Hi! How's it going?
Things are going well here.
Tuesday, we woke up, and we were getting ready to leave. Elder Northey walks out to the car to put something inside, and when he comes back, he said, "you might want to bring your camera". I wasn't sure what he meant until I walked outside, and everything was covered with snow and ice! Tiny ice pellets were falling from the sky at that point. It stayed all day, and halfway into the next.
Tuesday afternoon, we got a phone call that our large passenger van rolled over. Elder Johnson was driving with Elders King and McKeen to an outlying town called Post for a baptismal interview, and it [the van] slipped on the ice. His Canadian driving skills didn't help this time, and it did a full barrel roll before landing on its side. They were banged up and had to make a stop at the hospital just get checked up. They're still sore, but they're all fine. Always wear your seat belt. Right after this, they parked all the cars in the Lubbock zone for the day.
Also on Tuesday, President Rose [previous mission president who completed his mission last June] called. He wanted the address of a departed missionary. He's gone back to being a lawyer, but he misses being on a mission. We were all happy to hear from him.
Elder Gibb has been wanting to switch to a service mission, but Salt Lake is being rather slow on this process. So in the meantime, a member here in Lubbock, who owns a large cotton farm, has offered to let him work there. So we've been ferrying him back and forth to the farm to work, and on two days a week, he works at the temple, cleaning inside, or on the grounds.
Anyways, never a dull moment.
Also, that's awful to hear about Patrick and Hamish. What's worse is that I heard about this [new rule in applying for a visa] a few weeks ago! I guess mentioning it wouldn't have made any difference. Apparently, the new rule says that it takes six months to get an R-1 visa. That's really dumb, and this country is really going to feel the consequences of it. Hopefully, it won't be long before they fix that. In the meantime, working a lot with the missionaries will do wonders for them, and for the mission.
Anyways, I hope all is well.
Get missionary work sparked in Montreal. Do it by example.
I love you
-Elder Brandon Wong
Something I wish I knew before my mission: the meaning of independent identity.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Hello,
What's new in Montreal?
There's a few things going on here in Lubbock.
One thing I forgot to mention last time: Elder Gibb, who has been serving in Abilene, came up here, and he's been hanging out with us. He's been a little sick lately, and has been needing to rest quite a bit. It's kinda unusual being three, but it isn't exactly a normal circumstance anyway. Sick or not, Elder Gibb is really cool to hang out with.
Also, I finally returned that garbage photo frame that I bought. It was refreshingly easy to give it back. We just walked into Best Buy (like, two or three months after buying it - ONLINE), put it on the counter, and, after presenting the original order number, they recharged my card. They didn't even open the box... it could've been empty.
We've also been going to Levelland and other random, boring-named interesting places like that.
Oh, and a lot of the Sisters in the mission have been getting bikes (to save miles), and we helped the ones in Lubbock get theirs. That was fun.
Anyways, I have to go. Elder Northey hasn't played basketball, pretty much since he got here - or since new year's, and he's going crazy.
Talk again later!
I love you
-Elder Brandon Wong
Something I wish I knew before my mission: good negotiating skills
What's new in Montreal?
There's a few things going on here in Lubbock.
One thing I forgot to mention last time: Elder Gibb, who has been serving in Abilene, came up here, and he's been hanging out with us. He's been a little sick lately, and has been needing to rest quite a bit. It's kinda unusual being three, but it isn't exactly a normal circumstance anyway. Sick or not, Elder Gibb is really cool to hang out with.
Also, I finally returned that garbage photo frame that I bought. It was refreshingly easy to give it back. We just walked into Best Buy (like, two or three months after buying it - ONLINE), put it on the counter, and, after presenting the original order number, they recharged my card. They didn't even open the box... it could've been empty.
We've also been going to Levelland and other random, boring-named interesting places like that.
Oh, and a lot of the Sisters in the mission have been getting bikes (to save miles), and we helped the ones in Lubbock get theirs. That was fun.
Anyways, I have to go. Elder Northey hasn't played basketball, pretty much since he got here - or since new year's, and he's going crazy.
Talk again later!
I love you
-Elder Brandon Wong
Something I wish I knew before my mission: good negotiating skills
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2008 - Another week in Lubbock, Texas
Hi!
