La Vie (of Rightousness) est Belle - August 19, 2013

I met some one the other day who lived the motto La Vie est Belle. That means that life is beautiful. It truly is. When we truly repent and change and do our best, things change around us. Life is truly the biggest blessing we have to enjoy right now. My time to serve the Lord like this is short and I want to make the best of it.

The Lord works miracles by prayer. If we have not faith He cannot work miracles.

I want to thank each one of you for praying for me. I don't know exactly what you prayed for but I have a feeling it was protection, happiness, feeling love and being taken care of. I promise you that the Lord heard those prayers because they are happening. 

This is the Lord's work, we are His instruments and we NEED to do our best IF we want to be truly happy. True happiness comes in our love for Christ. I love you all and I love my Savior. Alma 5:11, maybe, talks about being enlightened by the word of God. How true that is.

I love you all!

Elder Squires

The Ocean is Blue-er on This Side - August 12, 2013

I had the chance to visit another area the other day and I realized how much I love my area. I love the members and I love the weather and everything.

This week I prayed for a lot of things and I got most if not all of them. The miracles that happen inside of me and outside in the field are wonderful!

This is the light of the world, the Church of Jesus Christ. I don't have much time but I love you all. Be like Christ with your personality. Be yourself with the attributes of Christ.

I love you, I know this Church is true and is the only way back to Heavenly Father and to happiness. Share it with the world and with yourself.

Love, Elder Squires

Faaa - They Like Their Vowels Here - August 5, 2013

Things are going well. It's like trying to pronounce the name of the stake I'm in. It's difficult at first but once you figure out that people just saw fa-ah, it's much simpler. Missionary work is simple. Be obediant, pray lots, laugh a lot more and bring people to Christ.

This week was great.

On Monday we had a Tahitian lesson, it wouldn't be so bad if there weren't words that have several meaning and then you get slang on top of that and it's a little harder. But I have learned that no tree ever grew full height overnight. Same with Tahitian and same with myself. The lesson went really well. His name is Oscar he wants to get sealed in the temple! But his girlfriend (most couples aren't married in Tahiti) is slowing him down. We are going to give him a baptismal date today, I really hope he accepts and his wife softens her heart.

Tuesday we had a lesson with an inactive family and the Spirit was so strong.

Wednesday we taught an inactive who is living with his cousins and two of his cousins came in for the lesson. We gave them the Book of Mormon and challenged them to read it.

Thursday we had a lesson in the highest part of our sector. It takes a good 30 minutes on bike to go clear up there. But the view is amazing!

Friday we had a lot of things to do and it ended up being a great day.

Saturday was my birthday and for my birthday we had another lesson with the inactive and his cousins. One of them actually read! And Wilfred, the inactive, his aunt invited us over for a family night lesson with the whole family. I'm so excited. This work is incredible and I love it.

It rained the past few days. It only seems to rain when we are inside for which I am very grateful. I know this is a great work. It is hot down here but you're not alone when you start sweating. Almost all the world sweats around here. I love you all!

I know that Christ lives, this is His church. I know that God loves us! He wants us to be happy. Obedience is how He is able to bless us.

Love, Elder Squires

I'm Living On An Island In The Middle of Nowhere .....

Mon, Jul 29, 2013 5:02 pm

..... and I love every second of it!!!

I am Elder Squires. I am a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ. I know this church is true. It is the only way to return to live with Heavenly Father. I'm grateful to be a member.

I am serving in the Tavararo ward in the Faaa stake. The only international airport in Tahiti is in my area. I love it here!

I have to back up to the flight here. Two weeks ago 15 teenagers left the MTC and headed for Tahiti. We had to leave two elders behind in SLC because the plane couldn't hold the weight (they caught a later flight to LAX). I think I'm not going to use periods, it's too much effort on these French keyboards, The flight to Tahiti was long but it was good. We arrived and the first thing I smelled was hickory smoke, I think that's just how it smells around here.

My companion is Elder Tau, he has a strong desire to serve the Lord and to do his best. We bike 6ish kilometers everyday, we had a baptism my first Saturday here. The people here are incredible. Everyone is so nice and loving. Our investigators are incredible. The view of Moorea is stunning. The langauges are coming.

Quick story: we were in a Tahitian lesson and I prayed to understand what was being said. All of a sudden the investigator started speaking French! No one knew he could speak French!!!!!

I love this gospel. I love the Lord. I know He leads this church. I again don't have a ton of time but I love you all!

And yes, the food is incredible.

Elder Squires

I Have NO Time! - July 22, 2013

Mon, Jul 22, 2013 7:30 pm

Haha, I really have no time to email.

Things are going so well that we don't have time to do anything really. I love you ALL! I love this work! Keep smiling!

A great scripture Heleman 5:12

love, Elder Squires

Arriving in Tahiti - July 18, 2013

No e-mail from Brandon on Monday, July 15th since he was traveling to Tahiti.

The following e-mail and photos came from the Tahiti Papeete Mission.

July 18, 2013, 9:00 pm

Dear Families,

Your Missionaries have arrived in Tahiti.  They will be able to e-mail on Monday.  Attached are a few photos I have taken.  They will tell you about their new companions and areas on Monday.

Have a great Day

Sister Hemming

Mission Office

 

At the Faa'a, Tahiti Airport - Good Luck Finding Brandon!

Picking Up Their Luggage - The Big Boxes Contain Bikes

Missionaries Doing What They Do Best - Eating!!!

In the Mission Home with President and Sister Sinjeoux (sp?)

One More Week!

Tuesday, July 9, 2013, 4:51 pm

Hello Family and Friends! 

I don't know where the time goes but this week flew by.

Here is the update. I leave next Monday morning at 3:30 in the morning. My flight leaves from SLC to LAX. I have a 6 hour lay-over in LAX and then an 8 hour flight to Tahiti. I've heard that flights aren't that bad because they have movies and you can fall asleep. But in my case I'll have my scriptures, the people around me, and whatever else I can think of to study.

I'm excited and I'm finally starting to feel ready to leave the MTC. But at the same time I'm so not ready. I continue to see people I know everyday. It seems like every week more people that I know come in and leave. I love it! As of Wednesday I will have been here 7 weeks (maybe). I don't even know. Ha. I've loved every moment and I'm sad to leave such a great place.

This week was great! I fasted on Sunday and it was great. I am amazed by the power of fasting. I found more pieces of the puzzle of my life. Pieces that showed me the mercy of the Lord. He has truly been so merciful to me for the past 18 years. I will always be grateful for the testimony He has blessed me with, the power of the scriptures, for in the scriptures we find Christ, the power of the Atonement.

That's really what this week was about for me. Applying the healing power of the Atonement to my life. I promise you that the Atonement can heal any scar, can take down any wall, and can bring us closer to Christ. I testify to you all with all of my heart that I know that this Church is true. I know that Christ lives. I know that He and Heavenly Father love me so much! I hope you all can find a way to better apply the Atonement in your life. The Atonement is the ultimate healer. It is the Ultimate Gift.

This gospel brings me more joy than all the worldly knowledge I can, have, and could ever gain. I know that there is a purpose for our lives on the earth. There is a purpose for the trials we go through. I hope to never forget that. And during the darkest of all trials I want to be able to say that I still trust in Christ, I know the sun will shine again, because the Lord brings us down before He can raise us up.

I love you all! I feel your love!

Love, Elder Squires

Yesterday was such a pretty day!

This is when we got our travel plans. I'm officially going to Tahiti!!!!

I have a thing for shining my shoes, it makes me really happy.

All the Tahitian missionaries and a sister from Tahiti.