Saturday, August 27, 2011

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
 

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

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

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

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