Week 50 - The Office

My first week was good, stressful but good. I really do enjoy it, it's cool. My comp is the immigrations secretary and I am the records secretary. I'm responsible for all of the baptism records, references, english and spanish tests, listing and filing the names of all of the converts and rescue in the mission (like 300 people) up to now, and President has given me two projects. But I already finished one of them, thank goodness. This is probably my favorite area... the 4 secretaries live in a house, and we have so much fun. It's me, Elder Tatum (my comp) from California, Elder Jorgensen from Idaho, and Elder Coronado from Nicaragua. Those guys are awesome, I love my new job.

My new area is like two blocks from my old area.... But in another zone. The office lies in the Colón Ward limits. So I have not gone far. We have a couple of investigators. Tomorrow I don't think I'll leave the office. We will go to the temple way early in the morning, then after I give a district class, and then I have a lot and a lot and a lot of paperwork to do. But today we have a family home evening at 7:00 so we'll go to do that tonight!!

I love you all, have a great week!

Week 49 - Transfer Time

I've been transfered as one of the four Secretaries of the Mission and I stay as a District Leader... My comp is named Elder Tatum, he is way tall and I think from California, a really good guy. Elder Coloma is receiving a Mexican companion who is really a stellar guy who should help Elder Coloma out a lot. The other secretaries pick me up tonight, we will live in another city, but we work in the Mission Offices, where you guys label the packages to send them. That's my building. I have my own computer and desk and chores. I have to pick up the new people that get here, help with their immigrations, log baptismal records, make the mission digital and not electronic, and all that jazz.

My last week with Elder Coloma was good, we worked as hard as his body would allow, we had good sucess, and I feel like I've left Colón in a better way than when I got here. I am 100% satisfied with my time here.

I love you all!  Have a great week!

Week 48 - Good Friends

Here are some excerpts from Brad's email on Monday.

I have found that my patience with people has grown incredibly, but with inatimate objects, it has drastically shrunk. Our cellphone makes me wanna jump off a bridge sometimes. I get mad at doors, locks, pens, I'm a wreck. :)

Katherine and I are out of town on a photography workshop, hence the following comment and of course he is aware of a particular football game this weekend.  I'm not sure who told him :) Bolivia has some great photo elements, but also a lot of robbers, so, a win lose situation out here. I think the Utes should win, I'll pray for them.

My week was good, nothing too special. I made my comp have another interview with Pres., we worked hard this week, we did splits like 3 times, but it was worth it. We have a lot of new investigators that listen and read and all that, but they don't come to church. It's tough sometimes.

And this week we have a lot of appointments, a baptsimal interview this Wednesday for the assistants, and transfers next Sunday. Tomorrow is 11 months, a fat inch away from you folks, and time is flying. I am ready for a transfer, I wanna explore the country... ;)  Time goes by really fast, I'm serious. And this next transfer is one year and a little. That's crazy. That's when everyone really says that time really begins to fly by.  It's probable that I stay here, but then again, I could very well head out to Potosi or Sucre, Who knows? 

And my scripture this week is Mosiah 28:3. It really urges the members to help the missionaries with the work

Katherine asked Brad to share a spiritual experience.  This paragraph makes it all worth it....

I would say that while out here, in the humblest place in South America, sometimes it seems like the humblest place in the world, I have gained an understanding of really how and where the Savior walked. Especially after my time in Quiriza. To live there, you step out of our world, and back many centuries to a simpler life. Working hand in hand with the people taught me a greater lesson in humility and charity than I think I could've learned any place else, or in any other way. I have grown closer to God in these short 11 months than the 18 years previously, and I would not trade it for anything else in the world. Words can't express it, you just have to live it and love every minute of it, good or bad. And there really aren't any truly bad minutes.

This picture is of Brad and a good friend Steve Adamson who was in Cochabamba this week on business.  He knew Brad was there but had no idea where he was and Brad literally walked in front of Steve.  They had a nice chat and Steve gave he and his comp some money for a nice dinner.  We are so grateful to Steve, he has taken down packages for us and has been so kind to Brad.  I guess he doesn't hold anything against me for being his Jr. Jazz Coach :)

Week 47 - Steady as she goes

I did a baptsimal interview this last week and I have to do another one this week. That is a really special moment for me, I thoroughly enjoyed it! This last week was slow, my comp had a couple sick days, and we had to really slow the pace down. Today we did a district activity (soccer) and then we went to a Mexican restaurant called Mexical, which is owned by Chileans, and it says Tex Mex on front. There's a lot of things that don't make sense here, hahaha.

