The Alec Is...

Hello again - summer's almost over!

2011-08-24T00:11:00.000-07:00

Well I have had a pretty good summer. Super busy, but despite that I have found time to pursue my favorite pastime: whitewater kayaking.
I saw this video today, and was completely awestruck. This guy is ridiculously amazing. The double waterfall at 0:14 and1:50 completely blew me away at how aggressively he just rocked them both.

This is exactly the type of thing that inspires me (and most whitewater kayakers) to do what we do. (which is a lot less awesome at our skill level, but maybe someday...)
Hey I hope to post some more as soon as I get moved into my new place. auf wiedersehen!

Its been a while... Should I blog differently?

2011-07-24T22:26:00.000-07:00

Well it has been a long time since I have posted. It's tough because if i post pictures (which is usually the reason I make a post) I find it a hassle to put them up both on my Facebook and this blog. I'll post one photo because I didn't put it on my Facebook.

This was when I was just at my family reunion in Washington, and went for a quick solo Canoe trip, so I thought i would document it (gotta love how handy cell phones have become).

So but this all begs a question that I want to ask all of you - should I keep going on how I've been blogging, or should I change my blog to less of a "this is what I've been doing" and more to a place that I can write up my opinions on various topics, post things I find funny, or the such. I would probably post things that I write on here (I've started to try to write fiction in my little free time). I realize that we hear enough opinions (especially from me if I start talking, hehe) so you might not want that.

Here's a quick example - I was shown this funny ad:
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=16179805&cat=196&s_cid=S0001
Apparently this is a very manly pontoon boat, as described voluminously by the seller.

So please let me know what you think! To blog the same? or to blog differently? Thanks!

NYC trip videos!

2011-06-03T16:38:00.000-07:00

here are a few videos from my trip, as promised. They're from my statue of liberty trip, visit to the Museum of Natural history, and the Mets v. Pirates game.

This is a video of the Brain exhibit in the Museum of Natural history - it was pretty neat
the flashing lights are different wires they put up along the sides as you entered the exhibit, to represent brain synapses/neurons.

Mets game - Pirates a grey, Mets in white. A pirate steals second

This time the Mets are up at bat! and this guy gets a good single

well there you are, nothing to super special or exciting, but i thought i'd just post them!

New York City and Boston Trip!

2011-06-02T09:15:00.000-07:00

Well this last week I visited my awesome sister Karene who lives in Manhattan. It was pretty awesome, and I have many pictures to prove this. It took me forever to upload them onto my facebook account, however, and so I will just give everyone a link to my albums!

my NYC experience:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150194512468951.316346.699223950&l=03acaf3b93

Visiting Boston:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150195031768951.316525.699223950&l=3aaf9efeb3

So there you are! It was really neat and I had a ton of fun. I think from all of the running around Karene got so tired she won't want me to visit again. hmmm... maybe I can use that as leverage. ;)

I have a few videos from the trip, and I think i will post those here on my blog this time, rather than FB.
until next time!

Provo River (Bridal Veil) Kayak run!

2011-05-21T22:39:00.000-07:00

As I write this blog I think i still have traces of adrenaline in my body from todays ridiculously awesome trip. I went with a couple cool guys, Chris H. and Brad W., and Jessica W. came too to take pictures and enjoy the beautiful day. Thanks for the great pictures, Jess!

we didn't run the whole "Bridal Veil" river run, the upper part is too technical for me right now, so we just put in after all of the crazy stuff!

The river was pretty much continuous whitewater (mostly just easy class II), and a couple large rapids. It was easily the most intense and awesome run i have ever been on, and i enjoyed every minute of it. Even the moment that i got rolled and lost my paddle and had to pull my sprayskirt. I just got to shore and hitchhiked on the highway the rest of the way (there are just no eddies to pull boats and people to the sides!). Luckily the guys were able to keep track of my boat, but I lost my paddle. :(

Us putting in

Yellow Helmet = Me, Blue boat = Brad, Other Orange boat = Chris

So there it is! I now unfortunately have a couple things to purchase (paddle, wetsuit, new neoprene boots, float bags...), but it was still so much more awesome than I can describe. Just ask anyone I told about it how excited i was hours afterwards just telling the story. (In reality i still have hope for my paddle - i'm going to check where the Provo empties into Utah lake for it tomorrow - they float)

well until next time!

Goblin Valley camping trip!

2011-05-15T22:01:00.000-07:00

So Harry and Sarah and I went on a camping trip to Goblin Valley. It was pretty sweet. We first went to Wild Horse Canyon, and then to the famous Goblin Valley.Heres some pictures and videos to give you a taste of our experience

Intrepid packer Harrison

our trusty steed - the Tacoma

Nothing better eating breakfast in victory stance

(Japan)

posing trying to block out the ugly camper behind me

Here is looking back at the beginning of the Canyon hike - it was about an 8 mile loop

Me having fun just "a randin' around!"

this was a natural desire for everyone with all of the cool rock formations

this was one of the more narrow parts - this was a pretty neat part of the hike

we went to the right

When i put the camera on timer it fell over and it took the picture before i could set it back up and get back to the group, but i like this picture anyways!

Men climb rock

me testing to see if this hole in the rock wall was a good place to set it for a timer... but i like this shot too!

Sarah is just awe-inspired by Harrison's agility

The one thing deserts have that is pretty is how many different colors the rocks and dirt can be. here it may be hard to make out, but this rock shelf was very purple

Now this is our first look at Goblin Valley, peppered with lots of these odd rock formations and tons of people just "a randin' around!" (inside joke of the trip)

I decided to shimmy down a different way here

well, there it is! it was another very fun trip. I'm pretty sure we would all go to the same area again. see you next time!

Lasik eye surgery

2011-05-09T20:50:00.000-07:00

So this last week i got Lasik eye surgery. It was pretty interesting. it only took a few minutes to do. the part where they actually laser'd my eye to adjust the "prescription" only took 15 seconds for each eye. That thursday i pretty much slept and listened to John Bytheway. Heres a picture of me and the goggles they gave me on the day of my surgery

Because my eyes are small and deep set, they had a hard time getting suction for a certain part of the surgery (i think to cut a flap of the cornea), they bruised my eyes and so i have (still) red spots around my eyes. It looks pretty freaky actually - like a zombie or a mad scientist. I am hoping to do a prank or two with them before they heal

If i do a scary face it is pretty frightening.
and i'll find out Thursday my actual eye quality. but i'm pretty sure i have at least 20/20. I can see better right now than i used to be able to with my contacts in.

Skiing in The Canyons

2011-04-16T15:37:00.000-07:00

This last Thursday was the first "reading day" where there was no finals or classes scheduled so that students could study. We decided to use this first one to relax a little bit and so we went skiing! It was Harry Douglass, Sarah Whittier, and Phil Gulbrandsen, and I, and we sure had a blast.

It certainly was a beautiful day to be skiing

All set and pumped!

2011-04-06T16:23:00.000-07:00

well today i just got my dry-top in the mail (my blue "shirt" that i'm wearing below), and i was so excited when i put it on (to make sure it fit) that i just continued until i had on all of my gear and was sitting in my kayak

. Pretty sad when i can get excited about just sitting in my living room in kayaking gear, but whatever. (this is also a good answer to Karene's comment asking if i could fit my legs in my kayak. Yes! and very comfortably

see you on the river!

My New Kayak!

2011-04-01T00:23:00.000-07:00

So this Wednesday i went and picked up my new Riot Astro 54 Kayak in SLC, and it makes me happy just to see it in the corner. Heres a picture of it

yeah it is pretty sweet - it is a playboat, in that it is designed to be able to do tricks. I hope to be able to do some in the not too distant future. If you want to see this boat in action, i have a link here with an awesome video with whitewater professional Steve Fisher.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lez9LNNQWC4&feature=related

the best parts to see him putting the Astro to good use are 5:16 and 6:30. (4:30 is good too, as well as 3:43)

Hope to post some pictures with me doing stuff in a river too! just gotta wait for my drytop to come in the mail so i don't freeze my butt off... :)

I Love Kayaking

2011-03-28T09:01:00.000-07:00

This is not my new Kayak (I should have it Wednesday), nor is it on a river but in the pool... but it still makes me excited so i thought i'd post the pictures

I'm about to launch into the pool - one of the guys in the club was nice enough to let me borrow his boat and gear for a bit. This boat was too small and i liked my paddle better...

heres me (with my paddle) trying to do a stern squirt (where my boat is vertical).
As soon as i get my new boat i'll post pictures and then more when i get to go for the first time!

I Gotta Apron!

2011-03-20T16:17:00.000-07:00

So i have wanted an apron for a long time, but they always seemed so expensive whenever i remembered to try to buy one. On my mission i wanted it to keep my nice clothes from getting dirty when i made meals, and now at home i cook alot and also work at the MTC, so i still wear church clothes regularly.

so... there is this awesome girl in my ward, Lindsay Nelson, who does lots of crafts. She made her whole apartment aprons. So i got her some fabric (stuff that was relatively manly in case she put some girly frills, which she did) and she made one for me. I feel pretty legit

Arizona Trip!

2011-03-13T21:08:00.000-07:00

So this is late, but i have been busy out of my mind. But, better late than never i always used to say!

Over the three-day Presidents' Day Weekend i traveled to Arizona. It was wonderful to see everyone (that i could) from my mission. I didn't have enough time to even spend with all of them, let alone get any pictures, so the only pictures I've got are from the drive home.
Just a bit of the stunning Arizona/Southern Utah landscape!

Lake Tahoe Road Trip!

2011-01-23T23:47:00.000-08:00

Well, This last 3 day weekend (from Martin Luther King Jr. day) I went on a road to Tahoe with Harrison Douglass, Sarah Whittier, and Kristen Milligan. Sarah had the hookups with the hotel (so that translates to "free"), and Kristen had hookups with Sugarbowl Ski resort (also "free"). It was a long drive (9 hours or so) but we had much dancing and music and fun that made it not seem too bad.

our trip begins with the two heroines of the story: Kristen and Sarah (Sarah's the one driving in the picture)

You probably also noticed our trip mascot, a little Russian (from Ukraine, however) nesting doll that we affectionately named "Katinka Ingabogovinanana" (if you haven't watched it it's from Zoolander)

and by the way she will be featured in many more of our pictures, so just look out for her (kindof like "where's waldo?"

And now for the heroes, quickly devouring circus animal cookie things.

When Saturday finally came around, we went to the north side of Tahoe to go ski Sugarbowl

Here is the fantastic view from the top of the highest lift in Sugarbowl. Both pictures i didn't move where i was standing, the one above is to the left and then the bottom picture i rotated right.

As you can tell, it was a gorgeous day!

Just Sarah, Harry, and I were able to ski. Kristen broke her leg not long ago, so she spent Saturday visiting friends that she knew when she lived in Truckee. Harry is in the green & brown, Sarah - white jacket, and I am the guy in the bright yellow helmet (not visible in this picture...)

Are you supposed to be looking for Katinka?

A good view of Donner Lake

it was really warm (like 45 or something like that) and so i had to take off my outer shell. Even then i was pretty warm

yeah....we're cool, and we don't care who knows

Katinka decided to hit the slopes with us, she's pretty intense like that

This is a pretty picture as well as shows you the condition of the snow. It was pretty wet (a fact that was helped by the warm weather) but it had rained earlier that week and then froze, so it had a thin layer of ice in parts, which you can see the light reflecting off it here

Me just chilling on the chairlift...

The ski bums. (a cool fact, it's neat to see my hand holding the camera in my goggles, and then see me holding the camera in Harry's goggles. If Sarah had reflective goggles it would be even cooler...

yep, can't have a trip without a picture where it looks like something is growing out of your head. (also this is the only one with me and the sign. the kid we asked to take the picture only got us, he cut off the sign out of the picture... thanks man)

Sunday after church we went to a park alongside Lake Tahoe, both to make ourselves lunch, and enjoy the beauties of the Lake. It was interesting being on a beach of snow

With such a beautiful dock scene, I had to get one of my silhouette staring off into the lake

Harrison. Looking pretty Jim - as usual

Here's the entire crew - it was a pretty fun trip

but as in all road trip weekends, this one had to end. So we'll send you off with a picture of Katinka and the sunset of our trip to Tahoe

My second District

2011-01-23T22:52:00.000-08:00

Heres some pics with my second district
Going to Alabama and either New mexico or Nevada - i'm spacing as to which right now...

My first MTC district!

2011-01-12T22:16:00.000-08:00

I began working at the MTC last semester, around October/November. In November I got my first district of Elders. Half (about) were headed to the Birmingham Alabama Mission, the others to the Anchorage Alaska Mission. They were awesome, and it was a wonderful experience to teach them. Here's a couple pictures from our last day

As of right now there about a month into their missions already (they left in December)

Alec's new adventures in Devonshire 15

2010-10-17T14:32:00.000-07:00

So here are some random pictures that chronicle my new life as a BYU student staying in Devonshire 15:

just to show a little bit of the people and the apartment

I am Alec

This is Tanner Jones, my apart-mate

This is Bennett Forbes, Tanner's room-mate and my other apart-mate

This is not my room-mate, (don't worry mom) I don't have a new picture of Trammell Cox yet,

but i'll post one later

This is Erin Griffey jokingly crossing our infamous Dev 15 "chastity line"

In Devonshire 15, WE COOK LIKE MEN!

(for those that are curious that is creamy corn and potato soup - Thanks Ben for the cookbook[s]!)

Here are two parts of our apartment - we have a Colorado flag (the 3 others are from Denver)

and a garden statue saint to hold our keys and change

So now you have a taste of Dev 15!

I'm back!!!

2010-09-14T18:46:00.000-07:00

so i'm back - i'll post some of my last part of my mission pictures

From Alec: June 8, 2010 It's in the 100's!

2010-06-12T17:22:00.000-07:00

Hello from AZ,

Hope everything is going well. As always, thanks for the emails and letters. I like what you said about thoughts, Mom. I know for Christmas one year I got that book As A Man Thinketh by James Allen. It is a recommendation by President Kimball in a book. I really liked it and felt what it taught about thoughts is very true.

Well this last week was a very tiring one. Lots of service and activities. I don't remember any special things to speak of for last week except for: Wednesday we went with Patty to the Visitors' Center to watch the Joseph Smith movie. It is always good to go and watch that. They also have a very neat exhibit there with the original art of the ones that won the LDS competitions. They've featured all of them in the ensigns and I recognized many because of that.

We talked with this guy, Bro Kennedy that day too - and him sharing his experiences taught me two things; don't gossip, don't jump to conclusions. His story is a pretty sad one, he was in a car accident and some bad talk about him went around in his ward and really hurt him. He is not active because of that, which is not good because it was people, not the church that did that. It hasn't been easy for him though - he's got PTSD so it wears on him. It is wonderful to know, however, that the Savior can bring peace to his heart and heal his wounds.

Last week wasn't the best one but we do have lots to look forward to because of some promising leads. We just met a part-member family last night (a referral from the RS president in one of our wards - who actually served a mission in Idaho) who have been taught alot. Their names are J. & E., and they aren't married so perhaps that could have been the only thing keeping them from progressing - we'll see on Thursday. Also we are very excited to teach C., this other lady in a part member family. She is awesome and has never taken the missionary lessons we found out, even though the missionaries taught and baptized the 11 year old daughter last year.

It's a good thing this is the Lord's work and he watches over it/his children. I don't think there would be any other way you could get 19-25 year old kids to be successful trying to talk to people and get them to change the way they live their lives (which is many times a very difficult struggle), sacrifice time and money to enter a group that has such different vocabulary (we could probably make that list longer even). It truly is all such a miracle.

"...my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men." (Moroni 7:29)

That is Mormon's testimony of miracles, and mine as well.

Elder A. Hoopes

From Alec: June 11, 2010

2010-06-12T17:18:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Glad to hear the exciting new things going on, glad it's all going well up there.

Things are going alright down here in hot Arizona. We had a pretty good last Wednesday - a couple lessons that went well, but it is frustrating because both of them (C. & L.) just won't commit to anything but reading material. We teach and testify and do everything we can to bring the Spirit, but for different reasons each (doesn't like to commit at all, and is shy/Sunday is day to sleep, respectively) they won't commit themselves to action. We'll see. We also had a lesson with a part-member family, the mom is not LDS and the dad told us to ask her to be taught by us. The lesson went well but for kid craziness (they have 5 all around the same ages) and another reason we felt to ask a different time.

Thursday we had a great lesson with D. (our RC 9 year old kid) that was very good. I don't think they've been to church in a while and it had a part about the sacrament and we committed Damian to come to church and partake of the sacrament. It was good.

Friday was good - just doing what we can to help the Hunts. J. is struggling with w.o.w. issues, and M. (their son) has been kind of a little bit of an attitude problem (at 4, almost 5 - so it's hard not to laugh sometimes). So we gave M. a blessing and taught him very simply about the plan of salvation. What a wonderful thing it is that we have a knowledge of this plan! It is so vital and so sweet.

Well I (and especially my companion) are out of time on the computer.

I am so grateful for this mission experience. I love you all soo much - just follow what is right even if it isn't advantageous for you, follow the Spirit of God and you will be led aright.

Elder Hoopes

From Alec: May 2, 1020

2010-06-12T17:14:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

Thank you for the letters and emails. Things are going well here in County Island - the weather has been nice (we had a 75 day yesterday and today isn't too bad either), but will from now on probably just get hotter.

We had zone conference on Wednesday - it is always good to hear from President and Sister Bassett. Though the later day was a little upsetting - we had all of our appointments fall through, but we still got some good things done. One thing - the assistants were doing a training on planning and they had a name as a fellowshipper for one of their investigators as "Bro Drzayich". That of course rung a bell, so is there an LDS relative down here to the Drzayich's up in Eagle?

Saturday was a great day - we had R. get baptized. It went very smoothly and was a good Spirit-filled service. We couldn't get any investigators there but we did have the H. come - they really liked it.

Sunday was the amazing day, and the reason for my subject title. The Gila Valley Temple dedications were being broadcast to all of the Arizona stake centers for the saints to watch in the place of church meetings. The stake presidency asked us to help with the doors and so we were there for the whole day almost. It was neat though - because we got to hear the first and last session of dedication (they were all live and not rebroadcasted) and watch the 12:00 middle session. President Monson is a wonderful man, and also inspired. President Eyring was there too as well as Elder Holland and other general authorities. You got to hear some amazing talks, stories, testimonies and also to see the brethren as human beings who like to laugh and joke and be with children. Of course there was a wonderful spirit there as well.

Well that night we were scrambling at 6:40 to get someone to be able to give a less-active (N.) a ride a musical fireside at 7:00 at the stakecenter. I REALLY wanted to go because it was Clyde Bawden (pianist) and Freddy Ashby (singer) doing it. They have been touring around the U.S. and Canada doing these firesides (partially as missionaries, I think the church was helping it happen). They are two of the performers who have done the Reflections of Christ music that goes with the photography of actors portraying Christ and His ministry. I love those CDs and everything about Reflections of Christ, and so I naturally wanted to go as I said. We had been unable to find a ride for N. and she was the only one who had held through on saying she would go. So we decided to put faith forward, and we were able to get someone to pick her up. She wasn't ready when we got there but Elder Hadley didn't give her a chance to say no - when she opened the door wearing PJ bottoms he said "Come on, get ready - throw on some jeans, hurry!" so we eventually got there and it was such an amazing event. I don't think I have ever felt the Spirit so much and so constantly as I did when they were singing and playing. Music is wonderful, and so is the Lord - He just asks that we put our Faith in him and don't worry about our fears and concerns. I'm grateful for this church so that I can have the Faith necessary.

17 Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments;
18 And also gave commandments to others, that they should proclaim these things unto the world; and all this that it might be fulfilled, which was written by the prophets—
19 The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh—
20 But that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world;
21 That faith also might increase in the earth;
22 That mine everlasting covenant might be established;
23 That the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed...
(D&C 1)

Elder A. Hoopes

From Alec: May 11, 2010

2010-06-12T17:00:00.000-07:00

May 11 Hey,

This will be a shorter one most likely because I just talked to you'all on Sunday. I wasn't super talkative I do know - partially because we woke up at 5:40 to be able to make it to mission prep in the morning and we had been in church for a long time. You get kinda tired, but it was good to hear everyone just for a little while.

Just a few things to mention - Elder Hadley and I are both excited about this thing that we are doing - I might have mentioned it, I got the idea in Heber - to make some special pass-along cards of our own. Mine is on President Monson/a living prophet - Elder Hadley's is on temples. We've got a member here working on getting them made for us, so we'll see how that goes.

Monday was a great day - we got to talk to a lot of people. Something not cool was the fact that D. & T. weren't home for our set up lesson with them, they're the couple we taught last week. But we'll catch them later. Later that night though we did have a lesson with this not-active convert named Jim. He's a funny guy, and has been working at this T-shirt thing at a swap meet on weekends, so he has not been to church in a long time. But at the end of this lesson with him he announced he stopped that job and will be coming to church this Sunday! We were both very excited, because he really really needs it (we all do but you know what I am saying).

At this point we'll just have to see who are the pure in heart and ready to accept the gospel - especially that they'll be willing to come to church.

This is God's work, and we're excited to step it up a notch and endure (triumph) to the end.

Elder A. Hoopes

From Alec: May 4, 2010

2010-06-12T16:58:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

Hope everything is going well - thank you for the emails, and also the package, Mom.

I am pretty tired again - we tried to hike Scarface Mtn today - which is the one just behind our trailer. You can see it in the background of the pictures I sent home - the vulture ones. The score is 3 to 1 because I've hiked Superstition twice, and now this time we did get to a part of the mountain - a sort of peak. You could still see pretty dang far around, but we decided to not go all the way up - so I gave the mountain a point too.

That is so crazy that Matt is getting home today. I imagine he (as we all will) will be a very different person that when he left. That will probably be the neatest thing - is to see how much we all have changed.

This last week was an alright one. The last week of the transfer you’re always on edge because you don't know what will become of either of you for the next while. This time Elder Hadley and I felt we could both easily leave - my guess was staying, his guess was that I left. It turned out we are both staying, which we're both perfectly alright with. There are some good things going on - we got two new investigators last week. One is a guy named Bob - and that's even in the ward that has never had anything in it while Elder Hadley has been here. I didn't teach Bob, we were on splits and Elder Hadley got to ride in the fellowshippers’ white '09 Camaro to and from the lesson.

We also taught C. on Wednesday morning again. She actually asked us a question to start. She basically asked what the difference was between the Bible and the Book of Mormon, besides the names of the books in them. My first thought was "and how long have you been meeting with missionaries...?" (I think over 6 months easy, fall of '09, I think) but we taught her briefly what the Bible is (because truly almost everyone we talk to really doesn't know the background to the Bible) and then the Book of Mormon. It was a great lesson - the Spirit was there testifying very powerfully, then we were able to give her the BOM on CD so she can listen to it (she says she can't read for long at all). We're hoping that will make a big difference in her very slow progression.

Saturday we helped with the groundbreaking ceremony at a new church building in our area. Pretty neat because they spraypainted everyone's shovels gold. We got one of the cans and had some fun making things gold. I have two gold pens - a golden soccerball, my last journal is gold and part of my planner for this transfer.

Yesterday was neat - we taught this guy named D. and the lesson was very different, but we did feel like we were teaching a person more than a 'lesson', which is the whole goal of PMG. He's a cool guy - and even invited us to his BBQ on Saturday! Hehe I love being a missionary.

Well, yesterday I hit my 20 month mark. That makes me feel so old - mission time goes by pretty fast, if you don't stop and ponder once and a while - you could miss it.

I can't wait for the Conference Ensign to come out...Love you all and I'll talk with you soon! We're thinking that we will call at 6:00 pm our time, 7:00 pm Idaho time. I know Elder Hadley is planning to do it then, and if we can I'll do it at the same time, but if not probably the next hour. So hopefully that will work. (I'm talking about Mother's Day, of course) I look forward to hearing your voices again. Oh by the way, President Bassett says to limit our calls to 5 minutes.

Just kidding - 1 hour still.

love you,

Elder Hoopes

From Alec: April 27, 2010

2010-06-12T16:56:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

It is springtime in the Phoenix Valley so it is a good time to live here. It's pretty much like the Boise summers right now. We just went to the temple this morning - I was feeling it had been definitely long enough, not having been in a while.

We had zone development meeting on Wednesday - that was a good meeting. Also we had interviews with President - it was good to speak to him again, he definitely is a great and faithful man. I've been lucky to have most of my mission spent under his reign and ministry (hehe,1 Nephi heading).

Nothing too special happened during the week - Friday night we did splits with a couple priests in a ward. The one (well really both) that went with me got a real taste of being a missionary. We spent time going to a no-show appointment and then street contacting people. It was good - we saw some miracles, though I might have messed up in my dealing with one of them - but I did what I thought was best.

Saturday was a good day - had a few canceled lessons, but we did meet with this one convert and he shared a NDE that he had many years ago. As we talked about it I felt the comforting and confirming Spirit of the Lord testify to me of life after this. It is so wonderful that we all can have perfect faith and knowledge about things to come.

Nothing else truly different happened that I can remember, just reinforced principles that I had been taught already. Although that reminds me; I believe many times, especially as lifetime members, we can have the attitude "Oh, we've already heard this" or "I've learned this principle already". That attitude can keep us from being open to receive revelation - which can even sometimes have nothing to do with the subject that is being taught. There are two things that I think we need to remember and observe in order to counteract this ill of getting too comfortable (aka coasting): remember that we may know the principle, but do we really live it completely. We know what we should do but then do we in turn do it? if not, then we need to listen. If we still need to learn we still need to listen, and you never know when you might learn a very precious piece of your eternal puzzle (I made listen bold because I don't mean just hear with your ears, but also with your heart. (I wonder if that is what “hearken” means, to hear with your heart?).

