Elder Skyler Munson: July 2014

Crazy means that work is getting done...

Email - July 28, 2014

No, I cannot believe that this is the last few days of July! It just doesn't seem real! Honestly! Gall... time is just flying!

This saturday is J____'s baptism! We are so excited! It will be amazing!

Two days ago, we had a big service project that included 3 wards and we helped clean up the grounds at an estate in South London. It was really cool! And, J____ heard about it at church and wanted in. So, he came with us! That was the best part of the week I think!

Also, we had zone conference on Thursday which was awesome to see some people that I have not seen in a long time! We learned a lot! We are wanting to focus a lot on teaching the members how to teach others, especially by using Preach My Gospel! So, that will be a big thing we will be working on over the next 6 weeks or so!

Yes, mum I got the package earlier this week! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE SHIRTS AND THE TIE AND THE MONEY! I am really excited to get back and to be able to play ball again! But, for now, I couldn't be more excited to just stay where I am and get things done here!

And, dad...NO, I am not an official driver yet! I am booking my practical driving test this week. It probably won't be for a few more weeks, but when it comes, I better not fail cause it is a real pain to have to schedule these things and stuff! Haha, but if I pass than I will finally be an officially licensed driver!

OH BIG NEWS! Haha, so that Heather Dockstader girl that Sister West is trying to set me up with, yeah, she wrote me this week. :) Haha, Elder Heninger walked into the flat after getting home from zone conference and there was a letter sitting on the ground from her! WE STARTED GOING NUTS!!! Haha, couldn't believe it! Haha, but she is so cool and basically she was just asking me a load of questions, so it was like an interrogation letter! Haha!

That is so funny that you guys went to that country concert! I hope you had fun! You should see the amounts of drinking British people do! It is crazy! And, there are always like 14 year old kids walking around with joints! Publicly too! It's just crazy! The world is just going down hill...Jesus is coming again very soon init?!

This week will just be a lot of caring for J____ and making sure he gets in the water on Saturday! He is solid, so I have no worries! But, we still have a couple things to teach him, and his interview will be on Thursday! :) He will be fine!

OH, and today is non other than my BEST FRIEND IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLDS birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAWYER!! Please put a shout out to him on Twitter/Insta. ANYWHERE! Haha, I miss that kid so much and I just can't believe that we are both 20 now. Remember for his birthday, summer going into 8th or 9th grade, I got him a mallet? Hahahaha, we were so funny! AND WE STILL ARE...haaha! :)

Today we are meeting as a zone at the stake centre to play some sports! It will be fun! I'll make someone throw the pig skin to me! It's nice cool weather today!

Things have been good! But crazy at the same time! But, crazy means that work is getting done so I am grateful for that definitely! We have been doing much better at contacting lately! Wherever we go, we try to talk to people on the bus or walking to people's homes. It's been really good. We have been able to share our testimonies a lot more and get a lot more people's phone numbers to be able to call back at a later date!

THE CHURCH IS TRUE!

I love and miss you all! I am so thankful for my opportunity to be here and all the support I have back home and from friends around the world!

Have a great week! :)

-Elder Skyler Munson

"Helping Hands service project! J____ wanted to come with us!
He is so sick!"

"Last p-day! Standing over the line for the time meridian! The left half of my body is in the Western world and the right half is in the Eastern world!"

"Extended family photo! So, Sister Bolinder, if you remember, is my mum...

and, Sister Jensen is Sister West's mum...so, this is a picture of Elder

Heninger and Sister Xayalath with both their grandmas! Hahaha!

They were both so happy to see their posterity growing."

"This is my mother-in-law, Sister Jensen!"

"Also from last p-day."

"Reunited and it feels so good! He was at Zone Conference!" Elder Bodhaine!

I would be a national phenom!

Email - July 21, 2014

HELLO! Ah, where did the last week go?! It is officially week 1 of my 10th transfer! HOLY! That is crazy!

Things are going great! Our investigator J____ is doing great! He is so solid and excited to get baptized on the 2nd of August, which is coming up fast! We still have a lot to teach him, but it shouldn't be too hard! He is really willing to learn and accepting of everything we have taught him so far!

