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.