October Conference & Grasshoppers/Locusts for Food

Elder Hill with Chapulines... fried Grasshoppers/Locusts!

October 1, 2012

October Conference and Grasshoppers!

This week was another week of eating weird things. They are called something like chapolines, but I´m not sure how it´s spelled, (Los saltamontes, Grasshoppers know as locusts in Mexico  as 'chapulines'. ) They weren´t as gross as the other Shaguey, (Shumways/Fried Beetles) (again, not spelled correctly). I don´t know how to spell it because people in Hidalgo talk a little funnier than people in Mexico state. They weren´t too bad because I put lots of Habanero salsa on my taco to cover up the taste a little. It didn´t really help. All it did was burn my lips for a while. Cheaters never win!

I can´t believe that conference is next weekend. I´m really excited because this time I will be able to understand it a little better. It´s strange to hear the translator´s voices instead of the actual person. That´s something a miss a little. 

David and his family are doing great. They are soaking up the gospel and progressing. So David and Nicte-ha are married. Jaina and Adrian are bro and sis of Nicte. Jaina is separated from her husband, Iram, but they went to church together becuase they feel that it could be the link that brings them together again. It´s amazing to see the Atonement and the gospel change lives. Jaina was totally different when we first taught her, and now she is more into it than David and Nicte. Elder Clayton and I are excited to continue finding people like them who are ready to hear the gospel and change their lives. Wendy is doing good and has a baptismal date for the 13th. Ireneo went to church and loved it, and said that he wants to be baptized. He has a bapt date for the 14th. The work continues and the days fly by. 6 months ago I was beginning my time in mexico and here I am again for conference. What a privilege it is to listen to the Prophet, Apostles, and the other General Authorities of the church. Prepare for it- don´t take it for granted. At home we don´t have to go to the church to watch the translated broadcast. Let us be better than 6 months ago. Always moving up and forward. 

Keep your chin up, each one. 

Elder Hill  

¡Felíz Otoño! Happy Fall!

Elder Hill with a GIGANTIC lemon!

Hey, 

Sounds like everything is going great. Keep up the goodness and you will all see the blessings of doing what is right. Tell Allie happy birthday. I´ll send a list for my CHRISTMAS package next week. So far I´m thinking dark chocolate orange, orange stick, dove dark choc, reeses, maybe brownies in a sealed ziplock..... they usually last three weeks... who knows though. That´s it so far. I´ll let you know next week if anything changes. Love you. Thanks for the prayers and taking care of Josh and Des. 

P. S. Thanks for the scripture. (He who overcomes will gain eternal life, avoid the second death, inherit the celestial kingdom, and rule many kingdoms… “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that ^aovercometh will I give to eat of the hidden^bmanna, and will give him a ^cwhite ^dstone, and in the stone a new^ename written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” Rev 2:17)

I wouldn´t mind the New Jersey boot if you want. It would probably help with my orthotics so that my heel doesn´t get popped up too much. 42 is what I have now and they are tight, so I´m sure 43 would be perfect. I´ll send my box soon... promise! 

Love you. Thanks for your love and your support. Keep up the good work with Josh and Des, and Mike. 

pics- super gigantic lemon and a macro pic

¡Felíz Otoño! 

One hermano told us yesterday in his talk that yesterday was the first official day of Fall, but I don´t really know because I don´t have a calendar like at home that says "Fall Starts" or something like that. It´s pretty nice here because the weather is cooling off and it isn´t so hard to walk all day. The sun still burns, but it isn´t hot. Elder Clayton is finally adjusting to Mexico, which is interesting to relive. I didn´t get sick when I got here, but he sure has. Poor guy. But he is battling through it like a champ! Spanish is getting much better as well. All in all, he´s just great. 

This week has been really great as far as finding those "golden" investigators. We have been working in a village called Anaya that is the furthest point in our area. I only went there twice in three months, but I felt that there were people there waiting for us. We starting working there when Elder Clayton got here. The second week we found David, Nictehah, Hayna, and Adrian. They are a family that have gone from church to church looking for something that would help them get closer to God, progress, and fill their souls. They haven´t found anything so far, but they went to church yesterday and liked it! We will see them again today, but they´re great to work with. Also, Wendy is Flor´s sister (like Jose and Flor from a few months ago). Almost her whole family are members, but just lack her, her dad, and a sister that doesn´t live at home anymore. She also went to church. One day I asked her what she learned from the pamphlet about the restoration and she said, "...that I have to go to church to receive more blessings, read the scriptures, and pray.." The Spirit can teach a heart any concept if we are open to it. It´s really great to see how the Gospel changes lives. 

Something  I learned in Alma 1:29-31, ( 29 And now, because of the steadiness of the church they began to be exceedingly rich, having abundance of all things whatsoever they stood in need—an abundance of flocks and herds, and fatlings of every kind, and also abundance of grain, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious things, and abundance of silk and fine-twined linen, and all manner of good homely cloth.

