This is Elder Andrew Hopper's mailing address while he's in the CCM (Guatemala Mission Training Center)
He will be leaving in the next two weeks, so letters may or may not reach him in time, but they should forward them to him.
CCM
Boulevard Vista Hermosa 23-71, Zona 15
Vista Hermosa 1
Guatemala, Guatemala C.A. 01015
Sunday, March 25, 2012
March 24, 2012
Well hello there everyone! I keep hearing about nasty weather, and snow and rain at Lainey's games, so I just want you to know that looking outside right now it is....oh I'd say about 75 degrees and perfectly clear! :) Blessings!
Anywho...this week has been pretty good! After the first few days in the MTC, time starts to fly by! I can't believe I've already been here for three weeks! On Monday all of the Latinos and the Norteamericanos that were here three weeks before us will be leaving, so we're going to have the MTC to ourselves for a day! I'm pretty excited! But then we'll be the viejos! And we'll be expected to know everything...not so cool! But that's alright...I'll be released from my calling as District Leader, which I'm pretty happy about. It's too stressful here dealing with everyone elses problems! But I've got some pretty awesome news...we have two investigators! The whole kitchen staff, and all of the guards here are non members, most of them are catholic, but two of them are taking the lessons! A pair of nortes have been teaching a guy named Christian, and they are leaving, so they asked Elder Earl and I to teach him when they leave. So we just taught him about fifteen minutes before I got on here, and we just read from the BoM with him, and prayed and he commited to be baptized when he finds for himself that these things are true! We meet with him again on Wednesday...I'm excited! Then on Thursday, one of the teachers came up to Elder Earl and I during dinner and told us one of the cooks wants to learn more and asked if we would be able to teach him in like...fifteen minutes! So we did, and we're teaching him again on Monday...they both seem pretty open, but we'll see if they keep their commitments...that's the big thing!
The language is coming along great. I am SO blessed about it! Seriously, I don't know what I'd do without the gift of tongues...I have a testimony of it now for sure! Oh, by the way, we found TWO volleyballs last week, so guess what my planner looks like for Pday? Volleybally at eleven, volleyball at twelve, volleyball and one, and so on until six! That's a good day in my book! Also, my comp and I are working on my one ball...not a soul in the world can block that! ;)
Ok...so I want you to go to the book of Enos and read through it...it prophesies of my mission! I found it this week and I freaked out a little bit! It's so cool! We're literally fulfilling prophecies given to Book of Mormon prophets here! How cool is that?!
But other than that things are really good. I'm super excited to meet the new missionaries that are coming in, and I'm sad that I have to see some of my buddies go, but they're gonna be awesome in the field! I loved seeing those pictures of Adam, they seriously made my day! We're not allowed to take pictures here except for on P day, so I don't expect to have a ton of pictures until I get out to the field. We're not allowed to send them to anyone, either...the rules hgere are pretty strict. But when I get in the field I'll start pumping them to you!
I love you guys! Thanks for the prayers and the emails and the thoughts! Keep being awesome!
Love,
Anywho...this week has been pretty good! After the first few days in the MTC, time starts to fly by! I can't believe I've already been here for three weeks! On Monday all of the Latinos and the Norteamericanos that were here three weeks before us will be leaving, so we're going to have the MTC to ourselves for a day! I'm pretty excited! But then we'll be the viejos! And we'll be expected to know everything...not so cool! But that's alright...I'll be released from my calling as District Leader, which I'm pretty happy about. It's too stressful here dealing with everyone elses problems! But I've got some pretty awesome news...we have two investigators! The whole kitchen staff, and all of the guards here are non members, most of them are catholic, but two of them are taking the lessons! A pair of nortes have been teaching a guy named Christian, and they are leaving, so they asked Elder Earl and I to teach him when they leave. So we just taught him about fifteen minutes before I got on here, and we just read from the BoM with him, and prayed and he commited to be baptized when he finds for himself that these things are true! We meet with him again on Wednesday...I'm excited! Then on Thursday, one of the teachers came up to Elder Earl and I during dinner and told us one of the cooks wants to learn more and asked if we would be able to teach him in like...fifteen minutes! So we did, and we're teaching him again on Monday...they both seem pretty open, but we'll see if they keep their commitments...that's the big thing!
