Happy New Year!

I loved talking to you this past week. It was weird hearing all your voices but it is all good I really enjoyed it. We really didn't have heaps to talk about because I have only been out about two months. I loved it though and glad to hear all is well. I love you all so much!

This week has been so slow! Nothing has happened. We visited both Brenden and Judy but nothing much has happened. Everyone is busy this time of year so there has been a lot of tracting and a lot of I am busy. But what can you expect it is Christmas. I would do the same if Jehovah Witnesses came to my door the week of Christmas.

So this week we had to deep clean our flat! So Christmas Eve was designated as a non prosyeliting day so we deep cleaned our flat. Man did it need it! IT WAS DISGUSTING! But we are good now I could literally feel the spirit be come stronger as things were organized and cleaned. It was a good feeling.

Christmas (or Chrissy as they say here) was way nice! We actually were able to sleep in! But of course we had breakfat at a member's and it started at eight but we had a whole hour to sleep in. It was nice! The rest of the day we just hung out. I wrote heaps of letters so to those who wrote me within the past month expect something coming your way. I will also start letting you know when I have recieved your letters. But Christmas day was the closest to a day off we have, and it was nice I won't lie.

The day after Christmas, Boxing day here and it is funny because no Aussies know the reason why they celebrate Boxing day, beats me, was also a cleaning day so guess what, we cleaned. So our flat is beautiful! i also called home this day it was nice to talk to my family. Man I love them!

So nothing really else is going on just waiting for the Holidays to be over!

I had one interesting experience, The other day I was sitting on a Moari's porch and we were talking about how some Moaris want to start a Moari Ward, He said it was stupid because it is not about the culture, it is about the gospel. That hit me for some reason and I thought about it a little. It is not about Culture it is about the Gospel. When I wake up each morning I don't look outside and see an Aboriginal playing a digerido or go to my window and have a kangaroo stick its head in and I pet it. No, when I wake up each morning I think how am I going to help Bob stop smoking or how am I going to help Lucy recognize the Holy Ghost. It doesn't matter where you are called because wherever it is the people are lost! They need the gospel and your job is to be a rescuer! That was just something that was on on my mind.

Aaron, Dallin, Nathan Zuniga! I love you guys! I am excited for you that you get to start your incredible adventure. If you don't mind I would like to give you and all those who are about to go some things that I wish I knew before I came out:

1. Know Preach My Gospel! Don't worry about what it will be like. You will only be able to understand what a mission will be like by experiencing it. So don't worry about that stuff, study Preach My Gospel. Not just the lessons but the whole thing.

2.Be diligent! Never stop working. When you are tired and you don't really want to do it anymore... keep doing it. Diligence means so much more to me then it did before I came out.

3. Be the Elder that you want to be now! You will mess up sometimes, live with it. There have been so many times when I have messed up a door approach or made a fool of myself, but I learned valuable lessons from each door, each person that I talk to. Pretty much talk to everyone and don't worry about making a fool of yourself! You won't just magically become an amazing missionary you have do it line upon line!

4. Be you! I have had a hard time with this. Just recently I have been able to relax and be myself and I have found that to be so much more effective. Be you, people are praying for you, not just the missionaries, you!

All of you who have your mission calls I pray for you all the time and I know you will do amazing, probably much better then I have done. We will shake hell.

I love you all Thanks for your support and prayers.
Remember Who You Are!

Elder Landon Raphael Brough

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

I loved your E-mail this week and I am so excited to talk to you on your Christmas, I will be calling at 10:30-12:00 my time so I hope you can figure out what time that is for you, sorry about the big window, Elder Vernon won't give me a straight answer… weird I know. I love Sister Brinkerhoff when I got that article I bawled my eyes out. I am such a dork! I just love her. Jordan, Ben Walters is the man he is in the Elders quorum Presidency and his wife is so cool! His wife just had a baby this past week. Dalton Caleb…. I love you what need I say more! Mom and Dad thanks for giving birth to me! I am so thankful for this opportunity to be here at this exact moment! Oh man the church is true! I am so jealous that you played Frisbee man I wish I could play a game. Surprisingly I am exercising pretty regularly. Elder Vernon and I go jogging a few times a week and I am working on my pex and abs… I have a long way to go and the meat pies don’t help. For real I am stoked to talk to you in a few days!

Now to the questions:
1. Alma 26:16. It is the same way I feel. (we asked him what scripture he wanted on his missionary plaque at the church)
2. Yep Watkins road is the one it is on. That was the first street I tracted. (we got on Meetinghouse Locater to find his church building, then googled it on satellite and checked it out)
3. One Ward. Winston Hills
4. I will be calling you so no worries we have one of those minute calling card things
5. Pavlova is delicious we had it at the zone conference.
6. The toilets are in their own room and in our case in the laundry room. And you can't really tell that the water spins the other way.

My Questions:
Were you able to watch the videos on the cd there were quite a few?

And I need Grandpa Brough's dad's name. There is a senior couple who has the last name Brough and they work in the family history center and they want to figure out how we are related.

Man! I love you guys!

It was a good week a very very very good week!

Building the Kingdom:
Te Atawhai and Te Raumiria entered the waters of baptism this past Saturday and it was so sweet! When we first got there the chapel was dirty the programs had heaps of spelling errors and we didn’t start on time so at first I was stressed about making it good and run smoothly. It all worked out the spirit was so strong and to see how excited they were to do it was incredible! After the service they had refreshments and their dad ( A less active member) stood up and thanked everyone in Maori of course and in the culture after you thank someone you then sing a song which was way cool because all the Maoris that were there joined in. It was an incredible day!

Judy Chang: We visited her with Brother Egan, the ward mission leader, and explained to her that she doesn’t need to understand everything to have a testimony. And Brother Egan being a convert himself really emphasised that. So hopefully she will continue praying and reading and attending church.

Brenden Burke: He is a manager at Pizza Hut ( pizza here has nothing on America's) He is way cool and attended church this week. We taught him this week and emphasised prayer and how important it is to receive a witness for yourself. We don’t want him to be baptized just because his girlfriend wants him to.

My Week:
We had Christmas Zone Conference this past week, it was so much fun. We started off with a Temple Session which was amazing and it was so cool to see a room full of missionaries. The temple president had a question and answer thing and that was way cool. After that we met at a near by chapel and had a feed and a talent show which consisted of the sisters singing songs. Then the winner of the Biggest Loser Australia, Bob Herdsman came and spoke to us. He is a member from Perth and he weighed 347 and he lost 52 percent of his body weight. He taught us to have courage to change. It was way cool. We then watched Forever Strong, which was kind of embarrassing because here we have all these Australian and New Zealanders who all play Footy (Rugby) and they watch a movie about Americans playing Rugby. They all had a good laugh about it. After the movie president asked the Maoris to do the Haka. It was sweet as! It is so much cooler when you have real islanders do it then a bunch of white football players who really don’t know the meaning of it. Man it was so cool! They then had a Christmas devotional and then we received our Christmas packages. ( Mom I received both). It was a good day.

Oh, I spoke this week that was kind of intimidating. I spoke on the birth of Christ. I felt it went real good and made them laugh a few time and the spirit was there. So what more can you ask for.

So this weekend they had Carols by Candlelight at the temple. They put lights on the temple grounds and have a concert. First off the Sydney Temple is beautiful, there is no doubt there but it has got nothing on the Temple lights in AZ. Man I love the Mesa Temple. It was way cool to see so many members show up and bring friends and what not. But of course I got stuck directing traffic. Lucky me! But I could hear it in the distance!

Interesting about Australia:
• 21 is the big birthday and when you turn 21 you get a big key… beats me I don’t understand it but everyone does. I guess it is the key that opens the door to adulthood?
• Sweet “AS”. When you want to say something is the best of the best you say as. Sweet as, funny as, cool as. One missionary said something was big as the other day. I had to double take.

Sorry this one is shorter I am crunched on time. I love you all so much and thank you who wrote me. I just want to let you all know I only have three hours for preparation day during December so I barely have time to buy groceries and write home so once December is over expect a letter. I love you and feel your prayers everyday. The church is true and I see it bless so many people from so many different backgrounds. Jesus is everyones' savior.

Elder Brough

I Love You

I love you so much and I hope everything is going well. I hope Caleb's face gets better! (Referring to a basketball injury)

Now to the Questions:
1. The temple was way cool, it is a really small one. But in the Celestial Room there was this older Polynesian lady who shook every missionaries hand and was crying and it really touched my heart.
2. That 100 dollars was for some things for my bikes like lights and a little carrier thing for my bag.
3. Christams call as far as I know will be for 60-80 minutes. And we will be calling you on your Christmas day.
4. I do not know if Elder Perry is here yet.
5. I don’t know my actual address. Sorry mom.

So I really do love you and I am looking forward to my Christmas call! I have some questions for you. What is up with Kyle and is Mitch in Mexico?

Thanks for your support! I can really feel your prayers for me while I am here! I love my mission and I know Jesus is the Christ. While I have been out here I have truly realized how real the gospel is I just love it!

It was a very very good week, of course we had challenges and opposition but overall it was an incredible week! Man I love being on a mission!

Building the Kingdom of God:
Te Atawhai and Teraumiria Lake: They will be entering the waters of baptism December 19, 2009! This past week we set the date and we are on our way! This was the highlight of the week for sure and I am excited to see my first baptism.

Judy Chang: I love Judy she is so sweet and feeds us every time we go over. This past week we taught her about the Atonement. She is having a hard time understanding why it had to happen and how it works. So we did our best to help her understand, but she was not getting it so we just promised her if she would pray that she would be able to understand. She was very excited to hear that. After the lesson she had us edit her essay for uni ( She is learning English right now). I laughed at the fact that she wanted me to edit it. Only if she knew how well I did in English.

Brendan: He is a new investigator. He is a member referral and his girlfriend is in the ward. So we started teaching him this week. We taught the Restoration and did a chapel tour. It went really well, not because of us but because of his girlfriend. We as missionaries would bear testimony and he would be like cool that sounds good but then we would ask his girlfriend to bear her testimony and she would start crying and he would get misty eyed and after he would do anything we would challenge him to do. Member referrals are amazing!

As of right now these are the most promising investigators, Elder Vernon and I are working hard we tract heaps and talk to everyone. And it is not like we see tons of success from it but Elder Vernon said Tracting is Miracle insurance, I thought that was funny.

