Re: What's the dealio

Wed, Feb 16, 2011

just in case. :P

---------- Forwarded message ----------

*ahem* ... erm... anyways... eh... moving on? (1 Nephi 16:2)

Anyways, that’s really weird that my pictures didn't send... I'm gonna try and get that all fixed up first before I continue typing so that I can get those off. :)

So. Same descriptions/order of last week
1) Elder Black and I our second day together! :D
2) my name in the sand at La Guancha, Ponce
3) overlooking La Guancha from this super cool tower thingie
4) sunset over La Guancha
5) alternate sunset foto

so anyways... some cool thingies for this week.

this morning I had been talking with Elder Hargadon (Elder Radmalls companion/one of the four Elders in our apartment) about some of the places that he's been to (he's been all OVER EVERYWHERE. he's a very lucky man. most all the countries in Europe... Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Canada... and more. Lucky, lucky, man.) and when he brought up Ecuador, he mentioned that after he had graduated from High School he had been talking with a friend, and she had mentioned this program that you can sign up for and volunteer at an orphanage. in Ecuador.  and since he hadn't been doing anything after he graduated he went. Here’s the linkie-link: http://www.orphanagesupport.org/ he went and did it for four months after he graduated. he was telling me about his experience with the program (and in his free time there) and said that it was absolutely amazing. Quite honestly, it was kinda inspiring. He also mentioned that there was a pretty big need for volunteers as there weren't many people applying. but I had been thinking... I mean, that would be a fantastic way to keep up my Spanish. You know? plus, it's helping others. Can’t lose with that. Elder Hargadon said after explaining it to some of the people in his ward they donated money (now... he DID live in California... and he DID know lots of Rich people... but still.) he ended up not having to pay anything. but how amazing would that be?! :D I think it would be the coolest thing eva! and I can imagine I could get some kinda of college credit for doing it as well... so... yeah. it would be amazing. What do you think?

and in other news... WE FOUND A FAMILY!!!! :D and they are totally the coolest family ever! :D let me start from the beginning. So, was had a trade off with Elder Oviatt (our great zone leader guy person) back on the 25th and he contacted a grandma and her three grand kids. we got the info from him and since then we have been trying to contact the family, but every time that we stopped by the house, they weren't there! They just were not there. Granted, the grandma was taking care of the kids until 5 and then the parents would get home from work around 5 to 6... but after stopping by at least 3 times a week trying to contact anyone for two weeks, we finally got a hold of them last Thursday. And then had an AMAZING appointment with them on Friday. :D wow. First off. Nestor, the father, plays the guitar. *ding* His favorite band? Van Halen. *ding* his favorite guitarist? Eddie Van Halen *ding* the oldest son, also named Nestor (14) plays the guitar *ding* the next oldest, Gabriel (12) has the favorite colors of black red and white. *ding* and the youngest son, Ian (10) plays the trumpet. *ding* is there a more perfect family?! I think not. ;)  we started the restoration lesson by referring to the family: a proclamation to the world pamphlet and Eternal families. Then throughout the entire lesson we connected all the points to Eternal families as well. :) The only reason we couldn't share anything with them the Thursday that we talked to them is because they were working on homework as a family. :-O otherwise they would have let us in. the mother, Marlin, was a little bit apprehensive about the whole thing (both she and Nestor studied in a catholic university right here in Ponce) so we'll have to see how everything plays out. (I'm pretty sure it's going to play out for the better though. :) ) But at the end of the lesson, Nestor was willing to kneel down and pray to find out if Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. And he committed to read the Book of Mormon, and said that he was going to finish it within two weeks. Wow. He is amazing. :D but look at that. a whole family, and they are almost ALL priesthood holders. We have been blessed. Very much so. So if you could be so kind so as to include La Familia Ruiz-Rivera in your prayers that would be absolutely fantastic.


Plus, president has given us a new schedule for working. :) I think I might have already mentioned it... but we weren't able to implement until this last Monday due to schedule conflicts. And wow. We were highly blessed. We were able to find a WHOLE lot more people to talk to that early in the morning. There is a whole lot more families out that early, taking kids to school and the like. And now we have some appointments with more families coming up! :D I'll report on how those go next week. :D

To give a small report on Reynaldo... well... things didn't go as well as they could have. He has quite a few doubts... and he hasn't exactly been reading because he doesn't like the style that the Book of Mormon is written in (in columns like the bible...) and he believes that Jesus Christ is an alien... so we're working on that. But other than that, he's great! :D

I still have yet to get my package from the office. I'm not really sure what’s going on there. >:(

so, I should be getting my memory card sent out TODAY, :) we have to stop by the post office so I'm going to pick up a small flat rate box to send some stuff home that I've been meaning to send. INCLUDING THE MEMORY CARD, which will be sent off in the box that I will be getting today I will send home the memory card. There. Nice and redundant for all of us to be redundant. And stuff. so Yea. I'll get the memory card sent off. ;)

but yes... I suppose because I've put a bit more substance into this email I've run out of time... so I'm going to have to bust a move. buuut, at least I have some pictures right? That’s what counts. :)

so yes.

I love you more than I love almost sending the memory card. ;) :P Naw, I love you more than I love biking around on a broken pedal. :3

~Elder Bryan (Brandon)