Lovin Life!

Another awesome week! Life is good!
We had a really special baptism this last Saturday. I think I've
mentioned him a lot, Felix. He was really excited because he got to
see his best friend Toni get baptized two weeks ago and this week it
was his turn. We always let them bare their testimonies after they're
baptized and bore probably one of the best yet since I've been here.
He expressed how he never would have pictured himself at where he is
right now. I love seeing people like Felix totally change themselves
for the Gospel, there is nothing better.
The first missionary coming out of this branch left yesterday for the
field! His name is Osvaldo and he's serving in Mozambique. So cool.
There is another guy named Claudencio that is preparing to go that
will be a super good missionary. They walk with us quite a bit so they
have a little head start going into the field. It is such a testament
to the church that these guys that have only been baptized for maybe 2
years are now dedicating 2 more years to the church. So cool.
I'm still getting adjusted to having a native companion, it is
definitely something new for me. It's obviously still the same work
and the same message but it's just an adjustment that is going to
teach me a lot! Haha it's funny, now everywhere that we go I'm the
only white guy, it's pretty funny.
We have an investigator named Gervasio that has been being taught for
about a year now. He is a manager at the big grocery store here so he
has a really hard time getting Sundays off. But we had an awesome
lesson with him about courage and the blessing we receive from
obedience to the commandments and since then he has been to church the
last two weeks. He hadn't been a single time since I've been here. I
guess he's made it work so he can start later. So pumped for him.
We're going to pass by his house tonight and see what's up. He's said
he's been praying hard about a baptisimal date, so we'll see!
I love being a missionary so much. There isn't a day that goes by
where I don't see a tender mercy from the Lord. He keeps placing truly
prepared people in our path. This branch here in Lubango is in a
critical stage right now, it needs members that are ready to lead. And
I believe we have quite a few investigators that are going to be those
members.
I hope you are all having an awesome holiday season! Cause I sure am!
I love you all!

Love,
Elder Hyde

Lukey, Nice job on the big win this week bro! I'm excited to talk to
you in a week!
Sam, The dance looked fun! You looked gorgeous!
Syd, You're a champ yo. Hope you get dance off for the holidays.
Con, Breath bruh, finals are over.

Awesome Week!

(Sorry I'm behind! I had finals and forgot to post last week's letter!)

Another awesome week! I can't complain at all.I have a lot to tell you
all about.
 
So on last Monday night we went over to Albertina's house (I think I
talked about her in my last email), and we asked her she had prayed
about a baptisimal date. She then went on tell us about a dream that
she had after our last lesson. Basically in short she had a dream
about the necessity of baptism and decided that this past Saturday was
her day! We were incredibly shocked and excited. She was definitely
more than ready to be baptized. So yeah! Albertina got baptized on
Satudray! Elder Kelsey was pretty bummed that he was going to miss it
because of transfers. The baptism went perfectly, she picked me to
baptize her and I was pretty nervous we wouldn't get it done on the
first go because she is a pretty tall lady, but it all went well! SO
COOL!
This next Saturday my man Felix is getting baptized. He is Toni's (who
got baptized last week) bestfriend. The work is going so incredibly
well down here in Lubango! Felix will be our 4th consecutive baptism.
The Lord truly is placing tons of very prepared people in our path. I
am so grateful.
Yesterday at church Toni and Leonel both received the Priesthood and
were way excited. As was I. These guys are all progressing so well and
absolutely loving the Gospel and the presence of the Holy Ghost in
their lives.
Elder Sande arrived on Thursday and we went right to work. But I think
maybe a little too fast because he was then sick the whole next day...
haha. He is an awesome guy, like I said in my last email he has been
out about 20 months now and is Mozambican. He is a super nice kid and
a great missionary. I am going to learn a lot from him. Especially
language wise. I was wrong about the pretty good at English thing...
haha. He knows quite a few words but we haven't really had an English
conversation yet. There will be a lot of thing I need to adjust to,
but that isn't a bad thing! It'll be a great transfer! We took him to
the clinic on Friday night and it turns out he has "Polydisimo", it's
like the beginning stages of Malaria, but they got him on some good
drugs so he'll be fine. And he African so he's tough. haha
A few weeks ago Elder Kelsey and I met a guy name Julio who said he
was baptized in Germany 2 years ago. We tried to call him for awhile
and he would never answer but this week he called us wanting to meet
with us, so we met! It was such a cool lesson we had with him. He
braught his baptisimal certificate and Aaronic priesthood certificate.
He explained to us how he was lost and that he wanted to come back. He
has lived here for 7 years and had no idea that the church was here.
He asked us if we had that Joseph Smith book, haha, we were happy to
reply yes. He admitted that he has a lot to change, but that he is
ready to do it. I called him Saturday night to remind him about the
Baptism and he sounded a little different and said that he was coming.
He came. Wasted. But it's all good, we're here to help him! And that
we'll do!
This week I got absolutely attacked by the bugs... I counted yesterday
60+ bug bites all around my body. haha. They're not mesquitos, but we
haven't really found out what they are yet. But, we're going crazy on
my bed to make sure they don't come back. I'm still yet to find a
single bug in my bed. Crazy. I'm totally fine though. They just itch
like crazy.
I am so blessed to be able to be out here serving the Lord! It is such
a blessin! There is nothing more gratifying than seeing someone change
their life for the Gospel. This branch down here in Lubango is growing
like crazy and I'm so glad that I am here to see it. THE CHURCH IS
TRUE!
Woot woot for Grandma joining the Mission Field this week! You're awesome!
 
