Well, I'm here in Rupert, a town of supposedly just over 5,000 people, although I don't believe it, I've barely seen more than a couple hundred. We've moved into our new apartment, which is easily one of the filthiest places I have ever seen in my life. The last elders who lived here CLEARLY did not understand the principle "Cleanliness is next to Godliness" After a few DAYS of cleaning, scrubbing and detoxifying our apartment, we felt at home. It's a nice little place, where we sleep on mattresses on the floor and have a toilet that sways when you are using it. The apartment also has no heater, save a small floor heater we bought that warms one of the rooms fairly well. The interesting thing is about this abode in which we live is that I love that way that it's falling apart. I absolutely love it. For some reason it just makes me happy knowing that I'm in easily one of the most run down of all the apartments in this mission. I know it doesn't make sense, but it's true.
Many things here are different. First of all, Rupert has a very distinct smell. For those of you who have been the the State Fair near where the animals are, THAT'S what it smells like. However, much like the condition of our apartment, instead of disliking it, I enjoy it very much. It's really nice to be out of Boise where people are very prideful and unfriendly to a small town like Rupert where anyone will help you out with anything you need. Already, Elder Smith and I have recieved:
1 - Apples picked from an tree in someone's yard
2 - Homemade huckleberry jam
3 - Made from scratch cookies
4 - Elk burger meat
5 - A meal made solely from things owned by the family (Chuck roast from a cow they owned and killed, corn cut from ears they owned and of course, potatoes from their farm)
They also have a very strong following in the Church here. Attending membership is easily 2 to 3 times more than in Boise and the youth program is MUCH more active than in my last area. The other Elders in our area are Elder Begg and Elder Ware, from Tampa, Florida and Hueytown, Alabama, respectively. They are awesome. All four of us get along very well and get lots of work done while still sharing plenty of laughs. Well, I have to go for now, but pictures will be on the way soon! (Pics posted in the previous post!)
Take care everyone!
-Elder Hops
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Pictures!
This is what it is all about!
the chiseled chin. Woo Hoo!
Chow Time!
Elder Hopkins and Elder Keith just before Elder Keith returned home to Raleigh, NC
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Letter - Thursday, October 15th
Well, the last few weeks we hadn't heard much from Mike, but he did tell us that he's been sick with food poisoning! I think he's all better now, since it's been over a week and a half since he said he started feeling sick. Anyway, we had also heard from him that he'd be staying in Boise for a while longer. Then, we got this letter from him today, updating everything:
"So, About Tuesday...
We went to send e-mails but the place we were at had the internet crash, and so we didn't get the e-mails sent. I actually printed off what I was GOING to send and will send it to you (mom and dad) in a letter.
Anyway, turns out I'm not staying in Boise, but instead am going to Rupert to shotgun an area. Shotgunning is where you and another Elder enter an area that is new to the both of you. Essentially, we'll be the first Elders to be in this area in a while. I've sent Dad the GoogleMaps of Rupert. It's a car area, so I'll be going to Wal-Mart this week to return my bike. I'll miss it.
So anyway, I was upset at this transfer call at first because my first baptism and my first confirmation would've taken place this next transfer if I had stayed. But, I know that me going to a brand new area shows that President really trusts me.
Anyway, my new companion's name is Elder Smith. I'll be transferring to Rupert next Wednesday. Neither of us are going to know the area at all and it's a really large area I've been told. I will need the Garmin (GPS). I've been weaning myself onto the cold weather by sleeping with our windows open the first few days it started getting cold and that was really nice, because it's in the 40s right now and I'm still in short sleeves!
So, that's what's been going on in my life the last week or so. Again, sorry for the delayed e-mail. Know that I am striving to write you as much as I can in the limited time I have and I love you each. Our family picture is right next to my bed and it's almost always the last thing I see before the lights go out. I miss you and love you all very much, these past 3 months have been very frustrating to be quite honest, but I know this is where and what I need to be doing, and that, as they say, every trial makes your future wife more attractive :D
Always,
Elder Hops"
"So, About Tuesday...
