7-16-2012

Hey fam and friends!
First of all, I need to give a big BIENVENIDO to my new nephew Cache!!! Congrats Dusty and Al on your first baby!! I am so excited for you guys and hope all goes well with your cute new little family. 

All is going well here and we are working hard.  We had interviews with President this week which went really well... he is a great president and always makes me feel better when I am down about some aspect of missionary work.  Lets see... what happened this week.... well, my companion slipped in some mud and completely biffed it, and then a few days later she got bit by a dog. Hahah, poor girl! I feel like everything is always happening to my companions.  Whenever someone is sick or gets hurt we are supposed to call our mission president`s wife Hermana Heyman, and I told her I feel like I am always the one calling her, but for my companions.. not for me. Hahah I don´t know how I always get so lucky! So far I haven´t had any accidents and I haven`t been really sick.  I am starting to conclude that maybe I just don´t take care of my companions like I should and that´s why they always get hurt or sick...?

So I am needing mission advice from anyone and everyone, please.  This area is still a little bit difficult and the branch here is not very strong.. it seems like every week someone else is going inactive.  I think there are a lot of underground problems here and a lot of people who don´t get along, get offended, and end up leaving the church, which is leaving us with a million inactives and the only actives are recent converts, which can´t hold up the church because they are brand new and they need the support of the members.  It has been a challenge trying to find the balance between helping the branch stay standing up and working on our first priority which is finding people who don´t have the gospel yet and helping them recieve it.  Any advice from anyone? It would be greatly appreciated.

Well... time is moving along, somedays fast, somedays slow, but asi es la misión.  I hope you all are doing well and are enjoying life.  Take care!

--Hermana Hunt

7-09-2012

Dear fam and friends!

Sorry this is going to be really short.  The week was great though! Training is good... I am really enjoying it and my companion and I get along really really well! We are going to be good friends for life I think... we have a lot in common and sometimes make jokes that we are the same person only versions from different countries, haha.  All is well here.  We have some investigators that are progressing here and there but very slowly, and a few that have big obstacles, but we are doing all we can to help them move forward.  This week everyone in our branch was teasing me because I´ve been here for so long, even though really this is only my 4th transfer here I think it´s just because every couple of weeks I show up with a new companion, haha (I´ve had 7 different companions here in one area!).  Our branch president told me that they were going to just put my name on the member register as part of the branch, hahah.  Well... a lot is going on here as usual, but it´s all just the normal mission stuff! I am loving life and enjoying the mission--all of the ups and downs, because there are definitely a lot of both, but it´s all so worth it!  I hope everyone has a fabulous week!!

--Hermanita Hunt

07-01-2012

Elders McClellin and Bartholomew with new companions

Holding a frog

Kissing a frog!

Hermana Hunt with Miquel and his wife

A spider in my water bottle - we find a few of these a day!

Axel's Baptism

Hermana's Shoaf and Hunt

New Companion, Hermana Medina

Hermana Hunt with Sandra and her family

Trying to fix the broken key

Sandra's family with CTR rings

Well well, it was a week of fun, excitement, drama, and surprises!  We got transfer calls on Tuesday night, thinking that for sure we would both stay or MAYBE I would leave.  We were both very surprised when the first thing Elder Robinson said was that Hermana Shoaf was going to Resistencia Barrio 3.... and after that, he ended with ´y Hermana Hunt, está entrenando!!!´ (in english that means I´m TRAINING!!!).  I was pretty shocked!! So... well, yep! I´m training! Haha. I have a cute little greeny she is a cute porteña from Buenos Aires Capital and her name is Hermana Viviana Medina.  She is WAY awesome and basically came pre-trained... I think I am learning a lot more from her than she is from me!  We get along really well and have a great time together, and work well together.  So it looks like I will be staying here in Formosa for at least another 2 transfers! Since I only have 4 transfers left I may even stay here until I end, or I may go to another area for my last 2 transfers, or I may leave after this transfer and someone else will come and finish training Hermana Medina, which is happening pretty often lately.  I guess we´ll see! Anyway... here are some highlights of the week:

AWKWARDS INCOMODOS Y CHISTOSOS

• I sent a few pictures, one of which is a cute little red and yellow spider I trapped in my water bottle. Don´t worry... I find at least one or two of these in our pension every day. Man I sure love spiders...
• I also sent another picture of my with 2 knives and our door. Hahah so what happened is that we have 2 keys, one to our front door and one to our gate, and Hna. Medina put the one to the gate in our front door just to leave it there when we walked in the house. So I, thinking that it was the right key, shut the door and tried to lock it before going to bed.  It turned once, and then wouldn´t turn anymore, and then got stuck inside of our door and we couldn´t get it out. So we trying turning it and pulling it and it didn´t work, so I finally yanked, and the key broke... leaving the end inside of the door still, and leaving us locked inside! Hahah. We tried to do an operation with knives to the push the end of the key out and it wouldn´t budge. Finally I used tweezers and got it out... but the lock inside much have broken because it still wouldn´t lock all the way or unlock.  The next morning we had to call our dueño and he did some surgery on the key and fixed it, haha.  Luckily we were finally able to open our door and leave to work!
• Another funny story, so Hermana Medina and I were talking about one of our investigators and how we want to work with her daugther because she (the mom) is really worried, and I was telling her a story about how last week with Hermana Shoaf she went off with us for a half hour about her daughter and how she is worried about her and thinks she´s pregnant and how she has been wearing a scarf every day and she peeked under her scarf while she was sleeping and found hickeys and all this stuff.... so the problem is that there are 2 similar words in castellano, chupón means hickey, and chupetín means sucker (like the candy that you eat). I had learned the word for hickey before so I already knew it, but for some reason chupetín was coming out of my mouth instead of chupón, hahaha. Hermana Medina sat there pretty confused about why our investigator was making such a big deal about finding suckers hidden under her daugther´s scarf... hahaha! When she finally figured it out and told me I was saying it wrong, we sat there laughing for a good 5 minutes. Ohhhh spanish :)

AWESOMES

• well there were a lot of changes this transfer, so everything is different but it´s good! Hermana Blatter who was in the mtc with me is going to Lavalle, my old area!! I was so so excited for her, and on the bus ride to Resistencia I made sure to tell her all of the people she had to take care of and all of the places she needed to eat, haha. In Resistencia we met up with Elders McClellin and White who were also in our mtc district, and then in Resistencia when I went to pick up my greeny, Elder McClellin and Bartholomew were both there picking up their trainees too! We took a picture together which I sent.  It was definitely fun seeing all of them!
• Also, although I am really sad because Hermana Juarez left, I am also excited because Hermana Green came to Formosa and we are in the same zone!  We saw each other at church on Sunday and I think we spent 5 minutes hugging because we were so excited to see each other haha.  She told me all about everyone in Posadas.  I was especially excited to hear that my converts Ramona and Lucas and their family are doing good, and that Ramona is serving in the Relief Society presidency already, even though she doesn´t know how to read or write.  There is nothing that makes me more happy than to know that those people that I care about so much not only have been able to get baptized, but have been able to stay firm in their decision to be baptized and stay strong in the gospel afterwards.  Baptisms are really special and there is always a really great spirit there, but the real test to see whether or not the person has made a change is if they stick with it, and the gospel really changes them.  I am so happy to see my converts staying strong in the church still and partaking of the blessings and changes that come from the gospel through out their lives, not just before and during their baptism.
• Here in Formosa I have also been able to see my converts continue in church and stay strong.  Maria and her family come every week without fail and are so so awesome... always on time, always willing to help with anything and participate in everything.  Maria´s husband bears his testimony every fast sunday and this last week his little son Mati even went up there with him, it was so adorable.  Their boys are definitely future missionaries.  Also I forgot to mention last week but after the baptisms of Jorge and Miguel, last week they were able to bless and pass the sacrament.  Even though they struggled a little bit and didn´t know exactly what they were doing, haha, it was such a special experience.  They both come to church every week now and are a big strength to the other members for their courage and testimonies.  We are teaching Jorge´s mom and I am shocked in every lesson because we ask a question and Jorge just shoots the answer out in a second.  He is only 13 and he knows everything about the gospel so well!! He is such a strength to his mom and we are really hoping she will be able to keep going strong and get baptism... so far he has been the key in her conversion.

Well, I think that´s about it! It was definitely a busy and crazy week, but all is well! Things are slowly but surely improving here in Parque and I am enjoying missionary life.  This week I officially hit my one year mark, which really is just crazy.  Crazy how fast the time flies, although I kind of feel like I have been a missionary my whole life and there just wasn´t life before! Haha.  Thanks everyone for your support, I love and miss you all and continue to pray for you all! CHAUCITO!