The language is coming along great. I am SO blessed about it! Seriously, I don't know what I'd do without the gift of tongues...I have a testimony of it now for sure! Oh, by the way, we found TWO volleyballs last week, so guess what my planner looks like for Pday? Volleybally at eleven, volleyball at twelve, volleyball and one, and so on until six! That's a good day in my book! Also, my comp and I are working on my one ball...not a soul in the world can block that! ;)
Ok...so I want you to go to the book of Enos and read through it...it prophesies of my mission! I found it this week and I freaked out a little bit! It's so cool! We're literally fulfilling prophecies given to Book of Mormon prophets here! How cool is that?!
But other than that things are really good. I'm super excited to meet the new missionaries that are coming in, and I'm sad that I have to see some of my buddies go, but they're gonna be awesome in the field! I loved seeing those pictures of Adam, they seriously made my day! We're not allowed to take pictures here except for on P day, so I don't expect to have a ton of pictures until I get out to the field. We're not allowed to send them to anyone, either...the rules hgere are pretty strict. But when I get in the field I'll start pumping them to you!
I love you guys! Thanks for the prayers and the emails and the thoughts! Keep being awesome!
Love,
Elder Hopper #2
Saturday, March 17, 2012
March 17, 2012
Well hello there! I have SO MUCH to talk about! Sorry...the enter bar doesn´t work here, so you´re gonna have to deal with one reeeeally long paragraph. I´ll try and make it obvious when I want a space! Like right now! So last week
right after I emailed you guys I got called to be District Leader...I really didn´t want to be anything, but what can we do? So about an hour or two after my District found out that I was District leader we were supposed to be going to do Service around the streets like we do every P day, and one of the Missionaries in my District, Elder Haefner decided that it would be prime time to puke a little bit! There are only four elders in my District along with five sisters (Estrogen overload) so I had to figure out a way to let Elder Haefner's comp go do serviced while he still had a comp, but I still wanted to go meet up with the group after I took care of Elder Haefner. Anyways. Long story short is that I didn´t get to do the service project. I was pretty bummed cuz I was really stoked to get out and do something! But such is the life. But I got to give him a blessing, which was pretty cool. In the last week I've had the opportunity to give FOUR blessings! Sheesh! We had another sister in our District get sick about a day later, I was expecting an epidemic to break out, but thankfully only the two got sick. Sister Nikolayson (the MTC president's wife) was really worried, cuz I gues about six weeks ago they had a huge outbreak of some nasty sickness that got almost every single missionary here. But lots of prayer stopped that from happening, I think. Side note: Every P day they have a barbecue with hot dogs and hamburgesas and the like, and they're cooking it righrt outside the window. I am SO HUNGRY and I just want to stop typing and down six hot dogs, but patience brings blessings.
So as I think you know, my whole district came straight from home without any training in Spanish, or teaching, so it's been a rough week. They are having a really rough time with the language. Pretty much every day we have someone crying or someone really upset because they are already having us teach in the language. Which goes well and good until they ask us a question.
I'm incredibly blessed though, my comp Elder Earl and I are dong really well with it I think. I was absolutely blessed with the gift of tongues in the fact5 that I remember absolutely everything that I was taught two years ago! So my spanish is pretty conversational, so I have been able to help m,y District quite a bit. And Elder Earl is awesome at using what we're taught in class. I think he could be fluent a few weeks out into the field...the guy is a champ! I seriously love my comp! It hit me the other day though...Someday I'll actually make it out into the field and I'll get a different companion! The mission for me has always been in the MTC, so I just realized that I might get a comp that I have to live with solo and I might not like him! So I'm praying that no matter what happens, I can love my companion...we'll see what happens!
right after I emailed you guys I got called to be District Leader...I really didn´t want to be anything, but what can we do? So about an hour or two after my District found out that I was District leader we were supposed to be going to do Service around the streets like we do every P day, and one of the Missionaries in my District, Elder Haefner decided that it would be prime time to puke a little bit! There are only four elders in my District along with five sisters (Estrogen overload) so I had to figure out a way to let Elder Haefner's comp go do serviced while he still had a comp, but I still wanted to go meet up with the group after I took care of Elder Haefner. Anyways. Long story short is that I didn´t get to do the service project. I was pretty bummed cuz I was really stoked to get out and do something! But such is the life. But I got to give him a blessing, which was pretty cool. In the last week I've had the opportunity to give FOUR blessings! Sheesh! We had another sister in our District get sick about a day later, I was expecting an epidemic to break out, but thankfully only the two got sick. Sister Nikolayson (the MTC president's wife) was really worried, cuz I gues about six weeks ago they had a huge outbreak of some nasty sickness that got almost every single missionary here. But lots of prayer stopped that from happening, I think. Side note: Every P day they have a barbecue with hot dogs and hamburgesas and the like, and they're cooking it righrt outside the window. I am SO HUNGRY and I just want to stop typing and down six hot dogs, but patience brings blessings.
