Mateo ~ ¡Llamado a Servir en México: Los Dos Mejores Años!

Last leg of Elder Matthew Hill's mission in Mexico City North LDS Mission ~ Última etapa de la misión de Elder Matthew Hill en la LDS Misión México Ciudad de México Norte

noreply@blogger.com (EmpoweredWendy) — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 05:54:00 +0000

Last leg of Elder Matthew Hill's mission in Mexico City North LDS Mission ~ Última etapa de la misión de Elder Matthew Hill en la LDS Misión México Ciudad de México Norte

What A Wonderful Missionary & Young Man!

noreply@blogger.com (EmpoweredWendy) — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 09:16:00 +0000

Hola Everyone!

Elder Matthew Hill at the ending of his mission

Elder Matt Hill January 2014

Scrambling to finish Elder Hill's room the NIGHT before we left!! Thank you SO much for all the assistance, Laura,Adela, Denis and all our beloved friends and neighbors of both wards!

Missionaries outside the Mexico City North mission offices

Mike wearing Elder Matt Hill's missionary badge at MCN offices

Mi favorito bouganavilla

Destiny y Mateo ~Teotihuacan (Teōtīhuacān)

Elder Hill's hijo, Joshua

Elder Hill was supposed to have updated this several times since returning home!
We went to Mexico City to pick him up January 26, 2014! What a wonderful trip! It was SOOOO exciting to meet all of the wonderful people all over Mexico that had befriended Matthew and had been a blessing to him/vice-versa!
I will add highlights and photos and explain later!
Since home: Elder Hill put in around 100 job applications. He started working as a Medical Assistant and also worked at his old job, the amusement park Lagoon. He started full time at the University of Utah full time this summer and STILL works full time at the 2 jobs!
I believe HE gets to add to this blog or CRINGE that Mom still speaks for him!

WE ARE ALL SO PROUD OF THE YOUNG MAN HE IS. WHAT A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE LORD AND GROW, SERVING AN HONORABLE MISSION!!

We love you Elder Matt Hill.... eternally! >>>>FAMILIES ARE FOREVER!!!!<<<<<<<

HOMES FOR NEW MISSIONARIES,GOOD TIMES TO BE A MISSIONARY, STONG SPIRIT & JOHN 3 !:13-14!

noreply@blogger.com (EmpoweredWendy) — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 21:00:00 +0000

BAPTISM OF YOLANDA, ANA LAURA, EDUARDO y ELDERS' HILL y SANDOVAL

Hola Mom!.... Okay. I`ll be on later but just a little sketch of what I think will work best is the following.

Wednesday:

-Estado de mexico, Teotihuacan, La Quebrada, Tepotzotlan, etc.

Thursday:

-Hidalgo, Tula- Los Atlantes

-Tezontepec...

Friday:

-Queretaro. Hidalgo ward, Mosiah, Flor, etc.

-See the downtown historical part and museums.

Saturday:

-Morning in Queretaro

-Leave around 12 to go back to Edo Mexico in Jardines because a few members want to meet you and feed us.

Sunday:

-leave early from somewhere near Jardines or La Quebrada depending on who can help us with getting the luggage to the airport.

Let me know what you think. ttyl

loves.

Well, see you tomorrow! Love you, bye!

Matthew: Who will be coming?

Mama: Mike, Destiny, Josh, & me.

EH: Might even stop by and see Pres and Sister Call at their house on one of those nights when we´ll be in Estado. Just don´t know yet.

Ma: No I figured we'd rent one there. I can book one tonight j just Claudia, Cesar’s wife, told me not to drive there figured I v could reach to Izcalli if Yenny doesn't come and then we'd get one. Ya, it is her bro.

Also ask around about Mexican herbs, Essential Oils, and vitamins for TX of cancer- b17 is one.

EH: You can´t take herbs into the US and who has cancer?

Ma: Aunt Lori, Inflammatory Breast Cancer. I've gotten stuff in to you, (essential oils), I'll get it out. Your friend that gave Oscar, (wouldn’t stay still during Sacrament Meeting-ADHD??), a sniff, of essential oils---oddly, a citrus blend), would know right? Who was that?

EH: He´s in Hidalgo but I´ll ask a member here who would know.

Ma: That´s what I´m saying... I´ll ask President what time we are going to finish and maybe see if there is someone from Jardines that could take me to the airport and from there rent the car. I doubt any member would lend us their car.... Besides, the taxi from the airport would only charge about $300 pesos to the office. Just don´t take a lot of bags so that everything fits in one taxi. The last thing you want to do is split baggage and people (and more when you don´t speak the language or know the area.)

Ma: Oh, ok and maybe pick us up at 7:30? Ok, will what the back do we do. Facebook message me or something or call the phone. Same password.

EH: I can´t get on Facebook but I don´t think that the phone will work here. Just use a pay phone, it costs like 3 pesos.... I´ll call President and Let you know tomorrow morning. I cell phone costs like $260 with the chip and then just add credit once in a while...

My translation for above itinerary:

Más or menos el horario:

Miércoles: Edo. de México-- Teotihuacan, Yenny, La Quebrada, etc. Cena en la noche con familia Vazquéz-Recendiz (Brianda, Rodrigo, más Christian, Cinthya, y más)

Jueves: Hidalgo--- Tula, Los Atlantes, Tezontepec, (David Nicte, Jaina, Familia Hernandez,etc)

Viernes: Querétaro--- Barrio Hidalgo, Flor, Mosiah, Familia Ramos, Cerro de las Campanas, Centro Histórico, museos, etc.

Sábado: Querétaro--- Terminar en la mañana y salir al medio día para Edo. de México. Ya en la tarde, Barrio Jardines con Familia Rivera-Hernández / Hernández-Tapia, etc. Algunas familias les quieren conocer y darnos de cenar. Quedar la noche en Jardines o en La Quebrada.

Domingo: Salir al aeropuerto allí por las 7am, si no, más temprano.

Okay, I´ll write a little....

This last week was really hectic. We were all over the place trying to help missionaries find houses to rent in areas that are being divided. We didn´t get a whole lot done as far as proselyting goes.

One experience we had was on Thursday. We left Brianda and Rodgrigo´s house and we were walking home and we see a taxi so we stop it. He turns around to pick us up and seconds later we see Christian and Cinthya drive by and they could have given us a ride without charging. So I thought, "We should have waited just a few seconds more and not pay!" But then I started thinking about WHY we had gotten in the taxi at that time. So I contacted the driver and turns out he had quite a few questions about churches and all that. We gave him a pamphlet and some information and he said that he was going to read it because he was interested. He didn´t accept that we visit him but he said that he´d read and let us know. Then I knew why we didn´t wait a few more seconds and $25 pesos cheaper. Good times to be a missionary!

Yesterday we had the baptismal service in the stake center (it was stake conference) for Yolanda, Ana Laura, and Eduardo (from another ward). It was a good service and the Spirit was strong. I was really nervous because it´s been a while since I actually performed the ordinance instead of a member. Ana Laura was baptized twice because the first time her feet came up and she freaked out with the water. I told her that we had to do it again and we did. When she came up she shouts, "Did my feet come out!?" Everyone got a good laugh at it! Yolanda was baptized once and it was a special experience. It was a nice experience to baptize the last week in the mission field.

Well, there are many other things that I will be telling y'all later.

3 John 1:13-14

13 I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and penawrite unto thee:

14 But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.

Ma: That's an awesome quote!! Are we seeing you tomorrow? Is there a # that I call???

EH: I´ll by a cheap cell phone and send you the number so that you can call me from a pay phone tomorrow.

Sister Call´s is 55-****-****

President Call´s 55-****-****

Try Hna. Call´s first because I´m sure President will be in interviews or something.

Gotta go. Love you. Confirm in the morning with you.

Ma: Ive added International calling & minutes to mine and Destiny's # *************.

EH: But to talk down here?

Ma: Ya!

EH: FANCY THAT!!

Love,

Elder Hill

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN.. CHRIST CONTINUED TO MINISTER & TEACH IN HIS LAST DAYS, I HOPE TO DO THE SAME, WINNING PRIZE!

noreply@blogger.com (EmpoweredWendy) — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 20:30:00 +0000

ELDER SALVADOR CORAL'S BAPTISM y FAMILIA y ELDER HILLL

I don`t really want to talk about time, but let`s face it, it`s the final countdown. Just as Christ continued to minister and teach in His final days, I hope to do the same. Just like in any race, you have to keep full throttle until the finish line because if you let up you just might give up your winning prize.

This week we had Coral`s baptism. She was really happy that she could be baptized. We got to the church and found that the other ward had a baptism the week before and they hadn`t drained the baptismal font. So with very little time before the baptism we drained the water and opened up the hot water that comes out like a drizzle. Just before Coral got there we had to open up the cold water completely so that the font could fill. It ended up being cold... Ni modo!

ELDERS SANDOVAL y HILL Y CORAL'S FAMILIA

This weekend we will have stake conference. The last time this stake had stake conference I was in Jardines. Good times. Oh! Christian was conferred the Aaronic Priesthood yesterday, too. That was a good experience to see and what was even more unique is that three Priests from the ward did it. There wasn`t one Melchizedek priesthood holder in the circle. They did it under direction of the Bishop. Good day.

OLD FIRETRUCK

Well, I think that`s it. I left my planner in the house so I can`t remember everything that happened this week and what I`ve already told you. I`ll see you next Tuesday! Be good!

Loves,

Elder Matt Hill

old firetruck

Coral`s baptism (the bishop baptized her)

Blessings Feeding Missionary's, Dividing Zones, Sister Missionary's, Wicked Awesome Lasagna, Grateful for Mission Padres, Cold Shower y Feliz Día de Reyes!

noreply@blogger.com (EmpoweredWendy) — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 00:48:00 +0000

ELDERS HILL y SANDOVAL WITH ZONE

When I`m in the house thinking of what to write all these cool ideas come to mind.... and then when I`m in front of the screen, I forget everything. Sorry.... I`ll try to change that for next week.