I love you all and hope that you all are having an awesome CHRISTmas season!
 
Love,
 
Elder Hyde
 
Con. Sa'll good bruh. Hope it's cuz you're studying:)
Sam. I love you sis! Keep being awesome! Have fun with Luke at the
Dance!Drive safe in the snow!
Syd. You're a champ squidster. Loves!
Lukey. You better win your game for me this week! Love you man!

6 Months!

Life is good! The work is moving along so well. I truly can’t complain about anything.

So the first big news is that transfers are this week! I am going to be staying down here in Lubango and Elder Sande from Mozambique is coming down to work with me. I am really excited. He has been out on his mission for about 19 months or so. It is definitely going to be something new for me, working with a native, but I’m excited as well because it is going to help my Portuguese out a ton! Elder Kelsey is the only one that got transferred out of us 4 in Lubango. He’s pretty excited to go back up to Luanda after being here for 6 months.

I’m really happy and content with this last transfer of work. We did a lot of it! The branch is growing like crazy here. Yesterday at church we had 90 people! There wasn’t even close to enough room for everyone to sit. Our two companionships had over 20 investigators all together. LOVE IT!

This weekend was a good one, my man Toni got baptized. This guy has completely changed his life because of the Gospel. He’s shared with us a little about his past and he is definitely in a better place now. It always makes us feel so good, at the end of every lesson he just expresses his gratitude to us and how grateful he is that we spend so much time on him. I’m a big fan of Toni. He is a contact machine! I don’t think he’s ever been to church alone. Haha. He always brings somebody with him, it makes our work easy. His buddy Felix is going to be baptized here in a few weeks. Woot!

We have an investigator named Albertina, she is about 60 years old and she is a champ! She works like 14 hour days at a bakery 6 days a week to provide for herself and her little granddaughter that she brought in. This last week we had an awesome lesson with her, we decided to invite the Violin’s to come with us and we are super glad that we did. We are usually kind of reluctant to be super bold and pushy with baptism on some people but man the Violin’s threw it on! And it’s a good thing that they were, she is going to pray about her baptismal date and probably be baptized by the end of December. She is such an awesome lady, kind of like our grandma out here. Haha. She has been through a lot of stuff with the war and everything and always knows exactly who to thank for it all. Our Savior.

Last Monday we went to a place called Tundavala. So cool! It’s a super beautiful cliff thing that you can go and look out. I’ll try to send some pictures, but lately our internet has been terrible.

This week I hit 6 months! Woot! I have learned so much since I entered the MTC back in May. The most important thing that I have learned and come to realize is the love that I have for our Savior. I have seen so many changes and miracles happen to people because of Christ and the faith that they put in Him. Life is hard at times, but I know that it is all possible because Him.

I love you all so much! Happy Holidays!!

Love,

Elder Hyde

Sorry Sibs I love you all but the internet took away your personal messages! Beijos!

Thanksgiving!

It was another really awesome week down here in Lubango! It is crazy that I have already been here for a month.

This week my man Leonel was baptized, he was so excited.  Iºll try to send a picture today if the internet permits. He is a 25 year old guy that is going to be a great leader for the church here in Lubango.  Funny story. So yesterday when he was getting the Holy Ghost, President Marques said `Receive the Holy Ghost` and Leonel under his breath said, ´Received´. I guess he really felt it! So cool!

I got a call from Elder Hobbs this week telling me that this guy named Dani was baptized last week. I am not sure if I already told you all about him. One day Elder Hobbs and I were walking down the street and this guy with gnarly dred locks stopped us and asked us for something to read, we gave him a pamphlet and 2 weeks later we saw him again and he said he wanted to talk more about what he read. The guy is so calm and chill. Totally Rastafarian. Elder Hobbs said it was pretty funny baptizing him with his huge dreds. So cool!

