Elder Jeffrey Richard Bromley II

Monday, September 30, 2013

Week 24- Las Palmeras, Lima, Peru- Obedience Brings Blessings

Everything is going well down here in Peru. My companion and I have been working very hard to be successful in our work. We have several investigadores con fecha, including a taxi driver named Micky, and we are doing our best to bring them to true conversion. It is hard work, but I'm putting my faith in the Lord because he has called and qualifed me to do this and now I just need to do everything on my side of the promise.

We have found some very nice potentials and reestablished contact with a couple investigadores antiguos. I push myself hard to be better everyday and am extremely grateful for the opportunity I have to serve here despite the difficulties that we have now and again.

One of the hardest parts about missionary work is bringing people to this "true conversion." It is resultant from enduring to the end with full purpose of heart but can be accomplished by three basic things. Pray, read in the scriptures, and go to church. And do it with faith.

Ether 12:18 says that miracles are a product of faith which we know reading from verse 6 means we have to act first. Obedience is an act of faith. In the mission there is a saying, obedience brings blessings, exact obedience brings miracles.

I can promise you right now that a change of heart is a hard thing to achieve but the miracle of repentance is possible through our willingness to follow Christ. Read and pray with faith and learn from the examples in the Book of Mormon and all around you. Great things come to pass by means of small things. Do all in your power to take upon yourself the name of Christ and He will uphold his part of the promise.

I love and miss you all!

3 Nefi 27

Elder Bromley II

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Week 23- Las Palmeras, Lima, Peru- Fluent?

So I guess I'm fluent now because I gave a 15 minute talk in church and someone said I should publish it.

I don't have anytime to write more, but please find someone this week, anyone, and share the message of the restoration or that families can be together forever. Think of things on an eternal perspective. Seek for understanding more than knowledge.

Love you all

Monday, September 16, 2013

Week 22- Las Palmeras, Lima, Peru: The Sacred Design of the Family

So everything is still going well in Perú. The language is becoming second nature, although I'm not perfect at speaking it yet. Some people think I'm from Brazil because of the way I talk, which must mean I mumble a lot in Español. But people enjoy the accent. haha. Quick story: I found a box full of Spanish Liahona magazines in our apartment and started reading them. I eventually found a talk I really liked by President Monson and was super excited that it was in Spanish, when I went back to read the title, I was disappointed to realize that this magazine in particular had been in English the entire time. It was so weird...

My companion and I have been finding a lot of solid people this week to teach, including the brother-in-law of Wilmer, who is waiting on a signature to get baptized. One of the Hermanas in our ward is also being a missionary and we started teaching three people because of her, all of whom attended Stake Conference yesterday (Elder Richard G. Scott can speak perfect English).

The prevalent theme of the entire conference was the family. The family is at the center of what we teach to people. It is a sacred design ordained of God and was created to help insure the eventual return of His own children one day. A family based off the teachings of Christ will not fall. Problems will always occur but the love that is charity is infinitely stronger. So have family home evenings and pray as families. I promise you that you will be blessed with peace.

Helaman 5:12

Moroni 7:45

Elder Jeff Bromley II

Monday, September 9, 2013

Week 21- Las Palmeras, Lima, Peru: Hope and Faith

Hello Everybody!

So this week had its ups and downs. Wilmer's mom didn't sign his registro bautismal (don't know what that is in english) so he couldn't get baptized this Saturday. He still came to church though and isn't shrinking in his desire to learn. Sunday was great because though because we had a ton of less active members there, I've never seen the chapel that full before!

This week I feel like a big theme has been hope and faith. I've also began reading the scriptures listed as references under the hymns; its great. Read 2 Nefi 25:23, 26, 29.

Keep reading and praying and going to church! Love you all!

Elder Jeff Bromley

Monday, September 2, 2013

Week 20- Las Palmeras, Lima, Peru: OLA

Hello everybody!

I think somebody is praying super hard for me because I haven´t gotten sick yet and it's been three weeks. But now I jinxed it so I'll keep you posted. Perú is great I´m loving every moment of it. My companion and I have a baptism this weekend. The investigator is Wilmer and he is such a cool kid. He takes in knowledge so quick and learns everything we teach him instantly. He´s already got such a strong testimony, which is good because his mom is very active in a different church. Last week my companion and I were able to have her sit in on a couple lessons and little by little she's opening up. But Wilmer is a fighter. I have faith in him.

