Johnny Rockets

Exactly 4 weeks left to serve as a full time missionary!

Today is a P-Day we have got to rest up quite a bit and it has been nice. Driving around and doing a few things we have wanted to do for a while. Just so you all know I was thinking about coming home a day earlier and surprising you, but now I won't just because you all already knew it somehow.....hmmmm.  I fell really weird today because there is exactly one month before finish up the most important goal that I have had up to this point in my life.  I find myself reflecting often about many things that have happened here and even before I was a full- time missionary. I love that I have the confidence to share this gospel wherever I am and whoever I am with. Each day is very different for me some days I wake up and I am super excited to start the day and other days I feel really drained and have to work hard to be able to wake up and see all  of the great things going on and participate in them. I realize things and understand things now that I didn't know before I knew about them, but I had experienced them and been enlightened. there is much work to do to be obedient and stay obedient in this life. If we are obedient the the Lord will always seem close to us it will feel as if he were walking with us. When I look for the best in others and see the best in myself I can see the Lord's hand in all things and how he has prepared us for each trial as we move forward with faith. Trials don't end there will remain always in front of us the next step and our choices and reactions and attitudes will determine our happiness not our circumstances. Today I read Doctrine and Covenants Section 88.  In particular I enjoyed  the following verses and I want to think about them some more so that these words can influence my choices

 62 And again, verily I say unto you, my friends, I leave these sayings with you to ponder in your hearts, with this commandment which I give unto you, that ye shall call upon me while I am near—

 63 Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

......67 And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.

 68 Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will.

 49 The light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not; nevertheless, the day shall come when you shall comprehend even God, being quickened in him and by him.

 50 Then shall ye know that ye have seen me, that I am, and that I am the true light that is in you, and that you are in me; otherwise ye could not abound.

I want to learn to drawn even more unto God when he is already near. I would like to be filled more with light and be prepared to comprehend what God will allow me to comprehend according to willingness to trust in Him and be obedient. Many inspired thoughts can come to our minds as we read this section and I feel very influenced by these verses. I hope they are uplifting for you all.

Love, Elder Bell

 

Moving Forward in Faith

Moving Forward in Faith

Shortly after President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, was called as a General Authority, he went to Elder Harold B. Lee (1899–1973) for counsel. President Packer recalled:

“He listened very carefully to my problem and suggested that I see President David O. McKay [1873–1970]. President McKay counseled me as to the direction I should go. I was very willing to be obedient but saw no way possible for me to do as he counseled me to do.

“I returned to Elder Lee and told him that I saw no way to move in the direction I was counseled to go. He said, ‘The trouble with you is you want to see the end from the beginning.’ I replied that I would like to see at least a step or two ahead. Then came the lesson of a lifetime: ‘You must learn to walk to the edge of the light, and then a few steps into the darkness; then the light will appear and show the way before you.’”²

As children of our Heavenly Father, we sometimes want to understand in detail the things that we must accept or accomplish in faith. However, we don’t need to understand all things. We just need to step forward as the Lord has asked us to do and as the priests of the Israelites did in entering the overflowing River Jordan. Although we cannot see or understand all things, the Lord will help us walk on dry ground if we are “strong and of a good courage.”

We will have the power to stand strong as we live by His words—seeking and following His guidance in the scriptures and from His servants. Yes, we live “in enemy territory,”³ but the enemy cannot conquer the Lord, our Savior, who was sent to help us and to save us.

I know we can be true disciples of Jesus Christ by “standing obedient and strong on the doctrine of our God.”⁴ As we exercise the courage to do so, we stand in holy places, no matter where we are.

Dominican Slang

I was wondering if you could understand any of this dominican slang and phrases we wrote on the board with the missionaries that were leaving last week

August 18, 2014

Mom I am praying for you and your job and I am so happy that you have been blessed with these options and with a gift to talk with people and understand them. You and Dad are the most important support in my life I am grateful for the sacred divine nature of families and parents nurturing and raising their children. I love that Disneyland picture because I remember how grumpy all of the children were the only one that was excited to take pictures was Brittan and I have no Idea why. I love that Brea is sticking out here tongue like that it is so stinking cute! classic picture.

This week Leonidas went to church again and three other investigators went for the second time they probably won't be able to get baptized before I live but that isn't important anyway what matters is the joy they will have and the progress they will have as children of God as they make that decision. I am trying to read the Old Testament in english I figured that since now I understand the Book of Mormon in spanish then I might be able to understand the old testament in english now. :)  I am now in Exodus starting chapter 19.  It is a very high priority for me to understand the scriptures now because I see how the prophecies are being fulfilled and I also find that I feel less confused as I relate the scriptures to my life and I understand more of what is going on around me. When I can relate myself to a scripture sometimes I feel I have to look until I find one that I can relate to myself.

