Week 4 - Group Email

Kia ora everyone,

    This past week has been awesome!!! Sorry I've been super lazy about these group emails but I've been way busy!

So this past week me and Elder Toleafoa met Tai. He is an amputee and has been to jail a few times but a great guy. He, through all his afflictions, has endured many things. He has learned to follow and love God..

We met him because we went to visit a woman we had helped build a garden with! She is awesome. She has no teeth, and lived homeless and as a drunk for 20 or 30 years. She says she doesn't know how long haha. But we went and taught them of the Book of Mormon.

It was the first time that I've been able to sit down and pour out my testimony of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. The spirit was soooo strong and now we have them bossing us around saying "you have to come back AT LEAST 2 times a week" and so I guess we have no other choice aye?

We also went to some water fall.. I don't know how to spell it so i'll try my best. - Waukipakaka falls or something like that 😅.

We also have Nerf war with a bunch of the kids from Gore. None are members but all are great kids, and hopefully we get to see them progress in interest for the gospel. Maybe if we baptize all 10 of them we will get a Mormon message hahaha. My fav kids are Nemo, Kayne, T.K., and Jaiah. I hope to teach them soon.

Also, yesterday was sunday. Our branch consisted of 3 people and I conducted the sacrament meeting. Pretty mean stuff.

Anyways.. Love you all!

Email me if you can! I need to hear from everyone!

-- 

Elder LaMunyon

Week 3 Email - Dated 11/23/15

Kia Ora!

Aye everyone!

I have made it to my first area of the mission. It's the most southern mission, as well as most difficult. It's world famous for brown trout fishing and thats about it haha. Gore is the name of the town. Our branch has 4 elders, and a senior couple. The amount of active members is 5 to 6. Pretty exciting. Looks like me and Elder Toleafoa (my comp) have some work to do! It's summer here, and on a hot day it's about 50 degrees. It's windy and very chilly. 

I'm hoping to figure out how to send you guys more pictures but for now it's only a few. After having a service project in Balclutha we went to Nugget Point and explored.. you guys can look it up but i'll send pictures soon. It is beautiful here. I love being a missionary! i'm out of time but i'll talk to each of you soon! please email me(:

Email from Mission President's Wife, Sister Hudson

It's such a relief to hear from Sister Hudson!  And we had a small miracle before receiving this email:  John had done a bid for a lady earlier in the day who mentioned that they had just picked up her son from HIS mission, and when John asked where, she responded "Wellington, NZ"!  Literally, within the past couple of weeks, they had gotten home from there. Her son was at work at the time, but later in the evening, she sent a text to us which included where Bryson would be serving, who his companion was, and what he was like, and a little bit about the area and people there.  What a blessing to know that Bryson will be with a great polynesian elder who is a good missionary and who will teach him the ropes in his fairly isolated area in the southern part of the south island...  Tender mercies for this missionary mom and dad!!  We are so grateful that John had that encounter with just the right person!

Hello! We wanted to let you know that your son has arrived safely to our mission! He has had orientation, been interviewed by President Hudson, and has enjoyed supper and a testimony meeting at the mission home. Tomorrow he will leave for his assigned area. I have attached a picture of him with us, taken this afternoon. All is well! Love, Sister Hudson

PS his new mailing address is

3D Williams St.

Gore 9710

New Zealand:

our blog is    newzealandwellingtonmission.blogspot.com

we will post pictures each week

2nd Week Email Dated November 15

Bryson had mentioned he thought they would be going to the temple, so I asked him about it in my email to him.  Two weeks have flown by, and I'm really missing him like crazy.  It has sunk in a little bit how long 2 years really is, and that he's REALLY gone...  But I'm so glad to hear how well he is doing, and that he is so excited to be entering the field!



The temple was great! i'm glad life is good at home! you'll get a couple letters from me soon and i'll email you when i get into the field. I only have a short time here to email and tell you that i am leaving in the morning for the field! i'll be anywhere in new zealand before lunch tomorrow! crazy stuff. I love you so much. I know that these are the last days and thats why it is so important for me to share this message and share the gospel. I love you. Email you soon!

Email dated November 8

My schedule is crazy. We literally sit in classrooms for 9 hours a day. 9 HOURS. But i'm so grateful we are focusing on the gospel of Jesus Christ and other people. We dedicate all of our energy and time to Heavenly Father and his will.

 

My favorite thing so far is the NZ chocolate and probably the MTC president. He is from England and is one of the most compassionate and strong men I have ever met. He loves this gospel and loves the missioinaries here. It's hard being white.. haha, my entire district are polys and islanders. I swear the tongan language is 100% made of jokes because as soon as anyone says anything in tongan, they bust up.

 

Least favorite is how tired I get. But I know that it is good because i'm putting my energy in great things.

 

Rugby is scary and I don't like it. I kill everyone in basketball and in football though, so I have been accepted by the brown people.

 

I'm very happy. Studying is hard and teaching our "investigators" (teachers in role play). I find it hard so far putting things together out of the scriptures and from my heart.

 

Love you more.

ggrroouupp mmeessssaaggee. ii hhaavvee ttoo ggoo ttyyppee iinn wwoorrdd bbeeccaauussee tthhiiss iinntteerrnneett ddoouubblleess eevveerryy lleetttteer

Kia Ora everybody.

I arrived in Aukland 4  hours ago and it was a super long flight. I was able to talk to someone in san fransisco about the church and what I was doing with all these 20 other kids in suits and ties. That was cool. Other than that not much has happened! We drove to the MTC in a huge van and I was able to get a glimpse of what it’s like out in the city! It’s super green and it’s weird how everyone drives on the other side of the road. Birds everywhere and the rolling hills are beautiful. I’m so excited for what is in store. This gospel is perfect and I cant wait to get out and share it with everyone. We are about to go play some rugby once I unpack so I’ll email you guys next week with more details and stories. Because I have literally been sitting in a chair for 4 hours just admiring the view from the MTC. Until next time! goodbye!