Christmas Day Phone Call

Elder Bell in front, then Elder Hulme, then Elder Guinn

The plan was, Xander would call around 3:30pm our time, and we would call him right back so the charges would be on our line.  We worked on a puzzle to pass time, and finally, after 4:30, he called.  We called back and heard, "We're sorry, this call cannot be completed on this line."  We tried adding 1, taking away 1, checking the country code, calling Comcast from my cell phone to see if we had some international calling problems, calling from all of our cell phones.  We could not get through.  Finally, Xander called back.  He had to go purchase some calling cards, and just make the call from their cell phone.

1)  He hates the dogs.  In Suriname, they are all straggly, barking, mangy beasts that roam the city and are irritating.  Fortunately, they are not vicious dogs.

2)  On Christmas day, all the elders had breakfast at the senior couple's home, the Jansens.   They love the senior couple and it sounds like the Jansens take great care of the elders.  Then they went to the nursing home and wheeled folks over to the church for a Christmas lunch.  He said that was fun.  He didn't think his lady could talk at all, but when he finally parted with her, she spoke perfectly and thanked him.  Later they went to the zone leader's house and watched Toy Story 3.  When we were talking to him, there were huge fireworks going on outside and dogs barking.

3)  He loves the fruit in Suriname, especially the mangoes.  They eat lots of rice and beans and noodles.  The milk is terrible, nothing like our milk.  I get the impression that it's kind of like diluted canned milk in a carton.

4)  He misses large grocery stores.  There are only small markets and you have to visit several of them to find what you need.

5)  He has not seen the ocean yet.

6)  He loves the city.  He suspects that he may stay in the city for the remainder of his mission.

7)  Lots of people ride motor scooters.  He saw one guy riding a motor scooter with two monkeys on his back, and the monkeys looked scared to death.

8)  He spoke some Dutch to us, but it was really hard to understand through the speaker phone.

9)  Just a few days earlier, he decided to get a Christmas tree.  He went into the front yard and cut down a frond from a palm tree.

10)  The Christmas package I sent him did not arrive on time.  He wasn't upset.  Makes me sad, though.

He wears flip flops inside because of all the sand that enters their house.

11)  He says there is one church building in Suriname, and 4 additional buildings that the church rents.  The branch that he attends is good-sized and has great church members.   The branch is larger and stronger than the branch he attended in Alabama.

12)  He told us to enjoy some skiing for him.

Overall, he sounded great.  He seemed happy. We are so glad he is learning, growing, and changing.  Gosh, we miss that kid.  I can't wait until Mother's Day.

New Bike and Tasty Food

This is Xander's new address in Suriname:

Elder Alexander Hulme
PO Box 2932
Paramaribo, Suriname
South America

This week has been good.  I got a new bike and had some tasty food.  Here are my favorites:

Shoarma - French fries, chicken with BBQ sauce
Bami - Noodles
Nasi - Rice
Roti - Like a tortilla with curry, Hindu burrito
Bacabana - Fried plantains

There are lots of bacova that grow here, which are regular bananas, and also banaan, which are plantains.  I've been eating out lots, and with members, and at various different events.  I'm not exercising nearly as much, so I'm losing muscle mass, but putting on fat.  Still the same weight.  We have to drink filtered water, but the other food is basically all safe as far as I can tell.  Except Elder Bell's Bruine Bonen that went rotten and made him way sick.

Elder Guinn's bike broke, so Xander gave him a lift

If we have a good week, we can all get together for p-day.  We will all be together for Christmas, and apparently on Christmas we will watch a movie.  Now it's between Space Jam, Toy Story 3, and Despicable Me.  I'm going for Toy Story 3.

We are in the citiest part of the mission - we've got downtown in our area.  Dus, Ik kan niet zoveel gekke dingen zien als sommige van de andere zendelingen mogen zien.

I love it when Xander writes something in Dutch.  We get an interesting translation

I haven't dreamed in Dutch yet, but we do always pray in Dutch.  I'll be using my Christmas money on bike parts, so it'll be a great Christmas.

From the Eyes of Elder Hulme

1.  You see the sun each day.  It usually rains each day as well.
2.  We are in the "citiest" part of the city, and it's super cool.
3.  In this country, food spontaneously combusts.  I mean, I could go weeks living on the fruit that falls onto the ground - coconuts, mangoes, and things of that nature.
4.  It's completely flat here.  Not even a hill.
5.  They love raunchy pictures.

