May 24, 2011

Hey dad.

So to be honest, this week went a lot better. My comp had a chat with the mission president and they discussed the things that were making him irritated. Apparently there were some things going on back home that had him kind of ticked off. So once he was able to talk to the President about them, things made a U turn. So thats good. We are able to end well cuz now I have a new comp. Elder Culango. He's a kid from Davao. Interestingly enough, we were already living in the same house. He just stepped up from DL to ZL. So I get to train him as a ZL. Its great cuz we're already good friends and we had kind of talked about this being our situation. We're both stoked.

Its cool when I get to hear that you guys are doing missionary work back home too. Sometimes I just get discouraged out here because sometimes members forget that we shouldn't have to go tracting! We should be getting at least 2 referrals a week! When we get a referral its like a baptism in a nice little basket ready for us. Every baptism I had in Lilo-An was a referral. They're all still active and have callings and the priesthood. It just makes everything so much easier.

Speaking of which, we held a Family Home Evening at a members home not too long ago and the daughter invited one of her friends, Angel, to come to the FHE. Well, she was really touched by the Spirit that she felt and requested from the family a Book of Mormon and some Liahonas. She started reading and we started teaching her. She came to the first lesson with 10 or 12 questions about Joseph Smith and the Restoration. We answered them and then left her with 3 Nephi 11 and the commitment to pray about it. We came back for the second visit, discussed 3 Nephi 11 and baptism. We asked her how her prayer went and she said that she felt that Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon and the Church were all true. We testified, reviewed a verse about baptism in 3 Nephi 11 and committed her to baptism. She said yes. JUNE 25 BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THATS WHAT I'M TALKIN ABOUT!!! PRAYER! FASTING! MORE PRAYER! HARD WORK! AND NOW I GOT A BAPTISM SCHEDULED!!!! She came to church on Sunday, loved it. Then Monday, we had another Family Home Evening at her house and got to meet her family. NOW THEY WANNA BE TAUGHT!!!! WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOO!!!!! THATS THE GOOD STUFF KIDS GO FOR!!!! We go back tonight. Plan is to commit them to baptism for the same day as Angel. The Church is true. That's all I can say.

Then Elder Gertge and I were using some of that delicious money that I was able to withdraw to get some burgers at this American's joint out here in Camotes. He had made a couple references to his family's religious background but nothing really concrete. His wife is Tagalog so I have a little difficulty communicating with her but the guy, John, finds it fascinating that I'm fluent in Visayan. So we started talking a little bit about how I learned the language and then he says, "You know, its a shame that we can't tap into the Gift of Tongues like the Apostles could." I kind of chuckled a little bit and asked him why we couldn't. He said because nobody knows how. Well, then I started talking to him a little about the Gift of the Holy Ghost, one thing led to another and then we were on Joseph Smith. He was so fascinated. Elder Gertge and I were bouncing questions off him and adding to his answers, he said he would like to see some of our literature and I said we'd get him a Book of Mormon. Well we went home, grabbed one and rushed it back to him. We told him we'd follow up with his reading on Friday and see what he thought. He seems pretty interested. I'm praying pretty hard for this guy. He's pretty confused about religion overall.

As for the camera, the packaging looked pretty good. It was in good condition. I'll just say it was being watched over. I haven't taken many pics yet. Maybe 2 or 3 but I'll get some done this week. As for some of the food I was able to get: PopTarts (DANG THAT STUFF IS GOOD!) and some Chips Ahoy! White Chocolate Chunky... The nacho cheese is in and I got some Tostitos. I think I need to boil some powdered milk to make the cheese more saucy. Got some socks, some Old Spice, and now I'm loving life!

As for sports, thanks so much for the updates. Looks like the blessings of my service are extending beyond my family. The Giants are on a run and the Jazz have a sweet lottery pick. That's what I'm talking about!

Love you guys,

Brandon

PS. Christmas. I'll be there!

May 17, 2011

Hey mom.

The weeks just fly by for you guys but they are soooooo slow around here sometimes. Especially when the work is moving in the direction that it has been. But this last week we've been getting all four of us tracting in one solid area and seeing where that is taking us. So far its been great.

You guys deserve a nice trip to Hawaii and no. The weather is not the same. Its just hot here. Its like if Arizona was muggy. Well, maybe not THAT bad. But you'll see when you get here.

THE CAMERA IS IN!!!! I pick it up tomorrow morning when we go into Cebu for leadership training. Super excited to be able to get back to taking some pics! Its been tooooooo long. I'll also be withdrawing. I prayed for the best way for me to use the 100 bucks you put in my account and I felt like there were some things I needed to buy to last me the rest of my mission. For example, socks. haha. I have 4 pairs of socks without holes and 10 pairs with holes. Planning on making some substitutions early on here in the 4th quarter. See if these socks can close out this game for me. hahaha.

