I got my Visa...

Email #8
Area: Ironwood Ward in Moreno Valley
Companion: Elder Smith

Excerpts from Mom's email:

Hey Momma!

This week was kind of a fast one. A lot happened, but really nothing to exciting. So at the beginning of the week, Martial Field Air Museum (where we do a lot of service) through all the volunteers a banquet last Monday. It was really cool and we got to take a couple more pictures. They gave each missionary an award and there were a lot of us. So that was really fun. On Tuesday, we picked up the R.... family. We started teaching them the first half of the restoration and it just clicked for them and they are really solid. Their kids are all so cute and really like learning about Jesus Christ. One of the young girls had an experience when she was very young where she saw angels, so she asks a lot of questions about that. They are probably one of my favorite investigators now.

Now the really really interesting day was on Saturday. We went on exchanges with the zone leaders and they are both Spanish speaking. I was the lucky one and went with Elder Parson into what we call Spanish land or the place where all the Mexicans are in Merino Valley.  Almost every single lesson, every contact, or really anytime we talked to anyone was in Spanish.  So it is safe to say I had no idea what was going on 80% of the time. One of the funny things that happened was when we were contacting. We walked up to these guys who seemed really nice and Elder Parson starts talking to them in Spanish. They were smiling, so I thought it was going well and then this one guy starts getting really intense and waving his hands everywhere. Turns out that they were huge bashers, so that contact was a bust for sure. He told us some really mean things I guess, so it is good that I didn't understand what he was saying haha. The rest of the day was pretty interesting because he taught me how to bare my testimony in Spanish and how to say a prayer a little bit. I'm still working on it, but I think I got it down.

Since he was a ZL, we went to a baptism interview and while I was waiting on him, I got a call from the Mission President. Guess what.... I got my Visa! So I'm leaving for Australia on April 10 at the end of the transfer. I don't have my flight plans in hand yet, but President told me he would give them to me this week at Multi Zones. All I really know is that I'm leaving at about 8pm and that the flight is 15 hours total. Luckily Elder Riding (my MTC comp) got his too, so we will be flying together. I'm very excited, but it's very weird. It was just like I got another call. When you read your call, you get a rush of all these different feelings; sad that you are leaving, excited about going, and scared of the unknown. I had the exact same experience when President called me. I really love it here in California and I think I've just started getting everything down and now I'm going to a whole other Continent in two weeks. Kind of crazy, but let me tell you, I couldn't be more excited at the same time. A mission is just such an exciting and fun thing.


Excerpts from Dad's email:

Hey Dad!!!

So you just reminded me of a couple of things I didn't tell mom, so now I have a few more things to say haha. We don't really have any rain here now. It apparently rained more before I got here, then it has in a couple of years combined so it really doesn't rain here at all now. The weather is really nice though it's always sunny.  Yeah I got my Visa, ask mom more about it I told here all I know. Yeah that video is way funny, but it wasn't even planned. I was just like "Hey I need to give a tour of the apartment so just act like you normally do" and well, you saw it haha. They are all really funny guys and we are always laughing it seems like.

We have kept teaching K.. and J.... and they are both progressing really well. K.. prayed the other day and he said that it felt good. He said he said the prayer and then just sat back waiting for some huge revelation. That's not really how it works, but he said that he really liked the feeling he had and that he is going to keep doing it. I'm so excited for him! We taught him the Gospel of Jesus Christ lesson and the Law of Chasity. They both went super well and flowed so easily. I am pretty sure he will be baptized next month, but I don't think I will be here for it. We are striving for April 2, but I'm not sure if it will happen or not. He wants to be baptized, but he hasn't received that full answer yet. Hopefully he keeps praying and reading, because that answer will come as long as he is working towards it. J.... is doing really well to. He is definitely getting baptized here soon, but I won't be here for his for sure. His is on April 30 because he wants to take is time with it, but he said he will be baptized for sure.

It's surprising how much I love being a missionary. It is almost like it is something I was born to do. I love meeting new people every day and teaching them about something so powerful and then seeing that change their life. I can really see it in K.. and J...., but also in others that we are teaching now. I wish I could go through and name them all, but there is a lot. We just got 9 new investigators this week alone, so the work is being done and we are really busy all day everyday. Luckily we always get time at the end of the day to relax.