We played Ultimate Frisbee this morning for 5 hours.  It was fantastic.  When you ask someone how they are they reply with the word "rustig."  It means rusty.  I think when people ask me how I am, I'll begin answering, "I'm rusty."

We had a baptism last week.  Her name is Zuster Malats, which means leprosy, which is a bit unfortunate.  She was already converted when I got here, so I didn't teach her anything except some commandments.  But now I've been able to teach her lots of stuff, namely the new member lessons that everyone is supposed to receive.

This photo is right-side up on my computer,
but it won't stay that way here!

The bike issue here is tough because nobody sells any tools.  All of the bikes here are these cheap Chinese beasts of one or two varieties:

1)  Euro style, dropped toptube, 700c fat tires, coaster brakes.
2)  America style, simple means beach cruiser, coaster brakes, with "s" shaped cranks.
I'm currently using someone else's America stye bike.  He's painted the old Utah Jazz colors on it, purple, green, and yellow.  It's quite ugly and hilarious.  Chains here stretch out in about a week, but flats aren't as bad as you'd expect.  I may have to buy a bike from the muslim store (likely a stolen bike).

Elder Hulme and his MTC companion Elder Freeman reunited in Suriname

I (VaLene) want to be this lady's friend.  She looks like a hoot.

2nd Week in Suriname

I didn't find out that I was going to Suriname until Wednesday at 7pm.  I landed in Trinidad on Monday, November 15, got to the bed and breakfast around 2am, slept until 8am.  Tuesday, went to Mission Leadership Training.  Went proselyting from 5 to 9 that evening, then back to the bed and breakfast for food and sleep.  Wednesday, we went to the 2nd part of leadership training, then we went to the embassy to get visas.   Then we had a little introduction to the mission, they gave us our own debit cards, then we hopped on a big Caribbean Airlines 757 jet at 10pm and took the 1.25 hour flight to Suriname.  We had met up with Elder Tullis on our layover in Miami and we flew and lived together until Suriname.  We have to leave Suriname every 3 months to get our visas renewed.

The food here is fantastic, when it's not me building the cakes.  I've got Nutella for snacks, tuna, rice, etc., that can somehow become meals.  There is a place called Roopram Roti that is completely delicious.  I got some pumpkin roti there, and it blew me away.  The vegetables are not good, but the fruit makes up for it.  It's mango season right now.  I just need to learn how to shop here.

(I believe this is where the elders live.  Photo stolen with no permission from Elder Bell's Mission Blog - I don't even know who that fellow is - VaLene)

Elders Bell, Baker, Guinn, and myself all live in a sweet house.  It has a kitchen downstairs, and everything else upstairs.  We've got the whole thing to ourselves.

Dutch is coming.  I can now understand some, but not all people.  And not everything they say-more just the theme of what they say.  The buggy part is that in English, I know how to ask questions that will get the person to think what I want them to think.  In Dutch, I can only ask simple questions.  I don't yet know how to put the right inflections or words in to make it more useful.

Lots of rain this week, but every day we see the sun.  In leadership training, I felt so out of place because everyone was so dark.  I am a lot darker now.

Keep riding bikes and just know that these bikes are so so much worse than Huffers.  They would be better off using recycled garbage bags for bearings, than the metal used.

Suriname, Surprise!!

 I'm in Suriname, Paramaribo.  This place is nuts.  Lots of bike riding, and the drivers here actually can drive around cyclists!  It's such a relief.  The visa specialist here is a senior sister named Sister Ellison, and she worked some kind of tricks to get us into Suriname, but we will be driving to French Guiana quarterly to renew the limited use visas.  


I had a great flight down here, almost got stuck in Trinidad with the immigration people, but made it through alright.  There is not any food in this country!  I've only been eating Bacova, which is bananas.  They are only a dollar for 6!  Exchange rates here are in my favor,  $1US=$2.8 SA.  Back to the Bacova, it's one SA $ for 6 bananas, and they are completely delicious.  I bought a $10 pineapple too, which was simply incredible.  Besides the fruit though, I have no clue what to eat, and we've only been fed once, which I hope to change, because that seems to be the way to get good food.  


