Re: transfers??????

Tue, Mar 30, 2010

NO, thank you very much. I DID NOT tell Annie not to tell you if I was getting transferred or not, gosh. :P no, I just didn't know yet. but I do NOW! :D and so do YOU cause Annie let you know already. I GET TO STAY IN CAGUAS AGAIN!!!!! WOOO!!!!!! also, i DID get my package already, just like you know. thank you SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much!!!!!!! :D

ha ha ha, actually, Annie took a picture of the picture of Octaviou on MY camera. but yeah, that baptism was actually an interesting story. so, when we got to the church to fill up the baptismal font, turns out we didn't have any water. at all. in the ENTIRE church building. YAY! so we're like. "uh so NOW what do we do?" and Octaviou REALLY wanted to have his baptism today so that his son could see it (he's currently going through a nasty divorce and he had his son for the first time in a while) so it gets to right before the baptism starts and we're like "GAH!!!! we have to figure something out!" so we start asking around, the bishop, and some of the other people that are there to see if there was a river big enough and clean enough that we would be able use? and they told us no, so we started asking about swimming pools. :D well, there was a member from Aguas Buenas there that had one Aaguas Buenas is the next area over. it's the sisters area) so we call president Dewsnup up and ask if we can use it. He said "go for it" so we got this huge train of cars following us all the way there because nobody knew how to get there and she lived all the way up in the mountains (the "campo") Well, Turns out that she lives about a half an hour away from the church, so it was a long drive, but it was worth it. it really showed how everyone brought themselves closer together to make this happen. really fantastic experience. So yeah, I got to baptize in a Swimming pool! :D SWEET!

ok, so for the dentist. I had my last appointment yesterday. final total came up to 600 bones. :-/ but, I got that all paid and my teeth are now all currently cavity free. I HAVE been trying to keep up as much as possible with the mouthwash, and I HAVE been for sure brushing my teeth every day, ;) bonus, right? :D

that pretty sweet that you have service to Puerto Rico. but you DO know that Puerto Rico is still part of the united states, right? :P so TECHNICALLY it's only basic service. you know. :D

well, keep looking to see what you can find boyfriend-wise. she's really needing one, you know. and I mean, I've been trying to up my service as much as possible, so this is the chance for that! xD (He is talking about Annie)

so yes, now on to the kidney stones. so, I talked with sister Dewsnup yesterday and she asked me a few questions then called the mission doctor and he said that what he wants me to take 4 ibuprofen pills three times a day so we can fully find out if it's just a super duper muscle spasm in my back or actually a kidney stone. and if it IS a kidney stone, then I'm going to have to go to get myself an x ray or ultra sound to see how big it is... :-/ *sigh* this is horrible. I just can't wait to find out whats coming NEXT, huh? I think life just gets more and more exciting! :D

pha! Do they do anything down here for Easter. my goodness YES! they celebrate holy week here like none other. but then again, they celebrate everything ELSE with just as much gusto, but still. this is the week of their SAVIOR! EVERYONE celebrates it. and the cops celebrate this time by cracking down on people, too. ha, the only time in the entire year really. yeah... it was pretty fun. hey, guess what? did you know that Elder Harvey got a speeding ticket? ha ha ha, yeah... and changing lanes without a blinker, and tailgating... $205... and that's after paying his dentist appointment of $800. mmm, tasty. erm... we were late for an appointment?

as for conference, yes, I pretty much will be at the church all day. in between, missionaries do "blitzes" when they split up with other companions and work the area that the stake center is in, which just so happens to be Caguas. :D so all I have to do is just go and work like normal. OR, I could make myself some appointments and get off tracting. I think I'll do that.

wait, Gma Jan and Gpa Ed got a new kitty? when did THAT happen? I had no idea! do you have a picture? mm, and SPEAKING of pictures. pippy=win. that picture is EPIC! ha ha ha! but shhh, I don't have that picture, no. that's ridiculous. also, where's my family picture? :P huh? I was expecting that.

ok, so I have to bust a move so I can get an email sent out to Cassie

LOVE YOU much more than Dad loves sleeping! :3 ha ha ha!

