Still in Grimsby

Exchanges:

"I got to go on exchanges with Elder Calinuc. He is from Romania, and he use to play division 2 football. It was so much fun and I am really impressed with how well his English has gotten in the 3 months that I have been in Grimsby, and the 6 months since he has started to learn English. We talked a lot about football and he taught me some sweet tricks and told me how to kick the ball properly, and said I will be able to control the ball more, if I kick it with the inside of my leg."

"I went on exchanges with Elder Otte, our district leader. It was really fun. I spoiled him because he was out of money, and he said that is the way it is to be done while on exchanges. I am really ace at managing my money, and it is really easy. I never have to worry about the end of the month. Then we went to the church because we had a ward coordination meeting. While we were waiting, we were kicking around a football, and then Elder Otte got it stuck up in the window cell. We tried so hard to get it down by stacking chairs, and then someone was like is that safe Elders? It most likely wasn't, but I wasn't scared. So then we had to get a ladder, and we found a really long pole, and after like 10-15 minutes we finally got the ball down. It was so funny! Then, I was telling Elder Otte how you can play church hymns on the cell phone because that is what Elder Remington told me. He figured out how to play Joseph Smith's First Prayer, and taught me, so I am now trying to master it, and it is so funny that it actually sounds pretty good, and I love playing it."

Investigators:

"We were blessed this week to be able to find 16 new investigators!"

"We met a couple that is young, and guess what? They are MARRIED!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jonny and Becky are doing well, and since we started teaching them, they have cut back on their smoking and drinking, and we haven't taught them the word of wisdom yet. It is also so much fun to teach them because they take it in so well, and they understand things so much, and you can tell that the spirit is definitely there, and it makes things go a lot smoother, and better."

"We taught Jonny and Becky the word of wisdom last week. We set up a plan of progression to when they will give up smoking, and right now they are scheduled for the 9th of October. Jonny was telling us how he really wants a monkey, and we told him that with the money he will be saving from not smoking, he will be able to get his monkey license, and then a monkey. It is like 500 pounds for the monkey and another 500 pounds for the license. That is really expensive. Becky wasn't too happy with us for saying that, so she banned us from talking monkey whenever we are in their house. They are so much fun and it is so fun teaching them and getting to know them, and it is amazing that you can notice a difference in their life since they have been meeting with us and I just love watching them learn and grow. It makes missionary work so much flippin' fun!"

The Fun Side:

"So this last week, this lady in our ward has been giving me and Elder Reidhead some cooking lessons. We have made chili, and we cut up the vegetables, and all that other fun stuff. Then she taught us how to make this lemon bread, which we have made really good and it is amazing how well me and Elder Reidhead can cook. Then for dessert we have been practicing making sponge cakes. Our first one didn't turn out too good, and our second one was alright. We figured out the problem though, so tonight when we go back for our third cooking lesson we are going to do it right. We have been putting in the eggs first, and then the butter, and then the sugar. But, really we need to do the butter, then sugar, and then the eggs. Hopefully it will turn out good tonight."

"For P-Day we played football, and it was really cold, but also really fun. I am amazed by how much football is growing on me, and I have a blast every time we play it, and I think I am getting pretty good at playing football. But, anyways, it was really cold and rainy, but it was a blast. We were playing with the other Elders. Elder Calinuc was kicking the ball so hard, and Elder Reidhead and Elder Otte were scared to be in the goal. So I went in, and was the goalie. Elder Calinuc kicked it really hard, and I stopped it, and it hit my wrist really hard. My wrist was really numb and I was like Elder Otte, I think I broke my wrist! Don't worry, everything is fine, and just to make things even better, I ended up keeping the ball from going in the goal, and I ended scoring a goal as well, so I was really happy."

"Elder Vaughn is from Australia. He is so funny and every time we talk, we have a good laugh."

"These are the stickers on the back of my badge. Some girl gave me the one less lonely girl sticker and said it will apply in 2 years when I get off of my mission. And I was like ok, whatever you say, and she said I had to have it."

"The pop rocks were so amazingly good, and made the day so fun."

"Thanks for the package! We had a lot of fun with the glasses! We just laughed our heads off. Once again, those glasses were so much fun."

