be gone again and serving the Lord as soon as he can.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
May 19, 2010
Hi Momma! Don’t worry too much about the package! I guess that UPS gets it here faster as well. But if it costs that much, I’m not too worried about it. Just take your time with it! I don’t need anything that drastically! All is well here...We went contacting in the park for the last two days. I got held up by a little tiny Guatemalan guy with no shoes. Not really held up, he just told me to give him my money. My Latino comp. for the day told him to leave, scowled at him, and I puffed out my chest really big. I towered over him about a foot and a half, so I think he got the message pretty clearly. He had his hands down his pants the whole time, so I was a bit nervous about that, but nothing ended up happening. There are a lot of homeless people downtown. We ask for an address, and they just tell us that they live here. It’s pretty sad, because they want to learn more about the gospel, but we can’t tell them because there is no way to legitimately contact them again! But it is really gratifying after two and a half hours of contacting in the sun, when you are walking out of the park and you see everyone around you reading a folleto on the restoration, and the BoM. Also...we had a crazy lady yell at us while we were waiting for our bus! It was hilarious! she was telling us all about how much she hated spoiled Americans, and how much she hates Obama because he sleeps around I guess. Of course we couldn’t understand her...I don’t speak Spanish! So we just smiled and waved at her. It just made her even more mad! So she came back for round two! Good times. I´m pretty sun burnt now too...There is now a legitimate reason for calling me rojo cabesa! Anyways...I love you guys so much! And I can’t wait to hear from you again! Love, Elder Hopper P.s...I just got a letter from Brenna today dated the 7th of May. So it looks like it takes about 12 days to get here. So hopefully you’ll get my letter soon! I’ll be sending you another one today! Love you all!
May 12, 2010 - Email and Letter
Email
Hey! I’m sending you a letter today...the envelope is stuffed with letters for other people too. We´ll see how long it takes to get to you from Guatemala! Let’s do an experiment! Life is the same here...really boring! Stir crazy doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel! But next week we get to go to the real world and go contacting in a park. It should be a lot of fun, also they´re giving me a Latin companion so I can actually communicate with the people. My Spanish is getting a lot better since I’m here now. But I still have a really long way to go. I’m really excited to be fluent. Anyways...I love you guys! I´m running out of time here now
HEY! Is there an Eldon Stoker in our family? There is one who is serving a mission at the temple here. I told him we´ve got stokers in my family and he got really interested! So...look that up! That would be cool! Also...send my package UPS, it gets here a lot faster. And I don’t need a pocket notebook anymore. I got one here for a quarter. Stuff here is really cheap! It’s really cool! Just let me know what kind of stuff you want from here and I´ll send it back! One of my friends here bought a nice engraved machete, a soccer ball and a 70 dollar soccer jersey for 640 Quetzals (80 dollars)! So...yeah...that’s pretty cool. I love you guys mucho! Oh...one more thing...put a sticker of Jesus on the cross of Saint Mary on my package. They’re very superstitious here, and won’t touch it. Actually...it should be safe while I’m in the CCM, but that’s just for future reference.
Love you so much! Can’t wait to hear from you! -Elder Hopper
Letter
Familia-
Hola! Guatemala is amazing! I’ve got to tell you…this is truly the Promised land. It’s no wonder Lehi, Nephi and the Jaredites wanted to get here so bad! Not to mention the whole commandment thing…But it really is beautiful here. Take away the corrupt government, and pollution and I’d never leave!
All is well here, the Spanish is coming along well I think. I’m working really hard on my accent, which I’ve been told is the most difficult thing to master! Also, the people here talk incredibly fast! It is so hard to understand what they’re saying! But I know the Lord will help me. There’s no way I’d be as far as I am right now without His help. I’m getting fairly comfortable with contacting people and testifying, but that is with missionary guinea pigs, not real people. We’ll see what happens when we go contacting for real in the park next week! I guess last time a few missionaries got robbed. Or attempted robbery. Some guy on crutches came up to them and demanded money from them but the guy they were contacting told him to go away and he hobbled away.
It’s going to be great to get out of here! It’s a really nice change of pace to finally be in Guatemala, but I’ve got to tell you…stir crazy doesn’t even begin to describe it. I’d so much rather be out in the field today! Struggling like crazy with the language would be ok! I just want out! But patience is a virtue. I’m getting really good at it, too. Which is clearly evident from this letter, huh?
