Hey grandma.
Thanks for the compliment on my theme. I hope that it continues. Things with it have been going pretty good lately. It seems like people are starting to catch the vision of what it means. The sisters think its kinda dumb and they make fun of it all the time but the Elders are really focused on it (weird no? Shouldn't it be the other way around?)
We started teaching the daughter of a member. Her dad died and so her baptism kinda got lost in all the mess. So now its us that are stepping in and getting her baptized. We're excited and so is her family. We've really worked a lot with this family recently. Their oldest daughter is INCREDIBLY shy but we're trying to pull her out of her shell and its starting to happen. Awesome.
Yeah...the haircut is kinda getting to me. I dont know if I love it enough to keep it or if its just there for the sake of simplicity. But I think I oughtta keep it. Its inexpensive.
That sounds pretty cool about your trip with mom and everyone to Minnesota. That should be pretty cool. I still remember when we went to Mom's old house that Opa built. That was way cool.
Alright Grandma. Love you both.
Brandon
Elder Treadway
First baptism in the Ocean
Cebu, Philippines
July 14, 2010
Hey you two!
So first off mom. You didnt miss me. The Lord has his ways. We had our zone activity this morning (site seeing...again. I'll talk about that later...) and then when we got back there was a burnout and no electricity. So I couldnt email. So the power just came on about 30 minutes ago so here we are now.
Alright. So I dont know how much is in my account. I pulled out 1000 pesos a week or so ago. We had to get some things done with it and also I did some good with it. Here's what we did with 19 bucks. Remember that I told you about that family of 6 who's father died? They have NOTHING. As in nothing. The only money that they get is from whatever they can manage to sell from their little store in front of their house that has nothing also. So one day we went over there after pulling out that 1000 and we were going to share a message with them but they said they would rather not. As we talked a little bit we found out that they had no money. They couldn't even buy dinner that night. So they were all going to drink some water from the spicket out back and then go to bed hungry. So I gave them money for dinner. I couldn't imagine those 5 kids going to bed without dinner.
But the best is that last night was their youngest daughters birthday. She turned 6 yesterday. She's never had a birthday party before and we hadn't held an FHE over at their house. So we went out and bought a couple kilos of rice, some rotisserie chickens and bottles of soda. And we celebrated that little girls birthday in style. We all left last night STUFFED!!! But Elder Akina and I just felt so good. Because we knew that those kids weren't going to forget that night for a while. We won't either.
Work for us has been going alright. We kinda got put in a tough spot last week and weren't able to reach all of our goals. We had an all-day Zone CSP on Monday, Zone Conference on Tuesday, and P-Day. So it was kinda tough for us to come out of that stats hole. But we tried hard. Thats what mattered.
Thanks dad for the Covey bit. I love that guy's leadership stuff. It was a good help. Especially since I'm still trying to establish myself as a leader. You know what I mean? I've gotta put some cash in my accounts.
Alright so today we did our zone activity. It was a Bohol tour...again. You know how much I love sight seeing. The zone leaders set the whole thing up before they asked us what we wanted to do so in reality we had no choice...lame. It wasn't too bad though. Me and Elder Akina stayed patient. Well, as patient as anyone could be under the circumstances. haha.
We did a kind of treasure hunt thing at Sagbayan Peak that was kinda cool. We didn't WIN win but the guys who won got their clues out of order and we came in 2nd in the unofficial results. The official results were this...we won.
So its only 52 more days until BYU football kicks off...... have we filled our holes at all???
I attached some pics of the apartment and the FHE from last night. They're a great family. We're teaching their daughter Nathaniela. She's 9 and not baptized yet. So thats a convert baptism still. Yes...
And the pics of the house are there too.
Alright. Love you!
Brandon
So first off mom. You didnt miss me. The Lord has his ways. We had our zone activity this morning (site seeing...again. I'll talk about that later...) and then when we got back there was a burnout and no electricity. So I couldnt email. So the power just came on about 30 minutes ago so here we are now.
