Monday, December 28, 2015

Week of December 21, 2015

I hope that you all had a great Christmas this week!!  Christmas in the mission field is alot different than being at home! It pretty much just feels like another day. Except for I was able to skype with my Family so that was pretty awesome!! Thanks to everyone who sent me packages and letters!! I really appreciate it! 

This week we taught 17 lessons. Lots of the lessons that we taught were about christmas specifically the true meaning of christmas. When you really think about the true meaning of christmas you realize that it is about so much more than just presents and having fun. 

It has been super cold this week we had a couple of days where the temperature was hanging about -15. On christmas it was pretty nice it was a hefty 10 degrees but compared to -15 thats pretty nice we didn't even have our coats on cause we thought it was "nice" outside.

I hope all is well with everyone!!

Love you all! 

Love,

Elder Brinkerhoff




Monday, December 21, 2015

Week of December 14, 2015

This week was a really good week. We were able to teach 23 lessons this week. So it was a good week. Some of the lessons that we had went really well. When I first came on my mission I was super worried about teaching lessons and knowing what to say. As I have been in more lessons I have gotten a lot better at teaching and knowing what to say to people.

I have a new Companion. His name is Elder Maxfield he is pretty cool and we get along good. We are going to have a good companionship. Especially if we keep teaching as many lessons as we did this week.

This week one of our investigators named Susan commited to us that she was going to quit smoking by the end of this week. That is the only thing that is holding her back from being baptized. We are going to be able to baptize her onJanuary 2nd if she is able to quit smoking this week. We are really hoping that she is going to be able to quit.

Hope you are all having a great week!!
Merry Christmas!!
Love,

Elder Brinkerhoff

Monday, December 7, 2015

Week of December 7, 2015

This week we had a ZTM (zone training meeting) in Minot! Which also means we were able to go get some good food!! We also had transfer calls this week. I will be staying in Stanley for another 6 weeks!! My companion Elder Trejo will be going to Benidji Minnesota. My new companion will be Elder Maxfield he has been out 15 months. 

This week we taught some really good lessons. One day we had 7 lessons it was a super awesome day. The rest of the week we only taught 7 more.  So it was a pretty slow week other than that one day.

This week we climbed up a Pump jack it was a lot bigger than it looked.  When you we got to the top it sure feels like we are way up there.

I hope that you all have a good week!!!

Love and miss you all!

Love, Elder Brinkerhoff




Monday, November 30, 2015

Week of November 30, 2015



This week we had Transfers. My companion Elder Trejo got transferred so on Thursday we went to Minot and he left for Minnesota and I got to spend the day in Minot it was awesome we went to Buffalo Wild Wings for lunch it was super good!! That afternoon my companion Elder Maxfield got here.

We took some pics as a district before Elder Trejo Left. It was a good time.

This week is my first week of taking over the area. We taught 17 lessons so it was a pretty good week. We were pretty busy the first half of the week but kind of slowed down towards the end of the week.

We went to a house this week and they had a huge dog so of course we had to take a picture of that.

Hope you all have a great week!!

I love and miss you all

Love

Elder Brinkerhoff





Monday, November 23, 2015

Week of November 22, 2015



Hey Everyone,

This week was a a pretty good week. It has started to get cold on thanksgiving when we woke up it was -5 degrees. It doesn't really snow here it just rains ice and then blows around all day its pretty miserable honestly. On the plus side when we go out and knock doors when its cold and windy more people let us in we got let in a door to teach a lesson tracting for the first time since I have been here so that was pretty exciting. 

This week Elder Trejo and I set a goal to teach 16 lessons. Going into the last day we had 13 lessons and we have been trying really hard this week to reach our goals. A big focus in the mission has been to set realistic but faith filled goals. They told a funny story There were 2 sisters a few months ago who were driving and they ran out of gas and instead of calling for help they decided to take a water bottle that was in the car and say a prayer over the water that it would turn to gas... They then dumped the water bottle into the gas tank... Long story short they ended up ruining the engine and totaling the car... The faith that these two sisters had was amazing but they were not realistic. They told us that we need to make our goal realistic and not just faith filled but we also need to have faith while we are setting our goals. 
We also spoke in church this week. It went well, We talked about taking the name of Christ upon us. It was a pretty good topic to speak on, the talks went good. 

I hope you are all having a great holiday!! 

