Zone Conference

Hi Pops,

It is getting really warm now. It hasn't really rained here since about March, I think. Almost the entire state is in extreme drought conditions. It is going to get bad in the coming year. I don't understand why Americans are so stupid, like sprinklers on at the worst part of the day and most of the water just ends up on the concrete. Also, why do we water weeds? I don't understand grass, it is such a silly thing.

Well we had Zone Conference this week and it was on Ch3 Lesson 5 – Laws and Ordinances, how to use it, how to prepare a lesson plan, and how to teach it. We learned that we will be getting iPads. We will get our instructions in September and training on it then. Then they will be shipped out after that so in maybe 3 months we will have iPads. I'm excited, I can't wait to use it for Mormon messages because they are awesome. I am wary of them too, though, because I see problems arising from this. But I know the General Authorities know what they are doing and wouldn't do it if the risk outweighed the blessings. But still, I foresee problems and hope that there is some mention in the instructions, ‘cause if not, I will mention it. I can also see it being the down fall of some missionaries, but yeah, that's just cynical ol' me. But I am happy we are going to get them. My only question I had for everyone when they were all hyper about the area book and stuff being on there, "yeah it will be great, my only thought is how do you think it is all going to get on there in the first place?" People kinda sat there for a bit, because yeah not looking forward to typing everything on to it. ha-ha.

At the end of the conference, we got our uncontacted referrals sheet. Yep, you guessed it, there were 47 referrals to be contacted, and the referral update system is down.... so yay. But it is ok, since a lot of them are so spread out we set aside some time on Thursday to call them. Since It is hard to understand Elder Hui on the phone, sometimes I do most of the calling when it is to new investigators or referrals. It is hard enough to talk to them when you speak English as your mother tongue, but it is another thing when it is a second language. But I make him talk to other missionaries and members on the phone, since it is not as imperative for complete comprehension on their part. I am slowly having him make a few of the calls to referrals and investigators so he doesn't use me as a crutch. I have grown tired of always talking on the phone, ha-ha.

Yesterday our only lesson fell through so we had a good 3 hours of contacting. Before that we had 6 contacts. At the end of the day we had 83 contacts and maybe 2 or 3 potentials. But hey, we were only 5 away for a weekly goal because of it.

Love,
Elder Hyde

Here is a sample of a Mormon Message https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2014-01-001-abide-with-me?category=mormon-messages/mormon-messages-2014&lang=eng

Pray for Our Investigators

Oops! my apartment number is 212, so it is 7651 Laurel Canyon #212, North Hollywood CA 91605

We had a picnic on Saturday with the ward so that was fun. It was kinda pioneer day related with that there weren't any electronic games, other than that it wasn't related at all. Oh, and of course there are photos and of course I did not take any of them so I will get them for you next week.

My week was an average mission week, an emotional roller coaster. Being so happy but so tired at the same time, being frustrated at investigators, loving the investigators more than I can understand, fretting about a ride for Preparation-day, and the Lord always coming through with blessing after blessing after blessing even though I do not feel like we had done anything that should merit such a blessing, but were blessed anyways; so yeah, an average week as a missionary.

I am in The North Hollywood Zone, In the North Hollywood ward, I seem to always be in a ward that the stake is named after Valencia 3rd, Granada Hills, North Hollywood, so yeah I found that interesting.

We have about 8 investigators and about 3-5 progressing. 2, Jamie 45, and his daughter, Allie 17, kinda are progressing but kinda aren't. It is because right now the only way for them to progress anymore is to get baptized, but it will happen sooner or later. Then we have Joe, who is pretty much a member except the whole baptism thing, he will be soon, hopefully. He wants to but just some stuff needs to be cleared up first. Then we have Ashley. She is dating a guy in the ward, and wants to learn but is like, “a bible a bible we already have a bible.” But is also very open to listen, yes it is weird but we go with it. We blew her mind last lesson so we are hoping to make some head way there (haha blew her mind and head way hehe hehe). Then there is Brett, we have a baptismal date with him for August 30th. He is coming along he came to church for the first time yesterday and it was great.

Speaking of yesterday, we had 5 investigators come to church yesterday! So that was pretty cool. Family is amazing. That is what I have come to realize as I talk to everyone, missionary or not, family always family. The Lord loves a lot. Sometimes I don't know why but other times I feel like I understand it completely. But The Lord Loves and we should just put our trust in Him, all will turn out fine. (Side note even a year ago you would have never heard such a thing proceed out of my ...... well not mouth but I guess fingers since this is an email.)

My area is a great place down here. The members are great, they love the missionaries. It is weird because there are so few people in the ward can feed us, so after all that time fighting and placing boundaries in Granada Hills and Newhall I come here and its free reign ha-ha. We are on bike, of course, what else would I be on ha-ha. It is weird to know I have been out longer than I have left........... Not ok.

Love

Elder Hyde

My companion is Elder Hui and he is a very excited missionary. He keeps me on my toes. Did I mention he is excited? Every so often I have to be, "Yes we want to share the Gospel with everyone, but during their drug deal is not the best time to do so." So yeah, he reminds me of Elder Mudrow, which was one of his last companions.

I asked Elder Hyde for a picture of himself. He sent me this signature sandwich and a peace sign. :) I love that guy.

