President Alba

Moms and Pops,

Well, I'm starting to get used to the new mission president. I actually love him a LOT. He is the complete opposite of President Bunker. Bunker was straight up, fire in his eyes, and would yell and get you all pumped up and ready to run through a wall. President Alba is one of the most compassionate and loving men I have ever met. When I'm around him he makes me want to be more holy. We had our first Zone Leader Council this week with President Alba, and it was incredible. Multiple times during that meeting, the Spirit confirmed to me that President Alba is the man to preside over our mission. He is an incredible person. A few small changes have been made so far, nothing too major, some of which are church-wide. I'm excited to continue to work alongside President Alba.

As for our week, it's been good. We are still struggling at finding new investigators, but we're trying. We can't force people to listen to us, but we sure can invite, and that's what we do. It's good to hear that ya'll have yourselves a good pair of missionaries. It's interesting to see the member side of it, I don't know anything that the members have said about me here, or in my other areas. But, in reality, it doesn't matter, if I were to find out it would only be to gratify my pride. We do have a few super solid potential investigators though that some members are working with, so, hopefully this week we'll start teaching them.

The weather here is slowly heating up now. It's not humid, which helps, but it's still super hot. It's going to be getting into the triple digits here this week and the following weeks as well. Awesome... Luckily, I'm in a van! I don't know if I told ya'll about that, but Elder Buchan and I are the "soccer moms" for our zone. It's awesome. I went on exchanges this week to an area that was a bike... it was hot... I was drained at the end of the day because I sweat so much. Good stuff.

Anyway, nothing else too exciting has happened. At least not that I can recall. We're going to the temple this Wednesday in Sacramento. That is a beautiful temple.

Have a great week! I love you both very much.

 

Love, Elder Brennan

 

Farewell to President Bunker

Mom and Dad,

Today, it is hard for me to not be emotional. I just got done writing my last email to President Bunker. He leaves this week, and we welcome in President Alba. I can't describe the love that I have for President Bunker, that man has changed my life. I couldn't have ever asked for a better mission president to serve with. However great my love and devotion is to and for President Bunker, I look forward to serving alongside with President Alba.

It sounds like you all have a had a very active week! It's been pretty mild here this last week, it's been amazing. It's been in the 70s pretty much all week. But, that is not to last very long, it is supposed to get scorching hot here this week.

It has been another trying week. Not that we didn't teach a lot, but that all in a space of about 2-3 days we've lost a few solid investigators, including one who was going to get baptized shortly, and we have tracted into many anti-mormons. It has been tough, but I know that only after many trials and much testing do we become fully converted (look at conversion under the BD). My testimony has been strengthened talking to those that are quite anti, it has reaffirmed to me how apostasy occurs. They take many things out of context and twist them to sound terrible. Whenever we defended a point that they brought up and gave an adequate response, they would immediately change the subject. Elder Buchan and I have a goal of tracting 1000 doors this transfer, we are at about 100 right now... but we have 5 more weeks to get it done.

Your "tick island" sounds liked a horror story. I hate ticks... Dad, what is your work shop going to be on? I could give you some ideas! But, I guess you're doing it this week. Good luck!

I'm not too sure what else to say, I am filled with many emotions at this moment with President Bunker leaving. I'm sorry that this is somewhat of a "lame" email. No dad, I'm not discouraged about anything. I figured that you would worry because I wasn't my happy cheerful email self haha! But, things are good. Just a bit sad to see someone that has influenced my life to such an incredible extent leave. It is a bit hard. I'm a bit attached as you see! Anyway, I love you both. I hope that you have a very good and hopefully a not too exciting week (when there's excitement, it's usually not good). Give Maxy my loves.

Love,

Elder Edwards

Transfers

Parents,

First off, Happy belated Father's Day! I wrote a blog, you should really check it out!