Things aren't so amazing with my companion. We're struggling a lot with our companionship and its pretty much only me who is trying to keep things together for our investigators sake. He just doesn't want to be around me much. So. We'll see. Transfers is in a week.

I have seen one monkey on my mission. In a zoo. hahahaha. But there might be lots of monkeys in other places. hahahaha.

Sorry this letter is so short. A super uneventful week here in Camotes.

Love you alot mom.

Brandon

April 26, 2011

Okaaaaaaay. So lets start off this email by first off thanking you for the camera. Second off, lets hope it gets here. Haha. But I'm hopeful. I want to believe that there is one nice person in the postal service who is willing to do a good turn daily for a brotha in the Philippines. So worst case scenario is that it gets returned to you, or that it gets lost in the mail? Or someone steals it? When do you want me to let you know what happened so that you can know what to do?

As for the work, man ALIVE!!! Imagine an island full of people that don't care at all about what you have to say--even though you know its the most important thing that they can hear.....okay. That's Camotes. haha. This last two weeks have literally been the hardest two weeks of my mission. I am giving my seroius 200% to the work and doing my best to not be trunky. I'm not trunky yet. Dont worry about that. But I have been really relying on Heavenly Father alot through prayer. Prayer has been a struggle for me through my entire life. I didn't pray for a loooooooooong time back home. Not every nite for sure. But here on my mission I've really tried to make my prayers MEAN something. They mean something here. I've felt comfort through my prayers. I get home every day and before I go to bed I just lay it all out there. The first week it was more me complaining and whining but I quickly turned it into me asking him what I need to do and I have gotten the answers. I know I have. Sometimes the answers have changed though as the circumstances have changed. But prayer has really been a part of my life these last two weeks.

So next week we go into the FINAL 6 MONTHS!!! As such, I have decided to abandon my reading of the Old Testament (I'm in Chronicles and thats the worst book I've had to get through. I'm drowning in boredom...) to focus my last 6 months on really studying the Savior. I mean REALLY focusing on Him. I'm reading Jesus the Christ again and I'm going to read the Gospels again for a third time. Man, I love the scriptures. READ EM PEOPLE!!!!

Love you guys, thanks for all your prayers and support.

Brandon

April 19, 2011

Subject: MY CAMERA IS TOAST!!!!

Somehow, I dont know how, my camera casing blew up, the screws are gone, the screen is cracked and the lens is jammed. It is gone. To get it fixed will cost more than getting a new camera. So I dont know what to do. THIS IS AN EMERGENCY!!!!

So here are some ideas.

We can just get it fixed at a camera shop here in the Philippines.....not safe. At all.

IF WE WANT TO REPLACE THE CAMERA:

We can have a new camera be my really early birthday present or something and have you guys can send it to me in a package or something like that.

Or you can put enough money in my account to get a new one here. The problem with that is that to get a quality camera, it costs alot because it also includes the cost of the shipping to the Philippines that got the camera here in the first place.

Thing is, it would be cheaper to get a new one back home and you guys send it to me.

I dont know what you want to do but I really need a new camera. This place here in Camotes is amazing. I need to take pics.

Love you guys alot. Please come up with something and tell me what I need to do in your next emails.

Brandon

April 19, 2011

Hey you guys.

Here's your answers mom:

Did you take a plane or boat over there?

So in order to get to the Camotes Islands, we took this little barge thing. We paid the extra 20 pesos for the nice Air Conidtioned room with cushioned seats and a big plasma tv. I'm not saying that the TV was the main reason that we took that option. It was mostly the air con. They showed Indiana Jones and the Alien that Built the Maya Civilizations Crystal Head. I liked it more the second time. But I guess anything is delicious in a famine...

Are you enjoying your new companion?  

My new companion is Elder Hikila. He's quiet but me and him joke around alot. I think he's hilarious. Him and I have had some pretty good conversations about how some people are just out to make the Elders look bad. He's very good at controlling his temper. He said that he's had to work on that his whole mission...that makes two of us.

Did I understand you right that there are only four of you on the whole island? 

That is correct.

How do you get food? 

We eat garbage. Not literally but almost. I haven't been happy with the food yet but its one of those things where I need to understand that I won't be satisfied with what they have to offer. Its just not enough to sustain my large, muscular build and attractive composure!

How are the circumstances different than what you were living in before. 

There are no jeeps. Just scooters so the air is a lot cleaner. Not to mention that the island is really small so we see the ocean all the time. That's pretty cool. Plus I have a car. Yeah. It feels great. And to top that off, it smells like my car back home. That made me miss home quite a bit. Also the fact that there is only 4 of us is different. Our house is the District AND the Zone. haha.

How is the new ward? 

Its only a branch and its very small. Like 30 members. Maybe. Its mostly kids. But in the next 10 years this place is gonna blow up and be a strong ward. Glad I can be a part of it.

