I luh ya papi!!!

Malo Soifua Aiga!

Well this week has been an interesting one. To be completely honest it has been pretty stressful. But it all worked out :) 

Oh and one thing...HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!! I luh ya papi!!! haha. Here is the weekly update:

-Avea's baptism is scheduled for this Saturday the 31st and I am so excited!!! My companion and I want to make it a really big event so we have invited all three of our wards and he is doing a special musical number. It is going to be a really cool experience because she is so fragile that she needs 4 people in the font with her. I will be performing the baptism and I know that it will be one to remember :)

My comp, myself, and Avea :)

-The work is really starting to pick up in our area. Which hands-down is an answer to prayer. We were struggling for a bit with ward-involvement but now we have a really good Ward Mission Leader and everyone is really excited for Avea's baptism.

-I'm officially a Koko Samoa-a-holic haha. It has been out of season for a while now and I've been having withdrawels...haha I was so happy when I got some the other day!

-talofa e haha (poor thing) basically every old woman in this village says that to me when I try to speak Samoan...hahahaha

That's all for this week. Is there anything you all want me to send out? Or anything specific that you want to know? Just email me if there is. All is going well here though. I love you all!

Alofa tele atu outou!

Elder Hunter S.G.

Mango, delicious!

Sunset

My new companion Elder Aokuso from Sydney Austrailia

I saw some amazing things this week.

Malo Soifua Aiga!!!

A really cool week in Savaii! Honestly one of the hardest, but I saw some amazing things this week.  Here's the update:

-My companion Elder Aokuso and I are doing good. He is struggling adjusting to the weather a little bit, but other than that, he is doing really well. His Samoan is really good, and I can tell that he is really going to help me out with mine :)

-My comp is teaching me how to cut hair, I'm not the best, but I'm getting there :)

-We are still teaching Avea and Olina. My companion and I both felt that we needed to move their baptism dates back to give them more time to understand the doctrine and prepare. Avea's is the 31st of January and we don't know about Olina yet.

-We had such a cool experience with Avea. We got her new wheel chair out to her and we took her to church yesterday. It was so cool! She hadn't left the house for over 4 and 1/2 years so she was so excited! She loved the service, and we are going to take her again next week. 

-We got to see a miracle with Avea. She had been having a hard time understanding our last lesson we taught her. My companion and I offered to give her a blessing. We did, and then came back that night to finish the lesson. She understood everything and it was hands-down our best lesson with her. It was honestly incredible... When I look at her I feel the Spirit so strongly. I can say without a doubt that she is one of the reasons I was called to the Samoa Apia Mission. 

All is going well here. I was struggling a little during the week with inadequacy with regards to language, but Avea totally turned my week around. There is true power in Priesthood Blessings and I recommend anyone and everyone to ask for one if you are struggling. I love you all! Manuia le vaiaso!

Alofa Atu,

Elder Hunter S.G.

Thanks Durantes and McKinney/Herrons!

Malo Soifua Aiga! Sorry but really not too much to report this week, but I will answer all of the questions. Here's the Weekly Update though: -Training is going well! We are starting week 3 of the program and sticking with it. Elder Aokuso is the man! I definitely miss Elder Mo'o, but my new comp is great :) -We had a lesson with Olina again this week, which went alright. We committed her to reading the Tusi A Mamona this week and she agreed. Her next lessons are Saturday and Sunday so hopefully those both go well. Also we are going to teach Avea again tomorrow and President Tolman is sending out a wheel chair soon so it should all work out. I'm really excited for her! She is probably my favorite investigator :) -No strange food this week, and I got the boxes from the Durantes and the McKinney/Herrons. DELICIOUS!!!! Woohoo American food! Haha thank you all so much :) -It's been hard taking over the area but it good. I've been forcing myself to speak more which is really helping my Samoan which is good:) Hope all is going well with you all.  Nice job Thayne on the Eagle Project!!! But I had the best project ever...haha. Alls good here.  Manuia lava le vaiaso!!! Alofa Atu, Elder Hunter S.G.

Hard to Say Good Bye

Malo Soifua Aiga!!!

Wow so much has happened this week! It's been pretty hectic with all of the changes, but it's also been very exciting! Here's the update:

-Elder Mo'o has officially been transferred. He is now a zone leader in Nofoali'i. It was hard to say good bye because we got pretty close, but it's all good.

My new companion's name is Elder Aokuso. He is a brand new missionary from Sydney, Austrailia. It has been very exciting becoming a trainer and I really have enjoyed the experience. 

Pretty difficult for me with the language, but it is really helping it progress which I'm thankful for. Luckily Elder Aokuso has really good Samoan so it'll all be good. 

-We have two baptisms lined up. One is on the 23rd with a girl named Olina. She is a Jehovah's Witness so she is very well read in the Bible. But we had our first official lesson with her yesterday. It was really cool to see how her demeanor changed. At first it was border-line bible bashing but then the Spirit softened her heart. It was a really cool experience and she was really receptive to the message. She committed to baptism and I think she will stick with it. 

The next one is is on the 24th and that is with Avea. She is 74 years old and has a hard time hearing. The lessons have been difficult, but she is very receptive. We are trying to help get her a wheel chair so we can help her attend church. I honestly love this old lady, she has such an awesome Spirit about her. I hope they both go through :)

That's about it for the update. It's been a little different with a new comp but it's been good. Elder Aokuso is the man! All is going well here, and I hope you all are doing well there. I love you all!

Alofa Atu, 

Elder Hunter S.G.

Oh btw I weighed myself at the MRC. 194.4!!! Honest but I think I've lost a bunch of muscle...but everyone says I look skinnier so that's good :)

Happy 19th Birthday Gator!!

Malo Soifua Aiga!!!

Dang crazy week all around! Not really too much to write because I got to talk to you all on Christmas which honestly was my favorite gift. So happy that you all got the box, and I hope you enjoyed your gifts!

Mo'o and Mom at Christmas breakfast. DELICIOUS!!! :)

 Here's the update:

-Elder Mo'o and I were going to a lesson when I had an impression to get on my knees and say a prayer. It was kinda strange because we were on a kind of messed up road in the jungle--but we listened to the prompting and it was a really cool experience. The rest of the day we had really good lessons and gave out a Tusi A Mamona (Book of Mormon).  Sometimes we get small strange and sometimes seemingly awkward promptings.  But I promise you that as you listen to them, you will receive unseen blessings.

-Transfer calls were last night and Elder Mo'o is going to Upolu. 

I have been Malolo'd and am no longer a DL. However, I am now a trainer! I pick up my new comp wednesday. His name is Elder Auguso (I think) and he is from Australia. I'm a little worried about my language but the family says they will help me out.

-It's weird but I'm officially 19! Dang this year went by so fast! 

Thank you Valentine for my pug shirt ;)

-Thank you soo much for the Birthday gifts!!! I love the Uke. Can't wait to have a jam sesh haha

Remember to be thankful for all of the little things.  For me I'm thankful for:

-Freedom of Religion

-My Family

-A hot slice of pepperoni pizza

-Filberto's California Burritos

-Washing Machines

-Hot showers

That's honestly the biggest things that have happened. My mind is still racing from the transfers! It'll all go well though. I'll make sure to write more next week. I LOVE YOU ALL! 

Alofa Atu,

Elder Hunter S.G.

Gator Humor:

I got bored and wrote "SH" on our fan that is an AKIRA fan.
It makes me laugh whenever I see it haha

Some see cute little puppies....Elder Langi sees two little plump steaks hahaha

PS. Is Tilley still fat?

PPS. Is there a Jenny Craig thing for dogs?  JK Love you big booty Judy!

"Linda"-she's a killer...

Malo Soifua Aiga!

Dang it's almost Christmas/My Birthday and I'm away... Kinda brutal but it'll be all good haha.

I got your boxes!!! THANK YOU! So tempting but I haven't opened them yet. 

OH I also got all of Nana's. Fa'afetai tele lava!!! (Thank you very much)  

Well here is the update:

-We had a Christmas activity at Vaiola and Fusi this tuesday. It was for all of the kids on the island and it was pretty fun!

They chased a greased pig which was pretty funny haha

-O a'u o se tulimanu!!!!  haha I have officially killed two rats with the black rat trap!

 Mo'o and I have named her "Linda". She's a killer... 

Haha honestly our new favorite toy! :)

-It's not a real mission until you do laundry out of the same bucket you use to shower haha

-We have a family who wants to come back to church and get sealed in the temple. We are trying to help her quit smoking and come back to church, but she is determined to get sealed in the temple which is really awesome! 

-Transfers are on my birthday. A little worried because I think Elder Mo'o is going and I will have to take over the area. We will see what happens. 

All is going well here. I Love you all soo much!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Alofa Atu,

Elder Hunter (Tulimanu) (Chicken Chaser) S.G.

Had to force my gag reflexes to relax

Malo Soifua Aiga!!!

Well not too much to write this week sorry, but here is the update:

-I'm done with the Chigen Gunia. It was miserable but I'm over with it so alls goods

-I ate U'U three times this week. Apparently the village is determined for me to love this stuff by the time I leave. Seriously had to force my gag reflexes to relax a couple of times, but you know all is good.

The nasty U'U aka Lobra

-We committed two people to baptism this week! Pretty cool. One is an older lady who is 74. She's really sweet but there is some concern with regards to her health. I almost lost it because she said, "I got my white dress to wear for my baptism or my funeral." It made me sad, but hopefully it will be for the first. Her name is Avea and she is such a cool lady!

The second is a girl who is dating the bishop's son. They are getting serious so she may have to convert, but we aren't going to force her into the font, we will make sure she knows what she is doing is right or I won't let it happen.

That's really about it sorry. Very excited to call home next week! Happy to hear all is well at home.

Alofa Atu,
Elder Hunter S.G.

My favorite kid in the Nu'u

Cute kids in the village

A family's cow haha idk why I wanted to send it :)