Mexico Week 52: WORK

Hello everyone!!


Well thank you for your letters and your kind words that really help me in the week. Each Monday is like the time to re-energize my spirits by reading your letters and emails. Things sound like they are going good. Are you thinking about wanting to move mom? I hope things keep going well in your lives and I know that the Lord is blessing you all. I only got like 9 1/2 months left in the mission and the time is just flying by. Before we know it I will be home and my life will have started. Meanwhile its on to WORK in the field of our Savior.


Well things have been getting better here in Loma Florida. We had a decent week this past week. It's been hard but I know that the Lord and the Mission President trust me alot when they send me to the hardest areas in the mission to get the work started (or maybe it's just punishment) hahahaha just kidding. This past week we really focused on teaching a family of 5 that we found. We had a great family night with a member family and we watched the movie of the Restoration. The dad in the family had a lot of questions about Joseph Smith and what he did so we felt it appropriate to watch the movie with them. It was a neat experience and the Spirit was very strong. This family always has alot of questions about the gospel and it really means that they are learning and wanting to know more. The other night we had a great lesson with them. They started talking about Baptism and wanted to know more about it. We started talking about the Priesthood and Baptism. It was a great lesson. We also felt impressed to talk about the Temple and we did. It was a great lesson and every time we talk with them the Spirit really guides the conversation and lesson. That night they accepted Baptism!! Now we just need to help the brother stop smoking and drinking because he does a little bit. It will be another family in the presence of God :) I cant wait!!


We have been contacting alot lately. Hey Alex, how many did you and your comp have to contact each week in Utah? Hahahaha the contacting is what has been hard for us. We will start up talks in the street and get an appointment but then we go by their house and they are not there, or it doesn't exist, and it's really hard because we have a ton of pueblos in our area!! So we are always taking buses and then they aren't home for the appointment. That is what has been hard for us right now. We keep working though. I have learned alot lately that WORK is what makes us happy. If we can learn how to do WORK we will have success in life, love our family and friends more, the Spirit will guide us, and we will feel the love of God in our lives. WORK is not fun all the time but it's what brings us satasfaction in our lives.


I have also learned a lot about Prayer. Every time we pray...we should receive revelation and guidance from the Lord. He really talks to us especially as we pray. Have you ever listened to what the Spirit has to say as you are praying?? He tells you what you need to say. Every prayer = Revelation. If we don't get it...it's because we don't know how to pray...because the Lord always answers. He loves us too much no to hahaha.


I love the mission and really the blessings of serving will come. I must be more humble to see them right now in my life, but I know that as we WORK the Lord always helps, guides, and bless us. If we give Him a crumb...He gives us the whole piece of bread!! I love you all and miss you all tons! Hope you all have a great and wonderful week!!


Love,
Elder Brady Lester

I uploaded more pictures!! Take a look at them!!

Mexico Week 38: 11 Months and Baptisms of Reina and Karina

Hey there everyone!!

Well first off I want to wish a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my wonderful Mother!! I really hope you have a great special day today ma and I love you tons!! Thank you everyone for you letters and emails :) I always love Mondays to be able to read them and write :) Well this past week was just a great week and I have been having alot of fun and the Lord really is blessing me. This past week we had a zone conference and I learned alot! I really learned how to listen to the Spirit and help our investigators feel it as well. I also saw Elder Rojas hahahaha, and he looks the same poor dude. I really hope that he gets things done! I have pictures to upload but forgot my camera to upload them so we will just have to wait till next week :(

Well yesterday two more daughters of God entered into His presence as they were Baptized yesterday! Hermana Reina and Hna Karina both got Baptized!! It was a wonderful day. In the morning when I woke up yesterday I had this feeling that I should give my chance to Baptize Hna Reina to someone else hahaha. Crazy I thought and I just shrugged it off. But all morning it was bugging me. Well I got to the church and I saw a young man, Jasiel, who is in our ward and again the impression came to me. Well I talked to Hna Reina and told her my feelings and asked her if it was alright that this young man Baptized her. She hesitated because really wanted me to do it but she finally said yes, so Jasiel Baptized her and my comp Baptized Hna Karina. It was a wonderful service and the Spirit was so strong. I almost cried hahaha because I really love them. I really love my investigators. They are like best friends or family.  This upcoming Saturday the husband of Cony and her daughter are going to be Baptized too!! I am so happy that finally they are going to be a united family in the church. Hermano Euloterio is his name, and all he wants to do is be sealed in the Temple with his family. He has told us that that is his goal and nobody is going to stop him!! Right now we are just working with our other investigators and we want to see some weddings here soon!! 

