December 19, 2011: welcome (back) to the jungle

Hey Everyone,

I'm back in KZN, in a township called Molwani. I think all this
mission really does is ask me to exchange one breathtakingly beautiful
place for another. I'll send pictures when I take some. The good news
is the internet access and mail systems are way better here. My new
companion is Elder Sikyanika from Zambia. He finishes his mission in 2
months so I'm going to be the last companion he'll ever have....well
second to last. I wish I had more to say but really I'm still getting
my bearings. I can say the work is the same here as anywhere else on
the planet. The food is better though. I like Zulu food over Sotho.

I've attached the wedding pictures from that last Saturday. The
painting I did my self. It was so beautiful and so fun ( the wedding
not the painting). I've got about a hundred more pictures of the
wedding but I figured you didn't need them all.

I love you all and cant wait to talk to you next week. Have a Happy Christmas!

Love,
Elder Brazee

December 12, 2011: WHAT A WEEK!

In a word I could say I'm exhausted,

This had to have been one of the most hectic weeks on my mission. As I
mentioned last week we had a wedding!! It was organized by us
missionaries to do some extenuating circumstances. It had us up and
down qwa-qwa almost the whole week trying to fit it in to our already
packed schedules. We tried our best to spread the work out evenly
among us. Among other things I ended up making the invitations,
wedding cake, guest book and I painted a portrait of the couple. They
went through so much to get to this wedding, it seemed like they were
challenged every single step of the way. Through all the stress
confusion it ended up being a beautiful ceremony. Then the day ended
off great because the couple missionaries took all of us Elders out
for Chinese for all our hard work and for a bit of Christmas
celebration. It was A-MAZ-ZA-ZING I haven’t had Chinese since I don't
know when.  I can't send pictures this week but I'll do my best to
send them next week.
 Then the next day (which was Sunday) started off with the bang, It
turned out their wedding caused some emotional ripples for some
certain people and rumors began to fly, about the couple, about the
missionaries, about everything. The Branch President sat us
missionaries down and gave us a stern talking to about some
allegations, only to find they were all false productions of the rumor
mill. He handled it great though, really stepping into his role a
branch president and smoothing the matter out, at least as much as he
could. I had so much respect for the way he handled the whole
situation.
Nothing could damper our spirits though as after church we watched and
participated in the baptisms of six beautiful souls. The spirit was so
strong as one after another they testified of how they came to know
this gospel was true and what it meant to them. One young woman in
particular by the name of Papi Mofukeng bore a powerful testimony
about how Satan had taken the Earth though it is not his to take and
it was our duty as children of God to take it back. I wish you could
hear it the way she said it.

Finally I got the sad news today that I'm going to be transferred my
Bus leaves at 3:30 am tonight, or I guess tomorrow morning. I am
heartbroken to leave this area. I've grown to love these people so
much. Each goodbye is a difficult as the last. But I know I will go
where I am needed. My new area will be a township called Moane in the
Durban area. So I'm switching languages again, back to Zulu. I'm
excited for the new adventure but so very sad to leave. The area, my
companion, these people.

I love you all and thank you for your support, I love this work and
this church.
"My soul though all Hell will endeavor to shake,
I'll never no never, no never forsake"


With all my heart,
Elder Scott Milton Brazee

December 6th, 2011: Merry Christmas

Hello Everyone,

What a crazy week so far. We've driven up here to Bloemfontein for a conference which is why this email is a day late. It was so wonderful. Elder Cook from the 70 was there and spoke to us. I was inspired to say the least. He's a wonderful teacher. My musical number seemed to go over well I did "O Little Town of Bethlehem" with a bit of a western feel. The president and his wife really enjoyed it, so that was nice. Have I told you about Bro. Thato and Sis. Kede? they are this amazing couple who are investigating the church, this upcoming Saturday they are getting married and the following day they are getting baptized. We are so excited for them. please keep them in your prayers. Me as well, cause guess whose planning the wedding.... That's right you guessed it. It hasn't been easy either, with out going into to to much detail, their road has been a tough one and the branch almost completely pulled all support from there marriage for personal reasons with was a blow to all of us. But they are determined to do what they know and feel is right no matter what gets in the way. Also we unfortunately, lost one of our members, Maria Chabangu to a stroke last week. She was very sick and staying with family who didn't know us, so they weren't sure who to contact when she passed away. it wasn't until the Thursday night before the Saturday morning funeral that we found out, and they wanted us to take over the funeral. I don't know if you know anything about African funeral's but they are NO small affair. again with a lot of scrambling and minimal support we managed to come up with what was needed. It was a beautiful ceremony. The family ended up taking care of it most in the end, but they really did there best to honor our practices as Latter-Day Saints. I was able to dedicate the grave which was an interesting experience for me. But I can honestly say that as I did so I had the warmest feeling that she was safe with our Father in Heaven and exactly where He meant her to be.