I’m in a threesome now. It’s Elder Joseph and I along with another Elder named McKell. Elder Joseph has gone crazy since I’ve been here and Elder McKell is insane (?). We keep each other sane, so it’s nice. My new district has two other elders named Otraf and Forsyth as well as three Hermanas, Hermanas Robles, Dopp and Ralphs. Hermana Robles is from McMinnville! So we talk about home and Voodoo donuts and the waterfront all the time. Also! I got asked to be District Leader, so that is fun. It basically entails me leading the meetings and setting goals. Not too thrilling, but kind of fun.
I get to go to the Guatemala Temple today! I’m excited! The picture we had of it is really old. It’s got a gas station right in front of it now, along with a few high rises right behind it. It’s funny to see.
Anyways…there really isn’t much to report around here. It’s all quite boring.
Oh! For Dad’s eyes only (Adam too): (Even though I know Mom will read this, and it will probably be posted on my blog as well) it’s fairly common to see people walking around on the street with Uzis and AK47’s slung around their shoulders. It’s quite exhilarating. The CCM is guarded by armed guards, too. A few days ago, we were walking on the street coming back from a mock teaching appointment, and an armored car pulled up to the gas station for the ATM and 3 guys hopped out with M16’s. It all happened really fast, too. They’ve got it down to a science.
Mom can look now. Anyways…that’s all I got. I should have a few good stories next week…we’re going contacting for real on Tuesday! Oh…and I’m slowly figuring out that my mission is very urban. Sad to me. But it’s ok. I love you so much! Go to the beach and drink from the sink for me!
Love,
Elder Hopper
Hey! I’m sending you a letter today...the envelope is stuffed with letters for other people too. We´ll see how long it takes to get to you from Guatemala! Let’s do an experiment! Life is the same here...really boring! Stir crazy doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel! But next week we get to go to the real world and go contacting in a park. It should be a lot of fun, also they´re giving me a Latin companion so I can actually communicate with the people. My Spanish is getting a lot better since I’m here now. But I still have a really long way to go. I’m really excited to be fluent. Anyways...I love you guys! I´m running out of time here now
HEY! Is there an Eldon Stoker in our family? There is one who is serving a mission at the temple here. I told him we´ve got stokers in my family and he got really interested! So...look that up! That would be cool! Also...send my package UPS, it gets here a lot faster. And I don’t need a pocket notebook anymore. I got one here for a quarter. Stuff here is really cheap! It’s really cool! Just let me know what kind of stuff you want from here and I´ll send it back! One of my friends here bought a nice engraved machete, a soccer ball and a 70 dollar soccer jersey for 640 Quetzals (80 dollars)! So...yeah...that’s pretty cool. I love you guys mucho! Oh...one more thing...put a sticker of Jesus on the cross of Saint Mary on my package. They’re very superstitious here, and won’t touch it. Actually...it should be safe while I’m in the CCM, but that’s just for future reference.
Love you so much! Can’t wait to hear from you! -Elder Hopper
Letter
Familia-
Hola! Guatemala is amazing! I’ve got to tell you…this is truly the Promised land. It’s no wonder Lehi, Nephi and the Jaredites wanted to get here so bad! Not to mention the whole commandment thing…But it really is beautiful here. Take away the corrupt government, and pollution and I’d never leave!
All is well here, the Spanish is coming along well I think. I’m working really hard on my accent, which I’ve been told is the most difficult thing to master! Also, the people here talk incredibly fast! It is so hard to understand what they’re saying! But I know the Lord will help me. There’s no way I’d be as far as I am right now without His help. I’m getting fairly comfortable with contacting people and testifying, but that is with missionary guinea pigs, not real people. We’ll see what happens when we go contacting for real in the park next week! I guess last time a few missionaries got robbed. Or attempted robbery. Some guy on crutches came up to them and demanded money from them but the guy they were contacting told him to go away and he hobbled away.
