Yeah for Mission Pictures

Hate Bikes!

January 24, 2011

Dear Family and Friends,

Soooooo this week was one with not too much happening- seems like I say that every week in Stourbridge, eh? There wasn't too much that happened except my bike tire getting a hole in it twice(on Tuesday and Saturday). Have I ever mentioned how much I hate bikes yet? We also went on exchange where I actually got to go to Harbourne (Birmingham) with an elder named Elder Brooke(from Bristol England). It was fun and very nice to get away from Stourbridge for a little bit. When I was in Stourbridge, it seemed we just mostly did service for people this week. We did some cleaning up a back garden(British word for backyard) and we did some sanding of furniture and yeah, that was about it. I guess it just seemed that we did more than that. There was one big thing that happened this week, but it was not an enjoyable one.

The big thing that happened this week was that our investigator Tahereh called us on Friday telling us that she didn't want us to come by anymore and that she has decided to become a Catholic because it is the oldest Christian church and the most well known. It was heart breaking, but we were able to drop by on Saturday to give her a gift, the movie "Finding Faith in Christ", and a card thanking her for the chance we had to teach her and for the food she fed to us. She took it well and we had a nice talk. She doesn't know too much about the Catholic church and was really just basing it off of those two things. She knows what she's doing though. She's just waiting to see if the Catholic church is the church that her heart feels is right. It makes sense to her for her mind, but she is now looking for a confirmation from her heart. It'll be interesting to see how her journey to find the correct church will be. We left on good terms and she told us that we could come by anytime. She is such a nice lady and is truly trying to find her way and making sure it is the correct way, which is good for her. I'm pretty sure she'll be back!

Other than that, not much has really happened in life. Elder Stokes and I just keep trucking along trying to figure out how to work this area more effectively since nobody really wants to talk to us here, let along say "hi". It's so crazy. We say hi and get no response or even acknowledgement lots of the time. They are all so sad looking, which makes no sense to me why they won't talk to us. Maybe they just want to wallow in their sadness, but I think the biggest part is that they don't know what they're missing by not talking to us. The message we bring is one of such great joy and happiness. It's just so foreign to me to see so many unhappy people. America seems to just have happier people in general and also I associated with lots of church members who for the most part are optimistic, happy people. The Gospel is one that just makes you happy, considering that is part of the purpose to life(2 Nephi 2:25). I just want to scream at them and tell them to be happier and listen to us. It is just such a gloomy sight. It's amazing when you can see the difference that the church/gospel can make in someones life. There is a recent convert here in Stourbridge named Tasha. She is 18 and she used to be a drinker and druggy and didn't really like people at all or life in general. She was into just horrors and serial killers and stuff like that. She just wasn't happy. But now she that she has been coming to church and we've been teaching her, she is just so awesome. She is happy, she actually smiles sometimes, she has turned away from the drugs and the drink, and she is just so awesome. And the best part is that she just keeps on changing for the good. It just seems to get better and better each time we go and see her. She is just so awesome(P.S whoever is controlling my facebook, could you accept her friend request?) and fun to be around. Her life isn't easy with her family just cracking on her for going to church and stuff(even though her mother is a member too, just not active), but she keeps going strong and not yielding to their banter. What a great representation of how the gospel can change lives and make them sooo much better.

This week for church, I was basically the show.....almost. I had to play the piano(for the 3rd time in the past 4) and I gave a 20 plus minute talk. Oh man was that stressful...... not fun. It ended up alright though, I guess. I gave my talk on the Book of Mormon and it's significance and importance. It went well. I much prefer speaking than playing the piano. Weird eh? It was good and very informative too. It was mainly just pointing out to people the importance of reading the Book of Mormon, pondering on it's words, praying about it's truthfulness, and then acting on it by continuing to learn more and to share it with others. The Book of Mormon really is the staple or "keystone" of our religion like Joseph Smith said: "Take away the Book of Mormon and revelation and where is our religion? We have none." It is so true, but so is his statement that can be found in the introduction of the Book of Mormon in which he said, when asked about the book, "I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book." I add my testimony to that. It is truly and inspired book and God's word. I encourage you to really truly read, study it, and pray about it so you can see how awesome it is!

I love you all so much and miss you. I'm sorry for those that I haven't written back to. I'm working on it!

