Las Vegas Trip!!

Had to share a few pictures from our trip this week to Las Vegas. We had a great time with our children and GRANDSON! We just love him!! He is three weeks old and now weighs a little over 8 lbs and has grown 1/4 of an inch!

Julio 15, 2011

¡Qué tal familia!

How are you doing? I hope that your trip to Las Vegas to see Oliver was great.  How long will you be there for? 

This week seems like a blur and I don´t even know where to start writing from.  I remember on Friday night I didn´t write in my journal because some smart missionary burnt his popcorn and the whole building was cleared via fire alarm.  There are 200 missionaries in my building.  They are a lot like Helaman Halls at BYU.  I live on the fourth floor and my building is called the Joseph Standing building.  It is one of the farthest ones from the cafeteria and main building.  I remember that day that one teacher, Hermano Cragun taught us about faith in Alma 32.  He made it so simple and so powerful.  The key to getting any knowledge is to experiment on the principle.  He also said that when his testimony needs strength, he asks himself simple questions like Am I better or worse because of the church? and Am I happier or sadder because of the church?  The church does makes us happier and better people and I know that it is true.  He also said that the worst feeling he has ever had is guilt.  I think this is the worst feeling any body can have, physically or spiritually.

On Sunday Elder Herman and I were able to bless the sacrament in español!  It was a really cool experience.  The words have to be exact so I had to go through the prayers before hand to make sure I could say them correctly.  Even though the prayer was in another language and I didn´t understand all of the words, I could still feel the power and sincerity behind them.  For every Sunday all of us have to prepare a 5 minute talk in español about an assigned topic.  In Sacrament meeting they call us up to give them.  I haven´t been chosen yet.  Sunday is the day I allow myself to highlight scriptures in my new spanish ones.  I think I did like 50 last time.  We went on our temple walk that night and took a lot of pictures.  I am going to send them to you today or tomorrow.  We had a fireside that night by a guy who wanted us to view repentance as a good thing, not something to dread.  He said  all repentance means in Hebrew is to sigh and turn around.  We don´t have to experience a lot of pain because of the Atonement.  If we don´t repent, then we will have that pain.

On Wednesday our whole district made it a goal to not speak english so that´s what we did.  It was actually pretty funny.  We came up with some funny body language to get the message across.  Things are way more funny in spanish for some reason. Especially stories.  We fasted on Tuesday to get some help with it and I think we all did a great job.  It is so tiring to have to translate all that you need too. 

The gym is still closed so we´ve been playing some softball.  I think I have finally fixed my golf swing so I can actually hit it out of the infield now.  Me and the Hermanator found that if we go to the floor below ours after gym, we can have the showers all to ourselves.  Nice and warm.

Two of the members of our district left on Wednesday for Perú.  Elder Jones and Elder Dickson.  They are loved, but I´m not gonna lie it´s good to have some extra room in our packed classroom.  Haha.  We sungs God be with you till we meet again and they bore their testimonies the night before they left.  Good experience.

So Elder Herman and I now have 3 out of our 5 investigators committed to baptism.  Mom I wrote down, translated, and told your conversion story to help my investigator who´s family didn´t want her to join the church.  It was sweet.  You should write it down for me.  See, you are already a good missionary!  And Dad you should write down your stories about tithing.

I wish I had learned to floss well before I came to the MTC.  It´s so hard and my hands are so big and awkward.  I also wish I had learned the lyrics to every good song ever made so I could sing them when I felt like.  It is so quiet without music.  And sing sessions in the shower only go so far.  Haha. 

So here are a couple things I would like.  I feel needy asking for stuff every single week and thanks for putting up with me.  I enjoy your packages and I think I have enough food to last me for the rest of the MTC! Kay, the pocket watch isn´t cutting it for me so maybe you could go to walmart and get a calculator watch for me.  They have so much swag.  And it would also be nice to have a tiny spanish dictionary that I could carry around with me.

So the thirty minutes is up and I wish I could write more.  The last letter I sent you was a buzzer beater.  I barely hit send before it closed the program.  Haha.  I know that this Church is true and that Jesus is the Christ.  Because of the miracles that he worked on Earth, we can still have miracles in our lives today.  He loves us and wants to be happy.

I love you all! Keep writing me please.  Have a great week!

Les amo,

Elder Hubbard 

 

First Pictures!

The top picture is Tyler and Elder Herman on Day 1 in their room. Tyler's bed is the top bunk and his desk is closest to the door.

Picture 2 is his district. Four of them are going to Mex City South. Six to Mex City West and two to Peru.

Picture 3 are zone leaders, Elder Marshall and Linsdley. Linsdley hasn't talked to Tyler since he scored on him in basketball.

Picture 4 is Tyler and his companero Elder Herman. Tyler thinks he felt awkward when he put his arm around him.

