White Christmas

Hey y'alll!  Did you get the cd with the pictures?  I hope so.  There's some fun stuff on it. Sounds like you've been having a great time in Mesa.  What's Ethan's mile time?  I bet he'll be faster than me when I get home if he isn't already.  We excercise every day except Sunday, and sometimes we are at the temple on P-day so we don't do it then either.  I do a lot of push ups.  Like, more than I thought was even reasonable before I started doing them every day.  We have weights too, and of course the bikes that we're on all day.  The weather has been better here and a lot of the snow has melted.  We might get more this Friday, not sure though, because Utah weather is unpredictable.  This will be my first Christmas away from home...I hope I don't get too trunkie.  Today is Elder Seivert's birthday!  We went to a breakfast buffet over by the temple this morning.  I don't know if I'll still be here with the same companions on my birthday or if that will change next week.  We'll do something fun though, if not on my Birthday, then on yours.  Wow, so many food events going on at our house.  Make sure to eat lots of cheese and crackers.  That was always one of my favorite things about Christmas.  We had the Mexican version of Sister Udall's sausage wrapped in steak wrapped in bacon last week.  It was really good. 

Miracle Moment:  So, these last few weeks have been a little slow.  Only one baptism at the very beginning of the transfer.  That's unusual for Zion missionaries.  So we pulled ourselves together and started having what the Book of Mormon refers to as "exceeding faith."  The first miracle is that it's gonna be a White Christmas (Baptize on Christmas day!  woot!)  The second is that although we had made some plans to tract a particular apartment complex, we took a detour because we were kind of on autopilot and not thinking so we went to a Part-Member family that we had been working with.  The mom told us that she had a friend who was going through a hard time and could really use the comfort of the gospel right now and could meet with us in half an hour.  Great!  So we came back in half an hour and went across the street with them to meet her friend.  We had already met her twice by ourselves and she had told us both times that she was Catholic and she respects us but No Thanks!  The third time when we went with Sister Juarez, we found out that her husband just left, she needs the help of the  church and its members, and that she was going to be baptized before, but her mother said that she had to choose between the Mormons and her, which is the reason she was so quick to turn us down before.  And thus we see that it is through the members that people will accept the missionaries and be willing to learn.  I promise that as you introduce people to the gospel and to the missionaries, you will see the blessings of the Lord come into your life and into their lives.  Think of someone that needs the gospel.  Now stop thinking of reasons not to share it with them.  The spirit put that name into your mind first because you need to do something about it.  Will you a) invite them to church b) introduce them to the missionaries or c) give them a book of mormon?  Yes.  You will do one of those three things. They may say no, but they will not be offended.

Hoping all is well.

Love,

Elder Fine

"The Storm of the Decade"

Hello buenos padres y amados hermanos mios,

I haven't sent the pictures yet, so sorry, I don't mean to complain, but p-day is kind of stressful here and I've fallen behind on letter writing and picture sending and similar endeavors.  Today isn't even p-day, we just get to email today -  they changed this week to be p-day also so that we could participate in turkey bowls if we have the opportunity and too much proselyting time wouldn't be lost.  We might not have a whole lot of time to do P-day things because, as I mentioned, tomorrow is Thanksgiving.  I'll do my best to write a few letters though.  Weather Report:  today:  continuation of "the storm of the decade" (I think they just say that so people will watch the news), snow, a high of 17 and a low of 3.  Public advisory is to stay indoors so that when the missionaries come, you're guaranteed to be there.  If you speak spanish, you're more than likely to let them in.  My clothes are keeping me warm, with the occasional exception of the featherweight suit pants.  I have a scarf now too, which is quite helpful.  We can't exactly be on bikes in this weather, but we'll continue working even if it does mean we have to walk.  Our message is that important.  Oh, yes I got the birthday card from Grandma W. and a letter from dad.  Thanks very much!  Grandma is always so punctual with birthday cards.  I still don't have any information on my visa.  As soon as I get it, I will have an interview at the consulate and leave within seven days.  I will not leave the country without first telling you, so don't worry.  I did hear that a visa waiter in another zone left already, so there is some progress.  I think there are almost 20 missionaries in this mission waiting for their visas.  I'm glad to hear that the youth is focusing on gaining a testimony of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon.  That is the root concern of any problem that anyone has with the church.  If the Book of Mormon is true, then, as the introduction says, Christ is the Savior, Joseph Smith is his prophet, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the kingdom of God.  So many people want to argue about whether or not Lamoni really had horses.  I don't care, I know Joseph Smith was a prophet and because I know Joseph Smith was a prophet, I know that Lamoni had horses.  I also know that Lamoni's horses aren't going to save me in the kingdom of heaven, so I don't worry about it.  Anyway, the church is true.  Well, I'ma try to get some work done.  I love you all.  Have a wonderful day!

Con Carino,

Elder Fine

Giving Thanks

The weather has been a little warmer this week, but it's supposed to snow soon I think.  I'll be fine though.  I've been through fall and winter in Utah before.  Not that it was a super pleasant experience the first time, but I'll know what to expect ;) I'm enjoying riding a bike, even though it's sometimes frustrating when we ride all the way across town to have an appointment fall through.  I heard about the leadership meeting as well.  Apparently there's going to be a lot more focus on what President Monson describes as "the rescue" aka ward missionary work.  I don't know if you've seen the process that was designed by Elder Perry, but it's going to change the way Ward Councils are done.  Speaking of Elder Perry, I saw him again today, he just walked into the temple, there was nobody with him this time.  Luckily, he didn't come over and talk to the missionaries because he would have chastised us.  He always asks the missionaries how many lessons they taught last week and if it's less than 20 they're in trouble.  Don't worry about thanksgiving.  We've got more options than we can handle.  The young men's president Hno. Campbell (he's a white guy) offered to feed us since he's probably the only one in the ward that has the knowledge and ability to make an American thanksgiving meal.  Not that I'm opposed to having mexican thanksgiving, but it's nice.  We'll also be having Laotian thanksgiving because there's a sister in our apartment complex who "I LIKE MAKE FOOD AND BRING DOWNSTAIR FOR YOU OPEN DOOR AND I BRING FOOD OKAY?" so that's fun.  Regarding Ethnic food, this week Venezuela soared into first place with steak, potatoes, salad, fried bananas, arroz con leche, and fresh cheese.  I printed pictures today at Wal-Mart.  You should be receiving several in the mail this week.   I'm amazed at how quickly my time here has gone.  It felt like I was in the MTC for at least half an eternity, but here in Zion it feels like nothing.  Last week I kind of lost my animo because a lot of stuff was going wrong and we weren't teaching as much as we wanted to, and the people we were teaching weren't progressing. But this week so far has gone so much better.  Last night I went out with Jesus and taught 3 lessons and all of them were miraculous.  In the first one, we taught lesson 4, the commandments, and by the end of it Julio Cesar was so excited about observing the sabbath day because god wanted him to go to church, and living the word of wisdom because God wanted him to be healthy, and here's the best part:  When he found out he was living in adultery, he turned to his girlfriend Karen and said "Quieres casarme?" which is being interpreted "Want to marry me?" and she said "Si."  Right there in the lesson.  I'm so excited.  And I also got ahold of Rosbin, he's from Guatemala and we thought he had disappeared off the face of the earth because we haven't been able to find him for weeks, but guess what?  He went to church last week and he's still reading half an hour in the Book of Mormon every day.  That's how you know someone is elect, if they lose contact with the missionaries and keep progressing by themselves.  Wow.  Okay, so now I'm just kind of rambling on about how great my area is and of course you don't know who any of these people are.  Do you think I should divide my letters in paragraphs or have any form of reason or organization to them?  Nah, waste of time.  Well, in case you were wondering, the Book of Mormon is true. But as Geordi LaForge would say, you don't have to take my word for it.

Much love,

Elder Fine

Burned Out? Hardly.

Hi Mom!

Let's start with the bad news.  3:00 AM on the morning of Saturday, October 30, a fire was intentionally started in the chapel of the LDS meetinghouse where the Miller and Granite Spanish Wards meet.  The building was extensively damaged and will be unusable for many months.  Another building on Main St was also burned, but caught sooner.  Luckily, there are many meetinghouses here in Salt Lake, and other stakes kindly took us in, but it is further away, and many of our members walked to church before it was burned.  South Salt Lake Police have arrested the person responsible.

But that didn't stop our ward from having 3 baptisms that same morning, or having the primary program the next day.  Our Stake had a pretty cool Halloween carnival.  The missionaries had a booth where we would ask questions to the kids and give them prizes when they answered them.  Who baptized Jesus?  What did the Lord command Nephi to go and build?  Questions like that.  We spent Saturday Evening at a Member's house with the whole zone because we had to stay in and, well, might as well have a zone activity.  Details se encuentran en Lauren's email.  We had to wear proselyting clothes, so my halloween costume was a black suit, black tie, black sunglasses, and a black raincoat (which I have).  Transfers were today.  Elder Seivert and I are staying in our area, but Elder Chavez is leaving and we have a new companion, Elder Guillen, from Paraguay.  Native Companion!!!!! Yessss!  Elder Chavez was technically a native speaker but not really because he grew up in California and spoke English more.  We also are moving apartments and no longer have a car.  Hopefully Obispo Melquisedec Matute will let us use his truck to move some stuff (like my mattress because we have 3 misioneros and the new apartment only has 2 camas).  Anyway, gotta get back to baptizing nations ;)

The church is true!

Elder Fine

Patience is a Christlike Virtue

Hey Mom!  I'm still here in Salt Lake and haven't heard anything about visas.  One thing:  it snowed this week and it is possible that I could be here for another transfer or longer.  With this in mind, I would like to request, if possible, gloves and a black beanie.  I think I'll be ok without a winter coat, unless Adam wants to take a date to temple square and drop it off at the mission office (the address that I sent) on his way.  If not, and I still need one, there's a DI pretty close.  I don't think I'll need it though.  After all, we have a car.  Sorry the pictures didn't work!  I'll try again next week.  The reason that P-day is on Thursday today instead of Wednesday is because Elder David F. Evans of the Seventy was speaking to us yesterday.  That's the third time he's spoken to a group that I've been in within the last two months.  Once at the MTC, once at the regional conference last Sunday (along with President Uchtdorf and Elder Nelson, did you know they and the other apostles go skiing together?), and then yesterday at the mission tour.  It was pretty amazing.  Unfortunately, we weren't able to immediately apply the great things we learned because Elder Seivert was sick.  So we had to stay in and were able to review our notes and clean and I got a haircut.  P-day next week will also be thursday, I think, because transfers are on wednesday, I'll probably stay here in the Granite Park Stake though, they like missionaries to get to know areas, and members in the area to know the missionaries, and since I'm a visa waiter, there's almost no chance of me getting transferred.  I hope you all have a fun Halloween.  We're staying in Saturday night.  Not really sure how Sunday is going to work, but we'll be doing missionary work that night.  Baptisms the next two weeks! :)  Brenda Martinez on the 30th and Jasmin (step-daughter of Ernesto) on the 6th.  To Sister Knight:  No problem!  I made it a goal at the beginning of my mission that I would reply to every letter that I received, which, I admittedly haven't been perfect at (Sorry Diane and Sister Beecher, I owe you letters, and everyone who wrote me last week, I haven't had any time today to write letters so you'll have to wait, but patience is a Christlike attribute, so you'll be blessed).  Well, I guess that's it for this week.  I love you all. Eat lots of candy!

The church is true,

Elder Brandon Kevin Fine

Let the Holy Spirit Guide

Dear Family:

PICTURES!!!! (note from the editor: sorry about this photo teaser, my mom said there weren't any photos with the email. Perhaps he forgot or there was an attachment error. Either way, we should have some pictures of Elder Fine soon)

Ernesto got married and baptized!!!! woot.  The Lord is working some mighty miracles in that family.  12 year old Ernesto Jr. (Gordo) was baptized a month ago and is pretty much a miniature general authority.  He's very smart, has a huge desire to learn and a strong testimony and he wants his family to have it as well.  Ernesto Sr. is also amazing.  Smart, unlearned, but smart.  Gordo gave the talk on baptism at his dad's baptismal service, and it was amazing.  12 years old, pure doctrine, powerful testimony, delivered with love, and he's only been a member for a month.  He basically holds that family together.  So, I don't want to bore you with too much character background, but this is all leading up to a pretty amazing story.  Well, it was amazing when it happened and I'll try to convey the amazingness when I tell it.  So last night we went over there to get the details for Ernesto's baptismal record (place of birth, children's full names and birthdays, etc.) We had some extra time before our next appointment so we decided to watch a church film.  During the film, it didn't really seem like anyone was paying too much attention, and then afterward we bore testimony of God's love for his children and the truthfulness and power of the Book of Mormon, and that we were the only ones who have the restored gospel.  Jasmin (14), who had never been interested in talking to us, at least not since I've been here, started asking questions and really showing what is referred to in the scriptures as real intent.  Even before the movie, she was kind of ignoring us and Gordo said in a perfect annoying little brother tone "I'm gonna keep praying for you until you realize that church is good for you, you know that right?"  Anyway, probably because of him, she started paying attention.  So we knelt down and had her ask God, right then and there if this was his true church (that's how she phrased it "your true church").  And then we stayed on our knees for what could have been anywhere from 1 to 5 minutes, I'm not sure.  How do you feel?  "weird" The spirit feels weird when we don't know what it is.  It's a good weird, but yeah.  She agreed to prepare to be baptized on November 6, and this is where Ernesto Jr. says "hey, can I say something?" and in three or four of the most powerful sentences I've ever heard, bears testimony to his sister of how this decision will make her a better and happier person and that's what he wants for her.  Nothing we could say was going to top that, so we closed with a prayer and then left in absolute awe of how the spirit directed everything in there.  We didn't go there to talk to Jasmin, nor to watch a film.  We weren't even planning on having a lesson!  If you had asked me beforehand if Jasmin would accept a baptismal date that night, I would have laughed.  Gordo doesn't know a whole lot of doctrine, but he  knows how to follow the spirit when directed, and he knows that going to church is good for you, because when men speak by the power of the spirit, it carries their words unto the hearts of men.  We do not know who God has prepared.  The field is white, already to harvest.

This week is Stake conference.  It's in the conference center and we'll have the opportunity to hear from one of the Twelve.  It is also possible that one of the first presidency could be there as well.  Gettin kinda tired of always interacting with prophets here...yawn...Chiste! I love it.

Re: Christmas
It's up to you.  I get mail on Monday, so it's possible I won't have it until next week if it gets here after Monday, but what I've heard is that I will be here for a week after I receive word of my VISA.  Since I have not received word, I will still be here for at least a week, possibly more.  So, yes.  I will be here.  I don't care what you send me.  A harmonica would be nice.

Found in the pictures is the missionary light saber photo trick (done by holding a scripture highlighter close to the camera), the reason LDS missionaries support tide to go (before and after)  I think there's a mexican flag one, and the I was reassigned picture, some from GENCON 2010 pt 2 and one of me and my buddy Adam at the provo temple.

The church is true.  The book is blue.  I love the food and I'm getting pretty good at "smashing" (that's what happens when missionaries eat with members, which we do every day).  Keep building Zion.  Good luck.

Love,

Elder Fine

The Mountain of the Lord

Family, Friends, and People of Mesa,

I am having a wonderful time in the Salt Lake City Mission.  Let's start with a cool story.  This morning we went to the Temple.  It was my first time doing any redemptive work in the Salt Lake Temple.  The live session is very cool.  As we (a group of missionaries) were entering the temple, we were stopped in the hall by some bodyguard-type brethren and we saw Elder Perry walk by.  Then around the corner, smiling cheerfully, come President Uchtdorf and his wife.  President Uchtdorf looks at us, says "well this is a good looking group of missionaries" and walks over to shake everyone's hand, tells us to "enjoy the temple" and then goes into his meeting.  Needless to say we were all a little in awe.  You can't see it on tv, but President Uchtdorf radiates happiness.  He had a great big smile on the whole time and you could tell that he was genuinely happy to meet us and just a very happy person in general.  I heard that some other missionaries saw Elder Oakes as well, but we were already inside at that point.  Yesterday was zone conference.  I played Come thou Fount on a borrowed violin.  Considering that I pretty much had to sight read it there, I did a good job.  If I had time to practice it, it could have been better, but that's not what I need to be spending time on.  I got an email from President Tervort of Mision Mexico Ciudad Mexico Noroeste today.  According to him, they only have about 100 missionaries in a 200 missionary mission, a 12 by 12 mile square with millions of people in it.  They've been fasting for the visas.  I'll be glad when I get to go, but I think I'll miss it here.  I can understand pretty much everyone except Ernesto, but nobody understands him so it's ok.  I can even sort of speak spanish, very slowly and simply.  At least I won't overcomplicate any doctrine.  I forgot my camera again but there is a picture with the back of my head in it from the lds newsroom that I'll attach for you :).  Sorry Arizona had some pre-millenial storm trouble, but I suppose that's to be expected.  Especially with the way the talks are leaning in recent general conferences.  Spanish Joke! (upside down question mark) Que dice Pinnochio cuando tiene hambre?  Yo quiero ser real!

That's all folks!

Love,

Elder Fine