Awesome to See the Change in People!

Ok, so this week was kind of crazy. One of the elders in our zone got sick so his companion, Elder Jacobson, was with us in a trio for the day. We went to his area to visit one of his investigators that has a baptism date set. His named is Walter. He is paralyzed from the waist down and confined to a wheel chair. He used to be a drunk, and he fell and that’s how he became paralyzed. His wife left him because of his drinking. But since the missionaries started teaching him a couple months ago, he hasn’t had anything to drink almost the whole time. It was really humbling and inspiring to see his faith and his desire to get baptized and erase all of those sins and errors that he has made in his life.

Also, Jaime, the guy who always puts pictures of me on Facebook, came to church with his family after 20 years of inactivity. It is awesome to see the changes in people! I love that family so much and already promised them I would come back to visit them! So start planning our trip to El Salvador in a year and a half! Ha-ha. I was able to do exchanges with Elder Griffin again. He is the elder from Tempe.

The Bishop told me yesterday that his mother in law from Arizona is coming down here again in December. So you can talk to her about sending another package with her. I would love some more letters from the kids. Love you Momma!

Photo shoot with Elder Griffin and I

My Favorite Girl!

Missionaries, Members and Temples

This week was pretty normal again. We had a Multi-Zone conference Last Thursday and we’re going to have another one this Thursday. Our President is really stressing the importance of working with the members, especially because this last General Conference had a lot of talks about missionary work. I’m sure that’s going on in all parts of the world. 

Wow, no I didn’t hear about Brittany Spencer’s mission call. That’s so crazy. I’ve heard Swedish is one of the hardest languages to learn. Our next change/transfer meeting will be on November 13^{th .} How many missionaries are serving from our ward now? It’s like almost 20 isn't it? That’s so crazy. It’s crazy to think there are over 80 thousand missionaries. They told us that since the age change, more sisters than elders have entered the mission field.

Jaime and his family are some of my favorite people here. We always make big lunches and dinners with them and their kids are adorable. I love them. We are still working with them.

I miss the temple a lot. We haven’t gone once since I’ve been in the mission. I miss going every week in the CCM. Yeah, that youth temple walk we did was so fun. I want to see more pictures of the temple since it’s almost done. I'm still so sad I’m going to miss the open house and dedication. Tell Diane and Ralph I say hi when they get there. I miss the Showalters a lot... and everyone else too!  ha-ha. Well I love you guys and hope you have a great week!



Cute Puppies!

Eating Pizza at Zone Conference

Zone Conference

Sad to Miss the Gilbert Temple Open House

Aw… I’m so sad I’m going to miss the open house and dedication of the Gilbert Temple. Oh man... I miss the Powell kids so much! I can’t wait 'til Christmas when I get to Skype with everyone!

This week was super average. But we did have something good happen this week.  Harlen, the wife of  Jaime (the guy that sent you the pictures of me and stuff), well they are inactive, but she came to church yesterday which made me so happy! Now we just need her husband to come!

Tell Ashley Happy Birthday for me!  In addition to black pants, missionaries are allowed to wear khaki pants.  So in my Christmas box, could you add my pair of khaki Volcom dress pants? 

I definitely miss all of the activities and members there in Gilbert. It’s very hard here where you have only 30 active members to do activities. But everything is getting better in the area. I still hope to get moved to a new area in the next transfer. Well I love you all and hope you have a great week!

I love the kids!

Even these kids!

Come to El Salvador!

Hi Momma. Yeah, the weather is pretty nice here right now too. Ummm… I want you guys to build a house here in El Salvador, forget Belize. But in my area that I’m in right now you guys should buy/build a house...for reals.  It so cheap and they use American money here.  You guys could retire right now with just the money from your rentals.  Just learn Spanish really quick ha-ha!   Yeah it’s very rural and country like. The town is pretty small but super safe. The area next to mine is super safe too. But there are some really nice houses here that Americans have built. I really want you guys to build a vacation home here…like for reals. Yeah I love this area geographically!

Unfortunately, the work is going really slow. We did companion exchanges on Saturday and Sunday and I worked with Elder Griffin again. He’s the elder from Tempe. We had 7 investigators in their ward and we had some really good lessons.

For Christmas I want peanut butter and Nutella and more G2 pens and more ties. And maybe some money so I can buy new pants because I need another pair. Or you can send me another pair.

But yeah momma I have to go now so I’ll talk to you next week! I love you a lot and miss you! I was looking at the family pictures you sent me and all of you guys looked like strangers to me. Super weird. But yeah love you!

Elder Hoy

I love the kids!

Cute kitty!

Smile!

Listening to Conference Makes a Difference!

Happy Anniversary Momma! I did remember because yesterday was also Ty’s birthday.  Conference was really good. I loved all the talks. It’s amazing the difference paying attention makes… hahaha. I really liked Elder Uchtdorf's talk. It really helped me a lot.  

This week was a little better.  I’m just bummed because we have no investigators progressing even though we are working hard,  but it’s ok. Yeah,  I’m still with Elder Arizmendi. He goes home December 12. I think I’ll have changes before he goes home. I'm just really ready to get out of this area. Even my companion says that in all of his time in the mission, this is the slowest/most difficult area he’s been in. But I know that I just have to push through it.  I love you guys sooo much and miss you a lot.

This week we had some good lessons with this older guy named Victoriano. He came to conference with us too. We continue to teach Mary and Hector but they don’t have time or they don’t want to come to church. But we are still working with them. I’ll try and make this week good so I have more to tell you next week. Love you all!

Elder Hoy

Outdoor Grillin' and Feasting

Hey Momma.

The work is going, but very slowly. I’m going to be staying in this area that I’m in for another 6 weeks. I’m ready for a change but I think the Lord still has work for me to do here. We’ve been doing a lot of activities with the ward and it’s starting to become a little more unified. 

 

Lately, the people here haven't wanted to listen to us. In my little area alone, there are more than 20 different churches. Everyone goes to different ones but they don't live what they're being taught. I try not to let it bother me.

 

The family that put those pictures up on FB is so awesome! I love them so much. They are inactive members, but we are doing everything possible to reactivate them. I love you guys and I’m going to try and make this week better so I have better stuff to write about next week.                                       

 

Oh and I finally got my birthday package!!!! Everything arrived here well. I love the shorts and they fit me perfect. The photo album is awesome too! And everything else!  And also I love the music you sent too. Thanks momma! Love you!

This was 10 pounds of meat!

My companion and I...outdoor grillin'

And the feast begins...

After playing soccer...not sure what he's looking at...

Help the Missionaries!

Hola Mamasita,

 Everything is going good here. Mary is reading the Book of Mormon and thinks that its true so I know that your prayers are helping. I love some of the ties you got me, well the two that are new and the weird black one. The other two I can't use because they are way too short but I'm going to give them to some of the kids here. I like the little toys too, but those are to give away to little kids right? I hope so.  I've been eating a lot of that candy. I loved the kids letters. What did you put in the other package? I'm praying that it gets here somehow. 

We have a lady that washes our clothes, and a member that has a washing machine that we use for our personal items.  Yes mom, HELP THE MISSIONARIES! You don't even realize how important the members are in missionary work. They are almost more important than the missionaries. Give  them referrals or allow them to bring investigators to your house. HELP them. I wish I would've helped them before, because now I need their help and I'm not getting a lot of help. 

I love you guys so much and hope everything is going good with everyone. 

Elder Hoy 

We caught this frog at church

I dressed up as a Ninja one night on splits with Elder Griffin

One of the members puppies

My breakfast...so you know I'm being well fed!