Hey family

Thanks for the pictures I knew Lake Powell time was coming, I just wasn’t sure when. Its fun for you to have gone again ah I can’t wait to be there again, Ireland really is getting old. I want the nice sun and water, boats, games, junk food, the water, dogs, the water, and I would not even mind the mosquitoes. I have totally forgotten what it’s like to have a bite. Here it’s too cold year long to have them. They really just don’t have any form of biting insects at all or animals other then dogs and cats. I also would not mind getting a tan I’m just so pasty white its sick maybe today if the weather will hold off I will go out and tan in the back yard.

Well Ireland news hear is not that exciting really. It’s coming to the end of the moves pretty soon so I will most likely be moving at least I sure hope so. It’s not that I don’t like Aitken cuz we really get along it’s the part of being away from everyone. I want to be around other missionaries. Tralee is a very beautiful place with not many people to teach. Here in the smaller towns they tend to be more staunch Catholics rather than in the bigger city. I think the main reason is cuz there are more families here that watch each other if you know what I mean. They don’t want to be the one to cause family problems. When I came here I thought I would be able to just pick up the investigators and some of the old investigators and run with them; but come to find out the investigators we had were crappie and those formers even worse. This last move has been about finding new investigators and it’s just not working yet. So that’s the main reason I have not talked about the mission as much because really there is nothing going on here. We are trying to get hold of those Muslims but we have not gotten them yet. And we teach a gay guy sometimes named Tony that’s really about it. In Ireland people don’t like to talk so it’s rough going.

The plan is tomorrow I’m having presidents interview where I should be getting my package. Mom I would say go ahead and activate my card cuz it’s here in the churches hand and I 'm getting it tomorrow. Any way the plan is to ask president to move to a place where stuff is actually happening a good area! I think I deserve that much from what and where I have been placed. I also would like to ask if I could serve with a few people that I haven’t served with cuz I have not done that yet and maybe hint to a few areas I would like to serve in. It seems every time I go to ask him though I always forget or just don’t, so this time I am going to for sure. And as I say, what the worst thing that can happen is, he’ll say no. I think the reason president has put me in hard areas is he knows my ability to stay happy and stress free all the time. So I think the first thing he does in his moves meetings with the AP’s is what’s the next most horrible place we can put Elder Hafen. And if they can’t come up with one they make one called Ballyfermot. Alright so that’s an exaggeration but at least I always have fun companions. Anyway, well that’s enough about Ireland now.

Well I’m so happy everything back home is going so well and that things are fun and happy. It’s all the blessings from all the trials we had just after and before I left so it’s great to see all the rewards. I miss you all and love you all.

Brady

Hey whats up Jer.

So, I actually got your email last week, but I found it in my hotmail account. I had few minutes of my email time. So sorry, I didn't have time to respond.

Well, I have always taken your advice very seriously about the mission before I even left, and I think I have come to a very good balance. I have also changed a load out hereion the field. I would say I'm a lot more like you and Dusty, rather then the kid back home who avoided the family. I'm usually right in the middle of the conversations. Mom will have a real surprise once I'm home.

Thats really cool to hear about all the movies. I'm way excited for them all. I was told that the wolverine movie was alright of a movie, but did not deserve the hype they where giving it. From everything I have herd about the Terminator movie; it was good, so that's a must see one once I'm home. I can't wait to see the Twilight films and read the new book. It's weird to think I have been away that long, because I'm talking to all these new elders who are not even from the 80's anymore. They act like I'm so old cuz I have not seen Iron Man and The Dark Knight. So, its really weird.

Anyways, I better write mom now, cuz I have not even opened up her email yet. But I love you dude. I sent you a small b-day gift. Sorry its so late. Like you know, I procrastinate but you should like the stuff still.
much love

Brady

WOW

Well that’s loads of exciting news to hear. Happy Birthday to daddy and also Congratulations to Dusty and Julie. That is very exciting to hear. Sorry I won’t be their but I’m very happy for you both. Dad I will be shopping for a daddy’s day and birthday card for you sorry I don't think I will be able to find an Ozzy card again but I’ll find something funny. I'm right now in shock with everything so I’m struggling to write so sorry if this letter is funny sounding.

Well I have to answer a few questions and explain stuff I guess. So I will do that now. So Jer wrote me an email awhile back he sent it to both of my email addresses. So I did get the one to hotmail but not the one to myldsmail. I wrote him back a good long one today I think he will enjoy it loads. Jer is telling me his choices are between Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and I think one more hot place but Jer says those cuz Ames does not want the cold. Ha-ha my brothers let the women in their life drag them around. No offense to either one of the sisters.

I have talked to Doug just a little bit I’m so happy that they have moved back, I can’t wait to see them all again. It’s going to be so fun. If you could I would love to also get Zac's email or address

The package. Yes I did get it kind of. The mission has it right now I called them, President will be bringing it to me on the following Thursday for interviews. I will be calling them on Tuesday again to remind them so I for sure get it. I also told them there are important things in it that I need.

Yeah, Tralee is very pretty. It’s basically the prettiest place on the island here. They have a thing called the Ring of Kerry, it’s the big tourist scenery place for the island, I have not done it but have seen other really pretty things. Right now all the wild flowers are all out when I drive to Limerick I go past fields of yellow flowers. And the hedges have bright pinkish purple flowers on them its super neat. If you where ever to tour Ireland this would be the time you want. Also I can show you some of the places that the tourists don’t know about.

