Dear Family,
Well, I will see you Friday. I hope you aren't disappointed. haha.
Instead of a weekly update on my life, I would like to simple offer you my testimony:
I know the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. It has changed me forever. I am not the same person I used to be. The Savior has changed me slowly, bit by bit, to become more of what He wants me to be. He will do that for all of us, we must simply strive to Humble. I am so much happier now that I have committed myself to following Him. I don't always know what lies ahead. I almost never do, actually. But I'm okay with that. I know He is in control. I'd rather not know what's going to happen, with him in control, than know what's going to happen while I'm in control. I know that God, our Father, lives. He is LITERALLY our Father. He does everything in His Almighty Power to bless us and teach us. We are truly in training for greater things than any of us have ever imagined. This life is so short. So temporary. Let us not waste it. Let us not squander it. Let us press forward, feasting upon the words of Christ. Let us always remember that Eternity is not far away. We are here for such a small moment. We must do our very best to learn of and follow our Savior. If we do this, we will find ourselves soon embraced in the Savior's loving arms of mercy, surrounded with friends, family, loved ones, light, truth, and glory. It is so close. So close. I love you all very much. I can never repay you for your support and thought and prayers and sacrifice. May the Lord bless you and keep you, is my hope and prayer in the holy name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Love,
Elder Bracken
Monday, May 2, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Dear Family,
Well, I am glad to hear that things are going so well. I am a bit concerned, though. You are both putting way too much on your plate, at least from where I can see. Why are you doing that? Have you never seen What About Bob? Baby steps. Don't bite off more than you can chew. Do things a little here, and a little there. The house wasn't built in a day, and it surely won't be remodeled in a day. Your first grandbaby is en route, and your last child is about to return home from his mission. You just bought a brand new vehicle. You've landscaped the backyard and planted bulbs(GASP!). You've finished the basement, and now you're redoing the whole upstairs. This is a tad concerning. Why don't you wait for me to come home so I can help you with some of these things? Rome wasn't built in a day you know. When we read the accounts of the Creation of the World, God Himself took a great deal of time to make this wonderful Earth. He did things systematically, in wisdom and in order. He even took time to rest. There are principles here which we can and must follow, for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength.
So, we heckled a preacher this last week. It was great fun. We had our District Meeting(my last District Meeting. Weird.) at the Institute as we usually do. Afterwards, a member from the Singles Ward showed up and told us that there was a Preacher preaching at MSU campus. So we walked over there with him. It was only like a block and a half away. He was at the Public Speech podium thingy. He was yelling at everyone and telling them they were going to Hell. I had some fun asking him questions, but we left because it was cold. It didn't stop him, but it did entertain us. The young man from the Singles Ward tried to give him a Book of Mormon, but he wouldn't accept one. The Zone Leaders talked for a good while with a young man there who was fairly interested. Hopefully he will come to church sometime soon and check it out.
We had an entertaining prank the other day. I was on exchanges with Elder Argyle(one of the Zone Leaders). We got back in at about 8:45 p.m. Elder Bell and Elder Fellows weren't back yet. Somehow, I still don't know how, we came up with a brilliant idea. We tore apart the front room, knocked a bunch of stuff over, turned off all the lights, and left the front door a little open. We went into Elder Bell and I's bedroom. After a few minutes we heard them pulling in. They were talking as they walked up the steps, but as soon as they got to where they could see the front door, they went silent. They slowly pushed the door open and turned on the light. After a few moments of silence, we hear Elder Bell shout, "WHO'S IN THIS HOUSE???" and we hear a loud "CRACK!"(which turned out to be Elder Fellows kicking in the bathroom door) and we see Elder Fellows run into his bedroom with a Baseball Bat. It was hilarious. We burst out laughing. They weren't very pleased with us, haha. Later, Elder Fellows took a Sharpie and labeled the Baseball Bat "THE LORD'S JUSTICE."
Well, I had better get going. Have a good one!