Anyway, on Tuesday we had to be home at 1900 because things get crazy in the town on party days. We were passing drunk people at 12pm! I just don`t see the fun of not remembering two days of your life. But the time at the house was good because I was able to catch up on my journal writing. I`m getting better, but I still don`t write EVERY day because of the reports and all that fun jazz. On Wednesday, well, we did our weekly planning and ate with the Martinez Family. Since that sister is in charge of the food list if there is someone who doesn`t sign up then she signs up. She must get a lot of blessings because we eat there a lot lately.

Thursday was my last leadership council with President and Sister Call. It was also the last leadership council in the mission home because we`ve too many leaders now. President is dividing zones like crazy and the amount of sisters coming into the mission is simply AMAZING! At the end of this transfer, we will have doubled the amount of sisters that we had in July when the mission divided. There are so many good changes that are happening because the work is hastening. I`m grateful that I`ve been able to see so many good things in the mission and I`m excited for everything that I`ll see after being a missionary. Oh, and in the leadership Sister Call made some wicked awesome lasagna and brownies. It was a long time since I had eaten real lasagna. So grateful for having them as mission padres.

Friday was the monthly zone training. It was exciting and all, but I think I`ll leave it at that. We talked about what we learned on Thursday about goals, our purpose, and repentance. After the training I did exchanges with Elder Espinoza in Tepotzotlan. He`s a good missionary. A little timid, and he talks to himself a lot. Many times I said, "Excuse me?" and he just shook his head like he didn`t say anything. Good times.

Saturday we ended exchanges. Did a little planning. During the day we visited Coral, who is going to be baptized next week. She`s 8 years old, her brothers are members, but her parents aren`t because they are married to other people and not married to each other. We were leaving the house and my backpack knocks over a little planter and all the mud spills all the way down my pant leg. Great. So we leave and I just thought I`d clean it up in the food appt. We were standing on the side of the road trying to cross the street and a combi drives by and splashes mud on us. It was just one of those days.

Sunday: A lot more people showed up now that we are in the morning. I hope that we can continue moving up in attendance. Alfredo was confirmed. Oh, and the coolest thing I`ve seen in a long time was that Christian and Cinthya had their FIVE kids blessed in fast and testimony meeting. That was a great experience and it made the ward that much happier and excited to find families to teach. This week E. Sandoval took the zone reports so I got to watch all of the Joseph Smith movie, John Tanner, and some other D&C videos. Then I got sleepy and wrote a quick letter.

Monday: Elder Sandoval got in the shower and the water was hot. I get in and it`s freezing cold! Resulting in the fact that the gas decided to run out to wish me a happy Día de Reyes (their Christmas day when the kids open gifts and all). And here I am.

See you soon. I hope that Josh and everyone can come down. We`ll be seeing you all soon. LOL (LOTS OF LOVE, in President Hanks' language)

I still don`t feel or realize that it`s only 2 weeks away. I know it is and on the calendar it looks short, but the time still feels like it`s months away. Not a bad thing, but I`m just not too distracted about that.

Love,

Elder Hill

zone pic.

loves

Noche Buena, Guayaba, Hna. Call y No One Knows What He Can Do Until He Tries.You'll Never Achieve Your Dreams If They Don't Become Goals.

noreply@blogger.com (EmpoweredWendy) — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 00:32:00 +0000

ELDER HILL, CHRISTIAN, CINTHYA y NINOS, ELDER SANDOVAL ~ FELIZ NAVIDAD (24th)

It was good to see the fam again on Wednesday. I know it was a little packed and all that, but it was good. Looks like the snow is hitting hard. The weather down here has been good still. It rained on Christmas and Thursday but that`s as close as it got to a white Christmas down here.

On the 24th, Noche Buena, we went to visit a few people. In the missionary handbook it says that Saturday, Sundays, and Holidays are good opportunities to find new people to teach because everyone is home and with their family.... however, the culture here it totally different. Most people have parties and they aren`t really interested in anyone reminding them of the commandments. Of course, there is the occasional good person who lets you in and receives a little lesson. We also went to see our investigators and the people that we`ve been finding. Some were home, others weren`t. We ate a lot of food that night because the 24th is their day for eating dinner and spending time with the family.

On Christmas, everything was so quiet! Nobody was on the streets, no loud music. All was still. We went to a district meeting in the zone. Elder Calderón got sick and we had to finish the meeting. It`s been a while since either one of us has given a district meeting. We ate that day with the Martinez Ayala Family. They gave us some sort of pork roast bathed in guayaba. Strange, but good. After, we went to Rafa`s house to talk to the family the four of us from the ward. Good day. Then we went to see Alfredo because he was on track to be baptized this Sunday, and he was.

ELDERS' HILL y SANDOVAL, JOSE LUIS, YOLANDA,
y ANA LAURA

Alfredo was baptized yesterday and the overall didn`t really fit him to well. He`s a big guy and was making a ton of jokes about how he didn`t fit into the clothes. Alfredo has been to many churches and knows a lot of other doctrines which has assisted him in being able to make the right decisions and feel, more than anything, what church is the right church. He`s a humble man from humble circumstances and that`s what has helped him be one of the elect in these days.

ELDER HILL, BRIANDA, RODRIGO, MARIO, ALEJANDRA y ELDER SANDOVAL

On Thursday we did exchanges with the assistants. In the afternoon all of our appointments had fallen through and we decided to move our plans up a little. When we were almost getting to our next appointment, we passed a lady and said, "buenas noches." Elder De Los Santos and I looked at each other then turned around to talk to the lady. Turns out she is the mom of the 19 year old kid who was killed about two months ago when Christian, Cinthya, and a few other people could go to church. We talked to their family and they are looking for answers. The father, Lázaro, accepted everything really well and even said that he`d go to church. They, too, have received many other churches and haven`t felt the need to join any of them. Tender mercies happen every day.

Sunday was Alfredo`s baptism. Actually, his name is Martin, but someone called him Alfredo a long time back and it stuck. So while the Bishop baptized him, he said his name and suddenly Martin`s wife shouts, "Martin Alfredo!" like trying to correct the Bishop. Everyone just sat there stunned and a little startled. The Bishop talked to Martin, and re-started the ordinance. It was pretty funny. We think she did it because the tradition here is that when you baptize a little baby, that`s the name that will be used from that point on.... IDK.

From Sister Call this week:

Some of you already know that I like to collect inspirational thoughts. Here are a few that I would like to share with you on goal setting:

Organize your values in the order of their worth.

A goal is a dream with a deadline.

No one knows what he can do until he tries.

Keep your eye on eternal goals.

Without some goal and an effort to reach it, no man can live.

Set your goals high enough to inspire you and within reach enough to encourage you.

Goals that are not written down are just wishes.

A goal is a planned event.

You'll never achieve your dreams if they don't become goals.

I hope you will take some time this week to set some worthwhile, achievable goals for yourself.

Let’s make this the best year ever! Abrazos…….Hermana Call

Let`s make 2014 the best year of our lives because we are always progressing and moving forward. We shouldn`t be like Lot`s wife with the heart stuck in the past and wishing for things to be the way they used to be. 2013 will soon be water under the bridge or over the dam.

From PMG:

“I am so thoroughly convinced that if we don’t set goals in our life and learn how to master the techniques of living to reach our goals, we can reach a ripe old age and look back on our life only to see that we reached but a small part of our full potential. When one learns to master the principles of setting a goal, he will then be able to make a great difference in the results he attains in this life.”

–Elder M. Russell Ballard

Happy New Opportunity to Reflect, Re-evaluate, and Progress Forward.

Love,

Elder Hill

-- 24th with:

- José Luis, Yolanda, Ana Laura. We bought them their books for Christmas.

-Christian and Cinthya and kids

-Brianda, Rodrigo, Mario, Alejandra.

I DON`T KNOW HOW PEOPLE CAN WAIT SO LONG TO GO TO THE TEMPLE! IT`S INCREDIBLE! Merry CHRISTmas & Happy New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (EmpoweredWendy) — Tue, 24 Dec 2013 05:00:00 +0000

What a week! It went by so fast. Well, seeing that we`ll be chit chatting on Christmas, I`ll just put the highlights.

On Tuesday Elder Sandoval and I went to the temple. I hadn`t been to the temple since February 9th, 2012. Almost 22 1/2 months. I DON`T KNOW HOW PEOPLE CAN WAIT SO LONG TO GO TO THE TEMPLE! IT`S INCREDIBLE! There were so many things that I remembered and my energy and dedication was renewed! It was a great experience to be there again.

Wednesday we went to a district meeting in Melchor Ocampo where Elder Martin is. It`s been good to have him in the zone after being companions. Elder Larsen is also here in the zone.

Saturday we had our mission Christmas activity. We ate some food, sang some Christmas hymns, and a few special musical numbers. President Call`s family at Christmas time sings the 12 Days of Christmas song, but for the mission. Their kids didn`t get here on time due to bad weather, so when we sang it on Saturday I had to sing the 4th day which was, "Letters from home." I`ll have to write all the lyrics later. Also, Brianda and Rodrigo got married and Brianda passed her interview. We had the ward Christmas party and that was good as well. The little kids did a little nativity scene from the Book of Mormon and Bible and the Relief Society sang some Christmas songs. It was a really good activity.

Sunday was a great day because there were three baptisms. Christian, Cinthya, and Brianda were baptized. We had Bro. Torres baptized Christian and Cinthya because he`s been their little member friend family. Brianda was baptized by Rodrigo, her new 'husband' even though they already had years of knowing each other. They all felt really great, spiritually reborn, and the light in their eyes was so much more visible than before. No doubt that this is the one and only true Church approved and guided by Jesus Christ Himself. Great times.

Well, I think that`s about it. We`ll talk on Wednesday at around 5. I`ll send an email before so that you know what time and all that fun jazz. Hang in there!

Love,

Elder Hill

OH, and I wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Loves,

Elder Hill

PIX: Baptisms this week!

more of baptism

Elder De Los Santos

Elder Martin

Even in Mexico the kids say, "Mom, I am doing my homework!" but they`re really on Facebook.

I know... I`m just too good looking.

