Week 51: Another Awesome Week! Keep Praying for our Investigators!

Dear Mom and Dad,

This week was super sick! This week Kevin, Chris and Chastity all made it to church this week! The only bad thing was trying to introduce all of them to ward members with only the two of us. Kevin is doing awesome, we had a good talk about the word of wisdom this week and his only real problem is he occasionally drinks tea so that was his only issue with it. Our other issue with him is getting him to accept a baptismal date. He knows pretty much everything it's just that he hasn't accepted a date yet... So that's a little frustrating. But anyway. On the other topics, yes we used to call Tyler (Finch) Dr. Love. Bryson started it and it just stuck from that point on. As far as Shoes go Hush Puppies are definitely the way to go. If they could be the same style I would like that. And yes the size is good. No issues with my feet spontaneously growing yet haha. Also I could use more contacts.... Sorry I'm so needy... I've found out that after a year a lot of things you planned for start to run out... So if you could send some that'd be awesome. So I will vouch for Mason's argument though. Yes I realise that he's younger than I was, but Blakfyre is a very family friendly environment. They make it so that kids like Mason can have somewhere to go and play games. Also it would be good for him to learn how to talk to people. It's a skill I wish I would have had before I came on a mission. But anyway! I sent you some pictures of Elder Sneddon's Bacon Package. It was a whole package based on Bacon! I thought it was funny so I thought I'd send it to you. Sorry I'm not too talkative today. Last night the apartment was 76 degrees and we have 2 A/C units going full time.... Sleepless in Indiana... I will definitely not miss Indiana summers. During the day it gets up to about 78-80 in there. Oh well can't wait till winter and I can keep the apartment 65 again. Me and Elder Lawrence kept it that cold and it was beautiful. Anyway hope you guys have a great week!

Love, Elder Braken Park

Week 50: Awesome Missionary Week! Killin' It!

Dear Mom and Dad,

So first off missionary life is going great! Me and Elder Sneddon are killing out here. We found 2 new Investigators this week! One of them is an Athiest named Jack, who is genuinely searching for peace in his life. The other is a Less active members wife, Chastity, who has wanted to be baptised for a while, but can't kick the smoking. Both of them have a lot of potential, but still have a ways to go. So on to your questions: Elder Sneddon has been out 6 weeks longer than me. He came out June 2013. We are actually planning on rooming together at USU. He has a lot of ins there and can help me out. I already burned a tie for 6 months, You burn a white shirt at a year, a pair of slacks at 18 months and a suit coat right before you go home. (Obviously I won't burn my good ones. I'll just grab some cheap ones from Goodwill and burn those). Yes that is our address. Yes I did hear about the outbreak I was actually wondering about Jordaz and Todd. Good to know they're being put somewhere safe. So on with the missionary work. Kevin is doing so sick. He has rarely missed church, and now there's a member giving him family history lessons. He is so close... He just won't commit to a baptismal date... Ugh! Super frustrating! But I know he'll get there it'll just take time. I would love to grab some shoes, but there aren't really any places around here I could do that except Walmart.... And I'm not about that Walmart shoes life. It's probably best if you just grab some and send them to me. Sorry Crawfordsville is about the size of Duchesne to give you an Idea. Haha tell Dad I'm laughing at him! That's pretty great! But super gross nonetheless. Sorry is it bad if I enjoy others humiliation? Haha anyway I hope you guys have a great week!

Love, Elder Braken Park

Week 49: Email Home - It's the 1/2 Way Mark of The Mission! Only 1 Year Left! Trunky Time :)

Dear Mom and Dad,

Well it's that time..... I have 1 year left from today..... That picture I sent you of me eating taco pizza is because me and Elder Sneddon were celebrating. Elder Rowberry described what will happen now back when I was in Martinsville. He said that your first 6 months feels like a year, your second 6 months feels like 6 months, and your last year feels like 6 months. I've hit the back end... I can't believe it's come this fast! Anyway off of the Trunky talk. Transfers aren't for another 5 weeks and me and Elder Sneddon are gonna both get taken out at that point and they'll put sisters in Crawfordsville. But as for now we are here. This week was alright a bit of a mediocre week nothing super amazing happened but nothing bad happened either so we are just in a meh mode. We will kill it this week though. Kevin asked for a blessing this week to help him cope with his situation. It's been rough for him the adversary does not play nice. His wife has been.... Less than helpful as well. But the ward has been giving their full support to him so he is gonna be alright. But anyway... GARRET IS DRIVING?? Ugh you have no idea how OLD that makes me feel.... Geez I go on a mission and suddenly everyone thinks it's ok to just grow up on me! Oh well. Yes the thing on Elder Sneddon's neck is gone now so that's good. Yea it's probably best Steve isn't around any more he might wreck it before I'd get back ;) Just kidding haha. Anyway I hope you guys have a great week! 

