Week 10

This week has been a good one. To start it all off, I went a bought a new camera. It is a good one and I am excited to get you guys some more pics.

We were doing a lot of contacting this week and finally got an appointment with a family that is actually pretty close to baptism, or at least so they have said.  They lived here about 3 years ago and where taking the lessons but moved before they where baptized. Now that they are back we where able to get a lesson with them. In the first lesson on Thursday it was me and a elder form another district, while Elder Alvarez was doing some baptismal interviews, and i got the impression to ask her to be baptized. This was not part of the plan originally and as I was half way through the question she interrupted me and said yes and then explained the background  of them moving and all that. Only problem is that she didn't come to church this week (none of our investigators made it so we have to push baptisms back another week) and wasn't there for the next lesson. We will try again this week. The joys of missionary work.

Saturday was very interesting. I got invited to a big meeting for the leaders of the wards, well OK, my companion got invited since he is district leader and i just got to go too. It was with Elder Lopez, our area seventy, and he and President Flores are changing some things for how we do a lot of our missionary work (so heads up other Torreón elders).  We are gong to be focusing a lot on using the future investigators form and actually sitting down with every member and filling it out. In this form they right down everyone they know that could benefit form the gospel, nonmembers and less actives. then we go though each person and figure out what we can do to help them.  This has the potential of skyrocketing our baptism and retention rates, so I am excited to get started. And this is how it is suposed to be, my job is to teach, and the members to find.

Love you guys,

Elder Hokanson

Week 9

I think I might do a little shopping today. The last few days have been Buen Fin, the equivalent of a Mexican Black Friday. So most things are 30% off or more and since this winter is going to be colder than normal, I am going to stock up a bit.

I found out this week that my math skill are really only useful in English. I was trying to help Christian with a math problem and had no idea what is was talking about, even after i translated it. Needless to say, it was not a big confidence booster to how my abilities will be when i get home.

I finally got a letter this week that my mom sent me on my birthday. I laughed that it took so long since i got a email copy the day it was sent.

We have been struggling to find new people that will listen to us. We had a contact yesterday that that loved calling me ''gringo''. She liked a lot what we where teaching her and when we handed her a book of Mormon, she was afraid we would come back to get it from her.  Problem is she is almost never home but we wil see what we can do.    Christian's baptism got pushed to the 7th of december, just 2 days before exchanges so it is close.

Love you guys,

Elder Hokanson

Week 8

I think the main thing that I will remember about this week was the fact that it was COLD. I should have been expecting this since this is a desert and the temp. fluctuates a lot but I unpacked my coat form my suitcase and everything.

Everything is really beginning to just blur together and if i didn't have my journal, I would be lost. so here is my little push for keeping your personal record. Journal writing is our account of how we used the time we have been given. “When performance is measured, performance improves. When performance is measured and reported, the rate of improvement accelerates.”

–President Thomas S. Monson

We had a surprise in the last little while, we went to check the records of Christian's family and the record for his mom does not exist anywhere. salt lake or Mexico.  this means that according to the church, she was never baptized (even though we have a pic of her at the baptism, it is not enough evidence) and we will get 2 baptisms on the 30th. Excited doesn't seem to sum it up. 

Love you guys,

Elder Hokanson

Week 7

I think that my family is going to have to make a trip to Mexico in about 21 months so that they can drag me back home.  Yep I think that sums up how i feel about Torreón right now. I understand a lot more this week why the mission is considered the best 2 years in that, this is the accelerated course for learning about the Gospel and just life in general.

I got put in a trio for a couple of days while we waited for the new missionaries to arrive. I will admit that i felt off with having 2 native speakers and me but it kinda forced me to interact better. 

Christian is doing awesome and he was actually the only one of our investigators to make it to church yesterday. we have also been talking to another member of his family and she seems to be accepting the lessons so far. The fun part with her is that we are going to have to have a wedding before her baptism. It is interesting and here is sorta common.

We have been teaching the ward counsle, as an assingment from Pres Flores and hte stake president. It is awesome to teach them and here their stories. they alsways like to talk about their conversion.

Love you guys,

Elder Hokanson

Week 6

Well i survived to my first 6 weeks. Today is the day of companion exchanges but I get to keep my companion and area for a while longer at least. It was Elder Alvarez's birthday this week and, as with most birthdays, it was another day of work. The funny part was it was his birthday but i got the present, my bag that took a trip to Africa. When he first told me I didn't really believe him but we headed to the airport and there it was. The reason it took so long: the tag was broken. Needless to day though, I was extremely grateful to get it back after this long month.

That ten year old I mentioned last week is named Christian and he is awesome. He is just absorbing everything that we have taught him. We have him scheduled to be baptized on the 23 of Nov. and we are excited for him.

