Week 2 in the mission field 8/29/2016

Hey, hows it goin'?

This past week I went on exchanges with Elder Peterson, and I got to go to Pagedale. This place is literately the ghetto. We talked to so many people and almost all of them believed in Jesus, which was awesome. We were walking down the street and I walked up to this guy and asked him if i could share with him a message about Jesus, and he was like, "yoooo- heck yeah, brother."  Then he proceeded to tell us that he is in the gang Crips and that if we ever need any help to do this weird call thing then tell the people that show up that "Richie" told us. Elder Peterson didn't realize we were talking to a full blown gangster and he started laughing and I was like, "we are just gonna leave ya with a card." hahaha as we were talkin, another guy walked up and said, "you got any money?" In my mind i was thinking holy cow its happening... I'm about to get robbed, then my comp. said, "probably as much as you do" and I thought we were done for. Then Richie said "Hey man, these boys work for Jesus." the man that asked for money then shook our hands and walked away. The name tag I am wearing saved my life, I swear. hahahahaha

We walk a little further and decide we have to get on a bus. We sit down at the bus stop and this older looking guy walks up and is like, "Sup."  So, we naturally start talking with him. It doesn't take long to find out that this guy had just got out of prison the day before for homicide, and he was on his way to his momma's house! He showed me all of the 19 bullet holes on his body and a whole bunch of stab wounds, and I was thinking, "holy freaking cow, I am going to die today." Turns out this guy was from the Bloods, a different gang, and this guy was one of the leaders in the area. I asked him if he was going to change and be a better person now that he's out of prison, and he was like, "yeah, I gotta change- but I still have some stuff I gotta finnish up. You know - pow pow." then he started laughing and said, "Jesus Forgive me," and told me he was kidding. He wasn't,I'm pretty sure. He told me he always believes in Jesus and tries to give back to the streets like Jesus would.

IT was an awesome experience in the Ghetto, and i hope i get to serve there some time. hahaha Everyone there has so much faith in God and Jesus they just dont act like it. 

Now im back in Frontenac and we are back to people telling us they dont need God or Jesus. Nothing gets me more mad than when people tell me that, but I try to be kind. haha Im eatin well and having fun. Its been a month since i left home and i cant believe time goes by that fast. I love you all and miss you.

Love Elder Brian

my MTC companion, Elder Martin

My Trainer, Elder Thomson

Workin'

Week 1 in the mission field - Aug 22nd

Hey fam (and friends)! First week in the field has been absolutely amazing. I feel like I've already learned so much. My Trainer is Elder Thomson, and to my surprise he is an absolute stud. He's very goofy- but who isn’t? He is a nerd and he's proud of it, and he's from Herriman Utah. He is teaching me by getting out and doing the work and its been going great. Its hot but good, and I want it to rain but it just wont for some reason. 

Missouri is absolutely beautiful. The craziest part about it is my first area, Frontenac, is one of the richest parts of my mission and it is massive. The mission home is in my area, and the temple, and all that fun stuff. The Batemans are actually in the ward we go to. We go mansion knocking and it is the weirdest thing cause most of the people in the huge houses are not kind. BUT we go knock doors every day. Right now our investigators are down to one and he just invites us over to sorta bash with him. HOLY COW there are so many religions here. I never thought that people would use the bible to push us out, I just keep saying, " WE ALSO READ OUT OF THE BIBLE." hahaha no one will talk with us so I'm starting to get a little bit more creative. I tried complimenting people when they open the door, I've tried switching up what people usually say and I'm getting to the point where I'm gonna start singing a song when they open the door just to get their attention. It gets a little bit frustrating but I know we are doing the Lords work so I don't let it get me down. Plus its kinda fun. 

We've taught like 4 or 5 lessons and two of them were old people that let us in just cause they liked us. haha but I am Learning a lot. It was weird for me at first to talk to people but now its easier.

OH YEAH, we get fed. The members here are super cool and they are keepin me alive. I miss my mommas cookin and my dads eggs but I've been cookin a few things here and there. (ramen and toast) hehe but we've had dinner 2 times and I've been here less than a week. It’s awesome. The microwave is full of mold, and it grossed me out so now I make all my food on the stove top… so I count it as a blessing. hehe I’m eating lots of fruit and avocados in honor of Millie.