 30 And thus, in their prosperous circumstances, they did not send away any who were naked, or that were hungry, or that were athirst, or that were sick, or that had not been nourished; and they did not set their hearts upon riches; therefore they were liberal to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, whether out of the church or in the church, having no respect to persons as to those who stood in need.

 31 And thus they did prosper and become far more wealthy than those who did not belong to their church.”) is that if we want to be "rich" we should be members of the one and only true Church. Not just rich in material, but spiritual also. Blessings come in many forms for doing what is right- which is doing what God wants us to do. Keep studying the scriptures and you will feel a power and knowledge come into your life. It´s great! 

Well, Mexico is going well. The days just keep flying by faster and faster as each day goes by. 

Love you all, 

Elder Hill 

Viva México! I Have Strep Throat, So Much For My Tonsillectomy! :(

Viva México! 

Yesterday was the Mexican Independence Day, and man was it crazy! Friday we went to the ward´s party that we had and it was cool. We had to leave right when they were getting started, but I´m sure it turned out great. They had a mariachi band, food, dancing, and games. By the way, their national anthem is SOOOOO long! Saturday night they had what is called "La Grita!" where they shout Viva Mexico like fifty times. We were at home trying to sleep, but it was pretty loud. I also had a flashback from being an EMT this week. We walked into a house to eat this week and there was the grandma with half of her face droopy and her eye couldn´t shut. I think I shouted because the hermana shouted back QUÉ!!!???? I was like, hermana! Your face! You´re having a stroke! Then her daughter are just like 'it´s no big deal Elder'. Don´t take for granted the ambulance system or the expensive healthcare.... it´s all worth it. 

YEA! Elder Hill with his contacts at Atlantes again!

Elders Hill & Clayton with zone at Atlantes, Tula

So, nobody came to church yesterday because all of the kids have to be in the parade in order to be in school, so all of the parents went to watch their kids. There were only about thirty people in church, and they slowly started leaking out with time. We are teaching Ireneo who lived in the US and married a member there. He has been reading the BOM for 8 years but still hasn´t been baptized. He is super faithful and kind. He has been humbled through his experiences, both physically and spiritually. he lives in a one room block house with a dirt floor. Also Gaby. She is an older lady that we are teaching in Anaya, a village in our area. She is cool because she tries to read and even came to church, but didn´t want to interrupt so she went home. I didn´t know that until she sent me the text message, but next week she´ll be there. Yoletzi is still doing well and will be baptized on the 30th. Edgar and Denise told us that they won´t be baptized to our religion because they will be disowned by the catholics.... oh well, maybe someday. 

Elder Hill, Elder Clayton and his zone at
Atlantes, Tula (ancient Jaredite ruins)

Elder Clayton and I are doing well and working hard. I´m still surprised at the things that he finds as new and amazing. It´s still pretty funny! 

Keep at it. Love you all. 

Elder Hill 

Seeing The Mission Through New Eyes!

2 MATEO'S!! Elders Matthew Hill & Matthew Clayton

Bueno!

This week is week number one for Elder Matt Clayton from Henderson (Las Vegas), Nevada! I told him where my grandma lives and he´s like, 'Oh yeah, those streets!' So, I´m not sure if he really knew, but it was funny! Elder Taylor left and Elder Treviño left as well to other areas.

I´m seeing the mission through new eyes now. All the little things that I have gotten used to and are just normal now, are extremely astonishing to my companion. I am also realizing that the Lord prepares whom He calls because I didn´t really feel ready to train a new missionary, but it´s not so hard. The new things that have sparked a reaction are the following:

-All the dogs in the street

-Teaching real people who accept the invitation to read the B.of M. because they want to

-Stopping people in the street to talk to them about the Church

-Eating weird things (consumé- greasy soup with beans and veggies....and chicken legs)

-Mexican people who talk so fast you don´t catch anything they say

-Well, this one I´ll just say people are more open about their feelings here than at home

-Teaching a lesson in a van while going to another area and this person saying he´s been looking for answers the last few months

-Things the Spanish teachers teach them from other countries that NOBODY does or says here

-and the list will go on for a few more weeks! :)

I ate Dominos pizza at the training meeting on Monday-- Dominos for the first time in a long time. Everyone says that they get sick when they eat American food, but it was delicious and I didn´t get sick at all! The funniest thing that Elder Clayton told me when he got here was that he remembers reading my blog before he went to the MTC.

Also, my voice is cracking again. I think my voice is hitting stage two of "the changing phase". It´s kind of funny when I speak Spanish and words that are accented funny because my voice cracks and I turn red and try not to laugh because it´s super funny. Oh, the things that entertain a missionary!

