June 29, 2008 - Pictures

June 18, 2008

I have great advice for all of us, not just missionaries. Talk things out with your companions. It may be hard, scary, nerveracking,etc. But it makes the best difference in the world. I talked with my companion yesterday about a few things that were hard for me. I discovered things that i didnt know that i was doing. When we talk it out i can see what i can do better to make the situation between the two of us work out. I always used to bring things up to have them change because i am perfect. Ya, that is called pride and it only ways us down. Humble yourself and change the things you do and others will follow. Not all at once so you need to be patient as well. Humility and patience are not my cup of tea but i am learning to apply them and make them apart of me. I love the many people i get to talk to each day. I love this gospel. i love being a missionary. it is very difficult but i dont care. I will enjoy it and give it all of my heart with the best smile that i got. I love you my family. Know that i care for you. Love, Elder Brewster

June 11, 2008

I love you all! i want to tell you how Claudio is doing. So we got home sunday night from rome at 8 and we were planning on seeing Claudio. we were tired, wet and hungry so we were going to stay. Anziano Shepherd and i then felt that we needed to go which impressed me a lot that he switched his plans and changed his attitude. He sacrificed eating and resting and we were blessed for it that night. We taught Claudio the plan of salvation. We asked him if he wanted to go to the celestial kingdom and he said, of course i do, anyone would. So what do i need to do? we then talked about baptism and told him that that is what he needs to do. This was the first lesson that he listened and didnt argue. He didnt smoke hardly at all and didnt drink any coffee. He set a baptismal date for june 28. We have a lot of work to do but we are ready to do it. He doesnt know everything. He doesnt fully know what it means to be baptized but he knows that it is a good thing and that it will bring blessings. Because of our friendship he has great trust in us. We were and still are so excited! We left his house and went to the side of the road and said a prayer of gratitude. I know that God is preparing his children. We are suppossed to be teaching Claudio and we are supposed to baptize him. I love my Savior and My Heavenly Father. I know that they watch over me and bless me more than i could ever imagine. Realize that they love you. They will never give up on you so dont you ever give up on yourself. Love, Elder Brewster

June 4, 2008

Salve! I love this gospel! What more can i say than that! I have the pleasure to see little miracles everyday. They are not coincidences. I can tell you that for a fact. God works through small means and great things come to pass from them. I love my Savior Jesus Christ. I know that he lives and that He is the son of God. I know that He suffered for all that i am going through and knows how to help me. I just need to do my part and follow the counsel He gives me. We have a great friend Claudio that says that he believes Jesus Christ was just a man that did great things. He doesnt believe that he was the Son of God. We talked with him and helped him to see the truth. I know that the way we all can know is through prayer. If we really want to know He will tell us and respond to our many questions. But if we merely doubt and say that it is not possible then it wont be possible. What you believe is in actuality what you will achieve. You have to give inorder to recieve. I love our sicilian investigator Claudio. He came to church and after i saw a great peace in his persona that it filled me with great love for my savior. I know He lives and loves us. Believe Him, do as he asks and your life will improve more than you can ever immagine. I llove you and care for you all. Have a great week. Love, Elder Brewster (by the way the 7th of June is my birthday. Just in case you wanted to send me a little something! :) I'll make sure and eat some gelato for all of you! Gelato is too good. My fat rolls are living proof!)

May 30, 2008

Buongiorno a tutti! Wednesday was an incredible day. As you can tell, i did not email on wednesday because we had our Zone Conference with Elder Johnson that day. He is from the area presidency of the quorum of the 70. It was incredible. I loved many of the inspired things that he said. He spoke with great power and authority. He spoke with much love and kindness. My companion and I had a great opportunity to perform a musical number, In quiet grove. Before we sang he took us in his arms and asked us the difference between performing and praising. He gave us great advice, encouragement and love. That experience was so incredible. The spirit was there and it softened my heart and also the hearts of missionaries that were there. He shared a principle that i am working to perfect. Teach what you feel and feel what you teach. The feelings i felt and the personal revelation that i gained was undescribable. I love being a missionary. I have so many blessings that i am grateful for. Never forget the many things that you have. Focus on the many great things rather than the few bad things. Love, Anziano Brewster Ps. Happy Birthday to my great brother Braxton (may 28) and to my beautiful aunt Traci (june 3).

