It's not too dodgy

Email - November 13, 2013

Well, this was a fun week! haha and yes, I did get the suit thing figured out!

Last Monday, we went to Big Ben for p-day! It was so fun! I love London guys! I seriously love it! I don't think I'll be leaving anytime soon from London. :)

Anyway, Elder Bognár has been out for a year! We do language study everyday because he struggles with English.

We don't actually live in Catford. That's just what the Ward is called. But, yeah Lewisham has the highest domestic violence rate in all of London I think. I've felt safe for the most part though. It's not too dodgy (sketchy).

We've been teaching a man named R____ quite often, 1 or 2 times a week. He's an ex-convict but he has such a good heart. I love him. He was raised as a Jehovah's Witness, so that is kinda a struggle but he loves meeting with us and after his Sunday community services are over, he should be coming to church in a couple weeks!

As a missionary, you see prayers being answered everyday! With one of our investigators, C____. We thought that his girlfriend was living with him but we didn't know for sure! So, we prayed to be able to find out for sure during a lesson that we had with him earlier this week. One of the first questions we asked him when we sat down was, "What is your girlfriend's name again?" and he told us and said without us even asking that she doesn't live there!!! Ah, we were so happy. We are hoping to invite him to be baptized this week now!

London has been so fun and so crazy!

Well, looks like I will be in Catford till Christmas at least!!! Ah I couldn't be more excited that I am spending my Christmas in LONDON! WOOOHOOO! It was sad this morning to see Elder Bluementhal leave though. He will be missed!

Anyway! Last night Elder Bognár and I set a baptismal date with R____! AHH! I am so happy. We're planning for Dec. 7th. But, depending on how fast we can help him stop smoking, it could be earlier or later! But, we're working towards the 7th!

Also, there is an American in the ward who invited us to go to their house for THANKSGIVING :) yay! So, maybe I'll be able to experience somewhat of a Thanksgiving. Remember last Thanksgiving? That was pretty fun I guess... bahhahaahahhha! [Explanation:  He thinks he's so funny!  Last Thanksgiving, we were on our last family vacation, all five of us, because we knew he'd be leaving right after graduation and we wanted a special family vacation together.  We were on a cruise for seven days over the Thanksgiving holiday.  'I guess' that was 'pretty fun'!!!] 

I hope all is well back home! I can't believe that November is nearly half way over.. what the heck?????????! It's getting cold here.. but not too bad yet. Everyone says that just means the winter is going to be long and awful.

I love you guys! Thank you for everything! I love what I am doing and it has been such an amazing experience!

Love, Elder Munson

I always go hard in ping pong!

Unexpected email - November 6, 2013

So, this morning was a zone district meeting in Wandsworth as we have every Wednesday... this was obviously the last one for this transfer. But, we had a big zone breakfast before the meeting started and during the breakfast obviously elders are going to be playing ping pong and obviously I always go hard in ping pong... and basically I ripped my pants... really bad. Like all the way from the top of my butt down my left thigh. Luckily, no sisters saw! We were like playing up on the stage and all the elders were watching and right as I ripped them all the elders busted up laughing and closed the curtains of the stage real quick. haha It was so embarrassing.. well, ok not really.. it was really funny. But, so I was wondering if I could maybe get that present from grandma and grandpa a little early. To district meetings and to church we have to wear suits and now I don't have a suit to wear. (I gained too much weight and grew out of the pants from other suit I brought, so it got left in Southampton.) Gall, I feel so dumb. But, clothing isn't terribly expensive here. I can get a decent suit for like 60 pounds. So sorry about this! I got special permission from the zone leaders to email you today so I can get a suit asap. haha I'm such an idiot! I'll send you pictures on Monday! I love you guys!! Sorry for the inconvenience.  

Love, Elder Munson

Everything short of Mo-Tab

Email - November 4, 2013

HELLO!

Stake Conference was great and this choir was... everything short of Mo-Tab, but it was fun!

I have been learning many good things during personal study. I think overall what I have been learning most from personal study is how important it is to have personal study! I love reading personally and studying what ever the Spirit guides me to study. Having that personal time to learn from the scriptures is the best. Basically, it's my favorite daily thing as a missionary.

As far as my testimony... good heck... I doubt if I even had a testimony before my mission from how strong it is now. I think back to my farewell talk all the time and I  am so embarrassed. I have a much better understanding of the Gospel and an actual knowledge of the teachings and the purposes that come with it. I did not know my scriptures before my mission. I did not pray nearly enough before my mission. I was trying to talk and testify of things that I didn't know enough about. I absolutely can rely on my testimony now. Before I couldn't. I love the feeling of knowing with ALL surety that this Church is true!!

Earlier this week, Elder Bognár and me..(minus me) taught a lesson over Skype to a Hungarian elsewhere in the mission. I just sat there on camera silent for an hour haha it was hilarious. I'm sure he did a great job though.

