A letter from Hunters Mission President

California Roseville Mission Comings and goings

Dear Missionaries and families,

 

October 2015 brought some changes to the mission.

 

These grand missionaries are now home with their families (with a couple of exceptions that will soon leave).

We will miss the spirit, the faith and the testimony that they exhibited.

We know that their work will continue long after their service is over.

 

 

Sister Grosland, Sister Teoti, Sister Rose, Sister and President Marston, Elder Avery

Sister Parks, Sister Giesbrecht, Sister Pickup, Elder Cieslak, Elder Barnes, Elder Cevering

Sister Gastaldi, Elder Giesler, Elder Zaugg, Elder Sones, Elder Vaughan

 

 

These missionaries are coming into our mission filled with hope, faith, and desires for diligence.

They come from all over and bring a zeal to missionary service.

 

Elder Winkie, Sister Sorenson, Sister Price, President and Sister Marston, Sister Johnson, Sister Smith, Sister Wall, Sister Kenney, Elder Kenney

Elder Rollman, Elder Hodson, Elder Krie, Elder Yule, Elder Tout, Elder Lewis, Elder England, Elder Stepherson, President Kenney, Elder Sarki

 

Elder Williams

 

Doctrine and Covenants 100: 4-8

 4 Therefore, I, the Lord, have suffered you to come unto this place; for thus it was expedient in me for the salvation of souls.

 5 Therefore, verily I say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people; speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men;

 6 For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say.

 7 But a commandment I give unto you, that ye shall declare whatsoever thing ye declare in my name, in solemnity of heart, in the spirit of meekness, in all things.

 8 And I give unto you this promise, that inasmuch as ye do this the Holy Ghost shall be shed forth in bearing record unto all things whatsoever ye shall say.

 

Best regards,

President Michael F. Marston

California Roseville Mission

916-847-5595

re-assiged to Roseville, CA

Roseville

So I made it safe and sound to Roseville! It's awesome here, the mission presidency is all super nice, and super awesome.  President Marston is super cool, and he has a really cool story, that I'll have to tell another time, because I'm not sure how long I'm supposed to write this email for haha. 

Uhh I already got told who my companions are, one is a native from guatemala, and one is a native from peru, so I don't even have to worry about getting english spoken to me.  Which I am very grateful for.  Idk what my address is here yet, but my pday is next monday so I'll be able to say on monday. 

I"M AN IPAD MISSIONARY HAHAHA.  The joys of not having a visa right?  I also get a car which is super cool.  Idk if I get to drive, I doubt it though.  I think thats all that's really happened today.  I love it here, it's super relaxed, and I'm the only new spanish speaker.

Love you all!!

Elder Hodson 2

Week 6

Last week at the MTC


Well the time has finally come for me to leave the MTC, and boy am I excited.  It's been a long week, but a good week for the most part.

We did an In-field orientation thing, and it was super long and boring, and basically learned over a 10 hour period that we need to use members in lessons, so that's good.
 

I think Thursday on a non-spiritual level was the best day of the mtc, because guess what came in the mail... A chipotle Burrito from Natalie and Ashley, (shout out to you guys), and let me tell you it was the best food I've eaten in the mtc.  Man I'm gonna miss chipotle, especially if my area in roseville doesn't have chipotle.
 

I've learned that the best way to use tenses is to insult each other haha.  Spanish is still fun and for the most part simple, just have to memorize a half a billion things.
 

Conference last week was amazing.  I absolutely loved bednar's talk, I wish he would've talked more.  I also loved all of uchtdorf's talk.  They're all so good at talking, and truly are men of god.  Also got to watch some sweet old mtc talks from previous apostles, and I wish everyone could watch these videos.  Bednar and Holland just put it down, and it's the best.  If anyone has some connections, get one of those guys to come give a talk in my mission hahaha.
 

Got to do an early session at the temple this morning, which was super nice.  I love the temple.

We also got 4 new districts this week, and some of them are pretty shell shocked, but they'll be just fine.  I was a wreck that first weekend, so I know their pains.
 

I got to talk to Amanda's brother, and Brother Packer I think.  Packer served in Xalapa too so it was cool to talk to him. I'm super excited to question Brother Mechum about the wedding, even if he only responds in spanish.  (my mom has the picture of us too, I'd be surprised if she didn't post it.)