Something neat that happened was yesterday. We got in a van to go to another village and a little after we got in, a man stopped the van to climb in. As I saw him through the window I felt like I had talked to him before or at least seen him. He got in and sat by me. After a few seconds I asked him if I knew him. He said no. I introduced myself to him, and him to me, and I  said that we were missionaries. Jesús is his name, and he said that he knew that we were missionaries. He had been investigating religions lately and read something about our Church, Joseph Smith, and the Book of Mormon. As about 20 minutes of our ride went on, I taught him the whole first lesson, explained the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith, and gave it to him. He is the first person that I have met that describes the scripture in D&C 123:12  that says the people are kept from the truth because they don´t know where to find it. He´s a chosen one- he´s ready to be baptized. We just need to be able to meet with him because his family doesn´t like other religions coming over, so that would be a problem.

We have other people to teach, but I´m out of time to tell you about them. None of our investigators went to church this week so it was a bit of a downer, but all will be well.

Gotta go. Love you all! Keep your chin up and congrats on the beginning of a new school year.... or just another month if you´re an old person.

Elder Hill

Transfers, Training and the HONEYBEE!

This is the Honeybee that stung my throat...Elder Hill rightly chastens below:

Hey peeps,

This week is a little bit of craziness, but let me share you just a little bit of what´s going on.

We continued teaching Paulino and his family. He said that he believes that the Book of Mormon is true but that he can´t just change his religion overnight after being catholic for 50 years. I think it is more of a pride thing because he can change, but he fears what others might say if he changes. He is a great guy and his family are great people. I have high hopes for them. He came to church yesterday and sat through testimony meeting which is a bit of a miracle. In 3 months he hasn´t come to church, but he did yesterday. He left after sacrament meeting because his granddaughter came to visit. I´ll take a miracle step by step if I have to!

Yoletzi is a part member family. She came to church, too. She has a baptismal date for the 16th, I think. She´s so going to get baptized.

We were looking for a family on Saturday and a lady comes out and stops us and tells us that her son, 16 yrs old, has been acting weird, having visions, screaming, and a whole bunch of other things. We went and talked to him and there was definitely a heavy feeling there, but not too overbearing. After trying to figure out what was going on, there was a point when we asked him if he knew us. He said yes, that we were the "intelligent eyes". There were several occasions when he looked me in the eye and I felt that I knew before this life, whatever spirit he has. Crazy. We left pretty soon because he was on drugs and we can´t do anything when he´s like that. After studying the scriptures and Jesus the Christ Sunday morning,  I realized just how parallel everything that was happening with us happened with Christ when he cast out demons. We went again yesterday and gave him a blessing, but he was still a little crazy. We told his dad to start praying every day so that his son would be healed. His dad accepted a baptismal date. On Tuesday we´ll go back to visit his family.

Treviño is now a Zone Leader in Queretaro and I get to train a new Elder from the United States of America! I still don´t know who because they are still in the airport and I´m in the offices waiting with the other trainers. I´ll let you know next week, if Hermana Call doesn´t send a picture this week.

Well, gotta go. Sounds like Josh is doing good. Tell him to keep up the good work. Congrats to Abel Chavez and your mission call! What a champ!

Keep your chin up and move forward!

Elder Hill

Mom’s FB post with the honeybee…(BEWARE OF LEAVING YOUR SODAS UNCOVERED IN SUMMER, the BEES LOVE them!! Funny today, miserable yesterday! Had a WICKED ride marathon @ Lagoon with Destiny Michelle, Jaxie Taylor, & Alex. We rode 16 times, 8 straight without even getting off! We walk down and Alex & I grab our drinks, take my Rockstar and guzzle it..Feel lump, then pain and sting! Ran to car and drank water, induced vomiting! VIOLA! A dang honeybee stung me and left stinger by epiglottis! HORRIBLY painful. Hours, benedryl, prilosec & zyrtec later, miserable. So to the ER I go!)

The honey bee is a sign that you should stop drinking Rockstars and caffeine and eat more natural fruits, vegetables, and grains. They will give you more long lasting and healthy sugar. After teaching the word of wisdom so long, I can only tell it how it is. The word of wisdom is principally to free our body from ADDICTIONS, not necessarily what the pamphlet just says. There is a scripture in Corinthians that says ´the letter killeth; the spirit enlighteneth´or something like that. Look it up. (2^nd Cor. 3:6 ~ Who also hath made us able ^aministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the^bspirit giveth life.)

(Latter-day Saints know that true doctrine comes by revelation from God, not by scholarship or worldly wisdom (see Moses 5:58). Similarly, the Apostle Paul wrote that we are not “sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God” (2 Corinthians 3:5). Rather than trusting in our own interpretations of written texts, we rely on God and the glorious “ministration of the spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:8). Here we encounter a new meaning of Paul’s familiar teaching that true believers are “ministers … of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life” (2 Corinthians 3:6).)

