Email from Oct 20

I haven't gotten any emails from new people these days. I've just been sticking with the same old people that i've been with for the last 17 months. It would be nice to receive emails from new people! (His email is harold.hunt@myldsmail.net)

So, there's a nice little story for this week. It's fun to play soccer here on our free days with some of the youth from the ward. We have a good time and it's nice to play soccer. When we play, everybody kinda has rotations playing different positions. At this moment, it was my turn to play goalie. woo! When I play, my volleyball reflexes come into action. I don't usually catch the ball, I just kind of deflect it high and controlled, then catch it. But it got to a play that was serious. It was like 3 against me. They were all super close to the goal. A guy on my left, the middle, and the right. The guy on the right shot it and i blocked it, but i fell to my knees and the ball went right to the middle guy. He kicked it, and some how, i blocked it again. This time, it bounced like two feet from me. It bounced like two feet from the guy on my left too. He wound up to kick it, i sprang over to grab it. Next thing you know, his foot makes contact with my hand. Out of the pain caused, i grab my right hand with my left. (right hand being hurt.). I thought my hand would be straight, but i felt something a little weird. You know how on your finger, you have three joints. Well, on my right index finger, at the second joint, my finger went straight up. Yup, dislocated finger right there. Without even thinking because I wanted to prevent further pain, I threw it quickly back into place. It was great! A dislocated finger while playing some friendly soccer. Just add that to the list of soccer injuries in my life!

But don't worry about me, it doesn't affect me too much. Really, it just makes it a little hard to write.

This week has been crazy. Today, I felt super important. I had a meeting in the Area Office about immigration stuff! It was weird to say that I had a meeting at 11 in the Area Office. Really, it wasn't anything exciting or new, but still- as a missionary, it was cool to say.

I have been receiving so much free food lately! It's the best. I love how Guatemalans show their love for you by giving you food. I know it's a great sign of love because these people don't normally have much. Guatemalans are just so cute. I have Domino's, pancakes, chuchitos, ham and vegetables, cookies, etc. I go home at night, plan, and just go to sleep. I don't need to cook dinner and it's such a treat to get a full night's sleep every now and again.

Sorry, this email is really short. It's just that next week we have changes. That means everything is hectic and so busy. I'll be getting a new companion. I kinda know who he is but not really. Next week, i'll write with more information and maybe even a picture. It'll be fun.

The mission is a blast! Next week, the sister missionaries that entered the mission with me will be going home! That's crazy to think about. In two months, i'll be skyping home. in 4 months, Ben will be going home. in 6 months, i'll be home. There's too much to do before this time rolls around! Good thing, that way it won't distract me.

I hope y'all are safe and enjoying the cooler temperatures to come. I'm super comfortable here in Guatemala....still sweating and it never gets cold enough not to sweat. Besides a dislocated finger, I've never been better!

Love y'all!!

Elder Hunt

An x-ray of Santiago's finger

Email from Oct 12

This week has been so crazy! I am so tired, I can't even believe it. A lot of early mornings and late nights. I've been really blessed to be here in the office for this time. It's super interesting to see the behind the scenes stuff of a mission. I just know it's preparing me for something later on life.

But thanks to all the craziness that's been happening, I've been able to see quite a bit of Guatemala. There's been a lot of going to certain places and switching missionaries around and all that good stuff. For instance, while on a trip last Saturday, we saw a quite interesting house. I think they really like to collect street signs. It's an interesting hobby, but the written messages on the signs are quite interesting. One of the best ones is the one that says "Una Via" or, "One Way". It saids, "Sex, drugs, alcohol, one way directly to hell." It made us all laugh. This house is like two houses down than two sister missionaries. It's too bad they have a really weird neighbor.

RIght now, I am so fisically tired. I can't even think about what has happened this past week. It has literally been crazy, but super fun. I would say my journal is better, but i haven't had time to write in it-
that's how hectic it has been. I've forgotten what mission life is like for a 'normal' missionary out in the field. I can't really remember the last time I had a my full night's rest. There are always things going on.

One of my new focuses on the mission is fitness. I kinda lost the drive for a little bit. But, as my companions often remind me, I'm going home in about 6 months. I need to start getting back in shape. Now, I jump rope every night, it doesn't even matter how tired my legs already are from a day of walking. Also, I'm taking advantage of the nice weight setup that we have in this house and am doing more than just the minimum 30 minutes. I would say I've started eating healthier...but seeing as how I'm in Guatemala, there's not such a thing. We eat what we're given and we don't complain.

Other exciting news! A Wal-Mart just opened up in our town! woohoo! That'll be really nice to get stuff I don't usually get. As far as the spiritual part of the mission goes, it's incredible. There are so many wonderful people here. There's a family that is progressing to be baptized this month. Another family that's getting things worked out to get married and baptized the next. And there are a few people scattered in there. Still, the search is on for families where not everyone is members. It's interesting. But, with the help of ward members, they come back and the rest of the family gets baptized. One of these days, I'll speak in church. I'll let y'all know a brief outline of what I say. I have 3 scriptures picked out and the filler will be guided by the Spirit. That's how it works, right? Writing talks word for word impede the Spirit to change your message.

Sorry for this awful email. I'll try to do better next time. Really, why write? I'm almost home anyway, right? That's a scary thought... But, i won't focus on that. There are more important things to focus on right now.


Love y'all!!

--Elder Hunt

Pictures!