July 27, 2010

MAN ALIVE!!! I can't leave you people alone for 8 months without someone getting surgery on their throat from swallowing some chunk of beef or someone having headache pains and having it just ooze out your ears!!! People, people, people. hahaha.

So lets see.....

So about Ben. Thats pretty crazy. But at least we get to figure out what in the world is going on in that throat of his. That problem of his is nuts!!! I have a similar problem. If I eat starches (like bread or RICE) then my throat gets all blocked up and then I have to drink water with it to get the food to go back down. Its kind of a hassle but its also a good excuse to keep a glass of water present if the sud-an (the food that you put on the rice) is gross. It works like a charm. But he said he felt like a pro and said something about Kobe Bryant which makes me think that he may have still been under the influence of anesthesia.

And then there's mom. Holy cow thats an awesome story mom. Out your EARS even! I bet if you had spiritual eyes that would look pretty awesome. Just all his priesthood going in and all your headache coming out. Thats way cool. And then on top of that he has the power of healing! I guess we know who to call now when there's a sakit (sickness).

I had a similar experience this last week. Our potential Branch Mission Leader (which means that the branch president is looking into calling him as the BML) hasn't been coming to church the last couple of weeks. So we decided that we would go down and pay him a little visit and see what was the problem. He had also told us that he would work with us and never showed. So we went over there and talked. Turns out that he's had this infection on his foot for a while. He had it when I got here to Calape but it was more of a nuisance is what he said. But now it was stinging and he couldn't sleep at night. So after talking with him and figuring out what was the matter we found that the infection was getting worse (it didn't take a doctor---but it took two Eagle Scouts...hehe). So we told him that we had a plan. We told him that we would be back. So we ran (actually we walked aaaaaaall the way back to our house) and got some Neosporin from my bag. Then we bought some gauze and medical tape from the pharmacy. Then we went back to his house. We gave him instructions to wash the infection morning and night, put some alcohol on it to kill any extra bacteria from the water on the infection. Then rub some Neosporin on it and then cover it up with a bandage and then wrap it up with a handkerchief. We had already given him a blessing for it a week ago so we left him with that and bounced. I had faith that all he needed now was medicine. The Lord wanted us to do our part before he would do his.

So we go back two days later. And guess what! This infection that was about the size of a walnut was now the size of his pinkie fingernail (yes yes...look at your pinkie fingernail and compare...) BOOOM!!!! Healed! We haven't been back in the past couple of days because he's been gone but apparently he's up and about and doing great! We're really thankful. Turns out in HIS patriarchal blessing he has the gift of Faith to be Healed! Nice huh? The Lord is so cool.

Sp our work is really taking off now. Here's a story about an interesting bump in our road: So there's this religion called Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) and they were founded by this apostate Mormon named Manalo who graduated from BYU and wanted to be an apostle. Joseph F. Smith told him no so he started Iglesia ni Cristo. One of their teachings is that Jesus was just a man and that Manalo is greater than JESUS!!! What the what? So we tracted this girl on a bus and she said the missionaries had taught her before and we were able to come and visit her family. She was totally down with it. So I wrote down her name and asked this family on Sunday if they knew her because they live in the same neighborhood. So they say they know her and guess what? Her family is hardcore Iglesia. And her brother in law is the pastor. And the brother that we talked to in the branch said that they will have three pastors show up on our second visit and try to blow us away with the Bible. We're ready though. We're just gonna act like we're super stoked that they want to share with us too and then move past what they say. I got good at that in Mock Trial. Time to put that to good use. So last night we realized that she's trying to trap us into a Bible Bash with someone who knows doctrine better than her. Last night was the Anniversary for the Iglesia ni Cristos and she invited us to attend. US!!! She was like, "oh, we're just going to discuss the Bible." Yeah, we didn't go. We almost did though. That would have been interesting. So I'll keep you updated with what happens.

Kinda stinks that I'm missing out on Gualala this year. But guess what...I only have one Christmas left! Pretty sweet! Time is just FLYING BY!!! Its crazy! But I still love it like nothing else.

I don't know if you guys know this but me and the boys have been staying in close contact. Adam, Daniel, and Tyelar all write me each week. And even though we're all thousands of miles apart, we've all decided that we're gonna room together at BYU when we get back. Yeah. Distance stops nothing with us! That's the plan. Adam said there might be some kinks he needs to work out with some other cats but as far as we can tell its gonna be good. We just don't want the three of us awesome dudes to get stuck with some square bear kid from like Idaho or something in our apartment. So Adam was naturally our first choice! He's stoked, Daniel was right on board, Tyelar loves it and Adam's words were "Heck to the freaking yes" so he likes it too I gather.

As with Nathaniela and her baptism...its next Saturday because of District Conference.

Oh! I told Ben about this. I don't know what you're planning for my birthday (if anything) but just to let you know for all cases. Being that I am off island now, every package that I get (depending on size I think) comes to me at two times during the transfer--Zone Conference and Zone Interviews. Other than that, its a waiting game. So if you want a package to get to me before my birthday (if thats your plan) I would send it a month in advance or so. I'll probably get it a week or two early but thats better than three weeks late. I can wait to open it. Just write its for my birthday. I figure hey, I could wait until Christmas with your package. haha.

Alright fans! I love you both. Stay sweet. And tell Brian to write me! Ben does every week along with Jenny and the Boys. But Brian is kinda not so consistent. You gotta give to receive!

Love you

Brandon