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.

May 4, 2010

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

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

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.

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