Happy New Year! 12/30/2013

Today went well we got up early and went to the capital again and the mission doctor operated on my comp and basicaly surgically removed an abscess that he has on his stomach we didn't go out and preach at all last week so hopefully now we can.

Wow I really enjoyed talking with you all so much it was an amazing experience. However I am so excited to continue working in Los Llanos even though right now I am in the mission ofice we will be staying in the capital tonight so my companion can recover some more before the long bus ride.

Make sure and tell dad that I am not trunky  I am going to save that for the plane ride home ha I am so happy to be here and really adapted to being one my own..well for the most part at least, I guess I do always have a companion.

Yesterday we had a great lesson with the young men they paid alot of attention because young women from the USA were visiting..if only they could behave themselves when it is just them we could learn so much together and really see progress in the branch. We read the Article title I will never forget it I think it is the first message in the youth section in the Ensign. Sorry that the whole mission I have being calling the Ensign the Liahonna I forgot that the spanish titile is different, however I do think that the Liahonna is a cooler name for it.

Sounds like you all had a blast at the talent show and everything. Actually I am three hours ahead of your time here until you have day light savings time. I can't belive that Brea is so much taller, that is going to shock me when I return. I will pracitice singing more for the branch by the way it is just that I don't like my singing voice now because it is more of a baratone/bass....I liked tenor more...oh well.

 The party does not exist in my area thank goodness or else my companion might want to go and I would have to leave with him hahaha now he is trunky. It is sad how I have seen how missionaries that now they should or could be working harder do whatever they can to distract themselves. Our mission rules are made to help us from getting distracted so right away we can see how important it is that we shouldn't lose focus. I hope I can be able to remember how important it is to focus on the task at hand whatever it may be it is of no value for us to not put !00% of us into what we choose to do every moment. I Love you all a bunch. I am praying for you! Love, Elder Brennan Bell

Merry Christmas 2013

 The thing about Wednesday is that I should be getting on when it is about one a clock for you I hope there is internet so be able to do it if not I will have to call you or something and do it another day. The problem is there are not a whole lot of options of places to go so if there is no internet I am kind of done for. We were going to do it from the church, but that is not looking good because there hasn't been web access for a week now.

 Also, I have learned why the bishopric in each word dreads tithing settlement now. I am still scrambling to get stuff done and the internet situation is not making it easier.

 I was reading President Packard's talk from last conference and really enjoyed the experience he once had with a seventy that if there are any kinds of problem in a branch or ward the leaders should get them to read the scriptures. President Packard responeded"what scriptures?" and the seventy responded anywhere in the scriptures if the members are reading the problems that are in the ward will fix themselves because they are constantly receiving personal revelation from God who is the only being that will always know what we need. I have seen that happen for me as a missionary the help and direction I receive for the scriptures is incredible and always can be applied to me personally if I am trying to identify the1. Doctrine, 2. The principle, 3. and the Application. Looking for those things is what helps me to not get bored or tired and to always continue growing spiritually it is something I learned from when Elder Bednar spoke in the MTC. As I study, I have also noticed that during the day I don't get down on myself or discouraged if things don't go as planned or when I make mistakes. Because I know that I have already learned an eternal truth that day that I will carry with me through the eternities and that is the kind of success I need in this life to let the Spirit have a bigger impact on me and allow me to be of use to others and most importantly to the Lord.

This week had a lot of different challenges.. don't worry I wrote them in my journal so we will talk about it in the future haha. I have been feeling really grateful lately for the huge blessing that being a missionary has been for me, but aso I have noticed a whole lot of things I could be doing better too, which is good if I didn't have things to mejorar I would definately get bored and depressed. I love you a whole bunch and will see you on wednesday! Love Elder Bell

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12/16/2013

Dec 16 at 3:41 PM

I had to take out some money to help my comp buy glasses so that his headaches would stop so that is what happened there. He payed me back already so it is all good and we are working hard.  

 

We don't have water problems that often, but it happens haha showering in the rain is better anyways. I am really in need of a haircut right now...