So far I've seen lots of animals.
Street dogs: Dogs that are just strays running around.  They aren't very interested in chasing people for the most part, only three have chased me.  The dogs here are small, about the size of our dog, but skinny.  I've seen a few rottweilers, but those are only at the rich houses.  
Lizards: A few big green ones, like 16 inches long.  They run fast and aren't very catch able
Frogs: plenty of frogs.  I haven't caught any yet, except the one that was playing in our drying dishes earlier this morning.  It was tiny though, most of the other ones are great biggies.  
Geckos:  Geckos are all over the walls and stuff of people's houses.  They run funny because their legs don't seem to separate very well.  The ones I've seen are yellow, hopefully I can find some other cooler ones. 
Parrots: The main parrots you will think of are the Macaw ones, they are big and red, or big and blue.  Most of the parrots however are green, and as big as a rock dove.  They are the more tamable ones though.
Sounds: when the sun goes down there is an entire chorus of various different animals singing, it's enjoyable I think.
Bugs: there aren't really very many bugs here.  No big mosquito issues like in Alabama.  There are lots of ants, but they are super tiny.  Not really an issue when you put your table in bowls of water so they can't climb up.  I've used dish soap to drown a number of them. 

It's pretty hot, even going into the rainy season.  Not nearly as hot as some of the days in Alabama, but always humid.  We have an "airco" unit in our bedrooms, but the rest of the house is wind cooled, or just toasty.  We have a whole house!  My Companion is named elder Bell.  He's from somewheres in Utah. He's a bowler, he's bowled a 300.  He's lost 40 lbs as a missionary so far.  He leaves the airco on all night so when I wake up, it's always freezing.  The shower water is tough, because the ground is still cool showering at 6:30am.  Everyone here is super super super tanned, I'm catching up quickly.  Even when wearing sunscreen. 

Elder Hulme with strange smile, and Elder Bell looking very relaxed

I'm pretty culture shocked but doing well. I'm glad to hear that Grandpa's funeral service went well.  I miss Alabama.  Quite a lot actually.  But it's going to be a brand new adventure and I'll make it work.  

Another Change

I received another e-mail today from President Holzapfel saying that they are now flying out this Monday, November 15, instead of Thursday.  Bon Voyage Elder Hulme!

Farewell Alabama

(VaLene talking here)  President Holzapfel called us today at 10:30am to say that the church has decided to send Elder Hulme and Elder Guinn to the West Indies mission, English speaking.  We assume they will be in Trinidad/Tobago, but we don't know for sure.  Other English-speaking islands in the West Indies mission include Grenada, Guyana, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, and St. Vincent.  I don't know if their Visas for Suriname were ultimately denied, or if the mission folks just gave up on waiting.  I believe it was the latter.  I do not know if there is still a chance that they will get to Suriname and speak Dutch.

Click Map of the West Indies Mission to see all the countries and islands that are part of the mission.

Departure Date: Thursday, November 18
Depart Alabama 1:05pm
Arrive Miami, Florida 3:55pm
Depart Miami, Florida 6:50pm
Arrive Port of Spain 11:30pm

This will be exactly one week shy of his 8-month mission mark.  I can't wait to talk to him and find out how he feels about all of this.  We are very excited for him.  He did mention in a recent e-mail that if/when he leaves Alabama, he will likely experience mission-president-shock.  President Holzapfel seems to be one in a million.  Here is the e-mail that Pres. Holzapfel sent to the families, the bishops, the stake presidents, and to the elders.  And he included this photo from their recent zone conference.

Dear Elders Hulme and Guinn,

Here is your travel plan for November 18. We will arrange your departure interviews and dinner this coming weekend. Your efforts to prepare Elders Kirk and Chugg to take your responsibilities in the Ensley Branch will be appreciated. New zone leaders will be called before you leave. I ask you to visit with them as soon as we announce their assignment.

Thank you for your service in the mission. Your lives exemplify the kind of missionaries the Lord needs today to fulfill his purposes. Thank you for your inspired leadership as the Bessemer zone leaders. The recent conference you conducted was exceptional and training and discussions were most helpful. I commend you both for your dedication, obedience, and service.

Blessings, President Holzapfel

GOOD LUCK ELDER HULME AND ELDER GUINN!!!!!!

Sushi Chefs

Elder Hulme has now surpassed my cooking expertise.  Here's proof...

Elder Guinn chopping

rolling

  plating

 eating

Apparently, dressing up is an important part of sushi-making.

Got the oil changed, cleaned the fridge, mopped the floor, made fish tacos again (perch isn't a favorite of mine), did some grocery shopping, and drank a milkshake from a fast food place called Jacks.  It's been a good preparation day.

