Trinidad - Mission Leadership Conference

  This past week was such a spiritual Roller Coaster for me! It was so great to fly to Trinidad for a Mission Leadership Conference for 3 days. It was fun seeing elders I haven't seen for awhile. We were edified and instructed by my leaders and taught more of the Doctrine, and found out ways that I can effectively use my time to help the missionaries around me in my zone and how we can balance our efforts to sustain and achieve real growth! (reactivation, retention, and convert baptisms).

   We learned a lot about Alma 26:5 “Behold, the field was ripe, and blessed are ye, for ye did thrust in the sickle, and did reap with your might, yea all the day long did ye labor; and behold the number of your sheaves! And they shall be gathered into the garners, that they are not wasted.” We are the workers of the Lords vineyard. The sheaves in this analogy represent newly baptized members of the Church. The garners are the holy temples. Elder Neal A. Maxwell explained: “Clearly, when we baptize, our eyes should gaze beyond the baptismal font to the holy temple. The great garner into which the sheaves should be gathered is the holy temple.” It is a place of safety and protection for the people who accept the covenants of the gospel. I know that the temple is so so important and that we can't be exalted with out it. I miss the temple so much but I know that as I teach the people here about it, they will be more excited and willing to stick with their covenants. 

I'm grateful for the spirit I felt throughout the conference. It was simply amazing! I loved it! 

                 

A bApTiSm!!!‏

Well everyone... 

We 

had a baptism this past week which was sweet! It always makes me 

feel so good when we get a baptism and have worked really hard with them for quite some time. It was really cool how everything happened and I can definitely see that the Lord had a huge part in the teaching process. I almost cry because of how much they have changed since the beginning of teaching them. Only the Spirit could help them. I love how the gospel applies to everyone who actually gives it a try. 

I had the opportunity to give a Priesthood blessing this past week to a member. She asked me for a blessing and I didn't think too much of it. I can't even remember what I said. Well, she came up to me on Sunday, and told me how grateful she was for the blessing I gave to her. I told her it was not me but the Lord speaking through me. She even mentioned me in her testimony of the power of the priesthood. It was very touching and really makes me think of how worthy we have to be all the time. I have a responsibility as a priesthood holder, missionary, and future husband to be worthy at all times because I will never know when the priesthood which I hold will have to be exercised and my worthiness will be a huge factor in blessing the lives of others. I have a very powerful testimony of all things that pertain to the gospel and I know that God Lives and loves us. I'm grateful for the chance that I have to be a missionary and time and time again I say I never will regret this time I've had to serve.

Good and Evil

   I was thinking this past week that I want to share my feelings on the Restoration with you. I am always just so amazed how the spirit feels as I talk about Joseph Smith and the Priesthood. I know from the bottom of my heart, ever since I started my mission. I talk about it every day, and I just know by the way I feel that it is true with out a doubt. I just think, how could it be false. I ran into a lady the other day at a restaurant. She was white and from Georgia. It was super tough. I have never been turned down so hard in my life. She tried to tell us some anti mormon nonsense. But anyway... I took a thought back after she bashed my faith for an hour and had some doubts. I was seriously down, and thinking why am I even out here, what’s the point. Then I realized I'm listening to the Devil. The lady had just enough convincing to get me to listen to Satan’s lies and Bam.... But later, we started teaching the Restoration to some people we found and Bam I was out of the trance and knew again that Joseph Smith Restored the Church Of Jesus Christ. I then remembered the Standard of Truth. And a calm hit my soul. I love the Church and I will never ever leave it! It's changed my life and I'll never forget it!

   We've been having a hard time seeing a certain family and felt that something wasn't quite right. S---- has been talking to his brother in the states and is discouraged for several reasons.  He told us that he does not want to get baptized anymore and if it does happen it will be Gods will and it's wont be for a while. He has requested that we only see him once every few weeks or so. His neighbors have also been accusing us of crap. Oh my goodness... Satan is really at work with him. I can tell that he would really be able to make an amazing impact on the Branch and in the Church, just by the way people are reacting and how hard Satan is working. It's breaking my heart to see someone so prepared be so downtrodden by the works of man and is now so frightened that he doesn't even want to talk with us. Well in my heart I know he will one day accept but I just hope and pray it will be in this life. I know the Gospel is true! I know that Baptism is only the first step that we must take in order to live with Heavenly Father Again. I know that with out any doubt. I absolutely know and feel that I'll be able to live with God again as I do all that I can to live His gospel. In the words of Nephi in the Book of Mormon (2 Nephi 25:23), "we are saved by grace after all we can do!"  Repentance is Key! If we never repent we wont be clean.. therefore we will never be able to inherit the kingdom of God! Repentance is simply put -- the BEST!

