Christmas

I guess he did have something to say...

HEY HEY!! How's it going everybody!

Merry Christmas!Boy oh boy, I'm so excited for it. We totally get to celebrate the birth of the Savior! How exciting is that. Forget all those presents and junk. God has already given up the greatest gift, his son!! Oh man, I get to talk to you all!!!! Maybe not you all but some of you! Totally way stoked for that. But I'm still way weirded out about it though, haha. This week has bee a pretty SPECTACULAR week! (I like that word lately). We have had a lot going on. The craziest has been the weather. We were over at a part member family's house and went out to go tracting. .. it was freezing! So we got all bundled up went out, it was -5. So much fun! It's funny when you get to the point on your mission where you get excited for horrible weather. It makes you feel good knowing that the weather doesn't even have a chance to stop the work. Maybe those lameo misisonaries wouldn't tract, but not us! It was a lot of fun. We would spit and by the time we walked over to it it was frozen, haha. Good fun. The crazy part about it was when we were tracting we found this awesome Australian guy working on his motorcycle with just jeans and a coat on! We talked to him and he came out side and we taught an entire 1st lesson in -5 degrees!! Yeah, like 30 minutes, I swear, so sweet! He is awesome so we will definitely stop by there later in the week.

We had Zone Conference on Tuesday. It was so good. The whole thing was all about the Savior. The spirit there was so strong. I loved it. At the end we always have a testimony meeting and that is always the best. . . .

By far the best thing that has happened this week. . .
I'm a little behind in the reading so I'm trying to catch up for Christmas. I was reading the story of the army of Helaman. Right before I started reading, I had a good long chat with God about stuff. I felt like I needed to be searching for something, but I didn't know what. It was weird, I finished and started to read. When I came to that story I just couldn't help but cry. I had read it so many times before, but this time it was different. I had found what I was looking for. The Lord was helping me have more faith then I had. He was helping me grow that much more. Helaman's sons were asked what they should do about the Lamanites, they didn't even doubt for a second. They just said how they knew that God would protect them. That because they were doing the things they knew were right, the things their mom's had taught them, that the Lord would be with them. How great was Helaman's joy to find that not one of them was killed. I was so excited when I read that. It's like I didn't know the ending to a story, even though I'd already read it many times. I realized that that's the faith that we all need to have. If we would just put ALL our trust in him everything will be fine, everything will work out perfectly. We just have to have the faith. I love that. So yes. . . persacutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may asemble, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobaly, and independant. Until the purposes of God shall be acomplished. And the Great Jehova shall say "the work is done!" Nothing can stop this work from progressing and I'm glad I have a chance to be a part of that! I love you all!!

Thanks for your letters and cards!!
Love,
Elder Bragg

Turtle

Colton didn't have much to say this week. He sent this video to us a while ago and now I finally am posting it... Enjoy!

HEY MOM! I LOVE YOU!!

Thanks for the package. Elder Pond is already eating his Christmas cereal. I told him he was lame and that next Christmas he can't even have any. haha It was pretty funny. But thanks again! Anyways.

I'm not sure when we will be able to call you. I'm thinking it will be in the morning some time. So yeah. . . . sorry about not being more specific. It's hard when I don't even know myself. It will definitely be before 2:00 Hope that's enough of a heads up.

Also, we get to sleep in on that day. We'll see how long that lasts, maybe till 8 or something crazy like that. We'll open stuff then probably call, so shouldn't be too late.

LOVE YOU! Cant wait to talk to you!

Elder Bragg

MERRY CHRISTMAS SEASON EVERYONE

Hey Hey Hey! How's it going?!

So MERRY CHRISTMAS SEASON EVERYONE! I love Christ. . . and Christmas. they're both good. . . they're both good.

Anyways. Things have been going awesome over here. We have been working really hard as usual and trying to find new people to teach like always. We are teaching a couple people now so hopefully we will be able to have a baptism this transfer.

