From Mom: Happy President's Day

Dear Alec,

Hope you get this. Did you get your Valentine care package yet? I am also mailing your other stuff tomorrow when the post office reopens.

It's already been a busy morning and I just got back from weight training and realized that I hadn't emailed you. I was supposed to watch Jen and Merl's kids this weekend but Sara came down with the stomach flu so its postponed for two weeks. So this weekend we spent moving Rachel's room. And moving furniture upstairs. We are all doing great. Guess what, Dad is training in Scottsdale this weekend so I am going with and we will be visiting with Grandpa and Ruth Ann from Thursday until Saturday evening. We will make sure not to run into you, but it will be nice to see the area where you are teaching.

I got a call yesterday from Chad Carr. He is loving BYU Idaho and looking forward to putting his mission papers in this summer. He said again how much he loved staying with us those few weeks and that it marked an important time in his life when he was making big decisions. He felt it was a great influence staying with us, and you and Harry were great friends to him.

I was teaching in Acts about the conversion of Cornelius, and how Peter as the prophet was given the revelation that the church was to go to the gentiles. The Seminary curriculum directs us to make the connection to the 1978 revelation that the priesthood and temple blessings are available also to the blacks. It has been so exciting to teach this and I have some wonderful info that you might be interested in reading. If you are, just let me know.

Well, I'll send this off so you can get it this morning,

Love,
Mom

From Alec: Happy February 9th!

Hello Everybody!

If I don't get a chance to email everyone who emailed me, I apologize. I am slow at emailing, I think, because I'm the missionary who takes the most time (within "legal" missionary bounds, of course).

I am glad you are enjoying you're seminary teaching, Mom. Never feel like you are not doing anything for the kids because I can list my seminary teachers with the men who have affected my life very deeply. I will be forever grateful to them - I can imagine seeing them in the life after this and hugging them and thanking them for their love. And yes, God gives no "filler" scriptures - they all have a purpose. I actually like to play a game sometimes and it is really edifying; when I read scriptures (it's easier in the BOM, but possible, of course, everywhere) to try and link every verse to something profound or spiritual (and that can even be done in the war chapters). Another thing I've noticed that goes along those lines of every word counting coming from the Lord, He never gives "filler" commandments either. They're all for a specific reason that we will all be grateful for when we eventually realize His reasons and love and patience.

I have thought about that, Dad (Scott mentioned that Elder Holland voiced concern over a percentage of returned missionaries becoming inactive). Of course that always has bugged me, as well as young men in the church who do not serve missions. I have always wanted to serve a mission, even before Ben left, or Karene, or Jon. and not because I was "misinformed" or not told about the hardship or it's just something "natural" for me to do (it's not - I have struggled immensely with certain aspects, as we all will and should). I knew in my heart that it was vital for me to accomplish - and therefore I wanted it. I knew it would be hard, but I knew it would be worth it. It's like a certain song that I wanted to learn on guitar. It was far beyond my ability to learn early on - but I loved the song. (It's "Landslide" by the way - the Fleetwood Mac version is so sweet) So I worked at it and worked at it. It sounded nothing like the song, or any song, in the beginning, but I eventually got it down and it is now probably the one I enjoy playing the most. That is how life is.

Anyways I went on a huge tangent!
So back to inactive RM's - I do agree with what you're saying, Dad. I am grateful I was able to keep myself from watching TV and I can see great blessings in my life because of it. This life is all about learning how to choose what is Good (or Best - Brother Oak's talk!) and just watching movies because they are cool or entertaining is rebelling against that simple principle.

So this week was a great one - we worked really hard to set up as many lessons as we could and talk to everyone we saw and we were able to get the 20 lessons (with Heavenly Father's help, of course) which is the goal set by Elder Perry, and our street contacts improved as well. It was a sweet experience last night when we taught our last lesson to get 20 lessons exactly. We exercised faith and Heavenly Father was merciful. One of our investigators who seemed solid but then didn't come to church one Sunday and we weren't able to set up appointments for like 3 weeks showed up again this Sunday and said he will call us to set up something. We really hope he can find the courage to be baptized because it is what he needs so desperately right now. There's also this 10 year old girl who has been a foster kid for one family in the ward, and the papers have been signed by her biological parents to let the family adopt and so she'll finally get baptized! She is awesome and so smart.