Love,

Elder Hulet

Mormon Messages for Youth

Becky found something interesting on Mormon Message for Youth when she was looking at them trying to find something for her Sunday School class. I'm sure it comes from him giving permission for his photo to be used in a New Era article. Who knew it would extend beyond :)

Transfers - He Stays in Stourbridge

January 12, 2011

Dear Family and Friends,

God is good. That's something that my zone leader Elder Zito would keep saying and once you start reflecting on life and God's hand in each and every one of yours, you'll be saying that too like I have (well not out loud, but I have on the inside). We had a pretty good start to the new year with people we've visited and a plan for what we want to do in Stourbridge (which we are staying in together for another 6 weeks). We are pretty excited for this transfer. It isn't ever, and won't be, easy, but we have faith it can happen so long as God wills it to (I sure hope so, otherwise this could be a long one :P). We had an awesome thing happen this week though. We received a referral from the Zone Leaders in Chelmsley Wood for a lady that was good friends with someone in their ward. So on Saturday we went with them to see her and have dinner. Well what happened was that after dinner and the lesson we taught her, she accepted a baptismal date! GOD IS GOOD!! That day happened to be the day that Elder Stokes and I started changing our attitude to the work and start talking to every person as we went from appointment to appointment and look how he blessed us. God is good!!!! Her name is Tahereh (pronounced Tara or something close to that). She is Iranian (has lived in the UK 10 years come Friday) and has a little boy who is 8 years old. She's soo golden. She had been Muslim (since you're forced to be one in Iran), but she didn't like it and she has always loved Jesus and what he did. And she has decided to change and turn to Jesus because she believes that that can turn her life around and make it better(which is soo true!). Anyway, we are now teaching her. She came to church on Sunday with her friend from Chelmsley and their kids. It was good and I think she liked it. I'll know better tomorrow when we go and teach her. God is good!!!

Other than that, we didn't have too much more exciting happen to us. It's really hard to remember what you did each day. They all just seem to mix together. I just looked at my diary(schedule book thing) and we really didn't do too much. We saw lots and lots of people, but nothing too exciting. Yeah. Some other news is that President has asked that I start working on my UK driver’s license... which Elder Stokes says it means that he plans on putting me in some leadership roles in the future. We'll just have to wait and see what happens with that, eh?

Um... Yeah, so I guess I'll just ramble on about something that I've learned this week. Well, today sorta. It goes along with my God is good part. I was reading today in the book of Omni in the Book of Mormon. There isn't too much in that section besides the guys writing passing the records onto their sons or brothers. After it gets passed to a guy named Amaleki, he starts talking about the events that have happened. The main one he focuses on is with King Mosiah and his people finding the people of Zarahemla who were a kind of lost people. They were a people that were descendants of people that once lived in Jerusalem, but had traveled over to America. What happened to them was that with their trip, they had forgotten to bring a record of Jerusalem, and the people that lived there, with them. This in turn caused their language to go crazy and they had also lost their knowledge and belief in their Creator (God). They were pretty bad off and those 2 things were completely ruined because they brought no records with them. What does that tell you then? It tells me that I need to be better at writing in a journal or a book of blessings or something and do you know why? I don't think it's because my language will go wacky, but it will be a way to help me to remember God and what He does for me and how I know He's there. Writing down blessings received from God will help us, in the future, to remember Him and never lose our faith, belief, and love for him. I've really been slacking on that unfortunately, but it's something I want to get better at. I also encourage you to do so. Maybe not a big journal thing, but maybe just a book of blessings where you reflect on each day and look for the hand of God work in your life. I promise you that if you do, you will have a greater love for God, an increase in your faith in Him, AND He will bless you even more because you are recognizing them so long as you turn to Him and thank Him. The best way to do that is through prayer. I strongly encourage you to do that. If you did one thing for me this week, I'd ask you to do that! I would even prefer you to do that than for you to write me, and you know how much I like post and encourage you to write me. Next time I might talk about prayer a little more, although that could be attached to the last two email thoughts since it goes hand in hand with accountability and this.

I love you all sooo much!!! I really do, no matter what you say. Be good, enjoy life, but in all ways look for God's hand in the good things!

Love,

Elder Hulet

NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS

January 3, 2011

Dear Family,

So there wasn't too much that has happened since last time I emailed you...... except for the new year! We had a quiet ending to the week. We had planning, a baptismal interview, and the new years party(we got permission to go to ours and stay up past 12), and then church. Nothing too exciting though. The party was pretty lame, but that's alright because we got to stay up. I took some videos and pictures of it, so I'll get them up sometime sooner or later. Maybe not yet. Anybody else do anything fun for new years? Was there a party at the church for the youth again? Um..... yeah. So I really don't know what else to talk about. I loved my presents for Christmas and stuff. I am sooo warm now and it's so nice. I just climb into bed, turn it on, and I'm sooo warm. It's way nice because our flat is pretty darn cold every morning which definitely makes exercising less appetizing to do.

