Week 40

Dear Family and Friends,

Let me just say that I had one of the best apricots I have ever had in my life. I got to pick it right off the tree and then eat it. We tried to teach the lady's who's tree it was but she was busy and had to return to her cooking inside. She said we could have some apricots though so that was nice of her.

Yesterday my companion and I got to do a musical number in church. I sang and she played the piano. The song was I Stand All Amazed and it was one of the most spiritual experiences I've ever had. Truly "Words make you think a thought, Music makes you feel a feeling, and a Song makes you Feel a Thought." I know that Christ is my Savior and I am so grateful for His sacrifice for us, his family. I know that it is because of Him that we can return to live with God if we chose to follow Him and obey His teachings.

On Saturday the town had a Summer Fest and we did service by helping out with a couple things. The whole entire town must have been there so it was nice to be there and get to see everyone.

This past week we had a lesson where we focused on The Restoration and Joseph Smith's role in it. I know that Joseph Smith was called by God and His son Jesus Christ to be a prophet. I know that Joseph Smith was given the authority to reestablish Christ's church on the earth. Through him the Priesthood was restored to the earth and it is with this Priesthood that the saving ordinances of the Gospel can be performed. I know that God chose Joseph Smith to be a prophet not because he was perfect or because he was knowledgable. He chose Joseph because he was humble and willing to act on the answer he recieved. God does not necessarily choose those who seem qualified, but He qualifies those whom He chooses and that's how it was with Joseph Smith. We meet so many who say they don't 'believe in Joseph Smith.' Well we are not asking people to 'believe IN Joseph Smith' we are asking people to believe in God. To believe that He loves us and therefore gave us another prophet. People don't even have to believe us missionaries. They can ask for themselves. I think that's one of the best parts of our message! People don't have to take any person's word for it. They can go to God and ask Him themselves. How wonderful is that!?!

Well I love you all and hope we can all together continue to strengthen our testimonies of the truths that have been restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. I am grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that Faith in Jesus Christ is what can give us hope in this life. I know that Repentance is possible. People can change. I know that it is through baptism that we make a covenant or a promise that we will follow Christ and remember Him and keep His commandments. The Gift of the Holy Ghost is one of the greatest gifts of God and as we live worthily and endure to the end faithfully we can always be guided and protected, comforted and strenthened through the presence of the Holy Ghost in our lives. 

Love,

Hermana Brighton

week 39

Dear Family and Friends,

This week while knocking we talked to someone who was nice but said some things that honestly hurt to hear. She said she had heard of the Book of Mormon so we asked her if she had read it and she said no and that she didn't believe in it. We taught how the Book of Mormon only supports the Bible and is another Testament of Jesus Christ and invited her to read it but she said she didn't believe in Joseph Smith (who we hadn't actually mentioned yet) or the Book of Mormon. She said she knew it wasn't true and said she'd prayed and felt that the Bible is the only word of God, but she hadn't even taken to the time to actually read in the Book of Mormon.I guess that's the thing that hurt the most- that she refused to even read the Book of Mormon, to even find out for herself whether it was true or not. It hurts to see someone deny the divinity of something you know is of God and refuse to hear anymore about it. I know that anyone who takes the time to actually read in and ponder about the Book or Mormon will know that it testifies of Christ and teaches of Him and helps us more fully understand the Atonement and Christ's teachings and God's commandments. You will know that the Book of Mormon only contains good things that are truly of God and are given to us for our benefit, because God loves us, His children.

I know the things I'm experiencing and learning about on my mission are going to help me so much the rest of my life. I know that God is real and that He answers prayers. I know prayer is a wonderful thing and that God listens to us and cares about what we are experiencing and our struggles. He answers in His own way and in His own time and we just have to trust in Him.

On a different note, I am officially a missionary in the Yakima Mission! The mission split on July 1st. My companion and I got to meet President Lewis and his wife with the rest of our zone on Friday and they are incredible people. I know they love us missionaries and are happy to be with us. I'm excited to learn from them.

I also wanted to express the gratitude I have for those who have served to protect our country's freedom and those who still are. Some scriptures I read that I liked are Alma 43:47 and Mosiah 29:32 that talk about the importance of freedom. They help me realize that America is truly a special country and has been watched over by God but that we need to continue to trust in Him and be obedient to His commandments otherwise things will not always be so great.

I love you all! I hope everyone had a wonderful week and that this next week will be great too!

Hermana Brighton

Week 38

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been great. My companion and I have been working hard and are excited for this next week. We'll be super busy this week.

