Monday October 17, 2011

Hello everybody,

So I did get transferred to Auburn, and my companion is Elder Lloyd. Chico was so awesome. I loved it there. But now I am here to stay. Elder Lloyd is awesome. He is from Grace, Idaho. We served around each other in Roseville so we already knew each other. He has a twin brother who is serving in Philadelphia. His family owns like 6,000 acres of farmland. We live on the top of this huge hill out in the middle of nowhere, but the view is amazing. We can see all of Roseville, Rocklin, Granite Bay and Sacramento off in the distance. We have some pretty cool investigators here. It is so different than Chico. It seemed like everyone in Chico was social and wanted to talk, but out here everyone is hiding or likes to keep to themselves. It is so peaceful up here. A lot more back country than my last few areas. Well, love ya.

Love, Elder Hurst

Monday October 10, 2011

We had a fantastic week. We started teaching this lady that knew some members and so she went on to Mormon.org and read every thing then had us come. She is so awesome. She even made us cookies-chocolate with Andy's mints. Anyway, she is so on fire. We also started teaching a boyfriend of a member in the singles ward. We have other investigators that are progressing. I am just sad I have to leave it all behind and go to Auburn. Not much else to report. Oh, we moved in with the members like 2 days ago and they let us eat their food. That was a bonus just before I leave. Well, love ya.

Love, Elder Hurst

Monday October 3, 2011

We had some pretty warm weather too but it was very nice most of the time. The last couple of days have been cloudy and coolish.

Oh boy, general conference was absolutely amazing. I loved it. There were a few talks in the priesthood session that I really liked and have already started to help me a ton. I also liked Elaine Dalton's talk about raising a daughter. I feel so blessed to live in a day and time when we have the Lord’s gospel being preached to us by His chosen prophets. The council we receive from them is so good. It is great to learn those things that will bring me the righteous desires of my heart. Often times I learn of something I need to change and also learn of the happiness I will enjoy if I do so. Repentance is such a great process. I love the healing and the power the Atonement holds for those who are willing to repent. Sometimes I get a little frustrated with myself knowing that I could have done better. I feel that there is more I should have done. I get down on myself feeling unfit for this calling. The hope of the Atonement is real. There is a quote my companion has. “Don't let yesterday take up today.” I can change. I will change.

We had a good week and today we are hoping it doesn't rain so we can play football. There are some really good potentials we have coming up this week. I am really excited for them. The singles ward is really picking up. It is hard as a missionary because we want things to happen quick because we only have so long in an area, but everyone else is on a slower schedule. Well, I love you and hope all is well.

Love, Elder Hurst

Monday September 19, 2011

Hey buckaroo.

My name’s not buckaroo sh-sure it is partner. Anyway we had a good week. Lots of teaching college students. They are prolly some of the nicest people to talk to. So many of them will let you in and you can teach them right there and then. The trick is to help them to change or at least meet again. I love talking to them, they seem to be searching for something. Most of them have felt God’s love sometime in life and know He is real but don't know Him or have not been able to learn about Him. The approach we need to take needs to be different than with families that I am use to talking to. We are learning how to do it different and its awesome it is helping us to grow. Dalton and Madison got baptized and confirmed this week. I almost missed the baptism because we were on exchange and I was in a bike area and on the way to the church my companion got a flat. So I was kinda late. It was still amazing. I know that the priesthood is real. You can feel the power of God when an ordinance is preformed. Well, I LOVE YOU

LOVE, ELDER HURST

Monday September 5, 2011

Hi,

I am excited for this transfer. I feel like there is a lot of amazing potential in the singles ward. Our ward missionary pool had grown like 3 fold, and they are doing such a good job. They are working with quit a few individuals that they are preparing to hear the gospel. Plus we get free food in the singles ward so that's great.

We have been having a ton of good things happening in the family ward. We have two investigators that will be baptized in the next couple of weeks and a whole ton of less active people coming and some of them are stopping smoking. We even have one that technically isn't a member any more but is super stoked about getting back into the church. It is just cool to see peoples live change and the happiness come.