So it being new years, you'd think that I'd have some new years resolution thingy....but I didn't and haven't taken the time to make mine yet and I don't know how soon I'll get to it though. Elder Stokes has gone like all out on his though. It's pretty crazy. I don't think I'd put that much effort into it. I prefer to just go with the flow and just improve myself. This'll be my first full year on a mission. Crazy, huh? Also, on Sunday, it'll be my 6 month mark. Wowzers. Boy has that flown by and I'm sure Stevie, Ethan, Aaron and the others will agree with me. This should be a good year. It'll be interesting to see what happens throughout the year. It'll be interesting to see how much of that time I'll be in Stourbridge. I think one of us, Elder Stokes or I, will be here for a while. It'll be interesting needless to say, but pretty good.

So the weather here has been nicer. The snow has all left because the rain came and took it. It's nice because we can now bike places. How's the weather back at home? Much snow or anything? And how about sickness or flu there? There is something going around England and definitely amongst the missionaries. After the Christmas party like 1/3rd of the missionaries got sick and were stuck inside so they couldn't work. I was only a little sick and spent only a couple hours inside to get a little more sleep for it, but I soon got tired of that and it didn't seem to make it any better so I didn't bother any longer and we just went out working and stuff. I'm doing much better now.

A couple things that have been on my mind and studying about recently have been the idea of accountability and also the combo of humility and obedience. I just tried to write something on it, but I couldn't quite express what I've learned about them. There is a big meaning of accountability in each of our lives, but it has hit me a little more with being on a mission and being accountable for more people because I am accountable for how I use all of my time in serving God and the area of Stourbridge or wherever I'm serving. Do I use my time wisely and not wasting it. Not wasting time that I could be trying to find people to tell them about the restoration and the gospel and help them come closer to Jesus. Am I fulfilling my purpose is the big question. The thing is that you could all ask yourself that question. You may not being doing then same thing, but you still have a purpose being here on Earth. How are you living your life? Are you fulfilling your purpose? Are you living your life how you should and doing your best to get closer to God? Would you be happy to account to God how you used your life? That is something I've been pondering. Would I be happy to account to God for what I've used my time on my mission? Do I use each day to its fullest? It's something to just think about. How will you change how you live your life? Will that become apart of your new years resolution? I've just found it being an interesting subject to think about.

I don't know what else to really talk about. Thanks for all the birthday letters and Christmas cards- they are the best!!!! I love you all and hope you all have a great start to the new year!!!! Don't be dumb, and give me some updates so I can learn about what you guys are up to and can enjoy seeing what you guys do with your lives.

Love,

Elder Hulet

2011- heck yeah!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Above picture is still he and his old companion, because he hasn't sent me any new ones. :(

December 29, 2010

Happy New Year

Dear Family and Friends,

So I don't really know what to say here(at least to my fam). It was awesome to be able to skype you guys and see everyone- especially the little ones. They were so cute. It was awesome to have all 3 of them in front of the camera. I bet you got an awesome pic from that! I wish I could've been there to partake of the fun activities, but that's alright. I'm sure you guys had a blast without me :P Christmas week was pretty hectic though. I'm not sure how much you guys understood what had happened. On the Tuesday(21st) and Wednesday Elder Stokes and I were on exchange with some other Elders. Then we met up again at the mission home to switch back, but we then just decided to go back with them and do our weekly planning and then spend some time with them in their area until caroling. So we did that and then headed off to Birmingham to go caroling with a bunch of other missionaries(who travelled up from Wales for the Christmas party the next day) near the huge shopping mall(The Bull Ring). After that we went back and stayed at the mission home, which was crowded from all of the missionaries staying there. Good thing they have lots of extra beds and mattresses there. The next day was the Christmas Party for the whole mission. So all 150 or so missionaries in the EBM(England Birmingham Mission) came together and had a talent show and stuff. It was super fun to be able to see everyone and I ended up singing 2 solos that I didn't even sign up for..... I had to replace another guy who was too sick to perform them anymore. They went alright. Then after the party and everyone was departing, we were about ready to go take the bus home to Stourbridge, but something else came up with our Zone Leaders. Both of their voices weren't doing very well and they were needing to be back at their ward's Carol Concert, so they asked me to join with since I have been to one of their practices before and I'm fine with sight reading for the most part. So Elder Stokes and I accompanied them. On the way I learned that I was going to have to step in for another missionary( AP Davies) and sing his solo at that carol concert. It went alright and I was fine with singing it, but it wasn't that good since I didn't really know the words and I had to stand behind the piano and read the words off of the pianist's copy. It was rough, but whatever. Later on in the concert Elder Davies came and the conductor had him sing it anyway and he completely destroyed my performance and made me look like a numty, but that's alright with me because I did my best. Since it was too late to head home to Stourbridge, we stayed the night in the mission home again along with some missionaries that missed their train home and found out there were no more headed home. In the morning we headed off back to Stourbridge, opened our presents once we got home(like 11am) and then headed to a family's home that we were supposed to be at for breakfast...whoops. It ended up alright and we had a nice relaxing time with them. So that was my Christmas week. Fun, eh?

