Week 75: Apartment Shopping

Dear Mom and Dad,

Sorry if my last email didn't sound good I was just trying to relate. I do probably make it sound worse than it really is. I am doing better we went apartment shopping this week, as we've needed to move for a long time. We've found an apartment in Niles, so once we move the work will pick up immensely. Just a lot of trials right now. But it's ok we are working through. It was actually really interesting I went on an Exchange with Elder Dodd this week and we actually had a really good time and he actually apologised for a lot of the crap that went on when we were companions. So I was given the opportunity to forgive and I definitely took it. It actually brought a lot of peace to me knowing that it was all taken care of. Dad I would love to go do baptisms together when I get home! I would really enjoy that it'll be a good spiritual uplift after the mantle is gone.... That's what scares me about going home. Once that mantle's gone the lack of the spirit is gonna feel terrible. But I'll have to get over it so we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Yes on money I am sorry I have gotten a little bit careless. Elder Van Sickle comes from a pretty poor family so I have been buying most of the food and groceries and things. Also with all the stress sometimes I'll just buy stuff because it looks good... we end up with more candy that way. So I will try and do better I do apologise for that. I'm glad my package got there I didn't think it'd get there till tuesday haha. Well I love you guys! Have a great week we will talk next week!

Love, Elder Braken Park

Week 74: "Bear with Patience Your Afflictions"

Dear Mom and Dad,

This week has been kinda back to a struggle. We are running into a problem where we live 5 miles outside of town and on the weeks when we don't have the car we are having to find member rides everywhere and we can't always do it. So that's been the real frustration of this week. But life goes on we have the car now after we just got a huge snowstorm that's why I wasn't on yesterday. Dad I would have something more to say to you. I can understand what you mean. When people screw with you just to do it, it sucks. I have recently been going through some emotional struggles with the leadership of the mission. Basically the mission has turned into a sweatshop. In that I mean that the people asked to be in leadership have stopped focusing on us as missionaries, and started just caring about the numbers, and have completely forgotten that the purpose of numbers is the people behind them. And when me and Van Sickle get stuck 5 miles outside our area, they want to harp on us because we don't teach a whole lot of lessons in a week. And to top it off Elder Dodd is now my zone leader, which if you remember anything about my companionship with him, it didn't go well at all. I was made fun of on a daily basis by him and the rest of our district. But that is one thing I've learned on my mission that got me through that specific transfer especially and am now relying on, is that it doesn't matter what anyone else says. I know that's super cheesy, but for a long time I just had to learn to sit down and not say anything, and ignore what was being said. Because I know that as long as I will just ignore it and do my job, Heavenly Father is going to be the most happy with me. And because of that transfer I have been in basically only hard areas, but I know I'm where the Lord knows he can put me. Because he knows I'm not going to care how much my zone leaders whine about how I don't teach enough lessons and how I'm not a good enough missionary. I'm just going to go out every day and do my job. And if I please my zone leaders great, if not I don't care. because I know I'm doing what I'm supposed to. So the moral of that story is to bear with patience your afflictions. Patience is the worst christlike attribute to gain, in the fact that it's the hardest and most tiring, but it is by far the most worthwhile. Sorry I didn't want to get on a soap-box, but that's honestly what it's been like out here. A lot of patience learning. I'm not really a high-baptising missionary, but I go to places with not a lot going on, and I pick them up and get them ready for others to come and reap fruit. So dad, I know it's hard but learning to cope with others mocking you is a real blessing. I know it's gonna definitely help me when I get home. Sorry that was a long speal but I hope it helped some way. I don't mean to worry you guys it really is great out here, but there is a lot of the human aspect of missionaries you have to deal with. Anyway I love you guys and appreciate your support through all this time. I'll talk to you next week!

Love, Elder Braken Park

Week 73: Aaron the Investigator! Yay!

Dear Mom and Dad,

This week went much better than last. We were able to get out and do a lot of finding this week, which resulted in us finding a new investigator! His name is Aaron, and he isn't the most solid ever, but he's somebody to teach (finally). He is Seventh Day Adventist, which is very prevalent around here. He seems interested enough. Other than that we did a little missionary activity after church this week. We had some of the members come up and do role plays and coach them on sharing the gospel simply in whatever place it may happen. So it's been a fun week! Me and Van Sickle are doing fine. When I shot that video we were having a rough day so it wasn't a wonder he wasn't interested haha. Ugh I'm so jealous I love Bdubs haha. Anyway about you visiting.... Yes I would love it, but at the same time I see two problems, 1 I don't think president would go for it. An old young men's leader is one thing, but with you guys it's a little different. 2 I'm getting close to being done. 5 months left at that point. That would make me uber trunky if you guys were to come visit. So I'll leave it up to you what you want to do but those are my thoughts on it. I did get over my cold and it's a funny story about that too! So we had dinner with Sandy Carrigan (who sent you a friend request on facebook) and she saw the state I was in, which was pitiful to say the least. Anyway she offered me apple cider vinegar, which she said was a miracle cure. So I ended up taking some. Now if you've ever had it, you know it's probably the nastiest tasting stuff on the planet. So that is what made me feel better! The next day I was pretty much cured! haha anyway I'll talk to you guys next week Love ya!

Love, Elder Braken Park 

Week 72: Sacrament Meeting Prep for President Cleveland

Dear Mom and Dad,

This week has been pretty stressful, as President Cleveland came to our ward to speak on Sunday, and we were prepping a lot for that. We both were assigned to speak as well as him, and He did a 3rd hour lesson on sharing the gospel through Family History work. It was a really great lesson especially for us as Family History is supposed to start playing a bigger part of our missionary work. So that was pretty much our week. Had a couple of appointments but it's all fallen through. It's crazy to think Emily is home! She left just before I did! But it makes sense as I have 6 months left. I heard about the championship games I was pretty disappointed in the colts myself. I promise I'm not getting trunky I'm just in a place where we just can't get crap done and so it's really starting to wear on me. I just would like 1 lesson with a nonmember. We haven't been able to get it at all though. Oh well hopefully we can get something done this week. Ugh sorry I'm not more peppy just been a rough few days. But it is looking up so hopefully we can see some success here. It's good to hear Garret is gonna get a car soon! Hopefully this'll get him to go on some dates! ;) Anyway thanks for your guys' support! I love you, Have a great week!

Love, Elder Braken Park

Week 71: Yuck, I've got a cold :(

Dear Mom and Dad,

So this week kinda blows. We got snowed in monday and lost the car to the other Elders, so really haven't been able to get a lot done... Also feeling a little under the weather today. I think I got a cold and it's killing me. Bought some meds so hopefully that'll help. But things are looking up. We got transfer calls this week and we are both staying here for another transfer! Also a lot of people in the zone who were causing a lot of headaches are leaving too so next transfer will be a lot less stressful. The mission is just like high school sometimes and it's disgusting. But we have good things ahead. I have been praying and thinking about when to come home and I think I'm gonna try to come home with sneddon's group. They get home June 30th and that is the first transfer before mine. I talked to president and he says that it's doable and he will talk more in detail about it in the spring. So that's the plan so far. Sorry don't have a lot of details this week.... I feel like 2 dumps. Anyway I still love you all and I'll talk to you next week!

Love, Elder Braken Park

Week 70: Christmas Pictures

Merry Christmas

May "The Force" Be With You.

Week 70: Slow Week and Very Cold . . . . Brrrr!

Dear Mom and Dad,

This week has been pretty difficult, as Holidays are kinda hard. As far as weather goes, it's now starting to get ridiculously cold. It was 1 degree this morning when we went and unburied the car. We got hit with a lot of snow this week. On missionary work we are still in finding mode trying to find people. We are still trying to meet with the people we had built up before the holidays. Now that the holidays are out of the way it should pick up around here. So I've been talking to president. He says it's totally doable to go home a little early for school. I have been thinking and praying about it and that's what I'm thinking I need to do. Other than that, we're dealing with a lot of drama in the district. There's an Elder who goes home in a week and is making life terrible for the rest of us because of how trunky he is. Also thanks for the nerf darts and marshmellow guns! On new years we made a giant mess of our apartment with those stupid things! But it was fun haha. Other than that I really don't have anything else. Oh dad will appreciate this one. I got sent a butt-ton of money for christmas so I bought a pair of Gascans, by Oakley. I sent you a picture. My first pair of really nice sunglasses! Anyway love you guys! talk to you later!

Love, Elder Braken Park