This week was great!

Email - October 27, 2014

Ok, so many things happen every week! There are a lot of things left out in every email, I'm sure. But, I'm doing my best! haha

First of all, no I'm not officially a driver yet unfortunately. The instructor moved my date again. Ah so frustrating. I really need to get it before Elder Popa leaves.

Those videos of Tanner are hilarious! He is so funny.  And, the bandage that he has to wear on his head makes it so much better. 

This week was great! Abdul, our recent convert, passed the Sacrament for the first time yesterday! THAT WAS AMAZING. He also came out teaching with us earlier in the week! He is doing really well! 

Elder Popa and I have been trying to do as much work as possible in a village in our area called Twyford. It' really nice there with a lot of nice people so things are looking good. But, yesterday we were there after church doing some street contacting before we went to a dinner appointment... and we came across this born again, British guy named P____ who said he knew a lot about our church and that he had even been to it to do some family history research. It was interesting. Anyway, long story short.. he starts talking about the temple and what goes on in the temple and how he knows "everything." He has watched temple ceremonies on YouTube and studied all the church AND anti stuff in the world! haha This guy really thought he knew a lot about Joseph Smith and the Bible and such. He was pulling out all the big guns and the supposedly "offensive" stuff to Mormons. haha Elder Popa and I were trying to speak with him nicely in a normal conversation, but this guy would not stop talking and taking hits at the Church. So, we stopped being so nice. We pulled out Bible verses back at him and confounded him and rebuked him and told him that he didn't know who Christ was...well, Elder Popa said that part. It was kinda brutal looking back at it. He was taken aback that we were able to come back at him with using only the New Testament and not referring only to the fact of the normal "the Church is true" points, and he was like, "why don't all Mormons actually answer questions using the scriptures, and not just Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon" hah He made some good points that our Church can look really robotic when you hear EVERY SINGLE person say the usual..."I know Joseph Smith was a true prophet," and, "I know the B.O.M is true," and all that stuff. That was what he was expecting us to say back to him. But, because we responded the way we did, he started being really nice to us and gave us his number and address and wants us over for dinner next week so that we can talk further! Hahahahaha!!! This guy I don't think will join the Church anytime soon, but it was good that he realized we're not just brainwashed weirdos that say we know Joseph Smith was a prophet just cause we were taught that since we were little kids. 

The bottom line is that Jesus is our Saviour. Yes, prophets and the Book of Mormon are important, but nothing will ever compare to the infinite atonement and love from our Saviour, and the full truth about him, and how to be like him can only be found in our Church, and that is just a pure fact.

I can't believe that October ends this week! WHAT THE HECK!? Then November will be here and that means that Elder Popa goes home soon. :( Ah! I'm nervous for getting a new companion! 

I love you guys! THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO! Things are going well and I love the gospel! Couldn't ask for anything more right now! 

Love, Elder Munson

"The streets of Reading."

"This is the car park for our flat."

"Had exchange with the APs earlier this week."

Feels like I was back at home...

Email -  October 20, 2014

"Family History set up in the town centre."

"Two African families made us Fufu this week! AHHH I WAS SO HAPPY. 

Feels like I was back at home or something."

"Fufu and Fish Agusi (Nigerian)."

"Fufu and chicken and pepper soup (Ghanaian)." 

 "Played some catch last p-day with Brother Pauna. 

He is from Australia and played a lot of ball there."

"Elder Mössner made me some nice bread on exchange!"

Mission Leadership Conference

Email - October 13, 2014

OH MY DAYS!

Email - October 6, 2014

WOW! What a week of college football?! That is brutal for 14-19! That is going to go down in history! Ahhh...where in the world did Miss St come from!? Ahhaha nice.

I'm super glad that dad was able to talk with Sawyer for a while on Friday night! He emailed me and said that he was super happy to be able to talk to him and catch up! Sideline hook ups! ;)

Anyway! Yeah, this week is going to be crazy...may not be able to email much today but hopefully Wednesday I will be able to again! 

