HEY FAMILIA! I LOVE YOU ALL!

We just got a new zone leader in our area. He is from Gilbert too. His name is Elder Baker. We did an interchange last Friday and stayed up all night talking about old stories. He lives on Val Vista and Queen Creek so he went to Perry High School .We knew a lot of the same people before. 

Rene’s baptism went super good. A priest in our ward baptized him but they didn’t fill the font up very much so his knee kept popping out so he had to do it 4 times. He was super nervous but it was cool. We are going to try and put a date with Rene's father to be baptized. He is soooo ready to get baptized but right now he has to work Sundays. He is looking for a new job so he can be baptized this month. Elder Paravato and I are getting along great and our area has a ton of potential this month. We are going to work super hard and baptize a ton of people!!! I’m way excited. 

OK... story time.  

First, we had this lady ask us if our church had some type of device to communicate directly with God. She said that someone had told her that and so she was a little confused. We told her YES... Yes we do. It’s called PRAYER!!! She laughed a little but then we explained to her the power and importance of prayer. 

Second, this little kid was playing with a balloon and knocked his little sister down two stairs in their house on accident. His mom came running out and hit him really flippin' hard. My companion and I were just like whatttt??? That is NOT how you teach little kids. I’m really glad that I was ''born of goodly parents'' that didn’t beat me. I realized that these countries in Central America have so many family problems because they really don’t understand love and charity. It’s really sad because these people say they have so much faith in God but then they don’t understand the most basic principle of the gospel...which is love.

Ha-ha... oh and I accidentally punched my companion in the nose. We were joking around and I fake punched him but he moved and I hit him in the nose...oops...!. But yeah this week was good so I love you guys!!!!! A LOTTTTTT!!!

Oh and my camera isn’t broken after all! I can send pictures now!

My New Zone Leader Elder Baker

Rene's Baptism

No Changes After All

We found out today that I am going to stay with Elder Paravato and they are will send two new missionaries to open the new area here. That was an unexpected surprise. Things are still going good. The boy who was supposed to be baptized last Saturday was unable to because he has not quit drinking coffee completely. The plan is now for him to be baptized this Saturday.  

We found a couple positive new people this week.  We had also committed 16 people to come to church but only 2 came. It's kind of frustrating sometimes but I know that every person has their agency to make their own choices.  

I'm doing good though and I can't believe its about to be my birthday again. This will be my last birthday in the mission!. For my birthday I would like two cool matching ties,  one for me and one to give to my companion. They have to be good looking and the same. Also candy,  more socks and more updated pictures of the family.

Lots of missionaries and good friends of mine are going home this change so its going to be a sad change. On the bright side, a lot of new ones are coming in. I did an interchange with our zone leaders and one of them told me he is going to recommend me to be a trainer the next transfer. He said that I am a good teacher! So that made me happy! I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Elder Hoy

Great New Mission President

Well things here are going good. It’s been really great getting to know the new mission presidents. They are wonderful people, super loving and ready to serve. We had  "get to know you" interviews with President Spjut and it was really great. He just wants to help me reach my full potential as a servant of the Lord. 

The work here is going well. We were able to put a baptism date with a young boy named Rene. He went to the temple with our ward just to hang out outside. He is getting baptized on Saturday. He is one of the prepared children of the lord. 

We are living in a different house right now but hopefully next week I can move back to the other house that I was in with my previous companion. Most likely we are going to get 2 new elders next week so they will probably separate us and give us new companions.  I’m getting along good with my companion. I really try to always exercise more patience and charity.

Things are going much better. Sorry that there are no other pictures. I think something’s up with my camera because the computer doesn’t recognize it.  I’ll try and figure it out. I love you all!

My companion,  Elder Paravato and I

Things are Better

Hola Mamasita. Well this week I’m a lot happier to write you guys because I have no complaints. This week was a lot better. One companion of our trio, Elder Reyes, had an emergency changeout so now it’s just one companionship in the whole ward.  My new companion who, was left with me, is Elder Paravato.  He is from Lancaster California. He has a little less time than me in the mission. We are getting along great and working very well together.

In our ward on Sunday, we had a surprise visit from our new mission presidency. It was really cool. They are really great. They wanted to apologize to the bishop for taking out a companionship and to give us their support. I feel a lot of love from them.  But yeah things are going a lot better.

I’m doing better in all of my studies too. I’m learning a lot from the New Testament especially the Epistles of Paul. He was one wise guy. We have to use a lot of those scriptures to teach the Christian Evangelists here because they have a way different form of interpreting the Bible. Sometimes we have to Bible bash a little bit, and it’s kind of fun. But I always try to leave a good impression with all the people even if they don’t accept us at first because I know it will be easier for them to accept it in the future if I don’t offend them. 

My companion and I are good at just loving the people. I really have fallen in love with this people and this place. Sometimes I just sit back and look around me and realize that dirt floors and rats don’t even bother me anymore. But I also think how very very blessed we are to live where we live and have what we have. I’m so grateful for the blessing it is to serve here in this country. The work really is blessed here. I’m going to continue bettering everything I do here and not let anything set me back again. I love you guys a lot!

Elder Hoy