Frog in My Pants

Yes we’ll talk at Christmas.  I’m thinking that I’ll just call you like it’s worked before, that’s the least stressful way to do it, everyone who tries to have calls coming in from the states has connection issues.  When is church for you all?  I’ll be available all evening or midday.  I’m more Christmas spirited than I ever have been in my entire life.  I think it’s because they don’t have the awful Christmas music here, all they have is the church hymns, and those I like.  We will be cleaning the house today, car will be being repaired all week, and we’ve had a chore trying to find bicycles to use while the car is gone(My tan should come back this week, the car is awful for that. My skin changes color so fast!! From light to dark or dark to light, it takes just a few days).  For Christmas we’ll be having a potluck at the Jansens house where everyone has been asked to bring something that their family makes every year.  We’ll watch a movie together.  Sister Jansen wants to watch Ben Hur, I don’t know if I’ll be able to watch a 4 hour long movie.  The other options are the Testaments and The Ten Commandments.  Or that new Joseph Smith movie, I liked that one. 

Zaterdag was gek.  We started the day with studies, and I learned a lot.  The district President’s wife is in the hospital and we wanted to visit her. When we got there the security guards said that we have to come at visiting hours, which is garbage- we are allowed to come whenever because we’re from the church.  Anyway, as we were driving away ZR Jetty called us and said to come back.  She works as a nurse at the hospital and was able to break us in.  She was out there screaming at the security guards telling them that they don’t know the rules and that they were wrong for trying to stop us.  It was great.

But then I discovered something in my pants that was poking me, turns out it was a chunk of frog that had been through the wash, gross.  Then we went to the Aroemans to prepare for our lesson with Bro and Sis Wekker (getting married today, baptized Saturday).  While at the Aroemans they insisted that we eat, which was good because otherwise we wouldn’t have any lunch.  I found a nice scary worm thing in my drink, so I threw it in the trench.  When we were ready to go, Elder Fernandes asked to wash his hands from the curry chicken.  They took us to the back of the house where there is running water and turned the water on.  Zr handed us some soap in a tiny little  bottle,  I was so intrigued by the size of the bottle.  Turns out it was special girl soap.  Turned out to be a great lesson on tithing. Brother and Sister Wekker are progressing really well, and we should be able to help the daughter to repent and be baptized as well.  I love it.  

I love you all lots.

-Elder Hulme

New Camera, Transfers, Ear Drops, Night Flights

This week was absolutely nuts!
I don't have as many photos as you, but I did get this camera.  One is of me and Ravi, he works at brother Ibrahiem's clothing store.  They are both member families, Ravi is going to go on a mission soon.  Brother Ibrahim is working with institute.  That's a nice hat they have at the store.  I got a Samsung camera, it was a medium price one, and seems to be just what I need.  I got a new card because my old one is full anyway.   

Here's whats up this week.
Transfers came early because of elections in Guyana, so we called transfer calls Tuesday.  Elder Norton got called to work with Elder Sadler in his area, I took over Kwatta and senior zone leader with a new companion photo'd, Elder Fernandes.  He was working in Uitkijk.  He's really sad to leave his area but seems like he'll adjust just fine.  Elder Fernandes is from Brussels, Belgium.  His dad is from Portugal and his mom from somewhere else in Europe.  He was called french speaking, but hasn't a chance to speak french yet. He speaks French as his first language, Dutch as his school language, English as his church language and Portuguese as his house language.  He's 21 and always is listening to music.  I'm really glad for the call.
Transfers however aren't so easy, because Elder Guinn and Nielson and Pedersen all got called to exit Suriname, Elder Guinn will be in St. Martin.  I've never been so far from Elder Guinn, it's sad.  Friday night I had to drive around moving people, and then leave to take those 3 to the airport.  I slept about an hour, and then passed out when I got back for another 3.  Elder Warner and I then went out to work. (all this time I had a serious ear problem.  I damaged my ear canal because I thought something was stuck in it.  I had such excruciating pain that I couldn't sleep Thursday or Friday.)  Elder Warner and I had a great day together, he's a great friend, he likes all the good music and can do sweet things on a BMX bike, such as 360's and tailwhips and stuff.  We made it to the doctor as well. I got drops for the infection and drops for the pain.  Problem solved now.  That night however, we had Elder Freeman and Elder Fuendelidas flying in.  Elder Freeman was coming from Grenada, he's been there for 3 months, he really loved it and didn't want to come back it seems.  I would have slept in after picking them up, but we had to go to church, I was out at 2 AM driving people from the airport to their area.  Church was ok, but only Jerry came from our teaching pool, way bummed about that.  I taught a lesson in the Jovo class.  
Sunday night we had a District Presidency meeting that went way late, then we were up until 12 reporting numbers.  Woke up at 3 to take Elder Van Meteren to the airport so he can go see his mom.  His mission is over.  I found out at 12 that he had left his suit at the Koewarasan apartment.  We drove way out there at 3am, grabbed the suit and got him on the airplane.  Then I came home, and turned off my cell phone, alarm clock and anything else that could bother me, and slept.  

Being a missionary is nuts when the airlines only fly in the middle of the night.  

I woke up this morning at 9:30.  Did my laundry and studied, then went to the bank to get money for a camera and picked everyone up to go to the Salijos for late Thanksgiving.  We had some great turkey and potatoes and corn and ice cream.  I got a real strong desire to eat pumpkin pie while I was there, I don't think I'll be getting pumpkin pie any time soon.  I then bought the camera and came here.  I sure love you all.  I loved the pictures.  Sorry I missed it all.  