My Week:
So this past week both Elder Vernon and I have been under the weather. I have had a cold and he has had Asthma problems, Elder Vernon actually developed asthma while he was out here. So it has been tough to keep working but we have been doing the best we can. The other day we were going to do service for a single lady in the ward so I wanted to take some cough medicine before we left so I did. It ended up being night cough medicine so started getting real tired, which was not good because I was using a wippa snippa (weed wacker). That is not a good combo, a tired sick man using a dangerous piece of machinery! I am such a dork, but the Lord was watching over us and nothing bad happened.

So I had another exchange this week. It was with Elder Cai, he is from Northern China, somewhere near Russia, he doesn’t speak the best English so I was worried how the exchange would go but everything went great and I had a blast. I learned heaps of phrases in Mandarin like hello how are you, I belive in Christ, My name is Elder Brough and my favourite, Can I have Orange Chicken and Chow Mein. I needed that one so when I get back to the states and go to Panda again I can impress all the workers and maybe get a discount. You never know. Also with Elder Cai we tracted tons. We knocked on this crazy man's door. So we did our approach and he said I believe in Christ and we were like great that’s good we love teaching about him. He then said yeah Satan’s angels used to come to me at night and they would tie me down and beat me and sometimes even Satan would beat me. It was horrible and then I would wake up bleeding. Elder Cai and I looked at each other and then in a think Chinese accent Elder Cai said would you like a restoration pamphlet. He declined but it was way weird. I love how you run into so many interesting people! I love being on a mission.

So while I have been out here I have learned so much about myself. I love it and hope to learn more, but this week something really stuck out to me. I was sitting there just about to go to bed when a thought came to me, Why is this so hard! Will I ever become the missionary I thought I would be. Right then it hit me,I am becoming that missionary. One of things that I have wanted to do on my mission was develop my relationship with Christ, and I have! While on your mission at times you won't know who to turn too or where to go for help. And over the past two months I have realized to a whole new level that God is always there and I have found my relationship with him has strengthened so much! It is truly incredible! I love my mission and I know I need to be here, slowly but surly I am becoming that missionary that I have always wanted to be, it will take time but it is coming!

I love Sister Brinkerhoff! The other day I received a letter and inside was an article written by Sister Brinkerhoff on Mormonwomen.org you should check it out! So if you are reading this I love you Sister Brinkerhoff! Thanks for everything you have done!

Thanks to those who wrote me this week, I love your letters and are so grateful for them. They are like little shots of morale booster and they get me way excited to be here and it is awesome to know people out there are thinking about me!. I have not had tons of time to write back but I promise you, if you wrote me or will write me you will receive a letter and a picture!. I just love hearing from you guys!

Random Thoughts:
Those who will be serving missions soon please give your mission office address to my parents because I would love to stay in contact with you.

So I was thinking about it, everyone thinks I am going to come back with an Australian accent but to be honest if I stay here much longer I will have an Indian accent!


Interesting things about Australia:
1. So most bathrooms here don’t have toilets in them, which is weird. So if you have to use the bathroom you have to ask where the toilet is. I find it weird and a little bit disgusting.
2. All Australians think that America is full of people who have guns and just shoot each other. It is quite funny. Only if they knew where I came from, it is not like I am from Compton or the Bronx!

Well I love you all and I hope you enjoyed my weekly update.

Elder landon Brough

Tiger Woods Is On the Naughty List

I love you all so much and miss you heaps! But I only have 22 more months so no worries! I am so proud of Seth! Seth, I love you so much man! You have been in my thoughts and prayers ever since I knew your papers were in. I received your letter the other day and it has made my mission. I read it frequently because it lifts my spirits. Missions are so tough. I am not going to lie, so tough. But when you receive a letter from a dear friend it means the world. Thank you so much Seth!
South Carolina man! That is sick! You are going to rock it there. I got misty eyed when I read your email. You will be starting an amazing adventure and I can not wait to hear all about it. You are going to do so well my friend and a letter will be coming soon.

So to answer questions:
1. No worries, Dad my family is top priority when it comes to emails
2. There are not heaps of differences when it comes to Christmas. I guess there is a song about how Santa's reindeer get tired when they get to Australia and kangaroos pull his sleigh but I have not heard it.
3. Yeah he didn’t find a Book of Mormon in a trash can. He made fun of some of his friends for going to seminary, then one day they invited him and the rest is history
4. Suits are fine
5. The Preparation days are shorter because we have a lot of time off this month so we only have preparation hours.
6. Temple was great I will explain in the email. And it was just my zone.
7. Big W is like Wal Mart and I bought pictures
8. Ben Walters is in my ward, good guy
9. Elder Bybee shares my same desire and wants to work hard and I met him at a district meeting
10. Brother Davis’ email was great and very encouraging!

That’s about it with questions. Man I would give anything to hug you guys! Seriously anything, Elder Vernon really is not the hugging type so I could use a good hug. Jordan, Zach and Dalton thanks for the emails! I loved them.


What a good but tough week! I want to thank those who wrote me! It means the world! It is nice to know yoy are being thought of when everyone rejects you! Haha but thanks and keep them coming, oh and I would love to have pictures of you guys!

