11-28-11 Transferred!

This week was interesting... But all in all it was good, the 3 families are doing well, and as you know I was transferred today. So Yesterday was goodbye to the families and some other members of the ward (including Roosevelt) and the bishop. We were both transferred, which doesn't make sense to me. We left the area book actualized and the area is now in the hands of 2 elders who don't even know where their house is! I was pretty sad to leave all the people I love here but happy to be able to move on with my mission- I spent a total of almost 8 months in San Martin.

I will be a zone leader now in Gaibu, a little town on the beach close to Cabo (and Ponte dos Carvalhos). The area doesn't have a ward or a branch, just a group of about 30 people who meet every Sunday. I already went to Gaibu on a division with Elder Wells once, and it is a really pretty place. My new companion is from São Paulo, Elder Casuccio, who seems to be a good guy.

I GOT SOME LETTERS TODAY, I THINK ONE FROM EM, ONE FROM LEILANI, AND ONE FROM MOM, BUT I HAVEN'T OPENED THEM YET.

[We learned through Facebook that Jon was being transferred before he wrote this letter...]

YEAH I'LL MISS SAN MARTIN BUT IT IS NICE TO KNOW THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO PASS AND VISIT THESE PEOPLE AGAIN!

[Regarding Thanksgiving: ] YUMMM I DIDN'T EVEN REMEMBER THAT IT WAS THANKSGIVING.... WE DIDN'T EVEN EAT DINNER THAT NIGHT. I THINK I ATE SOME WAFER COOKIES.....

LOVE YOU TOO, KEEP PRAYING FOR THE PEOPLE IN SAN MARTIN AND NOW ADD TO YOUR PRAYERS THAT THE WORK IN GAIBU CAN PICK UP! (APPARENTLY IT'S NOT TOO GREAT RIGHT NOW) LOVE YOU ALL
-Elder Hooke

11-21-11 Tegu, Surprise baptism (Junior)!! Wedding of Irene & Isaque [PHOTOS]

THIS WEEK WAS PRETTY NORMAL UNTIL SATURDAY.... 

DURING THE WEEK WE HAD A HARD TIME FINDING PEOPLE TO TEACH EVERY AFTERNOON. THE NIGHTS WERE BUSY AND WE HAD SEVERAL GOOD LESSONS, ESPECIALLY WITH JUNIOR, ALTHOUGH HE DIDN'T ACCEPT A BAPTISMAL DATE DURING THE WEEK, BUT WE NEED MORE PEOPLE TO TEACH. SO I'LL JUST TALK ABOUT THE WEEKEND. SATURDAY MORNING THE LZS INVITED US TO GO TO CAMARAGIBE TO DO A SERVICE PROJECT, CONSTRUCTING A HOUSE. I SPENT THE MAJORITY OF THE MORNING STANDING ON THE ROOF, GETTING SUNBURNED, AND CATCHING ALL THE BRICKS THAT THE MISSIONARIES ON THE GROUND THREW TO ME. TO BUILD A SECOND STORY HERE, THEY TRANSPORT THE BRICKS BY AIR. THROWING THEM, ONE BY ONE. THE FAMILY WAS A LESS ACTIVE AND PART MEMBER FAMILY, AND THEY HAVE A PET TEGU (LIKE A MONITOR LIZARD) THAT I TOOK PICTURES WITH. 

                                                    Tegu

HE LIVES OUTSIDE IN THE YARD AND HAS A LEASH, TIED TO A TREE. THEY ALSO HAVE A POND IN THE YARD WITH 92 BIG CARNIVOROUS FISH, WHICH WE FED DOG FOOD. ANYWAYS I CLIMBED DOWN THE LADDER TO SEE IF WE HAD ANY MISSED CALLS ON THE CELL PHONE AND I READ A TEXT THAT DAHLILLA HAD SENT US THAT SAID "ELDERES, JUNIOR DECIDED TO GET BAPTIZED. CAN IT BE TOMORROW? CALL ME" SO WE GOT SUPER HAPPY AND HAD A LITTLE PARTY WITH THE LZS AND CALLED HER AND SAID OF COURSE IT CAN!!!!