Love,
Elder Bracken
Well, I am glad to hear that things are going so well. I am a bit concerned, though. You are both putting way too much on your plate, at least from where I can see. Why are you doing that? Have you never seen What About Bob? Baby steps. Don't bite off more than you can chew. Do things a little here, and a little there. The house wasn't built in a day, and it surely won't be remodeled in a day. Your first grandbaby is en route, and your last child is about to return home from his mission. You just bought a brand new vehicle. You've landscaped the backyard and planted bulbs(GASP!). You've finished the basement, and now you're redoing the whole upstairs. This is a tad concerning. Why don't you wait for me to come home so I can help you with some of these things? Rome wasn't built in a day you know. When we read the accounts of the Creation of the World, God Himself took a great deal of time to make this wonderful Earth. He did things systematically, in wisdom and in order. He even took time to rest. There are principles here which we can and must follow, for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength.
So, we heckled a preacher this last week. It was great fun. We had our District Meeting(my last District Meeting. Weird.) at the Institute as we usually do. Afterwards, a member from the Singles Ward showed up and told us that there was a Preacher preaching at MSU campus. So we walked over there with him. It was only like a block and a half away. He was at the Public Speech podium thingy. He was yelling at everyone and telling them they were going to Hell. I had some fun asking him questions, but we left because it was cold. It didn't stop him, but it did entertain us. The young man from the Singles Ward tried to give him a Book of Mormon, but he wouldn't accept one. The Zone Leaders talked for a good while with a young man there who was fairly interested. Hopefully he will come to church sometime soon and check it out.
We had an entertaining prank the other day. I was on exchanges with Elder Argyle(one of the Zone Leaders). We got back in at about 8:45 p.m. Elder Bell and Elder Fellows weren't back yet. Somehow, I still don't know how, we came up with a brilliant idea. We tore apart the front room, knocked a bunch of stuff over, turned off all the lights, and left the front door a little open. We went into Elder Bell and I's bedroom. After a few minutes we heard them pulling in. They were talking as they walked up the steps, but as soon as they got to where they could see the front door, they went silent. They slowly pushed the door open and turned on the light. After a few moments of silence, we hear Elder Bell shout, "WHO'S IN THIS HOUSE???" and we hear a loud "CRACK!"(which turned out to be Elder Fellows kicking in the bathroom door) and we see Elder Fellows run into his bedroom with a Baseball Bat. It was hilarious. We burst out laughing. They weren't very pleased with us, haha. Later, Elder Fellows took a Sharpie and labeled the Baseball Bat "THE LORD'S JUSTICE."
Well, I had better get going. Have a good one!
Love,
Elder Bracken
Monday, April 18, 2011
We had a lot of fun tracting yesterday. We did a lot of tracting, but we had a lot of success. Many people wanted us to come back. It was weird how we ended up in this one neighborhood with nothing to do except tract for a couple of hours, but the Lord's hand is truly in all things. We were meant to be there at that exact time and place. I love little miracles like that I am very grateful to be a missionary.
I do not want to go home. Early on in my mission, Missionaries would always say how they never want to leave their mission, that it's the best time of their life, that they have little desire to go home, really. I always thought they were nuts. But I understand how they feel. Well, have a good week.
Love,
Elder Bracken
I do not want to go home. Early on in my mission, Missionaries would always say how they never want to leave their mission, that it's the best time of their life, that they have little desire to go home, really. I always thought they were nuts. But I understand how they feel. Well, have a good week.
Love,
Elder Bracken
Monday, April 11, 2011
Dear Family,
It's good to hear from you!(as always, of course). I'll be very excited for that package. The only question that remains is, will I share with the other Elders in the Apartment? :) haha And you are correct, Mom. Meat is indeed, better than chocolate.
Wow. Sounds like I have a busy schedule ahead of me when I get home. I've told you my plan right? We can bag the restaurant idea I suppose. But I do still want to go straight to the temple and do a session when I get out of the airport.
As far as speaking in church, I don't think it would be appropriate for me to be the only speaker. I can take as much time as is needed, but there should at LEAST be a Youth Speaker. No one should have to listen to me yack for 30-40 minutes. And has he assigned me a topic yet?
Well, I don't know that there's too much to report this week. Our area is pretty slow right now, but we're working hard to find people to teach.
As far as food goes, I did try my first Beer Bratwurst. It was good. I still prefer Cheese Brats though. And I still prefer traditional "weiners" over that. Speaking of this, I'm reminded. Still thinking of getting a Smoker?
