Week 79

Connor's letter for the week and a few pictures at the end. Enjoy!

Hi Mom!!!! :)

Well, I'm pretty sure I finish and close my emails the exact same way too... So I know where you're coming from :) And every time you say them, it sounds very sincere and I love it! So no worries at all! :)

As far as transfers go, we are staying the same! I think this is the 1st transfer call I've ever gotten where something didn't change in my companionship, area, or assignments. The only other times it's happened were when I stayed with Elder Jones for another transfer... and the assistants forgot to call us that time; and then with Elder Griffin...and we didn't call ourselves. So this is a first! :) I'm really excited to keep serving with him, and in this area. I feel that there are several people here that we've built good relationships that we can keep teaching together. And Elder Tiatia is a great companion, so I was more than fine sticking with him! I was kinda thinking I might be done serving as a district leader, but I still have at least another transfer of that, which I'm glad about. This area is so great - so much work to do! The only problem is that sometimes there's too much to do... so it's kinda overwhelming. We had a pretty mixed week. On Wednesday, we committed an investigator to a baptismal date, and found 2 new investigators! Then for a couple days, basically nothing happened. We ran into some very interesting people here and there as well, so that was fun :) I've had different situations in this area that I have no experience with at all, so that's been a great opportunity to learn and grow, and to feel some anxiety :)

Thank you for the updates! I'll definitely pray! I'm glad Makaeli had fun, and that's too bad that boys aren't old/good enough for Bryn :) At least she's rich! I hope everything goes well for Makaeli with BYU! That would be really fun to have her around on campus! And it sounds like Ethan did super well at his bee! I was never brave enough to get into those! And yay for all the other exciting things going on!!!

So, my bag is broken. It's still usable, but it could give out at any time. Am I mistaken, or is there a 2-year warranty on it? I took some pictures that I'll send to you, in case that's necessary. Do you mind seeing if they'll send me another one? That would be very helpful! Thank you so much for the Valentine's box! I'm super excited!!

AHHH that college stuff was crazy! Is it bad that I didn't understand half of it? I guess it'll be like a mission huh? You're 100% lost at first, then after a while you kinda get used to it to where you're only 50% lost and can kinda figure things out? Is that just life? I feel like that's one of the mysteries that kids never figure out - you never quite know what's going on, huh? Or maybe I'm just dumb :) Thank you for getting the rooming all figured out! I really really appreciate all the work you're putting into that!

That's CRAZY that Kayla is home! Sister Neeley, who came out with me, goes home on Wednesday.... what?! One good thing is coming of my short time left though... I realized that I do not want to get home, and be thumbing through Preach My Gospel, and realize all the stuff I never read or appreciated! So I'm starting a very in-depth study of Preach My Gospel so I can make sure to get everything out of the missionary guide - while I'm still a missionary! I've gotten about 3 pages into it and already learned a ton! Thank you for your testimony about prophets! I LOVE what you said about how each of us is listening to someone... so why not listen to the people that tell us what God is saying!? :) I totally agree!

As far as the flooding and dam goes... I had no idea :) I did notice the river in our area was a little fuller than usual, but that wasn't too surprising because it's been pretty full this last month or so. So, no, we aren't having problems with it, as far as I'm aware! :)

Well, thank you again for everything you are always doing to bless my life!! I don't know how to thank you for all you do for me. It seriously feels so good to get some words from you and get a bit of communication going. I love you so so much, and I hope your week is wonderful and safe and happy! You're constantly in my prayers!

Love,
Elder Connor Hopkin :)

Here is an extra paragraph from his email to Shon that I thought was interesting and that he might want to remember later.

I had an interesting experience this week that I thought I'd mention. We were at dinner, and this lady's son came over, and started being very condescending, rude, and aggressively antagonistic to the church, and especially us as missionaries. I don't think I've done anything to lose the Spirit, and I prayed at that moment that I wouldn't be "confounded before men", but I was shaking and stuttering and lost the whole time! While thinking about it afterwards, I thought about how it was a good reminder from God that, no, I can't do this alone. He'll help me when He chooses to, and this time He let me all but fail so I would remember to rely on Him. Also, I noticed in the D&C that it says I will be given the portion that shall be "meted unto every man". Maybe there wasn't anything to be meted to him. It would just bring greater condemnation to him, and would have probably made him even angrier, and possibly even violent. So maybe in the grand scheme of things, it was best that he just ran his mouth, and I wasn't able to say anything back to him. Do you have any other thoughts on that?

