Week 23

Hey everyone! 
Its been a great week. It took some getting use to and lots of prayers but I was able to adjust in a few days to the new busy circumstances. This last week was great. It was a busy week. I wish I could tell you guys all that is going on in a week, I know I always say this, but I wish you all could see the miracles in just one week of my mission. I continue to carry a lot of the weight, but like my Dad suggested, I am over time making my comp/Elder Burt more and more independent as I delegate some of the weight of group leader to him and one of the senior couples (the Haglins). I still am doing quite a bit, but I have never noticed such a miracle. I feel like a lot of the times its not even me doing this. The gift of tongues is real. I noticed an over night difference the day I became a trainer! My understanding, speaking, and confidence in the language I feel like is doing well. But its a constant effort and I am always working on the language and improving, saying things how they say it. They absolutely love it. The Lord puts a lot on use at times but he knows whats best for us, always! And I try to always accept his will and timing. Its crazy to think that if I didn't serve a mission what I would be doing right now, and all the people I would never have gotten to develop relationships with or grow myself. I have such a strong relationship with so many people. Many of them call me just to talk sometimes. I love these people and have learned so much about them in the past 3 months and have become so close to so many. Ah I wish I could tell you guys about all of them and all that happens, better yet I wish you could be here. I don't have a lot of time left so I have to wrap things up. But I am so grateful for this opportunity to be here. I love you all so much, its the hardest part of a mission in my own opinion is just the time missed with my family and friends. Love you all and feel the strength and power of your prayers daily. You all don't realize how much you help and have a part in this missionary work as well. Thank you from me and these people.

Love Elder Lunt

P.S. My visa is under investigation haha because Russia still has a lot of influence here (they asked our land lord questions about me and some other funny things.) I've only heard a few things but I would guess American G.I.'s aren't too well like by Putin and his boys. Eh the Lords got my back. But your prayers are always great! Love you all!

Week 22 Oh boy!

Wow what a week. Well, I got a new companion, his name is Elder Burt and he's straight out of the MTC. So yes, I am training out of my training, and I am group leader of this area (which is pretty much like a bishop for the area). It is the same area; Alaverdi, the one my trainer and I opened 3 months ago, and I cant express to you how hard my mission has got in a matter of a week's time. Yes the language is hard, but I have been so blessed with the gift of tongues, understanding and confidence. Sometimes it scares me with the stuff I say and the confidence I say it with. Language aside, everything is so so hard right now. I spend hours on my knees through out the day. I feel like I am doing everything because I am. I plan the days, I teach the lessons to investigators and my companion/language, I talk to people on the streets, I manage the money, I cook, I clean...the list goes on, hopefully only for now.  I am pulling the weight for two people. I am straight out of my training, I can take care of myself but a living breathing 19 year old...It's hard, let alone teaching him and helping him with the language. Especially because we are polar opposites. He doesn't talk. Like at all. I think he's said maybe a few things in the past week, besides language and culture questions. It's hard being the only companionship in Alaverdi which is an hour away to the closest missionaries when your companion is socially not with it. It has been an extremely busy but lonely week. I have never felt like there has been such a weight on my back, I physically can feel it at all times. On the first day together last Thursday, I woke up and felt sick with how much was on my shoulders, and some mornings I wake up just worried for the plans to work out and for investigators to progress, the list goes on, but I don't show a bit of worry to my comp. or anyone else i'ts all between me and my Father in Heaven. I spend A LOT of time on my knees. And by 10:30 I am exhausted. I am trying to balance my time and figure things out so that I can help my trainee, but also help my self so that I will be in a state where I can help others. whether that be language studying or spiritual nourishment.  My trainee is a good guy, and very smart. But like I said, he is extremely quiet and that makes things really hard. It makes things very lonely being in out in Alaverdi. Especially with how close Elder Wood and I were. And I realize how much I miss  him. That being said I look forward so much to all of our meetings with investigators and members so much. I have developed such a stronger connection and love with members now and investigators that I didn't have before. Many of them have said very kind things to me about how I am one of their favorite missionaries, and that I speak so well for how long I have been here, (it's just because Elder Wood isn't here anymore haha), he was one of the best speakers in the mission. And I speak like I own the place... But at the end of the day I always tell them that without God I am nothing, really though its not me. On Saturday night I gave out talks to the members and called all the members and investigators to come to church the next day, and planned the day, and cooked, etc. I conducted sacrament like a bishop does or one of his counselers. Its kind of funny a 19 year old missionary is running a sacrament of around 20 people depending on the week, that are older than him. Sometimes I just go to bed at night and think wow, what the heck did I just do. I couldn't do any of this with out Heavenly Father. Although this is one of the hardest things I have done, I am grateful for this opportunity and I know that in times like these is when the growth takes place. I have never felt so much help from the Lord in my life until now. As Nephi said, the Lord doesn't give commandments to his children, unless there is a way to accomplish it. And I have noticed that so much. I sometimes scare myself with what I say and how I say it. But I know it's not me, that these are all gifts and tender mercies from the Lord. I know that he is very aware of all of us and all of our needs. I have seen his help so much this last week and continue to see his help daily. I love you all so much and miss you guys more than I ever have.

