Halloween Happenings

October 21, 2013

Dear Awesome Family Back Home,

Thank y'all for the Halloween package!! I am enjoying licorice allsorts as I write.  All the extra stationary means I'll be sending a lot more letters your way!  It is so much fun to receive these creative and imaginative packages.  It really brightens my day!  Brandon, your gift I especially love!  (Brandon sent a four inch by four inch realistic looking plastic spider.)  Yes, you did scare me as I opened the box.  I have put it next to by bed so I see it often and it also creeps me out often - so I get the maximum enjoyment out of it!

I have interesting, ironic and funny news.  Last Wednesday, Elder Findlay was emergency transferred to Past Texas!  Elder Kowalis came in to replace him.  We do not know why these emergency transfers took place, only that they were very sudden!  We received the call after I had emailed!  So I barely missed being able to warn y'all.  So when the Halloween package came with stuff for Elder Findlay, I decided to mail it to him.  I split the candy between my current companion, Elder Kowalis, and my ex-current companion, Elder Findlay.

Elder Kowalis is a very talented Elder.  He is good at talking and starting conversations with people.  He also looks like he could be a Hollister model or something, so that doesn't hurt either.  Very cool guy.  I tell you more in my email Monday because I am running out of card!!!

Tell Grandma Pat I love her and that I am praying for her.

 - Elder Hunt

Texas Tracting

( I apologize for the lapse in blog postings.  Graham's grandmother (and my mother) Pat Green had major surgery on October 8th.  She spent 10 days in the hospital and is now recovering in a Rehab Center.  I am happy to report she is progressing well.)

October 14, 2013

Thank you for telling me about Grandma Pat.  I hope she recovers well from her ordeal.  I'll be praying for her.

It is so nice to hear that Brandon got three palms!!! That shows true commitment to scouting and a good work ethic because he is still working when he could just sit back.  (This is a special honor that scouts can earn above and beyond the Eagle Scout recognition.  Brandon received all three palms in October.)


America is an awesome place and the state of Texas especially.  I eat well!!  Currently, I am snacking on beef jerky as I write - it is soooo good!  Being in a bike area, I now have insanely caloused hands.  The other day I rubbed my hand on my arm and it felt like fingernail scratching!  Weird!

I am happy to report that I am doing amazingly well!! Elder Findlay and I have been working hard, and it is almost therapeutic.  You know what is awesome about missionary work?  The harder you work, the happier you are!  For the past few days I have worked hard, prayed hard and slept even harder!!!  It hasn't all been peaches and cream, though.  For the past two weeks, I was struggling on and off with discouragement.  I was pretty miserable at times.  But with God's help (He is all powerful, no?) I am so elated to be doing the Lord's work daily.  Tracting is notoriously awful in Texas, yet I find joy in doing it.

Dad, I hope you are doing well.  Being a Bishop must be rough, as you still have to work and do normal life activities while serving the Lord.  I couldn't imagine what mission life would be like if I had to work, take care of home and family, all while keeping up my appointments and tracting!  I admire you for your commitment to our family and the righteous way you preside over it.  As a missionary, I am seeing many, many households of every shape, size, description and dynamic.  It has helped me appreciate our home even deeper.  So far I have not found ONE home that compares with the one you and Madre raised Brandon and I in.  That loving home was the greatest gift any child could have ever received and you gave it to me.

Thank you for your weekly letters.  It is nice to hear from my family so consistently.  I love you Madre and Fadre.  Thank you for supporting me from home like you do.

Your son (forever!)
Elder Hunt

Rare Scriptures

September 30, 2013

Hello!

Yesterday evening, Elder Findlay and I went to a very interesting presentation by a man in our area.  This man used to own a bookstore, and is a collector of rare and old scriptures.  He had (every single one of these is original) a Wycliffe Bible, a Tyndale Bible, a Geneva Bible, and a King James Bible which weighed 40 pounds!  He also had a first edition printing of the Doctrine & Covenants and Pearl of Great Price.  He even had Napoleon Bonaparte's own prayer book!


He also had an original first edition copy of the Book of Mormon!  Most of all, he had Joseph Smith's personal thumb Bible.  A thumb Bible is an abbreviated version of the Bible.  This one was 2 inches by 3 inches long!  Tiny thing!  The thumb Bible had Joseph Smith's signature in the front cover and the back cover!  He also had Joseph Smith's own copy of the Book of Mormon.  Moreover, Elder Findlay and I got to hold Joseph Smith's own Bible and Book of Mormon!  What a rare experience!  Not to get all relicy, but Elder Findlay and I were ecstatic!

