Week 58

Dear family,

What an exciting week. We have seen so much happen in such a short amount of time. We have seen an a hastening in the work and the miracles that come with hard work. The area is doing good, we will have some solid future leaders of the church being baptized soon. The investigators are doing good, I learn from them every week. We been picking it up on finding, and talk to everyone everywhere! We have come to know what the true mindset of finding really is. Simply getting to know people and making their day that much brighter. 

As I was praying, the first day of the transfer. I had a reassuring conformation that this transfer was going to be one full of miracles not just in our companionship but as a mission. Elder Jowers and I kicked it off right from the start as we made goals we came up with some inspiration for the mission and our area. We are very similar and have been working at a fast pace. It has been awesome working with him and the difference in ambition, drive and attitude is refreshing. He is an amazing missionary and we are learning a lot from one another. He is a humble, Christ like man and he is just what is needed for the mission. I am excited to continue to work with him and enjoy the blessings of brotherhood and hard work.

I am doing good, I just got off a great transfer with Elder Cornett, It was hard but I learned so much from him and I love that man. I am working on becoming a spiritual person, feeling the spirit through out the day and always noticing that calm presence that comes from the spirit. It has been a great week and we are excited for what lies ahead.

Thank you, Elder Lunt

Week 57

Dear all,

Another good week has come and gone. We have been blessed in many ways. The investigators are doing good, slowly but surely they are progressing. There are so many that need to come to sacrament as their next step prior to baptism and as we seriously do all we can do I realize they need to meet us half way or at least a fourth of the way, they need to make that decision for themselves. We have been blessed to have less actives and recent converts help us teach investigators and the spirit they bring is a amazing. 

Elder Cornett and I are doing great! We have learned so much together and have helped one another grow. When I hear people say that the maturity and growth you experience on a mission is equivalent to 7 years back home I think of transfers like this. Nothing has been easy this transfer and because of that we have grown so much together.

Everyday I learn something that will have an affect on me for the rest of my life. A lot of times it's more of reminders I need to do better on or re-facilitate. This week as I have prayed and fasted over many things. I am reminded that the Lord is always on call, waiting to help. However, we must seek! All the answers are laid out in front of us, prayer, the scriptures and the way we live everyday to have the holy ghost in our lives. I am so grateful for this mission, I love it and it has changed my life. I often feel like I have gone from one nature change to the next to the next always trying to unconditionally give myself to the Lord for the right reasons.

We have some neat things to come, I am excited for the change that is about to take place and the miracles to come. I love these people and I love this work. I was reading today from Ether 9 of Omer and Emer from a missionary point of view on the topic of success. Omer and Emer are both great men and they both did they best they could to lead in righteousness. 

However we know Omer was betrayed by his own son and left to the wilderness to live most of his life as he says "days full of sorrow" not for his own life and wickedness that we know of, but for his son and his lost, wicked kingdom. His son Emer eventually takes the kingdom and gives it to back to his father, Omer who only sees two years of peace in his life. Emer rules in righteousness, and the land prospers, it says that Emer even saw "the son of righteousness".

 Now from a missionary perspective, I would assume both did all they could to help those they served, both tried their best. However Omer's "days full of sorrow" compared to Emer's life full of prosperity and peace reminds me of a few things. One the Lord's ways are higher than ours and we will never understand why everything happens the way it does, simply not doubting him is one of the  biggest elements of faith. Second the Lord hastens his work and that will be dependent on the agency of those receiving the message and how hard we work using his grace through his Atonement. Finally and personally the most important to me is that success is not measured by the outward results. If so that means Omer and many other prophets have failed. Success for me is measured only by focusing on the savior and the thoughts and answers I receive through personal revelation.

 There were many other thoughts and feelings that came to me for the missionaries that I am still in the process of sorting out but this was a spirit filled study with some good revelation and reminders. I love the missionaries and these people we serve everyday and I always strive to live every moment to the fullest. I love you all and I pray for you all daily. I often think how simple life is and the gospel and how complicated we make things sometimes. I love that line from Lawrence E corbridge "Life is hard not the gospel". Take the quite time to hear the voice of the spirit and have that one on one time with God. Mom and Dad I sort of volunteered you for helping the missionaries I hope that's ok. I know that the blessings of doing so will help you. Love you all and miss you.