You asked about pizza.  Pizza here is done exactly like in the states.  If we get pizza, it's almost always from Pizza Hut, which is the best of all the places I've found.  Everyone here likes it, but it's really really expensive, so it's rarely eaten by the most of the country.  It's also not very available.  Mostly however, surinamers only love rice, they don't care much for bread or potato or pasta, just rice.  It's too bad because I really like the other ones too.  I love you  all lots!
-Elder Hulme

Zoo, Camera Broke, Retention, Wedding, Afro Jesus

Kwatta Monkey (English = Spider Monkey)

So I'm working in the area Kwatta, it's named after the Kwatta monkey.  It's going well, Jerry and Ingrid are getting baptized in December, and also married in December, the same week, but the wedding comes first.  


We went to the zoo today. I stood about 3 feet away from a lion, gave a high five to a wild boar, played on the swings, and went down a zipline.  The monkeys are still just like gangsters.  

I was studying Preach My Gospel, because that's what we do, and found an activity I've never done.  It is to ask you all to share an experience.  The question is "How have you been blessed by obeying a specific commandment (i.e. tithing prayer or sabbath or something)?"  I need the support from everyone!  Oh, I got a new pen today.  

I don't know what's up with my camera, but it's not working very well.  It always claims to have a lens error.  The lame part is that it didn't get dropped, or wet or anything, it just stopped working properly.  I may just purchase one here, they are about the same price I think.  I also know of a store that sells Canon.  Or I can try to locate someone to fix it... I'll likely do this next week unless you have any other plans.  

Elder Job, Elder Hulme upside down

The district Presidency seems to be really waking up.  They have committed themselves to help us with retention of recently baptized members.  Up until this point it's been the work only of the missionaries.  It's incredible to not feel like I'm working alone anymore.  We bought a new tie for our branch president to butter him up in hopes of teaching him how to delegate work better.  There was a missionary serving in Wanica when I got into Suriname 362 days ago.  He got married Thursday to someone he baptized while in Wanica.  We went to the wedding.  Two missionaries accidentally drank alcohol for the first time at the wedding.  They ordered a bunch of non-alcoholic Champaigneq but some of it wasn't non-alcoholic at all.  I came too late to be a part of that group.  We did see the groom give a nasty nasty kiss to his bride.  Elder Norton was disturbed by it for the entire evening.  


We've got an investigator named Tony.  He's the oldest investigator I've ever had coming in at 78 years old.  Well, actually my first investigator in Bama was over 80.... Anyway Tony blacks out some of his afro, and bleaches the other, putting a big white stripe on his head.  It's great, he's also got a painting of "The REAL last supper" his house.  Afro Jesus is great.  I took a member there, and he was so excited about it, he took a picture of it with his phone.  Tony may have memorized the restoration pamphlet we gave him.  He's read it many times, and understands the restoration really well.  I don't have a date picked out for him yet, but he'll be joining brother Jerry's family home evening tonight.  I hope to hear that he's read all the way through the Book of Mormon.  He should be our newest old single man in the branch soon.
Things are great.  I love missionary work, and I'm excited to hear your responses to the Preach My Gospel assignment.  
-Elder Hulme

Q: How are Jerry and Ingrid coming along? 
A: Jerry and Ingrid are doing really well, they decided to push their marriage date back a bit, which is fine, and will be wed and baptized in December.  They are really enjoying the church.


Q: Is medical care typically considered very poor in Suriname?
A: Yes.  I refuse to go to the doctor even if I'm dead.

Elder ?, Elder Norton, Elder Baker, Br. Jansen, Elder Bell, Elder Hulme

Q: Are the bananas tastier in Suriname than in the states, or is a banana a banana, whether it's fresh off the tree or not?
A: There are gross bananas here sometimes.  But if you find the good good ones, they are better than American bananas.  


Q: Do you find mangoes year-round or are there definite seasons for them in Suriname?  Do you usually purchase them or find a random tree?
A: Mangoes are seasonal, even usually you can get your hands on them for a higher price.  We bought about 25 last week, and are still working on eating them all, one by one as soon as they are ripe.  I also bought about 40 bananas today.  I hate running out.  I've replaced most junk food with fruit, and I think it's a good thing.  


Q: Do you speak often in church?
A: Not too much, we are trying to make the branches more independent of the missionaries.  This branch especially is excelling in that regard.  


Q: What is a typical Sunday for you?
A: Wake up and make phone calls after studying.  Study a bit more and go to the service.  I'm in either the investigator class or the YSA class.  Both are great.  Then we have priesthood, which is getting better.  Afterwords, we make lots and lots of appointments, eat some food either at a members house, the Jansen's, or home, and go preach the gospel until 8.  8PM we do weekly planning.  That lasts usually until about 10.  Then we take numbers for the whole zone, and fax them in.  That numbers part I've never completed before 11:30pm, and no that's not ok.  I'm still trying to find a way to follow that rule.  I think they give us way too much unnecessary stuff to report.  

Q: Tell us a little more about Elder Norton (interests, quirks, life plans).
A: Elder Norton often gets into this "zone" where he's deep in thought and it lasts all day.  I just learned last night that if he's like that, it's still ok to talk to him.  He's very dedicated to studying the scriptures and writing in his journal.  He plays bass guitar, and dances a lot.  He's very kind to everyone.  


Q: Are you still sweating all the time?
A: Yes of course.

Q: The internet says the long rainy season is April-July, and the short rainy season is December and January.  Does it rarely rain during the dry season, or does it still rain quite a bit?
A: The rainy seasons haven't been following their patterns for the last 2 or 3 years.  But when I was with Elder Job, it only rained 4 times, which is very very few.  Usually outside the rainy season, it rains at least a little bit every single day.  

