April 24?!

There's no way it is already April 24!  Time goes by wayyyyyy toooooooo quickly.  Wow. 

So, I am not sure if I had told you about Nico yet.  He is one of our investigators that we obtained my third week here or so.  We taught him a little (with Elder Price) but didn't really get anywhere.  But, when we visited him just this last week, Elder Josse asked him a few really good questions and he just opened up like a book.  When Elder Price was here, he told us he knew baptism was important, but never had the desire to do it.  Turns out, he has been baptized three times in his life.  First, Catholic, when he was a baby.  Second, into a Christian church while he was in jail. (The people that were baptized in that church while in jail got more priveleges than other inmates) Third, some church pastor told him if he got baptized in that church, all his life's problems would disappear.  Obviously, that didn't happen.  Since then, Nico hasn't had much interes en bautismo.  Then, we had another leccion with him a few days later and he opened up again!  Turns out, Elder Price and I didn't even scratch the surface of his life.  He's had a difficult life, but he wants to change and be a better person.  He's a really cool guy.  He lives up in this city called Trabuco Canyon which is basically out in the middle of nowhere.  To arrive to his house, we have to drive up this super cool road that is exactly like Utah!  It looks like driving up the canyon or something!  It's beautiful.  And, I guess the steakhouse Nico lives by is super famous too. 

Also, I am not sure if I have told you about Araceli either.  We contacted her about 2/3 weeks ago, on Friday.  At first, she was really hesitant and didn't want to set up an appointment with us.  But, then she did anyways.  (she is catholic)  That next Sunday, she was in church and realized that she didn't have any reason not to meet with us because she had nothing to lose.  So, she met with us and she really likes everything.  She is very worried about her family (husband and a 2 year old)  in this crazy, crazy world and really likes how the Church focuses on the families.

And... Elder Toronto came with us!  YAY!  Elder Toronto is going home in 2 weeks :( same with Elder Gibbons :( and Elder Josse and I are pretty sure I will be leaving Rancho at the end of the transfer too.  Reason being is that Elder Josse goes home next transfer.  And since they most likely won't white wash (have two new missionaries come in our place) and I most likely won't be staying two more transfers after this one.  So, I don't know if that made sense or not.  But, we both think I am leaving the end of this transfer.  Which is sad :( I love Rancho!

So, Sunday night and Monday, we had exchanges with the zone leaders!  Yay!  I love doing exchanges with English missionaries, because then I get all the spanish contacts ;) jaja.  I went with Elder La Follette again, like last transfer.  He is super cool.  Super good missionary.  He goes home soon too :( Everyone is going home!

We had a lesson with Enrique right after church on Sunday.  He is so prepared and excited to be baptized!  Oh man, it's so cool to see that change in someone's life!  He is a lot more happy than before, and it's all because he now knows the truth about the Gospel!  

Yesterday, I got to see... Elder Nealy!!!  YAY!  Him and his companion had interviews to do and so Elder Josse had to come and do them.  I miss Elder Nealy.  Elder Simmons and him are in the same district now!  Lucky!  And this Saturday, Enrique is having his interview for baptism, and so Elder Finan (Elder Nealy's companion) has to come and do the interview, so I get to see Elder Nealy again!  YAY! 

Time has gone by so quickly this transfer.  It seems just like a week ago Elder Josse came... But that was a month ago!  OMJ!  And tonight, finally get to teach English class again!  Recently, Elder Josse has been scheduling teaching appointments over English classes, which wasn't good, but now we have worked it out and so we take turns with English classes and teaching appointments, switching off.  As for being an English teacher for a job, I still have no clue!

Yeah, I received the Easter package!  Thanks!  We receive mail on Mondays (our district meeting day) every week. So, it wasn't super late :)

Do you know the name of the Elder serving in Georgia?  Elder Josse (his name is Matthew, if that helps) says there are a LOT of missionaries serving out of his ward. 

Yeah, most of my friends right me.  Sometimes they aren't very consistent (BROCK), but they write :)

I am preparing a package to send home with a few things and I will put my SD card in it so you can see all the pictures!  I don't take as many as I should :( But, I will start taking more!

The weather has been lousy the last few days :( cold and rainy :(  it looks like it's turning good now though!  Sunshine!  I love sunshine!

I use my bag everyday!  I haven't used the bladder part yet though... Since we have a car, we just carry water bottles around.  Hopefully soon I will be able to use it though!  I still wish we could wear backpacks though... That would be much easier!  My clothes are holding up very well.  One pair of my pants broke, but one of the members fixed it for me :) the members here are so awesome!  Also, what do I do if something does break?  Take a picture and send it to you?  Or what?  I haven't needed to use my card recently.

