Just a few short notes from Elder Astle:
From Branden:
Oh mom, keep trying to send pictures, maybe try just one or a smaller resolution or something, and send pictures of everyone :) family, my friends, your friends, strangers.
From me to Branden:
to branden.astle
I love your pictures!!! Elder Rameriz is so cute!!
From Elder Astle to me:
I had him read that email and he was like ehhhhhh quien es? (who is that?) my mom. Ohhhhh ok haha
MOM!! I almost forgot the address you should send letters and stuff to is:
Elder Branden Carl Astle
31 Poniente 109 Int. 201
Colonia Chula Vista
Puebla, Puebla México 72420
Monday, October 22, 2012
Elder Astle's first letter from Mexico!
Aye Mum,
So i miss you a bunch and i miss everyone a bunch. I loved your last letter, i dunno i just love hearing about home and everything. It's pretty tough out here. We walk miles every day and I can barely understand anything right now. Sorry i'm not being super interesting, i'm kind of trying to avoid talking about really deep things like home, or how much i miss you, or dad, the family, and Nicole, and everyone. I have been trying to take pictures but it's tough to find time, every second of every day we are pretty much doing something. I did take some though. So to start the way of life is really.. interesting here. All the cars and the clothes and those kinds of things are pretty much really nice for everyone, but only the real wealthy have nicer homes. Our apartment is very.. humble haha. It's all we need though so that's really good, more time to focus on the missionary work! It always smells like.. something here :) I really dont want to say anything bad about Puebla because I really do love it here and I love the people here. It's pretty much hot all the time, but not really hot just kind of and the best thing is that when it gets real hot there are breezes that come through and feel amazing! OK so! My new companion is . . . . .Elder Ramirez! And guess what!! He doesnt speak English to me pretty much ever!! haha it's great though it is really helping me learn the language a lot faster. He is also a district leader which is pretty impressive because i dont think there are any other trainers with a leadership position like him. I was especially excited after I was assigned to be his companion a lot of american missionaries came up to me and told me how he is pretty much the greatest companion in the mission, which is pretty much true. He's super funny (when I can understand) and patient and loves missionary work a ton. Oh quick story, so there is an Elder named Elder Prosper who started talking to me about table tennis (he only speaks Spanish too) and he asked if i wanted to play him sometime on a p day and i said YA! Five seconds later his companion told me that he is the national Table Tennis Champion of Uruguay! SO COOL! I still want to play him sometime haha. Anyway (sorry do i say that a lot? I know Nicole doesnt (she'll understand haha)) So a teacher in the MTC said that anyone who wants to get a message to me can either send a letter or they can send an email to you, mom, and then you can send it to me in the email. (could you tell Nicole?) So, my Pday is today! Monday! Unfortunately I havent gotten your package yet sorry mom, I heard we probably will only get packages something like every 6 weeks. And I found out that my debit card does work here but i will only use it if i really need to, no worries thank you though! I'm almost out of time :( I loved ALL of the ties so much and all the little notes and everything just made me cry a lot haha but i loved them all so much thank you so much. Since I'm almost out of time I'm going to include the letter I sent to President Reeves:
Presidente Reeves,
I'm loving my first week, it has been really hard for me. Really hard in a good way though. I feel like I'm growing a lot under the pressure. It has definitely been a change from the norm but I like it. This last week was good we had a lot of appointments, unfortunately not all of them were able to happen. It seemed like more than half of the people we went to see weren't home. I feel I'm doing a good job of not getting discouraged though. Elder Ramirez is helping me a lot with everything; learning the language, depending on and listening to the Spirit, and working hard and being positive. We did a bunch of contacting yesterday and he helped me get out of my comfort zone more which helped a lot too. One investigator that I really love, I love all of them more than I expected to love the people, is Jose Luis. He is older and super humble and he really wants to do what is right but it seems like he is having a hard time keeping comittments. Plus he needs glasses to read and he doesnt have any right now. My favorite part about Jose Luis is that he is trying hard to learn and remember what he learned and he really wants to do what's right. I'm loving the work President! Unfortunately I'm real sick today, I hope I feel better soon so I can do more work. I want to say thank you to you and Sister Reeves for our loving welcome that we received here in the mission.
Elder Branden Astle
Ok so fun stuff: The first night we went out teaching, which was tuesday night, right after i got my companion and right after we dropped my things off at the apartment, We taught a guy named Julian. He is questioning a lot of things right now but at the end of the lesson I invited him to be baptized. Unfortunately he isn't ready yet.
