Health challenges and spiritual experiences

This is Cameron's letter for today. Between talking to the MTC health office and information from Cameron he's had a fever but it finally broke and he is feeling much better. He is on antibiotics and it seems to be helping. He really hopes he doesn't get delayed but we all know that it's in the Lord's hands and he will leave  when it is the right time

Guten Tag!

So my P-day was switched from Monday to Wednesday so I've had to wait a week and a half for laundry and Emails! I was pulled aside last week by President Trost and he informed me about Grandpa Derrell's passing. Even though I had been expecting the news it still hit me as a surprise and it brought me down. It just so happened that that day we were teaching the plan of salvation to an untersucher and as I was teaching about it and giving my testimony the Spirit gave me a testimony of the truthfulness of what I was saying. I know that Grandpa Derrell is in a better place and I know that he is no longer in any pain.

Last Thursday around seven in the afternoon in the middle of class I noticed some pain, and very quickly it turned into a lot of pain and I had to make a trip to the ER. They did a lot tests and couldn't find anything wrong with me, so they sent me back to the MTC. Something really amazing happened at the ER though; As we were waiting in the lobby in front of us was a young couple. The Woman was crying and looked really pale, but at the time I didn't think much of it. I was lying in the the room and me and my companion Elder Sprunt had been waiting for an hour between tests and the man from the lobby came into our room and asked if we were able to give blessings. We knew they weren't members, he had earrings and she had tattoos on her arms, yet he had humbled himself and came to us in faith asking for a Priesthood blessing. My companion agreed to give the blessing and after a short prayer with me went of to give the blessing, after he left they wheeled me off to a dark room to get an ultrasound. After an hour I returned to the room and Elder Sprunt was waiting for me. The doctor came in and let us know that I was fine for the moment and wasn't in critical condition and so they were going to send me back to the MTC. I was confused and a little angry, but Elder Sprunt said something profound to me, he said "What if the Lord was just putting us in a position where we could give Kelsey a blessing?". then it hit me that before I even felt the pain I had grabbed my vial of oil without thinking of it and it turns out Elder Sprunt needed to use that oil. While I was experiencing this pain, Kelsey's Kidneys were failing and her body was shutting down. I know that the Lord will place us where we can bless other people, I just wish He could have done something else to get me there! On Saturday I returned to the ER for pains even worse than Thursday and long story short I'm almost all better today! The doctor at the MTC is wanting to keep me here another week so they can observe my progress though, so let's hope that doesn't happen! 

Yesterday D. Todd Christofferson Came and talked to us about Trust. There is no one else's trust we should search for or treasure more then the trust of the Lord.

I love you all and I know that my Redeemer lives.     

Elder Brande

Here he is with Elder Williams who was also confined to a wheelchair due to recent surgery. This in front of the Provo Temple

Rough Week!

It's been a hard week for our Family. Our dear Grandpa passed away. We called the MTC and let Elder Brande know. He sent us a wonderful letter posted below. A few days after receiving this letter, we got a call from the MTC. Elder Brande has been having some severe abdominal pain this week. They took him to the Emergency room and thought he might have appendicitis. After a few tests they decided that is probably not the issue. He is still in pain so they are going to be running some more tests. Any prayers on his behalf would be appreciated!  His dad and I have been joking that perhaps it's revenge of the MOAD!  Here's his latest letter:

Subject: Storben ist nicht die Ende

Dear Mother,

As I came out of a practice meeting with an investigator a member of an MTC presidency pulled me aside and told me about your phone call. I was deeply saddened to hear about Grandpa, but also at the same time I was able to take a breath of relief. The Spirit was able to bear testimony to me that he was in a better place and that he isn't in pain anymore. I hated to see him, a man who was so strong be held down by his disease. All day we have been learning and mostly teaching about Der Plan Der Erloser and I couldn't help but teach that life and our journey doesn't end at death. I have found great comfort in serving others and teaching about the plan of salvation. Thank you for thinking about me and sending me a call, but don't worry about me i'll be fine, I hope that you are to find comfort and peace in knowing that Jesus died so that we could all live again. I love you and I know that Grandpa is in a better place

