Hey there! So you got my pictures, I take it. How'd you know that it was an ironing board? Spoil my fun! grr! Yes, we had way too much fun in the MTC haha :)
Things are going very well here. The work is ramping up. Jenny Hattabaugh should be baptized on August 21st, and there are at least 3 other people who COULD be baptized in August. We will see with them though.
One of them gave me one of my favorite new quotes. Her name is Hailee. She is 14 (i think). Her friend invited her to church and gave her True to the Faith and all this stuff and Hailee really wants to be baptized now. We haven't taught her yet but when we last saw her we asked her how she felt about what she's learned about the church so far. She replied, "It's amazing! It's better than being Christian!" hahahaha!
We had a really amazing miracle this last week. So, I was on exchanges here with Elder Bracken. At one point we drove down this one street and Elder Bracken told me that Elder Perry and I should do some tracting there some time. A couple days later, we did. We knocked on this door and a lady came out and talked to us. Her husband got home from work just a minute or two later so we talked with both of them. And they have a 5 year old daughter, btw. Apparently, they investigated the church about 2 years ago, and attended church a couple of times. Things were going great. But then the missionaries that were teaching them got transferred and they lost contact with the church. They recently purchased a used pickup. However, the previous owner, it seems, made some people pretty mad. Someone did a drive-by shooting at their house. Put a bunch of bullet holes in the truck. One bullet went through the house and shot through a picture of Jesus that was hanging on their daughter's wall. They took that as a sign that they need to get back to church. So they want us to come teach them! :)
I've been thinking a lot lately about being prepared. Ya know. Getting out of debt. Having ample Food and Water Storage. Owning all our own property. Having various emergency plans and supplies. It's very important. It's going to get bad here in a few years. I hope everyone back home has these things in mind and are working on them.
And, of course, my weekly Temple question. When was the last time you went? You should all go every chance you get. I don't have a chance, and I am unbelievably jealous of you all. The temple is extremely important. There's a quote in Preach My Gospel by Spencer W. Kimball. "I hope to see us dissolve the artificial boundary line we so often place between missionary work and temple and genealogical work, because it is the same great redemptive work!” That pretty much says it right there. :)
The next transfers will occur on August 14th. I will know on the 8th if either of us will get transferred, if Jenks will be opened, or what. I personally feel that I will get transferred somewhere else. We will see though.
Today is my 3 month mark. That's pretty insane. I'll be home before you can blink. Thank you for your letters. I love hearing about what's going on back home. I can't believe the Garvins are coming to Utah! Is it the Apocalypse or something?
I got a letter from Grandma and Grandpa Bracken. That was really cool. And I got a sweet package of letters and Brownie Mixes from the Garcias! It's been a good week :) haha
And mom, it is NOT hot in St. George. It's hot here. :P
Anywho. I love you all and I will, of course, keep writing every week and keeping you up to date :) Just FYI, since Labor Day is on a Monday, my Preparationg day will probably be the next day, on Tuesdays. I guess they do that mostly because Library's close on Holidays so missionaries can't email home. But yeah. That's the latest news on my end!
Love,
Elder Bracken
Monday, July 27, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Hola!Good to hear from you all today! :) I love preparation days. :)
Speaking of which. So, my companion has been meeting with Dr. Chai on Preparation Days lately. He is the Elders Quorum President. He is also a Chiropractor. And he wears a tinfoil hat, I tell you what.(yes, I use that phrase now, haha). But anyways, apparently my companion has a slight tear in his meniscus on his knee. Sucks to be him. It's good for me though, because he can't try to convince me to go running in the morning.
While he was in there I met with Sister Bailey, the Bishop's wife. She works in Dr. Chai's office doing this very hippie-ish thing called Emotional Freedom Technology. It's an interesting idea, but I'm extremely skeptical of all this hippie crap. At any rate. We met and she tried to cure my fear of bees. We'll see if it actually worked the next time a bee crosses my path. I'll keep you updated.
Also. Very small world. Apparently a lady in the Jenks Ward graduated with you, Dad. And her sister graduated with you, mom. Her maiden name is Jill Allstrom(I think), she's now Jill Curbello. She didn't know either of you, but she looked you up in the year-book and sure enough, there you were!(i didn't see it but she told me about it). Crazy, no?
