¡Feliz año nuevo a todos! There are lots of people waiting to hear the Gospel, we just have to find them!

Hermano Banuelos harvesting his maize with Elder Hill

Jaina's hijo David

 It was good to be able to Skype and see the family again. It seems like Mother´s day was just around the corner! Before you know it, May will be here again and so will Christmas. I think that 2 years goes by so fast because one third of it we spend sleeping! After talking on the 24th we ate with the Ramos Family and we talked about their missions for a while. Hermana Ramos ended up going bald in the mission in Chihuaha because she had a fungus that got in her hair, and so did her companion. But because the Lord is merciful, they ended up having two wigs that matched their hair styles and nobody in the zone picture ever noticed. Pretty cool. 

Diana & Boyfriend

Elder Hill, Diana's boyfriend, Diana & Elder Martin

Yesterday Diana got baptized. She has been going for a year and one day we met with her and I don´t remember what I said, but she decided to get baptized. When her boyfriend baptized her they were in white, and I thought (to myself as not to scare her),  that the next time that they would be dressed in white together would be in the temple. They are for sure a couple that will get sealed in the temple... that is when they get married. I think he was waiting to see if she would get baptized first, but who knows. 

Also yesterday we had a pretty cool experience. We were in priesthood meeting when one of the YM came and told us that there was a man outside that wanted to get baptized and be a member of the church. I thought he was just playing but no! Ramón showed up all on his own and said that he has the desire to learn more. He doesn´t correspond to our area, but he called the other missionaries and they went yesterday and he accepted a baptismal date! Miracles do happen. There are lots of people waiting to hear the Gospel, we just have to find them. D&C 123:12

One thing that I love about the mission is that I actually love to read and study the scriptures now. I didn´t put that much effort into it before, but now I love it. For example, I never took advantage of the topical guide. It´s so awesome because only in English is it that complex. Funny scriptures under the word "strange" are: Jude 1:7, Ezekiel 3:5, and Ezra 10:11. The Bible is funnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn! 

Well, gotta go because we have to be in the house early tonight. Gotta keep working. 

Thanks for everything. I hope that everyone has a great week. 

Love, 

Elder Hill 

From Tezo still 

I´m sending two from the baptism but that´s it for now. I´ll take more later on. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO THE FAMILY & ALL.

David hijo and me with Hermano Banuelos when he was harvesting corn.

Felìz Navidad y Prospero Año & "FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON."

Well, I think I`ll start out this week`s details with the fact that the mission isn`t all clean and happy as some people think. I arrived to my new area with one of those horror stories about missionary houses- mold, dirty, tons of cockroaches, and just not that great. My companion cleaned a lot before I got there but his last companion just didn`t mind the mess. Elder Martin is a good Elder and we worked hard this week to have a clean house, and it`s better! It`s definitely a nice Christmas present. 

On Tuesday we went to do a service project in a community in our zone. We cleaned up a lot of weeds outside and waterproofed the roof. I don`t have pictures, but that was a good second service project. I don`t remember if I wrote last week that we had gone and cleaned up a lot of garbage in an area by the city cemetery, but that`s what I did on Saturday in my last zone. Fun times. 

Wednesday we went to find a less active member and found some other guy who rents in his same building. We had a lesson with him and at the end he asked if he could pray his way and he did. We knelt down like we did at the beginning but then he stayed standing, so I thought O.K. Then he started praying really loud and put his hands on our heads and starting blessing us. He went on for like 5 minutes and ended, but that was a strange experience I tell ya! 

On Friday I had an experience where I felt that Heavenly Father really does send missionaries to areas where there are people ready for that missionary. Diana is the girlfriend of an RM, (return missionary), and has been investigating the church for about 1 year, but hasn`t been baptized. On Tuesday we had a lesson with her and I don`t remember too much of what was said, but we invited her to pray to know if she should be baptized this next Saturday. So she prayed and felt like she should and said that something that I had said is what helped her to make the choice. I tell you that it wasn`t me, but the spirit acting through me. That`s what makes the mission amazing- all of the little experiences like that. 