Another thing you can do to counteract this is to do missionary work - because the ill I was describing above can be described as being content with what you have/have done/know, being comfortable. For almost everyone, most of missionary work is outside of their comfort zone - and for everyone, it brings the revitalizing Spirit of God.

Really, now that I think about it - the Spirit really is the answer to that ill, but those two things (also add remembering the Savior) are the best things you can do to bring the Spirit. (of course temple work too, but that is the same thing as missionary work - just for dead people). There are others, but these relate directly to the salvation of souls - yours, and everyone's, and that is God's purpose and innermost desire (Moses 1:39) so you'll feel His love as you assist Him in His work.

Hopefully that all made sense - I know parts of it did...

Mom, thanks for the wonderful email! and you/dad for the line of authority. It will be neat for you to come with me to Arizona sometime to meet my brothers and sisters I was sent to find

Love you all,

Elder A. Hoopes

From Alec: April 20, 2010

2010-06-12T16:53:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

Things are going alright here in County Island/East Mesa. Glad to hear everyone is doing well - how are my niece and nephew, and Elliott too?

Oh Dad - that must've been Mr. Gural, he was my pre-calc and AP Calculus teacher - I can easily say he is one of the best teachers I've ever had. Great guy, good to hear about him - if you see him again tell him 'hi' and 'thanks'.

We had a lesson on Wednesday with L. She is a funny lady - we found her and her brother (who is older, she is 66) my first week in the area and we did some service for them. We just recently started to teach her - the lesson on Wednesday was a follow up on the two previous lessons on the Restoration and the Book of Mormon. This time we watched "The Restoration" (a short, 20 min movie on the prophet Joseph Smith) and it was great - she said watching it made her want to be closer to God. So we testified of the Spirit's calling and it was great. She definitely felt the Spirit, but she is shy and unsure about coming to church - so we're hoping to get a nice RS sister there to help her feel more comfortable about the idea.

Also had a lesson with this lady named P. - she moved from our ZL's area to ours. She likes the missionaries coming over (so undoubtedly has felt the Spirit's presence while missionaries have taught her), but she has a law of chastity problem - mainly because she doesn't have the money to get a divorce to her previous husband.

Friday was a cool day except for the fact we had all four lessons cancel on us. Three of them would have been new investigators.

Yesterday was a different day because I went with our district leader's companion in their area. They are the Spanish missionaries so I tagged along with Elder Reid and sat there praying for him (all I could contribute) in the investigator lesson. That was pretty neat; it would be so humbling to have to speak a different language on your mission - I know I don't even know half of it, as Jon, Ben, and Dad will likely tell me.

I am so glad to be on my mission for the Lord, This is his work and his glory - and he desires everything for all of his children. I am grateful for the opportunity to be 'His hands', if you remember that reference to President Uchtdorf's talk. So much that is good and pure in me comes directly from His restored gospel and church - and of course everything good in me comes from Him period. Love you all and wish the best,

Elder A. Hoopes

From Alec: April 14, 2010

2010-06-12T16:51:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

God is good and life is good.

We have had many miracles occur in the last week. We finally met this less-active on Tuesday morning and even got to sit and share testimony and scripture with her. We gave her the info to check out General Conference on the internet and said she would. We were supposed to be there to be a loving reminder. Also, in trying to contact a former investigator, we came across some members who might attend church sometimes in a different city. We were also led on that occasion. We had two new investigators, one seemed to like it when we shared the Restoration, and said she was open to it. She also said she'd be at church but she didn't.

Also on Thursday we had an amazing zone conference. It was good and I am reminded I need to look at the notes again. That day we decided to contact our referrals we had been unsuccesful in reaching or setting up lessons. One of them we got to meet her member grandmother she lives with, the other we met and she is a girl I talked to at the Easter pageant! When I did she said she had already given her info to have missionaries over. It's a pretty cool thing - none of it just 'coincidence' of course!

I hiked the Superstitions again today - this time we went to the very top! That was sweet. Got some great pictures I'll send.
Well I need to get going about 15 minutes ago so this will have to do.

This is the Lord's Church, and we will be divinely directed as we follow the counsel of God's chosen leaders and teachers. He loves us

Elder Hoopes

From Alec: April 5, 2010

2010-06-12T16:48:00.000-07:00

Picture from D.'s Baptism
Hello everyone,

I am writing this on Monday because it worked better for Elder Hadley and I to do our preparations today rather than tomorrow. Normally it will still be on Tuesday.

We had a lesson this week with R. - this slightly autistic 12 year old kid. Our Bishop had an interview and said he feels he's mature enough to be baptized, so it'll probably happen in May. We went to the Easter pageant every night Wednesday through Saturday. Pretty crazy; either we were there bringing somebody or we were greeting people. I liked the Easter pageant just as much as last year - you can just feel the Spirit there so much as the Savior's life and victory is celebrated with so much love. We've gotten 3 referrals from it, none have we taught yet but it is still possible.

General conference was amazing too - We were able to watch all of it except for the last half of Priesthood session (we had to run to the Easter Pageant). The messages shared were all so inspired. President Monson's talk was EXACTLY what this recent convert in our area needed. She got baptized last September, and after a little bit got a job working on Sundays and has not been to church since. She is very awesome, but also her husband died and it has been hard on her and her kids (he was in his 40's). She talked with Elder Hadley Thursday and expressed a couple concerns that President Monson hit right on the head - we hope she watched it, and if not we are going to look it up on the internet and watch it with her.

Also this weekend, because of some words said in conference, I received some priceless, almost crazily specific revelation that will be a great strength to me if I am obedient and keep it in remembrance. The Lord loves us all so much - I have felt his love, understanding, and deep desire to bless me and all of his children many times. I think I have come to know the Savior and our Father in Heaven more on my mission than at any other time. My guess as to why is because I am a participant in His work and glory. I am called to do what He would do if He was here - and so he blesses us missionaries with the spiritual knowledge of His desires for all of His children. In that way we come to know Him and who He really is. Satan tries so hard to convince everyone that because we cannot see God, or hear His physical voice, that He is not really there. You see that so much in the world today. But He lives.

Here's a great quote by President Ezra Taft Benson, quoted by Brother Eyring, May 1991 Ensign:
"Nothing is going to startle us more when we pass through the veil to the other side than to realize how well we know our Father and how familiar his face is to us.”

Love you all,

Elder Hoopes

From Alec: March 30, 2010

2010-06-12T16:45:00.000-07:00

Hello from Mesa/AJ

Thanks for the letters and emails. Mom thanks for the Easter package, I am really loving all of it. You would have liked to see my reaction to getting that package here - lifting it up over my head triumphantly as I came down the porch of our member/landlord's house. Hopefully everything goes well over in Minnesota.

Here we had D.'s baptism go well on Saturday. Everything dealing with him went smoothly. The actual Stake Baptism was not the best organized, and 7 people were set to get baptized that day. But as I said, for D. it all went very well.

Thursday we went to the Easter Pageant with the reactivated family and the Hargraves (our WML's fam). It was great. I remembered how much I loved it - though they didn't change it too much from last year so that was a little disappointing in a way, not that I thought any of it needed to be changed (just one voice over part the voice is a little funny in my opinion). But it was good.

I was reminded of Elder Holland's talk a few conferences ago about how the Savior completed his mission alone. In the Easter Pageant they have Christ over on this little hill part of the stage with an olive tree, representing the garden of Gethsemane. He's there praying and you can see the 11 over in the main part of the stage laying down asleep. He suffered for all of our sins and pains, and he did it alone. Nonetheless he drunk the bitter cup and overcame for all of us. I hope we can all remember Him this Easter season. I know that as we do we will feel an outpouring of the Spirit of the Lord, especially as General conference is coming up

I love you all and wish you a good Easter week,

Elder Hoopes

From Alec: March 22, 2010

2010-06-12T16:42:00.000-07:00

Elder Hoopes
Hello from Redmountain MCC computer lab. (We usually go to the library but this was closer today.) Transfer news - Elder Hadley and I both staying - the only one in our district leaving actually is one of our zone leaders.

Sounds good, Mom, I'll talk to the new mission president when he comes in - it's really his call. (Alec’s release date is 1 week after BYU starts, so in July his new Mission President has to decide whether he should be released a few days early)

I don't have my old planner with me so I cannot remember everything that happened last week. It was an alright week - didn't really have many teaching opportunities. We did go to the visitors center with S. - she is great. She loved the Joseph Smith movie, of course. Needed lots of tissues.

We also stopped by J.’s (the not-active couple we've been teaching) and talked for a bit. S. (his wife) used to work every other Sunday at a haircutting place but J. told us that Saturday that she changed her work schedule so that she won't have to work Sundays anymore. As he put it, "Didn't you know she's all in? She's going the whole way..." (that's basically what he said jokingly) Their 4 year old son, M., is already loving Primary and telling them what he learns about and saying prayers at home. It's neat how fast they are coming back. I would consider them active members now - they just need some callings.

N. and F. are broken up now, and so we won't be teaching him anymore (she is not an active member who was mostly the one who wanted us to come by) but she does have a friend, A., who said she's thought about coming to a church. I think she hasn't had an attraction to any specific religion, but I think it's a good idea when you're looking for a church to start out investigating the Lord's true church and fulness of the gospel first. Saves time... we'll see how it goes.

It is still a little frustrating because we just don't have a teaching pool really - the ones in it are at a standstill on account of health or out of town or just no regular visits. We really haven't been having many investigator lessons, but as we prove to the Lord we want to find and we want to teach with the Spirit we'll get some. It has been difficult though - because I feel like I've been pulling most of the wagon with our two-animal yoke. It's not been all the time, there were a couple weeks last transfer where I wasn't having the best day and my companion made up for what % I couldn't give. But lately I think it's been me doing most of the laboring and striving. But it is ok.

I love the fact that we have so much given to us in that we have the First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve and 70's and on down the line. I was thinking about me being the engine here and all my work was just spinning our wheels, but I was reminded of something President Eyring stated in his book, Because He First Loved Us. It really helped me to not worry and keep going, brought a warm happy spirit into my heart that relieved all of the stress and mental exhaustion. I can't wait until general conference. The Easter Pageant is coming up (starts tomorrow) but I can't help but to look past it in excitement for listening to prophets, seers, and revelators. (should those all be capitalized...?) They are called by God and given His Authority.

love you all,

Elder Hoopes

From Alec: March 18, 2010

2010-06-12T16:19:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone

We got here at 9:00 am to the library so I guess it is before home has gotten a chance to write me.

Last week was a good week - on Thursday we had a meeting with Sh. and J. That went well again, they are really latching back on to the gospel. I don't remember very many cool stories in general - last week was just a hard-working-all-the-time week.

Yesterday was neat - had our Zone development meeting. The good part was having an interview with President Bassett. It will be sad when he and Sister Bassett leave, that is for sure.

All of our hard work has paid off - we were able to get two new investigators last week, D., the 9 year old who is pretty much all set for his interview and baptism. Then we also picked up a former investigator the previous missionaries dropped - F., and his LA girlfriend, N. They are very willing to meet with us so we'll see (tonight actually) how much they're willing to progress.

I'm kind of excited - we'll be meeting with the A.s for lunch today - that's the couple J. and R. in West Mesa that got baptized right after I left for Heber. Elder Morgan and I and many others will be going to lunch - it'll be good to see them again.

Continuous revelation is so important. We are here on earth separated from God who is the source of all truth and light - we need daily personal revelation as to the choices we should make and also prophetic revelation to guide us in principles of doctrine and eternal truth. Those are understandings that most people in the world just aren't aware of - there is so much we have been given that the world desperately needs, even if some deny at times that they do need it. Never forget to stop and to ponder, and especially, to listen. Love you all and wish you the best.

From Alec: March 9, 2010

2010-03-09T20:06:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,

Good to hear all of the news! So I've got a niece now; it is slightly weird knowing Jon and Nicole just had a daughter because I left before they got married even - for a while I had to catch myself and say "my brother's wife" (or sister-in-law - right?) instead of "my brother's fiancee". Missing both the wedding and new baby is not cool - but as I'll see them soon anyways, not too upset about it. Tell you what, home has been seeming closer and closer with getting BYU stuff ready and everything.

anyways...

Today we went to the Mesa Temple (first time in a long time for me) and did initiatories and sealings instead of a session. It was very neat to do some again and to take part in sealings - that really is the end goal for the people we teach, and so we were glad to be able to do that. The Spirit of the Lord is always present in the Lord's House.

Last week was a very different week. We had no investigator lessons but worked hard - we talked to lots of people and have many more potential investigators. We talked about it and we did have a couple off weeks before where we did well but could have been a little more diligent - but nothing to warrant no investigators. We have felt good about our efforts and hard work and so we can only trust that things will improve as we work hard and follow the Spirit.

We actually saw a little of it yesterday - we taught this kid named D. whose mom is a member. He just turned 9 on Sunday the 7th, and they didn't get his baptism done and so it has become our responsibility - he should get baptized on the 27th of March. He's a great, knowledgeable kid. We've also got some good lessons set for tonight, so things are already looking promising.

Oh and an update for you, Dad, about my WML. Brother Jon Weller is a psychologist with his own practice here. He went to Michigan State for schooling (after BYU) and is actually the Arizona Missions' psychologist (all 3 of the valley ones). He also joked with me if you've ever considered coming down to Arizona because he'd like an LDS psychiatrist down here.

On Thursday we went to the visitors' center and watched the Prophet of the Restoration movie with S. and J. (and their son, M.). They are the couple that are both not active (and she has no church records anymore, and they had a daughter pass away) They all loved the movie and are all going to come to church this Sunday. We have really been able to see the peace and spirit of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ enter into their hearts. They are so open and thankful and much more bright than at first. Their little family's journey back is a beautiful miracle in itself.

It's wonderful how we're all in this together and how many people reach out with the attitude of charity, especially in this church. Everyone we saw at the temple were there in the service of others, and all over the world missionaries and saints with all sorts of callings reach out to each other and others with warm hearts and friendly hands (D&C 121:9). We can do even more, and we will - "the Lord is with us, we can do it!"

Love you all,

Elder Hoopes

From Alec: March 2, 2010

2010-03-02T18:56:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone!
You can probably tell from my title I did some hiking today. Elder Hadley and I went with a couple guys from a ward here and climbed part of the Superstition Mountains - we went to the top of FlatIron, pretty near close to the top on the face that faces the Phoenix Valley. It was very cool and fun, tell you what though, I'm tired. Especially because I have had a scratchy throat for a few days. It was pretty sweet nonetheless.

Last week was an ok one - We got pretty close to our limit on miles and so Thursday after weekly planning we just headed out with our bikes. We were exhausted at the end of that day - and it went alright.

On Saturday S. got baptized! It was great - very hectic because the baptismal coordinators called us on Friday needing us to find talks and prayers for the service (assign them - we couldn't do them). And S. was late, and by that I mean she showed up just before the service was supposed to start. But besides all that, the Spirit was there and it went very well. Oh yeah and she had to get dunked twice, that was a little humorous.

Outside of a cancelled appointment there were some young girls kicking a soccerball around and so I joined in a little. They thought I was pretty good because I could kick the ball pretty high/well and do a couple tricks. I will definitely be trying out for BYU one last time at least when I get home. Which reminds me - Jon stated a pretty good point, I'll most likely get off a little early to make the semester - my mission president will probably want me to make the 'cut'.

Yesterday was very neat - we decided to take Sister Bassett's challenge from zone conference about contacting former investigators, to find (this was a promise) someone who is ready to be taught and ready to be baptized. So we contacted lots yesterday. It wore me out and we went like 100 miles in our car (whew!) but we have three potentials and one that was a bit of a miracle (we'll see if they're the ones). I was with an elder who is just about to go on his mission doing splits and he needed to be home pretty soon. So we got a couple names to go by in this apartment complex and saw two people close by walking two dogs. We went and talked with them and they turned out to be this couple who are former investigators (I recognized the name; we couldn't find their apartment earlier). We ended up talking with them for a while and they were totally ok with us teaching them again. It was then time to take the elder home and so we didn't even end up contacting the people we were planning on contacting. It seemed pretty miraculous - many pages of formers and 42 TTI's later we might have found them. I'm excited about that.

Love you all and hope you have a great week - hopefully everything goes alright with Nicole and Audrey.

Elder Hoopes

From Alec: February 23, 2010

2010-03-02T18:54:00.000-08:00

Hello everybody,

Thanks for all of the emails, and the Valentine’s Day package, Mom. I'm tired so this should be a shorter email - we played 3 V 4 soccer (a little basketball too) and I was on the 3 team so we ran quite a bit. Rachel is going to BYU-I do! hehe that's a nickname some give it. That should be great though - you'll probably see lots of people you know from school and EFY. (you went to EFY right?)

About my schooling - that sounds like I would miss two weeks basically, because I think I leave the mission sometime Tuesday, September 7th in the late afternoon. I was planning on spending the rest of the week with the fam in Idaho. This all sounds very rushed - ask Jon about how feasible this all would be. I think the first (maybe two) weeks you can still change classes but I don't want to miss a ton. That would be not cool to barely miss it and not know what to do with myself for a whole semester too. If I do go I'll room with J. Turner and the guys.

Well, it is already the third week in this transfer - going by way too fast. S. is still set for her baptism this Saturday, we are very excited for her. L., her non-member husband, came to church this Sunday even! that was neat to see - he'll also be there this next Sunday for her confirmation. Donna hasn't felt good health-wise this past while so she wasn't even able to make it to church (her second miss since November). We'll have a lesson with her later this week and set a date for her in case she does come back from a trip (she might stay and go with family) in March. Great lady, needs the blessings of Christ's gospel so much (we all do).

We also had a great fireside on Sunday night, put on by us and a ward missionary in Oasis Verde ward. It was for the youth (12-18) and many came, including the leaders and bishop (the ward missionary is the bishop's wife so he'd be in trouble if he didn't). It went very well - talked about some of the myths that most members believe about doing missionary work.

Monday we had this huge rainstorm come in. I went out to put our bikerack on our car and saw in the distance really dark stormclouds and rain. Then I heard very loud thunder coming from there as the wind was blowing quickly from that direction toward us. Within 15 minutes it came and just being out for like 5 minutes our pants got soaked (I was wearing a rain jacket though). I found this nice L.L. Bean cobalt blue rainjacket (long one) with a hood in our apartment. I'm not sure if I want to keep and use it as my one now and leave that black one... the black one is like a trenchcoat and I think I scare people sometimes with it. I'll figure it out. Gotta love Arizona monsoons.

Tuesday we had Zone Conference and it was great. It will be sad to see President and Sister Bassett go, and unless I’m up on the reservations (or Holbrook/Winslow) in 'painted desert' zone by July I will have President Ellsworth as the new one. If I get transferred up there I will be annexed into the Farmington NM mission when it gets created.

This Church does so much for any that give it a chance - it is the same as Heb 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."We believe that our Father in Heaven loves us and wants us to diligently seek him. I've also come to realized that the church is here for all of those that want there to be one Lord, one truth and one true way to follow him. Wonderfully, that is the way it is, and we can all know through the power of the Holy ghost. Strait is the gate, and narrow is Christ's gate - and also how rewarding it is.

Elder Hoopes

From Alec: February 16, 2010

2010-03-02T18:51:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,

Everything is going pretty good down here in very East Mesa. I said in my subject 'County Island' because apparently this is so far East Mesa that Mesa county doesn't like to claim it, and Apache Junction says it's not AJ - so people here call it the 'County Island'. We cover three wards: Crismon, Oasis Verde, and Boulder Mtn. All of our investigators are in Crismon ward at the moment and we have two progressing ones that we are both excited about. At the moment we have no work at all in Boulder Mountain ward (did have some LAs and a referral, but neither panned out for us to do anything) because they are a very affluent area with almost all gated communities - if we stop to talk with people in the communities we'll get kicked out (that's what Elder Hadley said, but I think we'll test it ;)

We are teaching a lady named S. - she has a baptismal date for the 27th of February and is doing very well. Her husband was raised in Utah and knows so much about the church and church history (though he's a Catholic). He is very supportive, though, and sat in on the last lesson we had on the Law of Chastity and Tithing. She had a neat experience on Sunday too - I had to teach the gospel principles class (which is a hilarious story in itself, you'll hear it when I get home) and I decided (in Sacrament meeting, I usually don't procrastinate that long...) to teach about Freedom to Choose. It was a good discussion and Sylvia was there in the class even though we didn't see her in Sacrament meeting. She shared a comment that she had a choice this morning after waking up later than normal; she could come still or stay at home. She said that she decided to come because she would feel empty inside if she didn't and she knew she would feel the Spirit here. That, of course, is music to missionaries’ ears. Great lady, I'm excited to be here for her baptism.

We are also teaching an elderly lady named D. She has only missed one Sunday since she started being taught in November of '09. I think she had told missionaries that she doesn't like 'jumping into things' and so I'm not sure they had even tried to give the baptismal commitment. So last week we taught her about the word of wisdom and Elder Hadley committed her to read 1 Nephi 1 and pray about it and promised she would get her answer. We talked on Monday and she said she read it 3 times (Elder Hadley said she wasn't reading much before) and prayed many times too. She didn't feel like she got her answer but we continued talking about her coming to church and she herself said she feels the Spirit there. So we testified she'd already gotten most of her answer and did the baptismal commitment, but she will be leaving March 7 (or so) and be gone for March 13 for her boyfriend's son's major surgery (that's when we tried to set the date). But we could both tell she was willing to get baptized and set the date, so we'll just be praying that everything will work out that she can get baptized sooner than later.

How is little Audrey Hoopes doing? Any news at all or is Jon doing his single college student routine of not giving home any news? Also Laurie and _____?

One last thing to mention - Saturday is a special day... hehe that silly primary song came into my head. But Saturday this last week went great - we had a lesson with this 19 year-old convert, C., about setting goals specifically for a mission. We asked him before we started and he said he and the bishop had sat down and set some goals. So we'll be trying to help him get out on a mission.

Later that night we had a lesson with this LA family. Bro M. is the lifetime member who even remembers with longing when he and his parents went to the temple and were sealed. He's a harley biker who wears leather all the time (he's got this long ponytail too) and works at a bike shop. Good guy though, who knows what is true and that his family needs to get it together and get to the temple, but said he feels unworthy to even meet with the bishop. We had the lesson and talked about the plan of Salvation after watching a little video about it on the D&C/Church history DVD Jon gave me a while back. The Spirit came into their home and we all felt it, Sister M. (who Elder Hadley has never seen at church - just Bro M. and the oldest son, V.) said she would like their family to get sealed. Then the next day on Sunday they all showed up! the whole family came for Sacrament meeting. We love that family and should be working with them alot to get them truly active and temple worthy. Oh and just a funny tidbit - V. wears (both times I've been over at their house) black shirts with ripped jeans, a black baseball cap and has a long dark mullet haircut so he looks exactly like Wayne of Wayne’s World!!! It makes me chuckle every time. Also at Church Bro M. just had his hair out and long and it's all blond frizzy so he looked almost exactly like the scientist guy in "Back to the Future".

Whew, man they are great. I love this work, and it is work... When you work hard and follow the Spirit in faith there is nothing better. I realized once again what we are fighting for this Sunday. Had some interesting street contacts (one drunkard, another guy who said 'Dust your feet off and leave', and a 'Mormon hater' from Utah, and many others) and it just got me feeling like I didn't feel like it was worth it to try to talk to anybody. Then we had dinner with a member family. The Spirit and peace that is in the home of a worthy, loving family who is sealed together by the holy priesthood of God in his holy Temple is something that is so precious and sweet. At no other time in my life will I be able to fight with all of my strength and attention for the safety and strength of families than on my mission. Especially at a time when Satan is trying so hard to make everyone miserable. Always go forward with faith and perfect love,

Elder Hoopes

From Alec: February 9, 2010

2010-03-02T18:49:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,

I am no longer in Heber. Just a matter of a few hours ago I came to very east Mesa (bordering Apache Junction). It is so hot (though probably cold to the people here) but at least it is still a beautiful area - we have mountains just minutes (15 or so) away from us and makes for beautiful scenery, even with the saguaro cactus all over - actually that increases the neat view.
I know very little about this area, of course. It is weird to be in a populated area with traffic lights after Heber for 6 months. I'm with Elder Hadley from Portland OR. He served in Snowflake when I was up north, so we know each other fairly well.

In Heber, L. has her baptism date for the 20th, hopefully it holds. K. is getting baptized Thursday night.

Keep praying for me, I love you all,

Elder A. Hoopes

From Alec: February 1, 2010

2010-03-02T18:47:00.000-08:00

Hello from Heber Arizona!!!
(for possibly the last time)

Life is good. (ha - in my last area we had a WML who would say that all the time. He would also say "That's/it's more fun than recess!")
The reason for the above comment is because we learn transfer news this Saturday night. I have been here for 4 transfers (5 1/2 months) and with Elder Moore here for 3 transfers. So it is pretty much guaranteed. Wow, guaranteed is a weird word - it looks like the name of some type of jungle plant that you put in smoothies. So anyways, there will be something happening. It is more likely me leaving but considering I was just made district leader up here. I could see myself staying another one while Elder Moore gets the boot. Enough prophesying...

Thanks for the emails - that is so crazy that Ben's bishop is moving two states distance and landing right in 5th ward.

J. and H. Hoopes? Well they are still in our teaching pool but they have not really kept any commitments regularly at all (came to church 3 times since we first started teaching them in October, for example) and so we have one last lesson (with content we think might help) we have planned to teach them but unless something happens we'll probably drop them as investigators. But his brother is a very active member now and he's got his awesome missionary-oriented grandparents, so they'll never be forgotten - and H. will get baptized sooner or later.

Well last Wednesday went very well - after the District Leader counsel in Snowflake we taught a few lessons back in Heber - including a suprise one at the member's house that we ate dinner at.

