Email from Dec 29

First off, I need dad's recipe to making pizza. A member wants to make it one day. So, if you could send it to me, that'd be nice. Don't worry about translating it into Spanish, I'll take care of that. 

We had a baptism yesterday! Her name is Ligia. She's super awesome. I feel like one day she'll be a future missionary. We kind of did things a little strangely to have this last baptism for Elder Nolasco. This was his first baptism in the area, last baptism of his mission, and brought his total to a nice, even 50 for the two years. We broke qutie a few rules to bring this baptism about, but we had permission the whole time. Rule 1, it says in the Red Handbook that the church must be closed on Monday nights to encourage the families to have their activities. We called President Brough and he gave us permission, so did the Bishop. Rule 2, a baptismal candidate must live the Word of Wisdom for 10 days before their baptism. Ligia drank coffee last Sunday. We called President again for this and he gave us permission to baptize her within the 10 days. All in all, it was a great experience. The hope and prayer is that her parents will get baptized in January. They're super awesome and positive. It's just that the dad needs to attend church to be baptized. They know that the church is true, they've received answers. The dad will attend church this Sunday, so hopefully we can baptize the mom and dad on the 19th of January. If you'd like, you could mention the Melgar Family in your prayers. Thank you :)

Let me remind yall about what's going to happen tomorrow. Tomorrow, Wednesday, I'll complete 3 weeks in my new area. Also, tomorrow is the day that my current companion will complete his mission and go home. Tomorrow, I will receive a new companion, but he won't be a real missionary. He'll be in the state of waiting for his mission call or waiting to enter the MTC. So, after three weeks of being in a new area, I'll have to just about work solo for a little bit. Usually, people have 6 weeks to learn an area and then teach it to someone else, but not me--I had 3.

For Christmas Eve, the people here gave us a ton of food. We received about 14 tamales, a bag of apples, a bag of grapes, a loaf of bread, and half a chicken. One week later, we still have some tamales in the fridge. These bad boys do some damage to your bowels. They taste super good while you're eating them. But, after a couple minutes, you've got to run to the bathroom and ....handle business. It's a vicious cycle. People here sell tamales for 5 Qetzales or like 60 cents. I'm going to learn how to make tamales, return to America, and sell them for 5 dollars a piece. They're super good and they're good sized. It's definitely a sure plan.

On Christmas Day, we didn't do much of anything. We got to talk to our families, rest a little bit, then leave to preach the gospel again at 5pm. 

Guys, no need to worry. We once again have running water in the house! yea! So now, to fill up the buckets to bathe ourselves, we just have to carry them full of water about 20 feet. It makes it a lot more convenient to bathe and what not. It's strange to see the things that I would take for granted in the States. Air conditioning, running water, windows that close all the way, cool air, etc. I just love Guate. It's the best. 

I started reading the Book of Mormon from the beginning on the 19th of December. Right now, on the 31st of December, I'm at like 2 Nefi 25. I love it. I have the goal to read it two more times before the 15th of May. I read it in literally whatever moment I'm provided. I invite y'all to do the same. 

There's so much to learn in 2 Nefi 9. It explains the Plan of Salvation super well, so it's fun. Many people say that us Mormons don't believe in Hell. But we do! As it says in this chapter, there is a death and a hell. Death is the separation of the Spirit and the Body--happens to everyone at one point or another. Hell is the eternal separation from the presence of Heavenly Father. We can't prevent Death, but we can prevent Hell. How? Living the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ! Faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ, and His atoning sacrifice, Repentance, Baptism by someone who holds the restored authority of God, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the Laying on of Hands, and Enduring to the End (Progressing to the End). 

Thanks so much for all the prayers. I need everyone that y'all send up to Heaven. The work is progressing. Help the work in your ward! Give the missionaries references. 1 out of every 3 references received is a baptism--said a General Authority. 

I love y'all a lot. I can't believe it's already been 7.5 months. Where has the time gone?

--Elder Hunt

Email from Dec 22

 Well, it's been super fun and quite interesting here in Hunapu, Escuintla!

First off, I got the package from Grandma! and I got you're package! Grandma, it took a while to get to me, because of the Mission Office. They saw that you wrote things related to Christmas, so they put a stamp saying ''Keep''. So, i didn't receive it until the week before Christmas. Who knows how long it was waiting there. I'm super excited for the new USB of music. But, all the songs are on as m4a and my little speakers only read mp3 or mp4. I'm going to ask a member to change them for me without any hassle. Thanks for the candy! Still waiting to open the gifts.

The week that past, we had 2 P-Days!!! One, on Monday, like always. The second, was on Wednesday. We had a Mission Christmas Activity. We woke up nice and early at 1:30 IN THE MORNING. We had to travel all the way to the capital to be in the temple session at 6 am. The new video is in Guatemala in Spanish! It was fun. Then, after the temple, we went to a nearby stake center and played sports. I, of course, played a little bit of fut (soccer). President was watching us play, enjoying the time. He even cheered me on!! Then, we had lunch that was fine. After, we had a devotional. President Brough's Mission President, President Perez, came and spoke! So, in this meeting, the daughter of President Brough spoke, Hermana Brough spoke, President Perez spoke, and President Brough spoke. It was super fantastic. We worked that day from 6:30-9 pm. While President Brough was talking, he made us do something. In Lucas, we learn that Christ hung on the cross for 6 hours, 3-9 pm. 6 hours of suffering! He talked about how awful and painful and full of anguish. He made all of the missionaries stand up. Stretch our arms out, like Christ on the cross, and hold it for 6 minutes. While doing this, he put on a video of hymns and pictures of Christ. Longest 6 minutes of my life. In this moment, I grew closer to the Lord on a more personal level. Try this.