 

This week wore me out because we went to the airport way to many times one day we went there five times in a row. Lots of flights were delayed too and then we had problems because all of the mission's cards that we use for gas and the hospital and the airport expenses stopped working while I wasn't at the office and that was a headache. So many Elders and Sisters are getting here and they are super young haha my comp is really young to it is funny you can tell a difference. I am going to write more tomorrow. I love you all a bunch. By the way I do always get Dad's emails and I love them they really encourage me so make sure he knows that!

Some local food

A good looking bunch of Elders

Sending them off to the islands

Graffiti

The first one made me laugh it is of people smelling a food called sancocho and floating to it

08/11/2014

The last week went by reall fast! we haven't been able to teach very many lessons because of all of thethings we have going on with transfers, but we did have a little miracle last week. we were fasting and walking home on Sunday night and we had had some good visits, however we hadn't found anyone new to teach. which has been a problem for us lately for the last three weeks we haven't found anyone new to help. At nine a clock last sunday night our stake President saw us walking home and stopped and started to talk to us. He then remembered a friend of a family in the ward that he was being taught a couple of years ago he had seen her earlier that week and she was very excited to tell him about what she had been reading in the gospel Principles book she had been reading about tithing and fast offerings. we went directly to her house with him and began to get to know her and she was very interested and shared with us her testimony about how she wants to pay tithing. Well we put an appointment to go back and visit her. which had to be cancelled because she went to the hospital with a niece of hers that day and was with her all week. We still kept in contact with her and she said it would be hard to go to church this week, but that she would try. She went yesterday and It was amazing because the Ward welcomed her so well many of the members were already her friends and she went to and enjoyed all of the classes.  It was a blessing when we went and taught her that she had been studying about fasting which I believe is the very thing that blessed us and the stake president to find ourselves together and he was reminded by the Holy Ghost the we needed to visit her. Besides that We went to a family that was referred to us by the bishop and they have gone to church once in the four weeks we have been visiting them. the mother tells us that she doesn't have alot of interest and she is honestly very nice to us, but doesn't sincerely pay attention to what we are saying. However, her children do and are progressing.  In our last visit with them we had an impression to share in 2 Nephi 31 about the doctrine of Christ and we did, but they believe in orginal sin and that if we are not baptized even as babies that we are condemned for the transgression of Adam and Eve.  We read in that lesson with them the entire chaper of Moroni chapter eight and the mother and daughter began to pay alot of attention and as we finished began to weep. we did not know this, but the mother whose name is Mellisa. Gave birth to a third child who had died three days after being born.  It was a very intense moment because she expressed alot  anger and bitterness she had  kept in her heart for all of the years and repented and explained that she had cursed God and decided he didn't exist  and know she just wants to be forgiven. I hope that  they can receive more comfort as they think and pray about. It . It must be hard to go through trials like that and I know that jesus Christ can help them. I believe that God is just and merciful and all things that are pure and clean will go into his kingdom in his own proper timing.  

Thank you for your messages and support I love you all a bunch. when I  have the pictures with me from Saturday I will send more.

Love, Elder Bell

21st Birthday

Today the Senior couple here took us to a really cool Dominican restaurant for my Birthday. Lots of fun!We even saw a traditional dance. They could dance so well and she spun around hundreds of times on that bottle they do all sorts of things in the dance with it! I may not get to write a whole lot today because we have to deliver some stuff and take a few missionaries to take some tests at the hospital. Love you!

New pictures!

08/03/2014

First off, I love you all a ton. I am sorry I haven't written a whole lot lately, I should take more time out to do that. I am having lots of mixed emotions about when I go home. Clearly that is still a ways off, but I still get nervous about it. Nothing has been a bigger blessing for me than the periods of time that I have been able to forget myself and my worries and what I want and just work and learn. Just thinking about how that will change when this is over gives me a headache. When we think about ourselves tooo much we worry about the future. If I would just live and try my best without thinking too much about what I want I would be much happier. I know now for sure that I am going to be finishing as a secretary. Which is not to easy for me to hear. I feel very tired and sometimes I have difficulties because I want to preach and then when I get the chance for an hour I feel like I don't know exactly what to do with that one precious hour. I am larning so much, but the end of my mission has been much different from what I thought that it would be like. It has been more of what I needed than what I thought and has tested me  and pushed me very much to be bettter. Not just with spiritual things, but also with goals and learning and using my time right. Patience is important. When we aren't being patient we often tend to treat other people differently than how we normally would want to treat them. Whoever has true patience they will be happy because they have hope in the Plan which God has prepared for us. If we find ourselves unhappy or overly worried I would say that it is probably because we are questioning too much if everything that happens to us, that really is out of our own control, is part of what we need to become and that god allows it to happen not to make us suffer, but to help us open our eyes and understanding so that they are more than what they were before.

I love fast Sundays. and this was the second to last that I will have to be here and testify as a full time missionary. I Just want to let you all know that I believe that Jesus Christ created the earth and that he can control all things except for us because Heavenly Father will never take away the agancy that we have always had. Hopefully we use it well because if we don't we will probably wish we could do this whole life over again. However, if our decisions were well made for the most part, for they shall never be perfect, then we will look back on this time of probation and be grateful for everything, every second that we have been allowed breath will be a moment for which we shall be very grateful. I feel comforted knowing that I have you as my family and that I was born into this family for a reason. I feel that each one of you has been an example for me of some Christlike attribute. You are all amazing I know that you are special and being part of our family makes me feel very blessed.

