Dang! I love being out here!...

I love this city, as McKeesport is growing on me.  The city is just insane, a lot of people are drug addicts, drunk smokers or just plain insane.  You think I'm kidding I'm really not, but I love it here! This week has been interesting and fun.  We found some people contacting, around 7 people this past week and are planning to find at least 10 more this week

We also went OYMing in downtown (Open Your Mouth) people accepted a card or a pamphlet from us which is good.  On our way back to the car I wanted to talk to a group of black guys, Elder Ball was iffy about it, but I was like “let’s just go and see them.”  As I started introducing us, one of them stops us and says to the other guys, "Yo my n*****s, these guys spread the word of Jesus. Listen to them on Thursday when we feed them BBQ."  This guy was a business owner in downtown McKeesport, he owns a BBQ place. We gave them all a Book of Mormon download card and said to download it by this Thursday, they said sure.  I think I talked to six guys. Yesss!!

Latisha is a girl we found Tuesday.  She is an interesting person.  She has an abusive family, but she wants to find Jesus and the truth so that's someone. We’re trying to help her out.

Dwayne is increasing in faith very well.  He is beginning the 12-step program of addiction recovery.  He’s a good man.  He’s ready to join the church and our Father in Heaven. Of course, we are still working with him about overcoming addiction but we're there to help him out and so is the Savior.

Then yesterday we tracted into a Muslim family, they said no thanks but to try those people over across the way👉 so we did.  We gave out 3 copies of the Book of Mormon and taught them the restoration.  After the lesson they gave us a couple of hot dogs and sent us on our way.  They live outside of our mission, so we sent the missionaries over in Youngstown Ohio to visit them.

We had another lesson with Arnold.  He understood the Plan of Happiness and said that the drawings help him learn.  He is an older guy who is slow of learning, but pictures help him out.

On Sunday we had 3 people come to church, Dwayne, Latisha, and a less active, Sister Martin!!  They all enjoyed church.  Sister Martin hasn't been to church for 6 months and was so happy that we’re helping her come out again.

Dang, I love being out here, it's the best!! I love to see these people and their face change when they realize Jesus and Heavenly Father have been with them always to help them.  To see their face when they learn the truth of the Book of Mormon and the restored gospel. It is incomprehensible and truly remarkable to see their lives change when they act on it. Most want to share it with their friends, and we encourage that 100%. 

Have a wonderful week!

Elder Hunt

The hot dogs they gave us!!

The view on his porch!

Elder Hunt's study area

Egg sandwich and hash-browns for breakfast

The "other" St. George

Transfers again

Transfers happened and I'm now with Elder Ball.  We have done so much contacting it’s awesome I love it. 

We are teaching this one man; his name is Dwayne he is a slower learner, but we are patient and we will teach him at his speed. He also struggles with the word of wisdom like majorly, long story short, he takes illegal things into his body. He's very humble though. 

 Another man we're teaching his name is Arnold, he's very old and a wheelchair helps him move around. When we were teaching him the restoration, we told him about the Book of Mormon and that it takes place in America.  He was so shocked and he's like "Wow, that's really interesting I want to show my friends this" and so he did and now his friends will be there at our next lesson.

We were contacting this one person who wasn't interested and said to try her neighbor, so we did. The man was not interested and said no thanks, but we kept talking to him and eventually he's like I want to learn more about Jesus except not the Book of Mormon, so we set up another appointment for Saturday.  After that we were walking back to our car when a woman came out her door and said do you guys have Bibles? We said yes and we gave her a Bible and Book of Mormon and talked about the Book of Mormon.  She was very curious about it and said to come by again and teacher her more about it. We gave her the introduction of the Book of Mormon to read before Saturday as well.

This area has so much potential it's incredible!!!

Love yinz!!

Elder Hunt

Elder Zarges you'll be missed!!

(Elder Zarges and Elder Hunt were companions back in December.  

Elder Hunt loved having him as a companion)

McKeesport District

Sights of greater Pittsburgh

More to come...

We contacted Arnold, he's a good guy. He knows that God is with everybody. Something will happen to bring him to the door of baptism one day.  We also got a new referral, his name is Joseph but he wants us to call him  Dwayne.  He's a very great guy.  He has trouble learning things but hey that's fine, we'll teach him slowly.  He wants to come to church and read the Book of Mormon.

That's it for today.  

Love yinz. Have a great week.
Elder Hunt

Zone Conference for the Pitt, Pitt W. and Pitt N. Zone 

Our awesome new chapel

Trying to stay fit

Changes

Well, well, well...

