One Day Trip to French Guiana

Happy Birthday Mom, I hope you get my letter.

Here's me and Elder Freeman, and our house.  We've got this tiny place in comparison to the other house.  We live in the same house with an old lady, but in an extension. this is against the rules, so we will be moving on the 24th.  The new place is absolutely gorgeous. I hope to remain in this area for a long time. Elder Freeman and I are having a great time together. This morning he was singing some non-missionary song, so I started singing Sweet Hour of Prayer really loud.  He starting playing air guitar and pretending to sing along, we were doing this massive lip-sync concert in our kitchen on the way out the door.  It was completely hilarious.


I didn't get to go grocery shopping last week, so I haven't had any food at all this week. The interesting part is that I haven't been all that hungry anyway. I made rice for breakfast this morning. Apparently if you get "par-boiled" rice it is horrible.  It's not sticky at all. I attempted to make Nasi, but it just didn't work.  I will gladly take a trip to the store in a few hours.  I think I've got some extra SRD saved from last week too, so it'll be just great.



I don't know if the rest of you have been reading the Jansen's blog, or if they will post this story on there, but here is what happened Friday:
Because I didn't get the extended stay "MKV" I have to exit the country every three months to renew my normal visa.  That trip took place on Friday.  Elders Guinn, Tullis, and I slept at the Zone Leader's house Thursday night, had a good time, and the Jansens came at about 8 in the morning to take us to French Guiana for the day.  We were instructed to not eat any breakfast before they got there, so that we could stop on the way.  We started driving, crossed the Suriname bridge for my first time, and stopped for some Broodje's. (This emailing place is playing the worst of 70's love ballads.)  After the breakfast break, we got down to the 100km trip.  This road is nuts.  It's by far, absolutely no comparison, the bumpiest road in existence.  We had to strap ourselves down in our seatbelts to keep from flying through the roof of the truck.  Elder and Zuster Jansen sat in the front, Zuster Jansen driving, and the three Elders in the back.  The entire trip, Zuster Jansen was laughing her head off, because all three of our heads would bounce up at the same time, and it was apparently really funny.  We told stories, in the smooth parts, learned lots of Dutch and saw lots of the beautiful KonKondre trees.  Then, we got to the river that separates Suriname from French Guiana.

When there, we talked to this guy who agreed to take us via boat across the river onto the French side.  The boats they have there are about 30 feet long, and super thin, with a little fishing motor on the back, it was sweet. They took lots of photos, but I left my camera, so I'll try to get some if you can't see them.  Once on the French side, we got some stamps for our passports and went to this Chinese restaurant that sold all sorts of food. I figured I'd get an omelet, since I was in the best place I could think of to get french style food.  Ordering was hard. Between me and the 2 the Chinese people and our 3 languages, we couldn't communicate at all.  Got the food, and it was good, apparently Cervettes means shrimp.  Shrimp omelet.  Then we hopped back on the little boat, and went to Suriname again, got some more stamps and am now clear to stay for another 3 months.

Computer translations are so funny!

I absolutely love the Jansens. Upon our arrival in Paramaribo, it was 8pm, none of the missionaries were home, and none of us had keys to get into any of our houses, so we went to the Jansens.  We looked at pictures, and ate grilled cheese sandwiches and ice cream.  I was snacking on the whipped cream, just squirting it on my finger and eating it.  Zuster Jansen came up to me yelling "Jongen! Je bent verkeert.  Doen zo," She then threw her head back and opened her mouth, implying that I should immitate, so I did and she filled my mouth with whipped cream.  Not just put some in there, but filled it, heaping over the tops of my lips with whipped cream.  It was great, everyone started laughing.  Best vacation I've had for a while, even though my back was so so so sore on Saturday, I couldn't believe it.
Things are good here, I love you bunches everyone, I'm glad to hear from you.  
-Elder Hulme

Transfers

Big news on transfers. Here's the lowdown:
I'm going to take Elder Norton's place in Blauwgrond as Elder Freeman's companion.
Elder Guinn is taking my area with Elder Badoni.  Elder Guinn will be our district leader.
Elder Bell is going to Uitkijk(jungle).
Elder Norton will be the new Zone Leader, with Elder Thompson.
So I'm going to be moving about the time everyone leaves to school.  I'm pretty excited to have my own house again. The bummerest part, is that we finally have some people progressing now.  It will be nice to have something new and fresh. I do however get to remain in the same branch.  Different work area, same branch.  Now I know which members to work with from the one area, and I'll learn who to work with from this area too, it should be a good asset.  

Rain.  Usually rainstorms come in little bursts.  If it looks like you can dodge it, sometimes we'll just find some shelter and wait a few minutes for the rain to pass.  If it looks like a wet day, you just make sure all your stuff is in plastic bags and get wet.  When it rains it feels really cold.  The temperature is really about 75 degrees (in the rain), but in contrast it's freezing.  I don't know what I'll do coming home, it's going to feel so cold without this humid blanket.  

