Well i'm going to acutally start this off a bit diferently.  This week has been very stressful.  LOTS on my mind as everyone is quite aware. It makes me sad and i worry but it is suppose to be like this.  Also we have had a lot of administrative things we've had to do.  All in all however things are good.  Work is going really well also.  We just set another baptismal date with a guy which i will talk about later and Carlos is doing well. So yeah this week we had interviews with the president and those went really well.  I was able to get my temple recommand renewed and it is in french too.  How cool!  So yeah that was really good.  this week we also did an exchange with some Elders and yeah a bunch of other little things here and there.  

This new guy is named Alphonse and he is really nice.  the sister missionaries passed him to us and we met him and taught him for the first time.  Ironically enough in the rendez-vous we both felt impressed to talk about baptism right off the bat with him.  In fact it was pretty bold.  I don't know why it had to be like that but we said within the first five minutes of meeting him, Alphonse we are here to help people get closer to Christ by baptism, so when you know this is true will you yoursel be baptized and he accepted.  We taught a very interesting first lesson with him because we found ourselves mentioning a lot of different things that one would think couldn't go together.  But at the end of the lesson it all made perfect sense and we fixed a date with him to be baptized on the 19th of May.  honestly it was so cool to see how the Holy Ghost was working with him and us.  It seemed to guide the whole conversation.  Very touching.

Ok so the last name of the brothers are all in the last email i sent to mom.  Not the most recent but the one from last week.  Also dad asked what my most memorable mission moment has been.  I don't have one but right now i have 4.  I will tell you all of them on mothers day. :)  One has to do with my testimony being confirmed, one andrew, michel, and the last with charles but in honestly there are so many and i wouldn't have missed out on things if i had never served a mission.  This is the best thing i have ever done.  I love you all so much and miss you so much.  Keep being great examples for me.  I love you

Elder Hoopes

Hello

Hello everyone,

Hey well i will start of just talking a bit about this week.  so on Saturday of last week Trams, metros, and buses got shut down do to an accident and a strike so we had to walk every where and it stunk so our week was hindered but the highlight of the week was definately this sunday.  Testimony meeting was great.  Charles got u and bore his testimony and it was so so sweet honestly.  I love that guy.  He just talked about how the church has really taught him about real happiness.  He said before i was baptized i thought that material things brought me happiness but now i see that the gospel of Christ is the path and the way to true happiness.  It was so good.  It was the second time that i have heard one of my recent converts bear testimony and it is at that moment that you feel the most accomplished as a missionary.  You see how you have helped change there lives and the blessings that that can bring someone and honestly you don't get to see that often enough. I love those guys so much.  I can't wait for you to see them.  They asked me this sunday if i could just choose to stay here in Bruxelles and not leave.  i told them that God would probably call me elsewhere and them they were ok.  Say God tells you to do something and they won't argue at all.  I am going to miss them so much when i leave.  Unfortunately sacrament meeting was ruined when an inactive member of about 5 years, who smokes, drinks, and probably is gay got up and confessed passed sins at the pulpit.  he said before i was baptized i did some bad things, i sold myself to men, i heavily durgged myself and did other worse things (who knows what he would be capable of???????????) but i know that things in this church are good, in the name of Jesus Christ amen.  I don't think i've been more embarassed for our investigators honestly in my life.  Oh dear...... the guy is just psycho.....  Oh well now he'll most likely be shunned from the Bruxelles 2 ward and we wont have to worry about that again.  so yeah kinda a funny story.  Moving on......
 

