Letter - 6/22/10

Hello Blog Readers!

So, some crazy things have happened since I last wrote. I now have a new companion, Elder Eging, who is ALSO from Ohio. Elder Arnoczky went to Middleton. He's a big boy now. They grow up so fast! But I'm confident in him and it's been interesting to see him learn the ropes and how much he's grown.

Ok, so on to the big news. First of all, I went over to Emmett, ID with Elder Kraus for a day and the people who fed us dinners fed us quite a delicacy in these parts. They're known as Rocky Mountain Oysters. If you don't know what they are, Google it or something. Do that now. Ok, are you done? Yeah, hopefully you still respect me. They tasted...interesting. Not really what you expect, but then again what DO you expect when you go to eat something like that? I will say this though: they were a lot smaller than I pictured them. haha So gross. But hey, I have a cool story now, eh?

We also had three people get baptized the weekend before last. It was a dad and two of his kids. The Pollock family. Jason (dad), Breanna (Daughter) and Jalen (Son). It was a really powerful experience to see a family join together in the Gospel like that. It's experiences like this that help me remember why I came out on a mission. For those of you who don't know (and hopefully I haven't mentioned this before) my parents are converts to the Church. One day, some missionaries knocked on the door a few months after my parents were married and my Mom answered and let them talk to her about the Gospel. I know that my life has been better because the Gospel was in it. I don't know (nor really, do I want to) where I'd be without the Church in my life. I realize a little more now the changes people have to make as a family in order to come closer unto the Savior and it's really inspiring to see them all do it together.

Much thanks to everyone who sends me letters or packages or e-mails. It means a lot to know that you're thinking about me, because I know that I think about you all quite a bit. Never forget how much Heavenly Father and Christ love each of us!!


Don't Eat Rocky Mountain Oysters,

Elder Hops

Letter - 6/1/2010

Hey everyone!

Elder Arnoczky and I are doing very well! It's his second week here and things are going great. We get along really well and I couldn't ask for a better son! We joke around a ton, work hard and have fun. We both have started a new diet: 700 calories only before dinner. We figure that's a pretty good number since we're trying to stay under 1500 calories a day, and we never know what we'll be getting from the members for dinner. We also run 3 miles a day - one in the morning, two at night. It's a good thing to do and always helps us feel healthier and is a good habit to get in to.

Side note: Pictures are on the way as soon as I can get the photo CD made and sent off!

In other news, things are warming up around here, much to my dismay. You all probably know I am not the biggest fan of hot weather. But, at least it's a dry heat, right? Eh...right. Our car's air conditioning is not really working either, so being in a car isn't much of a help in the war on heat.

A pretty crazy thing is happening in July. Our Mission President, President Yardley, is going home and we will be getting a new one, President Cannon. A mission president is the man who is more or less in charge of all the missionaries in the area. Through prayer, he is inspired to decide where each missionary will be transferred to in the mission and what companion they will have. It will be a sad day when President Yardley leaves. He truly is a wonderful man, as well as his wife, Sister Yardley. They served in their positions for three years. So, essentially, I will have one mission president for the first half of my mission and a different one for the second half. Kind of sad, kind of exciting.

Well, not much very new things going on. Oh! Except that there is a family here who we've been working with that it's been fantastic to see how they've grown together in the Gospel as they've learned about it. I spoke a little in my last letter about families and how important they are for us and to our Heavenly Father.

-Elder Hops