Monday, 16 October 2017 ~ Week #12

Hey everyone!

Right now I'm feeling a little bit inadequate, I'll have to admit! My trainer Elder Cortes is going to a different area to be a Zone leader, and in a dangerous zone too! I will therefore be staying in the same area, Ermita, and be gaining a second trainer for these next six weeks (every change is six weeks). His name is Elder Cruz, super new, having had 5 months in the mission so far, he will be district leader in the area we are serving, and he does not know a word in English. But that is all I know. I bet he is going to be awesome, and I have heard he is "super pilas," and he will know how to navigate once I show him around. It will be a bit awkward at first, and I'm probably going to have many awkward moments with those who I have visited up to this point. But I feel like I have improved a lot just in these past six weeks, and I will be a fully trained missionary by the end of these 12 weeks.

Just this past week, I have only experienced some sickness, and we have only had two days where almost all of our appointments fell through. "Que chafa!" This really doesn't happen a lot but we have done great work, and I owe all of my success as a missionary secondarily to my trainer Elder Cortes who has served me well, and primarily to God. These next few weeks I will have the opportunity to be more responsable for the progress of everyone I know, because I will be showing my trainer around to everything. I would be vain to not ask for a prayer nonetheless because I know that this will be a challenge and I am going to need lots of help in helping my new companion around with only so much knowledge of my area, acquired by my sufficient but limited Spanish. But whether this turns out to be a smooth transition or a rough and challenging one, this will be for my good. And those who have known me to be a little bit unsure of myself, a little less definite in my answers, and remember a little less than is convenient, will rejoice to know that these are things that the Lord will be improving from within me, gradually.

Besides changes coming up, this week has been a little bit less uneventful. But I will follow up with more.

Besides these news, I just want to remind everyone--I want to remind you, to remember your talents. You have a mission to fulfill, and you have been given gifts, some which you have had even before being born. Jeremiah 1:5 accounts that we had a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father before birth. I know that God is your Heavenly Father and He loves you. And by His grace, He has given you talents, that you might have your own unique way to serve your fellow men. Whether it is playing an instrument, or working hard, or having good memory, or being a good listener, or being able to lift someone's spirits, or being a leader, or being obedient, or being thoughtful, or being patient and accepting of others, it is a gift from God, and is given to you because He loves you and knows that you can use the gift for the benefit of others out of the goodness of your heart. So before you try and figure out how to improve your weaknesses, remember your gifts, and think of how to improve these things. Read books, ask others. And then help others with their own gifts, and share yours as you do so. I know that in my life, I have benefited much from the gift of patience that God has bestowed in others. I have benefited also from the gift of being accepting, and the gift of being a good teacher, and the gift of being thoughtful. Many of my friends and those that I know have this gift, and I am ultimately grateful for this.

I love you all, and I hope you have a wonderful week.

Elder "Pues, es como Derecho pero sin la O al termino" Dredge

Elder Braden K. Dredge

Guatemala Guatemala City East Mission

P.S. I almost forgot, we have keyboards too!!! This is super exciting! This made the last piano lesson actually really efficient. I'm going to be staying in this area probably for a while, just so that I could get at least one member to play hymns well. But that is all good to me, it is a service that I am happy to give. And thanks to this convenience, teaching the piano will be a lot easier, and the ward will much sooner have more piano players. And... my new companion can learn the piano too if he hasn't yet, haha. (We are keeping one at home for preparing lessons... and for messing around too after 9pm).

Tuesday, 10 October 2017 ~ Week #11

Hey folks!

This week I had many opportunities to discover more of my role as a missionary, as well as share with how members of the Church can be missionaries too. Regardless, in my journals, I put headlines to more easily navigate on what day happened what, and a few were:

4 oct The Spirit overcoming sickness, stress, and anger

6 oct The importance of the BOM

7 oct Becoming a more confident teacher

8 oct Learning about Missionary Work

On 4 Oct, I was a bit frustrated because I've been really having trouble with opening my mouth. I was having fear of talking to people, and later after the opportunity passes I have been becoming depressed. Though Elder Cortes was trying to encourage me, I just got more upset when he said, "You can't be afraid, you have 5 weeks in the field." But later on he was telling me that when he was in his own training, his trainer challenged him to go out and talk to people in the bus when they were in a bus. And that's really where I want to get, doing that with ease. I don't think I did too bad with just conversing with friends back home.... but when it comes to iniciating conversation, that's where my big weakness is. I never really saw myself as that social, but I am being prompted to talk to people on the street anyway, this by the Spirit. Right now I am still working on it, but I know that it takes stronger faith, and this is exactly what I need.

