Full Blooded Tachyon Ranger On The Side!

August 10, 2015

If you don't know what the subject line on this email means, just know it's a Gunnar thing and you should understand :)

This week was sweet. We worked hard!

Note to my Grandma: Yes, I get asked by girls and mothers to marry their daughters all the time. I even got asked by a 80 year old woman.. that was awkward:) OF course they ask me because of my devilishly good looks;) But most of the time they express they want me to take them to America after. It's understandable. So when I come home I'll probably have 30 or 40 wives, but hey that's not too bad compared to some back in the day lol. 

So before Elder Wright left he and Elder Azuma gave a sweet instruction on missionary work and the Atonement. They related it to those Chilean minors who where trapped and how even after they were found it still took the rescuers months to retrieve them. That's like Missionary work, and all the rocks above them represent all of the trials and process of the Atonement. The capsule they used to rescue them through a very strait and narrow;) path represents Jesus Christ. They spoke of much more, but it was so powerful holy cow I know I was almost in tears. 

Also a note to my grandma they did the push up example! Of course I was doing the pushups, but it was actually a spiritual experience as I played the role of Jesus Christ suffering for us. I got two Fan Ice after though so it was worth the workout:)

Here in Ghana all the taxis have quotes or words on them saying things like, "We love God" or "We're all the same" things like that. I noticed though the Lord answers my prayers through these signs its crazy! I'll be praying for something and then we go out for the day and I'll see the words "just keep going" or "you're not alone" it's so random and crazy, but it really is a way the Lord speaks to me in Ghana.

I saw someone with a crossfit shirt while we were driving! I was beyond stoked lol.

I thought to my self what makes someone successful? (After, I saw a pic of Will Smith on a barber shop) Will Smith is quoted to say, "I love living!" And kind of like what I said last week, is it because his life is easy or? I dont think so though. I think He loves living because he is will to accept and endure any and all the pains and trials we experience here in mortality. If we can learn to do that, we can overcome anything in life. Being a member of the Church and having great knowledge on the plan of salvation it makes me realize no matter what happens, no matter how bad it gets everything will be ok. Even if I were to get struck by lighting and hit by a bus, I know I'll have an immortal body in the life to come. I know that my Savior Jesus Christ will comfort and raise me up no matter how sad I get. I testify that is true. So yes, in life sometimes we will lose money, lose loved ones, break bones, but how wonderful it is to know EVERYTHING WILL BE OK. Wow its pretty amazing. Not many people can live their life with such peace. Elder Wright would always tell me ,"We should be the happiest people on the earth." I think that's said in a conference talk somewhere, but it's true. If the Church is true, then put a smile on your face, put a pep in your step! Because if the Church is true then ALL IS WELL:)

Some investigators we focus on this week are:

Sis Afilia- She lives about an hour walk into the bush, even my companion who is from Ghana said he's never been somewhere like that lol. She just started coming to church on her own. It's pretty amazing. She brings her whole family as well. 

Charles(Aka J Smith)- This kid... He is going to be a great missionary or leader one day. I know it. He is 12 years old and his desire to know the truth is so strong! We were suppose to baptize him this last Sunday, but because the lights were off, we couldn't pump water:( Next week!

Sis Mary: She Loves the church, but she is dating a man that is holding her back from baptism. She wants us to baptize her, then she will get married or else she is going to stop coming to church. Marriage is a big problem here. It will all workout though. We got plans:)

Well that is all. Enjoy your week!:) Something funny, new missionaries came to our zone. Elder Brooks from AZ. It's crazy to see how far I've come and how he is so scared just like I was lol. He's going to be great:)

And yes, I made deviled eggs all by myself on Sunday, mom!
(*There are a few things in this life that I think I hold the record for making thanks to Gun... deviled egg sandwiches and crepes.)

mmmmm "Enjoy the taste" coke a cola

Richard and Richmond. They always have matching clothes it's awsome:)

 Elder Stulce brought an Ab mat!! The exact ones we use from crossfit. It's so freaking sweet:) The lord is mindful of me:)

Yoga for days.

Me and Elder Azuma

Me and the TC's (Elder Lulmalo, Swairtboi, Jones)

Elder Wright (Video)

It's Magic! (Video)

The Ants Go Marching (Video)

Working Out With Elder Wright - His Grandpa Is Famous!

August 3, 2015

Gunnar and his ZL (Tanner Wright) have become good friends. The sad news is that Elder Wright comes home tomorrow (Aug. 7th). He has been an absolute blessing for Gunnar in starting out his mission. G is going to miss him like crazy, but realizes that their paths crossed for a reason though it was only for a short time and is eternally grateful to this young man.  

Here is what Gunnar told us about Elder Wright's Grandpa... 

"Elder Wright's grandpa was portrayed in the movie Free Town! That mission president...that all happened when he was pres. He also was the first president in Africa. The mission was Nigeria, Liberia, and Ghana. It was crazy cool!"

A little excerpt from G's email about the new ZL...