Brad's answers to Katherine's questions:

1. Enos 1:27 - Just read it. When we feel worn and drained, all we need to think is that our rest is in the Lord, and that is where we need to turn when we have given it all we have and think we can´t anymore.
2. Best experience so far in the mission or in the week? You can't put a number on which was best or not!
3. 8 o'clock to 9. Personal study. It is a great time to really concentrate yourself and learn something else, to receive your own Spiritual witness of the truthfulness of the work. I love it.
4. The toughest moment I've experienced.... Probably when the stomach demons roll on in, then right on out. That makes the time pass painfully, literally, slow.
5. Hang on and be obedient and love your mission.

Week 46 - Keeping him on a mission

My week was good, but really long! Our investigators are good, one who is really doing well is named Wendi, she has a kid who is 14 years old. Today we played sand volleyball and we went to Luigi's! This week, proselyting took kind of a step back in an effort to keep my companion in a good state.  We still get to do work, but a lot slower and shorter hours, which is THE worst. But my comp is staying in the mission, which is the important thing! 

My scripture is Helaman 10:3-5

I love you all, have a great week! 

Elder Howells

Brad took this picture yesterday while emailing us.  The three people in the picture are 3 of Brad's 4 companions.  In the back is Elder Cortez, Brad's trainer (1st Companion) to the right (our right) Elder Infante (his last companion) and to the left Elder Coloma, his current companion.  Elders Cortez and Infante are from Peru and Elder Coloma is from Chile.  

Week 45 - The Life of a Missionary

My week was great, almost! My comp had an emergency interview on Tuesday morning with President, which helped him for like a day. Then Thursday we had our regular 3 month interviews with President, which was great. I am a huge fan of my President. On Friday night in the middle of the street, after my comp tried to chew me out for being prideful, he threw his nametag and agenda and missionary handbook in the middle of the street, and screamed that he hates me and wants to go home, that was fun... Then I talked him out of it, and other than the fake illnessess which have been going on, our relationship has been good. Today we were with Hermana Maria, we watched Ephraim's Rescue, and now we're here! 

We had 3 investigators come to sacrament, which is awesome! One of them was a gal we contacted in the street a day before, and she came and stayed all three hours of church, which was amazing!

Mosiah 2:24, I believe, is my favorite scripture!

I hope you all have a great week! Love Elder Howells

Week 44 - First District Class

My week was good! I gave my first district class, the assistents were also there, and I killed it!! They all told me I did a really good job. Williams and Deysi are really good! I love those guys, and we have put a date on a gal, the daughter in law of an active sister. We shall see how she comes along. Also, do you remember about the situation of the two people in Quiriza who I baptized because their records were lost? Yeah, that happened again to a member here, so we have to give her the chats and baptize her again, as well! What a pain for her.

My favorite scripture this week is Jacob 7:25, and when you read it, you'll find three points in it. Fortify, Trust, and come off conqueror. It is a really powerful scripture for me!

I hope you all have a great week!

Love, Elder Howells

Week 43 - New Companion

How are you doing?! I am great. You guys are always always in my thoughts and prayers! My week was excellent! We have people who are reading and praying, but so far, they have yet to come to church. But that's okay, some just need more time. But we worked very hard this week. We have had quite a few new people this week, we shall follow up soon! Elder Infante and I finished on a high note, thank goodness. He's a good guy, but I was ready for this transfer. I am going to recieve Elder Coloma from Chile. He was just with my trainer and now is coming with me. He is a very hard comp, from what I've heard. But we're going to be fine, I´m not worried! He is also from my group, he just has 4 weeks less because I had 6 weeks in the CCM and he had 2. They also made me DL, so we´ll see how that goes. I will pick up and drop off my comp tomorrow at 10 a.m. I love you so much and I hope you have an awesome week! 

Brad's response to Katherine's questions:

1. My scripture is Alma 9: 26, I really like it a lot.
2. Our ZL, Elder Ortega, finished his mission a couple of days ago, so we had to be in a trio with his comp, Elder Carrasco. He was alone putting his clothes in the washing machine yesterday, and was taking forever. So I walked in the laundry all cat like, and he had no clue I was there... for like 2 minutes. I didn't say a word, and he even had a mirror infront of him and could see me if he would've focused on it. So while he was putting his clothes in the machine, I struck an oportune moment, right when he was standing up, and screamed in my most woman like voice that I could muster, and his feet left the floor. And I am pretty sure I wet my pants laughing. I didn't stop for about 8 minutes. And he was furious, but laughing at the same time. I'm sure he messed his pants more.
3. I've grown closer to the Lord than ever would have been possible at home.
4. Geez... I like em all. I like the Alma and Amulek duo. They are examples of two excellent, consecrated missionaries. While Alma teaches, Amulek watches the people's reactions, and then he testifies of Alma's words, and begins teaching following the spirit. They are wonderful. But, in reality, I like them all. Ammon, Moroni, Nephi, King Benjamin. From the Bible, I like Daniel.

