Erica's Missionary Adventures

Erica's Missionary Adventures
Merry Christmas from Mesa!

Saturday, February 21, 2015

February 16, 2015

Me and Sister S*****

Me and Smokey looking at each other

Someone said i looked like a Disney princess in the last one,
so I 
had to send it :)
 Dear Mom,

I am so glad Emmy liked the [birthday] videos!! Yay!! Oh a party! Yeah, so pretty much you only made me follow the "no parties till you are 16" rule . . . Whatever, I did not like socializing anyway. [Emily is pretty much not allowed to go to parties either but she has attended activities that involve boys and girls.] That's why I was not a fan of the church dances (and the school dances). I am getting better at socializing though now. I LOVE when we do stuff as a district or a zone, but my heart still skips a beat or two when I find out we are going to do something with TWO zones.... #ihatebiggroups #socialanxiety #introvertprobs

This is my favorite picture ever.... I love my zone.
CLASSIC

My Zone!

I love all of these people. 

They are my favorite.

But seriously, I am getting way better at stepping outside of my comfort zone
Thank you so much mom for helping me with the college applications!! What about the essay parts? Are you going to send me the prompts and have me write those in a few weeks?

Yeah, I'm going to be real, if I don't get into Provo or Hawaii [Erica did not defer her Hawaii schooling so she has to reapply!], I will just go to MHCC for a little while. [I am pretty sure she will get back into BYU Hawaii or even Provo.] I loved it there and I would not mind going back! So its probably better of you don't apply for any other schools... or Idaho. But whatever is fine. :)

Heart attacking!!

Remember that time we did the Sound of Music at the Mt Hood Community College theater? 

Hahahahahaha!!! Im glad you and dad are entertaining Emmy's friends! I've decided that all of my friends who thought you and dad were always hilarious and so much fun at girls camp, are the friends who had the best sense of humor and great personalities. 

The Beard

I decided to scare Sister S***** (she had pranked us the day before) so
i hid in her bed wearing my new red beard. 

The rest ensued.

Whoooo!!! Go Zach!! Will you send me the cast list? [For the High School Musical "Annie Get Your Gun" Cause I know a few of those kids! 

Babies!!! When does Kevin graduate? Do you have Kara's email? I kind of want to write her.... But not about babies. About the wedding and the whole, "you married my brother" thing!!

Coolest Car Ever!

Yeah, we cool!


Wow, Emily is going to have a GREAT summer!!! I don't know the song “I speak 6 languages.” I look forward to hearing her sing it!!

Thank you for your prayers. We had a wonderful baptism and confirmation this weekend :D yayyyyyy!!! And we have two baptisms on March 7!!

Oh, I love that spiritual thought. No, I have not been praying to find a good husband, but I will now!! Someone actually brought up that talk earlier this week two! Inspiration! [I sent her a quote from this excellent conference talk: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/parents-the-prime-gospel-teachers-of-their-children?lang=eng.]

Your second question is a hard one. I'm sorry to say i never had a habit of consistent morning prayer until my mission. It would have made middle school, high school, and college a lot easier. I actually never had a habit of consistent evening prayers either, or or daily scripture reading. But this last month, my testimony of the Book of Mormon and Bible, and the importance of reading scriptures daily, has grown exponentially. When I'm really, truly studying the Book of Mormon every day, I have a desire to "do good continually" and I have "no more disposition to do evil". Reading the Book of Mormon really really does help to combat the powers of hell and it gives us spiritual strength. Its amazing!!

I think as a youth, reading the scriptures always seemed like a chore. Getting up early to read the scriptures as a family was a struggle for me. You know. I fought it for years. But I know that prophets have taught that families should read together and that was the only time it worked for our family. I also know that reading it as a family every day was the only time I was consistently reading it, so I'm grateful that you two always stuck to your guns and made it happen. And most importantly, I know that daily family scripture study was one of the things that helped me to gain a testimony after I had my personal struggles with faith.

