December 9, 2013

Família,

   Wow. I can't believe that this day has actually come. I didn't think it ever would! Thanks for your letters. I'll give you all some quick answers to all of your questions:

I'm excited for all of my appointments. Africa kind of messes you up after a while. haha Sister is going to give me a worm pill, but a checkup from an expert is going to be a welcome experience. I hope I don't have too many cavities. I think I have two though. As for my shoes, they look alright. They could have been better, as it's not always as easy as going to Walmart to pick up some polish when you run out. As for the boots, they look great on the outside, but the inside got drowned out from a really bad rainstorm. I do know Kayla Hoover! Do you remember Mike Hoover? It's his sister. That would be really cool to see her and maybe Sam Horman too.

   Thanks for the money. I think that that should be plenty for everything. Chandler will be the only one from my MTC group going with me. Mcallister and Wilson are going home in January. It would be cool to see Wilson's homecoming, but I think we'll be out in Cali by then, so... no worries there. He'll live without me. ;) Speaking of Cali, Elder Kelsey is living down there. I talked with Chandler, and he said that if we're in San Diego, him and Kelsey could easily drive up to say hi. Let me know if you'd like to meet them.

   Weston, Owen, I have a mission for you: When I come down the escalators, I want you to be ready with some music. Buy the song ''King of Pride Rock (Score)'' by Hans Zimmer, and as soon as you see me, start playing it at the really happy part that starts at about 4minutes46seconds. You'll know what to do. It should make things way intense. :)

   Well, I'm excited. The mission's been good. I don't know how many I baptized, per se, but I made a list of people who I thought I helped come unto Christ, and the number is 33, with about 23 of them active. I hope that's good. 

I love you all so much. I'll see you soon,

Elder Alex Hobbs

December 2, 2013

Família,

   Wow! Thank you all so much for all of the birthday wishes! And, more important, thank you so much for the birthday gift! That will work out just perfectly! haha I loved the video. When Elders Chandler and Stewart saw Dad, they said that he needs to buy a Harly with the beard and short haircut! haha They thought he looked way cool!

   This week was way fun. We had Thanksgiving, and we played futebol: The Turkey Cup. I ended up going on Team Lubango, because Team Cassequele was full. Little did everyone know, Elder Andre, an Angolan waiting for his visa to Portugal, has crazy feet, and we ended up taking the championship! It was a lot of fun. The Paulo family thought my birthday was the 28, so afterwords, we went to their house and had some cake. It was really fun to have them sing 'Para bens a você.' But yea, it's weird that I've finally reached drinking age. I'm excited.

   So yesterday, I got to say goodbye to T from Luanda II. His conversion story is actually a lot cooler than I knew. He came to church, and the first thing that he said to himself was: ''This church isn't for me. I can't read all of these manuals and scriptures. I'll just go back to the Pentecostal.'' But then he said that he felt the Spirit very strongly that day, and later he had a dream that told him that the Elders were people of great power, so he kept going until he was baptized. He's way strong, and I felt really good seeing him again.

   I can't wait to be back in the snow with y'all! It's starting to really cook up here. I'm getting a really nice tan and sweating as much as I drink! But things are running very smoothly. The Elders in the provinances are all up for a big Zone Conference with Elder Hamilton from the 2 Quorum of the Seventy, so work is going to slow down a little this week for meetings and whatnot. I've pretty much got a cake walk for the rest, but I'll keep doing what I can to share my apple!

   Well, not all to much to write. Here's some pics!

DSC03750 Beautiful Downtown Luanda

DSC03736 Elder Chatwin

DSC03751- M P's family

DSC03754 Chandler, McAllister and I on the beach by some cool grafiti blocks

November 25, 2013

Família,

   It was another good week this week. We did a lot of meaningful work, and got rewarded very nicely for the weekend: On saturday, a protest group petitioned to protest, and the government told them no, but they threatened to protest anyway. Fearing agressive police, President Merrill had all of us stay inside that day. It was a nice little rest. So, A and E's baptisms are being moved to Dec. 7.

