Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Ist week in Mexico

A picture of the Villahermosa, he took when he arrived in Mexico!!

Hunter and His first companion(He doesn't speak any English)

Hunter, Brody(Elder Berry) and Elder Speth (his MTC companion)

The Rain!! He says it rains so hard for just a small amount of time and then every half hour!!

Mexico is really green! I am hoping that is not where he lives!!! He looks so good!


His ward......

I am thinking his District!! I only see three I recognize!!

Monday, August 26, 2013

HE IS THERE!!!! YEAH!!! 1st Letter from the Mission Field



Dear Family,         1ST Mission Field Letter – August 26, 2013

Finally I have stuff to write about!! Tueday was awesome! It was great being able to talk to you guys. Villahermosa was great! My mission president is so funny! The first night he didnt expect 5 more of us to show up so he had to call a member, thats where I met Sergio, he had a big truck to put our luggage in. Then we went to dinner. We got back at like 12 at night, and we slept with some missionaries right next to the mission office. We hung out at the mission office the whole next day doing paperwork. Then it came time for the trainers. We all sat in the Chapel next to the mission office and had a devotional. Then each of the new missionaries would get up and read  a letter that we wrote about us. Then President Morales would make us stand there until one of the trainers felt that they were supposed to train, by the spirit. haha President Morales has never done that before. My new companion is Elder Zuñiga. He is a native of mexico. Then we got transfered to my first area! The city im in is called Cuatro Caminos (4 Ways). It is awesome. It is so hard though because I cant speak the language very good. I cant understand what people are saying, even my companion (he doesnt speak and english, of course :P) I have no one to talk to. And everyone looks at me weird and calls me ´the Gringo´. BUT I love it here. Little by little I am starting to understand the people. My Spanish is improving and my companions English is improving ;). I know I have been blessed. I cant wait to know spanish. They talk so fast haha. As far as the ward goes. There is an attendance of about 60 in our ward. They are so great. They go a little easy on me haha. The bishop is nice, and ohh my gosh his little 3 year old daughter is so cute!!!!! She is probable the cutest little girl I have ever seen!! The food here is great. The citys are terrible, soooo filthy!! Me and Elder Zuñiga do a great job of keeping our appartment clean though. The driving here is TERRIBLE!!!!!!! They do whatever they want, whenever they want, and there are speed bumps like every 100 yards. Crossing the streets in Villahermosa was fun haha. Here it is a little safer. The rain here is so funny! It only last for about 5-10 min, but every time is rains it is a flash flood! And it happens like every half and hour. Plus we have a tin roof so thats no fun at night. We have 7 progressing investigators. Martin- 11 ( He reminds me soo much of Zack it is rediculus!!) his brother Enrique- 15, Fransico- ? 60+... Fransisco is a special man. He used to drink alot but has now quit. He absolutely loves the Bible!! and has a strong testimony of it. He loves the book of mormon. He loves the Gospel!!! He is a wonderful person. We are going to ask him to be baptized hopefully tonight. We also have Linda- her sons are members and attend church reguarly. She has an 8 year old son who we are also teaching. Then we have Cristofer- 9: We invited him to be baptized and he said yes but his parents need to talk about it first. They are both less active members. His dad speaks english but I havent got the opportunity to talk to him yet haha. Things here are going great! I hope I have baptisms to tell you about next week!! Also I have spent alot of time with the mission leader this week! i swear all of them are the same. He is like a brown Ben Hemming, Parley Holliday Jr, and Rob Blackhurst mix ahaha. Hno. Emanuel. He is soo cool. Tell dad congrats on His deer!!! It is soo cool!!! I love you all very much!!

-Elder Parduhn
P.S. Im going to try to put the photos on Cosco. Can you put together a photo album for me??

I also forgot to say. Last night me and Elder Zuga taught at our makshift MTC ahaha. Hno. Emanuel had the idea to have the members be involvled in missionary work. Every member a missionary It was really fun

A few more pictures at the MTC!!

Teacher

His Class at the MTC
District and District Leader


Another Teacher in the MTC
Lone Peakers in his District
A friend of his
Another Friend
Hunter and Ryan
Hunter, Ryan and Josh

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Final Week!!

He got his VISA!! So off to Mexico he will go!!! He is doing so good at the MTC he is healthy and happy, happy, happy!! Monday he was able to go Salt Lake to get his visa, he was so excited to get it.  On the way home he saw Uncle John at the train station in Provo.. SO COOL!!  Tuesday night was a world wide devotional and he was very excited for!! The choir was going to sing a really neat song for it, he is hoping it was a apostle that was going to speak.  He loves the devotionals on Tuesdays at  the Marriott Center he looks forward to those every week.. He said that fast sundays are brutal but they made it through alive!! ha ha Still he is very anxious to leave for Mexico and now he is even more excited because he has received his visa.  The language is going great!!  He has a hard time talking about the MTC because week to week they do the same thing not alot to report on but as soon as he is in Mexico he will be able to have more exciting stories.  He just loves the MTC, the spirit is so strong and he loves feeling that way.  The Provo temple opened back up today and so he hopes to be able to go before he leaves....

Week 5 -- Final Week

Another buddy -- Johnny Ahmu

Their Favorite MTC teacher Hermano Rodriquiz


His Stuff

Some more art work (I am not sure if Hunter is drawing it)

Monday, August 5, 2013

Week 4 -- Pictures

 Max made Hunter his famous Salsa that he loves for his Birthday! Everyone else loved it too!!!
 A Drawing!
 Another drawing that someone did!! I am thinking this one is a little better!! ha ha
 His District....
 His Zone...
 Hunter and Cole!!  Cole is our best friends from High Schools boy, they have known each other ever since they were babies....
His birthday loot!!

Week 4

I can't believe it has been four weeks!! He is doing really good.  His Spanish is doing wonderful, he is very anxious to go to Mexico.  He hasn't received his Visa yet but he said he might have to fly to Las Vegas or San Francisco to get it.  His Birthday was last Friday and we sent him and package and a cake!  He said that it was just anther day!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELDER PARDUHN!!!