7/30/2014

Well that whole internet thing was a mess and now we are really behind with some payments and things like that, but at least we have it now. Last week wasn't any different than the other ones besides the trip we got to take to El Seibo  to bring a companionship here to the capital. It was a very cool area to drive through I just wish it could have been day time to actually see everything. I had a really cool interview with my mission president. I enjoyed it alot. I am pretty sure that I will be finishing here in Gazcue helping with finances and helping prepare for the 28 missionaries that come in the day that I leave. I am wondering when school starts for me when I get back and when I can start to work. I don't think about that much, but it just came to mind. Transfers are the twelfth of August which I think is going to be absolutely insane because even without having an actual transfer almost more missionaries have been moved in the past few weeks than I have seen get moved in most of the transfers of my entire time serving here. I play soccer every once and a while, but I wouldn't say that I am very good at it.  I mostly just defend well and if anyone uses body to fight it out for the ball I do that alright ha ha some of the Elders get pretty fired up. Especially the ones from Mexico and Argentina. Then a few Columbians and a Panamanian that just play so agressively. So Anthony is almost home.... wow.. and Stihl is long long gone haha Riggs has  eight months or so left Cole is going to have a child Josh has around ten months left I think and Justin might get married ( or he could decide to serve a mission)  I mean he is pretty young I know missionaries that are 28 years old in my mission.more that a few of them are that old. I don't know what to think about Baylin going into college before I go...... weird. that is really cool about Sierra. Wish I could go to the Luau good food will be there. I know it. right now we have afamily and two individuals that are investigating  the gospel and progressing. Everyone here works alot so it is hard to meet with them very often. But when they are alone they at least take time to read and ponder a little bit. The thing is that they seem to be afraid or too doubtful to pray about it directly. Which is hearkening unto the evil spirit it and just reminds me of second Nephi chapter 32 verses 8 and 9. If we don't pray we really just value our own opinions more than God's truths.Love ou! Have a great night. Eat well enjoy your warm showers in the morning ;) haha

7/22/2014

We have had an interesting weekend with a missionary getting sick Saturday night and we were with him in the hospital until three in the morning. Those missionaries are in a trio so that made things complicated with moving them around and everything. We have had problems with the cars and have been doing everything with one car and President and the senior couples from the office haven't come in because he is in the ABC islands meeting the missionaries and branches that are there. Elldery and Nurgia got their temple recommends and their patriarchal blessings on Saturday which I am very happy about. I am super excited for them. Today we are getting cars fixed which takes much more time than you would think and we are getting two Elders from their areas so that they can leave tomorrow on their plane home they are going home early for studies. Right now we are in the house of the Senior couple that stay in a really nice apartment and they told us to take advantage of the time they are going to be gone and use their washer and eat their food :) can't complain about that haha. I feel good, but also feel stressed at times. I want to preach more, but with having a new companion and everything and teaching him everythhing so he will be ready for when I leave it has required more time and letting him do things which teaches to me be patient and I am grateful for that.

 

 I am so happy to hear that Baylin has someone that is treating here like she should be treated. I hope that she is excited for college that shoud be very fun. While I have been reading in second Nephi I love the Isaiah chapters and how those prophecies are being fulfiled in our days. I know that Jesus Christ came as he testified and will come again. I feel that the attribute which at times I thought I had alot of I lack in certain areas. Being truly patient means we are at peace not just that we are waiting if we feel frustrated or fearful it isn't true hope and patience. I am glad that I can still feel worthy and good about myself even if I am not perfect. Sometimes I am too hard on myself. I like that I can evaluate myself and if I know I have done my best that I will be able to feel satisfied with my decisions and actions. I feel like alot of what determines if we are happy in this life and the next will be if we can accept ourselves and our decisions and recognize that there will many more to make and take so we must always look forward with faith. We cannot plan out how everything in our life will go, but we can know that obeying the commandments will prevent us from feeling remorse and service will build us and help us become more than we have been.

 

 I miss you and love you. I also miss grass and carpet and mountains and going to church with my family, family prayer, I miss when Dad would take me outside in front of our house and play catch with me on Sundays because he wanted to be with me. I appreciate that. I know he loves me. I want to do the same in my family. I know that we can have gratitude in our hearts even though everything isn't perfect.