Oh my days, how about Conference this weekend!? It was amazing. I learned so much! Honestly, I don't even know if I could narrow it down to my favourite talks. I loved Elder Cook's from the Priesthood session, ah so much! That was amazing. Also, Elder Holland's talk OF COURSE! He is so powerful...and President Monson's talk to close the Sunday morning session. Oh, and also President Uchtdorf's from the Priesthood session was nice! And Tad R. Callister's was great! It was all just amazing! Oh, and how about the prayer from Elder Dube of the Seventy?! hahaha SUCH A BOSS! Representing Africa!!! hahaha We love him. 

We have been engaged in so much service - it's been awesome. Nearly everyday we are serving either a ward member or an investigator.. 

But, one service project went a little haywire on Thursday...and it was just nuts! But, I'll have to explain the whole thing on Thursday hopefully when I have more time!

So, Sister West goes home today which is nuts! Elder Popa and I have to drive down to the Portsmouth Zone to pick up some sisters who are going home. So, I will be able to see Sister West at the temple today and I am excited about that! 

Ah, I love this gospel and being a missionary! I just can't believe how fast time is flying?! Have I really been with Elder Popa for a full transfer?!

I love all of you and I am so grateful for all that you do for me and the support that I feel from you! 

Love, Elder Skyler Munson! 

"Doing some service."

"Oh, and I got a grill!"

A Few Pics

Email - September 29, 2014

"Abdul!"

 "Harry Potter's uncle's house."

 "Harry Potter's uncle's street."

WOW the weeks just fly by!

Email - September 22, 2014

WOW the weeks just fly by!

I am so happy that the Ogden Temple finally is up and running again. Just in time. I'm excited to have a temple near to where I will be living!

We had a good week here! Saturday we were able to go to the temple with our investigator, A____. He is from Sierra Leon and is getting baptized this up coming Saturday! Elder Popa and I have also been traveling a ways away every week so he can teach this Romanian guy, and he is also getting baptized on Saturday. So, it will be a crazy weekend for us!

Thursday night - Saturday morning I was on an exchange with on of the AP's, Elder Idso. He's a nice guy from Logan, Utah. It was a lot of fun! I was able to learn a lot from him.

Sister Finch, the sister that was in the hospital, was released! So, that is good! She is recovering well and hopefully will be able to continue on with her missionary service as she was able to before!

Elder Popa is nearing down to only 8 weeks! So crazy! He isn't getting too trunky...kinda, but mostly joking about things! haha It's pretty funny.

The test for my license is October 21st officially. We are trying to get it moved up, but it's not looking like that will be possible.

I really think and hope that I will be with Popa till his end! I don't see why I wouldn't! But, I guess we will see in like two weeks! We will know what is going on. :)

I'm so happy for Peyton that she got her blessing! Actually, that is pretty cool that we were all able to get it from the same Patriarch!

Thank you so much for the talks and the letters and the sports updates that I received this week! Always a highlight!

We have really been focusing on members lately and doing service for them and building up our relationship with the ward, and it has been really successful!! We have had opportunities to be able to serve many people, and they have talked to their friends and now we are going to be doing service for quite a few non members this week. So that will be awesome!

I gave a talk yesterday in Sacrament Meeting on trusting in the Spirit! I think it went well. I enjoy speaking.

I love this work and I love where I am! Things are going well! I love you and miss you all! Thank you for all that you do for me! I am so blessed!

Love, Elder Munson

Today was just nuts...

Email - September 15, 2014

Wow, ok so today was just nuts... 

We helped a member move for a couple of hours in the morning, then we have planned to visit each District for p day so today's day was Oxford, so we drove all the way up there! And, also there is a sister in the Zone who is in the hospital and facing possibly having an operation, so we were running things around for her, and we just have not been able to do anything today. I'm sorry this won't be the best email! 

There is a girl from our ward here named Kerry who is visiting the states this week and next week and she wants to meet you guys when she is in Utah, so I gave her your numbers and she is probably going to get a hold of you! haha

This week was good. Our investigator named N____ came on a teach with us to teach someone else! IT WAS INCREDIBLE! He was testifying how the Gospel helped him quit smoking and stuff cause our investigator that we were teaching has been having a problem with it! It was just so cool!

That is awesome that Tanner got his Eagle! WOOOHOO! 

Time is just flying by. I can't believe that it is Monday already...sure didn't feel like a Monday at all! Nuts! 

