June 22, 2012

Dear Family, I misplaced the notes I started taking on last week's events, so will type them up and add to my journal, but you probably won't get a copy.  The highlight of our week was being able to attend President Jones' farewell Zone Conference in this area on Thursday.  I wrote a brief summary of that meeting which is given below.  Saturday we had a going away party at the park next to the mission office and it turned out really well.  Wendell Jones and his wife, Carolyn, brought President Jones' brother Lorden with them so it was a great reunion of old friends.  After Jared's Sunday afternoon organ lesson the Paynes invited us to dinner so we jumped at the offer.  We probably overstayed our welcome, but I wanted to visit with George about several pressing issues and he gave some wise counsel (from one who has been down the road we are now traveling). George and Joanne keep asking when our kids are coming to see us.  I made reservation for the Duane Hunt family for the weekend of July 14 -- they said that would be a perfect time for them.  I hope all of you have sent my mom a birthday card for her birthday on Wednesday, June 26.  I talked to her for a few minutes last night and she sounded tired and discouraged.  Birthday mail will brighter her days and she can reread your notes again and again.  We look forward to a glorious gather for Claire's baptism this Saturday, June 30.  We send our love, Elder and Sister Hunt


ZONE CONFERENCE –June 21, 2012
            We werea little late arriving at the mission office as Elder Hunt had an 8:30 a.m. eyeappointment.  We chatted briefly withSister Jones out in the parking lot and as we entered the building PresidentJones invited us to attend the Zone Conference that was to begin at 10:00 forthe Farmington and Bloomfield Zones.  Aswe walked into the Relief Society room there was a message on the chalk boardwritten in big, bold letters:  “StudyRight Now!”  Each missionary had their scripturesopen and was trying to do just that.  Theopening hymn was “I Know that My Redeemer Lives” and I can never make itthrough the second verse of that song any more where is says, “He lives tocomfort me when faint.  He lives to hearmy soul’s complaint.  He lives to silenceall my fears, He lives to wipe away my tears.” I have felt each one of those things this week and have felt thesustaining power of my Redeemer.
             PresidentJones talked in a straight-forward manner to the missionaries about his departureand the arrival next week of President Batt, our new mission president.  He told us what he expected of us and what wewould need to do to make the transition go smoothly and effectively.  Then he turned the time over to the Zoneleaders to conduct a discussion on what the missionaries felt they needed to doto help with the transition.  We weresitting at the back of the room with the other senior couples, and it was achoice experience to hear the wisdom and commitment come from the mouths of ouryoung missionaries.
             Afterthe group discussion, President Jones gave his farewell address and began bytelling of his experience at general conference when he was first called as amember of the seventy’s quorum.  Afterthe conference session he was invited to the office of the first presidency tobe set apart, and although President Hinckley was the prophet at the time,President Monson was the one who was voice in that blessing.  President Monson, knowing that PresidentJones came from a humble background (a common farmer from Virden, New Mexico),told him that he was an “uncommon common man.” President Jones confessed thathe never served as an AP or even a Zone Leader during his mission when he was ayoung man.  From that point, he talked tohis missionary audience about what it means to be “uncommon” and challenged usto fit that description.  He also talkedabout the Old Testament story of Elijah and Elisha and described how the mantleof Elijah fell on Elisha.  He asked us towatch for that same thing to happen when President Batt joins us here in ourmission.  He also told us that he too hadtwo mission presidents.  His first wasPresident Stone, the son of a general authority.  His second mission president was ElderRichard G. Scott.
             At theconclusion of the meeting we sang, “I Stand All Amazed” and then went rightinto “God Be With You.”  All of themissionaries stood as we sang that song, the last verse being a capella.  It was a moving experience!  After the conference President Jones interviewedeach of the missionaries in the Farmington Zone (they were still coming in aswe left the building at 7:00 p.m.)  TheBloomfield missionaries will have their interviews today.
             It hasbeen a special privilege for us to serve under President Jones and to be ableto witness first-hand to what extent this “common” man has become“uncommon.”  We will miss his love anddevotion to our mission, but we look forward to serving under President Batt.
 Sister Linda Hunt– June 22, 2012