The next day while on divisions, me and the zone leader were being hugged by the drunk guy on the street. I kinda felt bad because I was starting to laugh, but though the guy was drunk and poor, we did not have money to give, and really he wanted it. He was just like, "Tiene pisto... Estoy triste, estoy bien triste." Elder Loewen was just looking at me like, "Don't give him nada, he's trying to take your money." After the guy hugged us a few more times, we gave him a picture of Jesus, invited Him to Church and went our way. I couldn't account it very well but in the moment it was seriously funny and probably one of the most interesting 2 minutes I have experienced in the drunk side of this area.

Every now and then in the evenings Elder Cortes and I pass by a group of kids and we teach them a little bit how to beat box, and they ask us to sing and make animal noises. If anyone was wondering, I think I make a pretty good Donald Duck impression... and I think I beat box at least at a mediocre level.

And this past Saturday I was teaching piano to 8 students. This next Saturday, according to changes that the zone leaders will be making, piano lessons will be not just for the ward, but for the stake. The ward is the congregation of people that live in a certain area. 8 come to this. A stake is a group of wards bundled together, and this stake has at least 5 wards. So I'm super super super super super hyped and a bit nervous but overall hyped.

As I was learning about how missionary work applies to more than just missionaries, I wrote down the following thought in my journal:

When we read the Scriptures, and know how to apply them in our lives, we can, in a way, live the Scriptures - truly living what we believe. Thus, when others (friends, family, coworkers, acquaintances, strangers) ask us about our lives and watch us in the way we live, they give themselves their own invitation to essentially read the Scriptures.

The Scriptures are the words of prophets inviting us to come unto Christ, so when we live the words of prophets, we come unto Christ. Thus when others are curious to know how to live our lives, and our lives are centered on Christ, they too come unto Christ. And inviting others to come unto Christ is essentially what missionary work is.

(As Elder Holland has said in his talk this past General Conference:) Many times when we read the Scriptures, we feel discouraged, or at least we feel that they don't apply to us, because the things that the prophets require us to do and the things that they themselves do seem outside our ability. However, we can progress. Jesus commands us to be perfect. Despite this, we cannot be perfect in this life. Nonetheless. His Atonement is perfect. and His grace is sufficient, that by developing our faith in Christ and true repentance, we can improve every day. By our own means we cannot return to the presence of God, but by the help or strength that God provides, we can - and this is grace. We are not only saved by grace; we can be changed by grace.

All of this can be summed up as so:

The more you read the Scriptures, the more you apply them,

the more faith in Christ you develop, the more you pray and rely on Him,

the more grace you receive, the more strength you have,

the more you change, the more Christlike you are,

the more that others too may come unto Christ as you have.

And seek the examples of your friends and family and neighbors and coworkers too. Whether they read the Scriptures too or not, we all have gifts. These are gifts from God, whether strong from birth or strengthened through trial. Observe everyone you know. Focus on the good in them. Then in spare moments think and consider. What gifts do they have? How do they have them? Is it who they are? Did they have to change to be that way? What do they think about, to be that way? What are their habits? What can you do to have that strength too? Don't envy others for what they have, whether they boast of what they have or not, but rather give your excuse to admire them, and furthermore to compliment them and to ask for help. We might have the same gifts, and perhaps we might not have the gifts that others have in our own lives. So it at least a blessing in your own life that they have that gift. Just as this is so, you are blessing in other's lives because of the gifts you have. Write them down and remember them, and strive to strengthen them. Often times we may struggle to apply the scriptures in our lives, but it is really a lot simpler when we take time to think about the people who are dearest in our lives who, by divine grace, are excellent examples of the Christlike characteristics and possessors of the spiritual gifts we cherish and desire to obtain.

Consider these things. Seek the best gifts, count your blessings, pray often, and share the love that you have in your heart with those around you. I love you all.

Elder Braden K. Dredge

Guatemala Guatemala City East Mission

Monday, 2 October 2017 ~ Week #10

The week after General Conference

When I write these, I go back into my journal just to give account, and I have to say, some times these things feel really long ago. Might I add by distance of time and emotion.

One of these past days was super, well, poopy. Our apartment is probably one of the best in the mission, and yet still.. it has some problems. We needed to get a plunger in this penthouse. Probably an hour, no more than that thankfully, was spent on just fixing it. But then there has been no problems. And there was much rejoicing.