Presidente & Hermana Call's son, Shane, with Matthew's tie on!

Saturday there was a little activity as a zone for Christmas with President and Sister Call and their family. I don`t have the pictures yet but we sang songs, played activities, and exchanged ties. We dressed up and acted out Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and guess who was Rudolph? Yours truly, Elder Hill. 

Sunday, well, we went to church and I met the ward. Nobody was there because a lot of people left for Christmas, but they tell me the ward is huge. 

Queretaro District

And today we had a little activity as a district. We exchanged gifts, broke a piñata, and went to a Chinese food buffet. Haven`t had Chinese food in a long time, so that was good. 

I read this week in Jesus the Christ, In chapter 8 about the Babe in Bethlehem and the story of Christ`s birth.  Click here to read Jesus The Christ~scroll down for Ch. 8

It was a little more in depth than just reading in the scriptures and I really enjoyed it. If you have the book, it is an invitation to study a little more about Christ and WHY we SHOULD be celebrating Christmas. He did a lot for us, but I feel that many times in the Christmas season we forget about Him and just spend a lot of money on things that have no eternal significance. Although Christmas is not over, the mission has opened my eyes about what matters most. 

I hope that everyone has a great week and that you can have more Christ in your lives. 

"FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON." 

With Love, 

Elder Hill 

1- Elder Martin and I 

2- District activity after breaking the "mission sins" pinata (waking up late, facebook, etc - all the stuff that we shouldn`t do and don`t do) 

3- Cockroaches in the cupboard

 ****************funny de la biblia 

 ***************1 Tim 2:11-15 and 1 Cor 11:14-15

Cambios, Cucarachas y Navidad! (Changes, Cockroaches and Christmas!)

ELDERS' HILL & CLAYTON WITH DISTRICT

I received transfer notices this week that I was to leave Tezontepec after 6 months and go to Hidalgo, Querètaro. My new companion is Elder Martin from LA, California and he is from the same group of missionaries as my son Elder Clayton. He`s the only member in his family and was baptized two years ago. He`s pretty cool and I hope that we have success together in what everyone says is the hardest zone in the mission. It`s a really nice area with lots of people that have money so we`ll see how it goes. Anything is possible. 

This last week we found a family of four in the street that started asking us questions because we were two white guys that always walked buy their house. We left them with some things to read but they weren`t there when we went by the next day, so I don`t know what will happen. Other than that, things were pretty chill in Tezo. ON Sunday the Bishop chose the hymn 266- The time is far spent- to sing in Sacrament Meeting  but in Spanish the translation is "The end is near" because of the 21st of December when supposedly the world will end. Well, good thing I`m in the mission! Everyone says that If it ends this week we don`t have to get married to go to the Celestial kingdom, but it`s not going to end so don`t worry. 

I hope everyone has a very merry Christmas. People here make wishes to the "reyes magos" or the three kings and everyone celebrates Christmas on the 24th, not the 25th. Normally the family gets together and eats a big dinner with bread de Rusca de Reyes where they put a little toy thing inside. I haven`t seen it yet, but they tell me it`s big. There are also Posadas for like the 12 days of Christmas where they take the Virgin Mary around in remembrance for what Joseph and Mary did when they asked for a place in the inn. They`re like big parties that they do and they close down main roads and neighborhoods and it`s just a little loco but still cool. That`s about all I remember about what they do. 

EXPENSIVE FISH FRY

We also got kidnapped one day by some members and they took us to a family get together to eat because we didn`t have anywhere to eat and we ate fried fish. It wasn`t too bad and apparently it`s really expensive, too. 

ELDER HILL AND ROZIITHA

Roziitha in the wheelchair has spinomeningocele or Spina bifida and she got baptized almost a year ago and goes with the other missionaries of her ward to appointments. 

ELDER HILL AND SOFIA

Sofia is like the Mexican twin of Alivia, Tyler and Kelli`s daughter. 

