Week 12 Letter from Elder Hills

Hi guys! 

I love Worthers Originals (so, send me the reject caramels you make)! I bought a TON last transfer, and I almost ate them all! How much faster is it to have pre-cut wrappers? I bet it makes things easier.  That's hard stuff. If you send some candy out, could you include my black jacket that I bought just before I left? The days are getting colder, and the long coat I have is hard to wear when riding bikes! I'm thinking about buying some warmer shoes instead of dress shoes, form>function.

Tell dad I said not to get another Jetta- he needs awd! The A4s are pretty cheap and he can get one with a stick! It's basically an Audi Passat, so it'll rock in the snow. Plus it looks a heck of a lot better than the Jetta...

I heard from Bro Collette about the fire in Cambridge (and Miranda's apartment burned), that's crazy! I hope out apartment doesn't burn! We have an investigator who lives a couple doors down, and she will be baptized the first day of the new year. We were going to do it on Christmas, but things got in the way.

Question and Answer time!

1. What the heck?  You saved your companion from being robbed?!?!  TELL ALL!!!  (By the way, your letter to Ellie was a wonderful surprise and made me cry.)  Answer:  Yea, and last week I bought a wicked looking switch blade to hopefully scare off any idiot that tries to steal the three dollars that I carry on me. We're so poor!   I fell off my bike and I head some guy yelling. I looked up and the guy was like two inches from my comp, so I ran up to him. When the guy saw me coming, he left. I asked my comp what happened and he told me the guy wanted money! Crazy right? I'm keeping that knife though, it's so ghetto out here. 

2. What are you doing on Christmas?  Answer:  Christmas eve will be our Pday, so I'll email you then but not on Monday after Christmas. 

3. Do you know what time you get to call home?   Answer:  I'll find out when we can skype, but I don't know yet.

4. Should we try to coordinate so we can loop Jessie in for at least part of your call?  That would be cool!   Answer:  THAT WOULD BE AWESOME! If you can figure out how, go for it!

5. How have your Light the World efforts been going?  We've done some random acts of kindness and it feels good!  Answer:  Light the world is such a perfect finding approach, everyone has time for a quick video!

Prayer works. I've seen it out here as well as back home. If you pray for something with a righteous desire, God will answer you! Try to pray for service opportunities, they happen! I love you guys so much and I can't wait to talk to you on Christmas!

Ellie: Hi Ellie! I'm glad you liked your letter! If you want you can send one back to me, and we can be pen pals! That is an Intense Spyder 29! I think that's the carbon frame too, that's a really nice bike! It's nicer than mine ;P I love you Ellie, have fun in school!

Isabel: Dang you got a ton of money at the Art Club Jewelry sale! What's the most you guys have got? Do you also get funding from the school? I wish we got funding for MTB club, that would have rocked! Ask for money for Christmas, then you can pick what to do with it! It's kind of lame, but safe ;) I love you, and miss you!

-Elder Hills (Recorder, and Bike Master)

Week 11 Letter from Elder Hills

Hi guys! It's good to see an Email from you guys each week, I love you all so much! I've been doing some thinking, and I think dad should get a Golf Alltrack. We live right next to a VW dealer, so we got to see them deliver all those new golfs, and dang they're cool. AWD too! Check that out whenever you can.

Honestly, if you're making candy, I want some of all of it! It's so good! I miss having the smells of candy being cooked, and I'm really going to miss prime rib! 

We don't have a car right now, and we really need one! We have a big area, and it's getting REALLY cold, almost NH cold! They get the weakest snow here in CO, but they make a huge deal about it. I'd love to show them what a real winter looks like :p

Ok, question time!

1. What are you guys doing for the Lighting up the world?   We share it for every dinner message, and hand out the cards to everyone we talk to.

2. What is the most spiritual experience you have had on your mission?  My first Sunday in the field was the primary program, and they did a really good job! I really loved it

3. How is the bike?  MY BIKE STILL HAS FLATS!!!!! I got the wrong tubes last week, and I'm going back to the bike shop today.

4. Do you have a Christmas tree?  I was really sick yesterday, so we stayed home, and our ward mission leader came by with some gatoraid and some potato chips... AND A TREE! It's so small and ugly, but it's beautiful!

5.  Did you get  the package?  Do you like the music?  I love the music! I'm really thankful for what you guys did! It's so nice to be able to have some Charlie Brown playing around Christmas time!

6.  How is the new companion? I like him a lot, he's a super good teacher. He can connect with almost anyone too, so finding rocks with him!

