August 19, 2013

Família,

   School already? That was fast. Summer is just starting up here. It's been getting just a lil' bit toasty for Angola, but all the members still complain that it's cold. I won't lie, I do get a little cold with them sometimes. I'm probably going to die in January. I've been told that my current date for return is January 22, but that could change by a few days. If you're marked for the first part of February, I'll be there... unless I get voluntold. Rare, but possible.

   This week has been really super fast for me. I think that the transfer will also be really really fast. We had a lot of lessons done with less active members and recent converts, so it was good. We've been helping some of the young women in the branch start doing visiting teaching. They first gave us the excuse that they didn't know where eachother had lived, so we showed them. Then, they didn't have the family's number and address, so we got that for them too. They've planned a day this week to go and pass by the house. I really hope that they do, because visiting and home teaching is something that will make or brake this place. We need our newer members to get fellowshipped fast. Elder Pimentel really likes to just baptize like crazy, but I'm trying to get some fellowshipping done at the same time. Luckily we're in the most organized branch in the country!

   I'm glad to hear that Luxana got her letter. I thought she would like that. I saw the video of Weston flinging mud at Mom. He probably thinks he's so tough does't he? haha. Owen's looking like he's getting ripped. That's really cool. I hope I can do the same when I get back. Keep P90X ready for me! 

   My current hopes for school is to go in the fall, so that I can work a little, save up some cash, and also do P90X and get ripped. I'm not sure when the cutoff is for fall, but let me know and I can work through it with you. I'm not even 100% sure where I want to go. BYU-I looks nice, but I am also considering going to a school with Taylor. I haven't talked or planned too much with him yet either though. Also, a lot of missionaries are suggesting BYU provo. It would be fun, but I still don't know what to do with all of that. What do you all think? 

   I got to do another Helping Hands service project on Saturday. Yellow vest and everything. It was a blood drive. The health department came and set up some lawn chairs in the chapel, and did tests, applications, the whole bit. The church provided lunch and missionaries to help out (no, we did not donate). We got asked to go try and advertise in front. It was very awkward to ask people for their blood on the spot like that. Most people promised to come back for lunch and never came back. There was one drunk man who wanted to donate, but we told him that if he had been drinking, he couldn't. He was a little disappointed, but he'll live.

   Not a whole lot of new things happening. Tonight, we have a family night with L and we're inviting a less active girl to come, and L's bringing some family members. It should be good. L's also told us that she's going to be married soon. I'm excited for that.

   Well, I love you all a ton. Please keep sending pics, vids, and details. I miss you all so much!

Love Elder Alex Hobbs

DSC03627 Helping Hands! (Mãos que Ajudam)

DSC03628 This is the bus that pulled up into the chapel with all of their blood supplies. They got 15 litres by the end of the day.

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August 12, 2013

Família,

   The week here was a pretty normal one. There wasn't a whole lot that happened. We got a lot of lessons in, as well as we got to baptize. I think that the big success of the week this week was that we found a few less active members and had some really good lessons with them. They didn't come to church though, and I was pretty disappointed. 

   I guess I have one really funny story. We went to teach this lady named C. in Kilamba, and she was really nice. We sit down, and teach her the lesson of the Restoration. It was pretty shaky at first because she kept getting calls, and people were running in and out, but luckily, she's a journalist, so she was really focused and taking notes. It was shaky up until we got to the story of the first vision. I told the story, and everything got quiet. I felt a really warm feeling in my heart. I was sure that it was the Spirit. We explained what it was that happened, then looked at C. She was silent, just staring at the picture in the pamphlet. She looks up, and says: ''I don't believe it.'' DANG IT! Dangit, dangit, DANGIT! Luckily, she agreed to read and pray. She wasn't against what we had taught, but she just didn't have the belief yet. I'm happy that she was open enought to at least read and pray though.

   But, I don't think I have any new stories to tell. Sorry about that. But, I took a bunch of pictures! I hope you all enjoy them!

I love you all so so so much,

Elder Alex Hobbs

PS, I lost my cash card. I think it fell from my pocket in a taxi. Please cancel the card when possible. I'm not in a hurry for cash right now, as I don't need any more souveniers any time soon. But I would love to get another package full of pictures from you all! :)

DSC03602 This is A. She got baptized on Saturday, she's also one of L's children. She got some glasses, so we decided to take a picture.

DSC03613 A cool sunset on the Chinese City of Kilamba

DSC03616 Some kids threw rocks and dirt and garbage into the baptismal font, so Elder Pimentel and I ran by to clean it out!

