Christmas message to the ward

I love the initiative of the church during christmas time. I love that they are trying their hardest to stop the ever degrading world. I love seeing how much effort they put into videos and billboards! Its the best use of tithing I could ever think of! 

 

I miss all of my ward members very much. I have been blessed with the greatest ward family I could ask for! Ive felt your prayers everyday of my mission. Im especially grateful for my wonderful family. The gospel blesses families! And Im so grateful that my little Brother, Elder Hodson 2 is in the field with me at the same time. Im more than grateful for my sweet mother. She makes me laugh. She told me before I left "make sure you have everything because Im never sending you a package! Its too expensive!" well. That was a bluff. Ive never been so babied by my mother in my life! haha I love her. She has played such a roll in my life to get me to where I am!

 

I especially love the Christmas message because it invites us to find out for ourselves why Christ was born. We, as members of Christs restored church, need to help our brothers and sisters to find out for themselves as well why Christ was born! 

 

Jospeh Smith said "Our most important duty is to preach the gospel" and our brothers and sisters need to know the truth about Christ. They need to know that he was born to save us! He wasnt born so that we could live better lives, so we could have better familys and friends, he wasnt born so we could be better neighbors, HE WAS BORN TO SAVE US!!! And that is the purpose of his gospel! His gospel is not to convince us to live better lives, not to help us with our families, not so that we can be members of his church, HIS GOSPEL EXISTS SO THAT WE CAN OBTAIN HIS GRACE IN THE JUDGEMENT DAY!!! Yes, ALL of those things that I listed will come to pass because of Christ and his gospel but they are the added benefits that come when we live the gospel. They are the blessings that we should promise to our friends and family when we share the gospel with them! 

 

Our spiritual brothers and sisters need to know that the largest act of love our father in heaven has given us is the life of his son, but they also need to know the second largest act of love! The Restauration of the Gospel! People need to understand that it is because he LOVES us that he restored the gospel. He wants us back. And without the restauration it would be impossible! 

 

President Klein always makes the same example. Christ resurrected on the 3 day, but that doesnt mean that hes in heaven in his divine hammock! He works and like he said "my father in heaven still works, and I work". If they both still work, why dont we? Why do we, as members of the church, become complacent with the same members? why do we think that just because weve served missions, that we no longer have to share the gospel? We must think for a minute. The work and glory of God is to bring to pass the eternal life of man. We all want to become like our heavenly Father, right? So if that is his goal, THEN THAT MUST BE OUR WORK AND OUR GLORY AS WELL! We cannot have a different vision from our heavenly father and expect to become like him. 

 

I love the Christmas season because I have the chance to teach people about the true meaning and invite them to follow Christ! The angel of the Lord invited the Pastors to follow the star unto christ, and we too can be angels, inviting others to follow christ. That is my prayer, that we can all reach out to those around us, and invite them to drink freely of the waters of life.

Merry Christmas, I love you all!

Week 94

Christmas Time

Dearest Family and Friends,

Hows everyone doing today? 

We had a great week. Like always! This week was so fast. I cant believe how fast life is flying by.

We went to La Ceiba this week for our last multizone conference! It was also amazing. I loved it. And all the missionaries left estatic. Everyone is in agreement that this was the best multizone conference that the mission has ever had. Even president said it! 

I love roadtrips. We got to drive the truck to ceiba this time and Elder De Leon and I talked the whole way there and back. We bonded. He is without a shadow of a doubt the best companion ive ever had. I havent had the best companions on my mission, and he makes up for every single one of them. Were always on the same page. And were always laughing. He helps me and I help him. His whole family lives in las vegas so im gonna visit them all when I get home. Im super grateful for him and hes made the end of my mission so much fun. 

We found the coolest family this week! Another married young poor couple!!! I think theres only two young married poor couples in the whole country and were teaching them! NO ONE gets married here haha Their names are Fredy and Lillian Medina. They have two little boys. Hes 27 and shes 23. They live next door to members, they both have sundays off of work, their boss at work is a member and is always talking to them and has given them the proclamation to the world and they have great opinions about the church already! I wont lie. Im pumped for them. Theyre my best hopes for one last family baptism in my mission! 

Well. ITS CHRISTMAS TIME! If you wanna give the greatest gift this year, GO AND SHARE THE GOSPEL! BE BRAVE! Invite others to come unto christ and this will be your most meaningful christmas ever. People need to know about the restored gospel! They need to read the story in 3rd Nephi about the birth of christ and his visit in the americas! GO AND SHARE IT!

