He suffered an INFINITE Atonement

Email #69
Area: Katherine
Companion: Elder Justin

Excerpts from Mom's email:

Hey Mom!

The kids here are so great I think they are what I like most about it. That picture that you saw was just one of the communities that we went to, but there is another one I am not sure if she posted any pictures for it or not. I saw the one of us running which I thought was pretty funny we were just rounding up those that we could and knew that we were running a little bit late. It has been a humbling experience, but not in ways that I thought or probably you are thinking. I think this is a place you are more able to find yourself. Not having extra responsibility at the moment with a zone leader position has given me time that I have not had my whole mission to study. This extra time has made a difference that I did not expect. I have held it sacred. My understanding for things I have had questions about has increased. I am feeling happier! I feel like I am becoming something more. This is just a side note, but I just am really grateful for this and I am more and more seeing that the course that I am on is where I am meant to be.

We have been holding movie nights in the Rockhole community and has been pretty successful. Basically we bring a church movie/video that we can base a lesson around and they really love their movies there! We started just with one of our investigators and then the kids just started showing up. We just got a projector from a member, so we are going to set something up at a little bit larger scale to try to get more there.

One of the videos you will see that there are a few peacocks! That was when we went to go and visit one of the inactive members here. He has a farm full of them so that was pretty cool! He is an interesting guy talking about meditation and nature and things like that. The whole time I felt like he was reading me haha. He was talking about my speech pattern and said that I was doing something called "flexing" which is I guess relating what he was talking about to another subject (the gospel of course haha).

Youth activities are really fun! Like I said, the kids are the best part of Katherine! We basically just played sports the whole time and I was warn out by the end because of the heat haha.

As always, I love you!!!
-Elder Bryner


Excerpts from Dad's email:

Hey Dad!

Well this week had some good days and some not so good days. There was two days that we did not leave the flat because of sickness :(... that was Friday and Saturday. I don't know what it was, but I just slept like I have never slept before haha! So much sleep! Those days went by really quick for me and by Sunday I was a lot better. Still not at 100%, but doing fine now. I think it might have been climate change idk haha.

Besides that, the week was pretty good. I have learned a lot about myself this week more pertaining to grace. I have known that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do"(2 Nephi 25:23). However sometimes I feel I can't even do my best. I have often wondered how I am supposed to become better if I can't even do my best. I have seen it has been through weakness, laziness from past bad habits, and just repetitive days that have held me back from doing my best. So I never understood how I am supposed to be changed by grace if I couldn't do all I can do. After much study and pondering this matter, I came to understand that Christ still is the way to do all we can do. He suffered an INFINITE Atonement, he has filled whole space! I have listened to "His Grace is Sufficient" many times, but it wasn't until I studied it out for myself that this sank into my heart. I now know that have to rely on Christ in all things. I just can't try to do my best on my own, but rely more on Christ that he may help me achieve my best, then as well he will fill the rest of the space as well. I hope that made some sense haha.

Been a lot of pondering lately. Teaching here is really really simple. Most of the knowledge that I gain in my personal study I can't use, but it has increased my testimony. At this point I know how to teach simply and to help them understand, now my focus is increasing my ability to help them feel the spirit even more!

We are teaching W..... still and he is two week away from his baptismal date! He has cut back his smoking almost to none! Sometimes still he slips up and he tells us in a really sorry voice "sorry I smoked one", but we know he can make it. He has a desire! It is really cool to see these people that understand the gospel on a very basic level still be able to have such a strong testimony.

Love you and have a good week!