Monday, August 17, 2015

You are all probably thinking I am the most bipolar missionary ever, one day I don't have food and the next day I have too much.  Or the weather is beautiful and the next day it’s snowing.  It is true though, a mission is kind of bipolar, and there are lots of ups and downs.  But regardless of all of the downs, the ups make up for everything.  There is nothing better than testifying and seeing the difference you can make in other people’s lives.  This past week was a harder week. The previous week we were so productive and were able to hit the standards of excellence (I’m not sure if I explained what those are in my last letter) and I felt like we were doing so well.  This week I felt like we wasted too much time and didn't open our mouths.  With that being said though, we did teach two great lessons!  The spirit was so strong and regardless of whether the two less active people felt anything, I know that my testimony was strengthened.  This week I really want to open my mouth to everyone and try and testify to as many people as I can.

My ankle is slowly getting better.  During the last preparation day I played basketball on it.  I wasn't able to go full speed, but I was at least jogging.  It’s still pretty sore and a little bruised.  I wish I could go full speed on it again!  In the MTC I was almost dunking the ball and now I can’t even jump.  I don't know if the hoops were shorter in the MTC but my goal was to dunk by the end of my time at the MTC but my hopes were crushed haha.  Even with my sore ankle, I’m trying to stay active.  For my morning workout I do a lot of push-ups and sit-ups.  It is pretty lame haha!

This next week we are doing exchanges so I get to go with Elder Rios from up in Nuhaka and I am pumped about that.  He and I get along really well and he is super funny, so it should be pretty mean (mean=cool here).

This week I experienced my first Tangi!  A Tangi is a Maori funeral.  I really enjoyed the funeral, they are way better than American funerals.  Tangis last for three days instead of one day.  For those three days the family stays by the body and morns.  I don't know too much about them so if you are someone who likes learning, I would look them up.  Tangis take place at a Marea.  A Marea is a sacred place of worship for Maori people.  At the funeral I got to witness my first haka.  It was the meanest (coolest) thing I have ever seen!  The men gather around and perform the haka as the body is being carried out of the Marea.  I want to learn the haka so bad!  At the Tangi I also got to experience my first hongi.  A hongi is a special Maori greeting for males.  The males shake hands and then lean forward (and it looks like you are about to kiss each other) and place your nose on the nose of the other person.  I can’t wait until I get home so I can give you all hongi's.  At first I thought it was super weird but now it just makes me feel cool that they respect me so much.  I love being part of the New Zealand culture.  It is so much different than the states.  Here, if you want something, you tell someone and they will get it for you.  Or if they offer you something and you say, “are you sure I can have that?” they will give you even more than what they originally were going to give you.

My Bishop is probably the nicest man on the planet haha.  It is funny because Wairoa is so small we work a lot with our Bishop.  So we will go over to Bishop Edwards and talk with him for a while.  Fun fact, Bishop Edwards is a scratch golfer so he loves talking about golf with me!  He has Callaway clubs, and he said that I can borrow them anytime!  I'm surprised he didn't just give them to me haha. The culture is so different here.  In the states, when the missionaries came to our house they didn’t stay long.  Here we could literally stay at Bishop’s all day and he wouldn't even say anything.  I promise we don't do that though haha.  We were over at his house though the other night when a huge rugby game was on.  He always turns the tv off when we are there but he told us he wasn't going to turn it off.  It was the All Blacks vs the Australians and they were playing for a rivalry cup.  We found out at church the next day that the All Blacks won so that was exciting!  I wish I had an ankle so I could learn how to play rugby!  I will learn before I come home though.  Bishop Edwards gave me a bunch of black licorice!  It is by far the best black licorice I have ever had.  It is called RJ's black licorice.  I'm not sure if we have it back it the states but it is so good!

Bad news about Matiu :( He isn’t getting married to Geraldine until November so he isn’t getting baptized this weekend.  My companion and I are pretty bummed but I know he will get baptized at some point and that’s all that really matters.  I could still be in Wairoa after my 12 weeks of training but who knows.

To answer your question about the money situation, yes we get plenty of money!  We get $130 for every two weeks.  Plus the money rolls over so I will definitely be fine.  You know me and spending money so you shouldn't be worried.  It is kind of hard to control though because we share costs as a companionship.  So whatever we get at the store we split the cost.  So for example, today my companion bought body spray and hair gel which was for himself but I still paid for half of it.  It’s not a big deal.  It just teaches me charity haha. I’ve got to run though!  I'm loving the mission and really learning to love the people!

Love,

Elder Brunson


PS  Yes I wear the coat all the time! I'm wearing it right now! I love it! I sometimes where both of them at the same time! Tell Shelby her gloves are awesome and that all the Elders comment on them when they see them. They all think they are really cool! I'm going to try and send some pictures.