We just got off Mt Garfield

Sorry this will be short. We just got off Mt Garfield and we have a dinner appointment soon.

Things are going well here. But our zone for some reason decided to not work toO hard last week, so that was lame. Elder White and I had about 3 days total to work and we still got just as good of numbers as the rest of them. So after the Zone Conference (which was way awesome!!!) They were all pumped so we challenged them all to see who could have the best week. haha. They are all killing it. We are too. I think we'll still win. The Lord has been blessing us a lot. We are excited about that.

It sounds like all is well at home.

Three weddings for the Whitney's?? hahaha! Tell them congrats for me! (still weird though haha)

Whelp. I gotta go!

LOVE YOU!!
Elder Bragg

Prayers answered

Mom, I swear at least once a month I look like a weirdie and start crying in the middle of the library, ha-ha. While I was reading your e-mail I was filled with the joy and love that I know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have for all of us. It's great to hear how God answers prayers. I have been praying for those two things also. The power of prayer is great, because of it I have a new little nephew who will be running around kickin' all sorts of shins in a few years, ha-ha. Matt and Mickie will be great parents.

I'm so happy for Seth also! I'm grateful that prayer was answered too! It really wasn't hard for me to go on a mission, it was always just something that I knew I was going to do. I know Seth will love it. I know he'll enjoy every minute of it, the good and the bad. As Elder Holland said, the dearly beloved companions are the ones that pushed him to the 10th degree. It's the greatest thing I've ever done in my life. I know he'll feel the same. Tell him to work hard and be happy. If I were to give any advice to some one about to go on a mission, it would be to first work hard. Don't slack off, don't waste your time and more importantly don't waste the Lord's time. Represent the Savior, don't disrespect him. And the other is be happy, every one who is disobedient does it because they think it will make them happy. Well, it wont, you just wind up more depressed. Enjoy the work. It's fun if you make it fun. . .

Anyways sorry about the ramblings.... Tell Seth I love and miss him and to have fun.

Well I've got a go. We had a good week. We are working hard and building up the ward here. Love you all!!! (God does too!! ooooohhhhh) ha-ha.

LOVE!!!
Elder Bragg

thunder cats are go

mickies not dead so thats good. (Gave Birth)

tys not dead so thats good. (Healthy and Happy)

matts a father.

im an uncle even more now.

mom and dad are now super grandparents. . . (all you have are 2 kids left to get grand kids out of and your stuck with the title of oldies) haha

and i got bit by a cat this week. . .

there you go. a bunch of useless statements. . .

anyways. this week was a little crazy again. we've been working hard but a lot has been going on. getting the baptism ready. trying to get 20 lessons a week. trying to track all the hours we can to find new investigator. . . and we came outside Friday morning and someone had taken a baseball bat to our back window about a bazillion times haha. so we were on bikes for a while. but it was pretty funny coming out and there was no back window at all. we maybe had a 4 inch line of glass around still on but the rest was in the back seat haha. and it happened to no other cars on the street either and there were other cars that would have been better to break anyways. the cops said they probably knew who we were and did it on purpose hahaha. total chumpkins. oh how great it is to be persecuted for the lord! so yeah that was fun. we took a bunch of pictures and stuff so you'll see those soon enough.

but other then that things are going pretty well. we are finding lots of new investigators and things seem to be moving in an upward trend. not to bad at all!

but we've got to go deal with some jazz so im gonna have to sign off.

Let me know how things turn out with mickie!

Love you all
Elder Bragg

ps. mickie your the coolest for saying thunder cats are go!!!!

Zone Conference

This has been one of the craziest weeks of my mission by far. Last Monday we went to Denver, had a great meeting with President. We got a lot accomplished in the car with the district leaders on the drive over. Then we had doctors appointments all week. Elder White got in a car wreck so we've been going to a physical therapist. We have been running every other morning, good enough for me. So I had to get some new shoes with the money Zannie gave me cause my ankles both are bleeding, hahaha. Then we went to Denver again with President Atkinson ( second councilor in the presidency) and the whole way there we talked about leadership and how we can be better. When we got there, we had a 3 hour meeting with Elder Shumway of the 70. He was way funny and super up beat the whole time. I learned a lot and he gave us a lot of promises for the mission and for life. It was incredible. Then after a short lunch we drove the 4 hours back over the Vail Pass and over the Rocky's. . . I'm pretty thankful now for all those long/short trips to Utah and Portland and California. The Lord prepares us for different things in different ways. It's funny to see them all come into play. The whole way back President Atkinson told us how we can all grow and good plan for life and how to listen to the spirit better. Lets just say I'm gonna need to get some more note paper. . . ha-ha. The next morning we had to go set up for a Zone Conference with Elder Shumway and the Mission Presidency, 2 area 70's and 2 Stake Presidents. . . and all their wives, hahaha. Elder White was conducting, so I got all the Zone duties and he got to just sit on the stand, hahaha. We started at 9 30 and ended at 3, no breaks either. It was awesome though, everyone just sat and listened. I've had a lot of prayers answered the last couple days and my hand is super cramped from all the writing, haha. One thing I really liked was Elder Brimhall the area 70 said, "God the Father and his son Jesus Christ were the first companionship of this dispensation. . . and Joseph Smith was the first investigator." I loved that. It was just one of the many good quotes. That night at 8 we had interviews with President. It was sweet. Next week we are setting up a Zone Meeting and having an etiquette lesson, hahaha. Don't worry mom I'm doing well with it, ust some other missionaries really really aren't, haha. In between all of that we set Andrew Mathis with a date for baptism next Sunday! I know right, like I said, crazy week!

