El Viaje

June 28, 2010

2010-08-07T20:57:00.000-07:00

TENNISON'S FLIGHT IS AN HOUR LATE BUT WE SET THINGS UP EARLY

And then we waited. . . .

and waited. . . .

and waited. . .

Uncle Alan teaching Bryson tricks
and waited. . . .

Alexis, Tyla and MacKenzie
and waited. . . . . .

Beau and Chance. .
and waited. . .

Seth, McKay and Dallin . . .

and waited. . . .

Jamie, Michelle, and Caci

HE'S HOME AND MOM GETS THE FIRST HUG!!!

MacKenzie, Alexis, Jamie, Tennison, Tyla, Caci, and Michelle

Tyson, Beau, Tennison, Mckay, Dallin, Seth, and Chance

TENNISON IS HOME AND WE ARE SO HAPPY. . . . WE LOVE YOU!

June 21, 2010

2010-06-22T09:17:00.000-07:00

LAST WEEK. . . . EXCITEMENT IS BOILING OVER IN THE HUNTER HOME. . .

Family,

The time has just been going by super fast! I honestly can't believe that next week at this time I will be home in a house where there is carpet and I can take off my shoes and have hot water basically whenever I want. Oh and also be able to go and do something by myself, although that may take a while to get used to. As for everything that is happening at home, I can help out with whatever you need so don't worry about it Mom! Oh, Kris asked me to give a short talk about the Holy Ghost at Kenya's baptism, honestly, I'm kind of nervous. I mean yesterday one of the speakers in church didn't show up, so the Bishop, knowing I had experience in the mission called on me and I took up ten minutes talking about unity and made everyone sit in the seats in the front of the chapel because everyone likes to sit in the back. It was really funny. Anyways, moral of the story I'm used to speaking in Spanish, but English is really hard for me. . . I try sometimes but it just comes out all spanglish. . ha ha. But it will be a good experience for me before giving my homecoming talk.

That's funny that dad is not too fond of the high tech phone you got him. I mean it doesn't really surprise me too much but I'm totally down for using it if he doesn't want it. ha ha. Doubt I'll know how to really use it, but I can learn. Oh, also we went and bought the zone ice cream today because we completed the goal for the month a week early and we are going to complete the month with more so we had a soccer/baskeball, ice cream party. It was a blast!

Well, reflecting on the mission . . .I've been able to see the Lord's hand in this work! I've really seen how he has put me in the way of the people that are really looking for the truth. I've also seen how when we really live the gospel, the Lord helps us. Maybe not always with worldly things but with spiritually and also with our family. I've been able to see one family get sealed and have that opportunity again this week. I know that families can be together forever. . it's not just some saying that we always use, it is the truth! I know that Jesus Christ is our Saviour and Redeemer and that he lives! Because of him we will be able to return to our Creator and live with him forever! Remember to always always live the gospel and we will see the blessings in our lives! It's really amazing how much he love us!

I really love you guys and look forward to seeing you next week.

Elder Hunter

June 14, 2010

2010-06-15T11:07:00.000-07:00

Note from Mom: 2 weeks left. . . The current date for Elder Hunter to speak in church is July 11th. (Thanks Stephanie) :)

Family,

So guess where I am at? I got move back to an old area. The stake is Valle Dorado but I'm now in a ward called Lomas Lindas. David probably knows a little bit about it since he is from here. My companion is Elder Prada from Morelos Cuernavaca and he is super tight, he knows english and french (but I'm one of the only ones in the mission that knows that, ha ha). The only thing is, I don't know if we will have any baptisms while I'm here, but I did baptize two last week, which was an awesome experience. I loved it!

Its really good to hear that everyone is doing really well. I'm super excited to see all of you guys, but I'm trying not to let it distract me these last two weeks.

Oh yea, I've got some great news. . . one of the families I baptized in my first area is going to be sealed on the 26th. I'm super excited to be able to go. Their son is also talking about going on a mission which surprises me because at first he was the only one who really didn't want to do it. (not sure what "it" is. . I'm assuming join the church.) So that will be really super cool!

Well I love you guys.

Take Care.

Elder Hunter

June 7, 2010

2010-06-09T08:46:00.000-07:00

NOTE FROM MOM: 3 Weeks, 21 Days. I guess his e-mails can be shorter now. . .Can't wait.

Family,

My week was great! Oh man I don't think I have ever had so much fun in the mission! This week we were able to take 10 people to church for the first time and had a total of 14! We are hoping to double that number for next week. As for my companions, they are awesome! We really just have so much fun every day and that's even working super hard. Well this week we should have some baptisms, not sure how many, I'm hoping for 4, but we will see.

Honestly we have just seen so many blessings, it's crazy. Well supposedly, I'm leaving this week and going to another area for my last two weeks which should also be a blast. I can't believe how fast the time is flying by, but I absolutely love it. Oh yea, about my companion, Elder Calderwood, he was going to BYU on a track scholarship. He is one of the decathletes there. I think dad would like to know that.

Well it's crazy to hear about all the changes that are soon to be happening at home. It will be a blast! Well love you guys! Take care! Don't miss me too much!

Love Elder Hunter

May 31, 2010

2010-06-01T06:47:00.000-07:00

Family,

Life is going sick! I have two new companions here in Villa de las Flores. Looks like I'm training the new zone leaders for when I leave here. One is from Guadalajara and the other is from Washington D.C. The cool thing is that the one from Guadalajara speaks perfect english, so its super tight. I'm super stoked for Beau's call to Boston, Mass. That's goint to be super baller. Well I'm still holding strong, we baptized two people on Saturday and confirmed four on Sunday. It was really cool! This next few weeks will be interesting and I'm going to love every minute of it. I will be leaving this area in the next two weeks, or at least that is what president told me.

Well I love you guys, take care!

Love Elder Hunter

May 24, 2010

2010-05-25T08:35:00.000-07:00

Hi Family,

My week was great! We saw a lot of miracles and we were able to have a lot of success. We were able to baptize two people, actually two little kids and they are super cool. I was also able to talk to their dad who the missionaries for some reason never talked to. Anyways, the dad asked when it was his turn to be baptized. We told him that he had to stop with the coffee and after 4 weeks he would be able to be baptized. He really liked that.

Diego and Julio. . They are so cool!

I was also able to kind of direct a marriage of an old couple we are teaching and they should be getting baptized this Saturday. All that they lacked was getting married, so we were able to help them do it.

Today we went and visited Teotihuacan which was really cool. There are a bunch of pyramids there and really it just amazes me how back in the day they were able to build such cool looking things. It was really cool.

On our way to the pyramids

The Pyramids

Funny! Look at these missionaries clothes. . True indication of their dedication and hard work for two years. . Got to love these boys!

Well, I'm really glad that you have my flight plans. I still know nothing about them so I have no clue what time I get home or what time I leave from the airport, but its alright. I'm sure I'll find out soon enough. Oh, hey, by the way, my guess for Beau's call is that he get called here to Mexico. I mean because they are dividing various missions and stuff down here they are going to need more missionaries, so that is what I'm guessing. Also I have permission from President that you guys can call me the night you get his call. I'm super stoked for Beau and I can't wait to hear where he will be going. I'm sure he is super anxious.

Love you!

Elder Hunter

May 17, 2010

2010-05-18T07:44:00.000-07:00

Family,

That's crazy all the things that are happening at home right now. Sounds like you guys are super busy with all of the activities that are going on. So Sheri is married now. That's kind of crazy. That is good that you got to talk to everyone. I can't believe how fast time is going by.

Well as for here in Mexico, everything is going well. Today was transfer, but me and my companion stayed the same. There is something interesting and different though, we are now going to have 2 different wards which should be really exciting. I mean I have never had 2 wards before so this will be a nice change for my last six weeks here in Mexico. Well this week I didn't work a whole lot in my area, I basically did a zone tour helping different elders out for the week. It was fun. I got to get to know different places but doing the same work as always. ha ha. Leonardo was confirmed this week and now is officially a member of the church. It was a really cool experience. We also have this other lady we are teaching, her name is Irma. Her kids live in the U.S. and she says she loves it there. Anyways she went to church for the first time and really liked it. While we were at church I gave her a baptismal date for June 4 and she said she wanted to do it so that will be exciting. Well everything here is good and going great. About the flight plans, I really don't know anything, but when I do I will let you know.

Well I love you guys and thank you for the picture of Toni. (Toni and Tennison played soccer together at Timpview) I can't believe he is already playing again for BYU. I can't believe it.

Elder Hunter

More pictures:

Me with my stunner shades on (ha ha) and Elder Ashcraft

My district and I eating breakfast

Elder Loeza and I

May 10, 2010

2010-05-12T14:52:00.000-07:00

Happy Mothers Day!!!

Funny how I have forgotten two years in a row. Really it's just because I get so excited to talk to you guys that I forget the main reason why I get to talk to you in the first place! Ha Ha. Really it sounds like everyone has matured so much. I'm super excited to see you guys, but I just have to stay focused for the next couple of week to finish strong. Can't believe how fast the time goes by! This week was good and we have been working super hard and we were blessed with a baptism this week. Leonardo got baptized and he was super excited for it. He is awesome! He always prays and reads everyday! We have really seen his progression. Well thanks for everything. Sorry this is so short. . . it's just that we talked about everything yesterday.

Love you guys!

Elder Hunter

Me Reporting numbers (My favorite thing to do each week. . not.)

Me and Leonardo

May 3,2010

2010-05-04T15:31:00.000-07:00

Family,

It is so cool to hear that my little brothers have all been able to advance in the priesthood! I'm sure mom felt so proud! Wow, Bryson Bryson looks like he's been doing a little bit of working out! I'm still doing my push-ups and sit ups but sure don't look like he does yet. haha

Well it stinks that Beau won't be there on Sunday, but its all good I mean I'll see him soon enough.

Well this week was great! We are working super hard and honestly I just feel super tired every single day but the Lord give me the strength to leave the house and just keep working! Well this morning we had to go and raid a house. We got there and the missionaries weren't there, so we entered and they had some things that missionaries just shouldn't have like dvds, gameboys, and stuff like that. It really makes me sad when missionaries just come on their mission to vacation. It really frustrates me! On a better note we found this guy names Jose Ricardo from the U.S. and man is he hilarious, he has a problem with swearing but he is cool. So we found him on Friday, well actually he called one of our district leaders and told them that he needed us to go to his house, so the district leader passed the information to us and we went to visit him. When we got there he called us his angels. He then started to tell us about him and how he doesn't have anything and how his wife was going to come down from the states on Sunday with his 3 week old little baby. He was really worried because he didn't have anything in his house so we told him we would try and find something that he could put his baby in. He had this sweet watch that he said he bought a while back for like $700 and he made me put it on and told me I look like a pimp with it on. haha. He wanted me to take it and sell it so I could buy him a crib or something. I told him no but we would do everything to find something. So I told the Relief Society President and she told the hermanas and they got this little cradle thing for him. Wow! The look on his face when we gave it to him. He was so grateful! So he went to church with us on Sunday and really loved it. I think he may be an ex gang member and stuff but I think he really wants to change his life around. He is so cool. We also gave him a baptismal fecha and he was like "yeah man, put me on the list." It was funny.

Leonardo is progressing really well. He always reads and prays and well should be getting baptized this week which will be awesome.

Well love you guys!

Love Elder Hunter

April 26, 2010

2010-04-27T06:35:00.000-07:00

Hi Family and Friends,

This week was great! I can't believe how fast the time is going by. Zone Conference went really well and President said that I did a good job teaching my part which made me feel happy. Afterwards we saw a video that the assistants made about how we all need to do our best because Satan is also working really hard and we can't let him win. It was a really cool video! Anyways, we found this guy when we were knocking on doors and he was going to tell us "no" but then his suegra (wife) said to come in so we went in and come to find out the the suegra is an inactive member and their daughter is a member too. So we started teaching this guy Leonardo and he went to church with us and has a baptismal date of May 10th. I'm super excited!

Oh. . the photos of Taylor's farewell. I can't believe how big he has gotten or mature (don't know which of the two but Wow! As for everyone else, I hardly recognize the cousins. . it's crazy).

As for McKay's Birthday, there were quite a few teenagers there. . he is now 14 right? He is getting so big. Oh and B-rice turns 16 this week right? Does that mean he will be able to drive legally? That is crazy. That is awesome to hear that Beau finally got ordained. I'm sure it was a very special experience! So does that mean he will be turning his papers in soon? (Like this week?) The sooner the better.

Well Love you guys, Take Care!

Love Elder Hunter

Here are a few pictures:

There was a stake activity on Saturday and they put on the play "The Wizard of Oz"

This is a picture with the main characters. Our convert, Margarito was there helping which was great to see. Margarito was confirmed on Sunday, so it was really cool!

Root Beer Floats! Yummy!

The edge of my area next to the fireworks capital here in Mexico.

April 19, 2010

2010-04-19T20:09:00.000-07:00

Family,

How is everyone doing? I'm doing well. This week was a really tough week. We worked really hard and found lots of people, but we weren't able to take any to church which was really hard. . especially when I should be the example here in the zone. But we do have a lot of people that we are teaching that can progress. . . we just have to pray really hard and teach according to the spirit! WE did have a miracle. That guy, Margarito that I told you about got baptized on Sunday which was really cool to see, and later that night he went with the Elders quorom president to do his family home teaching. It's awesome to see his progress already in the church! Sorry forgot my camara but next week I'll send you some pictures!

Something on a little bit more of a sad note . . Do you remember Saloman Jaar? (He was on my soccer team at Timpview. We are still in contact every now and then.) His dad died this past week on his way to the temple. If you could keep him in your prayers. Saloman right now is on a mission in Chile and said some really cool things in the article if you want to read it here is the link http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700025080/Former-LDS-mission-president-Honduran-official-killed-by-robbers.html.

Well we have zone conference this week and this will be the first time I get to direct one. I also have to prepare the teaching and everything for when president is done talking. My companion and I have to teach the zone a little bit about what we are going to be studying for the next 6 weeks so it will be fun!

Well that is really cool to hear that Taylor is all excited about going on the mission. There is nothing better he can be doing right now in his life! I don't know if there is a way to get me his email address or something. I would like to write him a letter.

Well you guys take care. I'm glad to hear that everyone is doing well and that Beau is going to be able to become and Elder soon! That really is so exciting and it is a really important step he has to take in his life! Well thank you guys for everything! I love you all a ton!

Elder Hunter

April 12, 2010

2010-04-13T19:36:00.000-07:00

Hello Family,

I'm perfectly fine! This week went really good . . . since I'm the so called "big dawg" (response to mom's comments) zone leader! Actually, my companion and I decided to let everyone in the zone know that we are really here to help them with whatever they need, so we went and visited every companionship at their houses. Yeah, it took a lot of time because we don't have a car but went in combis. We did this on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. It was a really cool experience because we were able to help and really got to know the missionaries in our zone! Also it seems like we are doing really good as a zone! If I didn't have such awesome district leaders it would be a lot harder! My companion is also a great help so I don't feel like I'm doing everything alone!

Well sounds like things are still crazy at home! So sounds like b-rice has a friend as big as him and with somewhat of the same personality! Is he kinda like another Tui in the house? Tell Beau to remember that the church is a church of order but sometimes we are all about order over matter and sometimes forget to think of what would Jesus do? We just have to be patient and understand that there is something we can learn from these experiences. But that is awesome that Beau got to go and baptize Ryo.

Well we had a some great experiences this week. We were teaching this family that we found this week and the little kid ( about 2 years old) was really sick. While we were teaching, he started throwing up like crazy. I felt really bad for him, so at the end of the lesson we explained priesthood blessings to them and they asked us to give him one so we did. The next day he was feeling a lot better. It was really cool. Also we were looking for an inactive member and knocked on the house where we thought they lived and this kid came out and was like all happy to meet us. We talked with him and he told us that he had talked to the missionaries before and been to church many times, so we invited him to be baptized on the 18th and he said he didn't know. On Sunday we were unable to attend our ward cause we had meetings in the stake center, but after our meetings we went right back to our ward and he was there and said that he wanted to be baptized and wanted to know what he had to do. That was a huge blessing! So we have an appointment with him on Tuesday to get him all prepared! I'm super excited! We are still looking for that same inactive member. We asked some people in the street if they knew him and they were like "no, maybe its the next street", so I decided to contact these same people and they invited us in their house and we shared a message with them. It was a young couple and they were really interested in everything! The only sad part is . . they won't be able to go to church for two weeks, but I really think they are going to progress! So it was really an awesome week! we worked super hard and were able to see the hand of the Lord in this work!

McKay Happy Birthday!!!!! on Friday!

Thanks so much for everything! I love you guys!

Elder Hunter

April 5, 2010

2010-04-06T11:12:00.000-07:00

Family,

My week was great! It was sad to see Elder Romney go, but well, it won't be long before it is my turn. He started getting really nervous towards the end of the week, which I'm sure is expected to happen especially after being a missionary for two years. (That is all we have known for two years.) He will be just fine.

I have a new companion, Elder Delgado. This is his first time as a zone leader also and they made me the senior companion. So basically everything is on my shoulders, zone wise, but it is all good. I'm really excited about this change.

