“...When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.” Mosiah 2:17
Dec. 12, 2011
Hello, hello again!
We had some cool service projects this week. The first one was the annual mission Christmas celebration. We met up with two different zones and I got to see my old MTC companion, Hermana Peel who was there also! So fun! We ate a nice lunch at the office and then watched a movie about the birth of Jesus Christ. After that we went to a home for abandoned boys. I wasn’t sure what to expect. When we arrived there were about a dozen boys sitting on the couches, and about 50 missionaries. Pictures of Saints and the Virgin Mary were on the walls. We started singing Christmas carols and the boys looked either asleep or not sure what to think. We sounded great- like a celestial choir- the acoustics in the room were amazing and the elders with us really knew how to sing and of course, we had Hermana Peel too. But it wasn’t until we sang “Jingle Bells” (in English) that the boys started to lighten up and enjoy listening to us. Then we sang “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” and they were laughing and it was so cool to think that we could bring a little bit of Christmas cheer into their lives. Their parents had abandoned them and that’s why they were there. As we were singing the Christmas hymns about our Savior’s birth, I felt the Spirit so strongly and it reminded me of how much God loves all of His children, no matter who they are or where they are. It reminded me that when we are serving others, that is when we are truly loving them and feeling the love that God has for all of his children. It was a very special Christmas event and I will never forget it.
On Saturday, we went to a Hermana’s house in the ward and painted her fence and gates. I am becoming such a pro painter! Apparently that’s a favorite service project in this area. Another couple from the ward painted with us and it was so fun (and hot)!
We had a cool lesson with a family of investigators when we went on splits. I was with Gabi, who is 17 and we taught Adriana and Andrea and their mom, who was visiting from Brazil. We taught the Joseph Smith story and got to clarify all of the doubts that they had like, “I heard that you pray to Joseph Smith” (which we do not, but it makes me wonder why they would have a problem with that because so many people pray to saints, virgins and angels here). “I also heard that Joseph Smith wrote another Bible...why do we need another Bible” and the most common comment we hear, “I was already baptized...” What I’ve realized is that it’s so much more important to teach people and help them understand, rather than feeling like we have to teach specific lessons no matter what, and you leave and they have no idea what you were talking about. It’s so important that the Spirit is the key part when you teach people because the Spirit brings understanding and is responsible for the conversion process.
Gissell went to the temple! Her family is doing well. We had an interesting lesson with her mom and older sister. It started out as a lesson about the Sabbath Day and turned into a lesson on the Word of Wisdom. We explained about the Sacrament and wine and how we don’t drink it. Her sister Gladys said, “Well, doctors say a little wine is healthy.” My response was “Well, God says we shouldn’t consume it. Which one are you going to trust in?”
Well, this is another week of changes/transfers. Since I have already been in this area for 6 months, chances are very likely I will be leaving. One-third of my mission has been spent in Loma and how I have loved it! We will see where the Lord wants me to go next!
Con cariño y amor,
Hermana Brittner
PS Mom and Dad- Happy Anniversary! I love you!
Week 43- "Head, Shoulder, Knees & Toes"
Week 42- Pan Dulce and Mice Adventures!
“...As the Lord God liveth, there is none other name given under the heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved.” (2 Nephi 25: 20)
Dec. 5, 2011
Hello, hello, hello!
As Christmas approaches, we are entering a season of great joy, happiness and...pan dulce. What is pan dulce, you might ask? Well, the English translation is “sweet bread,” but it’s what we Americans would call, “fruitcake.” I can think of many-a-holiday joke centered on this festive dessert but in Paraguay, it is not like that. People take their pan dulce seriously and take great pride in making it, selling it and giving it to their neighbors and favorite missionaries with love. I can think of many, many holiday desserts that I would prefer over this so called sweet bread but being as South America is not big on sweets and that’s where I will be spending Christmas, I plan on putting on my best smile and eating their preferred Paraguayan holiday treat with a joyful heart. But please, when I come home, do not buy me pan dulce in hopes of reminding me of what they eat in Paraguay. I will be just fine with some apple pie, mint brownies, cheesecake...
Well, another week has passed and I am feeling a lot better. I was feeling better on Wednesday and we worked a full day. Unfortunately, then my companion got sick and was down Thursday and Friday. This meant we spent a lot of time in the house and I watched A LOT of church movies...Legacy, the Testaments, District 2 (missionary training movies), Joseph Smith movie, etc, etc. (side note: I wish they would make a District movie in South America- it would be so legit!) But it was good to relax, clean and catch up on letter writing.
