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