BARCELONA, SOROCABA

Assistants to President and Sister Farnes

This has been a very interesting week full of mixed emotions. Starting off last Monday...last Monday was the last day of Elder Felix and Elder Da Silva being together with us as APs. I have served with them the past two transfers and together we have developed a very strong lasting friendship, so Felix going home and Da Silva stepping down to train a new missionary before going home is difficult for us all.

Tuesday-Today Elder Alvis and I gave a training for the trainers and Elder Flores and Emanuel gave another one. We did it the same style as we did the last time, we gave a training to one group and then switched and gave the training again. The trainings were awesome! Well delivered with tons of participation and excitement!!!

We then had the presentation of who would train who. Then we had lunch and got to know better the new missionaries. Great day! Great energy!

That afternoon we packed up all our stuff and that night late, we got a ride to our new area and house. The first thing I noticed about our new area is that boy is it HOT!!!!

Our New Beautiful Chapel in Barcelona

Wednesday-We went to district meeting and a cool thing is that Elder Da Silva is in our zone so we will still see each other quite a bit! Fine meeting, then off to lunch! The members are super great here! They all support us a ton and want to help a lot! Super awesome, I’m so excited!

Elder Hunt's new area- Barcelona, Sorocaba

We basically spent the day getting our bearings, finding out where the good area to work is, where the chapel is, etc... We found some people, but here in Sorocaba, which is the interior of São Paulo, it is calmer, wealthier, and there just aren't as many people to talk to.  This makes missionary work a little bit harder, but it all makes up for it because of the awesome ward! 

Elder Hunt and Flores with Bishop Alan and New Member Ivan

Thursday-Work, work, work in the hot sun! This night we met the legendary Bispo Alan...who is THE BEST BISHOP EVER!!! (We brought him a cake.) I'm just so happy because I have never seen a ward who so fully supports missionary work and wants to help so much! It's wonderful!!!! :)

Barcelona, Sorocaba

Friday-We did a division with Elder Da Silva and it was great! He showed me the area a little better because he has already passed in our area. We also did soccer at the chapel as an activity for our investigators! 

Saturday-Hectic follow up with all our investigators for church the next day! 

Waiting for the bus in Sorocaba by the river

Capyvaras!  

(largest rodents in the world)

Sunday-We had ward counsel Sunday morning and then went to pick up investigators for church! We didn’t have quite as many people at church as we had hoped but it was still good. Also I gave a talk in sacrament meeting.

Elder Hunt with Ivan on his baptism day

Then afterwards we had the baptism of Ivan, a sweet man, also who was baptized was an 8 year old from the ward, the baptismal meeting had 70 people in it and the spirit was super strong, amazing, amazing amazing!!!!! 

The members in our new ward are the BEST!

We had lunch and then made the long trip back to São Paulo to pick up numbers etc.

Back to the President's house on Pday

Monday-Today we had a meeting with President at his house and we got PF Changs! It was great! 

Elder Hunt

PF Changs

I WAS REALLY HERE AND I REALLY LIVED

These last three transfers have been a very interesting time for me in many ways - the pressure, the stress, the salvation. After three transfers being an Assistant with three different companions in one area, I will be staying Assistant for one more, with the same companion Elder Flores, BUT we will be moving areas to area Barcelona, Sorocaba.

If anyone remembers, my first transfer as assistant I did a division in this area. With this change, Elder Flores and I will take care of all the zones in the Interior. To take care of the zones in the capital (Like I`ve been doing for the last three transfers) two new Assistants have been called, Elder Emmanuel a Brazilian who looks like a more handsome Prince William, and...Elder ALVIS!!!! My former comp from Itu who I absolutely love! I’m so pumped for them both, this will be incredible! 

In the end, I am excited for a change of area, but also the favela, the feelings, and 77 people I helped enter into the waters of baptism of Cantareira will be missed ever so dearly. Even with having to deal with not the most pleasant ward in the world, this area Cantareira will hold a special place in my heart for all time. 

