Silly Sister.

So my sister isn´t posting on here for me, I have just discovered, so I have decided to do it myself! Bienvenidos to my BLOG!

Let me set the scene for yáll. You have just finished shopping at the Super 99 (groceries) and are ladden with bags of food for the next 2 weeks. On top of all of that, you have your backpack filled with the needs of a missionary, scriptures, pamphlets, sweat rag, cell phone, It´s all there. Needless to say, it is a heavy load. You cross the street to the bus stop, praying a Metro Bus doesn´t whip around the corner and hit you, like you saw happen the week before. (The woman lost her arm). Finally you are there, sweaty, tired and looking for a place to stand, because now, it has started to rain, and 100 other people are trying to stay under the cover. You´re wet. Oh well. So you wait. Suddenly the Chiva comes, ¨NuevoTocumen, Nuevo Tocumen, Nuevo Tocumennnnnnnn!!!!!!!!¨¨ Screams the bus driver. Suddenly the crowd surges, and elbows start flying. Everybody wants ON! You stand by and watch. Women push their children onto the bus so they have an  excuse to get on infront of others. People put their arms out in front of them to block more people from climbing on. The Chiva is filled, every seat taken, and all the standing space is jam packed. There are 3 men standing with only one foot in and one foot out of the door. And off they go. 

It´s insane here people! SO many people in this country! But I am falling in love with Panama. The people, the MUSIC, the culture, and even the food! I found out that I have officially eaten cow udder. It´s good. Like, really good. haha But I am not sure if I can eat it again now that I know what it is. 

Lot´s of success this week out here in my little world! We have 2 new families that we are beginning to work with and we are starting to make progress with some of the less-active members of our ward! One of the less actives, is German. He is 16 and a convert of almost 2 years. He is the only member in his family, and his parents are very involved in the Evangelical church. We went by his house on Saturday night to share a message with him, a little movie, and invite him to church. During our lesson, he asked us a question. He wanted to know, individually, what was our motive for serving a mission. I let my comp answer first, because I really wanted to think about it, to give him the best answer possible. And to be completely honest. When it was my turn to answer, it just flowed. I explained that I had been a member of the church my whole life, and as I grew up and went to high school, many of my friends were not members of the church. As I interacted with them, and hung out at their homes, I noticed that there was something different. The feeling in their house was missing something. My senior year in high school, one of my teachers took me aside, and told me there was something very different about me, than all the other students she had met. She said I had this light, that she couldn´t explain, but it was different, inviting, and peaceful. I began to realize that that is what was missing from the lives of my other friends. The light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ was missing. I had a completely different life because of it! I was different. And I want to share this light with other people, the blessings of the gospel, the plan of salvation, all of it. It makes all the difference in the world! And that is why I am here. To invite others to partake of this light, to come unto Christ and receive many wonderful blessings, more than they ever imagined! 

He started to tear up."It´s true, it´s so true. There really is a difference," he said. And it is true. We are different, but it is a good different. Never forget that.

In other news, I had the opportunity to have a REAL family dinner. Panamanians don´t feed missionaries like they do in the states. They give us our plate and we sit by ourselves and eat while they go about their business. But on friday night, we were invited to eat at the house of a member not in our area, but in our ward. Some other members drove us out, and we all stayed and ate together! It was so fun! I helped cook, and  we all talked and joked around and looked at old mission  photos, and then we sat together around the table and ate together, as a family. OH how I missed that! It was  perfect!

Lastly, some news for y´all! We had our first interviews with President Carmack this week. He is so kind, loving and extremely spiritual. He asked about my family and we talked about how I was doing in the mission, why I loved the temple, things like that. And then, he asked me. ¨Hermana Hunt, You are going to be training this next change, how do you feel about that?" WOAHHHH!!!!! haha I was surprised to say the least! He told me I came highly reccomended by my Zone Leaders, and my comp, and other missionaries as well. (interesting) But yes, I accepted, and he asked me to begin preparing to have my first "hija" (daughter) in the mission. Yes folks, I am going to be a TRAINER! I am super excited and also super nervous! I´ve already dreamed about it this week! I pray for her every night, and cannot wait to meet her! 

Well folks, That was my week. It amazes me how time flies! Tomorrow I hit the start of month 6. And in 2 weeks, I will only have about a year left in my mission! It can´t be!

