Day 49: Farewell, all.... Well, Kinda!

Today was one of the greatest days that I have had the chance to experience. I had the chance to give my final farewell talk in the home ward. I am lucky to be a part of the Fallbrook 1st Ward.


I spoke at 9am in the morning. I have been looking forward to this talk for quite some time, because I finally get to speak about the gospel in front of my family. This means so much to me because they all kind of know what I do on Sundays, but they really didn't know too much. I got to show them today. All of my siblings came down for the weekend to attend my farewell and say their final goodbyes. I knew that I would love every second of it. I love my family and how supporting they are for all of the things that I do. After a while, my parents began to worry about the Ivory Coast, and I know that they have been comforted because they seemed very excited for me today.


It was so funny because I was chosen to speak last. I think that this was inspiration, because the speaker that went ahead of me used all of my material. This left me with a pretty open slate to talk about whatever I was prompted. This seemed like a good thing because I was prompted with a lot of wonderful things. Haha. I spoke with so much power. I felt like the Savior, himself, was wispering in my ear. Like, I spoke but none of those words were mine. They were all given to me. I love the gospel so much. It is just the most wonderful thing that is on the face of this Earth. It really is true.

Look at this wonderful group of siblings. I love this picture.

Oh man, I swear that I have the greatest friends ever. I know that you aren't all in this picture, but know that you all should be. :)

I love the gospel, and I get to talk about it every day for the next two years.

Thanks for reading.

RIP Micheal Jackson

~Elder Brandon Cruz

P.S. The count down is starting at 17 days til I am reporting. :)

Day 46: Oh man, oh man, oh man, oh man, oh man, oh man, oh man am I excited.... :)

As the day draws closer, I feel my insides wanting more and more to be on my outsides. I really don't know what to feel. I go from being really stoked and ready to get to gettin' to being kind of nervous and worried about the whole thing. I didn't know that this was a common occurance until I talked to Mark tonight, BUT that is jumping the gun on what a wonderful night it was!

Well, where to start? OH YEAH!!! I got the last stuff done for my Visa, and that is more exciting than I can tell you. I literally have nothing to do other than being set apart and report to the MTC. This also sparked a lot of nervousness because that means that I leave very very soon. I am more excited than I am nervous, but nervousness is definetly there.

I came home to much popularity. I got an email from Mckay and a letter from KK. They are doing great, for those of you that aren't in the know. Mckay told me about a couple of investigators that have baptism dates. That is so awesome. I am so dang proud of that little fellow. KK scolded me for not writing him sooner, and I know it was definetly needed. I need to be better and write him more often. He told me how excited he was for me, and how sad he was that we wouldn't be able to see one another 2 years. I am quite sad about this but I know that it is going to be the greatest reunion ever! Haha.

I went to the temple to do baptisms with Amy and Rachelle Remsberg. They are awesome. So dang solid. I was expecting to get baptized and confermed and maybe, just MAYBE get to work at the font. Well, I was soon surprised to find out that I was the only endowed brother that was in a shield. I jumped at the chance to do all of the confermations and baptisms. Seriously, this was one of the best experiences I have ever had. I have said it once and I will say it again: "This church is full of firsts, and they get better and better as they go." Not only was this my first time running the show alone, but it was my first time working the baptistry ever. I was glad to be sharing this experience with the Remsbergs, but I was also glad to be sharing a first time with a girl from Salt Lake. We had 4 sisters from Salt Lake drive down to visit the temple. It was so awesome to see sisters from out of state getting to work. Oh man, this was awesome.

I then went to a party and had fun. Haha. That was about it.

I talked to Mark and he gave me some councel on how I am feeling. He said that this is the worst part of the whole mission experience. That this feels like it is longer than the entire two years of service. That is good news cause this definetly seems forever.

Well, brothers and sisters, that is all I have. I am tuckered out from all of the festivities of today.
~Brandon Cruz

Day 37: Nickel Arcades, Old Friends, Basketball, and Prepaing a talk. :)

Hello all!!!!

Today was quite the day! I got to hang out with a couple of friends that I haven't seen in a while. Oh how I love re-living some old memories. We went to NickelCity and played some games. It was quite the day. We won a little over a thousand tickets because I am a master of The Price is Right!!! I knew watching it, all those times, would help. :) I guess I have great friends. Haha. Heck, I KNOW I have great friends.

FHE was great and so was basketball, but those aren't things that I really brag about. Haha.

I am now preparing my final farewell talk and it is proving to be an amazing experience. I will definetly write something up later in the day, but reading is proving to be very enlightening. I am talking on D&C 82: 1-4 Where much is given, much is expected. I had no idea what to talk about, but then I was inspired. I love the spirit and its many signs. LOVE IT. I was on LDS.org and I was looking around. Then, I got the hinkering to click on the Joseph Smith hyperlink. Oh man, there are some wonderful things that man has done. I then remembered that I got a story from my institute class. It has to do with the Prophet Joseph in Liberty jail. I figured that I would share it with you:

At 5 p.m. the jailor, Mr. Stigall, suggested that the brethren return to the cell where the would be safer. The Prophet turned to Dr. Richards and said, "If we go into the cell, will you go in with us?" The Doctor replied, "Brother Joseph, you did not ask me to cross the river with you-you did not ask me to come to jail with you- and do you think I would forsake you now? But I will tell you what I wil do, if you are condemned to be hung for treason, I will be hung in your stead." The Prophet Joseph said, "You cannot." The Doctor said, "I will."