Oh, and yes mum I did get my contacts! Thank you so much! I also got a package and like three letters from Ciera?! What the heck?! Over half way done and NOW she decides to write me! Haha, funny. But, I was happy and a little shocked!

To answer dad's question about if we knock a lot...nah, not really! Really, only in this zone though! We knocked quite a bit in Southampton! But, it is just really not effective here! No one is ever home. There are way more people on the streets, so we just walk up and down the streets talking to everyone that we see! But, in other areas out of this zone, I know that knocking is a good use of time!

Oh, and training is going well! It's definitely a different experience than anything else! It keeps me on my toes knowing that most situations are first time things for Elder Heninger! He is not like a new missionary at all! He seems experienced! I have to remember that he is still new! It's been a lot of fun!

Driving is going well! I am getting the hang of it that is for sure! The lessons are like £22. But, I really like my instructor. He is a way funny guy and it makes it less stressful when he is just super laid back and chill about the whole thing, but he knows how to help as well, so it's good. Some members of the ward referred him to me cause they used him in the past!

THIS LAST WEEK HAS BEEN SOOOOO FETCHING HOT! Honestly, it has been brutal. Hot and humid! But, almost every night there was a really big thunder storm! That was great! I love it! But, the sun has been nice. I have a really nice tan line from my collar though... haha.

Tomorrow I have DLC (District Leader Council) which last transfer lasted for ages! Haha, like 3 hours! But, it was really good. So, I'm looking forward to learning a lot tomorrow!

Lately, I don't know why, but there have been so many opportunities to play table tennis, and holy cow, I am getting sick out here! I hope Tanner is improving as well, or he is going to get ripped next summer! Honestly, if table tennis was a collegiate sport, I would like to pursue it! And represent the USA at the summer Olympics in table tennis! Hahaha, I would be a national phenom! Haha, it's really entertaining as a missionary to be able to play every once in a while!

I love and miss you all! I hope you guys have a great Pioneer Day!! (Yet another holiday that they don't celebrate here!) I hope you have a great week!

Love, Elder Munson

"We had a sports and games night on Tuesday! This is Jordane!

Haha, he is hilarious. 15 year old kid."

"The sky was amazing the other evening!"

"A lady got on the bus the other day wearing this on her head...haha. so sick!"

I'm staying!

Email - July 16, 2014

SOOO, I'm staying! Haha, another 6 weeks in good 'ol Mitcham!!

I've still been taking driving lessons! So, no I'm not officially licensed yet! I have to passed the actual driving test sometime this transfer! Haha, we'll see how it goes! I had a two hour lesson on Wednesday, and it just was not my day, I stalled the stupid car 9 times!! Haha, it was bad, but I have another lesson tonight! :)

Sounds like you all had a crazy busy week! Busy is good though, isn't it?! It makes the time go by much faster! At least in the mission field it does!

To answer your questions....

Exercise is good! We get up and run to a bus stop quite a ways from our flat, that takes us to some tennis courts, and we have been working on our game!! We get up like an hour earlier that normal to actually have time to play! It's been fun.

I have not gotten any short sleeve shirts yet! Just been so busy! And, last p-day, there weren't any in my size at the store I looked for them.

The progress with inactives is great! We had a whole family of 6 come to church yesterday! We had to leave for church early to take like a 30 minute bus ride to get to their house and then we helped get all the kids ready and got to church! First time they have been in like 9ish months! It was great!

And, what do I pray for? Ah, what don't you pray for as a missionary?! I pray for my family, my friends, for people to teach, for understanding. I pray for people we meet in the street or on buses, I pray for the other missionaries, the members, for the food we eat. I pray for, honestly, everything! Well, not everything, there is too much to be grateful for, but like seriously, there's no way to put a finger on what I pray for... it's always different.

