Well, it seems like a kind of rough week there for Grandma and Grandpa. I am hoping and praying everything will be okay. Let them know how much I love them! As badly as I want to be upset with how this accident happened, I also know this is a good time for us to practice loving everyone and forgiveness. Two of the most important things we teach in the gospel. I will be praying day and night for Grandpas recovery. Drew, tell Nathan I love him and have fun this year bro! Remember who your true friends are and Nate’s definitely one of them so keep an eye on him!
It was a pretty crazy and fun week here though haha. My buddy here, Elder Rokovitz, is such a stud! We were all sitting in class and this fly was bugging us so bad. Someone yelled first one to kill it wins! The thing lands on the window and he open palm smacks the window and just blows the crap out of it hahaha. He was a wrestler so he’s a big guy. It was so funny to see the look on his face after. Like I said last week, I’ve become known as the guy who can jump really high and far so nothing new. haha. I jumped over this fountain here that is about 19 ft or something like that so super easy. Had to do it for the fans. It is awesome here and I really can't believe how well I’m learning the language. It’s way cool here. We play a lot of soccer here and I love it now for some reason. I am sure it’s because I am going to be playing it a lot for the next 2 years. hahaha I have to say that I’m not half bad either! One of the coolest things we did on Saturday was proselytizing on the streets of Lima. It was so nice to be outside the walls of the CCM and have some time to walk around in my walkin around shoes. I had my big boy pants on! It was one of the most humbling experiences that I’ve ever had. We were in one of the poorest parts in Lima and so it was pretty crazy. I taught a couple lessons and got to chill with a lot of the kids here! I love them so much. They are the bomb. They wouldn’t let me take my backpack or anything sadly so I couldn’t take any pictures of the experience but it was so cool! One family that we taught literally lived in a concrete box with one side of it open. They had a couch, refrigerator, and a small table. It was a mom and her daughter. Such a cool thing to see how much the gospel meant in their lives when they literally had nothing. The mom’s testimony was amazing and it made me realize that I was sent to Peru not to serve the country of Peru but the people and how much I can change their lives. The little girl in that family was maybe 5 years old. They didn’t have enough seats for us to sit down during the lesson so my comp and I stood while they sat. She ran out and found two of the smallest chairs for us to sit. and I’m not going to lie, it was the cutest thing ever. It was such a cool experience. I can’t wait until I get out of the CCM and actually serve the people! I am really getting tired of being all cooped up here. It’s all good and it’s going so fast. I love it here! One of the funniest people at the CCM is the janitor. hahaha He calls everyone here maripositas and walks away laughing so he and I chill and have a good time. I don’t have a lot of pics for the week because I couldn’t take my camera to the coolest thing I did. Love you all and keep on having a fun time and live a little for me!!! Love ya boy Hunts!
0 Comments
It seems like everything is going good back home!! Good luck to everyone starting school this week! You will all do amazing! I know you guys are going to kill it because it’s just the bro way! Good luck Cole on the new major and all that new crazy business! haha Just find something you enjoy and you’ll love every moment of it! Never doubt what you can do because you can do anything you put your mind to! Park and Drew you guys just keep on keepin on! Don’t overload on classes Parker and enjoy the U man. Drew don’t get into trouble or ill have Parker put you in your place! haha Love ya bro miss ya man! I sorry I couldn’t respond this week to everyones emails. We had the fresh meat show up and we had to show them around. This week went by soooo fast! I can’t believe it. It’s so weird to think that I have been here 3 weeks. My Spanish has gotten so much better! Even Parker would be impressed. We went to the temple last week and it was super cool. It was nice to get out of the CCM for a little. It is such a beautiful temple. There is this little store across the street from the temple that sells some sweet ties. I bought a few for me and some to send home for birthdays. Not much happened this week really until Tuesday. Everyday is just about the same. We have breakfast, 4 hours of class, lunch, hour of activity, 4 hours of class, dinner, and 4 more hours of class. haha. Not the most exciting thing but it's cool. My friends that were here on the earlier transfer left on Tuesday so it was super weird! I’m going to miss Bates and Bumstead a lot but I know they’ll be awesome! Like I said, some fresh meat appeared at the CCM today so we were all making them super nervous about everything. haha It was pretty funny, good old fashioned hazing. But we told them we were just messing around and we're all tight. I am sure we’ll be good friends. All the latinos love me here. They say I’m like one of them. It is so funny. They are some of the coolest and neatest people. One of my favorites, Elder Ramirez is of Iquitos Peru and his story is so cool. He doesn’t speak any English so I have been teaching him a little while he is here! He’s 25 and has provided for his whole family and he’s the only member of the church in his family. He said he has received so many answers to his prayers and he knew he had to go on a mission. He is super cool and by far one of my favorite people I have met. He is such a humble and cool guy. He and I are going to stay in touch on the mission! I love it here though and I am learning a ton. I finally put some weight back on. I think it’s because I’ve been working out! You would be surprised what exercising can do for muscles. haha. Finally starting to thicken up so now I’ve only lost a total of 5 pounds since I’ve been here! Oh, I also found this massive wall that I’ve been showing a few of my jumping skills on. I am still the best! hahah Love you guys and good luck with everything! Miss you but I’m rockin it out here so don’t worry about me! Love Ya boy Hunts! I Love to See the Temple! Lima, Peru Temple
