Hello there Family | week 43

Hey hey hey! It's monday again!

It sounds like you guys had an amazing week in Utah! What a blast! We will defintitely have to go back. I love that place. You guys were in the same state as me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Your adventures and pictures and everything look awesome. Everyone looks so good! All the cousins are growing up, it is crazy! I loved all the pictures. My week was a little bit different than your guys' but it was probably just as amazing in a different way ;) That is sad to hear about Grandpa Cahoon. I had no idea that his health wasn't doing well. My prayers will be with him. I love grandpa so much. It is sad to hear that he is struggling.

That is so crazy to think about our family having to have family vacations soon. It is crazy how fast things are changing, life is flying by. The mission is flying by as well. This week I will hit my 10 month mark!!! What is going on!!!! It is too fast!!!

As for this week. It was awesome. R got baptized on saturdayday. It was amazing. The spirit was so strong. He was the main focus of our week this week. Getting him fully prepared. I got to baptize him which was so cool. I will never forget it. He has truly seen and felt a complete change in his life. Much of the week was spent trying to get all of that ready to go. Satan worked very very very hard on R. He has faced trials at every stage of this process, and this week was crazy for him. I cannot really go into them, but let's just say it stressed me out haha. As with life, the Savior always wins. Good always prevails. I am so grateful for the spirit and for the priesthood and for the peace that this gospel brings. I have seen firsthand how it is a true power, when it is used in righteousness and obedience. It has been a true miracle to be a part of this with him. Moments like this are what make everything we do and sacrifice worth it. The journey we have had with him has been crazy haha. I couldn't stop smiling the whole baptism, it made me so happy. The worth of souls truly is great in the sight of God. As we were getting changed after the baptism he told me all about how wonderful he feels and kept asking me how long it will be until he can go to the temple. 2 days before his baptism, we had a miracle. We had planned a whole lesson to teach him about the atonement. Many times the Lord has a different plan, thankfully. We went and taught him and ended up teaching about something totally different. We taught him about the unity of the scriptures. How the Book of Mormon, Bible and Doctrine and Covenants all fit together. I really don't even know how it happened. When we finished Roger stopped us. He said that he had been doubting his choice to be baptized all day. He then told us that what we had just taught him was a direct answer to his prayer and that he no longer had any doubts. There is nothing quite like being part of that.

Ig is also doing really well. He is going to get baptized this coming Saturday as well. I am so excited about him. He is an awesome kid. I have come to love him so much. He is so prepared, and so excited to be a part of this church. The Lord is blessing us so much here. It has been an amazing 4 months that I have spent here in Nogales. I feel like I am coming full circle with Ignacio. He was one of the first people I found and taught here.

We had interviews with President Killpack this week. I love being able to talk with him. I always come away feeling even more hopeful and filled with faith. He always has so much wisdom to share, and it helps me alot. 

The missionaries also taught mutual this week to all the young men and women. It was really fun. Missionary work is so awesome to to teach people about. The youth are the future of this work.

I got some other wonderful news! E, my investigator from Duncan got baptized!!! I will send you the pictures of him and the missionaries. Elder R my MTC comp is there. There is nothing better than hearing that kind of news.

I thought of you this week mom, when one night Elder G went around and turned off all the lights I had turned on in our apt. haha. He asked me why I always turn on all the lights. I started cracking up picturing what you would say. Guess what, some things never change, I still turn on all the lights ;)

It has been a wonderful week here. I am excited for the coming one as well. The Lord has blessed us so much. This truly is the greatest work in the world. I am loving it. Every once in a while I have a day where I am just straight up exhausted. The mission field is truly a marathon of spiritual, mental, and physical strength. Every once in a while it all catches up to me. I have felt the strength of the Lord to keep going, even when I am tired. He truly directs this work. 

Thank you for your package!! I loved it. I loved all of it. Thank you so much. All of the chocolate melted, but I froze it and ate it haha

The weather here has been awesome. The monsoons storms are my best friend they cool everything down :)

Thank your for your prayers and thoughts. I think of you all often. I love you guys. I love my whole family so much. Just last night we were teaching R about families and how the gospel blesses families. I shared with him and I meant every word, that you mom and dad are my heroes. You have taught me how to have a happy family. I am so grateful for that. 

