Author Fame in Kansas at a Baptism

Letter from December 8

yeah, I almost died. as soon as we started to drive away my comp was like "I thought we were gonna die." and I had to agree there. 

we went down to Wellington for baptisms on saturday. three of elder de jongs were getting baptized and we got to go back. so that was kinda cool. my last companion is in wellington right now so I got to see him. during the baptism the bishop gave a little talk and mentioned how the world was changing. lots of bad stuff going on. how the world needs more positive influence. then he said "and I now have a book in my library written by elder daines' mom." and then talked about how we need good mormon authors. good influences. is was kinda awkward and nice at the same time. a little earlier I was talking to him a little bit and he said that you have a gift more making people become interested in your characters. and people are drawn to them and thats not a gift many people have. so great work!

no investos came to church again this week. I don';t know what we did wrong. but this week we will try to do some finding and start over. so that is our plan this week. 

I mostly cleaned up the egg. but I left lamar beach so I don't have to worry about it right now :) 

I ripped my khakis. I need a sowing machine so I can fix them. 

my suit jackets are good. just the pants took same terminal damage. I named one of them my samurai pants because they bellow and blow in the wind. and I feel cool. and with the pants could we go a little smaller waist size :) that way they fit better and they encourage me to lose more weight. and could you send me maybe one pair of golf pants. those are pretty good. some stretchy cool colored golf pants. like blue or that shiny silverish color. 

I went to texas roadhouse and ate a lot of rolls! since I have been spanish again and eating a but ton of bread based foods I have gained 5 pounds since I've been here. :(

I know jesus is my saviour. I am gratefull to be out serving him and inviting others to experience the joy that comes from him. #HeistheGift. by the way if you don't share that video and print the picture and write on it and share that also I will be really disappointed. christmas.mormon.org . send a picture of your stuff also 

and that is my letter! love you more than most mormon authors. I say most because your a mormon author and I didn't want to say mormon authors in general and confuse you. it doesn't work that well but I do love you! 

Palm Reading and Egg Disasters

Yes, Bo was baptized!! it was super awesome! it was at 1 oclock! it was super awesome! the Maestas came to the baptism, and it was really good! She came to church again also! for the primary program, and she gave up coffee so she is pretty solid. I love them a lot! I baptized Bo and my comp gave him the ghost on sunday! he is a funny guy! I really like them, the whole family! it was a really good day! 

 

Sweet. We had a member of the 70 come friday! Elder Schwitzer! it was super cool, he talked about the Book of Mormon, the baptismal invite, and Jesus Christ! I loved it a lot. he is pretty cool! I loved it, it was in Great Bend Kansas!

 

A psychic also read my palm yesterday. for fun. a few things he mentioned were that I was going to go to alaska and save someones life, and that would inspire me to go into the medical field. also that I will marry a hot eskimo girl! I like that part. some of my ancestry is from the celtic barbarians, that is where I get my height from. he also can look into the past. and into his past lifes. one of them, was during the titan war. when the titans were fighting the elves men and the giant turtles were helping us so the titans were also killing them. giant turtles like in avatar. and he thought it was a dream, then he realized it was a vision that he was having where he was on one of those turtles and learning martial arts from an asian elf. it was pretty cool! he also said my wings were beautiful and I am gifted with preminitions. oh, he also said that there are several girls in the church that have a crush on me. so that was cool!

 

I am so happy to be a missionary. it is the dopest of the dope. and there is a lot of dope in colorado. but this is the real dope, it brings lasting happiness, not just the "chocolate high." or actual high. I know that this is the true church, if it wasn't "the missionaries would have destroyed it a long time ago." and I can testify that is true, I am not a very smart person, but God is,
and he answers prayers and loves his childen! and that is also why he blessed us with families. to strengthen us and help us.

I didn't want to boil an egg, but I wanted to eat a hard one, so I decided to microwave it. I wrapped it in towels, but it didn't help.

 

Missions are the Best (and Black Widow)

(Letter from July 7)

My companion wrote a new song this week. in the chorus he sings about how the KWM (kansas wichita mission) is the best. and coming on the mission is the best decision! I can certainly attest to that. I love it so much. I am going to ramble about that again this email, so if you get sick of reading that then dont read it :) 

Before I came out on the mission I thought I had a pretty decent life. I never really realized just how blessed I was. I will not ever regret coming out. Everything will still be there when I get back. Except maybe Maddie and Wes, I got some sort of going away party invitation from Uncle Ross. But I will be able to listen to that weirdo fox song from Norway when I get home. And can watch that weirdo movie about not being cold (the cold never bothered her anyway) and building snowmen when I get home. 

