Hey fam!

It was quite a funny week. I had my birthday... my camera died out on me... The rain soaked my scriptures... I got to see my neice in real life... I got to talk to Mom and Dad... I made myself a funfetti cake (which i put too much batter in too small a container which made the outside nice and crispy and the inside still liquid) *idiot* and that is about it. I had so much fun though. I thought the rain was going to kill our goal of handing out the rest of the 25 Book of Mormons we had planned but the Lord provided man. Although everyone stayed inside while it was raining the Lord placed certain people in our path that needed to have one. Lets see I don't know what to say. See ya next week... This will probably be the last email session so don't worry about writin' next week. Love you all so much. Thanks for everything that you've done for me. I can't say thanks enough. Can't wait to see ya. Peace!

Hey!

Sorry the library was closed yesterday so I have just a few minutes to write to you. To answer questions. on thursday I will be home all morning till 10 and at night around 9. Some of the other missionaries want to take me out to subway or somethin that day so I wont be home for lunch. So probably around 9:30 am would be best. if that time doesn't work out then just have her give me a call me. um yes to the rest of the questions. yeah I can't believe it's almost here. I don't think it will hit me till I'm on the plane. um that is about it... I can't wait to see you all! Loves

Hermanos y Hermanas de la familia de Dios

Whats happenin?! Man that conference was great. I loved how elder Holland testified about the Book of Mormon. The same testimony burns within me even now as I am talking about it to you. I was mentally exhausted after all the wonderful talks. I'm playing some tennis today with another missionary that played on Highlands Ranch high school team back home. His name is Elder Spear. He's pre sweet. I gotta practice up so i'll only be semi embarassed when I play Ky. This week was cruddy. My companion last monday sprained his ankle and so we rested it up the whole week. I planned on reading the old testament all the way through. Needless to say I made it through genesis haha. I kept getting distracted by the cool footnotes and wound up reading most of the Bible Dictionary. Some day I'll make it thru the Old Testament. Luckily though it looks like his ankle is mostly healed up so we are back on the streets baby. We had Zone Conference on Friday and I had to give my "Departing Testimony." It was weird. Tell alexis that I'm going to get ahold of her monday two weeks from today to give her some stuff to hold on to. I'll also leave my bike at the mission office the day I get shipped out so that they can pick it up. Tell her because she doesn't read these. That was super weird when I came back and the proactive was on the porch. Anywho I can't wait to see you all again. I keep having dreams about seeing everyone. I love you all! Especially Mom because of her faithful emailing haha. Peace!

Hello!

Hey sorry I didn't get an email out last week. We got to the library and there was a huge line so I only had enough time to read your emails and send a little one to Seth. So I am having a blast. I asked Heavenly Father to help me be like some of the great missionaries of old like Paul, and the super sweet companionship of Alma and Amulek. I still have many weaknesses that keep me from being more like them but the Lord is helping me. We have seen some sweet miracles lately. We talked to this lady on the street late the other night and she told us of the passing of her husband. We talked to her about the Plan of Happiness and she said that she would like to learn more about it. She mentioned right before we parted that it was a strange "coinsidence" because she has wanted to talk to missionaries before and that she had already taken a walk that day with her kids and something told her to go take another. That morning I made it specific in my prayers to plead for Heavenly Father's help to seek out someone He has prepared to receive the Gospel. She was. We're making an effort to talk to as many as our brothers and sisters as possible. I was listening to a lecture by Truman Madsen and he noted the instence where Christ refers to His disciples as friends. He explained the Hebrew and Greek origin of the word friend which involves familiarity and how in the scriptures servants become sons and daughters and then become friends. A servant does what the Master asks maybe without knowledge of why he is doing it whereas a friend does what the Master asks being familiar with the reason why the Master would ask it to be done. Friends understand eachother. I wonder at all that goes over my head as far as scriptures go but am ready to receive line upon line. This upcoming week we have zone conference and it is my turn to get up and bear my "departing testimony" along with my friends that are going home with me. It is weird because you never think that it is your turn and the time arives all too soon. The area is good. The ward is strugglin a little bit but I'm looking forward to helping in any way that I can. My companion is Elder Yang. He is cool. He's grown up in a lot of ways since the time I last saw him about a year and a half ago. We're having fun. If you don't mind I am super low on Proactive so if you could send some out that would be great. Like super low. Thank you for your prayers. Go cougs! Love you all

