Happy Easter!

Hello everyone!

I hope you all had a great Easter! We had lunch with some members here who have a daughter in the MTC. They are so great. There are so many wonderful members here who take good care of the missionaries. Church was great. The choir sung some Easter hymns I hadn't heard before.

We had a lot of miracles this week. One thing that I am learning is that exact obedience brings miracles.

We met a woman and her daughter in the park on Tuesday. They weren't planning on being there, but they felt like they should go. We were able to teach them about the gospel and how it can bless their family. We hadn't planned on being in that park either, but both of us were led there because, she felt, they needed the message that we shared with them.

We've been seeing a little more wildlife with the advent of spring. Mostly mosquitos, but we did see a school (herd, group?) of dolphins at the Bayou! Lizards everywhere. It's been great.

Missionary challenge of the week: go find someone to serve! Service is a great way to learn to love others the way Christ loves us.

Have a wonderful week!

Love,

Sister Brittany Hunt

Happy Easter Week!

Hello everybody!

I went on an exchange to St. Pete on Wednesday and Thursday this week. It was really fun to get another perspective on some of the things we do daily as missionaries. We were walking around a pond showing the 2 minute #Hallelujah video to people. A couple different people told us they didn't have time to watch it because they were on their breaks. It's normal for people to say don't have time because they're working or on their way to work, so this was kind of a funny surprise! Gotta stick to that break schedule.

I saw two alligators this week! We saw the back of one last Monday night, and I saw the eyes and snout of another while I was on the exchange. Apparently there are more than I thought, they're just good at hiding.

Last night, we had a lesson with a family. The father was in a lot of pain because of some physical health challenges. I felt prompted to ask if he wanted to receive a priesthood blessing. He had chills when we explained it to him. We called over a priesthood holder, and he was given the blessing. The Spirit was so strong in their home.

I decided to read about Palm Sunday from Luke 19 yesterday. I read about Zaccaeus, who climbed up a tree to be able to see Jesus. When the Savior passed by, He looked up and called Zaccaeus by name. The Savior knows each of us by name and notices our efforts to come to Him. Go and read the chapter if you get a chance!

I hope you all have a wonderful Easter and remember the sacrifice and miracle for which we celebrate.

Love,

Sister Brittany Hunt

(Pictures: Book of Mormon class in St. Pete; Sisters Morgan, Hunt, Minson, and Judkins on "St. Pete"ric's Day)

One Month!

Hello everybody!

The question I have asked my trainer more than any other question is "is this how it usually is?" ...I'm starting to think that there is no such thing as an average day.

I hit my one month mark this week! We celebrated with ice cream (twice! we were off by a day the first time).

One fun thing that happened this week was when both my companion and I got to use the languages we studied in high school. We went to go contact someone, but a deaf man answered the door, so I was able to use ASL. A little later, Sister Minson got to speak Spanish with a woman we met street contacting.

The most rewarding part of missionary work is when those you teach start to understand for themselves. We were meeting with one of our investigators, and we could tell that her whole countenance had changed since the last time. It is so incredible to see how the Spirit teaches people. Even though she is no less busy, it is clear she has more peace in her life.

Good news! I got my iPad all set up, so I have pictures! Here's one of Sister Minson and I. 

Have a great week!

Sister Brittany Hunt

Bugs, Bugs, Bugs!

Hello all!

The weather's been nice, so the insects haven't crawled out yet. But there are Volkswagens everywhere. I think everyone in the Palm Harbor area drives a yellow bug. It's made the slug bug game pretty easy.

I'm in a regular companionship now. We moved one of my companions to another area just after I emailed last week. We went out tracting (knocking on doors) that evening, and there was this one lady who let us in and had us eat dinner with her and her boyfriend. They weren't interested in our message, but the ribs were good! We had a really awesome discussion with another lady that night who requested a Book of Mormon on mormon.org. She seems like she genuinely wants to learn more, so we're hoping that we can find times that will work with her schedule in the near future. 