Yesterday was stake conference and guess who got to do a special musical number, the missionaries. Actually it was different because this was coordinated by President Flores and we had a cue in his talk that we all, my zone of about 20, stood and sang.  then durring a meeting we all walked in and sang again. It was fun because it was so unexpected and realy put an amphisis on the face that was missionaries are there to help. 

Love you guys, 

Elder Hokanson

21/10/13 Week 5‏

This week went really fast. I actual can't believe that it is Monday again. Tuesday i finally got to have my interview with President Flores and he sends his greetings and told me to say just how amazing i am. I am doing my best to live up to that but this work really is a lot of work.

 

We have had to do a lot of searching this week because just don't have very many investigators. One thing that we have been dong is working with less active members. we got 3 more to attend church this last Sunday so it is working. Also through one of our less actives we found out that her son is 10 but has not been baptised yet so we will start working with him this week.

 

I kinda goofed up last week. after emailing i left my camera sitting on the table. Yep, I am gong to have to get all my pics though the other missionaries now unless i find a really cheep one. I seem to be good a loosing things but at least someone will get to use a nearly brand new camera now.

 

Had a funny thing happen on Saturday. I got my new missionary name Elder Guarito. We went to a ward hamburger sale and they had a list of those who had bought one. when i look at the list I saw my companion's name and the other 2 missionaries but not mine. I am not sure why i feel suprised to be called ''the little white guy'' but we all had a good laugh about it.

Well that has been my fun in Mexico this last week, love you guys.

Elder Hokanson

Picures From Chance's apartment in Mexico

One of these pics is out of my window of my apartment. Yes that is the Christus statue that I work around.

The other is of us in the Colon 1/2 areas. My companion and I are on the ends with the other companionship in the middle.

October 14, 2013

I guess I might as well give you all a look into my daily life here in Mexico.  I get up at 6 30 and exercise, get ready for the day and make my breakfast, usually a packet of Quaker oatmeal. Also i drink what is call Yakult which is a pro biotic Hermana Flores 

has told us we need to drink, it is actually pretty good. next i get to study until about noon when we leave for the day.

 

Our apartment is a bit form my area so we walk over and get to work. there are 3 parts to my area and it is actually really long and some days we walk probably 10 miles. At 3 we always eat at a members house. they have a schedule set up so we don't have to worry about it. which a little side note about the food here, they like spicy food. this is kinda different but I am getting used to it. Oh and i wouldn't suggest the Chinese food here, it is just not the same. I was thinking about you guys last week as i sat in a carls jr and had Manzana Lift (Yes Lyssa, i have it all the time just for you) and a western burger, but that is not a normal thing at all. There is this soup that i have had a few times that is really good, it has cut up hot dogs and ham. I will try and remember the name later.

 

We will usually go with a member after that and go visit people until 9 when we go home.

One of the people we have been working with this week was Mario, who i mentioned last week. He sells what is called chicharon which is this deepfried meet that is realy good. We got him to come to a baptism but not to church and we will try to talk with him today.

 

Love you guys,

Elder Hokanson

Chance found his friend, and our ward member, Truxton Inouye while he was at the MTC.  So fun to see all these boys out serving together!

Week 3

Wow it has been an interesting week. I really haven't gotten to do much in the way of teaching this week because we kept having things going on.  I was on a companion exchange and got to spend the day in Dalias with my zone leader. It was different to get to spend the day with another elder form Utah, yes we are both white guys.  And apparently my companion was able to talk with one of our investigators, Mario, who we have been trying to get ahold of since I got here. We should talk with him this week.

 

The next day we moved into an apartment, which is much nicer than the other house we were in. I can't say I enjoyed hauling our stuff up 3 floors though. We spent the day cleaning since there was dirt everywhere. The hot shower afterwords was amazing, I really missed those.

 

Then there was conference which was as usual, amazing. The english speakers grabbed a back room and we were able to watch it all in english.

 

Still not Much word on my luggage yet. Last we have heard it was in London. (Someone want to let Casy Christianson know, maybe he can help me). In other things, my cough has seemed to subside, quite a big blessing there.

Thanks you guys,

Elder Hokanson

Week 2

This week has really been a blur. With my birthday in the middle, and all of the constant work, it has been good. Still don't have my bag yet but i heard that it is in Europe at the moment, most likely in London but I am hoping it gets here some time.  I found out this week that we are moving tomorrow, not very far but it is a much nicer apartment than where we are right now and I will get a hot shower, oh how i have missed those.

My language skills have been progressing quite a bit. So much so that yesterday during a district meeting i was asked to pray in spainish and i had to think about each word i wanted to say before i could say anything. writing and reading english is not bad but when it is Gospel related, I cant speak english.