There is this family that just moved into one of our wards from my last area that we taught. It's a rough situation - husband was baptized way back when but has a bad back and severe depression, so he doesn't work. The mom is working but just isn't understanding that we talk about isn't merely "nice to hear" or good, it is vital - spiritually. Baptism is for the remission of sins and progression (the gate) not just membership in a social group. She has three boys and the middle one came to church alone yesterday! He is so awesome. it might take a long time but of course it will be worth it.

I'm so thankful for the Savior and His love for us - if you read 3 Nephi 17 the Savior heals the sick and afflicted, blesses their children, prays for the people "unspeakable" things which fill the people with such joy they are "overcome", fallen to the ground. It is only after those things that the Christ says "now...my joy is full", and He weeps. What marvelous love! Karene sent me a talk about Christ that enlightened my understanding of His character - and it reminded me of this marvelous love. I can't express how I feel about Him, and the words "marvelous love" do not come close to expressing what He feels for us - I guess I understand why what He prayed cannot be written; the words would just not do them justice. I love you all and hope you think about the Savior every day - it will bring an added measure of the Spirit.

Elder Hoopes

From Mom: Happy February 9th

Dear Elder Hoopes,

Hope you are doing well. Here it is chilly and foggy. Hilde and I just walked about 3 miles so we are warming up in front of the fire. Weather.com says you are going to get some rain today and tomorrow and your temperatures will be in the 50s, a lot warmer than here obviously. We are all doing well. It will be quiet here this week because Dad is off to Oregon all week to speak. And I took Caitlyn and Bandit down to Utah to her brother's home on Saturday. Finally, after being in foster care for over 13 months, she was reunited with her family. It would have happened a lot sooner if her mother hadn't fought it the whole way. She was excited to go, but also sad to leave the friends she had made and a school that she had come to enjoy, (in spite of the uniform policy).

I got to stay overnight at Jon and Nicole's. They are doing great. I think that Jon must wake up every morning and say, "I am the luckiest man in the world!" They are leaving on Valentine's Day for their belated honeymoon: a Mexican cruise. How do you spell "spoiled"? J-O-N.

I'm happy to report that this early morning seminary teacher is learning a lot. Who knows if the kids are getting anything, but they are all so incredible, it probably doesn't matter. I am finding that as I study the New Testament, I come across puzzling passages, that, in my pre-seminary-teaching days, I would pause over, then shrug my mental shoulders and move on. But because I feel that I have to understand before I can teach, those passages become a spiritual workout, and I do a lot of "heavy lifting" searching and praying, until I can understand, master and explain the concepts and applications. I've come to understand that there are no "fillers" in the scriptures, that the recorded revelations, experiences and prophecies are there on purpose. I have been eating just the croutons at the feast of the scriptures. I was content to absorb the things that my mind could grasp without effort, while all along, there before me, was the mind of God.

And the love of God, which surpasses my understanding.

May you feel a portion of His love this week.

And add it to the love I send to you,

Love,

Mom

From Alec: Happy Groundhog's Day

Hey Fam!

Thanks for the email! I almost didn't get it though - this email system only updates if I hit refresh so you could email 5 min after I log on and I'd never know you emailed me. So I'm trying to hit refresh every once and a while now.

The Ellsworth's (Bro Bowden's sis's fam) are inspirational. She, of course, is awesome and so is Brother Ellsworth. They are just great people. I had a chance, as Bro Bowden probably mentioned, to go to Ethan's funeral. I was glad we could make it.

So I've got a new comp - he was in the MTC with Elder Case so i'm still a senior companion. He's a redhead from small-town florida. He doesn't talk much but he's a great elder. I'm excited to be with him, though this first week felt like a year. (first weeks of transfers are always like that).

We taught this lady this week - she is awesome, she said she wanted to be baptized in the first lesson. Her boyfriend is a less-active member and he's coming back too, so just happy all around!

