We kept our faith burning strong...

Email #57
Area: Mildura South Pickers of the Marion Zone
Companion: Elder Fala & Elder Siaosi

Excerpts from Mom's email:

This past week has been a humbling experience once again. Last week we struggled even as a zone with new investigators. It almost felt like the field was dry. It tested our faith just a little because we were supposed to be seeing a lot of success with the pickers. We kept our faith burning strong knowing there is more out there. We set a goal as a zone for 10 new investigators, that being the highest the zone has had in a long time. Then we worked our hearts out trying to build each areas teaching pool, ours being only one at the beginning of the week do to all the pickers going home. Then all through the Lord's grace, we found 21 New investigators this week, 12 of them being from our area!!!! This was a true miracle! We know now that the field is white, all ready to harvest! With God blessing us with the elect to teach, we will be sure to help them each now to progress toward baptism!

Seven of those twelve that we found were Samoan pickers. Just yesterday, two of them came to church with a few member friends. We talked to them and they were curious to learn about the gospel, so we held a class right there in church to teach them the Restoration. Later even had dinner with them at a member's home. Following dinner, they told us how grateful they were to learn and excited to learn more. Then they also told us where we could find 10 of their other friend in two different locations. We immediately went to follow up with the first 5 they told us about and taught them! We are as well going to be following up with the other 5 later today! That is only a drop in the bucket as well! There are hundreds of Samoan pickers coming in, in two weeks from yesterday! Great things are coming! Teaching in Samoan is a challenge for sure. The culture is different to reach and more time consuming it seems like in a lesson only being able to cover part of the Restoration Lesson, but we will work on that.

All glory to God for this miracle this past week and for the miracles to come! Love serving here! I hope this in some way blesses you all back home as well. I love you so much!

-Elder Bryner


Excerpts from Dad's email:

Hey Dad!

Man, much of what you have said is exactly what I have been thinking about. That example that you have set of hard work is a massive part of why I am even out on a mission in the first place. I felt like back home I just couldn't find any joy in work. Especially yard work as I told mom haha, but for some reason on my mission it is different. We do yard work all the time for people and I love it! Even today we spent all morning clearing out our own flat. The flat we are using has been used by missionaries since 2005 and it has build up quite a bit of junk over time! We decided to ask Elder Smith to bring a trailer so we can dump all the stuff and make it possible to feel the spirit in the flat. It's hard work and man exactly what you are saying about work not being all in with the effort, that is exactly what I felt like this morning clearing the flat out.

Like you said as well, there was something big this week! Told mom about much of it. There is great things that are happening! It has been a great experience! The down side to all this is while focusing on the zone and my area, I have had little to know time to focus on myself. My studies have been lacking a lot because I have other things to organize. My prayers feel shorter because I am just so tired at night. Idk what it is, I think it is just something I need to learn as well. I need somewhere to build my strength to do everything else as well if that makes any sense.

One crazy experience I had was saying a few words in Samoan following dinner at a members. It is part of their culture for the host to say a few words in the high language and then the guests to give thanks as well. It was the dinner where our new investigators where there and there was about 13 people at this dinner and I had to say a few things in Samoan. Everyone there except me was Samoan so all the conversation was in Samoan. I understand a little, but it was pretty funny to now understand half of what was said. My Samoan is improving, but still have much to learn!

Love you heaps and have a good week!