President Nelsons message of hope 11/27/2020

To start, I loved President Nelson's message of hope!! when he talked about social media, the first thing I said out loud was "another social media fast I guess," but nope! President Nelson's challenge of using #givethanks and posting what we are all thankful for was a really cool and different message from our prophet. i went through the week trying to figure out what i was most thankful for in my life and posted it on instagram. After about 3 days, I was having a hard time consistently thinking of things I am thankful for and was distracted by what others were posting and I felt like I wasn't doing a good job compared to the other people's posts.

I felt quite dumb for comparing myself to others and was quickly corrected. I thought in that moment that to be happy I had to post all of these amazing things. when in reality what i needed to do was to not compare, but combine. What I mean by that is that not one person can change the world, it takes a lot of people behind someone to change the world. President Nelson had challenged us All to participate in this, not just members of the church. 

I know that our prophet, President Russell M. Nelson is a true prophet of God. under the direction of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, he leads and guides this church. And I know that when we as members follow his direction that we can influence all to come unto Christ, through missionary work, service, even just by the most simple act of kindness. a smile, holding the door open for someone, texting someone a kind message. These simple things can have a big impact on someone and can snowball into something more.

Another thing I want to share is that even though the seminary has been quarantined I have found some fun services to do, and have had a lot of time to think and ponder about things. 

A couple things I have been thinking about are the people I have known and lost in my lifetime. I will give 2 examples...

When I lost my Great Grandma "Duke." I was so sad!! I had lost my best friend as a young child. Growing up with my family living with my great grandma was such a blessing for me. We helped her cause she was in a wheelchair so we pretty much took care and helped with everything she couldn't do herself. When I look back at the greatest memories I have of my Great Gma, I don't feel such sadness anymore, instead I feel the spirit testify to me that she is watching over me and is still "babysitting" me even though she has passed away. 

I also miss my cousin Andrew. He spent many summers with us because he went to basketball camps here in Utah. His family lives outside of Utah so we would party when was here lol. One of the memories I have of him was when he bought our dog charlie a duck toy and we told him, "Charlie will have the stuffing out of that in less than 3 minutes," Andrew was adamant that it wasnt gonna happen because someone he knew had 2 yorkies with the same toy and it hasn't ripped yet. and he was shocked to see that when charles got a hold of that toy it was done for, in about 45 seconds the stuffing was already flying out, and he was so surprised that he couldn't do anything but stand there and laugh, haha. When he passed away it hit me like a brick to the face. I was so devastated and I still am, but I know that we as a family will see Andrew again one day. Because of the atonement we can all repent and see our loved one and ultimately live with Him again someday.

I love you all, happy thanksgiving!! Stay safe!!

- Elder Munk

The week of Gr8tfulness 11/21/2020

Hello everybody! This week was full of changes and surprises because the seminary and the high school got shut down for 2 weeks!! Although on monday and tuesday I was able to help put up the Christmas tree and Christmas decorations for the seminary building because the students won't be back until december, and it was super fun for me! I am still looking for services to do during the day until I am back to my normal schedule. So if you have any service I can do for you guys or anyone else just let me know.

I had a good experience this week. I was playing basketball and a kid wanted to play 1v1, so I accepted. I got talking to him during our game and I was in woods cross and he was from north salt lake by the golf course. So I asked him how he got down here and he was hanging out with friends and then they left him there. so when we got done playing he asked for cash for food, but did not have any. So I walked him to a nearby gas station and bought him some food. I also invited him to go to church to see if he likes it.

I did get to serve my aunt by raking her leaves in her yard and that was really fun for me!

I've played basketball for my workout pretty much everyday including this morning even though it was 29 degrees outside. 

I had the opportunity to listen to our prophet President Russell M. Nelson, and the invitation to post on social media what we are grateful for, for the next 7 days... Some things I am grateful for eternal families, my friends, the gospel, Christ's atoning sacrifice for all of us, for missionaries, and for the freedoms we have in this great country. 😀

I want to give a special shout out to my cousins Cameron and Lauren!! They both turned 19 on Sunday the 15th, yay! 💙

The pictures below are just a small part of what I am grateful for! :)

-Elder Munk

Weel 7 11/12/2020

Hello everyone! I hope you have all had a great week so far. So bountiful high school just got quarantined until november 30th. So that's a bummer because I'm not sure what I'm going to do throughout the week with no seminary. Also got tested for coronavirus cause i haven't been feeling well for a couple of days.

