" Don't ever give me cake..." - Week 54

July 20th, 2015

Hola!

     Things are just fine and dandy in the DR. I wouldn't trade the missionaries in Vila Mella for anything. We have amazing missionaries in this mission, but I've truly grown to love these brothers and sisters as if they were my own. Perhaps we haven't had much success lately, but we're beginning to look at mission work through the eye of faith, and thus beginning to receive many blessings. So far we've had seven baptisms this month, and that's a notable improvement from the last two. In order to keep baptizing instead of having this "oh too common and familiar roller coaster" of highs and lows, we're planning another white night in August, and have several baptismal dates of families already. We have set a goal for every companionship to take a family to the temple and have a lesson there by the end of the month. That way, not only will the missionaries be starting with the end in mind, but their families aswell; seeing baptism only as a stepping stone to be able to enter the temple.

     Personally, we're seeing many miracles here in Vista Bella. Due to a new policy that makes it much harder to baptize underage children without their parents, we're able receive blessings that we wouldn't if we didn't have the same focus that we do now. One investigator in particular, named Padilla, wouldn't have a baptismal date otherwise. His daughter was baptized at the beginning of the last transfer, and his wife was going to be baptized, but she needed an operation done on her stomach. Due to that operation, the baptism was postponed, then came the new policy, and at first it seemed like just another barrier, for her and for us. But it was a blessing in disguise. Padilla, the husband, was a challenge from the beginning. But after his daughter and wife realized that she couldn't be baptized without her husband, they worked hard on getting him to lessons. And it worked. We had an amazing lesson in the temple, and the following lesson, his attitude toward taking the lessons had changed completely. We put a baptismal date for him and his wife. He committed to go to church the next Sunday, and sure enough, he went. If we had continued doing it our way, that couple wouldn't be getting baptized. We are all trying to focus more on doing the Lord's will and not our own.

     This last Thursday, after the district meetings, we gathered to close things up, and as everyone came back in, to their surprise, they found a beautiful, delicious cake ready to be served. We talked about our goal for the temple, and the white night, and then we asked if they would like some cake as a "welcome to the zone gesture". Of course they all wanted it, so we called on Hermana Hansen to start us off. As she held out her plate, ready to receive her cake, I asked her again if she wanted cake. When she replied yes, I took my hand, planted it in the cake, scooped out a piece, and plopped it on her plate. For lack of better words, everyone flipped out! "Elder Brady! Que hace?!!!" Their reactions were pretty darn funny. For some reason, Hermana Hansen didn't want to eat the cake anymore.  So Elder Romero neatly sliced up a piece with a knife, and served it nicely on another plate. She wanted that one. We asked some questions, and had a really good conversation about the way in which we present the gospel to our investigators. We even have certain tools that help us in this task (the knife) like the Spirit; scripture study, planning sessions, the members... We came to a lot of really cool conclussions as a zone. I think dramatizing ideas is key. Special shout out to my mom who gave me the idea!

Other than that, we had a pretty normal week. Love the mish, love you all. Peace out.

Elder Brady

"On Teb... On!..." - Week 53

July 13th, 2015

     Hey all, had a real good week, all was very full of meetings, and what not. Our monthly meeting with the Stake President went a million times better.  We came prepared for every question he had with numbers to back it up. We spent ten hours straight in an internet center making a form, and collecting data. It was one brutal day, but it was certainly worth it. Well, Elder Lanza is gone, and tomorrow I'll be receiving my new companion Elder Romero, from Honduras as well. I'm excited for the next transfer here. It may not be the zone with the most success in the mission, or very much cool "stuff" in the area, but I absolutely love these missionaries. I've had the best opportunities to get to know some of the best people in the world. We said bye to Elder Lanza, but he's movin on in his life, and so are we here in the mission field. He's been an incredible companion. We'll tell ya whats up next week. Have a good one!

