Thursday, March 31, 2011

I love you kids





WOOT! It was a fantastic weeek in Burien. We had such great success
and I'm super excited for April. We got 30 lessons (which is a lot
more than we've gotten in the past, usually we have 17ish) So that was
really exciting, and we had a bunch of new investigators that are
super promising and I just love them already.. Also- I'm totally sick
with something, not sure what.. haha It just sucks so I'm pounding
Vitamin C and walking slow basically... ALSO- My camera is doing weird
stuff, might be busted.. all the pictures are way over exposed and
super bright? I reset all the settings to regular and it keeps doing
it so.. idk what to do? any ideas?? It still takes video just fine..
haha

So- This week, I had a wonderful time at the Chukeese baptism and
after party. They are such wonderful people, and they feed us the most
random things I love it. Also- we ate dog meat possibly.. so that's
weird. haha But they are so fun to visit, they have a million kids
(not literally a million guys...) running around and all of them
loooooove the missionaries, so I get my fill of kids bugging me all
the time. Thank goodness. I'm learning so much from them and I'm
really excited to keep teaching them and getting to know them.

I have been studying like crazy this week... Probably not approved but
Elder Jackson and I stumbled into 'history of the Church' in the
church library, lets just say I read 300 pages of it over the
weekend.. it's amazing how much easier studying is out here. I feel
like before I could never focus, but I love this stuff so much now I
can't seem to not read it.. Anyhow- I probably won't be able to finish
it cause, I decided to focus on scriptures more.. even though it was a
great commentary and background on the Doctrine and Covenants and it's
super interesting to read about joseph Smith and his journals and
stuff.. bummer rules eh?!

Well- Easter is coming up, ALSO-- April fools is coming up.. which is
going to be good, Elder Jackson and I are scheming on how to catch a
squirrel and release it in the spanish Elder's apartment.. We'll keep
you updated on that, and I'm sure I'll get pictures of it somehow..
haha

I met a really interesting old Air Force Pilot... his name is Kevin
(naturally) and he's pretty nuts, we're gonna try and teach him.. He
talked to us for a good 15-20 minutes about how we shouldn't eat
animals, and that the 'critters' are not for our personal food and
hunting.. or something.. anyhow- I'm lookiin around the room seeing
beaver pelts and antlers.. and then he said "if Ya'll ever need food
I've always got steaks in the fridge" ... so , he's something else..
haha

OH! EXCITEMENT! I was wandering around our ghetto-heights area and we
bumped into our Burmese Family (the Sungs) turns out, their cousins
just got baptized by missionaries in Kent! so we're going to be
hooking up with them and we're also getting a member or two to meet
them and help them learn English. So many blessings come to those who
work hard and are obedient.

The more i'm out here the more i realize that there's just not enough
time.. I'm doing my best to soak up every moment and make the best of
my experience, serving the best I can.. I love studying, I love this
gospel, it's so amazing to realize how much this truelly means..
Sometimes I feel the spirit so strong... The burning in my chest is
amazing! (I might be running a fever... but I think it's probably
both?) ... I hope you guys are studying hard and learning from every
part of life. THIS gospel is the only most important thing.. I'm so
excited to share it with the world.. I love you guys so much, Write me
more.. I got no mail all week :(

=-Love, Elder Hill :)

Monday, March 21, 2011

Ahh.. week 2 of transfer 2.. this is nuts!

This week went by really fast I swear, it's super weird. We're working
really hard and learning a lot along the way. Elder Jackson and I are
getting along really well, getting to know eachother all the time. The
mission field is such a great place, I love serving and teaching and
learning so much!... Even though I do miss everyone a lot, I do love
what I'm doing here.

Last sunday (yesterday) we were supposed to have 7 people in church..
instead.. we had ZERO. I was disappointed, but the Hopes (the senior
couple in our area that we work with) had a couple really ancient
less-active families show up which was a miracle in and of itself! I
don't know what we're gonna do when the Hopes leave. They do such
amazing work. They leave in September.. Eek..

We had a few funny experiences this week and a few really awesome ones..