7.  Do you like the new ward?  Is the ghetto all you thought it would be? Dinners are always interesting.

8. Did you get a hair cut?  I did in my last area, and we now live next to a barber who is super street.  He loves us, though, and Elder Keith is getting a hair cut today by him.

I love you guys, and I really appreciate all you do for us! I miss you, and I'll keep trying my best!

Ellie: Hi Ellie! Are you ready for Christmas!?! What does your list look like? Anything bike related? ;) I want to see if I can find a Rockshox Reverb somewhere out here. It's a hydraulic dropper post if you want to look it up and see what it looks like. Have you and your friends been doing anything fun in the snow yet? I love you and miss you!

Isabel: You guys have a real tree, that's all that matters! I'll ask you the same questions I asked Ellie, what's on your list this year? Anything good? I can't wait for Christmas, we will be Emailing on the 24th instead of the day after Christmas. Light the world is pretty awesome! I've been doing most of the things on the calendar, some things we can't do though (like call home). Make sure to watch the new star wars movie for me, and tell me everything. I can't wait to see it! I love you! I miss you!

-Elder Hills (Recorder, and Bike Master)

Week 10 Letter from Elder Hills

THE CAR!!!!!!! WHAAAAAAT!?!?! I can't believe the silver bullet is gone! What the heck am I going to inherit now? Dang, I feel for you dad. I know you loved that car, and it's hard having to drive that Passat. I think you should get an Audi A7 for your next car, those are so beautiful (and they're Quattro). If it makes you feel better, my bike has been sitting for two weeks now because of flat tires. My companion didn't want to go to the bike shop to get new tubes because "we have a backup bike" but one of his went flat last night, so we're going today.

I met a guy in an ally that had a pet squirrel. He called it by name and it just came to him, it was so weird! That guy was obsessed with squirrels, he even had one on his t shirt. There are so many immigrants here in aurora. God loves all his children, so I carry a Libro de Mormon and a Korean Book of Mormon everywhere I go. I gave out the Korean one yesterday to a little Asian grandmother, she was so funny! 

Thanksgiving dinner was OK, but no one makes food like Mom and Dad. We're going to dinner for Christmas with a family where the dad has a carbon frame Cannondale road bike, so at least we have similar interests! 

What was in the package? I don't know if you sent anything since the gift card, but I got that last Monday. I'm using it to buy a new camera at some point, I need to take pictures. The two pictures I attached are from my companions camera, one is me holding a pic of Jesus (super stereotypical missionary, I know) and the other is the squirrel guy. Fun week! 

Tell mom I'm praying for her. I love you guys so much

Isabel: FOODFIGHT! I've watched it all the way through twice. I'm actually a pro. I heard that new Harry Potter movie is bomb! I kind of wanted to see it, but hey, missionary work. How is Charlie doing? I miss that little pup, I got to play with a big version of him the other day! The dogs name is Bison, and he is a Golden retriever Poodle. Super cute and cuddly, without the shedding! He's big too, about 100 pounds! Love you and miss you!

Ellie: Hi Ellie! How is everything going with you and your friends? Is MTB Club still rolling? Did they take down the track? I'd ask Tsiastios this if HE'D EMAIL ME! Was anyone riding with dad when the car slid? I feel so bad for him, make sure to give him an extra hug this week. I love you and miss 

you!

-Elder Hills (Recorder, and Bike Master)

Week 9 Letter from Elder Hills

Hi everyone! Dang, I have a lot of questions to answer:

1: I miss home almost every day, I still don't really like CO.

2: My new area is pretty good for missionary work, there's a lot of humble people here.

3: Nope, still on bike.

4: I bought a nice lock and some lights, I heard bikes get stolen a lot here in Peoria.

5: He's alright, kind of impatient though. Maybe I'm just annoying though.

6: I don't know yet, I'll ask when I get to know people better.

7: I was hoping to buy a new set of black shoes that are a little less bulky.  The rules say something about bulky dress shoes. The ones I have that are thinner got kind of trashed when I went down on my bike, same as the slacks I had on. 

8: The biggest surprise was how hard it actually is to be out here, dang!

9: At home, I eat mostly soup and sometimes bread.

10: Yea, I put my bike in the apartment at night and lock it up during the day. I need to buy two new thorn tubes today! I popped both tires in the first day, crazy right?

11: It's been great to see how great of an effect the Book of Mormon has on people!  I love hearing about that.

12: I'm in the Peoria ward

I've been invited to Thanksgiving dinner by the Davis family.  It should be good (buy, I'd rather be eating the trash can turkey though, I miss those days-and your mashed potatoes are the best!!! Good times...).

