Congratulations on your race, Mom! I always brag about you to people and always acredit all my healthy habits to you. Unfortunately, Ive been kind of lazy about working out in the mornings lately. We have some really cool people we are teaching right now, seriously, theyre like my best friends. I love them and Ive learned so much from them.
Ya, I would like recent photos if youve taken any. Im so glad Austin is doing well in IB. If he thinks its hard know just wait until he gets into his Junior year. I wish I was there to help him with his spanish. Haha. Is he taking chemistry with Mrs. Brennan? Math with Mr. Vong? I know the teachers change a lot for freshman, but I might know some of them.
Sorry, I didnt have much time to write this week. Ill try to give you more updates next week.
Love,
Brett
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
September 13, 2010
Well, good thing you sent me my white pants and tie. I just used them to baptize this Senora named Maria de Lourdes on Saturday. Shes the first person for which Ive actually been the one to do the ordinance on my mission. She already knew quite a bit about the church and wanted to get baptized before we even met here. Her finanse is a member. I was actually really surprised that she asked me to baptize her instead of her finanse. He was jealous. I think she partially just felt bad about the fact that we had to come to her house and teach her at 6:45 in the morning because she worked all day and she wanted to make it up to me in some way, but who knows. She is really sweet and I think she has a stronger testimony of the Gospel than me. I got everything right the first time I baptized here. Ya! Only one thing went wrong: before the baptism we were wondering why the font was filling up so slowly and even stopped filling at one point. So we started filling it up with buckets as fast as we could. We didnt know what was wrong. Then the bishop came 10 minutes before the baptism and told us that there was a pump that had to be activated in order to fill it. By that time we already almost had it filled. So, we couldnt add that much hot water and it was a little chilly for the baptism, but still bearable. Here, nobody has constant running water. You have to fill up a tank usually on top of the house with some sort of pump that takes water from a nearby well or underground system and then the water flows from that tank to the faucet.
Other than the baptism the work here has been kind of difficult lately. We dont have any progressing investigators right now. Although, we found a couple of less active families while we were contacting and one of them really needs some help. Jeu and his family hadnt been to church for like 9 years until yesterday. They got offended one day at some comment somebody made about their clothes and they stopped going. It appears that his wife didnt get baptized for the right reasons in the first place and after they stopped going Jeu picked up a drinking problem, their three children were baptized in the Catholic Church just to make his wifes family happy, and now he doesnt have a job. He seems like he really wants to turn his life around. I hope we can help. So far this mission is quite like I imagined a mexico mission with a extremely high number of baptisms every change. But, hey, its better than Italy. Haha, right Dad? Still its almost like Utah for Catholics. I hear there are 365 Catholic Churches in Cholula alone. My area is partially in Cholula. The center of every town is centered around the Cathedral that is there. They are beautiful buildings. The coolest catholic church is the one thats built on top of a huge Myan pyramid. Its not in our area. So I havent actually been able to go to it, but you can see from our area. I feel bad for Spencer, though, because at least here just about everybody is very friendly and respectful of our beliefs. If you said hello, Good day or good afternoon, everyone says hello back. There are a few people that dont like Americans and make fun of us (usually younger people, like teenagers), but the majority are very friendly and kind.
It hasnt rained as much this week. Thats good, except that now it feels a little hotter.
I got your package! Man, you spoil me. I love it. The chocolate covered pretzels are so addicting. I was wondering about the colors of the sprinkles, too. Are they Christmas colors or Mexican flag colors? Speaking of Mexican flag. Tuesday is 15 de Septiembre, which is basically like independence day for Mexico, but this year its going to be crazy because this year marks the 200th anniversary of the independence of Mexico from Spain. YA! FIESTA!
