Crying over SPAM

Talofa Aiga,

Another week on the island of Samoa!!! Never a dull moment here haha.

Dang crazy to here about Hamilton, I can only imagine what that film session was like the next morning...

 Chad has his papers in!!! That's amazing! My guess: England. We'll see what happens but that's great! Well here is the update:

 

-My first baptism is on October 18th! Her name is Ituau, and I'm super excited for her. It's been amazing watching how the Gospel has changed her life. No it will not be in the ocean haha they have fonts here.

-I'm getting better at teaching the lessons in Samoan which is good. I need to get better at my conversational stuff but it's all good.

-A previous companion, got sent home last week. He was at another members house playing pool, when his new comp brought a girl into their house. the epikopo came in and beat up his comp. He got sent home for not being with his comp. I'm very grateful and blessed to be out of that situation because it could have been me getting sent home for the other Elder being stupid.

-I had the best Fofoga ever the other night!!! Rice, Tang, Chop Suey, and Fried SPAM!!! We never get Spam out here and it was amazing...I'm not going to lie I shed a little tear when she brought it out. :)

 

So conference kind of sucked here haha. They told us they were going to get an English version, but they didn't. All Samoan...Didn't understand like any of it. Bummer... 

Oh so you'll love this. They had the broadcast at the ward building on Sunday. We watched the first session, and then the Bishop got tired and told everybody that the Stake President told him that they didn't have to watch the second session, so no one watched the second session of sunday...only in Samoa

 

Spiritual Story:

I wanted to do something from conference but that didn't really happen. But I've been reading "Our Search For Happiness." M. Russell Ballard. Amazing book! So well written. I'd like to make the challenge for you all to read it and then share it. It is such a great description of our church and what we are all about. Please share with your friends of other faiths. BE BOLD! I look back and regret not taking advantage of missionary opportunities I had at home.

 

Reccomendatiion to future missionaries:

Don't purchase anything from Palmeroy's or Mr. Mac, all of my stuff from there is kinda falling apart. Thankful for tape haha

 

Mother, it usually takes about 2-4 weeks for mail to get to me. My day is filled with lots of visits and lessons. I sent a letter that goes into better detail. I have gotten a lot of mail from you all including Nana's packages and Mama Pierce's. I wrote them back. All is going well. Keep sending mail and packages! They really make P-Day. Ou te alofa ia te outou!

 

Alofa Atu,

Elder Hunter

Care Packages

Talofa Aiga!

 Yet another interesting week in SAMOA!!! Never a dull moment here. Wow where to start. O.K here I go:

 

-I think the rats that live above us had babies because there are definitely a lot more and Elder Mo'o just had some pee all over his suitcase...awesome

-My Samoan is improving, slowly, but getting better. It's funny listening to the other Elders who have been out here for a year try to speak English.

-To answer your question mom. I don't really have a bed, it's kind of live a super thin piece of foam...so yeah haha but I'm used to it and I'm usually so tired I knock out anyways.

-I'm getting more used to the food, but I still get sick sometimes. I got to eat Lobster the other day though, not Lobra for once, actual Lobster. I think it's safe to say I'm one of the only missions that gets that!

-Obedience to not watching t.v. is kind of impossible here. We were at the Fofoga at Bishop's the other night and they had the T.V. on. I asked if they could turn it off, and he said, "You can close your eyes elder." So yeah, that's Samoa haha

-They have the worst remixes here haha. They combined a Little John song with another rapper and a reggae song haha.

-We cover three wards here: Samata muamua, Samata lua, and Fagafou. We usually go to two wards every sunday. You thought three hours of church was long, try six in a language you still don't understand very well...fantastic

-really looking forward to General Conference, We may get it in English! we will be watching this sunday at the stake center.

 

So spiritual story:

I was on a split with the zone leaders in a village called FaleLima. This guy in our ward asked if we could pray for him because he wasn't having very good thoughts and was all around having a bad day. I told him we could give him a blessing, and so I did. Awesome experience! Very cool, and you could tell there was a significant difference made.

 

Funny story:

They didn't have any bread for sacrament this Sunday...so they used cookies instead... I can honestly say that was a first. Elder Mo'o and I were cracking up though because after it was passed, one of the deacons shoved like four cookies in his mouth haha!

 

All is going well here though. I love you all so much! KEEP WRITING!!! I have gotten your letters and I love them. I need to be better at writing rather that emails. Also send packages we love them here haha. Alofa Atu!

Elder Hunter S.G.

Separate E-mail to his sister:

Rian Marie,

Thank You so much for the email I loved It!!!! Keep writing please. And get mom to send me some more packages :) O te alofa ia te oe!

Alofa Atu,

Elder Hunter S.G.

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Transferred to email and Savaii

Talofa Aiga!

First of all, this email should have been sent two weeks ago but we have had some difficulty with the internet out here, but we can email now!!! 

Wow, it's been absolutely insane out here. I sent a letter explaining my first area, so hopefully you got it. Biggest news, I got transferred from Upolu to Savaii. I'm currently serving in Samata and Fagafou and I've been made a District leader! Craziness, but here is the rest of the update:

-My new comp's name is Elder Mo'o from Kapolei, Hawaii. He is way cool, and I love my zone. 

. 

-I love my Mission President! He and Sister Tolman are amazing, and I look forward to seeing them after the mission.

-I'm currently living with a fam. Difficult at times, but they are really kind.

But yeah living conditions…

 leaky pipe for a shower, mosquito nets, rats all over my room, you know the works haha

-I've been flashed six times…so that's been an adventure. 

-Language still isn't great but I'm getting better.

-We have one baptism lined up for the 18th and another potential!

-I'm still kind of getting used to the food. I lost 15 pounds in my first two weeks, but now I'm getting used to it, and have got some of it back.

So here's my funny mission story:

So Elder Mo'o and I went to a Fofoga the other night and we ate something called U'u. Basically looks like a combination between a lobster and a cobra ( I'm calling it a Lobra.) Freakin'  crazy. Elder Mo'o told me I had to eat the whole thing. Brain, intestines, butt, etc. He said it would be super disrespectful not to. So I did...Nastiest thing ever!!! seriously the intestines and waste flopped on the plate and I ate it all! So mad at him at him afterwards because he said he was totally messin....I basically at Lobster Crap.... But I got a lot of respect from the village so thats good.

Well, it's been a pretty big culture shock. But it is really great here. I look forward to hearing back from all of you!

 Alofa Atu,

Elder Hunter S.G.

This Week In Samoa

Thanks to Sister Tolman for posting these pictures! 

 Looks like Zone Conference was Awesome!

FINALLY!!!

Letter dated August 29th

Talofa Aiga!

Wow... well where to begin haha.  The last four days have been insane.  Here are some things I've learned about Samoa:

Onamu O Satani. Ha ha seriously.  I freakin' hate these mosquitos.  I look like I have chicken pox

Children refuse to call you by your name.  Any time, and everytime I'm walking down the road I hear, "Fa Tia! (my companion) Fa Palagi! I guess I'm destined to be called white boy forever! haha

Breastfeeding.. Plublic display is quite socially acceptable.  Elder Tia and I were at a Fofoga (dinner) and the Tina just whipped it out, because no one goes hungry at the Fofoga- especially the baby! haha

Not a whole lot of respect fo the throne.  Honestly, our bathroom was digusting.  I had to spend like 2 hours cleaning it before using it. A man has got to have faith in his toilet...enough said

The people here are absolutely amazing. Everyday we have our meals taken care of and the culture is to have the missionaries and the Tama eat before the aiga.  A little different, but I try not to eat very much so the aiga will get a lot.

Here is kind of my schedule of meals:

Breakfast:  Saimimi and mas (ramen and sweet bread)

Lunch: Rice (carb), Taro (carb), saimimi (carb) chicken (ususally fried), palosami (basically creamed spinach on steriods...(so GOOD!!!)

Fofoga: Saimimi and lamb, Taro, chop suey, and sometimes sausage!

 And ALWAYS Cocoa Samoa!

I swear it's drank more than water.  Super strong.  Not a huge fan at first, but I'm getting used to it.

Overall I'd say Dad wouldn't do well on a mission here :)  Haha.  I love you paps. 

Ou te alofa ia te oe Tama.

Well...In some ways things are way different than what I expected, yet in other ways, there are just what I thought.  

So my companion's name is Elder Tia and he is a Samoan Native from Upolu.  His English is very good and he's a great guy.  Kindof colorful past.  He told me how he used to be a drug dealer, and that instead of moving the cocaine, he took it for himself.  He said his boss found out and shot him.  It missed his heart and only got him in the shoulder.  He felt that God had saved him for a reason so he turned hi life around and decided to serve a mission.  Pretty Crazy... He's solid though and he cracks me up all of the time.

My first area is on Upolu.  It is in an area called Falelatai and the village is called Siufaga.  It is absolutely amazing here.  Hands-down the prettiest place on Earth.  Very difficult not to swim because the water is crystal-clear and breath-taking.

The girls here really do like the palagi's. Everytime we walk past this one fale they start giggling.  I'm staying clean though and keep my goals in mind.  

The dogs arent' an issue in this area. They know who th missionaries are and they leave us alone.

Well know that I love and miss you all.  I've been struggling a lot this week and have been really homesick... but then I remind myself why I'm serving and it goes away.  I look forward to hearing from you!

Alofa Atu,

Elder Hunta SG

It's not a letter- but it's news!!

No- I haven't heard from him!  But.. Here are a couple of pictures from Sister Tolman's blog and a little bit of news....

Gator and President and Sister Tolman the day after he arrived in Samoa

Gator and who we think is his new companion.

And now the big news!!! (Taken from Sister Tolman's blog)

The Samoa mission is now an emailing mission! When we carefully look at past experiences, we can clearly see the Lord's hand in His work and our lives. Emailing in Samoa just a couple of years ago proved to be impossible. Internet cafes are very scarce. Not all church buildings had internet and there was no network on the island. Now every church building has internet and computers. The stake presidents and bishops will be working with the missionaries to give them access to the buildings so they can email their families, send a letter to President Tolman and report their work electronically. We are thrilled and so thankful for the positive cooperation of the stake presidents. Parents, be patient; it may take a couple of weeks to work out the bugs. God is good, and we are sweetly blessed to witness how He is hastening His work.

He's Arrived!!

 Mark and I received the best call possible tonight- Sister Tolman, called to let us know that Gator had arrived safely in Samoa!

The  Elders were worn out, and Sister Tolman let us know that they slept at the mission home, with the lights on because they didn't know how to turn them off and were too tired to ask how.

We're so grateful to know that he's doing well, and "already loved" by Sister Tolman (her words).  She also let us know that they were happy to have a fellow Arizonan and that they could tell he was a hard worker and ready to get started.  

Gator will be serving in Upolu.  This is the main island--but he will be sent to the "back-side" which Sister Tolman said is fairly primitive--although not as much as Savai'i. 

Can't wait to get his first letter!!

Elder Mark Hunter II

Samoa Apia Mission

P.O. Box 608

Pago Pago, American Samoa

96799