Building the Kingdom:
Te Atawhai and Teraumiria Lake: They are from a part member less active family and they are Moari. They are so close to baptism! We are looking at the 12th or 19th of December. We were waiting on permission from their mom and Bishop made a visit with us and we got it so we will probably be seeing them baptized in the coming weeks!

Judy: Judy is a Taiwanesse lady who was dropped last year and we don’t know why. But she is great, she has a huge desire to learn and just loves it. She has a hard time understanding though. She has such a sweet spirit about her and she came to church and loved it!

Victoria Eberhard: We picked her up this week, she is 14 and comes from a less active family. She has been going to mutual for years and is going to EFY (They are holding a special EFY in Canberra, all the youth are super excited for it) So she wants to learn and hopefully we can baptize her soon.

These are the cream of the crop as of right now and we are still searching but it is tough finding people who have the time around Christmas but we are working hard.

Some people I want to tell you about:
Bishop Degaris: Super nice guy! About 30 and has been bishop for about 5 years. He focuses on missionary work so it is way helpful. He loves basketball and had a scholarship to Indiana State but turned it down to go on a mission. Oh what faith!

Brother Egan: He is the ward mission leader and he is incredible! He is Indian and a convert of about 12 years. He has been bishop and just loves the gospel. I would give anything to find someone like him. He is money and he totally magnifies his calling.

We had interviews this week so it was way nice to talk to President and receive counsel. Missions are so so so so hard! Like I honestly can't explain, but I am already reaping rewards and feel the Savior's love so much, I am so excited for the next 22 months! I can really feel how the Lord is pointing out weaknesses and building me into the man the Lord needs me to be. It is so humbling but I just love it! I love President Scruggs and he is amazing! He told me the lord has to grind before he can polish, lets just say the lord has to grind a lot!

So I drove the other day…. Crazy! I was on an exchange with a zone leader, Elder Cooper he is from New Zealand, a way cool guy but he is a “cool” missionary. For those who served mission you will know what I mean. But I have to drive with a zone leader before I can be authorized to drive and man was it intense! When I sat down I tried to grab my seatbelt with my right hand but now it is over my right shoulder and the windshield wipers and signals are on the opposite side so when I wanted to signal and I hit the windshield wipers. It was confusing! I felt like an idiot and Elder Cooper had a good laugh!

The ward had a Christmas party. Wow they decked out the gym! They had heaps of decorations. They also had tons of entertainment. There is a Samoan family who has a band. So pretty much the Samoan Brady Bunch. They were way good. They also had the Jackson Five Perform and they have super good hip hop dancers who invited bishop to freestyle and he ended up doing the worm. Way funny.

Cool stuff about Australia:
• Some people have the door knobs in the center of the door. Beats me I see no benefit to it.
• The letter h is pronounced hach which is confusing and z is pronounced zed. So Zachs name sounds funny when you spell it.

I love you all I hope you have a wonderful December and you are in my prayers. Please keep in contact I miss you all!

Love Elder Landon Brough

Thanksgiving is Good

I love you all so much! I miss you a ton, especially since it is the holiday season! But I know I need to be here! There have been moments where the spirit has told me so. And as much as I would love to be home with family and friends, someone, somewhere is praying for me, not just for the missionaries but praying for me. It is just a matter of finding them, that’s the tough part! But I am searching, no worries! So I ran into someone who knows Jordan, small world. His name is Ben Walters, he served in the Spain Bilbao Mission in 01 but went back to spain for school and lived in San Tan Der (Santander) I guess and he remembers Jordan and how he would receive his emails. I thought that was cool Man I love Australia! Australia is so diverse! You have no idea! I will explain later.

Answers:

1. My Preparation Day ( President Scruggs does not like abbreviations so we have to call it preparation day, district leader and so on and so forth) is on Monday last week was unique because we went to the Temple. Expect the letter on Monday, Your Sunday.
2. My companion is a life long member, oldest of four boys and one girl, has a brother going to Brazil on his mission I forget which one, and he has been out 20 months. We have nothing in common but I love him the same.
3. We meet in the Baulkham Hills Chapel along with two other wards, I forget which ones. And it is super diverse.
4. I have an hour to email you I can receive from immediate family, grandparents and other missionaries.
5. They feed us heaps here so it is good. I had curry the other day that was neat.
6. Received the Thanksgiving package my first day here, sorry I didn’t mention it. They do have peanut butter here and they have raisin bran here as well it is called sultana bran. But I loved the package mom. I made stuffing yesterday. It was easy I don’t know why you women complain about making a thanksgiving dinner! Just kidding I love you mom.


Jordan Zach Dalton and Caleb I love you all and would love to hear from you! I will be sending a package with some souvenirs! You will love it. It might be after Christmas but you will enjoy! So yeah hope that helps I love you all so much!

Keyora! That is hello in Moary (Maori). I love you all and miss you but Australia rocks! It has not been the most progressing week but still it was good. We are pretty much sifting through the wheat and the tares. We had to drop a few more investigators which was sad but hey it happens. We have not dropped Telly or Chloe. Telly will call us he said but we will see. He sounded interested but he wants his wife to be there and she sounds like she is not interested so we will see what happens. We are still waiting on Chloe and her family so right now is a waiting game. Teatawhie and Teremedia are so close to baptism but we are still waiting for the green light from their mom for baptism! Oh man they are so close! That is pretty much all that is going down with the work. We tract heaps and street contact but it is good because I am getting more and more comfortable with it! I love talking to people about the church!

