26 AUG 2019: Transfer 8, Week 1 - TRANSFERS!! 이동

안녕하세요 여러분!!

Sorry it's been some time since I last wrote. I've started my 8th transfer and this past week I celebrated my 1 YEAR mark Can't believe a year ago I stepped into the MTC to start a journey that would be the greatest thing I could possibly do for my life and future. I've learned so much and met some truly incredible people that have really helped me along the way. Helped and motivated me become a better person, more like the Savior. I hear of my friends continuing on with school, or reaching important milestones in their lives and it's sad to not be there or celebrate with them. However, I'm so grateful to be here in Australia speaking Korean in a ward with a bunch of Tongans, yet live with a bunch of Lebanese, while everyone continues to ask if I'm Chinese or Filipino.... It's great hahaha No but seriously, I would never trade what I've experienced and learned here in the land down unda!

So this week, transfers... This transfer hurt because most the missionaries I have served around have now gone home... Also I am now the last Korean speaking missionary left in the mission... Last of the Mohicans hahaha Some of my favorite missionaries have gone home... Sad, but now they go on to start the next mission hahaha My son, Elder Lee 이규배 장로님 got transferred ㅠㅠㅠ So sad. He went to Lalor Park. He's such a good kid, and I'm so grateful to have been with him from the beginning and watch him grow. It wasn't always easy, but one of my most loved companion. Then I will stay here in Bankstown! Round 3 let's go! Thought I was gonna get moved to one of the old "Korean" areas and train one of the 2 Koreans coming in... But hey, the Lord has something else in mind. So I'll stay here with Elder Smith, who I lived with last transfer... It'll be an interesting transfer... I'm excited though to get to serve, love and help the missionaries in this zone though. I've come to love them and it's cool that they're from all over the world: Tonga, American Samoa, Vanuatu, Fiji, China, New Zealand and so forth...

So this past week, I came across this quote from a BYU Devotional that an old companion of mine recommended (황기수 장로님, 감사합니다!) titled - "Wrestling with Comparisons". I highly recommend it. In this talk, there's a quote that really struck me:
"C. S. Lewis once proposed, “We might think that God wanted simply obedience to a set of rules: whereas He really wants people of a particular sort.”"
I love this passage because it shines a whole new light on why we should be obedient to the commandments and the counsel from the prophets. Through John 17:3 and Alma 34:32 we learn that this life is the time to prepare to meet and to come to know God. We're here on this earth to have families, learn and grow, be happy and become what Heavenly Father intends for us to become. He sent His Son to lead and guide us, to show us the way we ought to live our lives. Then established His church and gave His authority as a means and aid along the way. Additionally, His Atonement makes it possible for us change from our fallen state, imperfect condition to eventually becoming what He expects us to become - perfect (Matthew 5:48 & 3 Nephi 12:48). The way we do this is through Gospel of Jesus Christ - Faith in Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism, Gift of the Holy Ghost, Enduring to the End. A continuous cycle of changing and "becom[ing] the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is" (Moroni 7:48).

So we must not look past the mark when it comes to commandments. At first they may seem restrictive, keeping you from doing what YOU want or what makes YOU happy. I don't know about you, but that's a lot of YOUs and not enough Him. Because as a result of keeping the commandments, we can more fully turn our hearts to God, and be more able to always remember His Son. Allow that change to happen within you and it'll free you from the chains of this world.

Heavenly Father wants us to return home to Him, but like any good parent He wants us to shape up before coming back into the house. Take off your shoes. Not stink up the house. Don't track any mud or dirt into the house. Be kind and courteous. Be willing to clean up and help around the house, and so forth. He really wants a people of a particular sort coming home, even as He is.

Have a great week! 사랑하고 보고 싶어요!!

Elder Brandon Escamilla
에스카미야 장로
Australia Sydney Mission
호주 시드니 선교부


Me and my dad's last pic together, Elder Scott


My son and I's last pic together


Last district pday at the beach


Service project at the chapel

05 AUG 2019 ~ Transfer 7 Week 5

안녕하세요!!

Short email, but this week has been a great week. Well the end of it anyways. We had Zone Conference and it was a 'kick in the butt' to get things going again. I loved it. I needed that little straightforwardness. So the next day we went to work. Talked to people all day on the trains, played ukulele for and with people (I discovered a new way to share the Gospel... Music! I wish I discovered this a year sooner, but discovering now was perfect timing because I love playing the uke and singing. It makes everything so much fun and just changes the atmosphere); visited a member in the hospital, talked to and played for more people and had a nice dinner with a member, all in a day. It was a fantastic day where we made a lot of people smile, cry, laugh and feel comforted. Shared about who we were and our message to those who wanted to know. It was a great day where God placed people in our path. We did nothing more than merely showing up and opening our mouths. Everything else was provided, the people were prepared that day.

