Elder Branson Williams

Wow...this past week has felt unrealSomething from out of this world. The amount of growth and tribulation stuffed into this transfer, let alone this last week is unreal! I have no idea where to start so I'll just start off by saying since Monday our companionship was back to being rocky out of nowhere and it was pretty hard. There have been a billion times where it's just been enduring and I'd have a spiritual experience or a moment of reflection this whole week and learn more of who I am. Thursday I exchanged with an Elder who finishes his mission in a couple days and we had a good time and saw some miracles and tried to stay cool it was so hot haha. We were both drained by the end of it, but had an amazing member meal. That night at the end of the Exchange my companion and I counseled with the zoneleaders(they are in a trio) and wow what a unique experience. There were 5 of us in that apartment and the spirit was so strong. 5 differnt Elders all gathered tog...

Wow....this week has been incredibly revalatory and some would say even life changing. Regarding the title of the email we had zone conference exchanges (fireworks we don't talk about that one) and a Temple Trip with our two recent converts!! It was a super joyous week and my companion and I have been doing the good work and seeing momentum. Tuesday was so powerful we had zone conference with about 50 plus youth from the area and it was so special it was one I'll never forget. We had a training by the mission President oddly enough on Chastisement from God and others, how to seek, give and accept correction. I loved it for a lot of reasons because often we all get corrected for many different things and I have felt particularly that I have been seeking and getting Chastized from God a lot the past 2 months and it's been overwhelming. I often see a lot of growth but tend to beat myself up for my shortcomings and weaknesses. This zone conference couldn't have come at ...

This week was one of the hardest, most revalatory weeks of my life. I share these things so we may all be edified for these are things that can only be learned under the most difficult of circumstances. I recognize a lot of us struggle and may feel similar things for we are all on this crazy path back home to our Heavenly Father. I often feel as sometimes I don't measure up and that when I fail(which is all the time this is life I mean come on) then it's evidence of my shortcomings and not being Good enough. I often compare myself with those around me to check my pulse and see how I am doing. It is not very healthy and something I definitely don't want to struggle with. These things result in self criticism which inspires me to do and be better which is way cool cause I can learn lots quick but it is sometimes not very Joyful and I lose Joy and Confidence in that moment. I often want things to go perfect all the time or else I put blame on myself when things go wrong ...

Cynthia got baptized!! It was a journey getting there we faced a lot of opposition between 2 broken bikes, coordination issues, health issues, companionship struggles, difficult principals, and interviews...But God always prevails!! It was a beautiful ordination member involvement was amazing, the spirit was so strong, and Cynthia was glowing! To add the Cherry on top our recent convert I baptized in April got the preisthood today and he asked me to ordain him to the arronic preisthood...what a blessing. The heavens were open in the Vienna ward and Hell was shooken. I won't lie when I say this but holy cow I have been having a hard time. I have had the spirit witness to me multiple times that I am In a "Enduring" part in my life and I just need to hang on and you know what? That's ok! God has a perfect plan for me and he has a perfect plan for everyone because "Mortality works" We have been placed in a probationary state knowing that we will surely ...