Love Elder Brande

A Spiritual Feast

Guten Tag Ihre,

This week has been a spiritual feast, so much so that my spirit thinks that it has been Thanksgiving all week long! On Dienstag we got to listen to the Apostle Neil L. Andersen speak to us! He spoke on how the Das Buch Mormon is a companion to the Bible, it was real interesting to have an Apostle speak to us in such a personal way. On Saturday our Lehren came in and for the erste time spoke to us auf Englisch! We read out of Mosiah Kapitel 15 bis 16 and really had a strong connection to the spirit as we discussed our Saviour's Atonement and how it was personal. We then watched the video Because of Him and if you haven't seen that video I implore you to look it up right now, even if you have seen watch it again and think of someone with whom you can share it with. Go on I'll wait. Have you seen it yet? Good, now once you wipe away your tears share that video with that person you thought of, I promise that it will touch their hearts and I know that it was the Spirit who brought that person to mind. It is such a powerful message and the Spirit will testify of it's truth to whomever you share it with. Member or non-member they need that message and to know that He lives. I don't want to brag or anything, BUT I did get to listen to President Uchtdorf am Sonnstag as well! He Really brought in the spirit and spoke about how we are sometimes like Peter. Peter, who so strongly testified that Jesus was the Christ and the Son of God, denied knowing Jesus three times. Being stricken with guilt he prayed for forgiveness and on Easter he learned the great truth that we may all know for ourselves, He lives! With that great truth being made known unto him he preached the Gospel without fear, standing up for what he knew to be right even in the face of Death. I know that sharing the Gospel is hard, I have to try each day, In German! Yet I know that God placed people around us for a reason and that you can have an Impact on someone's Eternal Life.

I really absolutely love the German word for Atonement; Suhnopfer (with umlauts over the u). Es Bedeutet Son and Sacrifice which it really was. The Son of God Sacrificed His life so that we could Enjoy Eternal Life with our families. I know that my Redeemer lives! Froh Ostern, Happy Easter Everyone! I love you all!

Elder Brande 

PS. Here is the link to the video he is talking about: www.mormon.org/Easter

Learning German and definition of a MOAD

I'm doing well here in the MTC. I'm trying to enjoy my time here.  My German is coming along well.  My Companion, Elder Sprunt is awesome! Everyone in my district is amazing.  We all have so much fun together.

At lunch today, Elder Spencer (his dad served in the Alaska mission too) and I made each other a drink. It was 2% milk and cranberry juice.  It was surprisingly good.  So Elder Spencer and I decided to mix each other's drinks during dinner and not to stop until someone dropped. (Mother aside here: This sounds like a brilliant idea:))  After we each had five of the best and grossest drinks ever, Elder Spencer's miterbeiter,Elder Hall made us a MOAD (Mother Of All Drinks).  Needless to say, it was the one that put us over the edge.

From Day one they overload you with German, and the second day was as long as the first.  I was able to teach my first "investigator" all in German yesterday. I won't be surprised when the investigator turns out to be one of our teachers next week.  I am able to understand people when they speak German.  It's mostly trying to speak it that is giving me problems at the moment.

As you may have noticed - my address has changed slightly so I will be leaving earlier, around May 06

Elder Cameron Brande
May 06  Ger-Fra
2007 N 900 E., Unit 64
Provo, UT 84602

My companion, Elder Sprunt's mom sent him a care package and there was a bag of rice krispie treats she made for me.  How she knew my one true vice, i know not but I can't control myself around those buggers!  So us Germans live on the bottom floor.  We own one half of the hall and the Russians have the other half, so naturally we've formed a friendly rivalry.

Ich weiss das Buch Mormon warh ist. Ich weiss dass Joseph Smith eine Prophet war. Ich weiss dass Thomas S. Monson eine prophet ist.  Ich weiss dasgott unsere beten antwort. Ich weiss dass ich bin einen  representive Jesu Christi. Ich Liebe dich.

Elder Cameron Brande

Week 2 - He's Lovin' it!

Guten Tag!

Almost two weeks down and it feels like it's already been several months! Classes here are really rough, considering how I can't respond to most of the questions, but i can feel my knowledge growing each day! Man General Conference was amazing! After each speaker was done I wanted to yell "No, no, no! Don't sit down yet! I need to hear more!" I really enjoyed President Eyring's priesthood session talk. I almost forgot how much i missed Dieter F. Uchtdorf's plane stories! I forgot to bring my general conference talk notes, but i nearly took up a quarter of my journal! I really can't stress the importance of each and every talk enough! Maybe because I'm an Elder now, but almost every talk seemed to be focused on missionary work! Elder Holland's talk during the morning session really hit me hard. 

I really do love the MTC and I really feel the spirit all around! Although on Mittwoch one teacher made us all want to go home :P it was only a temporary feeling but it brought our whole district down for a day. My favorite teacher sister Covey is going to be gone for a whole week! she wrote each of us a little note, but it was all auf Deutsch so it took me a solid three minutes to read four lines. 

I've attached a few photos of me and Elder Sprunt, our zone, and a Couple of me and Cliff! He's got apurple cast on! I was really worried because the day before he had told me he might have to go and get surgery and that he might be delayed for a few weeks! luckily he doesn't need the surgery but it's going to be a month or two before he can use his hand!

Ich weiss dass Gott uns leibt. Ich weiss das wir Gottes Kind sind. Ich glaube in Der Plan Der Erloser. Ich leibe Dich!

Elder Brande

Our First Letter!

So excited! We received our first letter:

The first week here has been extremely crazy! The first day felt like i was being bounced from one place to another with no time to catch my breath! My companion Elder Sprunt is so awesome, he's so much like me and we get along really well. My whole district is really awesome, but out of the 30+ elders that reported on the same day only four of us, Elder Sprunt, Elder Baxter, Elder Suave (pronounced So VEE), and myself are going to Frankfurt, the rest are going to Berlin. but in April 45 Elders are being added to the German Zone and in our last week 60+ are to report for our zone! 