It's been awesome to come to a realization to use your talents when sharing the Gospel. We have an Elder from Tonga who owned a barbershop back home and has been giving free haircuts to all and share the Gospel in the meantime. In one week he gave 70 haircuts. Just by using his talents and it got me thinking of what I could offer. Then I realized I've been playing around with other missionaries' ukuleles and I enjoy singing, then we were finding people at the trains with some other missionaries and they brought their uke! So we played and sang for people and it was AWESOME! People smiled, listened, chatted with us and it really help us be a light for the people! So I bought a ukulele and that's what we've been doing since. Playing for members and their kids, anywhere we can. It's really brought me a lot of joy to offer the Gospel in a way that everyone is receptive to. Love you all. 

We met 3 guys at a train station started jamming with them, they rapped while I sang and played and it was SO SWEET! They were on their way to the recording studio and they were hyped from our jam session and asked US for our number and want to get me in the studio! Hahahaha Don't know if it'll actually happen but watch out for me on Spotify! hahaha

Have a great week!

Elder Brandon Escamilla
에스카미야 장로
Australia Sydney Mission
호주 시다니 선교부


(L to R) Elder Lee (my son), Me, Elder Scott (my dad), Elder Pottle (My Brother)


Pday bowling with missionaries in the zone


Group of guys we sang with in Train station


Videos of us singing with the guys in the station

22 JUL 2019 ~ Transfer 7, Week 3

안녀하세요, Malo Lelei, Malo Soi Fua, Ni hao, G'Day, etc..

How's it going?!? Things here in Aussie land have been rollin along. Weeks fly by and time is just going by so fast. So I think the last email I sent was at the end of last transfer, so updates:
- Still with Elder Lee (이규배 장로)
- Still in Bankstown
- No longer District Leader, just focusing on training Elder Lee
- People still freak out finding out about my Native American background
- We got Facebook taken away from us as a mission and it's actually been SO NICE (highly recommend to yous to take a break from social media)
- My Korean has actually improved since being with my Korean companion, but still a very long road to go...
- We've been helping teach this Korean guy that one of the Chinese Sisters found when she served in the city, but... yeah it's complicated...
- They say that the "Mission is the MTC for life". I can testify that this is true, and has been all too literal... I'll just say that Elder Lee is very much like my own son... Not even joking...

Well today I hit my 11 months on the mission. It's been quite the journey. Next month I'll hit the halfway mark, but since I'll be going home a bit early for school, it's like I'm already over halfway. Crazy.
Yesterday, I was sitting in Sacrament with a lot on my mind. I'm definitely at a hard point in my mission, where a lot has been going through my mind. I've come to love the Sacrament because it's become a time of reflection, a time receive answers to my prayers and a time where I can receive guidance if I soften my heart and am willing to accept the guidance given. Yesterday, was one of those experiences. I sat there and was reflecting when the scripture Alma 23:6 and these thoughts came to mind,

Alma 23:6
And as sure as the Lord liveth, so sure as many as believed, or as many as were brought to the knowledge of the truth, through the preaching of Ammon and his brethren, according to the spirit of revelation and of prophecy, and the power of God working miracles IN them—yea, I say unto you, as the Lord liveth, as many of the Lamanites as believed in their preaching, and were converted unto the Lord, never did fall away

"Although you may not have seen, witnessed, or performed many miracles, the miracle of your mission has been the change taking place within you. Much like the Anti-Nephi-Lehis at the time of this scripture, the miracle in their life was 'the power of God working miracles IN them', which resulted in their conversion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and never falling away. So the miracle of your mission is the change you are experiencing. Your heart, mind, desires and so forth. This is the miracle of your mission."

My heart was touched as I felt the chills run through my body, confirming the thoughts in my head. Looking back, this really has been the miracle of my mission as my conversion and knowledge of the Gospel has deepened. Christlike attributes, such as patience, charity, humility, virtue and faith, have become more apparent (hopefully, at least just a little). This mission has been challenging and very different than what I expected. However, I will be forever grateful for this. The miracle being worked within me is far greater than any miracle I may see or be a part of. Laman and Lemuel had miracles done TO them, but that is where it finished. They never allowed those miracles to work IN them. So just take some time to think about your conversion. Are the miracles around you just happening TO you or are you allowing them to take place IN you.
Have a great week!

