HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!! Here is Isabel's letter. We did not receive one from Christopher....note Mom's sad face here.....
FROM ISABEL
on tues my com hna condori had called everyone in the ward that meant something to me and all of our investigators it was very emotional and special to hear people thank me for things that i didnt think anything of or investigators who i thought didt fully understand what i taught them tell me in detail what i taught them and see them cry over my departure on wed i went to go pick up my comp and the assistants let me know that i needed to go to the hospital to pick her up there bc she under went surgery for a stone she had and she spent the rest of the time healing i went to the hospital with all my bags and they told me there was no room for me and i had asked the elder to call and verify if there was room for me and usually i would have gotten irritated but now i truly laughed. and my comp condori was like whats funny! i said all of this its like wierd things placed on your plate to see if you can handle it and the combination of things on my plate is hilarious and its going to be interesting if i can stomach it. i think i can. they told my companion that she needs 2 months of resting and low level excersice so that everything heals and i have 4 months left in the mish so thats going to be interesting. but whats the best is that cala cala just totally humbled me and now i laugh when things go wrong like when the elders told me that they didnt know where my comps bags were and they were one in the office and the other in the temple and i just laughed or when they couldnt reimburse me 277 boilivanos bc i lost my receipts i just laughed so hard and then asked them to do me a favor this time bc i needed the money and they did they approved the reimbursement. they said i had typhoid fever and thats why i had all the diarrhea but after taking medicine i was allergic to i am all better again. i got the package muchas gracias for the gray shirt, so you couldnt find the cardigan? gracias for the pads that makes things easier. i could use some pictures and maybe that brownie i begged for a while back but then again i will be coming home soon. potosi is so great! the rocks are just enough to make max factor beauticians jealous they come in all shades and shimmers and the poeple have this chinese look to them and they say the soil is so rich that they have a potatoe fair of over 200 potatoes and that the water has so much minerals that your hair grows twice as fast here. well thats all and we dont celebrate halloween instead its called todos santos were they pray for salvations of their dead. also i think i want to learn quechua this time around and i think i might with all the reasting that we are going to have to do.
Till next week.....
Monday, October 31, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Potosi & Letters to Mom & Dad (we choose to share them)
From Isabella
so im leaving cala cala part of me is like yupi!!!! the other part of me is going to miss all of the families that i loved and loved me. and my investigators, i have 4 months left and there are some that i dont know if i will ever get to see again. so many live in the top or the hill and they dont have any phone numbers or street names or email so it fills me with this feeling of nostalgia. like what will be of jorgito in 15 years? i dont know it makes me sad. there were two places that i wanted to go tarija they say the nicest people of bolivia are there and everyone listens and its clean and beautiful and then there was potosi they say its higher up than la paz like 4500 in altitude and i like a challenge. so i prayed i want to go to the indians the hills because i only have 4 months and where ever they send me im probably going to die there unless they send me my last 6 weeks to tarija...i like the idea of that, and i got my wish POTOSI whats frightening is that they also say that potosi is the apostasy of the mish where they act out because the president is so far away so i dont know, but its a change and i like change. i hope to serve a mish with chris here in bolivia in the future i hope that they still let the church in becuase sometimes the relationship between countries in rocky. and chris is white. :) i love bolivia and i hope to get money for christmas hint hint ;) because i want to bring home cookbooks and souviniers. Bolivia runs through my veins and its going to hurt when i have to say goodbye i speak like them now, i expect the same things like them, i eat like them, i have some of their same instintcs, thats going to be another change of mixed emotions. i still havent gotten my package but i look forward to it. also i think that well i dreamnt that i was picking fruit and drying it and covering it with chocolate and selling it so i would like to look into having a small business of seasonal goodies i have to go i love you all very much Chris te amo! ciao
From Christopher
Here is the translation for you as well...
I love you much and believe that I miss you more than others. I pray/petition/entreat that tthe Lord will give us more time together to fix the difficult times that we had. I also delight the Spanish and desire to serve in the Church. Maybe one day we can play basketball again. What do you think? I'm happy you have placed youself in the service of God.
I have other sheep that i have to tend to. I love you much.
I'm thankful to be your son.
with much love
your son
Elder Hill
From Christopher
To Mom:
I love you, mom. I don´t know if the ties have arrived, but I know that they will
be here shortly. I don´t have a lot of time to write. I have to write three reports
and it takes a little more time. I love you so much and I am very humbled by
the service that you are doing for the Lord in paying for my mission. It truly
is a sacrifice. I hope that you can experience the joy of bringing someone
to Christ. There is a scripture in 2 Nefi 32: 3;5 that says: "Delight in the words
of Christ; becaause, wherefore, the words of Christ will tell you all the things that
you should do.... Because wherefore, I tell you again, that if you enter the way
and receive the Holy Ghost, he will show you ALL the things that you should do."
