Week 18

ench ka em unkerner (ha doesnt translate well...what up my friends), well i apologize for not writing a big letter last week, I ran out of time. I hope everyone is doing well. I have been praying for all of you and hope that life is giving you what you deserve. This last week has flown by, its crazy. It has been a great, busy and productive last few weeks. I cant even write all that has taken place. Its an adventure every day. The language is coming a long great. I am starting to think in Armenian and have armenian dreams. I understand most of whats being said, most of the time. And can speak pretty well for where I am at, so ive been told. I can now show my personalilty through this language and am connecting with people, its been great, but my english is getting kinda bad. Early this week, they sent an elder from my group named elder williams upon his request to come all the way up to alaverdi from yerevan (3 hour drive). He has been struggling with the mission a lil bit and we talked on the phone last week and said that he needed help and some advice so I did what I could. He came to Alaverdi and we did a split together in my area, it was great and things went  well. we taught some of our investigators and it went great. (we have about 12 which is un heard of here, we have been very blessed, and president is very happy). I also gave E. williams quite a bit of advice on how to get through the hard times and that through the hard times, is when we experience the most growth in life. He was pretty greatful for the split, and it benefited the both of us, so it was good. I love our area and have absoulutly fallen in love with the people and this goregeous area. The people are so glad to have missionaries again, and this area is more than ready to have the gospel again. This week we taught the branch president that was excoummunicated in alaverdi (he was the reason for alaverdi closing/no priesthood) he came down for a few days from russia. and the 1st presidency said he could be rebaptized. So we are teaching him two lessons and he gets rebaptized on tuesday, ha kinda cool, the atonement is amazing. But he goes back to russia soon, so we still have no priesthood in alaverdi. Its all good though, that will change. This area is exploding, the" work is ripe and ready to harvest"and we are getting a building in the next few weeks. We have been so blessed, I cant even tell you a fraction of all that has happend and the miracles Ive seen. So I have a funny story. Its already getting cold in the north/ Alaverdi and so we have had to use our box heater that plugs into the wall already, and this morning the water heater and the lights on with the box going broke the circuit and we didnt know where to flip the breaker so my comp and i went out in the hall of all the appartments and I started fliping breakers only to hear people's answer machines and other things get reset, and i hear people yelling and coming twoards the hall way, so I ran back in our appartment with my comp and people were so upset in the hallway haha, and one was a former investigator haha. kinda funny, but the best part is that the breaker was in our house behind a door hahah opps. Well church was good yesterday its still at a members house, and my companion is the group leader (the bishop and conducts the meeting) Well i wish I had the time to say all that is going on here, but i hope you all are doing great. Love you all. 

Elder  Lunt

Week 17

Hello everyone. 
I ran out of time and didn't get around to writing a big email for the blog. Sorry, I will have to learn how to balance the time we get for email better. I will write a big one next week for everyone/ the blog. Love you all and miss you more than you know.

Elder Brian Lunt

Week 16

Dear Everyone who reads this...Wow its been a tough week. First off I will start with the positive. People and things in Alaverdi continue to progress day by day. Its such a testimony grower seeing the Lord's hand in all that we do. Everything from being in the right place at the right time and leading us to those who are prepared for this gospel. We are finding so many new investigators, that are interested but aren't if that makes sense. Many of them just aren't progressing which is really sad to see. We are doing all that we can to help them, but at the end of the day, when we do all we can, its left up to their agency. This week has been tough and a bit humbling. Just like everyone else the language takes me to my knees at times. Its hard to not be able to express exactly what I want to say to these great people. But its something every foreign missionary goes through and I am no exception. I am a very confident person so it can be hard to be humbled by a language at times. Its all good though and I know that I am progressing day by day and that I am truly doing all I can to qualify for the help of the Lord. It still is hard though at times. Its been a fairly discouraging week. I have been having a hard time focusing my mind. I don't think about friends and family that much but I still think about you all more than I should. Its hard when I hear a song from America, smell, picture, and other things that triggers a memory and can be discouraging and distracting at times. The Language took me to my knees this week and a many other things kicked me while I was down. And so many little things and big added up to the pile of discouragement and frustration. Its hard to not let it get to you and not to think about how good you used to have things..For example I don't fit in my bed hahah kinda funny... We ran out of food just in time for fast Sun the next day. We went to market before bed and they were out of everything we usually get. We went home empty handed, cutting into our free time before bed and some street punks pushed me around and tried to get me to swing. Definitely test after test this week and I wish I could say I handled them all like Christ would of..but that would be a lie. Its no doubt been hard.  Just because we are trying to do our best and what the Lord wants us to do, does not mean that we will not have trials. Where would the test of faith be if when we did good, life was great. Happiness isn't the absence of a load but it's what makes us who we are and what can build or break your testimony. Its on us. Please try to remember to see things and people the way Christ would. Always easier said than done especially in the moment. I never thought I would react to some things listed above as calmly as I have. It's not me though, I know its with the help of Christ that I am able to not shrink in my trials. And through Him, repent when I do. In closing I would ask to whoever reads this,that you would please make time in your busy lives to do three things that help you progress. If the members of Armenia were doing these three things daily, the active membership would actually be what it says on paper around 3,600 but in reality its around 900 to 1000 if that. 

