The 45th Chronicle

Hello family and friends!

You may have heard that Nebraska is flooding!! I couldn't tell you from personal witness 'cause I haven't seen any of it... which is a blessing! Let me tell you what went down. Cold temperatures + frozen ground + week after week of heavy snow storms + recent warm weather + lots of rain = a ton of water! The ground hasn't been able to absorb and the rivers are overflowing. Good thing we built our house on a rock. Thankfully no missionaries are hurt and damage does't sound catastrophic. We look forward to being able to help the affected areas!

Morgan (name has been changed) is our home girl! She met Sister missionaries a couple years ago while she was at work, but lost contact with them until we found her in our area book and gave her a call! She came to play basketball with us and really enjoyed it! The next day she came to church and we had a lesson afterwards. She is now on date to be baptized on March 30th! Super exciting. It has been WAY too long since we've had someone solid on date. Super hyped!

I was just thinking recently about dealing with emotions and trials. When we wish to have those struggles removed, it is better to wish for strength. The faster we can “become," the closer we are to perfection, which really just means ...completion. This life isn't about finding comfort or staying in our happy place. This life is all about the journey. It's meant to be an adventure where we change and learn to thrive during hard times. 

Recently, I was asked to share my thoughts on how to prepare for a mission and what to expect. This was my reply: 

"I think the best advice I can give, is you'll never be totally prepared to serve a mission. Every mission, area, and companion is different. You'll go though tough times. Expect that. Missions are supposed to be hard because 'salvation is not a cheap experience'. You need to work on your personal conversion as much as you will need to work on the conversion of those you work with. Missions are so worth it. I would suggest reading, studying, and pondering The Book of Mormon and Preach My Gospel EVERY SINGLE DAY 'til you go out. Then continue that habit throughout your whole mission. I would also focus your study on developing a desire to be obedient as well as how to seek and follow the guidance of the Spirit. Sadly, a lot of missionaries go out for the wrong reasons. They go out because of social pressure from family and friends. They go out 'cause it seems like the next step in life or they don't have anything else going. They go out because of girlfriends/boyfriends or the praise of the world. That's okay if you come out for the wrong reasons 'cause at least you are out! BUT, you will not be able to stay out unless you change that reason very quickly. The reason a missionary goes out often is very different from a missionary's reason to stay out. Missions are not about YOU, they are about OTHERS. Realize you are making a huge change. Life is kinda flipped upside down your first week in the MTC and then again in the field. Truly, that'll happen throughout our mission every time you get transferred or receive a new companion. Have patience with yourself. Getting used to change takes time. If you are going through a tough experience, turn to the Lord and let the trial refine you. The 18-24 months you will get to serve will become some of the most precious months of your life. Stay strong and have no regrets. Also, recognize that you are out here to BAPTIZE. You need to eat, drink, and sleep for baptisms. Yet, remember that it's not the numbers that shows your success but your COMMITMENT to find, teach, and baptize that shows whether or not you are successful. Again, with everything, God is not looking for people to just follow a conveyor belt, he is looking for active participants in his army to ‘gather scattered Israel'."

Kia Kaha!

Elder Brady