Well, looks like that's it!  Have a super fantastic week!  Love you!

Love, Elder Hunt

Elder Nelson! THE APOSTLE.

Wow.  What a week. 

So, last Tuesday, like always (except tonight), English classes!  You probably already know, but I LOVE ENGLISH CLASSES.  The people that come are so cool!  And, while they are trying to learn English, I am trying to learn Spanish, so we all help each other learn.  It's so cool.

Last Wednesday and Thursday, President Cook had a mission wide training.  So, since Elder Josse is District Leader, he had to go.  So, I got put in a threesome with Elder Chavez and Elder Gibbons!  YAY!!!  Oh man, it was so awesome.  They are such good missionaries.  On Wednesday, we did a bunch of work in my area.  While we were out contacting in one of the complejos around here, there was this lady standing in her window, making a book shaped form with her fingers.  I had no idea what she was doing, so she came outside, and asked us if she could have a Libro de Mormon!  WHAT?!  She said she had read a little before, and wanted to read more.  It was so weird.  So, we gave her one, and she told us to come back the next Saturday (this Saturday).  Hopefully something turns out!  We also set up an appointment with a 15 year old kid named Edgar.  Then, on Thursday, we went and worked in the other Elder's area.  They had a lot of less active and recent convert lessons to do.  Then, after we had all their lessons, we went to teach Edgar.  Elder Gibbons said he had the impression to stay quiet the whole time, and so Elder Chavez and I taught the whole lesson!  It was in English though...  But, it was actually my 100% first first full lesson I have taught while in the mission field.  Not my first lesson, but my first first lesson.  If that makes sense.  Like, the first time I taught the Restoracion to someone.  It was pretty cool.  Also, on Thursday, we went to like, 5 different cities!  Rancho Santa Margarita, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Trabuco Canyon and Laguna Hills!  (The other Elders have an investigator there)  It was a pretty exciting day.

Just wait, it gets better.  On Friday, we had two lessons.  At 6:30.  Two lessons at the same time?!  How could we ever accomplish that?!  But, wait.  We did.  We called some of the members to go on splits with us.  I went with an investigator named Enrique.  (if I have not told you about him yet, he was investigating the Church about 5 or 6 months ago and then stopped because he thought the rules were too strict.  And before Elder Price's companion before me left, he gave him a revista of General Conference from October 2011.  Enrique read the whole thing and he knew it was true!  Then, he gave it to his friend, his friend read it, and his friend told Enrique, "I think we are in the wrong church (Catholic church).  This is the true church (our church)."  So yeah, that's Enrique).  Enrique told us last week he had doubts about getting baptized because he didn't want to return to his old ways after being baptized.  The member that came with me, Hermano Garfias, IS SO COOL.  He was baptized about 3 years ago.  He told Enrique you have to live life day by day.  I didn't understand 100% what was going on, but we invited him to be baptized on 5 de Mayo and he ACCEPTED!!!  WOO!!! PARTY! (not really, I'm a missionary).  But, it was so cool.  And he came to church on Sunday and really liked it!  Since he had investigated before, he had a few friends, and they all welcomed him back with open arms!  It was so cool.  And while I was with Enrique, Elder Josse was with Hermano Herrera in another lesson.  It was a lesson with a lady that we contacted about a week ago.  Elder Josse said that they were so prepared!  He thinks they will be getting baptized too, before the end of the transfer.  That would be so cool!  Especially since the area I am in hasn't seen a baptism for almost a year...  But, we will definitely be having one this next month!  WOO!

You thought Friday was good?  Saturday was LEGENDARY.  Elder Russell M. Nelson, Elder Donald Halstrom (Presidency of the Seventy) and Elder Haynie (Seventy)  came to visit us!  W. O. W.  I have never met an Apostle before!  It was so cool.  Like, just seeing an Apostle and feeling the Spirit he brings... WOW.  So awesome.  And we sat on the front row of the chapel, so and he was just right there!  Man.  It was so cool. 

The week still isn't done.  On Sunday/Monday, Elder Josse went to the other area of the other Elders and... Elder Gibbons came here!  YAY!  Elder Gibbons actually dies the end of this transfer... :( Same with Elder Toronto :(  Elder Gibbons has Elder Chavez believing that he only has 14 months in the mission.  So, at transfer meeting at the end of this transfer, Presidente Cook is going to call Elder Gibbons up as part of the departing missionaries, and Elder Chavez's mind is going to be blown!  I hope I get to go to that transfer meeting!  Elder Gibbons is so cool.  And he is such a good missionary.  On Sunday night, we were contacting, and Elder Gibbons was talking to someone and I was just listening, and then this other guy came walking by us, and I went to talk to him!  And we talked for like, 15 minutes!  IN SPANISH.  I love Spanish.  It was so cool. 