I love you all!

Elder Hodson 1

Playing Skinny Santa

Week 93

Multizones

Dearest Family and friends,

This week was nuts.

I like being in the office because we start the week with our hardest day, sunday, then the rest of the week feels easy. But on sunday we went out playing santa! My parents sent me a bunch of toys and soccer balls and we went out giving them to poor little honduran children!!! it was so awesome to see their eyes light up.

This week we had all of our multizones, they went so awesome. So much fun! We did a gift exchange. and i made a nativity set out of soap. it came out so awesome. ill send a pic. but all of the missionaries loved the multizone. we have a new vision for the mission and its baptize every week and take every convert to the temple! Ill send a pic next week of the visual aid that im working on for the vision.

Last night, we had our ward party, it was fun because i got to dress up like santa. I love being santa, the problem is im not fat.

Well. I dont have much to write because the whole week was just multizones. we have one more next week! Then its christmas. thats mindblowing.

love you all!

Elder Hodson

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas in the Mission Office

Week 92

Meetings, Meetings & More Meetings

Dearest family and friends,

Whats up?! Its a fine day here in La Lima, its been raining cats and dogs and the streets are now rivers!!! I like the rain when I have the truck :) but the poor missionaries in the field today are suffering. 

This week was ridiculously fast! Meeting meetings and more meetings! With the ZLs on tuesday, half of the new missionaries on thursday and the other have in La Ceiba yesterday. Yesterday was ridiculous because we spent all morning in a bus to get to ceiba then all afternoon in the bus to come back. But the meetings have been great. theres been a great spirit to them and I feel like theyve been very productive and helpful for the missionaries.

Tuesday I did divisions in Progreso North with Elder Tumax and Elder Wilks. Wilks and I have the same birthday!!! so cool. Im just 3 years older than him. Makes me feel old haha But theyre great Elders. Great Zone Leaders. We had an awesome day. Always helping them to put down more baptismal dates and get new investigators. That day we put down 4 dates and pumped up a family to get married! I love divisions.

in my area..... things continually are moving slowly. With so many meetings and stuff, I was only in the area for two days this week. But we have a new investigator, Juan, that is awesome. Hes a black hole, in the sense that he never stops talking, but when we contacted him he told us that hes super tough and hard hearted and will never accept the gospel. Bologna. We had a great visit with him twice this week and he accepted a baptismal date for the 2nd of january. Hes awesome because hes a hard working business man, married with a full family. I have high hopes for them. 

Well. I love you all!

Always,

Elder Hodson

Week 91

Im Grateful for...

Dearest family and friends,

Happy turkey day!!! that means that christmas is less than a month away! How baggy.

Had a great week! Worked hard and had fun. 

Wednesday we went to satelite, our only zone thats actually in San Pedro. The mission shouldnt be called San Pedro Sula East. I dont know why its called that but oh well. I had a great time in Satelite with the ZLs. one of them, Elder Patterson, was the comp of Elder Soto, the kid who fell off the cliff in Olanchito. We had an awesome day. I love divisions because I feel like everything goes right as it should! Then in my area all my lessons fall through hahaha But I helped pump them up and showed them that its actually easy to invite everyone to baptism with a date on the first lesson. So thats what we did all day and by the end of the day, Patterson had picked it up and was doing it by himself! That day we did 8 lessons, 3 new investigators and 4 new baptismal dates. 

We had a fun week playing mission presidents. Just one little hiccup. An Elders house set fire this week. No biggy. Lol.

Thursday we had a great thanksgiving feast! Obviously we ate chicken not turkey. Too poor here to eat turkey lol. But it was great to be with the other missionaries and with members that love us. 

Now starts the craziest weeks of my mission! This week, mission leader council and new missionary trainings, next week, multizones. The week after, more multizone conferences, the week after christmas! ITS NUTS!!!!

love you all! 

Elder Hodson

Ps. I got attacked but cuteness. 8 little puppies came running at my with their little tails wagging. Enjoy the pic.

 

 

Fun in the mission office

Week 90

Changes

Dearest Family and Friends,

This week was changes. Im so tired. Changes are nuts. And I was sick with my allergies during all that so it was even worse. But everything went smoothly. Last night we had 20 sleeping in our house. It was nuts.

I just have one quick story. 

