May 30, 2011

Dear Everyone, It's getting cold here. It rained a lot this week. I didn't expect it to be getting this cold here. Its by no means freezing. There is snow inland but here on the cost it only gets down to about 60-58. Not so bad. The work is moving forward as we are preparing Sithembele and her family for their baptism. Their testimonies astound me, so much wisdom. Thank you for the package Mom everything is great, the card made my Day. As you can see I stuck the candles in the brownies as was your intention I think. I'm not sure why we were celebrating a 'Bathy Pad'... to be honest I'm not really sure what a 'Bathy Pad' is but the brownies were delicious. ON church on Sunday we watched a few of the Mormon Messages video's. They were amazing, what a great way to share the gospel. I'm not sure if it can be done but please put a link on my blog to it if you can. At least on this entry if not a banner. The church is groing slow and steady in our area. We had a new investigator at church named Joe. He was a great guy. He called us on Saturday to ask us for money because he knew about missionaries. I told him that we were far away from home and we had no money to give but maybe we could meet him and try to help him in other ways. Turns out he was very far from home as well. He left his wife and small children to come find work in South Africa. He hasn't been able to find a steady job and every penny he makes he sends to them. He's living in not the greatest of conditions he swatted a snake or centipede out the door in the middle of our lesson I'm not sure which. Both like to make their ways under doors. We taught him about how his family could be together forever and how his Father in Heaven was aware of his hard life. All day Saturday we prayed that he would be able to find the Taxi money and bravery to come to church with us on Sunday. And while it may not have seemed a big deal to any one else when I saw him walk through the doors and sit down next to my companion at the back of the Old Red Cross building we use as a chapel, I felt as though I had seen a miracle. I know the Lord is waiting, WAITING, hoping, worrying, fretting, weeping, pining, just WAITING for us to show the smallest particle of faith so he can rain down blessings upon us. You don't get something for nothing but the smallest actions of gratitude and faith towards heaven earns blessings in abundance, I testify of this. And more than testify I challenge you to challenge God. Do an experiment, test the waters. Stop being complacent and comfortable and do something to show gratitude towards the Lord, read scriptures, perform an act of charity, go to church, say a prayer, what ever it is, and then open your eyes and see what happens. It may not be immediate, but it will be. I love you all and love to hear from you even more!

-Cheers Elder Scott Milton Brazee

May 23rd, 2011

I've officially played soccer barefoot in Africa, I don't know if that's an achievement or not, but well it happened. The weeks just keep going by faster and faster. Elder Tidwell and I have decided that our eagerness to help FAR out weighs our carpentry abilities as we've so far succeeded in unsuccessfully building a table and unskillfully cutting a door to fit into its frame. We do our best though and it always works out one way or another in the end. My cullanary skills are slowly improving, i made some scrumptous cranberry chicken this week and learned how to make some good ol' fried chicken as well. (you'd be hard pressed to find a meal that doesn't include chicken around here by the way).The wheather has been absoulutly beautiful It's still cooling down a bit, I've had to dawn a jersey on more than one occation. The families here continue to be amazing and the work is moving steadilly forward. Thank you for all the well-wishing (and not the kind that wishes I was in a well ((Aaron I hope you read this)) and prayers. Oh! I just thought of a story, it was election day on Wednesday and me and Elder Tidwell thought it would be a good idea to go down to the polls and set up a little station to hand out pamphletes and talk to some people. We met quit a few characters that way it was a very good time. Alot of them were worried about the world ending on the 21st of May, we havn't really figured out where that came from but EVERYONE was asking us about it. Has that nonsense made it to America as well? Well you'll be pleased to realize that the world is still here.