These simple three things: read the scriptures daily, pray, attend church (all 3 meetings if possible). If you have that opportunity where you live, do not take it for granted like I used to. This is called (by us missionaries) the tripod and it's the most common lesson we teach here. With these three things we have so many promised blessing; try them, just for a week if you don't believe me. I promise you that if you do these 3 things in your life, no matter what you are going through, smooth or rough, right now it will be easier to bear because you will have the spirit in your life and qualify for the help of angels. I could not do anything of this without the help of the Lord. I promise you all these things in my God who I trust and serve. Love you all and miss you. 

Love Elder Lunt

Week 15 Barev vons ek

Wow, these weeks are going by faster and faster its crazy!  This last week was tiresome and difficult but very rewarding and blessed. Alaverdi is doing great,We are trying to resolve some of the feuds between members, some of the members here are so crazy and just so funny they make me laugh any day. We are still working through the stake pres here to get a building for church so we dont have to meet in our members home. Thats about the only thing holding us back and they should happen pretty soon. I went to Georgia this week, well close...we were about a few hundred yards from the border and we saw some of it. We taught a members sister up there about the restoration and my companion and I are working on 50:50 teaching ration and its working out great, and she is now an active investigator. We have been blessed greatly with finding people. we were blessed with 6 new investigators 2 weeks ago and 4 this last week, its been a great blessing. Things are great and very tiresome, Its a different kind of hard that I would have ever expected, its great though. The language is still hard but i grow more an more everyday so I am just trying to stay patient with it. We have been focusing a lot on finding people that were baptized years ago through members partial address and old phone numbers, and sometimes nothing other than a prayer. Its been neat to see these prayers heard and answered. This country is really pretty and neat in some ways but the thing I would say that makes this country as great as it is, is not the country, but the people in it. I know this sounds like a stereotypical missionary answer but its because its the truth. The people here are so friendly and always just want to help and give, even when they have nothing to give. We are always being given stuff and fruit and the list goes on. Its cool to see and most of the time they don't even know us. Its a great life experience here and more importantly I am growing so much spiritually as well as through the spirit helping others do the same. There is a whole other reservoir of spiritual growth I would have never unlocked if i hadn't made the decision to be here. I am very grateful. When I look at it though i realize the only thing im giving back to the lord is the only thing I have to give. My WILL/ My mind and my heart. Everything else he has already given me. The Lord has everything. Everything except your heart and your mind if you with hold it from him. I am truly learning what that means. To center my mind on the Lord and those I am serving and not dwelling on things back home, or the past, or whatever it may be. It takes daily prayer and constant practice. I am becoming so close to many of these people here and I love them so much. I lose sleep for ones that reject us especially ones with so much potential. 2 Nephi 33:3...Its a sad thing to deal with daily but you cant let it get you down. I love the lord and I am out here for him and no other reason, I am being stretched and pulled in ways that I would have never wanted to be stretched in pulled if left to my own decision but thats all apart of the molding process, and i am grateful for it. I always try look for opportunities to grow, and more importantly help others grow. Love you all so much. 

Love Elder Lunt

Some quick background info... Armenia in the north has a lot of Russian influence..I am as far north before you go to Georgia as the mission gets, and I am picking up some Russian, and in the south it has a lot of  middle eastern influence so I've heard. and the southern tip called harabats I think is how its spelled in English is currently at war and has been for years with Azerbaijan, many young boys in the "banack"/army die each month there. But armenia is not like any other culture race or religion. It is its own race. and they take much pride in their race and their church, being the 1st to accept Christianity, and in their language, being close to first of the first several languages. Its great here and very intresting. They have many pretty old churches that I have been able to visit on pdays. pics coming soon...

