The End.

Well, the time has come...

my mission is coming to an end.

It's not something that's horrible really,

just a big change.

Don't get me wrong,

I am going to miss New York a LOT!

I mean I even bought this shirt

just because I am going to miss it so much!

I don't know what I'd do without these two years.

I don't know what I would do without meeting

all of the incredible people that I met!

They have taught me lessons that will bless me

for the rest of my life!

This isn't my quote but I love it, 

"Your call is less about geography and more about the relationships."

-Elder Hamula

It's SO TRUE.

Think about the millions of lessons you have learned 

from those around you.

And if you haven't learned millions of them

then you better start getting to know more people!

I know God will always give us what we need 

to be happy in this life when we follow Him.

I know because I chose to give him these last two years

He has made me happier than I have ever been.

Ever. 

If you are one of the many that made my mission what it is,

THANK YOU!

While I may not be able to keep in touch with all of you in this life,

we'll definitely talk in the afterlife. 

So until then, God Speed!

May you see His hand in your life every day

and make those choices so you can come to know Him,

and His son, your Savior, 

more and more each day.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

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The Universal Valentine

Whether I like it or not my mission is coming to a close.

With just about three and a half weeks left

I've been thinking a lot back on my mission

and am coming to realize what truly has mattered to me.

The People.

From a green meal on my first Monday at the Owen's,

to attending the open house for the now Elder Steven Cordon,

to sharing meals with friends,

to training Elder Van Wagenen.

It has always been the people that have made it so special.

I know that my mission call was less about the geography

and more about the relationships.

It's the moments I spent one-on-one

with those who were in desperate need of Christ's grace.

It's the moments that I saw Christ's grace

work miracles in others lives.

It was the moments when I didn't know if I could continue on

and then His love and mercy were manifest through

an inspired person who knew Him as their savior. 

It's those moments that brought me to know

that Christ is truly our savior.

It was the moment when a man turned his life around

and found himself worthy to be sealed to his now wife.

It was the moment when a man bound by addiction

broke free and thanked his Savior for the power to do so.

When we realize how much we need Him

He shows us how much He loves us.

Whether you have a valentine or not

you know someone loves you.

You have the best valentine anyone could ask for.

Look for it in those you love.

Look for it in those who will reach out to you today.

and most importantly,

Show it to those who may have forgotten this perfect valentine:

that is given to all of us,

personally.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

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My Letter to Santa

Dear Santa,

This is my second Christmas away from home!

It's easier than the first,

but I definitely still miss my family.

As I'm thinking about you and your travels later this month,

I can't help but not want to pack your bag with more gifts.

Make Rudolph's load a little lighter, you know?

This year my letter to you will be the top 10 gifts I've already received

and am very thankful for.

10. My Warm Socks- Winter is a lot more bearable when I can keep my feet warm. I'm sure you feel my pain flying through the skies on Christmas eve right?

9. Music! It invites the spirit like nothing else! Especially the spirit of CHRISTmas.

8. Scarf- The hand crocheted scarf is the perfect length to wrap around my head five times, once again makes winter that much easier! Plus It reminds me of the special elf that made it for me!

7. My iPad- Not only do I get to #sharethegift online but it also let's me save time on p-day and email at the laundromat. :D

6. Chance to serve a mission- Nothing that I've done has changed me for the better as much as this has. I wouldn't trade it for the world!

5. The Scriptures- they have carried me and redirected me when I needed it the most in my life. I don't know where I'd be without them.

4. Friends- Once again, don't know where I would be without those great influences around me.

3. Family- They mean the world to me. Each person has taught me lesson after lesson. I know that no matter what happens I have a group of people I can rely on and know they love me.

2. The Holy Ghost- I know what is true and where I need to go. It's like a compass that guides me and shows me the way. It testifies of God's love for me and for those around me, it allows me to be clean from my mistakes and be sanctified!

1. Jesus Christ- He is the Gift. My whole life revolves around His Atonement and I know that through Him I can return to live with my Heavenly Father again. Because of Him my life has a purpose! I know I can live with my family for eternity.

That is what I'm thankful for!