 

                                                                   Love, Elder Bell

 

07/14/2014

Ok so we had an awesome baptism. He is an amazing person I am trying to send the pictures with this E-mail , but the memory is being weird so it may not work. Yeah I can't send the pictures I will have to use my other memory if I want to send them. But anyways, the baptism went well he got confirmed on Sunday.  I wouldn't say that the most spiritual experiences have been baptisms though usually my favorite part is the beginning when the person really feel something that they need it it is as if something is awakened and they act because they want to and almost nothing is required on our part except honesty and support and being worthy by being obedient. However the hardest times are after some has had a moment like that and they get distracted or stop trying to seek guidance from Heavenly Father and begin to look for answers from the world and ask everyon else's opinion and decide that with all the opinions and points of view that there are that the truth will only come out when Christ is hear again. I know that it is here now. At least the parts we need to be ready to receive the fulness of the instruction and priesthood keys of the kingdom of our father. We have what we need , but just like it says in the scriptures we are not yet ready to support all things. The time comes bit by bit and that knowledge which is of true value as stated by Boyd K. Packer is only obtained through fasting and prayer and a meditation upon the scriptures. I believe there is much more in the scriptures than we can imagine. But we have to be careful not to force our own interpretations out of them. I feel very blessed and at the same time I feel that I haven't been grateful enough for having a prophet and apostles. We can get a lot of encouragement and comfort from their words. I read an article in the July Ensign today and I received a recomendation from one of the other elders to read a part that talks about perfectionism.... wow that article had me figured out right on the spot many of those things I have done and felt in my life....let me look up the link real quick if you get time to read it I think it can help anyone:

www.lds.org/liahona/2014/07/young-adults/becoming-perfect-in-christ?lang=eng&query=perfectionism

I like it I should probably read it some more. it isn't too long either.

 Any ways I have been getting weird calls from missionaries today and even in the last few minutes they have been calling and asking how to fix their toilets or when the chain in the part above breaks what they should do.... I didn't know that is is my job to help with that onehaha we learn something new everyday I guess. My companion is doing very well learning fast. He needs to because I don't know how long I will be here with all of the changes that are going on. I used to feel like I have changed alot, but now I kind of have a hard time seeing the changes that have happened. I have a hard time studying because we often leave the house very early in the morning and we often spend alot of time talking to missionaries on the phone and planning our day. My companion and I just got done teaching a really good lesson with a family that is related to our ward's Bishop. We were super far from the office and then a huge rainstorm came out of nowhere and I got completely soaked. I took a picture, but like I said this memory isn't working so I will have to wait to show it in a couple of months. Sounds like California was fun I love you all so much. 

Love , Elder Bell

07/07/14

Today was a long... not really P- Day we cleaned the house and my companion got called to another area in the middle of the transfer with lots of things going on so I am going to be a little over loaded.

 It was crazy to see the pictures that Bay sent me... My little siblings are not little anymore. I am sure you all are having a blast in California it sounds like a lot of fun. You can't be missing me that terribly. What you are all doing is just too much  fun to be missing someone :) I can't wait until we get to party when I get home. Even though I might extend my mission ;) just kidding it is just that I really would have liked to have gone to the temple on the 6th of OCT to see the converts I taught in Bonaire get sealed in the temple. All of the Branches from the ABC islands are going that day. I am really happy that they are getting sealed and I even think Kade Thornock is coming down here with his mom to see them :) they will be really happy about that.

 We will have Be having a baptism this weekend and are very excited about that Elder Tirado is going to Baptize Maximo before he goes to his new Zone. This transfer will be the hardest for me for sure. Love you Mom

Payday!

I was pretty excited when I got this from aruba.

Elder Bell we just wanted to send you this picture and to thank you for your work in Aruba sister Patricia and Juan David always talk about you they Love you and always remember you. 

Juan David baptized his mom the 28th the spirit was really strong

Saying Goodbye to the President

Mom doesn't know how to rotate a picture:)

The Office Elders

 

 

The new president is very energetic. He has already changed a lot of things and he has lots of plans to help the mission.

 

We got to take our old President to the airport and everything. It was pretty emotional and was a very good experience.

 

 I am getting kind of nervous as to what they are going to do with me because I am pretty sure I will be out of here, but where I go will be my last area and last companion. I don't know when it will be or anything could be before the transfer ends or it could be in six weeks. The mission president will know soon I guess. I will get to know him more hopefully. I like some of the goals he has and his attitude. He focuses attention in places where it wasn't being placed before. 

 

They changed the last Elder that was planned to go to the islands last night and out of nowhere sent and argentine missionary.

 

 Love you I will write more later tonight to you all and send more pictures whenever I can!

6/14/2014 Elder Nelsens inspired conference talk

Here is Russel M. Nelson's talk from conference there are many statements that are much needed for our days please take the time to read it. If you find a quite place for fifteen minutes, which isn't that long, should should have time to read the whole thing and then share your favorite parts with each other. Love you all have a great weekend.

Love, Elder Brennan Bell

Dear brothers and sisters, we express our deepest feelings of love and gratitude for you. We are grateful for our assignments among you.

On a recent flight, our pilot announced that we would encounter turbulence during our descent and that all passengers must fasten their seat belts securely. Sure enough, turbulence came. It was really rough. Across the aisle and a couple of rows behind me, a terrified woman panicked. With each frightening drop and jarring bump, she screamed loudly. Her husband tried to comfort her but to no avail. Her hysterical shouts persisted until we passed through that zone of turbulence to a safe landing. During her period of anxiety, I felt sorry for her. Because faith is the antidote for fear, I silently wished that I could have strengthened her faith.