General Conference was great! We were able to watch it in English except for the Sunday morning session, but it was awesome! I feel like a lot of the talks put a lot of importance on raising kids in the gospel, which is way cool. Also, I really liked Elder Hollands talk on love and lust. I don't know why, but he always grabs my attention and I love what he has to say. I also liked what Elder Uchtdorf had to say about being patient. A lot of times we just want things to happen right away but we need to remember that it doesn't alway happen that way, then if we apply patience, we can really learn and grow from our experiences. To see conference, we had to go to the stake center, which was cool. I have a picture of all of the americans watching it in a little office, but I forgot to bring my camera with me right now, so I won't be able to send it until next week. So sounds like you had a really busy week last week. I'm sure it was really fun and really made the time go by really fast.

Well, I gave Beau the stuff I needed to get registered for classes, so if you can just remind him and see if he can do it tonight when registration opens that would be nice!

Thanks for Everthing! Love you guys!

Elder Hunter

March 29, 2010

2010-03-29T20:52:00.000-07:00

Family!

I'm doing absolutely wonderful! I''m totally enjoying my time here with Elder Romney! Well it's awesome! This month as a zone we were able to complete with 32 confirmations in the month which is supposedly a record here. We are also doing the best in the whole mission, which is awesome! Elder Romney is really helping me a lot with how to run the zone and all that! It's a lot of phone calls to stay on top of things, but well, I can see that it really is working out so it's awesome!

Well, I love to hear all the stories of everything that is happening at home! Interesting about the fight with Brice's friends. The bunny looks really cute and Tyla changes so much everytime I see a picture of her. Wow! It's crazy she's growing up quick! That is so cool about Beau's friend Ryo (He played basketball with Beau at Hartnell and set a baptism date for April 10th.) I bet Beau is super excited about it! Tell him to just keep him excited about it!

This morning we left at like 5:30 in the morning to go and hike some mountains here in our area. It was a blast! It ended up being like a 5 hour hike, but it was super fun! It was Elders Romney, Bishop, Clark and I. I´ll send you some pictures.

Elder Romney, Elder Hunter, Elder Bishop, and Elder Clark

What dates are Mckay's tournament that he is going to have in California!? And I heard that Beau got a new bed that I am going to be able to have when he leaves! Tell him to enjoy it while he can because well, at least in this mission the beds aren't the best, but you have to learn to live with it! :)

Love you guys!

Elder Hunter

P.S. Attached are some pics I tried to send the other week, but I. UY dont think that they sent for some reason. Yeah I totally bowl between the legs!

March 22, 2010

2010-03-25T12:35:00.000-07:00

Hey Family,

Well, I'm totally loving the mission with Elder Romney. We are having a blast, it's so fun! Don't worry we aren't getting too trunky yet. Ha Ha. I mean Elder Romney only has about 14 days left and well, me, I have 98. Ha Ha. Me and one of my buds Elder Molyneaux did the count and that's what it comes down to. Really though, the mission is a blast! Being a zone leader is a lot harder than I thought, but its really fun. Our zone is doing really great and we should be completing the month with 30 baptisms. That's another hard thing about being a zone leader, you don't have a ton of time to work in your area because you have to help everyone else, but it is so worth doing all of that. Also, I don't know if you remember, but Elder Bishop is in my district, he actually lives right down the street so its really cool because I get to visit with him sometimes.

Oh yea, we had a baptism on Friday, which was really cool. Then on Sunday we had meetings with the Stake Presidencies from Prados stake and Villa de Las Flores stake! Yeah, it was really cool. I really feel like the Lord's servant when I go into meetings and the people really respect us and listen to what we have to say. It is so awesome!

Oh, yeah a photo you might like of Elder Romney and I of the baptism we had on Friday. Her name is Evelyn and well her family got baptized like a year ago and well I guess one time when Elder Romney and his companion were teaching her she just bursted out in tears and said she already knew it was true. Kind of cool experience. (If you would like to read more check our Elder Romney's blog.)

Oh, some really cool news, Elder Romney got accepted to BYU, but hes not sure if he wants to go. I would love it if he went because there are so many of us from the mission that are going and it would be an awesome experience!

A road trip with the Bros in July would be so sick in July. I'm so down for that. Time if flying so fast, I can't believe it. I'll be seing you guys before I know it. Mckay does look different with longer hair, but if it helps him play better like it helped me, that's totally cool. (To their moms dismay, they believe in the Sampson theory. . their ability is in the hair).

(McKay's team took 1st in the National Futsal Championship, picture Elder Hunter is referring to the hair).

Well I love you guys a ton!

Elder Hunter

March 15, 2010

2010-03-18T11:01:00.000-07:00

Hey Family,

My week was great! We had a zone conference and it was really cool! President shared some really special stories with us and then really focused on the importance of always being prepared spiritually for whatever problem or trial we may have! It was way cool!

Well the members that are active in my ward are way cool. They always help us out and give us tons of food. It's awesome! The hard part is that their are a ton of inactives here and a lot just don't want to go to church. It can get kind of discouraging sometimes but we just keep working hard!

This week we sould have a baptism which I'm super excited for. She comes to church and does everything on her own. Really there are people prepared out there ready to receive the gospel! My companion is doing great and also the other Elders. I really love doing divisions and being able to help other Elders improve in the missionary work! We saw some miracles this week. I went and worked with Elder Jimenezs companion (yeah Jimenez is totallly in my district, it's so tight) but anyways we visited some people that hadn't gone to church in some time, but they went yesterday and looks like they might be getting baptized next week! It was really cool!

Oh the highlight of my week would probably be the bowling . . . it was sweet. I will send you some pictures of it! (I didn't get the pictures. . .). I'm glad to hear everything is going great at home!

Who is sleeping in my room!? (David) Has Mckay taken all of my clothes out and now using them!? (He will be so surprised at how much his little brother has grown, McKay admitted to using most of Tennison's clothes., we will need to go on a shopping spree when Tennison gets home)

Well that's about everthing! I love you guys!

Elder Hunter

P.S. I'm going to send more pictures of Teresa and Edgar's sealing:

Gorgeous Family! Contratulations!

Elder Martinez, Elder Romney, Edgar, Lalo, Teresa, Celsymar, Elder Hunter

Awesome Missionary Boys and Lalo!

Group from Tennison's First Ward in the mission!

Elder Bishop is holding up the little boy. . Great Missonaries!

The picture below made me laugh~

Two handsome boys (of course I'm prejudice).

(Note: Elder Romney's mom just informed me that Elder Romney and Elder Hunter will be reuniting as companions one last time. . . I'm very excited for them.)

March 8, 2010

2010-03-09T07:18:00.000-08:00

Family,

So this week was alright! The zone leader conference was sweet! I learned a ton!

This week we had a really funny experience. We were teaching this guy (Eulogio) about the word of wisdom and I told him what we can't consume. I talked about black tea and chinese tea and then asked if he consumed one of those substances and he responded "whenever I talk about the chinese I try and always say something nice and never saying anything bad about them". Oh my, it was hilarious. My companion ducked his head and just started laughing and since I was the one teaching I tried to explain, but he just didn't understand. He is kind of old like 65 or 70 so maybe that's why. Then later we were teaching him about the law of chastity and asked if he was married and he said no. So we said well we can help him so the he can get married and he said, "I dont know. She is older than me and is going to die before me. I want to choose somebody younger that way I die first." It was funny. I was thinking crazy old man it's too late for that. That's just what I thought but it really was quite hilarious!

So I was able to send some pictures. The first ones are a view from my porch and part of the inside of the house where we live.

Then some of the pictures when we went to the temple:

Teresa and Edgar

Elder Martinez, Elder Romney, Edgar, Lalo, Teresa and Celysmar, Elder Hunter

Me and Lalo

Elder Romney, Elder ?, ?, Elder Bishop and Elder Hunter

baptism we had later in the day.

Then there was a new plaza that opened up in the zone and has a wendys inside which was delicious to my companion and I!

Oh yeah, Elder Martinez ended his mission last May, I believe, and came from Gudalajara, I think it's like four or five hours in a bus (to get to the temple for Teresa and Edgar's wedding).

Well things are going alright. We haven't had tons of success. I mean tons of people here are amazing at lying it drives me nuts. I would rather someone be straight up with me and tell me what they really think. But it's cool.

Well everything is going great we have some really cool members in the ward and help us out so thats cool! Well love you guys have a great week!

Elder Hunter

March 1, 2010

2010-03-02T10:06:00.000-08:00

Family,

Sounds like things are going great back at home! Well this week was super exciting and kind of weird because my area is completly new and I don't know anything about it, but I'm getting the hang of it now! We have about 300 people in the ward, but only 80 people actually go to church so we are going to see if we can help out a bit with that!

The most exciting part of the week was that I got to go with Elder Bishop my MTC companion and Elder Romney my trainer to the temple and see Teresa and Edgar get sealed with their two kids, Lalo and Celys. It was such a cool experience! The spirit was super strong and wow it was just so cool! I think it was the first time i have cried in the mission! Lalo is now walking and talking and well he´s a character. I love him! We also had a baptism on Saturday which was also cool. We didn't do it untill 9:30 at night.

Oh yeah, I also got to see my companion Elder Mtnz their at the sealing of Teresa and Edgar too! He is so funny and way cool! It was also another cool experience! Anyways, just so you know, sorry, I will send the pictures. Just not right now. We are kind of running. Really busy right now because of tomorrow. Oh yeah, I also got to eat at Wendys today. I totally found one here by the mission offices. It was delicious!

Oh and here is a cool surprise, I get to go to consejo mañana with all the lideres de zona it's going to be way fun. I'm so excited! Well have a great week!

Thank you for sending me the updates on Nate. He looks like he is doing way better now!

I love you guys ton!

Elder Hunter

February 22, 2010

2010-03-01T10:34:00.000-08:00

Hey mom,

Sorry I didn't write on the other account, for some reason it won't load the website. Hopefully later today or tomorrow I can check it out to see what you had to say. Anyways, I'm in a new area called Ciudad Labor. It's way different than my last area. Tons of people and houses and buses and what not. It's fairly close to df but it seems pretty good. Also, my companion's name is Elder Arredondo he is from Chiapas. He's a pretty cool kid. He's only got 4 months in the mission, so I'm pretty sure that I will be helping him out, but it's going to be fun.

Also Teresa and Edgar are getting sealed on Saturday. I'm super stoked! I'm going with Elder Romney and Elder Bishop to their sealing. It's going to be a blast.

Saying good bye in my last area was really hard. After being with people for six months you really start to grow close, but it was really cool, the family Cigarrero did a carneasada Sunday night to say good bye. It was super delicious. I'm really going to miss them. One of the brothers (he if from the df) brought me an ermenegildi zegna tie. It's pretty sick. It goes perfect with my suit. We were teaching his son but he had to go back to df and help his wife because she is about to have a baby, but he is going to get baptized so I'm excited!

Well some kind of bad news, my filling fell out yesterday so I have to go to the dentist tomorrow to get it fixed. What a pain! But it's all good! Well hope everything is well at home!

Love you guys! Elder Hunter

February 15, 2010

2010-02-22T08:11:00.000-08:00

Hey Family,

Well I hope you guys all enjoyed the holiday weekend. You are probably asking how I knew, well we don't recieve the mensualidad until tomorrow because of the holiday weekend over there. That's how I know.

Well this week was great! I mean we really worked hard and didn't see a ton of fruits which was kind of sad, but it's all good. We also had interviews with president this week and I'm finally going to be leaving this area and going to another one next week. All of my converts are really sad that I'm leaving and even a lot of the members and well it is kind of hard, but it's just something that has to happen, but the cool thing is that everyone has invited us over for dinner so we basically have a dinner appointment everynight this week. (normally we don't eat dinner until we get home at 9- 930 each night).

Something interesting that happened this week is that I got stung by a bee at 9:30 at night on Saturday. Really weird! A stinkin bee. I haven't been stung by a bee since I was 8 I think, and being that it was cold and dark when I got stung and inside a car! It was really funny though! Well everything is going well over here. I hope all is well at home!

I love you guys!

Here are some pictures from the mission:

Elder Hunter

February 8, 2010

2010-02-08T13:31:00.000-08:00

Hey Family,

Happy Valentines day! Things are going wonderful down here in Mexico! Well, other than there were a lot of places that got flooded last week because of how much rain there was! Luckily here in my area it didn't flood, just rained a ton for like four days straight. It was crazy. We got super soaked everyday, but the Lord blessed us for working and we didn't get sick. What a miracle!

It was cool we baptized a 14 yr old girl on friday. We asked her on Tuesday if she wanted to wait until Saturday to get baptized, because originally it was set for Friday and she said she didn't want to have to wait any longer so we ended up doing it on Friday. It was a really cool experience because she lost her mom like 2 months ago and after she got baptized she shared her testimony of the church and how the ward has basiclly been her family. It was cool.

Camilla

Oh and before she got baptized, we were filling up the baptismal font and I was checking to see if the water was still coming out because the font was almost full and don't ask me how, but I fell in! My companion thought it was hilarious! So did I, so I went out and was sitting in the sun trying to get dry and at first everyone that was arriving to the church thought I was trying to tan or something, it was quite funny!

Elder Hunter, All Wet!

Anyways Camila was confirmed on Sunday along with Anthai (mom) and Sara (daughter) that we baptized last week.

Honestly, I don't know how people do it. We find them and 3 weeeks later they get baptized. I dont know if I would have enough faith to do it. It all has to do with the power of teaching by the spirit, these people start to see blessings from the second we step into their houses. It's so cool. It's funny, because they usually don't tell us anything until after their baptism and then that's when we find out why they really wanted to get baptized. It's really cool!

Worn out shoes. . . .

Oh yeah, awesome news! Teresa and Edgar are getting sealed february 27. I'm so excited. I get to go with Elder Romney. It's going to be so cool! If you don't remember, she is my first convert my first door contact ever.

Well, I love you guys! Take care. Tell everyone "hi" for me! oh yeah the system changed my lds mail hooked up with google so we got some sweeter emails now! It's not so old school!

Elder Hunter

February 1, 2010

2010-02-03T07:12:00.000-08:00

Familia,

I'm so glad to hear that everyone is doing awesome at home! Well first things first. I got the card and christmas card and money from grandma! Please tell grandma thanks for the money! I told the district that if we doubled our goal for the month, I would take them out for tacos! That would be 18 baptisms, which I kind of doubt but we have the people in enseñanza so it would really be awesome if we can reach that goal!

Zone conference was awesome! I always love what president has to say! You can really tell that he really loves us and wants the best for all of us in the mission and more importantly after! Also, we had three baptisms this week and two confirmations. Really, the Lord is just blessing us like crazy and its awesome! I've really been able to see everything I've learned throughout the mission come together in these last few months. Now the hard part is helping all the other Elders in my district get to the same point where I am at and well it seems to be coming along little by little!

Well I love you guys! Take Care!

Love, Elder Hunter

January 25, 2010

2010-01-27T09:41:00.000-08:00

Family,

Once again it is nice to hear that everyone is doing good! I'm doing awesome. I'm honestly being so blessed in this area. I'm sure it has a little to do with fasting praying and well most importantly working! we just seem to do good. This week we brought 12 people to church 4 for the first time, had one baptism, and well the most amazing thing of all was that I was able to give Arturo the priesthood. It was the first time I have ever done it. It was kind of a funny event. We were in priesthood and they anounced Arturo and told him to come to the front. I was sitting right behind him with an investigador and he turns to me and says I want you to do it. I was like of course I'll do it (having no idea what to do, haha) anyways, the first counselor had a card that had the things I needed to say and well come to find out, it was a lot easier than I thought it would be. It was really a neat experience! I loved it! Well, really the mission is awesome. I'm absolutely loving it. Oh, so about my coming home date (not that I'm really thinking about it a lot wink. . wink . . ) but the calendar says June 28th, I believe that's the date you can plan on.

About the pictures. . . it's just super hard to find a place that has something to accept my memory card to fit it into a computer, but I was thinking about doing it with my companions camera. Also we played soccer on friday with the jovenes of the ward and well destroyed a pair of my shairs. oops. Dont worry I´ve still got what I need to finish. If worst comes to worse I'll just use the indoor soccer shoes I bought before coming. I mean they are black and more comfortable haha.

About the card and letter, well tomorrow we have zone conference and so I should be getting them tomorrow. At least I hope. Elder Cozzens told me that I have a package and a bunch of letters so I assume that is what those are.

Well love you guys take care!

Elder Tennison Hunter

January 18, 2010

2010-01-19T07:15:00.000-08:00

Fam,

My companion is awesome! We worked super hard this week and were able to find 20 new investigators and of those 20 we took 5 of them to church for the first time! It was awesome! As far as the district goes, it looks like I will be leaving my companion in the area to work while I go and help some of the other Elders in my district. They just don't seem to have the animo that my companion and I have about missionary work so I'm going to see if I can help them out a bit! Oh yeah, and I still haven't heard from Elder Cozzens, but I'm sure he is doing good! Really it was awesome having him as a companion because I really got to see a lot of improvement in him which was great! We also had two baptisms and two confirmations this week, which was awesome! It was of Arturo and his wife! They really were so excited and asked me to give them a blessing afterward also. It was really a neat experience! Three months of hard work with them, but now they are super excited and well there are lots of people who want to give them callings so it is way cool!

