Week 58

So this week wasn't much different from any of the others. It's been a little bit hard here. The people we have aren't really progressing, which means we have to continue to look for more people to teach. Not going to lie it has been a little bit hard and at some times discouraging as the people just aren't as accepting as we are used to. We have been able to find some great people and great families that we are helping right now! 

Both my companion and I have not felt super good this week, which doesn't help with the fact that we're having to walk and look for people a lot. It's amazing that at the time when you think you can't go anymore, that's when the lord gives you the strength necessary to keep working! I know that this change will be awesome! I'm looking forward to another change with Elder Lopez if that's what the Lord has in store for us. 

On Sunday I was able to attend 6 hours of church as one of my Zone Leaders got really sick and wasn't able to go to church. I went on divisions with his companion and I was able to do a Baptismal Interview for them. Overall it was a great morning and I was more than happy to do it :) One of the families we invited to church showed up and stayed all three hours. We talked a little bit afterwards and they commented on how much they enjoyed it and how much they were able to learn. It's great to see that they actually understand and have the desires to follow in Gods path! 

This morning we were able to go to Baños in the Orient about 2 hours away and were able to see some massive Waterfalls they have there. It was great to see a prime example of what an opposing force does over so much time and how powerful it was! I know that through the opposition we are experiencing here, we will be made stronger! I hope that you all have a great week and can remember that our Heavenly Father loves you all!

Con mucho amor, 
Elder Hunt

Baños Waterfalls - March 16th 2015

 

Week 57

Wow the time is just flying by!!! It's already week 4 of this change and it seems like it's only been 1! As I've said before, time here is super weird! I've learned that the more focused I am and the harder I'm working the faster it goes! Some weeks seem like we weren't able to get much done and I know that I need to get myself on a better schedule so that I can keep up with the many tasks I have to do everyday.

This last week seemed really short and went by super fast but it was a good one as we were able to get a lot done :) To start off, we had to start finding people to teach as we were very quickly running out but with the Lords help we were able to find two new families and teach them this week:) It is going to require a lot on our part to keep them progressing and to help them receive their answer but I know that if we are diligent and work with the Lord we can do it and continue to help many people here in this area! 

On Thursday, I had the opportunity to go to Quito (about 4 hours away) for a Conference with our Mission President for the District Leaders here in the Mission. It was great to be able to see some of the missionaries that I have gotten to know here in the mission. I was able to  receive further instruction as to what I can do to become a better leader and to be able to help those in my district better. I'm not going to lie, I don't really like being in Quito as it is a really big city, but hey at least the food is good there! Speaking of which, my companion and I are going to start going hard on the exercising this week! We're both getting fat haha! It doesn't help that we have a really good Pizza and Burger place here in our sector :P 

On Saturday, we were able to have a baptism. Her name is Lesly. She is the sister of a member here in the branch and she is super great! She was so happy to finally be able to be baptized and I was happy to be able to be there and perform the ordinance for her! On sunday she was able to be confirmed and you could just see a huge difference in her and how happy she was :) We were able to get a few less active members and one of our other investigators to church so it was a pretty great day! 

It's been pretty hot here so its definitely nice as it's not humid but a dry heat. Sure makes me miss Utah!! Overall everything here has been great!Elder Lopez and I are just striving to work hard and be diligent and obedient to what the Lord wants us to do. This week I was able to study a few talks that really helped me out. They helped me to recognize what we have to do everyday in our lives. There was one quote that stated, "It is many days well lived that add up to a successful life." 

I know that what it says in Alma 37:6-7 is true "that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass." If we will but focus on our daily lives and strive to do all that we can today, and to be a little bit better than we were yesterday, I know that we can achieve many things! I love you all and I am praying for you. I hope you all have a great week this week and can reach your true potential. 
Con mucho amor, 
Elder Hunt 

Lesly's Baptism - Elder Hunt & Elder Lopez

Week 56

Week two of my 2nd change here in good ol Riobamba. This week was a little bit crazy and went by super fast! We have been working really hard to find new people to teach. As of right now we have one investigator who is progressing and she should be able to get baptized this weekend so that's awesome :) 

It's been quite tough finding new people though! Here in the mountains people are a little bit more closed off and don't like to associate with others and there are a lot of crazy Catholics here! It's good though because once we have been able to talk more with them, they are pretty accepting. Our focus right now is contacting in the street as the people are a little more open to us than when they are in their homes. We look for families so that we can focus more on that. So far it has been good for us and slowly I'm becoming better at talking to anyone and everyone I see so that's good, although I'm pretty sure they just look at me like I'm some crazy gringo haha!! It's okay, I know that we will plant the seed in their hearts :) 

