Busy and Happy

Older picture but shows his new Companion on the right

Hey fammmm.

I’m doing great, just workin here in my new area.I am in an area called El Lago. It’s in a town called Amatitlan, just out 
of the capital, its right on the lake. It’s in between the capital and the coast, so it’s kinda hot, but not as hot as the actual coast. the members here are super pilas, they work hard and are super willing. My companion in Elder Jaramillo, from Las Vegas, so were both super stoked about that, cuz we’ve been pretty good friends since the beginning of the mission, he came in 6 weeks after me. Actually I have sent some pictures home of me and him, there’s one where I am in my Calgary Flames sweater. I am now a zone leader in the zone and stake of Amatitlan. President Brough is using the zone for a pilot program for divisions. This change we have to do divisions with every elder in the zone, but each division will be two days. It’s going to be a little tough to do, especially with our investigators, because for like half the change we won’t even be together. Also about the mission split, I did not know, all I know is that President told us he had some news for us, and so on Friday we have a zone leader meeting. I imagine that he will talk to us about the split.

But yea, there are tons and tons of missionaries that are coming in, that’s why I was training two, cuz there are just too many!

About the malaria thing, I don’t think you'll need to worry about it, just wear bug spray, I’m pretty sure I never got any malaria shot, and I hardly even wore bug spray in the coast, only in the house, and I was fine.
 
I did get your package, it’s awesome, I just quickly went though it this morning, as I've had no time, also we are getting settled in to a new house, I'm still not unpacked and we have to do 5 phone calls every night to all the district leaders, so it’s a little tough, I’m very short on time ha.

But I am very happy with the changes, and I’m just loving life.

Also last weekend, RR was baptized, it was great, his wife still isn't sure on the whole baptism things, but she'll be baptized soon enough. It was a good service, a member baptized him, since we taught them in his house. The taller one is RR, the convert.

Also in my area, there is a Wal-Mart! I haven't been to a Wal-Mart in almost 2 years, so that will be nice, also me and Elder Jaramillo are planning on getting ripped this change, so I'm gonna buy some protein powder at a GNC that there is in this area, I gotta gain back the 15 pounds that I lost!!

I hope that dad’s hand gets better, it was nice to hear from him.

Sounds like you’re all doing great, I’m glad.
 
Just got the picture of the school, that sucks, I liked having the big open field.

The pictures I sent are of me and Elder tanner, who goes home today, me and my two last comps, the baptism, and a goofy picture of us with the familia G-.

Love you all so much, stay safe and stay classy.

From Guatemala, with love,
Elder Hopkins xoxoxo

Elder Tanner that goes home today

Me with my last 2 companions I trained

Baptism of RR, he is the taller one

Being Silly with the Familia G

11 baptisms as a zone, 9 are from my district!

My District

February 12, 2013

Hey heyyy.

wow, flights are already being booked. puchis.
yeah, sounds good to me. book em

Its always so great to hear from my awesome loving family.

This month we have the goal to have a great retencion rate, or that all the recent converts go to church, so yesterday we went with  some members and had a family home evening with a family that needs more friendship and a pick me up, it was great. Made me miss our awesome Family home evenings, sitting out there in the garage, all on the couch, watching 24, eating popcorn, pickles, and whatever. great times. Maybe they weren't always the most spiritual family home evenings, but i sure enjoyed them.

Thanks for signing me up for a run,ha. looks like I'm going to have to start training? maybe i'll have to go running in the morning. The other week i did divisions with Elder Tanner, and we got up early and ran about 1.5 K. but man, i was dying. I know im walking about 10-20 k a day, mas o menos, but man, running sure in different. i need to get into running shape haha. but it sounds like it'll be fun. what is the date of this run?

Well, this last week was really hard to be honest, but don't you worry, we're safe and healthy and we've already started a new better week. The one great thing about last week is that we put a for sure baptismal date with "RR". his wife didn't want to accept it, but we'll see what happens. This sunday will be his Baptism, and it will be my last sunday in this area its looking like. Changes are in one week.