Visitors Center, CHRISTmas, Would HE Shop or Go Preach the Gospel or Heal a Wounded Heart?

noreply@blogger.com (EmpoweredWendy) — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 21:00:00 +0000

ELDERS HILL AND SANDOVAL WITH INVESTIGATORS AT MEXICO CITY VISITORS CENTER

MEXICO CITY TEMPLE

So, this week has been crazy. The highlight was that we went to the visitor`s center that was opened on November 23rd. There were so many people there! I saw people from Querétaro and Tezontepec which was crazy. I also ran into members from Jardines and Valle de Tules. I never thought that I`d see so many people that I knew. The Church world is so small. Elder Sandoval pretty much had a family reunion because he had so much family that came from Puebla. It was a good time. Oh, I also saw Elder Tolentino who was with me in trio when I first got to the mission! He got home two weeks ago and was with his family at the VC. I forgot to take a picture.

The visitor`s center here is really neat with a bunch of new technology and interactions. Everyone who went loved it and was able to learn a little bit more about the church which is the best part. We should have Brianda, Cristian, and Cintia`s baptism next Sunday. Brianda still has to get married so we`ll see how that goes.

Other than that, there wasn`t anything too interesting that happened this week. I`m getting a little better thanks to the buttock antibiotic injections the doctor prescribed me. That`s something that never happens at home.

Merry Christmas season to all. I hope that we can all relax a little and not worry so much about the gifts and the goodies, and just worry about serving someone in need. What would Christ do? Go shopping all day for deals on electronics and all the newest fun stuff, or would he go preach the Gospel or heal a wounded heart? I`m not perfect, but I`d rather avoid the headache of going shopping and just go help someone else. We`ve all made covenants at baptism that we are willing to take the name of Christ upon us, to cry with those who suffer, and to lend a helping hand. Now, more than ever, it is needed to be done to have a better world.

Christ lives. He was resurrected and He guides His Church today. No doubt about it. President Monson is a prophet. He speaks to Jesus Christ face to face just as the prophets of old. There is no other true Church than this one. Pray. Know for yourself.

Happy day! All is well!

Love,

Elder Hill

PIX/FOTOS

all of our investigators in the Visitor`s center

the sign out front

The temple

Kenith and Crisanta (family of Yatziri) from Querétaro

Hermano Oscar from Tezontepec

Cabello Family (mom and son who got home from the mish in August) from Querétaro

Elders Sandoval y Hill Mexico City Visitors Center Seguimosa Jesucristo

Elders Carmack, Torrecilla, Hill and Sandoval at the Cristus

The group again. Looks better this one.

Cristian and Cintia and their 5 kids with Rodrigo and Brianda

Elder Olivares and Elder Lopez and us, (Elders Hill and Sandoval)

Us on the bus.

Hola Son,

Tell me that you are better!!!??

Justin Parkinson is back, Troy Schuler's homecoming was today. So may people are already back....

Hey, I`m feeling a little better. The doctor gave me antibiotic injections, so that was fun doing the whole IM in the buttocks thing this week. I might have to go back for more because I still have a good cough and green phlegm.

Please get my transcripts asap because Davis district only has stuff until the student is 21 then it`s out of their system.

I know a lot of people are back. Oh well. That`s how life is.

Love you. Hope things get better.

Ma-Got transcripts! YOU ARE IN, (Mt. Nebo Paramedic Training), don't worry...Mom's got that part handled. Do you think you will do the 3^rd semester of Mt. Nebo?

Don't get me wrong, happy not home yet. Home not ready. I love you!

I don`t know yet. I could do it, however, I`m not sure if I will because I still don`t know if I`ll start at USU, (Utah State University), in the fall or if I`ll do POST or anything like that. I don`t think I`ll do fire (academy) because they will be cutting back guys due to the new health insurance stuff that Obama pulled. If you could find out if DCSO, (Davis County Sheriff’s Office), hires part time medics and when POST , (Peace Officers Standards & Training),will be, that would help.

Thanks. Ps- I can call or skype the 22, 24, 25, or 29th. Do you want me to skype the 25th around 5pm? That`s about when my companion will call. I still have time next week to make plans....

Ma-Yes, but I think we will use google hangouts, that’s what Thueson’s do.

I don`t know if I can use google hangouts on this account because the church has certain limitations.

Don`t worry. I`m happy I`m not home yet, too. Still lacks a little time. Tell Ryan to write me when he makes a little time.

Ma-Ok i will. Love you. At storage looking through units to find stuff. All furniture etc is here. We sleep on mattress on floor

Welcome to the mission life.

MA :( at least you know where your pants are. I have 1 pair!!!

I think you`re good on a few pictures for now. :)

MA-I can't do much on that end because you have to do the post pre test. But i will get info

That`s fine but if you can get the info. I`m sure I`ll pass the pre test.... it`s like the ASVAB. Remember who you are talking to dear mother.

MA-No kidding!! I just can't submit the applications without your tests.

look into it and we`ll talk next week. But if I get on at DCSO when would I go through post when I get home? Dates so that I can plan a little and see how it works.

Love you. Gotta go. Tell the fam hello for me.

Blogging, Comments, Questions and Answers

noreply@blogger.com (EmpoweredWendy) — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 01:38:00 +0000

Oh my goodness Everyone! Thank you SO much for all your posts! I hope you all receive this email!

This is me hugging my son before he left!

I will try and answer you all in 1 email, going from my phone to laptop. Thank you for all your compliments and for taking your precious time to read our blog! :) Please keep coming back! I would love to have you add your country when you comment, that would be AWESOME!

1st of all. I created this blog almost 2 years ago for my son who is serving the Lord, Heavenly Father/God on an LDS mission to Mexico City, the North area.

I had never done a blog, and really didn't know what one was until my son left for his mission.

I used google blog. found some templates, then adjusted in the edit part. Easy to do if you just use google and you get much traffic!

I have never blogged before. These are his writings. I spellcheck and get creative with the pix, titles, but it is Matthew's writings. I am only allowed to receive an email from him every Monday, a phone call on Christmas and Mother's Day for 2 years! It is our religions, "Right of Passage" so to say. He would be THRILLED to touch SO many of you worldwide!

I spend about an hour a week reading his letters, copying to Word to lose formatting, proof-reading and spell-checking, downloading pictures, then uploading to the blog.

#1- if you would like more information on this subject, I have dedicated a page with links in each of your languages. Here is the link: http://eldermatthill.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_30.html Many of you are able to download The Book of Mormon from this page with NO SPYWARE OR MALWARE. If you choose to and read the book; pray and ask if it is true. If you would like a missionary to come and teach you more worldwide, they are available and would be there within a week or so. Just provide me with your name, address and telephone number. If you would like to chat with a missionary immediately... click this link: http://mormon.org/chat

#2- To subscribe to this feed via feedburner: http://feeds.feedburner.com/MattHill Other feeds: http://feeds.feedburner.com/ElderMattHill

#3- not sure how to protect against hackers... not that web savvy. If you use blogger and many others, it backs up your information, as well as an external hard drive.

#4- Some have wondered "how" they got to this website. My answer would be God directed you. There ARE NO COINCIDENCES, in my book. :)

#5- As far as WYSIWYG, (What You See Is What You Get, I remember from college) I have little coding experience. Mostly just to rename html's, edit a bit and re design this site. Google Blogger is what I use and it is EASY!!

#6- Some have stated this page runs off in Internet Explorer. I have checked Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer here... seems to be no problem. Try adjusting your display settings. Try the boring version of it here:http://www.missionsite.net/eldermatthewhill/main

#7- YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY welcome to share this with ANYONE, ANYTIME!!

#8- Occasionally I get duplicate comments. I have hear from a few that they do to. I do not know how to "unsubscribe you" Google it. Sorry.

#9- I only get photos when he sends them. Mexico City can be dangerous, so he only takes pictures when he feels safe. Sometimes I have many, sometimes none. Sorry.

#10- If you haven't read all the posts...start from here! http://eldermatthill.blogspot.com/

#11- PLEASE don't SPAM this site..find others. Thank you!

I hope i answered all of your questions, comments, concerns and critiquing.

Thanks again for visiting!

Enjoy and good luck. Keep coming back!!

What A Week, (Again) Pray For Investigators & Family Home Evening!

noreply@blogger.com (EmpoweredWendy) — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 02:26:00 +0000

ELDER HILL AND FAMILY HOME EVENING GAME

Hey,

I`m exhausted. I`ve been sick since I threw up that one Wednesday two weeks ago. I`m still waiting to see if I have bronchitis or something’s but the mucous is green and I`m pretty sure it`s an infection. Lovely. I`m losing weight, too. I was at 77 kg but I`m down to like 75. I heard that flights were delayed because of the snow. Actually, we had to delay trainings for new missionaries this week because their flights were cancelled or something like that. That´s what the assistants said.

I just pay 25 pesos to have a doctor check me out and give me a rx or I have a member I can go to to have him give me a rx for something good. I know green is infection but I was waiting just because it wasn`t in good enough amounts to tell if it was an infection or one of those moments it just happened to turn up green.

No, I`m going to buy some things today. Don`t worry. I`m a big boy now.

Mom-Are you getting transferred? Where do you want to visit?

No, I`m staying here. I`ve thought about it, but I`ll let you know for sure next week. Also, I need a few things so that I can write that letter for the scholarships.

--full address of house in Bountiful

--scanned copy of my last transcript. Were you able to get my last, full, official transcript?

--scanned copy of both of the birth certificates.

--information about Mt. Nebo-- name of director, email, tel #, address

--breakdown of the costs of Mt Nebo (ex... $7500 total, but $6500 tuition, $500 books, $500 uniform or whatever it is).

PINEDO FAMILIA Y ELDERS DASTRUP, TORRECILLA, SANDOVAL Y HILL

LEADERSHIP MEETING

What a week. It`s been so hard being sick still and not being able to focus on what I need to do. So many things that have happened to me this week that I`ve been tempted to say, "What else is going to happen?" However, I`d rather not call down the powers of Heaven to give me more trials. Cristian, Cintia, José Luis, Yolanda, Ana Laura, Alfredo, and Brianda are all programmed for the 22nd to be baptized. It`s been a long time since the ward has had baptisms and so many at a time. The Lord is blessing His ward, not us. It`s just great to be involved in it all.

LEADERSHIP COUNCIL WITH PRESIDENT & HERMANA CALL

This week we hope to be able to go to the new visitor`s center in District Federali, next to the temple. It`s been closed since before I got here and they all say that it`s really amazing. The ward is going this Saturday and we`re inviting all the investigators that we have. Should be a good time.

BOWLING!!

