week16

Dear Family and Friends,

This week one of our investigators was baptized- Maria. She is so amazing and full of faith. Despite her fear of being immersed in water (because she almost drowned several years ago), she still was baptized. She bore her testimony afterwards and I can't express the joy I felt as she shared how she had been looking for somewhere where she would be as happy as she felt now. I know she feels so good because The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints  is the church of God. Through baptism she has taken one of many steps that lead back to our Father in Heaven, this step being one of the most crucial. There are still many things she has to do, but as she endures through life and continues on the path that leads to eternal life, she will feel the support and guidance of the Savior through the feelings and promptings of the Holy Ghost. She recieved the Gift of the Holy Ghost on Sunday and she said she felt even better than when she was baptized which makes sense because baptism is not complete with out the conferring of the Holy Ghost.

Overall I have had a week full of trials of my patience and faith, but I am learning and growing so much. I love you all and hope you have a week full of happiness. Turn to the Lord in times of struggle and he will listen to your heart felt prayers. Sometimes answers don't seem to come immediately but they will come- often through the words or actions of another person.

Love,
Hermana Brighton

week 15

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been pretty awesome. We taught so many lessons and are seeing some amazing things. Two more people are getting baptized this month and they are so prepared. It's been amazing to see how the Lord puts people who are ready to accept the gospel in our path. A woman name Maria is getting baptized this Friday at 7 and then the husband of Alejandra (who got baptized last week) is getting baptized the 31st. I'm so happy for them and it has been amazing to see the changes that have occurred in their countenances and their way of viewing life. 

I know everything happens for a reason and although we may not always understand something in the moment, some day we will. I've had several moments this week where I've realized why I've had certain experiences in my life- to help me better relate to others I come in contact with and to help me better learn to trust in the Lord. I love the Book of Mormon and would like to extend a challenge to everyone to try to read daily in it, even if it's just a little bit. There is so much to learn and the Book of Mormon teaches a lot of those things we should learn in this life.

On a lighter note- we do a lot of driving in the dark and my companion and I have decided that there are some owls out there who have death wishes cause we've almost hit an owl several times. Also we almost hit another animal...not sure what it was...maybe some type of large rodent thing. Oh well, I don't think we hit it...barely missed it though.

The weather here has also been kinda crazy. It snowed then it melted then it slushed then it melted and the last couple days its been pretty nice. I'll just keep praying that we stay safe. All has been well though.

Love you all and hope you have a great week!

Love,
Hermana Brighton

week 14

Dear Family and Friends,

This week I felt some of the greatest feelings of joy and happiness I have ever felt in my life. One of our investigators was baptized and the following day after she was confirmed we went to her house in the evening. As I sat there and listened to her bear her testimony and just talk of how she felt I just felt so full of happiness and I just kept smiling and thinking 'WOW this is so awesome.' She is so happy and what makes things even better is that I have seen the change that has occurred. Her husband is preparing to be baptized on the 31st this month and it has been amazing to see how their relationship has grown and gotten so much stronger. They are truly so special to me and I love them so much. They have so much faith and hope for the future and trust in the Lord.

There is also another woman we are teaching who is preparing to be baptized on the 24th and she is incredible. It's amazing to see how the events in her life have prepared her to learn and easily accept the teachings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She is learning and growing her faith so rapidly. It's been amazing to see how much she learns and how much her testimony grows between each visit we make. I'm so happy for her.

I hope everyone is having a great week! 

Love you all,

Hermana Brighton

Week 13

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been pretty good. Kind of a blur like every other week. Can't believe it's already a new year!

I got to eat cow tongue and cheek this week. It was pretty good actually.

It snowed yesterday and actually stuck. Had to drive pretty carefully. We're getting new tires this week though so that should help a little. Don't worry I will still drive carefully despite having new tires.

I finished the Book of Mormon. I started from the beginning part way through my stay in the CCM so I took me a little less than 3 months to finish it. I know the Book of Mormon is true and that people who study and ponder the messages it contains will come to know it is true if they pray to know with a sincere heart and real intent. I love the people and experiences in the Book of Mormon. We can learn so much from them.

Another set of Hermanas moved into our apartment this past Wednesday. They lived with a member before but the woman is older and is having health problems so someone moved in with her to help and so the missionaries had to move out. Their area is about 7 or 8 miles away so they have to drive there everyday.

We are having a baptism this Saturday! Her name is Alejandra and we started teaching her about a month ago. She has progressed so fast and I have truly been amazed to see how she learns and understands things so quickly. Her husband wants to be baptized as well but has to quite smoking and drinking first. He has already quit but he had to not smoke or drink for 2 weeks before he can be baptized though. He is also incredible and has such a strong desire to follow the Savior.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week and New Year!
I love you all,

Hermana Brighton

Week 12

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been a blur. I almost forgot that Christmas happened this past week! On Christmas Eve my companion and I made cookies and took them to a lot of our investigators. Apparently Hispanics celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve. We ate A LOT of food. I was SO full. My favorite hispanic food is still tamales and I had some really good ones made by one of our investigators who is older and very grandmother-like. The ones she made were probably the best I've ever had.

