Salutaciones Pueblo de Manteca Y Afuera - 9 NOV 2015

9 NOV 2015

Hey Guys!!

So to be honest this week wasn't much different from the last, I even got another pair of shoes from someone! haha "L's" Dad, gave me a pair of dress shoes he never really used.

Missionaries are tough on shoes...

So where to begin this week...
Oh well I guess last Tuesday I hit my 11 month mark already... that's pretty weird haha We ended up passing one hermana who is active but we haven't really visited a lot.  We stopped by and they were digging a big hole to drain water out from their house (they live in the tomas so its all dirt with brick and stick houses) but we helped her husband dig the hole another 2 meters deep (still not sure how deep that is but it was like 2 of me deep or something haha) so that was fun! He isn't a member so well see what we can do there..

We also have been visiting hna "C" a lot again and shes been doing better.  We had a noche de hogar (FHE) with them and her grandkid brought her friend who went to church the next day, we are going to try to pass by again this week.

We're still teaching "L" and her family, but its slowing down a little because they are getting pretty busy. We are trying to figure out how we will make them more interested because I feel like her parents, "F" y "V", are more just listening, but we can see their curiosity growing. We have the goal to be exactly obedient this week so it should help, were going to try our best :P

Other news I guess would just be that our ward had the primary program this week in sacrament meeting and the attendance rose to over 100, that was pretty sweet! So was the program haha

Anyway, I'm glad to be here and I love all you guys! I'll see you all soon!

P.S. Here are some pictures of us making french fries with fry sauce haha

Sorry I always send food pics no mas, I'll try to take more entertaining pics this week :P

Noche de Hogar - 26 OCT 2015

26 OCT 2015

Hey Everyone! I don't have much time to write but I have a lot to say!

So I'll just hit the highlights...

So this Wednesday we went to visit "L" and we ended up getting invited in by her parents! We talked for a while and "L" asked if we could do a Noche de hogar (Family Home Evening) and so we taught Lesson 1 to the whole family! They are so cool and I don't know how much it has affected them but the spirit was there and there was definitely a growing curiosity...

Then this Friday we found a man named Jonathan and he ended up finding us in the street the other day asking us to come over. So we went over that day and he told us that he was an inactive member and that he needed our help to get him back to church. I asked him how he wanted us to help. And he just said, I just want to hear what you have to say Elder. So we had a super spiritual lesson, we gave blessings to him and his daughter, and I dedicated his house, that was pretty sweet haha. He told us that we helped him a lot, more than he realized. So it was awesome.... The only problem is that he is in the other ward haha. But still it was great.

Those were the two miracles that happened this week, the rest has just been day to day working in the vineyard. Oh yeah! I forgot to mention that before we visited "L" and her family we were with another inactive member who was a little bit drunk I think. But we had a good lesson and we gave him a Book of Mormon. When I told him that it was free I thought he went to give me a hug.... But gave me a wet kiss on the cheek haha! That was interesting!

Fun...I wish I had more time, but it happens. Just know that there a some miracles happening and lives are changing. Thanks for all your support I love you all!! Talk to you all later!!!

East Bay Punk music representing in South America

Giving Elder Bush a haircut

Argentinian Cross-fit?

Elder Bush with proper form

A Positive Week and A Service Project - 12 OCT 2015

12 OCT 2015

Hey everyone!

Sorry for writting so late today! We did service laying down some cement then went to lunch with the zone before I finally got the chance to write but I'm here now!

This week has been really great, I think the highlights were this weekend...

So this last Friday we had our meeting with Presidente in Villa Regina (normally we do that here but he wanted to mix things up I guess haha) so we left in the morning on the bus and headed there most of the day! It Was super awesome! Presidente is super inspired! He talked a lot about working with members and as a mission we have been sharing the first vision with a lot of the members in quick little visits and it is helping a lot! We are seeing a lot more unity in the ward! There were definitely some things Presidente talked about that were meant for me...so that was great!

Then the next day, the other Elders had a baptism... and of course our investigators had to go, so we ended up taking "L" with us and she liked it a lot! We ended up meeting her Dad too and we got to talking a bit afterward. He invited us to come over one weekend to eat an asado (which they don't do ALL the time haha) Elder Bush and I are really excited to start talking with their whole family! It will help a lot with them and we've just been thinking that they will be sealed! I would just die of joy haha, it can definitely happen! The next day we were even able to take her to church and she liked all of it! It was a super successful weekend. PLUS Hno Caram dropped some cane on the men for not doing home teaching and it has helped a lot!

