Week 39 Email: Eating WAY to Much!!

Dear Mom and Dad,

This week went much better than last week! Yes I did get your package thank you so much for that! I made the brownies and I actually shared them with our district so I wouldn't get the Beatus. (lol) But in other news I haven't heard any word on Kalen's baptism so I will interrogate Elder Lawrence about it. I was finally able to meet our investigator who's name is Mike. Dad you would get along very well with Mike. He is a lot like you in the fact that he is super funny and constantly cracking jokes about everything. His big problem is smoking and drinking though. He has cut back a lot and realizes it's wrong, but he really doesn't have a whole lot of drive to quit. So that's where we come in! So he is the only real Investigator we are working with. We are going to be doing a lot of less-active hunting this week and see if we can find more success that way. But anyway! It sounds like it's the same old thing with you guys. Haha I know that things are tough with teenagers but be patient. You got me through it, so you can get Garret through it! So I shared a picture of a giant burger with you. That thing is called the 10 stacker. It's at a place called Charlies down in Greencastle where our district leader is. It is a burger with 10 patties and like 2300 calories, and if you eat it in under 30 minutes you get a picture and a shirt. I made it in 23 minutes! But I'm pretty sure that gave me the Beatus so I hope it was worth it! Oh well the things we do as missionaries for fun! Anyway I hope you guys have a great week and I can't wait to hear from you!

Love, Elder Braken Park

Braken eating the "10 Stacker Burger" at Charlies in Greencastle, Indiana.
That's my boy!

The "10 Stacker"

Week 38: Tough Week in the Field :(

Dear Mom and Dad,

I wish I had better news for you, and was in a better mood to do so. This week has seriously sucked. So to start off no I didn't get your package. Hopefully it'll be here today. Then this week we went 0/12 for our appointments, and one of our investigators called us and told us she didn't want to see us any more. I still haven't met any of our investigators and it's been 2 weeks. We lost our car because they needed it somewhere else in the mission. And to top it all off, I found a nice pair of sunglasses at a thrift shop in Martinsville back when I was there, and have had them all through my mission. Well we went to get in the car this morning, and somebody stole them last night. Not too big of a deal but just enough that I am thoroughly angry. Just one last nail in the coffin for this week. I thought I had worked through the depression I had at the beginning of my mission, but this week it has come back with a vengeance. I have really been struggling. But regardless.... I know I can make this week better. It's just going to take time. Hopefully this isn't a permanent thing and I can figure out some way to work through my recurring depression. I'm going to talk to president and maybe figure out if there's someone I can talk to about it. But anyway I'm glad things went well around the house. I'm sorry I didn't have anything really good to talk about. Thanks for putting up with me and helping me out with this. I sincerely appreciate it. Hopefully we can chat some but if you're busy that's fine. Have an awesome week guys.

Love, Elder Braken Park

(After receiving this e-mail we talked back and forth with Braken on e-mail and he was doing a lot better when we were done).

Week 37: Pictures of the Neat People Braken was able to teach while serving in the Eagle Creek Ward in Indianapolis.

Braken and his bud, Aro.
Aro was baptized during Braken's time in the Eagle Creek Ward in Indianapolis.  He was Braken's second convert.

L - R:  Jason, Braken, Brandon, and David
These are the kids that Braken was working with right before his transfer from Indianapolis to Plainfield. Braken was serving in the Eagle Creek Ward at the time.

Tommy and Braken
Tommy was one of Braken's investigators while he served in the Eagle Creek Ward in Indianapolis.

Week 37 E-mail Home - New Area, Plainfield, Indiana

Dear Mom and Dad,

So to answer the remainder of your questions I am in a house now. I really enjoyed our skype time though. I'm pretty trunky right now I can see why they only have us do it every 6 months. Oh well I am excited to see your package coming! Love you guys!

Love, Elder Braken Park

E-mail to the Family:

So, I'm in a new area called Plainfield.  Here's my address!   202 West North Street, Plainfield, IN 46168. Thanks to all of you for your support!   My new companion's name is Elder Sneddon.   Like me, he is a nerd, so this is gonna be a great companionship!

(Elder Sneddon is from Twin Falls, Idaho and has been out in Indiana one transfer longer than Braken).

PS.

I was able to e-mail back and forth this morning with Braken and he said that Skpying yesterday with us was awesome, but that he knows why they only let missionaries do that twice a year because they get feeling "trunky".  I asked him what that meant and he told me it's when a missionary gets thinking about going home or being home to much - like homesickness when they first are out in the field.  He is fine - just misses us.  He told me that he just needs a little time and to get back to the work and he'll be great.  

--Shelly--

Week 36 Email to All

So I got the call this week. I will be leaving the Eagle Creek ward on wednesday. I won't lie I'm very sad to leave this ward but I'm sure there are great things to happen in my next. I will let all of you know my new address next week when I have it!

-Elder Braken Park

Week 36 E-mail Home - Braken Got The Transfer Call - He will be leaving....

Dear Mom and Dad, 

So I've been in the Eagle Creek Ward not crest, but our transfer calls were last night and I am leaving, so come next week I'll be in a different ward. I am very sad to leave I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here it was a great place to work in. Oh well what can you do? I'll send you a letter with the new address as the return address so don't send anything to this address anymore. this week has been very odd being in a threesome. I have been around Elder Rhoton for the last 5 months so I knew him pretty well, just living with him 24/7 was different. We did a lot of service for a couple of the retired families in the ward. We mowed and trimmed lawns, pulled weeds, raked dirt, that sort of thing. Elder Rhoton used to do landscaping so he was a big help there. Elder Lawrence was a good companion though. Not my favorite but he knew how to do the work. As far as my health goes I'm doing pretty well physically and spiritually. Mentally I'm getting a little what we call "trunky". I've been thinking a lot about "your trunks" or, going home and it's been difficult to say the least. It'll pass I'm sure. Dad, sorry to hear about your quad, but think of it this way, you have another 15 months to figure it out so we can go to the dunes when I get back! Just don't go to crazy so Hal can at least somewhat keep up haha. So I failed... I forgot my camera this week so I will get pictures to you next week. Sorry about that I am terrible at remembering my camera places. Well thanks for your guys' constant support. It will be needed especially now as I change areas. Changing areas is really hard for me so thanks for being willing to support me. I love you guys have a great week!

Love, Elder Braken Park