Email from Aug 3

This week was quite interesting. Full of so much that it's hard to explain what all has happened. I hope that as I try to explain, you can understand. I won't have a lot of pictures either because pictures of some things were not taken with my camera.

Last Saturday, I had my English class. It's fantastic. Always full of young men and women and a few adults from the ward. We worked hard on having fun this time. So I taught them Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes. I have a video, but it's too big to send. It was a hoot and a half. They loved the motions and I even think they learned a little of the parts of their bodies. Even in English class, I can hardly speak English. I feel as though it's easier or more comfortable to just talk in Spanish. I don't know what I'm going to do back in America. Si quieren, les puedo escribir en español para que sea más fácil.

On Monday, I had a unique opporunity. I went out and worked with my trainer. It was the best and worst thing ever. I had some appointments planned, like one an hour. Lessons only last about 30 minutes, so we can say there's about a 10 minute block between each one with nothing exactly planned. What did we do? Bothered people. For instance, we knocked on a door and a 12 year old girl. She was like, "What do you want?" We told her what we wanted. We said, "We want to baptize you and your family". She got scared, and slammed the door. We left but her mom, a little worried about her daughter, came to the door. Exciting stuff. It is really weird to work with an old companion again. Especially now that I can speak Spanish. It was super funny.

On Tuesday, we had a Zone Activity! We went to Zone 1 in the capital. It's like a really big market with a lot of typical stuff. Anyway, I was with Elder Aragon again, the Zone Leaders, and two sister missionaries. It was super fun. We left the market and went to a train museum. (Pictures taken by other cameras). But that's not what was super good about it. What was awesome is the fact that when we were walking out of the train museum back to the market, we had to pass through a park. In the park there were benches and on the benches, there were people. In the middle of the benches with people on them, there was a preacher. He was going hard with his Bible in his hand. (As you should be able to tell, it's not a good thing when Elder Aragon and I get together). We couldn't pass the opportunity. One of the sister missionaries started filming. Elder Aragon grabbed a Law of Chastity pamphlet and I got a Book of Mormon. We decided to be preachers to. Elder Aragon started going a little ways down from the preacher, but not too far. He was preaching and talking about how everybody was going to be burned unless you lived the commandment (as a good preacher does). Then, I busted in with the good ole Jacob 2:35. But I read and explained it in English. Everybody turned to me and watched me as a North American in Guatemala preaching in English. It was so hilarious. The Zone Leaders couldn't handle it, so they like ran away and were dying laughing. They have watched the video at least 20 times.

This area is so awesome right now. So many people showing great potential. The Lord is going to start the ball rolling here again because we already see it starting. It's fun to be in the office as Executive Secretary because you learn new things each day. I'm learning really a lot of things that I'll be able to apply in my life that other missionaries don't learn while just being in the field. I've learned to be a problem solver and just get things done. It doesn't matter who I have to call, I call them (even if it be the Area 70!). When things go wrong, I'm depended on to get it right. When things go right, nobody thinks twice. Yes, I make mistakes, but it's fine. There's always a way to fix it, even if it's humbling yourself and apologizing. It's interesting how the Lord works in His missionaries. I love that I can see it.

Things are crazy. Life's good. I'm safe and healthy. The church is true. My testimony grows every day.

Love y'all!

--Elder Hunt

Email from July 20

It's almost hard to think about what has happened lately. Things have been pretty crazy...and slow and boring at the same time. I've had a lot of extra time to read church talks and study the doctrine, so that's really fun. Really, I've been able to learn quite a bit so it's nice.

On Sunday, we had a baptism!

​Her name is Heidy and she's the miracle that started on the 22nd of June when she just 'wandered' into the church. Her family (parents and siblings) are all against her decision to be a member of the church. Apparently, they're Catholics. Just for going to church on Sunday, they threatened to throw her on the street with nothing but her clothes (she's 22). So she attended church in secret and was baptized in secret also. But while we were outside taking this picture, a family friend saw her but didn't say anything at the moment. This family friend went and told her parents. When she got home that night, her parents started hitting her for the decision she knows is right-the decision to follow Christ. Because of her choice to enter in to the waters of baptism, she has been shunned and beaten by her family. It breaks my heart, but God has a special purpose for her. She is a great example of having a testimony and never denying it. Heidy's so new in the church, but her testimony is already so strong. Her boyfriend and his whole family came down to see her baptism, so it was amazing. With Satan trying his hardest to get her to deviate, she stayed strong and will continue to stay strong. It's fantastic.