Hello! As you have noticed, I'm sure, I am a day late in getting this email to you! Well, let me explain, it's transfer week. I didn't get transferred! I didn't think I would. This is now my 13th transfer, crazy to think about. Usually a trainer stays with his greenie for 12 weeks with the training program that we do, but, my boy got ripped from me! He got transferred just across town in the 5th Ward, and I am being made a ZL again... for the 3rd time! I'm pretty excited, but sad to see my boy leave. I liked him. Luckily, I'll be close to him so I can keep an eye on him and his follow-up trainer. This will be my 3rd transfer here in Vacaville as well. My new companion is Elder Courtland Buchan! If that name looks familiar, it should. Elder Buchan lived in the same apartment as me when we were in Clearlake. We lived together for 3 months, so I know him quite well already. I'm excited! We're going to get along really well. He is from Charlotte, NC and he's been out almost 20 months. So we'll be zone leaders together here in the zone. Woo!

No, the new mission president hasn't come in yet... that's not something that I'm gonna skip when I write you guys, it'll come. He gets in July 1st. And I am planning on coming back a few days before Christmas. It's not final yet, I'll have to work that our with President Alba. It trips me out so hard to think that I only have about 3 and 1/2 transfers... Only 1 more area. It truly blows my mind. Dad, I'm not trunky.

We have some solid 'gators right now. Although, this week was pretty off or whatever reason. We had just about all of our appointments fall through or get cancelled, and all the members that were going to come out with us this week fell through as well. It was quite frustrating. Also, at church we were supposed to have about 4 'gators show up, but in classic fashion, no one came. But, that's how it goes sometimes.

I'm glad that you had an exciting week! It gave you both something to write me about haha. I love my new suit, it's awesome. I really hope that I still fit in my Belgian suit. Here's to hopin! I hope you all have a great week! Oh, it's getting really hot. On Saturday it was 105 degrees... fun times. I guess I ahve a bit more to write you... We've done a lot of service this week. We're helping a member do his roof. We spent all morning ripping the shingles off, that was fun! Also, we are still doing community service at the local Goodwill, we're putting in a sprinkler system. I got to spend all Saturday morning gluing pipes together (I was also a part of digging 12-18" trenches) for the water. It was fun! So, I kinda know how to do a sprinkler system! I love you both very much, have a great week!!

Love,

Elder Edwards

Hola!

Parentals!

It's been a good week. It's cooled off a ton, which is awesome! It even managed to rain for a bit as well one day! The work here is going great! We picked up 4 solid new investigators who, I believe, will be baptized within the coming months. I'm really excited. They're all member referrals, it's awesome! I love Vacaville, it's a great place, and things are going good. Elder T is struggling a little bit with his testimony. I think he might have depression, he never smiles and he always looks sad. It must be tough for him. Luckily, I feel great! I'm happy and cheerful pretty much every day, things are going good. I don't really get discouraged anymore, but I do get disappointed. And that's okay! It's sad when your awesome investigators, who promised you that they'd be at church, don't show up....... That's disappointing, but I'm not discouraged by it. It'll all work out one way or another.

I heard from Tanner. He really is just super busy. He's told me that he's just completely swamped with preparing for finals and tests, plus working. But, he is swamped. I haven't heard anything from Colin in a few weeks though.

It's crazy to believe that Stacey just graduated from college... blows my mind! Time flies huh? Does Shelley feel old? I miss Maxy... but I'm glad he was well taken care of while you were gone.

Uhmm... I don't have too much else to report on, this is a bit of a lame email, but it's something right?! As for my ankle... it's doing okay. It gets pretty sore every now and then where it hurts to walk on, but other than that it's all bueno. Speaking of bueno, I went on exchanges this week with my Spanish missionaries and I went into the Spanish area. I spoke a good amount of Spanish! I even bore my testimony in Spanish. I said "yo se que el plan de salvacion es verdad y el libro de mormon es el palabra de Dios." Good stuff, huh! The missionary I was with hardly spoke any Spanish, so it was a very Spanglish day haha. It was fun though. Anyway, enjoy the rest of your week! OH! One of my suits is ruined, the coat is completely ripped (it was a year old) and my gray one is dying here pretty soon too... I'm surprised they lasted this long though! So... I will have to buy at least 1 more to carry me the rest of the way here sometime soon, so if you could give me some cash money, that would be greatly appreciated! :)

I love you both very much!