I love the scriptures and they are my best friend. The Book of Mormon is
the best book that there is know by man. It will truly help you in your work,
in your relationships and in all aspects of your life. I love you so much. And
you were never the cause of anything that happened as a child. Don´t ever
worry. The atonement of Christ is perfect for all persons and all problems.
With love,
Elder Hill
be here shortly. I don´t have a lot of time to write. I have to write three reports
and it takes a little more time. I love you so much and I am very humbled by
the service that you are doing for the Lord in paying for my mission. It truly
is a sacrifice. I hope that you can experience the joy of bringing someone
to Christ. There is a scripture in 2 Nefi 32: 3;5 that says: "Delight in the words
of Christ; becaause, wherefore, the words of Christ will tell you all the things that
you should do.... Because wherefore, I tell you again, that if you enter the way
and receive the Holy Ghost, he will show you ALL the things that you should do."
I love the scriptures and they are my best friend. The Book of Mormon is
the best book that there is know by man. It will truly help you in your work,
in your relationships and in all aspects of your life. I love you so much. And
you were never the cause of anything that happened as a child. Don´t ever
worry. The atonement of Christ is perfect for all persons and all problems.
With love,
Elder Hill
To Dad:
I love you a lot. And I think I miss you more than anyone. I beg that the Lord
will give us more time to mend the hard times that we had... O mejor dicho:
Te amo mucho y creo que me hace falta más que los demás. Ruego que
el Señor nos dé más tiempo para arreglar los tiempos difíciles que pasamos.
Yo también me encanta el español y deseo servir en la iglesi siempre. Mejor
sería que moririemos si no hubiéramos conocido la iglesia. Quizás un día
otra vez jugaremos baloncesto. ¿Qué tal te parece? Estoy feliz que te has
metido en el servicio de Dios.
Tengo otras ovejas que tengo que atender. Te amo mucho.
Estoy agradecido ser tu hijo.
Con mucho amor,
tu hijo,
Elder Hill
will give us more time to mend the hard times that we had... O mejor dicho:
Te amo mucho y creo que me hace falta más que los demás. Ruego que
el Señor nos dé más tiempo para arreglar los tiempos difíciles que pasamos.
Yo también me encanta el español y deseo servir en la iglesi siempre. Mejor
sería que moririemos si no hubiéramos conocido la iglesia. Quizás un día
otra vez jugaremos baloncesto. ¿Qué tal te parece? Estoy feliz que te has
metido en el servicio de Dios.
Tengo otras ovejas que tengo que atender. Te amo mucho.
Estoy agradecido ser tu hijo.
Con mucho amor,
tu hijo,
Elder Hill
Here is the translation for you as well...
I love you much and believe that I miss you more than others. I pray/petition/entreat that tthe Lord will give us more time together to fix the difficult times that we had. I also delight the Spanish and desire to serve in the Church. Maybe one day we can play basketball again. What do you think? I'm happy you have placed youself in the service of God.
I have other sheep that i have to tend to. I love you much.
I'm thankful to be your son.
with much love
your son
Elder Hill
Monday, October 17, 2011
Obedience, Blessings, El Country & District Leader
Izzy's Letter
Hola amigos y familias. i am so happy with the progress that so many of my investigators are making i feel i might leave cala cala (which means butt naked someone told me this week ha ha) but at the same time i feel that i will be able to see my investigators be baptized, the ones i am really hoping for is Bryan Fuentes, Rodrigo Sanchez who confessed this sat that he has had many confirmations that these things which we teach are Gods words and he feels this is Christ´s true church. that was such a highlight, Bryan said that he wants to move at his pace and i told him you are not being asked to run further than you have strength you are being asked to pray and read as He has asked because its for your good. Being obedient, dont we all love obedient children and then we have a ton of excuses not to be obedient with our Lord. Bryan is full of them... im not ready i dont have the desire i .. i.. i Told him i Love you very much and im not going to give up on you ever even if i finish my mission im still going to be gum on your shoe, i laughed and said my parents made me brush my teeth even when i didnt have the desire to brush them even when i would lie and said i did brush them because i didnt understand the importance of dental hygiene but because of them and them making me do this which i hated at the time i have teeth today something so small but so important, now why wouldnt i insist on you reading the Book of Mormon when your eternal salvation is at stake and not just your teeth? he teared up and said i will sister not perfectly but i will try. What more can i ask for. i love the mission, and the end is zooming by so fast ahhh. i also want to see hna Luz angela be baptized. she is colombian and we just understand eachother so well. her goal this year is to be baptized and she is reading and praying but has many family problems and admits she probably hasnt gotten a confirmation that this is true from the holy spirit because she is focused on the many issues she has right now. but i know that it is because she isnt attending church as she should. ive become a doctor to spiritual disease. Jorge is getting baptised this saturday and hopefully Josue too he still needs his permission signed. but i feel like my work is paying off and people are becoming happier and filled with hope in His atoning sacrifice and that is ultimately why i embarked in this journey. i know that prayer is a gift from God i know that you dont have to have the best words and that even the mute can fervently pour their heart to our Heavenly Father and that he listens and answers prayers. i know that the scriptures are tools that narrow the gap between our understanding and His. i know that He has restored his ture church, that we can learn his gospel and be saved. and i know that the love i share comes back ten fold. but i also know that prayer needs to be done frequently and every day but the blessings are innumerable the Biggest one of them all is that we know we are being obedient with the Lord and therefore feel confident that he is pleased. i love you all 4 more months till sushi and your faces!. in that order just kidding. i havent recieved anything yet but i am looking forward to it!
