6th P-day (Tillsonburg) New Comp Elder Brand

Monday October 3, 2016



Steve's knee is doing so well they have cancelled his doctor appointment!

He still hasn't played on it so keep praying for him!!

Good bye Elder Johnson, Good luck getting back into life and going home !!

Letter from Steve.....

This week has been incredible. I cannot put into words my love and complete admiration for Elder Brand. The difference in the spirit has been unmistakable and powerful.\

     Tough to say goodbye to Elder Johnson to be sure. He will do great things back home for his family and future family.

     I got to see elder Ward at transfers! Guess why? elder Brand was his trainer!!!! How sweet is that!! I think its' pretty incredible! I also got to see Elder Thiem there which was sweet! Elder Ward is in YSA in Kitchener if I haven't said that before and doing well! Super jealous of the fact that I see cows all the time though haha. 

     District meeting was powerful with elder Brand, like I said, he's incredible.

     Also going to the temple was sweet this week, we got to go for the "Conference trip" but we were out of boundaries so we only got to go since I am being trained and I'm not complaining haha. We got the Saratov approach devil video which was awesome because I have only seen that one one other time. and its' my favorite creation video of all of them.Elder Brand is super spiritual and has some beautiful insights from the Temple and from everything else! I love talking with him about that and we have had many incredible discussions!

     We have seen many miracles, but honestly for me they all come back to Elder Brand and how he lives and works. He exemplifies exact obedience, and always seeking to find ways to live a higher spirit of the law of obedience. For example, we always set new goals and when we read from the white handbook or preach my gospel, we are always setting new ways of applying so that we can become more obedient. Also whenever we are in the apartment eating or at night or in the morning, he makes sure "the district" is always on our DVD player I believe to always keep our minds on the work. He listens so well to me and always tries to incorporate thoughts I have into action as a priority over his own thoughts.

     There is more that he does, but I think that hopefully gives a basic idea, he basically does EVERYTHING that he possibly knows how to do the very best that he knows how to do it. I think he understands what I learned, That we have been given so many resources to missionaries to be successful, and if we just actually do it to the best we can we will find incredible success.

     We have found incredible success. The spirit we carry and I feel throughout the day is undeniable, and very different than before. When we talk to people I can see in their eyes that they feel it like they didn't before. When we seek inspiration on where to go and what to do IT IS ACTUALLY TANGIBLE AND CLEAR. We are actually being led to people that are ready. We have found SO MANY MORE people that are prepared. Initially I was simply amazed at what was happening and thought it was just luck, now I am absolutely completely convinced it is not. Elder Brand is also super loving AND bold in lessons, and contrary to what I thought might happen, people are NEVER offended. In fact, they want to change! I could go on all day, but I won't. I completely believe in obedience like I never have before. I honestly have learned more in this last week from serving with Elder Brand then my first 6 weeks in the field combined.

     Part of the reason I think we have had so much more success, is because Heavenly Father knows that if He sends us to those that are ready they will feel that spirit now. As Elder Arnold said they should feel it on their doorstep just from your fire, I feel that now. He knows that we are ready to actually help those that are ready. Everything has completely changed.

     Conference was incredible. One thing I was really taught by the spirit was how much more I need to use the Book of Mormon and how much I am failing to have total confidence in it. Elder Brand is super big on the Book of Mormon so that won't be a problem and I am super excited! I loved Uchtdorf's opening address, Elder Oak's was one of my favorite's he had ever given, Holland's brought me emotion as usual. This conference though I think I was shedding tears through almost the entirety of every session. We missed a good chunk of Bednar's which was a dagger. But from what we caught I could tell we really missed out. My testimony is stronger than ever that this is the Church of Jesus Christ, and He stands at the head. One idea I just remembered that I loved was that people should be invited to be converted to Christ's Gospel, not His church, that will come naturally as they desire to live His Gospel.

      I know that God simply wants us to obey His laws and His commandments the best that we can. And that doesn't mean we can't do that better today than yesterday, and better tomorrow than today. I know He is so happy with all progress and loves us so much, even when we choose to knowingly disobey. I would write more, this has been my favorite week of my mission, but I just don't have time haha!

Poor Elder Johnson dying at his funeral

So lucky getting to go to the temple with some member of the Branch!