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

First Baptism! - 17 AUG 2015

17 AUG 2015

Hey Guys!

Alright so I have had a super better week, the truth is, I don't remember much of what we did day by day, but I'll try my best..

So one important thing that did happen was our last district meeting. In those meetings we always talk about the scriptures, or a talk, then about all of our investigators. So this was the first district meeting of the transfer, and every transfer has a "Noche Blanca" or "White Night" where we try to baptize a bunch of people in one day. So Presidente told us that every companionship can baptize 2 people on the 29th of this month, which would mean, 175 baptisms this month! And we are going to do it!

So our district is a lot smaller now, but we do a call every night and morning to stay animated for the work and its helping a ton, our district planned 15 baptisms but we're not focused on the number, solo bautismos no mas haha.

Darren's District - Most were transferred last week

Then I'll skip some details to make it a bit more dramatic haha, so our lessons with "L" are still going good, we think "M" is still in Neuquen but we are going to stop by today just in case, and "W" is keeping going as well haha.

Then it comes to this Saturday...

We had been busy all week, because we had a very important day planned Saturday....."L" was baptized!!!!!!!!  I don't exactly have pictures, its kind of a long story but guess who was the one to baptize him..? That's right, your very own Elder Bramell haha!

It was definitely unique.  A decent amount of people showed up, (including "W"!) but that made "L" super nervous so the ZLs told everyone he wanted to do it without people watching so everyone just waited in the Cultural Hall. So it was me doing the ordinance and Elder Lopez (who confirmed him the next day) and the ZLs as witnesses.  It was super awesome! He was definitely different coming up out of that really cold water haha. But yeah, that's the great news! 

Yesterday we had an incredibly spiritual Zone conference too about baptizing everyone and I haven't felt the spirit THAT strong in a long time. They had us talk about our experience Saturday and after I finished talking one of the assistants said, "These two have the vision to baptize".  He told us later that Presidente felt good about leaving Elder Lopez here with me for another transfer and I know its because we are going to baptize more people here in Roca. We are going to be the missionaries these people will need.

I've felt so good this week with everything and I know we are going to reach that goal of 175 people.

Thats my report for this week, i hope you guys are still all doing well and i want you to know that I love you all! I'll talk to you next week!

Some Pictures of Darren's living quarters...

This is home -  Darren's "pension" or apartment

Sweet security door

Looking outside of Darren's pension

A Rough Week with a Silver Lining - 10 AUG 2015

10 AUG 2015

Hey Mom and Dad!


The truth is, this week there isn't good news. This week has been super stressful, but reading Curtis' letter has just made my week better and I just feel super motivated. So I'll explain how things went...

So the last P-day was supposed to be the zone p-day at the Valle de la Luna but all the rides canceled on us so some went to the zoo and others played board games. Tuesday "L" canceled on us so we didn't end up seeing him, AND "M" called us and said she didn't feel good about the last interview because she felt pressured a bit (She didn't understand why we had to do it again with Elder Lyman) and so she said she didn't want to get baptized this week either. Also she is going to Neuquen for a week to spend time with her family. Wednesday we started visiting people to say goodbye because transfers are today, but I wasn't feeling too good all day. Then at like 7:00 I got a super bad fever so a member Leo brought me medicine, and my companion gave me a blessing but I was in bed all day the next day. That morning the other Elders came over to go on splits to visit "L" and he canceled on us again.. so they visited "W" and he was chewing tobacco.... that was Thursday. Friday we didn't do anything important except take out t-shirts for the 2 elders headed home. There was a dinner activity in the ward but they finished cooking at 9:30 so we just stopped by for a few minutes. Saturday it was raining a ton so we were doing stuff in the pension all morning. We did visit a small canyon type place, but it was full of trash. Then Sunday we had church and we visited a few more families for the last day of the transfer. So basically we did not do much all week and that's why we didn't have baptisms.....

