Christmas this year was so good!  I cooked a ton of my traditional swedish food and i loved all of it!  The only thing that was lacking was and pickled herring and lots of really hungry family but that is ok!  I love you all and miss you!  Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

So yes There isn't to much to say because we already talked for three hours but i hope that everything is still going well at home.  Everything here is great.  I had a super Fun Christmas.  I thought it was going to be a travesty but it most certafreakingly wasn't!  I loved the package and everything else that i recieved from home!  I love you all!  

Elder Hoopes

At least they're praying here!!!!!!

Christmas Apartment

Elder Draleau and Me

Last day at the Martins for Elder Easton

Me and My Potato Sausage

Me on Christmas Morning

Our Feast!

That's right........

The Final Product!

Us and The Solon Kids

Us Rodrigue and Chantal after her Confirmation

Wilfried and Us! We give him the Sacrament Weekly

Woo Hoo!!!!

Well Hello!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bonjour

D'accord.  En fait, il y a beaucoup de choses que dont je veux parler mais aussi, je n'ai pas beaucoup de temps!  Ha i just said a bunch of french stuff.  Just on the subject of speaking french, I love it!  Things are going so good and i have my good days and bad days but i am beginning to finally come around.  Sorry i didn't write yesterday.  I had a ton of things going on yesterday and i couldnt get to a computer because i was in another ville called St Lo Doing exchanges.  This week has been so busy.  First things first.  It is so cold!  I think it is funny because in my emails i said that well the first week was rainy and the second and then the 3rd was pretty nice.  Well now, It is snowing!  A ton!  It is suppose to snow through thursday and we have already recieved about 6 inches in Cherbourg!  I am so glad that i finally got French clothes.  Hahaha this saturday i went into a store because if you spent over 180£ then we got 40 percent off!  So i got a nice coat some pants and a sweaterfor about 130 euros!  Such a good deal! It was funny because i bought it then it started getting super cold in the region!  So it was pretty good.  I love the coat and all that jazz.  I am warm and dry mom!  HAHAHAHA

So as far as the work here and how it is going.... We have revived Cherbourg.  I came in with like no work and now there is lots of work.  We have 4 new amis and there are two who could be ready for baptism soon.  We plan to set two dates this week!  It is pretty sweet.  God is really helping us out.  He has been leading us to people and been leading others to us.  We tried starting up the stop smoking group but decided to put it on hold because we chose a new strategy.  The Branch President Franc Martin had the impression that every family in the branch needed a copy of preach my gospel and that we needed to go visit each family and teach from preach my gospel.  It has been working miracles to say the least.  Just us obeying and following the prompting that Franc got is just bringing so many blessings!  I love it!

Other things, Dad you cant see my aprtment because it doesnt run next to a road.  It is down an alley way and you can't really see it.  Ha and Joburg were i took those cliff pictures, It is on the same peninsula as cherbourg just 60 kilometers west and in a place called Joburg.  Ha Thanksgiving!  It was so great!  The Branch president and his wife franc and Charlotte hosted us and it was so much fun.  We made potatoes, sweet potatoes, Gravy and Pumpkin pie and they did stuffing, cranberry sauce and a huge Chicken with Stuffing (france doesn't have lots of turkey).  We also drank ginger beer which is so so good.  It isnt alcoholic dont worry but it is so great!  Ha the dinner was great and also that was the first snow of the year.  Ha Franc streamed the Patriots vs Lions game to the computer so we even got to see some real american football! HA I loved it.  The only thing lacking was the family.  But yeah other than that, that is about all that is going on here.  I am doing well and i staying safe, dry, and warm!  Thank you for all you prayers on my behalf!  I am so Stoked that MOM PASSED HER BOARDS!  CONGRATULATIONS Mom!  I knew you could do it.  I am also glad to hear that Zachary is doing better. I hope that all is well with him.  Anyway so that is me i hope you enjoy the photos!  I am down to 210lbs btw.  That is 35 pounds baby!!!!!!  HAHAHA

I love you all and miss you!

Elder Hoopes

I'm Gone.... See ya Blois!

Wednesday, November 6


So today i got the word that I am changing villes....And leaving the 7 baptismal dates..... I am going up to Cherbourg with Elder Easton.  


My new address will be:   
Elder Jonathan Hoopes 
19, rue au Blé/ Impasse de la Prison
50100 Cherbourg France   


So i may not get mail that you have sent to Denis Papin for a while but i will get them soon.  That goes for packages also.  I leave Wednesday! 


 Later-  
Elder Hoopes

Life in France so far... :)

10/22/10

I loved conference. It's so much better in the mission field I must say. The only thing that bites is the time difference. We watched both morning sessions live but @ 6 pm here and watched Priesthood and the Saturday evening session on Sunday as well. And we missed the last session on Sunday :( It was funny because when President Monson said 5 new temples everyone held their breath until he didn't mention a temple in France! Ha it stinks but there will be one here when the saints are ready. I had a lot of favorites! I loved Elder Scott's talk but I especially liked all the messages from the Presidency. Uchkdorf and Eyring are always so great and The Prohphet, well he's the voice of God on the earth! I loved conference.

And frankly with time- this is how I think about it when I feel like there is no end. I think it out in seasons. And in Arizona it's easy. Just think you've got two cold seasons and one and a half hot seasons left! That makes it easier for me. Here and in Oregon though it's cold and grey for the most part. We actually might be on the same latitude now that I think about it. Anyway, I can only imagine what he's (Elder Patrick Duff) is going through. I was worried to go into a situation like his. He got what we call "white washed" and so that means he has NO INFORMATION at all. He has to build trust with members who are probably not too great because the other missionaries before got white washed out, suggesting they weren't doing what they should've with the work. Going in after missionaries who are white washed out is one of the harder things for missionaries. Also you have to find all new investigators because usually white washed elders prior to them probably didn't keep a good record. Order makes work happen and then putting a tough companion on top of that in the middle of grey skies, rain, and cold is tough. I commend him on his strength and I admire his courage.

Work here in good ole Blois is amazing. Miracles happen everyday! I'm sure you've been hearing the stories but yeah it's great. I don't know if my mom emails you them or not but I'll keep trying to send email updates and blog updates. We right now have hopefully 3 Baptismal Dates and over ten progressing investigators and this week we hope to have between 9-13 investigators at church! This work is incredible and the members here are outstanding! The Lord is blessing us so so much and He is truly at the helm of this work. I can testify of that. I can testify of prayers being answered and miracles happening daily. I love this work and this gospel.

Avec tout mon cunour,

-Elder Jonathan Hoopes

ps- On a side note I've lost 20 lbs since I entered the MTC! Cool right?!

MTC RECAP!! Life in Pictures