February 26, 2013

Hey hey hey! Sounds like a fun week for some and a frustrating week for others... just know that I'm prayin for all of you and that whatever happens to us, the Lord is in it. Even if he isn't the one causing our stresses, he is letting it happen for a reason...just have the mid set of "hmmm, what is the Lord trying to teach me this time?" That always helps to bring a much more broad perspective into our tight little mortal vision haha. So here's the story of my frustration this week. Our investigator zoid, on saturday night said " whens the soonest i can get baptized??" And we were like uh tomorrow. And so he said set it up! Let's do it i'm ready!! So in total awesomeness we set up a great baptism service, invited the entire ward and in sacrament meeting they announced that he would be baptized that evening. Well he wasn't feeling well in sacrament meeting so after that he went home to take some medication, but on the way he stopped by a catholic church (because he is a catholic) and talked to a priest about his baptism that evening and the priest told him that all church is good and he can get baptized if he would like, but it would do him no good and it wasn't necessary for his salvation, so then he calls us and tells us that we need to hurry and cancel the baptism because he decided against it. We went over an talked to him, but it was to no trevail for us or the Lord. He had made up his mind. But! We are still meeting with him and teaching him the principles and doctrines of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! So that was a huge bummer! But I'm trying really hard to have a good attitude about it! How's everybody's scripture studies going?? Right now I challenge our whole family to read from the scriptures every single day, if you are not already doing that. You may think that I get tons of time to read the scriptures, but I don't. I get one hour every morning for studies and that's it. Not only do I study, but I just finished "Our search for happiness" by M. Russel Ballard. I'm almost done with Jesus the Christ by James E Talmage (which by the way is an 800 page book teeming with literrary complexity) I've read the Book of Mormon 3 times, I study from preach my gospel, and I'm in the middle of the New Testament. I say all of that not to brag about how awesome I am, but If I, of all people, who hates reading, can do all of that, then any one of you can at least read and pray about a few little verses every day. I love you guys! A lot. Trey, Bryce, and Sheridan, you guys may not think this right now, but You will miss your family a lot when you are in the mission field. Create close ties to them while you are home, so that you can truly feel the strength of their prayers for you when you are no longer home. I miss all of you very much and hope you have a fantastic week! Keep the faith and keep working hard!! Oh by the way, yes I did get your box this week! Thank you so much! I loved it so much, and Tell grandma and grandpa thank you so much for me!! Love you guys and have a good week!!!

 

February 4 & 19, 2013

 

February 4-

Whazzup!!!! So this week was a very good week as well for missionary work! Guess what?? We found Lena last week and have been teaching her for like a week and a half now. Well she passed her interview last night and is getting baptizedthis saturday!! Wooooo!!!!!!!! She is so excited too!! Every time she thinks about church and baptism she just can't stop smiling!! She is super converted to the gospel and truly understands it's importance for her and her kids! I'm so stoked we're having a baptism too! I love that lady! Plus things are picking up. We should be having more baptisms coming up in the next few weeks too! Soooo..... My house doesn't really look like my house anymore haha, but it's okay, life at home must go on without me. ( but i'm sure it's hard for ya'll to move on without me because i'm just so awesome haha) admit it, you miss me. haha. So i hope you aren't mad because you won't be here for it, but I'm getting my patriarchal blessing done on thursday. I don't want to go any furthur without it! Why didn't I get it sooner?? No idea, don't worry, i'm just an idiot haha. But yeah it's gonna be good! President Larkin wants to be there too so that will be good. Love that man.. LOVE HIM. So you all are getting concealed weapons permits eh? Go MOM! You rock that 9mm! haha! The time is really flying. Honestly I feel like I didn't leave very long ago, and it feels like I just face-timed you a few days ago haha! Bless your hearts! haha. So I don't have a whole lot to report this week, but I love you guys very much! Please keep praying that more investigators will come! The lord needs them!! I loveyou guys and hope you all have a great week! talk to you next week, but here I'll be until then, just pruning the Lord's vinyard.

Love, Elder Brimhall:)

 

(Lena's Baptism)

 

January 19-
Looks like you all had a good time in st george this weekend without me!! Don't worry I'll start coming with when I get back, which by the way, is less than 18 months away haha. Not only that, but President Larkin goes home in july and because of the timing of him going home, we had to make this transfer only 5 weeks instead of 6, so all the missionaries who are out right now will end up going home a week earlier than they planned! I got jipped a freaking week! That could be a baptism!!! Bummer.... So I haven't gotten my box yet, but i'm sure i'll get it soon :) It should have been here already. But i will get it soon. My new companion is Elder Bauman (pronounced like Bombin!) haha. He's a way cool guy and he is also the district leader for my district. He's going home in a few transfers haha. But this should be a great transfer! Mostly just because we are going to work our butts off for the Lord and get it done!!! I miss you guys man. However, I'm doing just fine, considering the circumstances. Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I feel as though I have handled things pretty well out here, and I am doing great now. I whole-heartedly trust God in what He is doing! My mission will be over before I know it! Too fast man. I love it here. It's weird... I have never felt as close to my family, then when I'm out here a thousand miles away. I love you all a lot. Have a good week guys! Love you much!!

 

     

Letter from a sister in his new area...

