Monday January 18, 2016

Malo lelei famili

Where in the world is Elder Brunson?!!!

Well to end all of the excitement I will tell you where I am...............Wairoa!!!!!!!!! Jokes, I am in the Naki as the mission calls it.  I'm currently serving in Taranaki in the Waitara Branch.  My new companion is named Elder Vaea and he is from Tonga.  He is way funny and we are already having heaps of fun.  He has only been out on his mission for 3 months so he and I are babies.  I'm glad he has only been out for a little bit though because he still wants to work hard.  He really is the man!  He is very humble and always serves me.  Like if we are eating lunch he will heat up food and give it to me instead of eating it.  That probably sounds strange, but he is always doing little things to help me out.  He is also teaching me heaps of Tongan so that is way cool.  By the end of the 6 weeks I should be fluent haha.  The Branch here is about the same size as the ward in Wairoa.  There are a lot more people in this city though than in Wairoa and a lot more shops haha.  Last week was so crazy and I have heaps to say, but not a lot of time to say it all.  I will try to be as brief as I can and I will give you more details about the city next week.  Here is the run through for a couple days last week.

Monday-  For our last pday in Wairoa we climbed Mahia and climbed a hill which overlooks the beach.  The members told us that the hike should only take about 10 minutes.  However, the hike took us 20 minutes because instead of going up the marked trail we just went straight up the side of the hill because we couldn't find the path.

Tuesday-  We said goodbye to everyone.  I didn't realize how hard it was going to be to leave Wairoa.  It was so hard to say goodbye to people that I have grown close to.  I'm so glad though for the opportunity that I had to serve the people of Wairoa for 6 months.  I really didn't understand the impact that I was making on people’s lives until I left.  I had a really touching experience saying goodbye to Tinika and Ricky and I'm so glad that I was able to meet both of them.  Tinika has grown so much over the past few months and she really is a different person.  When we first met her she wouldn't say anything for the first few weeks, but now we are best friends.  Seenie, one of my favorite members of the ward, gave me a green stone for a going away gift.  Green stones are something that are really special in the Maori culture so it was way cool that he gave me one.  Grandma Brunson will be really happy to hear that Matiu (the man) gave me some rocks to take back to the states for her.

Thursday-  The Bus departed from Gisborne at 7:30.  Guess what haha?  I almost wasn't allowed on the bus haha.  My ticket had some complications and so I held up the bus for like 30 minutes while the bus driver tried to figure things out haha.  Luckily it wasn't my fault because the mission office was the one who put all of the bus tickets together.  Mom you will be pleased to hear that I made it all the way to Tarinaki without losing a single suitcase.  Guess how long the bus ride was though…..13 hours!!!!!!!!  That was literally the longest day ever haha.  I might as well have flown back to the United States haha.  My trainer always joked that the only thing that was keeping him in New Zealand was the 13 hour plane ride back.  Speaking of my trainer, I'm now officially the son of the Assistant to the mission president.  Yes Elder Holmes is now an assistant haha.  So that is pretty crazy lol.  I am currently still a District Leader in my new area.  There are sister missionaries now in this district so that is different haha.

The rest of the week I have spent meeting everyone in the area.  There are lots of nice people and Elder Vaea and I have already taught some really good lessons.  There is a lot of potential in the area so I'm excited to work hard.  Sunday was a good day and I got to bare my testimony in sacrament meeting so that was fun.  Then Elder Vaea and I got surprised and got asked to teach the young men's lesson last minute.  We talked about the atonement, which none of the boys knew what that was.  Then this big Samoan guy smashed them for not knowing what the Atonement was.  So Kevin, I really hope you know what the Atonement is, if not ask papi haha.  Today for preparation day we are going to play touch rugby with some other Elders and members of their branch.  It will be my first time playing touch so it should be pretty fun.  A little bit about the weather.  It has been way hot here in Tarinaki.  It’s not like heat where we are from because it is so humid here.  The humidity makes it feel so much hotter.  It has been pretty miserable to sleep at night because we only have one fan in our flat.  Our flat is pretty nice but reeks like poo and is way messy.  We did a pretty good job cleaning this morning, but it still doesn't pass momma Brunson's expectations haha, or mine for that matter haha.  You have taught me well momma.

I miss Wairoa heaps and it’s weird to be in a new area, but at the same time I know where I am supposed to be.  I'm looking forward to working hard and strengthening my testimony.  I love you all heaps and apologize for not giving more details momma haha. 

Love,

Elder Brunson