Sunday, January 16, 2011

LAX to London to South Africa!

Hey Family, So far this experience has been pretty amazing. There is so much to tell you and so little time. I guess I will start off with my flight...

well after you guy dropped me off at LAX I checked in and went to my gate, and to my surprsie another missionay was sitting there waiting for the same flight as I was, i was so realived because I didn't want to fly all the way to London all by myslef! His name is Elder Brough, and he is from Logan, UT he is a really cool guy...he knows alot about the church and his family is really strong in the church. Our flight to London wasn't too bad, I was able to get some sleep on the way there and me and Elder Brough had a whole row to our selves so we could kinda stretch out, which was really nice. When we got to london about 9.5 hours later we went to a little restauant in the aeroport and got a bite to eat, and kind of got to know each other a bit better, while we were talking another missionary came up to us! his name is Elder Cook, he is a huge Tongan guy from the bay area...he is funny because he keeps speaking with a english accent for some reason. We all flew to South Africa together on the LONGEST flight of my life, literally. We didn't get to sit by each other but it was okay cause I sat near some beautiful creations of our heavenly father! LOL, they were really nice girls, they are Afrikaans so they had almost english accents but spoke Afrikaans, and they were white south africans. It was cool. I only got like 2 hours of sleep or something. When we finally landed it was pretty hot in the aeroport and we went to baggage and got our stuff, well Elder Cook and I did. Elder Brough's luggage was left at LAX. But its okay cause the airline gave him 35 pounds. which is like 75 dollars or something like that. After that was all squared away we met with the other missionaries, most of them from south africa and they are all so nice. I thought we would have nothing in common, and I wouldn't be able to understand them at all..but to my surprise, they are hilarious-- they all like to joke around and their accents aren't too bad. When we got to the MTC we met up with even more missionaries. I met my companions Elder Grow- from Idaho Falls, ID. and Elder Ntimbane. They are both really cool. Elder Ntimbane is from South Africa, and he has a reallly strong accent, he is probably the hardest to understand but he really is an incredible missionary...he has a lot of motivation! There are a few more elders, but I'll write about them later. I think its about time I get going. I love you all so much. I promise I will try and write more next week. I only have 20 minutes to write and read emails because there are only 3 computers for 15 missionaries. Well I love you and hope you all have a good week.

I love you, I love you, I love you!

write back, I love to read stuff from home

Be Happy, Be Safe!

Elder Briggs


PS. Andre, I am okay....no worries Brotato Chip, I love you.

Made it Safe and sound to South Africa!

Hey Famila,

I am finally here, safe and sound...just a little sleep deprived!!! After spending about 25 hours flying and all that good stuff, I don't think I ever want to fly again hahaha! I hope all is well at home, I will send more info about how life at the MTC is so far on saturday when I have more time. We only have a few minutes today just to check in with you guys to let you know that we made it in one peice. I love you a ton, and its still sooooo surreal, I am in AFRICA!!!!!

I love you all, be safe, be happy!

Elder Briggs

PS- The African Elders here are super tight!!!! I'll tell you more about them later, and you guys better write me so I have a good email to send home!

Saturday, January 1, 2011

New Year, New Adventure!

Christmas is over, it's a new year and I couldn't be happier. This years holiday season went by extremely fast, almost too fast! But you can't really control time, can ya? I was blessed with the opportunity to spend some really good quality time with a lot of family this year, both old and new! You may wonder, old and new? Well my Mom's step-dad came down for the holidays from Ohio, and this is only my second time meeting him...CRAZY HUH!?!? Since he is in town, his kids came over for a new years dinner and I got to meet my aunt and uncle and their families. It's so cool though because I was talking to my aunt about my mission and she was like "Are you Mormon?" and I was like "Yup!" and she was overcome with joy and started jumping up and down and was like "OMG, I am too!!!" hahaha it was a nice little coincidence! Come to find out, my cousin is actually preparing for his mission and should be turning in his papers pretty soon!

Christmas with my Famila!
 Mom!!!
 Grandmama!!!
 Neal Family!
 Mason Family!
 Gramma!
 Hannah Rex!!!
 Chelsea!!!
 It's Brotherly love.
 Aunty Cheryl and Family!
 My Family! <3
Seeester & B-Money!
Happy New Years!!!!!

 Molls and Nicho!
 Molls, Jenny and Nicho!
 Nicho, Molly and Lena
 Lena!
 Mollison!!!!! :)
 Brandon!
 Seanny Boy!
 Nicho!
 Niko & Steve....Niko was sooooo tired! LOL
 Jennnnnnay (Forest Gump)
 Demitrius, my brother!!!!
 Allison, I guess we're getting married?
Cheers to a New Year!!!! :)  
(Don't worry it was sparkling cider!)
Congrats Elder Chrisney!
Brendon's first temple trip!

This coming week, I get to go to San Francisco! You have no idea how excited I am! I haven't been in so long, and that is truly my home away from home. I am mostly excited to see my friends from church up there, they have been a VERY vital part in my conversion, and I doubt they really understand how important a lot of them are to me.

I have a lot of plans for this next week and a half

San Francisco
Temple: San Diego
             Los Angeles
             Oakland
Snow
Friends
Family
Farewell
and of course.....

UGANDA!
(well South Africa for three weeks and then Uganda! hahaha)


So much to do, So little time!!!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

There is a first time for everything....right?

Well since I am leaving for my mishmash in like 20 days (ahhhhhh!!!!) I figured, "why not update everybody on my life?" so here goes nothing.....

Well to begin with, this is my last Christmas with my family and I can't even begin to explain the emotions that have been going on in this little head of mine. It's funny, everyone always asks "are you excited, nervous, scared...." and I usually just smile and shake my head and say "I'm excited!!!!" but really....I am just a ball full of emotion and I have no idea which one really describes what I feel most. But I have narrowed in on the five most apparent emotions-(in no particular order)

1. Anxious
I don't really know what to expect. Reading can only tell me so much, I'm just ready to be out there!

2.Excited
This is an INCREDIBLE blessing. Not too many people can say that have had the opportunity to teach people the true doctrine of Jesus Christ, in Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan, Djibouti and Rwanda!

3.Nervous
Am I really prepared to leave my life and dedicate myself completely to Heavenly Father and the people of Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan, Djibouti and Rwanda?

4.Worried
I feel like every time I leave home, things fall apart. I pray that I will be able to come home to life somewhat as I know it now.

5.Blessed (is that an emotion?)
Things have been going so right lately, and I know the heavenly father blesses those who choose the right.



.....enough of the mushy-ness!

My family has been sooooooo incredible throughout this whole process. I remember when I first started to take the missionary discussions and they were supportive the whole way through. Of course it is different for them cause I grew up one way, and now am living a completely different lifestyle than what they are used to. It has taken some adjustment, but they are really the most supportive family I know! It's funny, whenever tell people that I am going on a mission the first question out of most mouths is "How are your parents feeling about that?" and I never realized how lucky/blessed I am to have such amazing parents who have always supported me 110%, until I noticed the shock and the happiness my reply of "they are extremely happy and excited for me!". People's reactions really got me to thinking- how sad that some families are so judgmental, and narrow-minded, and don't support a persons decision to live their life according to the word of God, and trying to be Christ-like. Man, I love my family. (Hence, my tattoo) One day I hope to be sealed to all of them for eternity. I'm not going to lie, it kills me a little bit inside to know that my family isn't eternal. But I know that one day I will be sealed to my family for eternity in the temple, the family that my future wife and I make.



okay this is really long for my first post..... So long, I love you.