I love you all, and pray for each and every one of you!

Peace out girl scouts,

Hermana Hunt

Missionary Farewell! Adios Amigos!

Okay everyone! Happy belated Easter! Yesterday I had my missionary farewell at my singlesward, and needless to say, I cried a lot. I had to do that awkward thing where you bend your head really far down so you can read over the tears that are welling up. But I think I did a good job because.... GUESS WHAT?!?! The investigator, Emilio, that I wrote about in my last post stood up after sacrament to introduce himself and announced that he had felt the spirit so strongly he had decided to be baptized!!!! AHHHH!!! It was truly an Easter miracle! Later he told my testimony was what really sealed the deal! Hoorah for Israel! So on that note, here is my talk for all of y'all to read

Brothers and sisters, friends and family, I am so beyond excited to be standing in front of you today, to have this opportunity to speak to you, although as most of you know, I like to talk all the time anyway. Today, however, Is different than any other time I have taught a lesson, because today, I do not have treats like jungle brownies to pass out to hold your attention! I'd like to thank the bishopric for allowing me to speak to you on Easter Sunday for my farewell , although I'm sure my mother offering to feed the whole ward afterward helped.

Let me take a moment to introduce myself. My family lived in Escondido when I was very small until  the summer of 2003, when we moved for my dads job to Northern California in the Bay Area. After a year, my family decided to stay in the Bay Area. It was there that I grew up, played water polo, basketball, ran track, learned how to drive and made some of my best friends. I am the second oldest of six kids, and each one of us is adopted. Yea, you could say my family is pretty cool. They were the ones making all the noise in the back ;)  After I graduated high school, my family moved back to this area, and I attended school at BYUH,  studying Exercise and sports science and professional biology. I have been at school there for the past 2 years. This past thanksgiving, I received my mission call to the Panama City, Panama Mission, an will be reporting this coming Wed. Thus the reason I began attending this ward back in January! Since being here, I have been a nanny to 2 little angels, Charlie and Maudie, and making some of my most favorite memories and friends right here in this ward!

I woud like to start talk by sharing a poem story of sorts, written by a young man about a re-occurring dream he had. I apologize to those of you who have heard it before.


In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features save for the one wall covered with small index-card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endlessly in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read "Girls I Have Liked." I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each on card.
And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match.

A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching. A file named "Friends" was next to one marked "Friends I Have Betrayed."

The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. "Books I Have Read," "Lies I Have Told," "Comfort I Have Given," "Jokes I Have Laughed At." Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: "Things I've Yelled at My Brothers." Others I couldn't laugh at: "Things I Have Done in My Anger," "Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents." I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped.

I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my 20 years to write each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.

When I pulled out the file marked "Songs I Have Listened To," I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of music, but more by the vast amount of time I knew that file represented.

When I came to a file marked "Lustful Thoughts," I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded.

An almost animal rage broke on me. One thought dominated my mind: "No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!" In an insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it

Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh. And then I saw it. The title bore "People I Have Shared the Gospel With." The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.

And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key.

But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him. No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus.

I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one?

Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word. He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card.

"No!" I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was "No, no," as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood.

He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished."

I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.

By Joshua Harris. Orginally published in New Attitude Magazine. Copyright New Attitude, 1995. You have permission to reprint this in any form. We only ask that you include the appropriate copyright byline and do not alter the content.

Brothers and sisters, is Jesus's name written on the cards of our hearts? In our secret places, the things that know one else knows or understands??  He places his name above ours, in a way that know one else can, this is called the atonement.

 Just as it said in the story,  Christ atones for all of our sins, even the most ridiculous and mundane ones.  Sis Linda burton made 3 points about the atonement, in the last general conference, relief society meeting.  I think these 3 principles really summarize the power, effect and blessing of the atonement.

The first was as follows:  all that is unfair in life can be made right through the atonement atonement of Jesus Christ.