Love,

Elder Brennan

Well, Hello Again

Parents,

Well... I don't really know waht all to say! I just spoke to you yesterday... Well, the rest of my Sunday was good. We had our deep doctrine meeting and we talked about the Holy Spirit of Promise, and having your calling and elections made sure. It was really interesting. Then, today has been okay too... we just put our laundry in and now we're here. I'm pretty frustrated with our ZLs... they both aren't even 10 months out yet, so they're way young, and they act like it. Although one is 23, it's still frustrating. I don't feel a lot of love and unity within the zone. So, that's annoying. Anyway, I don't have much else to say. It was great to talk with your guys yesterday! I'm glad that dad recognized my voice haha I gave him a little surprise. Have a great week! Love you both!!!

Love,

Elder Edwards

P.S. I expect to get some chocolate soon :)

It's A Boy

Dear Parents,

Well, I'm having a baby boy! Not in the worldly sense, but in the weird mission lingo sense. Yes, Elder Ramiah is leaving me to go to Fairfield, and I will be training a brand new missionary. No I don't know his name, where he's from, or anything. Because, he is still in the MTC today! They all get here tomorrow when I'll pick him up. So, it should be interesting. I've waited forever to train! It'll be sad to see Elder Ramiah go, and of course, I will be a babysitter again for 2 problem child missionaries... Awesome. Funny how I always seem to get those kind of missionaries, huh? Elder Schulte and Hunt got moved to a different district, so my district will consist of me and my greenie, another elder who has only been out like 6 months (if that) and his greenie, and then the 2 problem missionaries that have only been out a year (if that as well). As for me, I'll be hitting my 16 month mark this week, crazy! I only have 5 transfers left... that blows my mind.

So we had Stake Conference for the Vacaville stake this weekend, and Elder Zivic of the Seventy came and presided. He's from Argentina, so his English is pretty hard to understand. After the Saturday night adult session (it's still weird to me that I'm considered an adult...) all the missionaries in our zone got a picture with Elder Zivic and his wife. It was a good meeting. Then, yesterday at the general session, President and Sister Bunker gave incredible testimonies. I still can't believe that they're leaving. This is their last transfer before they go home... I'm going to miss them very much; President Bunker is very dear to me.

As for the work here, it's been picking up a bit. We're teaching a few investigators, a few of them have alcohol problems and we're trying to get them into the LDS Services 12-Step Program. But there is still work to be done. Talking about whether I'd have the heat of Vacaville or the stink of Clearlake, well... you must understand that Clearlake stunk because it was freaking hot there. So, I'd prefer just the heat.

I'm really jealous of your trip to Brussels... Give my love to those that you come into contact with! Especially Anita, she was a neat lady, and I liked her a lot. You could just send Max to be with me for a bit, I'll take him around tracting and contacting with me, it'd be fun! I'm sure he'd love to help, plus being in the hot sun all day would wear him out. I would enjoy it! Although, we can't have pets... so that's a problem...

So what all happened with the NFL Draft??? I assume Andrew Luck from Stanford went straight to the Colts? What else happened? What other big news is there? I heard about the coach of the Saints and something about paying players extra to hurt others and take them out of the game. Yikes...

Have a great trip! As to when I am calling on Monday, I'm not sure... I can't think that far in advance! I imagine that I'd call in the morning around 10 your time or something like that... I don't know though... I still have to talk to President Bunker about all that good stuff. I love you both very much! Have a great week!!

