The Member Missionaries are Showing Us Full-Time Missionaries Up! ;)

Hey Ya'll! 

How's everyone doing?  Did you all hear?  I've been out on my mission for 1 year!  Holy Cow!  What a blessing and an amazing year this has been in my life.  I am so very blessed to be able to serve a mission, and to have all your support in doing so!  I've grown so much! 

So, as for this week, the highlights have to be that we saw Betty and Debbie on Friday, Saturday, then Sunday at church!  They were finally able to make it!  Despite all their physical health challenges, we, plus some great ward members, were able to make it happen! 

ALSO: This is how cool SVU is; Elder Johnson and I just went to the restroom, here at the library, and we got back, and this note was left for us on our keyboard!

"Elders, We appreciate what you are doing.  Thank you for your sacrifice.  Godspeed."

Aug. 24, Mon.: P-Day.  We cleaned thoroughly!  Like a DEEP clean!  We tidy up every week, but a little birdie told us that President Salisbury, himself, might come and inspect the apartments.  ;)
We had a great meal appointment with the Congdon's - and they ended up being the only people who let us in the rest of the evening.  Ah Well. :)

Aug. 25, Tues.:  We met with Randy this morning since it's the only time that works for him, apparently.  But, we taught how Christ's Church is the same as it was when he was on the earth.
We didn't have too much luck the rest of the day.  Although, we did receive a referral from our dinner appointment with the Clark's.
With Brother Turman,  we went and visited Brother Floyd; he's more of a "show me the proof" type of guy.

Aug. 26 Wed.:  We tried tons of people today.......
We had an appointment with Keith Wills' and the Jacobsen's so graciously decided to come with us.  Well, Keith wasn't there, so we went around the corner to Severin.  We were able to catch him at home and teach him briefly about the Book of Mormon.  The Jacobsen's were so perfect!  Talk about a great example of member missionary work. 

1. They bore their testimonies
2. They invited him and his family to church with them. (not us, the guys in white shirts and ties) 
3. They exchanged phone numbers, and invited him and his family over for dinner on Friday, with us for a lesson!

Aug. 27, Thur.:  Click Day!  12 months a missionary=1 year down=1 year to go
We had Zone Conference today; it was such a great reminder on the purpose of our mission.  I, personally, want to do everything in my effort in bringing the people residing in the WVCH mission closer to Jesus Christ!
We went on exchanges with the Lynchburg Elders; Elder Price came with me to Buena Vista.  We saw some great things - we visited with more members than non-members today, but that helped us out a ton in getting us pointed in the right direction with non-members and less-actives to visit.
We had dinner with the Hardy's.  As we were walking up, their son, Ammon, was talking to their neighbor about the Gospel, and inviting her to participate in gospel discussions they have!  Great member missionary work again!

Aug. 28, Fri.:  So, today was game day here in Buena Vista.  Not for SVU, but for Parry McCleur High School vs. Rockbridge County HS.  The town was shut down; there was over 6,000 people at the game, there wasn't a parking spot in town.
We got a ride back down to Lynchburg with Brother Alvstead.  He suggested it'd be good PR for the us and the church to be at the football game!  I couldn't agree more! (wink, wink)  We didn't end up going.
We had dinner at the Jacobsen's, they are so awesome! (They came home from missions this year, and got married this year, so they've had a lot going on)!  They have a goal to have someone be taught by us missionaries in their home by Oct. 1!  WOW!
We also had a great lesson with Betty and Debbie, just a follow up lesson to answer their questions and see how their reading was going.  Betty said the opening prayer, and Debbie said the closing prayer.  In the past, she said she'd never say a prayer!  I love how the Spirit can work within someone!

Aug. 29, Sat.:  Well, we did weekly planning today.
We had the ward pool party.  We missionaries didn't swim, of course, we hung out at the pavilion where the food was.  Our investigator, Randy, brought his two kids, so we were able to have people go up and introduce themselves to them!
We had another great lesson with Betty and Debbie.  Brother Casperson came, last minute, with us.  We taught them about the Holy Ghost, the Sacrament, and enduring to the end.  They are planning on coming to church tomorrow.

Aug. 30, Sun.:  So, we attended Ward Council in the morning.
We helped load Debbie's wheelchair into the Walker's car, and carried in her oxygen tank to Sacrament meeting.  They still made it!  WooHoo.  They made quite the entrance!  For the last 5-6 weeks, we've been telling everyone about them, and how they are coming (but they hadn't until today), so they're pretty "famous" by now!
We went and visited the Roberts couple.  They have great faith, and tough circumstances.  They are less-active due to the fact that they are both in terrible health condition.  We will look into if they can get the Sacrament brought to them. 

Well, it's only going to get busier!  The same goes for the rest of my mission.  One busy year, and an even busier year to come!  I can't wait to see what it has in store.  It's only going to help me grow more, and learn more.  I can't believe how much the mission has changed my life thus far, and can only imagine what another year in the service of my Savior will help me become.  My mission is to BLESS! (it helps that I have the true Restored Gospel and Priesthood to preach!)

Love All of You! 

Love, Elder Brenchley