To provide a picture of how it is here, I must say, in plenty, plenty, plenty of areas, it smells like feces. And there really are drunken men who anxiously wait for "gringos" (young men from the States) to pass by so that they could either say "Hey! What time is it!?" or "HEY! Good morning, how are you!" It's kind of funny, to be honest. And at this point I have been offered alcohol twice by said men. Some Elders who live close by lost a bunch of investigators because of a gun threat. Literally the man said, "I have killed Mormons before, and I will kill you both too if you don't stay away." Three quarters of their area was shut down because of this. So that's pretty peligroso! Oh, and I got a nice sweater from the store. Elder Cortes wanted me to get a snapback and shades along with that so I did that too!

Elder Cortes have been seeing some miracles as of late. One of them was this: A young woman (just turned 18) who had been away from home trying to find her birthfather for almost three weeks. We know about her because she had investigated the Church and we have been talking with her mom. We agreed to fast for her return. And she came back, thank Heavens, just this past week. The family is a lot stronger now. This reminded me of the Parable of the Prodigal Son. I'm just happy to know that this young woman finally got back home.

And this past weekend was General Conference. This was a wonderful conference. We have had the chance to invite people to come and watch with us. What this was, was an opportunity for those who don't know a lot about the Church, to gain a closer look at what we really believe. We believe in modern revelation, and that we have a living prophet today. And by the power of the Priesthood, the authority to act in the name of God, the prophet calls Apostles, as even Christ himself organized the Church in His day, as well as other authorities to watch over the areas and stakes and wards all over the world. And these men and women are called to address the concerns of this generation and apply these concerns to how we can live the Restored Gospel. The first principles of the Gospel, the which are having faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, and repentance, are simple in doctrine, but can be challenging to live in an ever-changing world. And because of the authority by which these men and women are called, these are truly the words of God, answering the prayers of His children in these latter days.

Elder Nelson in particular, from Conference, posed three questions.

1. What would your life be like without the Book of Mormon?

2. What would you not know?

3. What would you not have?

If you have read the Book of Mormon, consider these questions for yourself, member of the Church or not. If you have not, read it, ponder it, and pray about it. If you do that, you can only experience blessings.

Truly, if this book was not true, I would not have anything that I have right now, and I mean literally, unless by the grace of God I were to be snatched into the path I am on. If the Book of Mormon was not true, I would not have the family I have now. I was adopted via LDS Family Serivces. This is a family organization which is run by the direction and revelation of the Priesthood. The Priesthood was restored by Joseph Smith, whose authority came from Jesus Christ. If the Book of Mormon was not true, then Joseph Smith did not have the power to translate it, therefore was not called of God. And if Joseph Smith was not a Prophet, the Priesthood would not be on the Earth, And if the Priesthood was not here, the LDS Family Services organization would not be run by the Priesthood, nor would be an organization at all. And if the Book of Mormon wasn't true, my parents would not be members either, nor would have my birthmother. If the Book of Mormon wasn't true, I might be here on the Earth on this time, but I would not have the family that I have now. And if I was not born into the family which I have now, I would not have moved to Oregon, and to California, and to Oregon again. I would not have any of the friends that I have now. I would not have any of the experiences that I have had up to this point which have blessed the life that I have. I would not know how to play the piano. I would not be serving a mission. I would not have any of the blessings of which God has given me.

I am who I am because the Book of Mormon is true. I know my parents know it is true. I know my birthmother knew it is true. I know Joseph Smith knew it was true. And I know for myself that it is true. The Book of Mormon is a divine book, which testifies of the divinity of Christ. It is written of and by those who lived in the Americas, and knew of the Christ, years and years before and after His Resurrection. The men who inscribed the plates from which the book was translated were inspired, educated, and righteous disciples of Christ, changed by the grace of our Lord through His Son's Atonement, and they had a firm faith in Him even years before His birth. Whoever reads this book and treasures its precepts and applies them to their character with diligent study and fervent prayer will, and this is a promise, feel the Savior's love, and come to know Him, and be more like Him.