Love,

Elder Brennan

Who the Heck is Methuselah

Moms and Pops,

Like my subject? I actually know who Methuselah is, I studied about him this morning and it was really interesting... A lot of people have no clue who he is, and "who the heck is Methuselah" is what Elder Schulte said when I told him about my study.

So pops, you got yourself a new calling! Say "goodbye" to gospel doctrine! Haha, I'm sure you're more than bitter about it. But are you ready for me to get all "dad-like" on you?! I have learned to be a thinker you know... I just have to be in the right state of mind. Just think, YOU will be the main influence on the youth now. I have talked to countless missionaries who say that their YM Pres was one of their biggest influences. You will have the privilege of changing a young man's life for the REST of his life. Think about that... And, just like you would tell me in this situation, it is what you make of it. If you have the mindset to make a difference, then you will make a difference. But if you grumble and moan, then it's just going to be a drudgery. I know that you'll choose the former! You're awesome!

You guys are going to Brussels! You lucky dogs!!! I wanna go back and visit!!! Dang... that really puts a hamper on the whole Mother's Day thing though... Looks like you won't be getting a call from me because that's too late for me to call, I have meetings! I'll just talk to you face to face when I get home!! ............. Just kidding! I'll probably just ask President if I can call you on Monday. In fact, that's what I'll do. So, I will call you on the Monday after Mother's Day, that makes things easier. I just have to remember to call now... But, we'll see.

By the way, mom, if I was in your ward, I'd follow your hand when you lead! That reminds me! Church... holy cow... We had Fast and Testimony meeting yesterday because this coming week is Stake Conference here. This lady that was VISITING was the 2nd person to get up to bear her testimony, when she started it was about 11:27 am.... she ended, literally, at 12:01. Everyone was so frustrated haha. The Bishop never did anything. About 10 minutes in to her rambling about her life about how she used to live in Vacaville 40 years ago and she was sick, I got up to "go to the bathroom." I put that in the "s because it was an excuse to not listen to her. I came back 5 minutes later, and she was STILL up there!!! Really woman?! I was lookin around at the ward, and I caught a few peoples eyes; one member just shook her head and put it down, another acted like he was putting a gun to his head, another just laughed, it was funny! Finally at about 11:50ish some of the sisters got up and went and sat on the stand in hopes that she'd wrap things up... but, she didn't. You want to know why? Because she had flippin NOTES! Seriously? It was as if she wrote her entire life autobiography and took it up to read to everyone. Her actual testimony of saying that "I know..." took not even 30 seconds at the end of her sermon. It was miserable... Throughout church, people were makin jokes about it. In Gospel Principles, someone raised to say something and the teacher said "Yes, but don't take 29 minutes!" For once, I'm actually glad that no investigators came to church... that would have been a hard one to explain! So, an interesting day at church.

At this point in my mission/life, I feel happier than ever! Not a lot has happened with the work this week.

Anyway, that's about it for me. I love you both very much and I hope that you are enjoying your pool!!! The pools here are starting to open up... it's torture on a hot day to see people jumping into nice cool pools! Urghh! Oh! How could I forget? I got to play with a German Shepherd this week! It was a family that I saw on exchanges in another ward, and they had a 16 month old German Shepherd! He resembled Max SO much!!! He was just a goof ball that liked to tug and box. Man, that was rough for me, I miss my puppy! I need a wallet-sized picture of him because I always tell people about him, and I need to show pictures! That also reminds me, we went to the temple this week! The Sacramento temple is BEAUTIFUL! I loved it! It's pretty small, the session we did was PACKED. They had to bring in extra chairs. We didn't stop at the Distribution Center... so, that leaves the task to you!

Anyway, so that really is about it for me. I love you both oh so much! Thank you for all your encouragement. And, I suppose I'll be talking to you in a few weeks? Crazy! This will probably be the last time that I talk to you before I actually SEE you! Weird, huh? Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Brennan