Well, keep enjoying the snow. We went bowling today. Transfers are going to be tomorrow but we are staying together Sandoval and me. Should be a good last transfer. Last night had a FHE with the Pinedo family. Good stuff. Well, the internet guy is closing soon so I have to go. Please pray for the investigators that we have so that they can make it to their baptismal date and the rest of the families that we are teaching so that they can be baptized, too. Love you all. Happy week of snow!

Loves,

Elder Hill

Pix/fotos

game we played at FHE with Pinedo. Explain later... let`s just say I was victim

--leadership council this week with all the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders.

--Elder Dastrup, Torrecilla, Sandoval, and me with Fam. Pinedo

--Bowling today because transfers tomorrow and Dastrup leaves.

WHAT A WEEK & BE DILIGENT AND OBEDIENT EVEN WHEN THE OPPOSITION COMES HEAVY!

noreply@blogger.com (EmpoweredWendy) — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 23:16:00 +0000

ELDERS HILL y SANDOVAL, HERMANA CALL y ELDER DASTRUP

On Wednesday I got up and wasn`t feeling too well, but we went to the church at 10;30 because we had interviews with President Call after our district meeting. E. Sandoval and I went last so the interview was really short since we had gone over time during the morning. I also ate my last "interview brownie" in the mission. Crazy. Anyway, the four of us (E. Dastrup and Torrecilla) leave and go eat and the family gives us rice, eggs w/ jalapeños, and lemonade. From there, we stopped by the house to grab something and I threw up what we ate. I thought that I`d just take some good old pepto and all would be well. So, we head to Tepalcapa for a meeting with Elder Daniel L. Johnson, the area President. Before the meeting we got our vaccinations but the doctor got a little lost and got there late. I started helping fill syringes so that we could get done on time and I was feeling a little queezy and towards the end E. Dastrup is like, "Hey Hill, can you inject me?" The doctor was like 'go ahead' so I inject him real quick, and put the syringe on the table and I feel nauseous. I head to the bathroom when it starts coming up so I cover the mouth, get to the garbage can, and then in the bathroom someone said 'hey if you need the toilet go ahead' so I get to the toilet and throw up everything else that I had eaten that day and I look over and I splattered Elder Grace`s shoe with stuff and my shirt was splattered but you couldn`t really tell with the jacket on. Needless to say I think it was my most embarrassing day in the mission. Throw up stained shirt at a meeting with a General Authority.

Cristian and Cintia are progressing well. They have 5 little kids and the 3 little girls stayed in primary and enjoyed their time. Yolanda, José Luis, and Ana Laura went as well and are progressing toward baptism. Ana Laura gave us each a little Christmas balloon and a little letter. I`ll take pictures for next week. We`ve been finding new people little by little but so far no success. We´re doing our best to always be diligent and obedient even when the opposition comes heavy. It`s been one of the most challenging yet rewarding times of the mission. ALMA 32:40-43 Through patience and hard work, looking forward to the end when the tree bears fruit, that`s why we go through hard times. To grow and then get the reward.

Well, I think that`s about it. I`m sorry for not taking pictures... I just don`t think about it too much. I`ll take my camera this week to take pictures of our invetigators and maybe some places here in Tepotzotlan.

Be good. Love you all.

Elder Hill

ps... brownies in interview and a cake the four of us ate today (Dastrup, Torrecilla, Sandoval, me)

Hey,

I was actually going to thank you for that today. I was just in a huge frenzy last week because I didn`t have time to write or anything. Lately we`ve been doing things on Mondays and we don`t have time to do anything else.

How much did it cost you to do it? I really do appreciate it and I apologize if it was far too much to have it done. Maybe I should have just left it how it was in the first place.

Hope Josh can get better. I`m glad the house is moving along and if it`s not finished when I get home that`s fine. I`ll help to get it finished.

Also, I emailed Kirk at Mt. Nebo last week but he didn`t answer me this week. I asked him how it would work for when I get home... Has Lane said anything about South Davis doing a training school? I know that they hired two two years ago this last August so I`m not sure what their plans would be. Do you have Dane Stone`s email in my phone, or John Hauze`s? I can`t remember if it ends in @sdmf.org or @southdavismetrofire.org.

ttyl.

me

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! BARE YOUR TESTIMONY! MISSION BEST FOR YOUNG MAN & THE DREAM TEAM

noreply@blogger.com (EmpoweredWendy) — Mon, 25 Nov 2013 23:00:00 +0000

FROM SISTER CALL IN THIS WEEK'S LETTER:

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." Mosiah 18:23 “…and also every day they should give thanks to the Lord their God.”

I am grateful for each one of you. Abrazos……..Hermana Call

Honestly, this mission is the best thing to do for a young man before he does anything in life. My poor wife, whomever she may be, will be infinitely more appreciative that she didn´t have to deal with me as a normal man without the mission. My boss, wherever I may go, will be happy because I´m not like the rest of the men in the world. There are just certain principles that a missionary learns and SHOULD continue to practice and strive to do after the mission that can literally change the world. We are the light of the world and we can´t just hide anything. Let your light so shine, wherever you may be. I´m so grateful for the mission experience and it´s the best thanksgiving gift I can give is go and find more people. Same with Christmas.... it´s like Christ-más (Christ-more ) every day as a missionary. No better place to be.

Anyway, I think the fact that it´s almost over is getting me but this week was super awesome. The Lord sent 12 investigators with a baptismal date to church yesterday and that is almost unheard of right now in the mission. IT IS NOT US! We are simply instruments in His hands. Please pray for them. These people are the following:

-Brianda

-Edgar

-Carmen (Edgar´s wife- well, soon to be wife)

-José Luis (José Luis, Yolanda his wife, and Ana Laura the daughter)

-Yolanda

-Ana Laura

-Ricardo

-Alfredo (wife of a member less active)

-Camelia

-Cristian (with five little kids and he´s only 28! Born to be a Mormon!)

-Cintia (Cristian´s wife)

-Alicia (Brianda, Cristian, and Edgar´s mom)

Ricardo is separate, Camelia is separate, and Alfredo is separate, but the rest are from two families. The Church looks for families because we experience REAL GROWTH in Zion and we progress that much more. Oh, and guess what! Ricardo´s last name is ESCOGIDO! (chosen) We found that pretty funny. Well, I don´t have much time today to write because we still have to wash the laundry, but just know that the work will always go on until it has sounded in every ear. If we want the Millennium to come faster, preach the Gospel more! Fulfill the prophecies faster and then we might just experience something even greater in our lives.

Don´t forget to share your testimony this week in Sacrament meeting! I invite you, but more importantly, God invites you because the testimony is strengthened by sharing it.

Love you all!

Elder Hill and Elder Sandoval

(aka-- "The Dream Team")

ps- I haven´t taken pictures... sorry. I´ll try and do that more but we are just so busy lately. I´ll take pics of our investigators this week so that you know them by face.

COUNT YOUR MANY BLESSINGS!

noreply@blogger.com (EmpoweredWendy) — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 23:00:00 +0000

ELDERS SANDOVAL AND HILL

It`s been a pretty spiritually crammed week, eh? These last two weeks have probably been the most tiring of my entire mission, and this last week we saw the fruits of all that work that we have been doing.

Monday:

We went to visit Brianda and Rodrigo at their house at night and they live fairly far from our house. We taught lesson 1, the Restoration, and Brianda accepted a baptismal date for the 15th of December. Blessing. Rodrigo is a less active member. So, we leave their house and we started walking to the house and we were going to get home a little late with President`s permission. Suddenly a combi drives by and I whistle at it, it stops, and they tell us to get in. This combi was just going to the store but they took us to the corner next to our house and didn`t charge anything. Blessing.

Tuesday:

We went to eat with an older sister in the ward but because she was alone we had to eat outside and suddenly it started drizzling. We ate fast and went home to grab the sweaters because it was a little cold. We went to the Trebol to look for a contact that we had made a few days back and so we counted how many streets we had to go and we entered, knocked on the house, and no answer. We thought to ourselves, "Why are we here?" Knowing that the Lord put us there for a reason, we were there analyzing for like 3 minutes. I turn around and there is a little dry cleaning business there and so I feel like we need to contact them. A little old lady, Guadalupe, comes out and we explain the situation that we had been looking for someone, and then she explains that we had counted the blocks wrong. So we taught her lesson 1, too, and then she says at the end, "Good thing you boys made a mistake so that you could come bring me this wonderful message." Blessing. We left feeling a little stunned, thinking that maybe she might be a less active member, but no, she wasn`t. We are still teaching her. So we count the blocks correctly and nobody was home there either. Asking the same question, we feel like knocking two doors. From one, Gloria answered and from another answered Cintia. Both gave us appts to come back and share a message. Blessing. We leave there and go to talk to Brianda. We arrive and we teach the law of chastity because they aren`t married. They both understood and are making plans to get married. Blessing.

Wednesday:

We go to a district meeting in the zone and one of the stinking sisters kept staring at me all through the meeting. I was super uncomfortable. CURSE. Pres. Call asked us to re-evaluate the goals for December to see if we would be inspìred to lower them so we helped them understand why that was and the zone goal went from 57 to 40, a very much more reasonable goal since we haven`t been fulfilling our goals as a mission. The mission goal went from 261 to 197. Blessing. I know that if we reach our goals now, we will all get more excited and work harder for January and on. After the uncomfortable district meeting, we went to the Trebol again and nobody was home, so we went with Rafa and Yamina, a really cool family here in the ward. Blessing. Rafa (Rafael) shared something that was really cool that I hadn`t understood in this way before. In D&C 18:15-16 it says that if we bring one soul unto Christ then how great will be our joy in the kingdom, and we will be so much more joyful with many souls. What Rafa explained is that the one soul that Christ asks for is OUR ONE SOUL, for how great will be OUR joy living with Him. The other souls come by helping others and preaching the Gospel. Just like on the airplanes when they talk about the O2 mask, save yourself, then you can help others.

