Thursday, February 26, 2009

6 straight months

Hey!

Tell Jordan and Michaela I said congrats and that they should name it Gideon or Colton if its a boy, hahaha, either one is good.

Crazy week over here. First off, thanks for the camera, way studly! It came just in time too. Ryan was baptized on Sunday night. Over 100 people were there and if you couldn't feel the spirit, you didn't have a pulse. I was extremely blessed with the opportunity to confirm him. and share a brief testimony of the Savior while they were changing. I read Romans 5:8 (learned that in seminary, Thanks Bro Hassell!) and then talked about the importance of it. It was a great meeting. I'll send pictures and stuff soon.

Oh yeah, we found out Elder McMurray and I are staying together, should be fun. I'm one of the few who can say they spent 6 straight months in the ranch! haha. I'm a district leader. . . yeah don't know why either, I think I'd rather just teach. haha But hey, I will go I will do, right?

Love you all and do more missionary work!!!

Love Elder Bragg

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Sharing is caring

Hey Hey!! Sorry this will be short.

I'm feeling a lot better! Still sick, but I can get to work so it's cool.

This week we were dedicated to doing our best, to get 70 Quality Gospel Conversations. Always a hard goal, but that's what the Mission President has asked us to do, so we will. Anyways, by Sunday we had to get 23 in one day to finish with 70. So we had a prayer before we left and went to town. It was really neat to see how the Lord just provided for us when we needed it. He put everyone and their dog in our path, all we had to do was talk to them. Elder Pond and I had our record of 32 in one day, that was pretty tough. It turns out on Sunday we got 57 making our total 104 for the week (that's right 104... for life!) 57 is now the new mission record. I love how the Lord will bless us, even more than we know, when we are willing to do what he asks. We just need to trust him.

ALSO... Ryan has decided to get baptized and I get to be the one to confirm him. I'm so excited for his choice. Oh, and I gave him a tie to wear to his baptism. Sharing is caring, right!

I love being a missionary! It's the greatest thing in the world! I love you all and remember to share the gospel with people!

Love
Elder Bragg

Monday, February 16, 2009

Sister Gillespie

Dear Sister Bragg,

My name is Lauren Gillespie and I am in the Daniel's Park Ward here in Highlands Ranch, CO. My husband, Jeremy, is the Ward Mission Leader in the ward and through his calling we have had the privilege to spend quite a bit of time with your son.

This morning for Valentines Day we had Elder Bragg and Elder McMurray over for breakfast and we made scones. Elder Bragg was so excited about the scones and told us all about the scones that you make for your family. When I told him that I would like to email you today he asked me to tell you that he loves his Valentines tie (he was wearing it proudly) and he would like it if you would please add my maple frosting to your scone repetoire. In our family we combine butter, vanilla, powdered sugar, milk and maple flavoring to make a "frosting" that we smear on the scones. Apparently it was a hit with Elder Bragg and he wanted me to pass the recipe on to you. There aren't exact measurements, just a little of each ingredient until it tastes good! I hope your family enjoys it.

I am mother to three girls and although they are all under the age of five, I can appreciate what a sacrifice it is for you to give your child up for two years and send him to do the Lord's work. If I were in your position I would wonder what my child was like as a missionary, and how he spoke of his family back home. This thought is what prompted me to email you today.

I think you should know that Elder Bragg is ALWAYS cheerful. Yesterday afternoon he and his companion were tracting in my neighborhood and showed up on my doorstep to use the bathroom. The temperature had dropped and it was freezing cold outside and their lips were looking pretty blue. So while they used the restroom I made them a cup of cocoa and chatted with them for a few minutes and sure enough, there were no complaints about their hard lot, they were both just as postive and cheerful as any other day!

Your son's other distinguishing characteristic is that he talks about his family all the time. He adores you guys. I have never, ever heard him make one negative comment or insinuation about his childhood or homelife, in fact to talk to him you'd think that he absolutely had the best childhood and the best life ever. I've heard detailed descriptions about your family traditions, holiday memories, things Elder Bragg likes to do with his dad...I was particularly impressed that you play football in the TurkeyBowl and managed to break an Elder Coffman's ribs:). He just loves you so much. As a mother I'm constantly touched by his devotion and felt like you should hear from a third party what a terrific job you have done in raising such a happy, righteous son of God.

