Leaps and Bounds

Whoa. ... whoa whoa whoa whoa wee whoa whoa.... Maddie, was that you that E-mailed me? For reals??? You sound WAY more mature! That's crazy! Could you really have grown up that much more since I've been gone??? Wow.... Sound like you had a great time at the lake though, and I'm glad you're still taking choir and practicing piano! We'll have to jam when I get back, you'll probably even show me up! ;) Thanks for the e-mail though!

Yes, I plan on going to the temple at some point. It's hard cause we have to change our P-days, and rearrange everything, and now we can only go once a quarter... so I can only attend twice before I go home....

The work... Still slow, but progression is being made! We got 2 new investigators this week, a younger couple Jason and Anna. They'll fit right in with the ward!! The problem is that they'll be gone for two weeks to the boundary waters... ugh, I swear this always happens. But, I think they are solid, they want us over for dinner and a lesson, so I'm excited for that!!! Other than that, nothing new.

Whoa! Weston would be so lucky if he gets to stay another month!!! I miss that kid, it’s a shame he never writes me back! When he gets home, he better keep in touch with me!

More about Elder Howard... He was a track fanatic, he ran like the 100, the 150, the 200 and the 400 open. Great athlete. He's from Portales, NM, and has a girlfriend waiting for him that he got to baptize before he came out. He gets anywhere from 2-4 letters from her a week, and other mail. Me? Jealous? Naw! ;)

Whoa, Rush met Whettens?? That is so weird! The world truly is small... I haven't heard back from Jay yet, maybe I'll write him another letter today. (Maybe that's because Mommy forgot to mail it - oops!) How is he doing? Tell the Whettens I say hi too! Hey dad, I forgot to mention this, but the letter you gave me in my package was pretty cool. The Book of Dan. Very clever!! .....and helpful. It was a good motivator, thank you. :)

...Speaking of jobs, one of my favorite families here, the Richardsons, Bro. Richardson is a dentist, so I get to ask him lots of questions about that, since that's what I want to look into!

Well, I can't remember if I told you, but being a leader, I really wanted to be humble, and show my district that I really care. So I studied a lot on humility, and then I prayed that I would be blessed with that attribute. Heavenly Father, in His great sense of humor did not bless me with it, but did bless me with a few short opportunities to utterly crush my spirit, and then I became humble. Ha-ha. I feel like I'm really having one of those "leaps and bounds" periods.

Dad, being a leader, and now me being a leader, so leader to leader, how do you love and serve those under your care? How do you give criticism that will build? How do you correct without being a hypocrite, or sounding like a stickler? I'm trying to be the best leader I can at this point, and do all that I can to serve my district. .... ahhh, it's hard trying to be an example.

You know, I can't think of much else to say. I don't feel like I have many miracles to share. Sometimes that really bothers me. Other times, it doesn't.

Well, it is weird almost being 21... oh, and the 20,000 $$$ you were going to give me for my B-day, you can just save it up right now or invest it in my Audi R-8 I'm going to buy when I return. (You should look up some pictures! ;) ) Just kidding!... but seriously. What AM I going to do for vehicular needs? I guess my bike is still in good condition, ha-ha.  ( I actually did buy him an Audi R-8!  It's a little small but it was only a few dollars!  It's waiting for him right on my snack bar.)

Anyways, Love you all!
Elder Brooks

Here's a quote for you too.
"You come to love that which you serve." -Joseph Smith