¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Mi prima!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So these week I finally saw Hermana Safsten!!!! (my cousin) So That was so much fun! she got moved into an area nearby so I get to see her often. So it is great. This week has been just a typical Argentina week. During on lesson a gunshot is shot at the neighbors and the people we are teaching are like, "it´s an explosion, no worries" So that was fun. And in another lesson, The next door neighbor´s dog killed the other next door neighbor´s dog. So it´s crazy everyday! 

This week we had Multizona. So all the zones in Formosa met together with the mission president. That was so cool. I loved it for three reasons; one, I understood a lot of the spanish, two, I saw my cousin, and three, I learned so much about Faith. 

Faith is so powerful. with faith, we can accomplish all things. We need not only the faith to believe but to act as well. It is so cool to think of all the miracles that were performed with just faith. But Yeah I wish I could type longer and fully share my feelings of Faith. 

Sorry I can´t email more right now, but I´ll email later.

Anyway I love it here 

Live long and prosper

Love Elder Hoopes

Connor's apartment above the carnicería 

Zanja Frenzy

So this week in argentina has been pretty fun!. Since I´m in the southern hemisphere it´s winter. So it´s been raining and cloudy and could and great!! I love it. Of course everything is muddy because this part of formosa is swampy so it slows us down because of the thick, slushy, mud. I think it´s a lot of fun. 

So along with the great weather, my companion, Elder Higuera fell in a zanja. Technically it wasn´t a zanja but it was a drainage ditch that was helping the nearby neighborhood drain water. So he stepped lightly with the first foot because he looked like dried mud. It kinda held up then he took his second stepped and just fell into it!!!! It was so funny. Me and him get along great!! So he majored in Greek, Latin, and French at Johns Hopkins so he is helping me a ton with the language!. He is super smart! Like he is out of this world! He is just so stellar. I cannot explain to you the gravity of his awesomeness!!! Me and him get a long great. So it is pretty fun. It´s literally a new adventure everyday. yeah we found the house in the neighbor that was burned down becuase there was a rapest that lived there. And I got policed searched the other day. That was exciting. But life's good ere.

The work is coming a long here too. It´s difficult because the church is an hour walk away from here so it´s difficult to get people to church. But nonetheless people are doing good. We were kinda let down this week. This Sister had been having difficulties and was praying for help when my companion and his old companion showed up. Then we visited with here and it was going great, she was reading and praying, then two days ago, she said she doesn´t want to meet anymore so that was sad. But we are praying and pressing forward. Aside from that we have several people looking into the church and it´s hard because it´s as if time doesn´t exist here and no one ever keeps appointments. But it´s whatever. 

Anyway I love it here! I´ll email later today and answer specific questions. I´ll send more pictures too. Nos Vemos

Love,

Elder Hoopes

Jeepers its the creepers

So this week was very interesting. We definitely felt the promptings of the spirit guiding and protecting us. The subject title totally summarizes the expirences. So the neighborhood is kinda sketchy at night. We have to be back to the pension by 8:30. And we can´t go out after 9. So we were walking back the way we always do and these two delinquints, who we usually see on the corner smoking, called out to us and said,"don´t go that way. You will get jumped." So my companion and I trusted them and went the other way home. It was interesting because they never talk to us but then. So that was cool. So the next night we where in the same neighborhood. And ,y companion and I were like, "we need to go." and so we kept walking and thought we could make it to the individuals house because they were somewhat close. Then instantly my companion and I felt and I kinda heard distinctly, "leave." So we hightailed it on out as fast as we could. when we got out. It felt somewhat lighter but still very creepy. So we started walking in a safer part of the neighborhood and this man started following us. We would turn, he would turn. So my companion and I was like lets talk to these drunk men over here and felt good about it. So we talked to them, they were so drunk they didn´t know what was happening then the man past. So now crisis two had been adverted. Well not exactly. We walk away and he had posted up on the corner and waited for us. so we went the oppoiste way. So finally we get to this junction. All the roads are dark. We can either go straight, left or right. and I felt and heard "straight" which was weird cause it was the darkest and going away from home. But I trusted the voice and proceeded. We met the best family on this road and it took up the rest of the night. So during these scary expirences we could see not only the Spirit´s hand protecting us from any bad situations, but it´s hand in guiding us to those in need.