Monday-This was a normal p day, BUT we spent a good part of the day preparing a training for the missionaries who are training new missionaries.

Tuesday-Split into two groups, and battling a sweaty fever and cough, Elder Felix and I trained one group of missionaries teaching them about how to work more efficiently in the field, while Elder Flores and Da Silva gave a training about how to better use our field instruments and how to help investigators receive personal revelation. Then, we switched groups and gave the same training again to the other group.

Amidst my sickness, the training went excellent, everyone was very open one with another, there was a lot of participation, and we were all able to leave that day having learned much and having been edified together, through the direction and doctrines of Christ. 

Wednesday-Today we were invited to President Farnes’ house to have a meeting in the morning and in the afternoon we had a ping pong tournament and played `headbands` with Zona Alphaville because they baptized the most in the month. We arrived in the mission office at about 6pm where we continued preparing everything for counsel, we prepared late into the night...

Thursday-Leadership counsel! I only slept about two hours the night before and we gave a wicked training about the growth of the mission! It was awesome, including a cool part with over 400 M&Ms, great exhausting day. 

Friday-We did our weekly investigator/recent convert soccer game at the chapel, but in the evening we received the transfer assignments so we had to go organize and talk with President about all the changes. 

Saturday-We spent a large part of our day organizing the transfer because now it will be done a bit differently, a little bit more complicated. We followed with our investigators and organized some more.

Hugo and Artur, on their baptism day with Elder Hunt and Elder Flores

Sunday-We had the baptisms of Hugo and his brother Artur, they were the last of their group of six friends to get baptized.  They are a super firm group and they all live on the same street. Their group will be interviewed to receive the Aaronic priesthood this upcoming week.

Hugo and Elder Hunt, in the waters of baptism

Elder Hunt is very sad to leave these wonderful new members of the church in Cantareira

It was a very tough and emotional day for us to leave all of our recent converts, :( but change is good, change is progress and progress is growth. There is no comfort in the growth zone and there is no growth in the comfort zone!

Partiu Barcelona. #FBBarcelona #Messi&Neymar

Elder Hunt

351- It's Never Too Early and It's Never Too Late

Monday-Normal p day EXCEPT that we didn`t have a meeting with President Farnes and Elder Felix and Da Silva didn`t come to the capital like normal. So I guess that it wasn`t such a normal p day after all. 

     Tuesday-We went to district meeting in our home zone of Sao Paulo Norte instead of going to another zone like normal. It was a good motivating meeting, I was happy we went. 

     We worked in our favela the whole day working with our recent converts, teaching their friends, family, and everyone they know! But one critical detail is that on our way to our area we ended up picking the wrong bus it took us 3 hours out of the way, which was unfortunate as well because of the extreme heat and humidity this week. Even using a ton of sunscreen this week, I still got super sunburned...

     Wednesday-We did a division where Elder Flores and I both had to leave our area for a day. Elder Flores went to an area that he had already served called Vila Maria and I went to Gaupira, which is generally the most productive and highest baptizing areas in the mission, but the results have been lacking lately. In Gaupira, I stayed with Elder Rodrigo a newer elder who recently became senior and who has a very high potential. Unfortunately it rained hard the entire day, so no one was in the streets and no one wanted to let two soaking wet Mormon missionaries into there homes.

 Elder Rodrigo`s difficulties were worse than I imagined in relation to not having any investigators nor knowing where anything was in his area, so unfortunately, this resulted in a very unproductive division. But our `LiVE` moments of the day were that amidst the difficulties we managed to find many new investigators and we marked over 25 baptismal dates.  

     Thursday-Also, with this being the last week in a month with five Sundays, the pressure was on to break the mission record, which is 309 baptisms in the month and 18 baptisms in one companionship in one month.

     Anyhow, Thursday morning we ended the division in fashion with an acai and Flores and I went back to Cantareira to work, BUT before we went to work, we passed by the mission office to meet with President to discuss the divisions and the expected results of the week. 