We had interviews with President Brough this morning, they were good, he said that i wasn't going to be in a trio anymore, but i really have no idea where i will be going and what I'll be doing. Next week I'll tell ya. I think we will be writing on Wednesday next week.

Oh ya, i wanted to ask you guys i you've ever heard of the company Pull&Bear. Ive been seeing tons of it here, they always make knock offs of cool companies here, but i've never heard of this one before.

So yeah, happy valentines day this week, i wont be doing anything special for it,thats for sure. maybe next year, if my luck is good.

I had a dream about parker steele the other night haha. it was funny. but the scary thing is that i could possibly be married before he gets home, well, at least thats the next step i gotta take, but we'll see, i hear you've gatta have a girlfriend before the marriage thing, so it might be a little bit difficult for me.

so is the baptism record you set at the temple, a record for the temple, for alberta, for  canada, or for the world?? fill me in on that. it doesn't quite do it for me just calling it a record.

so the picture i sent you is of me and my district. were doing great right now as a district. There are five districts in the zone, and of the 11 baptismal dates as a zone, 9 of them are from my district. Pilasssssss

so yeah i don't really know what else to tell you guys, keep classy, be obedient, God protects the obedient.

oh yeah, so we taught a pastor this week, we had alot of encounters with pastors this week, but it was funny cuz he was trying to preach to us during the lesson and were just like, por favor, were teaching here. and we were talking about authority, and then i shared with his in Acts 16 or 6 i think it is, where Esteban, or steven in english? receives the priesthood for the laying on of hands, and then we explained it really well, and then he just sat there quiet the rest of the lesson, yeah, we confused the wicked, it was funny, but then i asked him to say the last prayer, which was super funny, we knelt down, and he was also with two ladies who were from his church, but they all just started to yell and shout, Jesus, forgive us, Lord Jesus, you are the greatest, and just random stuff like that, but they were so intense into it, i was just dying laughing with my head in my lap. evangelicals just pray like that here, they yell and scream, and they even cry and are bawling in their prayers, all at the same time, and just say random things. and there were some girls in the backroom who were like what the heck is happening, and they ran and were peeking through the door, and i saw them and just put my finger to my lips and whispered, be quiet, we're praying. it was soooo funny, we just left dying of laughter.

fun experiences. and more that i'll tell you about after the mish ha.

Well, I love you all.
From Guatemala, with love,
Elder Hopkins xoxoxoxo

Is that a dead chicken in your pocket?

The work never stops

A typical meal when I have to cook

So tired after a long day of work

Companion one also tired

Companion two also tired

Feb 5, 2013

Hello my loving familyyy.

well, I'll get right to answering the questions.
There were changes yesterday, but there were just mini changes to accommodate the temporary missionaries, on the 19th there will be changes again, which I believe will affect me, i think im out to one last area in the mission. but on tuesday the 19th I wont be writing either I don't think, not until the wednesday. but next tuesday I will be writing on tuesday.

I think a good time to go back home from picking me up will be on the thursday morning. Cuz then i can get home at in the afternoonish and still be able to enjoy that last wednesday here. The wednesday that you see me will all be taken up with the mission home stuff. you wont see me until the late afternoon on the wednesday. Antigua is about 1.5 to 2 hours away from the capital where we will be at, so maybe the first night we should stay in the capital. Then go to Antigua. Antigua is pretty central, but I did want to go to panajachel, and we might want to stay a night there, cuz i want to drive up to Quetzaltenango to the new temple one morning, and panajachal is a lot closer to it than Antigua, like maybe 3 hours closer. But we are going to be waking up early every morning anyways so we could wake up extra early to make the longer drive. I'm used to waking up at like 4 to get to places early haha. but yes, rent a car, that will be the only way to do it. You guys might just want to fly in on wednesday morning, Cuz i dont want to guys doing too much without me there, especially if your going to be in the capital.

The Guatemala temple picture gift you will make for my converts sounds good, yeah, like 20 will probably be good. Families are Forever is spanish is (Las Familias Son Eternas) that would make a good little gift.

