January....February...March...and more!!!!!!

April 7^th

^{Well first off I need to say I love you. :)}

So I got my new comp. :) His name is Elder Speriry. :) He is super cool!!!!!!! I can tell he is going to be a great comp!!!!! :) He is super chill and relaxed. Easy to get along with. :) I can say a real 180 from my last comp. :) He is from South Africa and is super nice. :) We have ALOT to talk about. :) We just like a lot of the same stuff. :) Cars, games, girls and the like. :) hahah. :) I know we are going to have a great time over these next few weeks. :) 

Also the work is going great here!!!! :) This week like 3 of our investigators asked me about them being baptized. :) I am really looking forward to helping them on that road. :) 

How is Aimee taking Jeremy getting married? I hope she is doing OK. What about the boys? 

that is kinda crazy news. But I get it is somehow a step in the right place. Do you think anything will ever knock some sense into him?

Well it sounds like conference was amazing!!! :) I really look forward to watching it. :) We should get it in a few weeks. :) What talks really stood out to you? I really really really look forward to  hearing them :) 

Also its cool that there are more temples coming up!!!! :) And wow another one in Utah!!!! :) That’s cool :) I still cant wait for someone to say Kenya Nairobi :) When that day comes I want to go to the open house. :) 

Well for the trip. Most of it is really up to you guys. :) Your question about Kitale. We don’t need a lot of time there. I was thinking around 2 days. A lot of it is where and how long the safari is. But to tell you the truth we don’t really need along time to see the members. My question is still what way do you guys want to get around. Do we want to rent a car or what? 

Well I am as happy as a clam here. :) Just loving every day I have left. It is hard to think that its coming to a end. What I can say is that I hope my wife will want to serve a mission with me. :) A lot of them. here is a question. Have you and dad ever thought about going out on a mission together? You would love it! :)

Well that is a bummer that you had to miss conference I bet it was a good one. :) If it makes you feel better I didn’t get to watch it either. hahahah. :) But for us we will watch them in a few weeks. :) I am looking forward to it. :) Sounds like you have had a good week. :) With BYU going to the final 4 that is great! :) Do you think they can go all the way? I hope so. :)  So the MTC will be going up to 7000!!!! Holy cow!!!! That is amazing!!!! :) I think with knowing that and what you are saying about "hold on to your shorts" works out very well :) Both for you, who has to train them. :) Then for the amazing work that they will be doing. :) It is going to be amazing to see what happens around the world. Also this mission just got its first three 18 year old missionaries. :) I can't lie they look like they are scared to death. But they will come out of it. :) It does make a big mile stone for the KNM :) Your right. :) Hold on to your shorts. :) hahaha I hope I can do my part. You know one thing that always is there in the back of my mind is, Am I doing enough? Am I the missionary that Heavenly Father wants and knows I can be. I want to be like those great missionaries you talked about. But I guess I don’t feel like those powerful men. But everything is going great here. :) We have a lot of people to teach and a lot of them come to us and ask to be baptized it is great!!! :) I am hoping to have a big baptism on April 28. :) That is going to be a sweet day. :) hahaha

Well that is that for me. :) 

You are great!!! :) 

SLY

Your son
Elder Hodges :)

March 31

This week has been wonderful!!!!! :) I have loved it all. :) 

We did find some news too. My comp is being transferred and now I am getting a new comp from south Africa who knows nothing about Kiswahili. And I still don't know it good enough to do all that is needed. So it is going to be very interesting. So please don't stop those prayers that are  coming my why for the language. :) I will need them all the more now. But I know the Lord has a plan for His work. He won't let me mess it up. :) hahahahah. :) 

So the sweet story this week is about the baptism we had on Sunday. :) It was super amazing! :) I loved it!!!! :) We baptized a young women named Lady named Mary. :) She is super cool :) We have been teaching her for a long time. :) She is in a part member family. So she has a strong base in the Church. She is one of the last in her family to join the Church. But she wanted me to perform the baptism. So when we were at the Church you could just tell that she was super nervous for the baptism. It just got worse as the time got closer. But that happens a lot. People are just nervous for the baptism. So I went to look at the water in the font. OH MAN!!!! hahahahah it was darker than dark!!! Like  you could not see into it at all, not even a inch! :) It was kinda crazy. But then the time comes for her to be baptized. So we are changed and I am in the water waiting for her. She comes out her door and comes into the water you can plainly see that she so scared it is almost sad. She comes I grab her hands tell her its all going to be OK. Also I have to tell you that I had to do the baptism in Swahili that was cool :) So we do it in one try and it worked really well. She was shocked because of the cold water when she came out but it was good. :) We went and changed. We came sat back down and you could still see she was in a little bit of shock. But here is the thing... after the closing prayer and everyone started to come over and great Mary and shake her hand and doing those things, Mary became the most happy person there!!! She was smiling from ear to ear! :) Then we went out to take some more photos and she was even more happy wanting to take photos with so many people. :) I just think it is so amazing how the Spirit can comfort people and how happy she was after being so scared. :) It was cool to see it happen in only a few short mins. :) It was a great baptism. :) 

Also it was a cool thing to have someone enter in to a covenant with the Lord on Easter Sunday. I love how we arise in Christ out of the watery grave. It really was a cool thought when it came to me. :)  

So that is the story for this week. :) 

It also sounds like you have had a good week. I am glad that you are getting better. :) Hope it keeps up like that. :) 

Also got the house all to yourself. :) That must be fun. :) 

Also the MTC sounds like it was just wonderful!!!! :) With the big sacrament and everything I bet it was a really sweet Easter. :) And you are right it will be AMAZING to go to Jerusalem and see where all these things happened. :) Thank you again for that. :) 

Quinn is now the Bishop! :) That is great! :) I know he is going to do a great job!!! :) That is going to be a lot for that family to do. :) But they will do a great job of it. :) 

Now for the plan of the trip to Africa. I don't really know what you want to do. I am fine either having Sunday in Kitale or Nairobi. I think it would depend on when the Safari is and how all that will play out also where it is will make a big difference too with time and travel. So I have been looking around and asking some people and with what I hear the best places to go are 1: Masai Mara 2: Amboseli 3: Tsavo. That is what I have came up with. I would really like to go to the Masai Mara. But I will leave that up to you guys there. :) 