A week ago our amazing little McKeesport Branch was disbanded!! Saddest day ever! This was a tiny branch with wonderful people that I will miss so very much.  They have divided the branch and sent parts to different wards around the area.  My comp and I are now part of the Pleasant Hills Ward.  So instead of literally walking across the street to church we have to now drive 30 minutes to church.  Bummer, oh well.

The Pleasant Hills Ward is quite big, they fill the chapel and the overflow all the way to the back of the gym.  It looks like our Stake Conference back home every week. The APs are in that ward and two Elders I came out with too, Elders Tumor and Hall, so It's nice to see them all each week.

We had a great day finding on Tuesday.  A lot of people came out to hear us and were willing to take the Book of Mormon but didn't want to meet with us.  We did find 7 people willing to meet with us. The problem now is getting them to set an appointment.  I wish more people were willing to hear our message than just take a book, but its better than nothing for now.

Yinz keep reading the Book of Mormon.

Love,
Elder Hunt

"Sister Murphy!! I will miss her dearly as she is 

now in a different ward than we are"

How fast things change

This week we are determined to tract out some new contacts as our old ones have dropped us.

Speaking of dropping us, David, who last week said he would be coming to church and was going to bring his wife to the next lesson, officially dropped us.  He said since we have given him all the lesson that now the rest is up to the Lord and him.  He said he appreciated everything we taught him. He is a really good guy who has drawn closer to the Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  A good man, wishing him the best!

If you didn't read my email last week then I'll say it again. If you have not read the Book of Mormon yet, READ IT!  If you have then READ IT AGAIN.  Pray so you can get your answer.  Please go read it! I challenge everyone of you to read it now! It will change your life! Promise!


Love yinz,
Elder Hunt

Elder Hunt at The Waterfront open air shopping center on P-day

Captain Moroni!

Hello yinz!

This week there wasn't much to tell by way of new things going on.  I hope to have lots to tell next week.

Sunday we had a lesson with David and it was excellent! I bore my testimony and we talked about him coming to church.  He gave us his word that he would come and also bring his wife.  He said he would have her come to our next lesson too.  David gave the closing prayer in our lesson which was so awesome because he's always said he would never pray with us so that was HUGE!

By way of an FYI, Elder Asay was transfered but my comp and I are still together AND, I bought a Steelers tie, an absolute must.

OK, for all of you back home who may not have read the Book of Mormon yet, READ IT!  If you have then READ IT AGAIN.  Pray about it to get your answer.  Please read it! I challenge you all to read it now! It will change your life!

I hope yinz have an excellent week.
Elder Hunt

(In western PA prominently in Pittsburgh you say "yinz" like you would say "you all" in Utah or "y'all"  in the south)

Elder Asay

McKeesport District

 New Pittsburgh Steelers tie

The work keeps moving forward

All our appointments fell through this past week so we're back to square one trying to reschedule lessons . It's OK, its all part of the adventure.  We're always trying to find new contacts as well.

We did have one great experience last week, we were at the store and a man walked up to us and was so happy to see us which is always a surprise because that never happens.  He said he felt God told him to go to the store that day and now he knew it was to meet us.  He took off his cross necklace and gave it to me.  It was the most genuine gift.  He was so kind and sincere and wanted me to have it.  He took our number but he hasn't called us.  Maybe one day.

We have the best branch in all the church.  Our Branch President is so great and the members are so loving and caring.  They are always asking us if we need anything or if there is anything they can do for us.  They really value missionary work here. Members are always willing to go teach with us.  They are always feeding us and they buy us groceries every week so we hardly have anything to buy.  Sister Murphy takes us to dinner every Friday and not to McDonald's either.  Last week she took us to a nice Italian restaurant and this next Friday she's taking us to P.F. Chang's. This branch is so thoughtful.

I loved my time on exchanges with Elder Nave.  He's our district leader and he's awesome.  We had some great bonding experiences together.

District meeting was great.  We have three companionships in our district, the Elders from Greensboro, the Pitt 7 Sisters and us in McKeesport.  Our district leader, Elder Nave, asked each companionship to share a Christlike trait that can help us in the work.  The Greensboro Elders did Knowledge, the Sisters did Humility and we did Patience.  The other missionaries said they love it every time I share because they "feel my sincerity, genuineness and love." I'm not sure what all that means but I thinks it's good.

That's it for now. The work keeps moving forward.

Have a great week,
Elder Hunt

MTC Buds

New haircut

Stuart, still the Jenga Master

Wanted: People to teach

This has been interesting week indeed. I got my new companion;  He is an interesting fella who has 3 months left on his mission and tells great Jokes.  He’s fun.

