First email from MTC

Excerpts from first email to Mom in the MTC

Hey mom! I'm at the MTC now and they gave us some time to write. It is very hard being here without you right by my side, but this will be a good experience for me and you and the family. It's about 3:30 here and we are already getting into it with everything.  The flight from London was really good and got a lot of sleep and wrote in my journal for the first time.  When I got here it felt so right and it was so cool when I got here. I got all my bags and everything came.
I won't have time to email everyone today, but tell everyone that I love them. Its been a crazy couple of days I'll try and send the pictures that I have when I have enough time. It's not our p-day, but they're letting us write for like 5 to 10 minutes.  I can already see what its going to be like in the MTC and its going to be really hard. I think once I get out into the field it will be a lot easier and I think it will be really cool to have a trainer.  I've met every missionary here and they each have their own great personalities. My MTC companion is from Zimbabwe and has some crazy stories I'll have to tell you about later. I'll email as much as I can to everyone, but you're right about the writting.  But I will try and write as much as I can. I'm not sure when my p-day is yet. Its going to be quite an adventure and it will go by really fast. Everyone that I have talked to says it goes by so fast and they wish they could stay in their mission. I know you and everyone can do it. I love you and tell everyone I love them.

Elder Bryner.

Arrival at MTC in Johannesburg

Elder Bryner arrived at the MTC in Johannesburg on Wednesday Oct.30th. We have been very blessed to receive a lot of updates and pictures from Sis Reber. The MTC president's wife. We don't know her, but we grown to love her for taking good care of our missionary!

Email from: Sister Reber
All 23 missionaries have arrived safe and sound.  Elder Packard's luggage didn't arrive until today, but now it is here and everything is in order.  They are getting to know each other and are with new companions in divided into two districts.

I am Sister Reber at the MTC, wife of the MTC President.  If you would like to receive more updates, please let me know.

Love,
Sister Janet Reber
South Africa MTC

South Africa Bound

This was a really hard and emotional day. Nothing can really prepare you for the feelings that come with sending off a missionary. The feeling of hugging him and knowing that you won't get that hug for two years is hard to swallow. At the same time we know that he is doing what Heavenly Father wants him to do. We know that this will be a great experience for him and that he will learn and grow so much. We put our son in the Lord's hands. We pray daily for his safety and that the people of South Africa will be ready to hear his message.

Elder Bryner & Family

Elder Bryner & Curtis

Elder Bryner & Grandma Bryner

On his way :-(

Going through security

He had a long journey to get there. It took him 22 hours of flight time and a 12 hour layover in London. He met up with six missionaries on his way. He had a great opportunity to go on a tour of London. A member that lives in London picked them up and showed them around. He went to see Big Ben & Buckingham Palace and many more.

A Farewell

James gave a great talk in sacrament. Jaela sang Teach Me To Walk In The Light and If The Savior Stood Beside Me. We appreciate all the love and support from family and friends. We wish we would have got more pictures.

Missionary Pictures

Missionary pictures at the Salt Lake City Temple.