Do people seem to be receptive to your message?  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! No. Not at all.

But things are going alright here in Camotes. Elder Hikila and I are really looking at things in a good light and just taking each day as it comes. We follow up with everyone and drop those who don't care. I hate dropping investigators but we have to sometimes. We had one tell us that she prayed to the Lord to stay in the Catholic church. I just gave her this blank stare and wanted to ask her, "then why in the world would you even have us come back?!?!" And then we finished up a teaching appointment with this family and I asked how they liked our message and she said, "Its great! Its just like the Catholic church but you guys do Bible Study." So Elder Hikila and I looked at each other, smiled and left them 2 Nephi 28. I told her, "This is the answer to whats different between the two churches." I really hope they read it. They deserve to know. Then we taught this middle age guy yesterday that said if we could tell him when "our Bible" was put together, he would join the church. So I said, "okay. Well first of all, we use the same BIBLE. So of course, you know when that was put together right?" He didn't answer but I took his silence and rolled with it. "As for the Book of Mormon, it is another testament of Jesus Christ translated by the Prophet Jospeh Smith trhough the gift and power of God. It was written by ancient prophets who lived on the American Continent starting at 600 BC and covering roughly 1000 years until 421 AD when it was buried by the prophet Moroni. Then, Joseph Smith retrieved the record, translated it and then it was published in March of 1830." Needless to say, he didn't commit to baptism since he didn't think we could answer that. But since this is the true church, we could. haha.

Its Holy Week here in the Philippines so things are going to get crazy here in the next few days. We've seen some people dressed up as Jesus covered in fake blood walking down the street getting whipped by guys dressed up as Romans and Elder Gertge saw three guys get crucified earlier this week. Its not even Holy Thursday yet. Thats when things start to pick up but Good Friday and Black Saturday are the biggest. Easter Sunday isn't as big as the other days though. They really focus on the death alot. Which is sad since, you know, Jesus was resurrected and all. I'm excited for this Easter. Love the season.

All right, I gotta go. Love you all.

Brandon

April 11, 2011

Hey everyone.

So this week our P-Day is on Tuesday because of the Mission Presidents seminar thing. I dont know. So don't feel bad if you weren't able to get an email out to me before Wednesday. I totally understand.

First bit of news, I'm transferring. After 6 months, 8 great baptisms, a lot of growing and 3 great companions, I am on my way to the Camotes Islands! Camotes is a small island system just off the coast of Cebu. The Gospel is relatively new there. It has been open for less than 2 years. They have only four missionaries out there: 2 Zone Leaders, and District Leader and 1 Junior Companion. I'm really excited. My new companion is Elder Hikila. He's one of my buddies in the mission already so I'm happy. He's a huge, strong Tongan elder that could seriously rip anyone that he wants in half! But me and him get along great. We have since the MTC. He's my 5th Polynesian companion. I think President likes to put me with Polys. haha. I understand them really well. So I'm excited. And I get a car. Sooooo boss. But the island isn't very modernized. Its one of those paradise islands. No bank. No grocery store. No laundromat. So its going to be washing by hand again. That's okay tho. I've been doing that to save on money for the past month anyway.

But part of me doesn't want to leave! I have grown closer to the members here than I have in any of my other areas. I have a real connection with seriously just about EVERY active member in the ward. I really love them all alot. I bore my testimony on fast Sunday and told them that I wanted them to always remember that I stood in front of them and told them that I knew that all of this is true--especially the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. I told them that if there was any advice I could leave with them it was: live worthy to be sealed as a family and then stay close as a family through 1) Daily Family Scripture Study, 2) Daily Family Prayer, 3) Weekly Family Home Evening and 4) Regular Temple Attendance. The members were really sad to see me go. They told me that they were going to talk to the bishop to send in a request to have me stay in Lilo-An until I go home so that they can keep having baptisms. I'm glad that this is the impression that I left with the members here. I wasn't a joker, I wasn't a strict guy, I was a missionary that loved doing the work and took it seriously and cared about everyone that I came into contact with. That's my legacy here. A good one if you ask me...

So General Conference. Holy cow. I totally left all my notes at home but I think someone wants us guys to get married! We couldn't believe it! There were like 5 talks on marriage! And I was dead set on just kinda taking things easy when I get home. The funny thing was that seriously the day before conference I was thinking to myself about how long I was going to wait to get married when I get home. I decided to wait a couple years. Get my footing on life again, see Transformers 3 and then maybe get back in the dating scene. Well, someone upstairs didn't like that plan! hahahaha. So that was great.

Oaks gave an amazing talk. He's gone 4 for 4 for me in the last four conferences with amazing talks. Desires and such. Great talk. And then Ribbons had a good talk...I assume. We were trying sooooo hard to focus but it was so in depth English that the people in the chapel just gave up and started chatting so that made it hard for us to focus on an already somewhat confusing talk. I liked the concept tho. He said something I liked, that we shouldn't compliment people on their achievements but rather what they DID in order achieve that achievement. Great advice for leaders. Uchtdorf owned super hard with his talk on getting all the benefits out of Priesthood service. It was well needed here. And for me, the dark horse apostle is Elder Christofferson. I think he gets the least amount of attention for his AMAZING talks! He just talks like an apostle of Jesus Christ. His talk blew my mind--about chastisment and correction. I recently had a moment in my mission where I used the scriptures to try and point a lady in the ward in the right direction and she got super offended because of it. So it gave me some comfort in what I had said to her. Things are all patched up tho. Its good. Good conference. No. Amazing conference.

Last night we had a Family Home Evening with Josh and Lore (the lady we just baptized). I really wanted to spend my last moments in the area with them. I think that they are going to benefit the most from the work I have done here. Josh doesn't have the strongest testimony and it needs nurturing and I received LOTS of revelation and guidance from the Holy Ghost on how to help Lore so I really have an attachment to the two of them. They have two little boys that are going to grow up to be Priesthood holders someday and Lore knows that her purpose is to raise them up to understand the importance of the Priesthood.

She had asked me to teach a lesson on Strengthening Families. So as I was washing my clothes I was pondering what to talk about. I thought of two scriptures. One is Enos 1:3--about how Enos remembered the words which his father had spoken to him. And then Alma 56:26-27(?) about how the Stipling Warriors remembered the words that their mothers taught them. I told them that children notice and remember everything that their parents say and do. So the secret to a strong family really starts with the parents strengthening themselves. I pulled out my Walk with Christ card and read the things off to them and told them that these are the ways to strengthen ourselves.

It was funny because when it came to Daily Scripture Study, Lore got kind of irritated because she does it herself for a half hour at least every day but Josh doesn't do it at all. So she kind of grilled him pretty good on not reading his scriptures. It was so funny and rewarding for me. Here is this lady that had a -600% testimony of modern prophets and the Book of Mormon and here she is putting her husband on roast for neglecting them. I think Josh got a wake up call with that. So I committed them to do all those things on the Walk with Christ card. You know if you could send me some of those Dad, I could really use them in Family Home Evenings and stuff. They are great. As for Josh and Lore, I have so much hope for them. And they gave me a referral by the way. They referred Josh's cousin who is a freshman at BYU to me. They showed me some pictures. Potential investigator for sure. haha. You know.

Thanks, love you all.

I'll be home for Christmas.

Brandon

March 22, 2011

Hey everyone.

So things are going in a really good direction still.

We have our baptism for Sister Lore next Saturday. I'm really excited. She is nervous but excited at the same time. She gets it all really easy. SHe's way smart. She's going to be my 8th baptism in this area. haha. Thats almost a baptism every 2.5 weeks. haha. I think thats the right math???  I think President Hansen likes the work that we've been doing here. We have 14 investigators committed to baptism and as for my converts in the area, we have 100% retention, full-tithe paying, home/visiting teaching, Priesthood holding/exercising, nightly Book of Mormon reading CONVERTS. Not just people who got baptized. I know you know the difference. I'm so happy with the way its been going. I hope it keeps up. My companion made a comment to me that things in our area are different because its very smooth. He said that every lesson, every tracting opportunity, everything just seems to run smooth. I'm glad he feels that way.

So as a zone, we are targeting some of the things that need to be better. One is the effectiveness of our tracting and contacting. Its good but it could be way better. So we have had our District Leaders focus their workshops on quality over quantity. Well, this last week it kind of backfired. We had a whole bunch of quality but not much quantity. haha. So they kind of stoked the fire of diligence and we are looking at a better week this week.

One of the things that we also do as missionaries here is teach members how to hold family home evenings. But on of the things that has really bugged me in the mission is how these Family Home Evenings are done. It seems to be a 5 minute lesson and then 2 hours of playing games and goofing off with the family. For me, that isn't what Family Home Evening is. So I really expressed to the District Leaders that they need to teach their missionaries to do REAL family home evenings. And they need to be spiritual. Not a time to hang out and be used as an excuse not to work. We are really banging on all cylinders in this zone and we have turned it inside out. So now we just need to fine tune some things to get this engine purring so nicely that we can just PUMP baptisms out like crazy! We are almost there. I can almost taste it!  I really love what I have been able to do with Lilo An Zone with my companions' help. Some of my buddies are joking that its good enough to get me Assistant. haha. I dont want that. I would much rather go fix another broken zone. That is way more rewarding to me than sitting in an air conditioned office and getting fat......ter. haha

Thanks for everything everyone. Love you!

PS. I got Opa and Oma's package. I'm sending them a letter too. But just let them know