I am not a perfect person, but I do know that I am changed by the grace of God, and I know that the Atonement of Jesus Christ was for me, as it is for everyone else. The Book of Mormon teaches that a man must have faith in Christ and repent. I know only a part of the process through which a man can be as changed by the grace of God as Nephi or Alma or Moroni, but I know from the part which I have taken, I have experienced fruits. I am a significantly happier, more cheerful, more willing to improve, more focused, and more faithful in my Savior because I have read this book and pondered about it. I invite all to take the invitation of our beloved prophet Thomas S. Monson, to read the book, and study it, and apply it to yourself.

I will probably not write as much in the coming weeks but I will still strive to share what I know and what I have experienced. This for everyone to read.

I hope everyone has a swell week this week!

(If you happen to have my email, tell me how life is going for you!)

Elder Braden K. Dredge

Guatemala Guatemala City East Mission

PS:  For those of you wanting to "write" to Elder Dredge here is his email address:  It's the only way he can receive "love and support" letters from anyone.

braden.dredge@myldsmail.net

Wednesday, 27 September 2017 ~ Week #9

It is actually super weird to think that I have only been in a new country for just a little over 2 months. 2 months doesn't seem like long but it feels like I have been here for at least half of year. Regardless, I only have 11 more chunks of two months.

My main worries up to this point have been, well, not working hard enough in one day, not knowing what to say or do (especially say) in certain situations, and not having the right mindset or heart. Every day I feel like I could do more as I am serving with my companion, especially since at the moment I am still kind of the quiet companion, not always knowing how to respond or what the person talking to me is saying. And as I am going from appointment to appointment I want to talk a little more to the people on the street, but often I am a bit afraid because I either don't have anything to say or I do but I don't want to say it in fear of the response. And not having the right heart has an impact on that because I am truly anxious to open my mouth about the message of the Restored Gospel but I feel that it is overzealous to limit conversation only to preaching it, and I fear that preaching it without addressing the concerns of those who I talk to would be extinguishing the Spirit and not be teaching in the Savior's way. I know that this might seem a bit downgrading but missionaries are human too, and I feel like expressing my feelings gives a better look at what serving a mission is like.

Nonetheless, truly I am happy, and I am singing hymns and saying hello to everyone on the street, and I am excited to see how the Lord uses my strengths and abilities and turns my weaknesses into strengths. The Lord gives promises to all who keep His commandments, and it is true that when those who are called to the Lord's work, in whatever way, are changed and strengthened according to how well they magnify their calling. There truly is a law in Heaven, and there are immediate blessings in each covenant that the Lord makes with His sons and daughters.

More than this, just in general, the Gospel is truly a constant source of strength in any time. In this life we are meant to have trials and suffering and opposition of all sorts, but the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ allows for us to withstand it, as Christ suffered all of this for us. Opposition brings us to our Savior when we have faith in Him, and times of peace bring us to our Savior when we are thankful to Him. Every day, every hour of our lives, we can turn to our Savior, praying to our Heavenly Father in prayer for the strength that we need and thanking Him for the blessings we have.

Anyway, yes, I have been struggling with the language a little bit. Thankfully I have progressed from retaining 50, 60% of all the words I hear, to close to 90%! However, if I don't hear the first words of a sentence, I don't understand any of it... and this was my problem back at home anyway. So language study is a really key component to my progress in my utility as a missionary, and probably the most important thing, to be frank. And with my companion we have been struggling to contact just because of the nature of the area... A lot of people around here have not studied in school or have limited education, so they have jobs that do not pay as much, but they still have to provide for their families. Because of this, they work long hours. Many are security guards and spend one day awake and one day resting. No one is out during the afternoon usually. The night is really the key time to go out and work. And even in the night, there are people who still are not available and have only weekends. It is a bit surprising how hard it is sometimes to really find people to teach but we work with our circumstances and strive to do better every day to make use of the time.

I can't go without mentioning that part of my calling as a missionary in this particular area is to teach the members how to play piano, which is super super super super exciting for me. There are currently no members in my ward that play so for the past couple weekends I have taught about 9 people how to start, and some of the basics. It is a little bit hard how we do it because we have only one piano in the building and we teach 7 people at the same time for 2 hours but we make it work somehow. Thankfully we will get two more pianos to use so that more can be happening at once in one lesson, haha. Though this is only a weekly thing, this can benefit a lot the members here. Music is an important part of worship, and when there is even one member that can play hymns, the congregation can benefit all the more, as the Lord delights in the solemn worshop of singing hymns, and the song of the righteous is a prayer unto our Heavenly Father.

That is pretty much all I have for this week! I hope everyone who reads this has a great week too!

