Hola Familia

OK! FAMILY! I LOVE YOU.... and other persons.. You're in my heavenly family so you apply as well..

I posted some pictures.. some of which you have to find all of the vienna sausages.. some of which.. I don't remember what I posted.. So check them out!

This last week was pretty intense and very miraculous..

I was feeling pretty 'under the weather' if you will.. this week. So I'm trying to recover.. this week we had 8 lessons going into saturday.. and not a whole lot of hope to reach our goals.. Saturday morning, still under the weather-- we decided we needed to give it a chance! I told Elder Fullmer, I believe we can put 12 lessons in today. We Concurred and prayed hard for help... (Most companionships don't get 12 in a week.. or even 2 weeks)... Headed out with a Fierce Hope and Faith! we contacted like crazy and taught people on the street.. saying prayers and sharing scriptures and testimonies like madmen... 8 lessons before noon... .. later that night we had 2 more, and made contact with 6 new investigators.. 1 new burmese family, who is familiar with the gospel as they have met with missionaries before.. :) we got our final lessons on Sunday to reach our goal.. and 17 'Other lessons" which is the most I've ever had in a week before.. so that's a cool thing? Also- the Burmese progressed, they're loving the scriptures, and praying for help.. and most importantly, recieving answers and growing testimonies.. :)

On a lighter note... Elder Fullmer and I contacted a guy named Joey... Joey was stoned out of this universe.. and absolutely roasted in his brain... During our lesson he siezed up and keeeled over- Gently in to a patch of grass... if we hadn't stopped him to talk, he would have smashed his head onto the sidewalk. We're saving lives already.. hahaha... He turned out ok.. he just had the munchies real bad and headed off to a local 7-11 for some bugels I'm sure.

The Lord has blessed me so much.. it's nuts.. I actually remember things I study? can you imagine that?! ... I got a chance to study out of the Old Testament this week... reading parts of Jeremiah, the lord comforting him as he was overwhelmed with his call... Job, as the Lord trusted his faith and he overcame his trials to be triumphant over satan... and Joshua who promises the Lord's protection to those who are faithful... Read your scriptures people.. they will change your life! You will love them, if you live them.

Also- Cool thing, Elder Fullmer is from Circleville' UT and he's completely oblivious to most things in the world.. you should have seen his face when we contacted Joey, and also a few people who were so stoned on hallucenogens.. it was so funny.. .then when he finally attempted to recognize it.. he was like "This guy is stoned".. and I said "No, this guy has autism"... hahahaha... oh the sheltered.. :) (This Paragraph and the one about Joey are probably not even missionary appropriate, so disregard them. Thank you)

The Church is true! I love it. Keep praying for me I need it.. I hate being sick.. :P BUT I"M GOOD, don't worry.. I'll take care of myself.. Sister Wie (whom I live with) definitely mothers us. She made me drink some strange liquid substance yesterday... it seemed to do.. something.. I'll have to give your contact info to her, she'll contact you!

Life is good... Don't ever pass up an opportunity to build your testimony, I love you guys so much.. Always remember what matters most.

-Love elder hill

HOLY FRIJOLES!

THIS WEEK WAS NUTS!

First week in a new area (especially a dead one) is usually super painful.. and painful it was as we walked out of the house on Wednesday with NO plans, and only tracting to do. :(... Elder Fullmer was hesitant, because tracting usually isn't so productive.. however- the secret, is tracting in low-income/refugee housing.. haha.. so we headed out.. first 4 doors either swore at us, slammed the door, were muslim, or hindu.... or all of the above (somehow?).. Well.. we were bummed.. so we knocked on the next door and a wonderful Burmese lady ('Dah Dah' <--her name.) answered (oh how I have come to love seeing them...) her daughter 'Christ Hai' spoke perfect English and translated... they started asking their friends and family to come let us teach them,... somehow we ended up teaching over 13 lessons to Burmese people this week.. in 4 days... 5 doors cold knocked and we have 6 or 7 families to teach... MIRACLE! WOOT!.. anyhow.. some side story- We nicknamed all of the kids after different foods, and our pass along cards have developed into a high demand low-income housing trading card.. I'll explain someday.. maybe. haha

One of my favorite Dilemmas as a missionary is having too much work to do, not enough time to do it. Too many families to teach, a gospel that is too true to not teach it!.. AND extra families at church.. we filled an entire row and a half.. in our first week as a companionship. Our stats were through the roof.. and we've got 6 people ready for baptism.. :) .. the work is amazing. .. .. ..

