Week 50

Week 50 in Nuevo San Juan

Dearest Family and Friends,

50 is a really big number. Dang.

How is everyone?! Im doing just dandy here in the internet cafe. Elder Godoy and I have had an incredible week. 

First,  A good funny story. Harold, one of my converts, turned 11 this week. So we bought him a few gifts, and and extra special surprise. As we were taking a "photo" together, I whipped and egg out of my pocket and smashed it on his head. We have it on video. Its priceless. Then my comp picked him up and dunked him in the tub of water outside of his house and bathed him with 11 bowl of water. It was probably the greatest birthday gift ive ever given ahah 

So we have two more investigators with baptismal dates! Andy and Alvin, two teenagers that always play soccer with us. They have become awesome! They used to only play video games and stay up till 5 am screwing around (quite frankly they remind me of myself haha) But now they go to bed early on saturdays and read their book of mormon everyday together before doing anything. Theyre awesome. My comp had his first baptismal challenge with them and they accepted! I was so proud. 

This week. I was a little dumb. There was a glass of water on the desk, and I forgot that it wasnt purified water. I drank it. And I immediately remembered that it wasnt purified after. Yeah. that was a mistake. I was wrecked the next day. But hey. Now I feel like a real missionary haha 

One last awesome experience. We had a new investigator a few weeks ago named Kevin. When we met with Kevin, I knew immediately that he just wanted to be our friend and nothing more. But for some reason, the spirit told me to stay with him a little more. Turns out that we met his uncle one day when we went to visit Kevin, and he wasnt there, but his uncle, Eduardo told us he wanted to visit us because he had many questions about the Book of Mormon. When we went to visit him, PURE GOLD! Man. This guy asks all the great questions! And when my comp challenged him to baptism, there was no beating around the bush. Just a sincere, Yes. If I know its true, then I have to be baptised in your church. BOOM! How awesome is that?! Were pumped for him. 

Well. I love life. 

Elder Hodson

 

Week 49

I love surprises

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been a week of surprises for me! The first came monday night at 1030 when they told me I was gonna train again!!! I was super pumped! My new sons name is Elder Godoy. Hes from Tegucigalpa Honduras and is serving here while he is waiting for his visa! Hes super awesome and we get along great. Hes like my dad, Elder Perdomo! We get along great and hes pumped to be here.

We had an awesome sunday. All of our investigators had fallen through for going to church, so a little discouraged we went to church alone. We showed up, and there was an investigator we hadnt seen in 2 weeks, Andy! Hes a teenager, 17, who always played soccer with us, but by himself he came to church! And he was there before us! And then shortly after, a less active member who weve been working with, Irvin, showed up with his friend Jimmy, who had received all of the lessons from the sister missionaries years before! I love suprises at church.

I also love how to Lord sometimes suprises us. We got on the bus on the way to church and there was Ana Maria Palacio, Dunias daughter. She was with a middle age man on their way to buy school supplies. I imagine hes a family friend helping them out. I said hi to him and said nice to meet you, and he shook his head and said its not nice to meet me. I said "well. thats fine with me!" and kept talking to ana. Let me tell you. Ive become quite brave here on my mission and Im not afraid to argue with anyone, and I was 1 second away from asking him what was his problem and giving him a good beating with the bible, but then, two elderly woman got on our packed bus, and immediately we stood up and gave them our seats while he just stared at us. Furious. Its funny how the Lord gives us perfect opportunities to shut people up by just our actions! haha

We taught a pastor this week! He didnt want to fight but he did have certain questions. So we gave him a little spanking with the bible. Its awesome to see that in only 1 year how much we can learn about the scriptures, and when we dont have a spirit of contention, how the holy ghost reminds us exactly where the scriptures are found. It actually was a really spiritual lesson and we gave him a book of mormon and a pamphlet and challenged him to read and pray!

Well. The mission is awesome. I love it. This gospel is true.

Elder Hodson

Week 48

11 Months

11 months huh? Welp. See ya later!

How is everyone? this week has been awesome! Today we had a great pday and we went to amusement park to do their obstacle course! Ill send pics! It was so fun! One of the best pdays Ive ever had. 

We had an awesome activity this week. We decorated the church and did a Plan of Salvation tour. We had a family of investigators come and they absolutely loved it! Afterwards, the mom of the family (the same family from last week that we found when I was sick, The Palacio Family) she told me how blown away she was and how much she feels the need to make it to the celestial kingdom! Her name is Dunia.

Dunia and her family might be the most prepared people ive ever met to receive the gospel. She is a teacher, and has her own school, so shes in contact with a TON of people everyday. She used to be super rich but her husband cheated on her and robbed her of everything. She now feels grateful for her trial because she told us that she would never have opened the door to talk with us before, and now she is in love with the gospel! The best part is that the day after the activity she shared the gospel with everyone that entered into her house and gave out pamphlets and everything! She even got attacked by a friend and responded "whats the biggest invitation your church has ever extended you, maybe to attend a wedding? Im sure theyll never invited you to know The One TRUE GOD!!!" how awesome is that?! Shes great and shes going to be a fountain of references here in san juan! Shes going to transform the area. 

They went to church on sunday, and the teacher of gospel principles taught about baptism, and Dunia bawled her eyes out! She said afterwards how excited she is to be baptised! Im so excited for her. 

I love san juan. I dont think Ill ever be able to love an area as much as I love it here! Ive learned a ton from being here and Im excited to be here for one more change! 

I love you all! This work is true!

Elder Hodson