Merry Christmas! Be safe, be giving, and be happy! 

Amor, 

Elder Hill 

More Pics- cockroaches in the house and Bishop`s family. (Missing in email)

COCKROACHES IN ELDER HILL'S & CLAYTON'S FLAT.....EEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!

It´s Tough Here ~ We Are Teaching People, Satan Works Within Them and Just Makes it Difficult & The Bible Has Lots of Funny Scriptures!

TEZONTEPEC, ESTADO DE HIDALGO, MEXICO

Well another week has come and gone. This week Jaina was called to be a young women´s teacher and she´s super excited. The young women here need someone like her who has the testimony and the desire to help others. Being a young member here honestly isn´t too easy. There are so many more distractions and temptations and it´s a lot easier to fall than at home. At least that´s my perspective as a missionary. 

We started teaching a family this week that was really interested and had so many questions about the church and the next day we went, they told us that they didn´t want us to come back. L We think that their family and neighbors started talking to them about how they shouldn´t change religions. 

It´s tough here because as soon as the people see that we are teaching people, Satan works within them and just makes it difficult. People here put a lot of weight on what the people say and their family. They have a lot of difficulty being independent. It´s a totally different culture. 

We started teaching the parents of one hermano in the ward. They have talked to soooo many missionaries in the last 6 years but for some reason they haven´t ever read nor prayed about the Book of Mormon. They like the change that they saw in this hermano and his family, they like the church a lot, but they don´t want to change because the feel obligated to their ancestors. We invited them to read, ponder, and pray and we know that they will receive an answer. I´ll let you know what happens next week. 

The Bible has lots of funny scriptures. I think I´ll share one a week for a while.... 

1 Thes 5:26

1 Thes 5:16

Prov 20:29

This week we ate Aztec Pie and lamb barbacoa. I am disgusted/proud to admit that I was able to eat a sheep testicle..... gross, but it´s a one in a lifetime opportunity! And a balloon guy climbed in the combi (van) this week and I took a picture.

  

Loves, 

Elder Hill 

Oh I also found out that I have had bed bugs for the last few weeks so I have to go buy this stuff and scrub down my bed this week! Yay!!!

(Mom) The essential oils and cream I sent you was for that too! The mixture and the brown cream!!!! YOU are so funny!

I´ve been using it. Thanks for your ingeniousness. 

Loves, gotta go. Have a good week.

Me. (Yes, Elder Hill may not like to see this on the blog...HOWEVER, it does show the dedication, sacrifice, character and sense of humor one must have when Called to Serve!)

Greater Light = Greater Condemnation & My Jumpsuit is TOO Small!

Jaina, Elder Hill, Jaina's hijo Arjun & el Papa, Arjun e hiram Garcia at Arjun's baptism, (just turned 8!)

This week was a little crazy. We´re already in the 5th week of the transfer and it feel like it just barely started. I get confused with what happened this week and what happened a month ago. However, David and Nicte were confirmed yesterday. It was Elder Clayton´s first confirmation so that was cool. I also got to baptize Arjun, Jaina´s son who turned 8 last month. I thought that I would wear the jumpsuit because I
didn´t have any clean white shirts but when I put it on at church it was too small! I looked like a little kid in pajamas that didn´t fit. Hence, I am behind Arjun. His dad, Hiram, came and is also going to church where he lives and reading the BOM and the pamphlets. The gospel changes lives. We´ve been trying to find new people to teach this week but it has been a little hard because of relying on the members. It´s difficult because we have to train the members on how to talk to people and what to do. Many members get embarrassed when talking about the church, but we are helping them build THEIR testimony so that they can help others. This last week we also had flu shots and I got to help. We have a hermana in the mission who is a doctor so she came to give the shots. When Hermana Call told her that I was an EMT, she had me fill the syringes. With nearly 11 months in the mission.... I was a little caught off guard but I think that everyone survived.

