Happy New Year!

Hey everyone hows things goin? Doing good here in Tina. I am having a very hot Christmas. I am such a terrible writer with email. I dont know what to say other than everything is all good, that I love to be down here on a mission, and know this is the place where the Lord has called me to serve. I love it when I know the spirit is present in lessons, and sometimes I will say things that are surprising even to myself. The gift of tongues is fo reals. It was really hard to get to have the interest to be here at first until I learned to get lost in the work, make good friends with the other missionaries, and love the people, then I found a true desire to help the people by inviting them to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel by developing faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement through repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the holy ghost, and enduring to the end. I am really enjoying it a lot. When I have this love for the people I dont even worry if it looks like a tough bunch of people or whatever, I am happy to share the knowledge we have and I know that we can receive the help of the Lord walks with us everyday and give us His spirit as we work our hardest. I know that we can receive the help of the Lord and that when it seems like there is no one else or you just cant do any more work for the day that he is always there to help guide you and know what to do. I am happy to be here in Tina serving the Lord, and I know that this is his work and that he really does love all His children! I am soo happy to be a part of this and I love an thank you all for the support in whatever form you give it! I wish you all a Happy New Year and hope you enjoy not having to peel your sweaty mattress off your back in the morning. Enjoy the cold weather, love you all!
Chau!
Elder Wikstrom

His email to us (his parents)

MOM AND DAD!

Hey mom and dad, is all good? I am still doing good. I am in a lot of heat and lots of humidity. Not even in the shade can you escape the heat, and we have two fans that spin real fast but dont put out any air. It was weird to email you guys, I havent seen you for like 5 months now, crazy huh? I remember when we first met Paulina at the school lunch at McKinley. Its weird that they are together now.
I played soccer earlier today at 11 til like 1. We then came back and are doing email. We usually buy the things we need for the week and play soccer, do email, get a haircut. I got my 2nd haircut in Tina today. I am sorry that you were waiting around for an email at 11 and you didnt receive anything. I hope I didnt break the bank when I took out another 300 pesos. I am buying a cole shirt today for 300 pesos. All is good, I feel good, and I am able to overcome OCD and all for the most part completely. I am not homesick and I love serving the mission. I miss you guys and the parties we have, but I am happy to be here in Tina doing a mission. Thank you soo much for the Christmas package, I love everything I got in it. I love reading that Ensign too. I am happy cause its in English and I like to read it sometimes in personal study. Grandmas nativity broke cause she threw the ball. Did she punch a present? haha! We kinda had 3 pdays this week. Monday was one day to do things you needed to do, Tuesday was the dinner and the game where they read the story and say right and left and you pass it till the story is over, then open the one you have at the end. I got a scarf but traded it for cereal cause it was a girls scarf, see through with flowers and stuff. I got some things from Hermana Ayre too! Like a tie, and socks, nerds, and popcorn. Only some people got it, I happened to be one of these people. And then on Wednesday we got another pday cause President thought we were confused about the whole pday situation so we got another one on Christmas Day.
It is terrible to sleep at night too cause of the heat. I sleep without covers on and wake up and I am all wet from sweat and my bed is wet too. It is so terrible. I dont remember the last time I wasnt sweating, like literally!
That is crazy how everyone is moving on with life like my buddys and stuff. I cant believe it. Well, I love you mom and dad. I forgot to tell you guys Merry Christmas on Skype so Happy New Year to you!
Chau!
Brady

Bradys Christmas sock and gifts.

Brady with a shirt we sent him. We thought it was funny since he went to a Spanish speaking mission.

Christmas Day! Best Day Ever!!

I am so thankful to live in an age where technology made it possible to see Brady on Christmas. He looked so good and was happy. Best gift ever! 

Elder Martinez and Elder Wikstrom on Skype.

Christmas Eve

Taryn and her kids were looking for Santa on the Santa Tracker and he was in Buenos Aires, Argentina!

Another email from today. This was sent out as a group email.

Como Estan Ustedes? I am doing good here, very hot but good! These past 2 weeks have been soooooo busy! I have been here and there, I have been everywhere like the Dr Seuss book! I got a new companion today, his name is Elder Martinez! he is from Santiago Chile and he is very good at speaking English, he can speak it clearly and without and accent.
My espanol is coming along really well and I am finally getting the hang of it. I still have troubles with explaning things, but I can understand just about everything being said. The word chabone is a word for guy in Spanish, but we as missionaries use it as fool. We call each other chabones sometimes, haha. Its pretty funny.
This week we had a baptism. We baptized a 9 year old, her name is Natali Sanchez Cuellar. It was awesome. Apparently no one wants to be in this zone cause it doesnt ever baptize or anything, but we finally got one! We have taught 25 lessons with a member this week. It is good, and I love Munro. I know the area pretty good! I am still practicing with my teaching skills. I am getting better though.
On the 24th we are having a Christmas dinner with all of the missionaries together! I am excited for this!
It is incredibly hot, whoever wants a hot Christmas can come visit cause man it is hot.
Another thing that I think is funny is that all the Spanish speakers know the word freaking and they use it like its Spanish. Theyll be talking really fast in Spanish and then all of a sudden you will hear the word freakin. hahaha it is hilarious!
I hope all is well con ustedes and that you all have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Chau,
Brady

His brother, Tyler, asked him if hes ever been mugged or threatened and he said: I havent been mugged or really threatened either, but this one guy was demanding our money and were like Bro, somos misioneros de la iglesia de Jesu Crist, ne tenemos plata, per podemos bautize usted (Translated it says: Bro, we are missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ, we have no money, but we can baptize you). hahaha he left and we were fine.

Transfer Day. 4 months on his mission.

Hey Mom,
Im going to ask the familia Fernando Gomez Paz if I can use their house and computer and ipad to do skype.