I am really looking forward to you guys coming you are going to love it here!!!! :) 

Well thank you again!!! :) 

I love you mom!!! :) 

Talk to you next week. :) 

Talk to you on the phone in 6 weeks. :) 

SLY

Your son 

Elder Hodges :)  

March 25

I am always super happy to get your emails. :)
OH MY GOSH THAT IS SO COOL THAT WE ARE GOING TO JERUSALEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are the best parents in the whole world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  :) I am really looking forward to it. :) I think that is the coolest thing ever. :) So thank you very very much! :)

So you asked what I want to do there. I guess I mostly want to see places like the Garden of Gethsemane and the Garden tomb and even the Jerusalem center. But I will be happy with whatever you want to do. :) 

Thank you for the Easter gift. :) 

Well it sounds like you have had a crazy week. I’m sorry that you are sick. I hope you get back up to 100% soon. :) With you being sick, going to the new MTC branch and all that going on I bet you are super tired I guess the boys going out of town will be a good thing for you to get some rest. Do they spend a lot of time with Jeremy? What's the deal there? Is he still being hard hardhearted? 

So the new MTC branch? How is that? is it as big? What are the big things going on there? Did you like it? Well I know you liked it. :) hahaha. I also am glad to hear that Roger is doing better I hope it keeps up like that. 

As for me my week has been good. :) My comp and me are getting along really really well now. :) So that is a blessing thank you for your prayers and putting our names in the temple. It really helped out a lot. :) 

Ya I think I will have to listed to it in Swahili this time too. :) I do hope that I get more out it then last time. But we will see I hear that they put up another TV for English but I don’t know. I will tell you when I find out. :) 

So the story this week :) 

It is about a great guy named Rogers. He has been coming to the English class that we teach. He is in the Advance class and that is the one that I teach. :) He knows a lot of English and is a really nice guy. :) And on Tuesday he stayed after class and asked me and Elder Harper if he could come to church on Sunday and of course we told him yes and we were super happy!!! :) So then Sunday came and when we first looked he was not there. But he came half way through priesthood. :) (We have classes first and Sacrament last here) So we were super happy that he came and I sat next to him in all the classes and told him a lot and had a great time. :) When we were entering the sacrament meeting room he turns to me and says. "I feel so happy here" that alone made me happy and I told him that. :) The he says "Man I was wasting my time at those other churches." I even laughed at that one I was so happy to hear him say that... he kept saying "I will always come here" and things like that. :) It looks like he will be a super strong investigator. :) I was super happy for him. :) 

And that is the story for the week :) It really made me super happy. :) 

It sounds like there is quite a change for you at the MTC. :) First off going to a new branch and plus it sounds like a big change with how many sisters are coming in. :) But it sounds like you are going to love it. Also with the fact that you get to be with these missionaries so much longer. :) That will be super cool :) also it gives you more time to look for some potential daughters in law. :) hahahaha.  I bet you are also going to have a great time with the others in the branch presidency too. Who are they and where are they from? Do they always call them from the areas around the MTC? Also how many branches are in the MTC?  The History Channel on The Bible? :) That would be super cool to watch. :) Does it stay on track? Or how is it?  Ya it is Birthday time. You have Brody, Heidi, then Elsia, then Aimee and then some scruffy looking kid who I don’t know. hahahah I don’t know if I want to be 21. Its kinda crazy to think about. :)  Well as for me I am doing great on this side of the world. :) Things are going great! :) We had a lot of our investigators come to church on Sunday and a lot of them also asked about baptism. :) It is looking like we are going to have a lot this up coming transfer. :) So that is a great thing. :) Its also funny we gave some people a baptismal date for my birthday. :) I think that would be super cool if that happened. :) Looking forward to that. :)  My comp and me are doing great! :) We are loving everything. :)  Well I am super happy for everything. :) I think it is super cool that Luke is Married. :) I hope it is wonderful for him. :) 

 Tell everyone hi for me. :) 

I love you!!!!:) 

I hope you have a great week :) 

SLY

Your son 
 Elder Hodges :) 

 Happy Easter!!!!!!!!!!Its the greatest of all holidays. For the people who really know what it is about. Thank you for everything dad. :) 

March 18
Well I am glad that all is well in Israel :) Things are moving along here really well too. :) We my comp and me are getting along better and things are moving forward. I am still working hard to learn Kiswahili but line upon line. :) We are having a great time here in Dar. :) Mom also told me about the plans for you too coming here and i thing you are going to have a great time! :) The MTC. :) So do you have to take the missionaries to the temple too? Or who is with them when they go to do that? How is it going to be when you are all alone with the huge group of missionaries? I know you are going to do great!! :) You raised kids. :) What could be harder then that? :) So you are going up to Brody's? thats great! :) I cant even think about how cold it is going to be up there. :) To cold. I am really getting used to the heat here. I don’t sweat as much as I used to. I get cold when we turn the AC on. Its crazy. But you are going to have to give them all hugs from me if thats OK. :)So basketball is done? How did BYU turn out? Are they going to the NCAA march madness? Also you say that football is looking good, in what ways? Do you think Brandon is going to go pro?  