This is probably my last week in Nogales. There is probably a 95% chance that I will be coming to you from a new place next week. We have transfer calls next Sunday. I have loved it here, I have learned so much. I really have no idea what will happen this transfer with me. This is the first time where I had really no idea, so it will be fun to find out!

Here is a quote that I love

“God loves us. He is watching us. He wants us to succeed. We will know some day that He has not left one thing undone for the eternal welfare of each of us. If we only knew it, heavenly hosts are pulling for us—friends in heaven that we cannot now remember who yearn for our victory. This is our day to show what we can do—what life and sacrifice we can daily, hourly, instantly make for God. If we give our all, we will get His all from the greatest of all.”

I truly know that all of that is true. I know it.

Thank you for your love and support. I couldn't do this without you guys. 

Love 

Elder Hughes (or Taylor) whatever you prefer :)

PS as for birthday stuff. I am going to have to give it some thought. You know how bad I am at thinking of things I want haha. I promise that I will think of some things before next week :)

Turn on the Font | week 42

Taylor's run for Heidi this month

HOLA FAMILIA!!!!

I had to smile as I read of the most recent Hughes family adventure. We always seemed to have weird things happen haha. It is good to know that it continues on without Tanner and I's presence. We wouldn't want any normal trips to Utah :) I am right there with ya in knowing that there must have been a reason. My testimony and belief that there are no such things as coincidences has been increased alot here on a mission. There are no coincidences. I am grateful that the Lord is watching out for you guys. I pray for that every single night.

I also found my card and card reader.... of course that always happens right after I give in and ask for a new one haha. The library found it. soooooooo I now will have an extra. Knowing myself that is probably good. haha I am excited for the music. I love getting new music.

Scout camp was a success, that is awesome. I still have many memories from those outings, and now we are all out serving another kind of outing. haha wilderness survival.... yeah, I feel ya buddy. way to go man.

That is awesome that the trek went well. Way to be a leader and tough through it Rilo. Believe me, you will use those skills every single day here in the mission field. That is why I think trek is awesome is that it teaches all of us that we can do hard things. Some of the many hard experiences of my life have taught me the very most. This last summer being one of them. When things are the hardest, we prove ourselves. The Lord wants us to be strong. We won't learn that sitting on the couch eating popcorn. 

Have a BLAST in lake powell. I would love to join you, but I do have to say I love being a missionary so much and I love the joy that comes with it so much that it makes it all worth it. 

As for this week in Nogales. It has been another week of miracles. I really really love this place and the work that is happening here. Truly when we do all the Lord asks of us, and do our very best, and push through the doubt and fear, he comes in and blesses us. I have learned that lesson over and over again here.

Our three most promising investigators haven't changed since last week. They are all doing amazing. 

The most amazing of all is R. Oh my goodness how I wish you guys could meet him and see the change that I have witness before my very eyes. I cannot stop smiling when I am with him. It has been a week of true miracles with him. This week we finally came to the most amazing part of all in missionary work, when our investigators receive a testimony of the truth. This was that week for Roger. Every day we have had powerful moments with him. He is so prepared. So in order to be baptized someone has to live the word of wisdom for 2 weeks. We actually didn't know about the time requirement and found out about it on Thur. We asked him how long he has stopped for. He had stopped 5 days earlier. So that night we threw away for him all of the existing word of wisdom things in his house. He has so much faith it is awesome. Last night we had an amazing lesson with him again. He is so ready. We even have him going on family history work and he has been spreading the gospel to his friends. It makes me so happy and joyful to be a part of this with him. It has truly been a miracle. I don't have the words to really describe it all. He is getting baptized this Saturday at 10 AM. I am so excited. All though it is hard to believe, I think he is even more excited than we are, which blows me away. 

Ig is also doing really really well. We are in the home stretch week with him as well. He is getting baptized on the 3rd. He is doing super well. The thing I love most of all with Ignacio is his prayers. He truly prays. He has no vain repetitions. Elder G and I were laughing that whenever we want to know what Ig is thinking we just need to have him pray. He gives some of the most beautiful heartfelt prayers. It has inspired me to make my own prayers better. Ig's family is also getting involved on everything. We are now teaching his little sister and brother and his parents told Ignacio that they want to come to church as well. It is awesome.

We have found alot of new investigators this week as well. It just means that we have to weed through them all and see who is really interested. That is a challenge here.

This coming week is going to be really busy. The time is flying by. I love this work so much.