Yes, we did move out of the Gibbs. It was a sad day and they will be missed for sure. But our new house is way cool too. We live with a family named the Burrands, they have 6 kids. . . all older. One just got back from a mission and one is coming home in a couple of months. I'll probably be gone by then, but hey it's pretty cool.

Now we have to buy our own butter too!! haha I know random but I just thought of it.

Anyways, on the tie note!!. . . I would love lots of ties for Christmas! That would be the best! Just make sure they are not paisley. Those are a bit crazy. The brands I like the most are Jones New York, Geoffrey Beene, Countess Mara, and Donald Trump. They tie the best. Yeah, its funny the things you start to get obsessed with on a mission. . . for me it's ties. I had to stop going to Ross because of pure temptation. Although, I did buy a pair of really shiny shoes today so I can look my best at meetings and things. They were only 17 bucks too! I know right. What a bargain! Packages are sweet and when they have ties in them, they are the best! haha. Just thought I'd let you know.

Oh yeah, and I totally knew about that whole baby thing from Mickie. She told me a while ago. It's way cool. I'm gonna have like 17 nieces and nephews when I get back. It's gonna be nuts. And everyone will be married. Be sure to tell Adam and Savannah congrats and Sunni and Lance too. Adam's kid will probably have to start playing Super Smash Bros pretty young if he's gonna compete with me and Adam haha. Although I will be 2 years rusty and all.

Anyways, thanks again everyone for all your support! I seriously love all of you more then I can say. Thanks for being good examples, helping me when I need it, and just being there to enjoy time with. I really have been blessed. But the most important blessing that we all have in our lives is Jesus Christ. I learned this week that agency sometimes hurts. Sometimes it hurts us and sometimes it hurts others, but the atonement of Jesus Christ can heal all of the pain and discomfort that a wrong choice can bring. It's Gods greatest gift to us. We just have to use it. I really do have to write President now. So I love you all! Have a good Christmas season.

LOVE!
Elder Bragg

Advent Calender

We loved the Gibbs! The boys were freaking out when they saw that an elder's mom sent them something! (Chocolate Advent calendar) It was cool. I told them they had to eat one everyday too, not just that eat it all quick junk. The Gibbs had signed up to have the missionaries live there for 6 months and they were going on 7 and a half. They were really sad to see us go and we were sad to leave. They are an incredible family, but luckily we will be eating Christmas Eve with them, awesome.

I'm now living with the Burrands in their basement. It's pretty legit.

Tidal Wave

Howdy Howdy Howdy!

How's it going? Well it sounds like everyone is doing pretty well back home. I'm thinking that whole home theater thing is gonna be way sweet when I get home. Oh man, but guess what's crazy. I have been on my mission for over 6 months! I know right! That is so long!!! I was kinda weirded out.

It has been a big week, we have been working hard of course. But I'll run through our Thanksgiving day. . . woke up, played some football, played some basket ball (which I won,) then some foosball (Elder Pond won,) then some Risk (we quit early haha,) played 2 games of clue (I won one and Mitchell won one,) had Thanksgiving dinner with a family called the Parkers, then played Risk again (which was the most insane game ever!!!) I totally won, it was so sweet. At the end I was about to wipe everyone out and their son moved all his 7 guys right in front of me. So I asked him what he was doing. Then Brother Parker said, "he sees the tidal wave coming and he wants to go down to the beach!" Oh man, we laughed for a good 10 minutes. But yes, it was a great day.

Also transfer calls were last night. We found out that we are staying together, definitely awesome! It's gonna be another awesome six weeks. But there is sad news; we are moving out of the Gibbs in about a week or so. It's kinda lame. I love that family. I'm sure the new place will be awesome too. I will email you the new address. I think we move on Monday. But yeah, that's pretty much what's going on over here. It's pretty awesome.

But I love you all. Thank you for your support and prayers! Merry Christmas!!. . . soon. . .

Love Elder Bragg

ITS ELDER BRAGG!!!

HEY EVERYBODY!!!!

ITS ELDER BRAGG!!!

I'm sure you already new that though. How are things back in Meddy? I find myself talking about Medford and how great it is there then here. haha I can't help it. I'm pretty bias.

