Excerpts of Emails from the Past 3 Weeks

So, sorry there has been such a lack of group emails!  I finally told Bryson yesterday that I would compile parts of his last few emails and create one to send out to share.   I made comments in italics to kind of explain some backstory.  Anyway, here it is...  
(Keep Bryson in your prayers.  We appreciate it, and I know they help him!)


6-12-16
I felt like I should include this in the group email, because only sharing the good isn't the whole story and what a mission REALLY is sometimes.  Sometimes it's just HARD!!  He hasn't yet had a companion (other than very brief periods) who has been enthusiastic about mission life and following the rules and all that comes with being a valiant missionary.  And that has been really tough on our boy.  We prayed and prayed  for him and his mission president to help get him through this hard time.

I'm still kind of struggling. Lately I have felt 0 confidence. I just feel like ever since I've left I haven't been myself. Confident, goofy, energetic. I just lack all of it. And I'm really struggling not having anyone to talk to. That's why I called Hayden. Yes it did help because I actually felt like I was talking to a friend. Something I've been missing for a long time. I know that Heavenly Father is here for me but I am not sure why it's been so hard to feel comfort and peace. With my companion and things I just haven't felt like anyone is here for me. I'm sorry for being really down. I just don't know how else to put it. I'm trying. I really am. And I love being around Haynze and teaching him. Especially excited for the baptism saturday! And he has chosen me to baptize. So i'm really honored about that. But I really miss family. I just wish I felt normal. There is so much pressure and so much stress with everyone watching you and giving you things to do and expectations and lots of thoughts that go through my head every day.

I want to lead and I want to be a great missionary. But right now I'm feeling held back. A lot. But I know that if I wait it out and stay tough. I'll experience more happiness. It's just feeling like forever since I've been confident and stuff



6-19-16
I had asked Bryson some questions.  He was using a member's ipad at breakfast with a wonky keyboard, so he copied them and added responses, that is why this format on this particular email.  and joy!!!  He was feeling happier, and his president had responded to Bryson's concerns. 

How are you this week?  I'm good (: Haynze has boosted my spirits and president did talk to me and Elder Walsh

Did haynze get baptized??  How was that? yes he did!!! twice.. lol. It was amazing. He is honestly the coolest kid ever. just kinda hyper hahha

What counsel did your mission president offer?  Did he respond? He said that the mission is a time for Heavenly Father to teach us. And the only reason I have been with Elder Walsh is because he needs me to be his companion because i'm a missionary he can trust with such a big load. He also has been calling Elder Walsh nightly so he can talk and try to help Walsh find his purpose.

Love you mom! I'm doing better!

later that same conversation:

But mom I'm really doing a lot better. I feel like I'm a part of the family now here in Wainuiomata and I've realized how much I love these people! And president gave some uplifting thoughts. People change and so do transfers haha. But I'm okay. 2 weeks until transfers and plus I have exchanges today until Wednesday! So that'll be fun (:


6-26-16
excerpt from this week's email.  They were spending p-day helping people move, so his emails yesterday were very brief.

We were woken up today by a member banging on our window saying "Elders! Elders! I need your help out front! There is an emergency!!!"
when I ran out I thought someone was dying or something!!! But his van was just slipping out front in the muddy rain and nearly tipping over into the neighbors house!!!! So we had to push it and tow it out of the yard without it rolling into the house hahaha. Soooo that was fun.. .Only took like 2 hours in the pouring wet rain. I slipped a few times in the mud hahaha. Then when we went back to the flat the package was there and warmed me up (:

Group Email 5-29-16

So just found out i'll be staying in Wainuiomata for another 6 weeks which i'm pretty happy about (: I'll probably be here for quite a bit. But the mission transfers have proven to  be quite unpredictable. We had a lot of time spent with auntie kell and helping her set up the ward conference activities which was a ball! It was pretty fun. We spent all night friday and all day saturday setting it up! it turned out quite nice! Then we had the actual conference on sunday. It was really good. Bishop gave a pretty good talk about turning and committing. How we have to turn in the direction we want to go and give it all we got.. I think I could definitely do that much more. 