Speaking of fighting, my mission president gave a talk last night to us and the recent converts and investigators we brought which was great. It was about enduring till the end and what it means. We teach an acronym here: OLA. Orar, Leer, Asistir, or in English, Pray, Read, Attend (church). When we are doing those things daily or weekly, we will be on the straight and narrow and receive the blessings promised in 2 Nefi 31.

Love you all!

Matt 11:28-30

Elder Jeff Bromley II

Monday, August 26, 2013

Week 19- Las Palmeras, Lima, Peru: Second Week in Peru

Hello everybody!

This week has been great. One of our investigators, a 13 year old named Wilmer, passed the baptismal interview and if all goes well, he'll get baptised this week. We also had a lot of investigators and less actives at church this Sunday, it was awesome. This next week Elder Guerrero and I will do a lot of finding (door knocking) so that we can find more famillies and individuals into the church and we already have a couple lesson set, it should be great. Also, the food is still awesome; I've eaten Lomo Saltado twice this week and Aji de Pollo also. You should all try Peruvian food, it's DELICIOUS.

Last saturday, Elder Quentin L Cook visited our mission and gave a talk. It was also awesome because I got to see Elder Clarke, my first companion from the MTC. It was good to see he was still as happy as he always is. Elder Cook's talk directed at true conversion and the difficulty to acheive that lasting inseperable bond to the Lord. It reminded me of something Jeffrey R Holland said:

"Anyone who does any kind of missionary work will have occasion to ask, Why is this so hard? Why doesn’t it go better? Why can’t our success be more rapid? Why aren’t there more people joining the Church? It is the truth. We believe in angels. We trust in miracles. Why don’t people just flock to the font? Why isn’t the only risk in missionary work that of pneumonia from being soaking wet all day and all night in the baptismal font?

You will have occasion to ask those questions. I have thought about this a great deal. I offer this as my personal feeling. I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience.Salvation never was easy. We are The Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him? It seems to me that missionaries and mission leaders have to spend at least a few moments in Gethsemane. Missionaries and mission leaders have to take at least a step or two toward the summit of Calvary.

Now, please don’t misunderstand. I’m not talking about anything anywhere near what Christ experienced. That would be presumptuous and sacrilegious. But I believe that missionaries and investigators, to come to the truth, to come to salvation, to know something of this price that has been paid, will have to pay a token of that same price.

For that reason I don’t believe missionary work has ever been easy, nor that conversion is, nor that retention is, nor that continued faithfulness is. I believe it is supposed to require some effort, something from the depths of our soul.

If He could come forward in the night, kneel down, fall on His face, bleed from every pore, and cry, 'Abba, Father (Papa), if this cup can pass, let it pass,”then little wonder that salvation is not a whimsical or easy thing for us. If you wonder if there isn’t an easier way, you should remember you are not the first one to ask that. Someone a lot greater and a lot grander asked a long time ago if there wasn’t an easier way.'"

I love you all!

Obedience brings blessings; exact obedience brings miracles.

Miracles are a result of faith; obedience is faith

True faith necessitates exact obedience and will bring miracles

Elder Jeff Bromley II

A pensionista cooking Lomo Saltado

Lima at night

Angels Trumpet flowers (for Mom)

The view out of a tiny window

With Elder Mitchell (from Oregon)

Monday, August 19, 2013

Week 18- Las Palmeras, Lima, Peru: Culture Shock

Perú is awesome. It is completely different here than from the U.S. but it's all great. Our apartment is above a small restaurant and is a lot different than the apartement I had just moved into in Eugene Oregon. The floor is all concrete and there's no hot water, which I forgot was a possibilty until my first shower here. There's a switch on the wall by the shower that raises the temperature from 55ish degrees to 65ish degrees; I'm very grateful for that switch.

There are also a ton of dogs here. There are some that have their own spots as territory and some that walk around. The other day my companion and I saw a jauría of dogs, or a dog pack. They just walked down the street like it was no big deal in a group of 10. Also there are certain times of the day when all of the dogs are asleep. It's pretty funny though because the nicer and tamer dogs usually wear little sweaters or jackets.

