03/21/17 Letter

What a week! Our numbers don't show it but it was crazy. Tuesday we had a big snowstorm, which prevented us from driving. We studied inside for a while then went out to teach. We rearranged our appointments to be able to walk to them reasonably, then got to it. It was nice to be out, but there were no sidewalks! We were perfectly safe, though. Nobody here dares to drive in the white stuff. That night we helped prepare on of my longest-running investigators for baptism. Wednesday we held our postponed district meeting in which I gave my first training, then we had a split with the other Spanish elders in the district. During the split we had a baptismal interview with our investigator to see if he's ready. He passed, of course. Thursday we got back to normal, and tried to plan the baptism
out. Friday, we had a wedding! One of our investigators got married to a less-active member. Missionaries outnumbered family members, because the did it really short notice. This investigator is really willing to make changes to be in-line with God's commandments. Friday night we finished up planning the baptism (we thought) and tried to teach English class, but nobody came. Saturday, we found out that people we had asked to help us with the baptism weren't going to be able to help us. So we scrambled most of the day to figure something out. In the end, we ended up asking the bishop for help, and he said, "give me two minutes, I'll take care of it." What a guy. Saturday night was the planned baptism. We had asked this investigator, Fernando, to be there a little early, about 6:15. We were there, getting things ready, before 5. 6:30 rolled around, a couple members had arrived, but the Hispanic members are generally a little late. 7:00 came and went, pretty much everybody who was coming to watch was there, but still no Fernando. We're still trying to figure out what to do, apparently he had worked a little late. Plus, the ride for one of our speakers had to cancel, so he was stranded 25 minutes away. But Fernando was able to pick him up. They got there at about 7:30, we got him changed and ready to go and got the program started. The speaker we were waiting for, a recent convert of mine, did an amazing job. The other speaker did well, too, and we had a special musical number performed by a sister missionary who's going home this week. Then, the bishop performed the baptism. Fernando wasn't 100% on the mechanics of going under the water, but it happened. I had extended the invitation to be baptized the first time I met him, back in the middle of November. And now it was happening. The rest of the night was great, the elders quorum had provided the food, so we enjoyed the pizza and taquitos with Inca Kola. Sunday, Fernando was confirmed. We presented him with a triple-combination and some of the now-nation-wide-famous cookies the Hunt family makes. Saturday night, we received transfer calls! Elder Baker and I will be together for another 6 weeks, making just short of 6 months for me here. I was told when I got here it was the best ward and the best apartment, so I'm grateful for my time here. Just kidding, the apartment's not important. It's the people. The ward members saved us with the baptism. They love missionaries. Almost all of the adults are converts to the church, they all remember the missionaries by name who taught them when their hearts were changed. They call them their angels. The Aaronic priesthood holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and baptism is done under that authority. This is something important. Baptism opens the gate to return to our Father in Heaven. And Saturday, I got to see my part in helping someone get there. I love you all, make it a great week! The Church is true, God loves you, and Jesus waits with open arms to receive you. Turn to Him and He will turn unto you.
Love,
Elder Hunt