I am still serving in Munro. I love Munro and a lot of the members here are great and I know the area pretty good, like the back of my hand (looks at the back of my hand...) Wow thats new. Haha, its hard to do a joke like that through email. This new elder is from Chile and his name is Elder Martinez. He speaks clear English, I am amazed! I will have to ask a member about the whole Christmas coso (thing) and skype. I am doing good here. I am sending this email so late because of the whole companion exchange earlier today. Things should be getting back to normal with the email thing now! I love you mom. I love your handwritten letters. I am happy to say that I miss you but dont have any homesickness like at all, but I dot miss things about home and I miss you guys. I miss Christmas music. I hear it every once in a while. My new companion has Christmas music on his ipod and instrumental music without words of the Red Hot Chile Peppers! They are a popular group with the Southern Americans. Todo bien con vos?
I am receiving all of the mail. I got the Christmas card today and another thing of handwritten mail. I dont have the package but I think the office is saving it for me til Christmas. I dont think they know that I know about it. I love yours and dads mail! What date do you want to skype? I will ask for the 25th. Tell dad I love his letters and that I feel very bad that he is the only one I dont have a direct conversation with. I will figure something out to get hand mail to you guys cause I want dad to have something of his own too. Tell dad to start an email! I love your letters mom and dad!
I still havent opened anything from the MTC or ate the skittles or laffy taffys in the Christmas sock. I found some Sweet n Crunchy peanuts down here in Tina! I still have some from the MTC too! I will make a Christmas plan this week. I got a baptism too! In the hardest area to get one I hear!
I havent got the stuff from Primary todovia (yet) but I will be sure to thank them. I have been saving the peanuts for a Christmas feast! I will have to send you a picture! I am happy to hear dad is progressing along in the electronic age (say it like a robot, its funner). I hope he knows I havent forgot about him and I love his mail and yours too! It means a lot to have hand written mail. I am so happy for Connor Hughes. I got hand mail from Trevor Mortimer in Agosta Georgia. Hes in the army. I was very surprised, hes like one of my best friends! Also, I am doing a lot better with everything. I dont think I really have OCD anymore, or at least not that bad. I thank you for praying for me!
I got to go mom. I love you!
Brady

Baptism! Elder Espinoza and Elder Wikstrom

 New companion

Elder Martinez and Elder Wikstrom

Hey Mom,
This week was hot and cold and busy. I didn't email at the usual time today cause we went to a place called Ballester and celebrated a birthday for an Elder Molina from Chile. His companion, Elder Roberts, lives in Draper and his brother taught me in the MTC. It was soo busy today. I feel bad cause I know that you are waiting for an email in the morning. I read all the mails you've sent me but no one else's. Pday is over at like 6 or 6:30 so I don't have time either this week to do much with the email. I am soo sorry. I haven't had any home sickness or anything like that anymore and I am doing good. I just want you to know that things here are all good. I don't get homesick. I love to see the pics you have sent to me and I love to read and send stuff to you.
We might be baptizing a little 9 year old girl this Saturday. She had already made the decision to be baptized but my companion did like most of the teaching cause my teaching skills aren't that good yet. I have a hard time explaining things simply and in order. I also don't like to be the one that is at fault or wrong so I need to work better on constructive criticism. I do think sometimes in Spanish, but not like a lot. I am getting to the point to where I can understand about everything that is being said but I don't know how to talk back in the correct form. I enjoy the lunches here but I am going to need to start running in the mornings because I need something to work off all this bread and pasta and pizza that I eat. I love serving here. I just wish that we could get a baptism.
I miss the Mountain Dew and the good doughnuts in Kent's Market. I miss all you guys and the snow and cold weather, but I am able to find a happy time here with all the work and the other missionaries and my companion. We will have transfers next week on Tuesday, so you wont get an email til Tuesday next week. I wish I had more time in the day to do things I need to do. We really need the whole day on pday to do things, but we only have til like 6 according to the white bible that the missionaries read of the rules of the mission. I was able to dedicate someones home the other day, it was pretty cool...and lots of people ask for blessings it seems like. I love you so much mom. I have not yet received the cards or mail til like next week. I got the band aids and I love them. My cup I use every night almost and I still have all 500 pesos I took out. I hope Carson's whole arm deal is ok. I love you guys and pray for you and I hope to skype you on Christmas. I don't know the plans, it seems like we don't know the plans of anything until the night before it happens, so I don't know how things work out. I love you so much mom. I don't see anything that will be stopping me from emailing you next week in the morning, maybe the whole transfers ordeal. I don't know how that works yet, but I will make sure if anyone gets any word from it it will be you. I love you , I am doing great, and I thank you for praying for me and that the whole family prays for me. I thank you.
hahaha I am emailing you here and the lady next to me asks if her child can have some of my coke for her child, so I said sure...and then she ask if she can have the coke and I said sure. I think its funny how here its like whats mine is yours. Dang old Argentina. I hope you have a good week and a great time listening to the Christmas music, that is something I really miss is the Christmas air and you guys, but I am really doing fine. Thanks mom, I love you with all my corazon.
Have a good week and a happy day! everyday! Love you mom!
Brady

Hey Everyone,
This week I am not able to email really. Its my companions bday and we've been all over and we're doing a BBQ with the other elders in the district. So really quickly I just want to say I am sorry for no email this week. This one is to let you all know that I am doing good and I love you all. I will explain things next week about how the missions is going and all. I had a good Thanksgiving. It was the birthday of Alejandro Sisco in the ward and he only invited the missionaries to his party. He is like 63 years old and he had a lot of sandwiches and 7 Up to drink. I hope you all had a good Thanksgiving. I hope the Dallas Cowboys won on Thanksgiving Day, haha (for those of you who dont know, they always play on Thanksgiving). I am genuinely sorry I dont have much time this week, but living with a bunch of Southern Americans, soccer make it high on the priority list so that is where I am headed to right now. I will make sure next week is better. I am doing good and I thank you for all of your prayers for me.
Love you all!
Brady Wikstrom

Christmas Card

This is the Christmas Card we sent out this year.

