Dear Elder.com

I just nominated Colton to be the next face of DEAR ELDER.com Attached is the picture I used.

This is what I wrote about him. Dont think he'll be picked but its fun to turn him in :)

Colton had been preparing to go on a mission for quite some time and now that he is out there he is working hard and learning a whole bunch. He is from Medford Oregon and is a good, down to earth, wholesome kid with some serious spunk that others are drawn to instantly as shown by my choice in picture. It is perfect for your billboard.

In Colton's spare time before his mission he loved Skateboarding, Snowboarding, and generally having a great time with his family and friends.

Mickie Spence

Rewards

Sweet! I'm emailing early today. We are heading out to our 2 day Zone Conference! I'm way stoked! Oh, and thanks for all those letters and stuff, and nice talk too. haha We had a a lesson on sacrifice in gospel essentials and I totally used part of your talk haha. I know right. But it was good.

We have been having a really good week. . . except last night haha. We went to like 20 potentials and less actives and investigators houses and not one answered. 2 appt.s fell through. it was rough haha. But we got through it and finally found someone to talk to. The Lord blesses the diligent in his work for sure.

We set Francie with a baptismal date! We are way excited about that too. Transfers are on the 31st so I'm really hoping I can stay in this area. We are finally seeing a lot of the rewards for all our hard work. Its way cool. We taught this girl named Leslie yesterday the first lesson. It was so good. Probably the best lesson we've ever taught. You could feel the spirit there so strongly. It was cool cause we were fasting for a couple different reasons that day to but I was also fasting for an investigator so that he could gain a stronger testimony of the Book of Mormon and Joseph smith being a true prophet and it worked for me too! haha It was kind of unexpected but way awesome. The spirit has born witness to me multiple times on my mission that we are teaching the truth. I mean I already knew it, but now with a better knowledge of these things I can teach it way better! It's so exciting.

We also are teaching Samnat more. He's getting there. Basically this area is awesome. That's really what I'm trying to say. haha. But yeah I love it out here. But I've got to go. We are leaving for the mountains now haha. I'm way excited for that too. so later.

Oh but i got your package, Kristin. Thank you so much! I read all of that right when I got it! It took like 2 hours haha (Editors note: The package I sent was the blog printed out for the last month. It was 40 pages long, Yikes!). And all those soft chews are already gone hahaha. I know they're addicting anyways.

I love you all and the work is progressing. The lord sends those who are prepared to his prepared servants and I have definitely seen that in just the last 2 weeks. The work is progressing and it is needed more now then ever. So we are doing our part in the lords work.

Love,
Elder Bragg

Biking is lame

Colton and his Mission President

HEY!!

WHAT'S UP!? Thanks so much for all the ties. those ones are perfect. Heck I'm wearing the clip on right now. haha. But dang a lot has happened in the last week. Remember I told you about Jim dropping us and we were all down. . . well the next day we found someone and they are golden!! Haha she wants to get baptized as soon as possible. So we are teaching her again tonight and we already taught her the 1st lesson. She is loving it and already has a strong testimony. Its so great! haha. I love it. But yeah she's already quit drinking and smoking and has been to church. Its cool.

Anyways yeah we were over at a members house and I guess their daughter knew the West's. Small world for sure. It was cool though. We got to talk for a bit. . . oh and guess what else. I was in the bible park ward building today playing basketball and I saw a picture of Jaren Burt and his wife! I guess they just moved in there so maybe I'll get a chance to see him! I thought it was cool. Oh and I forgot to tell you. We are teaching this awesome Indian guy named Samnut. . . I think its pronounced Somnot, but whatever. He's cool and he came to church this sunday. Luckily there is a rm in our ward that just got back from india haha. He gave his home coming talk this week too. Samnut loved it! He said he would love to come back, but yeah all the members in our ward are awesome.

In other news Zone conference is next week. We are all really excited. We get to go camping at snow summit for a night. I guess we are the only mission in the whole world that is going to be able to do something like this. There going to video tape it and everything and there is a real good chance that a couple of the apostles are going to see it. Stinks for Coop though I guess he's gonna miss it, but that's cool. I'm sure he'll be fine. But we got to go hiking and a bunch of cool stuff. Its gonna be great and we got t-shirts haha. They say ALTER YOUR ATTITUDE! on them. I guess that's the the aim.