--Hermanita Hunt

6-25-2012

6-25-2012

Well well, it was a pretty great week! All is well here... we had a baptism this week of Axel, he is the cutest little chubby 8 year old you have ever seen! He is the little brother of 2 members but his parents aren´t members so we were in charge of teaching him and baptizing him.  Seriously I have never seen a little kid so excited to be baptized!! He is so dang adorable.  So we have had a great week working with him and his family.  Their favorite hymn is ´Siembra Gozo´ which is the hymn Scatter Shunshine, but they always sing ´siempre agosto, siempre agrandar´ instead of ´siembra gozo, siempre al andar´ hahah. Those little kids are just so dang cute! I´ll try and send pictures. Transfers are this week so we´ll see what happens! I´ve been here for 3 transfers so there is a chance I will go but it´s more likely that I will stay.  This week I have been focusing a lot on ways I can improve as a missionary and as a representative and disciple of Jesus Christ.  I would love to get any mission advice from all of you! Family, friends, returned missionaries, everyone por favor! :) Lets see what else... sorry it´s a really boring email today! My mind is just blank right now and I can´t really think of what all happened this week, haha. But all is going well! The time is just flying by and I am trying to take advantage of the short time I have left.  A little spiritual thought... today I was reviewing notes from a stake conference we had a few months ago and there was a really good talk that talked about discipleship.  He talked about how the words discipulo (disciple) and disciplina (discipline) have the same roots, and how by being a disciple, we really do have to live a disciplined life... leaving things behind, and letting things go.  But that doesn´t mean we need to perfect already, it is a process that goes step by step, leaving one thing behind at a time.  I have been thinking about that and the things that I need to leave behind to be a better disciple of Christ.  It may be a little bit of a struggle, but it´s always worth it and the happiness and joy that we receive in the end are so incredible that every ounce of sacrifice and struggle ends up being nothing.

Well, I hope you all have an awesome week!! Again.. if there is anything that anyone wants from Argentina, let me know asap so I can keep my eyes out and get it all taken care of early! Thanks so so much for your prayers and letters and support! I love you all!!

--Hermanita Hunt

06-18-2012

Mis Queridos-

Buenas! How is everyone? Well we had an exciting week... here goes:

 

AWKWARDS INCOMODOS Y CHISTOSOS

• Well, not too many this week... except that apparently every night I have been sleep talking in spanish?? Haha. My companion tells me everyday
• Also this week we found a toad (they are all over the place here!) and we picked it up :). Took some pictures.. don´t worry! Too bad this cyber doesn´t have a usb port so I´ll have to send them later!

AWESOMES

• This week we were able to have 2 baptisms, which was awesome!! Jorge who is 13 and has been wanting to get baptized for a year but had to get permission from his mom, and Miguel who has been attending church regularly for 12 years and finally was able to get baptized.  The spirit in both of them were so strong! When Miguel was in the font, I felt the spirit so strongly and even started crying (that is rare for me! I don´t know what has happened but I think my tear ducts are broken because I have hardly ever cried here on the mission haha).  And Jorge was able to be baptized by another 17 year old in the ward which was also really special, and then receive the priesthood the next day.  It was a little crazy running around trying to get everything ready for the baptisms and especially not having credit on our phones so we had to run to everyone´s houses... but all turned out well! (besides starting Jorge´s baptism an hour late because everyone was late, and having to move Miguel´s to a different chapel because we found out an hour before that our font was broken... it´s amazing the obstacles Satan puts in our way!)  I am so so grateful for the opportunity I had to be here for these 2 baptisms and to experience these special occasions.  After all the hard work and long days... it all becomes worth it when we get to witness miracles like these!