I know what you mean about Dad and his being lifted by the Spirit. I love the phrase about the Spirit which "quickeneth all things" . That is so true, if there is ever a hard time in life, the presence of the Spirit can wipe away all fears, doubts, concerns, and exhaustion. The times when you're trying hardest to serve the Lord are the times when you find yourself being lifted up in almost a truely physical sense. I've found that on my mission, it can be very tiring going and going and spiritually striving constantly, but one good prayer or lesson or prompting can erase any tiredness or frustration.

I feel so much that that is one of the biggest noticeable differences between those who follow the Lord and are worthy of his Spirit. They're just "brighter", "happier", there's a light in their eyes. The guy who got baptized who lives just below us was living with his girlfriend for a while - she was a less-active. We were talking with our WML (ward mission leader) about her and we both agreed she now seems happier and more outgoing. The best way I can describe it is that her face just seems "brighter". Seriously. I know without a doubt that the church is true and that the Lord with his loving understanding uses the Spirit to help us and quicken our lives and relationships, including our relationship with Him. Have a great week!

Elder Hoopes

From Mom: Happy Groundhog's Day

Dear Elder Hoopes,

We got your letter this week, and loved to hear from you. Dad and I are planning on serving several missions and have been trying to set aside retirement and pay off our home and office completely. We are making progress, however a top priority also is getting you kids through college so that has been slowing us down considerably, but I think all in all we are doing great because of the Lord's help.

Brother Bowden said that you looked wonderful, and very missionaryish, and spoke with great love and admiration about his sister and her family and the inspiration that they are.

We are doing so well. Caitlyn had the hearing last week with the judge who approved the transfer down to her family in Utah. The wheels of government bureaucracy grind slowly, slowly on, and she will move in a week, or a
month, there. She seems to be excited to go, sad to leave her friends here, opposed to starting a new school, and frustrated, as we are, that she has so little control over her life right now.

Dad was in Denver for several days last week, and today he leaves for a couple of days in Montana. His clinic hours are packed as he is doing so much travelling. He is pretty busy as Bishop but he says that he finds his time counseling with people and their problems actually uplifting because the Spirit takes over and teaches for him. That is a great blessing. He observes that he couldn't imagine being a Bishop with a young family because he would never see his children. This call has come to him at the right stage of his life.

Seminary is going well. I know that I am feeling the Spirit and learning so much. I hope that some of the kids are feeling that as well. You are awesome, and we love you soooooo much!

Love,

Mom

From Alec: Happy Human Rights Day!

hello fam!

well, mom the toilet story has to do with our white elephant gift exchange with the zone christmas morning. the zone leaders saw the toilet next to a dumpster and grabbed it to have as the big deal present, so they put it in a box and did a drawing of numbers to see who would win. i drew out the number 8 and thought, hey, i like this number! what if it won? then that was the number called. so i went out and found out i had won a toilet... they put it back by the dumpster that day. so that's that story!

that talk by brother Casos sounded awesome - i love that story and i actually came across it again just this last week. It was after some struggles we'd been having in our area and i happened to read out of Jesus the Christ that section about the good samaritan. "so who is my neighbor?"

i'm glad that lawyer asked that question. because i was able to realize that we as missionaries can be like the people in the story very literally. we ride our bikes around, and it is the hope that we have the compassion of the Good Samaritan to stop and bind up the wounds and take him to the inn (the church, church, the gospel...). because everyone in this world has been beat up by robbers. satan and his angels, through the many ways he influences men - gives us half-truths and we sin and we end up being "left for dead" (spiritually) by the world. and as we come, we have the responsibility to be the Samaritan and have compassion and love to try and help heal the wounds and care for the worlds bruised souls. I can see how also the missionaries are the innkeepers too, and the priest/levite/samaritan are the members. either way we all have the wonderful responsibility to "lift up" the hands that hang down. i'm not sure off the top of my head where that scripture is but i think it's in Isaiah. ["...where is that scripture?' 'somewhere in the Old Testament..." :) ] - sorry that's a slightly missionary inside joke.

so Elder David A. Bednar came to our mission for a 2 1/2 hour lesson/Q&A. that was really great. He is called by God, i know it. that man is amazing himself and an amazing teacher. the main part of his time with us was him asking open questions and letting us be "agents unto ourselves". i'm very grateful that he was able to come and show us how to do so much. Elder L. Tom Perry will be coming to visit our mission this saturday i think... i guess i'd better figure that out.