Hello Sister Brimhall,

I live in the Benson Hill Ward, Renton WA Stake where your son is now serving! He was over here less than an hour ago, directly from the library and transfers. His companion, Elder Buckway, brought him over for haircuts right after they took care of their emailing. Now they are back at their apartment. They will be heading over to the Lim's house this evening. I'm sure you will hear from them, he serves as our enthusiastic ward mission leader and they love missionaries!

It was a pleasure meeting your son. I am very impressed. He is nice, polite, and eager to get to work in the Benson Hill Ward. The two of them already seem like they are getting along very well and there are some people in the current teaching pool with whom they will be able to work. Apparently our Mission is getting more cars in the fleet, so not many elders are on bikes anymore. You can see the car they get to drive. (and yes, it is raining) :)

We have five children, our oldest son served in the CA Ventura Mission and our youngest son is currently serving in the Utah St. George Mission. He loves it! Utah missions are unique in that each pair of missionaries will cover a large area, usually an entire stake. He loves missionary work, the beauty of Utah, and the people.

I can tell your son has a strong testimony of the gospel and is really enjoying missionary labors. He seems optimistic. As a mother, I would say he looks good and healthy! I reminded them that there are some bad viruses going around and to wash hands often.

Thanks for sending your son up our way. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help him or you - I especially enjoy taking photos, so if there's anything you would like a photo of, let me know. If he has a birthday coming up, let me know. We have a great ward, very supportive of the missionaries.

-Kathy McMullin

Renton, WA

 

Jan. 14, 2013



What's up guys????? So to answer you all... Yes I love my new area and my companion! The ward is great and the area has so much potential, and my companion and I get along really well! This week was probably the most successful week of my mission so far. I mean we didn't get any baptisms or anything like that, but we had 24 lessons this week and Got really spiritual with some peopl, it was awesome! So yes I got the pants and 2 out of the four fit me great! good snags! The other two don't fit, but that's okay haha I'll be just fine. Oh and to answer your question from last week mom, I didn't quite finish the Book of Mormon before Christmas, but I did finish before the end of the year haha so I at least got that done! I started the Book of Mormon over, and now I'm reading the New Testament, as well as Jesus the Christ. I'm Still in first Nephi in the BOM, I'm almost through Mark in the ew Testament, and I'm on like page 290 in Jesus the Christ. All in all it makes for some awesome studies, all testifying of our dear and beloved Savior. I ove reading about Him haha I hate to read generally, but I love to read about Jesus. We have some good investigators that we're teaching and hoping that two of them will be baptized in th next few weeks. Oh by the way, I'm probably sending my Ukulele, kendama, and harmonica home this week. My companion and I decided that anything disobedient or distracting needs to be taken out of the picture so that us and our investigators can be blessed. So if you get those soon don't be surprised. I wish I could send you guys lots of pictures, but it would take like freaking forever haha because of these dumb computers. I have been trying to figure out the picture thing, but I just can't figure it out..... Well I love you guys so so much! I hope you all have a great week this week! Keep showing the Lord your courage and determination to do what's right! Not that I think any of you aren't doing what's right, I just thought a nice reminder is good once in a while! Keep reading scriptures every night as a family. Trust me, you may not think so, but family scripture study will make a big impact on you. Remember this Trey, and Bryce, and even the Dish, When you leave home to go to college or a mission or anything, you will look back on those experiences and cherish them. You will wish you had more of them to reflect on and to build the rest of your life ahead of you on. Trust me. I know you like to hang with your buddies, and play games, and watch movies, but the more spiritual time you spend with your family, the less you look back and say "Hey, I wish I would have put down the controller and read scriptures with my family.." It will strengthen your testimony. I love you all so much! Have a good week and find your strength in the Lord God almighty!!!!

Love, Elder Bailey Brimhall :)

Jan. 8, 2013



Hey fam!! How ya'll doin?? Good! First off I just want to say congratulations to you Dad on getting the delicious privelege to shower Nana haha!! Sweet! So I got transferred :( :( man that was so depressing. It was like leaving home all over again. I had to go say goodbye to my families - The Wood's, the Condie's, the Eberdongs... so sad, but I have heard some pretty great things about my new area so that made it exciting for me! My new ward is called Benson Hill and I'm in the city of Renton, which isn't too far from Federal Way so it's all good, I've been through Renton a few times. My new companion is named Elder Buckway. I've heard great things about him, Everyone around me was like " Elder Buckway! That's awesome you're gonna love it!" so that's good too. He seems like a pretty cool guy. Not sure where he's from yet haha. That's so cool that Bella got her call!! She's gonna love being a missionary so much!! The way I see it is, you may regret it or you may not if you don't go, but if you do go, you'll never ever regret it! Tell Nana and papa I love them and miss them and that I'm so sorry I could send them a letter last week like I was suppose to! There's no excuses, but we got caught up at the church way longer than I thought and then P-day was over and we aren't allowed to write on not pday haha. Oh just found out Elder Buckway is from Centerville Utah! "So anyways, I was wondering if you would join me in my quarters this night.. for some toast..." haha love that show so much haha! As for my bad week after Christmas, it was a mix of a whole lot of things, but don't worry, I'm all better now, I'm doing really well:) I love you guys! Hope you have a great week and I'll talk to you next week! Love you!

Love, Elder bill Brimhall :)