I am really loving the work here and we are so busy. I need to finish this letter because we have appointments but the work is great. I love missionary work. I love being here in Mexico serving the people and children of God. I know that this is the true church. The Book of Mormon is true and nobody can tell me other wise. I have such a testimony of that book. President Reeves just challenged us to read it by Christmas so if you want to join me that would be awesome! I know that we can learn so much from that book :) It is a blessing that we have it. I gotta go but I love you all. I am thankful for your support and I pray that the Lord will always bless you as long as you are obedient :) 

Love, 

Elder Brady Lester 

Letters to Siblings and Mom

Dear Kolby,


Thank you for your letter bro. I want to take a little time to write you :) You are awesome Kolby!! I am glad that you are going to start reading the BoM because my testimony of that book is what really helps me help the people, because I know without a doubt that it is true. It has helped me so much and I see the blessings of living by its teachings. Keep it up brother! Things here are awesome! Elder Escamilla and I are doing great. We Baptized 2 more yesterday! We are having a great time working together! New foods...not really. Yesterday I did buy a little bag of crickets to eat with lime :) It was good! I love you tons Kolby!!


Elder Lester

Dear Braxely,


Hey bro!! How are things? Thank you for your letter but please write more hahaha! That's good that you are getting things done with scouts! Even if its boring, try to make it fun. If you do that you will enjoy it and learn even more! Well things here are great! I am learning tons and really feel the love of God in my life. Do you feel His love? I hope you are praying and reading the BoM everyday because that is how you feel His love. If you don't feel His love, you don't know Him...something I have learned :) Well keep up with the chores and your straight As!!


Elder Lester

Dear Kasey,


What a blessing it is that you have a job! That is awesome! I hope that you give the Lord thanks for that blessing in your life. Something I learned recently in the BoM is that the righteous always gave thanks to their Lord and we must too. I hope you won't be stupid like me and waste all of your money. Save most of it but always enjoy it and treat yourself to something good after a hard week of work. But be wise! I am so happy that school is going great! Keep it up! School is one of the most important things you must work and focus on. I love you tons and you are really my best friend in the world! I miss you more that anybody and you are always in my prayers! I can't wait to see you in 14 months so I can still school you in bball lol :)


Elder Lester

Dear Brinkley,


Things sound like you are doing a ton! Work is awesome and especially nanny jobs because you are right, it will help you for your future family. The calling of a mother is the most important calling somebody can have in this life. More important than being the prophet hahaha, and God gives that calling to you wonder women. It's a sacred calling and the Lord gives all the help needed to fulfill it successfully. I hope you have a great week! I love you :)


Elder Lester

Hey Mom,


Just wanted to write you a quick letter to let you know that I love you tons! You do so much for me and always have the best for me in mind. Even though we are miles away, I really do feel your love in my life. I really feel like the Lord is blessing you and all the kids with so much!! Always remember that we all love you. Even though sometimes the kids don't show their appreciation much towards you for what you are trying to teach them, remember that you are not the only one. Think of a missionary who gets rejected by someone trying to do something good and bring his salvation into his life. Think about Jesus Christ. Every time we sin we really don't show our appreciation for His atonement. I feel like we take advantage of it alot. We don't give thanks for that blessing. The Lord does not put trials in our lives...He only allows the adversary to try us so that we can learn and grow. Without that we can't return to His presence. We are tried and if we come out faithful we will be blessed.

Read D&C 121:1-9. Those are all times that we feel, but there is a promise in there for all of us. Read 1 Nephi 3:7. The Lord always provides a way for us in our difficulties. Remember that you are a daughter of God. You hold the greatest calling in the world...a Mother. I told Brinkley in her email that it is even more important than being the prophet. The Lord entrusts the future of His kingdom in your hands. Your kids are the future of the church, leaders and missionaries and parents. You have the responsibilty of raising us. Sounds intimidating I know...but you can do it.

