Sept 28, 2015

Sorry but this email will be a little short today I dont have a lot of time and I forgot mostly what's happened. 

But this week was weird. It was the last week of the transfer. God really cut down my pride. For the last 8 weeks we have hit leadership standards of excellence which means 4 or more member present lessons, 4 new or more new investigators and at least 2 investigators a church. Well we didn't get that this week. It was a hard week. We have no more progressing investigators. But it was really cool because there was a conference call with the whole mission one night and our president got on and the first thing he taught was Never be discouraged. He knew exactly what to say. It's so true. I am doing the Lord's work. I am not doing my work. I shouldn't be discouraged. I can't be. I'm just a tool in the Lord's hands. I love what I do. I love my Heavenly Father. I love Jesus Christ and am so grateful for His sacrifice. I know that it is because of His atonement that I am able to change and become better. 

But transfers are tomorrow! I'm staying and my companion is leaving. I'm super excited even though change will be hard. Love you all miss you!
Elder Verdoni


Letter to Mom
I forgot my journal at home so I forgot what happened this week lol. But we got transfer doctrine today! drumroll............Im staying! Elder Heiner is leaving :( he was a really good trainer but he's been here for 71/2 months. I'm trying to remember what happened this week but I literally can't remember. I'm so sorry haha but my heart and mind are still racing from transfer calls. 

The zone leaders, sister training leaders, and another set of sisters, and us all got together at the church and put our predictions on whose leaving and staying for the whole zone on the board. that was fun. In my district two Sisters are leaving and two new ones are coming, and I'll get a new companion. Oh and this happened..."Elder Verdoni God has called you to train a new missionary" -President Porter

Last pictures of our District!

Breakfast!

Sept 21, 2015

Hey everyone! Hope everyone's week was good because mine sure was. Actually this week felt really long for some reason. Last monday was super sweet. We had our zone fun day and we all went over to this guy's house because his yard is super big. His name is Captain Big O. I honestly dont know his real name, but that was so much fun. We just hung out, ate a lot of food and raced tractors and lawn mowers. And we all had cat shirts.

The other day after a meeting all us elders were going to go out to eat. I stretched and ripped my shirt. haha it was so funny. I guess my lats are just too huge. Bulk season lets go. haha jk. Later that night, one of our investigators is having a lot of struggles with Joseph Smith and I told him the only way for him to know that he was a prophet was to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. and he said "well you could be deceiving me and you wouldn't know." I proceeded to give the most powerful testimony I have ever given about the truth and divinity of the Book of Mormon and the prophet Joseph Smith.

Brothers and sisters, family and friends, I know the Book of Mormon is true. I know it to be the word of God. I know with my whole being that it is true. With everything that I am and everything that I will be I know that the book of Mormon is true. It is the word of God. It is scripture. I asked God himself and He told me it to be true. I am not going off of other peoples words that its true. I know for myself that it is. I prayed and I have received my answer. Many times I have done this and I will do this forever. God has told me many times that this book, this Book of Mormon, is his word. And since it is the word of God, then the man who claims to have translated it, who brought it forth must be a prophet of God. I know with that same surety that my name is Brandon Rayne Verdoni that Joseph Smith Jr. was a prophet of God and was chosen and appointed to bring about the restoration of the true church of Jesus Christ. The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the one and only true church on the Earth. I know that Jesus Christ is my savior and the redeemer of the world. I know that He lives and is at the head of this church. I know all these things because I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I say all these things in the sacred name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Elder Verdoni

Letter to Mom

Yeah for sure it's getting cold in the mornings, but it's weird, some days the high is in the 60's then 70's then back up to the 0's and then the cycle repeats. It's really annoying actually, I just want it to be fall lol. The leaves are starting to turn red and that's super cool. I've never seen that happen before, really pretty.

Transfers are next week! so so crazy. Pretty sure elder Heiner is leaving. He's been in this area for 7 and a half months. So changes are coming.

