week 65

Last week on P-day we had a district activity that took the whole day and it was very fun! It was the BEST because we played PICKLEBALL!!! Then later we made paper airplanes and had a thowing competition off Signal Hill and that was a blast even though there was a strong wind coming up the hill. The wind was impossible to beat, until I made the record plane which I called the "flying potato" which was just 5 dense layers of brown constrution paper. After that we went on a walk around the park and I got to talk with some old companions and overall it went very well. It was an hour-long bike ride to get there and so we got our excercise in for the day as well :) 

On Tuesday we got to do another service at a place called the "House of Mercy", this time taking apart refridgerators and making bags of food for three hours. We ended up making around sixty big bags. It was a great change of pace.

On Wednesday we did ANOTHER service but this time at the Hunger Resource center. It was another 3 hours service checking expiration dates on bread. We ended up throwing away mountains of bread, and I mean MOUNTAINS. I didn't take a picture of it unfortunately... On our way home I heard a bang behind me and looked back and saw Elder Montoya rolling; he had jumped off his bike! He accidentally crashed into a sign somehow, but fortunately left unscathed except for a sore wrist, until we noticed his tire had gone completely flat. It was a long bike ride from home and a huge walk, so we called the district leaders to tell them that we weren't going to be able to make the district counsel.

What we did instead was stop in a park and joined though a zoom call, however, halfway through Elder Hart's phone died - and he has the hotspot - and we were left without options. We went home and arrived just in time for a lesson with a new person named Joel and it was a fabulous get-to-know-you lesson!

Thursday was probably my favorite day here so far. We had our interviews with President Caplin IN PERSON for the first time!

 I will save you from the details of that interview, but it's worth mentioning that it turns out that he lives in the exact same ward as my grandpa in St. George, and I know exactly where his house is! He also told me that he had no idea about when he thinks I could get sent back to Costa Rica, but he wouldn't be surprised if I stay here for the rest of my mission. When I went home, it had started raining and both my companions had brought rain jackets, but not me. President saw that I didn't have on and offered to give me his spare one in his car. I declined about four times until he said "Well what I supposed to tell your Grandpa about the last time I saw you? That I left you bike home in the dark rain withouot a jacket when I had one in my car?" I then agreed and he gave he his jacket from his car, and we said bye. Later that night he showed up at our apartment for his jacket, and as I returned it to him, Sister Caplinn came up from behind him with a big fresh pizza saying "I hope you are all still hungry!" It was so nice of them!

On Friday afternoon we recieved a call from one of the senior couples asking where our car was parked, so they could do a car switch. We explained to them that we don't have one and we are biking Elders. They asked "Is this Suudley E?" "Yes..." "Oh well I guess this is your new car! I'll have to call and arrange a ride for myself!" When he arrived, we saw that it was a brand new Chevy Equinox 2020 and we were blown out of our minds! So now we have a car! Groceries will be so much easier!!! Also Friday was my 15 month mark! 

On Sunday we had an amazing devotional with Elder Christofferson and Elder John McCune and it was fantastic! I want to write more but I'm out of time! Next time I won't procrastinate :) I love you all and hope you have a good week!

Elder Hilton

week 63

! I hope you all have been great this last week. Here in Virginia we have been doing good even though the progress of this area is very slow. I was left disappointed again on Sunday, however I wasn't sad because I knew we did our best and only our best is sufficient. Elder Montoya has been an amazing addition to this area, and I know that it was inspired revelation that sent him here. We work great together even though it's been only a week, and I've learned so many things from Elder Montoya, especially when I ask for advice. (If I don't ask for it, he preferrs to stay quiet, but that's ok. He is very honest and has great things to say). I also know that Elder Hart will learn many things from us as we all three work together in our companionship. We have made several companionship goals focusing on language and scripture mastery that will help us teach with unity. My family is doing good and this week it hit me pretty hard that my sister is going to her senior dance and now drives and has a job. My little sister! Time really is something precious and it goes fast. I remember reading a document that was posted on the wall in my last area (I think it was the "time creed") and that explained it so well. After having read that document, I left the experience today with my sister feeling more motivated to work even harder and use my time even better, instead of feeling like time was going on without me at home. 

This week we had an Elders-Only devotional with Presidents Caplin, Barker and Bush and boy was it powerful. President Barker is a therapist by profession and he talked about uniting our body and spirit. He taught that Satan's strongest attacks are when he makes us put our bodies and spirits against each other. For example, many very important commandments are unfortunatley some of the most-broken in this world today like the Law of Chastity and the Word of Wisdom. Overall it was an amazing, inspiring devotional where we recieved so much great advice. Some of my favorite counsel that I heard was something that I know applies to all of us: When you feel tempted, think of the Savior. Think of your family. Think of NOW; what can you do now that will help your family. Remember that justification can be a temporary gain and an eternal loss, while obedience can be a temporary sacrifice and an eternal gain. If we live the commandments, we will have no fear. 

Well, I'm out of time and ready to work again! I love you all and I'll talk to you next week!

Elder Hilton

some service activities

week 62

Hello everyone! This was the last week of the transfer and as they always do, it zoomed by very fast. We have had three more lessons with Karina and her husband Damian. She is a very committed person, and loves to talk about faith. She would get along with Ether and Alma, and I told her that. She asked who they were, and I explaied that they were Prophets from the Book of Mormon who have a very good understanding of faith. I gave her the page number of Ether Ch. 12 and she promised that she would read it with lots of enthusiasm :)

A highlight of this week was a training that Brother and Sister Wilson gave, and it was all about using the Book of Mormon more effectively.. There was lots of focus on the importance of being "reading mentors" on the harder but doctrine-filled chapters.

Another highlight of the week was when we got caught in a terrible and spontaneous rain while we were on our bikes. We were soaked but it was still so fun and refreshing.

This week as well we made a stop-motion video (also about the Book of Mormon) for a Facebook post and I even made an english version so you all can understand it. I'll see if there's a way to put that on this blog...

Saturday was very eventful because we had multiple lessons, a correlation meeting, we burned cookies, and we got a call from President Caplin saying that we would recieve a new companion on Monday (today)! As of now, he is unpacking his things, and he's from Utah, but his parents speak spanish which is fantastic because I will be able to learn so much frorm him! He seems like a very level-headed guy and I'm excited to work with him.

Sunday was sad. Not a single friend showed up to our meetings we had prepared with the members, but the good news is that Sunday morning we were able to attend church IN THE ACTUAL BULDING!! This was the first time since we stopped going in March, and it was so nice to hear the organ and a hymn after so much time.

Today was very satisfying becasue we did our monthly cleaning, and BOY did we deep clean the house. I don't think the past missionaries have done it in a long while, and now it feels like we are in an entirely new house. Even though there is now a third companion, it still seems like there is more space. Sometimes I underestimate how great it feels to have a clean house, and it made me think of how often many can underestimate how great it feels to be spiritually clean. It's amazing, and if we make the necesary changes in our lives we will feel like and entirely new person! And through continuous repentence and reliance on the atonement of Jesus Christ, we can stay like that forever. How do we know what we need to change? You'll have to watch that video we made, because it talks about exactly that :)

We cooked a lot this week. Here is some of it