5-25-09
Mom & Dad,
I am here in Sapulpa, Oklahoma! It is my first Preparation Day (not P-Day) in the field. I may not email you, as the library is closed. If I can convince Elder Nielsen to, I will send you and email tomorrow.
But, Happy Birthday Dad! I hope it is a good one! Buy yourself a nice treat!
Sapulpa is a nice place. Friendly people. A town of about 20,000 people or so. Our apartment was once a garage. It has been converted into an apartment for the mission. According to my companion, it is the smallest apartment in the mission. It's a tiny little place. It is on the backyard of a member's home. It is immediately behind Walgreens. We drive a Chevy Colorado. My bike is all here. I haven't ridden it yet. We have dinner at member's homes almost everyday. We live off 130 dollars per month.
I am safe. Everything is okay. I was a little homesick when I got here, but I'm okay. I've just got to go to work.
The return address on the envelope is where you can write me if you need to.
I love you. Keep on keepin' on!
Love,
Elder Bracken
P.S. There are kittens in the backyard of the member's home. The momma cat had a litter of 6 adorable little kitties. I want a pet! They're the closest I'm gonna get.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
First letter from the field
We received a hand written letter from Jordan. I have retyped it here.
5/20/09
I am at the Mission Home right now. President and Sister Seal are really nice people. Very dedicated. They leave on June 29th. They have been feeding us very well. Sister Seal is very into health food, and she is an excellent cook. So we have been eating a lot of very tasty, very healthy food.
5/21/09
Okay, so I'm finishing this letter Friday night. Today we tracked for 3 1/2 hours. I went with Elder Bracken. We talked with an athiest and an agnostic in one day. Weird, huh? It was a good experience.
I have been assigned to Sapulpa. About half an hour away from the mission. My companion is Elder Chad Nielson, from Idaho. Elder Bracken is one of my Zone Leaders. I will email on Tuesday. Our Preparation Day (not P-Day) is Monday, but it won't be that way this week because of Memorial Day. Which brings me to:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!
I hope it's great! Go buy yourself something nice!
I Love you all! Life is great!
Love, Elder Bracken
(No emial came this week)
5/20/09
I am at the Mission Home right now. President and Sister Seal are really nice people. Very dedicated. They leave on June 29th. They have been feeding us very well. Sister Seal is very into health food, and she is an excellent cook. So we have been eating a lot of very tasty, very healthy food.
5/21/09
Okay, so I'm finishing this letter Friday night. Today we tracked for 3 1/2 hours. I went with Elder Bracken. We talked with an athiest and an agnostic in one day. Weird, huh? It was a good experience.
I have been assigned to Sapulpa. About half an hour away from the mission. My companion is Elder Chad Nielson, from Idaho. Elder Bracken is one of my Zone Leaders. I will email on Tuesday. Our Preparation Day (not P-Day) is Monday, but it won't be that way this week because of Memorial Day. Which brings me to:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!
I hope it's great! Go buy yourself something nice!
I Love you all! Life is great!
Love, Elder Bracken
(No emial came this week)
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Hey! :)
Great to hear from you! Thank you so much for the cinnamon rolls! Mmmmm! :)
I can't wait to call you tomorrow! It will be nice to hear you again :) Thanks for the phone card :)
Good luck with your new principal! Hopefully it will go well for you! :)
I have tried my best to take many pictures. Most of them are goofy ones tho, sorry :P
Yeah, the food is terrible. But since we went to the temple today we ate at the cafeteria today and it was SO good! :) The Temple is amazing! We did Initiatory's today, which was way awesome :) i hope you guys have been to the Temple since I left! Will you committ to going once a month, mother?
If I have everything straight and correct, tomorrow I fly to Denver(call you of course), then I fly to Tulsa. We will be picked up by President and Sister Seal. We will be driven to the Mission Home. We will spend about two days there, receiving instruction and getting generally pumped. Then we will go to work! I will let you know my new address ASAP :)
Life is going great. I'm keeping busy! I have felt the Spirit more these last 3 weeks than in my entire life before! I know that I have been immensely blessed in my work here, and I know that you and Dad will receive more blessings during these 2 years than you ever have before! :) Send everyone my Love!
Love,
Elder Bracken
Great to hear from you! Thank you so much for the cinnamon rolls! Mmmmm! :)
I can't wait to call you tomorrow! It will be nice to hear you again :) Thanks for the phone card :)
Good luck with your new principal! Hopefully it will go well for you! :)
I have tried my best to take many pictures. Most of them are goofy ones tho, sorry :P
Yeah, the food is terrible. But since we went to the temple today we ate at the cafeteria today and it was SO good! :) The Temple is amazing! We did Initiatory's today, which was way awesome :) i hope you guys have been to the Temple since I left! Will you committ to going once a month, mother?