But I think it was Tuesday night we met with Jose Luis and I invited him to be baptized and he said yes!! Right now we are working on helping him strengthen his testimony.
On thursday night there was a surprise thunderstorm! whooo!! we had to go to the church building which was about a mile away and we walked the whole way in the POURING rain and lightning. It was SO fun, at one point Elder Ramirez was like, with faith we can walk on water like Jesus did! and he started walking on the sidewalk where the water was so high in the street that it came up on the sidewalk. The street was literally a river though, we had to cross it at one point and the water was above my ankles haha it was really fun.
Church yesterday was AMAZING, i love church every time (they invited me to give my testimony in the beginning of Sacrament meeting and I did awful haha) but i could definitely feel the love in the ward, it is so strong. Oh one last thing, everyone in the ward seems to be tone deaf so i fit right in, i feel like an singing pro! haha
I love you all so much, please try to be missionaries, it's so incredibly rewarding. I miss you all a ton. Pictures are coming.
I love Heavenly Father so much i'm so thankful to be a part of the work. I'm thankful for all of your support, everyone, in getting here, mom, dad, my family, bishop, Nicole, President Watkins, everyone. Thank you so much
Elder Branden Carl Astle
So i miss you a bunch and i miss everyone a bunch. I loved your last letter, i dunno i just love hearing about home and everything. It's pretty tough out here. We walk miles every day and I can barely understand anything right now. Sorry i'm not being super interesting, i'm kind of trying to avoid talking about really deep things like home, or how much i miss you, or dad, the family, and Nicole, and everyone. I have been trying to take pictures but it's tough to find time, every second of every day we are pretty much doing something. I did take some though. So to start the way of life is really.. interesting here. All the cars and the clothes and those kinds of things are pretty much really nice for everyone, but only the real wealthy have nicer homes. Our apartment is very.. humble haha. It's all we need though so that's really good, more time to focus on the missionary work! It always smells like.. something here :) I really dont want to say anything bad about Puebla because I really do love it here and I love the people here. It's pretty much hot all the time, but not really hot just kind of and the best thing is that when it gets real hot there are breezes that come through and feel amazing! OK so! My new companion is . . . . .Elder Ramirez! And guess what!! He doesnt speak English to me pretty much ever!! haha it's great though it is really helping me learn the language a lot faster. He is also a district leader which is pretty impressive because i dont think there are any other trainers with a leadership position like him. I was especially excited after I was assigned to be his companion a lot of american missionaries came up to me and told me how he is pretty much the greatest companion in the mission, which is pretty much true. He's super funny (when I can understand) and patient and loves missionary work a ton. Oh quick story, so there is an Elder named Elder Prosper who started talking to me about table tennis (he only speaks Spanish too) and he asked if i wanted to play him sometime on a p day and i said YA! Five seconds later his companion told me that he is the national Table Tennis Champion of Uruguay! SO COOL! I still want to play him sometime haha. Anyway (sorry do i say that a lot? I know Nicole doesnt (she'll understand haha)) So a teacher in the MTC said that anyone who wants to get a message to me can either send a letter or they can send an email to you, mom, and then you can send it to me in the email. (could you tell Nicole?) So, my Pday is today! Monday! Unfortunately I havent gotten your package yet sorry mom, I heard we probably will only get packages something like every 6 weeks. And I found out that my debit card does work here but i will only use it if i really need to, no worries thank you though! I'm almost out of time :( I loved ALL of the ties so much and all the little notes and everything just made me cry a lot haha but i loved them all so much thank you so much. Since I'm almost out of time I'm going to include the letter I sent to President Reeves:
Presidente Reeves,
I'm loving my first week, it has been really hard for me. Really hard in a good way though. I feel like I'm growing a lot under the pressure. It has definitely been a change from the norm but I like it. This last week was good we had a lot of appointments, unfortunately not all of them were able to happen. It seemed like more than half of the people we went to see weren't home. I feel I'm doing a good job of not getting discouraged though. Elder Ramirez is helping me a lot with everything; learning the language, depending on and listening to the Spirit, and working hard and being positive. We did a bunch of contacting yesterday and he helped me get out of my comfort zone more which helped a lot too. One investigator that I really love, I love all of them more than I expected to love the people, is Jose Luis. He is older and super humble and he really wants to do what is right but it seems like he is having a hard time keeping comittments. Plus he needs glasses to read and he doesnt have any right now. My favorite part about Jose Luis is that he is trying hard to learn and remember what he learned and he really wants to do what's right. I'm loving the work President! Unfortunately I'm real sick today, I hope I feel better soon so I can do more work. I want to say thank you to you and Sister Reeves for our loving welcome that we received here in the mission.