December 8th marks a very important day in Paraguay for those of another faith. This is the day that many people walk to Caacupe to worship the Virgin of Caacupe. I’m not exactly sure where she came from or why they think they should worship and pray to her, but many people do. They walk all the way there (a few hours away from Asunción) or some of them cheat and take the collectivo and only walk a little bit but they walk with a purpose. Apparently they promise the Virgin that they will give up something or act a certain way so that she will continue to bless their family. Just a cultural tidbit!
Some good news is that we had a full house at church on Sunday! I love fast Sundays in Loma because all of the Primary kids get up first thing and run up to bear their testimonies (at least 15 of them). Then they all finish and leave the stand at the same time. There are always more people who want to bear their testimony than they have time for. Pamela and Gissell both bore their testimonies in Sacrament Meeting. It was very special. Gissell, Junior and Pamela are doing great. Gissell and Junior got their temple recommends and they are planning to go this Saturday with the youth. I wish I had more to report on the investigator side, but with all the sickness that we have been experiencing in our little companionship, we don’t have too much going on right now.
An experience that was somewhat entertaining this week was a lesson that we held with a member’s mom. It wasn’t the lesson that was entertaining but rather, the little mice that kept scurrying across the room and behind their furniture as we sat talking with them. I’m not sure if they didn’t see them, were just ignoring them, or had adopted them as the house pets, but nonetheless, it made Hermana Tua'one and I give each other more than a few raised eyebrows, trying not to laugh and muttering to each other under our breath in English. All the while that this was going on, the lady’s 95-year-old dad, who wasn’t quite all there, said to us, every ten minutes, “seems like it’s going to rain.” I wish we could have practiced in the MTC (Missionary Training Center) for some of the crazy things that go on during lessons in Paraguay!
Here in Paraguay, they build their cemeteries above ground. They don’t bury people underground. They build little houses at the cemetery with enough room to fit their whole family and they just stack the coffins on top of each other whenever someone dies. Quite different than the states.
Anyway, that’s all for now. I want to wish my two sisters, Rae and Becca, a very happy birthday! I love you both tons and hope your birthdays (were) are wonderful!!!
And also, I want to congratulate my friend, Faith, for getting her mission call here to Asunción Norte, which is the best mission on earth! I am so excited you are coming here and who knows, I could be your mom! (That’s mission talk for trainer ;))
Hasta luego,
Hermana Brittner
Week 41- I'm dreaming of a white (not hot & sweaty) Christmas!
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of the darkness into his marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9
Nov. 28, 2011
Feliz Navidad..Feliz Navidad!! Christmas is coming and I am sweating like a pig. I don’t think there is any more polite way to say that. It is 40+ degrees Celsius outside which converts to 104 degrees Fahrenheit and it is HOT. I have been sick this week and that means that I have been sleeping a ton. I am not sure what I have- I just know that it’s not dengue nor chicken pox, so that’s good.
Today for P-day we ate Lomitos with our zone full of elders...Lomitos are a Paraguayan burrito. They are kind of like gyros from Europe with garlic sauce and meat and cabbage inside. Yum. We also watched the elders play soccer and ultimate Frisbee because the hermanas aren’t allowed to play with them. Talk about injustice! But it’s okay...I am getting over it.
Pamela and Junior got baptized and confirmed! It was a great double baptism- their older sister Gladys even came (her first time in the church building) but unfortunately their mom didn’t come. Little Pamela is so cute (9 years old) and she bore her testimony at the baptism and said that she knew Thomas S. Monson is a prophet, that Joseph Smith restored the Church, that the Church is true and that if it hadn’t been for the hermanas she would never have found the Gospel and be able to get baptized and return to live with God again. Talk about just melting a Hermana missionary’s heart! Demasiada chulina. In Junior’s confirmation, the Bishop talked about how he will receive the Priesthood and be able to prepare to go on a mission. They are awesome kids!
We had a Family Home Evening a couple of weeks ago that I forgot to tell you about. We gathered up all the neighborhood Mormon kids and played EFY (Especially For Youth) games at Gissell’s house. It was super fun and it reminded me of the good ole days when I was an EFY counselor (except in Spanish).
Random Paraguayan fact: If you watch any Paraguayan doing yard work, you will notice that the only tool they use is a machete. They cut down trees with a machete and they make these wide swinging motions to cute grass with a machete. It is a multi-use tool here! One time, I saw a Paraguayan cutting her grass with a butter knife. Don’t ask me why.
Some members brought some investigators to church, so that gave us a few more leads of people to go visit and teach. Unfortunately two of our investigators, Leidi and Jorge, didn’t come to church yesterday.
Well, sorry there aren’t more exciting things to report this week. That’s just what happens when you get sick.
A few lines from my thankful list from Thanksgiving: I am thankful that I know how to read, that I have enough food to eat, that we have air conditioning in the room where we sleep, for my mission, my parents, my sisters, my family and friends, my Savior, the Restored Gospel and Joseph Smith.
