Email from Feb 24

I can't even remember much of this week. hmm...

Really, I've seen 1 Nefi 4:6 take affect in my life the other day. Yesterday, we had to go to the capital..again. A two hour trip of 3 different buses. I've only been to this part of the capital one time before--blindly following someone else, not paying much attention. When we got of the first bus, I kind of remembered, but I wasn't nearly 100% sure. Getting of the second bus, I was about 40% sure of what I was doing. Getting off the third, 0% sure. In this moment, we were lost, in the middle of the city. oops. So, I said a little prayer. I had the address and began to ask the 'locals' thinking they could help me. Each one said something different. Fantastic. Then, when I thought I was officially lost, my saving angels came. Another missionary called out my name. Just in the moment when I needed him most. Then we went without problems. If we would have gottent to this spot 5 minutes earlier or 5 minutes later, he wouldn't have seen us. God loves me and is aware of my situation.

Returning home was another great ordeal. It's a little easier. A three bus trip as well, just the other way. So, on the second bus, I started talking to a guy that's about 18 or so. He lives in the neighboring city. So, he said that we should take the same bus to head back out the coast. That sounded good to me. So we got on a bus that I had never taken before, but it said Palin and Escuintla so I was 100% it would take me to Escuintla (where I live). And, that's what it did. The thing is, it dropped us off in a part of Escuintla that I didn't know. Completely new. I felt lost. Do I turn left? Right? Turn around? Again, I said a little prayer and turned right. then walked and walked. Felt like I should turn left at a street, and turned left. We walked and walked. Then I felt to take a right. And we walked and walked. Somehow, but being guided by the Spirit, we were led to the buses to take to take us to our neighborhood. What a miracle. 1 Nefi 4:6!

It's a great blessing to live worthy of the Spirit to literally guide me to where I need to be or want to be. This grew my testimony that God answers prayers. He is aware of my situation. When I feel alone or hopeless, He sends the Comforter to help.

We have a family that we're teaching. It's a couple with two little kids-under the age of 8. The missionaries had taught them before-about a year ago. But, the last missionaries that went just talked about marriage and just about forcing them to get married. So, that scared them away. There names are Wilber and Elbia. My focus this time was to get them to church and to get them a testimony before teaching the Law of Chastity. Also, we found out in our first visit, that Wilber drinks alcohol. We started teaching them about a month ago. They've only attended church once because they are really economically tight and can't afford the bus fare. Last week, they told us that they know that Joseph Smith is a profet and that the Book of Mormón is true. Even after all this, I was scared to teach the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Chastity. But, the Spirit told me I had to. I tried to fight it. I even said no. Then He told me again. So, we went and taught. Wilber hasn't taken a sip of alcohol since the first time that we visited them. WHAT?! And, they want to get married. WHAT?! The complication: WIlber doesn't exist. They've been trying to get themselves married. But, WIlber doesn't have any papers in the records of the country. He doesn't even have a birth certificate. So, that makes it a little harder! But, March is a month of miracles.

In the States, they're talking about March Madness. I'm talking about Miracle Madness! The goal for the mission is to baptize 400 people this month. We don't doubt. We'll do it. DyC 82:10. and, a few words from Presidente Brough (mission president): Ponemos nuestro hombro a la lid.  Es tiempo mostrar nuestra fe.  “…muéstrame tu fe sin tus obras, y yo te mostraré mi fe por mis obras.”  Estamos donde debemos estar.  Estamos haciendo lo que debemos hacer.

I love the mission. I love the people I serve. I know that God hears and ANSWERS prayers. The Lord called me to this great and marvellous work. RIght now, I answer Him. 'Habla, que tu siervo escucha.' (1 Samuel 3:10). The Lord wondered '¿a quién enviaré, y quién irá por nosotros' to Guatemala on the 15th of May 2013. I answered, 'Heme aquí, envíame a mí.' (2 Nefi 15:8).

