It's A Missionary Christmas

Most people look forward to Christmas Day for presents, food and celebration. Missionary families look forward to Christmas Day because that is one of the 2 days a year that we get to talk to our missionary.

Yesterday we got to talk to Elder Hoots and we we got approval to Skype with him. Nothing better than a video chat with our Hoots for 2 hours. It was fun to be all together as a family, even if it was via internet video. It made our Christmas Day even more special.

I am happy to report that Elder Jaramillo is doing really well and loves Mexico. In fact, he loves it so much that he has mixed feelings about coming home. He wants to come home because he misses everything/everybody here, but he has grown to love Mexico so it's going to be hard to leave. Either way, the next time we get to talk to him will be in person when he gets home. His time has flown by and we are all extremely proud of him for all his hard work and for making the sacrifice to help others. He is an example to us all.

Here are a couple pictures straight from Haden and one that Rhett took of our chat. I hope you enjoy.

Special Experiences

In this week's letter Elder Jaramillo shares a special moment he had.  He was hesitant to share it because it was very personal and meaningful for him, but he decided that he would share it because he hopes that it will touch some of us the way it touched him.

Three's Company

This is last week's letter.  I didn't have a chance to put it up until now.  He hasn't written a lot lately, but he has been writing the family and we are happy to report that he is doing really well.  He loves his mission, the people, the area and the work.  Although he is excited to be home in a couple months, he is also sad to have to leave the area that he has grown to love so much. 

We get to talk to Elder Hoots next week and we are all very excited.  I will report on how that goes.

Letter from a tired missionary

Elder Jaramillo finally found some time to write to us this week.  Short as it may be. 

 

 

Also this week we get some new pictures.  The Picture page has been updated. 

 

Enjoy.

 

Elder Hoots Update

Although Elder Jaramillo hasn't had a lot of time to write a letter to everyone over the past couple weeks he has been checking in with his family.

I exchange personal emails with him every week and the one thing that I can tell you is that he is very happy.  He loves the area he is in and he loves the people that he gets to teach every week.  His lack of letters is not because he is having a hard time, but the complete opposite.  He is having such a good time that he gets so busy and hardly has any computer time.

We appreciate you continuing to keep him in your thoughts and prayers and appreciate all the support everyone has given him.  I hope to have an updated letter directly from the man himself next week and maybe even some pictures.

Tobin

Crazy Six Weeks

Elder Jaramillo finally had some time in his busy P-day schedule to write us a letter.  He has been working hard trying to make the most of a difficult area and he did well.

Now he is moving on to a new area, although it is not far from where he is now.  The map on the right hand side of the blog has been updated with his location.

He tried to send pictures today, but they wouldn't go through so he will try again next week.  Thanks for all the support as always.

Just Checking In

Letter for America,

Not much time. Just want to let you all know that I love my life and my mission. I love Mexico and the Gospel. Wouldn't trade it for the world. Not even for golf.....I think. Ok....I'm sure. I wouldn't trade it for golf.

Work is hard, but I love it. Hope you liked the photos I sent a couple weeks ago.

Love and miss you all.

Hoots

Busy Busy Busy

Elder Hoots has been busy.  No letters for everyone and mostly just short little letters for his family.  He's been busy enjoying the little free time that he has in Mexico, which is a good thing.

He found some spare time to write a little letter last week and here it is for your viewing pleasure. 

Thank you to everyone that reached out to him on his birthday.  I know it meant a lot to him and it did to us his family.

Birthday Reminder

No letter from Elder Hoots this week.

I wanted to remind everyone that it is his birthday next Wednesday, August 29.  He will be 21 years old.  So don't forget to drop him a short note to say Happy Birthday.

Thanks for all the support.


Tobin

Nothing cheers up a missionary like good Lakers news...

While reading this letter keep in mind that Elder Hoots only gets information on Mondays when he can read our emails to him.  Thus, this was his letter after reading all of our emails from the weekend.  You'll understand when you read his letter.

He has also sent pictures this week.  The Pictures Page is updated so you can check it out.  And yes, that skinny kid in the pics is Haden.

