Hi!
I'm going to have to make this quick, because I have a map of Midland to scan in, so I can paste it to the back of my planner.
First of all, I sent a video last time and this time: did you successfully get them? They should be of Elder Goodfellow eating a habenero popper, and of him and Elder Winterton playing checkers in super-speed.
It's been getting slightly colder, especially with last week's rain. In some afternoons, though, the beating sun still gets you. Colder is better, though, because soon, we're going to be giving our car to other missionaries, and going exclusively on bikes.
I got some good practices with that when I went on exchanges with Elder Andersen (again). Elder Winterton, him, and I have all simply moved together from one district in San Angelo to this one here! I need more practice on a bike. I'm pretty uncoordinated.
Oh, and please thank the R.S. for me. I got their package of notes that they sent me. It gave me a nice boost for the next few days. :)
I also got the special ballot request [to vote in the elections] on Friday (almost a month after your note was written). By this time, it was too late, and Nathan told me it's already over. Well, at least I won't have to worry about it anymore on my mission.
Things are kinda slow, since we don't have anybody that we're teaching regularly, but our finding has been more interesting, since we have actually been getting invited back.
Anyways, it's still fun.
The Church is true!
I love you!
-Elder Brandon Wong
Monday, October 20, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
Hello!
How's it going?
I'm writing to you from deep in the heart of Midland, Texas! I've been transferred to the Midland 2nd North area. The 2nd ward is pretty big; bigger than I've seen in my mission so far. I've already met a whole bunch of them, and they're really cool. Also, Sis. LaFrance, the meal calendar coordinator, makes sure that every day is filled for the four missionaries; so we get to eat every day!
My new companion is Elder Goodfellow, from SLC. He's pretty tall, kind of a health nut, and when he's wearing his glasses, looks a heck of a lot like AJ Bill - especially from his side profile. Really, it's creepy. He's taken me running every stinkin' night around Midland college (if you look on Google earth, you'll see this big round loop), and I'm about to die each time on account of how out of shape I am.
Also, my address is:
The Fountains at Waterford (not that important to include)
4405 N. Garfield #1106
Midland, TX 79705
It's pretty interesting here. I was hoping to leave the San Angelo/Abilene zone (if I'm going to see something new, I want to see something NEW), and I just barely got out (by one stop on the transfer bus).
The computers here at the so-called "advanced technology center" are very restricted, but I can still send photos.
The other day, we helped the ward do a service project - picking up garbage in a field... It was full of stickers (goat heads and cat's claws), and it took forever to get them all out. I don't know how people can live here.
Anyways, I don't have much to report.
I hope things are going well for you.
The Church is true!
I love you!
-Elder Brandon Wong
How's it going?
I'm writing to you from deep in the heart of Midland, Texas! I've been transferred to the Midland 2nd North area. The 2nd ward is pretty big; bigger than I've seen in my mission so far. I've already met a whole bunch of them, and they're really cool. Also, Sis. LaFrance, the meal calendar coordinator, makes sure that every day is filled for the four missionaries; so we get to eat every day!
My new companion is Elder Goodfellow, from SLC. He's pretty tall, kind of a health nut, and when he's wearing his glasses, looks a heck of a lot like AJ Bill - especially from his side profile. Really, it's creepy. He's taken me running every stinkin' night around Midland college (if you look on Google earth, you'll see this big round loop), and I'm about to die each time on account of how out of shape I am.
Also, my address is:
The Fountains at Waterford (not that important to include)
4405 N. Garfield #1106
Midland, TX 79705
It's pretty interesting here. I was hoping to leave the San Angelo/Abilene zone (if I'm going to see something new, I want to see something NEW), and I just barely got out (by one stop on the transfer bus).
The computers here at the so-called "advanced technology center" are very restricted, but I can still send photos.
The other day, we helped the ward do a service project - picking up garbage in a field... It was full of stickers (goat heads and cat's claws), and it took forever to get them all out. I don't know how people can live here.
Anyways, I don't have much to report.
I hope things are going well for you.
The Church is true!
I love you!
-Elder Brandon Wong
Monday, October 6, 2008
October 6, 2008
Hello!
How's it going?
Conference was great, wasn't it?
Elder Maughan and I watched it in the other chapel. (Ours was closed because there weren't enough attending the last time). Nowadays, most people watch the sessions at home, or not at all; they think it's a break from church. That's kinda sad.
From the fishing trip where we actually caught something, Bro. Angel had a fish fry at his house the next day. He deep-fried bite-sized pieces of catfish. It was really good. We didn't have a fishing trip today, because of transfers. I'm being transfered, and Elder Maughan is staying. I love it here, but I'm always ready to see new things. Obviously, this being as far south as you can be, I'll be going north. Elder Maughan and I have been together for two transfers, which is about average. (It rarely goes longer than that).