Also this week I received a call from Elder Christensen who is also from my generation and is right now the district leader in my first area. He told me that he had found a family that I was teaching in Valle Dorado and that they asked him about me and said that they loved me (but to be honest I really don't remember them) but it really made me feel good because I felt like I had no success in that area and worked my behind off but well looks like I planted a seed and so they should be getting baptized in about a month. Yeah! WEll love you guys take care!

Elder HUNTER

January 11, 2010

2010-01-19T07:12:00.000-08:00

Family,

We had changes today and I spent my whole day sending people off and recieving the new Elders! That's why I haven't been able to write. Just imagine 4 hours in a bus station. Man it was horrible, but part of being a district leader I guess. haha. Well, Elder Cozzens went to the offices and I got Elder Sandoval. He is from Michoacan and this is only his fourth change in the mission. Kind of funny because that's how many I have left until I go home! But ya, all is well! Love you guys!

Elder hunter

Pictures

2010-01-11T12:16:00.000-08:00

Below are some picture provided by Elder Cozzens' parents~

Christmas Tree Elder Cozzens' mom made with pictures of their families and mission!

What a great idea!
Elder Hunter, Elder Cozzens, Nicol, Elena, and Isabell

Elder Hunter, Hermana Violetta, Elder Cozzens

Elder Cozzens and the puppy.

Thank you!

January 4, 2010

2010-01-04T12:59:00.000-08:00

Familia,

Wow, sounds like you guys have had a busy week! Well, for New Years, I went to bed early! They told us we had to be in our house by 8 and being that I was exhausted, well I decided I would make the best use out of it. But this week was really a slow week because everyone was out of town so no one was home and on New Years day everyone was still asleep at two in the afternoon. It was a really hard day for working.

Well funny story. . . so we went to pick up some investigators to go to church on Sunday morning and it was raining and me, not thinking, didn't bring an umbrella. When we got to our investigators house and we were knocking . . . all of the sudden my companion gets bit by a goose! haha! (Sorry, I don't think I would have thought is was funny at first.) Oh man it really was hilarious. I did feel kind of bad . . . but really . . . . a goose? Poor guy, he was really angry right after but it makes for a good story so he lightened up and started to joke about it!

Oh yeah, don't know if you remember arturo an investigator that I found like 2 months ago . . well he is going to get baptized not this Saturday but the next. . so that will be a really good experience and tomorrow they are going to make us pancakes for breakfast. I'm so excited! oh yeah, I haven't gotten the letter from grandma yet, but when I get it I will let you know! Well take care I love you guys!

Elder Hunter

December 28, 2009

2009-12-29T07:00:00.000-08:00

Family,

Well, it was awesome being able to talk with everyone. It's so great to hear everyones voices and all the success that everyone is having! It really just makes me super happy!

Well about the being a blessing in peoples lives really makes me feel good inside! Honestly, I can't say that it's just because I'm so perfect (even though that would be cool to say) that I am able to help peoples lives. . . but something that has really inspired me is the video on President Monson's life. I just try and do the same thing and be an instrument in the Lord's hands. I have really realized that we as humans can get a lot done because of the knowledge and wisdom we have, but when we use the Lord and follow his guidance all of a sudden we are able to do more than double what we would have been able to do before! I believe that it comes from the concept of synergy where 1+1>2. I have honestly seen so many miracles just from following the Lord's counsel. Really it is Him who does all the work and I'm just the lucky one that gets to be the instrument in his hands! It's like it says in Moroni 9:6 we are here in a tabernacle of clay and well if we give ourselves to the Lord he makes something amazing out of us. Whereas if we try and do everything ourselves we can only make something alright. haha Dont think that only as a missionary are you able to do this anyone anywhere can do it and you will see miracles daily if you do it!

So anyways on Christmas day it was crazy! We went in the morning to visit our investigators that just got baptized the Sunday before and well they told us that they were moving back to Baja, California the next day and the mom was really concerned because she hadn't been confirmed. So we went and asked the bishop if you could do it in her house and he said he would have to call and see. Well turns out that they told us that we couldn't so I was kind of depressed and trying to find out how they could do it. (Oh yeah all this because they gave us the instruction that we can only confirm on Sundays in sacrament meeting). Anyways, so I did everything that I could so that they could be confirmed in the ward where they were going. So I looked up the address of the church, what ward it was, and what time they had their services. Well, when I had to report later that night to my zone leader he kind of freaked out and told me he would call me right back. (This was at like 10:00 pm). Well, thirty minutes later the bishop calls me and was like Elders we have to go and confirm them before they go. haha. . I was so excited and really it was an amazing experience! So we went over to their house at like 11:00 at night and confirmed them. First, her two daughters and then her. After we had confirmed her she was like crying. Really it was a cool experience! But yeah so that was my Christmas day pretty cool isn't it! (What better gift can you give for Christmas? I can't think of any. That is a great experience.)

Well, I love you all tons! Keep up the good work and being examples to all of your friends and family! Happy New Year!

Elder Tennison Hunter

Los Ciento Mucho

2009-12-17T08:02:00.001-08:00

Fam,

Well, I'm eating just fine or so I think! I eat a bowl of cereal with a grilled ham and cheese sandwhich for breakfast then eat with members and then usually we eat tacos for dinner with one of my favorite families ever los Cigarrero! We also run like two miles every morning with an hour of working out in the gym so that might have something to do with me looking skinnier! Who knows. Well, today was freaking sweet. (Bryson's basketball coach lectured the kids this week on using the word freaking. . I wonder if we should explain it to Elder Hunter.) We got to go to the temple and it was really cool! I really have learned so much in the last year. Today I was able to see that while we were in the temple, it was awesome. Also this week we had a baptism and a whole bunch of people in church which was way cool!

It looks like my companion really wants to work hard and do everything bien which is really cool! That means we can have a lot of success in the next couple of weeks before the change ends which will be awesome! Well I love you guys! take care!

Elder Hunter

December 7, 2009

2009-12-08T08:43:00.000-08:00

Family,

This week was great! A little tough at times, but you know you just got to push through with a good attitude and everything just seems to turn out well! Well we did have success. We are going to be having a baptism this week of this one lady that we found knocking two weeks ago. She was totally prepared to recieve the gospel it was amazing!

Also, this week my companion and I got sick but my companion was the lucky one and only threw up all night monday night! I felt really sorry for him and well because of that we didn't go and work on Tuesday, which was a super long day. I don't like not being able to work, but the Lord sent me a present! Tuesday was a stormy day and well right about 2 or 3 o clock the sun came out and thats when I heard something whining outside our front door so I opened it and there was a little puppy probably about 4 weeks old and he saw me and came running. Really it was so cute! So we kind of had a pet dog for two days, then we gave it to our neighbors because we just don't have time. It was really fun while we had it! Ill send some pics for you guys!

That's really funny what Beau said to that kid he was playing against. Im sure it helped being raised with Tui and Brandon! That's so awesome that everyone is doing well at home. I hope you guys are enjoying the Christmas season because here its still Hot and well there isn't snow so it kind of stinks, but whatever! OH if you want you could send me some Christmas music that would be cool and if you could find some in Spanish it would be even better!

Well I love you guys! Take care!

Elder Tennison Hunter

Short and Sweet. . .

2009-12-03T07:28:00.000-08:00

Family,

This week was great! Nothing too exciting happened! Well, we did have two confirmations this week which was great! OH also we got to eat carne asado and oh my gosh it was so good! I ate so much I think I might have gained some pounds from that! But good thing we have the privilege of going to the gym. It really helps out a lot! Oh yeah, with the gym thing- - we basically run a mile every morning to get there, which is awesome, then we lift for an hour and usually run home. It's awesome! It also makes it tons easier getting up in the morning! Now I get out of bed at 5:30 without a problem! It's great!

Also this week we found this lady that was so excited to talk with us! So we got in and gave the first charla then left her the pamphlet. When we came back the next day she had read it twice just to make sure that she understood everything right. It was really cool. Then she went to church with us on Sunday! It was really an awesome experience! I Really just love missionary work it's awesome! Well I hope everything is going well at home! Take care and I love you all!

Elder Hunter

November 23, 2009

2009-11-24T13:02:00.000-08:00

Family,

Well to start off, I did get the package. I really thought that I had said something about that but I guess that it slipped my mind. The cookies were amazing! Thanks a ton for that, and the shirts. . . umm . . . yeah, I'll tell you about those later. jk No really I gave them to Marco and Marcos who well don't have much and wanted to go to church with white shirt and ties like everyone else so they will be really useful there, but thanks a ton! Glad to hear that everyone is doing well! Can't believe how huge Bryson is. He kind of makes Nick look small, and the rest (of the cousins) I can hardly recognize they have grown so much!

My companion is doing great he really helped in getting two people baptized this week. We went to Mexico DF for an appointment that he had and oh that was freaking sweet! I got to ride in the metro and it was just really fun. It really is so easy to get around down there. I liked it a lot! Anyways, when we got back he was reading some of the conference talks and he asked me who we were going to visit right now and I told him that we were going to visit Dalia and Emilio and he said that he felt like they need to hear this (the conference talk). So I was like O.K., cool, because I really had no idea of what else to teach them because they basically have heard all of the discussions. Then we went and read some of the talk and talked about it with them. After that, I started to talk about baptism and they finally accepted their baptismal date which was awesome! So they got baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday. It was awesome! They were so happy!

Me, Emilio, Dalia, Elder Cozzens

We had another baptism on Sunday, of a guy named Antonio. This is also a really cool story. The first time I contacted him he said he was studying with the Jehovahs Witnesses and that he needed time and so he told us to come back in three weeks. Well we went back in three weeks and he said he still didn't know. Well me being necio asked if we could just share a quick message with him like ten minutes, and so he let us in and we gave him the lesson of the restoration and started talking and stuff. We ended up staying for like an hour and at the end he said I really like this stuff, you guys actually listen to me. Oh, it was great so he went to church for three weeks and got baptized yesterday it was awesome! Well we were changing before going back into the room with everyone else and he told me that he felt different and I asked him how? He said he felt really peaceful and tranquil and I told him it was of God letting him know that he made the right decision. It was awesome!

Me, Antonio and Elder Cozzens

It is really important that we always have the spirit with us in all that we do! My companion and I have been talking a lot about this lately and sometimes we don't really feel like the spirit is with us when all of a sudden some miracle happens and we are kind of stunned. Something I have really realized especially here in the mission field is that even though sometimes we don't have the spirit with us, but if we are doing the right thing we WILL be guided and we WILL see miracles in our lives. Come to think about it, I have had a ton of experiences like that throughout my whole life (even though I am only 20) but really we sometimes don't realize the fact until way later. For example the two baptisms we had of Dalia and her son Emilio was an example of following the spirit when we didn't even realize it!

Oh by the way, I'm so jealous that you got to talk to Hayley! haha Actually, I really don't know who to be more jealous of you or her. But hey. one more month and I will be talking with you guys! CRAZY!!!!!

Well everything else is going well. Oh we also had interviews with president this week he gave my companion and I permision to go to the gym which is awesome! I love president, he's just a great guy!

Oh the Christmas package, lots of skittles and starbursts would be great! and well whatever else you think would be enjoyable! Thanks a lot for everything! Love you guys!

Elder Hunter

November 16, 2009

2009-11-23T10:52:00.000-08:00

Hey family,

Well sounds like everyone is doing wonderful at home which makes me glad to hear! I'm also glad that you are all deciding to eat a little bit more healthy that is always a good choice! By the way, I have really grown to love fresh mangos here they are delicious! (Usually messy, but delicious!)

Well, I have to say this week was a really hard week. All of our appointments fell which was horrible and we weren't able to take anyone to church, which was also hard on me, but it's cool, not every week can be a succesful one. My companion is having a hard time, but he is now saying that he kind of likes the place we are in and everything, so it looks like he is kind of changing his mind set. It really seems like he is going through a stage that I went through at about seven months in the mission, which is kind of funny, but I can't tell him that or it makes him mad. haha We get along great so that makes it nice!

This week we are going to have a baptism of a guy named Antonio, who well, when we contacted him he was like. . . Well I'm studying with the Jehovah Witnesses so come back in three weeks. Well we went back in three weeks like he had said and he basically told us no, but well, I was like just let us share a quick message with you like ten minutes thats it. So he let us in and liked the message and well the next thing you know he has his baptism date and everything its really cool! I love the mission!

Oh yeah, this week I got to interview an ex gang member for a baptism which was a sweet experience. He lived in Phoenix, AZ and got deported. The missionaries found him here and started teaching him, but the coolest part is that he really wants to turn his life around. We had a nice talk, it was awesome! Oh ya, I also did the interview mostly in english because he knows english better that was really cool also!

Well I love you guys! Keep up the good work with home and visiting teaching really I have seen how much it really helps from being here in the mission!

Elder Tennison Hunter

November 9, 2009

2009-11-16T07:47:00.000-08:00

Famliy,

Hey, I'm so glad to hear that everyone is doing amazing! Really that makes me so happy! Really I'm just loving it here in this area! This week we had zone conference and it was just awesome. I got to listen to Elder Hollands talk about the importance of the book of mormon in our lives and just loved it! Wow, really what a powerful talk! Afterward President came up to me and asked how much time I had in my area and how much time my companion had. Then he told me that he would be talking to me in a couple of days ( this was on Tuesday) and that I would be having a lot of fun during the next couple weeks. So I was waiting anxiously the whole week for a call from President, then Saturday morning I was studying and received his call. He told me that he was sending me an elder to see if I can help him with the mission for this next three weeks. So Elder Jimenez left and my new companion, Elder Cozzens, is now here with me. Ya they were emergency transfers so there are only 3 weeks left of this transfer and well we will see what we can do!

Well this week was amazing! I really don't know what is happening but it's awesome! We brought 12 people to church on Sunday and had a baptism! We are also planning on baptizing two more people this Sunday so I'm super excited. Really we are just having tons of success! I love it! and because of that, Elder Jimenez was kind of disappointed that he had to leave because of all the success that we have been having! I kind of felt bad for him because we really have worked so hard for this but it's what the Lord wants!

Love you guys!

Elder Hunter

November 2, 2009

2009-11-16T07:40:00.000-08:00

Hey Fam,

Thats cool that everyone is doing great. Really I can't believe that Dad can retire this month that's so weird! That would be cool if he gets the job in South Jordan. Tell Beau good luck. Oh and "wow" Tyla is getting big. Is she bigger then Hayley now!? I couldn't really tell from the picture but she has really grown a lot, and Hayley, her hair was kind of short, but I kind of liked it! (Don't worry Hayley, he only made this comment because I told him that you mentioned it.) She (Hayley) is still as cute as ever! (We know.)

Well this week was awesome for us! We just had tons of blessings! We were able to bring nine people to church and 7 for the first time. It was awesome! The coolest part was we only went for one person and all the rest showed up on their own. That is what I call dedication! haha It was awesome!

Today was really cool we got to go to Sams Club to buy food with the family Cigarrero. They are so awesome! I love that family! After they took us out to lunch, it was great! Ill try and get you a picture of them this week so you know who they are. It's an awesome family!

Also when we were in Sams I bought a jacket with the card. I hope that was o.k. because lately here it's been really cold. I think I'm not used to being in Utah anymore, and the shoes I'll be looking for ones I like that can last at least 8 months! Well love you guys!

Elder Hunter

October 26, 2009

2009-10-26T19:35:00.000-07:00

MOM'S FAVORITE PICTURE OF

THE WEEK!

Hey Family,

Im doing amazing! I love being a district leader! Really it's a burden, because I'm always worried about my Elders, but really I just love them all! This week was great. I'm still with Elder Jimenez who lived in Las Vegas for 4 years and its great, I love it!

Elder Sanchez, Me, and Elder Jimenez

The new companionship that is opening up the new area did amazing this week. I couldn't believe it! When they got here last week they looked really mad to be here because everyone says that here in this zone you can't have success, but they are seeing that really it's the best zone in the whole mission right now and they were really happy when I went to visit them last night!

As for my companion and I, we had a really interesting week. On Friday we kind of got in three debates in a row with I think christians all from the same church. The last one was with their pastor. It's really amzing how much I now know about the gospel and never thought that I would get to this point, but I still have a whole eight months more to learn. It's going to be great! Well, we had a baptism this week and should have another one next week and the week after and if we can find people this week the next week also! Really, I'm so enjoying this mission right now it's awesome! Ive just seen so many blessings lately its amazing!

Me, Heidi, her mom, her friends mom, her friend that helped us get her baptized, and of course my wonderful companion

I just have to say I know the church is true I have no doubt about it! Right now I'm reading the book, Jesus the Christ and actually I'm almost finished with it, and wow that book is amazing! I think more than anything it is what has helped me to learn so much in such little time! Well, I'm glad to hear everyone is doing good back at home. just keep up the good work! thanks for everything! oh ya the next zone conference is next week and I think I'm going to need to buy some new shoes the ones I have are kind of trashed, is that alright!? (Of course it is all right.)

Love you guys!

Elder Hunter

October 19, 2009

2009-10-23T11:55:00.000-07:00

Table we set up in the market.

Fmily,

Wow! Sounds like you guys are doing awesome! I heard Bryson and Mckay are doing awesome with football and soccer! Thats cool that you guys went up to Park City to enjoy time as a family and do some shopping. Thanks for the package . . well I still haven't received it but now I have something to look forward to when we have zone conference!