Halloween isn't very big here, but on that day we were street contacting in the evening and a kid, maybe 12 years old, dressed in a spider man costume came up to me and started pushing me around and hitting me and demanding candy from me ... haha it was so funny! He thought he was a proper thug or something! He grabbed my badge and ripped it off of my sweater and took off!!! haha Obviously, I hunted him down and got it back but it was so funny!! hahahaha I was like MAN I'M SORRY I HAVE NO CANDY ALRIGHT! haha Oh chav kids...

Oh, and to answer dad's question about day lights saving... yes they do have it here.. but it was last week! haha

Anyway, London is crazy/fun/hard work/amazing.

I love it so much.

I miss all of you though! and I love you loads! Thanks for everything!

Love, Elder Munson

"Mine and Brother Basoah's pumpkin."

"Haha, brought back MTC mems for me and Elder Bodhaine!"

"Alison and Sydney. They both went to Lone Peak. Sorta kinda knew them

before! But, they are here studying abroad! Haha, so cool."

{To Grandma and Grandpa} 

"THANK YOU GUYS! The Halloween package was amazing! and the mangos and everything! Thank you so much! The other elders say thank you as well for the candy! Best grandparents ever! and they agreed! Thank you for all that you guys do! I love you guys and love reading the letters you guys send. Sorry london is such a busy time and its hard to write back, but I'll try to do better! I hope all is well!

I am LOVING London

Email - October 28, 2013

Well this was quite the week!

I forgot to mention last week that Elder Fairbourn and I joined the Stake Choir. Stake Conference is this Sunday so that will be fun. We have had practices the last two Sundays and it's been fun. 

I gave a talk in church yesterday on Elder Funk's talk from General Conference titled, "Called of Him to Declare His Word." I felt like it went well! 

Also, another crazy thing happened in church... so when people study abroad, at least here in London, they are assigned to got to a specific ward. and we have three sisters in our ward that are from BYU studying abroad here. Until yesterday, one of the three sisters hasn't been coming. But, she came yesterday and right when she walked through the door into the church, I recognized her! She is friends with Jansyn Berry and used to hang out with Lauren Wilson a ton!! Brayden and Lauren actually tried to set me up with her one time I think. But anyway, we know each other sort of and it is such a small world!! We were like WHAT THE HECK? Haha, it was so weird but so cool at the same time. She will be here until December.

We had three baptizms in our ward yesterday. A Mum and her two daughters. It was amazing! The other Catford Elders had been teaching them for a while. Elder Bognár and I were the witnesses for the baptizm. It was amazing. 

Elder Bognár and I found a guy on the street on Wednesday named C____. And, he invited us to come over the next day so we went and taught him and answered his questions and he was proper interested. He studied up on the religion and asked loads of questions. It was basically just an hour and a half Q&A session. But, it was really good. We're seeing him again this week! I cant wait.

I went on exchange with one of the Zone Leaders last Monday evening, and it went so well. Elder Von Allmen and I taught 16 lessons in the 24 hours that we were together. It was incredible! All the best stuff always happen on exchanges. Haha. 

I am LOVING London. Even though it is a LOT more tiring working in the city. It is a lot of fun and I hope that I will be able to be here for a while This morning we went and had breakfast at the ward mission leader's house. It was really good. They made us loads of pancakes. And, he has three daughters and they are all so cute. Anyway, it was a good morning. 

Dad, thank you so much for the short stories and the sports updates! It's the best part of my Saturdays!! Haha. I love them.

I hope all is well back home! I pray about you all daily and I'm so thankful for all that you guys do for me and the support I have from you all.

Have a great week!

Love, Elder Munson

"This is a picture of Elephant & Castle.  Elephant & Castle is a part 

of London pretty close to the centre."

"One of the ward mission leader's daughters."

"Went out contacting...someone forgot to put a tie on before we left the flat.

Haha.  He never heard the end of it...so funny!"

"All the missionaries that are in the Stake Choir! (The Zone Leaders are doing

it too.  They just aren't in this picture.)

Pictures, pictures!

Email - October 21, 2013

"Check this road out."

"Youth in the Catford Ward."

"CATford Centre...get it?  Ha ha."

"View from Lewisham Station."

"Ok so I met Elder Mecham for the first time at Zone Conference on Thursday and he is the coolest kid and we have so much in common. Everyone was already saying that we look like twins, then we started talking and we are like exactly the same person. He played football, and likes to longboard, and he loves Hoodie Allen and it is so funny talking with him. He's hilarious. Which must mean I'm hilarious! ;)"

"Elder Hales and Elder Sparks.  The PG clan.

I went to high school with both of these guys!"

"Elder Bodhaine and Pullman!  Remember Pullman from the MTC?!?!"

"Elder Jackman (the one from Lehi that came over for dinner), Elder Bodhaine,

Elder Blumenthal, and Elder Mecham.  Ha ha.  

Funniest group of missionaries around."

"Cutest baby in the world!"

[I replied that this looked like a "Lion King" moment.  Pretty sure that's what they were going for.  ;)]

October is like half way over!