On p-days we have been playing a lot of basketball. I wish I had spent more time with sports and less time with the video games, they really don't do any good. We have an awesome zone right now. I love the missionaries we get to serve around. They are great missionaries and are fun to be with while still working hard. It is so cool how when we do as the Lord says how much fun every thing can become. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and we have a prophet who is called of God. Our prophet holds the keys to the priesthood. That is very real. I love you and pray for you.

Love, Elder Hurst

Tuesday September 13, 2011

We had Elder Kearon from the first quorum of the 70 come to our mission this last weekend. It was so good to hear his testimony and knowledge. I could tell by the way he spoke about the Savior and his teachings that he had such a testimony that by his alone I wouldn't be able to turn from the Savior. Did that made any sense? His council was to look inside and find that thing, whatever it is, that is holding you back even just a little and get rid of it. I love this. I feel my whole life will be repeating this step over and over until there is nothing left to rid. The gospel is pretty much just that to build our faith enough to repent or change. Progress is change but change isn't necessarily progress. Jesus Christ lives. His Atonement is in full power and will change us if we let it.

Your friend from New Zealand was a smart man. Free food is so good. I wished I had done more with my life and skills than sit in front of the TV. That’s all and I remember you beating me in basketball most of the time.

Transfers came and went-still me and Elder Thompson. I remember those times of wrestling. I think my favorites were in the pool.

There are two people getting baptized this weekend. Madison and Dalton. The work in the singles ward has picked up tons. We have like triple the people to teach. It’s so good. We had some members bring friends and others from tracting. Well I got to go.

Love, Elder Hurst

Monday August 29, 2011

So, any updates on Bethany’s Family? Lagoon, oh man I remember that place. I remember having so much fun there. We would spend all day and my favorite thing at night was to go on the Rocket and look out over the valley. Good memories.

David is home? That’s so weird. He actually talks to girls? He is going to be married before I get home. I hope grandma keeps getting better.

We had a great week this week. We are teaching a lot of new Less Active families that are starting to come back to church. The singles ward had more people than it has had in like 10 years. I have just felt great all week and people are keeping commitments. The gospel is true and it truly makes us happy.

Thanks for the letter. I hope all is well with you. Sorry not a lot of time to write.

I love you.

Love, Elder Hurst

Monday August 22, 2011

Not much to report this week. We had a pretty awesome zone conference. I learned a lot about making my studies better. We also learned more about mormon.org. You should totally go on there. I figure if you have some time to spend online what better place than a place that will build your faith (the first principle of the Gospel.) Anyway, it is a great website and a tool for missionary work.

We had some great lessons with some less active sisters in our wards. One was less active because she just moved here and doesn't know any one. We introduced her to a few people and she came to church. The other really wants to gain her own testimony. She has had a hard time because growing up in the church her parents did not live what they preached. She is the only member of her family that is coming to church. She wants her own family to be different. She wants to know the gospel so she can raise her kids in it.

I know that Jesus Christ lives I give you my living witness that he is the Son of God and the Savior of the world.

I love you.

Love,

Elder Hurst

Monday August 15, 2011

Dear mom, dad, and family,

Thank you for the package. I am doing great and loving it. This week was a lot of fun. I had the chance to go on exchanges with some of the spiritual giants of the mission, some of my missionary heroes, Elder Jones and Elder Grow and Elder Sommer. They are old missionaries that are getting ready for home but they are amazing. I learn so much from them and I am so glad they are in our Zone. We had a wonderful opportunity to rip a roof of an old shed. It was actually a lot of fun. I love doing that kind of work. Well, not much else to report. All is going well. We are just trying to find more people to teach. I love you.

Love,

Elder Hurst

Monday August 8, 2011

Hio,

That was a typo. I have had a great week. So many good things have been so good. There was a quote that a member of our ward said in priesthood. It went something along the lines of, “there is no better time then right now”. Because I have the gospel in my life I have been able to feel the healing power of the Atonement and I have that inner peace that comes with living the commandments. I can feel so much joy in the moment. I love living this gospel.