Testimony of Temples:

"I hope that you are going to the temple a lot. I really miss the feeling of going to the temple, and the spirit that you can feel when you go there. It is amazing, and I wish that I could go more often. How blessed are we living in Utah, to where we have temples that are 5 minutes away, and we should be using them to our benefit, and going a lot."

Who's the Greenie?

"I had a huge surprise come and hit me. As you know this week (16th August) is transfer week, and I found out that I am staying in Grimsby 1, and that I will be training a missionary. I still feel so new myself, and I feel like there is still so much I need to learn, and become better at, I feel very privileged though, and I have learned that when the Lord calls you to do something, or go somewhere, there is a reason for it, and so I am excited but still very nervous to train. I just hope that I will be a good trainer, and Elder Gentry was really excited, and he was like freaking out, while I was in a huge shock, and was so surprised when President Lindley told me that."

Brady has been training since the week of August 16th, and here is what he thinks about training.

1st Week Training:

"Being a trainer is alright, but it is a lot different than killing off companions. I was so nervous the couple days before that I didn't sleep really at all, and I was in so much shock that President Lindley asked me to train. There are also 2 other elders from my group that are training, and I guess they were just as nervous as I was, but it was really fun. I guess one thing I do miss is the fact that we both knew the area so we knew where the places were. Now, everywhere I turn it's like BOOM! Elder Reidhead is right there!"

2nd Week Training:

"Training is going pretty well. We have been doing a lot of knocking trying to find new people to teach. I think Elder Riedhead is kind of frustrated because we get a return appointment, and then sometimes the people aren't there. I try to set an example by trying to find people who are ready."

Investigators:

"Last night we finally got a return appointment that held up. His name is Lee, and I was really surprised. I have to start off the lessons now and make the decisions, which is really different, but I do really enjoy it. We were able to teach him about the restoration of the gospel, and the lesson went pretty well. Then I had to extend the invitation to be baptized, and I was kind of nervous, but he accepted it and he seemed really excited about it."

Soccer:

"For the past 2 P-days we have been playing football with these 14-15 year old kids, but that is going to have to stop now, since they go back to school next week. The first week we played, I played a little bit of defense, then I got to play a wing position. They were impressed I think with how well I could pass the ball, and I was really surprised myself! It was so amazing, my passes were spot on, and they were able to just keep on continuing, it was really fun. I also scored a GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!! It was so amazing, and it felt so nice to score. Then I kind of struggled, and I missed a couple of easy shots, so all the kids on my team were yelling don't shoot, so I didn't, I would just pass it. Then yesterday, they put me in the goalie's box, and I had no idea why. I actually was really good at it, and I made a lot of legit stops, and all the kids on my team were like YEAH!!!!!!!!! Then I made a stupid mistake, and I kind of did something like the England goalie. I went to catch the ball, and it went through my arms, and into the goal. I should have just gotten in front of it, and then I would have been fine, but I just tried to stick my hands out and stop it, and it just went right through. It was kind of frustrating, but then they still kept me in the goal."

Life in England... According to Brady

We wanted to give everyone an update about what living in England is all about for Brady. Here is the good, the bad, and everything else!

Weather:

"My favorite part about England is the weather.... NOT! I really hate how the weather changes on an hourly basis."

"I learned after like the first rain storm to carry an umbrella always, and the other day is started down pouring really bad, and I pulled my umbrella out, and Elder Gentry didn't have one, and he got soaked. It was really funny."

"We were doing some work in the city center, and we didn't have umbrellas, and it started to down pour. We walked across the street to get some food, and we got so soaked, and we honestly only took like 10 steps. Then we went in, and bought some umbrellas so it was really nice, and then the rain was just pounding so hard on them, and then like 2 hours later, it was really warm and hot again."

"All day it had looked like it was going to rain, but it hadn't. So we went back to the flat for lunch and it was looking really nice so I told Elder Gentry we didn't need our umbrellas. We got done teaching a lesson to Jean, and it wasn't looking too good. We took 5 steps away from her house and it started to rain. Then 5 steps later, it started to downpour, so we hurried and ran into the first shop we could find. It was a fish and chips restaurant, so we couldn't just leave, so we bought chips for a pound. Then we hurried and ran back to Jean's house, and ate our chips, and then she gave us some umbrellas. After we left her house the second time with our umbrellas, the weather was amazing for the rest of the day, it was kind of funny so I was laughing, and Elder Gentry got kind of mad."