love hna florido
Chrissy's Letter
Dear Mom and Dad,
Saturday, I got my package. Thank you for everything. I really like
the ties. I gave the green tie to my companion for his birthday. I
hope that's okay. And also thank you for the card and for your love
and the pictures and all that you do. It's too much and I am really
humbled at so much love.
So I was transferred to a place called "Country." It's in the city
and I was also given the asignment of being District Lider. I have
been living constantly with deja vu here. I feel like I recognize
everything... I don't feel like I moved at all. The members and I,
in less than a week, have gained a lot of trust and we're already
working with references.
This week, in Siguatepeque, two investigators of mine are going to get
baptized, too!
And this family had received the missionaries for 20 years! Yay!
You asked what I would like for Christmas.
1. That Dad could write to my companion in Spanish. I will have to
get his address, but his name is Elder Galeano, from Nicaragua.
2. 2 pounds of Maca, a bottle of Reishi and Cordyceps mushrooms from
jhsproducts.
...Is that bad? It is cheaper if you buy it online. That is all I know.
I don't really care about these things so much, but I like them.
Just know that I love you. I don't need anything. I wish that I
could be here another year. I like Honduras a lot. In nine months,
I'll be home... The time that it takes for a fetus to mature. I
don't really want to come home. I love you all very much, but I like
being a missionary a lot, too. There is nothing like being one with
the Holy Ghost.
I love you all a lot.
Elder Hill
Hola amigos y familias. i am so happy with the progress that so many of my investigators are making i feel i might leave cala cala (which means butt naked someone told me this week ha ha) but at the same time i feel that i will be able to see my investigators be baptized, the ones i am really hoping for is Bryan Fuentes, Rodrigo Sanchez who confessed this sat that he has had many confirmations that these things which we teach are Gods words and he feels this is Christ´s true church. that was such a highlight, Bryan said that he wants to move at his pace and i told him you are not being asked to run further than you have strength you are being asked to pray and read as He has asked because its for your good. Being obedient, dont we all love obedient children and then we have a ton of excuses not to be obedient with our Lord. Bryan is full of them... im not ready i dont have the desire i .. i.. i Told him i Love you very much and im not going to give up on you ever even if i finish my mission im still going to be gum on your shoe, i laughed and said my parents made me brush my teeth even when i didnt have the desire to brush them even when i would lie and said i did brush them because i didnt understand the importance of dental hygiene but because of them and them making me do this which i hated at the time i have teeth today something so small but so important, now why wouldnt i insist on you reading the Book of Mormon when your eternal salvation is at stake and not just your teeth? he teared up and said i will sister not perfectly but i will try. What more can i ask for. i love the mission, and the end is zooming by so fast ahhh. i also want to see hna Luz angela be baptized. she is colombian and we just understand eachother so well. her goal this year is to be baptized and she is reading and praying but has many family problems and admits she probably hasnt gotten a confirmation that this is true from the holy spirit because she is focused on the many issues she has right now. but i know that it is because she isnt attending church as she should. ive become a doctor to spiritual disease. Jorge is getting baptised this saturday and hopefully Josue too he still needs his permission signed. but i feel like my work is paying off and people are becoming happier and filled with hope in His atoning sacrifice and that is ultimately why i embarked in this journey. i know that prayer is a gift from God i know that you dont have to have the best words and that even the mute can fervently pour their heart to our Heavenly Father and that he listens and answers prayers. i know that the scriptures are tools that narrow the gap between our understanding and His. i know that He has restored his ture church, that we can learn his gospel and be saved. and i know that the love i share comes back ten fold. but i also know that prayer needs to be done frequently and every day but the blessings are innumerable the Biggest one of them all is that we know we are being obedient with the Lord and therefore feel confident that he is pleased. i love you all 4 more months till sushi and your faces!. in that order just kidding. i havent recieved anything yet but i am looking forward to it!
love hna florido
Chrissy's Letter
Dear Mom and Dad,
Saturday, I got my package. Thank you for everything. I really like
the ties. I gave the green tie to my companion for his birthday. I
hope that's okay. And also thank you for the card and for your love
and the pictures and all that you do. It's too much and I am really
humbled at so much love.