Oh and Santa?

Would you do us a favor?

Put one of these in everybody's stocking in Western New York,

I'm sure the elves will be able to help you make copies.

Thanks!!! :D

-Elder Bruner

ps. Here's the picture for this year! Thought I forgot about it didn't yah?

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Sing that Tune

Excited to use our Piano playing talents

we walked in to the assisted living room.

Right in the middle of the foyer was an electronic baby grand.

This was our stage.

We carefully removed the cover and set up the music stand,

placing the binder open in front of us we began to warm up.

This rock-around-the-clock sing along session was ours.

Then within seconds our confidence plummeted.

They handed us a microphone.

Not knowing in the least bit how these songs go,

being WAY before our generation,

they wanted us to lead the sing a long with our own voice.

We managed to mumble something into the microphone

as little to no one followed our singing and playing.

At the end of one song someone asked if my companion knew how to sing.

Ouch.

The worst part were the nurses telling us to sing louder in to the microphone

assuming that their lack of hearing us

was simply us not singing loud enough into the microphone.

We managed to laugh at ourselves on the way home,

actually managed to laugh at ourselves the whole way home

and then some more.

We continued to return with the same results!

Finally one day one of the nurses started to lead the singing

and the foyer erupted into song!

At that moment I realized they didn't know

how truly clueless we were on how these songs went.

Otherwise they would have stepped in long before!

I can only imagine how frustrated they could have gotten

that we signed up to do this and we couldn't even sing!

We never understand anyone completely.

We don't completely know the reason why people can or can't do things.

There is only one person who does and that is our Heavenly Father

and THAT is why we should NEVER JUDGE someone's worth or person as a whole.

I have found that those people I'm around that may frustrate me,

my frustration at them quickly leaves as I come to know them more

and come to love them more.

Gladly we are not the ones doing the judging for others on Judgment Day

only our Heavenly Father is.

If we could see everyone's past

every trial

every miracle

every success

and every failure

then we could love those around us completely.

My companion and I were trying our hardest!

And in the end that's all the Lord asks.

Love others equal to the potential they have.

Be understanding to others and treat them like you would want to be treated.

No matter what their struggle,

no matter what their beliefs,

we need to show them Christlike love

whether we feel they are doing "their best" or not.

That love may lead to correction!

The nurse corrected us by showing us the tunes

in which after we could increase our capability to lead the session!

Love others enough to help them return to our Heavenly Father

and begin to realize their true potential!

In the name of Him who through we have potential,

Jesus Christ,

Amen.
 

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One Step at a Time

The young men president over our congregation recently asked us to talk to his youth!

I LOVE these opportunities.

We felt inspired to talk about how, when, and why we decided to serve a mission.

As I was testifying of how I came to have the strength to take that step into my mission

I realized when I took that step, I didn't have the knowledge I could do it for two years.

I honestly didn't know if I would be able to do it.

However I did know the Lord's promises were true.

"I can do all things through Christ." Philippians 4:13

I knew He had a prophet on the earth today and after the revelation of the "age change."

It was manifested to me that now was the time.

The Lord will make it possible to do anything He commands us to.

"For I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men,

save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing

which he commanded them." 1 Nephi 3:7

He had commanded me and I knew he would provide a way.

Walking away from my family, knowing I wouldn't see them for two years,

was the hardest thing I've ever done.

I promised myself I wouldn't look back as I walked through those doors.

Sitting down in a huge congregation of missionaries I felt a definite power.

That night and continuing nights after I received strength for the next day.

Not for the next two years, but for the next day.

That's how God works.

He gives us enough to take one step at a time,

because if He gave us strength for the two years,

I wouldn't have the blessing of being constantly reminded how truly dependent on Him I am.

Jesus Christ is my Savior and yours.

Through His Atonement we can overcome and do anything.

In the name of He who makes all things possible, Jesus Christ, Amen.

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Carbon to Diamonds

I reached a point a week ago,

Where I felt that I've finally figured out how to be happy and content

and to enjoy life with ease and LOVE what I do!

I remember having the distinct thought of,

The next challenge is coming.