"Our ride to church last week!!!!" :)

"Me and Elder Stewart on exchanges! On a very rainy day." :)

"My bag!"

Week 78--Scottie's baptism!!

On Saturday evening, the 4th of February, I received a couple of messages from Sister Fraze, who lives in the ward that Connor is serving in. She has been my contact and my informer. I love her for it! Because of her pictures and the short video she sent of Connor playing the piano I knew that Scottie had been baptized! Hurraaaahhhh!! I then loved hearing from Connor and getting the rest from his side. Here is his letter for the week--a really great one, I thought! I love hearing his testimony and his stories and being able to see how much he has grown and is learning. His service truly has blessed our family in so many ways--those that I can recognize and see and then countless others that I am sure I will never know of. Our entire extended family has also seen many blessings during the time he has been serving. "[The Lord is] seriously so good!"

Hi Mom!!!!! :):)

That was such a good email :) So many happy things going on, and such a strong testimony! Thanks for that!

Where to start... hm... First of all, that IS CRAZY that Makaeli is almost 18!!! And Grandpa 70? And Faith 16? And Lisa something? :) That's weirding me out pretty bad. I realized a few weeks ago that I'm closer to being 20 than I am to being 19 (if that makes sense). Time goes quick! That's super exciting for Angie! And Ashley!? That's so amazing! That'll be super fun :) Thank you for helping me notice that my mission is blessing the family as well... I really appreciated that. I was thinking the other day about the half tuition I'm receiving, and how I might not have gotten that 2 years ago. God is constantly blessing me for my measly and all-but-pathetic service to Him. I'll come back to that later! If you could tell Grace congrats for me, that would be great! I'm glad you're liking your job! That vacation sounds too good to be true! The testimony you shared with me seems to be a blessing you're already getting from her - one of the reasons you two have been put together. A strengthened testimony of the gospel for you, and I'm sure countless blessings for her that she's received from you.

I'm glad you got the pictures of Scottie's baptism!! It was so exciting! That family was being put under a lot of stress from the adversary as he prepared to be baptized, and there were some complications with scheduling the service, so I was very grateful it all worked out. Elder Tiatia was there to help Brother Otto (the great-grandfather) with the prayer and with getting Scottie back on his feet. As they were all drying off, Scottie yelled to me from the stall. "I feel like I could eat a million rainbows! If cupcakes were rainbows, and rainbows were cupcakes, I would definitely eat a million rainbows!... That would be a big cupcake in the sky!" That plus the picture should give you a pretty good idea of his personality. :) He was confirmed by Brother Otto yesterday, and I was able to confer the Aaronic priesthood on him. I also followed him around as he passed the sacrament for the first time, which was a great experience!

Story of the week: Elder Tiatia and I were trying to contact a referral that we've tried several times. She wasn't home... but her pit bull was! He started barking at us through the gate as we walked up, then after we had knocked a couple times, we heard a big clank and the gate was open... and the dog was out. We hurriedly grabbed our bikes and quickly walked about a house over, then stopped to figure out where to go next as the dog kinda roamed around his yard. But he started walking towards us - then running! Scariest moment of my life! We got on our bikes (helmets off), and he chased us for about a block! We rode to safety and texted the referral, and a few minutes later she asked us to look around a bit for him. We went back to the house, and her neighbors had gotten the dog and put him back. They told us he's really a nice dog... but I disagree :)

We had interviews with President and Sister Palmer as well this week, which was great! They're the best; I'm so grateful that I've gotten to serve with them! We had a few good lessons with a couple other investigators too. It was a pretty good week overall! As far as the schedule changes go, I'm really liking it! We plan in the morning, which is a little more logical. We have an extra half hour in the morning to get ready (I spent 18 months figuring out how to get ready in so little time!) and some extra time at night. Preparation days are a little different, but I like it overall. We get an extra 15 minutes of email time, which is nice :)

So, a couple thoughts from the week. Like I started mentioning earlier, I feel like I've been a little too needy towards Heavenly Father lately... just asking for tons of blessings and not really truly grateful for the countless blessings He's given me. I was reading in Mosiah 2, which explains that even if we served God with ALL that we are, and rendered Him thanks for ALL He has given us (which is impossible because we'll never truly know how much He has done for us) we would still be unprofitable servants. It really kind of put me in my place and helped me try to think about all the things He has done for me. He's seriously so good! I'm constantly asking Him for confirmations of my testimony, even though I've been given a million, and He continues to give them to me! He always gives me so much of what I ask for, and much more. So I've been trying to be a little more grateful. Another thing I learned this week was after Scottie's baptism. I was praying for confirmation that everything went well with the baptism, etc, and I had this overwhelming feeling of peace and joy. I could feel God's love for Scottie, and for all the people I've taught on my mission, and His infinite desire to have them and all of us back, and how grateful and eternally happy He was about Scottie being one step closer to Him. It was a reminder to me of the important work we're all doing as missionaries and member of His church, and of the infinite love He has for each one of us personally.