So I was transferred to a place called "Country." It's in the city
and I was also given the asignment of being District Lider. I have
been living constantly with deja vu here. I feel like I recognize
everything... I don't feel like I moved at all. The members and I,
in less than a week, have gained a lot of trust and we're already
working with references.
This week, in Siguatepeque, two investigators of mine are going to get
baptized, too!
And this family had received the missionaries for 20 years! Yay!
You asked what I would like for Christmas.
1. That Dad could write to my companion in Spanish. I will have to
get his address, but his name is Elder Galeano, from Nicaragua.
2. 2 pounds of Maca, a bottle of Reishi and Cordyceps mushrooms from
jhsproducts.
...Is that bad? It is cheaper if you buy it online. That is all I know.
I don't really care about these things so much, but I like them.
Just know that I love you. I don't need anything. I wish that I
could be here another year. I like Honduras a lot. In nine months,
I'll be home... The time that it takes for a fetus to mature. I
don't really want to come home. I love you all very much, but I like
being a missionary a lot, too. There is nothing like being one with
the Holy Ghost.
I love you all a lot.
Elder Hill
Monday, October 10, 2011
Baptisms in Cala Cala and The End of Siguatepeca!
Isabella's Letter
hello everyone, this transfer is coming to and end already! this month we have two boys with a baptismal date, and they are so different but find common ground in the gospel, we had one lady come yesterday by herself to church because a member gave her the address and his testimony that the gospel changes lives her name is olivia and she has loved everything she wants to go to all the activities and she asked me when she could get baptised. i said oct 29 she didnt even flinch she said well if you can get me ready. and two sisters that are blind also came and they listened intensely. about the book of mormon and loved the church they felt very welcomed. it was funny because we woke up early and split up our companionship of 3 and the sisters who came to help us were late and we went to the various houses of our investigators and many had forgotten or couldn't come but still we had the blessing of 8 people there in sacrament who werent planned just show up. its great how the Lord blesses your efforts. i am feeling good here in cala cala and i love my investigators, one who i felt was progressing but very slowly, shocked me with all of his participation in gospel principles class his testimony is growing and so is my faith that we will be able to see his baptism. Chris you sound good too and i know that where ever they send you, you´ll be the key to bettering that area.
love hna florido
Christopher's Letter
Dear Mom and Dad,
This is my second to last day in Siguatepeque. Ha! Me voy!
I have noticed that I am really happy to leave and even though
I could have done better in many ways, I feel that the Lord is
grateful for my work. It is a really interesting sensation... that
the Lord thanks you. Haha. We're so small, and yet I feel
gratitud from him. It is like one of those moments when it
is really cold outside and you say precisely,"It is really cold
outside.." And within seconds shines the light and warmth
sun upon you from out of the clouds...
I am really, really, really happy. I have been working on
purifying my heart and being who I am. This has been the
challenge of my life: to be Me, from my heart, without
social walls. It is a challenge, which is easily forgotten
like being conscious of breathing. I have to consciously
change how I think, the source of my words and expressions.
I am constantly thinking before I say and I hope to succed
in this great feat, to defeat the walls that sorround me and to
submit myself to the will of God and the heart of a young
spirit.
My patriarch blessing says to me:"as you serve your mission,
learn to do it with humility and a quiet spirit, and you will
know of: 1) who you are and; 2) what you and your Father
in Heaven have agreed to accomplish."
We know from the book of Jermiah 1:5, that God knew
Jermiah before he was born and we therefore can assume,
along with the study of other scriptures (Proverbs 8 and
Job 37), that we lived too with God. My desire to know
who I am, in other words, who I was. I want to be 100%
Me by getting rid of the programming of false doctrines
of the world.
Also, I am learning that the Word of Wisdom is a perfect
law of health. I have taken a fascination to eating whole
wheat panckaes and brown rice with vegetables. "El grano se ha dispuesto
para el uso del hombre." (I don't remember how it is said
in English. Haha.) And what I have found is that I have
lots of energy and have less of a need to eat. It is really
fascinating. Whole Grains, Fruits and Vegetables. I
like eating meat, but not too much. I wake up feeling
drugged if I eat from 5 and forward. I invite you all to
try to improve your obedience to all of the laws of God,
avoiding the bad and, even more so, focusing on the good.
And doing it. I know that you will be able to find treasures
of wisdom.