Last week we contacted a young man, Wilmer, on his way back from work. Hes 27 and works in wendys. He told us to go to his house on wednesday. So we did. And we found him, but hiding from us!!! haha Embarrassed, he let us in his house and presented us his family. His Wife Reina is 31 and they have 3 children. Theyre very humble, live in the poorer colony in my area, and they feel distanced from God. They really want to improve their lives. But heres the best part. THEYRE LEGALLY MARRIED!!!! that never happens here! A poor young married couple! Its every missionaries dream! So I have high hopes for them. They both have sundays off of work as well! 100% prepared to receive the gospel. So Ill be commenting on them later.

This week Pres goes to Costa Rica, so we have to play mission presidents, so that should be fun. 

Im loving life. Working hard and time is flying. I hope everyone has a great thanksgiving! Eat extra stuffing and turkey for me. Pretty soon its christmas, then im home. I love you all!!!

Elder Hodson

Week 89

LA CEIBA LA CEIBA LA CEIBA

 

Dearest family and Friends,

This week was SO GREAT!!! The mission is kicking butt! Miraculously, every companionship figured it out all at the same time! We had the best numbers I have ever seen in the mission last week, and this week should be even better! 

My companion and I are seeing results by doing what my dad and the Savior always said "to be the greatest, you must be the least" Were trying our best to focus in on our ZLs, always trying to help them improve their zones. And not just the ZLs, but the companionships that need the most help, we do divisions with them as well. Its a change from what used to be done here, before, the APs would only work with the ZLs and were very very.... cold. Not very loving and had struck fear in the mission. But now we can see a huge change! The missionaries dont fear us, in reality, they love us! And theyre always happy to see us and work with us! So weve seen great results. 

Funny story. A gay man hit on me in the bus this week. haha.

This week we spent 2 days in La Ceiba! On wednesday I was with Elders Nuñez and Gozart. Nuñez is a recent convert of just one year! But he SO DOPE!!! I just see myself in him in the beginning of my mission. Hes only been out 3 months and is already training. And hes a little nervous. Just like I was. But the Lord has GREAT things in store for him. We had a great day, and I was able to help them see that the mission isnt stressful! You just gotta have fun! And I was able to help them to see that its easy to invite to baptism! So we put down 3 dates. It was great.

On Thursday I got to go back to my old area! Bella Vista!!! It was great! And I got to see Nicol, my second convert! She didnt serve a mission, because her member boyfriend convinced her to get married. Piece of crap. But Im happy because shes doing good. I spent the day with Elder Lucero and Arevalo. And they too are super young! Lucero only has 3 months and is training Arevalo. But those Elders are WORK HORSES!!!!! We taught 9 lessons that afternoon and ate dinner twice. They are STACKED with great investigators and are gonna baptize at least 10 in that area this month. It was great to be with them, and even though I felt like they really didnt need my help, they were super happy I came and visited with them. We stayed up till 12 that night talking about the wonders in the mission. We also put down 5 baptismal dates that day.

TIME IS FLYING! Fasted change of my mission by far. This week is gonna be even crazier, because we have changes, but theyre on friday not wednesday, and president klein has to go to costa rica so we have to play mission presidents. So itll be fun. and stressful. hahahah

Love you all! Heres a pic with Elders Nuñez and Gozart! 

Always,

Elder Hodson

 

Week 88

Another Great Week

Dearest family and friends,

TIME IS FLYING BY SO FAST!!! Now that I have pdays on mondays, my weeks go by so fast! Monday, office, tuesday, meetings, wednesday, divisions, thursday, planning, friday, office, saturday, pday, sundays are normal. But time goes by so dang quickly. Its nuts. But I love being here. Everyday is fun really.

We had an awesome pday today. We went to the beautiful beaches of Tela! Played frisbee and soccer on the beach. Afterwards we went to the senior missionary couples house in tela for lunch, it was delicious and I was so stuffed. We packed up some of their stuff, because they go home this month, and we came back home. It was a blast and life is so much easier with a car. Lemme tell ya. In bus Tela is 2 hours. We make it in one hour. 

Last weeks baptisms went great. The other elders didnt shut the faunt off before they left so when we got their to start the baptism everything was flooded. So that was fun cleaning and then starting the baptism. But nothing stops us! haha then I jetted off to santa rita to see the silva familys baptism. That was so awesome. But I do NOT miss that ward. Its the most irreverant ward in the world I think. 