Elder Brandon Escamilla
에스카미야 장로
Australia Sydney Mission
호주 시다니 선교부



Went to the beach and had to keep that Korean going


The number of chairs = number of transfers left in our missions


Our Tongan members pulling through with the El Jannahs and KFC (if there is anything that Tongans love more than eating, it's feeding the missionaries)


group pic with some missionaries in our zone


beach again... but in missionary clothes :)


District lunch, getting some fish & chips


group selfie


Elder Lee being Elder Lee at the beach


another group selfie


group selfie

01 JUL 2019: Week 6 of Transfer 6

G'day Mates!

So things have been moving a long. Nothing too new to report. Elder Lee is adjusting, and we're actually having a pretty fun time together. It's cool to see him learn and grow, and just learn so much from this new world that is so different from Korea. I've transitioned to try to focus on helping him learn English more than him teach me Korean, because.... well... the cost-benefit of him knowing English opposed to me Korean is much greater. I still study and do my part, but I'm trying to get to learn English more. So he can participate more in lessons, visits with members, talk to people for finding, and just function as a missionary.

My heart broke a little this week during our Zone Conference. I mean I already knew it, but to hear it come from my mission president stung a little more. He mentioned all the types of missionaries and assigned languages in our mission. I'm one of 6 Korean speakers. Then he said that he's asked Salt Lake to stop sending Korean assigned missionaries (like me). They'll probably still send Koreans (from Korea) periodically, but no more Korean assigned missionaries will be sent to my mission....

So this transfer has been a rollercoaster in so many different ways. If you've seen "The Best Two Years", I've definitely related to the trainer so many times... But I feel good things are coming our way. The Korean is coming along and I'm able to speak a little more fluidly and understand a little more. We've talked to a good amount of people. We've tried the stickerboard idea that they do in Korea. We're slowly getting to meet the ward and getting the gears going. Still haven't had any luck yet, but we'll get there. I'm feeling pretty ready to smash this next week and work our hardest. It's the last week of the transfer then we'll get transfer details on Saturday or so.

If there's one thing that I've come to know, it's that this church is the restored church of Jesus Christ. That God exists and loves all His children. Although I really haven't been able to see the Gospel change anyone else's life out here, it's changed mine. I like to think that I've changed a bit since coming out. I understand what's most important. I've seen the difference between a Christ centered home and a faithless home. And so on. If you want true, lasting joy, it's found in living the Gospel of Jesus Christ on a daily basis. Mosiah 2:41.

Elder Brandon Escamilla
에스카미야 장로
Australia Sydney Mission
호주 시드니 선교부

17 JUN 2019: Bankstown! Korean Food!.... Um, G'day Mate!

안녕하세요 여러분!

Things are moving along here in the land down unda! My companion for this transfer is none other than Elder LEE from Busan, South Korea! He's a pretty funny, energetic, and fresh from Korea! This is about his 3rd week in Australia and 12th week speaking English. Training has been.... fun... Haha I'm just used to having companions who are more experienced than me, know the drill, know the rules, what they should and shouldn't be doing and we're able to brainstorm ideas for our area. Well since Elder Lee has never been a missionary before, everything that's usually shared between 2 missionaries has fallen on me... Also since he's still working on English, I've just been the mouthpiece for us and a translator at times. Which is good for my Korean. But I've also realized how bad my Korean actually is and how much I still don't know... Let's just say that GoogleTranslate has been our best friend.

So how's the missionary work in Bankstown? Well let's just say that like all my other areas, I've come in right after they've baptized all the people they were teaching. Also, in our ward there's us and another set of Elders who already knows the members and the area. So often we show up to member's houses and they say that the other Elders have stopped by already... There IS, however, a golden place for a Korean speaker like me and a Korean like Elder Lee.. This magical place is called Campsie. Our area covers half the town and it's basically little China/KOREA. So here, I've:
- Had my first Korean rejection (that one hurt a little more than other rejections)
- Gotten pretty discouraged and frustrated with my Korean
- Found an awesome Korean restaurant that we've eaten at 5 times or so already
- Found a local Korean newspaper called "일요신문"/"The Sydney Korean Herald" &
"한국신문"/"Korean Today"
- Learned that I truly, deeply love Kimchi

