Tapachula

Tapachula is so dang awesome! So let me explain the area.

It’s hot. Like really hot! I’m in a community just outside of the main city of Tapachula called Framboyanes and its great! My comp is Elder Lopez and he is an awesome missionary. I can’t wait to serve more with him. He’s from Mexico City and he’s been out about 1 yr. and 6 mo. A couple of years ago there was a really big flood and washed away about half of our area. There used to be a ton of members here but half of their homes washed away in the flood so basically there is about 50 active members here and a whole lot of work to do. The church building is really nice and pretty big. We also have a Walmart about 20 min away so I’m super stoked about that.

So that’s our area, now about the week . . . .

Monday night I said all the goodbyes to the amazing members and our great investigators, it was hard to say goodbye to some of them, I’m going to miss them a lot.

Tuesday I got up early and took the 5 hr. bus ride from Tonala to Tapachula. When we got to the apartment, I did a tiny bit of unpacking and then we got to work. Our first stop was an investigator named Choncita. She’s really nice and is like 70 years old. She loves our message but she doesn’t really understand the significance of it I think. We’re working hard with her. We stopped by to see a recent convert named Moises (Moses) and he’s so awesome!!! He’s 15 years old and loves the gospel and loves working with us. He accompanied us with some of our lessons this week and he’s got a great testimony.

Wednesday we had district meeting and it was really great to meet all the missionaries, we’ve got a great zone and district. Later we stopped at a less-active member’s house and as we were teaching her about the sacrament, her little 3 year old kid came in the room and said "mom I have to poop" she told him to wait after the lesson but he couldn’t hold it I guess because he did it right in front of us! It was so funny/disgusting but me and my comp were trying not to laugh as the mom was yelling at her kid . . . . just a random story from the mission field for you all.

Friday we were teaching Choncita about the Word of Wisdom and her husband came in and started yelling at us about how not being able to drink coffee is dumb and how we don’t know what we’re talking about. Then their son came in and started defending us and it turned into a pretty heated discussion. Then we bore our testimony and things calmed down really quick. Never underestimate the power of testimony, because of our testimony, the dad calmed down and gave us some beans and rice . . . . I guess that means things are good between us. Anyway it was an interesting night.

Saturday we went to a city called Huixtla to give an interview. It was fun to talk with the members there and be with the other missionarioes. When we got back we stopped by the house of a less active woman and she was a little hesitant to let us in, but then some kids started to throw rocks at us ( I knew missions were tough but I never thought I would be stoned on my mission) so the mom yelled at the kids and let us in the house. Kind of glad we got hit by those rocks because we got to give a great lesson to her.

Sunday church is at 8:00 in the morning but it’s all good because that means we have more time to get out there and teach! It was a great and busy week, I’m still new so I don’t know everyone’s name but basically if you can, pray for these investigators: Ingrid, Choncita, Alejandra, Maria, and Eric.

Sorry it was a quick letter, so much happened this week but so little time to explain it all.

Love and miss you all tons.

Elder Hunt

 

Elder Oaks

This week was one of the best of my mission. I’m just going to touch on the highlights it that’s alright.

Wednesday we went to Oaxaca (the neighboring state that’s still part of our mission) and we had a multi zone activity. It was so legit! We all piled into the back of some pick-up trucks like a bunch of Mexicans . . . . oh wait a minute, we are a bunch of Mexicans . . . . and drove to the ranch of one of the branch presidents. His ranch is right on the ocean. It was so cool! We all got our feet wet, played football, and got extremely sunburned. Sorry mom, I forgot to bring the sunblock, but don’t worry I’m ok, just super black. It was so nice to be together with all the other missionaries. We made it home at about 9:00 PM. It was a tiring day.

Friday we had a noche de peliculas (movie night) at the church and it was a pretty good turnout. There were about 50 people... sadly only 5 of them were investigators but it was still fun! Then Saturday came and it was so awesome. Ready?

We woke up at 5:00 to be in Tuxtla by 8:30. We piled everyone from the zone into a combi and took off at around 7:00. The combi had 15 seats. There are 20 missionaries in the zone. But it’s Mexico, so we shoved everyone in the combie and off we went. Super fun. We got to the church said our hellos to the other missionaries and waited for the apostle of the Lord, Elder Oaks, to show up. He arrived at the church at about9:00 and when he entered the room, every one of us received a witness from the Holy Ghost that he is an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. I don’t know how to explain it, but when he entered the room you could just feel it. It brought tears to my eyes.