We went to Tula today because our district wanted to get out of the little village and see something bigger, so we went to a store and Burger King! Elder Clayton has been wanting to go ever since he got here, so happy birthday to him (on Wednesday)!!!!! We don´t go because it´s really expensive and just not a place for missionaries to be. I´m okay without burger king for another 11 months.

(From Elder Clayton's letter) Oh yeah, Elder Hill and I got spit on the other day for the first time. We were walking down a road and some car zoomed past us and a woman spit on us, haters gonna hate and mormons gonna morm.

One thing that I was studying this week was a talk from Ezra Taft Benson about pride. It´s from the April 1989 conference and is titled Beware of Pride. I highly recommend it because I think that we are all subject to pride in one form or another. It´s powerful. I was also studying about knowledge. I came to the conclusion that knowledge won´t save you, but it will condemn you. Greater light = greater condemnation. It´s interesting that in D&C 131:6 it says that we cannot be saved in ignorance, and other scriptures that tell us we need to always learn. Being a member of this Church is "easy" but hard work at the same time. We are always progressing forward, or falling down the ladder of progression. That is also a bad effect of pride-- we can´t progress. Keep studying ´out of the best books´ and ´treasuring up the words of life´. I know you can do it.

Have a great week! Gotta go!

Elder Hill

1-burger king

2-guys washing a big tent at a circus

3- Arjun´s baptism

Por Fin! (At Last!)

Elder Clayton, Nicte, David, bebe David & Elder Hill

This week was a pretty good week because of a few reasons. To start out, David and Nicte got baptized yesterday after church and were very content that they have finally been able to do it. There were scheduling conflicts the last few weeks, other wise they would have done it sooner. It´s a 2 month work in progress that has made a great leap of progress. They are definitely a future temple sealing! 

Good to see that Abel is in the MTC. I didn´t know who it was until I looked harder. He hasn´t had glasses for a long time. I have heard about my friends and their mission papers. It´s pretty cool. God is a smart guy because all of the Elders will be leaving at 18 and all of their girlfriends at 19 and they´ll get home within short of each other,  so there will be less Dear Johns!  Congrats to Tony. 

Thanksgiving was a normal day in the mission. I thought about it on Wednesday but after getting up on Thursday I forgot until Elder Clayton said, "HAPPY THANKSGIVING ELDER HILL!" We just worked all day and didn´t even eat with members, which honestly felt good to just work. We found two new investigators- David and Estela- who are mother and son. They accepted their baptismal date for the 15th of December and went to church and like it. They are neat people looking for the truth. The mission is great. 

This week I was studying more about the prophecies of the Book of Mormon in the Bible and just how many signs there are that point to it. I sometimes have a hard time understanding how people just don´t get that it is true. Satan has blinded many people, and it is our job to help them come out of the "darkness". We are all brothers and sisters-- even the drunks, drug users, and prisoners. Charity never faileth. 

Keep moving forward! Oh, and Colossians 3:20 “Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.”

Love, 

Elder Hill 

Happy Thanksgiving & The Sacrament

Blessing the Sacrament (googled photo)

I hope everyone has a happy Thanksgiving this week!  This week was a little crazy again. It just went by so fast that I don´t remember what is happening. I remembered something that we hear last week in stake conference. What is the most cited scripture? Is it 1 Nephi 3:7? 1 Nephi 1:1? Moses 1:39? The answer is that it is in Moroni 4 and 5 and also D&C 20--- the Sacrament prayers. They are read every week in every church chapel throughout the world. The Sacrament is so important because without it, we would be lost at the very confirmation that we receive. The Sacrament each week is what renews our covenants- not just the baptismal, either- and makes us clean IF we repent and obey. It isn´t just bread and water. They are symbols that change lives and help us to progress. The Sacrament is important and nothing less. I hope and pray that we can all take into account what the sacrament really means. 

David and Nicte will be getting baptized this week, we hope. They couldn´t do it last week for their work schedules but hopefully Saturday. They say that they love the Church and will never change, even if they don´t get baptized. Pretty cool to hear that. 