Food:

"We were at a tea appointment, and they were asking me besides family, what do I miss the most about home. I quickly answered Hot Pockets, and they had no idea what I was talking about it. It was pretty funny, and I had to explain it to them, and tell them how amazingly delicious they are, and they are so good."

"The members in Grimsby are really good, and we have meal appointments like everyday but usually I have this rice-a-roni stuff, or roman noodles, or peanut butter sandwiches, sometimes I have ham and salami sandwiches, just a lot of easy stuff to make. But the fish and chips in Grimsby are really good and I am addicted to them."

Dressin' like a stylish Englishman:

Remember Brady, and how you could almost always count on him being in Yankee attire and baller shorts... And how pink was a big no!

Example: From Ashley: "I sure hope that you get some fashion sense while over there..."

From Brady: "I doubt my fashion will get any better while in England."

Boy how have things changed in the short amount of time he has been there!!

"I think my favorite part about England is the ties. I have to admit that so far most of the ties I have bought have a little bit of pink in them. I also got this bright pink tie from one of the other elders in my last flat, and I wore it, and then this girl was trying to buy it from me for only a pound, and I was like no fetching way."

"I did buy pointy shoes, and they are so sweet. It is so much fun to look at them, and to wear them during my study times, I don't wear them out proselyting because I don't want to ruin them, and I want to make them last for a long times."

P-day:

"Some P-days all we do is go shopping a little bit, then we go to subway and get a sandwich, then we go to the church and play table tennis, and watch disney movies."

"My favorite thing to do on P-day is to play sports. The other week, we did a zone p-day with the whole Hull zone, and it was so much fun. We played football (soccer), and I scored a goal, and then we played American football, and I had 3 touchdown catches, and an interception."

"The other week we went bowling. I bowled a 136 and a 179. It was amazing. The lanes in England were really good, and my ball had the best curve on it. I was so proud that I still have my bowling skills, and that I can still dominate in at least one sport."

Elder Gentry:

"I am going to miss laughing and having a good time with Elder Gentry. He is so funny, and has been a blast to serve with, and I cannot believe how flippin' fast the 6 weeks went by."

Elder Gentry and Elder Moore in their companion ties and sunglasses.

Loving Grimsby

Brady's Mission is going really well. He is still in the Grimsby 1 Area.

Baptism:

"Ben Smith's baptism went really well. I love seeing people like Ben get baptized. They just have this amazing glow about them, and it is really neat to watch them, and see how excited they are. I always just look at them and I get this huge smile, because it is so neat to see them get so excited. Then on Sunday, Ben got up and bore a really solid testimony. Elder Gentry and I both had our fingers crossed because we didn't know what he was going to say, and we were hoping it would be good, and it was amazing. It was really funny a little 7 year old kid got up and bore his testimony saying he was glad that Ben got baptized and how he is looking forward to being baptized in a couple of months. Ben then waved to him and as Ben passed him on his way up to bear his testimony, he gave him a huge thumbs up."

Investigators:

"Yesterday we found the most amazing kid named Daniel Smith. We went up to him and shared the Joseph Smith First Vision with him, and he really enjoyed it. Then he was telling us how once he was stabbed 5 times, and how he should have been dead, because of the loss of blood. He used to be a rebel I guess, and now he spends his time helping out disabled kids. He wants to improve his life and make it better. We also gave him a Book of Mormon, and he said he has a lot of questions and is looking forward to finally getting some answers. We are hoping that people don't ruin him and that our next appointment with him will go really well, which I am sure it will."

Another investigator is Matthew and Maria Cartwright. Brady says they are really humble and ready to be baptized but last visit didn't go as planned.

"After our p-day was over, we went and visited Matthew and Maria Cartwright. We found out after we left from the member that went teaching with us, that they aren't married yet. When we first met Matthew we asked him if they were married, and he said they were. When he found out he couldn't get baptized until he was married, he was really crushed, and disappointed. They are planning on getting married next year because she is due anytime and they want the baby to be settled in before they get married. They are both so ready to be baptized, so if you have any advice on how we can maybe help them plan to move up their wedding date, I would really appreciate that."