But know what, I will not be able to learn what I have at home. I would have continued on my merry way doing nothing with my life. I repeat the words of Jacob Osborn when he said, the lessons learned on a mission are lifelong! I have been able to see a big difference in me also since I have been gone! I love it! Not being gone, but the mission. I will be so grateful for this in the future. College can wait. 

If by chance anyone that does read this is going on a mission soon or trying to decide if they should, do it! it will be a blessing that you will love. It is a lot of work. You wake up at 6:30 e'eryday and go to work. I bike mucho miles every day in 100 degrees, and it is freaking humid here. I heard it is more humid here than texas. From people that lived in texas and served missions there. So I can get a little sweaty at times.... *cough* but I love it so much. It is totes worth it. Totes cray cray, but totes worth. 

What my companion also sang about is praying about it. You can get an answer and know what to do. And then follow it and be happy! Every body wants to be happy, and sharing the gospel makes you happy and others! Which in turn makes you happy! 

And due to popular demand, my mom asked me, I should answer the question "what it means to me to serve and teach in the saviors name and be a missionary" paraphrased. But it is wonderful. As stated before, not a better place to be than out serving my Lord and my God. The Savior suffered and died for the people of Kansas. 

"They say the worth of souls is great in the sight of God, but really, it is the life God." That puts it in better words than I could. When Christ was in the Garden of Gethsemane it was not an instant giant mound of sin and pains that he felt. It took him hours where he suffered and died for us personally. For me. He spent the time suffering for me, and for my dear Brother Stuart. Spent the time bleeding from every pore for him. And for Jacob and Maren. (I am not trying to call them repentance or something just to clarify. I was just trying to apply it. So I used my siblings. I love them a lot and think they are wonderful.) 

But he HAD to have been prepared for that. Not just emotionally and spiritually, but physically. That pain is beyond what any human could endure. A drop of blood through a pore is a basketball through a garden hose, and that was going on all over his body. The Atonement is so real and the way to know that is to pray and apply it to yourself. I am out here to share it with others. 

In lighter news I got a cup with Black Widow on it from the avengers... and Man Scarlet Johanson is mighty fine! She pulls of that age quite nicely if I do say so myself! 

Anyone have any good advice or lines? send here: brady.daines@myldsmail.net

And my bite is doing a lot better

Spider Bite! WARNING: This post is not for the faint hearted

Ya, last week i ran out of time.... Bummer. I had less than an hour. So ya that stank. I didn't get to email dad cause it kicked me off. sorry dad. but ya I got a bite.  

I noticed it monday night. and but tuesday it was this. the black sharpie is the outline of the infection. it is hard to see in the camera

next day it was this, that is one day later.

here it is draining this morning

also this one

and that is my bug bite :) enjoy

and other than that, not much happened. I was on the couch a lot of the time, I couldn't really walk, whenever I did, it was really slow and funky looking. and having to go to the bathroom during the night was the worst. it hadn't moved for a while, so when I would stand up it would hurt really bad, then the blood would rush to it. and it would hurt even worse.... muy malo. 

[Side note from mom: he did go to the doctor with this. I know because I got a call from the doctor's office asking for insurance information.]

Isaac is going to get baptized soon! this saturday!! how exciting is that? he is wonderful! he is Jamaican from england! wow! I am excited for him!! It reminds me of about a month ago, when Cheryl was baptized!! that was so great!! ya, and they just took elders out of valley center, so hopefully things keep going well there. 

anyways, love you tons!! more than spiders!! and cellulitis infection!

First Week in New Area (Letter from June 23)

Well this week has come and passed. I say that a lot. It happens a lot.

Anyways I hope you have a great day cleaning. I have some cleaning to do. but this week was fun. I bought an organ for our apartment :) yep, 5 dollar organ from goodwill! it works pretty well, only a few keys dont work but it is electric so we dont have to pump it. and it has two rows of keys, foot keys, and all sorts of cool effects you can use!! how cool is that!! for only 5 bucks!! score one for the republic!! man, it is weird being back in Emporia. it is a little nostalgic. it makes me miss my friends that I was with last time. 

The work is going good here though so far. I have been enjoying it. we do biking every other week. and car every other other week. so ya. not much to say here. Isaac is on date for this saturday. he is a little iffy though. I think he can make. he is ready. he just really needs to be on board for it. he knows he needs to be baptized and is just working on a solid testimony of the Book of Mormon. I dont have much time so, ya, enjoy this wonderful letter! love you all! fun pictures you sent. covey looks like a mountain man. 

love you more than a mountain man!!

