Randy and a bunch of the missionaries in his District.

Randy and an Elder in front of the Provo Temple

Randy and a bunch of Elders in front of the Provo Temple

Who knew Elders could have so much fun with scripture markers. 

Elders stealing the golf cart. 

Lost in Translation (A letter to Aaron) 4/19/08

I hear Emma has been taking you to school and that some of the girls think you're cute. I have been so busy learning. It's crazy. I feel like I just left but then I realize its been almost a month. I have learned so much.

The food here gives everyone gas. So I just fart whenever I need to. My class stinks and so does my bedroom. I have been getting back at the Elders. I have learned some things to say in Samoan, Tongan, and Tagalog. Oh and also a little Fijian.

I have a funny story but it might not seem funny in English without you knowing the people:

So there is a 25 year old white guy in my group who is a computer nerd. He does not really fit in. A couple days ago the Tagalog tutor came to help us learn new stuff and talk in Tagalog. He took 4 of us into another room and we started talking together in Tagalog. The conversation was going great, until this 25 yr old was talking. The teacher asked us if we like Filipino food and we all answered yes we do. Then the elder said, "Hindi Baklat." Which means no gay people. My jaw dropped and then I started to laugh so hard. The teacher turned all red too. What the elder meant to say is, "Hindi Balut." Which is an egg with a semi-formed duck chick in it.

Then Yesterday we were taking turns teaching the lesson to other Tagalog missionaries. This sister missionary was teaching me and my companions and she said in Tagalog, "God has given us many sins." I was the only one that caught what she said and I started to laugh and ask her if that's what she really meant. She meant to say, "God has given us many commandments."

One time an Elder said we need to throw away the Prophets. I'm sure I"ll mess up like that soon and it will be funny.

Week Four!!!

Hey Everyone,

Not much to write I just mailed a bunch of letters.  I haven't done anything new.  Thanks for all the letters and the food.  I have been having fun and trying to keep the rules.  My zone had a dance party last week.  We turned the lights off and put mattresses on the floor turned on some island music and got different color lights.  We were just messing around.  I swear some Elders have turned gay cuz they have been in here so long.  The Language is still coming great.  I'm learning sentence structures and stuff.  Getting ready to teach in Tagalog next week.  I'm getting way good at volleyball.  I'm sad cuz next week most of the zone is leaving.

Well thats pretty much it.  Sorry this is so short but I just sent out letters.  I love you all and I hope you're doing well.

Elder Brunson

Week Three!!!

Hey,

Once again I'm doing laundry.  It pretty much sucks in here cuz its hot and stinks so I took a cart used for garbage, got a camera and someone to tape and went down a ramp to the laundry room right into a cement wall.  The first time was good... but the second run was even better.  

So I'm having a good time here.  Busy. Today I didn't get to go to the temple cuz Rabuka had a dds appt. again.  I'll go next week though.  I feel bad for the elder.  He had a root canal today.  I love him though.  I sent home a box of stuff I hope you got it.  

Some popcorn with movie theater butter would be amazing, I got a microwave in my building.  Please send my memory cards back plus one for Elder Pinono and Ill send you money.  

I have been getting ready to teach the lessons and practicing my Tagalog.  It's going great.  This week is lesson 2 in English for the first time.  I spent Like 4 hours on a great lesson plan today.  I'll be amazing in the TRC this week as long as I have the spirit there. 

Once again not much to say.  Thanks for all the letters, prayers, and love.  It really helps.  I put my sheets on my bed this week and the elders don't like them but who cares?  I didn't put the picture of the unicorns on the wall cuz I would be in trouble.

Part of my Zone leaves today and tomorrow and we get new ones on wed.  I hope they are not goodie goodies. 

ha ha Baklat means gay guy in Tagalog and I said it in the TRC while I was teaching the lesson cuz the guy asked if I had a wife and I told him no, but this is my companion.  When I realized the way that came out I told him we are not gay.

My district is doing great no more problems.  I love them.  Sundays don't feel special anymore but I'm glad I get the Sacrament.  

I'm going to get off now.  I'll talk to you all later.  I love you so much.

Elder Brunson

Week Two!

Hello,

Hopefully my last email sent. I'll write a letter home just incase. I sent it to this same address.

I'm doing laundry again, actually I'm done but I have been waiting for a computer. I wrote out a pretty good lesson plan for lesson 1 of Preach my gospel. I have been working hard on my Tagalog and its paid off.

I printed out some pictures today so I"ll be sending my chip home with some other stuff hopefully this week. The days here are long but weeks are short. The food is not so good anymore. Class is sometimes fun but usually not. There is a lot of learning that goes on mostly spiritual learning which I love but it drains me.

Conference was great. I watched all sessions. Priesthood was so funny when the prophet wiggled his ears. This week has faced me with some challenges in my district. I wrote mom the full story so ask her to share it with you about the elder using sleeping pills to get high. It was way worse last night.