So this week has been a pretty rough week for me, personally. However, during a Stake Priesthood Meeting yesterday I had something hit me and I finally understood something, hopefully. A sort of answer to my prayers, frustration, and confusion hit me during that same Priesthood Meeting. I'll be honest, I've questioned a lot about what in the world is a Navajo with a Mexican name who studied Arabic in Uni doing in Australia trying to learn Korean?? Especially in a place where Korean is all but useless in regards to missionary work (Next to no Korean members, no Korean ward or branch, and just no luck with teaching Koreans the Gospel). I mean, the most LOGICAL reasoning that I've come up with is that Sister Escamilla is a Korean living in Sydney. BUT that's a long shot too, and not all that logical. So back to square 1.

Lately, from Conference talks I've listened to or other songs, I've heard a lot about God not always answering our prayers in the way we think, or at all, or not giving us the blessings we desire when we desire them. Which I'm cool with, that's what Faith is. Trusting that Heavenly Father knows what He's doing, that He knows best, and trust in His timing.

So, where does this lead my thoughts? So hopefully this makes sense. There were things said during the talks last night mixed with my own personal studies that helped me understand why we don't always receive answers to prayers or the blessings we desire. We know that this life is "a time to prepare to meet God" (Alma 12:24). For "this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17:3). So it is full of trials, pain, sorrow, tests, "that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good" (D&C 122:7). With the ultimate intent to "be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect." (3 Nephi 12:48).

Sometimes, often times actually, Heavenly Father wants to see HOW BAD we actually want it. How bad do we want to receive an answer to our prayers. How bad do we want our life to improve. How bad do we want a testimony. How bad do we want the blessings. For Joseph Smith, he wanted to know which church was true, but he didn't know how to find out. So he went to the best thing he knew to do and began studying the Bible. Whether he started at Genesis or at Matthew, I don't know, but regardless I don't think he happened to be flipping through the Bible and came upon James 1:5 - the scripture that would inspire him to go into the grove of trees. Instead, he studied and it wasn't until he came across James 1:5, 1,538 pages later, he finally knew what he should do. Why didn't God inspire him sooner in Matthew, Exodus, Acts, or any other book? I believe that it is because Heavenly Father wanted to see how badly he really wanted to know. For the work that he would be entrusted with, it would be "no fleeting task". So He needed someone who truly had that desire.

For the early Saints and the many many struggles they had with establishing the church and eventually crossing the States to what would become Utah. Why did they have to go through that? If God is all powerful, why couldn't he have just established them in Mississippi, the future Zion? Protect them from the mobs? Keep them from having to cross the entire US by wagon? Well, in order to be able to establish His church, Heavenly Father would need people who were firm in the faith and who wouldn't give up. So as a result of these trials He will have (in a less harsh way) in a way "weeded out the weak". So likewise, if we are not receiving the blessings and answers we desire, He is testing us. He wants to know how badly we want it. He doesn't need a bunch a quitters that give up after 1 prayer. When things get hard, He doesn't need people who complain the entire journey. He doesn't need half members - "No man can serve two masters" (Matt 6:24). In one of Elder Holland's addresses, he gives his interpretation of the Savior's encounter with the 12 Apostles after they had gone "a fishing" (John 21). In regards to after the Savior questioned Peter the 3rd time "Do you love me", Elder Holland describes the dialogue as,

"Then Peter, why are you here? Why are we back on this same shore, by these same nets, having this same conversation? Wasn’t it obvious then and isn’t it obvious now that if I want fish, I can get fish? What I need, Peter, are disciples—and I need them forever. I need someone to feed my sheep and save my lambs. I need someone to preach my gospel and defend my faith. I need someone who loves me, truly, truly loves me, and loves what our Father in Heaven has commissioned me to do. Ours is not a feeble message. It is not a fleeting task. It is not hapless; it is not hopeless; it is not to be consigned to the ash heap of history. It is the work of Almighty God, and it is to change the world."

So whether or not I ever have success in my mission, my mission will have been a test of how badly I want to have success and learn the language, and ultimately, a test of how much I truly love Him.

If you read this far, thank you for indulging me and hopefully you got something from it. If not, well you just got a sneak peak into the inside of my head. Hope your week blessed with some Korean food. I highly recommend. Especially the Kimchi. 사랑해요!!

Elder Brandon Escamilla
에스카미야 장로
Australia Sydney Mission
호주 시드니 선교부

27 MAY 2019: From Vietnam/Samoa --> Lebanon/Tonga???

Goodaye Mates!!