DSC03620 Luanda, Angola baptisms on the 10 of August

DSC03623 (Left to Right) Elder Pimentel, A (L's daughter), Me, Joice (Lemba's grand daughter), President Merrill, Maria (L's daughter)

DSC03624 This was really funny: Elder Pimentel had a head cold, and his sinuses were clogged up. So sister recommended that he breathe in some steam from a pot of boinling water. Also, she soaked a rag in the water and put it on Elder Pimentel's face. It was really funny because he was a little scared he couldn't breathe. He kept saying: ''How do you say 'afogar' in Ingles?'' ('Afogar' means 'to drown'). It was really funny.

Aug 5, 2013

Família,


  It has been such a good week this week. It's been hard at the same
time, but all of the blessings envelop any difficulties that have
arised. We'll be baptizing 3 children this week, and hopefully a
familly or two (or three) here in two weeks. It's going to be awesome.
I don't know if I've ever written you all about L. L is a
woman that had gone to a church  for ovetr 18 years. She
had believed on it for a very long time. She had even offered her
house for the church to use on a temporary basis until they could
build a chapel. One day, this church tried to trick her into
signing a contract that would force her into giving her land up to the
church at no cost. She caught that detail in the contract. When she
refused to sign, the pastor kicked her out of the church.
  Angry and bitter, she swore she would never ever join a church
again, and that she believed that you could be saved without church.
She was a very angry person. She drank a lot. The Jehova's Witness
church taught her daugher, but she never joined. One day, Elder Harper
found her tracting. We've taught her ever since, and now she has an
unshakable testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints. She's waiting on marriage, but she's been giving us references
like no one's business. It's been great.
  We went to Viana to see R and P's mother last night. We
talked with her and brainstormed. She's going to start some English
classes to make another 100$ a month, which should allow Rebecca and
Pegar to go back to school. I pray, and I'm going to fast for them. I
miss those kids.
  I talked with Aida the other night. She hasn't been to church for a
while, because she's been working so late on Saturdays. I got her
excited, and she went yesterday! I was so happy. I told her that from
now on, while she's working, to just go for sacrament meeting and to
sleep the rest of the meetings. I'm so happy for that!
  C is going to be baptized this Saturday. WOOP!

I love you guys. I'm excited to camp with y'all again!

Love

Elder Alex Hobbs

I'll get you all some pictures next week. We tried a different cyber
this week, and it's a little too slow for pics.

July 29, 2013

Família,

 

   This was a great week this week. We've been teaching a ton of lessons, and our área is going to absolutely explode! We have 11 people marked for baptism on the 10th of August. I'm loving it!

   So, here in the mission, we've started a war. Two Elders have created teams. The only way to score is to get a missionaries vote here in 3 days. It has become a game of espionage, and it is hilarious! I've become head of ''Sector 7'' a team that is designed to feed false info and turn people. We're going to win. :)

   All of the youth in Angola went on a campout, and some of the elders got to do a river baptism. Apparently it was a big hit, and everyone had fun. The young women in our branch rated all of the missionaries in our district for how cute they were. I got placed 6th place of 6. What are you going to do? haha But to tell you the truth, I got a new haircut. It looks way good. I think I'm going to have Elder Tingey cut it right before I leave!  

   R and P both got to go to the campout as well, and I was very happy to hear about that. I also got a chance to go over and drop off Rebecca's birthday present. She loved it, and we spent a good 15 minutes blowing up these HUGE balloons that I bought. P also filled up a water balloon, and tried to hit her with it, but he didn't fill it enough. It was a lot of fun, and my cheeks hurt for about 3 days after that!

   Their mom is having money troubles again. When I first got there to drop of the gift, she was the only one home, and she was very excited to see me. Then we talked, and she broke down in tears. Apparently, the kids haven't gone to school for 3 months because she hasn't had the cash, and no one is eating very well either. Elder Chandler and I are going to go out there this week and work out a budget with her.

   Well, I love you all very very much, and I think of you a lot!

 

Elder Alex Hobbs

 

 

July 22, 2013

Família,

   It was a good week. It was a harder one, as there were a lot of Zone Leader things that started popping up out of nowhere. We did some training, some divisions... everything. Numbers weren't the best, but I had a really really good week.

   Now for the success story: When I was in Cassequele, I had the opportunity to help a family into the waters of baptism. As we taught them, there was a little girl named C who wanted to be baptized from the very beginning. However, at the time, her guardians wouldn't allow it. Afterwords, I left the area. For a long time, I didn't see her, and it sounded like the missionaries didn't follow up with her for a while. But she's moved into my area, and Elder Pimentel and I have a date of baptism set for her! Woo! I'm way excited for her.

   Also, H from Luanda II baptized his niece! That was super fun to see him again. I noticed that a lot of people know me here. Hopefully I'll be remembered.

   We've been having some obedience problems in our Zone: people staying home a little late, music that's just a little too fast, etc. Don't any of you get me wrong: I'm pretty sure the best missionaries in the world have been sent here. It's just that they can get a little distracted at times. So we talked with President about it, and we're having a big Zone Conference in a week. I'm excited. I believe that once I leave, the missionaries will be able to take over without problems.