Shortly after that another whilrwind hit me

and continues to blow!

Why when I was so happy would God allow the boat of my life to be rocked again?

The Holy Ghost brought to rememberance two things:

1. Christ calms the storms of life. 

The natural man in us relies on Christ less when we feel content.

True happiness comes when we rely on Christ every minute of the day

and treat his gospel as a lifestyle and not just a hospital.

I can testify that we come closer to Christ in the storms of life

than any other time.

It's those sacred moments that we spend pleading for his help and counsel,

and trust that He has suffered all pains and afflictions,

when we feel His divine embrace and love.



2. We go through trials to become who God wants us to be.

 My mom gave me this scripture marker when I was in High School.

It's always been with my Bible.

When we go through the pressures and trials of life,

God gives us experiences so we can grow to be celestial beings.

The key to this whole life is allowing Him to do so.

You have a Heavenly Father that is allowing you to grow and learn.

"Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, …
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand." -How Firm a Foundation

 
He is with us and always aware of us.

Seek his divine guidance and strength

and find calm amidst the storms of life.

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Right Time, Right Place

The Lord is always aware of where we are and what we need.

Driving home from playing ultimate frisbee

we hit traffic and slowly rolled passed an accident.

The accident had happened not too long before.

Passing the man who was directing traffic I hit the gas pedal and went on our way home.

Then a voice comes from the backseat saying that we know those people that were in that accident!

I turned into the next parking lot and flipped around.

We got out and walked over to the car.

They were fine physically but definitely shaken up.

Even though we were in t-shirt and gym shorts we asked if they needed a Priesthood blessing

and gladly gave them one.

Being blessed to be the one voicing the blessing,

I couldn't help but feel a strong feeling that God was very much aware of this person.

Closing the blessing, and making sure there was help coming,

we jumped back into our car and left just as the police arrived.

It was not by chance that we were there at that time.

God works miracles through us.

He has blessed us with the means to work miracles in other's lives.

Your Heavenly Father is aware of you.

He knows your needs, wants, desires, deepest sorrows, and your most joyful moments.

Your Father in Heaven knows you perfectly.

Just like he put us,

four imperfect young adults,

in the path to be his instrument and hands in blessing the lives of those in need,

He will always send someone at the right time, and at the right place.

Never doubt that His hand is in your life,

because through His Son, nothing is impossible to Him in this world.

Seek him out.

Feel His loving embrace pour into the seemingly empty voids of a sorrowful soul,

and amplify the powerful emotions felt in the Joyous soul. 

 

In the name of our Savior and Elder Brother, Jesus the Christ, Amen.

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Look Not Behind Thee

Elder Holland gave a talk at BYU and it was exactly what I needed to hear:

"Try to benefit from a proper view of what has gone before,

I plead with you not to dwell on days now gone, nor to yearn vainly for yesterdays,

however good those yesterdays may have been.

The past is to be learned from but not lived in.

We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes." -Elder Holland

This quote hit me and I realized I had been dwelling on days that are now gone

I would never be able to go back!

But how I wished I could.

I didn't have to forget it and give it up completely,

I could still find the Joy and Love from those memories!

Realizing the Joy I felt, I wouldn't trade those memories for anything!

I was holding on to those memories and not realizing,

that I was missing the ones that were happening right in front of me!

"And when we have learned what we need to learn

and have brought with us the best that we have experienced,

then we look ahead,

we remember that faith is always pointed toward the future." -Elder Holland

The future is incredible.

Look forward to it and find joy!

I can testify that Christ gave us the miracle of being able to be forgiven

not for us to mourn and dwell on the events of the past,

but to look towards the future with hope and faith.

Look FORWARD.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

 

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Feeling the Spirit-Through the Priesthood

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints have the blessing of holding the Priesthood.

What's the Priesthood?

Priesthood: the power and authority that God gives to man to act in all things necessary for the salvation of God’s children.

It is the power that God gives for us, his children, to do all things necessary for salvation.

Jamie (name has been changed) is somebody who hasn't heard of the Priesthood before.

She recently needed help painting her house.

