I can't even believe that ben comes home so soon. it's crazy to think that the mission one day will come to an end. but, i don't think about that too much. i'm so glad to be out of the office and be a zone leader in tiquisate. it's so far away from civilization and i'm so focused on building the kingdom of God and helping the other missionaries reach the measure of their creation. i've never been so focused.
my new companion is elder ortega, from nicaragua. he's super awesome. he goes home in 6 weeks, so we're just focused on working really hard and leaving it all in the mission field. but, we're also having a lot of fun and making some good memories. even though he only has 6 weeks left, we seem to be really focused on what needs to be done. also, it means that i'll most likely stay in this area until i go home. i would not be against that at all. i love this place and the work is progressing so nicely. i've been here in this branch for 9 weeks. 8 of the 9 weekends have been occupied with baptisms! it's incredible.
this week was full of a lot of travels. it's a 3.5 hour bus ride to the capital. so, when we have a meeting, we get up at 3 and leave the house before 4 to get on the 4 o'clock bus to the capital. we get home from meetings and ready to work at like 6 in the afternoon. it's rough, but it's fun. we made this trek wednesday and thursday. but even amongst the travels, there were a lot of good times had.
we baptized a young man, 12 years old. His name is jefferson jose vades hernandez. he was completely a reference of a family with three young men that brought their friend to church and then presented us to him. we just taught him and baptized him without a struggle. the members are key to the success of missionaries. everybody has a part, especially the young men, the future missionaries. it was a good little testimony builder. pictures are in a different email.
Yesterday was an interesting p-day. we enjoyed our selves that day. for example, we found some good buys in a thrift shop. also, found a guy repping a UGA shirt. I love when people have georgia stuff on and they have no idea what's going on.
today, we had a zone training with the zone. so the whole zone got together and elder ortega and i were able to have a meeting. i was really impressioned by this one. last month's was way good too. we prepare a lot and let the Spirit do the rest. I like to think of these zone leaders as preparing talks and workshops for after the mission. i'll for sure be referring to them after the mission. today, we talked about being obedient because we love the Lord, not because we fear Him. We also talked about what we can do to become more devoted disciples of Christ and become is friends. That part was powerful. The Spirit was strong and testified of the truth. I feel like the zone is really called of God at this time to be in this zone. that's one thing the Spirit taught me today.
i love being here! i'm getting changed more and more everyday. it's incredible to be able to offer this time to the Lord and serve Him with all my heart, might, mind, and strength.
Love y'all!
--Elder Hunt
Friday, February 13, 2015
Email from Feb 2
This week has been great.
On wednesday, we got to go to the temple as a zone. Since we live so far away, we had 4 other missionaries come sleep over on Tuesday night so we could leave early. We left here at 4 am to make it on time to the 10 o'clock session. That's how far from the temple we are! We got there at a good time, grabbed some Taco Bell, then entered the temple. I've talked President Markham many times about how going to the temple is to purify us...something we don't 'need' as missionaries. I wanted to go, didn't need to go. Many missionaries were saying that they needed to go, but that's fine..they just don't understand all the way. Running off of so few hours of sleep and getting out of a long car ride, it was a big struggle to stay awake. But, it's fine. After, we took some pictures and those are in another email. We started working in our area again at like 4:30 in the afternoon. A nice day of rest it seemed to be.
On Sunday, we had a baptism! Her name is Ada Caal. She is super awesome and will be a super faithful member of the church. She's changed a lot, like stopped drinking alcohol and is now living the Law of Chastity. Her life is hard in a way that i can't even imagine. Her family is turned against her (not because of her decision to be baptized, for other things). But whenever a problem comes, she just starts to read the Book of Mormon and that's where her soul finds rest and peace.
We played soccer on a full field the other day. It was fisically exhausting. Guatemalans do not have technique when they play, it was quite sad. But, it doesn't surprise me that their national team never progresses. Everybody wants to be the star and never picks their head up..but i won't talk about that. We ended the hour long match in a tie. So, we went to penalty kicks! For some odd reason, my team picked me to be the goalie. what?! I saved a handful, others missed the frame, and others went in. After the whole team from each side went, we were still tied up. So, they picked three from each team to take the kicks. I was chosen. made it! so, we won the game. it was super funny. Penalty kicks to decide the winner of a friendly soccer game with missionaries.
It's hot here and only getting hotter. February, March, and April are the hottest months here with no rain at all or clouds. It's going to be a straight up oven, but i'm going to love it. Yesterday, we found out about changes. I'm going to stay in my area and Elder Quispe is going to leave. I'm excited and nervious to find out who my next companion will be. There's always so much to learn from each companion.
Well, that's my week in a nutshell. I've oficially started my last two transfer cyles in the mission...nooo!!!
Luv y'all
--Elder Hunt
On wednesday, we got to go to the temple as a zone. Since we live so far away, we had 4 other missionaries come sleep over on Tuesday night so we could leave early. We left here at 4 am to make it on time to the 10 o'clock session. That's how far from the temple we are! We got there at a good time, grabbed some Taco Bell, then entered the temple. I've talked President Markham many times about how going to the temple is to purify us...something we don't 'need' as missionaries. I wanted to go, didn't need to go. Many missionaries were saying that they needed to go, but that's fine..they just don't understand all the way. Running off of so few hours of sleep and getting out of a long car ride, it was a big struggle to stay awake. But, it's fine. After, we took some pictures and those are in another email. We started working in our area again at like 4:30 in the afternoon. A nice day of rest it seemed to be.