So i think that it is great that i got accepted into BYU idaho.  I think that would definately be a cool option.  I think i need to pray about it and give it some real reflection.  I am pretty positive that i want to be a student at BYU Provo in the winter but in any case we'll just see what happens and hope for the best.  In any case thank you for doing everything you have done to get this process moving.  I don't know i'd also like to know your opinion and judgement in going to byu idaho and all.  because if i can go to MCC and then Provo later that'd be cool.  I'd have some time at home to see everyone and be home with the brothers, but also i want to know the acceptance rate for people who apply twice.  So if you could tell me what you think would be best i'd like to know.  I also want to know what patrick plans on doing.  Maybe getting back and doing MCC would be cool because he'd get home and we could chill and then i would go up to Utah with him and Awerkamp.  Who know's????  We'll see.  Anyway.  I respect you're opinion.  Also about you coming out to visit.  This is my wish and desire for when you come out to get me.  I want to be able to show you Limoges, Compiègne and Bruxelles.  Limoges because of Lucas and Rachel and hopefully pascal and then we could make our way through the Loire valley.  Go through Paris and see Qiong-ji in Nogent see her and then go see a couple members in Compiègne and then make our way up to Bruxelles so you can meet all the converts up here.  I think coming home on the next monday would be ok.  I guess with school starting and everything that stinks that it can't be longer and i don't really care about a big welcoming party.  I want to be able to show you mainly the people here in Bruxelles, Compiègne and Limoges.  You know even just Limoges and Bruxelles but i have to see Lucas and rachel, Qiong-ji, and Annette and The Brothers up here in Bruxelles.  So think about that but whatever you chose is best i think.  All the other places have special people but as far as journying goes that would be tough.  So voilà....

ok i think that is it.  I probably should be moved on the 8th of May.  Otherwise i'd stay here for the rest of my mission and i don't think that is likely.  Mom i know that i will be home in 3.5 months but i don't think you need to worry at all about not having a spiritual paradise for me when i get home.  That's why i left to serve a mission.  However i know that you are wonderful and want me to be like this forever but that is up to my diligence and efforts in reading the scriptures, praying, and going to church.  I just want you to love me when i get home.  That is all i want from you.  Nothing more.  I love you so much and look forward to being home with all of you.  Trust me it hasn't made me "trunky" knowing i go home soon.  I'm holding up pretty well.  I'll see you soon enough for mother's day anyway!  I can't wait.  ok well that is it. I love you so much.  thank you for all that you do for me.  I'll talk to you later.

Elder Hoopes

Hello!

Hey Everyone!  

Thank you for all the wonderful emails that you sent me.  I really appreciate all the time that you put into writing those letters for me.  So thank you Mom and Dad for sending in my applications to all those schools.  I know that class picking for the fall semester has already started and so i don't know if i will get in.  I hope so BUT at the same time i would not mind coming home going to MCC and working and then going up to BYU in the Winter semester and living in Elder Awerkamp's condo.  His parents bought a nice little condo up next to campus for elder Awerkamp and they are going to rent out the other rooms.  So I talked with him and maybe that would be a nice way to go.  Live there and go to school.  Also we could just work it all out with the Awerkamp's opposed to the school.  I really am just excepting whatever happens as a blessing.  I really hope that all turns out well and that there is no issues in the future.  In anycase thanks for everything that you do and everything you are helping me with.  So yeah that is that.  Honestly thank you so much. :)  Speaking of the Awerkamp's, the also wrote a similar email to Elder Awerkamp about seeing connor at the Easter Pageant.  They told him that they thought connor was awesome and that he was a very nice looking boy :)  Small world i love it.

So news from me and the mission.  There is some fun news from Limoges actually!  First one is that a member from down there, a daughter of the Garant family is getting married to a member from our ward up here in Bruxelles and so the entire family will be up here and i will get to hear from them and talk to them about Limoges again which i will really enjoy.  Also even better news a girl that we taught for about 3 months down there before i left, Qiong-ji, who i remember talking so much about, will be GETTING BAPTIZED ON THE 14TH!!!!!!!!!!!!  How fun is that! After 10 months finally she came around and is getting baptized!  I honestly can't tell you happy i was.  In fact, first thing that i did was call elder Awerkamp and told him and we basically screamed and spiralled into a crazy hysteria of JOY!  I was so pumped.  She is just the best and to this day is still probably my favorite investigator i ever met.  She was just searching searching searching.  She didn't even know who God was when we started and through reading the Book of Mormon and Praying and Church She came to know that one God is real and he loves us, two Jesus is the center of the entire human history and beyond, and three that he leads and guides his church today through a living prophet.  Such an awesome conversion.  I just wanted to share that with you all.

