What a Discussion!

Hey Hey Hey everybody!!! Hopefully you all got my photos OK, haha. I was really glad to be on a good computer this week. (So here are some of the ones he sent).

This one is from when he hiked Koko Head a couple of weeks ago.

This one was a little bird that Jared tried unsuccessfully to nurse back to health.

And I put this one on because I thought it was really funny!

Well it seemed like everybody has a pretty good week this week, I'm so jealous that you all got to visit E, J, & B. But I guess that I'll get my fill when I get back, not that that's anytime soon haha.

Well I feel bad because I haven't been able to give you any good stories lately but don't worry I have a good one this week:)

So we have an investigator who's getting baptized on March 3rd (woot!) and we met her at a park to teach her. We get seated and begin our lesson which is about Temples. Just as we begin discussing things two groups of people sit down on either side of us and all of a sudden the first group (a young couple to our left) starts making out ferociously. Like we're 10 feet away and we can hear. We look over and she's sitting on his lap now and they are REALLY going at it. I laugh a little at how awkward this is and she turns to me and says "Didn't know you were going to get first row seats to the show did you?" I start laughing pretty hard and then I look over at my companion and he's flat out staring at them! She turns to my comp and says "Hey you just taught me the Law of Chastity and I know you're not supposed to be watching that." Then we all start laughing and try to refocus on the lesson. Then Group 2 (4 kids in their early teens) all simultaneously light up their joints and start smoking their homegrown pacalolo. We can tell what it is because, well it's got a very distinct smell... I smell it on a daily basis here honestly, and we were down wind so all their smoke is blowing our way. We can't focus on the lesson because of this and then she laughs and says "Man now we're in real trouble, Law of Chastity and Word of Wisdom at the same time! Now I've REALLY got to speak to Bishop." Then she jokes "Bishop, I've come today because I broke the Law of Chastity and the Word of Wisdom at the same time. But don't worry the Missionaries were there the whole time so it's OK right?" Then we all BUST UP laughing and that pretty much wrapped up the lesson for that day. We re-scheduled for another day, she bought us dinner at the farmer's market and then we were on our way. Sooo yeah that's definitely the funniest (not the most spiritual however) lesson I've been in so far hahaha:)

Anyways my time is just about up but transfers are on my birthday actually so that'll be fun! You'll know next Monday what's happening here:) Oh and we're going to a zoo today so hopefully next week there will be some good pictures:)

I love and miss you all sooooooo much but I'm doing well here!

Love, Elder Brooksby

Thank Heavens for the Apple Store!

Hey There everybody! How's everything going? It sounds like things are going pretty well over in the Hills haha:) Or, Being interpreted: Howzit? How you stay? Stay Cherry? Automatic bah!

Well things are going well here! We had a pretty productive week, nothing really crazy out of the ordinary however, haha so another boring week of email for you guys:( I also have to apologize because since today is Presidents Day, all the regular places to email have been shut down so I actually don't have the pictures from Koko head this week, but next week for sure. The pictures are worth it they're pretty superb if I do say so myself haha.

Well this week the highlight was trying to speak a little Chinese to one of our investigators, trying to resolve one of the concerns of our investigator who has a baptismal date set and succeeding thanks to the Spirit, and having some good service opportunities.

Other than that things are going quite well with my companion and things are going well in my District as well. The missionaries trust me which is good because if they don't trust or respect who you are then the going can get pretty tough haha.

But things are pretty well other the that. I gave a talk in sacrament meeting that everyone (especially my bishop) seemed to like a lot. It was in front of a large crowd of people and trust me, the Honolulu tabernacle has A LOT of people in it at one time. It absolutely dwarfs the Albany stake center in size. It's quite remarkable. But so yeah that was fun! I want to get to the point where I can give talks like Dad haha. Maybe someday post mish:)

Anyways things are going well and I have a great testimony about the church right now. I feel like I have a pretty good understanding on the things that I have to do in my life to have things go the right way. Not necessarily MY way but then again my way is definitely not always the way that the Lord has planned for me.