Thursday:

We had weekly planning and we were about to go buy some enchiladas next to the house when the family where we live asked us if we had eaten and if we wanted some flautas (hard tacos). Blessing. We went and talked to Gloria in the Trebol and she said that she remembers when she was little a mormon family friend gave her a little doll for Christmas. This lady is like 70 something so if she still remembers it, it must have been a good experience. That`s our little window to have her allow us teach her family. Blessing. Patricia is an investigator that has been having the missionaries for a while. We stopped by to talk to her and I had noticed that something was wrong with her before but she didn`t tell us. This time, we talked about how if she goes to church she can receive revelation to know how to take care of that problem. I was talking to her about the blessings that she can receive and promising her that if she goes, she will feel better. She suddenly turns away and says that she felt something and that I should stop talking to her like that. We know it was the Spirit that she felt and that He was reprimanding her for not having taken the initiative to go. She said that she was going to go, but she didn`t. :( Leaving her little store, we were walking to another appt and I suddenly felt that we should go down a fairly dark alley way. We did and we got to the end and noticed that it had no way out. Stopping and asking the same question as to why we were there, the words, "red door", came to mind and guess what? We were standing in front of a red door. We knock, and Alma comes out. She`s like 22 and she said that she had friends from the church and we made an appt to go back. Blessing. Later we find out that her cell number was already in our cell phone! Coincidence? I think not!

Also on Thursday we went to see Rodrigo and Briando again. We walked in and Brianda looked totally different. This time she was radiating light (which was absent in past lessons) and she tells us that she didn`t receive her answer by praying, rather by sharing her experience and what she has been learning with her brother Cristian and mom, Alicia.

Friday:

Exchanges with Elders Ferrin and Castillo. Martha is an investigator of theirs who hasn`t progressed in more than a year! I knew why at the end of the lesson. She wasn`t praying the right way. She was praying in like third person or something. We explained it to her and I know that it will help her a lot by having a communication with her Heavenly Father.

Saturday:

We go visit Cristian and Cintia and they are super excited to go to church. They said that they are going to close their restaurant and go to church. Blessing. They both accept a baptismal date for the 15th of December. Blessing.

Sunday:

Adalberto goes to church alone and says that he was going to get baptized somewhere else but he had to move. He investigated the time and place, and showed up alone. Miracle. Yolanda, José Luis, and Ana Laura, a family of three said that they didn`t want to go to church when we contacted them. Suddenly they show up and love it and they`ve come two weeks now, and say that they`ll come next week, too! Miracle. We called Camelia to see why she wasn`t able to go to church and turns out that she was all ready to go and there was a shooting outside her house so she wasn`t able to leave. Opposition. Cristian and Cintia had something come up in the business and couldn`t make it. Opposition. We had several investigators in church and the Sacrament meeting attendance rose a lot. Blessing.

Basically, there are tons of blessings. Just count them and you will see that we have more blessings than oppositions.

Love you all. Gotta go.

Elder Hill

pic- Sandoval and me when it was really cold outside. (In the 50`s.) I`m going to be in trouble when I get home and it`s SNOWING!

Jared, Pray for the Gonzalez-Valdespino Family, Companion on the Same Level, SCORPIONS in the House & Redheads are Good Luck!!

noreply@blogger.com (EmpoweredWendy) — Mon, 11 Nov 2013 22:30:00 +0000

ROBERTO Y ELDER HILL ~ JARDINES

So do you remember the 10 year old kid, Jared, from Jardines who had Leukemia? When I left in September he was doing fine, at home playing video games and all that. The other day I heard that he was going to have a heart transplant. Today we went to Jardines so that we could talk to Roberto about my companion`s knee and he told me that Jared passed away Saturday morning. I remember when the whole process started we went to visit them and I ended up sharing a message that I felt inspired. I talked about the plan that was created and that if Jared ended up passing to the other side that they needed to stay strong and stay in the church. I thought it was harsh at the time and when he was getting better I just thought how great that nothing had happened. Now that he has passed away, he really is in a better place and without a diseased and suffering body. Please pray for the Gonzalez-Valdespino family.

Well, we did exchanges this week and I was with Elder Quintana. He`s a funny guy and he takes sleeping pills at night because he`s been having a really hard time not sleeping. At like 10:15p he lays down to go to sleep and I`m sitting there on the bed thinking about reading a little and he starts telling me that the light bulb is yellow, but then as he turns his head to one side it turns blue, then purple! He was just talking and talking and then he just fell asleep. It was seriously a funny moment. Something else that happened while I was with him is we got into the combi to go to another appt and a little girl sitting in the back corner pinches her little brother. The little brother gets mad and says, "Why did you pinch me?!" the little girl whispers, "Shhhh... it`s a redhead.... their good luck... I`ll tell you later!" So, even in Mexico people pinch just because they see a red head.

ELDER SANDOVAL MAKING DESSERT

This week we found five new people who accepted a baptismal date. We`ve been seeing the fruits of working hard and being obedient. It`s so nice to be with a companion who is on the same level as me. I mean, the Spirit is who does all the work but it`s just different being with a companion who has the experience and knows his stuff well. And at church, five new people showed up to church without us even doing anything. They just showed up and happened to like it and said that they will come next week. Three of them was a Mom, Dad, and a son who E. Sandoval and Elder De Los Santos had contacted while we were on exchanges. When they contacted them they didn`t want anything, so they just left a card with our names and address of the church on it and pretty much just saying, `well, if you ever have time or want to stop by, here we are on Sunday`. SURPRISE! They show up. Miracles DO happen.

CEREAL BOX ELDER HILL MADE MODEST

Oh, and we have scorpions that sneak into the house at night so we have to watch out. Also, I bought a box of cereal this week and the girl on the back wasn`t dressed very modestly, so, Sharpie made her modest. E. Sandoval made a dessert, too. I don`t know what it`s called in English or Spanish. But it`s like a quick lemon pie type thing.

Well, other than that.... it was a pretty good week. I just don`t remember every little thing that happened. It`s hard to put 7 days or 168 hours into an email. Love you all! Have a fabulous week!

Elder Hill

Thanks for all of the birthday wishes, ONLY true Church, step up the righteousness and DESIRE to find, teach, and baptize the elect.

noreply@blogger.com (EmpoweredWendy) — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 22:00:00 +0000

BIRTHDAY CARD FROM MEMBERS TO ELDER HILL

This last week was a good one. Thanks for all of the birthday wishes that were sent my way. It made the day much brighter!

Well, this is what happened this week:

Monday: Washed clothes and got settled into the new house and new area. Went shopping for food.

Tuesday: We were going to eat with Bro. Pinedo (I know his parents because they are from Jardines) but he couldn`t get to his house because a factory exploded and the traffic was awful. He had purchased 60 Tlacoyos (bean stuffed tortillas they sell on the street), 12 for each missionary. In Tepo there are 2 companionships. So, all of his food went to waste, unfortunately. Found a few members to visit and that`s about it.

Wednesday: We had a leadership meeting for all of the DL, ZL, and the Sister Training Leaders. We talked a lot about helping our investigators and members understand our purpose as missionaries that we aren`t just here to teach people, but to also BAPTIZE them in the one and ONLY true Church on the face of the land. Too many times we just end up teaching and being too scared to invite them to be baptized. Last month the mission had a goal of 246 baptisms and we only finished with 29. We`ve got a lot to improve and step up the righteousness and DESIRE to find, teach, and baptize the elect. After the meeting, we had a meeting with the stake president, but before the meeting President Call went with us to an appt that we had. The person we were looking for wasn`t there and so we decided to look around and we ended up knocking a door that was literally staring at me with the little ‘eye hole’ thing. Leticia came out and we started talking to her. She didn`t have too much time but the real success happened when Presidente Call talked to her and he just testified that the gospel would help her with her son who is sick in bed. We prayed and it felt like she felt something new and nice. We have gone back, but haven`t been able to find her so far.

Thursday: My first zone meeting as the zone leader giving the meeting. We taught everything that Pres. Call had taught us from Wednesday. It went pretty well and most of the missionaries have been putting everything in practice so that`s been good. We are seeing a little improvement so far. Halloween night was crazy with people all over the streets. There were a lot who asked us the spanish trick or treat and seeing that we didn`t have anything other than pass along cards, we handed out a bunch of cards to families and kids. We should talk Pres. Call into letting us go trick or treating because it`s a good proselyting activity. ;)

Friday: All of our appts fell through. We went to visit so many people but weren`t able to because of the festivals. 31st is Halloween. Nov. 1st is day of the dead for the kid spirits who supposedly come back and the 2nd is day of the dead for the adults. There were still hundreds of people in the street going from one store to another (most go to the stores here instead of houses because there are so many houses) and we had to go back to the house early because drunk guys were starting to make us uncomfortable. You have to understand... it`s a little pueblo that`s really devote to the traditions and liquor.

Saturday: We contacted a few referrals. Went to the Trebol, a little colony where some members live. Met Hermano Rafa. He`s the stake secretary and also plays soccer wicked awesome. He`s a good guy and invited us to eat.... but you know... it was first Sunday. :) I think he forgot.

Sunday: The first Sunday in Tepo. I had heard a lot of things about the ward from the zone leaders when I was in Jardines but it`s just different living it. When we sang the Sacrament hymn and took the Sacrament, only like 20 people were present. By the end of the meeting our attendance was at 89. It`s the most important meeting in the Church. We should all be there early and with full purpose of heart. Rafa took one of his soccer students to church and he really liked it. I`ll let you know more about him this week.

ELDER SANDOVAL Y ELDER HILL MEXICO CIUDAD NORTE MISION

Monday: here I am, again. Picture of Elder Sandoval and I. I came out super white.

I would have taken pictures of the altars and skeletons and all that but really I`d like to not get robbed and keep my camera. It would have been too crazy to take pictures. I`ll try and take more.

Well, I know that this is the true Church. I`m on a mission to prove it. What are you doing?

Loves you all! Have a fabulous week.

Elder Hill

(to ma, re: Spanish, release date) No. It´s Cómo Estás tú or Cómo está usted. One is polite and the first one is informal like with friends, fam, etc.

I honestly haven´t talked to President about it. I just told him to do what date you had and from what I talked to him a little about, I´m out of my area as a missionary the 9th but I´m assuming that I won´t be with you until the 10th in the morning just because your flight gets here kind of late and all that. I´ll call him and ask him what I need to tell you.

I´ll be on later. I just checked a few things. Also, I forgot to type the letter and all that so I´ll think about this week and I´ll have it for you this next week.