Sure, I've gone months without a hot shower, but I love it. I'm a servant of the Lord, an instrument in His hands.

--Elder Hunt

Email from Feb 17

This week, we received cell phones! I told y'all early that I had a phone, but when I changed áreas, I didn't take it with me. Because only that zone had fones. Now, all the missionaries in Guatemala Central Mission have fones! The only misión in all of Central America that has them!! It's super crazy to be walking around with a fone in my pocket. I hope that I can get used to it and use it well.

This weekend, I got sick. Apparently, I ate something super bad on Sunday. But, I worked normally and felt normal. When I went to bed, I went to bed normal. But that didn't last long. I woke up at 12:30, 1:30,2:15, 4, and 5 to run to the bathroom and throw up. At 12:30, it wasn't that bad because everything just left like normal. 1:30 was a Little rough because there wasn't much leftover. The rest of the times, I would just go and dry heave and dry heave some more. Throughout the day too. Luckily, it was P-Day so I was able to try to sleep and get some rest to get my body to recover. The whole time, I was just sweating buckets-even with a fan blowing directly on me. I was super weak because I had no food in my body. I called the misión nurse to see what I could do. Nothing was helping me. not 7 up or gatorade or pure wáter would stay in my stomach. She send me on a wild goose hunt to find a medicine, but there are no farmacies in my área so we didn't find it. Luckily, like all missionaries have, I have a mom in this Ward. Here, I actually have two. I went to one and told her my story. She knew the cure. She bought my a mineral wáter and alka seltzer. It was the worst combination. Mineral Water is like carbonated wáter but with an awful taste and then added the alka seltzer .I have no idea how, but it cured me! I still don't have desires to eat. But, I'm not throwing up, or sweating, or with a fever, and have regained my strength. The misión nurse told me to call Hermana Brough (wife of the misión president) to ask permission to stay in and rest. But that's what Satan would want. Instead, we left and went to work- this is the Lord's time, not mine. If I can walk, I can work. So we did. This is the most sick I've been on my misión and the most sick I can ever remember being. Monday was absolutely horrible.

Through all of this, I learned something exciting. In my apartment, there are spiders the size of my hand! They don't come out during the day, just at the hours of 2 or 3 in the morning. EW!

Interviews with President Brough were fantastic! We had a Little bit of a chat over a couple things. Then I was able to ask him what I have been wondering for a while. Where did Alma the Younger get his authority to baptize? He gave me the answer the Bruce R. McConkie gave. Elder McConkie said that Alma, most likely, was an inactive member. So, he had already received the priesthood. But, he fell away, became inactive, and was unable to use the power of the priesthood. With the help of Abinadi, Alma went through the repentance process. Afterwards, he was able to use the priesthood and baptize. Nothing is certain, but if that's what Elder McConkie says, that's what I say too!!

I love y'all. Now, I'm healthy.

This is the Lord's work. I can't believe that I've been out here 9 months and Ben for a year. Time just flies by, I can't even handle it. I've changed in so many ways. You guys should make the post life easier for me and learn Spanish so we can just speak Spanish. I can't even talk English. In District Meeting, I had to pray in English. I was thinking in Spanish and translating to English to say it. The exact opposite of how I started. I couldn't think of some words in English, so I just said them in Spanish. Oops. I've got 15 months to forgot English all together. I can do it!

--Elder Hunt

Email from Feb 10

This week has been fantastic! Why? Because we baptized a family! All that I can remember about this week were the events that happened to make this baptism come about. On Friday, we had a meeting in the Capital that me and my companion had to go to since he's new. We got back and ready to work at like3:30. At 5:30, we had to be at the Stake Center to have the baptism interviews for Jorge and Maria Melgar. So, we had like one our to work in the afternoon. I was at the Stake Center from 5:30 until 8. The District Leader showed up late and the interviews were long. But it all turned out ok! So we got a ride back to our área and we were ready to work at 8. But I had to make sure that we would have members attend the baptism on Saturday. So we went to the Bishop's house to talk about giving me keys to enter the Stake Center and to make sure he would attend. Then we had to run from his house to the Ward Mission Leader's house to get a remote to open up the big gate to let cars park. Next thing you know, it was 8:55 and we only had 1 lesson the whole day! But, we had to hurry on back to the house and got there at like 9:10. A day of 1 lesson, how incredible strange.