I love and miss you all,

Love,


Elder Brinkerhoff

Monday, November 16, 2015

November 16, 2015 Week



So this week was pretty exciting. We had zone conference on Tuesday and that is in Minot so we love to go there. Because that means we get to go to Walmart and FAST FOOD!! Its like Disneyland but better! Anyways the main point of the conference was about being 100% obedient and how we need to be 100% obedient. The way that they explained being obedient, and 100% obedient is they asked us if Laman and Lemule were obedient? And at first you say no. Then they asked if Nephi was obedient and everyone says yes. But if you think about it you realize that Laman and Lemule were obedient... They did everything that their father asked them to do. It was how they went about doing it. They did everything they were asked to do but they complained and did as little as they could to get it done.  So technically they still were obedient. Being 100% obedient is what Nephi did. He did everything he was asked to do and he did it to the best of his abilities and always gave his best effort. We all need to be a little bit more like Nephi.

We also had some fun this week. We got our truck stuck in some mud so that was fun. 










It is getting very cold here we were able to walk across a lake this week. Someone came and got mad at us! Cause I guess that's not safe or something... Like who knew!?






There was a day this week where it was super windy and a huge tree at the golf course blew down so of course we had to go get some pictures by it.

We were at Walmart this week so of course I had to get a new shirt! 


Love and Miss you all

Love,

Elder Brinkerhoff



Monday, November 2, 2015

Week of October 26, 2015


This week was a pretty slow week and we only taught a few lessons. But the lessons that we did teach went really good!  We taught a lesson to Edmund he is the one who is going to be baptized in just a couple weeks. He is really taking in what we teach him and is trying to prepare to be baptized soon its really cool to see him start to understand the things that we are teaching him. Other than that this week we helped someone move for two full days it was nice little bit of change. We also worked at the Holy-Ween party its where a bunch of the local churches get together and have a big Halloween party. It was very different...

It is starting to get cold up here. We have had lots of rain this week and some snow but here the snow doesn't really hit the ground its pretty much just blowing ice around. It makes it very cold.






Monday, October 26, 2015

October 19, 2015

 This week was transfers and so as it was transfers we had to take some district pictures before we all get split up. I will be staying in Stanley for the time being so that is good! I like it here the only bad part is there is no Wal-Mart or McDonald's and that is very inconvenient.  I guess you don't appreciate what you have till its gone...







On a more spiritual side we taught a few really good lessons this week. One of the lessons we taught was to a less active.  He hasn't been to church in a few years but we decided to go and share a little message about faith it went super good and he said that he would come to church this week.  Sure enough he ended up coming this week so it was super awesome!!

Ether 12:27 has been a great scripture for me so far on my mission its crazy how much a scripture can help you to get through trials.

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

Love and Miss you all!!

Love Elder Brinkerhoff

Monday, October 19, 2015

Week of October 12, 2015

This week was a pretty good week.

 We didn't teach to many lessons this week because we had lots of meeting's  in Minot. We spent about 4 whole days there. However the lessons that we did teach this week were pretty awesome! 

The first lesson we taught this week was to a recent convert we weren't really sure what we were going to talk about with her so we just kind of winged it. When we got in the lesson we decided that we were going to watch the "Hope of Gods Light" it is a Mormon message if you haven't seen it before you should watch it.  When we decided to show it she started crying and the spirit was super strong. In the video it talks about how this guy was going to commit suicide but he ends up not doing it. After the video was over she told us that the night before that she was going to commit suicide and if we had not gone over and shared that message when we did she probably would have.  It was super awesome that we had no idea what we were going to talk about, but the spirit led us to the message that she needed most.



Also this week we went golfing so that was awesome! Some of the members let us borrow these super old clubs but it was a great time!



Monday, October 12, 2015

Another good week

So this week was good. It was a pretty slow week we did a lot of knocking on doors we taught 14 lessons this week. Some of the lessons were good. We actually got a 16 year old boy named Edmund on Date to be baptized on the 31st of this month that was the high light of the week!
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So this week we went out to Tioga to do service its about an hour away from our apartment and we had the service like right when we got there so we wore our service clothes out there. When we were done with the service we went to the gas station to change our clothes and I realized I forgot my shoes so I had to wear my red Nikes all day! I have to say my feet were way comfier, maybe I'll have to "accidentally" do it again.








​We were driving down the road and decided to get on these hay bails they are about 6 feet tall!

Love and miss you all!

Love Elder Brinkerhoff

Monday, October 5, 2015

Week 3

This week has been pretty exciting! We taught a few good lessons. We got a referral to go talk to this guy. So we called him up and he said that we could come over when ever so we went to his house shorty after e got off the phone. When we got to this guys house it was clear out in the middle of no where. So we get to this guys "house" its more like a little shack type thing. He had his wife and 2 teens and 1 four year old living there. We sat down and starting talking ot him and he told us that he was a convicted felon and that he was in prison for a few years for violence and stuff. He was a crazy guy. But he does have a very strong testimony  He invited us to come back so we are going to go back there on Tuesday we are going to teach the restoration so hopefully that goes good. It is hard to see people who have lived a hard life and are having a hard time to change it around.