~Brandon (elder Bryan)

BEHOLD! Lesters baptismal fotos attached!

1) Me, Lester, and Elder Harvey.



2) The Bishop and Lester.



3) Lester and his mom, Adelin Nieves.

well... I guess I'm gonna have to email YOU...

Wed, Mar 17, 2010

instead of dad, cause I don't have his email on this email :'( so if you WOULD, please give him this email when you have the chance! :D

so yes!

DAD! hi!!!!! :D I'm sorry I've just taken... well..., pretty much the whole world's time to email you back... I'm really sorry about that.... but yes. I'm email you now! that's what counts, right? :D

so yeah. I know that you requested the names of all my comps and all the people in my districts and everything, so let me bust that out really quick.

ok. so in the MTC, my companion was Elder Eversole, from Las Vegas Nevada!. in my district I had Elders Starr, Bisesar, Moore, Lamb, Banner, Elg, Radmall, Patton, Elder Bushnell, and Elder Gomez.

ok, so in the CCM, my companion was Elder Patrick, from Utah... but at the moment I don't remember where... sorry... but in my district we had Elders Berhmann, Nelson, Radmall (again! :D ), Robertson, Schmutz, and Elder Frazier. we had a smaller district in the CCM, but it was pretty cool. even though we were pretty much the outcast district. DAH!

so, in the Field I've had

Elder Maldonado as my trainer in Rio Grande, from Utuado, Puerto Rico (1 transfer)
Elder Dye in Rio Grande, from Utah (1 Transfer)
then I moved to Caguas with Elder Bailey from... Utah I think... (1 transfer)
and now I have Elder Harvey, from Logan Utah, here in Caguas still (so far 2 Transfers) :D

YAY! but yeah. now on to you! I heard that you got a new JOB!!! YEAHYA! and that things are going really well there as well. getting GLOWING reviews, eh? :D and also that you were going to school for a bit. how was that going for you? are you still going there, too? what was your FAVORITE part of going back to school? ha ha ha! I bet the homework, right? yeah. it HAS to be that. :D

oh! I also wanted to ask you about your mission, too! cause I never really got the chance to hear crazy big amounts of stories, just a few here and there. so I was hoping that maybe you had some pictures you could scan, or some stories of things. :D

dah! now I'm almost really really out of time. well, this next week I'll be hoping to hear back from ya so I can hustle a reply to ya as well! :D

I love you so very much Dad, and I hope to hear from you soon. :)

~Your favoritest Brandon ever! :D

Re: More dental work??????

Wed, Mar 17, 2010

NO NO NO! it's not 230 for the next two visits, it's total for the next two appointments... but STILL, I didn't really think that I had that many cavities. plus she said that she "found it" and that it wasn't on the x-ray. but for sure I can ask to see the x-rays next time. that's not a problem at all. especially if it's going to save me some massive buckage like 230. cause you know, that's one fourth of the JSX amplifier. ;) ha ha ha! oh, another thing. my dentist isn't even a guy, it's a LADY! it's kinda weird. but they were also recommended by one of the members of the ward/stake mission leader... he said they were pretty good... Buuuut, I guess you never know? I'll check it out. :'(

so for Annie, ANYTHING from you would be fantastic, so don't worry about it if you can't get anything spiffily fancy. it's all good. HA HA HA! she sent you the video of me and Elder Harvey beat boxing? HA HA! that's great! there's also another member in there that I think was doing it with us too. it should be Jonathan, a younger guy that comes out with us to appointments sometimes :D

well... if you DID send me a family foto, I didn't get it. xD ha ha ha! I DID get some with Robin Donny and Hannah, but not with you guys (you know, the parents) so that would be nice. you know. just throwing that out there.

wait. Bryan and Bree told you some of the stuff that's inside the package?! and they STILL haven't sent it. gosh. those bums. I wish I had more of a way to bug them so they would sent it. but yeah... I did write a bit more of a personal letter this time... Did she really not get what the sticky note letter meant?! are you serious? aw jeeze, that bum.

oh, the letter from the mission pres? yeah, I had a chance to read a little bit of it. I mean, not the WHOLE thing, but a bit of it, yes.