I know from experience that prayers of faith are answered. Here is a little example. I lost our phone and we were looking for it. I thought I may have left it in the institute but I said a prayer anyway. When we got to the institute the phone had an alarm that went off right as we went into the building. The phone was in the weirdest of places and I don't think we would have found it had the alarm not gone off. It also worked when trying to teach an investigator that hadn't been meeting with us but called us out of the blue.

Everything else is going great. We just started the stop smoking workshop with a less active guy that wants to baptize his son. And yup. You all are the best. Packages will never be neglected. :)

I Love You.

Love,

Elder Hurst

Monday August 1, 2011

WOW our living room looks really different. We don't have pink carpet any more.

This week was awesome. We found some new investigators. We had like 7 less actives, 3 investigators, and 3 potential investigators come to church. The talks were on service and hope, which are two great topics for investigators to hear. One of the Potential Investigators is our bishop’s daughter’s friend that came with her. While she was there she asked if she could have a Book of Mormon. Then she came and asked for the missionary lessons. It was sweet. Our stake president taught one of our classes. He discussed and expanded the words of our prophets. He told us of his experience with Elder Christofferson. Elder Christofferson said that during his prayers he spends time not saying any thing but just being there, like sitting by a fire absorbing its warmth. We can enjoy the warmth of the fire that is our Heavenly Father. I loved that because I have had that feeling on my mission during a prayer that I am pouring my soul into, or during the sacrament when I am focusing on my Savior’s love and the forgiving and healing power of His Atonement. It is so great to know His love and plan. The gospel is real and there are really people who are looking for it. The Lord is preparing them to hear it.

I am doing good. Um, if you want to send packages I would love to receive them. I would like some healthy things to snack on like nuts or something like that. Homemade bread would be great too. You all are the best. :)

I love you

Love,

Elder Hurst

Monday July 25, 2011

We are going to celebrate the 24th by going mountain biking, kind of. There are some park trails we are going on. My new companion is great. I feel like a lot of really good things are going to happen this transfer.

The garden sounds great. I love veggies and especially fresh ones. That is something I love about California: the fresh produce all the time. The weather has been hot. I guess it is cooler that usual but it’s still hot to me. So josh wants to be baptized the only problem is they are going out of town for work for like a month. But it will be okay. The Lord will take care of them.

We had some sweet experiences trying to contact old potential investigators from like 4 years ago. They no longer live there but the people that took their place were interested in our message. One was Mike. His mom died a few years ago and he wants to believe in an afterlife but he isn't sure if he can. We bore our testimonies and the Spirit was there.

Another one was Nick. He used to be atheist but then learned about what faith is through some life experience. His big thing was forgiveness and it was great to talk to him about that and about the role of the Atonement in it.

I love living the Gospel. I love serving the Lord. I love seeing the absolute joy that the gospel brings to people. I love you and pray that all continues going well.

Love,

Elder Hurst

My favorite scripture is 2 Nephi 31:20

Monday July 11, 2011

My 4th was great. We spent a good deal of it with some members in our ward. We played games and stuff and they BBQ-ed for us. I got the package. Those mint chocolate marshmallows were so good and I was just about to go by some sunglasses. Thank you, that was great.

Things went pretty good this week. We started teaching a new couple (Josh and Mandy) in the YSA ward. The just moved here. Mandy is less-active and Josh is going to do whatever it takes to make Mandy's mom happy (join the church) so that's good motivation. They are fully involved in church, FHE, and institute plus a lesson with us so its going great.

Mike, another investigator, came to an activity where we had a cook-off. We had to make something with pineapple. We made a huge fruit bowl that looked like flowers and then others made fruit pizza and cupcakes and other stuff. It was a lot of fun and he loved it so that is a huge plus.

Satan really puts anyone who tries to live the gospel more fully through the ringer. He will do what ever it takes to keep them from freedom. But CHRIST IS STRONGER. It is amazing to feel the freedom that the Atonement brings just after a struggle to change something in your life that was holding you back. And it is so amazing to see it in other people. I love living this gospel. I know that the Savior lives and loves each one of us.