So as I think you know, my whole district came straight from home without any training in Spanish, or teaching, so it's been a rough week. They are having a really rough time with the language. Pretty much every day we have someone crying or someone really upset because they are already having us teach in the language. Which goes well and good until they ask us a question.
I'm incredibly blessed though, my comp Elder Earl and I are dong really well with it I think. I was absolutely blessed with the gift of tongues in the fact5 that I remember absolutely everything that I was taught two years ago! So my spanish is pretty conversational, so I have been able to help m,y District quite a bit. And Elder Earl is awesome at using what we're taught in class. I think he could be fluent a few weeks out into the field...the guy is a champ! I seriously love my comp! It hit me the other day though...Someday I'll actually make it out into the field and I'll get a different companion! The mission for me has always been in the MTC, so I just realized that I might get a comp that I have to live with solo and I might not like him! So I'm praying that no matter what happens, I can love my companion...we'll see what happens!
We got some pretty bad news last night. One of the Elders who got to go to the Provo MTC, Elder Buckley got the news that his dad passed away yesterday morning. He took it really well though. Our teacher came in and told us after our evening class last night, so our District went into their class and sang I know that my redeemer lives for him. We found out that we can sing a few days ago, so we're singing in church this week too as a District. But the Spírit was really strong. I'm pretty close with Elder Buckley, so I kind of struggled making it through the song, but I did it. Then when we finished singing they asked me to say a prayer. That was rough. But the Spirit was there again, which is the important part. Then about a half an hour later we found out that an Elder from Tonga, Elder Satini (who doesn´t speak English that well, but he's here learning Spanish...the guy is a STUD) went to get a chest X ray to see if he's got a disease that his Father and Sister died from. We hear today, so we're all kind of on the edge of our seats. Yesterday was a TERRIBLE day. But that's ok! You have to have to bad to know the good, right?!
And not all was bad. After class and planning and everything all of the Elders in both Districts got together and gave Elders Satini and Buckley blessings. That was powerful. It's amazing the love you get for someone who you've only known for a few weeks! I don't know what I'll do when we have to leave them to go to the field! No es bueno!
Like Elder Earl is going to the South mission! What is that crap?! Oh well...I'm sure I'll see him someday.
Elder Earl and I got the chance to teach together this week too! Turns out we're pretty good together! Even in Spanish! We taught one time and the Spirit just wasn´t there, so that was a pretty crappy lesson. And really frustrating, but we taught on Thursday as well and had an awesome lesson. I can't wait to actually do it for real! Seriously...I'm tired of this MTC! But only five more weeks....I can do it! I think! Well...I love
you guys! Thanks for all your prayers and thoughts, they mean a lot to
me! Much love, Elder Hopper #2
Saturday, March 10, 2012
March 10, 2012
Well hello there!
So...here I am again! This MTC is AWESOME! Seriously, I love it here! Like I told you on Thursday, the MTC President changed, so I didn´t get my awesome greeting from him that I was hoping, but that is ok! The new President´s name is President Nikolayson, and he is from Kaizer! Or at least he lived there for a long time...My companion´s name is Elder Earl, and he is awesome! He played volleyball in High School, along with a sister (Sister Brown) that´s in our district! Guess what position they both were?! Setters! So...I´ve been slamming volleyballs every gym time since I´ve been here! But today during P-day we were playing and Elder Earl was trying to dig a spike and it went right over the fence! Goooooodbye to the volleyball! And they don´t have any others! Also, it´s not particularly easy to buy them down here without outside help! So...we´re kind of stuck playing basketball now. Lame.
I´ve been sick ever since I got here! I have a sore throat, and every time I breathe deeply I have a little coughing attack...it's really annoying! And late at night I get a headache from coughing so much...no bueno! But I'll live. I blame Lainey for giving it to me. ;) Is she any better now?
