June 22, 2010

Subject: Re: Just having a moment today. 

Hey mom.

To be honest, I do everything in my power to NOT have those moments. Those moments are terrible for us missionaries. So here's the lowdown on the transfer. I'm follow-up training a new missionary from Hawaii named Elder Akina. I get him Friday afternoon. And then I got called as a District Leader. So now I have to give workshops and stuff every other week. We'll see how that goes. I asked Dad for some help and you know that I'm gonna be asking for help from my other dad--my Heavenly Father.

That was a freaking sweet package! Dont worry--nothing got stolen and the cookies were all good. So were the Sour Patch Kids. Elder Estavillo said he's gonna start writing you guys every week so he can get some Sour Patch Kids.

The video was awesome! It worked on the computer. Dont know why it wouldnt work on the camera. Dang. I saw your video: "HEY BRANDON!!!! Oh. Thats not good" That was hilarious. I just turned to my comp and said, "thats my mom." Ben's bit was great. I miss telling storis with that guy. Sure miss Ben. And I could tell you kept telling Brian to wrap up his video. Dad's head turn in his video was amazing. The part that made me laugh the hardest was the part where Daniel called that kid Haribo. hahahahaha. Here's the story: So one time we were in a Friday Forum doing some sorty of competition thing. Its when Tyelar came home so he was there too. So you know how competitive me and Tyelar get. Well our team is killing the other team...bad. And that kid Haribo was on the other team. And he pipes up and says something to me and Tyelar and I just say, "Hey calm down there Haribo." So Daniel leans over to me and asks me why I called him Haribo. And I say, "well you know Haribo Gummi Bears? That kid looks like a gummi bear!" hahahahaha. So we called him Haribo for the rest of the year. I still dont think he knows why.

But the highlight was the music and pencils. We put in the MoTab CD as we were huddled around the CD player, desperate to hear anything other than EFY. We thought we were going to die from EFY. And when the Tab Choir sang that first huge note we just started hooping and hollering and high fiving--because it wasn't EFY. haha. And that violin chick is crazy! We both are really diggin that CD. Its perfect for when we study cuz there's no words. Speaking of study...the pencil. Thank you. Thank you x 100,000. Its the greatest scripture study thing EVER! Six colors! And I have some refills in my bag that I brought from the MTC. But those refills are good things to send for Birthdays, Christmas or just any time. *cough*.

Tyelar told me all about how much he loves the food at the MTC. He said he wount have to diet at all. Its disgusting. haha. I told him that I warned him. He's really excited. He's gonna do great. We'll see how insane he gets over the next 3 months in there.

Ben wrote me a really short email in response to my monster email I sent him two weeks ago. He didnt talk about anything I said. So I'm gonna resend it and then wish him good luck at EFY. Luck kid. EFY. Except for the music (Granted, its great when its not the only thing you listen to.) that is the most fun thing ever. Can't wait to be a counselor in two summers. WOAH! A COUNSELOR!!! My dream.

So its really starting to get rainy here. Lightning and thunder are in our backyard...literally. We were eating lunch last week when something hit our roof. Yeah. Lightning struck our house. Everything electric spasmed and then came back on. The thunder hit at the same time and it was soooooooo loud!!! It was crazy. Our backyard floods a bit too. When it rains here it POURS!!! It all comes down. And we're just getting started with rainy season. Its gonna get worse.

Anyway, I'm excited for this next transfer and the challenges ahead.

Love you,

Brandon

June 16, 2010

Hey you guys.

So you both want to know about the Dedication. Well first I'm going to tell you about the cultural celebration. We watched the celebration in the district center. It was really cool. President Monson spoke. President Eyering came with him along with Elder Oaks and Bishop Burton. Monson spoke and then they did the dances. It was a group of cultural dances and some modern dances. Then at the end these three girls sang an original song while standing on a podium in the middle of the floor of the Cebu Colisseum. As they sang all the youth in the whole temple district came and stood in front of the prophet as the girls sang about standing for something and that they will do whatever he asks of them. It was freaking awesome. We were all a little teary eyed. So was Elder Eyering. Holy cow. They kept showing him and President Monson. It was so cool because these kids are all 1-3 generation members and here they are pledging their lives to follow the Lord and his prophet. It was awesome. SPEAKING of converts I saw a girl that I baptized. It was really funny because we sat with the whole zone and we kept pointing whenever we saw someone we had baptized. It was pretty awesome.

Then the dedication. We were in Bohol. We had gone to the temple a couple of weeks ago to just go through the open house only. Not participate. haha. But the dedication was shown in the district center in Calape. So Elder Estavillo and I watched all three sessions. The first one was great. President Monson was hilarious while they were outside putting the cement on the cornerstone. They called out some people to help--including John Lowry from your mission dad and his two sons. haha. We were like hey! Let some brown kids have a shot! And then on their way back inside President Monson was passing the choir's piano and was like, hey you guys wanna hear a number? So he sat down and was like, "I'm not very good at this". He started playing something and stopped, "That was horrible! You know, my mom was a piano teacher and I just didn't want to practice. Shouldn't have buried THAT talent." haha. He's a funny guy.