Thursday was a good day - we taught one lesson before dinner with D., this 8 1/2 year old son of a less-active. We had our Book of Mormon class - it went well, we had 9 people come this time - and it went pretty well. L. came and enjoyed it. Speaking of L., we had a lesson on Friday with her and set a new date, February 20th, for her baptism. That might change because the church will be busy on that day, but it will be thereabouts. She is great and doing so well despite having troubles trying to get R. more involved and dedicated at the moment.

Saturday I went on an exchange with the Taylor Elders. We have 4 companionships in the district: Us (Heber Elders), the Snowflake Elders (or rather now the Bellybutton Elders - look it up on a map, it's the little stretch in between Taylor and Snowflake. They live in Bellybutton now, so we affectionately refer to them by that), the Snowflake Zone Leaders, and the Taylor Elders.
I went with one Elder and it was a great day. This certain Elder has been struggling and I really wanted to help him to have a good mission. We went out with faith and I know increased my faith in the Savior and in his purpose for placing us where we are - I hope he did as well.

Monday was a great great day - we accomplished so much because of the Lord's gift of faith to us and the things he blessed us with. We were able to teach all three scheduled lessons for the night - including with K., this 8 year old son of a less-active who is turning 9 on Feb 11. It was going to be a child-of-record baptism, but the baptism date the family will be able to attend is on his birthday, and so it will go through us.

Then we taught a nice guy named John. The lesson went well and he committed to read, pray and also be at church on Sunday - finally another promising investigator in 2nd ward.

This really is Christ's church, I know Joseph Smith is a prophet of God - and that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet as well.

Elder Hoopes

From Alec: January 25, 2010

2010-03-02T18:45:00.000-08:00

Hello from Heber,

You might notice this is from a different email address - they have switched all missionaries (at least in our mission) over to a new google account, so my new email address is

alexander.hoopes@myldsmail.net

though I believe if sent to my old one it will still get here.

Thank you for the emails - poor cousin Danna; 10+ lbs newborn! I think she will get some extra blessings for having to go through that.
Thanks for telling me, Dad, about Hilde. Through email or anything else I think it would be the same for me. It was funny though - I started to tear-up/cry here in the Snowflake Library. Good thing I was next to a wall that I could hide it a little bit. I never expected a dog's passing to effect me like that at all - but we all did love her. I'm not upset at all, so don't worry in the least. What you said about our knowledge of God's plan is verily true. (that might be a redundant statement there at the end...hehe).

The Lord is still with us here in northern Arizona. This morning we attended a session at the Snowflake Temple. Always good, I've been looking forward to it for a little while now.

Tuesday night we had 3 lessons set and they all fell through... such is the life of a missionary at times.

Wednesday I went on an exchange with Elder Caywood in Snowflake. It was very good, we taught a few lessons, including one to this young family (dad = LA member) with the cutest little blonde girl of about 3. I love teaching families - you feel so much love for them and a desire to bless their lives with the restored gospel.

Thursday we got lots of snow, it was neat! we helped a WML shovel his driveway and then they fed us lunch. We still trudged through a couple feet of snow to get to one lesson, and taught our Book of Mormon class (3 attendees once again - different ones though, we weren't too surprised, the weather the way it was many were snowed in) and that had the Spirit there again.

Friday was very fun - did some good work, including driving through 2 1/2 foot of untouched snow to get to a house to teach an investigator. To protect the plastic on the front of our truck we backed it and I sat in the truck bed and directed Elder Moore for 30 feet or so, it was fun (and safe. Don't worry, we were going like 2 mph). Needless to say they were surprised to see us there!

Saturday was an amazing day - we talked to alot of people, and we might have some new golden investigators in the future.

M. made it to church with S. - that was good to see. R. was sleeping and L. didn't think to call us so they missed church. We're hoping to meet with them again this week.

Monday I had Elder Jenkins come to Heber to be on an exchange with me - it was a very good day, we worked hard, and I learned quite a bit.

Well, time slips by like a pig covered in butter (that is, fast and hard to catch. I know that thanks to Eagle Pioneer Day at Lonesome Dove Ranch). Nicole mentioned that phenomenon in her email, and I have been meditating on that quite a bit recently, as my mission really is in the autumn stages. Time is one of our most precious resources that we have been given from our Father in Heaven. We don't always have choices about our situations, but as a wise Gandalf once said, "...all that you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you". It is especially important when we think about how our lives, and especially our eternity, are dependent upon what we choose to do with our time. Elder Eyring advised that we 'invest' our time, instead of 'spend' or 'waste' it. That is something I still have to work on and could possibly be a struggle when I get home. However, let us all 'invest' in that which will grow and flourish: our families rooted in this gospel - and this gospel itself.

Love you all, hope you have a great week,

Elder Hoopes

From Alec: January 18, 2010

2010-03-02T18:43:00.000-08:00

Hello

Some new things happening for us here. I think in a couple weeks the ldsmail will be changing - I just set up an account in the new one. Next week still send to alec.b.hoopes.AMM but after that it might be (I'll tell you next week) elderabhoopes. It's a little shorter :)
We've also got the first bit of what is supposed to be some big blizzards down here. We got 1 inch last night but apparently by the end of the week we should have 3 feet or so. Friday is supposed to be the bad blizzard day. Elder Moore and I are hopeful, we think that would be neat - and it would be the most snow I've seen somewhere where I lived! in Arizona! Who would've guessed.

Last week we did our first Book of Mormon class on Thursday night. It happened to also be the same time as a stake "New Beginnings" young women activity so that took 2 of our WMLs out of the picture and 2 ward missionaries. We only had 3 people show up but it actually went very well, the Spirit was there and those 3 really enjoyed it. We've gotten lots of promises to be there this Thursday and I think it was announced thoroughly in all of our 3 sacrament meetings. Pray for us and it to be a good activity!

We gave a talk in 3rd ward on Sunday. It went very well. We have now officially given a talk in all of our wards/branch that we cover in this area. That is a first for me as well as Elder Moore. I've given as many talks up here in Heber as I have the rest of my mission.

Yesterday went pretty well - we had a lesson with this new couple we found last week or so, Jack and Misti. The lesson went well - they were interested in listening to our message, and the Spirit was most definitely there. We'll follow up later in the week and teach them again next week.

We've got a booked night - a lesson with T. and D. later at 8, hopefully we can help them understand that they want this gospel in their lives for their family.

The field is white, even when it is not snowing. I love this work, and it is work! (Pres. Ezra T. Benson) I love sharing this wonderful message because not only does it bring peace and joy to those who hearken to it, but also because just the living and sharing of it brings immense joy and spiritual satisfaction. What is even more wonderful is that those blessings are open to all who have a humble heart and are willing to sacrifice pride and anything else that would keep them from happiness. We don't need to be wealthy, famous, handsome, educated, talented, or intellectual. The Lord has told all to come unto him (3 Nephi 18:25). Love you all,

Elder A. Hoopes

From Alec: January 12, 2010

2010-03-02T18:40:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

Elder Hoopes reporting from northern Arizona. This last week was a very interesting one. Thanks for the package mom, and thanks karene for putting that book together - I read it very soon after opening it. I realized how central to our familys' happy experiences and strength in the gospel goes back to Mom's mighty faith. Love you, Mom.

Wednesday was a great day - we headed out to Snowflake for the first district meeting that I was to conduct - it went very well, the Spirit was very present and I feel that what the Lord wanted said was said. It really got me excited, and even though we had two lessons cancel that day, we did a lot of work. By the time dinner came around I was very tired so I had to take a nap. We then taught the H. - we watched "Safety for the Soul" by Elder Holland. That was exactly what was needed.

Thursday was a different day - our plans got messed up because we were planning on teaching Aaron but he was feeling sick. We were still able to get some good work done, however. We were able to follow up with T. and D. - they didn't read but he expressed he still wanted to. We didn't have time for a long lesson but talked about families and blessings for them found in the restored gospel. We both have a feeling they could be investigators, ok with us coming by but don't understand (truly) why they need to do the things we leave with them to do - so we're trying to focus on the blessings they'll receive.

Friday I was pretty sick - my stomach just didn't feel good (except for a plate of food at a member's house for dinner all I had was an orange for b-fast). We were still able to teach L. - it was a good lesson, except for the fact that her family is wanting to make their getting married (which was just going to be a quick signing of paperwork) into something big and so she, and we, aren't sure when she'll get baptized. She will though - she is just converted in her heart.

By Saturday I was feeling pretty good - and that was the start of a crazy weekend. We had an RM drive us to Taylor so we could attend a meeting, then we went to a baptism in Snowflake with one of our investigators (M., S. too). Then after the baptism we had a lesson with them and set a baptism date for M. for January 30. We were pretty excited, but learned Sunday at church that her mom said that was too soon and put a hold on it. So both of our awesome progressing investigators are in limbo at the moment as to their baptisms. After being back in Heber for a bit of the afternoon we headed down to Young to stay the night.

Sunday we gave talks in the Young branch, and then headed back to Heber to catch some of our wards. Royce and Lindsay were in Sunday school when we got there - it was great to see them there. Also S. and M. were at 1st ward, and we heard later that the H. came to sacrament meeting. We were very pleased that they were all finally there to partake of the blessings of church. That night we had a mission president's fireside in Snowflake, and we had Angela there telling her conversion story. It was great - we listened to some of the most beautiful music I have ever heard, and all the speakers were great. It was slightly long though - and we weren't able to get any investigators to it.

The last day of our crazy weekend - Monday morning we had the Taylor elders drive us up to Holbrook for zone conference. That also went a little long but it was exactly what I needed. Just a couple cool statistics from last year - we baptized 1,203 people last year in the Mesa Mission. That is the equivalent of a stake! It was so neat to be a part of that number. I love the thought of putting all of those converts into a stake center chapel - it would be like stake conference! Just to think that every one there got baptized last year.

Well, after a crazy weekend running around it is time to get back to work, figure out those baptism dates and hopefully set some more and find some more people who are being prepared as I type. One exciting thing - this Thursday will be the first day of our Book of Mormon class in Heber. That night Elder Moore and I will teach it and we're hoping to get our WML's and ward missionaries and our teaching pool out to it. Hopefully as well some ward members and potential investigators.

It's wonderful the confidence this gospel has given us, if we have but faith. We can trust in the Lord and his promises that nothing will go permanently wrong, and especially that we can do what is right and be "perfected in Christ". You can always question what you don't know yet, but never doubt in what has been revealed to you - love you all,

Elder A. Hoopes

From Alec: January 5, 2010

2010-03-02T18:37:00.000-08:00

Hello from Heber (still)

Miracles are happening all over the world.
Last week was an alright week. New Year's Eve was exactly what Elder Moore and I desired... a good 8 hours sleep, hehe. New Year's Day was our prep day and we had A. (a relatively less-active convert) take us down to Payson so that Elder Moore could get some new dress shoes (old ones dying, closest place in the mission to buy shoes). We also went bowling, which was pretty fun. It was a nice thing to be able to relax totally. You need to unstring your bow sometimes, to paraphrase the Prophet Joseph Smith.

Saturday I had my first baptismal interview as a District Leader in Snowflake. I didn't know until a little into the first one that I was doing two interviews for this couple. It went well though - they were very prepared people just so ready to accept this gospel. We are taking an investigator and less-active to their baptism on Saturday; I am very much looking forward to it. Later that day we met with that investigator and M. and S. (respectively). The lesson went pretty well, the Spirit was there and they have been keeping and desiring to keep commitments. It is such a simple process to know if what we teach and testify about is true, and so it is so thrilling to see people soften their hearts enough to do it.

Sunday was a rough day for me - no investigators at church, low numbers for the first week that I report them into the zone leaders. But two things helped a great deal: Aaron came to church and went up and bore his testimony for the first time. It was simple and sincere - a thanks for all the kind saints in the ward who were the main reasons he was up there then (and in the church at all), and a simple testimony that these things are true and bring happiness. That really helped me as I could feel the Spirit while he was up at the podium. The other thing was the help I received from God as to what our district meeting on Wednesday would consist of.

Yesterday was a great great day - the missionary handbook is inspired. I put it to the test yesterday and also tried to exercise faith in the Lord making up for our shortcomings. We were able to talk to quite a few people, and then we taught this new family the first lesson. D., T., and their kids (the two older were there for most of the lesson). We tracted into them last week and they seemed to receive it well. T. read Moroni 10:4-5 and paraphrased it back to us almost perfectly. He was very excited to read the rest of that chapter before we come back to see just him on Wednesday. I just hope we can bring the Spirit into their home and for their family. If they get baptized they will be the first full family that both Elder Moore or I would have had the privileged of baptizing. (I hope you understood that sentence...) That night we also taught A. again - it went pretty well. He's actually right in front of me here in the library at the desk right now (just a funny fact).

Just something that has been revealed to me recently (part of it was from the help of Elder Moore) is the fact that the reason people join the church is not because the doctrine coincides with their beliefs. That is not necessarily why anybody attends any church. Many times people will be open to us because some key doctrines go with their key beliefs. But in the end, the reason anybody grasps onto this restored gospel is because they feel something that fulfills their spiritual needs (even if they didn't know they had them). They feel the Spirit and are intrigued and want more of it, they see the blessings poured out in their lives because of meeting with us or keeping the commitments we leave with them. That is something that is so so so key to missionary work. Rather than just teach someone who asks us a question, we should briefly teach and then especially testify of the blessings and happiness associated. We should try to teach about the Book of Mormon less and testify of it and the peace and safety it brings. Doctrine is vital and important, but it is useless without the Spirit. Love you all!!

Elder Hoopes

From Alec: December 31, 2009

2010-03-02T18:35:00.000-08:00

Hello from Heber,

Christmas is just great, isn't it? It was good to get to talk to the whole family (technology helps so much) and hear your voices and personalities.

A.'s baptism went very well. The pipes at the church broke Friday night and so we were worried we'd have to run out to Taylor for her baptism but they had it all fixed by Saturday morning. It was a very spiritual thing and we had quite a few people there - the Relief Society room was bursting at the seams. People had to bring in at least two more rows of chairs to try and fit everybody. So she felt supported, especially by the Spirit that was there.

Saturday night (just after the baptism) I got the call that I was going to be the new district leader. We'll have to see how I do with the added responsibility. We might have district meeting in Heber one time and make the Snowflake and Taylor elders make the 30 min drive for once! hehe that would be just great.

Sunday we had a lesson over at L. and R.'s. It went well - L. was very frustrated (partially because she was unable to attend church) but you could tell the Spirit helped her and she was feeling alright after the lesson. They set a date for her baptism for the 28th of January. Elder Moore and I think it's a little to far away but we'll keep talking with them about it. They are just great, they've been showing so much faith and repentance that it have been very neat to see their priorities shift to what really is important. This is such a wonderful church, and that is because it is the living Christ's church, still run by someone with omniscience and is all loving and patient.

I love you all, hope you have a great week,

Elder Hoopes

p.s. Mom I got the package - thanks!! I'll be sending back the leather quad.

From Alec: December 22, 2009

2009-12-23T06:39:00.000-08:00

Ho ho ho!
It is a wonderful time to labor with all your might in the Lord's Vineyard.

Thanks for the emails and letters and packages - I've received them from most everybody I think (still waiting for the one from Eagle). We appreciate the love. I send a package home and to Logan for Nicole and Jon, hopefully you get it before Christmas. Dusting of snow? We were getting some falling down as we were walking in to do emails - but it's too warm right now to stick so we'll have to see.

Regardless, we will have a white Christmas. A. is all set (had her interview Saturday) for her baptism Saturday night, the day after Christmas. It is neat to see her make such good choices in her life, even against opposition. I will have the responsibility of speaking on the Holy Ghost at her baptism, and we trust all will go well.

Last week was an interesting week. Something not cool happened, we got out late Tuesday night out of a lesson and got into the truck to pull forward and go home, and the back of our truck grazed their 78 Malibu. It was so dark we didn't even see it when we went to leave. Luckily, it is a 78 and all we did to it was buff up the chrome bumper. (They were really nice about it too - joking about it as well). It did scratch our hupcap and bend some of the metal under our back passenger door. So not very cool at all - especially considering all mission rules were being kept. Still annoying... but that was one of the only no-fun things this week.

Thursday we helped do and deliver some Christmas boxes (our district leader came on exchanges with us that day too). I forwarded you the pictures.
We also had some fun tracting. Elder Moa and this guy were talking for like an hour... not quite bible bashing but more like doctrine preaching.
You have to love those interesting people you meet.

Saturday was a great day - A. had her interview, and we went to teach R. and L.. It went very well; we taught about fasting and the beginning of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ (faith then repentance). We are going to fast for her on Sunday so that she will get her answer from God about the truth of our message. She is slightly frustrated she has not gotten it yet - but it might be because prayers are still a little awkward for her and she is not quite sure about God listening/answering prayers. (hence we taught fasting and faith) She really is trying, she asked how she could get faith [that is essentially what she lacks we feel] and we mentioned Alma 32 and talked about the blessings they've been receiving since we've been meeting with them and they've been coming to church. During different parts in the lesson they both were brought to tears, the Spirit was there. So she would be somebody who needs prayers on her behalf.

Mom will be proud of me - last minute I sang in the Heber 1st ward choir for their Christmas program. I noticed there were only 3 men and a normal (14 or so) amount of women, so I told the choir director's husband I would be willing and possibly able. It was fun trying to follow along/sight read "Prince of Peace" and "No Room, No Room". (I don't think I've sung either before).

Yesterday was a great day - we taught A. and talked to/taught this lady named K.. A. is still not getting that there is one true church and that we need to pray to find out which. We'll probably watch a conference talk about it that cannot be misunderstood. K. is a nice young lady who has two little kids. She has been befriended by some of the great sisters in the wards and she really needs the message we share. She has been put off by religion recently and said she wanted to work some things out herself about God. But she said after the new year we could come and teach.

Oh and we got roped into doing a 12 days of Christmas type thing, mom. We had to drop off 3 boxes of food at this family's back porch. We did not hum the "Mission Impossible" theme (Did I do that when we did it back home?) but we did it well anyways.

One last item of business (hehe, I sound like a second counselor in the bishopric or something), we will be calling at 10:00 am AZ time (which is the same right now I think as mtn western time) from T. verizon cell phone. I'll call Mom's, T. said that it is free if it is two verizon phones.

Phew - you guys don't have anything to complain about your missionary not writing enough - my last emails have been genuine epistles. Hopefully I have not bored anybody.

But I wish you all who read this a very Merry Christmas and hope you will ponder (Luke 2:19) upon the meaning of Christmas in each of our lives. The more we remember our Savior the more we will have the Spirit in our lives and receive remission of sins. Love you,

Elder Hoopes

From Alec: December 15, 2009

2009-12-18T06:44:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone

Thank you for the letters/cards/packages/emails. This year's Christmas will definitely be a memorable one.

Rachel sounds very busy - when will she have time to read books? that's what I am wondering - that is crazy she did the economic summit already, I remember that in senior year. That doesn't seem that long ago, and yet Rachel just did it. Time goes by quickly, and I almost just quoted Ferris Bueller...

Well, we did not get any new investigators last week - still working with the ones we were before. We taught L. and R. again on Wednesday. It was a good lesson - partly because of a heart-to-heart talk they had. L. was trying to keep the commitments we left with them but R. was holding back still a little. So they had a talk (slightly awkward for us to be there when they did) but whatever happened we know that L. is very interested in the message - and also R's hangup (fear of slipping/messing up again). And when we went by on Sunday they had kept their commitments, so we'll see what happens!

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night were our three ward's Christmas parties, so that was our dinner appointment each night. A. came of course to 3rd wards, but also A. and H., a friend of his. They both liked the party, H. has a baby and I think he especially liked the little Primary kids doing the entertainment. B. came to 2nd ward's party and liked it. It was interesting though, he's like a 50 year old guy (single) and most of the young women in the ward came and sat at his table. So it was us, him, and the Laurels. Slightly interesting/awkward but it actually turned out fine - the girls were outgoing enough Brock felt welcomed (maybe because one of them is our ward mission leader's daughter so she would've got whipped if she didn't, hehe) Of course the rest of the ward welcomed him too. At that party too I got a call from Ty (a recent convert from my last area) he's doing good back at home for Christmas. He also went to 3 of the recent conference sessions! Saturday was 1st ward's party. Only J. and family and a less-active we teach every week came.

Last night we had a district activity/slumber party at the Tenney ranch. Had a good breakfast in the morning so that was good. Yesterday we had ZDM so that was good to talk with President Bassett.

It has been interesting these past few weeks - I have really received quite a bit of revelation through the scriptures recently. The neat thing is that the communication was effectively conveyed - I knew exactly the message that our Father in Heaven wanted me to receive. I think sometimes we can doubt that line of communication and it's effectiveness. But as President B.K. Packer taught us in October: "Prayer is your personal key to heaven. The lock is on your side of the veil." We can, if we have the faith in Christ necessary, the sincerity of heart, integrity of purpose or real intent, receive direction and guidance as easily as if we were conversing with our Father face to face. What a wonderful truth that is! We have a line that is free, always open wherever/whenever you are, straight to an omniscient and loving Father. What more could you ask for in a relationship short of personal presence 24/7? Love you all and hope you will take advantage of that ability.

Elder Hoopes

From Alec: December 10, 2009

2009-12-10T08:35:00.000-08:00

Howdy everyone,

Thanks for the emails, and sorry you got this one late - the library was closed all yesterday because of the blizzard on Monday. It started snowing at like 9 a.m. and started sticking at 12 and didn't slow down until some time during the night. We had some evidences of strong wind in the night too - a tree partially blown over behind our duplex, also an armchair thrown into our driveway (I don't know how that happened... that would be some wind to do that). So now we have 4-6 inches on the ground!!!! It is so great to have all of it - I was hoping it would continue but it didn't. All the roads are clear too, so no problem there.

Well P. got baptized on Saturday! It went very well - the Spirit was definitely present and she was so so ready to do it (though nervous she said). And her confirmation went well as well. She is a neat lady - I sure hope she keeps the fire going that she felt start; if she does she will do so well.

Wednesday we taught some new people too - this couple R. and L.. They aren't married yet, but are planning on getting that fixed - though we will have to commit them to set a date for it. She is investigating, he was excommunicated in '93. He seems to be a good guy (he believes it all - the testimony is all there), just need to have him be converted and work his way back finally.

We also taught a girl named A., she is a RM's old girlfriend that lives here. She seems very set on joining the church - A. (the RM) said she mentioned she wanted to be baptized/join the church. She said that in the lesson after I asked her a question - so we set a date for her to be baptized to the 26th. What a good Christmas present! She is a great person, really seems to want to do whats right. She has family that has sworn they would disown her if she 'became Mormon' but she has decided to follow the yearnings of her heart she has had for the restored gospel since childhood (as she basically put it). What a white Christmas and December this will be!

On Thursday we showed "Joseph Smith, the Prophet of the Restoration" movie at the church building (that's the one you can watch at the visitors' centers). It went very well - we had about half non-members in attendance (there was just over 20 people there to watch it). A lady we haven't even taught [she came to church one week as a I-go-to-your-church-if-you-come-to-mine deal] was there and Elder Moore said she was teary eyed. But it was great, there is so much we can learn and be inspired from from the Prophet's life and ministry. You can feel it when you watch that movie.

Friday we had a quick Zone conference, as in President and Sister Bassett giving talks, and then we attended the temple with them. That was good.

On Sunday we taught these two girls: Sh. and M.. Sh. is the granddaughter of this very gung-ho missionary work sister, Sister D., and had recent experiences that has softened her somewhat. She decided to take the missionary lessons (she's baptized, but never active) and invited her friend, M., to take them too. They are both very nice people - and during parts of the lesson the Spirit was most definitely there. They felt it too - the only thing was that when I was going to testify of the Restoration through the Prophet Joseph Smith and then probably point out the Spirit being here, Sister D. started talking - she barged in a lot during the whole lesson. The Spirit was there though - we did our most important duty.

This work is real - I have felt so much guidance from our Father in Heaven while I have been on my mission. I have received so much revelation that I will have 4 journals, a study journal, and 17 planners with it in them. Never doubt the ability of our Father in Heaven to speak to us directly. I haven't heard a voice, but I have received revelatory messages to me about either me or the people we are teaching that I knew exactly what was supposed to change. Love you all!

Elder Hoopes

From Alec: December 1, 2009

2009-12-04T07:58:00.000-08:00

In the mission field, every day is Christmas!

Hello everyone,

Sorry my last email cut short - I looked over at my time and realized I had 8 seconds left. So I scrambled to figure out what to do - there was no save button, so I just sent it as was. You got most of what I wanted to send though.

Well Thanksgiving was good - we went out to Tenney Ranch to have it, and we stuffed ourselves into a stupor (not really, we helped clean up afterward). It also snowed Sunday morning, and it stuck less than an inch outside - but it was still neat to see our second snowfall (that stuck) this year.

Well, last week was a pretty good week. We taught the Hoopes family, and H. said she wasn't sure what was keeping her from being baptized - probably just not sure in general. On account of illness they didn't make it to church, but we are showing a movie on the Prophet Joseph Smith on Thursday at the church and they have promised to come, as well as most of the others we've invited (we're hoping to have close to 30 people there - of all sorts, investigators/LA/RC/fellowshippers). We are pretty close to being all set for it so we are very excited about it.

We watched 'The Testaments' with the M. family (LA) and it was our last one with them before they went down to the valley for the winter. It was very good for Sister M. (the more LA one), I have always felt that that movie is best for less-actives. I just love the church movies - we hear people surprised and say it's no fun for us that we cannot watch TV, non-church movies, or listen to non-church music. But I love the church movies that are out - every time I watch them. And there is some really good music out there that we can listen to as well.

Saturday was a very good day (even though number wise it might appear otherwise). We helped with a child of record's baptism (though no one we invited to come too showed up), and that was neat. Then we did exchanges so that Elder Moa (our district leader) and Moore could go down to Young to interview P.. She passed, easily I am sure, and so we are getting excited to go down there on Saturday and spend the night so we can attend the branch for her confirmation. She is just on fire. That night too we had a great dinner appointment with the S., an active family - the parents are both the only members in their family (within the last 11 years converts) and we talked about their conversion and the Spirit was there very strong. There is still hope for the rest of the S. family - because of these two awesome people who listened to the Good Shepherd's voice.

