I had a friend point out to me that new missionaries seem to be more focused on the “natural man” type of things-often things dealing with our five senses. Then toward the end of their missions, you see that referred to less and less. The spiritual things take forefront in their emails home. This is evidence of Brayden's “Natural Man” lol! Take with a grain of salt…. |
| If I only Had a GREEN Nose. - Read the book! |
This has been quite the week. It's been depressing, sad, awesome, and
weird. It has rained the past week everyday at least 10 hours. Let's start off with the depressing and sad and than leave best for last... So this week has been very stressful. As you could imagine it is missionary work. We went to the doctors and he had no idea what was the matter with my ear. So he just told me to use the drops and surprisingly it worked. But what I'm fearful of is that it'll come
back again and again till the problem is figured out. My ear is fine now. I guess I will
just have to keep praying. For I know God answers prayers. The thing
that sucked was that we wasted all that time at the dr. So we never
got the chance to go shopping. But blessing in and of its self we had members
feed us every night of this week. Which leads me to my next point...
So this week I had 2 exchanges. Which is where you go out with a new
companion for 24 hours and learn new things. Tuesday night I went on exchange
Now I don't know if y'all know this but I am not a fan of fancy, high
class, tomatoe eatin, onion lickin, pepper spreadin, organic feelin,
oriental lookin, fish tastin foods. Also no gamey taste.. Ex: venison,
snake, chicken heart.. On and on. So this week in food was quite
interesting and I knew it would be when it started out with pizza that
was smothered in onions and tomatoes. Again not a huge fan but I
managed to gag down two pieces. Wednesday night I returned to my
normal companion and we went to the nice family. Where
we were fed gumbo. Which strangely was pretty good but had a weird
after taste. One I didn't really desire. The family was nice. In fact
all the families that feed us are nice, I just grew up on really basic
foods and it's hard to put my head around most of this strange stuff.
Thursday night we went to sister H's house. Judging by the last name
I figured it would be normal American food. Tacos, hamburgers, maybe
lasagna or spaghetti. Boy was I wrong. She was a tiny Japanese woman
and I knew by the smell I got in the door way that dinner was going to
be interesting. I than prayed to God and begged him to give me
strength to overcome this up coming obstacle. For I new what lied in
the room ahead would push me to a new fear factor. I tried to prolong
eatin.. Washed my hands for like 6 minutes. Pet the dog. Made short
conversation. I did everything I could so I didn't have to see what we
were eating till I was ready to eat so I didn't have to think about it
till it was goin in my mouth. We went in the kitchen and sittin on the
stove were these weird looking egg roll things. They are called
potstickers. (For the record… HE has had these. He just doesn’t pay attention to the names of food…) Thank heaven almighty when I asked what was inside and
the tiny Japanese lady explained that it was sausage.. For I knew that
my prayer had been answered. But I was way to confidant that I would
be able to eat this when.. To my surprise.. After I sat down.. She
brought me a huge bowl of seaweed tofu. My heart fell out of my body.
My mind started spinning in circles and I came up with a sudden.. "Is
that seaweed? Darn I'm allergic to seaweed! Thanks tho. " now I know
what your thinkin right now. " did a missionary just lie? " and the
answer is no. I was just saving my tasted buds from eternal damnation.
I lucked out this night. For the potstickers were pretty good. Back to
the timeline.. It was now Friday night. And I was staring at tacos.
Right in the face. I was so excited ! My native food ! It was
welcoming me and telling me how happy it was to see me. And I was
smiling ! (Also I was on an exchange With a ZL( zone leader for all
you rookies.)) but boy was I ever so wrong.. Little did I know that
they poisoned the meat with killer spices and mixes. The cheese was
three weeks old. How did I know this because I am a cheese master!!!