...Another thing. I don't have much money. The other day
a lot of money fell out of my pocket. I don't want to ask, but
I kind of have to. If you could help me out, will you please?
I promise you that I am learning how to manage my budget
and how to sacrifice, and not act on impulse. Thank you so much.
The mission has taught me so many things and I am still learning.
I love you all so much. Dad! Happy Birthday! I love you so much.
How is the reading of Doctrine and Convenants going? If you could
send me photos of the dogs that would be neat. Do you guys know
someone that you could present the Gospel to? All you need to do
is invite them over for Family Home Evening, be their friends, and
then invite them to activities in the church, then invite them to attend
church and then! The Missionaries! Yaaaay!!! The key to conversion
is Fellowshiping, being their friend, being an example of the Believers.
I have seen great miracles because of Fellowshipping. We need
to be more social as persons and be friends with everyone. I promise
that you can help and baptize a family. Pray and God will help you
find the chosen ones. "Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall
be unto you... For such is the Kingdom of Heaven."
With lots of love and gratitud,
Elder Hill
hello everyone, this transfer is coming to and end already! this month we have two boys with a baptismal date, and they are so different but find common ground in the gospel, we had one lady come yesterday by herself to church because a member gave her the address and his testimony that the gospel changes lives her name is olivia and she has loved everything she wants to go to all the activities and she asked me when she could get baptised. i said oct 29 she didnt even flinch she said well if you can get me ready. and two sisters that are blind also came and they listened intensely. about the book of mormon and loved the church they felt very welcomed. it was funny because we woke up early and split up our companionship of 3 and the sisters who came to help us were late and we went to the various houses of our investigators and many had forgotten or couldn't come but still we had the blessing of 8 people there in sacrament who werent planned just show up. its great how the Lord blesses your efforts. i am feeling good here in cala cala and i love my investigators, one who i felt was progressing but very slowly, shocked me with all of his participation in gospel principles class his testimony is growing and so is my faith that we will be able to see his baptism. Chris you sound good too and i know that where ever they send you, you´ll be the key to bettering that area.
love hna florido
Christopher's Letter
Dear Mom and Dad,
This is my second to last day in Siguatepeque. Ha! Me voy!
I have noticed that I am really happy to leave and even though
I could have done better in many ways, I feel that the Lord is
grateful for my work. It is a really interesting sensation... that
the Lord thanks you. Haha. We're so small, and yet I feel
gratitud from him. It is like one of those moments when it
is really cold outside and you say precisely,"It is really cold
outside.." And within seconds shines the light and warmth
sun upon you from out of the clouds...
I am really, really, really happy. I have been working on
purifying my heart and being who I am. This has been the
challenge of my life: to be Me, from my heart, without
social walls. It is a challenge, which is easily forgotten
like being conscious of breathing. I have to consciously
change how I think, the source of my words and expressions.
I am constantly thinking before I say and I hope to succed
in this great feat, to defeat the walls that sorround me and to
submit myself to the will of God and the heart of a young
spirit.
My patriarch blessing says to me:"as you serve your mission,
learn to do it with humility and a quiet spirit, and you will
know of: 1) who you are and; 2) what you and your Father
in Heaven have agreed to accomplish."
We know from the book of Jermiah 1:5, that God knew
Jermiah before he was born and we therefore can assume,
along with the study of other scriptures (Proverbs 8 and
Job 37), that we lived too with God. My desire to know
who I am, in other words, who I was. I want to be 100%
Me by getting rid of the programming of false doctrines
of the world.
Also, I am learning that the Word of Wisdom is a perfect
law of health. I have taken a fascination to eating whole
wheat panckaes and brown rice with vegetables. "El grano se ha dispuesto
para el uso del hombre." (I don't remember how it is said
in English. Haha.) And what I have found is that I have
lots of energy and have less of a need to eat. It is really
fascinating. Whole Grains, Fruits and Vegetables. I
like eating meat, but not too much. I wake up feeling
drugged if I eat from 5 and forward. I invite you all to
try to improve your obedience to all of the laws of God,
avoiding the bad and, even more so, focusing on the good.
And doing it. I know that you will be able to find treasures
of wisdom.
...Another thing. I don't have much money. The other day
a lot of money fell out of my pocket. I don't want to ask, but
I kind of have to. If you could help me out, will you please?
I promise you that I am learning how to manage my budget
and how to sacrifice, and not act on impulse. Thank you so much.
The mission has taught me so many things and I am still learning.
I love you all so much. Dad! Happy Birthday! I love you so much.