Well family I love you but that's all I have this week! Take care!

Love Elder Hill 

Teaching and Finding

   Well this past week was really good for me. I was able to have the chance to go on two trade-offs. First I went with Elder Sheen early in the week. It was a lot of fun and quite interesting to see how similar some elders teach. I looked back and realized I teach a lot like my companions. But it was great to see him teach and be an example of love to the people in my area for the day. He is super cool, he shares a lot of the same interests as me... so hunting and fishing. It's really good when you have no problems in communicating, something that is a life long skill and ability that will bless my life.  

   So we had a really good lesson with a family that lives in Queenstown.  It is going pretty slow but I feel that it will get easier. We are going over fairly often and are seeing some success with them. They ask very inspired questions that always apply to the lesson. The other day we were teaching about Baptism and M---- asked how he can know if the person that will baptize him has the priesthood. It was neat to see the Spirit work on him as he asked questions that were deep in his soul. It was a really great lesson. 

   Something cool that happened this past week as we were teaching a family and helping them understand more about the Law of Chastity. They accepted everything very well and the spirit was really strong. We asked S---- to say the prayer. He kind of acted like he wanted to but was just really timid to do so. Elder Smith started to say things that he could pray for, and what do you know, he followed what he was saying and so Elder Smith just kept going with it. He finished the prayer and was so excited that he prayed in front of us. He was so excited that he is persisting to pray every time now. It was such a miracle to see. That was probably the highlight of my week.  
I love being a missionary! And I love the people here in Guyana!

Love you all!

Elder Hill

18 Months Downk!

Here is some more Guyanese Lingo for you...Downk is a term for down. Like, " Come Nah Buddy... Sit Downk!" Oh man I really think that the Caribbean slang is the best language ever!

General Conference BABY!!! Ah man I love this time of the year. The statement that Mormons love meetings is true I guess or I am just super old in my mission, because it means that I don't have to be standing up or riding my bike but I can just sit down and listen to the Spirit and eat some really good food that the Poulsons made us. Pancakes, eggs, bacon, and TACO Soup!!!   It was a pretty good weekend. My favorite talks were from Elder Godoy and Elder Bednar in the Sunday afternoon session. Along with Elder Christofferson in the Saturday morning. So all in all it was a pretty sweet conference but My all time favorite was Elder Godoy.. It brought a lot of peace and a lot of answers to my soul of things that have been stressing me out over the past few weeks. I love how everyone feels the spirit differently and receives different answers. It truly shows that God knows us all individually and listens to our prayers!

I always love the time of year when conference is on and the spirit is so thick you can just about cut it with a knife. It's a really amazing feeling when you have basically all of your investigators come to the sessions of General Conference. S------ and his family came. It was such a special sight to see him with his family and for them to have a good experience when Elder Bednar directed his talk to the non-members. I feel it had a great impact and answered a lot of his questions. I could go on and on and on about the wonderful responses about the things that our investigators told us after the different sessions but it would take too long so I'll just say that my heart was warm and I just wanted to hug everyone! haha

I have really been doing a lot of pondering for the past few weeks. I have been looking at the time that has gone by and looked at the lessons I have learned. It's crazy to think that I only have 6 months left and that I need to make the most of them.

Well I hope that everyone back home isn't freezing to death! Cooler weather is on its way for the both of us! Hallelujah for me and ahh shunks for you! :>)   I just want to let everyone know that I love you and if I sometimes don't write to you specifically... it's not because I don't love you but it's just I don't have anytime for myself. Mondays are the best when I find out what is going on! Make a list of questions you can ask me and we'll talk in three months! Loves ya

Elder Hill!