Elder Guinn and I are the Bessemer stake zone leaders, which means we are in charge of going out to the district leaders in our zone to train and help them in any way we can.  We are also conducting 3 hours of training in our Zone Conference on Nov. 5th.  I'm pretty excited about it.  President Holtzapfel dropped a big ol' bomb - he asked Elder Guinn and I to share some things we've learned about and from obedience in front of the whole mission.  It's worse than speaking in Sacrament Meeting.

Other cool news - we are going to have two new missionaries here in our apartment starting in November.  I'll be remaining at this address for a long while - unless they send me to Suriname.

Elder Guinn and I were working in this neighborhood trying to contact people we met a week ago.  This little boy came up and asked in a very sweet voice, "Are you guys coming to our house?"  He was only about 6, so we told him to go ask his parents if we could come over.  He came out a minute later and said, "I told my Grandpa you were white guys, and he says he doesn't have time."  To this, I had a great big chuckle.

The Lower Lights CD is now my most treasured possession.  The girl singing in "Ye Elders of Israel" sounds like an angel.  I want to take voice lessons some day to learn how to sing well.

Mom, you asked if we go tracting often.  We do tract, but usually we just wander around and help people rake leaves, or carry in groceries and stuff.  They then ask us to leave them alone.  Some will allow us to teach.  We probably knock on doors 3 hours per week in our spare time.

I like Alabama, but I'm not sure it would be a good permanent residence for me.  Maybe...  Stuff is going well.

Angels

(Photos copied without any permission whatsoever from the Alabama Birmingham Mission Blog)

Brother Jones (our recent convert) was ordained a Priest yesterday.  He was also called to be the Branch Missionary.  He's been walking around introducing himself as Elder Hulme since I put my name tag on him yesterday.  I think he's going to be an integral part of this branch.  He's been setting up appointments for us with his friends.

Elders Fisher, Robison, Guinn, and Hulme

Yesterday, I was getting pretty down because we don't have very many, if any, good progressing investigators.  Elder Guinn was pretty down, too, and he was praying for someone to help us out.  President Archibald from the Stake Presidency was visiting our branch.  It was fast and testimony meeting and I enjoyed the service.  Afterward, President Archibald wanted to talk with Elder Guinn and I.  I need to backtrack...  When Elder Bednar was here in September, a missionary asked him why or how we could receive the ministering of angels.  His response was like this, "Why would he have body-less beings try to do angel stuff when there are home teachers to do it, or missionaries, or bishops, or any number of other influential people already living?"  Well, President Archibald was our angel.  He spent 1.5 hours with us.  He gave us sound advice, a lot of encouragement, and was exactly what Elder Guinn and I needed.

Folks keep saying that they're sorry I haven't received my visa yet.  It's okay.  I actually am growing to like Alabama.  I'm content to stay here as long as needed.  However, I think it would be a tragedy to never make it to Suriname to finish learning Dutch or meet my original mission president.  Although, I'm not sure anyone could have a better mission president than President Holzapfel.

Elder Hulme and President Holzapfel

It's nice knowing that I'm not in this work alone.  I purchased a little composition book and have been recording all the miracles I see.  It's going to be a real treat to look back and see day-by-day all the incredible stuff that's happened while being here.

We make some pretty stinking good sushi.  We also made a vegetable lasagne, but it wasn't anything special like I had hoped.  It was still good, though.

I love you guys.  Thanks for all the nice notes sent my way.  I'm learning lots and doing good.

Determined

These past few weeks have been tough.  Missionary work is more enjoyable when you spend lots of time teaching.  I have had such a challenge teaching lately.  Everyone has been ditching out on our appointments.  We've spent 1/3 as much time teaching as usual, and it's so boring!  The best days are when you have lesson after lesson after lesson.  These days seem to be just failure after failure all day long.  Luckily, though, it's not getting me down - just determined.

Autumn began on the 23rd.  Summer ended exactly 2 days after, and the days have been so nice.  I honestly thought that the heat here was always miserable, but after that one rain storm, it's been nice.  It's truly incredible.

Conference was awesome.  I hope you were able to enjoy it half as much as I did.

Elder Guinn and I went tracting yesterday, and I think this whole block has been stewed in anti-mormon stuff.  They told us multiple times that what we believe is evil and also that Joseph Smith was an evil awful man who was a murderer and stuff.  I was amazed.  First, because Joseph Smith was an incredible man and did great things for mankind and for the Church.  I was also amazed that Baptists were telling us, as missionaries, that we live in sin.  Interesting claim.

