I Don't Much Care for Thieves

We had a rough week, we got dropped by just about every one of our investigators. They said they don't want to get baptized and stopped all progress.  This didn't happen with Karta however, because we haven't even been able to see them since last Monday.  I had a few bike problems which were tricky to solve due to the lack of parts here in Suriname.  I couldn't get tubes for my bike, it was a joke.  Luckily it worked out in the end.  I think the worst part about the whole week was that my face broke out. I had a zit on my neck right on the collar and it hurt incredibly. 

Elder Hulme and Elder Bytendorp drinking Cocos

Timothy swinging a hak mes (chop knife) through the air to cut open a coco

This week we get to find all new families, which isn't all bad.  We can be at least assured that we aren't wasting time with people who won't progress.   I just want to be assured that my service is actually helping people, because it usually seems that the people see us as an irritant.  Hopefully that's not the case always.  The tough part is that if we were teaching pleasing doctrines, people would be all over it, but we're called to teach truth.  Once you start living according to truth it is pleasing, and brings that fruit that Lehi was so excited about. 

"Octopus flavored chips aren't as good as you'd assume"

The tulip farm is very Dutch looking.  Cool thing about tulips and the name thereof.  Tulp is the word in Dutch.  The tricky part is that in Dutch you roll the L's and the R's.  The R is similar to spanish how the r's are rolled.  The L's are stranger though.  Think of the word milk.  Dutch says it Melk, but it's pronounced more like melluck.  Tulip is similar, the Dutch word is Tulp, but pronounced Tuh-lip. 

Today, we were playing Ultimate Frisbee as a zone, and some guy raided our stuff.  Our phone got stolen.  Also Elder Lundgren's wallet and watch.  Then to top it all off, Elder Bytendorp's bag.  The bag itself has lasted through his entire mission until this morning.  In it was his Dutch triple and Bible, his glasses, camera, new pen, flip flops, all sorts of stuff.  Poor guy.  I don't much care for thieves really.  We got a new phone from the Elders in Uitkijk, since they had an extra.  Preparation day is always too short.  After email today, we're headed to the city to see if we can get Elder Bytendorp's old glasses fixed, get some pants made for me, and eat lunch with Elders Guinn and Badoni at the Pannenkoek house.  They make super fancy super Dutch pancakes (hybrid of a real pancake and a crepe) and then we were going to see if there is a tailor who will take fat ties and trim them into skinny ties.  Good luck right?

Much love, Elder Hulme