Elder Dredge

Elder Braden K. Dredge

Guatemala Guatemala City East Mission

Elder Cortes (from Nicaragua), trainer & Elder Dredge

Monday, 18 September 2017 ~ Week #8

Hey y'all!

The passage of time is super weird, I have to say. There was a point where I was super happy, and then a point where I was super frustrated with my inability to understand the people, and then a point where I felt like I was really progressing as a missionary, and then I find all my whites clothes with a yellow tint because I left a post it note in the washer. And these things are all only days or hours apart. So much happens, but at the same time it is one day at a time here. Lots of walking, lots of feces, lots of Buenos y Buenas y chilero. 

Currently I am definitely struggling to do all that a missionary does. I have had a hard enough time trying to have conversations on the phone in English at home, and eventually I am going to need to do so in Guatemalan spanish, which is not the most clear, but thankfully the passage of ideas is the same speed as English... the words go faster but they are longer words and phrases so it is definitely the same speed haha.

Lately I have been weighted with something however. I have been struggling to feel fully confident in my ability to teach and to just get to know the people. There are many great examples of missionaries in the scriptures, and I am inspired to be like them because of their examples, and I want to be the cause through which many of God's children are baptized. But I realized that it is super super important to have the heart of a missionary, and not just do what a missionary does. When a missionary has the heart of a missionary, they know their purpose, and they know when they are successful, and they know how they can improve, and they have the Spirit to guide them all the time. I realize that I am surrounded my God's children, and that the love of Christ is upon all of them. Because of my weakness however, I cannot speak with all of them, let alone understand them. Often we are heading to visits only saying our Holas and taking a little too much time.

Thankfully, Guatemalans are never on time, and we are doing our work for these people in these visits... not to mention, my companion can easily relate with these people and explain the concepts of the Gospel with love, he having prepared much for his mission, and he being Nica.

But ever so slowly I am being challenged by the promptings of the Spirit to change, and to focus on these people first. And I know that I have passed many people on the street who do not just need this Gospel, but are prepared by the Lord to have it. I know that through the Atonement of our Savior and the plan of redemption of our Lord, these people will be reached.

I have seen that many people who are prepared for the Gospel are friends of those who have been converted. There is a family of whom the father, the mother, and a son we are teaching, and we are feeling really good about the prophets. Really interestingly, the father has been Catholic, the mother is Protestant, and the son is Adventist, and yet all of them were touched by the message of the Restoration.

Truly, this is the restored church, under the direction of our Savior Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith, as all of us should with our own difficulties to understand an important truth, followed Saint James invitation in James 1:5, to ask God, that it shall be given unto him. And Joseph Smith's question was which church he should join, after having attended many. The response was that there was many close by their mouths, but none which had authority. As it says in Ephesians 4:5, One Lord, one faith, one baptism. And surely our Heavenly Father is God of order, and not of disorder.

I have felt and experienced the blessings of the priesthood in my life, and perhaps every day. I know that this Priesthood, this authority and power to act in the name of God, has been restored. Furthermore, I know that this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that all should have faith in our Savior and His Atonement, repent and be cleansed of our sins through said atoning sacrifice, baptize in His name, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end. We can all feel the love of our Savior in our lives, we just need to act upon our faith in Him. And truly, to the measure of our faith, it is enough to simply believe that Jesus Christ is our Savior. But it is upon the belief that we act, and strive to come closer to Him.

I have many weaknesses, many of which service helps me to understand clearly. But I know that the constant battle everyday to strive to follow His example yields eternal blessings. The Atonement was a one-time, universal sacrifice, that we should apply in our lives every day. Because Jesus Christ, through his suffering, knows all of our trials, and our sufferings, and our weaknesses. He voluntarily fulfilled this atoning sacrifice that we might come unto Him, so that we might return to our Heavenly Father, and also that He might know, with a perfect knowledge, how to succor us (Alma 7:11-12). But though I have weaknesses, I know I can turn to my Savior and ask for His help in prayer. Moroni 7:33 reads, And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.

So it is my invitation to all, to come unto Christ, and not just believe that he is our Savior, but ask Him for help and for rest in our lives, according to our faith in His Atonement. I know that Christ knows perfectly our burdens, because of His suffering. He knows where we fall short, because for this too, He suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane. And he wants us to be free of all source of burden. We were meant to face adversity in this life, and He took it upon himself to suffer it all. Why then should we not repent and take upon ourselves the covenant of baptism, to enjoy the fruits of the Gospel every day of our lives? Let us strive to become converted, from whatever point we are in this conversion to Christ, right now. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Until next week!

