Sister Savanna Brooks in The Golden State

(Watch out California!) Teresa's Note: I was able to speak with Sister Brooks last Wednesday for about five minutes while she waited for her connecting flight.  She was tired but happy. She said her flight from Mexico to the U.S. was exhausting. She woke up at 2:30 am and left the MTC at 3:30 am. When she arrived at the Mexico airport, she attempted to pay for her luggage but her credit card was declined (Her debit card number had been stolen the week before, so that card had been cancelled as well.) Luckily, a nice elder paid for her bags and was reimbursed later! Once Sister Brooks boarded the plane, she began a conversation with the man sitting next to her. He knew the Bible very well and wanted to talk... or rather DISCUSS.  She said it was a VERY SERIOUS discussion. She knew that arguing never converts or builds testimony, so after two hours she politely asked him if it would be okay if she just slept for a little while. He told her that although ...

¡hola! Half of our district left this morning and the rest leave tomorrow. Unfortunately, I'm not scheduled to leave until Wednesday morning at 3:30 am... (I'm so excited to get to California!) So tomorrow, Hermana Ferrin and I get to welcome all of the new missionaries that will be coming to the CCM! Haha all of my clothes are packed.. so if you look closely, you will notice that I am wearing sweats...  (that an Elder in my district didn't want...  not sure if that's allowed and should be included... but, oh well)... and my church shoes.  Yay for P-Days 😃                                                                                                               ...

(This is the face you get when it's raining AND you get to leave your house for the first time in 5 days AND Hermana Ferrin starts quoting Nacho Libre. Life is SO GOOD! 😃😃😃) Hola familia y amigos! I am so grateful for all of you! Thank you for the letters and prayers and love you have sent my way. I appreciate your kindness and examples!❤ We had another great week here at the CCM! I officially have my sticker, which means I am on week 6 and will be leaving for California next Wednesday! I am so excited!!    This week, most people in my district were sick, including both of my companions. On top of that, one of my companions received a concussion from getting hit in the head with a volleyball. She was out of commission for 6 days (she got hit last P-Day)... So we spent most of the week in our casa, which made me a little bit stir-crazy... But I got lots of personal studying in, which was awesome! And it truly made...

Hola! I'm starting to feel ready to get out into the field. I love the friends I have made here, and the spirit that is constantly felt. And having pretty much every thing planned for me to a "T" makes my day pretty easy... but I'm ready to teach real people! And I really miss Chinese food.😏 If anyone is wondering what it's like to be with a group of EIGHT 18 year old boys all day every day, here is a sneak peek into my life: 1. One Elder in my district crawled out of the window of our classroom while our teacher wasn't looking. Just for fun. 2. Elder: "Hermana Brooks, if you could become any animal and destroy any city, which would you choose and why?" 3. "Ship names" are now a thing. For example, Elders Robertson and Huber are called HuberTson. And Elders Rasmussen and Murray are called RasMurray. My companionship has the great privilege of be named FerBrooksFarms... So that's fun to sound like a cheese fact...

(Elder Skinner's Companion, Elder Skinner, Me, Hermana Farmer, Hermana Ferrin at the Mexico Temple Visitor Center) This week was pretty great! I love how much I get to learn every single day. The teachers, missionaries, and leadership are all amazing! It's fun to meet new people, but its also fun to see the familiar faces of my cousin, Elder Branden Brooks, and Elder Skinner at every meal! 😊 (The missionaries that arrived at the Mexico MTC the same day as I did. I'm 5th from the left) I wish I could tell you how many Latinos have said, "Oh, you are so brave," when they learn I came here not knowing any Spanish. I think they all think I chose to come to the Mexico MTC for a fun little vacay! Its pretty much the Latin way of saying, "Bless your heart," to someone whose heart is only getting blessed because they're an idiot. Haha so that's fun. When I was telling my teacher, Hermano Hernandez, how hilarious it is that every...