Week 27

Hey everyone, sorry for no weekly letter this week. I ran out of time. I love you all and miss you. To be honest I have no idea what to do for skyping or calling in Dec but I will figure it out and ask around. Love you.

Elder Brian Lunt

Week 26 - What a week

Where to start...Dear family and friends know that all is well and everything is good here. Know that I will always be ok during times like last week, but will be straight up too. I love you guys so much and miss you, I am excited to skype on Christmas and look forward to hearing your voices and seeing your faces. This last week has been great, we are working like crazy and seeing the results. Its been really neat, and I feel so accomplished at the end of each day, and just lay in bed at night and just think "wow", I am taking the role as bishop in an area so new to the church and speaking a foreign language that nobody knows ha. Its so interesting, that a year ago I would have never imagined this and 2 years ago maybe never wanted to. But i've thought a lot lately about how only through the Lord can we reach our full potential. Only when we give ourselves to the Lord, with our heart, mind and strength, and try to do our best that he can work miracles with us. I cant even imagine all the great people I wouldn't of met if I hadn't served a mission and all the relationships I wouldn't have and the lives that wouldn't be changed through me as an instrument in the lords hand. I love so many people here now and care for them so much. I can already see the change in myself and my Pat. blessing promises being fulfilled. I have learned so much about leadership and continue to learn so much as I lead this little group of 30 members. Things are on fire in this area. I am seeing much progress of when Elder wood and I started just now showing itself. We have been blessed with so many investigators, around 30 now. and many are progressing, many have baptismal dates. Theres not a feeling quite like it, to know that you were an instrument in the hand of the Lord to help bring them to the gospel, nothing in life I have done relates this kind of joy and happiness. I am doing good with the language, some might say fluent, I still don't think so. But I understand most of whats being said or at least the general Idea, and from there can make the connection. In lessons I understand close to 100 percent since it is all gospel related words. I am continue to work hard on the language every day, 10 words daily and reading from the book of Mormon daily in Armenian, and always listening for new words to write down. The Armenians are the best teachers for many things, and language aside they teach me so many things daily.I am picking up Russian words and know about half the alphabet.I feel like my english is getting bad and sometimes I just get confused with how to say things in english and have to think a little to long about it, its annoying. Anyways, the gift of tongues is real and the lord will never give you something to do, unless he knows you can arise to your potential through him and accomplish it. We are working so hard. My comp sometimes falls asleep standing on the marshutnis and aftobuses (old vans from soviets) its kinda funny and I cant help but crack a smile with all the Armenians looking at him weird then looking to me for an explanation haha. He's doing good, I am trying to help him find his confidence and come out of his shell he's doing better everyday. I would never kick it with him back on the block haha but he's a good guy. I continue to run in the mornings and work out with bands (the poor mans bo-flex) I still hold the title of the fastest runner in the mission and plan on keeping that haha but for reals though, cant be coming back with relief society arms ;) . Anyways as we have worked so hard we have seen so much success and the help of many of our members. I have seen so many miracles daily and just cant express to you how true this church is. I am so grateful for this opportunity to reopen this area and for these people. I am so close to so many of them. I found a building last week and met with the land lord and had a good meeting with him, and I am organizing a meeting with the land lord and stake president on Tues. Things are great and continue to stay so busy which is great. Its scary how fast time is going especially with hard work. Sundays are great and I continue to lead sacrament and do things that a bishop would do in the area, collect tithing and other things, list goes on. My comp is helping me out and the senior couple. I delegate the load with helps a lot. I am so grateful to be here and love this, every second of it, no matter how hard it may be at times. Or how much I miss you all. Its about time to go. I love you guys an miss you and pray for you daily many times.  You all have a part in this mission in helping me to help these people. Love you all

Love Elder Lunt

P.S. Dad your plan of salvation chart has changed my life..I feel like you made that for me, and I know its so inspired. 

Week 25

Hey everyone.
Sorry for not writing the last week. Its been a tough week due to a close cousin/ friend passing away in America. I already told many of my close relatives that sometimes its hard to focus in the down time of things which in my area isn't a lot thank goodness, when things back home are not going so well. I have spent a lot of time fasting and praying about my cousin.  I have always had faith in the plan of salvation but I never really studied it or knew it for myself. I have a big testimony of prayer. And this testimony is why I am out here. I am grateful for this and have been praying so much for my cousin to know if he is really happy and what he is doing. There have been a few other things that are going on at home that I wont share due to their privacy but I could use the prayers right now. Email is getting old, I cant really share even  a fraction of what's going on through email due to time and how un-personal it is. Its getting pretty lonely sometimes here, being an hour away from everyone and my comp is just a quiet guy, getting better but still really quiet.  But I am good just thinking of the core reasons why I am here and trying to get in as many lessons as I can. Because that is the only time I am happy and have Joy, not fun always but joy. I feel so good during lessons and once we just get out of the house and into lessons, or talk to people on the streets. Anyways i'm good, love you all and miss ya.

