Letter Home from Elder Bryen North March 17, 2014

Date:  March 17, 2014

Area:  Kennett, Missouri 

Companion:  Elder Mantangi from Logan, Utah

Dear Leprechauns! 

Missouri is fine. I think it's cool I'm in another state as well. Now if I serve in Tennessee (which is very likely) I will have served in 3 states. Then I just need to serve in Mississippi as well!

Glad you are enjoying Sister Lockett's Correspondence.

Cody and Barbie did come to church again. We're aiming for this coming week for their baptisms.

We had no dinner appointments this week. When we stay in to eat I cook frugally. Bread and eggs is usually what I eat. Sometimes I find hot dogs on sale and our fridge has some condiments for that. We just sort of share most food between us.

We have excellent lessons with Cody and Barbie that I feel we succeed in inviting the spirit. Always a good time.

Barbie and Elder North

We are now teaching an investigator's son, Marc. He seems willing to change and I hope he can.

They have wisely not asked me to speak yet. I strongly suggest you drop this subject lest fate decides against the current course of blissful silence.

We had a very successful pair of spiritual harvests recently. We visited one of them again a couple days ago. Usually Matangi gets a feeling about a door and we go to it. We don't do it often but in Kennett the experience has been positive for Harvesting. We approach the door, knock and ask if we can say a prayer with them to leave the savior's peace and blessing. Ask their names, about them and their families then one of us shares a prayer. We ask if we can visit again sometime soon and then ask if they know anyone else who could use a prayer or help in any way.

We missed the previous meeting, so I will get my camera this week now! Look forward to it.

Keep trucking everyone! Make sure to pray oft and carry an attitude of gratitude.

-Elder North

Elder Mantagi

Write Elder North!

Elder Bryen North

Arkansas Little Rock Mission

608 Oak Street

Kennett, MO 63857

March 10, 2014 - Letter Home from Elder North

Elder North

Date:  March 10, 2014

Area:  Kennett Missouri, Blytheville Ward

Companion:  Elder Matangi from Logan, Utah

 

Dear Family Matters,

Sister Lockett is a senior missionary here. I believe she has a Facebook you can contact her on and what not. The snow and ice shut us down rather harder than we expected. We do have commitments to baptism for B**** and C****, they came to church again. We have yet to see S**** again. Her schedule is hectic. She is a single mother in her thirties I think? Forgive me for not asking a woman's age.

We ate at home. I have eggs.

I got a letter from Mother and Aunt Karoline. I love the picture of Mary, Mosiah and Olivia I have now. Olivia looks so sneaky.

Sorry for being so short, we're sharing one computer to email. Not all that much happened this week regardless. I am very much looking forward to next week though! Cross your fingers for upcoming baptisms!

-Elder North

 

Thank you for your love and support of Bryen.  You can write him at...

Elder Bryen North

Arkansas Little Rock Mission

608 Oak Street

Kennett, MO 63857

 

March 3, 2014 - Letter Home from Elder North

Date:  March 3, 2014Area:  Kennett Missouri, Blytheville Ward
Companion:  Elder Matangi from Logan, Utah

Dear Twinkies,

Just got a lot of snow and ice outside.

The teaching pool of a missionary is either changing rapidly or stands still, almost never seems like there is an in between. We do have a new investigator, Somer, who seems especially earnest and I hope we can help her learn the gospel so it can bless her life.

C**** and B**** did not come to church due to the weather. We plan on seeing them Wednesday though. Church was thin due to the weather and cut short.

We're pretty much just working with Kennett. It's possible we could be sent to deal with other things elsewhere, but we have yet to.

The Fried Chicken was good! We ate at the same house yesterday as last time too. We had a LOT of food. Lil weenies, Chicken Spaghetti, Sherbert in Sprite, cake, Ice cream and Ro-tel dip. 

My weight continues to stay as constant as I can observe. I no longer have a scale to check.

As for local sayings? People say 'fixin' instead of 'about to'. That's prevalent. Also here in Kennett they say 'show out' instead of 'show off' or 'act out'.

Nothing's super different. The weather is about to turn horridly hot though. The speaker works great, and I get my camera back in a couple days.

We plan on getting Cody and Barbie ready for baptism this month! Pray for them to gain knowledge and strength in the lord their God.

-Elder North

February 24, 2014 - Letter home from Elder Bryen North

Date:  February 24, 2014
Area:  Kennett Missouri, Blytheville Ward
Companion:  Elder Matangi from Logan, Utah

Dear Soldiers in the Army,

There's a bright crown in store.  And by crown I mean cake.  That is a lot of candles.  Best wishes to all my fellow missionaries facing their respective trials and prospects!  And now, onto a glorious list of questions.

I sent him a picture of me blowing out my birthday cake in which Taryn insured all 40 candles where on it and lit.  It was VERY bright.

We do have a washer and dryer, thankfully.  Our car situation is much the same as it was before. (two weeks with a car one week on bikes)  Kennett does not have a branch or building.  We attend the Blytheville ward in Arkansas.  Blytheville is about thirty miles away from Kennett.

Usually we e-mail with the other missionaries or we do it from the library.  

Elder Ferdette and North outside the Memphis Temple

P-day last week?  We submitted numbers, e-mailed, drove...not much.

Our Zone leaders are Elder Daley and Elder Draper.  We typically attend Zone Conferences in Bartlett once a month.

