Week 60--14 Months Down...10 MonthsTo Go...

Hi Mom!!!! :)

Thank you so so much for the prayers and service you gave for Kevin - that means a lot to me, and I'll let him know! I'm sure he'll be very appreciative! And thank you for continuing to pray for those I've taught in the past! We were able to talk to Kevin a little bit after conference, and he told us all these things that he learned and how much he enjoyed it - it was super cool. That sounds like it was a super fun weekend for you all - I'm just a tiny jealous :) Thanks for the pictures though - it's good to see Tim and Jen, if only through that. Can you tell them hi for me, and also thank them for the blessing they've been in my life, please? Thanks :) I hope the rest of your week with them continues to be a blast!

That is crazy that Makaeli's a senior, and starting all this new stuff - ah! I don't know if it helps at all, and I know you know this, but you don't stop being our Mom after we leave :) You've continued to bless and help me here in ways I can't even describe. And I'm sincerely so grateful that I have a mom that has taught me all that she needed to enable me to make good decisions, and that she continues to do so. I hope I can show you by the choices I make how much I appreciate the lessons and love you've shown me. That talk by Elder Nattress reminded me of you; I hope I wasn't ever as snotty as he was :) but it reminded me of your dedication and commitment to always teach and love us whether we listened or not; and no matter what, it has made and still makes a huge difference. :) Anyways, I hope Makaeli's game goes well - I'll make sure to pray for her! I don't know if I'd be happier about her winning or about Mountain View losing :)

Hmm....so this week, we watched General Conference. We went out to Oakland to pick up a mid-transfer missionary that had been waiting for his visa in Europe - he's a super cool Elder!! We had a super good mission leadership council - one of the most powerful meetings I've been in on my mission! I also got to go on exchanges with Elder Elliott, my MTC companion! Lots of fun! Um...other than that, not a whole lot happened this week! To make up for the lack of events, I'll tell you Elder Griffin's and my new inside joke :) He's been telling me what to do before I even do it, when he knows that I have to anyways - it's so degrading! :) For example, the light will turn red, and he'll say (in a humiliatingly off-hand and authoritative way) "Stop the car." And I have to stop! I'll be about to walk inside the house, and right as I touch the handle, he'll say "Open the door." However, I got him back really good! He HATES Christmas music cause it makes him homesick and he always changes it when a Christmas song comes on. So I turned on Joy to the World and said "Change the song." And he had to :)

As far as transfers go this week, I'm probably staying. Elder Griffin has just two transfers left, and President wants him to train. So I probably get at least another transfer here! I'll send the more accurate update next week :)

General Conference was SO good!! I'm gonna have a hard time consolidating my thoughts, but I loved Elder Ballard's talk! I've been pondering along that same topic, and he put everything I've been thinking about into words. I loved how he quoted you: "Things tend to work themselves out" :) But I've started to understand what he said about how sometimes it needs to be enough to just believe and trust, and not know for sure. Whenever I feel that my testimony is slacking a little, I think to myself, "Where else would I go? Haven't I seen so many evidences already? Where else will I find the joy I have here?" So I really appreciated his. I missed some of President Nelson's, but I loved how he taught that we can find joy because of what's in our hearts rather than what our situation is. President Palmer likes to say that we have agency, so we are able to choose our emotions. No one can make us feel anything. I've had a couple nights recently where I'm in a bad mood, and with lots of effort, I've tried to count my blessings and see things with more optimism - and it works! I also loved the emphasis on coming to Christ and truly knowing him, and on the Spirit-bringing actions of prayer and reading the Book of Mormon. And, like I already told you, I loved Elder Nattress's talk - I felt that he was just pouring his soul out to everyone, and it brought the Spirit.

So, I was thinking about your question about the package... I loved that package you sent in my first transfer with the granola bars and trail mix, etc. That kind of snack food is perfect! So, whenever your next one is, I would love a little snack food. And, a litttttle bit of candy never hurts :) But really whatever you want!! I appreciate them no matter what!!

Well, thank you so much for everything you do for me! I love you so much! And I miss you too :) THANK YOU for being such an incredible mother. Thanks for your prayers and your support! I love you!!!! :)

Love,
Elder Connor Hopkin :)