Highs and Lows

Dear Moms and Pops,

Wow, that was a lot of football updates! I enjoyed it. I'm happy to hear that OSU can still do things without their "stars". I was really happy to hear about BYU also! Let's hope it's not like last season where they won their first game and then lost the rest by just a few points.

I've calculated in my mind how long I'll be here in Clearlake and I have 2 1/2 more months. But, I think that this will be a 6 month area for me. Because ...after this transfer Elder Gardner will be moved and I'll have to break in a new comp and another ZL to the area and that will take a transfer. Then I suppose I'll be here for another after that which means I'll be here for Christmas and maybe my 1 year mark. But, I know that I'll be here for at least 1 more transfer.

Dad, when I get home I want to go golfing. I want to learn. I was on exchanges with Elder Blake (if you don't remember he was my MTC companion) in his area in Kelseyville. They live in a house and they have it all to themselves. K-ville is a nice area and a member owns a golf course there that they can go to for free and they have a golf club set at the house. So, when I was there, we went into their nice backyard and hit some small wiffle-like balls around. I had so much fun!

We've had some pretty sad things happen to a few missionaries in our mission lately. One missinary's parents got into an accident and his dad passed away. His mom is still in the hospital in intensive care. I actually just got a call this morning from President letting me know that another missionary, he is in my zone and is Elder Blake's companion. Anyway, this missionary's younger brother passed away last night. He was on life support and had severe brain damage (I think he was in an accident as well). It's kinda scarey. So, with that said, STAY HEALTHY AND BE SAFE!

I'm glad to hear that it is cooling off there. Guess how hot it was here? Yup, yesterday it was 96 outside. It hasn't rained once since I've been here. I don't even think I've seen a cloud in the sky since I've been here either. I'm so ready for it to be fall/winter.

So, this weekend we had another baptism! I didn't end up baptizing the guy. I was upset about that and I ended up chastizing myself because it was selfish of me. But, he got married on Saturday. I was his "best man" at his wedding. All I did was stand behind him and give him the ring when he wanted it. It was a small wedding that we did in our small Relief Society room. There was only a few family members there and the 4 missionaries. We had a cookout afterwards with grilled chicken and tri tip steak. It was tasty. I ate my share. Then yesterday, we had his baptism! He is a huge guy too. Elder Gardner baptized him. We filled the font up a TON! But we got the job done. We confirmed him right after because he'll be out of town next weekend. He is really vocal in church -- he volunteers to say prayers and he has good input in lessons.

Yesterday I had my first confirmation and then my second. I confirmed Grandma in sacrament meeting. It was an extremely spiritual experience. I don't remember what I said, but I do remember words just popping up in my mind and it was as if I was reading a moving script. Heavenly Father truely does use us as His mouthpiece in these situations. After that blessing, Grandma goes, "You did it again!" She kept saying how warm she felt and she said that the pain that she had at the time was all gone. She was in awe once again. Then I had the same experience with Michael confirming him. It was a great Sunday!

However, it was one of the oddest sacrament meetings I have EVER been to! To start off, during the opening prayer the person praying said "Jesus Christ" in the middle of her prayer but she was just saying his name--not ending. Someone in the congregation yelled out "Amen!" Gardner and I just started cracking up. It was hilarious. Then later, it was fast and testimony meeting. Some old lady got up and she wears a baseball helmet wherever she goes and she went up to the pulpit to tell us a story. Imagine that...an old hunchbacked lady with a black baseball helmet with stickers on it going up to the pulpit....how can you not giggle?! We also had a 10 year old investigator there that was OFF THE WALLS. He is either ADD or ADHD and he didn't take his meds....so, that was an interesting time as well. Then our bishop, who was conducting, messed up a ton. He forgot that we were confirming Grandma and the 1st counselor had to remind him at the pulpit (that happens literaly every week). Then he gave us the wrong hymn for the closing song. We sang 1 verse of the wrong song and then the lady that conducts the music stops everything and they talk for a second while everyone is confused. Then we start to sing the original song from the beginning. It was super wierd! Then I taught Gospel Principles. It was a great lesson about Jesus Christ and why He is the Savior. So that was the day. This next week should be good. We have a Zone Conference in Santa Rosa on Wednesday. I'm pumped!

Have a great week! I hope you enjoy Florida....I'm a little bitter. I'll get over it. Love you both so much.

Love, Elder Brennan Edwards