Anyways I'm loving it out here. Everything is going really well. Other then it being real hot. I guess its been getting pretty up there lately. Biking is lame but that's cool. Whenever we find someone to talk to we get to stop haha. But yeah. I love it out here. Its so much fun. . . I mean don't get me wrong I've never worked harder in my life. I've got some crazy blisters and things on my feet but its alright. You peddle through the pain haha. Anyways we are going shopping now, so I'm outa here. But I love you!! Tell everyone I said hi and what not!

Love, Elder Bragg

It's a small world

Hi Sunni,

I'm staying with my parents right now, and today a pair of Elders came by the house to use the bathroom (they were knocking doors in our neighborhood). We chatted for awhile & right before they left I asked them where they were from. One of them was from Medford! I asked if he know you guys & his face lit up! Anyway, it's Elder Bragg. He was so happy that I knew you guys & had tons of nice things to say.

He is doing well & seemed happy. His companion seems really nice too.

Take care,
Love,
Sherry

Choices

Dang sounds like you've all been having fun.

Its been way awesome out here. This week we got so many more people in our teaching pool. A lot of them are way cool. . . .I don't know if I was telling you about this fella named Jim Froese. . He was doing really well and progressing. When we went over there last night he told us that he basically doesn't want to do it any more and that he's done. . . It was a pretty sad night last night as we came home. His choice to stop progressing made both Elder Penrod and I very sad, but it is his choice and unfortunately you're not allowed to tie people up and baptize them if they don't want to be. haha. But I'm sure he will come around eventually. We did all we could. . . anyways.

Its awesome in Colorado. The ward here is so cool. There is this one family named the Sanchez's. Their daughter just got off her mission, so that whole family is way stoked on missionary work. There 18 year old daughter gives us like 3 referrals each time we see them. Way cool.... so yeah its pretty cool. We are working with a bunch of people in this ward and I think about 5 RM's returned within a month. So we get to go out with them a lot. haha. Its cool. I learn a lot from them too. Anyways. I finally memorized everything we have to out here. Like D&C 4 and everything. Which is good. I'm trying to keep my "eye single to the glory of god"

Oh man and I officially hate summer. . . its hot and girls for some reason feel it necessary to not wear any clothes. But its cool cause I usually just sing a hymn or something. haha. It works pretty well. . . uh. oh yeah. Me and my companion both had on our ties on the 4th .. . it was cute. We were matching and everything, but its going really well here. I'm sorry to here about Sis. Johnson. That's a bummer, but she's so cool she gets to do missionary work in the spirit world now. Cause missions are the best so I bet she is loving it. I know I am haha. Send me Coopers address too. I want to write him. um. Yeah I really don't know what else to tell you. oh. Sad news about grandma. Hope she gets better. You'll have to update me on that one next week. But yeah I'm out. Got laundry to do. Oh man and send me a bunch of ties!!! Like good looking ones. A bunch of mine are unapproved and I want to be an obedient missionary. So ties are good. lots of ties and candy and letters hahaha. Anyways I love you all and I love it out here.

The work is progressing,
Love Elder Bragg

My Thighs are Gigantor

HEY! That's so awesome about Seth's call. I'm way excited for him. Kade's gonna get hosed and is going to Tulsa Oklahoma too haha I bet.

Anyways, rules about email. . . only family basically. Or attractive young ladies. . . I think that was in there. Haha and its 30 min every Wednesday. . .I have 8 min left. Emails from anyone are cool I think.

My area is tight. Its the willow creek ward in the Denver stake. Its about 6-7 square miles and very hilly haha. My thighs are gigantor basically.

The ward is awesome too they feed us every night and it doesn't seem to be to hard to get referrals from everyone. . . which are the greatest!! Missionary work is hard without the members help, so give the missionaries names when they ask!!! Seriously haha.

We have a bunch of awesome people in our "teaching pool" I guess you could say. One just set a date thanks to the bishop (his name is Bishop Pingry. He's so awesome and I guess he knows the Folsoms so tell them he said hi for me. . .for them haha.) and pretty soon Jim Froese is gonna get baptized. He said once he knew Joseph Smith is a true prophet that he will and he's praying about it. So were good haha. He's awesome. Then there are a bunch more but I'll let you know more as we progress.

Its so awesome out here though. Once you get the chance to teach and bear testimony its insane. I love it. The spirit is so incredible that way, but yeah I've got 30 seconds to send this so I love you all and keep doing missionary work!!!

LOVE,
Elder Bragg

"I Love the Temple"

"Like a lion . . . I will pounce upon you with the fullness of the gospel."

"Pull yourself together, soldier!"

"Me and Elder Rathbone"