Thanks again for your thoughts and testimony, I really enjoyed them! So, question: In my interview with Sister Palmer, we talked about college and stuff, and she mentioned that there's a sister here that was planning on doing chemistry or something related, then saw the classes for biochemistry and thought they sounded much better. Any thoughts? Have you seen the classes for both Chemical Engineering and Biochemistry? I logically am leaning towards ChemE, but I have a weird feeling towards biochemistry. Anyways, thanks again for all the help and effort you're putting into getting me ready for college!

Don't ever worry about long emails, I love them! And I'm glad I got a little time today to write a little longer. It's nice to be able to think a little about what you're writing :) I love you so much! Thanks again for the updates! I hope you have a great, fun, safe, successful week :) LOVE YOU!

Love,
Elder Connor Hopkin :)

Pictures of the baptism and Connor playing the piano at the baptism. I sure miss hearing him play!!

 Scottie's baptism!!

Saturday, February 4, 2017

 Scottie, Elder Hopkin, Elder Tiatia

Saturday, February 4, 2017

Modesto, California 6th Ward

 Elder Hopkin

February 4, 2017

Week 77--18 months, 3/4 down, or the Sister Missionary Mark!!

On Sunday, January 29th, Connor hit is 18 month mark!! This is big!!--it means that he is 3/4 of the way through his 2-year mission. In his own words, "it has gone by fast in a weird, slow kind of way." There is no better way to describe it! It seems crazy that he ONLY has 6 months left. It also seems crazy that he STILL has 6 months left (after all, that is half of a year). We have been doing a lot of work recently trying to get him ready for the upcoming fall semester at BYU--that has made his return seem ever more real. I am sure this last quarter will have days, weeks and possibly even months that drag slowly and those that will seem to fly by. But, I do not wish the next six months away--for his sake. A mission is an adventure of a lifetime and I hope these last months will be his best ones yet, no matter how time seems to move or how real it begins to feel.

Here is his letter for the week.

I couldn't come up with anything clever, but maybe the subject line will at least help with your organization :)

So! Sorry it's SO early! We had a new schedule change, so preparation day now starts at 8:00. My new email time is 10:45-12:30, but the zone leader asked us to switch times today, so we came in earlier.

It feels so good to be writing you :) I hope your week went really well! I hope you're enjoying your new job! Keep me updated on how that's going - I've been praying that you like it!

A quick update for the week: We had a Worldwide Mission Broadcast on Wednesday - so many cool doctrines and insights! They also (as I hinted at) changed the schedule a little bit. We now plan in the morning, and have extra time to get ready in the morning and to wind down at night. It's fantastic :) I went on exchanges with Elder Gardner in my district, and he's so cool! It was a really good day! We ALMOST got to go to the temple to do baptisms for the dead with Kevin, but he wasn't feeling very well that morning... but we had the opportunity to give a blessing to a couple missionaries in our district, and visit someone in the hospital, and have a lesson with Scottie - so it worked out pretty well. We had Stake Conference yesterday, and Saturday night, with Elder Zabellos visiting. I got to see all my old YSA friends (since we're in the same stake) which was so much fun! :) I've realized recently how much I need to improve in charity, so I'm working on that one.... it can't come fast enough! Why is progress so slow!? :)

We have a pretty good week lined up! Hopefully I'll have some good updates for you next week :) We have a couple investigators that are progressing pretty well, and some that aren't so much. We found a new investigator this week, that needs the gospel so bad! Hopefully she'll recognize how much this will help her. My companion is doing well; I've loved being with him! Can you believe we're already 4 weeks into the transfer?!?! Ah!!! Oh yah, I hit 18 months yesterday! Can you believe that?! I can't decide... is 6 months long or not? :) I've come to love my district so much lately - they're all such good missionaries, and it's such a blessing to be with them. And my zone leaders are stellar! :)

Well, I think that's it for today! The shoes are holding up well :) I'm wearing the Christmas tie you sent me today! It's so shiny!