Steve told me about Abel. That´s cool. Tell him congratulations for me.

Gotta go.

"The Pure Love of Christ" & Joseph Smith: "El amor puro de Cristo" & Joseph Smith

Photo nicknamed by Elder Hill's whole district as "The Pure Love of Christ."

Hola, ít´s good to hear about all the things that are going on at home. It is crazy to think that next week school starts already. Summer has gone by way to fast. Sounds like Destiny is having fun and enjoying spending time with you. Tell Ryan and Allie that I hope that they get the house and Josh that he does well. Our ward mission leader´s name is Josué, or Joshua, in Spanish. They are similar in many ways, actually. Thanks for my package. It did get here. Some of the ward members saw that I left the bishop´s house with it and they started telling me to open it, so I did. The most interesting thing was the wax paper that said, "Mom and Destiny´s dead skin" with tape on it. (Destiny put tape on me for some reason, then her and turned around and put it in plastic wrap and threw it into Matthews package…guess we started some new weird thing!) Don´t worry, I´m going to send my package this week with something that tops that. Keep up the good work- you´re doing great! Also, ask Abel what´s up with the mission. He should have his call by now.... Also, can you look up Nuñez on Facebook and send me his email for next week, please? It is Alex Nuñez from Acapulco.... The other picture is from when we got soaked at night. We ran three blocks straight and still got drenched.

I´m not really sure if I have sent this picture, but if not, here it is. It has been nicknamed "The Pure Love of Christ" by my entire district. Sometimes it feels good to just be a bit of a dork. Elder Treviño and I this week also talked about how we need to love others in order to love Christ and Heavenly Father. It feels like sometimes we just say that we get along with people, but it doesn´t really mean that we love them. It is a difference that from this week on, I will work on correcting. 

Most likely the picture he had

This week Paulino, they guy who has been investigating the church for about 10 years, since his daughter was baptized, had something amazing happen. He laid down one night to go to bed thinking of other things, but once he fell asleep he dreamed that somebody from the old days told him that the Book of Mormon was true. On Saturday morning I felt to take a picture of Joseph Smith that I had on my wall with our lesson to him that day. I brought it and asked him to remember about his dream and what the guy looked like. He grabbed his Book of Mormon and turned to Joseph Smith and said it looked kinda like him. Then I gave him the pic of Joseph and he was like, "Yeah, that´s him! That´s the guy!" He didn´t know who the two pictures were, but we told him that they were Joseph Smith. Then he took us to buy a cake and we ate cake, and we didn´t get any further in the lesson.... until next time, I guess. I hope that he accepts it.

 READ MORE HERE!!

Lo Mejor de Ambos Lados ~ (Best of Both Sides) and A Lamb In A Wheelbarrow, Now Missing it's Hoof(ves)

Me with a lizard in the street that Elder Baez
caught when we were on exchanges

Hey,

Bummer to hear about Tom passing away. He was a really great guy. 

Tell Chris sorry to hear about his brother. That´s a bummer also, but he´s in a better place being taught the Gospel.

I still haven´t received the package, either. It should come this week, but I don´t really know. Should get it before transfers on the 3rd.

Something I´ve learned and dealt with here in Mexico is just because one is released doesn´t mean they should stop going to church. A member of the Church never gets released from being a member nor un-assigned from visiting/home teaching. Christ doesn´t need the church; we need the church in order to make it back to His presence. If we don´t fulfill with ALL of the ordinances, we won´t be able to make it back. And ONLY in this Church do we have that opportunity. It isn´t a game, it´s salvation.

The mission is great. I´m enjoying everything that I do. And I won´t be coming home early.... sorry! (I had a dream/nightmare, really that he came back early from an injury! We are thrilled even if we miss him, we don't wanna see him early!)

LOOK TO SEE IF TRANSLATE WILL WORK ON TOP OF BROWSER OR TO RIGHT CLICK TRANSLATE. I have always wanted him to write in Spanish and as I received this, I wanted to beg him not to! I have attempted to do so here... (Wendy)

Muy buenas tardes a todos, (Very good afternoon to all)

 

Ésta semana estuvo muy bien. (This week was very good.) México ganó el oro en las Olimpiadas en Inglaterra y Estados Unidos ganó a México en un partído nacional aquí, entonces tengo lo mejor de ambos lados de mi mente. (Mexico won gold in the Olympics and the United States won Mexico, so it's the best of both sides on my mind.)

 

United States 1, Mexico 0. U.S. Wins in Mexico, (Soccer) for the First Time In 75 Years!