Well this week was alright. I mean we found a lot of investigators at the beginning of the week but at the end we couldnt find any in their houses which was really hard and disappointing. . but we just kept on working anyways! We had interviews that went really well . . it is kind of funny because people enter and they just start telling me everything that they have done in their entire life and I haven't even said anything yet . . but it really shows that they have repented of everything and are willing to follow the Lord upon being baptized! So that was a really neat experience! Today I get to go help my new companionship get moved in and everything which will be fun! Well I love you guys take care!

Elder Hunter

Busy Week October 12

2009-10-23T11:38:00.000-07:00

HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY GEORGIA ON OCTOBER 3RD! Tennison wanted you to know he was thinking of you.

October 12th e-mail . .

Family,

This week was awesome! Ok, so we didn't have a ton of success finding new investigators or taking people to church, but all in all it was an awesome week! We had interviews with president this week which was great! With his wife, we talked a lot about the family and then she asked me how Hayley was doing and she told me that her grandparents ( the Staufers) weren't doing so well. It's sad to hear because they are such great people! Then with Presidnt basically asked similar questions and asked about the distrcit, which is doing great!

We should have like 6 maybe 7 baptisms as a district of only two companionships, which is really awesome because no one in the mission right now is have a whole lot of success. So that makes me super excited. It means I have to do 5 baptismal interviews this week! Awesome! Also yesterday my companion and I were kind of bumbed because we didn't have people in church so we decided to go and contact all the people that we had contacted in the street during the week! The first one was leaving, so we didn't get to visit her. The second let us go in and teach which was awesome, the familiy is like us. . . super busy all the time, but they were interested. When we taught about Joseph Smith they said they didn't believe it, but we told them to pray about it and they said that they would. Its great too. . because it's a family of 5 all older than 8 years. Yes!!!!!!!!!! then after that we visited another lady that we have been trying to get a hold of for 2 weeks so really I didn't want to but we did anyways. Come to find out that she had talked with the missionaries before and absolutely loved everything, but the missionaries just stopped visiting her for some reason so that was great!

Also a funny experience this week, we got on a bus and told the bus driver that we had to get off in a certain place and we didn't know where it was and he said he would tell us where we had to get off. . . so we were waiting . . then the bus driver stopped and said Elderes de Isreal aqui es. haha My companion and I were laughing. He was really cool. Then we got on another bus and the bus driver spoke english in this area its really rare that someone knows how to speak english but also he gave me change of 180 pesos in coins of 5 pesos each. Man that was a large stack of coins. I had it almost pullled down my pants from the wieght! Haha . . but all in all it was a great week! Im glad you guys are staying busy and enjoying life remember we only live life once so live it the best that you can! I hope you liked the serape that I sent you. I'm glad it made it there! I sent a sueter for dad that should get their this week or maybe this next week! Well I love you guys! Oh, is their a way that we can get a hold of David when he comes!? and when is he coming down here!? Thanks for everything! I love you guys!

Elder Tennison Hunter

October 7, 2009 Finally Pictures. .

2009-10-07T15:24:00.000-07:00

We received these Pictures and explanations rather than and e-mail . . . o.k. Dad got an e-mail all in Spanish and I can't translate it . . so I'm sharing pictures instead.

charla fogonera que tuvimos a fake fire that we made

baptisms that we had last week

a picture of the Hna Clarite from Valle Dorado

(David's Grandma)

In the Wilderness

I was able to direct the charla fogonera that we had

September 28, 2009

2009-09-30T11:28:00.000-07:00

Family,

Wow, Beau's talk was absolutly amazing! I loved it! (Beau had to give a talk in his new ward in Salinas, CA, because the family could not be there, Beau forwarded a copy of it to us and we forwarded it to Tennison. It was on courage. It was awesome!) Well this week was amazing and awesome!!!!! First we were knocking doors this week and found a guy from England about my age and my companion after talking with him was like well looks like I have a mexican for a companion refering to me! haha! Because he (the guy from england) was super white and still learning spanish probably about how I was at 8 months into the mission! But it was super funny! We also had an awesome activity this week where we got 16 referencias from members, o had two people show up to church just because they wanted to know more and then later that night a lady contacted us on the street and said she was interested in the church! Really this week I've seen the blessings from doing what we are suppose to be doing when we are suppose to be doing it! like working! haha! Yeah, this week was great. Oh, I also had 3 confirmations which was awesome! I love this work! Thanks for everything! I love you guys! Oh and sorry about the pictures. Really, I've been trying to find a way to do it, but haven't been able to! Next week I should have some. Sorry, hate to make you sufer! I love you!

Elder Tennison Hunter

September 21, 2009

2009-09-30T11:23:00.000-07:00

Wow, seems like things are still eventful at home, which is good to hear. Speaking of Mckay's hipflexor, I seemed to always have problems with that too. It is really important to stretch that muscle because it can be a problem causer. I'll see if I can get some pictures to you guys today so you can see how things are going! (No pictures :() well today we played soccer with some Elders and it was a blast!

This week was kind of hard because it was the 15 of Sep. which is the Mexican Independence day and nobody was home when we were working. However, we did get three baptisms and "Wow" it's crazy to see how hard satan works with people sometimes to make it so they don't get baptized, but then once they do, they feel so good! I had the opportunity to do my first baptismal interview with a 10 year old kid. It really surprised me with how much he knew about everything. Usually even the adults don't understand as much as this kid, but I think it is because the kids are more receptive to the spirit and so it helps them a bit more to understand! It was a really cool experience! My area is not as nice as Valle Dorado but it's a ton safer and well seems like people are more receptive here than they were in Valle Dorado!

Oh, about my tooth. . .well it stopped hurting and hasn't bugged me for a while so I think I'm good for right now.

Well I love you all take care and have a wonderful week!
Elder Hunter

September 14, 2009

2009-09-29T12:18:00.000-07:00

Family,

It sounds like you guys are all doing wonderful! That's cool to hear about Nick and Taylor and a little bit about what's going on in their lives! As for David's question, I wouldn´t recommend telling a girl she is hot unless you really know her but then again every girl is different! haha! Come to think about it, it's probably better that you ask Beau being that I've been here in the mission some time now I'm kind of out of the loop with those types of things!

I haven't recieved the pictures of the flood either so ill write my old companion and tell him to send them to me and you! As for recent pictures, Well I don't have an adapter for the computer so it's a bit harder to send them,

My area is really called San Juan Del Rio and "wow" it's a lot hotter here in Queretaro than in El Estado De Mexico, but I´ll live. Also I've gotten to know lots of members and they are cool.

Well, I found out that my companion knows english. He lived in Las Vegas for four years while he went to high school. So it's cool. We can talk in english when we don't want people to understand us! haha! We used this week to get organized about how we want to work and where because the area is huge, so we have to plan effectively or we waste alot of time traveling! oh yeah, I already found my mom in this area, her name is Hermana Flor, and she is going to make us pancakes tonight for dinner and bought ice cream especially for me so I can put it on them. She thinks it's a really weird idea (pancakes with peanut butter, ice cream and syrup) but I told her she has to try it first before says anything! haha! Oh also we have a washer in our house so basically we can wash our clothes whenenver we want. Its awesome! The crappy part now is that I have to iron my clothes again! It was so nice in my last area because she washed and ironed our clothes for us. But it's alright, it just helps me to grow up a little bit more! haha!

Well I'm doing awesome! Thanks for the news take care! Oh, special request from Hermana Flor and my companion they want the puzzle thing of el plan de salvacion that Hayley gave me. Do you think you could talk with Hays and see if you could send two out here!? They would love it.

Love you guys! Thanks for everything!

Elder Tennison Hunter

Spaghetti

2009-09-08T13:30:00.000-07:00

Family-

Well, it's kind of wierd how I don't have an email from anyone of you, but it's all good! (OOPS, Labor Day Weekend threw me off.) Well, we had transfers today and I'm now in an area called Lmas in Queretaro! It's cool! I'm also a district leader which means I have a cell phone. haha! It's sweet! Yesterday was crazy, my area flooded at night. My companion is going to send some pictures. We had to stay in the bishop's house because of the flood. He lives on top of one of the cerros, so we were safe there, but wow, it was so crazy! (Still waiting on pictures.)

Now for the title of my letter this week you could say we were blessed with spaghetti every day of the week. Oh man, when I saw that we were going to eat spaghetti again on Sunday I almost threw up! It's just way too much! (What Tennison fails to mention is that we had spaghetti at least once a week at home, hey, it's a quick meal and everyone seems to eat it, but there were times that the kids would say "Spaghetti again??")

It's been really fun and I'm super excited to work here in my new area! Oh yeah, my companion's name is Elder Jimenez and is from DF in Mexico. He doesn't live too far from the mission, like an hour from my old area, but it's cool. I'm super stoked, but it was sad leaving my last area. Everyone wanted me to stay, but it's not what I want, but what the Lord wants!

Well I love you guys! Take Care!

Elder Hunter

Be The Best!

2009-09-01T13:42:00.000-07:00

Family,

Hey, I'm doing wonderful! I'm glad to hear about all of the blessings that you guys are receiving! I love hearing the stories about what is happening at home. I'm really trying super hard to just work as hard as I can everyday and not to waste any time. I've realized that I only have 10 months left and I need to use them the best that I can. (Poem I sent to Tennison)

Be The Best Of Whatever You Are
If you can't be a pine on the top of a hill

Be a scrub in the valley, but be

the best little scrub on the side of the hill

Be a bush if you can't be a tree,

If you can't be a bush be a bit of the grass

And some highway happier make.

If you can't be a muskie, then just be a bass,

But the liveliest bass in the lake.

We can't all be captains, we've got to be crew,

There's something for all of us here.

There's big work to do and there's lesser work, too,

And the thing we must do is the near

If you can't be a highway, then just be a trail.

If you can't be the sun, be a star.

It isn't by size that you win or you fail.Be the best of whatever you are.
Douglas Maloch

Just like the poem says . . . it doesn't matter what I am as long as I'm the best at it! Thanks for that Mom!

Well today we went to the offices and found out that Elder Bishop (Tennison's MTC companion)broke his foot playing basketball. Actually more like dislocated itpobrecito! (I have no idea what that word is suppose to mean.) It was nice to be able to talk to him! Also, the package that you sent me was there, so that was really cool!

Thanks so much for the package. I'm excited to try the home made jam and smoked salmon! After visiting the mission home, we went and bowled with a bunch of elders. It was sweet! Some of my favorite people were there, so it was a blast! I'm loving the mission! Thanks so much for everything! I love you guys!

Elder Hunter

August 24, 2009

2009-08-24T12:10:00.000-07:00

Family,

Wow! Sounds like everyone is having a blast back at home. Yeah, just from the picture it looks like Mckay has grown a lot and still has time to grow. I'm pretty sure he'll be as big as me or bigger when I get back. Wow, that's so cool to hear everything that is going on back at home. It really makes me so happy to hear about all the fun things everyone is doing!

Well, I'm still here in Valle Dorado and it's great. We always bug Hna Clarita (that we live with) almost every night and she is always on my tail regarding writing to you guys. Haha. She's awesome! She made us pancakes this week and also for Elder Ficachi and Elder Glade. It was great! Oh, about the hybernating thing for 6 months, sorry but I don't think that's going to happen mom. Haha. (Inside joke, sorry can't share)

This week we received a reference from the visitors center of this lady who is totally prepared for the gospel. We just talked to her and she is just like wow it's so true! I loved it! She also found a Book of Mormon that her dad had and started reading it before we talked to her. It was cool! The only hard thing is that she has to work on Sundays so we have to see how we can help her with that. Other than that, it's been really hard to find people that are really ready. We have a ton of people that have gone to church once but then just don't go back. I really don't understand it. It kind of gets frustrating especially with how hard I'm working right now. When we finally get to the house at night we plan and I go straight to bed because I'm so tired! We are starting to see some blessings which is really cool!

So you want a list of 10 things that I like about mexico... hmmm......

1. they eat chile with everything
2. you can get wherever without having a car using micros or combis
3. you have to wait 3 to 4 hours after washing clothes for them to dry
4. they eat pizza with ketchup
5. if you didnt eat breakfast its really easy to find someone selling tamales
6. Tacos al pastor o they are so delicious
7. running out of water in the middle of a shower
8. all the people that think they know everything about the bible but really know nothing
9. all the teenagers taht try and practice their english but only know how to say whats you name 10. how all the churches are fenced in because of the crime! haha

So, there are ten quick things that I enjoy about Mexico. Really it was kind of hard to think of ten, but I'm sure there are a lot more. . . I just need more time to think!

Well I love you guys enjoy the week!

Elder Tennison Hunter

August 17, 2009

2009-08-17T15:05:00.000-07:00

Mom,

Hey, havent heard from you for a while, is everything alright!? (I sent an e-mail, I'm not so sure why he didn't get it.) Im assuming you are super busy with work and having to run kids around especially now that Beau is in California! Speaking of Beau, tell him happy birthday for me please! That is so cool that he has the chance to play basketball in California. It would be really cool to see him get a scholarship to a bigger school to play!

Oh yeah, dad is giving me all the updates which is cool! Well this week was a hard week. Nothing went as planned, but we had a sweet zone conference which I learned a lot and it really helped me out a lot! It was really funny what president said about men and women. He said that God basically gave everything to the women and at the end was like . . .What do I give to the men. . . oh, the priesthood. It was really funny how he said it! I loved it! It's true, girls really have a lot more talents than us! the men! haha!

Well I'm still alive about to go bowling with Elder Ficachi. (I'm so stoked), I absolutely love that guy and being that Elder Romney is assistant, he gave us permission to go, I really just love those guys (Ficachi and Romney). They're awesome! Well love you! Hope everything is going well!

Love Elder Tennison Hunter

August 10, 2009

2009-08-17T14:21:00.000-07:00

Mom,

Well, I haven't recieved a letter from you because I assume you are really busy or have some meeting or something! I know you don't like it when I don't write so I'm writing. haha! (Shame on Mom, we were busy getting Beau moved into his new city and apartment.) Everything is going good down here in Mexico! I absolutely love having Elder Ficachi as my district leader, he is awesome! I've been doing great and really working hard!

I like what dad wrote me how if you have a good attitude even through the hard times you can really learn a lot and I have really learned a lot through the hard times in the mission and well even the easy times but I can really see how you can't grow if everything was just super easy!? This week we didn't have as much success, but we still worked hard!

How is Beau doing? Is he now in Cali? and the little boys? like Bryson how is he doing? He is basically the only one who doesn't write me, haha, not surprising huh!?

Well I love you guys! Oh yeah, I might have to go to the dentist because one of my teeth has really been hurting a lot, but the good thing is that I have a few dentists in the ward so it won't be too hard. Take care!

Elder Hunter

August 3, 2009

2009-08-03T14:41:00.000-07:00

Family,

Wow sounds like you guys are all doing awesome, what a pleasure it is to be able to write you guys!

Sorry I haven't written for a while! But im so happy to hear of all the fun things you guys are doing and all the blessings you have recieved! Well, last weeek I was going to write but I had a problem with the changes! I was waitng for my companion for like two hours and he never showed up so my zone leader called trying to find him and we found out that he was with President. So I had to stay the night with my new district leader, Elder Ficachi, one of my old companions. That was a blast! Well come to find out I ended up recieving another elder named Elder Perez he is from Monterrey Mexico and very proud of it! haha! This is his second change in the mission and he loves to work and we get along great! Basically that's the reason I didn't write last week, because of that huge mess of changes!

Well, someone told Hermana Clarita that I didn't write (that's the Hermana we live with) and well she chewed me out for not writing you guys! (Note from Mom: Hermana Clarita's son lives in Kearns, Utah and he brought a package back for me from Tennison and I mentioned I didn't receive an e-mail in two weeks and he put a word in for me. Her Grandson, David is now living with us from Mexico, he was accepted into the MBA International program at BYU. We are excited to have him in our home.)

I'm working super hard lately and seeing tons of miracles! We found 26 new investigators this week, took 8 to church and had one baptism! Really it's just been crazy! But so awesome! I love missionary work! Well you guys take care! Good luck Beau! (Beau will be leaving this week to go to Harnell College in Salinas, California to play basketball this upcoming year.) Congratulations Mckay! (McKay's team took first place in the Strikerfest tournament and scored one goal each game.)

I love you all!
Elder Hunter

July 29, 2009

2009-07-29T07:49:00.001-07:00

We haven't received any news for 2 weeks. Hope that means Tennison is really busy. (Not very nice for mom though.)

July 13, 2009

2009-07-15T12:32:00.000-07:00

Some Pictures. . . Finally . . . Overlooking our area. . .

Waiting in the Rain

My companion and I on top of a cerro. .

A monkey of one of my investigators

The Zone - - Valle Dorado

Corn on the Cob - - Remember Nacho Libre

Family,

Sounds like it's been really interesting and exciting back at home. I love hearing of how well all of you guys are doing .

Crazy that Nick is already home! I really cant believe it!

