Happy San Juan Day - June 24, 2013

Hola family and friends,

The fair is in town and it is pretty wild! They have set up a ferris wheel and there are a ton of games and food. It is pretty great. I am enjoying all the food, it is good! Giovanni and Esperanza have their pizza stand and their pizza is real good. Today is San Juan's big day. I don't know why, but that's how it is. Here in front of the Catholic church they have a couple stages up and there have been bands here all day long.

Other than the fair, things are going very well! I have really loved these last few weeks, but they have flown by! This past week has been such a great one. I have loved it so much. One, I got to go into the temple for the first time. It is so beautiful and what is more important is the spiritual meaning that it has. I loved it so much. We took a little old lady named Soledad who has been wanting to be able to go to the temple for such a long time and we had the opportunity to help her get there. It was such a great experience, one of my favorite experiences in the mission. She is probably like 75-80 years old. Her husband isn't a member and doesn't really believe in God. She is the only member of her family. She has a pretty cloudy cataract on one eye, a hunched little back, and walks pretty slowly. It was really neat because Monday night was kinda tough. Some members kinda chewed us out for being late to their family night, but we had to let Soledad that we were going to pass by her house to take her to the temple at 7 in the morning and we didn't have her phone number. So, we showed up a little late to the family night, and they chewed us out pretty well. Tuesday, morning we went to her house to take her to the temple and she was ready to go! Now, to get to the temple there is a little bit of a walk needed, probably 10 minutes walking normal pace. We got off the bus and started walking up to the temple. We started to talk to Soledad about all the times that she had been to the temple. She has been to the temple in Guatemala City 3 or 4 times and here 3 or 4 times. It was really nice to just take a relaxed walk to the temple just looking toward the temple, thinking about what we were going to do. We got up to the temple and asked for a wheelchair to make things a little bit faster. There are pictures of everything on dropbox. The other two sisters with us are from the stake. They helped us to organize this little temple trip with Soledad. It was such a wonderful experience. It is so nice to know that we have the Lord's house here on earth. I was reminded of the importance of being obedient. I loved it so much. It is such a beautiful temple inside and outside. I love it because it can been seen from all parts of Xela. It was a great experience.

This week we had some more baptisms! Carlos and Jenny, Giovanni's kids, got baptized! Giovanni and Esperanza got married as well. Giovanni was going to get baptized on Saturday as well, but ran into some problems so he couldn't get baptized in the end. However, this Saturday he is going to get baptized. We have basically been running all over to get them married and baptized and it has been really cool. They asked me to be Jenny's godfather! Haha I wasn't really sure what is entitled with being a godfather, but it's pretty sweet I guess. I guess that the godparents are the ones that take care of the kids if the parents aren't able to or die. They are supposed to always remember their godchild's birthday and buy her gifts, especially for her 15th birthday. I love this family so much and just hope that they can keep going. I am not sure if I wrote about the lesson that we had with Giovanni and Esperanza at the temple. We had it on the 14th on June, and just kinda made plans so that they could enter the temple in a year to get sealed. They still don't understand everything, but with time they will.

We are still working with Alejandra, but she has been kinda tough lately! We go by her house and things are good, but when Sunday comes we can't find her to take her to church. We are also still working with Marili's cute little parents. They were going to get married and baptized this Saturday, but a family member died this week and they had to go to the funeral on Sunday... So they couldn't come to church. We are working with a kid named Brandon, as well. He is really cool. I guess around a year and a half ago, an elder gave him a Book of Mormon, and he is now reading in 3 Nephi. I love reaping what others have sown! He is going to get baptized on Saturday as well. He is really sweet and has a great testimony of everything already. That's what we have going for us right now!

Thanks for everything that you do for me and my family!