So I neglected to wish you a Happy birthday last week, right after i left the internet I thought, OH NOOO! I forgot to wish mama happy birthday!, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!! from the pictures you sent me you are looking younger than ever. Also I like madi's brown jacket, maybe I'll have to steal it when i get home, like how she steals my clothes haha. but yeah, all you guys are looking great.
I received that envelope with pictures that you sent me as well, everyones looking buenísimo. jaja

Things are all good here in chimaltenango, all three of us here are getting along great.
we are working with a family named the family “R”, that are a really young hip couple, they are really cool and nice, we are pushing for them to be baptized on the 17th, but they feel that it it rushed, but hopefully it will go through. i want to baptize again before I leave this area.

We contacted this really old typical guatemala native the other day, he hardly even spoke spanish, but he had a dead baby chicken in is hand, and we were like what the heck, what are you doing with that, he said he was going to throw it out, but then he put it in his pants pocket. hahaha, we were all laughing after, he actually put a dead chicken in his pocket. it was funny.
you'll have to meet some old guatemalan natives here one day, they're so funny haha, just so out of the loop.

oh ya, so for that last package, just like some facial wash and clearasil, and what ever good stuff you see. I donno, and q tips maybe. surprise me.

and wow, only 14 weeks left. time flies. Elder Tanner is in my district and he goes home in 2 though. so we always talk about baggy things together, what we're going to do when we get back home and stuff. we're going to hang out next time I go to Arizona.

but yeah, these next two changes I'm telling myself that I'm going to workout good every morning, and maybe I'll buy some protien powder or something, and get some of that muscle mass back.
that reminds me, if you guys can pay off my credit card that would be great, i took money out cuz i ordered another suit., and just to have some spare money if i need it.

I think thats all i got this week. Sure love you guys. Take care, and be wise.
From Guatemala, With Love,
Elder Hopkins xoxoxoxo 

The buses we ride

Working Hard with Baggy Collars

Baptism of Jose Garcia - he is on the right - Jan. 27, 2013

Hey Familyyyy

Well, I’m glad that you are having a great vacation, sometimes all you gotta do is laugh, it sounds like from the moment you booked the trip, from the moment you got to the airport, from the moment you got to New York. You’ve just been having great adventures haha.  Sometimes things just work out that way.

That’s crazy about all the ward changes, I’m glad that Tuscany ward stays the same, although I’m sure it has changed a lot since I’ve been gone.

This week was good, we baptized Jose Garcia. The last member of the Garcia family to be baptized  It was a good month. The mission did not complete its goal of 350 baptisms, but I can say I did my part, we baptized every week this month, for a total of 6. But we still need to do better, and we will.

Last week Jose still wasn’t too sure about his baptism, but we were able to have a really great lesson about repentance, and he was able to decide and take the decision to be baptized.

Right now we are teaching a really pilas young couple named the familia Ramos and they are progressing well, they should be baptized on the 17th of February.

This next month is going to be a little strange because there are various dates for changes, not just one. Because of the amount of new missionaries coming in. So on the 5th of Feb there is a chance of changes, and not the 20th. I really hope that I’m not gone on the 5th, but I believe that on the 20th I’ll be going to a new area.

There are a lot of visa problems here in Guatemala too, all the missionaries that are from Guatemala that haven’t gotten visas are just staying in Guatemala, and a lot are serving in our mission. Apparently in February there are 70 new missionaries coming in, and about have of them are only going to be waiting for their visas. In about 6 months from now, 50% of the mission will only have less than 6 months of being in the mission field. There are just tons coming in.

Well, I sent you pictures of the baptism we had, also of us with a youth that always comes with us on visits, and always says high to us with this salute. He just went to another part of Guatemala to study so that was the last time I saw him. And a foto of me and a really cool cloud that formed about the volcano, and then one of the volcano and sunset, and you kinda can tell from the picture that it has been cold here, but the weather has gotten a lot better.

On Friday I did divisions with Elder Tanner, I went to Comalapa with him cuz I had to do an interview. It was really fun though, the people there hardly ever speak Spanish, they only speak Kakchiquel, but I was able to learn a few new phrases from being there.  It was a lot of fun. 