   Then, yesterday was absolutely amazing! We had a primary program, and that was absolutely beautiful! I felt a very special Spirit as the children sang their songs and said their parts. Just so you know, the primary program in Angola is the same as anywhere else. ;)

   After that, we had some interviews with President, and he told me my flight plans. Nairobi-Paris-SLC-IF. That's pretty crazy. I'm excited though, because I can buy an actual African tie! haha. Plus, I'll have officially been in 5 different countries! That is a cool acheivement. 

   Yesterday, I also had the opportunity to start saying some goodbyes. I went to M P's house, and saw her and the kids. The kids attacked me when they saw that I had come in. It was really nice, but super hard to say goodbye. It was like a piece of me was still in their house as I left. Way rough. But it was a happy goodbye in the end, no tears, just smiles.

   Well, I'm doing good here. I just wanted to run one idea by you all really fast: most of my recent converts have a facebook account, and I'll be able to chat with them when I get back. However, R and P don't, and they don't have money to use cyber cafés. What do you think if, for christmas, I got them a cheap $20-$30 cell phone? It's apparently a lot cheaper for the US to call to Angola rather than vice versa, as a lot of RMs from here have said. I don't know if it's a good or bad idea, so I just wanted to run that by ya.

   Alright, so I'm not 100% sure I know all the rules for the ''Do you think Alex will...'' game, but I'll try to make a few:

   

• Be shivering his tan off when he gets back?
• Still recognize the inside of the house?
• Believe how much everyone has grown?
• Be really ''Peter Priesthood''?
• Have a really cool haircut?
• Talk with a funny accent and say things wrong in English?

There's a few that I'm not sure about! hahaha

Thank you so much for my birthday gift! I'm not sure what it is, as there wasn't a pic attached, but it's up to you all if it's supposed to be a surprise or not. I'm just excited to see all of you!

   I love you all so so so very much. I'll see you soon. 

Love,

Elder Alex Hobbs

November 18, 2013

Família,

   Well, I'm NOT getting voluntold. Pretty sure, at least. Sister called me this week and asked for my passport number, and also which airport I wanted to go to. I told her the IF airport, so I think that she bought the ticket.

   This week has been absolutely awesome! We've been doing some really good work. We marked a baptismal date with N and her son, and they'll be baptized on the 7 of December. I'm way excited. Also, Amany is going to be baptized this week, and he chose me to baptize him. That will be cool as well. So, everything's good to go.

   As for me, I'm just doing some prep work for December. I'm starting to use pdays to buy last minute souveniers, and also to go and visit some people. Everything is really good. I'm happy and as healthy as normal!

As for the first meal, it can be anything. Maybe cheesey potatoe
soup. On the first Sunday, however, it has to be good 'ole SPAM
sandwiches. First fast food is Fiesta Olé. haha We dream about food a
lot here. Funge is getting old! haha

   

   Also, let me know if there are any requests for souveniers. I'm doing my last few runs soon, so I'll need to know. :)

I love you all so so so so so so so much. 

Elder Alex Hobbs

November 11, 2013

Família,


  This was one of the best weeks in my mission. We had miracles
happen nearly every day. So many people came to church, and so many
people are appearing out of no where!
  A and E are both scheduled for baptism on 23 Nov. I'm way
excited. Also, we found an awesome new family!
  We were sitting in a taxi, waiting for it to go, when a woman
walked up to Elder Chatwin and asked who we were. Her name was N.
At the time, we had forgotten our phone at a member's house. We left,
and went to the member's home to get our phone. She had already
called! That never happens. We went back to teach her, and she was
asking perfect questions about the plan of salvation (another thing
that never happens. usually, Angolans just ask if it's bad to worship
on saturday), like ''is there really life after death?''. It was way
cool. Then, we taught her about the Restoration, and invited her to
church.
  We were going to meet her at a bank in the morning, and when we got
there, we tried to call, but her phone was off. 3 minutes later, she
pulls up in her car. ON TIME. Another thing that NEVER happens. She
really enjoyed church, and we're going to meet with her again this
week. So cool!
  Well, to answer questions, my plans are to come home and start
working until the fall. I figured I could try and apply for like 3
jobs and start saving up cash to get started. So, I suppose a good
time for a vacation could be before or after Christmas. If you choose
to go afterwords, I don't think that that will cause too many
problems. It's up to y'all. :) As for birthday or Christmas presents,
you've already been showering me with love and also money for cool
African stuff, so if I only got clothes, I'd be satisfied. I'll be
looking for the basics for college: clothes, study supplies, etc. I'll
need a computer, but those are expensive, I'll take care of all that
stuff when I get there.
  As for travel plans, I haven't heard anything about them. President
held them from Elder Kearney until he had 3 days left. So you'll
probably get them before I do. To be honest (don't freak out just yet,
and don't tell anyone this), I have a small fear (fear is a bad word.
anticipation or assumption might be better) that I might get
''volun-told''. The new Elders coming in are having a bunch of visa
problems, and no one has news about anything. We've also got
interviews coming up with President in 2 weeks, and since I've gotten
no flight plans... it just makes me assume things. But that's not for
sure, and chances are it won't happen, so don't worry.
  Anyways, I love you guys. I can't wait to see you all again. I'm
going to miss this place like no one knows, but I'll have y'all.