Here is a little story for this week. We went by to see this referral that we got. His name was A...... and when we got there, he pops his head out the window and says "Hey it's the missionaries! Is it okay if I go get my brother to?" and obviously we said of course. He ends up bringing his whole family outside. We didn't realize it, but A...... is like 17 years old. His mom comes out and all his little brothers and sisters ready to here our lesson. We taught all of them the first half of the restoration lesson. The mom was in tears by the end of it and she told us how she has been praying everyday for someone to come and teach her kids what is actually important in life since she felt like she couldn't. She said come back anytime after her kids get home from school. That was a really cool experience to see how God really does use missionaries as his tools. We left them with a prayer that was really powerful and we could tell it struck them hard. I'm am very excited to continue teaching them.

Well that's all I got for you this week. Keep pressing forward.

Love ya Dad!
Elder Bryner

Saying good by to his companion and heading to Australia in a boomer. JK

Going on exchanges, reaching the Standard of Excellence

Email #7
Area: Ironwood Ward in Moreno Valley
Companion: Elder Smith

Excerpts from Mom's email:

Another great week over here in Cali. So this week we had a lot of success. We reached the standard of excellence this week, which means we are hitting the higher numbers in the mission. We have 3 on date, 5 new investigators, 12 lessons, and a ton of new investigators. It really was a great week in every way. The missionary work is definitely being done and we are having a lot of fun while we are at it. Through the week I have had a lot of experiences and it was all crammed in into one week. It is really weird how much time we really have in the week.

So first off at the beginning of the week, we took pictures with our lava lavas that we got from the Samoan ward. You can see a lot of Merino Valley from where we took the pictures. Later on in the week the Samoans held a fundraiser that was like nothing I have ever seen before. They would dance and sing and people would just throw money at them and stick it on the dancers. They raised a total of 17 thousand dollars in one night. It was so crazy how much fun everyone was having and we even had a chance to dance ourselves. The Samoan ward really is awesome. They feed us the best food every night for dinner. For breakfast and lunch we most of the time eat at our apartment but we also will go out to eat sometimes. I get about $170 a month here so it's not bad especially because I never have to pay for dinner.

I think on Wednesday I went on exchanges with Elder Madeiras. He is in the biking part of the mission, so now I have seen what it is like to be a biking missionary. It really isn't as bad as I thought, but you definitely get a workout haha. Elder Madeiras is definitely one of my favorite people now. We had so much fun all day even though we didn't have any lessons that day. They don't have any investigators, so I tried my best to help them find some and we got three new ones that day while I was with him. Since my comp is the DL, I will be going on a couple of exchanges so that will be fun.

One of the best lessons I had this week was with a man named C..... He is 75 years old and he is getting dementia. He is sooo ready to be baptized, but something is holding him back. His testimony is as strong as a full member and he wants to be baptized but when we asked him if he will on the next date he said he just isn't sure if he can. My companion then testified to him how much his father in heaven loves him and how much he wants him to be baptized. This is his next step in life and we know that his time is short. I can really tell by the spirit in the room that he is a special spirit I can't really explain it. We even told him what it is exactly holding him back. We told him since he is so close, the adversary is doing everything he possible can to throw him off course. When we told him how important he is he began to cry and tell us how hard of a time he was having before we showed up at his door. Ever since we began teaching him, he said he has been a better person, more loving, and a feeling of hope now that he knows he has a place to go after he dies. These experiences with him has grown my testimony so so much. I love him and he said he just needs a little more time, but he will be baptized. I really hope the time comes soon.

Excerpts from Dad's email:

Hey Dad! So how are things over at home? Well things here are doing awesome. We have been teaching J.... and K.. a lot lately. They both are so close to being baptized and we just want to make sure we do everything we can to help them grow there testimony. K.. in particular is a little bit tougher to do, but he is getting there. He told us he would pray, but then on Sunday at church he said he still hasn't yet. God wants to answer his questions, but he need to ask first. The hardest part of being a missionary is when you get close to an investigator and they just won't do what they need to and when they are just so close, but won't take the steps they need to. Ah it's so frustrating haha.

