Dear Mom,

A happy early birthday to Mimi because I won't be writing next Monday. I would be even more excited to go home if I knew that I would be able to come back to Chile frequently to see my many new friends here. I don't know what the future holds but I know that if I work hard then God will help me. I do want to be a Dad though someday. Even if that means I have to adopt. I look forward to being informed and learning more about everything outside the mission bubble. I am going to miss the people.

This week has been interesting. The week started great but did not end very well. We had the worst attendance since I got here this Sunday but the good news is that Lucas is going to be baptized on Saturday. He has made some big changes in his life so far and though he is far from Peter Priest, I think he has great potential. We are living with the other elders until next transfer at least, which has been both good and bad. It can be hectic with only one bathroom to get ready in the morning. I may have slept through the alarm a few times with the new schedule  but I want this to be a great week to finish strong. I have seen several families that I had met before and the joy I feel after seeing them after a year and a half is hard to describe. I can just imagine the joy we will all feel in the Celestial Kingdom. I will go to the Santiago Temple on Tuesday before I fly home. 

I won't buy another suitcase but I may need to pay fees for weight. I hope that all is ready at home because I plan to get home and just fall into a coma for the first day. I don't even know what to do or expect. But for now I will keep working. 

Love you Mom. Tell everyone else that I love them too. see you soon

Con amor, Elder Brock Hunter

ps. you have missed me for two years. now we will see how long it takes for you to wish I was gone again :P

Dear Kaitlin

I work from 10 til 1 then from 3 to 9 everyday... but a different kind of work. In Spanish the difference is "trabajo" and "obra". I have no idea what the real world is. I look forward to the normal world though. 

I am "resfriado". I have a cold. I don't want to go home sick but we shall see. The best part of the work is learning to love the people and seeing how their lives change. I can have a terrible day but nothing lifts your spirit like seeing people you have worked with in the church. It is an incredible feeling of joy and I imagine it is just a fraction of the joy I will have if we all make it to the celestial kingdom. The hardest thing... changes from time to time. I have learned to overcome many challenges on my mission. Currently the hardest part is working with my comp. He is kinda "chueco" sometimes. But he does want to help the people get baptized unto salvation so that is good. I am definitely torn between my feelings right now. But I should end my mission with the baptism of Lucas (the young player). Pray that all goes well with him (and his girlfriend). I still plan to study medicine for now but I want to find a career that has a good schedule where I can be home too.

The person who has influenced me most is the Lord. I will never forget the people. I may forget names but never their love and influence. I would like to forget the times that I puked on the mission... but I probably wont.

A lot of crazy things are going down but God has reserved his best soldiers for precisely this time. I don't know what will happen when I get home but i know this church is true. I know that the Lord´s love is real. I know that people really can change for the better but they can also change for the worse if they stop doing the small things that strengthen our faith and testimony. I know that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet of God. I don't pretend to understand everything about doctrine or Church History just yet but I am willing to doubt my doubts before I doubt my faith. What I know now is sufficient and I will keep working to receive more light in my life. I was not a perfect missionary (though i know mom thinks otherwise) but I did a good job and could help several people. I am glad that I could help just a little bit in the work of God on the earth. I think i learned to appreciate what is most important in this life. The real test will be what happens when I get home but I have faith that I can be better than before. still not perfect but better with the Lords help.

God loves you and so do I. Take care and see you soon.

Con amor, Elder Brock Hunter

ps Can you decipher the message?

Dear Family and Friends,

(Lo siento a todos ustedes que no hablen ingles. Espero que pueden entender o pueden ocupar el traductor de Google.) (I'm sorry to all of you who do not speak English. I hope that they can understand or they can deal with the translator of Google).

The time has passed quickly but in 10 more days I will officially be home. This will likely be the last time I write as a missionary so I want to bear my testimony.

I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the restored Church of God here on the earth. I have spent nearly 2 years of my life testifying of this truth and I plan to continue testifying of this fact for the rest of my life. When I started my mission in 2014, I just knew the gospel was good but I did not know how it would change the lives of the people here in Chile. I have met people with trials that I would not wish for my worst enemy but they manage to keep moving forward because of their faith. Some of those trials were brought upon themselves by disobedience to the commandments. Others were just part of what we pass through in this life. Yet now I know without a doubt that living the gospel can help us overcome any type of trial that we may face.

