August 6, 2014

Hey!

We met with Devon this week! It was awesome! He is still going through
a rough time in his life right now, but he is still willing to follow
Jesus Christ. We had a really good meeting with him on Monday. The
senior couple missionaries hosts FHE every Monday in their home. That
way we can take less actives and investigators to a place where they
can be fellowshipped  and loved. We took Devon to that on Monday. He
has been before, but he has a great time every time. He even offers to
give the opening prayer every time. He fits so well in this church, he
just needs to get dunked! Haha. We also met with brother Ambroselli.
He is doing just as well as ever. Such an awesome guy. If he wasn't
less active, he could run the ward here in the Bronx. He showed us his
house yesterday and he has so many tomato plants and just a huge
garden. He also has a collection of wind chimes, so he has like 50 of
those. His house is not what you would expect in the Bronx. It's like
he went to the country and "Copied" his land and "pasted" it into the
city. Way cool!

I'm not sure if I have mentioned this is my past emails, but we are
helping the sisters teach this woman. The only reason my companion and
I have to be here is because it's in a really bad part of the Bronx
and the sisters can't be there alone. Her name is Jessica and she is a
referral from her boyfriend who lives in Minnesota. He helps teach
with us via skype. When we are done, she will be flying out there so
he can baptize her and then she will come back and be a member of our
ward. Her boyfriend has been teaching her for the past 3 years about
the gospel. She already knows they doctoring that we teach her. She's
just completely ready for baptism, but she needs to take the
missionary discussions as a requirement for baptism. It's been really
fun!

So, my companion and I have had the wonderful opportunity to use Skype
and a proselyting tool. Each week, we help teach Jeremy Hand back in
Aurora! It has been one our favorite lessons weekly. The spirit is
ever so present in those lessons. The missionaries in their ward  are
also there to help him. It's so cool to be able to feel the spirit so
strong through internet access. We probably won't be teaching him for
the next three weeks because he is in California for Army training. So
we will pick it back up when he gets back.

I've been able to experience the awesomeness in Facebook proselyting!
I've been trying to teach some of my friends in high school. So far,
its been going well. It's just hard to come across in a professional
way instead of "Hey dude! You remember I'm Mormon right? Well, wanna
be baptized?!" Haha. So I'm trying to let them know what I'm doing in
New York and help them in the best ways I can. It's pretty tough, but
it's also really effective if done properly.

We are going to the Zoo today (hopefully). It might rain when we go,
which would stink, but I'm really excited. I've heard it's huge and
really cool. It's also free on Wednesdays. Which reminds me. I finally
found out why our pday is on Wednesdays. Any park or museum in the
state of New York is free on Wednesdays. So they made our pday on that
day so we can do fun stuff for free. Pretty cool, huh?! I thought so.
Anyway, I'm really excited to go to the zoo. I haven't been to a real
zoo since I was in elementary school. Well, unless you count an Oregon
Ducks game. That's a zoo! Haha.

Well, one of the things Elder Rydalch and I are trying to do is to
become exactly obedient. Man it's hard, but we have been able to see
the differences in doing so. It's really easy to forget why we are out
here and who we are representing. So that's our goal. We are trying to
work hard and do our best!

I love you guys! Have a wonderful week!!

Love, Elder Branndin Brian Long

July 30, 2014 Letter

What it is?!

Sorry about my "slang." The Bronx is getting to my head, haha. We actually met a guy on the bus who said: "Where dat is?!" He asked us for a bible, and we actually ended up having one on us which was weird because we don't normally carry around bibles. Copies of the Book of Mormon, yes, but bibles, not very often. So we gave him a bible and started talking to him. He said: "Yeea man. A brothas always gotta read the word of god!" We casually brought up the Book of Mormon being the word of God and he was so happy to hear that there was more, it was so cool. He told us to tell him what to read and he would read it. We told him about our church, and he asked: "Oh! Where dat is?!" It was so hard not to laugh! That Bronx vocabulary is the funniest to experience first hand. Oh, and something pretty cool that I saw the other day. I saw a guy on the bus who was wearing a Colorado Rockies hat. Needless to say, I was impressed. I seriously thought that only people in Colorado were fans of the Rockies. As if not a single person outside Colorado knew who they were. It's true. If you think about it, you never really hear about them on ESPN or any sports radio. They are just...there. 

This last week, us missionaries got a new "watch" system on our iPads. Basically what this new system has, is the missionary department AND the mission president can remotely control our iPads if necessary. If we were to download an unapproved app (missionaries have done that before) the iPad would automatically detect that there was an unapproved app installed and it immediately sends a notification to the missionary department in SLC and to the mission president. If that doesn't make you want to be more obedient, then I'm not sure what will! It's awesome, but a little odd at the same time. I feel like my freedom is being stripped from me, but at the same time, what am I doing on my iPad that I wouldn't want my mission president to see? So, it helps us to stay focused. It reminds us that we are here to do the lords work, not mess around on our iPads. That's something I really need to learn. It's so tempting to just whip it out and start doodling during down time. 