Also I got to weigh myself on a trustworthy scale yesterday, :S. I only weigh 144.4 pounds haha. I used to weigh 160, hey I try to eat, but it’s just the Guatemala effect. I weigh what I weighed in like grade 9. It’s great that I have baggy collars though, way more comfortable ha.

Well, I don’t really know what else to say. Send me some pictures of your trip next week! I’d love to see some!

I love you all, keep it real, stay classy.

From Guatemala, With Love,

E.Hops ;) xoxo

A youth that often comes on visits with us, and always says hi with his salute

A cool cloud that formed above the volcano

Baptism - took 7 tries

this is how people preach here in Guatemala, with big speakers, going around saying and screaming random obvious things about God. they pass by our house all the time.

Baptism of "D" by a member of the ward

My friend Tanner Steed's younger brother is on his mission in Guatemala. Saw him at the conference

January 22, 2013
Hey fammm.

not tooo much is new here in Guate, it was a pretty good week, we Baptised "D".

He's a youth that about 2 and a half weeks ago he told us that he didn't want anything to have to do with the church anymore, he was having some family troubles it seems, but he knows that these things are true, so he came back around, we baptized him on Saturday, we got a young man of the ward to baptize him. It took him 7 tries, poor Diego was shaking, the water was super cold, its been really cold here lately, its just warmed up.  At night i was wearing my big north face fleece, and my missionary mall jacket shell.but the weather is all good now.

sounds like a good Birthday present, yeah, these carvings are super cool, so it'll be something that i can have for the rest of my life too. thank you! I'll just have to figure out how to get it home haha.

so yeah, for the coming home thing, i was thinking that we can just stay a whole week. leave Guatemala on Wednesday. because on the wednesday i get released we wont get to do anything outside, we'll just be with President Brough and his family, which will be awesome, so well have Thursday untill Wednesday. cuz we gotta hit up my old areas, Antigua, and Panajachel. also i wanted to go to Quetzaltenango to the new temple, that will take up a good part of a day. so yeah, we can come home the 22nd, or the morning of the 23rd. that sounds the best to me.

its been good being in a trio, we all enjoy it,the house and the dished get super dirty super quick though haha. but yeah, its good.

The Conference with Elder Christofferson was great, hes quite a funny guy too, and his spanish is PERFECT, he sounds like hes from somewhere down here. gift of tongues.

at the conference i saw Elder Steed. my friend Tanner Steeds little brother. Tanner Steed was actually there when I opened my calling.

we are working with "J G" to be baptized this sunday, hes a little bit skeptical, he has a friend whose been a bad influence on him, but hopefully things will all turn out good.

thats too bad that Lincoln has to wait longer, and also sucky for Vickie, serving in Lethbridge haha, thats where she went to school.

 oh ya, i wants to see if you could make me little stickers like that i have, but with my full name, and home address and email  just to give out to people when I leave, instead of writing it out a thousand times.  thank you!

Well, i think thats it for this week, oh ya, i pooped my pants for the first time this week. ay ay ay.

>From Guatemala, with love,

Elder Hopkins

It's Twins

Baptism of the Family "G"

Gotta look good for an apostle!

Hey familyy.

This week was full of surprises, good and bad, I guess, but nothin' that impedes the Work of the Lord.

The family G- was baptized  well, part of he Family G-, that was the surprise, In the interview, J-, the oldest son, of 13 years,  he decided that he didn't want to be baptized yet. He has a new friend that is a bad influence on him i think. But we are still hoping to baptize him this month, as in this month we have the huge goal of 350 baptisms.

but it was a good service, and they are happy.

The other surprise is that I'm in a trio now. Elder Whitaker, came on Friday morning and is now in our companionshp. He entered with Elder Maldonado, so I am training him as well now. So right now I'm training two missionaries at the same time, I've got twins you should say.  Elder Whitaker is a Cowboy from Logan Utah,he's a great worker, so were workin' hard here in Chimalt.

Wow that sucks that Vicki and Erica have to start their missions in Calgary, I'm sure glad I didn't have to do that. Knocking on my friends' doors, being with people i somewhat know, ha, well, I'm glad I came straight to Guatemala.

We did have to go to the capital yesterday to fix some visa stuff with Elder Maldonado, we had to get up at 4:30 in the morning to get there on time, it kinda sucked, I was real tired from it, but I'm all good now.

