Elder Skyler Munson

One Month!

Peyton posted an Instagram picture on July 26th. Her comment was, "One month down, twenty-three more to go. But, who's counting anyway?" Honestly, his first month has flown by. I hope it has for him, too. I think the fact that he didn't even mention it in his email today is a good indicator. He sounds great!

July 29, 2013

This last week flew by because it was quite busy! On Wednesday, I went on an exchange to the Hamble River area and worked with Elder Lane from Vegas. It was such a good day. I have gotten the British greeting down pretty well. When you pass someone here, instead of saying 'whats up' or whatever you say 'you alright' or 'you alright mate'. So I've got that down. So I greeted an older lady and her daughter on the street in Hamble River and they ACTUALLY said hi back.. that's crazy in itself. But, then for some reason, I felt I should stop. So I asked how their day was and such, and the older lady looked at me and asked if I was from Utah... I was like.. 'uh yeah!' and she said that she was raised in Wisconsin and was familiar with Mormons and just assumed that is where I was from! And, so that got us talking on a whole new topic and she said that she was a Spiritualist.. and her daughter that was standing right there said that she was just open to any religions... and I'm sure they could notice my eyes widen up and get brighter cause I'm thinking ahhh, the PERFECT investigators. So, getting a little ahead of myself, I just blasted the Gospel right in their faces and they were so receptive and the mom had many questions in which Elder Lane and I answered and the daughter was expressing that she had never drank or smoked or even really dated cause her mom wouldn't let her date British guys cause they aren't as nice as American guys. (They are planning on moving back to America soon.) So, I told them they should move to Utah ;) cause it's beautiful and all the people are so nice and such. But, long story short, we said a prayer with them and gave them a card to give us a call if they had any questions. L___ just had to check with her husband before she invited us to come over. So we went our separate ways. Elder Lane and I were like freaking out. We were like...'what did we even say!? ah the Spirit said everything there' and so on. And, then we figured we shouldn't get too excited cause no one ever calls back. Less than ten minutes later...THEY CALLED! and they wanted us to go meet with them next Sunday in their home. Only problem is...I'm not located in Hamble River and I did most the talking and getting to know them and such and they said and expressed that they didn't want other people they hadn't met coming to their home. So, we're trying to work something out with the district leader to let me go to Hamble River once a week to work with Elder Lane and L___ and I___. They are so prepared to hear and accept this message! They already teach and live the standards in their home. I'm so excited for them whether I get to teach them or not!!

Anyway, other than that, we had zone conference in Staines on Thursday which was a two hour train ride! That went really well.

The members of the ward are awesome. Especially a man named Ricky Watts, or Brother Watts I mean. He is the ward mission leader and he is incredible!

Speaking of incredible! MOM!! Holy thanks for the electric razor! You're a lifesaver. And, thanks for the pictures from DC and the letters and everything! You're amazing. I love you!

Mom, Dad, Tanner, Peyton! I love all of you! I love hearing about what's going on with all of you! So, thanks for the letters and emails and such! I love you all!! Have a great week!

"View from the flat in Hamble River."

"An investigator we did service for had a Pikachu stuffed animal!!! :)"

"We went to Hythe again. :)"

"We went to a member's house for dinner yesterday...THEY HAD GERBILS!"

"An incredible house I saw in the Chandlers Ford area the other day."

"Eggs on toast. 90% of my diet."

Try to keep up...

One of the challenges we are noticing, is the time delay between letters written and letters received. When you mix in regular emails, it becomes hard to keep track of chronology. I set up a Picasa Web Album, hoping it would provide an easy way for Elder Munson to share pictures and for me to organize and post them in "real time," but things haven't gone quite as planned. The web album uploads take a long time and he doesn't have that much time on a computer on P days. So, he sent home a data card with lots of pictures from the MTC!

Letters, letters, letters!

There is just something about getting a letter in the mail! It is the best surprise ever! We have received three letters in the past seven days. I am not the only one who likes getting "snail mail." Elder Munson LOVES getting mail. Email is great, but it just isn't the same as opening your mailbox and finding a letter you weren't expecting. Here are a few parts of his recent letters...

July 15, 2013

It has been freaking hot here since I've been here. At nearly 90 degrees, plus humidity. It makes for a lot of sweat when you're in a shirt and tie and slacks all day. Every day when we return to the flat, I just feel like passing out. It's hard work out here. The days are long. But, when it's night, Elder Yu provides nice comic relief.

England really is beautiful. I love it. And, I definitely want to come back someday!

