Here's the Lowdown.

It all started when I lost our cell phone.

As a missionary, you make about 20 calls a day on average, and receive about the same amount. So you can imagine life gets pretty difficult when you lose the phone. We tried everything, ripping the car apart, destroying our trailer, even driving 30 miles back to the home where we could have left it. No luck.

Back to that story later.

Elder West is my new companion, and we are REALLY getting along! He is quite sarcastic, so of course, we work together perfectly!

I'm really at a point in my mission where I am enjoying everything as it comes. Talking to people who cross us on the street and enjoying getting to know them, finding satisfaction in the lessons we teach and the changes people are making, and so much more!
I feel like time is going to start flying by now that I am coasting through life again, though. So I'm trying to keep God in mind the best that I can!

Isn't it annoying how easy it is to forget to pray and thank God for the little things when life is so good? Then when something difficult or bad happens we realize, oops, "shoulda been praying more!". So I'm not going to let that happen!

We are having great progress with the new families we have been teaching. Philip and Kara are awesome and Phil is going to be baptized soon, we are going to set a goal with him tonight! Phil and Aurelia, another couple, are both coming to church every Sunday, and are also super close to baptism! Yolanda is going to be baptized July 12th, too! And tons more coming up!

Anyways, we went out this week and just talked to anyone we came across. I was able to enjoy every day of it. Walking in the 100+ degree weather, through sandy wind and dry desert, isn't so bad when you are having a lot of fun at the same time!

Dallin's birthday is TODAY! I can't believe my brother is 18!!? Where did the time go? Love you Dallin, happy birthday!!!

Also, I got back in touch with a ton of people this week! Thomas also sent me a big box of chocolates from Finland! So S/O to all of you peeps out there who put up with me enough to write me!

A senior Navajo woman, Joanie Barton, who we usually give the sacrament on Sundays, passed away this morning. Just yesterday we went by to find her daughter crying because she was told that her mother's body was shutting down. She pleaded with us to give sister Barton a blessing, and we did. She was such a sweet, happy lady. It was so nice to talk with her and see her smile, even when every word took a huge effort as she struggled to get oxygen from the tubes in her nose. God bless Joanie Barton.

Later in the week, we were searching for the phone, literally driving past places we may have let it fall out of the car! We stumbled across a small hogan in an area we'd been to before, and knocked on the door just for fun! The man inside, named Elkin, used to go to church, and he agreed to being baptized right there! He also said his wife and her brothers were all members (one of whom we were already working with), and they all said they wanted to take the lessons and come back to church. They agreed to feed us on Tuesday, if we make the frybread. Also, Elkin is a SUPER good silversmith and he wants to teach us how! SCORE! Maybe God used my stupidity and forgetfulness so that I could lose the phone and while we looked for it we could find these guys ;)

Anyways, after talking to them, we drove to the LAST place we could think of, where it could have, by TINY chance, fallen out of my pocket and out of the car door.

We drove up to the little dirt field where we had parked the day before, and Elder West jokingly said "there it is!" just like he had several times that day. I just rolled my eyes but then something caught my eye.

"Look!" I yelled! And it was actually there! Just sitting in the dirt!

Let's just say this was a great week.
God is real and He is awesome.

I love my friends, family, and brother Jesus Christ.

I hope you all have a great week.
Love, Elder Hilton

 

It's coming along!

Grand Falls is as beautiful and dry as always...

After 2 days of searching, we pulled up in this dirt field, and the phone was sitting RIGHT THERE. 

Here is our beautiful trailer!

I kind of forgot what living in a house is like....

Rose McCabe came to visit me from Fort Defiance! It was a big surprise to see her at church!

This is Kary Grant, he is a legend and he moved today.

He's only 12 years old, but he acts like an 18-year-old teenager.
Also his family was the only white family in our area, so we said goodbye to that color for now!

A ton of Finnish chocolate I got from Thomas today! 

What a Week!

Okay, let's just start from the beginning!

It all began on a hot, dusty day, when Elder Rosengren and I went to help round up some cattle. Our work consisted of following closely behind the huge animals, whipping them, and yelling so they would herd into a corner where we could lead them into a "squeeze shoot" where they were to be contained and given shots. We did pretty well. Every once in a while we had to jump to the side to avoid getting kicked. But overall, we had them all in the right area. My career as a cowboy was just beginning.
But then, it happened.

I was on the top rung of a cattle guard (to get a better angle for best whipping technique, obviously), when I climbed off, missed my step, and screwed up my ankle.

The rest of the week, I got to hobble around on a kids crutches.
So that was fun.

A few days later, we had our mission tour! Elder Carlson of the 70 came and spoke to us, and half the missionaries in our mission met in Chinle. It was SO good to go back through Chinle again! I didn't really realize how much I miss that area already!

I also got to see all the Elders from my old zone and district, it was SO nice! I even got to sit with Elder Pincock and talk with him about everyone from Fort Defiance!

Also, Kyle and Yolanda were married on Saturday! We helped all day with the preparation, setup, and wedding/reception. It was so great to see them finalize their family and have such a good day! We are working with Yolanda to get baptized now that she is married!