2nd Handwritten Letter

7/1/11

Dear Mom and Dad (and Shayla I guess)

I just read your Dearelder letters after probably the best day so far at the MTC. I am about to tear up right now, but it might be because I miss you guys. I am glad girls camp turned out fun. Your letters make me laugh! Could you tell Aaron I will write him this weekend. Dad, you gotta be careful with those logs and balancing. So I just wanted to send you a couple pictures. Mom, you are a great girls leader, however you say that, and the girls are lucky to have you. I knew you wouldn't sleep out at Fort Churchill though. I feel bad that I can't respond to all of your story's but know that I love them and they make me laugh. Shayla, I can't believe that dang Ricks college! Susio! But $24,000 sounds like straight cash homie! Remember I like drifit! Haha! How's the old people doing? Tell Ed I liked hearing from him and I hope he is enjoying himself. So here is my testimonio en espanol. I love you guys!!!

Yo se que Jose Smith fue un profeta y Thomas S. Monson es el profeta hoy. Yo se que el Libro de Morman ed rordadero. Y Dios nos ama y  contesta investras oranciones. Yo se que la Expiacion es real y Jesucristo se morio por nuestros pecados. Estoy agradecido por mi bien familia. Yo digo estas cosas en el nombre de Jesucristo, Amen.

Les quiero!!  Elder Hubbard

Tyler's 1st handwritten letter

6/22/11

Dear Family,

I am just finishing my first day here at the MTC and it seems like I just dripped in here out of nowhere. As soon as you dropped me off I got all sorts of useful learning stuff. It was like 50 lbs of Spanish material and they already gave me a water purifier. I can't wait for that Mexican water!! My companion's name is Elder Herman and he's from West Haven, Utah. He's a really nice kid and we will be able to learn a lot from each other. Oh, Elder Cousineau pretty much attacked me as soon as I got through the doors and Kev sat by me at dinner. I saw a ton of my friends from school. Our district has 4 guys going to el cuidad de Mexico and are from Utah. We had the biggest group ever to come to the MTC with 520. So the rest of our day was spent learning how to pray in espanol and going to some new missionary orientations. I am so excited to be here and I love you all! Good luck to Little Man, Z and Chavo tomorrow!

Love,
Elder Hubbard


6/23/11

After tonight I will only be able to write letters on P-days, whenever that is. I got all of your Dear Elder letters today so it does work! Last night I already started dreaming with Spanish words in my head. It was mostly just, "Hola Elder!" repeated a thousand times.

I was made the Senior companion today which doesn't mean a whole lot, just some extra duties. I am glad that Little Man was supposed to be here today and send amor from his favorite uncle! And Aaron I know what Argentine food does to the stomach.

I have been crazy busy since I got here. My meals times are all early like a 60 year old farmer. We played softball this morning and met our branch presidency. I got to go to bed! Love you all!

Love,

Elder Hubbard

Please basketball shorts and shirts for ejercicio! y my slippers!

Hola family y amigos!!

Thank you for all of the letters that you have sent me.  I love to read every one of them and I love hearing about your days. So this week was another fast one with it's good days and not as good days.

On Saturday we went for the first time to a place called the Teaching Resource Center.  It is where volunteers come in to pretend to be investigators and we contact them in a park, and then teach them a twenty minute lesson.  It was a lot of fun and was almost all in Spanish.  Our investigator started to speak some English to us so we replied in English.  We taught this girl about the Restoration and explained eternal families and the power of prayer.  It is amazing how much we can feel the Spirit during these fake lessons.  That night we had a fireside for the Fourth of July.  We sang some random songs like Yankee Doodle and a former advisor to two presidents of the United States talked to us.  He taught us the importance of knowing who we are and what we stand for just like all of the soldiers that fight in our military.  He told us some really sad stories of people without freedom.  Afterwards there was a video of the map of the world with missionaries walking in and symbolizing each mission in the world today.  As it went on we all start to stand up and cheer for our missions and the work.  It was so insane to see 3,000 missionaries cheering and pumped me up to go out and teach.  I know that this message is the most important thing for every single person in the world to hear, and that someday everyone will hear it and know that it is right.  After that they let us watch the fireworks coming from the Stadium of Fire in Lavell Edwards Stadium.  It was pretty funny.  We were all lined up next to the outer fence and it felt like we were prisoners.  There were people on the other side watching them and they were taking pictures of us like we were zoo animals. Haha.

On Sunday we had our first sacrament meeting as a zone.  It was in the main building and the power went out.  So we were sitting in a semi lighted room having a spanish/english fast and testimony meeting.  It was totally random but I loved it.  I wanted to bear my testimony but there wasn't enough time.  That night we had another fireside and Elder Oak's daughter taught us about prayer and played five songs on her violin.  She is really really good.  She graduated from Juliard which is always a good move.  I watched the Prophet of the Restoration afterwards.  I know that there is no way Joseph Smith and Hyrum would have put their families through all that pain for a made up religion.  All of it is true.

So mom, we don't have family home evenings here.  I kind of forgot those existed.  We taught one of our investigators, "Elias" about the Atonement and we committed him to baptism! We were the first in our district to do it.  We were so happy for him and for us too.  When we asked him it was the most suspensful exiting thing, I can't imagine what it will be like for real.  That night we shared pictures of our families and friends as a district and played some PIG on a nerf hoop in a room.  Which we now know is against the rules and won't be doing again. Haha.  It was fun while it lasted.

