Hola Familia,

First, I want to give thanks to everyone for their support and encouragement that they give me. I am so grateful to have family and friends. What would I do without them?

Well, My first Christmas here in Mexico! It was awesome! Christmas Eve my companion and I bought cohetes (fireworks) and because we had to be in the house by 8, we decided that part of the house was the roof also so we went up on the roof and decided to throw our fireworks from there. That was such a fun experience! (Note from Mom: Hopefully they were safe, I guess nothing burned down) I absolutely loved it!


On Christmas day we had a devotional with our bishop's family and that is where I ate my first chicken foot!

Above: Elder Hunter with Bishop

Above: Tennison with the chicken foot (EEK!)

They really aren't that bad! Then we worked like usual until it was time for my family to call. Oh man the time went by like ten seconds! (Note from Mom: It was actually one hour). It was way too short but it was an awesome time talking with them. The Hermana in whose house we were talking said it was so cute because I was just smiling so big while talking to the fam! It was great!

Well I have a new companion. I still haven't met him. I'm still waiting here at the bus station for him to arrive! yeah por fin I'm going to have a Mexican companion so I'm finally going to learn spanish!!!!!! (haha)

Tyla, I have a favor. I was wondering if you want to be my pen pal and write me every month and let me know how everyone in the family is doing!? Let me know if you are down with that!




Love you guys a ton!
Cuidense mucho

Elder Hunter

Below are some pictures of Elder Hunter at the branch Christmas Party


Picture of Elder Hunter helping friends flip hamburgers.

December 22, 2008-

Family,

I'm super stoked to be able to talk to you this week! Its going to be so fun!

Well we had the wonderful opportunity to attend the temple this week which was absolutley mazing! Yeah, I did it all in Spanish even. How amazing is that? Kind of scary, but I actually learned a lot. It was one of the most spiritual experiences of my life! You would never believe it! Oh and if you ever really want to have an awesome experience when going to the temple, I promise if you fast before going and break your fast afterwards, Wow, you'll have an awesome experience. I can't even put words to what I was able to experience when I was there! Also we ran into a drunk guy last night, well, actually that's nothing new we always run into drunk people but usually we just put them off because they are so drunk they have no clue what they are doing. But my companion and I really felt something with this guy so we went to his house and I think we ended up finding an absolutley golden family! But we'll see when we go to visit with them on Wednesday. Well I love you guys. Don't forget to call at 6 your time on Thursday!

Merry Christmas! I love you all so much!

Elder Hunter

This was Tennison's e-mail on December 15th, 2008 (I'm a little behind on the postings).

Hola Familia,

My week was absolutly Amazing!!! Well, first, I got the Christmas package that wasn't suppose to arrive before six weeks. That was a miracle. I absolutely loved it!. Thnaks so much for all the little things! We hung the snowflakes and bells up in the front window so it makes it look like Christmas! And I know I probably was suppose to wait for the letters and presents (at least that's what President Nancollas said) but oops, yeah, they were opened the second I had the package in my hand. Don't worry it's just an early Christmas present! Thanks a Ton!!!

Oh, the blister, good thing you reminded me I should probably check it tonight when I go home. It hasn't been hurting or anything so I have kind of forgot about it. Regarding the grasshoppers, every single one of you would have loved them if you didnt know what they were, they actually tasted amazing.

That's cool to hear that Hayley still goes over to bug you guys! (Note from Mom: By the way Hayley, you never bug us, we love having you!) I'm sure I'm tanner than she is! haha! O.K. yeah, I doubt it. Tell Hallie "Hi" for me!

So Hali Jo is engaged!? Tell her I better get an invitation also and that I want info!!!! So yeah, I'm expecting a letter from her!

Hawaii!!!! You guys better have a blast!!!! and take some pictures for me. Oh and Mom and Dad make sure you take the time to enjoy it. I'm sure you will. But just in case.

I wanted to send pictures this week because I have a ton of really cool ones but we don't have time this week as you can tell I'm writing a little late.

Regarding the phone call: Tonight we should have that figured out and I'll give you all the details next Monday. I think we are going to use an hermanas phone and I'll give you the number and the time to call. But like I said, I'll have for sure details for you next week.

This week was super sweet! Why? Well i gave my first discurso in Spanish on Sunday and it was awesome! Everyone said they actuallly understood what I was saying. What a miracle!!!!! Oh and I didn't even write out my talk word for word like usual. I just put the bullet points like you and Dad have tried to teach me to do since I was like 14. It works awesome that way!!!!! We were also teaching this awesome family but the mom has a problem, she has to get divorced from her first husband and married to the one she has now. Yeah divorcement takes a lot of time and money! So we probably won't see her baptism but she's an awesome convert already even though she isn't really a member. This life is really a huge war against Satan! Its amazing all the things he does to try and keep our investigators from progressing! It really makes us have to work really hard but nothing is impossible with the Lord! Also as Kanye West says "What doesn't kill me makes me stronger!" (At least I think it's Kanye who says that!) I dont really know I've been out of the music loop for a while, but it's all good.