Then Saturday rolled around. Me and my companion had to go to the Stake Center to fill up the baptismal Font in the morning because there isn't sufficient wáter in the afternoon. I tried to clean the Font a Little bit before filing it up, but it didn't work out too well. When the Font was full, after about an hour of waiting. We saw what we tried to prevent. The wáter was filthy. There were a ton of dead bugs just floating on top. So literally, a millón thoughts ran through my head as I was wondering what to do. So, I grabbed a cup. Took of my shoes and socks. Rolled up my pants. and went in. Bug by bug I cleaned  that wáter. I almost fell. I had to reach in to the middle of the Font to get the bugs that thought they could escape me. So, I went for it. It was an interesting series of events but I left the wáter clean and ready for the baptism!

Saturday, we had the baptism. It was fantastic. Seeing my son, Elder Diaz, dressed in White, ready to baptize filled me with joy. I had to baptize the dad because he's a big guy. It was probably one of the hardest baptisms I've done. He probably weighs more than me and didn't help me at all on the way up. But it was a great experience and we didn't have to repeat. Baptisms are always fun!!!

It's almost Valentine's Day. That is crazy! Next week, Ben will complete 1 year! That means that I'm almost there too. I can't even understand what's happening with time. It doesn't even exist.

DyC 58:26-29 is pretty much the theme of my training with Elder Diaz. I'm trying to get him some confidence and to help him make his own decisions. The other day, we were waiting for a bus. Conveniently enough, there was a Little bench so we were able to wait comfortably. When there wasn't even a bus in sight, I stood up just to stretch my legs a Little. Elder Diaz stood up too. When I realized that, I sat down. Then he sat down. Then I stood up. And he did too. Then I sat, and he sat. I repeated about 5 times IN A ROW and every time he did exactly as I did. And there wasn't even a bus in sight!! At night, he's ready for bed at about 10:20. He sits on the edge of his bed and just waits for me to walk into the room. When I kneel down to pray at about 10:27, he kneels down too. Not a moment before. Then I'm kneeling there praying and he is too. But once I end and climb into bed, he does too. Coincidence? i think not. He is literally my shadow. It makes me a Little uncomfortable. So, DyC 58:26-29 is what is up right now.

Life is just grand. Friday, we have interviews with President Brough. Tomorrow, we have divisions with the Zone Leaders. This week, we'll see miracles. I love it!

The Church is true. Help the missionaries. Give them food. Give them Candy. Give them a new, comfy pillow or a bottle of Head and Shoulders.

--Elder Hunt

Baptized the Melgar Family!

Email from Feb 2

This Sunday, I totally forgot it was Super Bowl Sunday. In church, a member reminded me. When he told me it was the Broncos and Seahawks I was surprised. What happened to the big name teams??

Yesterday, for P-Day, we went to Antigua again! The only fotos I took were when we went to McDonald's. It's literally the prettiest McDonald's that I have ever seen. It was huge and had a huge garden. In this place, people book their weddings and really, I understand why. So with a few other missionaries, we took some fotos with Ronald McDonald. I ate my first Whopper that day. I'd say I'm a fan. But in Antigua, I bought a few things. I'm going to send them to the States with a member that's about to move there. I'm going to ask them to send it to you, mom. There is something for Ben, Aubrey, my future Nephew, and Grandma too. I felt like I'd share a little bit of Guatemala with other people. I'm not sure when you'd get the stuff, but one day. I enjoy Antigua, it's a nice place to go and hand out. Also, to barter with the people selling things until the moment that you have them begging you to buy something that you don't even want. like a fake jade necklace. They start at 60 Qetzales and end offering 3 for 10. Fantastic, but no thanks.