When he spoke to us, he didn’t have anything prepared, he just followed the Spirit, it was amazing, he said so many great things, and I want to tell you everything, but I’ll just mention the part that I know was meant for me. He said this, and I absolutely loved it: "The Lord will not measure your success by the exercise of someone else’s agency. He will measure your success by the exercise of YOUR agency." It has been a hard 6 months for me. We haven’t had one baptism. Very few of our investigators come to church, sometimes my companion and I don’t really see eye to eye. These past 6 months have been for me a period of purifying and "mountain climbing". I believe the lord gives us mountains to climb so we can become stronger spiritually, so that we can have more faith, so we can trust him more. It’s been hard to not be having much success, but according to Elder Oaks I have been successful because I have tried my hardest, I can honestly say that. This little principle that he taught has changed my perspective on my mission and my life. I know this Church is true. I know God calls Prophets and Apostles in these latter days and thankfully I had the opportunity to hear and see and shake hands with one of them. Jesus is the Christ, God loves us, and I am proud to serve Him on my mission.

After hearing from Elder Oaks we went over to another church building and watched Meet the Mormons" in Spanish. Great movie. If you haven’t seen it, watch it! We hit that American fast food before we came home and got to Tonala at about 9:00. It was a great day.

Sunday night we got the news that I’m being transferred! IM GOIN TO TAPACHULA IZAPA!!!!!! There are tons of pyramids there and a rock that has the Vision of the Tree of Life from the Book of Mormon inscribed on it. I’m stoked!

Love and miss you all so much and can’t wait to hear from you all next week!

Love,

Elder Hunt

 

It's really HOT!!!!

FAMILIA!!!

Yeah... it’s really hot! Everyone here keeps saying it’s going to get hotter and hotter.... why Tonala?! But before I forget, I ate fried fish egg sack this week. Part of me wanted to take a picture but the other part didn’t want to have photo evidence of the awfulness of what I ate. But yeah things are great.

We’ve been really trying to work with the members and less-actives this week. One of the goals for the mission is to have 5 people go to the temple to do the ordinances for their own family members, so we’ve been trying to get them excited for that.

The highlight of this week was our companion exchanges. I went to Ariaga with one of our zone leaders, Elder Aviles! It was really awesome! Their house is so nice! THEY HAVE AC! Basically I had the best night’s sleep since I got to Tonala. It was a great experience working with Elder Aviles. We worked really hard and there wasn’t an hour that went by that we weren’t teaching. We taught and contacted and taught and contacted all day long. We were pooped when we got home... so….we ordered a pizza! Sadly, it tasted like cardboard. Oh Mexico... gotta love it.

One of the great experiences we had was teaching their landlord’s wife. She wants so bad to be a part of this gospel but her husband isn’t very fond of the idea. We taught her the restoration and when she closed the prayer, she was crying. We testified of the spirit and knew that she knows it is true.

We walked about 1.5 or 2 km to a lunch appointment and had to cross a river. It was so legit! I felt like Indiana Jones or something, especially when we arrived and they told us we were eating iguana!!!!!!! Sadly, and I don’t know why, we just ate chicken, but I got pictures of him frying up the iguana. It was awesome. Anyway, we ended our exchanges and went home to teach Josefat. He’s really struggling. We’re praying so hard for him and working really hard with him. I can’t tell you the things he’s done but please pray for him, that he can gain a testimony. He’s reading the Book of Mormon, he’s coming to church, but Satan is really working on him. I know that eventually he will accept our message, but it will just take some prayer and fasting.

I love you all so much and sorry if this letter is short I just run out of time so quickly.

Love and miss you tons!!!

Elder Hunt

p.s.... I have some fantastic news! This Saturday were having a special mission conference in Tuxtla... Elder Oaks is coming!!!!! I can’t wait! Wow the next letter is going to be crazy! Love ya.

Semana Loca y El Bantizmo

What a great week. I will lightly touch on the things throughout the week and focus mostly on what happened Saturday.

 

Monday we went to the beach. We were in the middle of companion study when the Zone Leaders called us and asked if we wanted to go to the beach... HECK YEAH WE WANT TO GO TO THE BEACH! It was a super fun day with awesome pictures, sea turtles, puffer fish, and some sun burns. but its all good because I've got a nice tan now. The problem is it's just on my face and arms but hey, that's the missionary life.