Neat Experience:

"We were waiting for our bus to go home, and we were talking to a member of the church named Carol O'Rielly. Then this guy named John came up, and gave her a hug, and told us how he use to meet with the missionaries before, and then he just left. Carol then told us he had terminal cancer and was suppose to only live until December, and that he is really good fighter. Then, on Saturday while we were waiting for the Zone Leaders to show up to Ben's baptism interview we went knocking. We ended up knocking on John's door and he was telling us how after we met him the night before he was praying that we would come knocking on his door so we could answer some of his questions he had. It was a really neat experience, and he was wondering what happens after we die. We explained it to him, and we would baptize him I bet, but he is moving to place where he can be better watched over, I guess kind of like a rest home. It was really neat, and he was saying before we left that we brought peace to his soul, and he was feeling a lot better now that we had come over. It was amazing!!!!"

Grimsby 1

Only in Grimsby...

"My first couple of days in the Grimsby area have been quite interesting. Some kids were throwing water balloons at the bus, and then we walked by, and they thought it would be fun to start throwing water balloons at us. They didn't explode on us, they would just hit us, and then bounce off and break. I really wanted to yell out, 'No wonder you live in England and play football, because you throw like a little woosey!'. Elder Gentry got into an argument with a little kid, it was funny, but then they went and got more water balloons to throw at us. I only got hit by one, but Elder Gentry was pretty soaked."

"When we were out walking to an appointment, I stopped this old lady and I asked how she was doing. She said I shouldn't be doing this, and I asked doing what? I am just trying to find out how you are doing. She said sharing your beliefs with me. I responded with the did I say anything about religion, I was just wondering if you were having a good day. She ignored me, and just walked off. So about 5 minutes later, we were walking down the road, and a cop comes by, and pulls over and calls us over to talk to him. He said some lady told us we had been heckling her, and all this other stuff. I told him I asked her how she was doing and he said that is fine if I were to do that to him, but she took it offensively."

"Then, one night we were walking to a flat, and some girl thought it would be fun to spray us with a super soaker. We asked both kids why they were doing that, and they said it was because for what we do. We said that is really lame, and we haven't even done anything to offend you."

"...Other than that, the people in Grimsby are really great. We have meal appointments like almost every day, and they feed us really good food. Somehow though, I have still managed to lose like 10 pounds so far, and I feel like I have been eating so much. Fish and chips in Grimsby are really good, and they are kind of cheap, and they are so good. I am addicted to them."

Elder Gentry:

"Elder Gentry is really funny, and we are having a lot of fun. His personality is kind of like mine, and he is a lot of fun to be with. He is from Richfield, Utah. We have been working our butts off, and it has been really good to work with him. He is so knowledgeable about the gospel, and he understands things so well, and we are finding so many people to teach."

"We went shopping on P-Day and bought companion ties and some sick sunglasses that we are going to wear. I will send pictures when I take some of us in our sunglasses and ties."

Investigators:

"While we were out knocking, it was my turn to knock. I felt like my door approach was awful, but this guy named Matthew Cartwright ended up letting us in, and I was very surprised. We taught him a little bit, and then went and saw him again. He had some really good questions, and we brought him to church on Sunday and he really enjoyed it. He is really humble, and he is very understanding, and loves to hear the messages we share. We took him to a baptism on Saturday night in Scunthorpe, which is like 40 minutes away, and out of our area. He really enjoyed it and said he had good feelings when he was there. He has also had answers to his prayers. He is doing really well and he is so much fun to teach. Right now, on the 31st of July we have him scheduled for baptism."

"Another one of our investigators is named Ben Smith. He is doing well right now, and yesterday at church he enjoyed it so much. He reminds me so much of John Carson, the old man from my last area who just shouts out random questions. Ben, like John, likes to participate in church, and sometimes asks some weird questions, and gives some weird answers, but it is really good though. He is progressing nicely towards his baptismal date of the 31st of July."

Missionary Grandma:

"The missionary grandma in the area is pretty legit, and her name is Jene. She got mad at us because we didn't have a meal appointment on Sunday, and she said we could have called and she would have made us some stuff. So she made us promise whenever we don't have a meal to go over to her house. She also gives us all these sweets, and she takes good care of the missionaries. She is a really sweet old, old lady."