I was feeling this way all week and I was just extremely frustrated because I know its my fault too for not being firmer, but I was just trying to finish the transfer. Its nothing to do with my companion, its just that in San Lorenzo we worked hard and nothing much happened, then here we haven't worked as hard when we have really good potential. We aren't trucho (trunky) or anything but there are things we could be doing better. So I prayed saying I know I didn't handle this challenge well but that I was ready for the next one... Then transfers were announced...

Almost all the zone changed, 2 areas closed, Universitario C which is de Elder Loayza y Saldivar, and the other in Cervantes, Elder Lyman's area. (He's going to Bariloche) As far as my changes.. I'm still here in Roca.. and I'm still with Elder Lopez. This will be our 3rd transfer together. It was the answer to me that God was saying, "You haven't passed this trial, go baptize these people that I have led you to, and be the missionary I know you can be." then today I read about Curtis getting his call and I know he will be an awesome missionary, and I want to be that awesome missionary you guys expect me to be. 

This transfer will be different, I can already tell. I forgot my camera today too so I'll send pictures soon. I love you guys and I'll talk to you next week!

Investigators and Potential Baptisms - 3 AUG 2015

3 AUG 2015

Hey Mom!

They are ALREADY done with summer break!!!! How is that even possible? haha you guys just finished school I thought! Wow haha.. anyway, to answer your question definitely lesson one about the restoration because that is the message different from all others (Brandee asked him what his favorite lesson to teach was and why). When we share the first vision the Spirit comes and they can't deny the feelings that come. If this message isn't true then the Book of Mormon isn't true and our church isn't true, but all of it is.

We have been pretty busy this week though.. Tuesday we had our first zone conference with Presidente Casariego (which is an all day thing) and I ended up buying a better jacket that day too. Then the next day were tramites, where we have to go to Neuquen to do passport stuff, but they sent me with Elder Lyman so I was talking with him all day because I went on splits to his area afterward. While Elder Lopez was in our area, they visited an investigator that we talked with a while back and they put a fecha (date) with her for the 15th! Thursday we visited "L" and taught him about the Family Proclamation and law of chastity (he's gotten about everything now) and he will be getting baptized THIS Saturday. He just overthinks everything a lot :P Friday finally came the asignaciones so we had money again and we were FINALLY able to start the mission shirts. We happened to find a new place that could do it, because the place we were going to was never open (even when the sign said it should've been :P). Saturday was interesting.. I'll get back to that. Yesterday we had church and "L" went like normal but only him this week :/ I'm not sure what happened.. that night we had ward counsel (the first since I've been here) and now its P-Day. We planned on doing a fun P-Day activity with the whole zone but everything fell through.. dang it haha.

Elder Sulzen, Elder Curtis, and Elder Bramell

So, on Thursday we also went to visit "M". we did the baptism interview before so she could get a feel for what its like (She is completely ready btw) She knows or at least believes in everything we have taught... but she hasn't told her family she wants to be baptized... so I guess she has family coming this week and is going to tell them then. So in other words, she wasn't baptized this week. Saturday I went with Elder Lyman so he could do the official interview with the mindset that she was getting baptized that day.  Some of us fasted and we said a prayer with a bunch of Elders before leaving but she still wants to wait.

One thing she said though is that she knows that "el camino....es la mormona" so we know she will be baptized, but of course I was feeling disappointed, but at the same time, during the interview I kept getting this feeling that she had to wait so that her family could attend the baptism.. so I let it go and put the goal to be baptized this next Saturday.  She said it was a little fast but I know she can do it.

That has been the theme of this week though so far. Im doing good though, I totally forgot to take the picture though, Ill have to write it down, but I love you Mom. I'm glad to hear everyone is doing good! I'll talk to you soon!

Futbol Folly - 27 JUL 2015

27 JULY 2015

Hey Mom!

We're getting there with everyone, Elder Lyman just had a baptism in his area and "L" ended up going and it made him excited to be baptized! We know he will too. "M" has been feeling pretty sick recently so she couldn't really do much this week, we know she will be baptized too, its just a matter of when her health will allow her to do it. We gave her a blessing already a while back and it helped but we are still praying for that. "W" couldn't go to church (I think for work) but we are still working hard!