I love you.

Love,

Elder Hurst

Monday July, 4 2011

We had a pretty good week. I met our new mission president. He is awesome. We will get to meet his whole family this week. I know that he is called of God to be here at this time. I miss President Pendleton but President Weston is really great.

Our week went pretty good as far as the work goes. We had a few investigators come to church. Church was awesome so they are prolly going to come next week too. Well, everything is going well. The Lord is taking care of us.

I love you.

Love,

Elder Hurst

Monday June 27, 2011

So go on an awesome vacation with out me. I see how it is. Haha. Actually I am glad to hear that you are all going out and having fun, I wouldn't want it any other way. That sounds like it will be fun (or was fun by the time you read this) I don't think I know where Duck Creek is. How did you get a cabin? Just remember where it is so when I get back we can go too.

This week went pretty good. The weather is hot but the ac is cool so all is good. We had a couple of really cool lessons. One was with Liz, a YSA girl that has been taught by the missionaries for like 1 and 1/2 years. She wants to have the Holy Ghost in her life because she could see that all the Mormons she knows have this confidence and glow about them. She wants to have it but she doesn't think she can live the lifestyle it takes. This last lesson felt different. She actually sounded like she was going to try and apply it so she could feel it. We will see if we can get her to start living it.

We also had a lesson with a girl from the family ward that has less active parents. The dad is starting to come back but the mom is having a hard time. Madison is the girls name. She is 14 and wants to be a part of the church and has a few really good friends in it. We are just trying to get the parents more involved in church so she can stay active. Madison's mom has some hard habits to over come and has kind of taught her kids that if they are going to drink and do drugs that they should just stay out of trouble. All of her older siblings are in bad places now so our hope is to break the chain and help her so she can have a chance in life. The Gospel has so much freeing power. It can heal and free anyone from anything as long as they will let it. Jesus Christ loves us so much. I hope the trip was a blast.

Love ya.

Love,

Elder Hurst

Monday June 20, 2011

HAPPY FATHERS DAY
I hope you had a great day.It sounds like it has been a fun weekend. I miss your french toast. I thought a lot about you when people talked about Fathers Day. I am so glad that you are my Dad. I love you.
I am doing great and really enjoying my self, and the work. So our sacrament meeting was so awesome in the singles ward. One of the RM's (Daniel Nelson, we live with his family and he trained Elder Sean Tanner Austin, who is my friend and we left about the same time) spoke and he invited 3 of his non-member friends, who we had just had a first lesson with (they are kind of like Mellina, not to into it but they came). His talk was so awesome. The spirit was so powerful. Then we had a high councilman speak. He summarized the whole gospel. It was just the perfect meeting.

It seems as though recently I have been struggling to know what do and not feeling like what I did was effective. The RM said some things that really hit me: We can have a sincere desire and offer a sincere prayer, but that alone doesn't do it. We then have to go out and begin to show the Lord our faithfulness. That is when spiritual growth comes. That sounds silly that it hit me so hard, but it was just the way he said it, with so much conviction. The Spirit told me there that all these plans in my head are right, and now do it! It is so great how the Lord works and how much He wants us to grow, because He loves us.
Mom, thanks for the letter. I just got it like Saturday. I like to hear about all that stuff. It comforts me to know what others are doing and to see that they are doing good. Like that Bethany is working, and Jessie is doing ok with the graveyard shift. Things like that are great to hear. I love you very much.

Love,

Elder Hurst

Monday June 13, 2011

We have great weather now. It's sunny and warm but not too hot yet.

I like Exchanges, almost all of them; I do miss my bed. I love getting to know the other Elders and I haven't really ever had to go on any exchanges with one I didn't like. We have awesome missionaries in our zone right now.

That's lame that Bro. Bearden is selling his stuff. Air soft is no where near as fun as paint balling, but it is cheaper.