Then that night we had yet ANOTHER fireside.. His love part 2(: It turned out really good. I made videos featuring Sister Sagote, Nanna Marilyn, and uncle and auntie Wilson (Sonny and Keli-ann) (: It was a great night and the best part about it was auntie Kim came!!!(: She is less active but the nicest person in the world. She always cooks us delicious kai like Fry bread burgers and Huge Roast dinners and really wants to make my dads Crepe recipe with me (: one of the main reasons she is less active is because she has a smoking problem.. But she came to the fireside and one of the videos really touched her and she loved the whole night so much, she has decided to come back to church sunday. And she is one that you can actually believe and take her word for. She said she realized she doesn't have to be perfect to go to church and enjoy the gospel. She knows that to enjoy the FULL blessings and even more happiness she would need to stop smoking, but small steps are big ones in this case (: I'm so glad she has felt the spirit and support from our savior to come back after many many years of not even stepping foot in the chapel. That is definitely a huge miracle (: 

I'm grateful for the chance I have to serve these people. They have definitely served me more than I have them.. But I really do love these people now. I see them as whanau and that is how they treat me (: I'm not sure if any missionaries have ever gotten more calls than me and my companion asking if we were moving or staying.. they were all so worried that we could be moving!! They were wanting to throw a farewell if either of us left haha. I'm glad we have been able to connect so well with the members here. I feel like this is the best missionary work we could do. Strengthening what we have, finding those who need to be rescued and teaching in everything we do. 

I've been through a lot on my mission mentally and emotionally. But i'm working on using the gospel and Christ's atonement to have Joy in my life. Pure joy. There is nothing I need to worry about, or stress about when I am living the gospel and helping others. Life will be good. And like President Monson has said! "Everything will work out"

Love you all (:

-- 

Elder LaMunyon

kids he helps coach for rugby

just thought this was a cool shot :)

Member MTC Day tags (a great success - hopefully we'll hear more details about it soon!)

more from MMTC day

MMTC Day

group shot MMTC Day - sorry it's not super clear!

Group Email 5-15-16

This week has been a blur. It went by so fast! It was amazing seeing my family over the weekend though!! I sure miss them a lot. That was definitely the highlight of this week!

The other days this week have been full of planning and preparing for yet another fireside! We are handing out mission calls to members of the ward to participate in the Member MTC! We will be training our members here in Wainuiomata to teach and invite simply. And in a non threatening way(: Hopefully more referrals come out of this because we currently get about 0 a week hahahah. So I will have a compilation of people opening calls soon for everyone to see(:

We had our sports night again! Every friday seems to be getting funner and funner. You can definitely see a unity in the ward because of firesides and activities where everyone works together! It's really awesome. I really enjoy having members around to be with and to work with! We play volleyball and NBD but my team didn't lose once.. 💁

We have also continued to help kids train on the high school 2nd 15's rugby team (: They are a good group of kids but they are pretty UnCo.. (uncoordinated. Yes they have slang for that word) They just don't know how to like play sport it seems like haha. They tackle standing straight up and there have been a plethora of injuries due to UnConess. And they got absolutely smashed on saturday. But they are improving!!! hahaha.

It's also getting very cold. The wind here is insane!!! it's hard to fall asleep at night! They call it windy welly. It is very cold wind coming from the south pole. And it is very humid here so it's really cold air as well haha. Gotta love it though!!

Interesting fact - Our mission actually covers a small part of Antarctica. Sadly no missionaries have ever been assigned there. But pretty cool..

--
Elder LaMunyon

Haynze is back!!  They are hoping to continue with the last few lessons, and baptize this cute kid!

According to the Elder, this is the best shirt EVER!

fog over Wainuiomata hills

Moody morning

Her name is Irie.  She calls the Elder "Duhmunyun"

4-25-16 Group Email

So this week was alright!

We went to this place called Staglands which is like an epic zoo. We went with the holiday program that all the members here work for and own.

It's like a walk through petting zoo kind of place but with native New Zealand animals! It was a beautiful place with pretty interesting animals!

Then the next couple of days I just worked like crazy on my fireside videos. Which was 2 days ago and it turned out great! We had lots of great feedback and tons of people came! I only heard good things(:

We also had a pretty awesome day of sports yesterday! We went to petone which is like a beach area in the Hutt Valley and it had courts and also a rugby field! So I was there playing basketball with a bunch of less actives for a few hours.

Other than that, I don't feel like much happened this week! Just stayed busy with the videos pretty much! I'll get up to more this week. Sorry for the short message!!

Love you all thooooo(:

--
Elder LaMunyon

Group Email 4/17/16

New Zealand Fern Tree

This past week was good! 