Hey, I am doing great down here! Me and my companion get like 17 lessons in a week right now, which is good but I know we could get more in if we set more appointments. We get a lunch every day, a pretty big lunch too...the only bad things is that I feel so tired after it. For breakfast and dinner I eat frosted flakes or crackers with a thing called Dulce de Leche, really good the dulce de leche is. I dont think we have dulce de leche in town. It is like carmel but for breads and it is so good!
Every p-day I play soccer for like 3 hours with a bunch of Southern Americans, I am getting pretty good now. I could probably play for "REAL" in Salt Lake if I wanted to when I came back haha. No, not really but my skills are improving! With the Spanish, I can read it and understand it for the most part. I can understand other missionaries, but the people are still hard to understand and I am not good at talking really. I have the missionary vocabulary, I only have the Spanish necessary to teach, but even then it is hard to say what I want to, but I am improving. We work A LOT with the ward mission leader, Carlos Matos, hes a capo (stud). Hes a very sincere person too. Working with the members is all we do here. I havent knocked on a random door yet. When I went on divisions with another missionary I did but other than that we work completely off of references of members and anyone that will give us a reference. We do a lot of walking, (I changed my name to Elder Walker for this reason). haha. The only other heat I can relate this to is in wrestling room after practice down here. Once you step out of the shower youre damp for the whole day, and I feel like Napoleon Dynamite after he did his workout video at his house with his Pegasus shirt on, haha. Worst part is that everyone says it is only Spring. My companion said that hes still sweating from Christmas last year, haha.
My district has Peruvians, one Bolivian, a Chilean, and me and Elder Roberts from the United States of Murca. I am learning to manage my money a little better. One cannot simply go out and buy everything at once here, because we need to save our money to pay for the bus throughout the month, and I have just started hand washing my clothes because its like 100 pesos for someone to do it for you and we have 900 pesos for the month, it works out good if you know how to use it. I am going to be the biggest tight wad when I come home haha. That is ok though.
This week was good, we havent had any baptisms yet. My companion said were serving in the hardest area in the mission our zone is, and a lot of people have a good bible background down here which is one thing  I wish I knew better, how to use the Bible and Book of Mormon together to testify of Christ. When you use both, the people seem to be more receptive to it and accept the message better.
All in all it was an average week, all the days seem to blend together and time goes fast. I am very happy that the Lord allows me to serve in this great work. When I arrived with my group of 33 missionaries our mission had like 270 missionaries. We now have over like 300 I believe! The president is a busy man, but I believe there is no better person for the job hes got to do! I know the Lord is hastening the work, that he is helping us as missionaries to succeed and the mission presidents and their families too. It is a great blessing to be alive today in this time. I want to write more and could. I will write again next week, but for now I got to go.
love you all, have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Chou
Elder Wikstrom

Elder Holland went to Argentina to speak to the missionaries! (3 months on his mission)

I dont have much time at all, but I just want to tell you things are going good! We had the opportunity to hear Elder Holland from the Quorum of the 12 Apostles speak. He came down here! The weather here is getting really hot and humid! Its like that one song...its gettin hot in here! haha. Food here is good. I serve in a ghetto, water isnt the clearest but the people know how to cook some good food. It is a pretty beat up area a part where I serve but they are all good people, most of our work seems to happen in this ghetto area. I thank you for your mail and encouragement. Time is flying by here. For those of you who dont know, the name of my area is called Munro. Its like the size of Garland City with as many people as New York City! Elder Holland gave a great talk on being deeply converted. He said that we need to have deep conversion, that we need to look to the Lord to solve our problems and that the Lord give us many gifts in life, and we need to accept the gifts from the Lord cause to deny a gift is to deny the giver. For me this talk spoke of accountability, being a representative of the Lord in such a real way that this is real life and that this is the most important work there ever was, the salvation of the human soul. God loves all his children and knows all his children. His grace is sufficient for all the come unto him, there is no one that the Lord has commanded on this earth that is not allowed to partake of His grace and have eternal life and salvation! I know this to be true because the spirit testified to me when I heard it!
On the other side of things, it is getting hot down here! Think of what it would be like to have a picnic on the tin roof of a house in the middle of August and then think of here. Its not really that bad, but it is hot. We have been trying to get this family to church, we had a prayer with him, he said he felt like God wanted him to go to church but he didnt go. I dont know what else to do if he felt that way and didnt hearken. We talk to a lot of people. It is so crazy to know what they need. Its like you can read their feelings and give them exactly what they need sometimes. We still havent had any baptisms but we are working hard to get them. I find it surprising on how serious it is to do what the Lord asks. How one single decision can seriously change your life and even your salvation. In saying this, I know that commandments and rules are given to protect and give agency not to restrict and take away.
People can recognize your countenance, in other words they can see your light. When you have an eye single to the glory of God it shows and people can recognize it, not physically but spiritually. I know this letter is really unorganized and its just crammed with information some of which may not make sense, so I apologize haha.
People down here also drive really crazy. I am surprised I havent seen an accident. There was once this drunk guy directing traffic and helping people across this really crazy street and no one hit him and he was out there without a care in the world.
Having nothing to do with the paragraph above, life is way different here, but the people are good people and a very religious people. It is difficult to convince them of the truth when theyve known something other for their whole lives, but I know that when they recognize the truth it is the spirit testifying to them cause it would be hard to give up something you have done your whole life for something two 20 years old told you! haha. I got to go for now!
I love you all!
Elder Wikstrom

They had to get up early (3:30 am) to go hear Elder Holland speak

A group of missionaries that went to hear Elder Holland

The bus ride to hear Elder Holland

Another Christmas Package

I wasnt sure if Brady had opened his Christmas pkg I had sent to the MTC and I wanted him to have something to open, so I sent this. I wasnt sure it would make it on time since I was slow sending it, but it made it to the mission home in a week and a half! I was trying to keep it under 4 lbs to save on shipping costs and avoid customs.

Hey Mom thanks for the letter! I am doing good. This last week was hard. I figure I have hard weeks cause I am obsessive about things. Other than that, I am really doing honestly great! I have a good time here! Members here are a great part of the work here! I am surprised on how much I can learn about life and the gospel in the Preach My Gospel book, like WOW! I wish I would have read it sooner in life! We spend a lot of time in a ghetto. Me and my companion always say that this is our hood and these people got love for us! haha. Lots of people dont like the ghettos but I love it! We do need to find other investigators other places though too cause the ghetto is a little far from our house and the chapel so its hard to get people to go to the church. I drink the water here with juice mix. Its clear so I figure its good. And cockroaches are freakin nasty little buggers. We clean hard core in our house to not have them, but have them sometimes. They can get big and freakin ugly! Uh...but I am happy to be in the same area with the same companion again cause I want to learn more. I dont want to be the oldest guy in the area yet. They have a thing down here that you can drink your coke and return it to the store and trade your bottle for another coke and less money and the coke companion takes your bottle and uses it for more coke to sell. Germs dont exist to people down here haha. Like seriously. I eat lots of Twix candy bars cause theyre 4 for 10 pesos which is fairly cheap for here. I dont have many pics of the city cause I dont want my camera stolen. I dont even wear my watch or temple tie tack or ring out of the house especially if we're going to the ghetto. We walk fast, too, with a purpose. I havent had any problems. My companion asked me what this one guys said to me, but I heard nothing and obviously understood nothing too. He said for me to forget about it cause it was either bad or mean. haha. I love if the reason why I am hated is because I am doing something good! The ghetto is like DWS for us. Everyone has a lawn chair, music, and is grilling meat. They like to porch sit and watch the world go by also. This is why this is my people! haha. Life is really good. I am glad you got to see Elder Defriez, he is a stud and glad I got to see him here! He is a great example and a great leader too, and for him to give a compliment means a lot cause he is a sincere feller. If you want to you can send a dew and some candy down with them. I have all that I need. I have enough clothes too cause I can hand wash my clothes in the sink outside and clean water! Its a drag sometimes to be doing the same routine all day everyday, and I feel like the Lord is tired of hearing my sorrys and my routine prayers, but I am sincere and I can feel that He gives me comfort and blesses me. I just feel like a burden to the Lord all the time. I realize that is the devil though. I am thankful for the mission and for the atonement. I am also thankful I chose to go on a mission and that I was deemed worthy to be here and I am very thankful for the blessing I had at the MTC that told me I am where I am supposed to be. Life really is good. I just want to let you in on all the good stuff! I hope this doesnt stress you out cause I am really fine and doing probably better than you think I am doing, thanks to the Lord answering all yours and mine prayers! I just hope things get better in this manner and that I will allow myself to chill out and have a good time and work hard and let nothing detract me from doing the work and doing it good and with power. I pray for you at home and I hope you all keep in touch with Connor and Dallin Jensen at Kents, and Austin Lee when he gets home next October 31st . I thank you for your love and support and the language for me is honestly getting better! I am thankful for my family and the way they are and for each member of the family! I love you guys and share these things in the name of...oh wait...hahaha
I love you very much, all of you!
Brady