SO, for a little bit of news from myself:

we've been recently teaching a really good friend of Lester's. now, we've only gotten the chance to have ONE lesson with him so far, but in that lesson we were able to place a baptismal date for the 11th of April, but he called us up on Sunday night and asked us if he could move it to the 27th of march. wow! ALRIGHT! heh, that's perfectly fine with us! :D now we just have to find time to teach him before then. xD but for the rest of the week, we've been having to do lots of finding cause, we DO have investigators, but half of them aren't progressing very much... some of them just wont come to CHURCH! BLAH!

but yes. you get to go to Cali for an ELEMENTARY school reunion?! WHAT!? that's crazy. do you know if Pioneer Valley does those? xD ha ha ha! that would be sweet.

blarg! I'm sorry I have to cut this one short this week, I have to email dad and Donny too

So, I LOVE YOU! more than Bryan loves ME! :'( *sniff sniff* ha ha ha!

~Brandon (elder Bryan)

Re: sweet mini vid!

Wed, Mar 10, 2010

ha ha ha! which video did Annie send you? cause I think that we were at the church when she was recording it... but I can't remember. :D but yeah, she really is super cool. but you know... I'm not really sure when President Dewsnup starts thinking about when it's time to transfer somebody or not... but if already been here for three transfers... I'm not sure if I would be going this next one or not. I don't think so, though. I don't feel like I am, so I think I'm good. :D but speaking of president Dewsnup! HA HA! I have found his self! he actually IS a pretty funny guy, he just hides it VERY well. Very VERY VERY well. heh, he has to be more of a figurehead than our buddy is what I think it is. BUT, he'll be your buddy in the interview no problem :D sooooo... yeah. as far as I know, I'm on president's good side now. sweet. :D but I really would absolutely LOVE to stay here as long as possible. Caguas just... I dunno. I feel like it fits me. :D

yes: YAY FERNANDO! for sure! :D oh yeah! and we went bowling with him last week, so I'm gonna toss some fotos of that on here as well. :D

ha ha ha! have there been a lot of parents calling mission presidents recently? understandable, but if there was anything that was bad happening to one of the missionaries here, I'm sure president Dewsnup would let the parents know without any problem. BUUUUT, DO get those 72 hour kits ready, lady! they're important! :P

Ah, good. I'm glad that Breanna FINALLY came to get her letter. gosh. you know what? it's been over SEVEN MONTHS since Bryan told me that he had a package for me. HA! you know what? I bet you that it might even turn into a coming HOME package! HA HA HA! why would that not surprise me? xD

WHAT?! sister Jung is going home!? WHAT?! THAT'S CRAZY! tell her I say "hi", please! :D

no. way. Austin gets to go to SCOTLAND?! WHAT!? that is so sick. that lucky punk. gah, and, AND, he's already gone to England. man... and Reuben gets to go to Germany. wow. that's one of those things that I really wanna do: go travel. I think that would be so cool to do. just to travel all over the place. well, that one think I would get to do with my Band, right? good thing I plan on being rich and famous so I can do all that stuff, eh? :D

aw man... Donny has been sick? that's a real bummer... :-/ and Hannah is getting sick. when is her trip do D.C.? and if anything, you could just send her out anyway, even if she IS sick, ja ja ja! :D but what IS gas up to now? cause they measure it in liters here... yeah. its like three liters to the gallon just about, right? I have no idea. xD

wait... Grandpa went down to PORTLAND for a job interview? his job wouldn't be down THERE would it? cause that's long trip!

speaking of mystery picture! ha ha ha! turns out, the picture I got was the one of Marissa ( (almost formerly)NEUMANN) pointing at the gum wall! :D Ha ha! sweet. did I ever get the chance to see that? cause I don't really remember if I have or not... heh heh...