Now onto Bruxelles.  Same old same old.  PARADISE!  We just set two more dates for this transfer with two friends of, yes you guessed it, andrew.  Of course the rest of the brothers too but Andrew is the one who started it all.  Ones name is Carlos.  Fun story.  He is 17, from cameroon and here on his own.  He is super intelligent.  He really didn't want to be baptized again.  We taught him three times and each time he declined baptism and in fact the last time he just told us no that is not what i need, i was already baptized.  Ok no biggy.  So we left it in the hands of the brothers.  I told Charles, you make sure this boy knows you have a testimony.  and So what do they all do.  that night the brothers hold a testimony meeting.  This is all done and run by them and we had no idea.  the next day we were teaching with Andrew and as we were walking there he said so did you hear about the good news for Carlos.  We said no what?  Remember he rejected the invitations only two days prior.  He says yeah he wants to be baptized.  He wants to know if he can do it tommorow.  HAHAHA We said um no but we will baptize him ASAP.  So then we called Carlos to make sure everything was factual and he said yeah I felt the Spirit tell me that it was true and so i can't resist i need to do it.  So yeah his faith is so large that he just immediately acts on promptings of the Spirit.  How cool huh?  So he will baptized on the 21st of April.  

That is just good old brussels for you.  Paradise.  This weekend was also the Easter weekend and i am so thankful for the chance we had to reflect and feel the overcoming power of Christ's atonement.  Super nice in fact.  I loved this weekend.  We were able to celebrate/commemorate this day with Three american families in the ward.  We went and ate at their place and it was just like home!  Mashed Potatoes, Spiral Ham, ROLLS, green beans, salad, everything because they get to shop at the american army base here in bruxelles.  So everything was american.  It was delicious and i decided that when i come home, first thing i want to eat will be a Burrito from Filebertos, Second i would love to just have a typical american dinner.  I missed that so so so so much.  So yeah it sounds like the easter weekend was great for all you as well.  I miss you all so much and can't wait to talk to you soon.  I love you all so much.  


Elder Hoopes

Hey Happy almost Easter!‏

Bonjour!

Well hello everybody!  What a great conference week n'est-ce pas?  I loved it so so much.  It was stressful trying to get everyone to come to the conference but in anycase it was great to hear all of the wonderful talks and particularly the words of the prophet.  I love conference however i do miss the days of watching conference in pajamas and eating weird pancakes.  I miss cheese pancakes lol.  Yeah honestly i loved conference and i hope that everyone else was touched as much as i was.  This week has been so so busy.  Here conference schedule goes as follows.

Saturday Morning 6:00 p.m

Priesthood 11:00 a.m

Saturday Afternoon 1:00 p.m

Sunday Morning 6:00 p.m

So our sunday was busy. Saturday was busy prepping for Kevin's Baptism ( which went so incredibly well).  Friday was taken in planning for the transfer, the week and multiple trainings.  Thursday we were in Paris all day for mission council.  Wednesday Was transfer day and we were in charge of making sure everyone moving got in and through Brussels safely.  And MONDAY was P-day. SO yes this week was busy and we tried our best to fill our free time with rendez-vous and also finding.  Unfortunately there is not enough time in the week sometimes.  This next Tuesday and Wednesday we will be in different parts of Belgium for most of the day doing trainings and such.  But we should have more free time then last week.  So i look forward to doing more teaching and finding.  

Kevin's baptism went super good.  His best friend made it and he had a ton of support from nonmember friends.  It was a great service and he was so happy.  He was the best.  The Thrusday prior we had a rendez-vous with him and he asked us if we could see him on friday too.  Ha so we saw him Friday and watched "Finding Faith in Christ" with him.  He had to go to work right after at a japanese restaurant.  So later like 40 mintues after he asked us if we would like to come and eat at where he works and we accepted so much.  He smiled so big as we walked through the doors and he hurried and showed us to our places and reassured us that we would love the meals we ordered :)  he was so funny.  He is the best and honestly i love him so so so much.  He is like a brother to me.  I would do anything for that kid.  He is so fun.  I can't wait for you to meet him one day.

So yes that is about it.  I love you all and i thank you again for the wonderful package. i'll talk to you all later!

