Week 64: Pictures

Elder Williams

Week 64: Yay! A Much Better Week!

Dear Mom and Dad,

This week has been much, much better. We were able to get back with Kevin, Matt, and Chastity. They said they were coming to church, but weren't able to make it. But regardless, we taught a whole ton of lessons this week. We've started doing this thing where we meet with people for shorter times, but more frequently throughout the week. President told me in his interview with me that he is closing the Crawfordsville Elders area. So that'll mean a Double transfer for me and Elder Williams, and we are the last elders who will be in this ward. The mission is shrinking because the initial huge waves of missionaries are going home and so they are having to close a lot of areas. So our transfer is the 3rd of December. Either way I've been in C-ville forever, so I'd have been gone anyway, haha. So I'll be for sure gone by then so probably don't send anything thanks! We do have an invite for Thanksgiving. Well, actually we have 2... So we are gonna get really fat. As far as the weather goes, Indiana is bipolar. Last week this time it was 25 degrees and snowing like crazy, and then by Wednesday it was 50 and rainy which is how it is today. So I've gone from a coat, scarf, gloves, and a hat, to a sweater. Haha weather is a fun thing here. It's supposed to get crazy cold again this week though. My CTR coat I'm not really impressed with. It doesn't really do the job so I picked up a nice trenchcoat from the Carmel goodwill for like 10 bucks when I was in Eagle Creek, (its like DI) and I've been really happy with it. I haven't gotten anything from you yet so I'll keep an eye out for it!  Anyway thanks for all you guys do! Love you and have a good week!

Love, Elder Braken Park

Week 63: Email Home: Missing the Fam :(

Dear Mom and Dad,

I'm not gonna lie this week kinda blows. That family we met with last week dropped us and Kevin is nowhere to be seen. We've just been working through a huge less-active list the ward gave us. I'm not gonna lie I've felt really burned out this week. I just have felt like I've been doing this forever. Our lesson in Sunday School was on the family and it seriously just made me so trunky.  It was hard to have a discussion on family. It's just been a super trunky week all around. I know I shouldn't be thinking like this, but... Sometimes you just can't help it. I do really miss you guys.  I just wanna go and be bros with you all again. But I know this time is short so it'll fly by and I'll wonder where it went. Anyway as far as Christmas stuff goes I could use a sewing kit and a how to sew guide. I blew out the crotch of one of my slacks this week. So I need to get that fixed and there's not a tailor nearby like in Martinsville. Plus it'd be a nice skill to have. Other than that... I will keep thinking of stuff sorry I'm so bad at this. I did get both Mason and Garret's emails so whatever they did to get them through it worked. Thanks for all your guys' support I love you all! Have a great week!

Love, Elder Braken Park

Week 62: Email Home - Better Week this Week

Dear Mom and Dad,

So this week went really well! We found a new family, Bobby and Jessica, who have an adorable 1 year old son named Bobby. They have a strong belief in Christ and have seen a lot of miracles in their lives. They are pretty sweet and are excited to learn. Kevin is kind of back on track... Kind of being the important phrase there. He is meeting with us again but really isn't going anywhere. It's everything we can do to just keep teaching him. Oh well. We are doing our best I guess. Sounds like everyone's down and out this week! Wow if Dad got you laughing so bad you pulled a muscle I want to hear that joke! I did something similar but we were moving somebody haha. Anyway I will email Christy! I can't really think of much else to say... Love you all! Have a great week!

Love, Elder Braken Park

Week 62: The Bonfire - Braken and Elder Williams

Week 61: Email Home - Happy Halloween

Dear Mom and Dad,

So to start with Kevin... Well when we talked to him he was wanting to get back into church and make it right with the person who offended him, so that was good, but he missed church so that was really disappointing. I think a baby gift from you would be a little weird at this point so I'm gonna say no to that sorry. Brenda is really going no where right now. She really didn't like the idea of a pre-mortal life and refused to pray about it when we told her that's how she would be sure if it was true. So we might be done teaching her for now. I'm doing alright this week was kinda difficult there looked like there was a lot of progress going to be made, but in the end nothing really showed. Oh well this week should be better hopefully. We need a way to get this ward into missionary work... Oh well but anyway yea I remember those weekends spent raking leaves... And then I come out here and members want us to do it for them. Haha well I never thought I'd say it but it's a good thing you taught us how to work. It seems like every week we are helping somebody move... Or clean... Or something along those lines. The joys of being a missionary. Sounds like you and Peyton had fun though! Good thing you weren't out here we had a record-breaking cold Halloween this year! We actually saw some snow flurries! (which normally don't come until late November here). Anyway I'm doing great as far as normal life goes I'm sorry to hear about Uncle Bill. It's all good though funerals are the best time to be a Mormon haha. Well I love you all have a great week!

Love, Elder Braken Park