BOY I enjoy hearing about bike rides and bike stores.  I also sometimes daydream about lefty, and how good a bike that is.
Congratulations Simon the Champion.  Millie, stay cool, don't worry about mistakes, I've been doing this missionary work thing for 1.5 years and I still make mistakes.  Mom's cool, Oli's cool
Much love.
-Elder Hulme

Spiderman Box, Better Fathers, Losing Legs

Elder Tullis

That box in the photos is used to transport important documents in the car.  We were at district meeting and I took photos of everyone holding it.  Steve O. inspired move. I've had many shirt fatalities this week.  3 down due to collars.  I resurrected one though, it had a coconut stain on it, but I washed it many many times and now you can't even see the stain. 


Breakfast is pretty much always disappointing.  I'll sometimes eat cereal with yoghurt or use a banana instead of a spoon.  Or bread with cheese, sometimes an egg too.  I ate leftover yellow rice this morning, and last week I ate leftover Bruine Bonen once.  I hope to find a ton of mangos today, that's my true desire.  I eat at least 3 bananas a day.  

Monday last week we went to the Van Tholl's house.  There we met with 6 active members who all live in the same area, we talked about how we could boost the amount of members in the neighborhood.  They came up with an idea of starting a class there, aimed at teaching the men to be better fathers.  It's a huge task.  But it'll be good, we start Saturday.  There is a beer here called Guinness.  They have a slogan, "after work is guinness time" that slogan has destroyed fatherhood in this country.  Many many men sit outside the supermarket all night drinking beer.  



We've got two progressing investigators right now.  They are Jerry and Ingrid.  We're helping them to get married and baptized.  This will take place over the next 40 days I think.  They were wanting to get married on January 3, because that's their daughters birthday, but then Ingrid had a vision last week where a man in white with her son came and told her to get baptized on another day.  She decided to do so and the whole branch seems to be excited to help them.  They are getting fellowshipped really well, and they are a legitimate family!  Jerry had an infection in his leg 3 years ago.  They removed it, but then left him sitting in his bed with an open wound for 5 days in the hospital.  They then had to amputate his left leg, so he has only a stub.  He seems to be handling it really well.  The same thing happened with a member 2 years ago.  He had an infection, so they removed part of his leg, but then realized it was the wrong leg, so now he has no legs.  This story ended kind of sad, but they are both well on their way to the Celestial kingdon.  Love you lots
-Elder Hulme

My Favorite Tool is Called a Chop

This is me with Brother Tjong a Jong, the day that we did service for him.  That tool is called a chop, I think it's my favorite tool, similar to a hoe but shorter handle and a very setback blade.

Next is me and Brother Conrad.  He's one of our best investigators right now.  He looks like a pirate, came to church, is loving the Book of Mormon. 

He's been a bus driver for like 50 years now, and used to work with Brother Tjongajong for a long long time.  We didn't know that until he came to church and they were talking, it was a good experience.  As he was leaving the church he was saying something to the effect  of how glad he was that God had lead him to this church.  He won't accept a baptismal date yet, I'm not sure why, but he knows we expect it.  I'm very glad for him, and excited to work even more with him.  Elder Scott who is coming home in 2 weeks took a picture with him, and made a pirate hook with his finger, it was pretty funny.  

The last is our new district!  we've got 3 trainers and 3 trainees now.  The one in the red is Elder Garcia, he's cool, from sugar house, and looks just like Tyler Otteson to me.  The other is Elder Sadler, from Illinois somewhere.  He seems good too, but I haven't had too much of a chance to talk with him.  The other three elders are Elder Tullis, training Elder Sadler, and I'm so stoked for him, I would love to have Elder Tullis as my trainer - he knows how to make missionary work fun.  Elder Fernandez, of Brussels Belgium is training Elder Garcia, the two spanish root name companionship.  Then there is Elder Job and I, loving the work in Wanica.  Elder Job has lots of interesting things.  He's from Groningen, he's got a girlfriend who is a convert of 2 years and will be getting her mission papers in sometime.  It's funny because he's super dark and she's super light, like way way way white skin.  Elder Job gets tons of mail, from tons of people, nearly every day.  He likes making pancakes in the morning.  He's been snowboarding before, but in an indoor artificial resort, it sounds kind of boring compared to real mountains.


We got together as a zone today, played some frisbee, played some soccer, basketball, everything.  Then went and spent 300SRD at Burger King.  I like the Angry Whopper.  I haven't had Javanese food in a long time...  I should get on that.  For the caramel corn, I just browned some butter, added some coffee cream and sugar and poured that on salted popcorn.  I'm so excited for conference, I love this time of year, even though this is my last conference.  It's so strange being on the downhill slope of missionary work, and seeing other elders packing up and going home.  

I gave a talk on Sunday.  I talked about scripture study.  I am trying to get the branch to learn the doctrines better, because it seems that the understanding level right now is very very simple, and not very converted.  I used the parts that talk about "ask and ye shall recieve, seek knock."  My favorite is in 2Nephi 32:3-5 with the question of, What happens if you do not understand the doctrine?  MMMMM I love restored truth.  Did you get my postcard?  and Elder Job's?

It's great hearing from you.  Thanks for all the support.  

-Elder Hulme

September 12, 2011

So, the first activity was something that Miranjo, the son of the Branch President, and the only active deacon said he wanted to organize.  We said okay and let him do it because he said he could get 16 of his friends there.  When it was done, he didn't have a single friend there.  We were able to get Joan's boy to come and we had a good time with them and all the women that were asked to bring food.  

This second activity was something Elder Job put together.  We invited Joan to teach us all how to make our own kites, and then fly them, snacks and things would be thereafter provided.  We invited lots and lots of people and turned out with 5 investigators there.  Joan and two of her sons, and then these two brothers we met on the street the week previous.  Also many more people from the branch showed up and we had a great time making kites, I can show you all how some day.  The picture is of Brother Meygoe rescuing his kite from the roof of the church.  And some people making kites, and the snacks.  We made a vital mistake with this activity, and didn't have any spiritual benefits integrated into it.  Hopefully we will do better about that in the future, it was good for me to experience it though, and realize if you don't take control and make the spiritual things happen, they simply don't happen.