 

Tell grandma and grandpa thanks for the money I bought new tennis shoes with it.  

 

We are four Elders in a branch the newest of us is from Peru and acts a whole lot like Elder Huanca it is weird to see how elder Huanca probably was when he started the mission.  But this missionary is tiny and always constantly asking me questions which really makes things interesting. This place is the biggest pit of temptation there is for some missonaries it really surprises me sometimes... maybe that is how it is in all the missions I don't know.

 

So I am excited for Christmas. I plan on making more cookies this Sunday for the branch members. Lots of cookies like a gift for Christmas.. It still feels weird pulling a sister missionary move like that but whatever. Well I was going to send pics this week, but I took the wrong computer. sounds like you are all having fun I hope everything keeps going well at Home I love you tons! Elder Bell

Yeah that is awesome that you sent me those videos haha he still wrestles different than I ever did, but it sure looks like he is tearing it up so that is cool. Ahhh so my companion is really starting to come alive as a result of his buddy leaving I think . He talks to me now and everything and is really putting forth effort to work this last week was a whole lot better.

 I am really trying to work on my personal prayers I find that something that is often missing is trying to ask questions that actually matter to me to be able to spill out the desires of my heart before God I have recognized that  all of the prayers of great significance in my life I have really asked questions after expressing gratitude, but not just a question and then keep going but actually trying to describe what I feel and the Spirit often guides me in that. Love you dad tell britt I am gonna train for a month when I get back and then it is on! ;) have a good week!

12/09/2013

Well this week was a little boring my companion has had headaches so we haven't left the house  since tuesday. Except for the fact that we went and played soccer for six hours today so I really don't understand his headaches. I guess we are going to the capital to buy him glasses on wednesday I think and supposedly that will help him.

 

I gave the packages to the other three elders in our apartment and they were really excited and told me to thank you very much. The two new missionaries  in our branch are Elder Tirado from chiwawua, Mexico and Elder Castro who started here in this area and he is from Lima, Peru.

 

 I have been using my card more latley mostly for stuff like a soccer ball, dominos... and I will be buying new work out shoes because the others are dying ha :) could you do me a favor and let me know how much money there is in my account?

 

 I made the the chocolate cookies form the cake mix and after eating some took the rest to some families in our branch... I felt so much like a sister missionary haha they always do stuff like that..but they do seem to have a lot of success so we will see if it worked for me. If not I will just have to make more cookies.

 

So, wrestling has been going for at least two week now and I am pretty sure there was a tournament last weekend and they have dueled probably twice... tell dad and brittan they deserve a boche ( dad should get that I don't know if it is dominican) if not it means to chew them out. and I want to know what is going on at least a little bit please :)

 

 If you could send me the skype information of the skype I am using and not you guys I will be ready I should be skyping from the chapel, however I still don't know when.

 

 Wow mom so I have a little gift for the bell grandparents, but I don't know what would be good forthe allens ...is there any kind of things they collect or that they like that a could buy them?I would buy a nut cracker, but I don't think they know what those are here ha. something

 

 I am really enjoying right now is the last three chapters of moroni and moroni 7:48 that states that only a true disciple of Jesus Christ  is given the pure love of christ from God. so we see that charity is something we earn and there are many aspects to it. a few verses before 48 and article of faith #13 really describe what charity is. By the way excuse me about Lehi's vision it definately was the holy ghost I went back and reviewed it and looked at some other things it is definately the Holy Ghost.

 

Something interesting this week is we hadn't had water to shower for four days so last night I got to shower in the rain at about two a clock in the morining when I woke up... it was acutally really nice

 

Thank you so much for the packages I have recived five form you and one from grandma and grandpa Bell thank you so much for the pictures by the way. I was wondering if you every do send another package or letter and remember ths I will be extremly grateful because this has been in my head for a while. I want the picture of the Christmas before I left with all of the bell familhy together at the party the funny faced one and the normal one if you could do that I would be really excited.  Love you mom say high to the fam. Love,Elder Bell

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12/02/2013

 I am excited to spend Christmas here in Los Llanos there are some really awesome members here.