P.S. My english gets worse daily so sorry if I sound weird when I write

Week 14

Hello all who read this! I can't believe its already been a week. Time flies when you having fun right? Well its been a great week PACKED with all sorts of stories,experiences and events. I fell like I tell my story for each week so many times, after I write it in the journal then emailing a few times, sometimes I feel like an old man telling the same story over again because I cant remember who already told what too haha. This week we meet with many less active members. I have such a big testimony of finding people. Since my companion and I have opened this new area. We have a lot of finding to do. I witnessed the guidance of the Lord daily. Time after time we find people that don't have addresses or phone numbers, its very neat and just makes me smile at times and have even more satisfaction in what I am doing every day. I have never had so much purpose when I get out of bed in the morning. I just know that what I am doing is true and who I am doing it for is even more important. There is nothing more important that inviting others to come unto Christ. Its an honor that I and each missionary has each day. Like I said last week, I have never been happier in my life. I really mean this. This doesn't mean that there is not trials, hardships and disappointments and sometimes sadness, the sun,wind and rain beat down on me just the same as another missionary and or person. I have learned that I am truly happy only when I am teaching and testifying to people. No pday activity, no emailing session, no workout in the morning can or will give me as much joy as I get from teaching people and building up the lords gospel in Aliverdi. This is what I mean when I saw I am truly happy. I am very greatful and humble to be here. I love each minute of it, and am trying to soak it all up before it passes me by. We were blessed this week with many new investigators and its so neat to see people come closer to the lord. The language is coming along more and more with each day. Line upon line. I went on a transfer with an elder named elders shields who is such a bro and loves bullit bikes and running so we get along great. He being the zone leader came to Aliverdi and he said that this hardly ever happens when someone in thier training is showing around their Zone Leader and setting up appointments and teaching lessons and speaking as much as him. He was impressed and had some nice things to say. We went on a 6 mile run the next morning in the mountains of Aliverdi...so gorgeous! And so many hills it was a killer run, we kept raising the bar on each other so it was a great time and elder shields puked after haha I win...I still work out everday and love running and the armenians in our town love watching me run hahah i know kinda weird but they are really impressed with me and out neighbor Mikyle a huge boxer saw me outside our door stretching after a run waiting for my companion (elder Wood) and he told me to come over and so we did as soon as elder wood got back. He pulled out boxing gloves and training equipment and just when I thought he was about to run off with my face he told me to start hitting him. It was kinda crazy but so fun. I felt bad elder wood just watched. And Armenians are brutally honest so they always tell me how much of a super star I am physically and they tell Elder wood that hes "the saddest thing they have ever seen" closed quote, Armenians... gotta love em. Its all good they tell me i speak like an idiot all the time...water off my back. So long story short our neighbor who we really want to teach because hes a living legend in Aliverdi and everyone loves him, is giving me boxing lessons a few times a week. I love learning how to box and getting to know a potential investigator. I feel bad though, because elder wood just has to watch but hes cool with it he says. Besides that its a win win situation. Its been a great week. I am teaching with my companion with unity and equality and most importantly with the spirit. I am connecting with these people and they love listening to an american speak their language like a bro, I speak using a lot of bro talk and they think its the funniest thing. Well I love you all and hope your all doing great. I pray for each of you by name each day.Love Elder Lunt

Week 13

Barev! Hello to all who read this. Things have been good here this last week, hard and tiring but good. Elder wood and I have been very busy. We are meeting with a lot of less actives right now and trying to fellowship and earn the trust of all. This last week and through out my time here in Aliverdi I have gained a big testimony of being in the right place at the right time. It happens everyday as a missionary serveral times a day. Its very neat to see things unfold, knowing that you were guidied to that person for a reason. It is great here but most everyone is not interested in what we have to say and those that do will hear but wont listen. So many have such hard hearts to anything other than their own religion which they see as apart of their culture. And most claim to be christians but dont act like christians at all. Its a very sad thing to see. We have had a tough week, so many rejections and insults and meaningless threats its a very sad thing to see a lot of these people harden their hearts. I got really bugged by a guy forcing his 1 year old to drink liquior and then laughing with his friends about it when we walked by. Its times like that when its hard to be a missionary and staying disciplined enough not to let your emotions get the best of you. Its hard to hold it all in at times and to see the sickness of some people. Honestly I feel bad for them and want to help them, but I know at the end of the day we did our best and we gave them the oppourtunity accept this gospel. The only thing that will bring them true happyness and so many reject it. Its hard to not let it get to me, its a sad thing to see them walk away from something that will change their lives. Don't get me wrong there are some great people here and they make it all worth it and they make up for the miniorty of who I just spoke of. The members who actually are and can be called members that are active are some of the best in the world. So devoted and they try to do their best and they are blessed for it. I am building close realationships with all of them and getting to know them personally. Its a great area and is growing fast. As soon as we get a building for church I know that this area will take off. It has a lot of potential and I can feel the excitment stirring. The language is coming along little by little each day just staying patient with it, it is what it is and I am glad I made peace with that before I arrived in country, I have also been very blessed to be patient with myself, the language and my companion ( who is by the way amazing,we get along great). We have a few Investigators at the moment and a lot of potential ones. None are really progressing though and none really want to meet or they try to avoid us, so we are praying for them and we keep trying. There are a lot of stuggles here and in every area and I am sure in every mission, ( our fridge and toilet doesnt work, cold showers, I had food poisioning for a few days, white washing a difficult area as a trainee, the language and not being able to show personallity as much as I want). These are a very few of the inconviences and curve balls that life has thrown at me lately, my point is that as missionaries and people in this world we have things that happen everyday that doesnt go our way most of you proabably have a lot bigger trials and burdens. However ss I have learned lately that it all matters on how you deal with and adapt to those challenges. Its so important to not shrink in our trials but to change our attitude and perspective in the times of our trials. Its something that I think is very important, to always stay faithful in our trials as well as out of them. Well Its a short one this week but I hope that you all know that I know that I love it here and that the lord's work is hastening; I am honered to be apart of it and serve as a disciple. My understanding and love for the savior is increasing each day its such a neat thing to see in myself (and on a less selfish note) in the members and investigators when we were able to meet with them. I love you all so much. I really do. I miss you and am sad to be missing out of your lives but I know this is where I am suppose to be and I have a such a strong testimony of our savior Jesus Christ and God the father and NOW I can truly say that I would give a lot more than 2 years for this knowledge. God be with you.

