Week 47

Dear Family and Friends,

Here are some pictures from 2 baptisms we had this past Saturday.

Juan is 16 and he had been going to church for almost a year and he also went to seminary last year. What's really incredible is I had been teaching him and his family when I was here at the beginning of my mission. He never could get baptized because his mom wanted to come to church first before giving her permission. Well she came at the end of July and then gave her permission so we taught Juan and he got baptized. He is an amazing kid and has a strong testimony of Joseph Smith and going to church and how it has changed his life. All his family except his dad and older brother came to the baptism and it was a beautiful experience. We want to teach the whole family more and we hope that they too can choose to come to church more and gain a testimony of the truthfulness of the Restored Gospel and when they are ready be baptized.

The other picture is of Damien and his family and he's 11. We have been teaching all his family since I returned. The dad is already a member who is returning to activity. His mom is not a member... yet. Damien's little brother Carson is 9 and was going to be baptized but he decided he wants to wait to be baptized with his mom when his Dad is able to perform the ordinances. Both the parents have to work through some things before they are ready for baptism, but they are both incredible and I love them SO much. They also have a 2 year old Mikayla and she's one of the toughest little kids I've ever met but she's pretty funny. Teaching this family has strengthened my testimony that sometimes timing is everything for people and sometimes it takes certain experiences before people are willing to learn more and accept the Restored Gospel. They've also shown me how although live can be hard, it is possible to overcome hard things and press forward in faith.

I have loved getting to teach these families and I want to continue being a part of their lives forever. They have forever changed mine.

Also on Saturday we had the opportunity to go to a "Celebration of Life" for someone in the community who died. She'd been fighting cancer for a long time and she just recently passed. We helped out with the lunch afterwards. The reason I wanted to mention this though is because I was just amazed by how many people she had affected throughout her life. Practically the whole community was there and the service was held in the school gym. It just makes me think about what kind of influence and what kind of memories I want to leave behind when I die. I want to live life to its fullest and enjoy every minute and serve those around me and do it all so that I don't regret anything or wish I had or hadn't done something.

I'm grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how as my life has been centered around it I have been able to be happy. I've seen the difference it makes in people's lives when lived. It helps me know my purpose. It helps me find answers to the questions I have as I go throughout life. It helps me to overcome challenges and seek out the good. I love the Book of Mormon and the advice I get from it to solve my problems. I admire and appreciate the testimonies of those who wrote the scriptures and I find strength in their courage and willingness to do hard things and follow God's commandments. I love being able to learn from their experiences and learn from them what I should and shouldn't do to find true joy in my life.

I hope everyone is doing well and for those who are back in school I wish you the best! I encourage everyone to keep doing the little things like personal prayer and scripture study and going to church because that will be what strengthens and will provide support for you when the storms of trouble come.

Love,

Hermana Brighton

Week 46

Dear Family and Friends,

A quote from some kids we are teaching...

11 year old- "I don't know who the Holy Ghost is."

9 year old's immediate response- "He's your true eternal friend."

I just thought that was pretty awesome. We were of course able to talk more about the Holy Ghost, but I love when we are able to expand on the truth of what others say. They are preparing to be baptized on the 29th though the 9 year old wants to wait until his Dad (who was previously less active so has to work through some things) can baptize him. The 11 year old though decided he does want to be baptized so his grandpa will be doing it. I love these kids and their family and have learned so much from them.

This week, well yesterday, we had a conference with Elder Packer of the 70. We learned more about the importance of teaching to the individual needs of people and helping them really feel the spirit. In order to do this we need to be more obedient and have the spirit with us. Basically we need to 'seek first to obtain the word before we try to declare it. We need to recognize how we've been converted before we can help others do the same. I look forward to learning more and more as I study the notes I took as well as dive deeper into the scriptures. I know that learning will be a huge part of our lives and even will extend into the eternities, so it's important to seek after it and desire it. I'm grateful for what I'm learning on my mission and I look forward to learning for the rest of my life. 

On a slightly different note, I would like to let everyone know that tacos de lengua are delicious and I want to invite everone to go out to a taco truck and get some. Of course hopefully you can find an authentic Mexican food taco truck. Ha, hope you have a wonderful week!

Love you all!

Hermana Brighton

Week 45

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been full of some interesting experiences. I'll just do some bullet points.

• Stood and listened for quite a while as a lady told us why everything we believe is completely wrong. She said many things that hurt and all we did was listen patiently and with love. When she was done we asked if we could leave her with a prayer and once again offered our service cleaning up a tree that had gotten uprooted in a windstorm this past week. She allowed us to say a prayer with her and afterwards we once again expressed our desire to help her if she needed anything and left her with our number. She seemed maybe a little surprised that we didn't try to argue or anything the whole time. I just hope she remembers the experience as something positive.
• We got a window shut in our face as soon as we introduced ourselves.
• A man came bursting out of his house yelling at as, as we were about to walk away after knocking a couple times because he thought we were trying to break in. 
• I had a wonderful Sunday that made up for the rest of the week which was a little rough. The spirit was very strong and I'm grateful for the opportunity we have to go each Sunday to church and have our spirits uplifted and to be spiritually cleansed and renewed.

Well I don't have a whole lot of time left, but I just want to share my testimony again this week of the power of the Book of Mormon. I'm grateful for it and for the opportunity we have to have another Testemant of Jesus Christ to read, ponder, and study.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week!

Love,

Hermana Brighton

week 44

Dear Family and Friends,

This week I really enjoyed sacrament meeting. Those who spoke really brought the spirit. You could tell they were both super shy and don't like public speaking but I think that's what made it all the better. Their simple testimonies and experiences they've learned from. I'm grateful for the opportunity we all have to go to church and not only renew our covenants (which truly is the most important part) but to learn from others and hear their testimonies. It really does strengthen everyone.

I love Royal City and how there is so much fresh fruit and vegetables. Members and others just give us them all the time. Apple picking will be starting very soon and I am looking forward to eating apples straight from the tree. The people here as well are incredible and I know that they will always have a special place in my heart. I'm grateful for the opportunity I have to serve them.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer. Make sure to take time to just enjoy the little things, the little blessings and miracles, in life.

Love,

Hermana Brighton

Week 43

Dear Family and Friends,

This week I got a new companion and her name is Hermana Hall. She is from St. George, Utah and she is AWESOME. :) We have already had the opportunity to teach a lot of people and it's easy to stay happy with her because of her cheerful attitude. 

We have been able to teach a lot of new people this past week and although not everyone wants to continue to learn, I still am grateful that I have the opportunity to share at least a little bit about how the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored and invite them to find out for themselves if its true. This leaves the rest up to them. They have the opportunity to exercise their God given agency to accept or reject the message we bring. I know as well, that sometimes people aren't ready but that maybe sometime later in their lives they will be. With some people we just need to be patient and continue to be examples and share what we can.

So something I found out today is that we only have 57 companionships in our mission. With some more time, I think we will be getting more missionaries though because that is why they split the mission, so that things would be more managable for the mission presidents because before there was probably twice that many missionaries and there still weren't enough.

Here in Royal it has been pretty smokey because of fires going on. We have heard there have been one or two pretty bad fires, but they were mostly able to keep them under control, I think. Otherwise, things are beautiful here in Royal. It's amazing to see all the crops growing and the orchards. I'm looking forward to when they start harvesting the apples in a couple weeks. I hear that the apples are SUPER delicious.

I'm grateful for all the things I'm learning as a missionary. I know God is aware of me. I know I can talk to Him in prayer and that He listens with love and understanding. I know God answers our prayers in His own way and timing.

I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Love,

Hermana Brighton