Thanksgiving was an awesome day! We worked all morning and then went over to the Violins for dinner. Sister Violin cooked all of the meat and then we each cooked our only little something, with my wide span of cooking skills I whipped up some rice. Haha. While we were there she also told me about Camille´s mission call!!!! WOOT!!!! Long Beach is one lucky place!

It is going to be another really good week. Toní is getting baptized on Saturday and couldn´t be more excited. If anything is ever happening at the church he is there without fail. He is about 25 as well. He has a friend named Felix who usually is in the lessons with us that should be getting baptized here in few weeks as well.

I love it down here in Lubango! The field is so white!! The church is true!

I love you all! And hope that you all had an amazing Thanksgiving!

Love,

Elder Hyde

Con, Holla at the shred yo. I hope youre using my board. Do it. Lamar aint got nothing.

Sam, I always love getting your emails! Go cats!

Syd, I hope youºve enjoyed your break from dance yo.

Luke, I love you so much buddy! Im thankful for you!!!

LUBANGO

It was a really super good week! A lot of awesome things happened. Let me tell ya about them!

 

President Kretly was here with us until Thursday so we had him come with us a to a few lessons. I'm so glad that we did! I learned a ton of really awesome things. We took him to a lesson with one of our investigators name Leonel, and it was so cool. Leonel has been being taught for about 2 months now and has been progressing really well, just for some reason we hadn't set a Baptismal date with him. President Kretly changed that. haha. Elder Kelsey's teaching style is one where you teach very slowly and in depth to make sure they understand, where Presdinet's is more of boom, boom, boom, boom style. He says teach what Preach My Gospel says and then move on, there is no need for more detail at this point of conversion. I agree with him. So basically in that lesson we taught Leonel the Word of Wisdom, Chastity, and Tithing which usually would have taken us 3 lessons, and now he is getting Baptized on Saturday! Woot! He is super excited! He will definitely be a leader here in Lubango. (I think he was in that video I sent)

 

We also had an awesome opportunity to just sit and chat with President for a few hours the night before he left. It was really cool. I have a lot of respect for that man.

 

Last week I told you about our investigator Toni, he is doing awesome! We see him twice a week and every time he is so receptive and just loves it. Haha it's funny last few times he's come he's brought us something, one time he brought us some bread and this last time he brought a bunch of chalk for the church. He's such a champ. He should be getting baptized here in the next few weeks.

 

 Yesterday at church we watched a big Africa wide Stake/District conference. It was super cool! The Prophet spoke along with Elder Christopherson and a few other people. We had a solid 9 investigators there and 80 people in total! It is always good for the members here to be able to see and hear the Prophet, everyone always is so happy after. As of right now I think our branch here has about 40 or 50 members here. I don't know the exact number.

 

Oh yeah another really cool thing! One of the members down here got his mission call this last week! He's going to Mozambique! He will be the first missionary out of Lubango. It is so cool/inspiring to see all of these people down here so willing to serve the lord so soon after baptism. They get it!

 

I 'm not sure what it is but I have kind of been under the weather this past week or so. It's not too bad, I can still go out and work and stuff but it's just annoying cuase my nose is constantly running. Good thing there are tons of huge African leaves around to blow it:)

 

I love this work so extremely much and I am so glad that I have the opportunity serve in this part of the Lord's vineyard. My testimony is streangthened every single day as I see all of these people changing their lives. The Savior knows and loves every single one of us. I know it.

 

Congrats to Alex and Morgan!!!

 

I love you all so much! Keep on keepin on!! Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Love,

 

Elder Hyde

 

Con- Sounds like you had a blast! Plan on doing that again here in about a year and a half!

Syd- I hope you had an awesome week! Love ya!

Sam- Glad to hear that school is keepin ya busy! Keep it up!

Luke- I'm rootin for ya buddy! Pop some 3's for me!

What's Up?!

Life is good down here in Lubango! I had a really great week, full of teaching and learning.

 

Our area had a baptism on Saturday! His name is Henrique, Elder Kelsey and his old companion had been teaching him for the past few months. He is a very cool guy, he bore his testimony in Fast and Testimony Meeting last week just saying how excited he is to be baptized. So cool. He brought a lot of his family to the baptism and they all really enjoyed it. We are hoping to start teaching them as well:) It was so cool to see him come out of the water with tears in his eyes, full of the spirit.

 

Elder Kelsey and I have a lot of investigators that are really coming along and progressing very well. We should be having quite a few baptisms here shortly. We have one investigator named Toni who is so cool. He's about 23. We have been teaching him for about 2 weeks now and he is still yet to miss an appointment with us. (Rare). We always teach him in the chapel and he is always prompt and ready to go. Last night we taught him about the Priesthood and it got him really excited about the opportunity he has to be baptized. At the end of the lesson we asked him how he was feeling and he went off for abou 5 minutes telling how much he enjoys being with us. We explained to him that it isn't us, it's the spirit. He's so awesome.