Our other focus that we have right now is to help the Branch that we are in get better at doing their visits as Home Teachers and Visiting Teachers so that we can strengthen the retention here in the Branch! We need to help them to forget about themselves and serve others. We have noticed that they rarely do their visits so we have decided to choose one companionship each week to go out with so that we can make sure that they are doing it and just try to help them get better and have the desire to do it by themselves. There is a lot that we need to help with here in the Branch! It will be hard at first but I know that it truly will pay off! 

So it's been a good experience being District Leader! I'm just trying to stay strong so that I can be able to help the Missionaries in my District. I know that the Lord has called me to a position of service. This week I really want to get better at offering more sincere prayers! Often times when I wake up in the morning, I start to pray and end up pray/sleeping for about half an hour haha! I know that even though it's hard, it's essential in our daily lives! 

I'm excited for what the Lord has prepared for me here in Riobamba and I know that through my obedience and diligence the Lord will bless me and my family! I feel my testimony growing each and every day and I know that what I am doing is the truth. It's hard sometimes but I know that although we often can't see the fruits of our labors until later that this is what the lord wants me to do! I thank you all for the love and support that I have received and continue to receive here! I pray for you all and your well being. Have a great week and don't forget "Every Member a Missionary" :) 

Con mucho amor, 
Elder Hunt

Week 55

So, this week was quite the interesting week! First of all, it was the first week of changes. I can already see that this change is going to be a great one and that if we stay diligent and keep being obedient I know that the Lord will truly bless us! 

The second reason why this week was quite crazy is because this week was a HUGE holiday here in Ecuador! It's called Carnival and basically what happens is everyone walks around carrying silly string type stuff, water, flour, and eggs and its just an all out war haha. People throw water balloons and buckets of water from the roof. Let's just say that it would be awesome being here as a normal person and to be able to participate in the madness!! As a missionary I can now say that it isn't as great being here defenseless! It also makes it hard having to work and find people to visit too. It was still a great experience and super fun to have to run away and avoid being soaked with water. Unfortunately, we still got wet haha! 

So this week was a little bit hard as all of the members here in Riobamba left to go to the little towns a little ways away from here. The town here is literally so empty and its been hard to find people to teach. We've tried to look for new people to be able to teach but with no luck. 

Yesterday I was able to give a talk in church and I was asked to speak about The Law Of Chastity and the Use of Technology. It has been a problem here in the branch as they kids are always on their phones and they don't show respect during the hours that we are in church. 

There's not a whole lot of news to share with you all but this P-Day was super fun! We got together as a zone and played Carnival and lets just say we got super dirty and super wet haha! It was great as we have 3 news Missionaries here in the zone. It was super fun to be able to experience a little bit of the culture here in Ecuador. We only have today and tomorrow to make it through Carnival and were good :) 
I hope  that you all have a great week this week!
Con mucho amor, 
Elder Hunt 

Elder Hunt & Elder Read

 

Week 54

Changes! Well, I have completed yet another change here on my mission:) I am now with Elder Lopez from Colorado. I know that this change will be a great one! I would really like to share an activity that we as missionaries are doing this month and the next. It's called "The faith of February will bring the Miracles of March." We have been asked to make a few sacrifices to show the Lord the faith that we have in him. We have been asked to read 12 pages every days from the Book Of Mormon and mark every time  that it talks about or mentions Jesus Christ so that we can finish it before the end of March. We have also been asked to study and apply the Christ-like Attributes, hold two mission wide fasts, participate in weekly service projects in our districts, and each make a personal sacrifice. 

I was able to read in Mormon 9:15-21 about how often times we forget that our Heavenly Father is a God of Miracles. Being here in Ecuador there have been many people that have told me that God no longer performs miracles but instead they go to their pastor or church leader to perform the miracles. They truly have lost their faith in the Lord! We know that without faith God can do nothing! I know that this activity we are doing truly will bring miracles into our lives and all the people around us. I know that God truly gives us so many blessings and performs so many miracles in our lives! We just need to come unto Christ and our eyes will be opened so that we can see the miracles and blessings abound in our lives. 