I deciced I absolutely love vegetables. So that garden makes me happy. I've got to say, I kind of miss going up into the mountains and roasting hot dogs and stuff. But I am having a blast out here. I remember thinking at one point that I was sacrificing 2 years. Now I realize that it is such a blessing. I think that if people could just see how happy a mission would make them they would jump for the opportunity to serve one. I think the reason it makes me so happy is because I am living the gospel so closely. I am close to the one who makes us happy, the Savior.

We had meetings this week again, but they were so cool. I learned a lot about what else I can improve-which is so great to have something to be there to re-adjust me. Well, I love you.
Love,

Elder Hurst

Monday May 30, 2011

Oh, he went to high school in Roseville? Ask him if he knows Tyler Owens or Mike Goytia or any Gibsons or Willes. Olivia's friend not showing up for the lesson because of sickness sounds like missionary work.

Yes, this week was awesome. We had tons of lessons. We even found 2-soon-to-be-3 new investigators that are awesome. So we went on exchanges on Saturday. I went in to the Chico 5th ward where most of downtown Chico is. We were biking in the rain ( yes it has been unusually wet here too.) and we were passing by this girl who was walking her dog. The Spirit was like, "TALK TO HER" so I did. She was a little hesitant at first but told me that she isn't sure who God is but she knew there is one. She meditates. So i told her about prayer. Something in her changed and she told me to come by her home the next day. While Elder Mortenson was in our ward he went to lunch and talked a little bit to the waitress. He gave her a pass along card with our number on it. We went by the next day after church and the girl I talked to was there and her roommate was the waitress. We had an awesome lesson on why we believe and how we got here. They loved it. They are going to come to the activity on Tuesday and we got a return appointment. It was sweet. We just had great week. The church is true the Book is blue. I love you.
That was cheesy.
I love you.
Love,

Elder Hurst

Monday May 23, 2001

Hi mate,

This was finals week for Chico state so no one wanted to listen to us because they were studying or partying. It was kind of a slow week. But in the family ward it was a little better. We were teaching this less active guy who also had really bad depression. He claims he has fibro mialga (sp) ( which I don't know if it is real you should look it up a bit and teach me a little bit about it. because from what i can tell he is just mentally giving himself problems.) We had a really good discussion with him. Just before he left he told us that the fire that his depression had smothered seems to have sparked back up. I love it when the Spirit is strong and burns within you so that you know what you need to do.You want to do it so badly that it fills your mind all the time. When the opportunity comes, he gives you the power to do so.

I love you

Love,

Elder Hurst

Monday May 16, 2011

We had Elder Christofferson come last Saturday and speak to us. I got to shake his hand. He is like my favorite apostle. During this meeting I realized just how rare of an opportunity it was. He is one of 15 who hold the keys of the priesthood in our day: God's power given to man to perform His labors and these men hold it righteously in their capable hands.

Well, things are still going good. We have interviews with President this week so that will be good. We may have just lost our investigator because his member girlfriend broke up with him. We will find more though.

I love you and I know that this gospel is true and that the church was organized to help us stay on Gods gospel path.

I love you
Love,

Elder Hurst

Monday May 9, 2011

Hello,

I just talked to you yesterday, so not much has happened since then. I have some pictures I am going to try to send. So the first is Donny quiting his addiction and feeding mine. Then, the Rocklin Zone. Third, "Soap for Sinners". Fourth is our mission car :). Fifth is what happens if you give the sisters keys to your apartment so they can borrow some thing. Those are cups of water. Don't worry, they got theirs. Sixth, these are my home boys. So those are some of the highlights from the past 4 or 5 months.

Well, I think I am kind of getting the hang of this ZL stuff. I am just trying to stay energetic for the zone to help them stay pumped. Well, not much else to report. I LOVE YOU.

Love,

Elder Hurst

Monday May 2, 2011

I'm staying at the same house that the ZLs were in when I was in Paradise. They were the missionaries that I looked up to. Now that is were I'm at... and I am way excited for this transfer.

Elder Mortenson is my comp. He is from Morgan UT. He is awesome. I think I would have been totally lost if he weren't here. I have some sad news: the higher ups of the church said no Skype. So I will just be calling at 5 my time which is 6 your time. I hope every one can make it. I would love to talk to you all so very much.