Love you all,
Brett
Other than the baptism the work here has been kind of difficult lately. We dont have any progressing investigators right now. Although, we found a couple of less active families while we were contacting and one of them really needs some help. Jeu and his family hadnt been to church for like 9 years until yesterday. They got offended one day at some comment somebody made about their clothes and they stopped going. It appears that his wife didnt get baptized for the right reasons in the first place and after they stopped going Jeu picked up a drinking problem, their three children were baptized in the Catholic Church just to make his wifes family happy, and now he doesnt have a job. He seems like he really wants to turn his life around. I hope we can help. So far this mission is quite like I imagined a mexico mission with a extremely high number of baptisms every change. But, hey, its better than Italy. Haha, right Dad? Still its almost like Utah for Catholics. I hear there are 365 Catholic Churches in Cholula alone. My area is partially in Cholula. The center of every town is centered around the Cathedral that is there. They are beautiful buildings. The coolest catholic church is the one thats built on top of a huge Myan pyramid. Its not in our area. So I havent actually been able to go to it, but you can see from our area. I feel bad for Spencer, though, because at least here just about everybody is very friendly and respectful of our beliefs. If you said hello, Good day or good afternoon, everyone says hello back. There are a few people that dont like Americans and make fun of us (usually younger people, like teenagers), but the majority are very friendly and kind.
It hasnt rained as much this week. Thats good, except that now it feels a little hotter.
I got your package! Man, you spoil me. I love it. The chocolate covered pretzels are so addicting. I was wondering about the colors of the sprinkles, too. Are they Christmas colors or Mexican flag colors? Speaking of Mexican flag. Tuesday is 15 de Septiembre, which is basically like independence day for Mexico, but this year its going to be crazy because this year marks the 200th anniversary of the independence of Mexico from Spain. YA! FIESTA!
Love you all,
Brett
August 30, 2010
Hey, I got your package. Muchismas Gracias! That honey is delicious! I noticed you also sent me some of the booklets for the strengthening marriage and family classes. You only sent the one strengthening families book in spanish. How do I get the other materials in Spanish? Does someone in the bishopric need to contact LDS family services. The closest one is in Mexico City. I have the contact information, but I havent mentioned anything about my idea to the bishopric because I want to know exactly what to tell them. One thing Ive learned on the mission is that you have to give people very specific assignments or they wont do anything. Its not that they dont want to help. Its just the way people are, even missionaries.
Well, its been raining a lot here and weve lost pretty much every one of our investigators. Yaa . Seriously, I thought it rained a lot in Florida, but it rains like every afternoon here and extremely hard. The streets get flooded and we get totally soaked, but its all good. A little water never hurt anyone.
I got to send to send you guys some pictures of the volcano, Popocatepetl, and other cool stuff. Puebla is beautiful.
I dont know if Ive told you yet, but we go once a week to the employment resource center the church has here in Puebla and help people find jobs. Its pretty cool, but sometimes it gets a little boring.
I got to go. Ill write a little more later today. Ive only used like 30 minutes of my email time.
Love,
Brett
Well, its been raining a lot here and weve lost pretty much every one of our investigators. Yaa . Seriously, I thought it rained a lot in Florida, but it rains like every afternoon here and extremely hard. The streets get flooded and we get totally soaked, but its all good. A little water never hurt anyone.
I got to send to send you guys some pictures of the volcano, Popocatepetl, and other cool stuff. Puebla is beautiful.
I dont know if Ive told you yet, but we go once a week to the employment resource center the church has here in Puebla and help people find jobs. Its pretty cool, but sometimes it gets a little boring.
I got to go. Ill write a little more later today. Ive only used like 30 minutes of my email time.
Love,
Brett
September 6, 2010
I cant believe Im going to miss the FSU vs. BYU game. Sean will never let me live it down if they lose to FSU two years in a row. That was such an embarrassing game last year. Does Sean have season tickets to all the games or are you just going to this one game? Im glad hes enjoying it there. The college life is pretty sweet. I cant wait to go back.
Ya the employment center, thats what it is. Centro de Empleos is what its called here. The only reason I was said it was boring is because some days nobody comes in and theres no one to help. But its pretty cool besides that. Its cool just being in the huge commercial district of Puebla too.
I think some of my favorite foods are the tacos (arabes, al pastor, etc.) and the pan de dulce (pastries). They have taquerias and bakeries on just about every block here. Ill have to send you some pictures of the huge columns of pork they use for the tacos. Its hard to believe they can sell that much meat in one day. And the pastries are so delicious. I especially like the orejas (literally translated ears) and the ones filled with cream. Mmm... The other cool thing is there is always a ton of delicious fruit for extremely cheap. Ive never had a mango in florida like the mangos here. Theyre way sweeter. I also like this fruit called tuna. Yes, tuna. The spanish word for the english tuna is atun. Tuna in spanish is a fruit. The peaches are really good too.