So I hope you all have had a great Thanksgiving! I was very sad to miss it this year but we had a tender mercy this past week. On Monday Elder Vernon and I were about to leave when we received a text message. It was from President Scruggs and he invited us over for a Thanksgiving lunch featuring Pumpkin Pie! Holy Moly it was good. We live really close to the President's house so we were lucky enough to be invited it was amazing and it made my day! Just one of the many tender mercies of the Lord.

So I went on my first exchange this past week. I went to an area called Glennwood and it was with Elder Bybee. He is from Santa Clara, Utah and I love him. I would consider him my best friend on my mission (no worries Seth, Kevin, Mitch and G’s). But I loved the Exchange. He and I were constantly laughing and talking , of course we were still working but I had a blast tracting and getting doors slammed in my face. He made it enjoyable and he works flipping hard. I ran into my first Jehovah Witness with him so that was fun. We were talking and then all of a sudden he took a stab at us, not with a knife but with words, and immediately the spirit left. Bible bashing is no good, even though we would have smashed him, but that is not the point Bible bashing is no good! But overall the exchange went well and I learned a ton. It really fueled my fire to be out here and I just love being here!

So there is this prophesy flying around that all the missionaries and members are talking about. I guess Henry B. Eyring said that in the year 2010 that the church is going to explode, in a good way, in Australia. There are three things that will happen.

1.Missionaries will do priesthood ordinances everyday
2.We will have to schedule appointments weeks and sometimes months in advance
3.And there will be a change in the members hearts where they want to help the missionaries

I don’t know how true it is but I would not mind it happening! Plus I would be here for the bulk of it so that will be cool. Australia could be the next Brazil. Now that would be cool.

Some cool things about Australia:

• It is so diverse! I have met people from every continent a few times over. Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand, China, Korea, France, Germany, India, Sri Lanka, Russia, Estonia, Canada, The States, Sudan, Congo, Iraq, Iran, South Africa, Argentina. Chile, and Colombia just to name a few. It is so cool! I actually taught a Persian the first lesson on a street corner. The ward is also very diverse. In Correlation meeting there was one from India, Micronesia, Australia, Argentina, France, Germany and then the states. It is so awesome!
• Some funny words Heaps- A lot, Tip- Dump, Too Easy- Sounds good, and my favorite Fair dinkum- Legit. That is just to name a few.

Well I love you all and am excited to be here and I cant wait to be able to tell you all my crazy stories in 22.5 months. Haha! God Bless and you are all in my prayers!

Elder Landon Raphael Brough

What We Are Doing is Jesusness!

I love you and miss you. It is tough right now being the missionary because I don’t really know what is going on so sometimes my thoughts turn back to home and I wonder what is going on there but this letter was amazing. Nathan is going to Brazil!!! I will be honest that is the last place I expected him to go same with Kevin I didn’t see California coming but that is awesome and I am excited for both of them and I would give anything to go through the temple with them! So dad prison sounds intense how often will you go there? (He is referring to a prison ministry program that Don participated in with some members of our stake, just in case you thought Don might have served some jail time!) Mom I love you so much and I miss your cooking I am tired of Rasin Bran for breakfast and Peanut butter and jam sandwiches for lunch. But my clothes are not fitting, the good way they are not as snug as they used to be. Jordan and Zach thanks for the emails I will try to write you back but I doubt I will get to it. Dalton and Caleb I love you and read your scriptures!!!!

(The following is him answering the questions we asked):

* I am about a half hour from Sydney. Some times while riding our bikes and we are on a hill I can see downtown Sydney on the horizon it is way cool.
* We have a car but we only can use 1000 kilometres a month
* I am riding my bike which is used but I have not paid for it because I still have to work all the details out with President.
* The ward is great! There is about 150 members and all the other Elders say this is the best missionary ward.
* The medicine was beautiful! (Referring to the Dramamine we sent him for the plane ride)
* The flat is way nice. I took a video tour of it the other day. Zach is going to think we are spoiled. Three bedrooms 2.5 baths, microwave, toaster tea kettle, rice cooker. We have a nice set up. It is just me and Elder Vernon
* The trailer was not tagged anymore. (Referring to a mission trailer they use to transport the missionaries luggage.)
* I can email family and other missionaries
* No sisters in my district but who needs sisters, just kidding I am not a sister hater.
* Don’t remember where E. Brocksby went. (an elder from Phoenix that went into the MTC the same day as Landon)

I love you and please always write your questions like you did in this email.(We have found that the best way to get him to answer all our questions is to list them and bold them.)

So this week was tough, lots of rejection, I really hope my mission is not preparing me for finding a wife and it is preparing me for rejection. We had to drop a ton of investigators, and right now we don’t have a ton but yesterday we prayed like there was no tomorrow and we have a few potential so please pray for us. We visited Telly again, it is funny we saw his face on a real estate sign, he is a realtor and when I saw it it gave me a good laugh! When we saw him he seemed interested but he wants his wife there so we are going to call him this week and see what's up. We also stopped by Chloe’s, we gave her a Book of Mormon Stories and she has read a quarter of it. She also has permission to learn and her mom might be interested. While we were talking to her she said her mom was wondering if we knew if her husband would live again. We both were yeah we do. But we will have to see what happens our next visit because we have not talked to her mom in person yet so pray that the spirit will touch her heart. There are also two girls from a part member family who are about to set a baptismal date. They are Maori, Te Atawhie, pronounced te atafie and Teramedia they will hopefully be baptized by the end of the year.