Well I guess that is it for me this week. :) 

March 11

Well just to start off I do have more time to email this week. We just found a new place to email here close to our flat. The other one we had to ride a bus for around a hour to get to it. So we are glad to save the travel time. :) Sorry about last week. I hope you know how much I love you. :) 

Well I guess a little update on me. This week has been going great! :) We have some great people with baptismal dates. We are really hoping that they will turn out well. I know one of them is not even a question. Her name is Mary she is 27 years old and is in a part member family her older brother just got back from his mission in Zimbabwe and he helps us out a lot!!! :) This place is AMAZING when you can talk to people. :) I am glad to say that my Swahili is getting better. The Swahili is where the story for this week comes from. :) 

One day I was just super down that I can not really say everything that I want to say. I was just going over things that I am trying to do to learn Swahili in my head. I feel all alone and that no one is really trying to help me or point me in the right direction. So that morning I had a nice heart to heart with my Loving Father for help knowing what to do. And as we went through the day the Lord found ways to let me know that I am doing just fine. Like I was able to bare my testimony and everything that I wanted. Plus as we were walking back the person we were teaching told me that I have become much better than when I came. :) She really started laughing and told me that when I first came I could not say anything. :) Then we went and talked to some guys who sell fish and they said that I am really really good. So I took it as a sign from The Father that I am doing just fine. :) 

That is the update for me and the story for this week :) I hope it lets you know a little bit. :) 

So I can't lie I am looking forward to seeing you again. :) But I know I have a task to do and I will do it to the end. :) 

It sounds like we are going to have a great time!! :) I will email patten. its a bummer that we didn’t think of this faster because we were together here but he got transferred. But its OK. :) I will talk to him. :) 3 day safari sounds super fun. :) Do you think you can handle it?  :) 

But now my question is what are you hiding from me? Where are we going?  And why are you hiding it? I will find a way to know whats going on. :) 

Well that is that. I hope this longer email makes up for last week. :)
talk to you next week. :) 

SLY

Your son 

Elder Hodges :) 

March 4

I am so happy to get your emails. : )So first off. THAT IS SO COOL!!! Your coming to my mission!!!!! :) Did you ever think that you were going to come to Africa? I can tell you that i didn’t think i would until read that paper in the kitchen  :) I know you are going to love it!!!!! I can really say it is one of the best places in the world!!!! Also I just want to let you know to be truncky is a choice no matter what people say or talk about. And it is one that i don’t want to make. I just have to get lost in the work and then it is the only think on the brain. So i guess what i am saying is that i would still like to be updated on the plans for you and mom coming here. :) I hope that is OK. :) The MTC sounds wonderful!!! :) I know that the missionaries there are blessed to have you there. :) I know your words touch peoples hearts. I remember you always talking to me about the 2,000 stripling warriors. I know that because of you loving them it made me want to be like them. I know the missionaries are happy that you are there. :) Also that is super cool about the prayer :) So right now how many missionaries are there in the Provo MTC? Also another question with the church opening up a new MTC in Mexico how much of the kids will it take out of the Provo MTC? Also you have Zone Leaders in the MTC???? Wow. We only had DL's. How many ZL's do you have?

Feb. 25 

I am glad that you can write to me each week too. :) It really is a great blessing from the Lord for that to happen. I know that Ammon and all them didn’t get to do that for their 14 year mission. I think that is one reason why they were all so happy to see Alma again. :) But I am glad that I can talk to you each week. :)Well sounds like you have had a fun week. :) I remember I have always loved going to the Exchange conventions. :) We always have a great time! :) I think it would be fun to get more into exchange when i get home.Glad to hear about the MTC and how it is doing great. :) So just a random question. What sends the most missionaries home from the MTC? Is it just stress? or what?As for me on this side of the world things this week have been really slow. My comp has been sick. So that put us out of commission for a few days. I am hoping to make up for lost time this next week. :) We have ALOT of people to see!!! This area is one that can really progress FAST!!! :)So I hope all is well over there. :) I bet it is. If there is any news let me know. :)I am glad to hear that you are doing well. :) Also i am VERY glad that we didn’t find any dead people in our water. But the other stuff was still really sick. Just wait till i show you the photos. :)Also about pitchers. I just got a big 16 GB flash drive. And it can hold all my photos till the end of my mission. So i was kinda thinking that i will go over them with you in person if that is OK. Let me know. :)

 I am happy that everyone is doing well. :) That no bad things are going on :) That is always good to hear. :) I hope it stays that way. :)

So about you coming here. What all do YOU want to do? I am really fine with anything. I will be happy where ever. :)  

I have told the couples in Kitale that we are coming up that way and asked if we could hang out with them and they were really exited about it. And so i am sure that they would love to let you stay there. and that would work out really well because the missionaries stay in the house right next to them. :) So then the only question about bedding and stuff is for the driver guy if  you want to get one of them

As for me I would love you tell you some sweet stories but this week my comp has been really sick so we have not been able to work. So most of my time has been at the flat taking care of him. And doing just stuff around the house. So It was a relaxing week. So sorry no stories.

But I do feel like I am getting better at Swahili. I am really hoping that I get really good by the end of this. :) I can say that Our Father has stepped in and helped ALOT!!!!!! :) I am happy for all of his help! :)

Feb. 19

Well I am glad that you are making I bet things are going great for you. :)I am glad that the Lord wanted me to come here. :) Its a hard place. Not like some of my past areas. But learning KiSwahili keeps me on my toes. Some other missionaries start to take it easy at this time but I can't even if I wanted to. :)Ya there are 4 branches here. I am in a branch named Kinondoni. It is AMAZING!!!! The hardest part is KiSwahili. There are people to teach everywhere we go... the branch knows what they are doing and it is just good. :)So its good about the travel agents. I think they can give some good info. What are they saying?I hope BYU comes and shows people how to play the game. :)Back to the MTC :) It still blows me away that you are there. :) I think it is so cool! :)Back to your days. :) Is it weird to you how much the missionary program has changed from when you went on mission?How do you feel as one who has been a part of both the old and the new programs? So I have a random question. What does the name Hodges mean? Like from the roots and stuff. It is a question for someone. I will tell you the story after you tell me what it means. :)

As for me the areas that I wanted to go to was Kitale and Nairobi and I would like you also see Chyulu but that one is kinda out of the way. Did you want to go to Mombasa? The preserve that would be the best to go to is The Masai Mara or Tsavo. I don’t know what other things you need. Just send me list of questions and I will do my best to answer them :) 

As for me I am doing wonderful! :) I am really loving TZed.

You want a fun story :) hahahahaha I have a good one this week. But don’t be to grossed out. 

