Pictures: Warming Up To Mexico

Seth with his first companion, Elder Barton, in Cancun Mexico.

                          

Elder Hoyt's bed for his mission!

Week 2: Immersed In The Culture & The Work

Hola fam bam!! Wow.... week 2 in Mexico. That is just crazy! Im going to write as much as I can and then send all of the pictures for you all. Know that I am doing so well, loving my mission, missing home of course as everyone does, but seriously loving it here in Mexico. Sometimes I still cant believe im not in the US haha. But then I look around and I know im not lol. But I love it and feel the Spirit daily working with me and I feel the hand of our Lord and Savior helping to mold me into the missionary that he wants me to be.

First off, YES! So Dear Elders work really well here. They take like a week or two only to get them. We get mail in packets from the mission office every Monday night at District Meeting so I will see tonight if yours all got here. If not they will be here next week Im sure. But yes! Letters take like up to t3 weeks, but Dear Elders get to me in like 1 or 2. So tell everyone to send those out. So everyone who gets this email and still wants to write me haha. Dear Elders would be good, and im pretty sure theyre free? haha. Also, Cass I need your new BYU address to write you. I wrote Hayley and Taryn and I need to write Cass lol. Also Ashley C. thatd be awesome! So maybe send a Dear Elder my way.

Well, this has been my 2nd week in Cancun Mexico. It has been great! Not as hot as the first week because there has been rain almost every day but like on and off and some wind. My Spanish is going well.... most of the time haha. I still get a little frusturated when they talk to fast or in a different accent that I cant get lol. But I know that I iwll get it. All the members and investigators help me learn, and Elder Barton is awesome in helping me learn as well. So I am working at that and being immersed in it is teaching me a lot. I gave almost the whole Restoration lesson the other day as we practiced with some members! And im feeling comfortable to open my mouth in lessons and testify and give some points of the lesson (with some mistakes of course lol) but hey! Mistakes are all part of the experience lol.

The food here is so good! I have already had some amazing mexican food, as well as hamburgers and pizza =) who knew?? lol. We have Dominos like once a week. I loved that email from the Elder that got home from here Mom, cuz yea we dont use the bug spray or the mosquito net lol.

So we have 2 baptisms tomorrow!! ONe is Alysia and she is 19. Elder Barton started teaching her and then I came in and we helped her really get the desire to pray and feel the Spirit. Last night we watched the Joseph Smith movie with her at a members house named Thalia who is one of her friends and their whole family (who are awesome). And Alysia cried during the movie and said that she knew Joseph Smith was a true prophet. The Spirit testified to me once again that Joseph Smith really is a true prophet and restored the church of Jesus Christ to the Earth. Our other baptism is Oscar, who is 29 and is married to a member and has 3 little kids. He and his wife had some problems this week that we helped them work through. Like in short she tried like hitting him and stuff cuz she thought he was cheating and yea....the Lord had us in the right situation at the right time and we and the Bishop were really able to help them. It never ceases to amaze me with how much the Lord trusts his missionaries with. After this, I was just like wow.... what else can the Lord have us take? haha. But I always remember what it says in the scriptures how we will never be given more than we can handle. So Alysia both didnt come to church yesterday and Alysia and he missed their interviews!!! we were freaking out haha. Theyve already gone their 3 times to church, so we rescheduled the interviews to tonight so thats good. Its all looking good! I might get a chance to baptize one of them =)

So our area is Palma I. in Cancun. We live about 30 minutes from the resorts and hotels on the beach lol. We have some middle class areas and some super poor areas. Every floor is tile, and everything is pretty dirty. THe bugs havent been too bad lol. THe other day I was in the bathrooom downstairs cuz Elder Barton was in the upstairs and a cockroach crawled out from the toilet paper when I went to use it hahaha. I yelled so loud! lol. But our house is great, we are still deep cleaning lol. But one of my favorite times of the day besides when we go out has become personal study. I am almost done with the BOM after starting it again on June 3rd! So thats awesome. And i have been reading the last General COnference and cant wait for the upcoming one =)

What else.... its hot. I shower night and morning to just get the dried sweat off lol. But my face is doing surprisngly well. We walk and ride buses and taxis everywhere so thats fun lol. The members are great and super nice and tomorrow night we have a talent show in the ward and the elders are going to sing. There are 2 other Elders in our ward with us, so thats super nice that were only covering 2 wards.

