Last Transfer....

At the Mall!

     Hey hey everybody, I hope y'all are doing good and having a great summer! It hasn't been too hot out here all though there have been some scorchers, altogether it hasn't been that bad. I'm pretty thankful for that for sure. Anyway this last week was transfers and I got transferred to a new area. My new address is :  7338 Dartford Dr.  #8, McLean, VA 22102

      Well I already wrote a little about this last Monday in my last email but I'll do it again, on Monday we went into the office to do some work there before we went and met the mission leadership. (Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders) We had MLC today and for it we all went into DC and met with Senator Orrin Hatch. We got to ask him questions and listen to him talk about his mission, it was pretty cool. It took forever to get back from that because of traffic but it was still a pretty fun day.

Saying bye to the Hodgdon's

     Tuesday was our p-day and we went into DC with the Braddock elders. We went to China Town and then went to the Mall to see the monuments. It's always sweet going to the Mall and seeing all the monuments and memorials. We got a couple things from the street vendors there too. After dinner Elder Rammell and I went to the Hodgdon's so I could say goodbye. They are a great family and I got to help them with a lot of service through my 6 moths there so I had to go say goodbye to them haha. Then I stayed up late packing because I wasn't gonna have much time the next day.

     Wednesday we went into the office to get ready for transfers, we went with Elder Andersen to pick up the U-haul and then grabbed some lunch. After lunch we headed to the airport and picked up the new missionaries. We drove in quite a few circles waiting for them because their plane was late, almost two hours, I was getting pretty tired. Finally got all the missionaries and their luggage and got into DC to see the Lincoln Memorial. President and Sister Huntsman took pictures with each of the new missionaries to send to their parents and then we headed back to the Mission Home. We had dinner, President interviewed the newbies and then we took them to the hotel. When we got back to the apartment I had to finish packing a little.
     Thursday was transfers, at transfers I helped with the training meeting and then getting luggage of the missionaries going home into the U-haul and then I found my new comp. My new area is Great Falls ward in McLean and my companion is Elder Horman from Friendswood, Texas. He has been out for a year and he's pretty cool, should be a good transfer, even if it is a one and done for me.
     Friday we did weekly planning and then did service. We helped the Robert's move some stuff for Renette, a lady living with them. She's from Cameroon and is way nice. It took longer than we expected and we were there for most of the day, we got all the stuff moved though so that's good. After we grabbed a quick bite to eat we went to the Ward Mission Leader's house so I could meet him, his name is Brother Bywater and he's pretty cool. He is a hugger though haha. He will pull you right in and hug you good.

High five!

     Saturday we did more service that again took longer than we expected. We went with Brother Jansen to pick up a swing-set. A big one. We had to take it apart just to fit it in the 17 foot Uhaul he had rented, it was ridiculous. On the way back Brother Jansen all of a sudden saw a 7/11 out of the corner of his eye, behind a gas station, in a shopping center and slammed on his brakes and turned around on a dime. He wanted a slurpee. I asked how he saw the 7/11 and he said "My Slurpee senses were tingling." Haha it was awesome! We got back to his house and they fed us dinner and after dinner we saw a baby deer in their backyard so Elder Horman and I decided to catch it. We didn't get it fast enough though and it found a hole in the fence and bounded away.
     Sunday we had Ward Council before church and then we had church. We had three investigators at church, which was awesome! I haven't had that in a long time so it was nice. We taught part of the lesson in the young women's class in third hour and it was interesting. They  didn't answer any of our questions, I guess we were intimidating or something. After church we went with Brother Rhee to give a blessing to Brother Taylor who is beginning to have dementia, it's super sad. Then we had dinner at the Rhee's and played 5 Crowns (a card game) with them, it was super fun and I won! Whooo buddy! Then we checked on a potential and while doing that we got a call from Sister Roberts asking us to come get a queen bed set out of her house and to the curb to throw away because there was bugs all over it.
     Well this week was pretty good, I'm sad I got transferred out of the office but it's kind of nice as well. I'm just a regular missionary, well almost I'm the District Leader but that's alright. I just got to learn how to be a missionary again haha, it'll be good. This area seems pretty good, the only downside is they don't have a gym! We go to the high school every morning and do stuff there on the track and football field so it's really not all that bad. I hope everyone is doing awesome and has a great week! Keep smiling.     ~ Elder Brady

4th of July

Elder Rammell eating a 6x6 burger,

that's what he called it haha

Washington Monument & Lincoln Memorial

     Hey everybody, I hope y'all are doing well and had an awesome 4th of July! I don't have a ton of time so this is going to be a short email, but I'll send some pictures. 