It’s going to be great to get out of here! It’s a really nice change of pace to finally be in Guatemala, but I’ve got to tell you…stir crazy doesn’t even begin to describe it. I’d so much rather be out in the field today! Struggling like crazy with the language would be ok! I just want out! But patience is a virtue. I’m getting really good at it, too. Which is clearly evident from this letter, huh?
I’m in a threesome now. It’s Elder Joseph and I along with another Elder named McKell. Elder Joseph has gone crazy since I’ve been here and Elder McKell is insane (?). We keep each other sane, so it’s nice. My new district has two other elders named Otraf and Forsyth as well as three Hermanas, Hermanas Robles, Dopp and Ralphs. Hermana Robles is from McMinnville! So we talk about home and Voodoo donuts and the waterfront all the time. Also! I got asked to be District Leader, so that is fun. It basically entails me leading the meetings and setting goals. Not too thrilling, but kind of fun.
I get to go to the Guatemala Temple today! I’m excited! The picture we had of it is really old. It’s got a gas station right in front of it now, along with a few high rises right behind it. It’s funny to see.
Anyways…there really isn’t much to report around here. It’s all quite boring.
Oh! For Dad’s eyes only (Adam too): (Even though I know Mom will read this, and it will probably be posted on my blog as well) it’s fairly common to see people walking around on the street with Uzis and AK47’s slung around their shoulders. It’s quite exhilarating. The CCM is guarded by armed guards, too. A few days ago, we were walking on the street coming back from a mock teaching appointment, and an armored car pulled up to the gas station for the ATM and 3 guys hopped out with M16’s. It all happened really fast, too. They’ve got it down to a science.
Mom can look now. Anyways…that’s all I got. I should have a few good stories next week…we’re going contacting for real on Tuesday! Oh…and I’m slowly figuring out that my mission is very urban. Sad to me. But it’s ok. I love you so much! Go to the beach and drink from the sink for me!
Love,
Elder Hopper
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
May 5, 2010
This is truly the country of eternal spring! Its absolutely gorgeous, and I love it! But im constantly sweating! Its not really hot...just super humid. I´m in a trio now instead of just a companionship. ive still got Elder Joseph, but now we also have an Elder Mckell. He´s pretty cool! So we got to the airport last night, and an old fat guy came up to us and said Elderes! Ill go get la autobus! It was really creepy. he had no official markings or anything. We couldnt find a phone, and were trying to communicate with people in our limited english! We thought he was going to kill us! But we made it ok, after a few near misses in the bus, lots of honking horns, and flipping off a cop or two by the driver. Interesting country. BUT they have mcdonalds, payless shoe source AND CHUCKY CHEESE!!! Turns out the temple is in my mission, along with most of downtown. Im excited about that. So...we Can talk on mothers day! Well...actually this saturday. They celebrate mothers day on the tenth. Every year. Weird. But were calling on the 8th. Also weird. Anyways...YOU need to call at exactly 12:30 your time to this number: 011 502 4616 0170. EXACTLY 12:30 your time. We´ll have fuifteen minutes to talk! I´m excited! I can see the temple from my room, and we´ve always got our windows open. Its awesome. No huge bug bites yet. I´m rooming with three latino missionaries who dont speak a lick of english. Communicating is dificíl, and my diccionario is my best friend! Tambien, I´m getting really good at charades. Anyways. I gotta go. I love you all so much! I cant wait to hear from you! I love you mucho!!! Love, Elder Hopper P.S. my address is
Bulevar Vista Hermosa 23-71 space
Vista Hermosa 1, Zona 15 space
01015 Guatemala City space
Guatemala, C.A.
(for some reason these spanish keyboards dont let you go down a line with the enter button. Hence the word space. Lo ciento. Crazy Latinos.)
Bulevar Vista Hermosa 23-71 space
Vista Hermosa 1, Zona 15 space
01015 Guatemala City space
Guatemala, C.A.
(for some reason these spanish keyboards dont let you go down a line with the enter button. Hence the word space. Lo ciento. Crazy Latinos.)
Saturday, May 1, 2010
April 28, 2010
4/28/2010
Marmy!
