Email #95
Area: Motupa
Companion: Elder Kosi-poku
Excerpts from Mom's email:
Yeah sorry I didn't have time to send them, but today I did and I sent some from when I left Kwaguqa. We went with the Campbells and the Butlers as well and yeah they both still feed us. The referrals were kinda of a let down, but we had a new guy come to church and we saw him yesterday and it was his second time coming to church, his name is Solomon. I'm not really sure about going to the temple with them if I'm still here I would assume I could, but at this point I'm not really sure. Yeah I think it is expired but I don't think I will be going to the temple until I go home.
Excerpts from Dad's email:
It has been a great journey and I have so many wonderful memories that I will take with me for the rest of my life. The teaching is going well and we found some new people and we had a new person come to church yesterday and she is a sister to a recent convert named Julia. We also had two other investigators come to church and we went and saw one of them that we have never taught before his name is Solomon. He was invited to church by his sister who isn't a member, but she told him that he should come and visit and yesterday we sat down with him and 4 other people in his family, one of the members came with us that is an older man so that was nice to have him there with us. Things are turning around slowly right now but they are turning. A lot of families have fallen apart over the past few months so we're trying to bring them back together. Kruger was so sweet and I got a lot of pics. we saw elephants, monkeys, buffalo, and some others that I can't really remember but you can see them pretty well in the pics I sent. I am so happy that I chose to come on a mission and that I have stuck it out this long and made it this far. I definitely won't regret the decision I made and now that it is almost over I see now that life is about to start but 2 years in God's work has been a huge part of my life and I am so blessed with everything I have ever been given.
Love,
Elder Bryner
Monday, August 31, 2015
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Working with less actives
Email #94
Area: Motupa
Companion: Elder Kosi-poku
Excerpts from Mom's email:
Well I'm just peachy haha! We went to Kruger national park yesterday so we are emailing today well me and my comp. I took heaps of pics so I will try and send some of them, I changed the setting on the camera so some of them are higher quality to I will send as many as I can because it will take some time for them to send. Well last week was good and unfortunately Pinky told us that she will be out of town for the next 3 weeks at her moms place so that is a buzz kill. We got some referrals this past week so hopefully those will go somewhere. Not really too much to report on, but at church yesterday was quite funny. We don't really have a pianist so when the Meldrums were here they taught piano so now the kids that took the class are now playing the piano in sacrament meeting so you can imagine how that goes haha. So this Sunday one of them, a boy named Phetole, was playing high on a mountain top and basically having some trouble so in the end me and my comp were the only ones singing the hymn haha. It was so funny, but hopefully the group will get better as time goes on. The less active lady is still well less active and we haven't been able to find her at her house. She is actually the relief society pres I think I told the story, but yeah we're still trying with her. They are preparing to go to the temple here in about a month and one of the recent converts that was baptized the week before I got here, the first time, will be a year shortly and so she is really excited about the temple and everything about it. Things are good with my comp I really like him we really get along well and have common interests like soccer and sports and stuff. You know I am not really sure who my favorite comp is I don't really have one. Time with Elder Kelly was good and I learned a lot with him. His story is unique and it was more of encouragement and that things will work out for him were things we talked about, but it was nice. Io ideas on last area unfortunately, but most likely here because my comp has been here now six months. Favorite area is Cosmo and Kwaguqa, but they all have left a mark on me forever. Yeah I guess I'm excited for the most part, seeing you and the family will be nice.
Excerpts from Dad's email:
Yeah so Pinky went to her moms place for 3 weeks so now we haven't seen her for awhile so hopefully when she gets back we can start where we left off. It seems to go like that when you get a good person they just go somewhere for a time and return a different person so we'll see how she does when she gets back. I told mom most of the stuff that happened this past week but its hard to think that in less than 3 months I'll be home. To think of the amount of people I have met in just two years is weird and I just want to keep that relationship with as many as possible.
