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