Some of my zone is leaving next week. Kinda sad but that means a new group is coming in. I can't wait to meet them. I was able to get 4 naps in this weekend. They were short but great.

Thanks for all your letters. Please keep them coming. Kyle and Aaron... tell me what's up!!!

I got a letter from gma and Colton today. I was so excited.

So I have heard Elders talking of an Elder Brunson that's not me. Today at the temple I did sealings and I finally met him. He is from Cali and related to the Seymour Brunson in the D&C. We were talking and I took down his name, his dads name and his gpa's name. They are from Southern Cali. Then I saw him in the barber shop and we were talking about our family and how we have the same last name and the lady cuttin my hair showed me her name tag and she had the last name of too. It was crazy. I wish I knew more of the Brunson side oand where they come from but come to find out the other Elder and this barber lady have some common relatives. They told me Seymour Brunson Has a book of genealogy out that only has 200 copies that were printed. I would really like to find out more about this book and try to get a copy. This sparked my interest in genealogy and family history. PLEASE FIND THIS BOOK!!!!

Sealings today were amazing. Kinda boring but very neat to witness. Missionaries can't be sealed as the couple but the sealer told me that an endowed member can even if they have not been sealed for themselves yet. He asked my companion and I to stay behind and he talked to us about what went on during the sealings and he told us to take part in temple work as much as we can and learn the meanings of what goes on. It was nice to get some insight from him.

Well that's pretty much it. I hope to hear back soon. I'm getting dearelder.com letters and they are the best. Thanks so much for your prayers. Look at D&C 100: 1-4 or something like that. THose scriptures give me strength while I'm out here. I know God loves me and I feel it and see it everyday.

I love you all and I hope to hear back soon.

Elder Brunson

Week One! (Yeah I know... a little behind)

Hey Everyone,

I'm doing laundry now cuz it's p day.  I sent home a letter yesterday please give it to everyone in the family to read cuz there is stuff for all of you.  I ordered a large and small philippines t shirt so i can send it to you when it comes in the mail here.  I got aubreas dear elder message.  THat is the best way to send me mail.  Please give my address out to anyone that wants to write me.  Please share how I'm doing with my sunday school class and also sis. lemmon.  I got letters from mom and brooke today.  Thank you so much for those. 

Brooke I miss you too. 

Mom it was hard for me to leave too.  That's why I walked away so fast.  I fugured the faster the better.  When I found my room the other elders in the hall from my zone welcomed me with open arms.  My comp was in the group after me and I thought maybe he was not going to show cuz it was so long before he came intot the rooom. 

Like I said I have two comps.  One from Fiji and the other is Samoan but lives in the states.  

I'm learning so much Tagalog.  I know enough to joke around with the other people going to the Philippines.  

Aaron will you please check to see if anyone sent me their address on myspace and get them to me any way you want.  (YOU CAN ALSO EMAIL THEM TO ME, AUBREA AND I WILL GET THEM TO HIM)

THere is so much diversity in my zone.  I love it.  There is one elder named Elder Bradford who is related to Phillip Elder and Lance and their family from FF Stake.  His companion, Elder Funk is a crack up.  He looks like he is 14 and is from Idaho but does not grow Potatoes.  He is just a little white boy.  When he says, "I'm kinda a big deal" I die.  He tells stories that go on forever and nobody listens.  But we always ask to hear more. 

This morning I went to the temple again but this time it was to do a session.  Next monday I'll do sealings with my two comps cuz that's one of the options we have at the Provo Temple.  The temple is open Monday mornings for a few hours.  

I have already gained some weight from this food.  It's not as bad as people say but it packs on the pounds.  My pants that are a 36  are getting tight.  I'm a play volley ball extra hard with the samoans and tongans and work as much of it off as I can but I dont think much will happen.  I love to play with them, by the tiem I leave I'll be pro cuz it's intense.

My knowledge of doctrine and my testimony has grown so much in such a short time.  God placed me in with a special group of missionaries.  I love the poly people.  We will be great missionaries. 

Well time is short.  Next Sunday I GET A NAP!!!! That's if I don't walk to the temple.  I could have had one today but I needed to get some stuff from the book store so I can write letters and keep my notes from class organized.  They only give us 30 min. a week to do email and I'm almost outta time. 

Gotta go I love you all so much.  It's almost a week and I miss you all so much.  Please write me as much as you can.  Letters adn dear Elder are the best but I'll keep you updated with emails and letters.  Any thing you wanna know just ask.

ELDER BRUNSON

SO HERE WE ARE

Alright!  I finally got the hang of this (I think).   So Randy, or I should say, Elder Brunson is gone for 2 years.  I, Aubrea will be posting his weekly letters on here along with some pictures to keep everyone updated on how he's doing.  I will also post his addresses and what not.  So Here we go!