If I have everything straight and correct, tomorrow I fly to Denver(call you of course), then I fly to Tulsa. We will be picked up by President and Sister Seal. We will be driven to the Mission Home. We will spend about two days there, receiving instruction and getting generally pumped. Then we will go to work! I will let you know my new address ASAP :)
Life is going great. I'm keeping busy! I have felt the Spirit more these last 3 weeks than in my entire life before! I know that I have been immensely blessed in my work here, and I know that you and Dad will receive more blessings during these 2 years than you ever have before! :) Send everyone my Love!
Love,
Elder Bracken
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Come estas? haha
Wow! busy busy week! It's been AMAZING though!
Firstly, Elder Ballard and his wife spoke at our devotional last Tuesday! They was so good! Elder Ballard wants us all to write home and say to our parents: Thank you from the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. :)
I WILL get to call home! On Wednesday the 20th I will be flying to Oklahoma! But we have like a 2 hour lay-over in Denver before we shoot for Tulsa, during which time I may call home! Send me a phone card, if you can. If not, that's okay. :) But definitely send my mom's work number so I can call her there, and I guess I will just call my old cell phone number for dad :P it will be sometime around 10 am. Can't wait to talk to you!
I'm glad to hear that you are all doing so well without me! haha jk. But hey, you'll never get more blessings than during these 2 years, so enjoy it while you can!
The food here is horrendous! But we ate at the temple cafeteria for breakfast today and the only work to describe it is Divine! (lol). I included more details on the food in a handwritten letter to Mom. Idk if you've got it yet mom, but just in case: Happy Mother's Day! :)
Scott-Actually, the shower experience is just fine. They have individual stalls now :P
Idk if anyone else asked me any questions. It's so hard to remember. I only have a half an hour to read these things. So, i'll just leave you with a few thoughts:
First, for all who have had their Endowments done. Go to the Book of Abraham in the Pearl of Great Price. Look for the diagram that is the shape of a circle. Turn the book upside down and look at Figure 7. Then read the description of it. AMAZING! Also, get the Ensign with all the Conference Talks and read Elder Bednar's about Temples :)
Secondly, wow! I have learned so much about the Gospel! In ways I never thought I would! For example, Agency. holy cow! Agency is sooooooooooooooo important! It is one of the greatest blessings we will ever receive! I've learned so much about how different things fit togethere. About how god revealing his gospel in every dispensation, with states of Apostasy in between, all ties in directly to the Restoration.
Thirdly, I have felt the Spirit more here than during any other time in my entire life! It's so cool! I want you to know that God loves us. He has made this so abundantly clear to me. I can't even understand his love. it's infinite and incomprehensible. I know Mom and Dad would do anything for me, and they aren't even perfect. Imagine what our perfect Heavenly Father would do for us! (John 3:16, anyone?). Seriously. I know that I have disappointed God and Jesus Christ in my life. But I know that they still love me. They'll forgive me if I repent. They understand that I am just a 19 year old, imperfect, mortal, human male. I don't know why God chooses to send out 19 year olds to Preach his Gospel. But I know he has his reasons. And I know that He won't let us fail.
I want to leave you with my Testimony. I know that I am Child of God. He loves me, and He loves you. He wants us all to live with Him again. That's why I'm here. To help other's live with God again. I know that through the Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, God has called me to His work. I know that this is the right time. The right place. The right people. My whole life has been leading up to this Mission.
I love you all, and I am so grateful for all that you have done, and continue to do for me! I am so thankful for your prayers on my behalf! As my 9th Grade Seminary teacher would say, Choose the Right, Keep the Commandments, and have a holy and righteous day!
Love,
Elder Bracken
Wow! busy busy week! It's been AMAZING though!
Firstly, Elder Ballard and his wife spoke at our devotional last Tuesday! They was so good! Elder Ballard wants us all to write home and say to our parents: Thank you from the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. :)
I WILL get to call home! On Wednesday the 20th I will be flying to Oklahoma! But we have like a 2 hour lay-over in Denver before we shoot for Tulsa, during which time I may call home! Send me a phone card, if you can. If not, that's okay. :) But definitely send my mom's work number so I can call her there, and I guess I will just call my old cell phone number for dad :P it will be sometime around 10 am. Can't wait to talk to you!
I'm glad to hear that you are all doing so well without me! haha jk. But hey, you'll never get more blessings than during these 2 years, so enjoy it while you can!
