Just Another Day As A Missionary

Monday- We went back to 25 de Março because Elder Nunes was looking to buy glasses and Burt was looking to get a new watch. It rained while we were there, but we ate a good lunch!

Elder Neto Lima and Elder Hunt

Elder Hunt and Elder Burt

Elder Dallto and Elder Hunt

Elder Hunt with Elder Marchant

Elder Kingler and Elder Reboucas with Elder Hunt

Marcus loves being with all of his fellow missionaries

Tuesday-We went to the transfer meeting and it was so nice to see all my good friends there! :) I love transfer meeting because President Farnes always motivates us SO much and I love seeing all the new missionaries arriving in the mission. One thing that will happen from now on is if a companionship baptizes all 6 weeks of the transfer, or baptizes the most in the whole mission, they win a ‘Desire Plate’ (like on a car.) I WANT TO WIN IT!

     

Wednesday-I did training on Lesson 5, which is about The Priesthood and temple work among other things. These are the treats that I brought to the meeting for my people.

We visited Hugo, trying to get him baptized on Saturday, but it depends upon if his family can make it or not, it just needs to be soon. We visited Michelle, but she’s not progressing anymore, she has an excuse every week not to go to church. She doesn’t want to get baptized, so we had to stop teaching her for now. Sad day, not a ton of success. 

Thursday-We cleaned our house like crazy today because it really needed it. We worked in a favella built into a steep hillside close to where Lia and Yazmin live. We worked super hard, it rained a ton and was very slippery, but none of the people we tried to contact wanted anything. :( 

We visited some recent converts in the night and then searched for a long time to find a man who was almost baptized a while ago, but it turns out that he just happened to join a different church a few days earlier...

Friday-We were given the opportunity to write the article for the mission newspaper. It was such a privilege because generally only Zone Leaders and the assistants get to write the articles. And especially because I LOVE writing too! It brought back some of my good newspaper memories. :)  Today was another rough day of not much success and a ton of rain.

Saturday-We had a really good lunch really far away at a member’s house. Then we did a division so I could go do an interview for the Sisters in Santana and so Nunes could go visit Hugo. Sister Morley and Sister K. Silva are also doing well. They have SO much faith! They called me to come do an interview for them for the following day, I asked who will be interviewed and the sisters said they weren’t sure yet, but that they would have a miracle and that they would have someone. The next day they had a man to be interviewed and he was baptized the following day; it was spectacular! 

Sunday-Hugo wasn’t baptized, but he went to church today. He was our only investigator at church despite our efforts with members.  We provided rides to pick up various investigators but no one wanted to go. :(

         

Elder Hunt with his companion, Elder Nunes

At lunch there was a return missionary of 3 years and he was super cool with his advice and stories. But Hugo's baptism had to be remarked for April 4 because he’s going to a music festival next week. 

That night we had a meeting with the ward leadership. This is the first one we have ever been invited to. Finally. This was the first step in improving our relationship with our ward. 

 We also got news that on May 3 an Apostle will come to visit the Sao Paulo North Stake, so that will be interesting. If I’m transferred I will not get to see him. 

This was a rough week :( but, everything starts in the mind; we will get back up and have a better week this week!

Love,

Elder Hunt

Sushi, Assistant Dallto, and Transfers

Sushi in Brasil

Monday-So last P-day we were feeling a little down, rain was falling, and with nothing to do, we decided to go to the Andorinha mall. It was super cool, we went and looked around in a bunch of stores and then ate sushi! Sushi is one of my favorite things :) We returned by bus with a ton of traffic to learn that due to the rain, a huge part of the street caved in, causing the heavy traffic buildup. The good thing is that we got haircuts and visited Hugo that night, so we were productive.  :)

Elder Hunt with his Zone

New Baptismal Invites and Magnets

Tuesday-We attended zone training and there received new baptismal invites and refrigerator magnets for our investigators. We had some visits in the afternoon, followed by a miracle with Michelle that night. She said she wanted to get baptized on Sunday! What had happened was that she promised us that she would go to Stake Conference with us on the weekend but she didn’t. On Monday she broke out in hives all over her body, and she told us she realized that the hives happened because she didn’t go to church like she said she would.

Toblerone Chocolate! 