How is the reading of Doctrine and Convenants going? If you could
send me photos of the dogs that would be neat. Do you guys know
someone that you could present the Gospel to? All you need to do
is invite them over for Family Home Evening, be their friends, and
then invite them to activities in the church, then invite them to attend
church and then! The Missionaries! Yaaaay!!! The key to conversion
is Fellowshiping, being their friend, being an example of the Believers.
I have seen great miracles because of Fellowshipping. We need
to be more social as persons and be friends with everyone. I promise
that you can help and baptize a family. Pray and God will help you
find the chosen ones. "Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall
be unto you... For such is the Kingdom of Heaven."
With lots of love and gratitud,
Elder Hill
Monday, October 3, 2011
Diplomacy, True Love, and Seven Days
Isabel's Letter
Diplomacy something i swore i could live without, but im learning to have, last week i let you know how i got to be in a trio and what a blessing it has been im still forced to lead by the two other sisters but they share the work and the calls and the notes and the visits and the testifying and its wonderful and i have ignored the bishop and introduced him to the investigators and he seems to quietly respect all the back breaking work we are putting into the area. it is exhausting work but i swear i can always give more because i love my investigators. i love them. i loved the talk of one newly called 70 who said its better to look up. leading is hard and trying imagine how the prophet feels but he does it happily and faithfully because he loves God. i will try to do the same. i love the people i work for and serve here in the mish the Bolivian people, i am so humbled that i was called, happy that i answered, and sincerely grateful to live amongst and serve my lamanite brothers and bring them to the knowledge of their forefathers and their faith in Christ. to see the redemption of a soul. WOW to see someone come out of the water and have more air to breath. i am greatful to have some of my mother in me, she has taught me to do things right to stand up for what i believe in even if i stand alone. she loves the old and the young in short those who are helpless and because of her i love them too. i glad to have some of my father in me, he has taught me to understand others and to excuse their temper and pain and to do it with a smile. i smile alot and have discovered that people, taxi drivers, immigration workers, leaders and others do things happily for me when i smile. its a power i didnt know i had ha ha ha :) im glad to have the example of my older brother who went to serve the lord, im greattful for the family i have, sure we are far from perfect but i would not be me with out a little piece of all of them, jonathan in our family has diplomacy. a word i am pondering and reflecting on very much. not hipocracy but diplomacy that comes from the true desire to work together. this conference was very emotional for me i realized it would be the last time i would climb up and down a mountain, race against time and plea with the spirit to bring my bothers and sisters to see the restored gospel in action, to me that is what general confrence is its the fulness of Christ´s gospel in action, in evident proof, tangible, real...a living prophet and 12 apostles like Christ had when he walked amongst us. we had 7 people there the youngest 12 the oldest 84 like the prophet. Karen who is 15 asked so many things on the trip to conference and i said i promise they will all be answered she looked at me puzzled i said trust me. the second speaker spoke of the book of mormon and of baptism and she said he is answering my questions, how? i said he doesnt know you but God knows you very well and he is using this good man to speak to you, she smiled. my blessing says share your cheerfulness freely and let your knowledge of the Lord be known fear not... i have been doing that and striving to do that every day of my mish some days it has been dificult others quite easy but definitely always worth it when i share the gospel with a smile with a laugh like when i did with my friends or with my brother or chris people respond. there is a young man who we contacted and turns out he is a less active, i smiled and said Jose you owe me one he looked surprised but bc i was smiling he couldnt help but smile and said why? i said because you have seen me so many times and you have never said hello sister. so there it is you owe me and big time he laughed and said i didnt want you to preach to me i still have so many problems, i laughed and said thats not my problem is it, say hello when you see us, he said Hello sister, okay thats better but you still owe me so what will it be a trip to church and a serious talk with us or a million bolivianos , he said where am i going to get a million bolivianos i smiled and hna condori said well the trip to church it is. Jose is 19, absent from church for 3 years and the only member of his family that is semi active or member. he came yesterday in a full suit and thanked us for the laugh and the motivation and i said now you owe God one you know, he said oh no what would that be, i said serving a mission he said help me out with that. we said duh thats what we are here to do. it is good to do good it feels great and the Lord puts people in the way that you will be able to reach. i love my mish but its coming to an end way to quick.
love / hna florido
Christopher's Letter
Dear mom and dad,
This is quite possibly the last week of my time in Siguatepeque.
I don't feel like it should end, but all good movies have siguals.
Other stories. Other scenary. Other stars. A young man has
to grow old and the dust will collect where it was found in the
sand. But first come the wrinkles. First comes the problems
and great questions. I don't really desire having wrinkles,
nor do I want to leave Siguatepeque. Nevertheless, I am rather
excited for a change.
I have been here for 6 months and 3 weeks. This weekend
we were able to have the priveledge of having 8 investigators
in the conference. All of them heard the prophets, and it is
probable that they will all get baptized this month. Next
Tuesday, we are going to have a baptism of 4 and hopefully
3 more. Tuesday is the day before the transfers. Haha.