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/16/sports/soccer/soccer-roundup.html

 

Ésta semana yo leí un discurso que se llama "Only an Elder" por Bruce R. McKonkie y ese hombre era muy poderoso. (This week I read "Only An Elder, by Bruce R. McKonkie, he is a powerful man.) http://www.lds.org/ensign/1975/06/only-an-elder?lang=eng 

Aprendí mucho de lo que yo debo hacer y ser como misionero y miembro de ésta iglesia. Lo recomiendo para todos, aunque sean mujeres.  (I learned more of what I have to do as a missionary and member of this Church. I recommend it for everyone, even the woman.) También estaba leyendo otro discurso que se llama "The Transforming Power of Faith and Character" por Richard G. Scott de la Conferencia de Octubre 2010, http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/the-transforming-power-of-faith-and-character 

creo. Igual, aprendí muchisimo is es una fuente muy poderosa de lo que tenemos que hacer como miembros y discípulos de Cristo. (A lot is learned and (these) are a very powerful source(s) for us to know what we should do as (Church) members and Disciples of Christ.)

 

Hilda todavía quiere tomar un bautizmo y eso es muy bueno. (Hilda wants to be baptized and that is very good.) Solo tenemos unos detalles con ella porque tiene que ir a Veracruz otra vez para trabajar, y no sabemos todavía lo que va a hacer. (We have details to work out because he has to work in Veracruz) Encontramos una persona que se llama Victor. Es muy buena persona y acceptó su fecha bautismal, (We found a person named Victor, he is a very good person, we accept his baptismal date,) pero no pudo venir a la capilla ayer porque se esposa tuvo una cita con el ultrasonido para su embaraza. (he could not come yesterday because his wife had an ultrasound appointment.) Lo vamos a visitar hoy. (We will visit today.) Nadia se mudó hasta otro lado y ya no podemos vistarle, tampoco la dieron permiso sus padres para bautizarse. (Nadia moved to the other side, so we cannot visit, nor did parents give permission to baptize (her).) Vamos a dejar Edgar y Denise una semana más para ver sí deciden que quieren venir a la iglesia y cumplir con sus compromisos. (We leave Edgar & Denise for another week to see if they will come to church & fulfill their commitments) No es su tiempo todavía. (It's not their time yet) Estamos enseñando a Paulino y su familia. (We are teaching Paulino & family) Son investigadores de años con muchos misioneros. (Some investigators spent years with many missionaries.) Su hija es miembro, pero no vive aquí. (Her daughter is a member, but does not live here.) Su problema es que estan un poco duros de corazón pero lo ésta (Her problem is a little hard heart, (softening.) ablandando mucho, y éstan progresando poco a poco. (progressing a little) Por fin estan leyendo el Libro de Mormón, so faltan que lean y oran para recibir una respuesta. (They are finally reading the Book of Mormon, so now to pray and receive a confirmation of it's truth/ a reponse.) José tomó despúes de su bautizmo, como una semana, pero ya está bien. Él quiere dejar todo atrás y empezar de nuevo. (I think it says Jose took off after his baptism, about a week later is doing well but left for a fresh start...basically.)

Me "playing" the guitar with a hat and
ray-ban´s looking like a country song

Tuvimos entrevistas el Viernes y fueron muy bien. Hablé con presidente, y me siento muy bien en mi progreso como persona y misionero. (Interviews Friday went very well, I spoke to President (Call), I feel I am progressing very well as a person & missionary.)

 

Pués, es todo. No hay nada más interesante pasando aquí. (Well that's all, Nothing more interesting here) Vamos a seguir trabajando y haciendo todo lo posible para encontrar personsas para enseñar. (We will keep working to encounter people to teach.) Que hagan todo lo posible para ser lo mejor que pueda, en si mismo, y no comparandose con otras personas. (Make every effort to be the best you can, in yourselves, don't compare yourself to others.)

 

Hasta luego, (Until then,)

Elder Hill

Wait until the 3rd and I will tell you what´s up. (re: transfers) Also, you can add this to my letter, but I´m not going to write in Spanish. (WHEW!!)

Now, The Lamb!  CAUTION: READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED

On Saturday, we went to find a person in a village called Anaya. We ended up finding somebody else, but right as we started talking to them, some guy came out to the street with a lamb in a wheelbarrow. I thought, "Huh.... he´s just going to wheel the sheep to where he needs it instead of walking it. That´s strange." But no, it was even more strange. He just takes it to the side of a ditch and kills it. Elder Treviño runs over to ask him what he is doing and he jsut says that they have some baptisms tomorrow so they are going to cook some barbacoa lamb. So, while I am teaching these two people outside of their house, Treviño is over there taking pictures and recording the whole thing. When I finish, I go over and contact the guy and tell him that we are missionaries. At one point in the process, the guy breaks one of the hoofs off to have his kids take it to start being cleaned to cook. Then my companion asks if he can break one of the remaining three, and he does! Then I, being a little bit competitive, decided that I would ask, too, and I got to break one! I was a little more worried about blood getting on my shirt than my companion, but I came out clean. Normally I would say "No way!", but only once in my life will I ever be able to say that I broke a sheep hoof in my mission. That was the strangest part of the mission so far, because I saw everything-- from skinning, to hanging it in a tree and taking all the parts out. (I'll bet that GROSSED him out!)