I hope everyone is having a good week, I'm super excited for my Brother and Amanda to get married today.  Shout out to them #goals.
 

Still nothing crazy cool has happened, still in the mtc
 

Love you all, 

Elder Hodson

 

 

Week 5

It's only just begun


Well i'm almost done with the mtc which is amazing, but I've got some hard news for everyone to take.......

I'm getting reassigned to Roseville California for my first transfer.  I pretty much knew I was getting reassigned by wednesday, but I was just hoping I would get reassigned to Pocatello Idaho hahaha.  It's alright though, it's only one transfer which isn't too bad.  I don't mind.  It was like reopening my mission call a second time.  But yeah California for my first transfer, which means I get the benefits of having stateside packages for one more transfer hahahaha, sorry mom.
 

Today is still my P-day which is kind of weird, because we have to do our laundry and emailing in between sessions which is super off.  But it's all good.  It's just lame cause 2 weeks with no temple, BUT I"M SO EXCITED FOR CONFERENCE!!!!!!  Everyone better be watching conference all day today and tomorrrow.  It's gonna be so amazing, I can't wait to see who gets called.
 

This last tuesday we had claudio Costa of the 70 come and talk to us, and he was super amazing.  It was cool to see someone with an accent still get a good talk across to us, it gives me faith that even with my crap spanish I'll be able to bring some spirit across in lessons and stuff.
 

I never officially said I got made district leader, but I got made district leader haha.  it's nothing special in the mtc.
 

I also never told you about my teachers.  One is hermana anderson and she's super short and way too energetic.  She tells stories like chelsea would tell stories it's funny.  Shes good, but she has her days where she just is off.  Our other teacher is hermano wolfe, who might as well be one of the 70's.  He teaches exactly like a 70, i swear has every scripture off the top of his head, and always gives super good lessons.  He's a little bit more difficult to want to go to his class, but I always get something out of it.

I'm doing good nevertheless.  It's just every day is 12 hours of class, so i'm learning a ton.  I just started to mark my spanish scriptures, so if anyone has any good techniques lemme know.  I think I'm getting another little cold which is gay.
 

I never know what to write in main emails, the MTC is kind of super boring hahaha.  I'm just super excited to get into the field and actually start working, and having something to do, so forgive my short emails.
 

Also you all better be paying attention to conference, because it's gonna be amazing.
 

Love you all,

Elder Hodson 2

 

 

Pictures:

 

The awesome pin my grandma sent me.

 

The one and only Elder Olsen

 

 

Week 4

Hump Week


Uhhhhhh what happened this week.  Elder lewis and elder Hecker (both from cht) left this week which sucks, but at the same time elder Olsen came in to my zone, and Elder dunn is here at the mtc now.  Super dope.  It's so much different to have been here a few weeks and see the new people coming in.  They'll be just fine.

So after district a left, I stole their mini fridge, so now our district has a mini fridge hahahaha. 

Uhh our song last sunday went super good.  Call me the motab director, because yeah.

Wednesday I was a little off, and I just didn't have the spirit in any of my lessons, and it was a good humbling day.  I learned that I can't speak for crap without the spirit, so ever since then, my lessons have been going a lot more smooth.  Learning a ton here though.  Super excited to actually get in the field and understand no spanish.
 

Being district leader kind of is dumb in the mtc.  Basically I just have an extra 4 hours of meetings on sunday.  At least i get to pick who does prayer and stuff in class every day /s hahaa.  But my district is super good at spanish.  Our teachers can be a little strict, but we love them.  I don't have any super cool stories to tell, besides it's hump week and I'm already ready to get out of here.

Oh and I still don't have my visa, so i'm just praying that if i get reassigned I get reassigned to idaho hahaha.
 

Uhh nothing crazy this week, no cool story of haircuts.  Every day just feels like a year, but at the same time like 5 minutes.  Time doesn't exist.
 

Oh and my entire district has yoyos now, so you could pretty much call us pro's lol
 

Love you all,

Elder Hodson 2

My camera sucks half the time, so Yeah.

 

Missionary Choir Hunter Conducted

Week 3

THE SAMOAN HAIRCUT


Hello everyone,

Before I get to the normal missionary crap I want to tell you the story of my haircut.

