Hey Dad.
First off, thanks for your story. Keep em coming if you can. I like those inspirational bits about how the work really does work. Haha. Sometimes it doesnt feel like its going anywhere. But I realized something about our investigator who is committed---Brother Saturnino. If we hadnt gone to visit inactive Sister Illustrisimo, we wouldnt have walked by Brother Willie and taught the first lesson. And if we hadnt taught Brother Willie, we wouldnt have had to go back to get rejected like we knew we were going to. But if we hadnt gone back anyways, we wouldnt have walked by Brother Saturnino out in his front yard who stopped us and started this wonderful teaching experience. Neat huh? The Lord puts failure in our way to lead us to success. WOW!!! WRITE THAT DOWN!!!!
Paane! I think that that hug was for both of us. Hahaha. Miss that guy alot. Did you just happen to be in his ward? Actually...no. I take that question back. Its you. You never JUST HAPPEN to do anything. hahahahahahaha.
Also, about moms email. The gmail thing malfunctioned and didnt send her email. So I sent it again this morning when I got on. Things are all peachy now.
We're out at the mall and we're about to head out. They cut our time short so I'll get back on tonight and respond to you guys if I can. THen i can finish out my email time. Love you dad. I'm calling early Sunday morning MY TIME!!!!! So I think thats Saturday afternoon for you guys. Peace until then...its almost here.
Brandon
Elder Treadway
First baptism in the Ocean
Cebu, Philippines
May 4, 2010, 8:34 PM
Wow. So now you get three letters
Its interesting. A while ago, I remember that Ben wrote me a Dear Elder asking me how I know that the church is true. I lost the Dear Elder and forgot to write him about it. But as I've pondered that question recently, I've come to the realization of something. I never prayed about the church. I didnt have to. The key to my testimony lies on three things: Jesus Christ, The Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. Those three things I know of a surety are true. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. I know that He loves us. I know that his sacrifice for us was so perfect and so flawless that we can all repent of our sins and return to live with Him and God again. As such, the Book of Mormon (whose purpose is to testify of Christ) is true. I know that without a doubt. I LOVE the Book of Mormon. I have since I was a kid --thanks to a dozen or so well-made cartoons depicting some of the best stories therein. haha. But those movies led me to read the Book itself and I never even had to ask if it was true. As I read it as a kid, the feeling that I had was the same feeling that I would have gotten as if I had finished it and asked in prayer. Because I know that I had a prayer in my heart all the while wanting to know if it was true. And the feelings that I had while reading it--the same feelings that I know are were an answer to that prayer in my heart--testify to me of the divinity and truthfulness of that book. As such, having a testimony of the Book of Mormon and knowing of its truthfulness gives me the most rock solid testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith. What a hero! He's my hero. He has been for a long time. I have had experiences in my life that most people may never get that have culminated into the testimony of the Prophet Joseph that cannot be shaken...ever. You cannot tell me anything that will decrease my knowledge that that man knelt as a 14 year old boy, prayed and saw God the Father and His son Jesus Christ. You cannot tell me anything to deter me from the knowledge that he unearthed a record of such perfection which he translated by the Gift of Power of God. And as a final note--if Jesus Christ is our Savior, the Book of Mormon His book, and Joseph His prophet; then who is to tell ME that this church isn't true, that Thomas S. Monson isn't a prophet, that the Priesthood isn't on the earth, that I'm "wasting my time" when everything that I believe points back to those three keys of my faith that I KNOW are true. That is MY testimony.
Wow. So I'm gonna step off my soapbox now. Its been a long past three days. We've dropped three investigators. Its the first time I have had to do so. So thats tough. We just kinda went in there, told them we're there to answer any final questions and then bore our testimony. I dont think my companion understands the power of a testimony. I know he has one but its kind of like when he testifies that he just kinda bakes a pan of brownies, tosses it on the table and says, "Hey, I made some brownies.". Its tough, because I put everything into it when I testify to people. And I think that a little more effort on his part would give that extra push. Its the testimony of TWO witnesses that has the strength to convert--not 1 and 1/2. Hopefully this week is better. Its gotta be becuase he told me he doesnt want to work too much on the last week of the transfer. He thinks he's getting transferred so its no skin off his back. But I'm like, what about me? I'm still gonna be here!!! Do you know what a week of no work would do to our teaching pool? Its small enough already!!!