So I am staying in a 4 Elder flat. :) We have the time of our lives. :) We are in a house we have a gated compound and all that. So what we do for water is that we get water from the government but they only pump it like 2 days a week. So we have 2 Huge water storage tanks. One 30,000 LT and a smaller 10,000 LT. The 10,000 LT is lifted above the house to give us water presser. So this is the water we do everything with drinking/cooking/showering/washing we use this water. Well one day we climb on a makeshift ladder up to the tank to see what is in it. And it smells SO BAD!!!!!!!!!!!! We start looking around in the tank and we find dead lizards and stuff. So we are super grossed out. So a few days later another Elder and I went up and drained the whole thing the cleaned it all as hard as we could! :) We had a count of 5 frogs and 2 lizards. And a lot of dirt and other stuff. :) So we went to war and I am happy to say that we came out the winner. :) Now the water is as clean as it has ever been. :) 

Don’t worry i got pictures of the whole thing. :) 

So we are all good this side. :)

Feb. 11
Thank you for your advice with my comp. I am happy to say that we are
getting along better. :) So things are looking up. :) I am happy for
all your prayers and things. :)
I am glad that you got to have a fun week end. :) I bet it was
good to see the family and all that. I hope you told them that I love
them :)
Well it is sad that BYU lost. But oh well. But I am happy that the
ravens won. :) I am glad that Flaco did it. :)
We are having fun down here. :)
Sorry I don’t have a lot of time left.
But just so you know my release date is on the week of 26 of June.
President B. called me to tell you guys. Because he
knows you have been emailing.

Feb. 4
Sounds like a lot of things are going to be happening this week. :) 

With the new baby plus Kyle coming home. :) Man this is so cool!! :) 

You are going to have to tell everyone hi for me. :) But it is crazy that he is home!!! 

Time goes by so fast!!!! 

Hey I have a quick question. Do You still talk to elder Pattens mom? they are planning on coming to Kenya too. Just FYI

Even another Elder from my group named Elder Harper his parents are coming too.  Thank you so much for your prayers and the fasting. :) I can really say that I have seen how they have helped. :) I can feel myself getting better but I still have a long way to go. :) so thank you for everything. :

Jan 21

Thank you for the prayers to help me learn how speak to people here. :) I really need them!!!! I have only been here for a little bit but it is going well. It is super hard to try and learn a new language from nothing. But I know I have some special help. :)My comp is super cool :) His name is Elder Maloi. He is super nice. :) He is from Zimbabwe  :) I think I will be with him for 2 transfers. :) We are going to have fun. :)  I am also living in a house with another missionary companionship and both of them are from my group. :) so we have fun in the house. :) In fact we are planning a prank on one of them for their Birthday tomorrow. :) We are going to have a lot of fun!!! :) 

The Branch here is AMAZING I have not been in a branch this strong for a LONG TIME!!!! The last time was when I was in Nairobi at the start of my mission. The only thing that is really holding me back here is the language. I feel like they need to at least teach us the basics in the MTC or something. Who knows maybe they are going to start doing that. :) 

But it is so cool here. :) the Zone is like 14 people. And there are 5 from my MTC group and 3 others are my ex companions. :) So its like I know the whole zone already. :) 

Here it is still has hot as ever. I was kinda hoping to run away from the heat but I think I am going to be here with it for a while. :) Maybe I'm suppose to learn something from how hot it is? Got any guesses? :)  

I think it is so cool that our family right now is so much into missionary work :) Such a blessing. :) 

So about me. Thank you for the extra prayers I need them BAD. It is so hard to try and do this!!!!! But I can say that our branch here is so wonderful!!!!! I am going to love it here!!! I just need to learn how to talk with people! :) I need help from the Lord a lot here!! 

So you got to see pictures of Kenya. :) What did you think?? :) Was it good or bad? you got to see the slums? I hope they showed you some of the good parts too.

SLY

Your son
Elder Hodges :)

Jan 14
I am so happy that Eva is doing better. :) I hope that it will stay that way! I hope it won't happen again. Do we know what the cause was? I hope it is not something she is stuck with. I don’t want it to happen again. I also have a question. Who is going to pay for the bills? I bet it was a lot of money to have her there. I hope there is insurance or something. 

You talked to Mitch?!?!?!?! :) That is so cool that he is home. :) I bet he is going to love the road trip with his mom! :) I hope that he start to email me soon. :) So he is just the same. :) Good old Mitch. :) But I do look forward to hearing his southern :) I have a question did you send him any exchange referrals wile he was out there? 

Sounds like the MTC is keeping you and dad on your toes. :) That’s good. :) I hope that with 50% being sisters. I hope that you and dad are looking for some potential investigators :) I don’t mind writing sister missionaries. :) There is nothing about it in the white handbook. :) As long as they are in another mission. :) 

Well for me like I have told everyone I am getting transferred to T_Zed. :) :) I am part way sad and part way happy. I really have to learn Swahili now. I didn’t have to before here in Kenya we speak English. But in T-Zed it's all in Swahili. No English. And we get no formal training like other places so pray that I can learn quick. :)  I will just have to face it with faith. :) It's going to be good. :) I think this is going to be my last area. :)

So pray that I get the gift of tongues. :)

Your the best!!!!!

SLY

Your son
Elder Hodges :)

Stories from Mombasa

Dec 17^th

So happy to hear from you. :) I just looked at the scripture you told me and it think it is a great one!!!! :) Thank you for sharing it with me. :) It made me feel really good. :) 

Sounds like your week has been amazing!!! :) I am glad for that. :) With everything going on it feels like you had a sweet heart healing week. :) I hope that there are to be more weeks like that to come and I am sure they will come. :) 

Also the house is sold????? Wow I can’t lie I totally forgot about that house. But that is great news I hope that it goes well and that the new people really like it. :) 

I am also super happy that Eva is cared for. I knew she went to the hospital but I didn’t know it was going to be that bad. But I am glad that it all works out well for the family.  

This year has gone by so fast!!!! It feels like yesterday was January! But I think that time on mission is just plain crazy!!! :)  Christmas is here. :) I am excited too. :) Mostly to talk to you. :) It’s no secret Christmas on mission can never be the same as home let alone in Kenya. :) But I am really looking forward to talking with you and the family. :)

So I did get your package!! :) And thank you so much!!! :) I love it so much and don’t worry we are saving the wrapped things for Christmas. :) But I can’t lie. I did open one of the deodorants because I really wanted to use it. :) Also we put up the Christmas lights. :) I thought that was a great touch. :) So thank you so much for that. :) It really made it feel like Christmas time. :) Also those sauces and the candy and the drink powder are very nice. :) We are loving them! :)

I am glad to hear that Spencer did a great Job! :) That is crazy that he is home!!!! I know he did a great job with his talk!! :) The next one to come home is Mitch. :) I hope that Spencer Emails me. :)

Also about the mission. Yes it has been approved to have 150 missionaries. When right now we only have 106. So it’s a big jump. There are going to be a lot of new areas opened. We are expecting the new guys to start coming in February.