 

Ricardo is doing really well.  I think that Daboetje lied though - I don't think he's been trying to read for a while, so we've made some plans to crack down on him and get him into the Book of Mormon.  It's incredible seeing his personality develop.  He's 33 years old, and hasn't had any sort of work for the last 10 years.  He spent some time in prison, and on the streets homeless.  All because he was not following the commandments, (surely he was never taught to follow them or what they are, but still) and now, he's working, learning Dutch, learning to read and preparing to receive the Aaronic priesthood.  It's so great being able to see the massive progression and improvement he's had in his life.  I love being witness to it.  

We started finding work in a new area this week too.  It's close to the church, and home, and just feels like the right place to be.  We have one street called Kroondijkstraat that we have 4 investigators on.  Also, Ricardo lives nearby and we hope to take him to visit some of the people with us, to get him used to doing missionary work.  I like this new place, it's very calm and quiet, and lots of kids playing around doing crazy stuff, chasing each other and all that good stuff.  Also there isn't other churches nearby teaching anti to all the people, that makes them far more receptive to our visits.  

I've been studying repentance like President Gamiette told me to.  I've begun repenting as much as possible, and as quickly as possible.  I've learned a lot about how the Holy Ghost can purify us of our sins, and how without the ordinances such as baptism and confirmation, you can't get cleaned from sin.  I read 3 Nephi 19 this morning, and it's incredible looking at the manner in which Jesus prays, and the things he says about the people in the land of Bountiful.  When I entered the MTC I think I had maybe 3 verses of scripture memorized. I've been working on that really really hard and I think I know about 200 verses now from the standard works.  I read each Ensign completely the month it comes out.  All you have to do is put it by the toilet - it's a perfect plan!  I love being a missionary.  

We made a discovery this week, after realizing how disappointed we have been due to the lack of berries here.  There is only one berry, and that's the podosiri berry, AKA Acai.  They are all over and way cheap.  The discovery is this: the flavors of all fruits can be found in Suriname.  I bought some green bananas, they never turn yellow.  These bananas contain the flavor of the blackberry, but in banana form.  We had some other ones too, called Zuiker Bacova, sugar banana, it hides within it's peel the flavor and tartness of an apple.  I tried this morning a new zuiker bacova, and it is in the essence of strawberry.  This is an incredible step for the science of mankind!  

Ik hou heel veel van jullie. 

-Elder Hulme

September 5, 2011

Elder Job (from the Netherlands) and Elder Hulme

In the Suriname style Dutch, the word Gerechte is used as the english "dish" and Kwak is one of these dishes.  It's made from Kassava and ginger and quite good.  That's a really good translation though, I laughed at least.  I didn't get any shoes because they were all so awful.  I'm going to look into finding a cobbler.  In another few minutes, the Jansens will pick us up and take us to their house to eat, and we as a whole zone will be watching the newest Joseph Smith movie with lots of extra footage and stuff.  I'm happy to go and will enjoy being able to relax a bit.  I hope to find some more time to study though.  I've realized that I don't know nearly enough about repentance and forgiveness and things. 

Upon further investigation, Ricardo had been reading, just when Jerome wasn't home, so he didn't know about it.  That cleared him for baptism, and Brother Ricardo Babel is the newest member of the Wanica Branch.  It was great seeing him prepare and make the covenant.  It also really built up Dudie, the referrer of Ricardo. Dudie is the girlfriend of Ricardo's older brother.  She explained that while Lucian was giving his talk on the Holy Ghost she really was struck by it.  She really wants to get married so she'll not longer be living in sin.  I hope they take care of that quickly.  I think if you've been dating for 5 years and you're still not married, that is just bad planning and a bad idea. 

Zone conference was Saturday.  It was nice, we had President Gamiette present, and also President Vinas a member of the first quorum of the 70, meaning he is a general authority. All members of the 1st and 2nd quorums of the 70 are general authorities. I didn't know that until this weekend.  We talked about the atonement.  Many of the thoughts shared were verses that I felt I had been lead to in the month previous.  It was a cool experience seeing that God really has been leading and guiding me all along the way.  We got our transfer calls - Elder Job and I are staying in Wanica!  I'm so pleased with that.  Elder Tullis and Elder Fernandez will be working in Koewarisan, another area in our district.  I'm glad to be able to go on exchanges with them and have a good time with them.  

This whole week seemed abnormally hard, and stressful, and failure ridden.  I think, however, that Elder Job and I learned a lot due to the stress.  We organized a young men's activity, since there is no young men's president or anything.  It was a success all in all, but we didn't have as many people there as what would have been ideal.  We're doing a "learn to make a kite" activity on Thursday.  Elder Job did that one pretty much all by himself - I was very proud of him for it.  

I'm out of time, enjoy life.

Elder Hulme

August 22, 2011

Life is good here in the Carribean.  It's hot and sweaty and our washing machine is still awful, but we eat like kings and have been working hard, and learning a ton in doing so. 
Roberto got dropped, I may have mistyped Ricardo, who will be on the 3rd of September.  Good work at Payson lake, and good luck building a garage.  I think that once you get it on there, nobody will have anything to complain about right?  The number of houses here without a garage is many. 

Could I get some photos of Lacey's wedding thingy?  That sounds nice absolute.  Tell her hi for me too if you can.  Also the rest of that family.  Is Tyler still around?  Oh, I sent Jayson a letter to his mission address.  And one to Elder Knecht.  