Another hectic week, so let's jump right in!

TRANSFER CALLS!!! Elder Grant will be staying in Prairiewood and taking over as Zone Leader. I will be transferred to Bankstown! Which is basically Lebanon on the streets and Tonga in the chapel. Time to brush up on my Arabic... it's been awhile, wish me luck... I will be a District Leader AND..... *drum roll*..... TRAINING!!! I will have a son!! (anyone who trains a new missionary is what we call a "mom" or "dad"). So word from my old companion, Elder Scott, is that our mission president called him asking him where all the Korean areas were in the mission because there is a KOREAN coming and he wants to put him in one of those areas!! Elder Scott highly recommended Summer Hill area, which includes an area called Campsie that is filled with Chinese and Koreans. Well Campsie is partially covered by Bankstown... I've asked around where Greenies are being trained and my area is the place with probably the most Koreans, not much but some... I've asked the APs, but they said that President Runia doesn't make final decisions until they get here... So I'm on edge to find out who my Greenie will be. I'm the only Korean speaker who is training... So please pray that I get the Korean coming in. My Korean will just skyrocket through the roof!! So I've been pretty anxious these past couple days. I'm excited to train. Nervous, but we'll just go out and do the work. Give it our best and let Heavenly Father take care of the rest. I'll go to the mission office to pick him up tomorrow (Wednesday). So we'll see!!

So last week as Zone Leader was... Crazy... So I won't say what happened, but you can probably guess, in the ball park, what made it crazy.

As missionaries, we agree to a set of rules to follow. These rules, abnormal to the normal world but like all the principles and commandments of the Gospel, are meant to protect us, guide us, enable to us to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost more abundantly, and to be able to truly show by word and by deed that we are representatives of Jesus Christ and that we strive to do what He would do if He were in our position. Like the Gospel, it all comes down to obedience and submission to the will of God. In Moses 7, it gives an account of the Prophet Enoch conversing with the Lord. In verse 33, the Lord identifies 2 main commandments that He gave to the "workmanship of mine own hands":
1) "they should love one another"
2) "That they should choose ME"
However, as imperfect, mortal beings that we are, we "are without affection, and [we] hate [our] own blood." This is the lifelong struggle. The seemingly impossible commission given by Jesus Christ once in Jerusalem and once among the Nephites in early America - "Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect."

I was listening to a talk by, then, BYU President Jeffrey R. Holland, titled "The Will of the Father in All Things". In this devotional, he identified obedience/submission to the will of God as THE greatest, lifelong struggle and pursuit of mankind. Referencing the account of the resurrected Jesus Christ's visit to the America, he read the Savior's introduction to the Nephites - "Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world. And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning." (3 Nephi 11:10-11). In introducing himself, the Savior highlighted His obedience and submission to the Father, our Heavenly Father. Of all the things that the Savior could've introduced himself with, He chose this. Identifying His obedience and submission as one of the most, if not the most, important aspect of true discipleship. As His greatest trial and accomplishment.

So if this is the case for the Savior, no wonder it is so difficult for us to do so. So how is it possible? Where do we start? King Benjamin gives us an answer: "For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he YIELDS to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, SUBMISSIVE, meek, humble, patient, full of love, WILLING TO SUBMIT to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth SUBMIT to his father." (Mosiah 3:19)
I invite you to take a look at your life and your decisions from this past week, and determine whether you've really been submitting your will the will of our Heavenly Father. Are there commandments that you struggle with? Have been doing your "Come, Follow Me" readings? Praying? Magnifying your calling? Finding people for the missionaries to teach??? Obedience is the first law in heaven. So if this life is the time to prepare to meet God, how can we possibly expect to be prepared to meet Him and live with Him if we were not obedient in this life.

I promise you that blessings and miracles will flow into your life as you are obedient to God's commandments. As every missionary know, "Obedience brings blessings, but EXACT obedience brings miracles." I haven't been the best and I know where I need to improve. The scriptures provide us endless examples of the miracles and blessings that can come into our life as we submit our will to the will of God -

"Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearingness declared the world, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments.
And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in words; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will." (Helaman 10:4-5)

Elder Brandon Escamilla
에스카미야 장로
Australia Sydney Mission
호주 시다니 선교부


My zone leader companion, Elder Staheli, Samoan speaking. Awesome guy and missionary.


Me and my companion, Elder Grant (wearing the Higley High School jumper) at the train station before I left.


Some pictures from Prairiewood.