-Cheers

Elder Scott Brazee

May 17th, 2011

This week we were able to help out Barnard in his garden, he is having trouble with his hip and isn't able to do a whole lot right now. I don't know if I've told you about Barnard yet or not but this guy has a really big heart. He was the one who took us to the rural area's so we could build a chicken coop for the locals. H:e prepared the ground for some sugar beets that we are going to help him plant this up coming week. It was fun work especially with the assistance of our little helpers.
Unfortunitly Sithembele wasn't able to get baptized this week, I don't know if I mentioned that in my email last week or not... Her Mom wasn't able to come down and she wanted to wait for her so we are schedualed to go for June 5th. The whole family is so excited. I painted them a picture to remind them of the special day and to help them set a goal to be sealed in the temple. I attatched a picture of it so you guys could see. I can't wait until June 5th.
We got transfer calls and both me and Elder Tidwell are staying put. I'm excited to continue our work here.
Also there was a CRAZY lightning storm that was going on last night. It was so so so cool, the photo's don't do it justice and they're having trouble uploading so you'll just have to imagine the coolest thing you've ever seen and you might be close. Someone told us they are called Nimbus storms, it was like a light show in the sky.

I hope you all are well,

Elder Scott Brazee

April 9th, 2011

Hello Everyone!

I've done most all the updating I can think of via calls yesterday so this is going to be a rather short email. There was one story I forgot to tell, the other night we were coming up with the program for Sithembile and Thabiso's baptism with them. We asked Thabiso which hymn he wanted us to sing. He very adamantly chose "Do as I'm Doing!" we couldn't stop laughing. His Mother was trying to pick some nice thoughtful hymns but Thabiso and Naywo were fighting tooth and nail for Do as I'm Doing to be one of the baptismal hymns. In the end they lost out, but I think If it were up to me I'd allow it.

Attached are a few photos of my Birthday/Cake (those are make-shift candles not cigarettes) and mine and Elder Tidwell's Cinco De Mio celebration. A great two days.

The work is wonderful I love the people, the church is true.
Love
Elder Brazee

Letter from the Mission Pres.

Greetings Tidwell and Brazee families,

I have attached some photos of our trip to the game reserve yesterday.
Mondays are special days for the Elders as they get to do some fun things. We have a super game reserve not far from our home which we love to take the Elders to visit.
So, we took your boys there yesterday. The one photo has them hanging on an Eland with my Counsellor, Bro Fred Brear.
Some of them are of Elder Brazee stalking a herd of Wildebeest and Zebra.
I am sure they will send you many more photos as they took hundreds!

You have fine sons, just great young men and the two of them add such value to our Branch.
In the Book of Mormon it says, "I Nephi having been born of goodly parents..",
well, your sons are real champions and I thank you for making it possible for them to be here in South Africa and for being "goodly parents".

You can be very proud of your sons--they are a great example of hard work and commitment to our Young Men and all the members in the Branch.

Thanks for sparing them for 2 years---the sacrifice will be well worth the results and growth they are experiencing.
Many thanks again,

Jean-Pierre Oehlerking
Margate Branch President.

May 2nd, 2011 (almost Scott's Birthday)

Family and Friends,

Another week has come and gone. Things have been well. It's been tough to teach this week because it was a Holiday week. In fact the last 2 and a half weeks have been Holiday week. But we have been trying our hardest and things seem like theyre getting back into the swing of things as the holidays wrap up. We helped a member plant a garden in his backyard a few days ago, It was great to get outside and get my hands dirty the garden ended up very nice, and his wife made us Ox Stomach for lunch, which tasted a lot like a really tasty leather shoe. My companion told me not to get used to that though because most of the time it just tastes like regular old shoe.
We went to a game reserve today! It was amazing, they didn't have any of the big animals like Rhino's, Elephant's, or Lion's but they did have Zebra's and Giraffes and others things.

I've attached some pictures some of the game reserve and one of a guitar lesson with a member named Thumi and his little brother Wandile. I'd like to send more but my computer is being very slow and I don't have time maybe next time.

I can't believe my Birthday is in two days Its been a fast year. 22 seems so old.

I love you all,
Elder Scott Milton Brazee