Hola! Como estas? Estoy muy bien porqué hoy yes día de preparación! Vi L. Tom Perry ayer! Translation: Hello! How are you?! I’m very good because today is P-day! Yesterday I got to listen to a fireside by L. Tom Perry! It was so amazing! We always sing a few hymns about a half hour before the fireside starts and in between one of the hymns a coordinator stood up and said “We should sing these songs with reverence, and remember to stand if one of the brethren comes in the room.” We were all so excited because no one ever knows who is speaking before it’s announced at the Devotional, so Tuesday afternoons are pretty exciting times. But anyways, Elder Perry spoke about the Book of Mormon. He bore powerful testimony about it too. He told us that we need to stop converting people with the social aspect of the church and begin converting people with the doctrine. He also said “I can assure you that God lives.” There has been much speculation as to what that means, as I’m sure you can imagine.
So, turns out we’re leaving this MTC this Tuesday! So expect a phone call from me around noon there. We’re flying from SLC to Dallas, then to Guatemala City! So on Wednesday, I’ll be fully immersed in the Spanish language! And by Thursday I should be completely fluent. That’s the game plan, at least. Also…according to the MTC officials here, we won’t be able to call home on Mother’s Day. So that kinda stinks, but I’ll be in Guatemala, & hopefully the rules will be different down there. I guess we shall see.
My comp. is starting to flip out a little bit. I think the whole going to Guatemala thing is starting to freak him out. He’s only flown once before, & I think he thinks he’s going to get shot or something if his bags weigh 51 pounds. He spent our entire afternoon class time yesterday (4 horas) drawing a picture of a tree with a heart with his & his GF’s initials carved in it. With a caption that read, “Shilo and Lauren married for time and all eternity on June 28, 2012.” They’ve got a date set!
Think he might be just a bit distracted? Who knows. But he swears she’s the only thing keeping him out here. I guess we’ll see what plays out in the next few months.
We’ve been teaching a lot & have a goal to teach 8 lessons this week. Which is quite a bit jammed between class, personal, language & comp. study. Not to mention gym time & service. But I think that we can do it!
Our teacher Hermano (Brother) Shulca just had a baby boy! We had a substitute in class yesterday & from henceforth he will be known as Papa Shulca. We’re all pretty excited for him.
We went to the Referral Center on Monday and got to make some calls to some potential investigators. My comp. talked to a guy named Marvin who was handicapped & just wanted to give back to God. He talked to him for twenty minutes and eventually placed some missionaries and a Book of Mormon! Total golden investigator! I mostly got a ton of voicemails. But, it was fun. I got to bear my testimony to a few people who couldn’t care less, but at least I planted a few seeds! Hopefully we’ll get to go back a few times before I leave.
A few guys in my zone are going to Mexico & their Visas are way backed up, so they’ve been here for about two weeks too many. They’re slowly going crazy. It’s fun for me to rub it into their faces that I’ve only been here two weeks and I’m leaving in a week! You don’t need a Visa to live in Guatemala. I guess you just need a passport.
As for volleyball. Kindly tell my loving father that I’ve consistently been the best hitter on my team, thanks to his guidance and wisdom. I’m really excited to see if they play in the CCM (Guatemala MTC). Hopefully they’ll be a bit better there than they are here.
It still hasn’t completely sunk in that I’m not going home for two years. I don’t really know when it will. It’s kind of a weird thing. Every once in a while I get pretty homesick & miss weird things like driving downtown, or wasting my life away at Chad’s house but I will live.
I made a really really good friend here named Elder Mack. He’s going to Eugene, Spanish speaking! I don’t know whether or not I told you about him, but he’s pretty much the funniest guy here. Not the most obedient missionary, but I really like him. We’re talking about rooming together at BYU-I when we get back. But who knows with me being married 6 months after I get back & all. Chiste! (joke!)
(The family keeps teasing Drew that he will meet someone and get married within six months of his return)
So I just took a break of writing this letter to get some food & to change my laundry (& email you!) and I put my clothes in the dryer, paid for it & started it and it didn’t work! My life is pain. So I had to pay the ten cents again to start another. Oh well. Then I went outside and it was SNOWING! What’s wrong with Provo?! Oh well. I do kind of like it here.
Well…this letter has been long enough and bounced around enough. Sorry about that, by the way. Oh! I’ve traded multiple ties. I feel as if my collection has been substantially increased in quality. Anyway, enough jumping. I love you guys soooo much! Dearelder me to tell me what a good time to call you on Tuesday would be. The last time to Dearelder me is Sunday night cuz I leave on Tuesday @ 5 in the morning! Fun! Love Love Love you! You’re what keeps me going!!!