Hey,
Ya we havent had any baptisms yet, but our zone wants to break the all time history record 14 baptisms and confirmations by doing 16 this month. I have a zone leader who looks a little like Dwayne Johnson haha. I write in my journal and account for every day since Oct. 2, 2013! I am teaching people but it always seems to go nowhere. We have a lot of baptism dates and then no one keeps the date, so ya. I havent gotten a baptism yet. I figure out Im in the hardest part of the whole mission like hardest area to baptize people! haha. I like it. I dont want it to be easy, but every baptism is the Lord's baptism not mine so even if I get one it isnt cause of me.
The temp here is heating up but not much. We still have the cool air breeze in the hot sun, but the most terrible is that when it rains it stays hot. It is like you cant breathe haha. I am staying in Munro with Elder Espinoza for this transfer again. He is good. I learn a lot from him. I am able to have charity and Christlike attributes cause sometimes when I get mad for no reason, I remember how it is how I would argue with you or dad or brothers and it is just cause I want to be the one that is right...so it honestly is good, he knows quite a bit of English for a native, surprisingly.
I havent bought anything for my birthday yet, haha. I havent found the time yet. Food here is expensive. I am able to eat with members all day, I can wash my clothes in the pension if needed and I get 900 pesos a month which goes fast cause I need to learn to manage it better, but I still have my money.
I am overall happy cause even though I have my struggles and my worries, I am overall happy cause I am where I want to be really and I didnt up and leave you guys like I didnt care about you, I up and left on a mission because I care about you guys! I love you all. I eat a lot of candy. One of the members who makes such good food, like a HUGE platter of potatoes and slabs of roast beef, gave us some American candy. It is amazing how they visited America and they gave me some candy for Halloween, which yes they do celebrate but not like we celebrate. It may be cause Im a missionary but dont know. It just is amazing how selfless that family is!
I love you so much, I got to go baptize!
Love you! :)
Brady!

I Love Ewe card

I made Brady this card and we all wrote in it and mailed it to him. I hadnt sent him a package since he had gone to Argentina, and in the MTC I had sent him one every week, so I wanted to send something that let him know we were still thinking about him.

And his personality is starting to come back

So, I didnt actually get an email this time...I got a quick, sorry Mom I ran out of time email, pday is Tuesday next week. He told me to read what he wrote his brothers...so this is from their emails. (He calls Argentina, Tina. Its nice to see some of his personality coming through in his letters).

I am doing good down here in Tina. Sometimes I lose my hearing when we're in the foxhole and the grenade goes off close to us. haha...oh that is my Nam story. Tina is good and I am able to pretty much say anything I want in Spanish or Castellano is what they call is here, but I sound like a gringo caveman still and I am doing good though. I am pretty good at soccer and am going to challenge Kevin to a soccer match when I come home. Life here is different, but still fun. The mission is hard, very hard I am not going to lie, and I know I could not do it without the spirit and I know I could not even handle it without the spirit. At home it was like there was never a time where I was humbled so much where I had to ask for sincere help and really want it, it happened out here. I realized how the Lord has been helping because its like he took a step back and then I realized crap, I need Him. With the Lord life is great, I feel good, and glad to be serving a mission. The Latinos here on the mission are so funny and know funny English phrases and words. Its funny to watch them have a conversation in English with each other haha. Its a city I serve in so all I see is concrete all the time, so allergies here, there are none. We did a family home evening with the ward here like we used to do at Skinners house in the 8th ward. We did it to welcome a return missionary, Tito Casas is his name. The Latino missionaries here all know the word "freak" in English and a lot more funny words, except some of them are bad words they know but they didnt know they were bad. It is very hard and always on the go, mental and mental physically. I am very able to see the Lord's hand in my life and trust in the Lord. Here I have learned that when I was at home I like to and felt good and accomplished when I did things on my own. Here there is no possible way I could do this work or even handle doing this work without the spirit and living according to the standards of the Lord. Study hard in school and be the example because someone is always looking for a leader and a good example. Stay sweet and enjoy the cold. If you are cold outside this winter think of me roastin like a pig in a fire in the Island of New Guinea or somewhere that its hot. haha

Elder Brother Brady Wikstrom, The James Version

Hola Personas,

Doin good! I have a native companion who walks very fast but is a hard worker. We don't speak the same first language and since he's a fast person I feel like I am testing his patience when I tell him I don't understand what he said a lot, but I am doing so much better with the language. I can understand more than less of what is being said even with conversations with the members who talk about other things too than just gospel stuff all the time, like about their friends who could use help or something. The place here is really crowded and every house is gated in and barb wired at the top sometimes. We have to clap most every house to get them to come to the door. We only work through referrals from people we meet like members and ward and referrals from referrals. We never knock on door or clap at doors or do street contacting. Once we street contacted when I was with a zone leader on a transfer, but it went nowhere. Things here are way expensive and I live on like 170 dollars, which is 900 pesos, a month for food and hygiene stuff but it's all good. Just got to learn how to manage your money. I feel right now like this will be a loong 2 years but I like it. I like the work because I know its the Lord's work and that hes taking care of us here. I miss you all at home and would like to hear from you all. If there is anything you'd like to know about here just ask and Ill respond. I have been drinking the water here, haven't got sick. Maybe after my mission, but when someone offers you a glass of water and its hot outside, you take it...or at least I did. hahaha. I haven't really had any exotic foods yet, but the foods here are good. The members here are very supportive of the missionaries just like people are at home and they love helping us out. I feel like we're the most successful when we get a referral from a member because the person who is the referral has a friend or native to testify also instead of two random 19 and 20 year old. I miss you all to death, but I really love the mission. I hope you all enjoy reading this and will write back if you have the time. I would love to respond to you.
Love Elder Wikstrom!