Love,
Elder Brady

"Carlito" - Week 52

July 6th, 2015

     This week, after a zone meeting, while doing some shopping at the local "La Sirena" , I was standing outside, waiting as my companion took out money from his card, when a young boy comes up and asks me for ten pesos. He had dirty clothes filled with holes, and a lightning bolt shaved in his hair on the side of his head. ( a popular thing for the barber shops to do here) He looked just like one of the hundreds that come to public places begging for something, or wanting to shine your shoes, but this one I'll never forget.

     I told him I didn't have any change on me. I asked him his name, "Carlito". I told him to ask my friend dressed like me if he had any change. As he waited patiently behind him in the ATM line, I made funny faces at him across the way. I like making friends with the kids even though they just want my money. My companion didn't have any change on him either, so I promised him that when we left, I'd catch him on the way out. We shook hands and went in to shop. While shopping for cereal, we see a familar face. Little Carlito found us in the store. In an instant we had a quick friend, helping us chose which cereal to buy, pushing our cart, giving us high fives, and laughing at my dumb jokes.

     At this time it was around 1 o'clock, we asked him if he was hungry, and he said he hadn't eaten since 6, when his father and mother left for work and dropped he and his brother off at the super market. The money he gets from begging he takes back to his parents. We asked him how old he was, and he said he was 10. Then we asked him when his birthday was, and he didn't know. He couldn't remember when he was born, and had never had a birthday party. At this moment I was struck with emotion. I had to keep myself from tearing up right then and there, because for some reason in such an instant, I reflected upon my own fortunate life, and was filled with guilt for it. Carlito spends the entire day begging for money away from home while his parents work to put bread on the table. He's never celebrated a birthday, nor does he know when his is. I spent my childhood watching cartoons. I spent my days in school, obtaining an education. I've been blessed with 19 memorable birthdays, without having to beg daily. I've been more than blessed in my life circumstances, and to see my new ten year old friend hungry, and completely unaware of his misfortune, due to the normality of his situation rocked me to my core.

     We asked him where his parents lived, and he couldn't gives us directions to his house. We bought he and his brother lunch at the cafeteria, and he went on his way with a smile. I don't know if he'll ever remember the two guys in white shirts. I don't know if his parents will ever come in contact with the missionaries. I don't know if it will have an effect on his life, but it did on mine. There are millions of children and families in the world in the same or worse situation. One lunch for a day is nothing compared to the gift that family could receive from the eternal well of the Gospel of Christ. After that day I feel as though it is our solemn duty to lift where we stand and raise those around us. They are our brothers, and I'm grateful for the opportunity I have to serve a small portion of them here in the Dominican Republic.

Thanks for everything,
Elder Brady

"Seven Years in Tibe... or One in the DR" - Week 51

June 29th, 2015

     Things are going very well here in Vista Bella. We're beginning to see many blessings due to, what I believe is truly "entregándose al Senor". We've stopped trying to do things our way, relying on our own reasoning and knowledge, and have turned the work over to the Lord. After all, it is His. We're focussing more on families, and people who actually want to progress, filtering out those who aren't ripe and ready for our visits just yet, and in doing so the Lord is beginning to trust us enough to give unto us His chosen. Of course there's still plenty of error, and plenty of room for improvement, but I've noticed a great difference lately. We're applying these same principles in the Zone.
     Several weeks ago, we had planned to do an "object lesson" type activity with the Zone; something Elder Lanza had heard from about cups with holes, and it's relation to obedience. Half of the cups had holes, and each companionship had to fill the cup with water, but it's impossible, if one of the companions isn't obedient (hole filled cup). After we did the activity, and were headed back into the chapel to talk about the principle, we decided to change it up a bit, and apply it to the needs a bit more relevant to the zone. The cups without holes were investigators ready to receive our message, those with holes were those who aren't, and even though the missionary tried to tape up the holes to make it to the other side with a cup full of water, as soon as that missionary left, the water came spilling out. We've been focussing hard on discovering the true desire of our investigators, so that we can find those who are waiting for us and have been prepared. Last week we also made an example of trying to balance a broomstick with our fingers, and noticing how impossible it is to do if we're only looking at the bottom of the stick. But when we watch the top, having the end in mind, we're able to adjust our own movements according to the wavering of the stick. It's all about seeing the investigator through the eye of faith. We're mentioning or talking about the temple almost every first lesson with an investigator and we've seen major improvement so far.
This next Thursday, we're planning on demonstrating how missionary work is much like a filtration process. There's some kind of seed or something that grows after some time in water, so we'll be experimenting with that, showing that some will be ready, and some aren't, but later after a while, the seed will have grown in the water, and will be ready for harvest for the next missionaries. I'll let you know how it goes.
     Personally I love teaching with stories and examples. People seem to respond to them so well if it's clear enough, and I always end up learning something from it. We'll be using these more often to address specific needs of the zone, and the wishes from above. The spirituallity is increasing and frivolity decreasing. I can't believe I've been out for a year... It's a strange feeling. In the words of Pete "That don't make no sense!" By the way, I've taught that phrase to my Honduranian companion, and he's practically a man from the south now. Love you all!