 Love Elder Lunt

Week 21. Drasitzdel (Russian for how are you...doesn't really translate)

Hello to everyone! I hope everyone is doing good and life is going well. I don't really even know where to start, But this last week was a great week. Things are getting pretty crazy, there is a lot of hype in our mission right now, because so many missionaries go home this transfer which means that there will be a lot of new people in the mission, many as in 16 new missionaries and 9 of them are Elders, in a mission that only has a total of 23 elders (just in Armenia). What im saying, is that the mission will be very young very soon. After next transfer, the oldest missionary will have only been here for a year and 3 months (our transfers are 3 months) which will be a very young mission. I am not worried about, the Lord is in control and we have good leaders. I will tell you all that happens to me next week, I will most likely be staying in Alaverdi which I am very excited about and the rest will be told to me tonight in a few hours. I will write you guys all about it next week. My companion, Elder Wood goes home on Friday, he will be missed. He is one of the best missionaries in the mission and one of the best speakers. He has taught me so much. And not once did we ever get in even one argument or disagreement. He is a pride less disciple of the Lord and I am honored to have been able to serve with him.We have been blessed in finding many less actives that were just names on a list before. And now several are committed to coming to church, and happy to have the gospel back in this area. Its sad to think how many people were lost and didn't know where to go, after the area closed 3 years ago. We have had a great time this last full week together and we have worked very hard this transfer. My companion says that he thinks its probably the hardest hes worked in his mission. We were able to watch conference on Saturday and Sunday, and I really enjoyed the talks. Its funny to hear a lot of the things that we have the opportunity to preach everyday. My favorite was the talk on Saturday about spiritual confidence by that German guy name Jorge? And as always my favorite was Elder Holland's talk. I love that quote of I may not be my brother's keeper but I am my brother's brother. I gave a talk in District meeting today on Charity and its so interesting that without charity we are nothing. I said in the meeting that Charity is the basis of all Christ like attributes. You can have faith and hope and all these great things. But with out charity it doesn't mean anything to God. Charity is but Faith, hope, and patience in action. With charity pride can not exist. I also taught that it is a gift that we must continually pray for and work for by applying these things. We can hear all these great talks and read great scriptures but if we don't apply it, none of it does any good, and we all have the opportunity to apply charity every day. Well family and friends, I can see myself changing so much as the days and weeks go by, its interesting to see my Patriarchal blessing coming about. However to be honest, I find more happiness in seeing others change and coming closer to Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. That is where the true happiness comes from. The Gift of tongues is REAL and all other gifts from God for those who WORK for it! I have been so blessed as i have struggled diligently to study all the time and to never miss an opportunity. Not that it matters but I am passing up other missionaries in the language and confidence in speaking, that have been here a transfer or 2 above me due to my diligence. I have never been the smartest but I have always been the one of the hardest working and that is what gets you places in life and in the gospel. And I owe this to my great parents and my uncle larry and my grandpa for teaching me how to work. I dont know what I did in the pre-mortal life to be blessed with great family and friends that I have. It just makes me think of the quote "And by the grace of God I go". I have developed many relationships with people that I love so much here and that I wish many of you guys could meet. In closing I just want to say that I know that God and Jesus Christ love us and they are aware of all that we are going through, I know they live and they want us to return to them. I know that their love and wisdom is so uncomprehendingly greater than ours. And lastly I would not rather be any where else in the world than where I am at right now doing what I am doing. Nothing brings greater joy and happiness than this work full time. Notice I said joy and happiness, not loads of fun. They are 2 very different things, I didn't realize before my mission. At times its not always fun but nothing in life I do will have greater significance or bring the joy and happiness this work brings. I love you all very much and hope that everyone is getting what they deserve out of life. I know I always say this but my love for you grows more and more each day and I love you all more than you know.