I did meet some elders going to Montreal shortly after zone conference [in the MTC]. Their French was pretty good. I'm not sure when they were leaving, though.
I hope Grandma is having a good time. She promised to take me there [Hong Kong], too, once I've learnt Chinese. I guess I better get on it, huh?
I liked my study guides, too, but I already found something in it that I can fix. On a related note, I asked one missionary to give me a laminator machine that's been sitting in their apartment for who knows how long. They're going to give it to me at transfers, and I'm going to plastify a whole bunch of stuff, including those study guides. Hopefully, I'll be able to figure out how it works.
Talk [to you] again soon.
The Church is true! If you don't believe it, watch General Conference again.
I love you!
-Elder Brandon Wong
How's it going?
Conference was great, wasn't it?
Elder Maughan and I watched it in the other chapel. (Ours was closed because there weren't enough attending the last time). Nowadays, most people watch the sessions at home, or not at all; they think it's a break from church. That's kinda sad.
From the fishing trip where we actually caught something, Bro. Angel had a fish fry at his house the next day. He deep-fried bite-sized pieces of catfish. It was really good. We didn't have a fishing trip today, because of transfers. I'm being transfered, and Elder Maughan is staying. I love it here, but I'm always ready to see new things. Obviously, this being as far south as you can be, I'll be going north. Elder Maughan and I have been together for two transfers, which is about average. (It rarely goes longer than that).
I did meet some elders going to Montreal shortly after zone conference [in the MTC]. Their French was pretty good. I'm not sure when they were leaving, though.
I hope Grandma is having a good time. She promised to take me there [Hong Kong], too, once I've learnt Chinese. I guess I better get on it, huh?
I liked my study guides, too, but I already found something in it that I can fix. On a related note, I asked one missionary to give me a laminator machine that's been sitting in their apartment for who knows how long. They're going to give it to me at transfers, and I'm going to plastify a whole bunch of stuff, including those study guides. Hopefully, I'll be able to figure out how it works.
Talk [to you] again soon.
The Church is true! If you don't believe it, watch General Conference again.
I love you!
-Elder Brandon Wong
Monday, September 29, 2008
September 29, 2008
Hello!
How's it going?
Things are great here, especially because of Rose's baptism! Now that I think about it, hers is the first one of my mission!
And it was all possible because of the members that introduced us to her, and fellowshipped her, and was there for every lesson, and every step of the way. She works for them, and so when we went over, we'd talk about the Gospel, and she's already heard a lot about it from them.
Anyways, I gave the talk on baptism. Her non-member family was there too and they were impressed - and probably put at ease about her "becoming a Mormon".
That was the real highlight of the week.
Another thing that happened was that fast and testimony meeting yesterday was packed and they even ran out of water for the sacrament.
Also, back at zone conference, the missionary supply secretary presented a "Texas Lubbock Mission" blanket with a logo on it for sale. It looked pretty cool.
Also, I've been spending my free time working on visual scripture study guides. I just finished one on Lehi and family going to the promised land and I've got one on baptism but it needs work.
Never a dull moment.
Every moment I spend here confirms to me that the Church is true. Despite every person that says it's not, I know that that it is. They won't know it until they've learned about it, lived it, and found out for themselves.
I love you!
-Elder Brandon Wong
How's it going?
Things are great here, especially because of Rose's baptism! Now that I think about it, hers is the first one of my mission!
And it was all possible because of the members that introduced us to her, and fellowshipped her, and was there for every lesson, and every step of the way. She works for them, and so when we went over, we'd talk about the Gospel, and she's already heard a lot about it from them.
Anyways, I gave the talk on baptism. Her non-member family was there too and they were impressed - and probably put at ease about her "becoming a Mormon".
That was the real highlight of the week.
Another thing that happened was that fast and testimony meeting yesterday was packed and they even ran out of water for the sacrament.
Also, back at zone conference, the missionary supply secretary presented a "Texas Lubbock Mission" blanket with a logo on it for sale. It looked pretty cool.
Also, I've been spending my free time working on visual scripture study guides. I just finished one on Lehi and family going to the promised land and I've got one on baptism but it needs work.
Never a dull moment.
Every moment I spend here confirms to me that the Church is true. Despite every person that says it's not, I know that that it is. They won't know it until they've learned about it, lived it, and found out for themselves.
I love you!
-Elder Brandon Wong
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Hello!
How's it going?
I'm glad you got my package, I was scared there for a bit that it might have gotten lost. I'm also glad you like it :D
I also got your package, thanks for the brownies! They're really good (better than most I've had), even after sitting in that box for who knows how long and Elder Maughan got your card, too :P
This morning, Bro. Angel, our ward mission leader, took us and the zone leaders out fishing at lake Nasworthy. He said that lake isn't the best fishing place (actually, he said it was the worst), but E. Wellington did catch a decent ~5-pounder catfish. Tomorrow we're having a fish-fry.
