Wedding!

Dearest Everybody,

 

Sorry it has taken so long to get back to you, memorial day coupled with a greenie exchange yesterday left me lacking sufficient resources to use a computer. But alas! Here I am :)

 

Sounds like this past week has been quite the week. I'm sad that I missed it, but I wouldn't rather be anywhere else than here. I got the package from mom last wednesday or thursday (i cant remember haha). My absolute favoritest thing in there was the tie!!! Though the reeses cookies did come in a close second. I made sure to wear that tie loud and proud all of saturday. I did a little celebration at twelve on saturday to commemorate the wedding. I just felt super happy and uplifted all day. It was fantastic! Sounds like all went well and that the reception went fantastic. If only all that left over food could be sent over here to new york ;) I am so excited to meet my newest brother in law! I guess I am kinda warming up to him haha.

 

I thought you'd all like to know that Elder Neal Hogge and I have started corresponding. He sure has a lot to say! I was expecting maybe a couple sentences but it was a fantastic email. He recounted his plane ride story. (I'll make sure to not eat panda in the airport before my flight) Its been great because I feel like I have been able to relate some of my mission experience over to him. I really hope all goes well.

 

This has been a good week. We went to ward counsel this sunday. That was the first time in about a year that I had been invited to ward counsel. Everything they spoke about related to missionary work. It was fantastic!!! We have an appointment this evening to meet with bishop Yanez. This will be the first time the missionaries have been able to get into his home for a very long time. I really feel like things are looking up in Woodside. We are really starting to see strong member support and I am so happy for how everything is turning out.

 

Unfortunately Sergio and Pedro have disappeared from the radar. We really dont know what has happened to them. Thats kind of how new york is. People just disappear out of nowhere. It can really be frustrating. But luckily we are still seeing good things happen. Just yesterday a random guy on the street fearlessed us and asked us if he could come to church with us on sunday. So I know that the Lord is still 100% involved in this work. Even though we think we know what we want to happen, its great to know that the Almighty still directs the work. I love a quote by president Calderwood. He says "if the lord really wanted to punish us, he would give us every single thing we asked for". This has been such a humbling experience for me. Things that have happened over the past few weeks have fortified my testimony and relationship with God tremendously.

 

I love you all a ton! I am so happy to hear that all is going fantastically well back home. I will talk to yall next week!

 

Love, Elder Hogge