Love, Elder Hoopes

Hey Hey Hey Hey Yeh Hey Hey Yeh!‏

Hello Family,

how is everyone doing?  I will start out with the usual brussels is just heaven on earth and i wouldn't have it any other way.  I love it so much!  Miracle after miracle.  Like today we had another cool little experience that i will talk about a little bit later.  Yes everything is going great.  Elder Petersen is great, we are working great, we are getting along great, just fantastic!  I think it is in large part thanks to all of the prayers that have been offered in our behalf.  We are not even doing that crazy of work but it just seems like if we are humble and are simply thankful for the blessings then they continue to flow.  It is not to say that there is never opposition but it seems that all the blessings mask the bad.

The miracle this week is that today we were walking and this lady says hey elders!  We're like, a member sweetness!  So we said hi to her and turns out that she isn't a member but she has family that are members in South Africa and so she knows the church already and she says that she wants to be baptized.  So we are going to be teaching her soon.  She is 20 and a student studying Hotel Management so we'll see what happens!  Cool huh!?  Also Andrew, Charles and Abdullai brought us 8 new people to start teaching.  Isn't that crazy?  I love it so much!  They are so cool.  Honestly i am so so so so so happy here and I am really seeing the love that Heavenly Father has for his missionaries.  Heavenly Father is totally willing to help us when we are willing to let him and i wish i would have understood this lesson a little bit better when i was in my other cities.  Oh well.  All is well and i know that i did good there and that is all that matters.   It's true though that you wish you could always know all the knew new things you learn if that makes sense. So yeah things out here are going well.  

Wednesday i will hit my 20 month mark.  Crazy huh!?  Unfortunately for me, my mind keeps getting caught up in the end coming closer and closer and i hate it.  It is my least favorite feeling.  I won't miss contacting people all day, but i will miss so much.  The people, the changing of lives, the strong spirit ALWAYS, the love and support you have to feel at all times from the Lord, that i will miss.  Sure i can have that at home but the abundance of all of it i will sincerely miss.  Plus just all the lessons you learn out here.  Plus i am not excited to get home and to date.....  I mean i am but the thought of dating for a future spouse petrifies me...... EEEGAD!!!!!!  Anyway we'll try not to focus and think of the end.  So yes things are going so well.  Kevin will be baptized this saturday as planned!  He is the coolest!  I can't wait till you see him!  He is the coolest but his hair is the best part of it all!  Haha  Ok well i love you guys and i will talk to you later.

Love Elder Hoopes!

Coolest Lawn Ornament

Ummm ya

Yes this is called Tongue Laugh

Bonjour à Tous!

Bonjour.  So this week was another great and beautiful week in Good ole Brussels.  Miracles just flying in from everywhere and i have no idea why.  I am definately thank ful for all of the tender mercies but I don't feel like we deserve all of it.  Honestly just so many good things are happening.  This week We were able to teach 17 lessons and have two baptisms and fix antoher date!  How great honestly!  The tough thing about baptizing is that after that you begin to lose people you have to keep teaching.  So we'll have to continue finding but at the same time all the time that was spent finding in large part has contributed to the success that is being had now.  So yes we are very humbled by the beautiful things that are going on here. 

I had the privelege this week in Baptizing both Charles and Michel.  I felt so humbled.  All went really well too.  It was funny because i had to do one baptism in English and the other one in French.  They both were baptized without any problems :)  Charles just so you all know is another friend of Andrew who got baptized, which is now the 3rd person who has come into the church because of Umaru, the friend who referred us Andrew.  Andrew is the best missionary ever.  I called him yesterday and he answered 

-"Hoopes, Sup man?"

-Nothing much how are you Andrew?

-Good good good.  

-Hey are you coming to family home evening at the church?

-Yeah yeah yeah.  I will bring my friend John.

-Great bring all your friends!

-Hoopes...You know how i do.  I'll do my best.  I have three people you need to baptize ok?

-Sounds great Andrew.  We'll see you tomorrow.

-Ok ok ok. 

