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!!