This week I focued a lot in D&C 11 it is a great chapter I really love verse 18 I am grateful for the Scripture references you send it is always nice to be able to have new scriptures to pass over and see how they help me be more converted.

 I am starting to gain weight now ha got to get excercising hopefully it will be easier now that I have kind of gotten rid of the allergy I had.

 I am glad then the Allen Grandparents are doing well makes me smile.

Something that I want to do very badly is go to the temple because it has been thirteen months without even seeing it now. I just have bad luck with temple rotations I left right before they went and returned right after this zone had made a trip.

 This week II ate two chicken claws and a very hot pepper called ahitipi it is a little tiny red thing and whatever it touches doesn't stop burning for a while , suprisingly I liked it.

 I love you bunches have a good week! Love Elder Bell

11/25/2013

The foods I have had are fruits. One is called manzana de oro it is really good and we have a tree of it in our back yard and then the other thing is called guanabana it is delicious in shakes.

We did a fun get together at Christmas last year, but this year the area seventy prohibited it because there are too many missionaries to get together we are 260 just in the east part and I guess it causes problems if we all get together.

Don't you worry mom all they eat here is chicken every day they eat chicken rice and beans it is called the bandera..or "the flag" it is a trademark here I actually don't like eating meat that much I prefer fruits and salads. I have been trying to make pastas more often too.

What are Grandma and Grandpa Allen up to? Are they doing well?

 I teach english at the church. If you get the chance can you send me stamps in the package and carmal apple suckers the ones that have the green wrapper? I have such bad tan lines... and I think I have a boil or something in my armpit it gets really irritated so I need to take care of that. If you get the chance you should send allergy medicine too because  I get really stuffed up because of the dust and it makes it difficult to sleep sometimes. 

This area is hard haha I am learning alot from it. The sacrament meeting yesterday was really good the district leaders came and bore some testimonies that I needed to here from people in this country. Such solid members they really gave me a spiritual upliftment that I needed I was pretty frustrated that morning. Not a lot of support from members in this branch and people got baptized for the wrongs reasons too. But I am happy to know that there are members that are truly converted in this country and for that the true will progress because converted members are motivated to do the will of the Lord.

 I love you all tons! Have a great week!

11/18/2013

Well the spiritual experience this week would be that we went to look for inactive members and found three sisters that got baptized six years ago but stoppped going two years ago because  it wasn't the same when the missionaries changed. That is one of the excuses that makes me really sad that they were going to church to please the missionaries. So we got to know them pretty well and then read alma 5:26 and asked them how the misionaries that they are so tight with would feel if they saw what they are doing now and it really touched them we then read a chapter in john 21 and reminded them that just as the apostles did we all lose motivation at times, but all the same Christ expects us to keep pushing forward and learn to progress and adapt and help others want to sing the song of redeeming love that we feel as we are continually more and more converted to our savior's teachings..
 Sounds like a really weird dream mom don't dream stuff like that. ha yes sugar cane is just a big stick you chew on it and spit out the remains after getting the sugar out it is flipping good.  We do service for people all the time usually digging  up piles of dirt and mving them to make the bases of houses and stuff like that. We painted the kitchen of a hospital last week too. That sounds like a whole lot of fun with the  primary. I am super jealous about the State championship haha I had a bad dream about football the other night.. which isn't as common. I really don't like remembering that stuff sometimes so I don't think about it. Every day is a fresh start, The priests and teachers only showed up ten minutes late to Sacrament meeting this time so that was good they actually even blessed the sacrament. We are trying to get them ready to serve missions in two years so the Duty to God Program is a big deal they have never established it or used it here so that is badly needed.
You want to know what is stressful? teaching english classes to twenty people and five of them change everyweek and they all have a different leven of understanding and are different ages.
Tell Justin congratulations for me.  I was really excited about the trip to china that will be an awesome experience. Where does Bay want to go to college?do you have any plans for Christmas? what else... have you accepted the friend requiests I may or may not have on Facebook?
 Mango season gets here in two months... TWO MONTHS I can't wait I missed the last one and now I am in a place where there are so many I can get them for free! I am starting to gain weight again! No one in our house wants to leave to do anything like that so it is a little difficult ha I just have to pretend I will be wrestling when I get home and that I am training for wrestling season and I will be more motivated haha.
 Love you all a whole bunch have a wonderful week!