It was way good though, except for sickness that spread throughout the mission. I guess that sickness was spread to most of the mission, so much that about 1/3 of the teams have had to stay inside. To be added to that, I am a little bit sick also. I just got a sore throat that I didn't think much about, so I went out on Monday, but it's slowly gotten worse and worse. I stayed in for about half the day yesterday and we'll see how much better I do the rest of this week. I don't want to be a burden and stay in because of the 2 days of work this week, we've been quite affective. So I don't want to hinder that, but I also want to get better. You see my dilemma? These two days have really excited me for working here in Stourbridge though. I'm ready just to help so many people and help strengthen the area and the members. I believe Elder Stokes and I can do it. It'll just take a little while. We finally got to teach our first lesson to an investigator on Monday and it felt so good. I just love teaching people about the gospel- it's so fun and exhilarating. It's much better than biking up hills in the cold.

That's all I really have to say at this point in time. I miss everyone like no other, but I'm loving where I'm at right now and what I'm doing and I need to make the most of it because I only have about 18 months left. Time flies by toooo fast. I hope everyones Christmas was super duper awesome and that you were able to not only have fun with family and experience the joy of the giving and receiving of presents, but that you could really reflect on this past year as well as on the birth and life of Jesus Christ and how you've put them together-your life and Christ's. If you haven't done too well at mixing the two, I encourage you to make a goal(maybe a new years goal) to improve that. Because that is probably one of the best ways you can not only help yourself, but also others around you. If we bring Jesus and His Atonement into our lives, it WILL change us and I can testify of that because I've seen that happen to people I know and love. I hope that you guys will take that task upon you too. Bring God and Jesus more into your life. Find that relationship you have with them. One of the best ways to do that is by reading the Book Of Mormon. Like Joseph Smith said concerning the Book of Mormon(which is found in the introduction of it) "A man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book". I encourage you to do that. Read it and abide by it's precepts and you will grow closer to God and your life WILL improve.

I love you all soooo much, you have no idea. I just hope that you will take my cousel into your heart and try it, because I wouldn't tell you to do it if I didn't know it would work.

Love,

Elder Hulet

OFFICIALLY OLD

December 20, 2010

Dearest Family and Friends,

I am officially old now.......20. How'd that happen so fast?? I don't feel any older than I was at 19 though. This was an interesting week though being my first full week with Elder Stokes. He's a nice guy and we're getting along just fine, but we aren't best friends needless to say. He does like singing and playing guitar, so I'm trying to get him to teach me how to play. I'm definitely excited for that, not so much for the area, but for learning guitar, yes!

My birthday week flew by, but it was nothing short of fun or easy. With the conditions of the ward, we are mainly trying to run by members that are less or inactive. This causes us having to travel long distances and not being able to talk to anyone on the streets, if any. We don't even really talk to many besides hi because we are usually in hurries to try to get from member to members houses. Also with the nature of where people live(spread out everywhere and at the edges of our boundaries), we have to bike sooo much and soo far. Like take last Monday. We left the flat at a little after 6 to go to someones house that lives pretty far away. It was so far away that after traveling there, talking for 15 minutes and traveling back, it was 9:20. Oh man. That was such a cold and long journey.

Like I've heard about America, England got hit by a pretty darn big snow storm...... and boy does everything go dead when that happens. Here in Stourbridge we received about 4 to 5 inches in about a day. Basically everything stopped and it really halted our ability to travel anywhere especially since bikes were now out of the question. It also made my birthday decently miserable, but that's alright. I didn't really care. I was just happy to receive those letters/notes from all the friends and fam. That really made my day. The gifts were a nice side note, but those letters made my birthday for me. So THANK YOU! You really get a greater sense and understanding of Christmas when you're on your mission. To be honest, I wouldn't have been bothered had I received zero presents- because it really means nothing to me. To see the thought and the intent of the presents is what really matters. The love and the appreciation. I really loved those books I got about Christmas Mother. I hope you read them yourself before it. The whole Christmas story and how the people around him reacted to the birth of our Lord and Savior is just great to see and provides us with something to emulate. That has just rung true to me this year.

So there really wasn't anything to talk about my week besides the loads of snow and lack of mobility besides walking(I hate walking compared to biking). I do have some stuff I need(like answers to questions and info, no material stuff).

Um..... I love you all and I hope all is going well in your respective neck of the woods. Life is rough, but who said it is supposed to be easy. I'm still loving it and doing my best, so you better make the best of life and the Christmas season especially, ok?

Love,

Elder Hulet