Etesen

Etesen means How are you?

Haha mom I got your ginormous letter it was so awesome! I'm so sorry about the football game. I know its a tuff one to play and even tougher to lose. It's one of my favorite games of the season and you have to play it when the team is at their worst.  I know that it will be a lesson and if they let it, the team will only grow stronger from it. I really love that team and everyone on it.

I got your package!!! It took 3 weeks but it was awesome! You cant get Swedish fish here. I ate the sour patch kids during church cause we had lessons all through lunch in the morning and church at 2. I felt like a little kid haha. I am so glad Sister Shulz told you about the brownies! I'm gonna make some more tonight to celebrate my month mark and I found some bar b q sauce! Whoo hoo! 

My companion was sick. had a cold and almost gave it to me but the oils saved me from a week of suffering! Thank you so much!!!! So much happened this week it is a lot of fun! It's hard to get investigators to church and that is the problem we are trying to fix right now. 

 There's a magic trick Pete was talking about where you pull off your finger. Now families believe I can really pull it off. cause I got it cut off as a child and the doctors fixed it! I'm not sure how haha but they believe the white man can do stuff like that cause we are so smart. It's really funny cause the rumors are spreading around the village! haha.

This is my Missionary Experience of the Month

   One day we came to our apartment around nine. As I went into the kitchen to start dinner I noticed something crazy. The were black soldier ants crawling out of the outlet above the stove! We checked the rest of the apartment to find they were coming out 3 more in the back rooms! We looked outside and there were 8 huge lines crawling up and down the wall on the back outside of our apartment! 

I read my patriarchal blessing a couple nights ago. Just the part of my mission cause I wasn't doing so well. I was focused on eating or just getting the day done so we could go home and sleep! So I went and read that short part of my blessing. It told me to do 2 things. Be diligent and obedient! Obedience was easy for me. But that day and since I have worked on being diligent and enduring! The days have been so much better and I love it!

I love you both so very much. I miss you and pray for you everyday.

Love your son

Elder Hodges

PS I need some help. An easy cake recipe and frosting. but there is no cream cheese here. Is there casava and plantaine in america\quincy? And next time you send a package send chocolate chips. It's expensive here. Chocolate is. Don't go crazy and send me this package right away. Just next time you do cause I don't want to get spoiled.