Elder Branden Astle
Ok so fun stuff: The first night we went out teaching, which was tuesday night, right after i got my companion and right after we dropped my things off at the apartment, We taught a guy named Julian. He is questioning a lot of things right now but at the end of the lesson I invited him to be baptized. Unfortunately he isn't ready yet.
But I think it was Tuesday night we met with Jose Luis and I invited him to be baptized and he said yes!! Right now we are working on helping him strengthen his testimony.
On thursday night there was a surprise thunderstorm! whooo!! we had to go to the church building which was about a mile away and we walked the whole way in the POURING rain and lightning. It was SO fun, at one point Elder Ramirez was like, with faith we can walk on water like Jesus did! and he started walking on the sidewalk where the water was so high in the street that it came up on the sidewalk. The street was literally a river though, we had to cross it at one point and the water was above my ankles haha it was really fun.
Church yesterday was AMAZING, i love church every time (they invited me to give my testimony in the beginning of Sacrament meeting and I did awful haha) but i could definitely feel the love in the ward, it is so strong. Oh one last thing, everyone in the ward seems to be tone deaf so i fit right in, i feel like an singing pro! haha
I love you all so much, please try to be missionaries, it's so incredibly rewarding. I miss you all a ton. Pictures are coming.
I love Heavenly Father so much i'm so thankful to be a part of the work. I'm thankful for all of your support, everyone, in getting here, mom, dad, my family, bishop, Nicole, President Watkins, everyone. Thank you so much
Elder Branden Carl Astle
PICTURES!!
On their way to Houston, Texas. L-R Elders Kitchen, Dougherty, Astle and Allred
Welcoming commitee at approximately midnight! President and Sister Reeves and friends.
Elders Astle, Rameriz and Malaerts
Elders Astle and Rameriz in a combi.
Lunch time with Elder Rameriz
Typical street in Puebla
another Puebla street
Elder Astle being...er..Branden!
Oh no!! His shower!! I just hope the water is warm!
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Last Day in The United States
As of 8:00 pm last night Elder Astle is in Puebla, Mexico. We were so excited because we knew he was going to call home during his layover in Houston. We were expecting his call around 2:45. You can imagine this mother's surprise when I answered my cell phone at 9:10 that morning, not recognizing the phone number and hearing the word mom on my phone left me feeling a little confused for a moment. I finally realized it was Branden!! It was so good to hear his voice! He was a little nervous, but excited to be flying to Puebla. He had told me that he, and the approximately 11 other Elders with him, wanted to go share the gospel with the people around them at the airport while they waited for their flight....but they were, well a little scared.. He told me how much he missed everyone. He also expressed how much he missed his home ward. I only spoke with him for about 10 minutes, then said goodbye, both of us in tears. It is such an amazing blessing, the old saying that "Absence makes the heart grow fonder". I know from my own life's experience that when we are away from those we love, our appreciation and love for them is felt so strongly. I have witnessed this with Elder Astle the last couple of months. He loves his family and friends so much. If you are reading this, it means you!
Later that day some of his family and friends were gathered in eager anticipation of his phone call. It was his dads birthday too and he had expressed to me earlier that he couldn't wait to tell dad Happy Birthday. unfortunately dad didn't make it home in time so he had to settle on a one on one conversation with his son. I think that worked just fine!!
When Elder Astle called he told me that after speaking to me earlier he had approached a customs agent at the airport and began to share the gospel with him. After a few minutes he asked the gentleman if he knew any Mormons? "Well, lets see? Me, my wife, my parents..." What can you expect when asking people at the Salt Lake City Airport! He noticed a gentleman sitting in the airport who had really, really cool Italian shoes on. Branden sat and asked the man about his shoes. It turned out he was from Italy. He was a "Fluid Dynamics Physicist" I'm sure Branden was really enjoying the conversation since he loves that science stuff. Before the conversation was over Elder Astle had given the gentleman a pass a long card with the churches internet address on it. He felt good about that. I will keep you all posted as news comes in. I don't know at this point what his P-Day will be, but I will post it when I do know.
