June 21, 2010

Hi Mom! Hi Dad! Hid Marc! Hi Austin! Hi Sean! Hi everybody else who might be reading this!

Thanks for your Dear Elder letter, Dad. I got it just before you left. I can't believe you're already switching out your cars. You'll probably have a Formula 1 Race Car by the time I get back.

Austin's Allstar team went to the state championship? Did they win? Is Austin totally tired of baseball yet? There's no way I could play that much baseball. When is Mom running her half marathon? Where? How is she training for it?

Well, I've only been here a week, but I already love it here. Although it's nothing like what I was expecting when they told me I was going to the Salt Lake City South mission. I'm serving in Kamas, a little rural area beyond Park City. It's actually quite beautiful with the hills and farms and not a single building more than two stories tall. It's one of, if not the furthest area, from the Mission office, which is in Sandy.

I'm serving with two other Elder other elders, Hernandez and Torres, who are both originally from Mexico, but now live in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. They're great! They both have a lot of experience and are teaching me a lot. We are the only missionaries in our area. So, we teach both English and Spanish-speaking investigators. However, we have more Spanish-speaking than English-speaking investigators usually. We are working really hard and teaching a lot of people. I think we taught over 30 lessons with members present this past week. I've already been a part of 3 baptism, athough I don't feel any of them was a result of my efforts since I just got here last week. But I know the little girl who we most recently baptized pretty well.

My Spanish is coming along. My companions always try to involve as much as possible even though I'm brand new, and we're in a trio. I'm very grateful for that. But, ya. We are always crazy busy, racing from one appointment to the next. I don't know what we would do without a car because our schedule is always tight, and everything is really far apart here. We live with a member, and we get fed at a member's house every night. So, that's pretty cool. I got to take advantage of all the comforts while I'm still in the US. Some restaurants around here even let us eat for free because they are owned by a member. I love being a missionary in Utah! Haha! Usually, we barely have time for lunch, so we don't go that often. I still feel like a noob sometimes when I'm teaching and even more so when I'm contacting random people, but I'm learning pretty fast.

I'm not sure exactly what else to write because I still haven't gotten any mail or dear elders anyone may have sent me since I got here. We only pick up mail once a week from the mission office. So, if you did send me something, I should get it tomorrow when we go down there for our district meeting. The mission office is like an hour away. I think that's the worst part about being here. But, other than that, I love it here! Which is so good because I have no idea when I'm going to get my visa.

I love you all! May God continue to bless you.

Brett

June 10, 2010

We got a call this evening from Brett. Gary, Cherise and Marc got to talk to him for a few minutes. He called to tell us he was being temporarily transferred to the Utah South mission while he waited for his Visa. The consulate is right there in Salt Lake, so it will be easy to leave quickly when it arrives there. He leaves Tues, June 15. We can contact him through dearelder.com at the Utah South Mission.

His address at the mission home in Utah is as follows:

Elder Brett Graham
8060 S 615 E
Sandy, UT 84070

He only get his mail once a week, as it goes directly to the mission office.

He was pretty happy to be heading out. He had been doing work in the Referral Center at the MTC on the phones and chat discussion on the internet. He enjoyed that and was able to get some experience there. He will be really working now. He's glad. We will be sure to update when he heads out to Puebla.

June 15, 2010

Hi guys, I'm feeling a lot better this week. I'm beginning to realize a lot of things about prayer and faith that have helped me recognize the answers I've already been give as well as trust more fully in God and His wisdom. I love the fact that I'm able to attend the temple every week here and participate in all of the ordinances. I've had many answers to prayers and person revelation there. I especially love participating in sealings. That's really cool, Mom, that you get the chance to work in the temple. Are you going to be an ordinance worker? What are you going to be doing at the temple? for long? I'm still nervous about going to Puebla. I still feel inadequate as a teacher, and I don't feel like the Spirit always tells me what to say when I don't know what to say like everyone talks about, but I'm also excited. I love this Gospel, and I'm beginning to understand more and more that it's more than just another Christian church. I still haven't heard anything about my visa yet, but one of the Elders in my district was also delayed with me finally got his and is leaving Friday. Some others that are going to Mexico have also gotten theirs. They're coming in slowly, but they're coming. You can pray for my visa to come if you would like, but like I said, I'm not too worried. Whatever is the Lord's will. I hope I get it soon.

Mom, I think that music I was asking for may actually be in my external hard drive, not my laptop. I deleted almost everything off of my laptop before I left.

I wrote Austin a letter today. He should get it by the end of this week. Once again, thanks for the pictures. My companion thinks I'm even cooler now, and he can't wait to go on adventures with me after our missions.

Oh! Guess who I saw at the temple today, totally unplanned. AMY WHITCOMB! It was cool even though I didn't get to talk to her for very long.

Love you all,

Brett

May 25, 2010

As Mom was coming home from Ireland she read a post on Facebook that said Brett had left the MTC and was serving in Puebla. She was concerned something happened while she was gone and followed up. Apparently, a fellow missionary was under the impression that Brett had left and passed it on, so it was posted on Facebook. Brett's clarification letter follows:

OKAY... First of all, just to clarify to everyone, I am still here at the MTC and I have absolutely no idea when I'm going to get my visa and be able to leave. Mom, I should be able to call you once I find out. So, until I call you or contact you in some way, I will still be here. Can you please make sure everyone else knows that I'm still here? Also, when I do leave and you do find out, can you please let everyone else know through facebook or email? Than you very much. I know this whole not having my visa thing is confusing, but it's seriously happening to nearly all of the missionaries going to Mexico. I'm not sure why. My companion and two others in my district are still here with me. So, it's okay. I don't mind too much staying a little longer. There's always more that I can learn. I mean I really want to go to Puebla and get out there and serve the Lord and the people, but I know I'll get there eventually. If I don't get my visa within the next few weeks, they'll probably be giving me a temporary assignment here in the US until I do.

It sounds like you had fun in Ireland. I'm glad you guys were able to do that trip. Tell Grandma I miss her and lover her.

Too bad about the Magic. Oh well, you guys enjoy those season tickets next year. That will be awesome in the new stadium, but who's going to use them? Just Austin, Marc, and Dad? Sean will probably be at college most of the time, right?

So, is Austin going to play baseball at Seminole?

Things here have been going good. I miss the missionaries in my district that have already left, especially Elder Faulkner but those of us that are left are growing closer and still having a good time. So far, we've been able to stick with our same teachers, but I'm not sure what will happen tomorrow because they're getting new missionaries.

I love all of you,
Brett

June 8, 2010

Thanks for finally sending pictures! Haha. I'm looking forward to seeing them. I wish I could be there for Sean's graduation ceremony. He's going to love college. It's a million times better than high school. Just tell him to make sure that he actually studies and doesn't have too much fun. It can be difficult sometimes to study when everyone else around you is just hanging out or wants to do something fun. Has he signed up for classes yet? Does he know what kind of stuff he wants to study? Tell Sean I miss him and being able to hang out with him.

So, Dad, you finally decided to stop being a cheapskate and become a member of the Heathrow Tennis Club.:) So, who are you planning on playing with? Have you found anyone who's up for the challenge? Hope you are taking care of my baby, and by baby I means the S2000, and Muffin, of course. How are the workouts going with Kenny? Are you more buff than when I left? I think I actually weigh over 165 now because I eat so much more here than I did at home, but my waist size is still the same so it must be muscle mass, right?:)

Marc, how are you my man? Are there any cool new xbox games you've been playing lately? Did you see Iron Man 2? I heard it was pretty awesome. I knew I had been here a long time when new missionaries started telling me about that movie. I don't even remember seeing previews for it. How's Muffin? I she her normal fluffy self? Is Mom still her favorite person? I wish I could talk to you. Don't worry. I will sometime within the next month, hopefully.

This past week has been extremely difficult for me. I've just been reconsidering everything I believe again and whether or not I can really serve this mission. It kind of worries me that I am still questioning things after being here 11 weeks. It's just that I worry that it's not enough to just believe it, you have to know it. And it's so hard for me to distinguish between the two. I know it's for my own benefit to have to reach for the answers.

I love you all,
Brett

June 1, 2010 -Letter from Brett

How's everyone doing? Everyone must almost be out of school by now. Have you guys planned any crazy awesome trips for this summer yet? Did Austin ever decide where he wanted to go with Dad? How is Sean feeling about graduating? I hear he wants to have a big party with like 50 people. Sweet! Would that be at the house? Is Sean going to work more at Parker Boats this summer?

Have you guys been using the boat at at all in that nice, warm weather? I hope someone has. I miss wakeboarding so much. What about the jet ski?

I did see Sean Salisbury a few times, but I never got a picture with him. We were never able to coordinate it. It was weird because it seemed like one day he was here and the next day he wasn't. I guess I just forgot that not everybody stays here for 2 months.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland spoke at last week's devotional. He's always such a powerful speaker, especially when it comes to missionary work.

Marc, how are you doing buddy? Mom told me you were thinking about playing baseball again in the fall. Is that true? Are you still playing tennis? I hear you have a lot of sports camps you're planning on doing this summer?

Hey, how are the Magic doing in the playoffs?

I'm not sure how much longer I'll be here. So, until you hear otherwise, just keep sending stuff to the same address.

I love all of you guys!

Brett

May 18, 2010 -Letter from Brett

Hey everybody, I didn't get my visa yet. So, I have no idea when I am going to be leaving. It could be this week or it could be in a month. My companion and two other Elders in my district haven't gotten their visas yet either. I'm going to come back later today to send a longer email, but if anyone wants to tell me anything you can reply to this email, and I'll reply later today. Thanks for the package, Mom, and for the protein bars in addition to the shaving cream. I think I'm going to need another carryon bag/suitcase to get my two large suitcases under 50 lbs. So, I might buy a small suitcase here, ok? Mom, can you find a piece of sheet music for me on my computer and print it out and send it to me? It's called How Firm a Foundation. It should be on my laptop under My computer/My Music/Sheet Music. I thought I brought it with me, but apparently I forgot. Sorry I wasn't able to get a hold of you when I called last week. Don't worry. I'm sure I"ll talk to you soon.

Love, Brett