Elder Bragg is a hard worker and he is just so happy and sincere all the time. It has been our pleasure to know him and have him in our home and we hope that your family is blessed in his absence until he is safely returned to you.

Yours Sincerely,
Lauren Gillespie

Thursday, February 12, 2009

unedited

Sorry guys, my mom didn't have time to edit. I thought that this would give you the opertunity to see how Colton truly writes...

dang excited to see all the hefty e mails im getting this week! haha got a whole 3 and one was from the mission haha. its cool.

anyways this week has been a real test of patience for me. its been insane. so i emailed you and everything was awesome. then that night whail sharing a spiritual message i had to split in the middle for a bathroom break. it was at the stake patriarchs house too. she said i turned white as a goast is like 3 seconds. so we went home and called the mission presidents wife and she told me to sleep it off. i then woke up the next morning threw up some more and then went out to work. asfter not making it very far we came back and sister christison told me to stay home and sleep. i hate staying home on a mission. there are never any people to talk to in our room. its frustrating haha. then the next day we had to stay in again cause the same thing happened. then i didnt feel better till monday so we went out that morning. i took us about an hour to bike to the place we were gonna tract cause i kept almost passing out haha. then we got pulled over by a cop hahaha. then we were knocking on doors and out of about 30 , 1 person came to the doorthen i almost passed out again so elder mcmurray made me go home and take a nap. . . and im still at about 50%. so the bike riding isnt going very fast but its cool. we are getting there. haha so yeah its been a fun week. but the reason im telling you is because as everyone knows. when things get rough and tough and you put your trust in the lord he will bless you. now no we dont have any baptizms yet or anyone like that. we are working really hard to find them. but not yet. infact we are goign to get about 32 hours of tracting in this week. haha. the mission standard is 20 haha. but it has all been worth it. when ryan ( the investigator in willow creek that we had) called and said he got excepted to byu idaho! i was so excited. we became really close as we were teaching him and he is a great guy. so i was way excited. . . then the next day he called and told me he has just set a date for his baptizm!!! i was so excited for him. ive been praying for that for a long time and now was the right time for the lord to make it happen. so needless to say i am pretty excited. i mean sure. he dosent count as a baptizm for us but hes a good friend and i was able to partisipate in his salvation. and im very thankful for that opertunity.

eather way. with trials. come blessings! im excited to see we happens next!. . .

( i need to write a sweet action novel on this or something.)

but ive got to go. im hackin up a lung in the library and everyone is looking at me funny haha

LOVE YA!!
Elder Bragg

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Analogies

Hey, Hey, Hey

Elder McMurray and I were thinking of analogies this week. I was thinking how not accepting the gospel is like having some one tell you they had a bazillion dollars for you. . . and they want to give it to you. All you have to do is give them one dollar. . . but they really want a Choco Taco with that dollar. So they buy one of those instead. . . they could have bought the whole Chocó Taco company, but nope, they wanted just one, I guess. It always makes me sad.

Which brings me to the Viviers, they dropped us this week. I love that family. I know that the gospel would bless their lives so much more then they even know. But they don't want to give up that one dollar for a bazillion dollars/blessings). They will eventually join the church, then will kick themselves for not doing it sooner.

Also Elder McMurray and I have been working really hard, trying to be the best we can. . . and it turns out last week we had the worst numbers I have ever had in Highlands Ranch. . . so as I fasted and prayed about it. I realized that the Lord would bless us only after ALL that we can do. . . so I thought about that (Am I doing all that I can do?) How much more I can do. . . THERE'S TONS!!! So we started with our lunch hour, that's the max we can take. You know, for those people who eat food and stuff. I decided, with the support of Elder McMurray that going home for lunch and taking a full hour is a waste of time, eating and quick naps are for chumps. hahaha We are just gonna bring the food with us in the morning and eat for 15-30 minutes, then keep tracting. We are trying to find 20 new investigators in the next week. We are pretty much tracting 6 hours a day and working with members and less active/pmf's in the afternoon for referrals. haha It seems to be working out. But next Sunday is the real test, when we turn in the numbers. But my faith is strong and I know we can do it. The Lord will provide! Brother of Jared style, hahaha!!

Anyways, I love you all and have a great week. Be great missionaries! I'm trying my best too!

Love,
ELDER BRAGG!!!!