     Friday-We hosted our weekly recent convert/investigator soccer/ping pong tournament (we don`t play, obviously) were we made hot dogs and had tons of fun integrating, teaching, and strengthening those we are teaching and that we have recently baptized. 

     Saturday-Crazy day following up with all those that we would baptized and bring to church the next day! We used our little candy invites and it gave even more results his time around

     Sunday-In the hectic, adrenaline spiked, dream crushing, or dream realizing fog of picking those up for church Sunday morning we managed to bring 15 investigators to church, including a complete family of two parents and 8 children.

     In the end we baptized 6 people-Pedro Henrique, another Pedro Henrique, Ketlyn, Ryan, Glecio, and Daniel! And with that we ended up tieing with my pai Elder Medina for a new mission record, which is 22 baptisms in one companionship in one month! And to top it all off, our mission baptized 95 in the week and ended up with 351 in the month, another new amazing record. 

     On another note, my personal study has been AMAZING, every single day I am getting more and more out of my studying.  I wish I knew how to study this effectively at the beginning of my mission and when I was at home, but "It`s never too early and It`s never too late" referring to the awesome conference talk by Bradley D. Foster.

     The blessing of serving a mission are innumerable, what an incredible privilege, and these things I leave in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 

Elder Hunt

Back To Brasilandia Part 2

Monday-Normal Monday :) 

     Tuesday-I had a great personal study about the ascension of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. We had to work out an emergency transfer in the mission, and then we had an awesome days work which an especially great lesson about the Plan of Salvation with the family of Alex, which is a 30 year old man, his wife (who unfortunately isn't legally married) and there 6 kids, 4 of which can be baptized :) That night we did a division and I went to Brasilandia with Elder Burt my awesome pal!!! :) 

     Wednesday-Another great personal study in the Book of Mormon and especially some general conference talks. I studied grandpa's talk "What I want my son or grandson ;) to know before he goes on his mission.” I have read this talk so many times, but like your patriarchal blessing at different times in your life or mission different things stand out and are impactful on you. I honestly LOVE my study time in the morning! 

     We had lunch in Pirituba because shortly after we had district meeting and then a world wide broadcast to all of the missionaries in the entire world. The broadcast was called "Teach Repentance and Baptize Converts," it was great! The broadcast was to refocus the missionaries of the world to remember their true purpose as missionaries as we read in Matthew 28:19-"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." 

     Great days work with Burt, great to be back in Brasilandia!!! :) 

     Thursday-We had an awesome hard day's work in the favelas of Brasilandia that I have so dearly missed. I showed Burt some of the great places that I had worked in while I was there. We also passed by a family of recent converts that I had lost contact with, that I had baptized in November of 2014 back with Medina. Happily they are 100% active and well and the young teenage boy is 100% firm on his decision to serve a mission here in a few years :) 

     BUT, the heat and strength of the sun took it's toll on me. Even with sunscreen, I got super sunburned, my sick was hurting a ton and I’m peeling, but it's all good haha :) 

     Friday-Today during my personal study it all hit me really hard. Standing out on the third story balcony of the Brasilandia house looking out at the view like I've done so many times in the past made me remember everything. Looking back on everything that has happened on my mission, from who I was when I got here to who I am now, a lot has changed and I don't have a ton of time left, just a few more months left leaves me uneasy. Being back in my first area was amazing, I absolutely loved it, it was such a great experience for me to remember and reflect on everything. Oh yeah and we also got our signature Brasilandia açai with all the fixings, it was absolutely delicious :)

     We ended the division and then hosted a soccer game at the church for all our recent converts and investigators! It is a great chance for them to become more integrated and to bring more of their friends for us to baptize, in this process, they become more converted in helping a friend get to know the Church and to get baptized :) great day! :) 

     Saturday-An awesome day following up with all of our investigators fro church the next day! We also used our little church invites with the candy again, huge success!!! :) 

Guilherme, Emylin, Alex, Wilton, Vitoria, Nataly, and Yazmin on their baptism day with Elder Hunt

     Sunday-We brought 13 people to church and had 7 baptisms! Guilherme, Emylin, Alex, Wilton (2 sons of Alex who we are teaching,) Vitoria, nataly, and yazmin!!! So great! awesome! 