Love,

Elder Hilton

 

 

June 17, 2013

Dear family and friends,

Well, on Saturday we had a baptism on Saturday! Marili is way awesome and has made a lot of changes to be able to do it. She would work only Saturdays and Sundays for 15 quetzales each day. We read in Lucas 12 about how the Lord feeds and dresses everything natural and they don't even work! We asked her if she was willing to make a sacrifice so that the Lord could bless her. She said yes and 4 days later she had a better job offer! We put the baptismal date and just told her to start preparing. She really didn't want to committ to a date, but we just told her that we were going to start helping her to prepare to get baptized. She told us that there were a few changes that she wanted to make before her baptism. It was a really great baptism to see and it made me really happy to see her get baptized and change her life a little bit.

Now, we are working with Alejandra and Giovani for this Saturday. It has been kinda interesting with Giovani because once he made the decision to get baptized his world has been turned upside down! His wife broke her arm, he had to take out a ton of debt, and now he lost his ID for his marriage on Saturday! With Alejandra, it has been kinda tough too because she just doesn't want to be playing with God in a second baptism, but well get her. Things have been pretty wild and very rewarding. This is the short update of this week, I love you all and thank you for everything that you do for me!

Love,

Elder Hilton

June 10, 2013

Haha as usual I don't have a lot of time to write. I wrote dad a huge letter so maybe you'll have to check that one out for this week! We have a baptism on Saturday! Marili is going to get baptized and it is way awesome! This is the first baptism that I have announced in Sacrament Meeting, so we'll see how the turn out is. We keep working with Alejandra and Giovani. But it seems like Giovani's mom is not really supporting him to get baptized and so that's a little bit of a problem. Things are really good, just kinda peaceful. I have really enjoyed the mission the past few weeks! Thanks for the package it has been treating us very well! I love you so much! I'll get a little more off next week!
Love,
Elder Hilton

Here is a neat letter that Dave ( Levi's Dad sent to Seth), he had been having problems with his new phone sending out the letters that he had written, so this was super special for Seth to get.

Today is Sunday (now Monday at 5:42) and I will write a littlebefore I have to go to work. 

   Last week Levi went to Called to Serve camp at camp Keisel. Have you been to camp Keisel? they called it Called to Serve camp because it is not only for young men and young women. When you went it was called Sons of Mosiah camp.  Preston Crowell was one of the Return missionaries that taught the young men preparing to go on missions. He went to the camp the first year they had the sons of mosiah camp when Ben was a recent return missionary and was asked to teach the young men to prepare them for the mission. Preston started a sloppy Joe eating contest and ate 6. Levi ate 10 sloppy joes. another Return missionary ate 11.25 but was not able to keep them down. There was close ot 50 young men and ladies who where there. Marilyn and I got to go Saturday night program and testimony meeting. John Watson from Spain Barcelona mission and John Watson Chevrolet) and his wife spoke. She had a good message that was for you and he also.

Sister Watson said as new missionaries arrived there was an out pouring of love for each one. Not knowing anything about them they were able to be the person that they wanted to be. That is for you and Elder Gomez and all you other companions past and future. you can make yourself anything you want to be after leaving all behind. She said each missionary eliminated all slang after riding from the airport and arriving at the mission home and being invited to change there language. By the way I was in that mission home with an earlier mission president Doxey. and know of what she speaks.

President Watson spoke of having 40 days fasts like Jesus had done but not a fast of food and water but a fast of the English language.  I did that also in spain but I don't recall a time limit though I may have written in my journal. He said that obedience with exactness brings the tender mercies of the Lord. Seth have you focused on the tender mercies of the Lord that have come as a result of your exact obedience? You see what you focus on (he says like the "awareness test, white basketball team" on the internet -- if you have not seen this then we will have to do it when you return from your mission). As you are branded with a placa as a disciple missionary of Christ.  Christ was branded with nails sword rope whip thorns. I say in a sense that bruised and broken body is perfect in that it has evidence of complete obedience to the Heavenly father that an unblemished body does not have.  3 Nephi 5:13 was referenced.

President Doyle Obray said sisters can strengthen the power in the priesthood and are the key to the power if I understood correctly. What do you think? During the camp the young men prepared a lesson to teach then as they greeted the "investigators" they followed the spirit on whether to teach that or something else. Is that how it was for you? I recall that you led the songs during the program. I don't know how that selection was made but this year Jared Wardle was the song chorister.