Anything else? Oh, I´m going to try and write Mam a letter asap. I haven´t written her yet.

Tell everyone hola for me. Love yàll tons. Gotta go. Times up. We`ll talk more next week. Tell Mike, Des and Josh, Ryan…etc… hi too.

loves.

¡¡Felíz cumpleaños 21 mi hijo!! Happy Birthday 21st Elder Hill, Listen to your Inner Voice, Holy Ghost, Intuition OR ELSE!

noreply@blogger.com (EmpoweredWendy) — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 07:38:00 +0000

LAST DISTRICT MEETING

I got transferred again. I´m in Tepotzotlan with E. Sandoval from Veracruz. He´s a cool missionary and I feel like I´ll learn a lot from him. He´s been a zone leader for 6 months so he knows his stuff. He wants to study mecatronica, whatever that is in English.

My time in Lomas Lindas was short, but I got to know some of the investigators and that was good. Mario is super ready to be baptized and that will take place next Saturday. Vianey is happy that she was able to be baptized. Her sister is also interested in hearing more about the gospel.

We had stake conference, actually the first stake conference for the Alamedas stake, since it was divided just a few months ago. It was great. I felt the Spirit a lot and it was what I needed this week. There were talks about service, MISSIONARY WORK, love, and many other things that came up. It was great to be able to be inspired and uplifted from my leaders here in Mexico. During one of the hymns, the thought came to mind that maybe I wasn´t in Utah where the Church has years and years and years of experience and pretty much everything gets done right. However, Zion is in all the church, no matter the country. The Mexican people might still have a lot to go before they arrive to having stake centers on every other corner and temples all over the place, but they are doing the best they can with what they know right now. It has been great to be able to labor among them and to get to know them better.

Today I received an email from a friend who was telling me of an experience that she had a while back and how she didn´t know what WOULD HAVE happened if she WOULD HAVE listened and acted upon what she felt. I had a similar experience that I would like to share:
A few months ago we walked into our neighborhood and I saw a police car with lights and sirens going down a street where some members live. I thought we should go see if all was well, but I didn´t want to be a gossipy person and see what was going on. We stopped by the house for a few things and as we were leaving I heard an ambulance and I thought the same thing again as we were leaving the house (we lived one street behind them). My companion at the time had called me chismoso or gossipy once when we looked at an accident so I thought that I was just being my normal EMT self wanting to see what was going on. We didn´t go. Turns out that a neighbor had just hung herself and her husband found her moments after she had done it. She was still blue and warm. Since that day I can´t help to think "What WOULD HAVE happened had I listened?" Was it just me? Did I just want to be an EMT again? Was I scared of what my companion would say instead of what I felt? I have read many times of miracles wrought by missionaries who arrived in the right moment. Would we have been instruments in God´s hands to save this daughter of His? I don´t know what WOULD HAVE happened, because I didn´t do it. The only way I can restore the damage now, is to listen and hearken the next time.

I´m trying to live my live with WHAT DID HAPPEN because I acted, instead of WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED because I didn´t. I think we´ve all had experiences in this.

I hope that we can all endure to the end and keep an eternal perspective. That we may stand up for the right even when we might stand alone. It´s easier to disobey when someone else does it, too. Why do you think peer pressure to do something wrong is so hard? Because they need someone to do it too, so that they can justify their actions. I love President Monson´s conference talk "Dare to Stand Alone" and the story he tells. Believe it or not, the same thing happens here in the mission, even among the missionaries. We are all here to improve. Let´s do it together.

Love you all. Have a fabulous week. And don´t forget to set the clocks back an hour. Or maybe leave them so that you can all get to church on time, and not on Mormon Standard Time. ;)

Love,

Elder Hill

Claudia and Toño, members from Lomas lindas and Pedro the taxista from Lomas Lindas who gave us a ride to the offices.

The last district meeting.

Sisters Ibaven and Perez.

Elders Hill Piotroski Lamping Valdez Chandler and Bautista. Not in order....

Oh Matthew, that IS GUT WRENCHING. I feel impressed to share with you a story...It happens to the best of people..
Twenty-three-year-old Tom Monson, relatively new bishop of the Sixth-Seventh Ward in the Temple View Stake, was uncharacteristically restless as the stake priesthood leadership meeting progressed. He had the distinct impression that he should leave the meeting immediately and drive to the Veterans’ Hospital high up on the Avenues of Salt Lake City. Before leaving home that night he had received a telephone call informing him that an older member of his ward was ill and had been admitted to the hospital for care. Could the bishop, the caller wondered, find a moment to go by the hospital sometime and give a blessing? The busy young leader explained that he was just on his way to a stake meeting but that he certainly would be pleased to go by the hospital as soon as the meeting was concluded.

Now the prompting was stronger than ever: “Leave the meeting and proceed to the hospital at once.” But the stake president himself was speaking at the pulpit! It would be most discourteous to stand in the middle of the presiding officer’s message, make one’s way over an entire row of brethren, and then exit the building altogether. Painfully he waited out the final moments of the stake president’s message, then bolted for the door even before the benediction had been pronounced.

Running the full length of the corridor on the fourth floor of the hospital, the young bishop saw a flurry of activity outside the designated room. A nurse stopped him and said, “Are you Bishop Monson?”

“Yes,” was the anxious reply.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “The patient was calling your name just before he passed away.”

Fighting back the tears, Thomas S. Monson turned and walked back into the night. He vowed then and there that he would never again fail to act upon a prompting from the Lord. He would acknowledge the impressions of the Spirit when they came, and he would follow wherever they led him, ever to be “on the Lord’s errand.”

You cannot understand President Thomas S. Monson, newly called Second Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church, without understanding the repetition of such promptings in his life and the absolute loyalty with which he has kept that early promise to obey them. Indeed, his life seems something of a sacred manuscript upon which the Holy Ghost has written—and is still writing—one remarkable spiritual message after another. In this and so many other ways he is much like Nephi of old. He is “exceedingly young”—called as a bishop at twenty-two, a counselor in a stake presidency at twenty-seven, a mission president at thirty-one, an Apostle at thirty-six (the youngest in fifty-three years), and a counselor in the First Presidency at fifty-eight (the youngest in this century). He is also “large in stature,” a robust, buoyant, whirlwind of a man who might have been a superb basketball player in his youth had it not been required of him (as it was of so many others in the Great Depression and its aftermath) that from his twelfth year on he forgo the pleasure of extracurricular school activities in order to work at his father’s side in the printing trade.

But President Monson is most like young Nephi in his humility and in his faith. In all that he has so successfully accomplished, he has been resolute in his commitment to “go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded” (1 Ne. 3:7) regardless of the obstacles in the path. Furthermore, he has done it as Nephi himself did it—“led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do.” (1 Ne. 4:6.) Little wonder that such men as these are enlisted to “bring forth my Zion … for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost.” (1 Ne. 13:37.) In light of that promise, surely no stake patriarch has been more prophetic than was Brother Frank B. Woodbury that fifteenth day of March, 1944, when he placed his hands on 16-year-old Tom Monson’s head and began to speak:

“The Holy Ghost has been conferred upon you to be your inspiration and your guide, to direct you in your labors, and to bring to your mind the things that have passed and to show unto you things to come. …

“You shall be indeed a leader among your fellows. … You shall have the privilege of going into the world to proclaim the message of the gospel … and you shall have the spirit of discernment. …

“Seek the Lord in humility to guide and direct you, that you might know the proper course to pursue … in the high and holy callings unto which you shall be called. … ”

This was a talk Elder Holland gave when I was 21.

Te amo

http://www.lds.org/ensign/1986/02/president-thomas-s-monson-man-of-action-man-of-faith-always-on-the-lords-errand

"Hey Loma Linda!" Vianey, Missionary Badge, & Article of Faith #11 applies to everyone, even members of the church.

noreply@blogger.com (EmpoweredWendy) — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 23:47:00 +0000

ELDER PIOTROKI VIANEY'S FAMILIA Y ELDER HILL (aka LOMA LINDAS ~ Beautiful Hill)

There are people who come up to me in church and they make a joke in English like, "Hey, you´re beautiful hills (lomas lindas)" or "Hey loma linda!" etc. Yesterday was my first meeting here and it was pretty good. It´s kind of ironic that we hear a talk about keeping the Sabbath day holy and 20 minutes later the family that we were going to eat with gives us money so that we could go buy food because she wasn´t able to make anything.... :) Article of Faith #11 applies to everyone, even members of the church. :)

I met Mario this week. He´s a 29 year old lawyer and pretty much the future bishop, he just needs to find a good member and get married. He´s super cool and reads a lot about the church so he already knows everything to be baptized. He was going to get baptized this weekend, but he went out of town for a training meeting for work and his baptism will be the 9th of November.

Vianey was baptized yesterday. Even though there were screaming, fighting, crying kids all during the baptismal service, the Spirit was strong and when she shared her testimony at the end it was really powerful. In the mission I´ve been able to see why some members of the Church wish they would be baptized again as an adult because it really does wash away all of our sins and there is a huge relief for all that we might have done being taken away. It´s beautiful.

Tuesday we had money to go buy food and since my companion had one of his wisdom teeth pulled a week and a half ago, we went to the store to buy something instead of eating on the street. I bought chicken nuggets and barbeque sauce. It´s been a while. Also, Sunday morning we went to go pick someone up to go to church and we saw a mini van on rocks (they don´t use blocks here to steal tires) and a group of people just looking at their car like, "I never thought it would happen to me." I would have taken a picture but that might have made them more upset. God is great, the food is good, and people really are crazy.

Marco Antonio, or "Polo" as everyone calls him, is a clown of some sort. He wears some sort of outfit (like Barney, Ronald McDonald or something like that) and films commercials or movies. I´m not really sure. Anyway, he´s doing well. He´s stopped doing all sorts of drugs and now he´s just left on the smoking part. He´s programmed to be baptized on the 17th of November, but, he didn´t go to church yesterday so we need to go see him.

Oh, something kind of funny that happened was Saturday night. I dreamed a very strange dream in the which were several returned missionaries- from this mission, friends, family, etc-- and nobody had their name tag on. Everyone was telling me to take mine off and that I couldn´t wear it anymore. I looked at my name tag and told them that if I had it on then I must have been a missionary still. ... and then I woke up. So, at least for a little while more I´m still a missionary! It´s an honor and privilege to still be here and wear the little black badge. And it will be a privilege later to have it still painted on my heart.

