November 23, 2009

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

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

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

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

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

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

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