Thank you everyone for your love and support for me. It means the world to me and I love you all!
Love, Hermana Brittner
Week 40- Thanksgiving, foreign claps and a dog in Sacrament Meeting!
November 21, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving does not exist in Paraguay. My old companion said they fasted last Thanksgiving, because they forgot it was a holiday. Don’t worry, we won’t fast, we will probably eat some noodles and sopa, as usual.
So apparently Paraguayans can tell between a Paraguayan clap and a foreigner’s clap. When I found this out, I was thinking, “great, not only does my Spanish have an accent but my clap does as well.” So now every time we clap a house, we turn to each other and say, “Did that sound American?”
Well, we have had an exciting week. It’s always an adjustment getting use to a new companion’s way of teaching but I think we are getting the hang of things and we are having a lot of fun. We had a family come to church yesterday! We were so excited. We found them through an Elder’s reference. He had contacted them in another area, but they now live in our area. They came to church with us when we passed by early Sunday morning to go to church. We almost stopped visiting the Mom because she wasn’t reading any of the pamphlets or the Book of Mormon but then the Dad came back from his trip and he was really interested. The Mom is 16, the Dad is 26 and their baby is 9 months old. They aren’t married. But they came to church! Poca a Poca. God takes raw materials and turns them into gold and that’s what our goal is for this family. It probably sounds pretty surprising, the situation they are living in, but in Paraguay, it’s very common.
Junior, Gissell and Pamela also came to Church on Sunday! Junior and Pamela are getting baptized on Wednesday. Their mom still hasn’t come to church but poca a poca. I don’t like baptizing kids without the parents, because it’s hard for them, but with Gissell and their strong testimonies and understanding of the Gospel, I think they can make it. They are really smart kids. Funny moment: walking into Sacrament, we saw not only Junior and his sisters, but also Junior’s dog, hiding and lying down under the last pew in the chapel. She follows him everywhere, even into the chapel! He dragged her out by the collar with her paws dragging on the ground. It was hilarious! Then to top it off, she came back in again. The Paraguayans were saying, “You know, visitors are welcome but that’s not what we had in mind.”
After church, a bunch of primary kids from the other ward came up close to me while I was talking to the Elders and started whispering to each other. It turns out they’ve never seen a Hermana missionary before and they were asking when I could come over to their house. They were awestruck and I felt like they were going to ask for my autograph or something by the way they kept staring at me. Oh, to be blonde in Paraguay.
So I’m not sure why, but in Paraguay they have “pharmacies” where they sell your average Walmart-type lotion, vitamins, diapers and face wash but they sell it “over-the-counter.” They also have school supply shops in the malls, where you have to ask “over-the-counter” for paper, pencils, gluesticks. It’s really strange. The other day, I had to ask over-the-counter for a gluestick . Don’t ask me why, that’s just Paraguay for ya.
Something that really surprised me this week was this: we visited a lady and her baby and the baby had a red ribbon tied to his wrist. After the lesson, my companion informed me that certain other churches go around and put those ribbons on baby’s wrists to say that they haven’t been baptized and need to do so, so that they aren’t condemned to hell. Can somebody please read Moroni 8:8 here??? “Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me, that it hath no power over them; and the law of circumcision is done away in me.” I won’t go into how uncivilized it is that some people think that if their babies aren’t baptized and they pass away, that they will be condemned to hell. It really takes away from the idea of a loving Heavenly Father. Babies do not need to baptized because they do not carry the guilt for the transgression of Adam. They should not get baptized until 8, the age of accountability.
One new principle we practice as missionaries, is that we always invite people to be baptized on the first lesson, without fail. It’s a way to gauge the openness and readiness of their heart. Many times it goes like this here in Paraguay, “Will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone who has the authority?” To which they respond, “I was already baptized.” At which point, we lovingly tell them that their baptism was not valid in the eyes of God. It always makes for a good discussion.
I love being a missionary. I am learning so much. I am so grateful, in this season of Thanksgiving, for all the blessings my Heavenly Father has given me- for my family and friends, for this mission, for the Gospel, for the Restoration of the Gospel and for my Savior, Jesus Christ. This is where it is at! Having the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
May this Thanksgiving find you in good health and good company and may you feel the love of your Heavenly Father everyday in your life.
Cariñosamente,
Hermana Brittner
PS. It rained HARD last night and this morning. The streets are like rivers...at least it didn’t rain on Sunday!
Week 39- Paraguay Roads, Chicken Pox, and Lightning & Thunder!
Nov. 14, 2011
Five people riding on one motorcycle, a baby hanging off the side. A bus so jam-packed that people are literally hanging out the side. A 13-year-old driving a motorcycle with his little sister, going to the grocery store. A horse-drawn cart with a man on the back driving, next to a huge semi-truck and a taxi stopped at a red light.