I like Elder Guinn.  He has a solid understanding of when it's time to be serious, be serious.  But when it's time to have fun, then have fun.  He's a hard worker, understands and lives the doctrine, and makes me laugh sometimes, too.  He was home schooled for a long time, up until high school.  It seems like homeschooling gets a lot more learning done than public school.  We also like the same foods, both being former picky eaters.  I guess I'm still picky, I just don't tell anyone.

Life is good.  I love you guys.

Sushi, Baptism

Elder Guinn's family sent a box .  It had a bamboo roller, sticky rice, and seaweed.  So, we bought some "krab" and frozen fish (there is NO fresh fish in Ensley), and made some California rolls.  The rice that Elder Guinn made was tasty.  The sushi turned out good.

Saturday, Br. Jones was baptized.  The service went great.  Frankie did the dunking, and tried 3 times.  Luckily, Br. Briggins suggested kneeling the 2nd time, and it worked.  Sister Davis spoke on the Holy Ghost and did an exceptional job.  Br. Jones asked me to confirm him.  Giving blessings is really cool.  It must be a grand calling being a Patriarch.  The whole time, though, Br. Jones' phone was ringing.  There was an emergency at his house, so he had to take off right after the service.  Everyone who came to the baptism didn't even get to talk to the baptisee.  Turns out that his cousin and 2 friends who had been staying with him got into a fight (they should have come to the baptism!)  Big fights over little things are frequent in this area.

Next Monday we're going to the McWane Science Center.  I think it is an OMSI equivalent.  I learned that the Museum of Art I wanted to visit is closed on Mondays (my p-day).  I'm a bit bummed about it.  P-day is too short.  I'm headed back to work.

Visa Update

(VaLene writing...)
Last week, I hunkered down and wrote a letter to Missionary Travel.  It was a nice letter - I just wondered if they could explain the visa problem and provide any information at all.  Yesterday I received the nicest e-mail from the supervisor in Missionary Travel.  The e-mail was very thorough and answered all my questions.  Here it is...

Dear Sister VaLene Hulme,

Thank you for your letter dated 22 September 2010.  We understand why you would wonder about the status of your son’s visa. Unfortunately it is not possible to notify every parent on the status of their missionary’s visa at any particular time, but please know that you can call our office at any time and we can give you the latest update.

We apologize for the delay in getting your son’s visa to the West Indies and appreciate your patience. I can assure you your son’s visa problems have not fallen through the cracks and been ignored. We are very aware of the situation and doing the best we can to have a solution so these missionaries can get to their fields of labor in a timely manner.   

It is not common for the West Indies to have visa problems. However, in May 2010 we were notified that a different type of visa was required for missionaries serving in Suriname. It’s an MKV visa that would allow missionaries to proselyte in the country and not have to leave the country every couple of months and re-enter to be valid on their visa. The first visa we tried on this new method worked just fine (that’s the 1 Elder that received his Visa when your son was ready to leave). However the other ones that were applied for have not received clearance. The Ministry of Justice in Suriname is saying that it has been approved, but the Suriname Embassy here in the states that actually issues the visa hasn’t received the notice of the approval yet. We currently have our Area Legal Counsel in the Caribbean working on the problem. We hope to have a solution very soon!

It is not common to have a missionary serve his entire mission in his temporary assignment. Once a missionary has been delayed for over 6 months, the First Presidency considers reassigning the missionary, but that doesn’t happen very often. We hope to have these visa problems resolved before that happens to your son. But please know that each call to a temporary assignment is prayed about by the Brethren just as their original call is. It’s inspired where they are called to serve.

We appreciate your letter. We are always trying to give the best service to the Lord’s missionaries and their families. Our goal is to get all missionaries to their fields of labor on time and with the appropriate type of visa to be able to perform missionary work.

We hope your missionary is having a wonderful experience serving the Lord in the Alabama Birmingham Mission. We’ll continue doing our best to get him to Suriname as quickly as possible.

Kind regards,

1st Baptism

September 19, 2010

Today is Monday, and we will baptize Antoine Saturday.  Antoine is 19 and moved away from home at 16 and never went back.  He's spent some time homeless, but currently owns a house.  He speaks slowly and often carries his head down, but he is brilliant.  Last night we asked him why he wants to join the church.  He replied quite boldly that it makes sense to him.  That whenever he is learning about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, all these verses from the Bible pop into his mind, proving it's truth to him.  He remembers everything and applies it.  He'll be baptized by Elder Davis.  I'm so stoked.  Saturday the 25th which is exactly 1 day after 1/4 of my mission.

Apostles are for real.  They aren't just gimmicky church people.  Elder Bednar permeated brilliance.  President Eyring was my favorite apostle, but now it's pretty tied up.  We learned that Elder Bednar doesn't have favorite scriptures, but rather favorite scripture themes.  The one he shared was the idea in 3rd Nephi, 11 when Christ talks to everybody one by one.  He doesn't just say, "Hey Everyone!" but talks to each person individually.

President Holzapfel gave us all a copy of the Book of Mormon and asked us to highlight everything in it that talks about Christ's Gospel, or doctrine.  I named it Mijn Paars Book which means My Purple Book.  We have to finish the whole thing by Thanksgiving, which will be hard.  It's not like I have spare reading time...  So that'll be a fun and exciting challenge.  I'm about 1/5 of the way done, so I'm making progress.

What a Night

Millie called me on my way home from parent-teacher conferences saying that someone from the Alabama, Birmingham mission called.  What do you think goes through a mother's mind when a call, not from her son, comes from the mission home?  1st thought - Visa?  No, they would probably allow Xander to call.  2nd thought - Injury. Was Xander in some kind of accident or is really sick in the hospital?  3rd thought - Is Xander having sudden problems and wants to come home?  So I had Millie give me the name and number, I took a deep breath, and called.  I knew the  mission president's name, and the caller ID name was different.  I figured I was calling some assistant.  But guess who picked up the phone?  The mission president.  I was kind of star struck.  I mean, who calls the mission president at 8:00 at night?  NOT ME, but there I was - just called the guy up like he's my next-door neighbor.  I fumbled for words and told him who I was and that my daughter received a call from this number, etc.   He confirmed that he was the one who had called and just wanted to tell me what a great job Xander was doing.  My heart was pounding out of my chest, waiting for the bad news to come.  He continued telling me that Xander and his companion were having a baptism this weekend, and that he loves my son, and that he is so proud of him and his hard work.  I awkwardly squeak out something like, "Thank you, that is so nice to hear."

At this point I am expecting either the imminent bad news, or perhaps some really great news that maybe his Visa came or something.  In either case, my heart is working overtime, and I'm trying not to breathe heavily into my cell phone.  He continues with the kindest compliments I could ever hear about my missionary son.  I'm floored.  I'm still nervous.  I'm awkward as can be.  I try to return the compliments by saying what a great job he and his wife do (which I meant sincerely, but I'm certain I sounded like a mumbling idiot.)  He asked if I was aware of the blog which they keep, and I said that we checked it frequently and enjoyed reading it very much.  He said he was updating the blog tonight, so I said, "Great, I'll make sure I read it."  We said our good-byes.

Now, what do you think was going through my mind?  1st - what a dimwit I must have sounded like.  The phone call just caught me so off guard!  2nd - is there some surprise on the blog?  Maybe a photo of Xander with his new Visa or something?  I arrived home and checked the blog.  Same as yesterday.  Check again nervously.  Same. Repeat several times.  Get a stomach ache.  Finally after about 45 minutes, it's updated.  Way down at the bottom of the blog, there are two photos of Xander and some very nice compliments.  No Visa.  But a good-looking young chap with a bright smile and some very nice words from his mission president.

What a night.

Breaking Up

Missionary work is hard.  I come to love these people and then they are given "anti" material and ask us to stop visiting them.  Or they just avoid us.  In the past, I've only associated with friends and family, or those who love me.  But now I'm the disliked one.  Luckily, however, we have a good group of people who do enjoy having the missionaries around.  I've been trying to learn how to love people like Jesus did and does, and I've learned that it is very challenging.  Saturday was the day we lost a few good investigators.  It is such a bummer when they break up with you.

Freddy - they play Bingo with him at a nursing home

This looks like Xander's favorite drink - chocolate milk

Elder Guinn's idea to pan fry cookies

A Super Duper Long Letter

I'm not even going to edit this one.  It's just a good, long, very long, I mean really long letter...

Hello,
I always keep a family photo with me for two reasons.  One is that I like you guys.  The other is because the old ladies like looking at photos and I've always got to be on the "in" with the old ladies.  And last week I was looking at the family photo that I keep in my missionary handbook (rules of being a missionary) and realized that it's us against the rest of the world.  That in the end, family will be all any of us have.  I think we've got a good team.  Y'all are sweet.  And yes, I broke down and have adopted some of the Southern vernacular.  It's a mix now of Utah, and Southern Gangster.  Yeah, I'm that cool.  Ha!