We went to send e-mails but the place we were at had the internet crash, and so we didn't get the e-mails sent. I actually printed off what I was GOING to send and will send it to you (mom and dad) in a letter.
Anyway, turns out I'm not staying in Boise, but instead am going to Rupert to shotgun an area. Shotgunning is where you and another Elder enter an area that is new to the both of you. Essentially, we'll be the first Elders to be in this area in a while. I've sent Dad the GoogleMaps of Rupert. It's a car area, so I'll be going to Wal-Mart this week to return my bike. I'll miss it.
So anyway, I was upset at this transfer call at first because my first baptism and my first confirmation would've taken place this next transfer if I had stayed. But, I know that me going to a brand new area shows that President really trusts me.
Anyway, my new companion's name is Elder Smith. I'll be transferring to Rupert next Wednesday. Neither of us are going to know the area at all and it's a really large area I've been told. I will need the Garmin (GPS). I've been weaning myself onto the cold weather by sleeping with our windows open the first few days it started getting cold and that was really nice, because it's in the 40s right now and I'm still in short sleeves!
So, that's what's been going on in my life the last week or so. Again, sorry for the delayed e-mail. Know that I am striving to write you as much as I can in the limited time I have and I love you each. Our family picture is right next to my bed and it's almost always the last thing I see before the lights go out. I miss you and love you all very much, these past 3 months have been very frustrating to be quite honest, but I know this is where and what I need to be doing, and that, as they say, every trial makes your future wife more attractive :D
Always,
Elder Hops"
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
New Pictures
So, Elder, how are things going in Boise?
Teaching a McVestigator
Mission Car.....you wish!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Letter - Week of 9/14/09
Hello All!
So, these past weeks have been some busy ones, ladies and gentlemen! I apologize in advance for not writing last week, but now you'll be able to hear of my adventures in a more condensed version! Hooray! Ok, so first things first...I had, on Friday the 11th, my very first...meatloaf. Yuck! But I knew it was inevitable, and I made it two months into my mission before I had one, so I'm ok with it. The family we ate with with super nice and fun to talk to, their names were the Carlsons! They made up for the meatloaf, however, with AMAZING peach pie. For those of you who live in a cave, it is currently peach season, and members are constantly bombarding us with the delightful fruit. However, Elder Moos does not take to peaches at all, therefore, I have mass amounts of peaches all to myself! :D I put them in my Frosted Flakes, eat them whole, put them in yogurt...anything and everything to get rid of them before another member gives us another bagful.
Also, while being out here, I have found the immense value of yard sales and garage sales, as well as stores like Ross and thrift stores. They are goldmines of this and that and you can always find something you'd like for about a nickel. Also, there is a glorious place known as Vista Pawn which is about the size of a grocery store and has everything you could ever want at bargain prices. I go there every so often to play bass :]
I've only got a few moments left and I'd like to dedicate them to a fellow named Travis Kidd. He is a fantastic guy who we had the opportunity to teach the Gospel. Not only did he learn the things we had to teach, he lived it! He was so absorbed in the teachings and scriptures and the Gospel of Jesus Christ that you could see the improvement it made in his life. He was baptized on the 12th. I have never seen someone so enthusiastic as he was about joining the Church. I strive in my life, as we all should, to keep that joy and enthusiasm in knowing that God truly is our loving Heavenly Father and he sent his Son to atone and die for us, so that we may be able to repent and once again go live with Him after this life. I know these things are true without a doubt in my mind and it makes me so humbled that Christ would die for ME, personally. I know that we can all feel that humility through reading the scriptures and through sincere prayer to our Heavenly Father! Way to go Travis!
Anyway, I must be going, I'm buying a new bike today :D
Until next time!