I don't feel like I am in a position or it's right to ask you to pray for specific things. The white handbook tells us to not ask people from home to join in special fasts or things like that, and to me, prayer is the same way. I feel bad asking those things of people, even family! You guys know what to pray for! I don't want to put words or thoughts in your prayers! The Apostles have told us, however, to pray for missionaries and people by name! So, I do appreciate you asking! We have an investigator right now named J____ who has accepted to be baptized next month! So, he would be great to keep in prayers!

Missionary life has just been flying by. Honestly, I don't know where the time goes anymore? I feel like Elder Heninger and I just became companions. But no, I'm already half way done training him! Haha fetch!

It's been so hot here lately! GALL! I love the heat, but the HUMIDITY here is the worst! I have really learned to appreciate Utah! I miss having all four seasons and I miss the mountains! But, it's all good! I wouldn't rather be anywhere else than here at the moment!

It is weird now when I write in my journal, I can turn back the pages and see what I was doing at the same time last year...still as a missionary! It blows my mind how much I have learned and changed over the last year! I doesn't make great sense to me! But, it has been the most amazing experience in my life! I love the work!

I have been studying the New Testament hard this last transfer! And, holy...honestly, the church is so true! It just all correlates so perfectly! John the Beloved is honestly one of my biggest role models! He was such a stud. So unwavering and so humble.

I love being out here and I'm grateful for all of the support and love I feel from everyone back home! I miss you all and I hope you have a great week!!

Love you!

Love, Elder Munson

"Driving lesson on Monday."

"They had an outdoor teli set up to watch the Tour de France!
Haha, it was cool!"

"SWEET wall of socks at some random store in Wimbledon."

"Went to walk around Wimbledon last p-day!"

"Gettin' sick with tennis for morning exercise! Haha, call me Nadal!"

FINALLY!

Email - July 7, 2014

This week was good! Honestly, it was pretty crazy just doing everything we could to make sure that Osei's baptism was going to happen! And, it did, so it ended great! Elder Heninger baptized him and I was able to do the confirmation yesterday, which was great! FINALLY! My first investigator to be baptized! Daniel Sintim gave a talk at the baptism and it was SO good. He is the man! I'm so happy that he has returned back to activity in the church!

On Tuesday, I had my theory test...it was EASY. I was so stressed about not passing it. But, it really wasn't bad at all. So, I just have to pass the actual driving test and I'll have my full British license! I'm just waiting to book the test after I find out what is going on with moves this week. I also have a few more driving lessons this Wednesday so that will be helpful.

Tell Mitzi and Katri that I say hi! That is cool that they were able to make it up and that Katri gets to go to girls camp as well! That will be fun!

4th of July was great! Right at the start of companion study at 9 in the morning, I called the district and made a conference call and we sang the American hymns together as a district...well, only the Americans in the district! Haha, it was funny. Then, Sister Welch was nice enough to have us over and got us sparklers and such! It was fun!

We also made friends with someone named M____. He is a really cool guy and we are meeting with him now EVERY Tuesday. He wants us to share the lessons with him in a discussion-like way, and he shares his beliefs as we go through ours. So, it's been pretty cool to learn about another religion and be able to talk to someone else who takes their religion seriously, so he is open and understanding of the views that are different in our church than in other churches!

I can't believe we are now entering into the last week of the transfer! WHAT THE HECK?! Honestly, where have the last 4 1/2 weeks gone? In about 5 days I should know what is going on with moves so that will be nice to just know what is happening!

The work is going great though! We have a couple new investigators that have friends in the church and we are meeting with a guy named J____, who came to church yesterday. On Thursday, we should be setting a baptismal date with him! He is an awesome guy, and even better that he is Ghanaian! So, he will fit right in with the ward!

I've been learning away on the guitar though! I can play Gravity and Waitin' on the World to Change already from the book! Hopefully, I will be able to learn more soon! That strum and sing version makes it really easy to play these songs! I was looking in the back of the book and the company that makes it says that there is a Jack Johnson "strum and sing" version. Haha! So, if that could be tracked down, possibly, I would be a happy camper!

I'm so grateful for the chance that I have had to serve in Mitcham and all the things I have learned since I have been here! But honestly, this is the first time I have felt on my mission like it is time to go, and I don't know if it's my own desire or just how I feel, but really I just think that it is time for me to move from this area. Elder Heninger is a good enough missionary that the area could be left with him to lead it even if he isn't all the way done training. I guess we will just see what happens this weekend!

