July 9, 2012

Dear Family,

Well I got a very suprising call last night. President has called me to be a Zone Leader in the Umlazi Zone. I was shocked. I've only been in the Bluff for one transfer and I am already leaving! It's quite sad, I was really enjoying it here, but I understand that the Lord has called me another way. It should be a good expriance and Umlazi is the Zone that I started in so it's kind of nice to go full circle. Hopfully I'll get the chance to go back to Margate my first area.

I attatched some pictures one is of me protecting the city of Durban (to my delight I've been told I look like Superman at least 7 times in the last 6 weeks by the way, by people I know and complete strangers, must be a gift from God to keep my head up) and the other is of the back of a guitar that I fixed and painted for one of our recent converts. I also attatched a recording of one of the musical numbers I did for a baptism we had Sunday. As well as a musical number I did for Zone conference a little bit ago.

I'm doing well, mission is great. I love you all,

Elder Scott Brazee

Things I've Thought About

What does it mean to conform? What is a non-conformist?  Is one evil and the other rightous? which one is which? I submit to you this: We must not conform for conformities sake, and we must not be rude for non-conformities sake. You can not tell a non conformist by the way he looks. Wearing a certian style, speaking a certain way, or altogether not doing things the way popular opinion says they should be done does not make you a non-conformist. Conformity is something that happens within. It all has to do with the why, and not the what. Why do you do the things you do? What is the reason? Is their a reason?

The true non conformist is driven by his soul,not his style. She is driven by the cosmic, not the cosmetic. Trial and error is unnessicary in life. There isn't time to waste, you will never find truth in the company of liars, so why go looking for it there.

 

There is such thing as wrong and right, if you listen to yourself. Really listen deep down in your heart you will hear your spirit whispering, what is it saying? It is saying go this way or that, it's saying there's more there's more there's more. 

 

Truth is truth how many times must we say it. For there to be a wrong there must be a right for there to be a right there must be a wrong. They both exisit and you can choose either one if you wish.

 

There are two ways to live without regrets, one is to not regret regretable things, and the other is to not do things you would regret. One is foolish the other impossible, so wiser is to just learn and remember.

 

Sorry Family I know this sounds like rubbish.

 

The church is true you can know for yourself if you'd like to know. Three simple steps, read, ponder, pray.

 

I love you all so much

Elder Scott Brazee

June 25, 2012

What can I say, it was a tough week. And yet the world just keeps on turning. One thing I can say for sure is that I know this church is true.
I was asked to speak in Church yesterday, they didn't give me a topic they just asked me to speak about how I feel about the gospel. I decided to talk about how I lost my faith and gained it back in the few years before my mission, I revolved it around three scriptures in the Book of Mormon that saved my life. 2 Nephi 2:27, Mosiah 4:29 and 1 Nephi 11:17. It was a difficult thing for me to speak about because it was something I've held very personal and kept mostly to myself. A couple of people in the congregation came to me afterwords and asked it I would repeat the same things to their sons. If I actually get the chance, nothing would make me happier.
I love you all and hope your doing well.
With all my lovin'
Elder Scott Milton Brazee

P.S. someone give Sarah Croxford a high five for me

June 11, 2012

Hello again,

 

Yeah my new area is nice. It's a lot different than my older ones, its more like a suburb, remind's me a lot of Southern California actually, maybe just a little bit less orginized. English is no longer a problem which is nice.

 

On Sunday we did a musical number with me and my companion as well as two members of the branch singing and an investigator of ours named Fabian on the piano. It went over REALLY well I wish you guys could have heard it. We did a medley of "Nearer My God to Thee" and "How Great Though Art" Fabian is a professional musician so he made us sound great. Not to boast of myself but I mean honestly I was impressed the way it turned out.

 

Otherwise things are going well, It's starting to get pretty cold again. This suppossed to be the coldest winter in a while. This week defenetly has given me that impression. The sun is shining now though so we will see.

 

I hope for wonderful weeks for you all,

-Elder Scott Brazee

Secret Handshake

Here's a super awesome secret handshake hope you can see it

June 4, 2012

Dear Family,

I've been transferred to the Bluff, My new companion is Elder Tamilau (I hope I'm spelling that correctly) He's a great guy from Australia. We're getting along great. He likes music and drawing so right away we had something in common. I'm blessed to be in this area at this time. It's an area that many missionaries have dreaded because the work is known for being very tough. The few companionship's before me though, have been working hard to turn it around and now the area is on fire. I can tell the Lord's hand is pushing the work along and softening the hearts of these people. We have a ward AND a chapel, both are a first for me on my mission. 

