February 11, 2014

Hello!

Well, it was a cool week this week. All week long I was working with Elder Robinson in El Lago, the zone leader's area here in Amatitlan. This is a weird change...I'll explain it when I get home. But it was a lot of fun working with him. He is a really good teacher, and really knows how to make sure that his investigators understand what he is teaching. Not to mention it was fun to go work in another area. But the coolest thing was that I got to go back to my birth place, Amatitlán 1. We had divisions with the DL there, and I got to go! It was just an amazing experience to be able to go back and see all of my converts. One family that is super special to me, the Garcia family, was super good to see. Unfortunately, they stopped going to church, but they still gave me a reception like family. Their little four year old ran up and gave my leg a fat hug as soon as she saw me. It was a sweet experience. I talked to them about the BoM, and the importance that it has in their lives. The mom, Yeime was the most converted one in the family, and it was all because of the BoM...so I know that if she starts reading it again, she'll come right back. Then I went and sicked some members that I know are super faithful on them, so I'm hoping that they'll be back in church soon. 

 One of the biggest reasons I wanted to come back to Amatitlan to die was to see how a really strong stake works, and what I can do to help a strong stake, and more than anything, to work with the stake leaders who are here, namely President Pineda. I met him my first change here, and immediately was VERY afraid of him, but since then, I have worked with him, had FHEs in his house, and we have grown to be great friends. Last week he came into our ward counsel meeting, looked at me, and said, "EL TIGRE REGRESO!" Or, "THE TIGER CAME BACK!!!" I hopped up and gave him a big fat hug. Then, this last weekend we had counsel with all of the auxiliary and priesthood leaders. He was there, and was talking about some of the problems that this ward has had. One of them is that it hasn't baptized in over five months. That is WAAAAY too long, especially in Guatemala. He told everyone there, "Look...President Brough didn't send Elder Hopper, who is one of, if not the best missionary I know in the mission, here to NOT baptize. He sent him here to save this ward." It was a nice little kudo for being a good missionary at the very beginning of my mission when I was here. I should learn a lot from him. He's an amazing leader. If he's not a mission president someday, I'd be flabbergasted.

Anyways...Very little time left! Sorry I don't have any pictures, I really haven't taken any since I've been here! There's just nothing going on! So...sorry! Next week we should be going to Antigua, though, so...hopefully next week!!

Love you all!
Love,

Elder Hopper