These are just a few of the usual things you will see in Paraguay when you are walking around town. They have laws (I think) but I am not sure what they are. Jaywalking is expected across six lanes of traffic, babies don’t have car seats, people don’t wear seat belts and there is not an enforced motorcycle helmet law (which results in many fatal and serious injuries every year). Most people have motos or they take the bus. I imagine it is a lot like how the US was many years ago. The horse-driven carts just show how the old traditions of Paraguay live on, despite the changing environment and thriving technology.
Don’t worry, I still look both ways before I cross the street and I am very cautious. I just thought you would be interested to know what the roads are like here.
Well, this Sunday there was a HUGE thunder and lightning storm which meant that our church attendance was cut in half and our investigators didn't come like they promised. However, we are expecting them to come next week and planning a baptism a week from Wednesday!
My companion is great! We are having a good time together and even more exciting is that Hermana Astle and Hermana Van Dusen are going out to work with us tonight and then staying over!! Woot woot! They need a place to stay because they drove in from Concepcion for the Zone Conference they have tomorrow. I am sooo excited!! Some of my best mission comps! Woot woot! We are having FHE at Gissell’s house tonight and it’s going to be great.
Gissell is awesome! She has started reading all of the church books that we gave her for her baptism and taking notes on them.
Hermana Tua`one was sick on Tuesday so I spent a good amount of time writing letters and watching Mr. Krueger’s Christmas and the Testaments. While she was asleep, I received a call from Hermana Madariaga advising us that an elder has chicken pox and that we need to be careful. We had been exposed to him and his sickness. I have already had chicken pox but I wasn’t sure if my sick, sleeping companion had. I was thinking, ¨A week in this house?¨ and nervously awaited her awakening, but por suerte, she has already had them. Whoo. I’ve had enough sickness on my mission for both me and my companions, and I don’t want to spend more time in the house again.
Speaking of sickness, one of my old companions is going home for health issues, but hopefully she will be coming back. It’s sad but we’re hoping things can get worked out so she can come back.
I have had a few experiences this week with people of other religions that have just made me so very grateful to be a member of the true restored Church on the earth today. The Gospel just makes sense. The Book of Mormon is true. It’s the evidence of the restoration. We have a living prophet on the earth today. The Church was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith.
We are decorating our house for Christmas...lights and all. We don’t have a tree but little decorations..it’s chulina. We have our zone conference on Thursday- I am super excited.
Well, love you all, hope you have a great week.
Until Next Week,
Hermana Brittner
PS. Taylor- Great job on your volleyball season- Go number 24!!
Week 38- New Traditions, New Companion
“It´s a great day to be alive, I know the sun is still shining when I close my eyes.” - Lyrics from a country song of which I can’t remember the title.
Nov. 7, 2011
¡HOLA, FAMILIA!
Well, Christmas is fast approaching here in Paraguay even though the temperature says different to me. That means that in the grocery stores, lined up right next to the watermelons, are the artificial Christmas trees. Weird. Three Kings Day in January is when they exchange gifts. I am sure I will learn more about the traditions as the days pass.
Well, I am still in Loma!! Whoo! However, Hermana Young is not and I was very sad to see her go. The good thing is that we will both be at BYU together after our missions! When she got the call, she said, “I am leaving the best ward in Paraguay!” Which is true. My new companion is Hermana Tua’one. She grew up in West Valley, Utah but her parents are from Tonga and Samoa. No one here can correctly guess what country she is from. They guess everywhere but the US. She graduated from UC Redlands with a degree in Political Science. I think we will do well together. She is technically a Senior Companion but since I know the area and all the people, I am taking charge with planning and everything. It’s a lot of responsibility but I am getting the hang of it.
When we got on the bus today Hermana Tua’one laughed. I asked her what was up. She told me that it had been a while since she had gotten on a collective/bus and had everyone stare. That’s because it has been a while since she has had a tall, white, blonde companion that everyone stares at. She has dark skin and dark hair, so she blends in. Me, on the other hand, not so much…Good thing it doesn’t bother me anymore!
Two of our investigators came to church yesterday! They are the little siblings of Gissell who was baptized 2 weeks ago. We have been teaching them and they are planning to be baptized. We just need final approval from their Mom. They are so smart and receptive to the Gospel, they are great. The 9 year old even bore her testimony in Sacrament meeting yesterday. Yep, that’s our investigator!
We are on the hunt for new investigators…(this is the point while typing the email when I turn to Hermana Young and say, ‘what else happened this week?’ But she is not here.) When we went to the office for changes/transfers, I saw 6 of the 7 mission companions I have had! It was great. I’ll send pictures later. I’m at the point now where all of the weird things about Paraguay have now become normal. So I’m sorry if my emails are not as interesting as they used to be. Let me know what you would like to know!