I desire the salvation of others a somewhat selfishly. I want to see
it come to pass.
I don't know what else to tell you. Today we went to Comayaguala,
40 minutes from Siguatepeque, and we spent time with other Elders
and ate pizza. While they played soccer, I played piano on a real piano,
with pedals, with sustain, which was heavenly. I love the intimate interaction
with musical instruments, the vibration of the humming chords, the mixture
of sounds in the strings and the metaphorical levation of my soul... Music
is divine and cannot be defined or controlled by dollars and dimes. In other
words, I declare music a god given right. A Freedom given unto us by birth
like the governing of the air of one's lungs. My favorite thing about conference is the Music.
I love the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I loved "I Believe in Christ" and "Consider
the Lilies." They are by far my favorite. You asked, mom, if it makes me homesick
to see the temple and the conference. And I feel very homesick. I love the temple.
I love the conference center. I love the sounds of the words of the prophets. When
I watch conference, I no longer take notes on WHAT they say, necesarily... In a talk
that I heard in the MTC, David A. Bednar invited us to listen to his talk, but in stead
of copying down what he said that we should write what the spirit inspired us to write...
That has changed my life.
I loved the talk about repentance by D. Todd Christofferson. Repentance is a hard thing
at heart, but it is a gift of God. I learned that Repentance and Forgiveness are healing
hebs for the soul. And only God can give them. I always will remember a talk that I heard
in the MTC by an Elder that went to Spain. He said that when he was little, his mother
always had her own jar of cookies and that he could only eat them if he had permission
One day when he returned from school, he said that he ate one cookie without permission.
They where so delicious and so tempting and he thought to himself,"I could just have another."
And so went the cycle. And as he returned yet again to the cookie jar, he noticed that there
were no cookies left. Where might they have gone? The Elder said to himself as a little boy,
"What have I done...?"
Soon the mother returned home, got ready to relax and unwind herself. She went to the cookie
jar as usual and there were no cookies. She looked with unbelief at her young child and said
nothing, but began to cry. This young Elder said,"I'm sorry I ate all of the cookies..."
She replied,"Son, there are some things that you can't give back."
And so are many things in life. Innocense can not be obtained in this world. It is given once and if we choose to break certain commandments, like the law of chastity, pornography, and
other very grave sins.... you can't take those choices back. But you do have a second chance
and that is through the love of Christ, Faith, Repentance, Baptism and the Sacrament and
following the holy ghost.
I will always remember the picture at home of Christ that said,"I never said it would be easy,
I only said it would be worth it."
I love you all so much.
Elder Hill
Diplomacy something i swore i could live without, but im learning to have, last week i let you know how i got to be in a trio and what a blessing it has been im still forced to lead by the two other sisters but they share the work and the calls and the notes and the visits and the testifying and its wonderful and i have ignored the bishop and introduced him to the investigators and he seems to quietly respect all the back breaking work we are putting into the area. it is exhausting work but i swear i can always give more because i love my investigators. i love them. i loved the talk of one newly called 70 who said its better to look up. leading is hard and trying imagine how the prophet feels but he does it happily and faithfully because he loves God. i will try to do the same. i love the people i work for and serve here in the mish the Bolivian people, i am so humbled that i was called, happy that i answered, and sincerely grateful to live amongst and serve my lamanite brothers and bring them to the knowledge of their forefathers and their faith in Christ. to see the redemption of a soul. WOW to see someone come out of the water and have more air to breath. i am greatful to have some of my mother in me, she has taught me to do things right to stand up for what i believe in even if i stand alone. she loves the old and the young in short those who are helpless and because of her i love them too. i glad to have some of my father in me, he has taught me to understand others and to excuse their temper and pain and to do it with a smile. i smile alot and have discovered that people, taxi drivers, immigration workers, leaders and others do things happily for me when i smile. its a power i didnt know i had ha ha ha :) im glad to have the example of my older brother who went to serve the lord, im greattful for the family i have, sure we are far from perfect but i would not be me with out a little piece of all of them, jonathan in our family has diplomacy. a word i am pondering and reflecting on very much. not hipocracy but diplomacy that comes from the true desire to work together. this conference was very emotional for me i realized it would be the last time i would climb up and down a mountain, race against time and plea with the spirit to bring my bothers and sisters to see the restored gospel in action, to me that is what general confrence is its the fulness of Christ´s gospel in action, in evident proof, tangible, real...a living prophet and 12 apostles like Christ had when he walked amongst us. we had 7 people there the youngest 12 the oldest 84 like the prophet. Karen who is 15 asked so many things on the trip to conference and i said i promise they will all be answered she looked at me puzzled i said trust me. the second speaker spoke of the book of mormon and of baptism and she said he is answering my questions, how? i said he doesnt know you but God knows you very well and he is using this good man to speak to you, she smiled. my blessing says share your cheerfulness freely and let your knowledge of the Lord be known fear not... i have been doing that and striving to do that every day of my mish some days it has been dificult others quite easy but definitely always worth it when i share the gospel with a smile with a laugh like when i did with my friends or with my brother or chris people respond. there is a young man who we contacted and turns out he is a less active, i smiled and said Jose you owe me one he looked surprised but bc i was smiling he couldnt help but smile and said why? i said because you have seen me so many times and you have never said hello sister. so there it is you owe me and big time he laughed and said i didnt want you to preach to me i still have so many problems, i laughed and said thats not my problem is it, say hello when you see us, he said Hello sister, okay thats better but you still owe me so what will it be a trip to church and a serious talk with us or a million bolivianos , he said where am i going to get a million bolivianos i smiled and hna condori said well the trip to church it is. Jose is 19, absent from church for 3 years and the only member of his family that is semi active or member. he came yesterday in a full suit and thanked us for the laugh and the motivation and i said now you owe God one you know, he said oh no what would that be, i said serving a mission he said help me out with that. we said duh thats what we are here to do. it is good to do good it feels great and the Lord puts people in the way that you will be able to reach. i love my mish but its coming to an end way to quick.
