Year 2 - Week 1

Another letter from Elder Hoots this week.  He has promised pictures for next week, so stay tuned for those.  In the meantime check out his letter to learn a little more about his new area.

One Year Down....One to Go

As you all know this past weekend was Mother's Day, aside from celebrating our wonderful mothers, it holds a different significance for families with missionaries.  It is 1 of 2 days a year (Christmas is the other) in which we get to actually talk on the phone with them.  So this past Sunday we got to talk to Elder Hoots.  The time was short (50 minutes), but it was good to hear his voice. 

He sounds grown up, he sounds mature, and he can't speak English very well.  Haha.  There was more than one time when he couldn't think of how to say a sentence in English, or he would just be talking along and all of a sudden a sentence was in Spanish and he didn't even realize it.  Despite all of this though, he is still the same kid.  One little thing would set him off into a typical Hoots reaction.  As my dad put it "You don't have to dig very deep to get Hoots."  We all enjoyed the short time we had talking to him and begin the countdown to Christmas when we get to talk to him next.

Hoots also moved areas this week.  The area he is not as nice as the ones he's been in so far, and presents new challenges.  He says they hear gunshots every day, but that it's no big deal.  And because they are the two guys walking around in white shirts and ties, they are pseudo-celebrities in the area.  But nobody messes with them because they know that the missionaries are there to help.  The map on the side has been updated with his new location (Iztapalapa) and his mailing address (on the Contact Page) will remain the same.

Aside from getting to talk to him this weekend, May 11 marked his official 1 year mark in the mission field.  Which means he is half-way done.

He also wanted me to tell everyone thank you for all the support, letter, packages, etc.  They help more than you know and keep him going.  He always plans on thanking you all in every letter, but his time gets short and he just forgets.

Read his letter below.....

Adios Area #2

Haden is at it again with a new letter this week.  This is his parting shot from his second area.  Next week, he'll move to his new area and have new experiences.  He will leave behind his area better than how he found it and I think you can tell from his letter that he is proud of the work he put in.

We are proud of the work that he has put in and that he continues to work hard as his one year mark approaches. 

As soon as I get his exact new location I'll post a new map and some information about it. 

Read his letter below

Rice and Tortillas with EVERY Meal

Elder Hoots is back with a new letter and a lot of pictures.  Check them out to see what he has been up to.  He may sound different in his letter, but his pics show that he's still the same old crazy kid.  The Picture page has been updated so you can check them all out.

Also, more and more Haden is writing in "Spanglish" or he'll write a sentence in English the way it would be said in Spanish.  It's funny to read, so I'm going to start leaving those in there so you all can see them too.  I'll put the translation in parenthesis to help.

Thanks for all the support.

Siiiiiiiick Week for Elder Hoots

Even though letters were promised, we still didn't get any this week.  But he did come through with a solid letter.

Check it out below...

Easter was ridiculous and Happy Birthday Mom

This Elder Hoots' letter from the week of April 9.  I'm gonna get this week's posted today and I'll be all caught up.  And I won't lag behind again!

For those of you that have been following, there seems to be a happier tone to each letter and it's good to hear.  Imagine Haden telling the stories in his overly "Hollywood" way and the letters are much more enjoyable.

Read below....

Happy April!

A little late, but worth the wait.  Sorry I've been slacking lately.  This is Haden's letter from April 2.  I'll post two more letters this week and we should be all caught up!  Hang in there.

Hoots seems to be turning a corner as he quickly approaches his 1 year mark on his mission.  He's been working hard in the area that everyone told him was impossible when he started and the results are piling in.  Check out the stories below.