     Anyway for our 4th we went to a parade in Fairfax and then we had a BBQ we went to and because it was our p-day we just hung out with the Braddock elders and played board games. It wasn't all that bad and we got to go watch fireworks in the evening so that was sweet! I really like Independence Day and all that it stands for. I think a lot of people are forgetting that and it's pretty important that we don't. Freedom isn't free and it takes a lot of sacrifice to obtain that which we are blessed to have. 
     Well onto this week, I am getting transferred on Thursday and will send my address as soon as I have it. I am going to Great Falls which will be the closest to DC I have served, so it's going to be interesting for sure.
     On Monday we got to go into DC with the leadership of the mission and meet with Senator Hatch and talk with him for about an hour. It was a really cool experience and something he said that stood out to me was "Never give up on anybody." Always be there for people and never quit on them because you never know what they need or the good you're doing. 
     We changed our p-day to Tuesday and we went into DC so that why I don't have a ton of time, plus packing for getting transferred and getting ready for transfers as an office elder. It's a lot going on and kind of difficult to keep up with but its fun, gets the heart pumping. 
     I hope you all remember how great our country is and that we can help. We can also help the people around us even if we don't see it. Again sorry for the short email but I'll send some more pictures to make up for it. Have a great week!!     ~ Elder Brady

At the parade! Elder Bunn, Elder Mecham, Me, Elder Hudson, Elder Rammell, Elder Hansen

Senator Hatch, Pres. Huntsman

Leadership Conference with Senator Orin Hatch

Elder Brady sitting in Senator Hatch's chair

Winter Olympics 2002 Memorabilia in Senator Hatch's Office

Happy 4th of July!

Waiting for the truck at the shop

     Heyo everybody! It's the 4th of July and I've got a lot of things to do on America'a birthday so this might be a shorter email. I hope you all had a great week this week though.
     On Monday morning we helped the Burke elders with some service, we moved a members things from inside the house to outside. They are moving to Rigby and the truck was supposed to be there early, but it ended up not being there when we were, so we just moved everything outside. Then we had our zone activity at Burke Lake. We had a BBQ and played sand volleyball. It was pretty fun.
     Tuesday we had district meeting and it was about our calling as missionaries. It was pretty good and there were some good reminders. After lunch we went to the office to help a sister who is having problems with her tablet and then we started getting things ready for when the Woodbridge Zone comes back into our mission this week. It was part of our mission about three years ago and got sent to the Richmond Mission, but we are getting it back now. We took the truck into the shop and when we went to pick it up they were closed.
     Wednesday we picked up the truck and went to the office to do some work there and then we took some beds to some sisters. We took a bed to the Braddock sisters for exchanges and one to the Kingstowne sisters because hey are in a trio now. After dinner we went down to Ft. Belvoir and I got to see the Kough's! Woo hoo! They're the best. 

Got to see the Kough's!










     Thursday we did more work in the office to get ready for Woodbridge and help the senior couples with anything. Then we took a table to the Mt. Vernon Zone Leader's apartment but it was locked so I climbed the balcony and got in that way. We took the table up and then traded a desk they had out. When we were done with that we took a box spring up to Tysons.

     Friday we spent the afternoon in the office redoing the key indicator reporting document and that took forever. It was a bunch of redoing formulas and making sure everything will work so they can report numbers this Sunday. We only got it done for the month of July too so we have to do it for the rest of the year eventually. After dinner we went to Centreville to see if the new projector we got will work with the distance we use it at, it worked so that's good.

