May 27, 2013

Hello family!

This week I met a girl named Wythórya. It's pronounced "Vitória." That was a big shock. It seems to be cool to name your kids something super weird, but have it pronounced normally. I think I want to name my kid "Thiago" but have it be pronounced "James". I think that'd be cool.

This week we had the last Zone Conference with President Prieto. He's only got about 3 weeks left as President, then he's headed out and we get a new president for two weeks before the new mission is created. He said something that I though was really cool. Actually he quoted President Monson. But he said that there are 4 basic concepts that we need to always apply in our lives.

1) Examine the scriptures diligently

2) Plan life with a purpose
3) Teach the truth with a testimony
4) Serve the Lord

I enjoyed those 4 points quite a bit. Really, if we just follow those 4 points for our whole life, we can't go wrong!

He also said something really funny. He was talking about calling the financial secretaries on their P-Day and he said we should only call them in case of an emergency. His example of an emergency: "Elder Schmutz (the current financial secretary), my companion died and I need to buy a casket for him." As in, it has to be something really serious to call them. I thought it was quite funny that he used that as an example.

Anyways, that's all I got for now. Have a great week! Love you all!

-Elder Hopper #1

May 20, 2013

Hello familia!

I didn't even mean to write that in portuguese, it just sorta happened. 

Anyways. This week was a week of finding. Or trying to find. We basically started off with nothing here. We tried to look through the area book to find old investigators, but they either didn't live in the same house, or the person was fake. Not exactly sure why missionaries lie about their work. Just do the work and you don't have to lie! But some missionaries just decide to not work. DUMB.

So we're trying to gain the confidence of the members in this ward because the other missionaries that were here didn't work. We constantly hear stories about the fubecagem that took place in this ward before we got here... But we ignore that all and keep working! I also hear a lot about Elder Henrique (my trainer) because he was in this ward not too long ago. Many of the members talk about how he was a good worker and all. True story. We'll see if we can get the members to talk that way about us! We just gotta work hard!

On Friday we went to a city called Poços de Caldas. It is an awesome city. It's a super touristy city, but it's great. It's up in the mountains (some of the only mountains in all of Brasil... that's what it seems like, anyways) so it's colder. It got down to 14 degrees! Celsius, that is. But it was refreshing. Hopefully we'll be going there for a P-day sometime here in the near future to go up the side of a mountain that has one of those Christ statues on top. Should be great.!

Well, that's about all that happened this week! Not much in the ways of success, but this week will turn that around! Hope you all have a great week! Love you all!

-Elder Hopper #1

May 13, 2013

Hello family and friends!

 This week we had A LOT of changes. It was a very interesting week. 

Remember how I said I didn't get transferred? Yeah, I didn't on Monday. But then on Tuesday night I got a phone call from President Prieto. He told me I would be participating in the Zone Leader conference the next day and that I had to be in the office at 8AM the next morning with all my stuff packed up. So I packed up all my stuff, and went to the office the next morning. Where the zone leaders who were in my area that I am now learned that they were being transferred. They had no idea. So they had to go back home and get all packed and everything then come back to Ribeirão Preto where they were then taken to their new areas. But then my new companion, Elder Kevin (used to be Elder Davis), had to renew his VISA. So we waited until Friday to leave. Then we got a bus at 6:30 at night to our new area, Recanto in the zone São João da Boa Vista. Which is conveniently the coldest zone of the whole mission! This morning it was like 65 outside when we woke up! Chilly!

So I got to say goodbye to everyone in Irajá and all that. It was quite sad because I didn't want to leave that area, but that's okay. Now I've got some new challenges with new people and a new area! Should be fun! Both Elder Kevin and I are excited and we'll definitely have a good time here. We're pretty sure that we'll both stay here and therefore be sent to the new mission. Less than two months until the mission splits!

Anyways, that's about all that happened. We didn't have much time to work this week considering we got into our area on Friday night late. But this week should be fantastic! Lots of finding new people and knocking doors!

Have a great week! Love you all!

-Elder Hopper #1 

May 6, 2013

Hello family!

Remember last week when I said that nothing happened and then I said I was joking? Well.... This week nothing happened. For reals. 

I got Dengue (see this link Dengue Fever).

(two trips to the hospital!)

Which is also known as Breakbone Fever. 

I was in bed all week. 

And I have to go back to the hospital tomorrow for more blood tests. 

But I'm okay! I don't feel that bad anymore. And it's not contagious nor deadly (I think), so I'll be fine. Just gotta rest up and keep myself from working......... Boo.

But I have some news. We had transfers this week. I will stay here in Irajá 6 more weeks! But Elder Gade... Won't. He's going to train and open an area called José Bonifácio near São José do Rio Preto. I'm so excited for him! My new companion is Elder Foster. He's from Pennsylvania, and he has about 10 months on the mission. He plays piano! So he likes classical music! That's great! 

Well, that's all I got for now. I'll talk to you on Mother's day! Less than a week now!

Love you all!

-Elder Hopper #1