Wednesday-I did a division in Cantareira with Elder Zenteno! That was the first time the two of us were back together since we were companions last transfer. I did a bunch of interviews for him and it was great. Also at a supermarket I came upon a huge Toblerone Swiss chocolate bar, my family's favorite! It was such a great find :)

A Spider bite on Marcus' leg

Thursday-Now today was interesting. I did a division with the assistants. My companion stayed with another junior companion in another area, and I went with Assistant to the President, Elder Dallto. He is from Manuas, Brasil and he is the greatest! He taught me so much and from him I genuinely felt like he was there to help me and help our area. I felt his sincerity and I realized how good of a leader he is. He was just himself and was super funny and real. AND he's all about that baptize.  J

The people still call Elder Hunt 'Wolverine' sometimes :)

A highlight of that night was when we were in Vista Alegre (a super poor favela) teaching and finding new investigators when ALL the lights went out. We ended up teaching a huge family an extremely powerful lesson of the Restoration under candlelight. It was an amazing experience and certainly one I will never forget. 

Pizza with Elder Dallto

Friday- Day two of the division with Elder Dallto. He did a ton of interviews for us and we also did weekly planning together. It was another amazing, exciting day! He interviewed Hugo and Michelle, so they both will be getting baptized soon! 

Saturday-I spent a big part of my afternoon doing A TON of interviews for Elder Burt, but the thing is, I love doing interviews, so it’s always fun for me. That night we visited Michelle and she said she didn’t want to get baptized anymore and we were DEVESTATED. After, we attended a baptism of Elder Burt and Elder Cerantonio.  This was also the day of my beautiful, amazing Mother's birthday! :)

Sunday-We all anxiously awaited transfer calls to find out that Elder Nunes and I will stay here in Cachoreinha for one more transfer together, Elder Burt is going to an area called Ariston, which is a SUPER good area.

Elder Burt and Elder Hunt 

But I’m really, really sad Elder Burt is leaving. :(  Elder Cerantonio will also stay in Cachoreinha with an American from Provo, Utah who has 3 months on the mission, his name is Elder Ellis. 

     

After 8 months on the mission, Elder Hunt's Mephisto shoes are toast. 

"It's been a good 8 months with these shoes." 

'Goodbye shoes, the legend lives on.'

In sacrament meeting, Lia and Yazmin were confirmed. :) We had a good lunch, visited some people, but then had to be home by 6pm because huge riots all over Brasil were happening to impeach and overthrow President Dilma here in Brasil. (President of Brasil)

              

God has kept me here in Cachoreinha for a while longer because I know He has unfinished business for me here- with my companion, with this ward, with my leaders, and with myself.  #3More

Elder Hunt

Green and Yellow

Marcus with donut holes for his district

Monday-P-day passes so fast.

Tuesday-I gave a fun training and brought donut holes for my district because I love them. The training was about finding the needs of the investigator and solving them. :) It was a huge hit and everyone loved it. It is my last one for the transfer because the next one will be a zone training and then the transfer ends. 

We tried visiting a ton of people, but no one was home for when we had marked with them, it was unfortunate, but we were able to have a few really good lessons. :) Also, single mother Lia and her little daughter Yazmin are 100% firm for their baptisms this Sunday! :)

Wednesday-We were supposed to do a division with our zone leaders today, but they canceled it. Another rough day of people saying they would be home, but they really aren’t. Also female missionaries from a different church stopped by at the house of Lia and Yazmin, and told them how we are a cult and not to get baptized; when we found out we were furious! Through a powerful spiritual lesson we cleared their doubts and set everything straight.

Elder Burt and Elder Hunt

We also found an awesome store...The store of 1 Real. Everything is 1 Real and they have great stuff! It's the equivalent of the $1 store, but God Bless America that 1 Real is like 35 cents in America, amen. :)

We found super cheap popcorn and diet guarana so we eat a bag every night!

That night Burt made popcorn and we drank 0 carb 0 sugar Guaraná, it tastes the exact same as the regular Guarana!

Thursday-Elder Cerantonio was sick, so Elder Nunes stayed with him while Burt and I worked in our 2 areas. It was good, it rained and we got a lot of work done. Then that night we went to Imirim and I did an interview for the Sisters. 

Elder Cerantonio was sick this week

Friday-Friday was basically just a repeat of Thursday because Cerantonio was still sick. But at lunch we had all you can eat açai! It certainly has been awhile!  ha :)

'This little puppy is pure gold!'