2 months on his mission

We didn't get an email from Brady today, but I caught him online and got to chat for a few minutes.

Brady: I have only 40 minutes today because I was at lunch for a while and we got to go play soccer soon.
Me: How is your day going?
Brady: Good. I ate some BBQ roast or brisket stuff and had an awesome fruit salad, but I am getting along good. I still miss you guys and I miss good ole Merica.
Me: How's things going with your companion? Do you guys get along?
Brady: Ya, we get along. I feel like sometimes I test his patience, but I don't understand Spanish and I feel like things need to be done his way like cleaning up around the apartment, but we get along. Hes awesome. One of the other missionaries stayed a night with me and my companion went to his companion because my companion is the district leader and he was surprised by it too and he harassed him about it. I'm doing good though. I just don't like not ever knowing whats going on haha. I don't know why he also walks at my jogging speed everywhere. It bothers me because Im jogging to keep up and if I am not, he doesn't slow down. I just don't feel like we look like missionaries when we dont walk together.
Me: I'm sorry, I guess you'll get a work out everyday...you'll be in shape. Haha. You may be thankful for this guy if you get a companion who wont work lol. I love you.
Brady: Ya, I  have realized it is always to turn out for my good, I just don't realize it at the moment, haha. Hes a good hard worker.
Me: Have you got any mail from us yet?
Brady: I haven't got any mail.
Me: Ok, I've been mailing every week. I dropped today's off, but its Columbus Day so it wont go out til tomorrow. Today is 3 weeks!  I would think you should be getting it soon. You flew there 3 weeks ago, right?
Brady: Ya its crazy huh? I know, nobody here works on holidays and Columbus Day  is one here too. Holidays, Sundays, and the middle of the day there isn't many stores open or people out especially on Sundays and holidays cause they're all lounging around and sleeping.
Me: That might be why no mail today...its not delivered on holidays. How was the zoo?
Brady: Zoo was awesome. I took lots of pictures. All the missionaries were there. It was good and we all got like 64 pesos for lunch too! I had a good time.
Me: Glad you had a good time. Do you knock on doors? Or do street contacts? Do you see other missionaries regularly? Or never? Did you enjoy doing splits?
Brady:We don't do either, we only work through members and referrals here though. Everyone's house is gated in so you have to clap, and I have only once ever done a street contact, it was on splits though with the zone leader. It was fun. I love street contacting. I enjoy splits. Yes, its a good change from a routine. We see a few other elders probably twice a week and one of them is American so he speaks English and has only been out for like 3 months here and can speak good Spanish already.
Me: (referring to the picture out his window...there was a birthday sign in the window) Who made the birthday sign in your window?
Brady: Elder Espinoza did. Only the two of us live together. I think he might have cleaning OCD too. We were scrubbing walls and floors with a rag, but that might be something we have to do. We got a paper this last week of things we need to do from the President and his wife, but I cant read the Spanish. haha!
Me: Haha, that's kinda funny. Hows the Spanish coming? Do you feel like you're getting it?
Brady: My Spanish is good. Sometimes I don't know a word they said and sometimes I can talk with the person and understand them, but it only happens sometimes and if I am paying close attention. If I don't pay attention it sounds like blabbering still.
Brady: I got to go mom, I love you and thank you for all you've ever done for me and all you still do for me. I am realizing now all the little things you did now that I don't have them and how patient you were with me. That is why I say thank you for all things in the past. Tell dad I love him too. I love you all!

Holy cow, I love these pictures! Thank you so much for wishin me a Happy Birthday. I have some mail to send to you all, but dont know how yet and dont know how long itll take to get to you, but I made bros a b day card from me. The room looks so different. Where in the world is the wall paper at? That chart doesnt look like it has that much to fill even...that is weird, and I love the horsey masks!
I was able to watch general conference in English, yes all of it. The Saturday session I watched in English at a members house. We had them invite a non member and the mom of that house made some awesome empenadas and pizza! The other sessions on Sunday I watched at the chapel in Ballester, in English on a puter screen. It was very good and I loved it. I have gotten much better at praying but still need to improve on my scriptures. I love it down here, I just miss you all at home. I have been homesick for the family and my neighborhood and even the US  of A, but I get along just great. The grocery store, Carrefour, is at the end of my road. I have a straight window view of a yellow house and El Buen Sabor, whic are across the street and started down the road from Carrefour. They dont have soda selection like we do. Its Coke Coke, or Pepsi, or Fanta or Coke Life or a couple other choices. My companion likes the alcoholess beer and bought me one for my b day, but I told him I didnt want it. I drank coke. I drink milk from a bag and its good milk too. I use my unwashed Duck Dynasty cup every single day! I know sometimes all I want to do is come home because I want to see my family and live the life that fits with my culture, but know if I were to leave I would spend the rest of my life regretting it. I remember dad told me that, so I thank dad for him knowing what that feels like and making me aware. I know its hard on dad but I hope it eases his stress about it knowing that it helps his son stay on his mission and want to stay on his mission. I really do miss you guys and some days all I want to do is count down the time til I can come home. I really missed you on all our birthdays and even cried a little, but I am good. I write in my journal every night since Cole and Carson's birthday! and plan on doing it from here on out. I can actually see the importance of it. I love you all and hope everyone doesnt grow up too fast. I have cards for Cole and Carson but still tell them that I wished them a happy birthday and had candy for our birthdays, peanut M&Ms on the 3rd of October. I am learning a lot and asee that I am only two weeks in the field and at this pace of learning all the lessons I do, I will be a champion by the time I come home! Seriously. I am learning and think I will learn how to overcome a lot of my problems in life. haha. I am weird sometimes you know that. Sorry, I apologize for that and my worrying so much and my OCD ordeal, but I am getting better. I know you blame the worrying on you, but dont. I am ok and it is good to worry a little and I will be fine, so I hope  you dont worry about it or anything else. The Lord is keeping a watchful eye over me and I pray he does for you all too all the time. I can see he is. I am glad dad got a new job. I dont care how much he makes, I just care for him to be happy and to be able to spend valuable time with yall at home!  How is DWS? I am excited to see bros rooms. Tylers is soo different. I love the pictures and I thank you for my birthday presents. I tried to recreate my birthday, but didnt have a couple of things, like the 2 and 3 O clock items, and I am sad I threw away some of the notes like to the flashlight, but I still have most of the notes. I love the album of the family and everyone else. You are a very nice craft person. I love all you do for me. This all is motivation for me to stay out on my mission also. Seriously mom, I dont think you know how much youve helped me as well as dad and brothers! I am feeling good and havent had the turkey squirts or anything and I use my prayer rock cause I love the way it reminds me like ya dunce, get praying dude. Ahhh man mom, I love you and I love the whole family! I feel like there was something I wanted to say more but forgot and will remember later, like right when I get off...but ya, I think I am doing great and everything is all good! ps Did you do a conference breakfast?

