October 30, 2012

Hello dearest family and friends!

I always start letters off like that...I need something a little more interesting. I'll brainstorm this week, and we'll see what I come up with.

Well...we had a great week here! We had a REALLY high goal this month of finding 160 new investigators, and we missed it by 24! Gah! But...134 news that are gonna be baptized in the month of November! ALSO...this week we had three baptisms! We had to marry one family, the Familia Valenzuela, the family who has the kids with the special needs. They are the two in the picture closest to me. I just love that family! Also, we baptized Tito! I think I told you about him last week, the one that was really grateful that we were able to find him. He is a great person. I think he's really going to be a leader in this ward! He went to the temple last week and just sat on temple grounds and read the BoM! The only problem that he has is that he's not married...time to play matchmaker. Cuz that's what missionaries are for, right? But...it was a pretty cool experience. At church on Sunday this guy was just hanging around Tito the entire time. I had never seen this guy, but apparently he's a long time family friend of Tito, and had just moved up waaaay north to the border of Guatemala and Belize...or Mexico. Don't remember. But I guess they had been working really hard with Tito for a LONG time trying to teach him the gospel! And then one day, we just knock on his door, and he accepted! So, he gave us a really heartfelt thank you for the work we had done, but I just told him thank you for providing us with the investigator of gold! Which leads me to my next point...I've realized lately that missionary work is SO much easier for members! We knock and knock and talk and talk and walk and walk (oooooh rhymy!) and hardly anyone listens to us! Then one member gives us one reference, and that person gets baptized! I've seen that a thousand times since I've been here! So...you members...keep living your life well, sharing the Gospel EVERY SINGLE chance you get, and pray about your friends, and for missionary experiences! When you feel like it's time (like....NOW!) give the reference to the missionaries, and go with them to the appointment! You will find no greater joy than bringing your loved ones to the true church of God! DOOOOOO IT!!! NOOOOOOW!!!!

So, in the mission I've already got a reputation. Can you guess what that reputation is? Well...according to President Brough, I'm the loudest missionary in the entire mission! Yaaaay! Didn't see THAT one coming, did you?! I guess it's better than being known as the most annoying in the mission....oh wait....

Had an interesting lesson this week. Down here there is a church here that is pretty big called, "Asambleas de Dios" Or...Assemblies of God. There are really quite a few members of it down here. We got into a lesson, and this guy identified himself as a pastor of this church. Ooooooh goody. We were talking and he just kept saying how, "This is the biggest church in ALL of Guatemala." I just wanted to choke him! He wouldn't stop saying it! So, finally, just to shut him up, I said, "Look...I understand yours is the most attended church in all of Guatemala, but you need to understand that that doens't impress me! The membership of the TRUE CHURCH OF GOD is more than the ENTIRE POPULATION of Guatemala! So...I don't know what you're trying to prove!" He didn't say much after that. It wasn't the most loving thing to do, but I was just fed up with it! I don't think he's gonna progress...

So, to get to our area that we work in from our house is about a 15 to 25 minute walk, depending on how bad I need to use the bathroom, or how much I'm chafing that day (Honesty is always the best policy). Last Saturday we were walking along this long, largely unused road, when a big Ford F150 pulled up beside us. Don't see those too much here. The guy inside looked at me and asked, in english, "Hey...want a ride?" Odd. But...sure! So we hopped in and I figured out that he was an American citizen! His name is Charlie from Rhode Island. I asked him why he was down here, and he said, "Well...I like it here. Don't have to work as much." Huh...weird. So we chatted for a little bit more, and then he said, "Oh yeah...I'm running from the law, too. So...don't talk about me to your friends back home." Woops. Shouldn't be writing this. But I just couldn't help myself. Nice guy, though! I kinda doubted his story a liiiittle bit, but when i hopped out and he drove away, sure enough...Rhode Island license plate on the back of his truck! Meet someone fun every single day!

