Christmas in Motupa

Email #61
Area: Motupa
Companion: Elder Downs

Hey Everyone,

Skyping was a little hectic, but I was happy that it all worked out good! Hopefully new years eve and day are fun, but the plan is that the zone is coming up here and just hanging out and having activities that we plan. It isn't sounding too exciting, but we will see what happens. The rest of the week was good, I spoke in sacrament with my comp so that was nice! It actually has been pretty nice the rest of the week with the temperature, but it has been really humid is all! We have a baptism this Sunday so I will be sure to send pics, it is doctor the 9 year old that his family are members. The Santa suit was fun and the gift box was some stuff from the members throughout the mission that wanted to do something for us. They weren't able to do stuff for their kids, because of the strike so they put those together for us. A tie, flashlight, socks, journal, a cd with the bear story about President Dunn and some other stuff that I can't remember. It was nice to get something like that. I took a few pics of Christmas and funny thing is that Elder Hepworth has the same tie as me, both were sent by our girlfriends funny how they do those things! I hope that you have a good new years!!

Love,
Elder Bryner

Elder Bryner and Elder Hepworth with matching ties from their girlfriends.

Senior couples in the zone

Elder Bryner sporting his Santa outfit.

This is how they carry stuff in the Motupa village.

Emails from Elder and Sister Heyen

Area: Motupa
Companion: Elder Downs

We all had a great time together on Christmas morning. I've attached some pictures from the festivities. As you can see, he was opening presents and even modeled his new Santa suit for us. The cowboy hat came from a white elephant gift exchange.
Elder Heyen

Lebola wedding and meeting people on the street

Email #60
Area: Motupa
Companion: Elder Downs

Excerpts from Dad's email:

Last week was hectic trying to get an email in because of the business, but it was the same today maybe even worse. I wish I could have had my camera and take pics and vids of all the people. I think for awhile we will email later, because well it is free and faster. We are suppose to go into the area at 6, but we have to be home at 6:30 and it takes 30 min. to get to the area, so yeah that kinda doesn't work so we figured why not just go emailing at that time. This week was pretty nice, it rained a little but it was sooooo sooooo hot and just almost unbearable to be outside. So most of the time we stood under a tree for a few minutes and then kept walking to the appointment. We had a few parties this past week with the group. One was for a Lebola wedding. So that is how they marry traditionally here and I got to witness it as well as my comp and a senior couple. So that was really cool to see how they do things here. On friday we ran into a lady that was just wondering if we were jehovah's witness's and at that point I knew that they have met missionaries before. So turns out she got a Book of Mormon last year and has been reading it. Another guy was there that is a father to one of the sisters in the group that just left for her mission about a couple months ago. He is not a member, but hopefully something will turn out of those two. We had a booth type thing where we had all the missionaries, 8 and some of the members that came and we just talked with everyone that was on the street and we got a few potentials from that. Things are getting better with the devil worship stuff just cause we walk a ton and we try and talk with everyone. Just try to look friendly as possible waiving at everyone and greeting them in their language which helps a lot.

Feeding lions, tigers and monkeys. Lots of pictures.

Email #59
Area: Motupa
Companion: Elder Downs

Hey Everyone,

Well I am okay I am just emailing late, because it was so packed today at the mall that we go to and near the mall that is where we email at in the internet cafe. But it was too busy because Christmas and tomorrow is a holiday as well and we just couldn't even find a place to park. So it was pretty bad and we almost were going to have to wait to go shopping tomorrow as well. We managed to go and do that. The village is really good and it seems like the people are starting to warm up to us and see that we are not devil worshipers. So that is a nice relief, but yet still people are too busy or something to see us or they are just to stubborn and don't want to learn or anything! But I really like it and it is going good so far and we are having a lot at church too. The village is our only area we go to, so we walk everyday haha. So I will be getting in pretty good shape so that will be nice!!!! I have bought a lot of fruit so I bring that and there are a ton of mango trees and stuff so the mangos are a good snack in the area!!

Comp is really sweet, we get along the best in the district and we pray together at night when we go to sleep and stuff just like I did with my son. So we get along great and so that is good!! I loved Elder Going, yeah I think so but all my comps have been great. I can't really pick and choose the best to the worst haha. No we don't get fed more, it is just I am trying to budget my mission card to see how I can do it and we only go out to eat on Mondays usually now. Before we went out to eat a lot more and I bought pants and a gps in Secunda as well. But I am not sure what I am going to get for Christmas OHHHH and I almost forgot I GOT MY HUMP DAY PACKAGE!!! It was so nice and I guess mine is the only one that has come in for awhile!!! So that is way nice!! No it is safe I just don't want to take it because you can't really swipe your card anywhere in a village anyways haha so I just bring some cash with me and getting a new card would be hard!! I sent heaps of pics today like 72, so hope you like all of them so make sure you look them. So yeah investigators are okay we have a few that are doing good, but a few are annoying and won't do anything. So hope that you have a good week and that you are keeping well!!!

Love,
Elder Bryner

Zone Conference

His new flat

Building on the right is where they hold church

Elder Bryner, Elder Downs...

Young wildebeest

Nice kitty kitty, don't eat his thumb

Ouch there goes his thumb

There are some claws on that cat

Hope those guys are watching and he doesn't get chewed on, Elder Bryner is looking a little red

hmmm...looks like Elder Bryner needed some help

Tiger eating a chicken

Map of their area

Book of Mormon in braille

Wow...that is too hot, 12/5 and 110 degrees

Couple missionaries with President and Sister Dunn at zone conference

Elder Cook and Elder Bryner

Sporting his Colt pride and there is that tongue :-)