Saturday-I did a division in Cantareira with Elder Messick, while Zenteno did interviews for Lia and Yazmin. I did an interview in Cantariera (and the guy was baptized the next day! :) 

We finished the interviews and headed to stake priesthood session! We were absolutely soaked once again because of all of the rain!  We stayed for that as well as the adult session, it was good, but it just seemed long. 

It has rained every day this week.  The streets are flooded and we get soaked to the bone.

I talked with the Stake President after and he talked to me about how much he misses Grandpa Faust and how the two of them were good pals. What he said really meant a lot to me. He said how back in the day at big events with all the General Authorities, Grandpa would call all the Brazilians around, stick a finger on his wrist and say “only green and yellow run through these veins!” :)

Sunday- In the morning the baptism of Lia and Yazmin went perfectly. We got her a ride because she has a leg injury that doesn’t allow her to walk very well. But everything went perfectly and it was a very beautiful service.

Lia and Yazmin on their baptism day

That afternoon we got some really good work in and got a ton of new investigators. And that night we went to the night session of Stake Conference, which was also good but felt long.

Elders Hunt, Burt, and Arias

Transfers are on the 17th! 

Also today marks my 8 months on the mission!!!

Elder Hunt

Vista Alegre

Tuesday-I did another great training on making contacts, marking baptismal dates, and first lessons. I also asked Sister Zapata to give a little mini training and she did amazing. It was on teaching the Plan of Salvation from a different viewpoint. I also bought everyone ‘snickers’ as the weekly treat. 

We went and met with many of our investigators, had good lessons, but when we got to 19 year old Michelle's house, she had read a ton of anti Mormon literature in an attempt to get answers to her questions...but that is the entire point of our purpose as missionaries is to give her the real information and truth. She just went straight to the Internet and skipped over asking us which was unfortunate.

Elder Burt and Elder Hunt

Wednesday- I did a division with Elder Burt and when we do divisions, it is literally the best thing ever, we are like Alma and Amulek in the streets. I went and did a bunch of interviews for them and all four of those people ended up baptized this week! Burt kicks butt!  

Marcus with a puppy

It rained a ton and we had a huge flood in the streets. At one point a man had gotten stuck in his car in the middle of a knee deep river, so Burt and I pushed his car about a quarter mile out of the flood; it was awesome and the guy was very happy. :)

Thursday-We had interviews with President Farnes today. It was such a great experience. He has so much wisdom and advice and always makes me feel so good when I’m around him. He truly is a man with so many qualities that I’d like to develop. 

Marcus and someone's pet bird

I finished the division with Elder Burt today and it was great like always.

This day I also studied a ton on judgment. How we must not judge others even though sometimes we do it subconsciously, without thinking about it. We must see everyone as a brother and sister and especially seeing people not as they are right now, but who they can and WILL become. We need eternal perspective instead of getting stuck in our problems and needs of today.

Being on the mission has really taught me the priorities of life. Yes hanging out with your friends or relaxing on a Sunday afternoon is enjoyable, but your calling to strengthen the ward, the members, and more importantly the Kingdom of God here on the earth is more important. What God thinks of you and what you do for him is much more important than what anyone else thinks about you. 

Friday-We had our planning session and then I went and did another division with Elder McArthur in Tucuruvi. 

Saturday-Today was a long day. It rained and I did not sleep well the night before because of the heat. We had more problems with our ward that we are dealing with.

A lady in our ward made all the missionaries a placemat with our name's on them.

It was so nice of her!

'How cool!'

Sunday-We fasted, which was tough in the heat, but was good. We all felt very spiritually strengthened. 

At Hugo's house

We went to a little barbecue for lunch and then visited Hugo to see how he is progressing to hopefully help him get baptized in 2 weeks. He’s doing better, but is still a little sad and hesitant because of what happened last time. 

Jani from Finland

Also a super cool thing happened!!!! Elder Burt was on the bus and started talking with a guy with a funny accent. It turns out he speaks English! But wait it gets way better! Jani is from Finland. He is a professional skateboarder who lived in California for 10 years but now lives here in Cachorinha with his Brasilian girlfriend. 

AND he’s already read the ENTIRE Book of Mormon and he knows its true! He wants to get baptized; he just needs to get married first. But he went to church and he is so awesome! He respects us so much and is just the best!

 Love,

Elder Hunt

'007 is alive and well'