Love Elder Lunt

Week 12

Hey everyone! WOW!  What a week! I learn more and more here with every coming day.I am doing great in Aliverdi! I learn so much every day and I love this area I am in. Its like the Cadillac of the mission here, because of how gorgeous it is here, and my companion and I are all alone here with lots of work to do, its great! I love the people. I am connecting with so many great people and love them so much. The work is hastening here. This area was and is definitely ready and prepared for the gospel again. Everyone here is so nice and loves having us in their town. I love these people and I am so grateful to be here and to serve the lord. It is the best decision I have ever made to serve a mission and I am growing more in so many ways I never thought possible. And more importantly, hopefully helping others to grow and come closer to their savior.I am truly learning how to love everyone. Even those that don't love us, (like getting spit on)..I am grateful for this opportunity and I am giving the lord my Heart, might, mind and strength everyday and together my companion and I are seeing the blessings and guidance being poured upon us and this area. We got our first investigator last Wednesday. I was attempting to cook, yes I am the cook in the companionship its absolutely awful. Anyways I was cooking something that didn't turn out and we got a knock on our door. This young guy in in mid 20's is chillin there and he asks if he could learn more of our "thing". So we said we would be over in 20 min and we went to his apartment (right next door). He was very interested in the book of Mormon and what we believe. We got through the lesson my companion does most of the talking for now but I was bearing testimony and Armen (investigator's name) saw that I wanted to express something I didn't know how to say. And at the end of my testimony he said you can speak English if you want, i know English. I was super happy. The ball is in my court now. I bore a great testimony in English and actually showed my personality it was nice. And now we have our first investigator and he is progressing and reading the book of Mormon. One of the many miracles that I am witnessing here, nobody here speaks English and nobody knocks on our door for the gospel my companion said haha. The people here are great. There are about 20 members and about 10 that are active and about 5 that came to church on sunday. We had church in a living room at a member's house. It was a very crazy sacrament meeting, but good. The spirit was there and the whole time I thought of the Armenian words for "they are trying". They are trying and God knows it. Their circumstances are awful and things are not easy here but they do their best and that's all that matters, in return the spirit is very strong in those meetings. The church is buying a building here soon so that it isn't at a members house. There are a lot of clicks among the members here in Aliverdi, (the women) that don't like so and so, the gossip is bad. So I have gotten pretty good at teaching the charity lesson. It is so pretty here and yes, it is in the mountains but its weird because its so low. the elevation is 2400 ft above sea level (thanks to dad's watch which i love by the way) so its the lowest place in Armenia and the most gorgeous too, but also very very humid, which is fun with a broken fan and A.C. doesn't exist here :)

Last week we went to the former branch presidents house (excommunicated) he is great though from what I have heard and he wants to be re baptized. We have not met him. He lives in Russia because work in Armenia is like work in Mexico. His family is awesome though and they are very nice. The mom's name is Anahet and she wasn't aware that we were actually living in the area currently, and that Aliverdi was now reopened for missionary work. She just thought we were coming up from Vanadzor (nearest city, about an hour away). She told us that she had a dream that the gospel would be in Aliverdi and that the missionaries would be there again. We were amazed and said well actually we are. We are here now, its our 5th day here and we need your help to get this area a branch again. She was shocked and so grateful. It was a cool experience. I only have time for one more story, don't worry everything is in a journal for later. When we were walking home from that same appointment we were confronted by some Russian guy yelling at us calling us Satan. Which is nothing out of the ordinary. Hes actually the first mean guy we met here in Aliverdi. So we just ignored him and then kept walking. Not any more than 2 min later up the street we were walking and a lady came up to us and asked are you people of god? She said I have seen you walking around and never paid much attention to you. She said but now I need your help. She started crying and said that her grandson is sick and is most likely going to die. She asked us to pray for her. So we said ok and we gave her our number and did what we could. Well its time to go. I wish I could share more. But no worries, its all in a journal. Its great here and I hope everyone is doing great and recognizing the blessings that I am praying for each on of you by name. Love you all and know that I love it here and that the language is coming little by little. If you remember one thing from this letter please know that I have never been this close to perfect (not saying I am) in my life therefore I have never been this happy in my life! Love you all!

