Week 82 (12/17/2012) - A little Christmas Cheer - EFY, Fun, and Parties

Hey family!

How is everyone doing this fine December day?? haha

I love you all! Today I am sorry if my letter is a little short! We are writing early to be able to go to a place called Perquin, here in Morazon! A member has a house there that has like a ping pong table and an awesome kitchen and stuff! I think I sent a couple of pictures or something maybe about it? haha but anyway, 6 of us missionaries are going up there to enjoy a nice day and cook some food!!!!! WOOOOOO haha it will be fun! Also, this Wednesday, we will be with the President in San Salvador to have our Christmas party! So that will be fun too! But nothing compares to next Tuesday! Christmas! Yay! I will be on Skype in the morning at about 10 o'clock my time. I think it is about 9 o'clock over there...is that ok with everyone? I hope so! If not, let me know. I will be on the computer for P-day the day before Christmas.

Anyway, this week has been an awesome week! Today at 4:30am, all the youth of our branch went to EFY! That's a big thing here because it only happens every 3 years! So all the youth are so excited! We have been going to each of the youth's houses, getting them all excited and helping them get all their stuff together to pack because none of them ever do anything haha...but it was fun getting up early this morning and seeing all the youth so excited to go! They will all love it there! 

We are still working with the Familia Rosales! We still think that they will be baptized on the 25th! There are just a few challenges that they have still, but we will see! If not, it would be the weekend after that! They are awesome people! I love them!

I love you all! I hope that everyone is having an amazing Christmas season! It is truly an amazing time of year! I love it! Make sure you all read a lot about Christ this week in your studies! I love you all!

Stay close and keep the emails coming! I love you all!!!

Love,
Braden

Week 81 (12/10/2012) - Hola from Sunny El Salvador!

Hola Familia!

How is everyone doing!? I love you all! I hope that the snow is treating you all well! I saw in the pictures that dad sent me that there is a little bit of snow on the ground in front of the house dad is building! Cool!!

I am glad that everyone is doing well, though! Thanks for sending me all the emails and letters! I am excited to receive the packages in a week or so! (I will probably get them this next week when we have an activity with the President! Speaking of that, if I don't write on Monday, it's because I will write on Wednesday next week) but I love you all! I hope that you are all in the Christmas spirit and you are feeling Christ's love!

This is an amazing time of year! I remember that last year at this time, I didn't really feel the "Christmas Spirit," so to speak. I think it was mostly because I didn't understand the language! But this year I feel the difference! I love the feeling of Christmas! I really loved the Christmas Devotional a couple weeks ago! It's an amazing time of year and I love to serve at this time!

So, as for Skype I will be on it Christmas Morning, I'm still not sure of the exact time yet but I will let you know after I talk with my companion!

The reason that we will be having to Skype in the morning is because of a baptism! The Familia Rosales decided to not get baptized on the 22nd but to be baptized on the 25th! They wanted a day to remember so they definitely did a good job with that! It's going to be so cool! I will let you all know how it goes!

Apart from that, all is going well! I love it here! I have been learning lots and lots! Something cool happened this last week! We went to a member that lives about 20 minutes away from our house by bus and it was a place we had never visited before! We went to go talk to a few of the friends that he had out there, and as we walked up to each house, everyone recieved us with so much love! Each person, even though they didn't know us, dropped everything, set up some plastic lawn chairs (that's what they use here for furniture) and they all sat and listed to our message! Sometimes I have felt like a little mad at people here in this country for not listening, but as I went to this place and I talked to each of them, I felt again how truly humble and loving each of the people are here! It's amazing! I love it!

I love you all!!!

I hope that all is well up there in Utah!

Love,
Braden

Week 80 (12/3/2012) - Tarde Alegre and upcoming baptism!

Want a coke? haha

All the members at their activity!

A picture of 2 girls dancing at a branch activity we had (if you notice, one of them is Stefany! The baptism we had in September!)
 

Primary kids in their branch! 

Hola familia!

How is everyone doing today?? I hope that everyone is doing really well! It is all going well here in El Salvador! It sounds like things are getting cold down there this week! I hope that there is a lot of snow there! At least in the mountains! Are the ski resorts open yet? I really miss snow and skiing! I say that haha but as I get back, I am going to be dying with the cold! Hermana Glazier went back last May to her son's wedding and she said she was really cold there...and it was 75 degrees during the day! I wonder if you need to buy me a big parka! haha I can be like an Eskimo while all the rest of you guys are getting un-thawed from the winter! Speaking of parkas and stuff, do you guys still have my orange ski outfit? Don't sell it! haha

Anyway, this week has been great! We had a cool activity! They call it a "Tarde Alegre," which means "Happy Afternoon." It is basically a talent show from the branch! It was fun! there were a bunch of people that sang and danced. There was even an act thing that they did from a Spanish program that would be like the equivelant of Giligan's Island (like it is an old show that was really popular...it is called "El Chavo del 8") but it was fun! I attached some pictures!