Tuesday we got our house sprayed for some weird sickness that's going through Tonala called Chingunkuya or something like that. We found a less active woman and her family that haven't seen the missionaries for 15 years, her name is Daisy. We ended our night teaching Josephat and it was really great, he wants to get baptized so bad but he will need an interview with president, so were praying and working hard with him.

 

Wednesday and Thursday was just normal days contacting and finding people to teach and teaching some of the investigators and less actives.

Friday was insane. We ate at one of the sister's house for Valentines Day (even though it was the day before). All the missionaries were there. Then I did some baptismal interviews. The sister missionaries in our ward had 3 people ready for baptism. Navani who's 9, and a young couple, Ciro and Karina. So after lunch we went over to the house of Navani. He's such a great kid. His mom is less active and his dad is not a member, he's such a cute little guy! After the interview and talking with his family he asked me if I could baptize him. It was a sweet moment and of course I said I would. Afterward I talked with Ciro and Karina. One of the great blessing of being a district leader is interviewing these people and seeing the change in their lives. I get to hear of their past life and see the difference the gospel has made in their lives now. I am sensitive to the importance of these interviews. I know it's only through the the Spirit that I can feel that an investigator is ready for baptism.

Saturday was the big day for the sister missionaries. And for us too because we went on exchanges with the other elders. Elder Gillingwater spent some time with me and he's a great kid. He struggles with Spanish but he has the spirit with him. It was so great to work with him. Then it came time for the baptism. it was such an incredible experience for everyone. There was a really big turnout, we had about 50 or 60 people there and the baptisms were so great. After I baptized Navani he said "Tengo frio... pero soy LIMPIO" I'm cold but I'm clean. I talked with Ciro after the baptism and asked how he felt, he just smiled, took a deep breath in and out and said "perfecto". Such a great day. Although my companion and I haven't had a baptism yet, it was incredible to take part in the baptism of these people. It was such a great day, with lots of cake and pictures.

 

That was just about the week and it was so incredible. Thank you for all the letters and updates. I miss you and pray for you every day. Until next week.

love,
Elder Hunt

Tuxtla .....AGAIN!

This week was pretty crazy and rough, but it flew by so fast. Time is so crazy when you’re on a mission! Anyway here it is:

Lunes- It was a crazy P-day. We had a leader conference in Tuxtla for all the leaders of the mission. Every district leader, zone leader and sister training leaders went. It happens every 6 months, so I had the great privilege to go to Tuxtla again! When me and the other district leaders of the zone got to Tuxtla, we of course chowed down on that American goodness... hamburgers from Burger King and pizza! Ha! Anyway, we got to the mission president’s home and I see Elder Carpenter and Elder Schmitlein from my district in the MTC! It was so good to see them!

Martes- We actually had the Conference and it was so good! We talked about obedience with exactness and about being an example. Afterward, we again ate pizza and we were all able to do a session in the temple. What an incredible experience! The Spirit is always so strong in the temple! I also finally got the letters from Aunt Sandy, Cam and Amber and Grandma Bawden. Thanks guys!

Miercoles- We traveled home and got to work. We taught jafet and went to a homecoming of a missionary in the ward. His name is Anthony and he served in Tampica, Mexico. He’s a great guy and I can’t wait for him to help us out in the work!

Jueves-The main event of Thursday was that we helped the sisters move apartments. We used a combi from one of the members to make it a lot easier. The ward mission leader drove it for us and it was a fun project.

Viernes- I had the opportunity to interview 2 investigators for baptism. One was a little girl who lives in a house away from Tonala and the other was a young woman about 20 years old. Both of them were excited and ready for baptism.

Sabado-We had the baptism for Aimy and Isamari. It was so great! Josefat was able to go, and the baptisms made him super excited for his own! It’s going to take a while for him, though. He’s had a rough life, but through the atonement, he will be able to be baptized!

It was a hard week without a whole ton of success, but many wonderful and spiritual experiences. I love and miss you all so much and thank you for all the letters and thoughts and prayers! You’re all so amazing! Until next time!

Love,

Elder Hunt

Poco a Poco

It has been a good week. I don’t have a whole lot of time so I’ll just give some of the highlights.

