Group Email 7/10/16

for those who don't know about our fun news...
Bryson's new companion Elder Hassell is a friend that he grew up with.  His family moved away when the boys were about 13 or 14.  When they were called to the same mission, we didn't know if they would serve as companions (and frankly, we doubted they would) - but after 8 months of hard areas and companions, he has been blessed to be reunited with this childhood friend!  We know that this is just the morale boost that our Elder needs at this time, and that they will be able to accomplish great things together in Wainuiomata.



Kia ora whanau and hoa!

this week was a good week!!! Mainly because me and Elder Hassell have been reunited to a companionship!!! I am so beyond excited for what the future holds in this area. Hopefully we get to teach and see many miracles (:

what happened this week was a lot of goodbyes to good old Elder Walsh. Who really has taught me a lot. I will miss him more than I expected but change is good!

it'll be a quick email though so i'm sorry.. we have dinner waiting to be picked up and basketball to go to!! But I love everyone and miss them heaps!!!



Oh. I also saw Durtchi again!!!!(:

--
Elder LaMunyon

Week 9! -email dated 1/3/16

a little background:  over the holiday, Bryson got news that they were consolidating his area, and instead of having 2 sets of elders plus the senior couple, it would just be 1 set of elders plus the senior couple.  so, a lot more ground for Bryson and his new companion to cover.

So.. This week I began my 2nd transfer as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I killed off my trainer and he is now home which is super weird to think about.

My new companion's name is Elder Fetafehi Vaha'i and he is "straight out of tonga" hahaha. That's something they say to explain they were born and raised there since many of the islanders move around especially to New Zealand.

Not a whole lot has happened this last week because of the holidays! Everywhere is shut down and people are just spending time at home with families. Which means they don't want to talk to missionaries. We did door knock for a few hours this week with no success really. It's funny. You pray for success and you expect success but when you go out and give it your all and don't see any new potentials or investigators, for some reason you feel fine. Sometimes it's harder than others but when we pray for success and don't see any, I feel the Holy Ghost comfort me when we only get doors shut in our face. It would be nice to see some people have interest but so far in Gore it isn't happening. Someday, even if it isn't me, a missionary will be able to come in and reap the planted seeds by me and my companions. 

New Years day was actually pretty fun! We drove to Balclutha (hit another bird) and had a BBQ at our members house! Her name is Jackie and she is soooo nice. She works with sheep shearers and loves being a Kiwi. She is very proud to be a New Zealander haha. She has such a cute family and it was great to have some member interaction here in Southland for once!

I love being a missionary. I love building my testimony. I love all of my friends and family. 

-- 

Elder LaMunyon

Week 7 - {Dec. 20, 2015}

I

So there was no group email this week, but he did send a ton of pictures.

Here are some excerpts from his email to me:

The work is SO hard. I now see how Gore is the hardest area in the islands. Wow. I'm grateful to have the experience though. At least I will be completely used to rejection by the time i'm transferred. Tai and Vivian are progressing though, they came to church so that was awesome. She had to pull out her fake teeth to eat at the potluck and Elder T accidentally knocked them over on to the ground and he was sooo embarrassed hahaha. 

I asked if it was hard for elder T to keep working hard since he's going home on Dec. 30  & what his plans were for Christmas & if people decorate and stuff like we do for Christmas :

Elder T has worked really hard and had no success here except for Tai and Viv. Plus this week we are hardly even allowed to go out and proselyte. Gore loves alcohol. So we will mainly just be hanging with Tai and Viv and hopefully a member or two. The senior couple Elder and Sister Beckman have told us we are welcome in their home whenever and christmas we can go eat at their house. They said they will have food out all day so we can eat, go to the flat, sleep and just go back and eat and talk whenever. So that's nice. No missionaries in Gore have ever been fed or anything for christmas by people. Crazy. People don't really decorate. At least from the houses we have been allowed into which is like 3 homes since i've been here.

I asked how/if he was using his photography as a tool on his mission and then if they had gone anywhere cool last week:

I want to start taking pictures of people I just don't want to offend. Especially if i'm in my badge. But I'm going to try and use it to find people soon. We just walked around Gore this week, we didn't go anywhere exotic. Gore is like the Detroit of the Pacific Islands. We went to an abandoned cereal mill and took pics and stuff and then I was able to go take pictures at a Sheep Shearing Shed! 

Cereal mill

Cereal mill

Shearing shed

Seriously that lamb is one of my new favorites!!

This guy is the fastest shearer in the world. He won the world championship in 2011. 

The dog is Bryson's favorite photo

Anyway, that's our report this week. He seems to be doing well, but it's hard for them to stay busy with the work because of the size of the city and the response of the people - any prayers for opportunities would be appreciated. And also, pray that his new companion will be a hard worker and they will be able to be inspired in how to spend their time. 

Love to you all!!