Later, as passengers were leaving the aircraft, this woman’s husband spoke to me. He said, “I’m sorry my wife was so terrified. The only way I could comfort her was to tell her that ‘Elder Nelson is on this flight, so you don’t need to worry.’”

I’m not sure that my presence on that flight should have given her any comfort, but I will say that one of the realities of mortal life is that our faith will be tested and challenged. Sometimes those tests come as we face what appear to be life-and-death encounters. For this frightened woman, a violently rocking plane presented one of those moments when we come face-to-face with the strength of our faith.

When we speak of faith—the faith that can move mountains—we are not speaking of faith in general but of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ can be bolstered as we learn about Him and live our religion. The doctrine of Jesus Christ was designed by the Lord to help us increase our faith. In today’s vernacular, however, the word religion can mean different things to different people.

The word religion literally means “to ligate again” or “to tie back” to God.¹The question we might ask ourselves is, are we securely tied to God so that our faith shows, or are we actually tied to something else? For example, I have overheard conversations on Monday mornings about professional athletic games that took place on the preceding Sunday. For some of these avid fans, I have wondered if their “religion” would “tie them back” only to some kind of a bouncing ball.

We might each ask ourselves, where is our faith? Is it in a team? Is it in a brand? Is it in a celebrity? Even the best teams can fail. Celebrities can fade. There is only One in whom your faith is always safe, and that is in the Lord Jesus Christ. And you need to let your faith show!

God declared in the first of His Ten Commandments, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”² He also said, “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.”³ Yet so many people look only to their bank balance for peace or to fellow human beings for models to follow.

Clinicians, academicians, and politicians are often put to a test of faith. In pursuit of their goals, will their religion show or will it be hidden? Are they tied back to God or to man?

I had such a test decades ago when one of my medical faculty colleagues chastised me for failing to separate my professional knowledge from my religious convictions. He demanded that I not combine the two. How could I do that? Truth is truth! It is not divisible, and any part of it cannot be set aside.

Whether truth emerges from a scientific laboratory or through revelation, all truth emanates from God. All truth is part of the gospel of Jesus Christ.⁴ Yet I was being asked to hide my faith. I did not comply with my colleague’s request. I let my faith show!

In all professional endeavors, rigorous standards of accuracy are required. Scholars cherish their freedom of expression. But full freedom cannot be experienced if part of one’s knowledge is ruled “out-of-bounds” by edicts of men.

Spiritual truth cannot be ignored—especially divine commandments. Keeping divine commandments brings blessings, every time! Breaking divine commandments brings a loss of blessings, every time!⁵

Problems abound in this world because it is populated by imperfect people. Their objectives and desires are heavily influenced by their faith or lack of it. Many put other priorities ahead of God. Some challenge the relevance of religion in modern life. As in every age, so today there are those who mock or decry the free exercise of religion. Some even blame religion for any number of the world’s ills. Admittedly, there have been times when atrocities have been committed in the name of religion. But living the Lord’s pure religion, which means striving to become a true disciple of Jesus Christ, is a way of life and a daily commitment that will provide divine guidance. As you practice your religion, you are exercising your faith. You are letting your faith show.

The Lord knew that His children would need to learn how to find Him. “For strait is the gate,” He said, “and narrow the way that leadeth unto … exaltation … , and few there be that find it.”⁶

The scriptures provide one of the best ways to find our course and stay on it. Scriptural knowledge also provides precious protection. For example, throughout history, infections like “childbirth fever” claimed the lives of many innocent mothers and babies. Yet the Old Testament had the correct principles for the handling of infected patients, written more than 3,000 years ago!⁷ Many people perished because man’s quest for knowledge had failed to heed the word of the Lord!

My dear brothers and sisters, what are we missing in our lives if we are “ever learning, [but] never able to come to the knowledge of the truth”?⁸We can gain great knowledge from the scriptures and obtain inspiration through prayers of faith.

Doing so will help us as we make daily decisions. Especially when the laws of man are created and enforced, God’s laws must ever be our standard. In dealing with controversial issues, we should first search for God’s guidance.

We should “liken all scriptures unto us … for our profit and learning.”⁹Danger lurks when we try to divide ourselves with expressions such as “my private life” or even “my best behavior.” If one tries to segment his or her life into such separate compartments, one will never rise to the full stature of one’s personal integrity—never to become all that his or hertrue self could be.

