Happy Birthday Elder Hunsaker!

Thanks for the letters and for the Happy Birthday wishes. I still haven´t received anything in the mail but it should be here at zone conference this Friday. It will be the first zone conference for Presidente del Castillo. It also means another trip to the capital and WALMART. Peanut butter here I come.

I spoke with the mission doctor and I said that I have a sinus infection. He has me taking some antibiotics to get rid of it. Hopefully, it won´t return. My ankle is doing much better too.

My comp and I have been trying to straighten things up in the branch recently. He is the 2^nd counselor and I´m the secretary. We do the finances and we are going to try and update the list of members. We came to realize that the missionary work doesn´t run so well without a branch. We have been meeting with less active members and figuring out why they stopped coming to church. We have heard a few things. Sometimes it has to do with members offending each other. Other times it has to do with leaders offending members. We spoke with a woman that wasn´t accepted very well when people found out she had HIV. This goes to show what can happen when people just aren´t understanding and don´t study things out. A few members are really old and can´t physically make it all the time or ever. In any case we are helping these people to remember their covenants with God and letting them know that they are still needed and wanted. We have a total of 238 members on our list and only a turn out of 30 or less. We have had some success in finding investigators through these less active members which is a reason why we are going to continue searching out the members. We also saw success with one less active Melchizedek priesthood holder that came to church this past Sunday. It makes me really happy to see these people return to the arms of an always receiving Savior and his fold. It also makes me happy when our classes are full.

Today we spent our day fishing in Bella Vista with the elders here. We will be doing divisions tomorrow and then meeting up in the cumbi to go to zone conference Friday. Here are some photos of the day. On the way here our colectivo (bus) decided to die on us. We waited 20 minutes for our rescue colectivo. We went from blue seats to orange seats. Saying that makes me think of Jared and his Broncos. We fished with one of the members here. My comp and the other elders played rugby with the member while I played dead laying on a blanket in the sand taking my Argentine siesta. My comp caught a 10 inch fish and then released it. He was the only one to catch anything. Darren would love Bella Vista. I think anyone would love Bella Vista.

The other night a big storm passed through here. It brought lightning and thunder with it. My comp and I decided to take a few photos of the lighting. He was telling after that he has always wanted to do that. It was quite tough to get time to photo right. They turned out really well though.

Mom, thanks for the sheet music. Hopefully everything continues to go well in the lives of everyone. Wish I could be there to visit with Ben and Sierra. I also wish I could see the Olympics, oh well. Love you all. Chau Élder Hunsaker

Well today was a fun p-day. We went fishing with the elders quorum in the Paraná. We didn´t catch anything but we had a good time. I learned how to fish without a pole. We had chorripan and enjoyed the morning. It was really nice to just relax even though fishing is one of my least favorite things to do.

This past week was a tough one. My comp and I were both slightly sick with a mild cold. The sicknesses here seem to pass in a large circle and then return. A lot of the members get sick frequently here too. It might have something to do with allergies but I don´t know. The sicknesses are hard to avoid when the diet isn´t the greatest and it is nearly impossible to improve it.

Here is a little information that may sound familiar. I twisted my ankle about three weeks ago playing fútbol. I didn´t have any problems with it and then I twisted it two weeks later. The second time I hurt it pretty bad but it didn´t swell or anything. I then twisted it for a third and final time. It swelled up almost immediately after and I couldn´t walk very well. I spoke with and Hma del Castillo and the mission doctor. I went to the hospital for an x-ray and everything is fine. I am now wearing a brace and will be for a little while. The doctor had me take an x-ray because it hurt really bad and because they are free.

When we came home from the hospital we found our buddy Kevin that now comes by our house every day with fresh baked churros with dulce de leche in the middle. We decided we would put him through college by purchasing his churros. He is a really funny kid. We are friends with all of the kids here. They are always coming up to us to shake our hands and say hello.

Because of this young man I have gone up 15lbs during my time here. The diet certainly helped with that too. Summer should burn everything off.

As a not for mom, my companion told me to tell you all about his “accident”. I wasn´t planning on saying anything but he insisted. I thank you for the words of wisdom.

We had a really nice district meeting yesterday. One of the sisters taught us about prayer. She taught it from preach my gospel. It had been a while since I had read that section. Everything in it is so true. It says that our prays should be more like a face to face discussion. I´ve never agreed with that more. It says we should give a complete account of our day. She gave such a good lesson. I wanted to get back to the pench just to practice what I had learned. Prays are so important and I love praying. Whenever I´m down, I can always share my thoughts with my padre celestial. Sometimes it is hard to express myself in castellano but I try my hardest to get it all out in castellano. I know that god answers prayers. I have received more strength from him right now than ever before. I hope that I can find more time to pray like I should.