P day has been nice. But, it has gone a lot faster than the other days. A man named Dave, from the ward, took us food shopping today because he has a Costco card. That was nice of him. We have a lesson planned with a less active family later tonight. I hope it goes well.

Everyone told me the first month or two in the field is the hardest. And, I hope they're right because along with learning a ton and having good experiences, comes a lot of homesickness and times of frustration. I know I can talk to the Lord, and I do. I am so blessed to be able to be here, and I can't wait to see what's in store for the rest of my mission.

I love and miss you all!

July 19, 2013

Ah! I got my package today while Elder Buglass and I were having lunch at the flat. I got so excited! I love getting mail! I loved everyone's letters! Thank you so much! I love hearing how Tanner and Peyton are doing, and Elder Buglass got a kick out of Mom's card! Getting mail, of any sort, is so exciting!

It has continued to be SO hot and humid here in Southampton! I sweat like crazy. My face is getting quite dark though from being in the sun all day.

Things are going well. Yesterday, we did service for an investigator named S___! And, tomorrow we are teaching a brand new investigator and his family.

Street contacting is fun. Elder Yu is teaching me a lot of Chinese, so I say hello to all the Chinese people here. And, trust me, there are a ton! Gall, my Mandarin is already better than my English accent. So dumb!

Anyway, thanks again so much for the package. It really means a lot. I miss you all so much!

I love you, Mom, Dad, Tanner, and Peyton!

July 23, 2013

First of all, Dad, thanks for the postcard from Connecticut! I think that's a great idea. I got it yesterday. Also, thanks so much for the envelope full of stuff that's going on back home! I got it today and I think that's such a good idea as well. I loved it! That's so awesome that PG is getting attention and got some votes to be close to the top five.

Anyway, yesterday was P day. We went to the library to email. Then, we went to the town center, or the shopping centre. Elder Buglass showed me some stores I might like...and, holy cow! England shopping and fashion is unreal!

We also went grocery shopping and then just relaxed in the flat for a few hours until we went to meet with S___, one of our investigators.

It was a good day. Right now, it's our lunch hour so we have a little time to eat and whatnot.

Oh, and Mom, I forgot to thank you for the tie in the package! You can never have enough ties! Ha! I wore it yesterday.

Today, there is finally some cloud cover and it's not freaking hot. I'm not sticky and sweaty for the first time! Yay! :)

I'm going to make some eggs on toast now. Just wanted to thank you all and say I love you. Getting mail is like the greatest feeling ever. I love you and miss you! I hope all is well!

Pretty exciting, huh?

Last Thursday, I received a call from our bank notifying us that Skyler's Visa debit card had been compromised. Charges were being attempted from all around the world - Saudi Arabia, Spain, England, USA. Thankfully, our bank caught the fraud, denied all of the charges (the attempts were for very large sums, and that account only has the bare minimum "emergency fund" recommended for missionaries), but had to cancel the card. I was able to work things out with our bank, but he will be without a personal debit card for a while. It shouldn't be too big of a deal. So, unfortunately, this week's email from Elder Munson mostly consisted of answering questions about activity on his account and verifying where he had used the card (because I suspect the fraud is a result of him using it in England). He only used his personal debit card for a few things because there was a problem with his mission issued debit card! Ah! But, he said he thinks all of that is worked out now, too.

He sounded a little disheartened that they haven't had more teaching opportunities and said that people don't seem to want to talk to the missionaries and aren't interested in religion. He didn't sound too discouraged, just disappointed.

Other than that, it was pretty much "housekeeping" dialogue: he seems to have everything he needs, he loves the blanket Grandma and Grandpa gave him, his electric razor broke, and, like I mentioned before, all of the banking issues. Pretty exciting, huh? He did send two new pictures.

"Elder Yu and I walking to Ward Council yesterday."

I'm not sure about his face in this one! ;)

It really is a small world after all...especially in the LDS Church! It seems extremely small when you factor in technology and the conveniences it provides. I joined a Missionary Mom email group shortly after Skyler received his call. I have loved trading emails with other mothers whose sons are serving in the UK. A few members of the group live in England. One of the moms, Julie, responded when I sent out an email about Elder Munson's first area. She has a friend who lives in Southampton, and, as luck would have it, Julie's friend fed the Elders on Sunday. When I got home from our Church meetings yesterday, I found an email and picture in my inbox. This is Elder Munson and Elder Buglass at their dinner appointment yesterday! How cool is that?!?! I miss my boy.

Southampton!

"The Titanic left from here."

PORT OF SOUTHAMPTON

"Across the channel is a little town called Hythe. It is absolutely my favorite place so far. It is so pretty, and to get there, we get to take a ferry which is so cool!"