Dec. 16, 2013...The very first gift of Christmas

Howdy Y'all!!

So I think we will probably be at Pepper and Gin's Place for Christmas this year. And they do have Skype! Don't know what time I'll be calling yet, I'll let you know next week. I can't believe Christmas is next week! Wow that came fast! By the way to answer a couple of questions, yes pepper and ginger are interested in the church, and they are friends! And no they didn't send you that picture. That was our investigator Dawn. She and her husband are super excited about learning.

 

I've taken some extra time this week to ponder myself and gain some more clarity on who I am, why I'm here on earth, why i'm here on a mission, my family both current and future, and my testimony. I've come to the conclusion, that i'm so glad to be alive. I am here both on earth and on my mission for the same reason, to bring light to the lives of those around me. I love and admire my family a lot. I have and older brother who shares his talents of love and leadership. A younger brother who has showed me what real dedication is supposed to look like. My youngest brother lets courage and truth guide his every move, no matter the consequences. My sister manifests kindness, care, and virtue at every front. And as I look at my parents, it isn't hard to see where any of those characteristics came from. I love them so much.

 

And in light of the season, I would like to share a small portion of my testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ. 2013 years ago, who could have imagined that the fate and happiness of all of mankind rested on the shoulders of an infant, who was lying peacefully in a manger? I'll tell you who. An all knowing, and loving father in heaven. Imagine the burden placed on our heavenly Parents as they let their eldest and most precious son fall into the hands of humanity, to commence his mission to save the world, completely and utterly alone. The very first Gift of Christmas, "For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten son." John 3:16. But I am grateful that they did allow it, because he will forever remain a beacon of hope to the burdened and depressed. His love will lift all who are good enough to just reach for His hand, Which is already stretching out for theirs. He lives and protects us in the infinite embrace of his love. 

 

Well I have some pictures for you.  Hope you like them! I'm so excited to talk to you on Christmas next week!! Love you so so much!! Have a good week! Talk to you soon ;)

 

Bailey and Elder Brown!!

He's enjoying the music system and ipod he got for Christmas :)

 

Dec. 8, 2013

We got this awesome random picture sent to us this week!

Thank you who ever sent this to us...it totally made our day!!

Wow I like the decorations on the house!! It looks sweet! Yes I did get the last box you sent me! I loved It so thank you so much!! No we weren't allowed to watch the devotional! Lame huh?? This past week has been great, but also pretty tough haha because last week our car got pulled for the zone leaders, so we are on bike for the winter!! Haha that'll be interesting! If you look at my area it's pretty small, but it's one gigantic steep hill haha so the whole biking up it thing is a little rough to get used to, but other than that it's been a pretty good week. Yes I can probably Skype or facetime or whatever you use. I'll most likely be here at Pepper and Ginger's house for Christmas. They aren't even members of the church, but they have become very much like family to us, for which we are very grateful. Awesome! Hopefully I can find something you're going to like mom! I love Christmas time and I am so so excited to talk to you in two weeks! We went to the temple today, so that's why Pday was on Tuesday this week. And the other half of the mission is going to the temple next week so pday will be on Tuesday next week too. And dad you are totally right I am definitely enjoying the ipod and speaker system. I use it lots every day! Thanks for letting me use your old ipod. And I'm starting to use my Ninja blender that you gave me a lot again. I got some slimfast and bananas and Ice and milk and blend it all together and it makes a wonderful breakfast!! Love it! I'm so sad to hear that sissy's been so sick lately!! Hopefully that surgery will make it all better. Man I can't believe she will almost be ten when I get home. Which by the way is only 8 months from tomorrow :( It's super nuts. Hope you all have a really awesome week!! I love you so so much!!

Love, Elder Bailey Bryce Brimhall :)

Dec.3, 2013...last thanksgiving in the field!

Wow that sounds super crazy that the water main in front of our house burst!! I wish I could have been there for that!! haha. Man I am so sad to hear that Dad was in bed sick for thanksgiving! That's so lame! I'll be praying for you to get better!

We had a fantastic thanksgiving! The VanOrman's took good care of us as they always do, and then we went to pepper and ginger's house as well, they are investigators if you didn't know, and they are like family now haha so they always take good care of us as well! Transfers came and went and I got to stay!! Yay!! I was really hoping I would get to stay here because of our awesome investigators! So excited to talk to you in a few weeks at Christmas!! It's coming up here pretty quick eh?? I can't even believe how fast time flies! I only have like 8 months and a week left. It's so nuts. How's grant's hand doing? I don't know because he's a slacker and doesn't email me very much. don't worry about me!! Just loving life and being a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!! Love you so much!! Have a good week!!

Love, Elder Bailey Brimhall :) :)

Nov. 25, 2013...brotherly advice :)

Hey!! Man I sure hope trey had a better week! I was so bummed to hear you were having a bummer week brother! You're good enough to tough it out. Being in a tough area should tell you one thing and one thing only: that the Lord really trusts you, and expects greatness from you. Don't let your expectations be anything different than His, because with him all things are possible. And I'm not just being cliche, it's totally true. Bryce! That's so cool that you got your Patriarchal Blessing! Congratulations dude! Keep up being the good kid you are. Do everything you possibly can to prepare for that mission, because it will really be the most enriching time you will have ever had until that point. I can't even begin to describe to you how good it is and how fast it goes.