May 21, 2008

Buongiorno a tutti! I love the power of prayer. I am realizing the great impact that it has in my life and in everyone's life when it is applied. When we come into a new friend's home and ask to say a prayer with them and then say it with them, they feel the peace and tranquility that we all want. They then ask us how we do it. We tell them that we do nothing but simply talk to our Heavenly Father. We then ask them to say the closing one. And they usually say but i'm not as good as you two are at saying them. But then they agree to it and have a normal, beautiful and heart felt conversation with their Father and it blows our prayers out of the water. Pray always. Never faint. Pray silently, out loud, before you do anything. I have been praying silently before every house, appointment, and person that we talk to and it really helps. Every prayer is answered. Never forget that. Pray with faith not as a little child asking a parent for something and expecting them to say no. Pray with confidence and faith that God will bless you, help you, and give you all that you need if you ask and put forth the work. Your part is needed. Our investigator Claudio is now a champ with prayer. We went over there monday night and talked with him about prayer and we challenged him to pray there with us. He prayed twice and his closing one was an incredible conversation with Heavenly Father. He was so open, real, not afraid to express his feelings. We then came back the next day and he told us that he prayed in the morning, at lunch and right before we came over. He hasnt prayed for a long time. He is making leaps and bounds. I absolutly love seeing the change in people that comes from the gospel.Pray with all of your heart this week and really work on having a regular conversation with your loving Father. It is incredible when we put forth the work and give of ourselves. Love, Anziano Brewster

May 14, 2008

Buongiorno a tutti! We are getting ready for our open house this saturday called 'Chi sono i mormoni?' ''Who are the mormons?'' We have printed tons of fliers and have invited everyone we know. We have planned it very well and it will be a very spiritual night. We really hope that people show up.We are very excited to have our members be known and give them this opportunity to spread their bright light. The language is going well. My problem is vocabulary! Last night on the phone i had a funny situation calling the branch primary leader. I wanted to ask her if i could move the pictures that were posted on the board for this open house that we are doing . I had no clue what verbs to use so i tried so many and she just did not understand. We talked for about 10 minutes trying to understand eachother. She then called back and realized what i meant and then was really cool with it. I was so exhausted and my brain was fried. I had a really neat ''scambi'' (exchange) with Anziano Pratt yesterday, who is going home in less than a week. His dad went to Milan on his mission so he is really excited to come and pick him up. I learned a great lesson on humility, understanding, and gentleness. He is a little more timid but shares his love with those around him. We met a really great guy named Roberto that we had the neatest talk with and then after Anziano Pratt said, ''He is going to come and be baptized.'' He got really excited and was full of faith at that moment. That changed my day and my attitude. When we expect the best out of others and believe in them they will then do the same to themselves. Love, Anziano Brewster

May 7, 2008

HELLO everyone, I wanted to tell you all about the cutest kids in our branch. We have an Ecuadorian family that has two kids, Milena and Stefano. Milena has so much spunk, attitude and love. She gave the best testimony on sunday. If i wasnt a member and i heard her testimony i would repent, change and become a member it was that moving. Little Stefano always talks about ''La strega'' (the witch) because one day their mom said that if he was not good that a witch would come so he better eat so she doesnt come and take him away. Ever since, he has been talking about the strega so we joke with her that she is the witch. It was so funny. I love this Branch. they are the hardest workers and give of themselves to every person that they meet. I love this gospel. I love the great power of repentance and the ability to change. Love, Anziano Brewster oh, and happy mothers day to all of you mothers and especially to my incredible mother and grandmothers.