love / hna florido
Christopher's Letter
Dear mom and dad,
This is quite possibly the last week of my time in Siguatepeque.
I don't feel like it should end, but all good movies have siguals.
Other stories. Other scenary. Other stars. A young man has
to grow old and the dust will collect where it was found in the
sand. But first come the wrinkles. First comes the problems
and great questions. I don't really desire having wrinkles,
nor do I want to leave Siguatepeque. Nevertheless, I am rather
excited for a change.
I have been here for 6 months and 3 weeks. This weekend
we were able to have the priveledge of having 8 investigators
in the conference. All of them heard the prophets, and it is
probable that they will all get baptized this month. Next
Tuesday, we are going to have a baptism of 4 and hopefully
3 more. Tuesday is the day before the transfers. Haha.
I desire the salvation of others a somewhat selfishly. I want to see
it come to pass.
I don't know what else to tell you. Today we went to Comayaguala,
40 minutes from Siguatepeque, and we spent time with other Elders
and ate pizza. While they played soccer, I played piano on a real piano,
with pedals, with sustain, which was heavenly. I love the intimate interaction
with musical instruments, the vibration of the humming chords, the mixture
of sounds in the strings and the metaphorical levation of my soul... Music
is divine and cannot be defined or controlled by dollars and dimes. In other
words, I declare music a god given right. A Freedom given unto us by birth
like the governing of the air of one's lungs. My favorite thing about conference is the Music.
I love the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I loved "I Believe in Christ" and "Consider
the Lilies." They are by far my favorite. You asked, mom, if it makes me homesick
to see the temple and the conference. And I feel very homesick. I love the temple.
I love the conference center. I love the sounds of the words of the prophets. When
I watch conference, I no longer take notes on WHAT they say, necesarily... In a talk
that I heard in the MTC, David A. Bednar invited us to listen to his talk, but in stead
of copying down what he said that we should write what the spirit inspired us to write...
That has changed my life.
I loved the talk about repentance by D. Todd Christofferson. Repentance is a hard thing
at heart, but it is a gift of God. I learned that Repentance and Forgiveness are healing
hebs for the soul. And only God can give them. I always will remember a talk that I heard
in the MTC by an Elder that went to Spain. He said that when he was little, his mother
always had her own jar of cookies and that he could only eat them if he had permission
One day when he returned from school, he said that he ate one cookie without permission.
They where so delicious and so tempting and he thought to himself,"I could just have another."
And so went the cycle. And as he returned yet again to the cookie jar, he noticed that there
were no cookies left. Where might they have gone? The Elder said to himself as a little boy,
"What have I done...?"
Soon the mother returned home, got ready to relax and unwind herself. She went to the cookie
jar as usual and there were no cookies. She looked with unbelief at her young child and said
nothing, but began to cry. This young Elder said,"I'm sorry I ate all of the cookies..."
She replied,"Son, there are some things that you can't give back."
And so are many things in life. Innocense can not be obtained in this world. It is given once and if we choose to break certain commandments, like the law of chastity, pornography, and
other very grave sins.... you can't take those choices back. But you do have a second chance
and that is through the love of Christ, Faith, Repentance, Baptism and the Sacrament and
following the holy ghost.
I will always remember the picture at home of Christ that said,"I never said it would be easy,
I only said it would be worth it."
I love you all so much.
Elder Hill
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