Alright. So I dont know how much is in my account. I pulled out 1000 pesos a week or so ago. We had to get some things done with it and also I did some good with it. Here's what we did with 19 bucks. Remember that I told you about that family of 6 who's father died? They have NOTHING. As in nothing. The only money that they get is from whatever they can manage to sell from their little store in front of their house that has nothing also. So one day we went over there after pulling out that 1000 and we were going to share a message with them but they said they would rather not. As we talked a little bit we found out that they had no money. They couldn't even buy dinner that night. So they were all going to drink some water from the spicket out back and then go to bed hungry. So I gave them money for dinner. I couldn't imagine those 5 kids going to bed without dinner.
But the best is that last night was their youngest daughters birthday. She turned 6 yesterday. She's never had a birthday party before and we hadn't held an FHE over at their house. So we went out and bought a couple kilos of rice, some rotisserie chickens and bottles of soda. And we celebrated that little girls birthday in style. We all left last night STUFFED!!! But Elder Akina and I just felt so good. Because we knew that those kids weren't going to forget that night for a while. We won't either.
Work for us has been going alright. We kinda got put in a tough spot last week and weren't able to reach all of our goals. We had an all-day Zone CSP on Monday, Zone Conference on Tuesday, and P-Day. So it was kinda tough for us to come out of that stats hole. But we tried hard. Thats what mattered.
Thanks dad for the Covey bit. I love that guy's leadership stuff. It was a good help. Especially since I'm still trying to establish myself as a leader. You know what I mean? I've gotta put some cash in my accounts.
Alright so today we did our zone activity. It was a Bohol tour...again. You know how much I love sight seeing. The zone leaders set the whole thing up before they asked us what we wanted to do so in reality we had no choice...lame. It wasn't too bad though. Me and Elder Akina stayed patient. Well, as patient as anyone could be under the circumstances. haha.
We did a kind of treasure hunt thing at Sagbayan Peak that was kinda cool. We didn't WIN win but the guys who won got their clues out of order and we came in 2nd in the unofficial results. The official results were this...we won.
So its only 52 more days until BYU football kicks off...... have we filled our holes at all???
Yes mom. There's an old lady in the branch who washes our clothes for us. Its awesome.
Alright. Love you!
Brandon
July 6, 2010
Hey Mom.
Nice timing. We're about to leave in a bit to go practice for District Conference. The zone is the choir--poor district conference. The ones who sing the loudest just so happen to be the worst singers but at least they try. haha.
Haven't been robbed yet and I dont think its gonna happen anytime soon judging by both me and my comp. I tower over everyone and he towers over me. He's working on patience though. He's been in the city before (I'm his first senior--not trainer) and hasn't gotten any of the crazy heckling that we get here so he's working on his patience. Its kinda funny. He gets irritated a lot. But he's improving.
We dont have investigators. But we have tracted in sheets of rain, pitch black burnouts and scalding heat to get some. No success yet. I think the Lord is waiting to see how serious we are and to see if its not just a one week thing. We're serious. But we keep asking him to help us through the trials he's giving us. We just keep smiling. Thats our plan.
Dad told me about the office. He sounds pretty excited about things. Thats cool. I found that when I change things up a bit I get more motivated. And when I use a blue ballpoint pen. haha.
I'm pretty excited cuz the new temple rules came out for when the missionaries can go to the temple. But on the other side of the coin you can only go to the temple once a month IF you are assigned on Cebu...so that means not me. haha.
Glad to hear that Ben and Brian had a good time at EFY. I wonder how Brian is doing at scout camp. I remember when I went straight from EFY to scout camp i was pretty depressed cuz I went from the land of a million girls to a bunch of dirty smelly dudes and no girls at all. That was tough for both me and tyelar that year.