So we had an intense experience. We were about to start tracting when this guy who we talked to the other day rolls up on a bike. He starts talking to us but we cant understand him because he is mumbling, he then starts getting really mad especially Elder Vernon he is using a very colourful vocabulary and he pushes Elder Vernon a little he then trys to take his badge and Elder Vernon jumps in the car so here I am with a super mad shirtless man he then turns to me and points his finger in my face and says but I like you and he gives me a hug. At this point I realize he is drunk as! So here I am hugging a drunk, shirtless man in the middle of Australia! So to get out of the situation I start agreeing with him and saying Elder Vernon was being stupid and he wasn’t thinking and all this stuff after that he gives me another hug and rolls off on his bike. I thought it was hilarious. Elder Vernon said it will not be my last run in with a drunk because Australia is built on beer.

Also another cool experience I think at least. I street contacted a guy and he was not interested but he really liked what we were doing and used the word Jesusness. I laughed at it at first but it is true in a way what missionaries do is very Jesusness because if Jesus was here he would be doing what we are doing. Because the sick need a physician not the healthy, right? I don’t know, I thought it was cool.

Thank you to those who wrote I received Morgan’s, Meredith’s and Ariel’s letters. You have no Idea what a letter is like for a missionary like a cat and cat nip! It takes a little over a week to get here just so you know. But thanks a million. I will try to write back as soon as I can but the preperation days in December end at one so it will be tough to find time, but don't give up hope I have not forgotten your letter!

Congrats to Nathan Askins and Kevin Jones on your calls! I love you both and I have been thinking about you two this past week. I know you will do well and shake hell.

So some random cool things about Australia.
• There are a million kinds of birds you have pigeons and sparrows but also Kacatos, and parrots and a heap more. They are super noisy and everywhere! I proposed that we play bird bingo while tracting, Elder Vernon just laughed. But thought it was a great idea.
• At 8:00 bats fill the sky, hundreds of them, but it is only for a few minutes. I am talking BATS! Like take a cat and throw wings on it and there you go they are huge!!!
• It is so hot here and humid. But what is weird is that it will be hot and humid one day and then cold the next. It is crazy, almost like a girl and her moods! What a lame joke!

I can also email other missionaries and I am looking for elder Joshua Smith's and Elder Mitch Janda's email addresses so if you have them could you get them to my parents. Thanks a ton.

Well I love you all amiss you a ton. Please send me a line I would love to hear how you are doing!

Elder Landon Brough

Photos:
A funny sign (This is for you, Rake!)
In flat
Attempt to take photo of bats (you can kind of see them)
In flat with Elder Vernon
On bike on Bevan Street (Aly, we'll get you a copy of this)
Walking stick

Oh, I Love the Land Down Under!

What an awesome week! So much has happened it is incredible! I have been humbled over and over and over and over and over and over again and again but it has been an amazing and an incredible learning experience I am so physically and mentally exhausted that it is all running together and when I go to bed it seems like I just blink and I am back at it again but I honestly love it! It makes me a little sad to know I only have 23 more months.

So before I begin I want to clarify whenever I talk about a day remember that I am a whole day ahead of you so when I say Monday it is really Sunday. Also I am going to try and use as much Australian slang as possible because I think it is so garsh darn funny.

So this past Tuesday, your Monday, I left the USA and began my flight to Australia. Man was it long!!! We first flew to Los Angeles from Salt Lake City and then had a two hour layover there. From Los Angeles we made the giant leap over the Pacific. 15 hours!!!! Oh my gooseness! It was so long! The plane was huge too. It was like getting into a building with wings it was huge! Luckily I was blessed and I slept a good part of it but still, me sitting still for 15 hours is tough! But I made it and we, me and six other missionaries, landed in beautiful Sydney! The lady I sat next to was really nice and told me I could sit at the window as we landed. From the plane I saw the Sydney Harbor Bridge and downtown. It was beautiful! So when we landed President Scruggs and Sister Scruggs picked us up! I love my Mission President! He is an amazing guy and super hilarious! So we threw our luggage in trailer and headed to the Sydney Opera House. At this point I had the amazing opportunity to experience driving on the left side of the road! It is so trippy especially when you ride your bike around. I am always nervous when I cross the road now because I don’t know which way the cars are coming! It is frustrating and I am nervous I am going to get killed! But ni am kind of getting the hang of it… kind of I said. I am excited to drive here! They say in about three months I will get to try driving so I guess pray for me! So president Scruggs took us to the Opera House! BEAUTIFUL. I don’t know if I have used that word enough but everything was perfect! The temperature, it was a clear day and it just looked amazing. I got a picture with President and sister Scruggs in front of the Opera House and then they let us look around and I touched it! Yeah I am cool we then took pictures of the Harbor bridge and then went to the Mission Home. When we got to the there they did a bunch of paper work and what not but they did feed us meat pies, pretty much a pot pie but full of meat and deliciousness. A meat pie is to Australia as a hot dog is to America so they are super popular and super good. They also gave us ginger beer! Oh man that was good. They gave us this candy treat called a TimTam which was amazing. After that we took and nap and got cleaned up a bit. The Assistants then took us to go find kangaroos! It was awesome! We ran into, not with the cars, like a herd or flock or whatever you call a bunch of roos. There was like 15 and they were wild. I have some awesome pictures and a few videos. It was so cool! We got like 5 feet away, it was intense. The assistants were kind of immature to be honest, here hell and damn are not considered bad words I guess so the assistants, who were both American, each said their share and some of their driving was a bit intense. I guess they felt they had to show off for the new missionaries or something I don’t know, but besides that the assistants were really nice. After the kangas we went to presidents house and had dinner that consisted of Lamb, Kanga Bangas (Kangaroo sausage) and a salad and potatoes. Kanga Bangas were pretty nasty, not necessarily the flavour but the texture. But I can say I have eaten Kangaroo! We then spent the night at this hotel thing the church bought a while back so people could come to the temple and have a place to stay.