Everything sounds good back home. I pray that it continues that way. I love you all and we´ll talk next week. Chau

Elder Hunsaker

p.s. I did receive the letter with the two packets of pills. It took a while because of the office members.

Playing jokes on the EQP

I am starting to believe that mom is a slight pessimist. I send photos and she thinks that I won´t be sending a letter. I hope everyone enjoyed that letter that I did send. As to the questions asked in the email this week, Q: “Are you just sleeping in your sleeping bag?” A: Yes, I am sleeping in my sleeping bag because the blankets in the pensión are a little bit disturbing and because it is really cold. Q: “Besides your bathroom and bedroom what other rooms are up stairs?” A: There are a total of four bedrooms upstairs, 1. Our sleeping room, 2. His clothing room, 3. My clothing room, 4. An unused exercise room, and the bathroom of course. Q: “Does your bathroom have a bidet?” A: Yes it does and it works too.

That article that you sent me sounds a lot like the mission here in Goya. Transfers have come and gone. However, everything stayed the same. I´ll be with Elder Patton for 6 weeks more here in Belgrano. We are really excited to change our work tactics and put our efforts into more reactivation of less actives. We hope to find more investigators that way too. We have been clapping and clapping but nothing has really progressed in that manner. We have a very small pool of investigators right now but we are hoping for a baptism within that pool. There are a few prospective ones.

Last night the branch had their weekly meeting. In this meeting they share scriptures and then suggestions and oppinions. It is helping to strengthen the bonds between members here. It is working quite well. We assisted the meeting last night and had the opportunity to play a little joke on Hmo. Moratto the elders quorum pres. He was reading with his bifocals that look similar to my glasses so I decided to make a swap. He didn´t read anything for a little while but the time came to read and he scooped up my glasses and put them on. Immediately he took them off and looked at them but didn´t notice any difference and tried putting them on again. He took them off again and then tried cleaning them as if that would help. After the second cleaning process he look at my because I was laughing uncontrolably. He then noticed that I had his glasses on. I had had them on ever since I made the switch. We had everyone laughing last night. It is a good thing that Hmo. Moratto is just a big kid or he might have been mad.

My companion is like a 75 year old man with bladder problems and all sorts of other problems. We were walking home from lunch with Hma. Perez when he had a sudden urge. The urge became something more than an urge and he ended up wetting his pants in the middle of the road. The wet marks on his pants didn´t appear for a little while but then there they were like flowers in bloom. What a sad face and oh so so so embarrasing. It hurts me to walk with him now. And I thought that I had problems. The funny thing is, he thought that he didn´t have “problems”. Poor kid.

At the meeting I decided to take a few photos of the kids in the branch. There are a few photos from other occasions.

I have finally purchased my very first “Argy” deodorant. I just thought you´d like to see what it looks like. It is a little different in shape and everything. It is really interesting.

I have a few photos of stuff in my area.

Some graffiti or something. There are some birds that fly to California from here during the migrating season. I´ll be flying with them some season.

Don´t mention anything about Malvinas when you´re in Argentina. They aren´t very happy about it.

My area from atop the monoblok just like the ones on the other side of those houses.

And you thought I was serving a mission. I´m really just driving trucks all around Argentina and Brazil. Mwuahaha...

Another cathedral. They say that this is a replica of the basilica in rome or something.

Some art engraved in a wall in centro.

My comp could have used this a few days ago. Haha

I hope that everyone is doing well. Thanks for all the emails and the support. My birthday comes up this transfer and I get to celebrate with Elder Patton and a nice big bucket of icecream. I´d to hear from a few people but I won´t point fingers as to who. I just hope that the guilt with be bigger than any one of my fingers. I´ll make sure to take a photo of my shoes and we´ll see what´ll happen won´t we. Love you all and we´ll talk next week.

Elder Hunsaker

I have finally met my new president and his family. They are nice and we'll see if I really like him. He is from Buenos Aires and talks just like them. Shhh this and Shhh that. That is how they speak there.

We had a finally asado with Elder Ramos today. He will be heading home in one week. However, he will be making a tour of the mission with his mom in one week also. He said he'd stop by with his mom so that she can make chilean empanadas. I hope she wants to cook.

Now you all know what my pensión looks like and how big it is in comparison with my last. At the moment our shower is broken so it's cold water or nothing for the next few days.

