Email from April 20

What's up?!

8 Days left!! The only days that i really have left to preach the gospel as a normal missionary are until Mondaythe 27th. on the 28th, i'm going to boca to hang out with my converts. on the 29th, it's change meeting and hanging out in president's house. on the 30th, it's plane rides.  Also, make sure that the Stake President knows that i want my release interview that very same day! i'm ready for some country music and sportscenter :) I definitely won't be bored. if i get bored, i'll just hit up the missionaries and go ''work'' with them.

what's for dinner when i get home? Speaking of food, make sure that there are poptarts and pizza rolls in the house. I sure do miss poptarts. But i sure am looking forward to throwing down a good steak in Outback when i'm home. They don't have stuff like that here too much in Guatemala, not at all here in Tiquisate.

On Sunday, we baptized a 9 year old girl. 3 weeks ago, we found a less active lady that was baptized 3 years ago. We talked to her about church and what not and was committed to attending general conference with her family. She showed up to conference with her 9 year old daughter that hadn't been baptized. What does that mean? Reactivation and baptism! It's the perfect scenario. Her name is Vilma Ordoñez Gallardo. She understands better than i understood when i was baptized.

My mind literally becomes blank as i write. there's only one thing on my mind....coming home next week.

This Sunday, we should end the mission with a strong baptism day. We for sure have 1 person getting baptized (William Lopez), probably 2 more (a family, Josefina and Armando Quiché), and by milagro, 3 more. We're doing all we can to have a crazy baptism day. It's no longer go big or go home, it's go big then go home. Because it doesn't even matter, i'm coming home. I just need to go big right now.

8 days?

Love ya!!

Elder Hunt

Email from April 14

I miss country music so much. All i hear is crazy latino music that i'll show you to when i get home. you won't understand it, but the beat is great, hahah. guatemala is crazy.

I don't want a job when i'm in georgia for a month. it's my time of rest and descanso. time to hit the gym twice a day and the lake like 3 times a week. if needed, i can cut people's lawns, but i don't want a real job. it'll only last for 1 month which isn't that much. i dunno, i just don't wanna work for that month.

I will definitely need those medical check ups. But, my back has been acting up a little bit recently. it'd be nice to get something scheduled early on with a chiropractor to give me a quick adjustment. for two years, i've slept on really bad mattress, riden in really bumpy buses, and have had to carry a backpack 24/7. I need to go to the chiropractor to fix it up, it hurts me.

My suitcases are...fine. you'll see when i get home. they're not that good of quality in the first place, but they've lasted this long. i'm not sure how much more they'll last when it's all said and done.

Today was crazy. I had my exit interview with President Markham. It was really good. We focused on the 5 things i need to do upon arriving home. Work, study, church calling, get married, and have kids. Those 5 things need to be done simultaneously. That'll be fun. But, that comes after the 1 month of rest i'll have in may. President accepted the one month of rest because he kinda understands how tired i am of going non stop all day every day. Also, i got permission from him to go to Boca del Monte (my area of 14 months) the day before changes. So really, my last day in Tiquisate is the 27th of april, boca for the 28th, the capital for the 29th, and GEORGIA on the 30th.

We should baptize these last two weekends here in the mission, so that'll be great. I'm incredibly thankful for what's been going on recently. God has been good to me and i'm happy.

This week, i bought a couple of hammocks. why? to take to the lake and rest in! yea! 15 days and counting. Ready or not, here I come!

love y'all!!!

Elder Hunt

Email from April 5

Make some good dinner plans! but yea, now that (my coming home is) three weeks away, it's kinda starting to hit me. at the same time, i get hit with two feelings. why work, it's over? and it's almost over! i need to work as hard as i can! the two come because i am tired, i've work tirelessly for 2 years and my body feels it. But, i also want to take advantage of every last moment to be able to give it all i had.

i loved conference. I can return home calm knowing that everything will work itself out. It's strange how the Lord answers the questions that people take to conference. He answered mine, and i'm grateful for it. It's also really fun to hear about President Brough and President MacArthur receiving new callings. They are two incredible men. But it's weird to think that i know two general authorities on a more personal level. I've been blessed, in the mission, i've been able to meet a few others here in Guatemala too. (Elder Amado, Elder Dunca, Elder Ochoa, Elder Alonso, Elder Cook, Elder Andersen). Great examples to a young man like me.

I'm probably as excited as Ben is to be home. Like i've said before, i'm ready to start a new chapter in my life and take on new things. I'm trying my hardest to stay focused these last couple weeks, but it's hard. Don't worry, i'm obedient with exactness and diligent in all things. just at times, my mind starts to wander. but that's normal, right?

We had a baptism on Sunday! She's a granddaughter of some members. Her name is Teresa de Jesus Perez Ortiz. She was a little miracle for us because it was a baptisms without any struggles. We talked to her, asked if she wanted to get baptized, and she accepted. Her mom said it was fine too! There are so many people just waiting to receive the ordinances of baptism, we just have to find them and bring them unto Christ. For this reason, diligence is so important in all we do. One reason that i don't really want to live in utah after the mission is because i'm gonna want to participate in missionary work, but if everyone's a member, what am i supposed to do?

I came here with 3 suitcases. i won't return with 3. I'm realizing that the stuff i haven't doesn't work anymore. the clothes are ripped and beaten to shreds. I don't have socks that don't have holes in them. my shirts haven't been white for a while now. What does that mean? we've gotta hit the mall and marshall's! mainly marshall's, it's cheaper. no hay pisto.

love y'all! See ya in 3 weeks!!

-Elder Hunt

Email from March 31

Well, i've officially began my last month here in Guatemala. That's crazy to think about. i'll be home soon. now that my stomach has adapted to the food here, it's time to come home and not be adjusted to the food there. but, it's all part of the experience, right? I only have 4 more Sundays here. just 4 more P-Days left. Everything is winding down to an end. The carne is weak, but the Spirit is strong. Let's see what else i can do before coming home!

It is hot. I thought it was hot a couple weeks ago, but it's gotten hotter. It's a blessing. i don't know if the temperature has gone up or if the sun is just stronger, but i feel as though it's hotter now than before. Also, there's no air conditioning, just fans throwing around the same hot air all day. I love the heat. I'd much rather be here than in a cold area. It feels good to sweat, that's for sure.

We had a miracle baptism on Sunday. So last Sunday, like 10 days ago, we were desperately looking for someone to prepare to baptize this Sunday. We visited a family that goes to church like 70 percent of the time. The grandparents, kids, and grandkids are all members...or so we though. We asked, just to see, if everyone there had been baptized. Everybody said yes except for some little girl. After a little bit of talking, we found out that this same day is her 9th birthday. What does that mean? She'll count as a convert baptism. She goes to church 70 percent of the time and her whole family are members. So, we taught her a little and had her baptized this Sunday. Tender mercies of the Lord. Her name is Jaquelin Anayeli Hicho Cosiguá.

Tomorrow, April begins. What does that mean? a lot.   it's the month of general conference. it's the month when Aubrey completes years. it's the month of miracles. it's the month of not looking back, just looking forward. it's the month of new challenges and new resolutions. it's the month of change. it's the month that i finish the mission. it's the month in which i will see my mom, dad, and brother again. it's the month where all will change.

I tell myself every day and often throughout the day

''In the sight of the Lord, it is not so much what we have done or where we have been but much more where we are willing to go.''

''Focus on the journey, not on the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.''