Monday, February 4, 2013

Dear Family,

Things have been a little hectic again lately, my companion had to go home early and another new missionary was just transferred here on Saturday. It was difficult, but it was also a blessing because my companion felt very peaceful about going home - she knew it was the Lord's will. I am so grateful for that, I love her so much - and I love my new companion already. I am so grateful for revelation! I know that my mission president is lead and guided by the Lord in these decisions, and that the outcome blessed all people involved. It amazes me how perfectly things can fall into place when there are so many factors involved - it's a witness to me that the Lord really does have His hand in our lives, down to the tiniest of details.

Sister B (different from the person writing this e-mail) :), a friend of a member in our branch here, came to church for her second time yesterday! She told us that she is interested in learning more! She has been prepared - although she has faced many trials in her life, those trials have helped her have a desire to draw closer to Heavenly Father and to seek His plan for her. We can't wait to share with her more about the message of the restored gospel!

I love you! Thank you so much for your support and prayers! Have a great week!

Love,

Sister Brinton

Monday, January 28, 2013

Re: Frostbite and a Bulgarian Family

Dear Family,

The new sister is here! She is from Montana and joined the church a few years ago from being introduced by friends. Isn't that awesome?? Member missionary work really works! :)

We had an amazing experience yesterday of getting to teach a family from Bulgaria - they don't practice any religion, but were interested in the "scientific experiment" aspect of faith found in Alma 32 of the Book of Mormon that their friend (a member of our branch here) introduced them to. The Spirit was incredibly powerful in our meeting together - we bore strong testimony of our purpose here on earth, and that the restored gospel helps us understand what we need to do to be happy now and to prepare for the eternities. I know that they felt that it was true - you couldn't deny the feeling that was in the room. The father wasn't completely open to the gospel, but we are still hopeful about this family!

Last week when going to a lesson with a member, she told us that it was -21 degrees F outside (that's including windchill). Yes!! :) I am so glad we're finally starting to get some real winter weather here! I had my first encounter with frostbite - when coming home for lunch I had to put my nose in a bowl of warm water; no (lasting) harm done. :) I really do love it - it's part of the Wisconsin winter experience. I love the cold. I am thoroughly enjoying myself!

Here are some more photos - I will keep sending more in future e-mails. I love you! Have a great week!

Love,

Sister Brinton

With the new sister I am now serving with! :)

Picture of the Madison Zone from our Zone Conference last week

Monday, January 7, 2013

Dear Family,

Thank you for the pictures & reports sent of Eli's blessing! She is beautiful (Mom sent me a close-up photo). I'm so glad so much of the family could be there to support. What a special event!

Thank you again for all of the effort you put into helping me feel love from our family on Christmas! I really enjoyed the photos, letters, packages and getting to talk to you all. You are so kind to have sent me all that you did, and to take the time to prepare everything. I have really felt your love and support, and it means so much to me. I hope you know that I love all of you very much, and I am very grateful to be a part of this family - I realize that more and more the longer I serve on a mission.

Our first lesson together with the M familywent well, and it was taught in Spanish! I'm very rusty, que lastima! Pero esta bien. :) There are no Spanish Elders in our area, so we have been given the opportunity to work with this family. It's really neat - my companion speaks Spanish well and I can speak enough to support her; Heavenly Father has been very kind to us, to put us together and to help us with the language!

One of the people we invited to be baptized this week, A, had one of the best reactions I've seen: before we could even finish inviting her to be baptized, she was writing down on her calendar the date of her baptism that she would be working towards! She told us that she knew it was what she needed to do, and that she really wanted to do it - and that she knew that was God telling her it was right! I wanted to dance around her kitchen, it made me so happy to see how ready she is!

We had a baptism, I will have to send pictures. E is incredible - she's our age, but is a young mom who helps run a dairy farm with her husband. Her mom is a member, and somehow E's name showed up on church records but she had never been baptized - or contacted! She was glowing on her baptism day - I love getting to see the difference baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, really makes! (Sidenote: my companion and I named two of her calves that needed naming; the one I named is a brown calf named Fudge.) :)

I love you family! Hope it's a great week!

Love,

Sister Brinton

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Dear Family,

I love you and I'm so glad I could get to talk with you for a minute yesterday! :) Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! I feel so spoiled that I get to be serving a mission for it - it's an amazing time to be out here and to serve. I love it more than anything.

Sorry this is so short - we just got back from Richland Center and are a little short on time today. But I loved getting to talk to you, glad you all are well, and hope you have a wonderful week! Keep sharing the Gospel! :)

Love,

Sister Brinton

Monday, December 10, 2012

Dear Family,

I love the people here already, and I am in love with this area; it's exactly what you picture when you think of small-town Wisconsin. We have the best branch (we have another branch we cover that I will get to meet next week) - they have such a strong desire to share the Gospel with their friends!

Something we're sharing with everyone we can - from the Christmas website I wrote you about last week - is this beautiful clip of the Savior's birth: http://mormon.org/christmas (click on the "play" button on the bottom left of the screen). I love that there really isn't any talking - it helps us pause, and to really think and feel. Why is the Savior so important? Why are we grateful for Him? What does that make us want to do?

I love you and am praying for you! Carl & Gloria - can't wait to hear about your new little girl!! :)

Love,
Sister Brinton