Transferred!

saying goodbye to the Gore kids

saying goodbye to the Beckmans

This week has been awesome!! My second area Wainuiomata has lots of good opportunities. Members feed us here often and we also have lots of people even non members that let us in to their homes! Much different from Gore! 

The first day here was fun! My Zone Leaders actually forgot about me coming in at the airport so I was stranded for an hour and a half until they came and got me. When I got to Wainui I met my comps and we went out the door visiting! We walk everywhere which is awesome. Very tiring though. Especially when you walk 8 kilometers to set an appointment but no one is there and you have to go walk somewhere else haha. We saw some kids playing basketball and they called us out! "Mormons vs the Rebels let's go!!!" Annnnnd so we walked over to the courts and played some ball. They were amazed with how I can dribble well and I can easily get passed them and my flashy passes hahaha. They would fall over on the ground laughing if I got someone to trip up while they were guarding me! One of the kids was like "how are you so good??" Another one was like "he's from america cuz.. that is just how they are" So it was pretty funny. Toward the end I went to make a move and completely ripped my pants though. That was nice.. But the Elders Quorum President showed up and told me to hop in the car and he'd run us to our flat to change. So we did but I don't have any sport shoes so I played in my church shoes still! Turned from 6 of us playing into about 20! And it was lots of fun! My legs actually felt really good and I dunked it for my first time in a game! But my feet started to hurt really bad in my church shoes. The president, Brother Sau said he was gonna buy me shoes cuz he wants me to play all the time with him now. He said I remind him of Magic Johnson haha. Everyone here is so loving and nice!!

We had a dinner as well that night which was my first on my mission!! I loved it! It's so nice not having to stress about food or cook any..

I'm very excited about all the things I could learn from this area!! it'll be an awesome experience! 

-- 

Elder LaMunyon

New Companions: Elder Withers (Washington) and Elder Walsh (Auckland)

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!