J.... it really awesome though. I'm really close with his uncle. He is the one who gave us the some Lava Lavas. Him and Patriarch are teaching us some Samoan so I might be able to speak some when I get home, but we will see if I remember it all. I am learning a lot of random talents as well. I now know how to do a rubix cube, play a couple cords on the guitar, and even how to write a song. Haha we are working on a song right now, so maybe next week you will see our "music video" lol.

I have got to know pretty much everyone in my zone now. We are going to be doing exchanges throughout this week as well so I will have a chance to get to know all the elders since my comp is the DL. I have too many experiences through the week and it kind of sucks that I don't have time to tell you about all of them.

Love you Dad so much!
Elder Bryner

Video of their apartment

Teaching the first vision

Email #6
Area: Ironwood Ward in Moreno Valley
Companion: Elder Smith

Excerpts from Mom's email:

Hey Mom,

I don't know how I can tell you about everything that has happened this week because there were a lot of cool things, but I'll do my best. So first off to answer your questions, my week has been awesome. I am teaching a lot actually, but I'll get to that. We don't do tracking door to door, but we do this thing called seeking with faith which is basically walking around and talking to people on the street. People here really enjoy being outside, so it is just more effective. Yeah he did come to church, he actually is a really cool guy and he said he is never going to miss church again. The weather here is really nice like all the time. I haven't seen my MTC comp, but I will at our zone conference coming up.

So I've been teaching a lot, but two really stand out and their names are K.. and J..... They are both Samoan, so they are so nice. Just last night I put J.... on date for baptism after we taught him the restoration. The spirit in the room was so powerful that you just could not deny it. I recited the first vision to him and as I said it he got tears in his eyes. I am so excited for him and his family! He has the cutest kids I have ever seen in my life! We gave his daughter a blessing last night as well, because she has been really sick lately. About two night ago we also taught K.. and his family. His wife is an inactive member, but they both have come to church three times now. We are going to be teaching them every Wednesday and Sunday for a few weeks, so then we can get all the lessons done before he is baptized. We are putting him on date soon for April 2, but I have no doubt that he will say yes.

This work really is the best work you could do and I am soooo grateful I get to do this for two years. I still have not had one bad day since I came on my mission. I really think this is something I've been meant to do. We have been having a ton of fun here! Since all the members are so awesome, we have dinner at there houses every single night. I am a little worried I might gain a little weight just here in California;). Last night we ate at Bro Samualo's house and I don't think I've been so full in my life. I get to the point to where I'm full and they just put more food on my plate lol. I've learned how to deal with it though, that is to grab a little at a time so it looks like you are eating more and to always save room because there is always dessert. The other day, K.. (a member) took us out for steak and was just super nice. He was the one who texted you those pictures. I love K.. because he always hooks us up even when we don't need it. Apparently he is super rich, so he just wants to help out any way he can. Even the other day he was saying he saw fit bits at the store for $100 and asked if we wanted to each have one. We obviously said no, but that's just how K.. is.

I wish I had time to tell you more, but I'll have next week. I love you mom so much!
-Elder Bryner


Excerpts from Dad's email:

Hey Dad!

I have had so many discussions already, I couldn't really give you a number. We have had pretty good success talking to people so far and pretty soon here we will have two people on date. I have taught the first two lessons a ton so far, but I think this week will be the week I get to teach everything else. The mornings are always the best, because that is our time to do personal study and comp study. I never thought that I would like studying in the scriptures, but I really do. We like to have deep doctrine discussions, so I have already learned some really cool stuff that I never knew before. We have talked a lot about the second coming for some reason, I guess because it is such a cool subject.

Love you pop!
-Elder Bryner

Wow, it's a gorilla

Not sure what this contraption is. Elder Terminator in the background.

A visit to Wal-mart

Text from member in Cali

Area: Ironwood Ward in Moreno Valley
Companion: Elder Smith

Got a text from a member that took Jaren and three other elders to dinner.  It's amazing how wonderful people can be.  We really appreciate those that are looking out for our missionaries.


