Hey well that does explain the not so personal letter that I received and to that you got two emails, how lucky are you?

Well this past week has been a really good one but very tiring. Yesterday we had to go blitz the sister’s area in Bray, cuz the area is a hole, it has not done very well since they opened it. They can’t close Bray, because it has its own little branch that is really good and tries really hard. A good portion of the area we tracted reminded me of the good old glory days of Ballyfermot. I actually don’t feel comfortable having sisters in the area. The place we were tracking was really bad; I was walking on glass and broken bottles everywhere, I was just hoping the glass would not cut through my shoes. After we got done doing the blitz a very sad and hard thing for us happened Elder Sheppard lost his wallet. So again I have to support him through the moves. It had a brand new bus pass in it and his personal and church funds so he has about 6 euro in change to his name. Luckily the office couple was a big help and has given us some money to help us through this.

Well on a lighter note Sunday was a day of miracles. I was on exchanges in the other elder’s area. I was with an Elder Jason Palmer from Orem, Utah. We were on our way for an appointment when a lost sheep walked up to us and said; “Hey I used to go to the church in Ohio, but I moved here and have not bothered, but I miss the church and would like to go again can you give me the address.” I said yes and can we come by sometime, he said yes please do, and was giving us every number and address he could. We then got to out appointment with a lady in the church who smokes and is not fully active but comes to church- long story, but we taught her a great lesson with a member- her home teacher, it helped out. Then we had another appointment with a lost sheep that got his entire house wanting to know about the church. So we went in thinking a less active lesson and taught 3 new investigators in a member’s home. The three are very interested in the church and had loads of really good questions and could not wait for a return date. Sunday was really cool; after all that we still had an hour of finding time so we did some Book of Mormon drop off stuff and it all went really smooth. Sunday was one of the best days in my mission.

Well I’m short for time but I love you all so much.

Take care,

Brady

Well hello how are you all doing?

I have been really good. It has been a good past week the weather has been much better. If you count rain everyday for only an hour. I know I count that as good weather! Also we had one day of thunderstorms first of the year. I have only seen lightning like this twice on my mission. For some reason I’m not sure they just don't have lightning storms.

Well mission work has been good. We have been teaching a good amount. Unfortunately we still have the people we teach the most still in Africa and won’t be back till around mid August I think. I will be very happy for when they get back. Then we will be teaching loads. But we have been teaching and those we are teaching are doing really well. Andréa and Cecilia now have a baptism on September 26. This is a goal for them to work towards. It’s not a sure thing but they both agree it’s what's best for them. They are both very spiritual people. Andréa has a few things that are holding him back but he will not let those stop him. He wants to be baptized and will do whatever it takes. First he has to stop smoking and he is starting today! We got that commitment out of him. Also they both are very poor and have to take all hours they are given them which means Andréa works Sundays. But he is starting to look for a new job. The church is going to help him find one also he is improving his English each day to help in the process. They are both very excited about it so keep them both in your prayers especially Andréa.

Our finding has been a struggle for some reason it’s not that we are not doing it, in fact we do it each day for about 3 hours but we have not found anyone. We have been doing a thing called the Book of Mormon drop off. It’s a good thing but it does not seem to be going to well for us. So pray that we find someone new to teach. Cuz since I have been here we have not found anybody and its nothing that I’m doing wrong.

So I had a very funny thing happen to me yesterday, well kind of funny, during the time it was not funny but its funny now. We went shopping yesterday and came back to put things away. Elder Shep was putting things on the top shelf when he accidently knocked a glass bowel thing off. He tried to catch it but it broke and he cut open his fingers a bit. I come into the room to hear what crashed. He tells me and then says he should clean it so he goes to the bathroom to clean up while I clean the glass. After that I go check on him and he says he does not feel too good and when I look at him he is all white. I told him yeah you don't look so good. He almost fainted! I cleaned out his cut, stopped the bleeding and put band-aids on for him, put him top bed to rest and got him water and chips. When I tell it in person it’s very funny but reading it is not so good. So I got to use my first aid knowledge again which was a lot of fun. He asked me what I would have done if he would have passed out. I told him I would have got him his blanket and tucked him in so he could sleep. He laughed but then I told him what I would really have done.

Speaking of life guard and first aid, mom I was wondering if you would check out if they have a lifeguard class I could do in April so I can get recertified for it. i think it’s a good job and will be open for me to work if I’m just certified. I will also be able to do it in Dixie when i go down for college. Then I will just work with Jacee and her swim team. I can do it part time while I’m at college that way I will still have money. I was hoping when I got home I could work the summer that way I can stay busy and also get my nice tan back, after two year of living in the shade i have gotten very white. It’s not very nice.

Well I will love ya and leave ya. It’s good to talk to you again even if it’s only one way at the moment.

I love you very much.

Brady