     Saturday we spent the afternoon helping the Andersen's (senior couple) move furniture from one apartment to another. We were getting an apartment ready for a new senior couple that's coming into the mission at the end of this month. The Burke elders helped with that so that made things a little easier. After that Elder Rammell had to fix some iPad screens so we went to the office so he could do that.

     Sunday was Fast and Testimony meeting and that was really good. I really enjoy hearing other people's testimonies, it helps me a lot. Our lesson in Sunday school was good too it was about our Heavenly Family. After church we had dinner at the Payton's, who are sweet.

     Well that was my week for the most part. Happy 4th of July!!  I hope y'all have a great day and remember what we are celebrating for. America is awesome! Have a great day and have fun with some fireworks.     ~ Elder Brady

Found my happy place!

300 New Investigators?

     Hey everyone this email will be shorter because we have to get going to a Zone Activity but I hope y'all are doing good and had a good week!
     On Monday we went into the office to finish numbers that didn't get sent in Sunday night and then p-day! We went to the stake center and played basketball which is always pretty fun. After dinner we finished furnishing a new senior couple's apartment.
     Tuesday we had district meeting and then lunch. After lunch we went to the office and did some work there and got caught up on some things. We had dinner with the Blaine's and found out Jesse, their son, had given away a Book of Mormon that we had challenged them to give out so that was pretty cool! After dinner we dumped a broken desk and then did a trial run with the new projector we got for the mission.
     Wednesday Elder Rammell had a doctor's appointment up in McLean so we went up there and it took a little while. Afterwards we went to the office until dinner because we didn't have much time anyway and then picked dinner up from a member's house. After dinner we finished putting furniture in the second new senior couple's apartment.
     Thursday we took the pick up to the shop and so we actually got to drive separate, by ourselves. It was a little weird since I've been with someone 24/7 my whole mission but it was nice too. On the way there Elder Rammell got lost so I had to just go to the body shop and then call him to give him directions. For dinner we went on exchanges with the Burke elders because they had two dinners set up and I went with Elder Hardy. He was trained by my trainer, Elder Seely, so we are brothers in missionary lingo.
     Friday we went into the office and found out the pick up was done, that was fast! So we went and picked it up and had our truck back. We spent the afternoon in the office trying to figure out and correct baptism information and it took forever! Tedious is not my forte. We had dinner at the Alplanalp's house, they're super sweet, and I played catch with one of their boys with a football. Whoo hoo! After dinner we went up to Arlington to pick up a desk and a chair and then take it to some sisters. At a stoplight on the way there a bus pulled up next to us and the driver opened his window and started talking to us. The light went green so we both started going slow and held up traffic but he told us he wanted missionaries to come back to his house so it was worth it haha.
     Saturday we helped a non-member family move, they were literally moving from their house to the one next door to them. It was pretty crazy. One of the couches was huge and heavy and a big old pain but we got it down the stairs eventually after a lot of work. It was a townhouse and I swear they have the worst design flaws! Oh well, the family invited us to come back for a BBQ so we are going back the 4th of July. We then had dinner with the Wadsworth's and then tried some potentials but no one answered. Gotta keep pushing on.
     Sunday was good but I was having a hard time staying awake in church. I was soooo tired! I made it though and actually still got some things out of the lessons which was a miracle because I was basically a zombie. We had correlation and then ward council after church, it was probably Bro. Fleming's last time as Ward Mission Leader because he just got called to be a counselor in the Elder's Quorum. Sooo we are probably going to get a new Ward Mission Leader. We went to dinner at the Fleming's and then had a lesson with Tony who was a less-active but from us going over there is now active so that was good, he's a cool guy.
     Well this week was pretty good, as a mission we had a goal for 300 new investigators, which is a ton for our mission! Usually we get just under 120. We did t quite make 300, we got 278 but that is still a ton and is a huge leap for us so it was really good! It was a good week. I hope you all have a great week this week and smile, it'll make someone's day!
     ~ Elder Brady

Another One Down

Golfing. Elder Hudson, Elder Shelley,

Elder Bunn, me, Elder Rammell.

