June 2, 2008 - Day 62

Hi everyone!

I'm staying in Brownwood with Elder Jenkins for another six weeks, just as he predicted. I'm glad; I'm just getting used to things, and I really like the people here.

Just the other day, our neighbour (who moved in a couple weeks ago) started chatting with us as we were coming home. He said he recently became dissatisfied with his current church, and that he and his wife were looking for something new. We’ve since started teaching them, and they're really great. Not only are they really friendly, but they don't have any prejudices of our church, so they're very willing to hear more and to come visit! He once read from the Book of Mormon as a teenager, before his dad burned it; and he hasn't had any contact with the church since then. With all the work we've been doing around town, it never occurred to us to just try with our own literal neighbour.

As for serving in Utah, I met one missionary at the MTC who was going to serve in the Utah Provo Mission! So he didn't have to go far when he finished his training. That reminds me; I also got to meet the missionaries going to Montreal! I only spoke with them for a minute or two, but I told them where I'm from, and spoke a little French with them.

This past Sunday, after testimony meeting, the Sunday School president came up to us and asked if we were willing to teach right then and there (since the teacher was missing today). it was the very last minute, but we agreed and taught a hastily-put-together lesson to the adults. That’s why it's always good to know your scripture stories well.

Working here is still great but different. I think we're shifting from quantity to quality, in terms of who we're teaching. Unfortunately, it also means we have less people to visit, and more time on our hands. That means more finding. (and it's pushing 100 degrees around here! and it's not dry like in the rest of west Texas)

As we go finding, some people simply say no, but we also get some pretty funny excuses as to why people won't let us in.
"I was just sleeping ... ... oh, and... I have a baby - I'm babysitting"
"sorry, I-- no hablo ingles"
"no" "yes" "no" "yes" "no" "yes" "no!" "yes!" ... ... "no" "yes"
"I like my beer, and I like my pot!"
But the most interesting one is when we ask, "What if God told you to change churches - would you?" and they, sometimes just to get rid of us, and sometimes because they don't really know what they're saying, answer "no".
Lots of people claim to be Christian, yet when asked if they would listen to God when He spoke to them, they say they wouldn't. Are they clinging to the church of God, or of a man? That’s why I like Moroni's promise:

Moroni 10:3-5 reads “Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.”

Because we don't have to trust our local preacher, or any other man. we can go straight to the source. it also shows where our doctrines come from. Revelations, not only interpretations or derivations or interpolations, show us what the scriptures mean and what truth is. This is what makes our church the "only true and living church on the face of the earth".

Anyways, I'll talk to you all later!

Love you!

-Elder Brandon Wong