This is the coolest part of the whole email though.  Listen.  On Monday, Elder Gibbons and I went to Burger King to eat lunch.  I was driving (YAY!) and we went to the drive thru.  And I ordered... IN SPANISH. 

And today, had district activity.  Wasn't that a good week?

Elder Josse tells me he is in Cedar Hills 1st Ward.  Do you know anyone in that ward?  He came out the same time Elder Price did, so he's dying in the end of June. 

I am super excited to get back and talk to everyone in Spanish!  Who all speaks Spanish?

We got a new phone book the other day, and I looked up Brigg and Janet and they live like, 5 minutes away from our chapel that we go to. (if I found the right person)  That's so crazy they live so close!

I got a call from President Cook this morning about what happened with Grandpa Steele.  Today has been hard, but, I am so thankful for the Gospel that we have.  I know that where he went is a better place, and that we will all see him again.  How is everyone doing?  How's Grandma? 

Tell everyone they need to get better and stop being sick!

And, I think that's it for this week.  I hope you have a marvelous week!  Love you all!

Love, Elder Hunt

Pictures: practicing my doorstep greeting, Garfias kids, Elder Gibbons

Elder Josse!

Oh man.  What a week!  My new companion is Elder Matthew Josse from Cedar Hills, Utah!  He came in the mission the same time as Elder Price did, so he has been out a while.  He went on Heritage Tours too!  Just the year before me.  He is such a good companion.  Elder Price had a hard time contacting people, and so I had a problem too.  But, I was praying for a companion that was super good at contacting, like Elder Toronto, and I got one!  He is not afraid to talk to anyone about anything.  And he has really pushed me to do it too.  Like, last Thursday, we were sitting in the car, calling potentials, and a family drove up to their house, returning from buying groceries.  Elder Josse was on the phone with someone, so he told me to go and contact the family.  I thought, "OMJ.  I cannot do that!"  But, I did it!  It was so cool.  All in Spanish too!  Man.  I love Spanish.  These past few weeks, Spanish has really been clicking in my head.  Things that didn't make sense before, make 100% sense now.  It's so cool.  We are so blessed to be here learning Spanish.  My mind is blown all the time when our district gets together, because we are all a bunch of white kids (except Elder Chavez, he's Mexican) speaking Spanish to each other!  It's so cool.  Another thing Elder Josse is teaching me during contacting is splitting up.  When I was with Elder Price, I would always stay with him and talk to the same person as him.  But, Elder Josse has encouraged me to split up when other people walk by, so we can get more contacts and talk to more people.  That has really helped as well. 

So, Elder Price got moved to English work and went to Carlsbad.  It was really weird because a few weeks before, he asked President Cook if he could send his English stuff home, and President Cook said yes.  Then, at transfer meeting, Elder Price got called into English work!  So, he is an English missionary, with no English materials!  I am in the same apartment with Elder Josse now.  Elder Josse and I get along really good.  He is such a hard worker and I have so many things to learn from him. 

I did receive the blanket!  Thank you!  It's perfect!  And sending those mangoes was probably a mistake... I am addicted now!  They are soooooo good...  That was the last package that I had received.

Sounds like you had a good Easter!  Easter here was church, then out talking to people.  Not much, but it was still really fun!  Where do Brigg and Janet live?  They probably live in a different stake.  With the Spanish ward we have here, it covers 3 different stakes.  Elder Josse and I cover the RSM (Rancho Santa Margarita) stake; Elder Gibbons and Elder Chavez cover the Mission Viejo stake; and Hermana Allsop (she's new too!)  and Hermana Kohrman cover the Laguna stake.  And so, the English missionaries in their area are ones I have never met or seen.  I have only been down to the Laguna area once, to drop off Elder Toronto with someone else.  That's exciting they live so close though!  It's too bad I can't see them :( 

Spring Break is this week here too!  How exciting! 

For the special Easter thing the Church was doing, President Cook allowed us all to get on Facebook to write a comment.  I didn't think it would have been so tempting to look at everything else on Facebook!  It's changed a lot in the past five months!  It was really cool to see some comments made on that website.  It was a really good way to have others see mormon.org too.  It was only over the weekend, but we had a lot of people go there!  Almost everyone we talked to!

I really hope everything is okay at home!  Sounds like Dad and Jaxon are going through some rough times...  I have them in my prayers every night.  And everyone else at home too!

Tell Gordon thanks for his wedding announcement and tell him congrats for me!  I got it sometime last week, but after I did email.

Grandma and Grandpa are on their way to Martin's Cove today?!  Wow!  That's so exciting!  I was going to reply to the letter they sent me a while ago, but I guess that would be pointless now haha.  Do they have an address up there where I can send them mail?

So, yeah.  That's all I have this week.  Have a fantastic week!

Love, Elder Hunt

P.S.  Sending mangoes was not a mistake.  I was kidding.  Send more :) please :)

Lo siento, more pictures

District picture

Elder Gibbons, Elder Price, Elder Chavez, Hermana Kohrman, Hermana Ortiz and me!

Elder Price and I

In a few weeks, I will send you my SD card!  It takes a long time to upload pictures... :(  But, my SD card will have a lot!  Is there any type of specific pictures you want? 

New companion - almost (tonight)

So, later today is transfer meeting.  Elder Price is leaving :(  We have had a few rough patches during the last 3 months, but we have gotten together very well these last few weeks.  It's really sad seeing him go, because he's my trainer.  But, God has a purpose for everything!  I don't know whom my next companion is; we will find out tonight! 

We had a pretty cool experience in English classes last week.  We start the class all together and then split up the groups with individual missionaries.  Elder Price went with one of his former investigators, Enrique.  Enrique was investigating the Church about a month before I came in, and then he stopped before I came too.  But, Elder Christensen (Elder Price's old companion before me) gave Enrique a copy of the General Conference Liahona from last Conference.  And on Thursday, Enrique told Elder Price that he had read the entire magazine and knew all of it was true and he wanted to start investigating.  Also, after reading, Enrique gave it to his friend, his friend read it, and he knew it was true too.  Enrique's friend told him, "I think we are in the wrong church." haha.  So, that was pretty cool.  We are going to try to teach Enrique before English classes. 

General Conference was so good!  I wish I would have paid more attention to it before the mission...  Before, it was like, "Yeah... General Conference is so cool...".  But, now, it's more like, "YEAH!!!! I LOVE GENERAL CONFERENCE!!! I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL NEXT TIME!!! WOO!!! GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!"  It really helps to take notes too.  General Conference was so good!  It was really different watching it in a chapel.  There was not very many people there.  (hopefully they were all watching it at home ;) )  It was mostly just us missionaries in our zone, and maybe four or five other people.  General Conference was so good. 

So, with the Post Office thing, we aren't allowed to give out our real addresses :( But, we should be getting mail once a week.  Hopefully.  That's what they told us yesterday.  Plus, at transfer meetings (today) they give out a lot of mail too.  So, I should be getting that package today!

Marking the Book of Mormon with different colors helps so much.  Not only does it help investigators, but it helps ourselves too.  The only thing I don't recommend is coloring EVERYTHING.  Like, right now, I am in 3 Nephi with Christ.  And, as you know, Christ is talking pretty much the entire time.  And now, 3 Nephi is entirely blue.  Almost.  It has taken so long.  Joseph Smith probably translated the Book of Mormon faster than I have colored it.  Once I am done with my copy, I will send it home so you all can see it!

I did see Elder Archuleta!  That was so cool!  It would be so crazy to be his companion.  Before I left the MTC, all the Elders in my zone were joking about how David Archuleta's companion was going to have a lot of girls around him all the time haha.  It's really cool that he is in the MTC now!  You will have to tell me where he's going when you find out.  What langauge was his nametag in?

Amanda Peterson is going to Lubbock?!  Is that where Kyler is?  Is she English or Spanish?

You'll have to tell me when Spencer gets his call!  Devon is about to turn in his papers too.  So exciting! (they are all going Spanish speaking, I can feel it) ;)

I don't hear from anyone except family and a few friends :(

I haven't seen any place called Carmelitas around here... Or maybe I have, and I just don't know where!  I will keep an eye out for it!

The weather here has been pretty normal lately.  Thank goodness.  But, now that I said that, it is going to change.  I guarantee it.  These past two weeks have been wonderful, but before that, it was like one day was sunny and warm, the next day was rainy and cold and the day after that was almost 90.  And it switched like that for like, three weeks.  It was crazy.  But, better than Utah weather usually is! 

And yeah.  That's all.

Have a fantastic week!

Love, Elder Hunt

Pictures: Elder Toronto, Elder Chavez, messing around with the camera, playing with glowsticks