A Most Taxing Week

July 20, 2015

Dear Family:

This has been one of the most taxing weeks of my mission. I spent about half the week feeling like I might have a heart attack from stress. But it was a good week.

Monday was my last day with Elder Schaeffer. We taught a couple of good lessons. It was sad knowing our time together was over though. I love that guy, I am really grateful that he trained me.

Tuesday I met my new companion Elder Rowley. He is from Winchester, Virginia and goes home in November so he is pretty old. He is cool, I like working with him. But Tuesday we just had District Meeting and then made a run up to Crockett. That is really when the stress started. While I am technically the junior companion, Elder Rowley does not know the area so I was responsible for everything. So I was in charge of getting everything set up in advance and then take the lead in all the lessons. It was difficult to say the least. But we had a good day, we taught a few lessons. 

Wednesday was fun, I got to take Elder Rowley to see Richmond for the first time. We got to teach a few lessons. I was especially excited to see Akana, a member of  our ward who's wife is not a member and we are teaching. He is Samoan and super awesome. While I was disappointed not teach his wife, he is an awesome guy. He has a lot of great plans for his family, I really hope they get there.

Skipping ahead to Friday, Friday was awesome. We had weekly planning as usual, still stressful because I was in charge of getting the plans in order. But it was not too terrible. But we were able to have dinner with the Fautanu's, one of my favorite families in the ward. Unfortunately we were not able to teach anyone for most of that day. But we were able to meet with Craig, one of our longtime investigators. He was actually the first investigator I taught when I got here. We have been trying to get him to keep commitments forever, he just never did. So the last we had we read half of Alma 32 and asked them to read the rest by our next meeting. Based off previous experience I was not very hopeful of anything having changed when we next met. But actually they read 6 chapters! It was the best feeling ever! It was really rewarding to see someone I have tried so hard to help for so long to finally begin to progress! That was one of the best moments on my mission. 

We had a good week overall. We taught the most I have ever. Not sure how that happened other than miracles. So it was nice that the Lord supported me throughout the week. I feel pretty good knowing that I made it through, and not only that, but we saw a lot of progress in the area.

Hope you all have a good week,

Love,

Elder Hyde

My Trainer Got Transferred to Berkeley!

July 13, 2015

Dear Family:

So this week was kind of crazy, it was the last week of the transfer so that is always a good time. We had a good week. As usual we had a bunch of stuff fall through but we got a lot done despite that. Unfortunately I do not have my planner with me so I do not remember too much of what we actually did.

Tuesday, I went on exchanges into the Lao ward, that is always fun. It is nice to get perspective. If you think your life is difficult then try finding investigators and getting stuff done in the Lao ward, speaking lao. There are a lot more Laotians here than elsewhere, but not that many really. But those guys are awesome.

Most of the rest of the week we spent in Richmond trying and mostly failing to meet with our people there. But we added this awesome kid Edwin on Wednesday. He is like 16 and we met him a couple weeks ago on the street and he was super receptive. We finally got to sit down with him and he asked a bunch of really good questions about life and we taught him the Plan of Salvation. I am excited to teach him more. He, like everyone else is pretty hard to meet with though. He is young and does not currently have a phone. Plus getting inside that apartment complex is always an adventure, the gates are always locked so we walk around until we see one open and then sprint in. I've gotten pretty good at that on my mission.

Sunday we got to go to Why I Believe. It was good. They are funny because it is full of people who do not know Mormon culture so it gets pretty rowdy. Its good to get some interesting people in the church. The speakers were all good, and President and Sister Frandsen were awesome. I think we are about to see a lot of great things in the mission. Our most recent convert Lilia was able to come and she loved it so maybe we can get her to speak at an upcoming one. That would be awesome.

Lilia is doing well, she has been hard to meet with but we got to sit down with her this week. We have really been pushing her to read the Book of Mormon daily and she does it pretty consistently! She is about to get into 2nd Nephi even, which is awesome. Its been funny the past couple weeks talking to her, she is like a completely different person since we first met with her. She is so happy now and active, whereas before she mostly just stayed at home and did other stuff. But she comes to church and Book of Mormon class and is out doing stuff and is living again basically! It has been awesome to see the change the Gospel has had in her life. The Gospel is awesome!

So we had transfer calls on Saturday, very exciting. Elder Schaeffer got a call from President Frandsen in the middle of studies to be a District Leader in Berkeley! So I knew that their were some changes coming. I am staying in Hilltop 2nd and my new companion is Elder Rowley. He is currently in my zone so I know him a bit. He is from Winchester, Virginia so that is cool. I'll let you know more next week.

Love,

Elder Hyde

Meeting the New Mission President

July 6, 2015

Dear Family:

This was a pretty crazy week for us.

Monday we went up to Pinole and did some work up there so it was a pretty laid back day overall. E had an appointment fall through but he left a note to his "Mormon Friends" so that kind of made up for it. Definitely a change from Richmond though, people just aren't there when we show up usually.

Tuesday we had District Meeting and went up to Crockett, the northernmost reach of our area and I think the farthest north the mission goes but I am not sure. We also went to Concord to see the doctor for Elder Schaeffer so that was fun. It is fun going out of the area once in awhile. But it took a lot of time so that kind of sucked, we did not have as much time to work today.

Wednesday was pretty exciting. We have this investigator who we have been working with for awhile who has not let anyone into his house because it is so dirty in 4 years. But on Wednesday we got to be the first ones in 4 years and we went in and cleaned with him. It is a big step in changing his life around and we were really excited. Unfortunately he feels like he needs to put the Gospel on hold to turn his life around. It sucks when people think they do not need the Gospel or they think it would get in the way. It is tough because we know that the Gospel is the one thing that will help them fix anything in their lives than anything else. But we will keep working with him and hopefully he realizes what we have to offer soon.

Tuesday we got to meet President Frandsen. He came around and shook all our hands. He was nice, super tall, and pretty hardcore. I think we will get along well and I am looking forward to working with him for the rest of my mission. It is going to be a great 2 years!

The weekend was a bit slow because of the holiday. But we had a good time, people were nice to us. And we got fed really well on the 4th of July so that was nice. The Lord really helped us out this week.

Transfer calls are next saturday so this should be the most exciting week of my mission yet! Anything can happen! Find out next week!

Love,

Elder Hyde

With Incoming Pres. Frandsen

With Outgoing Pres. Meredith