I hit a year out. . . WEIRD!!!! haha It doesn't seem like its been that long. But thanks everyone for your support!

If anyone wants to write me a letter. . .not that you have to. . . God gives us all agency! haha

Elder Bragg
C/O The Landes family167 29 1/2 rd.
Grand Junction, Co 81503

LOVE YOU ALL!!!
Love Elder Bragg

Nutrition

This week has been way crazy. P-day was on Monday, but I didn't get to email, we totally drove to denver for a meeting! It was awesome! We went for a Zone Leader council that I always get a lot out of. We plan and get training and talk about things that could help the mission. It's way sweet.

Elder White and I started running. I'm now down to 160! oh yeah. I'm working on getting in better shape. We have been studying about nutrition and how it makes you feel. I'm learning a lot about the bad stuff we put in our bodies. It's not just about all the drugs, alchohol, smoke. It's cool, I've seen a big difference for me. Maybe in the next package you could send some home made granola for the morning! That would be sweet. Maybe Kristin could find a good recipe and learn to make it or something! ha-ha So yeah that would be cool, that's all I'm trying to say!

Elder White is way awesome. He was my Zone Leader when I came into the mission. So needless to say I'm learning a lot and we get along very well.

This next week is super packed too. We are going to Denver again for a meeting with Elder Shumway of the 70 and then he is going to hold a Zone Conference out here the next day, so that will be great being able to get to know him and hear all the great things I can learn from a General Authority.

I guess President Wynne, (Stake Pesident in the aera and we go to their house every Sunday night for a dinner and a lesson) is going to be the bad guy in a movie on the history channel. I'll figure out more about that. But you should watch it. He's an amazing guy and I learn a lot from that family. I'm even sure if you looked up Lee and Camarie Wynne online there would be a bunch on them. She's a great painter/ writer too and is writing a book for the Young Woman traits, like virtue, faith, knowledge. Pretty sweet.

Other than that, things are pretty normal. I'm way happy to be out serving God and doing my best. In fact I dont think I've ever been happier. ha-ha But, I do love and miss you all! Thanks for your support. Pray for the work to move forward!!!

LOVE!!!!!
Elder Bragg

Elder Holland's last conference talk

The new bike is perfect. It's just what I needed so I'm looking for a way to get my other one home.

Anyways, it was the last week of the transfer so we have been working pretty hard as usual. Everything seemed to just come together for us. Mike, Mikey and Julie were all baptized on Sunday. It was a great experience and they are way excited. The spirit was so strong there and this Sunday we will confirm them.

I found out i'm staying, but Elder Burton was called to be the Assistant to the President! hahaha I thought it was pretty great. Also Elder Pond is now a Zone Leader! haha That will be pretty Good too. I'm excited to see the changes in the mission and the new leadership that is coming in. It truly is incredible, the Lord is preparing missionaries left and right! It's great.

I think one of the best things that happened this week was a lesson we had with an older lady named Peggy. The spirit was so strong as we testified of the Savior and watched Elder Holland's talk from this last conference. its was great. After, we testified of the Savior. It was so great to be able the see that light that came into her eyes as we shared it with her. She has been struggling lately. As we shared and testified of how the Savior can help lift our burdens, we saw her become more and more attentive. Then she started to cry, then we started to cry. haha. It was great. I know the Savior can help us in times of need, or in times when we might not think we need it. But he is always there for us, always there to help us out. Listen to the talk by Elder Holland, I'm sure it can help everyone else too. Mom or Kristin, if you could attach that to the blog, that would be great. It's on lds.org

http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-1032-27,00.html

LOVE YOU ALL!!
Elder Bragg

Patio

Sounds like all is well on the western front.

Maybe you should try to get some non- members to help you with that patio extention and then accidently have the missionaries help as well. Then invite them to dinner with the missionaries ( you know since they are already there) and then have them share a spiritual thought aka - - - the restoration! haha I know I'm a genius. You can let me know how that goes!

LOVE YOU!! Sorry next week will be longer. . . oh and it was awesome talking to you!!!

Elder Bragg