One thing I did not wright about was my companion, Elder Alvarez. He is from Ecuador and he actually speaks english really well. He has to translate for my sometimes but when we are at home we can speak english so I can communicate more effectively. He is very patient with me and is one of the big things that keep me going most days.

I have had a cough since i got here and finally went to see the mission doctor. he gave me a prescription and it has been helping but it is not completely gone quite yet. Adjusting to this heat and different environment has taken a lot but i am not too worried about it.

For sending stuff, it will go to the offices at 

MISION MEXICO TORREON

CALLE ENESTO BREEDE #301 COL.

AMPLIACION LOS ANGELES C.P. 27140,

Torreon, Coahuila

They will get it to me eventually. And you can send letters by fedex i believe though i will just respond via email (I can right an email for G&G Hokanson and you can send it to them) since i am not sure how realiable getting stuff out of mexico is.

Love you guys,

Elder Hokanson

Week 1 in Mexico

Well somehow i have survived my first week in mexico. I am not sure how but i have and i will get to do this another close to hundred times, no pressure right?

I am in the Torren Juarez Area, just to the west of the Cristus statue. It has been rainy for most of the week since we are catching the edges of the hurricanes that have hit, but that is supposed to be very odd, meaning it is going to get hot. 

Life is so much different here than i am used to. The food, the language, the walking for miles on end, the few times we take the cab or bus, it is all throwing my mind for a loop. My apartment looks like a hole in the wall when you first look at it but it is not bad, just really different form what i am used to. We are looking for a new one since this one is actually in a lot of debt.

Also the work here, is really hard work, has been difficult.  The main reason it has been so difficult is since my body has not adjusted very well to this big of a change. I seem to be getting over it now but this first week has been difficult. It will be nice once I get to take a hot shower again, that is usually my motivation in the morning but I will survive.

Even with everything as it is, it is so worth it. When you get to have those moments with these people that you see them finally connect with the spirit, you know that it is worth every sacrifice. On my first day, we ate with a member family, we actually do that every day but this one was different form the others. I gave the thought afterwards and had a little plan but once I started talking, I had know idea what i was really saying but it made sense and the spirit was so strong. then that evening we had a lesson with them, since our others had fallen though, and i did it again. with that on top of committing a convert to baptism, it was the best way i could have started my mission.

And now random side info.  I can get packages as it turns out, you just need to send them to the mission home via fedex or another service and they will get delivered to me. but do be warned, while I am in Torreon, it is easy for me to get them and if i am sent out, it may take 6 months to get to me, you just don't really know.

Thanks to every one, I love you all

Elder Hokanson

Day 1 in MEXICO

Well, I survived getting to Mexico. And i have already had an ''adventure''. I got the the airport and got through customs just fine but one of my bags was not there and i was the last one in line. I have clothes and stuff still but I think that my bag was mistaken for another while we were in Salt Lake and is heading to Madagascar at the moment. I should find out some info tomorrow but i will just have to hope it comes soon, It had a lot of stuff for Mexico in it.

 

I don't know who my companion is yet and i am not sure where i am going. i find that out later today.

 

I need to apologize to my dad and Justin, there really was no time once i got to Dallas to call.

 

and i do need to make a correction to what i have said before, there are actually a lot of sister missionaries in this area, and here i thought it would be dangerous

 

 

I will keep you updated once i get to Wright again

 

Thanks everyone

Elder Hokanson

Chance and Preston at the MTC

Chance and Preston have been friends since we moved into our ward almost 3 years ago.  Preston homeschooled and Chance went to Mountain View, but the homeschool kids loved him anyway:)  They went into the MTC a few weeks apart, and were at different MTC locations.  With the thousands of missionaries there right now, we didn't think they would see each other.  We were quite surprised to get this picture from Chance this week!  How fun for them to see each other again before they are off to different countries.  Emma-Grace was at school with our homeschool co-op and all Preston and Chance's friends when she got his email, so she had a lot of fun showing everyone the picture- they were QUITE excited to see them together!

Last From MTC

Well it seems that my time at the MTC is running short. This last week has
been difficult but not impossible. I will admit though that I could have
done better with my Spanish. I found my self slipping back into english as
those around me where not speaking spainish, an interesting phenomenon
really.

things are getting crazy for me at the moment with having to repack and
make sure i have every thing ready. It feels like that week before i left
all over again. One of the sayings we, those in my district, have is "La
lucha es real pero es el mejor".  Google translate it if you wish ;)

tomorrow i get to sit in classes prepping me for out in the field. You will
get a lot more stories once i get there i am sure.

And a note to Grandma and Grandpa Robinson,  YOU ARE AMAZING!!!  The cake
has been the best treat any of us have gotten and it sent my mind right
back to your basement where i usually enjoy it.


Love you guys,
Elder Hokanson