August 19th, 2011

Hola familia y amigos!

As usual, I don't have much time.  You are all probably surprised at how much I still write even when I say I don't have much time! Whoever gets to the end of my e-mails each week gets a gold star!  Sorry for writing so much :) there's just so much going on here that is so incredible that I have to share!  First of all Happy Birthday to Dave and I think I missed Gary's a few weeks ago also, and Happy Birthday coming up to Missy and Grandpa!  And also Happy Birthday to Paul! Whew.... so many birthdays! Ok... here's the week

 

AWKWARDS, INCOMODOS, Y CHISTES

• just one this week... but it's a good one.  Each Sunday everyone has to prepare a talk on a specific topic and then in sacrament meeting they call 2 people on the spot to give their talks.  Oh and they have to be completely in spanish.  Most people copy sentences from preach my gospel and just read it haha.  But I always just write points in english and make sure I know how to say everything so if I had to give mine I could say it all in Spanish.  So.. this Sunday I was asked to give the opening prayer, so I am thinking 'oh I'm totally covered, they won't ask me to speak'.  For some reason, I wrote my talk quickly and somehow forgot to add any scriptures or quotes.  Yep... you guessed it.  I got called up to speak. Whewww did I learn a lesson about preperation!  I knew how to say most everything... but still butchered some of it.  So that's my great story for the week.... always always always prepare.  I'm pretty sure I had no idea what I was saying while I was giving my talk... I was just translating my sentences from english to spanish.  I also used the word 'ish' in my talk... some of the elders had a great time teasing me for that later.

AWESOMES

• getting to ditch class to get a shot. and then getting to ditch class again that same day to go sit with a sick hermana (we got new hermanas this week!! FINALLY!).  and next week we get to ditch for a travel meeting, and then again to host new missionaries on wednesday! Class is great... but when you have been here nearly 7 weeks, it's nice to have a change :).
• 2. weeks. until. I. fly. to. Argentina. omp omp omp! (o mi palabra)
• this week I started writing in my journal little lessons I have learned for myself... most of which I have learned here.  Things that have strengthened my testimony or parts of my testimony I have gained.  I just want to share a few of those with you:
• it is possible to be surrounded by light and not be changed by it.  It is a choice whether or not you let it into your heart
• The book of mormon is the keystone and iron rod, and we must CLEAVE to it consistently.  Without this consistency it is SO easy to fall and become 'past feeling' just as Laman and Lemuel did. 
• our pride determines how open our hearts are and therefore how much light we will receive and how much progress we will make
• the atonement applies to everyone at any given time in life because it covers, heals, strengthens, and comforts
• repentance is not so much about saying sorry, but more about changing and constantly improving.  If you are recognizing your weaknesses and striving to change them and improve-you are utilizing the atonement.  It is a way of life, not an event.
• Often times we do something and don't even recognize that we are following the Holy Ghost until later.  In them oment it is not important to worry about whether it's the Spirit or yourself.  If you are trying to follow him and doing what's right--and doing whatever you feel is right and good, you will see later those little acts of inspiration thatm ade a big difference.
• There is a difference between having a testimony and being converted (as said by my good friend Bryan Groll).  It is the difference between sacrifice--giving your time and talents; and consecration--giving YOURSELF (which includes your whole heart)
• The object of our gospel--and this life--is CHANGE.  This is done through the atonement and only when your heart is right
• Your greatest work in life is and ever will be YOU
• the secret to success is to 'kick when you don't want to kick, and stroke when you don't want to stroke' (as said by a famous swimmer).  In other words... always be working--especially during those times when it's hardest and seems impossible.  That's what separates the good from the great.  We need to learn to overcome ourselves and overcome our bodies
• It really is possible to love every single person you meet.  If you don't love someone, it's because you don't know when well enough yet. CHARITY. NEVER. FAILETH. 

Ok there are many more but that's all I have time for!  If you made it this far.. woohoo! Good job.  Thanks everyone for all the support!  Only 2 more weeks left in the MTC and then I will be out in the field! Exciting times.  This gospel is incredible and real, and it is Jesus Christ's gospel.  Love you all!!