I love you so much!!! Thank you so much for everything! I'll look forward to hearing from you next week! Sorry again for the time switch-up :/ Have a wonderful week! :)

Love,
Elder Connor Hopkin :)


And, here is the letter he sent to Shon. Usually they are fairly short, but there are a few things this week, so I am adding it as well.




Hey Dad!!!

Thank you SOOO much for looking at all of that stuff and helping with it all! That's super good to know about the banking accounts. We can probably figure all this out in August... but I feel like I'm gonna owe you guys at least some for all the stuff you've sent me (clothes, hymnbook, etc)? Anyways, I have a better nest egg than I had thought, so I'm happy to hear that! Again, not a big deal for me to know right now, but does the mutual fund look like it's doing any good, or have I continued losing a little from it? Just curious :)

Thank you for getting me all ready for college! That's SO exciting about the half-tuition!!!! That's going to make life so much easier! Thanks for working at BYU!! :) And thank you for the books! And for persuading me to do those scholarships :)

That's cool about the immersions in the Old Testament. There are so many things that are so unclear and unanswered from the Bible - it's pretty frustrating! I want to really be able to delve into that stuff more when I get home, but then I have to remind myself how busy I'll be! I have so many goals for when I get home that I'm gonna have no time to sleep! And I'm sure I'll be much more lazy than I'm expecting :)

Our week went quite well! We had a great Stake Conference, with Elder Zabellos of the Seventy attending. He talked about the strength of unity, in marriage, in wards, etc. It was very interesting because in a mission broadcast on Wednesday, Elder Bednar talked about the power that comes from the unity of the gospel. Not just faith, or repentance, or baptism; but faith, repentance, baptism, the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end, all as one gospel that is centered together in Christ. I've always found it interesting, too, about the unity of the Godhead. I feel like there's something there that I don't quite understand, but this helped me better realize the importance and strength that comes from complete unity. That's why we need to be one with our Savior.

Thanks again for everything you always do for me! I love you so much! I hope the week goes well for you! Please continue to be safe :)

Love,
Elder Connor Hopkin

week 76

Hello Mom!!!! :)


Well, this week went quite well! I'm sure I have plenty of stories to share, but I can't remember them! We'll see if they pop up as I type :)

Business first: Thank you for working on the housing for me! And thank you for explaining that all to me - that's very helpful! My initial thought would be towards chemical engineering, but if you could get some info for biochemistry as well, that would be great! (By the way.... what do you mean "get info" from them? :) ). That's good I can change my majors, cause I'm about as indecisive as ever! :) Question: It seemed to me that when my friends a couple years ago were getting ready for college, they didn't do all this "major" stuff. Are there other ways to do it, or were they just choosing majors without me knowing? Are there overall general eds (math, science, english, history) that should be completed at some point, or are the general eds determined by the major? Does that make sense? I'll definitely think and pray more about it! And I'll let you know for my shoes! These don't say a normal size - all they say is 44. I'd guess a 10 1/2, or 11 would be right.

That stake plan is awesome!!! I really like that! I totally agree that those simple things are going to make the biggest difference! I like how it focuses in on our personal growth and conversion, using the basics. And thank you for sharing those quotes; I loved them!

Congrats on the new job! That sounds like you're going to be really good at that!! I'm guessing it might take a little patience from time to time, but you're such a charitable person; I'm sure you're going to be a HUGE blessing to her! God definitely put you and her in each other's paths for a reason, so I'm guessing you'll both be blessings to each other!

I went on exchanges with Elder Nettesheim this week, which was lots of fun! And yes, it POURED! Maybe I already said this, but I've found that once you just commit to being wet, it becomes fun (except for the cold) :) There hasn't been any bad flooding in our area, but the rain has been nasty. Sorry it's snowing so much up there - I know you don't like it too much :) We had some great progress with lots of our investigators - we had 4 come to church, which I think is a record for me :) Each of them are progressing in their own ways, and are super great! I'm really loving the people here! Some crazies around...yes. But so many good people! :) We had a zone meeting this week, where they reminded us about 8 finding ideas that no one really uses (family history, helping members use social media and family home evening to share the gospel, etc). There's a reason we haven't been using them - they're hard! :) So we committed to focusing more on them. I had to remind myself it's like being a new missionary - hard at first, but I'll get used to it! My companion is doing great, and we're getting along really well!