I learned that God will let us expirence terrible things, to terryifing expirences, and hardships, so we can see His hand guinding and protecting us. That sometimes it´s better for us to dangle just a little and struggle for just a moment so we can then see him carrying us to safety. It is sometimes scary in the moment, like it was for us in the neighborhood, but God has a plan and help us in the end, just like how he ultimately led us to that family. If it wasn´t for those felings, we would of been literally in the southernmost part of our are and would of never found those people in need. I know that God has a plan for us. that he will guide us and protect us. 

Anyway Life´s good here. I´m learning alot. Still loosening weight butr whatever. Email me. I´ll be on later. This is a picture of an area in my mission. I´ll email more later. Monday is my new day to email.

Well I´m in Argentina

 So life is pretty good here. Argentina is cool. So it´s  ¨winter¨¨ yet its like 90 degres. so I´m just super excited for summer to start in a few weeks. But I love it here. We walk literally 15 miles a day. Our area is the size of the four stakes in mesa. so its huge. Lik eI´m so thankful I have my tactically boots because I´ve walked through some weird stuff. But it´s pretty fun. We have siesta here. so We study during the time so we get out of the sun. none of the water is clean here so I cannot tell you how much soda I´ve drinken. But contrary to popular belief, I haven´t put on any weight from the soda. I ´ve lost all the weight i gained from the MTC and already weigh less than what I was when I left. Our area is just so large and we are alway walking in the sun that I just burned/sweated it all off.  actually love to walk. 

So the food is pretty decent. The meet is INCREDIBLE. I got out of eating blood sausage so i lucked out there but I´ve eaten everything else. I actually love their candy. because we alsways have to buy soda and juice to drink. i buy their candy ALOT. I love it. I´ve eaten with members almost every lunch so Ive had alot. But Since breakfeast and dinner is the same, (the bananas at the Pension) lunch is just awesome cause we can just eat. so it´s all good in the hood. We live in the hood. its super sketchy.

the language is just so exciting. So they speak Castillono. so the ¨ll¨ and the ¨y¨ make a ¨shhh¨ sound and to add to that here in Formosa they dop the s off of the words and talk like they are in a library when they are outside with dogs barking, tractors plowing, gunshots, and just every sound in the universe taking place next door. and that always happens. so Its been difficult to understand everyone. and the kids laugh at me because i´m a tall gringo who can´t speak spanish. but its all good. i´m getting better every day and can actually teach the people

I´m in formosa. the poorer part but its super fun. I love it. but its super humbling. our pension is bigger then all the homes we visit. It´s exciting. there are no bugs in our pension and I´d say its because of the spiders, but its nice. we dont´t have any problems with the spiders. the shower is exitcting because there is only one tempurture. boiling hot. and its on a high piont in the bathrom so the water always goes out the door. So thats always fun showing and boiling my self. but our pesnion has two AC´s so lifes pretty chill. (pun intended). We don´t share the pension with anyone either. So idk. I´m not worried about too much.

My companion is named Elder Higuera. He is awesome. he is not native. He speaks spanish pretty well because he is half mexican and lived in mexico. But he is super smart. He can  speak Greek and Latin too. so he is helping me a lot and is super nice. He is just so kind. 

this week we talk a lot of people. but since I´m brand new, I can´t say there names and nopt 100% sure whats happening with them. but, There was this little boy that told me he liked Star Wars and Legos. but that can´t get them because of money and just other sad circumstances. so on sunday I gave him my lego Millenum Falcon and he LOVED it. He like Exploded with joy. It was so cute!!! so That was so much fun to give away. But I just living it up down here in the wonderful world that is argentina. i see crazy things every day. Like two days ago i saw this cat get chased by a dog that then got hit by a car and still got up and ran away. or like my companion´s previous investigator that they had to drop ended up trying to rob a vegatable shop and the vegatable salesman pulled out a gun from his vegies and shot the brother of this man and he fled to paraguay. and I would share others, but they are super weird /graphic so yeah. It´s great here. 

I love serving and I´m thankful I can be here and help. this is my companion and I

Dear Hoopes Family,

Sister Franco and I are pleased to inform you that Elder Hoopes arrived in La Gran Misión Argentina Resistencia this evening.  We welcomed him to the mission, ate lunch and let him rest. Today we had a small briefing of the fun facts and necessary information about the mission.  After that he met his new companion, Elder Higuera, and they headed off for their area called Centenario III in the province of Formosa.               

