Can you believe that I have been here in England for 6 months?

Email - December 16, 2013

This last week was a good week! Elder Bognár and I set a baptismal date with a guy named R____. He has set a goal to stop smoking and drinking for his new year's resolution... and he is planning to be baptized on January 18th. He came to church yesterday and it was great!

I am so excited for this week! Tomorrow, we get to go do a session at the temple and to have lunch with missionaries all across the mission! It will be awesome! I cant wait! And next Monday, we will be going to Big Ben and Christmas caroling as a zone. I have been wrapping Books of Mormon all week to hand out while we are caroling next week! It will be sweet!

Christmas has come so fast! We set up things with Deco and we will be able to Skype at his house on Christmas! Time still not sure yet! But probably before noon for you guys.

Can you believe that I have been here in England for 6 months? I can't! Time has flown!

I got a package from Grandma and Grandpa today! But, they said I cant open it until Christmas! So, it's just been sitting under the tree all week! haha

I hope the Christmas concert was great yesterday! I wish I could have been there! Oh, and Elder Bognár's watch came! Thank you mum for sending that! You're the best!

I have been thinking about how crazy it is that so many of my friends are spending Christmas in various areas of the world! I also got thinking that one of my friends that I haven't contacted since I've been out here is Jordan Peck! I would love his email address if you guys could track it down for me please! and thank you!

So far I haven't felt too home sick this holiday season! It hasn't been too bad at all! I'm happy to be here and to be serving the Lord! But, I am very excited to be able to talk to you guys next week! I hope that my voice has changed a little bit...you'll have to let me know! Cause I can't tell here! Everyone has different accents!

I hope everything is going well at home! And that you guys are having a fun holiday season with out me!!!

Only one more holiday season to go and I'll be home! Can you believe that:?! So weird!

I love you guys! and thank you for everything that you do! I miss you guys and will let you know for sure details next week of what time I'll be Skyping you!

Have a great week! And mum... HAPPY BIRTHDAY ON SUNDAY! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. I HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Love, Elder Munson

"Weekly pic! :)"

"Wrapping Books of Mormon."

"Party!"

"Far right...Jr, member of the ward. Guy in the middle...Jr's friend that he brought along to the Christmas party!"

I am growing spiritually every week.

Email - December 9, 2013

This last week was pretty good. We had President's interviews on Tuesday! And, that went really well! I love President Millar! He is literally the oldest mission president in the whole WORLD! and that's a fact! He is such a great man and I am glad to be serving with him.

Wednesday was district meeting as usual! And then Elder Bognár had District Leader training so I just chilled at the chapel for a few extra hours!

R____ blocked our number we're pretty sure. We try to call him multiple times a day but it doesn't work and he hasn't been around at where he lives either so we're not sure what is up! So sad. But, hopefully, something will happen.

We have a few other investigators. A girl named A____ and a guy named C____ and A guy named R____. They are all cool. They just don't show a lot of commitment.. They mostly just like learning about God, but they never come to church or want to be baptized any time soon! Maybe some day though!

I still love it here and love being a missionary! We actually found out this week that this zone that I'm in is the highest baptizing zone in all of EUROPE! So, that is good! Makes me feel not so bad for myself that it is a lot harder to find people in any other zone in all of Europe!

We get to go to the temple next Tuesday! I cant wait! I miss the temple so much, so that will be sweet to go through with other missionaries around the mission!

I'm not sure where I'll be Skyping yet! Probably Deco's house. We talked about it yesterday, but I'll let you guys know for sure when I know!

I love this time of year! But, it makes me miss home a lot! But, I know I am where I am supposed to be! And, what better place to be than London for Christmas right?! Ah, so sick!

I miss you guys and I love you so much! Thank you for all the support and love and prayers! I am growing spiritually every week. I love this Gospel! I love being a missionary and sharing this message with everyone and I'm having so much fun while doing it! It's always good to do something that you love!

I hope all is well back home and that you are surviving in the cold and the snow! Ha ha. I can't wait till we get some snow!

Love, Elder Munson!

"The sky the other morning."

"The guy with out the badge is Freencky Portias, our ward mission leader. He just got off his mission a few months ago from Utah."

 "After a hard day's work.. haha!"

 "Sidney's last Sunday in London!

Sad day.. haha.  Gave her a hand shake and a hand hug before she left . :)"

  

  

"Me and Elder Bodhaine obviously."

"Isabel got me sweet cuff links for Christmas!"

Only two more P-days until Christmas!

Email - December 2, 2013

This last week was alright. R____, the guy that we had a b-date with has not answered the phone or called us back in over a week. He was progressing so well and everything. But for about 11 days now it's been nothing. So I don't know what is happening there.

But, Elder Bognár and I have been working really hard this week to get new investigators and we did pretty well! We really need a teaching pool and this week we gained 5 new investigators. So, I'm looking forward to working with them all next week!

We had zone conference on Wednesday. And that was good! Elder Texeira of the Seventy spoke and it was really good. He did kinda a training seminar on how to be a successful missionary. It was great.