That's sweet about reading out of the BoM every night, it's something that I commit people to do every single day!  I've been studying tons out of the scriptures, and have learned to absolutely love it.  Despite the problem I had this week where all of my studies seemed really dry.  I read 3 Nephi 17, it's when Jesus was chilling out with the Nephites and he starts praying for them, and it was so incredible that nobody can describe it.  I hope to learn to pray like that some day, where people can't even describe the prayer.  

Here's to your questions...
Yes, we've been working with a woman named Rachel and her brother and children, they came to church this week.
I'm way healthy, I've been working out hard in the mornings, and getting stronger.  I still have lots of fat on me, but it should fade.  I couldn't afford any snacks this week, so that will probably help. 
Chocolate is fine in the mail.  Here's something to keep in mind though.  The ants here are nuts. They are super tiny, and don't collect food at all, they are rogues.  So they get into everything.  So any chocolate stuff you send, make sure it's covered in plastic.  Bij Voorbelt, the Christmas chocolates had tons of ant corpses all over them.  I ate them gladly disregarding the ants.  
I haven't learned anything new about Suriname.... I saw a nasty dog yesterday, but couldn't get a picture of it.  
Usually we go out to eat together on p-day, I like that a lot.  We've gone to Roopram, and McDonalds and BK and Jawa (my personal favorite), and different warungs.  Last week we went to the zoo, it was hilarious watching Elder Freeman look at the monkeys.  He was so thrilled by them!  Love you all.
-ElderHulme  

January 31, 2011

Milldew, you looked very nice for your concert, I hope you enjoyed it.  I feel like I really missed out eating Cold Stone with everyone! I sure miss Cold Stone, the ice cream here is ok, but nothing quite that caliber.  
 I was way sick feeling yesterday, stomach ache and achy all over, just dragging.  Elder Bell was great, he rode bikes slow for me, he wasn't grumpy at me at all, just hanging out enjoying the rain.  I don't know why it's been raining so much, but it's been raining lots lately.  And luckiest thing of all is that I'm not feeling sick today! It was a sub 24 hour gig.  
President Gamiette sent us a way cool email this week.  It's about a purification for ourselves.  Turning ourselves completely to the savior and stuff, I will forward it I think.  I'm excited to become better.  It's just like Nephi, who in my mind is one of the best prophets ever, in 2 Nephi chapter 4 he describes how even he has sins that do so easily beset him.  It's interesting that we are fighting such a gloomy looking battle, but know who wins at the end.  I like righteousness.  
We had two investigators at church this week, which was a huge relief.  Unfortunately, we haven't taught either of them. One just came because we asked him to on the street, and the other came with a member.

Things are great, the food here is fabulous, I feel bad that I'm in such a beautiful country and none of you are.  Have a great week :)  Thanks for the super good update.  
Hows the snow?
Is it way cold or medium cold?
Who has the longest hair in the house?
Did anyone learn anything cool in church yesterday?
Drive safe in that snow.
-Elder Hulme

Christmas Arrived 4 Weeks Late

Thank you, thank you, Thank you!!!!

I got your package this week.  This was the best Christmas ever!  

There was a box of chocolates

The tools I needed

and a Wonderful scrapbook

I am sure you smiled when I said a scrapbook would be a good birthday present.

Here's what's up with the work this week. 

We had to drop Franklin, he's a member referral who was very promising, had a baptismal date and everything, then when he asked his mom what he should do, she said that since he was born muslim, he should remain muslim.  There is a lot more to the story but that's enough for now.  

I still struggle knowing how to get people to church, which is tough because it's so necessary for someone's conversion.  This week we had no investigators and only one less-active member.  Usually we at least have 4 less active members, but this week was a bust.  

Our other two investigators are still on hold too.  Iben lives in the jungle apparently, and keeps going into the Binnenland(jungle) because his sister is sick.  He's still never been to church.  Stephen asked us to wait a few weeks before we start teaching him. I think of Alma 34:34 when people say that.  

We did a cool competition on Thursday, it was me and Elder Bell, vs Elder Norton and Elder Freeman.  We decided to see who could get more contacts in one day, the finals were

us: 39

them: 25

It didn't seem very fair because how bad we beat them, but they can purchase us lunch now.  

I gave a talk on one of my favorite scripture passages.  It's Nephi's vision consisting of 1 Nephi11-15, but I only read from the part later when Nephi is talking about it in 2 Nephi 31.  Verses 5-13 are way good.  I can't really imagine having the voice of the Father and also the voice of the Son speaking to you.  When it was over, Zuma said that he thought I wasn't prepared. I tried to explain that I was plenty prepared, but just stumbled over my words a bit.  If nothing else it was fun for me, maybe someone understood something I said.  