So...this week I bought my hammock that I have been sinfully coveting for about 8 months now! I have to say...it is heaven sent. Every single night I'm in this thing reading, or just laying listening to music. This is my man cave now. My companion is not allowed. Except that'd be against the rules, so he can come in if he wants. He just never wants. So it works out like that. Also...it's Guatemalan flag colors! Patriotism!

 

 

 

This is what happens to your shoes when they get wet all the time, and are constantly being worn! But, thankfully here in Guatemala people have learned how to fix just about EVERYTHING, so for the low low prize of 5 quetzales a nice man put some needle and thread to it and got it back to...well...functioning order at least. But this is my sad face. I won't stay like this for long, wouldn't want it to stay that way.

That's all I've got for this week! I hope you all have a wonderful week, and I love you guys a ton! Send me letters! Cuz I like letters! Hopefully in the next few weeks I'll have some more pictures of me and my compo all dressed up in white with big smiley faces on!
Love you guys!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!!

Love,

Elder Hopper 2

October 23, 2012

Hello familiares!

What a week we had! We had zone conference this week! I LOVE ZONE CONFERENCE! I think maybe I write in caps too much...it kind of loses its value. Law of diminishing return, and all. Anywho...the big news is this: In the mission we had a rule that we had to have 25 contacts a day, 20 lessons a week and 10 new investigators. WELL...that has changed now! We now have to have 35 contacts a day, 22 lessons, 5 lessons with less active or recent converts, and 12 news every week! I love it! It was awesome to see, President put up on the powerpoint when he arrived, and these rules weren't in place how many baptisms as a mission we were getting every month, and as he put the rules in place, and gradually made them higher how the amount of baptisms also went up gradually! SO...we've got to really work so that those baptisms can keep going up as well! Here in Central America (Did you know that Mexico isn't considered part of "Central America" down here? Fun little tid bit.) Nicaragua is famous for being REALLY hot, and baptizing a ridiculous amount of people, and not retaining them. So...President's goal is to beat Nicaragua before he goes home! WE MUST DO IT!!! And then we'll retain them! Ha! Also...at zone conference we got pumpkin pie. One of those things that you don't realize how much you miss till you're EATING IT!! It was only missing whipped cream...but it was AMAZING. That is all.

We had a baptism set up for this week with a guy named Tito. He is really stoked about the church and is super excited to be baptized, which he shows in his very subdues, almost disinterested way. But we had the interview, and he had had some problems that he had to wait another week. Turns out it is really for the best. This week we had the primary program down here. It was kind of chaotic and the entire time I was sitting there thinking, "Gaaah...what are my investigators thinking?!?!¿" But it ended, and we went off to our next class. Later than night we went by Tito, cuz we have daily contact with those who have a baptismal date set. We got in and sat down, we were planning to teach the ten commandments. But we prayed, and he just started to talk. He doesn't normally talk, so we just let him go. He talked for about ten minutes about how grateful he is that we knocked on his door and taught him this Gospel. How he knows that it's true through a few experiences he's had, and how much that primary program touched his heart. It was really awesome to see the different impact it had on other people. Maybe I'm not as in tune to the Spirit as he was, but I didn't get anything out of the Primary program, and was just sitting sweating and worrying the whole time, and to him it was proof that this really is the true church! Isn't it amazing how the Spirit works like that? But...this week he's getting baptized along with a couple that we're going to marry and baptize on Saturday! Yaaaay baptisms!

So, yesterday for P day our district went up to this outlook that looks over Lake Amatitlán. So, that first picture is with my companion, Elder Luna...he's a little guy. And that is overlooking my old area! That grid looking place right over my left shoulder is the Mariposa, where I lived!

Photo number two is drum pad happiness. We also went to a mall yesterday, and I just couldn't help myself. Don't worry, it won't be a distraction. But I will never again have a boring P day! Success!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well...not a hugely exciting week, but...next week I'll have baptism and wedding pictures...not necessarily in that order. But those are the best types of photos! I love you all! I hope you have a great week!
Love,

Elder Hopper 2

October 16, 2012

Heeeeello family!