Everything that is unfair. Simple as that. I think that it is pretty fair to say, that at some point or another, we have all felt that we were being treated unfairly. Whether that be someone judging us without knowing us, or even being ripped off by a customer, it is taken care of. That is why we are always told to forgive others, regardless of their wrong doing because, Jesus Christ's atonement will make these situations right again. Imagine being in that room that I just read about, but this time, it's your room of files. If we were to pull out the file reading, "people I have not forgiven" or "people I hold grudges against" would you be ashamed of the size of that file, or would you be proud at the lack of cards? I know that none of us, are perfect, but don't you think that with a room of that size, maybe we should try to give the savior less to do? Less cards to write his name on? It is not our place to hold a grudge or be unforgiving. We are to be no ones judgment day. That is why the atonement is in place.m

Sis Burton's second principle was this:  There is power in the Atonement to enable us to overcome the natural man or woman and become true disciples of Jesus Christ. Brothers and sisters, the word that came to mind as a researched and wrote the talk, and as I read this principle, was humility. In Mosiah 3:18-19 it reads....

Like I said before, humility. We know the difference between right and wrong. Just as we always have. Even since most of us were children, we had a basic knowledge of these principles. Our parents gave us rules to follow:ones that would keep us safe and help us to become better people. Some were just simple house rules, like no eating in the living room, others more important like always tell the truth  and respect your parents. Just like our earthly parents, our Heavenly Father had expectations of us. But sometimes, we thinke we are above those expectations. This is where we must humble ourselves and repent. Because, he knows what it best for us. Always. Imagine if you had a drawer labeled, "all the time I disobeyed my parents" and then next to it, one that read, " the times is disobeyed my father in heaven" I'm sure that would be one of my more embarrassing files. But the beauty of all of this is, through the atonement of Jesus Christ, all of these things are put in Christ's name. What  a beautiful act of love and sacrifice.

Principle 3: The Atonement is the greatest evidence we have of the Father’s love for His children.

Elder Oaks once said:  “Think how it must have grieved our Heavenly Father to send His Son to endure incomprehensible suffering for our sins. That is the greatest evidence of His love for each of us!”

Can any of us imagine sending away one of our own children? And for us in the singles ward, what about sending off a sibling, or niece or nephew, to endure the utmost pain possible. It seems unimaginable. And how amazing is it that, our Heavenly Father, sent one of his own, to save each of us. And how amazing is it, that our Brother, Jesus Christ is willing to metaphorically write his name across our sins? I am going to ask each of you today, on Easter Sunday, to personally write His name in and on our hearts, so that we can always remember him, and so that there can be a file marked, "the ways I remember my savior" and that will be a file that none of us will ever be ashamed of. I challenge each of you to do this, and I know you will be blessed for it.

I am so thankful for this ward, and this time I have to address you, I cannot wait to serve a mission and I hope that I will have a GIANT file with the people I have shared the gospel with. I know this church is true, and that our Heavenly Father knows and loves each and everyone of us. I am so grateful to be able to share the gospel with the people of Panama andI I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve. I know that the Book of Mormon is modern day revelation and that the words it contains are true. I have a personal testimony of the power and gift of the Atonement, and I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have of it. 


So for now, until  I send my first letter home, this is my last post! Keep reading and don't forget to write! 

Adios Amigos!

Hermana Hunt


(My first Address)

Sister Emma Kay Hunt

Panama Panama City Mission

Guatemala Missionary Training Center

Bulevar Vista Hermosa 23-71

Vista Hermosa I, Zona 15

Guatemala City 01015

GUATEMALA

It's Been A Long Time Coming!

Well folks, I think the title of this post is MORE than appropriate in MORE than one way. Firstly, I haven't posted in almost 5 months (rude of me, I know), and secondly, I am only 5 short days away from leaving on my mission! Just for the sake of saying it again,  (first time on da blog) I have been called to serve in the Panama City, Panama Mission, and I report to the Guatemalan MTC on April 3rd, 2013. Yes, please read that sentence a few times, and drive it into your heads, because y'all would not believe the number of times, I tell a fellow pre-missionary (or any one person for that matter) that exact sentence, and they continue to quiz me about how excited I must be to go to the PROVO MTC. ( Or they try to see if we will end up in the Provo MTC together, in which I kindly smile and remind them that "No, I am going to Guatemala instead") Oh well, all that truly matters is that I know where I'm going and that I get on the right plane this coming Tuesday!

