Elder Brigham Blake

Email: Brigham.Blake@myldsmail.net

Friday, May 22, 2015

Tropical Storms and Pushup contests

Please note that this post is out of order. It happened the week before transfers and I (Julia) forgot to publish the draft. 

Eyy family and friends,

I am finally found my groove here in the mission. It doesn't seem like there is enough time in the day to do all that we need to do. Dang there are just sooo many people to teach!! It is SUCH a blessing. Darwin is progressing a lot: he brought his daughter to church with him on Sunday and they both seemed to really enjoy it.

As for highlights this week. On Monday we left the house at three and taught Jose Angel. When we got to his house he was doing a workout routine in the street. He then told me that he was made of steal and could beat anyone in a push up contest. I took him up on it and I beat him, haha. The deal was if I beat him he had to gift the pamphlets to all his friends and give us a few referrals! It was hilarious. But after the contest, out of no where it started to rain like crazy! The streets were filled with water, up to like 7 inches on some streets. Elder Weaver realized that we left ALL the windows open so we had to run home and I got soakedddddd. It was something I will always remember. 

Anyways, this week I have made some killer progress on my BoM personal study. I just finished Alma this morning. I absolutely love the Captain Moroni chapters, and the battle entre Moroni and Amalickiah. I was reading in Section 50ish, I cant remember exactly where but it talks about Moroni fortifying the weakest cities in preparation for the battles against the Lamanites. It was a a great example of Ether 12:27. Because by fortifying the weakest parts of their cities they were better able to defend themselves from the Lamanite armies. A lot of times we need to do the same with our, spiritual armor to repel the temptations of the world. Dang time is wrapping up!

Hope all is well, until next week!
Elder Blake
The BIGGEST banana ever

​Frieny´s Bautismo..the kid is a STUD


Planning by candle light, it happens about once every 3 weeks

Puerto Plata con Elder Weaver


At the beach last p day!!

Push up contest, I did 50 Jose did 25....RAIDER PRIDE!!!!

Jose Angel, a studddd

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Transfers!

Ahh this has been a sad day. My beloved friend and companion Elder Weaver left this morning for Cotui. NOOOOOO it is a sad dayyy. He is definitely a life-long friend. But yeah, I got moved up to senior comp and I'm with Elder Viscaino. A super cool Dominican who has about 6 months in the mission. He has a lot of energy and is hopefully ready to work!

As for the work! Wow Elder Weaver and I worked super hard, and felt super guided by the spirit. We had our best lessons as usual with Darwin. He told us that he was feeling super down and that his life has been losing purpose. We testified strongly and by the end of the lesson he was almost in tears. He feels like the church and us are the only people who have supported him. Honestly, he had a very hard time saying goodbye to Elder Weaver last night. They were both in tears and I have honestly never felt such brotherly love for another man than I feel for Darwin. Please keep him in your prayers that he can find peace and tranquility. We had another awesome lesson with Melivn. He has come to church about 5 times and in our lesson last Friday, as we were testifying, the room just FILLS with the spirit. In the climax of the lesson after we taught and testified, Melvin told us, even though he gets a lot of crap from his Catholic, evagelic and Jehovah Witness that he is going to get baptized as a member of the church of jesucristo de los santos de los ultimos dias even if it's the last thing he does. And that when he has kids, will have them be baptized as well. My companion were just struck with the spirit and happiness. He still has his obstacles but its gonna be a great transfer.

I have made a lot of progress in the BoM, and I am just about to read 3rd Nefi 11. I am pumped. And honestly every time I read, I am struck at the depth and power of the Book of Mormon. I love the mission and hope that all is well back home!

Elder Blake
Service!

The House

Cesar, he has the STRONGEST testimony of the Book of Mormon. One of the strongest and most dedicated members ever!

Familia Jimenez, they're super dope members

Hermana Lulu! The grandma of the the Familia Jimenez..she's got a baptism date! She also makes traditional bowls out of Higueros. I don't know what they're called in English.

Elder Weaver

Melvin, this dude told us he is going to get baptized, we are still working on the date...he's a hugeee stud.

Me, Jose Angel (Investigator) Elder W, and Freiny (Receint Convert) These two studs killed it and went to a distrcit conference on thier own!

=)


Friday, May 8, 2015

What a week!

Wow, what a week it has been! Filled with training meetings, service and just work work work! It is crazy how fast the time has flown by this transfer.

       One of the greatest highlights from this week was our multi zone meeting on Tuesday. I got to talk to my old companion about the area and everyone is doing well! Manuel was just called to be the new ward mission leader and is killing it with the missionaries. As a matter of fact he has received a lot of blessings since his baptism. Fincallaly he is doing a lot better and now he has a girlfriend...Milagros! haha two my my converts and now dating, and according to my old companion talking about temple marriage...wow sooo amazing! Astri another one of my converts was able to go to the temple and loved it! Such wonderful blessings.

Last Wednesday we had an AMAZING lesson with Darwin. I think I have talked about him before, but basically his wife of 10 years left him, he was robbed and his car broke down all in about the span of 1 month, he is superstitious and is always super skeptical but we were able to calm him down on Wednesday. A super strong member came with us to the lesson and his testimony blew Darwin away. At the end of the lesson, he told us he would go to church every week until he received a testimony...it was amazing!

Another amazing thing happened on Monday. We decided to gamble a few lessons with people that weren't progressing much to do service for some members. We got to their house, RIGHT as they had started cleaning their patio. They permitted us to do so, and BAM, as the Anthony was asking a neighbor for an extra broom, the asked him...are you with the Mormon missionaries? If so, please tell them that I want them to come teach me right now!! I have been waiting for them to pass by my house!! We went in, taught he and it was a super spiritual lesson! And it was just such a testament of the power of service. Pray that our investigators can progress and gain a testimony!

Love you all. Hope that all is going well in the other parts of the world! 
I love teaching this gospel and I know its true!!!!

Love, 
Elder Blake 52
Elder Sotelo, my old zone leader who is dying in two weeks!

Elder Thaler, my good buddy from my group who will be at BYU with me in 2017

Elder Cedeno, my old boss hog comp.

Malan Blake's former Comp find another Elder Blake