Our home needs to be a mini MTC using preach my gospel frequently. What do you think is the best way to do that? Also to use the new youth teaching method "come Follow Me" which has a series of discussion questions and short video clips or clips of talks.

We then left the program and with the bishop went to the a ward circle with a chance to bear testimony. Leloni Ficklin has a call to Minneapolis Minnesota Spanish speaking and reporting to the Mexico MTC. Othere that were there are Taryn Ficklin, Zack Payne, Skyler Shupe, Tyson Pace, Levi Hilton, Josh Ferney, Ben Ferney, their parents and Bishop. 

The Bishop read from his journal the most spiritual experience of his mission. not that it was anything special otherwise. Just that the feelings are easily remembered. 

Levi's companion was brother Baggs (sp?) and his RM/ZLs were President Obray's son, Josh Dodge and Matthis Farnsworth, and he taught the Hemingway Family.

Marilyn and I went for a ride on our bikes Friday night along the Ogden river and it was beautiful. We have to go back. We went to Parker family day saturday morning with Dave, Bethany, Embree, Laker, and Mya Lyn Laloli, and Ben, Megan, and Emmett Reed Hilton. Might try ot send a picture from my phone.

Last night we went to a fireside with Darrin Southam the main star of the movie Ephraim Rescue and Paul Cardahl (sp?) the one who did the music for the movie. He said concentrate effort to make popular that which is good and make unpopular that which is not good.  When I worked with him on the set doing the Mormon battalion he seemed more spiritual and in tune than last night.But he studied hard and sacrificed to learn and become Eph. He said Eph served with little regard for personal welfare and even after the movie is still learning that Eph lost three toes. With respect to success and praise he says "do not inhale it" when we believe it is us and not god that is pride (and I add emnity). Eyring said something like "When we meet someone treat them as if they are in serious trouble and we will be right more than half the time." He said he has been a starving actor and his wife takes care of three kids and is the power behind making him a great person or at least a better person. She spoke and said anything worthy of doing is going to be very difficult. Cardahl spoke about being raised from the dead after having a heart transplant 4 years ago.  The movie is about decision determine destiny. We sang two songs that you should sing today. I'll go where you want me to go and come come ye saints. Yesterday June 9th was  the day that Eph died. 

I have to go to work it is after 8:00am and I love you and leave you with my testimony of the above and the following list of premissionaries to pray for along with those that are coming to your mission.

David Hilton

Set Apart

Missionary Ward Date Time Date Time Mission

Colton McBride 4^th Jun 9 8:30am Jun 18 6:30pm Ukraine Dnepropetrovsk

Jacob Evans 10^th Jun 9 8:45am Jun 18 8:30pm Argentina Mendoza

Trevor Spencer 10^th Jun 30 8:45am Jul 2 7:30pm New Mexico Farmington

Jaden Bybee 4^th Jul 14 8:30am Jul 16 7:30pm Russia Novosibirsk

Weston Geilman 12^th Jul 14 8:45am Jul 16 8:00pm California Oakland/SF

John Daines 11^th Jul 21 8:30am Jul Brazil Belem

Tanner Nelson 12^th Jul 28 8:30am Jul 30 7:30pm Australia Melbourne

Seth Jensen 4^th Aug 4 Aug 6 Japan Fukuoka

Chandler Ward 9^th Aug 4 Aug 6 Australia Sydney

Derek Fletcher 1^st Aug 4 Aug 6 Singapore

Madsen Wessman 9^th Aug 4 Aug 6 England London South

Halee Nelson 12^th Aug 11 Aug 13 Tennessee Knoxville

Kaitlin Kimball 9^th Aug 11 Aug Paraguay Asuncion

Tanner Norris 4^th Aug 11 Aug Chile Santiago East

Quinton Geilman 12^th Sep 1 Sep Alpine German-Speaking

Ryan Baggs 12^th Sep 8 Sep Chile Concepcion South

Seth responded with a wonderful letter to his dad.  Here it is:

Hey Dad,

 Thanks for the letter. It is really sweet to know that Nate Kendall is going on a mission!? That makes me really happy and he will learn so much in his mission. I love him a lot and am very thankful for the example that he always gave of getting out of his comfort zone. He did not want to go to the Wind Rivers, but he did it and went. It is examples like that that make us really think about what more we can do. He is a giant and will do a great job in the mission. It makes me really happy that your Father's Day was a good one. I am really so greatful for you! For the FHE lessons I think that you could do parts or the whole lesson. Maybe to start, it would just be to teach the lessons at first and then after you have taught the lessons, you could start to really dig deep into the material. LIke for the first FHE you would teach the Restoration, then the next the Plan of Salvation, then the next the Gospel of Jesus Christ. After that, you could start over with the Restoration teaching God is our loving heavenly father, the gospel blesses families, dispensations, and the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Then the next FHE you could continue teaching the great apostasy, the Restoration of the gospel, the Book of Mormon, and then prayer. You can do it like that so that at first you get a big overview of everything, and then really study things really well.

Well, things are going great. Marili got baptized and is now a Mormon! It has been a really cool experience with her to see the changes that she wanted to make before her baptism. She is really awesome. This week we are looking towards Giovani's baptism, but he lost his ID lately and is not going to be able to get married without it! So we are praying that he finds that soon so that we can get everything done for him! Dad I love you and thank you for all the words of encouragement!

Love,

Elder Hilton

June 3, 2013

Wow, I don't have a lot of time today to write. President is going to come out and work with us in like 10 minutes, so I gotta get something off real quick. Today I got the package that you sent! I think it came pretty quick that made me real happy! To answer some questions: We always have a fridge, and normally water is outside. However, this is the first house that I have had the water outside. You could say that that is the traditional. Haha about the boots, I have had to wear the boots a great number of times. Last year when I came I wore them quite a bit because we were still receiving quite a bit of water. THis week I had to break em out again. ON monday, it started to rain and didn't stop raining til Thursday night. IT was Terrible! However, it was kinda fun honestly. When Elder MOnge came we went on splits and visited one of his old converts, it was really great.

A few days later:

Things are moving a little bit more smoothly. We have a few people that we are trying to help get ready for baptism on the 15th of June. I am really excited because they came to church on Sunday and are making the changes necessary to be able to get baptized on that day. They are Marili, and her parents, Rodrigo and Alicia. Rigo and Alicia are just a cute little old couple. I don't think that either one is taller than 5 feet. And Alicia just seems like she has such a fragile body!

Alejandra also is getting closer. She has now come to church enough times, but she just needs to make the decision to get baptized. A lot of people here are afraid of a second baptism because they think they'll be playing with God. She just really needs to know that everything that we teach is truth. She is such a funny lady! She always asks me to get her a raincoat. Her family is just really great!

This past week it has been SUPER rainy! IT started raining last Monday in the afternoon and honestly didn't stop until Thursday. They said it was Hurricane Barbara that was passing through Mexico. It was really pretty wild. On Monday night, we went up to visit some people that had come to church. We had no clue how far away it was or that is was on top of the mountain. We left at like 6 to get up there and visit them, we got up on top of the mountain at like 6:30 and then we had to find the house in the dark. The light had gone out. Now, keep in mind that all of this was in the rain. I didn't have a jacket or an umbrella and my comp had his rain jacket. It was so miserable! It was freezing cold, probably like 40 degrees. However, we found the house and told us to go back on Saturday because the last bus was going to pass by soon. The Lord was watching out for us. We were probably waiting 10 minutes in the rain and member from Xela passed by and took us home. What a blessing! Something similar happened on Saturday when we went back. There was a guy with a truck coming down and picked us up. We had to ride in the back of the truck with the rain, but at least we had an umbrella! The Lord has been watching out for us! I love you all and my time is up!

Love,
Elder Hilton