The temptation to be popular may prioritize public opinion above the word of God. Political campaigns and marketing strategies widely employ public opinion polls to shape their plans. Results of those polls are informative.But they could hardly be used as grounds to justify disobedience to God’s commandments! Even if “everyone is doing it,” wrong is never right. Evil, error, and darkness will never be truth, even if popular. A scriptural warning so declares: “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness.”¹⁰

After World War I, a rather risqué song became popular. In promoting immorality, it vowed that 50 million people cannot be wrong. But in fact, 50 million people can be wrong—totally wrong. Immorality is still immorality in the eyes of God, who one day will judge all of our deeds and desires.¹¹

Contrast the fear and faithlessness so prevalent in the world today with the faith and courage of my dearly beloved daughter Emily, who now lives on the other side of the veil. As mortal life was leaving her cancer-ridden body, she could barely speak. But with a smile on her face, she said to me, “Daddy, don’t worry about me. I know I will be all right!” Emily’s faith was showing—showing brightly—in that tender moment, right when we needed it most.

This beautiful young mother of five had full faith in her Heavenly Father, in His plan, and in the eternal welfare of her family. She was securely tied back to God. She was totally faithful to covenants made with the Lord and with her husband. She loved her children but was at peace, despite her impending separation from them. She had faith in her future, and theirs too, because she had faith in our Heavenly Father and His Son.

In 1986, President Thomas S. Monson said: “Of course we will face fear, experience ridicule, and meet opposition. Let us have the courage to defy the consensus, the courage to stand for principle. Courage, not compromise, brings the smile of God’s approval. … Remember that all men have their fears, but those who face their fears with [faith] have courage as well.”¹²

President Monson’s counsel is timeless! So I plead with you, my dear brothers and sisters: Day after day, on your path toward your eternal destiny, increase your faith. Proclaim your faith! Let your faith show!¹³

I pray that you will be securely tied back to God, that His eternal truths will be etched on your heart forever. And I pray that, throughout your life, you will let your faith show! In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

 

06/16/2014

The office is the office lots of people are sick today and go figures it is the day of transfers. we have been all over and even had to drive to the Zone out on the east coast today because a sister has kidney stones. I get to teach.. kind of we are in a rich place and as far as the members know there have only been sister missionaries in their ward for almost two years so when we meet with them everything goes well and then at the end they usually say something like. Thanks for helping us think of ideas for references to give to  the sister missionaries! haha We have to take a lot of initiative to teach and we have had miracles honestly the contacts we have made have been inspired contacts and found people waiting for us. But it is hard to give follow up to people who work so much and then we do too. My schedule is completely random and I have free time at absolutely horrible moments that aren't very useful to proselite. The thing with the older couples is... kind of messy right now I am learning patience with quite a few things. Being a missionary doesn't ever gets easier we just get used to the load and my load is working out different muscles right not and stressing out my companion and making him grumpy.  I am happy I sometimes feel unsatisfied, but I think that is a good thing it gives me motives to improve and I have a bunch of room for that. I love you Happy Father's day Love you  Dad and Mom

Awkwardest haircut in my life:)

Jun 16 at 5:13 PM

Here are some pictures I thought for Dad's father's day gift that he should receive the pictures of my officially awkwardest haircut in my life, you know that one that a missionary dreads and hopes doesn't happen the whole time. and the pictures of my zone from this transfer and the pictures of my hair after it got fixed. Happy Father's day Dad! hope you enjoy the pics! :)

Ocean Drive to the Airport

Bad Hair Day!

06/16/2014

Here are some pictures I thought for Dad's father's day gift that he should receive the pictures of my officially awkwardest haircut in my life, you know that one that a missionary dreads and hopes doesn't happen the whole time. and the pictures of my zone from this transfer and the pictures of my hair after it got fixed. Happy Father's day Dad! hope you enjoy the pics! :)

06/09/2014

Jun 9

I am super tired we just got done playing soccer and I am still horrible at it so it takes more effort on my part to compete. I have been told that I will stay here until august 12th and then I will finish my last transfer in the field. Of course it all depends on what the new mission president wants, but I am pretty sure that is how it will be.  I got to give a talk yesterday and I shared mostly from Elder Bednar's talk in general conference. I really like the wording when he talks about how his friend returned home in his truck in english I think it would be something like a " more humble and happy man." I feel that is how those who deserve the Celestial kingdom will return to Heavenly Father also. I found a chain of scriptures in fourth Nephi that I love they are about being partakers of the heavenly gift. they are verses 3,11,12, 17, 18 they had basically  a perfect understanding of how to live and be free of the temptations and traps of the adversary. and then they started living for personal gain and not teaching the gospel of Christ to their children which lead to the destruction of their people. I love the Book of Mormon it is my strength and reminds me that there is an Almighty God and Creator of all things I know we have eternal aconsequences for all of our actions. And we control if those consequences are good or bad. I am glad you are enjoying the family trip those were always really fun even though I never had a cousin my age to enjoy it with I pray for you often and thinking of all of you whom I love reminds me why I should be obedient and use my time wisely and live my life with integrity. Love you! Elder Bell

06/03/2014

I have had a difficult week, but those are great weeks to learn something new and wait for Sunday to help me spiritually pull through. I absolutely love fast Sundays they have been a great blessing for me the whole time I have been serving in the missionfield and even before when I was at home. We are preparing for a new mission president to come on the 28th of June and this transfer of four weeks ends on the 16th of June. The old finance couple has returned after a back surgery and I now find myself a little bit without a job and sometimes wondering what I am supposed to do here in the office. However, I am sure that the solution is just around the corner and that it will all be better by the beginning of next transfer.