Also, the Familia Rosales accepted to be baptized this month on the 22 of December! They are great! The Familia Abrego isn't getting baptized yet because of a paper that was expired, but we are going to do all we can to have them baptized before the end of the year! They are always in church and just love it there! I love the converts here! They are so strong and just love the church!

Anyway! I love you all a lot! I'm excited for the Christmas season! The devotional was great last night!! I love you all!!!

Love,
Braden

Week 79 (11/26/2012) - Thanksgiving and awesome investigators

A member's daughter that wanted to wash her pants in a river by herself haha people here wash their clothes by hand in the river when they don't have water in the house, and the little girl wanted to help! She's a cute girl!! haha 

"Two little girls! We are teaching their Mom!"

"Our Christmas Tree!" 

Thanksgiving Dinner!

Hola Familia!

Sounds like everyone had a good Thanksgiving! I bet it tasted awesome! I really do love Thanksgiving! There is so much food and good stuff to eat everywhere! I love food :) Here in El Salvador, we talked a family into making us food and they were going to make a genuine Thanksgiving dinner! But last minute, they canceled on us! But they said that instead, they were going to take us to eat in the best restaurant in town! It was a place like a Chili's, but the food was a little better! I sent a picture of my food! It was chicken and beef with shrimp (that's the two things on top if you were wondering what it was) and mashed potatoes! I LOVE MASHED POTATOES! So I decided that I really miss turkey, you will all have to have some turkey ready for me when I get home! and banana bread...MMMM I miss banana bread! haha

I love it here and it is going well!!! If all goes really well, then the Familia Abrego will be baptized this next weekend! I am so excited! We also have the Familia Rosales that wants to get baptized as well! (that's the family from San Marcos!) They came to church for the first time yesterday! I am so excited for them! I love it! Also, Miguel Angel is doing awesome! He is a priest now and is even leaving to visit investigators with us! I love him so much! He is such an awesome convert! I love it!

As for the work here, we are working hard! It is really hot in the day and it has been cold at night! (like 70 degrees haha) But I have to wear my long sweat pants from Lizzie to keep me warm!
But it is all doing really well! It is such a huge place here! There are so many people that have never heard of the church and it is awesome to tell everyone about it! I love it here and I love all of you!!!

So, this week we had a multi-zone meeting! But my companion was really, really sick and we couldn't go! I was super bummed haha I had to sit inside the house all day and read! I went crazy! haha I used to love to just hang out in a house (before my mission) but I seriously almost went crazy and we were only there until like 5! haha I went crazy! I was like exercising, just trying to find something to do! haha but it was all good! Now my companion is well! He is feeling better and we are working again! Love it!

Have fun for the holidays! I love you all!!! I promise I will tell you all lots of stories on Skype this Christmas! Think of a bunch of questions you can all ask me or something! You can make like a list or something and I can tell some stories!

I love you all!!! Stay close!!

Braden

Week 78 (11/19/2012) - Festivals, Snow, and Familias

Hola Familia!

Hi! How are you all? Is all going well up there in snowy Utah? I hope there is still snow! I love snow! If there isn't, keep praying for snow! Or at least pray that next year when I am home, there will be lots of snow so I can have a nice white Christmas! haha I love the weather here, though! This is the best time of year for weather! At this time of year, there is a lot of wind and the temperature drops at night! It is so nice to sleep when it's not 100 degrees! haha Woo!

But anyway, this week was a good week! There has been a HUGE festival here in Gotera! They have had celebrations every single day for the last 18 days! It ended yesterday and I was so glad! Every day, all day they set off loud fireworks and at night, they have really loud dances with music that is really, really bad! haha it's funny! But I am glad that I am able to sleep now! The music is so loud and goes until 1 or 2 in the morning! But it is all tranquilo (quiet) again!

So anyway, all is well with investigators! The Familia Rosales (the ones we found last week that lived close to my last area) are progressing! They are reading the Book of Mormon a lot and they are doing great! They haven't been able to go to church yet for problems they've had with health but they will be going this next week! They are great! Also, we've got the Familia Abrego... they have problems with papers still! Do you guys know anyone that is going to Honduras soon? haha just kidding! We need a miracle! Keep praying for them! Also, there is a little girl that is 13 that we are teaching as well! Her name is Maria and she is a twin! Guess what... her twin sister's name is also Maria! Why do you name twins the exact same name?! haha the sister is already baptized and we are teaching them both, they are doing well!

Anyways, love you all! Happy Thanksgiving this week! I hope you all eat some pumpkin pie for me! Pumpkin pie is not found in El Salvador! haha I love it, so eat lots of it! Anyway, enjoy your week! I love you all!!

Love,
Braden

Week 77 (11/12/12) - Baptism of Hermano Miguel Angel

Baptism of Familia Abrego

A sister in the branch, Hermana Noemy, with her daughter Maria. They are teaching the daughter because she isn't baptized yet.

