Thanksgiving!

We had an awesome week. We got to go to Elder and Sister Floyd's house for Thanksgiving dinner. It was super good! I'm stuffed just thinking about it...

Then we had another on Saturday! It was super delicious.

Everyone watch the new Christmas Video. christmas.mormon.org

So this week the challenge is to read the Book of Mormon every day. When you read it mark it up. Highlight, underline, circle, add notes. Tons of stuff. Write down the things that you learn. Think of things that you can change so that you can do better. It is crazy, when we read, the day just goes better. When I don't it doesn't. So read!

Sorry dont have much time this week.... Have a great week!

Love Elder Bronson

We hiked to the cross in the beautiful warm weather with the ocean in the background... with someone's head

 Elder Routledge really likes cream puffs

                                 So this is a legit icecream cake! It is covered in carmel and had cones for the legs. It was super good

Thanksgiving Day

80 Degree Weather...

How has everyone been doing? It's been great here in California. Unlike Idaho, California has been having a hot spell. It's been up to 90 degrees this week. Luckily it's supposed to cool back down to 60's and 70's though. I'm sure it is snowing there in Idaho. It's going to be weird having a warm Christmas.

This week has been super busy. We have been trying to meet everyone in the ward. We had church on Sunday and everyone was excited to meet us. Apparently there have been Sisters in this ward for about 4 years. Also President Felix is in our ward! It's so awesome! I get to see him a lot more now considering Santa Maria is about 2 hours away.

Oh, my new companion is Elder Routledge. He is from Calgary, Canada. He is cool. He has tons of energy. I wonder where he gets it all from. I'm excited for this next transfer. It's going to be tons of fun!

So one morning I had a feeling that I should pray for an miracle like a new investigator or something awesome, so I did. Then later that day, the Assistants gave us a super promising referral! Prayer is so awesome! It is the best! God answers our prayers. We just need to trust Him.

So this week I want to challenge everyone to be especially thankful. Yeah, it is Thanksgiving so everyone is going to be thinking about it, but I want to challenge everyone to hold on to that gratefulness. I've decided to write one thing in my journal I was grateful for every single day. It is cool because the happiest people are always the most grateful. So go be grateful every day! You will be more positive and happier.

Have an awesome Thanksgiving!

Love, Elder Bronson

Sorry, or Sore-y as my Canadian companion would say, but I've got no pictures this week. I put some on next week though.

Ventura!

New companion is Elder Routledge from Canada. This was his first night there at a members home having dinner.

I'm going to Ventura!

This has been a crazy week. We have had tons to do. Turns out they are whitewashing the area. That's when both missionaries get replaced. Elder Slaugh is going home and I am whitewashing into Ventura. It should be tons of fun! We are going to be super busy because Sister Training Leaders used to be in the ward. After 4-1/2 months in this awesome ward, I'm getting transferred. I could have stayed in this ward forever, but I have better things to do in Ventura I guess.

Elder Slaugh is going home! I asked him what he is most excited for and he said, "Dating." Yep. Words from a departing missionary.

Stuff that happened this week.

We helped some members put cabinets into their garage. We started packing. We said goodbye to lots of people. Our dry Mormon taught us the lesson when they had us for dinner. Elder Slaugh gave a talk. We had Elder Slaugh's final district meeting. Elder Slaugh did lots of things for the last time. We took lots of pictures with people. Oh! Last Monday we got to play pinball at Barb's! It was tons of fun. 10 missionaries all on a pinball machine. Plus a 2-player pinball.

This week make sure to read in the Book of Mormon every day. Pray that you will find something that will help you. Ask a question and pray for you to find an answer as you read. The Book of Mormon is amazing. As you read it, it will bring you closer to Christ. That is it's purpose. To testify of Christ. I know that it is true. It has helped me and I know that I can help you.

Have an awesome day,

Love, Elder Bronson

                            So when a missionary's time is up, he goes home. We sometimes call that dying...

A 6 year old drew this picture for us. It was awesome

Exchanges, a Car, and No More Biking!

We had another awesome week! I got to go on exchanges twice. Once with Elder Houston and once with Elder Powell. On top of all that we got a car! Now we are not the only biking missionaries in the mission.

On exchanges with the Zone Leaders, I felt like I should bear my testimony about the atonement and it was awesome. The Spirit was there super strong. There were some members there as well that bore their testimonies. She had a baptismal date for the next day. I got to attend the Zone Leaders baptism this weekend. It was super awesome!

Also this week, the zone leaders called us and told us that someone in the hospital wanted a blessing. We went and gave her a blessing. It was good that we were able to. As we were leaving, we saw a less-active in the ward. We talked to her and the Relief Society President and someone in the ward was passing away. We went into the room and saw her. It was a solemn experience. It was cool to see that the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.

This week I want to challenge everyone to be really grateful. Make sure to include lots of things that you are grateful for in your prayers. Remember how blessed you really are. It is cool how if we remember that it is so much easier to find joy in our lives. Be Grateful. Go. Fight. Win. :)

Have a fun week

Love, Elder Bronson

Filling Sandbags

Halloween and Pumpkin!

This week was awesome! We got to go out to the little town of Guadalupe (named after the virgin Guadalupe). We were trying to contact a potential investigator, but a high school-er answered. We ended up giving him a Book of Mormon and testifying to him. It was super awesome. It is so cool that when we bear our testimonies of things we know to be true, that the Spirit is there to back us up and to testify of it also.

For P-day we carved pumpkins.

We got to make home-made corn and flour tortillas with a less active member. It was tons of fun. Of course we got to eat them right afterwards. They were really good. 

My challenge for everyone is to pay special attention to the Sacrament this week. Just think about how special it is. Every single week we get to remake our commitment with God. We get to re-promise to our Heavenly Father that we will follow Him. So make sure to prepare for the Sacrament and make it as special as it really is. It has helped me a ton and seems to rejuvenate me for the week.

I hope everyone has an awesome week!

Love, Elder Bronson

Sister Ellsworth decided to throw pumpkin pie at me. It was really funny. When a member asks what would happen if they threw pie at you. Don't say that you would try to duck... Luckily it was the end of the night and we got to wash laundry the next day.

  

We carved pumpkins! The one on the right is mine.

My pumpkin outlasted Elder Slaugh's. (We were having a competition)