Love,
Elder Hopper
(Hiphopyoucantstop)
(Hermana Miller wrote the following)-
Hermana Miller is my favorite sister ever!
She knows the Kearsleys! Insanity!
Marmy!
Hola! Como estas? Estoy muy bien porqué hoy yes día de preparación! Vi L. Tom Perry ayer! Translation: Hello! How are you?! I’m very good because today is P-day! Yesterday I got to listen to a fireside by L. Tom Perry! It was so amazing! We always sing a few hymns about a half hour before the fireside starts and in between one of the hymns a coordinator stood up and said “We should sing these songs with reverence, and remember to stand if one of the brethren comes in the room.” We were all so excited because no one ever knows who is speaking before it’s announced at the Devotional, so Tuesday afternoons are pretty exciting times. But anyways, Elder Perry spoke about the Book of Mormon. He bore powerful testimony about it too. He told us that we need to stop converting people with the social aspect of the church and begin converting people with the doctrine. He also said “I can assure you that God lives.” There has been much speculation as to what that means, as I’m sure you can imagine.
So, turns out we’re leaving this MTC this Tuesday! So expect a phone call from me around noon there. We’re flying from SLC to Dallas, then to Guatemala City! So on Wednesday, I’ll be fully immersed in the Spanish language! And by Thursday I should be completely fluent. That’s the game plan, at least. Also…according to the MTC officials here, we won’t be able to call home on Mother’s Day. So that kinda stinks, but I’ll be in Guatemala, & hopefully the rules will be different down there. I guess we shall see.
My comp. is starting to flip out a little bit. I think the whole going to Guatemala thing is starting to freak him out. He’s only flown once before, & I think he thinks he’s going to get shot or something if his bags weigh 51 pounds. He spent our entire afternoon class time yesterday (4 horas) drawing a picture of a tree with a heart with his & his GF’s initials carved in it. With a caption that read, “Shilo and Lauren married for time and all eternity on June 28, 2012.” They’ve got a date set!
Think he might be just a bit distracted? Who knows. But he swears she’s the only thing keeping him out here. I guess we’ll see what plays out in the next few months.
We’ve been teaching a lot & have a goal to teach 8 lessons this week. Which is quite a bit jammed between class, personal, language & comp. study. Not to mention gym time & service. But I think that we can do it!
Our teacher Hermano (Brother) Shulca just had a baby boy! We had a substitute in class yesterday & from henceforth he will be known as Papa Shulca. We’re all pretty excited for him.
We went to the Referral Center on Monday and got to make some calls to some potential investigators. My comp. talked to a guy named Marvin who was handicapped & just wanted to give back to God. He talked to him for twenty minutes and eventually placed some missionaries and a Book of Mormon! Total golden investigator! I mostly got a ton of voicemails. But, it was fun. I got to bear my testimony to a few people who couldn’t care less, but at least I planted a few seeds! Hopefully we’ll get to go back a few times before I leave.
A few guys in my zone are going to Mexico & their Visas are way backed up, so they’ve been here for about two weeks too many. They’re slowly going crazy. It’s fun for me to rub it into their faces that I’ve only been here two weeks and I’m leaving in a week! You don’t need a Visa to live in Guatemala. I guess you just need a passport.
As for volleyball. Kindly tell my loving father that I’ve consistently been the best hitter on my team, thanks to his guidance and wisdom. I’m really excited to see if they play in the CCM (Guatemala MTC). Hopefully they’ll be a bit better there than they are here.
It still hasn’t completely sunk in that I’m not going home for two years. I don’t really know when it will. It’s kind of a weird thing. Every once in a while I get pretty homesick & miss weird things like driving downtown, or wasting my life away at Chad’s house but I will live.
I made a really really good friend here named Elder Mack. He’s going to Eugene, Spanish speaking! I don’t know whether or not I told you about him, but he’s pretty much the funniest guy here. Not the most obedient missionary, but I really like him. We’re talking about rooming together at BYU-I when we get back. But who knows with me being married 6 months after I get back & all. Chiste! (joke!)