I have to share something that I learned yesterday. It amazes me how the spirit can come in and teach us. In sacrament meeting a sister was playing a beautiful piano solo. I was pondering and reflecting on alot of things while she was playing. I felt the feelings that the spirit always gives me. I thought about how those feelings feel like home. The joy and peace of home. Just then the spirit whispered into my mind this one sentence, that I immediately wrote down. "Home is wherever you walk with the Savior." How true that is. I miss you all and I miss home, but home can be wherever we are, when the Savior is with us. And he truly is with us. Of that I know. One day we will all really return home to our heavenly home. That will be the best homecoming of all. The spirit truly gives us everything we need when we open our ears and hearts and eyes to see it. I love you all so much. You have all taught me what a true home is really like. I feel of your prayers. 

Have an awesome week. Tell all of the family hello and that I love them. Give all my cousins a big hug and high five for me. Tell all my aunts and uncles that I love them and wish I could be with them. Give grandma and grandpa a big hug for me as well, they are some of my best friends. I love all of you so much. Have an awesome week. I am so excited for mine. The church is true. Tell all of our family that as well. It really really is.

Love, 

your son, nephew, grandson, brother, cousin, and friend

Elder Hughes

PS I want to see lots of pictures!!!

PSS Since you have all of the family as your captive audience. Tell them that I would LOVE to hear from them all! Otherwise I have literally no idea what is going on in their lives!

Happy Monday | week 41

Hellooooo there family!

As always I love hearing from you all. Every time I get on the computer on p day, I just smile because I love you guys so much and your words always make me smile and feel of your love. Even though we are far apart I really do feel of your love. I always have my whole life. I can honestly say that there has not been one moment of my life where I ever doubted that love. Thank you for that. It has taught me how to love people, and I get to do that everyday here!

It sounds like you guys are all doing awesome. Your adventures seriously crack me up. haha. I love it. You are so right, good friends make life so wonderful. Here in the mission I have found many wonderful friends to help me through the tough days. Tanner and I were able to grow up with one of the most amazing group of friends ever assembled. Now we are all serving the Lord or getting hitched haha. I am so grateful for all of them. BUT the one think I love about our family is that we are all friends. Mom, Dad, Rilo, and Z man you guys are all MY best friends. I love you all. Tanner does take the cake for being my BESTEST BEST friend, but that fact is well known haha. How amazing it is that we are an eternal family of best friends.

Mom, that quote you remembered me saying. Wow. That surprised me. I had no idea, I had never heard that. The Spirit is real. I have learned more about following the spirit as a missionary than my whole life combined. It is the best feeling in the world.

Awesome, well it sounds like the adventures continue forward for all of you guys in the summer. Rilo going on trek. DUDE enjoy it. make the best of it. I had a blast on trek when I went. Listen to the spirit. It will teach you things you could never have possibly imagined. Attitude is everything in life, and it is everything as a missionary. Believe me.

Z man!!!! going to good ol wente. I love that place. I had so many good memories there. He will love it.

As for the work here this week. It was a great week for missionary work. One of the best I have had on my mission so far. The Lord is truly blessing us so much. I have learned that the Lord pours out his miracles according to our faith and diligence and obedience.

Elder H came up to North Nogales with me for an exchange this week. Him and I have become great friends. He is a great guy, he is from Kaysville UT and went to Davis high. We had a great day and were able to teach alot. I gave my first blessing in Spanish on Tue. I have no idea how I have made it this far into my mission without giving one in spanish. It was to this new investigator that we found. Her name is M and she has really really bad spinal cancer. It breaks my heart to see. She is one of those people that when you look in her eyes you can just tell how wonderful of a person she is. It was one of the most powerful blessings I have ever been able to give. The holy ghost truly gives us words to say. I felt our heavenly father's love for her so strong.

This week we were able to teach a ton. I love it. That is my all time favorite part about being a missionary is when we get to teach. I got to teach more lessons this week than I ever have before. We are teaching many different people. 

J, the guy I have told you about a bit is doing awesome. This guy is THIRSTY for the gospel. He cannot stop asking us questions. He calls us his angels, and says that god sent us to him. I am SO excited to keep teaching him this coming week. We had an amazing lesson on prayer with him. He told us that he didn't know how to pray and that he had never prayed before. Of course we taught him how to pray and explained some different things about prayer. He then immediately wanted to pray right away. He wanted to try out right away what he had just learned. He then offered the most beautiful prayer. There is something so special about hearing someone pray for the first time. The spirit was strong. This man has so much faith and I am excited to keep helping him learn more. He has a baptismal date for the 10th of August.