Well, I got to go. Talk to you next week.
Love,
Brett
P.S. When I said we lost our investigators I meant they told they didnt want to listen to us anymore, either directly or indirectly (by never being there when they say theyre going to be there or not leting us set a definite return appointment).
Ya the employment center, thats what it is. Centro de Empleos is what its called here. The only reason I was said it was boring is because some days nobody comes in and theres no one to help. But its pretty cool besides that. Its cool just being in the huge commercial district of Puebla too.
I think some of my favorite foods are the tacos (arabes, al pastor, etc.) and the pan de dulce (pastries). They have taquerias and bakeries on just about every block here. Ill have to send you some pictures of the huge columns of pork they use for the tacos. Its hard to believe they can sell that much meat in one day. And the pastries are so delicious. I especially like the orejas (literally translated ears) and the ones filled with cream. Mmm... The other cool thing is there is always a ton of delicious fruit for extremely cheap. Ive never had a mango in florida like the mangos here. Theyre way sweeter. I also like this fruit called tuna. Yes, tuna. The spanish word for the english tuna is atun. Tuna in spanish is a fruit. The peaches are really good too.
Well, I got to go. Talk to you next week.
Love,
Brett
P.S. When I said we lost our investigators I meant they told they didnt want to listen to us anymore, either directly or indirectly (by never being there when they say theyre going to be there or not leting us set a definite return appointment).
Monday, August 9, 2010
August 10, 2010
So, guess what? Im in a different area now. Ya, they took both my companion and I out of Manzanilla. Not sure why. I hadnt even been there for more than one complete transfer and now were going to have to hope the new Elders can find our investigators and figure out the area using only the area book.
Now Im in Torjadores and Manatiales (two wards). I didnt really want to leave. I had some good friends there, the bishop finally called a ward mission leader, and we were just starting to pick up some more investigators. In fact, just this week Elder Lira and I were teaching this couple and right there during the lesson we got down on our knees and the wife offered a prayer to know whether our message and the Book of Mormon were true and both she and her husband received the confirmation from the Holy Ghost that they were. And they have been Catholic all there lives. In fact, the husband served as a missionary for the Catholic Church at one point in his life. It was an awesome lesson to say the least.
However, my new companion seems pretty cool. His name is Elder Huss. Hes from Ogden. And, the area, well, I have only met a few people. We just changed today. So, we havent taught anyone yet. But today was the first time I went inside a full size mall in Mexico. It was weird. This area is a lot nicer in terms of that kind of stuff compared with Manzanilla, or so it seems.
Thanks for the information on the classes. Im going to investigate it further. I think it would be cool to get something like that going.
No, I wasnt the one to baptize Fabian nor Ivan. They both had uncles who were members that baptized them.
I want to send you guys pictures, but I havent been able to find an adapter for my memory card. Most of the computers here have a USB port but no drive for camera memory cards.
I was able to copy Amys songs to my ipod. WOW! HOLY COW! Tell Amy that she is an AMAZING SINGER! I couldnt believe it. I love the CD. Have you listened to it. Ask her if she composed the piano arrangements as well.
Even if no one plays the piano you should keep it tuned. Otherwise, it will be very hard to tune well later and will never sound as good as it could have.
I love you,
Brett
Now Im in Torjadores and Manatiales (two wards). I didnt really want to leave. I had some good friends there, the bishop finally called a ward mission leader, and we were just starting to pick up some more investigators. In fact, just this week Elder Lira and I were teaching this couple and right there during the lesson we got down on our knees and the wife offered a prayer to know whether our message and the Book of Mormon were true and both she and her husband received the confirmation from the Holy Ghost that they were. And they have been Catholic all there lives. In fact, the husband served as a missionary for the Catholic Church at one point in his life. It was an awesome lesson to say the least.
However, my new companion seems pretty cool. His name is Elder Huss. Hes from Ogden. And, the area, well, I have only met a few people. We just changed today. So, we havent taught anyone yet. But today was the first time I went inside a full size mall in Mexico. It was weird. This area is a lot nicer in terms of that kind of stuff compared with Manzanilla, or so it seems.
Thanks for the information on the classes. Im going to investigate it further. I think it would be cool to get something like that going.
No, I wasnt the one to baptize Fabian nor Ivan. They both had uncles who were members that baptized them.
I want to send you guys pictures, but I havent been able to find an adapter for my memory card. Most of the computers here have a USB port but no drive for camera memory cards.
I was able to copy Amys songs to my ipod. WOW! HOLY COW! Tell Amy that she is an AMAZING SINGER! I couldnt believe it. I love the CD. Have you listened to it. Ask her if she composed the piano arrangements as well.
Even if no one plays the piano you should keep it tuned. Otherwise, it will be very hard to tune well later and will never sound as good as it could have.
I love you,
Brett
Monday, August 2, 2010
August 2, 2010
Thanks for the email, Dad, and for your continual support and encouragement. I wish I could have known more about your mission before I left.
Thanks for the advice and counsel. Ill try to remember it and apply it. Thanks for everything you have taught me, Dad, and for being the father I need. Take care of Mom these next few weeks while shes recovering from her surgery, and give her a big hug and a kiss for me.
Love,
Brett
Thanks for the advice and counsel. Ill try to remember it and apply it. Thanks for everything you have taught me, Dad, and for being the father I need. Take care of Mom these next few weeks while shes recovering from her surgery, and give her a big hug and a kiss for me.
Love,
Brett
August 2, 2010
August 2, 2010
Hi mommy! I got your package last Tuesday. Thank you so much! I usually dont eat more than one full meal a day at a members house. I dont know why we dont have any food at our house, probably because my comp ran out of money quick last month because of all the buses he had to take. Sometimes Ill have a banana or something for breakfast and sometimes other people we visit give us food, but I really appreciated the beef jerky. And you sent me patience and divinity, my favorite! Im trying to control myself and savor it by eating only one slice a day, but its so good! I also got the CD from the Christensens. I havent listened to it yet, but I think I can get a CD player here for pretty cheap. I was trying to copy the songs to my ipod, but I havent figured out how yet without my computer. Im going to email my companions in Utah and see if they can send me my coat, if theyre still in the same area. I also realized I sent my white pants home in that package right before I left for Mexico thinking I wouldnt need them because there isnt a temple in my mission, but I forgot that Im going to need them when I baptize someone. I still dont have anyone lined up yet for me to personally baptize, but I think Im going to need them eventually. Maybe if you send another package you could put the pants in there too. OH, I also have to thank you for that awesome tie you sent me. I got like 5 or 6 compliments when I wore it on Sunday. 200 to 300 should be plenty for now. I hardly buy anything and I still havent run out of the money the mission gives me yet.
Im glad your surgery went well and that the nodes tested negative. I hope youre not in too much pain and that you can run again soon and be prepared for that half marathon. I was talking to a member who is preparing to run a full marathon the other day about you and your upcoming half marathon.
This past week has been going a little better. We have two baptisms lined up for this week, and I actually had several cool experiences finding new investigators. I was like wow, its actually true, the Lord really does place the people who are ready to accept the Gospel in your path. We are planning an activity this week for the ward to try to obtain some more references and unify the ward a little more. Its going to be kind of like a family home evening for the whole ward and their non member friends that we hope they invite with a desert contest and everything. Elder Lira and I are going to be the judges of course. Mmmmm. I did play piano in Church on Sunday. We got there a little early so I could practice a little bit. I went pretty well. I was the first time that ward has had someone to play the piano during sacrament meeting in a while. They seemed appreciative. Ill probably keep playing every week while Im here. The transfer ends this week. Im guessing that my comp is going to get transfered because he has been in this area for so long. I dont really feel like I know the area well enough yet to get a new companion, but Im sure I can rise to the occasion.
Mom, I keep forgetting to tell you, but in Utah we ate with this woman, Susan Edmunds, every week. I tell you this because she is like a professional cook and she has her own cook book and TV show on BYU TV. So, buy her cook book because her food is really good and really simple. And, watch her on BYU TV and tell me if she is as crazy and energetic on TV as she is in real life. Haha. I think she goes by the Food Nanny on her cookbook and tv show.