Flashback:  October 2012 - ready to turn in mission papers

Zone Conference

This past week was good for us. For our mission leadership council with Elder Zivic, we focused on making sure that our investigators are prepared before they get baptized so they don't fall into inactivity. It breaks my heart to have a convert fall away from the church. One way we can avoid this is by teaching our people more about the Book of Mormon and helping them gain a testimony of it. If they receive a powerful experience of feeling the spirit while reading the book of Mormon they will have a long and joyful conversion and stay! I really enjoyed Zone Conference. I learned a lot about Justice and Mercy and Immutable Laws vs. the Laws of God. God obeys all law, that's what makes him God, because he is perfectly Obedient. If not, He would cease to be God! I will look upon my notes for quite sometime and ponder on the things that were taught so that I can become a better teacher, leader, and son of God!

Well General Conference is this weekend... so I challenge all of you to write down your personal questions and the things you feel prompted to. I testify that all your questions will be answered as you listen to the spirit and the inspired words that the Brethren will say!

I love you all - take care!
Elder Hill

The Spirit Guides

    I definitely love serving here in Georgetown! The people here are the Best! I can't even begin to describe my love for them. I would love so much for you all to meet them, they make me so so so happy when ever I am around them. It feels as if I knew them all before this life in the pre-existence. Ahhh… it feels so great to be exactly where the lord wants you to be!

    I have been trying my hardest to find time throughout the day to pray more and speak with my Father in Heaven. It is helping a lot with my spiritual well being. I've noticed that my thoughts don't drift away to pointlessness. And I have caught myself thinking of the Gospel which is a big change for me. I feel that my faith is increased and I don't worry as much. I'm grateful for the Gospel in my life! I'm so glad I came on a mission to serve the Lord. Two years may be long but man o' man I'm loving it. I miss home sure, but serving the Lord is the Best feeling anyone could ever receive.

    I love being able to help the Lord and have him trust me enough to let me teach these wonderful people. It makes me feel like such an instrument in His hands, like it talks about in the book of Mosiah (Ch27:36). When we are diligent and exactly obedient we will be granted the spirit of prophecy and revelation and we will be able to teach with the most important thing... the Spirit!

    We were able to have 3 Baptisms on Saturday...the newest members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Georgetown.

Weeks Are Flying By!

    Well everyone... another week has flown by!  I can't believe how fast that one went.. I feel it went faster than the one before. haha There was so much going on I really can't remember half... I'm behind for the first time in my journal, because I'm so exhausted at night I just want to sleep. But it is all good. I love being a zone leader. I love leading missionaries and teaching by example. I Love the feelings I get through the Spirit.

    I had a great time working in our area and seeing a daughter of God enter the waters of baptism. A---- is 11 years old. We have also been working with her Mom. I was amazed at the spirit I felt at the Baptism. It was definitely one worth writing down and keeping in my memory book forever.

Always the Rainy Season

I told Aaron how much rain we've been having here, and he sent me a few pictures of the rain in Georgetown.

Trip to Suriname

Hello everyone! It is very hot here about 34 degrees C (94 °F) plus the humidity, so I'm really trying to stay hydrated and not get any heat exhaustion... it freaking sucks to be biking your guts out and then be expected to sit downk... yes they add a k to that word here... and to teach a full lesson with out sweating... it just can't be done! haha

I got my driving permit a few weeks ago. Since I'm not a citizen of Guyana I can only qualify for a drivers license for a month... then I have to go renew it for another month.. until I leave Guyana. This past week I actually got to drive to Suriname. It took simply put... FOREVER! We left at 2:30 in the morning... so like a normal group of boys would do.. lets just pull an all nighter and just not go to sleep. So Elder Larson, Strong, Dom, and myself stayed up all night long and then left for Suriname at 2:30 am. Haha not a good Idea.. I realize now how much dad wants to sleep when we go on long trips after he didn't get a lot of sleep... so props to you dad because that was a difficulty level of like 20 out of 10... :) I will never do that again. We got there about 7:00 am and then took a big ferry over the river and got our passports stamped so that we can stay in Guyana for another 3 months. Then we drove back... tired as crap... so we got back in Georgetown at 6:00 pm, so it was a long day for me... and I was sacked out in a lesson and didn't even notice. haha E. Smith thought it was pretty funny.

Well we have really been pushing the area hard! We had about 25 lessons this week, which I feel is really good because we started from the bottom of the teaching pool. We have about 12 new investigators that are super cool. We really enjoy teaching them. And they all live fairly close to one another, which makes teaching really nice.

Yesterday we had 110 at church which is super good! We have really been working hard trying to get the attendance up and I feel it is working! Interesting how if you love the lord... you will love the people and it is just automatic how things start to work in your area.