Also, even better news: one of our investigators is getting baptized! We met her about three months ago and she was golden from the start. She was open-minded about it all and she understood things when we taught her. Her only concern was breaking the news to her very Catholic family. The Kings are the one who introduced us to her and they were there for almost every lesson. Just goes to show what member-missionary work can do...
Anyways, hope things are going well.
Love you!
-Elder Brandon Wong
How's it going?
I'm glad you got my package, I was scared there for a bit that it might have gotten lost. I'm also glad you like it :D
I also got your package, thanks for the brownies! They're really good (better than most I've had), even after sitting in that box for who knows how long and Elder Maughan got your card, too :P
This morning, Bro. Angel, our ward mission leader, took us and the zone leaders out fishing at lake Nasworthy. He said that lake isn't the best fishing place (actually, he said it was the worst), but E. Wellington did catch a decent ~5-pounder catfish. Tomorrow we're having a fish-fry.
Also, even better news: one of our investigators is getting baptized! We met her about three months ago and she was golden from the start. She was open-minded about it all and she understood things when we taught her. Her only concern was breaking the news to her very Catholic family. The Kings are the one who introduced us to her and they were there for almost every lesson. Just goes to show what member-missionary work can do...
Anyways, hope things are going well.
Love you!
-Elder Brandon Wong
Saturday, September 20, 2008
September 15, 2008
Hi
How's it going?
Yes, someone was telling me all about Ike. They also showed me some pictures of the damage that it did, and even one of the hurricanes from space.
We don't seem to have gotten any of it, but today it was 63F in the morning and 73F by the time we left Institute, so it sure looks like we got that cold front that pushed Ike away from us. It’s really quite amazing what nature can do.
Other things that have been happening here:
we have a new missionary couple, Elder and Sister Schlag, in our area. Their main focus will be on military relations, so they're going to be spending a lot of time in the student/military branch, and working with members that are in the military. We helped them move into their apartment, and they're very nice, and have a strong testimony.
Elder Schlag said he met a member of our ward here that he would like to do family history with, because his mom has the same maiden name. Unfortunately, that member, our high priest group leader died of a heart attack later that day. There are lots of people that really loved him.
Also, this past Sunday, Bishop Bushman did something very unusual: during sacrament meeting, he discoursed on the Sabbath and on the sacrament, and what they mean to us, and how we should treat them. Then we had the sacrament passed to us and then he cancelled the rest of the classes, and asked everybody to go home, and, as families, discuss how they can make their Sabbaths better. It was really interesting (and weird).
Oh, and someone here that we teach is in the air force, and he showed us the way they've been taught to polish shoes, and it's quite simple; so I'm going to be giving it a try, especially since I haven't done much shoe polishing on my mission.
But anyways, it's been an interesting week (oh, and we had zone conference, too) and things are going well.
Talk to you later!
-Elder Brandon Wong
Monday, September 8, 2008
September 8 2008
Hello,
How are things going?
Things aren't too different here.
One thing that is, is that Sis. King asked someone in our ward to speak on her behalf to encourage more people to feed the missionaries. Last night, we found the meal calendar with this week full. I'm not sure how long it will last, but it was pretty cool.
Also, Elder Maughan started driving again, so I've been able to relax a bit when in the car.
By the way, there are two members here whose children have served missions in Montreal. One of them says her son served in Montreal in the mid-80s. He also knew about the Tung Fong branch. It's a long shot, but have you ever met an Elder Hopwood? She just thought she'd try asking.
One member family has been inviting us regularly, and we went over and had BBQ chicken, and it was faaan-tastic. Also, he showed us something called "Insanity Sauce", a hot sauce that just keeps on burning.
I'm sending some pictures over - not too many; hope you like them.
Well, I have to go.
Talk again soon!
Love you,
-Elder Brandon Wong
How are things going?
Things aren't too different here.
One thing that is, is that Sis. King asked someone in our ward to speak on her behalf to encourage more people to feed the missionaries. Last night, we found the meal calendar with this week full. I'm not sure how long it will last, but it was pretty cool.
Also, Elder Maughan started driving again, so I've been able to relax a bit when in the car.
By the way, there are two members here whose children have served missions in Montreal. One of them says her son served in Montreal in the mid-80s. He also knew about the Tung Fong branch. It's a long shot, but have you ever met an Elder Hopwood? She just thought she'd try asking.
One member family has been inviting us regularly, and we went over and had BBQ chicken, and it was faaan-tastic. Also, he showed us something called "Insanity Sauce", a hot sauce that just keeps on burning.
I'm sending some pictures over - not too many; hope you like them.
Well, I have to go.
Talk again soon!
Love you,
-Elder Brandon Wong
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