April 30, 2008

I want to let you all know how grateful i am for companions. I am learning a lot from my companion. I am learning patience. I am working on being understanding and caring. I am realizing that i am all that he has and he is all that i have. When we are caring about each other and our investigators rather than ourselves we are so happy and filled with joy. But when we focus on ourselves and everything bad that is going on then we are miserable. Look on the positive not the negitive. When we make the best of our situations we are able to overcome our adversities that we all have but when we complain about our adversities we can do nothing, we get down and Heavenly Father cant do anything without our faith and desire. I love being a missionary. I am learning so many things. Yesterday we volunteered at an old folks home, The Villa Rosa and it was wonderful. I felt close to heaven. I love serving others and being able to be with them. Love, Anziano Brewster

April 23, 2008

I love this gospel. I know that it is true. We have seen many miracles already in this city. Many times they dont think they are searching for it until they find it. Zone Conference was incredible. I felt so good to see my great friends and companions. I really miss Anziano Silva and Anziano Breen. I am so glad that we go to Rome together for Zone Conferences. I was also able to have a great talk with Anziano Scoville. He was companions with Anziano Shepherd right after he left me. He gave me great advice and answered my questions. I love being a missionary. It is hard. I have to find joy in my sufferings but i would be very ungrateful if i complained about my sufferings because they are forming me into the man that i want to become. I am learning patience a lot of it, love, and how to support and uplift my companion. I know that i am opening a companionship for a reason here in L'Aquila. They are in dire need of the gospel. There are people waiting to be baptized. i need to go and find them. I have a great desire to spread this gospel! I know that it is true with all of my heart. I have had so many answers to my prayers that i know that He answers every prayer in His time and through our faith and actions. I am going to ask for more specifics and then exercize my faith to recieve them. I want 2 baptisms here and i believe that it is possible but not through my work alone but with the miraculous power of God. President and Sister Acerson are incredible. They work so hard. I am so blessed. I loved what President Acerson said on monday at zone conference. He said that we are the ones that need to change. We are the ones that can make the best out of any situation. i know that that is true with all of my heart. Love, Anziano Brewster

April 16, 2008

Hey everyone, This is going to be a short one because i recieved a lot of mail today and tried my best to respond to it all. I just found out from my new companion Elder Shepherd that Sister Ross' mom reads my mass letter every week and i wanted to give a big shout out to her. i havent met your daughter yet but i am sure that i will. Anziano Shepherd wants me to ask you if you will say hi to sorella Ross for him. Alright, back to everyone. I love this new city. It is a city of miracles.With faith unwavering, great hard work and perseverance we will do great work here. It is crazy being a blown in companionship. We came in with absolutly no work and no phone. Now we have one investigator named Gloria. We have 23 contacts... and we will get more until we find those who are elect and are ready to embrace this gospel. I know that it is true! We have many practicing catholics and jehova's witnesses that we talk with that base their foundation on knowledge and facts when really the only foundation that will remain after the storms and hurricanes are the foundations of testimony. They may be able to throw out a scripture that seems to go against what i believe but it doesnt do any damage because i have seen, through personal experiences, miracles, blessings, eternal truths that i cannot and will not deny! This city is beautiful. It is in the region of Abruzo. It is kind of cold because it is surrounded by beautiful big mountains. It is a very ancient city so the architecture is incredible. There are great side streets that make it seem like we are in the midevil times. There is a really cool castle that is huge. It was used in filming the movie Ladyhawk with Matthew Brodrick when he was young. Have you ever heard of it? You should get it and see it. My new companion is from American Fork and is in theatre. We know most of the same people which is so crazy. We have never met each other but we know eachothers best friends. You may know him: Mike Shepherd. Everyone, Rember to rely on Lord to make many miracles happen. Here in L'Aquila (which means The Eagle) they havent had a baptism for about 7 years but that is going to change. You have to believe. If you dont then why waste the time to do the work if nothing is going to come out of it. I know that missionary work works and i love it. It is difficult which makes it so much fun and worth it. Love, Anziano Brewster