speaking of stuff to send me, well you know how you were asking if there was anything that Annie might be needing? heh heh, WEEEELL, she did tell me that if you had a spare boyfriend that was handsome and had lots of money to send him right over! she's been needing one of those! even a family photo would be good!" (hey, I wouldn't mind one of those either, you know? :P) so yeah... but, :D I just wish that I had a way to pay her back for her awesomeness. so yes. but if you can't get any magic goin' on, s'all good. :)

ok. SOOO, I had a quick question. We've been going to the Dentist quite a bit recently, and every time I go, they seem to find more and more cavities... and what they WANT to do is basically, (AND what they have already done to two of them) is drill apart the tooth then do a restoration. and the last two times felt like they did a LOT of drilling... erm... now, I'm no expert on dentistry, but I'm not sure if that is ABSOLUTELY necessary, and so far, every visit is turning out to be around a hundred bucks. ew gross... I just looked at the receipt... ew. turns out that my FIRST trip was up to 90 bucks and then 160 for my visit last week... GROSS! and THEN, I got a quote for the next two appointments that I have... 230 bucks. *sigh* SO, I was wondering what you had to say about the whole having half of my drilled drilled out (oh, you know what? they good news is that the restoration perfectly matches my teeth color. goodness.... otherwise I'd be coming home with TONS of metal in my mouth.) but yeah,... what is your opinion on that? what should I do? lemme know, cause my next appointment is on the 29th, and then after that, the 30th. hook me up, yo. :)

also. ok. so Elder Bednars visit, right? Ha ha ha! FINALLY! :D so, we had two visits with him. we had the missionary exclusive meeting, and then we had our stake conference meeting the next day. so the missionary meeting was about making our investigators Agents, not objects. so, think about it. what IS an object? like a rock? its an item that has an OUTSIDE force works on it, it cant act for itself. an AGENT is a thing that can act for itself. like a PERSON. :D SO, they whole idea is that we want our investigators to act for themSELVES, not have us tell them what to do. that's the key, because that's what will get them converted.

for the stake conference meeting, we learning about how believing is seeing, but seeing isn't always believing. I can't remember the better part of the meeting, but one thing that I DO remember, was how when he got up, he told us that he had been wondering what he was going to make his topic be, and when he opened up a little gift that one of the girls in the congregation, he saw the little magnet that said "Puerto Rico, seeing is believing" he told us that the spirit said "that's your topic" I was like, "wow, that's amazing! he just pulled that from that? and this and that and that and this. bleh bleh bleh... bluuh bluh bluh" I want to be able to do THAT! that would be INCREDIBLE! it was a really good talk.

but yeah... I have to bust a move, it's a little later than I thought. please do get back to me about the dentist thing though. :D that would be fantastic.

so, until next week! I LOVE YOU!

LOVE YOU LOVE YOU LOVE YOU!

~Brandon (Elder Bryan)

AH! and the pictures:
1 and 2, me Elder Harvey and Fernando after bowling! :D


and number three: Steve the sticky note buddy! :D ENJOY!

YAY, Fernando Luis' baptism!

Wed, Mar 03, 2010

1) left to right: Elder Harvey, Fernando, and I


2)Fernando, and his dad, Fernando. ha ha ha!


3)Me, Fernando, Fernando the father, and Elder Harvey


4)Bishop Roman, Fernando and his dad.

Re: What would your email be if there were another Brandon Bryan?

Wed, Mar 03, 2010

Hola, mamacita! como le va?!

well, this week went by fairly well. not TOO bad, but not horirble either. BUT, we did have our baptism with Fernando! :D YAY! I've got pictures of that, so I'll get that sent with this email. :D as for Jesus, we have just barely started teaching him again, because of work and school, but we had a really fantastic lesson with him last night about the plan of salvation. it was a really sweet lesson. It was also a really deep one, but it's ok, he's more of a deep thinking kinda guy, and he's always got super awesome questions. which is sweet as well. so yeah, we're working on him. :D but he HAS told us "when I get baptized..." so he's definitely been considering it a LOT.