She was blessed to get ahold of four missionaries to come help her.

Coincidence? of course not.

While painting she shared something with us.

She told us that she was starting new treatments soon in hope of improving her health.

The concern was very apparent as we were told what she would be going through.

We relayed to her the fact of the restoration of the priesthood,

the eternal truth of her divinity as a daughter of God,

knowledge of the awareness that Christ has in all of our lives,

and the profound non-coincidental event that brought us into her life right at this time.

Something stirred,

we could see her comforted as the Holy Ghost bore truth of what we taught.

The sister missionaries continued to teach her and we received a call that she wanted a Priesthood blessing.

Excited we hurried over to her house.

As I layed my hands upon her head and spoke the words that I knew Heavenly Father was putting there,

I couldn't help but feel the spirit stir inside of me.

Concluding, "In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen,"

I took a step back and watched as tears streamed from her eyes.

She knew that the priesthood was working miracles in her.

She knew that her Father in Heaven loved her dearly.

She knew that He was reaching out to her once more.

Miracles happen every day.

Our Heavenly Father is a God of miracles.

Just like in time of old he continues to miraculously bless our lives.

He knows you.

and He works in your life daily.

I know this to be true.

Christ truly is your Savior, He is the only way to salvation.

And the only way back to our Heavenly Father's presence to live with Him for eternity.

Seek the  Priesthood in your life and I promise the Spirit will fill you abundantly,

and most importantly,

tell you of the simple truths that make life as Joyous as God meant it to be.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

 

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The Red Square

As missionaries we play basketball all the time.

And when I say all the time,

I mean every free moment that we could possibly play,

we play basketball.

At one point there was a missionary who became frustrated because they couldn't play quite up to what they wanted.

They never seemed to be able to win!

I watched as they practiced shooting the ball over and over again and improving,

but slowly.

Walking up to them I pointed out the red square above the basket.

Relaying how that can be used to aim to make the ball in the basket,

they were surprised and tried using it.

They then made 10+ shots without missing.

A couple of weeks later the missionary was able to beat the rest of the missionaries

and come out on top!

The goal they had set was accomplished!

How many times do we find ourselves frustrated at the lack of improvement?

Do we find ourselves trying time and time again to better ourselves,

but only to find the ball continuing to  miss the basket?

That square behind the hoop is the key to improving and accomplishing our goal.

Heavenly Father has given us this square!

We are blessed to be here on this earth at a time when Prophets of God have been called once again!

Just a recently we were able to hear from the Prophet, Thomas S. Monson,

and from Twelve Apostles of the Lord!

I am here to tell you that the secret to being happy and improving this life,

is listening to the prophets that are on the earth today.

God loves his children and once again speaks through his messengers, just like in Biblical times.

Read their messages

and find the red square and your key to reaching your goals.

I can testify that Christ lives!

Their is a special spirit this time of year as we near the time when He rose from the tomb,

and lived again so that we all can overcome death and come unto Him.

He is the Christ

and the Son of God.

I close in his name, Jesus Christ, Amen.

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The Atonement

The experience of humankind's unity with God, exemplified by Jesus Christ. -Dictionary.com

The word atone means to reconcile, or to restore to harmony. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can be reconciled to our Heavenly Father. -True to the Faith 

Because of the wrong choices we all make

We are no longer in harmony with our Heavenly Father.

However, through Jesus Christ, we can return to Him,

and once again be in Harmony with God.

Ever since I was little I was taught that through Jesus Christ we can have our sins washed away.

I remember a specific time when I was worried about death.

What if I didn't repent of everything I did right before I died?

I sure hoped God told me when I was going to die so I could repent of any sins I forgot of in the five minutes before I passed on to the next life.

Then the next thought hit me,

Never have I had the best memory,

How would I remember every sin I committed?

Kneeling down I asked to be forgiven of every sin that I have forgotten

A warm enveloping feeling covered me and I knew I had been forgiven.

Quickly, I learned that the Atonement forgives all of our shortcomings

As long as we are giving our best to God.

Not only does the Atonement forgive our shortcomings,

the Atonement makes them up.