GUESS WHAT?!?!

WE BAPTIZED THIS WEEK!!! YEEEEES!!!!!! It felt pretty stinking good to finally get in the water after all of our hard work! AND we have 3 more fechas!!! I'm pretty excited to finally be getting wet! But now...all of our investigators are getting baptized, so we need to start finding! That's what we're going to be focusing on for the next two weeks, especially cuz in November the mission has a goal to baptize 60 families in the month! So...to work we go!

 

But other than that, we had a great week! Last week for our zone meeting, we reviewed our disaster plan as a mission...Hmmmm...THEN, this week for our P-day we got together as a zone to play capture the flag and just screw around for a little bit. We were all sitting in the church when all of the sudden something reeeeally strange started to happen...the ground started to move! It's not supposed to do that! That was the first earthquake I've ever felt! (I don't count the one that happened in 5th grade. I hardly remember it.) So...we have been warned by the presidency of the area that all the missions need to prepare. Then yesterday, God tried his very hardest to warn us personally. I've always said that if something bad HAS to happen to Guatemala, I want it to happen while I'm here so I can help! But now...not so sure. That was really quite frightening yesterday. Also, there is a legend here that says that every 37 (Not ENTIRELY sure of the number...Elder Pegram, help me out?) years, a BIG earthquake hits Guatemala. The last big one was 38 (or whatever number plus one) years ago. Yaaaaaaaaaay! Looking forward to that!

So, in our District we got a new red head! It is quite the sight here seeing us walk down the street. Two red heads in America together is weird enough...you should SEE the gaping stares we get! It's pretty funny! So...we had to take a picture together. The two Fosforitos!

 

This week in church, it was fast Sunday...we had SIX baby blessings! Also, two confirmations! (WIN!) We didn't start the sacrament until 10:55! All of my investigators were REALLY confused. Afterwards, one asked if we were baptizing them...had to have a moment of explanation there. Some day, I'll be able to just sit back and enjoy church again without worrying about what my investigators are thinking!

So...Spencer Dunlop gets home today, huh?! Welcome home, Spencer! Can you welcome someone to a place that you're not? Dunno. But I just did it!

We were teaching an inactive family this week, and their 9 year old son (Who isn't baptized...gold!) looked like he had a REALLY pressing matter, but every time that he tried to bring it up, his dad told him to be quiet, that we would talk to him after. He looked like he was about to explode. Kinda like he reeeeeally had to pee, but we knew he didn't have to pee, just had a SUPER pressing matter, at least to him. When we got done with the lesson, I looked at him, and asked him what's up? He breathed out a HUGE sigh of relief, and asked, "Cree que Jesucristo tenía alas?" Or..."Do you think that Jesus had wings?" Oooooh I couldn't help but laugh. But this was a SERIOUS matter to this kid! So we explained to him, in very simple terms that he understood, that we all look like Jesus, and his Dad, Heavenly Father! That if you don't have wings, then neither did Christ! He looked very content with that answer.

Oh yeah! I almost forgot...yesterday I hit 8 months! That's a third of my mission! I seriously can't believe it! Time has kinda flown a little bit! I've got a lot of stuff I have to do in the next 16 months! Yikes!

You know what I realized this week? We had just finished our P-day, and we got out to work. We didn't have an appointment, so we went to knock doors. I got in front of the first one, and felt right at home. That was a nice feeling. Just suuuuuper comfy in front of some random Guatemalan guy's door. Landmark.

Well...I'm all out of time! I love you all a ton, and I hope everything is well! Hopefully next week I'll have some more pictures in white to send!
Love,

Elder Hopper

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 9, 2012

Hello dear family!