Remember that you can pray and He listens and answers. That is your greatest tool as a Mother...prayer and counsel from Him in the scriptures. That is how you can receive revelation as a Mom. It won't come all at once, but one day you will realize that all your life you were actually receiving revelation for your family. Have faith and keep the commandments. You also have leaders who have been called to help you as a Mother. I love you and am so grateful to my Heavenly Father that He gave me the best Mother in the world.


Love you,
Elder Brady Lester

Letter to Mom

Brady wrote me this letter on July 11, 2011.  The kids and I have only received a couple of hand written letters because Brady emails each week, but this was a special treat! Besides some special little emails he has personally sent me expressing how he's feeling and his feelings for me, this letter and the one here are just so meaningful.   I love and appreciate him so much!

Mexico Week 22: Closing of Haucaltzingo, The Role of the Spirit, Farming and Love

Hola everyone!!


Well things are doing great in my area! My comp has changed a ton and we are finally starting to work hard! We still need to work harder but things are going great! He will have changes though for sure in 2 weeks and he will go and I will stay with my new comp. I am really excited because there is alot of work to do! Everyone is saying that I will be senior comp and I only have 8 months hahaha but I really think I will have more time as junior. We shall see!!


So some sad news....they closed the area of Hualcaltzingo this past week. Apparently when I left the work just fell like a rock and then the missionaries were having a ton of problems so they closed the area! Kinda sad because I really thought that that branch was going to be a ward within a year but not now :(


Well in this past week alot of good things happened. We found a golden investigator!! She was a reference from a member in Hualcaltzingo imagine that!! It's cool because she comes to all the lessons with this lady. Hermana Imelda is her name and she is really really catholic but accepted Baptism when she gets an answer to her prayers. The first lesson we taught was great and was about the Restoration. In the second lesson we answered all her questions about the chapter that she read in the BOM and Baptism and things that we do in our Church. While we were talking about it I had the strongest impression to teach about how we can know that this is true. I taught about the role of the Spirit and how that is how we know. I testified that I knew everything was true and so did my comp. It was awesome!! She really is smart and is willing to change! She wants a sign but I told her that us missionaries are the sign that God wants you to change your life. The answer of your own testimony though must come from the Spirit. This Wednesday we have an appt and will check how her homework went :)


This past week I also learned how to farm hahaha! I totally learned how to plant corn and it was sweet! We did it the old fashion way with the plow and the horse! It was sweet! While I farmed with the hermano, my comp learned how to make tortillas from the hermana, hahaha :) Apparently they don't eat tortillas in Peru, only rice hahaha!!


This past week we also found an inactive member who has not been to church for 20 years!! And his wife, who is not a member, we are teaching!! The brother promised to come to Church this upcoming week so this will be excting to follow with!!


So things are really great!! We are really close with 3 people and believe that they will get baptized in 2-3 weeks! :) We are really close to other Elders which I love hahahaha :) It has been raining the past week and one night all the streets were like rivers, hahaha but this week we will have sun :(


Well this past week I have really learned alot about the importance of love and charity. I believe that success is really brought to us depending on our attitude. I have learned that there is no reason to be down and not to love people in the work of the Lord. We are striving to be more like Him and if we don't love we are nobody! We can't do anything! With developing this love for others I have really felt more of the love my Father in Heaven has for me and my family and the people that I work with. Life is to love!!

Well I love all of you and really miss you all! I thank all of you for your support and prayers! You are all in my prayers too and hope you are all receiving the blessings from heaven!!


Love,
Elder Brady Lester

 

A Letter for Mom

Dear Mom,

Well I want to write you personally because I didn't do so in the last letters I sent to the kids. I would like you to know how much I appreciate you as my Mom in my life. You are the reason I am here. You have taught me and raised me in the Gospel my whole life and always taught me the importance of Serving a Mission. This Mission is the hardest thing I have ever done. I cry when we don't have success, when the people don't understand me, or when I don't understand them, and because I am not with my Family.