Love,
Elder Bryner
Area: Motupa
Companion: Elder Kosi-poku
Excerpts from Mom's email:
Well I'm just peachy haha! We went to Kruger national park yesterday so we are emailing today well me and my comp. I took heaps of pics so I will try and send some of them, I changed the setting on the camera so some of them are higher quality to I will send as many as I can because it will take some time for them to send. Well last week was good and unfortunately Pinky told us that she will be out of town for the next 3 weeks at her moms place so that is a buzz kill. We got some referrals this past week so hopefully those will go somewhere. Not really too much to report on, but at church yesterday was quite funny. We don't really have a pianist so when the Meldrums were here they taught piano so now the kids that took the class are now playing the piano in sacrament meeting so you can imagine how that goes haha. So this Sunday one of them, a boy named Phetole, was playing high on a mountain top and basically having some trouble so in the end me and my comp were the only ones singing the hymn haha. It was so funny, but hopefully the group will get better as time goes on. The less active lady is still well less active and we haven't been able to find her at her house. She is actually the relief society pres I think I told the story, but yeah we're still trying with her. They are preparing to go to the temple here in about a month and one of the recent converts that was baptized the week before I got here, the first time, will be a year shortly and so she is really excited about the temple and everything about it. Things are good with my comp I really like him we really get along well and have common interests like soccer and sports and stuff. You know I am not really sure who my favorite comp is I don't really have one. Time with Elder Kelly was good and I learned a lot with him. His story is unique and it was more of encouragement and that things will work out for him were things we talked about, but it was nice. Io ideas on last area unfortunately, but most likely here because my comp has been here now six months. Favorite area is Cosmo and Kwaguqa, but they all have left a mark on me forever. Yeah I guess I'm excited for the most part, seeing you and the family will be nice.
Excerpts from Dad's email:
Yeah so Pinky went to her moms place for 3 weeks so now we haven't seen her for awhile so hopefully when she gets back we can start where we left off. It seems to go like that when you get a good person they just go somewhere for a time and return a different person so we'll see how she does when she gets back. I told mom most of the stuff that happened this past week but its hard to think that in less than 3 months I'll be home. To think of the amount of people I have met in just two years is weird and I just want to keep that relationship with as many as possible.
Love,
Elder Bryner
Monday, August 17, 2015
Teaching new people
Email #93
Area: Motupa
Companion: Elder Kosi-poku
Excerpts from Mom's email:
Yeah its nice to be back in Motupa and to see familiar faces and everything. Yeah it was a miracle to be able to confirm her and see that. Well in my last area they were planning to do helping hands and everything, but I am sure that it went well and we didn't really do anything special or big for women's day. Yeah I am going to miss all these people and I know I won't ever forget them. The week was a little hard, because it's difficult to find people to teach but the part member families are our best bet for teaching people so those will bring some good things. I told dad the story about the lady we taught this past week. I can't even believe how old those two are it just blows me away how big they have gotten and to think how long I have been away. Its crazy and I am happy I will be able to see Jaren's graduation and everything. I hope that the plans that I have to come back next June will go through because I really want to come back. But yeah time is short and it still hasn't hit me, it still feels like I have a long time left. I do have mixed feelings about coming home and it makes me really sad actually I mean of course I love you and the rest of the family but these people really have made an impact on my life and to have to leave them not knowing the next time I will see them hurts. I hope I can stay in contact with most of them. yeah I came back right as the heat is about to hit hahaha, but yeah having the truck makes a huge difference and not having to walk in the heat is nice.
