Monday, April 4, 2016

I'm back to emailing on Monday again haha.  Sorry for throwing everyone off this last week.  I will try and give a rundown of some things that happened this week.

Monday-  I think I already told you about Monday since I emailed on Tuesday.  But for those of you who don't know instead of having our normal preparation day we hit the streets and worked!  It was pretty strange to be working on Monday, but going to the temple definitely made it worth it.

Tuesday-  Tuesday was definitely a miracle.  We had a very limited amount of time to email so I was stressing that I wouldn't be able to get the entire hour and a half to email.  Fortunately Heavenly Father took care of me, and I was able to get my full emailing time.  Tuesday we drove up to the temple which was heaps of fun.  Elder Suriben and I rode up to Hamilton with the Zone leaders (Elder Lingwall and Elder Fellingham).  We had heaps fun driving up and just getting the chance to relax.  It was way nice that I didn't have to drive.  I get tired of having to drive everyday haha.  Tuesday night we arrived in Hamilton at 6:00 and then went to President Rudd’s house.  At President Rudd’s house we had our interviews and received a training from the Assistants (Elder Tibbets and my “father” Elder Holmes).  It was good to see Elder Holmes again and to catch up with him.  President Rudd also gave a good training on acquiring knowledge which helped me heaps because I am really trying to increase my knowledge of the scriptures.  Studying the scriptures has been something I have really tried to focus on.  I love the Book of Mormon so much and I know that it can truly bless our lives if we study from it daily.  Tuesday night we got back to the hotel at 9:30 and got ready for bed.  Everything was good until I got into bed.  When I got in bed everything went downhill.  I tossed and turned and could not fall asleep.  I was trying to figure out why I couldn't sleep.  I tried doing some different things to see if it would help me fall asleep.  I got up and shut the blinds, I took off some of the blankets from the bed, and I got a drink of water.  No matter what I did I couldn't fall asleep.  Then as I was laying there I realized I wasn't feeling very well.  I continued to toss and turn and my stomach pains got worse.  By this time it was midnight and I was getting worried because I didn't want to be sleepy at the temple so I was anxious to go to bed.  I decided to try and go to the bathroom.  Now if I wasn't a missionary, I would tell you an awesome one of my stories about bowel movements.  However, I am a missionary, and I think my mom might take it out of my email anyway so I will resist the natural man and not put my wonderful bathroom experience in my email.  But let’s just say, things worked themselves out, no pun intended ;) and I was able to quickly fall asleep.  In all seriousness, it definitely was a blessing that I was able to feel better.  I had really prepared myself for the temple and it would have been so sad if I missed out because I was sick.  I had prayed that my stomach pains would stop so that I could sleep and I know that Heavenly Father answered my prayers.  I really thought I was going to die in the bathroom though haha.  

Wednesday-  Temple day!!!!!!!!  I love the temple so much.  I wish I could explain in words the wonderful feeling of the temple.  So much peace and happiness can be felt inside of the Lord’s house.  I'm so thankful that our mission has a temple so close.  I love the quietness of the temple, it gives you a lot of time to ponder, pray, and feel the spirit.  For the temple is a house of God, a place of love and beauty.  I hope and pray that I can always remain worthy to go inside His holy house.  After the temple we went and got flu shots.  I'm sure my mom will be pleased to hear that.  The fella that gave us the shot was a member of the church and he was pretty funny.  I really wish Amanda could get a shot from him.  He does it super-fast haha.  He just grabs your arm and stabs you haha.  It was definitely the fastest shot of my life.  Wednesday as we drove back home we stopped at a mean shop and got some ice-cream.  Ice-cream is definitely my weakness.  I think I love it too much.

Sunday-  Sunday was a really good day!  It was weird that we weren't watching general conference with everyone else, but it was a good day.  It was district conference and so we got to see President and Sister Rudd again.  They both gave really good talks in our branch.  It was weird though, we didn't have church until 3:00!  I think that was the latest I have ever gone to church in my life.  It is really sad to think that President and Sister Rudd will be leaving in a couple of months.  The mission goes by way too fast!  I have so much to improve on and so little time to do it.  I hope and pray that I can be molded into the person that Heavenly Father wants me to be.  I love the people of New Zealand and I'm so thankful that I have been called here to serve.  

Shout out to Amanda for a mean round of golf!  Sounds like I know where to go to get my lessons when I get home haha.  I love you all heaps and hope you have a great week.  

Love,

Elder Brunson