Exchanges

EXCHANGES AND NO WINTER CHANGES...just COLD!!

Dear Family,

Last Monday when we were emailing from the middle school, there was a fire drill...so we all had to go outside and stand in the bitter, windy cold.  Not fun...but we finally made it back inside and finished.  The rest of pday E. Skinner and I played some good basketball.  It was great!  In the evening we had dinner at the Ray's and they gave us some food to take home, too. Every time, without fail, that I pay my fast offerings, I am provided for in some way or other.  It's pretty incredible!

Tuesday evening we were out contacting and met a few really great people.  One married couple we taught basically begged us to have a Book of Mormon to read.  We were happy to give it to him!                 

On Wednesday we were clearing out a lot of our old contacts on our phone by sending a mass text asking how things are going.  Well now we have a phone flooded with messages and we're finding some people who have slipped through the cracks.  One gal I had actually met seven months ago but I hadn't heard any more about her.  She remembered who I was and the timing couldn't have been more perfect.  Someone close to her passed away, and she has a lot of  questions and wants to meet with us.  Hooray!

Thursday we had exchanges with the Elders in Woodstock.  It stormed on us all day and we got another foot of snow.  We met a lot of good people and set up loads of lessons.  It's pretty great to work so hard and have people wanting to hear about the gospel!

On Friday we had our Skype interviews with President Leavitt.  I always enjoy talking with him.  He has taught me so much, both spiritually and in everyday life things.  We also had a tech-missionary conference call, discussing different things and that went well.  We had lunch and correlation at the Hendrickson's apt. and I made homemade tortillas for tacos.  I love serving with the missionaries in this area.  We always have such a great time together! 

 

Saturday we helped a non-member move into a new place.  It took much longer than expected and really killed my back, which has been giving me trouble this past week.  The rest of the day was full of contacting and we got another snowstorm out of nowhere!  It was a Nor'easter, and winter just doesn't want to let go this year!

Sunday was amazing.  We had some really great talks and we had TEN non-members there!!  Two of them just walked in randomly half-way through the meetings.  There were from West Africe and only spoke French.  They are on their way to Moncton, so we'll be passing their information on to the missionaries there.  Elder Skinner and I got to do some acting in Primary.  I got to be Joseph Smith and describe the First Vision.  The kids were so cute and had some great questions!!

I love you all!  Hope your arm feels better, Mom!
Love,
Elder Hunt

CONCERTS, BIRTHDAYS, and STORMS!!

Dear Family,

Last Monday was the first time in about a year that I was able to have some free time to do anything!!  So Elder Skinner and I went to some stores to look at all of the wonderful things we can't buy right now...and it was actually a lot of fun!

This week we did exchanges with Elders Hatch and Jensen...talked with a LOT of people and got some great potentials.  So many good things are happening in our area!

We have picked up some really good investigators and Winter Storm VOKAS rolled in.  Dumped some  snow on us!  (The more the better, right?  More service to be given!)  But the wind and cold were something else!

On Friday we shoveled out the church parking lot, to get ready for the big concert that night.  

I was the "official photographer" and got to take all kinds of pictures.  The concert was a HUGE success and we had about 150 people there.  The music was incredible, but I wish I could still be performing with them...I miss that!

Saturday was Elder Skinner's birthday, so I woke up early to make a Hunt traditional birthday coffee cake.  At the end of the day we went to Montana's to celebrate E. Skinner's birthday.  He got "endless ribs" so I kept taunting him to eat more and more.  Well, about 60 ribs later he called it quits.  I also let the waiter know it was his birthday, so they all came out clapping, singing and they made him wear an old viking hat.  Pretty funny!

On Sunday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!) I played the piano for church.  I enjoy being able to play hymns and accompany, although it's not my strong suit.  I definitely do better in performing myself, but I know I'll be accompanying  lot in the future, so I need to work on that more.

We got to sit with the Primary kids and watch a video, with popcorn, while the Relief Society sisters had a big joint meeting.  It was great!

With it being mom's birthday yesterday, I really wish I could've been there to celebrate.  You're the best mom anyone could have and I'm so lucky to have been given you for my mom.

Love,

Elder Hunt

Viral Video and More...