So now from my part. :) The stories. :) 
Violet is going great!!! :) It is super cool she is so strong in the gospel!!! She has a powerful testimony already. They even had her teach relief society last week, and it was such a good lesson that they are having her do it again next week. :) She is a great lady!!!

Also another thing happened. But this one is kind of sad but inspirational.
We have another great investigator. Named Simon. He is a young man my age. Only a few months older then me. He was living with is brother and his brothers family. Here in Mombasa. We met him at a member’s house that he likes to hang out at a lot. That is where we meet him all the time. But on Thursday we found out that he had been living with this member family (the Amisi family) for the passed 3 weeks. We didn’t know what was going on. But then we got it out of him. His brother didn’t like that he was going to this church calling him a devil worshiper and all that, and Simon said that he would always go there because of how he feels when he goes there and that he knew that the truth of God was there. He told us all of this but he said that he didn’t care what they thought of him. Because he said that God has told him the truth about the Book of Mormon and the Church. He said no matter what he will always be in the Church. So now he is living with a member family. It was really nice of them to take him in. I hope it will all work out well for him and I know it will.

That is the story. He is a powerful guy and one of my heroes!

SLY

Elder Hodges

Dec 10

So for me this week has been a good one. I got my new comp on Tuesday His name is Elder Chimbetete. He is from Zimbabwe He was in my MTC group too. :) We are really working well together. :) We had some hard spots but now that we talked it over it is going super!!!!! :) 

The big highlight for us this week is that we got some Church Headquarter referrals. People that went online to find the church . :) So we went to go see them. Ones name is John and the other is Will. They are great people who really are looking for the truth. :) We are getting blessings here too. :) Great people to teach. :) The work is really going well here in Mombasa. 

So about calling home. :) I am thinking that I will call on your Christmas evening, my day after Christmas -  morning. Does that sound good to you guys??? 

Along with that, who all is going to be at the house for Christmas???? What are your plans?? I have a count down started. :) 

Ya I bet the computer time in the house IS HUGE. :) Has the electricity bill gone up at all?? :) 

Tell the boys from me that they need to be doing other things. We are going to have to go on some camp outs and stuff when I get home. Are you still willing to do some camping or has the cabin made you soft? :) 

I am glad that BYU is doing well. :) I hope they keep up the good work. :) How do they compare to the old team with Jimmer? Do you think that the team this year can go anywhere? What about Brandon? How is he doing?

The house is sold???? WOW!!!! I even forgot that the house was there. :) But I bet that takes a load off you and Hal. :) I have never thought of putting a house on the prayer roll. But it’s a great thought. :) And hey it helped. :) 

The MTC. :) You really have a blessing there. :) 

You get to hear from a member of the 12 so much it is crazy!!!! Tell one of them that they need to come to the KNM!!!!! Please. :) 

That is super cool that you are going to the Christmas Concert :) That is going to be great!!!! :) Do you have good seats?

Yes I am healthy :) In fact I am think I am still losing some pounds. :) I had to punch another hole in my belt. That makes 5 new holes that I have had to punch on mission. :) 

Also some news about the transfer too. They are setting me free. :) I am not a Zone Leader anymore. :) I have served my time in leadership and now back to being a full soldier..:) I just hope people think that I did a good job.

I like not having to worry about the other missionaries as much. It just leaves my mind open for more study and things like that. I don’t have to worry about paying for flats and water bills and no more taking time away from investigators for flat inspections, food storage, and a whole bunch of other stuff. But don’t get me wrong I really liked being a leader and I would still like to do it. But I understand that it’s another person’s time. :) 

Yes the Church is still true!!!! No questions asked!!!! :) 

And that is me this week :)

I love you!!!! :) 

SLY

Your son

Elder Hodges :) 

Dec.3

I can’t help but laugh a little bit when you say that you are living in chaos. :) Good luck with that. :)

Ya it keeps getting hotter and hotter over here!!!!! I was looking at my belt yesterday. And I have had to make 5 new holes it in. :) Not all of that in Mombasa. But over time. :) I still think it’s cool :) you can tell the boys that I am telling them to do the chores too. :) If that helps in anyway. :) Don’t think it will but oh well.

I have not heard about the package. So sorry but I am sure it will get here some time. :) I’m looking forward to it.

So we got transfer news. And the news is that my comp Elder Madise is leaving to go to Kisumu. And I am getting another one from my MTC group. :) His name is Elder Chimpatete. :) Also I don’t have to be the Zone Leader anymore. :) I am back to putting all the time possible into my area and my investigators. :) So that is the big news from this side. :)
So cool story today. :) It once again has to do with the star investigator here Violet. :)
So we got a call early this morning from sis Violet. She had a great question. :) "I want to share the Book of Mormon with someone. How do I do that?" This woman is not yet baptized and we don’t even know when she can be. But she really wants people to know that the gospel is once again on the earth. She loves to say "Everyone needs to know this." She is just wonderful!! :)
(I know is super short but it’s a good story and it made me super happy.)