Thursday was amazing We had breakfast at Presidents, nothing crazy this time and then we had a mission orientation which went over the rules and the different areas. So I found out you don’t have to part your hair but I look good with it so I am keeping it! After the Orientation I was assigned my trainer. Elder Vernon from Fort Collins, Colorado. At first I didn’t know what to think. Pretty short, super quiet but I love him to death. He really knows what he is doing and I am excited to work with him. So we then threw my stuff in the car and headed to our flat (apartment). In my first area, Winston Hills. So to start out my mission experience we started with tracting on Watkins road. A little nerve racking but I got the hang of it. We actually got two new investigators. One was a 30 year old man named Telly. It was an amazing experience. He opened up to us completely, hetalked about marriage problems and how his kid might be handicapped and how easy it would be to just leave but he still loves them. It was crazy to m to think I got off a plane 24 hours ago and this grown man is asking me for advice! So humbling. We taught him a part of the restoration and we are going back this week. Hope everything works out! We also went to a door and the family was not interested but as we were walking away an 11 year old girl named Chloe ran out and said I want to learn so we taught her the first lesson and we are praying that her parents will give her permission to learn more because there is nothing like the faith of a child. After that we went and did trade offs with the ward mission leader. Brother Egan! What an awesome man he has been a member for 15 years but he just gets it and helps the missionaries a ton! So went out and visited people in the ward and then went back to the flat and slept which was needed.

So I will finish it up my first week next week and then be detailed love you all! Almost out of time.

Photos:
The plane
In front of Opera House
In front of Sydney Harbor Bridge
Kangaroo Crossing
W/other new missionaries
W/kangaroo
Mission home
Kanga Bangas (Kangaroo Sausages)
Tim Tams (candy)
W/trainer, Elder Vernon

Daylight Savings Time

So first thanks to all who wrote me this week you have no idea how much I enjoy reading your letters so please keep them coming. I love the mission! Loving it more and more each day! My eyes were totally opened about what a mission really is about. A teacher named Brother Campell told me how you need to teach to the investigators needs and it is so true. My district also watched the Miracle of a Mission by Jeffery R. Holland and it was money. It changed my view of a mission completly! So daylight saving times started! Loved it. I got a whole extra hour of sleep that day it was awesome. Arizona should strat that. But it must stink when they go back an hour. Ouch! But this past Sunday was way good. We had Fast Sunday and it was incredible to actually see how everyone is in the same boat where they miss their family but know they need to be here it was awesome. We also had a mission conference and the mission presidency spoke. It was way good I love how every speaker is inspired here and you can always find some thing you can apply! and then the rest of the Sunday Elder Perry and I had meeting after meeting dealing with zone leader things this past Monday we went to the R.C. which is a place where people outside the MTC come and you teach them and Elder Perry and I rocked. Our investigator was emotional and we felt we actually her it was way sweet. On Tuesday President Rasband came and spoke he is in the presidency of the seventy and he rocked house he taught us that we need to be bold! So true. So Elder Perry's visa didnt come in and he got a temporary mission call to the Arizona Tuscon mission. He leaves on Tuesday so I will miss him... . . . Anyway the new district came in the other day and I just happened to receive a package of cookies that same day so if you take a bunch of 19 year old boys and give them cookies you become their friend and I found this to be true! The new district is way nice and they actually listen to me! It is incredible! I am so excited to leave this Monday my flight is at 9:30pm I am so excited. I love the church and am so happy to be here! I love you all and if you are planning on writing me send it to my Australiam address. Remember Who you are.

