In Which Brady Gets Stuck in the Snow--for 5 Hours (Letter from February 10)

Alright challenge time!! I, Elder Daines, Hereby declare a Lord of the Rings quote contest! The person who uses the most Lord of the Rings quotes this week wins! There we go challenge initiated.

I am in Wellington with Elder Johnson, the apartment is a little messy but it gets the job done. The shower is nasty. Wellington is like burlington but bigger. In burlington we covered a bunch of little towns a ways away from each other. Here we cover bigger towns farther away from each other!

Bigger but not better. So far it seems like the Burlington branch was more active with their missionary work than this ward. The branch also had higher attendence than this ward. About 35 people on sunday. So I felt right at home in a small number of people. But Johnson is cool. He is super knowledgable about church stuff and scriptures. Also very obedient. Hopefully we get along well.

I HAVe to re-get used to this keyboard again. One of the many missionary problems. I keep turning capslock on. I am getting tired of having to turn it off and on again.

And obviously the primary loved Thorin. I love Thorin! He is the best! He can make anyone snuggle. How is grandma doing by the way?

Well not much happened this week other than transfers. And getting stuck in the snow for 5 hours. That is right, 5 hours. I got my dps (driving privileges) and two days later tried off-roading in the cruz. We made it pretty far to get to our investigators house. But we got stuck. We had snow shovles and dug our way out and tried to turn around. We got stuck again and tried to dig ourselves out and we did. And kept turning around. And right when we thought we were home free we got stuck again. We tried to dig ourselves out and it didnt work so we waited. Eventually the tow truck came and got us! After we left it was about 8:50 when we got unstuck. We first got stuck about 3:30. It was awful.

That about raps up this week! Love ya'll!

Mum's the Word on the Super Bowl

I learned this week that Lindsey Stirling served a mission in NYC. pretty cool huh! But this week was good. Housetons are gold like unto the plates. They came to church again. We had 10 investigators there this week, 9 last week. But thanks for the packages. I bet he will like them! When I was with him he got his first package in his mission--from his uncle in Texas for his birthday, so I think he will like it a lot!

Where is Nick going! That is pretty cool! I hope he loves it, if he works hard he will.

Not much happened this week. Someone backed up into their own mailbox when we were accross the street. Talked to a traveling therapist about how in Australia there are 9 women to 1 man, so they do a lot more down there. Try to keep with them. Talked about how that would be nice. He had a fat dog that traveled the world with, his name was Marco Polo. I thought that was really funny!!

The Housetons feel the spirit so strongly during sacrement. It is cool! They are fun

And that is about all there is! Sorry this is kind of boring one....

But this is very important!!! IF THE SEAHAWKS LOSE THE SUPERBOWL, I AM TO RECIEVE ZERO INFO ABOUT IT!! IF ANYONE SAYS ANYTHING ABOUT IT, I WILL NOT REPLY TO YOU!! I will however accept funny commercials from it. Please do that.

Serious Missionary Work Going On in Kansas (And he wants more letters)

I guess I will just share some miracles with you this time. First, in Gridley we went tracting and came into a family. Totally prepared out the wazooo. They have such a strong testimony in eternal families. Their son died December 12, 2013, so they are super interested in eternal families. They agreed to be baptized, but not to a date, because the whole family wasn't there so we didn't date them up. Five of them came to church this week. The atonement is already making a big difference in their lives, bringing them closer to Christ.

Another, and alcoholic. His name is Chad Tuttle. He is awesome. He has been meeting with  members for 12 years, talking about the church, and trying to get him to come. He is Catholic, and we stopped by and his grandma is going to die soon. I gave him Alma chapter 17 or 16. where Amulek testifies about eternal life. He almost came to church this week. He was planning on it, but his wife, an in-active member, didn't want to go. He really felt the spirit and it touched his heart.

