April 13, 2014

Hey family!! So this week was absolutely amazing. Elder T is such a stud and he is seriously the funniest person I have ever met!! But he isnt even trunky, he is ready to work and help this branch succeed. We have already gotten so much done. But Conference was soooo awesome!! Oh man, Priesthood session was absolutely incredible. i think probably my favorite talk was by Elder Hallstrom. It was kinda funny to see Elder Holland, Elder Hallstrom, Bishop Stevenson, and some other people and be like, yeahhh I met them a couple months ago.. Hahaha they are all great though!! There were so many great messages!! It was weird because I felt like before now I never really took Conference as serious as I should have but now it was almost like Christmas morning. So about the work here... We havent had a ton of lessons because we are both trying to figure out the area and where the members live and stuff. But it went well!! We have set up a big huge map and we are doing a lot of finding. We will definitely be having a lot of success in the future. Umm theres not a lot to tell you about!! Mom, I haven't gotten my package yet but I'm sure that it will come soon. I'm glad that things are going better at home!! I am having so much fun out here... Literally everywhere we go we are staying busy and just having so much fun!! it's great for me because the days are just flying by now. Like I cant even believe that its the middle of April already. So crazy. Bangalore is so great though I decided!! I am better now and just coming out of the sickness which is good... Holy cow, almost 6 months down... Insane!! Well thats seriously all I got for this week!! I love you guys!! Have a good week!!

Elder Trey Brimhall

April 7, 2014

So this week has been kinda weird...we have been kind of teaching a couple families and we were expecting like 10 people at church but we didnt have a single investigator there, so that was way disappointing. Anyways, my lesson in church went well. I had to teach Elders Quorum for the first time and I had about two days notice to prepare for it haha. Oh so the last couple weeks I have failed to tell you what Bangalore is like.. So its a very crowded city with a lot smaller streets than Hyderabad, but it has a lot more single homes rather than apartment buildings which is kind of nice. There are a lot of trees here, stuff is a bit more pricey here, its humid and starting to get hot!! There are also a lot more somewhat wealthy people here. Umm there are a lot of stray dogs here, and its also a pretty big melting pot. There are people from china, japan, and a lot from the Congo. It's weird, the last few weeks have been a real challenge for me. I really am surrounded by millions of people but I have never felt so alone in my life. Thank goodness I can still talk to Elder Stevens and he told me to look up the talk "The Lonliness of Leadership" given by Gordon B. Hinckley in a 1969 BYU devotional and that was like exactly what I needed!! I think you guys should look it up and read it. Umm I dont have much else to tell you guys about. I'm jealous that you got to go camping and shooting!! I pick up my new companion in a couple hours, which will be nice... Thank you all for your love, support, and many prayers offered in my behalf!! i really feel those prayers working in my life. I love you guys so much!! Have a great week!!

Elder Trey Brimhall

He's going to India!

Namaste! We just received an unexpected but wonderful phone call from Trey, saying that his visa has arrived and that he'll be heading to India with a group of missionaries on Feb. 3rd!

 

 

He is over-the-moon excited, especially since these visas tend to take a long time to process. In emailing some of the missionary moms who have sons currently serving there, they said that the whole mission has been fasting for the visas to be approved, because the work is progressing quickly and there aren't enough missionaries to fulfill the need. It's humbling to know that our son is part of this small miracle, and we are praying for those who are still waiting to go.

Here's an excerpt from President Berrett's blog in India, about the experience:

 

"Shortly before the first of the year I invited all of our missionaries as well as the members of the Church across the mission to join together on Fast Sunday in prayers for the issuance of the remaining visas and for calls to be extended to more foreign missionaries.

When I awoke this morning, I opened an email from Missionary Travel advising me that all pending visas applications, save one, had been granted. The one missing visa appears to be a simple oversight caused by the fact that we received so many in one group. Then, shortly after I arrived in the office, I received notice from the Missionary Department of the call of a new missionary to our mission. I expect other calls to follow shortly.

Just a few days after our united fast and prayers, the doors of the government opened and pending visa applications were granted.

Coincidence? I certainly do not think so."

 

                               

(Pres. & Sister Berrett) 

 

Good luck Elder B! Our thoughts and prayers are with you always!