May 28, 2018 in Ellsworth, Maine

Hey friends!

This week was nice! We got to see lots of those were teaching. Lots of them are still in between making the changes in their life they need, but they are coming along. We also got back in contact with lots of others.

Church we had lots of people planned as usual, but we just had A. and K. again. P. had to work, J. didn’t make it, and lots of those who are less active who’ve been returning had other things come up. Oh well, better luck next week. Church was especially good this week. I read the sacrament prayers and was reminded of how merciful the Lord is to us. Sometimes when someone we’re teaching cancels and appointment, just doesn’t show up for an appointment, or doesn’t do what we asked and invited them to, it makes me frustrated. I always get over it quickly, but in the moment it’s easy to think maybe we should just give up on them and help someone else. Of course there are times where we have to if they don’t have real intent, but even those who are seeking truth with a real desire make mistakes. I thought about how each week we probably do a billion things that make God sad for us, and more than anything he just wishes we would obey. He never gives up on us, and that gives me strength to not give up on anyone we’re helping as well as long as they continue to strive.

We had exchanges with Machias Elders which was good, we both went to their area. I got to teach an awesome family who will really be blessed by the gospel. Later in the day, we found a new man for them to teach who was a photographer as well as artist. He showed me lots of his sketches which I loved! He is from France as well which was really cool, I loved his accent! He has grown a nice Mainer beard though so he fits right in.

Yesterday we set up a booth in Bar Harbor and did the Book of Mormon experiment with people! We invited them to read a page of the religious text, high-lighting how many times Deity is referred to. We also invited them to mark anything they like from it. We met some great people and had a blast! We got several people’s information, and had about 40 people read pages! It was interesting to see how some people had great comprehension, while others had amazing pages with testaments of Jesus Christ, but didn’t open their hearts or understand any of it! It will be exciting to have more people read as the summer progresses.

Book of Mormon experiment...

Today we were able to hike in Acadia with the Rockland elders which is always a good time!

Hope you all have a great day,
Love,
Elder Branch :)

Book of Mormon experiment

Cool art at Frenchman's

Random past Mission President bought us massive cookies - how nice was that!

Pre-zone conference hike in the morning with Elder Donn

Finished

Jan. 29, 2018 Last week in Manchester, New Hampshire - winds of change, great week, and got crashed.

"Do you hear that, those are the winds of change." -Randal from Monsters Inc.

Hello Everyone!

It is amazing how much serving a mission changes you, and I think Manchester has changed me the most. I've been here for 5 transfers (7.5 months) just like my first area. In other places I have learned a lot more about the scriptures, about how to talk to people and things like that. Here in Manchester I have learned a lot about what really matters in life, how to fit the basics into a busy schedule, and how to be a leader. There are so many things and people that I'll miss in Manchester as well as around the mission, but I'm excited for new opportunities.

I'm heading up to Ellsworth Maine! It is on the coast, includes Acadia national park and bar harbor, and is going to be awesome! I'll be training a new missionary there who will be arriving on Wednesday, so neither of us will know the area. I'll also be serving as a district leader with three other sets of Elders in my district, so it is going be to an exciting transfer!!! :) I'm excited to have a lot more time to focus on the people we have to teach and serve. I've got some ambitious goals for rest of my mission. (Also, to follow up, a couple months ago I said I wanted to run a mile under 6 minutes. Life got busy so we didn't get to run for a long time, but we have been again and I ran a 5:48 this week)

This week was good, lots less time to work, but we found some people and had G., D., and B. at church again! They really liked it and are excited to come again next week! B. is doing really well and has a ton of potential. He likes how church feels peaceful and he is reading in the Book of Mormon! He understands that coming back to God and making changes in his life are important.

There was a baptism of an awesome family in the Bedford Ward this week, and we had our little friend D. come, as well as their family friends who we're teaching, R. (23) and his little brother D. (5). R. really liked the baptism and although he couldn't make it to church this week, he is really excited to come next! :)

The baptism was of a family named the F.'s who were found my first week in Manchester at the fourth of July parade. They have learned a lot, given up coffee and tea, and were almost ready to be baptized when they called it off (this was in December.) They liked the people, but didn't know if the Church was true. They decided to keep learning from the missionaries, but to go look at other churches. They said none of the others felt right. The family has a little 8 year-old daughter who LOVED the Book of Mormon. Every night she'd carry it out to the family and have them read before bed. As the daughter did this, the family was touched and had the spirit tell them the Book was true. They then were baptized this week. It is AMAZING the impact a little 8 year-old girls had on her family, and will for generations to come. :)

Love you all and have a great week,
Elder Branch :)

=D

Guy crashed us.

We had a green light and he was in left lane. 

We were driving in the right lane and he accelerated into back side of our truck.

Nov. 4, 2017 in Manchester, New Hampshire

Merry Christmas!

This week was pretty good, Mission Leadership Conference on Tuesday was good as usual. We were in a parade this week and it was pretty funny. In a two hour long Christmas parade, we were the ONLY float themed on Jesus Christ! Our float was a nativity and we handed out #LightTheWorld advent calendars. If you haven't heard of that yet, check it out! It's a worldwide initiative to do service each day leading up to Christmas! Elder Petersen and I were talking to people on the sides of the road and handing stuff out, and ended up getting left by the float!! 😂 We just walked along after that and asked people if they had seen our float and talked about how it was the only one about the real meaning of Christmas.

One really sad experience was as we were walking back to our car we encountered a man, his young son, and the boys friends. We talked to them and got a lukewarm from the dad who said they were another Christian faith. As we talked to the kids about Christmas we asked them if they knew what Christmas is all about and the first things they said surprised me. People always talk about how Christmas is really commercialized, but people and kids I've met have always known it is all about Jesus Christ. These kids however all shouted out things like: toys, gifts, money, Santa, and food! We told them about how it is because we're celebrating Jesus's birthday and they were clueless. Thanks mom and dad for teaching me the true meaning of Christmas! :)

I hope we all remember to love and serve others this season to honor Christ and His example to us as our Savior.

So, R. and G. played football with us on Thanksgiving. They couldn't make it to church this week, but D., G.'s younger sister who is a junior, came and she brought a friend! They both had a great time and D. wants to keep working towards baptism. It is great to see them all slowly making changes! :)


Love you all!
Elder Hunter Branch