I found a way to trick this computer into letting me send photos.  I hope it works.  If it does, this is me and Ricardo.  He doesn't speak Dutch or English.  I can only communicate with him in Sranan Tongo, or in Paramakans if I could speak that.  He was sick with evil spirits for a long time, and he's been completely better since he's been coming to church.  He smiles way big, it makes everyone else smile.  He's also quite possibly one of the largest people I've ever met.  His arms are like trees. 

Elder Hulme and Ricardo

The other one is me and Elder Job being photo friendly in the cyber, because we haven't taken any pictures together yet.  It's been too busy with missionary work for things as futile as that.  I did however go to Koewarisan on exchanges.  It was so incredibly beautiful there.  The locals claim that it is the garden of Eden.  Elder Lundgren and I had a good time, I've always wanted to work with him. 

Elder Hulme and Elder Job

We are going with the Zone Leaders to buy Elder Job a new bicycle.  Its about time, all the time playing bike wars didn't do as much damage to my bike as allowing him to use it.  It's ok though, I still love him.  

I studied the Atonement this morning.  It was intense I learned a lot and understand a lot better what's going on right now.  I love reading the scriptures, and Amulek is a good teacher.  Alma 34 is one of my favorite places to learn.  Verses 42-46 blew my mind. 

We taught a less active recent convert this week.  ZR Wijngaarde, she doesn't like taking the bus to church, so we were calling to set up a ride for her.  Mid phone call, our phone died and we lost the call.  Elder Job and I both prayed for a way to make the call knowing that this would be able to get the woman to come to church.  We asked someone, and they happened to have the same phone as us, so we just borrowed the battery long enough to make the call.  Cool little miracle. 

I honestly have no idea what else happened this week. 

Two new missionaries came into the zone this week.  One being trained by Elder Guinn, the other by Elder Pederson (who just got here 3 months ago, he's good). 

I love you all lots.  Thanks for not forgetting I exist. 

-Elder Hulme

 

The Monkey

Yes my Dutch is improving a ton.  Elder Job speaks perfect English.  It seems that the only country in which you don't learn another language is the United States.  Also, everyone learns English from TV and video games... That makes it easier I'm sure. 

I had no Idea that Eric and Austin were already mission ready, that came so fast.  Ghana Africa is the highest baptizing mission in the world last I heard.  East side of Brazil should be similar to where I'm serving.

I drove to French Guyana today.  Turns out if you don't stay there very long and if you leave at 6:15 in the morning, it's not too long of a trip. We arrived in Paramaribo at 3:15.  It was basically uneventful.  I had some guy yell at me when I asked him where I could pee.  I don't understand why people are so easily mad.  Volgens mij is het net als wat we lezen in 1Nephi16:2 waarin als je een grote zondaar ben, het word makkelijk om pijn te voelen in God's licht.  Ik heb geen Nederlands naar jullie gestuurd in een lange tijd.  Hopelijk schrijf Ik duidelijk genoeg voor je google translator. 

 

The Monkey.

Wednesday was great.  We had an appointment fall through at about 2:30, the absolute hottest part of the day.  So we were chilling in the shade of a tree cooling down a bit before going back into the sun.  We started talking about monkeys and before we left we prayed that whoever has a monkey that we find that day would be baptized.  We then went about our business for the day.  6:30 appointment fell through, and as we were walking away, I asked the woman that we were going to visit if she knew anyone with a pet monkey in the area.  She pointed out where, and we found the monkey.  Klopte de deur en er kwam een jonge buiten, we vroegen hem als hij het goed zou vinden om van Het Boek van Mormon te lezen.  Hij zei ja, zo we deelde een les met hem en z'n broetje.  Het was een geweldige les en ze vroegen ons om terug te komen.  

Looks like they have a real chance at progressing.  Oh, and their names are Roberto and Dilano.  Nothing in this country is spanish except the names. 

Thursday was great.  We found 9 new investigators on Thursday.  I've had entire weeks where we didn't find that many new investigators.  The only issue was that none of those ones in particular were from members. We're going to be working on that this week.  Elder Job is great to work with.  He's not scared of the people or of teaching or anything it seems. 

Oh!!! big news.  Marina, our investigator in Munder, got baptized on Saturday!  Boy was that good to hear too.  All those days wondering what we could do to help her, fasting with her and praying with her really payed off when Elder Guinn told me about that baptism.  And the family that we found together, family Roos, is still progressing and doing really well. 

I love you all. 

-Elder Hulme

In Wanica with New Missionary

I finally got grandma's package, and it was wonderful.  Everything was still fresh and uninfested by ants.  (VaLene speaking - we shipped that package the ordinary way clear back in the middle of April!  It took 3.5 months to arrive!)


The Wanica apartment is nasty filthy, but I've found new shirts and socks there, so I don't have to buy any more new ones:) I will likely want to get the shirts tailored, but that's way cheaper than new ones and more custom fit. We'll hopefully have a half hour or so to clean it, but I'm not sure because Elder Job's proved to be quite a bike killer.  He keeps up though, so that's way good.  He's from Holland, and has been helping me a ton in learning the language.  He was born, however, in Curacao, and both his parents come from there.  Its nuts when I realize that he's only been a missionary for  24 days. I assume he knows things that there is no way he would know.  He's cool, loves working hard, and is full of ideas and ways to improve, I love it.  I don't have a way to send photos, I need to purchase a card reader next week, because I don't have one.  


We got to Wanica, taught Elder Tullis' investigators twice (he's in Blauwgrond) and determined that they weren't progressing and had to be dropped.  All but one, the boyfriend of Vallerie Ritveld.  We taught him last night and realized he has absolutely no testimony of the Restoration.  No biggy, I know how that can come to someone.  The issue is that he's supposed to be baptized in 12 days.  Wow!  So I need to figure out how to get him studying hard and stuff.  I'm out of time, sorry.
-Elder Hulme

Transfer to Wanica

I got your package!  Thanks so much, pictures were number 1!  I still haven't seen or heard anything about grandma's.  Thanks also for putting cash in the box, it makes it a lot easier to pay for.  

After the trip to the binnenland, Elder Guinn and I thought we were going to get busted hard.  We called the assistants and asked them about it, they asked President Gamiette, and nothing happened.  The whole thing turned out just fine.  


Transfers
I got a crazy crazy transfer call.  I'll be working in Wanica.  I get to serve as a trainer for an elder fresh out of the MTC name Elder Job.  He's from the Netherlands, but his parents are from Curacao.  He arrives Wednesday morning at like 2, and I'll be working in Wanica with Elder Tullis until he arrives.  I'm very relieved (and a little sad) to not be the zone leader anymore.  That's a really big mantle and I can feel the weight of it lifting off me already.  I will miss driving though.  I get to learn Dutch from a native now too, that will help lots.  Elders Guinn and Pederson will also be training.  Their trainees got stuck due to visa delays, but they shouldn't be held up long though.  Elder Norton is going back to being zone leader, with Elder Scott, who will be coming back from Guyana - he left a few months ago and gets to come back.  
I'm down with going to BYU, I'm a bit torn between BYU and UofU.  BYU has a good scene, but I think UofU does too.  I like this list of ideas.  I've been pondering about becoming a physics professor.  If I do it at BYU, I could also remain associated with CES, where I could further improve my teaching skills.  
Marina is doing well, she will be baptized on the 6th of August.  We found a family too, the Roos. That means pink.  They are sweet, and should be baptized soon


There was that same iguana who used to live in the tree outside my window, we found where he's living now.  He was hanging out on our big water tank this morning.  So we started chasing him around.  What it finally came to was us walking around behind this boomkip and now he's stuck on our balcony where we chill on the hammock.  Pets are not allowed, but I don't think it's bad to leave nature where nature wants to live right?  


Studies have been a lot on obedience if you can see the irony there.  There is this quote by Bruce R McConkie "Faith is a gift of God bestowed as a reward for personal righteousness.  It is always given when righteousness is present, and the greater the measure of obedience to God's laws the greater will be the endowment of Faith."  If you mix this quote with Ether 12:12 you get miracles.  So I've been trying to become more righteous.  Trying to lift myself from the physical to the spiritual side of things.  Then yesterday morning I received some of the best revelation I've ever received, it came from a talk given by Kevin W. Pearson. "The ability to focus and be steadfast , continually holding fast to true principles, nothing wavering, even when the mist of darkness confronting us is exceedingly great.  This quality of faith is exceedingly powerful."  When things get rough and the mist gets thicker what can you do?  There are really only two options.  Stop and start sliding backwards, or press forward.  Using Lehi's vision, how would one take steps forward?  If you can't see anything but want to get to the tree, what could lead you there?  There's only one thing really, the word of God.  It's been a good week of studies.

I haven't written a letter in 4 months, sorry everyone.  Actually, I did send Tyler a post card a few weeks ago.
I love you all lots, hope these photos go through easy.
-Elder Hulme

Binnenland, Mud Puddles, Circumstance, and Faith

Thank you all for the ideas on my future, could I ask someone to compile them?  I don't know if that's too much. 

It was requested that we go to the binnenland (inland country) before the end of the transfer.  90% of the country of Suriname is uninhabited Tropical Rainforest.  We went to a part of the inhabited rainforest this morning.  Elder Guinn and I spent some time making plans and phone calls this week and got permission to go to the interior and we did, at about 6:30 this morning.  We drove out there with the bus, I was driving, and the Jansens in the truck and a member guide.  We took off for what we thought would be a great day.  We planned to go up there, do a hike to a waterfall, eat some lunch and then come back and be home around two.  Notice it is now 5.  

About 20 Kilometers before you reach the parking place, you begin on a dirt road.  Dirt roads in the Amazon are awesome, massive massive puddles of water.  The issue is that this water got into our engine, and about half way in the car stopped in a big puddle, not so deep that we couldn't get out, but it was stopped.  Everyone started flipping out, and wondering what we were going to do.  Our guide, who is Broeder Holman, (whose name when spoken sounds similar to my name and I kept getting confused), took out the filter, and sprayed some aerosal bug spray into the engine and got the car running again.  So, we continued deeper into the jungle.  Then we got to this big big hill, with big ruts and a very steep decline on the left side.  As we drove, the bus lost traction and slid into the rut and we got stuck.  (I'm sorry that this story isn't written in a way that is fun to read, but I'm trying to type quickly.) Now some of the Elders were getting somewhat uncomfortable.  I was loving the whole thing.  Just giggling about the entire experience, being in the middle of the jungle with one local and a bunch of white people.  It was decided that we'd ditch the bus after getting it unstuck, and walk the rest of the way to the parking lot.  I took a picture of a monkey, but have no way to send pictures.  It was a nice walk, and at the parking lot they had these crazy birds that I don't think can fly.  They are black, about as big as a chicken, and have this helmet of grey feathers.  They also have some green and purple on their neck (think male mallard).  They make noises like the sound effects on the Donkey Kong game for Super Nintendo.  By the time we got to the place, we had time to eat lunch, hike back, and go home.  We didn't really have time, because we were way late, but we did it anyway.  There was a nice lookout at the parking lot though, that was cool.

Photos stolen by VaLene without permission from Sis. Jansen's Facebook 

The whole experience really proved the point that sometimes what you planned simply doesn't happen.  But if you go about yourself enjoying it, it ends up being way more fun that what you had expected.  But I still got scared because president Gamiette told us specifically to be home before 2, but we didn't even go home yet and it's 5:40.  What a great adventure.  We have to personally fund the fuel and stuff (we have to buy the car a new filter I think). 

Must be the monkey Xander spoke of

President Gamiette tried to teach me this principle, and I've been experiencing it ever since.  This principle I will explain right now:

There are two factors, circumstance, and faith.  Circumstance can come in many forms; i.e., you were placed in a bad branch or area, you don't like your companion, the members aren't helpful, your plans fell through, you can't reach your daily goals, etc.  Now, circumstance like this is unavoidable, nothing will work out perfectly.  The choice we have is how we react.  If I get to my 5pm appointment and it falls through, and the member who was going to come bailed and everything falls to pieces, this is a bad circumstance.  This is where faith can come in.  My desires, my thoughts, and my actions if mixed together becomes my faith.  If I desire to still have a good day, I'll think about what I can do to create it, and then I'll perform in a way that brings a good day.  If my desires are to chill, or simply do mediocre missionary work, or anything like that, I'll think about those things and act accordingly.  Abraham 3:23.  God made us his rulers.  If I choose to rule the situation, I become this ruler, this creator.  If I choose to let the situation rule me, I'm wasting God's time.  I have loved experimenting with this principle all week.  

Marina is going to be baptized on the 6th of August.  I don't know how she'll get free from her chinese boss, but we'll figure something out.  I'm so glad to be seeing her progress.  Zuma taught the best Law of Chastity lesson ever on Sunday.  It's not quite as monumental as what happened with you home boys on Sunday, but I enjoyed it.  We also had Brother Chin give one of the best talks I've ever heard, he spoke about work.  How it is a principle of the Gospel.   He's been a member longer than anyone in the branch, he's also been less active for longer than anyone else has been a member.  He was ordained to be a priest last week, and is doing well.  

I'm doing very well, I'm busy but good.  I love you all a ton.  Thanks for the Birthday whatups.

-Elder Hulme

my hands hurt from typing

7/11/11

4th of July with the Jansens was gezeleg. They put up all these American flags with Dutch flags next to them. There was one that looked like a tattoo that a man on a Harley would possess. Zr Jansen made us hamburgers, and really they were top 3 of the best hamburgers I've ever had, not very American at all though. They take good care of us, and I'll be eating there on Thursday for lunch :). It's nice being with the car, because they are always needing us to come over for one reason or another, so we have more interactions with them than normal. Their grandson is going to be here for the next 3 weeks. He's 16 and is doing what's called a mini mission. He's here working with a pair of elders for two weeks, then he'll spend a week with only the Jansens. It sounds like a pretty good gig for a well behave 16 year old. I think at that age for me, I wouldn't have enjoyed it very much.



Oh, If you ever see Ande's chocolates that are the crunchy toffee flavor, don't be fooled, they are awful, and cost 11SRD.

Pres. Gamiette flew in Wednesday night, and we picked him up Thursday morning for zone conference. Our portion was shortened down to 20 minutes because he wanted to talk more about planning, then it got shortened again to about 8 minutes. It was pretty easy, and we only covered one topic. Pres. Gamiette is brilliant, absolutely the best teacher I've ever encountered. He ended up teaching basically the whole experience. But the real treat came from my interview. One on One with him for about 45 minutes, it was super. I expressed concerns about how long it's been since I've baptized, and he said that if I begin teaching better, contacting better, and repenting more, "we'll see if you don't baptize" the whole experience gave me a lot of hope, and drive to do better. I never have enough time to study and ponder all the things that seem necessary to study and ponder.

We talked to Ruben Saturday. He explained how the Book of Mormon gave him nightmares, and how he believes that it is not of God but of man. He gave the book back and asked us not to return. This blew me away. I was so bummed. We now have 0 families to work with again. We've got to find a whole new teaching pool. We have one girl with a baptismal date for August 6th. I think she'll make it, she's best friends with Zuma, and we think they should get married. Zuma will put his papers in in a few weeks, I'm so happy for him. I was a bit bummed to learn that the only Suriname missionary now is Elder Hoepel, and he goes home the exact same time I do. He'd be returning to be in this branch too, we've only got one returned missionary in this branch, and that's Ritchi Bishesar, and he still needs to finish his mission. Ritchi is good though, his younger brother is also working on his papers, we just need to help him fill them out.
One of the areas, Wanica, is District leadered by my old companion Elder Bytendorp. I learned a lot of good things while working with Elder Bytendorp. It's his last transfer, then he goes home in the middle of August. I'll be eating lunch at Burger King with him in about 35 minutes.

It's interesting reading from the BoM and seeing how closely even missionaries, servants of God can follow the Nephi, Sam, or Laman and Lemuel pattern. There is:
Yes of course, I don't know how but I will do it.
Ok, I'll try
That's going to be hard.... I don't know... Whose Idea was this?



I try to never assume that I'm out of the range of being in these categories.

I used to sleep on my side or stomach. I hit the bed so hard now, that I lay down on my back to wait a little while to cool off before I get under my blanket, and wake up when the alarm goes off not having moved at all.
Thanks for all the birthday love
-Elder Hulme

4th of July

This last month is nothing but a blur.  This week has been lovely, we've been able to sleep in until 6:30am almost every day.  We went over to the Jansen's to double check all the stuff for the ability of the missionaries to stay in Suriname, and everything turned out fine.  I don't really know what happened, but the mean voice lawyer called me because I had sent an email to Pres. Ricks in the Mission Presidency, who forwarded my email to the lawyer.  They got everything worked out and we'll continue missionary efforts in Suriname. 