District meeting was really helpful. We talked about how to make initial contact more effective so that people will know our message is important.

We've had some difficulty finding people to teach the last couple days. This morning, we read the account of Samuel the Lamanite. We are here for the one who is ready. We're excited to find them this week!

I gave a talk yesterday. It was about applying the Atonement in our lives, "drawing closer to the Savior." It has been amazing to see how new converts in the area have faced a lot of trials, but through the Atonement, they can have so much faith in the future. It is so inspiring. It reminds me of Paul, who turned his whole life around and had trials as one result of his change. But he moved forward with faith, saying "I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me." True happiness isn't the lack of trials. It is the presence of the Savior in our lives.

Sorry for the lack of pictures again, I'll send some when my iPad gets set up.

Have a great week!

Sister Hunt

Finally in Florida

Hello all!

This week has been crazy but I'll try to remember as much as I can. 

On Tuesday, I left the MTC to head to Florida! It was very bittersweet. I had a wonderful time there, but I was excited to get to work! I got to call home that morning from the SLC airport. We had a layover in Atlanta. As we were landing there, the back of the plane, which was filled with probably 30 some missionaries, started softly singing "The Spirit of God." I was worried at first we might bother someone, but the Spirit was so strong on that plane, and I think the other passengers enjoyed it.

When we got to Tampa, there were 25 missionaries. Usually there are about 13. The assistants picked up most everyone, but my companion and I rode with the president and his wife. He asked us what our fears were as missionaries. It was a little intimidating, but he promised that as we were exactly obedient to the Lord and mission rules, we would be fine.

I'm in a tripanionship! Well, at least until noon today. Sister Handley is being transferred to the mission office so she can be off her feet with her pinched nerve. It is very different than having one companion. I think it'll be good for me though, because I have a few different perspectives to think about when we approach teaching people. My trainer's name is Sister Minson. She's from Gilbert, so she can compare some places here to places there to help me understand the area.

By the way, I'm in the Palm Harbor area (yes, we have a beach, but I haven't seen it yet). 

We met with some recent converts on day one. It is incredible to see how the gospel changes lives and makes hard things possible. I know that as we follow the Savior, He will help us to accomplish more than we could on our own.

sorry... one more :)

My lovely companion forwarded this to me so I could have a picture to send.

MTC Update

Hello everyone! I apologize in advance for the lack of pictures. The computer isn't reading my SD card. I'll send them on my next P-Day. 

The MTC is AWESOME. I'm actually a little bummed I'm only here for 2 weeks instead of 3. We follow a pretty tight schedule starting at 6 AM and ending at 10:30 PM. We study, we pray, we go to class, we pray, we teach. All day every day. 

It is incredible to experience the spirit that is here. As I have been studying the Book of Mormon and other scriptures, I have felt of Christ's love and concern for myself and for my investigators. I know that that spirit is not unique to the MTC, and that as we follow the Savior we can feel His love any time, any place.

So we don't go tracting or anything here, so we get investigators through the TRC (Teaching Resource Center), where people in the area can come to be taught by missionaries. We assume that they are all non-members, but some are converts or have gone on missions themselves. Many will come because they are curious about what we believe, especially since they live in a highly populated LDS area. The cool thing about teaching at the TRC is that whether or not they are truly investigating the Church, each is a child of God and needs His peace in their life, and as representatives of Jesus Christ, we can help them come closer to Him.

My district is awesome. We have 3 sisters going to Tampa, 2 elders and a sister going to Ft. Lautersdale, and 5 elders going to Tucson. We have 2 teachers, Bro. Norris and Bro. Slavens, who apparently knows Megan and Sarah Chapple! I've seen a lot of people I know from high school and BYU here, which has been a fun surprise.

Today we get to go to the temple. I'm so excited. Besides that, we get to use today to prep for the upcoming week and a half so that we can focus on the Lord's work the other days.

Yeah. That's about it. God loves you and has a plan for you. Let Him in your life and you'll see miracles.

Love you all!

Sister Hunt