Okay my companion is a really good kid. He is trying his best to show me the ropes. He is always encouraging me to do better and I'm learning to take criticism. He loves to talk about some card game called ‘magic" so we get a long very well. Elder Thomson obeys the rules and wants to find people to help. He sometimes gets heated during lessons if someone doesn't understand. He knows the doctrine very well and mostly teaches the lessons exactly -so we differ at that point. 

I really am doing okay, I’m happy and optimistic. The people are kinda set in their ways and sometimes angry but some are super nice so I guess the people are great. haha 

Life is good, and I hope you know I'm praying for all y'all back in Utah and the rest of the peeps in the rest of the world. The spirit is the thing that converts and as I've been here I've seen it convert me more and more. Keep reading, Keep praying, keep going to church, doing good, and keep finding new knowledge, I know I have. 

This is Elder Brian calling all auto-bots we are here and we are waiting.

   LOVE YA

Week #1 MTC

JULY 28th Hey momma, I am here, and i am happy. I was just assigned as a District Leader so that's pretty cool. I only have two minutes to write, but i love ya and I'm where i need to be. ill write later. love you.

AUG. 2nd  UM yeah... so this first week I thought would be a blast, but some of the saddest things have happened. I'll start from the beginning. My companion is  Elder Martin, a kid from Arizona . He is really kind and nice and all but he is waaay too smart for his own good. He has a hard time talking to new people and he is the senior so I have to let him do some of the talking. Anyway, I got my badge and went into the classroom and watched all the other people come in. I thought, " oh yeah this is so good." There is a kid from Viewmont Elder Ashton and then Elder Humphreys came in and it was a breath of fresh air. I loved it. So i get assigned Elder Martin and I was like, "okay lets do this." I am good friends with him now but it still is hard to connect. I'm learning how to be kind - always. haha So we go the first few days and they last a week each. It felt sooo long. But I go to class and I learn a lot every time. I got to sit with Elder Blackham and his comp. until the dreadful day. I was doing so well smiling so much and talking with everyone. But then I didn't see Elder Blackham anymore, I found out that he has cancer the Hodgkin Lymphoma type and I lost it. I couldn't just be happy anymore. On day three in the MTC Elder Humphreys and I had a moment. We lost Elder Blackham and Elder Wincle went home just before him. At like 10:50 i knocked on Elder Humphreys door and he opened it with tears in his eyes and I was already crying. We went outside and had the most spiritual experience. We prayed harder then ever before. The next day i found out that Elder Kamalu is having a hard time because his dog died that day. IT FELT LIKE I WAS BEING HUNTED BY SATAN. he was coming after me, and I knew it. Without Tyler, I would have struggled so much but he and Christan have saved me. I also have charge over my district as you know. This is HARD. We already had one elder want to go home and I fasted for him and prayed hard and God is listening because I can for sure see a change in him. I am trying to do good. I am keepin my smile on and its savin my butt. We taught two people and I've done most of the talking. I want more time to study the scriptures and more time to talk to people and i have very little time to do both. haha I know that this is where i need to be and is where the Lord wants me to be but man its hard to be here. I am counting down the days until i get to get out there and do some real hard work. Keep Elder Blackham in your prayers in fact keep all my buddies in your prayers. they need it right now bad. I've come to realize how much I cherish prayer. I haven't spent as much time on my knees anywhere else in my life.

Alright here is the Optimism, this place is full of the spirit. I feel it in every lesson. I am becoming a true missionary here and i love it. I am learning my purpose and I am coming closer to Christ. I am suppose to be here and i know it. Nothing can drag me home. Im here for the people of the St. Louis Mission to show them the pathway to happiness. I cannot give up, i have no desire to give up. Its hard but like i said in my farewell talk -all hard things are worth it. Thanks so much for everything. There is good even where it seems bad. Look up and realize the joy.

LOVE ya lots,
ELDER Brian

Friends/missionaries - so glad to have each other

MTC District