     Hey hey everyone I hope y'all are doing good and had a great week this week. My week was pretty good we had a couple things come up that threw our schedule off a little bit but that happens quite a bit anyway. I want to wish a Happy Father's Day to my Dad! He's been an awesome example to me and spent so much time with me, I've learned everything I know from him and I'll always be grateful for all he does for our family. You're the best Dad!
     Alright so on Monday we did our shopping and then went golfing again and it was super fun but super expensive out here, it's ridiculous. After that we played some card games until dinner and then after dinner we loaded Elder Shelley's stuff into the truck and took him up to Tyson's. It sucks we were all only together for a week and a half but he will do awesome in his new area and I wouldn't be surprised if he came back to the office next transfer.
     Tuesday morning we had our Zone Training and they talked about how we can find new investigators and invite more people to be baptized. The mission set a goal of finding 300 new investigators this week and if we do that it'll be huge! The most we've ever found in a week was two weeks ago at 147...... Yeah it'll be huge to get 300. We had lunch and then went down to Lorton and got a load from an apartment we are cleaning out down there and took it to the storage sheds and then went to Home Depot to get a lock because one of the ones on the sheds quit working so well.
     Wednesday we spent most of the day finishing up the apartment in Lorton. While at the storage sheds we loaded two couches in the truck to take them up to Alexandria but our GPS quit working and the roads are knarly so we didn't want to try to find the places. We spent the evening in the office doing work there and getting caught up.
     Thursday morning we switched an went on exchanges with the Braddock elders. I went with Elder Hudson and we tried a couple people but no one was home. We had a dinner in Manassas so it took us a while to get there but the guy that took us out to dinner was pretty cool. He's basically a redneck of was awesome! We were supposed to meet with a member and an investigator after dinner but the investigator never showed up so that was a bummer, but we had institute to go to anyway and that was pretty cool.
     Friday morning we switched companions back and we had the office staff meeting. Like 5 minutes into it the power went out so we had the meeting in the dark! It wasn't like pitch black, it was actually fairly light because of the Windows so we could see but it was still kind of weird to have a meeting in the dark. We at lunch there in the dark too! Then we went up to Falls Church and finished cleaning out an apartment up there, got that one all done too.
     Saturday we met the Andersen's (senior couple) and helped them get a new apartment ready for a new senior couple coming in. We did a lot of moving furniture and things around making sure it was just right for Sister Andersen. After that we ran a couch and an armchair up to theLangley sisters and dumped theirs because it was in pretty bad shape. That was pretty much our day.
     Sunday at church I got to help pass the Sacrament. I've done this quite a few times in this ward and it's something I enjoy doing. When I pass the Sacrament I help people obtain and use the atonement of Jesus Christ in their lives and I cherish this responsibility. It was great. After church we had dinner with the Budd's who are an awesome family! After dinner we had a game night with them, we played Rook and Pit. We play both these games at our family reunions back home a lotand I had never played them before but I'm ready for them now, watch out here I come! It was a lot of fun and they are a sweet family, it was a good way to spend Father's Day.
     Well that was my week, it was a good week and I hope y'all had a good one too. I'm thankful for my Dad and all he has done for me and I'm thankful for my Heavenly Father. I know he loves me and that he loves everyone, every single person. He wants us to succeed in life. He wants us to be happy. That happiness is found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it can and will change our lives for the better without a doubt. I hope y'all have a great week this week and do something that makes you happy!     ~ Elder Brady

Elder Rammell smashing his face into a cake! 

Elder Rammell golfing with a bat!

Quad Squad to Trio to Companionship

Golfing. Elder Shelley,
Elder Rammell, Me, Elder Tesch

     Hey everyone I hope you're doing good and loving life. This week has been a crazy week. But it's been crazy awesome too!

     On Monday we went golfing so Elder Fagan, a senior missionary, and it was pretty sweet. I have golfed like twice in my life but it was super fun. We played 18 holes so it took a couple of hours but we had a blast and it was cool to do something I haven't done in a long time. We had dinner at the Sawyer's and gave the daughter a blessing, so that was a cool experience. Giving a blessing always is. We went tracting and had one lady say we could come back, he we went to the office to do the Warrior Report.
     Tuesday we went to the Hodgdon's to do some service for them. We chopped some trees down and pulled out a big stump with the truck. That was awesome! While there Elder Andersen called and said an apartment was closing today and somehow it hadn't been communicated to us so we had to drop everything and go clean it out. It took the rest of the day and we had the truck stacked with stuff but we got it done.