April 9, 2008

Alright everyone, what do you think happened with transfers? Let me give you a preface of what i said in reaction to my call. I said, "That is awesome. I am so excited!" I swear, i yelled it at the top of my lungs at 9 o'clock in the morning. I think i woke up the whole palazo but i dont care. Any guesses? That was the coolest thing because the night before i recieved my call i guessed exactly where i am going. I am going to... (drum roll please)... L'Aquila which means eagle in Italian. It is about an hour or two from Rome in the mountains. It is the only place in our mission with huge mountains... and i love the mountains! I am opening a new companionship in L'Aquila with Elder Shepherd. Who was the companion of my Babbo (Anziano Scoville) after he left me. Opening a companionship is very exciting and a lot of work. Our first transfer will be a lot of finding work because we start from scratch... it will be so great. I leave tomorrow morning to pick up my new companion. Anziano Breen is training here. He is very excited as i am for him. I am so excited... but i hate saying goodbye. I have made wonderful friends here that i hate to leave behind. I am full of mixed emotions. The best part is that when one leaves the others are much more prone to do what ever they say. So i have been baring my testimony with great love and pleading with them for their sakes. I know without a doubt that this is the true church of Jesus Christ. Only through this gospel can with live together forever with our families in the Celestial Kingdom. Without it WE CANNOT experience the joy that we want and need. I know that this is true. We often treat lightly the great blessings that we have and can recieve. "Do not procrastinate the day of your repentance" says the Book of Mormon repeatedly. The same goes for not procrastinating preaching this gospel for someone elses salvation. If you are not living the gospel of Jesus Christ, start now! I say that with all energy of heart and out of great love for you. I have seen how this gospel has changed my life and i want it to do the same for you. I love you very much. God bless you. And the only way that He fully can is if you open up to Him. Love, Anziano Beau Richard Brewster

April 2, 2008

Buongiorno! Well, summer is coming closer. It is getting very warm. Yesterday i ate 2 icecreams and drank tons of water and it is only april. I love it here. Things are going very well. We have a baptism in a week and a half. His name is Amedeo Principe and has been an investigator for 3 years. I am very excited for him. Pray for him that he will go through with this covenant and keep it forever. I have great faith in him. I will probably be transfered right before his baptism but we will see. We recieve transfer calls in 5 days... i will let you know what will happen. More than that, i am so excited about General Conference. Take advantage of it. I know that this will change your lives, if you make the most of it. Write down questions and they will be answered. I love you all. Know that our Savior is here with us strengthening us every moment of every day. We cant do it alone and we dont have to. Love, Anziano Brewster

March 26, 2008

Hello Everyone, I am doing really well here. We had a baptism on saturday of a little girl named Stella Purnell. It was beautiful. Her father is from England and he baptized her and her grandfather is in the stake high council and he confirmed the Gift of the Holy Ghost. She bore her testimony afterwards and i will never forget what she said. She was really nervous and she said, "I am very happy. I know that Jesus Christ is happy and that makes me happy." Those few words touched my heart and many others that were in the congregation. I also have had many neat experiences this week with investigators. I have realized that just teaching the things they need to do and hear is nothing if we dont know their concerns and help them to overcome them. We have challenged all of our investigators this week to read the Book of Mormon and to ask Heavenly Father if it is true. Also to ask if this is the true church and if Joseph Smith was a prophet. it is so simple and yet we make it very difficult to do. i know that each of their prayers will be answered. It will come in His time and in His way. I am praying with all of my heart that each of them will accept this gospel and enter into the waters of Baptism. i know that it is true. I have recieved my answers time and again. i know that if we accept this gospel and live it we will be able to recieve exaltation and live with our Heavenly Father for eternities. I love you all. May God bless you and keep you safe. Love, Anziano Brewster

March 19, 2008

Hey Everyone, Ok, I want you all to watch Finding Faith in Jesus Christ this week for Easter. I did this last night with a less active member. I really related every story, experience, parable, healing, and event, personally, to my life. It was beautiful. Imagine the Savior right there healing you, helping you with anything. This really can happen through reading and applying The Book of Mormon, through prayer and participating in Church. THese things are here to bless and strengthen us, not burdens that we have to do. I love you. Remember why you are here and where you are going and then do the things that are most important. you know what those are. I do love you all very much. Love, Anziano Brewster