I'll start with awesome(spiritual)
Nung, our most promising investigator, had a few lessons with us and
believes it's all true! He's reading the book of mormon and learning
from it. We asked him what he has been studying and he relayed to us
some things he has been learning from a Joseph Smith pamphlet we gave
him (it's the only thing the church has in Burmese) He told us the
entire Joseph Smith story and how he felt the spirit and what he
learned from it. SO POWERFUL... Amazing, just a month ago Elder
Armstrong and I were ready to give up on him because he was so hard to
get a hold of. Thank goodness we didn't.... He didn't accept the
baptismal commitment because he has a bit of a 'lost in translation'
problem.. He doesn't understand the priesthood or authority... So, he
said he'd follow the example of Joseph Smith and pray for the 'wisdom'
or knowledge. He'll probably be baptized before this transfer is
over.. Elder Jackson and I are making some great goals this transfer.
We want to bring some families back into activity, we have some
schemes cooked up to do it. I really believe great things will happen
if we're faithful. It's like Ether 12 says, miracles come from trial
of faith.. We have reallllly been tried recently, not having hardly
anyone to teach... So Nung was a bright spot.

Another powerful one- we were teaching the Burmese Family that speaks
Chin-Hakha... (a dialect of Burmese that is totally different?) They
are the Sung Family... They don't understand us very well, but they
know we have something of worth. They always feel the spirit and we
love to teach them because they want the truth SO BAD... I have an
English to Chin dictionary, so.. hopefully we can cook something up
with that. Won't be easy. Especially because I can't read Chin
hahaha.. Anyhow, we've been praying for them a lot.. really pleading
for a door to open for us to teach them. It's tough.. We'll keep
trying


OK- Some funny stuff..

Kevin- as always was a great spot, he invites us to come over every
night now.. so we're a favorite of his now. haha, He loves Elvis. very
much, and he constantly sings it and dances like him.. I wish I had a
decent video or picture of him I'll try. Maybe even get him to talk
into the tape recorder.. OHHHH... that would be sweet. Anyhow, he said
we're the smartest people, and he said he thinks I probably don't have
any mental issues.. So that was a relief :)

2 Days ago, Elder Jackson and I were walking home, our appointments
had fallen through and it was about 8 o'clock.. So we were gonna head
in early, when we met a whole bunch of Homeless drunk people.. and
they said a lot of things.. that are not appropriate for emails, or
ears.. or anything really. But one of them said our names were funny..
his name was gibberish.. I had no idea.. so jokes on him!

Few days ago, we were walking to an appointment and started talking to
a guy at a crosswalk, i said "We're missionaries, are you familiar
with the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?" he said "I'm a
pastor for Normandy Park blah blah blah blah.." and I said "Oh, that's
cool, do you have a minute we could talk?" and he inturrupted and said
"You're not turning me into a mormon, There's a better chance of me
making you a Christian" and I said "I AM Christian.." "he said, You
know nothing about Christ..." as he walked into a bar... hahaha....
Some people's kids..

OH! Great news! BYU! haha Elder Jackson and I were walking home and
this truck stopped by us and yelled "hey you mormons! Go BYU, JIMMER
FOREVER!" hahahaha.... he had a big University of Washington sticker
on his truck even.. and Jimmer was on the front page of the paper.. so
nuts, what am I missing?! (nothing, because I'm preaching the word.
haha)

OK, I love you guys so much.. Miss you something ridiculous, but I'm
doing well. I might need more stamps.. Hook me up.. I'm poor.. thanks
so much. I love you guys! AND My pants are still too big.. thanks mom.

love always, Elder Hill :)

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Hey everybody!

So! week 1 of transfers how is everyone? good? good. Elder Armstrong
is gone from me now, we were able to see him again on Friday cause we
had dinner with him, his family, at a member's house. It was good. I
feel like I'm gonna do great things even without him. Elder Jackson is
from Spanish Fork, he's a good guy. Little naive at times but I love
him just the same. We've been doing a lot of finding and visiting less
active/recent converts. It's so sad how many people have fallen away
from church. I hope they can get closer again, we're working really
hard.

John Fitzgerald recieved the priesthood yesterday! WOW, so awesome I
love being able to give this gift to others. He was really excited for
it, he is moving really fast. We showed him a DVD about President
Monson called "on the lord's errend" he always loves church movies. He
knows it's true, it's so cool to see someone I watched convert and
grow. I also got a chance to stand in on a baby blessing for one of
the Less actives in the ward. She lives with her boyfriend and her
boyfriend is Muslim... It was a really emotional day for her, as her
dad blessed the baby... I really wish she could straighten up her
life. Such wonderful people, such trying circumstances.

Elder Jackson and I got hooked up with what they call the "online area
book" today, it's basically an updated ward list that a member put
together. Really cool, all missionaries should be hooked up with this
software. It's super simple, I don't know why they don't.