But I always remember the things that you have gone through as a Mother. You gave birth to five kids, hahaha wow!!! I am glad I don't have to go through that but I really do think about it sometimes. How much pain a woman is willing to go through just to be a Mother. I also think about the divorces you went through and a child, and now as a Mother. You are still Faithful in the Gospel, raising your kids :)  I am sure it's hard. I don't know really how hard but I can imagine that it is. You are the example of a Faithful Mother and member of the Church always striving to do what is right.

Sometimes I think here in the mission...why am I here? This is so hard why don't I just go home? But I always think of you first, and the things that you have overcome in your life, and tell I myself...If she can go through that, I can do this! You always give and give and give and don't expect anything in return. I am really Grateful for you in my life Mom and I LOVE YOU SO MUCH :)

You are my example. You are my best friend. You are the best Mother ever :)

With all my love,
Elder Brady Lester

MTC Week 6: Love, Member Missionaries, and Joseph Smith

Hey!!

So it's been 5 1/2 weeks here at the MTC and everything is going great!! Thank you for all your letters and goodies. I did receive all your packages :) Anyways this week went by so fast!! It seems like each week just flys even faster! If I'm right I only have 23 days left until I should be in Mexico!! It's going to be here faster than I know it! I can't wait though!

So this week Elder Walker and I have been studying way way hard!! We have been teaching alot and continue to get better every time. We learn so much!! I really do love working with him and can't imagine working with anyone else for two years. We work really well together off our strengths and weakness's. This week we have worked on teaching members so we can help them be great missionaries. It is so important for members to find the people. Us Missionaries are called to teach and baptize... that's it really. Missionary work is a church wide thing that everyone helps with. I encourage each of you to help the Missionaries teach a friend that you can refer to them :)  It's a great time because it's Christmas :)

On our Tuesday devotional we had a member of the seventy come. Elder Shayne M. Bowen. He talked about the decisions right now in our lives and what we need to decide right now as a Missionary. Like decide right now to love everyone. He also talked about the birth of the Savior and testified of Him. It was beautiful :)

The fireside we had on Sunday was very unique. An institute teacher came and acted out a man who knew Joseph Smith, and was there when he was killed. It was way way cool. In our District Meeting we also talked about Joseph Smith, and each Elder in our district taught something about him. It was cool as the DL as I prayed about the meeting over the week trying to find out what should we teach about. I felt that it was important that each Elder should have the chance to teach and bear testimony of his life. It was special and the spirit was so strong. You could sense that Joseph was in the room with us - it was amazing :) I love our district :)

Tonight we have a special devotional!! I think Elder Russell M. Nelson might be coming but I am not sure. That is just the word on the street, haha. I hope he does!! Tomorrow we have a long but eventful day here!! Everyone is hoping the prophet is going to come :)

So Elder Alston did leave on this past Tuesday, so he is enjoying Christmas in Portugal right now :) Lucky dog!!

Well, I am almost out of time so I will wrap things up!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

Amor (Love)

Elder Brady Lester :)

MTC Week 4: Love and Humility

Hey there!!

It's my third week here in the MTC and things are going great!! Thank you for the goodies and treats :)  And Grandma, if I find anyone who knows French I will let you know. Thank you each for all your letters. Kolby though, you gotta write me man!!! Only two lines each letter?? I'm glad everyone is having fun and loving the holidays so far :) Just want to let you know that I am sending a letter to Kasey today and inside it are some pictures which are Elder Walker and I's Christmas card :)  If you could hand some out to friends that would be awesome! There aren't alot but some :)

Anyways, this week has been a hard but rewarding week. On Monday Elder Justesen had all his appointments all day and Elder Walker and I stayed with him and drove all around Provo...which was weird...and we wanted to show him how much we loved him and cared for him. I explained more in the letter to Kasey, so when you get that you can read everything that happened. In the end he decided to STAY!!!!!! Elder Walker and I literally were crying for joy :)  This week has also been hard on Elder Walker and I. We haven't gotten along to well but we just had a nice talk and we are looking forward to stepping it up and getting to work and loving each other! :)  We also just got back from the Temple today where we did an endowment session. It was beautiful :)  I love going to the Temple and am going to miss it when I get to Mexico.