March 12, 2008

My beautiful friends and family, I have thousands of spiritual experiences that i wish i could tell you all of them but there is no time, and i cant remember them all. It is hard enough to fit them all in my journal. I wanted to tell you a really neat experience i had last friday night. We saw Manolo and he wasnt doing well and told us he wanted to wait to take the lessons with us until he is feeling better. On our way back we ran into a man named Fabio Chi and gave him a book of Mormon and taught him a little and he wants to learn english from us. We had a good talk with him but it went a little long so we would bearly make it to our appointment... but even then it was pushing it. I wanted to go and try to make it but Anziano Breen said no and we went home to drop off our food that Manolo gave us. I am so glad that we didnt go to our appointment because we decided to do street in Ostia close to our appartment. We had 3 Book of Mormons and gave them all out in an hour. We met a man named Francesco who has a good friend that is a member in Cagliari which is on the island Sardegna. We had the most powerful lesson on the street. At first he didnt take the book of mormon because he didnt feel worthy to read it. He was very sincere and real. We in return bore strong testimony of the love that Jesus Christ has for us regardless of what we have done. He recieved it and we asked him to read alma 7 and then pray to know if this book is true. we asked him if we could pass by and talk to him about this more. He gave us his address and told us the best time to pass by. We talked to many people and they were open and i believe that this happened because of faith. When we just do it half hearted we get only half of the results and blessings. But when we serve with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength that is when he can bless us with all of those blessings that are never ending. Our stake president said this great quote to our ward: "God can not (it is not possible) bless us with celestial blessings if we are living in a telestial condition." I really took that to heart. I love you all. I know that this is true. I know that through this gospel we have so much joy. Never under estemate the power of your testimony. Read the scriptures. Pray sincerly to the one who loves you more than you can imagine. Love, Anziano Beau Richard Brewster

March 5, 2008

Hello Everyone,This one is short because i took a really long time writing my dad, mom and my favorite sister. Sorry, but it was really good and i needed it. Well, we had a neat experience this sunday night when we recieved a referal from Rome 3. His name is Ali Shaker and is from Afghanistan. We usually cant teach those who are muslum or of a religion where they kill you if you switch religions but he became a christian and will not go back because if he does they will kill him. His family has abandoned him and has said bye to him basically. It is so tough and sad but i know that this gospel is going to help him so much. The trial that we have is that he speaks little english and even less italian. he speaks persian, which i didnt even know was a language. So my companion Anziano Breen studied the Persian Book of Mormon a little so we now know the number system and the chapter names. It is only a selection from the Book of Mormon because not all of it is translated, i dont know why. He has gone to church with the other elders 2 times in a row. he is going to go with us this week and we are going to try to teach him. This is such a neat experience. he is a great man and knows what is true and that God lives and we cant deny that. I also had the neatest lesson with a family on the Book of Mormon and Prayer. The feelings in that room were very tender and heart filled. We talked about why it is hard to pray at times and that we can only look forward rather than in behind. I love you all. Remember the things that are truly important. Love, Anziano Brewster

February 27, 2008

Buongiorno Tutti! I am doing well. We got our transfer calls on monday at 1:15. I am staying another transfer here with Anziano Breen. Anziano Funk who has been here for 8 months is going to Pescara which is on the other side of Italy on the coast. Anziano Silva, our district leader is staying and is training! yeah! I am so excited. We dont know who it is going to be yet but we know that it is either: Elder Bryant (from Mesa), Elder Mondragon (from South Jordan), or Elder Middleton (from Sandy). We think it is going to be Anziano Middleton but we have no idea. Anziano Breen and I are going to deck out the room and make signs that say WELCOME TO OSTIA and things like that. Guess who is the new AP? Anziano Scoville! My Babbo/trainer. I am so excited. I am super excited to see him again. He will be great. Such a stud he is. Well, everything is going well. I am learning a lot. I have learned many times that the ways we become stronger are through our trials. They are blessings in disquize. We have them for a reason. Our role is to find out the reason, to accept it and learn from it. If we dont do this, then we are just going through pain and heartache but if we accept it and make the best of it we gain so much that we cant gain in other ways. The mission president before President Acerson was here, President Rhein, said that our lives are full of hills and valleys. We are either on the top of the highest hill or in the bottom pit of the lost valley. Through the gospel of Jesus Christ he can help us get to the next hill-- to the next mountain. It isnt determined how long we will be in the valley-- we determine how long it will take us, whether we rely on our Savior or whether we try to do it on our own. I have experienced that these past couple of days. This morning i had a great personal study and a very heart felt prayer. I know that he is lifting me up and strengthening me. When we dont have the energy to go on He aids us as much as we have need and then we have to push and give it all our might. i know that He loves each and every one of us. I do not just say that. I know. I really do. I see every day people who are being helped by the Lord when they trust him and put themselves in his hands. So often we draw ourselves away from his love and then we blame him for our misery and heartache but really he is always there with arms wide waiting to embrace us. I hope you know that and realize that. I have also learned a lot this week about Repentance and Forgiveness. Forgiveness is not just for big wrongs done but for every tiny thing. I need to forgive more and when i do i am so much happier. Sorry if i am blabbing, but i felt that i needed to share that. I love you. Have a great week and remember the things that are most important, those things will bring you the greatest joy. Love, Anziano Brewster