The Church is in fact true.  I love you guys all so much,
Elder Brazee

May 29, 2012

Dear everyone,

Well I'm being transfered. today is my last day in Molweni, I'm now moving on to be the district leader in Bluff. I'm being replaced by an Elder Adams. He's a great Elder who was in my MTC group. I think elder Sele will like him a lot. I'm not really sure who my new companion will be but I'll let you know next week.

Things have been going well, It's crazy how fast time has gone/is going. i'm excited for my new area with it's new challenges and new blessings.

Sorry this is a short one, I'll try and send some pictures next time

I love you all,

Elder Brazee

 

 

May 22: I kissed a dolphin

Dear Family,

It was great to see you all last week! Life is just moving on isn't it. I had a pretty good week this week. Today we went to a sea world type place for an activity and I got to kiss a dolphin! I'll send you pictures.

Other than that things are going well. We are working hard, yesterday I felt more like a paramedic than a missionary, we were "on call" all day from one issue to the next. Its hard when your thrown into a problem that you have no idea how to resolve and everyone is looking to you to resolve it. That's were prayer comes in. This is most likely my last week in this area, then it's on to somewhere new. I'm going to miss it in Molweni a lot. The people have been great.

This work and gospel re so rewarding, it hasn't gotten any easier,but my perspectives have gotten wider.

I love you all,
Elder Scott Milton Brazee

May 7, 2012

What a week,

Lots of ups and downs. My birthday was okay, just another day really. It was Zone conference that day.Elder Evans was great, really very inspiring. Taught us a lot. He made the big announcement that we are shifting are focus a bit as far a missionary work is concerned. Less knocking on doors, more rescuing.

I had quite a jarring experience last night. For privacy's sake wont go into detail. I can just say this: Beyond my convictions as a latter-day saint I will never touch alcohol simply because of the way I've witnessed now first hand the way it's tearing apart peoples lives. Men, women, children, it doesn't matter it has no mercy. Maybe its going overboard, maybe, but drinking alcohol for fun seems to me like using napalm to weed you garden. It's no joke, this stuff really ruins lives.

  The formula is simple, obey the commandments and be blessed, disobey and be punished. Even when you are obeying it doesn't make life easier, but it does make it easier to handle. and you avoid many unnecessary complication, of THAT I testify.

Thank you all for the birthday wishes I appreciate it.

Love,
Elder Scott Brazee

Here are some pictures, a couple of my off the hook 23rd birthday party. One of the biggest Demon-Moth I've ever seen. one of my best friend Bunu on the top of our car in traditional Zulu gear and one of me doing some man work

May 7, 2012

What a week,

Lots of ups and downs. My birthday was okay, just another day really. It was Zone conference that day.Elder Evans was great, really very inspiring. Taught us a lot. He made the big announcement that we are shifting are focus a bit as far a missionary work is concerned. Less knocking on doors, more rescuing.

I had quite a jarring experience last night. For privacy's sake wont go into detail. I can just say this: Beyond my convictions as a latter-day saint I will never touch alcohol simply because of the way I've witnessed now first hand the way it's tearing apart peoples lives. Men, women, children, it doesn't matter it has no mercy. Maybe its going overboard, maybe, but drinking alcohol for fun seems to me like using napalm to weed you garden. It's no joke, this stuff really ruins lives.

  The formula is simple, obey the commandments and be blessed, disobey and be punished. Even when you are obeying it doesn't make life easier, but it does make it easier to handle. and you avoid many unnecessary complication, of THAT I testify.

Thank you all for the birthday wishes I appreciate it.

Love,
Elder Scott Brazee

April 30: Shirt Design

I thought you guys might like this, this is the shirt I designed for our district.