I know that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. I know that he was called to be the Prophet of the Restoration and that he received the authority of God, the Holy Priesthood, in order to lead Christ´s church here on the Earth. I know that Thomas S. Monson has that same calling and authority today and I testify that even imperfect men such as I can use this power to bless and heal others. That is perhaps the greatest miracle that God performs, He allows His children to help each other through all the difficulties we face. I know His love is real. I know that Christ is my Lord and Redeemer and He knows me personally.

I also want to say thanks to all the friends, family, and church members that have helped me along the way. Especially I want to thank my Parents, my Grandparents, and the church members here in Chile that have helped me feel at home away from home.

God bless you all and I will see you soon. (At home or on Facebook)

Con amor, Elder Brock Chad Hunter

PS. If you want to write me after this then write to my home email brockhunter96@gmail.com

Flight Info:
June 21
Departure 8:15 am Antofagasta
Arrival 10:10 am Santiago  

Flight time 1:55

Departure 9:55 pm Santiago
Arrival 6:35 am Miami

Flight time 9:40

June 22
Departure 9:20 am Miami
Arrival 11:21 am Dallas

Flight time 3 hrs

Departure 12:41 pm Dallas
Arrival 2:25 pm Salt Lake

Flight time 2:44

Departure 5:00 pm Salt Lake
Arrival 5:50 pm Cedar City

Flight time 50 min

Dear family,

It is getting to a point where I really don't know what to write. Well, before I forget Happy birthday to Matt and happy late birthday to Brooklyn.

Roger´s mom is slowly recovering. She still can't move her arm much. We were officially kicked out of and chewed out for the old pension. We found a place to rent and the office approved it but when they went to talk with the guy... it was already rented out. So we are living with the missionaries of Centenario (Elder Andersen and Elder Wanderley). There is only one bathroom but so far everything is going well.

I had actually had an intercambio on Tuesday so I was already over there earlier in the week. We spent a chunk of Thursday and the entire morning Friday to clean the pension. Then Friday afternoon we moved everything with the help of Diego Colque (a member) in only 3 trips. (though we threw away about half the stuff that was there, including couches, chairs, liahonas, and a mattress). That night we also received a surprise phone call saying that our mission was now going to follow the schedule that is in the Missionary Manual. Which means we get up an hour earlier and get home an hour earlier each day (it has thrown me off a bit so far). Saturday in the morning we turned over the keys and though we thought we had done a good job, we still got chewed out by the wife (the husband was more understanding).

Now that we are living outside the ward boundaries we are not looking for a mamita for food but we did find someone to help us with the clothes. The bad news is that while I am officially legal to leave the country, my new carnet (ID) will be ready on Thursday June 23... just a little late. But its enough.

For the next 2 weeks we will also be attending in the Stake Center instead of our chapel because they are changing the floor tiles for ceramic. This is the second time I have had to attend in the same Stake Center here in Antofagasta. Today we went to Centro as a District and I bought some more stuff... I hope I have room for it all. I will be leaving the majority of my clothes behind but the main problem will be weight...

Well, don't know what else to write so I wish you all a fantastic week and God bless. See you soon.

Con amor, Elder Brock Hunter

PS Tell all my grandparents that I love them and I look forward to seeing them again.  Tell them thank you for all of their support and prayers.

Dear Family,

I would invite every youth to prepare to serve a mission. Ending a mission is not as fun though. I have spent 2 Pdays in a row doing paperwork so that I can leave the country legally. And most of it is sitting or standing in a line for a few hours so that they can stamp one paper and say "Now take this to the other office and get another paper." Not how I like to spend my Pdays.

This week we have had quite a few lessons but we only report lessons with members so our numbers don’t look very good right now. But we did have a baptism. Roger got baptized after several difficulties. His mom dislocated her shoulder and he was in the hospital with her right before his baptism and we did not have water pressure in the chapel to fill the font. We even got out the fire hose to try and fill the font but there was no water (if there was a fire we were all going to burn). We were going around the chapel with the Bishop trying to figure out where the main water system was. We finally got it to work but the font was not as full as normal. Then I had to repeat the baptism 3 times because the first time his foot came up, then his forehead stuck out (I was focused on his feet), and finally on the third try I pushed him down far into the water and he was born again. Then the member who was doing his confirmation said his name wrong...like five times.... but he is now a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. I managed to upload pics to Onedrive today so you can see him.

We are still not sure what we are going to do with the new pension but they kick us out in 2 days... I will let you guys know when I do. And we do not have a Mamita for the same reason, we don’t know where we will be.