So I think that I'm going to call you early Sunday morning MY TIME. Which should be early Saturday afternoon I think. I'm gonna call you on a cell phone with a calling card.
Alright. I'm gonna send this off so you can know when I'm going to call. Also, I'm going to withdraw $100 if thats alright. I'm not supposed to use my support to by things for me. Only food and transportation. And I need a new towel, new t shirts because our clothes washer accidentally bleached holes through all my clothes and I need to by some calling cards to call you on Sunday morning for me which should be Saturday afternoon for you again. Just be home Saturday. And can Tyelar and Daniel be there? I want to have some mission talk for a little bit....if thats okay with you.
Alright sending..........now.
Love you.
Brandon
Its interesting. A while ago, I remember that Ben wrote me a Dear Elder asking me how I know that the church is true. I lost the Dear Elder and forgot to write him about it. But as I've pondered that question recently, I've come to the realization of something. I never prayed about the church. I didnt have to. The key to my testimony lies on three things: Jesus Christ, The Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. Those three things I know of a surety are true. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. I know that He loves us. I know that his sacrifice for us was so perfect and so flawless that we can all repent of our sins and return to live with Him and God again. As such, the Book of Mormon (whose purpose is to testify of Christ) is true. I know that without a doubt. I LOVE the Book of Mormon. I have since I was a kid --thanks to a dozen or so well-made cartoons depicting some of the best stories therein. haha. But those movies led me to read the Book itself and I never even had to ask if it was true. As I read it as a kid, the feeling that I had was the same feeling that I would have gotten as if I had finished it and asked in prayer. Because I know that I had a prayer in my heart all the while wanting to know if it was true. And the feelings that I had while reading it--the same feelings that I know are were an answer to that prayer in my heart--testify to me of the divinity and truthfulness of that book. As such, having a testimony of the Book of Mormon and knowing of its truthfulness gives me the most rock solid testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith. What a hero! He's my hero. He has been for a long time. I have had experiences in my life that most people may never get that have culminated into the testimony of the Prophet Joseph that cannot be shaken...ever. You cannot tell me anything that will decrease my knowledge that that man knelt as a 14 year old boy, prayed and saw God the Father and His son Jesus Christ. You cannot tell me anything to deter me from the knowledge that he unearthed a record of such perfection which he translated by the Gift of Power of God. And as a final note--if Jesus Christ is our Savior, the Book of Mormon His book, and Joseph His prophet; then who is to tell ME that this church isn't true, that Thomas S. Monson isn't a prophet, that the Priesthood isn't on the earth, that I'm "wasting my time" when everything that I believe points back to those three keys of my faith that I KNOW are true. That is MY testimony.
Wow. So I'm gonna step off my soapbox now. Its been a long past three days. We've dropped three investigators. Its the first time I have had to do so. So thats tough. We just kinda went in there, told them we're there to answer any final questions and then bore our testimony. I dont think my companion understands the power of a testimony. I know he has one but its kind of like when he testifies that he just kinda bakes a pan of brownies, tosses it on the table and says, "Hey, I made some brownies.". Its tough, because I put everything into it when I testify to people. And I think that a little more effort on his part would give that extra push. Its the testimony of TWO witnesses that has the strength to convert--not 1 and 1/2. Hopefully this week is better. Its gotta be becuase he told me he doesnt want to work too much on the last week of the transfer. He thinks he's getting transferred so its no skin off his back. But I'm like, what about me? I'm still gonna be here!!! Do you know what a week of no work would do to our teaching pool? Its small enough already!!!
So I think that I'm going to call you early Sunday morning MY TIME. Which should be early Saturday afternoon I think. I'm gonna call you on a cell phone with a calling card.