I LOVED CONFERENCE!!! I had never been so excited for, or enjoyed so much General Conference! 19 year old sisters?!?! I don’t know where we’re going to put them! I feel bad for my friends who just got back from their missions and now don’t have anyone to get married to! But it was really cool, as I was listening to the Prophet speak, all I could think was, “This man is  a PROPHET of GOD!” It was a really cool confirmation to something that I already knew! I also really loved President Uchtdorf’s talk! He reemphasized one of the things that I cherish from my dear old dad! We can ALWAYS be happy! It is up to US how we respond to outside influences, and those things shouldn’t define who we are, or HOW we are! Also, OF COURSE, I LOVED Elder Holland’s talk! I just downloaded it, in fact! “If I wanted fish, I could get fish. What I WANT is DISCIPLES.” Gah! SO GOOD! I want to learn how to speak like him! Also…ASK THE MISSIONARIES! THEY CAN HELP YOU! It was funny…every single reference to missionary work everyone in the room (I was in a room with all the gringo missionaries watching in English.) gave out a little hoot. Man…I just LOVE conference! I can’t WAIT till April!

We were in our little room of English happiness on Sunday afternoon, enjoying the last session of conference, and mourning its end when it started to rain HARD. Which wouldn’t be such of a problem, except we were getting the signal through satellite!  All of a sudden, the signal just went dead!  Disaster! So…we all kneeled down and said a little prayer, and about five minutes later it popped back on! Prayer is a cool thing, isn’t it?!

So…this week our stats suffered…a lot. When you’re not working an entire Saturday and the large majority of Sunday, things tend to go on the downward trend. But we did have some time to work Monday through Friday. On Wednesday we were knocking a street that was right next to a school. We were knocking around mid day, and the way schools are here, it was at the time that school was getting out. Here in Guatemala, vendors gather around the school so that the kids will buy stuff when their parents come to pick them up. So we were knocking, and I hear this guy yelling, “Pollo! Un Quetzal!” My thought was…wow! That’s a good price for chicken! Then I hear him yell, “Pollo de colores! Un Quetzal!” Huh….Colored chicken? That’s a little weird, but I’ve seen stranger things here. So I just kept knocking doors. Then I turned the corner and saw what this guy was selling. He was literally selling little baby chickens that he had dyed a bunch of different colors for one quet. He has a box FULL of them! I watched one little 6 or 7 year old walk up, ask for 5 of them. He grabbed a plastic bag and just started dumping them in! So…just for your point of reference…an egg is 1.25 here. So…it is literally cheaper to buy a baby chicken than it is to buy and egg. This country never ceases to amaze me.

I got some fun letters last week from the Hyde and the Johnson family! I LOVED them! Thank you so much! Canna and Sara look so much alike it’s awesome! Also, Myla, I’m glad to hear you can choose the right! Thank you so much for the letters!

Last Sunday night we were knocking a street when we stumbled across a pastor! Now…I’m always one for a lively conversation, so we sat and talked to him in his door for awhile. After a lively conversation such as the one we had, it ALWAYS boils down to us inviting them to pray, cuz we’re POSITIVE of the answer they’ll get! So we talked for about ten minutes, and invited him to pray! And he told me, “Look…I’m not sure if I’m In the right, or you are. But I do know that I know Christ, and that one day we’ll all have to be accountable in front of Him.” I LOVED the fact that I was able to look at him in the eyes and say, “You may not know if you’re in the right, but I am ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE that this is the true church of Christ. It is the ONLY one the face of the earth that has His authority.” He seemed pretty impressed that I said that, but I don’t think he’s going to pray. What a powerful thing a testimony is, though! NO one can tell you that you don’t know that if you really, truly do! This is the true church! How awesome is that?! Man being a missionary is fun.

So..the pictures…This week I’m going to finish my first journal! I’m pretty happy about it! I have a goal to finish three journals on my mission, and with eight months I’m right on track! How much fun will that be to have 600 pages written by me all about my mission?! So…I’m pretty excited!

 

 

This other one I call, “Companionship inventory” We were inbetween sessions when I walked into the bathroom and saw this! I just couldn’t help myself! It’s Elder Revis and his new (RED HEADED) companion from Idaho, Elder Anderson!