I hope you guys know how much I appreciate all of the letters and money and love and support! It's amazing! I need to get a letter in the mail soon cause I filled up another memory card so expect that sometime soon! 

Have a great week! I LOVE YOU ALL!

Love, Elder Munson!

"Elder Bógnar is in the Reading Zone. :) He is training a new missionary!"

"Went to the temple with their investigator cause he is Romanian!"

 "We have an investigator that works at Costco and he gave us a full pizza! :)"

"Sooo, the Hells Angels have a "gang house" just down the street from the sisters' flat. We saw them pull up on their bikes a few days ago! haha Sketch!"

"This is Kerry."

Lovely random email!

September 13, 2014

We met your lovely Elders today! We are serving in the Air Force here in England. Just thought I'd share a picture! They are great young men!

  -Tim & Ami

Wow, what a week!

Email - September 8, 2014

Wow, what a week! But, I'll answer your questions first! Yes Elder Popa is still trying to get in to BYU. He applied to Provo and Idaho! He is just waiting for the response. I think he'll at least get accepted to Idaho! And some thank you notes would be great Mum, thanks! And, I'm good on toothpaste and deodorant.. it's no problem:)

So, I can't believe we are already starting my third week of me being with Elder Popa in Reading! Time is flying. Honestly, we get up leave the flat at 10 am and usually don't come back till around 10 p.m...working hard as ever! The Lord is blessing us so much in our area to be able to have people to teach! We have 5 solid investigators! And, we had 6 people...all 5 of the solid investigators and 1 other, come to church yesterday! That was so stressful but so sick!

One of our investigators, P____, is awesome. We have been meeting with him EVERY day and he has come to church the last 2 Sundays. He loves us so much and is willing to listen! 

We also have an investigator named N____. He has a date to get baptized on the 25th of next month. We set a late day with him cause he [has some challenges with the Word of Wisdom] and so we thought we would give him time to be able to quit properly! But, he told us just earlier this week that he has been clean for nearly a month now...so before I even got here, whilst he was meeting with Elder Popa and Grace, he stopped...which is amazing! They didn't even know he stopped completely! He is awesome!

It's been a weird adjustment being around British people again. Church is more organized, but the friendliness of Africans just can't be matched! haha And, African food can't be replaced either! But, the members here have been quite good at having us over and feeding us.

Tomorrow is our Zone training, so Elder Popa and I are in charge of training the whole Zone on the new vision for the transfer.  President Millar will be in attendance and will give a presentation. Due to mine and Elder Popa's schedule, we have yet to prepare our 40 minute presentation to the Zone, so that's what our day will consist of today. :)

I honestly love being here doing what I am doing. Time just keeps going faster and faster though! I don't know what to do! It's all coming to an end so fast it seems. I know I still have a lot of time and a lot of things I need to do here in England...but, the time is running low!!! 

Ah, with football season being in full swing, it makes me have such a desire to be working out in the morning! It's cool to think I'll be on the field (or sidelines at least) next season. Ahhh FOOTBALL SEASON IS THE BEST.  That's cool that you were able to see some old friends at the PG game.

Tell Grandma and Grandpa that I love them and miss them! I hope you all have a great week! And, thank you so much for all that you do for me and all the love and support I feel!

Love, Elder Skyler Munson

"DLC photo! These are all the District Leaders and Elder Popa and I in the

Reading Zone! Solid bunch!"

Far left: Elder Caruso from Italy. [Elder Popa] Green tie: Elder Tidwell from Kaysville. Middle: Elder McCappin from Australia. Red tie: Elder Cooper from California. And the one next to me with black hair: Elder Mossner from Switzerland!

"On exchange with Elder McCappin from Australia!"

"Like bosses!"

Amazing!

Email - September 1, 2014

HELLOOOO! Ah, things are so good! Honestly, like it's just great! There is so much to be done, but it keeps us busier and I couldn't be happier with where I am!