20 MAY 2019 ~ Week..... : President Nelson!! Stake Conference! Tradeoffs!

여러분, 안녕하세요?

G'day Mates! Hope you've had another awesome week. This week was a pretty busy one for us too. So went on 3 tradeoffs this week. 2 with District leaders in my zone and 1 with the Traveling Trainers (2 missionaries who go around the mission, training missionaries on how to be more effective). I love tradeoffs b/c I get to see how missionaries do work in their areas. Get new ideas and inspiration. Before, I really loved them b/c I had no responsibility or "leadership", so I could enjoy it more. However, now that I'm a Zone Leader, there seems to be more pressure to GIVE the training and advice. Which is hard since many of these missionaries have been out much longer than I and have much more experience.

On Friday, I went out with an Elder Maloney from Mesa, AZ! He went to my rival high school and we found out that we actually raced each other in track race once! Found a picture of both of us in it! It was my senior year and his freshman. Small world! Anyways, he's been out about 20 months. So just right at the end. He's served all over and spent a lot of time in downtown Sydney, which means he's an awesome missionary and teacher (since they teach SO MUCH in the city). I learned so much from him. We had a lesson with these 2 girls who attend a Pentacostal church nearby, teaching the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I'll tell you he knew his stuff. They asked HEAPS of questions, but he would just whip out a scripture to answer their question right away like nothing. His answers were clear, simple, and backed up with his own personal witness and testimony. I want to share with you how POWERFUL the account of Joseph Smith's First visitation (thanks Paco) is. Far out... it was just breath taking. I wasn't paying attention, but he says he thought he saw one of the girls we were teaching tear up. What really allowed for that to take place though was the time he spent to gain his own personal witness before hand. Preach My Gospel says, "The Spirit will draw upon the KNOWLEDGE and skills you have developed to help you teach more powerfully." You can't fill a bucket of water in an empty well.

Definitely loved my tradeoff with him. I learned a lot and I developed a resolve to be better. To study harder since I haven't been doing as good as I know I can. Plus, I don't feel like I'm as good of a teacher as I should be at this point in my mission. Fortunately, I still have time to improve.

Seeing President Nelson was just... I can't explain it. When that man walked into the room. 8,000 people went silent and all rose. As he went around shaking everyone's hand on the stage. One by one. I couldn't help but think that THAT is how the Savior ministered, one by one. I could see his genuine smile and sincere interactions with everyone. I felt the love of God emanating from him. Chills flowed through my head and chest constantly. I received that additional witness that night that Russell M. Nelson truly is called of God to lead and guide His church as a prophet. He spoke of the importance of the Book of Mormon. Wow did he know his stuff. I mean, yeah I know he's the prophet, but wow. Nothing has gone past him.

This week has been a "Do Better, Be Better" kind of week. Lots has been going on as I try to be there for everyone at the same time, try to build relationships, heal some wounds, unring some bells, etc. I definitely haven't been the best and with all that's been going on, it's definitely taking a toll on my body as I just always feel exhausted. Trying to take care of everyone, not offend anyone, be more loving, PATIENT, and understanding. Sometimes it works and I feel I'm making progress, then the next second I slip up and back to level 1. I see where I want to be as a missionary, teacher, Korean speaker, companion, person, etc, then millions of other things jump in the way. However, I've gained a lot of comfort as of recent from this passage of scripture. Although, it is not as extreme externally, it sometimes feels like it internally. "And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?"

I definitely haven't been the best at handling everything that's come my way. Last night, while walking back from the train station after seeing the Prophet, I was talking with one of my flat mates, Elder Tuivaiti from American Samoa, and he mentioned how he now understands what leaders talk about when they are stressed from their position and caring for the people they watch over because he could see it in me. So I guess I wear it on my shoulders sometimes, and people definitely see. Anyways, I have one last week to try to make everything up before the end of the transfer. We'll get transfer calls next Monday! Can't believe it's already the end of my 5th transfer and I hit my 9 month mark in 2 days. Time flies... Have a great week!

Elder Brandon Escamilla
에스카미야 장로
Australia Sydney Mission
호주 시다니 선교부


Elder Grant and I (current companion) at the Opera House

Part of my district at the Opera House!


I saw some members from my old area - Port Stephens!!! One of the best parts of yesterday


Sisters who were in my District last transfer


Me and my dad! 스코트 장로님! 제 사랑하는 아빠! Elder Scott, my first companion. Now he's a Zone Leader in Mortdale and I'm a ZL in Prairiewood/Liverpool. Like father, like son!


