Final email from the MTC

Date: December 28, 2007
Okay so this will be my final email from the MTC I hope you enjoy it. Yesterday I did spanish outbound calls in the referral center. The man I spoke was really nice and patient with me. I offered him the book of mormon and he accepted it and he allowed me to have the missionaries bring the book and share a message with him. I can't wait to get to Argentina and be the one receiving the referral. Christmas day was really nice. Elder Perry spoke to us along with his family. They then had dinner with us. The MTC presidency gave everyone a package that included a cd, post-its, and one of those 8 color scripture markers. I have recieved all the packages that you've told me about, thanks. The MP3 player is great. Thank you so much Darren and whoever helped with it. I'm glad that all is well with everyone except ben's house, that stinks! It is going to be nice not being a zone leader any longer. I leave the MTC monday morning at 5 and then fly out of SLC at 8:20 or 8:30, I can't remember. Hopefully my bags won't be too heavy. The flight to Chile only allows 17lbs for carry-ons. It worries me just a little. I'm extremely excited to leave and hit some warmer weather. Yo estoy muy animado a ir a Argentina! Translation for dad.....i said i am excited to go to argentina. haha. I hope i have enough cash to take care of my luggage if i can't avoid paying. I'm as prepared as i'll ever be to go. I love you all. Hope you have a sweet party for new years. I'll be in a plane for my new years. I love this gospel and i can't wait to love the people of my mission. I hope I answered all questions if not I'll speak with you on Monday. Love ya.
-Elder Hunsaker

Flight plans to Argentina!

Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2007 21:06:22
Okay, so today I got my flight plans! I leave on the 31st Airline: Delta Airlines Flight: 1292 SLC to LAX at 8:30am. I get into Los Angeles at 9:28am and then get to sit and wait there until 2:25pm and then I get on with Airline: Lan Chile S.A. Flight: 603 and fly through the night and arrive in Santiago, Chile at 6:30am on the 1st of January. I then sit until 7:15am and I take my last plane ride to Buenos Aires. I'm in Buenos Aires at 9:10am. Any who, have Darren send this info to Kurtis. It doesn't really matter who comes because I think it'll be somewhat difficult to see me. This week has been about the same as the last couple. We had Elder Lance B Wickman of the seventy come and speak to us on Tuesday night for our devotional. Yesterday the Argentine Consulate came and spoke to us about the different parts of Argentina. He said that Resistencia is a very economically poor area but is full of wildlife and vegetation and wonderful people. He said that the Iguazu Falls are amazing. I believe that I will be able to attend the temple in Buenos Aires when I get there but I don't know for sure. Hopefully that will be the case. Celebrating new years on the airplane will be a very interesting experience so will sitting in a plane for 24 hours. I've heard that this last week in the MTC is the longest. That better not be true. haha. My passport and visa will be given to me when I get my plane tickets. All is well here there haven't been any issues with vaccinations or my visa. Mom and Dad there is a letter in the mail that has information on my last vaccination. If anyone is planning on sending stuff they better do it quickly. I'll be sending some stuff home before I leave. Today was my last temple day and it was very enjoyable. It has snowed here the last 2 saturdays and today. Maybe just maybe I'll have a white Christmas. The speaker on Christmas day should be great. It will most likely one of the 12. I can't wait to get to Argentina and really learn the language and be able to meet all kinds of people. My area has quite a few indigenous people along with a few small colonies of German and Swedish people. Let Dave know I can't wait to get that de-worming pill. haha. I love you all and I hope that you all have a great holiday with the fam. I know God lives and has his hand in our lives. I know that even when it is tough he is there we need just turn to him. We all accepted his plan we knew the requirements and we were willing. If only we would remain willing to follow him and stick with our decision. I love this gospel and the light that it brings into our lives. Happiness is only achieved through following our heavenly father. I know that Jesus is the Christ the Savior of all. He suffered for all of our sins, sicknesses, worries, doubts, and terrible feelings so that we could in time of need turn to him and allow his atonement to remove those things from our lives. I love you all. Elder Hunsaker.