On Friday, we had MLC - Mission Leadership Council. All the Zone Leaders and Sister Trainer Leaders and the AP's and President met and had a really long meeting and training session and a good council together. We discussed how we can best help the work in this mission. We have had the highest baptizing month in 5 YEARS in this mission. It was amazing! But, we need to keep it going. Sooo..,we were stumped...so, we decided to pray as a MLC, and every one of us kneeled down in the chapel and Elder Popa offered a prayer to our Heavenly Father asking to guide us in what we should do and plan for the mission, and we sat and talked and proposed ideas. It may seem pretty normal or something, but honestly, this was the most spiritual experience I have had in not just my mission but my life, apart from the temple. We are turning the mission into something that it hasn't ever been before. Everything is going to change starting this transfer of how ELSM works, and it will be amazing. This is what the Lord wanted for the mission. He told each and every one of us in this council. It's things that can only be described if you were there, but trust me, things will be awesome!

Elder Popa and I have taught so many quality lessons this week and have found two new investigators who came to church on Sunday. One is English, the other is from Greece. We also spent MANY MANY hours planning and preparing presentations and meetings. We have a training meeting for all the District Leaders in the zone tomorrow. There are 5 districts with 28 total missionaries in the Reading Zone, plus two senior couples...so, a lot to look after and take care of! But, it's amazing. The Woodley Ward is amazing! That is the ward that Elder Popa and I are in. They meet in the Reading building. Member missionary work is better here than it has been anywhere else. We had a member with us in nearly all of our lessons this week.

Elder Popa ends in November, so he has two more transfers left! Luckily! hahhah There is a lot to do as a ZL, accounting to the AP's, exchanges, training plans, and loads more I just can't even think of right now, but I love it. I'm learning a lot! 

We have a nice flat. it is a big complex of flats and has a gym and everything! SO I'M GETTING PROPER EXERCISE! It's awesome! Oxford is in our zone! So, I am excited to go on exchange there. ;)

Things are amazing! There really isn't much else to say! I'm happy, working hard, and learning a lot! I'm sorry this email my not be as detailed as you hoped. So much happened this week it's all just morphing into one memory and I don't even know what day things happened on besides MLC and church...haha

Thank you all for everything! I am so blessed! I hope you have a great week! 

-Elder Munson

"Ward BBQ in Mitcham."

"Me in front of the Southampton flat last week!!!"

"MLC... say hello to the Leaders of the England London South Mission."

"Elder Alejandre went home! :("

"Sister Stewart from my MTC group!"

The Bristol Zone Leaders stayed at our flat the night before MLC.

(Elder Kirk and Elder Davies) So, we worked out in the morning together obviously!

 "Zone Leaders from my MTC group.  So sick!"

"Picture after church yesterday. Simon is the one with the beard in the

middle. He is our ward mission leader and is so funny! The guy on the far

right is Avinash...got baptized three weeks ago! The girl with black

hair is our new investigator from Greece, and the other girl is a ward

member...good friends with Simon! Love this ward already!

"View from the Reading flat!"

Good-bye, Mitcham. Hello, Reading!

Email - August 26, 2014

WOW! Sooo, such a crazy day and week! We helped the Sisters in Mitcham move flats like all week! And, then on Friday night, President called me and let me know that I'm going to be a Zone Leader in Reading and that I need to move on Monday! So, everything got switched around and now Elder Popa and I have been driving people around all day - it's just been nuts! BUT, I AM SO HAPPY TO BE SERVING WITH HIM"!!!!!! Tooo happy. It will be so fun! But, honestly, I don't have much time! We have to get things ready to drive all day tomorrow! WE ARE GOING TO SOUTHAMPTON TOMORROW! Just to pick up another missionary! It will be so cool! haha I'm excited!

I love you guys! This work is amazing! I hope you have a great week! Thanks for everything!

-Elder Munson

Oh, and my new address!!

74 Quadrant Court

Jubilee Square

Reading, RG1 2GU

England

Things have just been pushing along!

Email - August 18, 2014

HELLO! Ok.. well, this last week was pretty good. But, to answer your question, Mum, the weather has been SUPER RAINY...only this week though. I have got to use my short sleeve shirts quite a bit! just not this week really. haha It seems that summer its nearing it's end here in England!

Sounds like you all had an eventful week! Back packing trips and dance competitions! Living the life for the final week of summer I see! I can't believe school starts! And, we all know how fast the school years go! It'll be time for me to come home at the end of it! CRAZY! 