Mi familia!! Holy! This last week went by sooo fast! 2 semanas down and it really didn’t feel that long. It seems to me like now that I’ve left, things are really starting to move. I can already start feeling the English leaving my mind and I am having a hard time writing what I want to say. haha Sorry! It seems to me like I'm loved so much more now than before I left! haha So many emails! I’m just kidding, love you guys. I was thinking back to before I left and realized that I may have forgotten to make my bed...soooo sorry mom. I love Peru though! This is such an amazing place and experience and I wouldn’t change it. The Peruvians all call me Latino! haha I think it is so funny and they all love me so much. It’s been making all the white people here way jealous! My comps are all good and they are super chill! I love my district! It is awesome! One of my friends from school is in the CCM right now and it’s super cool to have him here. His name is Kellan Bumstead. I get to chill with him a little. He leaves for the Lima West Mission next week. Elder Bates is also one of my new good friends. He’s not in my district but he is a track guy. He throws jav and has the state record. He is doing track at BYU when he get’s back. His brother went to the same mission as Parker and at the same time so maybe he knows him or saw him at zone conferences or something. This week was pretty much the same as last week. Really not much happened. We got to go to the temple last week after I emailed so that was cool. It’s a really nice temple but small. It’s about the same size as our church. Haha The Spanish is coming along super good and I've been learning so many things! We got to go to interpol on Monday to do some stuff for our visa’s. It was just nice to get out of the walls of the CCM. On our way to interpol we saw some guy get pegged by a car. It was nuts! The driving here is crazy! haha I said this before but sometimes it feels like we are in a prison. My district got so bored one day that we made a similarities and differences list between here and prison. It was too funny! I sent you the pic. haha. I lost another 2 pounds this week but it’s started to slow down a little. I workout every morning and night and the jump rope was easily the best thing I brought haha. I love you guys so much and miss everyone back home! It seems like it’s been really quiet at home but sounds like everyone has been keeping busy which is a good thing! Remember, Andrew, you better not touch my stuff or I’ll come after you when I get back haha. Love ya bro. I’ll see you guys soon! Ya boy Hunts CCM vs. PRISON...what are the differences?My CCM Buds!One week down and only 100 left to go. haha This has been a pretty crazy week to be completely honest. The first 3 days were probably the longest and worst days of my life. I love it in Peru a lot more now than I did last week.
I arrived here Wednesday at 4:30 in the morning and got 2 hours of sleep! Worst day of my life! It felt so long. But it’s been good. The food is all right but nothing to brag about. haha I’ve already lost 6 pounds! I knew I had some weight to lose. haha Don’t worry Mom. I eat as much as I can but the only big meal we get each day is lunch. I haven’t cracked into my Nutella yet but am getting close. I am trying to hold off until I get out to the field. I’m working out every night so you better believe I’m coming back ripped out of my mind…but probably like 135 pounds hahaha. I’m in a trio companionship with some guys that are going to the Trujillo mission.Their names are Elder Olsen and Elder Greer. They are sweet and super chill about everything and so is my whole district! There is one of my good buddies from high school here right now for about 2 more weeks so that made it a lot easier to settle in. You know me I make friends pretty easily. It really feels like I’ve been friends with my comps and district for months! The Latinos are so funny too! haha Talking to them is way hard but I can carry on a conversation a lot easier now than I could last week. They all think I look like Woody from Toy Story. hahaha So Parker, if that’s the truth you should love me more! I’m actually a lot better at Spanish than I thought I would be. I’ve learned more in a week than I have in all the years of Spanish I had in school. I feel like a complete wizard when I drop a line of Spanish that’s straight fire! Like I said earlier, I love it here but I can’t wait to get out of the CCM. It sort of feels like I’m trapped in a prison! Manual labor, learning, eat, sleep and massive walls that keep us in. Definitely prison! haha. The Spanish will start to come though. I’ve just got to make it through the next couple weeks and months and I’ll be golden! Always staying positive though you know me! There is no other place I’d rather be right now. I miss everyone more than anything! I’d kill to go play b-ball or golf right now. You have no idea how much you miss it until it’s gone. So Drew, take advantage of that while you can! The time will start flying by and next thing you know I’ll be home and you’ll be leaving! Suicide Squad sounds way sweet and so do the Olympics. Thanks for the updates! There really isn’t much more to write about but hey I love you guys more than anything! Enjoy your week and I’ll do the same!!! Like I said before, 1 week down and 100 to go! but whose counting! Cole, congrats on getting the screws out of your leg. Get felling better man! Parker, you have to let me know all about your trip. I loved the pictures of Arequipa. They looked way sweet!!! I’m definitely riding that llama when I get there. I have an email list I’ll send you a pic of it next week when I have more time. Our time to email is really limited. Love you! Hunter Phillipians 4:13 - “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Elder Hunter Simonsen arriving in Lima Peru! Parker and Carson are traveling through Peru for 2 weeks and made a special stop at the airport in Lima to meet Hunter. Big Brothers are the best! They even stopped by the MTC to let them know Hunter was coming! I love my boys :) This week has been a whirlwind of emotions. The day has come for Hunter to leave for the MTC in Lima Peru. I don't think any parent or family member can really prepare themselves for days like this. Saying goodbye for two years to a loved one is never easy, but when you think of all of the lives he will change, that is what will make the hard days easier. It has been an emotional day, but a special one. We had breakfast together, closed up the luggage and then the guys went out to shoot hoops one last time before we drove to the airport. Bittersweet . . . When we arrived at the airport Hunter checked in and started making friends with Elders going to Peru. There were 6 Elders going to Arequipa. Hunter has a heart of gold and a contagious smile and personality. His positive attitude and excitement for his new adventure made the good byes a bit easier. Hunter, "Love you to the Moon and Back!" See you in Two! Saying Goodbye to Mozart and Oliver! We Love You Elder Simonsen! See you in Two! Brothers are the Best! So hard to say goodbye.... Can't wait until we say Hello again!I've got this!Making friends is what Hunter does best!
PERU - Here I come! |
"You hold in your hands the happiness of more people than you can ever imagine." Letters From Peru
February 2017
Categories |