     Elder Brady

"Got, Got, Got, Got No Time..." - Week 50

June 22nd, 2015

     All is well... No time at all, just like the Guess Who, so hear we go...

     We painted some steal bars at the stake president's kindergarten, and so that's helpin a ton with our relationship.

     We had a development meeting with the zone, and it went well. Had a testimony meeting at the end that was super spiritual, so I guess that's pretty rad.

     Had an incredible lesson with an investigator family accompanied by our bishop at the temple yesterday. It was really powerful.

     We now have two dates for the Noche Blanca in our area, and are starting to see many others in the zone.

     I love the mish, love the work, the calling, my comp and most of all the challenges given to me by God to help me grow. Peace out ya'll

Elder Brady

Elder Lanza and I

We found a bird in our house and made it our pet. His name's Junior

"Change is a Process" - Week 49

June 16, 2015

     Firstly, shout out to my Mom! Happy Birthday Mom! Im so grateful to have a mother as amazing as you in my life. (Im sure everyone will make her feel extra special today ;)) Anyway, couldn't write yesterday, our Zone had interviews with the President. They went great! Everything is going really well. I love my new calling, area, companion (Elder Lanza and I are great friends) the zone, everything is awesome. We've planned a pretty dope Zone Meeting that I'm excited about. Villa Mella has really low baptismal rates, and we're trying to turn that all around. This last month, we had 4, and it doesn't look like we'll do much better this month. But on the 11th of July, we have a "Noche Blanca" planned. (White Night) Where each companionship brings the investigators that have been preparing themselves , and we have a big stake baptism. We're excited for that. This last week, we had a meeting with President Corbbit, and the Stake President. It was a little strange. The meeting was very cold, in the sense that the stake president was almost attacking us, and wouldn't look at the big picture, (We have very little support from members here, and he doesn't accept it as a problem.) But we had family home evening with him and his family last night, and our relationship has gotten much better already. Very good person, very good leader, just a little frustrated with the numbers, as are we. Things are going to start changing fast in Villa Mella. We've put a lot of thought, prayer, and preparation into how we can best target the specific needs of the zone, and address them with love, and in a way that the missionaries discover the solutions for themselves. I'm learning a ton in this new calling. Any who, all is well. Thanks for everything! Have a great week,

Elder Brady

Some photos of the house

" First Week in Vista Bella" - Week 48

June 8th, 2015

     Well, Im here in my new area, and all is well. I love my companion, Elder Lanza. Im learning a ton from him.The Zone is really good, but I'll tell ya, it sure is different being Zone leader. There is never a free minute. Absolutely every second of the day is occupied by some problem to resolve, some phone call to make, some report to give... It's extremely busy, but I love it! The ward is really good. Its probably the best established ward I've been in on my mission yet. There's a lot of support from the ward. It's very strange to get used to a new area, and I've forgotten how it is, so everything, all the names, visits, streets are all just a blur right now, but I'll adjust soon enough. I love it here so far. Thanks for everything, and have a great week!

Elder Brady

Sorry I ain't got no photos for ya'll, I'll try to be better next time round.