"Time is Ticking" - Week 97

May 16th, 2016

     Everything is fantastic in Los Solares. We're replenishing our pool of investigators, getting to know new people each day. It's been an absolute blast being with Elder Rosales! He's an excellent teacher and came very prepared to work hard and share the gospel in his mission. He's willing to do what's asked of him and to help in what is needed. I see in him a very skilled missionary and future leader of this mission. He will help many other missionaries in the near future, I'm sure of it.

     When I first got to the mission, I remember thinking just how fun mission work was! Now almost two years later, I feel like I love it and enjoy it more and more everyday. The work of salvation is a serious thing. It's not without disappointment and it's certainly not easy, but I couldn't think of a more rewarding more joyful way of spending my time and energy right now.

     We went to Sabana Grande de Boya, my old area to visit today. Lot's of fun, but at the same time very nostalgic. Have a good week everyone! Love you all!

Elder Brady

"Me Quedo!" - Week 96

May 9th, 2016

     All is well in Zion, and I'll be staying here to start someone's training till I finish this last transfer. It's gonna be a blast! I'll miss Elder Charles for sure, but I'm excited to meet and help someone new. Love you all!

Elder Brady

Last time with these punks!

Matthew 11:5

All tuckered out

The District

Hermana Bocanegra goes home!

Love this guy

Elder Romero Rockin out!

My good buddy Elder Chub and I

"Faith; A Principle Worth Living by" - Week 95

May 2nd, 2016

 Well, first off... Happy Mother's day! The world would be a much much darker place without the kind and sweet disposition of selfless service and intuition of mother's all over the earth. I for one, am particularly grateful for my own mother's selflessness and sweet nature. Mom, you're my hero! To all mothers wherever you may be, I salute you. And to my mother, I adore you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. :)

     Well, we've learned quite the lessons of faith and submission to the Lord this week. Marileidy was married, baptized and confirmed a member of the church! She shared her testimony in sacrament meeting and I'm sure there were more teary eyes than dry that day. She's gained such a beautiful testimony. The day before her marriage she was feeling really discouraged and down because she didn't have any money to pay for the marriage the next day. She had 40 Pesos (not even a dollar). Aridson, her husband, had tried selling his phone to get the money, but that very day the phone stopped working. The adversity was strong, but our faith was stronger. I asked her if she believed in miracles. She said, of course, but if tomorrow morning I wake up and only have 40 pesos, I'm staying in bed. We told her that she should ask anyone she hadn't yet asked to contribute, and later that night I would call and ask her how much she had. She would tell me, and I assured her that no matter the amount she had I would say "Marileidy, we've received the grace of God, and you will be getting married tomorrow morning." Even if we called her right then and there. We applied the eye of faith and truly saw it before it happened. After having her spirits lifted and faith increased, she was excited for the following day. By the grace of God, after doing what I'm convinced was absolutely everything within our power, with the help of some wonderful members in the ward, and one of the most hectic weeks of my mission, we received His grace, and I was able to tell her just that on the phone that night. The next several days, everything fell into place. The Lord certainly does hear and answer our prayers. My testimony is stronger every day and my faith in Jesus Christ continues to grow.

Love you all,
Elder Brady

Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ,
Our Redeemer, our Savior, and our Hope, is a living, breathing, active thing.
Our belief that He carried out an infinite atonement,
and that we, by His grace and mercy have rights to access it's enabling power,
should change the way we look at everything. It is not just a dream, this is reality.

"Opportunities within Opposition" - Week 94

April 25th, 2016


     The Lord is a God of miracles. I've never seen so many blessings amongst so much adversity; so many trials yet so many miracles. Sometimes we tend to forget just who is running the show here. Sometimes we ask ourselves if it's really worth it. It IS worth it. Saturday, we had a baptism planned for Benny. The day before, we lost all communication with her. Long story short, her family from outside the country arrived, and she was affected by what they had to say about the Church. She didn't show up to go to the temple, so we went with the other investigators without her. Canceling the baptism last minute, we went with our ward mission leader to see if we could go rescue her. She wasn't home. Anytime a date falls it's a bit discouraging. I've felt perhaps just a sliver of what our Heavenly Father feels when His children choose the wrong path, or stray away after having received testimony of the truth. Instead, our mission leader showed us the house of some less actives, sealed in the temple, that haven't been to church in a long time. I've never seen so much opposition against such a great cause. We had a very powerful lesson with them. The man crying during the lesson, told us they would be at church the next day without doubt, and they were. Perhaps Benny wasn't ready for baptism, but the Ramos family was ready to return to the fold of God.