Mom could you do something for me? Would you put sister Violets name on the prayer role in the temple? See we have a problem. She knows the Church is true and she is even stronger then most members I know. But see. She is the sister to member who passed away a few months ago. And she came here to help take care of her kids. So she is living in the same house as her Brother in Law. And we can not baptize her when they are living together without being married. Now in the traditions here it is ok for a sister in law to come and take the place of her dead sister and become the wife to the man. But she does not know if that is what she wants to do. Then we tell her she needs to be married or move out of the house to be baptized. They are not doing anything wrong. It’s just that we can’t baptize her. So she just needs to find out what she wants to do so it would be great if you could put her name in the temple. I know that will help her. :) Thank you mom!! :) You’re the best. :)

Well your right December is here!!!! How crazy is that!!!! It is hard to understand for me. It feels like Christmas just happened a few weeks ago. But time on mission is all messed up. You have days that feel like weeks and you have months that feel like days. But it is all worth it.
I am really looking forward to calling you guys. :) This one is going to be number 3 how crazy is that!!! I will be looking forward to your questions. :) I will do my best to answer all of them. :)
Another year? Wow. I can’t lie. That would be hard. But at the same time. If they asked me to I would do it in a heart beat. :) I have thought about asking the president to extend my mission. But I came to the conclusion that I won’t ask to extend but if for any reason at all he brings up the idea I would do it. :)

Well sounds like things are going really really well at home. :) Glad to hear it. :) Hope they stay that way. :)

So got some news. :) My comp is getting transferred. He is leaving. And I am getting another guy from my MTC group. :) That’s going to be cool :) His name is Chimpatete. :) Good luck saying that. :) He is a good guy. From Zimbabwe. :) He is kinda crazy and I hope that I am not going to be dragging a brick. If you know what I mean.

SLY

Your favorite missionary

Elder Hodges :) 

October & November....

Nov. 19

MOM I hope you have a wonderful B-DAY!!!! :) It’s the last one I 

will miss. :) But I know you and dad are doing something fun.:) 

Hope it goes well :) I am glad to hear the home is still going 

good. :) Also I have to say thank you for the photo that you sent.:)

It was great!!!! And really made me happy to look at it. :) I will

be sending a card home soon.:)with some other things.:) I also 

hope that you and dad have something planed for Thanksgiving.:) 

We are going to cook some meat!! the Zone is going to get together

and have a party. But it was kinda hard to get some of the 

Africans to agree to do it. But it’s all in the works. :)I am 

looking forward to the package :) I will let you know when it

gets here. :) I still wonder what happened to that other one that 

has been lost for awhile. But we will see. :) 

Sounds like you had a great stake conference. :) I can’t wait to

go to the temple again!!!! :) We really have blessing after blessing after blessing. 

So the story this week is this. 

I think it is amazing how when you know the gospel and you

are friends with someone who is not a member, how much you want 

them to take the step to come and taste the fruit. The reason why 

this hit me so strong is that I have this friend here named 

George. We go to a school every Tuesday and Thursday to teach 

English to anyone who wants to come. George is one of the teachers

at the school and we have gotten really close. We have talked 

about the gospel there is no way that I couldn't. He even told me 

how he has found that the other Churches are wrong. I have taught 

him about the Restoration and everything. But I feel what Lehi 

felt when he said that he wanted others to come and take the fruit

also. I know his time will come. Maybe I am here just to plant the

seed. But I think that this is the way that Christ feels about us.

He knows what is best for us. He wants us to come and take what He

has. And we can.:) So that is just one thing that really stood out

in my mind this week. :) 

Well I love you!!!! :)

And happy Birthday!!!!!!! :)  I can say that your birth was one of the best days of my life!!!! :) 

SLY

Your son

Elder Hodges :)

Nov 12

Snow.......... I would love snow! even if it means shoveling. Anything

cold is wonderful to me. :) ha-ha But really it is super hot here!!!!

And it is getting hotter! Even when it rains. The rain is HOT!!!!! How

weird is that???!?!?!?! Like I’m not kidding!!!! You get hit by the

rain and its warm. It’s not like shower warm but its warm!!!!!!! And

you can feel that it’s warm. Then after the rain it gets soooooooo

humid so you sweat like a dog. I have started drinking 3 liters of

water a day.

So that’s Mombasa. :) hahah

 But I am glad that you have had a fun week :) But it sounds like the

boys were the ones who really had the fun. :) I can’t lie I really look

forward to playing with them again. :) It’s going to be sweet to talk

to you guys soon. :)

 It’s kinda funny to me that people are sad that Romney lost. The reason

why I say it’s funny it’s because everyone here is so happy that Obama

won again. They see him as a Kenyan. He is like the pride and joy of

the country. But I can’t lie; I really do wish Romney won. But you know

I have been reading the old testament. (man that is hard) But reading

about king David who would not kill king Saul because he was anointed

by the Lord. Kind of makes me see that the Lord puts people in when

they are needed and takes them out when He wants to. So I feel its ok.

But the story this week is small.

We do spits on Sundays and see people so I was with a member and we

taught our best investigator named Violet who is just AMAZING!!!!!!!!! The most prepared person

I have ever seen for the gospel.   We taught her about the plan of Salvation. And it is just great to 

see the light come into someone when they understand something. When they have seen hints 

of it all of their life but now that someone explains it they get it and they love it. That’s what 

happened. :) She was blown away :) I am so happy that God let me be the one He used to tell 

her the truth. :) It’s amazing!!! :) She even started saying things. Like “the whole world needs this."

and asking if all members know these things. :) She is super amazing!!!! :) She is one of those 

people that if I came on mission just to meet her then it would all be worth it. :)

How do I think I have grown the most on my mission?? That is a HUGE question. That’s like 

asking you what one of your kids taught you the most about being a mother. But I guess if I 

had to pick one it is I have found that I am much more devoted to the
Savior then I was before. Also a much stronger urge to repent and always try and become 

better. What is the most important thing to know before going on your mission?That one is 

still hard but I think it is easier. You need to have your own personal relationship 

with Christ. It must be real and come from oneself. But that is my thinking I don’t know about 

others.  But I think I also at least a little bit about those days your talking about when you feel 

like you just can’t do it. But then you roll out of bed and you somehow through the enabling
power of the Atonement you can still do all you need. :) 

Well I hope you have a great week. :) 

I have two names on my tag. One Christ gave me and the other is from you!!!

Thank you so much!

