Email from May 4

Baptisms this weekend!! yea! The lady's name is Tina and the young man's name is David. David is Tina's grandson. All of Tina's children are members exept one. Tina has really been ready to be baptized for years. But, she's never had the desire to stop drinking her coffee. Things were different this time! After years of battling, Tina has entered into the waters of baptism and made these covenants with God. David was a great little miracle. His aunt is the Relief Society President of the ward that meets in the afternoon. Little did we know that he had been attending with her. So, when we found out, we asked if he wanted to be baptized and he said yes. Sweet!

Remember how we live 8 in one house. So, pranks are bound to happen. Last night, the APs got us so good. So, when we got home, the other two secretaries were waiting outside. They were just waiting until we showed up because the door was cracked open and all the lights were on. So, the four of us tried pushing the door open, but it was kind of stuck with a mattress (because right by the door are a lot of mattress being stored.). So, we entered, slowly. We started hearing voices and came to the conclusion that somebody was in the process of robbing us. So, being the responsable missionary I am, I pulled out my camera to see what would happen. Right after I took a foto of the mess made, the APs just jumped out screaming. It actually got each of us pretty good.

Love ya,

Elder Hunt

Email from April 28

Hey!!

Well, it sure has been crazy here in the office lately! Last night, we had to come to the office at like 9:15 or so. We didn't get back to the house until 11:30 after hitting up the drive thru at Burger King. Just to wake back up at 6 the next morning. It takes  a little bit of a toll, but it's nice to know how important the work I'm doing is.

Yesterday was quite an interesting day. I hope everybody is aware of my situation. I've returned to my first area and my trainer also serves here (even though I'm not directly his companion, we live in the same house). Well, my companion is the 'Office District Leader' even though everybody in the office has been District Leader or Zone Leader before, so it's fun. Anyway, we had to go on divisions with the other companionship, so that would include my trainer. So, what happened? I went with my trainer, Elder Aragon. We went and worked in the area that we worked in before. Talk about unique missionary experiences! It was super strange. Me, with my trainer, in my first area, teaching the gospel. As walking down the streets, we would just remind each other about all the people and the memories. A crazy day that doesn't happen to many others I don't think.

Right now, we've got some super pilas investigators. President Brough says that if, as a district, we baptize 10 people in May, he'll invite us to lunch to some place and eat ribs....It's on!! The strange thing is, that me and my companion alone, have the goal of 10 baptisms for this month of May. Also, it's a tradition that President takes out to lunch the people that will be leaving the office. My companion, Elder Ward, will be leaving the office at the end of May. Looks like President Brough will be taking us out twice! Eating good in the office!

We had an activity with the Relief Society the other day. The two companionships of the ward split up with the old women to go visit less actives and investigators. An interesting activity. I have never walked so slow in my whole mission. Me, a return missionary, and 3 Relief Society ladies hitting up the streets of Boca del Monte to save souls. But hey, it was good to build a relationship between members and missionaries even though it wasn't the most productive activity.

I definitely destroyed a pair of my pants the other day. It was the last appointment of the day, and it had all gone smoothly. The lesson went fine too. At like 8:55, we ended the lesson but then they offered us a little bit of cake and a drink. As missionaries, we don't reject cake. ever. So, we were just eating and chatting a bit with the members and investigators that we had. But there was a four year old kid being a normal four year old. He set his drink on the table, and I didn't think anything of it. Then, he decided to jump on top of the table. He knocked his drink all over my pants! I wasn't worried because we were about to leave and then go straight home to end the day. When we walked through the door that night, the Assistants attacked us. Kind of. They needed to go to the office (this might sound familiar because it was described a little in the first few sentences of the email.) So, we drove them to the office. Upon climbing out of the car, I guess I over extended my leg and just heard a huge ripping sound. Oops, that can't be good! Sure enough, the crotch seam was ripped wide open....How embarrassing. So those pants need to be washed up and sewed up then they'll be good as new. Oh yea, I also need to sew the button back on them.

Va, pues, les vaya bien!

--Elder Hunt

Email from April 25

I've been made secretary. But not just what ever kind of secretary. I've been called as the Executive Secretary of the Guatemala City Central Mission. WHAT?! It's the strangest thing. Why strange? Well, if y'all remember, I started my mission in an area called El Caminero which means I was part of the ward Boca del Monte. I don't know if I ever told y'all, but the secretaries are in the ward Boca del Monte. So, I've returned to where I started!! I'm literally serving in the same exact area, visiting my own recent converts, visiting the same members, walking the same streets, etc. CRAZY STRANGE. Also, if you remember, my trainer's name is Elder Aragón. Well, last change, he was made a secretary. So not only have I returned to the same area and ward, but I once again am with an old campanion. We live together and are together, in the office, until 4 in the afternoon. So, right now at 11 months, I have only two areas seeing as how I've come back to the same area for the second time. President Brough told me I'd be here for at least 6 or 7 changes. Meaning like 8 months. That'll mean I'll have more than 18 months and 3 areas. It's crazy. But, I came back to baptize. So that's what I'll do!

But being in the office is quite interesting. We live in a mansion pretty much (when compared to the other houses of Guate.) Eight missionaries live there. It's a crazy party every day! This is my first time living with Gringos, or white people, in my whole time in Guate. It's strange.

As a secretary, I have driving priveleges. The four of us share the same car that we use to get from the house to the office and the office to the house. On Monday, I drove!!! It felt so nice. We have a Toyota Hi-Lux. I'm not the biggest fan, but it was nice to be behind the wheel again. It made me miss the good ole Cadi during my BYU days. I sure do miss that car.

As the Executive Secretary, my role will be vital or key to the transition from President Brough to the new mission president, President Markham on the 1st of July. I need to learn everything and then some. I have to learn it fast and learn it well.

I've learned a lot this week of just positive thoughts. Thoughts turn into actions, actions into habits, habits into character. When things don't go perfectly well, we must keep a positive attitude. That's really the only thing we can control--ourselves. This Sunday, we were going to have two baptisms. But the two people drank coffee. Oops! So, their baptism has been postponed for the next Sunday-not a big problem! There are two ways to respond to this situation. Be super disappointed and upset. or Animate the people to continue firm for their baptism next week. I chose the second.

All I do is eat fast food. Monday through Friday we eat out for lunch since we're in the office. I don't want to get fat! I need to find something to do so that I don't eat all this unhealthy stuff. But, there's a place here called 'Go Green' that seems to be really healthy, so I'll be trying to eat there more! In the office, everybody gains wait. Everybody. In my last area, the coast, I lost weight and got a little skinnier. But when I came her, I weighed like 196. what?! That's crazy. I want to think the scale was broken, but who knows? I need to start being more careful or else it's going to be super hard in the gym when these two years are over.

Really, so much stuff has happened this past week. But really, there's not sufficient time here in the office to write y'all everything. The day that I email will always change, but I promise to email once a week. Executive Secretary is fantastic. The area is booming. My companion is super fun. My house is full of missionaries that are all stressed out of their minds so we're crazy. I'm definitely loving the mission right now!

--Elder Hunt