Elder Brian Lunt

p.s. my email day is on Tuesdays around 3 PM (Armenian time; I believe around 6 AM MST) because of no internet in Aliverdi, so we have to wait until we go to the city of Vanadzor on Tuesdays for district meetings to email. Love you all #TheFieldIsWhite #Sicklin #Thrust #GettinThatWheat #DoinWork #ImLovingIt

View from the city above called Sarahart (most members live here) very very pretty. We live in the valley to the right.

The view from where we live morning and night time. One of the pics is from Sarahart

View from our house and a river by us

We went to a really nice restaurant on the mountain by the river. we were the only customers because no people here can afford the price here. 2600 drum which is about 6.00 per person.. so much food it was great

Our first sacrament...soon to be in our own building and with much more people

Week 11

Hey everyone! Well my thoughts are a bit scrambled today, so I aplologize if this is hard to follow. I am doing so great. We just moved to Aliverdi and got in our apartment yesterday and got all unpacked officially. Our apartment is pretty nice for the most part. We live in the prettiest area in the whole mission. Aliverdi is gorgeous. Its in a valley surrounded by mountains and lush trees. There is a huge river that runs in the town and is very pretty. We live on a steep hill right underneath the mountain. There are two parts too the city. Valley and the Plateau. There is a ski lift that takes you up to the Plateau but its broken right now. Most of the members live on the plateau. Its so gorgeous. We are the only companionship in the area and so everyone always wants to see pictures of what Aliverdi looks like. Its great and the people are so nice there. None of them have any idea what or who we are so they all want to talk, and they are so loving and nice. Where as the last city/gymuri a lot of people thought we were Jehovah witnesses and some people really hated us. My friend Elder Papitch got punched a few times when we were walking down the street last week in Gyumri. It was weird, we were walking on the sidewalk and some guy ran up and hit him a few times then ran off. I was stunned and was ready to throw down but he ran off so fast. Elder papitch is a great example and didn't even care. So I am glad to be out of Gyumri and in Aliverdi for the most part, not because of that. But just because of how excited I was to get here and open this great area. Before I left Gyumrui on Sunday I bore my testimony in Sacrament meeting and it went well. The Armenians and other missionaries are surprised of how much I just don't care if I make mistakes and how I just speak whenever I can. They telling me to keep that up, and quite a few have told me that I am catching on really fast. I have learned so much about everything here in the past 2 weeks than i did in the entire MTC, about the people, culture, spiritually, language and many other things. We stopped at the bishops house before we left and we were chillin in his back yard and we saw a big Marijuana plant. We asked him about it and he said that they use the seeds for cooking. Nobody here really smokes it, he said Armenians know that is makes you stupid and they stay away from smoking it haha we had some fun pics with the leaves though. Well  I love it here and am grateful for this opportunity to open this area of Aliverdi and bring the gospel to these people. I will send a few pics of the area and more to come. Love you all! 


Elder Brian Lunt

Week 10

{Elder Lunt's P-day is on Mondays for now (they are 11 hours ahead of Utah time)}



Hello everyone from a small hole in the wall/internet parlor in Armenia! I don't even know where to start. It has been a very eventful few days. First off know that I am loving this, every second of it. My companion/trainer is on his last transfer so he is great with the language  and everything else. His name is Elder Wood, first name Micah. He is a stud of a guy and even better missionary. He speaks like a native and everyone is shocked when they see this white boy from Utah speak better than them. Then they see me and think I am Russian and speak Russian and I'm still lost haha. I am doing well with the language and I get by especially with the help of Elder wood, hes awesome, I have never met anyone so loving and non judgmental as he is. 

Well I have some big news. At the mission home, we were told by the Mission President that one of us and our trainers would open up a new area in the northern part of Armenia called Aliverde. It hasn't been opened for 4 years and that one of us would open this area with our trainer. Well...I wouldn't be telling you this if I wasn't the one that will be opening this new area. I am excited and feel honored that my trainer and I were selected for this area. From what I've heard, some of the AP's thought they were going to open Aliverdi  and they were just as surprised as I was when president said that my companion and I would be opening it. So I am grateful and will do my best. We don't have an apartment in Aliverdi yet so we are in Gyumri for a week til we get an apartment there. Gymuri is great. Everyone in my MTC group laughed when they heard I was going to Gyumri because they speak different than the rest of the country here. They call it Gymuri "bar bar" its super sloppy Armenian. But it doesn't make a big difference I am lost half the time anyways. I thought I was understanding one time and my trainer was  like nah Elder Lunt they are speaking Russian. haha dang. Our apartment is kinda rough, I thought it was an abandoned building but boy was I surprised when I heard we were living in it. A.C. is non existent here and most houses are no bigger than a small room, luckily our apartment is a bit bigger than that.