Boy Howdy

Hey! so I'm getting transfered to Rocklin CA. It will be fun. I'm finally on a bike again so I'll get to get in shape before I get back. plus I don't have to deal with paperwork anymore! My new companion is Elder yang from Samoa. He's had a rough past in the mission but I hear he's straightened up. I had you all in my prayers for this past weekend. Know that you will always be. Something that has really struck me lately is how increasing understanding of the Atonement increases desire to share the Gospel. I believe that I have mentioned that before but I want to share with you what knowledge has been given me from our Heavenly Father on the subject. When dealing with the issues of the other missionaries the Spirit has told me repeatedly in the past that the fix to it is helping them focus on other people because i believe that about 99% of problems that we face can be greatly minimized by remembering the Atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ and how it affects you and those around you. Namely in every choice between right and wrong we learn that if we choose the right we are happy. The effects of the Atonement and its application in your life hinges on the very moment when you say in your mind that in this case, "I am going to choose the right." When you realize the importance of that concept you desire the happiness for you and your fellow man. It is when, in the pride of our hearts, we say "woa is me" that we fall into selfish acts that, if not now, eventually lead to poor mistakes. The Lord teaches us this as we go thru our trials and tribulations. Our weaknesses, if taken to the Lord, humble us and bring us to that understanding of the Atonement. Anyways off of my soap box. I'm excited for home. I'm not too trunky i don't think but I am excited to see all of you and meet my neice. Since I am going to be in Rocklin I could give all my stuff to Alexis minus the essentials and go on the plane with a backpack and one suit case. that would be super sweet. Give me your number and I'll get it cleared with President and maybe even get lunch out of it haha. Chipotle or no dice! haha anywho I love you and let me know what I can do to help any of you out. Thanks for all the advice too. It helps alot. Loves
Elder B

Hey!

Huh that is some depressing news... This is a prime example of the knowledge of the Plan of Happiness giving us peace. Those family members who really understand the terms of the Gospel will mourn only for the short time that we will miss her. Easy for me to say because we were pretty distant in relation. I heard about the BYU Oklahoma game. I can smell the fresh-cut grass at the beginning of a BCS bowl game already. I'm stoked. This week has been pretty hard out here. It has been one of those weeks where you feel that the whole weeks efforts to help these folks repent have been in vain. It seems as if no one that we are teaching really cares enough to read or pray or anything. Enough of the pity party though this isn't anything new. You gotta just keep crying repentance and soon those who are willing to humble themselves will do it upon hearing the voice of the Lord thru us. I am indeed grateful for the Lords help. It is a privilege to work so closely with the Godhead especially helping some of these people feel the influence of the Holy Ghost testifying to them of the Savior and our Father in Heaven. I will continue to praise the Lord for the grace that I receive daily. He must look down with eyes of divine pity as He sees me struggle thru such minuscule trials. Enough about me. Have fun this Labor Day. Ky you got somethin comin buddy I promise. I just haven't found the right thing yet. President said I might be getting transferred one more time so just heads up. I'll know next week. Love you all and know that my prayers are with all of ya.
Elder B

Howdy!

Happy B-day Ky! Dang the big 1-3. Oh buddy. Are the girls pretty cute to ya yet? Alright I'll stop. I'm gonna send you somthin sweet but I haven't found that something sweet yet so keep an eye out. That was very saddening to hear about Tate's wife... Missionaries now work very closely with Less-active members of the church. As I am seeing all the walks out here I am realizing how and why Satan works the way he does. Often we use a little object lesson to teach about sin in its different varieties. We fill 2 pitchers up one has great tasting kool-aid and one with dyed water with the same color. Sin is the dyed water that looks very appetizing at first and upon tasting it is found to be unsatisfactory and void of anything worth while. The kool-aid on the other hand is great tasting and very fulfilling. You could have guessed that the Kool-aid represents the good choices in our lives. We all know about the snares of the Devil but what are we doing today to prepare for the firey darts of the adversary. It takes constant fortification if we are to shield ourselves from these blows. As we discuss these things with our LA members we explain that the road back maybe hard but it is worth every step. I have a constant and firm belief that if we will listen to and act upon the words of the prophets of olden time as well as those in these latter days then we will find ourselves on the path. Especially reading the Book of Mormon. There really is no substitute for strengthening us spiritually and drawing us closer to God than that of the ancient record of the Nephites, Lamenites and Jaredites. If you find yourself in disagreement with the standards of the Lords Church established on the Earth then turn to 3 Nephi. Do the things that Jesus Christ asks with a broken heart and a contrite spirit and prove Him. It is simple. Every single person finds out at some point that if we follow the commandments then we are happy and if we do not then we are not happy. Prove Him. The Gospel is our rock. Those who fall away will not receive pure joy. I know these things. I love you all and hope you have a great week!! Vian con Dios mi familiasita