 

--Hermana Hunt

August 12, 2011

Buenas Tardes!

This week:

 

AWKWARDS, INCOMODOS, Y CHISTOSOS

• So we always practice teaching in class with our companions.  The other day we started practicing with each other and my companion had just fallen asleep so she was totally out of it when we started, and I was the investigator first.  After we were finished we switched and I was supposed to be the missionary, but for some reason I forgot and I thought I was the investigator again so I pretended to open the door and I was just like 'hola!.....' and just sat there. Ok... I think you had to be there but it was SO funny we couldn't stop laughing
• fue un araña en el baño de chicas... we made our teacher (who is a male) go in and kill it for us. it was quite hilarious!
• The other night one of the hermanas who has a guy kinda waiting for her got a package from him with a shirt that he made for her... she spent all of our free time at night making us take pictures of her in it.  She is a way cool girl and is really down to earth and chill, but she was soo giddy it was hilarious, we were laughing all night.
• the other night us hermanas may or may not have missed a little bit of our gym time... .  So we decided to make up for it by stretching together.  My companion was in her bed half asleep and the other 3 of us were all doing this stretch on our closets and walls (it's the one where you lay down and put your legs up and stretch them like in the splits... it is such a good stretch but it looks sooo funny). Anyway... it was pretty hilarious to have us 3 all sitting there.  If someone would have walked in they would have gotten a good laugh.
• Sister Merrill, the wife of one of the men in our branch presidency came to visit us the other night.  The wives are supposed to come at 9:30, but of course she came after 10:00 and stayed until 10:29 which is one minute before our lights out.  She talked to us about the bachelor and politics...  ohhh I wish you all knew her, she is sooo hilarious.  It was a great night.

 

AWESOMES

• the temple! I had a really sweet experience there today.  Every time I go I learn more and understand more
• ok I don't have much time but I just want to share some thoughts from this week.  I have really been thinking about consecration and how we need to consecrate ourselves and give ourselves to the Lord.  Not just our time and our possessions... not just a sacrifice, but a consecration where we literally give our whole selves, where we open our hearts to him, humble ourselves, and follow the guidance of the Holy Ghost to devote everything we are to him.  Awhile back in RS the speaker related our missions to Jesus and the 12 apostles and how they were around the Savior all the time, and Judas still betrayed him.  It seems crazy, but it is so possible and is actually easy to be in such good situations and surrounded by so much light and still not let that light into your life.  The important thing is that it's up to you and your attitude, and if you open your heart to it and let it in, it will completely change you.  So I challenge all of you to make sure your heart is open to the light in your life!  There is light all around us and if we open our hearts to it and let it in, it will create something incredible of us.  By ourselves we can only be the best person that we can be, we can only create a 'great man'.  But with the Lord's help... he can create a God.

 

Thank you everyone for all of your support!! Happy Birthday to Dusty today :) the big 25! So crazy!  Also I hope all of the fam has fun at the Meyer Reunion tomorrow! :) I miss you all.  Keep sendin' the letters... I love hearing from everyone!  I only have 3 and 1/2 weeks left here and then I'm off to Argentina.. so crazy! This gospel is so incredible and life is so wonderful! Ahh. I can't even express it.  Les amo!! :)

 

Love Hermana Hunt

 

P.s. Creager here is your shout out! Man I'm such a good friend, I hope you feel special. :)

 

P.p.s. if your name is Aric Farnsworth or Brittany Bartosiewicz that means that you need to write me ASAP. RIGHT NOW. K thanks. :) K CIAO!

 

 

08-05-2011

Familia y Amigos!