This week for us was a little slower. Dawn didn't come to church! So that was a big obstacle for her, but we also were able to help her gain her desire for baptism! She legitimately said "I want to be baptized". So that was a happy moment, but she can't be baptized if she doesn't come to church!!!! So that's the next step. I'm not gonna lie, it's really weird for me still to think that Trey is even on a mission. To see pictures of him with a name tag and a companion and such is just crazy. Life goes a whole lot quicker than I ever imagined as a young kid, or as a teenager, or than I ever expect it to. It always goes too quick. That's why it's so important to slow down every once in a while and just look at your blessings, because they'll be gone in an instant if you let 'em.

Don't worry mom, we have a good place to be for thanksgiving. Plus our investigators, pepper and ginger, who are sisters, are glad to have us over any time for dinner. haha they feed us more than the ward does, which is a lot! I love you all so so much and hope you are all doing well.

Happy Thanksgiving!!! Love you! 

Love, Elder Bailey Brimhall :)  

Nov. 18, 2013

Elder Bailey did a service project, and used some of the skills his dad taught him! Good job son!!

 

 

 

Hey fam! 

Yeah mom sorry haha I agree with bruce, leave christmas music alone until after thanksgiving. As for trey re-opening an area, just remember that you are there in that area because the Lord trusts you. don't get discouraged, there's a reason he put you in that area! Man more projects for us?? I'm convinced that ya'll just sit around all day and brainstorm about stuff you can send out here haha. Thank you for thinking of us missionaries. :) to answer your  question about thanksgiving, yes we have a place to go. The VanOrman family feeds us like once a week at least haha and they signed up to have us over on thanksgiving. They have a daughter out right now, so they want her to get blessings by feeding us. They are a great family and they take care of us very well. Thank you so much for switching the ipods, i'm really sorry to make it a hassle for you!

So story time! This week our investigator dawn, we were teaching her and her husband shane the message of the restoration. We get to the part of reciting the first vision, we say "I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. When the light rested upon me I saw two personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other, this is my beloved son. Hear Him." We held up a picture of joseph in the grove. And as we finished, a steady stream of tears and emotion flooded her being. It seemed as if the darkened room had been suddenly illuminated with the very light of Christ. She then told a story of a time that she had a vision of this very scene, where she looked up and found herself in a grove of trees, and looked up and beheld a bright light. The Left side of the light being distinctly different from the right. And she knew that it was the father and the son. She then told us that she knew without doubt that what we told her was true. It was magnificent. My dear family, I love you so much and miss you so much, but i am uncertain if there is anything in this world that brings more satisfaction than being a missionary within the midst of that scene on tuesday night. To feel the pure love of God, and then watch it work it's miracle in the lives of others is what the gospel itself is said to be - Miraculous. :) I hope you all have a great week and take strength in the knowledge of the restored gospel. What a beautiful gift it is! I love you!

Love, Elder Bailey Brimhall :) :)

 

Here's some Avatar pics Bailey drew for Bryce!
He's been working on his artistic skills...makes his momma proud! :)

 

 

I guess this is what missionaries do when they're bored!! ;)

 

Nov.4, 2013

Okay so here's the deal, if you all got an email from trey then I'm mad! I didn't get one! What a turd. Haha that is pretty cool though about us being all star champs haha. I like it. Sweet! I'm excited for that package to arrive! Sounds like it's something fun haha so thank you! Well to tell you a little bit about this week, We have an investigator named Pepper. We didn't get a whole lot of lessons in this week, but we really developed our relationship with pepper and i think things are really about to take off with her. I didn't get the awesome news about what trey is doing in the mtc by the way cause he didn't email me. What is it? Is he one of the MTC zone leaders or something? haha. That would be cool. Dawn and Shane... They have one daughter who is like 17 or something like that, but I've never met her. She's never been there when i've been there. So Grant tells me that he's going back to bama for a week haha that's pretty cool eh? Man I cannot even believe that it's already november. It's ridiculous haha. Time is flying so freaking fast I can't even keep track of it. 9 months is gonna be gone in the blink of an eye. So I just found out that like 3 of my friends are on missions and I didn't even know it! I don't know if you remember them, but sarah james is in bolivia. Hillary young is in argentina. it's crazy! But don't worry about me here in issaquah! I'm doing great! Love you soooo much and hope that you all have a great week!!

Love, Elder Bailey Brimhall :)

Oct. 28, 2013

Hey hey family what's poppin'?? Dude trey, this is nuts eh?? But in such a good way!! I got your talk, but haven't had the opportunity to read it yet, but I will!! Probably tonight. I'm stoked haha it's probably way better than mine haha. Dad you're totally right. You and Mom raised a pretty freaking awesome group of kids. Way to go! Don't worry mom, you'll be okay!! It's a good kind of goodbye, remember? It's gonna be so sick having two of us out here at the same time for the next 9 months!! Double the blessings remember'?? ;) Oh please, don't you worry about sending me that surprise, i trust that you'll get around to it when you can haha, no rush for sure. That's so cool that Marc and Erica and Matt came to church! Man the gospel is working miracles in the lives of every stinkin one of God's children!! Elder Brown and I are just still working hard! We found two new investigators this week!! Dawn and Shane Clark. The just moved here from florida and are looking for a church, so hopefully things with them will take off really soon!! Keep it awesome fam!! Love you so so so so much!! Have a great week! Good luck little brother!!

Love, Elder Bailey Brimhall :)