If there is anything I’ve learned on my mission, it is that we are in the Lord’s hands. We do our best and put our trust in Him. We are obedient and He leads us to where He wants us to be, where we will be the happiest, grow and learn the most. When we are keeping the commandments, we can go forward with faith and trust that the Lord is guiding our lives and we need not fear. When we are baptized, we are promised the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. All we have to do is be worthy of it.
I am still happy doing the Lord’s work. Thanks for the letters and love.
Until next week,
Hermana Brittner
PS. The next transfers/changes are 3 days before Christmas...so hopefully I can stay another month so I don’t spend Christmas in a new area!
Week 37- Happy Halloween!
Oct. 31, 2011
Happy Halloween!
So you are probably wondering what Halloween is like here in Paraguay. Well, they don’t officially celebrate Halloween in Paraguay, although sometimes they have parties the weekend before. This past Friday the youth put on a huge Halloween dance and invited the whole stake. They sold snacks at the dance to raise money for EFY “Especially For Youth” (coming for the first time ever in January! Woot!) and it was a smashing success. They had decorations like in the States and a lot of people dressed up. They don’t have trick or treating or anything like that though.
Saturday morning we participated in a service project, painting walls and moving rocks at an addiction help center. It was fun- we even got to wear the yellow Mormon helping hands shirts =) Da gustar ayudar a las personas. OH and it was about 100 degrees outside! There were missionaries there from 2 zones. We hurried from the service project home to shower, then to our lunch appointment, and then we walked a half hour to get to the church and it was sooo hot! Our investigator Gissell was baptized!! Our baptism went well, even though the person who was going to baptize Gissell fell through and in the middle of the baptismal service we realized we needed another witness. But while they were watching a movie, the Bishop called someone and it all worked out. It had started raining hard and in Paraguay, that means no one leaves their houses or shows up to whatever activity is going on. So we had the Bishop, the 1st counselor who was conducting, with his family, Gissell’s neighbor and their family and us. Gissell´s mom went out of town and didn’t come. Gissell had the biggest smile on her face as she came out of the water! Afterward we served banana bread. (Paraguayans are crazy about that stuff.)
Sunday she was confirmed and I felt the Spirit so strongly. It was awesome! Her smile was a mile wide and you could tell that she is converted to the Gospel, not just a baptized member. She is awesome, so sweet and receptive. She was a reference from a member, one in three here get baptized. Which one of your friends can you refer to get baptized and receive the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ? After the confirmation Hermana Young and I gave talks on missionary work. It’s amazing how easy it is for me to talk for 10 minutes as a missionary, whereas before my mission it seemed like 10 minutes was forever. I spoke about the joy that comes from missionary work. I started crying while bearing my testimony as I thought about how much I have learned here and enjoyed this ward and this experience.
We went to TGI Fridays today as a Zone activity and I thought I was in America. SO weird!! That was my first time in a restaurant in a long time. The elders in my zone are pretty entertaining right now. I am happy, healthy and full of joy, the Spirit, and lots of food. Thanks for all your letters and support. Oh yeah, last thing: changes/transfers are on Saturday this week because President will be going out of town. So I have no idea if I will be going or staying or who my companion will be... I hope I stay but it’s in the Lord’s hands.
Until next week,Hermana Brittner
Week 36- "Yankee. Gringa. Rubia."
“The nearer we get to our Heavenly Father, the more we are disposed with compassion on perishing souls. We feel we want to take them upon our shoulders and cast their sins behind our backs.” Joseph Smith, Jr.
October 24, 2011
Hola! Como estan??
Yankee. Gringa. Rubia. Just a few of the names that people call me- people on the street, as well as members. “Yankee” because I’m American (sounds more like “Jankee” when they say it), “gringa” because I speak English and am American (maybe this is like greenie in English?) and “Rubia” because I’m blonde. Regardless of what people call us, we always introduce ourselves as missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ in the area.
I can’t believe another week has passed. Where does the time go? Well, yesterday was the Primary Program and I promised Mom I would tell all about it. There’s only one word to describe a Paraguayan Primary Program: CHULINA! I loved it! It was very well put together and all of the kids participated and they brought a very special Spirit into the meeting. There were songs and different parts, just like our programs, and all of the girls wore little flower headbands and the boys wore blue ties. They had a big poster in the back with the theme and red and yellow and blue fabric draped across the front. It is amazing- the organization of the Church and how it teaches even the smallest of children the Gospel truths. That’s what is amazing about this Gospel: it’s so simple that even a child can understand it. It was even more special because I knew each and every one of the children who were speaking. I have visited and eaten with their families. I have watched their spiritual growth and taught their non-member friends. I am eternally grateful for the strong members of Loma Pyta and their examples. Each one of them has a special place in my heart. I especially loved hearing the Primary sing, “We’ll Bring the World His Truth,” and the loud little primary boys singing off-tune. It was very touching to know that they are being raised in the truth and that someday, they will be missionaries too.