The food here is horrendous! But we ate at the temple cafeteria for breakfast today and the only work to describe it is Divine! (lol). I included more details on the food in a handwritten letter to Mom. Idk if you've got it yet mom, but just in case: Happy Mother's Day! :)
Scott-Actually, the shower experience is just fine. They have individual stalls now :P
Idk if anyone else asked me any questions. It's so hard to remember. I only have a half an hour to read these things. So, i'll just leave you with a few thoughts:
First, for all who have had their Endowments done. Go to the Book of Abraham in the Pearl of Great Price. Look for the diagram that is the shape of a circle. Turn the book upside down and look at Figure 7. Then read the description of it. AMAZING! Also, get the Ensign with all the Conference Talks and read Elder Bednar's about Temples :)
Secondly, wow! I have learned so much about the Gospel! In ways I never thought I would! For example, Agency. holy cow! Agency is sooooooooooooooo important! It is one of the greatest blessings we will ever receive! I've learned so much about how different things fit togethere. About how god revealing his gospel in every dispensation, with states of Apostasy in between, all ties in directly to the Restoration.
Thirdly, I have felt the Spirit more here than during any other time in my entire life! It's so cool! I want you to know that God loves us. He has made this so abundantly clear to me. I can't even understand his love. it's infinite and incomprehensible. I know Mom and Dad would do anything for me, and they aren't even perfect. Imagine what our perfect Heavenly Father would do for us! (John 3:16, anyone?). Seriously. I know that I have disappointed God and Jesus Christ in my life. But I know that they still love me. They'll forgive me if I repent. They understand that I am just a 19 year old, imperfect, mortal, human male. I don't know why God chooses to send out 19 year olds to Preach his Gospel. But I know he has his reasons. And I know that He won't let us fail.
I want to leave you with my Testimony. I know that I am Child of God. He loves me, and He loves you. He wants us all to live with Him again. That's why I'm here. To help other's live with God again. I know that through the Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, God has called me to His work. I know that this is the right time. The right place. The right people. My whole life has been leading up to this Mission.
I love you all, and I am so grateful for all that you have done, and continue to do for me! I am so thankful for your prayers on my behalf! As my 9th Grade Seminary teacher would say, Choose the Right, Keep the Commandments, and have a holy and righteous day!
Love,
Elder Bracken
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Week One
Hey Family!
I just got my email account set up! :) I am very happy about that :)
The MTC is AMAZING! I love it! The Spirit is so strong here! I have awesome teachers, and fantastic District. We all get along great. :) Let me tell you all about them:
Me-(duh)
Elder Morrison-My companion. He's from Vernal. Nice Guy. We are very different people, but that isn't a bad thing. We get along just fine :)
Elder Grigg-District Leader, he and his companion are our roommates. Also a nice guy. Really really funny. He has LOADS of candy :) He is from Moses Lake, Washington.
Elder Troseth-(Grigg's Comp) He hails from Holden Utah, small town of 500 people. Very nice. Tall, lurpy, skinny, redheaded, wiry, super low body fat. He used to do Ultimate Fighting. Hilariously funny without even meaning to be.
Elder Moser-He's from Alabama. Quiet, reserved, smart. No sarcasm. But he's not uptight at all. He will always laugh at a good joke.
Elder Paul-(Moser's Comp) From Louisiana. Quiet. Always sleepy. :)
Elder Call-Gorilla of a man. From Oregon. Can't quite figure this guy out. Very nice. Very spiritual. Yet he is often talking about bad stuff. And he is struggling to stop swearing.
Elder Finance-(Call's Comp) Napoleon Dynamite. Looks like him, talks like him, acts like him. Yet he denies his Napoleonic nature, his napoleonicity, if you will. Also very nice and very spiritual.
Me, Morrison, Grigg, and Troseth are all headed for Oklahoma. The other 4 are headed to Las Vegas West.
Our teachers are Brother Davis and Brother Volmar. Davis is a relatively new teacher. Fairly soft-spoken. Big heart. Loves Missionary work. He understandably gets impatient with us and our lack of.... listening, i guess you could say? Volmar is a veteran. He taught for 2 years, and then got assigned to teach just Teachers how to teach the missionaries. But he wanted to teach a District to remember what it was like and to make sure he still had it in him(which of course he does). We are the first District he has taught in a year. It's really a wonderful opportunity for us to learn from the best. He is amazing.
Things are all going very well here. I am learning so much. There is just not enough time in the day to do everything I need to, plus have fun(we always make that a top priority, haha). Our District does have a major problem with Focus. We're working on it though.
Sunday was awesome! It was Fast Sunday. We had a Mission Conference, a Fast and Testimony Meeting, and a Fireside. The Fireside(with a noticable lack of fire) was about Joseph Smith. It was great. And immediately following, we had the option of staying in the Auditorium/Gym thing and watching Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration. I LOVE that movie. The Spirit was so strong!