Excerpts from Dad's email:
Yeah it was a good week, it is hard to find new people to teach for sure and the part member families are a slow, but a effective process. We met a lady this week her name is Pinky, she is around 30 and has 3 kids. She was given the Book of Mormon by the senior couples when they were here and she read it, not the whole thing but parts of it. We went over the Godhead and up to Joseph Smith and the priesthood and she asks really good questions, she also thought that God was a spirit and most people do here so its nice to see the look on their face when we tell them that He has a body like we do. We explain that if we were created in the image of God and your children are created in the image of you and they look like you and if we are children of God then we should look one in the same. Some disagree, but she understood and it made sense to her that to have a relationship with God he must be a person. We talked about how the spirit will testify of truth to her and she opened the Book of Mormon to a scripture that says that an evil spirit teaches men not to pray. A good spirit teaches to pray, and we looked at each other like wow she knows that scripture haha. But it was nice to see that people take part in teaching themselves and the spirit showed her that scripture so when we meet with her this week we will see how the praying went. Other than that its hard to teach people in this area but we're trying. I took some pics before I left, but I didn't bring my camera with me today so hopefully I remember next week. That guy has been investigating the church for a long time and now I'm not sure how he is doing and I hope that the missionaries that are there will see him. I am having fun and hopefully we can plan some cool pdays here in a few weeks, but we'll see most of them have done everything already or don't have the money to do anything. Yeah service has worked for us as well especially fetching water for people, that's the main source of service that we can do here. Otherwise I am doing good and it hasn't quite hit me how much time I have left, but it will when I am down to about a week so it still feels like I have a long time.
Love,
Elder Bryner
Area: Motupa
Companion: Elder Kosi-poku
Excerpts from Mom's email:
Yeah its nice to be back in Motupa and to see familiar faces and everything. Yeah it was a miracle to be able to confirm her and see that. Well in my last area they were planning to do helping hands and everything, but I am sure that it went well and we didn't really do anything special or big for women's day. Yeah I am going to miss all these people and I know I won't ever forget them. The week was a little hard, because it's difficult to find people to teach but the part member families are our best bet for teaching people so those will bring some good things. I told dad the story about the lady we taught this past week. I can't even believe how old those two are it just blows me away how big they have gotten and to think how long I have been away. Its crazy and I am happy I will be able to see Jaren's graduation and everything. I hope that the plans that I have to come back next June will go through because I really want to come back. But yeah time is short and it still hasn't hit me, it still feels like I have a long time left. I do have mixed feelings about coming home and it makes me really sad actually I mean of course I love you and the rest of the family but these people really have made an impact on my life and to have to leave them not knowing the next time I will see them hurts. I hope I can stay in contact with most of them. yeah I came back right as the heat is about to hit hahaha, but yeah having the truck makes a huge difference and not having to walk in the heat is nice.
Excerpts from Dad's email:
Yeah it was a good week, it is hard to find new people to teach for sure and the part member families are a slow, but a effective process. We met a lady this week her name is Pinky, she is around 30 and has 3 kids. She was given the Book of Mormon by the senior couples when they were here and she read it, not the whole thing but parts of it. We went over the Godhead and up to Joseph Smith and the priesthood and she asks really good questions, she also thought that God was a spirit and most people do here so its nice to see the look on their face when we tell them that He has a body like we do. We explain that if we were created in the image of God and your children are created in the image of you and they look like you and if we are children of God then we should look one in the same. Some disagree, but she understood and it made sense to her that to have a relationship with God he must be a person. We talked about how the spirit will testify of truth to her and she opened the Book of Mormon to a scripture that says that an evil spirit teaches men not to pray. A good spirit teaches to pray, and we looked at each other like wow she knows that scripture haha. But it was nice to see that people take part in teaching themselves and the spirit showed her that scripture so when we meet with her this week we will see how the praying went. Other than that its hard to teach people in this area but we're trying. I took some pics before I left, but I didn't bring my camera with me today so hopefully I remember next week. That guy has been investigating the church for a long time and now I'm not sure how he is doing and I hope that the missionaries that are there will see him. I am having fun and hopefully we can plan some cool pdays here in a few weeks, but we'll see most of them have done everything already or don't have the money to do anything. Yeah service has worked for us as well especially fetching water for people, that's the main source of service that we can do here. Otherwise I am doing good and it hasn't quite hit me how much time I have left, but it will when I am down to about a week so it still feels like I have a long time.