Gotta go, Love you.

Fried Beetles, Scorpions & STUDY the Scriptures

Shumways....Fried BEETLES!!

I was going to write in Spanish today, but as they say here, "me dio flojera hacerlo". Or in other words, I got lazy. :)

Eating???? a Shumway

This week was a little crazy. I forgot to tell you all about the dog bite story with Elder Taylor, but from what I hear, it is already on the blog so happy reading! The dog that bit him is still alive and he doesn´t have to get shots. That makes him happy! He doesn´t like shots.

I ate these fried beetles that are called Shumways this week. They tasted like fried pig skin, so I don´t recommend eating them. Not so great. 

READ & SEE MORE HERE!!

Elders Hill, Taylor & Hermana Call: DOGBITE

Elders Cruz, Trevino, TAYLOR & HILL@Atlantes

Hermana Patricia Call & Presidente J. Dana Call

Hi Wendy,

I’m really slow at updating Dylan’s blog but I wanted you to see the adventure he related in Monday’s letter.  This is straight from his letter, no editing as you can see.

 okay well im gonna tell you guys a story. but im just going to relate the conversation that i had with Elder Hill, Myself, and the Hermana Call.

EH: Okay we need to call the hermana....

Phone Ringing.....

HNA: Bueno?

EH: Hi hermana its elder hill

HNA: Hi elder hill how are you?

EH: Im fine but my companion is not.

HNA: What happened?

EH: Well i did divisions with elder taylor and we were knocking on a door and facing the door and out of nowhere a dog comes up and bites him on the butt.

HNA: Oh okay well is it bad?

EH: Well it broke the skin

ME: No! dont say that she will think you have seen my butt!

EH: It wasnt your butt it was just your left cheek.

ME: Hill! she doesnt need to know that!

EH: Hermana we are men here okay.

HERMANA LAUGHING REALLY HARD

hahaha so it was crazy. a stupid dog bit my butt. and i might have to get shots. the hermana said if the dog dies within 10 days it has rabies and i have to get shots, if not then i dont have to. so now we have 4 days down and we’ll see if it lives haha. but im fine. it just hurt to sit down for a few days. but now im all fine and such.

I’m glad Elder Hill was with him, it sounds like his paramedic training kicked in.  The best line is “we are men here okay”.  So funny!

We have been laughing about this and saying carefully worded prayers for Dylan all week.  “Please bless Dylan’s …injury...”

I just hope he is using antibiotic ointment on it and other than that it will be a great story for him to tell about his mission.  Knowing Dylan he’ll get a lot of mileage out of it.

Just wanted to share, have a great day!

Wendy

Barbacoa Pork & "Discipline Is “Knowing What You Want And Taking The Most Direct Route To Get It!”

Hey Mom, 

Thanks for sending the package. I really appreciate it. I still haven´t sent the package yet. I have been waiting to see a few things. Transfers are somewhere around the 1st of September, but it depends because there are a few missionaries leaving next week so we might have emergency transfers. I´ll let you know when I know. 

I asked you to tell Susan thank you for me. Please let her know. 

Bummer to hear about XXXXXXXXXX. Seems like those two just can´t get out of their own holes and into the right path. I´ll pray for them. 

Here is a quote: "Discipline is “knowing what you want and taking the most direct route to get it!” If you know what you want, you will go for it. Just like the Olympics. 

Congrats to Ryan. I hope he gets the house! 

Viewmont is a good school, however, there are more opportunities to do wrong there, just because the bad stuff is more available and more known, but it is a good school. It all depends on the person and what he wants to do with his life. 

I´ll send my SD card home with this new package that I´ll send.

I´ll wait for the package and all that. Life is good. The work goes on. I´m in Tezontepec de Aldama, not in Tula de Allende. Tula is a different area than mine. 

I´ll wait for your reply. 

Love you, 

Elder Hill 

Hi-Thai! (That´s what Treviño always says to little kids who ask if we speak a different language) 

This week went better than last week did. Jose and Flor got married this week after a whole lot of jumbling things and working with our connections in the government to get them married, they finally tied the knot. They said it pretty much just feels the same, but now they are keeping the commandments. Jose was baptized on Saturday night and Jose, Maria Isabel, and Fanny were all confirmed on Sunday. Maria Isabel´s baby was also blessed so that was neat-o! 

 

Saturday the Elder´s Quorum had a nice activity on the farm. We played soccer in the pasture and then we had barbacoa pork and chicken. I was already sick for 3 days this week and I thought that I would be worse after eating, but I was just fine! It was interesting 

to see how they do it and experience just a little piece of culture. I remember from when i watched a movie about barbacoa in Spanish class in junior high. It was pretty much the same. 

