Johnny's First Area....Cortez, Colorado

The southwestern Colorado town of Cortez, an archaeological center of America, lies between the entrance to world-famous Mesa Verde National Park and the fascinating Ute Mountain Tribal Park. Whether you come to visit either or both of these sites, by the time you leave you'll be steeped in the history of the Ancestral Pueblo people. The population is 8,252 and the elevation is 6,200 feet.


Cortez is at the center of an ancient Indian civilization, and evidence of the number of early dwellers can be seen everywhere; whether at Mesa Verde National Park, the Anasazi Heritage Center, the Canyons of the Ancients, or Crow Canyon Archeological Center, where you can actually help with an excavation.


Hey everyone! I've finally arrived at the New Mexico, Albuquerque Mission. But you know what's funny? I'm actually serving in Colorado. I'm in a little town called Cortez. It's about the size of Weiser. It took us five and a half hours to drive here from Albuquerque. My companion/trainer's name is Elder Fillmore. He has been great so far. He is very enthusiastic about the work we are doing and that enthusiasm is rubbing off on me. President and Sister Anderson were wonderful. We got to meet them yesterday and we spent the night in Albuquerque. New Mexico is a very interesting place. There is a lot of cultural diversity and it is very different but I can tell that I'm going to love it. Keep writing because I love receiving your notes of encouragement. And please pray for me. I will keep praying for you. I love you all so so much.

I just arrived here in Cortez about 45 minutes ago so i don't know much about it but I do know that at 8 o'clock we have a teaching appointment which should be awesome. Apparently the man we are teaching tonight only speaks Spanish so we'll have to have a translator. I am so happy to be here and I can tell that this is going to be an incredible experience. I'm going to totally immerse myself in the work. I want you to all know that I love this gospel so much and know that Heavenly Father loves us and wants what is best for us and he has a hand in every good thing that ever happens to us. I will write you again next Monday because that is when we have our P-day and I will provide you with more details. I love you all very much. The Church is true.

Your loving son/brother,
Elder Hullinger