Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Ropilonjas

This week Braxton was on line the same time Trichelle and Kevin were and so they were able to chat a bit. Brax challenged them to read the Book of Mormon. Trichelle said she would and Brax even passed the challenge to Joe. I guess he said no, but thought it was great that Braxton is doing his missionary job. Braxton is also starting the Book of Mormon again. So if any one else wants to take the challenge, go for it!

Braxton got a new comp and he had a lot of stuff to share, but chose not too. He decided if you can't say anything good, don't say nothing at all. (I added that, he probably really has some good things too.) He just let us know it will be challenging and that he will have to step it up and won't be able to always rely on his comp. He said he will just have to rely on the gift of tongues. Which he thinks is pretty sweet. Braxton will be good for the new comp too.

Braxton put his backpack down yesterday for just a few minutes and a dog decided to relieve himself on it. (Braxton is wondering why the heck there are so many dogs everywhere in Mexico?) So, he washed it but forgot to take everything out. He had 5 pretty good sized letters that he had written in it and so they were all washed and lost. He said "Oh well, sometimes crap happens, or should I say pee." :) Oh the challenges of the mission! :)

That's about all! He said everything was "super sweet and I love the Mish."
Which magazine is your favorite? (these our the pics I found on facebook-glad the missionaries have a little fun on p-days)

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Braxton sleep talks in Spanish!

I didn't even know that Braxton talked in his sleep, but I guess he does and it's in Spanish now. His comp caught him a few times this week. I guess he's got the language down now if he's dreaming in Spanish.

Braxton convinced a 14 year old girl that his watch was in English and their clocks are in Spanish. After convincing her that, they really had a hard time making her believe that time was universal. He said it took like 20 minutes for her to really believe that. Braxton and her family laughed so hard. (kind of reminds me of some people I know-maybe even related too)

Saturday Emma Luna was baptized. She is 79 years old and everything went well.

Braxton is still working with Jaun Alvarez. Jaun's baptism is set for May 2. (Juan's birthday) Juan is trying to quit smoking. He is doing good and has cut down a lot. Braxton believes he will be ready. The work is going good.

Braxton is feeling good about more success in the weeks to come. He got a new Comp this change. His new comp is Elder Salazar and Braxton will actually meet him today, March 24. So, I guess that means that Braxton is staying in his area a bit longer. (I think that is fine with him, he hasn't said otherwise.)
Braxton makes us Smile :)

Mask Yourself

Braxton has bought a few masks. He decided that is what he'd get all the boys in the family. I think we will have a few laughs with these. I know they are going to love them. I can only imagine the video's they'll make. Makes me smile just thinking about it. I'm thinking we won't need Halloween Costumes this year, just white shirts with name tags and a mask. :) Oh, and maybe a tie to go with that.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

What's up Chuck?

After Braxton had wrote his letter the power went out and he lost it. So there might have been more that happened than he wanted to write again.
Braxton started off with 3 Nephi 13:11 and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. (so, I'm wandering is Braxton spending more than he should be? If so I guess he won't have anything to start with when he gets home) He just said to keep that verse in mind.

Braxton is itching to ride a horse. There are policemen with horses and Braxton has been tempted to bribe them with $5 to let him ride it. So far he's been too scared to ask.

There was a storm that came and went. He said there was lightening, thunder, rain and hail, but there was also sunshine the whole time. (kind of weird)

They have had some good investigators. One guy had gone through like six sets of missionaries and after finishing the gospel principles class he has committed to baptism on his birthday. (May 2) Braxton hopes he is still there for it. Then Edgar a nineteen year old has set a date for Wednesday but he needs to be married first. Braxton said it's not a long process though and so things should work out. Also, Emma Luna has a baptismal date for Saturday and so hopefully they all go through and go well.

That's it for this week. He did add a few more pictures.this is his mattress-not to comfy looking huh?