Thanksgiving was good. As good as it gets in England probably. It was nice to have proper Thanksgiving food and everything. It was so nice of Sister Oliviera to have us all over.

There are so many things that I am thankful for. I would never have enough time to write out a long enough email. I'm so thankful for my family! I really missed everyone this week. This week especially Grandma and Grandpa. Because it's usually spent at their home and they sent me a package this week. Which was very nice of them. They are the best Grandparents anyone could ever ask for. I'm so grateful for Mum and Dad as well! and all the love and support I've had throughout the years. I'm also so thankful for Tanner and Peyton! and I love them so much! I'm so proud of Tanner for getting his Eagle done. That's awesome. I'm also SO thankful for my friends. I think its no secret to anyone that my friends are so important to me and I have so many good friends that have been such good examples to me over the years. I've been so blessed in this life and I have realized it more and more the longer I have been out here. Missionary work is amazing! and I'm thankful for it as well! I just can't believe how fast it is all going!

I love you all! and I miss you all loads! I hope you have a great week! You're right! Only two more p-days until Christmas basically! So crazy! Ah, I love the holidays!

Thanks for everything!

Love, Elder Munson

"We played Monopoly for P day last week.  So fun!" 

"The final.  The right is my monopoly and all of my money...and, that was all she wrote!

I dominated!  Ha ha ha ha ha.  Unrighteous desires..." 

"The flat mates!"

"Just me and Elder Ocando."

"Picture we have hanging in the flat. Cain being Bigfoot has been an argument and a topic in the flat for like the last two weeks! So funny. We cut out Christmas clothes for him until after Christmas."

"Ella's little brothers.  They had Viking hats and I had to get a picture with them!

VIKINGS!"

"Ella is moving back to America :(  She ran up to me after church and hugged me and told me she is going to miss me and that when she visits her grandma in Utah that she'll visit me too:)  So cute."

  

"Elder Mecham, me, Elder Bodhaine and Elder Kirk at zone conference! These are guys I'll be spending time with after the Mish for sure!"

"Elder Bodhaine and I's weekly pic."

"Cool building with red lights and a big tree!"

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Email - November 25, 2013

HOLY! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE GROCERIES!!! AH! I was so surprised. I was like what is this rubbish!?? I didn't order this! Then, I saw Erika Munson written on the receipt and I was like ahhhhh no way!!! You're amazing mum!!! Thank you so much!

It is so crazy that one year ago we were on our way to Mexico! That was the most incredible week! I loved it! ... we'll go again when I get back. 

I'm sorry to hear that you guys have been sick! GET BETTER!

I'm glad the memory card made it! hahaa I can't even remember all that was on it but I'm sure it was really random.

On Saturday, I got to go to the London Temple because Elder Bognár had to go to show an investigator around...the same investigator that he has been teaching on Skype quite a bit. So, I was lucky enough to be able to tag along!!!

The family that invited us for Thanksgiving is the Olivaras. The husband is Brazilian but the wife is from Sandy. So, I'm excited!

Elder Blumenthal was transferred to Newbury...which is by Reading I'm pretty sure!

And, I showed Elder Bognár what you said... and he just laughed? So, I don't know if that is a yes or a no.. hahah!!!

There aren't many American families here. One is moving back to New York next week.. and they are the only complete American family. It's Ella's family...that cute little girl I sent pictures with.

As far as service, we haven't done much here. No one has yards to do yard work in or anything like that! But, we look for opportunities all the time! Just not many have arisen here.

I taught a lesson in church last week on obedience, and the more I taught and the more I testified of it, the more it was sinking in deeper and deeper how important obedience is. Studying about something is one thing. But preaching and testifying of things builds my testimony more than anything else. And, that is what is so amazing about being a missionary. It is my duty to testify of things and it reassures my testimony of multiple things. But, obedience was one that I definitely have needed help with since the beginning of my existence...hahahhahahahah!

I love you guys! Thank you for all that you are doing! I miss you loads! I can't wait to be able to talk to you in about a month!!! Have a great Thanksgiving! Tell the whole family how much I love and miss and appreciate them!!

Love, Elder Munson

"LONDON TEMPLE!"

"Elder Bognár was kinda cold during study this morning."

"Elder Bodhaine and I take a picture together every week at district meeting and we have done it every week since I've been here in London and we're just waiting for someone to catch on.. haha it's so funny."

"Elder Bodhaine and I got matching headbands:)"

I can't believe how fast time is going!

Letter - Received on November 22, 2013

Family!

     Ah, I've been so scrubby at writing since being in London!  There is just no time here.  Life is fast paced and non-stop here.  I was planning on sending this card [he sent home a memory card with lots of pictures] last week, but I had no money...ha!  So, I'm sorry!  Everything is way more expensive in London, but we get exactly the same amount of money as everywhere else in the mission.  We try to use it wisely, but it just goes so quickly!

     I love London though...as you can probably tell!  The city life is so fun.  So many crazy people!  But, so many good people too!  Most of the population here is from somewhere in Africa.

