Letter #33 - The Field is White

¡Buenos Dias!

This week was pretty great! I hope each one of you had a great week. Here is my week!

My big pumpkin cookie I made

Monday: PDays are simple here in McKinney, but I love them. We get together as a district and sometimes a zone and just play a bunch of different games. After Pday ended, We went to go visit a new investigator named Kari. She was found while Elder Kraus was on an exchange with Elder McCann. Both of them do not know a ton of spanish, but found 3 new spanish investigators. Kari however, gave them a wrong number and a wrong address. Super sad. We knocked some of the potentials around where we were and then it was time to go home.




Tuesday: We had a really good district meeting. I seriously love this current district so so so much. They are all just so awesome. Later, just finding with little success.

Wednesday: We had a meeting with President Gomez in the branch to talk about the area and get some lists printed with part member families and all of that. The meeting went well. Afterwards, we had a scheduled lesson with Jose de Leon. Once again, he cancelled. We rescheduled for Thursday.

A colorful birthday cake that the Moss family
 made for their daughter's birthday

Thursday: We had a meeting about the Just Serve Program because Elder Kraus is a new missionary. It is kind of a pointless training because most of it is common sense, but that is alright! After that meeting, we had an apartment inspection from a senior couple in the mission. Elder Jones and Sister Jones. They are awesome. Last time I went to the temple, they came with us. I gave them some cookies that I made last week and they said they were delicious and that I should keep making them because they will be a hit. I experimented with a different way to make them. After that, we went to a community service in Downtown McKinney. They were having a bunch of local agencies come in and set up boothes for people to come around and see what agencies are in the community. It was really fun helping set up boothes and tents and unloading people's cars. Our whole district had the opportunity to come at least for a little bit. Later, we went and had a meeting with Hermana Patton from the branch. She was assigned by the Relief Society to put together a current list of our investigators. It went well. Then, Jose de Leon cancelled for the 5th time in a row. We texted him and told him that We cannot keep scheduling our time to find out that he cant meet. We told him that when he really does want to come to church and be baptized, he knows where to find us. We sadly had to drop him. However, we have seen nothing but miracles since!

More from Volunteer McKinney

Friday: We had weekly planning. Friday night, the miracles from dropping Jose de Leon came FLOODING in. We found NINE NEW INVESTIGATORS. With only an hour of street contacting, we were able to make 4 contacts which turned into 9 new investigators! Sandra, Gladys, Ingrid, Mario, Luis, Diego, Ivan, Victor, and Natalia! It was so incredible. Dropping people takes faith, but when you show God that you are ready and willing to use your time in the way that He desires, He pours out blessings upon you.

Saturday: We went on exchanges. I was with Elder Jensen in my own area. Elder Kraus went with Elder Del Angel. Elder Jensen and I had a good day. We did service for 6 hours helping a non member pack and move. Then we found 2 new investigators and set a baptismal date with one of them named Mitzi! Mitzi is not a spanish speaker, so we will be having a hand off lesson next week with the Sisters. Elder Del Angel and Elder Kraus, however, did not have a very good day. Elder Del Angel crashed on his bike 3 times. The last one involving a car. He was taken to the Hospital by Ambulance. They took some XRays. Nothing broken or fractured. It was a miracle. His elbow is really bruised, but that is the extent of his injuries. No bleeding either. His bike however is a little broken. Elder Jensen and I went to the Hospital and switched back with our companions. We waited there for Elder and Sister Wilson from the mission office to come to the hosptial. They picked Elder Kraus and I up and we went to the fire department to pick up the Elders' bikes. By the time we got back to the other Elders' apartment, they had already been released from the hospital and were back in their apartment. It was kind of fun being able to spend some time with the Wilsons. This is their 3rd senior couple mission.

Volunteer McKinney Event Selfie With Elders Del Angel,
 Jensen, Bullough, and Kraus and Sisters Zhao and Sterne

Sunday: We went to church and a former investigator named Ulises Lara showed up with the Moss Family! He stayed all 3 hours and even came to dinner at the Moss' home. He investigated the church 6 months ago but got busy with work and could not come to church anymore. His brother is the branch president in a different stake. His sister is also a member. He told us he would like to be baptized! We are super excited for him. After dinner, we went to Tim Mason's baptism. He is the man I interviewed for baptism last week. It went well. Then we went finding and found another new investigator named Juan Gonzalez. Making a total of 12 new investigators since we dropped Jose de Leon only a few days ago. Miracles are real.

I know that the work I am about is the work of my Father in Heaven. The Field is White already to harvest. God does not want us to waste time. We are meant to seek out the elect and bring them to the waters of baptism. He is hastening His work in these last days. We cannot slow down and wait for those who refuse to make time for the Gospel.

I love y'all so much,
Elder Bullough

Letter # 32 - Trials

Buenas Tardes!

Brandon and Elder Kraus doing what Elders do.

Through these difficult times and many natural disasters, I hope and pray that everyone is safe and sound. I pray that those who y'all may know in the affected areas are safe and well.

Hurricane Harvey has led to many heart broken families here in Dallas. Many families are moving to Dallas to take shelter until they can get back up on their feet. These sure are the Last Days.

Here is my week!

Monday - We drove out to Princeton after PDay ended to try and contact a few potentials out there. Not a ton of luck with doors, but it happens! :)

Tuesday - We did not have district meeting due to interviews with President of Friday. So we went out on bikes. I let Elder Kraus lead. We just stopped at certain hispanic looking houses. We had some good contacts, but not a whole lot of potential. Elder Kraus has a lot of "Greenie Fire"... Meaning he really really wants to knock doors all day everyday and find a million new investigators each day that way... However, every missionary who has been in the field for a bit of time knows there is a better way. I also do not want to break his spirits or energy though, so we knock a lot of doors to make him happy and to make him feel like he is working hard! Which he is. He is a great guy. Tuesday, I also made cookies.