 Some really good news that I got from the elder that is in my old area is that a family that I contacted about six weeks ago has not missed a single Sunday and have plans to get married and want to be baptized. Also, Stephanie, the investigator that  cancelled her baptism the night before she was going to get baptized has stayed strong and hasn{t missed any meetings and will be getting baptized on the 14th of June. I find alot of peace knowing that I did my part and worked hard to find those who were ready to receive the truth although they did not know where to find it. I have never been there for any of the baptisms of any families that I have taught, but I still get very excited for anyone that gets to participate in that happening because this gospel is for families that want to last and overcome the temptations and threats of the adversary that strives to make us fall short of waht we came to the world of probation for. I Have noticed that we have to remember our small moments of enlightenment if we want to progress because we are so quick to forget the eternal things. Our vision is often short sighted and doesn{t always focus on eternity. For that there shall always be moments when we are humbled for our own actions and I have felt the Atonement in those humbling moments. I feel very gratful for the mission it helps me appreciate life. I love youMom and Dad,

Elder Brennan Bell

Elder Madird and Elder Sosa

5/27/2014

Well, that week went fast very fast, I enjoyed it very much. It was a little bit better after saturday we got some rest and today we went and played soccer for a long time with all of the missionaries. The Kind of stress here is different that just being in the missionfield all of the bills and that stuff can be very frustrating when it doesn't go smoothly. We were able to go and teach yesterday and we had some good lessons. We are now in the richest part of the mission so contacting is a little bit like being back in Aruba or Bonaire again. Most of the places are just big nice conduminiums and besides that just masnion looking houses where company owners live. It is strange being in a ward that everyone gets here in their own car and they get here late anyway. Dominican Island time is way behind.

 I have been reading the general conference talks and one of them has been very good for me lately...actually two of them if you get time to look at them and really ponder upon the words that are said I know that it can be a blessing in your lives. one is called "Bear up their burdens with ease" by Elder Bednar and "I have given you an example" By Richard G. Scott.. the other talk that I had been needing to hear and answered a few questions it was in the preisthood session titled "The Keys and Authority of the Priesthood" by Dallin H. Oaks. Please dedicate a little bit of time to relax and feel the peace of mind and spirit these words of apostles bring. We all need to be a little nourished spiritually every day.

 Love you, very much I hope that this summer starts and ends great and as you are hoping it will. It is my last summer here as a full time missionary and I am grateful for it. I am content with myself. But it is not over and I can't be too content or I might stop becoming what I have the potential to become. I love the short phrase in Elder Bednar's talk "It was the load"  peace isn't having the load taken of of us. I hope I can carry my load with Him.  Love, Elder Bell

5/22/14

Mom! I have time to write I think haha :) so this week transfers were basically starting from Sunday until Tuesday in the night time and I am still feeling the effects of the loss of sleep :) big schedule change for me. at 1 in the morning on Monday we got a call that we had to take a missionary to the Hospital then we spent the night there at the Hospital. we got home at 4 in the morning and slept until seven thirty then we took the missionary back to the hospital to meet with the Doctor. We got to the office at 12 in the afternoon we did a lot of random busywork and then we left to pick up some missionaries from the airport.  we slept in the MTC that night and woke up at three in the morning to take the missionaries that are finishing home then we went back to the MTC to pick up the new missionaries and take them to meet their trainers. After that we gave presentations and helped missionaries get to their areas. The part that I loved was that the last thing wedid was we got to take some elders out to their areas that I had never visited one was in Monte Plata and the Other was in Sabana Gran de Boya. That was awesome they live in the mountains and everything is green  those Elders are so lucky to have those areas they have very nice chapels and lots of active members also.I apologize that I wasn't able to write sooner it is just the first and last weeks of transfers are a little bit difficult. Lots of times we get interrupted and have to do busy work other times. We are working hard and we had something cool happen last week. An investigator went to church with a member and in just a week read the first 20 chapters of the Book of Mormon. He is doing very well, however has a lot of questions pertaining to things that are important, but not as important as some other basic knowledge I really hope that he can focus on his prayers and understand that if the Book of Mormon is the word of God then the message this church carries is a message that brings truth and clarity to a world of confusion. I Have really grown to love the Book of Mormon and it brings me peace...I have read quite a few other books in my life and I receive joy and feel certain emotions while I have read them, but the peace that comes from the scriptures is something that I cannot compare with any other wordly thing. It is a blessing to be serving and persisting in sharing the gospel with others and seeing the tests I am passing and my weaknesses I need those weaknesses to bring me back to earth because there are so many distractions in this life that for moments, sometimes brief and sometimes long,  that we disconnect from our spiritual identity as children of God and we have to be reminded that we depend upon Him as the rock of our salvation. Love you ,

