18 December 2014

Helping Others & D's District



Hey mom! I don't get it until I leave (his passport and visa), I'm not sure where it is. Anyway, I have A LOT to tell you haha. First off, we had our first snow a few days ago and it was pretty awesome, it wasn't a lot but I totally caught a snowflake haha. So today we just got a new district, TEN elders! Being the zone presidents, Elder Lyman and I conducted a meeting with them just getting to know them and they are all super cool, I can already tell they are going to be awesome missionaries. Also I want to tell you guys about what happened last night, there has been this Elder, Elder Smoot, and he has been incredibly stressed and he had a panic attack yesterday. He told us he felt like he should go home even though he wanted to stay. We probably talked with him for an hour and the spirit totally took over. Elder Russell actually just opened a Christmas present of a miniature statue of Jesus from the visitors center and when we were talking to Elder Smoot, I pointed to it and Elder Russell gave it to him. After he left  I read your guys' letter and literally both of you talked about helping others that day. There is literally no way you guys could have known about Elder Smoot, but God did. And the craziest part is that literally AS I was typing this, Elder Smoot walked by the computer room and we said hi and he showed us that he had the figurine. I know part of the reason we were assigned here is so we could help him. You could share this story on the blog if you guys want to :P  Well I thought I would share that with you and let you know I'm doing great! I'm going to send a few pictures if I can so you'll see the faces with the names (see below). So I'll just end with I love all you guys and the church is true!

I Love you guys!

~Elder Darren Bramell~
L-R: Elder Russell, Elder Lyman & Elder Bramell - Provo, UT Temple


 
L-R: Elder Bramell, Elder Russell, Elder Lyman, Hermana Marivan, Hermana Woolf, Hermana Jones, Hermana Webb

Fun in the MTC

11 December 2014

Darren's First Letters Home - Life in the MTC

Letter to Mom - 11 DEC 2014

Hi Mom! So I guess our P-day is on THURSDAY about this time after our temple session, which btw the Celestial room had the same chandelier as the Timpanogos temple.  In case you haven't gotten my letter yet (which we hardly have time to do) I'll try to answer some of your questions.  So first off I just want to make sure everyone knows I'm happy!  I literally feel like I have grown 1000x in the spirit.  We are busy ALL day but it's a good kind of busy.  After only a day or two we started teaching with our companions...CRAZY right?  And before I get any further I am in a trio so I have TWO companions!  Elder Russell from Idaho and Elder Lyman from Utah. We all get along super well, mostly because we have the same sense of humor haha.  We have all watched those Batman videos (youtube) so we spend a good amount of the day talking like Batman, lol.

Oh another crazy thing is our district has us and 4 Hermanas (and our whole district is going to Posadas Argentina or Neuquen).  Now after less than a week, all the other districts in our zones have left on their missions and so we are the only ones left.  Until today, us Elders were the only ones in our entire hall.  Our Branch President said he has never had to call us to be branch presidents so early.  It made me think of my Patriarchal Blessing where it said I would be effective early on in my mission.  It just testifies to me that Heavenly Father REALLY does love each and every one of us and he wants to help us all.

Well I'm going to try to get to other emails too so I'll write you back soon.  One last thing...I can roll my Rs (Darren never could roll his Rs) when saying it in a word now haha.  I've learned a ton, I can pray in Spanish, bear my testimony in Spanish and we've given like 5 different lessons all in Spanish! Que Bendicion! That means, "What a Blessing!"

I'm sure I'll write you soon! I love you Mom! Tell everyone I said I love them too!

Love, ~Elder Darren Bramell~

Letter to Dad - 11 DEC 2014

I don't have much time to write but it is seriously AMAZING here you literally feel the spirit 24/7.  It is practically class after class after class, but we are learning a ton!  I'm in a trio so I have 2 companions named Elder Russell and Elder Lyman.  We all have that same sense of humor which is good, so that helps haha.  We've all seen the Batman and Bad Lip Reading videos so whenever we need a break we start talking like Batman, lol.  So obviously Thursday is our P-day and I already wrote you guys a letter but idk when it will get there.

So how's being the Fire Chief?  I have a hunch we are feeling a lot of the same feelings.  I just thought I would share you a quote from one of our devotionals.  I sent it to Mom so she could tell you too but it went like this..."God won't move mountains for you, but he will give you the strength to climb".

My testimony has literally grown 100x and I can already pray, bear testimony and give lessons in Spanish!  We're actually inviting one person to be baptized today at our lesson.  So I know things are tough but we just need to have the fe y diligencia, y Padre Celestial Bedicirimos nosotros.

I'll talk to you soon Dad, a lot of what I wrote in Mom's first email was for everyone so I got to go now.  I love you guys a ton and I know God will help us when we are struggling at this time.  Again, I love you Dad and you are a huge role model for me, I know you can do anything, haha.

~Elder Darren Bramell~

08 December 2014

Darren reports to the MTC!

3 DEC 2014 - Darren reported to the Provo Missionary Training Center (MTC) on Wednesday.  We were fortunate enough to spend an entire week together as a family in preparation for Darren's departure.  The car ride to the MTC was a quiet one.  We arrived at the MTC and assembled in a park across the street.  Several missionaries and their families were also in the park taking photos and saying their goodbyes.  Families were clinging to the last precious moments with their Elder or Sister while smiling through wet eyes and tear stained cheeks.  Darren was able to have his Mom, Dad, brothers Curtis, Jaxson and Spencer, Grandma & Grandpa Johnson, Aunt Jenny, and his cousins Danicia, Ryan, Trent and Carson see him off.  In typical Bramell family style, we even manged to get in a funny face photo or two.  We concluded our time in the park with a family prayer.

     After saying our goodbyes in the park, one car load of us took the short drive across the street to the MTC.  We were directed to drop off Elder Bramell and all of his belongings for the next two years along the curbside.  We were greeted by a young Elder who made sure Darren surrendered his cell-phone (he still had it in his pocket).  Darren received hugs from everyone again, motherly and fatherly words of encouragement were given and off he went.  He turned back one time, gave us a smile and wave and entered the building.  As Darren walked away, he exhibited confidence, walked with purpose and a smile on his face.  In that moment, I was overcome with the feeling that Darren is ready to learn, ready to experience this adventure and ready to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Godspeed my son, see you in two years.




See you in two years Elder Bramell!