April 14, 2014

Interesting Little week!

First off, Today is my 11 month mark?! Didn't I just finish 10? I don't understand what's happening.

Secondly, yesterday morning, we found out changes or transfers. I'll be leaving the área! So that's super fun! It's a hassle to get all of my things ready by tomorrow morning. Who knows where the Lord will send me or if I have interviews with President to be made Zone Leader. Really, I LOVE district leader. It's the best, I'd say. So, tomorrow, I'll be in a new área with a new companion with new people not knowing anything. I'm super excited!!

But, it really is hard to leave an área after so much time here. I've been here for 18 weeks. We have been going around saying good bye to recent converts and to investigators that are progressing to get baptized. We have a mom and her son with baptismal dates here really soon, like this week and the next. When I told them I wouldn't be coming back, the 12 year old kid, Isaías, just sat there struck. He got super sad. Really, as a missionary, you grow to love the people and the people grow to love you. It's truly beautiful.

Last night, we also had a Family Home Evening with Familia Melgar, recent converts of mine. I taught the lesson and at the end gave them the pictures from their baptism. The joy that lit up their faces. They literally had a smile plastered to their faces as they remembered that beautiful day. Then, that smile left quite quick. I told them that on Wednesday, I'd be leaving early in the morning and not be coming back. The mom and daughter couldn't hold back the tears. That is heart wrenching. Talk about imposible to sing the closing hymn (Lead Kindly Light). As a missionary, we see miracles, we live miracles. Every soul that has chosen to change their lives and be baptized is a miracle, really.

Tonight will be even harder. I have found my second family here. It's the family of my cook and clothes washer. Just last week, the Mom, Flor, was just thinking about the thought that I might be leaving tomorrow. With this thought, she started to cry. She told me when I first got here. Like in week 2 or 3. When you go, I will cry. Tonight, we'll have a lesson with this family as a farewell. There will be tears shed. These people have impacted my life in an unforgettable way. Yesterday, we spent a Little bit of our P-Day with them. They have a ton of chickens. yesterday, I killed 6 or 7 and then we ate them for lunch. From living chicken to grilled chicken in less than 30 minutes. That's what I'd call fresh food, fast.

I'm super excited to get to my new área and to meet my new companion. I want someone I can joke around with and a naturally hardworker. We'll see what happens. More than anything, I want a Latino companion.

WIth Love, (Con Amor)

--Elder Hunt

Santiago's current district. He's district leader. And in the back on the left.