Love,

Elder Alex Hobbs

November 4, 2013

Família,

   Sorry that I didn't get to write you some more last week. Elder Chandler was pretty upset about his transfer call. So, we didn't end up going back to an internet cafe.  I have a new companion. His name is Elder Chatwin. He's great. Really nice, super strong.

So, Elder Chatwin and I left, and started walking. We walked for quite a while without anything happening. Then, for one reason to the next, we turned into a bairro that no missionary has ever entered, garunteed. This bairro is litterally a hole in the ground. As I walked through, the scripture in Jeremiah 16:16 was being said in my head; ''from out of the holes in the rocks.'' As we walked, I saw a big red door. I stopped, and then I knocked on it. 

The door opened, and a woman answered. After explaining, she got a big smile on her face, and we were invited in. What was there? Eight people that had gotten together to study the Bible. We had a lesson and taught the Restoration. The Spirit was there, and they're all really excited to receive a copy of the Book of Mormon. I was stunned. It was a miracle from God.

   I feel great now. I'm ready to finish off really strong this transfer. I'm way excited. I'm going to do all I can to help or find whoever I need to find. I'm excited to come back, but I'm going to stay focused this transfer. It was hard at first, because Elder Kearney also went home. ( I saw him in the wrap line at the MTC!) But I'm excited to work again.

   Thank you for all that you've done to help me out. The only thing I might ask is to send me a link so I can renew my driver's license. It's expired, now. I don't know if I can just renew it online, or if I have to wait until I come back. But, that's fine too. I'm just excited to be back. Also, let me know what you think I should bring back, and what I should ditch! 

I love you all with all my heart. I hope that I've done enough on my mission that I deserve to come home to you all in December. I've given it my all.

I love you all so so so much.

Elder Alex Hobbs

DSC03702- Mauro's family, left to right. Mauro, Chris, Maria Conseição, Maria De Fatima

DSC03705- Chandler and I with Guilherme, a friend from Terra Nova who's going to Moçambique for his mission (to the right. I don't know who the guy on the left is, as Angolans like to jump into pictures.)

DSC03711- General Conference, Sunday morning session.

DSC03721- Elder Kearney and I.

DSC03708- Angolan mopping technique.

October 28, 2013

Família,

   I'm going to write another letter later today. We just came to see the new transfer calls, but I couldn't resist reading some of your letters as well.

   I thought I would take this moment to reveal my decision. But before that, a quick sidenote: I sent that first letter as a joke. However, I also sent another letter with the subject ''just kidding'' right after! I guess it got lost in cyber space. Sorry to make you all wait another week, I didn't mean to!

   Now for the grand reveal. Drumroll!









I'll be home for Christmas. You can count on me. I'll be home for Christmas: one more transfer for me

   My official release date is now December 11. So I should be getting home sometime on the 12 or 13, because Chandler's date is the 12, so we're not all too sure how that's all going to go. But that's the news with that! I'll write you all a little later today some more! Love ya!

Elder Alex Hobbs