This week too there were a TON of kids this week playing futbol! it was super fun and it is going to help out with investigaters! I did end up getting tripped (accidentally) and fell and got a little scrapped up. Everyone thought I died though hahaha. I just ended up landing how I would for a baseball dive and I was good, I've had much worse haha.

I can't really think of many events super unique.. well we did have to eat lunch in the church Saturday with only our hands, so that was fun. We were over there cleaning all morning (Elder Lopez, a member, and I) so it was a little tiring but the baptism went well and like I said, "L" told us, "Voy a bautizarme" so you could say that was a success haha.

To answer a few of your questions, we don't go to the temple on this mission :/ the closest ones are in Chile or Buenos Aires. The members are actually planning a trip in September to the one in Chile. Its helped me to appreciate the temple for sure, because these people practically can't go to the temple and really, we could go whenever we wanted. It just helps to put it into perspective.

I'll take pictures like that if you want too haha a lot of the time I just don't know what kind of things you would want to see, because I don't think of stuff like that but I'm down! I love you Mom and I hope you have a great week! Stay safe! and ill talk to you next week!

Thanks Dad for the scripture, I'm trying to keep positive like always so hopefully we will have some baptism fotos to send this week! Pray for "M" to have better health and that "L" can forget his doubts; they are close but it always helps haha.

Missionary Moment - 22 JUN 2015

22 JUN 2015

Hey Mom!

My goodness, what is happening to my family back home! haha I can't believe all that news... crazy haha. Don't you guys know that time is supposed to stop while I'm on the mission haha. Anyway this week has been good, We have had a few good lessons but we are still struggling to get them to go to church! (which is kind of important :P) We did have one really cool experience though.

There is one member named Hmna Carrasco and she has been a member for a long time, her son went on a mission and she knows the church is true but she has had a lot of doubts lately. So the other day we went to visit her and she started talking to us about tithing.. She said it wasn't right to "shut the doors of the temple" on the people who can't pay tithing. (She did pay but now doesn't because "she can't afford it") so we were trying to tell her that the reason its that way isn't because they aren't paying the church, but its because they are not obeying a commandment. She was just not getting it and my comp was getting frustrated because she basically wasn't listening and we were talking in circles (her son was also helping us out, but getting frustrated too) and so I just waited for an opening and I said, "Can I share something?" and I opened to 3 Nephi 13:31-33. We read it and she started to cry, I explained that the temple is for the people who keep all of the commandments and we go to church so we can be prepared to go to the temple. She told us that she undersands now and she said that what she felt in that moment washed away all the doubts she had and she wants to start doing everything. She said that we are special people, and she went to church yesterday.

That was the highlight of the week, we are going to keep working with her and Elder Lopez and I both thought that she would be active again when we left her house.

Not all success is in the font.

I love you Mom thanks for keeping me filled in on everything, my brothers are a little slower to tell me stuff haha. Happy late birthday, have a good week! I'll talk to you next week.

Hey Dad!

HAPPY FATHERS DAY! One thing I have noticed while on the mission is what prepares you to be a father. A lot of the lessons you learn while serving (temporal and spiritual) seem to fit in to fatherhood a little too perfectly haha. It is interesting to think about...

I dont know if I will believe it about Curtis going on a mission until he gets his call haha. That is just too weird. You guys are just doing so much stuff now its crazy. Mom has been keeping me posted too haha. It sounds like the Bramell's are as busy as usual haha.

I have my camera but no new investigators, the success of this week has been helping out one less active member, I told mom about it, its kind of a long story but its good. I understand that not all success is in the baptisms, but it helps when you actually have another type of success haha. We are working hard though.