I again gagged down the taco I could feel an internal combustion
explosion. I had a Kung Fu man in my tummy that was hitting and
kicking my stomach. I could hear him laughing as my stomach gurgled. I
had then contracted a disease known as the Hersey squirts. On Saturday
night we ate at home. We had cereal. Normal Brayden food. And I
mentally started to prepare myself for what lied ahead in the meal
schedule. The guy said we were havin venison burgers. Now peps don't
take my man card away.. And dad I know what you have been talking
about all these years.. But I did not like them at all. They made me
way sick. And my stomach was once again in WW3. So besides all the
interesting foods this week it was a little below average on the
happiness scale. We had 4 investigators drop us this week. And only 2
new investigators pick us up. This week has been full of so much rain. It has almost rained
non stop. We tracted through this rain, rode our bikes through it,
gave lessons under porches in it. But something I have come to figure
out is that is symbolic. It might be pouring, and it might suck.
And you might get dropped by people, and you might slip in a puddle,
and it may seem like it will never give up, just like the rain, but
with all rain storms there is also the chance of some sun peaking
through the clouds every once in a while. We had a great lesson with a
young family who we got a return appointment for. We tracted this guys
house and also got a return appointment and he was full of excitement.
While I was on exchanges with the ZL, who is also very quite and
Shy, I managed to create a friendship with a tattoo artist.
This was the highlight of my week. This guy shared some amazing
testimony about the church. And he isn't even a member. His roommate came home during our lesson and we were able to talk to her. I was able to bear my testimony with both of them. The only thing I'm good at. And I had them both in tears and committing to changing their jobs around so that they could make it to
church. I was so impressed with this. They are both struggling to make
ends meet and yet they are willing to sacrifice what they need most
for church and religion.
I often look back at how I took advantage of this. How could I? What possessed my mind to believe that I could skip church when I wanted. To create illness so that I didn't have to go. And the answer is Satan. Who is doing all he can to capture you
in his trap. Do not let the adversary tempt you into not going to
church. Do not let him grab hold and drag you down. We can avoid him.
We can put up a shield! We make these shields by creating an
environment in which he cannot dwell a upon. We go to church. We pay
tithing. We have FAMILY prayer. FAMILY is the MOST IMPORTANT social
unit of all time. We must protect and save our family members from his
firm grasp, by centering our homes around the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Be an example to your family members. Encourage family prayer and
discussions about how the day has been. Lift up your fallen brother
who has fallen into the hands of the adversary. Save someone's eternal
salvation. Brothers and sisters reading this make sure your church
attendance is 100%! Home teaching is 100%. It makes a difference.
For all you know you could be saving that soul from the trap. It is my
testimony to you that church is the most important thing we could do
on Sundays. Partaking the sacrament and remembering our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. Learning new principles and doctrines of how we can defend our
home from the devil himself. I know church saved me. I know it blessed
my life. I know it can bless yours. The rains may come down but we can always
find the rays of light throughout our day. And we should always be
thankful for them. In the name of Jesus Christ amen :)!
We are going to the Portland temple on Wednesday!! So pumped! Temple work is most important and I’m so jealous that you can go whenever you want. Love the pictures and WOW a four hour wait for baptisms!
We took first place in the ward shuffle board game. We had a “cruise” party on Valentines Day. We pretty much kicked some serious butt. Sister W is so amazing. Her and her husband have totally been looking after us! Say thanks to her. she sent those photos to you., oh and she makes an amazing burger, and he fixed my new bag that has torn apart.
Mommy, I love you so much ! The topic of family has come up quite a bit this last week and I have found myself crying for how much I miss y’all. Happy Birthday Ryley! I miss you bro! Your gift is awesome and on it’s way! I bought it from a drug hippie! This is going to be very awkward but is it possible that you send me some music. I know, I know this is the moment you have waited for. How lame of me.. But maybe some.. Steven sharp nelson, Paul cardall, dallyn bayles. and definitely music from the hobbit that is uplifting. please :) :) also question of the week is did Adam and Eve have belly buttons ?? (Bryaden insisted he didn’t want any of MY music when he left as HE would NEVER listen to it!)
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