Monday, February 27, 2012

Dear Family,
 
It's a busy day so I don't have much time to write, but I love you and I know that this Gospel is true - it helps us change for the better! There is no other way that we can find greater, lasting happiness in this life than through Jesus Christ.

Hope you have a great week!

Love,

Sister Brinton

P.S. Here's a picture of a baptism we had this weekend - this girl is incredible; even in the short time I have been here it's been amazing to be able to watch her faith grow and the happiness the Gospel has brought into her life.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Dear Family,

I'm now in the land of Packers!! (But I guess that's not new, all of Wisconsin is.) :) I love being here - I've come out here a few times on exchanges already, so that has helped in jumping right in to things. I am learning so much from my companion's example, the ward and our leaders, and the people we are working with. I feel really blessed to have the chance to serve here.

Funny story for you: we were teaching an investigator, S., the Word of Wisdom. We explain how our bodies are gifts from God, and that we need to take care of and respect that gift so that we may have the Spirit with us. I ask S. if they will keep the Word of Wisdom, and I thought they said, "I plan to." I start to say something like, "That is great that you are so willing to follow God's commandments..." when my companion interrupts me because apparently S. had actually said that they had a tattoo, not "I plan to". :) Hahaha - we got a few laughs out of that one!!

I want you to know that I have a testimony of prayer. At the end of a lesson with the J. family, we all knelt to pray and the mother - the head of the household - offered the prayer. The Spirit was felt so strongly. Prayer really is a way to strengthen our families and help us draw closer to our Heavenly Father. He wants us to feel of His love and His Spirit in our homes, and one of the ways we do that is by inviting His presence through prayer. 3 Nephi 18:19-21 teaches us why prayer as a family is so important. What beautiful instruction and promised blessings spoken by Christ. I know that prayer works, and that our Heavenly Father hears us - I feel it every day.

I love you all and hope you are doing well! Have a great week!

Love,

Sister Brinton

Monday, February 13, 2012

Dear Family,

How's the start of your week been? I love hearing about all your missionary experiences, and that you've been working on Family History - YES! I have found my desire for and love of Family History grow since I've come out here to serve. The family unit is so important to God's plan, and uniting ourselves with our families through Family History work is something God intended for us to do. (To get started, check out mormon.org/family-history/)

I am getting transferred in two days! I love Appleton - I love the people we have been working with here and I am going to miss it. But I am also very excited for this new opportunity to serve in... drumroll... Green Bay! :)

I will tell you about how we met one of our investigators (per request from family members). F we met while heading out of an apartment visiting a less-active member. I heard him speaking Spanish to someone as he was going into his apartment, so I said hello and asked how he was doing. He stopped us, surprised I spoke to him in Spanish and started asking us about what we did as missionaries. He told us he had a strong belief in God and a desire to follow God's will, and invited us to come back again to learn more about our beliefs. He told us later that he knows he did not run into us by coincidence, but that he can see God's hand in it. The Lord really does have a hand in our lives - we just need to seek Him.

Time is running short, more stories about more people later. I love you all; I know this Gospel is true. It can bless your life - no matter where you are or what you are dealing with.

Love,

Sister Brinton

Monday, February 6, 2012

Dear Family,

Thank you always for your wonderful e-mails and letters; I really appreciate you sharing with me your missionary experiences and your testimonies. Your support means so much to me.

Yesterday was the first day (since I've been out) they've asked us to not tract, and it wasn't weather-related either! (It's been the weirdest winter here - so warm!) This here is football country, so even if the Packers weren't a part of the Great Plate or whatever they call it :) it was safer for us to be inside.

At the request of Mom & Dad, I will share experiences about some of the people we are working with by just using their initials.

The D family is struggling with their faith. They had been coming consistently to church for 5 weeks and then missed one, and it amazes me to see how just one week can make such a huge difference - making just one exception in our lives can make it so much easier to make other small exceptions in obeying what the Lord wants for us. It is breaking my heart to watch this happen because we love this family dearly and have watched them grow in their faith and happiness. We know the blessings that come from this Gospel, and we want them to have it - but we can only invite them; the choice is theirs. We are praying for them a lot.

F is an investigator from Mexico we have now taught for several weeks - he has such a strong desire to follow God's will for him, and understands how important having God in his life is. He is amazing - we love this man and his family. He has agreed to be baptized but we have yet to set a date.

I feel very grateful to be here and to be working with all of these wonderful people. I am so grateful for the Gospel - I know it is true. I love you all; make this week a great one!

Love,

Sister Brinton

Monday, January 23, 2012