Love,
Elder Bryner
Monday, August 10, 2015
Back in Motupa going strong
Email #92
Area: Motupa
Companion: Elder Kosi-poku
Excerpts from Mom's email:
Yeah it is a rare thing to be able to go back to other areas, but yeah it happens in smaller missions. It was so cool to see how much the people who got confirmed had changed and yeah I got to confirm one of them and it was so nice cuz she used to drink and go to taverns and do all this crazy stuff. Now she is totally different, she acts like a lady but she is really nice. The other lady, my comp confirmed so it was nice to be able to do that. Yesterday they had fast and testimony meeting, so it was cool because the older woman her name is Johanna, the one my comp confirmed she bore her testimony. It was in spedi, so I couldn't really understand it but I know it was powerful and she mentioned me and Elder Kalani. I think she was talking about how we tried teaching her when we were here, but she just changed over time and started listening to the lessons and got baptized and it was the same with the other girl, her name is Khutso. I am doing really good and coming back here really helped me to see that the work still goes on even when you leave. My comp is sweet I actually stayed the night at his flat the night before he was coming up here to replace me. He is from Ghana, Elder Kosi-Poku. He is way fun and he likes the area as well. We drive everyday now cuz the Meldrums the senior couple that was up here with Elder Kalani and I went home the same day I left here. Their truck stayed here and we have it now and its such a huge help. We are in the same flat and everything. It is actually cold at night, the first few nights that I was back and now it is getting hot again. I got back as soon as summer starts haha. I want to go back when the next transfer is cuz we'll be meeting at the Pretoria chapel again. We don't have meeting or anything we just show up and get our comp. The MP wasn't even there or the APs. So it was just show up and leave pretty much.
Excerpts from Dad's email:
Yeah its crazy to be back and not much has changed still in the same flat and everything. We drive now everyday so that is way nice. My comp is Elder Kosi-poku from Ghana. He is cool and I have met him before on mission, but we already get along great no problems or anything. Internet is good no problems just like before when I was here. We email at the Tzaneen chapel and pdays are still boring, but I hope to go zip lining. Unfortuantely none of the missionaries want to pay. Its about 500 rands, so they dont want to pay that much. It is such a sweet thing, my last comp showed me pics and I want to do it. Some of the old investigators got confirmed yesterday and I got to do it with one of them so that was such a cool thing and to see how much they have changed. Now we are just trying to work with part member families cuz tracting as before doesn't really work and contacting is the same. So there are quite a bit of part member families we can work with so that will be really nice. The relief society president is less active now since I left and she was so nice when I left but hopefully we can get her back soon. Pres is all about numbers and its so dumb numbers don't even matter at all, but we try our best to meet his standards. The stories are hard to tell cuz its just weird to me. To me its not that exciting like every missionary tells the same story it seems like. Oh we saw this guy and he was super powerful and we read with him, but the people here still do the fire thing and run away when they see us. They think were worship satan so that hasn't really changed. It has decreased so that is good. The same members still come out with us as before so that helps a lot. Time is short, but I think that I got transferred up here really helped me so I am happy about that. Everything is great and I know I will enjoy that last little bit I have and it will be good.
Love,
Elder Bryner
Area: Motupa
Companion: Elder Kosi-poku
Excerpts from Mom's email:
Yeah it is a rare thing to be able to go back to other areas, but yeah it happens in smaller missions. It was so cool to see how much the people who got confirmed had changed and yeah I got to confirm one of them and it was so nice cuz she used to drink and go to taverns and do all this crazy stuff. Now she is totally different, she acts like a lady but she is really nice. The other lady, my comp confirmed so it was nice to be able to do that. Yesterday they had fast and testimony meeting, so it was cool because the older woman her name is Johanna, the one my comp confirmed she bore her testimony. It was in spedi, so I couldn't really understand it but I know it was powerful and she mentioned me and Elder Kalani. I think she was talking about how we tried teaching her when we were here, but she just changed over time and started listening to the lessons and got baptized and it was the same with the other girl, her name is Khutso. I am doing really good and coming back here really helped me to see that the work still goes on even when you leave. My comp is sweet I actually stayed the night at his flat the night before he was coming up here to replace me. He is from Ghana, Elder Kosi-Poku. He is way fun and he likes the area as well. We drive everyday now cuz the Meldrums the senior couple that was up here with Elder Kalani and I went home the same day I left here. Their truck stayed here and we have it now and its such a huge help. We are in the same flat and everything. It is actually cold at night, the first few nights that I was back and now it is getting hot again. I got back as soon as summer starts haha. I want to go back when the next transfer is cuz we'll be meeting at the Pretoria chapel again. We don't have meeting or anything we just show up and get our comp. The MP wasn't even there or the APs. So it was just show up and leave pretty much.