Saturday night, was the Ward Christmas Activity!! The Primary kids did a little Nativity Scene that was better than one I've ever seen in the States. I love these Primary kids and they love me.

In one lesson, the best thing happened. My comp and I were sitting there, teaching lesson one like normal. This time, it was my Comp's turn to talk about Joseph Smith. He was going along just fine, until it happened. He was like, ''James 1:5 says, 'I saw a pillar of light...(until the point of 'two personages').'' Then he froze. Despair filled his countenance. Had he really just done that? He then looked at me. It took all my effort to not bust out into a wonderful laugh. I, being the stalwart missionary that I am, didn't even let a little smirk form on this face. I then explained Joseph Smith again and ended the lesson. It was FANTASTIC.

Another lesson pretty memorable. We taught the restoration like normal. At the end, we asked her to say the prayer, and she accepted. Ah, bueno. She started out fine 'Heavenly Father, I'm thankful for this day.' Then it got interesting. 'Please watch over my f-f-fam-family.' Then a dramatic pause filled with sniffs and a few tears. Then she threw out the word, 'Amen.' A dramatic pause lingered in the air. She then said, 'Christ is in my house.' I then testified that she had, in this moment, received an answer. It was FANTASTIC.

So much has happened to me here in Guate. I'm always so happy and so content. I always try to work harder than yesterday and be a better example tomorrow than today.

I have a goal to read the Book of Mormon 2 more times before May 15th. I love this book. It's the word of God!

Remember. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. He lives.

--Elder Hunt

Email from Dec 15

 So, I went to Changes Meeting, not expecting much of anything. Then the meeting came and passed without much fuss. I left my area and went to my new area of Hunapu, Escuintla. (I'll talk more about the area a little later). My companion is Elder Nolasco, from El Salvador. At Changes, they give like a little bulletin of what's happening in the mission. The missionaries that are leaving, the new missionaries that are coming, and who are going to be the trainers of the new missionaries. I didn't think anything of it. But that night, I looked at it more closesly. This is where the craziness started! As I looked at the list of trainers, my name was there. After further investigation and calling the Secretaries of the mission, I found out interesting information. I was supposed to be a trainer this change! I hope I can explain this so yall can understand how crazy this is. First off, I have 7 months, I'm still so young. Second, I'm going to a new area without knowing anything. Thirdly, Elder Nolasco is about to end his mission on the 2nd of January so I would have to be in a trio, training for a little while. But, all in all, the missionary didn't come on the mission. How sad. But it saved me from all this craziness. So, right now, I'm not sure what's going to happen. Normally, missionaries have about 6 weeks to get to a new area, learn it, and then the companion leaves. But me, no. I have 3 weeks to get to the area, learn it, and be ready to receive somebody knew and teach them the area. On the 2nd of January, I'll receive a mini missionary. A mini missionary is like 17 or 18 that is preparing to go on the mission but hasn't yet completed his papers, received his call, or entered the MTC. Then when the experience with the mini missionary is up, I'll probably train a new missionary this next change. Craziness! I hope yall can understand what's happening.

But yea, that's the craziness in my life right now.

The house I'm living in now is awful. Why awful? Well, here in Hunapu, I'm in the costal part of the mission, so it is HOT. SO hot. Also, I live by two active volcanoes, and they give off a lot of ash. In the house, we leave the windows upon 24/7. So this allows a whole bunch of ash to enter and whatever type of critter that so desires to do so. The house is filthy and it's like impossible to clean. On top of that, there's not running water. In the house, there's one faucet. We must make use of this faucet to wash dishes, bathe, and flush the toilet. How do we bathe? We fill up buckets with water. We take these buckets into the 'shower'. You've gotta get yourself wet, lather up, then rinse off. This is not hot water, it's cold from the tap. It's wonderful. I don't feel at all like I'm living in a super civilized country-because I'm not. Today, in the morning, Elder Nolasco filled up his buckets and showered. I waited for my turn. When it came, I tried to fill up my buckets. But there was no water! WHAT?! To my luck, Elder Nolasco left about 1 gallon of water in a bucket. I used this gallon of water to bathe myself. It was quite the experience. I absolutely love Guatemala.

So, from today on, I have 2 weeks to know the area and be able to lead. I need your prayers with that. The time limit of a normal missionary has been cut in half. My mission has not been easy. Well, training was easy. But then Emergency Changes. And now, this great chaos. I'm a little overwhelmed with what's about to happen. I love how the Lord is truly making me grow and progress. I almost can't believe that the Lord sees me fit to train, but I feel like I can.

I'm working write now on writing another letter. This one is about Humility. It's turning out to be a little longer than my letter on Patience.

Leaving with members is awesome. Leaving with leadership of the ward or stake is fantastic! Just give them like 2 hours. Also, make sure they have somewhere to eat on Sunday! In my last area, we ate with the Stake President every Sunday for lunch, before Church. Here, we have nothing set up. But this Sunday, we bought Tamales on Saturday and ate them Sunday. I freaking love these tamales here, I have eaten so many.

I hope that everyone is reading the Book of Mormon and growing closer to the Lord. HELP THE MISSIONARIES! If anything, invite them over to share a quick 20 minute lesson with y'all.

Next week, I'll send fotos. Right now, my camara didn't connect with the computer. Who know why, it just didn't.

I'm loving life. I love the mission. I can't believe it's almost Christmas. I can't believe I completed 7 months on Sunday. The Church is true. Hunapu is HOT. Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. I never stop sweating.

I love y'all a ton and hope all is well!

--Elder Hunt