We had a baptism on friday, that was great! this guy is just amazing. if you came to church this next one and met him you would have no idea he wasn't a member his whole life. he is so committed and down-to-earth.

our teaching pool is really dwindling (mainly because we're baptizing them. good, but...) but right now we have this guy who knows it's true but seems to be waiting for a huge answer. he's on our minds constantly, and we really hope he'll take the important step for his eternal progression.
Also pray for us as a companionship (mom i know you already do!) and that we'll be able to have the sensitivity to the spirit so that we can be lead to do and say and be what we need to. we need a little bit of a boost, as it's been hard to do very much teaching in this small area.

man, seeing the picture of karene skiing made me want to be out there... which reminds me though - i wouldn't mind some pictures from back home. just ones in general. i didn't take out any because i don't need them really, i can remember things. but for the missionaries i meet it helps them get to know me better. i've got a huge file of my pictures somewhere on the comp - in kodak easyshare. that's full of good stuff.

i know that God loves us, and he leads us with his loving hand. we're where we are now on purpose, to affect and love those who we know and will know now. i'm touched by something that Elder Hafen said and i think it was one of the few moments his voice cracked, i'll paraphrase it the best i can: We didn't do anything to deserve the love God has for us, that he gave us spiritual bodies and made for us a plan so that we can feel of his happiness.
I could tell of his complete sincere gratitude. and it is true. let us go forth in the strength of the knowledge that we are loved by God. let us be converted - that is my hope, then we'll "be ok", that's what Elder Bednar said.

Elder Hoopes

From Mom: Happy Human Rights Day!

Dear Elder Hoopes,

We got your Christmas picture CD, and it looks like you had a great time. What is the story with the toilet? We are all happy and healthy. I just got back from taking the dogs for a walk so my hands are so frozen I can barely type, so this will be slow. The dogs are grateful that the snow is gone so they can be taken for walks again, and it is good to catch up with my walking buddies, and get some exercise again.

The ward is doing well. There still is some financial stress, which will only get worse, but the Lord is compensating by sending His love and Spirit as people are humbling themselves. We had wonderful talks, music and lessons yesterday in church and there was really an outpouring of love and comfort. Brother Casos (a new brother who is a trauma surgeon) spoke about service,
and he likened the parable of the good Samaritan to us. He said that on one level, the good Samaritans actually represents the Savior and at times in our lives we are the victim at the side of the road who can't help ourselves. The Savior runs to us and pours into us His atonement and
healing love lifts us up in His arms and carries us to an inn (the church?) where we can be healed and find rest while we recover our strength. Then at other times we are the innkeeper who has been charged by the Samaritan/Savior to care for the victim, because His business calls him
elsewhere. The Savior promises that one day He will return and pay us for whatever it cost us to help this victim. But we already have been paid and are already in His debt, as King Benjamin has pointed out. Yet he promises to pay us again. The Savior never says if the victim will recover, or how long it will take for his recovery, or how much the innkeeper will have to pay to help the man, but the Savior will return and will recompense us.

Brother Casos finished his talk by saying that often the Inn can be our own homes where the Samaritan/Savior asks us to serve our neighbor who is also our own family. He said that after 5 wonderful daughters, the Lord sent them a wonderful son. Jericho is severely autistic, and Brother Casos said that the Lord sent Jericho to teach him how to serve and how to love. "I don't
know when the Savior will return, it might be next week, it might be in 10 years, I may not meet Him till the end of my life, but He promised He will pay me again, even though He has already paid me and I am in His debt."

We sure love you and are so proud of you. There are angels about you bearing you up.

Love,

Mom