Also, I don´t know how many of you have heard funny stories of companions and/or members tricking missionaries into eating strange things, but it happened last week. READ THE FUNNY STORY HERE!!!

My Testimony Was Renewed, I Had An Amazing Experience!

Hola! 

It´s pretty much August already! Summer is going by fast, but I´m not on summer break so it is all the same for me! This week was really 'chafa' as they say here. Our confirmations, Maria Isabel and Fany, didn´t show up to church.  We went to her house to look for them and the grandma was there. She said that the girls had left to a party with her other daughter and that Maria had to work, but I knew that she was lying to me so I went in the house and the two daughters were there watching T.V. and having a good time. Later we found out that Maria had to work because her boss wasn´t going to pay here for the three days that she had already worked if she didn´t go on Sunday. Jose and Flor didn´t get married this week because they couldn´t find some of the papers required, therefore, he didn´t get baptized. But we hope that this week all will be well and things will work out. 

On Saturday we were on our way to an appt. and we stopped to say hello to una hermana at here business. She was outside talking to a friend and we started talking to her. We invited here to go to church yesterday and she came! That doesn´t happen very often, but she is super cool. She knows a lot and is ready to hear the truth. We have another appointment tonight. Her name is Lucia. 

Last week, I had an amazing experience where I found out that I had done something that normally I wouldn´t have done, but I felt like I should. Turns out that it was the Spirit helping me to be an instrument in the Lord´s hands to answer. READ MORE OF THIS LETTER BY CLICKING HERE!

¡¡¡ Happy 24th of July & Missionary for LIFE !!!

HAPPY 24th OF JULY!!!!!!!!!!

I hardly even remembered until I saw the date and all that jazz! Time flies when one is having fun! 


Yesterday, Edgar and Denise went to church and loved it. They had a good time and said that they will get baptized if they like church as much as they did yesterday and if they feel that it is true. Pretty much that means if we have faith and do what is right, the Lord will bless them and us with a baptism! Also, Nadia went to EFY this last week and she loved it. She talked to one hermana yesterday and asked her, "I loved EFY! Now what do I need to do to be baptized?!" She left church early with her sister and we couldn`t find her after, so we will keep searching. Or as the scriptures say, "fishing".

The funny thing about Edgar is that when we taught him the first time we had mentioned that somebody he knew was a member of our church. He sells propane and knows a lot of people. He started asking if a lot of people that he knew were members. Almost every name he rattled of is a member of our ward or the other ward her in Tezo. I find it funny because he has so many friends of the church that had NEVER talked to him about the church, and here he is loving what he learned yesterday and being around the people that are members of the one and only true Church of Christ. I invite each and every one of you to talk to your friends about the church. Pray for a way to bring it up casually and talk about it. I have a friend who talked to a girl about the Church, ...(Read more of this letter CLICK HERE!!)

It's Been A Year Since My Call & Don't Play With Snakes!

Elders Cruz, Trevino, Taylor & Hill @ Atlantes in Tula

Aloha! 
(He has NEVER said “Aloha”! What he doesn’t know is that that is how Jordan’s Bishop welcomed everyone to Sacrament Meeting and Jordan’s Farewell on Sunday!!!)

I was reminded by mom that I received my mission call one year ago yesterday. I didn´t even remember. I just thought, "July 16.... Wow! July is going by fast!" and that was it. One year from the call, and six months in the mission. I think that when I left, Cameron Hawkins had six months in the mission. Crazy! 

This week was pretty great. It was surely a wet week because the rainy season has arrived. A little late, but it usually rains every afternoon now. We found 5 new people to teach this week and they´re great! Edgar and Denise are one couple that we found. We showed up to a business of a member who always helps us and she was like, "Hey Elders! This is Edgar! Talk to him!" She has no shame about sharing the gospel and it´s AWESOME! We taught them Saturday and they said that they would go to Church, but they forgot and went to DF to buy a truck. But we went to their house last night and they said that they would get baptized if they like the church and all that it entails. That pretty much felt that for sure they are going to get baptized. Also, every Sunday we work as a district (the other 2 companionships that are close to us) in one of our 3 areas. Yesterday we worked here and the others elders went and talked to a contact that we had and they accepted a baptismal date! I don´t know them but they are Marisol and Juan de Dios. To be continued..... 

Jose, a guy that we stopped visiting nearly two weeks ago, accepted his baptismal date again and is excited to be baptized. I think that sometimes time can heal old feelings and get us excited again. That´s what happened. Yesterday he came to church in slacks and a white shirt. That´s awesome! 

