Go Back to Canada

October 25, 2010

Dear Family and friends,

This week seemed to take a while and I have no idea why, but that's alright because it's over now! It's not to say that it was a bad week, but it definitely wasn't the one we wanted. We were finally able to teach some new people- which is super good. I was hoping I'd remember how the lesson rolls because it has been a while for the beginning ones. I did just fine though. I love those lessons because you seem to learn more and more for yourself as you teach them since people bring up new questions and new concerns so it makes you look at it from a different perspective. Out of the 4 lessons, I think 3 will be good so long as they act on the desire they have to learn by reading and praying about what we teach. I think that's the greatest part of the gospel and the work we do, because we don't force people or anything. If they don't want to act on their desires, it's really their loss. They aren't hurting us at all, but they sure are hurting themselves. I just wish people could see that.

The people we taught have been quite different. First we taught this older English man named Robert who had questions about prophets and why they were needed. We presented a really good lesson where we resolved his concerns to the best of our ability and the spirit was there, but in the end he told us "I enjoy your company............but leave me alone". That was defiinitely not the response Elder Davis and I expected from the lesson we taught. But we weren't frustrated because we did our best to help him and it was his choice to reject it, so nbd( haha I just got your nbb Face). Next we taught a guy named Mark. He likewise is English. We were able to teach him a good quick lesson and invited him to church. He said he would, but he was going to Poland this week..... just our luck. The next guy we taught is named Amjad. Can you guess where he's from???????? How about I just tell you, ok? Iraq. He is really good though. He told us about the joy he receives when talking about Jesus and he just wants to learn more about him. We taught a good and spirit filled lesson about the beginning of the Plan of Salvation(God's plan for us to be able to return back to him) up until Christ and his role in our life and then we bore our testimony and it was sooo good. I'm excited for him to learn more, I just hope he is too. Funny story about that is that halfway through(well right before we started the lesson), a Jehovah's Witness came to the door. So we sat quietly and listened to what he had to say. He actually helped us out though because it helped us know what he wanted to learn. He should be great! The problem with teaching Muslims is that we can't invite them to be baptized. We can teach them about it, but we can't invite. They have to ask to be because of the family problems that can arise. Last one was Kobe. He is originally from Ghana, but he had lived in Italy for the past 18 years until now. He is awesome and he already knows that Joseph Smith is a Prophet and that the Book of Mormon is true. We are excited, but we also think he might be a member already...... guess we'll have to wait and see. Anywho, those were the people we taught.

There were some really funny times though, like when this English guy just started yelling at us, complaining about these Pakistani's and Polish and then he told us to "go back to f'in Canada". Needless to say, it was funny. We had a good laugh about that and will for a long while.

This week we also taught a less active the stop smoking program(which is so effective. In fact, it's 100% if it's followed 100%). Anyway, to cut to the chase, the Zone Leaders convinced her that if I truly cared about her I would dance.........I tried my hardest to not do it, but you do what you gotta do for the people..... So Elder Davis in his cheeky-monkey ways(one of my favorite English phrases/words) made a video of it with his camera. Sue should be sending it to you sometime Mother.

Also this week I gave a talk in church about Jesus and His role as our Redeemer(well I made that my topic based off of Luke 1:68). It was good and I was so relaxed. It's amazing what a mission can do for your public speaking skillz. Oh and just so you know Mother, I played the piano in sacrament meeting becuase the priesthood was performing a number. I'm definitely getting better at piano, but I'm still not that good.

Um..... thank you so much for the cd's Mother, Prince of Egypt is always playing now.... almost constantly. Also thanks for the photos. I just love pictures. I need to go buy an photo album thing so they will be safe.

This week was definitely one where I have been pondering on the principle of Faith. What an important principle in the church and just in life in general. Why would we do anything if we didn't have faith in whatever it is? Well since I'm on a mission, it really has been Faith in Jesus Christ that I have been thinking about and wanting to focus on. It's essential for everything, both spiritually and physically. The scriptures constantly talk about it both in people exercising it and gaining it. As you can see whenever Jesus would perform miracles, He'd talk about their faith in the role of their healing. That's not the only thing that faith is needed. We need faith for everything, especially in accessing Christ's Atonement. In order to be cleansed of our sins, we need to repent. But what truly leads us to repent? It's our faith in Christ. He is the one that makes it possible to be cleansed, so as we have faith that we can be, we then repent. And as we truly do that, we can be cleansed through the love-filled sacrifice of our brother, Jesus Christ. We need to focus on our faith. It is at the beginning of everything. Once we have the faith, we act. It goes along with President Uchtdorf's talk about slowing down and focusing on the basics. Now tell me, what greater basic is there than faith? There is no such thing as too much faith, and that's what I'm working on!

I love you all soo much! Keep the updates coming and I'll do my best with letters to you.

Stay strong, live long, and have faith in Christ!

Love,

Elder Hulet

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Extra from the Mom:

I did catch Elder Hulet on the computer this morning and we chatted (well, kind of) for a couple of minutes. This was one of his comments:

Well I need to go. Usually we get here at like 10:30-10:45 my time. I would like more Anthony and friend updates. I'll be sending a response to mark since he mailed me a letter.

If you write him, he will write back. If you want me to forward him a message/update in an email or on facebook, I can do that. I know he misses you guys. Momma H.
p.s. - did you note that he LOVES pictures