I loved hearing about how you are all doing!! Im going to stop this email and send all the pics and talk about the pics =) Cant wait to hear from you all soon and I love you all so much and pray for each of you by name each night =) I hope everything is good!!! Love you =)
Seth =) Elder Hoyt!

Week 1: The First Letter From Mexico & A Whole Lot Of New

Hola fam bam! Wow..... so much has happened haha. This is crazy. I have so much to write and 40 minutes lol. So many pictures to send as well. So here we go =) Well, I am here in Mexico, Merida mission =) My first area is Cancun!!! hahaha. Can you believe that lol. Except Ill never see the beach here lol. Im in the inner city haha. So Ill just start with how I got here. Well, after I got off the phone with the fam bam in California I tried Austin but he was at practice. left a voicemail and got onto the plane to MExico City =) filled out customs and everything and then got into Mexico City. We got off the plane into todo espanol!! AHHHHH! haha. Needless to say it was a little overwhelming. Then, after we filled out customs I had no idea where to go. I had a connecting flight and I neeeded to find the other elders going to Mexico. The other elders had to go, so I said bye to them and was on my own. WOW! I prayed the whole time hahahhaa. So... this guy came over and showed me in broken english and my broken spanish where to put my bag. Got that dropped off. And then was LOST! Had no idea where to go. I prayed and randomly found some elders, who were assistants in Mexico City. They said I had to go to the next terminal over on a bus. So they told me what to say and showed me where the bus was. Got on the bus, and he told me they didnt take cash. (I had my pesos but you needed a bus card) hahaha. All in Spanish lol. So I got off, then didnt know what to do, so prayed AGAIN! Ahhhhhh! Prayer works Im telling you cuz at that moment some random guy paid for me with his card and got me on the bus. So, talking with him he wasnt a member and he just felt bad for me cuz I looked so confused I guess lol. too funny. Got to the other terminal and was on my own again. SO i found where you get tickets and got my reserved ticket to Merida. THen I was walking out of that too the gate when I saw some elders. I was prompted to go talk to them.... and it was the other elders going to Merida!!!! And actually I had a friend in the group from BYU =) so we all got some food together real fast and went to the gates and made it right onto our plane like 5 minutes before it left. So I had no time to call and Im sooooo sorry but I got on safe =) haha. YAY! I testify that prayer really does work. So after that we left for Merida. Landed in Merida and met the assistants and the amazing President Salinas =) I love him so much!!! He is just the best. We went from there to the mission home. Merida is awesome. It is colonial and modern mixed together, so hot, and soooooo chaotic lol. There are no road laws here in Mexico and people take advantage of that lol. Even the president hahahaha. Then to the mission home and met Sister Salinas who is very nice and caring and a very strong woman. After we went to the mission office and had a light dinner and then got our hamacas (hammocks) haha. Then went to bed. That first night was good.... a little long cuz it took some getting used to the hammocks but I was exhausted. That next morning we all woke up and went to the mission home for some breakfast whihc was soooo good!! Then to the stake center right by the Merida temple whihc is right in the center of Merida =) we had training, and interviews there with the missiion president which went amazing. After that we had pizza.... YES! They have dominos here in Mexico =) needless to say I was ecstatic hahaha. Then found out our companions and areas. SO...... my trainer and companion for the next 12 weeks is Elder Brant Barton =) he has two months left and I will be his last companion. He is 6{4 and we just tower over everyone! Everyone laughed when the President put us together lol. After that we were assigned to Cancun =) haha. Then we went on a 4 hour bus ride to Cancun and got in about 10:30 and went directly to bed! We woke up the next morning and got right to work. OUr house is good, dirty but we are in the process of deep cleaning haha. It is 2 floors and we sleep on the bottom cuz its cooler and