Baptism of Hermano Miguel Angel

Just another cool sunset.

Hola familia!

How is everyone? I love you all so much! I am doing dandy here!! We had an awesome baptism this last weekend! Hermano Miguel Angel! WOOOOO I am so excited for him! He is the coolest guy ever! I attached a picture of his baptism here! I got to baptize him and it was really really cool! I love it when I get to do the baptisms! He has such a strong testimony of the gospel and especially about the authority and the priesthood! He studies a lot and does a lot to learn! He loves reading the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants! I love it!!

So anyway, I love hearing from all of you each p-day! I love hearing the news and how everyone is doing! Thanks for all the pictures this week! I love seeing you all and seeing that you are all doing so well!!!

So this week was really good! We had the baptisms like I already told you guys, but it was really cool! Another really cool thing happened this week! So we were looking for a referenece and we couldn't find the house, so we started knocking doors looking for the person. At one house, a lady had moved. I asked her if she knew where the person lived and she told me she didn't and that her and her family had recently moved there. I asked from where they came and she told me that it is from San Marcos! That is part of my old zone! So I told her that I lived there and I asked her if she had talked to missionaries before. She said no but that her husband had! So her husband came out and told us how about 12 years ago, he met the missionaries and that he LOVES the church! He has read the Book of Mormon and loves church but he could never get baptized because of his dad. So, we went into the house and started talking to him. He told us that his wife as well didn't like the church but that he really wanted him, his wife, and his daughter to go to church! So we gave him our phone number and said we would come back this week. Anyway, Saturday morning he called me up and asked if we could meet! We said that we had a baptism and that we would be busy but that he could come to the baptism. He said that something really good had happened, we asked what it was and he told us that his wife had decided to give the church a chance! He said that they would be coming to the baptism and that she wanted to see how it was there! And then the real miracle, they came to the baptism!!! WOOO it was so cool! They are so awesome and I love seeing them! They look so happy and just like a perfect couple! We will be going back to visit them tonight! YAY! Their names are Jorge (Dad, 28 years old), Maria (Mom, 27 years old), and Rut (Daughter, 7 years old). They are awesome!!!

Anyway, that was about all that happened this week! I am really excited to keep working and hopefully the Familia Abregos baptism will be this week or next week! It's going to be cool!!! Sorry I didn't write very much today but I hope that you all like the pictures!! I love you all so much!!!!

Stay close! Love you!!!

Love,
Braden

Week 76 (11/05/12) - Lots of good news and the beginning of the holidays!

Hey Everyone!

How is everyone today? I am glad to hear from you all this week! I love opening my email and getting lots of support and love!

That's so crazy that Rilee is leaving to go to Argentina! They speak cool down there! They have a different accent than us! They speak replacing the "y" and the "ll" sound with a "sh."Anyway, you probably don't understand but that is so cool! We are going to have a family reunion in a few years and we will all be speaking Spanish to eachother! Sweet...haha

So, that is so cool I am excited about all the changes that are happening in the family! Winter is almost here! Well, here it has stopped raining and it's just hot all day! haha WOOO! But that is so cool! I am excited for Thanksgiving and all the holidays! I love holidays! It's definitely not the same here away from family, but it is still so cool! I think that we are going to be making a turkey or something as a district for Thanksgiving! It will be cool! I will be able to talk on Skype this year again! I think I will do it on Christmas day this year! It will be on a tuesday!! WOO!!

This week we have been working hard! Miguel Angel is ready for baptism this next Saturday! He is so cool! He has progressed really fast and is really, really excited for his baptism! I will be sending pictures next week! Sorry I haven't sent pictures in a while! The computers I'm on don't have an SD port and I don't have a camera cable to change pictures but I will find a way to send the pictures of Hno. Miguel Angel!

So, this week was the Dia de Los Muertos! That is like Memorial Day here! Everyone goes to the cemetary to decorate the graves, put flowers, pictures, and the whole 9 yards! Haha it's funny how much they do! Some people go to their graves and sit by them all day long! haha how funny is that?! But anyway, as a branch, the youth and missionaries went to the cemetary and painted grave stones! (Here they are made of cement, instead of granite, so you have to paint them! haha) But anyway, it was really fun to go and to enjoy the service project! I loved it! Also, this week was Halloween! Woo!! That's so cool! I love Halloween! This year the Area Presidency called and told us that we had to stay inside after 7 o'clock (sometimes some weird things happen here because they don't celebrate trick or treating, they celebrate like witchcraft stuff..it's weird). So we came back to the house and we made corn on the cob (something rare here because its always off the cob and it was so good!) and we ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and just talked for an hour or so! It was awesome! I loved it! It definitely wasn't like a party or anything but it was out of the normal! haha fun stuff!!

So anyway, I had a good week! We are working hard and we are happy! I love it here! I love you all! And I am excited to hear from you all next week!!!

Love,

Braden