Finally, Elder Rosengren got a call, and he is getting transferred! I'll be having a new companion, Elder West, show up tomorrow. Can't wait to see what's in store!

Leupp is still there, it's as dusty and hot as ever. But I can't wait to get back to a full week of work with a new companion and see what happens.

Thinking a lot about friends this week. Ones from Fort Defiance and from back home. I miss you guys! God bless you all wherever you are!

I had a great week, and love you all.

Stay safe!

Until next time:

Elder Hilton

Rounding up the bulls

Dennis, Rosemary, and Primrose came to visit me from Fort Defiance!

Brother Harvey saw me laying in bed with my leg up and yelled, "Get up you lazy boy! There's laminates out there to teach!" So I hobbled up and took a picture with them :)

I had to hobble around on these like an idiot all week :)
Fun stuff.

Sister Riggs made us dinner outside!

She has become one of my favorites out in Leupp. She reminds me of mom! (In how they look and act)

This is about the average temperature in Leupp lately.

Joy.

Baby kitty

Miranda Sings selfie.

Kind of awkward because the general authority was right in front of us and watched us take this, and we only realized we were apostate afterwards when we remembered you're not supposed to take photos in the chapel.
THAT would explain Elder Carlson's critical expression

Elder Pincock and Hilton reunite

Beautiful Leupp, Arizona. Yep, it still looks the same

Kyle and Yolanda Chee married by President Redhair (left)

my district

This was my district this transfer. Enjoy this photo of their district selfie.

I got to see Elder Beus and Ellis (my MTC buddies) a while ago too!

---

Ya'at'eeh!

This week was a good one.

I don't have anything incredible to share, but I do know that prayer works and that God is ALWAYS aware of us.

I am so proud of my brother and everyone who graduated this year, you guys are all going to have a fantastic summer! Go swimming for me! I still have to wait another year and a half!

This week I got some letters!! Haven't gotten those for a while, so thank you to everyone who has written me, I've made it a goal to be better at keeping in touch with all of you.

This week I thought about graduation a few times, that was a FULL year ago! So much has changed since then! But I still love my family and friends the same, and I am so thankful to be surrounded by such amazing people. I am happy to be a missionary and to work out on the Navajo reservation in the middle of the hot, windy desert every day :)

Shoutout to my bro Dallin for being awesome, getting a 4.0, and graduating!

Shoutout to Ashley for going through the temple and leaving for her mission to LA soon!
Shoutout to Allison for getting ready for her mission too!

Shoutout to Haley for graduating!

Shoutout to my family for being my family. I love them more than anything.
Shoutout to my homewreckerz b/cuz, well that doesn't need an explanation.

Shoutout to EVERYONE!!!!

ILY and have an awesome week :)

Love, Elder Hilton

Went to Leupp graduation with a family in our branch, and imagined myself at the Taco Bell arena watching Dallin graduate.

This is the Crack of Doom.

In Leupp, a meteor hit years ago, and this fissure opened up, it goes miles underground.
The wonderful sights of the desert reservation

Me in the Crack

Contemplating Crack

Dilkon

Awesome sunset

Dilkon

Went to Dilkon for a day, it is nearby Leupp.
Nice place.
In Navajo, Dilkon means smooth, and they named it after the smooth hills and buttes in the area.
Smooth butte. haha. 

Leupp, the Middle of Nowhere Current Address

Hello everyone!

Write me letters...

CPO Box 5292

Leupp, AZ 86035

I am currently in the middle-of-nowhere, USA!

Just kidding, kind of.
I am in a small town called Leupp.

Leupp is very unique. There is a relaxing vibe here; everywhere you look, the small, distant mountains fade off into the atmosphere. The wind is strong, and the desert brush billows back and forth, making the small hills come alive. The whole area is flat, so you can see miles and miles in any direction. The looming San Francisco peaks touch the clouds and taunt us, because the mission ends before that area. And every day the sun sets behind those mountains. It is quit here. Peaceful. The NHA housing areas are much more plush and well-cared-for than the ones in Fort. Most of the people in the housing areas are more modernized. Not so cultural as the people in fort. But we do have many in the outlying areas of our mission who live in the boonies and even still heard sheep and weave rugs from their wool. They speak only Navajo most of the time. So far, I love it out here!

Still adjusting and learning, but I will figure it all out!

I love you all and hope you have a great week :)

-Elder Hilton

Bye Lexi!

Ill miss my awesome district

Goodbye cake from Hood family

Bye to Ella Curley

Bye Primrose and horse!

Bye to the Bennett girls! Nizhoni and Arelia are the cutest!

:)

Pincock let me know Aaron got the priesthood!

Bye Jumbo!

Bye to the Harvey family

Skye made us alien hats one last time to play with

I miss these 4 they are my favorite

Bye to the Curleys!

Bye Vange!

Goodbye Fort Defiance Selfie

If you were to appear in a random place in Leupp and look around, this is what you would most likely see.

typical Leupp scenery

Hogans and Horses

Grand Falls

Grand Falls.
Supposed to be as big as Niagara falls, it is on the national charts.
But...it's dried up

cows blocking our road. this is pretty common

More Leupp scenery

red lake (morel like puddle)