So things that I need to answer are in that letter I sent Kasey so you can read that :) But yes, I can pop popcorn here if you sent some...the floor has a microwave :)  But anyways, this week has been good. I have learned how to conjugate verbs in all the tenses and I am continuing to learn words. I have also memorized D&C 4 in Spanish and am working on the First Vision in Spanish :)  It's hard but it's coming along. I've learned alot in the scriptures this week as Elder Walker and I read from the BOM in spanish everyday. It's really helping us out!! In my personal study I read different things in the scriptures in English and one of my favorites this week was D&C 84:88 :)

In about a week and a half we will start teaching in Spanish...which is going to be way hard and insane but I am looking forward to it. I know that the Lord is really helping us here at the MTC. This work really is much bigger than us and we can't do it by ourselves. I have faith that if we roll up our socks and get to work that the Lord will help us and strengthen our faith. One of the most amazing things here at the MTC is the Spirit of Love. Amazingly, this love helps us do everything!! We have to love the Lord, the work, our companion, as a leader- love the district, and most importantly we have to love our investigators. Love is how we fulfill our purpose, to invite others to come unto Christ (Invitar a las personas a venir a Cristo). I have learned alot about charity and love while being here and it has helped me out a ton.

Something I need to work on this week is humility. I feel like I know a ton about the gospel and about principles and I find myself teaching just a lesson not a person. I need to work on using the spirit to help me teach simply and share my feelings about how I know things are true. I need to use the Doctrine of Conversion (study that this week if you want, Chapter 4 of Preach My Gospel). The best way I need to do this is to be humble and also learn from others.

In the past 3 weeks I have really seen myself grow, but my greatest treasure is to see each and everyone in my district grow. That is why I love being a DL. I love seeing how everyone grows in unity, love, and spirit. It's amazing!! I really do love each one of them. I can't wait to hear from them in the field. As much as I want to be in Mexico now, it's going to be hard to leave these wonderful Elders.

So anyways tell me more about home?! How's Ryan...I hope he is ok. Give him my best and let him know I am praying for him and want to see him back out here :)  Did you get my sd-card? I love all your letters and can't wait to get more. I save all of them in my desk drawer :) Tell Jacob Handy to write me!! Hahaha. Anyways love you all!! :)

Amor (love),

Elder Brady Lester

   

P.S. I love you Mom :) You are the best!

Setting Apart as a Missionary and a Letter from Mom

The setting apart for Brady was really special. President Peterson requested to be the one to set Brady apart. He and his wife came over to our home at 8:00 PM.  We also had the Handy family present. Jacob is one of Brady's best friends, and his family has been dear to our family for many years, and a second family for Brady. If he wasn't working, or at home, he was with Jacob. Brother Handy also set Brady apart in the office of an Elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood on his birthday, September 6th.  President Ferrell was also present. I am so grateful for these good men in our lives. The teaching that President Peterson gave before the blessing came from D&C 109. The Spirit was present and the blessing was absolutely beautiful, and of course as a mom, I was so touched at President Peterson's blessing as the Lord remembered our family as well and spoke directly about me, the Mom. There was so much more to the blessing, but Brinkley wasn't able to write everything down.

I included what we had in this letter that I gave Brady the night before he entered the MTC.

Dear Elder Lester,                                                                                                                           

                Well, here’s my first letter to you as a missionary. I can’t believe the time is here. We’ve waited so long and now the time has finally arrived.  I am so proud of you.  I want you to know that you mean more to me than words can express. You are my first born. We’ve been together for a very long time. I anticipated meeting you for the very first time when I went to the hospital to deliver you. I loved you before I ever met you and I have never stopped loving you. When I was pregnant with Brinkley I couldn’t imagine loving another child, but that love just expands and grows, and keeps growing as you get older, to almost overflowing that it’s hard to control the emotions sometimes. I am so proud and grateful to know and be a mother to the most amazing children. You and your siblings are such great people and examples to me in my life. You teach me everyday, and I look forward to learning more from you as you continue your preparations to serve the Lord and the people of Mexico. I can’t wait to go on this journey with you and experience all that you will be involved in. This will be a great time for our family and I’m so excited for you to share this with your brothers and sister. Share everything. Give us challenges. Stay close to your siblings and help instill in them the desire to serve as you are. You are loved and will be greatly missed. Our home is not the same without you. But as you can see, your picture is everywhere and there will be more pictures to come as you send them to us. Our home will be a missionary home and full of the love of the Gospel as it always has been. We have your brothers that will be prepared to follow in your footsteps and will be looking to you always as an example. Thank you for being such a great brother and example to them and to me. 