I love that guy.  He just keeps bringing them in!  And then Michel is just so good.  He knocked out drinking coffee completely in one week and was baptized without problem this saturday.  I just feel so blessed that that happened.  So that was a miracle in itself but also another miracle happened this week and i think it is because of all the fasting that was done at the beginning of the month and also by Elder Petersen and I at a seperate time.  Check This out.  So on Sunday Elder Petersen and I pray and fasted seperately.  I fasted so that Kevin's dad would sign the baptismal form and let his son be baptized.  So then this thursday rolls around and we have a RDV with Kevin.  I called him before the rendez-vous to see where he was and he said he was on his way and he was coming with his dad.  Ok two things.  One kevin's dad is SO busy and has literally no time.  Second thing is he decided on his day off to take time to come with kevin to the rendez-vous.  So for us already this was a miracle but that is not all.  We have the rendez-vous and everything and most of it was just listening and trying to find a way for his dad to say yes and sign the paper because before he had said he wanted to wait about 3 or 4 months.  So we had to be patient but also just negotiate things.  All was going well and i was just relating so much with them but we weren't really making progress until Kevin said something.  He said "You know what is interesting is the more and more people i meet my age i see people that stop going to church and i don't know why." His dad replies "well it is because they never knew it was true in the first place."  Right as he said that the spirit flooded in and I said "Kim (his dad) why would your 16 year old continue living and practicing a religion he doesn't yet belong to when everyone around is telling him there is no God." He replied very hesitantly and said "he most know it's true. And i do know that it makes him happy."  He then shortly after agreed to SIGN THE PAPER!!! So kevin will be baptized on the 31st of March!!!!!!!!!!!  How cool!  The Lord totally answered our prayers and our fast.  Later i found out that that was the only thing that Elder Petersen fasted for this last time.  How Cool.  After the RDV Kim came up to me and tapped me on the back and said Elder I hope my boys can grow up to be valiant like you guys.  You don't realize how great you are.  How crazy.  this coming from an atheist who knows nothing about religion.  I'll tell you what the Lord works in mysterious ways but you definately know when he is working.  I felt so humbled by this week and just want to keep working harder and harder til the end.  

So yes that is a taste of brussels right now.  This is the best place ever.  I don't want to leave.  This is the Last week of the transfer by the way.  There is a possiblity that i will leave however the possibilities are pretty low.  So yeah if something will take more than a week to send don't send it.  Unless you get it off by tommorrow.  I'll let you know saturday what will happen.  I love you all so much and pray for you every night.  Keep being missionaries Chez Nous!

Mucho Amor Mes Queridos!

Elder Hoopes

Charles and Michel

Abdullah, Andrew, and Charles

A Week With No Toilet

So already i know this is going to be super lame but it is only because i have been working on College stuff all day.  

This week was a good week.  It had it's ups and downs but all in all it was a solid week.  We are getting ready for the baptisms of two men Charles and Michel this week.  Pray for them and we will see how that goes.  All of our other amis at the moment are doing well and we hope that this young kevin will get permission from his father soon.  Frankly this is so frustrating having to wait on that i mean the kid is ready to be baptized! So yes but that is it for the moment.  Nothing much.  Kinda of depressing news is that we are going on 1 week without a toilet and this is not easy.  And because public restrooms are not found in Europe we have secluded to using the shower and trash bags. The plumberr is taking his time getting a hold of us.  We have talked with him daily and he still is "not available to see us" or "he doesn't work that specific day."  Customer service how i miss you.... Luckily the church is where we spend most of our time but from the hours of 9:30pm-11:00am the next morning it's either no toilet or it's the trash bag special.  Oh memories....... So i know you're probably saying what happened????  Well lets just say 4 men and a lot of African food one night maybe the culprit......  We tried plunging it but then the plunger broke....  SO i bought 2 more plungers after a long and painful, in every sense of the word, search and that didn't work infact we found out that there is a gaping crack in the pipeline.  So yes... we flushed the toilet and water went everywhere.  I can honestly say i have never heard an italian scream so loud.  But we are getting along.  All is well that ends well... most of the time

I miss you all dearly and i pray for you every night.  Sorry this isn't long but i will have so much more to talk about the next week!  :)

Love, Elder Hoopes