     With still one more week in the month, the mission has 256 baptisms! Goodbye 309! This week should be an amazing one, I'm super excited!!! :) 

--

Sete Cinco {7.5.}

Monday-We got pizza to celebrate Elder Flores' 22nd birthday!!!! 

     

At A Division in Itapevi

Tuesday-Early in the morning, Elder Flores and I headed off to Zona Barueri where I did a division with Elder Ellis in his area of Itapevi! Good day! Itapevi is a very interesting city with tons of hills, and it lightly sprinkled all day.

Wednesday-Today was also interesting. In the morning we met and had a meeting with the Stake President of Barueri. It was a good meeting, we talked a lot about how we could work better with members and improve on our side and theirs, it was a good productive discussion. Then we ate lunch with the Bishop of Itapevi and then we ended the division.

After, Elder Flores and I worked in our area like normal! 

Elder Ellis and Elder Hunt

Thursday-We found a ton of new investigators, and followed up with all the people who were going to church and who were going to get baptized! 

The dog's name is Flower

Friday-TODAY WAS AWESOME!!!! So If anyone remembers, back in Brasilandia with Elder Medina we did a game with a chocolate called BIS which involves opening a chocolate with 2 spoons and socks on your hands while a dice is being rolled, it’s super fun and everyone loves it! Well, we did it with two different groups of investigators and recent converts and it rocked! 100% success! 

But the coolest part of it all was our 9 year old recent convert Rodinei and his little friend 8 year old Rafael, who we baptized this week. These two little guys were some of the best missionaries I've ever seen. We asked them to take us to everyone they knew and they did! They talked to everyone in the street and invited everyone they saw in the street whether they knew them or not, to go to church and to get baptized! They are so awesome!! I love them! :)

We got gaxgazzo coxinhas

We even went up to a place called "Sete Cinco," which is a favella that I’ve been hearing about since I had arrived in the area in October, Sete Cinco. It is known as one of the most dangerous places in São Paulo because of the drug violence. It’s on the very top of the favela but I never knew how to get there. But these two little guys took us up there to meet people and the drug dealers were very impressed with these two little missionaries. The good thing about Brasil is that almost all people respect church stuff a lot, so usually we're fine, but I will say, if we'd gone up there without our 2 little body guards, I don’t know how it would have turned out. But in the end of the day we had found 30 new investigators and a family of GOLD. Today was absolutely amazing! I loved seeing the desire and eagerness to preach the gospel of these two little missionaries Rafael and Rodinei.  A truly awesome day, awesome experience!

An upside down selfie

 Saturday-We followed up with everyone who was going to get baptized and go to church the next day! We even made little reminders to help everyone remember to wake up on time to go to church!!! It was great! :) 

Rafael, Cleriston, Mauricio, and Andrea on their baptism day.

A family!!!!

Sunday-We had the amazing baptisms of Rafael, Cleriston, Mauricio, and Andrea!!!! :))))) Families! 

Some wonderful members who are my comps friends from his old ward

The mission baptized 80 this week and with two more weeks in the month, our goal of 360 is very probable!!! :) Let's GO!!!! 

Elder Hunt

Love, Serve, Elevate

Monday-Regular Monday stuff, numbers, meeting with President, lunch, and a bit of sleep.

Tuesday-Today we had to plan to do A TON of stuff for the week. We very rarely work in the office, but today was filled with power points, slide shows, numbers, and statistics.

Elder Hunt with new missionaries

That night all of the missionaries who have one transfer in the field and their trainers came to spend the night for the training the next day.

Wednesday-We split up into two groups with two APs in each group. Elder Da Silva and I took the group of new missionaries in the van to President's house and Elder Felix and Flores stayed in the office to train the trainers.

