Week #5 April 9

Hey family,

So Michael got called to Argentina.  Kenny turned in his papers a week ago, shouldn't get his call for at least another week, hopefully he actually lets me know besides through email. I've seen Keri quite a few times, caught me up on everyone in Highland, except for Stephanie Shattuck, she should be getting her call sometime soon, Mom could you send her a text with my phone asking her where she is going. I did find the stamps, almost out of them, I did send a letter to Jordan though, only cost me 30 cents, I have no idea how that works out, but it did.   We did sign our visas which means they are done. We were all celebrating about that.

This week has been great. Our speaker for last Tuesday was an area seventy for North Asia, which doesn't include my mission, but he gave a great talk on enduring to the end. He talked about how the entire point of a mission is to prepare us and others to be able to endure to the end. It was really good I wish you could here it, but oh well. So we hosted yet again, I saw Sister Burningham during that, and she called out "Brandon!" I didn't even react until she remembered to yell "Elder Bean!!!" It's kinda funny, I keep worrying I'm going to forget that my first name is Brandon, hopefully that will come back fine when I finish, but that's not for another 2 years.

 Both of our investigators are now committed to baptism. It's really cool, even though it's just role play it helps so much, I'm learning so much about my teaching style, and what I can fix before I get out to Taiwan.

We did get new missionaries in our zone this week. It was really fun, it brought back memories of when we first got here, but it also made me feel a lot more confident in my Chinese. There are 26 new missionaries, when our generation came in we brought in 16, it seems like it's just going to get more and more crowded. I don't know how big the next group is but I'm hoping we don't get too crowded.

So I loved conference. It was the greatest, I don't know if it was just us, but us as missionaries felt like the entire thing was directed towards us. Every talk seemed to discuss missionaries, and how important we are, and what we need to do. It was really cool to here President Gibson give a prayer during priesthood, It really brought thoughts of home. But don't worry it didn't distract me. Sunday night for our devotional we had vocal point come, they each bore their testimonies, and then sang a song. It was really cool. Especially because they all pointed out how powerful our spirits were. I don't know why, but since I've gotten here, it never really occurred to me the power we have to control the spirit in a room. As I think about it, I do remember the spirit always being around missionaries, and I have noticed being able to control whether or not the spirit is with me a lot easier. It just adds a testament to the fact that we are called of God, and authorized to this marvelous work.

Ummm, that's all I can think of, I'm excited for tomorrow to host again, Kallie watch for me, you already know my meal times, so best of luck, and remember to always depend on the Lord, he will help you with everything you need. Like I said last week, feel free to write me, anyone, I don't have any letters to respond to today.

Love,

Elder Brandon Bean
(Also I heard Tay turned in her papers, mom could you ask Sister Airmet where she is going)