The Gospel is so true! Jesus Christ is the best! And, I know for a fact that He is our Savior and Redeemer! I love him so much! The things he did and the life he lived is second to none! I can't wait to meet Him one day.

I miss all of you! I hope that you have a great week! THANKS FOR EVERYTHING Love you loads!

Love, Elder Munson

"Zone p-day last week! We did a photo scavenger hunt and this is one of the pics we had to get as a group...my group won!"

"Sister Xayalath taught us to make origami hearts!"

"Sister West and I dominated Elder Heninger and Elder Fowler in doubles! Haha! (Elder Fowler is FREAKING good at ping pong.)

"The 4th!!"

Over the hump...

Email - June 30, 2014

Holy cow! Over the hump...time is just flying. It's so weird.

Fishing sounds and looks fun! I can't wait to head out on Grandpa's boat next year! Sounds like that boat and Oreos are the charm to get bare fish!!!

This week I got a package from Sam and Kenna! Ah, seriously it's just been a birthday month! haha I love and miss them so much! They are such good friends to me!

Um, I'm not sure when I start driving. The APs actually just called me last Monday night and said that I need to get my full license asap...basically this transfer, so that makes me think I might not get to finish training Elder Heninger. I don't know who my companion will be, but the only areas with cars are the zone leaders in the mission, so I have a few guesses or ideas who my next companion could be, depending on what transfer I get moved. I probably won't have to drive right away when I get moved cause most of the zone leaders in the mission already have a license to drive here. I took my first driving lesson earlier this week on the road. It's a little tricky cause I'm learning to drive manual and it's all shifting with the left hand and it's just weird! But, it went well! I only stalled the car once. Other than that, it was easy to pick up on. I'm taking the Theory (computer) test tomorrow morning! I have been studying for it like CRAZY all this last week! So, hopefully I pass!

On Wednesday, June 25th, for district meeting I threw the district a half Christmas party and centered the meeting all on the birth of Christ and the purpose of His life on earth! It went well. I had Elder Fowler (the senior couple Elder) give a presentation and he is such good teacher and knows so many cool things. I wish I could just have him teach EVERY district meeting! But, it went pretty well. I think the district had some fun.

Friday morning, O____ had his baptismal interview.. and ... HE PASSED! So, his baptism will be at 11 o'clock this Saturday! I can't wait! I'm so excited for him! Gall! A year in and FINALLY one of my investigators is getting baptized! It will be an amazing day!

Saturday, our ward put on an open house! It was pretty good. A really hectic and crazy day, but good. It went better than the one in Southampton that is for sure! We had probably about 15 non-members come through during the day. The members of the ward definitely could have done better on inviting friends or whatever, but that is ok! It was successful, I feel.

The new set of BYU students arrived, and yesterday was their first Sunday! To my surprise, a girl from Pleasant Grove was in the group in our ward! hahaha So sick! It is Michael Perry's older sister. She is a grade above me, but I am older than her I'm pretty sure. I had met her and hung out with her a few times. Michael is a very good LAX player and he has been to our house a few times, I think. I ripped my jeans playing ping pong at his house my junior year. Do you remember that? Anyway, Michael and I are friends and it was funny to see his sister again!

The work is just great! After O____'s baptism I'm not sure what we will focus on next! We have a few investigators that, hopefully, we will be able to set up dates with!

I love this Gospel!!!!! It's been such an honor to be spreading it for the last year, and now I have another full year to do it! I CAN'T WAIT.

I hope all of you are doing well! Thank you so much for all the love and support!

I LOVE YOU ALL!!

Love, Elder Skyler Munson

"Half Christmas party!"

"This is O____. He is the man!"

"Transporting goods to the chapel for the Open House."

[Don't understand the face! Ha ha!]

Get up, work hard, go to sleep!

Email - June 23, 2014

Ah, yes, Wimbledon starts today! It's not in our area but the area next to us. We wanted to go to the matches today SOOO badly. But, tickets are like £50! haha freak!