Nov.5

Well it’s good to hear from you!!!! have I told you that I love you? Well I love youJ  

Sounds like you have had a crazy week!!! going to the cabin with 6 kids that is a brave thing. Did Aimee come with you to the cabin to help out a bit? I hope so. But I still bet you guys had a lot of fun!! :) I have to say that I look forward to going to the cabin again sometime. So I hope you’re not too old to go with me to the cabin. :) But I do also have to say that 5:30 is to early up there. But I bet you all had a lot of fun! :) 

Well I am happy that you are still having fun at the MTC. It sounds like such a great experience for you guys. :) Question. are you and dad planning to serve a couple mission after you get done with the MTC? :) 

Well I guess the story this week really is not a story but more of like what happened. I don’t know how to explain it. 

But it was crazy one day it rained ALOT in the morning and here in Mombasa the soil has a high water content so the water didn’t sink into the sand but it just sat there. So we were trying to go to appointments all day but we would find that the roads and the streets and all the paths that we would use to get to peoples houses were all flooded. So half of the day was trying to find ways to get to peoples houses and that was funny. :) So we had fun that day :) 

Things here are going well we are getting a lot of progressing investigators!!! :) we are hoping that things will keep moving forward well :)

Do you ever get the feeling that you hope that you are doing it right? 

Well sorry to end on that strange question but I look forward to your reply :) 

Mom I bet you are having a great time in Idaho. :) Tell everyone hello for me. :) Give them all a hug for me too. :) I hope they are doing well. :)
Well sorry there is not really a story this week But I should be sending some photos next week. some cool ones of the beach and of me holding some crocks. :) We are planning to go to a zoo kind of thing today.
Thank you for the great quotes you sent!! I hope to have an amazing homecoming!!! But I like the thought that I have to work for it!!!! :)
Sorry I have no idea for a package and the 2nd one has not got to me yet. I don’t know where it is. But I am looking forward to it. But if I think of anything to send I will let you know next week. :)
Wow that is so cool about the MTC!! :) Sounds like you are going to working

hard!!! :) That is great!!!! :) So you think the number of missionaries

coming in will go over 3000?? wow that’s a lot!!!!! So great!!!!! :) I am

looking forward to seeing more people out in the filed!!! :) This is the

time. :)

I just read your notes from Bednar!!!!  WOW They are great!!!!!!! I look

forward to using what he said!!!! :) Thank you for taking the notes and

sending them to me!!! :)

That’s sad to hear about BYU. But it still sounds like they played well when

we see that they were playing a top 5 team. But sounds like they could have

won. Sounds like The QB is kinds letting us down well I hope things will

work out in the games to come. :)

Well I hope in the MTC you teach the missionaries how to be united. Like

how do companionship inventory and all that. The reason I bring that up is that here in this

mission we are having a HUGE problem with the missionaries being united. In fact, this last 

 weekend was going to be a transfer weekend. But the day when we get the news the Assistants 

tell us that president just came with a revelation that the mission needs to work out some things…

Scripture. D and C 5: 34… and that because of that the Lord does not want any transfers this 

time. so the whole mission is the same. This has never happened before and I have never heard 

of anything like it happening. so it’s a big thing. Some people think that a member of the 12 is 

coming or things like that. But what ever we just need to get our game on. So about that I have 

a question. How do you unify people??? Like we have been doing activities and all that but I 

guess it's not doing it. So do you have any ideas?

Ok so the story this week:

We are in church and we see a new face. She is sitting next to a man whose wife just died, 

so we didn’t know what was going on. But we set up a time for us to talk after Church is over. 

My comp and I do Splits with some members so we can teach all the investigators that come 

to church on Sunday. So I go with a member to meet this lady. Her name is Violet. She is the 

sister to the women that died a few months ago. And her story is amazing. She was living in 

another town where the church is very strong. But her whole life she was hearing that the Church 

was a devil worshiping church. Then her sister who lived in Mombasa became a member. 

Years go by of the family shutting the sister out. Then the sad day came when the sister died. 

They took the body back to her home to be put to rest there. And because she was a member 

the Church was a big player at the funeral. And the night before the funeral Violet has a dream 

about someone telling her what will help her family most giving them support and all that the next 

day at the funeral the district President of the Church in that area got up and spoke. She said 

that he told the family everything that was in her dream. So she no longer thought that the church 

was devil worshipers. but she didn’t want to join. Then she moves to Mombasa to help with her 

sisters kids. And they take her to Church where that 1st time she came to church I was giving the 

lesson about eternal families. She told me she was touched and that she has decided that this is 

the place where she wants to be. :)     

I like her story :) She is a great investigator. :) 

Its funny every email people ask how is the beach. :) they want to know

about the beach. :) Sounds like a lot of the family wants to come to Kenya.:) It is a great place. :) 

It gives a great feeling for the work!!! When I go to the beach it always amazes me what the 

Lord has made for us. :)

Wow sounds like the MTC will be on fire!!!! Where are they going to put

that many new people? Are they expanding the MTC? And to what missions are

they all going to too? We hear that they will be opening 50 new missions

soon. I think that is so cool!!!! :) And it sounds like you will be running

the MTC branch by yourself for a bit. I bet that is going to be crazy!!!! Keep me

posted on how that goes. :) I know you can do it!!!! :)

That is great that you’re learning a lot in Isaiah you can teach me when I get

home. :) I would love to understand that book better. :) Right now I am

trying to read the old testament the whole way trough. Something that I

have never done before. But I am looking forward to it. Right now I am in

the book of Judges. I never realized how huge the 5 books of Moses are.

That guy wrote a lot!!!!!

That is good that BYU is stepping things up. It’s just sad it took them this

long. Well Hope it will make next years team better. :)

How about basketball has that started yet?

thank you for the team building ideas. I will work on finding what the Lord

wants me to do. :)

Oct 29

So you gave a report? :) How did it go? did you tell everyone that I am just sitting on the beach getting a sun tan?  I hope not. :) But I do like to think that I have a tan but no matter how dark I get I still feel really white. :) I wonder why????? ha-ha :).