On Sunday, we had a baptism! Her name is Ada Caal. She is super awesome and will be a super faithful member of the church. She's changed a lot, like stopped drinking alcohol and is now living the Law of Chastity. Her life is hard in a way that i can't even imagine. Her family is turned against her (not because of her decision to be baptized, for other things). But whenever a problem comes, she just starts to read the Book of Mormon and that's where her soul finds rest and peace.
We played soccer on a full field the other day. It was fisically exhausting. Guatemalans do not have technique when they play, it was quite sad. But, it doesn't surprise me that their national team never progresses. Everybody wants to be the star and never picks their head up..but i won't talk about that. We ended the hour long match in a tie. So, we went to penalty kicks! For some odd reason, my team picked me to be the goalie. what?! I saved a handful, others missed the frame, and others went in. After the whole team from each side went, we were still tied up. So, they picked three from each team to take the kicks. I was chosen. made it! so, we won the game. it was super funny. Penalty kicks to decide the winner of a friendly soccer game with missionaries.
It's hot here and only getting hotter. February, March, and April are the hottest months here with no rain at all or clouds. It's going to be a straight up oven, but i'm going to love it. Yesterday, we found out about changes. I'm going to stay in my area and Elder Quispe is going to leave. I'm excited and nervious to find out who my next companion will be. There's always so much to learn from each companion.
Well, that's my week in a nutshell. I've oficially started my last two transfer cyles in the mission...nooo!!!
Luv y'all
--Elder Hunt
Email from Jan 25
Things are so good here. I love Tiquisate and will be really sad when it's my time to leave here whether it be in 7 or 13 weeks. Next week, we have transfers and my companion will most likely leave. That means i'll receive somebody new here with me as a Zone Leader. The new missionary has no idea what he's going to come in to: A heat that is almost unbearable. Everybody is always commenting on how i've gotten skinnier. Thanks?
I did not fast before the mission and did not understand the commandment. I will never fail after the mission. I understand now, so i don't want to lose the opportunity every month to do so. Fasting is necessary. I won't be able to go without fasting. The mission has changed me, observing the law of the fast is one way.
I didn't tell y'all last week. On the 18th of January, i was super sick. I don't know what hit me, but it got the best of me. I couldn't stand up without having to sit down quickly. I would get worn out sitting down. I was nauseous, head ache, with a fever, and without any strength. I went to church in the morning, sleeping the whole time on the back rows. In the afternoon, my companion went out and worked. I just went to a member's house and slept all afternoon. I miss Sunday afternoon naps. That hasn't changed about me. I am a firm believe of the energy regained by a simple nap. But don't worry. My strength is almost all the way back to me. I'm able to do good exercises in the morning and work all day. Since that one day of being thrown to the ground by the illness, i've worked.
Also, there was a baptism on the 18th of January i didn't tell you about or send pictures. on the 25th of january, we didn't baptize. First Sunday this change. We baptized 6 weeks straight. But, we've got people for this week and the next. We won't give up until everyone in Tiquisate is a faithful member of the church!
I went on Divisions with the Assistants last Friday. I went to Boca del Monte (my area of 14 months) with Elder Hintze (we were in the office together). It was such a great day. Boca del Monte loves me. He gave me the opportunity to visit some of my converts and so we got a lot of food from them. People see me and give food. interesting, huh? They wanted to get me filled back up again before sending me to Tiquisate again. But that night, emergencies happened that i'll explain after maybe. Long story short, we went to sleep at 2:30am. I got permission from President to drive the car! yea!
Everything is great here. Just working day by day. Seeing miracle after miracle. I'm excited for what's to come and enjoying the journey to get there.
Love y'all!
--Elder Hunt
I did not fast before the mission and did not understand the commandment. I will never fail after the mission. I understand now, so i don't want to lose the opportunity every month to do so. Fasting is necessary. I won't be able to go without fasting. The mission has changed me, observing the law of the fast is one way.
I didn't tell y'all last week. On the 18th of January, i was super sick. I don't know what hit me, but it got the best of me. I couldn't stand up without having to sit down quickly. I would get worn out sitting down. I was nauseous, head ache, with a fever, and without any strength. I went to church in the morning, sleeping the whole time on the back rows. In the afternoon, my companion went out and worked. I just went to a member's house and slept all afternoon. I miss Sunday afternoon naps. That hasn't changed about me. I am a firm believe of the energy regained by a simple nap. But don't worry. My strength is almost all the way back to me. I'm able to do good exercises in the morning and work all day. Since that one day of being thrown to the ground by the illness, i've worked.
Also, there was a baptism on the 18th of January i didn't tell you about or send pictures. on the 25th of january, we didn't baptize. First Sunday this change. We baptized 6 weeks straight. But, we've got people for this week and the next. We won't give up until everyone in Tiquisate is a faithful member of the church!
I went on Divisions with the Assistants last Friday. I went to Boca del Monte (my area of 14 months) with Elder Hintze (we were in the office together). It was such a great day. Boca del Monte loves me. He gave me the opportunity to visit some of my converts and so we got a lot of food from them. People see me and give food. interesting, huh? They wanted to get me filled back up again before sending me to Tiquisate again. But that night, emergencies happened that i'll explain after maybe. Long story short, we went to sleep at 2:30am. I got permission from President to drive the car! yea!
Everything is great here. Just working day by day. Seeing miracle after miracle. I'm excited for what's to come and enjoying the journey to get there.
Love y'all!
--Elder Hunt
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