Spending time in the R.C. (referral center)

(I realize this picture has already been posted, but we didn't get pictures this week, and it fits the letter this week.)

Braxton is doing good. He's hanging in there while he waits for his visa to Mexico. They have him and his group spending alot of time in the referral center. Braxton says it's cool though. He gets to call people in spanish and talk to them, even though he he doesn't understand everything completely he is getting the gist of things. He sent a Spanish Book Of Mormon to a lady and thought that was pretty cool. He said his district is actually having quite a bit of success in the R.C. which of course he thinks is neat.

Braxton said "even if I had to serve my whole mission in the MTC I wouldn't be the first." He has met an Elder that is serving his two years in the R.C. because he's not physically able to go in the field and Brax says he is awesome. (good attitude eh?)

He has a teacher, Brother Littlefield, who was the mission president in the Mexico City East Mission a few years back. A friend from our ward was serving in the mission at the time, Jace Schneider. Anyway, Braxton was talking to him and Brother Littlefield knows Ivy's grandparents that live there. (such a small world, and so cool)

While on the cruise before his mission, Braxton met a family from Australia that had a boy ready for a mission. Well, Braxton saw him just the other day at the MTC. His name is Raife Cambell. Braxton and McKay really bonded with Raife and his family. They spent alot of time together.

(I found this picture of him from the cruise, maybe not the best but that's him! :))

(Oh I found another one with more of the kids. Raife is in the back with the sunglasses)

News from the MTC

Braxton is waiting in the MTC for his visa to Mexico. Hopefully he doesn't have to wait too long.

Braxton had a few cool and funny experiences while working in the referal center. First, he said he was doing confirmation calls, outbound, english, and he got this spanish speaking lady. He said "hello" like three times before he realized she wasn't speaking english. So, when he noticed he told her in spanish...oh, one moment... and then he put his teacher on. Then, he got a chat that was cool. The referal center had called this guy named Austin Pace earlier about a video and going to church. Austin said they could send the video, and then he started an internet chat with Braxton asking about the video. Austine wasn't sure what video they were sending so Braxton told him about the two most common. He said he had got a bible from the LDS church and loved it. Then Braxton told him about the Book of Mormon. After hearing everything Braxton had to say he wanted both video's and a Book of Mormon. Braxton let him know how he could get them, and Austin remained on the chat for like 20 minutes without saying anything. Braxton thinks he was on the lds.org site. Braxton thought they were through and it was time for him to leave and prepare for bed, so he left the building. His teacher yelled for Braxton and his companion to come back because Austin was back on chat. While he was there the phone rang which was unusual that late and a lady asked "is this the true churck of Christ?" They had a little talk about politics. She was afraid the church would will fall, but Braxton reassured her that God wouldn't let anything happen to the church. A few more interesting things came up in the conversation and Braxton told her that he would pray for her and asked if she would do him a favor. She said okay, and Braxton said "will you have a good night?" she laughed and said she would and then said good-bye.

The Elders in Braxton's room were sick the other day and so they all decided to give each other blessings before they went out into the field and he said it was really cool. The 1st counselor in their branch presidency had told the missionaries that blessings were happening to little and not given enough. Braxton thought it was great.

Things are going great, and the spanish is coming along. He is having some cool experiences and feeling the spirit.

"I love the Church, the Book of Mormon is sweet!" "I love being a Missionary!"

Elder Cox, Elder Ropelato, and Elder Hadley. (good friends)

Getting ready to leave the MTC

Well Braxton has his flight plans and is suppose to leave on Monday, July 14, but he's not sure because the visas from Mexico are taking longer than expected. ***NEWS ALERT! BRAXTON'S WILL BE DELAYED FOR A FEW MORE WEEKS BECAUSE OF THE VISA'S***

He misses the fields and everything from home. He requested that I send him pictures of the cows. I thought that was a funny request, but the field is full of bailed hay and so I think I'll send him a picture and maybe he'll be glad he doesn't have to haul it.

Braxton said "the Book Of Mormon is amazing, it's not just a book any more, it's incredible!"

(here Braxton is with Samuell the Lamanite)

His district is the oldest one at the MTC now, and that feels a little weird to him. (time flies)

(Elder Ropelato and Elder Mann)

Braxton's spanish has improved alot, which he thinks is sweet. He realizes he won't understand anything though when he gets to Mexico.

This is something I've been waiting for. BRAXTON THANKED ME FOR DOING HIS LAUNDRY! (he doesn't like doing his own) (happy day for mom)

I love the pictures Braxton sends and the ones this week are great!

Elder Ropelato and Elder Hadley (friends before the MTC)

Watching Braxton "grow" in the MTC.

This is a picture of Braxton when he first went in the MTC his suits were a little big (of course this is exaggerated a little)

this is at 3 weeks...his buttons are tight! (ya, kind of)

These next two are at 5 weeks. I think he eats a little more at the MTC than he did at home.

Braxton at the Temple. He does look a bit bigger than when we dropped him off. :)

The hills are alive! (I know what you are thinking)

And this picture was so we wouldn't forget him. Who could forget the "cock-eyed" thumb of Braxton.

Some Language Mishaps

Braxton working at the call center. He thinks the head set looks cool! Do you?

Braxton's letters are getting better as far as getting us more information. Last week was mission President week and so there were alot of Apostles hanging around. He said at his devotional, Robert D. Hales spoke and it was cool! Jeffery R. Holland blew them kisses, and also on the stand was L. Tom Perry, D. Todd Cristopherson, Richard Hinckley, Richard G. Scott, and the Presidency of the Seventy. He said it was cool!

For a couple of weeks they have had to teach the discussions in spanish and Braxton hated it the first week. He said that he figured out how to teach with the spirit and said "talk about a huge difference!" "I love it now."

A funny thing that he noticed was people going to the Temple on their Harley's with their white shirts and ties on. It made him smile, and he thought "only in Utah". While he was at the Temple he saw one of the workers with a clear cane and thought that was about the coolest thing ever.

He loves to sing with all the missionaries at the MTC, but he can't even imagine that they would sound good at all. He said there are so many (in fact most) people that are just horrible at singing, but it's cool to have everyone get into it even if they do sound bad. (so funny)

His zone has like 46 missionaries in it which is big. He also knows some missionaries that are headed to Kevin's mission in the Dominican Repbulic.

While writing his weekly talk in Spanish this week on Patience he had a little trouble. He was looking in the Topical Guide and Bible dictionary and couldn't find anything on it. After quite awhile of doing this and getting quite frustrated he realized he was looking for "paciencia" which is the spanish word for it. He thought it was funny when he finally realized what he had done.

I guess Braxton has read "Our Search for Happiness" by M. Russell Ballard. He said it was amazing and recommends it to anyone who wants to read a good book. He described it as "crazy cool".

Okay so here's the little spanish mix up. Braxton was talking to one of his teachers about her boyfriend and she got really embarrased and her face even turned red. Braxton meant to ask her if she was embarrased, but asked her if she was pregnant. (oops!) The spanish word for pregnant is "emarasado". He thought it was funny. It's good to find humor in moments like that. A few more close words with very different meanings-wife is "esposa", and handcuffs is "esposas". I think he enjoys these little mix ups. At least he's smiling and having a good time while learning.

This is a picture of the lunch line in front of Braxton.

And, this is the lunch line behind him. He say's "ya, ridiculous!"

ELDER ROPELATO LOVES BEING A MISSIONARY!