February 20, 2008

Family and Friends, I had the neatest experience on Monday. i dont know if you all know but during my first transfer my crown broke so i am in the process of fixing it. On monday i was leaving Ostia to go to Rome for my dentist appointment. I am so glad that Heavenly Father knew that was where we were going and that he put a man in our way. The metro arrived and as it passed i saw Claudio. He waved to me and i ran to his section of the train. We met him 2 weeks ago, exactly and gave him a book of mormon and taught him on the metro, outside of the station and while walking to his house. He gave us his number and wanted to meet with us but we called many times and his phone was always off. So i talked to him on the train and he was so happy. I saw a great change and i didnt know what it was. Guess what? He read the whole book of mormon in 2 weeks. He finished that sunday night at midnight. He also compared all of the references to the bible. We were on the metro for about 45 minutes and the whole time he talked to me about the teachings of the book of mormon, stories, references, everything. I was so amazed. We met with him later that night because he wanted to talk to us that bad. We had many challenges that night so we werent able to teach a sit down lesson but we did that yesterday. He wants to be baptized once he meets more of our members, comes to church, learns more about it, and is ready to take on this great responsibility. He is incredible. It took me 1 year and 1month to read the book of mormon, and he probably understood much more than i did. I prayed so much in gratituted. I know that God answers our prayers this is one example. I love my Savior. I know that He lives. I love you all. Love, Anziano Brewster

February 13, 2008

Hello my Beautiful Family, As usual i used up much time emailing my mom and dad that i dont have a lot of time, which is a good thing, no? I want to tell you of a great experience we had on sunday night. We had zone singing in Piazza del Popolo in rome where we sang and talked to people that stopped. We had to leave early to make it to our dinner appointment with the Wanyama family. We got to their area at about 705 and our appointment was at 715. we waited at the bus stop for 45 minutes and come to find out that it is the wrong stop. The right one was down the street so we took that and got to the house. This isnt the experience but it leads up to it. Heavenly Father knew that we would miss the bus and knew that we would be home late so he put a woman in our path who was searching for this light and love. We met her on the metro on our way home. She came up to us and talk with the four of us. She is from California, doesnt speak a word of italian and is searching for God. We were able to teach a little and talk with her. She was so happy. She was starting to cry because she felt so alive, the spirit was very strong. She missed her stop so we told her to get off on the next and go the opposite direction she was a little confused so at the last minute i felt to go with her and see her to her stop even though we were going to be home very late. I am so glad that we got off with her on that stop because we found out a lot about her and her situation. She is so ready and prepared for this truth. We knelt on the dirty Metro station floor and said a prayer together. She held our hands and through out it she gradually squose with all of her might. She has 2 daughters (18 and 15) and an abusive boy friend. She is going to make a lot of life changing decisions and it wont be easy but it will be so worth it. We are very excited for her. I know that God loves each of us. He wants to bless us and does every day. He puts many things in our lives to bless us in the long run even if they seem to be awful to us they are exactly what we need. I love you all. Love, Anziano Brewster