Transfers are this upcoming week. My comp thinks that we'll stay here together one more transfer. I'm not too sure that is going to happen. He has 3 months here and the area is really small.

This next month we should have a baptism here in the branch. We are also going to start having piano and English classes for the branch. Our next missionary/ward activity is going to be a Jeopardy activity with questions, photos, and sounds of church topics. It should be really fun. We will be inviting the other branches to make some small groups so we can have a little competition.

The cold weather has officially come back into Goya. It came with our new president on the day of interviews. It poured all night long and we had a huge thunder storm. I enjoyed it but my shiny shoes didn't.

Speaking of shoes, mine have cracks in the bottom of one pair. I hope that they stay sealed for the next 6 months if that be possible at all. So with that said I may be in the need of shoes sometime soon.

Y bueno, quiero compartir mi testimonio con ustedes porque siento que es necesario. Sé que Dios realmente vive y que nos cuida día tras día. Sé que tenemos muchas pruebas de nuestra fe para que tengamos mas fe. Yo testifico cada día que las familias pueden ser eternas y sé que es la verdad. Este evangelio bendice a todas las personas que lo viven. Les dejo mi testimonio en el nombre de nuestro salvador Jesuscristo. amen. I love you all a ton and thanks for being there.

Here is the translation

Well, let me share with you my testimony because I feel it is necessary. I know that God really cares that we live and every day. I know we have ample evidence of our faith if we are to have more faith. I testified every day that families can be eternal and I know that's the truth. This gospel blesses all who live. I leave my testimony in the name of our savior Jesus Christ. amen.

Until next week,
Elder Hunsaker

My name is Elder Hunsaker

Mom if you wrote your letter in the open office program I can't open it. So if there were questions, I don't know. We have a few baptism dates set for the next two months. Hopefully the investigators can all make it to church so they can be baptized.

My companion has been sick with some stomach virus for the last 5 days. I tried offering him some of my pills but he declined the offer. Because of the sickness we haven't been out very much this week. Things should clear up soon. He spoke with the mission doctor yesterday.

The other day we went to have a book copied in copy master. The clerk that was working filled out a little work sheet for me. When he was filling it out he asked my name and I pointed to my badge and said, "Elder Hunsaker". He then wrote down my name as Jesucristo. My companion took full advantage of this by telling me how blasphemous I am. He wouldn't let it down until we picked up the stuff a few days later.

On another day we went to centro to take care of the finances for the branch and make the deposit. We took the colectivo home and passed by a group of 8-10 year olds. They all started screaming "polaco" as we passed by them. The colectivo stopped just a little ways past them with the back doors still open. The kids made their way to the bus and told us a few unkind things. One of them started yelling "cuatro ojos!" Then they all started. It was funny because I was the only one with glasses on the colectivo. Crazy kids.

I hope that everything is well with all that receive my emails. Love you all. Enjoy the photos. Hasta luego

Elder Hunsaker

Crazy Argentine Kids

Mom if you wrote your letter in the open office program I can't open it. So if there were questions, I don't know. We have a few baptism dates set for the next two months. Hopefully the investigators can all make it to church so they can be baptized.

My companion has been sick with some stomach virus for the last 5 days. I tried offering him some of my pills but he declined the offer. Because of the sickness we haven't been out very much this week. Things should clear up soon. He spoke with the mission doctor yesterday.

The other day we went to have a book copied in copy master. The clerk that was working filled out a little work sheet for me. When he was filling it out he asked my name and I pointed to my badge and said, "Elder Hunsaker". He then wrote down my name as Jesucristo. My companion took full advantage of this by telling me how blasphemous I am. He wouldn't let it down until we picked up the stuff a few days later.

On another day we went to centro to take care of the finances for the branch and make the deposit. We took the colectivo home and passed by a group of 8-10 year olds. They all started screaming "polaco" as we passed by them. The colectivo stopped just a little ways past them with the back doors still open. The kids made their way to the bus and told us a few unkind things. One of them started yelling "cuatro ojos!" Then they all started. It was funny because I was the only one with glasses on the colectivo. Crazy kids.

I hope that everything is well with all that receive my emails. Love you all. Enjoy the photos. Hasta luego

Elder Hunsaker

Bella Vista

Elder Rapp waiting at the terminal

He still doesn't have a heart (maybe he needs the gospel, Elders!)

Parade for the 9th

The True Tin Man

More pictures - the card reader has arrived!

I'll post more of the pictures later. Captions to follow later too.