Well the work has been alright here in Tralee. We just got two new investigators. But the problem is we may not be able to teach them because they are from Iran and are Muslim, so it’s really rough. The thing is they are so prepared and really look baptism worthy. Not only that they have two friends who also want to hear but we have been put on hold because of that. So before we teach them again we have to find out if they plan to ever go back to Iran and we have to find out visa and family situation, so pray that we will be able to teach them.

Well I love you all very much take care.

Brady

(I need to explain that Melanie Codner, Amy’s younger sister, saw an advertisement in the newspaper about missionaries and Brady’s picture is in the advertisement. We were a little shocked, so I told him about the advertisement and obviously he knows nothing about it either.)

Hello family how are you all?

Well there were lots of questions asked so I will try to answer them all. The first one is yes I have been trying to sell myself out. My district leader is a manager of some of the play boy bunnies for Hugh Hefner. I told him I would love to try and be an underwear model. I told him about my concern of the hole in my chest he said that would not be an issue with today’s technology; they could patch that right up with photo shop. He said we would need to start off small so he sent my picture to church head quarters to get my image out. My hope is I can get big while I’m still here that way once I get home I can just fall into it.

No I have not got the package yet. It has not gotten to the office yet and that was really sad. Yesterday was zone conference and that was going to be the soonest I could possibly have it. So I hope in two weeks I will have it. I have been telling everyone about it and we are all way excited for it to come. But of coarse I’m the most excited of them all. So soon is the hope.

So speaking of zone conference it will explain the Thursday email. Yesterday was zone conference. We had our area president there so we were forced to have zone activity last week. Which made us change pday as well, but because it was done so off the cuff I was not able to email and tell you the change. So I apologize for that, and for my leaders being so unorganized. But zone conference was really good I enjoyed it a lot. Also on Sunday we had district conference and President Uchtdorf and Elder Andersen of the 12 spoke, so we have had a super conference week this week. And of course it was all really good. So at zone conference we had our area president Elder Oaks, not the apostle but his cousin or something like that, spoke. He was a 4 star general in the US army and is very strict. He talked a lot about planning and keeping things up to date. Unfortunately he liked to pick on me cuz well as you all know I’m not the best at either of those things. Of course he kept it light and jokingly so I was fine with it. But now I need to go home and fix all of those things with planners, area book, and other silly documents of importance.

Now talking about Blake. I have stuff that I have written to Blake and would love to send it to him but I have not had his address. Not his mtc or mission address. I have meant to ask you but have forgotten. So please send me his mission address!!

Well I’ll try and tell about my past week. I have had to run back and forth from Limerick to Tralee this week loads and the whole time I have to do it on the bus. Wednesday for district meeting. Saturday for priesthood session, Sunday session, Tuesday zone conference. So like I have said it’s a two and a half hour bus ride so this last week I have spent it on the bus. The weather took a bad turn for half the week with cold and very wet rains. Unfortunately the people we have been working with have not really been progressing. Linda comes to church now no matter what. Even if the night before she spent drinking and has a really bad hang over. With those days she is usually grumpy. I’m glad nobody in the family drinks that would be really bad.

Well if Cassidy wants to serve a mission she can serve here in Ireland then I will tell president she has to always be in the same district with me and then I can help her out and tell her its okay. I wouldn’t even mind giving her a hug. She would also be able to cut my hair. I’m glad you talked about her I have been wondering what she has been up to. Tell her the next time you see her to give me an email, I would love to hear from her.

Well I’m out of stuff to say I love you all and am so happy to hear from you. Take care.

Brady the model

Hi ya mom

I was very glad for your long email because I have not had a letter in a whole move. Although I just got your package with all the ward letters and things but other than just that, I have not received anything. I am really looking forward to my package it sounds super cool and all the stuff in it sounds amazing. Well I hope I get it soon; if it gets here fairly fast I might even have it as soon as next week but otherwise it will probably be for interviews in the 4 week. Well before I forget my card says it expires 06/09 that is the only date I can find on the card so I’m pretty sure that’s what you want.

Well with my bleach trays I did not bring them out I left them in the basement bottom drawer in a blue retainer case. But if the mouth guard works, then I will just use that. And I will try the baking soda trick there will be lots of happy missionaries if it helps and I’m sure it does cuz you kinda know about teeth. I’m glad to be bleaching my teeth again cuz like I said they are not as white as they used to be.

So with style, the black socks has been the thing here the whole time I have been here. I do find it strange but I do it now. I only where my white socks when it’s so hot that I don’t want my legs covered with socks. Is Cody wearing them still as ankle socks or does he have them pulled up? I would love to see if he is goofy looking. Here in Ireland they don't wear basketball shorts cuz there is no basketball really so instead they wear a guy form of capris or high water pants. It’s usually made out of some kind of board short material or exercise pant material the scratchy stuff. Here that is about the only stuff they wear, it’s weird not many people wear jeans other then the blacks and they look like our gangsters.

Well it’s too bad to hear Cody misses me that much. But I miss him loads too everyone here knows my mom and Cody are two of my best friends. They all know I’m excited for home to hang with them again. So I have been officially been invited to the idm house at Dixie with the guys here on the mission. Because of me and one other missionary we have recruited about 6 elders to go to Dixie and the plan is we will get a house together to live in. Anyway we will see if it happens but it sounds fun.

Well I’m sorry I really don’t have any real spiritual stories this week it’s really more of the same stuff. We are still working with Linda loads and the ones I talked about in my last email did not work out which is really sad to say but that is Ireland. Well I’m going to go I love you all and it’s been great hearing from you.

Much love

Brady boo monster