 

President Kretly has been here for the last 4 days or so, it has been so good to be able to learn from him. He's a wise man. He alse brought with him Elder and Sister Hartman who are serving a mission helping missionaries with their mental health. They cover like half of Africa. Elder Hartman is the guy that came up witht the whole personality color thing, and he gave us a super cool training on how we can be our best selves. He is an awesome man. President Kretly also gave us another motivating training on the necessary things we need to do in order to build the church here in Angola, but most specifically Lubango. It was an awesome opportunity that the 4 of us had down here.  President Kretly also did a seminar thing for anybody that wanted to come on Sunday Night. The seminar was on "The 7 Habits of an highly effective person". He was the CEO of FranklinCovey in Brazil so he incorporates a lot of that stuff into our trainings. It was such an awesome thing that he did. We had about 30 people come and they all loved it. He talked to them about how they can be more effective/successful in every aspect of their lives, professional and spiritual. It was very cool. He also spoke on Sunday about the importance of living the Culture of the Gospel and not the crazy African culture. It was really good for them to hear because there are some crazy traditions that people have down here.. I am so blessed to have been raised in the Culture of the Gospel!

 

Every Monday we play soccer with Elder Violin and a few of the members in the ward, but this Monday was a Holiday so we had about 20 people show up to play. It was so much fun! President Kretly was also there with us which was fun cause he played professionaly for a while in Brazil. I may or may not have scored a goal on him... Not sure if that was a good idea or not. haha. It was so good to get everyone together though and have a good time. We also got quite a few investigators there, which was awesome.

 

I am so grateful for this opportunity I have to serve here in Lubango. The church is still so new here. I get to see such joy in these people's lives as they make changes in their lives and start living the Gospel. I love it!

 

Thanks for everything everyone! Shout out to Jim and Michelle I got their letter this week:) Thank you!

 

I love you all!

 

Com amor,

 

Elder Hyde

 

Sam It sounds like your thing was blast! That's so cool that you put that together!

Syd: Love you yo! Keep workin hard!

Con: Have a fun trip! So cool

Luke" I love you buddy! Keep on being cool!

Week Two in Lubango!

 It was a really awesome week! I am getting adjusted to life here in Lubango.

It was nice the other day Elder Hobbs gave me a call and updated me on all of my old investigators. Kifika is a champ! He said that he hasn't drunk since the day I left. I asked Elder Hobbs to call me next time he's with him so I can chat with him. He said that everyone else is still kind of where they were at, but that there should be a few baptisms in the next few weeks. Woo!

Elder Kelsey and I have some really awesome investigators that we are teaching. We have a guy named Henrique who they had been teaching for a few months but then he went out of town for about 3 weeks and we got to sit with him this week. We had a really awesome lesson with him and he is going to be being baptized on Saturday, he is more than ready. That will be the first baptism in Lubango for the past 3 months. We also have a fellow named Antonio who is a way cool guy. We have sat with hime about 4 times since last week. He is about 30 years old and found the church by seeing someone with The Book of Mormon and asking them for our number. He should be being baptized the first part of December. We also made a lot of good contacts this week. We have a thing that President Kretly started called "Qualified Contacts", it basically helps us narrow down the people that are really going to help the church grow. Priesthood holders and families. A few of the contacts that we made throughout the week even showed up to church yesterday without us even sitting with them yet. Super cool.

Church was awesome yesterday. I love getting to know all of the members here. Yesterday we had about 70 people at church, it was awesome. Funny/Embarrasing story.. So I was giving the closing prayer in sacrament meeting and at one point during the prayer I said "Tambem" (also) and a few people thaught I said "Amen", so like half the congregation said amen and I looked up wondering what was going on and then just went back to my prayer. haha. It was super funny. I don't think I 'm going to use that word in my prayers for the next little while.

 It rains a ton down here in Lubango, I have gotten some good use out of my rain jacket. As we speak it is raining so hard that I can barely hear from the rain hitting the roof. Haha.

It was a very spiritual week this week. We saw some major tender mercies. For instance, the cell service was down so we couldn't call the guy we were meeting and we had to find his house on some random street and we were literally guided right to the guys house. The spirit is such a powerful tool, if we use it. The Lord truly is mindful of each and everyone of us. I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve these people and help them realize that they have a loving Savior.

I love you all!

Love,

Elder Hyde

Luke: I love you big guy! I hope you're shooting those 3's!

Sam:That is so cool about what your doing with World Joy! I hope the event goes well!

Syd: You're almost to High School! haha. You're awesome.

Con: KONY 2012. Have fun on the cruise ya turkey.

1. Elder Kelsey hiding from the rain.

2. Nossa Casa (garage)

3. LUBANGO