Hey everyone! So this week has been fantastic! I am staying in the YSA Ward for six more weeks. Wooooohooooo! We were able to teach and talk to a bunch of people and we had stake conference!!! I want to share two stories. One is a story that was shared with me last Monday.

Another is a story from Stake Conference. Here is the first. It took place in 1974 during a sacrament meeting. This young man was preparing to leave on his mission and was giving his farewell talk, and this is what he said.

"Brothers and Sisters, as you know, the last two weeks, I've been waiting for my mission call. During the time I was waiting I had a dream. I knew it wasn't an ordinary dream. I dreamed I was in the pre-existence (where we lived with God as spirits) and awaiting my call to come to earth. I was filled with the same anticipation and excitement that I had before I received my mission call. In my dream, I was talking to a friend, and I felt a special closeness to him, even though I've never met him in this life. As we talked, a messenger came and gave me a letter. I knew it was my call to go to earth. In great excitement, my friend and I opened the letter. I gave it to him and asked him to read it aloud. It said, 'You've been called to earth in a special time and in a special land. You will be born to the true church and will have the Priesthood of God in your home. You will be born in a land of plenty, in a land of freedom. You will go to the earth in the United States of America.' My friend and I rejoiced as we read my call, and while we were rejoicing, the messenger returned.

This time he had my friends call. He told me to read it aloud. It said, 'You've been called to go to the earth in circumstances of poverty and strife. You will not be raised in the true church. Many hardships will attend your life. Your land will be fraught with political and social difficulties, which will hinder the work of the Lord. You will be born in Costa Rica.' We wept, my friend and I as we read his call, and my friend looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, 'When we are down on earth, please come and find me.' Then, the missionary giving his farewell talk said, with tears in his eyes, 'Brothers and Sisters, I have received my mission call. I'm going to Costa Rica.' About a year later, the bishop of that Ward received a letter from that missionary with only four words. 'I FOUND MY FRIEND!!!'"

Story 2. This was from Stake Conference. I'm telling it as best as I remember.

There was a man born.....somewhere in Idaho. He was born into the church, but in his early 20's decided he was going to do what he wanted. So he joined the Hells Angels, and rode around with them for a little upwards of 20 years. One night he got kind of wasted and the next morning decided he needs to detox and do an evaluation of his life, so he went to one of their detox houses. Not sure what state it was in. He was sitting on the porch and praying, asking God what he wanted him to do. He saw two young men walking down the street. These houses of theirs are gated, and guarded by Dobermans that are trained to attack people when they come close to the gate. The missionaries saw the dogs and rather quickly walked on. When they were about 100 meters away, he saw them stop. Then they started coming back. As they approached the gate the dogs rushed up to it! Only to turn around before they got to the gate and go lay back down. The two missionaries opened the gate, walked in and came up to the man. One of them asked him if he knew some person and some person. The man replied, "Yes, they are my parents." To which the young missionary replied, "Then I am your brother."

The reason I wanted to share these stories is that they epitomize my feelings towards missionary work. I just want all of you to know, the Gospel is true. I know this is the work of the Lord. I know that there are specific people and reasons I am here for. I know God loves us all individually and infinitely. I have seen His hands and His face in this work. I love all of you so much!

Hunter

 This is C, Elder F, me, and B. B is his fellowshipper and is an RM as of about 4 months ago. He is awesome.

Right before we took the picture, he muttered to me, "The next time we take this we're going to be wearing white!"