Elder Lunt

Week 24

No letter

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

Week 19

Hey everyone! Its sounds like all is well and everyone one is doing good and keeping busy. I am as well, the work in our area of Alaverdi and Sarahart/ few villages is on FIRE! It is currently the newest/pioneer stages of the mission, but its also the most successful in the whole mission. All thanks to the lord's blessings.  On average the lord is blessing us with about an investigator a day, and about 6 ish to 7 which is a pretty uncommon compared to Armenia's past and other areas, my companion (elder wood) says hes never seen an area like this. All thanks to the lord's blessings, the president is very happy, but we just do our part and the lord blesses us with the rest. There is no secret, other than just doing your best each day, so that you can look at the end of the day and know you gave it your all. Sometimes there are blessings daily that we see like in Alaverdi.  And other times, there are blessings that you dont see, or trials of your faith,when it seems like you're efforts are going unnoticed to the Lord. What I am trying to say is that there are plenty of great, consecrated, obedient missionaries here that each week have to report a zero to the president. My companion and i have just been blessed with an amazing opportunity to re-open this area and be instruments in the hands of the lord. Abinadi only had one convert he never saw baptized after a life time of preaching, and ammon had thousands. Its important to know that no work is ever un-noticed to the Lord.The group is growing fast, first week 6 people at church, last week 32, not counting us.... we should have a building soon, rather than at a members house, that will help. We have about over 20 investigators over 10 are progressing, so my companion and i are spread pretty thin, and keep extremely busy. This week we had the opportunity to teach and re-baptize the old branch president who was excommunicated in 2010 which led to the eventual closing down of this area a few months later, due to no priesthood. He got back from Russia because of no work, and we were cleared by the 1st presidency to teach him and re-baptize him. He was truly repentant and so glad to have a second chance.There was a special spirit at each lesson we taught and at the baptism, one i couldn't describe unless one were present, we decided to have the bishop in Vanadazor (1 hour away from Alaverdi) baptize him to make a good connection with this man, rather than with us, for when we have to leave. I love this place and never want to get transferred out, the people are friendlier here than any where else in the country and the members and investigators are so prepared and elect, (and the area is very pretty which is always a bonus). The language is coming a long great, thanks to heavenly father. I have never worked harder for anything though, and its showing quick. I try to never miss an opportunity to study words, grammar, etc. Most of the time we are so busy that I have to study when we are walking from place to place. This week we had a zone confrenece meeting and president said a lot of good things that are worth sharing. He said that most of us do way too much without asking for the lord's help, and we wonder why things are so hard at times. What I took away from this was we need to pray a lot more than we do (a lot more than I did before my mission), not just for meals or when you need something, but to pray and thank the lord for all that has been given to you and to seek help, guidance and comfort through out our day. Some thing else was said, that most people here and even back home dont read the scriptures every day, or attend church every week for all 3 meetings, and we wonder why life is so hard at times. Most people here and back home just simply dont do the things that bless us and they wonder why they are not blessed. Sad to say that it as is simple as it sounds, because it is. Its just something to keep in mind. Part of the reason I feel we have been blessed so much in this area and me with the language is because I always strive to get rid of the excuses or whatever it may be that keeps me from doing what i need to do to receive blessings. I have heard lately a lot of hype about "exact obedience" which sounds great. But many of us here have a hard time with that "exact" part here. Obedience is not obedience if it is not exact. I know that many of you reading this right now, are older and wiser than me, however i feel like many of us forget a lot of the basic, simple truths. WHEN WE ARE OBEDIENT WE ARE BLESSED, that is it. If you don't think so, try it for a week and watch your life change like mine did. Well I am about out of time, and wish I could say more. In closing, I just want to challenge all those reading this, to be "obedient", go to church (all 3 meetings if you have that opportunity), pray through out the day, and to read scriptures daily. These are things to think about and if your not doing them...do them, and watch your life change. Love you all more than you know and pray for you all by name daily.

 Love Elder Lunt

P.S. please excuse my grammar, I don't correct a lot due to time, I promise I can still speak English.

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