It has been very rewarding recently to be out on my mission - I have felt in a very real way that we are being directed where to go and what to say to bring all of God's children unto him through his restored gospel. We had a lesson yesterday morning with an older couple (our RC J's mom & stepdad - K. and R.) who like to talk ALOT. They'll both talk about different topics to us at the same time, and so it is hard to really answer questions and help them understand everything. He is very OK with most religions but has no interest in becoming religious - and she said she would be baptized but she had two things keeping her from it - she smokes and is not married to Richard. And it has been hard to teach them why and mostly they have just said how they don't feel it's a "sin" or something that will "keep them out of heaven". But yesterday morning, the Spirit was there as we answered one of R.'s questions with Alma 34 and used verses 32 & 34 - it was exactly what they needed, as the Spirit bore very powerful testimony to everyone in the room. They might not change, but K. did, in passing, mention "I guess I could stop smoking" at one point later in their conversation. The warning voice has been raised - all we can do now is love and pray!

I pray that everyone who reads my email may have an added determination to keep all of God's commandments and hearken to his Spirit - Because it is what our Father in Heaven so wants us to do because he knows that there lies happiness. Follow Jesus Christ, and listen to his prophets words:
"Yea, I say unto you come and fear not, and lay aside every sin, which easily doth beset you, which doth bind you down to destruction, yea, come and go forth, and show unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this day..." (Alma 7:15)

Love you,

Elder Hoopes

From Alec: November 25, 2009

2009-12-04T07:56:00.000-08:00

I saw a real live turkey the other day

Hello from Heber/Overgaard, AZ,

I trust everyone is doing well - I know Mom is at least. That was such a neat missionary story mom, you would make a great full-time missionary. Isn't it amazing how the Lord uses us as an instrument sometimes when we don't expect it? That reminds me of one of our Alma Academy scriptures, Alma 26:3, how the sons of Mosiah had been made "instruments in the hands of God" to bring about his great work.

Well we have been doing very well up here. This last week were able to get 3 investigators to sacrament meeting. One is P.a - a very neat lady down in Young. She forgot about our appointment this last Friday and called to apologize. She called us again on Saturday and apologized and also told us of an experience she had this past week. At that time she was having trouble with something in her life and had already been praying and reading the Book of Mormon and asking if it was true. After some prayer she decided to open the Book of Mormon and she said right there as plain as could be stated was the answer to her problem. "I knew it was an answer from God" she said "and he answered both of my questions." So she knows the Book of Mormon is the word of God and we went down to Young (impromptu) to teach her on Monday and we set her baptismal date for the 5th of December. She is so awesome, at the moment she is really on fire. Unfortunately, as she is in Young (1hr drive) we are unable to stop by her except for scheduled events, but she will be watched over according to our prayers and faith, and we have some amazing members in the branch down there.

The Hoopes family was in church too, but stayed only for sacrament meeting. The ward most definitely welcomed them in (they might have even felt a little overwhelmed as lots of people wanted to talk to them - it is a big ward). We'll be teaching them tonight about priesthood authority, hoping to address Heather's concern about baptism and also to commit J. to work with bishop to worthily use his priesthood (and become a priest for now).

B. was the other investigator at church, and it sure was another good sacrament meeting for him. The Spirit was there and the speakers spoke for him (if you know what I mean). We just hope that he can catch the vision that this is not just any church you attend to "congregate" and be religious, This is Christ's church. He's only been to the Baptist church and

(This is where Alec's letter ends, so he must have run out of time:(\

From Alec: November 23, 2009

2009-12-04T07:54:00.000-08:00

I'm...dreaming...of a white...Christmas!!!

Hello everyone,

You might guess from my subject title that I didn't get transferred. Both Elder Moore and I are staying in Heber at least until a few days after Christmas (we learn transfer news the day after) so we are both very excited. Hopefully it snows and we have many people dressed in white to make it a white Christmas!

Thanks for the contacts package, Mom - you are the best, oh and thanks, Dad for finishing the family line. I'm not sure which site you were referring to about the family tree, but either way it is neat to learn all of that. I think I will have to sit you two down after my mission and go over your histories and then our family histories.

Well, the work is progressing up here (or down here depending on where you live...) We had P. come to church again (in Young) for the second week in a row since we taught her and also this guy named B. came too and it was a very powerful experience for him (I felt - after the last speaker both him and me didn't want to move or say anything because of the Spirit that was present from the speaker's words). It was actually John Taylor who spoke...one of the high counselors in the stake. He did say something funny and so we're going to tell president Bassett this: "John Taylor said that a home teacher is more important than a mission president". (He he I understand his message but it is just funny.)

We also were able to teach the Hoopes last night, but at least two (maybe 3) times when we were about to give a firm baptismal commitment we got interrupted, very frustrating. When we finally did get it out she said "no" for now, but they did both commit themselves to come to church which is exactly what they need.

We were able to teach D. on Monday (and by the way I was feeling better from my stomach flu by Wednesday/Thursday), but we think he lost his phone because we haven't been able to get a hold of him (he told us he misplaced it on Friday and that's the last we've heard) so that is frustrating. Satan's favorite tool against generally righteous or good people is procrastination or time to forget.

I hope you got and enjoyed my letter - I had no time to email anymore, but I enjoyed writing it.

One thing I'd like to talk about before I send this off is the steps to repentance. We teach them every time we teach the 3rd lesson and they are great and awesome - they have helped me immensely in the past. But I realized last week that I had not really been using them and was just going about my days without doing much to change my weaknesses and sins. So I decided to use those steps of repentance in my every day little things and they helped so much! When you really consciously repent you can see very instant results (if you're not dealing with addictions or well worn habits) and an outpouring of the Spirit as you strive to change yourself. Elder Eyring's talk at conference about striving to be better - to be like Jesus really struck me. We're here on earth (and still here now) to become better than we are, through the atonement. And as he said - it is not a wish but a commandment, and therefore the lord will help us accomplish it.

I love you all and this glorious restored gospel,

Elder A. Hoopes

From Alec: November 4, 2009

2009-12-04T07:52:00.000-08:00

Hi from Heber

Hello everyone,

(Hopefully this works, I'm writing the email after the displayed previous emails that I'm replying to)

Thanks for the package, Mom. I love those newsletters from Sister Burningham. I think I read the whole thing in two days I liked it so much, and yes, those were the right shoes, thank you!

Sounds like everyone is doing just great. This last week since I last emailed has been a relatively uneventful week. Both D. and the Hoopes were out of town so we didn't get any investigators to church - though we did get less-actives and recent converts there. It is still slightly frustrating because we haven't been able to set a date this transfer nor get an investigator to church. So in many ways that can feel like we are making no progress but I do feel that we have been, and if the Lord wills it we can even improve in those areas as well.

Coach S. also "canceled" his lesson with us, by "canceled" I mean "was sleeping so deeply after getting home from school that he didn't wake up when we came by". But when we talked with him later HE actually set up the next lesson and said that he wanted to meet with us again. So hopefully he has some questions and felt something as he kept the commitments (we didn't have time to follow up yet when we talked with him). Unfortunately he had to set the next lesson to next week because this week he will be busy because basketball is starting. But we can't blame him for that.

Saturday we helped the Jones cut some more wood, and had some lunch with the zone leaders and went to the thrift shop here in Heber with them - it was sweet because Elder Pebley tried on a suit and suggested it might fit me. So I tried it on and it fits almost perfectly. It is this sweet (barely worn) Sears suit (light grey with white stripes) I think from the 70's. Man is it awesome! I'm wearing it right now actually. Halloween night was relatively uneventful - we were going to go to the trunk-or-treats (maybe even put on sunglasses and act like CIA agents) but that didn't pan out, so we mostly just made visits - some to our WML's and a less-active.

Yesterday we went to the Temple in Snowflake - man that was great. The Temple is most definitely a place where one can feel the Spirit and the peace that is needed in our lives. Things are so simple in the Temple. Keep the commandments of God given through his prophets and you can be lead to the celestial kingdom. The reason we're emailing on Wednesday is because we were stuck in Snowflake with truck problems until about 5:30.

This week for me has been a tester for me, and I feel like almost all of it (some still was) was not necessarily my own fault, it just happened. But through that I still was helped a few different times by the Lord. That help came from a few different sources; a member's FHE lesson to her children, my Patriarchal blessing, and the Temple.

There is absolutely no possible way that I would be out here on a mission without the total watchful care and loving grace from the Savior, and there is just the same impossibility of me staying out on a mission without those same two things. As much as I knew it was true before and had dedicated myself to serve two whole years, I don't believe that would have been enough to get me through half of my mission. I testify to that truth and with the same conviction I testify that we won't be able "endure to the end" without the constant care of Jesus Christ and his atonement. Some of the saints who crossed the plains said that they wouldn't have survived that hardship without the blessings of the temple that they received in Nauvoo before they left. I feel much the same way with my life and my mission. Love you all very much,

Elder Hoopes

From Alec: October, 28, 2009

2009-12-04T07:49:00.000-08:00

Hello from snowy Heber

Hey to everybody,

Everything is just great down here in northern Arizona. We just had a snowfall and it stuck on the vegetation and on cars - so we are listening to Christmas music in the truck. Thanks for that genealogy on the Hoopes, dad. I've wondered lots of it because there are many Hoopes down in Arizona and I've always wondered how they were related - and I love family history stories. (Besides I have some wranglers and a straw hat and soon to have a belt buckle so it's good to know that Hoopes is a "western" name) Thank you, Mom, for the package - there must have been at least 12 big cookies in there. You are the best!

Well we weren't able to get any investigators to church this recent Sunday - but we still have been doing very well, Elder Moore and I work together pretty well and we are seeing it in the success we're having.

Last Tuesday we taught a kid named D. (he graduated last year) over at a member's house (who set up the lesson even) and it went pretty well. Just yesterday we had the second lesson with him and it went fantastic. He kept all of the commitments and said he had been praying every night since the lesson - and he liked the things we've taught and accepted more commitments to read (and go on mormon.org) and the soft baptismal commitment without much hesitation. (For those not PMG savvy, the soft commitment: "As you come to know that these things are true, will you follow Christ's example and be baptized?" - usually done in the first lesson) He is a great kid, but if he lets it out that he is meeting with us he might get some flak from family/friends - so we'll keep praying for him. After the lesson last night we went outside to head home and it was snowing!!! Pretty neat to finally see snow again, and it sprinkled all last night. (You can still see some here and there today.)

Last week we also taught Coach S., he is a really good guy - we didn't get to finish the first lesson, but have a return appointment set. He is a social studies teacher so he probably is more interested for the sake of knowledge and curiosity, not necessarily to live a new lifestyle, but he is very open-minded so hopefully he will hearken to the Spirit of God!

On Friday we had zone conference, and was it awesome - by far my favorite ZC of my mission. Many prayers and wishes of mine were answered and the Spirit was very present there - and when we ended the meeting with hymn #2 it was very appropriate. We were taught a lot about finding - the why and who and how, and also how to use baptisms as great finding and conversion activities. President also talked about how to use mormon.org as a missionary. It was all very very good

Saturday was a great day. We spent the morning in Heber - and went to eat lunch at Bulk Foods (they love us coming there) and there was this other man eating there who struck up a conversation with us, and as it turns out he wants to come to church and us to teach him - pretty neat experience. We'll have to wait a couple weeks because he left the next day (that's what he told us he would do) to South Dakota to go hunting. But that was an answer to prayers and we're both excited for him to come back to Arizona. We also traveled down to young for Saturday night and spent the night down there, and attended the branch on Sunday - it was the Primary Program, always good to watch.

On Monday we were able to teach the Hoopes again (J. and H.), and it went pretty well - they were both very attentive and answered the questions with good understanding. They are both great, just hope that they can really start attending church regularly. J. has a job for at least until spring so they'll be here for a while, which was an answer to another prayer - I personally feel that they are prepared to hear the restored gospel at this time, and pray that we can help them accept it.

So things are going very well, and we can really see the hand of the Lord in our lives and just as much so in the lives of those we come in contact with. This really is his church on the earth, and what a wonderful thing that our Heavenly Father loves us enough to give us this church, so that we can know where to go for salvation and happiness - instead of the free-for-all of opinions and beliefs that most others believe is the way God works.

We need never fear, but have love for all and be faithful to the Lord.

Elder Hoopes

From Dad: October 27, 2009 - A Little Genealogy Lesson

2009-12-04T07:47:00.000-08:00

Alec,
It's exciting that you are teaching some of our cousins! He is undoubtedly related to us through Jonathan Hoopes, jr, who had 6 sons. Here's a bit about him:

Jonathan Hoopes, Jr. and Mary Ann Baldwin's family were living near St. David by 1880 on the "Hill Ranch," having moved from Wyoming. Their 24 year old, "most eligible bachelor" son, George Arthur, fell in love with Charlotte Iris Curtis, whose parents, Joseph Nahum Curtis and Sarah Diantha Gardner, had migrated from Salem, Utah in 1877. Called by Brigham Young to move to Arizona, just before Brigham's death, Dode and Sadie Curtis, as they were known, owned a 160 acre ranch on the San Pedro River, six miles north of Tombstone. (When Tombstone is depicted during its heyday in western movies, we generally don't see the faithful Mormon farmers, like Dode and Sadie, who grew the beans and steaks the gunslingers ate-the whiskey came from Bisbee.)

Apostle Erastus Snow visited St. David and learned that the Saints who settled there wanted to return to Utah because the swampy land was infested with mosquitos, which caused disease. He counseled them that if they would remain faithful to their mission calls, the Lord would make their part of His vineyard more inhabitable. This He did in an unusual way during May 1887. Following a great earthquake, which caused the walls of the adobe school house to cave in while the Curtis children were outside at recess-none were hurt, the swamps dried up. There was no more malaria to plague the faithful Saints who "stuck it out."

Jonathan Hoopes, Jr., took his plural wife, Arthusa Elmer, to the St. George Temple during the fall of 1888 over the "Honeymoon Trail" and came back south to settle in Colonia Juarez, Mexico in 1889, to escape federal marshals looking for "Mormon Poligs." However, Jonathan had moved his family from Mexico to Thatcher on the Gila River by 1892, after which he and Arthusa had 6 more children. Here Jonathan, born in Ohio to Quaker-turned-Mormon parents, lived the rest of his life, died and is buried. His first wife, Mary Ann Baldwin, grand daughter of the Prophet Joseph's dear friend, Caleb Baldwin, (who was imprisoned with Joseph at Liberty Jail) also died and is buried at the Thatcher Cemetery. Mormons founded other towns along the Gila River called Eden, Smithville (later named Pima), and Hubbard. (from "Mormon Coloniztion of Arizona" at www. Angelfire.com/ne/hoopesgenealogy)

Jonathan had 6 sons by Mary Ann Baldwin of whom one was Bert, your great, great grandfather.

We are wonderfully blessed to have you serving in Arizona where so much was sacrifice by our ancestors for the Gospel.

Have a wonderful week!

Love,
Dad

From Alec: October 21, 2009

2009-12-04T07:44:00.000-08:00

Hello from north AZ

Hi everyone,

It has been a good enough week so far, the weather down here has been nice (though a little warm in Elder Moore's and mine opinions - whew that's bad English!) We are just soaking up the cooler temperatures after suffering through the valley summer. Nothing specifically new or exciting happened this week, mainly it was me trying to cope with losing my planner. I didn't lose too much info but it was still annoying.

Thursday was a great day - we did some service for this less-active couple. We helped the brother hang up some drywall in his second story that he's been working on. Then after lunch we headed down to Pleasant Valley to do some work for our Young Branch. We did some service (wood-gettin') to start and made a couple visits. It was good because we were able to share just a couple verses and thoughts, and that is were you get the Spirit as a missionary: teaching. It felt so good just to share those very simple and short things, and I think it helped them to bring the Spirit in. All the Spirit needs is an invitation, and a worthy audience, and the sweet feelings of the presence of the Holy Ghost can be there.

We had a great Sunday - R. (we taught him a couple of weeks ago) came to church to listen to one of his friend's farewell talks. But, like many people new to the church, he skidaddled right after the closing prayer. It was a very missionary-oriented Sunday though (the meetings that we were able to attend), and that always feels good because as a missionary you can feel very ineffective to motivate members to help. Of course there are many that do so so much, and you really grow close to them, but many in the church are a little unsure and shy (I was one of them) and some feel like all they need to do is be an example. Of course our example is the most important thing, our actions speak louder than words, and as PMG puts it in the Christlike attributes section- what you teach and how you teach are important, but just as important is who you are. But at the same time we must be prayerfully seeking opportunities to open our mouths or to serve or to invite. We cannot put our candlestick under a bushel. But enough of my preaching -

I liked your comment, mom, about helping others at church. I was struck in the April 09 conference by something said in a talk, I'm not sure which - I believe it's Elder Oaks one about self-less service. But what he said was that there was a brother he knew who said he no longer went to church to be passive, he was active - basically he went to church for others, he went to be a friendly smile and a handshake, and to always be looking for ways he could serve the people he saw there. That's good advice, I think - and if that were the case for all members I think that no person would ever walk away from an LDS church meeting without feeling better than before. (which is the goal, right?) I think I still need to work on that - but of course as a missionary it is easier to apply that by getting investigators to church.

Anyways - I love you all and hope that you always remember Jesus Christ and what he has done for us all specifically. He is real and leads his church on the earth today, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and he especially leads his servants that he has chosen to accomplish his latter-day work.

"see that ye look to God and live. Go unto this people and declare the word..." (Alma 37:47)

Elder Hoopes

From Alec: October 14, 2009

2009-12-04T07:42:00.000-08:00

Heber-Overgaard says hello

Hello to everyone,

I hear that Boise is getting lots of snow - I think a few people mentioned that to me, is that true? Snow in October is pretty rare, so maybe they heard somewhere in Idaho and assumed all of Idaho got it - after all, there's only like 200 people in Idaho, right? What I hear more often is, "You're from Idaho? Oh, I know someone who lives in Idaho Falls, You must know so and so." And I think, "That's cool, I live on the other side of the state." I guess that hasn't happened up here in Heber much - but city folk do it lots.

Anyways - things are going pretty well. Elder Moore and I are getting along fine. It is lots cooler up here but we both love it - we were just out last night and it was 63 outside and it felt so nice. Though there have been a couple times where it feels a little like home (because of the weather) and so I got the closest I have to feeling homesick, but it's so slight it didn't bother me.

We had a good week last week - got 3 new investigators, which is nice considering D. S. went back to Globe for the winter. I already talked about H. and J. Hoopes, I think, but then we taught (Tuesday night) a woman named K. and this kid named R. They were both there and the lesson went pretty well (it was the first lesson Elder Moore and I taught together). R. is 17 and so seemed to just want to learn - though he did accept the commitments. K. seemed to just eat up the lesson, and totally accepted everything enthusiastically. We just hope that her husband can have the same desire too - he used to not like 'church' at all but has expressed some interest. K. said that she was concerned whether or not his interest was for the right reasons, and they aren't living together for a little while at the moment - so I could see what she might possibly mean. If he was gung-ho, I think she would be baptized for sure.

Well, I would have more to tell you about last week probably but I lost my planner yesterday (despite our many efforts to find it) so I don't remember anything that is too interesting, except for General Conference!

It was great - the only not cool thing was that we were doing service on Saturday so we missed the two sessions. Luckily they record on VHS the sessions at the church so a couple times so far we just take our lunch to the church and watch the General Conference we missed. There were some amazing talks, and I can't wait to get the Ensign and CD's when they come out. I sincerely believe that if all the members of the church obeyed with exactness, and with the Spirit, the advice that we are given at General Conference, that the city of Zion like Enoch's would again be established.
Well, I love you all and hope you have a great week.

Elder Hoopes

From Alec: October 26, 2009

2009-10-07T14:44:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

Things are going well here in Heber-Overgaard. We just had transfers yesterday and Elder Dursteler was sent down to be in the same district I used to be in, Maricopa North Stake. I got Elder Moore from Kaysville, UT and he has been out for 11 months now. He is (as far as I've been able to tell!) a good missionary and we should have some fun and success here in north AZ.

Last week we talked to lots of people, which was our zone leader's goal and desire. Though we didn't get to teach much, so last week was relatively uneventful, except for Thursday when we helped M. H. (our WML) out on his ranch doing shipping. That is when they sort, weigh, and ship their calves off. Man that was fun - I helped at the end after they were weighed to help keep the heifers and steers separated. D. S., our investigator who helps out at the Hancock Ranch (that's how he was introduced to the church) said that we can call me a real cowboy now (his qualification was that I had stepped in "that guacamole", if you know what I mean). But it was dern fun.

Then conference weekend, man I love conference! The only not-cool thing is that we were doing service all morning for a less-active family on Saturday so we virtually missed both sessions. We'll get them on CD and listen to them in the car as soon as we can. But we made the Sunday sessions and it just reaffirmed how truly awesome conference is. That is the time in which we can hear from our Prophet and his counselors and the twelve apostles! Now you might be saying "no duh, elder" but the fact that we have a living prophet on the earth is such a blessing, and it was so important that Heavenly Father and his Son, Jesus Christ personally came to start this new dispensation when they called the boy Joseph Smith to be the first prophet of the Restoration.

This Monday we helped paint a less-active's house all day pretty much, but then we went and taught the Hoopes family, yep - J. and H. Hoopes, this younger couple. It's pretty weird when I write them down in our plans because when I see "Hoopes" I think "hey, that's me!". J. is a less-active member who wants to get into the church, and his wife, H. was at church and had no problem with J's grandfather (Bro W.) blessing their new baby. So she is willing to listen and we'll see if she's willing so seek, ask, and knock! Afterward we went to hear the Elk 'bugle' with M. H. That was very neat - we just drove out into the wilderness area and stopped to listen. We saw some pretty close and some were no further than 100 feet when they were bugling. (be-u-gle is how you say it, I think I spelled it right...)

Then after transfers on Tuesday, we had a lesson at the Carroll's house (they're way cool) and taught K. and also taught a kid named R. K. really took hold of the things we were teaching and we're just hoping her husband can be interested and want to join (she said he is, but she's not sure if for the right reason). Hopefully R. can receive faith in Christ as we teach and he keeps commitments!

Love you all and hope you have a great week!

Elder Hoopes

From Alec: September 22, 2009

2009-10-01T07:45:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,
It's almost General Conference!!! We are way excited for that to come - it is such an amazing time that we have to listen to what really makes our religion Christ's true and living restored church. Even with the Book of Mormon we're not too different from most Christianity (the BOM and Bible are very similar, considering they originate from the same time period) except the fact that we claim, rightly, that we have a Prophet (and others) who has the authority to run the church directly from Jesus Christ himself. By the way - it is a great thing to invite people to, a very good missionary tool. You can rely on the fact that there are people who would be curious to hear what our prophet has to say.

Anyways, things are going pretty well here - last week was the first normal week that we had since the 2nd week of the transfer (weeks 3 & 4 were crazy). We also had two exchanges. On Monday we had our district leader, Elder Harrison come - that was a good day, he is a great missionary. Then on Thursday we had one of our Zone leaders, Elder Coffman, come with us. That was very awesome too. Then Friday was ZDM (zone development mtg). That was great - had some good instruction and it is always good to have an interview with President Bassett, he is just a great person.

Saturday consisted of getting ready for J's baptism. It went great too - J got baptized and everything went just smoothly. It was all her decision too, as was her coming to church 3 weeks in a row now. Her confirmation was great as well. Now that whole family (two sons and J) is baptized, which is a very good thing.

We had a great opportunity on Sunday as well - in 1st ward we got to pass the sacrament, and that was the first time since I was a deacon (I don't think I ever passed as a teacher) to do so. I loved it, you really gain an appreciation for the sacrament as a missionary. You try to bring investigators to it and it is directly linked to the main thing we are focused on - the covenant of baptism.

I also had an increase in testimony on the principle of fasting. This last Sunday I fasted for D. - because we don't really know (not that we don't have faith it can or will - we do) how to help him have the faith to make the right decisions in his life (i.e. baptism). We trust it will happen as we teach with the Spirit and are led by it, but at the moment we don't know. So 3rd ward fast and testimony meeting this Sunday was probably the most powerful one I have been in. I didn't even think about it until halfway through that it was an answer to my fast and prayer for him. He then stayed for Gospel Doctrine and that class was a very Spirit-filled class as well. One of the better ones I've ever attended. It was on the saving of souls (as taught by President Young in SLC) in relation to the pioneers and their story (so the handcart companies' story was part of it). If there's something that needs the extra help, for example something that you have need help overcoming in your personal life, then fasting is a great option. It has helped me quite a bit along the journey of my life.

Well, Love you guys and hope that you have a great week preceding and following General Conference!

Elder Hoopes

From Alec: September 15, 2009

2009-10-01T07:43:00.000-07:00

Well, these last couple weeks have been interesting. I think I mentioned how last week was busy and crazy (not missionary work wise, just crazy)
We were down in Snowflake to go to the Temple on Tuesday, then got back to Heber. Our vehicle coordinator told us we had to take our truck in (our brakes were no bueno) to Snowflake, so we traveled back Tuesday night to stay in Snowflake and take her in the next morning. Well, yada yada our car is not ready until Thursday morning at 8:30 am. So we had to stay with the Elders in Snowflake (I was in Taylor) the whole Wednesday. We didn't even get out proselyting until Thursday late afternoon (We HAD to do laundry before we could do anything else).
But it was an ok week because:

J., this eternal investigator (her kids were baptized) set her own baptismal date! We went over on Saturday night to talk with her and asked her what she wanted out of the church/us coming over and she went off about how she really needed to come to church and be baptized. Elder Dursteler and I were like "ok....!" Then the next morning she was at church and that was the first time Elder D ever saw her at church. Then on Tuesday we went and met with her (our WML Bro Crandell came too) and she set her date herself; we said these are the open days and she picked. So September 26th (yes, this Saturday - this meeting was last week) should be her big day. It had been difficult to set the time because there is lots going on on Saturdays at the church, but with the Lord's help it will work out! She is awesome and we have seen a change in her since she decided to come to church (twice now!) and be baptized. She just seems happier and more at peace with herself.