A principle that I am learning very well is that of being careful what you pray for. I've been praying for faith, and the only real way to strengthen faith is by having it tried.  So we've been getting hit by problem after problem and trial after trial, all the while being made stronger.  I really have learned so much in these past months.  About the Gospel is one thing, but also about people and about myself and my goals and time/general management.

I've seen so much poverty and laziness and so many people who are lost who don't even know it.  People seem to be drawn so easily to falsehood and paranoia.  What Joseph Smith said that Jesus said is definitely true "They draw near unto me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  They teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of Godliness, but they deny the power thereof." That is what reigns here.  The preachers put on a show so that going to church is more like a show than an opportunity to grow.

Anyway, I gave myself a haircut today, and I think it's pretty good.  Short and low-profile.  Just finished all my chores for the day, too.  Laundry, bed making, cleaning stuff.  We got a new sink on Thursday.  I called and asked the building to send someone to fix our leaky faucet, and they gave us a new sink, basin and all.  The only thing it's missing is a disposal.  That would be so nice to have!

I've got a recurring knot in my back.  Any guesses how to get rid of it?  The muscle is beneath my shoulder blade making it impossible to massage it.  It feels like the muscle is attached to the top of my right lung.  It may be from bike riding?  I really can't figure it out.

This was my philosophical question of the day.  Which is the greater miracle?
1) Jesus heals a leper with his hands
2) A vaccine is created to heal all leprosy
This came from our investigator Denise's concern that miracles ceased in Biblical times.  While I thought of it, this came to mind.  I think I know the answer, but I'll omit my thoughts for now.

Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the Seventy spoke last week.  We made it to the youth fireside.  He talked about how it's easier to avoid temptation than it is to resist temptation.  He compared the temptation to fresh baked cookies.  If you walk into the house (after committing to yourself to never eat a cookie), and there are fresh baked cookies, that's a tough thing to pass up.  Your best move is to leave the house and get far far far from the cookies.  But how hard is it going to be if you are in the kitchen with your mouth salivating, smelling the cookies, looking at them just sitting there?  Is it easier to avoid or resist?  Exceptional fireside - I thought it was very well presented.

My district leader is great.  Something about him - he and I kicked it off great a month and a half ago when I went on a teamup with him.  Teamups are when you trade companions for 24 hours.  I hope to serve with him for a whole 6 weeks at some point.  His name might be part of why I like him.  Elder Robison.  He's from a little city halfway between St. George and Vegas.  Grew up on a ranch there - just a great missionary.  Elder Robison just has a good ring to it when you say it.

Simon - way to make it into the better band.  Start writing your own music. Clarinet hip-hop is what we need more of here in the south.

Elder Guinn and I have made millions of foods:

• All breakfast foods including, syrup, pancakes, french toast, eggs, biscuits/gravy, this exquisite sweet potato hashbrown meal (sweet potatoes, bacon, onion), and smoothies.
• We make killer sandwiches lots, with good bread and way too much spinach.  I make corn lots, fresh and frozen and eat it like elotes, Nacho Libre style. 
• Salads - I made some salad dressing out of yogurt.  It was bad.  I put shredded carrots and stuff on salads.
• Elder Guinn made some stew today out of Brother Rice's beans and pork and chicken.  It's not bad except for the beans.
• COOKIES!
• Mostly we just avoid allowing the members to get KFC for us.
• I'm about to make eggy noodles which should be way good.  Please send simple recipes.  Or more ideas of filling but healthy things to eat.

Mostly as of now, we just try to eat all our food before it goes bad.  I think Elder Guinn doesn't care for vegetables, so I eat most of them veggies.  Fruit is way spendy, but there are usually stands we go to that I can get cheap food stuff on the fly.  We have access to $.10 peaches!  I've developed a LOVE for Grape Nuts - the best breakfast.  Also, Homestyle Bushes Baked Beans - I eat a 1 lb. can of those every week.  Last week we made some enchiladas calculated at $1.00 each, and they were so so good!  After all is said and done, we really just mix everything we have with something else and call it a meal.  I may just make a photo documentary of it.

Mom, I think I finally understand the pain you feel when the house is messy.  Messy houses are a no go for me now.  I keep this place nice whenever possible.  And if it is cluttered it eats at me until I can clean up.  To keep a floor clean requires so much sweeping.