Alright. I'm gonna send this off so you can know when I'm going to call. Also, I'm going to withdraw $100 if thats alright. I'm not supposed to use my support to by things for me. Only food and transportation. And I need a new towel, new t shirts because our clothes washer accidentally bleached holes through all my clothes and I need to by some calling cards to call you on Sunday morning for me which should be Saturday afternoon for you again. Just be home Saturday. And can Tyelar and Daniel be there? I want to have some mission talk for a little bit....if thats okay with you.
Alright sending..........now.
Love you.
Brandon
May 4, 2010, 8:01 PM
Alright mom.
From now on, you are the first on my list of people to write. Usually I read everyones letter and start emailing the last one that I read. Yours is usually first to get read. First off gihapon (sorry. that was cebuano. but it was cool that I did that so I wont erase it), sorry about last week. Technology sucks sometimes. Especially for missionaries. But I sent last weeks letter with this one.
Okay. So I've been reading the Book of Mormon in Cebuano. Yeah. Its freaking tough! The thing is that most of the words in there arent used in everyday Bisaya. So its hard to read it. Also because the language is chock full of short cuts so we can speak to each other faster and get our point across. Can you believe I'm saying so "we" can get our point across faster? So when I started the Book of Mormon (or Basahon ni Mormon) in Bisaya it was a real struggle. At first I was looking back and forth between the English and Bisaya to see what the words meant. But then I realized that I was basically reading it in English. So I put away my English around 1 Nephi 3 and went hardcore. I was amazed mom. Around 1 Nephi 8 I was understanding just about everything that I was reading. No joke! I'm still in shock. Of course I'm reading it at a very very very slow pace. But I think that that has helped. Because I'm reading it slower and trying to pay more attention to the things that I'm reading, the words have hit me harder than ever before. I kinda feel like how Joseph must have felt when he was reading James1:5. Each word seems to just drive into me and say, "HEY! I'M TRUE!". Its amazing. Also, our Preach My Gospel focus chapter for this upcoming transfer is Chapter 5--Book of Mormon. So my plan is to finish the Book of Mormon next transfer. Start and finish it in 6 weeks.
From now on, you are the first on my list of people to write. Usually I read everyones letter and start emailing the last one that I read. Yours is usually first to get read. First off gihapon (sorry. that was cebuano. but it was cool that I did that so I wont erase it), sorry about last week. Technology sucks sometimes. Especially for missionaries. But I sent last weeks letter with this one.
Okay. So I've been reading the Book of Mormon in Cebuano. Yeah. Its freaking tough! The thing is that most of the words in there arent used in everyday Bisaya. So its hard to read it. Also because the language is chock full of short cuts so we can speak to each other faster and get our point across. Can you believe I'm saying so "we" can get our point across faster? So when I started the Book of Mormon (or Basahon ni Mormon) in Bisaya it was a real struggle. At first I was looking back and forth between the English and Bisaya to see what the words meant. But then I realized that I was basically reading it in English. So I put away my English around 1 Nephi 3 and went hardcore. I was amazed mom. Around 1 Nephi 8 I was understanding just about everything that I was reading. No joke! I'm still in shock. Of course I'm reading it at a very very very slow pace. But I think that that has helped. Because I'm reading it slower and trying to pay more attention to the things that I'm reading, the words have hit me harder than ever before. I kinda feel like how Joseph must have felt when he was reading James1:5. Each word seems to just drive into me and say, "HEY! I'M TRUE!". Its amazing. Also, our Preach My Gospel focus chapter for this upcoming transfer is Chapter 5--Book of Mormon. So my plan is to finish the Book of Mormon next transfer. Start and finish it in 6 weeks.
May 4, 2010 7:45 PM
Hey Mom,
Thanks for that story about the RM. Its nice to know that my example could be hitting in him somewhere. Its touch but things are all coming out alright. He's getting up early enough now to get 20 minutes of personal study. Its better than none! And this last week he has really been into tracting. So now he's willing to work. I think that its coming from him seeing the results of working hard. Now he's like, okay lets work! haha. I kinda have this plan for myself to just spend my whole mission working. I dont want to fall out at the end. Thats kinda like leaving a BYU game when we're tied with the Utes and we have the ball. You know?
