Elder Nathanael Clark Hyde: New Area...Lots of Pictures = Happy Mom!

I don't have too much time this week but I did manage to send lots
of picutres, I hope you got them. :) So this week had a lot of ups and
downs. Ups because we have been working really hard and have people to
teach and have been blessed a lot. Downs because most the people right
now aren't keeping commitments and there hasn't been an investigator
at church from our area for quite a while now. So that is are main
focus this week to get people to church. We are committed to do what
it takes and I know we will be blessed as we do everything we can to
help people come to church. So I thought I might ask you all a
question. Why is going to church every week so important to you? And
what is it that keeps you going?

So this week we had some really special lessons. We taught this guy
named Robert, who we found last week, and he is awesome. He is going
through a lot of trials right now and he has always turned to drinking
and bad friends as his solution but he had a change a little bit ago
that has really prepared him for us to teach him. He has two teenagers
and really wants to change for them and he knows that it's through
God's help that he can do it. He also is struggling because he had to
amputate his leg last Fourth of July because of a shotgun wound in the
street. He has been stabbed multiple times, one resulting in losing a
lung. To add more his ex-wife is trying to put a restraining order on
him so he can't see the kids because she fears for their lives because
of his past life. He has a lot of pain but it has been an amazing
oportunity to teach him. We focused on two things with him that really
opened him up. First the atonement and how Christ has felt everything
he has gone through and wants to help him through it. You could see
the emotion in his eyes and the hope that came to him as we read Alma
7:11-12 with him. Second we testified of the resurrection and what
that means for us. Alma 40:23 made him so happy that he will receive a
perfected body someday and it was a really cool lesson.

We also taught this cool guy named Juan and taught him in a bug
infested basement. Huge dead cockroaches everywhere and little bugs
crawling on us. But we got past it and realized how humble and nice
this guy was who let us into him home. He told us right away when he
met us we had a glow of happiness and he could tell we were servants
of God. He told us he wants what we have and he really loved the
restoration. He told us humbly that he couldn't believe he had never
heard about the Book of Mormon and was one of the most excited people
I have seen that wants one to read it. We have a lot of hope for a lot
of our investigators we just need to help them act more and show their
faith. This area is a lot of fun and we get to meet all sorts of
people. It's a really good variety here. :) mom, you asked about the
guy in my profile picture. His name is nacho and he makes my day every
time I see him. He is a very high functioning autistic bundle of joy
in his mid 30's and surprises people every day. When he was a baby,
his parents were told that he would never be able to talk, walk, or do
really anything by himself. But now he talks all the time, is really
good at drawing, bathes and dresses himself, even cooks a little bit,
and loves giving nacho hugs and gives everyone a nickname. His
nickname for me is"Flash" haha He is one of the most active members in
his family and even holds the priesthood. He is a big inspiration to

me and I love him. He lives in my old area though so that was my

goodbye picture with him. I love you all so much have a wonderful
week!

Love,
Elder Hyde

Lopez Familia & Nacho...