Miracles and More Miracles

(they travel 2 hours every week for meetings. Braxton is looking a bit tired)

Braxton said he has a hard time remembering and explaining all the wonderful experiences that he is having. He did say "it is just awesome!"

It was really cold and hailing yesterday and Braxton could see his breath. (who would have thought that would happen in Mexico City?) But he wasn't really complaining, just saying. He thinks it is beautiful!

He had fresh Trout this week. (oh, that he caught)

For Church this week there were 23. (woot, woot!) Nine of those were investigators. Still no building or place for church so they all crammed into the missionaries little room. (still not complaining, just saying)

Braxton said that he is seeing so many miracles in this new area and that it is just crazy awesome. Him and the branch are going to make a book of the church there in Valle de Bravo. Brax says it will be awesome, and I have no doubt it will be.

(I'm thinking he must really be busy because that was it for this week. I'm not complaining either, just saying. (:)

(Braxton is needing some new shoes. He must be working hard)

This is just in someone's house. Interesting!

All is Good

Braxton didn't remember much of what happened this week. He said it went really fast. They are teaching a lot of people though and staying very busy. They found 11 new investigators this week and taught the restoration 15 times. Things are going good though.

It was just Braxton and his comp for church this week. (I'm betting it wasn't a very long meeting) They still haven't found a place to hold church but hoping this week they will find some place. They are hoping for some baptisms soon so they can get their branch going. He's learning more about patience through this though.

He went to a waterfall today for their p-day and said that was really cool. However, the batteries to his and his comp's camera died. (so I guess, no pictures) The missionaries get to go to the Temple tomorrow and he is excited for that.

He absolutely loves his new area. He says it is gorgeous and a great place to visit.

pinas a las ocho

Braxton is in Valle de Bravo. Him and his comp are the first missionaries to ever preach the Gospel there. They have been chosen to set the foundation for Valle De Bravo. Braxton thinks that is really neat but said it is really hard too. They are looking for a prayer house. (church building) Yesterday, Braxton experienced the best sacrament meeting of his life. He knows it's because he prepared himself so much spiritually and prayed a lot for help. There was only Braxton and his comp and a family of 5. The family isn't even from Valle de Bravo. They live in the North Mission, but they have a time share there and found the missionaries. They only come one week every year and this was there week. They held the meeting in the missionaries home, which is TINY! They sat on the beds facing each other. The father is one of the counselors to the Stake President where he lives. (Jordan Bowden from the 5th ward is in his mission). Braxton said he really didn't learn anything from the talk his comp gave but was filled with the spirit and realized how true the church is. It doesn't matter where you have a church meeting as long as you do all you can do. "It was amazing." Braxton said he knew the Lord knew that I would need some help and so he sent this wonderful family.

In the two days that they have been working in this new area they have taught the restoration 13 times and a few other lessons too. They have about 7 investigators right now too. It makes Braxton so excited to see so many people interested in listening to the great message the missionaries have to share.

Braxton just loves the work and wished he could describe his feeling better but can't find the right words to describe it. His new area is beautiful. It's a tourist attraction and is in the mountains with trees and rivers everywhere. The houses look like little village houses. He absolutely loves it!

Braxton's comp is Elder Flores. His parents are mission presidents in Chiuahua, Mexico, but are originally from Puebla. Braxton is training Elder Flores because he just barely got out there. Braxton says "I Love the Mish, it's the Best!" "I've learned a lot about how True it all is."

He signed out as......a struggling missionary in Mexico.
he also added this ps......without struggles you can't grow. You should be proud your missionary is struggling. (I thought that was exactly right, and what a great attitude!)

New Area

I'm not going to tell much of Braxton's e-mail this week. I will say that he has been tranfered to a new area (Valle de Bravo) and is a bit nervous with the responsiblities he will have. He is excited though and asked us to keep him in our prayers.

Not Much This Week

Braxton didn't have much to say this week. He had just played soccer with their zone and he said he was "pooped." He also added that the Americans won the Mexicans. :)

He loves his new area. It gets kind of cold (they need sweaters). Braxton thinks it's because they are in the mountains. But it doesn't really bother him, he's enjoying it. Braxton thinks they should have a baptism this week and more this change.

He is drinking a drink made from water, hay leaves, alfalfa, and sugar. He said it's "pretty good."

That's about it for this week. He said "I hope you know how much I love you. Take Care!"

Pictures from Brax

I'm Home!

Braxton absolutely LOVES his new area! (this is only his third) It is like being home. He's in the middle of nowhere. He says it's the most beautiful place he's ever seen. There are farms, tractors, horses, sheep, cows, and everything else he could want in a mission. They even have pyramids there. He already just loves his new area. His area is HUGE and there are 26 villages in his area which will make it hard to get people to come to church. The church is far away from a lot of the people. He said it would be like us having to drive past Salt Lake to get to church.

His companion is really good. His comp is Elder Cabrales and he is from Tampico. Brax said that his comp is a great teacher and this is his last change before going home. Brax said that his comp is also a little worn out from the mission so Braxton is the senior companion. Braxton said that basically he just wants to motivate him and then learn from him.

Braxton has already messed his bike up. They were riding down a cement hill that had speed bumps and Braxton had forgot about those speed bumps until it was too late. His brakes didn't work and he was really going fast and just hit it hard. He bent the rim on the tire and the tube just exploded. He said "luckily I didn't fall, cause basically if I did I would be in Utah in a hospital or dead." (yikers, I'm glad he stayed on too) He said everything is good though and mission bikes suck. The very first day he got to his new area the missionaries were riding in the rain and Braxton's handle bars came undone and he almost fell. His bike also has automatic gear shifts. It will just change gears on it's own when it wants. He said that he doesn't have a pedal on the left side either and so it really stinks. With the bike problems they have been using the bus system more than they should be and Braxton is worried because he doesn't have extra money for that. But, oh well he says "all is well."

Braxton said he is getting fat again because they do a lot of home style cooking here. (he's only been there a week, and he can already tell he is getting fat? oh, no)

"I love you all. I love the work. I love the Lord. Take Care and do all the things that need to be done at home to grow and prosper." "Take care, your son, brother, and friend in Mexico."
Elder Ropelato