Changes going on September 19, 2016

Hello everyone and happy Monday! We've had a very exciting week this week, full of changes that will kind of lead to a crazy week this week.

First off, we had a transfer. I am staying here in Wanica, and I will be training! I'll be getting a new missionary who is currently in Guyana right now. I am very excited to train. It'll be fun being on the other end of the spectrum of getting a new missionary. I haven't decided if I'm just going to speak Dutch with him for the first day haha ;D.

These changes in companionship's are occurring because of some more visa problems the church has been having in Suriname. I've now learned it was a tender mercy that I visa waited for 3 months. Four missionaries in Suriname right now are being removed and being set in other countries on account of having no MKV's. The missionaries leaving are being flown out to places like Bonaire, Curacao, and Guyana. I'm glad I get to stay here in Suriname. Suriname is the best!

We're very excited for our investigators right now. Good things are happening in the area. Because of the appartment switch it's added an hour of travel time onto our daily schedule. Nevertheless, we've been able to see some awesome things happen. Chandra is doing really well. She enjoys reading the Book of Mormon and learning from it. It's so cool to see people change because of the Book of Mormon.

A little update about the S. The family is doing very well and have an awesome family scripture study. Broeder S was telling us about how for their family scripture study,(since reading the scriptures are new for them), they read the chapter they had read the day before, and then read a new chapter for that day. They are getting so good at scripture study. It's really something they've grown in. We got them scripture markers so they can mark their scriptures too. President Egbert gave a really cool lesson about how marking our scriptures is like leaving a history in our scriptures of what the spirit has taught us. Really cool stuff.

I read this morning in Alma chapter 26, where we learn an awesome lesson on gratitude. In verse 16 Ammon gives a beautiful synopsis on gratitude. He says:

16 Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord;yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel.

It's really cool how here, is what Ammon teaches us about gratitude. When we're grateful, we take the time to search for the blessings the Lord has given us, which brings us happiness. When we learn a proper way of being grateful for everything, we take the time to make ourselves happy. Who knows how much joy Ammon felt from his mission that he served for the Lamanites, but he was grateful, and that was the source of his joy. It's a very good analysis of it.

Have another great week. I'll write to you all next week on how it is with my new companion. Wees netjes!!

Ik hou van jullie!!!

Elder Hunt

New apartment in Wanica

main area

bedroom

Study room

Happy Tues Sept 13, 2016

Hallo iedereen, groenten uit deze bijzondere land!

We have been all over the place this week and we've had some amazing miracles happen.

First off this week Monday was a Holiday. Second  we had to switch apartments. Long story short, because of the rules of the mission we're not able to move into our old apartment until mid October. We now live 30 minutes south (by bike) of where we used to live which has added a lot more travel time onto our schedule. But, even with that setback, we were able to see a couple of really awesome miracles.

Chandra is doing well. She came to church again and is growing friendships with the members. She's in the process of gaining her own testimony of the Book of Mormon and continues reading it. We had a really good lesson with her about the Book of Mormon after which we invited her to pray. Next to seeing people get baptized, hearing people pray for the first time has to be one of my most favorite parts of the mission.

We have a couple of brand new investigators that we're really excited about. The majority of them are member referrrals, so we're excited to take them out teaching with us. They all take the Book of Mormon seriously, which is very good since that's how they'll gain a testimony. We were also able to contact into some lessons with people this week. We even had a lesson where we contacted a lady, asked if we could share a lesson with her, and in the lesson asked her to be baptized, and we set a date for her! Never done that one before... It when really well though.

Other then that, it's been a typical, busy week in Suriname. I like the feeling of being rushed though. Not necessarily stressed, but always having something to do on my agenda. It makes the time go by so much faster.