Great day! :) I gave training on resilience, which is much like determination. I used an audio clip of when Buster Douglas became the first man to knock out Mike Tyson, along with other scriptures and quotes such as- "Perseverance is demonstrated by those who keep going when the going gets tough, who don’t give up even when others say, “It can’t be done.”-James E. Faust. We also talked a lot about our "whys" of being on the mission, it was a very powerful training and the spirit was very strong, great, great day. 

Thursday-Today we had leadership counsel in Barueri, a good two hours by train and bus at 5am. We talked about a lot of new things and passed a ton of new information. It went well. 

That afternoon we returned to our area and we did a division with Elder Messick(my old comp) and Elder A Souza in our area because Elder Messick and other missionaries such as Elder Alvis ;) had to go to the police station the next day very early in the morning to renew their American visas. Awesome day! :)

Friday-WE found tons of new investigators today!!! We started working in another huge favela that we found close to where we were already working. We found tons of great people who The Lord has prepared to accept his message. The time is right, and the time is now! :) 

Elder Barros from Africa with Elder Hunt

Saturday-We did a division and stayed in our area with Elder Barros from Africa to do interviews! :) Another great day of hard work! 

Cynthia, Cristian, Rodini, and Anderson with Elder Hunt on their baptism day

Sunday-Today we had the baptism of brothers 19 year old Cristian and his little brother Rodini. Their mother just wasn’t baptized with them because it was that time of the month and she didn't want to get in the water. Also, Cynthia and Anderson were baptized! Cynthia is super elect! She lives close to the church and has changed so much in such a short time due to the miracle which is The Gospel Of Christ :) 

Happy Birthday Elder Flores!

Amazing day, and to make it better, it was also, Elder Flores' 22nd birthday!!! :) Tambien, estoy aprendiendo español con el, muy bien!!! :) 

The Assistants

A cool shot

This was a great week, the mission also did better with 63 baptisms in the week, but much more is yet to come! :) 

So Vai

A Beautiful Rainbow!

Monday- Our p day that is never p day- haha. Today was spent helping pack Elder Rebouças' and Da Silva's bags, meeting my new comp Elder Flores from Peru, and preparing everything for transfers on Tuesday.

Tuesday-5am up early for the oh so familiar route to get to President's house in Santo Amaro. The hectic, stressful, sweaty, nerve wracking two hours by bus and metro gets easier every time, with this being the third transfer. Welcoming the new missionaries, listening to their testimonies, and seeing their desire to start missionary life.  It’s always a special treat. 

The transfer meeting went well along with a special training we gave for the zone leaders. Successful transfer.

Sister Lindalva is the sweetest lady in our ward.  She loves the missionaries and is so good to us.

Wednesday-Elder Rebouças went home :( Very sad day for all of us, Elder Rebouças has made a huge impact on mission and my life, he is a very dear friend and our friendship will be maintained forever. Elder Flores, Da Silva, Felix, and I stayed in our area to do interviews and find new people to teach.  Today was a good productive day.

Thursday-Like you would imagine, New Years Eve in the favela is pretty wild, it's even more alive than usual. With this comes good and bad, haha. The work was a little tough due to the parties, drinking, and drug bust by 30 armed Brazilian drug unit cops. We made it happen, but the welcoming in of the New Year definitely took its toll on the Cemiterio do Horto favela in Cantareira. 

Friday-If you thought Thursday was tough; imagine the day after, the aftermath of New Years. Everyone was hung-over and sleeping in until 5pm in the afternoon. Only our elect investigators we were able to follow up with. 

Saturday- Very hectic day. I did a division in our area with Elder Barros from Capa Verde, Africa, he is super cool, I really like him a lot! We had tons of lessons and people to follow up with to go to church on Sunday! 

Elder Hunt with Emyli on her baptism day

Sunday- Emyli was baptized! Woohoo! Emyli is a cousin of our recent convert Andrezza! So cool! The best group of references are recent converts, they all feel the effect of the gospel in their lives and they want to share it with EVERYONE!!!! So great! 

This upcoming busy will be super busy with a training at President's house for the new missionaries along with leadership counsel on Thursday! Much is changing in São Paulo Norte!

Elder Hunt