We'll be going to the Jansen's again today, to have a 4th of July celebration, because the BBQ at the Ambassador's house isn't going to go through.  We'll eat hamburgers and have rootbeer floats and have a grand time. 

I've got now a thing that allows me to drive here in Suriname, it's good.  Driving on the wrong side of the road is about as strange as riding a bike on the wrong side of the road.  After about two weeks it feels mostly normal.  The stranger part is that you have to stay abnormally close to the lines on the inside, because I'm not accustomed to having all the excess automobile hanging off the the left of me.  Normally it's off to the right.  But,  yeah, it all gets normal after a bit of practice. 

Pres. Gamiette is coming Thursday, which is good because we need help.  Everyone is struggling and seeing little to no success in the work.  This is a massive problem because we're supposed to begin baptizing weekly.  We didn't even get to see the people we needed to this week, they were simply too busy, or out of town, or not interested anyway, and didn't get anyone who needed to be there into the church.  So now, we have to wait another week before we can baptize anyone.  It just keeps getting pushed further and further away. 

Elder Hulme and Elder Freeman

We've been teaching a man named Ruben.  He's stubborn.  He's Christian, but refuses to go to church, saying that his home is holy enough so he doesn't need anything further.  He's been reading in the Book of Mormon though, and I think he's learning bit by bit.  He, his wife and a few of his 5 children would then all be baptized.  I've set two personal goals for the last 9 months of service as a full time missionary.  They are as follows

1. Baptize every week for 12 weeks straight

2. Baptize two families, Father Mother Children

These are incredibly lofty, but I think I can do it.  I think also, that this is what the Lord expects of me. 

As I said earlier, President Gamiette will be here Thursday, we are his drivers to everywhere he needs to go.  We'll be having a zone conference and the part that Elder Guinn and I are doing is on the Doctrine of Christ, which goes a lot into unity.  The point I think we want to make is that if we do everything that President Gamiette and the Prophets ask, we'll then produce what is expected of us.  I hope that this will impact the other missionaries like it has impacted me.  It's interesting that I'm striving to be micromanaged by God and his servants, I never thought I'd do that.

Love Elder Hulme

Hiace

Zone leaders don't have any keys, they are all held by the mission president, and we borrow them as necessary (for baptisms and things).  Leadership as a missionary isn't like a calling.  My calling is as an Elder.  But when someone is called into such a position, he is just given further responsibilities within the original calling.  In place of interviews, we do exchanges, or trade offs.  Where you switch companions for a day.  The whole event is ideally an interview/training situation.

just a photo borrowed from the web.

We drive a Toyata Hiace.  It's a big 10 passenger minivan.  Driving outside America is a treat, and something many many people should experience.

June 20, 2011

This week was quite the adventure.  The whole zone had an awful week except for us who were in Trinidad, Kwatta who was sick for two days, and Nickerie, who just got opened up after being closed for a year.  We're going there next week for exchanges, I would suggest looking up some info about Nickerie.

Zone Leader training in Trinidad was wonderful. President Gamiette is an incredible teacher, he's so so talented.  He's also a very inspired mission president.  We'll be able to have a lot more interaction with him now with the new duties. 

Yes, it's lots of fun to travel. Trinidad accents are beautiful. They are a little bit softer than Calypso from Pirates of the Carribbean, but still great.

 

Wednesday June 15:

6am arise and work very hard the whole day.  Teach some good people and had a great time with Elders Guinn and Thompson.  Got home late, at 10.  Drove to Uitkijk to pick up Elder Van Meeteren who is now a Zone Leader in Guyana, and the two Elders he was with, Freeman and Lundgren.  Drive to Koewarisan, drop off the other two Elders and head back home with all of Elder Van Meeteren's stuff (yes that is a dutch name, but he's american). 

11:30, arrived home and began packing Elder Thompson's stuff.  We were all busy in one way or another trying to get ready for the trip.  Elder Van Meeteren realized he left his medication in Uitkijk, so they went to get that, which is about 75 minutes round trip.  At about 2am I fell asleep and woke up to our 3am alarm.  Got up and showered and put my clothes back on, then drove to the Jansen's with us all.  From the Jansen's we went to the airport, where our flight left at 6am. 

Arrived at 6:15 in Trinidad (time zone change - about an hour flight).

8:30 arrived at mission office where we were informed that we would be heading north to work until the conference that would begin at 6pm that evening.  Went and ate at Subway, and then went north.  (I had my first good experience at Subway too.  The Trinidad Subways are way better than American ones.)

6:15 we arrived at the conference late, and everyone gave the two Elders in charge a hard time.  Learned a lot until 9. 

9:30pm We went to the Elders' apartment and had to study some things for the next day, finally went to sleep at about 10pm. 

The next day, we began the conference again at 9:30am, finished at 5pm, and hopped on our plane to Suriname, got home at 1:30am, and we were up and getting ready for the day at 6:30.  Apparently, as Zone Leaders, sleep is optional. 

The whole experience was great.  President Gamiette taught us about how we can take weaknesses to the Lord to make them stronger Ether 12:27,37 and 2Corinthians 12:5-10.  It was good talking to a lot of these great missionaries.  Apparently, Elder Lake did come to fix me, but also to train me to be a zone leader.  Nobody knew about it though, not even him. 

Elder Guinn and I are glad to be working together again.  One tricky part will be that we both get very very sleepy when it's hot, and likely will have a few funny experiences falling asleep in lessons.  I don't think it'll stop the progression of people though.

We saw a moon bow the other day, I think Tuesday night.  The moon had a big rainbow around it.  It was way nice looking.  I took a picture, but it's awful.

I like this area a lot, and am glad to be here again.  Have fun in Powell. I'm a bit jealous honestly.  I love you all.

Elder Hulme