A not too happy note - S. and J. had to move to Show Low. The forest ranger came out and said they'd have to leave - they were camping out. So they left yesterday/today. He'll most definitely get baptized over there though, so we're not worried. It really was for the best because there are no spare jobs in Heber. Not one. So for them to get anywhere they'd have to move to a bigger city. Yesterday was great - our district leader, Elder Harrison, came out on exchanges with us. It was a very good day - we only taught one recent-convert lesson, but we talked to everyone we saw and plus (tracting) and did what we could the whole day.

We were listening to a General Conference CD the other day (We got a few of them - they are great for long drives). Elder Eyring gave a talk about gratitude and remembering what the Lord had done for us. He made a commitment to himself (it was a commandment from the Lord actually) to write down in his journal what the Lord did for him and his family that day. He mentioned an interesting thing happened - over and over when trying to think of what he should write down he would realize a blessing from the Lord that in his busy frame of mind had gone unnoticed as a tender mercy. An increased sense of gratitude and love happened as he saw truly how much Heavenly Father's hand was in his every day. That is something that I think would be the same for everyone if they sincerely did the same thing. I know that in nightly prayers I have thought about how we were helped in our teaching and finding that I didn't really think about in the moment. Another amazing thing is that I have received revelation as to what we needed to do better as I asked a question and then pondered and listened. Revelation is a real thing, and all we need to is ask, seek, knock and especially: listen. Our Father in Heaven loves us soo, soo much and is constantly doing everything he can to get us to do what is right.

I just started reading the Book of Mormon again and in 1 Nephi 7:12 I was struck by something. Nephi here is chastening his hardhearted brothers, and he teaches something very tender:

"Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to him."

I never caught how it is the lord's will that we are faithful - and if we follow his will and are faithful and righteous, then he is able to bless us according to his will. He just wants us to do what is right so we can be happy.

"Wherefore, let us be faithful to him..."

Elder Hoopes

From Alec: September 8, 2009

2009-10-01T07:41:00.000-07:00

Hello,

We just got back from Snowflake after staying there the night, attending the temple, and then doing a zone activity. So I am tired - this might be a short email. Elder Dursteler and I and two other missionaries actually did baptisms for the dead this time. It was very neat - you can feel that some of the people who's names were read were either present in the room or full of joy up in the Spirit World.

Well, this last week in Heber was a very interesting one. We had very low numbers because we were busy running around to service, S. & J., weekly planning, zone conference in Payson, or other craziness. S. & J. were really having a hard time - very frustrated with life in general and how they were trying so hard to make it but just not doing well. So we spent lots of time with them this week.

We did also meet with an investigator named D. - he is a very neat guy. he's a ranch-hand who has been coming to church for a while. He grew up and went to Catholic school and has not had a very good experience with organized church nor church leaders, so he is having trouble with faith in anything at all. But he does love the members and the way he feels at church, so we'll be praying for his heart to soften and that he will come to know Christ through his restored Gospel - because that can heal up his wounded heart like nothing else could even compare.

It's an interesting thing to think that I reached my year mark recently - it hasn't weirded me out at all. I'm like Jon in that I won't really get nervous or feel any emotion about anything until it comes, so that is how it is right now. But it is good to look back and think if my mission has been what I desired it to be, if it was what I desire now, and most importantly if it has been what the Lord wanted out of me. I feel like there are many things to be changed, much repenting to be done, much like the prophet Joseph Smith talked about "Search your heart to see if it is like God's; I have searched mine and feel the need to repent."

I love this Gospel and I know that it is the fullness of Jesus Christ's Gospel because only he could have done what has been worked in my life and in my heart. His servant, Thomas S. Monson has truly been called to be the prophet - and by hearkening to his words we can come closer to the Kingdom of Heaven and its happiness. This has been revealed unto me by the power of the Holy Ghost. I still cannot believe that I have such an amazing gift. I just hope that I can live up to its standards and be the servant the Lord desires of me.

Elder Hoopes

From Alec: September 1, 2009

2009-10-01T07:39:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

Well - the reason I am sending emails today is because yesterday was very crazy. Not only the preparation day part of it but even afterwards. I won't send any details because we have to be quick - we have lots we have to do today. Thank you for all of the love, sending emails and also everything for my birthday too. Next year I'm going to be a twice-uncle, eh? I'll send an email next week to you guys, but congrats Jon & Nicole!

Well, Heber is still a beautiful place. You'll get a picture CD soon (I'm making it tomorrow when we're in Payson) and about half of the pictures I have taken here are of the sky - it is almost always stormy here and it makes for some beautiful pictures.

We are working hard to teach and find new people, as our investigator pool is alot shallower here. We are working with this couple, S and J. They are great people, J is a less-active member who has started coming back while S is meeting with us. We have a baptismal date set for him for September 30th, and the only thing keeping him from it is smoking. They are really having a hard time right now though - they are "residentially challenged" as S puts it. Basically they are camping out in the woods because they do not have a home. They have a tent and a truck (though the truck is really giving them problems) but it is very difficult for them. Luckily, the people in the ward are amazing and have been helping so much. Just keep them in your prayers.

We're heading down to Young today, which should be fun - I love going down there, there are such great people down in that little valley. We won't be able to visit J (our new investigator down there - he is awesome!) because he will be out of town, but we should be able to teach some recent converts and do some good hopefully!

We'll also be meeting with this investigator I have only met so far - D. He lives in Globe but comes and works on a member's ranch out here. He has been coming to church very regularily, and he just feels (this is what Elder Dursteler told me) that baptism is a very big step, and he seems very nervous about himself. But he is a great guy, and we'll try to help him understand that he can do it, with Heavenly Father's help.

Well, you would be very jealous, Dad - we met with this great couple and visited with them (They are very nice, but we're not to where we can teach them yet). The neat thing was though, that before we left, M. gave us a ride in his truck - a restored '48 chevy pickup. Man that was neat - he had me start it actually. You'll see the pictures.

Well I'll just close with my testimony - our Father in Heaven is mindful of all of us, and all he wants us to do is to have joy in this life, but even more so to have joy with him in Eternal Life. I am reminded of how much He loves us when I read Jacob 5. There is a verse in which the master of the vineyard, when he sees his trees becoming wild and bringing forth bad fruit, even after all of his struggling, weeps and says "What more could I have done for my vineyard?" He has given us this gospel, the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, and we have a living prophet today so that we are not left alone to our own intelligence to try and figure out how to be happy, and what the purpose of life really is. Jesus Christ lives, and this is his church today - that is why it is so important that we share it! love you all,

Elder Hoopes

From Alec: August 25, 2009

2009-10-01T07:36:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

Things are going well in Heber - it is a very much different place than Mesa. No huge city-ness. The temperature is like 50's-80's at this time of year. It was 86 when we were driving up to do emails. Lots of hills and pine trees too. It is a nice place - we cover three wards, Heber 1, 2, 3rd Wards- and then also a branch in a little valley community called Young. (We have to travel about 1 hour to Young from Heber - though it isn't as far as that sounds distance-wise because about half of that is dirt road that is windy and sometimes rough. We wouldn't have been able to do some of the work we've already done with a car - it would have died. Our White Chevy Colorado is exactly what we need. We had to use 4 wheel drive on the way down and when we were in Young. The branch is great though, we spoke at sacrament meeting on missionary work. It was great too because we went down on Saturday and had a lesson with this guy named J. who is staying with a convert of a few years. He is great - the Lord knows exactly what we all need and knows his children, especially those who are ready that they will receive the guidance and truth they can handle/desire. We'll be heading back down to Young on Wednesday - I'm excited to teach J. again. We don't really cover any reservation, though we do cover Heber and to the little valley community called Young and everything in between so we could technically cover some. But we have no reservation wards or anything.

It has been a little bit of a shock to be up here - I didn't think it would be because I was just excited to have a change of scenery and go up north, but it is very different up here - the people are different to a degree (of course the church and love is the same) and being in a truck the whole time is very different. Our teaching pool isn't necessarily smaller, but for some reason it feels like it - I think it is because new investigators are harder to come by as we just don't get as much of a chance to do street contacts, and there are no apartments - everyone is lots more spread out, the only thing close to an apartment is trailer parks, and those are few too. I'm greenie-breaking Elder Dursteler, he's been out for about 2 transfers, and he is a good missionary who loves the people - which is all that really matters.

We have this couple named S. and J. - J. is a member but has never been active. We have a baptismal date for S., though we'll probably have to push it back to be sure he is keeping the word of wisdom (he is trying to quit smoking). They are actually homeless in a way - they are basically camping out the whole time (they have a tent and a truck and stuff - but no home or anything). But we have already seen the Lord bless them spiritually and temporally as they have obeyed the gospel. We have a few others but I haven't got to know them well yet - as there are a few out of town at the moment and the others we haven't been able to teach yet.

I have realized this week how important it is to be positive. Fear and doubt are negative and do nothing good, and attitudes change the courses of people's lives. Getting down on oneself or dwelling too much on our weaknesses (we should try to identify and remember them - they are there to keep us humble) without the focus that with Christ's help those things can be made strong. That is such a key thing, because the only way we can change or make weaknesses strong is to let Christ change us as we exercise faith in him and do what he asks of us. If we want to be happy we must to things that bring us happiness. Love you guys - thanks for all the love, packages and messages!

Elder Hoopes

Rachel - block schedule? Whats that mean? I can't believe you have Ms. Taylor - that is one crazy woman. She is awesome and a good teacher - and I enjoyed that class even though I disliked about 95% of the literature we read (not counting the ones where we got to choose what we read - I liked all of those ;) Didn't you do the outline for Siddhartha for me? I remember asking you to help me outline because you could do it faster and I read so slow when I outline. I bet that will come in handy!

From Alec: August 11, 2009

2009-10-01T07:35:00.000-07:00

Hello!

Thanks for the packages!!
Rachel a senior? weird, very weird. Time flies. p.s. Rachel - if you wanted to get me a birthday present you could burn me a copy of the Best Two Years movie soundtrack - I cannot find that anywhere and it is awesome.

soooo I got transferred to a little place called Heber, Arizona - if you want to look on a map it is central/north(ish) Arizona close to Snowflake and Show Low. I just got here about 3 hours ago so I don't know much yet. My new companion is Elder Dursteler from Kuna, ID. (yep) I think he lived in Wyoming before that too. So it's about 70 degrees up here in Heber - and raining right now. It's a very pretty area and I wouldn't be surprised if I got snow while I am here. We are in a truck! and our apartment/duplex thingy is very nice.

Well, there is alot going on in my head right now, and I can't remember any stuff from last week - so this will be a short email.

This life is such a short span of time, and the thing that I've found in life that is of the most value is your personal health (spiritual, emotional, and physical) and your relationships. There are some amazing people out there. A good thing to do is to try and cultivate love in all of your relationships. Shakespeare once said "They do not love that do not show their love". I thought that was profound.
Well, I love you all,

Elder Hoopes

From Alec: August 4, 2009

2009-10-01T07:32:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

Well mom, I am glad you got to do some service for Danna and J. When you really serve someone when they just really need the help it feels very rewarding. Not that that should be the reason you serve, but it is a natural byproduct.

Well, it is still hot in Arizona. And it isn't very cool when your Camelbak starts leaking, so I have to use this cheap other one that doesn't let you get enough water when you try to drink it until I can contact the warranty department for my other resevoir. At least I still have one though.

Well, L. had a hard time again - her baptism was cancelled last minute and she will be trying to move out of the bad apartments she is living in. But she is still very willing to meet with us (she actually just called us a few minutes ago) and keep coming to church. She is a strong lady to keep pushing through despite bipolar disorder, seizures, and Satan (and his angels) working against her. She still has alot to learn and apply but she's trying, which is all that is important. I guess that before sentence applies to everyone on the earth - so we just need to be patient/diligent and loving.

We had a huge 3 lesson meeting (in one block) with J. and R.. I think it might be one of the only lessons ever to begin with watching the movie Johnny Lingo. Oh man that was hilarious, Johnny was cracking up with the quotes like ("Mohanna you ugly!" and "Mohanna's face will crack the glass!"), though R. wasn't. It wasn't our idea - Wayne Taylor our WML there, who is their fellowshipper, threw it in. Elder Morgan and I have been quoting it every day since then. That day we set a baptismal date with them too - they are so awesome and responding to the Spirit. The date is all the way into September - hopefully even if I get transferred (transfers are next week) I'll be able to come. President should let me because they want me to give a talk in their baptismal service.

Kind of a sad/scary thing - we haven't heard anything from A. since her passed baptismal interview. This same thing did happen early on in teaching her though - so I won't be surprised to see her call us one day asking if we've forgotten her... We've either called or stopped by like every day so far.

Anyways, we also had a handful of people that might be potentially awesome investigators - two of them we met when they were at church on Sunday. That is always a good sign!

This last week I have remembered the importance of being close to and worthy of the Spirit. I felt a little good feeling about going back into this apartment complex square to talk to this guy and we said hi and he asked us a question. It ended up being a very good thing for this guy who didn't know very much about our faith (he is from TN) including the people he was visiting who aren't LDS, but seemed on our side as they told him how much respect they had for us because they know we would help them move if they needed it. Just a cool thing - the Spirit, prayer, and covenants are the only things that connect us directly to our Father in Heaven at this stage of our eternities. Thus it is so so important to be close to the Spirit - because it is through the Holy Ghost that prayer and covenants come alive into real things that have the power to change eternities. I love you all - hold tight to those three things. (I guess scriptures/word of God are a link as well - I forgot that, but they're none the less important!) Love all of you,

Elder Hoopes

From Alec: July 28, 2009

2009-10-01T07:29:00.000-07:00

Hello

Thanks for the updates, Dad. I love to hear what is happening up there. Glad Bishop Stewart is doing so well, he really is a great man.
Mom is busy? that's abnormal...
If you remember right, Dad, I did like you reading to me - it's just I got too busy when I was in high school and Rachel was always against it.

I'm emailing early because we'll be having a zone activity at 1:00 today. which is a huge homemade slip-n-slide. It will be fun...but for about 15 minutes. Elder Morgan and I will probably spend the rest napping because of the 5:30 am temple session - it still was great. I do love the temple, wish we had more time to be there - but I guess that's for after the mish.

Well, things are going very well here. We had two baptismal interviews this last week - one for L. and one for A. They both passed (they are both awesome, both gave up smoking the same month we taught them about it). The only thing is, L. stayed with her Dad over the weekend because her window got smashed in, and she didn't make it to church for some reason. We haven't been able to get a hold of her either, so we can easily assume Satan is predictably doing his best to spread unhappiness.
Also A. wasn't at church either - I think it was because she was helping her mom move on Sunday. So if that is the case it's a legit reason but we haven't had contact again since Saturday. I think the most annoying thing in missionary work is when you lose contact with people. Because you just don't know what is going on in the least - and there is nothing you can do (besides keep attempting contact) except wait for them to contact you.

There was a cool thing at church - R. and J. came to all three hours (usually they can only come to the last two - sacrament meeting is hard with the grandkids they bring). And after Sacrament meeting they talked with Bishop Clanton and they kept talking for about 20 minutes. Bishop definitely talked with them about baptism (he asked me as I passed if we had told them it is a beginning not an end) and it seemed like an awesome conversation. At the end of Sunday school, R. told me they want us to come over and teach them everything again in one day. Like a huge lesson. We'll see what happens! They are so awesome, we both want the best for them.

We had a cool experience with J. and S. We've been trying to get them to read the Book of Mormon for the whole time I've been here, and also tried getting them to church. If you had a vision, like the tree of life one Nephi had, about us teaching them, it would consist of Elder Morgan and I beating them over the head with the Gold Plates. Why does it seem so hard to get someone to do something that will make them happy? But of course, it doesn't matter what we do, the only thing that will compel souls to do good is the Spirit sent by our Father in Heaven. It's not us. That fact is comforting, as well, for the missionaries. It doesn't matter how skilled or smart we are; what really matters is if we are humble and faith-full so that the Spirit can work through us. That is the beautiful thing about this earth experience - I love you all,

Elder Hoopes

From Alec: August 7, 2009

2009-10-01T07:26:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

Things are going well here in Mesa. Thanks for the email, Dad. By the way - I met someone a while back who was related to Terry Hoopes, and I remember dad mentioning something about an Uncle Terry. It is a small world (especially when you're LDS). Oh and thanks Dad too for the advice. With all of those campouts, I bet you're not only happy to be back at home in a nice bed but also able to get some good rest.

We are doing well - Elder Morgan is a great missionary, it has been so awesome to serve with him. It makes you feel good to see a missionary you've served with teach with the Spirit.

Some heavy/tough things - L. had the devil trying everything to keep her from baptism [long story, ask when I'm home] (Elder Morgan and I think that with how hard Satan is trying to thwart her conversion that her son must be destined to be a general authority or something). Also M. isn't doing well, he's putting a little too much emphasis on the human intellect and not on the heart, he needs prayers right now.

Happier things;
D. called us to say he was safe in Texas, and that while he was speaking to us, two sister missionaries were walking up to the house. He is awesome, hopefully his wife's heart can be softened.

We've been trying to get this guy, A., to let us teach him and his family - and that should happen tomorrow (even though I'll be on exchanges, not cool) and then he promised that just for us he would come to church this sunday. He said he never goes to any church but he'll come at least this once. He is a great guy.

A. is doing great - though she was was sick so she missed church.

This last week we taught some great people. On Saturday, we taught T. He has come to church two weeks in a row now, and I love being in lessons with him. He seems so open and really ready to do things. All the ward members that introduce themselves to him all come back to us and say how nice of a person he is. Hopefully he can hearken to the Spirit as he keeps commitments. This gospel is really what he needs in life, of course as everyone does.

We also were able to sit down with J. and R., we watched the movie "Together Forever" with them. That movie brings such a good spirit to the home where it is playing, you could just tell their house felt different. The grandkids quieted down quite a bit too, but that probably was helped by all of the coloring books I whipped out. Still, there is peace in the Spirit. And it is kinda sad to see the things/beliefs that people are unwilling to give up, when in reality it would make them so much happier to accept the advice of our loving Heavenly Father through his ordained prophet. Doing that is the only way anything will last, even those good things in life (such as family relationships, the good feeling from accomplishing something, etc...) cannot last unless they are done according to the ways our Father in Heaven has chosen (that's why he's chosen them). But how much more amazing is it to see the penitent sacrifice their will for a higher cause, and choose happiness and eternal life. Never fear or doubt, only have faith in what Heavenly Father has revealed unto us.

Elder Hoopes

From Alec: August 7, 2009

2009-10-01T07:24:00.000-07:00

Well,

It is hot down here, but it really isn't too bad when you have such modern things as sunscreen, sunglasses, camelbaks, AC houses of people when you teach them. How are things going up there? I know the weather is beautiful.

Things are alright down here - T. got the priesthood and he gave a short talk in sacrament meeting two days ago, and apparently it was really good. (We had to be to our other ward).

D. finally came to church!! A big reason was because he is moving to Texas and he felt it was something he had to do for us. It was great, the people at the ward were awesome and he participated in Gospel Doctrine class (we had someone ask us if he was a member) and it was, as he said, a great experience for him. Hopefully he will start going to church regularily with his LDS in-laws.

We had some big downers on Friday and Saturday as we had like 10 lessons fall through. So lots of wasted time and really very little to show for it, but that is alright. A. and D. (her BF or husband, we still can't figure out which - next lesson = law of chastity to figure out once and for all) came to church. Apparently D. liked it so hopefully they can both keep coming. It is so awesome - they used to be fighting alot but A. said that now that she's been coming to church she just doesn't care about the little things or getting the last word in anymore, and so the arguements have slowed down. They are awesome, A. and her two kids came with us to FHE with one of our ward missionaries. It was great.

I am in the book of Helaman in the Book of Mormon, and in Chapter 12 someone (I think Mormon in his abridging) is lamenting about how quick to do evil are the children of men. He says it so well:

"Behold, they do not desire that the Lord their God, who hath created them, should rule and reign over them; notwithstanding his great goodness and his mercy towards them, they do set at naught his counsels, and they will not that he should be their guide. "

All he wants is to guide us through the mists of darkness and into his fullness of joy, one step at a time. But all to often we will not that "he should be [our] guide". We let things distract us and listen to the enticings of the evil one. Sometimes too we dig ourselves into a hole with complaining or feeling that we are entitled to an easy way if we do what is right. I can't remember which of the Brethren said it, but in this recent general conference (either Elder Hales or Oaks I think) a talk mentioned how dangerous and unsteady feelings of being entitled are.

But all we need do is be blessed ; (Hel 12:23)
"Therefore, blessed are they who will repent and hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; for these are they that shall be saved."

As we go about this life, we will learn line upon line, and precept upon precept, here a little, there a little. We need to slowly learn what is lasting, what is good, what is true, and how to always act accordingly. That's why we're here, and that's why I'm here in Mesa.
Love you all very much,

Elder Hoopes

From Alec: July 20, 2009

2009-07-27T18:24:00.000-07:00

Thank you for all of the emails and letters,

Things are going well here - we've been having some neat weather, the past few nights have been some major monsoons. I was woken up (Mom will understand from that that it must've been big to wake me up) at 4 this morning because of the thunder. It was pretty ridiculous, I didn't get back to sleep until 5 or so. There has been lots of rain. Personally, it think it is sweet - some awesome lightning and I have always liked rain, and today is sooo cool compared to what it used to be, so "I likes it".

Thanks for the updates, Dad - I love hearing about everyone and what is going on with them. For transfer news Elder Morgan and I finished up our first week of the transfer this Sunday - we will be together in the same area for at least 5 more weeks now, but judging how fast the past two transfers have gone I can imagine it will feel like tomorrow is when I'll be up for the boot again.

This last week was great - we taught so many lessons it was awesome. Met some amazing people and so hopefully we can help them understand how to "live after the manner of happiness which is according to the commandments and exhortings of our Heavenly Father". T. got baptized on Saturday. Everything went very smoothly, we had the water at the proper level this time, and the meeting was full of the Spirit of reverence and love. His confirmation went well and he is just a great kid. L. has her baptism date set for the 8th of august and A. has hers set for the 15th. They both are awesome so we'll be prayerful for their spirituality and progression towards becoming like Christ.

We helped some investigators move yesterday. They are so awesome and will totally get baptized and be amazing members - Elder Morgan and I love them they are cool people. But they moved out of our area so we spent 8-11 yesterday helping them move. It felt good to help though I was so tired afterwards!

Just one thing recently that I've been thinking about - it really makes so much sense that this is Christ's restored gospel. The more I read of the New Testament I am more fully converted that the Savior not only directed those first apostles, but he is the living head of the church today and he is, in fact, the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Of course it is the same when I open the Book of Mormon and read of the plain and precious truths that are there before our eyes. What a treasure it is! Also as I read from the Old Testament and the Doctrine and Covenants, and all teachings of modern prophets. Especially, as I strive to represent our Savior in diligence and faith, I see him directing us. I am reminded of Isaiah's words in chapter 61:

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound."

It is so rewarding when we find those meek of the earth, who are willing to chose happiness over misery and the world. There is no reason for us to not have the peace and hope that the restored gospel brings, save for the pride we have in our hearts. I'll sign off with Romans 16:19 "I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil"

Be meek!

Elder Hoopes

From Dad, Mom and Rachel: July 20, 2009

2009-07-27T18:20:00.000-07:00

Dear Alec,

Your mother is frantically getting ready for girl's camp. This year all the camps - girl's camp, scouts and high adventure - are the same week. Your mother and I are going up tomorrow to girl's camp and in the evening we will take part in the faith walk. It will be wonderful. We are to play the roles of Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother and charge the girls before they leave for their lives on earth. Your mother will talk to them about their gifts after I review the Plan of Salvation. Your mother, of course, will be great. Then I go to Scout Camp for a day and then on the High Adventure for 3 days. I won't sleep in a bed for 4 nights.

Do I recall correctly that this is transfer week? Let us know asap where you have been assigned. Leaving an area in which you have worked so long is hard, but moving and having a fresh start is very motivating as well.

The ward is doing well. During the summer things are a bit quiet (except for the camps) because so many people are going on vacations. It felt last winter like we had a real momentum in the ward, but then conference came, which was great, followed by several other activities and it feels like we have not gotten back into sync yet. Brother McDonald is the new Young Men's President and he is doing a great job. Brother Cowley is tearing up as the Elder's Quorum President and Bro. Zarian as the High Priest Group Leader. And you can't even think of anyone better as the Relief Society President than Sister Rasmussen. All the auxiliaries are doing great as well. My biggest job is to get out of the way because everyone is so dedicated. It makes me feel very regretful about all the years I was a slacker. The Lord forgives, however, and accepts even our smallest efforts.

Rachel went up to camp today as a YCL. The YCL's hiked and will camp out tonight. I'll be driving up tomorrow to set up camp for the rest of the girls which will be a great experience. The camps are potentially a huge force for good in the lives of the youth and we are so blessed in this Stake to have such an active youth program.
All the other kids are doing well. Your mother will be leaving for 10 day starting next week to visit Danna and Jay and to help them move to their new home. He will be starting the residency in Cleveland in anesthesiology which is exactly what he wanted to do, so we are very happy for them. Several weeks after she comes home your mother and I will be visiting Ben, Laurie and Elliott in Minnesota. Elliot is a hoot - last Sunday Ben asked him his name in French and Elliot replied in French with the proper accent. Then he asked him his name in English and Elliot replied with "Elliott" in an American accent. It was very cute. Anyway, he is quite the bilingual little guy.