study down there. I love my hammock! Ive been sleeping so well.... maybe cuz its just Im so exhausted lol. That day we did some stuff to get me used to the area and got some groceries and did some laundry and had lunch with the Bishops family. Well, all I can say is that I love it here! I really do. It is so hot and humid. Whenever you are in the sun you sweat. Its a rule that you have a small towel on you at all times to wipe the sweat off. The food has been great! The weirdest things Ive had so far have been the Mexican agua. LIke tamarindo and melon and limon and orchatta. But I liked them all except natural tamarindo. That was hard to get down haha. This water is like fruit and stuff put in water so its tastes like it. Its interesting lol. I drink soooooo much water cuz I am not going to get dehydrated! Its hilarious here, the girls in the wards love the American elders. Thye have crushes on them, so we just have to ignore it. The missionaries call them musas hahahaha. Means muse lol. Our investigators are great! We have like 5 on the verge of baptism that we have been working with. Language is the biggest barrier. I am trying so hard, and some days and people are better and easier to understand than others. When I get frusturated though, like I just did at lunch before this, I just focus and focus and listen with spiritual ears, and that helps. I feel comforted and remember that it will come if I put the work in and then I just work harder at getting to know the language. So Elder Barton is from utah and speaks English whihc is good, but we work on Spanish all the time. I am getting better about speaking up in lessons and trying so hard t5o get better at that. The work is great... hard... but I love reading the scriptues and listening to my EFY music and working at learning Spanish and studying for my investigators. Elder >Barton and I get along great and have fun. He thinks Ill be training at the end of my training haha. Oh wow!!! But the people say my spanish is good for my first week! So thats good haha. But yea... I think thats about it. There is shopping centers like Wal Mart where we shop and we always have a huge lunch with members or investigators. Yesterday was stake conference which was so cool! The spirit was so strong and testified to me that the church truly is the same everywhere and President Salinas came and spoke and he was amazing =) Well, I am going to send some pictures and stuff... but first about mail for like Hayley and Cass and Taryn =) hey btw! Shout out to Hayley and Cass and Taryn and Ashley =) Hope youre all well! Love you all =) but mail takes about 3 weeks to get here from the States and 3 weeks for me to send. We send and receive once a week on Monday nights at District meeting. My address for the mission office where you should send al the mail is Elder Seth Russell Hoyt III Mexico Merida Mission Calle 45 (number sign) 527 Q y Calle 70 Col. Centro 97000 Merida, Yucatan Mexico Perfect! And mom, please add these emails to the list. These are some of the families from Boise that wanted to add me =) jetrtream0606at cableone.net and twoodwickat yahoo.com and nblsjn at gmail.com haha. the at is the at sign cuz i cant find it lol. Ok.... I think that is it =) I love you all so much!! I loved all the updates this week. Austin sounds like hes doing amazing and so do Madi and Spencer and Parker. I have everyones pictures up on my desk =) and ahhhhhhh!!! Loved the fall pictures =) they look so old!! Madi is HOT! and Spencer has got to be beating the girls off with a large stick hahaha. And parker is just as cute as ever. And ahhhhh!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY PARKER IN 2 DAYS!!!! I love you and cant call you cute anymore cuz you are a big handsome boy lol. 11 years old. WOW!  And I pray for the house and you Mom and Dad daily =) I love you all sooooo much and cant wait to hear from you!!!!! LOVE YOU!!!!! Ill talk to you next week =) Every time IU look at our pictures on my desk I feel the Spirit testify that we will all be together forever and that I am helping others families have that same knowledge =) how great is my calling! Love you all =) With all my love, Elder Hoyt =) Sethie poo haha. Click here to Reply, Reply to all, or Forward 8% full Using 0.9 GB of your 10 GB ©2012 Google - Terms & Privacy Last account activity: 25 minutes ago Details