So no stories that came to mind... sorry! And sorry I have no pictures this week! I'll do better :)

I love you so much!!!!!! THANK YOU for helping with college, and my life in general :) I miss you lots - but only 3 1/2 months till Mother's Day ;) Have an awesome week! I'll keep your job in my prayers :) LOVE YOU!!!

Love,
Elder Connor Hopkin :)

Week 75

Hi Mom!!!!!! :)

First of all, yes that struck a chord!! Thank you so much! :) I had a much better week and felt better about everything, and that just topped it off! I love especially how you related doubts to anxious thoughts - they come, it doesn't mean we're weak, and they'll go away after some time - you just have to push through them. And I really like the part of that talk you sent me!!! Thank you so much for taking the time to think about that and send me those thoughts :) And thank you for all the kind compliments!!!

President Palmer did submit my endorsement a couple weeks ago, so we should be all good! Thank you for the garments! All my other clothes are looking pretty good! As far as shoes go.... What do you mean by inexpensive? And when would you need to know by? I have a few more months left on them, I think. I'm just wondering if that means 3 months or 6.5 months, you know? :) It's just the ball of the shoes that's wearing a little thin.

I hope those pictures were good! They cover the last 2 weeks. My companion is doing great! Still adjusting, but doing wonderfully! I'm learning a lot from him. He's been a blessing to me, so I sure hope I've been one to him! Our investigators are doing quite well! We got to teach a couple investigators that had been taught in the past. My man Scottie is doing awesome! He came to a baptism on Thursday! He's still hilarious :) Yesterday we had a lesson with him, and his grandparents started kinda talking to each other. He looked at me and started to say something, but got embarrassed and was like, "Never mind." I pressed him to say it, and he said "I love you guys as family!" That was a pretty dang good moment :) I got to conduct the baptismal interview for the girl that got baptized on Thursday, and it was another super nice experience - she was so cute and already so pure, and it was a blessing to interview her and be at her baptism. On Sunday she got confirmed; we were invited to go up, and this time Elder Tiatia got ambushed! :) Our ward mission leader asked her (as we're just about to confirm her) and asked her who she wanted to do the confirmation, and she pointed at my companion :) He was SO scared but did a super good job! We've had lots of opportunities to give blessings, to members and to people at the hospital. I've now given two blessings to people in the ICU, which is a different experience than I'm used to. It's been really good to have the opportunities to exercise the priesthood, though, and it always is a testimony strengthener.

Oh! We were biking the other night, and there was a lady talking to... no one! She yelled, "Can you imagine... if a vampire!... flew across your motorcycle... and ripped your neck out?!?!" I didn't hear the rest of her story, unfortunately :)

Thank you for the prayers, for me and others!! Thank you for updating the blog :) I've praying for your job search, so I hope that works out well! Thank you so much for everything! Thanks again for the thoughts and help and support you gave me today - it helped a ton!! I love you so much, and I'm so blessed to be your son! :) I hope your week goes well! I love you!!!!!

Love,
Elder Connor Hopkin :)

 Elder Lopiano, Elder Hopkin

Wednesday, Jan 4, 2017

Elder Griffin, Elder Hopkin

Wednesday Jan 4, 2017

Elder Hopkin and Elder Tiatia

 Elder Hopkin, Elder Tiatia

"My man downtown! He makes my day every time we bike by!" :)

 Elder Hopkin and Elder Tiatia

Modesto, California

 Best tag picture ever!

Week 74

Hi Mom!!!! :)

Your email made me so happy!!! :) So many good things happening it sounds like! That's too bad about Cooper though - I continue to pray for him and hope everything is ok. If at all possible, you should send me a picture of him and his girlfriend. I need to give my approval first :) And that's crazy about Kelsey! I'm sure she'll be able to return back pretty quick! YAAAAAAY ANGIE!!!!!!! :) Holy cow, I'm so excited for her!!!! I don't really know how else to say that...I'm just SO excited!! That's awesome Makaeli got a scholarship to SUU, and I hope it goes well with the U and BYU. And all those pictures were so fun! It's so good to see you, at least through picture! :) I'm so glad the trip went well and the kids at least kind of enjoyed themselves! As far as ecclesiastical endorsement goes, I'll talk to my mission president to make sure. Thank you for setting that up with Brian and Margaret! That's such a huge help!