Moves calls will come this Saturday! I can't even believe that! Elder Heninger's training is nearly done! WHAT THE HECK?! I have been emailing Elder Popa today. He says that he thinks that I will be going there to Reading with him to be a Zone Leader! Which I would love cause it's Elder Popa, but would also be scary cause ZL's have a lot to do!! haha But, we will see what happens! I WOULD LOVE TO SERVE WITH THE LEGENDARY POPA.

On Tuesday, this last week I went on exchange with Elder Alejandre, one of our Zone Leaders. And, I went to Peckham which is their area. He is from Spain and the whole day we were just visiting people that he baptized in the past or whatever cause he finishes his mission next week! So, it was a pretty fun day! Besides that all his recent converts were Latino basically and attend the Spanish branch, so it was a full day of understanding maybe half of every appointment! hahahaah Spanish speakers ALL day! It was a good experience though!

Things have just been pushing along! It's been really hard on me knowing for such a long time that I am leaving! It's like, uh what the heck? I'm not even going to be here any more in like 9 or 10 days, but I'm doing my best to work hard and help the area as much as I can before I move! 

Today, Matt, our Jehovah's Witness friend is taking us to do some fun things in central London! He is the man! It should be a fun day except the clouds aren't looking too promising at the moment! 

Yesterday, we were trying to hurry home in the evening to get back to the flat so I could account with the district, and we were on a bus...the 127...and we needed to get a 280 to get us back home...and, they cross paths for like 3 stops. So we saw that there was a 280 in front of us. It was just a matter if the 127 could catch up to it before we got to one of the stops! so we get to the first one and Elder Heninger like started to hurry to get off to be able to run and jump on the 280 before it took off. But, I was like saying, "We won't make it! We won't make it!" But, I guess he didn't hear me and he jumps off and starts running the 280 down as it's taking off and the driver doesn't stop for him! HAHAHA So, I just sat back and watched the whole thing happen. So, he had to run back and hop on the 127 that we were originally on and the bus driver wasn't happy. Then, at the next stop, the 127 had caught up and was plenty close. So, we virtually just walked off and walked on to the 280. haha It was sooo funny to just watch Elder Heninger scramble around for a little bit though! hahahha We were laughing about it for the rest of the night! 

Anyway! This will be an interesting week! I'll just probably go around to everyone and say bye and tell them thanks for everything! I've loved my time here! NEXT WEEK WE'LL FIND OUT WHERE MY NEXT AREA WILL BE! :)

Thank you all for everything! Honestly! 

I love you and miss you! Have a great week!

Love from London,

Elder Munson

"Ellion asked for a blessing whilst he was in the hospital this last week.

He was released and doing great now. :)"

"The District + Zone Leaders."

 "Eatin' that hard boiled egg for breakfast on our way to church. ;)" 

"Parkour!"

On the edge of my seat...

Email - August 11, 2014

Hello! Wow, don't the weeks just fly by!? They do for me at least. 

This was a really good week! We had President interviews on Tuesday which are always good! I got some info out of President that basically it's a sure thing that I am moving in a couple weeks! Plus, the Zone Leaders told me that I am basically good as gone. So, I'm just on the edge of my seat now wondering where I will be going and who my next companion will be! CRAZY! But, definitely I feel like it is time to move on! That doesn't mean I wont miss Mitcham though, CAUSE I WILL FOR SURE!

We had a really good district meeting on Wednesday! And, the day after I went on exchange with Elder White! It was pretty good. We tried a lot of funny different ways of contacting! Elder White tried this one thing where he placed a Book of Mormon just out in the middle of the walkway on like a railing, and as people would look at it when they walked by he would approach them and tell them that the book they just passed by will change their life, or he would ask if they have ever seen that book before. haha It was pretty funny some of the reactions we got.

Elder Heninger and I have been having a lot of fun! We had a pretty funny weekly planning on Friday, and we are just used to each other now so it's been really enjoyable serving with him. 

Yesterday at church John walked in and had a tithing slip and was asking us how to fill it out and everything! Ah, it was so amazing! He is the most solid convert I have ever seen. 

On Saturday, we met with two of our investigators, R____ and Y____. They are two teenage girls who are way cool. We set a baptismal date with them for September 13th which was great! I'm really happy and excited about them! 