Excerpts from Dad's email:
Yeah its crazy to be back and not much has changed still in the same flat and everything. We drive now everyday so that is way nice. My comp is Elder Kosi-poku from Ghana. He is cool and I have met him before on mission, but we already get along great no problems or anything. Internet is good no problems just like before when I was here. We email at the Tzaneen chapel and pdays are still boring, but I hope to go zip lining. Unfortuantely none of the missionaries want to pay. Its about 500 rands, so they dont want to pay that much. It is such a sweet thing, my last comp showed me pics and I want to do it. Some of the old investigators got confirmed yesterday and I got to do it with one of them so that was such a cool thing and to see how much they have changed. Now we are just trying to work with part member families cuz tracting as before doesn't really work and contacting is the same. So there are quite a bit of part member families we can work with so that will be really nice. The relief society president is less active now since I left and she was so nice when I left but hopefully we can get her back soon. Pres is all about numbers and its so dumb numbers don't even matter at all, but we try our best to meet his standards. The stories are hard to tell cuz its just weird to me. To me its not that exciting like every missionary tells the same story it seems like. Oh we saw this guy and he was super powerful and we read with him, but the people here still do the fire thing and run away when they see us. They think were worship satan so that hasn't really changed. It has decreased so that is good. The same members still come out with us as before so that helps a lot. Time is short, but I think that I got transferred up here really helped me so I am happy about that. Everything is great and I know I will enjoy that last little bit I have and it will be good.
Love,
Elder Bryner
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Pictures from President & Sister Dunn's Blog
These pictures are from President & Sister Dunn's blog.
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| The Pretoria Zone |
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After the Pretoria Zone attended a temple session on Friday June 12, they were all asked to be interviewed by the Area Public Affairs missionaries, Elder and Sister Berg on the subject of "influential father figures." |
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| Elder Bryner and Sister Berg have mutual friends back in Utah. Fun to see them connect and visit. |
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| Pretoria Zone Elders McCartney, Saunders, Van Heerdan, President Dunn, Sister Dunn, Elders Bryner, Going Back Row: Elder Kafusi, Allen, McClellan, Novotny, Lea'aetoa McQueen, Xalabile, Johnson, Liera, Oldroyd and Edeyaoch |
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| Zone Conference |
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| Elder Bryner with President & Sister Dunn |
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Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Transferred back to Motupa
Email #91
Area: Motupa
Companion: Elder Kosi-poku
Excerpts from Mom's email:
(Monday)
Hey mom,
My LDS mail thing is not working, so I'm just going to send a quick email to you on here. But yeah I am being transferred and I am going back to Motupa! haha yeah Pres knows I was just there and he thinks I need to go back so that's what I'll do. I really didn't want to leave this place at all, but I am going to plan and come back here before I come home. I hope that I can maybe send real emails tomorrow because this isn't working. So I just wanted to send you this. I didn't get to read your email or anyone's for that matter, so just wanted to at least let you know brief that I am okay and what is happening. I love you and just look for my email tomorrow or something I am hoping I can do it real quick.
(Tuesday)
I got transferred and it is so crazy that I am back up in Motupa. It is really just a dream like not even real and it still hasn't hit me that I am up here! We just stopped by the Campbell's just now and they gave us the chapel keys just so I could send you an email. It is really nice to be back up here and hopefully I can finish here. It was kinda hard to leave Kwaguqa, but it was easier to leave there than any other area. Maybe its just because I am planning to come back and visit for sure there and hopefully Cosmo as well, it was really fun there. Sounds like you guys had a good week with the family and I can't wait to do stuff with everyone. I really don't know what to say right now I am just so shocked to be here, but I hope next week I will have more to say. Hope things are good with you and sounds like your having fun with work and stuff. Well we just went to the Pretoria chapel to have transfers. I am doing good and well. I love you mom and thank you for all the support!!
