Transferred to Plottier, Goodbye to Roca - 15 DEC 2015

Hey Everyone!

So this week all my stories are just about visiting people because, I am sitting in a ciber in my new area in...Neuquen again :P haha I am in the area of Plottier, America and my new companion is Elder Coyle!! From Lodi, California haha. So I'm pretty pumped!

It was really sad though to say goodbye.  My last day in Roca I gave my testimony in sacrament meeting and it felt so crazy! We ended up visiting 3 families on Sunday, the familia Muñoz, Epullan, y Caram.

We had lunch with the Familia Muñoz and I shared a scripture at the end and was just thanking them for everything. They have a son named, Misaiel who just got the priesthood that day. I was wearing my grey suit with the vest, so at the end I took it off and gave it to him. Then the hermana and abuela were crying and thanking me and the kid gave me a big hug, it was a really good parting.

We then visited the Familia Epullan and we were there for a while. They all drew me picture and were writing me letters. At the end, I said the prayer and the hermana started crying. She told me that I mean a lot to them and that I'm part of their family. In the hermanas letter, she opened up to me about something in her life and thanked me. It was super rough to say goodbye to the girls like Aimé and Luciana.

Then of course I ended at the Familia Carams. We were all laughing and joking. They wrote me and took pictures and it was so nice, all theses people mean a lot to me and they said the same so I'm glad I was there at least for them.

But, I'm really excited to be here, There is a lot waiting for me here I can tell.  I'll send fotos next week.  I love you all, and talk to you later!!

Elder Darren Bramell

Transfers are Coming - 07 DEC 2015

7 DEC 2015

Hi Everyone!

Umm so really this week has been a bunch of meetings spread throughout the week. This week was stake conference too so we've been in our suits a lot of the week haha, Presidente came also and gave us our interviews and that was interesting!

I'll get back to the interviews because after that I'd say the biggest success we had this week was teaching "R" and "F" again!

We didn't have a lot of time to get in a full lesson but we did manage to show a video and talk a lot about our beliefs and things like that. When we got there "F" actually told us that she got engaged that day and we met her boyfriend too and he listened to the lesson! "R" said one of her dreams is to get married and start a family and we can definitely see the most interest from her. The only down side is that "M" left for somewhere and "F" is headed home for vacations (their finals are this week) But we have high hopes for "R".

So with the interviews it was kind of out of nowhere but it went well! The only thing is I was kind of hoping to stay here a little longer for Christmas but Presidente told me I'm probably headed out :P sooooo so much for that haha I'm still excited though.

Stake conference was also really well! They talked a lot about the story of Peter when the Lord asked him three times "do you love me" which I think is a good topic. It went well and a lot of people showed so it was nice!

Anyway I hope you all have a good week and that you start getting into the Christmas spirit, it's just the best part of the year! I love you guys!

Christmas Season 2015

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!