12/23/14

Querida Familia,

Well, Christmas is upon us and there is not a whole lot to say. We had a pretty good week this past week! We had our Branch party, it was pretty fun! I forgot my camera so I didn't take pictures, but there is an hermano in our branch that takes all kinds of pictures and he usually puts them on a disc and gives them out, so hopefully I get one on Sunday! So about 2 weeks ago we had to trade our truck with another pair of missionaries and since we got it, it hasn't worked great, so we finally got to take it into the dealership today to fix the alignment, which only takes about 35 mins, and we ended up waiting there for 5 hours! But it was a little more damaged than we had thought. Turns out the frame had been cracked and had almost completely been separated at one point and they said it looked like someone had gone off-roading in it and ramped it! So we had to wait to see if they could even fix it! They said they can fix it but it would take a few days! So it hasn't been fixed yet, but we are going to take it back in on either Friday or Monday, since they are closed for Christmas and the weekend! So thats the only big news from this week, but I will talk to you more on Thursday! So we are going to Skype with a  nother set of missionaries at one of their members houses! We will get there at 1 but I don't know how many devices they have so we might have to take turns between the 4 of us, but I will skype sometime between 1 and 3 our time so 3-5 your time! anyway I love you  all!

Elder Lee

P.S. I am not sure if we will be using skype or facetime or google chat or what so just bear with it!

12/16/14

Querida Familia,

This week has been pretty good, we have been doing lots of finding, we found some really awesome people to teach, and we also had our recent convert, J, come out with us on visits, so that was pretty cool! I got the little package you sent, but I have bad news for you! A few moths ago our Mission President changed the music policy so we can only listen to Hymns and Motab! But I did get a kick out of it and it was the thought that counted! I really appreciated it and totally would listen to it if I were allowed! Also, while on the topic of rule changes, Due to previous abuse of phone calls, our Mission President has asked that we keep our Christmas calls to 30 minutes! So prepare questions that you want to ask me, because I won't have a lot of time! I don't know if you all got Grandpa's e-mail about our ancestors in the ensign, but I think that is Super awesome! It is interesting to have read the story in a little more detail! Anyway, Not much else than that, but I look forward to chating with you all on Christmas! And we can still use Skype or facetime or stuff like that! I love you all!

Elder Lee

The Church in Sweden

Peter Forsgren, who is talked about in the article is one of Brandon's Great+-grandparents

12/8/14

Querida Familia,

This week was pretty good. It was a really slow week, but we made it through! So we received transfer news on Saturday and Elder Myers and I are both staying in Tome together! So we are pretty excited to be here another transfer! We didn't have a whole lot going on, so hopefully this coming week will be a little more busy! But it sounds like you all are doing pretty well! Dad says he has started to work out, so I guess we will see who is bigger when I get home! Haha! Consider it a challenge! Anyway, sorry there isn't much to report on this week, but I hope you all have a good week! I love you all!

Elder Lee

12/2/14

Querida Familia,

This week has been so great! We had the great opportunity to hold a baptismal service for Jl, J, E, and M! It was such an awesome baptismal service. I also had the opportunity to perform the baptismal ordinance for my first time. I was able to baptize J and E. It such a great feeling when you see someone who did not have the gospel and to watch them change their life completely and to take these first steps into the gospel and to see the joy and happiness it brings them. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a missionary at this time! Also we were able to see quite a few investigators come and watch the baptism, including the mother of J and her family. We had taught them before and they are super interested, but something had been holding them back, but coming and seeing the baptism was such an important step for them. We also had another family of investigators come and watch the baptism, they are super awesome too, they just aren't progressing as much as we would like, we haven't found what is holding them back yet, but they really liked the baptism, so we hope that helps them to be more committed. Anyway, thanksgiving was good, we only had two meals this year instead of three, so that was nice! Overall it was a really awesome week! Anyway, I love you all!!

Elder Lee

11/25/14

Querida Familia,

This week has been really good! We had the wonderful opportunity to here from Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge of the 1st Quorum of the Seventy in a special Zone Conference this past Friday! He is such an inspirational speaker! It was such a great opportunity! And along-side him we got to hear from an area seventy Elder Villarreal! Then on Saturday and Sunday we had the great opportunity to hear from Elder Sitati of the 1st Quorum of the Seventy in a special Stake Conference, where a new stake presidency was called! It was such a spiritual feast! And what a great time to have a feast! As we approach Thanksgiving! I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be a missionary, especially at this time of the year! Especially having the opportunity to participate in the front lines of the Church's new Initiative: "He is the Gift" I don't know how much you all have heard about this initiative, but it is such a great opportunity to share the gospel and turn people's focus toward Christ this Holiday season! I hope you all get the chance to participate in this great initiative! Anyway, we are looking forward to this weekend as we will be holding a baptismal service for J and J and their daughters E and M, and also their niece E! We were not expecting to baptize E, but she really wants to be baptized with them and has come to church a sufficient amout of times! So we are really excited for that! Other than that, there isn't much else to report, but what a wonderful week it was! I love you all!

Elder Lee

11/18/14

Querida Familia,

This week was pretty good, we had a rough start, but we were able to turn things around towards the end. So J came back and is back for good, he quit drinking and is on track for baptism with the rest of his family for the 29th of this month. Him and his wife will be getting interviewed by our mission president tomorrow so pray for them that everything will go well! Anyway, that is the big news for this week, I hope you all are doing well! I didn't really get to hear from anyone, but I take it, No news is good news! Anyway, thats it for me, I will send pictures! I love you all!

Elder Lee

Things we see on Exchanges

September Temple Trip

Tried on my comps cowboy boots and bolo tie, figured Ryan would appreciate this one.

11/12/14

Querida Familia,

Sorry I didn't Email yesterday, due to the holiday our mission President Changed P-day to today> I would have told you last week, but we didn't find out until this last Friday. This week has been good. We have had a few good lessons with some of our investigators. It has been a pretty stressful week too. It seems like everything that could go wrong did go wrong. We had a lot of struggles with some of our investigators, J Relapsed on alcohol, but she realizes that it was wrong and is still fighting, she is still on track for baptism the 29th, so hopefully she can overcome this. She also worked things out with her husband and he came back and was on track too, but they got in another fight, and we don't know the status on that still. We tried to stop by last night, but she turned off the lights and didn't answer the door, so I hope everything is alright. And on top of all that, we had appointment after appointment fall through, and one of our investigators dropped us. And then to add to add to the stress, Dad sold my truck and my bike! Haha Just Kidding! But even after all this I can say with a surety that God is in this work and he has a plan for each and everyone of these people and each of us. On a happier note, we did have interviews with our Mission President this last week! That was pretty good, its always nice to be able to sit down one on one with President Miller! Anyway, its good to hear that you all are doing well!  I love you all!

Elder Lee