I didn't know so many people were getting married? you should let me know their addresses so I can write a couple of them and tell them congrats! Or better yet, send me the wedding announcements.

Anyways, we had a great week. Elder Pond and I are pretty much official brothers now. We get along way to well and are even to the point where we get into arguments about stupid little things cause its fun. Yeah, its been a pretty awesome transfer. Unfortunately it ends next Thursday, so we will see what happens. I'm kinda hoping nothing changes though, that would be sweet. I'll have to let you know.

We had a really good week of work. We taught over 18 lessons this week! It was so good. Our tracting hours were down cause we were teaching so much, awesome. We also had 4 baptisms! An awesome muslim family, I love them! I had the opportunity to baptize the 2 kids, Zack and Edrise (Ed). I'll have to send home some pictures. They are a way cool family. They are going to grow up to be the greatest missionaries ever, I swear. The mom already has so much faith and the kids are so good. I can't wait to hear from them later.

And on another note Thanksgiving is tomorrow. I'm pretty excited. We do get to play football in the morning and then eat. Luckily, we still get to go out and work (aka work off all the fat I will eat). But it's going to be any awesome day! There is so much that we have to be thankful for. I will have been on my mission for 6 months and one of the biggest things I've learned is to be thankful for EVERYTHING!! Heck, we don't even have the right not to be! It says in Mosiah that God gives us every breath! Just being alive is a gift! Let's be happy about it! I know I am. Because not everyone gets that chance like we do. Too many abortions of God's children; they couldn't be on this earth, but we are here and the scriptures tell us we are here to be happy! So be happy and be thankful! There is plenty to be thankful for. Maybe we can slow down for a bit and think about it. I promise you'll look at everything a whole lot different if you haven't before.

With that said. haha. What I am most thankful for this Thanksgiving is the Savior Jesus Christ. He has given me every blessing that I have and that I love so much! Family- with out him, I wouldn't be able to be with them for time and all eternity. Health- with out him, we would all just die and be dead in the grave forever, there would be no resurrection and no perfect glorified bodies, which is one of the reasons why we are down here as well. Oh, there are many more things that he gave us. In fact, he gave up everything so that we could have it all. He suffered every pain and affliction, every scraped knee and skinned elbow, he felt. So that when we are down and feel pain or sorrow, he can be there to raise us up, to help us back on our feet. When we can't walk, he'll carry us. How is that not something to be thankful for?? I love the Savior Jesus Christ with all my heart and I will never be able to express in words how much I am thankful for what he has done for the world. . . . for me. . . Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Love,
Elder Bragg

All the Cool Missionaries are Doing it!

HOWDY DOODY EVERY BODY!!

How goes it on the western front? It's going way too awesome over here. We have been having a lot of success with the work. In fact, yesterday we didn't even tract! We just taught! I loved it.

Oh man, we are going to have 4 baptisms on Saturday. Yeah, I know right!! I get to perform 2 of them and Elder Pond is doing one and then a ward member is doing the other! They are the greatest family EVER. I'll definitely have to send you some pictures so you can see how awesome they are!

Oh man, another pretty cool thing. The Zone Leaders called us Monday morning after they got out of their meeting with President and all the other ZL's and the assistants. I guess Elder Pond and I had the best numbers out of the whole mission that week and they had a training on us....hahaha.

I thought it was pretty funny. It got us way fired up for the work, so its sweet. I love being as obedient as I possibly can! It's so cool. You know, all the cool missionaries are doing it. haha. We are working on peer pressuring every missionary into doing it to... haha. Anyways sorry this is such a short email. I gots to go do some work. Oh and just remember while you guys are eating turkey, that Elder Pond and I will be working all that night, it's gonna be sweet. I guess Thanksgiving is our P-day, but then after 5 we are going to keep working. So yeah, pretty sweet. And no... no movies or football, only missionary work! Just like I like it!! haha Have a good week and I'm trying make the next one better, I promise!

I love you!!!!!
Elder Bragg