He doesn't ask for perfection in this life, rather progression towards perfection.

We will never comprehend in this life exactly what the Atonement fully means and exactly how it works.

However we can continue to learn exactly what it means to us in times of sorrow

in times of hardships

and especially in times when feelings of unworthiness sweep over us.

Use our loving Savior's gift in your life.

Find out what the Atonement means to YOU.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

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To be a Hero...

There was an awakening when I got my mission call that I wasn't expecting.

Growing up I wanted to go to a country in Latin America on my mission!




I wanted to be fluent in Spanish and be able to talk with my Dad in Spanish!

When I opened the call and read Rochester, New York.

I was pumped!

I already had been to my mission before on vacation with my family and it had the same weather as Wisconsin.

There wasn't really anything drastically new!

As I pondered more on it I was a bit disappointed that I wasn't going to learn Spanish,

And get the opportunity to see the world from a different culture.

Then I realized I wanted to be just like my Dad was.

+

I wanted to have the experiences that he had on  his mission.

I wanted to speak Spanish like he did.

I wanted to grow up and be just like my Dad.

I realized then, at 18 years old, that I was going to become a different person.

As ridiculous as it seems I realized at that moment that,

I was going to become Me.

Up to that point I tried my hardest to do everything like he did.

Talk to people like he did.

Love people like he did.

But I wasn't going to be able to go to a Spanish speaking mission like he did.

I was going to the best mission in the world, Rochester New York, and make the decision to work my hardest for the Lord!

I'm going to become who the Lord wants me to be!

I still find myself doing things that I remember making fun of my Dad for

and I can't help but smile.

How grateful am I for an example of someone I can truly look up to.

I may not be able to become him, but I can take what I have learned and hope to be as much of a hero for my son as he is for me.

Be a hero.

And always look to the best training to be a hero that has ever been given, the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

Because that is the biggest reason why my dad is the Hero he is to me, the time he has taken to study and implement the teachings of Jesus Christ.

In the name of my Savior and hero, Jesus Christ, Amen. 

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Am I on a Mission?

My last companion,

Elder Willis, always said something that I loved and find myself saying now,

"Are we on our missions?"

It really hit me every time he said it, heck yah I'm on my mission!!

And how epicly cool is that?

No matter how hard the time we were going through at that point I couldn't help but smile.

I was on a mission. Did I really have a reason to be discouraged?

When we fully grasp where we are and who we are, do we really have a reason to be discouraged?

Are we children of God? Does God really have a plan for us? Do we really have loving Heavenly Parents?

YES!

Don't get discouraged and if you do let it be a small moment

Ask yourself, Are you here on earth?

Because you are. ;)

Which means there is a God, and He loves you and I.

Pray to him! Fervently!

He loves you.

Realize where you are and who you are.

And let it change you!

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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'Tis the Season (Christmas Post)

Christmas time!!!

This is my first Christmas away from my family.

As I put up a mini Christmas tree and put up lights I couldn't help but miss putting up the lights with my brother back at home.

Fun story,

We would put up the lights on the edge of the roof that had a big drop off if we were to slip.

Being the natural geniuses we are, we came up with this idea:

The way the house came to a point, the cord/trusting rope would have stopped me because of my brother on the other side (or at least we liked to think it would).

When I think of how much we rely on Christ, he really is our anchor and he has told us and showed us the way to get that extension cord bound to him and us.

We wont always be able to stay at the point of the roof, sometimes we have to walk down the roof towards the edge and trust Christ that that cord will hold.

And he's confident that it will, much more than my Brother and I were.

He has created the extension cord (Atonement) and is our loving  brother to get on the roof with us to be our anchor.

Take hold of the cord and know of a surety that as long as you are doing as he asks, you will always have him anchoring.

You will have him as your foundation!

Christ was born into this world for you and me.

How great of a blessing it is to know this!

This Christmas season, find those miracles in your lives, and share them!

Pray for inspiration

Act on inspiration

Share the miracles that come from acting on inspiration!

He is our rock and salvation!!!!

Have an absolutely wonderful Merry CHRISTmas!! :D

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