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

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