Things here are going really well! O____ [formerly J____ - don't know why, probably spelling error originally!] is progressing really well and is looking forward to his baptism on the 5th! He is honestly such a miracle for this area and the ward.

On Thursday night, the AP's called me and said they needed a flat to stay in that night because they had a part in our zone training on Friday. So, they came and stayed the night in our flat on Thursday night! It was a lot of fun. We were a part of their presentation as well during zone training. Elder Heninger and I gave a presentation of our own during the meeting as well. We gave it on "Teaching with the Book of Mormon." We both felt like it went really well! It was a good zone training and I learned a lot!

Sister West started training a new sister missionary in our district this week! Sister Xayalath! She is so nice and so bubbly. BUT speaks little VERY little English. So Sister West has her plate full. But, her English is getting better every time I see her. She is the first missionary EVER to come to England from her country. She is from Laos which is near Thailand. I'm really excited to have her in the district!

England straight choked at the World Cup this year I heard! haha And, all the Ghanaian people give me a hard time cause USA beat them! hahahah :)

Elder Heninger is my favorite companion so far that is for sure! It's been so fun serving with him! We started doing proper exercise this week! We get up a half hour earlier and run a little over a mile to the chapel, play a game or two of horse, and then run back to our flat! hahah It's tiring, but it's good for us!

I honestly just feel like there is not enough time in the day to do everything that is needed to get done! It sure makes the days and weeks go by fast, but there is soo much to do! Planning district meetings, planning exchanges, planning Elders Quorum lessons, Elders Quorum activities, going through the training program, ah the list goes on and on! I'm not complaining ONE bit! I love it! It's just really making time fly! I don't even remember most of what happened this last week! Honestly. We just get up, work hard, go to sleep. That is how it's been and that is the way it should be done I'm convinced!

Last night Elder Heninger and I just looked at each other and we both looked like Zombies and we just busted up laughing and said that we should look this bad at the end of every week! It was hilarious. We seriously just want to work so hard that on Sunday night we just look like we're about to die...which is exactly how we felt yesterday. I have never fallen asleep on the bus before until this last week! haha It's been brutal. Of course, when I get on the bus, if there is someone on it, I talk to them and try to convert them. But, sometimes, in the middle of the day there aren't many people on the buses. So, if the one or two people I try to talk to deny me, then we have nothing to do but to sit there and wait for our stop. We both totally just passed out. I woke up before we got to our stop, but holy cow, I had never been more tired in my life! haha Definitely have to try not to let that happen again, but it was funny.

I really hope that all is going well back home! Things are going great here. I just can't believe it has been a year already! I think today for p-day we are going to go to a pitch 'n' putt golf course and work on our short range game! haha Should be a good time!

I love you all! Thanks for the love and support!

Love, Elder Skyler Munson

"Family picture. (I'm Elder Heninger's dad. Sister West is the senior sister in the district so that makes her Elder Heninger's mum and my 1st wife. Sister Xayalath is sister West's daughter. And I'm Sister Xayalath's first district leader, so that makes me her father.) I know it all sounds weird, but that's just mission slang, INIT!"

"The APs"

"Picture from zone training."

"Got my provisional! Gonna start driving lessons on Wednesday with an instructor!"

Where has the time gone!?!?

Email - June 16, 2014

I honestly can't believe my farewell was a year ago! WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE!?!? I don't know.

This was a good week! It was like the never ending birthday week! I am so blessed. The people here are so great and they treated me way too well! I am honestly so grateful for everyone!

J____, the investigator we got last week is doing well!! He came to church again yesterday and is really excited for his baptism on July 5th!

Oh, and about my passport...the mission office had to send it to me so I can get my provisional drivers license. It finally arrived, so I'm just waiting for my provisional so I can start taking lessons before my test!

It sound like you guys had quite the week! That is so cool that you took Jmoe and his comp out to lunch! Sam's dad texted us and scheduled a dinner for us on Thursday night! It was SOOO good to see Steve and to talk to him. It was such a surprise but a lot of fun OBVIOUSLY!