The Pedigree Pic - Grandfather, Father and Son 

(Elder Verdoni the trainee or son, Elder ? the trainer of the trainer 

or Grandfather, Elder Heiner the trainer or Father)

Sept 14, 2015

Second Nephi Chapter 33 Verse 3 is Life

WOOOOO WE HAD ANOTHER BAPTISM. It was awesome. They are my first people that I found and taught from the start. It is so cool to look back and see how they progressed. That was a really good baptism and it's so special knowing they have the guidance of the Holy Ghost now. 

So yeah, I walked outside yesterday morning and I could see my breath. It's the middle of September. like what? I'm not used to four seasons. It feels like Christmas weather so I'm so weirded out right now. But experiencing fall will be cool, maybe not so much of the negative degree weather. Not too excited about that and hopefully I wont be on a bike either, but if I am, there will be some sweet stories to tell. 

We had a really cool opportunity to do some service for this family so they could keep their kids. It was awesome to help but I'm scarred for life. You can ask me if you really want to know haha, it's just nasty. The other Elders and I had to pray to keep it together and we sang hymns to get through it.  The family was very grateful and it was so worth it.

I had interviews with my mission president this week. That was nice. He really uplifted me and encouraged me. Oh yeah cool miracle, so right after the baptism three people came up to us and started asking questions and we gave them a church tour with one of the ward members. It was really cool because it was exactly what we needed. Definitely a example to me that if we set goals and try our hardest to work for them the Lord will help us accomplish them. I love being out here. I love serving my God. I love Him and I know He loves me. I also love you, later!
Elder Verdoni

Letter to Mom

There is this Polynesian family that moved into our ward recently and we stopped by to say hi. They ended up feeding us spaghetti, garlic bread and ice cream, then gave us a ride home. I love them so much. The spaghetti though was mostly meat and some noodles, soo great!. oh and they love Elders.

Our Zone

 Sick cat shirt (the flash is in my face so you can focus on the cats)

(The three wolf shirt is well known in our family!)

Sept 8, 2015

Week 9? yeah 9 I think

Sorry I'm emailing on Tuesday, we had a zone finding activity for labor day. Our whole zone went down to the park downtown where they were having a big festival, there was a lot of weird drunk people there.We found 27 new investigators and a lot of them were families. After we were all done, we started sing hymns., it was a really cool experience. 

Also really cool, the other day it was pouring rain and of course we were riding our bikes. My pants were dripping wet and my shirt was see through. It's been very hot this week like in the 90's which is weird out here, but it's like whatever. I don't mind drowning in my own sweat anymore. Wife points. 

We had a great zone meeting this week. It was really powerful. We learned hot to better recognize the needs of people so we can tailor the doctrine of Jesus Christ to their lives the way they need it. We also learned about the Sabbath day and why and how we should use the scriptures in teaching. But over all I got out of it was that this whole gospel is about change, changing into something better, to draw closer to God. 

I've changed my entire life making this decision to come out here. This short two years will change the rest of my eternity. I've already changed since I've come out here. I did not come out here to come back the same. I won't be completely different don't worry. But I will know who I am and who I am to God, my loving Heavenly Father, and what He wants from me. I love this gospel I really do. I know that this is true. I know that this is the one and only true church of Jesus Christ once again restored to this Earth. I know this because I asked God. I read the Book of Mormon and prayed to know if it was true. God answered my prayer. 

I love my mission so much!!

I love all of you too! miss you!

Elder Verdoni

Letter to Mom

We had cool experience the other day, we were walking around in this neighborhood and these people drove by a couple of times looking for their dogs. So we decided to say a prayer to find the dogs. In the prayer we heard barking so we walked in that direction. We were prompted to go down this one street and found this huge field. We thought the dogs would be there, so we started to look for them but couldn't find them. I knew Heavenly Father has the power to let us find the dogs, so I was ...let us find the dogs already haha. But as we were starting to doubt, I turned around and saw the dogs! It was crazy. Then we chased them into their backyard. Really cool experience about prayers being answered when you have faith. Then some guy in a big red truck yelled at us to get a job. It was so funny because as Elders, whenever we see other Elders, we yell at them to "get a real job!" but this was for real. Elder Heiner and I were laughing so hard. So that's been my week!  

 Fort Zion - Stone Cold, 2-2-5!

Chilling at home

 I'm hipster now?

Elder Bassett made me a hat and I'm wearing Sister McLaws's glasses