 

Well…that’s all I got! I love you guys a ton, and I hope you have a fantastic week! Make sure you ALWAYS do the three things I always FIGHT that my investigators do…Leer, orar, asistir! Read, pray, and attend! It keeps a testimony strong!

Love you guys!
Love,
Elder Hopper  2

Pegram-william.stoker@myldsmail.net Also, sorry to hear about your girlfriend going on a mission. That's the pits. Siempre pensaba que vos ibas a ser casado con un hijo antes de cuando yo regrese! ¡Esperá pues! Jajajaja! ¿Es pecado que yo escribí en vos? Saaaaber.

****I LOVED THE EMAIL FROM THE FINWALLS!!! THANK YOU!!!!****

October 2, 2012

Hello there family!
THIS WEEK IS GENERAL CONFERENCE AND I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!! WE GET TO WATCH IN ENGLISH AND I'M SO STOOOOOKED!!!!!! That is all i will say concerning the matter. However...be ready to read a lot in caps today. 

THE MISSION GOT THE GOAL OF THREE HUNDRED BAPTISMS!!! In fact...314!!! It's so awesome! We were SO incredibly blessed this change, even though we didn't end up getting our miracle baptism. But...we already have at least 4 baptisms lined up for the month of October, and we're excited to be seeing the fruits of our labors! The zone this month had SIXTY SIX baptisms! That's a record for the Guatemala City Central mission! And we think it's a record for all of Guatemala! Ever! So, we're all pretty excited! This next month has to be even BETTER!!!!

So, we got changes yesterday, and I'm sticking around here with my same comp. This is his fourth change in the same area, which means he'll be here at least 6 months! And it's his first area! He seems a little bit discouraged about it...it is quite a long time to be in one area. But...I won't let him get down! Gotta keep pushing! This month we were SUPER blessed. I broke a lot of my personal records! We found almost 200 new investigators this month, and at least 10 of those are getting baptized! I already decided!

So...we had a pretty normal week this week! Something really cool happened, though. I think the Finwall family will appreciate this more than anyone else! I saw a 1996 Subaru Impreza WRX!!! Right hand drive! Jon would have DROOLED. It was SO beautiful! I talked to the owner, and he told me he had just gotten it shipped over from Japan. He didn't look like the type to have a ridiculous amount of money, but perhaps in Guatemala it's a little bit easier to get imports. He didn't want anything to do with the gospel, but at least he let me sit in his car! Nice guy! It was just one of those little tender mercies that boosted my spirit to work! It was cool!

So here in Guatemala, every companionship of missionaries has a cocinera, or cook who makes lunch for us every day. In this area, we can't go into her house to eat, because there is never a man inside. So we sit outside her house in a little patio...type thing. When I say patio, don't think patio. Think chicken coop. There is a little sidewalk right outside of it, and there are always little kids playing around outside. They were singing the Dora the explorer song in spanish! So, naturally, I joined in! Only in english! So...picture this. Five or six small Guatemalan children ranging in age from 2-10 standing outside a chicken coopish patio, hanging onto the fence, gaping into the Gringoe inside singing the Dora the Explorer song, trying to eat. As soon as I finish everytime, they ask me, "HOW DO YOU SAY THIS IN ENGLISH?!?! TELL ME THIS!!!" Right up until one of them asks me to sing the Dora song again. We went round and round doing that for about 20 minutes. It was fun. I like kids. Stinks that I can't play with them here.

Hey...happy deer season, all you hunters! Good luck this year, Grandma and Grandpa! I expect to be out with you in two years from today! I want pictures!

Well...I'm all out of fun stuff for the week...BUT I'M SO EXCITED FOR CONFERENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Everyone should watch! All ten hours! He's a PROPHET!!!! HE CAN TALK TO GOD!!! LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAYS!!!!!!!!!!

I love you all a ton! Keep praying for us so we can baptize a ton this month! We're set up to do it with all these news we've been finding, but I need your prayers!

Love you all!
Love,

Elder Hopper 2