The Hunt's Mission: Christmas Message 2016

Traditional Finnish Candelabra &
Nativity Scene

Dear Family & Friends,

MERRY CHRISTMAS! It is a lovely white Christmas in Joensuu, Finland. Everything is beautiful. The white lights of traditional candelabra are in the windows glowing and spreading the spirit and joy of Christmas!

Chistmas Cards

This is our second year Christmas in Finland. Last year we were so new to our new country that we hardly remember what it was like. The thing that we remember most is that the people loved us so very much. They embraced us and showered us with love and kindness.We arrived only a few weeks before Christmas when there were only a few hours of daylight each day. Everything was new to us. We were instructed to take our vitamin D3 to keep our spirits up. We were also encouraged to use what is called a happy lamp. It is a lamp that shines very bright and gives you a sunlight effect. We don't remember exactly when the culture shock disappeared. We found ourselves so involved with sharing the gospel through teaching Institute, assisting the young missionaries with investigators, home teaching, visiting teaching, baking for birthdays, celebrations, holidays and Family Home Evening. Then there were District Meetings every week and Zone Training and Conference every month.

Joensuu & Kuopio District Missionaries

We also had the assignment of inspecting missionary apartments in all of Finland at one time. Presently we have a fourth of the country for apartment inspections because there are now three other senior missionary couples, one living in each zone and they inspect the apartments in their zone. At the end of our inspection visit we have each missionary choose a gift from our gift bag. The gifts are things they can use in their apartment: cooking utensils, dish towel sets, cutting boards, mixing bowel sets, dish soap, hand soap, knife set, and trivets,

Here are some memorable moments from inspecting missionary apartments. We found a bathroom sink that was not draining in one of the Sister Missionary apartments. When we pointed it out to them one of them said, "It will eventually drain, it is okay!" Another time one of the Elders said, "We can't find the trivets that are on the list and we don't know what they are, Elder Hunt can you show us what they are?" So Elder Hunt asked Sister Hunt to show the Elders what trivets are. She went to kitchen and opened up all the drawers one at a time acting and talking as if she were looking for something alive. The suspense was over when Sister Hunt pulled out a trivet from one of the drawers! She told them, "It's just a cork pad that you set a hot casserole or pan of food on."

Missionary apartments are all in
good locations in the various cities.

All the missionaries try to keep their apartments clean and livable so the spirit of the Lord can abide with them. This is a quote from our mission president, President Watson, that is on the inspection sheet that every missionary gets to read as they fill out the inspection forms. "The purpose of an apartment inspection is to encourage missionaries to keep their apartment clean and orderly to assure a healthy and safe learning and living environment needed in order to allow the spirit to be in the home (D&C 88:119 & 109:8). It is also to resolve any potential or existing problems. This helps to keep repair expenses to a minimum and assure that the missionaries are comfortable and safe. Any damage caused by missionaries should be reported to the mission office. It is also important to report any hazards that might endanger the safety of the missionaries."

Senior Couple Missinaries, Elder & Sister Hancock

We have gotten to know and love all the missionaries. They are the cream of the crop: So smart, so intelligent, so open minded, so honest, so willing to work hard, so obedient, and so spiritual. We are very appreciative of who they are so BRILLIANT! We thank the parents and families of all the missionaries for sharing their son or daughter with us in the Finland Helsinki Mission.

Lunch Time for Missionaries at Zone Conference

We have very faithful members in our small branch of the Church here in Joensuu. And we have some new members. A half Finn-half American man, who served here as a missionary 20 years ago, but who has lived in America since, recently married one of our member single mothers. Now he and his teen-age son have joined her and her teen-age kids, one daughter and one son. They are a good family. We also had a baptism of an eight year old boy. They all add joy to our small Branch of 53 members. Some of our members live far away in the country and the Branch takes care of them by delivering food or render service of shoveling snow and bringing fire wood into their homes. We are usually the ones along with the young elders who get to serve in these capacities. We love driving out in the country and getting to know the country folks.

Our Christmas is all about serving the people of Joensuu. We have invited and served Navajo Tacos to different families as our Christmas gift of love and appreciation for them. We also baked many Christmas fruit cakes that we delivered to the Branch members and friends. We have just taught our last Institute lesson for the fall semester. We serve a light meal for supper before the lesson every week. It has been rewarding for them as well as for us. It gives us physical and spiritual nourishment. Our students brought food to prepare and together we prepared it and served it. We have gotten to know them and love them very much. It is now their Christmas break and some have gone home to their home cities away from Joensuu. They will be back in school after the New Year at which time we will begin the Institute class again.

In the center are Elder Leetham & Elder Bowden.

We have the two great missionaries serving in our city. They are Elder Bowden and Elder Leetham. They are hard workers and do many hours of street contacting. That means they talk to all the people they encounter out on the street as they walk around in town. They ask the contact if they have a smart phone and if they do, which most do, they share the gospel by having them find the Christmas message video, "Light the World". It is about Jesus Christ showing his love for the people by the many miracles He has performed while He was here on earth. He is a perfect example of love and service. Then it shows of how each person can follow His example in lighting up the world with His love at this Christmas season. It is a wonderful Christmas video that touches the hearts of all people everywhere to do good. Elder Bowden and Elder Leetham have many teaching appointments and we assist with some of them. This is Elder Bowden's second Christmas in Finland. It is the first Christmas for Elder Leetham. We all as missionaries have many Christmas dinner appointments with our Finnish members and friends.

Luke 2:1-20 The wonderful story of the birth of our
Savior Jesus Christ.

The Three Wisemen Followed the Christmas Star to
Find Baby Jesus.

We love our mission. We love the people we serve. We know God and Jesus Christ love us and answer our prayers. At this Christmas time we have come to love and understand more of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. He is truly the precious gift sent from our Father in Heaven. Jesus gave us the most wonderful gift of the atonement and a well-marked path leading us back to our heavenly home. Christmas is a joyful time to share the gospel in many ways. Thank you for making it happen in your part of the world. We pray the Lord to bless you in your righteous works.

Thank you all for your love and prayers.

🎄MERRY CHRISTMAS🎄

AND

🎆HAPPY NEW YEAR!🎆

We Love You Very Much!

Elder & Sister Hunt😊😊