TRANSFERRED! (Letter from June 19)

ah man! I am really going to miss those huckleberry shakes.... 

Well I got transfered. I am in Emporia. Which is just outside Burlington. Emporia is the main town here and Burlington is 30 minutes away. I spent two or three days a week in Emporia, so this is kinda like going back to my second area. It is really weird. I dont like it too much! I am really missing the missionaries I was with here last time. Like Elder Owens, and Elder Bird, and Elder Godfrey. and Sister Tycz and Sister Harston. That was a really fun group! At pizza ranch, a pizza buffet, Elder Owens and I and Sister Tycz would quote Spondgebob to each other the whole time. I am feeling a little nostalgic here, in case you didnt notice. :) 

Valley Center was a great area! I am going to miss it... it was super hard to say good bye to the Oliphants which are one of the best families ever. They are wonderful! Grace, one of their daughters, made me this little picture thing, which picture I will include in this email. She also asked me and Sister Tycz to write our names on their pantry door and favorite scriptures. We were the ones leaving so we got to do it! She also just started that tradition so right now, we are the only people on that door. super awesome. I can send a picture of that also. Also lynnde the 5 year old that I was with during the skype, she drew me a picture! so that is hanging up next to my study area also. I will send a picture of us with her picture also. also a picture of the whole gang! 

my new comp is Landroche, he is going to go work in the office in about 3 or 4 weeks. so I am going to have to take over the area in a few weeks. wow. I only have a little to learn the ward and area and investigators. That is going to be hard. He is also the district leader, so they will have to bring in another district leader afterwards. Man cray cray. Also I got a cologne at the dollar store for fun. But man, I am really missing some of my good friends out here... :(

Uneventful Week - except for roadkill armadillos (Letter from June 9)

ya this week was good! ya my companion gave a talk. it was good. we hit standard again. that is good. it was kinda a boring week. sorry team

that is good about Brooke [a girl in our home ward who just returned from a mission in Texas]! I bet her talk was wonderful. there are so many miracles on a mission and it appears she noticed them and was able to make more through her work and faith like you said! congrats to her from me!  

we saw a roadkill armadillo yesterday! so of course I took a photo for y'all! coming up please enjoy!! [The roadkill picture didn't really come through very well, sorry]

I remember them easy days of summer. well i dont get that anymore. just normal days now.

I am pretty much just stringing together a bunch of random sentences for this letter.

this was a pretty uneventful week.

we have dinner tonight with the Barushocks tonight. 

we have dinner tomorrow with the Oliphants! they are lots of fun that is whose house I was at when I skyped. 

I hope you guys have a good week!

love y'all!

and I love you mom more than food

A Baptism is Scheduled (Letter from June 2)

Man, England was so fun! I am so grateful for the opportunity to have gone there! and I hope you are enjoying it also!

Well I am writing today because the library was closed on Monday. So here I am. but monday was awesome. we didnt have to email on that day so we went to a members house, the Mocks, and did our laundry and played cards and farkle with brother mock for about 3 hours. then we went to the sisters house with their members and played pokemon, a horse game, and scum for the rest of the time. it was so fun! also not much has happened cool stories wise. sorry team. but the hutch sisters moved yesterday so we helped them move, and our sisters are moving tomorrow so we are going to help with that again!!

Good news!! Cheryl is getting baptized on saturday!! this is my third! and saturday will be such a wonderful day for her! it is wonderful to see how happy people are when they follow the commandments and serve others and the lord! and now because Cheryl kept her commitments, reads the scriptures and comes to chruch, she will be able to experience one of the happiest things this saturday the 31st.

I am on exchanges with Elder Banderas. he is from equador. not mexico. if you call him mexican he gets so mad! he will want to punch you and hit you. and wrestle you! so you better well walk softly stranger. but he is so fun! I love him a lot! and he speaks spanish. so i can sorta talk to him in spanish. I have really bad spanish.

well I hope you guys have fun in england. party hardy! love you!

Our District

Brady gets a head cold (Letter from May 19)

Well this week I am not feeling so great. It is like a cold. Dang man. I feel bad for my comp I probably woke him up a few times in the night. Cause I woke up and had to fix my nose. It is sorta like sleep apnea but instead of me stopping to breath I get snot logged and can't breath. So then I snort and choke and all that stuff till the snot wall leaves and I can breath again. Hooray! Lucky him!

One person named cheryl is on date and she rocks! I love her so much!! She has been to church twice and we only need to teach 4 more doctrinal points before she is baptized on the 31st!! This will be my third baptism. Angelina Rodriguez, Kristi Jennings, are the other two! A mission is the best thing ever!