SeaTac is a pretty sweet place.. but some very interesting things we've learned.. is ALL of the young Burmese girls speak English, most of the boys do not. haha .. harldy any of the adults do either.. So we have been really bonding with the random groups of 8-10 year old little girls who plea for jesus pictures and for us to teach their families.. haha Nicknaming them from Flour, to sissy, to moonpie, and cupcake. (Depending on what foods their names sound like..) one of my favorites is a girl named Dorito (that's her real name) we call her pringles. haha.. .. I'll send some pictures, there's literally hundreds of Burmese people, and they love us so much. it's so humbling.. On Friday, we found a case of vienna sausages in our cupboard.. neither of us eat that crap, so we were handing them out to all the kids haha.. in return for teaching appointments. (no, it's the opposite of priestcraft) .. haha It's so good.

The work is amazing, the spirit is bright.. Elder Fullmer has been a really refreshing companion. He's a very much outgoing, loud, singing constantly, saying everything that's on his mind type of guy.. very different from Elder Jackson.. but VERY funny.. He's also a wonderful teacher, (when he stays on task) has a great testimony (when he's reverent), and really just makes the work great. I'm glad to have him.. A little humbled to be put into a leading position here in a dead area early in my mission life.... It's SO GOOD!

I love you guys so much.. write me lots.. I need letters, even though life is great, I NEEEED to hear from home. Thanks so much for being amazing and supporting me... I'll see you all soon!

Elder Hill

(sent July 13)

HEY FAMILY/ASSORTED LOVED ONES!

Hey everybody! I'm no longer in Burien... :( Elder Jackson will stay and I moved... to seatac. Which just so happens to be where 4 of our On Date for baptism investigators live, so I'm taking them with me :)

Life is good in the hood.. I moved in with Elder Fullmer, I'm super excited to stay in the same zone... heck, I'm still attending church in the same building.. a ton of the members from the Burien ward said they would start attending Seatac in addition to Burien now.. haha I love them.. it's so sad to leave but such a great reassurance that I've done my best. I've left the area in an upward climb.. Baptizing Pamana in my last night in the area... The work is just beginning in the Burien ward! I've been reassigned to boost the work in a dead area (a dead area full of burmese people :) ) so.. I'm not bummed, I'm stoked.. Plus we live with a member now, Brother Smith and Sister Wei.. (Sister wei will probably be calling you periodically to tell you how i'm doing.. she's very loving)... sister wei is vietnamese.. and has an awesome accent.. so I'm brushing up on that.. hahah..

This last week was awesome... it had some seriously defining moments. Brother Decampose a long time 'less-active' had a family crisis of sorts, and commited to come to church.. evidently someone broke into his store so he wasn't able to come, but it was definitely the most solid commitment he's given us! I see the light turning on in his mind, he has a wonderful family that NEEDS to go to the temple to be sealed..

I bore my testimony to Boli, and told him that he needed to read the Book of Mormon to know if it's true.. He's sad to see me go.. BUT! Luckily the Koerners said they would fellowship him.. the Koerners are awesome.. I love them.. I've got pictures.. but I forgot them in the car. haha (Did I mention that Seatac was assigned a car last night after I found out I was transferred... HA! YES! I get to drive!) anyhow.. I see grreat potential in Boli, hopefully Elder Jackson sees it through. :)

The work is going great! as usual... We taught Burmese people a lot.. this time teaching them Hymns and Primary songs.. having the family sing.. completely off beat, tune, and timing.. but so wonderful to hear them say these words.. "I am a child of God"... they really loved the song "Love at home"... they're so great..