Hola! How is everyone? Man... can you all believe that I am halfway through my time here at the MTC now?  I only have 17 out of my 18 months in my mission left!! Sheeeesh how time flies here!  At the same time it feels like I've been here forever.  Real life is slowing fading away... it almost seems like there was no real life before the mission.  It's so good though, I am changing and becoming much much more focused on what I am here to do.  This week was a big turning point for me.  But I will talk about that in a bit! :)

 

AWKWARDS, INCOMODOS, Y CHISTES

• tripping up the stairs in the huge gym after a devotional. Yep... I lost my shoe.  It was great
• did I talk last week about how I realized I have a hole in the backside of my sweat pants, my leggings, and a hole in the armpit of one of my t-shirts? Yep.... so glad I have been wearing those around in public!
• this week I made the rather large mistake of sharing some personal information with some kids in my zone during lunch... I won't go into detail of what it is but lets just say I get teased now. every. day. without. fail. I guess that's what I get!
• our 'investigator'... the one who prayed for football and food, this week he told us he couldn't be baptized because he's scared of water and doesn't want to drown. bahahaha. he has been our favorite investigator so far :)

 

AWESOMES

•  ah so many awesomes!  Well first off, Gerald Lund (who wrote the work and the glory) spoke at our devotional on Tuesday.  It was incredible!  He talked about faith and the steps to faith, and how we have to open our hearts to the Lord and choose to have faith.  I realized that it is so silly to doubt... what do we have to lose?
• gym time! I have been running during gym (yes everyone.. you heard me.. Linsey Hunt has been running.  Yes every step is painful and miserable just as it always has been {for those of you who don't know I have always hated running} BUT it's not as bad as I thought! :) I actually kinda like it.... weird how the mission changes you :) haha).  This week I made a goal to not eat any desserts.  That obviously went out the window when I got 3 packages that same day filled with enough goodies to last my whole mission :) hahaha
• Packages! 3 in one day! Whew!  Thank you thank you thank you Mom and Missy and Emmeline and Emily! Ahh they were all wonderful.  Don't worry I am sharing all of the food with my roomies.  Miss, the best part was the pictures :) ahhh I miss all of those kids so much! Send as many pictures as you want, all the time!! And Emme and Em... I loved the letter with all of your updates!! Congrats to Catherine on the pregnancy.  Will one of you send me one of your addresses? I want to write you guys back! :) Also everyone who wrote me this week-thanks for all of the wonderful letters!!
• The talk 'The Fourth Missionary'.  I haven't finished it yet but it has already changed my whole mission, and life!! (thanks sooo much Krista G. for sending it!! And for the adorable notepad, I have already been using it a lot! You are so sweet! Tell your fam hi!)  I have been learning A LOT this week about our duty in life, and how we need to decide who we want to be, and be that person.  We are in complete control of ourselves and we have the ability to literally do ANYTHING we want to do and be ANYONE we want to be with the help of the Lord.  This week I have really began to lose focus on things back home, and the real life, and have really started to give my whole self to the Lord and dedicate every second and every thought to him and this work.  It is incredible the power we all have as individuals and the ability we have to gain control over ourselves by being obedient to the commandments.  They don't bind us, but make us free because we gain strength and power over ourselves.  Sorry I am rambling and am all over the place!  But this week was so awesome, I have learned so much and have already been changed so much!  Here are some great quotes from the week:
• "Your life's greatest work is YOURSELF.  What are you going to do about it?"
• "You not only CAN but DO change all the time.  To believe that weaknesses and deficiencies in your character are unchangeable is to reject the central truth of the plan of salvation.  You are right now the sum total of what you have thought, said, seen, heard, and done.  You are responsible for who you are and you are responsible for who you will become"
• "Selective obedience isn't obedience at all"

Ok familia.. no more time.  But all I have to say is that this gospel is absolutely true and is absolutely incredible.  It truly is the only way... I hope you all take your callings in this life seriously.  It is SO easy to fall, and it is SO important to stay steadfast.  Most importantly, it is SO important to have charity, to love every person you meet the way that Christ loves them.  Charity Never Faileth!  We all have an incredible power inside of us and combined with the help of the Lord we can do literally anything.  Each person has the power to change the entire world.  Don't make excuses for yourself, you and the Lord are the only 2 who really know how well you're doing and how hard you're trying.  Reach up to your potential, and never forget how high your potential really is!!  You are all incredible.  Thank you so much for your examples, your strength, and your support!  Never settle for less than what you're worth... you all mean the world to me and you all have the power to be whoever you want to be.  You are all amazing!  LES AMO! :)

 

--Hermana Hunt

 

Me with Sister Bowen, from our Branch Presidency 

                                                      Our group at the temple