Our main investigator right now is Nong, he didn't come to church
again *sob* and we're still trying to show him why he needs to be
baptized again, but he's really willing to learn and that's what
matters! I love to teach him. He's Bermese and he has a ton of friends
in the area, so he would be a huge connection for us. Hopefully
baptized in April.

Well, Not a lot happened this week, it was pretty slow (first week of
transfers... and everyone was grumpy) but I'm doing work, I'm working
every bit of my being and praying and fasting for more opportunities
to work! I love this gospel and I know it's true! I am learning and
growing so fast.. Keep praying for me! i need every ounce. :)

I love you guys so much, I sent a memory card with Elder Armstrong to
drop off at the house, so you'll probably get to meet him if you're
there? I also sent a huge thing of letters and my journal.. and that's
it I think.. just store everything else for me? somewhere safe, I want
them. :) I love you guys.. miss you sometimes a lot.. I'm doing the
work though, I won't waste a single second I promise.

love, Elder Hill :)

Sunday, March 13, 2011

FAMILY!

Hey everybody.. It's transfer number 2 as of yesterday and I'm captain
of Burien for a short time, my new companion is Elder Jackson he is
from my same zone so I have met him a few times before, seems like a
really nice guy! Elder Armstrong is still with me, he is leaving on
Thursday when his family drives up here to pick him up. I'll miss him
a lot. He and I became the best of friends over the last few weeks,
I'm so glad that I get along with people so easily.. The Lord blesses
me so much it's crazy.

We had a baptism last saturday.. WOW, i can't tell you how amazing it
is to find someone, progress him, and be in the circle to confirm him
a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It was
such a great time! We got a few members in the ward that had spent
time with him to baptize and confirm which is exactly what we prefer.
He is so happy with how everyone treats him. The Single adult group
has really fellowshipped him well, they spend time with him weekly,
and my favorite Brother Waddoup has been a really good friend of his.
The Lord taught him so well. So many people thanked us for our efforts
but in reality, Elder Armstrong and I did nothing. He found US the
spirit bore testimony to him and the ward embraced him. I'm so glad I
was blessed enough to have the opportunity to watch him progress and
transform to happiness. Such an amazing time. John Fitzgerald is a
member. On saturday he came out of the water and exclaimed "I MADE
IT!" hahahaha... just like Asher does.. and on Sunday after being
confirmed he said "Elder Hill, Thank you, I really didn't think I
would make it" haha I love him and his humble nature. He's so sincere,
maybe one day I'll bring the fam up here and you can meet him.
Hopefully he isn't in the same situation in the group home.. cause
it's a little creepy. Kevin is great though.. he still thinks I'm an
old man secretly and he told me I know too much to be 19.. also, he
said he loves me and said "see you later sweety." when I left the
other day.. thankfully he followed that with "JUST KIDDING, IM NOT A
GAY!" hahaha.. oh man. I was on exchange with the Zone Leader
yesterday and I brought him over to meet John.. Kevin scared the crap
out of him it was my favorite moment. Truelly. haha He was 'going
bruce lee' on him..

Also with the zone leader- We were wandering down the street and a
bunch of people were yelling at us from their car (which doesn't
happen very often) (and it was in spanish so I have no idea if it was
good or not)... So then this big black dude honks his horn at us and
pulls over and said "I want to learn more."... this doesn't happen
very often so we got excited.. we taught him for an hour and a half at
the chapel (cause we were accross the street from it) he is SO
READY... he has been studying the book of mormon for a long time,
visited with missionaries in 1998, lost contact somehow.. has been
searching ever since. It's amazing the miracles that happen here. His
name is Clyde and we were not even supposed to be on that road, I just
directed us there because I felt like we should take that certain
route. The Lord does it all for us. Missionaries are so Blessed.. we
have it so easy.

Well, we're having a lot of fun out here which is so important for the
work. The Lord loves his children, he wants them to be happy. That's
the point of this life. It's amazing how much fun you can have if you
embrace the gospel and just WORK. along with enjoying yourself a lot.
That's one of the reasons I will miss Elder Armstrong a lot is because
of all the inside jokes and whatnot.. Elder Jackson should be great
though. We're ready to explode this area and baptize ridiculous! THE
LORD IS HERE!

Keep studying every single day, and always pray day and night.. keep
me updated and fill myyy mailbox. I'm not being transferred so it's
the same addresss,. I love you guys so much.. also- if you can find
some of those big huge book of mormon study books at the Deseret
book.. I would love it... I don't remember the name of it but I'll
find out.. THank you so much. I love you and miss you tons.. I'm
gonna send a bunch of stuff with Elder Armstrong OK? I love you.

-Elder Hill :)