We currently do not have any progressing investigators. Devon has temporarily dropped us at the moment. He has run into some problems in his life, and we are still trying to encourage him to pray to his Heavenly Father. It's really sad to see that most of the people here in the Bronx have such miserable lives and the real sad part is seeing that they enjoy living their miserable life. They aren't willing to change their ways are accept Jesus Christ as their savior. I understand that they have their agency, it's just a little frustrating when we get someone SO CLOSE to baptism and a huge change of life, and then have them just do a complete 180 degrees and turn the other way. It just makes you wanna tie them up and literally drag them to church. Ah! Anyway, just keep Devon in your prayers. The dude is really having a tough time in his life. 

Elder Rydalch and I are still doing great. It's so fun being with him. I better enjoy having an awesome companion. I'm not always gonna have a companion that I like or get along with. 

I love you! You are such a big help in keeping my head on straight. I am so thankful for your support and encouragement as I embark on this mission. It's tough, and it won't get much easier, but I know that I can make it through with the support that I am receiving. 

Love, Elder Branndin Brian Long

July 23, 2014 - Transfers??

Hey!

So, Elder Rydalch and I are staying for another cycle! I'm really
excited. I love Rydalch.

So, Devon, our investigator. Has decided to postpone his baptism. He
was suppose to be interviewed by president Morgan on Sunday and he
never showed up. We talked to him afterwards and he still wants to be
baptized but he feels the need to postpone it until he is fully ready.
I don't blame him. I'm just proud that he wants to be fully ready
before he makes a covenant with his Heavenly Father.

Brother Ambroselli came to church last week. He isn't really inactive,
he just needed a push. He is an awesome fella. He and I could talk for
hours, well he could, I can listen. Last time he and I met, we mapped
out each others houses. His sister lives right next to wheel park and
before he was baptized he used to live off of Potomac, next to the
Ronald McDonald house. I told him I did my Eagle Scout project there
:) I'm glad that Eagle Scout card I have wasn't in my wallet. I made
sure it wasn't in there just in case I lost it or it got stolen. Good
thing huh!

It's getting closer to August...so that means more heat and more
humidity. Gross. August is the worst time of the year for New
Yorkshire weather. Or I guess any states weather. I just never really
paid attention to it while I was home, haha. The humidity is killer
though. I'm not a fan.

I'm sorry this is a short letter. We are at transfers and I've gotta
go. I love you all!!!!

Elder Branndin Brian Long

This is my zone from last transfer. They're awesome. 2 of them
finished their missions this last cycle. Pretty cool!

 

All of us "Glorifying" the pizza that Elder

Sevy made us. He is a super good cook!

July 16, 2014 - Week 6 in the Bronx

Hey friends!

This week has been way awesome! 

So, our investigator, Devon, is still improving. I have never gotten this far with an investigator before. Since he is living with his girlfriend, we committed them to get married, and they have been keeping true to that! We set a date for the 19th of July...this weekend. We set it for them a few weeks ago, though. But they have gotten a marriage license, rings, and all that other stuff. So they are ready to get married! I so excited for them. They have been dating for a few years and neither of them knew how to go about getting married here in the US. All they needed was a little push i guess, haha. A week after the wedding will be Devon's baptism! He will be interviewed by President Morgan, which is really awesome. Guys, I'm so excited for Devon! Like i said in my past emails, he is just being reminded of the gospel. He already knew all of this! We are just here to re-ignite his flame. 

So, the zone leaders met with a less active last week. His name is Mario Ambroselli. They passed him on to Elder Rydalch and Me. Wanna know why they did that? Take a guess where brother Ambroselli is from......Aurora Colorado. AH! How bizarre is that? Well, it gets more bizarre. He was baptized in 1993 and he was baptized by Bruce Lee...My dentist! And his bishop was Don Jones...My seminary teacher! So he was baptized into the Meadowood ward. He know's Bill and Sadie Hand. He knows the Thomas Family, he knows the Orsers. Basically "S Dawson Way", haha. He and i are basically best friends now, haha. He is so shocked that i'm from aurora. We showed each other where we lived on google maps. So hopefully that will be a little motivation for him to come back to church. 

I also went on my first legitimate "Split" the other day. I never had the opportunity to do so because the zone leaders and district leaders in Poughkeepsie never did splits. So, guess who i went on a 24 hour split with on friday...Elder Cloward. My trainer. haha. It was really fun to be his companion again. Speaking of companion. By the next time i talk to you guys, i might have a new companion. We are having transfers next week and we find out who is getting transferred this saturday. I'm guessing Elder Rydalch is gong to leave because he has been here for a few cycles. BUT, be will have to wait and see. 