-Elder Hops
So, these past weeks have been some busy ones, ladies and gentlemen! I apologize in advance for not writing last week, but now you'll be able to hear of my adventures in a more condensed version! Hooray! Ok, so first things first...I had, on Friday the 11th, my very first...meatloaf. Yuck! But I knew it was inevitable, and I made it two months into my mission before I had one, so I'm ok with it. The family we ate with with super nice and fun to talk to, their names were the Carlsons! They made up for the meatloaf, however, with AMAZING peach pie. For those of you who live in a cave, it is currently peach season, and members are constantly bombarding us with the delightful fruit. However, Elder Moos does not take to peaches at all, therefore, I have mass amounts of peaches all to myself! :D I put them in my Frosted Flakes, eat them whole, put them in yogurt...anything and everything to get rid of them before another member gives us another bagful.
Also, while being out here, I have found the immense value of yard sales and garage sales, as well as stores like Ross and thrift stores. They are goldmines of this and that and you can always find something you'd like for about a nickel. Also, there is a glorious place known as Vista Pawn which is about the size of a grocery store and has everything you could ever want at bargain prices. I go there every so often to play bass :]
I've only got a few moments left and I'd like to dedicate them to a fellow named Travis Kidd. He is a fantastic guy who we had the opportunity to teach the Gospel. Not only did he learn the things we had to teach, he lived it! He was so absorbed in the teachings and scriptures and the Gospel of Jesus Christ that you could see the improvement it made in his life. He was baptized on the 12th. I have never seen someone so enthusiastic as he was about joining the Church. I strive in my life, as we all should, to keep that joy and enthusiasm in knowing that God truly is our loving Heavenly Father and he sent his Son to atone and die for us, so that we may be able to repent and once again go live with Him after this life. I know these things are true without a doubt in my mind and it makes me so humbled that Christ would die for ME, personally. I know that we can all feel that humility through reading the scriptures and through sincere prayer to our Heavenly Father! Way to go Travis!
Anyway, I must be going, I'm buying a new bike today :D
Until next time!
-Elder Hops
Monday, September 14, 2009
A Few Updates
I (Alex) got a letter today from Elder Hopkins! It's been almost two weeks since we really heard much from him, but I guessed it was just because he's been so busy up in Idaho!
So, I was very excited to get a handwritten letter in the mail today! Here are a couple snippets from the letter that are updates on his status:
"I have a new companion, Elder Moos (said like Moose). He's humble and excited and he loves to laugh. Elder Nelson is now my District Leader, so I'll still see him all the time."
"Well, I hope everything is going absolutely fabulously, because it is on my end. We have two baptisms this week and more on the way. I've started reading the Book of Mormon all the way through again - I actually read all of 1 Nephi this morning! :P The scriptures are so sick, they always have the answers."
It's so nice to hear that he's still doing well and that things are going so successfully for him! Hopefully we'll get a nice long letter from him tomorrow over email! :)
So, I was very excited to get a handwritten letter in the mail today! Here are a couple snippets from the letter that are updates on his status:
"I have a new companion, Elder Moos (said like Moose). He's humble and excited and he loves to laugh. Elder Nelson is now my District Leader, so I'll still see him all the time."
"Well, I hope everything is going absolutely fabulously, because it is on my end. We have two baptisms this week and more on the way. I've started reading the Book of Mormon all the way through again - I actually read all of 1 Nephi this morning! :P The scriptures are so sick, they always have the answers."
It's so nice to hear that he's still doing well and that things are going so successfully for him! Hopefully we'll get a nice long letter from him tomorrow over email! :)
Sunday, August 30, 2009
More Pictures
Yesterday brought us a nice gift. We received these photos from a friend of ours who lived in Raleigh for years until moving to North Ogden a while back. He works in Boise occasionally and was able to meet up with Elder Hopkins and his trainer Elder Nelson and take them to dinner. Afterward, he took some photos of them in front of their residence. Thanks O'Neill!
What's in a name?
Elder Hop and Elder Nelson
Gettin around in style!
Ahhh, dinner at the Olive Garden. It soothes the soul!
What's in a name?
Elder Hop and Elder Nelson
Gettin around in style!
Ahhh, dinner at the Olive Garden. It soothes the soul!
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