Keep telling Emily how much you know it is important to pray and read your scriptures daily [I asked Erica to share her thoughts on parents helping children to strengthen their faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ and in our Heavenly Father]. Bare your testimony of it, every day. It is so important for children to know that their parents never doubt it. Invite her to share her testimony of it. If she is reading and praying daily, she will have one. Inviting her will help her to know you are someone she can share her spiritual moments with. If she isn't reading and praying daily, she will probably get annoyed with your testimony and your invitation. If she does bare her testimony, don't leave it at that. Give her frequent opportunities to bare her testimony. (Family Home Evening, etc.) Also, how often does Emma go to the temple? Does the Portland temple have a time that youth can go do baptisms without having to be with their ward? Going to the temple often is another way we can feel the Spirit and strengthen our faith in God.

Going to the Temple!

We got to go twice in one week!!! :D

And that makes us happy!

Have fun in Madison!! Go to the zoo!! When does Emmy get her braces off?

I love you!

Love,

Sister Brady

Seriously though, I really love this beard.

This beard is my favorite thing. 

And its super comfortable.

The end!



February 9, 2015



The Best $5 I Ever Spent!!

#iambeautiful

#wearebeautiful

Letter to Mom
Dear Mom,

Thank you so much Mom!!!! I really appreciate all that you are doing to help me out.

Yayyyy!!! I am so excited for Natalie [She got the lead in the CHS Musical “Annie Get your Gun]!!!! How awesome!!!! Yes!!! I want to see her in it!! She will just have to sing it for me when I get home. Also, who is the male lead? Emily is going to do so awesome as the little sister!! And she is going to have so much fun in the chorus! The chorus was my favorite!!

Oh My goodness I bet Bishop Wilson is the BEST seminary teacher!! And you sound like a pretty good one  too ;) Haha, actually I've seen you teach, and you are extremely talented. I always get so nervous and I end up saying something stupid. Oh hey, if they are no longer bishop, do you still call them bishop?

When we taught ****** this week he told us he had ordered the Book of Mormons on CD's. His wife started telling us about how convenient it would be.....

Sister *****: "Oh it's so great because you can listen to it in the car, and it can be on your iPhone, and you can listen to it while putting on makeup-" 
Brother ******: "Yeah, I've got a lot of makeup".... hahahah
(She clarified that she was the one who would be putting on makeup)

Emma gets to go to EFY again?!?! How exciting!!!! Is she going to go every year? She is so lucky!!! I love EFY!! She should do AFY!

Willie Wonka! How is the actor playing Willie Wonka doing?

Man, I am so bummed that Emma didn't get any recognition at the drama competition :( I wish I could have heard her sing!! But ya know, Emma, you don't need a high school ribbon to tell you you are a good singer. You were hand picked to sing with Michael Harrison in his concerts this winter. But I toootallllyyy understand how disappointing that can be! I didn't get any recognition at the first competition I went to :( I bet next year you go to state though! Just keep learning about new musicals and trying out new songs. Listen to songs on youtube. You will eventually find a song that will blow the socks off the judges! Are their any songs from Legally Blonde that would be good? Also, make sure that you get the score sheets from McCarty when she gets them. The judges will have written things that you can try putting into your songs! Constructive criticism! Yay :) (will you pass that paragraph on to Emma?)

Yeah, I totally remember riding in that car!!!! I don't really remember Phayne though, but I do remember that car ride!!

I helped some friends paint their new offices this week!! Yay we are both painting twins!!

I love you mom!! Thank you for your emails and your uplifting encouragement!! 

Love,

Sister Brady


A few of my favorite things!
The kid on the right (above) is Stettson
and we have the  same birthday!!!
And 
the puppy (below) is just soooo cute!!!


Relief Society Activity!
We made cookies!


Game night with the missionaries!
We did an obstacle course!!

Letter to family
Dear Family,

******* IS GETTING BAPTIZED!!!!!!!! ON SATURDAY!!!!!! AT 1 O'CLOCK!!!! MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND POUR YOURSELF A GLASS OF ROOT BEER TO CELEBRATE WITH US!!! :D tee hee! Im so excited!!!

But we need extra extra prayers this week because the week leading up to the baptism is always the hardest. So please keep ****** in your prayers!!