Dear Family

We had a great leadership meeting last Monday and I'm really looking forward to working with the district leaders and STL's in our zone.  Later in the day we did some grocery shopping at Costco because Sis. Hendrickson has a Costco card and took us.  It was great to get some decent shopping done!

On Tuesday we had Zone Conference and I was asked to conduct it, which I really enjoyed doing.

During our lunch break, E. Skinner and I competed against the other zone leaders in the 5BX challenge while everyone else ate lunch.  I finished the challenge in 5:32 and got first place.  E. Skinner was done in 5:57.  The other two zone leaders finished a couple of minutes later.  That was great, even though we were dead tired after!  When we resumed the conference, Elder Nzojibwami gave a great talk on prayer, and Elder Prince gave a great talk on motivation.  After they spoke Elder Call (former BYU-I Music Dept. Head) and I played a violin duet, "Be Still My Soul."  It went really well, and really brought the spirit to our meeting.  Some incredibly spiritual things took place in that meeting!

E. Nzojibwami and E. Hunt - Brothers from different mothers

Later in the week we met a man while doing some street singing.  He asked if we were "classic LDS missionaries."  Turns out he had spent 6 months in Rexburg, Idaho, was taking the discussions there and was close to being baptized, but then moved back here.  The short version is he's ready to be baptized!


Now, I have to tell you what happened on Thursday.  We had been doing some contacting, had a great lesson with a less-active member.  E. Skinner and I really wanted to find a new investigator, so we went out knocking...no success on the street we planned, so we followed the Spirit and walked to a different street.  we almost left when we had little success, but decided to knock a few more times.  Well, a lady answered the door and invited us right in.  We taught her the restoration and had a good lesson...and now she's a new investigator!!

THEN, when we got in for the night and we checked the mail...there was a letter from London, England for me.  More specifically, it was a letter from the Senior researcher for the Discovery Channel, asking permission to use the video that went viral (of me knocking myself out for my knee surgery a couple of years ago) as part of a documentary they are making on the chemistry of the body and how anesthesia affects it.  That was pretty cool!!  VIDEO LINK

Saturday we went street contacting downtown and we talked to quite a few people!!  It was nice because it warmed up to 5 degrees today!!  It was a perfect contacting day and we got some good potentials!
Oh, and can I just say that missionaries know the WORST day of the year is.....spring daylight savings time...when we lose an hour of sleep!!!  Worst thing, ever!  *_*
And then there was Sunday...I played a violin solo of Be Still My Soul with Sister Hendrickson accompanying...but it was a bit of a Gong Show!  After I had run through the piece before the meeting started, I completely loosened my bow with the intent of tightening before I played.  Well, I totally forgot when it was time to perform, so I began to play and very quickly realized my mistake!!  BUT there was nowhere with a break for me to tighten it for the first page!  UGH!  I basically played on wood with a couple of loose horse hairs for the entire first page.  The Lord somehow helped me, because it all sounded perfectly fine, too.  So, the piece went very well and I was pleased.  Whew!!
Sure do love you all!  Make sure Harrison knows I think about him a lot and have tried to email him...but I never hear from him!  Soooo, let him know for me!

Love,
Elder Hunt

NEW ZONE LEADER!!!

Dear Family,

Elder Wolsey tried to "box up" Elder Hunt while he was packing

So, Elder Wolsey is being transferred this week, and Elder Skinner (from when I was serving in Houlton) will be my new companion.  It will be so awesome to be companion zone leaders together!! While he packed things up on Wednesday, I cleaned the whole apartment.  Transfers went smoothly on Thursday.  I've been a zone leader for 6 weeks and now I'm supposed to teach Elder Skinner how to be a zone leader.  A bit of pressure, but also I'm excited because I already know what a great missionary he is! 

The whole week was a bit hectic, some teaching, some contacting, and I love serving with Elder Skinner.  On Sunday the Hendricksons had us over for dinner, determined to get Elder Skinner full from a meal.  They served us mounds, upon mounds, of chocolate chip pancakes, sausage, and potatoes.  We both got absolutely stuffed.  We also watched the CES Devotional broadcast from BYU-Idaho with Sister Linda K. Burton, who happened to be Kristy's mission president's wife when she was serving her mission in Korea!!  Small world!

Sorry this is so short, but next week's letter will be better.  

Love,

Elder Hunt

Looking forward to the Missionary Concert in a couple of weeks!