Elder Jaren Bryner A LDS Missionary Down Under in Adelaide Australia: 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