Still dancing for joy

Sounds like things are going just the way they need to back home. Everyone’s happy not too comfortable, but still happy. If you’re comfortable then that means you’re probably not doing as well as you should. At least that’s what I’ve figured out. I decided I want to do at least 1 thing a day that will make me feel uncomfortable. Of course it’s all approved, but like if there is a huge group of people instead of just saying hi and maybe only talking to a couple of them about the gospel stand on the curb and tell them all about it. It is pretty fun.

Anyways not too much happened this week, well that’s a lie. That was my cop out attempt for not writing a huge email. haha

So on Saturday my companion and I ran a 5 k with our ward. It was something I wanted to do when I got home but I figured I’d get it done before hand so I can focus on a longer one. haha. It was way fun though. It was for the ward and we ran the whole thing right side by side. And yes of course because we are missionaries we ran the whole thing in our white shirts and ties. We even carried a copy of the Book of Mormon in our hands the whole time, haha. It was fun. Our time was 26:47 which is kinda lame. I know we could have done better. So we'll see when happens when I get back home.

So then on Sunday we find out an investigator from the Springs Mission would be coming to our Sacrament meeting and that she was getting baptized that night. Well, we got to go to the baptism and it was great. We met the other missionaries and what not. . . well I guess they were trying to transition her over to us but still wanted to baptize her so they could get a baptism, haha. But it turns out she lived in our ward boundaries the whole time!! They were just trying to snake it from us! Well, after saying swiper no swipey 3 times and a call from our mission president. We might have gotten a surprise baptism! Yay! haha. So she'll be confirmed in our Sacrament meeting and start going to our ward. So that’s pretty cool.

And finally I found out yesterday that I’m staying in this area. Pretty sweet, huh?

Any who, my birthday is coming up. Any letters or nice pictures would be cool. You can all just hold off on the presents till I get back. I’m sitting pretty well right now.

Things are going well. Still dancing for joy, it’s crazy. . . but everyday I come to this crazy realization the church is true. . . it’s weird. It’s like I’ve learned it already but for some reason its truer today than it was yesterday. I know Jesus Christ is my savior. I knew that yesterday. But for some odd reason I know it more today than yesterday. And as I look up this ladder of progression I realize that tomorrow I better be on the next step up or I’ll find myself one step lower. haha I love the gospel.

I love you all!! Keep climbing the ladder!

Love,
Elder Bragg

To dad

Hey dad,

I got a chance to go on teamups for the last day. I don't know why but I was just super filled with the spirit. At one door, I was super bold and just stated our authority and that we were sent from God to help this guy be able to live with him again. He was a little hesitent and then I proceeded to tell him the consequences of not listening to our message. haha Never done that before. . . usually not the aproach you like to take on the door step first time you meet someone. But it was cool because I had no idea what I was saying and the spirit was super strong. So the misisonries in that area have a return appointment with him on Friday.... hahaha. Just goes to show you that the Lord knows every one of us and what his servants need to say, and if we are worthy and willing, we can receive that through the Holy Ghost.

We are doing great out here, no worries, we are working hard.

Love ya dad! I totally brag to everyone about how I have the coolest dad haha. Just so you know.

p.s.

I sat next to Elder Dunn at the Priesthood session of conference and we both decided that we missed our dads and wanted to go to dinner with them. So hey.. . next time! hahaha

Love

Elder Bragg

Conference was awesome

So we are having another baptism this week, it's a kid named Kyle. He's way cool. He's friends with a girl in our ward and their family has been a gerat influence on him. He has read the Book of Mormon twice now and is going to early morning seminary. He has wanted to get baptized for a bit, but his mom wouldn't let him. Then just a week ago we had a fast, right when the fast ended no more than an hour after, his mom said he could be and came to a lesson with us!!! It was great. We shared the restoration and all that goes along with it. It was a great lesson. . .I could tell she felt the spirit there, she was crying a bit.

So we are excited about that and we have a couple more we are working with that we need to get on date, then we'll be golden.

Conference was awesome. I love hearing the leaders of the church speek to us. Elder Holland threw down. . . like always. President Monson had me cracking up as usual. I just shook Elder Perry and Elder Bednar's hands, so I couldn't help but listen much more intently to them. Conference is better then Christmas, for sure.

I figured we were going to Utah right when I got home, so no worries. Maybe we can go to a couple of DI's and see if they have any old church books! haha. And no worries, I'm not truncky. I'm working too hard.

LOVE YOU!!

Elder Bragg

Happy birthday Mickie and Zannie

Hey, Hey, Hey! Sounds like things are going pretty well back home. The weather is clearing up again over here . . . but by the end of the week it should get back down . . . lame. But for today it should be good so we are going to play a bunch of games in the park with the zone.

The work over here is going great. We are going to have another 2 baptisms on Saturday in-between conference. What a great time for a baptism!! Herb, who got baptized 2 weeks ago is now going to baptize his 2 kids. So we are excited about that. It’s cool to be able to see whole families come together and grow closer to the lord. We also are working with a guy that just moved into the ward area. He just got married to his girlfriend too so we don’t have to worry too much about chastity issues either!! Those are always fun to deal with. We also have another part member family who has committed to be baptized once the father can hold the priesthood again. It’s great because both of these wonderful families are getting baptized so that eventually they can all be sealed together in the Lord’s temple!!! Man, I love being a missionary.