R this week, we had quite a rollercoaster ride. We had moments of fear, joy, peace, spirit, and doubt. He is pressing forward. On Saturday he really broke down and opened up about some of the things he is facing. They don't really have to deal directly with the gospel, but he is really struggling. Sometimes I cannot believe that the Lord trusts us with these people. I cannot go into the details of the things he is facing, but they are intense. I am truly truly grateful for the spirit. The promise that words will be put into our mouth is real. I am a witness of it. There were many moments this week where I was speechless. (which is rare, usually my problem is that I don't shut up haha) The Holy Ghost ALWAYS gives me words to speak. Even in the most complicated moments. 

Sunday was a crazy day. They always are for us. R left church early. His heart was really not open at all. That was a bit hard to see, but we were able to teach him last night and it went really well. He is doing alot better. The other miracle of Sunday is that Ig came to church!!! He is a changed kid. We had sort of stopped teaching him because he was not progressing at all, and he never showed up to appointments for weeks. He went on the High Adventure trip that the priests had last week, and it was life changing for him. He felt the spirit. He is so ready to be baptized. He has his testimony. Since we have taught him most of the lessons already he will be able to be baptized soon!!!! I am so excited!!! Sometimes we just have to trust in the Lord's timing. What a miracle!

There are many other people we have been teaching and have found this week. It was a great week, and I am SO pumped to keep it going. Nogales is going to baptize here in the next few weeks. I love this work so much.

I got the flu for one day this week. It was mega lame. The bad thing about being a missionary is that it is really hard to just take a day off because of appts. It reminded me of what you always said about getting sick as a parent haha. But it was just a one day bug.

I have been reflecting alot this week on my purpose. It is a great purpose. I agree with Tanner when he said that I am just beginning to understand my purpose as a missionary for this church. It has changed me forever to understand that. Every week I learn more and more. I love you all. If you want to read my new favorite talk. Read Pres. Uchdorf's talk "The Hope of God's Light" I love it. here is a sneak peek.

"There may be some among you who feel darkness encroaching upon you. You may feel burdened by worry, fear, or doubt. To you and to all of us, I repeat a wonderful and certain truth: God’s light is real. It is available to all! It gives life to all things.¹ It has the power to soften the sting of the deepest wound. It can be a healing balm for the loneliness and sickness of our souls. In the furrows of despair, it can plant the seeds of a brighter hope. It can enlighten the deepest valleys of sorrow. It can illuminate the path before us and lead us through the darkest night into the promise of a new dawn."

I love you all. Keep pressing forward feasting on the words of Christ. Not nibbling, or trying, or tasting, FEASTING! That is how we endure with joy. If you don't believe me read 2 nephi 31.

All my love

Elder Hughes

week 40 | I have the most boring email titles ever, so I will just finish this sentence.

HELLLOOOOOOOOOO there family.

Wow. You guys had some pretty awesome adventures in the Hughes family this week. You guys sure know how to party hard. It reminds me of some of our vacation weeks of non stop fun. That is what is so awesome about California, is that we don't even have to travel far away from home. It looks like a blast. I LOVE hearing about it. I really do. I love to see all of your smiling faces. I love the Voges too. They are practically our family. I love them as well. Give them a big hug for me. Haha, I laughed as I imagined Z man hitting himself in the face with a paddle :) I brag about all of our vacations and adventures here all the time. I love you guys and am glad that you are all doing well. That is way exciting that you guys are going out to Utah. That will be great. Our family is getting so much older it blows me away. 

Well, as for this week. It was a pretty great week for us here. The Lord is pouring out blessings here. I have seen a change in myself and in the work here this week.

First of all, I got the amazing amazing news that one of my investigators from Duncan is getting baptized soon!!!!!!! Do you all remember E. He is getting baptized on July 20th. That brings sooooo much joy to my heart. I cannot even describe it. We are all working in this great work together. Elder R my MTC comp is actually serving in Duncan right now, so he is finishing off all of my unfinished work in Duncan. What a miracle this work is. I grew to love E so much, I am just sad I can't be there for his baptism. They are still teaching S as well.