   Not a whole lot of new news here... I'm trying to remember anything that was really cool.... but nothing's coming. But I love you all more than you can know. It's been hitting me a little bit more lately that I only have 4 and 1/2 tranfers left. Sometimes I think of home when an airplane flies really close to the ground. haha. But I've been thinking of you all a lot lately, and I'm excited to finish strong out here.

I love you all,

 Elder Alex Hobbs

 

July 15, 2013

Família,

   This week was a good one. We got in a ton of lessons, and Maria P's family got baptized! It was really cool because we used a brand new baptismal font! It ran so much smoother than the last one, and it was super easy to baptize An. Poor little N: she's a girl about Luxana's age, and she can't get baptized for another 2 months! She was really sad. But I told her that the reason she couldn't get baptized was because Jesus knew she was perfect enough and she didn't need baptism! That helped here a lot. Then she started playing with my camera and took a ton of pics. By the way, A tells me that he writes Weston on facebook all the time. Every time he tells me, I check my watch for the Idaho time: 1h00. hahaha That's Weston alright!

   Happy Birthday to Luxana! Actually, you got a birthday present from Rebecca! She wrote Luxana a letter. I'll try and send it next week. Happy Birthday to mom too! I'll see what I can get from the praça that you would like. I can't wait to give you your come home hug present!

    There's not a lot of new things happening here. It's kind of just the same old routine. Elder Pimentel and I are marking a lot of people for baptism though. We've got 7 dates right now, and we're trying to get some more by working with unmarried couples. I think that Elder Pimentel and I are going to see a lot of success here in Benfica. It's a nice area, but I think I'd like to get one more area in me before I leave.

   The week was a little stressful, organizing the baptisms and preparing a training, but it went well. Big numbers, big success. We went to the mall here on Saturday and had some KFC and looked at all the new movies coming out. It looks like I'm going to have a list when I come home! haha. Also, everyone in the house loves all the new CDs, especially Elder Tingey, who's a big country fan.

   Well, I love you all so much. I think of you all often.

Elder Alex Hobbs

DSC03507- Me comforting Namara

DSC03515- The family. (From left to right) Elder Pimentel, Maria Pinto, Cristina, Andrew, Namara, yours truly, President Sabastião

DSC03524- Me and Andrew

DSC03531- The new font

DSC03559- Planning for P-day

 

 

July 8, 2013

Família,

   This week was such a great week. President Merrill is going to be one of the best things to ever happen to Angola. Him and his wife are very in tune with the Spirit. Before, with President Kretly, it was pounded into our heads: find find find find find find find find so you can baptize. But President Merrill's stand on everything is to follow the Spirit, better ourselves, and do what God says to do, and that will bring success. I'm glad that's what's finally being taught to the new missionaries. It's what this country needs.

   After the Zone Conference, we all got to play some soccer. It was way fun. President Merrill is also about fun. He's always cracking jokes. He did all the interviews for missionaries in 2 days, and during my interview, he cut it way short because he was hungry! haha. Sister made us some food, and we started to have dinner together. As we were eating, sister realized ''I don't think we've blessed the food yet.'' President responded: ''I'll bless it.'' His prayer was: ''Dear Father in heaven, please bless this food, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.'' I laughed so much! 

   It was a really good week. Our 4th of July consisted of another Elder in our house, burning up some pictures of his ex-girlfriend, and some BANG! It was super fun. I also got your package on the 4th, so no need to worry of that anymore! Thank you so so so much!

   I got to go on a division with an Elder from Viana. His name is Elder Fontaine. He's way funny. Him and I tried to decied which state was the best state in the US. We both agree that somewhere, there is a state better than California, and that Idaho definately makes the top 8. When we went back to drop him off at his house, we noticed that the Viana Elders had a copy of 17 Miracles. We borrowed it:) As we were walking out, we noticed that the case was empty! So we went back in, and Elder Pimentel got a glass of water and some ''pamphlets''. We walked out victorious, and we're going to watch it today.

I love you all so so so much. Here's some pics!

Elder Alex Hobbs

DSC03485 Here's some kids who took a powdered milk can and made it into a basket ball hoop.

DSC03487 Elder Pimentel and I at the soccer games on Thursday

DSC03492 This is the ''Chinese City'' of Kilamba. Strangely, no chinese live there. Infact, not to many people live there at all! It's too expensive for Angolans. But we have some really strong members here and we're getting refferrals!

DSC03496 This is an African Spider if I've ever seen one! Elder Pimentel almost stepped on it as we were walking! I hear that Sam Horman found one of these in his shoes over in Madagascar!

DSC03497 Check out how big this sucker is!