Cerdos manos y pies ~ Pigs hands and feet

I haven´t eaten any strange things this week. The last weird thing we ate were pig hands or feet. It was pretty much sucking on bones and fat. It´s tasty- you should try it! Keep doing the simple things and the Lord will bless you. "Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you." He is standing at the door of our hearts and knocking.... If any of us hear Him, let us allow Him in to get closer to us. He lives and loves us. The power of the Atonement is real, powerful, and cleansing. Let us take advantage of it now so that Christ doesn´t suffer for it again because we aren´t doing what we need to do. The Church is true. 

Love you all, 

Elder Hill 

P.S. God first, then Family- that´s the commandment. 

We Should All Have A Valid Temple Recommend & Look For A Spiritual Experience This Week.

Birthday & Zone Conference

We had Stake Conference yesterday and it was pretty cool because it was a regional conference. It was broadcast from the Conference center and Elder Richard G. Scott spoke to us .... in Spanish! He talked about his wife in his talk, and we all know that the best talks are the ones when he talks about his wife. What a stellar Elder!  Our bishop is a bit of a clown. So much that he has his own website of just jokes. We are trying to look for a member in the USA who married an investigator, but then he got deported. (BTW- I´ve met a lot of people here that have that happen. SISTERS- make sure your boyfriend is legal before you marry him!) Anyway, He told us yesterday that Facebook is more efficient than the Church´s system MLS. He´s a funny guy. 

Elder Hill passing through a Graffiti Festival on Dia de Muertos,
(Day of the Dead, where they celebrate loved one(s) that have passed on.

    We found a few new people this week from a Ward FHE lesson that we had and we have some members that since they found out about our new rules, they have been trying to find new people because they don´t want the missionaries to leave. Everyone wants to feed us food because they feel that we are angels in their house (they give us too much credit, I tell you) and so they want us to stay! It´s pretty cool! Honestly, I can´t remember what else happened this week. It went by so fast. 

Rabbit for lunch

   In conference we were reminded that we should all have a valid temple recommend even if we live far from a temple. It reminded me of the interview questions that we have and what they mean. They aren´t just a checklist, they are requirements to enter the House of the Lord. They are covenants that we have made or are going to make. They are important. I haven´t gone to the temple in Mexico, but it is still a reminder that I need to be worthy of that passport to Christ´s house. Tithing is worth paying to "rent" a temple recommend and to help other people on the other side of the veil. There is a statement in Ch. 9 of Preach My Gospel that talks about vicarious ordinances as being the SAME saving missionary work as what 55,000+ missionaries are doing. It´s truly incredible God´s Plan. Keep studying the scriptures and becoming your own first "convert" so that you can be prepared to help somebody else. We´re all in this together. 

… I translated the word literally. It was basically a treatment is what I meant. They extracted the antibodies from my urea and made the stuff. ( I am thinking for his dermatitis he has struggled with since in MX) I forgot the words to describe it. Spanish is ruining my English.... it´s sad. I can´t talk like an EMT anymore. 

Gotta go. Tell everyone hello for me. 

Love, 

Elder Hill 

P.S. Have a good week. Look for a spiritual experience. 

I Am Looking For Men ~ Young and Old...Full Time Mission

Published on Jul 3, 2012

Personal experiences and testimonies of European youth who are preparing for missions, currently serving as missionaries, or have recently returned from the mission field.

I Voted! Go Out and Vote Too! ~ ¡Ya he votado! Ir a votar también!

I Voted! Go Out and Vote Too! 

FIND YOUR POLLING PLACE IN UTAH HERE: http://vote.utah.gov/elections/location/
AND if they can't find your name at your polling place ASK FOR and FILL OUT a PROVISIONAL BALLOT!

                        ¡Ya he votado! Ir a votar también!

Do You REALLY Know?

Elder Clayton, Hermano Tomas & Elder Hill at Vacquero
Okay..... thanks for posting happy birthday. Not sure it needed to be so flowery but thanks for the thought. 