By the end of this transfer I will have 8 1/2 months, its strange how that works haha, The mission is getting a lot smaller though, so it may be a while until I train someone. Like you guys saw, only 3 new missionaries arrived this last transfer and I think its going to be the same this transfer (with more than 20 other missionaries LEAVING). So we will definitely see some change haha. I'm excited for what the future holds though, as always I'm being positive but I'm serious too. haha

I love you Dad, I hope you guys have an awesome time in Trek, I know you'll be awesome parents (because you already are) I'll write you next week!

Fun Times in the Pension and a few Fotos - 7 JUN 2015

7 JUN 2015

Hey Mom!

I'll explain some of the pictures haha. Those pictures with the matress, we were in the OTHER Elder's pension haha OUR pension is A LOT cleaner haha. But at night their pension is cold so we had to wear whatever to stay warm (Their heater doesnt work) haha the one standing up in both pictures is E' De la Serna and the other in PJs is E' Loayza. Thats the kind of stuff we do, we will all four go to an asado or something in the others area and sleep over there or with the french toast (Which i made pretty bomb btw haha) we did the same.

Right now we have... 9 or 10 investigaters. obviously others are progressing a little better than others but I think it will just take a little more time with a few. With interviews I got them mixed up with zone conference which is just the missionaries, the interviews will be tomorrow and Sister Lovell already texted us saying she was going to bring my camera with her, so don't worry :P We always go to one cyber a street down from the church which is 5 minutes away from the pension. I found it on google maps but there isn't a street view, but our pension is across the street from the canal. Our area though is huge.. There is one area we haven't gone into yet because its so far, and we walk EVERYWHERE :P but we are having good success!

That is SUPER weird though haha, I can't believe he is actually done with high school!!!!!!! and I can't believe Jaxson had to go to the ER again hahah poor guy. Sounds like normal back home haha. My week has been about the same I can't really remember much like usual :/ umm... honestly I don't remember doing too much that I haven't already told you guys about..the work has been a little slow this week so its really just been the other stuff.... dang it.. for my & months we bought ice cream and ate it in the pension haha but other than that I've told you everything. Its been kind of a lazy week I guess.. sorry I don't have more.

Well, I love you mom, I hope you guys are all doing well, I'll try to make sure I have a good story for you next week, I love you mom and I hope you have a good week!




Hey Dad!

With your letter I'll explain more detail in the pictures, because other than that stuff this week has been a little slow :P

So the first few pictures with a bunch of Elders is at the pension of a couple of other Elders cooking an asado! After that we went with a member family to a place called "Valle de la Luna" which was super fun! The other gringo is Elder Sulzen from San Diego.

The mess of a dessert was banana cake haha we made that at the other Elders pension to bring to a menos activo family for a birthday and we put a little too much batter haha.

The OTHER desert we made with a member, Fabiana Gutierrez who sent more photos to my facebook! that is called Chocotorta.. so I can make that now.

Chocotorta - Sister Gutierrez, Elder Lopez, y Elder Bramell

After that the pictures with all of our district is at the house of the Familia Caram where we had lunch after church. The Elders ended up being there until about 9:30 haha.

The photos of the 4 of us in the pension was a night where we slept in the other Elder's pension and their heater doesn't work so it gets cold at night, thus the mixed up clothing.

The last ones are just Elder Lopez and I cooking lunch in the pension, he cooked the noodles and I cooked the milanesa (which is basically thin country fried chicken haha)

Hna Lovell is bringing my camera tomorrow so I will be able to send more soon. Thinking back to the week we did a lot of stuff like that which was fun but not as much working as before and thus less success. Don't get me wrong I love this district but sometimes we slack a little. Its made me think more about how I'm ok with slacking every now and then, we ARE human but at the same time I'm not trying to waste my time here doing stuff I could've been doing at home. In the mission some Elders get "trunky" and I completely understand but we came out for a reason and like you said I know where I stand and why I'm here. So that's what I got for the week haha.

I love you dad and I hope everything keeps going good back home! Tell everyone I say hi and to have a good week, i'll talk to you soon!