The weather is so amazing. The only problem is the plants love it too so my allergies are going crazy. Nothing is working to get rid of them.

People in Chico are kind of nuts. It is one of the top party schools in the nation.

We had a meeting this last week for the zone leaders. Elder Ockey and Elder Booth were there. It was one of the most powerful meetings I have been to. We all got a chance to bare our testimonies and the room was just full of the Spirit. Jesus is the Christ. He lives. I know that this is true. I have a stronger testimony of it now then ever before.

I love you and cant wait to hear from you
Love,

Elder Hurst

p.s. I did get your Easter package like 2 weeks before Easter (time is a blur).

Monday April 25, 2011

Hi,

Things are going really good here. Today we get transfer calls so that's pretty intense. I will let you know if we get the call before I am done Emailing.

The elder you are referring to is prolly Elder Sopalski. He is in my district and knows Ed Peckham. He also knows Lisa Haight, which is kind of funny. I think he took her on a date.

One of the coolest things that happened this week was that Donny Ferguson (a less active) quit smoking! He was struggling with it for a couple of weeks while we were doing the non-smoking work shop. One day just quit. He now considers himself a non-smoker. We are going to have a lesson with him today and talk about him getting the priesthood.

We are just still plugging along. We may have a baptism coming up. The son of a convert is praying about when to be baptized.

Well, I am looking forward to mothers day.

Love you.

Love,

Elder Hurst

Monday March 21, 2011

All is good on the Rocklin front. The weather here is rainy and pourry and it's going to do that all week. :) Yeah for rain! I hope that the Lord softens the hearts of the members in our ward that don't work so that they will feel like giving us rides.

Not much happened this week. We had a lot of our appointments cancel because of sickness and other things going on. I learned how to smash a can on my hand with out it hurting. We went to the hospital to visit one of our investigators. He has cancer and he is so scared. I can't think of how hard it would be to not know what is going to happen after death. And not have the peace of the Spirit when faced with that kind of challenge.

It is very interesting the things you learn when you read. I am reading the New Testament all the way through for the first time. Christ just told the apostles to fish and the first fish to be brought up/rise will have a coin in it to pay the fee/ tax. When I read that I thought of something: Christ was the first to rise (not that he is a fish) and in Him we we can find the greatest treasure. We can find the gift that will pay for our fees. We have the knowledge that because Christ was lifted up we will be lifted up by the Father. I know that my Savior lives.

I love you and hope you have a great week.

Love,

Elder Hurst

Monday March 14, 2011

Hello every 1,

(^ha ha I'm so smrt) Well, it has been another great week. Susan is doing awesome. Her baptism is scheduled for April 16th. We went on exchanges a lot this week and I got to be in a car. That was very nice.

So I am staying with Elder Tiggers in Rocklin, but just about the rest of our zone is changing. Well, not much to report. I know that this church is the only true and living church and its whole pupose is to help us follow Christ. I love you very much.

Love,

Elder Hurst

Monday March 7, 2011

Dear family,

Well, the weather here has been back and forth from beautiful to stormy then back. We had a lot of fun this week helping Susan, teaching people, and tracting. We tracted into this guy who just started preaching unto us. He told me I was a dragon slayer and that my companion was a servant to lift others. He also said a lot of other things that were not very nice. He called our doctrine, (which is Christ's doctrine) disgusting, but he doesn't understand it. He just is lost in his own understandings and learnings. He told us to just throw out everything except God, rely alone on God and go to him. What he doesn't realize is that this is the way to God. This is his path that through his son Jesus Christ, he showed us. We are only following his commandments because we can't make it there without him. This is the only true and living way. I am so grateful to have that knowledge so that I can return to live with him again. Well, all is well and I am happy there are not any more sicknesses.

I love you.