To answer your question about helping with missionary work, we can help people to understand the importance of the gospel! For example, the Book of Mormon its the keystone of our religion! If someone takes that book reads it with intent and prays about it, they will have the desire to join the church. I dont have a doubt about it! That's really the key to the success of all the baptisms I've had. I have had the baptisms because of that book! Something that I have noticed here in the mission field is that members like to give us references without preparing the people to listen to us. We are all great at knocking doors and talking to random people, but if a member has a friend that is prepared to listen to us it is a lot easier and they actually let us in their house to talk! haha Also don't be afraid to ask the Lord what you should do! He will help you know the things to do to help the people that really need the gospel! Interesting fact that we recieved from President- - The Salt Lake City South Mission is baptizing 200 people a month. That is more than our mission right now. A lot of times we think - - Oh, in Utah everyone is already a member. Obviously that's not true! That really surprised me when I heard how much they are baptizing!

Anyways, I'm doing great! We had a baptism yesterday which was awesome! It's an old lady named Juana Mariano Robles. She is so cute! she absolutely loves when we go and visit her and always prepares fruit or something small to eat. It's sweet! She was totally prepared to hear the gospel! She told us that she saw us knocking doors and so she ran to the store and returned quickly to her house because she wanted to listen to what we had to say. Well we taught her lesson one and she liked it, so we made an appointement for the next day. We returned and she was like, I don't think I really want to listen anymore. We convinced her to let us in and cleared up the doubts she had. Three weeks later she was baptized! It was great! She even fasted for her baptism without anyone telling her too! Oh and she already pays her tithing! It was awesome.

We've also got some other really cool investigators that we are teaching that we think will be getting baptized in about a month or so. Really we are having tons of success! I love it! I think that I finally increased my faith and now we are doing good! Still having a nice little test of patience but its going good!

Our bishop and his wife are awesome! She washes and irons our clothes and even took my suit to get drycleaned the other day and wouldnt let me pay!. They are so freaking awesome!

I love you guys and thanks for everything! Take care!

Elder Hunter

July 6, 2009

2009-07-15T12:15:00.000-07:00

Family,

I got the pictues and it looks like everyone is just growing up. It's so crazy! That is awesome that the family got together for the Fourth of July parade. It is crazy that I've been on the mission for 2 Fourth of July's already. I really can't believe it!

Nick is coming home tomorrow. I remember when he left. I thought that day would never come, but it looks like it's here! That's so crazy! Please tell him "Hi" for me and that I miss him!

That's so cool that Beau got his patriarchal blessing. I'm sure that there are tons of great things just waiting for him in this life. He really looks like he is doing great. I absolutely loved the fotos of you guys.

So the mission. I'd have to say right now I'm learning a lot things about the gospel and how to make people do what you want them to do and most of all lots of patience! haha I don't know why but this companion uses a lot more of my patience than my other companions, but it's all good! Something I like about him is - - he is really good at helping to explain things if I can't explain them very well!

Oh also, I think this week I'm going to have a baptism finally! Hopefully I will be able to get back on a roll again. I've just been in a drought lately and it really just makes things hard! We had zone conference this week and pretty much president told us that we aren't working and that we need to do more than we are doing. He made us feel pretty bad but then gave us the confidence and hope that we can do it! It was really a great experience!

Oh and yesterday, well, first I'm tired of having wards that just dont help much when it comes to missionary work here. It's not like Utah where everyone is a member so we took a box of Book of Mormons to church and got everyone all excited. We told them to take a Book of Mormon and write their testimony in it and give it to one of their friends. There were some people who even asked for more than one which was awesome! So basically we gave away 40 Books of Mormon in ten minutes. Now the question is if they will get into the hands of investigators so we can go and teach, but it was a great experience! I think I'm going to do it more often. The mission is great and I'm loving it and love doing new things and meeting new people!
I love you guys! Take care and haz lo justo!

Elder Hunter

June 29, 2009

2009-07-02T07:28:00.000-07:00

Family,

Well this week has been good. Weird to think that I have more than a year in the mission now. I really can't believe it! oh! I heard that Michael Jackson died on my one year mark is that true?

Well, I'm glad to hear Beau is doing well! I would still love to recieve an e-mail or something from him! That stinks about the Hyundai I loved that car! (It is fixed. It was just a tune up issue.)

Well we found a sweet family this week that we are teaching and they'll get baptized! The member that has been helping us a lot with this family turns out to be not a member but an excommunicated member that will be getting baptized really soon! He really is so awesome! He just had some problems in his life but is now getting everything in order. It is freaking awesome to see how people really want to get closer to the truth! Oh, and for my companion, well when I first got here he kind of treated me like I was an idiot and well I found out why . . . he thought all americans were stupid because he had never had an american companion before, but I set him straight (in a nice way of course) . .haha. . but yeah things are going well for me!

Every monday, O.K., well, last monday and today we went to this soccer field. It has turf and is made for 7 on 7. It's sweet! We totally beat some locals today 5 to 4. It's funny how that happens. I can play but the rest of my team like has never played soccer before and we still won.

Well, I'm doing wonderful! You guys all take care! Oh the pictures . . I'll see what I can do. Right now in this area I haven't found a computer that can use my memory card, so who knows! oh I think ill be sending my other memory card home because it's full and I dont want to loose it! Take care! I love you guys!

This photo is a picture of the people we were teaching in my last area. The old man can't see and the old woman can't read, so their sons would take turns reading to them. It was pretty cool. I did everything to help them get ready for their baptism. Elder Barcenas told me that it was amazing!

With a magician in the ward who did a magic show.

ElderTennison Hunter

2009-06-22T13:08:00.000-07:00

Hey family,

I'm doing great! Thanks so much for the package you guys sent me. I absolutely loved it! I loved all your letters. I realized that Beau didn't write me has he been super busy!? For some reason I'm kind of worried about him. Tell him he needs to send me an email before next Monday! I don't want to hear any excuses! I want to hear what he's been up to!

Well, my area is pretty sweet. Half is really rich and the other half is like my last area not too well off, but they're surviving. So really it's kind of weird here, but it's cool or I should say different. It's like 3 cerros little mountains something like, that so we are always climbing up steeep hills and stuff and it's kind of fun! My poor companion definately isn't used to it, so sometimes it just kills him! He'll get used to it!

My companion's name is Elder Cervera and he is from Veracruz Mexico. I'm not gonna lie I kind of want another gringo companion, but I'll deal with what I got and make the best of it! Before I got here, him and his companion had a TV in the house, so well, he isn't the most obedient which I just don't understand why people even come if they aren't going do what they are suppose to. I'm assuming that's why I'm his companion right now to help him with that. He has 6 months in the mission and is right about everything (or so he thinks). It kind of drives me nuts but just something to help me learn more patience. haha

We found some pretty cool investigators this last week and I think they'll get baptized here in about 3 weeks or so I hope! But yeah, it looks like I can have some success here which is what I'm hoping for.

Tyla happy birthday last week! I hope it was great! and Dad Happy fathers day yesterday, I hope you enjoyed it, and also Happy Birthday this Friday! Wow, I can't believe it. It seems like time is going by pretty quick! Well you guys all take care and have a wonderful week! I love you all!

Elder Hunter

June 15, 2009 - Short and Sweet

2009-06-16T11:06:00.000-07:00

Family,

Hey everyone, sounds like you guys had a pretty eventful week which is awesome to hear!

We had transfers and I'm now in an area called Valle Dorado. It's actually a city! haha. I've only been in pueblos until now so it's kind of different, but I'm totally stoked! Oh yeah, we live in the apartment of an Hna. Her son lives in Kearns, Utah he said his daughter is going to be coming here this Saturday, so if you guys want to send something with her you can! He said she should be calling you guys this week! It was also great because he speaks English which was cool because I feel like I haven't spoken English in forever!

Elder Romney went up as assistant this week which was way cool! I also had the opportunity to work with him last week, which was awesome. It brought back the good old memories that we had back in St. Teresa it was cool! Well im doing great! Take care and I'll give more updates next week! I love you all tons!

Elder Hunter

June 8, 2009

2009-06-09T09:43:00.000-07:00

Fam,

Well, it sounds like everyone is doing wonderful at home. I´m glad to hear that Beau is starting to learn what it feels like to be the mom. It's a great experience to grow! haha! Well, I´m still here in Tepo, but we had interviews this last week with president and I just love him he is awesome. He told me that I will be leaving this change but to where I´m not sure.

I'm loving the mission. We really don't have a ton of investigators but the ones we are teaching are this old couple that I believe we are going to baptize this Sunday before I go! They can't read and the man can't see and they can't hardly remember anything, so it's really difficult teaching them. They really love going to church which is awesome!

Oh my comp is named Elder Barcenas and he is from Guadalajara (my second companion from there). It sounds like a cool place and I would like to go and visit it some day, I think it would be sweet!! He is going to be ending the mission in about a month and a half and really doesn't want to work much, so it's been kind of hard for me, but I keep working and pulling him a long even though it's a bit tough at times!

Oh yeah, Hna Juana got a calling and is now going to be serving as the second counselor in the relief society presidency, which is sweet! I believe that is the second convert that I have with that calling. It's so awesome it really makes me super happy! She really is just one of my favorites. She´s like my mom in this area. Oh, so, I found a scripture that totally talks abuot me it's in 2 Nephi 30:3-5. You guys should read it, but it talks about the Book of Mormon and how it would be carried to this nation to tell them that their ancesters came from Jeruselum (somehting like that), but it's cool!

I also recieved a pakage from Hays this week that had letters from her fam and some candy, muddy buddies, and some cds it was great! It really made me happy! I also got a Book of Mormon in Italian this week. It's funny cause I was reading a bit of it and I can understand quite a bit. I´ve really been thinking about trying to learn Italian when I go home it would be cool! Also I recieved a birthday card from G-ma with money which was awesome! If you could tell her thank you for that i would appreciate it much! Well I believe that's everything interesting that has happened this week. You guys take care and love you lots!

Elder Hunter

June 1, 2009

2009-06-02T12:43:00.000-07:00

Fam,

Sounds like you guys all are doing wonderful, which makes me super happy to hear! Beau, that's awesome that you graduated and have a 1/2 tuition scholarship to UVU! Take advantage of it! I would say take advantage of this year you have of school before going on the mission. That's so crazy that the kids are already out of school! I feel like it was just yesterday when they just started. Crazy, really. Time is just going by super fast. Well, I´m glad to see that McKay is also wearing my clothes! haha! As long as he keeps them in fashion!

Well this week was really interesting for me. Some really interesting experiences, but the best part was that I actually had a little bit of success. We were able to bring 7 people to church which is my record here in Tepotzotlan, but now the challenge is to baptize them. Yes mom I love the songs (I sent him the Primary Songs in Spanish) it's funny how sometimes I just start singing hymns or primary songs but I sing them in spanish because I cant remember how they go in english! Somethimes I´ll hear music in spanish and well I don't know, I think it's english because I understand it. It's so weird!

Well we´re teaching these old people and they are so sweet. Well really it's kind of hard because they can´t remember anything we teach and the wife doesn't know how to read and he is blind so he can't read, but it's cool becuase they love going to church and love when we go and visit them!

We also went and visited the museum in our area but most of it was closed when we went, so we have to go again next week to see the parts we missed but i´ll send a couple of pics of it. It's really cool! I think Dad would really enjoy it! Well I love you guys and hope you have an awesome week!

Love Tenni

May 25, 2009 E-mail

2009-06-02T12:37:00.000-07:00

Familia,

Me va muy bien aqui en mexico! no estamos teniendo un buen de exito pero estamos disfrutando la obra mucho! estoy aprovechando el tiempo para hablar con todos de todo realmente me está ayudando mucho con el idioma creo que ya puedo decir que casí estoy igual con español e ingles está bien padre! me encanta! bueno pues el obispo me dijo que me voy antes de este cambio que viene no le crei entonces hicimos un apuesta de una cena de chiles! jaja espero que no pierdo! pero a ver que pasa!

Well my companion is doing great and we are just working hard and enjoying everything that we can while we are here! Crazy . . . today I complete eleven months in the mission. It's gone by farely quick. It definitly goes by a lot faster when we have people to baptize but it's just so difficult here for some reason. As of right now it looks like we might have some prospects, but I´ll probably leave before seeing them get baptized which would be a super bummer. (Mom don't worry about translating the above part. I´m writing most of it here.)

This week the bishop and I made a bet because he said I´m gong to leave before this transfer which is suppose to take place this 15 of June but my bishop says I´m going to leave the 8th of June. So we made a bet of a dinner at Chiles, so pray that I don't loose so I can eat there free instead of having to pay! haha!

Well take care all of you guys! I love you! If you can all find some time to e-mail this week it would be superly appreciated! oh yeah, I did recieve your package mom and all the cards! Thank you guys so much! I also recieved a tie from Scott Heaton which has been passed around from all the T-View soccer players that are on missions! Well, actually I'm the fourth to recieve it! It's pretty cool! I think I´m going to send it to Sean Clark or Bryan Shumway! Whichever is easier! Love you guys!
Tenni

Pictures

2009-05-15T13:56:00.000-07:00

Deep in Thought . . . . . (Huge tree stump)

If you were wondering what missionaries do
while waiting for their laundry. . now you know.

This friend reminds Tennison of his brother Bryson.

Cute!!!!

May 11, 2009

2009-05-12T14:47:00.000-07:00

Hey Fam,

Yeah, it was awesome talking with all of you guys. Time just goes by too fast! But it's great to hear all of your voices and hear a little about your lives and what's going on at home.

It sounds like everything is going wonderful at home and you guys are all staying busy which is good! That was cool to be able to speak spanish with Dad! It's really amazing how during this past change, all of the sudden Spanish just got really easy and I can just talk with people it's so cool! Oh I never thought that there was much of a difference between accents of Spanish but yeah, dad doesn't speak like Mexican Spanish he definitely learned in Spain and I'm sure I totally speak like a Mexican! haha! I was going to give you a demonstration of Chilango but I forgot! It's just Spanish but they speak in like a sing songy voice it's pretty fun! haha!

That's cool that the car is getting painted! I bet Dad is excited for that! Well I'm off to go get my new companion I hope he's sweet! haha! Well guys take care! I love you all tons!

Elder Tennison Hunter

May 4, 2009

2009-05-12T14:42:00.000-07:00

Family,

Sounds like everyone is doing good! I'm glad to hear that. Sorry, I don't have a ton of time to write, but I will give you a couple of quick details of the past week and today!

Well,. we actually were able to leave our house, but couldn't contact anyone so what's the point of leaving the house!? But we decided we would visit inactive members and help people prepare to receive the priesthood which was cool!

Today we went and played soccer which was a blast. A sad thing happened though. Dad, remember when I hurt your wrist really bad from shooting on you!? Was it broken!? Well, my zone leader was playing goalie and I shot it, not super hard and well I think I broke his wrist! (We found out on Sunday it was sprained, not broken, so sorry elder.) oops! But he seems to be doing fine! Don't worry it wasn't Elder Romney it was the other. Also our ward mision leader came and played with us and he is a huge soccer fanatic. He coaches for the third division of pros here in mexico and said he would contract me if I wasn't a missionary! haha! I guess that means I still have some skills! haha!

Ok well the most important part. On Sunday I will be expecting your phone call at 5 o clock here time which I believe if I'm not mistaken would be 4 o clock your time. If there are any questions call me!!!!! hahaha! No, but you can send me an e-mail and I'll check probably Thursday or Friday morning. If you need to adjust the time I think we can do that just let me know.

Well I love you all tons! Keep up the good work! Oh I still haven't recieved the birthday package, but we haven't had interviews or zone conference recently, so who knows it could be in the offices waiting! Thanks so much for everything! Take care! Love you guys and can't wait to hear your sweet voices on Sunday.

Elder Tennison Hunter

April 27, 2009 E-mail

2009-05-03T20:25:00.000-07:00

Family and others who care about me, haha

Well first, sounds like you guys are staying nice and busy at home which totally makes me jealous! Why does it make me jealous!? Well, we are on house arrest I think that's how you call it! We can't leave our house because of this stupid flu thing! So Mom don't worry I don't think I will be able to buy any of that stuff to help but I won't be coming in contact with people so I should be safe!

Yeah, we did sneak out to send you guys messages because, well, there is a possibility that we wont be working this week. They told me yesterday that we have to stay in the house the whole week because of this thing and well until further advisory! Yeah imagine sitting in a house with three rooms (bedroom, something of a living room and bathroom without TV or anything entertaining) for a whole week straight without leaving. Yeah, it started Saturday and we are on Monday it has been the longest weekend of my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All the schools and churches are closed and can't have meetings! We don't even have sacrament meeting! But our Bishop gave us permission to go and give the sacrament to some of the widows of the ward. Don't worry we went with a member in his car instead of in a micro or combi! But yeah until May 6 (my birthday) the government restricted all types of activities where there are large groups of people! People can't even go to the soccer games the games are played without fans! It's crazy so if we were to work this week, well, we wouldn't be able to take anyone to church but it looks like the working thing wont be happening!

About the earthquake, we didn't feel anything. I'm pretty far from actuall mexico city. . . I think. But well I'm doing fine Mom no need to worry. The Lords work will carry forth there is nothing that can stop it! Tell everyone "Hi" for me and tell Bryson Happy Birthday! how old is he going to be 15? If that's the case "WOW" hi is getting old! haha!