Where to start... I know now why every missionary just simply says that they love their mission and they love the people and they have never been happier. Because as missionaries we can't possibly explain all that we have seen, experienced, and felt. However I will attempt...My eyes have been opened to a whole new style of life and of living. And how different things are here and how different the church is but yet the same doctrine. I cant believe the poverty here and the things that people do to get by. Its things I could have gone a life time with out seeing, but It makes me so grateful for all that I have. words cant explain how grateful I am for our country and all that I have been given. It makes me think less of Americans and how spoiled but yet unhappy most of our country is. These people here are amazing I say this with tears in my eyes. I've never seen anything in my life like this, ever. The members are so devoted and they go through so much just to get to church. Everyone here is poor, everyone! There is Rich, poor and super poor. And very few of these people have enough to put food on the table.or to pay for a taxi to come to church. 

We are teaching an Investigator named R*** and she is so poor that she doesn't have electricity or enough food. But what I am about to tell you is a perfect example that describes all ward members and most Armenians. When we taught her she brought out all this food and a can of Pepsi and she said a few words that I caught in Armenian "I want you to have this" I cant believe that she was feeding us, she barely has enough to feed herself I thought. I didn't really know what to say. I was speechless. This is the love I am talking about. They will give all they have to give even when they have hardly anything to give in the first place. 

We are teaching a few other investigators. One guy we are teaching is progressing and stopped cheating on his wife for 2 months now and he reads the Book of Mormon daily. He and his wife are very interested. We teach our investigators with a blind member named Y*******. This is the devotion I am talking about. He is blind and he has been team teaching lessons with the missionaries for 8 years. He knows the Book of Mormon so well and saved enough money to buy one in brail. He lives with his Mom and she use to read it to him everyday before he had one in brail. He does very well at navigating but we lead him around a lot. He is awesome and his nephew is 5 years old and is so cute. I squatted down to give him a high five as I left and he jumped on me and gave me a hug, It can make a grown man's heart melt. I have taught a couple lessons now or at least attempted to. We taught a member yesterday who is such a strong member but her parents are inactive.  I taught on the gospel blesses families and we taught with our district, 2 other sisters and 2 other elders they are awesome and we get along great. They helped out a lot in the lesson/saved me, and the spirit was there so strong, so so strong. We committed her to pray with her family and I promised the as she did this her family will feel the spirit.

Yesterday was water day. So it was crazy. My companion and I were sneaking around town every where trying not to get drenched. The rule with water day is there is no rules its fair game any where! And two white boys in nice suits are prime targets. We were doing pretty good not getting wet, our taxi driver almost drenched us. But after church we saw a bunch of kids outside our apartment and they were coming for us so I decided to run (big mistake) I was in my suit and I just got it dry cleaned and didn't want it to get wet. Well when I ran they chased me and my companion stood his ground and got destroyed right in front of our apartment door. I ran to the top floor and tried to climb a ladder to the roof but it was too late a bunch of kids with buckets of water were right behind me. They were hesitant when they saw how tall I am and I said in Armenian "no no, no allowed"  They then drenched me in my suit. I was kinda mad and wanted to throw them down the stairs, but I didn't :) They then got more water and tried getting us in our apartment it was a crazy day. We also had a water fight with some of the members it was a good time. 

Church yesterday was great! I felt the love and dedication of all these people. Our ward here in Gyumri has about 60 people in it. They do their best and heavenly father knows that and the spirit is sooo strong. one of our investigators came to church. He is blind and he had a smoke break before sac. meeting. Also during sacrament he stumbled out of the front door (cause hes blind) and had a smoke break during the middle of sacrament. The members love us here and they come to us to ask questions before they go to the bishop. Its really cool. The missionaries are highly respected here in the ward. There is this old man who is legit crazy and he always yells during church and argues during gospel doctrine class, its so funny but sad, because everyone gets mad at him. Hes awesome and he loves the elders. He gave me stones and kept trying learn English words. He wanted to know the word for city so i told him and he kept saying the S-word super loud ha I tried not to laugh. Oh and yesterday in the marshutini (super cramped crowded nasty vans with so many people in them) I saw a lady with a full on black beard. I was scared and kinda impressed at the same time haha.

