The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill🚶‍♂️‍➡️

Good afterNOON everybody, how are we? Listen listen, I ain't no week favoritist. I believe that all weeks were created equal and that they have equal value... but between you and I, I like some more than others. It's just the truth. And this last week was one of my favorite weeks I've had on the mission yet! Super good one, let's talk about it. 

ZL DIVISION

   -Thursday this week, I landed a divison with one of our Zone Leaders, Elder Hammond! Dude's a stud. He's from Idaho, already got me beat with time on the mission, and we made a dang good team for a day there. He taught me a lot about important lessons he's learned on the mission; to have faith even when it's tough, importance of seizing the moment, and to always keep moving forward. That's something super wise he said, was that it's inevitable in life that you'll fail, and plans'll change. A successful mission (or life) isn't based off of how many plans you make that go the way you wanted them to, it's about how much you decide to always keep progressing. To always keep moving forward, keep improving, and never stay stagnant. Exactly why the title of the email references a "continuing story." Super cool to spend the day with him, and I'm grateful for the example dude showed me for the day. Pics from the day down below. 

EU SOU NAZARENO

   -We met an amazing family this week. Group of siblings that are living on their own, squaded up and helping each other out. The oldest is named Rose, and she's already a member of the church. Last week, she brought her 2 sisters, Emilly and Riana, to church with her, and from there we met them! Throughout the week, we've been passing and visiting them, teaching some lessons and getting to know them. They've got this older brother named Nazareno too, who's our age. Literally love the dude, he's got both an amazing spirit about him, and an amazing mustache. As we were teaching them this week, Elder Bertoch and I both agreed that they were understanding everything being taught super well, and felt compelled to invite them to be baptized. All 3 of them said yes! They're all so awesome, and I'm so grateful we have the opportunity as missionaries to help them grow closer to Christ. 

FAMILY NIGHT GONE RIGHT

   -We had a family night this week at the church! Invited everyone we knew, and told em it would start at 7:30 on the dot. We get there, start setting up and start waiting for folk to arrive. We waited and waited, but ain't nobody was showing up. At like 8:45, literally over an hour from the designated time, everyone starts ROLLING in like that was the time to arrive in the first place. Elder Bertoch and I set the room ablaze with a lesson on the tree of life, we taught them how to play heads up 7 up, and we had cake and stroganoff after. It was literally such a great time, felt so happy the turnout went so well! Definite miracle and definite blessing from the Lord. 

SPIRITUAL THOUGHT

   -Apart from the thought that life's all about keeping moving forward, I've got something else I'd like to share. This last week, I wrapped up 2 Nephi, which ends with the end of the life of Nephi. I felt compelled by his final words, and from the message I learned from the life of Nephi as a whole, and so I want to just bear my testimony of the prophet Nephi. I know that he was a man that genuinely lived, who left his home and belongings, survived in the wilderness, faced abuse from his brothers, built a ship from nothing and sailed the ocean, and established his family in America so that the rest of the book of mormon could come to pass. He did all of this with unshaken faith in Christ. Somehow he always knew, even from since he was a teenager, that God always had a plan for him. That even if he didn't understand in the moment, if he could just stay courageous and follow the Lord, he would be blessed. It goes to show that it doesn't matter the age, or the circumstances in life. If you're on God's team, and showing that you are with thoughts, words and actions, you will be blessed in ways you cannot image. I'm grateful for the example he's set, for the words and history he took the time to write, and for all else we can learn from him. I encourage any and all reading to (if you're not already reading) start the book of mormon again, read from the start and genuinely put yourself in the shoes of Nephi. Many christlike attributes reflect through him, and I know there is so much to learn from the life he lived. 

People, keep doing what you're doing. Keep moving in the right direction, with the confidence of God, and stuff will go the way it should. That's a certified Elder Hillstead guarantee right there. I love you all so much, hit me up if you wanna make me happy  but otherwise I'll talk to yall on the next one! Peace out everyone 

Email Title is from The Beatles' "The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill," from their white album "The Beatles"

1. Happy funeral of one of the Sisters 

2. Burg

3. This lunch took so so long to make for no reason but it was so good 

4-5. Newspapers from another church someone gave us 

6. Family night ️

7. Don't know how cup noodles finessed me into buying bean flavored ramen but 3/10 would not recommend 

8. The boys 

9-10. Reposting the drawing I made cause the blokes in staff remade it in real life and it's fire (sorry Elder Hendricks)