AuGuSt 18tH

It is ok. The only reason it bugged me is because I wasn't told any thing about it, so it was a suprise to me as well. (Note: Braden is taking about the reason why they were taking money from his MSF to pay for the suit case) It would be alot of fun for you to come down and pick me up from my mission. Chris Stephenson got his Eagle? Last I spoke to him he wasn't even trying for it. There wasn't much in Natalies letters but I had plenty of time to write so I sent a letter off the Monday after I got hers so it should be coming in a week or two. I will most likely get transfered at the end of this cycle because they normally don't keep younger missionaries in an area for longer than 4.5 months. But you never know. I didn't get any mail this week. I still haven't received the books either, are they the 2 that I asked for? Almost every one speaks enough English to communicate, but most people know quite a bit. (Note: We asked him if they speak English at the fast food places he eats at) We get the New Era, Ensign, and Church News. (Note: We asked him what resources does he use to prepare his talks and if we should send him the magazines?)

The investigators are doing ok. It is so hard to see anyone now that their school has started and everyone is back to work. They just got off of their winter break. Elder Vernon and I found a potential family named the Zianucha's. They are originally from Zambia, and seem to be pretty interested. I am still enjoying my mission alot. I taught the lesson this Sunday in Gospel Principles and next week have to give a talk in Sacrament meeting. (Wow, this is the kid that would get nervous saying a prayer or even blessing the sacrament) We had Zone Conference this Saturday. It was really good, President Probst asked me about the suitcase thing as well. But now our mission is supposed to focus on keeping people active and not just baptising. So not to much has changed in our area, we only have 3 less active people so not to hard to get that done.

Love you all lots
Braden

august 11th

Mom, what ever happened with JC Penny's and my Suitcase charge? Because they are taking out 200 rand from my MSF a pay period to pay for it.
For
two weeks we only get 550 Rand which is about $80 so with the 200 rand being taken out it is about $45 for two weeks of food and supplies. So this week I only had about $15 so I had to charge some things on my account.
(Sues
note: Braden's suitcase broke the first time he used it so JC Penny's was replacing it and they were suppose to pick up all the charges, not
Braden)

The last few P-days we kind of just rested nothing to exciting. We do watch DVD's with investigators but we can order anything that we would ever use.
We haven't seen Sydney this week, Sheena was sick when we went to go teach her and she didn't come to church, Elder Vernon saw Bongewa when we were on exchanges with the Zone Leaders, so I haven't got a clue how anyone is doing. We don't pass or bless the sacrament, but we get to give a talk in sacrament meeting again, for the 3rd time since I've been here. We teach and give talks so often at church. The foods that I normally cook are hamburgers, grilled garlic/sweet basil chicken, homemade pizza, chicken soup(noodles & chicken made separately), eggs, egg sandwiches, grilled bacon, mashed potatos and beef strips, and what ever else I can combine to get something good. (Sues note: We asked what kind of food has he been
cooking)

The fast food places down here are KFC, McDonalds, Steers (a more expensive McDonalds), King Pies, and Romans(pizza). We have a Dinner Appointment every Sunday, this week with the whole Flowerday/Dixon family, about 25 people. (Sue's note: We asked what kind of Fast Food places are in Beacon
Beach)

We haven't done anything too fun or seen anything that fun lately. My shoe soles are fine. I got 3 letters from Natalie on friday. I sent you my Memory Card, I also sent Natalie a letter. It takes a long time to get anything when we order it and it is extremely expensive to mail so I will mail alot of things all at once. There is a new rule in our mission that anything that cost more than $25 needs to be approved by the President, even scriptures... Really Dumb I think. You don't need to mail me any money, if you want to just put it in my account and I can get it out if I need it.
I
do remember Justin Wisnewski. (Note: Kiersten was over at his girlfriends
house) The reason so many missionaries are getting called in is because we are loosing alot of missionaries. (Note: On the Missionary Mom web-site more missionaries are being called to Cape Town than I have noticed in the
past) We have our Zone Conference this week so that will be the next time we talk to him. (Note: I asked him if he has talked to his Mission President
lately) Transferees don't come for another three weeks. We will get
the
news then. (Note: The news if he will be transferred or not)

Any ways love you lots
Braden

Its the 1st of August already!

Elder Vernon is very cool, he is as nerdy as I am. I am sending my memory card home today. It is going very well transitioning over to Elder Vernon.
We like alot of the same things and we talk about anything that comes to our mind, mainly music. Elder Vernon has been out for a year. Its not to much different from not being with the District Leader, and I have only had to go to two meetings with him. Elder Vernons parents moved to England because
his dad is a CEO and its based in England. Elder Barton's E-mail
addressis- natethequad@yahoo.com You can send Elder Barton the weekly
E-mail. I am doing very good with out Elder Barton but it's very weird not seeing
him anymore. He is going to BYU when school starts back up. With
Elder Barton we used to make homemade pizza, but I have had South African pizza and I personally like it alot better than American pizza. (We asked him
about the pizza down in South Africa) There is a very large variety of
different pizzas here. Two weeks ago we used all of our MFS on eating out because Elder Vernon doesn't know how to cook. So I had to use my home account on drinks and stuff. (He has only used $2.84 this last month total, drinks must be pretty cheap down there) But I am starting to cook for him and am teaching him how to cook. Have you looked at Google Earth for Beacon Bay? You can see the ocean and it is so incredibly beautiful. (We had asked him if he was very close to the ocean) I don't really remember Cape Town to much I was ony there for one day, but what I saw was pretty nice. I don't know if I will get transferred on next transfer but this next group coming in is going to be very large, because the leaving group is very big. So there is a good possibility. At night I am out like a light nothing can wake me up, of course we walk all day so you use all your energy up. Also I have lost at least 15 lbs. We have church at 1:00. It takes about 20 minutes to drive to church. Our ward is very tiny their is about 80 members in our ward total. I have not gotten any mail for at least 3 weeks. We get 2 hours to study in the morning and I usually study for at least 30 minutes at lunch. I don't exercise any more than the walking and biking. My pants still fit, they are a little loose but thats what a belt is for. I got my hair cut at a hair salon.

Its really cool I am kind of like a senior companion because Elder Vernon has no clue about the area so I make most of the decisions. Also I am supposed to help Elder Vernon with all the District Leader Stuff. We are teaching a colour man named Sydney. He is a very interesting man. His mother is Xhosa and Zulu mix, and his father is white. He clams to be Christian but believes in Reincarnation. But we taught him the Restoration and the Plan of Salvation. Also last week we found a lady named Bongewa Vena. We taught her the Restoration, & watched the Restoration DVD with her. She then called us and asked us to come back last Saturday and she really wanted a Book Of Mormon. Also this week we had an investigator at church for the first time in 4-5 weeks. Sheena Els, Sister Hetties daughter that we are teaching came to church for the frist time in almost 3 years of investigating the church. So I am really enjoying this week. Elder Vernon is still trying to get used to a White Area and he still thinks that missionaries shouldn't even be in Beacon Bay. (When Braden refers to White area he doesn't mean White People, I think it is a term that there hasn't been a lot of missionaries in the area) But I am trying to knock that out of him. It's really cool I know all the members but no one else in our District does.

Love you all Lots
Braden