Elder Allred and I are still working really hard to find new people as well. We’ve got to keep people coming into the teaching pool so that it won’t go to nothing when we baptize everyone haha. I love having that problem. We have been riding our bikes everywhere. So that is fun as well. I really enjoy being out and about with the people on the streets, can’t really do too much of that in a car. The problem is my suits are getting pretty messed up. So I’m going to ask President if I can get special permission to go to a Good Will [cause thrift stores are against the rules ( too many missionaries bring home couches and put them in members homes. .. haha or just super ugly ties)]

And yes I got the Easter package. Elder Allred and I are very grateful for all the nice healthy morsels of joy we found inside when we opened them! haha. So thank you!!! Now you'll be able to recognize me when I get home because I won’t be so FAT! haha.

Happy birthday Mickie and Zannie!! Love you!

I hope everyone is more excited than the Christian Nephites when the sun went down and it was still light that conference is about to come! I’ve been jumping up and down for days! haha No joke. I love conference. Christmas on a mission is great. But definitely second to conference weekend! And we get it twice a year! So much better! haha.

Everyone should invite all of their friends to watch it. I mean if Moses was holding a conference at the Pepsi Center I think everyone would want to go or watch. So why not show the same enthusiasm for President Monson! And he doesn’t even need someone to speak for him like Aaron did for Moses. So it’s pretty much better, right? haha.

Anyways, have a great week. Love you all! Enjoy conference. I know I will. Look to Christ... for he is reason!

LOVE!

Elder Bragg

I ate tongue and cactus

Yes, the weather has a huge effect on the work. It’s crazy to notice but when it’s sunny outside people are generally happier. So we are able to get in a lot more doors and stuff. But hey I guess I spoke too soon cause it’s still snowing and has been since yesterday afternoon . . . lame.

Anyways.

This week has been awesome. We are working super hard as usual. But our area is a lot more humble then Columbine, so it’s so much easier! haha. We had a baptism on Saturday, a guy named Herb Whitaker. He is awesome, he and his wife have 6 kids at home they are all from other marriages and 2 of them aren’t baptized. He will get the priesthood in 2 weeks and then baptize his kids. That is way exciting. Then we just set one on date named Kyle. He is awesome too. He has read the Book of Mormon and is working on a second time. He is getting baptized the Sunday after General Conference. Then there is another family, yeah, isn’t it great! We are working with so the dad can get the priesthood so he can baptize his wife and son. So we are excited like I said.

Oh the other day I ate tongue and cactus. It was pretty good. Weird! This is the only area my entire mission that has different cultures and races! It’s been good.

Things are going great. Elder Allred keeps saying that his home town in the best. . . I just don’t say anything because he is from a town in the desert. He doesn’t really know any better, so how can he judge right? All I’m saying is Oregon is the best. haha.

Sweet. I’ve got to go write president a letter now. Love you all! Have a great week. Share the gospel!

Love

Elder Bragg

New Address

Hey! That’s awesome all the success stories that are happening. Glad I could donate a pair of pants to someone who needed them. It’s getting a lot warmer out so things are going a lot better with the work.

So I was moved over to Aurora. It’s crazy. It’s completely different then anywhere I’ve ever served. We cover a ward named the 7 Hills Ward which is actually a really nice ward. The homes are pretty wealthy. But then we also cover the singles ward. haha That’s fun. We cover the whole stake. So we go down town all the time. The crazy people ratio has definitely gone up quite a bit since my last e-mail.

The work is going really great well. We are teaching loads of people. It’s way nice to just go from appointment to appointment. We still tract a bunch to, and we are hopping on our bikes as much as we can. So that is good.

Oh hey and Kristin, if you want to I would definitely not be opposed to more fruit leather. I eat it like candy. sooooo goood. haha.

My new companions name is elder Allred. He’s way awesome. He’s been out about 9 months or so and is a way better missionary then I’ll ever be. Of course that’s how the last like 13 have been. He is from Royal City Washington. He says it’s the best place in the world but I keep telling him that the desert isn’t as good as Medford. That’s like comparing outer darkness to the celestial kingdom. haha. He’s great though, grew up on a farm, hard worker. We have fun.

Also the last zone I was in was the smallest zone, 6 companionships including us. That was the same way with Grand Mesa zone. . . but not this time. Now I’m in the biggest zone, with 13 companionships. Its fun to try and keep track of and do Sunday night numbers and stuff. I think the earliest I’ve been to bed in the last couple days has been 11.

Oh but hey! Elder Rathbone AND Elder Dunn are in the zone! I’m so excited. I haven’t served around Elder Dunn my whole mission! So that will be fun. We are going to play ultimate Frisbee today because we don’t know where a disc golf course is. haha.

Anyways here is my address so everyone can write me (even more so now cause my companion gets at least a letter a day. . . no joke)

Elder Bragg
3420 s. Halifax Way
Aurora Co, 80013

Have A GREAT Week Everybody!!!

LOVE!

Elder Bragg

Pictures!

Hey! What’s up?

So this week has been great, not too much happened. We had a zone meeting, went tracting, and ate a bunch. And worked out to counter act the eating. . . . you know, the usual. ha-ha. But yeah, those pictures were from like a year ago. But I’m working on sending home a memory card so you could just look at all those on the computer again, save them on there, then erase the card and send it back. Oh and you have to let me know if the videos I take have sound. It doesn’t have a speaker on my camera. ha-ha. Anyways. Transfers are next week. I’ll let you know what happens. I’m gonna go play some disc golf! ha-ha

Love you all!! Have a good week. Don’t die. . . physically. . . or spiritually. ha-ha

LOVE

Elder Bragg

No jumping on the bed!



















I guess that "free" stuff by the side of the road comes in handy for tried missionaries!



















Trying to teach anyone who will listen, or can't move?













Colton is still Colton! What else would we expect?!