I´ve been so blessed with the language! It is so cool, I haven´t forgotten a single thing that I learned two years ago! I can pretty much converse with the Latinos here! And they´re all excited that a NorteAmericano can actually communicate with them...that´s pretty strange around here! But it´s been really really awesome! I´m learning a ton, and I hope that I can help my District...the church is trying a new thing where they send missionaries straigh here. So most of my District came straight from home! And the other district in the Zone went to the Provo MTC, but didn´t have any language training! What is that all about?! So...they all only have 6 weeks to learn Spanish! I´m hoping I can be a good tool for them...Heaven knows they have a long way to go! But I love them...my zone is awesome!
Well...I must be going now, I think I´ll go ahead and write the other Elder Hopper...because I can! I love you guys a ton! Feel free to send letters and other fun things! Love you!
Love,
Elder Hopper
So...here I am again! This MTC is AWESOME! Seriously, I love it here! Like I told you on Thursday, the MTC President changed, so I didn´t get my awesome greeting from him that I was hoping, but that is ok! The new President´s name is President Nikolayson, and he is from Kaizer! Or at least he lived there for a long time...My companion´s name is Elder Earl, and he is awesome! He played volleyball in High School, along with a sister (Sister Brown) that´s in our district! Guess what position they both were?! Setters! So...I´ve been slamming volleyballs every gym time since I´ve been here! But today during P-day we were playing and Elder Earl was trying to dig a spike and it went right over the fence! Goooooodbye to the volleyball! And they don´t have any others! Also, it´s not particularly easy to buy them down here without outside help! So...we´re kind of stuck playing basketball now. Lame.
I´ve been sick ever since I got here! I have a sore throat, and every time I breathe deeply I have a little coughing attack...it's really annoying! And late at night I get a headache from coughing so much...no bueno! But I'll live. I blame Lainey for giving it to me. ;) Is she any better now?
I´ve been so blessed with the language! It is so cool, I haven´t forgotten a single thing that I learned two years ago! I can pretty much converse with the Latinos here! And they´re all excited that a NorteAmericano can actually communicate with them...that´s pretty strange around here! But it´s been really really awesome! I´m learning a ton, and I hope that I can help my District...the church is trying a new thing where they send missionaries straigh here. So most of my District came straight from home! And the other district in the Zone went to the Provo MTC, but didn´t have any language training! What is that all about?! So...they all only have 6 weeks to learn Spanish! I´m hoping I can be a good tool for them...Heaven knows they have a long way to go! But I love them...my zone is awesome!
Well...I must be going now, I think I´ll go ahead and write the other Elder Hopper...because I can! I love you guys a ton! Feel free to send letters and other fun things! Love you!
Love,
Elder Hopper
Friday, March 9, 2012
March 7, 2012
Familia! Hello! So...we have about 15 minutes to email home right now, so...I´m emailing home! Mom...as soon as I hung up on the phone with you at the airport, a whole gaggle of missionaries came walking down the hallway! Not a single one of them has learned a lick of Spanish!
They are trying a new program where in the Provo MTC they learn all of the discussions in English, then they come here for language training!
So...looks like I get to play translator for a little bit! I´m excited to help them all out! It will be fun! The MTC is over capacity by about 35 missionaries right now, so I get to stay in the housing for the temple! That´s pretty nice because they have personal showers and bathrooms, so I don´t have to wait in line for an hour before I take my shower! So that´s an awesome blessing! My companion´s flight to L.A. got cancelled, so he just got here about twenty minutes ago...al morning I´ve been floating trying to find missionaries to be with, but his name is Elder Earl and he´s from Las Vegas! He´s even taller than me, so we´re going to be FREAKS! I can´t wait! Bad news though, apparently MTC presidents only stay for two years! So presidente Steimle went home about three months ago. :( But President Nicolayson is awesome! We just had a welcome from him, and he´s just your stereotypical happy go lucky grandpa type! Anywho...that´s about all I got. We got in last night at 5:30, and they let us sleep till around ten, so that was nice. I´m still pretty tired though...the next few days should be interesting! I love you guys a ton! Have a great day!
Love, Elder Hopper.
P.S...not to brag or anything, but there´s not a cloud in the sky right now and it´s about 70 degrees. ;)
Drew's out again!!
We are so happy and proud to announce that Drew is once again serving the Lord in Guatemala! He left last Tuesday! We will now continue to post his letters and emails home so anyone who's interested may follow his progress along the way.
We're so excited!
We're so excited!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)