Lots of snow in Provo-Christmas time

Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2007 22:51:23
I haven't taken too much of those pills because I don't have an endless supply of cups and water. My luggage should be just one overweight bag if any. It snowed two Saturdays ago and this last Saturday and pretty much everyday since. I've got to enjoy it before I hit that summer heat in Argentina. Tell Phillip congratulations for me. All of the food now tastes the same. I've had a few dishes multiple times because they rotate every three weeks. They have custard filled dessert things which I guess could be considered "Christmasy" I'm now pretty much pro at the 1st lesson in Spanish. I get to teach the 2nd in Spanish tonight. It is getting harder and harder to wake up in the mornings but things are still good. The gym instructor made new rules for foursquare because some stupid sister missionary dislocated her shoulder while attempting to hit the ball. Soooo dumb. I hope father is well (that sentence was so 1820). I've gained somewhere between 10-15 pounds if the scale I'm using isn't busted. My zone received some nuevos (newbies) a week ago Wednesday. I'm expecting more this upcoming Wednesday. I haven't heard anything about the temple being closed but then again i don't usually hear much about anything. Our special musical numbers at the firesides and devotionals are performed by missionaries. We had a missionary play, "If You Could Hie to Kolob" on the recorder accompanied by the piano. The recorder is such a lame instrument. Nevertheless it was still well done and invited the spirit. The elder who played the piano improvised the whole thing. He was really good. The other week a missionary came back to the MTC after having one of his lungs collapse 5 weeks ago. He is in my zone is slightly weird. Hermana Thomas and Hermano Nevers are the two instructors I have. Hermana Thomas served in Chile and Hermano Nevers served in Mexico. They are both American born. I have to purchase a calling card if I decide I want to speak with you people. lol. Yes, mother I am taking lots of pictures and writing in my pretty pink diary every night. I don't have much time or many opportunities to play the piano. I could go for some good beef jerky in my package. Christmas should be an interesting time here at the MTC. President Crowley and the Spilmans sent a bunch of cards. Pres. Crowley said that I shouldn't be homesick because no one wants me there. His card was funny. I love you all and I hope Dad starts feeling better soon. Love, Elder Hunsaker

Work as a zone leader

Date: Fri, 7 Dec 2007 20:56:17
Ok so I don't have Hillary's email so you'll have to talk to Darren and he can find out. This week has been the same as the last couple so nothing new exactly. For our Tuesday night devotional we had Elder Christensen of the seventy. He spoke about wrestling in pray. It was a really good talk. We had four square t shirts made by Elder Sulz's girlfriend and they were the highlight of this week. In the Referral Center one of the sisters in my district spoke with a gentleman whose mother tried killing him when he was 3 months old and how he hates his family because of that but i guess her conversation ended well. Elder Ray spoke with a man that wanted a free DVD of bambi or little mermaid and he told him that we didn't have a movie of a baby deer but we do have one about a lamb. The guy then asked if we that movie that Mel Gibson made. He was just calling to waste time but I found it to be entertaining. I wish I could get the recording cause i'd love for you all to here it. Being a zone leader isn't the most fun in the world. I get to attend those morning meetings on Sundays and discuss problems in the zone(it kinda feels like ratting people out, not my favorite). I might send some pictures home. I'll definitely send letters and cards home before I leave. 3 more weeks and I'm in Argentina. I can't view pictures with lds mail so don't bother sending them unless they are in Microsoft word then I might be able to see them. I've taught the first lesson in Spanish multiple times now and that goes all right. I start lesson 2 this Friday. I'll try and send a few Christmas cards out. oh yeah, I did my first new district orientation as a zone leader it was more fun than I thought it would be. Hope everyone is doing well. Talk to you next week. Love you all.

-Elder Hunsaker

Week five in the MTC

Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2007 20:59:16
Yes, I can print letters out. If you can forward these emails to Hillary that would be great. This is week 5 in the MTC and it's still the same old stuff everyday. It's raining outside right now and I wish it were snowing. The oldest district in my zone is leaving so that makes my district the oldest. My companion and I are the new zone leaders which I wish wasn't the truth. I now get to tell the zone to go to bed at 10:30. I also get to go to all the meetings I enjoyed not attending. I guess this is how it's supposed to be so whatever. My branch president is an amazing man. He's pretty much good enough to be an apostle haha. I don't have anything else coming to mind at the moment. I just received my first haircut here at the MTC and I don't know if I like the looks of things. I hope everyone is going to Candice's baptism and that you all have a fun time. Love you all. Adios.