Floating on exchanges

Wednesday - We had our weekly correlation meeting with Hermano Carrasquillo. It went well. Hermano Carrasquillo is an incredible man and really loves his calling. Wednesday night, we had a lesson planned with Jose de Leon, and for the second time in a row, he wasn't there. We called him and he told us that his work load is crazy. He is a mechanic and personally has 20+ cars to fix. He asked us to pray for him and for his wife that their schedules would open up so that they would have time to meet with us. It was good to hear that he still wants to meet with us.

Thursday - We had our weekly planning session. Always takes so long and uses a lot of energy... however, it is always something that needs to get done. After dinner, we did more contacting and bike riding. I have been studying a lot about humility and felt like I needed some help becoming more humble. So that night I prayed that God would help me be more humble. But then some words came out of my mouth that I did not expect, "Please give me trials, that I may be humbled."

Making cookies

Friday - Well, the day started off great! We went to Frisco for interviews with President Dalton. While I was waiting for the rest of my district to arrive, I was simply sitting at the piano messing around with different notes. As I stood up from the piano, a sharp pain went throughout my entire back. I was in a lot of pain. I couldn't even walk without the pain shooting troughout my back. I took it like a man until my interview with President Dalton. The interview went well. He gave me lots of great tips on how to be a better district leader and trainer. After the interview, We called the mission nurses and they told me to go home and rest and take some pain meds. They also told me to ice my back. So that is what I did. The zone Leaders had planned to go on splits friday, so Elder Bair stayed in with me. We had a good time even though I was in bed all evening. Elder McCann and Elder Kraus went out and found 3 new investigators in Spanish! Elder McCann does not even speak Spanish! It was awesome. I was very proud of my son(trainee) Elder Kraus.

Saturday - We were still on exchanges with the zone leaders. My back felt a lot better, but still hurt a lot. It had turned into more of an ache instead of a splitting pain. So what did We decide to do? Go and help a non member move! Maybe it wasn't the best decision, but it was still fun. Then we went to a park and had some studies. A group of 4 girls who were about our age came and sat down with us and started asking questions about our church. They were at the park going around and praying with people. I thought it was a really cool thing they were doing. They didn't have a ton of interest, but we did clear up a lot of false beliefs they thought we had. They then asked to pray for us. We agreed. They felt super sad for our mothers because of how little we get to talk to them, so they prayed for my mom :) It was really nice.

Pday

Sunday - My back was still killing me. Elder Jensen threw up over night, and would be staying home from church, so we thought it would be better if I stayed with him instead of over working my back. So I did. Elder Del Angel and Elder Kraus went to church. Sunday night, we went to the church for a baptismal interview! I got to interview a man named Tim Mason. He has a ton of faith. Super friendly guy. He has been through a lot and has a ton of friends and family in Florida right now. His baptism will be next sunday.

That was my week! My back feels a lot better now. It still kind of aches, but for the most part it feels a lot better. I hope all is well.

With Love,
Elder Bullough

Letter # 31 - The Eye of Faith

¡Buenas Tardes!

First off, I would like everyone to know that I was not affected by Harvey at all. Not even a raindrop. My thoughts and prayers go out to all those who have been affected by this great disaster.

I had a pretty eventful week. I learned a lot about being a missionary and about being a Leader.

Let's just jump right into my week! (Yes dad, that was for you.)

Monday - We had a lesson with Maurycio about Repentance. It went well. He has a girlfriend and they are getting married next month! Super exciting for him.

Tuesday - We had a really great District Meeting. Sister Hendricks and Elder Del Angel gave great trainings. I love my district so much. We are all super close and get along great. We had a lesson scheduled with Jose De Leon, but he bailed :( He hasn't responded to any of our calls or texts since. Super sad.

Wednesday - We did a lot of finding work.  We found a new investigator named Brittany. She hasn't answered our messages since then either though. It is hard because our area has been half English and Half Spanish for so long, that now since we only cover spanish, we have to do a ton of finding.

Thursday - We did all of our studies and weekly planning. Once we got on bike, Elder Kraus didnt feel well. Dehydration. So we went back to the apartment, got him some water, and let him sleep so we could bike the whole day on Friday. He didn't want to go back to the apartment, but it was what he needed. Bless his heart, he only wants to work hard.

Friday - We continued our finding work! We prayed about a street to go contact on. Once we got there, we found 3 new investigators! A guy named Juan, and then two cousins, Jose and Roberto Juarez. Jose and Roberto have a lot of potential.

Saturday - We went and painted a trailer with our branch for a member. Took us about 4 hours. Later, the branch had an 8 year old baptism. We were asked to go early and fill the font. We weren't planning on staying, but the father that was performing the baptism told me that the brother who was supposed to give the baptism talk could not come. He then asked me to give it 2 minutes before the baptism started! Scariest thing I have done my whole mission. I gave a short simple powerful talk on baptism in Spanish. Maybe 3 minutes. They seemed to appreciate it.

Sunday - We went to church. Testimony meeting went really well. At 8 that night, the Zone Leaders wanted to have a meeting with the 2 district leaders in the zone. They wanted to make sure we were all on the same page. They gave some suggestions on what to train on at District Meetings and how to accomplish our zone goals. It was a good meeting. I love Elders McCann, Bair, and Hansen.

That was basically it for this week. Kind of a boring week.

I love you all and hope this week is amazing!

Love,
Brandon