 Love, Elder Bell

11/11/2013

Wow I had no clue about the Philipines, I was in shock when I heard about Brinton Carlson I love that guy. I hope he is ok. He graduated with me and everything.

Well my cultural experiences usually include talking about baseball or having to explain to people here that I don't know how to dance bachata or salsa or  mambo, because it isn't common where I live.The people here love music and they have some really good stuff and kinds orf dancing that originated here. I do want to learn to dance more when I go home. I have been enjoying walking ankle deep at least in water and mud wherever I go. I really have been focusing alot on the young men's program here becasue that didn't have their own class or anything before. Well I am still working on playing soccer, however I have to learn how on a basketball court because there is no where else. I love buying sugar cane still. I can buy a huge stick of it for only fifty cents so flipping good. Ahhhhh I am really way too comfortable as a missionary haha I have noticed that one of the first things I do every morning is I pray then I go put a shirt on so I can put on my plaque haha kind of nerdy.

Tell dad to keep updating me with the stuff about college wrestling haha I miss that still. Where does Baylin want to go to college? where is she applying?  I think I will go to ISU when I get home that way I don't have to take out loans and stuff like that. My companion is cool. He did some MMA before the mission and played on a soccer team I think he was a mechanic too.

Wellllllllllll I don't have a whole lot more to say sometimes I totally space. I really have enjoying reading Joseph Smith History lately and focusing on his feelings and the way the spirit guided his words in defense of the truth it is pretty spectacular when you read it and realize how powerful and sincere his testimony really is  I am striving to have a testimony like that.

 Love you all tons have a great week

 Love , Elder Bell

Nov. 4, 2013

That is cool  I love hearin about what is going on in sports. It sounds like you all had a blast for Halloween.
 My new companion and area are... very different the only thing that is like my other areas is that I still feel very isolated from all the other missionaries.  I get along with my companion.  I was really bummed today because we were supposed to get together with a whole bunch of Elders and play soccer, but it has been raining for the past twenty four hours, we were about to get on the three hour bus ride to go play and we got a called that it was cancelled... I spend more time washing everyone's dishes than I do exercising which kind of kills me. But the bright side is this house at least has a pull up bar inside.Yesterday I was told I was teaching the Young  Men's lesson from now on and I know that that will be a blast. Basically I get to be the young men's president for a little while and I love teaching them even though they don't listen for the first thirty minutes. If I am patient they always end up participating by the end. This area rains too much so we are always walking in the mud.

 I want a rematrch against that Rock Springs wrestler. I  had a dream about that match the other night.It is pretty weird how fast time starts going two weeks in to the transfer and I feel really new still the area is small too and I am still getting used to it. Tell Trevor thank you for the quote in the Dear Elder he sent me it has been helping me alot I needed it. I love you and mom and bay and brit and brea miss you all , but that's just how it is!

                      Love, Elder Bell

Back in the DR 10/28/2013 Los Cianos

 I am living in a four man house with Elder Huanca again so that is really cool. I really was completely shocked and sad to leave, but that is just how it goes.

 Bay and britt have told me nothing haha.  I got a birthday package from Grandma but besides that nothing yet.

The challenges in this area is that the evangelical church is more entertaining for people, especially since not a whole lot of the people out here know how to read. I am the branch secretary right now. The branch really struggles with people getting baptized and then just going inactive. We have 180 members here and 30 of them go to church.  This place is really really quiet. I love it. I do have to teach english classes again which I am not so fond of. Everyone has a different level of knowledge so it makes it impossible to progress.

I love speaking spanish again I am really focusing on it so I can study it more in college then I want to study portuguese I think I want to go more into languages. I am going to miss playing futbol for hours on p-day my new comp can play well, but for only about ten minutes haha.

Well love you mom you are in my prayers, talk to you next week :)