Love your friend, grand kid, nephew, and only son

Elder Lunt

Pictures of old churches on the Plateau of Sarahart

Christmas letters/packages

*In case anyone wants to send letters/envelopes/packages in time for Christmas:

We are so grateful that your son is serving in the Armenia Yerevan Mission.  He is such a good missionary!  As far as questions on the Christmas package,  the smaller 4# package usually makes it a little quicker.  The mail is still very unpredictable with packages taking anywhere from a couple of weeks to several months.  It might be wise to send his Christmas package as soon as possible.  If it says, "Open on the 25th" we will know to save it for him and hand it out on our Christmas program. 

You would be so proud of how well Elder Lunt has transitioned to missionary life.  We're sure his military background contributes to that and we're sure his family has a lot to do with that as well.

Thank you and much love,
President and Sister Carlson
Armenia Yerevan Mission

Week 20

Hello everyone! 

This week has been great. We are seeing great success in our area. We have been extremely blessed, I have said this many times but I will say it again, this area was so ready to receive the gospel again. We have been blessed with more investigators than we can teach in a week. And 5 have baptismal dates. I am humbled to have the opportunity to reopen this area especially in my training. I am developing so many great friendships and a love for these people that I would have never thought possible, without these experiences. I have already said this to a few family members, but perhaps one of the hardest things about serving a mission is not being able to fully tell you what has happened each week, and all the experiences, other than through email. I wish all of you could meet these people and how amazing they are. They aren't any other people like them in the world, you would just have to meet them, It cant be explained. To say I love them is an understatement, Its so much bigger than that now. I am just so impressed with their honesty and caring hearts despite some of their hard;poor circumstances. Yesterday, at church I conducted Sacrament meeting, since my companion and I fulfill the role of bishop's in sac meeting here. I bore a testimony and then invited everyone else to do so. It went well. Its a little bit stressful sometimes because some of the members don't understand the importance of sac meeting and will talk or make comments or come up and grab the bread and eat it, the list goes on ha its great. But it went very good. Something interesting happened this morning that I thought I would share with you. I was having a hard time this week being patient with some of the people and our members, because not only do some of our members not help us, they hurt us pretty bad and drive away investigators. Despite that I was just getting a little bit stressed for something that might happen next transfer (which I will tell you if it does). Anyways, the point is, the last few days I haven't been able to feel the spirit with me and that comfort and peace that it brings. I didn't know what was going on. So as usual when i feel like I need a spiritual recharge, I read the talk the 4th missionary that my brother in law Jake gave me before I left. I started reading it during morning personal study and I prayed for forgiveness for whatever I was doing that was stopping me from feeling the spirit. I prayed throughout reading the talk to incorporate its teachings into my life. I just asked for help and poured my heart out each time I prayed. Afterwards I sat up in my chair and started to continue to read the talk and i just felt the spirit immerse me like water. I was so overcome and its a good thing my comp was in the other room because I may or may not have cried ;). I just felt the love and comfort of the Savior that I had been longing for the past few days. I was assured that the Savior knew i was doing my best and withholding nothing from him despite my weaknesses. It was an amazing experience and such peace of mind that the savior is aware of all of us and loves all of us. Just as fast as the spirit came and stayed for about 2 min it left. And I felt so refilled with light and a recharge that I needed. I got on my knees afterwards and offered a prayer of gratitude. Well its that time. I love you guys and hope your enjoying life.

Love Elder Lunt