What a week

I believe the above title describes everything to perfection.

Happy news first! We had a ward mission fair on Wednesday which we were all really worried about because it didn't seem like it was going to come together, but then it did! And guess what? THE ENTIRE COMMON GOOD CAME. All of them! Well...minus a couple. But everyone that was there that night! Including my favorites. Which is what counts. And we had 3 investigators at church! 2 in the branch and 1 in the ward! It was absolutely awesome! 

Now to the sad. In case you all did not notice, today is Tuesday and not Monday. This is because this week is transfers. And guess what is happening? Sister Hodson is leaving me. It makes me sad beyond all measure. But I suppose I have to share her with other people. Such is the mission life. But still. I would like to keep her. 

Then there is the worst news of all, Sister Planer had to go home on Friday for medical leave. We all miss her a lot. I love Sister Planer. Hopefully she'll get better and be able to come back out really soon. Because seriously, she is the best person. And a great missionary. And I miss her. 

The only highlight of this event though is that she ended up having to leave right after the 6 of us had dinner at our ward mission leader's home so we all went out to say good bye to her and of course ended up crying because we all love her. When we came back in Brother Williams sees all of our faces and asks what happened so we tell him she had to go home. Then he says, "Oh...do you want some chocolate?" That is a smart man, ladies and gentleman.

So because of Sister Planer going home we've had to be in a triple up with Sister Maddox since Friday night. Which is weird. Triple ups are weird. They're not terrible. They're just weird. It's also extra fun because we're having to cover two areas. But we have had a car because of that as well. And I got a cold on Friday so it has been nice not having to bike while sick. But yeah. This week...lots of good...lots of sad. But the nice thing about all of it is even though there was a lot of sad stuff this week I love being a missionary. I am so glad I am out here. There is something extra amazing about doing this work. Who is it that has the quote "there's nothing more satisfying than missionary work?" It's true. 

Well, I miss you all! Continue being wonderful and writing me! 

Me on my bike in front of a beautiful tree. 

A picture of us with Nichelle!

And us with my favorite people from the Common Good!

Pictures this week: Our district! 

Our amazing investigator Jessee!

A picture that I believe describes me and Sister Hodson fairly well

A Rather Excellent Occurrence

Dear Family and the Friends,

First of all, Happy belated Easter! I hope you all had a really great one! Because it was fairly wonderful for us. Were you all able to watch Because of Him? Do so. It's wonderful.

This week has also been rather wonderful. We have another new investigator! She met with missionaries a couple of years ago but then had to stop because she got really sick and then her parents told her she was not allowed to. So the sad news is if her parents tell her to stop again she will. She's 21 though so it kind of sucks they won't let her make her own decisions in such matters, but we're not there to create bad situations between the family. She's really great though and I hope that we'll be able to continue. 

In other news, are you all ready for the best pick up line that has ever happened? We were doing service at St. Mark's this wednesday (As we do every Wednesday) which involves helping them serve dinner for the community for those that are struggling to eat and the such. You get quite a lot of characters there let me tell you. But anyway, I was standing at the end of the serving line asking them if they all wanted some candy when this quite possibly 70 year old man comes up and reads my name tag and goes, "Sister...Hunter...hmm" and then starts to walk away. But then he turns around and goes, "I've been hunting for you all my life." And then walked away completely. I about died laughing. Every one has been saying that is the pick up line my future husband will use. So we shall see.

Another semi-great semi-sad occurrence involved our leaving the Common Good that same night. I don't think I have told you all about the Common Good. It is this inter-faith bible study the other sisters found before we came where we go there and we read a few verses from the bible and then everyone has an opportunity to discuss what they got out of it. And after there's a sort of 'free for all' where you can ask people questions or just start a conversation. Every one is super respectful and sincerely pays attention as we're talking. It's awesome. We were able to teach the Plan of Salvation in our last go round and everyone was super interested. But anyway, we're having a ward activity on the 23rd so we told them we wouldn't be able to be there and that transfers are the week after so one or both of us may or may not be back. The leader of the group told us, "That's just unfair. It's like you guys tease us with being awesome people and then you're gone." (I'm paraphrasing but that was the general meaning behind it) And then a couple of seconds later was like, "That's it! Bible study is cancelled!" So, they love us. And we love all of them. But anyway, I won't make this terribly long, know that I love all of you and I'm sorry I have no exciting pictures this week! 

Sincerely,

Sister Hunter

p.s. Next week is transfers so I will be emailing on Tuesday instead of Monday!

Crazy Greatness

On this the day of the 14th of April I write to inform all of you of my imminent...continuation...of my mission...yes. We got two new investigators this week! One is super solid. She was meeting with missionaries two years ago but then decided she no longer cared and stopped and we called her up and she said she'd call us back, and no one ever does. But then she did! So we've started meeting with her and it's super great! She's loving it and has dived right in to the Book of Mormon! The only thing that sucks is that school gets out in about 3 weeks and she is a student at the university so she shall be gone in 3 weeks. Hopefully she'll continue to meet with missionaries wherever it is she ends up. 

Our other investigator is also great! We met her at St Mark's when we were volunteering there. She said she thought we were doing was really cool and 'would like to do that'. So we had to explain to her that you had to be a member at least a year before you could be a missionary, but she's still interested which is great! 

We've had a super busy week though. We found out recently that there are a bunch of members that aren't on our ward list for some reason that haven't been attending so we called every single one of them. A lot of the numbers were disconnected, most didn't answer, the ones that did said they didn't want to hear from us, but eh so is life. We're stopping by the homes of all those that did not answer so we shall see when that comes. We had the ward Easter activity this last Saturday. Sister Hodson and I were in charge of the 'missionary race'. They had to dress up in missionary clothes, run to a chair at the end take off the clothes and then the next person had to put them on and whoever got through their whole team first won. Included should be quite possibly the best picture of Bishop Lake you will have ever seen. He kind of reminds me of David Tennant. Just a bit.  

But yes. Things are trucking along. This new area has been pretty great. Sad for the people that we haven't been able to see, but great for these new ones that they have. :)

I miss you all a lot! And thank you so much for your letters and all of your kind words! They're great. See you all in a little more than 15 months! (Can you believe it's only 6 days from my 3 month mark?) And congratulations to Jon and Morgan! Travis is adorable and that is so exciting!!! 

P.S. I don't know if any of you have had hummus with 'fresh crushed pepper' or something like that but it is incredible. Especially if you eat it with pita chips. Just saying. And that definitely related to everything I said above.

Let It Rain, Let It Pour

Familia (Y amigos!), 

This week has been absolutely crazy, but the best part was Thursday when it rained all day. We had 6 lessons planned for that day and 5 of them cancelled on us. Luckily Thursday is the day we do weekly planning so we didn't have to be out in the rain too much, but we did for the one lesson. And that ride was fantastic. Ohio is terrible about pot holes and the area we are in used to be a swamp so there are certain areas that the water gets pretty high. One of those areas happened to be at a stop sign for a semi-busy street we have to cross. It was at this stop sign that I discovered my boots were not actually waterproof. It was also on the way to this lesson that I discovered the outer liner of my winter coat is not either. So I was drenched. Also, my 'waterproof' bag. That is not waterproof. Everything but my scriptures and the book of Mormon I was carrying got wet.  

That was the same day we got the right brake fixed for my bike so now I can actually brake and signal at the same time! Crazy happenings! 

And then there was general conference. I love general conference! Everyone keeps saying how it is the Super Bowl for missionaries, and it's true. I love that we can have so many of our questions answered while watching it and the spirit that you can feel. It was pretty crazy at first because for the Saturdaymorning session (which is at 12 here. How weird is that?) There was nothing set up. Luckily one of the members who is tech savvy lives right across the street from the church so he was able to come and get it going and all was well. We only missed the first 10 minutes. But seriously, conference is wonderful. I hope all of you enjoyed it. My favorite talk was Elder Bednar's about the atonement. I love Elder Bednar. Him President Uchtdorf and Elder Holland's talks always seem to speak to me the most. Though they are all wonderful of course. DID I TELL YOU ALL ELDER HOLLAND IS COMING TO OUR MISSION? I AM GOING TO GET TO SHAKE HIS HAND. I am so excited. I think Sister Planer almost passed out from excitement. 

Things change a lot as a missionary, don't they? I used to be this excited for Green Day. Now I am excited for Elder Holland. Oh! Here is another fun fact about being a missionary: I was running a couple of days ago and the song stuck in my head was Joseph Smith's First Prayer. Yep. I'm a missionary.

I hope you are all doing well! I say yet again thank you so much for all of your letters! I love them! Keep em coming and continue to have fun in your life!

Sincerely,

Sister Hunter 

Pictures:

2840: Sister Planer broke a lightbulb trying to jump rope out of the kitchen this morning. I about died laughing

 

2824: My action shot trying to jump from sitting on my legs to standing. I didn't manage it. I keep landing on my butt. (Don't worry I have biking shorts underneath!)

2804: The ride to our lesson in the rainstorm.