Love,

Elder Hurst

Tuesday March 1, 2011

This last week was kind of one of those hard weeks when no one answers the phone or the door. But this week has already been good. People are actually setting up appointments. Yesterday, for my p-day, we helped a less active family move out from 10:30 to about 7:30. That felt AWESOME on my back. ;) There is this cool story about a lady that moved from the Bay area to here. I got this text referral from HQ that said a lady wanted us to visit her. I noticed that it was sent by a sister missionary in our mission. I called her up and asked about the lady (Susan). Susan called the LDS book store in Roseville (Cover to Cover) and asked for missionares to come by. The book store didn't know how to contact us but just then the sisters walked in. The sisters got her info and sent it to the mission office which then went to HQ in Salt Lake then came to me, so after I found that out, I called her... No answer. I left a message to call us. No call back for a couple of days, Then, when we were tracting I got a call from our bishop. He told me he has someone for me to talk to. Susan got on and wanted us to meet her. She set up an appointment to come by. On Sunday, I asked how bishop met up with her. This is the story: she was an investigator in the Bay area, moved here and somehow got ahold of the bookstore. Our phone has an area code block so she couldn't call us back. So she just went into one of the churches (not even our building) where our bishop just happened to be with his family. Well, anyway, we are just about to go and visit her later today. I just thought it was great how the Lord put the right people in the right place.

I am greatful the Lord is taking care of you. I LOVE YOU.

Love,

Elder Jared Hurst

Monday February 14, 2011

um..................................................................oh, I just wanted to say, "hi" and to let all y'all know that I am doing great. I have come to the realization this week that I am super spoiled. God has given me so much. To think of all the people in the world and to know I was born a member of the church (kind of) and then from there to know that I was able to serve a MISSION.

Well, this week my back rim broke. I had DLZL. We had to move and do weekly planning with a lot of work on the area book. We really spent a lot of time inside on one of the most beautiful weeks, especially because this week it is rainy:( Well, life is great. I have had a spiritual boost from DLZL meeting and we have a good week ahead.

I love you all so much

Love,

Elder Hurst

Monday February 7, 2011

Wow, it sound like you did have an interesting week. I have heard good things about the new "True Grit". I have not had any cinnimon rolls from Derrick. No I have not received you package yet, but I am still in a transition phase. We have been living with the Rocklin 2nd ward elders. After Elder Myers went to Roseville we decided to just stay there and finish bringing all the stuff over because the family we were living with was planning to move to Texas. So we started taking the stuff over and found out that they aren't going to move for at least a year. This week I have been torn between the two places, so I prayed about it. My answer came and we are moving back this week. So the Topaz address is the one I will be living at.

My companion that I was a little worried about is pretty awesome. I can see why it might be a little hard for some others to get along with him but he is way funny. Most of the days this week were kind of usual but the weather has been just amazing, 60 to 70 degrees all week and blue skies.

Super Bowl Sunday was prolly one of the hardest days on my mission. No one was answering the door or they were partying, and that was hours before the game actually started. Dinner that day turned the whole day around. We had it with the Gunderstrups. Bro. G is a lot of fun and let us stay until the game was over.........we didn't wacth it we just didn't want to try to tract during the game. Then we had a lesson at the Hahns. I was just in a good mood after that. Well, Elder Jacobs is my Zone Leader again, and I think APs are in my district. Oh, we had a pretty sweet lesson with a new investigator named Howard King. He was a former we found in the area book. He said he has felt the Spirit when the Missionaries taught him and especally when he reads the Book of Mormon. He didn't come to church so we are going to have to get down to the bottom of why.

Anyway, I hit my year mark this week. How crazy is that? My hump day :) it has gone way too fast. Oh, if you feel like sending me those pushup things or the pullup bar that would be much appreciated, but only if you feel like it. Thanks for the Chili's card, it was verry tasty. I got one of those 2000 calorie burgers yummmmm. Haha. Thanks for everything and I love You and know that God loves you too.

Love Elder Hurst

Monday January 31, 2011

I am glad that the film festival is over and you can relax, and that you all had a great time at Jessie's party.

Fred's baptism was on Friday. It wasn't on Saturday because we were having Stake Conference that weekend. Our stake was splitting so we had a general authority (Elder Duncan) here to explain how it was going down. He had meetings at the stake center on Saturday. Our stake was Lincon, Loomis and Rocklin. Now, it is Rocklin and Granite Bay. The other stake is Lincon and Loomis. We got Granite Bay from the Roseville stake.