Tony Hsieh, Jessica Dixon, Rachael & Matthew Homecoming 09

Rachael Gehmlich

Rachael & Matthew Senior Prom 2011

We have pretty much everything as far as food goes.
It´s pretty Americanized here in that aspect. We buy cup o noodles at the store. Yes, I mailed my ballot. 
Just one question about the collage that you sent me last week, who is the girl who is taking a picture of herself in the mirror with black, etc. (Rachael Gehmlich, dressed as gothic/punk/emo girl) I don´t recognize  who it is. 

(Mom was ROFL)

Rachael dressed as gothic/emo/punk girl

I am still in Tezontepec until 17 December. Pic: we went to the vaquero again with Hermano Tomas. 

This week was pretty interesting. We have been implementing a few changes into the missionary work here in Mexico and I would like to share a few thoughts on that..... 

David & Jaina's hijo, Elders' Hill & Clayton with bibs on!

Before two weeks ago, we had the goal to talk to 140 people in the street each week. AKA- contacting. If we were out finding people and they weren´t home we could knock on doors; what many people refer to as tracting. However, there has been a new change. We can no longer do either of those activities. We don´t contact unless inspired to do so and knocking doors is forbidden. Now the question may arise-- How are we going to work? The answer = more effectively. We now have the opportunity to have to work with members to help them preach the gospel to their friends and family. The missionaries are simply there to teach and help the members have their own converts. In the last three years 110,00 people have been baptized in Mexico; 12,000 are active. It is a frightening thought that only nine percent of my work efforts will be retained. It is clear that when members are involved in teaching and the investigator is a friend of those members they are more likely to stay in the church. It is a difficult change because now we are teaching the members how to be a missionary. "Every Member a Missionary" Another change is that the native language MTC programs will be reduced from 3 weeks to only 2 weeks, beginning in February. These changes, along with the new age requirements,  to me are sign that the Second Coming is that much closer. We need to be prepared to meet our God, just as the prophets have been saying.

One thing that a few members and even investigators have commented to us these last few weeks is about testimony meeting. I love testimony meeting, but there is something a little wondrous about it. If you think about it, pretty much everyone gets up to the pulpit and says, "I know that the Church is true, the BOM is true, Joseph Smith was a prophet, and that Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the world." All of those things are true, but what these people have commented on is that everyone SAYS it, but how many people KNOW it and FEEL it? It was something that caught me off guard, but it is true. I think that sometimes we members of the Church are too traditional, in that we just get used to doing everything in the Church without KNOWING AND FEELING if it is true. Take Moroni´s promise and ASK if it is true. Moroni 10:3-5. With the new changes in missionary work we can´t wait until the last moment to know if it is true, and after the mission we have to keep that fire well fed. 

It was pretty cool yesterday because Irineo received the priesthood and came to church looking like a new man because he cut is hair. Some members called him Jack Sparrow, but now he looks like a well trimmed priesthood holder. Jaina bore her testimony this week, too, and I have to be prejudice and say it was the best. She´s not our convert, she´s the Lord´s convert. 

David & Jaina's hijo

Keep at it my friends. Loves, 

Elder Hill 

pics, 

We ate with David and Jaina this week and little David wanted us to wear bibs, so we wore bibs and took a picture. 

Happy Halloween!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN !!!!!!! 

Elders Hill & Rangel

Such is the day in the life of a missionary....Hill & Rangel

Día de los Muertos y Todos los Santos y Feliz Cumpleaños!

One SPECIAL Hermana (Sister) must've know that those chocolate muffins are probably
 Matthew's FAVORITE treat, ok, choc. chip cookies, brownies, ice-cream and Keva's too!

Thanks for all of the Birthday wishes!! It was a pretty normal day for me. Went to church, worked, and had a family night lesson and they remembered it was my birthday so we had cake. Pretty cool. 

Good to hear about Ryan and all that. No es tu trabajo. Haz lo que tienes que hacer que seria mejor para tus hijos. 