Excerpts from Dad's email:
Wow what a surprise I am going back to Motupa and I am here at the chapel just able to send a quick email home since I didn't get to yesterday. It is so crazy to be back here and we just went and saw the Campbell's quick and were able to say hi to them. Now I think that I will be staying here until I go home, so it will be really nice to do that. It is just the weirdest thing to be back here and pres knows and I even called him to confirm with him that he knew that I just came from this area. He knew very well that I was just here and he said the Lord wanted me to come back here, so I am just happy but also sad that I had to leave Kwaguqa. I will be able to visit there before I come home so that will be nice. It just feels unreal to be here right now and just can't quite get my head around it, but my comp is cool and I have been around him a few times. He is from Ghana his name is Elder Kosi-poku. He is awesome and we have some good apt. planned for tomorrow and they had 2 baptisms 2 weeks ago and they will be confirmed this week. They had district conference this last Sunday, but these two were being taught when I was here so it will be really cool to be here for their confirmations! So for right now not much to report on, but next week I will be able to say more. I just have a little moment to send you guys a quick email, but I love you and I am glad that you had fun on your fishing trip and funny you said that Kerry will get a lot, but you ended up getting a really big one mom sent me the pic of the fish it looks really good!! I love you paps have a good week!!
Love,
Elder Bryner
Area: Motupa
Companion: Elder Kosi-poku
Excerpts from Mom's email:
(Monday)
Hey mom,
My LDS mail thing is not working, so I'm just going to send a quick email to you on here. But yeah I am being transferred and I am going back to Motupa! haha yeah Pres knows I was just there and he thinks I need to go back so that's what I'll do. I really didn't want to leave this place at all, but I am going to plan and come back here before I come home. I hope that I can maybe send real emails tomorrow because this isn't working. So I just wanted to send you this. I didn't get to read your email or anyone's for that matter, so just wanted to at least let you know brief that I am okay and what is happening. I love you and just look for my email tomorrow or something I am hoping I can do it real quick.
(Tuesday)
I got transferred and it is so crazy that I am back up in Motupa. It is really just a dream like not even real and it still hasn't hit me that I am up here! We just stopped by the Campbell's just now and they gave us the chapel keys just so I could send you an email. It is really nice to be back up here and hopefully I can finish here. It was kinda hard to leave Kwaguqa, but it was easier to leave there than any other area. Maybe its just because I am planning to come back and visit for sure there and hopefully Cosmo as well, it was really fun there. Sounds like you guys had a good week with the family and I can't wait to do stuff with everyone. I really don't know what to say right now I am just so shocked to be here, but I hope next week I will have more to say. Hope things are good with you and sounds like your having fun with work and stuff. Well we just went to the Pretoria chapel to have transfers. I am doing good and well. I love you mom and thank you for all the support!!
Excerpts from Dad's email:
Wow what a surprise I am going back to Motupa and I am here at the chapel just able to send a quick email home since I didn't get to yesterday. It is so crazy to be back here and we just went and saw the Campbell's quick and were able to say hi to them. Now I think that I will be staying here until I go home, so it will be really nice to do that. It is just the weirdest thing to be back here and pres knows and I even called him to confirm with him that he knew that I just came from this area. He knew very well that I was just here and he said the Lord wanted me to come back here, so I am just happy but also sad that I had to leave Kwaguqa. I will be able to visit there before I come home so that will be nice. It just feels unreal to be here right now and just can't quite get my head around it, but my comp is cool and I have been around him a few times. He is from Ghana his name is Elder Kosi-poku. He is awesome and we have some good apt. planned for tomorrow and they had 2 baptisms 2 weeks ago and they will be confirmed this week. They had district conference this last Sunday, but these two were being taught when I was here so it will be really cool to be here for their confirmations! So for right now not much to report on, but next week I will be able to say more. I just have a little moment to send you guys a quick email, but I love you and I am glad that you had fun on your fishing trip and funny you said that Kerry will get a lot, but you ended up getting a really big one mom sent me the pic of the fish it looks really good!! I love you paps have a good week!!
Love,
Elder Bryner
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