I am grateful for the Book of Mormon. My testimony has been strengthened by reading and studying it. I know that the Book of Mormon is from God, given to us to really help us understand the gospel better, to strengthen our relationship with Christ and to help us know that the Priesthood really was restored through Joseph Smith and that Jesus Christ's church is on the earth again. I know that if a person reads the Book of Mormon with a true desire to know of it's truth and divinity then will pray to God and ask for His confirmation that it is true, they will receive the answer that it is.

I love you all and hope you are having a wonderful summer. I'll give you the advice that everyone has been giving me and my companion- "Stay cool!"

Love,

Hermana Brighton

week 37

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been pretty awesome. It's really amazing being back in Royal City and getting to reunite with the members of the branch and the English Ward here, especially those who were baptized when I was here just several months ago. There is a lot to do though and my new companion Hermana Bailey and I will be working hard to strengthen the branch, as well as searching for those who are ready and willing to learn of and accept the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We have been trying to talk with all the people we see and share with them as much as we can about how knowing about the Gospel can help them individually. Sometimes this is the biggest challenge I think, to help people recognize why what we share would bless them specifically and individually.

It is very different being here in Royal during the summer. Everything is green and growing and previously there were just lots of brown fields of dirt. It really is quite beautiful. It's incredible how the orchards which previously just looked like a lot of sticks in the ground, are now beautiful trees full of green leaves and fruit starting to mature. This morning Hermana Bailey and I got to go pick cherries with a family in our Ward. It was really fun and incredible to be among so many cherry trees with SO MANY cherries. I have been warned many times though about not eating too many cherries. They are very delicious though. :)

Since I left and returned several young men have also recieved their mission calls. One of them is the Bishop's son and he'll be leaving this Wednesday to go to Washington DC. Another one I know of recieved his call to go to Ecuador, the same country his mother went to, but unfortunatley not the same mission. I'm super happy for them and I still am just so amazed how so much has changed in the past several months.

So overall I am just really looking forward to being back here and I know that I am here for a reason. I love the people here SO much and I just hope to serve and help them in any way I can so that their testimonies can be strengthened and so they will have an even greater desire to go out and share with others the blessings they have recieved from being a member of Jesus Christ's church. Hermana Bailey has been here for a few months previously and they have been teaching a family that is really doing well. I remember going by their house when I was here before and never really being able to talk with the parents, so it was so awesome to get to really met them and then to see them at church on Sunday.

Well I hope everyone had an awesome week! Happy late Fathers Day to all you fathers out there. Hope you all had a wonderful Sunday!

Love,

Hermana Brighton

week 36

Dear Family and Friends,

This week I have some big news to share. We received our transfer calls this past Saturday and my companion and I found out that we are getting doubled out. This means that both of us are going to new areas. There will not be any missionaries replacing us though, so instead of there being 3 companionships in the Kennewick Branch there will only be 2 and the area of Kennewick is being re-divided. The other set of sisters in the branch will be taking over our area and a large part of their former area will now be the elders'.  Hermana Mrozek is being transferred to Othello and I am being transferred back to where I was before- Royal City. We will both be in the same zone though within the Yakima mission. So these next couple days will be pretty busy as we prepare to leave. We will probably have to clean out our whole apartment since no one is replacing us. We'll just have to wait and see though.

I have learned so much in these past few months. I have learned the importance of humility and really striving to be obedient and the miracles that come from being exactly obedient. This morning I had the wonderful opportunity to read about and really study and ponder about faith, hope, and charity and how they are all so perfectly intertwined and connected. Moroni chapter 7 is a really great resource to study about these Christlike attributes.

I know that Christ is our Savior. I know that it is because of Christ that we can have a hope of a better life yet to come. This hope can help us to have faith enough to act and follow Jesus Christ and what He taught. I know that He was perfectly obedient and I want to strive to follow that example. I know that there will be times when I falter, but I can have hope that I can change because Christ atoned for my sins and mistakes. When I have faith, I can repent and know that I can continue to learn and grow and improve in my life. He also understands all the pain and trouble I might go through. He loves me and all of us perfectly which is why He came to earth to show the example, to show the way, to be the way, so that everyone can have eternal happiness. We can learn from John 7:17 that if we will only ACT in faith we will know whether something is good (whether it is of God) by how we feel, by the consequences that follow. I know that as I have lived the Gospel of Jesus Christ and as I have been obedient to the commandments of the prophets of old and the ones we have today, I have been able to be happy. I can look back now and recognize the many blessings that have come from choosing to be obedient to God. Sometimes we don't understand exactly the purpose behind certain commandments or things that are asked of us, but I know that with the time all things will made clear. We will be able to clearly understand and see the bigger picture. As I continue to be obedient I know I will receive help from heaven. I will be continually supported and guided by the Holy Ghost. I know the Book of Mormon is good. It is of God and was inspired by Him so that we could have more guidance and receive more understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how to apply it in our lives. I know that Joseph Smith translated this sacred record of old through the power of God and that God and Jesus Christ came to him and that Joseph saw them and they really did speak to him. I know that because God and Jesus Christ love us they called Joseph Smith as a prophet and through him the Priesthood authority of God has been brought back to earth. It is with this Priesthood that we can receive fully all the blessings that God has in store for us. It is through this Priesthood authority that God works in order to bring to pass the salvation, the eternal happiness, of man- of us.