This week was great. No huge miracles. But it was great to just work hard and feel good about it. By small and simple things are great things brought to pass! 

I did divisions in Progreso this week with another Elder from las vegas! Elder Aldrich. Hes a great kid. He went to shadow ridge high school and his dad has the law firm on rainbow and del rey right next to bonanza high school. It was a great time. I love divisions because my investigators are the missionaries! Its great to help get them pumped up and working! 

One of the things I do is make the monthly newsletter for the mission. Its a ton of work but really fun. The APs in the past had stopped doing it and everyone was super happy to have it back. Ill send it attached. Its in spanish but I think you could all still enjoy it haha

Well. I love you all! Life is great. Feeling good and loving the work! 

Always,

Elder Hodson

 

 

It's truly a small world!

Chelsea received this picture from her ward's Relief Society President!  She was in Honduras on a humanitarian trip & ran into the elders at a restaurant called  Power Chicken (which Riley LOVES - they have the best coconut bread!)  After seeing that his last name was Hodson, she made the connection, snapped a picture & forwarded it to Chels!!  LOVE getting random photos of my boy!!

Week 87

I believe in Miracles

Dearest Family and Friends,

TIME GOES BY SO FAST IN THE OFFICE!!! 

Its scary actually. the weeks are so fast because were always so busy!!!! but Its awesome to always be with president helping him make decisions. 

This week we had a meeting with the missionaries that only have 8 weeks in the mission. It was fun to be with them. its funny how they look at older missionaries as if they were general authorities hahaha but those newbies are solid. Probably the most solid group of gringos ive ever seen. So the mission will always be in good hands.

Me and my comp get along so welll. Just thought id let you know. I freaking love this kid. Favorite comp hands down haha 

After, we went to Olanchito to do divisions! It was good to be back in that area. I always feel like I couldve done more for that ward. But with Guzman being baggy and then not having a comp for 2 weeks, the last change was a little bit of a waste of time. But it was good to walk the new elders around more and show them a bunch of investigators that they can teach. It was great to see that people who had stopped progressing, like leo and rosibel, are now progressing again and have accepted baptismal dates again! I love it. I feel much better now about Olanchito and my work there. Im just a little worried about the elders there.... My replacecment is also from las vegas and hes really weird. He takes pictures of every class of fruit before he eats it and he knows all the names.... but yeah. to each his own haha

We saw a huge miracle this week! !Elder reese, the old AP told me before he left that if I do a ton of divisions and help the mission, the baptisms will come. boom. said and done. Theres a 17 year old named axel whos been going to church for a year and his mom never wanted to give him permission. I told him to tell his mom that its not like shes giving him permission to sell drugs, but to do something good in his life! And thats exactly what he told her, and boom! Signature. So one day this week, all our lessons had fallen through, so we just started walking, and there we saw axel and he called us over and said " IVE GOT PERMISSION!!!" and told us he wanted to be baptized this saturday, or today in other words! So yeah, today we have a baptism at 1!! Thats why im writing home now. Afterwards, im gonna drive out to santa rita to see the silva family's baptism as well. itll be a good day!

I love you all!

Elder Hodson

Week 86

Finally seeing the fruits of my labor...

Dearest family and friends,

This has been a great week! Elder De Leon and I have work to do. The mission is a little crapped out. This month will be the lowest baptizing month weve ever had.... so we have plans. Were gonna do our best to be in the zone meetings and teach there. We want to be seen by the missionaries. Were not police! and we dont want the missionaries to fear us. We want them to be happy when they see us! so we want to be in as many district and zone meetings as we can. and we want to spend time with them in their areas in divisons. Once we have their trust, were gonna put down pressure. Not injust pressure when were just monsters, but they need a push. theyre not putting in their parts. So thats what we did this week.

So this week we went to The Progeso Sur Zone. And I went with the ZLs to my old area in Santa Rita! The ZLs are Elder Smart and Elder Coj, Coj has been one of my best friends since the beginning of the mission. we go home togther. We had a great day, and we went and visited old investigators that I had found! At the end of the night we went and visited the Silva family. The only family in Santa Rita that was actually close to baptism when I was there. It was awesome to be with them. We shared cake and laughs and soda haha. The Mom, Elsa, is going to be baptized next saturday, but her oldest daughter Joselyn, was still unsure. So I had her close her eyes, imagine the baptismal scene with her mother and the elders dressed in white and asked her what color clothes she was in in that picture and she responded, WHITE! But then she asked if I could baptize her, since I was the Elder that had found them 4 months ago. So I feel good, because I didnt have any baptisms in santa rita, but at least I get to see the fruits this time. I feel great about it and Im pumped. 

