"The Midnight Phone Call" - Week 73

November 30th, 2015

    Things are great! Even though I've been a bit sick this week, it's been a good one. It started off as kind of a flu type of thing, and now it's fading into a cold... Super weird, but it's alright. I almost never get sick, but this time around I was mighty thankful for Mom's pharmacy that is usually used for my companions. It's slowed down here for that reason, but it's been good.
    We had a mission Tour with Elder Cornish this week. It was amazing. That man is undoubtedly inspired. The main focus was basically our purpose as missionaries, and our own conversion, which is something I think the mission definitely needed.
    So, I forgot to tell last week, but something pretty funny happened. The Elders previously here in this area were Stephens, and Ventura. They both went home this transfer, thus here we are blanking. Elder Stephens was my district leader way back when, so I know him well. Anywho, our first night in the house, we were there in bed, around the hour of 12, trying to fall asleep, when suddenly we heard a strange sound coming from the cell phone... at midnight! "Brady... Brady!... BRADY!... PICK UP THE FREAKIN CELULAR!... Brady..." coming from the cell phone, with the title "ward mission leader" calling us. We were freaked out! The time, the place, the name, the sound... Everything was creepy! We called him back, thinking it was an emergency. He didn't answer. We knew it was just a voice recording that Stephens had put as the ring tone, but we still went to bed uneasy. The next day, we called him back, and he said that it was just a false alarm. Apparently he received a call saying that somebody had gotten into the church building... So yeah


Anywho, Love you All!

Elder Brady

"Gobble, Gobble... Count Your Many Blessings" - Week 72

November 23rd, 2015


     Things are splendid in our new area! I couldn't be happier to be here in Los Solares serving along side Elder Gaitan. He's a powerful missionary, and we really seem to understand each other. His thoughts and reasoning are similar to mine. We've gotten to know a good amount of members so far, have received blessings from the Bishop, done several services in their houses, and have had great experiences with the ward leaders. Yesterday, we received 13 referrals from members, and we hardly did anything... Our ward mission leader is really on the spot, and has coordinated times to leave with members every day of the week! Its apparent that we already have a very high level of trust from the members and they're ready and willing to work. We're excited for the results to come. I've never served in a ward quite like this. Of course, the ward counsels are mad houses like usual, but at least there isn't as much apostasy as there have been in other wards... We haven't done any exchanges yet. People call us "supers" as if we're from the Incredibles, or some Pokemon in it's evolved state... Its funny. We had a meeting with the president about the purpose of this assignment. There are four of us, and we split the mission in two. We're basically supposed to capacitate all the zone leaders who are new as leaders this transfer, and those that are blanking. We're pretty much just gonna be helping out certain missionaries and companionships. The calling is an experiment here in the mission. Our president wants to elevate the teaching skills and ability of the mission. It'll be fun. The house here is nice, and its super huge! The nights are much better now that I don't have to be taking calls and numbers, and all that other zone leader stuff! Its paradise! Any who, I'm so grateful to be serving a mission. I give thanks to God for the trials and tribulations he's provided me for my own personal growth, and I'm thankful for the power of the atonement and it's role in my life. I'm thankful for my Savior, and for the gifts and blessings I receive from a loving God every day. I was blessed with the most wonderful family on earth, and I love them dearly. Have a happy Turkey day! love you all!

Elder Brady

"Gone Baby Gone" - Week 71

November 16th, 2015

      The time has come... I have had 10 and a half months in Villa Mella. I've seen missionaries come and go, and have enjoyed my time thoroughly in my respective areas. With a bit of sadness, I pass the torch to someone else, as I have been called to serve somewhere over the rainbow. It's called Los Solares, of the Zone of Hainamosa. I'll be with Elder Gaitan, and will be white washing again. We've been assigned as zone leader capacitators. Basically we just do a whole lot of exchanges with new zone leaders, and elders that are white washing. It's awesome because I'll get to see a lot more of the country, and be with a ton of different people. In the mish it has the nickname of "Super Lider de Zona". Which is funny, because I no longer have the burden of a zone on my back, I'll just be goin around servin a bunch of missionaries and I still get to be part of the mission counsels. I'm super excited about it, and from what I hear, Elder Gaitan is excellent. It'll be a blast. I wanted to stay and finish my kid's training, but I know who's comin in to do the job, and he's a great friend of mine, so he's in good hands. The area I'm going to is actually where he started his mission, so that's funny. Any who, we'll see how it all goes this week. Thanks for all the love and support! Have a great week!

Elder Brady

My companion, being a vampire.
He was obsessed with those plastic fangs mom!

Some good friends in Vista Bella

Se Bautizo Padilla! I never got this one sent out

"Oh Lucy... You Got Some Splainin to Do!" - Week 70

November 9th, 2015

     Well, things are splendid as always! This week we had a baptism scheduled for a man named Hector, who is currently living with his brother, the first counselor of our ward. He's a great guy, and one of the most spiritually prepared investigators I've had in my mission. He's not a member, but he's part of the ward choir, and is one of the most faithful members of the Elders Quorum (Even though he's not a member). He's what we call a "miembro seco". Well, during a review of the questions for his baptismal interview, I asked him if he had committed a serious crime... When he responded "Does homicide count?" I was needless to say, a bit taken back. After talking a little more, we found out that it was actually a charge of attempted homicide, and he's on probation for six months. He used to have a bad drinking problem, and one morning he just woke up in prison. He doesn't remember a thing about that night. This event occurred four months ago. I think it was one of the hardest things I've had to do, to tell this man that he wouldn't be able to be baptized until after. But he's keeping strong, and has a firm testimony. He's made a lot of serious life changes. It'll just make this christmas that much more special for him. We'll be working with him a good while to prepare him even more. I really hope I don't get transfered this time around. It's kind of fun being in the same stake for almost a year. Every stake conference the service project is like a big reunion from all the members and converts I've gotten to know. Everyone knows me well, and I know them. Any who, here's some long belated photos I owe ya'll.

Love
Elder Brady

Some friends at a service project.
The one on my right is Luis Nery, from Ponce.
He's a convert of mine from about 6 months ago.

Dileni! Se Bautizo´!  I never sent the pic

Padilla! Se Bautizo´tambien! I love this family so much!

Nobody had any idea what it was before.

The top of the "F" hit the fan during the move... don't judge me...

Me and my boy... 

Nuñez came and visited us

At the temple with Hector and his nephew. Love these guys

"The Work Progresses (or some other cheesy line a missionary would say)" - Week 69

November 2nd, 2015

     This week, we'll be taking advantage of the Stake conference, which was wonderful, in asking for referrals. We've set goals in each district, and we're expecting greater results. This week we had a special meeting, in which we all planned in the stake center as a zone. It was really pretty special. Everyone separated into different rooms, while Elder Ruiz and I went from companionship to companionship, observing, helping, capacitating, getting to know their investigators, and counseling with them about those specific needs and challenges in their distinct areas. For lack of better words... Fue muy chevere! Afterward, we all talked about the importance of effective planning, and several bore their testimonies of the spiritual experiences they had in planning that day. I think that will help us put works to our faith. Not much else new. I'm behind on quite a bit of photos, so here they come. Love you all so much!

Elder Brady