Have an amazing time in Hawaii!!!!!! Im trying not to be to jealous! haha!! Oh yeah we went to the pyramids again today and i got an awesome mask thing. It's freaking sweet!

¡Guardalo Real! ¡Los Amo Muchisimo!Elder Hunter

Mom,

Happy Birthday!!!! How old are you now!? 40!? Wow, you're getting a little old, if that's the case. (not really) haha I Love you Mom!

Well first I loved the pictures of Beau and Bryson. Figures Beau wanted to make a funny face. That's probably exactly what I would have done, well not that face, something like it though. Bryson why are you flexing your bicep when you are working out on the peck machine!? haha just giving you a hard time. I think my muscles are still bigger, but keep trying maybe one day you'll be bigger than me! haha

Well I absolutely love the newspaper articles about Beau and if B-rice happens to make it in any I'd love those articles as well also. Tell Tyla that I am thinking about her lots also!

O.k., So where to start with all of the stuff that happened this week:

First I had the opportunity to go on cambios with the assistants. The assistant that I went with was named Elder Hilario. He's freaking sweet and hilarios. I really learned a lot from him with how to teach and just be a missionary. It was an awesome experience that I had. Also, while I was with him on cambios, I had the opportunity to eat grasshoppers. Yes mom they were still, no they were dead! haha They really weren't that bad. They just tasted like salt and limon! (Comment from Mom, GROSS!)

Also we had interviews with the President this week. He's awesome. I love talking with him!

So the most interesting part to this week. First, my hands started doing the weirdest thing where they started peeling and getting really really dry! So I went out today and bought lubriderm lotion! Sister Nancollas said that that's what the doctor recommends for that and it should go away within like a week or so!

Also, I got a huge blister on my foot. On top of all of that I've just felt like totally exhausted everyday but its alright its so worth it. (Note from Mom, He's had some stomach issues but I edited out the details to save the rest of you. I feel bad for him, but he assured me he will be O.K.)


Yes im still working just as hard as ever. Well actually I feel like I'm working harder than ever but it's Awesome!

Hey, remember when you go to Hawaii to make sure and relax because it sounds like you and dad are running around like crazy! But thats the normal life no!? haha

Oh yeah and I found out that My companions Brother Taylor Francis works with Dad! I thought that was pretty cool. Tell me if Dad really knows him or how they work together and what not!

Well I love you All. Keep working hard!!!

Elder Hunter

Familia,

Don't worry mom lizards love me so even if they were poisonous they wouldn't hurt me! (Haha) Well, the weather here is still hot. Some days, in the morning, I might have to wear a jacket while a study but generally it's great. Thanks for sending the package. I hope that I get it soon. I'm so excited for it.

So, I hear Beau is an absolute animal on the court. Hey, if there are any news articles on him or their team send them to me por favor. Sounds like Bryson and Mckay are following right in his footsteps with basketball. Dang, I wish I could be there to watch, just send me the highlights and I think I'll live!

So this week was so sweet. First, my companion had a district leader meeting for like all day on Tuesday so I worked with a joven from the ward which was way cool! I had to do like everything which was sweet but kind of hard. (But yeah it was an awesome experience!)

(Above, the joven who worked with Tennison)

I also finally gave my first blessing in spanish on Friday which was really cool. I also have realized how lucky I have been to be blessed with awesome companions! All of my companions have been great!

(This is Tennison on top of his apartment complex)

(Tennison and his companion Elder Francis)

O. K., so about Thanksgiving, we asked this hermana if we could have a Thanksgiving dinner with her and she was so happy to make us food and have her first Thanksgiving. It was way fun! It's the Hermana that washes our clothes every week. We did the usual, we went around the table and told everything what we are thankful for. It was an awesome experience.

(I think Tennison is telling us he is not starving in this picture. Thank you Hermana!)

Oh, and the best part of this week is that we had the oportunity to baptize this couple that is freaking awesome! You would never believe their past! He is an ex-gang member that has totally changed his life around and the way he found his wife is even more interesting. They are so awesome!

Below is the little girl. Tennison loves the little children (if you can't tell.)

I love this work! Im so excited for this week because we have interviews and its always so fun talking with President! He's an awesome guy!

Well I love you guys! Keep working hard because I sure am!

Elder Hunter