People

One of Elder Hoyts Letters From Idaho

Hola mi familia! :)

Well, first week down in the mission field in my temporary assignment of Boise, Idaho. I am serving in the Central Boise Stake and cover quite a large area. Its about a half hour bike ride to either side of it, but we are enjoying it even in this heat. I'll kind of answer some of your email and then tell you all about my past week.

Sounds like Fair went so well! I'm so proud of you both Madi and Parker for showing :) sorry Madi yours didn't make weight, but glad you can sell that on the side. And awesome Parker.... 6 dollars a pound is great!! That will be nice to have some Madi between the 2 of you. And wow.... our last year of Fair. How many years later?? haha. Thats awesome.

Glad Mom that Fair and your Girls Camp Slide Show is out of the way!! Thats a lot of stress taken off haha. Hopefully now you can actually enjoy your summer.

I'm so glad Hayley has been having fun there with the Goddes and Taryn and Cassidy and Ashley and alex! Thats hilarious to me that shes been driving my car. I laught hahaha. Since I always drove hers at BYU. I hope they all had so much fun at Fair :)

Exciting that Parker is starting football tonight, and I'm sure Spencer had a blast at Fair with all of his friends. Oh and I hope Madi had fun on Friday with Sean ;) haha. I thought about that a couple times on Friday and hoped that it was good to see him lol. But remember.... DONT DATE TILL 16!! ;) hahahaha. I know you wont. Cuz Austin and I and Spencer are pretty intimidating ;) haha.

Just a couple things first, so here in the mission field when I receive letters that are first sent to the mission home, thats the address we give out. And then mail everything first class or priority (whatever that exactly means) and then they can forward them to my apartment. I'd love to get some stuff!! haha. The address again is 1111 South Cole Road, Boise Idaho Mission Office, Boise ID 83709. Also, when I receive letters, all the elders just at night we usually have about 15 minutes after companion planning, and study and prayer, and journal writing (which I've been doing nightly) to write letters. So when I get them I can work at having them out. Obviously, I can't promise cuz thats not my focus, but P-Days are usually so busy that there isnt time to write letters hahahaha. Just thought I'd let everyone know.

Well well well... where do I start. We have been working hard here!!! So hard, and its only going to grow. First thing.... ITS HOT! Not as hot as Mexico but hot. 100's and high 90's. Thats pretty hot on a bike haha. I am on a bike. We are borrowing one from a member so thats been good. Its older and heavy, but works. Needless to say my legs are tired lol.

So, I'll kinda do an update on who Im teaching and stuff. So we cover 3 wards, C

A Mama's Update: Waiting, Visas, Idaho & Finally; Mexico!

Elder Hoyt left the MTC on July 23. His visa had not come in time so he was sent up to Boise Idaho. He was a very willing participant up there and loved it. He met some great families and  enjoyed his companions. He met the Hoffman family and was able to be a part of several baptisms. We wondered why he was sent to Boise but had faith that he was in the right place. He now knows he was sent up there to come in contact with the people that he met. They helped train him in how to be a missionary.  On August 13, 2012 he received word that his visa was approved. He was set to leave for Mexico on Sept 3, 2012. He was so excited to finally get the chance to go to Mexico but worked hard until the very end in Boise. He had to have an ingrown toenail taken out the week before he left Boise and we are hoping it does not get infected. He had some problems with his debit card also that week so it was a very busy week with alot for him to do! We got to talk to him from the Arizona airport and were hoping to talk to him when he got to the Mexico airport but have not heard word again. We assume he is safe and  sound there in Mexico and look forward to his emial this next week.

Pictures: Seth's First Four Months Of His Mission. The MTC & Boise Idaho