I figured out how authentic my mom's cooking actually is when I ate homemade Peruvian food here. The Aji de Gallina and Lomo Saltado tastes exactly the same and it's delicious. The rice here is even cooked the same.

The poeople here are all super nice and I'm getting used to their accents. Peruvians apparently have the British accent of the Spanish world.

I'll let all of you know how things keep going. I love and miss you all!

Helamán 5

Elder Jeff Bromley II

Elder Bromley y Elder Guerrero

"King Kong" cake

Elder Guerrero & Elder Bromley eating completos

Jeff's Scripture References

Alma 26:6-7 "6 Yea, they shall not be beaten down by the storm at the last day; yea, neither shall they be harrowed up by the whirlwinds; but when the storm cometh they shall be gathered together in their place, that the storm cannot penetrate to them; yea, neither shall they be driven with fierce winds whithersoever the enemy listeth to carry them. 7 But behold, they are in the hands of the Lord of the harvest, and they are his; and he will raise them up at the last day."
Jacob 5:70-72 "70 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard sent his servant; and the servant went and did as the Lord had commanded him, and brought other servants; and they were few. 71 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, and labor in the vineyard, with your might. For behold, this is the last time that I shall nourish my vineyard; for the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if ye labor with your might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come. 72 And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all things."
Jacob 5:75-77 "75 And it came to pass that when the Lord of the vineyard saw that his fruit was good, and that his vineyard was no more corrupt, he called up his servants, and said unto them: Behold, for this last time have we nourished my vineyard; and thou beholdest that I have done according to my will; and I have preserved the natural fruit, that it is good, even like as it was in the beginning. And blessed art thou; for because ye have been diligent in laboring with me in my vineyard, and have kept my commandments, and have brought unto me again the natural fruit, that my vineyard is no more corrupted, and the bad is cast away, behold ye shall have joy with me because of the fruit of my vineyard. 76 For behold, for a long time will I lay up of the fruit of my vineyard unto mine own self against the season, which speedily cometh; and for the last time have I nourished my vineyard, and pruned it, and dug about it, and dunged it; wherefore I will lay up unto mine own self of the fruit, for a long time, according to that which I have spoken. 77 And when the time cometh that evil fruit shall again come into my vineyard, then will I cause the good and the bad to be gathered; and the good will I preserve unto myself, and the bad will I cast away into its own place. And then cometh the season and the end; and my vineyard will I cause to be burned with fire."
Alma 6:6 "Nevertheless the children of God were commanded that they should gather themselves together oft, and join in fasting and mighty prayer in behalf of the welfare of the souls of those who knew not God."
3 Nephi 18:32 "Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out of your synagogues, or your places of worship, for unto such shall ye continue to minister; for ye know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal them; and ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them."
D&C 105:10 " "That they themselves may be prepared, and that my people may be taught more perfectly, and have experience, and know more perfectly concerning their duty, and the things which I require at their hands."
D&C 107:99-100 "Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence. He that is slothful shall not be counted worthy to stand, and he that learns not his duty and shows himself not approved shall not be counted worthy to stand. Even so. Amen."
Matthew 11:29-30 "29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Luke 9:23 "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."
2 Nephi 31:10 "And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?"
2 Nephi 25:23 "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do."
Moroni 7:45 "And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."
Helaman 5:12 "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."
2 Nephi 25:29 "And now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul; and if ye do this ye shall in nowise be cast out."
2 Nephi 25:26 "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."
2 Nephi 25:23 "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do."
1 Nephi 11:17 "And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things."
1 Nephi 2:16 "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers."
Helaman 5:12 "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."
John 7:17 "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself."
1 Nephi 21:15-16 "15 ...Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel. 16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me."
Jacob 3:1 "But behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction."
Helaman 3:35 " Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God."
Alma 36:3 "And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day."
D&C 84:88 "And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."
Jacob 5:72 " And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all things."
Alma 37:6 "Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise."
John 9:39 "And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind."
Ether 12:4 "Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God."
Alma 36:3 "...whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day."
Ether 12:6 "...faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith."
Alma 36:3 "And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day."
Moroni 8:16 "...Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear."