28 August 2022
VOLUME 10 – NUMBER 467
Elder Hill
Caleb
This week was another one full of a ton of joy, setbacks, improvements, and change. I love this work so much! God's joy is real! The world has me for a witness. Testimonies come through action. If you don't know if something is true, try it out. Try it out with faith and a true desire to see the blessings, and they will come.
Wow! I've learned so much and have come so far with millions of miles to go. There are so many people here in Cunco that I love so much! I had some great visits and share some great lessons to some amazing people with Elder Jones.
We got a few people on the conveyor belt towards the gate of salvation. Sadly, on the setback note, we had none of our people in the chapel. However, there's an amazing mom and her outstanding son that are well on their way to accepting an invitation to baptism. They're competing the invitations, and they are gaining testimonies.
Caleb and Elder Jones on a visit
Another lady we found earlier this week just caught us by surprise. We were out shouting at homes, and she let us in! We taught a great lesson on the restoration, through the Holy Ghost, and she is completely focused on the invitation.
At the end she was like, "Could you guys lend me that book?" And we were like, "Well, it's actually yours!" She's got two children that want to be involved in the next lesson that we are having tonight!
The work has got opposition, and life does too, but it's worth persevering through it. God's working with all of us. Every person, member, non-member, active, and less-active. Everyone is in his hands. We can't understand his glory, but He loves us. He's working with people even when we're not there to see it.
Missionaries with their titles of liberty
By the way, we had a fun activity this week. We each made our own titles of liberty, like Captain Moroni’s in the Book of Mormon. The scripture I put on mine is from Moroni’s words from the original title of liberty (Alma 46:12):
“En memoria de nuestro Dios, nuestra religión, y libertad, y nuestra paz, nuestras esposas y nuestros hijos.
“In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children.”
Which brings me to what I want to tell you guys. I'm not gonna be in Cunco anymore! Very sad, but I’m excited with complete confidence in the Lord. He's got these people and he needs me somewhere else. I think I'm headed back to the same house I left three months ago (but I’ll be in a different area). Ha, ha, the weird one that's got a human fish tank. I'm excited though.
Scenery in Hawaii
Endia
I got back from Hawaii at the beginning of the week, and it has been really nice spending a lot of time with Cougar. I may have let my roommates get a cat. the problem is I am allergic to cats, which isn’t really a problem because that just means I have to spend most of my time outside of my apartment and I have been having a lot of fun with Cougar, London, and Ashton.
When I do go to my apartment though, the kitten is very cute and really wants me to hold her. She will cuddle up under my feet or even try to jump up my leg to try and play with me. We end up doing a weird dance thing around my living room until I can sneak past her into my bedroom. She is really cute though!
Endia’s roommate’s cat
Braden
This Saturday I got Ellie out of bed and took her to the kitchen to make her breakfast. The night before we had promised her pancakes, so she and I made them together. I had the thought that this could be a fun tradition we do occasionally as she and her other siblings grow up. She was such a cutie hanging out with me in the kitchen.
Ellie making pancakes
Ashton
It was the last full week of my summer this week, which is really wild, because it went by so fast! I am excited for school to start, and not as ready for the weather to start getting colder, but we'll make it work!
With it being the last week of summer, that means that it was my last official week of teaching at the MTC, before switching over to just supervising. It was a tender experience I had with my missionaries on Saturday. I knew it was coming, but I didn't expect the feelings that came.
I remember closing class and realizing that this would be the last time, at least for a while, being able to have this type of relationship with the missionaries on this level. I finished teaching, and felt overwhelmed with gratitude for the opportunity I have had to work on such an intimate level with the Lord's servants.
I really could not ask for a better job or life experience. Memories came back to me of times and places within the MTC that made all the difference in who I am today, and it is still incredible to me that I get to be a part of that three and a half years past the time I was originally here myself.
While it was hard to end that chapter at the MTC, I am excited for this new one and all the things it will bring with it!
Cougar’s apartment
Kai
I went to Dillon Hemmert's birthday party (he is one of my friends). We went to Leatherby's and I had some chicken fingers, and split a banana split with everyone that was there. Nash, Jethro, Dillon, and Ethan were there. After we were all full from Leatherby's, we went to Dillon's house to play some games. I had a great time at Dillon's.
Quinn
We were swimming and having lots of fun on the last day we went swimming before we took the pool down. Dad even went with us a couple days ago. Mom was trying to get into the pool, and I wanted her to jump in. But she just walked in, and it took a long time because she was testing the water, it was so cold!
Quinn swimming
Isaac
Disneyland vacation update: The popcorn stand has been doing really well. Gloria and Veidi helped buy the supplies so we could get started and they spent probably about one hundred and twenty dollars total, and we already have the money to pay them back from three days of working. Now that they are paid off, we can start saving up money for California. I'm also currently trying to get a job at the school so that we can also get some more money from there.
Also, I auditioned for A Christmas Carol in Hale Center Theater Orem. If I get the part, I will get paid two thousand dollars and then I can put some of that money into the Disneyland trip.
Gloria and Isaac selling Popcones
Gloria
This week for school I have been doing well in my grades. I am getting the hang of Chinese. I have learned a few new words,. and I have been doing well with my other classes. Also, work has been good so far, and I am really enjoying it. I am getting to know more people.
On Saturday some of us got to go to the region dance. I was scared to dance at first, but later I was able to get more comfortable dancing.
Most of the people I danced with were people I knew already, so I was not as nervous talking to them. Sunday we were able to go to the 5th ward, so Mom and Dad and the Littles stayed with me and Veidi for classes. I understand most of it. One of my new friends came up after sacrament and invited us to class. Then we went to our ward for just the first hour.
Last day swimming
Troy
I can't wait until next week, because I get to go to Aunt Wendy's house! That’s because Mom and Dad are going on a cruise with Dad’s job. Quinn and Joanna are also going to Aunt Wendy's house.
London is going to stay at our house with Monte, Veidi and Kai, and Gloria and Isaac are going to stay at the Zimmerman’s house. They are going to be gone Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and coming back on Monday night.
Veidi
This week I got to go volunteer at the humane society with Mom. It was our first training, so what we did was we learned how to put them in, and how to take them out safely, because they have a lot of energy.
There are different sections, and there is a section outside that they can play with you. It is really fun interacting with them. They have a different color of collar, because it depends on their energy and their age.
Monte with his clone trooper helmet
Monte
Finished at last! This week, I finished my clone trooper helmet, and I am so proud of the outcome. It turned out amazing. There was a lot of stress when painting, because some things didn't go as planned at first, but through a lot of extra coats, and a little improv, I was able to fix it and create an amazing product.
I have to say, I was so relieved when I finished it, because even though it was fun to make, it was time consuming, and a lot of focus, and just a smidge of stress involved. I think that I learned a lot about starting projects, and finishing them, and the satisfaction of seeing a finished product. Well, since I finished this project, I believe now I can get my Project Finisher award for my Light Bringer Passport book.
Isaac and Mom swimming
Dad / Arkin
While she was on stake pioneer trek, Gloria became friends with her trek sister, Andrea, from the Spanish ward in our stake (the 5th Ward). Andrea introduced her to several other young women in the 5th Ward, and so Gloria asked us if she could visit their ward one Sunday.
Mom and I have thought about visiting the 5th Ward with our children before, but we have never done it. We thought it was a great idea, so on Sunday, we took the whole family.
Gloria had a great time with her friends, and it was nice for me to spend a little time back in Spanish church meetings. It reminded me of my mission. Troy, Quinn, and Joanna were a little scared to go to Primary, but they really enjoyed it.
Mom also had a great time. The sisters in Relief Society begged her to come back! Thank you, Gloria for the good idea. We think we might start visiting the 5th Ward more regularly.
Mom and children swimming