I love you all.  Have a great week!

Love,
Brad

Week 42 - Progressing Investigators

HEY, how are you?! My week was good! We were slammed with lessons, and there are so many great people, but none of them came to church this week.... I feel really good right now. Excited for transfers! Because today is the last p day of the transfer, our district got together and played soccer and basketball, I still know how to ball out, fyi, and then the zone got together for a lunch at some peruvian restaurant.

Can you believe that we're closer to Christmas than January? Geez. It's August. Once ol' Santa comes to town, we're gonna be on the home stretch pops! I love, love, love, my time out here, but that doesn't mean I don't think about coming home from time to time.

Above is Brad's email to me and below answers to Katherine's questions

1. I feel really good, we walk a lot, so I feel like I am in really good shape, other than I'm getting fat, sooo.....
2. We have a mountain of new investigators, some really good ones, but none came to church this last week, but that's alright. Considering we've only had 1-2 lessons with each of them, I expect a lot of good things this week!
3. I don't have any pics of the outside, I will check my camera and see what I have!
4. 2 Nephi 22: 1-3. We will occasionally do things that offend the Lord, but he hasn't turned away, and he won't turn away. The joy we draw will be everlasting if we trust in Him, and make him our ¨song¨

Week 41 - New Investigators & Zone Conference

How are you doing? We have to contact a lot now, President said each comp has to contact 5 new people every day, so we have a lot of new investigators, but nobody is progressing quite yet. We are working on it, though.  This week we are slammed with appointments, so I really think we will have progressing investigators the next week. I am almost positive. We had zone conference as well. President Jensen from the temple (president of the temple) blew our minds with Book of Mormon doctrine. Let me tell ya, he´s gonna be an Apostle. And he went out of his way to talk to me, and we talked about Stewart Glazier as well, they are both awesome guys. And President Hansen taught a killer class as well.  

We went and played soccer this morning, which reinforced my dislike of soccer, and then we went to Luigi´s, and now I'm here! I love you so much! Have a great week!

Maria Vargas, Brad, Elder Infante

Week 40!

My week was slow, but we did get to go to the temple which was awesome!! I heard and saw the video of Logan (Amy and Justin's son, who was just called to Cusco, Peru) opening his call, that's awesome!! He will be close to me, and will experience much of what I have experienced, but from what the Peruvians tell me, and a fact, is that Peru is a step above Bolivia. And he will see a wonder of the world (Machu Picchu). Lucky dog.  I don't have a real story this week, but I do have a scripture: Jacob 3:1, when you read you'll understand why I like it so much. You can compare it with D&C 45:3-5. 

Today for P day, we played indoor volleyball as a zone and then we went to a Bolivian buffet.... I prefer Golden Corral! ;) I did get the package.. When I first saw the toilet paper, I questioned my parent's sanity, but then, after using the paper, I can't thank you enough. Bliss. Pure bliss.  One day this week we did splits with the zone leaders, which was great! And then we were just contacting a lot, looking for new investigators. 

I love you all!  Have a great week!

Week 39 - 9 Months Down!

I am good, this week wasn't anything too special! But it certainly wasn't bad. Just a normal week as a Bolivian missionary! Today, we played soccer, the district, and I am a pretty good goalie, if I do say so my self. ;) Then we went to the missionary watering hole called Luigi's. And now I am here writing to you.

Katherine asked Brad the following questions:

1- what's your scripture this week and why?
2- interesting memory/story from the week?
3- Any new investigators?
4- tell me about the something you have experienced that you might not think I should know about. I promise I can handle it!

1. 2 Kings 6:16. Just whenever I feel like everyone is staring at me because I´m white, or the people in the buses are all mocking at me because I´m from Gringoland, this scripture pops to my mind. I really enjoy it. 2 Kings 6:16 - And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

2. On Thursday night, I gave 4 blessings in a row (blessings of the sick), and all of the blessings that I said, the people are alright now, so the Priesthood is real and functional, in case you forgot. ;)
3. No new investigators this week, we are primarily working with the less actives for now.
4. A clown shouted Chau Gringo and was laughing at me as he drove past me, which is kind of strange, but not to strange for where I live.

I love you guys, have a great week!