So yeah, the first six months is almost up for me. Its kinda crazy. Theres times where it goes fast and theres times when it goes slow. Theres times where I love my mission and want to stay here forever and there's times where I still love it but wouldnt mind being home in a year and a half or so. Especially with college football coming up. Thats kinda tough for me. I'm going to be expecting some really nice updates. Just so that you all know.
We didnt have much experiences this week other than tracting. I told dad about one of our experiences. Something really funny happened though. We were on our way to a members house and we went a little different route than usual. We got stopped by his enormous pet pig that was blocking the way. And any step that we took, the pig would dash in our direction but get held back by a rope. We had to do all sorts of maneuvers and cut backs to get around that thing. It was pretty funny.
The infection is still there. And it itches like mad. I attached a couple pics of it. One from the front and another from the back. Its as bad as it looks. hahaha. I've been using the stuff that the member gave me and its helped a little bit.
I wrote Tapusoa. I made everything sound like it was my fault and that I was sorry for everything. Thats what he wants to hear. So hopefully it works. I also told him as a friend that he needs to be careful about comparing himself to others. Because he compared himself to Elder Prado in front of me. So...its gonna be interesting. HIs reply that is.
Yeah. That video is when we were at the Cebu Zoo with some of our ward missionaries. Cheryl took that video while I was playing with the monkey. Pretty funny huh? I'll try and send some videos to you guys every once in a while.
About Mothers Day, I can call via cell phone here if I buy a calling card for overseas calls. If you wanna stick some cash in my account, I can pull it out and buy a card. I dont know how much they are but I would imagine kinda stiff in price. And about a new memory card, I wouldnt mind having the one that I sent you guys back.
I'm gonna write the boys now. Hope this week was great for you. Love you alot.
Brandon
Thanks for that story about the RM. Its nice to know that my example could be hitting in him somewhere. Its touch but things are all coming out alright. He's getting up early enough now to get 20 minutes of personal study. Its better than none! And this last week he has really been into tracting. So now he's willing to work. I think that its coming from him seeing the results of working hard. Now he's like, okay lets work! haha. I kinda have this plan for myself to just spend my whole mission working. I dont want to fall out at the end. Thats kinda like leaving a BYU game when we're tied with the Utes and we have the ball. You know?
So yeah, the first six months is almost up for me. Its kinda crazy. Theres times where it goes fast and theres times when it goes slow. Theres times where I love my mission and want to stay here forever and there's times where I still love it but wouldnt mind being home in a year and a half or so. Especially with college football coming up. Thats kinda tough for me. I'm going to be expecting some really nice updates. Just so that you all know.
We didnt have much experiences this week other than tracting. I told dad about one of our experiences. Something really funny happened though. We were on our way to a members house and we went a little different route than usual. We got stopped by his enormous pet pig that was blocking the way. And any step that we took, the pig would dash in our direction but get held back by a rope. We had to do all sorts of maneuvers and cut backs to get around that thing. It was pretty funny.
The infection is still there. And it itches like mad. I attached a couple pics of it. One from the front and another from the back. Its as bad as it looks. hahaha. I've been using the stuff that the member gave me and its helped a little bit.
I wrote Tapusoa. I made everything sound like it was my fault and that I was sorry for everything. Thats what he wants to hear. So hopefully it works. I also told him as a friend that he needs to be careful about comparing himself to others. Because he compared himself to Elder Prado in front of me. So...its gonna be interesting. HIs reply that is.
Yeah. That video is when we were at the Cebu Zoo with some of our ward missionaries. Cheryl took that video while I was playing with the monkey. Pretty funny huh? I'll try and send some videos to you guys every once in a while.
About Mothers Day, I can call via cell phone here if I buy a calling card for overseas calls. If you wanna stick some cash in my account, I can pull it out and buy a card. I dont know how much they are but I would imagine kinda stiff in price. And about a new memory card, I wouldnt mind having the one that I sent you guys back.
I'm gonna write the boys now. Hope this week was great for you. Love you alot.
Brandon
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