Well. Im pumped to see if we can get the mission alive and running again. I love divisons. theyre a blast. If anyone has any tips on what else we can do, let me know! I need all the help I can get! Love you all!

Elder Hodson

Week 85

Once again in my home, La Lima

Dearest Family and Friends,

Sorry I didnt write on Monday, but I didnt have much to say and I knew I was gonna write again on saturday so I figured I would wait. But yeah, my pdays are saturdays now.

So last week was hectic without a companion, but it was good. Its really hard not having a companion. Its just impossible to progress in the mission without a companion. too much time wasted waiting on members. And you cant take members door to door contacting, thats just cruel! So my last week in Olanchito was a little slow for progression, but it was still great.

Well. I had changes! Im back here in La Lima! I love this little city. I just feel at home here. I know where everything is, all the restaraunts and everything. And I love the people here. theyre so friendly. And because I was in The La Paz Ward for so long I know a ton of members here already. Like last night a member of La Paz invited us to dinner.

So my comp, Elder De Leon, is the best. He was my ZL when I was here in La Paz, so weve both been here before and we know the whole town. I feel like I should just buy a house here already! haha But were the best of friends and get along great. Always laughing our butts off. And so Im finally happy with a companion who can push me!! Ive been waiting my whole mission for a comp like this!

My house here IS SO DOPE!!!!! Its a 2 story mansion with air conditioning and hot water and a bunch of rooms and a swimming pool and a maid! its so cool hahaha so today for pday, we got in the swimming pool! But dont jump to conclusions, we didnt go swimming! The pool is empty, besides a little bit of nasty green rain water. Because of that water, we have a bunch of frogs in the pool hahah so today we caught frogs and threw them high in the air into the water and made them belly flop and do back flips. SO funny. hahahaha

So this week was super hectic. Wednesday was changes so we had to make sure everyone got to their area on time. So that was hectic. But wednesday night was fun because we got to hang out at president kleins house with the missionaries who were going home and have the goodbye dinner. The next day we took them to the airport, and that was super baggy ahahahah but I got to say goodbye to Elder Measles. Hes a great kid. Love him to death.

So next week I should have some great uplifting spiritual stories! Love you all!

Always,

Elder Hodson

dont worry. we also have a plasma screen tv that we do have cables to so we never watch it haha but its just there for decoration haha

AND I LOVE DRIVING okay thats all k bye

Week 84

CONFERENCE!!!

Dearest Family and Friends,

This was a VERY uneventful week! But conference was awesome. I think one of my favorite things that was said was when president Uchtdorf said "Being a skeptic is easy" Because its totally the truth! Being a non believer is the easiest thing in the world! Saying that God doesnt exist is SO easy! Not going to church is SO easy! Having faith is hard!!! Enduring to the end is much more honorable! So that was one of the coolest things I heard.

But I got a lot of insight in this conference. I also loved that President Monson would not end his talk early NO MATTER how tired he was! Clinging on to the pulpit nearly passed out, but death bent on testifying of Jesus Christ. WHAT AN EXAMPLE!!! If we try and say we are tired and cant go on, WE HAVE NO EXCUSE! He is such an example. I loved it.

I also love that EVERY conference I receive answers to my questions! I had the question about why is it that sometimes my investigators arent getting answers sometimes?! And Its been frustrating me, so I was thinking about it and BOOM! The very next talk was 100% about that. QUESTION ANSWERED.

So this next week will be very eventful as a lone wolf. I have to go san pedro alone. And other divisions with the APs here and divisions in sonaguera with one of my DLs.

Well, I love you all! I miss you a ton! I cant believe this was my last conference. Being home is getting so real.

Always,
Elder Hodson

Week 83

Im a lone wolf.  Live alone, die alone.

Dearest Family and Friends,

We had a great week this week! we stepped it up for Guzmans last week and things went great! I wanna give you a short update on the awesome investigators we have. 

Martha Escalera. Ive been working with her and her husband since Ive been here. Shes AWESOME. Golden reference. Her whole family is member in another city and shes been wanting to get baptized with her husband (yes theyre legally married) but hes been taking his sweet time. Cesar is an awesome guy, but hes not ready yet. So Martha told us the other day that shes tired of waiting! Thats shes gonna get baptized on the 10th or the 17th.

Kelly. Shes my neighbor, Shes so cool. Single mom with a little 7 month old baby. But shes SO DANG SMART. We taught her the plan of salvation and Ive never received so many awesome questions. Shes gonna be a great convert, its just gonna cost a little because all of her support group, family and friends, are catholic. But we'll see how it goes.

Sergio. Hes a boss! Hes a members boyfriend that we've been working with and he was gonna get baptized on saturday, but he was honest with us and told us that they havent been able to keep the law of chastity and so they want to get married! So were starting that now with them! Theyre so dang cute. And sergio is awesome. Hes never missed a sunday for 8 sundays. 

Fredy. Hes new. Hes drunk. But he is so awesome. He contacted us a few days ago and we went to go visit him. Hes addicted to alchohol but wants to quit more than anything. And ive never seen someone so in love with the idea of the restoration of the gospel! We gave him the restoration pamphlet, he studied the crap out of it, and then taught us everything it said! We didnt even teach in that lesson! hes so awesome.

So theres an update on my best investigators. We have like 10 progressing but those aremy all stars right now. We had our multizone conference this week and I learned something awesome That Jefrey R Holland taught. I wanna share it.

I learned that Christ was abandoned by his father on the cross, not just so he knew what it was like to be abandoned, but so that he could know what its like to actually suffer the spiritual death that we suffer! Because he always had the companionship of his father, he never suffered that spiritual death that we have. He wouldnt have been able to help us continue on in this life with all of our sins, if he hadnt suffered that spiritual death. Regardless of that spiritual death, with all the knowledge and understanding he had, he carried on and finished the atonement. So now, even when we sin in big ways and have to endure and repent without the help of the spirit, Christ can actually help us. And I love that knowledge.

Well heres my biggest news this week. Guzman is leaving on wednesday and..... President has no replacement for him. I have no companion as of wednesday. Im gonna sleep with the elders from the other branch, but work everyday in my area with members! Im a lone wolf! And Im the only lone ZL in the mission! IM A MYTHICAL CREATURE! This has never happened! hahaha So yeah. these two weeks will be interesting. 

Always,
Elder Hodson

 

pics. zona olanchito! 

Elder Paul, a new elder from Las Vegas! Hes so dope! and he knows Hunter from the CHT! 

 

 

 

Week 82

A slap in the face week

Dearest Family and Friends,

This week was crap!!!!!! I got sick on monday, almost crapped my pants in the street. hahaha so that was fun. And the rest of the week was just a bunch of lessons fallen through because of the festivities! But the whole week was leading up to saturday, when we were gonna have our half pday with president klein!

And of course I got sick again. A dramatic change in the weather threw me for a huge allergy attack. so I couldnt even enjoy the day playing with the other missionaries! So that was super lame. But the bright side is that the zone enjoyed their day and they all seem excited to work harder with a visit from president! So Im happy that they got to enjoy their day. 

But not all was lost! Sunday was a good day! We had our branch conference! It was really good and the coolest part was that an excommunicated member, charlie, got rebaptized on sunday! So that was awesome to see someone who has worked so hard for 5 years to make it back! He has a real testimony. And he was called as a teacher for gospel principles so its pretty awesome. At church we talked about obedience in one class and pride in the other and the lessons were super spiritual.

All the time I spent sick and all the lessons fallen through had really got me down in the dumps, but at church I realized that I need to change some things and that Ill be able to pull myself out of this slump! I need to be more humble! I need to lose my pride and be more loving, of everyone! And I need to step up my obedience and my level of work. Ive taken a step back as a missionary and I havent been working as hard as I should be these last 2 weeks and havent been studying much, but Im ready to cut the crap and get my butt into gear and kill myself these next 5 months. 

But this has been a priceless lesson ive learned. We CANNOT go backwards in this life! There are times where were not working as good as others because we havent progressed there yet, but we feel great as we are progressing, but theres absolutely nothing worse than going backwards! Its a terrible feeling to go backwards, and its something I never again want in my mission. I refuse to go backwards!

Well, I love you all! Keep progressing in your lives!

always,
Elder Hodson 1

pics: My 3 kids in my zone! 

        Me my comp and mission president with all of our priesthood leaders. I admire these men! Theyre so awesome! And all their suits were provided by donations from my dad!!! He sent me 9 suits to give away to all my priesthood leaders. Isnt he awesome?

