This Week's Letters

Sunday, June 23

Dear Elder Punkin Sonshine,

Wow! Your mom and I watched the special broadcast from Provo tonight. Did you get to see it? It was so awesome!! I started to cry when they showed a Stake Presidency from the Magdalena (I think) Stake in Lima Peru! All I could think about was that you could have been in the other room watching at the same time! Then I started to cry again when they showed all of the missionaries in the Marriott Center. Thousands of them. It makes me so proud to know that you are out there serving the Lord and the people of Lima. I saw all those new mission presidents sitting on the floor thinking to myself... Somewhere in there is Jaren's new President! Then I started to cry again.

Your youngest brother got called today to be 1st Counselor in the Deacon's Quorum presidency. He's so excited. Nathan and I are Home Teaching companions. After Tuesday night we will have 100% Home Teaching done for June. Nathan is really a great home teacher. I can tell how the spirit influences him when we're done with our visits. Speaking of home teaching, Bro. Brandvold was asking how you are doing tonight. We told him you were having a ball.

So how was your week? Did you find any new investigators? Your mom and I have been wondering how the Spanish is coming? I bet you're getting better every week. How's the food so far? You haven't gotten sick yet have you???? Do you take your UV bottle with you? I took your mom to lunch the other day at your favorite... Chik-fil-a. All I could think about was how you'll probably come home and eat all the waffle fries! hahaha.

This past week a Missionary from Salt Lake was killed serving in Guatamala. He was serving a member by fixing a leaking roof when he was electrocuted. It made me so sad, but knew that he died exhibiting the pure love of Christ. Your mom read that there have been several earthquakes in Lima! Did you guys feel any of them??? We loved the pictures that you sent us last week. I also read somewhere that they were splitting your mission. Is that true? I know lots of questions!!

Any way, I'll work on a new lesson for you next week. Thanks for such an inspiration for me!

Ámele hijo

Papá

Hey pops! Wow, yea I saw the broadcast. I have to admit, I was a little jealous that I wasn´t back at the mtc for it. The week after I left was the first week where they changed all the missionary devotionals at the mtc to the marriot center because there are too many of them! That´s so awesome! Yeah the stake they showed wasn´t by me. It was a surprise to all of us in my stake watching too. Everyone cheered right there in the chapel. Haha I´m so proud of Grant and Nathan. They are both growing up so fast. Yes I have my bottle but I haven´t had to use it yet because we have filtered water jugs in our room. We had transfers last week and I got a new companion! His name is Elder Acero. Elder Kitchens got called to be a zone leader so he left. but he is literally my best friend. we have a bucket list of all the things were going to do after we get home. haha 

but My spanish is coming fast. its crazy. I haven´t spoken english in a week. The gift of tongues is definitely making itself evident. Dang I miss Chik filet though! 

Yeah our pensionista told us about that elder. That is awful. But at the same time, it reminds me of those 18 boys that carried all the saints across that freezing river. Eternal blessings will come to that Elder, I know it. But I have definitely been praying for his family. They aren´t SPLITTING our mission but boundaries are getting rearranged. We are losing a couple areas here and gaining some there. We are getting a new area called Juaraz. (I think thats how its spelled) It´s like a 10 hr drive north of lima up in the mountains. I want that to be my last area before i go home haha. because the months before I end my mission is summer here so it will be blazing hot. And if I´m climbing mountains every day, I will be in great shape when you  guys come out here! haha Anyway, quick funny story.So the word Acero (My new companion´s name) in Spanish means, Iron. So everyone we meet calls him Hombre de Acero, Iron Man. 

Haha also, a trend has started with me too. Everyone calls me elder Hulk. Not because I am muscular like that lol but because my name is hard for them to pronounce so when they try to say it, it usually comes out like Hulk. Also, I am taller than all of Peru so I am huge to them and I´m a gringo. Green is one of the only colors they know in english so since I´m a ´´Greengo¨ the name has now been created. Oh...and I accidently broke the key to my pensionist´s house trying to open the door. Haha They don’t have doorknobs here. You can only get in AND out of the house with a key. So yeah that wasn´t good. I felt so bad. But anyway, They call us the Avengers companionship. haha Its awesome. haha 

I love you dad! Hasta la proxima lunes!

Elder Hackleman

AH! mamma That is so awesome! I am so happy to hear about my family helping out the giant missionary army! We can no longer say we are few and far between in the world. the missionary presence is definitely making itself known! Wasn´t that broadcast awesome!!!!!! I have a new companion! His name is Elder Acero ( Elder Iron in english haha) He is from Chimbote Peru. I have not spoken english in a week. My spanish is coming faster than dad and Tim can drive to the chiefs game when they go! Haha 

I sure do love you! Thank you for everything you have done for me. I think about you every day! Tell my brothers to keep up the good work! 

Elder Hackleman