Well, this week has been pretty good. We got some new investigators, which is always exciting. And of course Zone Conference, which was awesome. We met President and Sister Merkley. They are really cool. I'm excited to serve with them. The Conference was all about Unity. With your companion, your leaders, the mission as a whole, the local ward and bishopric, etc. It was really good. I learned a lot. We had some really good Sloppy Joes for lunch :).
I spoke in Church yesterday on Teaching the Plan of Salvation. I think it went okay. Could've been worse. I actually took up my share of the time this time, for which the High Counselor was grateful.
About my memory card, I'm sorry that I keep forgetting to send it. I do think that I will make a copy of the pictures on a disc, just in case. I think Wal-Mart does that. Maybe even Walgreens. Not sure. Regardless, I will get that done and send my pictures home as soon as I can.
Well, that's what's goin on in my life this week. It was great to hear from you about what's going on back home :) I hope Janice gets better!
Love,
Elder Bracken
Speaking of which. So, my companion has been meeting with Dr. Chai on Preparation Days lately. He is the Elders Quorum President. He is also a Chiropractor. And he wears a tinfoil hat, I tell you what.(yes, I use that phrase now, haha). But anyways, apparently my companion has a slight tear in his meniscus on his knee. Sucks to be him. It's good for me though, because he can't try to convince me to go running in the morning.
While he was in there I met with Sister Bailey, the Bishop's wife. She works in Dr. Chai's office doing this very hippie-ish thing called Emotional Freedom Technology. It's an interesting idea, but I'm extremely skeptical of all this hippie crap. At any rate. We met and she tried to cure my fear of bees. We'll see if it actually worked the next time a bee crosses my path. I'll keep you updated.
Also. Very small world. Apparently a lady in the Jenks Ward graduated with you, Dad. And her sister graduated with you, mom. Her maiden name is Jill Allstrom(I think), she's now Jill Curbello. She didn't know either of you, but she looked you up in the year-book and sure enough, there you were!(i didn't see it but she told me about it). Crazy, no?
Well, this week has been pretty good. We got some new investigators, which is always exciting. And of course Zone Conference, which was awesome. We met President and Sister Merkley. They are really cool. I'm excited to serve with them. The Conference was all about Unity. With your companion, your leaders, the mission as a whole, the local ward and bishopric, etc. It was really good. I learned a lot. We had some really good Sloppy Joes for lunch :).
I spoke in Church yesterday on Teaching the Plan of Salvation. I think it went okay. Could've been worse. I actually took up my share of the time this time, for which the High Counselor was grateful.
About my memory card, I'm sorry that I keep forgetting to send it. I do think that I will make a copy of the pictures on a disc, just in case. I think Wal-Mart does that. Maybe even Walgreens. Not sure. Regardless, I will get that done and send my pictures home as soon as I can.
Well, that's what's goin on in my life this week. It was great to hear from you about what's going on back home :) I hope Janice gets better!
Love,
Elder Bracken
Monday, July 13, 2009
Hello :) I hope Scott's work gets going again soon. I'll keep them in my prayers, for sure.
Ladderball looks like a blast. I haven't played it, but I've seen people play it. I can't believe that you beat Manda & Scott though haha.
Things are..... okay. I mean, we're working hard and teaching and everything. But the Sapulpa Ward Leadership is not helping us at all and it is very frustrating. Also, it is VERY hot and humid! holy cow! I hope none of you every complain about Utah being hot. lol. I HATE humidity! It's the pits. The good news is, my allergies aren't bad at all and I haven't had a bloody nose yet :) *knocks on wood*
We have our first Zone Conference with President Merkley on Friday. I'm excited! He sounds way awesome! Apparently I was mis-informed about the 90 day thing. He's already changing things. The rule for investigators being baptized used to be that they had to attend church 5 times in our mission. But he has changed the rule to simply say that it is up to the Bishop to decide when they are ready. Be that after 2 times or 12. I like it because it forces the Bishop to take a vested interest in our investigators. I'm hoping that it will evolve into Bishops assigning member families to keep track of the individual investigators. That would be fantastic.
Dillon should not be buying a car, he should be saving for a mission! Grr!
I have to talk in church this Sunday. While I hate doing that(as you are well aware), I do look forward to having the chance to guilt-trip the members in Sapulpa into doing missionary work ;) haha
Not much else is new here on my end. Just gonna keep working hard. :) Thanks for keeping me up to date on what's going on back home! :)
Love,Elder Bracken
Ladderball looks like a blast. I haven't played it, but I've seen people play it. I can't believe that you beat Manda & Scott though haha.