With the people we’re trying to teach, all we’ve been able to do is try to get in contact with them and set up appointments.  Also, we’ve been setting up get-to-know-you appointments with more members since I haven't been here that long, It's all good here, gotta love the very small branch of McKeesport, the chapel looks like ours except it only has 6 rows of pews.😂

Forgive me for not having a great missionary experience to share this week .  Thus far all we've been doing is knocking on our teaching pool doors just trying to get some lessons planned out.  We haven’t had a lesson since Thursday of last week. Sad isn't it? But anyways that's a little bit about my week.

Love,
Elder Hunt

The McKeesport District

Mother Nature messed up

Today is supposed to get to 63 degrees so yes, it's hot here and it's going to be like that all week.  Last week it was -12°. Its ridiculously hot this week in comparison, so Mother Nature needs to make up her mind about the weather.

There's not much to say of this past week, we were mostly under house arrest because of the extreme cold.  It was a bit chilly at -12, and we were allowed outside for ten minutes at a time by order of the Mission President.

Alma 12:7 replace Alma and Amulek with two missionaries names and tell me what you think of the following story.

7 Now when Alma had spoken these words, Zeezrom began to tremble more exceedingly, for he was convinced more and more of the power of God; and he was also convinced that Alma and Amulek had a knowledge of him, for he was convinced that they knew the thoughts and intents of his heart; for power was given unto them that they might know of these things according to the spirit of prophecy...

This experience made me think of that scripture. We knocked this man’s door he said he doesn't believe in our church.  So, I asked this question that works 9 of 10 times you ask it.  I asked, “If you could ask God any question what would it be?” And he said “where is my daughter?  She was taken from me too early in life.” We taught the plan of happiness and he said that God hates him and doesn't know him. We showed him examples of God calling people by name and he said, "I have some repenting to do" He has our number so he might give us a call, we’ll see.

I'm sorry, but after spending 6 months in Pennsylvania in the territory of the Pittsburgh Steelers you learn three things 1. The Steelers are the best 2. The Steelers hate the Patriots for winning the Superbowl because now they’re tied for all time Superbowl wins. And 3, the Steelers will be your favorite NFL team.  Forever.

Elder Hunt

Her life has changed forever!

Alright, this week was interesting.  There were many times when it was just cold and sometimes too cold to go outside, so what Elder Griffin and I did was we drove around, got out and tracted a couple streets, then got back in to warm up, repeat.   

Occasionally we find that 1 person who happens to be a "Hebrew Israelite." Now, Hebrew Israelites on are a separate branch that broke off from the Jews, they believe they are the real Jews and by real Jews they believe that they are the real descendants of the slaves that left Egypt and real descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They also believe that Jesus was black and that anyone who says otherwise should burn in Hades  We talked with this Hebrew Israelite and he got so angry with us saying that we’re not preaching the truth and we’re just spreading around false doctrine. When he asked us where our proof was, we held out a Book of Mormon saying here it is.  Then he said that was not proof and its false doctrine.  Then he continued to walk away cursing us and cussing at us. 

So that happened but hey, he will hear the truth eventually and will be forgiven one day so I'm not too worried for him.

The members feed us very well here.   Hey Bryce, what spaghetti was for you on your mission, pizza is for me.  Breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Mmmm delicious.

I was able to go and see Michelle Gallagher’s baptism from my last area in Pittsburgh. The only requirement from president was I needed to bring someone from my area to the baptism.  She was baptized and I knew immediately that her life would never be the same.   I knew her life would change forever with Jesus Christ in the center of it.   I was very happy to be there for her and to witness that. She was so happy after her baptism.  She knew she just got a new start, a new life and she’s very proud of herself for doing this. 

This is another thing that makes me so happy to be a missionary, to help those people find Christ in their life and endure to the end.  That is something, it’s truly love.

Elder Hunt

Michelle's Baptism!!

The chapel where we had Michelle's baptism

My comp, Elder Griffin

Elder Zarges!!

She was amazing!

Hello friends and family this has been a great one, first things first you thought I would email you tomorrow, but our Mission President let us decide between our companionship whether we want p-day today or tomorrow because of the weather.  Right now, there's a wind chill advisory warning in effect, it’s 7 degrees but the windchill is making it feel like -9 degrees so here I am emailing you today, why? Because neither of us want to walk around in that Antarctic cold, heck no.

Well now to the week, in one word, bizarre.  Good, but bizarre. 

For starters, as a side note, I found my dream car, a Jeep Wrangler Sport.  It's must have 4 doors not 2, with a hard top, not soft.  The color doesn't matter to me but if I get to choose it would be a deep forest green color.

Moving on, we had a bible referral.  She was amazing!   She told us she has had some grief and loss in her life, so we told her where her loved one is.  She was so touched at that point so we shared a couple more scriptures and after she said this, and I'm not kidding you this is the truth, "can I be a member?" We said YES so fast!  She got so excited to read the Book of Mormon and come to church.

