Elder Jaren Bryner A LDS Missionary Down Under in Adelaide Australia: One of my favorite zone conferences I've had in my mission!

Email #83
Area: Oaklands Park
Companion: Elder Turcotte

Excerpts from Mom's email:

Hey Mom!

This week had a few trials to get through, but I am happy with how things turned out! It was also full of some really good times and a few funny moments.

The beginning of the week had a really great start with our District pday. We went to go and hike mount lofty again! It is one of the best hikes around and I really enjoyed it. It is a little bit difficult especially the trail we had to take this time around due to others being under construction. At the end of the hike, there were a couple of sore missionaries haha, but it was a lot of fun! We saw some wildlife as well which is always nice.

Through the week we have been trying to use more public transport which is so strange to me because back at home, I never road a bus besides a school bus haha. It has worked really well though honestly! We will be headed to one part of our area to follow up with a few people and on the way we found once 3 people in like 30 min which is a very good rate here! There are some days where you find 3 potentials in a whole day, so I really like this bus finding! People can't slam a door in your face or run away from you haha! Gives the spirit more of a chance to do it's work! My favorite bus to catch are the ones with the "Meet The Mormons" sign on it because it's like we are giving them a fair warning before they hop on!😂

After Pday on Monday we went to the mission home at the request of President Marquis. Turned out we spent the rest of the night there with President and Sister Marquis and the STL's in the zone and the Assistants. We had dinner with them and discussed and planned an event for Thursday. It was a Marion stake leadership training. So that was cool to plan out and put together with all of them and good to be in the mission home again for the first time in ages! Then on Thursday we gave the training to all the leadership in the Marion Stake even over the internet for those in outlying wards. The training was on what our mission plan is (circles around family history and the temple) and gave a training on how we can do it together. It was pretty nerve racking at first because these were not a bunch of missionaries, but ward and stake leaders we were training. It turned out really great though and was a great experience to be a part of.

Then on Tuesday we had our Zone conference! It was another really great one and we had some great training! Honestly was one of my favorite zone conferences I've had in my mission! President did this segment on proper studies and studying by topic that I feel will help so much! As well he answered a doctrinal question in depth because it is one people ask us quite a bit. He didn't give us this knowledge so we could bible bash, but so we know for ourselves. Now I completely understand in some detail how to answer the question "How do you have additional scripture if it says in the bible not to add on to these things?". I knew to a degree before, but now wow you taught us a lot so nicely and fluently. Also taught me a few concepts of master teaching.

We got some clarification now with the new mission rules and what they are. We got a new binder that has all of our mission policies in it and there are a few that many missionaries are having a hard time with. One being the music not being able to listen to it except at certain times. Not even in the car which is the only one I've had to accept because driving far distances suck with no music. It is okay though we just talk a lot now lol.

Love you!

Excerpts from Dad's email:

Hey Dad!

So we played what are the odds a few times this week for some reason or another and I am sending a few ridiculous videos home, but I think they are funny. Elder Peckipaki kept losing, so it made it funny to us. Jaela can probably explain what that game is I am guessing.

Today we are so dang busy! We have a flat inspection at 5:30 today which has made us have to clean like crazy! Having 4 Elders in one flat makes it really hard to keep clean when only one or two of you try to keep it clean! Plus we don't have a lawn mower, so we had to use a push one. Maybe I can send the vid of that to of my companion. I used the whipper snipper. Then at about 1:00 today we have district Pday with the other district over in the sisters area near the beach. I think we are just playing sports and stuff for this one.

This week work wise was really slow. Not much progression with those we teach and didn't find anybody new this week:((. Was a hard one, but it was spaced out with some meetings and things we had to go do. For example, there were sisters in the zone who were riding their bikes and one of their skirts got caught up in the chain and ripped it to shreds. So the senior couple in charge of that stuff were to busy and asked us to go and try to fix the bike. So we get to their flat and take apart her brakes because it was REALLY stuck! So that took ages, but got it all fixed up!

Love you