At times, we get bored in the office. When we get bored...this happens:

​It's self explainatory, right? I figure it is. We now have new wall decorations :)

It's hard to be away from home for births of nieces and nefews, but there's no other place I'd rather be. I know that when I get home, there will be two new members to the family that I haven't met yet, so that's way exciting. As part of my job, I go to the airport to get missionaries that come home and see missionaries come home to their super excited family. Each and every time, it makes me baggy. hahah. Being in the office is just so baggy, life is so different. Missionaries that speak Spanish go to different countries and come back with foreign accents and I start talking to them using Chapin frases or words and they love it. Today, I talked to a girl and she was so shocked and happy to hear the word/sound ''va''. She just lit up with a smile. It was fantastic.

I love being here in the office. I have the privilege to get to know just about every missionary. When I go to meetings of conferences, everybody knows who I am and I know who everybody is. It's really let me have more fun because I have to be social whether I want to be or not.

By the end of this week, I'll only have like 9 more months left in the mission. I can't even imagine life after. Waking up and not having a set schedule for every 30 minutes of the day? Will I be able to take naps? Will I be able to watch that thing that has pictures that light up and can be controlled by a remote, also known as a tv? Wait, there are artists besides MoTab? I have really adapted the mission as my life. I've stopped complaining about rules and have started complaining about disobedience. Everything here has it's order. Why? Dios es un Dios de orden! When people are lost with nothing to do, they are not fulfilling their calling. They are not anxiously engaged in a good cause. It is a constant process to be better and to progress. We are eternal beings, so we believe in eternal progression. Each day, we can always be better- that must be our quest.

The church is true. Christ Lives.

--Elder Hunt

Email from July 14

I am so tired of fast food. Being Executive Secretary, things are different. We eat pizza like 2 or three times a week, eat McDonalds or Wendy's all the time. I've started to bring in my lunch, but I feel so unhealthy. On top of all the bad food, there is hardly any exercise time. I get up extra early and go to bed later than normal. (For example, today I got up at 3:30, but I'll get to that.) I've already planned out for after the mission. I imagine that I'll be home for like 6 weeks before starting BYU again in June. I'll get home 30th of April and start summer semester for sure. Six weeks to get myself back in shape...more or less. We need to make sure we have Insanity at home because I will start it my first day back. If you wanted, you could start making a list of things to do my first day: get signed up for a gym.

Anyway, a missionary just got here to the field a week ago and had to return home (for medical problems). But, he was sent to one of the farthest places from the capital. He had to present himself in the airport at 7:40 in the morning. So my companion and I got up at 3:30 and left a little before 4:30 to go and get him and bring him all the way back in to the airport here in the capital. That was so early! I feel like I get more tired just sitting in a car than I do actually working and preaching the good word of God.

These past few weeks have been so hectic and upbeat, it's been hard to keep my head straight. Everything from President Brough leaving to President Markham coming to change meeting. Now, it's my moment to breathe. These past couple of days, I've put myself pilas here in the office so I am not stressed, I'm actually ahead of schedule. It feels nice. It lets me handle whatever kind of emergency that might come up--and in this mission, that often happens.

Right now, I appreciate church talks and what not. I'm right now reading Lectures on Faith that was written way back in 1835. It is some really good and has made me think of some really good stuff. I would appreciate maybe a mini collection of Teachings by Prophets books. If you wanted, you could have the one for Joseph Smith and Brigham Young out there waiting for me. Good Sunday afternoon reading material I'd say.

Wow, this week, I finished 14 months. I can't even believe it. The number of months remaining is getting so small so fast. Right now, it's like 9.5. That's under 10 months!? Honestly, I feel like I've forgotten how it will be to live in America again. Where things are clean and organized...and in English. I'll miss Spanish for sure. Since driving here in Guatemala, I've figured that I might cause a few wrecks back in the States. I won't get in the wreck, but here, if you don't drive aggressively, you don't drive. It's super fun, almost like a video game.

To help me with my emails here, y'all should ask questions. They'd help me know what to say and also help me remember what has been happening these past few days.


I love y'all. I pray for y'all. I make sure to use the word y'all as much as I can. My companion now says it. Go South!

---Elder Hunt