So I sent you some pictures of these super cool wood carvings, that are really expensive that a member does, but they are so cool and beautiful, the huge round one of the one diagram in the book of abraham costs almost 500 dollars, but it would be something that would last a lifetime, the tree of life, costs like 250, and you can get one carved of a temple, with your last name below it, like the Calgary temple and then have Hopkins under it, kinda cool too, that's like 300 dollars, all hand carved in a hard dark wood.

I was/am kinda thinking that it would be really cool to get one of those, but let me know what you think! I dunno, I don't understand the value of dollars anymore maybe.

And also, you should send me more pictures each week, since I'm so good at sending you guys pictures, I always enjoy seeing pictures.

I got  a haircut again, and I got a picture taken this time, wow! conference with Elder Christofferson this Thursday, gotta look good for an Apostol.

What else is know... not too much, yesterday we had a lesson with a catholic priest guy that wanted to fight with us, but we just let him go, If I could give one piece of advice to someone in the mission, it would be the advice that the Lord has given me in Doctrine and Covenants 29;7, the chosen will listen to your voice, so there is no need to fight, if they don't want to accept it, they are not chosen, and there are better things you can do with your time.

Well, I love you tons, keep on keepin' on, and keep it classy,

That's also great advice that I can give, keep it classy, all ya gotta do it keep things classy, and everything will be great.

From Guatemala, with love,

Elder Hopkinsito

Semana Perfecta

Baptism of Alex

Hey Familyyyyy

It was a good week. I could even say that it was a perfect week.....

This last week was the Semana Perfecta, or perfect week in the mission, and with the help of the Lord, we were able to reach and surpass all of the goals.

We did baptise A-. It was a good little service, on the Tuesday he expressed doubts to us, and it almost seemed as if he wasn’t going to be baptised, but we kept fighting, and he’s now baptised. And during all this time, D- changed his mind, and also his parents. Last week he told us that he didn’t want anything to do with the church anymore, but it’s looking like on the 19th we're going to baptise him. Also this Sunday at one o’clock, we are going to baptise the whole family G-, that will be 4 baptisms there. We’re doing good for this month, and for this goal. We already have 6 baptisms set for this month, but I’d like to find two more. I’m hoping that well get 8.

We found a really really positive family this week, the family G-, they came to church, and we’ve even started teaching them in the house of a member. They are really young, 23 years, and have 2 baby girls. A really nice couple. He works every second Sunday, so I don’t know if he’ll be able to be baptised this month, but hopefully he will be before I leave this area, which I’m calculating to be on the 20th of February.

Also, before I forget, if you could send me the mission addresses of Tyler Johnson, and Vickie Nelson. I swore I had them somewhere, but I don’t know where, and I have two cards already written for them, I just need to put their addresses on the envelope. Gracias!

Also this 17th of January we have a conference with Elder D. Todd Christofferson, and I might see my friend Tanner Steed’s little brother who is in the south mission.

Oh yes mom, don’t you worry, I’m excited to get back too and start work in the Calgary part of the vineyard.

Also I was thinking, if Christine Lyons is going to be on a mission, who is going to cut my hair? Uh oh.

Also I think me and my companion are going to start to go to the member owned gym early in the morning, I need to get into shape to. Get my beach body back for the good old beaches that don’t exist in Calgary.

Also I think we’re going to go to that Calgary couple’s house in Antigua, where they’re living, for P-day as a zone in a couple of weeks, so that’s kinda cool, it’s not certain yet though, but we’ll see.


For my birthday package, I don’t really need anything, just give me some pisto so I can buy things in Antigua. Ha ha.

Also, I still have no idea about how dad broke his hand, I’d like to know that one of these days.

Also yesterday I ate at Taco Bell, always great. I don’t know if Taco Bell just sucks in Canada, or if the Taco Bell here is just really good, but I love it Ha ha.

Tell everybody that I love them, Ricky too.

Well, there’s not too much new here in Guatemala, all is well.
From Guatemala, with Love,
Elder Hopkins

The people below us just bought a really cute baby boxer