Oh man, how amazing is that story? When I read it, I think, "Would I do the same?" I always have the same answer, "Absolutely, I would." I can't believe what the Prophet Joseph went through. Oh man, if there was a man that would be more suited for that which he did, it would be no worldly man. I cannot imagine waking up on the other side and being able to embrace him. I can only imagine the warm look in his eyes, and the tender smile on his face. As to say, "You did it. You knew it was true and you lived the gospel. I am so very proud of you." It kind of reminds me of the feeling that I get as I go from the endowment room to the celestial room, in the temple. Do we remember to thank Heavenly Father for giving us such a wonderful man? I don't know that I do, but I know that my actions will speak louder than words. I think that he will be pleased with all of the saints that followed his word. Even after all of the opposition and all of the scrutiny, we hold fast to the iron rod everyday. I love this gospel and I love the Prophet Joseph.

I think I am ready for my talk, but I don't know. I get to go to the temple tomorrow, and I think I will sit and ponder about it some more, in the celestial room. As of right now, I love you all and good night.

OH, before I forget, I have my farewell talk on the 28th of June at 9am. It is going to be at the Fallbrook building. If you need an address or anything, let me know. My open house will be later that day. Some time around 4 or 5. Depending on when my ward gets out in Vista. I will be making a facebook invite for it, and it will have all of my information, so you have it all at your fingertips.

Good night, all!!!
~Brandon

Day 34:

I know it has been a long time since I have posted, but I assure you that I am very busy. Haha. Let's just go through my schedule for the week so I can show you:

Monday: 10am: Wake up.
1oam-11am: Price Is Right
11am: Breakfast and Sportscenter
Noon-3pm: Study, meditation, prepare talks and lessons.
4pm-5pm: Dinner and what ever sports event is on.
6pm: Get ready for FHE. (I tend to be like a female when I prepare and it takes me FOREVER. I blame my sisters.)
7pm-8:30pm: FHE (Love it)
8:45pm-11:30pm: Basketball
Midnight-3am: Talking to Jessica. :) (Or sleeping. Which ever works.)

Tuesday: 10am: Wake up
10am-11am: Price Is Right
11am: Breakfast and Sportscenter
Noon-3pm Study, meditation
3pm-5pm: Open (So, I basically do nothing. Haha.)
5pm-6pm: Dinner with the parents
6pm-Midnight: Open
Midnight-3am: Talking to Jessica. :) (Or sleeping. Which ever works.)

Wednesday: 10am: Wakie Wakie
10am-11pm: Price Is Right, SUCKA!
11am: Breakfast and Sportscenter
Noon-3pm: Study, meditation
3:30pm-5pm: Pick up Stott and drive up to Laguna.
5:30pm-7pm: Mission Prep Class.
7:30pm-9pm: Institute Class.
9pm-11pm: Basketball or hanging with Dan.
11pm-12:30am: Drive home and drop Stott off.
12:30-3am: Talk to Jessica. :)

Thursday: 10am: Awaken
10am-11am: Price is Right
11am: Breakfast and Sportscenter
Noon-3pm: Study, meditate
3pm-Midnight: Open
Midnight-3am: Talk to Jessica. :)

Friday: 10am: Wake up
10am-11am: Price is Right
11am: Breakfast and Sportscenter
Noon-3pm: Study, meditate
4pm-6pm: Dinner with the parents. (We usually go somewhere nice. Haha.)
6pm-Midnight: Whatever is happenin'!
Midnight-3am: Talk to Jessica. :) (Or sleep)

Saturday: 11am: Wake up
Noon-5pm: Errands with my mom. (I took over this duty since my dad has been working on Saturdays.)
5pm-6pm: Dinner with the parents
6pm-midnight: Whatever comes up. :)
Midnight-1am: Talk to Jessica. :)

Sunday: 10am: Wake up.
10am-10:30am: Breakfast
11am-Noon: Get ready for Church.
1pm-4:30pm: Church
5pm-6pm: Dinner with the family. (BBQ!!!)
6pm-Midnight: Bushnell's or a ward get together.
Midnight-1:30am: Talk to Jessica. :) (Or sleep)

As you can see, my schedule is crazazy!!! I do enjoy my Price is Right and talking to Jessica, though. Haha.

So, I have my first farewell talk tomorrow, and I am rather nervous. Not because of the talk, but because this means that my tenure as a person in the real world is slowly coming to an end. Haha. I have this talk in Vista, wait a week, and then have my final talk and open house in Fallbrook at 9am. Oh man, these next few weeks are going to be pretty crazy.

Last night, I had a dream. I dreampt I was in a desert called Cyber Land. My canteen had sprung a leak, and I was..... THIRSTY. Out of the abyss, walked a cow, Elsie..... Ok, just kidding.

But seriously, last night, my dad called me downstairs to talk. He was reading about the Ivory Coast and had some concerns. "Are you having second thoughts? Cause I think you should." This was such a shock to hear, because my parents were so supportive before. Now, its a daily battle, with them, defending how I am going to be safe and that I was called there because Heavenly Father needs me there. They will come around, I know it. Haha. Its just gonna be a fight, for the next couple of weeks, while they jab at me to have second thoughts.

Well, its time to work on my talk, so I must bid you good night.
~Brandon