Gisel is getting baptized this Saturday! We are so excited! We got permission from her Mom which was a miracle. Her mom isn’t interested in sharing with us but she has noticed the difference in her daughter and she wants her daughter to have this guidance in her life. She sat with us through one lesson, when we taught the 10 commandments. We started testifying about how the 10 commandments have blessed our lives and she said, “Gisel needs to hang out with you all the time. Whenever you want, you can come over.” She was impressed with our testimonies and desires to follow Christ. She is even coming to the baptism! This is very rare in Paraguay and we are so excited.
Edith came to church as well. She is so excited to get baptized. She is Chilean and we are basically harvesting what many missionaries before us have planted. She has shared many times with missionaries but now is her time.
Ariel didn’t come to church but we had a sweet Family Home Evening with him and we are praying really hard that he will come this Sunday and realize that this Gospel will bless his family, even if they don’t think so.
I taught district meeting about how we need to have faith in ourselves, in our work and in our investigators. We need to see them through the eyes of God- their eternal potential and not just where they are in their lives right now. That is charity- seeing people as God sees them, and not as the world sees them or even as they may see themselves.
We have started doing missionary work differently. Instead of clapping random houses, we ask members for references of their friends and then go and talk to and teach their friends. In a zone conference, we learned that 1 in 3 references from a member is baptized whereas only 1 in 1000 people from clapped houses is baptized. It’s a much more intelligent way to work and I like it a ton better.
One of the ward member's Dad passed away suddenly two weeks ago. I have been working with quite a few members and non-members who have recently had someone pass away. I have never felt the sting of someone passing away who is very close to me, so I don’t know fully how it feels. However, I have seen the reactions and the emotional state of many different people. This sweet Hermana is an incredible example to me of someone whose strong testimony of the restored Gospel has given her strength in this difficult time. Although it is very hard for her, she has found peace and understanding in what has happened. This is because she has a strong testimony of the Gospel and an eternal perspective. She has turned towards God, instead of away from Him.
Well, it’s getting hotter and hotter everyday. Will I survive a Paraguayan summer? I hope so.
Love you all!
Hermana Brittner
Week 35- Temple Day
October 17, 2011
¡¡Buenos!!
¿Como están? Well, I went through the Asunción Temple on Friday. Wow, it is SO beautiful and I felt so rejuvenated after being there. In the temple, we make covenants or promises with God that we will follow Him and it is also where families are sealed for time and all eternity. It is the House of the Lord and it is beautiful. While in the Temple, I was reminded of the eternal potential of each one of our Heavenly Father’s children- how He loves us and has more blessings in store for us than we can possibly imagine. But it is up to us to accept those blessings- to accept the commandments and then to work for our salvation and the salvation of others. As Elder Holland said, “Salvation is not a cheap experience!” I was surprised that mostly all of the workers were American. They are on missions, to help forward the work here. The Temple was dedicated in 2002. Little did I know when I was a little Beehive, that the Paraguay Temple was about to be dedicated and one day I would serve a mission there. (Maybe, little sisters, the temple where you will serve your mission, has not been built yet or was just recently dedicated.) I went through the whole session in Spanish and understood everything. Woot-woot for the gift of tongues! It was wonderful being in the temple with all of the other missionaries (about 40) and feeling the Spirit so strongly.
Random Paraguay fact: It is unusual for us to leave a lesson without being fed or at least given water. They usually offer us “terere” or “mate” but we aren’t allowed to drink it. The Paraguayan people are very friendly, very social and treat you just like family. Yesterday, we left lessons with a block of Paraguayan cheese and another one with a bottle of Sprite. I guess this is one reason I love Paraguayans! They speak to my heart as well as to my stomach. =)
Something cool about Paraguay is that they have lots of thunder and lightning storms. It’s a lot cooler when you are inside watching them and not outside getting soaked, but what can you do? =)
We had 5 investigators at church yesterday and all of them came with members or by themselves. Que purete! Gisel came and she should get baptized at the end of this month, along with two other teenage girls. Also, Julio, the older man, came- we were so happy! He truly wants to know Christ better. Also, a 21 year old girl named Lorena came. I think she is a chosen one- she got baptized in the Catholic Church but feels like she is missing something. We gave her a Book of Mormon and committed her to pray about it. Everyone we talk to has the opportunity to learn more and change for Jesus Christ. But being chosen means you are willing to change for Christ, to give up bad habits, sins, things that won’t bring you closer to God and replace them with obedience to his commandments. Unfortunately, Ariel didn’t come to Church. But hopefully he comes to the FHE we are planning tonight.
We also found a lady named Edith who asked if she could get baptized before we had even discussed that! Whoo! And she says she loves to read (uncommon here) and would, therefore, love to read the Book of Mormon! She went out of town this weekend but I’ll keep you updated on her progress.
Church was awesome! It was Stake Conference and the Mission President and his wife, the Temple President and his wife and Elder Patania, a Seventy (from Argentina) spoke. Argentineans know how to give great talks. They were very inspiring. It was all about the family and how we can have strong families by setting examples and living the Gospel. We spoke with a mother of four on Saturday night and she was worried about her kids and raising them in such a wicked world. Too bad she didn’t come to Church on Sunday because this Gospel is the answer to all of her worries and questions.
Happy Anniversary Becca and Jason! Whoo! Thanks for having cute babies! And to my little sisters, my little futbolistas, congrats on your great soccer seasons! It must be in the Brittner genes or something =) And T, keep up the good work with volley (that’s what they call it here in Paraguay). And congrats to Jennelle for getting married! I’m so happy for you! And Leslie I have still not heard about your wedding...write soon! Love you all!
Well, things are going well. I am happy, healthy and content. Thanks for your love and prayers and remember to stand as a witness of God at all times, in all things and in all places.
Con cariño,
Hermana Brittner
Week 34- 8 Miles + 100 degrees = TIRED
`Nobody rises so early or is so tired by 10:30 PM. Nobody else can clap houses quite so loud. Nobody else can get such a thrill at the end of a disappointing day when someone says, ¨Won´t you come in; we have been waiting for you. ¨´- anonymous
Oct. 10, 2011
Hola familia! Como están? Well, it has been another crazy week here in Asunción. We are working hard and teaching tons. My sister says that my letters are becoming too missionary-ish. But what do you expect? I am a “real missionary!” haha
Three days this week it hit 100 degrees but then cooled off again. I am thankful it’s spring and not summer yet. I think that the Lord was really looking out for me since I only have to live through one Paraguayan summer and two winters.
So, a random Paraguay fact: I am pretty sure that the collectivos/busses here are more fun than the Indian Jones ride at Disneyland! Sometimes you stand up and they stop really fast, we call this surfing when you have to hang on for your life and hopefully not fall over. Paraguayans are pros at this. It’s us gringos who have the trouble. Also, if you sit in the back, you can get some serious air when you go over a large hole in the road and there are many. Since the roads here are usually cobblestone, it’s a bumpy ride, all the time. Also, something else you won’t see in the states is the word Jesus on every collective or a scriptural reference and Jesus, Virgin Mary, and Saint stickers in the front of every bus.
We have some sweet investigators right now. Unfortunately, none of our super purete investigators came to church yesterday. Gisel is doing well as are her “Narnia” siblings. She left her Book of Mormon at a neighbor’s house so she went online to lds.org and started reading it online. She is so awesome! That just shows what kind of initiative she has as a 15-year-old, to learn.
We taught a 17 year old who was a referral from a member. She is very active in her church and reads the Bible often. We gave her the Book of Mormon and explained it to her and she invited us in to watch a video from her Church called “The Bible vs. the Book of Mormon.” I guess she didn’t realize that this was an anti-Mormon video, because she was just honestly inviting us in out of the goodness of her heart. No thanks. I would rather not be exposed to more of the Adversary’s lies. We politely declined. Lol.
Ariel, was going to come to church but his mom was sick. He said, “I want to know if this is true and that’s why I am going to pray.” Que guapo! (guapo here means, awesome, not attractive, btw). He pulled out the pamphlet from the church and said, “I want this. I want an eternal family.” His entire family is against him changing his religion, so he must have a lot of courage and really want to make this change because it will be hard.
We met a man named Julio, whose wife died a few years ago and he has experienced health problems that have made him re-evaluate his life. He said, “I want to know Jesus, how he is, even though I know it will take years to really know him.” He has a darling 10 year old grandson named Tobias and his grandson has been reading the Book of Mormon to him every night and then they pray together. Chulina. He said that he sleeps well after we leave because he has felt so good listening to us teach him (aka the Spirit)- we just need him to come to church now.
Another memorable lesson came from a contact off the street. While we were singing a person stopped and said, “You should sing more and talk less because that’s when I feel closest to God.” Haha, maybe that’s something to consider?
Hermana Lucas and Elder Lucas (an older missionary couple) came to our ward. I just love them. They are from Utah and she is the mission nurse for both missions in Paraguay and they are also in charge of the Perpetual Education Fund for the whole country of Paraguay. I’ve decided I want to be just like them when I grow up.