It's been another interesting week here in the TLM (Texas Lubbock Mission). This week, I was able to travel with Elder Northey to the two zone conferences down south. (I've sent some pictures of it.)
Last week, Elder Northey had to go with the three APs to the three zone conferences. This time, we got to go on our own and take our truck. So we would go to the zone conference, let Elder Northey give his presentation first thing in the morning, then we can drive off and visit people we knew in the area, and drive to the next location while the others were finishing (zone conference is almost an all-day affair). The first one was in San Angelo, and we got to visit some people. The second one was in Midland. Homer and Cruz (the one who got baptized last month) came by and visited us at the chapel. It was so great to see them; they're really cool people. We also had to run some errands for missionaries whose cars weren't working right. In those two days, we were on the road for about 15 hours, and covered about 1000 miles.
The day after getting back, Sister Sybrowsky, the Ward Mission Leader's wife, gave me a haircut. It was probably the first time I had clippers used in a long, long time.
Anyways, lots of fun, all over the place. Hope all is going well.
I love you
-Elder Brandon Wong
Something I wish I knew before my mission: how to sew on a button
It's been another interesting week here in the TLM (Texas Lubbock Mission). This week, I was able to travel with Elder Northey to the two zone conferences down south. (I've sent some pictures of it.)
Last week, Elder Northey had to go with the three APs to the three zone conferences. This time, we got to go on our own and take our truck. So we would go to the zone conference, let Elder Northey give his presentation first thing in the morning, then we can drive off and visit people we knew in the area, and drive to the next location while the others were finishing (zone conference is almost an all-day affair). The first one was in San Angelo, and we got to visit some people. The second one was in Midland. Homer and Cruz (the one who got baptized last month) came by and visited us at the chapel. It was so great to see them; they're really cool people. We also had to run some errands for missionaries whose cars weren't working right. In those two days, we were on the road for about 15 hours, and covered about 1000 miles.
The day after getting back, Sister Sybrowsky, the Ward Mission Leader's wife, gave me a haircut. It was probably the first time I had clippers used in a long, long time.
Anyways, lots of fun, all over the place. Hope all is going well.
I love you
-Elder Brandon Wong
Something I wish I knew before my mission: how to sew on a button
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009 - And it came to pass in the 38th(?) week...
Hello!
How are things?
Minus 18 degrees sounds fun, but not as cold as usual... what's up with that?
It's been crazy here as usual.
Elder Northey has been out of town for a couple days this week, travelling with President and the assistants to zone conferences. He's been instructing everyone on bike racks - what they are, how to install them, the need to use them, etc, etc. Meanwhile, I've been here in the office, catching up on work. Elder King, one of the new missionaries (not to be confused with the other Elder King, the half-Japanese, Spanish-speaking, much older (mission-wise) missionary - there are a lot of name-twins in the mission), has been hanging around the office so that I would still have a companion. Looking back, I should have given him something to do, since all he had was to put his bike together and study. The next day, he didn't need to come, since I went with Elders Johnson and Rasmussen out teaching. We taught one of our investigators, who accepted the commitment to be baptized! I am really excited about that. She understands everything we teach, and even though she's busy, she reads the Book of Mormon on her own.
Speaking of which, I recently heard from other missionaries that two people I was helping to teach down in Midland and in San Angelo have both been baptized in the last week of 2008! Two people that wanted to be baptized, but weren't planning to in the near future, very suddenly, choose to - in the same week of each other! And to think that I could've gone a long time without finding out - possibly my whole life. This also goes for any of our efforts - none of them are wasted. We're told that the average convert has about seven contacts with the church (through friends, coworkers, etc.) before joining. Be one of those seven.
Next week, since I won't have as much to do, I should be able to go with Elder Northey to the zone conferences down south. It should be fun.
The Church is true. I know it. You can know it too.
I love you!
-Elder Brandon Wong
Something I wish I knew before my mission: how to ride a bike more
How are things?
Minus 18 degrees sounds fun, but not as cold as usual... what's up with that?
It's been crazy here as usual.
Elder Northey has been out of town for a couple days this week, travelling with President and the assistants to zone conferences. He's been instructing everyone on bike racks - what they are, how to install them, the need to use them, etc, etc. Meanwhile, I've been here in the office, catching up on work. Elder King, one of the new missionaries (not to be confused with the other Elder King, the half-Japanese, Spanish-speaking, much older (mission-wise) missionary - there are a lot of name-twins in the mission), has been hanging around the office so that I would still have a companion. Looking back, I should have given him something to do, since all he had was to put his bike together and study. The next day, he didn't need to come, since I went with Elders Johnson and Rasmussen out teaching. We taught one of our investigators, who accepted the commitment to be baptized! I am really excited about that. She understands everything we teach, and even though she's busy, she reads the Book of Mormon on her own.
Speaking of which, I recently heard from other missionaries that two people I was helping to teach down in Midland and in San Angelo have both been baptized in the last week of 2008! Two people that wanted to be baptized, but weren't planning to in the near future, very suddenly, choose to - in the same week of each other! And to think that I could've gone a long time without finding out - possibly my whole life. This also goes for any of our efforts - none of them are wasted. We're told that the average convert has about seven contacts with the church (through friends, coworkers, etc.) before joining. Be one of those seven.
Next week, since I won't have as much to do, I should be able to go with Elder Northey to the zone conferences down south. It should be fun.
The Church is true. I know it. You can know it too.
I love you!
-Elder Brandon Wong
Something I wish I knew before my mission: how to ride a bike more
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Hi!
How's it going?
Things are going great here. Temperature's going up and down, as usual.
On my nine-month mark, I got to go to the temple! It was a great way to start off the new year.
The outside [of the temple] is just like Montreal's, only reversed. The inside, though, is actually rather different. All the zone leaders, the APs, and President and Sister Robison were there. I loved every minute.
We also had transfers, too. We got to instruct and hang out with the greenies before they headed off to wherever they're serving. this transfer, they're having eight of the ten zone leaders train a new missionary in a group of three. I also got to say goodbye to all the departing missionaries all at once. I knew a lot of them, including Elders Maughan, Andersen, Wellington... it's kinda strange thinking that I might actually never see any of them again.
The work goes on. It's been a crazy week. We've been all over the place.
The Church is true.
I love you!
-Elder Brandon Wong
Something I wish I knew before my mission: good tie-trading skills.
How's it going?
Things are going great here. Temperature's going up and down, as usual.
On my nine-month mark, I got to go to the temple! It was a great way to start off the new year.
The outside [of the temple] is just like Montreal's, only reversed. The inside, though, is actually rather different. All the zone leaders, the APs, and President and Sister Robison were there. I loved every minute.
We also had transfers, too. We got to instruct and hang out with the greenies before they headed off to wherever they're serving. this transfer, they're having eight of the ten zone leaders train a new missionary in a group of three. I also got to say goodbye to all the departing missionaries all at once. I knew a lot of them, including Elders Maughan, Andersen, Wellington... it's kinda strange thinking that I might actually never see any of them again.
The work goes on. It's been a crazy week. We've been all over the place.
The Church is true.
I love you!
-Elder Brandon Wong
Something I wish I knew before my mission: good tie-trading skills.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008 - Greetings from Lubbock
Hey!
It was nice hearing your voices on Christmas! And I loved your package and cards, and everybody else's too.
Yeah, it's been a crazy week.
Not only was it Christmas week, but it's also the last week of the transfer, which means we've been getting things ready for the incoming and the departing missionaries.
I have packets to put together, agendas to go over, questions to ask President... yeah, it's been a crazy week.
I'm excited, though. Some of the new missionaries are going to be staying at our place for the night, before they head off to wherever they're serving. Also, we get to have lunch and supper with them and with President and Sister Robison, etc. It's going to be fun.
Also, there's going to be a lot of changes this transfer. It's plain to see that President Robison is really on his own, and not just going with what President Rose did. He's making a lot of changes. He's also very open with us. If he tried making a change and it didn't work out, he doesn't hide it, he just fixes it. I've learnt to trust him a lot.
Did I tell you that Elder Northey is going to be my new companion? He and Elder Johnson are switching places.
Hope you enjoy the rest of your vacation!
Love you!
-Elder Brandon Wong
P.S. Something I wish I knew before my mission: to learn to work mail merge.
It was nice hearing your voices on Christmas! And I loved your package and cards, and everybody else's too.