But well I'm out of time here (at the Apple Store - the only place open to e-mail on Presidents Day)


so I'll have to send you all the other things next week:( I love you all so much and I can't wait to talk to you all on Mother's Day:)

Ofa Lahi Atu!

Love, Elder Jared Brooksby

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hey hey hey everybody! How's life in the mainland? I miss the mainland haha.

Well it sounds like yet another eventful week over at Burnt Hills, New York, it hasn't been quite as eventful over here in Lulu (short for Honolulu). I'm sure you know how it goes, you kinda run out of things to say. After awhile the events that happen in Mission life get a little monotonous I dare say. Every now and then something cool happens (we have an investigator with a baptismal date set for March 3rd!) or something weird happens (we got chased out of a building by a very angry guy) but apart from that it's nothing out of the ordinary haha:)

Thanks so much for the package! I loved it a lot and I'm looking forward to wearing the very nice tie tomorrow! I appreciate the thought, it's been so busy that I haven't had a lot of chances to write letters lately. It's hard not having a car and being in such a big area, it doesn't allow for a lot of leisure time haha. So as a result I haven't gotten much friend mail lately so I guess it's just "I've been out a while blues" that are setting in. You hear it from every RM. Everyone will write you with regularity for the first bit of your mission, then past a certain point they all just drop off the face of the earth haha. But that's life so c'est la vie:)

Anyways here are some pictures for you. Hopefully they'll tide you over for the next little while because as I said, I'm not a huge picture taker and my poor little camera has been having some difficulties lately, but all is well!

Jared with a recent convert.

Jared and his companion, Elder T.

Jared with another recent convert.

Well I love you all soooo much and thanks for all of your support, letters, packages and personal experiences that have helped me get past my 8 month mark!

I love you all more than I can express through email haha.

Be good, Work hard and Have Fun and Take it easy:)

Love, Elder Brooksby

Happy February!

Hello Hello everybody! Howzit? Cherry?

Well another week in the books here in the Makiki District of the Honolulu Zone, on the Island of Oahu in the State of Hawaii. Not much is happening here, except for some new investigators who have a baptismal date now and we're still walking the streets of Honolulu like a boss!

Today (we started @ 5AM...) we (my Zone) hiked Koko Head. WOW! Now THAT'S a hike. It was like the two big hikes I did on Molokai. Not quite as rewarding, but just as tiring and every bit as formidable as it looks. The steps were not even, even though they may seem that way in the picture.


Things are going well with my companion too. We have some good fun together and teaching with him is a breeze. He's 21 but he's been out for less than I have already, but he knows how to teach well, so it's nice to have him as a companion:)

Anyways, next week I'll have more to say and some pics to go along. I love you and all is well with me haha:)

Be good, work hard, have fun, and take it easy:)

Love, Elder Brooksby

Hello, Hello Everybody!

Hello Hello everybody!

Where am I? Right in the thick of it all. That's right, cruisin in the middle of Honolulu right now in, you guessed it: a walking area. It's actually the bomb, I really do like it! I'm hoping I'll lose some weight here haha. I'm in the Makiki Ward and we meet in the Honolulu Tabernacle! It's intense haha. AND THE WARD MEETS IN ENGLISH. So things are going pretty well, I have a bigger district that I'm in charge of which includes a pair of sisters so it's all good.

If you google map Makiki Honolulu Oahu Hawaii you'll get an idea of where I am at. So I'm pounding the pavement and OYMing like a boss haha.

I think I've recovered from the packing and moving around and unpacking again. Now I just have to get to know my companion and get used to the new pad. The new pad... is very old and very dirty and very small. So that makes a lot of cleaning, but I'm used to it.

I took some more pictures, but I forgot my camera back at the pad, so next week I'll send those.

It sounds like you are having a lot of fun and it also sounds like the house may not be the same when I return a little over a year from now. But that's OK, I'm already beginning to forget things about home, well not really forget, I just can't remember things as vividly as before.