Well, that´s about all I can remember for now. It´s been a little more relaxed being a zone leader because I don´t have to spend so much time on the phone at night and I´ve been able to write in my journal a little more.

I hope that y'all have a fabulous week!

con cariño,

Elder Hill

Hola mi hijo...LDS médico

Why so high of blood pressure? And why was your spo2 at 88? I gotta go. Loves. Hope you feel better and tell everyone hey for me.

Elder Hill

Thanks! Love you Sweetie! Say a prayer for Mama! Te amo!

Mamá because mama is breast.

Smarty pants! I am not on the Mac, so don't know how to do accents on regular pc. Then say a prayer for mamá and that her mama’s are both w/o problems!

Fotos ~ Pix: Piotroski and I and the baptism pix

we went to a Chinese buffet today.

Zone Leader, Tranfers to Loma Lindas, Cucarachas, y The Lord Works In Mysterious Ways!

noreply@blogger.com (EmpoweredWendy) — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 07:20:00 +0000

Hey, so it turns out that poor Elder Lamping just can´t seem to hold on to his companions! On Tuesday Elder Garcia left to Argentina because his visa came so we were in trio-- Lamping, Valdez, and me-- until Friday in zone conference President Call told us that one of the three would be leaving but that he still didn´t have the decision made. He called us Saturday night and let us know that I would be leaving Valle de Tules and I would be going to Lomas Lindas as a Zone Leader. I was pretty sure that I was going to stay in Valle de Tules but then again ever since Tuesday I had been feeling like I was going to be leaving soon. I just felt like my connection with the area just wasn´t happening like it should be and I thought that I would be leaving. My new companion, Elder Ali Piotroski from Argentina, told me that when we had a conference a few weeks ago, he knew that I would be his next companion. The Lord works in mysterious ways. This should be exciting because it´s a big area and has really good members. The stake was just divided almost a year ago and the stake presidency is working hard in the area of the Work of Salvation. We have a meeting with President Call and the stake president tomorrow.

Yesterday I was able to see Yenny Montaño again and I also bore my testimony in La Quebrada (we went to both wards with the whole trio thing), too. It was cool because when I was there Gabi left on her mission and I saw her leave. She has also returned and she´s so much more refined than when she left. I say refined because we don´t "change" as missionaries. We are still the same people, same name, same background, same stone in the river. What happens with time is the experiences that we have challenge us and we chip off the sharp edges and become smoother and more refined, but we´re still the same stones. The Gospel of Jesus Christ really changes lives, but only when we do what is required. It´s been great to reflect on all that I´ve been able to improve thanks to the mission, and even better things are to come.

Going a little off topic.... we were in the house one morning and Elder Valdez says, "Hill! Hay cucarachas en el microondas!" I knew that there were cockroaches crawling around the microwave and one time I saw them inside, but there was one right in the number screen! Those things are seriously so hard to kill. It´s been a good few hours to be in a house that doesn´t have cockroaches.

I´ll let you know how the area and all that is next week. Don´t really know anything right now. Good times ahead!

Be good and don´t forget Whose you are!

Elder Hill

Conferencia General ~ General Conference y President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

noreply@blogger.com (EmpoweredWendy) — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 07:06:00 +0000

General Conference was pretty much just amazing, as always. I can´t believe that it´s the last conference for me as a full time Elder, until maybe the mission with the wife. Elder Lamping had his first experience with the Spanish translators and it was pretty hard for him to be able to understand everything. It´s hard the first time but then you just get used to it. I feel kind of bad because he was super pumped up and then nobody we are teaching went, and it was hard to understand and to stay awake. :)

On Sunday morning we went to pick up a few people and we ended up running into a few members who were helping a sick sister. We ended up helping her and then the people that we went to go pick up didn´t want to go or weren´t home and we went with a member in their VW bug. We were six adults and one little kid in the car and we drove what would probable be the equivalent from Bountiful to SLC. There is no front seat so my companion was just sitting on the floor board. That was pretty fun.

It was just a great time to be with the District and with the rest of the members. It was really what I needed to be able to feed my spirit so that I can help everyone else. I can´t wait for the Liahona!

I can´t really sum up 10 hours of conference. I hope that you all watched it and took notes. Remember, It´s the will of the Lord for us in these next 6 months. I loved what was said in all aspects. About the Priesthood, missionary/member work, visiting teaching, families, temples, etc. For 3 of the next six months I will be on the missionary end; the following three it will be my turn to apply all that I have learned here in the mission to continue helping everyone else I know to hear about the Restored Gospel. We are living in great times!

One thing that I loved was something that President Uchtdorf said about doubting our doubts but never doubting our faith nor our testimony. I hope that it will be true to us all. Love you all. Keep up the fabulous work of being Saints or future Saints!

Love,

Elder Hill

pics

my district during conference

Sisters Ibaven, Rosa, and Perez. Elders Valdez, Garcia, Chandler, Bautista, Lamping, and Hill. Also, the picture that I sent a while back with Zeagler, me, and another elder is Elder Shumway from AZ. he goes home in 3 weeks.

SMILE!!! sonreír

noreply@blogger.com (EmpoweredWendy) — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 06:51:00 +0000

Sorry, I have NO time to write today. We spent like four and a half hours washing our clothes today because we don´t have anyone around to use a good washing machine. We walk like a mile or two to use someone´s machine but then we have to pull buckets of water out of a tank to fill the machine to wash, then wait, and fill it again to rinse, then hang it and do it for a total of 4 loads. Takes forever.

I put smile because in 2 Nephi 9:39 it talks about being spiritually minded. Spirtually Minded Is Life Eternal. I was thinking about it and it isn´t coincidence that it comes out like that. To really be focused on the spiritual things is what really makes us happy, or SMILE. Little things that God does to make the life better.... it´s amazing.

Silvia is an investigator that has been going to church for months and knows a member and really likes it all but hasn´t wanted to get baptized. We showed up to our appt on Tuesday and we started talking. She starts saying that she wants to buy her own scriptures and everything and then asks about the burning in the bosom thing. We explain it and then she told us why. Last week in the English class we talked baout how to bear your testimony in English. She kind of did it in the class but never said that "I believe this church is true" phrase. She just talked about prayer and general things. I left them the homework to translate their testimony and while she was translating her testimony into Englsih, she said that she felt the burning in the bosom and knew that the church was true. She talked to her mom about getting baptized and just told us that she´s waiting on her mom to be able to put the date, so that her mom can attend. It was really cool.

I did exchanges this week and while I was on exchanges, Elder Lamping and Elder Bautista taught Bety. She´s going to get baptized on October 12th, that is if her baby isn´t born before. She has been feeling a little sick lately and they gave her a blessing. When they finished giving the blessing she looked around and asked, "How many hands were on my head?" and they respond that just four. However, she responded saying that she felt more hands on her head and somebody with their hands on her shoulders, too. It was a pretty neat experience and she says that she´ll never forget it.

Yesterday we got called over to a group of drunk guys while we were walking. It happens a lot when one of them just wants to speak english. So, this guy just asked us if we wanted to drink, and of course we said no, but that we were looking for people to be taught. He replied, "I´m too drunk to be teached, but maybe next week!" I wanted to reply to him, "Maybe your just too drinked to be taught!" and see if he noticed, but I thought I´d better not. :) Where would the comedy come from without drunk people?

Anyway, love you all but I gotta go. No time left. We hope to find somehwere wlse to wash this week, but we´ll see about that.

Loves!

Elder Hill

Llamado a servir ~ Called to Serve! I Hope They Call me On a Mission, I am A Child of God y Sisters in Zion!

noreply@blogger.com (EmpoweredWendy) — Sun, 29 Sep 2013 02:53:00 +0000

Gordon B. Hinckley: I love the youth of the Church. I have said again and again that I think we have never had a better generation than this. How grateful I am for your integrity, for your ambition to train your minds and your hands to do good work, for your love of the word of the Lord, and for your desire to walk in paths of virtue and truth and goodness.

Thomas S. Monson: To the youth, we plead with you to live clean lives, for the unclean life leads only to suffering, misery, and woe physically,—and spiritually it is the path to destruction. How glorious and near to the angels is youth that is clean; this youth has joy unspeakable here and eternal happiness hereafter. Sexual purity is youth’s most precious possession; it is the foundation of all righteousness.

Piernas Maravillosas, Marvelous Legs, "Mission Rolls" AND PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED!

noreply@blogger.com (EmpoweredWendy) — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 21:55:00 +0000

ELDER MATT HILL WITH HIS COMPANION ELDER JOSH LAMPING

So, when Zeagler and I found out where we were going (to pure hills), he started telling members that he was going to have some "piernas maravillosas" or "marvelous legs". He´s a funny kid and it´s right.

ELDERS HILL y ZEAGLER WITH DISTRICT

LOL, ELDER MATT HILL SHINING ELDER BRANDON ZEAGLER'S SHOES!!

ELDER ZEAGLER Y ELDER HILL, still SO SERIOUS!

There have been a couple days when we are late for an appt or it´s raining, and we have to pretty much run up the hills and it´s tiring. The first week back here has been great and I´ve seen a lot of members that I met last year. There are a few from La Quebrada that I didn´t see yesterday in church, but I´m sure I´ll see them in the coming weeks. It´s been fun to be back, however, it´s a little deceiving because I feel like it should be May again and it´s nearly October. This is a good area to finish the mish because I´ll lose a little bit of my ´mission rolls´and all that, and the ward is good.

Turns out that Elder Lamping have a lot in common, too! He´s Josh, and has a brother named Matthew. His mom is Wendy. He likes mountain biking and also worked a little in construction with his dad. Also, turns out that he played with Christopher Griggs back in the day and his grandma is one of their old neighbors. The world just seems so small. He´s a good kid and has a great spirit and love for the work. He´s usually teaching me how to keep up the good work.