Service at the Hodgdon's. Elders Rammell & Shelley,
Dallin, Sarah, Me, Elder Tesch, and Jonathon

     Wednesday morning we went to the office to do some work there while Elder Tesch was doing some last minute things before he leaves tomorrow morning. We went down to Mt. Vernon to get lunch with the elders down there so Elder Tesch could say bye to them. We were rapping up a storm it was awesome haha. The Jones' had us over for dinner, they are great. After dinner Elder Shelley and I went on an exchange with Bro. Gillespie and tried some people but we didn't have much luck.
     Elder Tesch left today (Thursday) at 4:15 in the morning, no more Quad Squad. I'm gonna miss that guy he was a sweet dude. We went to MLC today and they were talking about helping the mission work better together so they set a goal of finding 300 new investigators next week. That's a lot because the highest we've ever got was this week with 147 new, so it will be a big jump but would be freaking awesome! Then we went to the office and fixed an iPad and a tablet for two missionaries. After dinner we went to the Weber's and taught Will a bomb lesson on the Plan of Salvation! We drew it out with him and taught him along the way and then had him teach his mom, it was great.     

     Friday we went to the office to finish Sister Huntsman's transfer board cards, and then we took them out to the mission home. Got some lunch and met the Andersen's (senior couple) at the storage sheds so they could see what we have to put in a new senior couples' apartment. Then we went up to Herndon to clean out an apartment which was easy because there wasn't very much in there. We went back to the office and told Elder Andersen the apartment was ready to close and he told us we had one to clean out PRONTO! Sooo we dropped everything again and headed down to Lorton and the apartment is packed! It has so much stuff in it and we are supposed to be out of it already because Elder Andersen told them we had vacated. He had actually closed the wrong apartment early so we have some work to do.

Nerfin'

Elder Rammell, Me, Justin Maeger, Elder Shelley



     Saturday morning we blitzed the area with the Braddock elders. Elder Bunn and I were tracting and we talked to a couple people and we found a girl who said we could try back but she is YSA age so Braddock gets to go back. After lunch we put furniture in the new senior's apartment and then got a text from President Huntsman asking to meet with us. We found out Elder Shelley is leaving, which is a big bummer! An elder went home so President needs Elder Shelley to go and take his place. We're all bummed. Dinner was at the Maeger's and they are great! After dinner we had a nerf war with their son, Justin, and we went thug and put a bunch of bandannas on haha it was super fun. The sisters showed up so we hid and when they came in we ambushed them, it was freaking awesome!


Elder Shelley and I camping on the porch!




     Sunday we went to church but only for the first two hours. Sacrament was great and then we taught the lesson in Gospel Principles class about The Final Judgement. We had to leave after that so Elder Shelley could go to church in his new area. We picked him up after and came back to dinner with the Melton's and then back to the apartment so Elder Shelley could pack. Then we went to the office to report numbers. Elder Shelley and I slept on the porch and it was awesome! It
was the closest thing to camping I've done in a long time!

     Well this week has been crazy but it's been one of the most fun weeks of my mission. Today is Elder Shelley's last day with us and then he goes to his new area so we are going to have a blast today! I hope y'all have a great week and keep smiling. Life is good.

     ~ Elder Brady

Will Weber and I

Transfers/Quad Squad

Temple Trip. Elder Bunn, Elder Hudson, Me, Elder Chan.


     Hey hey y'all how are ya doing? I hope you guys had a great week and that summer is starting to kick in and you're enjoying it. This past week was pretty good, there were some ups and downs with transfers and all but it's been good.
     So on Monday for our P-Day we started it off awesome and went to the temple! It was great, I love the temple and it's been awhile since I had gone so I was pretty stoked to go! I wish we could go more as missionaries but oh well. When we got back we went to the mission home for our Zone Activity, a BBQ and volleyball, ping pong, and basketball. That was super sweet too. When we got back to the apartment Elder Chan started packing and then we went to the office and did the Warrior Report.