I love you all!

                                       -Elder Hunt

Bomb-Proofing the Book of Mormon

September 23, 2013

Elder Findlay and I are still in the same area, so you can order the shoulder bag and have it delivered to our address.  Thank you for taking the time to research and find me a good bag.  I cannot wait to bomb-proof my Book of Mormon!  Ballistic nylon...heheheheheh..... (I ordered Graham a shoulder/messenger bag that is made of ballistic nylon which is water proof and very tough!)

John is our only investigator.  He was brought to church by a friend.  Finding people to teach is difficult here.  I would imagine the same is true in Southern California.  My mission president, President Durrant, asked at a recent conference for every person to ask one person this: "Would you be willing to listen to a brief presentation about God and His plan for your happiness?"  I would ask you to do a favor for me by doing a favor for the missionaries in your area.

I love you!

                                    -Elder Hunt

9/11 Remembered

(This has been a difficult post for me to write.  My brother Andrew was killed in the terrorist attacks on 9/11/2001.  He was in the first airplane highjacked and exploded into the World Trade Towers.  I think of my dear brother Andrew and all the years that we have lost with him with great sadness.  Through the years, my faith has been my anchor and my comfort and has given me strength beyond my own to help me through the grief and pain.  I am so grateful that my son carries this same faith in his heart because I know it will sustain and strengthen him in his journey through life.)

September 11, 2013

My Dear Mother,

Today is the anniversary of Uncle Andrew's passing and I thought I would lift your spirits with a letter, although doubtless this letter will not reach you the same day.  Today we went to the Fort Worth Mission to meet with Elder Anderson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.  The meeting was good and I know that he stands as a special witness of Christ and his atonement.

I admire you and Grandma Pat for forgiving those who killed Uncle Andrew.  I imagine if I had to forgive someone for killing Brandon, it would be the hardest thing of my life.  I pray that never happens.  I give you my testimony that through the atonement and Heavenly Father's plan of salvation, we will be united and gathered as a family in the Celestial kingdom of God.  Although there is temporary separation in this life, Christ's victory over death in Gethsemane trumps all.  How great is his victory!  I thank God for the peace of mind and spirit given by that joyous news!  I love you Madre!

                                                 - Elder Hunt

Liquorice Allsorts

September 9, 2013

My loving family -

I just received your "Gold" package and am writing this letter while enjoying liquorice allsorts.

I am so thankful you think of my companions as well.  Please send them something as well as I in each of these fun boxes.  Brandon, thank you for the artwork.  I have it hanging on the wall above my bed at my feet so I can see it when I go to bed at night.  My dear family, you have been so good to me.

Good news!  I have found my scripture for my missionary plaque. It is 3 Nephi 27:16:

"And it shall come to pass, that whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world."  

There it is.  Christ's own words plainly telling the simplicity of returning to live with God.  (Each of the missionaries from our congregation has a wooden plaque that hangs next to the Bishop's office.  This plaque has their picture, their favorite missionary scripture, and a map of their mission.)  

I am doing well.  There is a young man who we are teaching.  He is very sincere and he is a great kid.  The work is going slow but sure and I love it!  I love y'all and hope you are all doing quite well.

                                                                  - Elder Hunt

Texas Toast

September 2, 2013

My mission is going well albeit slow.  I am in the richest area of all of my mission and all of Texas, too.  The area has its drawbacks and benefits because of this.  Most of our area is untractable as we get thrown out by security guards.  But, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.  We have an amazing ward which is very missionary minded.  They feed us often.  Oh, man, I have had some goood food here in Texas.  I know I'll gain weight down here.  Although it is hard to effectively contact/tract here the Lord still blesses us and guides us to the right people.

Texas is toasty!  (Graham has been biking around in 100 degree plus heat and humidity for most of August!) It is so Texas toasty that Elder Findlay and I have our apartment at 80 degrees fahrenheit and it feels cold.  At 90 degrees fahrenheit it feels cool and at 100 degrees it feels comfortably warm.

I love the mission, it is awesome!
- Elder Hunt