"I think that I am being blessed with missionaries that know how to have so much fun, and also accomplish a lot in missionary work. Thanks to all for the letters. I enjoyed reading them, and it was nice to hear from them."

Cheerio Leeds

Brady went through a lot of changes this last week. He got a new Mission President, new companion, and new area. He is now serving in Grimsby. However, we are going to recap his last week in Leeds.

Baptisms:

"The baptisms ended up going really well. John Carson asked me to baptize him, and I was really nervous on Saturday. I had to do it twice because the first time, one of the witnesses said his foot popped up. All the other people said it was fine, and that he did go all the way under. I guess its better to be safe, and if you are not sure to just do it again. I was so nervous that I couldn't even tell you what the people talked about it because I was just thinking about what in the world I was going to be doing. I was really nervous because he is in his 60's, and they didn't fill the baptismal font very full. I just told him to bend his knees, and that it will make everything go a lot smoother. Elder Remington baptized Giuseppe, and it was really good."

Transfers:

"I have found out that the Leeds 1 University area will be shutting down, since barely any students will be in town. This means that I am getting transferred to the Grimsby 1 area in a place called Hull. My new companion is going to be Elder Gentry. Last Monday-Wednesday we had to change our flats (homes in England terms). We spent 10 hours at our old flat on Wednesday cleaning it out, and it really sucked. I was so certain that I would staying that I decided to unpack all of my stuff, while Elder Davis, Remington, and Valdiva, decided to live out of their packs. I was kind of rubbing it in, and I feel really humbled now. I guess maybe I shouldn't have dished out so much crap."

P-Day:

"On Wednesday we went up to harrogate military base for p-day. We started off by bowling, and I bowled a 150. I am still pretty good at bowling I guess. We then went and played basketball for like 2 hours. I am already starting to play so bad, and I have only been our for a month and a half. I couldn't believe how bad I was, but luckily I was still able to grab the rim, and I still can dunk it."

Brady & Elder Remington with a chav named Kevin. His sister Tracy put the extensions in their hair and made them take a picture.

Brady & Elder Douglass way back in the MTC on their church history tour.

Workin' Hard

Brady is still in the Leeds 1 Area. This week, they are getting a new mission President. And Brady's companion, Elder Remington, is leaving the week after, so lots of changes are coming his way. Brady will be sad to see Elder Remington go. They have had a lot of success and a lot of fun!

Investigators:

"Guiseppe is our golden investigator. Even when we explain things to him awful, he understands it, and is able to tell us what we are teaching him in a lot better way than we do to him. He always gives us something to drink before we start our lessons, which I really enjoy. It's usually orange juice because it has lots of vitamins and we need vitamins because it has been very hot in England this whole last week. His wife is a Buddhist, and he keeps on telling us that he wants to get baptized first so he can help us bring his wife into the church also. It was really sweet when he said that and we were really excited."

"We have officially decided that John Carson is pretty crazy. He was participating in the lesson, which I thought was a good thing, sometimes though they would ask a question and he would give an answer that didn't even have to do with the lesson. It was really funny, and every time in Sunday School his hand was the first one up and would try to answer the question."

"Both John and Guiseppe passed their baptismal interviews. It was really neat to see how excited both of them were, and how happy they looked to know that they are going to be baptized on Saturday, July 3. I am really excited and I hope that they are prepared to face the opposition that they will end up facing this week. I know that they will be fine, and that the baptism will go through, but it is still kind of scary."

"Things with Victor and his family aren't going so smooth anymore since he went out of town."

"We were teaching this chav yesterday. A chav is kind of like a gangster. He usually always tells us how he doesn't want to be taught, and all this stuff. But yesterday we were able to teach him a lesson. He just choose some random scripture from the Book of Mormon and we had to teach him from it. He opened up the book to Moroni's Promise (pretty sweet) and we kind of laughed inside. We then were able to teach him how this promise works, and we even got him to say the closing prayer. He made a request to know the Book of Mormon is true, and said a really good prayer."

Brady with President and Sister Stock and Elder Remington

Brady on his P-day

Brady and his companion and roommates. Elder Remington, Elder Moore, Elder Valdivia, Elder Davis

Bar Burrito, which Brady says is almost as good as Cafe Rio

Brady and Elder Douglass, one of his favorites from the MTC who is now serving in Scotland, loved the drink Vitmo!