I had a question about the Strengthening Marriage and Strengthening Family classes you were in charge of organizing. Could you just tell me a little more about how they work and where I can find more information about them? I was thinking maybe I could help get some started here in Manzanilla and maybe even open it up to those who are not members. I dont know exactly how Im going to do it. Just a thought. If you have any information that could help me please let me know. Theres a lot of inactivity in this ward and poor organization. A few families basically carry the whole ward. For a while the Bishop didnt even have a second counselor nor secretary, and we are trying to get him to call a new ward mission leader because the one that is called now doesnt want to do anything. He doesnt even come to church.
I think the scripture that describes my mission the most is Alma 26:27.
I love you so much,
Brett
Hi mommy! I got your package last Tuesday. Thank you so much! I usually dont eat more than one full meal a day at a members house. I dont know why we dont have any food at our house, probably because my comp ran out of money quick last month because of all the buses he had to take. Sometimes Ill have a banana or something for breakfast and sometimes other people we visit give us food, but I really appreciated the beef jerky. And you sent me patience and divinity, my favorite! Im trying to control myself and savor it by eating only one slice a day, but its so good! I also got the CD from the Christensens. I havent listened to it yet, but I think I can get a CD player here for pretty cheap. I was trying to copy the songs to my ipod, but I havent figured out how yet without my computer. Im going to email my companions in Utah and see if they can send me my coat, if theyre still in the same area. I also realized I sent my white pants home in that package right before I left for Mexico thinking I wouldnt need them because there isnt a temple in my mission, but I forgot that Im going to need them when I baptize someone. I still dont have anyone lined up yet for me to personally baptize, but I think Im going to need them eventually. Maybe if you send another package you could put the pants in there too. OH, I also have to thank you for that awesome tie you sent me. I got like 5 or 6 compliments when I wore it on Sunday. 200 to 300 should be plenty for now. I hardly buy anything and I still havent run out of the money the mission gives me yet.
Im glad your surgery went well and that the nodes tested negative. I hope youre not in too much pain and that you can run again soon and be prepared for that half marathon. I was talking to a member who is preparing to run a full marathon the other day about you and your upcoming half marathon.
This past week has been going a little better. We have two baptisms lined up for this week, and I actually had several cool experiences finding new investigators. I was like wow, its actually true, the Lord really does place the people who are ready to accept the Gospel in your path. We are planning an activity this week for the ward to try to obtain some more references and unify the ward a little more. Its going to be kind of like a family home evening for the whole ward and their non member friends that we hope they invite with a desert contest and everything. Elder Lira and I are going to be the judges of course. Mmmmm. I did play piano in Church on Sunday. We got there a little early so I could practice a little bit. I went pretty well. I was the first time that ward has had someone to play the piano during sacrament meeting in a while. They seemed appreciative. Ill probably keep playing every week while Im here. The transfer ends this week. Im guessing that my comp is going to get transfered because he has been in this area for so long. I dont really feel like I know the area well enough yet to get a new companion, but Im sure I can rise to the occasion.
Mom, I keep forgetting to tell you, but in Utah we ate with this woman, Susan Edmunds, every week. I tell you this because she is like a professional cook and she has her own cook book and TV show on BYU TV. So, buy her cook book because her food is really good and really simple. And, watch her on BYU TV and tell me if she is as crazy and energetic on TV as she is in real life. Haha. I think she goes by the Food Nanny on her cookbook and tv show.
I had a question about the Strengthening Marriage and Strengthening Family classes you were in charge of organizing. Could you just tell me a little more about how they work and where I can find more information about them? I was thinking maybe I could help get some started here in Manzanilla and maybe even open it up to those who are not members. I dont know exactly how Im going to do it. Just a thought. If you have any information that could help me please let me know. Theres a lot of inactivity in this ward and poor organization. A few families basically carry the whole ward. For a while the Bishop didnt even have a second counselor nor secretary, and we are trying to get him to call a new ward mission leader because the one that is called now doesnt want to do anything. He doesnt even come to church.
I think the scripture that describes my mission the most is Alma 26:27.
I love you so much,
Brett
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