That scripture thing that you talked about happens to me all the time--just about every day. I just started the Book of Mormon over again this morning. I broke down all three attempts that Nephi and his brothers had in getting the brass plates and the final attempt is the only one that mentions the Spirit. Its also the only one was successful of course. That was so cool to me. That we can't do anything without the spirit. Neither could Nephi. I wonder if he was kicking himself afterwards thinking of how easy the task would have been if the spirit had been such a helper as it was in the 3rd attempt.
Anyway. I'm not gonna lie. I'm really excited for the BYU football season. Even though I'm on the other side of the world I gave ben an assignment so I can live the games as well as if i were home. Its almost here. September. Actually its not THAT close but its closer than it was last month.
About the whole Eclipse thing...I know that Ben has a love for Twilight. He also is afraid to let it show. So good on him for taking you to see the movie. Cuz you know I wouldn't do it. haha. Not because of you...because of Twilight. But you know that. Didnt they just come out with the last one in November?
Elder Akina and I Stayed the Course this week. We got 21 lessons, 160 I2Ls, quality 7Y7 and then stayed obedient. We pay in every prayer for the Lord to help us to stay the Course and so far he has actually put obstacles IN our way. We spent one morning tracting in SHEETS of rain going from house to house with no umbrella. We just kept smiling for two reasons--one, when we had set out that morning there was not a cloud in the sky and two, we were doing what we needed to--even if conditions were tough. Then the next night we spent tracting in pitch blackness because there was a power outage. That was fun as well. We finish every day absolutely EXHAUSTED!!! We come home and its hard to speak because we can barely think. Persakes left and right. The other night I told him that we were doing a good job of "wasking brilky". Yeah. I meant walking briskly. haha. But we're just happy to stay the course.
Nice timing. We're about to leave in a bit to go practice for District Conference. The zone is the choir--poor district conference. The ones who sing the loudest just so happen to be the worst singers but at least they try. haha.
Haven't been robbed yet and I dont think its gonna happen anytime soon judging by both me and my comp. I tower over everyone and he towers over me. He's working on patience though. He's been in the city before (I'm his first senior--not trainer) and hasn't gotten any of the crazy heckling that we get here so he's working on his patience. Its kinda funny. He gets irritated a lot. But he's improving.
Dad told me about the office. He sounds pretty excited about things. Thats cool. I found that when I change things up a bit I get more motivated. And when I use a blue ballpoint pen. haha.
I'm pretty excited cuz the new temple rules came out for when the missionaries can go to the temple. But on the other side of the coin you can only go to the temple once a month IF you are assigned on Cebu...so that means not me. haha.
Glad to hear that Ben and Brian had a good time at EFY. I wonder how Brian is doing at scout camp. I remember when I went straight from EFY to scout camp i was pretty depressed cuz I went from the land of a million girls to a bunch of dirty smelly dudes and no girls at all. That was tough for both me and tyelar that year.
That scripture thing that you talked about happens to me all the time--just about every day. I just started the Book of Mormon over again this morning. I broke down all three attempts that Nephi and his brothers had in getting the brass plates and the final attempt is the only one that mentions the Spirit. Its also the only one was successful of course. That was so cool to me. That we can't do anything without the spirit. Neither could Nephi. I wonder if he was kicking himself afterwards thinking of how easy the task would have been if the spirit had been such a helper as it was in the 3rd attempt.
Anyway. I'm not gonna lie. I'm really excited for the BYU football season. Even though I'm on the other side of the world I gave ben an assignment so I can live the games as well as if i were home. Its almost here. September. Actually its not THAT close but its closer than it was last month.
About the whole Eclipse thing...I know that Ben has a love for Twilight. He also is afraid to let it show. So good on him for taking you to see the movie. Cuz you know I wouldn't do it. haha. Not because of you...because of Twilight. But you know that. Didnt they just come out with the last one in November?
