Monday, April 10, 2016

General Conference!!! 

Conference was definitely the highlight of the week!  There were so many good talks that I really don't know which one was my favorite.  My favorite session was definitely the Saturday morning session.  I can't believe that I used to not watch all of conference!!!  I'm pretty sure that I thought the Saturday talks were less inspired speakers and that's why they spoke on Saturday instead of Sunday, but boy was I wrong!  Man I loved conference so much, the spirit in the first session was so strong you could almost reach out and grab it.  One of my favorite talks was Elder Hallstrom’s, he really helped me to feel the love that our Heavenly Father has for us.  It truly is amazing that we are children of God.  It made me think of the traits that we inherit from our parents.  I know that each and every one of us has such divine potential.  We each have the potential to become like our Heavenly Father and to have Eternal happiness.  It was a great talk and I loved the story that he shared of his little daughter and her writing assignment, it made me think of cute little Emma.  I'm not sure how much longer I will be able to say "little."  It looks like from the pictures I have seen that everyone is growing up.  I would like to add that everyone is growing up way too fast!  Slow down so Elder Brunson doesn't miss it all.  I really can't believe how fast my mission is going.  I want it to slow down.  Elder Holland’s talk was so powerful, and it relates perfectly!  I don't want tomorrow to come!  I don't ever want my mission to end!  I have such a strong desire to become more like our Savior.  I have so much more to grow and so little time to do it in.  I know that my mission will shape me into who I will become for the rest of my life.  I have never realized the amounts of weaknesses I have until I came on my mission.  I know that because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ I can turn those weaknesses into strengths.

Another great spiritual experience came earlier this week on Friday.  On Friday I was studying the scriptures after I finished my lunch.  I can't remember what I was studying but as I was studying I was really focused on the topic, but out of the blue I had the most random thought pop into my head.  It was so strange because I was so focused on studying and then I had this random thought.  Now you are probably wondering what the thought was.  Well let me tell you.  So as I was sitting there and one of our potential investigator’s name popped in my head.  That was really weird because right now I can’t even think of her name haha.  She was someone we visited about 4 weeks ago, but she wasn't really that keen and so we forgot about her and haven't gone back.  I thought it was so strange that her name popped in my head that I knew we better go try and visit her that day.  I wasn't really sure what time we should try her, but that we should just try her when we were over in that area.  Then another thought came to my mind that she probably wouldn't be home, but that we should be prepared to find the person who was prepared for us in that area.  So it came to about 2:00 that afternoon and we were over by this potential investigator’s home so we decided to go and give her a shot.  Well we knocked on the door and waited and waited, but nobody came.  However, I was not discouraged because I knew there was someone in that area that was prepared.  As we headed back to our car I saw a lady pushing a stroller down the street.  I wasn't sure if this was the lady, but I figured that we had better go and talk to her.  Low and behold we found the one that Heavenly Father had prepared for us.  Her name is Tiri and she is probably in her 30's and she is super nice.  She has only come to believe in God within the last two years.  One Sunday her Grandma came into town and wanted to go to church.  Tiri had never been to church and so she opened up the phone book and picked a random church.  The one she picked was the Knox Presbyterian church, where she has been going ever since.  She didn't have very much time for us to share our message with her right then, but she said that we could meet with her next week.  One of the cool things she said was that she has been waiting for the opportunity to meet people like us.  She said she is a really open person and wants to know about the beliefs of other religions.  She was super nice and we are really excited to get to teach her.

So I’m surprised that you haven't mentioned anything about transfers coming up.  This week would normally have been transfer week.  However, instead of having a 6 week transfer we have an 8 week transfer.  This is week 7.  I will most likely not be transferring and will stay 6 more weeks in Waitara.  I definitely love Waitara now that I have been here.  I have met some really great people and I have really loved being companions with Elder Vaea and Elder Suriben, they are both way cool!  This week is going to be another great week filled with miracles.  I love being a missionary!!!!!  Go on missions!!!!!  Old people, young people, men, and women!  Missions will change your life.  I hope you all have a great week!  This week another highlight was eating golden kiwi fruit.  Also funny fact, you can’t say that you are going to eat a kiwi when you are in New Zealand.  The white people who grow up in New Zealand are called Kiwi's.  So if you say you are going to eat a Kiwi, than that's no bueno haha.  You have to specify that you are going to eat Kiwi fruit.  Also this weekend was mean because we just stayed in New Plymouth with the other Elders because that was where general conference was.  Saturday we watch conference from 10-12 then from 2-4 and then from 6-8.  It was an inspiring day!  We also had a mean feed at the senior couple’s house Sunday after the morning session.  The Sterzer’s are the best!  They absolutely love the missionaries haha.  They are pretty much like my Grandma and Grandpa now.  Well I hope you all have a great week!  Never take the gospel for granted!  We are members of Jesus Christ's Church, the same church he established over 2000 years ago.  It has not changed, it is still lead by our Savior Jesus Christ.  What a blessing! 

Love,

Elder Brunson