Elder Braden K. Dredge

Guatemala Guatemala City East Mission

Tuesday, 12 September 2017 ~ Week #7

Oh my gosh I only have like ten minutes to write but there is so much I got to say.

Guatemala City is literally Book of Mormon land. There are so many nice people, and super passionate about their religious beliefs, and of course lots of dangers with robbers and earthquakes and all that. A bunch of houses here have gates because of that!

The Spanish is pretty cool here too! They use words like calidad and caval for the word cool, and I have been using those words a bunch just for the sights.

I don't think I can share everything but I will make sure to share the most important things haha.

So right now I have an awesome trainer, we are currently living in a hotel space with the Zone Leaders (after a bit un convenient move but this home now is super super super bien, and a lot better than the first apartment). My trainer is E. Cortes from Nicaragua, and he is really into dancing and singing, which is just perfect. He is also really into beatboxing too!

Right off the bat we got a new date for baptism for an investigator, and now we have three.

This past week, I experperienced a bunch of firsts which I can just list. First....

Terremoto (earthquake), which was actually quite nice where I was at thankfully. It was a nice swaying motion of, well, everything in the house.

Service project, which was pushing a pila up a super narrow hill. One of the craziest ideas I've seen but after 2 long hours it was done!!

Priesthood blessing, which was for this one young man in college to have inspiration in a really tough choice in his life concerning his career. This was my first ever blessing, and not just in the mission. I was a bit nervous at first but thankfully the particular family speaks English so I did it in English.... for that one time. And when I was asked to by my companion, the Spirit just struck me right into the heart, so I was confident with things to say for this hermano. It was a super awesome experience. Super super calidad.

Day of church. Played piano for sacrament meeting. And got a first...

Student for teaching piano! Just a little lad with glasses! I{m super excited! In my area, I will have lots of opportunities to teach piano. The mission president, Pres Christensen, said if I couuld teach four, then those four could teach four more! 

Also, a first P day. It was not the best P day because of moving, those why I had to email now rather than yesterday. BUT the apartment is super calidad. In fact it is probably the nicest living space in the mission for Elders! So I should definitely be grateful!!!

Well anyway, I should express a thought about baptism. There are many folks here who are less active, thus why it is a big priority to strengthen the members. I just have to say that without baptism in the Church, we cannot experience all the blessings of the Atonement. The reason why I am here is to help others to come unto Christ, and it is my commission to help them receive all the blessings of the divine sacrifice that our Savior has made for us. I am sent to help others develop faith in Christ, repent according to the commandments, and be baptized so that they can experience the feeling of cleanliness that Jesus Christ wants all of us to feel. And after that, receive the Holy Ghost and persevere to the end, so that our lives are devoted to the service of our God and to our fellow men and our families continually, and always know how to succor those in need and how to help and strengthen our families. It is important that after baptism we endure to the end because the companionship of the Spirit is a gift, and because of the Atonement we have the opportunity to experience eternal happiness in this life and for eternities afterward. Let us all consider how we can come closer to Christ, wherever we are in life, and call upon the help of our Lord to help our faith and help our weaknesses according to the counsel in Ether 12. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Elder Braden K. Dredge

Guatemala Guatemala City East Mission

Tuesday, 5 September 2017 ~ Week #6

Elder Dredge with President and Sister Christensen

New Elders & Sisters entering the mission from the CCM

Good Afternoon Dredge Family,

           We are sending you this email to inform you that Elder Dredge has arrived here in the mission, and that he is ok.  We are so excited to have Elder Dredge with us.  We also send you a letter from President Christensen, and some photos to enjoy.  If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us through this email.  Thank you and have a great day!

 

Estoy aqui!!!!!!

Hi Mom!

I just got here a couple hours ago. My trainer is Elder Cortes, from Nicaragua. We kicked it off super well, he can beat box and he is into Vocal Point and that kind of music. I dont have a lot of time but I just wanted to make sure you know that I am safe! We got a street contact just now and met with some other missionaries in the area. We will be making a few appointments today. I am ready to shine!!!! And the gift of tongues has been working amazingly!!!!

Other than that, the apartment is nice, we are very well protected, and we are already doing a lot of good work. I will update you more on Monday. Monday is my P day!

Adios, y con amor

Elder Dredge

Elder Braden K. Dredge

Guatemala Guatemala City East Mission