I love you guys! Take care!
Un Gran Abrazo,

Elder Hunter

E-mail from April 20, 2009

2009-05-03T20:19:00.000-07:00

Hey Mom and Family,

This week was pretty good! We are teaching tons of different people and teach a lot of lessons each week which is great! But, man. It's so hard to get people to go to church! Some people are so lazy here and really don't like change so it makes our work harder. But hey, what would I learn if everything came to me super easy. It's during the hard times that you learn the most. I´ve definitely been learning a ton about the gospel these last couple of weeks that I´ve been here! I feel like our bishop knows everything so whenever I get the chance we throw in a little chat about a gospel principle or something that I have a question about and he helps me to understand it better it's so cool! I´ve come to realize how much I really don't know about the gospel and how much I still have to learn, but it's awesome. I just have this burning desire to study every morning when I wake up and again when we return to the house at night its awesome!

Oh so I had an interesting thing happen this week I went to take out the mensualidad for the week and forgot my pin number not thinking I just kept putting in my card and trying a different number well after the third time the cajero ate my card! It's a 500 pesos to pay for a new one but don't worry that's not the charge you received! Well we went to La Comida at our ward mission leaders house and it just happened to be that his brother is jefe of the bank so he called his brother up and told him to open up the cajero and get my card out! Man was that such a relief! Also this week we were going to go to the temple but our ward mission leader had to get his recommend renewed and didn't get it renewed in time so looks like we´ll be going this Friday which I´m so excited!

Oh also I had to give a talk in church which was awesome! I used tons of scriptures and was able to explain most of my talk. It was really cool how I did it! I think most of the ward was really thinking about what I had said and the importance of it!(My talk was missionary work with a focus on baptism) At least I hope they were thinking about the spiritual message I had given, and not trying to translate my Spanish! haha

Mom I just want to tell you thank you so much for your little thought! Really this week has been kinda hard but I´m really starting to realize the importance of the gospel and living the commandments in our lives!

The Gospel is something REAL not just something we always talk about, something that if we really apply to our lives we will see the blessings!

Well I love you guys so much! Keep working hard and i´ll do the same!

Elder Tennison Hunter

2009-04-06T20:19:00.000-07:00

April 6, 2009

Family,

First off, I'm doing absolutely wonderful and it sounds like all of you guys are doing awesome as well! This week President decided to visit our house which was perfectly clean! I do have to say thank you Mom and Dad for teaching me how to keep things clean and organized. I just cant live other wise! (Thank you Tennison for appreciating our child slavery.)

I absolutely loved conference! It was really cool because there is a senior couple that is in our zone and they have preference pretty much over everyone and so they got a room for the American missionaries to watch conference in English! I did have to watch the Sunday morning session in Spanish because we took investigators, but I did understand a lot more than in the last conference, but it's still hard to just sit and listen in Spanish for two hours! I kinda started to fall asleep at the end but it was great! I don't know if you heard much of the Saturday afternoon session but Elder Cook totally quoted me! haha O.K. it was "Lord Tennyson" but hey close enough right!? Well from listening to conference I realized the importance of Faith and Temple work. For me that's what I saw the theme as! Also from listening to President Monson and his Apostles strengthens my testimony of them as our prophet and Apostles here on the earth today guiding the church under the direction of Christ! I just love listening to their counsel!

Oh, also in my last area they had a stake conference and the zone leaders there (Elder Francis, one of my old companions) commented to Elder Romney that like all of our converts were there! It makes me happy to know that they are still staying strong in the church! It will be awesome to see them sealed in the temple! Yeah its freaking sweet with Elder Romney as my Zone leader he's so funny!

I received a card from Grandma which was wonderful and very sweet of her! Tell her Thanks for me Please! Well I love you guys and pray for each one of you guys daily! Take care!

Elder Hunter

2009-04-06T20:04:00.000-07:00

March 31, 2009

Hey Mom,

Sorry, I didn't have the chance to email you yesterday. We had to go to a family home evening which is like an hour to an hour and a half from here and basically took all the evening which is usually when we come to email! Well, I'm glad to hear about everything that is happening at home and seems to be going good! Thanks for MAKING Bryson email me. I'm glad he misses me so much! haha I did love his email simple and I guess you could say sweet!

WEll about my investigators we have one named Lupis. She is cool and we have taught her everything! She just needs to get her three times in church before we can baptize her and it's hard because she has to work in a pharmacy and its hard to find time, but I think not this Sunday but the next we should be able to baptize her! I hope! Next is a lady named Maria Do Los Angeles, we have to get her married and then she will be totally ready to be baptized! I hope to get this done this week which would be awesome! WE also have Lucio and Norma which are awesome people and seem interested! We just found them last week and they couldn't go to church on Sunday but hopefully this Sunday they will be able too! WE also had the confirmation of Hermana Juana this Sunday. Her and her daughters are so cute! It's funny when we first started visiting them only the daughter would listen to us. The mom didn't want anything to do with us then one day I asked her if we could talk to her and what she thought about the church, well, I think that's all she needed was someone to show interest. Now they are strong members that go every Sunday which is so awesome! There is nothing better than to see all your converts every Sunday in church with you! It's so awesome! I'm loving it out here! Take care! I love you guys!

Some Pictures:

Walking in the fields

Magician in the Ward

Family Camargo

Krispy Kreme

Love Elder Tennison Hunter

2009-04-06T19:52:00.000-07:00

March 23, 2009

Family,

Well, sounds like the weather is still Utah weather back home! (I told him it was snowing.) Here in Mexico the weather never changes, it's always exactly the same every single day. Sunny but not too hot! haha. It's perfect! (Rub it in.) My companion is doing a lot better now! We're going to be together for at least another six weeks which is so great! Oh also, I'm not super sure about this but I think my new zone leader is Elder Romney my trainer or 'dad' is you would say in missionary terms but I hope he is, that would be so sweet!

WE got two investigators to church on Sunday. Well really they just went on their own. WE had stake conference and well my companion ni yo knew where the stake center was so we kind of got lost but ended up finding it! After the service we had a baptism of Hna Juana. Yeah, I actually got to get wet again. haha I had the wonderful opportunity of baptizing her!

It was really cool because we baptized her daughter about 3 weeks ago and now her so it was really cool! Chilango is the way people speak Spanish in Distrito Federal and well por aca tambien! Wow sorry some things are just so much easier for me to say in Spanish because that's all I speak 24/7 and its awesome! Yeah! My Spanish is doing great now! I can converse with people really easy and don't have to translate in my head! It's awesome! I'm also learning words that I probably shouldn't be learning from our cholo friends that are always drunk. It's sad to see, but oh man they are hilarious!

Well if you are wondering the importance of studying the scriptures here is a scripture that should pop you up on your toes and make you want to study D&C 131:6 Yeah I think it states it pretty clear the importance of knowing the gospel!

We knocked doors all day Tuesday and Wednesday and yeah didn't find anyone which was kind of discouraging because here it's pretty easy to find people but there are those days when it is hard! On Thursday we found a family and Friday also so it was way sweet! We'll see what happens. I'm pretty sure that they will go to church this Sunday, but we'll find out when Sunday comes!

Well that stinks for B-rice (He got his wisdom teeth out) but hey, at least it only happens once in your lifetime. I'm guessing he probably can't move his mouth and it is very frustrating I'm sure! haha! Well B-rice take it easy and freak write me once in a while.

Love you guys!

ELder Tennison Hunter

2009-03-22T17:59:00.000-07:00

March 16, 209

Hola Familia,

So this week has been great! My companion has been having a little bit of a tough time because of things that have happened in his house, but we continue to work hard and really search the scriptures daily. It's freaking awesome! Well, I feel like time is just flying right now, it's so crazy! But I absolutely love it! I really don't know what to say. This week hasn't been super interesting. Well, actually, I learned some things about the church yesterday that I really didn't know existed and that really gave me the desire to really study the scriptures because wow there is so much in the scriptures that I don't even know! Our ward mission leader knows a ton about the scriptures and then our Bishop knows the church doctrine so well! They have really helped me to find answers to some questions that I have had and wow all I can say is that there is no no no no no way that the church could be false or be established by some man. There are just so many things that existed in the past and we do them exactly the same now in the present time!

This week I've learned a ton with some help and it's been awesome! I'm glad that you guys had fun this weekend and at Hali's wedding! That's sweet that her husband (woa, that's kinda weird to say, but suave at the same time) can speak Spanish and served in Mexico City! Yeah, Im totally learning how to speak chilango, it's awesome! My companion is pro at it! So he's been helping me! It really helps when we do our contacts, because the people can see that we are normal and gives them the interest of listening to us! It's just awesome here I love it!

I found out that I'm living in one of the magical towns in Mexico there are only ten in Mexico and I'm living in one. How sweet is that! I found it pretty interesting! Oh yeah and sorry about the English it's starting to become a little hard to speak and think in English unless I'm talking with a greengo! My companion wants me to speak English with him and I try to but a lot of times it's just so much easier to speak in Spanish! I don't know it's probably a little weird but it's so true! I love it! Well I'm loving life and working super hard mom so don't worrry! I'm trying to be as obedient as possible! Well love you guys!

Tennison's Apartment Building

View from Tennison's apartment

Elder Hunter working in the rain!

Elder Hunter wanting to eat a HUGE hamburger.

Well love you guys!

Elder Hunter

2009-03-22T16:31:00.000-07:00

March 9, 2009

Family,

I'm doing wonderful! Yeah there is just tons of work by the end of the week. I totally look forward to Monday to just kind of relax a little bit! But well actually today I didn't get that chance we got four zones together and played! Yeah we played soccer for like three hours straight!I can barely walk now! It was a blast! I did forget to put on sunscreen so I got a little burnt but don't worry I'm fine! About the investigators, we have tons! The hardest part with all of them is getting them to church. That's our goal this week is getting a lot of them to church! Oh yeah and the other night when we returned home to the casa we found a scorpion just chillin on the wall! my companion was totally afraid of it! It was sweet looking! Things are going wonderful! That stinks for Beau (They lost in the state finals, but still took 2nd place.) But I'm sure he's keeping his head up which is good! Well take care I love you guys!

Scorpion they found on the wall.

Family Home Evening

Pole in the middle of the street

2009-03-22T16:15:00.000-07:00

Note from Tennison March 9th . . Hey mom I just wanted to send you a quick message to let you know that I have tried eye tacos now!!!! I'm being dead serious! They actually taste pretty good its only the texture which I will leave to your imagination that I don't really like! Yeah it's just like eating an eye! haha yeah it's the one that's different than the rest! the others are al pastor tacos which are definitley my favorites!
(I asked him what kind of eyes and he said they were cow eyes, eeek.)

2009-03-08T18:25:00.000-07:00

This is Sergio's mini bug (Cool!)
Side View

Beautiful Catholic Cathederal

Family,

Well nothing too interesting has happened since I last talked to you! Oh, Im still in Mexico haha! Yesterday we went and ate with a magician. He is a member in our ward and well it's kind of funny because he's a magician and his wife is a clown, like that's their professions haha! How sweet, no!? Well he taught us some sweet magic tricks! He also gave me a pair of his shoes so I shouldn't have to buy some for a while now at least so I hope! Dinner was really interesting! Ummm what else is there?

Oh some ways to tell you've been in mexico a long time:

1. When you hear bimbo you think of bread and not the other thing

2. you can understand the guys screaming gas

3. anything over 20 pesos is expensive

4. You know exactly where the best taco stands are

5. you dont know how to eat a meal without tortillas

6. If the food isnt spicy it doesnt taste good

7. its natural to always be wearing sandals inside of the house

8. you are a pro at turning on the boiler and know exactly how long it takes to have hot water.

That's all that I have for right now! Oh yeah, the Bishop took us out for tacos on Thursday night because we are working! I think it's going to be a ritual every Thursday night from now on! haha I can't decide which tacos are better tripe or al pastor definately really good! I tried head tacos those had kinda weird texture not my favorite, I think next I'm going to try eye tacos and I'll let you know how they taste! haha (Note from mom: I think he is playing me.) I love you guys! I hope you enjoyed the calm week! Good luck at state Beau!!!!

Elder Hunter

2009-02-26T20:11:00.000-08:00

February 26, 2009 - (I didn't get an e-mail from Tennison on Monday, so I was a little worried and sent him an e-mail that he must have a good reason. It looks like they took some time to have some harmless fun.) I received this e-mail and pictures today. YEAH!

Hey Mom, I'm sure that you have been super worried, but yeah everything is going awesome here!

Monday was really busy we went and played basketball and soccer and then after we went bowling and ice skating! haha it was a blast! It took more time than we thought butI thought I would give you a quick email right now to let you know everything is going well!

Tennison and Elder Hilario Ice Skating

Tennison and the Elders in his area bowling

Self explanatory (Reason I didn't get an e-mail)

Rosario

Tennison helping kids with homework.

Napping with the kids

Baptism of Sergio

Wow I've seen so many miracles in the last week its amazing! I gave one of our investigators a blessing because she had some sort of problem. She went to the hospital and instead of having to have an operation she just had to take some medicine! It was sweet! We are finding tons of people to teach!!!!! It's awesome. We literally run to every appointment because there just isn't enough time in the day to teach everyone but we try! That means that my companion is the bomb! He only has two months in the mission, but man he really wants to work and work hard. It's awesome! It's funny because he has a hard time getting up in the morning because he's not used to working so hard but we were doing awesome!

We also found a member yesterday that lives in Houston but is down here to take care of some things! He was baptized about 2 months ago but he's here by himself and was praying to find us the night before, and he found us the next morning! Coincidence? Don't think so! He took us out to dinner last night and is going to help us today so we don't have to waste money or time because we can go in his car!!!!!!! I'm super excited! Yeah I'm doing amazing! no te preocupes! I'm trying to send some pictures but I don't think the computer wants to cooperate! haha

Tennison with member from Houston.

I love you take care! Tell Beau to go kick some butt in state! I really wish i could be there but I'm sure he'll do amazing! I love you guys!

Elder Hunter :P hehe

2009-02-26T19:45:00.000-08:00

February 16th E-mail (Sorry late posting)

Familia,

Sounds like you guys are doing awesome! I bet Beau is just absolutely loving basketball!

Well, my week was kind of crazy because I'm in a new area and it's absolutely enormous. It's like 5 times the size of my old area and its really cool! Well, the start of the week my companion was really sick when I arrived. We went to our district meeting and then after we rushed to the doctor because he had a really high fever. She gave him a shot and since then he has been doing absolutely amazing! On Friday we were walking through the center of town to catch a bus to go to a different part of our area, when we were stopped by some gringo. I'm pretty sure he stopped us because he recognized that I'm a gringo also and so he new I could speak English. He was a calvanist and couldn't speak any Spanish. He kept telling us that we preach lies and that he was going to pray that we wouldn't find people to teach. He kept trying to use scriptures and argue with us and well my companion still doesn't have much experience and was trying to argue with him because he can speak pretty good English. I just smiled, said "thank you" grabbed my companion and walked away! haha There really is no point in arguing with people like that because they won't change! So it was a good teaching experience for me to teach my companion!

On Sunday I woke up at 4 in the morning because my stomach hurt. I was just laying in bed at 6 I got up to turn on the boiler and take some Pepto Bismal for my stomach then like ten minutes after I took Pepto Bismal I threw up! Oh, I absolutely hate throwing up! Then I threw up again! After that we went to pick up our investigators to go to church. Only one was home and her name is Rosario. We went to church and I was feeling really dizzy and sick of the stomach. One of the counselors got up and introduced me and then surprisingly said and Elder Hunter is going to share a few words with us so I gave an unprepared talk. (The Bishop said i did really good!) haha! Then I sat down and rested. It was also the first time I got to bless the sacrament since I've been here! But yeah, then the bishop had all the people that had served missions or are serving missions (Us) come to the front. He presented us and one of the young men had just received his mission call so the bishop presented the call to him! Well while we were standing in front I had the urge to throw up again and ran to the bathroom upstairs! Oh man was it a crazy morning!

So the answers to your questions. My area is awesome! I like being senior companion it really isn't much different but its cool! My companion feels better! The town I'm serving in is what I think would be a typical town here in Mexico! It is fairly big! We have one ward in this city and we meet in a house of prayer because we don't have a chapel! Don't worry I feel a ton better now. I think I had food poisoning from some pizza I ate! I don't know why but it's always the pizza! the most Americanized food I can find here! haha!

Oh yeah, we also had a baptism on Saturday. A little kid named Luis. I didn't get a foto because my battery died in my camera, but hopefully my companion will be able to pass me the foto to pass home! Also, that girl Rosario is going to be baptized this Saturday. She is awesome! She knows like everything. Her family doesn't want alot to do with the church, but they'll support her. Rosario told us that she had a dream that she was a missionary and after was married in the temple. That was a pretty cool experience! Well love you guys!

I love you all lots! Take care!

Elder Hunter

2009-02-09T19:55:00.000-08:00

Sorry to all of you who were looking forward to a post last week, but I'm still in the process of translating it, so I'm not so sure if I'll post it.

02.09.09

Hi Family, Well this last week was great. We had four baptisms that were awesome! One complete family!

and a little girl. Her mom was inactive and we reactivated her and baptized the little girl! It was awesome!