Thanks again for everything guys. I love it out here so much! The work is coming along and we are "Thrusting with our sickle". There is so much wheat that needs to be harvested here, its just hard to find. It's like trying to find wheat in a...hay stack. I guess that analogy works. haha. Love you guys! Have an awesome week! Every member a missionary!!!

Love, Elder Branndin Brian Long

July 9, 2014 Letter - Happy 4th! (SOAKED!)

What's up?!

So yeah...I left my wallet on the bus. Man I was so upset when I
figured it out. I let you guys in on the long version of the story. It
actually combines two stories that I wanted to share with you.

So Elder Rydalch and I are walking to our bus stop after we were at
the church, and on our way to the bus stop, we hear this voice calling
out to us: "Hey! Elders!" We were shocked to hear the correct term,
instead of: "Hey! Jesus Boys!" Haha. So I thought it was a member at
first. We run over to him and his girlfriend and he says: "Wow, I
haven't seen you guys in a while. I used to attend kings-bridge (a
ward on the opposite side of the Bronx) when I was a little boy." So I
asked him why he stopped and he said he just got busy with life, which
is understandable. He asked if there was a church around here and we
replied with: "Definitely! We just came from it. It's only right down
the block,would you like to see it?!" And they agreed. So about 9:00
pm we gave a church tour to this couple who has been dating for 12
years...yes...dating! Turns out that they live across the street from
the church and they said they would love to come. It was really cool!
Oh, and he said he used to attend the ward as a kid, but he was never
baptized, so he is an investigator. So, after we were excited about
all that, we went into a little bodega (Crappy run down store) right
next to our bus stop and my companion bought me a Malta, which
everyone seems to hate :( haha. Anyway, as I was drinking it, the bus
came. So I got out my wallet to get my metro card. I got on the bus
and out my metro card back but never put my wallet in my back pocket,
for some odd reason. And as I sat down, I saw this Hispanic lady and
her two kids and I felt prompted to share the gospel with her, so I
got out my iPad and pulled up the huge list of Spanish terms that the
Spanish missionaries gave to the English missionaries for this exact
purpose. So I looked for a reasonable conversation starter. ¿Puedo
darle una tarjeta? Which means, "Can we leave you a card?" Put my
wallet between my legs on the seat and out my iPad away and pulled out
a pass along card and just studied that phrase until the time came
where I could say it and give her the card. When the time came, I
stood up, said it, gave her the card and walked off the bus. The next
morning I went to put my wallet in my pocket and realized that I never
grabbed it from between my legs. Depressing, huh? Yeah. I had that
wallet since sophomore year in high school, and it was still in
excellent condition. I didn't really care about the contents, I just
want my wallet!! So there is that crazy story. I feel super dumb for
leaving it, but I'll get over it.

So our investigator, Devon, is the dopest! He is so awesome. He has
come to church twice now. Last week was fast Sunday and he leaned over
to me and asked: "Is that okay if I bear my testimony?" I couldn't get
the word "Yes" out quick enough. I was so overcome with happiness. I
was grinning from ear to ear the entire sacrament meeting, haha. He is
so ready to be baptized. When we teach him lessons, it's as if we are
only reminding him. He is also extremely smart. He has his masters in
education and leadership. He is going for his PhD this fall and his
hopes in a career is a professor in college. He is brilliant. He also
loves listening to talks by Elder Holland because of Hollands
brilliance and vocabulary, lol.

I'm not sure if I told you guys about another investigator we are
teaching, but his name is David. He is from Montenegro, but when he
lived there it was called Ugaslavia (Not sure how to spell that). So
he speaks Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian and English. The first three are
sorta similar, but different at the same time. Kinds like Portuguese
and Spanish.

Man, it's pretty hot here, and it's only July. The locals say that
August is the worst month. I'm NOT looking forward to it. My clothes
stick to my skin because of all the humidity. Yesterday it was in the
mid 90's with like over 70% humidity. It was ridiculous.

I also want you all to know of how much I love President Morgan. We
had interviews this last week, and he is just so powerful in
everything he does. When he enters the room, that spirit fills the
entire room. I know we aren't really suppose to predict this, but I'm
predicting that Thomas Brady Morgan will be an apostle of the The Lord
Jesus Christ. I'm telling you, he is hands down the most powerful and
spiritual man I have ever met. But at the same time, he is one of the
funniest. I am so blessed to server under his direction. He is really
making the work here in New York boom. It's so awesome!

I love you all. I really do. I'm grateful for the opportunity to be
involved in your lives. I miss you!

Love, Elder Branndin Brian Long

On the third of July, it rained like crazy! I had no umbrella at the
time, so I used a box. It worked pretty well!