I've been working a lot on these videos for a fireside which is Sunday! They are called "His Love."  They are based off of the Church messages called "His Grace"! It will be interviews piled with pictures of people from the ward I'm serving in and their conversion stories and finding the gospel! It should be really cool. I will have them done by this week. 

We had Zone Training this past week as well where we learned a lot about rules and how they're tightening down on them. Which is okay.. The only one that is weird is how we can't use any church studying material to learn more and simpler! We probably won't even be able to read ensigns soon since they aren't in the official missionary reference library which is crazy. I was starting to really enjoy using student manuals and things like that for my studies but I guess no more. haha

We also had some Rugby practices for the local High school! It's going well! A lot of the kids recognize us on the streets now and say Hey instead of growling us haha. It's cool to learn about rugby as well!

Haynze

We taught Haynze the Gospel of Jesus Christ this week and I invited him to be baptized! He said yes and he is super keen! He is so excited to be a member and to get the priesthood and help the Deacons Quorum grow! (to 1 member) hahaha. He is already looking at the future hoping to serve a mission and everything! He will be my first baptism and I'm so excited! He is a great kid and asks a heap of questions! He's the man.

We spent 13 hours straight in the chapel yesterday due to meetings and rescue visits, cottage evenings, potluck, and song practice for those with numbers in next weeks fireside! Suchhhh a long day.

Elder Withers

And i'm sad to say bye to my lovely companion. Elder Garisun Withers. He is THE man. I have learned so much from him and he has been such a great example to me of being a proper and obedient missionary. He taught me how to get things out of my studies and how to be a great leader. I'm excited for him to experience new things as he goes to Nelson to take the Zone Leader position there, but.. I will miss him so much. Thanks for everything Sole.

spillway behind the chapel

But this has been my week! Thanks for all your support and prayers and please email! I'd love to hear from you (: Love you and love the work! OFA ATU!!

--

Elder LaMunyon

Dr. Pepper splurge.  He said it was worth the $13 for the 12 pack.

3/28/16 Group Email

Kia Ora!

Well this week has been good! They start to all kind of seem the same though haha.

I had my first Hangi since i've been in New Zealand so that's cool! A Hangi is an Island way of cooking. They put lamb, pumpkin, chicken, pork and heaps of stuff in the ground with hot ash and coal and completely cover it with dirt and stuff and let it cook over like 14 to 24 hours or so. It was really good! A guy gave it to us for free when they're typically like 20 bucks! His name is pronounced like Irrroooo or something like that. It's weird but he is cool! Definitely a potential investigator!

We were also given a bag of like 20 Panikekes from the Samoan cart at the market for free! They are just scoops of pancake batter put into a deep fryer. YUM. They actually want us to teach them a lesson tomorrow! So that should be cool (:

Something else I bought at the market was this ollllld cigarette box full of old as stamps! The oldest one I found in there was an 1892 USA stamp!! Heaps of old ones from different countries and stuff so that's way cool.

stamp collection

We also went to the big museum in Wellington with the Youth for PDay! We had Companion study with them in the morning showing them some study habits and sharing and stuff then we shot over to the museum. Te Papa is the name of it. They had this awesome exhibit about New Zealand Kiwis that fought in wars and stuff and I guess Peter Jackson was in charge of it. He built these massive sculptures of soldiers and stuff. Like they were HUGE and SOOOO real looking. It was so cool. There was lots of cool photography of old Maori people and stuff as well which was really interesting.

Incredible detail on these statues

Bryson says these things have got to be close to 30 feet tall

And..

We taught a couple of teenagers a short 5 minute restoration lesson about the Book of Mormon so hopefully they read it! They are quite strange. They said they "gave their lives to Jesus like a week ago bro.." and it's pretty crackup actually. They talk about asking Jesus questions and stuff by writing down on paper and how he responds to them is this: they write the first word and then I guess the Savior writes down the rest through their hand.. Weird. Hopefully they are willing to learn the truth and how to receive real revelation.

I'm falling more and more in love with this gospel. It is so true! Our Brother Jesus Christ rose! He lives and leads this church. I'm so grateful for the scriptures and the way they answer our questions. Even questions we didn't know we had! I'm grateful for my whakapapa as well!

Thanks for all the support and emails! I'd love to hear from more of yous!



--
Elder LaMunyon

Bryson's desk

Avi - one of the ym from the ward/branch

pday with the elders

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)