Text Excerpts:

Hey your son says hi :) he's doing well.  Your son is the nicest kid ever. He is so funny and fun to be around. You raised him well. He says to tell you he loves you.... I'm a member in the area he is in. I like spending time with them. Thanks for raising such a cool son! He's enjoying his time here as you can probably tell... I bring them out for dinner sometimes. I just love them.

Amazing experience finding a new member

Email #5
Area: Ironwood Ward in Moreno Valley
Companion: Elder Smith

Excerpts from Mom's email:

Talofa Mom!

Wow I don't even know where to start. This week is so packed with stories I don't think I will be able to tell you half of them. First off, I love it here so much in Riverside! My companion is so awesome. His name is Elder Smith and he has been out for 19 months so he knows what he is doing for sure. I've learned so much from him already and I love him like a brother. We share a four man apartment with two other missionaries (Elder HolyOak & Aland). They are really cool as well and we all have become really close. We have a car so that's good. We listen to talks a lot because my comp has some really funny talks on his USB that are also really interesting.

I'm in the Ironwood Ward in Moreno Valley and guess what! I'm in an all Samoan ward haha! It's sooooo awesome you don't even know! They are all so nice and we get fed every single night with amazing food, so don't worry about me starving any time soon. I even am learning some Samoan language. Talofa means hello by the way, but I've learned more then that. Patriarch& Kio is teaching us a lot and even is giving me a Lava Lava sometime this week, so I'll send pics of that next week.

It's so cool on Sunday in this ward, because it's a pretty big ward and everyone is a great singer so hymns are cool to listen to. I have already had some crazy experiences so far in Cali. One of the cool things was my second night out. Our last appointment fell through so we decided to stop by this new member in the ward and welcome him since we got a message about it. We knocked on the door and this guy answers the door with his hood on and kind of intimidating at first so we said "hey is Jeffery here?". He looks at us all confused and asked how we knew where he lived. Apparently he just moved here from out of state and nobody knew he was even moving let alone where he lived. Then he closed the door and came back wearing a button up shirt and said "lets go for a walk". He ended up telling us that he was just praying to God asking why he isn't in his life anymore and yelling to him to send him a sign. Next thing he knew we knocked on his door. While he was telling us this, he started to cry and just had to hug us. He said that this was a sign that he just could not deny and came to church with us yesterday. It was really cool because we asked around about how we got this guy's address, but nobody knew. God words in mysterious ways I guess.

A few nights ago the youth in one of the wards put on this dinner for the missionaries. They put on comedian acts, sang and danced for us, and we even had one of our own impressions. It was a really fun night. It is crazy to me just how nice these members are to us. Just last night one of the members who had us over told us to really stop by anytime if we don't have a dinner planned. We have a couple of members who have told us that. There are a few rough areas around, but luckily I don't go in those areas. Most of the area that we cover is very safe and the people 90 percent of the time are nice. There are a few here and there that tell us to beat it and stuff like that, but not really a big deal haha. I really am starting to love it here and I think it might be hard to say goodbye and go to Australia eventually.

I really do love every missionary I have met so far, especially my comp and my roommates. We have a lot of fun and we still get a lot done. I never have known as much as I do now about the gospel. We talk about deep doctrine every night and we study every morning, so at this rate I should be a pretty knowledgeable missionary here soon. I want to go to the bookstore later today and buy Jesus the Christ and other books like that so I can read them. We have a pretty good amount of free time at night, so I could finish those at some point. Oh, I'm also learning how to do some pretty funny things from my roommates. Elder HollyOak is teaching me some cords on the guitar and I guess it's a thing in this mission to know how to do a Rubik cube. I know that's a little weird, but I guess its just a thing you have to learn here idk why.

Well I need to write everyone else, so read there emails for more haha. Love you mom so much! -Elder Bryner


Excerpts from Dad's email:

Hey Dad!

So this week has just been crazy. I'm in the Samoan ward so kind of got what I wanted if you remember. They are the most loving people ever. I've really come to love the scripture Joshua 1:9. It has brought me much comfort while I've been out.