What are the missionaries Emails that are there now? I have a referral for them, tell them to email me. I think the sisters would be better, but the elders would be fine, too. Whichever you thing are more mature is better, because this is really important to me.

Thanks a ton for the email, I miss you guys! 

Isabel: Dwayne Johnson? Blah, he's all 'roids! Whatever, that's pretty cool you guys got to go to the Fourniers! I miss those little guys so much! Did you get pictures? I didn't carve that pumpkin, I just saw it and liked it. But the rat dog is all real, her name is Zoe. How much cash did you make with babysitting? You must be making mad money now that you can drive places. How's the car by the way? Are the stickers still there? Love you!

Ellie: Hi Ellie! How was the Whitney family? Things are better, but still not super great. I'm getting there though, so don't worry about me. Could you tell Mr. Tsiastios that he needs to email me or I'll put a Mormon curse on him? Thanks Ellie, keep riding your bike! I love you!

-Elder Hills (Recorder, and Bike Master)

Week 8 Letter from Elder Hills

Hi, everyone! 

Good news! My bike is fixed- right in time for me to be transferred to a car area! Yup! I'm packing up tonight and leaving Tuesday, for a super ghetto area where people are actually cool. I can't wait!

I can't  believe you skipped ward cleanup! How did they even get anything done? I bet Brother Collette helped out, he loves that stuff! 

I actually am thinking about moving to Canada after my mission, I hear there's a little less Trump there...

My black suit could use some work, and I actually ruined one of my shoes and a set of slacks, bikes and dress clothes don't mix. I should get the packages this week, but who knows? 

We taught one lesson this week, and I don't think it went super well. This will change though next transfer! 

I'm not sure what's going to happen on Thanksgiving, but it should be good. I'll keep you updated!

Isabel: MUSIC! The rules on music are actually pretty slack here, I bought a disc with Harry Potter music on it. I would say if I could request one song, it would be Stairway to Heaven on the piano. Beautiful song! But honestly I really appreciate anything you send, we are allowed to have an Ipod with speakers (no headphones), so maybe if you could get that nano or one of the shuffles it would be ok. But thanks so much for thinking of me, I miss music so bad! I love you and I miss you!

Ellie: Hi Ellie! I am still in shock how much you are getting biking! I love it! I don't really like the people here so much, they're kind of mean. They don't have any crazy lingo, but they think it's weird when I say wicked. Church is from 11-2. I don't really like it here, but I'll live! I miss our family (and Charlie) the most, I am always thinking of you guys. I love you too, Ellie, I miss you!

-Elder Hills (Recorder, and Bike Master)

PS, my camera just broke while I was at the computer, it made a super high pitch noise and smoked a little. I'll try to find one out here

Week 7 Letter from Elder Hills

Ok here's the answers to all the questions:

1. I ended up in the choir because my companion made me :).

2. I think because I was one of the only bass singers, but who knows.

3. It was some custom version of "Softly and Tenderly". 

4. We are teaching a lot of members right now, there are actually zero progressing investigators! We have some people we teach, but they like to try to prove us wrong a lot. A lot of money and pride-it hurts, they don't even know what they're missing.

5. The schedule is basically the same every day, we get out of bed at 6:30, eat breakfast, study until 11:00, eat lunch, then try to find new investigators. It's easily the hardest thing I've ever done, and I really want to quit, but I keep praying for strength and it works!

7. I've read the Book of Mormon twice since I came out, it really helps!

8. I just got a haircut today! Sister Black did it for free!

9. I eat a lot of eggs, pancakes, and toast. The members could do a better job of feeding us, but we do get to eat most nights.

10. Laundry is fine, we have a laundry machine. 

Other random questions: I might get the package today if my companion is ok with us hanging out with the other missionaries- I really hope so. I might need some more money added to my account so I can get a new headset for my bike, that's broken, too. I was hoping for some brand name stickers like Specialized or Avid and stuff like that, but thanks for the stickers you sent! 

I am going to write to Melissa and John today, I should have some free time while my companion plays tennis. They are so nice to do that, I wish I could give them both a big hug! 

Isabel is amazing, she would be a great missionary. She never lets pressure get to her! I need that skill! Noah an eagle? Crazy. 

How did the chicken house come out? Send some pictures if you can, you guys are great at that stuff! Oh Ellie, she is so great! I don't like to think about it, but she'll be 16 when I come back, holy crap. I'd love if you could send that card out, could you also send out that white and blue shirt that you cleaned all the grease off of? And also the white shorts and the brown shorts would be nice too! I don't have a lot I can wear on P days. 