Love, Elder Braken Park

Week 48: Email Home - Baptism Date Set!! Homecoming Date Set?!?! What??

Dear Mom and Dad,

So this week has been super sick. Kevin is thinking about getting DUNKED! He is considering the 30th of August (which will be about a week before me and Elder Sneddon leave). He is sooo solid he came to church for the 3rd time this week! He's gonna make it this transfer we know. So I'm SUPER trunky today. In one week I will have 1 year exactly until I get home. I come home on August 11th 2015. What the heck?? I have not been out this long.... Anyway I sent you my shoes this week hopefully they get there soon I just need you to warrantee them the insides of them are trashed. We have actually had a really nice summer (for Indiana). Only a few days above 90 with 100% humidity.... Ugh! Oh well it's almost fall again.

 It sounds like I'm missing some hilarious memories with the boys starting sports now.... Haha oh well when I get home we will write some new ones! I love you guys and hope you have a great week!

Love, Elder Braken Park

Week 47: Email Home - Transfer Time : Exciting News!

Dear Mom and Dad,

We just got tansfer calls and #geeksquad is getting a 3rd transfer! Me and Elder Sneddon are pretty pumped about this as we had a killer week! The only bad part was that Kevin was sick and so he didn't make it to church. The weather has been blech though. Walking around in the summer here is like walking around in a sauna with a white shirt and tie on. Not gonna lie these clothes are getting pretty nasty no matter how much stainwash I use. So... there probably won't be many white shirts coming home with me haha. Anyway, it is super weird to be hitting my year mark. It does not feel like it's been that long at all. The first part of my mission really dragged but once I left Martinsville it all just sped up from there. 

It's good that Garret has a career idea. It took me a lot longer than that to decide what I'm gonna do. I do know if I go to USU I have one roommate: Elder Sneddon is going there so it'll probably be what I'll do. Anyway I'm glad you guys are doing well I can't wait to hear back from you!

Love, Elder Braken Park

P.S. I haven't sent my shoes yet I'll get that done today

Week 46 Email Home: Great Progress!

Dear Mom and Dad,

So president spilled the beans to Elder Bullock our district leader during our interviews. He plans to keep me and Elder Sneddon in Crawfordsville 1 more transfer. Our transfer calls aren't for another week though so he could change his mind between now and then. But other than that we absolutely killed it this week. We had SO much progress with our investigator Kevin this week! He is able to recognise the spirit super well and is making steps toward baptism. Me and Elder Sneddon can see it happening next transfer if he works at it. The only problem is that his wife is Less active and is holding him back a lot. But he is getting so much ward support I'm seriously impressed with this ward. The other wards have been ok but this one is absolutely awesome. He is finding his own ride to church setting up meetings with us and wanting his wife to progress with him. No one I've ever taught has done this other than Aro and we know what happened to him! Anyway on to your week, it sounds like you had a great time! Dad I invite you to consider your ways and repent. Always something going wrong it seems hahaha. Something I need you to so though! I need you to take a pair of my shoes to CTR and get them warranteed. They should still have the 2 year warrantee. The backs and insides of them are trashed. A lot of walking has happened over the last year. I have another pair that I can just wear around until I get these back. If you could do that I would really appreciate it! Thanks so much for all you guys do! Love you have a great week!

Love, Elder Braken Park

Braken at his apartment

 I'm making homemade Ice cream at a members house when they had us over for dinner. It was super fun and it was absolutely delicious!

Home away from Home

Pictures from Braken

Elder Sneddon in Braken's and his apartment in Crawfordsville

The apartment

Too Cool!