Elder Matangi is from a family of eight.  We teach pretty well together.

I did get a text that my camera has been found.  Now I just have to get it back from them.

There were no exchanges this week.  We ate at Phyllis's home last night.  We had fried chicken and spaghetti.  Earlier in the week Brother McKinley took us to Grecian Steak House and I had some ham.

New friend?  I suppose you could mean C****.  He's a sixteen year old.  He, his mother and her mother are investigators.  C*** and his mother B**** came to church yesterday. 

Not so sure what is happening here.

I did receive a card from Grandma Mary!  Thank you very much.  It featured a bunny with a pancake on its head.

- Elder North

If you would like to write Elder North, missionaries love to get mail.

Elder Bryen North
Arkansas Little Rock Mission
608 Oak Street
Kennett, MO 63857

Why the helmet and blanket in the car? 

 

 

February 17, 2014 - Letter Home from Elder Bryen North

Kennet MO

Date:  February 17, 2014
Area:  Kennett Missoui
Companion:  Elder Matangi from Logan, Utah

Dear Non-Missourians,

I am now in Kennett Missouri with Elder Matangi.  He is from Logan, Utah.  He has been out a month and a half longer than me.

Elder Mantangi and I get along great!  He's a fun and earnest person.  It hasn't been very long, but I think we have some common interests.  Food, Missionary Work, teaching.

Before leaving West Memphis

We live at 608 Oak Street, Kennett MO, 63857.  We're in a little house.  It's very cool.

I have yet to see someone with a camera to have them take our picture.  I'll see if another missionary can take our picture.

Have not found my camera yet.  Elder Talbert is looking for it.

I have been introduced to some of the investigators but I've only been here a few days.  It seems most of them are people who like the church, but their biggest hurdle is a smoking problem.

The ward is about the size of the West Memphis Branch.

The Orey's are one of the families Elder North will miss.

It's a quiet area but with some very nice people.  I think I'm going to like it here very much.  I din't have much time or convenience with a computer like I did before, but I do have some pictures I got form Elder Talbert I can send you.  I don't know what they are since I cannot preview the pictures right now..so good luck!

- Elder North

I will miss the Orey's also since Sister Orey was my prime source of photo's of Elder North!  I appreciate her keeping me updated on things.

February 10, 2014 - Letter home from Elder Bryen North

Elder North eating a goodbye cupcake

Date:  February 10, 2014
Area:  West Memmphis, Arkansas
Companion:  Elder Freddette


Dear Stationary Recipients,

I am now officially a moving target.  I will be transferred Wednesday!  Now, I have to pack!  They don't tell us where we're going until as late as possible.  So I will not know until right before I am shipped there.

It did snow this week but melted within a couple of hours.  Gone by the time we were out of the house.

I have yet to find my camera, please pray for it.  It is a lost little guy.  In the meantime I'll try and have Elder Talbert give me some pictures he has of me or send you some.

I've recently gone over scriptures denoting the necessity of Christ's church.  There is a man we meet with and he is pretty set against religion.  He believes in the Bible though, so hopefully we can help him read and understand how the Bible supports church but he also doesn't have much belief in feelings received from prayer.

I don't....think I got mail this week, I don't think either of us did.  Hmm.

We met with J**** W**** and G**** J**** this week.  We ate at the The G**** who ave us cool chicken wrapped in bread and this gravy stuff.

I'm a little cut short for time this week, the library internet was down and there's an appointment with Cornelius.

Feral cats have infested the apartment complex and that is annoying.

I've found it's easy to serve, its hard to keep diligent.

Last few days in West Memmphis

The commitments are easy to make and the pattern is simple.  Staying on top of it is what gets you.  Those preparing for a mission be sure to exercise much self control.

See you all soon!
- Elder North


Elder Bryen North
Arkansas Little Rock Mission
905 Kierre Drive
North Little Rock, Arkansas 72116 

February 3, 2014 - Letter Home from Elder Bryen North

Date:  February 3, 2014
Area:  West Memphis, Arkansas
Companion:  Elder Freddette

To my Dutiful Readers,

This week our Mission was visited by the Apostle L. Tom Perry!  The man is a happy giant standing six foot three and has a constant smile on his face.  He gave a talk on hastening the work and he and other authorities answered questions.  At ninety years old he mentioned how he was reading three sections of the Doctrine and Covenants while riding his bicycle.  He said he loves to throw his name around in sneaky ways.  He meets people and often asks if they know any Mormons.  When people answer yes he will give them a card with his name on it and tell them to tell the person they know that he instructed them to tell them more about the church.

This week was rather low-key otherwise but still fun.  We had some Super Bowl food with the other missionaries.  I made meatballs.

Elder Fredette and I are teaching an older woman named L****.  She's our prime investigator now, but our last visit she was sick and we gave her a blessing.

We also got a cake for B**** (another investigator) since it was her birthday.

It looks like my time in West Memphis may be coming to a close since I've been here so long.  We shall see soon enough.

- Elder North

I like the name of their new investigator I think she will be fabulous! :)  Transfers are next week so I think usually they find out who is leaving during the weekend.  

So if you write him this week it might be a good idea to send it to the mission home instead of to his apartment.  That address is...

Elder Bryen North
Arkansas Little Rock Mission
905 Kierre Drive
North Little Rock, Arkansas 72116