This week was hard, but every week has been hard. I've been trying to put my energy into taking pictures of stuff for you guys, so I'll add them in. 

I love you guys!

Isabel: Yea I sang a solo. It was weird, but it was ok. We are not unnatural! He is so weird! WHO HASEN"T SEEN STAR WARS!!! Maybe you're right, I do need to focus on his good qualities. Good luck with the college app! Love you!

Ellie: Good for you! Mountain biking is so fun! Who's bike do you ride? You can ride mine if you want, it might fit you! Keep me updated on how things go! I love you!

-Elder Hills (Recorder, and Bike Master)

Week 6 Letter from Elder Hills

Really? Sorella Hills? Recycling's fine, but at least give me my dignity and change the name on my letter even though you're copying the same thing you're sending Jessie! I love the trunk/costumes, you guys are great! I did get the package and I opened up a couple of those letters already! It really helps, I love you guys so much. I am in the Southlands ward.

I do love my bike, but as you know, bikes don't really love me. I busted a spoke already, and the bolt on the headset broke already! Also the seller wasn't totally honest about the seal on the rear shock, so I'll have to rebuild that at some point. But there is a "bike shop" down the road, they actually only sell electric bikes, but I talked to a guy and he said he'd hook me up with some parts. Bike guys are the best!

I like my shoes, but they could be better to be honest. I need some more dress oriented shoes, my black ones are so bulky! Colorado cold is NH Beautiful, it's so mild around here. I'll start looking for gloves etc. 

My companion is so dry, I want to throw something at him sometimes! I'll say something, and he'll just sit there and look at me. AAAAHHHHHHH IT"S SO FRUSTRATING!!!! I am learning patience w/ the bike issues and my companion and stuff like that though. I'll be a new man when I get home!

Ellie: That dog is so funny! I think you would have won if they judged the trunks though. They didn't want to make anyone feel bad! How is MTB club? Sticking with it? I miss you and love you!

Isabel: Hi Isabel! Computer classes are the worst, I'd ditch it. Speaking of singing, they made me sing a solo in Choir the other day, maybe I got some of the skill you and Jessie got! Keep working at it though, learning new songs is hard! I get to carve pumpkins tonight, so that'll be fun. My companion is wicked boring though, so I'm kind of dying inside. He doesn't like anything! Not even movies! HE HASN'T SEEN STAR WARS!!!!!!!

-Elder Hills (Recorder master)

Week 5 Letter from Elder Hills

Hi everyone! 

First off, my bike is the best bike ever. Its a Specialized Stumpjumper Elite.  It is so fun. I am a little slower than I was before, but I am having way more fun. Tim Tsiastios put together a list of bikes in the area that were kind of my speed, he rocks! The guy gave me a deal on the bike, and he drove it out to the Walmart next to our apartment. Great guy, I wish everyone was that nice. What did you think of my companion? He's really something, he gave me all kinds of grief for not knowing my ss number, so I asked what his was and he was like "I'm not telling you!" He doesn't know! Whatever, I'll add some pics of the bike. I just figured out how! 

Right now is Fall break, so there's not a lot going on. I just got an Email from Mission Pres saying that we have to be inside at 7:00 on Halloween, weird! 

Little Charlie! Send pics of him, I miss that little dude. Could you have the Fourniers send me an Email? I miss those guys, too.  I still have Brent's rock in my pocket, he's so cute. As missionaries, we can't do anything with little kids, it's so sad. The ward mission leader has the cutest kids, too, its so hard! 

I miss you all and love you so much! Send more pics!!!

-Elder Hills (Recorder master)

Week 4 Letter from Elder Hills

Thanks mom, it's been a really hard week. But you're are so right about commitments. I'm not going to quit and I'm going to do more than suffer through this brief period in my life. 

There are so many ways around having a jerk for a companion, and I have been using every one. I've been relying on the Lord, reading the scriptures, and beating him up every hill on my bike. All these things have really made it easier for me, but it's still really hard. I kind of see it as a threshold for the rest of my mission.  If I can do this, I can do anything. 

Thanks for the kind words, I love you so much!

Week 3 Letter from Elder Hills

Hi, mom. 

I'm glad everything is going good. I really miss home.  I'm praying about whether I should come home or not. My trainer is really difficult.  He doesn't respect me or my choices and wants to do everything his way. It's so hard for me not to yell in his face when he makes some stupid comment about me using a knife to cut french toast. If I ask him a question, he will either ignore it or wait a minute to answer, even if it's a yes or no answer. I miss music and friends, but the ward families are nice. I'm going to see a mountain bike family soon. It's just really hard for me right now, and I'm trying my hardest. I'll see what happens by the end of the week.