Pamana was baptized on Sunday :) after the most hectic day of my life... one day I'll have to tel lyou.. let's just say reader's Digest version: double pickup, confusion, pop tire, chased kids, eventual letdown, baptized. spirit strong, Pamana member. :)

I LOVE THE GOSPEL! .... One last-- more sad experience.. Sunday afternoon, we ended up seeing our Seatac Burmese family... after we walked out, we were pretty much attacked by these Born-again "Christians"... Such hateful things they spread... Their foundational message is one of predestination.. grr.. they honestly believe that God sent His children here, predestined to either Heaven or damnaton... predestination damnation makes me sick... I can usually take people attacking me, my religion, etc.. but the point at which I lost my cool and was offended.. was when they directly attacked the savior... Telling me the savior DID NOT LOVE EVERYONE.. and only loved THE CHOSEN... that His atonement would not cover everyone's sins.. and that He wasn't teaching love. . . . I truelly wanted to correct this misled child of god.. but I instead turned and said "You're speaking absolute blasphemy, and I apologize that you believe this garbage." and walked away. . . . to their comment "You don't believe in the jesus we do," i agree.. 'MY JESUS LOVES YOU STILL.. even though you're an aweful human being'... (That was not an exact quote)

Anyhow.... I know my savior lives and loves me so much... He truelly does love everyone.. He's there for all of us. Never lose your faith! Always believe in Christ... as Nephi in 2Nephi33... very end (I think) said... If you won't believe the words of the book of mormon.. at least believe in christ, and if you believe in Christ, you will believe in the book of mormon.. it's glorious..

Everybody write me.. I neeed letters, and don't send things to Burien.. and if you already did, I can get it from them.. haha I love you so much.. Keep me in your prayers. :)

<3/Elder Hill

It's the 5th of July! Anybody know why that's a special day? anybody? anybody?... Ok- I'll tell you... It's my 6 month mark! Woot.. woot.. It's amazing how fast time goes by here! The days are like months.. the months are like days.. yet the days are like minutes sometimes.. and the transfers are like seconds.. haha --- The mission has a wierd relationship with time..

Anyhow.. I know the church is true.. and it'll still be true tomorrow! That's the beauty of Eternal truths rather than temporal truths :)... Science is so temperary.. haha (I've had some scientific talks with less actives... :P)

Anyways... last week was awesome.. We had great lessons with all of our burmese, and added another family to our rotation. The lessons are getting easier to teach, but harder to bring them to baptism.. they still don't understand authority.. grr..

One lesson this last week... that was awesome, with the Wright family... they are less than attentive in our lessons sometimes and ... so we decided to try a new tactic. We are going to start watching really sad videos to start our lessons, and THEN teach whatever we have planned.. It's a stretch but.. it worked with our short lesson.. we showed the 'Mormon Message' about Chris Williams whose family was killed in a drunk driving accident, and he was able to forgive the driver of the other car.. the whole family was shocked, and some in tears... which is so awesome.. I love the spirit that can come from tragic stories, they aren't things that we enjoy hearing about, but they have a way of touching your heart.. We taught a lesson about forever families, and came to find out that Sister Wright had a son who was killed years ago.. So amazing how the spirit can guide you to touch peoples' hearts.. I love the lessons that are super powerful like that..

we had a great barbecue with the Chuukese on Saturday :)... I love them, the longer I'm here, the harder it'll be to say goodbye, I hope I stay in Burien.. I got lots of pictures of the Chuukes kids and families so, maybe You'll get them some day.. haha I sent a letter with lots of pictures in it.. maybe scan them and put them on the internet? thanks :)

Most of all.. I just love the gospel.. I was reading in... well, everything today.. book of Mormon 2Nephi33-Jacob2 and D&C107, JSH, Moses, and 1Peter... etc.. They're all so true.... So close to my heart.. It's amazing that I've never feasted upon the words of God like this before.. I LOVE READING... I love studying.. if I could, I would do it all the time.. I am about to finish the first volume of 'History Of the Church'... I've learned so much.. it's really helped answer so many questions.. I wouldn't recommend it cause-- it's not really a book you read from front ot back.. and if you're a missionary.. you're probably not supposed to have one anyways.. haha... ;)... but it's a wonderful thing- the scriptures and the words of the prophets.. Treasure them up always.. it's a key to a happy Home... (Read the Talk from the .. i think 88 conference-It's the one when Richard G. Scott became an apostle- President Monson spoke about 'The Hallmarks of a Happy Home".. it was a great talk! read it.. live it.. love it.)... Anyways.. I love you guys so much.. I know it's true.. don't ever give up until you've got a conviction.. any thing you do to earn more, is worth it.

Love. Elder Hill

(sent June 27th)

Wow.. what a crazy week... just in review..

All of our 'On-dates' fell off date last sunday... It was pretty sad and I hated it... but! Now we have 7 who are very promising and make up 2 entire families! So that's wonderful.. We had a wonderful week for finding, teaching, committing, everything... It was a dominant week, our district leader really couldn't believe how well we did... aaaand I can't believe how well we did.

Time is FLYING! June is almost over, and it's almost my 6 month mark... isn't that wierd!? It seems like just yesterday that I got here. I'm workin hard... Learning so much... much of that is patience.. haha... Patience is my weakness, but I'm developing it! It's working out great.. Some examples of how I'm developing it...

Yesterday we had a lesson with a new Burmese family they're actually the Thang family, but a different Thang.... We came in, I was helping them set up their computer when this lady barges in the door and starts proclaiming false doctrine! I turn around and Elder Jackson is white faced.... shocked and kinda speachless saying "... no it's not.. it's true." haha.. I loved how pure his statement was. haha.. anyways, I had a floppy Book of mormon with me and flipped to jacob's testimony of the scriptures, explained to her what a testament was and that the book of mormon was not another gospel, but rather another testament of Christ.. She still refused,... started going on and on about how he isn't the savior of the entire world... I asked her point blank "You believe in a LOVING Heavenly Father who sent some of His children here, predestined to damnation and hellfire?".. she stopped and said "Yes."... I just said "I'm sorry that you believe that, it's not true. He loves all of us..... etc. etc." ... It was actually kinda cool... I felt the spirit so strong and asked her to leave and that we'd come talk to her later.. she's one of those 'romans road' people, they're pretty desolate on truths.. :(

ANYHOW the lesson with the family actually got better from there... The dad imediately proclaimed that he didn't believe what she said, and flipped through the gospel fundamentals book I gave him in Burmese and said "I think this is true." "this seems right.." So we talked about the Holy Ghost, his kid named Noah (nickname.. actual name had several G's and t's) read in English as he followed along in Burmese, the kids were super excited and loved our lesson.. We talked to them about feeling the spirit and they all said they felt it. It's SO AMAZING! how the spirit teaches people so well... Anyways, even though we had a confrontation with a bashing-bornagain. We survived! and Got them to commit to baptism on the 18th of July... just 9 days after the Kwe family :)... I love families. here on earth..

On saturday we got to go with our Senior Couple to teach a family home evening lesson to the CHuukese! I love them so much, we're getting more involved with them... ... Ipha asked me to baptize her son Tifferson... which is mixed emotions, I really am honored to be chosen, and I love the kid, he's awesome.. but I would really love if one of the Chuukese men would use their priesthood and do the ordinance.. However, she insisted so it's probably going to happen.. Which is still exciting.. I don't mind :)

Last Thursday I had a huge blessing... I was able to go on exchange with Elder Song :) He's a greenie fresh from the mtc, he's also korean and stuff.. he's really funny though, in his quiet asian way.. I dunno why I always love quiet asian kids.. it's wierd.. anyways... It was great, good break from the daily grind. and I got to drive :) I love that. haha

This last week was really just.... awesome.. shorter, and really quick.. and leading into the last few weeks of the transfer but I hope I stay here, the Burmese are starting to open up.. I love them, all of them.. haha

Most of all the Lord has just testified to me how true and pure this gospel is... My conviction grows from day to day and I LOVE IT!... The scriptures, the words of the modern prophets are so wonderful, I love to heed their guidance. ... Don't ever lose it! always pray and read daily.. it's not worth it otherwise. I love you all so much! Keep workin hard, and I'll keep loving ya'll..

p,s. I'mprobably getting vans. from my 'personal fund'... mom? I hope there's money on there?