Today is P-Day. We have e-mail, laundry, and, most importantly, the Temple. I am so excited to go! It feels like I haven't been there in ages! :)
Anyways. I love you all. I will be home before you know it. :) I hope you had a great time on Dos-o de Mayo. :) Have fun!
Love,
Elder Bracken
PS. Dad, take money out of my account and ship me a case of Dr. Pepper ASAP! Please! :)
I just got my email account set up! :) I am very happy about that :)
The MTC is AMAZING! I love it! The Spirit is so strong here! I have awesome teachers, and fantastic District. We all get along great. :) Let me tell you all about them:
Me-(duh)
Elder Morrison-My companion. He's from Vernal. Nice Guy. We are very different people, but that isn't a bad thing. We get along just fine :)
Elder Grigg-District Leader, he and his companion are our roommates. Also a nice guy. Really really funny. He has LOADS of candy :) He is from Moses Lake, Washington.
Elder Troseth-(Grigg's Comp) He hails from Holden Utah, small town of 500 people. Very nice. Tall, lurpy, skinny, redheaded, wiry, super low body fat. He used to do Ultimate Fighting. Hilariously funny without even meaning to be.
Elder Moser-He's from Alabama. Quiet, reserved, smart. No sarcasm. But he's not uptight at all. He will always laugh at a good joke.
Elder Paul-(Moser's Comp) From Louisiana. Quiet. Always sleepy. :)
Elder Call-Gorilla of a man. From Oregon. Can't quite figure this guy out. Very nice. Very spiritual. Yet he is often talking about bad stuff. And he is struggling to stop swearing.
Elder Finance-(Call's Comp) Napoleon Dynamite. Looks like him, talks like him, acts like him. Yet he denies his Napoleonic nature, his napoleonicity, if you will. Also very nice and very spiritual.
Me, Morrison, Grigg, and Troseth are all headed for Oklahoma. The other 4 are headed to Las Vegas West.
Our teachers are Brother Davis and Brother Volmar. Davis is a relatively new teacher. Fairly soft-spoken. Big heart. Loves Missionary work. He understandably gets impatient with us and our lack of.... listening, i guess you could say? Volmar is a veteran. He taught for 2 years, and then got assigned to teach just Teachers how to teach the missionaries. But he wanted to teach a District to remember what it was like and to make sure he still had it in him(which of course he does). We are the first District he has taught in a year. It's really a wonderful opportunity for us to learn from the best. He is amazing.
Things are all going very well here. I am learning so much. There is just not enough time in the day to do everything I need to, plus have fun(we always make that a top priority, haha). Our District does have a major problem with Focus. We're working on it though.
Sunday was awesome! It was Fast Sunday. We had a Mission Conference, a Fast and Testimony Meeting, and a Fireside. The Fireside(with a noticable lack of fire) was about Joseph Smith. It was great. And immediately following, we had the option of staying in the Auditorium/Gym thing and watching Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration. I LOVE that movie. The Spirit was so strong!
Today is P-Day. We have e-mail, laundry, and, most importantly, the Temple. I am so excited to go! It feels like I haven't been there in ages! :)
Anyways. I love you all. I will be home before you know it. :) I hope you had a great time on Dos-o de Mayo. :) Have fun!
Love,
Elder Bracken
PS. Dad, take money out of my account and ship me a case of Dr. Pepper ASAP! Please! :)
Friday, May 1, 2009
Quick note from Jordan
We got a quick hand written note from Jordan today. It was mostly asking for more immunization information, but I will share the rest of the note.
4/29/09
Dear Family,
The MTC is awesome! I just met my companion. His name is Ben Morrison. Nice guy. He's from Vernal. I am in the Addison Pratt Building room 343. Tell Jason my room number. He should know why it's awesome. (I asked Jason what this was all about. He said that it was one of their favorite levels in Halo.) My room is nice, clean and right next to the stairs. it has A/C, but it hardly works. It includes bedding!
I love you all! Thank you so much for getting me here!
I know that this is where I need to be. Thanks for everything.
Love,
Elder Bracken
4/29/09
Dear Family,
The MTC is awesome! I just met my companion. His name is Ben Morrison. Nice guy. He's from Vernal. I am in the Addison Pratt Building room 343. Tell Jason my room number. He should know why it's awesome. (I asked Jason what this was all about. He said that it was one of their favorite levels in Halo.) My room is nice, clean and right next to the stairs. it has A/C, but it hardly works. It includes bedding!
I love you all! Thank you so much for getting me here!
I know that this is where I need to be. Thanks for everything.
Love,
Elder Bracken
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