And other than that stuff everything is about the same. I got a letter from Aunt(cousin) Ratto! And what the heck mom! She said you were behind on my blogs! Dont you know that this should be your monday night routine! Get jacob to do his homework, family home evening, pray for Elder Daines, pray for the missionaries in his area (Sisters Tycz and Howell, and Elder Olson), pray for the missionaries in his district (Elders Sweeton and Banderas, and Sisters Prince and Hymas), pray for his zone leaders (Elders Moyle and Mckellar), pray for the aps (Elders Stopper and Page), pray for President Bell! and update the blog!! Have you been falling out of routine mom?

Anyways that is about it. Love y'all so much! I like the last three versus in D&C 122 a lot!

love,

elder daines

there apparently was an argument going on in a neighborhood, so someone painted this on his house! haha

Roadside Assistance (Letter from May 12)

[Some of this is in response to things we talked about Skyping on Mother's Day] 

I got pretty good at throwing pokemon cards also! I have torn cards when they hit the wall because of the sheer velocity of awesome I throw them! That was up in Burlington. I havent thrown a good card for a while. I need to make sure and practice some more.  

And also I covered just about everything in Skype yesterday, so not much else. But the Oliphants are awesome!! They are a less active part member family!! So ya, it was kinda awkward talking about people we are working with because they are who we are working with:)  But they are doing awesome!! They came to church last week and this one! and Lindie was wonderful during the skype call!! Sorta like Thorin! Except she is cuter! What! I cant believe I just said that.....

Last night someone who was rolling on their spare tire had an oopsy next to the highway. It came off. Oops. So we went to go help, but we werent needed. The sisters found them first and called us. And we went and one of the officers decided just to call a tow truck because the bolts were locked onto the tires so the spare wouldnt have any bolts and would have fallen off again....

Well that is about it. Sorry. 

Love you mucho! 

How Brady and his companion decorated their apartment with stuff they found lying around the city, including the grandfather clock they found on the curb.

It's Hot, Yo. (Letter from May 5)

This week what happened.... it gets kinda hard to remember all the time. Well on Wednesday night the APs called us up and were like yo, Eldas, let us go with y'all tomorrow!!  So we be like aiight. Tight yo, whats happenin'? And then they said not a thing bra. We just wanna work with y'all! So we be all tiiiiiight broskiis! So we spent the Thursday afternoon trackting with the APs. I went with Page, and Olson went with Stopper. That was lots of fun! I love trackting a lot, I am just really bad at it so it was nice to go with someone who knows what they are doing pretty well! I loved it! 

Then we went back and had dinner at the Mocks, these awesome members (they gave me a knife :) I was so happy!!!!! I loved it much! it is a small fold up knife but looks slick. It is a classy knife). And we had an investigator over for dinner also! Her name is Cheryl! She is their daughter's step mother. And she also came to church on sunday, and she is awesome!! I love her a lot! She is really cool! Please pray for her!

Saturday we did about 4 hours of trackting with me Elder Olson together! Loved it! But it was hot! We got one new, and a lot of potentials to follow up with!! 

Someone once asked me if it is hot right now... well it snowed last week. Yesterday, I took a picture of the car thermometer at 109 degrees. So yeah, it gets hot. We did the 4 hours of trackting in 100 degrees! I really wish I brought out more short sleeve and less long sleeve.

Love you tons!! More than hot weather!!

La oruga muy hambrienta (Letter from April 28)

Well, Easter was yesterday. I hope you all watched that Because of Him video that the church made for it. If you have not, go do it now before finishing this letter! (mom, please insert link here: http://easter.mormon.org/ , thanks) Wow! Isn't that a wonderful video! So powerful yet short! Christ is the best, and that is a good video showing how awesome he really is! It takes 2:45 minutes, but it freakin' rocks my boat!

Well Easter was yesterday. I hope you all had  a really great day! I did! We had lots of less actives show up! It was wonderful and 3 investigators! I loved it! Unfortunately it is kinda hard to talk to people on Easter, so we didn't get much done. The sisters are living with some members so we went over there at night and died some eggs together! (haha get it? it's funny cause the egg gets dead) It was lots of fun! 

We did some good biking this week and found about 4 new investigators! That was awesome! And I have to give another talk on Sunday, at least this one is only 5-10 minutes!! So much shorter than the others. And it is English so that is also nice! wont have to read the story of the hungry Caterpillar again, and try to translate it into Spanish, a foreign language! So that makes me happy!

And other than that, nothing really happened this week, bummer! But have a good one! love y'all!

I love you more than humidity! 

con amor Elder Daines

Dying Easter Eggs