Karene is very busy with her work. A pharmaceutical product she has been working for the last 2 years was approved by the FDA yesterday so she is going to be very busy, which is great in this economy. And Jon and Nicole are doing great. We are hoping to get down and visit them later this summer.

We love you and your mission. The guys you have been teaching will either come around on their own or not - you have done all you can do. The Lord loves them and He will guide them - but they have to listen.

Have a great week,

Love from Dad, Mom and Rachel

From Alec: July 16, 2009

2009-07-27T18:16:00.000-07:00

Hi

This is Elder Hoopes reporting from 112-degrees-land. For transfer news - both Elder Morgan and I are staying. So this will be our third transfer together. That is really surprising considering that is the first time I've had a companion for more than one transfer...again. Also after this transfer I'll have been in this area for 4 transfers, which is as much as I've been anywhere else (this is the beginning of my 8th transfer). The people here are great and there is lots and lots of potential for people to teach. At the beginning of last transfer I got one of those odometers for my bike - and so we went 410.38 miles these 6 weeks. We biked about 15 miles in a normal day - sometimes more, lots less on Sunday and prep day.

So TY is set to be baptized this Saturday, he had his interview and the building is scheduled so all is well! It will be a great experience for Miles, a recent convert himself, to baptize him. We'll be trying to set a date with Lisa tomorrow, but we were able to set one with this girl named Amber. She is working at DI and is coming to church regularly, and really likes doing it. So we set hers for the 15 of August.

Good to hear that Gramps is doing good - I apologize to him because I didn't send him anything for Father's Day, but I didn't have his address. And I did get the package - thanks so much! Rachel: when I took out the French beret I thought to myself - "Oh man, I will never wear that". But then I put it on and that thing is legit wool, so it might become my skiing cap because it holds the heat in like a lid for my melon!

Well something has come up a few times recently that I feel good about - I think I've mentioned it but I'll talk about it again. Our Father in Heaven loves us sooo much and desires so much to bless us with everything he has - all of his love and goodness. But of course none of us are perfect and so we do not open ourselves up to blessings many times. But when we simply try our best to keep the commandments, He will immediately bless us with so much happiness/blessings that seem so great in comparison to the truly small amount of personal sacrifice we performed in the obeying of the commandment(s). The exchange really seems lopsided because of His tender mercies. One story as an example - Sunday night we were riding around just before we needed to head back home and there was this guy smoking, standing on his doorstep. I decided to stop and try and talk with him and he was awesome and seemed totally alright with us coming by and sharing a message - all that I needed was the right attitude (serve the Lord with all mind/might/strength and that I'd fear God more than man) and to just go and talk with everyone. Just a small example - well, I love you all

Elder Hoopes

From Mom: July 14, 2009

2009-07-27T18:14:00.000-07:00

Dear Elder Hoopes,

We are excited to hear if you get transferred. We just got back from Canada last night and brought Gramps with us, and he will be staying with us for a couple of weeks until Lorne & Sirpa come through and pick him up. It will be wonderful to have him here. We had a great time in Sudden Valley and Canada. Rachel brought her friend, Emily Dubie, with her and we did the touristy things: Burnaby Heritage Museum park with the carousel, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Burnaby Mountain, Queen Elizabeth Park and the Conservatory, Skytrain and Metrotown. Then we spent a day in Washington driving along the Olympic Pennisula and taking two ferries along the Juan de Fuca Strait. It was awesome. This was probably the last year that Rachel will do the road trip to Canada, so I think she particularly enjoyed it. Pictures will come later.

On Sunday we went with Grandma to church. She still plays the organ every week. It was Emily's first time at a Mormon church, so I'll ask Rachel what she thought of it. It was great because people were very friendly and came and introduced themselves to us and a missionary also came and introduced himself, and I thought of you doing the same. I love going to church in Canada because it is a United Nations experience of people from all over the world, speaking with all different accents. The gospel is such a uniting, loving force, changing the world one heart at a time. It truly is the "good news".

Well I have to run and play catch up after being gone for a week,

Love you

this________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________much!

Mom

PS Hope you got the package we sent

From Alec: July 16, 2009

2009-07-27T18:11:00.000-07:00

Ola Ninos!

I hope all is well for all of you. Down here in Mesa, the missionaries are doing great - and sweaty. It's not too bad, the most not-cool thing is when the heat from the pavement radiates upwards and beats on your face. If I didn't have sunglasses my eyes would just hurt after riding around.

Well, some disappointment this week. T. didn't show up to our lesson (we waited at the member's house) and we were not able to contact him (house or phone) for the life of us. He did come to 25th ward with us because his friend, (our awesome recent convert) invited him to come to his ward. But we had to rush off to our other ward in a different building so we weren't able to talk with him for very long. We still can't contact him, it's really annoying. He'll get baptized eventually I am pretty sure, but I will be very...put...out if I can't come because I am transferred. Which reminds me - transfers are next Tuesday so I'll find out on Saturday where I am going. I mean..."if" I am going. I am relatively sure I will, but we'll see. D. still didn't come to church, neither did two new investigators who committed to do so. Still haven't been able to meet with the A. family - they'd better get baptized while I'm here.

So the zoo was awesome - I'm sending a picture cd home because I got so many pictures from the trip. Not too many missionary pictures on it, but still pretty cool stuff.

Yesterday was pretty sweet - we had some good lessons, very neat to see the Lord prepare people. It is also very frustrating to see people not even plant and nourish the seed (word). There are many we are trying to work with who just won't come to church. I understand being apprehensive about doing something new, you really can't tell if it will be beneficial or not. That's why we're here, to tell them from our sincere experience that it is the most worthwhile thing they could do. But still they won't even try it for a little while, that is all we ask - plant the seed and see it start to grow from diligence in: prayer, scripture study, and church attendance. Then they can know for themselves! I mean, if it is even half of what we say it is then it is totally worth it to at least try. But maybe I'll have that talk with a few of our investigators, of course with love ;)It is all about fear and doubt, which is the opposite to faith. They fear that they will be uncomfortable, they have doubts as to if it is true, but what they really need is faith in the Word, and the feelings that they can have if they listen with an open heart. Then comes meekness, and lowliness of heart that brings repentance and pure joy to the soul (Alma 36:20). And when you see that as a missionary, it makes all of the effort worth it. All WE can do is invite, support/help, and love.

Love you all - do some type of service for someone this week! It's even better (fun) if you try and do it without them knowing.

TTFN - Elder Hoopes

From Alec: June 30, 2009

2009-07-27T18:08:00.000-07:00

Hello from Mesa Arizona,

Yeah, sorry about not telling you last week that my prep-days were switched to Tuesdays. I forgot. I'll keep a lookout for Elder V then.

Oh yeah - I sent Dad a Father's Day card. It had a picture of a little girl covering her eyes and it said "Oh he's dancing, I can't look" and the inside said "have a Father's Day that embarrasses all the kids". It was pretty funny, but I guess for some reason it wasn't liked by the machines.

Well things are going well down here. We just went to the Phoenix Zoo as a zone and so I am totally wiped out. So this email will most likely be short and not too spiritual. By the way, Rachel would have LOVED the gift shop there - there was so much Africa looking stuff for her room. I got some sweet pictures of zebra's there too, the lady was throwing hay for their breakfast right in front of us so we were no more than 10 feet away. Pretty fun stuff - but not missionary stuff so I'll get back to the area.

We set T's date to July 11th so that both Elder Morgan and I would for sure be there. We are way excited for him, he is an awesome kid. We met with D. and he said his wife is pregnant, so with a kid coming he is really pondering on what is important so hopefully he'll realize he just has to get baptized and COME TO CHURCH.

Church is just so awesome, we all need it every week. Whenever there are investigators who don't show I just feel so much how they're missing out on so much! We also got two new investigators yesterday after a dry-spell of none for a couple weeks. That was great, and the Spirit was present for the second one for sure. (The first lesson we only had a few minutes and weren't even able to teach all of the first lesson, but he wants us to come back to finish). The Lord is there to love and bless us along every step of the way. He of course cannot bless us when we are doing wrong, but as soon as we do good he blesses us so quickly and you can just feel how much he so wants us to do good and be happy!!

I've had some amazing learning experiences here on my mission, lots of things I have learned about myself and also I have felt the Lord's real influence - I can feel him now. I was so tired - but right now I feel like the Spirit is giving me energy to type spiritual things and focus. The Lord really is there and is constantly inviting us to come unto him, and also to bring others with us. I love that quote by the prophet Joseph Smith that goes like "a man filled with the love of God is not content to care for his family alone, but is anxious to bless all of the human race." (not a perfect quote, but pretty good from memory!). It is true, when we really realize the message we (everyone in the church) hold in our hands everytime we hold a triple combination, and when we sit in our meetings - we will have this amazing feeling that says: EVERYONE HAS TO KNOW THIS!!! I would be insane not to just share it with everyone. Of course as a missionary that is what I'm expected to do, talk with everyone only about the restored gospel. But as members back home, all we have to do is pray for the opportunity, the love, and the faith to share the gospel and the Lord will prepare the way. Oh yeah, and we have to be (this is a part of love) more concerned about (in this order) 1. the Lord and his will and, 2. Others. That is so important.

I love you all and hope you have a great week,

Elder Hoopes

From Mom: June 28, 2009

2009-07-27T18:03:00.000-07:00

Dear Elder Hoopes,

Well its not technically June 30th yet, but that is the day you'll read this. Karene told us that your new P-day is on Tuesdays, so we will remember that. By the way, you're supposed to keep your eyes peeled for Elder Doug Valentine(sp?), who should have just arrived in Mesa after being held up in the MTC because of the Swine Flu quarantine. He is a good friend of Geoff Belnap's. Geoff is doing great on his mission in Mexico. Also, for Father's Day, Dad got a torn, empty envelope that looked like your handwriting on the address. Did you send something that the mail sorting machine ate?

Rachel got home from Europe this week and she had a wonderful time. She was showing me all the pictures and reading me her travel journal and about every new city she wrote, "This is my new favorite place!" She said that Sorrento, Italy on the Mediterranean coast was her favorite place, but I'm not sure if that is because she was there last. She says she is definitely into traveling. It's her new favorite thing.

I got to substitute teach for Relief Society today, and I had the wonderful opportunity to really study the talk by Elder Hale about being provident and not coveting. I really understood that anything we do that is not good for us, and we persist in doing even when we know it is not good for us, is an addiction of sorts. I love everything he taught:

"In seeking to overcome debt and addictive behaviors, we should remember that addiction is the craving of the natural man, and it can never be satisfied. It is an insatiable appetite. When we are addicted, we seek those worldly possessions or physical pleasures that seem to entice us. But as children of God, our deepest hunger and what we should be seeking is what the Lord alone can provide-His love, His sense of worth, His security, His confidence, His hope in the future, and assurance of His love, which brings us eternal joy.

With all the love I have in me and with the Savior's love through me, I invite you to come unto Him and hear His words: "Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted" (2 Nephi 9:51)

I testify that the appetite to possess worldly things can only be overcome by turning to the Lord. The hunger of addiction can only be replaced by our love for Him. He stands ready to help each one of us. "Fear not," He said, "for you are mine, and I have overcome the world" (D&C 50:41)."

This talk is probably also a good one for investigators who need to make changes in their lives.

Well, next week Rachel and I, and Rachel's friend, Emily, are heading up to Canada for a week, so we may not be able to email you. I will try to send off a small package this week to you. Love you soooo much,

Mom

From Alec: June 22, 2009

2009-07-27T17:58:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,
greetings from AZ -

Sister Harris said that this summer has been the coolest summer in Arizona since 1913 (or maybe 1930, either way) and we truly are blessed. Still drinking water and using sunscreen, however.

President Bassett is an amazing Mission president - I'm glad Grandpa got to talk with him. He is definitely and inspired man.

Dad's mission reunion sounded like a very good experience, I always imagined mission reunions to be exciting and spiritual. I think I will have to sit down with Dad (and you too Mom) and have you go through your mission journals (Mom just journals) and tell me all of the stories and things that happened. That would be sweet.

Well, this week was alright. Our numbers were a little low, but I think everyone's was for some reason. We did have zone conference though, I always LOVE zone conference. Hearing from President and Sister Bassett is always so awesome, and the things we learn are always exactly what we need (in combination with what we feel and learn spiritually while we're there).

Sunday was soo great - though we only had two investigators who even came. There was a point in one of the sacrament meetings that I cried within myself "This is so AWESOME!!! So-and-so really needs this!!" Church is so energizing and amazing, and everyone we meet NEEDS so desperately (though they obviously don't know it - as they don't come) what is at church for three hours. Whew, it reminds me of what Ryan Burningham told me at the end of the sacrament meeting of my farewell talk - it was along these lines "Everyone you will meet will try and say 'no', but they NEED what you have to share. They don't know how much they need it; you are the only one who does." It struck me that he would say that to me - I wrote the more exact quote down in my journal next to where I wrote down what I remembered of the blessing when I got set apart.

Well I don't have way too much time left, but I'll finish with saying - it is easy to doubt sometimes when Satan really strives his hardest, but it is as easy to give heed to the words of Christ as it was for Lehi and Nephi to hearken to the Liahona (Alma 37) Love you all - have an amazing week,

Elder Hoopes

From Mom: June 22, 2009

2009-07-27T17:50:00.000-07:00

Dear Elder Hoopes,

We got your CDs yesterday and it was so fun to see them. We can really tell you have gained weight; you're still probably underweight for your height but you're not as thin. I'll send some pictures to Karene so she can add them to your blog. I hope that you got the card and pictures that we sent last week.

We had an awesome time with Laurie and Elliott the past two weeks. Yesterday Dad and Ben took them to the airport, and Ben said that he was carrying in their luggage and Laurie was bringing In a crying Elliott who was saying, "Grandpa,! Avec!" He wanted Grandpa to come "with". Dad and I drove from Utah until 1:30 in the morning so we could make it back to see them off yesterday morning.

President Bassett called and left a Father's Day message for Dad telling him what a great, powerful missionary you are and thanking him for sharing you with them. I think we will leave that message on the machine for a long time. Grandpa said that he introduced himself to Pres. Bassett at a stake conference and Pres. Bassett raved about you and said that your stake leads the mission in baptisms.

We had a wonderful weekend. Dad and I drove down to Utah on Friday and we had dinner and stayed overnight at Jon and Nicole's. Then the next day we went to the Provo Temple with them, and we drove around to show them the houses that we lived in while we were at BYU. Then we went to Dad's South African mission reunion. It was a surprise for President Thorn, whose health is failing. It was so sweet to see the overwhelming love that President and Sister thorn still have for all their missionaries. There were also 3 South African converts there who thanked the missionaries with all their hearts for bringing the gospel to their land. In the 35 years since these men have served, when there was just 1 stake, there are now 11 stakes and a temple. It was and evening filled with love and the Spirit, which, of course, is the same thing.

The Gospel is such a wonderful thing; what joy and peace and purpose it enlightens our mortal experience! How wonderful it is to share that with others. May God bless you and the people of Mesa!

Love, Mom

From Mom: June 15, 2009

2009-06-19T13:50:00.000-07:00

Dear Elder Hoopes,

Hope you've had a great week. We have had a great one, especially because Elliott is here and he is keeping us all entertained. Unfortunately the Eagle Fun Days got pretty much rained out so when we went to see the car show and the rain was just pouring, all the cars left. We had ducked into a children's store to wait out the downpour, and there Elliott had claimed a toy that played "Home on the Range" and animal noises. Of course Grandma had to buy it for him. While we drove across town, he played it incessantly, so I was relieved that later when we got back into the car, he had forgotten all about it. But Dad, just to tease me, started singing
"Home on the Range". I started playfully hitting Dad on the arm to get him to stop, and his response was to increase his volume and he started adding animal noises. Elliott, observing this turned to Laurie and asked, "Grandpa, idiot?" Elliott is a lot of fun and he speaks a mixture of French and English. He looks like he is about 4 years old but he is only 2. And he is already potty trained!! I am sending you some pictures we have taken of him recently.

Rachel was in London for 3 days and now she is in Paris. The only way I know this is because I can look in her bank account and see where she has been spending money. She will probably never call or email to let us know how things are going, but I guess that no news is probably good news. She was pretty excited about going. Dad and I will be leaving for Utah on Friday for a mission reunion, so we will be staying with Jon and Nicole. We will be back for Sunday and Father's Day, though.

Love you lots. God bless you and your investigators,
Love,Mom

From Alec: June 15, 2009

2009-06-19T13:46:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

Sounds like everything is going well - it is nice to hear from home. That is so lucky that Dad lucked out at Helaman with the vegemite. for karma's sake he'll probably get something disgusting even for him next academy. ;)

Rachel in Europe? with a card with money on it? that sounds dangerous, who knows what she'll have when she comes back - who is she there with? is it a school thing? I know you probably told me a month ago but you know my memory...

Glad Elliott is still stealing all of the attention -down here I love spending time with young couples that have a kid about Elliott's age, I'm always reminded of him.

Well this week went very well, T. now has a baptismal date (for August 1 - now that I think about it I doubt that it is a Saturday...) He set it, he wants a recent convert - M. - to baptize him.

So this weekend was great - M's. baptism went amazingly well, especially because we were late getting to the font to turn it on, so that it was a little low and still running at 8:05 or so (supposed to start at 8). But he got all the way under (after an extra push! hehe) and the meeting was full of the Spirit. M. even bore his testimony at the end, it was great. (Sorry if my email is choppy - there are some pretty young kids who are a little loud on the computer next to me) We filled the Relief Society room to the brim (I was afraid we wouldn't be able to seat everyone).

I have had some cool experiences with Spanish too - I memorized a little thing from the Spanish elders that I'm not very good at, but I've gotten some really amazing responses from it. I think my pronunciation is pretty good, but of course I can't do anything else with the language really...

Our investigators are doing alright - L. is set for the 27th for her baptism. T. I mentioned. We were able to get A. to church this Sunday, which was awesome because R. totally picked up one of A's. kids and asked me "Should I take her to Relief Society?" I of course said yes. They'd better get baptized while I am here - they really are great people and I care alot about them. We also got this new guy named Tim - he is very interesting but very down to earth - both Elder Morgan and I like him. He didn't show up for church so I'm not sure what is/was up. We also just taught B. and N. - they were a street contact earlier. They really seemed to be listening and understanding - and they said that they really wanted to go to church (they feel like they need to improve their relationship and themselves as parents) but they weren't there... very disappointing, but overall it was a great Sunday.

Something very important as members of the church is to always have faith in the converting power of the gospel - and by that I don't only mean for people who have never heard of the church. I mean for all of us as we try and live the gospel. Once we have a testimony about the church and in the Savior and change our outlook on life we should continue to let the Lord change us, as we are all far from perfect. If we were we wouldn't be on the earth anymore. I see all too much a belief in the world that things change all the time but that people will never change. And that bugs me, because everyone on this earth can become like the Savior if they choose (with his help of course). And that is the wonderful thing about it - so don't get too comfortable because the Lord chastens who he loves - and of course that is because he loves us. It's a good thing too! Love you all,

Elder Hoopes

From Mom: June 9, 2009

2009-06-19T13:43:00.000-07:00

Dear Elder Hoopes,

Sorry we didn’t email you in time, but perhaps you will be able to check tomorrow. aurie and Elliott arrived today so we were busy getting ready for them, then busy giving Elliot 100% of our attention! You are only 2 years old once and need all kinds of Grandma love and admiration. We had a great time at Helaman Academy. I prepared meals all day long, but we broke away a couple of times to observe the activities the young men were involved in. Our ward won the Helaman Treasure hunt which was spread over the two days. Dad lucked out in the nasty foreign food eating because our ward had to eat vegemite which is a mild marmite. Dad , just to show off, ate 3 helpings! Brother Shaw and Brother Yorgason asked about you and were so happy to hear how well you are doing.

Rachel is off to Europe in 2 days, so we are doing last minute shopping for her. I just got called to be Compassionate Service leader in the ward, so I didn’t have much time off after being released from seminary teaching. It will be a wonderful calling to get me back involved in the ward. We had a ward fast for Mark Neilson because he will be having another heart surgery tomorrow. (His surgery went very well and he will be returning home for Father's day) Josie was awarded outstanding high school student, and she has billboards all over town with her picture on it. I’ll try to send a photo of one to you.

Well I have to run,
Love you so much!!! We are praying for you and your investigators,
Love, Mom

From Alec: June 8, 2009

2009-06-10T07:18:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

The work rolls forth, therefore there is still work for each and every one of us to do. It has been relatively pleasant weather-wise here, and I bought some sunscreen because I don't want to end up like our Frankenstein Bishop. Love you dad! Hope you had a happy birthday at Helaman Academy. That place is the best! One of my three wishes from the genie would definitely to be able to go through the academies again. That is for sure - and Bishop Stewart was a great influence on how (especially the spiritual part) awesome they were.

M. is all set for his baptism on the 14th of June - the only day he could get off work/school. He is a great kid, he came to us with some concerns and doubting but he knew where to go for comfort and answers and he did. He is awesome. L. is doing alright, trying to quit smoking still. She has quite a bit to learn, but some things in her life softened her heart and I feel she is converted to the gospel. T. came to all of the 3 hours and I feel like it was a great Sunday for him. Hopefully going to M's. baptism will help him realize that it is the best decision for him. We watched the Joseph Smith movie at the Visitor's Center and his words were "I was speechless". He absolutely loved it, hopefully he has the courage to act on his promptings!!!

We had lots of promises from many that they'd be at church, and then lots of no-shows really is discouraging. Though the one couple had one of their grandkid's parties so they couldn't come, and one lady didn't have a ride and her phone is turned off so she couldn't contact us, but if we bring with us the Spirit - He (is it a he? it?) will teach them and convert them to keeping the commandments.

We had a great street contact experience. We were very down to earth with some people and answered their questions without being critical or judging and two whole families (in the apt complex) invited us back after we gave them copies of the BOM. We'll be going back this week to check on them.

Well, I love you all - hope you are working hard, but at the same time - always remember that with the Lord, we can do all things.

Elder Hoopes

p.s. I'm sending a picture CD, it's been a while - sorry!

From Alec: June 1, 2009

2009-06-10T07:14:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

Thanks for the package! I just got it. I knew that picture of me reading the newsletter would be one of the pics. Just gotta give 'em what they want!

Happy Birthday on Thursday, Dad - I don't know if I'll be able to send you a card but know I love you and have really appreciated your example to me as to what a man should be. If you look up Alma 48:11-13, a Man is defined. I feel like you are that, Dad - but also add "a man who tells repetitious jokes whenever at dinner, and a man with a giving/willing Heart."

That story about Hilde sounds pretty funny. I can just see her running for her life but just hoping she doesn't run into anything/ get caught. Probably got scared silly. (funny thing too - I think the same thing would have happened even if she wasn't blind, that scaredy cat)

Well things are going very well here - we are working hard, this last week we got the highest TTI's in the zone (street contacts) and we did work pretty hard to do it. We got 56 in one day (that is like ridiculous) but we could easily get 200 if we were consistent. We had some illness keep people from coming to church, so that was a bit of a letdown, but the Lord knows his children and will never give them anything they cannot handle/overcome. L. and M. both have their dates set (13th and 14th respectively). But I'm almost reluctant to baptize M., because he is struggling with doubt and is doubting his feelings - but decided to stick with it (a good choice, but I feel like he has not figured out how to combat doubt). I hope and pray that we can effectively help him realize how to search for answers to his questions. We were able to teach a few great lessons with newer investigators. We'll probably have to turn one over to the singles ward elders but whatever it takes to get them baptized! The other is a family of four, S. & D. that we had just a great lesson with. The Spirit was there when we testified about the blessings that would come that this little family desperately needs - and they know they need something, for the most part. We took T. (passive investigator) and A. (less-active) to the visitors center. It was great. Hopefully the Spirit instilled something inside them.

Oh - transfer news came this Saturday; we are both staying! YAAAAAY, finally I stay in an area more than 2 transfers and with a companion for more than 1 transfer! SOO GOOOOD!

Oh yeah, and at district meeting Elder Morgan's bike (borrowed) and my bike got stolen, but we chased them and got the bikes back eventually - oh and we street contacted the older kid later. Hopefully he looks up the site on the card! I love many of the people down here - but it's just too much of a city for me to try and live in, crime and society is just sickening sometimes (in general). Give me Eagle anytime - but I love the mission of course. Well, hope everyone has a great week,

Elder Hoopes

From Mom: June 1, 2009

2009-06-10T07:09:00.000-07:00

Dear Elder Hoopes,

Hope you are doing well this week. Things are great here. Rachel has finals the next 3 days then she is all done with her Junior year. On Thursday and Friday she has Legacy, which she has been involved planning as a ward rep this year. Dad has Helaman Academy on Thursday and Friday (Thursday is his birthday) and I am going up too to be one of the cooks. So Ben and Hilde will be hanging out together for a couple of days.

Speaking of Hilde, she had a minor altercation with a fox in our backyard yesterday morning. There is a fox who had had 3 kits, and their den is just down the rim. They often come up and play and hunt quail (successfully)in our back yard. Well, yesterday Dad let Hilde out, then Dad heard the fox barking and when he got to the door he saw the fox chasing Hilde, and Hilde trying to run away, but not sure which way to run. When Dad went out to rescue Hilde, the momma fox ran off.

Friday was my last day teaching early morning seminary. We had a breakfast of course, and the kids shared their testimonies of what they had learned this year. Then they gave me a card which all of them had written in, a box of chocolate dipped fortune cookies, and a $100 gift certificate to Eagle Day Spa!!! I've never been to a spa so it should be wonderful. Today I am going to pester 5 of the students to hand in/complete their makeup work so I can give them a final grade.