Good for Ellie on getting a new room, it's really nice being alone sometimes. I hope she doesn't get too lonely. I hope grandpa starts feeling better, I would be pretty sad if we lost him so soon. Tell everyone that I love them so much, and to keep me in their prayers.

-Elder Hills (Recorder master)

Week 1 Letter from Elder Hills

Hi family! I knew that wood was going to stink to split and stack, there's almost no room left! It's pretty smart to put it down by the basement walkout, that's where the wood needs to go anyways. I didn't know you bought dad a new splitter, I always thought the one we had worked well enough! 

I miss DQ trips, there's nothing fun like that here. It's been a lot of work, but I feel like it's getting easier. I'm typing this while I wait for my laundry to be done, crazy right? 

Funny how it's a YM and YW campout, ive never seen one before. Tell Sam I said good luck if you read this in time. 

Isabel's driver's ed teacher is a jerk, I wasn't kidding about that. He one time honked at an old lady crossing in front of me and I told him off for it. Later on in class he said sorry to me, so I guess he knows when he's been beat. Haha!

I'm so glad Ellie's liking biking; it makes me so proud of her! I want her to be better than me when I come back, it'll be so fun! 

Sister spencer was in my branch, but I think she left for the field already. It's so strange being here though, I didn't know anyone when I got here, but everyone is so friendly here that I already feel like I have friends. My campanion is also going to Denver North, so maybe we'll see each other out there. So far, my only responsibility as district leader is to be an example and assign the prayer and song. A lot of the elders  and sisters in my district have been feeling homesick though, so I've been trying to help by having stuff every night before bed to make everyone feel the spirit. Last night I shared a scripture and my testimony, but other nights we just talk about our familie and homes and stuff.  I'm super homesick.  One of the sisters in my district in a carbon copy of Ellie, so it makes it a little easier.  But, I still miss her and all you guys. 

We are suposed to wake up at 6:30 but in my dorm we wake up at 6 so we can get showers. For the exercise hour, I've been either running or playing 4-square. It gets competitive, I've got to admit. 

I love you guys so much, and I really miss you. could you send me a case of MTN Dew pitch black and a recorder? Those are the two things I miss the most about home, music and caffeine. Love you!

Ellie: The MTC is pretty fun, you'd love it here! Everyone is so nice to each other! It's just how you like it. I'm so glad that you love biking! I'm really excited to come home and bike with you! The club should start this next week, Timmy was sick or something. Spanish is hard...I never took it, but I cantt speak it either. I love you Eliie! keep your head up!

-Elder Hills

Week 2 Letter from Elder Hills

Hi, Mom! 

I've gotten used a bit to the name 'Elder Hills', but it's still weird. 

I saw dad's injury, and I'm amazed he actually took pain meds! That's unheard of! I'm really glad he was wearing gloves, that could have really been bad.

I got the mountain dew, and it's already gone. Good stuff ;) Thanks a ton by the way for those wonderful gifts, I'm annoying everyone so bad with the recorder!  

I started playing basketball with all these white Utah mormons, and I'm way out of my league. I'm like a middleschooler playing in the NBA.

Isabel needs a GPS! That's a perfect birthday gift! I hope no one steals this one-that made me so mad! Tell Hadley I said hi, that's so strange that she's already home!

Take a ton of pictures of the fair for me, I miss stuff like that so bad! Fried dough is over rated by the way, I couldn't ever get into it. 

Yea, this is my last Pday in the MTC, it's been a wild ride! The days started to fly by, and I'm going to miss my companion. He's going to Denver, too, and it would be really cool if we ended up together again, but who knows?

I love you and miss you so bad, keep emailing and sending pics!

Ellie: Hi Ellie! There was a club meeting, and you weren't in the picture!!! Go next week, you'll love it! That's so scary that you were all alone, I'm glad it went OK, though. That's spooky that you crashed, too, because only nerds crash ;p I love you and I miss you!

Isabel: Happy birthday! I won't be able to talk to you for another week, so I'll tell you now! Have fun at the SAT, it is pretty much a blast (not). Paco's a jerk, just enjoy the driving. How did you fail though? Too slow? Im super excited for CO, I think I'm ready. I got the recorder! I'm playing it at a MTC wide devotional tonight (not)! I love you and miss you!

-Elder Hills