Yeah, it's been a crazy week.
Not only was it Christmas week, but it's also the last week of the transfer, which means we've been getting things ready for the incoming and the departing missionaries.
I have packets to put together, agendas to go over, questions to ask President... yeah, it's been a crazy week.
I'm excited, though. Some of the new missionaries are going to be staying at our place for the night, before they head off to wherever they're serving. Also, we get to have lunch and supper with them and with President and Sister Robison, etc. It's going to be fun.
Also, there's going to be a lot of changes this transfer. It's plain to see that President Robison is really on his own, and not just going with what President Rose did. He's making a lot of changes. He's also very open with us. If he tried making a change and it didn't work out, he doesn't hide it, he just fixes it. I've learnt to trust him a lot.
Did I tell you that Elder Northey is going to be my new companion? He and Elder Johnson are switching places.
Hope you enjoy the rest of your vacation!
Love you!
-Elder Brandon Wong
P.S. Something I wish I knew before my mission: to learn to work mail merge.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Hey!
How's it going?
I can't believe Christmas is in less than a week! That's so weird.
And I got your package! Thank you so much! It was way cool. I loved the letters from everybody.
Also, being in the office, we get to see a lot of mail and packages come through. Anything addressed to the office instead of the missionary's actual apartment gets forwarded to them, or delivered the next time we see them (whichever comes first). I discovered that since I'm too busy with other stuff, all the mail goes through Elder Johnson (who's in charge of referrals and supplies). I have, however, been getting a lot of calls from parents who want to double-check the addresses, or are concerned because some mail they've sent have come back to them. So I've been doing a lot of address look-ups for people.
I also got to go to the Christmas zone conference in Midland! Although the program was the same, it was very different because there were different people. Most notably, Elder Sosi convinced his district to put on a Polynesian-style show where they sang "Little Pearls" and "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas". Polynesians speak a lot with their hands, so their hand/arm movements are actually telling the story while they're singing. They were all dressed up, too. Elder Wheeler (the big tall one) said that he's REALLY showing a lot of love for Elder Sosi by agreeing to do this. We also watched "Joy to the World". It's actually one of the DVDs we give out at Christmastime. It's been a while since I've seen it, and I liked it a lot.
We had a lot of fun doing the zone conferences.
Anyways, I hope you have a wonderful Christmas break, and a Merry Christmas!
Remember the true meaning of Christmas. John 3:16-17 - What's the difference between perishing and having eternal life?
The Church is true.
I love you!
-Elder Brandon Wong
Something I wish I knew before my mission: how to work with the Lord to bring changes in me that I've always wanted and needed. That is the true spirit of Christmas.
How's it going?
I can't believe Christmas is in less than a week! That's so weird.
And I got your package! Thank you so much! It was way cool. I loved the letters from everybody.
Also, being in the office, we get to see a lot of mail and packages come through. Anything addressed to the office instead of the missionary's actual apartment gets forwarded to them, or delivered the next time we see them (whichever comes first). I discovered that since I'm too busy with other stuff, all the mail goes through Elder Johnson (who's in charge of referrals and supplies). I have, however, been getting a lot of calls from parents who want to double-check the addresses, or are concerned because some mail they've sent have come back to them. So I've been doing a lot of address look-ups for people.
I also got to go to the Christmas zone conference in Midland! Although the program was the same, it was very different because there were different people. Most notably, Elder Sosi convinced his district to put on a Polynesian-style show where they sang "Little Pearls" and "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas". Polynesians speak a lot with their hands, so their hand/arm movements are actually telling the story while they're singing. They were all dressed up, too. Elder Wheeler (the big tall one) said that he's REALLY showing a lot of love for Elder Sosi by agreeing to do this. We also watched "Joy to the World". It's actually one of the DVDs we give out at Christmastime. It's been a while since I've seen it, and I liked it a lot.
We had a lot of fun doing the zone conferences.
Anyways, I hope you have a wonderful Christmas break, and a Merry Christmas!
Remember the true meaning of Christmas. John 3:16-17 - What's the difference between perishing and having eternal life?
The Church is true.
I love you!
-Elder Brandon Wong
Something I wish I knew before my mission: how to work with the Lord to bring changes in me that I've always wanted and needed. That is the true spirit of Christmas.
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