Welcome to Pi'vul, Kentucky!

Hello! How is everyone doing today! I'm in Kentucky now!

Specifically, Pikeville, Kentucky. So, all of you told me that going to West Virginia I would hear such thick accents I wouldn't be able to understand. You all lied! I could understand West Virginians well enough, but Kentucky? I'm in The Isan (that was for you Ryan. ;D). The accents out here can get so thick. Is it even English? Who knows. As the title of this suggests, that's what people say when referring to Pikeville. An elder in Paintsville told us that when we first got there he was like, "Where's Pieville?! I want pies!" Give's you an idea, haha.

Anyway! So, about the area! Pikeville, Kentucky is a great place. I'm with Elder Davis from Bountiful, Utah, and he's a huge golfer, super funny, and we are having tons of fun together. Pikeville feels like Manhattan compared to Buckhannon, BUT, Elder Davis and I are are the "county elders" meaning we don't really cover the city. That is Elder Young and Elder Mortensen. We cover the miles and miles of hollers. Miles. And. Miles. We're the backwoods people, and it's great! Just like Buckhannon.

As it turns out, we are replacing the sister missionaries who just left Pikeville. So, Elder Davis is coming from Bedford, Virginia, and I'm from Buckhannon. He came out a transfer after me, which I guess technically makes me the senior companion by release date but not really by anything else. We are working Pikeville from the ground up! The sisters left us some people to go see, an investigator or two, but for the most part it is up to us to find and teach and baptize! Elder Davis and I have really grown a lot in the past couple days. We're learning how to not rely on our trainers and senior companions! Little fish in a big pond! Also, I'm "greenie-breaking" Elder Davis, meaning I'm his first companion after his 12 weeks of training were over. Crazy stuff! I'm excited to learn from him and teach him all that I can!

These past couple days were all just looking through The Area Book, and contacting people. We street contacted a guy last night on our way to see a part member family, The T's. His name is St___. Elder Davis went right up to him and started chatting, and I handed him a card, and we talked a little about what we believe and what we do as missionaries and how we want to share a message with him. He was all, "I'd love to hear it!" So we are going over Tuesday at 6 and teaching him! It's going to be awesome.

That's pretty much it for now. Lot's to report on next week though! Elder Davis and I can feel this area ready to boom, it just slowed down a little with the transition, but it's coming up on the flip side! I can feel it! 

Oh! By the way! Elder Trent Kelly is in Paintsville right now! I went to school with him from 1st grade to senior year! How cool is that? We were good friends back home. I gave him a super big ol' hug when I saw him. It was great.

Anyways! I love ya'll! Thanks for your continued support and prayers in my behalf. I sure need them. Prayer works! Prayer is awesome! The Lord hears and answers.

Thanks again!

Love, Brax

Yea. It's a SWEET apartment.

A poster the sisters left us. :)

Happiness is this kitchen.

(Mom caption) I'm thinking his feet are going to hang off of this bed

The hollars behind us. :)

Elder Johnson and Elder Davis, Pikeville, Kentucky

 

 

 

I MISS this family!

LOVE these two!

From Buckhannon, West Virginia to ...

Hello Family and Friends!

There is a change on all things made! I'm leaving Buckhannon West Virginia! More on that later in the letter.

We had a ton of lessons it felt like this week. We started teaching a girl named S., who has basically been a member since she was little, but isn't allowed to get baptized until she is 18, which is at the end of November. We are actually having her teach us because she's so knowledgable in the gospel and stuff. It's like a primary review for her, but it's fun. We had a fun talk with her and her mom on Tuesday.

Wednesday we had a great lesson with MR!, who is getting baptized on Sunday! He is a fantastic man and is so prepared and elect and ready to receive the gospel. We taught the Plan of Salvation, which he ate up and was completely ready and prepared to receive it. It helps that he has awesome member support in SG and our lovely friends from Thailand (that Ryan has connections with in KongKaen).

Friday we taught MR again, only this time we went out to eat first at the Hillbilly Grill. They have really delicious and really cheap (like, $4 and huge) burgers there. Mom, write that down so we can go eat up when we come back. It's really awesome. But anyway, the lesson of The Gospel of Jesus Christ went great! As usual. Because he's ready. (see also pictures).

Saturday came the first part of the news. The way our mission does it, our Zone Leaders call us the Saturday before transfers to tell us if someone is leaving so that we can get a ride to Clarksburg, and then they call Tuesday to tell us where we are going, who we will be with, and who is replacing us. The system is complete torture, but what are you going to do.