April 23, 2012

Hey Everyone,

It was a hectic week, but it ended well. Yesterday was the baptism of Nonhlanhla, Asanda, and Nobuhle Mokoena. I was given the opportunity to baptize Nobuhle. I was going to send pictures but it doesn't seem to be working. maybe next time I guess. It was a wonderful service, Sister Nonhlanhla bore her testimony at the end, it was very nice. She thanked God for leading us to her, and told us how she always thinks its funny when we ask her if she has any questions, she never does because, as she says it, the Book of Mormon is so clear. Her only choice is whether or not to say yes to God. It's so wonderful to be apart of a true conversion. There are a lot of reasons people get baptized, in this church and any other. Only one reason however is correct, and Nonhlanhla was doing it for the right reasons. She was truly converted. 

We were talking a lot this week in our meetings and even our lessons about service. More especially WHY we perform acts of service. It reminded me of a lunch that I had a few months ago with a missionary couple from another church. they were VERY very nice, and even payed for our meal. It was interesting though, as me and the husband were speaking, he was telling me about a strategy  he uses to get people to listen to him called "Touch and teach". It consists of first helping someone or "touching" them in some way. Then after that they will listen to what you have to say. It's not like I'm unfamiliar with that approach or am condemning this missionary, but really is getting someone to listen to you the reason you should help them. I really don't think so. If you've had a chance to study human development you might be aware of this certain principal concerning maturity. I'm not sure if it has a proper name but basically it speaks about what motivates us to do something as we move through maturity.  As a child we do something for fear of being punished, i.e. "If you don't rake the lawn, no T.V. for a week." or "If you don't do your homework you'll get a smack on the hand" then as we move in to adolescents we are much more likely to do something if we will receive a reward at the end. i.e. "If you wash the car you can use it for the night." or "If you get a part time job, you'll have money" THEN as we we move into maturity we hopefully also achieve the highest motive for doing something: Because it should be done. He help someone because they need help, and that's all.  It seems like most of us don't fully leave the adolescent stage. The principal should be the same when applied to missionary work. My role is to a servant of Christ, and as such, do I pass someone by because they probably wouldn't end up listening to the gospel? Never. Do I help someone simply because they'll invite me in afterwards? nope. There is a better reason, because it should be done, and because the Savior has asked me to to do it. Again it reminds me of something said in the priesthood session, I'm not sure who said it but he was speaking about how someone once asked how we in the church get so many to sacrifice their time and talents, some even for years, with no pay? his response "We ask them."

I love you all, and miss some of you,

Elder Scott Milton Brazee

April 16, 2012

Hey family,

It's been a great week, conference was this weekend. I didn't get to see all of it which was a bummer but what I did see was great. One of my favorite things said was In Elder Nelson's talk when he talked about him and his wife viewing a tropical fish tank. Elder Nelson asked a young lady near the tank who fed these fish. "I do" she replied. "Have they ever thanked you?" asked Elder Nelson. "Not yet." she answered. My mind was also caught up in thinking about those I know, myself included, swim through life ungrateful to the point of oblivion.

Thing with my companion are going well. 

Transfers just happened no changes for us but big changes for our District. Out of the three companionships Two are training and the other only just finished the training program this week. And our new district leader is going to be Elder Maclean, which I was very excited about, he's an Elder from england that I got close to up in Lesotho Zone. 

Attached are some photo's of the youth in the unit, Young Ambassadors from BYU are coming to do a concert in Durban and the youth are doing some fundraising so they can pay for the tickets and transport. 

Hope all is well,

Elder Scott Milton Brazee

 

 

April 9: We are divinely created love machines"

Hello Family and Friends,

HAPPY EASTER, I know I'm a day late...or am I? What time is it their again? Well we had a great Easter Weekend, Easter is big here, not like it is in the sates with chocolate, and eggs and bunnies, but the religious part of it is a big deal especially in the townships. 

Yesterday we had a stake speaker come to our unit. . His name was Patriarch Courtney and he was one of the most animated speakers I have ever seen. Imagine Micheal Cane (especially the accent) with a little longer hair and a little more bounce. He spoke about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, what it is, and how we can apply it in our lives. My favorite thing he said was "We are divinely created Love Machines" He must of surprised himself by saying so because he started laughing and repeated it. It was in the context of discussing the two greatest commandments the first being Love thy God and the second being Love thy Neighbor. Simply smiling at someone as we pass them on the street is a way of applying the atonement in our lives. It really was a great talk.

I attached a picture of a bunch of Easter egg cookies I made and designed for everyone at church. 

The work is going well, we're starting to teach a lot of people english through a curriculum provided by the church I'm enjoying doing that very much.

Hope you have a wonderful week,

Elder Brazee