 

This last picture that is mostly black. That is the firework show

that we got to watch, lol. We watched it from our apartment window and

it was the show going on at the Brooklyn bridge in south Manhattan. So

it was a ways away. The white blotches are the fireworks, haha.

July 2, 2014 - YANKEES GAME!!!

Hey All!

This week was crazy. Not really crazy, but all over the place. Elder
Rydalch, My companion, was sick this past weekend, so I had to stay in
with him. And before he got sick, I went on a split with Elder
Cloward, my trainer, because he was sick and had to rest. So
basically, my weekend consisted of staying in with sick elders and
church, haha. It's good that they were sick last weekend though. It
was super hot! We got a brand new AC unit for our apartment and now it
feels really great. The humidity is ridiculous now that we are getting
to summertime.

This past Sunday was the very first Sunday I had an investigator come
to church! I've been out almost 6 months too! We had to go pick him
up, but he still came! He loved it too. We took him to gospel
principles and he fully participated. He even volunteered to say the
closing prayer. I love Devon. He is so ready to be baptized. The only
thing holding him back is that he is living with his girlfriend and to
be baptized, he has to marry her or move out. So we are helping him
with that.

Sorry this is so short, but I have to leave to get on the train to get
to the Yankees game. I will probably send another email you you guys
about the rest of my week after the game. Just know that I love you
all!!!

Love, Elder Branndin Brian Long

June 25, 2014 - Week 2 in the Bronx!

What's up!

Another great week in the Bronx! 

Elder Rydalch and I are going to Manhattan today. His cousin is in town and wants to take him to lunch. So we are going to go to some museums and hangout until we meet up with him. I'm pretty excited. 

Elder Rydalch and I are looking forward to the new month. We are going to take advantage of walking everywhere so we can both lose weight. Starting at the beginning of the month, we are going to help each other eat healthy. We are going to make a run to costco and buy chicken, fruits, vegetables etc. I'm actually pretty excited. My main goal is to be able to fit my two suits that I out grew, haha. They are such nice suits but I can barely fit into em. Thanks a lot, Poughkeepsie meals. Lol. Our Investigator, Devon, is really progressing. We have taught him almost all of the lessons now, and every time we teach him, he literally shouts for joy and dances around. He is such an amazing guy. I feel as if we are just reminding him of these things. It's as if he remembers learning about in in the pre earth life. He showed us a Christian song that was praising god and he expressed his love for it. After he showed us his song, we introduced him to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He was overcome with joy. He kept clicking different videos and listening to them, haha. He is soo ready for baptism, he just needs to make it to church. It's just so amazing to see someone so humble and so ready to learn more about our savior Jesus Christ. 

We did an APF as a zone this last week. APF stands for, Area Proselyting Focus. So each week, 1 companionship will come up with an idea of finding new people to teach. And in the Bronx, it's super effective. There is so much foot traffic. So, a Spanish sisters companionship came up with an idea to teach English classes at the church for those who want to learn English, which is a huge chunk of the Bronx. This activity really helped you define your racism, lol. The flyers are in Spanish, so the whole time you're trying to figure out if they look like they speak Spanish or not. I was always afraid of going up to a person and asking if they or someone they know would like to learn English and have them say: "Dude...I'm from Kentucky. I know English." Haha. So, as I was passing these flyers out and poorly speaking Spanish, I came across this kid, who spoke English, and I gave him the flyer and explained what the purpose of the flyer was. He kindly accepted it and walked away. As he walked away, I looked at his hat. It was a hat of a music artist I really liked at home named A$AP Rocky. So I ran over to him and complimented his hat and told him that I'm also a fan. We ended up talking for several minutes and I made sure that I told him why I'm out here and what I'm doing. I asked him if he was religious and he answered yes but he is a little unsure of his beliefs (Perfect answer for a missionary). So I asked him if he would like to learn more and he happily said yes. I gave him mine and elder Rydalch's pass along card, which has a printed label of our names for Facebook and our number. He happily said he would add me on Facebook. I found so much joy from that contact. It was simple, and successful. All from a mutual music artist. I love it! 

There is this guy that sells peanuts on the street. We call him Greg the Peanut guy. He gave us some peanuts last night and I made homemade peanut butter. It was awesome. I took of the shells and everything. Then I made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with it. One of the elders I live with, who is from Sugar City Idaho, loves to cook, so he is going to make me bread and Jam and then that way it will be 100% homemade! Mission life is superb. I love it! 

So next week is the Yankees game!! I'm really excited. I just want to let you all know that if I don't email till later in the day, that's why. I'm so grateful for president Morgan and for the opportunity he gives us to go to a Yankees game. How cool is that!? Beast is what it is. Que Brutal (Spanish for "That's Beast"). 

I love each and every one of you. I'm am so blessed to have you in my life. 

Love, Elder Branndin Brian Long

My crazy long hair and my new haircut. I love

having short buzzed hair, especially with this humidity. Woo!