I also got transferred from my area. I am now in Cuautitlan in an area called Tepotzotlan. It is totally different than St. Teresa. I'm actually in the city. It's sweet! My companion told me I have to be careful because there are lots of gays and girls! I guess I'll just find out what that means. (When Tennison wrote this e-mail he had only been in the area for 2 hours.)

Elder Hunter and Elder Martinez
Tennison's last meeting with Teresa and Edgar bef0re transfers

My new companion's name is Elder Ficachi, he's sweet! He is sick right now so hopefully he gets better so we can work a lot! Yeah we're the pokemon according to my old companion Elder Martinez Picachu and Hunter Ha Ha! But yeah it's going to be great! Oh, I'm also Mayor (Senior Companion)! haha So I'm excited! I'm glad to hear everyone back at home is doing wonderful!

Tennison studying under his baby palm

Keep working hard at everything you guys do!

Take care! I love you guys tons!
Elder Hunter

2009-01-31T17:13:00.000-08:00

01/26/09

Hola Familia,

Well actually my week was awesome! I have lots of stories that I could tell, but I'll give you a little overview!

First, on Tuesday there was a meeting and I think it was one of the most spiritual meetings that I have ever been to! It was amazing! The rest of the week we worked really hard and on Friday we were able to baptize Hermano Edgar, he is the husband of Hermana Teresa my very first baptism! He is freaking awesome! He has the priesthood now and everything. When we were teaching him, every time we would make a compromiso (committment) with him he would just say sí and never really had questions about anything and was willing to do everything. It was awesome! Now the goal is to see them in the temple a year from yesterday being sealed as an eternal family! I'm so excited for them!

We also were able to baptize the grandma of this family of girls and I think they will be baptized this week or the next we just have to convince the dad because he is a little hard, but with prayers it'll work! And Wario (Oscar) is awesome we can only teach him on Saturdays and Sundays because he has to work during the week! But he loves going to church he goes every week on his own so it's awesome!

Transfers are in two weeks and President told me that he is going to join my area with the other Elders that live across the carretera (highway) so I'll probably be leaving. But I think either way I'd be leaving because I'll have about six months in this area and well its awesome. I love it but I'm kind of ready to experience algo nuevo (something new)! haha

I love you guys and everything you do! McKay is getting so big its crazy! I'm sure he is just a little ladies man already!

Well I love you guys!

Elder Hunter

Oh crazy that Mitchal comes home on Thursday that went by way quick!!!

2009-01-22T18:47:00.000-08:00

Family,

I'm so glad to hear that everything is going well at home and that you guys are staying extraordinarily busy like usual, which is good! Well this week was good. I'm learning a ton because my companion is really pushing me to do things which I'm not used to doing, but really wow its helping! Ha ha

We were talking about one of our investigators and how he looks like Wario from Mario Bros! I hope he'll get baptized, because I want to have a picture to show you guys! I think you guys would love it!

I received a second Christmas this past week! I received a package from Hayley along with four letters from her and also one From Sister Quartey which was really nice and a Christmas card from the Sommers! I dont know if you already know what was in the package Hays sent me but it had socks which was nice, a bag of snickers, dried mangos, El Fudge cookies, and some Hawaiian chocolates along with some letters from her friends and family to me which was awesome and funny to read! She also made me a shirt that said I love(heart) Hayley. She made the shirt extra large just in case I gain weight . Well I sure hope I don't gain that much weight! It was great!

Ok so I want to hear some of these stories that McKay is coming up with!!!!! (Note from Mom: something to do with babysitting and jumping from banisters).

I do have my pair of shoes from Missionary Mall which are still doing just fine so I'm wearing those every day and I don't want them to get worn out, but they are working and I thinkI will wait to see what happens at the transfer to see if I want to buy new ones or not!

Also we played soccer today in the morning! It was a blast! I think I'm getting better by playing less or maybe the missionaries I play with just aren't that good! Ha Ha But it was a blast!

Thanks so much for everything Mom I Look forward every Monday to reading the letters you have sent me!!!!

Take care! I love you guys!!!

Elder Hunter

2009-01-12T18:54:00.000-08:00

Family,

So this week was great! My companion really knows how to work and can teach really well! I feel like this week we were really successful! I think this transfer is going to be a good one. WE have some really sweet families that we are teaching and I'm pretty sure that they will get baptized, but we will see what happens. Sorry, I have a picture that I was going to send to you but in this internet their aren't any adaptersm so you're going to have to wait until next week.

Remember how I said that my companion is a little weird!? haha Well, the funny thing is I actually get along with him really well! We are always telling jokes and stories it's really fun and helps me a lot with my spanish.

That stinks for Tyla (she broke her arm) it's probably a sweet green cast though. You should send me pictures! Tell my Brothers to keep working hard in school and sports and most of all when they are home!

Well I love you all tons! Take care!

Elder Hunter

2009-01-06T11:19:00.000-08:00

Hola Familia,

This week has been good! A little different! As you know, now I have a new companion who is mexican, his name is Elder Martinez and he is from Guadalajara. I'm kind of surprised because he's actually obedient and works really hard which I like! He just works a little different than all of my other companions but he has already taught me a lot in this week. He is also a little different because he was like a gothic before the mission so it kind of puts a little twist on things, but he always has jokes so its cool! He has 20 months in the mission so lots of experience, which provides to me a great opportunity for learning!

Well, I'm glad to hear that you guys have been pretty relaxed (at least that's what Beau tells me). I'm glad my friends still come and visit you. I'm sure you enjoy it Mom! You should tell people to send me pictures so that I can have some cool things to show my companions. Like through the Mail Mail. I mean I like them through E-mail but I cant really look at them like I would like too.

Oh, so this family that we found, well i should say that the dad found us when he was drunk! Well they went to church this Sunday and they didn't really like it. They are going to this church that is called Pare de sufrir which lots of people are starting to go to. But, I think they will come through, we are still working with them and we'll see what happens! Also, we are working with this family that Elder Francis and I found. They live in a part of our area called La Cañada which is a lot like the area of where dad grew up. Anyways, it's kind of funny because its like seven girls. But they are totally down for going to church and they always read and pray when we ask them to, so it's sweet! I think we are going to baptize the Grandma Angela this week and probably the rest next week. So that will be really cool!

But, yeah, other than that we've just been knocking doors all week and my companion makes me contact almost everyone on the street, so I'm starting to get good at that also! He's always got a lot of ideas on how to contact people! So it's cool!

I went shoe shopping today but all the shoe stores are like shoes that are dirt cheap and aren't any quality at all, so I think that I might have to travel a little ways or wait until the end of this transfer to see if I get transfered anywhere! But the ones I have will do for now, I just don't want them to get too worn out! Oh yeah, for New Years I celebrated by going to bed early because we had to be in the house by eight! I was super exhausted!

Well I love you guys!

Love, Elder Tennison Hunter

2008-12-29T20:47:00.000-08:00

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.

2008-12-25T15:00:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-25T14:46:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-14T11:06:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-01T20:06:00.001-08:00

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

2008-11-28T13:35:00.000-08:00

Familia,

Mom thanks for all the e-mails. That's crazy that you ran into Rob. I hope that you told him "Hi" for me. That is crazy that Truly and Elder Romney's sister cheered together. Wow! A small world it is! Well you should send me updates about what is going on at home. I really wouldn't mind that maybe cosas like the BYU/Utah game and how that went and whatever else you think would be good. Because I would really like to hear some things about what's going on at home!

So first things first, my companion is freaking awesome. He really works super hard and really knows how to teach. I've learned a ton from him already. He's sweet! I'll send some photos dont worry! So this week we baptized the rest of Miguel's family (his wife and daughter). The thing that stinks is that they moved today so I won't see them here anymore. I did get their address and they have mine so hopefully we can keep in touch at least! His family was so cool! It's sad to see them leave but at least they are all baptized!

So my companion and I were talking and I told him that Ive never worked so hard, been so tired, but yet felt so good! Yeah, we're working like crazy right now and I absolutly love it!

O.K. So today, it was awesome! We have done so many things today! We hiked to the top of the mountain Sincoque which was way fun! WE hiked with the other Elders that work in the same ward as us and two converts Yael and Mayra and two jovenes Hector and Angel. It was way fun. They have been bugging us forever to do something with them so we decided to today. It was awesome! I'll send pictures don't worry!

Above, Tennison was pointing at a bull and his companion poked his head out at the right time.

Those who know Tennison, he loves lizards, so this is quite the find. . . I just hope they aren't poisonous.

Well it was another awesome week! I hope everyone is doing awesome back home! I just want you to know I'm absolutley loving it here.

This is the best work ever! I Love you guys! Thanks for all the support!

Elder Hunter

2008-11-18T18:06:00.000-08:00

Family,

I`m so glad to hear that everyone is doing awesome. Tell dad and Beau that I`m just as excited as they are to hear everything about the basketball season and I better get all of the updates because I want to live through it with you guys!

O. K. So I had the coolest experience this week, well last Saturday. I was standing in the center of the field in the biggest stadium in Mexico in front of at least 100,000 people. (Probably way more but thats just to be safe). Well I received revelation that I think I need to be playing soccer right now instead of being here!

O.K not really!!!! It was the coolest feeling ever being a missionary and having over 100,000 people in the stadium cheering for me. This is so what I´m suppose to be doing right now. So much better than playing soccer in front of that many people because I`m here doing what the Lord wants me to do. Oh man, I Love this work!

So the reason I was standing in the middle of the field in the biggest stadium in Mexico! Well they rededicated the temple in Mexico yesterday which was the coolest thing ever! They put on a cultural event to celebrate the reopening of the temple and it was held in the Estadio Azteca! Huge staduim! The Prophet and his sidekick Elder Eyring were there also. It was so cool! The wards put together a bunch of cultural dances and then I knew we were going to have to do something but I didn´t know what. The dances were related to the history of the country and they intertwined the gospel with it. So it was cool! Then all of the sudden like half way through the missionaries started leaving and I was like what the heck that's dumb we can´t even watch the whole thing! But come to realize we were the grand finale of the whole show! We walked out onto the pitch singing "Called to Serve" and all the members and the Prophet were waving their white pañuelos in the air! Oh, The Coolest Experience Ever!!!!

That was awesome. And can I tell you our Prophet and Pres. Eyring are so amazing! They truly are inspired men of God!

Well I got my new companion. Elder Francis is his name and he`s tight. I can already see that we are going to have a lot of success because he wants to work hard. I´m excited! It was sad seeing Elder Romney leave though! But its cool. So yeah my week for ya`ll!

Love you!

Elder Hunter

2008-11-10T18:27:00.000-08:00

P-Day with the district.

2008-11-10T18:06:00.000-08:00

Family,

That's cool to hear that B-Rice is still a beast. Always wanting to be the best at everything he does. He´s awesome! Tell Beau and Bryson to work their rear-ends off at tryouts!

This week was really exciting! We had zone conference and President Nancollas showed us clips from Michael Phelps races during the Olympics which was really inspiring! He showed us the one from the butterfly race where he had almost lost it but the reason he won was because he gave it that last half stroke! He said we need to always give 100 percent! We can´t return home with regrets that we didn´t give it all we got out here! So yeah, it was way cool to hear something about the Olympics and see some of it. He also showed another clip about his team and how the won the 4 by 1 and never gave up hope even when it looked like they were going to loose and because of that they were able to pull off another gold medal! It showed how Michael Phelps was an awesome cheerleader for his teammates and we need to be like that for all the other missionaries out here cheer them on to the finish help them to finish strong! I was figuring Beau could apply these things because it's his senior year this year in basketball! But yeah really cool!

After that we received mail. It was so exciting! I got the letters you sent me and the stamps. Thank you so much. You guys are all so awesome! I also got a ward newsletter from August or September. I can´t really remember, but it was cool! I also got a letter from Hayley which was cool! Its kind of frustrating because I sent a letter to her like two months ago and it still hasn´t got there. Hopefully they arrive sometime! But she´s still Hayley. It is great to hear that she is still always happy about everything!

In one of the letters dad wrote me he said he talked with a Mexican that's from just north of here (well he probably lives in our mission boundaries) and he said that he couldn´t understand him! Yeah, there are some people that are really hard to understand down here but it's becoming easier to understand the majority. (Some like don´t even speak spanish, I swear.) But it's awesome!

Oh yeah, this week we pulled off 3 baptisms out of nowhere! It was so cool! It was honestly a miracle but it was so awesome! The water was like ice again but they still did it. It's so awesome to see people totally change there lives around and come into the gospel!

The video we made this week is so sweet! You better watch it on Elder Romney's Blog (There are two video's see last week's video first and then the one for this week.) and well if possible see if Elder Romney's Mom can e-mail it to you so you can post it on my blog. It really is so cool! O.K. just funny!

Well Love you All! Tell everyone to keep up the hard work!

Elder Hunter

Letter from Mission President

2008-11-08T14:21:00.001-08:00

This week we received the attached letter from Tennison's mission president. (Note the date.)

2008-11-03T18:47:00.000-08:00

Well, I don´t know where to start! It sounds like everyone is doing great back at home. So far I´ve only been able to open the picture of Mckay. Wow it looks like he´s grown! I´m assuming I can´t recognize him because of all of the make up he´s wearing!

That's cool that you and dad got to have a night kind of to yourselves. That really is a miracle how that happened. Well everything is going great here. Unfortunately we didn´t get to baptize Dana´s mom. It's so difficult with her because I can see in her eyes that she knows it's true but she just won´t get baptized! One of these days she will though.

My favorite thing this week was being able to help make our food with this one hermana! she is so awesome! We made enchiladas verdes and oh they are so good! I think they are my favorite food and they are so easy to make. You should try them!!

Also my companion and I kind of started a workout program. For the first day we did as many pushups as we could and now we do just one more a day. I´m up to 103 as of today! But I usually do another 100 after that just for fun! So let B-Rice know I´m still working out. HaHa

You know how you told me that dad was thinking about writing a thank you letter to Teresa and Edgar? I think that would be such an awesome idea! They would totally love it! Some info you might want to include is they hooked up our gas for hot water, she gave us curtains for our windows and she also invites us over once or twice a week to cenar! So if you could write a letter that would be so awesome they would totally love it! I can just print it off.

Also something cool happened. During one of our lessons with this guy (who has like totally changed his life around) I was bearing my testimony to him about prayer and usually I have to think about things that I´m saying and I can´t really speak fluently but while I was testifying to him I didn´t even have to think about what I was saying it just flowed! I think it really impacted him because he knows I have a more difficult time trying to express myself. So yeah the gift of tongues is true. It's Awesome! I definetely had some help from the spirit for sure!

Here' s a picture of our hitch hike ride home from our district meeting last Monday. It's my whole district except for (the sisters) our bishop and some family in our ward. Bishop is on the left he is just a happy jolly old fellow!

Here is one of the temple.

Well I love you all! I still haven´t gotten an e-mail from Beau make sure he has the correct address maybe that's the problem! Oh, also Mckay forgot to e-mail me this week.

I Love you!

Con Mucho Amor
Elder Tennison Hunter

2008-10-27T19:52:00.000-07:00

That's awesome to hear about Brandon. BYU is hard but they give athletes private tutors so he doesn´t need to worry too much. Hopefully Beau isn't discouraged. Í know Beau usually has a good attitude about things so I´m not too worried about him!

Well, the most exciting thing we did this week . . we had the opportunity to go to the temple on Saturday! We didn´t get to go through it because it's an open house and we had to work. I had the job of counting every single person that came and dividing them into groups of people like men/women; members/non members; and adults and children. I don´t think they realized that it was going to be as busy as it was because I think I counted over 4000 people while I was there and I was there for like 5 hours. Yeah, my head still hurts from all that counting. I don´t think it helped that I had to get up at 3 in the morning in order to go! But it was really excting!

I think I found a computer that will cooperate with my memory card so I´m going to try and send pictures!

Ok so the reason I´m not e-mailing you until now is because we have this pyramid in our zone and our zone decided that we were all going to go and see it. (Note from Mom: I didn't get an e-mail until later in the day . . hmmm.) That is where we went this morning. It was really cool! I´m going to try and send you pictures of it as well. It was also freezing. It looked like it was going to be a normal day so I didn´t take a jacket, but to my surprise it was freezing. It made the experience just that much better! (Note from Mom . . that sounds so much like his dad.)

Also there is this factory that puts out tons of polution so I thought I would take a picture of that and try to send it as well! We've been pretty busy this week with lots of things to do!

Here is a picture with Dana and I! She is the cutest little girl! We´ve baptized everyone in her family except her mom. Which is sad. But I think we might be able to baptize her this week which would be so awesome!

That's cool you were able to meet Elder Romney´s mom this week! He´s awesome! We had interviews with president this week and president told me that he was going to be sending Elder Romney somewhere else so I´ll probably be getting a new companion next change which I´m kind of scared, because Elder Romney and I get along great! But it´ll be great whoever it is!

Oh yeah, I meant to tell you this like three weeks ago, but you know those shoes you told me to just take and wait until there gone to get new ones, well they can pretty much speak better spanish than me now because the front part of the sole came unconnected! But don´t worry I found some glue that holds it together pretty well. I think they´ll hold up for a little while! Ha ha!

The mission is great. Make sure all, that well . . . used to be ´little brothers` are preparing in some way or another to go on a mission because "wow" I didn´t realize how much I didn´t know about the gospel until I had to start teaching it. It's so awesome.