My new companion is great! His name is Elder Tiatia; he's half Samoan, fresh from Manti Utah! :) He did live in Hawaii till he was 3 though, so that counts! He's very different from Elder Lopiano, so I've been adjusting :) He has such a good heart and I'm trying to help him be more confident in himself. But dang, I've been so impatient recently - I'm really annoying myself! So I'm working on that. Also, for some reason, my testimony has been kinda shaky lately, which really frustrates me! I want my testimony to be "unshaken" but people just keep shaking it! So that's been annoying. I've had a couple of really good studies and prayers recently, though, that have helped a lot. Training has always kinda stressed me out, so that's been a little hard this week too, but overall I'm doing pretty good! I like to think of it as spiritual growing pains :) It was weird sending Elders Griffin and Lopiano home, but I've seen lots of missionaries go home so it wasn't too overwhelming!

Quick story, then I have to go! We have this investigator named Scottie. He's 12, SUPER sharp, and very energetic :) We taught him the other day and invited him to pray about the Book of Mormon and the church. He said, "Can I do it right now?" and we weren't about to say no, so he closed his eyes and prayed for about a minute. He looked up and said, "God just told me the Book of Mormon is true and the church I'm learning about is the right one." So matter-of-fact-ly! At church yesterday, we had testimony meeting. He asked if he could go up, so we said yes :) He got up and stood super close to the microphone, making it squeal. He just stood there for about a minute with his eyes closed, then, eyes still covered, gave the most incredible testimony about how much God loves us and how He sent His Son to die on the cross for us, etc. Ah it was so cool! :) He's hopefully getting baptized in February!

Well, I hope that was an ok update! I'm looking forward to this week! I'm also looking forward to your next email already :) Thank you SO much for all your prayers and all your help! I love you so much and hope you have a wonderful week! Stay safe! :)

Love,
Elder Connor Hopkin :)

Week 73

Hi Mom!!!!!!! :)

I'm so glad your trip is going so well! Sounds like you're having tons of fun! Send me some pictures/videos of Dad surfing if you can :) Hahaha I'm so glad you still got to take the sacrament - as apostate as it may be ;) Still, Catholic church is better than nothing, right? I'll definitely keep you in my prayers for your job!! Good luck with that! And with your Relief Society lesson - I doubt you need much help, but I'll still pray for you :)

Ah it's SO crazy it's 2017! I remember in 2015, thinking that going home in 2017 was so far away! And now, I have 5 transfers left! I really hope I can make them my best ones yet; I can feel the temptation of laziness creeping in, but I'm trying to fight it :) Elder Griffin goes home this Wednesday! Ah it's all insane! For the New Year, we actually stayed inside most of the day cause Elder Lopiano wasn't feeling well. So, pretty exciting! :)

As far as transfers go, it's a little bit of a twist from what I had been expecting. Elder Lopiano has decided to go home, so I'm going to stay here and train a new missionary! I've known I'm getting a new companion for about a week now, but I didn't find out I'd be training until last night. I'm excited for the opportunity; but I haven't done this for a while, so I'm a little nervous! I'm going to miss Elder Lopiano a lot; he's taught me a ton, and has been a huge help in this area; but we're going to keep in touch, and he has some good plans for when he gets home!

This week, I had a lot of opportunities to give people blessings, and I had the chance yesterday to take the sacrament to a man in the hospital. I've noticed that each time I see the priesthood at work, or participate in it, the Spirit always testifies to me of the truth. There have been times when my testimony was a little weaker, but after hearing someone receive the Holy Ghost, or participating in a blessing, my testimony is strengthened. Also, I wanted to share about our lesson we had with our investigator last night! First of all, we were teaching her the Plan of Salvation; I explained the Celestial Kingdom, and she said "Oh! How do I get there?" Solid, right? :) Then at the end, she prayed in front of us for the first time - and prayer for 5 minutes! One of the most sincere prayers I've heard! Afterwards, she told us that during the prayer, and still afterwards, she had an intense feeling in her chest, that felt so good and gave her feelings of relief. She said it felt so beautiful! We kept talking, and she expressed how much she has seen herself and her boyfriend change as we've been teaching them! It was one of those moments that we as missionaries come on our missions for! As we were biking home, I felt so much joy, and realized that's the happiness that the Prophet promises us for serving missions. Such a cool experience!! :)
Well, I should probably go :/ Thank you so much for those comments at the end of your email - that meant so much to me! You're the best Mom I could ever imagine :) Please continue to stay safe on your trip, and good luck with your lesson and your job search! I love you so much!!! :)

Love,
Elder Connor Hopkin :)