Que Triste

Well, another week gone in the mission, it's flying by. I said farewell to my trainer and hello to Elder Thompson! I already miss Elder Lucero but Elder Thompson is great and I'm really excited to do some good work with him. I'll include a picture of him next week. But here's a picture of the district from last transfer, I love all these peeps. You're all amazing and I love you! Keep praying and have a fantastic week and a great Valentines day! :)

Elder Brunsdale

Transfer Week

Not too much happened this week. We had some more adventures in the hood with the police and a guy high on Meth. But other than that not much! 

We've just been teaching and finding some good people. Now the challenge is to get them to Church haha. I did get to go on a fun exchange and teach a man from Ghana. He taught me a little bit of Twi which was pretty cool. But my hands are pretty full with Spanish right now haha. There was also a Brazilian that came to church and only spoke Portuguese. I was actually able to talk to and understand her a little bit which was weird haha.

 

We found out that my trainer is going to another area and I'll be staying here in Mannasty!! I'm pretty excited to meet my new companion and switch things up! Not much time for writing today but I love all you! Keep praying :)

Elder Brunsdale 

World Wide Conference

Not much to report on this week. The biggest thing is just that we had a worldwide conference in which the brethren told us that the missionary schedule has changed! We now have two extra hours on P-days and they gave us the agency to choose when we study! We feel all grown up now!

But besides that it was just the work. We've been having some real success but we've also been having some hardships with some people who just can't bring themselves to change. That's about it, I hope you all have an amazing week! Never stop praying! 

Elder Brunsdale

My First Baptism!!!

Some pretty great things happened this week, the obvious highlight of which is my first baptism!! Her name is Hermana Guzman and she's amazing, super funny and she's made so much progress just in the time I've been here. She went from getting in big arguments with us and never seeming very happy to where she is now. She just glows with joy every time we see her. She was baptized by her husband on Saturday. He was so happy that after 9 years of her investigating the church he was finally able to baptize her.

We've also been seeing some slow but steady progress with our investigator who's on date but has a very big problem with alcohol. We're working with him a lot and hoping he is baptized in the next couple months. He lives in George Town South (The hood) and the other night we walked out of his house after a lesson and saw 4 cops running down the street toward us. One of them asked out of breath "Have you seen a guy?... Black hoodie?" We said "No, we just walked out of this house." They kept running down the street but one of them turned to us and said quite angrily "You guys picked a great neighborhood to walk around in." Those words aren't particularly music to the ears when spoken sarcastically by a police officer. I didn't say it but I just thought "Sorry... I didn't choose it, take it up with the Lord!"
 
But on this particular night we happened to have parked about a 10 minute walk away on the same street someone was shot on in November.  On our way to our car we counted 16 police officers running around and 4 patrol cars. As well as 2 people in black hoodies. We finally got to the car and right next to one of our investigators houses there was probably about 10 officers banging on a door demanding it to be opened. They got in and arrested this guy we see almost every day riding his mini bike around. Anyways we decided it might be best to pick a different area to teach in that night. Good thing we've got guardian angels!

Here's a picture of my mission with Elder Ballard and Rasband! I also threw in one of our zone because I love these people. I hope all of you have an amazing week! The gospel is true and God loves you and wants to hear your voice. So pray! :)

Elder Brunsdale

Hermana Guzman's Baptism day!

Elder Ballard and Rasband!!

I just got back from my first time inside the D.C. Temple. It's absolutely beautiful just like all the others. The temple is such a peaceful and amazing place. If you haven't been lately chances are there's 1 or 5 right around where most of you live ;) So go! 

This week we had the unprecedented opportunity to hear from and shake the hands of 2 Apostles and 9 other General Authorities!! It was an absolutely amazing experience. It was incredible to hear them speak to such a specific audience and to hear an apostolic witness of Christ somewhere other than General Conference. 

I quickly want to bear my testimony to you that Christ lives. That He is leading this church and that He calls his Apostles. The words they speak truly are the word of God.

 

Multiple times they expressed their great love for us and for their Savior. The Spirit was so strong and testified to me as they spoke. I'd like to include one thing that president Ballard taught us between his jokes. He said " Every time I get tired, I picture in my mind The Savior in Gethsemane. And I find the strength I need to push on." My invitation to you is to strive to remember the Savior in all that you do. I know that He will strengthen you as you strive to live like He did. 

I love you all and hope you have an amazing week! Keep praying!

 

-Elder Brunsdale (Hyrum)

The Final Trip To D.C.

This week has been full of blessings! We didn't go a day without a lesson and most days had two or more! We came out with 16 this week. The work is really progressing in our area! We're very excited and know that we're being blessed every day! We put two more investigators on date tonight and it also finally snowed!!! 

For one of our lessons we found a new investigator who had an extensive knowledge of the Bible. He quoted many of the scriptures we typically use in support of the Restoration before we even mentioned them. But as soon as we brought up that Peter, James and John descended from heaven to restore the priesthood he got very upset. He shouted "False doctrine!" And then said they couldn't have descended because they have to wait for Christ to be resurrected. We kindly reminded him that Christ was resurrected on the third day. He realized he was wrong but was still very upset and just kept shouting "False doctrine!" And other stuff in Spanish I couldn't understand. It got to the point where he literally grabbed his keys, left his house and drove away just leaving us sitting there in his house. It was strange. haha, But right before he left he said we could come back! So I guess we'll see! 

We closed out a very eventful week with a trip to D.C! Rumor is it's about to be banned tomorrow so we had to get in one last hurrah! We saw the Smithsonian castle as well as the Natural History Museum (That was my favorite I could spend weeks in there). We also saw some of the American History Museum. We got to see a bunch of deep sea specimens as well as the original sun stone that sat on the Nauvoo temple. We went though the Holocaust Museum last. It was done very very well. There's just a sense of reverence and prayer while walking through it. 

   

So, here's some pictures of my last DC trip!! 

I love all of you!! Don't forget to pray.

Elder Brunsdale (Hyrum)

Transfers!!

My first transfer in the field is over!! I've learned so much and already seen so much in the way the Gospel can change peoples lives!! The Gospel is True people!!

I'll be staying with my trainer Elder Lucero for at least another transfer!! I'm super excited he's going to be able to finish training me! Our district is staying almost the same so it should be pretty fun.

Here's a picture of us! (Yes I am as tired as I look). We also got to go to the Temple lights one last time!!! It was an absolute blast! I hope you all had a happy new year!! Keep praying :)

LOVE YOU!!!

- Elder Brunsdale (Hyrum)