I am grateful to be a full-time missionary of Jesus Christ. To preach His gospel and have the opportunity to share my testimony with all I meet and I know I will continue to do so through out my life. I share these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

week 35

Dear Family and Friends,
This week has been good. My companion and I found a few people who we are looking forward to teaching. The Lord lead us to be in certain places and certain times and placed these people in our path. It's just so amazing when that happens.

My testimony of the Book of Mormon and it's divinity and truthfulness is continuing to grow. While talking to people we focus on how by reading the Book of Mormon they can strengthen or even begin to have a relationship with God and our Savior Jesus Christ. I think that one of the biggest struggles is trying to help people understand what the Book of Mormon is and why it's important. Often times people just think it's another Bible- a different version though. If only people would read it with an open heart and mind and really ponder what it means to know that the Book of Mormon is true and came to us by way of a living prophet translating a record of ancient prophets.

This week we went on exchanges with our Sister Training Leaders and it was an incredible 24 hours. I stayed in the area for the first time since I've been in Kennewick and truly I got to see miracles. Our Sister Training Leaders are both English speaking sisters so as far as speaking the language I was on my own but it went great and I really didn't struggle. I know I had a lot of help from the Spirit to understand and speak. What was really the better part was that although most of the people we talked to couldn't understand much English, I would make sure to still have Sister Larsen share her testimony and take part in the lesson, trying to keep translating to a minimum. I know that the Spirit can reach past any barriers that there might be because of language. I know that as Sister Larsen bore simple testimony that people where able to feel the spirit, even if they couldn't understand everything. I am so grateful for the things I learned on exchanges and I'm so grateful for the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit.

This weekend there was a baptism in the branch. It was wonderful to be able to attend Saturday night and then see them be confirmed on Sunday. They are a young couple with a month old baby and will be a strength to the branch as they continue learning and growing in the gospel. It's just so wonderful to see how happy they were and are because of the steps they've taken to come closer to Christ.

Well transfers are coming up next week. We find out whether we stay or go on Saturday. Where we end up will also determine which mission we will be in so I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Well I hope everyone has a wonderful week!

Love,

Hermana Brighton

Week 34

Dear Family and Friends,

It's hard to believe how quick summer has come. I'm sure it will fly by though and before we know it, it will be winter again. Right now here in Washington it is cherry picking time. My companion and I got gifted some freshly picked cherries, and they are so yummy! I was warned by another Elder who was around during last season cherry harvest to be careful not to eat too many because... well you might spend a night sleeping on the bathroom floor to illustrate with his experience.

This week Hermana Mrozek and I were very happy when one of the less active/part-member families came to church. We are starting to teach a daughter in the family and she is really starting to open up to us. We showed her the mormon messages and things online and she really loves them and watched a lot and it must have motivated her to come to church because she came with her mom and two other siblings who are members. We are super excited for her.

There is also another person we are just starting to work with named Cruz. We found him while knocking and he is super excited and has A LOT of really good questions. Hna Mrozek and I feel like he is an answer to our many prayers to find someone who is actually interested and has a desire to learn. We had a lesson with him last night with a couple from the branch and it went pretty well. The only struggle is going to be that he works a lot and so he's not home a lot. He wants to continue learning though so we will see where things go!

This past Saturday we had a fun afternoon helping out in the garden of a recent convert family. We were helping them remove a lot of lava rock from their yard as well as dig out some really old rose bushes. There are so many rose bushes here in Washington. I don't thing I'd ever seen so many in my life til I came here. We also got fed lunch- carne asada- which is super delicious. :) Basically just thinly cut beef grilled and you eat it in tortillas with salsa, avocado, cilantro, or just by itself. That evening for dinner we also had carne asada, but we did not complain. :)

Well I hope everyone enjoys this next week or so as things come to an end with school at least for those in grade school. I love you all!

Love,

Hermana Brighton