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

Email #68
Area: Katherine
Companion: Elder Justin

Excerpts from Mom's email:

The week started with one of the farthest transfers I think you could go on. It started with traveling from Mildura to Adelaide, then a 5 hour plane ride from Adelaide to Darwin, and then another 3 hour drive from Darwin to Katherine. I would be curious to see just how far that transfer was, but it would be hard for me to figure that one out haha. It was great to start the week in Darwin to be able to experience for the first time the Northern Territory in Australia. That was just the beginning though, because once we got out here I was able to see kind of what it is like in the outback haha.

I really really love the kids here! They are just all so awesome! This is very different, because so many people seem to know the missionaries here. We go street contacting in town and my companion seems to know almost everyone that we talk to. Then we go to the small communities that are around Katherine such as Benjari and Rockhole. This is where a large number of aboriginals live. I love them haha! They are just how other missionaries described it to be. Very kind people, just many of them have a word of wisdom problem of some kind. I thought it was pretty funny to be honest though that they call it "Grog" like in Pirates of the Caribbean haha.

Right now we are working with one man who is on baptismal date named W...... He is really good, he always is there when we visit, he always is excited to learn, and he remembers the things we teach him. The only problem again is trying to give up smoking. Daily contact here I have learned is key, because not many of them have phones and if you go a while with no contact, you never know what might happen.

Contacting is very different as well. You just have to be super excited to see them to get any excitement out of them haha. My companion is really good at it, but not me quite yet haha it just feels fake to me when I do it. I usually am really real with people and that has always worked for me. I will have to find the balance for sure it is just a matter of adjustment.

What a crazy week! I will share more with dad as always so there are more details there don't worry:).
Love you heaps!

Excerpts from Dad's email:

Hey Dad!

Yeah when I arrived here there was half the zone waiting for us at the gate! That was pretty cool, but a huge surprise. Pretty much all the elders in the zone and the senior couple were there to welcome all of us. I flew up here with 3 other elders and more new missionaries I believe came in today. Things are a little weird being out of leadership out here to be honest. Luckily President came up here and I was able to talk to him about it. It was there very last visit and they are seeing all the zones one last time. They were here on Saturday and we had a big family home evening for much of the day. I was then able to talk to President that night about the changes, because I never had the chance to find out why all the changes until then. All I can say is it is for good reason. He said I will probably go back to leadership once I leave here, but he can't say for sure of course because he won't be the mission president here. It was a really sad last meeting, because I really am going to miss them. Saying goodbye to first president in the interview was very heartfelt and I know he loves me so much. How grateful I am for him! He has helped me more then I could ever express on my mission! Then once our last meet was through, I walked out and Sister Parker was there. I don't think she was ready because we actually were the first to missionaries she had to say goodbye to. Haha she was so close to hugging me because both of us are sooks haha, but you knew she did not like that rule haha. I'm so grateful for this last meeting with them! I just knew how much they care and it meant soooo much to me!

Following that, we had to go to bed right away, because we had to wake up early at 5:30am to drive back to Katherine. We have to run 3 sacrament meetings here, so we had to be here. It was unfortunate because the Parkers were up there for church, so we were the first to say goodbye to. We were even the first zone they have visited. They still will be here for a while, so it is okay and I know that they live close by at home so I look forward to seeing them again!

Church was really cool, we first hold it in Katherine with some members in the smallest branch I have seen yet! Then we go to the communities and hold it there. One of the communities mostly were all the kids and both of them we just hold it outside on these benches! Pretty different for sure!

Earlier in the week we help a mutual program for the kids and that was just so awesome! They are all great kids and even was able to get a few pictures. They somehow got a hold of my camera and just started taking pics so will have to keep that out of reach next time haha.

Probably are going to be a little confused with the pics and videos but I will try to explain on chat.

Love you heaps!