30 SEP 2019: Transfer 9 Week 1 - Transfers!! Bankstown --> ???

🇦🇺 안녕하세요 여러분!! 🇰🇷

Well what a week and what a transfer. I apologize for not sending an email in awhile. A lot has happened and I'll try to catch yous up.

So Kate, 김가영....

After meeting her at the train station, we met up with her at a mall in Carlingford while on tradeoffs with Elder Formica and we brought a member with us to connect from the young single adult group. As we were chatting and briefly getting to know each other, Elder Formica asked if she wanted to see our church... then before we're across the street walking around the temple!! We had a great lesson on the back patio of the temple in English a little and Korean a little. She doesn't know anything about God or who Jesus Christ is, but she knows there are good people in Christian churches. She said before she commits to anything, she needs to learn who God and Jesus Christ are first. We said we could help with that 😁 Then we've been trying to get her to come to a Family Home Evening, where some young adults get together, play some games, share a lesson about the Gospel and just have a good, wholesome time with each other. She's wanted to but work or family would come up last minute. Been staying in contact with her and she says she wants to give becoming a Christian A SHOT!!!! Very excited for her. Although she's moving this week to Kellyville... however, the Lord provides because.....



TRANSFERS....

We got the news on Saturday and I will be LEAVING Bankstown 😭 I've come to really love this area and especially the members. LOVE the Tongans and Samoans. Once we told the news to everyone at church, we had everyone trying to have us over for dinner hahaha We got about 7 families trying to have us over hahahaha today we've got 2 dinners and a couple visits. I'll miss this ward and area.
I will be moving to BLACKTOWN! I'll also be serving the Zone there, which is massive: 32 missionaries that cover such a large part of the mission. Should be good! My companion will be Elder Kaburara, from Kirabati, (Small island) my first islander companion! He's only been out for 6 weeks, so I'll be finishing his last 6 weeks of training - Greenie status and we would call him "my step-son"! I'm excited!! So as I was saying about 김가영 moving to Kellyville.... well Kellyville is just next door to my new area.... Inspiration, honestly. So will be able to keep reaching out to 김가영 and keep teaching!

I love the Book of Mormon so much. There's a promise that we often share regarding the blessings that can come into our lives when we immerse ourselves in it, and prayerfully ponder it's contents EVERYDAY. It's a promise from President Nelson, the prophet on the earth today who is called to convey Heavenly Father's love to us and provide us with the loving counsel and strength that our Father in Heaven would have us receive during these tumultuous times -

"When I think of the Book of Mormon, I think of the word power. The truths of the Book of Mormon have the power to heal, comfort, restore, succor, strengthen, console, and cheer our souls.
My dear brothers and sisters, I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions—every day. I promise that as you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for your own life. I promise that as you daily immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, you can be immunized against the evils of the day, even the gripping plague of pornography and other mind-numbing addictions."

Light chases away darkness. So when we fill our lives with the wonderful light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ found within the Book of Mormon EVERYDAY, all the negative feelings, emotions, insecurities, doubts, fear, and so forth can be replaced with those promised blessings from President Nelson:
- heal
- comfort
- restore
- succor
- strengthen
- console
- cheer our souls
- make better decisions
- windows of heaven will open
- WILL receive answers to your questions & direction for your life
- immunized against evils of the day, mind-numbing addictions

So make a list of anything, actually. Grab a paper and make a column of the above blessings on one half, then make a list of anything you struggle with now, negative emotions, fear, doubt, feeling hopeless, filled with guilt, etc. Now the promise from me and the Prophet is that all the negative things you wrote down WILL be replaced with the blessings in the other column, IF you:
- PRAYERFULLY STUDY the Book of Mormon EVERYDAY
- PONDER what you've studied
- DAILY IMMERSE yourself in the Book of Mormon



The Book of Mormon has changed my life and has been the reason why I left everything. It contains the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, teaching me who my Savior is and what I need to do in this life and who I need to become to return to my Heavenly Father after this life. It's brought so much peace, comfort, answers, hope and true joy into my life. I know it can for you too. Have a great week!

Elder Brandon Escamilla
에스카미야 장로
Australia Sydney Mission
호주 시드니 선교부

09 SEP 2019: Transfer 8, Week 3 - MLC, Zone Conf, KOREAN!!

G'Day Mates! 안녕하세요 매이트스!!

So this week has been pretty busy! We had Mission Leadership Conference (MLC) on Tuesday (which is where the mission president and his wife, the 2 assistants to the President, 12 Zone leaders, and 12 Sister Training leaders of the mission get together and discuss the needs and upcoming changes for the mission. In addition, we had Elder Nattress of the 70 come and give us some training. He also had 2 zone conferences, each with half of the mission. It was inspiring and I was reminded of how truly grateful I am for my Savior, Jesus Christ. We watched one of my all time favorite videos: (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/video/holiday-videos/2014-00-1420-because-of-him?lang=eng#title1) which was powerful. The Holy Ghost testified to me that Jesus Christ truly lives and that because of Him we will all live again, and we can overcome any weakness, pain, addiction. We can start over and become a new person. Coming to the knowledge of my Savior has changed my life and it's the greatest thing that could ever happen in my life. I'm so grateful.

This week I celebrate 8 years since being baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - 10 SEP 2011! The blessings that have come as a result of this decision have been unbelievable. I know God loves each of us. I know He reached out to me exactly when I needed it. I'm so grateful. The best and happiest decision of my life.

Incredible personal miracle - we are talking to people at the train station and I'm sitting there, playing my uke and this girl sits next to me. She has her earbuds in, but I just decide to talk to her. Turns out SHE'S KOREAN!!! She's been learning English for 6 months here in Aussieland and is from Seoul, South Korea! 30 MINUTES LATER... A FULL CONVERSATION IN KOREAN!!!! I couldn't believe I was actually able to have a conversation for 30 min in Korean, officially the longest I've talked to a Korean. ALSO I GAVE OUT MY FIRST KOREAN PAMPHLET!! Considering that pamphlet is the pamphlet they gave us in the MTC and I've had it in my bag this entire time... I followed her on Facebook and she was keen to come to a church activity!! This is ONE IN A MILLION just so you know, among all old Korean speakers, this never happens so this is huge. Pray that things go well and we can get her to church and start teaching her!! Her name is 김가영 Gayoung!

Well kind of a quick one this week. Watch that video! Then just ponder on who Jesus Christ is and what He can mean to you. If you want the best life you could ever live, follow Jesus Christ. I love you all, have a great week! 사랑하고 보고싶어요!! 포기는 없다! 힘 내자! 화이팅!!

Elder Brandon Escamilla
에스카미야 장로
Australia Sydney Mission
호주 시드니 선교부