This week I have gotten to know a few of the investigators and members that we are teaching right now. Silvia is about my age and has been coming to church for a while and I don´t really know why she doesn´t get baptized because she wants to read D&C and everything, comes to church, comes to activities, and all. We have an appt tomorrow to see her. There are a few people that Elder Lamping hasn´t really been able to tell me about because when he met them for the first time, he didn´t really understand what they do or things like that. We have contacted a few people like Francisco and Maria. They were two different contacts that we did in the street looking for other people and they seem really nice. We have appts to contact them and teach them this week. We´ve been focusing a lot on ALWAYS asking for referrals, which is what it says in the back of PMG. This week we got 10 and we hope to get more this week. Antonio is a less active member and his wife, Maria, isn´t a member but seems to like the church a lot, but hasn´t gone in a while. Efrain is a guy who just loves to have us over and feed us dinner but he doesn´t want to commit to doing anything in the church. He doesn´t want to stop working. Our appt on Saturday we were going to drop him and not visit anymore, but as we were leaving his sister in law asked us how to read the BOM and then we realized that prayers are answered. We hope to be able to teach her about how to read it and all that tonight. There are a few other people that I honestly don´t remember right now. Don´t have a lot of time, but I´ll be sure to take better notes next week and let you know more.

Time to just keep haulin´ along in the Valle de Tules and work hard. The district is really cool with Elders Chandler (knew him in Queretaro) and Bautista, Elders Valdez and Garcia, and Sisters Ibaven, Pérez, and Rosa.

Be good! Love you all!

Elder Hill

Well, I was going to upload a picture or two but looks like this computer has a virus and erased my memory card. Patience is obviously a virtue I have yet to master. :)

Thanks for looking into it all. If you could please just do that I would really appreciate it. Also, think about coming down in the summer instead of getting me. I think that it would be a lot easier. Gotta go. Love you. Forgot to write that we have cockroaches again, too. I was going to send a picture, but it´s gone so I´ll let you know what´s up later.

Loves ya tons,

Elder Hill

¡Feliz Grito de la Independencia! !Happy September 16th! Weird Transfers!

noreply@blogger.com (EmpoweredWendy) — Wed, 18 Sep 2013 03:44:00 +0000

¡Feliz Grito! ¡Viva México!!! "¡Vivan los héroes que nos dieron patria! ¡Viva la independencia nacional, viva el bicentenario de la Independencia, viva el centenario de la Revolución! ¡Viva México!"

Wow.... transfers were so weird this time!

Elder Zeagler and I were to totally thinking that we wouldn´t have transfers because he was being trained and it´s not too common that they change that sort of companionship. What´s even more strange is that they take both Elders out and put Sisters in! I received a call from Pres. Call on Friday asking about the area (and it´s not the safest area out there) and when I told him that it wasn´t too safe for sisters he told me that he needed to find a lot of areas for Sisters. However, I didn´t think that they would be put in my area. The Sisters are taking over the mission! There were a ton of sisters in the office today! It´s all good though. I have been super stressed out since Saturday when they told us that because we had to let the people that we had been teaching know because we couldn´t just leave them there hangin’ and we went around with the ward mission leader to show him the area and all that jazz. Lots of filling out paperwork and getting the house clean so that the sisters could get there without problems. I started packing this morning at 9:30a and that was the hardest thing ever.

ELDER HILL AND ELDER ZEAGLER WITH ELDER ZEAGLER'S NEW COMPANION?

On Monday night we had an FHE lesson in Spanglish! The Bishop´s son and wife and a young couple came down from California to visit and see the grito for the 15th and the wives didn´t speak a whole lot of English. So, for the bishop to understand and an investigator that they brought, and the wives to understand, we spoke Spanglish. It was a lot harder than I thought trying to teach in English. It´s a whole different world. Also, the Bishop´s daughter in law was asked to speak in church on Sunday and the bishop just calls me up and says, "And now Elder Hill will help Sister Flores translate here message."...... I´m just like... What? It turned out being okay but I spaced out sometimes and forgot what she said and I had to ask her again.

ELDER ZEAGLER CLEANING

Also, the question that usually comes up in any relationship came up last week. Elder Zeagler asked me, "When you first saw me, what did you think?" and I told him that when I saw him he was the only one with glasses and looked really serious and really lost and I thought, I hope it´s not him. (because, two serious people just doesn´t work too well) and he said, "When I first saw you I was like, yep´! I want to be with him because I know he speaks English!" It was funny and I was dead wrong about him being serious! Ha! He´s a funny kid! I´m sure I´ll miss him!

We found a guy named Ricardo on Wednesday. We were leaving the private residence where he lives and he was standing in the door and just says, "Adios Elderes!" Now when that happens here you just stop dead in your tracks and go talk to the person ‘cause that doesn´t happen too much. Turns out that his brother is from La Quebrada and I know him! We met last year. So we started teaching him and all that and he´s pretty interested. The sisters have an appt tonight with him. It was interesting how we got to run into him because if things would have worked out how they were planned, we wouldn´t have been able to. Long story short, we went to eat but they wouldn´t let us in at the other entrance of the complex and they made us go to the other side. I was super frustrated because the renta cop was talking smack to me and I just decided to leave. I talked to the owner of the security company who gave us permission to go in whenever we want, and turns out that the sister wasn´t there so we went back out the way we came and there was Ricardo. He for some reason didn´t have work that day and he happened to be standing in his doorway with a movie paused.. Coincidence? I think not!!

ELDER RICHARDSON AND ELDER HILL

Well, I gotta go. The whole Mexican 4th thing turned out okay. I actually slept that night which is really weird. I haven´t been sleeping well and on the night that probably made the most noise, I slept. Thanks for the stuff you sent with César. He´s a cool guy. I took advantage of the opportunity and left him with a few pamphlets from the Church and he said that he´d read them. We´ll see what happens.

Have a nice week! Love you all!

Gotta go because it´s late and we got work to do.

So, If you could just confirm that for me about DCSO and all that, perfect. It would be a good part time job if they pay for post and paramedic. If you could just get the timelines good that´d be great. Also, I was thinking, It might be easier to come down during spring break so that des doesn´t get out of school and it will be easier to do other things when I ´m not a missionary.... etc. think about it.

Loves,

Elder Hill

fotos-Elder Zeagler at work dusting the couch cover and Elder Lamping

ELDER MATT HILL WITH ELDER JOSHUA LAMPING

from Draper! Totally forgot to let you know that he´s my new companion. I´ll tell you more about him next week.

Sacrament and White Sheets....Symbolic

noreply@blogger.com (EmpoweredWendy) — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 01:42:00 +0000

ELDER MATT HILL

So, I´m not sure if I´ll be able to write next Monday, it might be Tuesday. Next Sunday and Monday is the annual "grito" (on the night of the 15th) and the parades on the 16th for the Mexican 4th of July. Normally everything is shut down on that Day and nobody does anything but games and parades and everything. Others just get drunk, but I won´t go into much detail about that. So, just a heads up, you might not get a letter on Monday, but on Tuesday. It´s pretty crazy around this time of year because they always shoot off fireworks all hours of the night and day and a lot of people get drunk.... really drunk. I´ll let you know next week how it went.

Elder Zeagler snapped this of Elder Hill! LOL!

ELDERS HILL Y ZEAGLER

We´re still not finding new people to teach but we´ve been teaching the members and it´s been good. We have been teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Gift of the Holy Ghost, Enduring to the End) and two families have told us that it´s been an answer to their prayers, and we didn´t have any idea they needed it. It´s a good feeling to be able to help teach people sometimes as if they were an investigator as well. None of us is perfect and we all need the same teachings over and over because we tend to forget even the most important details.

DAVID Y ELDER HILL

PAULINA Y FAMILIA Y ELDERS ZEAGLER Y HILL
she's studying here in Utah!

Yesterday in the Gospel Principles class we talked about the Sacrament. I was reminded of a couple times when I was volunteering in the ER I was asked to help move some patients who had passed away. The view of a deceased body while it´s on the gurney covered by a white sheet and the Sacraments while it´s on the table is a striking resemblance. It´s supposed to be symbolic and I remember how I was thinking about who that person may have been, what he do fro a living? What was his family like? The feeling was a feeling of reverence and I feel like sometimes I take that attitude away from the Sacrament. I should be thinking more about Christ and getting to know him. It´s just a thought that came to mind yesterday.

We visited a family this week who has quite a few grand daughters. One of them was talking about bones and she turned to her sister with whom she was arguing and said, "If you didn´t have bones, you´d be all soggy!" It was just a funny moment. :)

Well, keep going. I hope that all is well. If you are going to come down as a family it would be okay if Josh & Des came down but you´d have to rent a car because to go a whole bunch of white, English speaking people on the bus, well, that´s just nuts! We´ll cross that bridge when we get to it.

Thanks for looking into everything for me. I´ll let you know later what´s going on.

Loves,

Elder Hill

WHAT'S GOOD Y THE TITLE OF LIBERTY

noreply@blogger.com (EmpoweredWendy) — Mon, 02 Sep 2013 21:50:00 +0000

So, another NC phrase is "What´s good?" I hadn´t heard it since Queretaro because there was a family there who lived in Georgia and they said the same thing. It makes more sense than saying what´s up? but I won´t ever admit that to my companion! ;) He also says "good land." When it rains, they say that in NC their future wife gets cuter by the second, so he´s always hoping that it rains (and I´m hoping that it doesn´t.)

We were walking to an appt the other day when some guy hands us like a little advertisement for the store that he works at. My companion says, "Thanks! Let me give you one, too!" and he pulls out a pamphlet about the Gospel of Jesus Christ..... The guy just looked at him like, ´okay...thanks.... you´re weird´and I just laughed. Then another day we did an FHE with a family and Raúl took us home in his taxi. Zeagler was hanging out the window on Friday night traffic telling people to read the Book of Mormon and people just thought he was crazy. I had to be a "agua fiestas" and tell him that it´s probably not thee best idea to do that. Some people might keep that image about the church forever!

We´ve still been struggling to find new investigators. We´re going to work more with the ward leaders and try to strengthen them. The stake president went to our ward council meeting and said that there is a lot of discouragment and suppressiveness in the ward and that we all need to pick it up and smile more. It really helps. That´s what our job will be for the next little while.

Elder Hill, (Whom has been compared on numerous occasions to Captain Moroni),
signed his name and mission dates on Capt. Moroni

I hope that things can get better. Keep praying, fasting, and being obedient. Blessings come.

Loves!

Elder Hill