Elder Bell

05142014 MOTHERS DAY

It was so great to talk with you all  on Sunday! I am very happy that we were able to talk.  I am sorry that this week I will probably not have a whole lot of time to write because transfers. that are coming next week..... I am so grateful for your support and I am excited to hear about how the state tournaments go this weekend. I do think that they would melt a little bit, Idaho Spud Bars) however that is not a problem because we have a freezer that can fix that problem. ;) I am very glad that Brea is excited to follow through with that commitment. I am sending some pictures to all of you tomorrow when I come into the office because I don't have time tonight. I love you so much thank you for everything you have done to teach and protect me. I will have my brother and sisters in my prayers I think of them often. Have a great week :)

, Elder Bell

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5/5/2014

Alright well, good news is it will be really easy to connect for skype on mothers day because I am going to start working in the mission office starting tomorrow president called me yesterday and let me know that I am going to be taking care of finances in the office most likely until I finish the mission. It is very strange that they called me into the office with the small amount of time I have left and they made the change two weeks early so I was very very surprised. I will have a very crazy schedule from now on and have to help alot with transfers. The good part is that I should have a really easy time with finding a computer where I can skype the family I just have no idea what my schedule is like now so I cannot tell you exactly when yet I will tell you as soon as I can. I am happy, but also sad because we found the most awesome family and the mother and father went to church yeterday and the mom asked the Bishop in a class what she had to do to be baptized and how soon, then she bore an amazing testimony in relief society.. all of the sisters are asking us if they can go and visit her with us. and trust me that is not common in the mission for sisters or members in general to ask. The family loved the church and I am certain that some point in the future they will be baptized.I am happy that I left some cool investigators for the next Elders.

I have a goal for before I get home I want to read the Book of MOrmon two more times and doctine and covenants once before I get back. I am Excited because my companion will be Elder Tirado he is the elder that was in the same house with me in Los Llanos in San Pedro. He is an awesome Elder . I am super happy to hear that prom went well... However I would like to see the picture of how brittan looked with Jordan? haha how did they match?;) Fast and testimony meeting was a blessing yesterday it really is a blessing every month I love it I love being able to fast and donate to those who need more than I do. I am Very happy and I love you all and pray for you often. I will write you next week Love you! :)

4/28/2014

A little thought from Elder Bell on being careful while using social media, especially sending messages to people and not telling them it is us.  Brea was sent some messages by a good friend this week that really scared her and her sweet friend was in a lot of trouble for trying to be funny.

We don't always think clearly before we do what we do. that is a little freaky about what was going on with Brea. Satan is tricky whatever thing we do anonimously we should think it through really well because we are not ourselves when people don't know what we are doing or when we have a mask on. We have to be the same person in the dark that we are in the light.

I Love being a missionary I know that I have been ordained to preach to those who are ready to receive. I feel spiritually rejuvenated.. if that is how it is spelled, and I am going to be finishing on a tank full of gas I don't plan on coasting. I don't ever want to just coast in my life ever again. We had to leave a lot of investigators behind. they stopped doing their part. It hurts really bad, but if they can't commit themselves then there is nothing else we can do for them besides invite testify and promise blessings.

I am super excited for Bay's graduation announcement I think I do get to skype really soon I will let you know next monday when. I am going to mow lawns when I get back ! :) and I am a little tired of this heat haha it is getting hotter every day I hope I come back white and not sun burnt. Love you Mom and DAd and Baylin and Brittan! have a great week!

04/21/2014

 

This is Denise, Elder Bell's mom.  As you can see, Brennan really didn't write too much this week. Actually, Brennan, when you read this, go to your file on my email account and read what you sent me.  It was personal in nature, it was written to his dad and I and because of this I chose not to share it on this public site.    But this is what I can share publically.  He can't just come out and say when he will return home, oh no way, he has to make me do the math and figure it out.  He has 4 weeks left in this transfer.  4 weeks and 4 weeks and 8 weeks and 6 weeks!  Ugh 5 and a half months left.  I was sure we were down to less than 5.  Such a small amount of time in the whole picture really though and he is soooo happy.  I wouldn't want to rush the Lords time!

 

Are you telling me I don't get to go to Stihl's fairwell?! dang it well I am happy for him I hope he loves his experience. 

 

 The week of easter is crazy here lots of people getting drunk and filling up big inflatable pools and putting them in the street and partying. Sometimes I feel that my spirit gets exhausted here because of all of the craziness it isn't easy in moments to deal with all of the noise.

 

Our transfers are still every six weeks. However, the next transfer will be four weeks because we are getting a new mission president. Then the next transfer will be eight weeks and I will finish on one last transfer of six weeks. It really is a long time, but compared to the time I have spent here it is nothing. Love you both say hi to everyone.

 

 Also, if you get time I am getting worried that my contacts aren't going to last the rest of the mission because the last pair was broken when I opened it. If you could send me a few pairs that would be excellent. My prescription is -1.25 Love you have a good week :)