So the call came Saturday night. One of us is leaving Buckhannon. Yeah, no question in mind that it would be me. I didn't WANT it to be me, but I knew it was going to be me. As Ryan said in an email he wrote me, "You can just kind of feel when your time is over." Yeah. You can. He's right.

Sunday started the goodbyes. I said goodbye to the L. family first. He is one of the coolest guys I have ever met. I got to know him pretty well because he would have us missionaries come help him cut wood for his wood stove a lot. He's a fantastic man who was shot in the line of duty a couple years ago (he's a state policeman). After a lengthy recovery and great blessings upon him and his family, he's back in full health and has a wonderful little family. I'm going to miss them!

Monday (affectionately nicknamed "Not P-day" by the missionaries when it's transfer week) also brought goodbyes. We had ANOTHER lesson with MR at his house this time, where our friends from Thailand fed us authentic Thai food. How Ryan does not spontaneously combust from the heat of that food I will never know. I believe the guy in The Polar Express summed it up pretty well: "HOT HOT!" Very hot! I said goodbye to him, SG, Si, and J then. That's where the pictures are from.

We then drove to M's house, where I said goodbye to her, her kids. Great little family that I've gotten to know over the last 4 months. They own a little Pizza place in town called Fox's Pizza and she gives us free pizza once a week. Isn't that awesome? The pizza is really really good too.

Tuesday! I said goodbye to sister RB, who I forgot to get a picture with. My bad. I think I've already explained her history in an other email.

The R boys were also included on that day. Great little guys. they are pretty much the definition of West Virginia. Very backwoods. Very thick accents. Very country and VERY awesome.

And lastly was The N. family. Also a great family. That ended the goodbyes up until now, but some are to come later tonight. I will report on those next Monday.

The moment you've all been waiting for/skipped ahead to see! 

Tuesday night the Zone Leaders called us and said that I am going to Pikeville, Kentucky with Elder R. Davis! Sweeeeeet! I've heard it's pretty awesome down there. I don't know much about it, but I am really really excited. New adventures are coming! New possibilities and new opportunities! As our Mission President likes to tell us, "Ponder the Possibilities!" And that's exactly what I intend to do. My time here in Buckhannon has reached an end. It was a wild ride, and I'm forever grateful for the opportunities I was given, and for all the people I got to know. I'll miss it here, but I know I'll see it again someday.

I have been leaving a message with all the families that we went to say goodbye to. It is the final testimony of Moroni.

Moroni 10:30-34

30 And again I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift, and touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing.

 31 And awake, and arise from the dust, O Jerusalem; yea, and put on thy beautiful garments, O daughter of Zion; and strengthen thy stakes and enlarge thy borders forever, that thou mayest no more be confounded, that the covenants of the Eternal Father which he hath made unto thee, O house of Israel, may be fulfilled.
 32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.
 33 And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.
 34 And now I bid unto all, farewell. I soon go to rest in [the lands of Eastern Kentucky], and I am brought forth triumphant through the air, to meet you before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge of both quick and dead. Amen.

My testimony stands with Moroni. I know that Jesus is The Christ. I know that through him, we will all find "peace in this life, and eternal life in the world to come." Deny not His power, be sanctified through him. Accept him as your Savior, your Redeemer, and your elder Brother. Peace can be found. Strength will be given. The light of Christ's hope will come. Earnestly seek for his guidance. Pray in earnest. Remember your personal miracles. I testify as one of his witnesses that He loves, and that He lives.

Brax

Elder Sawyer fixing the sisters car.

View from Roy's house.

I know you just want to hang out here right mom?

Bonfire time.

Hello everyone!

Another week come and gone! Some great things have been happening here in Buckhannon! Elder Sawyer and I have really started to see some miracles take place. We, unfortunately didn't get 8 new investigators (freaking Ryan. I'm so covetous right now. ;D), but we did have some really sweet lessons with some really sweet people!

(Mom insert: Ryan, his cousin, is serving in the Bangkok, Thailand mission)

​Last P-day we went to Ron Hinkle Glass! It was pretty swell, and from what I hear Emma liked her penguin! (Sorry other family and loved ones, but custom glass is expensive!) We got to see firsthand how they make glass ornaments! They did a demonstration for us, and I did take a video, but MyLDSMail doesn't let us send videos, unless it's 7 seconds long or less. Oh well! Maybe when this SD card fills up I'll send it home and you can all see then. :)

Tuesday started off a pretty great week! We headed up to Weston with Roy Chapman to give a member a blessing who was in the hospital up there. Elder Sawyer was asked to give the blessing, and I anointed. It was a great blessing, and from what I hear she is doing well! We also got to stop by R's house, a recent convert and discuss with her about the Book of Mormon! We do it every Tuesday, and it's a great time!