I learned a lot this year, probably more than any of the kids. The first I have already mentioned, is that I was given the gift of loving those kids from day one, so it did not seem a sacrifice to devote all my time to prepare and get up at 5:00 am each weekday. (Probably you have experienced that on your mission.) I came to appreciate Jesus Christ more as I studied his daily life and words; what infinite compassion to deal with flawed, weak, silly humans, yet to be so patient and concerned! I was also impressed by the trials endured by the early Christians who repeatedly gave their all for their hope in Christ. One student pointed out that the New Testament takes place over a relatively short space of time, within a man's lifetime and yet so much happened. The students also were so impressed with Revelation, and what an amazing book that is as it reviews the battle of good and evil which began before the world was, the history of the earth and the events which will unfold over the next 1000 years. We even get to glimpse heaven and the Celestial Kingdom. I am hoping that I will continue to really study the scriptures daily, even as my life gets packed with other things. It seems that because I've studied so much, there is a spiritual conduit opened in my heart directly to heaven; it is like I've got a high speed connection! All I have to do is kneel down and say "Father," and I feel the burning in my soul. I don't want to lose that.

Have a wonderful week. We love you so much!
Mom

From Alec: May 26, 2009

2009-06-10T07:06:00.000-07:00

Hello from Arid-zona

Glad to hear from you, sorry that this email is a day late - the library is not open on Memorial Day - so we had to switch our emails to today. It sounds like things are going pretty well. People are growing older - I realized this when I realized I've been out for 9 months and so I am very close to halfway through my mission. I'm going to be 20 in a few months (that's a little weird too). Anyways...

To answer your questions, Dad, no, we cannot wear cowboy hats, unless you want to fit them under your bike helmet or if you find a helmet that has the cowboy hat brims sticking out of it, I guess that might work... although if I go to a reservation I might be able to get away with some boots and bolo ties. Oh and a question - I thought I heard a while back that the McDonald's were moving; if Bro McD got called to YM then I guess he didn't move?

And one last thing, Dad - getting Mom and Rachel out more? Somewhere away from home comforts? Not likely. :)

Well, things have been alright down here. Sunday was great, of course. Church is always good - we even had a lesson with an investigator who was turned over to us (he lives in our area). He is a great kid, friends with our other investigator, T., and they're both track stars. Miles won the 100 and 200 in the regional meet, I think.

OH - well I guess I could mention that O. got baptized on Saturday - it was great. Though we were scrambling around for a Stake Center to do it in because the Reservation Ward had scheduled out the whole building for all of Saturday. But everything worked out and O. is a great kid. We were very happy to see everything work out.

Other than that, however, this last week was full of disappointments. We had a great first lesson with a lady named S. She seemed awesome, totally answered questions and understood everything very well. Then she wasn't at church. Also we had a lesson with D. and he admitted that he really needed to go to church (like over and over again he said it) and he wasn't there either. Lisa isn't doing well - she is having lots of bad influences and things really bombarding her right now, including guilt from not quitting smoking. Hopefully we can help find her somewhere else to live in our area so she can get back on track.

[ha - We actually just saw D. in the library - he's a cool guy, but needs to go to church...meanwhile, back at the bat cave...]

Also we just met with M. today and he isn't sure if he wants to be baptized - he is getting very confused with all of the opinions and voices in the world. (and even inside of himself). He has felt like he wants to be baptized and he always feels good about the church, but he is doubting if the feelings are from God or from just himself and his wants/desires. He also is struggling with things he isn't sure if things match up (like with the church, even the bible itself really - just everything in general). We tried to keep the Spirit there and to follow it, because he is a great guy and we really wanted to help him. I think it did some, but he still feels the same way. I guess we just have to do everything we can for him to realize and recognize what Heavenly Father is trying to tell him. Because as much as we can talk and bear testimony, I really feel like it will get nowhere until he wants to understand how it works out - and he comes to the Lord in prayer with a humble heart and contrite spirit. Of course, that is the way that we all must to it. I just hope and pray that we can be up to the task of being the missionaries he needs right now. Love you all and I hope you are quenching your spiritual thirst with the scriptures (including the Conference talks). I'll end with a funny quote I saw in someone's house: "Don't run faster than your guardian angel can fly".

Elder Hoopes

From Dad: May 25, 2009

2009-06-10T07:02:00.000-07:00

Alec!

I love your picture in the new missionary newsletter - we will try to be more reliable writers so that you don't have to look into empty mailboxes.

I notice on weather.com that you guys there are running in the 90's and clear - sounds great, but hotter is to come. You don't think you can get away with a dress cowboy hat?

We, as always, are blessed here. We had to release brother Rasmussen as the young men's president because he was called to be the area communications specialist, which means that he will work with the media on behalf of the Church and while doing so work directly with the area seventies. Brother MacDonald has been called to be the new YM President; he will also do a great job. Because of the economy we are staying close for the High Adventure, hiking and camping in the mountains by Stanley. The YW will be near there as well, so I will spend the week running back and forth between them. I'm very much looking forward to it.

I'm trying to talk mom into doing some hiking and camping this summer to get Rachel out a bit. You know mom. She always has things that needs doing so I'm not expecting we'll be able to get out often.

We have had Jon and Nicole here for the weekend which has been a treat, and Ben flies in this afternoon (after Jon and Nicole have to leave). Ben will be here for at least one month doing a clerkship for Jon Zarian's firm. We are all excited about the experience, but also about the possibility that this may lead to something long term for them which would bring them closer to us.

Well, the Gospel is true, families are forever, and we are very proud and excited for you and the wonderful experience you are having on your mission,

Love
Dad

From Mom: May 25, 2009

2009-06-10T06:28:00.000-07:00

Dear Elder Hoopes,

Well I hope you are having a wonderful day. We have had an awesome weekend with Jon and Nicole here. We were able to go to the temple with them on Saturday, go to Rachel's concert on Thursday, church with them on Sunday, and otherwise just hang out with them and talk and laugh together. It has been very sweet. They are driving home this afternoon and Ben is flying in at the same time so they might stop at the airport to say hello and goodbye on their way back to Provo.

This will be a busy week for us because it will be my last 4 days of Seminary, Tanner is having his Eagle Court and we have youth Temple baptisms and Josie's senior violin recital. (Brother Neilson is leaving on June 9th to go back east for another heart surgery so Josie will be mom for her younger siblings for a few weeks.) Also this week we have 6 seniors graduating: Derek, Josie, Dayna, Madi, Rachel, and Stephanie. Your cousins Jordan Doughty and Anna Belnap also will be graduating. All the babies are growing up and flying away!

Life is so good and we feel so blessed to have the gospel, to live close to the temple, to be surrounded by wonderful people, to have lives filled with the Spirit.

Love, Mom

From Alec: May 11, 2009

2009-06-10T06:27:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

It was great to be able to talk with most of the fam yesterday - I love hearing everyone's voices and personalities every once and a while.

I am very fortunate, Mother, to have 3 older returned missionaries as siblings. I have always had that example. I have met many missionaries who are either the first to serve a mission in their (generation) family (1st and 3rd companions) or who are the oldest (Elder Morgan and Elder Pongi) or have older siblings who chose not to go (1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th companions). I have realized how truly blessed I was in that regard. Of course, it is not just the fact that they all happened so serve, but the straight up, amazing examples they set for me. There are lots of people in the world who suffer unhappiness because those they love, and depend upon, make bad choices. I belong to a very tiny minority of people who are blessed with a ridiculous number of good examples in my family. I hope that paragraph made sense.

Oh, and you don't have to worry about sun exposure, Mom. I am either in a car or wearing a bike helmet all day. My hair is actually light brown now (not really blond).

Well, things are going well in the area (not like much has changed since last night ;) We have dates for O. and L. on the 23rd of September, and they are in the same ward. So I'm not sure what we'll do, perhaps have the service for one, leave the water in and when everything is done the next group can come in. I don't know how much they'd like being baptized in the same service... we'll see what happens!

Hopefully we can meet with T. soon and I especially hope and pray that he prays sincerely and with real intent about his baptism. Because I know he'll get the right answer if that is the case - and I really do love T., he is such a great kid.

I'm still pretty amazed that I have been out for 8 months. In no time at all I will have been out a year - that is a scary thought. Soon after that I have less time left than I've been out! Too weird.

I love you all and hope you do everything you can to have the spirit with you 24/7. One thing I've figured out is vital to having the Spirit with you is obeying promptings. It's a "duh" thing but it is VERY easy to ignore or not recognize the promptings of the Spirit. President Uchtdorf knows this - and he talked about that in his priesthood session talk. But if we have the right attitude, which is: if the Lord commands (through the Spirit), then [I/we] obey, then the Spirit can be our most trusted and beloved companion.

Elder Hoopes

From Mom: May 11, 2009

2009-06-10T06:25:00.000-07:00

Dear Elder Hoopes,

It was so great to hear your voice yesterday! Your voice is getting deeper; it must be all the leg muscles you're building riding your bike! It was fun to hear you talking with Jon and Karene. I was just pondering that you are fortunate to have 3 older siblings who have already served missions. Because of it you have a lot more support in terms of letters and care packages from them because they are so aware of how much they mean to a missionary. It sounds as if your area is doing great, and the Spirit is really touching the hearts of many of the people there. The Lord is good to us to let us share in His joy , and their joy, when people turn to Him, and discover His love and their purpose. Happiness is...being a missionary :) (It's a ‘70s thing.)

We are doing great. Rachel is still coughing and short of breath, but feeling much better. Dad goes in tomorrow to get a cancer spot removed from his forehead; it's benign, but growing and needs to be removed before it becomes something worse. He should have been wearing a hat whenever he was in the sun! I suppose missionaries can't wear hats, eh? Hilde is doing great. She seems to have adjusted to her blindness, although she still bumps into things pretty regularly. When we go out for our walks every day, she likes to run the first mile or so. I think she likes the security of being able to run on leash where she knows I won't let her collide with anything.

I'm doing great. Seminary is still my top priority each day, and will be for 3 more weeks until school is out. We just started Revelations, and it has some pretty interesting stuff in it. It is the summary of the history of the world with an emphasis on this final dispensation. It illustrates through symbolic prophecy the battle between good and evil. Even Hollywood has cashed in on the struggle between good and evil, because when it is all said and done, that conflict is the only compelling one. Well, go out wearing the whole armor of God and face the world,

Love you forever,
Mom

From Alec: May 18, 2009

2009-05-19T16:11:00.000-07:00

Hello from Mesa,

Yes it is getting warm here - I think it was 104 yesterday. It really isn't too bad riding a bike when you have water. It's just when you stop, especially if you're in the sun. I've never been sweaty EVERYWHERE as I was yesterday. Sounds like we had a bishop Frankenstein sitting on the stand last Sunday. I think I'd wait a week before going in for tithing settlement if that was the case....That is good Dee moved to be with the fam. She is a character, I send love back. Oh and that is awesome about Justin Z, merry ol' England - he'll love it.

Well this last week was a very good one. We had some interesting experiences. O. passed his baptismal interview (no surprise). He is great - although he did sleep in at his dad's place on Sunday and missed the 9:00 sacrament meeting. He ended up going to his fellowshippers in another stake's meeting, and we think he'll still be good for his baptism. We taught L. the word of wisdom and committed her to stop smoking. She accepted and we set the dates with her and gave her some advice/materials and so we'll keep praying for her. Her interview is set for the 6th of June in which she will hopefully be able to say she is obeying the word of wisdom. Then the goal baptism is for the 13th of June. She is an awesome lady - she can do it. We'll be stopping by almost daily and doing everything we can for her. She'll need all the help available. We also had a great lesson with D. - we finally uncovered the reasons he hasn't been coming to church; it has to do with not feeling worthy and also family pressure. But he is such the man and we will do what we can for him as well!

We had Tuesday as our Prep day this week so that we could go to the temple this morning. That was very nice (I didn't get to go last transfer).

A cool story from yesterday - we were on our way to drop off a DVD for this contact and we decided that we maybe shouldn't go at the moment, and so we visited another contact and then went to street contact this other guy on the way out. Because of that we got close to Country Club road, and we heard this car honking and the guy waving at us. Turns out he ran out of gas and needed our help to push it around to the gas station he just passed, (He was in a hurry for a meeting). It was one of those heavy 80's Buicks or something, but we got it back. It turns out that J. (the driver) has a Book of Mormon in his car and he reads it when he is confused or is having a bad day, because as he said, he gets answers for his life everytime he opens up to any page. The only reason he hasn't gone to church or taken the lessons is because his wife "believes in Nature" or something like that. But he gave us his card and we will definitely call him up - he is such an awesome guy and was very grateful we were able to help him in his time of need.

The Lord is never shy to use his servants if they but listen to his gentle promptings and therefore open themselves to his will.

I have also been reading and studying the general conference Ensign - man that is a spiritual feast and three-quarters (as Dad used to say). Some things I didn't even notice in the talks come alive as I read their words. If you have the means...I highly recommend it...

Love you all, and remember that all we need is to believe, and all things are possible.

Elder Hoopes

From Mom: May 18, 2009

2009-05-19T16:07:00.000-07:00

Dear Elder Hoopes,

Well I hope you are using your camel back to keep hydrated this week! I'm afraid that you are going to be having a pretty hot summer. Heat strokes can kill so be cautious. (I'm a Mom, so I have to say things like that:) Actually today will be in the 90s here. Last week our high was in the 50s, so we are feeling we somehow missed Spring. A few weeks of 60s and 70s would have been nice. President McCauley asked us all to grow some of our own food this year, so I went to a Master gardening class last Tuesday, learned all kinds of good stuff, and Dad and I planted our garden on
Saturday. Hopefully we will have an abundant harvest this year.

We are all doing great. Rachel can sing again, so her pneumonia is gone. Dad had a cancerous spot removed from his forehead last Tuesday. The good news is that they got it all, the bad news is that he has a 2 inch incision with about 15 stitches on the outside and I don't know how many on the inside. He also has 2 black eyes because blood seeped down his face. He was a pretty scary bishop at church yesterday. Dee Hines moved to South Dakota to live with her son, so that is great for her to be with her family, but we do miss her and her fun sense of humor. She asked me to send her love to you.

I am so excited about this weekend because Jon and Nicole are coming on Thursday to catch Rachel's Choir Concert and staying for the long weekend, then Ben flies in on Sunday to start his month-long internship with Brother Zarian's law firm. Laurie and Elliott won't be able to join him for 2 more weeks. But that gives me more time to buy more toys for Elliott before they come! He is one spoiled little guy; the world's most loving parents, and grandparents, aunts and uncles who all think he is the cutest kid in the world.

We had the sister missionaries over for dinner this week. They are just the sweetest young women. One is from Peru. She looks like a Mayan princess with high cheekbones and almond eyes. The other sister is from Mexico, via Utah and she looks like a Spaniard. They both speak with accents and have such wonderful testimonies of the gospel, it was a delight to be with them. By the way, Justin Zarian got his call to the London, England Mission and he will be leaving in July.

I have been enjoying my study of Revelation. It is an amazing book, with some pretty bizarre symbolism, but overall is a powerful testimony of the magnificent plan of happiness for God's children, and a peek to what lies in reward for God's children who desire that happiness. It is also a harrowing look into the hearts of Satan and those who give him their power and become his minions. In the false security of our lives, we can forget that the War in Heaven still rages on. And while we do see in Revelation what the final outcome of this war will be, we can't be assured of our position in it, whether we will be a collaborator, a casualty, or a
conqueror. The little, every day choices do matter, because out of those we "become". While it is necessary to experience evil here in mortality, it is essential that we do no evil, and/or repent as fast as we can, so we can be healed and made whole and be armored against further injury. And true to the war metaphor, this is not a battle that can be fought alone, because our hearts must be bound to each other and our Savior to succeed. A war can't be considered victorious if too many are lost.

God bless you in your daily battles for the souls of men! We love you so much,

Mom

From Alec: May 7, 2009

2009-05-07T10:23:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

We had what was called a Training Blitz on Monday and Tuesday, where we met from 7:30-12:30 at a church building and had trainings and such, then we had a zone leader be a coach (Elder Gomez from south Jordan, UT) with us the rest of the day, giving us feedback. It was great! But because of that our Prep day got pushed to Wednesday, hence the late email. Hey Mom, I am totally fine - all I have is a little cough right now. And I actually didn't have a headache at all in the picture, just a stuffy nose and no voice. But I am fine now, and yes, we will be drinking plenty of water! I am relatively used to hot now, it almost feels good if you do it right (lotsa water and shade whenever you can).

Well things are going well down here - last Friday, Elder Morgan and I felt like there was someone who the Lord wanted us to set a baptism date with before the weekend ended. We met with a kid on Saturday and he is great, and we set a date with him for the 16th of May. He came to our ward for the first time the next day as well!

We have been really trying to meet with J. and R. who come to church almost every Sunday on their own now, they just have all their kids and grandkids living in the same house so it is CRAZY all the time. Thus we cannot meet with them, but we will start tomorrow meeting with them at 2 (when their grandkids nap). Hopefully they can feel the Spirit!

We still haven't been able to meet with T., but we can't blame him as prom was last week, but we really need to set a new date and bring him unto Christ! (by dunking him - hehe; Jon would always say that on his mission.)

We also got a new investigator yesterday, L. We'd talked with her before but she actually called us (got the number from a convert we meet with) and said she wanted to meet with us. She does need a little financial help, but she did seem very sincere about needing guidance as well, and she wants that especially as her two sons will be coming back to live with her, and she wants them to have a good influence.

It is pretty neat because of all of the work that is going on in our area, it seems the Lord is blessing us. My trainer (Elder Howell) was the zone leader here but got moved when I moved here. He saw me at the training blitz and asked how the area was going. I said great and told him about O. He seemed happy because he said that the missionaries before me were really letting the area "die", and were not street contacting people (at all). That really struck me about how much our Heavenly Father blesses our puny best efforts and makes up the difference. He so wants to bless us, and all He asks is that we keep His commandments. And then when we do that, He immediately blesses us! I was just reading in Mosiah 4 - how because of that we will forever be indebted to God. We are "less than the dust of the earth". Keep the prayers up, I can feel them often helping us. D. needs to understand he can progress even if his wife won't, C. needs to get to church and be married so that she and her daughter can be baptized. J. also needs help so that she can have the strength to keep the commandments and feel the blessings and love. Can we do it? No. As Elder Holland said, "We are sent out to save the world, and we cannot do it. But we do know Someone who already has." Love you all and hope you have a great rest of the week!

Elder Hoopes

From Mom: May 4, 2009

2009-05-07T10:20:00.000-07:00

Dear Elder Hoopes,

We got a sweet note from President and Sister Palmer, with pictures, as well as another one from President and Sister Wright, saying how wonderful you are. From the pictures you seemed to look a little sick, like you were smiling through a headache. Are you feeling better this week? If you are not, you may need antibiotics. Are your allergies bothering you? I know that spring allergens in a blooming desert can be pretty severe. We are looking forward to talking to you this coming Mother's Day. 6:00 pm your time would be great. That is 7:00 pm our time because we are 1 hour ahead. (We spring forward for daylight savings time, Arizona doesn't.) We are flexible according to what works out for you and your companion.

Oh my, I just looked at Mesa weather and it will be above 100 degrees all week!!! Drink lots of water!

Rachel is doing better this week. She finally went back to school on Wednesday after missing a week and a half. She's still coughing up a lot but I guess that is part of pneumonia. She took the SAT on Saturday and this Friday she has her AP History test. Wow, just 4 weeks left of school, and only 11 days of Seminary for the 5 seniors in my class! Looking back on it, the year flew by. However, from the perspective of crawling out of a warm bed on a cold winter morning at 5:00 am, it seemed like it would never end.I learned not to count all the days ahead, just to focus on each day, and not to borrow worry from tomorrow. I guess that is a good life lesson, as well as a good mission lesson, eh? In a mile race you don't let yourself get overwhelmed by the laps you have left, but instead focus on doing your very best on the lap you're on. And lo and behold, the end of the race will be upon us and we can say with Paul, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."

Eagle 5th ward is doing great. A lot of people are struggling financially and health wise, but they are turning to the Lord and each other, so that is a great thing. We had a ward fast again for the members who are suffering. What a blessing we have to know what we know, and to have the Holy Ghost to comfort us when we don't know, and have people around who love us. Have a great week, and talk to you soon!

Love,
Mom

From Alec: April 27, 2009

2009-04-28T11:40:00.000-07:00

Hello family!

Glad to get the news from home,
Karene sent a letter with pictures from Rachel's prom. I liked your dress, Rachel, it looked good!

Well I am not doing the best - I got a sinus infection on Friday and it has messed with my throat so since Saturday I haven't had much of a voice. I'm thinking of getting an elder from the trio of the reservation elders in our district to just ride around with us. I just can't really teach or street contact very well. I'm fighting it but it's one of the harsher ones, but I hope it will go away this week.

My new companion is Elder Morgan from Spokane Valley WA. He is a good missionary who really wants to work hard. I still don't feel ready to train a new missionary, still lots of things I wanted to work on before I had some missionary copying everything I do. But the Lord calls us in our weakness on purpose. I just really hope I've learned enough humility and how to rely on the Lord.

On Tuesday when I first got Elder Morgan we were riding down the street and I asked him to contact this family walking on the sidewalk. He had seen me do it a couple of times and so he went up and did it. It was slightly awkward and it was a little funny looking at it from my point of view, but he trusted in the Lord and it actually turned out to be a very good street contact, a very good experience and I was very proud of Elder Morgan. Then the next morning we happened to stop by a less active who we usually teach every week but the transfers messed up the schedule. He was home and I quickly decided the story of Enos would be good (I guess the Spirit must have told me) because when we got to the last verse, he was reading it and he choked up and I felt the Spirit very strongly. I don't know why I didn't think of that verse for him specifically, he used to do drugs and really messed up his body, and he'll probably be on kidney dialysis in a month, so thinking about the life after this one in the way Enos described it was very sweet. I'm glad we were there to give it to him. The church is God's Kingdom here on Earth and this gospel can and does change people's lives. It is amazing what love can do. Dumbledore really was right when he told Harry the power Voldemort underestimated what led to his downfall. It was Love. Never lose faith in the power contained in the love and true doctrine of our Heavenly Father. Have a great week!

Elder Hoopes
P.S. I'll probably call home then like at 6 on Sunday the 10th.
P.P.S. Oh yeah, and a lady named Debbie got baptized on Thursday; she is great and the ward has done such an amazing job.
Just thought you'd like to know!

From Mom: April 27, 2009

2009-04-28T10:06:00.000-07:00

Dear Elder Hoopes,

We got the most awesome letter from President Bassett last week. He said that you were "an example of faith, diligence, obedience" and you had great ability to teach the gospel and are a fine missionary. God bless you as a trainer! You will be a wonderful friend and teacher. We will be praying for both of you and the people you are able to teach. I was thinking about Landon Frost, and how much he admires and has learned from his companions. They have always been so careful to help and encourage Landon, and that has made all the difference. I also remember that Jon told about his companions, and the ones that he really came to love were also where they were able to have the most success in teaching and baptizing. Jon told me that when companions are united and kind to each other, the Spirit was there and then the Lord could work through them. I guess that is also a life lesson that can help you in your work, church callings and most importantly, at home.

Sorry I didn't get to write last week, but I was in Vancouver helping Mom and Bob move apartments. It was pretty stressful for them because they were moving to an apartment half the size, so they had to sort through and give away a lot of stuff. But I think they will enjoy it because it is on the 16th floor and has an awesome view. It was cool because on Thursday the Relief Society President called the missionaries to come over and help move out 4 big pieces of furniture that they were giving away. One Elder was from Las Vegas, and the other was from Orange Co, CA. They were so sweet and helpful. I flew home and Dad picked me up Saturday night. But when Dad didn't get back on the freeway, I asked him why and he said he needed to go to an all-night pharmacy to pick up a prescription for Rachel because she has Pneumonia! She missed most of last week of school because she had a respiratory flu and now she will have to miss a couple more days. Poor thing. She also missed the dance festival on Saturday.

I'm looking forward to talking to you on Mother's Day! Our church is from 11-2 but Dad probably won't be home until 4 DST. I think that you are 1 hour ahead of us.

So this morning seminary was about pies and I brought 3 Marie Calendar pies to seminary. We talked about what makes a pie good and decided that among other things, it needs to have a flaky crust. But although we like flaky crusts, we don't like to have to depend on flaky people. So the lesson was really on how not to be flaky, how to be as committed as was Paul and the Savior, and how to increase our faith and our faithfulness. President Howard W. Hunter said: A successful life, the good life, the righteous Christian life requires something more than a contribution, though every contribution is valuable. Ultimately it requires commitment-whole-souled, deeply held, eternally cherished commitment to the principles we know to be true in the commandments God has given. ["Standing As Witnesses of God," Ensign, May
1990, p. 62]

I think the kids liked the pies, at least. Hopefully they got the point.

I hope you have a great week in your new area. We are all praying for you,

Love, Mom

From Alec: April 20, 2009

2009-04-27T11:58:00.000-07:00

How are you doing? I love to hear from you, all of the letters and emails are appreciated. Things are going well here - we have two baptism dates set up and easily one more, and of course hopefully a few more! And of course that doesn't mean everything.

Well, on Saturday night we were just heading to our ride's car to leave from a lesson, and our phone rang. I saw that it said "mission office" on it and I thought "Why would they call to give us a referral?" but I answered it with the customary greeting and the person on the other end said "Are you ready?" I asked, "To write something down?" and started fumbling with my planner. He replied "No not to write, but write it in your heart, ok?" At this moment I realized it was President Bassett's voice and he only calls on Saturday nights before transfers for a few reasons. He told me I would be training. Man I do not feel ready - I'm still trying to iron out a lot of things, I really don't feel ready to have a brand new missionary. Funny though, if you had asked me a couple transfers ago I would have said ok and felt ready. I guess it's only when we realize our weaknesses that Heavenly father can bless us. But I'll definitely need prayers and lots of divine intervention. I'll find out on Tuesday at about 2:30 or 3 who my new golden is. I wonder when I will ever have a companion for longer than a transfer... Elder Sexton is going up north to the reservation by Payson. It will be about Boise weather up there (it sounds like), so he lucked out in some ways!