     The next day, at church we found out that a member, Sister Lurdes, had passed away of a stroke that very morning. It was sudden, and many were affected by her death. The sacrament meeting was very solemn and there was a very sober yet sacred feeling in the air that day. It's been an emotional weekend and things just seemed to keep piling up. Later, we wanted to go through the ward directory with the bishop to find investigators that attend church and could possibly be baptized this week, however, the entire ward went to the sister's funeral. Instead we went with a brother to Amalia to try and visit Benny. She wasn't there again. We said a prayer, and decided to visit some other investigators that have had baptismal dates in the past. We gave ourselves to the Lord, and put the work in His hands. That same night, we were able to talk with Maryleidy, the brother's daughter that we're actually teaching and have been trying to marry, she also went to the temple with us the day before. After a good conversation, we set the date that she would be married this Friday, and baptized the next day Saturday. We've spent today getting all of the papers ready, copies of IDs and birth certificates. We went with our second counselor, who will be one of the witnesses along with the relief society president, to the oficiala and got everything taken care of and set up for their marriage Friday at 9:00 in the morning. The Lord takes care of His children, and when our best efforts just aren't enough, He steps in with grace and works miracles. We were also able to speak with an elderly lady who is the mother of the former stake president, who is currently in Cuba serving a mission with his wife. We set a date with her for the 14th of May, and will have dates for other families soon. Every trial and every set back has only made room for greater blessings. Every day of our lives can be a testimony builder if we let it. I have no doubt that this is the Lord's work, and it is glorious.

Have a great week!

Elder Brady

My companion found a metal spoke on the ground about a week ago.
He bought a file and started to sharpen it,
saying it was his "Juker" which is Grenadian for shank.
Needless to say, I was worried.
Then one day he surprised me with a fully sewn shoe
 (the sole was coming off and disconnected from the leather).
It was a great surprise!

The formerly inactive family Ramos!

Couple o' Gs

​Robo Cop 2016

" Al Monte del Señor" - Week 93

April 18th, 2016

     A splendid week here in sunny Dom Rep! We were able to go to the temple with some investigators, renting another bus as a zone. It was a great experience and the MTC counselor gave a little lesson there. We'll also have another lesson in the temple this Saturday, and immediately following, a baptism. Her name is Benny, and she's awesome. Very prepared. As always there is constant opposition, but we try to count the blessings instead.
     Sometimes our efforts seem fruitless, and sometimes we work hard only to meet failure and ask ourselves, "what's the use?". But we are always rewarded in some way, even if we can't see the results of our labor in the time we think we ought to. But that's where faith comes into play, and everything within us is tested. We are all in the storm at sea, thrown overboard and tossed by the waves. At times we're struggling to help others get to the raft safely, and at other times we're the ones in need of help just to stay afloat. But the most comforting thought is that we're not out there alone. We have a rescuer that walks on water, who's voice the rain and sea obey. We are never alone, for He who suffered all our afflictions offers for us to take up His yolk, and with His help, side by side we can make it to safety. His yolk is easy, and His burden light.

Have a great week!

Elder Brady

Maryleidi and Luisa with us at the temple

The gua gua to the temple, and Elder Call's face...

"To' Ta' Bien! (Dominicano para "Todo Esta Bien")" - Week 92

April 10th, 2016


     Well, we're playing the juggling game. Trying to balance and manage our time between areas Amalia and Los Solares is a challenge, but I like it a lot. It's been fun getting to know new people. Really there isn't much new, just pressing forward. Several investigators have dates to get married, and we're hoping their partner is willing to go through with it. Elder Charles is coming along with the language and is beginning to understand a little more each day. The members here are starting to get really excited about missionary work and ward activities. They've had me talk like three times in sacrament meeting recently and things are starting to get rolling. We're receiving more referrals and they're going out to visit people with us daily, so things are lookin up. Thanks for everything, I love you all!

Sorry its just a quick report, not much time, and not too eventful this week.

Love,
Elder Brady

"You put the Lime in da Coconut and drink um bo' up" -Harry Nilson
Lets just say I was a little excited to find a place
that actually puts the lime in the coconut!
It was delicious, and I'll be calling the doctor in the morning...

At the Conde with the guys eating pizza outside
in a bistro with the oldest cathedral in the Americas in sight.
It was a beautiful day.

Four buds
Los Padres de la Patria!

"Revelation" - Week 91

April 4th, 2016

     Things are well. Conference was wonderful! I remember President Corbitt saying that whenever you hear the word "conference", think "revelation". What a proven truth. This weekend was full of inspiration and revelation for me. Our area must be very important to our prophets and seers, because in many instances they spoke directly to me. I love General Conference, and my appreciation for it and our leaders has only grown with my time on the mission.

     Elder Charles is doing well. Our biggest challenge right now is trying to get him to participate in the lessons more. He has a hard time understanding and memorizing certain elements of the language, but has a much stronger base now than he did a month ago. Reading is going well. He does much better in english because he's familiar with the words and can sight read them. He's been improving in both languages.

Life is good and God is great
Elder Brady