     We get yelled at on the daily!  And, it's just part of being in London!  Oh, and another common thing is people telling us what we believe!  Ah!  It's so funny!  I've learned how to be super bold with people here cause some people are just so dumb!  It's hilarious though!  And, being here has helped me learn the scriptures and doctrine better...not really helped me...but, forced me!  Some people just want to bash and prove us wrong and most are really good at it!  But, I can hold my own here now.

     Recently there was a lady who was chewing us out for saying that we are "elders."  She said, "Elders are only old!  You guys aren't old!  I'm worried about young people like you who interpret the Bible wrong!" and all this rubbish!

     But, then there are really cool people like R____!  He has been in and out of jail for most of his life, but he has such a desire to change and he is so awesome!

     I'll try to be better at writing this transfer!  I can't believe how fast time is going!

     I really hope all is well back home.  I miss you guys, but this is the Lord's work and I am loving it!  Oh, and by the way, I can say, "I love you," in 25 languages other than English!  How sick is that?!  I can write it in a few as well!

     Take care! And, thank you for all that you guys do for me!

  我 愛你                                             أنا أحبك            
{I Love You in Mandarin}                                                          {and in Arabic}

Love,

Elder Munson

I'd rather be nowhere else!

Email - November 18, 2013

Hello! So ... Elder Fairbourn's new companion is Elder Ocando from Spain. He's super quiet, but really nice! So that's good.

This week was interesting! I'm trying to think what has happened since Thursday! I taught the Gospel Principles lesson yesterday! It was good. I'll just answer the questions now... hahaha.

No one new progressing, but R____ is doing well. We are seeing him tonight :) so I'm excited for that!

The ward here is a LOT smaller. But it's nice. The people are great and the leadership is really interesting. Elder Bradford, a senior missionary is in the Bishopric and the Bishop has only been to church twice since I've been here. He's a really great guy, he's just super busy with his job so, it kinda stinks. But, at least it's a WARD right?

From all the meetings there has been so much that I have learned. There's no way that one thing stands out above others. But I guess just to pick out of the many, one thing is that the General Authorities have stated that IF the church is going to grow in Europe, it is going to have to start with the London Missions. The England London South Mission has the MOST missionaries out of all the European missions. So, that was amazing to hear that THIS is where the hastening has to start for a lot of the world to be able to progress as well!

I have enjoyed listening to Jack Johnson.. and Mo Tab....and lots of music that I don't really know. Piano Guys? haha The rule from President Millar is anything that you can feel calm and have the Spirit at the same time. So, every missionary kinda has their own personal preferences. But, as for our flat, Jack Johnson and Mo Tab and random Christmas songs are what are played most! And, a special request would be the sound track for Friday Night Lights by the band Explosions in the Sky. It's all instrumental and nice music. :) And, nice Christmas music is always good. :)

I like fish and chips and Indian curry. I actually can cook a few really nice curries. :) But, from home mostly I just miss the restaurants.  [Note to self:  Guess I'm not as good a cook as I thought...no need to worry about home cooked meals when he gets home!]

As for who I hear from often... besides Mum and Dad... NO ONE is better at writing me than Brittany Conner! She is incredible! So I hear from her quite often.. and Bailee Cook! and obviously Sawyer and I write each other letters often! Jake McFarland and Riley Ottesen write me actual letters, too! Sam writes me quite a bit as well! Ciera, MeKenna, MeKenzey write every once in a while but they email me most weeks! As for the boys... haha we have a big group email going with all 13 of us and everyone pitches in a funny experience from every week and it is HILARIOUS!! Just knowing all of the Boys, we are going to have the funniest things to talk about when we're all home. haha Love them!

Things are going really well though! Even though the work is tiring and hard here, it is the best! I'd rather be nowhere else! Elder Bognár and I are really becoming good friends. He is awesome. We have a lot of fun! So I'm happy about that!

I miss you guys! and I hope all is well! Thank you for everything!

Christmas is just around the corner! FREAKING CRAZY!

Love, Elder Munson

"This dog is crazy! It is Isabel's (member of the ward) dog.. his name is Bolt."

"The Wandsworth Zone.. a week and a half ago. I don't have a suit jacket on

cause it was tied around my waist due to my ripped trousers. Hahaha!"

That Smile :)

"Ella. Cutest little girl in the world. I love her. She is 8 and she interprets Sacrament Meeting in British Sign Language for deaf people in the ward! It's the cutest thing in the world. She has more scriptures memorized than me probably!"

"Spencer Romney's cousin.  He's one of the AP's."

"Hahahaha"
[I always go hard in ping pong!]

"Look at this cool sign I passed by near our flat!"

"Empty bus"

"Isabel is a recent convert in the ward! She is really cool!"

"Saw Elder Mecham at a member's house on Monday night. :) He's the man."

"Last picture with Elder Blumenthal this morning."

"Crazy guy stickin his tongue in my ear at Big Ben. Funniest moment on my

mission.. up until I ripped my pants!! He was walking on the road and he passed all the missionaries and no one said hi to him! So, Elder Bodhaine and I ran over and gave him a bro high five and he sat there and hugged me for like 5 minutes until I asked him to take a picture with us."

"London SWAG"

"London Eye"