So quick update on the world of Emma/Hermana Hunt (that's "sister" in Spanish for you fellow gringos). Since my arrival home at Christmas, I have been having a whirl-wind of adventures. The day after Christmas, I was endowed in the San Diego temple, which was a fantastic experience. The following day, my mother, my sister and I traveled to Quito, Ecuador where we worked in an orphanage with children ages 2 weeks old to 4 years old. If anyone EVER is looking for a once in a lifetime experience, this is the program to do it with. For those of you reading, and interested, it is called  OSSO. It is a service program done through BYU-Idaho. If it was possible to send everyone I know and love there to experience that, I would. The children are beautiful, and it was such a blessing to work with them. Anyway, I digress.

Shortly after returning home I was offered a job as a nanny to to a family of 2 little  girls, Charlotte (Charlie) age 2.5 months, and Madeline (Maddie) who just turned 4. Ok, I just have to say that I am probably the luckiest nanny in the world, because these two little girls were so stinking cute! Perfectly well behaved, and adorable in all aspects. Their parents were awesome, and I have grown to have a wonderful friendship with them, especially their mom, Cherie, whom I give MAJOR props to as a mom. She has done an amazing job.

So basically I have been working and making memories, and amazing friends, and going to church and wasting gas, and eating good food, and working with the missionaries and getting sun burnt, just, the whole works. So I think the last 5 months I have been pretty spoiled. Last week, I went to Washington to say one final goodbye to my best friend Tessa Carter, and then on to Utah where I got to see both my sets of wonderful grandparents and some fabulous old friends, (shout out to Jamie, Adam, Haleigh, and Luke!) The week before that, I went to Florida with my boss Cherie, to take care of baby Charlie, while she manned a company event! There I got to go to Disney World and see more old friends AND go to Disney World! ( haha yes I said that twice because it made me so darn happy!)

And that brings us right up to the here and now, with the final clock ticking away!   I have an amazing story to share with y'all. And I hope y'all have stuck it through to this point, because this is the best part!

Tonight, I got to sit with the missionaries and teach a man who has been taught by many different missionaries for the past 2 years. We started with a prayer and then watched a video about the Atonement. Afterwards, the missionaries asked him how he felt about it, and what stood out the most to him while watching it. He told us that he felt this really strong feeling in his heart when the "elderly gentlemen" (aka the First Presidency) were talking about it. He then asked each of us what we liked about it. After we answered he kind of went off on a tangent about how everything he is looking for in this world and how we just all need to help one another and love thy neighbor and things like that. Elder Thompson then asked him to read a scripture in Moroni, which ultimately leads to asking him to be baptized. As soon as he read that part, he stopped and looked at all of us, and my heart was pounding so fast, I didn't know what to do! I couldn't believe that this was happening so quickly! (I think the elders were just as nervous as I was). Elder Thompson then officially asked him if he would be baptized. He sat there and thought for a minute, and told us he couldn't make such a big decision right now. (NOOO!!!)  And that it was hard for him to believe in it without something telling him it was true. So then I was just about to ask him to pray about it, and to wait for that feeling in his heart again, when the elders took the word right out of my mouth! (We were totally having a telepathic moment) So we all knelt together and Emilio offered the prayer. As soon as he began, my heart began to well up and I reached an emotional high of like, 30! (And if you have read any of my previous posts, y'all know that that is a BIG deal) Then, when Emilio asked if what the missionaries were saying was true, I kid you not, that room felt like it burst into flames. and he asked a second time, if it were true and it got even hotter! I'm telling you, that the spirit was so strong you could have cut it with a knife! It was incredible. After the prayer we talked about his feelings, ( he noted that I cried, and I explained that its something I just do... haha) Then he said even though he felt it, it was hard because it wasn't a tangible "feel". I then got to tell him that just because something can't be seen, touched, smelt, or tasted, doesn't mean it's not there! I told him that I have never seen his brain, touched or smelt or even tasted it for that matter (Ew), and yet I still knew it was there. His eyes got really big. HA! I had caught him! He told me that was a really good analogy to use. (my inner sister missionary cheered!) After this, we talked some more, and I invited him to come to my mission farewell on Sunday, in which he committed to attending! Hurray!

So all in all, it was one of the coolest, most disappointing, and yet enthralling experiences EVER! And now I really cannot wait to serve a mission! 5 days peeps! It's coming so close! I'm so grateful for this opportunity to serve, and I hope that I can continue to have experiences like this, not just as a missionary, but for the rest of my life! I know this Church is true: I am a Mormon, I know it, I live it, I love it! And the people of Panama ain't gonna know what hit them!

Until next time!

XOXO

Emma