Yesterday during sacrament meeting, they asked me to bare my testimony and I told them about my favorite thing I have learned so far and that is the character of Christ and how I can strive to be more like him. The Christ like love that you start to have for these people is just amazing. I didn't even know that it was possible to care for people that you just met. I've always been a loving person I guess, but this is a whole different story. I really love being a missionary. My companion was even talking about how scary it is to think that he is going home in a couple of months. It might sound weird, but it is making me nervous about going home too and I just got here LOL. Out here, I can focus all my time on missionary work and just feel happy all the time. I feel like this is the only time in my life that I will be able to feel the way I do 24/7. I want to use all the time I have to its fullest. I heard that this mission has a pretty high baptism rate. My companion even thinks I might have a few before I leave which is a totally crazy thing to think about.
 
Being out in the field is a totally different thing then being in the MTC . The days feel a lot faster then they did a week ago and we are getting a lot more done. Some of the funnest things surprisingly is the service assignments. They can be really hard, but honestly we always find a way to make it fun. It also helps that our service assignments are freaking awesome. So get this, a couple of days ago we went to this army base and this display area where they fix up old planes and helicopters from like WW1 and WW2. We got to sand this fighter jet so they could repaint it. We also put these rivets in this chopper's propellers. I don't know why this is a service activity, but it was one of the coolest things ever. It was even right next to the base where jets were taking off ever 20 min. I've never seen anything like it in my life. Even the sanders that we got to use were high tech looking haha, its hard to explain. I'll be able to send pictures of it next time, because I guess we get to go there once a week so I'll bring my camera next time.

Since we are in a car a lot of the time, we like to listen to talks. Curtis Jacobs is actually my favorite so far. We listened to a talk about the second coming and it really makes you think if you are prepared for it or not. It really could come at any time and I use to be afraid for it, but now I'm actually really excited for it. Think about it, even when everything goes bad for a bit, it will soon after be as the Terrestrial kingdom, so great that we can't even imagine the glory. Talks like that really interest me and I have leaned a lot just from them. Somehow my companion is super knowledgeable in deep doctrine, so I learn a lot from him as well. I also get to ask president one question per transfer. It literally could be about anything at all and from what I hear, he has an answer for pretty much any question you could think of. I need to think of a good one for him so if you have any deep doctrine questions I could ask, let me know. Mine right now is a kind of dumb one, but nobody seems to have a good answer for me yet. Its basically about the dinosaurs and there purpose.

Love you Dad soooo much! I miss you! Take care of everyone at home for me and hang in there! 
-Elder Bryner

Ward Elder Bryner is serving in: Ironwood Ward

Last pictures from the MTC

On the way to Califorina

President and Sister Mullen and Elder Bryner

Interesting singing video

Funny impression video

Arrival in Califorina

Email from President
Area: Moreno Valley
Companion: Elder Nathan Tanner Smith

We received an email from President Mullen, Jaren's new mission president in the California Riverside Mission.

Dear Brother and Sister Bryner,

We are so grateful to have Elder Jaren Robert Bryner join us here in the California Riverside Mission! It was exciting to meet him at the airport. I had the opportunity to interview your missionary and we were able to hear his testimony before having dinner together. We have been impressed with his testimony and desire to serve. It has been a privilege to get to know him.

Elder Bryner is now hard at work in his new area, the MORENO VALLEY Zone with his companion Elder Nathan Tanner Smith.

Preparation day is Monday; most missionaries choose to email their family on that day. We encourage you to write or email weekly as well. Thank you for keeping your letters positive, uplifting and encouraging Elder Bryner to work hard and take advantage of the time spent here in doing the work of the Lord.

As we visited with him, this is what he said about his family: "They probably have every talent in the book."  He is most excited to see how the gospel can change lives.

We look forward to a wonderful experience together with your missionary.  Thank you for preparing one worthy to serve.  May God continue to bless you.

Sincerely,

John H. Mullen, President

Sister Mullen, Elder Bryner & President Mullen

Elder Bryner & Elder Smith

Elder Bryner