WEEK 7 . . . I live at the base of a HUGE Volcano!

Well, to start of with, let’s just say the Spanish I thought I knew was not Spanish at all hahaha! Dad would say, there’s schooI Spanish, MTC Spanish and real Spanish. Now I have to learn real Spanish haha. I probably understand about 60 to 70 percent of what people are saying to me, which is not bad if I say so myself!! It is just so weird though haha. A lot of the people here in the ward tell me that my Spanish sounds like I’ve been out more than 2 months and more like 4 months. So I guess I shouldn’t worry too much. I can comprehend a lot of what people are saying it’s just constructing the sentences. Now I’m starting to think in Spanish, which is so weird and I only understand 60 to 70 percent of my thoughts which is so crazy and frustrating. I can’t even talk to myself hahaha. 

It was great talking to you last week from the airport. Yeah, I have been sick and it sucked. Nothing but straight rios for a week. I found out that I had an infection in my stomach but I’m all good now! I lost 10 lbs!  I got my first package and THANK YOU! I was having a really rough time and it made my month.  I’m just livin life and don’t have a clue what’s going on but I love it here so much.  It is so crazy to think I’ve been here for almost 2 months.  IT’S GOING SO FAST!!!

My comp is a stud though and I really love the kid. His name is something Araujo. (I just can’t say elder.  It might come in time. I’m just not a fan.  It’s so formal and just not personal.  You know I like to get to know the person not the title.) He’s been helping me a lot with my language and is a really hard worker so you know it’s all good here.

There are 2 things I’ve learned about myself since I arrived in Arequipa.  First, this place is sure to humble anyone. I know I will be a much more humble person when I come home, that’s for sure. Second,  I will never eat rice again so no one try to feed it to me. I am so sick of it already and only have 22 months to go. 

I am serving in the area of Arequipa Misti.  It is one of the closest areas to the volcano Aqui so that is way sick! It’s a nicer looking area but apparently pretty dangerous. I saw a couple dudes get mugged and my comp and I just ran and got out of the way. Also , there was a dude sitting buck naked in the back of a bus so that was cool too I guess hahaha!  I am getting really good at pulling cabs over on accident because I just smile and wave to everyone then they all pull over.  It is so funny and my comp just laughs at me every time it happens. The people are pretty interesting and have so many different opinions about me and its really kind of funny. Some hate americans so I’m just like eh whatever and others just really like me.  Some people think that I look like Channing Tatum soooooo Ladies look out for me!  hahaha and others tell me that  I look like a sports guy haha. Love those guys! 

I had a super cool experience this week while we were contacting and I just have to say  that the gift of tongues is so real.  We were teaching a lady and I just started talking to her.  I said something and had no idea what I was saying.  This lady just started bawling and then decided that she wanted to come to church with us.  It was so cool and something that I will never forget.

Love you guys and just keep working hard!
Hunter
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