(He wanted me to send brownies…takes 3 weeks for a package, I asked if he had an oven) No. I don´t need anything to bake nor do I have an oven. it is rare that people have an oven.

One thing that I like about being Mexican for two years is that we have holidays and parties for EVERYTHING! This week, starting yesterday, is Day of the Dead and All Saints Day. It´s pretty interesting from what I learned in Spanish class, but now I get to live it for real. 

This week Jaina and Wendy were confirmed members of the Church. Pretty exciting. Jaina signed up in RS to have us eat in her house this week AND paid her tithing. What a stellar convert. She is truly converted in her heart. We had a FHE lesson with Wendy last night and they remembered that it was my birthday. Her birthday was this week too so we all had a nice little festival for the refreshments part of the FHE. 

Wendy's familia with Elders' Hill & Clayton

David and Nicte also said that they wanted to be baptized because they said that they haven´t seen any other church as true as ours, so they are going to try it out, as they put it. It´s pretty neat. They are one of those couples that you just wonder "how are these people not members?" We are working this week on helping them be converted, too. 

Thanks for all of the birthday wishes from everyone! You are all fabulous and I love you all. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO EVERYONE THIS WEEK, AS WELL!!! 

Elder Rangel in my district made me a pretty cool b-day card with a popup elder and everything. He´s going to be a big artist someday. We also had Costco muffins this week..... something very rare unless you find someone who has a membership and is willing to buy them. We have secret connections from one certain HERMANA. Were the favorites of the bunch! ;) 

Well my pals, have a great week. Be safe trick or treating and don´t take candy from strangers! Good luck! 

Loves, 

Elder Hill 

Triple Action and The Church is TRUE. Never Leave It.

Elder Matt Clayton, Irineo & Elder Matt Hill

This week was a week of threes. We were in a trio for the week because Elder Cruz went to the offices for a week but comes back today. The three of us were Elders Clayton, Rangel, and me. We also had three baptisms, Jaina, Irineo, and Wendy. It was pretty good. 

Elder Clayton, Jaina, Elder Hill & Wendy Baptism

Irineo said that he felt really calm and a peaceful feeling that very few times in his life he has felt. He was baptized Saturday and confirmed Sunday while Jaina and Wendy were only baptized on Sunday. It was a really great service. Jaina had some problems before she left her house with her family because they didn´t want her to get baptized so it was special for her becuase she did it out of her own conviction and doesn´t really care what everyone else says. Wendy said, "Thank you so much, really, thank you." Almost her whole family are members but inactive, and we are starting to get them back to church. It´s always great to see how the Gospel changes lives, if people just let it. Nicte and David have changed their minds since they saw what happened with Jaina and Nicte´s mom. Nicte is influenced a lot by what her mom says, and David just doesn´t want to accept it. It´s sad that some people KNOW and FEEL that it is true, but don´t have the courage to say no to the world and do what is best for them. Nicte wrote a little paper one day at work and shared all of her feelings. All of them pointing to the Gospel, and the Spirit was so strong in that lesson, but her mom just doesn´t want to let her be a grown up. Maybe some day. 

I think they are pointing to the MAC (Apple) Matthew is a big fan of MAC!

P. S. Missionaries with sexual sins are a risk to the work because if something happens in the field, it can ruin a whole village from listening to the gospel. Read Alma 39. There is a process of repentance, but they can talk to their Bishop about it. He has the keys. Also, if they go through the temple and everything, and messes up on the mission, they will NEVER, (rarely) return to the church because the guilt and the sin will be way too much for them to handle. Greater light = greater condemnation. Click here to read Alma 39  Yes, there is repentance for young people that break the law of chastity, but most of the time it is not enough to stop them from serving a mission unless it is a pattern, and a consistent trend.  That has been my experience.  It is all about the sincerity of their repentance, and the remorse which generally stops them from doing the thing over and over again.  So although the bar is raised, it is still a bar that most can jump.  President Epperson

The Church is True. Never leave it. And if you are not a member, investigate, pray, and you will know. Just do it. 

Elder Hill