Elder Brough

Hello

What an awesome week. Only 103 more to go! Oh yeah! Well a lot has happened this week so here it goes. This past Sunday Elder Perry and I were called as Zone Leaders. Great now we have that much more to worry about but it has given us both an opportunity to forget about our problems and worry about the other missionaries. Our responsibilities consist of welcoming new missionaries into our zone and making sure everyone sticks to the rules and curfew has been a tough one for some Elders but we are working on that. So we went to the Referral Center this week and man is that fun. That is where we call people who have ordered a Book of Mormon or Finding Faith in Christ dvd or something like that and when we call them we just see how they liked it and just bear testimony about. I found I am not that good at it, so a little discouraging but you just have to keep pressing dial and I am glad I did. I called a lady who lived in Hawaii she ordered a Bible just for the Bible dictionary because the words in the Book of Mormon are hard to understand so I asked how she liked it but she didn't get so I re-sent it and then she prayed with me over the phone which was funny because she did the whole Hallelujah Hallelujah Amen Amen thing it was way funny and uplifting. I just love the Referral Center now! So mom thank you so much for the package the candy is divine and the cookies helped with putting the district who likes to stay up late to sleep. I told them if you go to bed now i will give you a cookie and wow did they respond it was quiet at 10:20. So if you dont mind keep sending them! So a funny little thing, it snowed,it didnt stick but I thought that was way cool. Elder Perry hates the cold, I love it so he is having a tough time with the weather. Oh and one of my teachers was going over lesson one and he abbreviated all the principles on the board and the last one, pray to know was abbreviated PTK. Oh yeah Long live Pawn Takes King! I am a dork please forgive me.

The Tuesday night devotional was awesome. Elder L.Tom Perry, no relation to Elder Perry, came and spoke. He spoke on 5 things to keep in mind while teaching. WOW! It was awesome and it was an apostle which is way cool! SO wednesday we had new missionaries report and Elder Perry and I had to welcome them and give them a tour. THey are going to Colorado Springs on their mission. I am tryiong to show how much I love them so they will respect me so they wont stay up late. So we will see how that works! But the new district is way awesome!
Today we went to the temple which is something I miss. We went as a district and it was way good the spirit was super strong and it was just awesome. Words can not explain my feelings on it. I love the temple.

We recieved our flight plans we leave here November 9th at 8:25pm and arrive November 11 at 9:25am. Not looking forward to the flight.

So to answer some questions:

I received Aly's Dear Elder, your Dear Elder and Sister Taylor's package and I love the vile. I sent home a thank you note because I couldn't find their address. The missionaries going to Australia in my ditrict are going to my mission. Elder Brooksby is in another district with five elders going to my mission. Food is good and I have gained two pounds, dont get mad Mom.

I love you all I am down to a minute and a half before it kicks me off. I love you all so much. Jesus is the Christ and has restored His church here upon the earth once more!

Love Elder Landon Raphael Brough

Photos:
In front of Provo Temple
W/District in front of temple

I'm Alive and I Don't Need A Witness!

I am alive and well. The MTC is a crazy, exhausting, emotionally mentally and physically exhausting! But I am doing good. Well the first day was crazy literally! They processed us and they told us a million things. My head was swimming! They say the temple may be confusing, well wait till you get to the MTC. Oh man! I am loving it, though. I ran into Elder Williams, Elder Janda and Elder Smith on my first day and it was way nice to see a familiar face! Oh and Mitch's comp is crazy, but he loves him. In my room we have two Elders going to Jacksonville Elder Norton is from Georgia and Elder Gardner is from Idaho. Both are way nice. I have the top bunk which is not cool! My district is way cool. Here it is...

Elder Perkins from Payson Utah going to Canada
Elder Lambert from Holiday Utah going to Canada
Elder Ramsbottom from Yovile England( Sick Accent) going to Canada
Sister Funk (Yeah Funk) From Ohio going to Canada
Sister Cathcart from Texas going to Fiji
Sister Smith from Las Vegas going to Fiji
Elder Jackson from Canada going to Australia
Elder Perry (My Comp)from Laguna Hills California going to Australia

Well there you go, Mom. Who they are, where they are from and where they are going. So about Elder Perry. HAHAHA. Well he is nothing like me at all! He is super quiet, blonde... skinny and has a bowl cut almost. When I first saw him I thought really? But everything is going great between us. We both have an excitment and love for the gospel. It is really awesome. I honestly love him! I tell him in the mornings when we pray and at night when we pray.

So the MTC is intense. Like it says in 1 Nephi where it says I was lead by the spirit not knowing what I should do, or something like that. This scripture has a new meaning for me. And I just follow the spirit. The first day was tough, really really tough. So before we went to bed I was writing in my journal and kind of overwhelmed and kind of having a hard time. So I said a little prayer. Once I said I needed a little help. The spirit whispered. What about a blessing? So I turned to Elder Perry and my two other roomates and asked for a blessing. I asked Elder Perry to give it. It was his first one so he was a little nervous. But he gave one of the most heart felt blessings and I knew everything is going to be alright! I love Elder Perry!

Testimonies are being strengthened constantly!The spirit is helping me learn so much so fast it is truly remarkable! I love the gospel! My teachers are way cool. Brother Warner is From Maryland and served in Ogden and Brother Shelton is from South Jordan and served in Spokane. They really know what they are doing and they can really teach by the spirit. I am almost out of time. I love you all and miss you but know all my heart, might, mind and strength is focused on building the kingdom of God. Please write! I love you all!

Elder Landon Raphael Brough

Photos:
MTC World Map
W/Companion, Elder Perry
W/District
(The next five photos are with other elders from "G" Town)
Elder Chadwin Smith (California San Jose)
Elder Tyler Scott (Chile Concepcion)
Elder Jordan Williams (Brazil Cuiaba)
Elder Braden Tilley (Chile Santiago East)
Elder Mitch Janda (Mexico Puebla)