THEN AFTER TAKING A SHOWER IN THE CAMARAGIBE HOUSE, WE WENT TO SÃO LOURENÇO SO I COULD DO 2 BAPTISMAL INTERVIEWS, WHICH BOTH WENT WELL, AND THE INTERVIEWEES WERE BOTH BAPTIZED YESTERDAY. FROM THERE WE TOOK THE METRÔ HOME AND RAN TO THE OTHER SIDE OF OUR AREA HOPING THAT IRENE AND ISAQUE'S WEDDING HAD NOT YET ENDED. IT HADN'T, SO WE HAD TIME TO SNAP SOME PROFESSIONAL PHOTOS WITH THEM, AND EAT A SHRIMP AND CATUPIRY CREPE, WHICH WAS WITH CERTAINTY THE MOST DELICIOUS THING THAT I HAVE EATEN IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF. AFTERWARDS WE RAN BACK TO THE CHAPEL TO MEET JUNIOR AND DAHLILLA AND THE LZS FOR THEM TO DO JUNIOR'S BAPTISM INTERVIEW. 

SUNDAY MORNING WAS JUNIOR'S BAPTISM, WHICH WAS GREAT. 

                                       Long-awaited Baptism of Junior

DURING SACRAMENT MEETING HE WAS CONFIRMED. WE DIDN'T HAVE MANY INVESTIGATORS AT CHURCH (CUZ WE KEEP BAPTIZING THEM ALL HAHA) BUT THERE ARE A FEW NEW PEOPLE FOR US TO WORK WITH.

YES I HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT THANKSGIVING.... BUT I AM GRATEFUL FOR HAVING A LOVING FAMILY, AND A DAD (AND MOM) WHO DOESN'T DRINK.

I AM ALSO WORKING TO DEVELOP A LOVE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE HERE.

THANKS, LOVE ELDER HOOKE

11-14-11 Baptisms of Silvio and Carmem [PHOTO], Dahlilla confirmed

11-14-11

THIS WEEK WAS REALLY GOOD. I'M NOT GONNA WRITE A LOT OF DETAILS BUT EVERYTHING WENT AS PLANNED. SILVIO AND CARMEM WERE MARRIED SATURDAY AT THE CHURCH, THEN AFTERWARDS ALL THE GUESTS WENT TO SILVIO'S SISTER'S HOUSE FOR A FANCY DINNER WHICH WAS GREAT (BUT MADE US ARRIVE EM CASA BEM TARDE). SUNDAY MORNING AT 8 THE BAPTISM WAS MARKED AND SILVIO AND CARMEM SHOWED UP WITH SILVIO'S MOM AND DAD, WHO BAPTIZED THEM BOTH. NOBODY FROM THE WARD SHOWED UP AT THE RIGHT TIME SO IT ENDED UP GOING FROM 8:30 TO 9 RIGHT AS CHURCH STARTED, BUT IT WAS A NICE SERVICE. THEY WERE BOTH CONFIRMED AT CHURCH TOGETHER WITH DAHLILLA. SILVIO AND CARMEM ARE SUCH GREAT PEOPLE. THEY ALWAYS TREAT US EXTREMELY WELL AND IT HAS REALLY BEEN A BLESSING FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GET TO KNOW THEM, TEACH THEM, AND HELP THEM TO GET MARRIED AND BAPTIZED. 

                                           Wedding of Silvio & Carmem

THE GOSPEL PRINCIPLES CLASS IS REALLY COOL TO SEE-- EVERY WEEK WHO ATTENDS IT IS EDIMILSON AND ZINHA, IRENE (WHO WILL MARRY ISAQUE THIS SATURDAY), SILVIO AND CARMEM, AND JUNIOR AND DAHLILLA, TOGETHR WITH USUALLY ABOUT 3 MORE PEOPLE. JUNIOR IS PROGRESSING WELL AND WE INVITED HIM AGAIN YESTERDAY TO BE BAPTIZED AND HE SAID HE IS PRETTY SURE HE WILL, BUT STILL DOESN'T KNOW WHEN. TUESDAY HE WILL TELL US! HE HAS CHANGED A LOT AS A PERSON, HE IS A MUCH BETTER PERSON AND HE RECOGNIZES THAT FINALLY. YESTERDAY HE HAD A LITTLE EPIPHANY ABOUT THAT AND IT HELPED.  

LETICIA IS OUR POTENTIAL BAPTISM THIS WEEK. SHE IS DOING WELL AND LOVED CHURCH ONCE MORE, BUT WE MIGHT HAVE TO POSTPONE THE BAPTISM FOR ANOTHER WEEK, WE'LL SEE! 

OH YEAH LAST MONDAY AFTER SENDING EMAIL WE WENT TO CAMARAGIBE WITH THE ELDERS FROM MY DISTRICT TO CELEBRATE MY BIRTHDAY AND IT WAS GREAT. WE ATE CAKE AT A MEMBER'S HOUSE, CHEILA, AND SHE GAVE ME A HAMMOCK FOR MY BIRTHDAY! TOO BAD THERE'S NO HOOKS ON THE WALLS IN THE SAN MARTIN HOUSE... THEN WE WENT TO MARCELO AND JOELMA'S HOUSE AND WATCHED A VIDEO OF THEIR WEDDING FOTOS  (WHICH HAD A LOT OF FOTOS OF US MISSIONARIES IN IT) AND THEY GAVE ME A SWEET PERSONALIZED SHIRT (I SENT A PICTURE). 

WHY IS THERE A SÃO LOURENÇO DA MATA FLAG YOU MIGHT ASK? BECAUSE THEY DON'T OFFICIALLY LIVE IN CAMARAGIBE, BUT INDEED, IN SÃO LOURENÇO (BUT IT IS PART OF THE WARD CAMARAGIBE).

THAT'S REALLY COOL THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO LIVE SO CLOSE TO YOUR GRANDKID AND VISIT THEM SO OFTEN! AND HAHA I'M SURE BECCA WILL IRRITATE EVERYONE AT CHURCH JUST LIKE THE MAJORITY OF BABIES DO. YESTERDAY I RODE IN A CAR WITH THE BISHOP'S COUNSELOR AND HIS 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS SITTING BY ME, BUT HAS ALWAYS HAD A STRANGE FEAR OF MISSIONARIES SINCE BIRTH, SO SHE WAS LITERALLY SCREAMING FOR THE WHOLE DRIVE TO OUR LUNCH! I THINK I LOST A LITTLE BIT OF MY FUTURE HEARING CAPACITY.

LOVE YOU TOO!

ELDER HOOKE 

11-7-11 Juliana's , Dahlilla's baptism [PHOTOS]

11-7-11

HELLO FAMILY THIS WEEK WAS AWESOME!!

YES I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GRANDMA AND GRANDPA T FOR MY BIRTHDAY (THANKS G & G!!!) AND A LETTER FROM YOU (YOU SENT A FAMILY PIC AND AN EMAIL FROM A WEEK THAT I DIDN'T RECEIVE IT, AND ON THE OTHER SIDE WROTE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THE HOLY GHOST), AND I GOT THE LITTLE BOX! THANKS!! 

[I told him I hadn't sent his birthday package yet for various reasons...and I have to say I'm still hesitant because the last package I sent to him, he would have had to pay $75 to get out of the post office...but he was too late, so they sent it back to us!!!]

ALRIGHT IT CAN BE A BIRTHDAY AND CHRISTMAS COMBINED PACKAGE, IT'S ALL GOOD. I AM HAPPY TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT ME (BUT YES YOU'RE RIGHT, I'D BE EVEN HAPPIER RECEIVING THE PACKAGE! HAHA)

THIS WEEK WAS GREAT! WE HAD THE 2 DE NOVEMBRO WARD PARTY WHICH WENT REALLY WELL AND I EVEN GOT TO PLAY BASKETBALL WITH A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW THE RULES (IN MY SHIRT AND TIE). IT WAS A FUN ACTIVITY AND LOTS OF INVESTIGATORS AND RECENT CONVERTS WERE THERE.