Elder Lunt

Week 56

Dear family and friends,

It has been a good week, full of growing experiences and tests of faith. Agency of the investigators is a hard thing to deal with. Elder Cornett and I both know that a lot of the problems we face right now are trials of our faith, nevertheless it still makes us sad, to work so hard for these people and for a lot of them to not make it to baptism this transfer. 

We did our best, its all one can do, and I always try to see what I need to do better on. It is still hard and sad though, ALL the investigators had great excuses for not coming to church this past Sunday, but they were still excuses. They will make it to baptism soon but it will be very hard for them to make it this transfer and we are trying to do all we can to help them, but they have to meet us half way, they HAVE to want it as bad as we want it for them. It will all work out, I will not let Satan use it against me, we just need to trust the Lord and do all we can to help them. 

There have been many miracles this last week, less actives coming back to church and helping us teach investigators. Changes in the members and an excitement about missionary work. Many plans and meetings are in place to change the ward council and other things to work even better with the ward. It has been neat to be apart of. I have also received a lot of great revelation as to what I need to do better as a leader, how to minister better and be a better Christ like, relate-able, and understanding leader.

This transfer has been great and I have learned so much from Elder Cornett and I have let him know that. I have tried to focus on the positive but It has been hard this transfer. This last week I just simply told him I was tired of his attitude that he has had throughout the whole transfer off and on and that kind of attitude has been hard to be around. He is always feeling like he is not good enough and sad  I have tried my best to be patient and help with the lack of energy, excitement and the sadness. But it takes its toll after a while and I don't know that he wants to listen anymore. So I plan on showing love more through service. I love the guy so much and just want him to be happy but he always feels like happiness is just out of reach, just beyond the horizon. I don't want him to go his whole mission like this and regret why he didn't just enjoy the time, because happiness is right in front of him! We have discussed all of this and he gave me some great advice on things I need to do better and I am trying to apply those things, I am not perfect and I am just trying, we all are and the Lord knows and appreciates that.

It has been a harder week but it was still great. I am trying my best to be positive and have faith in the Lord for his investigators and what he wants for them. They have their agency and that is hard sometimes no matter how much I try to do for them. It seems like when It rains it pours, we have had some great opportunities to practice Christ like love and patience with many people on the street getting in our faces or being rude to us. A year ago I would be mad and want to retaliate but now it just makes me sad for that person, I catch a small glimpse of the sadness Christ must feel for us when we reject him or disobey.

I can feel Satan working on me, with thoughts about friends that have passed away, the what if's, and more. More importantly I feel that the Lord's power is stronger than it all. We are both very tired and I fear the grind of everything is catching up with me and my health. I don't want to portray the wrong message that I am unhappy or doubting the Lord. I love these people and I love this work. I will go through anything the Lord wants me to go through and I will strive to do it with a smile. There have been so many miracles in the mission and in the missionaries. It has been a privilege to play a small part in  missionary's lives. We have re-emphasized all those things we talked about on Thursday, this morning and we committed the leaders to get those items to the District Leaders before tomorrow, as well as a loving reminder to get numbers in on time. Family and friends, I love this work, there is nothing greater, and I love being able to serve the Lord through his missionaries and these people, and I love Elder Cornett and all he has taught me, a mission only happens once and I strive to enjoy every minute of it. 

This is one of my favorite scriptures that beautifully and very personally explains missionary work.

8 For behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have; therefore we see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true.

 9 I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy.

Thank you! Love you all and I would like to hear more from you in letters how you are doing personally and advice on how I can do or be better, also let me know how I can make my letters better, or anything better in that result. Love you guys and miss you!

Week 55

Dear family and friends,

Another great week here in Yerevan, Armenia. Every day when I get out of bed, I feel the motivation and real happiness that only comes from serving others and teaching this perfect message daily. I love the Lord and I love his work, I have never been happier than on my mission! The miracles are showing themselves everyday and now the baptisms are coming and will continue to come. The things we have learned this transfer have changed my life. There is no greater work or happiness than this!

During this past week, a lot of our investigators were not able to meet. We were getting concerned for them and wondering what we needed to do. We continued in trying to do all we could do and relying on the Lord. We were blessed to find investigators and have great spirit filled meetings. As Elder Cornett and I reviewed this last week together we realized how blessed we were. We reestablished that one of the biggest factors that plays a role in a missionaries' success is the patience to endure through hard times and to continue to rely on the Lord and do all you can. It is about doing the right things for long enough out of a desire and love for the Lord. 

One day this past week, when a lot of our plans had fallen through, we went to the apartment and had dinner. While we were eating we called a contact in the area book that had been contacted on the street years earlier. I asked for a man named Honvaness which was written on the list and a women answered. I asked if I could talk to her husband and she asked why? I did some explaining as to what we do and why we are here and that her husband had probably talked to the missionaries years previous. 

Suddenly the lady said "LUNT"? I replied yes! She said "this is Susan from Alaverdi" (my first convert in my first area). I was amazed she recognized my voice and ever more by what she said next." Hovaness is my brother and I have told him all about our church for a long time now". She had happened to be at her brother's house all the way from Alaverdi for the weekend and happen to pick up the phone when I called. We meet with them that night and picked up Hovaness and his wife with Susan's help. This is the Lord's work!

Everything is great! Elder Cornett and I continue to learn so much from one another I will miss him greatly, he is a great missionary and a great man. He has taught me so much and we have a great time together as we work hard. The area is doing great there are many baptisms coming soon. I love these people and I love this work. I wish I had time to write the many life changing principles and doctrines that are learned everyday. I have come to know my Savior and Heavenly Father personally and their love for me.  I love serving the missionaries and learning from them. I testify to that verse that says " there never was a more happier time among the..."  (missionaries of Armenia) is true! I love you guys and I know that this Church is Jesus Christ's church and that he lives and he is the way to happiness, peace, comfort and every other attribute of life! I love you all and hope and pray for you that we remember the Lord daily and apply the things we hear so often. Love you! 

Week 54

My Dear family and friends, there is so much that has happened since the last time we talked. I wish I could share it all with you. But know that I am happy and I have never been so blessed. I wonder why I am highly favored of the Lord, and then I reflect my pat blessing and the specific gifts and promises it contains. I realize that I have been chosen to be a leader to help and uplift others in this life. Things are so busy right now with the end of transfers being july 24th and making decisions for the Lord's mission. This is such an incredible experience. And I have and am learning so much.

 Love you all!

Dear President Carlson,

We are blessed and I have noticed the many blessings this transfer and throughout my mission. Elder Cornett and I as you know have been out of the area lately more than usual. It is a testimony builder to me that as we do our best to fulfill the responsibility we have and focus on both the missionaries and the area, the Lord always makes up for what we cant do. 

It has been awesome learning from other missionaries and being able to help them, ministering in this way is my favorite part about leadership. Its amazing to see how the Lord takes care of the area and hastens the work for his children as we do so. We have seen so many miracles lately and we should have some baptisms coming up soon. 

It was great to go to my home town of Alaverdi this past week. Although I keep in contact with the members and some investigators there, I forgot how much I love those people, from the members to investigators, taxi drivers, and neighbors. I was ecstatic to see the change in so many of the people.

Elder Cornett and I are doing great. He is a happy, fun to be around guy. I have realized so many reasons for why we have been together this transfer. He has taught me so much about the atonement and understanding people, really understanding the scriptures and likening them, as well as tuning into the spirit and teaching like the savior, and much more. He is amazing and I will always be grateful for the time I have had with him.

I already expressed a lot of my thoughts in the mission letter this week. I realize the Lord has blessed me with so much I try to do everything I can to help others and spread the blessings I have received. However I have a concern that I don't know how to fully express. So many missionaries think I am perfect. I know I have so much to improve on and I am nowhere close to perfection. I always try to set a good example but I highly dislike being put on a pedestal. I know from my personal experience that I admire a leader much more who is humble and knows his weaknesses and isn't afraid to share them when the occasion calls for it. I know the answer will come from the Lord as I pray and humble myself, so I can find out what kind of a leader the Lord wants me to be.

Thank you for all you and Sister Carlson do, we really do love you two so much and appreciate all that you do for us. I have learned so much from you and Sister Carlson. Things that will use the rest of my life. Thank you

Love Elder Lunt