My new companion is Elder Tiggis from North Carolina. He is kind of an interesting person. I am sure it will all be great. The Lord works in mysterious ways and there are no coincidences in this church so all is good.

I love you

Love,

Elder Hurst

Monday January 10, 2011

Howdy partner,

I am glad that grandpa got to spend some time with those Arizonians. How long will he stay there? Oh, I did get that package with the sweet jacket it came a couple of weeks ago. Thank you. Some ideas for birthday um... everyone send me their testimonies. Maybe you could do that for like family home evening ?:) Maybe a gift card to like Coldstone, Jamba, Chilles, or Tacobell! Ties! Yep, that's about it.

So, Elder Merrill went into the MTC with me but about 4 weeks out he was in ridding and broke his ankle and had to go home. He came back out in August. Now he is serving in Rocklyn 2nd ward and so am I. His last companion, Elder Duncan, went home to deal with his depression issues. So Elder Myers, Elder Merrill, and I are in a trio covering 2 wards and I get to drive the car.

So on p-day we went bowling then we had dinner with the Morton's. Their son, Robert, got back from the Lima Peru mission. He was in the MTC with Taylor Griffin and served around him. On Tuesday we moved into Elder Merrill's apartment. Then we did ward visits. On wednesday we helped this crazy guy, Bro. Armstrong, move to Texas. His wife is nice and normal. They are a cool family but some times he goes over board. I think he is bi-polar along with a few other things. On Thursday we had district meeting then tried to make a few visits and taught a few lessons. Friday we just had lesson all day and a little weekly planning. Saturday I had a leadership meeting and then we had a few lessons and some more weekly planning. Sunday we had like 6 hours of church, and then a surprise re-baptism "that was easy" (the easy button).

Oh, you should go onto youtube and watch some of the Mormon messages. They are awesome.
Love ya and the church is true.

Love,

Elder Hurst

Monday, January 3, 2011

Hello,
I love having big family parties on the holidays. That's one thing I miss. This Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years were great. We got to spend them with other families and see the love and still have a lot of fun. I'm sure the whole family will be able to get together in heaven.
Things are going really great. My area rocks. The members are sweet. My companion is pretty awesome. He is way chill. Sometimes a little to chill but he loves the people. So we have been teaching a ton of less active people. This week at church we had 6 families show up. It was sweet. One of the families has a pretty awesome story. They are the Hahns family. When Bro. Dobson (our ward mission leader) started taking the missionaries over there it was a mess. They had like no lights, the kids were way disrespectful, and there was junk everywhere. The 2 oldest kids were baptized but no one came to church. Now their entire family came and the brought a few friends. The house was kind of chaotic even when I first got here, but when I went in yesterday it was clean and peaceful. The Spirit was definitely there. This gospel has so much power to help people, especially families. Our Heavenly Father loves us and He knows families are the way we can find the most joy, for eternity. I love you

Love,
Elder Hurst

Monday, December 27, 2010

I had a great Christmas.
Thanks for the sweet calender as well. We went to the Brinkerhoff's for a massive breakfast. They opened all their presents and they even had a few for us. Then we went to the Morell's for dinner and they are like the coolest family in Rocklyn. We had some awesome Italian dish Italian cream sodas. Then we played some Blokus and scum. Sunday went well. We decided to go into the priests quorum. We learned about Winston Churchill's and Roosevelt's Christmas address right after Pearl Harbor. You would never hear Obama talk about turning to God. It was good to hear a leader of our country that actually speaks about faith. After church we visited the halls. We visited some members we felt we should visit and I guess we actually were an answer to a prayer, it was sweet. Well, life is good. I was so happy to hear your voices. The gosple is amazing. I found some awesome scirtures about following Christ in Alma 37.
I love you.

Love,

Elder Hurst

p.s. My companion's country is more like rock/country. He kind of sounds like the eagles. He sounds good.