The second session was pretty good too. We left about half way through to go eat.

But the third session. HOLY COW!!! The Area Presidency spoke and then they had the 2nd counselor of the temple presidency speak and his wife and then they wanted President Monson to say a few words before he gave the dedicatory prayer. He spoke for an HOUR AND 15 MINUTES!!!! He started telling story after story after story. Some were great. He told some stories about him as a kid. He told some stories about dating his wife. He told some stories about visiting the widows in his wards. And he just kept telling stories. And you know what? I don't know if he knew why he was telling all those stories but each story had something that I needed to hear. It was awesome. I was almost moved to tears when I realized it. I learned about perseverance. About no effort being wasted. About giving more of yourself than others expect. A lot of things. It was incredible.

There was an awesome quote from the third session of the dedication. The assistant to the matron said, "When you walk in the temple, you WALK WITH CHRIST!" Boom. My jaw dropped. Like, she used the stake theme in its entirety! So you may want to add that to your repertoire of quotes in your talks about Walking with Christ. It also means that the Spirit likes the stake theme so much that it is influencing people on the other side of the world to say it. Nice huh?

Glad you liked the pictures. After I got your email about pictures I packed my camera in my bag and said its time for some pictures for my mom. Each one was taken and then reviewed to see if it was one you would like mom. Your welcome.

THANKS FOR THE PENCIL! I can tell there's a package in the works. Ben and Brian are both asking for things that I want. I like this. I'm trying to get one of those really tiny Book of Mormons. You know? Like that really small red one we used to have? I know they have them at the MTC. I asked Daniel if we could get one to me somehow. Maybe you could aid him???

So glad the cruise was fun. Personally, any trip that doesn't involve museums or site seeing is awesome. Cruises are perfect for me. Thats my honeymoon plan. Wow. Thats another 8 years. Slow down.....

Did I tell you guys the story of when we healed the guy? One of our investigators was really sick and so we told him that we had the priesthood authority that Christ gave to his apostles and had the power to heal him through his faith. We gave him a blessing and then left. The next day we came back and that guy was in mint condition! He said after we had left he thought, "you know? God can heal me through these guys." And then through his faith...boom. Healed. It was awesome. That was a while ago though. Just a cool story.

Alright. Enough for this week. I got a haircut....as in all of it. I just buzzed all my hair off with a number 4. Every time they cut my hair here they buzz the crap off the sides and leave the top long so it looks like I'm fat or in the military. So I just told him to use a 4 and be done with it. He was shocked. "Mao na lang? (Thats it?) Yes! I just want a 4 all the way around. "Sige. Imohang buhok ni!" (Okay. Its your hair.) Yeah...it looks awesome. The members love it. Picture next time.

Alright. Love you guys.

May 11, 2010

Hey best friend :)


First off, this dude next to me is watching a video on youtube of some guy dancing in his room and he is singing the words to the song out loud. Wow. The Philippines is quite a place.

Well, i really feel like I have nothing to write about after talking on the phone for 3 hours...you know? I hope that you'll forgive me if this email isnt too long. I'll try and make up some stuff. haha.

So that sucks about grandma Betty. I think that President Monson's talk was preperation for all of us because I agree--I think she's getting there. I LOVE Grandma Betty. She's so blunt and I find that so hiliarious. But I remember sitting in conference and Pres Monson was giving his talk and I just kept thinking "I think its coming. I think she's gonna be gone soon." Anyway...

I think that one thing that I forgot to tell you in the call was something about people reacting to me. I GET STARED AT CONSTANTLY!!!! Now, I can take the Hey Joe stuff. Thats cute in its own little way and my comp always tells them to shut up...which is humorous. But I can't take being stared at all the time. I know how people feel now who have a physical handicap or something and you just KNOW when people are staring at you. Its kinda humbling actually. Its them basically telling me with their eyes, "You dont belong here. You arent a part of us." It makes me wonder. Is that how handicapped people feel when they are out and about with people boring into them with their eyes? Something to think about...

I'll try and switch things up with Ben for sure. I had to do the same thing he's doing now. I can help him through it better than most people. Brian too. That kid is very into the gospel. Its kinda funny at times...haha.

So I thought I might share a letter that I got from my recent convert--the one who I had taught all the lessons, commited and got transferred before her baptism. Its translated of course:


Elder Treadway,

I'm okay Elder. The new Elders are pretty nice too. I'm very thankful for you Elder and for Elder Nambio. After my baptism I had an amazing feeling! I'm so happy!

Thank you so muchm Elder because now I can return and serve the Lord. Because of you I was able to find happiness. And I was able to find the true message of the church of Jesus Christ!

Thank you so much again for sharing the mesage of the gospel of Jesus Chirist with me. I know that the Book of Mormon is true!

Jamaica (her neice) has her baptism this May 15. I'm trying my best to share [the gospel] with my sister.

Thank you so much Elder for being proud of me.

GOD BLESS!!!

Love,

Sister Mia.