 

 

Week 81

I hate holidays in Honduras!

 

Querido familia y amigos,

How is everyone doing today? Im doing great! Loving life as always, but this week was so terrible!!! hahaha This has been the week of all the county fairs and parties and parades, so NO ONE is in their houses. And because Olanchito is the Texas of Honduras, everyone was showing off their prize winning cows and horses all week. It was pretty funny. I think the worst part of all is the music. Latin country, latin rap, and a music called Bachata all week long, but the same 20 songs. I hate the music here. haha

But in spite of all the crap this week we still had success. We put down two more baptismal dates for october. One with our neighbor Kelly, shes awesome and fully prepared to receive the gospel. And the other with a kid named Harry whos come to church like 4 times in a row. Theyre both awesome and I really do believe theyll be baptized. Harry is such a funny 16 year old. His eyes light up so bright when he sees us and when we talk about him being able to be a missionary. He cracks me up.

We got to see elder Soto this week! We had a meeting in la paz and afterward president klein took Guzman and I to go see him in san pedro. Hes doing great! He should be back on his mission in 6 to 7 months. He was a little drugged up because we saw him a day after his surgery, so he was cracking us up. To show us his scars they were gonna have to show us his behind and he says "No way! I love you guys but I dont wanna be THAT close of friends! Hes hilarious. 

BIG NEWS!!!! Elder Ruelas, my son, is now in my district! IM SO EXCITED! I get to go on divisiones with my chubby little son! Im super pumped. 

Well, I love you all, Im loving the mission, and I cant wait for everydays adventures.

Always,

Elder Hodson

Pics,

Me and the other Riley, Elder Nichols

The president of honduras landed his helicopter outside my house haha

Our pet lizard

I love selfies

 

 

 

 

 

Week 80

18 months

Dearest Family and Friends,

Well, this week was nuts, with Sotos fall and my comp going to san pedro and having to receive new missionaries there wasnt time for much this week. But, with the last 3 days we had, we were able to accomplish much! 

Lately, Ive been able to see how important a good first lesson is. To be able to walk in and immediately explain to them WHY youre there and the blessings they will receive has a lot of power. A lot of missionaries just go in and get to know them and dont teach anything in the first lesson and thats why their investigators dont progress. Ive found so much power in telling people that we are there to help them repent be baptised and endure to the end! In this way, theres no confusion later on when we talk about baptism, and its not a shock to them when we bring it up. Also, it weeds out the junk of people who just wanna be our friends and learn english haha so thats what ive learned this week.

Sergio, our best investigator, is progressing wonderfully. He doesnt live with his member girlfriend, but theyre not esxactly obeying the law of chastity if you catch my drift. We taught them the importance the other day, and it was really hard for him! Were gonna keep pushing with them, but were not gonna do anything stupid and baptise him before he lives the commandment, and were not gonna go marry them either. We're gonna have patience with them and see how this one goes.

We found a solid 3 families this week who are really interested in the gospel message. Very quickly we should be able to get up to 20 progressing. Were half way there now. 

So an update on elder Soto. He is in surgery today. Hes doing great and will be here in Rehab for another 2 weeks then he'll go back to El Salvador until hes good and healed then he'll come back! Sotos fall is the biggest news this towns ever seen, so everywhere we go the people are talking about it. Its a little ridiculous really haha

Well. I have 18 months! thats mind blowing! Time flies. I love you all!

And a quick shout out to my awesome little brother Elder Hodson 2 for entering the MTC this last week! Hes gonna do great! Keep him in your prayers!

Elder Hodson 1

Foto: this is a very pretty picture of olanchito

 

 

Week 79

The Most Memorable Day of my life

Dearest Family and Friends,

Well we had an awesome week and I could tell you all about the new awesome investigators and ton of success were having but I have something better to tell you.

Yesterday was the hardest day of my life. And the most memorable. And one of the days I learned most about our Heavenly Father. 

Yesterday we decided to climb mount pacura, the highest mountain in olanchito. All went well as we went up, having a great time enjoying the scenery and taking pictures. We got to the top quickly and without any problems and after the pics we started to descend down the steeper and more dangerous crest of the mountain. 

Like all young idiots, we were going too fast and Elder Soto, and 18 year old new missionary with only a month in the missionary, was following behind my idiot companion who sometimes doesnt think things through, like most latinos. Elder Soto lost his footing and tried to grab a small tree, only to pull it out by its roots. He started to slip and slide towards the edge of a cliff. I was right behind him and watched in terror while i couldnt do anything and watched him disappear off the edge.