I really Enjoyed reading that note3 in Jesus the Christ dad left for me and the Dear Elder Letters i got from Dad, Justin, and Jared.

From day 1 they completely immerse you in deutsch! it is so Stressful! On day 3 Ich belehre ein "unterzucker" auf deutsch! it was really scary at first but as me and mein mitterbeiter began teaching about prayer and how God truly is our Himmlische Vater the spirit completely took over. I'm not going to be surprised when Unsere Unterzucker turns out to be one of our teachers tommorow.

On sunday we had a devotional and brother Elliot, an organist from the Mormon choir, and David Archuleta, some special guy i assume from how the sisters were swooning, spoke to us. I'm sure if you are a person who gets really nerdy about musik this devotional would have been your dream, but for me it wasn't too spiritual. Brother Archuleta gave a good talk about the changes we can see in people, but when he broke out into song at the pulpit it felt as if the spirit left. I realize that i'm in the minority here but i don't like the way he sings, but the elders in my district also mentioned to me how it felt like the spirit just wasn't there. Afterwards we went to see a recording of Elder Bednar's talk in a MTC called "how To Recognize The Spirit" if you are able to find a video of this talk I highly suggest you do. It was so amazing! I want my siblings and little cousins to remember what Bednar said on how to make sure you do what the Lord wants you to do (and really everyone)

1. Be a Good Boy/Girl

2. Remember Your Covenants

3. Keep the Commandments

4. Always Press Forward Doing Your Best

Ich weiss dass Das Buch Mormon wahr ist. Ich weiss dass Gott uns leibe und dass Jesus Christus unsere Ertloser ist. I know that I'm doing what the lord wants me to do and that He will Bless us because He loves us. Ich weiss dass die Kirche wahr ist.

Ich liebe dich,

Elder Cameron Brande

Leaving on an airplane

Cameron has experienced some amazing growth in the last 18 months. It has been so gratifying as a parent to see him grow from this stubborn teenager to a stubborn but spiritual young man. He has been such a help around the house always helping when asked. He was always willing to take his siblings to their activities.  He even took his sisters every morning to early morning seminary so I could get a little extra sleep.

Before he left he shared with the family how strong his testimony is and how he truly felt that not only did he want to serve a mission but the fire was so strong in his heart, he had to serve.  My mama heart is full of gratitude!

Tuesday night he was set apart and President Jones gave Cameron an amazing blessing. He told him that he would be able to learn the language, he would have joy and success in his work and he would be protected and many other wonderful and sacred blessings.

It was crazy to see his bags all packed and his room cleared of his things. You could see in his eyes that he was anxious yet ready to go.  We got up early Wednesday morning and headed to the airport.We said our goodbyes.  I asked him to wave back when he was going through security.  He told me, "I've made my decision and I'm not looking back."And he never looked back.  That was hard and wonderful at the same time. I know what he is doing is right but it's a pretty quick and severe cut of the apron strings.

Cameron headed to Salt Lake where his Grandma & Grandpa Brande picked him up and took him to the MTC. And like that he was off.....

The Call

Cameron received his call to serve in the Germany, Frankfurt mission. Cameron had taken three years of German in high school and loved the German culture. In addition, his grandparents recently returned from a mission there. Cameron had the chance to visit them in Frankfurt last summer. He really wanted to go to Germany, so of course we knew he wouldn't go there. As his mom, I felt he was going Spanish speaking.  In fact, I had told him that taking German was a waste. Boy was I wrong.

When Cameron received his call he wanted to open it in private.  He went in to his room and we heard a huge yell of "Yes!" When he came out and told the family, I didn't believe it at first. It was too good to be true and the Spirit spoke so strongly to my heart that this was the place he was meant to go.

The next big shock was that he was to report to the MTC in just five short weeks.  There would be a lot to do in a short amount of time. Cameron was up to the challenge and it was so neat to see him take charge as a young man. He finished his employment and was able to save up for more than half the cost of his mission. He took care of most of his list and making his temple appointment. I was so proud of him. However, it was a bittersweet moment as I knew it was getting closer to my first born leaving the nest.

March 23rd was his farewell talk. We were blessed to have lots of family who made the trip down here from Utah. We also had so many friends come out. We felt so loved.

Since Cameron loves pies, we decided to do a pies and ties theme. Cameron's favorite pie is Cherry.Somehow, I always forgot to get him Cherry pie so I had to make sure he got his pie.( It's a long silly story so you'll have to hear it another time.)  I did have to play a trick on him and hide the cherry pie. I had 10 different pies with no cherry.  He really thought I had forgotten his cherry pie! I finally brought it out and it was a great laugh.  The whole day was wonderful and we were so grateful for everyone who helped make it a fantastic day!