Sorry I don't have a lot to say this time, but I will say that this area rocks, although I don't know any of the missionaries in this zone, so needless to say I miss familiarity again, but whatever. I think I'm numb to it by now haha.

Well, I love you all and I wish you all the best!

Ofa Lahi Atu

Elder Jared Brooksby

Transfers

Hello Everybody!

Well it sounds like life has been typical for the winter! Running around, sliding around, watching lots of movies and stressing over school! All the things I miss- hahahahahahahahaha just kidding I really don't miss stressing over school, or dealing with icy roads haha.

Yes our baptism did happen... but it happened on Saturday, not on Thursday. But the important thing is that he's baptized and thinking about serving a mission in a year! Woot!

Anyways, and in other news... I'm getting transferred! Still on island and I don't know where yet, but my time in the Waipahu zone is officially up for now.

Hopefully I'll have more to tell you next week, I'm still district leader so this will be one wild ride haha. Talk to you all next week!

Love you all sooooo much,

Amor Vincit Omnia (Love Conquers All),

Elder Jared Brooksby

The Bleak Midwinter

Hello my loved ones in the bleak midwinter:)

I'm doing just fine here in the Waipahu zone. A little tired as per usual, but doing well haha. Today a few elders and I went and played rugby with the Tongan youth from 7 to 12. Soooo yeah a little tired haha, and a little beat up too, but it provided a lot of happiness haha. I'm not in as bad shape as I could be haha.

Speaking of my shoes and walking in the rain, I can't remember if I ever told you guys of the adventure that Elder T. and I had about 3 weeks ago. Our car had to have some body work done so Elder T. and I were out a car for a little over a week. That meant catching bus... a lot. And walking... a LOT. So one day we were in Western Waipahu and we were going to walk to the East side of Waipahu to our chapel for a little bit of planning for the rest of our day. So we begin to walk from our appointment that we were at to the chapel, and it begins to sprinkle. So Elder T. and I say a quick prayer that included a request for the cessation of rain, but a willing heart to go do the work either way. So we began walking again and it began to DUMP. And I mean absolutely DUMP. It was what I imagine the rain for 40 days and 40 nights would be like to flood the earth haha. So we kept walking figuring it would end soon as it typically does in Hawaii, the rain comes and goes. But in reality it continued to rain the entirety of the trip over to the chapel which was like 2 miles or so. Raining so hard at times that I couldn't wipe the water away fast enough to be able to see properly. Needless to say we were absolutely ruined haha. BUT we walked past a school as school got out so we also got like a solid 35 or more street contacts on the way. So we finally got to the chapel and assessed the damage. I'm thankful that I have the Under Armor backpack because it seemed to have at least moderate water proofing. My scriptures were dry and all the things I had in my backpack were pretty much safe, but I was a different story. Shirt: soaked; Pants: Wet(but not terrible surprisingly, I think Haggar is an excellent brand for pants!) but oh, my poor shoes. I've had them for neigh on 3 years now and they were wet, wet, wet. I brought them home and put some newspaper in them and hoped. But the leather was ruined, and began to mold in the humidity of Hawaii. So luckily, at least, they were an old pair, the soles were cracked and had a couple cuts on the front of them. So they had a well lived life and managed to make it being worn every day for 6 months. No I didn't play taps or give them a funeral, but they can now enjoy their rest haha;) But one pair down, two to go!

Anyways, that was the past, this is the present. It sounds like things have been going pretty good for my beloved family, I am SUPER jealous of the good sandwich shop. I'd love to go there someday. Things have been going pretty well here too, we have a baptism on Thursday!!! Elder T. and I, but mostly the spirit, taught him everything he needed to know to drop smoking and drinking entirely and commit to living the law of chastity and prepare himself for baptism. It's nice to reap the benefits of what you sow, with a lot of hard work haha:)

But not much else has happened besides that! I'll be sure to send pictures next week:) Being a District Leader is stressful, training is just about finished, Elder T. and I are doing well, and I might be transferred next week, so I guess we'll see!!!

I love you all and wish you all the best:)

Ofa Lahi Atu!

Elder Brooksby