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

no manches me veo bien chido

This is the first part of Braxton's email this week as he put it.
"Whats up guys? This week has been good. nothing amazing has happened but I've learned so much. I think I've accepted the fact that whenever you are in life there is always more to learn and its impossible to catch up. Some people say the mission gets easier as you go. I completely disagree! Because the more I learn the more I understand how, despite my hard work I have to work harder. As I more fully understand what it is I'm actually doing there is more pressure, so it definitely isn't easier, but it is so much funner and rewarding."

Random tid bits for this week:

Braxton was trying to explain something to his comp this week and used the phrase "comida rapido", or fast food. His comp corrected him and said they all say fast food. Braxton was confused and still doesn't know when to translate or leave it. He still thought it was funny though.

They did a Family Home Evening with a family and Braxton decided to do something that our family does. To go around the family and each person shares something nice about that person. Braxton and his comp went first so the family would see what they meant but I guess the family bombed it. Almost everything they said was negative. Braxton wasn't quite sure how they didn't understand the rules and so they quit playing and moved on to eating pizza. He said the pizza was good but the activity was a failure.

Braxtons keys got locked in their apartment. (he said his comp locked them in) They just used their handy dandy cards the President gave them and slid it in the door and opened it. (safe place) (I think the cards were about Preach My Gospel condensed and laminated.)

A lady was selling chocolate to earn money to pay for school. Her sales pitch was "one for 15 pesos, two for 30 pesos." (well duh?) Braxton and his comp decided to go for the "better" deal and get two. They really laugh hard when she left.

Braxton had the hiccups the other night and could hardly talk. So one of the guys got up and walked behind him. Braxton thought he was going to get something, but instead he snuck up and scared the crap out of Braxton. Braxton had a glass of water in his hand trying to get rid of the hiccups and when he was scared he jumped and water splashed everywhere. He said it worked though. He didn't have the hiccups after that.

They were able to attend the Temple again and Braxton just loves it. He is looking forward to going every month with our family when he gets home.

He ended by saying "I love you all and everyone in Utah and Utah itself."
His pictures were mostly of his food creations and even of him cleaning up his mess. (oh ya, my training has come in handy-Brax does dishes and cooks)

Monday, March 2, 2009

Kind of a Slow Week

Braxton said they didn't teach a whole lot this week. They had seven lessons within the first three, restoration, plan of salvation, and the gospel. (that's how he wrote it so figure it out the best you can, maybe it's just me) Then like three lessons of commandments, and then a few visits. The work is going good though and they have people who are getting close to baptism. The still need a little pushing, or teaching.
The other day a guy backed into car which pushed it back into another car and then he just left. Braxton says even though that could be like a $114 ticket it doesn't matter. Stuff like that happens all the time and no one gets caught.

They had a conference again last week. Braxton just loves them! Just when he thinks he knows everything the President will whip something new up that helps a ton in the mission. Braxton says that his President is funny too, but all his jokes makes you think and remember valuable truths. Definately called of God. Braxton said the mission has changed so much for the better. There are still lazy Elders, but just better ones than at the first of his mission.

The baptismal font was being drained one day and to drain it the water goes out a hose onto the front of the Church. A lady walked by and was furious that they were wasting water. She wouldn't listen to the Elders so they could explain. A few days later Braxton contacted her on the street and she said no she wouldn't listen because they were wasting water. She was ranting how so many people don't have water and just because the Church had money they thought they could waste it. She wouldn't listen.

Then yesterday on Sunday the family that they were suppose to eat with just gave them money instead. But, it was Sunday and so they didn't want to buy anything. Luckily they had bought bratwursts earlier that week. As they were walking home their Bishop pulls up next to them and sees they weren't at their dinner appointment and so he offers to buy them a pizza. Braxton doesn't get that??? (it reminds me of the chunky monkey ice cream)

Braxton said he learned a lot this week and that his mission will continue to get better. Here's some pictures he put on this week....