Oh, haha. Our Assistants have created a "Contraband" list.(I don't think they know they definition of that word). If we have pocketknives, novels, magazines, D&D material, Pokemon Cards, or anything like unto it, they are supposed to confiscate it. I'm going to have some fun with this when the Assistants come on exchanges with the Zone Leaders. haha. :)
We had a District Leader Training meeting with President Merkley. It was fun. Mostly just talking about how to perform baptismal interviews and such. But afterwards he and Sister Merkley took us to Steak N' Shake, a nice burger joint they have out here. I enjoyed it. I wish I would've discovered how good(and reasonably priced) this place was earlier.
I'm sending home a couple of packages of stuff so I will have more space and less weight in my luggage. I also bought some things from Church Distribution. I felt I should get it now while these things are important to me. I greatly fear losing my perspective when I go home. But I will do my very best not too.
Have a great week family!
Love,
Elder Bracken
It's good to hear from you!(as always, of course). I'll be very excited for that package. The only question that remains is, will I share with the other Elders in the Apartment? :) haha And you are correct, Mom. Meat is indeed, better than chocolate.
Wow. Sounds like I have a busy schedule ahead of me when I get home. I've told you my plan right? We can bag the restaurant idea I suppose. But I do still want to go straight to the temple and do a session when I get out of the airport.
As far as speaking in church, I don't think it would be appropriate for me to be the only speaker. I can take as much time as is needed, but there should at LEAST be a Youth Speaker. No one should have to listen to me yack for 30-40 minutes. And has he assigned me a topic yet?
Well, I don't know that there's too much to report this week. Our area is pretty slow right now, but we're working hard to find people to teach.
As far as food goes, I did try my first Beer Bratwurst. It was good. I still prefer Cheese Brats though. And I still prefer traditional "weiners" over that. Speaking of this, I'm reminded. Still thinking of getting a Smoker?
Oh, haha. Our Assistants have created a "Contraband" list.(I don't think they know they definition of that word). If we have pocketknives, novels, magazines, D&D material, Pokemon Cards, or anything like unto it, they are supposed to confiscate it. I'm going to have some fun with this when the Assistants come on exchanges with the Zone Leaders. haha. :)
We had a District Leader Training meeting with President Merkley. It was fun. Mostly just talking about how to perform baptismal interviews and such. But afterwards he and Sister Merkley took us to Steak N' Shake, a nice burger joint they have out here. I enjoyed it. I wish I would've discovered how good(and reasonably priced) this place was earlier.
I'm sending home a couple of packages of stuff so I will have more space and less weight in my luggage. I also bought some things from Church Distribution. I felt I should get it now while these things are important to me. I greatly fear losing my perspective when I go home. But I will do my very best not too.
Have a great week family!
Love,
Elder Bracken
Monday, April 4, 2011
Dear Family,
It's been a good weekend! I LOVE General Conference! And no, Mom, we haven't had bad weather. It's been really, really warm actually.
Saturday we spent the morning and afternoon at a members house. There were tons of members there having a barbecue. The food was great, but I hardly got anything out of Conference that day. I really want to watch Conference at the Church from now on. I can feel the Spirit so much more that way.
Priesthood Session was fantastic. I loved it. Pres. Monson's talk was my favorite. It was a smackdown. And oh boy were there a lot of talks about marriage. I get the hint, haha.
I enjoyed all of conference. It was great.
Well, I had better get going. Have a wonderful week, family!
Love,
Elder Bracken
It's been a good weekend! I LOVE General Conference! And no, Mom, we haven't had bad weather. It's been really, really warm actually.
Saturday we spent the morning and afternoon at a members house. There were tons of members there having a barbecue. The food was great, but I hardly got anything out of Conference that day. I really want to watch Conference at the Church from now on. I can feel the Spirit so much more that way.
Priesthood Session was fantastic. I loved it. Pres. Monson's talk was my favorite. It was a smackdown. And oh boy were there a lot of talks about marriage. I get the hint, haha.
I enjoyed all of conference. It was great.
Well, I had better get going. Have a wonderful week, family!
Love,
Elder Bracken
Monday, March 28, 2011
Dear Family,
My companion's name is Elder Cory Bell. He is from West Valley City, Utah. Weird, eh? He went to Granger, not Hunter. We didn't know each other. He's a good kid though. I love serving with him. So far he doesn't know how long I have left. We'll see how long it lasts. On that note, as far as when or how I ship my bike home, I have NO idea how that works. All I know is that I have to do it haha.