Honestly though, things are great here. These people never cease to amaze me. I never woke up in the morning feeling like a have so much purpose. Never again in my life will I do anything that has this much divine purpose and eternal significance. I am excited to go to open the new area of Aliverdi next week. And honored that the Lord chose my companion and I. I truly am so glad to be here and am making the most of every second. I love you all and hope you are doing well.

Love Elder Lunt

P.S. where does our family come from? Investigators keep asking and I just say England. 

Week 9

Dear Mom and Dad and anyone else who is reading this. I am doing great and I have arrived here safely in the mission home. The Mission President and his wife seem very cool and so down to earth. I really like them and have been impressed this far. I also meet the Assistant to the president's as well as the sister training leaders. The AP's are very cool and so down to earth and loving, you can tell they really care and would give you the shirt off their back. We will be at the mission home til tomorrow morning around 1100 we then will go with our trainers and depart to our new assigned areas. We meet with the President and his wife for today and tomorrow and they pray about what trainer they should put us with as well as what area we should be in. I pray that I will get a good trainer, I am looking forward to this. Its cool that I am here and the mission has officially started if you know what I mean. Yesterday in Paris INT. shortly after I got off the telephone with you I was standing in line to get checked onto the plane. And I see this Armenian man mid 20's handsome guy, and he waves his hand at me and so I walked up to him and said "whats up man" I realized that he only spoke Armenian and so I did my best to communicate with him. He put his arm around me like I was his brother and I shook his hand with a firm grip,he was  my first impression of a native Armenian besides Zohrab and I hope all of them are like him. His name is Vahe and was he asking me all sorts of questions I told him I was from america and that I was from a place called utah. I asked him about his family and what he does for work. He told me just in the 15 min we spent talking quite a bit, and I kept the questions coming and wanted to know all about him. He had a light in his eyes and a warm smile  that is hard to describe unless you see it. He had a great spirit about him. I felt love for him and was very bold and gave him a picture/pass along card of Jesus Christ and I asked "you know who this is" he said with a big smile "of course that is Jesus Christ" I said "do you believe in him" he said ayo ayo which means yes yes. I said very good. Again I was very bold and said in Armenian ofcourse "can I have your phone number and email address so we can meet and talk"? He didn't even think or hesitate he said YES YES. I was thrilled haha my first referal! He told me what town he was from, its 30 min from Yerevan, called agemeatseen (I think thats how they would write it in english). It was a great experience. We got to the mission home late last night. We saw the strip/ Las Vegas of Yerevan, dang it was big and spacious. There were thousands and I mean thousands of people out at public square. That part of Yerevean, like vegas comes alive at night. Well I have my interview with the president in a few mins. I love you all and will write later. 

Love Elder Lunt

He has ARRIVED!

We received this email from Elder Brian Lunt's mission president:

Your missionary arrived very tired but so excited to finally be here.  We love them already!  They will email sometime today.  We know blessings will be coming your way as they serve.

Love,
President and Sister Carlson
Armenia Yerevan Mission

Leaving the MTC

Elder Lunt left the mission training center "MTC" on Tuesday afternoon with a non-stop flight from SLC to Paris, France. He said it was a scheduled 18 hour flight! We all got to talk to him briefly on the phone before he left. It was so wonderful to hear his voice. He sounded like a missionary that was truly filled with the spirit, with a testimony about to burst and so eager to share the gospel. He bore his testimony in what Armenian he knew (which sounded like a lot).  The recording isn't the greatest, but enough to hear a little of the language.

http://youtu.be/ImPnt0gjpcM        (there is no picture, just audio)

We are excited to hear from him!

One last hello

We received one last email and hello from Elder Lunt today as he gets ready to depart the MTC tomorrow. He said he gets to call at the airport and say one last goodbye. He said he is excited, anxious, and can't wait to start sharing the gospel. Here are the pictures he sent.

Week 8

Hello Everyone! Hope all is well and things are going good for you. I am doing great and I am fully recovered and was cleared by the Doc on Tuesday to depart to Armenia as well as run again. So its been nice to do work outs again everyday. Well I don't really know what to say. I wish I had more time. I have so many spiritual experiences I wish I could tell everyone and how much I have grown and learned. I am already so happy I made the decision to be out here. I never knew you could have this much joy by serving the Lord 24/7 and soon the Lord's children. I leave in 5 days now and I am excited and ready for change. Its crazy how much Armenian I know, I had a conversation with my teacher the other day and was just going off and didn't even realize it. Also I can tell you that there has been so many times in my lesson where both my companion and I will bear testimony to an investigator and we just go off and say what they need to hear and we don't even think about the language. Then after wards we look at each other and think wow did i just say that? Its a neat experience that happens time and time again with the gift of the spirit. Its crazy to think how much I know, and how much I don't know if that makes sense. Although I feel like i am doing pretty well right now, we have been told time and time again that it all changes over there. So I am excited for what is about to come but I also know that in 5 days the language is about to rock my world, and I have come to peace that there will be frustration and disappointment associated with that. I am ready though, and excited. We depart to some town in Paris that I cant pronounce from salt lake around 4:50 pm and then from Paris to Armenia. Things are about to get real, and I am ready for it!