This picture totally shows Bradys personality.

The yellow house outside his window

El Buen Sabor, just down the street

Recreating his birthday (which he had already opened in the MTC)

Happy Birthday

We sent this in an email to Brady and then mailed the signs with the picture after.We each drew the sign we are holding. We sure missed him for his birthday.

First email from Argentina

Hey Mom I am doing good! It is hard to be away from home, but knowing that Brayden Wise was here and so was Dan Haney, and that Grandpa Morley served in Mexico and his words of motivation in the 9 am present you gave me really helped me! I love and miss you all at home and I am a little homesick, but not bad. It comes in waves, but not badly. The day I got here, I spend the whole day at President Ayres house which is a really nice house for an Argentina house, and even an American house! He and his wife are so awesome! They got a couple kids, a 15 year old boy and an 11 year old boy living with them here and going to school here. I think they have other kids, based off a picture of their family at their house, but I only saw 2 boys there who are really very nice and I like talking to them. President and Sister Ayre are very much like parent figures. I love how accepting they were! And they speak English too! My new companion is from Lima, Peru and is a great trainer. He makes sure I know stuff, he is patient with me and helps me out and doesnt leave me in the dust, and he remembers me and my needs and that I dont know anything. He has been out here for 10 months, but on a mission for 1 year. 2 months was in Lima, Peru waiting for a visa I think. Since he has been out for a year he can explain and translate some things in English but his first language is Spanish. A lot of the things he knows in English are funny. He doesnt say bad words, but he says the word for black people and I had to tell him that in America, you call someone that they dont like it and youre pretty much asking for a fight. He likes Eminem, the rapper, but not so much 50 Cent. He likes the L.A. Dodgers. He has never tried Swedish fish til now, and he really likes them. haha. He says things in English that makes me laugh so hard because he has the accent of a Spanish speaker and its just funny. Anyway, that is about it on my companion. I email at a store on the street side It seems like stuff here was once nice, but there isnt a lot of up keep on things. They drive very crazy down here, lets just say there are not really any rules. You occasionally stop at red lights, buses and motorcycles own the road, they are hard on cars! They have a lot of buses, that of which I ride, and I ride a passenger train too. They squeal tires, even on big buses full of people, you have to hold on and watch your surroundings! I havent been robbed or anything, but I live in a place called Munro, a province in Buenos Aires. It is a ghetto, but I live in a better part but in the day time I am mostly in the bad part of town. My companion tells me to walk here like I know the place and to be careful. The showers here are weird, and the toilets too. I drink a lot of coke because water is bad for me here. The bishop of the ward is so awesome and nice and so is the mission zone leader. Everyone speaks Spanish, so when I see some English word somewhere I count it as a blessing! hahaha. I feel like I am learning a lot more than I think I truly am. They have a McDonalds or 2 here, but I havent ate at one yet. We eat lunch at members houses and its is good food. We dont really eat dinner ever, once a week or twice if were lucky. It is a little hard to get used to having your last meal at 1 pm for the day, but it is all good. There are a lot of people here and it is crowded but Ill get used to it. I love to look at the cards and pictures you gave to me. I try to look at the every night because it strengthens me! I will start to look at them every night now! I love them, thank you so much! I LOVED my birthday stuff soooo much! I know that since I wont catch you online today that you all wish me a Happy Birthday, and I will greatly miss you, and I appreciate it! Sometimes I think it is still unreal to me that I cannot see you guys. I am counting down the days but I need to change my attitude. I know I have a lot to learn here on my mission and I can see how important it is that I serve this mission. I am worried for no reason that for some reason I wont be able to serve my whole mission. I dont know why I worry that, but I was worried I wouldnt make it through the MTC either. I dont know why this is a worry of mine! I forgot to bring my camera to send pics, sorry, but I am doing great other that I miss and love you all Jeff, Suzanne, Cole, Carson, Tyler, and Calli and the neighbors! Coles name is written everywhere on the walls here for the soccer team, so I think I will choose Cole because it is my brothers name! I will take more pics so I can send some next week! I love and miss you all and I pray for you guys ALL of the time and only ask the Lord for your safety and that my mission will bless you all and I dont care about me. I need to have more faith that the Lord will care for you guys. I pray for you and the prayers that you say for me help me sooooo much you dont even know. I am getting better at writing in my journal every night and that is going to be a goal of mine. Life is good and people are nice to me. I stick out here like a sore thumb because Im white and taller than a lot of people but it is all good. It is hard for them to say my name too hahaha. I live on 900 pesos a month. I think that is about 180 U.S. dollars, and things here are expensive. I have to use my drivers license for identity at grocery stores here. one is called Coto and the other store is called Carrefour, just so you know. I kept the receipts and dated them and wrote down stuff. I thought I need to remember on them and underlined some stuff just in case of something bad happening. Anyway, I have just a little culture shock, but not too bad. I am doing great, I love and miss you all, and pray for you! I need to work on being more obedient like wake up bed and study and I need to be more efficient and productive, but I feel like I have a lot to learn so we'll se how things go. It is not that I dont want to be obedient, I have just been slacking even with prayers and scripture reading. I need to get better so we can have miracles and blessings. I have never been good at reading my scriptures here or in the MTC as I did at home, so I need to do better! I will do better, I need to be doing my best so I will pray for more help and for dads job. It actually is comforting to know that dad can be happy again for me. I will pray more for you all and ask the Lord for help with the things I need help with and for you guys to get the Lords help you need. Tell everyone hi and I love them and I love you!

I LOVE YOU! Elder Brady James Wikstrom. Thanks for your love and motivation and prayers, thoughts, and everything you send my way. I dont know how mail here works yet, so that is why you havent got mail from me yet, I will figure out how so I can send you mail.