Presidente Casariego talked a lot about changing the wards where we are and I can definitely see that now...

I am super pumped and even though we haven't convinced L's parents completely yet, I've been praying a lot that she will be able to convince them this transfer.. I'm following the confirmation I got in that family home evening... And also Presidente's advice that if we want to have miracles we need to trust in God and do ALL of our part (which means obedience with exactness).

I wish I could write more but I'm technically past P-day already haha, but I love you all a ton and I wish you all the BEST week! Talk to you soon!

Transfers and a New Companion - 28 SEP 2015

28 SEP 2015

Hey Guys!

So this week has been pretty crazy! We had the Meet the Mormons activity but all of the new greenies were missing, they got here Thursday. Three of us are training, so we were in trios until then. On Thursday we had to wake up at 4:30, we got there 2 hours later and then waited until 10 to go to the mission home, but it was fun! We contacted for a while with the newbies then we had a meeting and lunch and we got our new companions. My new hijo (as they say in the mission for a new missionary you are training for his first assignment) is named...Elder Bush from Pleasant Grove Utah! Grandpa actually mentioned him once telling me to keep an eye out for him! What a coincidence right?

So these past few days we've been visiting members and investigadores and its been sweet! I now realize how much I really have learned since the MTC haha, but my comp is a capo still! haha

As far as investigators go, we found "L's" house! He is the one who is "A's" friend, and she is reading the Book of Mormon!  We had lesson 2 with her ayer and we are going to invite her to be baptized today! We also visited "W"after and he was feeling sick so my comp and I gave him a blessing and I am sure he is getting baptized!

Anyway, as far as this week I am super excited, we are going to have a lot of success and my new comp is a stud, he just doesn't know it yet, haha, I love you guys, I hope you have a great week!

Elder Bramell and his new companion...Elder Bush

Introducing Elder Bush to the cuisine...chorizo

21 SEP 2015

Hey guys!

The truth is, we didn't do too much this week other than visit people and prepare stuff for the activities we have, plus transfers are today, and my companion Elder Lopez went to Cipoleti this morning :/ But it was a good week still!

At the talent show we ended up doing a skit and a dance and it turned out great! A bunch of people came and a lot of them who we've started to teach really opened up to us! Not too many from our ward went but it was so cool! Afterwards, everyone was telling me they were surprised by my moves haha, fun stuff! Oh and one of the members sang the song Zombie by the Cranberries and I TOTALLY thought of you two Mom and Dad because you would always sing it, haha.

So I don't have much else to talk about but transfers... my new companion will be a brand new missionary! I'm going to be training someone this transfer! (Or in missionary lingo, I'm going to have a son haha) I'm not sure what to expect.. Until Thursday I'll be here with another Elder that is training and when we get back we are going to go to our areas. Its so weird though! It would be like if Curtis came to be my comp! I'll have to let you guys know all about it next week because I don't know who it will be until then!

So sorry this letter is a little short this week, we barely had time to write today, Ill make up for it next week, I promise! I love you guys and I hope you have a great week!

Fellow Missionaries at the Talent Show

Early morning transfers

Excited to find some candy from America!

A Note to the Primary Kids Back Home

7 SEP 2015

The kids from the Primary Program in the Union Ward, Manteca, California Stake wrote letters and drew pictures for Darren, this was his response:

Hey Primary Kids!

Its me Elder Bramell! I just wanted to thank you all for the wonderful pictures!
I hope you guys are having a good time learning about missionary work! Its a lot of
hard work, but its what Heavenly Father needs us to do! Keep up your prayers because it helps me a ton!

Whenever I have a hard day I look at your drawings and I know you guys are praying hard for me!
Keep it up! I know the church is true and that everyone of us is a child of our father in heaven, he loves each and every one of you! Thanks again for the pictures!

Old Friends and New Investigators - 7 SEP 2015

7 SEP 2015

Hey Everyone!

This has been a really great week!