We now have beds, fridge and a stove! So it's pretty much awesome being able to eat something more than peanut butter and jelly sandwhiches with water everytime I wanted something to eat!

Well I'll keep you all in my prayers! Tell Beau I´m still waiting for an e-mail!

I love you all!!!

Elder Tennison Hunter

2008-10-20T19:35:00.000-07:00

Family,

Well I´m sorry that I don´t have as cool of a story as Chris does, but I´m sure glad to hear that he is doing well. That's so crazy!

Well I´m glad to hear that Taylor is preparing to go on a mission. It really is awesome. This week we finally got in the water. We baptized Ulyses' family of 3. We were also suppose to baptize Arturo's family but only him and one of his daughters were baptized. We are hoping to baptize his wife and his other daughter this weekend. I had the opportunity to baptize our convert Teresa's daughter Celysmar. That was cool! Basically it's been a busy weekend for us. I love our converts, they take good care of us. Teresa brought us curtains because we didn´t have any. She also comes over like every night to make sure we have eaten dinner because we don´t have a fridge or a stove. Arturo´s wife, Reyna has given us dinner twice this week. She probably makes the best food I have eaten down here. She sells hamburgers at night and gave my companion and I each one. They are called Hawaillana hamburgesa´s its basically a normal hamburger patty, piña (pineapple), ham and put on tomatos, onions and well if you think you can handle the heat throw on some jalepeños! Let me tell you those chiles are nothing compared to some of the things we´ve eaten. Oh and you can´t forget the cheese, catsup and mayo or whatever. Oh they are soooo good!
My companion and I had the chance to be marriage counselors. Ha Ha! Yeah 19 yr olds who know nothing about marriage. This family that we are teaching, the dad saw us in the street and said that he is missing something spiritual in life. We started teaching him and he goes to church every Sunday and wants to get baptized, but he´s not married so we told him he has to get married. So him and his wife each wanted to talk to us and hear our advice for them. It was sweet. It's amazing how much people really look up to us and just want to hear our advice on things. I think the people here recognize something different about us and know that what we have to say will really help them in their lives. I Love missionary work its so great!

¡Los Amo!

Con mucho amor

Elder Hunter

October 13, 2008

2008-10-14T19:18:00.000-07:00

Familia,

That's so great to hear that everyone is doing so awesome! Tell Beau that I know it really sucks pushing carts sometimes but he has no idea how much it will help him when he gets out in the mission field! One thing I have learned from home is how to work! I want to tell Dad thanks for that, it's definitely an advantage I have here.

That's so cool to hear that Chance got Baptized! I´m so excited for him! Tell him Congratulations! That is such an important step in life. He probably doesn´t realize how important it is but one of these days he will.

This week has been great. My companion decided that we were going to start knocking doors separately so we can cover more area faster. It's really fun, but kind of difficult at times. The best is when I say something and the person just looks at me with a weird look. That's when I know I didn´t say something right! Well going along with that, I still am no where near fluent but I understand so much when people are talking. I can have a conversation with people. It really is so cool!

My companion and I finally moved into our new casa and this is what the secretaries brought us: We have a fridge that is locked because they forgot to unlock it after bringing it to us, WE have an iron that if you put water in it, it spits out rust (luckily i didn´t have to experience that), and a sandwich maker that doesn´t work. But we do have desks with chairs so we can study and mattresses without frames. So yeah, we´ve been bugging the secretaries a lot this week trying to get them over and get the rest of our stuff. Oh and also we had a gas tank and a boiler but nothing to connect them. But thank goodness to our wonderful convert Teresa, her husband came over last night and got it all hooked up so this morning we actually got to shower with hot water!!!! Oh man you don´t know how much I love hot water showers!!! He is an awesome guy! I hope we can get him baptized before I get transfered. That would be awesome!!! Oh and the weather here is perfect! My companion complains about it being too cold! (Note from mom: Tennison's companion is from Mesa, AZ and Tennison is warm blooded so it may not be too warm.) But really it has been great weather here!

Oh yeah i saw at one of the banks yesterday that you can exchange one dollar for 13 pesos now its sweet! oh also my companion and i didn´t spend near as much as we thought we were going to it´ll probably be around sixty but thats cause i bought some mouth wash and a case for my camera today also.

Oh also we have this one investigador who is like amazing! He has the best attitude ever. He has this disease where it's like paralyzing his body so sometimes he can´t move his right leg or left arm. It's a really weird disease. But yeah when we talked to him he had the most positive attitude ever. We went to talk with him on Saturday and he was laying in bed because he couldn´t move, so we just said a prayer with him and it was awesome! WE haven´t had time to go back and visit him since. I sure hope he´s doing better!

Well I know that this church is true, and that anything anyone ever feels - - Jesus Christ has already felt it, and because of that he can help us through any problems that we will ever face in life! Always remember that!

¡Les Amo!

Con Amor

Elder Hunter

P.S. Familia, ¡Guardalo Real!

¿Conferencia General?

2008-10-06T19:51:00.000-07:00

Well, do you want to hear a miracle? I haven´t had a single bloody nose since I´ve been here. (A little background from Mom - -Elder Hunter was getting bloody noses about once a week at home), and well, my allergies, all I have to say is that it's a bit chilly in the morning and nights but I have medication, so mom don´t worry. About a jacket- - I think it would be easier for both of us if i just buy stuff here, it would probably be way cheaper and way less of a hassle for you.

My companion and I are moving out which I´m so excited for. We decided we are moving out today no matter what, which means that we might have to take cold showers for a while! ahhh Oh well, it's not really anything new!

On General Conference - - We totally got to watch every session! But guess what? Only in Spanish. I didn´t understand a whole lot but some of it I did! For the Sunday morning session they had a little T.V. for the missionaries with English subtitles so I liked that, but it's hard to read straight from a T.V. for two hours straight! If you haven´t tried it I highly encourage it! It is quite the challenge! (Ha Ha) I think my favorite part was being able to sing songs in English when everyone else was singing in Spanish. They all loved it! (The Members) Oh yeah and if you didn´t know WE have to go to the stake center to watch every session which is like forty minutes from our house. We don´t have the luxury of sitting on our couch in the living room with a RootBeer or something and watching conference!
Man do I miss that! But I really did enjoy it!

A mis Hermanos: Este es por Elder Dallin H Oaks Él dijo algo así: No usan sus celulares durante el reunion sacramental. Este es un tiempo preparar para tomar La Santa Cena. (Dad, I hope that makes sense, my sentence structure still isn´t the best in Spanish but its definitely improving a lot.)

I would encourage Beau, B-rice and Mckay not to use their cell phones until at least after they have taken the sacrament. I would say all of sacrament meeting but I don´t know if that is possible for B-rice. (Ha Ha).

O. K., so we are teaching the coolest family ever! His name is Ulyses and has a wife, two daughters, and a son. I love going over to teach them and they love when we come over! They always get on nice clothes when they know we are coming over and just get all ready. It's awesome they even dressed up for church! This is a family that really has nothing but to see them trying so hard it's just amazing! He is a security guard and used to be a police officer. He told us that he wants to get baptized and endure all the way to the end!!! I was thinking dude that is totally my purpose as a missionary- - your not even going to make me work. It's so awesome! People really are just ready for the gospel here in Mexico!

So my Spanish is coming along quite well. I think if I was stranded in Mexico (not saying I want to be) but if I was, I could get my way around now! I can actually speak with people, but still it's really hard to understand everything they are saying. But, hey, I´m doing great compared to when I had first arrived here!

Today was cambios (changes) but my companion and I are still the same! WEll he is actually District Leader now but we're still companions! He is awesome! He really loves to put me into situations where he can´t really help me (with Spanish) and make me figure it out on my own! I love it! It has really helped me a ton! I think that's why I´m getting so much better now!
I love it here! I´m glad to hear everyone at home is doing awesome! Tell BEAU He Has To E-Mail me. Oh and tell B-Rice he won´t even be a challenge for me when I get home. I get to work out every morning its awesome!

¡Los Amo!

un Abrazo

con Amor,

Elder Hunter

Happy Birthday!!!

2008-09-29T20:15:00.001-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEORGIA ON OCTOBER 3, 2008!!!

Love, Elder Hunter

September 29, 2008

2008-09-29T19:46:00.000-07:00

Family and Friends,

I´m so glad to hear that you are all doing so great! Remember to stay focused on what is really important in life! More importantly make sure you know what is most important in life!

On Mexican Independence Day - Well, I´m in a really small town and yes, we had to be in our apartment by 6 on Mexican Independence day. Lots of people had fireworks, well actually they were more like loud bombs. It wasn´t like huge celebration where I am at. I´m sure in a bigger city it was.

This week I felt really inspired that I needed to tell Beau to work on getting his patriarchal blessing. It's something that will have great power and give him much guidance in his life. It's funny I´ve already seen many things start to come to pass that are in my blessing its so amazing I absolutely love it.

Once I get into a big city I might be able to find a cord for my camera, but until then I won't be able to send pictures, but don't worry about it mom its not that big of a deal. If possible, please ask for pictures from my companions' mom for now and I´ll find a way to work things out with pictures.

We went to D.F. this week which was sweet. I got to eat more Burger King which was awesome! In pesos its way expensive but comes out to be what would be normal in the U.S. I think it was like 60 pesos which is only 6 bucks but 60 pesos can get me a long way here in Mexico.

There was a meeting with President Nancollas which was sweet! It was for the future leaders of the mission. It sounds like he is really depending on our generation of missionaries to basically lead the mission because other missionaries are lazy or just don´t like to follow the rules. President Nancollas is such an awesome man. President and Elder Holland are like good friends! Who Knew!!!

So this week was great. We didn´t knock on a lot of doors, but we did teach a lot of lessons. WE have this one family that was going to get baptized on Sunday but during their interviews we found out that the parents aren´t married, so we´re working on getting them married right now, which is a fun experience! Hopefully they will be ready to go the week after conference. Also we are teaching this family, well its a husband, wife, and a niño and they are so ready but we havén´t been able to get them to church because he has to work every other Sunday and things have come up that haven't permitted them to go. But they love talking with us. Its funny how fast people start to hear rumors about the church once someone starts investigating. I think that this guy has heard every rumor there is about our church but he just knows its true and doesn´t listen to them. It's such a sweet experience! Well I just want to tell you that every day my testimony is growing stronger and stronger. I would suggest that you read the Book of Mormon daily if you can it really is so amazing! It contains answers for just about everything in life!

Con Mucho Amor

Elder Tenni

September 22, 2008

2008-09-22T20:17:00.000-07:00

Family,

I know that you really want pictures and I really want to send you some. My companion
sends pictures and it takes almost the whole time to send them, so I´m not sure if I will be able to but I´m going out hunting for a cord today so I will be able to send some to you because I really want to!

(Elder Hunter doesn't know, but Elder Romney's mom was kind enough to share a few with us.)

Here's a sneak peek!

Bishop, Verbica, Hunter

Romney

This second picture is Teresa with her son Eduardo and her daughter who will be 8 in two weeks! What an adorable family. (Further explanation below.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Elder Hunter's e-mail cont.)

I asked Elder Grow if he remembered Grandpa Jensen and he said he remembered the name and told me to tell him "Hi!" He is a great man!

President Nancollas asked me in our interview how your job was going mom. I told him great! I´m assuming thats how it's been so hopefully I wasn´t lying! Oops. President is awesome he absolutely loves my companion and I for some reason. He gave both of us the permission to break the rules and e-mail his son to try and get him to come on a mission. It's sweet!

This week was great! I had the opportunity to baptize Teresa and it was so cool! The water was freezing because we had to fill the font up with the hose because the other water system was out of water. She is great! It was so exciting! Also, we were searching for a reference one day and this guy came up to us and asked if we were looking for him. We asked who he was and it wasn´t who we were looking for but he said that he was lacking something spiritual in his life which was perfect! So we have been teaching him and he came to church with us this week which was great! Also, this other family came and we are going to try and get them baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday. The father's name is Arturo. Arturo and his daughters, Estrella 13; Karen 11; and little girl who is like two seem really interested. The mom, Reina, kind of worries us but I think she´ll come through also. President Nancollas is having a leadership meeting tomorrow and he invited my companion and I to go. It is going to be sweet!

That is all for this week!

Con amor

Elder Hunter

September 15, 2008

2008-09-15T18:04:00.000-07:00

RAIN!!

Family,

Wow it sounds like you have had quite the week this week! That's awesome that Beau is eligible to play! I´m sure that he is working hard to be good! They better take state! I´ll take it that B-Rice is working like an animal if he was player of the game and wasn´t even suppose to play! Crazy child! But that's awesome, make sure he stays focused. I know he will be amazing! How's McKay and Tyla doing!? I´m sure they are doing great!

I received dads letter on Friday. It was awesome! I also got one from Hayley so it was cool! I could actually understand everything that dad had written in Spanish which was way sweet!
If you want to send a package, send them down to Texas and they drive them here from there! I think you just do it through the normal post office but here's the address:

Care Package Express
2149 Del Rio HWY #102
Eagle Pass TX 78852

I think they´ll ask or you tell them which mission it's going to and they send it there! But I would really appreciate any type of cookies that you would like to send me! Cookies are great here but I hate wasting money on buying snacks!

It has been raining a ton aqui. I should have brought a jacket but since its not cold, it really isn´t that bad. Yeah, I could go and buy one, but soccer jerseys are so much more interesting and worth the money! Ha ha! This week we actually traveled to the actual city which we call DF and got legalized to be here. Also, when we were there, I was able to eat Burger King which was awesome!!! But I have to say the Burgers that the Members make us are so much better than any burgers I have ever eaten. Maybe it's because I haven´t eaten one in so long. They put like ham on the burgers and this great cheese! It's my favorite!

We only wear our suits on Sundays to church and to zone conferences. It is such a pain to wear because it's so dirty and rains all the time right now. So yeah just a pain! I think I´m buying another suit soon. I forgot the brand but its some fake really expensive brand thats gonna be sweet!

You're probably thinking that I´m on a mission, but not telling any mission stories . . . well, we are teaching this lady named Teresa and she is so awesome! We taught her the plan of salvation on Saturday and everyone ended up crying in the lesson but me! Probably, because I didn´t understand a whole lot of what everyone was saying, but I could definitely feel the spirit there! She went out of town for the weekend but came back to go to church for an hour! She is so awesome! I think we are going to baptize her on Sunday! It's going to be awesome!

We have this other investigator who is pretty cool. He found us on the street one night and was trying to speak English. We just started talking to him in Spanish and he was way surprised. He told us he wanted to find god and because he was speaking in English we did not think he was being serious. But then on Friday he saw us on the street, stopped his car, and ran over to us to seen when we could meet with him. When we met with him, he had his bible out on the table and was totally ready for us to teach him. He´s awesome! The only hard thing is that he works like all the time so it's hard to find a time when we can teach him. Pretty much of the rest of the week has been lots of knocking doors. My companion still makes fun of me for my door approaches, but they are getting much better. I still can´t say everything I want to say but I can understand tons already! Its great!

Well the streets are paved but there is just lots of dirt everywhere, so the streets might as well be dirt roads. Ha ha! We eat with members ever day for what they call la comida which means the food we eat at about two o'clock everyday. It's about the only real meal we eat because we don´t get time for dinner. La comida usually consists of a soup then a main dish then a gelatina afterwards. The worst thing I´ve eaten so far is mole which is . . . I don´t really know what it is it's like a no tasting sauce on chicken with rice. If the chicken is really dry it just makes for a gross meal but I eat it anyways to be polite. Eat it with a smile that is! Ha ha!

Love you all! Until next time!

Con mucho amor!

Elder Hunter

September 8, 2008 -

2008-09-14T10:15:00.000-07:00

Well the food hear is great! Don´t worry mom, I´m doing my best to stay away from anything that I think will make me sick. But it really is great. I love it spicy!

So I am living in Santa Teresa. It's just totally houses so its really easy during the week to work. It's awesome. To get the internet we come to an internet cafe which is right behind our house. Its great. So, from what I have heard about letters and packages. . . I only receive them once every transfer during our zone conference. Which means every six weeks (I believe), and that's only when I can send letters also. I heard you can send packages through the address that they have in the packet. So don´t really expect letters from me except for once every six weeks or so, but that's why we get to email.

So anyways this week was good. We did a lot of knocking doors and my companion totally makes fun of my spanish because I'm not the best yet but I´m improving. It's funny because I usually notice when I say something wrong or in a terrible accent. Oh yeah, my companion is way funny, he's not a complainer which I really like.

I´m starting to be able to understand a lot more in spanish but still can´t say a whole lot which can be difficult at times, but I´m rapidly improving. We met this lady this week and got her to come to church with us it was awesome! She has a daughter that turns eight in October and she totally reminds me of Tyla. She´s so cute! I think that they would make good friends. We also found this family on Friday that was way sweet! We thought they were going to go to church with us but they didn´t. It was disappointing but I think they will this week.

I really wish you could see what it is like down here. It's so crazy. . . but awesome. When we were flying into the city you honestly could not see the end of it we flew over it for like thirty or forty minutes before we actually landed. I took some pictures out of the window of the plane. I´ll send some to you either when my card gets full or next week just depends on how long it takes to upload.

Con Amor,

Tenni