This week, something tragic happened.

April 6, 2015

Dear family,

This week, something tragic happened. I lost my scriptures. I felt very lost for several days. During my personal study, during lessons, I just felt...lost. I was just kind of in a state of shock. Nothing was the same. But then one night, right after we finished planning, while we were praying, someone knocked on the door. It was some random guy - with my scriptures. I was so happy. I had left them in a taxi, and it just so happened that the taxi driver was our neighbor. Miracles are real. Let's just hope that I never actually lose my scriptures.

Thursday was the temple trip for investigators and recent converts. President Melara and almos his entire family went. Recent converts: Rene and Mirian; investigators: Isabel (his mom), Ena and Roxana (his sisters), and Eduardo (Ena grandson).

General Conference! That was very good. We watched it here in Nueva Concepcion. This was the first time they've ever done that. In the past they've always gone to Chalatenango (about an hour car drive) to see it. But we know a less active member that has a projector, a former investigator that's a DJ, and a few members that have laptops and so we put everything together and we watched it here. Much better that way.

One of my favorite talks was one where they talked about dancing without the music (I don't remember who gave it). You really can't dance without music. It just doesn't work. Even if you know all the steps, it just feels awkward doing it. It's the same way with teaching: teaching with the spirit. You can't teach without the spirit. Even if you know all the points you want to cover in the lesson, if you don't have the spirit, it doesn't feel right. I, for one, feel awkward if I try to teach not by the spirit. But when we teach by the spirit, miracles happen.

Well, I love you all! Thanks for everything!

Elder Hilton

This Sunday we had 45 people in church. That's the most I've ever seen here.

March 31, 2015

Dear family,

Hi guys! Wel, not much really happened this week. So you'll get just a bunch of random thoughts.

First of all, a request. A member wants to do a little activity with us next P day. They want to cook with us. So could you guys send me some good cookie recepies?

Second of all, my package arrived! Thank you so much. My companion and I have enjoyed eating everything you sent. Jumbalaya is a hit.

We're very excited for the upcoming general conference.

This Thursday we're doing another temple trip for the investagators. Should be really good.

President M's mom came to church for the first time yesterday. She goes to a different church and up until now hasn't really been really willing to talk to us. But she's got lot's of love and support from family members. Her name is I.

Remember B, the joven that Elder G and I brought to the temple a while back? He just got his mission call. He's going to Costa Rica. And we called him to be the branch mission leader. Haven't really had one of those before.

The branch is progressing. President L couldn't skype into the presidency meeting this week, but we still did it, and it went well. We got a lot done. We're learning. 

Well, that's all I've got. I really have been using my jounal to help me write my letters. But this week I didn't write in my journal, we were too busy. And the week's a bit of a blur.

I'm still learning to deal with stress. Yesterday was particularly stressful. I gave a talk, taught the Gospel Principles class (Elder P has been called as young men's president so he taught the youth), and taught the third hour. Then we had branch council after church. Then we did the tithing and other administrative stuff.I left feeling kind of drained. We really need to find more members that do all of that. We're looking. And giving out callings as fast as we can. Little by little we're getting there. This Sunday we had 45 people in church. That's the most I've ever seen here.

  

I love you all!

Elder Hilton