Adventures in North Hollywood

I gave a talk yesterday, it was about pioneers and I talked about Rwanda and stuff like that. I also talked about you, Mom. The Rwanda stuff was already making me tear up and then talking about you, I almost- note almost cried. I was talking about the Stripling warriors and I said that it was there mamas that taught them and that most missionaries will tell you that it was there mom that has either got them out or keep them out. I told them that you read my mind, even if you are far away, and you send me silly mom things

We had exchanges this week and that was fun. I love exchanges because well, they are fun and great stuff always happens. Yeah Elder Hui and I are having fun. It is weird though, I haven't been around Asian culture for a little while and I forgot how much they do not understand about the whole personal bubble thing. But it is ok, we talk things out and it’s all fun haha. It is nice for both of us though, that I have been around his culture a little bit so we have a much easier time. Yes, I told him I had lived in Shekou, near Hong Kong when I was a baby and he isn't sure if he knows it or not. Language study goes well. I have helped his pronunciation a lot, spelling now that is a different matter haha.

What is North Hollywood like compared to the other areas you have served in?

Well there are a lot more black people and more apartments and more Mexicans. I give out more Spanish cards than I do English cards each day, it is weird. We always try to talk to everyone, but I do sometimes use judgment calls on when someone is too drunk to talk to.... I have made that decision more in the past two weeks than I have in the whole time I have been out.

I got yelled at by a big black man this week. I was told to f- off and get the f- out of here because he didn't give an f about this that and them. But it was ok, he told me he loved me, I said love you too man, so that was fun.

Love
Elder Hyde

Where are you?

Well, I am in the North Hollywood ward. It is pretty great so far, I miss Newhall, but that is ok it is going to be great. My address is 7651 Laurel Canyon, North Hollywood, CA 91605 It is nice that we also play basketball with some less actives and nonmembers every week. So yeah,it is bloody hot here. I am sweating the weight off. Oh, another cool thing about our area is we do splits with missionaries who are not in our mission. We have so many Armenian people in our area and we do not have Armenian missionaries so the ones from the Arcadia mission got permission to come and work with us once a week. That is really cool, it is still in our area but with missionaries not in the mission.

Who is your new companion?

My companion is Elder Hui. He is Honkenes (from Hong Kong) so that is pretty awesome. We do language study every morning. He speaks English; we are now working on pronunciation. Also, I am learning a little Cantonese. I am the senior companion, not that that matters, it’s just sad because I broke my run of no leadership, sad day, haha. So it is going to be fun and as my saying is now, “Here goes something,” because we are missionaries and we are always doing something! So we can't say, “Here goes nothing,” because it has to always be something or it is a waste of our time and the Lords time.

Tell me a little more about the pictures you sent last week-

The family is the Sirias family, they are members, well the son-in-law is not, but hopefully sooner or later he will. They love missionaries and they are the best people. They just make you feel like you are home, also Sister Sirias moms the missionaries. Bear and Mario are members and they were less active for like 20 years but are now fully active and some of the most wonderful people ever. Bear is one of the most missionary minded members I have ever found. He has a heart the size of him. I know that I will go back and visit that ward. But for now I have a different ward to love and help.

What did you do for the 4th?

We had zone training in the morning and then went out to lunch with another set of elders and then walked and talked to people and went in to our house for dinner at 7 and then unpacked and talked. so yeah very festive. our area sounded like a war zone. so that was interesting.

Did you get your packages?

I got Mish's but not yours, not yet anyways.

Jaron is a dad!?......... Well that is odd but still kinda scary. so yeah :) Congratulations!

1 John 1:5 “5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” This is what we share and this is what draws people to the Gospel Love you have a good week.

Love Elder Hyde

Tell the part member family she has hope. We just (the ward/ sisters) had a baptism of a guy who had been coming for 4 years straight and pretty much had a calling, but just wasn't baptized. Then one day he stood up and said he was getting baptized, so there is hope. I too have been thinking about using time wisely lately cause I hit my year mark in two weeks and it blows my mind. I still feel like I just got here and yet I am now old. Also, both of your children will be 2 decades old in a month..... he he old man you. Things are going well; I get transferred tomorrow so that will be interesting. We do a transfer meeting where everyone who is getting transferred goes to the main church building for our mission. And then President says where everyone is going and you leave. So you are never alone. You walk in with a companion and you walk out with a companion, since our mission is so small it works. But that also means I don't know where I am going until tomorrow.

And yes, I am still on bike.... horrific, haha. No, just a year straight on bike is a little tiring. It wouldn't be so bad if no one had cars and everyone biked. But no, some people luck out and get cars and some people have my luck and have no car. So yeah, but it is nice to have change. I like change. I’m not sure where I get that from..... haha.

That is really great that you always have the missionaries over, here we aren't allowed to both eat at the same member’s house as the sisters, unless it is the bishop, ward mission leader, or other ward council like things ... well I guess Pops is HPGL so I guess that works. Yes I have stayed informed on the world cup and I too have thought of being back in Rwanda, haha, I have been learning a lot lately how to just turn things over to the Lord and trust in Him. I can't affect if I get a car or if I’ll go to a good or great or bad area. I will go where I am needed and I will like it. That is one thing Pops taught me that I say ever so often,” You don't have to want to; you just have to have to.” So yeah here are photos.

I love ya,
Elder Hyde

Bear and Mario

Mission Temple Trip

Newhall member family

Gotta love Cali

Visiting the neighbors