Things are..... okay. I mean, we're working hard and teaching and everything. But the Sapulpa Ward Leadership is not helping us at all and it is very frustrating. Also, it is VERY hot and humid! holy cow! I hope none of you every complain about Utah being hot. lol. I HATE humidity! It's the pits. The good news is, my allergies aren't bad at all and I haven't had a bloody nose yet :) *knocks on wood*
We have our first Zone Conference with President Merkley on Friday. I'm excited! He sounds way awesome! Apparently I was mis-informed about the 90 day thing. He's already changing things. The rule for investigators being baptized used to be that they had to attend church 5 times in our mission. But he has changed the rule to simply say that it is up to the Bishop to decide when they are ready. Be that after 2 times or 12. I like it because it forces the Bishop to take a vested interest in our investigators. I'm hoping that it will evolve into Bishops assigning member families to keep track of the individual investigators. That would be fantastic.
Dillon should not be buying a car, he should be saving for a mission! Grr!
I have to talk in church this Sunday. While I hate doing that(as you are well aware), I do look forward to having the chance to guilt-trip the members in Sapulpa into doing missionary work ;) haha
Not much else is new here on my end. Just gonna keep working hard. :) Thanks for keeping me up to date on what's going on back home! :)
Love,Elder Bracken
Monday, July 6, 2009
Hey,
I did decide on a scripture for the Plaque. I want to use Jacob 5:71(I think that's the reference). It's from the Allegory talking about how this is that last time that the Vineyard will be nourished. There were a lot of good scriptures on that list.
I haven't sent the memory card yet, actually. I will let you know when I do though. I will soon, i think.
That is awesome about Chris. I'm way excited for him!
The 4th of July wasn't much fun. We didn't get much good work done. Everyone was out of town. The Ward Mission Leader in Sapulpa took us to Taco Bell(Elder Perry's idea). And we watched the Joseph Smith movie with the members that we live with.
Today the Elders Quorum President and the Executive Secretary in Sapulpa, Bros. Chai and Contreras, respectively, took us out for a round of golf. It was a blast! I did terrible. But that's okay. I haven't played seriously in years. It was Elder Perry's first time playin 18 holes. He's just done the driving range before. He did very well. Though I am unsure how much he enjoyed it.
The Bishop of the Jenks ward had us over for steaks a week ago Sunday. They were AMAZING steaks. He is an F-16 pilot. He is in Houston two weeks of the month, so he can't be at church during that time, which is sad. But he still does an excellent job. And he protects a large chunk of our nation's oil supply, which is good.
Speaking of which, it sounds like the Jenks ward will be getting their own set of missionaries next transfer. It's not set in stone, but is pretty likely. That will be nice for both wards.
113 degrees in St. George is nothing. Try 105 degrees in Tulsa, with 50-60% humidity. THAT sucks. This week has cooled off quite a bit though, which is nice. I don't look forward to August haha.
So, I keep forgetting to tell you about my one of my favorite treats here that I make. I learned it from Elder Nielson. It's called a Brownie Delight. So, you buy a super cheapo Wal-Mart brand Brownie Mix(and you know I hate that kind of thing, so you know this must be good). You mix up the batter and refrigerate it. When you want a treat, you put a heaping spoonful of it in the bottom of a bowl, along with a spoonful of Hot Fudge. You microwave it for 30 seconds, then throw about 2 scoops of ice cream on there. Preferably chocolate chip or Cookies and Cream. Simple. Hot. Cold. Chocolatey. Ice Creamy. Delicious. I love it! It's so unhealthy.... haha.
Remember the family that we baptized? Well the still have 3 kids unbaptized. We are working on them. One is pretty close. One is a few months away. The Third has no interest.... yet haha. They will get there though.
Baptists are really hard to talk to. You can tell them about the Restoration. They won't even try to say it's false. They're response is simply, "Well, I'm Baptist." Period. It's very frustrating.
I hate all the Preachers who try to tel us what we believe, and how it's false. They never even know or understand what we believe, and they won't listen long enough to find out. That is also very frustrating. So, although being here has many advantages(car, cell phone, good wards, free country, email, wal-mart, etc), it certainly has it's own unique challenges.
I bore my testimony in Sacrament Meeting in Jenks yesterday. It was awesome. I love this country. It may be pretty screwed up right now, but it's still the Promised Land, and it is still the best country in the world to live in.
Well, That's all I can really think of to say right now. I will talk to you next week!