I hope everyone is doing well, I love hearing from you and hope that you have a wonderful week as we head into these holiday seasons!

With love,
Elder Scott Brazee

November 21, 2011: I think someone is trying to poison me

I was really sick this week, I was pretty much bed ridden all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I'm not sure what it was or what caused it. It was bad though. I'm feeling about 98% now though, just tired and a little weak but I' sure I'll be up and running in no time. The first counciler in our branch's wife was baptized yesterday which was so awesome. I couldn't get out of bed for all three hours of church but I managed to hobble over to the church for the baptism, then it was strait back to bed for a while. She bore one of the most powerful testimonies about faith and our duty to lift those around us. The branch is doing well. We have a wedding coming up on the 10th as well which is really exciting. Thanksgiving is coming up this week, I'm not sure what we'll do but I think I'll try to make stuffing at least, and maybe some yams. Its on the same day as the other missionaries in our boarding's investigators birthday so I think well have a nice dinner. Other than that I'm happy and love this place. Me and my companion get along really well. and the church is true.

-Elder Brazee

November 28, 2011: Thanksgiving

Hello Everyone,

It was a great week. I feel much much better, I'm not sure what I had I think maybe my body is just still adjusting to things over here. The water and food and things. hopefully this wont be a regular thing because it's painful and boring but I dont think it will be. I did get to celebrate Thanksgiving in a way. We were going to try and make a big meal since there is three Americans in the boarding but lack of time, talent, and resources sort of put a stop to that so we settled with all getting kota's for lunch. Kota's are a quarter loaf of bread hollowed out and filled with palony, vienna's and chips. topped with cheese. A beautiful example of the potential of the creative mind. But that was going to be the extent of our Thanksgiving celebrations. Then at our last appointment that night a very nice Mme informed us that she had made dinner for us and the other missionaries to eat at home. She told us we could grab it on the way out. We were expecting maybe a sandwich or something. To our surprise she stacked into our arms 7-8 large tupperware containers filled with meat and potato's and sides and cake and everything you could dream of. So that night we had Thanksgiving after all.
This upcoming weekend will be our Christmas conference. I'm very excited. They've asked me to do another musical number I wonder how many times its going to take them that I'm really just a one trick pony. Also I'll get mail! so that's something to look forward to. It's been about 6 weeks.
I'm really enjoying my area and this work. I love to see the growth of these wonderful people as they make righteous changes in their lives. Familys growing closer together young boys becoming men, girls becoming valiante daughters of God. It's all possible through the all encompassing Gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm especially excited to be entering into this Christmas season. It really is the most wonderful time of the year.
Love,
Elder Brazee

November 14, 2011

It was another really good week. I realize I havn't said much about my companion, his name is Elder Diseko he's from Jo-burg. He's a great guy and great companion we really get along great together. We'll hopefully have about three more months together but you never know. I think the most interesting thing I can say about this week was that I ate chicken feet! yes ma'am I did. And they were actully really good. Ill send you pictures when I can. Things are going well, I'm happy and healthy and excited for the holidays. I can't believe how fast time is moving. I love you all and I love this work.
Sorry This is a short one.
Happy Birthday Sue and Grandma Barbara,

Elder Brazee

November 7, 2011

Hello Everyone!


Its been a nice week, me and my companion Elder Diseko are really getting along and I love the other missionaries I'm boarding with. We got kicked out of our building where we were meeting for church. Hopefully just temporarally, but it's cause a bit of stress. We were able to rent a school room at a Primary school near where we were meeting before. It's small but it will do, I like it because we all have to sit closer together and you get that real good family feel. Nothing can stop the work from progressing. Yesterday Karabello the little girl who was baptized last week, asked me to confirm her. It was my first chance to perform that ordinance and I was so honored that she had asked me to do it. It was a great experience for me. After church we made lunch for one of the families we're teaching to give the Mme a break. I made a chicken casserole to give 'em some good ol' American home cooking. It actually turned out really nice, of course I knew it would... That's right ladies, I can make casserole. Please one at a time, no pushing.
In other news my companion Elder Diseko has never seen skittles before and LOVED them so he has requested you send him a bag of his own. Also Mom, I got your Christmas package this week by some sort of mail miracle, I'm doing my best not to open it.
Things are going really well I feel good, I'm doing my best to live each day to the fullest, you only get so long until your todays become yesterdays. By dialing in on the moment and not worrying about the future I've really been able to lift my spirits high. The Lord has helped me, there's no doubt about that.
I love being a missionary, I love this work, this country and these people. I know this church is true, and it mattereth not if those words are coming from an 8 year old or the prophet. It is the same.

Love,
Elder Brazee