School is out for you guys. So weird to think about. I have heard from returned missionaries that after about a week the hype wears off in your family and after a month it wears off in your ward so I will have to adapt to normal life quickly. Time is passing really, really quickly for me (unless we don’t get into houses and we are just walking. THOSE hours are so slow a turtle could beat them).

I am working to have at least one more baptism before I get home. We will see how it goes. Take care, enjoy your "vacations", and God bless. Con mucho amor, Elder Brock Hunter

Dear family,

This was an interesting week. We have had a hard time finding new people to teach but we are seeing a lot of help from the members and leaders. My mission president spoke at Stake Conference last Sunday and apparently it impacted a lot of people. We are going to work with their animo (spirit).

Roger is going to be baptized on Saturday and Lucas... we are working with Lucas. He is like a little brother but I want to smack him across the head. He can’t serve two masters but until he understands that... we are working with him. I look forward to Institute and everything. Today we ate lunch with the Family Arancibia from Bolivar. I saw their daughter leave on the mission and now I have seen her return. It was good to talk to them. Plus their son Braulio gave me a gift. I will have to show you guys when I get home. It is on my pendrive.

We get kicked out of our pension next week and we still don’t have somewhere to go... working on that. We may have found a new mamita though. 

Happy birthday to Grandma Mellor and Corey.

They are kicking me out of the cyber so until next week, God bless and take care.

Con amor, Elder Hunter

Hey family and friends,

I have a few more details about my comp now. But just a few. Elder Jeffery Herrera is from Santander, Colombia but has lived in Santiago, Chile for the past 7 years. He has 16 months in the mission. He has basically been raised in the gospel. His parents met the missionaries in Colombia. His Dad is a carpenter. There are 5 kids in his family but he is the youngest. His siblings served missions in Colombia but he is the first to serve here in Chile. He likes soccer, Pokemon, and baptizing. 

This week we had Stake Conference and we managed to take Lucas and Roger. Roger is preparing to be baptized at the end of the month and Lucas for the week after. Several families have asked "Where have you guys been?" They missed us. But now we are back in the swing of things (though I have gotten us lost a few times) 

Lucas is a very cunning kid though. He got one of the young women in the ward to close her eyes and he ran his finger over her lips. He then stole her lipstick and put a bit on his lower lip so that when he told her to open her eyes she thought that he had kissed her. Then she really did kiss him. We are going to have to keep our eyes on him better during the ward activities but he does want to get baptized and we even have support from his mom. 

This week the ward had an activity of Master Chef. There were some really good dishes and they also gave out roses to all the adult women there as a late Mother’s Day. By the way, Happy Late Mother’s Day to all the women reading this letter. I truly believe that my grandparents have been in the hospital more in the past 2 years than in the 18 years before that combined. I will have Grandma in my prayers.

I am glad that Kaitlin is a blonde again. The pics were freaking me out. I don’t know if you guys are more excited for school to end or for me to get home. I believe Kaitlin at least is happier that she will graduate. 

I am in a struggle to stay focused. Sometimes I do well, then someone asks me how much time I have in the mission and then they say "no le falta nada. Debe estar muy animado por volver a ver su familia." (You have to be very encouraged by to see his family again).  Of course I am but I DONT WANT TO THINK ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW! Oh well. Así es. (Such is life).   Hope that all goes well at home. I will focus on the mission for now. God bless. See you soon.

Con amor, Elder Hunter

Dear Family and friends,

I am old. My group is the oldest in the mission now. That is a weird thought. I never thought it would get to this point. But time works like that. Sometimes it sneaks up on you.

I was happy to speak with the fam yesterday. I saw a few tears in Mom eyes but I was glad that I could actually see everyone this time. I love skype.

 For now I still don’t know much about my new comp. He will arrive at 7:30pm today. We sent off the Mexican already and I am with Elder Shill for now.

I know that things will be crazy when I get home whether I worry about it right now or not so might as well not worry. Right now is time to focus on the work and keep moving forward.

I really don’t know what else to say today so I will talk to you next week. Love you all. God bless.

Con amor, Elder Brock Hunter

PS These are the things I’m thinking about bringing home

Dad and Mom: Llama Hats and sand in a jar

Kate: Soccer Jersey and fleas

Jake: a slap in the back of the head

PSS I managed to send some pics through onedrive.  Finally a cyber without viruses!