                I want you to have some of the words from your setting apart from President Peterson. Before he began, he talked about how you are now set apart from the world. You will go forth from this house armed with Thy power. Read D&C 109 and learn about this. In your blessing you were given:  

• The privileges and rights that go with this sacred calling
•  Capacity that God endows to his full time servants 
• Go forward with confidence that you are worthy 
• Special feelings of Reverence and Sacredness with this calling 
• Have Faith
•  Remember your Temple Endowments
•  Carry the Light of the Savior in your countenance 
• People’s hearts are being prepared right now to meet you 
• Be like Paul, how he always went about testifying
•  Have a special love with your companions, they will become your best friends for the rest of your life 
• Be perceptive with your companions and feel as one with your companion 
• Quickly love the people you serve 
• Want to help and lift them up and to help make families more united 
• Be diligent and obedient to the rules and laws 
• Be strict, aware of your adherence 
• Be diligent in your preparations 
• You will be called to leadership positions 
• The Lord will open your mind and your heart 
• Be at peace with your family 
• Strengthen your Mother 
• Remember her always in your letters 
• Make her a part of your mission experience 
• She has relied upon you for strength in the home 
• Know the Lord will be mindful of your family 
• Focus your mind and heart and give all you have 
• Angels will be near you 
• You will be guided 
• Have Gratitude 
• So many people have helped you get to this point and look to you 
• We send you forth on the Lord’s errand

     It was a beautiful blessing and I am so grateful to have been present.  You are now set apart from the world and have that special mantle as a representative of our Savior Jesus Christ. I know you have a strong testimony and I’m so proud and grateful that you know this for yourself, before you leave. I am so thankful to have found the Gospel and have been able to be worthy to be Baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, receive my Temple Endowment, Serve a Mission and raise a family in the True Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know it’s true. When I learned of the Gospel as a teenager, it was like all things came to my remembrance from when I was in the pre-existence. Your patriarchal blessing and my patriarchal blessing are similar in that way of how it discusses us being in the pre-existence and knowing, and coming to earth and remembering what we have been taught there. I have a great love and admiration for the Prophet Joseph and know that he saw God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. They spoke to him. They knew him. They know us. I have seen the handiwork of God in my life so much. First because I am a mother and you are my child, and Brinkley, Kasey, Kolby and Braxley are also evidence of his love for me. He blesses me daily and has blessed our family tremendously. I am so grateful for the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and value it as my constant companion and know the importance of being worthy. Being worthy is everything. It keeps me with my children. It keeps me in the Temple. I love the scriptures and the church magazines and hearing from our Prophet and church leaders.  I know that Christ lives. I know this is His Gospel.

Go forth my son and serve. Remember you have been Called to Serve Him. Be obedient…always with exactness and you will be the most happy. Remember what President Hinckley said that his father told him during a rough patch on his mission, “forget yourself and go to work.” When we forget ourselves and focus on serving others we can see things more clearly. Rely on the Spirit. Pray. You will pray more than you ever have before and your relationship with your Heavenly Father and your Savior will grow. Be safe at all times. Take care of yourself so you will be healthy and strong, free of illness and injury. This is so important so you may do the work of the Lord. This is the most important work you will ever do in your life. Make it count…everyday. Believe in the power of D&C 4 and the Standard of Truth.

I look forward to your letters. Write, write, write and send those pictures! I am here for you always. Your family is here for you. We will be praying for you, your companions and the people you are teaching, every day and night.  Let us know what you need and we will pray, fast and go to the Temple.  Be the Leader and the Missionary that the Lord created you to be! I can’t wait to see your growth. Thank you for being my son. Thank you for being who you are. You are the love of my life.  I love you Brady.