It's like an oven

Hey mom,

    yes, it`s really eighty degrees here. It`s like an oven. And the worst part is that it`s a dry heat - and it burns. Everytime that I step outside, a johnny cash song sounds in my head - I fell in to a burning ring of fire. It`s about the same. I hope that I get used to it quickly, or I´m going to die. 

      Congatulate the bride and groom for me please! They just had to wait to get married while I`m in Chile. What great timing they have. 

     I don`t have any other wants for the package. And I would like some money in my account so that I can buy some nice souvenirs and things for myself and for the whole family. Thanks for Everything mom. I love you.

Elder Hjelm

Six months to go

Hey mom,

     Conference was super awesome!!! My favorite was Oaks, hands down. Maybe it`s just his voice. It was a great conference all together. Pres. Monson made me cry when he talked about his wife - it was so sweet. You could tell that he really loved his wife.

     Hope you know, this conference marks the start of my six remaining months in Chile. I should be coming home the day after the april general conference. Crazy right? That`s how fast time flies.

     My companion is a freaking riot! His name is Elder Ferreira, and he is from concepcion, chile. He has about three months in the mission, and he arrived in La Rioja when I left, so we know the same people. He is super fun, and keeps me enthused to knock doors. 

     I`m freaking out about being 21 too!!! Where has all the time gone??? About the package... I need allergy meds, and a package of riesens. If you could send me a sounders jersey, that would be cool too. Really, It doesn`t have to be a big package - just something small. Sometimes I think that It would be easier to give me the money and I  could buy things here. But I like packages. Love you mom. I couldn`t do this without you.

Elder Hjelm

Life in Chile

Excited for General Conference

Hey mom,

    this past week was rough. We`ve had everything from vomiting in the street while on an exchange with the assistants to recent converts with huge relationship problems. It`s quite stressful. Sounds like you had a better week this week. Would you like me to release doves at your funeral? I`m glad to hear that the funeral went well. Tracy was a really nice person, and I`m sure that she is learning a lot.

     I too am excited for general conference. We get to see all of it, and it will be shown in our ward`s chapel - sweet!!! Can you transfer what I have in savings to my checking? I`m making a list of stuff that I want to buy. The majority are soccer jerseys, which range anywhere from 40$ to 80$. Yikes. But I`ll make it. Thanks for the love and support mom. I love you.

Elder Hjelm

The will of the Lord is first in everything

Hey Mom,

     Sorry to hear about your friend tracy. Yes, I remember her. She was always very nice to me. If there`s one thing that I have learned here in the mission, it is that the will of the lord is first in everything. If it`s your time to go, you go. That might sound kind of cold, but it`s true. It`s important to remember that tracy is probably being taught the gospel right now in the spirit world. It could be Grandpa warby that is teaching her. She probably found out that he is your grandpa, and started right up on the lessons. And now, you can start on the temple work for her. You can share the knowledge that you have with others 

     Thanks for writing. I am doing well. I survived the chilean holidays. I`m working hard and having fun. The postal strike is over, so you can send things. I`ll let you surprise me with the package - fun stuff, and maybe some candy. You know me well enough to know what I`d like. Oh, and if anyone wants to give me money or anything for birthday/christmas/ or because they want to be nice, it`s better to put it in my account, because it`s hard to exchange bills here because they have to be in near perfect condition. That reminds me, how much money do I have in my account? Thanks for everything mom. I love you.

Elder Hjelm

Big brother to little brother :)

Hey bud,

    I created a new message because the other one was getting really big. Anyway, I enjoyed the scriptures that you sent me. They were pretty cool. I hope that you are reading the scriptures everyday, and praying as well. I know that when I didn`t read or pray, my days were miserable, and I didn`t do too well in school. But as you read and pray, Heavenly Father will bless you in all things. If you don`t believe me, try it. But believe me, my brother, it works. Hope that you are having fun and learning lots.

Elder Hjelm

Senior Companion

Hey mom,

    Sounds like fun stuff in Washington. We had changes today. Elder Bush - with whom I got along surprisingly well - was sent to Santiago to be a zone leader. I`m still here in Los Andes, but I`m now a senior companion. My new companion is chilean, from concepción. He`s waiting to recieve his visa to go to Venezuela, and has about three months in the mission. I`ll try not to corrupt him. Anyway, things are going well. I`m working hard and having fun. Brooke wrote me this week - I gave her a hard time for not writing me before. And jonah didn`t write me this week. You`ll have pull his ear for me. Thanks Mom for all that you do. I love you, and miss you.

Elder Hjelm