As for us here in Nogales, we have had alot of success finding. I have learned that as we go out and try our very best the Lord blesses us. We tracted about 10 doors in an apartment complex and found 3 new investigators. I stand all amazed how sometimes the Lord lets us struggle for days and days and then in 30 minutes we get blessed. Another girl we found this week her name is J. She is the sister of an investigator that we haven't had alot of time to meet with. Her sister wasn't there, but J is truly searching and prepared for what we have in this gospel.

Another amazing experience we had this week. We were walking down the street and talked to this super old man named J. He is one of those people that you can just tell he has been through a really really hard life. We started talking to him, and it turned into a very powerful lesson. He is a lost soul, and I am sure that we were led to him. He started crying and telling us about the burdens in his life. I was able to testify to him of Christ's love and the peace of the gospel. There is nothing more that I love doing than that. He was one of those people who's eyes held such burdens and pain. I can't really describe it. He took me by the hands and told me to never stop doing what I am doing now. He told us over and over again to never give up. He pleaded with us " why has no one ever taken me to your church." He cried and pleaded that over and over. It was really emotional. We just kept telling him that we are here today to do just that. We set up a member to go pick him up for church on Sun. but he wasn't home. I am looking forward to continuing to work with him.

For District Meeting this week we made homemade ice cream. It was delicious. I had to get creative and make it an object lesson into how we receive revelation through the Book of Mormon. Challenge accepted. It went really well. For some reason there is an ice cream maker in our apt. 

The Fourth of July was good here in Nogales. Honestly holidays are the worst days for missionary work. I really am not a big fan of holidays out here. No one is home and no one wants to talk to you haha. We did go down to the big city event and make some chalk mormon.org ads that were pretty cool. Alot of people walked over them and read them. You never know when you are going to get a contact. On last P day we were in the bathroom at walmart and this guy from mexico asked us if we were mormon and we of course said yes. We talked to him and got a referral to send the Mexico missionaries to his house. You never know where you will share the gospel haha. We had a fourth of july bbq at the White's house with all the missionaries. It was way fun. The Whites are some of my favorite members I have met. They are awesome. They live about 4 apts down from us, so they are like me and Elder G's family. They are awesome. Then all the missionaries had to go in early, and so we watched a church movie to end the night. The weirdest part of all was when I remembered my last 4th of July. I can't believe time has flown that fast. It is crazy. I am sure the next year will be ever faster and it scares me.

We helped a member family build a goat shed this week. Good fun.

OH the monsoons here are awesome. It is quite amazing. They come in every afternoon and the lightning and thunder are awesome. We miss out on that stuff in California ;)

The biggest miracle of the week was R. I love this man so much. He has continued to astound us this week. He is doing so well. I am sure he will be baptized. We teach him every day and every day it just gets better. The spirit is so strong. He truly GETS the book of mormon and the restoration like no other person I have met. I have never loved teaching someone as much as I love teaching R. I wish I could adequately describe what it is like. A member of the 70 Elder De Ollas came to our branch this week. He was amazing, and R got to meet him. I got to meet him to, he is a man of God. He told us the brethren think that the church will have 100,000 missionaries soon. What a miracle.

Last night's lesson with R was something that I will never forget. We decided to watch the Joseph Smith Prophet of the Restoration movie. It was an inspired move. Of course the movie was amazing. I feel the spirit every single time I watch it. At the end we prayed and just as we were about to leave, Roger had one question. He said "Has there ever been a church that has been persecuted as much as this one." We thought about it, and humbly answered no. Then Elder G said "Well, there has been one other. It was the church of Jesus Christ when he was on the earth." Then R said two words that I will never forget. "Same church." I almost passed out I was so happy. What a miracle. I will never forget it. 

I am excited for this coming week. It is looking great. I know that when we are on the Lord's errand we are able to receive his help.

It truly is the same church. I know that. I know it with all of my heart. I can say that without one doubt. How I love this gospel. This work has continued to teach me more than I can express in words. It truly is inexpressible. I love this gospel and I know that the book of mormon is true. I have felt the Lord walk with us here. We are seeing his miracles. I have learned to pray like I never could have ever imagined I could pray. Serving the Lord is the best choice I have ever made. I love this work. I love all of you. I think of you often. I truly do feel of your prayers. I don't believe that we chose you mom and dad as our parents. I believe that our loving heavenly father chose you for us. I really believe that. I love you all. Stay firm in the faith. Read the scriptures and pray like you mean it. It has worked for me, and it will work for all that try it.