A mission is a wonderful experience filled with challenges and successes that strengthens the testimony of each missionary.  A great support that you as a family can give your son during his mission is uplifting letters.  In addition to using email, you can send letters to the office address:

Élder Hoopes

Misión Argentina Resistencia

Entre Ríos 435

Resistencia Chaco CP 3500

Argentina

 You may also send letters (and only letters taped shut; no envelopes) via the ¨pouch¨:

                                              

                                                               Élder Connor Smith Hoopes

                                                               Misión Argentina Resistencia

                                                               POB 30150

                                                               Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0150

We encourage each of our missionaries to email their parents each week. Please let me know if a reminder to him is needed. 

It will be our privilege to work closely with Elder Hoopes here in Argentina.  We are blessed to have him join us in this mission to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Thank you for sharing your son with us. 

Sincerely,

President Rodolfo C. Franco

Misión Argentina Resistencia

I finally get to leave the MTC!

So I finally get to leave the MTC. I'm so excited. It will be three long legs but It'll be so cool to go out into the real world. It'll be like a 4 hour flight to atlanta, 11 hours or so to buenos aires, then 7 hours or so by bus. maybe not 11 hours but it'll seem that long. Esta todo Macanudo.  

So it may seem like an awkward subject title perro, es la verdad. Since my first week here, mi companiero y yo have gotten to clean the main bathrooms EVERY week. but since we leave before service day, we don't have to clean it anymore!!!!! It's hard to explain how terrible it was. It a stinky job. (pun inteded) SO I['m so excited to leave. yo soy animado. 

Life is pretty chill here. I'm just so excited to leave and finally go out to argentina. we finally get to leave before the english speakers. It's weird to think I'm 1/24th through my mission. 

So about this week. I finished the Book of Mormon. So it was cool to be able to finish in the MTC. It was so moving to know the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. I know it is true because I read it and prayed about it. It doesn't replace the Bible, but compliments it in its sacred duty to witness and testify of Jesus Christ. This Book is so important. To all my math nerds out there, without the Book of Mormon, the Gospel of Jesus Christ would not be able to exist in this day because without it, the straight line that is made from the two points, The Bible and Book of Mormon, could not exist. So I just love the book of mormon. I know that if you read the Book of Mormon, and prayer with real intent, God WILL answer your prayer. I want everyone to read it and know for themselves. So everyone at least try to read a little, experiment with with pray, and I know God will bless you for your faith trying. You will receive and answer. 

I know that through the Book of Mormon we can come to know Christ. I'm excited to leave. So till I email again. here's an awesome photo of my brothers and I, who are all going to Argentina, In our sandy kingdom where we destroy all opposition

Well the schedule never changes

So this last week has been pretty interesting. It's the same day everyday and it becomes long. But There is 3 weeks down and 3 left before I leave. The fourth of July made the week interesting. We had 3 devotionals within 24 hours and then we got to watch the fireworks. so things are kinda heatin up. So I'll put pictures of that in another email. 

So sorry i haven't really talked about my district. My companion Elder Christensen is kinda like Gabe from the office. Just not as creepy. Then there is the Elders Holtry And Elder Steele. Holtry is like Hunter. super goofy, awkward, just like Hunter. Then elder Steele is like Jerry from Parks and rec mixed with like a Kevin Malone from the office. Elder Sargent and Elder Hardcastle are polar opposites. The hardcastle is hardcore thespian. Drama Music Arts just everything Flamboyant. then Sargent is the huge stag. College baseball catcher. huge stern and everything macho. Then we have like three average sisters. They have been pretty moody lately so I'd rather not talk about them. 

The biggest thing that was interesting this week was the usual Sunday Night Devotional. So the speaker was from the Quorum of the Seventy. Elder Condie spoke about the prophet Joseph Smith. It was an incredible testimony of the prophet. He said, "If you really want to know whether God appeared to the young Joseph Smith, Ask God, He was there." This along with fervor in which he reaccounted the first vision brought the spirit to my heart and strengthen my testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith. His talk was able to be bear witness to me of the truthfulness of the first vision, We then sang the hymn, Joseph Smith's first prayer. It was so amazing how strong the spirit was felt after his testimony was born and all the elders and sisters sang. The power and strength of the spirit was felt in that room. There is no denying it. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet of God who saw God the Father and His son Jesus Christ. I know because I have felt the confirming, sweet, strong, burning witness of the Holy Ghost in my heart. I know that if anyone doubts that this could have happened, they can pray to God to know. He will answer. I know that because he has answered my prayers. 

So everything is good here. I miss everyone. but hey, i'm out here to serve the Lord so it doesn't matter. 

Love Elder Hoopes.

P.s. the picture is drawn by Elder holtry's sister while the Christus is My companions and then everything else is mine.