Elder Jared Espinoza and Elder Brady Wikstrom

He made it to Argentina

Brady flew out of SLC on Sept. 23, 2013. He called me from the SLC aiport and then again in Dallas. We were worried that his calling card minutes would run out, so we called the payphone back and then told him to give his card to another missionary who might need it. It was sooo good to hear his voice, and he was so excited to go.

I waited forever to get word that he was there, but late at night the next day I got an email from the mission home that showed me my smiling son with his mission president!

Elder Brady Wikstrom with President and Sister Ayre in Argentina.

Email #6 Prep day to leave

Hey Mom, I am on for a second not 30 minutes. Today is like my p day kinda. I still have to go to the 6 hour class period and pack, but I can get on email and tell you things. So I am now leaving the MTC at 8:30 a.m. and will be in Salt Lake airport til 12, that is when my flight leaves. I am taking the tracks, I think, to the airport. I dont know how much calling time I will get there. I will be in Dallas from like 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. if everything goes as planned. My plane leaves at 7:30 p.m. from Dallas. I bought a calling card. It says 500 minutes but charges may apply...Ill still keep it though. I will maybe use my change from grandma. I have my shot, they gave me a pediatric one so it only cost like 38 dollars so I have about 37 38 or 39 dollars left over in cash. Today will be a little hectic because its packing day but itll be good, as long as I dont go over weight haha. I think Ill be good! I am excited to leave. Itll be fun and adventurous! I am sure Ill be on another time today also, just wanted to send you this now!
LOVE BRADY

A picture!

I work at a school. Im sitting in a school assembly and I get a picture text. I have a very basic phone and its RARE that I can see anything that is sent as a group text from someone who has a better phone than I have, but while Im sitting there, this picture text comes through and there is a picture of Brady and his companion. I was so happy to see it, and surprised that I even got it considering it was sent as a group text to me and the companions family. I am thankful for whomever the person was that was kind enough to take a pic and text it to me.  It made my whole day!

Birthday and Christmas packages

Since I wasnt sure what mail would be like to Argentina, and because Bradys birthday is soon after he arrives in Argentina I decided to send a birthday and Christmas package to the MTC.

This is what I mailed.

Birthday was a time thing. He opened in while still in the MTC.

The Christmas pkg I had to put together in a night, so this is what I sent to the MTC. I made the sock :)
I also sent some pajama pants and shirt.

Email #5 Hes really going to Argentina! 1 month on his mission

Hey Mom, I love you! Things here are GREAT! I love it and Im excited to leave. The reason why you didnt get any mail is because our branch presidency said we could only write home on pday which is Tuesday and I have been exactly obedient to that, I am proud to say, but I have been wanting to write you like crazy. I will definitely some mail home today! So I got my travel plans...I will be leaving at 7:30 a.m. on Monday morning! I will fly from Salt Lake at like 12:30, and get in Dallas, Texas around 4:00 I think. I will be in Dallas from 4:00 to AROUND 7:30...I CAN CALL THEN. I will leave Dallas at like 7:30 and fly in a Boeing 777 to Argentina and arrive there in Argentina at 7:55 in the morning. I am nervous to fly and for such a long time! But I am so excited to do it. I bought a little Book of Mormon to read on the flight. I can get a phone card with 500 minutes for $5 at the book store here. I can take all 3 suit cases, my carry and my 2 check luggage bags, but they AMERICAN AIRLINES are charging $75 for the second check bag not the 3rd check bag but the second, so I will need to use my card or something to pay a $75 dollar fee. It is actually cheaper by like $15 than all the other airlines like Delta and them. I am so excited. I will be getting my shot on Thursday. Hopefully I have about $100 dollars cash I could use for that shot. I dont plan on having much cash at all by the time we leave, but I will probably be spending a little money at the MTC and maybe Dallas to get a pen or something from that airport just so you know if that is ok with you. It really is a blessing, a miracle of exact obedience that this computer is working. As we understand it here, the system is corrupted that provides service for the MTC. So in the main and here at West are down and there are only like 0 to 3 working computers here at a time. This is my first session of email today. We got up at 5:30-5:45 and got things done, laundry and everything. Its siesta time right now. We are going to Brighams Landing and get a burger and fries! I am so happy for what you and Wrights sent me! I told everyone I have the best friends. I gotta go. I dont need anything like my fitted sheet or anything. I think I will be fine. I dont want to weigh down my suit case, but thank you. THINGS ARE GREAT HERE AND I LOVE AND PRAY FOR YOU GUYS! I HAVE TO GO, I HOPE I CAN CATCH YOU ON TONIGHT AROUND 5:30 to 6:00! HERES SOME PICS. LOVE YOU, GOTTA GO. I can email you on Saturday too fyi...

Elder Brady Wikstrom and Elder Mitch Walker. They are from the same hometown. They saw each other at the MTC.

Elder Jacob Badger, Elder Brady Wikstrom, Elder Briton Hansen, and Elder Dustin Shwendiman.

At the Provo Temple

Elder Zack Brown and Elder Brady Wikstrom at the MTC. They are from the same hometown.

Email #4

Hey mom, got on at 10:36 today so I will be done with the first email session at 11:06. I am sorry but the elders wanted to have a siesta at 11 and so I will write home and write in my journal. I havent yet sent that paper to the hospital is that where i need to send it? Or to you? I havent got my shot yet, I think on Thursday I will, this Thursday. I have had 2 haircuts since I have been here and I have only clipped my nails 2 times. I need to get better at making brushing an every night habit though. I am still loving it here at the MTC West. I think it is better here at the West one than the main one. I remember I had my temple recommend in my wallet and then one day I was like I want to carry my recommend so I took it out of my wallet and brought it with me and forgot all about it and now I am not sure where it is! I will have to go look in all my pants again or something. Hopefully its just in the apartment and I can find it so I can go to the temple tonight! Me and Elder Hansen have been getting along a lot better and by that I mean we talk a lot more and became friends just as well as companions in the mission field. I bought a bubble lined manila envelope so I can send you some real pics. I will be on a gain sometime tonight at the main campus somewhere between 5:30-6:15. I love you so much I hate it that I have to leave right when you get on. I am sorry but I love you mom!

LOVE YOU MOM! I will try to send pics now too!

Elder Brady Wikstrom and Elder Carson Hardy.

The Zone?? or District?? He didnt tell me.

Elder Brady Wikstrom and Elder Travis Maddox

Elder Briton Hansen and Elder Brady Wikstrom

Package #5

I cant believe how often I forgot to take a picture of the packages I mailed. I mailed a bunch of little toy things to be silly with. I think I wrote something about Enjoying the Journey. Brady later sent me a picture of him with the package.

