Great Week and Teaching

This week wasn't a super week, but it was a great week. We met with our less active and her investigating 15 year old son and it was good. We had a member there with us who was able to explain prophets and apostasy really well. After that lesson we had another lesson, kind of. We didn't count it as a lesson or a new investigator because we aren't too sure how many lights are actually on upstairs for him. It is sad a little bit, he wants to find the light but he isn't able to hold on to it once he catches a little. He has lived alone for a long time and he didn't make the best of choices as he grew up, it sounds like. So we are going to meet with him again and see if he really is accountable or if he is going to have to wait for the next life to accept the gospel. Which he will, he loves God and Jesus Christ. But it so warped and twisted by the fog of his brain and the false teaching of man in religion he has grown up with. He just can't grab the light and keep a firm grip. It just slips through his fingers. Then we had a lesson with our investigator Joe. He has a little ways to come but is coming quickly. He has a good grasp of the gospel, now to get him to have a testimony of it, and to firm the one he already has.

The family from Arizona didn't come to church this week, so we are going to text and see if everything is alright. We haven’t started to teach them yet. They want to get settled a little more before we start. So here's to them finding an apartment on our side and not the sisters, ha-ha. It was funny. We had an investigator come to church. The first time by herself since I have been here. She always sits out in the foyer with her dad because he doesn't want to go in the chapel. He says he feels judged. So when she said she was alone, I told her to get in the chapel. She said no and we went back and forth for a bit. Then I stood up, walked out, and shook her hand, but didn't let go and pulled her up. She is 17 and weighs like 115. So it took no effort then I brought her into the chapel. We even got her to sing the hymns, so yeah a good Sunday, I like not really having the silly notion that I can't be myself just cause I'm a missionary, I am just a missionary me, ha-ha.

These last few days have been the first real times that I have been homesick at all on my mission. They are random and I haven't even been thinking of home a lot lately, but that just might be it. There is a good balance probably to think about home, not too much to make you home sick and not want to work, but enough to keep you from having a really big homesickness all at once, instead of small doses throughout each day. Also, we have a brand new sister in our ward. It has made me realize that we have been out for a long time. Sometimes it feels as if I haven't done as much as I could have in the time I have had, and that I only have so much time left to try and do what I can before I am done. It’s weird. I am the oldest missionary in the ward, in age.

I have been rereading the Book of Mormon, I am in 2 Nephi. I am also in Revelations and in Job and in section 65 and I have finished the POGP. Also, I am reading the war chapters of Alma I like them they are cool.

Love

Elder Hyde

Sporting the lost and found vest and bow tie

This Was a Week of Miracles

My birthday was a pretty good day. We had Zone Training Meeting. We had phone problems. Then we went to a member's house for dinner. It was fun and then at the end of the day the Studio City Elders and our Sisters surprised us when we got to the door. I got a card from Mish and Grandma. And I got the balloons and the Tower of circle boxes with candy in them. Thank You Parents, you are awesome.

Funny story: The temple Is great, I am going this month for my birthday, there is a Sister missionary in our ward that also has a birthday in August, and we thought both companionships should both go at the same time, ...... I being the dumb man, I am walked up to her and asked "so when did you want us to go to the temple?". ..... She just kinda looked at me and then walked away, I nearly killed one of our members because he was laughing so much..... so yeah go me!

Story for the week: Well this week was a week of miracles. We had A family show up from Arizona that had been taking the lessons there and they came to church, all 9 of them! We had a less active and her 2 children come, one of which is an investigator. And we had 13 non members at church from us and 2 from the sisters so we had 15 non members at our sacrament meeting, and 2 less actives. Also, the ward members just took over and took the investigators and the less actives to where they needed to go, primary, gospel principles, etc. So, it was amazing. So, this probably was the best week of my mission, thus far.

We are alive and have exchanges soon. This transfer is racking up to be a great one! Now to just keep the momentum going.

Elder Hui and I are staying together for another transfer.

Here are photos.

Love

Elder Hyde

We asked him to send us new Passport Pics.

A Note from Brother and Sister Kassouf

Dear Hyde & Hoi families,

We had your sons for dinner. We had good conversations, fun, and friendship. They are doing well.

Sincerely,
Brother and Sister Kassouf

Teaching Ed and Sky Bluespeak

Liked the picture of your sandwich, do you take turns cooking or do you cook for yourself?

Yep, yep, we usually cook for ourselves. He is a very Asian food person since he is Honkanese and all. So yeah, I love the smell of the house. Usually it is my favorite completely and utterly, your stir fried broccoli is my favorite smell, ha-hah- NO.

Do you like your new area? Why aren't there many people feeding you?

Yep I am enjoying it. There just aren't that many people in the ward, and they are like super old. I think we have 10-15 under 40 50ish, and then like 60 or more over 70, so yeah older ward. We have a member that has been in the ward for 75 years.

We had a good week; we found two new investigators this week. They were a referral from some other missionaries, Ed W. and Sky Bluespeak. They are African American and over 50. Ed is from Texas and Sky is from Detroit. So poor Elder Hui, he understands one in maybe every 10 words. An elder asked Elder Hui how much English he knew and Elder Hui said "poquito" so that was pretty funny.

Well I Love you Mom have a good week.

Love,

Elder Hyde