Sept. 25, 2017 in Manchester, New Hampshire

We didn't get a letter from Elder Branch this week. 

Thank Heaven, the dear Senior Missionaries and Sister Blair 

posted pictures on the mission facebook page 

so we were able to see our dear Elder Branch. 

It appeared his companion was transferred 

and would be training a new missionary. 

We didn't know who his new companion was

 but just a few days ago we received a facebook message 

from a dear Sister Peterson 

who said her son was his new companion. 

They were companions a year ago in the MTC! 

Here are the pictures. =D

Their mission is receiving smartphones. 

This is the initial training on the devices. 

Sept. 18, 2017 in Manchester, New Hampshire

Hello Hello,

This week was just wild, but great!! We had a meeting with all the new missionaries and their trainers at the Joseph Smith memorial on Tuesday which went really well. It is always so nice to be up there! It is really pretty and they have hymns playing and it is great! :)

Wednesday we had exchanges with the Winthrop Elders! Elder Peterson (my mtc companion) went with Elder Bester and I went with Elder Jacobson and Elder Wells, they are a trio. We had a great day, and on this one street found 6 new people to start teaching! We also ran into one of the people they were teaching named C. and got to teach her, which resulted in her calling us later in the week on Saturday night and deciding to come to church!

Thursday we got to go teach people most of the day and then had to get ready for Elder Bednar. We had dinner with the Blair's and planned, which was super fun and exciting!

Friday, Elder Bednar came, which was awesome!! That morning was crazy since Elder Bester and I were in charge of getting everyone there and in place and ready for the meeting. We were going to take a picture outside, but knew there was a chance of rain. The Blair's were picking up Elder Bednar and we had to move people a ton because it started raining so everyone went in the gym and set up for the picture inside. Then it stopped raining so he all went back outside and set up again! Haha, but everything ended up going really well! He was fun and taught a lot. He had it be really interactive and was always having us ask questions and he was asking questions. The main message I got from it was that there are agents and objects in the world. We need to help people to be agents and use their agency. As missionaries as well as in life, we need to try to make situations for people, ones where they can use their agency to choose the right. He talked about how putting people on the spot as well as asking questions in a way that makes it the "guess what's in the teachers mind" game both turn people into objects and doesn't let the Holy Ghost touch them. After the meeting he just had to leave quick and didn't have time to shake hands, but since Elder Bester and I were sitting next to him he shook our hands and just said, "You learn things sitting up here that you learn in no other way." That was a pretty neat experience!

Saturday we were on exchanges again and I was with Elder Dudney. We had some massive pancakes up in Laconia NH and then worked in Manchester for the day!

So sad news this week. T.'s mom is getting involved with his baptism. It's a long story, but he won't be getting baptized this Friday any more and we're not sure what'll be the end result. :( M. came to church though and brought her grandson, J.! C. also came and they all loved it. M. will probably get baptized in 3 weeks, since general conference is in 2 weeks.

Sure love you all and have the best of weeks!! :)

Elder Branch

(Thank you dear Senior Missionaries and Sister Blair for the great pictures!)