Humanitarian Service - Thanksgiving

Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2007 17:18:56
Family-
Yesterday was pretty much amazing. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland spoke to us about returning from a mission and how we are supposed to teach while on missions. He told us exactly how preach my gospel came about and it is a really cool story that I'll tell you about when I have more time. Thanksgiving dinner was fairly decent. After we ate we made 10,000 first aid kits for the humanitarian department of the church. Brother Flake from that department spoke to us of the good that the church does in the world. He showed us video clips of the church delivering wheelchairs in Africa and in other parts of the world. When they gave an African man his wheel chair he began to shout, "we can fly now!" It wasn't long before the majority of the people were chanting those words together. One of the video clips showed the damage done in Sri Lanka by the tidal wave a few years ago and a few stories were told about lost loved ones and the reconstruction that the church is helping with. He also showed a video clip of the devastation cause by hurricane Katrina and Rita. He told us that one woman came up to in him in response to receiving a hygiene kit and said, "I'm afraid that this mormon soap has washed the baptist right off of me." His talk was extremely heart warming and inspiring. After he finished talking we started on the first aid kits. At 8:30 President Boone spoke to us about gratitude and allowed 30 or 40 sisters and elders to come and tell what they were grateful for. An Elder from England said that he like the whole concept known as thanksgiving. It was interesting to hear what people are thankful for. I can tell you I'm thankful for a family filled with wonderful people and that we are all strong members of the church of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I'm thankful for all of your wonderful examples. Especially my older brothers that had enough courage and conviction to go on mission and bring others unto Christ. I'm thankful for the post office and the mail they deliver....UGH HMMM! Also the internet that allows us to communicate much quicker....UGH HMMM!! I know that the only true happiness we can find here on earth is through living the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love you all. Forward this please if you haven't.

All is well here at the MTC

Date: Fri, 16 Nov 2007 17:30:27
All is well here at the MTC. I just got back from the temple where I enjoyed a delicious meal in the cafeteria there. This last Tuesday for our devotional Elder Russel M. Nelson spoke to us and so did his wife Wendy. It was a really nice meeting. After the meeting my branch president Lindalh spoke to us about having faith to see and be involved in miracles and he told of a very special incident that happened to him. I'd tell you the story but he asked us not to repeat his words. I do know that if we have faith we can be tools in our heavenly fathers hands to help his children and our siblings. Spanish is coming along quite well and my district is about to start learning the first lesson in Spanish. On Monday nights we have a meeting called Family Home Verbos which is where we play a game of charades(spelling?) and we try to have the other members of our district guess the verbs that the signals correlate(?) with. There are a total of 50 verbs and 50 signals so it gets a little tough sometimes. Mom I need to know the balances of my accounts so I can use my card when the time comes. Also to my mother and father please don't send heavy things like those boot dryers my bags are overweight as it is. Concerning Jenny's question no my companion is not nerdy but he is very commando like which sometimes irritates but whatever. He's from Idaho Falls and that should pretty much explain everything. In response to Darren's question about a mp3 player 4gbs will suffice and I don't need one with voice recording capabilities. Mom and Dad I want you to know that I haven't missed placed anything like you thought I would. I don't have the rubik's cube like you thought I did and thank you for the ten dollars that I didn't need to use because of not having the rubik's cube. I'm sorry if I didn't answer all questions but my time has now run out. Mom send this to everyone for me until I figure this dumb program out. Me gustaría compartir mi testimonio con ustedes yo sé que Dios y Jesucristo viven. Yo sé que Jesucristo nuestro salvador. Yo sé que Dios nos ama. Yo sé que José Smith fue un profeta de Dios y Él tradujó el Libro de Mormón a través del poder de Dios. Yo sé que el Libro de Mormón es la palabra de dios y es verdadero y digo estas cosas en el nombre de Jesucristo. Amen. Love you all.
-me

Elder Matthew Hunsaker's first email from the M.T.C.

Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2007 17:52:29
I had an extremely large email but something happened and it was all lost. So next Friday from 10:00 to 11:00 I'll be emailing again. I'll write all the same stuff I wrote before it was delete. Sorry. Love you all. Talk to you later.