Got attacked by a cat this week! A cat was super calm, not doing anything. I walked past it like 3 times and even petted it. Then one time when I walked by, it went total hulk-mode! Made a super loud hiss and pounced for my calf. With it's claws ready and fangs out, he grabbed on. And wouldn't let go!! There will be a picture of the marks it left behind. So, until this point, I've been bitten by a dog and full out attacked by a cat. What's next?!

Not too much interesting stuff has happened this past week. Or if so, I can't remember.

The Book of Mormon is great. Today, read through Alma 17. I love Alma, Amulek, and the Sons of Mosiah. They teach great doctrine is such a great way.

Count Your Many Blessings. Live in a manner of Thanksgiving (food wise and in recognizing all the blessings of the Lord.)

I love y'all. I pray for y'all often.

--Elder Hunt

Pictures of cat attack and McDonalds:

Email from Jan 27

This week has been quite interesting. As a newly called trainer, I feel lost, not even going to lie. At times, I have no idea what's even going on here. But, I have to always pretend that I'm calm, cool, and collected so that my companion doesn't realize that I'm lost. It's great. Frequently, all of our appointments fall and I have no idea what to do. From nowhere (from heaven of course), a thought comes to me to search for a certain person or contact a certain street and we find new lessons. It's quite interesting how the Lord is aware of our situation. I don't want to let down President Brough or train Elder Diaz poorly so there's not time to be confused or a little lost.

We had a super cool experience. There is a member family and a member just died. He was about 25. THis, of course, brought a lot of sadness to the family. We've been trying to visit them, but they're never there. Thursday night, the Lord prompted me to go to their house-seeing as how they weren't really in our plans. So, we went. A little out of the way, but we went. When we knocked on the door, a sister answered. She chatted with us for a bit. Then her husband saw that it was us and just lit up with joy. He frantically invited us in and had us sit down. When we were all seated, we sang a hymn and said a prayer. Then the visit got intense. The husband went silent and a couple tears started to leave. He had been wondering what is happening to his brother right now and what's going to happen. His brother, a member, kind of fell away from the church and wasn't doing the best things. He, the husband, felt depressed and a little hopeless. Last night, he read Alma 41-43. After, he prayed and prayed just asking the Lord for comfort and to understand what he read. We taught him what happens after death. After our lesson, he told us that had once again given him hope and comfort. Thanks to our visit, he had hope that everything would be ok with his brother that had died. He said, 'God sent y'all here to me. I know it'. What a great experience! God literally answers our prayers. In these past 5 weeks, I've had so many experiences to God answering my prayers that I can't deny it in the slightest.

Once again, I'm back in an area with church at two. Talk about rough! It's like having another rest day. We study until 10, work until 12, eat lunch, take a bus to church, leave church at 5, then work 6-9. It's good but bad at the same time. Sundays are usually a good time to find new families and teach quite a few people. For us, It's pretty much turned into another P-Day. I used to love church at 2 back home because I could sleep all day, but now I just want to preach all day--¡¿What has happened to me?!

I feel like I don't eat. I don't have ideas of what to buy from the store or what to eat. I need help of simple meal ideas. Something as simple as a tortilla with refried beans and nacho cheese sauce wrapped up like a burrito and stuck in the microwave until it's hot. I need ideas. When I go to the store, all I buy is tortillas, beans, cereal, and milk. I want more but I just don't know what. Remind me of the simple things we would eat back home? Or what do y'all do to eat something quick, cheap, and more or less filling. If I keep eating like I do now, which isn't much, I'm definitely going to lose a few pounds...and that is not my goal.

I love y'all and I am thankful for the examples I have had growing up in my life. I'm thankful for the gospel. I pray for y'all daily and I feel the strengthening our your prayers. The church is true and the Book of Mormon is true. We must read it and pray about it often to receive the affirmation from the Holy Ghost that the book is true.

With much love,

--Elder Hunt