"1... 2.... 3.THUMP" we heard and all three immediately broke out in prayer begging heavenly father that he would be alive. We all three headed down the incredibly steep hill where he had landed. So steep that the only way to make it down was sliding, but sliding so fast that only on coming tree were our brakes. So fast I came down that where I once had a few warts, theyre no longer there! Saved me a nice medical bill ;) hahaha 

Guzman made it to soto first and we found him conscious but screaming in pain. By Gods merciful hand he didnt die from the 60+ drop. And Im under exagerating. If you were to see the cliff youd be amazed that he survived the fall. He got stuck in some bushed half way down the hill. He was in terrible condition. A hug black eye, foreheard split open to the skull, and worst of all, a broke back, but it hadnt severed his spinal column because he could still move his feet. So we immediately gave him a blessing and started the calls and made him a makeshift bed out of grass so he could lie down flat. We prayed for a miraculous helicopter and soon heard on, but it was just a hope, because Honduras has no helicopter rescue team. haha. So with the 3 liters of water we had, we gave it all to him. This is 930 am. Soto soon entered into hysterics, constantly trying to sit up and change position, asking all sorts of hilarious questions. There we waited, praying for a miracle. I learned yesterday that at times, God wants to try us, to show us what were possible of, to show us that we can do all things, because were his offspring, and He can do all things. We prayed for cloud cover, but we received the opposite as we were beaten by the honduran sun at mid day. 

There we waited until about 1 pm when two honduran firefighters showed up, with only 1 liter of water, and an emergency cot. Not a nice back suspension board, a metal and cloth cot with two straps to hold Soto in. There I didnt drink water either. We then started the LONG descent down pacura, but we were on the rough steep side still. Carrying a person down the steep trailess side of a mountain is the hardest thing ive ever done. After an hour of fighting, we made it back to the mountain crest, and God threw us another trial. Rain and Wind. Wind stronger than Ive ever felt in my life. But we kept on pushing. By this time the stake president and one of his counselours had found us, so now we were 3 elders, 1 young adult from the ward, 2 firefighters, and 2 middle aged men haha

I also learned yesterday that God really does send angels, maybe not with wings, but sometimes in the form of humans. I also learned that he doesnt send them until the moment we cant carry on. 

It was 3 or 4 in the afternoon. I hadnt drinken water in 5 or 6 hours and had exhorted all the force I had in my body. All this time fighting with the elements and with a hysterical young man who wouldnt sit still in his cot. I was burnt. My body was expent. I literally couldnt carry on. I would carry one 4th of the cot for 20 steps and have to step down again. Thats when God sent angels. One of them is named Ruben. Ruben is an investigator we taught one time. While all the other members who went on the trek with us went home and didnt return to help, Ruben came back up the steep side of the mountain with 6 liters of water and food. Along with Ruben came 4 soldiers and another fireman, along with a local mountain man. They came to our rescue. Those men were incredible. They grabbed that cot and ran with it, making easy work of that mountain. They couldnt have come at a better time. If they hadnt have come, Soto would be dead. And I along with him! I was so dehydrated that I couldnt even close my mouth. We quickly made it down to trail and to town and got Soto to the hospital. We got off the mountain at 6 that night. Soto, miraculously, has only suffered a broken spine, but his nerves all remained in contact. He was transferred to San Pedro this morning.

Yesterday was the hardest day of my life. I thought I saw a friend die before my eyes. But yesterday I learned many things. I learned that God was never gonna let Soto die. If God wanted him to die, he wouldve died on impact, like 99.99% of people will die falling from that height. I also learned that God at times will try us, and its not to anger us, but to show us what we're capable of. As offspring of a God, we can do all things with faith. Did my faith waver at times? yes. I wont lie. But there were others there to lift me up and keep me going as well. I know that God wasnt going to push us more than what we were capable of. And I learned that when we reach our limits, is when God says, Thats enough, and He sends angels. Those firefighters and soldiers that rescued us have my total respect and admiration. 

I know our Father is there, and hes always watching over us. He loves us, and wants us to grow. I know His Son suffered things far worse than we did yesterday. Miracles exist. 

Always,
Elder Hodson

Fun before the fall:

 

The aftermath:

 

My Birthday dinner: