#nothingcangetpasttape

AoAo's baptism.  I'm wearing my new ie faitaga-- haha yeah they are good for baptisms!

Malo Soifua Aiga!

It was kind of a slow week this week, but it ended really well. Here is the update:

-My companion got sick this week so we were in for a couple of days. He seems to be doing better now though so looks like we will have a full week this week.

Samoa's top security system...

We aren't going to get robbed or anything...haha

#nothingcangetpasttape

#weneedaguarddog

naw…its all good no one robs in Samoa haha

-On Tuesday we had a special island conference with all of the missionaries on Upolu. 

Elder Robbins, Elder Halleck, and Elder Fata of the Seventy came. It was a really cool conference and I got to hear some great talks. 

The thing that I really liked from Elder Robbins' talk was about how the words "Do" and "Be" work together. 

He said that Do without Be is wishful thinking. And Be without Do is Hypocrisy. A really awesome talk. :)

-We had AoAo's baptism this week. It was solid :) He is such a stud, and I am really happy for both him an his family. We have two more baptisms planned for this week. Needless to say, I am loving the work!

That's about it. I hope you all have a great week! 

Alofa Tele Atu Outou!

Elder Hunter

PS: Thanks Crosby!

Bravery…the irony….

Malo Soifua Aiga!

A pretty up-and-down week, but it was good over all. First I want to wish a happy belated Birthday to Josiah! I love you man and look forward to seeing you again soon. 

I say soon because the mission is flying by! 

Here is the weekly update:

-We had a giant conference on Thursday and we all said goodbye to the Tolman's. They are going to be dearly missed, and I hope if you get the chance you can go here them speak. They live in Mesa, and they will be talking on August 30th. 

-Elder Saunders is our new Mission President.

-The work is going really well. We have a baptism this next week, and two more planned for the following. :)

Apia Park-This is were they All-Blacks and Manu Samoa played last month. It was a historic game, and we got permission to watch it :)

-We had stake Conference this week and Elder Johansen of the Seventy came. He gave some great talks and was very powerful. On Saturday they asked for the Zone Leaders to prepare a 5 minute talk in Samoan prior to his talk on Sunday. I told them that they were in Falefa (pretty far away) and then they said that because I was the District Leader that I needed to replace them... Needless to say I was freaking out. I prepared the talk the entire night (the topic :bravery…the irony…)  but then I was told Sunday morning that President Jessop, the Temple President, had taken my place.

So I almost opened for a Seventy haha. 

All is going well here.I love the work,and I love you all!

Alofa tele atu,

Elder Hunter 

Thank you so much for everything President and Sister Tolman!

Malo Soifua Aiga!

Well I am a little shell-shocked right now so I will try to get the most information out that I can:

-My health is good, my companionship is great :) we are doing really good work over here, we just still keep trying to get used to the new area and ward members

My area... Downtown Apia

-We were proselyting this week and we tried contacting one of the old investigators. His name is Semi, and he was less than interested to see us. It was funny. He came outside and then went back in side when he saw us. He then tore a shirt to make a make-shift sling and acted like his arm was injured.....The funny thing is that he shook our hands first and he was fine…yeah…Gotta love fake arm injuries haha

My soa is a tama Savaii hahaha 

Yes that is an atualoa on his arm....he's crazy...hahaha

-Bingo is the Devil's game... The Lotu Pope's Bingo goes on right behind our house every night from 8:30-11.... Every night I here, " O Fitu.....O Fitu......" (O-7…O-7)

-We had a baptism this week that went really well. His name is Jakey Iakopo, and he is 10 years old. Great experience.

 -We have another one lined up for the 29th so hopefully it all works out :)

The biggest news is that Our Mission President, President Tolman, will be going home on Friday for good. We found out this morning... He said we will have an interim president until they call a new one. Apparently he has been sick since November, and Samoa doesn't have the Health Care to help him out.  It is going to be way different…

President and Sister Tolman have been amazing, and I have learned so much form them. I would like to model my life after his, and he has really helped me to become the missionary and person that I am today. He lives in Mesa, so please go and contact him.

Thank you so much for everything President and Sister Tolman!

That's it for today, but I hope you all have a great week :)

Alofa Atu Outou!

Elder Hunter 

Rambo

Malo SOifua Aiga!

Well this week was pretty hectic, but it was a good one :) 

My companion and I have been running around trying to get used to the area. We even did 5 hours of straight door-knocking one day. It was a party :) But I also taught the most lessons this week than I have any other week, so that was solid.

Mission life is good. We have a baptism this week. His name is Jakey and is 10. Good kid!