Yesterday we were  trying to skype some guy in Armenia and my companion didn't know he was leaving a voice message and turned to me and said "Elder Lunt i have to fart so bad" and i was like "elder don't, our teacher is going to smell it hahah" and then he looked at his computer screen a min. later and realized he had left a voice message to some guy in Armenia that speaks great English. Hahaha I was dying laughing. Elder Gallardo and I get along pretty good. Hes great and very athletic and so goofy/ just doesn't care what others think.We have gotten close this past few weeks serving as zone leaders together and working as a team. We teach in unity and with the spirit and have figured out our chemistry and how we teach and work together as a team along with the spirit. I hope we serve together in the months to come.

As I was in the temple this morning I opened up to a very neat verse in the celestial room Alma 26:22 I think it was. It brought peace to me and reassurance. Through faith and trust in God all is possible. Its something that is easier said than done especially in our times of testing.

Well I I don't have much time but I will send a lot of pics. Pictures are worth a thousand words! I love you all and hope all is well. I hope you are all seeking help and guidance from the Lord everyday and staying close to him. I know that this work is true and that there is no greater work than inviting others to come unto Christ. I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know all of us personally and will never leave us alone. And through Jesus Christ and his grace and perfect Atonement we can return to live with him again. "Grace is not the absence of God's expectations, but rather the power to make up the difference" I know that through Christ and his Atonement all is possible. I Love him and I know he loves me and each one of us. I hope that we can all look within our own lives and change everyday. Everyday arise to a higher plane of living and and everyday become better until that day we can meet God face to face and say we have done our best to become like him. I love you all and I love this experience. Have a great week. 

Love Elder Lunt

First vision in Armenian 

Found some Ray Bands

Joy riding

 Superman missionary

Zone leader!

Week 7

So good to hear from Brian and his continual progress. Here is his letter from today.

Hello everyone! I ammmmm backkkk!!!! Its nice to have my energy and personality back for the most part, that you lose when you are sick. Mono took me to my knees that is for sure. I am doing well now, which makes me so grateful to back into the swing of things. There is always something to learn from everything. And as I was sick I thought about so many things. I really like what my friend Elder Obiama said to me before he left and I was in bed, he said in times of adversity just remember "this too shall pass". My faith and strength were wavering and I thought how do I stay positive in this? But I was reminded by Elder Obiama that it is not always about staying positive but rather than staying focused. The savior probably was not to happy about suffering the sins for all who have ever lived and will live. However, he was focused with faith and knew of the greatness that it would bring. I heard a quote by Elder Holland, it hit me hard. It talks about how "we must all sit for a very FEW moments in Gethsemane and sometimes as disciples of Christ we must take a few steps towards the summit of Calvary". 

Even though it is nothing close to what the savior went through, in our times of adversity we must think of this. We must endure it well, stay focused and keep our eye on the savior who is not the light at the end of the tunnel but rather the light in the tunnel; with us every step of the way, even though at times it may not feel like it and we may be sitting in our own Gethsemane, he will give us the power to over come whatever trials he has given us. As much as it flat out SUCKS sometimes and its so much easier said then done. It is important to "endure these things well; for all things shall give the experience". We are only guaranteed two things in this life, adversity and death. Everything else is based upon our actions, reactions and what you make of yourself and others. So when its your turn to sit in Gethsemane, keep this is mind and remember the "Son of God hath descended below all"

Its pretty crazy to think that I am here just as long as a stateside missionary now, I leave in 12 days now..Whats weird is that I have already been here for about 2 months, I fell like time is slipping away from me. Life is such a weird thing. I heard a talk today that mentioned we all receive 86,400 seconds in a day...how will we spend it. Our time is more valuable than money or anything else given to us because it is given to us by the lord. Each breath and heartbeat, every second is a gift; treat it like one. I enjoyed this. I think of my time in the MTC and think how I made use of my time and how I have done well but there is always better, always room for change and improvement. I was kind of taken back last night as new Zone Leaders my companion and I and some of the sister training leaders (sis Kieffer and her comp.) were giving a orientation/tour to 16 new missionaries going to Madagascar that are  in our zone. I though of how fast time goes by and I remembered when I was sitting where they were at and I felt many of the same thoughts and emotions of that night it was interesting to think how fast it goes by and life is no exception. It made me think that life will pass you by before you know it. Its so important to soak up the moment, and to be happy with what it is your are doing now and who you are.

Well I love you all and hope everyone is doing good. Thank you for all the letters, packages, etc. I am good on everything and have all I need. Love you all. 

Love Elder Lunt