You should fatify a picture of me (This is in reference to a FatBooth photo I sent him of me). I want to see how I'll look at the end of my mission.

This is actually bird poop.  The birds eat various seeds and the poop is enough to grow these big huge plants.

Me and Elder Bell

This is Elder Norton, my District Leader

I love it here in Suriname.

Jansen's blog

Elder Hulme has mentioned the very kind senior missionary couple that oversee the elders in Suriname. They are named Jansen. He told us of their blog and finally got us a url to use. If you use Google Chrome it will translate it for you. They seem like great people. It is nice to know that they are there. Read here. I am intrigued that it translates their name to Jones.

1/10/11 and 1/17/11 Update

I keep realizing how much of my mission has passed.  I'm getting a bit frustrated because I had hoped to have baptized half of Suriname at this point in time, do the second half next year.  I do however understand that baptisms do not measure success, but it sure does feel good to see someone repenting and becoming better.  


The work here seems to be stopped dead in it's tracks.  We have 0 progressing investigators, nobody was able to make it to church, members have been dropping the ball on us and I can't get to the bottom of it, or rather, figure out why all this isn't working.  There is no recipe for converting people, but I'd hope that more people would at least be able to talk to us.  Yesterday for example, we had every single one of our plans fall through, we spent the whole day talking to grumpy Hindu folk, and have nothing to show for it.  I just keep telling myself that it's part of the game, I trust that the Lord has something big in store for us if we bear with patience our afflictions.  I've been learning a lot, still love studying from Preach My Gospel with the scriptures.  Yesterday we had a broadcast for the whole Caribbean area, from Elder Oaks and President Uchdorf.  I am bad here where it is so hot, because I've never gone to a whole meeting without dozing off.  The only talk I heard was President Uchdorf. I liked it a lot.  

I was studying yesterday about praying with faith.  It's in chapter 4 of Preach My Gospel if you want to look it up.  It lists like 15 things that missionaries should do and think and have during praying.  One of them stuck out to me, it was praying by the Spirit.  At first, I thought it was dumb, because if I prayed by the spirit it would then be God talking to himself, but thought that that likely was not the answer.  I studied it out a little bit more, and realized this; God has a whole bunch of blessings he's ready to give us if we ask.  If we ask for things that he doesn't want to give us, he won't give it to us.  If you pray by the spirit, you will ask for the things he's ready to give you, making the whole experience far more fruitful.  Beautiful revelation for a Sunday morning.  Praying is hard, and became more engaging and challenging.  

I will be giving a talk on Sunday.  I don't know what about yet, but that should be fine.  I like the verse in D&C where it says to treasure up continually the words of life and it shall be given you what you should say, I'll likely have to simply do that, now that I'm down to the last week of preparation.  Yes it's going to be in Dutch.

We played ultimate frisbee this morning as a zone, it was way fun.  

I was passed the frisbee and was chasing it, having two defenders and dove and won the game.  Well we were already winning, but it was even more winned after this other point.  It was cool, I haven't before been one to dive for the frisbee.

I love you bunches.  Did you get my letter yet?  Has anyone got anything from me?  I think I've only sent one thing to the fam though... 
Thanks for all your support.
I think I'm going to go to school in China - they pay for you if you are learning Chinese.  
-Elder Hulme

New Years

This photo nearly brought a tear to my (the mom's) eye.  That little boy is so cute, and he's wearing a shirt that Xander would have loved at that age, and I love how he's hanging onto these elders.  The 2011 glasses are so funny to me.

Xander mentioned a while back that he had some new pants made for him.  We're guessing that this is the guy who made them.

Some of the house in which they live.  They have the whole house for 4 elders.

An overgrown cemetery that Xander and Elder Bell found.

Xander's new bike.

Downtown Paramaribo?

New Years here is nuts.  It was completely unreal.  The entire sky was covered in huge fireworks, like the ones at "Stadium's on Fire", but they were all launched privately (not so many fireworks laws here).  The air was a bit foggy, and it looked and sounded like we were in a war zone.  The entire country is now covered in fireworks shrapnel.  


Grocery shopping here is so fun.  It's like a scavenger hunt every week.  Nobody has everything, but everybody has something.  I'm getting more savvy at shopping here though.  It's hard, but coming along.  Zone conference will be this Saturday.  I'll get to talk to President Gamiette again, which will be nice.  We're so stranded out here. We rarely hear from anyone, and very very rarely, once a quarter, have anyone travel to here.  I hope for a big inspirational boost.  I want to learn about goal setting and reaching.


I'm happy when I'm working.  I love you all.  My time here is being well spent.