It's weird to think about leaving. It doesn't really distract me. It's just weird thinking that the people I meet or whatever I won't be teaching them for much longer! 

Oh, and we found out that our mission will be instituting iPads and such around October or November. I received a letter from Grandma and Grandpa offering to pay for that for me! THAT WAS SOOO NICE OF THEM. Ah, I'm so lucky to have the best grandparents in the world. The whole mission is pretty excited to receive them. It will really help the work here, I think. Everything will be much more organized and the iPads will be a great teaching tool.

I taught the Elders Quorum lesson yesterday on Eternal Marriage! hahaha THAT WAS AWKWARD! good thing there was a lot of participation from the group from those that are actually married! hahahaa It went well anyway and I learned a lot from it! My 2nd counselor was supposed to teach the lesson, but he didn't show up! Nor did he tell me he wasn't going to show up! haha Oh well! It was good.  

This Gospel is amazing!!! I am so lucky to have the chance I have to be out here spreading it! The last couple weeks have been so great. Daniel Sintim has blessed the Sacrament the last two Sundays, his first time ever doing that! And, he has a talk next Sunday in church! SO I'M JUST FREAKING HAPPY and proud of him!

I miss you all! and thank you all SOO much for all the love and support! It's the best! LOVE YOU!

Love, Elder Skyler Munson

"Nice Japanese girls I met on the street. I happened to have a card that

Riley Ottesen sent to me in the mail a while ago. So, I gave it to them and

they are going to contact him when they go back home next month. :)"

"The BYU students last Sunday was yesterday!"

"I still have that weird addiction of watching the washer...remember when I

would do this for days, Mum?"

"Haha, locking Sister Xayalath in!"

 "Elder Heninger during weekly planning! The creep! Haha!"

 "We eat grilled cheese so much!"

I miss you loads!

Email - August 4, 2014

Ok that video of Johnny is the funniest thing I have seen in a long time! hahah That was the best! Thank you for sharing that! 

I can't believe it is August already! But J____'s baptism went really really well! It was a great day! President Millar even came to it, so that was awesome to have his support!

After the baptism, we were invited to a BBQ by our good friend Matt! I don't know if i have told you guys anything about Matt yet, but he is the man. He is a young newlywed guy...his wife is named Rosie and they are like the nicest coolest people ever. The way we met them is because they are Jehovah's Witnesses! and they were handing out their magazines at Morden underground station and we were talking to Matt, and we exchanged numbers...and that led to us and Matt meeting up EVERY week and just discussing doctrines and such! This last Thursday Matt gave a talk in their Kingdom Hall (their chapel). Elder Heninger and I went to support him and hear him. He did really well! But yeah, so Matt is just our good friend! And, we introduced the sisters to them and now they are good friends with Rosie! So, it's pretty cool! 

Dad, your email was spot on! Tomorrow, we have interviews with President, so I will be able to discuss things with him! They only happen once every three months, so it was good timing! 

The work has been hard! But, great as always! We have another investigator named S____ who has been coming to church, but due to work schedules, we have been unable to see him during the week! But, things are going well with him! If he continues to come to church like he has been the last few weeks, things will be good! 

Elder Heninger and I have been having SO much fun lately! It hasn't been affecting our work in a negative way at all! Things have just been so funny lately and we don't know why. We are always laughing which is really good! hahah We started a quote book that is hilarious that we just write down all of our really dumb random things that we say..

And, Mum, no I haven't booked a driving test yet! I need to talk to President about it tomorrow to see if I need to take the test before the end of this moves or if I can do it after if i get moved! We just have to see cause the test has to be booked like a month or so in advance! haha

I can't even believe how blessed I am to be here doing what I am doing right now! It's such a great experience and I have been learning so much day by day! 

Yesterday was a great Fast Sunday! The Spirit was really strong in our Sacrament Meeting. Elder Heninger and I both bore our testimonies, as did the sisters!  It was amazing to hear Sister Xayalath bare hers as well! Her English has come such a long way - it's amazing! 

I hope you have a great week everyone! THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING! I miss you loads! 

LOVE YOU ALL!

Love, Elder Munson

"The baptism of John!"

"This is Matt.  He is the coolest!"

"The BBQ."

"My stress ball that grandma and grandpa got for me for Christmas popped. :("