 

And now I just need to wish my good old Papa-Bear a FELIZ DIA DEL PADRE yesterday and FELIZ CUMPLE tomorrow!!! I won´t talk about how old he´s turning (57!! he´s almost a senior citizen!) but even though he´s got plenty of gray hairs, he still seems to keep himself young with all of the food fights he starts with the grandkids and all of the silly things he is always doing. :) I have many great memories with my dad, such as daddy-daughter dates at the Little America and the Circus, (also at the Britney Spears concert we went to when I was in 6th grade.. won´t ever forget that one!!) four-wheeler trips, and going up and sitting on his lap in church when he was the bishop.  As I have grown up, I have realized more and more how much I have in common with my dad.  I have inherited many things from him, such as his love for traveling, cottage cheese, movies, photography, and best of all.. cats, and BYU (hahaha!).  No, but really... I am so grateful for him and his incredible example.  I appreciate so much his love and devotion to his family.. he lives his life for each one of us and centers everything he does around us.  He has always been a huge spiritual giant and example in that way, always making sure I am doing what´s right and dating the right guys who are good priesthood holders, etc.  I´m grateful for all of the sacrifices that he has always made and still does make for me every day, and hope that some day I will find a way to repay him.  Thanks for everything dad... LOVE YOU SO MUCH!! :)

 

 

Well... hopefully I´ll be able to send some pictures next week because I have some good ones to send! Hope you all have a fabulous week!! LES QUIERO!

 

--Hermanita Hunt

6-11-2012

Buenas!

It was a good week! Our baptism fell through, but he´ll be getting baptized this Thursday and then we will hopefully be having another one soon. The week has been reaaaally cold. 

You know it´s winter in Argentina when...

-all of the dogs have clothes on

-no one goes outside.  Everyone locks themselves inside... even though it´s not any warmer inside because indoor heating systems don´t really exist here

-you go to bed in 2 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of tights, leggings, sweat pants, a long sleeve turtle neck, a jacket, a hoodie, gloves, and 3 blankets. And you are still cold.

-you have to wear pants underneath your skirt and fold them up, and hope that no one can see them

-no one comes to church because everyone all of the sudden gets sick overnight (for real though! within like 2 days EVERYONE was sick... including my comp! We stayed in for 3 days this week because she was throwing up, haha.. poor girl!)

Who knew it would get this cold in Formosa.. the provincia also known as ´infierno´ (which means hell in spanish because it is so unbearably hot here in the summer)?

Well... all is well! Sorry... not a whole lot going on this week!  The work is moving along and things are going better.  I love my mission! I´m so grateful to be here.  Thanks for all you do!!

--Hermanita Hunt

P.s. for real... whoever wants something from Argentina, you gotta tell me now so I can be looking out! And to all my siblings... I need all of your shoes sizes pronto! Thanks! :)

P.p.s. some pics for you! Us hermanas and me with my comp, me with the Familia Villasanti and also some members after church, and a few pictures of some adorable puppies that I figured you guys would appreciate. :) The first one is this dog that followed us all the way home! We named him Rufio, and I was sitting just inside my apartment trying to give him food and he just climbed right on into my lap and fell asleep. So cute!! Hahaha. The other is a puppy of a family who are members.  Her name is Nieve (snow) and I am in love with her... she is the cutest laziest little chubby puppy in the world!!! Awwww :). Don´t worry, I still have my profound love for animals. :) My companion loves me for it. hahah

6-04-2012

Buenos!

How is everyone? Short email this week... recent updates: 

• we are looking at a couple of baptisms (or at least one) this weekend! Woo hooo! 

• One is named Miguel, he has been investigating the church for 12 years and his divorce FINALLY went through. It is actually a little miracle, because for most of the 12 years he was attending church and just in the last year and a half he stopped going so the hermanas didn´t know him and haven´t been visiting him. Somehow I found his record in our area book.. it should have been in the old area book and I have no idea how it got there in the one we use now, but it was just there and I found it in a random place one day and thought Hey why not.. we should visit him! So we did, and turns out he can finally get baptized after 12 years! He´s a really great man, and we feel really lucky that we are able to be here for his baptism after all of the missionaries that have passed through their family and worked with them
• The other´s name is Jorge. He is 13 and is cousins with a member. All of the hermanas have tried convincing his mom to let him get baptized because he really wants to and she always says no, but she came to church for the first time this week and her heart is changing a lot and is opening up to the idea.  He has perfect attendance in seminary, haha! He is just awesome and we are really excited for them

• in 2 days I complete 11 months in the mission. In one month I complete 1 year. omgomgomgomgomg

Well... that´s pretty much it! haha. Hope all is well at home! I would love to hear from all of you when you get a chance to write! LES QUIERO!!

--Hermanita Hunt