Lunes- We were buying food and I heard a guy say to his wife, " Mira! Hay un gringo!!!" He walked up to me and said, " hey where are you from" in English. So we visited and he’s from Georgia and is in Mexico because he’s working on his papers to live in the U.S. legally. It was so nice to talk in English with him. It funny too because he had a weird Mexican black guy accent!

Miercoles- We talked again with Tony ( I’m pretty sure I told you about him. We found him last week. He’s got a messed up life and asks us a ton of questions). We’re working hard with him to get him ready for baptism. It’s hard because all he does is ask random questions but hes a great kid.

Jueves- It was a pretty rough morning. I don’t know why but both me and my comp were kinda cranky, so I got down on my knees and prayed for strength and love and...wow! I was overwhelmed with peace and love. The power of prayer is so cool! It turned the day around and things were great! Then we taught Josefat. Josefat is another young man that loves to talk and ask random questions, but he wants so bad to be baptised!!!! We’re working on getting permission, by the end of the transfer I’m sure he will be baptized.

Sabado- It was another difficult morning but we talked with familia de la cruz marroquin and let me tell you, the family is golden...especially the mom! They’re the ones that came to church last week and at church we watched the video of the restoration. When we talked with her she said that she had a dream the first Saturday that we taught her. In the dream she saw trees and light and heard the wind and people singing. Then we watched the restoration video at church! She said that every time we visit she feels a strong warmth in her heart. We explained that the dream was a way of God telling her that this is true and that the Holy Ghost testifies that it’s true by the feelings she has. We told her that she can know its true through prayer. We had a great lesson and can’t wait to visit them this week. Sadly, they couldn’t come to church, but they will be there next week.

The church is true and what I have found is that most of the time God doesn’t just throw blessings at us when we ask for them. Depending on the situation, he gives them little by little (poco a poco) so that we can recognize our constant need for his help and the love he truly has for us. It’s hard right now but i can see the change Tonala is making and I can see that poco a poco it will one day be full of wonderful faithful members of the church. The church is true! Love and miss ya all a ton.

Elder Hunt

Mangos!

Hola Family!!!!!!!!!!!

I love and miss you tons. OK, so I’m going to address the mango situation. Mango season has officially begun, and wow it’s awesome!!!! So many mangoes! Yesterday we got a bag of 12 delicious juicy mangoes from one of the members. This means 2 things: 1) were going to have to eat a lot of mangoes these next couple months and 2) I’m going to be spending a lot more time in the bathroom, but its all worth it.

At first this week was super hard. We had a trouble finding people, my comp and I weren't getting along that well, and it was just rough. Monday Jafet took a test and his mom said if he passed he could be baptized! We were so excited and so was he. Then Tuesday came along and we found out he had failed. That was a hard day for all of us.

Wednesday we had a lot of lessons fall through too, but we did get to visit some less actives. The first 3 and a half days of the week were just hard. I did a lot of praying this week; praying for help with my comp, with the investigators, and with finding new people. It was difficult. Then Thursday I found a scripture in Doctrine and covenants. It’s when Joseph is in Liberty Jail and he’s pleading with the Lord for help, and the Lord says that its for his experience, and that the lord will bring him success if he has patience and faith. It was a scripture I’ve read many times before, but this time it was what I needed to hear and it was an answer to my prayers.

Thursday we Found a new Investigator named Francisco Torrez. He’s AWESOME! His mom is super catholic and we taught him and his family about the restoration and a little about baptism. We invited him, his mom, and his aunt to baptism, and the mom and aunt said no because their baptism in the catholic church was sufficient. But Francisco said he wants to be baptized! There was a little argument between the ladies and Francisco, but he told them off and basically said that infant baptism is wrong and that he wants to be baptized for himself and not his parents. We ended our day by teaching an old lady named Marta about the plan of salvation. When we finished she prayed and cried and thanked God for sending us to here. Elder Martinez and I were so grateful for that day and little by little we talked more openly, resolved problems and now were great!

I’m going to quickly end with Family Morroquin de la Cruz! What a family! We contacted them Saturday and taught them the restoration. Their story is similar to Joseph Smith’s. They've been going to a ton of different churches over the past couple years and haven’t felt that any are right. When we taught the lesson the spirit was strong and witnessed to them that the message is true. They came to church the next day and loved it! They are an amazing family! What a great experience.

I need to end it here, but i love and miss you so much! Thanks for the letters and prayers.

Love,

Elder Hunt