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