"Elder Stulce is going to be the ZL! He's a Utah boy from Highland and only been out a year. This is crazy because Elder Wright changed his life too! He was in the same apartment with him before me and told me I reminded him of Stulce a while ago. He let me read an entry Stulce wrote in Wright's journal before he left and I swear I wrote it! It talks about the "routine." He even said how he's so sad he's leaving, but God is sending him to FOSO for a reason! And that reason I truly believe is for me! Elder Wright says we are the same person and he was thinking Elder Stulce is the best person out of anyone in the mission to come to our apartment. He seriously was like the Lord is blessing you, dude, and you have nothing to worry about. He loves to workout, talk about what we talk about, your going to have a good time for the next 4 and a half months (that's when we will both probably get transferred) 

All I can say is the Lord really answers my prayers and I have been so blessed I can't explain it:)

We are going to have a super fun party tonight for Elder Wright. It should be way fun:) 

That's Elder Wright's calendar full of pictures of his wiener dogs. He's in love and obessed.

Elder Wright - He has a twin brother :) We love Elder Wright!!! Welcome Home!

Getting "shredded."  I think he's seen too many Arnold Friberg paintings. (heehee) *stripling warrior

His dad would say, "That's my boy!!!"

Playing Rugby With The Kids

 August 3, 2015

Can the Elders keep up?!! Hahaha. Gunnar told me volunteering at Primary Children's Hospital taught him to love children. I see that :)

Yaw Ketewa

 August 3, 2015

Yaw Ketewa
(Investigator who died) He was very famous in the villages.

Best pinapple you have ever had!

Ray Bans for a 1.50 us? Man those are overpriced in America:)

"Well"... Here Today, Ghana Tomorrow

August 3, 2015

"This week we had no water and most the time no lights! LOL. So we were fetching water out of a well to use the bathroom, shower, to do anything you need water to do! I took my first couple bucket showers so that was fun:) The well also is the scariest thing ever. It's huge and very very deep and looks like the scary girl from the ring is going to crawl out at any moment, especially at night!"

First Packages!!! (#1 and #2)

August 3, 2015

"Packages are probably the best thing ever invented! Holy cow getting a package is like having a visitation from a angel, no joke! Yeah, I loved the candy and those Quest bars are to die for! Forget the Costco brand lol :) And those almonds are amazing too! I used my insoles today in my Nikes... they help so much. And yes, they arrived intact and unopened :)"

"

YAY!!! It takes about 3 1/2 weeks for a package to arrive. These 4 lb. flat rate packages cost $26 each!! Which actually is about how much we spent a day keeping him fed around here. Soooo... it's a real savings for us to have him on a mission. LOL. 

Madison's postcard from France made it as well. Bon Jour, G-man

Gunnar was really happy to get Quest Protein Bars.  It doesn't look like he is even going to take them out of their wrappers.

The Force is strong with this one!

Just Happy :)

August 3, 2015

Had a wonderful week this week in wonderful Ghana.

"You know you're in a 'place' when they don't even have a McDonald's" -Elder Wright

Mission is so sweet, it really is. This last week was a week of trial and a test of my faith. 

For about 3 or 4 days I was just having a hard time, trying to understand being here for 2 years and praying sincerely about 20 times a day for help. I had the thought about how you don't receive an answer or blessing until after a test of your faith. So I carried on and you know everything just started to click. The way I feel now is of gratitude and excitement! There is no other place in the world I would rather be then serving a mission in Ghana... it's so fun, the work is divine, and I am learning so many new skills and making life-long friends. 

In a book they give us that I use all the time called "Adjusting to missionary Life" it talks about back home you would still have to make decisions, you would also have to leave home eventually. I love this thought because when I think about how   I felt before mission and what I would be doing if I wasn't on a mission,  I would be jumping out of my skin to go on an adventure!! 

I wonder why everyone is so sad when everything is so great? We have everything. I mean I can't think of an easier life then the one we live. If it was any easier it would all just be virtual. 

How come pioneers crossing the plains could still sing songs of joy? still danced? still laughed and created games? 

Or how come the people in my area have absolutely nothing and yet they are the most giving, humble, happy people I have ever met. They laugh to tears, they will give you their only shoe, and they will never ask for more then they need.

An easy life in no way connects to a successful/happy life. It's just not in our Heavenly Fathers Divine Plan of Salvation for us. We must experience pain to know real happiness, we must do hard things to truly know what it means to rest on the 7th day. Don't pray for an easy life, or that you'll never have another trouble again. Remember these things also bring us closer to our Savior Jesus Christ?! I don't know one person who wouldn't want to have a better relationship with Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate Friend. 

I've been gaining the strongest testimony of my calling as a missionary. I think to myself, "Why don't I miss home that much?" "How am I able to work all day in the sun?" These things were so hard for me back home! The Lord is helping me in so many unseen ways it's crazy. Elder Wright told me he has inactive friends email him and say, "Dude, how are you still on a mission? in a third world country? with no phone, familiar friends, or family??" The work is divine, that is all I can say.

The work is going so well! I find my self not talking to much about the actual missionary work, but everything is so new to me its hard not to talk about the "friction" as my dad puts it! I promise as the weeks go on I will talk in detail about investigators and the work. Just know we have a few more baptisms coming up:)

Love you all! Thank you for your prayers and support! ENJOY YOUR WEEK!

Hair Cuts

July 29, 2015

Elder Wright gives amazing hair cuts. He said he made $ in college because of it:) I told him to give me a flat top, and I look like I just got out of boot camp, but everyone here loves it! (*So does your dad...oorah!)

Also I got my shirts fitted:) I had a man in the stake do it and he did them all for 40 c in one day which is awesome. Other missionaries don't like going to him because of the price, but their shirts take weeks to tailor and always have mistakes, lol, like one arm shorter then the other and so forth. Not mine though!