Here is a funny story:

I went on an exchange with Elder Powelson (My Zone leader) this week. He is from Peoria, and he is a stud. Anyways, we were teaching the 4th lesson, and the member we had with us started talking about the Word of Wisdom. He taught the investigator about how alcohol can only be used to clean wounds. 

He then asked me, "Allii e Elder Hunter Na e matamata le Ata o Rambo?" (Did you watch Rambo) I was like uhhh no... He then went on to tell the investigator how it was o.k. for him to use alcohol to heal on of his many wounds....Nothing like a Rambo reference in Lesson 4 eh?…hahahaha

All is going well here. I hope you all have a great week :)

Alofa tele atu,

Elder Hunter

P.S. I got the Durantes box today, tell them thank you!!!

Always an adventure

The Family tree haha

Mo'o. Hunter, Aokuso, and Aokuso's new son, Vaea'i. 

Malo Soifua Aiga!

Well, the past couple of days have been...interesting. Haha it is always an adventure coming back to Western Samoa. Here is the update:

-I am currently serving in Matautu Upolu. I literally cover all of Apia. Seriously. I am right in the city, and it is so strange haha. My companions are solid. Elder Letoa is a Visa-waiter and he should be going to Sydney Australia any day now. 

Elder Taulolo is from Fatuvalu Savaii, so I am looking forward to getting better Samoan :)

-Tutuila has turned me into a total wimp...My hands are still sore from doing my laundry this morning...the struggle is real. 

-I am a District Leader again and am basically White-washing the area, so I am very busy, which is good :) "white washing" because Elder Letoa has been on the mission for 2 months, so we are trying to learn as much from him as we can, because Elder Taulolo and I are both new to the area. So if Letoa leaves we don't know like any one...gulp

My new district!

Sisters....

One of the only palagi sisters...

To answer your questions mom, I took a 30 minute plane ride here. I am currently living in a pretty big mission house. The septic tank is full so that has been fun, but it should be fixed soon. I did get the box, but my bag was too heavy to take over, so they are going to send it over this week or the next. Back to Snail mail woohoo!

I am healthy and happy, just very busy. I hope you all have a great week this week!

Alofa Atu outou!

Elder Hunter

I'm tripping out a little.

Malo Soifua Aiga!

Well I am sorry but this is going to be a short one today. I am officially being transferred to Upolu! I will be serving in town in the village of Mata utu. 

I will be in a triple with two Samoan natives, Elder Taulolo and Elder Letoa. I'm pretty excited to go, but I am also really going to miss these people…I'm tripping out a little. Honestly I am a little worried. I have never been in a triple and I am the District Leader again… 

Sorry that it is a really short email today, but I am cleaning up the house because they are bringing in Sisters to replace us. 

We also have to say a lot of goodbyes. I am going to miss a lot of families over here. Especially the Fa'aSavalus. They made me a cake for my 1 year mark and I love them all so much. Mom (Aliitasi) is the best :) All is going well, and I look forward to giving you a better email next week. 

Ou te alofa ia outou!

Alofa Atu,

Elder Hunter

Side note:

Thanks to everyone who has prayed for Gator and his health. He reports that he is well. When I asked, this was his response.  Leave it to Gator to go straight to food!

Don't worry, I'm healthy just fat now...hahaha I'm actually lighter than when I came out, but very little muscle. Tutuila has this thing called pipi  (Turkey Tail) It is like 90% fat and we get it all of the time. It tastes bomb, but it is awful for you ha

I love you all and thank you for all of the support :)

Malo Soifua Aiga!

Well I just typed a whole email and it just deleted....so here is my
new and shorter version :)

-We were visiting one of our less-actives this week and This little
girl was cracking me up. Her older brother's name is "Labor Day" and
she kept calling him "Labor Diaper". Which was then followed by the
cutest little giggle ever hahaha. I don't know why but this was so
funny to me, and it totally made my week.

-My year mark was pretty epic...And that is all you get to know muhahahaha :)
Upon further inquiry:
 "it tastes way better than pig honestly"

-My companion and I wore Batman and Robin socks to church and we
looked like a couple of skux deluxe haha

Skux Deluxe

Thursday was so weird, seriously. I kept calling my intake and we all
just reminisced about all of our good times in the MTC. So much has
changed this past year, yet there are many things that are still the
same. 
Overall, I am very happy with how I have served my first year of
my mission. I have made some mistakes, but I have also done a lot of
good. 

The shirt I burned :)

I made a list of all of things I want to improve on for the next
year.I plan on doing them. I have had a testimony of this church for a
long time, but by the end of my mission I promise that I will be fully
converted to this Gospel.

The Truth

I love you all and thank you for all of the
support :)

Alofa Atu,
Elder Hunter

P.S.
I got Nana's package and it was sweet as! Thank you all :)