I got a picture of Freddy and I and will send it home ASAP When I can print it from Elder Guinn's camera.

I love you all,

Elder Hulme

p.s.  I just walked into the kitchen and Elder Guinn looked up with a guilty face.  I noticed he was holding a spatula and our stove was on with a frying pan on it.  He stated, "I'm doing an experiment."  To my delight, he is currently frying cookies.  Not a bad idea.  Use low heat.

Pie Chart and Photos

Xander drew a pie chart for us that shows how his time is spent.  He says, "Teaching and traveling are way fun.  Finding is fun too.  Service is like taking a break, so it's very enjoyable."

This is his current companion, Elder Guinn.  He was supposed to go to Suriname the same time as Xander, and now they're together in Alabama.  He says that they speak Dutch when they're alone.

Photographed While Eating

We were tipped that the new Mission President in Alabama is a faithful blogger. We found proof that our son is eating. VaLene has been a bit concerned that he won't have any food when he is not at home.

Simple Acts of Kindness

Yesterday we took some bread to the nice retirement home.  Sister Poelenitz lives there and we do sacrament for her since she can't leave due to health issues.  She's only about 50, but way physically disabled.  We cut open her watermelon for her, and that act of kindness to her seemed to be the most rewarding thing I've done out here.  Just helping an oldish woman.

I don't think I've told you all about Freddy yet.  He's an old retarded guy we used to help play Bingo.  He's funny because he will make eye contact with you, then cock his head and crack up laughing.  I'm going to find a way for us to continue helping Freddy with Bingo.

We live 6 miles from where we work, so it's about a half hour hilly bike ride each way.  But at one spot, we cross a bridge over a cool stream.  The cool part about the stream is that there are a ton of great blue herons that nest near the bridge, so we see a bunch of those birds every day we ride.  It reminds me of going bird watching with Dad.

I am surviving the humidity.  We've been very blessed in surviving these temperatures.  We have exceptional air conditioning which I opt to leave on always.  It's cooling down just a bit.  I sure hope I leave before winter.  I'm not prepared for wintery situations at all.

Picture Postcards

Dear Home,
I've never sent a post card before, but I figure this is much the same thing.  This is me and Elder Dansie and Demarcus.  Today is August 2, 2010, and it is hot and wet outside.  I was informed yesterday that I will be taking over Ensley, and Elder Guinn will be my companion*.  I'm going to have to be lead by the spirit, because I don't know how to get to anyone's house as of now**...and no way am I buying a GPS.  It'll be good to have a refresher on Dutch, though.  Apparently, Elder Guinn hasn't forgotten quite as much as I have.  Mission is going well.

*Elder Guinn was also called to Suriname/West Indies, and he was in Xander's district in the MTC.  They were both reassigned to Birmingham, Alabama due to Visa problems.

** I speculate that Xander falls asleep soon after his seat belt is attached, and that is why he wouldn't know his way around.  His entire life, he has fallen fast asleep in the car.

This is when my coat was in home ward, so I don't fit in.  Elder Dansie did a District Training with us.  Being a missionary is fun.  I sure enjoy serving the Lord.

Rickwood Field is the oldest baseball field in America.  Elder Dansie got a flat from a big nail in the road, so we were walking that day.  This shows that Ensley, Alabama used to be a real city, not a dying one.

Photos in Alabama

First off, the address.  Xander has sent us 2 different zip codes, and we're just now learning that letters and packages will be returned with one of the zip codes.  The following address appears to work correctly:

114 Crabapple Lane Apt. F

Birmingham, AL 35214

(35204 is the wrong zip code that was posted for a while)

Xander and his companion, Elder Dansie

Gotta' appreciate him representing the proper bicycle brand even while on his mission

The missionary apartment.  Looks fine from the outside.

Ew.  Gross.  Saggy, ugly, ripped sofa.  Boxes stacked in the corner?

Not too bad for a missionary apartment kitchen.

I guess this is where they study

Xander knows I can't stand a mattress with only a sheet (missing a mattress pad).   He did not like me forcing a brand new bulky mattress pad on him when he went to college.  But a bare naked mattress is so much worse.  I can only hope that maybe he was washing the sheets?  The clutter.  The need to vacuum.  The ugly Ninja Turtle blanket.  I did my best.  That's all I can do, right?

Fresh new haircut.  What a nicely shaped head.  Basketball on P-day.

I think they're taking that song, "I'm trying to be like Jesus" a bit too far.