Anyway... Sunday I was able to spend time with my nephew Liam for a little while cause my sister and mom were doing some other things and I willingly watched him up in my room, we looked at all the pictures of the animals on my wall and played roll the baseball back and forth, as well as playing with the "big doggy" Champ. he really likes it when champ licks his face and he just smiles and laughs and kicks his feet in excitement. although sometimes he just opens his mouth and champ lick inside... gross right!?! (well kinda it depends on who you ask) haha

I am going to have to be an amazing example in his life as he grows and develops more and more each day. He brings me soooo much joy and happiness to me and our family! What is so amazing to me is that even though I am 19 years old and on a mission, my 11 month old nephew is loved just as equally as me and everyone else on earth. That's really incredible to me. I also want to let you all know that he WILL be a new york yankees fan because of me!! #derekjeterismyhero #goyankees

My Grandpa Munk sent me a message on November 11th, it was about a highway patrol officer who got severely burned while on duty, yet he still plays golf. And tattooed on his arm he has the saying, "Sometimes the most beautiful, inspirational changes will disguise themselves as utter devastation - be Patient!" This highway patrol officer and golfer has a ton of patience in his life, and that is amazing to me.

I have been trying to be more patient with myself and with others, and I won't stop trying to improve day after day because I want to be a more patient person in life, be the best missionary I can be, and be a better member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Please, stay safe and keep up the good work! Thank you for all the support you have all given me!

-Elder Munk

ups and downs of week 6 11/7/2020

Wow!!! This week was really hard for me. I have been struggling a lot with my motivation to serve, and it doesn't help that I've been changing medications around too. Monday was actually the best day I had this week and Monday is a hard day for me usually.

I honestly have been struggling to have the desire to serve, but then my mission leaders (the terrys) had me read in 2 Corinthians 12:10 and it says...

"10 Therefore I take pleasure in ^ainfirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in ^bpersecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am ^cweak, then am I ^dstrong."

This is the apostle Paul talking about all the hard times he went through and yet he took pleasure in them because it made him a better disciple of Christ and a better person overall as well. I want to someday be like the apostle Paul and have the faith and the patience to get through hard things and become a better missionary and person and in the future a better husband and father and be able to help my future spouse and children to know how to get through the hard trials and even what may seem to be impossible to get past at times. I hope that I can be better at not giving up, but pushing through the trials I currently have and the trials to come. Like it says in the scripture above, "for when I am weak, then I am strong."

thank you to evryone who has been supporting me while im on my mission! i really appreciate it! i hope everyone had a great halloween cause i know i did haha. I love you all so much have a great day and weekend.

- Elder Munk 

October review and Week 5 10/31/2020

Hello everyone, I hope you've all had a great week! I want to give a shout out to everyone who has helped me get through this week. It has been quite a rough week for me.

I have been sleeping a lot lately, but I can't wake up very well. I am currently on a medication change so that doesn't help very much. I have missed 2 days of seminary because I have gone to bed around 7pm and have woken up around 10am!! which is crazy for me to sleep that long,  it has been especially hard for me to be and stay motivated as well. I don't feel like I am depressed, just not very unmotivated and super tired all the time. It might just be allergies too. If you could keep me in your prayers that would be really appreciated.

I want to wish my younger cousin Kamden a happy birthday!! He turned 5 years old! I can't believe how much time flies, I still remember when he was just a baby! He has grown up so well and has been a great friend and cousin to me. I love it when I go to his house to play with them. He is always waiting inside the window, smiling at me while I'm parking my car! he makes me so happy. :) 

I have also been exercising a lot too which helps with my stress and anxiety.

That's all... I hope you all are having a great week so far, and happy halloween to everyone.

-Elder Munk