I love you all. Until next week ;)

LOVE 

Elder Hughes

week 39 | Happy Early Fourth of July

HELLO THERE FAMILIA!

 

It sounds like you guys are in the midst of the usual Hughes summer adventures. It has been hot here in Arizona as well if that make you feel any better! How crazy Sarina got married this week. That is so exciting. We are now entering the wedding phase of life where that all begins haha. I wish that I could have been there to celebrate and to go to the sealing. I am glad that it all went great. Sounds like the normal summer life. Good times sitting on the lazy river in the insane heat haha. Now try it in church clothes and you have missionary work :) Z man of course is living it up. He sure knows how to do that. That is awesome that they are going to Wente! I love that place. Good memories there. Are you going with them to scout camp dad? 

 

I love hearing about all of the continued Hughes family adventures. You all sound like you are doing great!

 

Well it has been a rollercoaster of emotions this week in Nogales. As I was reflecting back on the week I marveled at the highs and the lows that we faced, but things are moving forward.

 

To start off on P day this last week 6 of us Elders walked around Nogales for the day. We were in McDonalds which has a really good view of the border. It is really close. We were all just eating and talking and we looked out the window and saw people climbing over the giant iron fence haha. It was crazy. I know people do that all the time here, but it was crazy because we were just watching it all happen right in front of us haha. There are definitely some really interesting social/political things here in Nogales haha. It has given me alot of perspective on alot of those issues that our nation faces.

 

ANYWAY, as for the work it was a week of miracles and of trials as well. One of our miracles this week was we found this girl named M. Our appt dropped so we started contacting all of the neighbors of one of our investigators. M came out and talked to us. She is 17 and already has 2 kids and is desperately searching for peace in her life. That is what is so awesome about this restored gospel is that we find TRUE peace when we use it, and when we draw nearer to the savior. I have felt that peace over and over again. So we are going to continue working with her. She has a baptismal date for the 27 of July. That is kind of the test of how we weed out who is truly interested. Baptismal dates do that for us.

 

R was also the miracle this week. He has finally caught fire and truly started to make real progress. We had some amazing lessons with him this week. We had one lesson with a member here Sis. Martin. She has taught seminary for 28 years. So lets just say she really knows what she is talking about haha. It was an amazing lesson. Through the spirit we have been able to resolve many of his concerns. I had a really interesting experience with following the spirit when we were teaching him. That little voice in my head told me to pick up a book about Joseph Smith that Sis. Martin had on the table next to the couch. I did and flipped through it and put it back down. Then the process happened again. I felt like I needed to pick it up again. Then I landed on a specific story about Joseph Smith, but I didn't feel like I should share it yet. That book sat on my lap for the whole lesson and I didn't even know why I needed to have it. Then at the end, there was a really good opportunity to share this story. It ended up being exactly what he needed. He was really affected by it. It never ceases to amaze me that if we listen the Holy Ghost will give us exactly what we need to say and do.

 

O is doing great. The problem is that we can never find him at home. We go to his house every day and it never seemed to work out. He is so prepared and so ready. He is so open to the feelings of the spirit and to truth. His mom C is really struggling. We were able to talk to here a couple times this week. She is having some big depression problems and it is leading her to some really bad paths. I really know that we were put in their path for a reason. We aren't going to stop trying. With some people we would move on, but not with them. We are praying that this week we will be able to have alot more contact with them.

 

One of the biggest trials this week was that Iv dropped us. We are really confused and don't really know why. He was so prepared, so open, reading the Book of Mormon a ton. All of the lessons we had with him were awesome. It was kind of a hard one for us to take. It reminded me of the M's when we lost them. When I love these people so much and I know what they are missing out on, it is hard to see that happen. BUT the work goes on. We hope we were able to plant some seeds.

 

The Monsoon season started lat night!!! FINALLY!!! It basically means there are amazing thunderstorms every afternoon and night. It is awesome. It is so nice to see some rain. I don't think I had seen rain since January haha.

 

It was Elder G's 20 birthday this week (yes he is older than me haha) and we celebrated at some members houses which was fun.

