Thursday, August 28, 2008

Challenge to invite

HOLY COW!!! I wish I was back picking pears at the farm. It's way weird once your away from something for so long, you realize how much you truly love it. I talk about how incredible Medford is like every day.

Anyways in other news. . . The mission is going very very well! We had 2 baptisms last Saturday and then confirmed them both on Sunday. I'm planning on sending home the program. It was a great experience to be able to see Ben be baptized by his dad (who is now worthy. . . so cool) and then to be able to baptize Francie. It reminded me of baptizing Tyler, one of those memories I'll never forget. It was a great service and you could feel the spirit there very strongly. Always good. So Elder Penrod and I have been working really hard to increase our teaching pool. We're trying to get more people ready for baptism. We are getting close with a couple of people, so I'll let you know how it turns out, haha. I'm excited. This is Elder Penrod's last week, so I'm making sure he doesn't get trunky, haha. We are working hard though.

Oh man, my new bike is so sweet! Tell Seth to tell Seth M. that I got a new GT Avalanche 2.0 blue and white. I would love for Seth M's address so I could write him. Oh, and thank you so much for that package. It was way good. I have been worshiping those Waffle Crisp, haha. But worshiping the Lord more. . . don't worry. The first and second commandments are still good, haha. But I've got to run. I love you all! Thanks for all your support and prayers! It is working, just so you know. Remember that it's not hard at all to just invite someone to church or to an activity, or to anything! You just have to do your part and ask. It makes a world of difference.

LOVE, Elder Bragg

Monday, August 25, 2008

The Graves

My parents received a note in the mail from a member of Colton's ward in Colorado, it was cool to hear Colton is a good missionary!

Dear Brother and Sister Bragg,
Thank you for sharing your son as he serves in Colorado. He has been in our ward since he came out. He is doing so well. He's positive, happy, learning quickly, working hard and sharing his spirit. He's great with the members and non members of our area. He will be a good missionary. We are grateful to have him in Colorado.

Thank you-
Brother and Sister Graves

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Obedient

HEY! Sorry this might be short but the computers are way slow today. . . it been a way busy week. We are getting Francie and Ben ready for the baptism. Francie is basically ready and Ben just needs a couple more lessons then were good. So that's way exciting.

I'm not sure Elder Penrod is really strict. . . he's obedient. Like on the tie thing; President asked us to were conservative nice looking ties, because we represent the Lord. So that's what we do. I figure I'm not on a mission to see how much I can get away with. I'm here to give people the chance to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. Now if the President asks me to do something, that means I'll do it. Like i said, its not so much strict, but obedient. So that's the way I'm going to keep it haha. The best way I can relate it is like tithing. You're not gonna see the blessings from it unless you do it. Even if it sometimes seems not have anything to do with the blessings you receive.

Transfers are coming up too. Elder Penrod is about to go home. I'll get a new companion. haha That's gonna be way weird. I'm sure I'll like it. It will be nice to switch things up a bit. We are doing really well out here. I love it.

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!
Elder Bragg

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Alma 36

We are working really hard. I love it. Like I said Francie is still on track for baptism on the 23rd. She met with our Mission President and we are ready to go. And I get to be the one to baptize her also!! I am excited about that. She is an incredible lady and a blessing to teach.

Also we were teaching Leslie yesterday and. . . well I'll lead into it. . . so this last week during personal study I have been reading through the BOM. Every time I do I just don't want to stop! I love it so much. I'm reading about Alma and Amulek and the Zoramites and all these incredible things. I think the next chapter is Alma 36 too. I love that chapter. Great story.

But anyways... it turns out Leslie was reading the exact same stuff. So it's been awesome to be able to relate the story's to her. She loves it and has a strong testimony of the scriptures. So last lesson we taught her about how we should pray and study the scriptures and follow the prophet. . . and she totally wants to be baptized!! So awesome! We were way excited. That will be on sep. 20th or so. She's awesome.

The scriptures are those holy places that we can stand on and build our foundation on in times of need.

But I love you! Have a good week. I know I will haha.
Love, Elder Bragg

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Disc Golfing!

HEY EVERYONE!!

So I'll just get this out of the way first, cause I know Will is gonna love it. . . that's right. I just went disc golfing. It was way fun. The Mission President's son is way into it so a bunch of us went. I did alright. So I might have to get some discs if I go out west because there is a good course out there. (picture was taken pre-mission)

Yeah Cooper. . .Elder Dunn, is in the mission now! He is in the Littleton 5th ward and yes, it is right next to my area. . . but it's in a totally different stake. hahaha. I know right. I still haven't seen him. He showed up after I went through the temple, so I didn't get to see him then either. So yeah, we'll see what happens.

In other news, we are still working super hard. Our teaching pool is getting bigger too. We are working on making Elder Penrod's last area his best one! haha! We are shooting for a baptism every week, it's very possible, if we work hard.

There is this awesome girl named Leslie who is going back to college soon; we are shooting for the 9th for her. Then I think the rest are all lined up. I'll let you know how it went next week. It was really funny, I guess the Mission President has gotten a lot of calls from members saying that we needed to stay in the ward and all this stuff. That made us feel good, but the funny thing is.... it's mostly the ward doing the work! I love it. The Lord is blessing us and the ward a bunch. So it's awesome!

Love you all!! Just remember... The Church is true, The book is blue, and God's a Mormon! hahaha

LOVE!,Elder Bragg

Monday, August 4, 2008

Awesome

OKay, so here the scoop. . . this week was INSANE!! So much awesomeness it's crazy! haha.

But anyways, tell Mike that's awesome where he got his call and that's where the lord needs him. He'll love it. And that's way cool where Kade is going. I would have never guessed New Mexico in my life. But the impact he'll make in people's lives is incredible. So that's awesome.

Transfers are tomorrow. I'll be staying here which I am way excited about and I'll be killing Elder Penrod (that means I'll be his last comp) so that should be awesome; keep him from getting trunky haha.

Yeah we have been working super hard and the Lord has blessed us so much. The Lord sends his prepared people to his prepared servants so as we work hard we are blessed. I love it.

But just a quick story. When we went up camping (which was way awesome, by the way) we had a chance to go out by ourselves and just pray in the middle of the woods. Don't worry I could still see my comp and it was approved haha.
Here's a little of what I wrote in my journal: As I prayed the spirit bore witness to me, now more then ever of the truthfulness of this gospel. My Mission President told us to go and find a secluded area in which we could more fully feel the spirit. In doing so I knelt down and spoke to the lord of the things that I am thankful for. As I prayed the spirit came to me more then I have ever felt it before. It bore witness to me that I have been so blessed on this earth. In this life. I have been blessed with the most incredible family that one could have. With a mother and a father who truly live the gospel of Christ and follow his teachings to the best of there ability. I have been blessed with a brother and sisters who are truly examples to me of how I need to live my life. I have been blessed with my health. And Good health too. I have been blessed with the ability to share my talents with others. I have been blessed with this church and the truthfulness of it. I have been blessed with the knowledge that God the father and his only begotten son, the savior of the world, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph Smith and through him restored Christ's perfect and true church on this earth again. I have been blessed with the knowledge that Jesus Christ lived a perfect life. A life without sin, and that he gave himself. He gave his life, so that one day we live with our father in heaven again. That we will, through the power of the priesthood, be able to live with our families for time and all eternity. And that through Jesus Christ alone we can be forgiven of our sins, even the vilest of sinners can be forgiven through Christ and his loving atonement that he took upon the sins of the world for us, personally. I am thankful for that from the depths of my heart and I will never forget to be grateful everyday for those blessings.

Love, Elder Bragg