Letter #90

Whats up guys!

To let you all in on the transfer news, which came quite early this transfer, I'm leaving Roma. I didn't wanna leave this place, but the Lord has good things in store. It'll be interesting to see where He sends me! I'll let you guys know next week.

How was conference for you guys?! I loved it. On Saturday we had some technical difficulties setting it all up, the signal wasn't good at all and it kept pausing and everything so our last resort was all of us piling into the little family history center and watching it on one of the computers in there. It was sweet! It was cool to see how dedicated and excited the members were for conference and to hear the words of the Prophets that they were even willing to pile into such a small room without A/C haha. That's true conversion to the Gospel.

 Thanks also for all the birthday wishes! Funny story, so on Friday we usually have a district dinner and then after that play basketball with the young men of the branch, its a super good finding opportunity to teach more youth and I love playing ball so, it works haha. Anyways, we were heading down to go to the dinner and we made plans to specifically not be late, so we went by to pick up the elders and a youth and while we were at the youths house waiting for him to come out, the elders get a call from him and he's like, guys just come in for a sec, i gotta show you something. I was like, we'll just see it later, we made plans to not be late, we gotta go. So the other elders we're like, come on lets just go see, and I was like whatever if you guys get out I'm leaving, I'm not gonna be late. So they jump out and i was planning on leaving and did, but then i turned around cause i couldn't leave the elders and I walked into the youths house and they all yelled surprise! Hahah, they got me pretty good. Its a good thing i wasn't just a little more stubborn on sticking to my plans or else i would've ruined the whole surprise. It was funny. Then we had delicious cake and the Mom smashed it in my face.

This week we brought a little family of 3 to conference! It was so cool. I was worried out of my mind because of the problems we were having with conference and I wanted this family to have the best experience at church ever and God made everything work! They loved it and even stayed for the branch activity after. They plan on coming next week too! I'm pretty sad that i won't be here to be able to see them progress but someone else will!

I love this Gospel, I love the mission. I can honestly say that I have changed so much even in these short transfers here in Roma. I'm sure gonna miss this little pueblo. I wish I could just be a missionary all my life and never come home. Sorry mom and the rest of the family. The mission life is the best and I love it so much. Love you guys!

Elder Brian

Letter #64

Talk about an awesome General Conference weekend! I know you guys can probably already guess what my favorite talk was, cause I'm sure it was every full time missionaries favorite, Elder Ballard's talk. I love how right from the get go he focused his talk and directed it to non-members of the church. It was powerful. Even though it wasn't directed to me as a member it still hit me hard and helped me remember my purpose as a missionary and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

 

This week we didn't have a lot of time to hit the streets and talk to a bunch of people, which makes me think we didn't do that much work. But I think I need to get over the fact that you can still be very effective in your work without hitting the streets. We did a lot of service this week. We helped the ward mission leader Brother Bryand roof his house. It was pretty fun! Just Elder Davis, him and I. I've never really done roofing before, but it was a sweet experience. I'm glad we got to it before the heat did.

 

This week I've been working a lot on knowledge of the scriptures. I love it when you're in a lesson teaching and someone brings up a doubt and right then a scripture will come to your mind and you can teach right to the doubt using the scriptures. Its the best. Its weird to think and see that no matter what doubt a person may give, you can in someway tie their need into the scriptures. I have a really strong testimony that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that if we read it and study it we will grow closer to Him and gain more of a knowledge of the plan He has for us. Going along with scripture study, I received something in the mail the other day, from someone I don't know and it was filled with like 6 or so CD's of teaching to the doubts of people from the bible and the Book of Mormon. Its called Mr. Mormon. I have no clue where they came from or who sent them, but thanks if it was you cause they're pretty sweet!!

 

Que tengan exito y disfrutan la vida!

 

Elder Brian

Jonathan's baptism