Another, we went up to Gridley with Branch Pres. Stewart. We visited one person, named Jerry Snyder. We talked about church and instantly saw that something was wrong. Pres. Stewart noticed it and hit the concern right on. In a few seconds, he testified about the importance of church and how even if something offended him (the concern) he should still come and feel the spirit and sit there and pray. He felt the spirit strongly there and it was obviously affecting him. 

I got my haircut. Last week after emailing, so there ya go. Anyways, I was reading how to keep the sabbath day holy, and I came across this:

"We should consider righteous things we can do on the sabbath. For example we can keep the Sabbath Day holy by attending church meetings, reading the scriptures and the words of our church leaders; visiting the sick, the aged, and our loved ones; listening to uplifting music and singing hymns; praying to our heavenly father with praise and thanksgiving; performing church service; preparing family history records and personal histories; telling faith promoting stories and bearing our testimony to family members and sharing spiritual experiences with them; writing letters to missionaries and loved ones; fasting with a purpose; and sharing time with children and other in the home."

I was thinking and from now on and I ,Elder Daines, will hereby reply to every carta, or letter. Physically. That is right, If I know your address, I will write back! So please include return address on the carta, or letter, and send it to the mission office, which my mom will post the address right here:

Elder Brady Daines

Kansas Wichita Mission

7011 E. 13th St. North

Wichita KS 67206-1219

I know Christ is my savior and redeemer. I have seen it affect so many people, myself included, it has to be real. I love serving a mission and wouldn't be anywhere else. The church is true and we have been blessed with a knowledge of this and need to share it with others. That is the best way to pay forward the blessings that Christ has given us.

Con amor, tu hijo, elder Daines.

All About Road Kill (Warning: gruesome pictures.)

Well another week come and passed, the innocent can never last.

But this week was pretty good. I tracted almost all of one of our little "cities" that we cover in about 3 hours. So... we have a bunch of little things like that. And I did get your package. thanks so much!! I live with the Hazletts and they are awesome!! I love them. They are pretty funny. 

Other than tracting, we put two more people on date! However their mom wasn't present so she didnt get to feel the wonderful spirit during fast and testimony meeting, especially when her two kids went up and shared theirs. So she called and we talked for about 15 minutes on the phone while she told me she didnt think her kids were ready for such a big commitment. Please pray for them. Estan los Ivies..

Other than that not much. I destroyed someone in pokemon with the deck Stuart sent me. It was like 6-1. Pretty quick. So yeah, super awesome huh.

I am however really wanting to go serve in spanish again. it has been a while since I have actually talked to someone in spanish. Other than that, my week was usual. However tonight we have dinner with a la and her nonmember bf. 

Elder Butterfield, Brady's friend in Minnesota.

More of Elder Butterfield.

I helped pin this up this week.

That is our investigators house, the Ivies. It's roadkill deer.

What Is His Obsession with Possums?!

oh here I go again

writing a letter to my family

I cannot remember

this past week, but I will try and write it more.

My adaption of that song.  

However there is no news from the Mark. I did buy some Christmas lights, I am going to catch a possum and decorate for the family that I live with for Christmas. I hope they like it, they have possums here, I sent a picture the one who was chasing me... He bit my shoe, three times.

But this week we put someone on date for the 24th of December. But he has a smoking problem so hopefully he will stop tomorrow, because He cant for two weeks before his baptism. His name is Forest, so please pray for him, so he won't want to smoke. He knows it's true, loves reading the BofM but cant stop smoking.

We had two investigators at church this week, both home schooled and dont get out much. It was so funny, they are 12 and 15 and they dont have social skills, it was so so funny. We were introducing ourselves at young mens and they took 10 minutes to do that. They're awesome, Daren and Kyle, I love them they are so funny. The mom is doing pretty good also there, she is listening to the book of mormon online, she is in chapter eight. Hopefully that keeps going well.

And that about wraps up this week. But next week:

I will be going back to Manhattan for a Christmas party! That is were I was born, in the mission! And me and my comp, Elder T from my last district, http://www.ldsliving.com/story/73858-the-call-nati-talauega , and his comp get to go back early in the day to help set up, so that is a whole day in wonderful Manhattan! 

I love you more than I love possums, even with Christmas lights on them.

[The link in Brady's letter leads to a great news segment about Elder Talauega's decision to serve a mission. He's from American Samoa and lived in Brady's apartment in his first area. Brady really likes him.] 

New Area: Burlington, and More Problems with Pants

I don't have time again, sorry, we are mailing from the church lab and there are only two computers.

This week was good. We had a baptism, photos to come later. But the story of this week is one of destruction, and a deer. After the baptism, the Emporia elders were driving home... and hit a deer, going 55 mph.

They called us to go pick them up and then we drove down and then saw the car. It was destroyed, photos to come later, and the side panel on the front was destroyed. We looked at the deer and it just looked like it needed a combover and it would be good. But the best part was when the cop asked us if we want the deer, we said no then he radioed in "anyone on the roadkill list for a deer?" They have a roadkill list!?! So awesome! People can sign up and get the roadkill and eat it!  So cool! I promise I will be more assertive next week making sure I have more time. Love you, and I didnt even get to email dad or anyone else.

Con amor, Elder Daines

I got more time so I am writing more, the come back time. But I have been thinking about what I want for Christmas, and I was thinking just like pants, I ripped another pair, and ties. And music.

My new area is burlington. It is super small. We live with members and they are cool. 

I dont know if I said this yet, but in my last area, everyone was in the military, the jobs I heard were: tank driver, demolitions, and all types of military jobs. Now it is all in a nuclear power plant. I hear, crane worker, operations and stuff like that now. Burlington is super small, by the way. 30 minutes to walk across the entire town. 1 and a half hours away from Topeka, which is the zone I am in, so lots of driving for stake conference and training and stuff.

One thing I have been working on recently is being more bold in my teaching. Like if they don't agree with something, going straight out and saying it. For example, if they dont believe in the book of mormon I would have said, "Moroni, a writer in the book said that...", now I have been saying "Moroni, a prophet of God wrote that..." Get the picture? We had a training from the APs and president about that.

Bad Jokes, More Possums, and Silly Pets

This week I broke my ankle... just kidding. I couldn't decide how to start this letter so I started with a lie. Missionary like, yeah?

Well this week was good. We have a bap on saturday, this time for sure. My second so far then. She is Kristi. I dont really know much about her. I just got here. 

But his week was cold. everyday was below freezing. One was about 18. Right now it is 31 and I forgot my jacket at home. (Burlington.) I have that nice one from dad and a member gave me less nice one for everything else. I forgot them both. Walking around in the cold. 

We had some good lessons. Lots of less actives here are getting better. Our investigators are alright. One family we we're meeting with is a dad and a boy. Dad left church after he got divorced and boy hasnt been in 7 years. The dad doesnt really take us seriously and keeps making jokes the whole time. Kinda hard to teach with him, the son is really good. Asks lots of good questions that we can then expound on. This last lesson, the dad got a phone call and had to leave, and we had a really good 2 on 1 talk with son. It was really good. Spirit was strong and he said he would come to church on Sunday. But unfortunately, he got called into work. 

That package saved me. I was almost out of Zyrtec. I had two more.  The members we live with have about 5 cats. And two awesome dogs. And two possums that come every night. One is bigger and passive. I could easily catch him again. And the other is little and rude. He chases me and bit my shoes and everything. I want to catch him, but I dont think I will... one of the dogs is a husky. She is so fun. Loves to play chase and run and run and run. But she is super obedient and loves to snuggle. One of the cats, Meriska, doesnt like to play chase. She is a kitten. I always say her name like the vampires in van helsing. Then I chase her. I usually beat her eventually. She slips on the wood a lot. I love chasing her. She doesn't.