Who is Judy Davidson's niece!? Ahahha that is weird! AND that is sooo funny about Bri!! hahahah I had no idea that Bri was her niece! AH that is sweet!

The days just go by faster and faster! There is literally ALWAYS something to do now. I don't have time to even plan with my companion at night most nights like we are supposed to cause I'm on phone calls all evening coordinating Elders Quorum stuff or doing district reports or something! It's just nuts!!! But, it is a lot of fun! Elder Heninger and I are working really hard! We pass out every night!

My first district meeting was on Wednesday and it went really well! The district is excited about this upcoming transfer! Dad, those short stories and quotes that you send me are perfect for district meetings!! Thank you so much!! KEEP 'em coming. :) Elder Heninger and I have been asked to give a presentation at Zone training this friday as well, so I am excited about that!

The World Cup hype has been nuts here! Too bad England lost! Now, tonight America plays Ghana and all the ward members are confident that Ghana will prevail! hahaa most likely will.

We have been having a ton of service opportunities lately and it has been really good! Honestly, I love being able to help people and do some work for them! (and get out of a shirt and tie for a little!) hahaha

This work is amazing! Every week is a new experience and a testimony builder! I'm so grateful for everyone who loves and supports me back home!

DAD I hope you had a great fathers day! I love you so much!!! That's good you got to see Sawyer. He told me he was going to stop by some time. I hope he is doing well. I miss that kid and love him so much.

I miss you all! Hope you continue to have a good summer and busy weeks. ;)

Love, Elder Munson

"A few of us went to Southbank again last week."

"The sisters got me a protein shake in a tin can for my birthday.
It actually wasn't too bad."

"Haha...Bailee sent me this for my birthday! So nice!"

"Some of the BYU students who have been in the ward the last month or so."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELDER MUNSON!

Email - June 9, 2014 (20th Birthday!!!)

So, this week was freaking good....but, I just have to say THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING! HOLY FREAKING HECK! The tie, the package, my g's, the groceries, the card with videos on it.. EVERYTHING WAS SOOOOO SICK! And soo nice! You are the best family ever! And, I have the best friends in the world!

So Elder Heninger is the man! He is such a great missionary already! I am so stoked to be able to be with him for the next few months! He has a great desire to work and become better every day! He is making training way too easy on me!

So, tomorrow I will be on exchange with our new zone leader, Elder Tikotina from Fiji! He is a really cool guy! I'm excited for him to be here!

On Saturday, we went over to a recent convert/ less active member's home to teach his kids some simple Primary-like lessons to teach them Bible and Book of Mormon stories while they are young. He just happened to have a friend from Ghana staying at his house, so the member invited his friend to come sit in on the lesson, and as we went about the lesson, the children weren't the ones asking the questions, it was all this member's friend asking us things! By the end, we were just teaching him all the principles of the Restoration of the Church! It was amazing! Then, he basically said he wanted all this in his life and we said ok then you are getting baptized on July 5th, and he said ok...ahhahahh! And, then, he came to church yesterday and everything, and we are meeting with him again tonight and Thursday morning and Saturday as well! SUCH A MIRACLE! He is the man. His name is J____! I can't wait to keep teaching this guy and help him be ready for that date!

I cannot believe I am 20. I don't like not being a teenager anymore! WHAT THE HECK?! But, I love where I am and what I am doing! I know I would not be here today if it were not for ALL of you! But especially you Mum and Dad! You guys are the best!

Being a DL now is pretty time consuming and a lot of sending and reporting and looking out for the other missionaries in the district, but I LOVE IT. It just gives me more people to look after and to serve!

The ward is getting really excited for a big open house we are going to have in just a couple weeks time, on June 28th! Hopefully, we will be able to get more to this one than the one that I was a part of down in Southampton!

I love the Gospel!! Everything is going well!! The weather is even nice! hahaha really humid but it's hot. :)

I love you all! I will never be able to thank you enough for the great birthday I have been given out here in the field!

Have a great week!

Love, Elder Skyler Munson

"We found lizards doing service."