The venue for the prophet, 8,000 people!! (70% islanders haha)


My second dad, Elder Neas! Miss him heaps. He's in the city now and has 2 transfers left Elder Scott too! in 2 transfers I'll be the last assigned Korean speaker...


The Prophet!!

13 MAY 2019 ~ Week .... Happy Mother's Day!!

Happy Mother's Day!!

Hey so this is just gonna be a quick email. Heaps has been happening this week. We had Zone Conference. Our Mission President's wife gives some incredible trainings that are just always on point. I'll share some of her thoughts:
"Misconceptions of Repentance:
     1) Myth: There are hard 'steps' of repentance; truth: There are positive "fruits' of repentance
     2) Myth: The longer I wait the easier it will be; truth: the sooner you repent the free-er you will be
     3) Myth: If I'm repentant, I'll never do it again; truth: If I'm repentant, I'll always keep trying again"
There were more, but these were some of my favorite. Repentance can be a daunting task. I've been through it myself and it can be very scary and intimidating. However, the joy and peace that comes afterwards, is inexpressible. How incredible it feels to have that burden lifted. In the Book of Mormon, Alma describes this feeling in Alma 36:6-21

"And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more. And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!"

If you have some repenting to do, get it over with. Consequences may seem high at this moment, but if you wait consequences will only increase and much harder to do so later on. 

Please keep the missionaries in your prayers. We've had a couple of missionaries in my zone go home early because of medical reasons. Heaps of other stuff has been happening as well. So please, pray for the missionaries. This week has just been hectic. Super busy, taking care of the missionaries in my zone, trying to build relationships, motivate and build them up, then try to lead our area and ward, stay on top of the missionary work in our area and then try to find time to study Korean.... I'm grateful my companion has been patient with me and all this craziness. Definitely exhausted at the end of each day. Have a great week and PRESIDENT NELSON THE PROPHET COMES ON SUNDAY!!! So I'll let you know how that goes! 안녕히 주무세요!

Elder Brandon Escamilla
에스카미야 장로
Australia Sydney Mission
호주 시다니 선교부

06 MAY 2019 ~ Week....: Busy, busy, busy....

여러분, 안녕하세요?

These past couple weeks, we have just been busy!! This week we were able to go to the temple!! It was such an incredible session, and so much power comes from that. Renewed focus, hope, faith, desire and commitment to follow Jesus Christ. This time, things were just really clicked for me and my eyes were opened more.
Little miracle this week, I was on tradeoffs on Friday with the APs (Assistants to the Mission President), and I was able to give out a Book of Mormon! We were doing some train finding and just talking to as many people we could on the train. I was talking with this Uni student, who's family is originally from Ghana. Even better, he was willing to listen to the story of the Restoration! The first I've ever been able to actually share that much. He seemed willing to read, but not sure where it will lead to.

I've come to really enjoy just talking with people. Meeting people from ALL over the world! A city in my area, Cabramatta, has got to be one of the most diverse places in the world! I've met people there from Nicaragua, El Salvador, Czechoslovakia, Croatia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, China, (no Koreans 😭), Armenia, Jordan, Congo, etc.

Another miracle, I got 2 phone calls, each telling me they had a Korean to talk to me with at that moment. So I got to USE MY KOREAN!! It was just introduction stuff and explaining who I am and why I'm studying Korean in Australia if I'm American... yeah, the worst thing to try to explain, let alone in Korean. But it was way good. I wasn't able to teach them but it was way good to be able to use it. Studying paying off! Truly blessed with past companions and members who feel bad for me and my lack of Korean use, so they give me a chance/call whenever the time comes!

Zone Leader stuff has been super hectic. I enjoy staying busy, but definitely a hard job that I respect my past zone leaders for fulfilling the calling much more gracefully than I am. Elder Grant is great because at times I can rely on his 19 months of experience. We have Zone Conference this week, so I'm excited to here the training from our President and Sister Runia!
*Drum Roll* President Nelson, the prophet, will be coming to Sydney May 19 (Happy Birthday Paige!) AND we just got approval for ALL the missionaries to attend the huge conference in Darling Harbour!!!!!! Super excited for when that time comes!!!

Spiritual Thought:
In this last General Conference, Elder Uchtdorf said something that was so comforting:
"the Lord has never required expert, flawless missionary efforts. Instead, “the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind.”
I am way beyond the perfect missionary. I'm not a scriptorian nor am I experienced in teaching, BUT the Lord will fulfill the rest and work with what we offer. So as you look for ways to share the Gospel, just give it your best. By small and simple things, are great things brought to pass. Do your best and He will fulfill the rest. Love you have a great week!

