Aug. 28, 2017 ~ MY HEART SHALL NOT FEAR... IN THIS I WILL BE CONFIDENT (Week 7)
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 Jesus was often tired when others needed him, He did not sleep and therefore he (the gentleman on the airplane) would appreciate if she DID NOT sleep. Sister Brooks said, "so I sugared up on M&Ms and Sprite and he preceded to DISCUSS for another two hours". 😏
WELCOME TO THE MISSION FIELD, RIGHT?!
Finally, five minutes before it was time to board her next flight, a very nice lady let her use her cell phone. The woman actually sent me a picture of her too!
When I sent the woman a thank you text, she said,
"You are most welcome! Your daughter and her fellow missionaries were so friendly when they asked to use my phone to speak to their parents before Christmas. We are on the same plane. I hope the 16.5 months go quickly and she can bring positivity to the city and community. Best Wishes!"
I am so grateful for this kind woman! From now on, I will make sure that I offer my phone to every missionary I see in the airport!
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| (From Mission President: 17 new missionaries in the mission are now with their new companions in their first areas of service. This is a very faithful crop of mountain movers.) |
From Sister Brooks Mission President:
"Dear Family, We are thrilled to report that Sister
Brooks arrived safely in her mission on
Wednesday, August 23. We picked her up at the airport and she was able
to do some missionary work right away. She ate dinner at the mission
home and had an interview with me. After completing orientation at the
mission office, all of the missionaries met their new companions and
went out to their areas... Thank you for
your prayers and support and for sharing Sister Brooks with us here..."
From Sister Brooks:
Hi!! Haha I'm sorry but I have no time. My blog posts are definitely going to suffer now that I am here in the field. There is just not enough time in the day! I can only write letters on P-Days so I'm not sure what to do. I have no time to write emails or my blog or letters... like ever. Ha so they will all suffer, and I apologize now for that. There just isn't enough time in the day. Please let people know so they aren't offended if I don't respond. I am trying to remain sincere with everyone... just trying to figure out how to do it. 😊
My President is down to earth. He's a chill guy, who said he's not here to be a babysitter. He reminds me a lot of dad. His wife is an angel.
My new area is a
small farming town and it is absolutely beautfiul. There are orchards
and fields everywhere. The weather is perfect. I love California. We share a house with the English-speaking sisters and there
are also English and Spanish-speaking elders in the area. So there are 4 sets of
missionaries here and we are determined to light this place
up with baptisms! There are a lot of Latinos
and they are all very kind and patient... most don't believe me when I tell
them I've only known Spanish for 6 weeks... (don't tell anyone I said that,
but the gift of tongues is so real). (Teresa's note: Oops 🌝)
I am welcomed with open arms and hugs whenever I attempt to speak Spanish, or even when I smile at someone. Everyone talks about how refreshing it is to have happy missionaries in the area.😃😄😍😎😁😊
My companion has about 14 months in the mission. I love her so much. We get along very well. She has had 3 baptisms her whole mission, and she set a goal to get 5 more. Previous companions told her it was impossible. I told her that we don't have time to doubt in our God and that we will get those 5 baptisms before she goes home in December. We should be committing at least 2 people to a date this week and we have a few more potentials. I am determined and stoked and I seriously LOVE LOVE LOVE being a missionary.
We end every day completely exhausted but I am so happy. I don't even know how to explain it. Its honestly just super chill. We go around teaching people and I participate when I can. My comp is super complimentary and we are just here to help each other become better people, and to help others to do the same.
I honestly was thinking about it this week, and I don't know why God has been so good to me. Ha I was so upset with Him for prompting me move to Texas, and then to go on a mission. But I have truly learned that God just wants the best for his children... He wants to bless us!!! We just have to trust him! Serving a mission has been the biggest blessing, and I haven't even been here a week. Ha I am so excited to look back 5 years from now and to see why everything happened the way it did. Hopefully it will all make sense... but for now I am just enjoying every second and thanking Heavenly Father along the way.
My heart is full. But I know there will be days that are hard, for sure!
My time here will fly by too fast. I can already tell! I'm happy and I love being a missionary. The Spanish honestly hasn't been too hard. I
know that if I do my part, Heavenly Father will make up the rest. I am
learning so much and working hard and I end
every day completely exhausted. But I wouldn't have it any other way.
Tell everyone I would
LOVE letters. I can check the mail every day but not my email every day.
So letters are probably faster because I will get them within a few
days. So spread the word. I'd love to get some (get the address from my mom). I'm so happy I'm in the
U.S.! 😀
I wish so badly that I had
the time to write more today but I just don't. Our P-Day got cut short
because a lady asked to feed us early, and we only get an hour. I'll write more next
week. I'll try to have my thoughts written out so I can just pound it out
next Monday.
"My heart shall not fear... in this will I be confident." Psalms 27:3
Love,
Hermana Brooks
We get fed so much...and it's pretty dense food. Haha my companion/trainer has asked me to be her personal trainer, so that is keeping me accountable to exercise and eat right. I was so happy to go to Target today and to cook for myself!
I will not miss the MTC food!
(So excited to eat food in America!)
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