This last week I was learning about Real Intent. Have you all read the new CES devotional from last month? It is AMAZING!!! And now I am rethinking everything in my life!! What is my real intent for serving a mission? What is my real intent for reading my scriptures? What is my real intent for becoming an actress?? Real intent!!!

The gospel is true and I love all of you so much!! 

Love,

Sister Brady!

How I look when I drive!

#candid #imsoembarrassed

Getting a back massage.  Haha, jk, they are beating me up. #help

Saturday, February 14, 2015

February 2, 2015


As i walk through the valley with this badge on my chest...
Dear Dad,

Yeah, being a missionary is seriously the best thing that has ever happened to me. I wouldn't trade this time of my life for anything.

I am so happy all the time, and I love the people of Arizona. I look forward to bringing you and mom back here to see everything and meet everyone.

Thank you for your prayers :)

Don't let Emma drive. Stop letting her grow older.

I love you dad!!

Love,
Erica

At Barrows!!

Dear Mom,

Can you send me Elder Eppich's email address? Also, can you ask him what his companions name was? I want to thank them both personally. [For serving missions and bringing me (Shelly) into the church].

Ugh, there is this one elder who keeps trying to keep score during zone sports. I told him no.

Ah!! Nicks birth story is scary!! I'm glad he is okay!!

Yeah, I think I've decided on my career. I want to be a scientist and an astronaut. :)

Wow, your example of scriptural children who used their agency (and your example of even 1/3 of the hosts of heaven) are really incredible. I've never thought about that. That's really sad, but it also shows that even perfect parents, and near perfect parents still have children who have agency!!!

The musical!! I'm so excited!! Send me the results as soon as you know!!  I love the song a ”A Trip to the Library!! Haha that is a great one!! She will do awesome!! I'm so proud of her! Remind her that both Tessa and I didn't get a lead until we were in college. Not to say she couldn't get one in high school ;)

Speaking of Cinderella, are you going to go see the new one coming out? :)

Wow! The house is going to look so different when I get home!! [I am working on a painting inside and outside project.]

I love you mom!! Thank you so much for the uplifting emails!! I love you so much and I am so grateful for you :)

Love,
Erica


PS

1. Can you ask the Hedgpeths if they are related to a Hedgpeth who lives here in Arizona?

2. When is Estela's birthday?

3. Can you please add Sister T**** to my mass email list? And THANK YOU SO MUCH for still writing her. She appreciates it and every time she sees me she always talks about how much she loves your letters.

Recognize this one, Emmy?

Dear Emmy,

I love you so much!! I am so excited for you auditioning!!! I have grown to LOVE auditions. I get so excited for them!! The more you do them, the better you get at them. The best advice I have for
auditions is to learn to love them and don't ever be afraid of them. They are a learning experience. If you keep with that attitude you will learn how to have really good auditions, which are the key to
getting a part that you want.

I know from many, many, many experiences that it hurts like no other to not get the role you want. But remember that half the fun of being in a show is the friends you make.

I love you Emma. I will send more advice next week... If you want it :)

Love,
Sister Brady

Caught again . . . Singing together!! Dont look at the mess on the floor.

Dear family and friends,

The mission had a goal to find 1500 new investigators on the month of January. With faith and the help of the Lord, we found 1631 new investigators. In the month of DEC we found 435. We found 600 alone in the last week of Jan, and we found 137 in the last day of Jan. INCREDIBLE MIRACLES!!!!

Okay, I love the Book of Mormon :)

<3 <3

I am now using my full hour of studies to just read the Book of Mormon. It would almost be unhealthy, except for the fact that it is the word of God and its kind of the most important book on the earth. So, I feel pretty okay about it.

The Book of Mormon is so true, and it contains so many amazing promises. God loves us so much that he has given us prophets throughout all time!! And these prophets love God and so they preach about Christ, His son!!! I LOVE THE BOOK OF MORMON!! And I love all of you :)

I exhort you all to study it's word daily! ;) but seriously. Do it.

Okay, sorry for the short letter. I've got to go. I love you all!! Thanks for the emails and the letters!!

Love,

Sister Brady

Me and my companion!!