I really want to focus on the faith that I have and to keep strengthening it! I want to build my faith upon the rock of Christ (Helaman 5:12). We truly do need to build a strong and reliable spiritual foundation under us to have the strength to go against the odds and what the world says. I know that if we show the Lord that we truly do have faith in him and if we prove our faith through our works, he will bless us! I would like to ask you all to consider your level of faith and set goals and make sacrifices to strengthen that faith. "For if we have faith, we have the power to do whatsoever thing is convenient unto the lord." (Moroni 7:33) 
I love you all and hope you have a great week! 
Con mucho amor, 
Elder Hunt

Week 53

Well, it's the first week of the second year here on my mission:) I wish that I could say that it was an extraordinary week but I would be lying haha! It was about the same as any other week! On Thursday night we went up to the roof and burned one of my shirts (Half way missionary tradition).  It went up in flames super fast and was super cool to see and do :) 

This week was a little rough on the numbers and we didn't have the people that we wanted to in church on Sunday but we were able to help some people out and we should have a better week this week. So, this last week in my training I talked a little bit about about goals that we set as missionaries and how we help people with these goals. It made me really look back and see that I have set many goals throughout this last year but I wasn't able to achieve all of them. It makes me want to set more precise, and attainable goals this year so that I can keep improving as my time here in the mission grows! 

Goals are such an important aspect in our lives but often times we just decide to stay where we are and that that's okay, but that is not the essence of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Something that I like teach all of the people that I visit is, that Jesus Christ didn't only teach us words that we study in a book, he taught us how to live! He showed us the lifestyle we need to live to have all the blessings from God. I know it is hard to do but we really need to look deep into our lives and find what we can change and get better at so that we can continually be better people and better Children of God! 

I know that this Church is true and I know that although it may be hard sometimes, it does make us into the people that God wants us to be, not just who we want to be. The will of God exists for our benefit so that we can be able to make it back to live with our Father In Heaven. I Really have come to love all of the things God gives to us! I am striving to make them important aspects in my life so that I can construct the foundation under me that will allow me to resist the temptations of Satan! 
I love you all and I hope you all have a great week! 
Con mucho amor, 
Elder Hunt

The Traditional "1 Year Down" Shirt Burning :)

Week 52 ( HALF WAY!!!!)

Well, today was a great day to start this week off! We were able to go to Chimborazo today as a Zone. It's the first time in a year that I've toughed snow and I'm sorry to tell you all this but I still hate the snow :) 

So, it's super crazy that this week I hit my one year mark here on my mission!! It makes me happy but at the same time it scares me. I now realize how fast the time that God has given us here goes by. I know that the Lord has a lot planned for me in this next year. I just need to humble myself and do what he wants me to do. I look back and see how much I truly have grown here in this past year. I'm so grateful to be able to have so many wonderful people in my life that have supported me this past year! I am truly grateful to you all for that love and support that you have given me! 

This past week was a tough one. We didn't have nearly the success that we wanted and we didn't use the time we had as wisely as we should have. I know there is more that we can do here. I know that even though it's been hard the Lord knows what we need most and he truly has prepared people for us. We just need to be more diligent and find them. I'm anxious to make this week better than the last one! 

I have really noticed that we have to help the members out a lot. There are a lot of them that really struggle with the simple, basic aspects of being members. We found a member that told us that she's almost to the point of being an Atheist again. She doesn't have a testimony of anything the missionaries taught her before:( We both felt a huge responsibility to help her achieve that testimony on her own so she can continue to not only believe in God but to love him and feel that he truly does speak to us here on earth. It's really sad to see that this is happening to her but we know that it's not what she wants to happen and that she is willing to do what we have taught her. 

It really has shown me the importance of Home Teachers and Visiting Teachers! We have these programs to find out what the members need and to help them through strengthening them with the Word of God. I want to invite you all to focus more on those families you have to visit and do what you can to help them be better people and to strengthen them. Don't just visit them because you have to, do it because you want to, and love the people you serve! We truly need to focus less inward on ourselves and more outward on other people. Just like what President Hinkley's Father said, "Forget about yourself, and go to work" I know it is true and it allows us to do Gods will. 

I love you all and I hope you have a great week!
Con mucho amor, 
Elder Hunt

YAY!!! 1 year down - 1 year to go!!!!
~Taken at Maldonada Park in Riobamba~

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The Snow Covered Chimborazo Volcano

The Snow Covered Chimborazo Volcano

Visiting The Snow Covered Chimborazo Volcano