Top Ramen and Cereal

Monday, we did had our first P-day. Went shopping. Everyone ALWAYS asks us where things are. I know that we look just way awesome but Walmart employees don't even wear ties. hahaha We either tell them where or try to explain we don't work there. It's kind of funny but it happens 3-5 times in one shopping session.

Most of the week has been helping Frank move. He is a great guy! He has such a powerful testimony. And he is like 58 but acts like he is 27. Hopefully he will come back to church and we can help him get back on the path towards the Temple!

Mostly what I've been eating (As this seems to be a common question) is top Roman and cereal. It's great haha I just don't have too much time to make anything to elaborate and what not. Plus I'm still trying to figure out this whole money thing.

The area of Cheektowaga is kind of like West Valley. It's pretty Urban. Not too much of a country thing. Couple of Rambler areas but lots of apartments and cheap housing. However we attend the Lancaster ward which covers like 7 cities. It is pretty spread out. Since it is so spread out we do have a car. But limited miles so we have to be very careful and bike when we can. The car is very nice and we are definitely blessed with that! It is a 2012 Ford Fusion. Mostly because this area is pretty new. They invested and it'll last. We have to be way careful though and someone has to stand outside everytime you back up to make sure nothing bad happens. It's a bit of an obedience test but we do it.

The ward is pretty good! They are warming up to missionaries. Hopefully we can continue to get their support as there is tons of less actives that need to come back and we want to continue to bring more people to Christ.

The apartment is really nice. It is a duplex house. We have upstairs and the landlord has downstairs. But we share the basement. Well, it's his basement but he lets us use a washer/dryer and the pool table. We are currently helping him tile/paint/put together a Salon for his girlfriend (hopefully soon to be fiancee). They are LDS which is great. He is an RM. Served in Taiwan. They are great! They bought us candy bars for our birthday.

Our Birthday was pretty good! We helped Frank move out the rest of his apartment. Then we came home and was able to buy an ice cream cake from DQ. It was really good. We shared with Greg (landlord) Amy (girlfriend) and the other 2 missionaries.

The other two missionaries are Elder Housekeeper and Elder Buxton. Buxton is 19 and Housekeeper is 22. Elder Housekeeper is 1 year out and Elder Buxton is 6 months. They are both great and tons of fun. Elder Housekeeper is obsessed with Whales and worked at Sea World. It's pretty cool!

Our daily schedule goes like this:
Morning Studies (Personal/Companion)
"12 Week" Which is a training program for noobies. Like myself.
Then we usually have lunch or do Mealz on Wheelz depending on the day.
Then We go to IP (Internet Proselyting.) for an hour.
Then the afternoon varies from appointments and/or tracking. We haven't done much tracking. Then We'll come back for dinner and then go out for other appointments or service.
We definitely do a lot of service.
Come back at 9-9:30 and get ready for bed and what not.

Oh ya! We took the investigating family to the Sites! That was way way cool! The dad seemed to really get something out of it. But we mostly just have to be their friend and hopefully share the joy a little bit more. They were very interested in the History of it. The only problem was when we were at the Hill Cumorah Visitors center I was sooo excited that I almost made myself a little sick. It was a fun experience! Hopefully we can continue to have experiences like that.

We get fed once ish a week by members so that is pretty great! Mostly this old couple named the Lawrence's. We do their yardwork project then they feed us and then they force us to a game of dominos. Fun but they beat us. hahaha It's good though because they help convince the Ward to help us!

I am having a problem with this "No holding kids" rule. There is an adorable little toddler in my ward that I am determined to win over. She doesn't like guys. I got her to smile on Sunday during choir practice.

Oh the little Quartet singing in Sacrament went alright. I don't think they'll ask me to sing again though. Maybe just in the choir.

All is well!!!

Brandon sent these first two "cute" (his words) pictures from the MTC.

And a picture of Brandon with his mission president and his wife at the Sacred Grove the night that Brandon arrived in the mission.