Email #3

Hey mom I am working on sending everyone that has dear eldered me or sent me a package a personal letter from me. I am so sorry I am bad at responding! I am actually having a great time! The Lord has been blessing me and letting me feel that you guys are all going to be ok. The internet or computers here where I am at are all down except for 2 of them and so I will try my hardest to get on at 11 or like 11:05 or something. I will be on twice though for 30 minute periods. Something I have forgot to tell you is that Elder Jeffrey R. Hollands grandson was in my zone, in fact he was a zone leader for a week, but he left like last week and Elder Holland came to tell him bye. I think its weird now that I think about how families shouldnt meet up but anyway its really fine. I got to shake his hand in the small cafeteria we have. I forgot to tell you that last week it happened on a Monday, last Monday! I have joined the choir and love to feel the spirit there. I heard Neal L Andersen speak at the devotional on Tuesday night at the Marriott Center, it was a good talk! I love it here. I am sorry for the negative mail that I have been giving you and all the positive mail you have been giving me and the advice which I am VERY thankful for! I got a blessing and it helped. He said I was worthy in the blessing that I was living a pure life or something about me being pure I am not sure if it was future or present tense. I hope he just didnt say in the blessing that I was worthy based on my first Sunday interview with him. I told him before the blessing you guys were praying for me and that you are aware that I am a worrier and you wish I didnt have problems with worrying or something that you pray for me. I am worried Ill misquote him so I am just  remembering this all from memory. He also felt he should tell me that there was something or some piece of knowledge I would get out of the fast Sunday broadcast missionary conference talk that was broadcast, and I dont really know what it was but I think it was a revelation that I needed to accept Christ's atonement more in my life. I wrote it down but I dont have my notes here. He told me in my blessing I needed to open up my heart to allow the blessings of Christ in my life is what Im getting from it. I guess I am really stubborn and when I feel like I have done something wrong then I believe justice has to take its course and then there cant be mercy to take it away because justice must happen. I am a little stressed about things but the Lord comforts me in prayer. I need more faith with the Lord and the feelings and impression or if its is me being ocd or something you know, and I just really dont want to do anything wrong. He said some cool things in my blessing and it sounds like I am expected to stay out and serve the Lord based on the first Sunday interview and this blessing I got. He blessed me that I would stop worrying so that it would not distract me from my study times and such. I love you so much. FYI I have been printing out pics I take, I will send them home to you if I cant get this figured out. I love the temple and the spirit felt there. I hope we can all go to the Provo one as a family one day. I am excited to serve the Lord and I thank you for all the prayers you have sent my way. President Cameron, who is an awesome guy, told me you guys were praying for me. I think I have overcome homesickness. I mean, I still miss home a lot occasionally when I think about it, but I love it here and am glad I am here and feel this is the right place for me to be! Life here is awesome and I pray it is awesome for you guys too. Oh, and we have been instructed to only write on p days home, but I will send home as much mail as possible. I love you and will talk to you later today hopefully.
I LOVE YOU MOM AND DAD AND COLE AND CARSON AND TYLER and Calli. I am working on notes for the humans in the family today. I will try to send them off tomorrow.

And he sent me a picture of where he studies.

Package #4

Once again, I failed to take a picture. I mailed a BOX FULL OF SUNSHINE. I found a bunch of candy that was packaged in yellow. The candy itself wasnt necessarily yellow. I sent a bunch so he could share with the other elders.

Email #2

Hey Mom, I have 2 30 minute email periods this is the first, I told the elders to wait till like 11:00 for the next one. Right when I get on Ill send you one right away ok! I am doing better, I did not ask for a blessing yet I just dont feel ready. I expressed a lot of concerns in the last few or couple letters I sent you, please know I was a little dramatic and I am doing better. I have prayed a lot for comfort and have received it! I find comfort in your letters to me! Thank you mom! I am sorry I have been terrible at writing but you have kept them coming left and right! You are the perfect example of Christlike love to me mom! I think about our date at Calls and I cant wait to come home in 2 years and we will go there again! I LOVE YOU MOM! Tell dad the kitty means a lot to me that he put in my scriptures, so does your card you put in my patriarchal blessing! I pray that youll know how to answer my letters and Im soo sorry for the stress I know I cause you guys! I have been praying a lot and asking for strength and help, sometimes I worry about my worthiness but if I can manage to get lost in the work I can set it aside, the struggle is just beginning to get lost in it. It is hard for my body and mind to be in the same spot at the same time. I miss waving bye to dad when he goes to afternoon work and I miss being at home with you and talking to you, I miss your voices and I wish I would have spent more time with my brothers before I left. I feel like a jerk for that and I miss you all! I got a sweet package from the Wises and a couple dear elders from Andy and Jordan Haramoto and all my family and bishop and grandma and Lyn. There might be a few more but Im trying to hurry and say what I need to say because 30 minutes of time on a mission is like the blink of an eye. I dont know what you guys think, but Im beginning to think that time is going way fast. I hope I am worthy to stay out here, I explain more of this reason in my letters I sent home. I sent 5 letters home yesterday to you all and am excited for you to get them. I got to go now. I will be back on. I love you mom!

Package #3

I found this idea here 10 gifts

I also sent a set for his companion too.

Here is a close up of the card I sent (I made it)

The first letter and first email

Brady was very stressed and it hit him that he wouldn't see us for 2 years. It was hard on him. He worried about everything and was very homesick. I am so thankful for the Dear Elder service. Because Brady went to the Provo MTC, I could send him a little note through Dear Elder and he would get it in his mailbox everyday. It really saved him for those first couple of weeks. 

His first letters are very personal, so I am not going to post them. I did get a picture of him and companion in that first email though.

Elder Briton Hansen and Elder Brady Wikstrom

Package #2

I sent a package weekly while Brady was in the MTC. I also included his companion when I sent it. I forgot to take pics of the second package but I did the gift of tongues. I got a DUCK DYNASTY cup and filled it with "Tongue" candies...like Fun dip, zots, suckers, etc. 

The Drop Off

So, as a mom, this is the hardest thing Ive had to do. I cried for a couple months at the thought of not seeing Brady for 2 years. Having said that, drop off day was a really good day.

First we went to eat at Olive Garden.

Then we went to the Provo Temple to say our goodbyes. We had no idea what to expect when we got to the MTC

It was a nice day and Brady was in a good mood telling us he was ready to go.

We were early to the drop off, so they werent in a huge hurry. We had time to say goodbye.

And off he goes