Springfield District.

Me, Elder Hansen, Elder Chan, Elder

Hudson, Elder Bunn, and Elder Mecham.

     Tuesday morning we had District Meeting and it was one of the more fun ones I've been too. It was all about finding and talking with people, we did this activity where we could only talk to a certain amount of people and some of them would be interested some wouldn't. It really reinforced the whole "talk to everyone" and how we don't know who is prepared but the Lord does. After lunch Elder a Chance stayed with Elder Hudson and packed some more while Elder Bunn and I went and put furniture in their new apartment because they are moving this transfer. That's a bummer but nothing we can do.
     Wednesday we picked up the U-haul with Elder Andersen and finished some last minute things at the office. Then it was into Reagan National Airport to pick up the new missionaries and to the Lincoln Memorial. After that we went back to the mission home and had dinner and did a PowerPoint for them about the mission. Then we took them to the Hotel and headed to bed.

Saying bye to Elder Chan

     On Thursday morning we were late getting to the hotel but so were President and the APs. The van which the APs were driving broke down so President and Sister Huntsman went and grabbed the old van so Elder Chan and I ended up being the first ones to the hotel even though we were late too. Finally got them to transfers and had the trainings, then lunch and transfers. My new companions are Elder Tesch (from Eden, Utah) Elder Shelley (from Provo, Utah) And Elder Rammell (from Bountiful, Utah). Elder Tesch goes home in a week and once he goes home we will be in a trio but for now we are the Quad Squad! After transfers Elder Tesch had the departing temple trio while Elders Rammell, Shelley, and I went to the office to get stuff done. Then we met the departing missionaries at the mission home for dinner and departing testimonies. This is one of the coolest parts of the transfer, hearing the testimonies of the missionaries going home.

Quad Squad.
Elder Tesch, Elder Rammell, Me, Elder Shelley

     Friday morning we woke up just after 3:00 am and picked up the missionaries at the hotel and took them to the airport. Then we went to Denny's for the traditional breakfast and there was this guy sitting outside, talking to a napkin ....super weird. After breakfast it was nap time! Woke up for lunch and went to Centreville to get the van but it was still broken down, then we got a call from some Hermanas in Mt. Vernon who were locked out of there apartment so we headed down there to unlock their door for them. We ate dinner at Su Pollo down there, it's the best, and then got back to our area. Elder Tesch and Elder Rammell went to see a recent convert while Elder Shelley and I went tracting. We had one lady that was nice but still didn't want us to come back.
     Saturday we went to the office to work on the transfer board cards. Then we went to Centreville and met Elder Kinard (senior missionary) at Sears to pick up a fridge. Elder Rammell tried to peg me on "What Are The Odds" that I tried to sell a fridge to someone but he lost so he had to do it and it was hilarious! He was trying to talk this young couple into buying a fridge, oh my heck I was dying it was awesome! They didn't buy the fridge but it was funny. We picked up a fridge and took it to an apartment in Warrenton and then Elder Tesch had some members from down there take us to lunch. We got back to the office and finished the transfer cards then went to the Bishop's house and introduced Elder Rammell and Elder Shelley to the Bishop. He asked us to go see the Payton's so we went and saw them and it was really good.
     Sunday was fast Sunday and it was pretty good, during sacrament almost like everyone that bore their testimony was saying goodbye because they're moving out or something like that. It was still pretty good though. After church we went to the office so Elder Tesch could work on the Mission History and Elder Shelley, Elder Rammell, and I could weekly plan. For dinner we went to the Fleming's for a BBQ and that was awesome. We had to run back to the office to send out stake reports and then went to the Maeger's and talked with them for awhile, they are a super sweet family! We ended the night at the office doing key indicators.
     Well this week was good and had some happy things and not so happy things but that's life. Things are going good and being a missionary is awesome! I hope everyone has a good week this week and thanks for all the support!     ~ Elder Brady