So the Mtc has hair school people here that are interns and give crap haircuts, and I didn't want to ruin my beautiful hair by the hands of hair school girls, so i kept my eye out for the best haircuts in the mtc, and it is always the samaons. So after our tie exchange, I went to the other side of the building and it's all of the samoans in two or three rooms.  So i asked who cuts hair, and they went searching for the kid, and it turns out that the elder that cuts hair is the same elder that I play vball with every day haha.  The blessings of 1 year of high school vball.  So were already buds, and I ask him if he does a good job, and he said yes.  Then another elder came out and started yelling "no go to barber shop, I testify that barber shop is better" and all of the samoans were dying, and it made me a little nervous.  Then the elder that was yelling said fine I'll get mine cut first, then you cut yours.  THE SAMOAN GAVE SUCH A GOOD HAIRCUT.  So i decided wth why not get a haircut, it's the mtc, yolo.  He ran his fingers thru my hair and said in samoan to an elder in my zone that is also samoan "This will be my best haircut because i like his hair"  So i continued to get the best haircut of my life, (not really chelsea) and I didn't end up like a horror story like all the other elders that get haircuts in the mtc.  It's hilarious how bad the haircuts in the mtc are.  But that's my story for the week.

 

Besides that nothing really happens here.  We get in a class, and learn a whole ton, then sleep and wake up and repeat.  Oh I do have something.  Our zone is doing a choir for the departing district, and were singing till we meet, mixed with the song see you again by wiz khalifa.  It's super dope, and I'm leading the music this week.  It's really good sounding.  

 

I also realized something cool in the book of mormon that relates to me a lot.  The reason Nephi was so upset over his brothers leaving, wasn't because they beat him etc., it was because he knew the truth, and he wanted his brothers to have the same feeling, and he grieved over that loss.  That's how I feel as a missionary.  I want everyone to know how awesome it is to read in the scriptures, and get new knowledge, or how it feels to pray and truly know there is a loving heavenly father that wants to bless us.  God is just waiting for us to come to him with a humble heart, so that he can bless us abundantly.  Until we give up our pride, and truly come to know our Heavenly Father, he wont be able to bless us like he wants to.  So that's my challenge for everyone.  Get to know your heavenly father, and pray with a sincere want to have an answer.

 

LOVE EVERYONE A TON

Elder Hodson 2

 

Sadly this is the only pic i have of my samoan haircut.  It is actually really good, but another elder in another district has the pictures during.  Super funny, but i have the best hair in the mtc hahaha.

Oh and a flower power tie pic with the mason garret twin himself, Elder Ainge

Much love, if i get my pics from the other elder Ill send them, theyre funny

 

 

Week 2

The Coat Hanger Experiences

So sorry everyone for last weeks email.  They really shouldn't let you email before the first sunday hahaha.  It's gotten a ton easier.  The blessings of being on a mission are starting to flow.  Spanish is getting super fun, and our district is mellowing out.

We finally got our two teachers today, hermana anderson and hermano wolfe.  They're both super dope.  Learning spanish is super fun, but at the same time super tiring.  I Love being on a mission though, just super excited to be in mexico.
 

Also thanks to everyone that sent me a dearelder package, or something, I managed to get 7 packages in one day hahaha.  I was so excited.  I have so much food now.  But I wrote letters back to everyone, But thank you all so much.
 

So the reason for my title, is in last sundays priesthood class we had one of the branch presidency with us, and he shared a super cool way of thinking about things.  He said we need to have Coat hook spiritual experiences, that we can always look back on.  So anytime I start to struggle, I can look back at my Coat Hook experiences.  It reminded me exactly of something my dad would say.  The mission really does get super easy after the first sunday.  I'm so much happier now.  I love learning spanish.
 

Getting to meet with "investigators" is super fun..  It gets me really excited to teach real people.  The investigators we teach here are so easy to love, and it makes the lessons really easy and fun.  I'm having a much much much better time now that I've settled in.  The anxiety is gone, and I'm eating good (thanks to all the packages)
 

I love you all so much, and I'm so stoked for this next week.
 

Elder Hodson 2

1.  finally found sis Sylvester

2.  a plethora of boxes