Email - October 14, 2013

Wow, so my first full week in London was so good! I love it so much and it is nuts. The city life is crazy and very tiring. I feel like I'm getting half the sleep that I got during the first few months of my mission. But it's ok because it's the best. Elder Bodhaine and I are so happy to be in the same zone we seriously are so much alike it cracks me up. I love that kid. Working with Elder Bognár is good! His English isn't perfect and sometimes I get frustrated for him because he can't express himself the way he wants to in English, so it's hard sometimes when he is trying to say something that he doesn't know how to say in English. But, the other night we were contacting in a park in London and we ran into a Hungarian lady and Elder Bognár got so excited, and he taught her like the full Restoration lesson in Hungarian and I just sat there and played in the park with the lady's 8 year old son. Haha it was funny.

People in London are crazy. We get yelled at or sworn at basically daily. This kid two days ago was trying to start something on the bus and I was so close to hitting him... so, we just got off the bus like 4 stops earlier than we needed to. But, I didn't care... gall some people are just so stupid. This Jamaican guy earlier in the week walked by us while we were telling a lady about the Book of Mormon on the street and started yelling at us, "BURN FALSE RELIGION! BURN BURN BURN!!" Haha it was so dumb, but so funny.

Anyway, We are not the only Elders in this ward. Like I said, we live with Elder Blumenthal and Elder Fairbourn and they work in the same area as us. Elder Blumenthal and I get along really really well and he's hilarious.

Thank you for the blog print offs of all those guys. It was so good to see how everyone is doing. [I printed and sent him some posts from some of his friends'/fellow missionaries' blogs. They are serving all over the world -- Honduras, Russia, Japan, Philippines.]

I cant believe October is like half way over! It's nuts.

We have Zone Conference on Thursday! And since I'm in a new zone now, maybe I'll be able to see some of my MTC friends that I haven't seen since the MTC, like Elder Pullman! Cause multiple zones go to the same Zone Conference together!

I love and miss you guys! Thank you for everything!

I absolutely know that this is the Lord's work and I love it so much! Missionary work is the funnest most life molding thing I've ever done!

Have a great week!!!

Love, Elder Munson

"Me and Elder Hanks.  He's from Holiday.

He went to Cottonwood. Super cool guy."

"Elder Blumenthal thinkin' he's Batman."

"It was proper cold this night."

"Massage train.  Elder Blumenthal is slackin' on the back end there though."

"Went bowling for P Day last week with most of the Zone!"

"Elder Bognár and I bowling."

First Transfer

Email - October 7, 2013

Wow wow wow! I FREAKING LOVE LONDON. It is so crazy! And busy but it's the best ever. 

My new companion is Elder Bognár from Hungary! Holy, he's the best. I love him and we get along so well! Traveling to London was such a pain! So many luggage bags and such moving them from train to train and bus to bus was so funny. But, we made it finally. We live in Lewisham, London, and we live with two other elders, Elder Blumenthal from Vegas, and Elder Fairbourn from Utah...we met him in the airport in SLC. But, they are great! My zone is awesome as well! Elder Bodhaine is in the Zone and he and I knew each other through mutual friends before coming out and he and I were best friends in the MTC, and we caused so much havoc and now we're at it again.. haha he's so funny. 

Anyway... I just love where I am at right now.

Being in London almost feels like I'm in Sawyer's mission... 90% of the people are Jamaican or some sort of African background.. it's crazy! But, they are way more willing to talk to us than British people are so it's great! 

I haven't got to meet the ward yet because of Conference! But, from the few that I have met, they are great!

Conference was so good. Saturday night we watched the Saturday morning session. Then Sunday morning, we watched the Priesthood session...then the Saturday afternoon session, and then the Sunday morning session live! So, it was an amazing day of listening and learning. And, I actually think I only fell asleep once!...Elder Richard G. Scott just has that effect on me... hahaha. But, my favorite talks were Elder Holland's and President Monson's final talk from the Sunday morning session. Gall, he loved his wife so much and it was so cool to hear him talk about that trial.

I seriously have had the best week of my entire mission and I can't wait to continue the work here! I love London and I'm excited to see how things go! Oh yeah, my new address is:

9 Highland Terrace

Algernon Road

Lewisham

London, SE13 7AB

England

Things here are going great. It is so fun having a companion who will talk to people and is outgoing and such! Elder Blumenthal and I get along super good as well! And, he was a Supernatural fan as well so we are always talking about it! It's so funny!

Anyway, I miss you all and love you! I have never been more excited to be somewhere in my life! The London life is nuts and tiring but do I care? NO! I love it! Haha, have a great week!

Love, Elder Munson

 "Me and Elder Bognar."

"All the MTC homies at transfer meeting...Elder Cullimore,

Elder Hammond, me, Elder Bodhaine, Elder Kirk, Elder Clark."

 

"Me and Elder Bodhaine."

"Sister Green and Sister Stewart from my MTC District."