Florida, I love you. You truly are the city beautiful. And the city humid. Still dying, but hey good news. I officially made it through a Florida summer and the even better news... It's still not over. Yay!
One of my top 5 favorite contacts of my whole mission- so we met this guy while tracting on Babilonica street (hahaha like who named that?) and this guy is not norm whatsoever and by that I mean he looked a little rough around the edges. We started talking to him not even saying who we are or what we do, but just talking to him about himself and then went into who Jesus Christ is for him and he explained a little of his past and some of the things he has gone through... Then he said something that really made me sad and mad all at the same time, he said, "usually Christians run away from me....". My greatest desire for the people I contact every day is that they will be able to feel of my love and through my love be able to feel of God's love.
But let me tell ya it's like I've a hit a wall. My body and mind have never been so burnt out. I've never been so tired. I literally feel like an 80 year old woman in a 20 year old's body. Or is it the other way around? Either way I feel like an old woman.
Update on Mariel. It's not always rainbows and butterflies with her let me tell ya. This past week she had texted us telling us she didn't want to keep attending church for some reasons.....like what the heck? Well, things are a ton better now and her sister, Myra (the one we are teaching right now) is progressing poco a poco. We took a couple out with us to one of her lessons this week and during the lesson I just had a huge love for parents. The ones back home (I miss ya'll so much) and the ones who have took me in as their own out here (love them!) I've been reading a ton of talks about families recently and it's become so evident how selfish and self-absorbed we are as a society. I am so grateful, despite my circumstances, for my parents who raised me and for the morals and values I was taught. Truly our message is so unique in a world where family doesn't mean that much, but we are saying something very different... FAMILIES ARE FOREVER and it's all part of Heavenly Father's plan for us. I realize a lot of my family members and friends aren't quite sure of this "plan" that God has for us, but don't worry in about 6 months I'll be sitting you down and explaining it to you.
Why am I obedient? Well we had a Sunday school class about this
yesterday and it got me thinking of why I am obedient. I'm obedient because I fear God. I'm obedient because I want a better lifestyle. I'm obedient because of have respect. I'm obedient because I love God. I am obedient because the blessings I receive solely depend on it. Being obedient is an act of faith. Sometimes it's hard to see the big picture and Elder Holland said it best when he said that some blessings don't come until heaven, but they DO come. So I guess along with learning how to be obedient I'm also learning patience.
***We now interrupt this email for an awesome Mormon message....***
http://bcove.me/h6f3dm8u
HEY, LETS ALL TRY TO BE MORE LIKE CHRIST THIS WEEK.
Let me know how it goes.
Besitos,
Hermana Brooks
One of my top 5 favorite contacts of my whole mission- so we met this guy while tracting on Babilonica street (hahaha like who named that?) and this guy is not norm whatsoever and by that I mean he looked a little rough around the edges. We started talking to him not even saying who we are or what we do, but just talking to him about himself and then went into who Jesus Christ is for him and he explained a little of his past and some of the things he has gone through... Then he said something that really made me sad and mad all at the same time, he said, "usually Christians run away from me....". My greatest desire for the people I contact every day is that they will be able to feel of my love and through my love be able to feel of God's love.
But let me tell ya it's like I've a hit a wall. My body and mind have never been so burnt out. I've never been so tired. I literally feel like an 80 year old woman in a 20 year old's body. Or is it the other way around? Either way I feel like an old woman.
Update on Mariel. It's not always rainbows and butterflies with her let me tell ya. This past week she had texted us telling us she didn't want to keep attending church for some reasons.....like what the heck? Well, things are a ton better now and her sister, Myra (the one we are teaching right now) is progressing poco a poco. We took a couple out with us to one of her lessons this week and during the lesson I just had a huge love for parents. The ones back home (I miss ya'll so much) and the ones who have took me in as their own out here (love them!) I've been reading a ton of talks about families recently and it's become so evident how selfish and self-absorbed we are as a society. I am so grateful, despite my circumstances, for my parents who raised me and for the morals and values I was taught. Truly our message is so unique in a world where family doesn't mean that much, but we are saying something very different... FAMILIES ARE FOREVER and it's all part of Heavenly Father's plan for us. I realize a lot of my family members and friends aren't quite sure of this "plan" that God has for us, but don't worry in about 6 months I'll be sitting you down and explaining it to you.
Why am I obedient? Well we had a Sunday school class about this
yesterday and it got me thinking of why I am obedient. I'm obedient because I fear God. I'm obedient because I want a better lifestyle. I'm obedient because of have respect. I'm obedient because I love God. I am obedient because the blessings I receive solely depend on it. Being obedient is an act of faith. Sometimes it's hard to see the big picture and Elder Holland said it best when he said that some blessings don't come until heaven, but they DO come. So I guess along with learning how to be obedient I'm also learning patience.
***We now interrupt this email for an awesome Mormon message....***
http://bcove.me/h6f3dm8u
HEY, LETS ALL TRY TO BE MORE LIKE CHRIST THIS WEEK.
Let me know how it goes.
Besitos,
Hermana Brooks