Basically, it started with this past Wednesday, when we had the meeting in Neuquen with Elder Teixeira of the 70! He did a super awesome job and I was feeling motivated, he said a few things that I know I needed to hear. We also ran into a bunch of people I knew! I finally talked to Hna Jones from my district! haha. Its super crazy because her and Hermana Webb are now officially COUNTING DOWN their mission haha. That's still crazy to me! I also ran into Elder McCutcheon! We were talking for a while and guess who showed up... Cintia and Silvina Vilche from San Lorenzo! It was Sweet! Cintia is supposed to report to the MTC THIS Wednesday! She's going to Columbia on her mission! The funny thing is that I will only be home 2 transfer before she goes home haha. That was super fun though and we definitely learned a lot! 

After we got back, we arrive just in time for futbol in the capilla and the guy we met, "F", was there. This past Saturday we taught him lesson 1 and he already believes it all! He told us "You know, I always thought that there should be more than just the Old and New Testament. (LDS consider both the Bible and Book of Mormon to be scripture) God wouldn't change suddenly" and he said the same thing about prophets! He just wants to start reading the Book of Mormon so we are pumped!

This Thursday, turned out SUPER good! (coincidentally on my 9 months haha) we ended up finding 7 more people to teach, and by that I mean really teach! Not just some people that might be investigators! Some were references, and some we found but we have a lot to do now :D

Friday we went to the Chinese food restaurant because our wards went to the temple and no one had lunch. It was a little trucho haha but it was nice to not have to cook something, and it was a buffet! I did end up eating that prawn though haha it was only meh, but it was all pretty decent, plus we got a few more references out of it (from people who worked there).

Saturday was when we visited "F" and a little later we played basketball with a few future investigators, including "F", the cook from the Chinese restaurant and his friend! It was fun to play a sport OTHER than futbol and I was getting on a roll! I had a few 3 pointers going haha. Anyway we ended up visiting "X" that night and he was SOOOOO much better! He is a lot calmer he isn't mad anymore, he stopped smoking and has been reading the Book of Mormon! He moved some of his stuff into the pension too so he is feeling a lot better. He also might have a job soon. He told us that he is just accepting God's will now..FINALLY :P  He wants to make lunch for us and future missionaries to repay how much we've helped him... he really has changed his life for the better.

Well that's about it this week, I'm feeling a lot happier now. Thanks for always writing and I hope you have a great week and an awesome time in the temple! I love you all, talk to you soon!

Now THAT is a prawn!

Hermana Webb, Hermana Jones & Elder Bramell

Elder Bramell, Elder McCutcheon & Elder Coyle

Reunited with friends from his first area in Neuquen

Elder Sanchez and Elder Bramell

Still Working - 31 AUG 2015

31 AUG 2015

Hey guys!

This has been another busy week for us!

Mainly what we've been doing is helping "X" out, we got him to talk with the bishop and we are starting to help him get organized.  One thing we did teach him though is the reason his life is hard right now is because he's not being obedient to the covenant he made.  He accepted it really well though and we're working with him to stop`smoking still, he's started to pick it up again so were helping out.

Other than that we visited "Y" a lot this week we we're trying to prepare him for this last Noche Blanca (along with all the other missionaries with their investigators) and the truth is, I was super stressed out, I didn't know how we were going to do it.  On the day off we were trying to fix the drain to the pila and I didn't realize until this weekend that we all really did our part and there were 0 of the 8 baptisms this week. I realized that if the Lord wanted them to be baptized they would have been... so we still have more work to do! We put a new fecha with "X" in 2 weeks, the 12th!

"Z" recently went back to Neuquen again but she told us she still wants to talk to us so we were super excited to hear that! Also the other day we were contacting (the day of the foto i sent with the chicken) and we talked to a guy in his house and before we talked I saw him and thought... "We should invite him to fútbol on Wednesday" so we did and he came and he's super cool! He has to be like 25 or something but we are going to go start teaching his family too!

In other news we just went to a wedding this morning! This week our ward goes to the temple so they are gong to get sealed too! Unfortunately we don't get to go but still its cool! We just will have to cook our lunch this week haha

Well,  I guess the big news from this week would just be that, I already know we will have more baptisms and I'm pumped! Haha I love you all and I'll talk to you soon!

Elder Bramell and a resident chicken

Public Art in General Roca

Fixing a plugged baptismal font with a stick and a dinner fork...hmm