We had a great lesson with D. on Saturday. We only had about 20 minutes before our next (rock solid) appointment, but we were able to watch the slideshow from the Reflections of Christ DVD that shows most of the photographs and has a great song in the background. The short 5 minute slideshow has the ability to bring the Spirit so effectively and powerfully. We've also been meaning to talk to D. about being an example to his wife by doing what he needs to do, just like Christ was an example for us. By the end, the Spirit was very strong, and you could tell that D. loved the slideshow. He wanted to keep the DVD actually so he could see the behind the scenes stuff on it (which is most of the DVD) and I have no doubt that he watched them. It is so amazing how much our Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to follow his Son. He not only knows it will bring us happiness now, but also the greatest happiness which is eternal life. I love the words in the song that played during the slideshow - "Jesus sought me, when a stranger, wandering from the throne above. Here to rescue me from danger..." (of course the song is Come thou Fount) He will seek us, He will knock, even if we're a stranger, all alone. I pray that we all can bring others closer to Christ, because that will be, just as it was for John Witmer (D&C 15) and others mentioned, "the thing which will be of the most worth unto you".

Elder Hoopes

From Alec: April 13, 2009

2009-04-27T11:30:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

Thank you for the emails - sounds like Easter was a good one. Sounds like Rachel had fun at the prom - my senior prom was at the Winery too, and it was way sweet - for 2 reasons: whoever thought of doing dances outdoors was a genius because you get so much less sweaty and gross, and therefore at the end of the dance I still felt great and was thinking "It's over already?" and also the lights and stuff were cool - it felt like a Jane Austen era dance. The only thing I need to complete the experience is to have one of those brightly colored striped suits with white pants like Bert in Mary Poppins when they jump into the chalk picture.

Well, this prep day has been a little different - we haven't done our studies yet and so I feel a lot less spiritual, hopefully it doesn't show in the email. We went to the Easter Pageant 6 times, it was pretty cool. We either took investigators, recent converts, or just worked it (walked around trying to find people to teach). I like it more and more the more I saw it. It really made this Easter season special for me, so much more Savior-oriented than Easter Bunny and candy oriented, which of course is the point!

This week went pretty well for us, our numbers were better - especially now that we have two investigators with dates! D. set her date for the 23rd. She seems pretty happy, hopefully she can keep improving (she's been having trouble with the self-discipline necessary to read scrips and pray every day - which is essential to daily conversion of course!) We had a lesson with T. on Monday, and after answering questions and starting to explain the blessings of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost, he basically asked to be baptized! He is such a stud - he really thinks about things and is just so in-tune. He asked us about faith & testimony vs. physical scientific proof, (pertaining to if the church was true) and he knew and believed in his heart the answer better than most kids raised in the church. We were able to get D. and L. to the Easter Pageant, and they both liked it - hopefully we can get everyone progressing towards Christ!

So we had a lesson with S. and he taught us how to do a move in card magic, so now is the time to practice. He said it took him a year of practice to get it down, and that he got blisters from practicing it. No lie there - the top of my pinky started to feel raw after just two days! So I slowed down a bit but we'll keep going until we can put Chris Angel to shame! (not really..)

It is pretty funny how I just feel like my mission is my spiritual school. I work hard everyday and learn something every day as well, including very pivotal things in my outlook and perspective on things. My mission has been a very humbling experience as well - looking back I've realized I've been way, way too much of a prideful person, and at the same time I realized that that pride was completely misplaced. The best analogy I can use is the fig tree that Christ cursed - all looking like it has all the fruits under the summer leaves but really being bare underneath. And that has been part of my new focus on my mission - relying on the Lord. I can honestly say that I have worked my fanny off on my mission, I have no problem saying that truthfully. But I've realized that, while that is good and very necessary, that I haven't been able to have my efforts blessed by the Lord because if He had I wouldn't have said (for example) "It was because of my efforts that [so and so] was baptized..." I realized this when I read a verse in the Book of Mormon. Luckily, I was able to hear the message.

Then, at the very end of the week we were riding down the street at like 8:30 pm (so only 30 min left before we had to be in our home) and we saw three people walking a couple dogs. I had the same excuses come into my head as always (I've learned how to combat most them, but it only works if I have the right attitude) but then I decided to listen to the Spirit, and I felt good about talking to them. Satan put as many fears and excuses into my head as he could, but then I remembered that if I was really relying on the Lord I would obey every command even if I was scared of consequences. So we stopped and talked to them. They were members, but we might be teaching one of their less-active daughter's friends (the daughter was one of the three, actually) who will most likely be moving in with them. That was the first time on my mission that I actually got a referral out of anybody I talked to on the street. And it was only because the Lord willed it - I had nothing to do with the outcome.

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me" Psalm 23

Elder Hoopes

PS for the missionary newsletter:

A paragraph for the Quorum and other 5th Warddiors? (I thought a combination of "ward" and "warrior" would look cool, but I guess not...) If anything I'd like to thank everyone in the ward - I know that the quorum has affected me in more ways than probably anything else, except for my family (and hopefully the Savior). For Alma Academy, I disliked the idea that we would be picking our "quorums". If you had given me all of the first picks I would have just chosen everyone in the ward. (I think Jordan still has hard feelings against me for not drafting him - Despain just got the jump on me!) Just remember that part of the white handbook - how our time where we can serve the Lord completely is extremely short, do everything you can to make the most of it, and never give up or stop relying on the Lord.

From Mom: April 13, 2009

2009-04-27T11:27:00.000-07:00

Dear Elder Hoopes,

Hope you had a wonderful Easter. What a great time to remember the miraculous love of our Savior. In a way, Easter is a more sacred "holy-day" than Christmas and we feel an outpouring of the Spirit as we commemorate the infinite Atonement. I had a thought as we were singing a hymn yesterday that we must have been among the "cherubic legions guarding him home, and shouting him welcome to the skies," after He had completed the Atonement. As spirits awaiting our mortal experience, we must have been relieved, and oh so grateful, that the Atonement was fulfilled for us.

The Easter Bunny also visited our house and scattered toys and eggs in our back yard for Sidney, Sara and Jackson to find. They had fun, but unfortunately, the Bunny included kazoos, which were a loud and big hit with the kids. Fortunately, the kazoos went home with them. Rachel went to prom and had a fun time. She and Kevin were with a great group of 6 couples who Rachel knew well and liked. They went to the Zoo and had a picnic for the daytime date, then had the evening dance at the winery, then a movie after. The weather cooperated beautifully. Rachel looked great. I'll try to send some pictures.

Next week I will be in Canada so I probably won't be able to email you. I will be helping my Mom and Bob move to a smaller apartment. I'm looking forward to seeing them again. You have a great week. Our prayers are with you,

Love, Mom

From Alec: March 6, 2009

2009-04-08T08:24:00.000-07:00

Well, hello everyone!!

Rachel ACT? Prom - do I know who she's going with? I got her a way late birthday present/souvenir and I might send it or wait till I'm home ;) I'll keep her in suspense.

This week was a pretty good one - lots of growth involved. And yes, Mom, when Elder Perry was at bat we all were cheering, at least on the inside. That really was an amazing story, however - I don't think we'll ever find a better metaphor to teach that point. It is so, sooo, sooooo much easier to do missionary work when the members are involved. They are the personal, loving shepherds who will probably almost always contribute to someone's conversion more than any missionary. The conversion story of a recent convert in my second area started early in his life with his journey to a better focus on spiritual things. Even though what started him being taught by the missionaries was a street contact from them, he attributes so much to this member couple he knew, who he has the highest of feelings for, and it is because of them that he had any interest whatsoever in even listening to us.

I went to the Easter Pageant this week, it was pretty dang cool. Definitely worth going to see if you just happen to be down here.

Well, we had our baptism date fall through - and it's partly our fault, we didn't spend enough time with her - and something that could have easily been resolved quickly to keep the date. But that is ok because as of right now she is not ready. We'll keep working with her! We are just having trouble meeting with D., T. (our golden who has felt the Spirit and church bless his life) and the A. family (taught once, come to church on their own now, are so solid). Then there are two others who aren't as hard to catch, but we're just struggling to help progress. D. is still feeling caught betweed a rock and a hard place - but we will be taking him and L. to the Easter Pageant on Tuesday - because he so needs the next step of baptism and the blessings from the gift of the Holy Ghost. He totally knows and professes it (every time we go over) that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. S. , who's wife is a less-active member, has been tough to meet with because J. (his wife) has been sick and now his kid has a fever and it's just been rough. He is totally awesome though! Hopefully we'll be able to meet with T. and A. and G. as well - they just were busy the end of the week (and couldn't make it to watch Conference). We'll just have to do everything we can and rely on the Lord.

Which is something that I don't think I've been doing enough - I can definitely say that I have "lost myself and [gone] to work" but I need to do a little bit more relying on Heavenly Father, because I can do alot - but in what actually matters I have little power - and that is changing hearts and bringing happiness to people. Thinking about it, the only times I have actually accomplished anything (that really means anything) it has been because I have either relied on Heavenly Father, or that He totally "made bare" his arm (D&C 123 last verse) and did the work that I guess we couldn't do! I can't remember if I told you that D., the high school football player from my first area got baptized the last week in March. I was able to go, we took D. and it was awesome to see him there. Elder Pongi, who is still in that area, got to baptize him. Way exciting to see someone I taught my first week make some good choices!!!

Not as spiritual of an email for you this week, but I wanted to tell you what was going on and then I guess just end with the testimony I have. It has been made known unto me by the power of the Holy Ghost, that this work is God's work - He is real and tangible and loves us more than we could ever know. I am so struck with the love and patience Jesus Christ must have for us. We make so many mistakes and focus so much on ourselves. What Nephi notices is so true, the "unsteadyness" of the children of men. How quick they are to do iniquity, and slow to listen to the Lord their God, when all He ever wants is us to have joy (2 Ne 2:25). He does EVERYTHING He can to help us make right choices. Of course, the devil is there, too, to try and blur the line between what is right and what is wrong - but more especially what will make you happy and what won't, what is selfish and what is self-less, what damns you from progression and what "makes you free" which is the truth, the light. But luckily we have wonderful men and women in the world who DO choose right more often than wrong, and amazing people called prophets and apostles who do everything they can to make known God's will and love. I as well love you all and hope you always are in the paths of righteousness!

Elder Hoopes

PS Thank you sooo much for the package!!!! I will be asking my companion to hide the candy for me to find when Easter comes around :) That Penguin tie made me happy/laugh - it's pretty sweet

Also, sorry that I missed your birthday so you'll get a late card but never less thanks and love for what an influence you've been on my life. I know I can liken Alma 56:47, 48 to us. The only weakness in the analogy might be that I'm probably not as steadfast and righteous as those stripling warriors, but I doubt no less than they did that "you know".

From Mom: March 6, 2009

2009-04-08T08:18:00.000-07:00

Dear Elder Hoopes,

What a great day it is and so important because this is the day the church was restored in 1830, the day that Jesus was born, and the day that He atoned for us!!! A day to remember. Well, Conference was amazing. What wonderful messages for the world. I noticed that the overall theme seemed to be that adversity is here to stay, but we can be filled with peace, and even joy, because of the gospel. Pres. Monson said: "It would be easy to become discouraged and cynical about the future - or even fearful of what might come - if we allowed ourselves to dwell only on that which is wrong in the world and in our lives. Today, however, I'd like us to turn our thoughts and our attitudes away from the troubles around us and to focus instead on our blessings as members of the Church. The Apostle Paul declared, "God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7).

None of us makes it through this life without problems and challenges - and sometimes tragedies and misfortunes. After all, in large part we are here to learn and grow from such events in our lives. We know that there are times
when we will suffer, when we will grieve, and when we will be saddened. However, we are told: "Adam fell that men might be; and men are that they might have joy" (2 Nephi 2:25). The history of the Church in this, the
dispensation of the fulness of times, is replete with the experiences of those who have struggled and yet who have remained steadfast and of good cheer as they have made the Gospel of Jesus Christ the center of their
lives. This attitude is what will pull us through whatever comes our way. It will not remove our troubles from us but rather will enable us to face our challenges, to meet them head on and to emerge victorious." The story he
recounted, with tears coursing down his cheeks, of the sister and her 4 children who were refugees after the 2nd World War, will always stand as a memorial to her of her great faith.

I gave my seminary kids the "Conference Challenge" which is to take your questions and concerns, write them down, then listen as they are answered one by one in conference. We had been talking about the fruits of the
spirit, and the fruits of the flesh, in Galatians, and one of the kids asked if many obese people wouldn't get to heaven because they were living with out-of-control appetites. So I had been pondering that, and then Brother
Hales opened the conference with:

"In seeking to overcome debt and addictive behaviors, we should remember that addiction is the craving of the natural man and it can never be satisfied. It is insatiable as an appetite. When we are addicted, we seek those worldly possessions or physical pleasures that seem to entice us. But as children of God, our deepest hunger, and what we should be seeking for, is what God alone can provide; His love, His sense of worth, His security, His confidence, His hope in the future, and assurance His love brings, which brings us eternal joy." Bro Hales specifically mentioned food addictions as well. Food addictions are particularly hard to control, because we all need food, we just need to eat enough with enough variety to keep us healthy and vibrant, but then stop there. Many Mormons are keeping the "don'ts" of the word of wisdom, but breaking the "dos", including me, at times.

Elder Holland's talk on the Atonement was amazing: "Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone we do not have to do so...My
other plea at Easter time is that these scenes of Christ's lonely sacrifice, laced with moments of denial, abandonment, and at least once, outright betrayal, must never be reenacted by us. He has walked alone once. May I ask that never again will He have to confront sin without our aid and assistance, that never again will He find unresponsive onlookers when he sees you and me along His Via Dolorosa in our present day. This Easter week and always, may we stand by Jesus Christ 'at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in, even until death' (Mosiah 18:9), for surely that is how He stood by us when it was unto death and when He had to stand entirely alone."

I could hear all the 53,000 full time missionaries cheering during Elder Perry's admonition to warn our neighbors! I could go on and on, but you don't have time to read all my notes. If we could all take to heart the counsel we received over the weekend, the gospel will spread like wildfire because the world we see what it is to be a disciple of Christ. We can't be sideline disciples. (Uchtdorf)

Hope you got the Easter package. We're doing great. I'm almost over my cold that I came down with on Wednesday. Rachel took her ACT test Saturday, prom next Saturday. Hilde sends her love.(Woof)

Have a wonderful Easter!

Love, Mom

From Alec: March 30, 2009

2009-03-31T10:45:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

Dad: I love updates, don't worry about if they're about girls - it's not like there aren't plenty of girls here if I wanted to get distracted. And if you didn't tell me I might never know what happened!

It is good to hear about Geoff - I'm sure he is doing awesome in Mexico - some of the spiritual giants in my last area (a WML and a man who gave us rides) went to Mexico on missions.

This week has been awesome to notice how the Spirit blesses us constantly - if we honestly and worthily seek to follow the promptings of the Spirit, we will be lead with faith to do amazing things.

By the way, it wouldn't be a bad idea to pray for D., an investigator of ours. He would totally be baptized but he wants his wife to come to church with him and she is just not budging, more out of shyness than just plain not wanting to go. So prayers for L.'s heart to be softened would be appreciated. We're also teaching a great kid (in a few minutes in fact...) and hopefully we can set a baptismal date with him! He told us how much church, and everything we have been teaching, has just helped him to be happier and more calm in his daily life! Our investigator with a baptismal date hasn't been to church in two weeks, but we'll stop by, and her date won't be affected if she comes back the rest of the time. Still a little scary though!!!

We had a zone conference this recent Tuesday, and I loved what President Bassett talked about sacrifice. It was so edifying and "plain and precious". Sacrifice is an eternal principle, and President proceeded to show how Christ and Heavenly Father are exemplars of this principle; Christ was and is only concerned about others and helping them, and Heavenly Father's work and glory is to bring about our happiness and eternal life! I realized then how hard Satan tries to get us to be selfish and only think of ourselves. I can't remember the exact quote but it went along the lines of "You can tell how [something, like spiritual or Christlike] you are by the way you treat other people." That was butchering the quote, but it is so true. It is easy to notice how most everyone only cares for themselves, and when you're looking for it it is easy to single out those who exemplify selflessness in every action. I've met alot of people like that - and truely living the restored Gospel is the key to unlocking that door to selflessness.

I am grateful for the opportunity and responsibility to be out here serving the Lord and His sheep - and at the same time I am humbled to know that I have so much refining to do of myself and my desires. President had an amazing quote by Elder Maxwell: "True sacrifice was never putting an animal on an altar, but taking out the animal inside of us and putting it on the altar to be consumed". Love the Lord and serve Him the very best you can!!!!

Elder Hoopes

From Mom: March 30, 2009

2009-03-31T10:42:00.000-07:00

Dear Elder Hoopes,

How are you doing this week? We are back to life after our Spring Break. I feel rested because I got 8 hours of sleep every night, and I think my ear infection is almost done, just a little bit of fluid left in my ears and a little bit of hearing loss. The break was pretty boring for Rachel, but we did get her a prom dress. My ideas to get some spring yard work done fizzled because we had spring storms all week, but that meant I had a chance to read a book and get caught up on indoor chores. Melinda and Phil were able to come and stay with us on Friday and Saturday because Anna had a softball tournament in Boise, and it was so fun to see them again. Geoffrey
is now in Mexico after being in the MTC for 2 months.

We got a fun picture from the Theriots of you and Elder Sexton at a dinner appointment. They said that you are a great missionary. It is so sweet of them to send a note. I never thought of doing that for the parents of missionaries who served in our wards.

The ward is doing well. Yesterday we had a fast for the members of our ward who are struggling, whether it be financially, physically or spiritually. It was a sweet day and the Spirit of the Lord was there abundantly through fast and testimony meeting, and the other meetings. We had a few families move in, (yea!); one of them is the Stevens family from our stake. Sister
Stevens used to teach seminary, and they have a son a year ahead of you who will be returning from Argentina soon.

I got to sit next to the newly baptized sister for two of the meetings, and between meetings we talked about how essential the gospel is in the lives of our children. I told her that people have often asked me what I have done to raise 5 such incredible kids, and I always tell them that I couldn't have done it without the church. Lauren said that is what first attracted her to the gospel, seeing the strength it gave to families and children. After the meetings she said with great feeling how much she enjoyed them. She said her friend asked her why she goes to church and she answered that it seems like the lessons and talks seemed to be speaking just to her, and just what she needs to hear. She also said it is so wonderful to feel the Holy Spirit so powerfully. I don't know if she realized it, but she bore her testimony to me, and it strengthened me as well.

We are so excited for Conference this coming weekend! Just think, we will be watching it the same time you are. It will be an awesome birthday present for me on Sunday. In fact this will be a wonderful month because the next week is Easter, and then the week after that is Stake Conference, so it will be a month of spiritual highs. We are so blessed to have the gospel in our
lives and to be surrounded by such good people. What a joy it is to be able to share it with others!!

We love you and pray for you always,

Love,
Mom

From Alec: March 23, 2009

2009-03-24T06:14:00.001-07:00

Hello everybody!

Things are going just fine down here in Arizona, though today has been a little crazy because we just moved (only down the street really) from this one house in with some members. Everything is sitting in the room there, waiting to be unpacked! This will be the first time I'm actually living with members - they seem really nice though.

Thanks for the package by the way - with the pictures and stuff, I can't remember if I said "thank you" yet for that.

I do have a question though - how is Doug Hoopes doing? I just heard about his accident way back, and nothing about what happened afterwards.

Well this week was a little better than last - because I started to know the people and the area, so it went fast, as the mission always does. This area is pretty crazy - we get text referrals from headquarters once every day almost - as compared to my last area, we only got one legit (one other crazy Spanish lady) text referral the whole two transfers I was there, so no more tracting! just contacting.

What you said about charity, Mom, is so true, and I've found it on the mission. No one will open up to you, and therefore the gospel, unless you love them. There is so much hate and hard feelings in the world that when someone who loves people and wants to understand and help them comes along, it's just so liberating (to everyone involved really). There's that old saying : "people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care" and of course that makes all of the sense in the world. Why would someone listen to you or change from something you said unless they felt you were really there trying to help them be happier? If someone is telling you what to do and they don't love you - would you listen? How could you trust them? Well I'm having a hard time being spiritual right now because there is this guy next to me listening to music from the computer into his earphones and totally dancing and singing some of the words... anyways!

Well, we set a baptism date for this one lady - she's the wife of a recent convert and she is just awesome. She just quit coffee and so we set up the baptism and Elder Sexton and I are excited for her. We'll be meeting with another hopefully golden (I haven't even met him yet - he was sick last week) investigator so everything is going just fine.

I love you all and hope you have a good week!

Elder Hoopes

Elder Hoopes would like to hear from you! Look how sad he is when the mailbox is empty!

Still motivated by food, not much has changed
Elder Hoopes's third district:

Yes, that's an egg!

Elder Hoopes at a baptism.

From Mom: March 23, 2009

2009-03-24T06:11:00.000-07:00

Dear Elder Hoopes,

All is well here. We are happy and almost healthy. I've got 2/3rds of my hearing back, so that should continue to get better this week. Rachel and I are at the beginning of Spring Break so our first priority of the week is to sleep a lot. Of course Rachel is a champion sleeper, but I think that 8 hours a night is pure heaven, and the last 3 days I've been able to get that! Rachel wanted to go somewhere for the break, but I figured that her trip to Europe in June is her big splurge, and we've got to save our pennies for that. So we are doing all the projects that Mom thinks are fun:
cleaning the garage, organizing the food storage, spring yard work, scanning family photo albums, clothes alterations. You can see why Rachel was talking about getting away!!

Yesterday was Caitlyn Davis' missionary farewell talk before she goes to the great state of Texas. It was a wonderful meeting, and there were many of their family and friends there from far and near. We have amazing kids out serving from our ward, some of the finest of the church. I love to read all the letters. I'll be sending you the latest edition of Mustangs on a Mission that Lashel Burningham put together. The gospel is so awesome! We are so blessed to have what we have and know what we know!!!

Yesterday Nancy Frost taught Relief Society, and she asked me to share what the Lord has done for me to help me teach seminary. In thinking it over, I wasn't sure what to say, because I have felt fairly inadequate. But then I realized that He blessed me with a great gift; a deep concern and love for my students; He gave it to me from the first day. And though I'm still not really a great teacher, those kids know that I love them, and that I am trying my hardest to bring them something of worth. I guess that this came to my understanding as we studied 1st Corinthians this week. In the 12th chapter we studied all the gifts of God, and how each one of them, distributed among the children of God, are so different, but so necessary to edify the body of Christ. But in Chapter 13, we are taught that charity is the "battery" that makes all the gifts of the Spirit work in the lives of the children of God. A clock, with the "charity battery" removed, looked good but didn't do what it was meant to do. Likewise, we can have wonderful gifts of tongues, or administration, or even teaching, etc., but if we don't have the pure love of Christ in our hearts for those we serve, we may look good, but we've failed to do what we were meant to do. But "Charity never faileth". Once again, the teacher learned a lot this week.

Well, have a great week. We love you and pray for you throughout the day,

Love,
Mom

From Alec: March 19, 2009

2009-03-23T06:27:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

I was pretty dang sad about leaving the Mesa East Stake because I felt the Lord made some promises to me that weren't fulfilled but then again - I'm only 6 months into my mission so I haven't lost faith! But I will be totally OK - moving to a new area never slowed me down. People keep saying to me it must be hard to have family (Grandpa, and when you guys came down for the weekend and went to Tia Rosas) so close but it isn't. I think it is because I've always taken Gordon B. Hinckley's father's advice to heart. "Gordon...forget yourself and go to work." I can honestly say I haven't felt homesick - heck there's NO TIME to be homesick on a mission! There's people you have to help! I don't want you guys to think I don't love you though, I'm not a heartless person who doesn't care for his family - I'll see you in two years, who cares about now (hehe that sounds funny) when there's the Lord's sheep to feed.

It seems like a year that I've been in this area; the first week of a transfer (with a new comp) always go super duper slow, but then Sunday rolls along and it is just ridiculous how fast it passes.

We weren't able to get very many people to church on Sunday, it just so happened - but Saturday was a great day. We had two new investigators - both member referrals. One guy we taught a high counselor's friend who he invited to his BBQ and then had us sit with him. It was mostly him asking questions and it went well - though I do think his friend (the member) might have been a little pushy - I'm not judging because it was motivated by sincere concern and love for the person, but I think too often as members we do not respect other peoples' ideas or agency. You cannot push someone to be baptized - they have to make the decision themselves. It's that old cowboy saying: "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink". Hopefully he takes seriously our challenge to him to pray about it sincerely and ignores any feelings of getting pushed.

That day we had a lesson with this guy who in prison read the BOM 4 times and knows it's true. He is awesome and he's the only investigator who made it to church. He needs to he knows everything about the church is true. He also is a totally legit magic trick guy - he did a really sweet card trick really quick for us - and he said he'd teach me some!

Well this email is already long but I'd like to leave something more spiritual - I've come to find (and I think I wrote an email with kind of the same idea, but Jon just reminded me of it) that this life is all about sifting through choices to find out which ones bring true happiness (lasting happiness - the type that brings peace and love). All too often I think we just go through life doing things and not trying to improve ourselves by finding out what is not just good, better, but what is best and also strenthening ourselves to avoid the temptations of the devil and continue choosing righteousness/happiness. I'm so grateful for our Savior, because without Him we would never be able to completely do either - because our good choices would not be able to bring as much happiness, because of our past bad choices and mistakes that would forever drag us down - and of course it is only through Him that we get the strength to overcome the world! Love you all and hope you have an amazing week!

Elder Hoopes

p.s. I think I'll be sending some pictures soon