Elder Akina and I Stayed the Course this week. We got 21 lessons, 160 I2Ls, quality 7Y7 and then stayed obedient. We pay in every prayer for the Lord to help us to stay the Course and so far he has actually put obstacles IN our way. We spent one morning tracting in SHEETS of rain going from house to house with no umbrella. We just kept smiling for two reasons--one, when we had set out that morning there was not a cloud in the sky and two, we were doing what we needed to--even if conditions were tough. Then the next night we spent tracting in pitch blackness because there was a power outage. That was fun as well. We finish every day absolutely EXHAUSTED!!! We come home and its hard to speak because we can barely think. Persakes left and right. The other night I told him that we were doing a good job of "wasking brilky". Yeah. I meant walking briskly. haha. But we're just happy to stay the course.
June 29, 2010
Hey mom.
So my new companion is Elder Akina. He's a Lillywhite reject just like me. Apparently she "quit" working at the MTC but from what I've heard from him and what I've experienced I wouldn't be surprised if it was asked of her to take her exit. But the best is that he is STOKED to work. He's had two companions who don't like to work and so I'm the first that is rippin and roarin to go. So we've really been out there and working hard. Turns out he was at Vaiola Tonga's wedding and hung out with Paane and Simi. And then he knows ALL of Jordan's friends in Provo. haha. The world is freaking small for Poly's.
So check this out. my companion is pretty new still so he doesn't understand or speak the language very well yet. So I told him that we have a family of 9 that we are going to commit to baptism that night. But this family of 9 is really the most active family in the branch. So I had already told them what to do and left behind a pamphlet and everything. So we went there at night and he was really trying to get to know everyone but kinda having trouble. Luckily we were able to fine-tune things in Cebuano while he was sitting right there because he couldn't understand us. So then they asked him to share before they were to be committed to baptism the next night. So he pulls out his book of Mormon and gives that lesson all he's got. He bears fervent testimony to them that through their faith, anything is possible. Slowly I start to feel it would be too much to go until the next night. So after he's done I turn to him and say, "there's something I need to tell you. They're all members." It was the funniest thing ever. So now he's gonna fine tune it and do it to the guy who replaces me. Awesome.
Woah. Jordan comes home next week.
So everything is kinda interesting with me being district leader and all. I instituted a new theme: Staying the Course which constists of fulfilling all of the mission standards and having SOLID obedience because Strict obedience doesn't sound appeasing.
Alright mom.
Loveyou
brandon
So my new companion is Elder Akina. He's a Lillywhite reject just like me. Apparently she "quit" working at the MTC but from what I've heard from him and what I've experienced I wouldn't be surprised if it was asked of her to take her exit. But the best is that he is STOKED to work. He's had two companions who don't like to work and so I'm the first that is rippin and roarin to go. So we've really been out there and working hard. Turns out he was at Vaiola Tonga's wedding and hung out with Paane and Simi. And then he knows ALL of Jordan's friends in Provo. haha. The world is freaking small for Poly's.
So check this out. my companion is pretty new still so he doesn't understand or speak the language very well yet. So I told him that we have a family of 9 that we are going to commit to baptism that night. But this family of 9 is really the most active family in the branch. So I had already told them what to do and left behind a pamphlet and everything. So we went there at night and he was really trying to get to know everyone but kinda having trouble. Luckily we were able to fine-tune things in Cebuano while he was sitting right there because he couldn't understand us. So then they asked him to share before they were to be committed to baptism the next night. So he pulls out his book of Mormon and gives that lesson all he's got. He bears fervent testimony to them that through their faith, anything is possible. Slowly I start to feel it would be too much to go until the next night. So after he's done I turn to him and say, "there's something I need to tell you. They're all members." It was the funniest thing ever. So now he's gonna fine tune it and do it to the guy who replaces me. Awesome.
Woah. Jordan comes home next week.
So everything is kinda interesting with me being district leader and all. I instituted a new theme: Staying the Course which constists of fulfilling all of the mission standards and having SOLID obedience because Strict obedience doesn't sound appeasing.
Alright mom.
Loveyou
brandon
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