The kids of the polygamist family that I was telling you about can no longer be baptized.  We were starting on the paper work and because of new church policy they can not be baptized until they are 18 and moved out of the house. This was some really hard news because they have really been progressing very good and they were super excited to be baptized but now they cant. 

Conference was good. We watched it at the church and then the Bishop and first counselor took us to lunch after the first session.  

That's about all that went on this week.

Love you!
Love Tyler

Monday, September 28, 2015

Week 2 has been good

We had a lot of lessons planned but almost everyone that we had planned with ended up canceling on us so that wasn't good. We did a lot of knocking on doors.  We didn't have much success there either.  It was a long week but we just keep working on it.  We know that if we work hard we will be able to find the people that we need to teach. 
 Living here is much different than living in the city its super weird not being able to drive to the Walmart and grab what ever I need. The closest Walmart to where I am at is over an Hour away.  We have this little store called Cash Wise its kinda like a bigger gas station. I eat a lot of cereal and pizza hot pockets. Except for dinner we almost always get fed so its been good. Or if we don't have a dinner we go to this place called Fire and Ice some members own it so we get to eat there for free. Its like a food truck they have the best burgers and stuff like that. There is this one called the beast and is 1.5 lbs of meat .5 of bacon and 2 grilled cheese sandwiches as the buns. In total it weighs just over 3 pounds. Lol! I tried to eat it but I only ate about 3/4 of it. It was super good though!

I hope all is going well with everyone! Love you All!


Love,  Tyler

Monday, September 21, 2015

First week in Stanley

All is going good out here in Stanley! The first week was good the members are awesome everyone has been super nice! My comp is way cool, he is from Arizona! He has only been out for 3 months so he hasn't been out the long either! The town is super small only about 2,000 people is what I have heard! My apartment is awesome 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a kitchen that has everything you could think of! The beds are memory foam so that's nice! Yeah we have a 2014 Toyota Tacoma for our car it is awesome! Its actually the only one in the mission! We have been tracking we haven't had much success though! Almost everyone here is Lutheran or catholic but everyone has been nice. Well no one has been mean anyways! 
 This week we got 4 people to commit to baptism and you wanna know what's crazy! its a polygamist family! We taught 6 lessons so far!

The mission Pres. and his Wife are both way cool, and super nice!

Friday, September 18, 2015

I love Technology

We got a text message today from a member in Stanley North Dakota, letting us know that Elder Brinkerhoff had arrived and was doing well. We are so happy that he made it there and is in a great area! Yay!

Sunday, September 6, 2015

MTC Branch President


Tyler, President Hodges, and Cy Wright

These three are all in our ward so fun that they all 
ended up the same Branch at the MTC!

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Elder Brinkerhoff






Tyler's drop off time was 12:30, so after one final wrestling match between Dad and Tyler we were off we went to the Provo Temple and took our pictures, then got back in the car and drove to the MTC! Having served myself many years ago I have to say I love how they have streamlined the whole drop off process it is so smooth and nice. We just followed the Elders directing us where to go parked our car and a helper/volunteer came over to help with his luggage, and after our final hugs and goodbye he was off. It truly is such a bittersweet time I never realized how hard it would be being on the parent side of it just driving away and not seeing him or really talking to him for so long!
We are so excited for the next two years and know Tyler will be an amazing missionary!

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Our Newest Missionary

Tyler is our first Missionary!  Only 3 brothers and one sister to go! 

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Provo Farewell

 I'm sure this will come in handy. Thank you Aunt Priscilla 
Today was another amazing day filled with so many wonderful Family and Friends! Thank you everyone who traveled near and far we were so grateful for the opportunity to visit and share in this exciting new venture for Tyler.

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Herriman "Farewell" today!

Today was Tyler's Farewell in Herriman and it was great! He did an excellent job, we are all so proud of him!

 Next Sunday August 30, 2015 at 9:00 A.M. Will be his Provo Farewell. 

We will have breakfast after at our house following the meeting. 9 more Sleeps!

Friday, August 7, 2015

Tyler's Farewell

Tyler's Mission farewell will be on Sunday August 30, 2015 at 9:00 AM, at our meeting house located at 1122 Grand Avenue Provo, UT . We would love to have you if you are able to make it! We will also be having breakfast right after at our house.

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Tyler's Mission Call

Tyler got his call Friday May 23, 2015.  He left with his brothers and Sister to go to Grams & Papa's house for the weekend. When they got back on Monday the 25th, we all met at his Mom's house in Herriman.

You have been Called to Serve ..........  In the North Dakota Bismark Mission he enters the MTC on September 2, 2015 for 24 months!