Ha ha ha! speaking of my toe, I got a package from Great grandma and in her letter she was like "my goodness, what happened to your toe?" ha ha ha! I thought it was funny. but yes. I ALSO got a package from Grandma Jan, so I'll be getting back to them both through letters soon. :3

sweet! you made Tawny a rice crispy treat cake. that's pretty cool.

what a second. you HAVE the pippy picture?! ARE YOU SERIOUS?! heck YES I want that! do you realize how much gold that thing is worth?! at least 20 pieces. do you know what I could buy with that? I could almost buy a full iron broad sword for that much. or maybe like thirty candy bars. but other requests for my package... Hmm... I'm not too sure... I just bought myself some shampoo and condish... OH! you know what would be good? witch hazel and cotton pads. :3 that would be nice. I'm just about up with both of those, so they would be very enjoyable to have. :D other than that.... uh... I dunno. you can think of something, right? :D

oh, did you get the chance to let Breanna know about her letter? and did they stop by to get it?

yeah, I did hear about Chile... that's really crazy. it was just HUGE! 8.9, wasn't it? and then the other one right before it! ha ha ha, maybe 2012 really IS the end of the world, eh? xD that's crazy awesome about those missionaries in the Santiago mission getting those dreams too. just one more example of how the Lord is keeping his eye on us! :D but yes, being prepared... that would be a good Idea. I'm thinkin' you guys should do it, eh? :P

speaking of the sling bag, I've been cutting back as much as possible with using it. I've been really trying to keep the stress off of it. HOWEVER, I called up sister Dewsnup about four days ago and brought it up to her, cause it just kept getting worse and worse. She told me that she had actually had the same thing happen to her. guess what she told me to do? she said that her doctor told her that all she needed to do was to go for a twenty minute walk every morning. WOW, it almost seems too easy to be true. but you know, these last four days Ive been doing that for my morning exercise and its already getting better! HA! YES! she told me that it could take up to about two or three weeks for it to fully go away, but still! all this tension in my neck has really messed with my voice, too, and now I can feel it coming back, little by little. *sniff sniff* it just makes me so happy! it really does seem to be "that easy"! :D I'll get back to you about it in about two weeks to let you know how it's goin. :3

wait... was I really wink winking about someone coming here to this mission? I don't remember... lemme check that really quick. AH! ha ha ha! well, I hadn't really been thinking about anyone in SPECIFIC, I mean, like, who WOULDN'T like to serve a year and a half in the CARIBBEAN? also, president Dewsnup said that even FAMILY could if they wanted to. you know, don't be afraid to just talk to some people in the family that are fairly close to home. I doubt it would be a problem, to, you, just bring it up. maybe at the dinner table. with family. you know. HA HA HA! plus, like, everything is basically paid for. just saying.

I know... I didn't get back to Robin last week... I really meant to! I really did! but Elder Harvey finished with what he was doing and I didn't get the chance to! :'( but I'm going to this week. no problem. :)

so for the applications to LDS BC, it's just three LIMITED essays? SWEET! I don't mind that! I guess I really WONT have a problem getting in if it accepts people like Pierce does. that's good to know. :)

yes... you're right... I DO need to email Ehren... did you say he got transferred to WYOMING?! how does THAT work? I thought he was the salt lake SOUTH mission? wouldn't that mean SOUTH, not north? I coulda sworn... ha, maybe it was opposite day when they sent him his mission packet? :D

aw man, I really love the Area EFYs. those are cool. all of the speakers when I went were really good too. I'm glad you got to go. :D and speaking of the DI... you know, if you gt the chance to go there again, you wouldn't min looking for some really eye wateringly awesome ties, would you? cause I definitely wouldn't mind some sweet variety. :D

I'll talk to Annie today to see if there's anything spiffy that she would like. heh, heck, I could just tell her to EMAIL you about it, huh? xD but yeah. ok, now I'm off to go email robin. for realsies this time! :D

SWEET!

you guys have an awesome week! Thank you Grandma Jan and Great Grandma for the packages! expect some letters soon! :D

~Brandon (Elder Bryan)