March 19, 2013



Hey mom, I got a disc with pictures on it like 5 weeks ago haha, but I haven't been able to send it yet! We went to the temple today so that was fun! P-day is on tuesdays when it's temple week haha. It's something we don't get to do very much when you're a missionary! I know! 7 months! That's awesome by the way that you guys sold two tables at the auction! Congrats! So this week we didn't have quite 40 lessons, but we still made it into the 30s which is way above anyone's average usually haha! Willy's baptism on saturday went through and Elder bauman confirmed him on sunday! He's a strong member of the church now! But that, even though it was great, was not the highlight of the week. I told you guys that we have been teaching freddy who was only in town for two and a half weeks (and went home to california this morning). Well Saturday night came and it was 7 o'clock and he was saying nevermind about the whole baptism thing. He said maybe someday, but not soon. the next two and a half hours was testifying purely by the power of God! Truly it was one of the most spiritual experiences I have ever had in my life!!! At about 9:30 (which is our curfew!) Freddy knelt in humble suplication and prayer before his Father in Heaven, and offered the most inspired, sincere, and honest prayer that I have ever heard. The Spirit confirmed in both my heart, and Elder Bauman's, that if we gave him one more night, the adversary would gain the power over freddy that he needed to lead him astray. And so as we arose from our knees at about 9:45, we said "feddy, let's not let another minute pass by without you being cleansed and strengthened. Fred let's go." and took a deep breathe and said "okay let's go" The barajas family jumped in the car, called more families, we called president larkin to gain approval, and we went to the church to fill the font. At about 11:30 on saturday night, Alfredo Rodriguez was able to recieve the waters of baptism and a cleansing of his sins. We arrived home about midnight, and I confirmed him the next day in sacrament meeting. THAT is the type of experience that missionaries remember. Not that it's always okay, because we were technically breaking rules by having that long of a lesson, but that is what the spirit was dictating in that moment, which makes it okay because the missionary handbook states that our loyalty is first to the Lord and then to the mission president haha. It was so amazing! So we had 2 baptisms this week! Plus one of the guys I taught in federal way for like 4 months Got baptized a few weeks ago!! Awesome!! Anyways I just love you guys! This week is transfers so pday next week will be tuesday again. Have a great week! Keep working hard and being awesome!! Love you!!

Love, Elder Bailey Bryce Brimhall :)

March 11, 2013

Howdy do!! Well no I haven't gotten nana's letter yet, but I'm sure I will soon! What??? Mom got a gun?? Hey I'm just sayin, if everyone else is getting a gun, then I'm expecting to see a brand new 9mm waiting for me :) haha just kidding! That's a bummer that the weather in st. george was cold! our weather was mid 50's this week with only a little bit of rain hahah. So this week was even better than last week. We had a total of 40 lessons this week and found 6 more people who are preparing for baptism, 3 this month. Yes willy is still on track for this saturday, but now so is freddy and drew, so if you could pray for all three of them that would be awesome too! So Freddy is the ex-husband of melissa barajas in the ward and he has been staying with th for a coulple weeks and goes home to california in a week, so we literally only have like 5 more days to get him baptized an confirmed, so yeah, please pray for him! Hey dad that would be awesome if you guys could come see me! But I want you to know that if you ask President Larkin for permission he'll probably yell at you. And then He'll yell at me for letting you ask haha. So if you really want to see me it will be breaking the rules, just like when we went to see grant haha. But we all have our agency.... Sounds like bruce has a new girlfriend... easy there tiger. What would you know, you're just a dang kid! (Grumpy old men) I miss you guys a lot when I see pictures like that haha I want to be there so bad going trigger crazy! haha. Good luck with the new hardwood floors! Too bad you don't have a big buff kid like me to do all the hard work for you...just a bunch of scrawny turds haha. Except that ya'll can all probably out-bench me now, because i can't freaking use weights!! I wish I could so bad, but I can play sports, and I'm betting i could eat you all up by now in one-on-one basketball haha. I'm raining like jimmer....forget that, I'm raining like seattle haha. So i might get a different mission call if i'm in Renton or anywhere south of there when the mission splits haha. Not gonna lie, I want to be in the Federal way mission pretty bad. I like places like feddy way, renton, puyallup, or kent. Places like that. Granted I won't get to go to the spaceneedle, but the overall experience will be better in the federal way mission. Well gotta go. Love you guys tons of much!! Have a great week!! Hasta luego!! ( by the way, mom my spanish is going very well, I can read pretty decently in spanish now haha! Stoked!)

Love, Elder Bill Brimhall :) (or as lena's girls call me, Elder Butthall haha)

March 4, 2013



What's poppin fam!! So this week was way good! We got 32 lessons this week! Which by the way, if you don't know, that's a lot of lessons here haha so we were pretty excited that we did that well! So you and lena are buddies eh?? Good stuff! She's a pretty amazing lady, I love her to death! And I was there last night when you were talking to her haha awesome eh mom?? So last night she was pretty stressed about some stuff and asked for a blessing. I don't know what it was, but for sme reason last night i felt very close to th spirit and gave the most intense and specific blessings I've ever given, it was a way cool experience for me because the spirit was guiding every word! Way cool! Bishop Brewster again?? Bummer!! Tell him i say hi if you get the chance please. I'll be praying for him. Congrats on finishing the big job!! Mo money!! haha jk. Boot camp?? What the heck do you need 8 weeks of boot camp for??? haha well as long as you enjoy it I guess haha..... We're gonna go play ball today for a while with lots of people! Good stuff!! Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha Bruce!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No offense but that's pretty dang hilarious. You know I love you right?? But still that's funny, however it's just one more reminder that satan tries to play tricks with our minds using social media. I'm studying spanish every day now, and actually learning a lot and I'm able to understand a decent amount! Sweet eh? We should be having a baptism for willy and the 16th so if you could pray for him and his parents as well, that would be awesome. thanks. So I din't realize that mothers day was the day after my birthday this year! haha that's sweet! What an awesome birthday gift, to be able to see my sweet family! I miss you guys a lot. But like I said before, I have honestly never felt closer to my family than rigt now, when I 'm a thousand miles away. Amazing how the Lord can bless us. My friend's son just got home from his mission and he was only 6 months out.... and plans to fix the problem and be back out within 6 months from now. If you guys could pray for him, that would be awesome. Coming home like that can't be easy, but I am so proud of him, because it truly shows that he has a real understanding and testimony of the atonement, and that he loves the Lord enough to risk this, just to make himself right with God. Please Pray for him. I love you guys! I love this gospel and the blessings it has brought to my life especially over the last 6 months. I am grateful for trial, and for the opportunity that trial presents us with, to come closer than ever before to our Father in Heaven. Have a good week fam. I love you so much!!

Love, Elder Bailey Brimhall :)

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 :)