Love,
Elder Bracken
Hey,
My 4th was.... okay. The Ward Mission Leader in Sapulpa took us to Taco Bell, and we watched Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration with the family that we live with. It wasn't bad. No BBQ though.
Sounds like you had a lot of fun! That's so funny that Michelle got hurt. Sad, but funny. She just has the worst luck with water fights!
That sucks about Manda and Scott. I'll keep them in my prayers.
That Tab Choir concert was amazing, or so I hear from all the members here.
I haven't met President Merkley yet. I will at Zone Conference in a couple of weeks. We talked to him on the phone for about 2 minutes the other day. Sounds like an awesome guy.
Love,
Elder Bracken
I did decide on a scripture for the Plaque. I want to use Jacob 5:71(I think that's the reference). It's from the Allegory talking about how this is that last time that the Vineyard will be nourished. There were a lot of good scriptures on that list.
I haven't sent the memory card yet, actually. I will let you know when I do though. I will soon, i think.
That is awesome about Chris. I'm way excited for him!
The 4th of July wasn't much fun. We didn't get much good work done. Everyone was out of town. The Ward Mission Leader in Sapulpa took us to Taco Bell(Elder Perry's idea). And we watched the Joseph Smith movie with the members that we live with.
Today the Elders Quorum President and the Executive Secretary in Sapulpa, Bros. Chai and Contreras, respectively, took us out for a round of golf. It was a blast! I did terrible. But that's okay. I haven't played seriously in years. It was Elder Perry's first time playin 18 holes. He's just done the driving range before. He did very well. Though I am unsure how much he enjoyed it.
The Bishop of the Jenks ward had us over for steaks a week ago Sunday. They were AMAZING steaks. He is an F-16 pilot. He is in Houston two weeks of the month, so he can't be at church during that time, which is sad. But he still does an excellent job. And he protects a large chunk of our nation's oil supply, which is good.
Speaking of which, it sounds like the Jenks ward will be getting their own set of missionaries next transfer. It's not set in stone, but is pretty likely. That will be nice for both wards.
113 degrees in St. George is nothing. Try 105 degrees in Tulsa, with 50-60% humidity. THAT sucks. This week has cooled off quite a bit though, which is nice. I don't look forward to August haha.
So, I keep forgetting to tell you about my one of my favorite treats here that I make. I learned it from Elder Nielson. It's called a Brownie Delight. So, you buy a super cheapo Wal-Mart brand Brownie Mix(and you know I hate that kind of thing, so you know this must be good). You mix up the batter and refrigerate it. When you want a treat, you put a heaping spoonful of it in the bottom of a bowl, along with a spoonful of Hot Fudge. You microwave it for 30 seconds, then throw about 2 scoops of ice cream on there. Preferably chocolate chip or Cookies and Cream. Simple. Hot. Cold. Chocolatey. Ice Creamy. Delicious. I love it! It's so unhealthy.... haha.
Remember the family that we baptized? Well the still have 3 kids unbaptized. We are working on them. One is pretty close. One is a few months away. The Third has no interest.... yet haha. They will get there though.
Baptists are really hard to talk to. You can tell them about the Restoration. They won't even try to say it's false. They're response is simply, "Well, I'm Baptist." Period. It's very frustrating.
I hate all the Preachers who try to tel us what we believe, and how it's false. They never even know or understand what we believe, and they won't listen long enough to find out. That is also very frustrating. So, although being here has many advantages(car, cell phone, good wards, free country, email, wal-mart, etc), it certainly has it's own unique challenges.
I bore my testimony in Sacrament Meeting in Jenks yesterday. It was awesome. I love this country. It may be pretty screwed up right now, but it's still the Promised Land, and it is still the best country in the world to live in.
Well, That's all I can really think of to say right now. I will talk to you next week!
Love,
Elder Bracken
Hey,
My 4th was.... okay. The Ward Mission Leader in Sapulpa took us to Taco Bell, and we watched Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration with the family that we live with. It wasn't bad. No BBQ though.
Sounds like you had a lot of fun! That's so funny that Michelle got hurt. Sad, but funny. She just has the worst luck with water fights!
That sucks about Manda and Scott. I'll keep them in my prayers.
That Tab Choir concert was amazing, or so I hear from all the members here.
I haven't met President Merkley yet. I will at Zone Conference in a couple of weeks. We talked to him on the phone for about 2 minutes the other day. Sounds like an awesome guy.
Love,
Elder Bracken
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