On Christmas Day we got to visit members and spend time with them. I also got to talk with my family which was wonderful. It was good to see them and hear their voices. My companion and I also got to be around someone who had just gotten their wisdom teeth out and it was the funniest thing ever! Too bad I wasn't around when my little brother got his out.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and that you were able to take some time and think about Christ and what he has done for each of you. I'm grateful for my Savior; to have someone who understands me and knows how to comfort me.

Happy New Year (in a few days) as well! 

I love you all!

Hermana Brighton

Week 11

Dear Family and Friends,

Wow can't believe it's almost Christmas! Just a few more days. The members here have been so nice and Hermana Leyva and I have received so many little gifts and things from the members. The benefits of living in a small town I think.

Things I want to share:

• My companion and I went to two Christmas parties. One for the 2nd Royal Ward and the other for our Spanish Branch combined with the 1st Royal Ward. We were very happy to see 2 people we met a day or two before that we invited last minute actually come plus two families that are investigating and a few less active that we invited. It was awesome! We gave church tours after each of the parties.
• We went to a funeral this Saturday for a man who passed away in our ward. He's been fighting cancer for 10+ years I believe. Although we really didn't know him that well the service was wonderful and uplifting. It's so wonderful to know the Plan that God has for each of us, to know that we can life with our families again, to know that this earth life is not the end. It provides much comfort to those families and friends of loved ones that have passed away.
• I got to have some of my first opportunities to eat with some Hispanic families in their homes. The food was delicious. Didn't know re-fried beans and rice could taste so good!
• I may or may not of totally squished a tiny white mouse with the car this week...I think we did though sadly. We were on our way to one of the Christmas parties and I saw it just in time to probably run over it. Poor mouse. Hope it survived though.
• This past week we've had a lot of lessons and things have really been great. The weather today and yesterday has been BEAUTIFUL. I think it got up into the 50s! So wonderful.

Well I hope everyone has a great Christmas this week! Remember Moroni 10:18- "And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that every good gift cometh of Christ." Because of Christ we can live with God again. Because of Christ we can repent and become a little better each day. I'm so grateful for this knowledge.

I love you all!

Love,

Hermana Brighton

Week 10

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been awesome. I truly have discovered the key to happiness for myself- turning outwards. Focusing on others. I've been told this so many times but I have really found it to be true, especially for me. 

And now I will do bullet points again-

• This week I conciously made the effort to give my all to the Lord and hold nothing    back. Making this decision has been a turning point for me and I have felt so much happier. I have felt so much love for those around me and I just feel so much better. This isn't to say that I don't still have moments of frustration or sadness or annoyance, I am just better able to move on and get past these moments quicker. It feels so much better to be happy and positive.
• Today a dog peed on my jacket. We were at a members house washing our clothes and unfortunately I left my jacket on the floor. The companion said it was because the dog liked me and was marking me as his territory. Yeah... I would prefer the dog do that in some other manner. Not by urinating on my clothes. Luckily I was able to just stick it in the washer with my other stuff.
• Don't remember if I shared this cause I can't remember if it happened this week or last week, but here goes... When my companion opened the door to our apartment a bird flew in, flew across the room, and SMASH wacked into the window and fell stunned on our coach (which was beneath the window). It didn't die... I think... cause I got a tissue and picked it up and put it outside in a box and when my companion and I returned later it was gone. Hope it's okay...
• This week I was told by a recent convert I had to marry him. He of course was joking. The story behind it is that after he came out with us to visit people, before we parted ways my companion asked if we could do anything for him. He asked us to pray for him to find a 'buena esposa' and we said we would. He said if we didn't find him one I'd have to marry him so he could get custudy of his kids who are currently with his ex wife... He was joking of couse so it was pretty funny but I have to admit I felt slightly awkward.
• This week we visited a man who is less active. His wife divorced him several years ago and since then he hasn't really been to church. We could tell he was really struggling and seems to feel abandoned by the Lord. We testified that God loves him and invited him to Pray to feel that love and to ask the Lord for guidance. He really seemed depressed and my heart aches for him. I know though, that only he can help himself and the Lord if he lets Him. 
• Hermana Leyva and I had the wonderful experience of standing on a porch for basically 45 minutes talking to a man. He wanted us to come in but we couldn't because we didn't have another woman with us and he didn't have a wife. He was a little upset about this. This man was really nice though and has a testimony of God and has great faith. Hermana Leyva and I have high hopes for him if he chooses to open his heart and listen to the Gospel of Christ and act on what he learns. As we left the door though, both of us could not feel our feet. They were so cold!!! I can't imagine how bad the feet of the mormon pioneers must have hurt. It was in the 30s and we had shoes on and our feet still felt frozen and we couldn't feel them.

Well I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season! I love you all! Stay safe!

Love,

Hermana Brighton