Everyday we go to the TALL lab where the Church has written a computer program based on that little small red book I have.  It is very good practice but sometimes we get off track and have sing sessions.  Not very often.  I practice what I am going to teach that day and I practice grammar a lot too.  The rest of the week was pretty uneventful.  I am hot all the time and so is every one else.  I just sweat at night and it doesn't feel like we have air conditioning.  The other night I only got like 4 hours of sleep. I was just laying there.  I have found that the MTC bookstore is legit.  It is the cheapest store I have ever been too, better that the Dollar Tree and Walmart.  We can get soda for like 30 cents.  I am so sick of this food too. Haha

So in the MTC it's stressed that we find the need of the investigators.  We teach people, not lessons.  We need to show our love for them and find why the gospel will be important in their lives and give them a reason to change.  This is what we work on all the time.  They don't teach us how to teach or what to teach.  It's all about following the Spirit and knowing the needs of the people. That is why it is so important to have love for those people.

I am running out of time. But I know Brother Marker as nothing but free time now.  Haha.  Please send me some pictures of my friends, I kind of forgot to print them. The ones before I left.  Thanks for everything, and for the package this week.  I can feel your love from here and I love you too.  I know that the Atonement of Christ can fix anything that is unfair about life and Jesucrist nos ama.

I'll try to organize my thoughts better before I write from now on.  Keep sending me questions.

 

Les quiero,

Elder Hubbard

July 1, 2011

What's going on my friends?!

I can't believe this week has already gone by.  It was really busy and it seemed like I'm just doing what I can to not fall asleep.  I got to go to the temple this morning! We are supposed to be able to go every friday in the morning but because of renovation it's closed tomorrow through the 26 of July.  I am pretty bummed about that.  I was really nice to be able to go in there and relax and not worry about anything.  Afterwards we went ate at the cafeteria in the temple.  It was the best food I have had since I left! I got some biscuits and gray with some hashbrowns and it was only four dollars.  I should have been using that last year.

We had a lot of class and personal study this week.  It was a lot better than all of the huge group meetings we had to go to last week.  Class is once or twice a day in three hours sessions.  I even have one tonight.  They are really long but we get to teach five different investigators.  They are all fake but they seem real and we have to speak completely espanol to them.  It is actually really fun.  I have to pretend to be an investigator tambien.  Yesterday I was pretending to be an investigator and prayed to know if Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and I felt the Spirit so strongly.  There is no doubt in my mind it happened.  Teaching is really draining especially when I barely understand spanish.  It is interesting how much I remember from high school four years ago when I can´t even remember what I learned last fall in college.  It helps to have a little help.  For personal study I just read El Libro de Mormón y conference talks y Predicad mi Evangelio.  It is really good but my district struggles being able to be quiet and get to work.  Some of them could have waited to mature a little before going. Haha.

Our first sunday we did a lot of personal study.  We also had one hour of Priesthood and one hour of Sacrament.  It was a huge meeting.  We were all in suits and the speaker told us to take our jackets off and the place got way lighter. It was pretty funny.  Like turning on a light switch.  I remember he told us to find our personal Sacred Grove. My branch president was President Egbert´s bishop at BYU.  That night we had a fireside about Alma 26 and the verses about Ammon wanting to return home but didn´t.  And then I watched the Testaments with Elder Herman and Special K. Or Elder Christiansen.  I see Mitch once in a while and he just complains about his companion. Poor kid. Haha he is doing good though.

I´ve been dominating the courts in basketball, not gonna lie.  Coach Rose is probably dropping by next week to see me play.  No big deal. Haha. I wish. Basketball is three on three half court and some of the kids are good and it is competitive.  I get to play with Daniel Lynn, one of my friends from BYU.  There is this elder in my district named Elder Beutler.  He is so funny and every time he talks I either laugh or feel the Spirit.  The kid is a stud. 

I can´t believe girls camp got cancelled!  I really sorry.  Are you going to do something else instead?  Thanks for the package! You sent me my favorite treats! We can't chew gum at the MTC, just a warning.  It sounds like everybody is going great.  I am going to try to write every one back eventually but it's hard to do in one day.  I am doing really well in spanish.  My prayers are good in spanish and so is my testimony. I have been dreaming about spanish every night too.  Last night I remember I was on a soccer field yelling "La expiación!" haha it means The Atonement.  So I am going to stop now so I can try to put some pictures on.  If you have questions I didn't answer just write them again, it's hard to get everything straight with dear elder. Please send some basketball shorts, Stu's address, and Orinn Bunn's if you can find it.  I love you all! have a good week.  Oliver is super cute and I wish I could hold him! I hope his jaundice goes away quickly.  Aaron and Lynze, you need to tell me what it's like being a parent.  Shayla, keep doing work and get married.  Mark and Bree, I love you both.  Mom and Dad thanks for everything!

Love,

Elder Hubbard

 

So I don't think the pictures are gonna work.  I might have to print some out and mail them to you.  I'm really sorry.