Nothing too exciting has happened this week. Been just a regular old week, besides transfers. And I'm okay with that.
Well, have a great week, everyone! Go to the temple often!
Love,
Elder Bracken
My companion's name is Elder Cory Bell. He is from West Valley City, Utah. Weird, eh? He went to Granger, not Hunter. We didn't know each other. He's a good kid though. I love serving with him. So far he doesn't know how long I have left. We'll see how long it lasts. On that note, as far as when or how I ship my bike home, I have NO idea how that works. All I know is that I have to do it haha.
Nothing too exciting has happened this week. Been just a regular old week, besides transfers. And I'm okay with that.
Well, have a great week, everyone! Go to the temple often!
Love,
Elder Bracken
Monday, March 21, 2011
Dear Family,
So, here's the big news. I'm training again! yay! I get a brand new greenie on Thursday! The trick is, I was expressly commanded by President Merkley that I am not to let this new missionary know that I am about to go home. So it's going to be interesting trying to explain everything.... Like when I ship my bike home. That'll be fun trying to explain haha.
Elder Gardner is going to the Springfield South Stake as a Senior Companion. Just a hop, skip, and a jump away. I am very excited for him and proud of him.
Yesterday our Ward Mission Leader Barbecued for us. Ribs and Chicken. It was SO good! Mashed Potatoes. Peas(the world's most frustrating food to eat). Fruit(I skipped that). Pumpkin Pie for dessert. It was AWESOME. At the end of May the Ward here is having a BBQ contest..... Maybe I'll have to come back and tour the mission then..... I can't wait to go home, get a smoker, and get serious about BBQ! Yum!
Last night we went to a Member's house so Elder Gardner could say goodbye to them. They had rented a Dodge Challenger because the Mom and Dad went on a little mini-vacation this weekend. The Dad gave Elder Gardner and I a quick spin around the block in it. Boy that thing was awesome! And he only had a 6 cylinder!(which gets 27 MPG on the highway, by the way) I can't imagine how much giddy-up the the V8 has. You should go test-drive one, Mom. :) You'd like it.
Saturday we went to a Baptism for the University Ward. The guy who was conducting the meeting wasn't able to make it, so they had me do it. So that was kind of fun. I always a love a Baptism.
That's all the exciting news, I suppose. Other than that it's been a normal week as a missionary. Nothing too mind-blowing has happened.
I hope that y'all have a good week! Go to the temple if you can!(and we all know that we can if we just make time)
Love,
Elder Bracken
So, here's the big news. I'm training again! yay! I get a brand new greenie on Thursday! The trick is, I was expressly commanded by President Merkley that I am not to let this new missionary know that I am about to go home. So it's going to be interesting trying to explain everything.... Like when I ship my bike home. That'll be fun trying to explain haha.
Elder Gardner is going to the Springfield South Stake as a Senior Companion. Just a hop, skip, and a jump away. I am very excited for him and proud of him.
Yesterday our Ward Mission Leader Barbecued for us. Ribs and Chicken. It was SO good! Mashed Potatoes. Peas(the world's most frustrating food to eat). Fruit(I skipped that). Pumpkin Pie for dessert. It was AWESOME. At the end of May the Ward here is having a BBQ contest..... Maybe I'll have to come back and tour the mission then..... I can't wait to go home, get a smoker, and get serious about BBQ! Yum!
Last night we went to a Member's house so Elder Gardner could say goodbye to them. They had rented a Dodge Challenger because the Mom and Dad went on a little mini-vacation this weekend. The Dad gave Elder Gardner and I a quick spin around the block in it. Boy that thing was awesome! And he only had a 6 cylinder!(which gets 27 MPG on the highway, by the way) I can't imagine how much giddy-up the the V8 has. You should go test-drive one, Mom. :) You'd like it.
Saturday we went to a Baptism for the University Ward. The guy who was conducting the meeting wasn't able to make it, so they had me do it. So that was kind of fun. I always a love a Baptism.
That's all the exciting news, I suppose. Other than that it's been a normal week as a missionary. Nothing too mind-blowing has happened.
I hope that y'all have a good week! Go to the temple if you can!(and we all know that we can if we just make time)
Love,
Elder Bracken
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