I found a wonderful scripture that talks about charity and doing good in 1 Peter 3:8-10,12:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise (being a) blessing; knowing that ye are there unto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

 10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let himrefrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak noguile:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and hisears are open unto their prayers

I love this scripture, talking about how we are called to bless others. The beautiful principle of charity that God is trying to teach us is to look for the good in the world. As it says be a blessing, knowing full well that the Lord is watching over us and will help us as we strive to do what he has called us to do. As a lady we contacted told us, "God is mijn alles, mijn ochtend en mijn avond, mijn wandel en mijn handel".

Have another wonderful week!

Ik hou van jullie!!!

Elder Hunt

A typical Surinamese meal, with rijs (rice), kip (chicken), aardappel (potatoes), met groenten (veggies).

Nederlandse pannenkoeken (Dutch crepes)

outside the Wanica apartment

Inside apartment

Josh working in the Orchard

Members beautiful orchard

farm land

Beautiful countryside

September 5,2016 Hello from Suriname

Old Dutch building

Sunset and dirt road they ride everyday

Wanica Central Apartment

Their room

September 5, 2016 Hallo en goeten uit Suriname!

Hallo en goeten uit Suriname!

I can't believe that it is already September. The time has been flying by and it's only going faster! We've had some really cool things going on this past week.

The first off is that I've been on exchange for a couple of days. I've been with a new missionary here named Elder Dubbelt. Elder Dubbelt is from Utrecht, Netherlands. We've been on exchange for a bit and will continue to be on exchange for the next few days while our companions go to Trinidad. It's been great being with a native speaking companion. He's been helping me a lot with my Dutch a lot. I really hope some time on my mission I get paired with a native speaking companion.

We've had some sweet experiences finding new investigators. We two awesome new investigators, Ravelle and Chandra. Ravelle was the lady that came to church last week with out us inviting her. Apparently she is really good friends with a member from Paramaribo branch, and that is how she came in contact with the church. She came to church for a second time this last week which is awesome.

Chandra is also another investigator that we met. She is awesome to teach. She has been through a lot of hard times and is looking for a way that she can get closer to God for strength. Perfect for investigating the church! She too came to church this past week.

We were able to go do some service for a member here, Zuster Graanoogst. She owns her own vineyard all the way out in Lelydorp (It's about an hour and 20 minute bike ride there). She owns her own herbal tea business. Tea is big here in Suriname. Everyone drinks it. The vineyard was beautiful though, and it is surrounded by some beautiful country side (I'll send pictures).

After being here in Wanica branch for about a transfer, I've had about 6 or 7 people ask me for piano lessons. I've been looking for ways that I could help people learn piano so that Wanica could also get it's own pianist. As of right now it's seemed like I've been playing piano for just about everything! The district even called me and asked if I could play piano for district conference (like stake conference).

Wanica branch had 90 people in church this past week. Our peak has been 98 people in church. We've been shooting for 100 people in church. If Wanica keeps that 100 people, the church will build a building for the branch. The church even has the land for it! All the branch as to do is breach 100 people at church and keep that number. We've been edging towards it so we're hoping that here soon we'll hit that goal. It's been hard since the other missionaries have left. Since that has happened, our proselyting area has about tripled in size.

So this week I've been pondering about Patience. Patience is something that every missionary needs, I feel especially for those serving in the Caribbean, where everyone runs on a "Caribbean schedule". But I found a beautiful scripture talking about patience in Alma 32:42 And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white,yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not,neither shall ye thirst.

We've given the promise that we shall 'hunger or thirst not' by planting the seed that Alma talks about, but often times, that takes a long time to happen. Think about the time that it takes for a seed to grow into a tree. That takes time! So do some things in the gospel. We may not have solutions or answers now, but they'll come. Even sometimes we have the solution in front of us but it's difficult to stick to it. But, the Lord promises us that it's all worth it because the fruit is 'most precious, sweet, and white'. These instances happen because the Lord wants us to learn on the journey; on our way. That is why we trust in Him.

Have a great week! Talk to you later!

Ik hou van jullie!!!

Elder Hunt