 

I have learned so much this week. I don't have nearly enough time to express it all. I have had moments this week where I have felt like Alma in Ammonihaha (Alma ch 8) where the people just don't listen, and we feel sorrow as missionaries to feel that. Never before have I been able to relate to that story like I can now. I have truly felt a glimpse of what that feels like. The awesome thing is that an angel appears to him and tells him to go back and try again!!! That he has so much to rejoice about because he is doing all that the Lord has asked of him.

 

I love this work even when it is hard, and I am so excited for what this next week holds. I have learned alot about how sometimes we have to try things a little different and change ourselves if we want our outcomes to change. I love you guys so much. I love our family and the strength that we have there. I have witnessed some not so strong families here. I have seen some torn apart families. I know that the gospel truly blesses families. I thank Heavenly Father every day that he sent me to yours. Happy Fourth of July!!!! I love you all

 

LOVE

 

Elder Hughes

week 38 | Hello there family!

Hola Familia!!

I am still here in Nogales! YAY. Elder G and I are staying here for another 6 weeks. I am so glad.

What an awesome time it is to be a missionary!!!!! Holy moly. The broadcast on Sunday was so awesome. I was so overcome with the spirit. The Lord is truly hastening his work all over the world. There is no more exciting time to serve as a missionary for the Lord's true church. I am glad you guys got to catch some of the conference. I highly recommend finishing it. It is awesome.

As for what I think about some of the new changes. I think it is awesome. It is going to add an entire new dimension into the work of the Lord. It is going to be a HUGE tool for us, especially here in the United States. It will bring some interesting new challenges as well. It sounds like we will possibly be getting Ipads, which would be awesome. No more paper area books YAY! It all will get phased in over time. President Killpack said that our mission is very prepared for the changes so we should be getting them sooner rather than later. I am way excited.

It sounds like you all are doing great. I love to hear about what you are doing even if it is normal :)

I know how it feels like for you mom. I feel the same way at times. Sometimes I can't believe it has been so long since I have seen you guys. It has been so fast, weeks are flying by for me here. I miss you all. I think about you each of you every day. I talk about you all the time too. Ask any of my companions and they would all tell you that I am always talking about you guys. I love you all so much.\

As for the work here this week. It has been another interesting week. All of the weeks are starting to blend in my head. I have learned a TON this week about patience. I have felt the spirit teaching me over and over again the last couple days about patience. Many times we want to see the fruits of our labors right away. Sometimes it feels like we do all that we can over and over again and nothing happens. The spirit has come in and taught me alot recently about the 'big picture' of missionary work. No effort is ever wasted or unnoticed. I have felt the prompting over and over that I need to just 'be patient'. I am grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost that has the ability to teach us perfectly if we are willing to let it in.

R, our investigator is continuing to do better and better. We see him almost every day. We have had some amazing lessons with him this week. We have been going through all of the commandments and continuing to focus on the restoration and how we gain a testimony of it. He is so open to the spirit and to the truths of the gospel. It is awesome. We have become his best friends. He calls us his brothers. I love it. He faces many challenges as well. Sometimes I am amazed that the Lord trusts us to help people with their very complicated struggles in life. The Holy Ghost always helps us with what to say.

Another cool experience this week was with O. He is impossible to find sometimes, but when we do we always have amazing experiences. We taught him a really quick lesson on the Book of Mormon. As we were reading from Moroni 10;3-5 he felt the spirit so strong. We literally watched someone gain their testimony right in front of our eyes. There is no cooler thing to see in the whole world.

All of the missionaries of the branch and ward here put on a fireside this week called The Gospel Blesses Families. It was a great success. None of our investigators came, BUT some of the members brought their friends who we are going to start teaching this week. 

There are many other people we are working with. This week we are going to go through and find who is REALLY committed to progressing as investigators. That is sometimes a problem here, and sometimes it is hard to let people go. That is something I am bad at haha. I just feel bad!!!! But anyway, we are really going to focus on that this week. 

Nogales is SOO ready to baptize this transfer. I can feel it. I love this work. 

Thank you for your support and words of wisdom. I love you guys so much. Thank you for all that you have done for me.

Did you guys get my package I sent you?! I hope it didn't get lost in the mail.

Our mission has taken upon itself a new catchphrase that I really like. It applies to all of us. It goes: "Win the Day, then Win the Week" Truly each day I do my best to win the day. To do all that I can to bring souls closer to Christ. There is no better work.

I love you all 

Elder Hughes