On Wednesday we had a great opportunity to talk to D.! It was a pretty good visit, and we encouraged her to keep seeking the answer she is looking for, and to be serious about it. Keep praying for her everyone! She sure needs it.

We had some fun things happen the rest of the week, but nothing too major. On Saturday we had some extra miles left over, so we headed down south to a part of our area where we don't get to go very often! Not much to do down there, the cities don't get much bigger than three or four streets, but it was still really fun to be able to see all the trees and stuff like that down Southernward.

Yeah. I think I'm leaving. 90% sure. The Zone Leaders are calling us on Saturday and giving us a number, 0 1 or 2, and that means how many people are leaving the area. Then they call us on Tuesday and tell us who, where they are going, and who is coming in. I'll be honest, I'm really freaking nervous! I don't want to leave. As Elder Fielding would say the last week that he was here in Buckhannon, "Change sucks." Very well put.

Church was fantastic, as usual. Fast and testimony meeting is always great! The oldest member of the ward, Goldie Chapman, stood up in the congregation (she's too old to get up to the podium) and bore her testimony right there in the middle. First experience ever like that! It was awesome. She's a really spunky old lady. Really fun to talk to. She has over 200 posterity, 51 years of church experience, 92 years of total life! That was a powerful testimony. She'd never really been "prominent" in the church, just a nice lady doing her thing. She grew up on a farm, was a housewife and stay at home mom, her husband died almost two decades ago, and she is reaching the end of her mortal existence, but there was no doubt in her frail voice. She's knows just as well as The Quorum of the Twelve, The Counselors, and even President Monson that this church is true.

Thanks for all your support and emails and letters and packages and everything! I appreciate them more than you all know. I love all of you! Talk to you all next week!

Love, Brax

Gifts from her brother.

Glass factory

Glass factory

Glass factory in Buckhannon, WV

We love you Brax. :)

Hello everyone!

We are half way through the transfer now, and time is flying by! Thank you for all your prayers in our behalf, we saw some great miracles this week! 

We went on exchanges this week on Wednesday! I went to Elkins with Elder Jackson! Elder De Graff came here and worked Buckhannon with Elder Sawyer. We had a great time in Elkins! They have "Forest Festival" every year where they celebrate the start of Fall. I just so happened to be there on Nashville night! Tons of fun! Think the carnival/Fiesta Days in Spanish Fork. :) Just with a lot more country. 

Thursday, we exchanged back in Clarksburg for Zone Meeting! Once a month on the first Friday, the Zone convenes in Clarksburg to receive instruction from our amazing Zone Leaders! The end of this Zone Meeting brought a surprise though, President Salisbury showed up, with the movie Meet the Mormons in tow! IT WAS SO GOOD! Maybe I'm just a huge film nut, and I've been suffering through movie withdrawl for the last 4 months, but it was still absolutely awesome! 

That night we were able to meet with an investigator who has been coming to church the past couple weeks! M.R. He is dating a member named J. (Ryan knows her brother out in Khong Khen, Thailand), and is great friends with J's brother in law and his wife. It was a great lesson, he is super prepared, and Elder Sawyer set him on date for October 26! Unfortunately I will probably be leaving October 22, so I may not be there for it. Unfortunate, but one thing I've learned is that the work still goes on even if I'm not there. He's a great man and I know he will do great things as a member of the church!

Then it was General Conference! Woo hoo! Conference weekend was awesome! So many good talks. So many awesome talks! So many awesome things to talk about. Don't ask me what my favorite was. Elder Christofferson? Elder Robbins? President Uchtdorf? President Monson? Ah! All so good! I don't even know! There really isn't any way to pick my favorite. I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did! Make sure to review them often. Conference weekend provides no benefit if you only listen to them once. The church leaders don't spend months praying and fasting over their talks so you can only hear it once for 15 minutes. I've noticed a great change in myself as I've started to listen to talks more frequently. Elder Holland is my favorite. :) Don't tell him I said that.

I love you all! Thank you for your prayers in my behalf! I know they are working, and as you guys receive blessings from my service, I am also getting blessings from your prayers. I love you all! Thank you all for everything you do for me! Keep writing!

Brax

p.s. Five Fish sightings at General Conference Mom!

Hey Mom! 24 lbs down and counting!!!

The School Bus Train

Hey Em! It's a rainbow! (Mom, look at the trees!)

Elder Sawyer stole my camera!

Ha ha ha!

A gift from my brother (Ryan) in Thailand!

Meditating in my very cool Thai clothes. Thank you Ryan!!!

(mom caption: Handsome Elder with a very nice jacket.)

Fall in Technicolor. 

The sister missionaries are amazing!!!