Moments like that is what I love about being a missionary, to tell people that no matter what happens in your life God will be there every step of the way.  Also, to tell people that God does not put trials in your life that you can’t handle because that wouldn’t seem fair if he did and so they understand that God is there for His children.

From 1800 miles back to Utah

Elder Hunt

Getting more done

Hello all

I like this new area!! We do a lot more because we have a car so we go around places faster than buses.

Elder Griffin and I get along so well.  We have a lot of fun together.  We both enjoy the same music and stuff.

The members are very nice.  It's a small branch so we don't get fed as often as we did in my last area. However, more importantly, they are always willing to come with us on team ups so that's always nice. They’re great!!

Love,

Elder Hunt

On the banks of the Youghiogheny River

Youghiogheny River

New friend

"There's never a shortage of guns"

McKeesport PA

I like my new area, we live in a house and it's a decent size house. The bedroom and study are upstairs and the kitchen and sitting room are downstairs.  We live next to the railroad and I swear there is a train every 5 minutes honking on the massive train horn. Gotta get used to that.  Also people here are not afraid to call the police on us for "soliciting."  

Our car is a Toyota Rav-4 and it has 18,000 miles on it so it's a newer car.  We get 900 miles a month. 

I'm in the McKeesport Branch and I've never seen anything that small in my life. The members are super nice there is just so few of them.  We had a dinner invite already. The church building used to be a catholic school, but not anymore.  It's a 3-story building but the top 2 floors are closed because of asbestos, which is in the walls and causes cancer. Great!

Elder Griffin, oh man... he is a handful, but we get along really nicely.  He likes to eat.  A lot.   I think he told me he is almost 325lbs.  He hasn't touched my food yet thank goodness. He also likes to do everything.  He drives while working the GPS and being the DJ while I ask what I can do to help get us there safely, so yea.  I'm trying to get him to either let me drive so he can just do the GPS and be the DJ while I drive or the other way around. He also hates taking pictures of himself or that are of him so if you don’t get a good picture for a while, I'm sorry.

Love you all,

Elder Hunt

Our little house

The asbestos ridden ex-catholic school
turned branch building 

The school/branch building on the left and his little white house directly across the street to the right

Elder Hunt's study area

Breakfast WITH a piece of fruit

Transfer time!

 

This week was the slowest one in my life, each day felt like a year. It was a good week though lots of thing happened like Elder Revee got his visa and is heading for Ecuador tomorrow!!

Transfers are on Thursday, Elder Zarges is staying and is training while being a district leader or DT for short. I'm being transferred out to McKeesport. I'm still in the same zone but not the same district. My new companions name is Elder Griffin and all I've heard about him is that he likes to eat a lot...  (including my food) so I don’t know what to do about that.

It's been in the high 20s but the humidity makes it feel 20 and that’s not too cold for me. I am lasting a good long time without freezing up so no it's not cold yet.

Norman is a man who is not interested in progressing. He’s only interested in what our faith is about and why. So I guess he’s going alright.

My new area has a CAR.  I'm so happy to get rid of those buses.


Love you,
Elder Hunt

Michelle, our investigator and soon to be member!!

(Interesting read for you history buffs)

Mellon Institute- Now the Carnegie Mellon University

In the 19th and 20th centuries, Pittsburgh was notorious for its pollution and soot, earning itself monikers like “Smoky City” and “Hell with the Lid Off.” The flourishing coal and steel industries caused the city’s buildings to be stained black, and the city to be dark with smoke even before noon.

Conditions were so bad, white-collar workers often had extra pairs of shirts to change into during the day. And when Frank Lloyd Wright was asked how to fix the city, he glibly said, “Raze it and start over.”

In 1946, the newly elected mayor proposed a less extreme plan to clean up the city and improve the standard of living. Over the next two decades, the surfaces of buildings were cleaned, new, cleaner industries slowly came up, and the level of pollution dropped by nearly 90 percent.

But some buildings wanted to keep a reminder of the city’s smoky past to warn future generations about the consequences of filthy air, and the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research was one of them.

The headquarters of the institute, built in 1937, takes up an entire city block. The building is ringed with 62 large columns, each 36 feet high. When the city was cleaning up its act, the institute left one side of some of these iconic limestone columns untouched and black, as a reminder of the smoky air of years past.

The Institute merged with the nearby Carnegie Institute of Technology to become Carnegie Mellon University in 1967. Today the picturesque columns at the front entrance of the building are a popular spot for wedding and occasion photography, and even filming scenes for movies—black soot and all.