May 26, 2014 Colinas, Chile

First area:  Colinas
This week was my first week in the Mission field and oh boy has it been crazy sweet! I have a new companion.. Elder Hall from Utah. He has been here a little over a year. He has been helping me get the routine and the language learned. He is a really cool guy. Our house is pretty sweet. Every saturday and thursday we go to the church to teah english classes for and hour and a half to church members and investigator and and contacts who we invited. I got to participate in a talent show and that was pretty fun. My companion and I did a skit. Was pretty funny. I serve in a branch that should have around 450 members attending but there is less than 25 members that attend church every sunday. Alot of people find it difficult to come to church because of work. It´s a big bummer. But lots of work to do here. I have a calling in the branch! I am the Elders Quorum 2nd counselor. And some wayyyyyyyyy cool news is that Elder Dirkmaat and I are in the SAME DISTRICT!!!!! So i see him for district class every wednesday. And it meens that we can do interchanges so me and nate can be eachothers companions for a day and procilyte and stuff!! There are only 6 people in our district! We have tons of missionaries in our mission and we are put in the same district! Geez thats crazy!! Its pretty sweet!

So we have to contact 140 people every week as a companionship. Everyday i run into at least 3 drunk people. We had one guy come up to me and shook my hand and wouldnt let go and he just started crying and sharing all of his problems with me. Another guy came up to me and asked if i was scared of him. Crazy people on the streets at night. Oh and in my sector we get to ride bikes!! My companion and I almost got hit a couple nights ago. Its very crazy at night when people are driving cars drunk. They drive crazy when they are sober! haha but it has been a blast. There are so many dogs around so we are Always being chased by dogs. Also yesterday afternoon we went to an apartment complex and chained our bikes up and went upstairs to knock on doors and when we came back down I guess someone shoved a piece of cardboard with nails in it right bewteen my tire and my break.. and i didnt notice it at first so when we got going again and i had to use my break i put a hole in my tire. Bunch of punks. We had to walk pretty far back to the house to repair it.

Yesterday I was able to share with a family my testimony. It was a really neat experience. It has been way cool! I love the Mission and I am SOOOO EXCITED FOR CAMERON!! Holy smokes thats soooo Sweet!!!!! Cant wait to hear where he´s going!!! 

Oh and poppy would be proud... I helped make a wall out of concrete!!

Chilean BBQ

Elder Brady chillin

Elder Brady and his cousin, Elder Dirkmaat

Mission pres and his wife, and first companion Elder Hall

Kitchen

study area

May 6, 2014 Chilean MTC

I am so excited for Hunter and Jackson! Thats way cool! I really apreciate all the prayers that have been going around. I am really blessed to have the friends I do.

My Leader in Az (Bro.Cook) told me that Josh and Richard are getting ready to leave soon and that Josh had been ordained and that Richard is coming up close! I am so excited for them. Bro. Cook has been a huge support to me along with Richard and Josh. They are some awesome friends. Bro. Cook has really helped me out. "You are at the point where the sky is the limit.  The Lord is ready to open the windows of heaven and let you peak inside if you are obedient and faithful"- Bro.Cook

Sister Kirkham emailed me and it sounds like Luis and Eric are doing awesome!! I think thats really neat that Elder Luis got to serve one of those mini missions. Thats such a cool experience! He's about ready to be sent off to Bulgaria! I really wish i could be there for his farewell. Luis has been a great friend and example to me and I really look up to him. Thats crazy he's going to learn Bulgarian! I am having a tough time with Spanish! I can't even imagine Bulgarian!! I am so happy for him. Its so awesome to think of all the missionaries around the world bringing people unto Christ.

Alexis said school is getting out soon! Thats so cool! We are expecting some 62 more missionaries tomorrow. Right now it is just my district, so... 8 of us. Its pretty empty but i am excited for the new crowd.

I miss Everyone! I really hope to see Nate again! I can't wait to hear where Cameron is going to go! He better let me know! I haven't heard from him lately!

I could probably have a conversation with poppy now! I really wish i paid more attention to Boni when i was working with that concrete. But the spanish is coming along alright. Its really frustraing at times but i know i will get the hang of it. Ser and Estar are soooooo confusing to me.

I am starting my 4th week at the MTC! 2 more weeks to go. This week has been very spiritual. I was able to go to the temple and we have had some awesome devotionals. We have been doing a whloe lot of service.

I am really greatful for the experiences I have had and my family. I love them.

I am supposed to have a minimum of 140 contacts a week. Thats crazy! haha

These people are special. Everyone on this world is.

I have learned the worth of a human soul. The worth of a human soul, is its capacity to become as God. DyC 18:10 has a new meaning for me now. I am so greatful to be here and serve the people of Chile.

I love you all. Thank you for you prayers and support.

- Elder Brady

Chilean MTC April 29, 2014

Hey everyone! I am starting my 3rd week in the MTC! I miss you all. Things are really starting to speed up! I am learning tons of Spanish! Lessons with our investigators are going great and I already have DC:4 memorized and the First Vision. I can pray and bear my testimony in Spanish and understand tons!! We had a new group of missionaries come in. Sadly two missionaries haven't even made it to their second week. Satan is working really hard at us. The Elders who got sent home are not bad Elders. They have been wounded and i am sure they will get back up on their feet. Today we are going to the Temple again. I am going to try and do it in Spanish this time! Being district leader is really difficult. There are so many meetings and i am always being taken out of class. Every sunday i have to prepare a 45 min lesson. I have one more week left with my companion and then i get a new one. Its a bummer. I am going to be put into a trio. Today I got a haircut... I am sooooooooo embarrassed. It is so short!! I asked for a 3 on the sides and 4 on top... im almost bald!! We have been doing alot of studying in preach my gospel. We have only studied 2 chapters our whole time here! Chapters 3 and 10 are very important and they keep telling us to read those. I found Camila! Camila Pujado goes to institute here and i saw my efy leader! Its been pretty neat! I got to spend a few minutes with dad last week. I miss nate! I need his email address! I have been getting tons of emails from friends and family! Its so nice. I am so anxious to get out to my fist area! I have 3 more weeks! I have been told that I am going to have tons of reactivating to do. Oh and one of the Hermanas that works here was at the new years party  at Rubens house till like 6 the morning and she said she remembers me there and more specifically how she talked to Ashlyn! Its so cool how many people i know here! I Miss you all! Thanks for all the emails!

Camilla (good friend from our old ward in La Serena!) and Elder Brady

Elder Brady and his Chilean EFY leader

Elder Brady and Elder Souza

April 22, 2014

Hey everything is going good! I absolutely hate the MTC!! Haha it was soo kool to see Elder Dirkmaat. I just randomly walked into him it really lifted my spirit! I also found out he is coming to the temple this week on Thursday. There are only 16 missionaries at the MTC right now but we should be getting about 32 more this wednesday. Sounds like you guys are having a lot of fun up there. I got an email from Uncle Ryan with some pretty dang good advice and some awesome scriptures that I marked down. Sounds like Nonny and Poppy are doing good! I wish i tried to learn more spanish when I was working with poppy. That would have helped out a whole lot. Its been really hard to feel the spirit in the MTC because everything is just so rushed. Sundays are really special though. I enjoy sunday. It was also way cool to be able to go the the temple. Thats so stinkin sweet that Joe is going to Ecuador! That will be wayyy kool! Things are still really difficult with my companion. He´s having a hard time and last night Elder Gilbert (MTC Presidents Counselor) and I were able to give hime a blessing. When dad came to the MTC I was less that like 15 ft away from him and i didnt even get to see him that was a huge bummer. We have 4 more weeks in the MTC! Language is coming along great. I think my biggest advice for missionaries about to go out would be to read Preach my Gospel Ch.3!! That has got to be one of the biggest things.

First letter from the Chilean MTC

4/15/14

Mom this whole mtc thing is way hard. I met about 7 other missionaries at the atlanta airporte and we all just had a terrible flight haha. We got absolutely nooo sleep! And our first day right when we got here they put us in the swiss embassy and had us learn and memorize the first vision and objective of a missionary and D&C 4. We spent 13 hours that day sitting in a chair reading and writing those 3 things till they were memorized. My companion is from Rio Brazil and he hardly knew spanish and like 3 english words. I am the only north american that doesnt have a north american companion. My companion is Elder Souza. We have gotten along really well he is pretty cool. But it has been super hard trying to communicate sometimes and teach but we are improving and will continue to improve. My spanish has improved so much. I can do my testimony and pray in spanish and have a good conversation with someone in basic spanish. It has been really hard here. Oh by the way I was called to be District Leader! It sounds really cool and exciting but its ... not so much haha. Its TONS more responsibilities and more stress. But things are getting more organized and stuff. One responsibility is to Give a 40 minute lesson for my district every sunday in spanish. I really enjoy being around all the missionaries its so cool to see how far we have come in these last few days. I miss you guys. We go to the Temple tomorrow! I really want to see Nate! I saw an CCM graduation picture of him. I havent really had any spiritual experiences yet. Everything has been so rushed because our district stays at the swiss embassy. Anyways.. Love you guys! Tell tyson and hunter i miss them!

P.S- Have your emails sent by Sunday. My P-day changes like every week.

 This is Elder Whitmore he is an awesome guy from Gilbert Arizona! We have alot of the same friends in Arizona. Its been cool to talk to him. He is a great friend.

He made it!

He will probably laugh at me for putting this post in his blog but it is too perfect not to.  It's all I needed to know he is ok.  He left the SLC airport at 1:55 on Tuesday to Atlanta and arrived at about 7:30 our time in Chile. 

Hi mom i made it! Im staying at a home by the MTC. I am with 4 brazillian guys. its pretty cool im excited! Ill write you monday bye

On his way to Chile

Wow!  What a crazy week!
Wes was set apart by President Keller on Sunday night and officially became a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Thank you Tyson and Hunter for being there with us.  You have always been such awesome friends!  It was a great evening.

Monday he spent the day with his companion (dad) running errands and getting things fixed around the house that Geoff needed help with.  Thank you for being such a good sport Wes!  Then the whole family went into pack up Wesley's room and luggage.  Ash is already moving into Wesley's room:)
We had one last friends get together Monday night.  I don't think Hunter wanted to leave.  We didn't want him to either.  It's hard to say goodbye to friends.  But 2 years will fly by!

Tuesday we got the last of the laundry and packing done, said goodbye to the Clarke family and Bishop, called nonny and poppy over skype and had our goodbyes with them and family prayer.  Thank you dad, for a beautiful prayer.  It's hard not having my parents be here with us.  Hard for them and us.  They are on their own mission in Guatemala and we wouldn't want them anywhere else!

Then it was really time to go.  We headed to Salt Lake City to the temple where Wes has been working for the past few months on the grounds crew planting all those beautiful flowers.  We had to see what Wes had been up to and get some photos.

Here we are in front of some of the flowers he planted.

Wes helped plant this flower garden

He planted ALL the poppies on Temple Square

He planted these flowers

Wes planted these flowers

He planted these flowers too

Time to say goodbye!