Joy

Every week it seems that Haden is growing up more and more.  It is exciting to read in his letters.   One particular sentence in this letter is very comforting for us as his family to read.  I'm pretty sure once you read it, you will know which one I am talking about.

Thank you for all the support you send his way.  It helps more than you know.

Everything is "Amazing"

Elder Hoots' letter from July 16 posted below. 

Read and see what he has been up to and more importantly how he has been feeling about his time in Mexico.

14 months down...10 to go

Below is our favorite missionary's letter from this week.  It is short, but always nice to hear from him.  Hope you enjoy it.

Carnegie Hall....

Below is Elder Hoots' letter from July 2.  The holiday week put me behind a little bit.

Also sent with this letter was some more pictures!  The Picture page is updated.

Read below and see what's up in the Mexico City South Mission....

Hard Work Pays Off...and Causes Leg Cramps

This is the letter from this week.  I am finally caught up.

I hope you have enjoyed Haden's letters as much as we have.  I want you all to know that everything he says in his letters are really how he feels.  He doesn't tell all of you he's doing great, and then tell us how he's really feeling.  He really is feeling great and in these letters and our personal coorespondence we can see the change and the maturity. 

We are proud. 

Enjoy.....

Good Start to Summer

This Elder Jaramillo's letter from June 11.  He also sent pictures that week and those are posted on the Pictures page.  They are all pretty funny.

Check them out and leave some comments!!!!

Scorpions!

I know, I know, I know.  I am a slacker.  I have gotten behind on my posting of Haden's letters.  Hey look at it this way, you get to read 3 letters today!!!!  Wahoo!!!!

Below is his letter from May 28.  Read and enjoy....

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.

The Letter Hiatus has ENDED!!!!!

The letter hiatus is officially over.

Hoots wrote the first letter in a month or so last week.  I didn't get a chance to post it, so here it is. 

Haden also wanted me to post a few updates on some past people that he has mentioned:

Jose Luis, Isaac and Andres all from his first ward in Granjas have received the priesthood.  He is happy that even after he has left he is having an impact on those people's lives. 

Below is last week's letter.  I will post this week's letter ASAP.

Elder Hoots Checks In

After no letter last week, we get a short letter this week.  The computer time is limited on his p-day so he tries to get us a letter whenever he can. 

Things are looking up for Elder Hoots.  He has a companion he likes and he's doing well in the area he's in.  Keep praying and sending love, it helps keep him going.

Check out his letter below....

New Companion, New Updates, New Pictures

Elder Hoots is back with a letter this week and some new stories.  He is working hard and has really made some waves in an area that is historically tough for missionaries.  We are proud of his hard work.

This week also brings us some new pictures!  The Picture Page is updated so you can check them all out.

Read his letter below...

The Letter Hiatus is OVER

After a few week hiatus, Elder Hoots is back with a letter.  His new area has presented a few challenges, one of which is internet time on his p-day, so he has missed a few weeks.  But he is working hard and making us proud.

His address has been updated on the Contact Info page and you can start sending him packages and letters again. 

Thank you to all of you for your support.

New Area....New Experiences

Short letter this week.  He didn't have much time because he had to use his p-day to get settled in to his new digs. 

His new area has been updated on the map to the right.  You can click on the map to check out his new area.  His area extends all the way to Lopez Portillo (just north of the point on the map).

For now, I'm going to take the address off the contact info page because I have not confirmed that it is still the correct address to send things to. 

Thanks for  all your support.

Below is the letter......

Missionary Christmas Letter

My apologies.  For the second time in a row I have posted the letter quite late.  This letter was actually sent the day after Christmas, but as is the case for many of you, things have been crazy since then.  So I'm getting to it now. 
A new letter will be coming this Monday and we will get back in to a normal schedule.

He has also sent a picture of him waiting by the phone on Christmas.  This drama is why we call him "Hollywood"....

If you are planning on sending him anything in the mail, wait until I have updated the contact info.  Because he has moved areas he will likely have a different mailing address.

Below is this week's letter.