Elder Brandon Escamilla
에스카미야 장로
Australia Sydney Mission
호주 시다니 선교부

Pics: Went ice skating for Pday, memories, went out with young men who are wanting to prepare for a mission!

15 APR 2019 ~ Week 35: Transfers, Busy busy BUSY

So we got transfer calls last night! I will be staying in Prairiewood and Elder Kowallis will be going to the City! Probably finish his last 2 transfers there, he's super excited. He's been here for 7 months or so, so he needs a change of scenery. What a place to finish though!! Opera house, Darling Harbor, city, thats the place to be. My new companion is Elder Grant, who I've heard is also from AZ. Then I got a phone call from my mission president, and I will be one of the Zone Leaders for the Prairiewood Zone, watching over the missionaries in the Prairiewood Stake and then my companion Zone Leader will be watching over things in the Liverpool Stake. Usually Zone Leaders are companions but for our zone they are split. So things are going to get hectic. I was only District Leader for 1 transfer and was hoping to get another chance to do better, but now I get another chance but on the zone level... So gotta figure out how to do that, then lead the area since Elder Grant is coming into the area. I haven't even met all the members yet and it's just a very busy and a lot going on. Then still keep up with my Korean studies... Pray for me haha.

So this week we've been doing HEAPS of missionary work and it's AWESOME. Not that we havent before but we're in a stage of missionary work where we're finding people to teach, working with members and actually teaching!! This week I taught the Restoration for the first time in my mission. I've done recent convert lessons in Port Stephens, but besides that I have next to no teaching experience. It was great, I love teaching. Then I said the First Vision account for the first time too, in SPANISH! (I'll be honest, in the MTC I learned in the First Vision in Korean. Not English. I know it in English but not to recite it off the top of my head... i know I'm a bad missionary, but I haven't had any opportunities before, so I read it off the pamphlet in Spanish for Maria. Sorry all you Returned missionaries, I'll repent).

We are teaching Maria now. She is from Nicaragua that we met at the park (miracle: she was really struggling and had went to the park. She was praying that God would send help, then all of a sudden Elder Kowallis and Aloi - on tradeoffs for the day - come walking up to her. Isn't that crazy?!?) We came by and did some MAJOR backyard renovation. I'm talking 5ft grass, large tree removal, heaps of rubbish removal (like 3 shopping carts lost in the grass), etc. It's been a lot of work and all for FREE. She loves the church though. She's eagerly come for the past 3 weeks and just loves it. She was raised Catholic and has a love for the Savior. This weekend we had General Conference and she came to a session and she just absolutely loved it! When President Nelson was speaking she leaned over to us and said "that man has power" (we didn't tell her anything about him either!). We told her that he was coming to Sydney next month and she said "we have to meet him! No matter what!" (Before she was talking about going to the US to meet him). So we'll see how that goes, but man she is the best. Love Maria, so funny and just the typical abuelita haha. I can definitely see her getting baptized. So pray for her and her health.

Wasnt General Conference incredible?! We watched it this past weekend in Australia. So many favorites and all my questions were answered. I sustain our Prophet and the Apostles. I know they are called of God. If you just listen to them speak, there is power. Do you hear it? Maria was able to feel it and she had never seen these men or knew they existed until this weekend. She's from Nicaragua, lived in Japan for 5 years and now living in Australia. If she can feel their power then surely we can too. Their words are inspired and point us to the Savior. It is through the Savior that all things are possible. I'm so grateful for living Prophets and apostles who lead and guide us during these perilous times. I know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints contains the authority and FULNESS of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is through the Gospel of Jesus Christ that we gain Salvation. Through the mercy, the grace and merits of the Messiah. How wonderful the Atonement is. It is not only intended to pay the price of sin and satisfy the demands of justice, but has the power to heal all wounds, to help us change and eventually become even as our Heavenly Father is. I know these things are true. Have a wonderful week! 좋은 주 보내세요!

Elder Brandon Escamilla
에스카미야 장로
Australia Sydney Mission
호주 스다니 선교부



Dinner with Alikies Alexanders


Maria and her amigos!


This is only half of the tree. We cut the other half last week and this tree is now gone. Also this whole yard was legit full of 5ft grass. LOTS of work, but it's been fun.