(The family keeps teasing Drew that he will meet someone and get married within six months of his return)
So I just took a break of writing this letter to get some food & to change my laundry (& email you!) and I put my clothes in the dryer, paid for it & started it and it didn’t work! My life is pain. So I had to pay the ten cents again to start another. Oh well. Then I went outside and it was SNOWING! What’s wrong with Provo?! Oh well. I do kind of like it here.
Well…this letter has been long enough and bounced around enough. Sorry about that, by the way. Oh! I’ve traded multiple ties. I feel as if my collection has been substantially increased in quality. Anyway, enough jumping. I love you guys soooo much! Dearelder me to tell me what a good time to call you on Tuesday would be. The last time to Dearelder me is Sunday night cuz I leave on Tuesday @ 5 in the morning! Fun! Love Love Love you! You’re what keeps me going!!!
Love,
Elder Hopper
(Hiphopyoucantstop)
(Hermana Miller wrote the following)-
Hermana Miller is my favorite sister ever!
She knows the Kearsleys! Insanity!
Friday, April 23, 2010
April 21, 2010
Familia!
You’ll be pleased to hear that I just traded two ties away. My collection is getting much better! I’m having a blast here now. The first few days were really stressful & hard, but now I’m really enjoying it here.
I went outside this morning and it was raining! I was so happy! It smelled like home again. Also, it made me extremely excited for the rainy season in Guatemala! Speaking of Guatemala, I’m supposed to get my flight plans tomorrow! They had us bring our passports into the travel office to make sure they were good, and they told us we would likely be leaving on May 4th! It’s going to be weird to finally be there after almost 8 months of anticipation!
My companion’s name is Elder Joseph & he’s also going to Guatemala City Central. He’s a really good guy from a small town in Southern Utah called Beaver. So…he’s a bit of a hick, but him & I get along really well, which is a good thing because I’ve been within sight & sound of him for the last week!
Dia=day
Yo=me
My District (guys I have class with who came in the same dai as yo) are all going to Nicaragua. They’re a bunch of good guys, & it’s been a lot of fun to get to know them, even though we get picked on because we’re the only ones going to Guatemala. Secretly I think it’s because they’re jealous & sad to see us go.
My Zone (4 Districts) is also totally fantastic. There is this one missionary named Elder Mack that I really hit it off with. He’s going to Eugene Spanish speaking! So that’s pretty cool. Him & I stand in the hallway with a nerf football & throw it at each other as hard as we can. When either one of us catches it, we take a step forward. It gets pretty nerve wracking, but it’s pretty fun. He’s one I’m going to miss when I have to leave early. (We only do that at night during free time…of course )
For gym time we have been playing softball & volleyball. The gym is being renovated, so we’re forced to go to the field, which isn’t too bad unless you’ve got the 7:30 gym time! Volleyball is a blast, & playing it every day in the sand, I’m getting much better. Dad-watch out! We were playing softball yesterday & I was on first base. A guy named Elder Gustafson hit a grounder to the second baseman. Elder Gustafson is 5’10” 195 lbs. All muscle. He ran track in high school, & can BURN. He starts sprinting down the 1st base line & the second baseman throws the ball to me. I had to come off the “bag” to catch it (the bag is just one of those crappy rubber ones you can’t feel when your foot in on it). So I grab the ball, & turn around to find the bag only to find Gustafson, head down, about 3 feet away from me. Just enough time to think, “oh, crap”, and brace myself. He hits me, & we both go down. I guess you could hear the “oof” all the way to the soccer field about 100 yards away. Thankfully, we helped each other up & walked away. But I got the out! Needless to say though, today my knee is really sore & a bit swollen. Anyways…good time at the MTC!
Familia: I know this Gospel is true, I love it so much. The atonement is so amazing & I can’t wait to be able to teach it in Spanish. It’s going to be an amazing opportunity & such a blessing to me. I love you guys so much! I can’t wait to hear from you!!!
Love,
Elder Hopper
P.S. I need my camera charger & some extra memory cards for it! Love you!
You’ll be pleased to hear that I just traded two ties away. My collection is getting much better! I’m having a blast here now. The first few days were really stressful & hard, but now I’m really enjoying it here.
I went outside this morning and it was raining! I was so happy! It smelled like home again. Also, it made me extremely excited for the rainy season in Guatemala! Speaking of Guatemala, I’m supposed to get my flight plans tomorrow! They had us bring our passports into the travel office to make sure they were good, and they told us we would likely be leaving on May 4th! It’s going to be weird to finally be there after almost 8 months of anticipation!
My companion’s name is Elder Joseph & he’s also going to Guatemala City Central. He’s a really good guy from a small town in Southern Utah called Beaver. So…he’s a bit of a hick, but him & I get along really well, which is a good thing because I’ve been within sight & sound of him for the last week!
Dia=day
Yo=me
My District (guys I have class with who came in the same dai as yo) are all going to Nicaragua. They’re a bunch of good guys, & it’s been a lot of fun to get to know them, even though we get picked on because we’re the only ones going to Guatemala. Secretly I think it’s because they’re jealous & sad to see us go.
My Zone (4 Districts) is also totally fantastic. There is this one missionary named Elder Mack that I really hit it off with. He’s going to Eugene Spanish speaking! So that’s pretty cool. Him & I stand in the hallway with a nerf football & throw it at each other as hard as we can. When either one of us catches it, we take a step forward. It gets pretty nerve wracking, but it’s pretty fun. He’s one I’m going to miss when I have to leave early. (We only do that at night during free time…of course )
For gym time we have been playing softball & volleyball. The gym is being renovated, so we’re forced to go to the field, which isn’t too bad unless you’ve got the 7:30 gym time! Volleyball is a blast, & playing it every day in the sand, I’m getting much better. Dad-watch out! We were playing softball yesterday & I was on first base. A guy named Elder Gustafson hit a grounder to the second baseman. Elder Gustafson is 5’10” 195 lbs. All muscle. He ran track in high school, & can BURN. He starts sprinting down the 1st base line & the second baseman throws the ball to me. I had to come off the “bag” to catch it (the bag is just one of those crappy rubber ones you can’t feel when your foot in on it). So I grab the ball, & turn around to find the bag only to find Gustafson, head down, about 3 feet away from me. Just enough time to think, “oh, crap”, and brace myself. He hits me, & we both go down. I guess you could hear the “oof” all the way to the soccer field about 100 yards away. Thankfully, we helped each other up & walked away. But I got the out! Needless to say though, today my knee is really sore & a bit swollen. Anyways…good time at the MTC!
Familia: I know this Gospel is true, I love it so much. The atonement is so amazing & I can’t wait to be able to teach it in Spanish. It’s going to be an amazing opportunity & such a blessing to me. I love you guys so much! I can’t wait to hear from you!!!
Love,
Elder Hopper
P.S. I need my camera charger & some extra memory cards for it! Love you!
April 19, 2010
Madre-
I’m not supposed to write on any day but Wednesday, so this is gonna be quick. It’s been a hard few days, but a good few days too. It’s such an emotional rollercoaster around here. One minute I am so excited to be here and learning Spanish and the very next second I want to go home. I want to see my friends down the road at BYU or whatever. But I’ll live.
Keep the dearelder.com letters coming. They get here faster than anything else, & I like them the most anyways. Tell all my friends not to email me, but rather dearelder me. I only have 30 minutes on Wednesday to email, so reading & responding that much will be dificil. Also, they get here the same day you send them which is muy bien!
I need my charger for my camera. I don’t know where it is, but I totally forgot it. Gag me.
Anyways, I can’t wait to hear from you again. I love you so very much, You’re what keeps me going!
Love love love,
Elder Hopper
PS- I found these REALLY cool scripture markers that I want to send home for you to try. What would be my cheapest option to get them there? Can I stuff them in a letter?
I’m not supposed to write on any day but Wednesday, so this is gonna be quick. It’s been a hard few days, but a good few days too. It’s such an emotional rollercoaster around here. One minute I am so excited to be here and learning Spanish and the very next second I want to go home. I want to see my friends down the road at BYU or whatever. But I’ll live.
Keep the dearelder.com letters coming. They get here faster than anything else, & I like them the most anyways. Tell all my friends not to email me, but rather dearelder me. I only have 30 minutes on Wednesday to email, so reading & responding that much will be dificil. Also, they get here the same day you send them which is muy bien!
I need my charger for my camera. I don’t know where it is, but I totally forgot it. Gag me.
Anyways, I can’t wait to hear from you again. I love you so very much, You’re what keeps me going!
Love love love,
Elder Hopper
PS- I found these REALLY cool scripture markers that I want to send home for you to try. What would be my cheapest option to get them there? Can I stuff them in a letter?
Saturday, April 17, 2010
April 14, 2010
April 14, 2010
First day at the MTC!
Madre y Padre y Familia,
Well, the first day has been very hectic. I’m only aloud to write on Wednesdays so you won’t be hearing from me for a week. I figure this will be there about the time you get home!
As soon as you left me, we went through a gauntlet of getting nametags, taking pictures and getting English-Spanish translation material. Then we went to a classroom and learned un poquito of espanol. After that it was orientation and dinner for the rest of the night. I really like it here. My companero is awesome, a hick from Beaver, Utah. But I like him a lot. We have a room for four all to ourselves, so we’re spread all over the room. Me and Elder Joseph (my comp.) are the only two in our district going to Guatemala. Other than that, the other eight are going to Nicaragua.
Mom! In my little pack of translation books was a water bottle with a filter…turns out I do need one!
Anyway…the Sprit’s strong, the food is great, and the people are awesome. I love you guys, and I will write again next Wednesday.
With all my love,
Elder Hopper
P.S... I’m only in Provo for 3 weeks!
First day at the MTC!
Madre y Padre y Familia,
Well, the first day has been very hectic. I’m only aloud to write on Wednesdays so you won’t be hearing from me for a week. I figure this will be there about the time you get home!
As soon as you left me, we went through a gauntlet of getting nametags, taking pictures and getting English-Spanish translation material. Then we went to a classroom and learned un poquito of espanol. After that it was orientation and dinner for the rest of the night. I really like it here. My companero is awesome, a hick from Beaver, Utah. But I like him a lot. We have a room for four all to ourselves, so we’re spread all over the room. Me and Elder Joseph (my comp.) are the only two in our district going to Guatemala. Other than that, the other eight are going to Nicaragua.
Mom! In my little pack of translation books was a water bottle with a filter…turns out I do need one!
Anyway…the Sprit’s strong, the food is great, and the people are awesome. I love you guys, and I will write again next Wednesday.
With all my love,
Elder Hopper
P.S... I’m only in Provo for 3 weeks!
MTC
Wednesday, April 14, 2010:
Drew reported to the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. We had a wonderful trip there-Mom, Dad, Adam, Lainey and Drew. We left on Monday, the 12th and traveled by car to Provo. On the way, we stopped in Ogden to visit Grandpa Johnson. We had a great visit!
On Tuesday, we went up to Salt Lake City and attended a temple session at the Salt Lake Temple. That was a wonderful time! Mom and Dad were married there 25 1/2 years ago and Dad had not been back since. It was great to share this experience with Drew. Adam and Lainey played in Temple Square while we were inside the temple.
That night, we invited friends from the area to have dinner with us at Aunt Terry and Uncle Jamie's home in Provo. What fun!
Those who attended were: Kristen and Corey Davis (Drew's cousin and her husband), Michael Robertson and his date Savanah, Spencer and Brenna Dunlop, Joanna Cabrera, Casey Evenhus, Cambrai Loftus, Sara Hyde and McKenzie Johnson. It was great to have one last evening with Drew before he reported.
The next morning, Drew finished packing his suitcases and we went to breakfast at Village Inn where they treat reporting missionaries to a free meal. We saw two other missionaries there and it was fun to "people watch" and see.
We went to the Provo Temple, across the street from the MTC and parked the car so that we could walk across and take photos at the MTC sign before we drove in to drop Drew and his luggage off.
It was so much fun, and tears were definitely shed by all. What a precious memory! We are so proud of Drew and are excited to hear of his travels and experiences. Look out Guatemala! Elder Hopper is on his way! You may never be the same again.
If you'd like to write to Drew (Elder Hopper), here is his address!
Elder Andrew Thomas Hopper
MTC Mailbox #176
CUA-GUAC 0614
2005 North 900 East
Provo, Utah 94604-1793
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