EDIMILSON AND ZINHA ARE DOING MUCH BETTER. WE ARE STILL GOING TO THEIR HOUSE VERY FREQUENTLY TO KEEP HELPING THEM AND THINGS ARE IMPROVING. THEY WERE AT THE ACTIVITY AND LOVED IT! EDIMILSON DOMINATED IN DODGEBALL HAHA!

WE ARE TEACHING A FEW OF THEIR NEIGHBORS TOO, INCLUDING A 13 YEAR OLD GIRL LETICIA WHO HAS BEEN AT CHURCH WITH THEM THE LAST 2 WEEKS AS WELL.

FRIDAY WAS JULIANA'S BAPTISM, WHICH WENT REALLY, REALLY WELL.

                                           Baptism of Juliana

EVERYONE AT THE MEETING WAS VERY HAPPY AND SUPPORTIVE FOR HER. THE MUTUAL NIGHT FOR YOUNG WOMEN IS CHANGED TO WEDNESDAY NOW SO THAT SHE CAN GO! (IT USED TO BE TUESDAY BUT SHE HAS KARATE EVERY TUESDAY). WE WERE TALKING WITH HER YESTERDAY AND FOUND OUT THAT SHE WILL NOT, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SEVERAL YEARS, DO A DANCING PROGRAM SHE LOVES THAT WOULD START THIS SUNDAY, BECAUSE THE PRACTICES ARE ON SUNDAYS. SO YEAH I GUESS SHES PRETTY [COMMITTED]! WELL HAVE TO START TEACHING HER FRIENDS NOW!

WOW AND DURING THE WEEK THE BIG QUESTION WAS ABOUT THE BAPTISM OF DAHLILLA AND JUNIOR. WE KNEW THEY WOULD BE MARRIED, (THEY DID A TON OF WORK FOR WEDDING PREPARATIONS). DAHLILLA DECIDED YES FOR SURE SHE WOULD BE BAPTIZED. JUNIOR TOLD US, I'LL TELL YOU AT THE WEDDING IF I WILL BE BAPTIZED. JUNIOR DECIDED THAT ON THAT DAY, HE WOULD NOT BE BAPTIZED WHICH WAS A BIG LET DOWN FOR ALL OF US, INCLUDING DAHLILLA. SUNDAY AFTER CHURCH WAS DAHLILLAS BAPTISM, WHICH WAS DEFINITELY THE MOST SPIRITUAL BAPTISM THAT I'VE BEEN AT IN MY LIFE.

                                                Baptism of Dahlilla
SHE DESCRIBED HOW SHE FELT BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE BAPTISM TO US LAST NIGHT AND IT WAS AMAZING. SHE SAID IT WAS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN ANYTHING SHE HAD FELT BEFORE AND THAT SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS IN ANOTHER WORLD, AND LITERALLY BECAME A NEW CREATURE (LIKE THE SCRIPTURES SAY). ANYWAYS JUNIOR FELT THE SPIRIT AS WELL AND IS STILL HAVING TROUBLE RECOGNIZING THAT THESE FEELINGS ARE HIS ANSWER.... BUT HE TOLD US THAT HE PLANS ON GETTING BAPTIZED BEFORE THE TRANSFER AT THE END OF NOVEMBER!

SILVIO AND CARMEM ARE DOING WELL, THEY WERE AT CHURCH YESTERDAY AND WILL BE GIVING US LUNCH TODAY! EVERYTHING IS SO SMOOTH AND SIMPLE WITH THEM, THERE HAS BEEN ALMOST NOTHING DIFFICULT IN HELPING THEM TO PREPARE FOR BAPTISM, BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS DO EVERYTHING WE INVITE THEM TO DO AND ARE REALLY DETERMINED TO TAKE THIS STEP IN THEIR LIVES (BAPTISM). THEY WILL BE MARRIED ON SATURDAY NIGHT AND ON SUNDAY MORNING SILVIO'S DAD WILL BAPTIZE THEM!

ATÉ MAIS!  ELDER HOOKE