The 5th Chronicle

Hello Family & Friends!

To start out another wonderful and successful week... we went and taught the last of the new member lessons to the "The Dechaine's". So before a convert is baptized they must be taught all five lessons and then AFTER baptism you go back and teach them again. So it was the last lesson!!! Love them so so so much! Kelsey, one of their daughters bore the most simple but powerful testimony during Fast & Testimony meeting... it was amazing. Anyways, as we were there for the lesson (and dinner as well) Bro. Dechaine shared his conversion story. It was SO cool! Everything from the fact that he had been "told" early in his life that sometime in the future there would be a big change in his life and "pole-vaulting" would be apart of it. Guess what?!? Of the two Elders that taught him the original five lessons one had pole-vaulted in high-school. Also the fact that he happened to need to move to Nebraska and there met an old friend that had since become a member of the church. She in her last marriage had felt this need to move to Nebraska and when things didn't work out moved there. So they met up again and got married! Funny thing is as kids they told each other "Wouldn't it be weird if we had kids in the future?". Then there is 'The Box". Bro. Dechaine decided he wanted to build something from some scrap wood he found and it turned into a work of art! Everyday as he built that box he would notice things like when there was contention the pieces he was working with wouldn't fit, but when there was peace in the home ...it would fit. All kinds of crazy awesome things. The coolest thing is after being introduced to the church he has read the scriptures EVERY SINGLE DAY. Holy cow it's awesome! He inspires me in so many ways.

Something I've realized as I've been out for a month now is that it's the simple things I miss. I don't really miss the newest rad movie or the hyped next awesome event or even going snowboarding (though it's summer and so I couldn't go anyways so we'll see come winter XD). The things I really miss is long talks with my parents, editing pictures while jamming to music, or having time to just organize my room and working on my to-do list.

Funny event of the week is getting called TWELVE TIMES in a row as a prank by some kids in town. In the end they left a voicemail and said some naughty words. What is happening to this generation! But, we laughed about it 'cause what do you do?

So many beautiful moments! Whether it's getting to drive in the hills and back roads of Iowa, or getting to hear someone's life story, or teaching a wonderful lesson, or even right now getting to write home while listening to thunder and rain outside... everyday is a beautiful moment.

So my trainer's last companion, Elder Koster, is now a Zone Leader and in a Trio... nothing like having THREE ZONE LEADERS =) Anyhoo, we had a great conference call with the whole Zone this week and Elder Koster shared two awesome spiritual thoughts. First was that that geese fly with a "Head-Hancho Goose" that flies point or at the head of their triangle pattern. He shared that each of us will eventually be the "Head-Hancho" and as the older missionaries begin to depart home we need to step up and fly point for our Zone. As we prepare ourselves to "fly point" we need to be ready to get hit with the brunt of the turbulence and flack that those "Head-Hancho's" get hit with so those future geese or greenies behind us can be able to fly and soar with us in the Lord's work. His second thought was that the scariest offense and defense on a sports team are those that "TALK" or communicate. If we want to be the scariest most effective team we need to communicate with our companions, our ward, our district, our zone, and our mission. That's how we get things done and stay protected!

That moment when a two year old waves and shouts "Bye!!" over and over as we walk the next block and a half, so cute!

An older gentleman told us this the other day... "I've gone to church my whole life but really don't know if God has a plan for me." Do we realize how blessed we are?

Met an older guy that has been a brick mason his whole life. His house was incredible! It was all brick and each and every single brick was unique in it's color and shape and pattern. He had been slowly adding on to his house these bricks for the last 20 or so years. Each brick comes from a different school or home project he has built over those years. His house is a literal masterpiece and sculpture of his life. So many spiritual insights... one of which being that we each build WHO WE ARE by our experiences from everywhere we live and everything we do our whole life. #BrickByBrick 

My trainer scared me coming out of our room dressed in a helmet, breast plate and with a sword. All on purpose too! I died from laughter XD You can still have fun on a mission despite what some may think... =P

I've found there is nothing more fulfilling to the soul than a good long day of work. We were put here on Earth to create, grow, share, serve, and become.

So my Mission President shared with us something called diagrams. Basically it's drawing out ideas and concepts along with your notes in a study journal. It's awesome for understanding, learning, insight, and receiving revelation. My study journal is my pride and joy XD Enjoy the attached pictures :)

Also, if you want to memorize a scripture everyday or two like me, I highly recommend taking a highlighted screen shot of that scripture in gospel library and making it your lock screen. BOOM! Every time you look at your phone (which probably isn't all that much XD) there you have it to look at and memorize. 

Kia Kaha!

Elder Brady