So I don’t know if that will help at all. But you can always tell them how much I love them!!! :) It would be great if you could throw in some funny joke about the bishop or br. Powell. :) or even both that would be great!!!! :)
I still think it is so unfair how many Apostles you get to hear from. But I am glad that the family and I can get some of the light that you receive from them :) Great blessings!!! :) Sounds like a great talk that you heard! :)  
For me this week has been busy busy busy!!! We had Zone conference so that took up most of our time this week with the planning and all the things that we had to do. But it was great and it was worth it!!! :)

  

OCT. 15th

I can’t wait for conference!!!!!! I was thinking one night. I was eating our wonderful meal of Ugaily and Sacuma. :) (You will find out what this is one day) and I was talking with my comp about watching conference. And I looked at the clock did the math and realized that you were watching the first session on Saturday. That was strange. It was funny too. I also thought how long it took you guys to fall asleep. :) looking forward to watching it. :)
We got a text saying that the age had been lowered but we didn’t know if it was true or if the Elders were playing tricks. But now we know. I was thinking that the new kids will be super lucky!!! I wish I could have gone at 18! But I came at the best time for me. :) It’s really going to shake things up. So is 18 the age they are asked to leave or is it just a option?
Thank you for talking to Elder H for me. :) It’s good to hear about the college guys. :)
That is crazy to hear the story of the kid in the MTC. I hope he dose ok. :) I am sure that he will be good. :)

Well for me my week has been great!!!! We are finding new investigators!!!! :) That is always great!!!!! Some of the ones that we have are really progressing!!:)
There was a sweet thing that happened yesterday. :) One guy just came to church no one knew who he was or what he was doing. Afterwards I met him with a branch missionary He told us… “I don’t know what led me here but I had to come, I have wanted to change my life, I didn’t know how but I know that this is where it can happen. After listening to everything here I know it’s the place.” :) Oh man I was so happy!!!! I think it is just so cool how the Lord works!!!!! How he just leads people who are ready to the right!!!! How no matter how far you have fallen He is always willing to lead you right back to the place that can help and lead you back to Him!!! Oh it is so amazing!!!! How can we not serve such a God?
Well so that was a big high light for me this week. :) Well sounds like you have been having a great week with everyone!!!!!! :) I know they all had a great week with you!!!! :) The days of having everyone in the house are fun times. :)
It is a small world!! :) Its funny how when you do things people start coming out of the wood works that have done the same thing or who have been there or something... It’s just cool :) I will watch for Bro. Francom I might have already met him but there are 3 branches here in Mombasa so I will watch for him.

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!

Your son

SLY

Elder Hodges :)

I love you guys :)

Mombasa

Life in Kenya this week has been amazing!!!! :)

Well I have some news. I am being transferred. :) I have been here in Kitale for 6 months and now I am going to MOMBASA!!! :) I am so exited!!!! :) I am going to have so much fun!!! :) I have had fun here too. :) I know that I would have fun no matter where I go but just something about a beach and better food is really making me happy. :) but that’s the big thing here. I leave Wednesday Sept. 12^th, and I should get there sometime on Thursday. I am really looking forward to it! But I know it is going to be HOT I am going to be there when it is the hottest time of the year too. That is January. But we will see I will keep you posted. Next week the email will tell you what it is like there :)

So I am doing great!! :) Mombasa is wonderful!!!! Its Hot yes I sweat all day everyday! But we do have AC in one room of our flat so that is nice. :) Make things work out. :) This place is so Beautiful!!!! Like oh my gosh!!! the city is crazy but I am outside the city a bit and oh man the church here is like a 5 min walk from the beach. Oh man it is wonderful!!! :)
My comp is Elder Madise from South Africa. He is in my MTC group so we are the same age on mission so it’s super cool :) We are both ZL's here. We have a good area so I am happy to be here and that is was matters. :)

I am loving my area!!! This place is great!!! I am so happy that my comp and I only have 1 branch to cover!!! That part is so nice!! :) When I was doing more then that it was super hard. But we have so much fun here!!! Like today we are going to the beach and planning to have some super fun times!!! :) 

The branch has some super great people too!!! :) I am getting close to them quick! There are a lot of things that we need to work on here but I am looking forward to it. :) 

This place is so nice. :) the only draw back is how hot it is. I sweat SOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!! I think I sweat like a gallon a day here. it is crazy hot but I love it. when we sit down in the shade it’s not as bad. :) and I have grown to love the AC and the fans that we have in our flat. :) They are my very close friends :) And about the heat…people here tell me that it’s not hot yet. I just look at them and ask how can it get any worse? but they just tell me to wait. I will keep you posted. 

Also I got one of your packages :) And I have to say thank you so much!!!! :) I got the one with the oil vile and the talks and the nice candy :) Thank you so much you are the best mom ever!!! :) They made my day when I got them. :) I was so happy!!! :) 

We have a lot of fun here too. :) Like today we are all going to the beach to have some super fun times!! :) I have been thinking that this place would be a great place for a vacation! :) I think I will remember that someday when I am with my wife and all that. :) 

But the work here is great too. :) We are working very hard everyday to see as many people as we can!! :) Our days are always filled to the brim!!! Sometimes we don’t have

time to see all the people that we want to. But it’s just great here!!!! :) We have so much fun :) 

It is just crazy how fast time is flying!!!!! My comp and I are from the same group so yesterday (the 30th) he told me “happy 15 months." Oh man it is crazy to think about that!!!! 15 months of mission flew by. Buts it’s good that I still have plenty of time :) So still working hard and plan to work hard to the end!!! :) 

I did get the photo you sent! and it is beautiful!! I miss seeing the mountains. But I think for me the ocean is nice too. :) The beach last week was so nice!!!! We played beach soccer. :) I suck but it was fun. :) We are even planning to go again this week and make sandcastles and get pedicures. We the great missionaries of Mombasa only do the manliest things you can think of. :) Buts it’s going to be fun. :)

We are really working hard to find new investigators here. Most of our work has been to try and help the branch. It has had some problems but it is really working out well :) So we are looking for investigators. We have some really strong ones now, one is named Simon and he is great! He loves the Book of Mormon. He is 21 and can act like a kid sometimes. But when it comes to the gospel he puts everything he has into it. :) so we are going to give him a date to be baptized so it’s going to be good. :)  

Well I think it is so cool that Matt is in your branch. I told dad the things that I would like to know from him. Things like if Travis went on mission and if Mike and Zoe are married and also how Reed is doing. 

That’s life for now!!!

Love,

Elder Hodges