I think the best way for everyone to write Elder Astle, and he does love getting letters, is through the dearelder.com site. It is simple and they ship the letters in a pouch to Mexico. Packages are expensive to send. Approximately $40.00. I will be mailing packages from time to time. If you ever have something you would like to send to him, you can get it to me and I will cover the cost. Please remember Elder Astle in your prayers, I know he remembers you in his..
Later that day some of his family and friends were gathered in eager anticipation of his phone call. It was his dads birthday too and he had expressed to me earlier that he couldn't wait to tell dad Happy Birthday. unfortunately dad didn't make it home in time so he had to settle on a one on one conversation with his son. I think that worked just fine!!
When Elder Astle called he told me that after speaking to me earlier he had approached a customs agent at the airport and began to share the gospel with him. After a few minutes he asked the gentleman if he knew any Mormons? "Well, lets see? Me, my wife, my parents..." What can you expect when asking people at the Salt Lake City Airport! He noticed a gentleman sitting in the airport who had really, really cool Italian shoes on. Branden sat and asked the man about his shoes. It turned out he was from Italy. He was a "Fluid Dynamics Physicist" I'm sure Branden was really enjoying the conversation since he loves that science stuff. Before the conversation was over Elder Astle had given the gentleman a pass a long card with the churches internet address on it. He felt good about that. I will keep you all posted as news comes in. I don't know at this point what his P-Day will be, but I will post it when I do know.
I think the best way for everyone to write Elder Astle, and he does love getting letters, is through the dearelder.com site. It is simple and they ship the letters in a pouch to Mexico. Packages are expensive to send. Approximately $40.00. I will be mailing packages from time to time. If you ever have something you would like to send to him, you can get it to me and I will cover the cost. Please remember Elder Astle in your prayers, I know he remembers you in his..
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Elder Astle Continues On His Journey
Elder Astle will be leaving the MTC for Puebla, Mexico on Monday, October 15th, which just happens to be his Dad's birthday!! What a great birthday present. I hope all of you are enjoying this blog as we keep up on the latest of Elder Astle's adventures.. I will post his address when he lets me know it. What I have now from the Mission Call is the Mission home address:
Elder Branden Carl Astle
Mexico Puebla South Mission
Puebla, Puebla
Mexico
If you would like to write him you can send letters to that address, it takes about two weeks to get there. Also dearelder.com is a great way to write him, some of the information you will need:
Elder Branden Carl Astle
Mexico Puebla South Mission
The deadline to write him is Sunday nights at midnight. dearelder will print off your letter and send them out in a pouch to the mission home, they send out every Monday.
You may also email him at branden.astle@myldsmail.net, however he will not be able to email you back, only letters. He said he loves getting the dearelders and letters because he can take a moment to read them before he gets on the computer on his pdays, then he can answer any questions in his email to his family, and I will forward them to you.
I am so excited for the journey he is on! We can feel the Lord's blessings increase in our lives as we pray for Elder Astle each and every day.. what a blessing..
I wonder if he will meet any new species of bugs in Mexico??
Elder Branden Carl Astle
Mexico Puebla South Mission
Puebla, Puebla
Mexico
If you would like to write him you can send letters to that address, it takes about two weeks to get there. Also dearelder.com is a great way to write him, some of the information you will need:
Elder Branden Carl Astle
Mexico Puebla South Mission
The deadline to write him is Sunday nights at midnight. dearelder will print off your letter and send them out in a pouch to the mission home, they send out every Monday.
You may also email him at branden.astle@myldsmail.net, however he will not be able to email you back, only letters. He said he loves getting the dearelders and letters because he can take a moment to read them before he gets on the computer on his pdays, then he can answer any questions in his email to his family, and I will forward them to you.
I am so excited for the journey he is on! We can feel the Lord's blessings increase in our lives as we pray for Elder Astle each and every day.. what a blessing..
His Nice, New Watch Broke, So He Got a MTC Special!
1. So i needed a watch before I leave for Mexico, this was the very last one they had! It's huge! But luckily I had 12 dollars that the MTC gave me so it was pretty much free! ya it was only 12 dollars :P It's pretty cheapy.
2. So I just found out the elders in my district got a hold of my camera and took about 40 pictures like this one while i was teaching an investigator haha
2. So I just found out the elders in my district got a hold of my camera and took about 40 pictures like this one while i was teaching an investigator haha
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