This week, I picked up a small black and yellow snake. I don´t remember much about snakes from Boy Scouts, but if anyone knows if that snake was poisonous, please let me know. The talk from conference a while back came to my mind that was titled "Don´t Play With Snakes!" (http://www.lds.org/family/family-well-being/combating-pornography/audiences/individuals/you-cant-pet-a-rattlesnake?lang=eng&query=don%C2%B4t+play+with+snakes) I think that was the spirit regeñandome. I don´t know how to say that in english anymore, but it´s something like chastising. My friends, it would be hypocritical to tell you not to play with snakes after relating that story, but I highly recommend following the counsel of our leaders. I was thinking what other "snakes" there are in life. You know what your snakes are, and I invite you to get rid of them. Snakes are no fun! :)

This week I read a few talks from conference. I love conference talks. One that I loved is from Richard G. Scott and talks about how to receive personal revelation.  I can’t think of the actual title, but check it out. (http://www.lds.org/liahona/2012/04/what-can-i-do-to-follow-heavenly-fathers-plan-for-me?lang=eng&query=g.+(name%3a%22Richard+G.+Scott%22) ) It´s pretty awesome. Also, for you guys out there, read the talk from Elder Bednar in priesthood.... (http://www.lds.org/tools/print/article/narrow/?lang=eng&url=/church/news/2012-general-conference/priesthood-session ) Oh man was that good! 

We went to the Atlantes in Tula today. It wasn´t much to see, but it was cool. They are pyramids and they have lots of symbols of things in the church. 

Anyway, I don't have much else. 

Love ya all! 

Elder Hill

Click here for info on Tula & Jaredites, etc

IT`S PRETTY SWEET TO THINK THAT I`M FULFILLING A PROPHECY! :) DON'T DELAY! IT'S GETTING LATE.

Always has reminded me of Elder Matthew Hill!
(Artwork by Greg Olsen ~ permission granted for us in this blog) https://www.facebook.com/gregolsenfan

Buenas Tardes, 

This week went by super fast! Elder Treviño and I didn`t even notice it was Friday and now it`s Monday! Anyway, this week we had Zone Conference. That was great. We basically got told, "Good job, but why aren`t you guys working?" The Stake President showed up and said that it was an embarrassment to missionary work that a Stake took 20 years to be divided. Honestly, it was GREAT! I sometimes feel that people don`t understand what they need to do when they are told in a nice and round-about way. I think that the Zone (and me as well) will start to understand better what it means to be a missionary in these days. We are fulfilling prophecies of thousands of years past by Prophets of the Old Testament! We are also fulfilling prophecies in the Book of Mormon. It`s pretty sweet to think that I`m fulfilling a prophecy! :)

This week we were in a store that is owned by a member. Across the street is another store owned by our ward mission leader. So, some guy pulls up across the street on a red motorcycle  with a sombrero. The member across the street also has a red motorcycle. So, I whistle at this guy like (whooot-wooo)..... this guy turns around and looks at us and it was just some random guy who went to pick up something from the store. We just started laughing!! I learned to not whistle at people, no matter what.

Love is not looking at each other, it's
looking together in the same direction.

Our investigators Clementina and Nadia came to church yesterday. They are great people and are willing to learn. We don`t have very many new people to teach this week, so we are scrambling to get to work. Our baptisms should be for July 21. That will be cool.

Mexico City North Mission

Everyone here in my district keeps teasing me that I will be getting a call, everyone has started spreading rumors. Guys and gals-- rumors don`t end. They`re always there, but the topics change!

Jeffrey R. Holland ~ General Authority

This week I read Elder Holland`s talk from Conference- Laborers in the Vineyard. http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/the-laborers-in-the-vineyard Read it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYogSVAZZVU (Click to watch it!) My favorite part is the last line. Don`t delay! It`s getting late. If that just isn`t a Spirit filled line I don`t know what is!

My friends, I love ya`ll! Keep at it and be good.

Con amor,

Elder Hill

Yo lo sabia, y yo sabia qué Dios lo sabia, y no yo no podia negarlo!

(I knew it, and I knew what God knew, and I could not deny it!)

ELDER HILL IN ACHACHILCO

HOOOOOOOOOLLLLLAAAAAAAAAA!

Just felt like saying a big ol` hello from Hidalgo, because everyone here is a cowboy and works in the fields. It`s pretty awesome!

Today for P-day we dressed in our street clothes and watched the Restoration video with the other elders in our district. We had popcorn and candy, too. It was just fun to do something different than play soccer and basketball.

This week was pretty fun. It went by so fast that I hardly remember what happened, but I remember that it was fun! We went to a place called Anaya and while we were walking, I found an ambulance. Apparently this guy just has the ambulance in his driveway and I`m not even sure if they use it. It looks like it has been there for a while. Every day I am more and more grateful for what I have at home. READ MORE OF THIS LETTER HERE ~ CLICK ME!