We visited a family in our ward. Their aunt just passed away from an operation gone wrong. Their Dad is still bitter about this and has turned away from God, instead of turning toward him. We taught about the Spirit World and it was a very cool/emotional lesson. I really don’t know what it’s like to lose someone close to me but the cool thing is that Jesus Christ does. And so when I don’t understand what the people I teach have been through, I encourage them to turn to someone who does understand, the Savior.
We worked so hard this week in the heat. Add walking for 8 or so miles everyday with it being HOT and this equals being TIRED. Missions consist of all kinds of days: long days, hot days, the dengue days, rainy days, P-days, `otro días`, baptism days, fast and testimony days, the good days, and the could’ve-been-better days. But it’s the people who are really searching to know, who make it all worth it. The people who have been searching and praying and waiting and wondering, to KNOW, to FIND the TRUE CHURCH, the real Gospel of Jesus Christ, that make it all worth it. It’s the quiet `gracias` after a Spirit-filled lesson, the look in their eyes when you know that the Spirit has taught them the truth, the knowledge that their lives will never be the same. All this because you left your air-conditioned life and stepped into the culture of Paraguay, because you opened your mouth and attempted to speak in your broken Spanish, because you made the choice to leave it all behind and give it all you have, that their lives will never be the same. But it’s not only their lives that you have changed, but also, your own. Because you have taught them about the one life that has made this all possible: the life of Jesus Christ.
Until next week,
Your favorite Hermana Missionary,
Hermana Brittner
Week 33- Still in Loma!
October 2, 2011
“Let us be as quick to kneel, as we are to text.” Elder Ian S. Ardern
Hola,
Well, I am still in Loma with Hermana Young! When I heard the news, I started doing the “happy dance.” It’s not as good as Rachel’s but I’m working on it. I am really happy and we are working hard. We have a new district leader- Elder Menesces from Argentina. He has only been a convert for a couple of years and his family doesn’t agree with his decisión to be a member and leave on a missión. He hasn’t heard from his family in a year. To me, he is a true first generation pioneer.
Highlights of the week: Apparently most ward events start a few hours late in Paraguay because that is what happened with the other ward’s “Festival del Bicentenario.” It was worth the two hour wait though. It was an amazing celebration of Paraguay’s 200th year anniversary and one of the wars that happened here. There was the traditional dancing, with girls wearing long red skirts, lacy shirts and their hair in a bun. The boys wore white shirts and ties, red, white, and blue belts around their waist and straw hats. There was lots of guitar playing and singing in Guarani. I understood like four words. But I enjoyed it so much! I love the culture here! It is fascinating and I feel as though the Paraguyans have taught me so much about life and what’s important. They really are a beautiful people.
The most exciting part of the week was definitely conference. I LOVED it! It was so awesome! This whole week was burning hot. Then Saturday comes, and at 8 AM, we start our studies and we hear a clap of thunder- it starts POURING! The streets turn into rivers and we think, “Oh great.” So a few hours later, we leave the house to catch a collectivo/bus. We cross the river (the street) and the water is up to our ankles. We finally get on the collectivo and this is the best part- there was water spraying up in between the wooden panels of the floor! It was hilarious! We finally made it to the chapel to find ONLY 2 Paraguayans there to watch the first session and about 20 missionaries. Haha. We didn’t have the keys to watch it in English so we watched the first session in Spanish. I understood it and it was cool, but I like hearing the speaker’s real voice and not the translator. It was amazing! I am so grateful for a living prophet and the restoration of the Gospel. The Spirit was so strong. I also loved watching the World Report after. The Church is amazing- the work is going on in every part of the world. How about another temple in Provo? Woot woot! Who knows, I may still be at BYU when it’s done. Haha. And who will be the new BYU president? The next three sessions I watched in English in the backroom on a tiny television. We were so grateful to watch it in English! Eighteen elders, and us two hermanas were there- what else is new? Thankfully, there were a lot more members there on Sunday than on Saturday morning.
We had two investigators at conference, Gisel (15) and Ariel (31). Gisel and her two siblings are investigators. They are very smart and read the Book of Mormon together on their own every night! I call them the “Narnia kids” because that’s who they remind me of. They are already in Mosiah. Ariel is an investigator too- a really nice guy. I hope that they both get baptized this month. Justo’s family is well- we are working on getting them to the temple to be sealed together as a family.
This week I met a 70 year old lady who can’t read. So many things I take for granted, the opportunity to read, write, learn and progress. I learned to read when I was in 1st grade and haven’t thought much about what a blessing it is, but truly, it is. (Thanks Dad :)
So we went to teach an inactive Returned Missionary. His wife got baptized about a year ago and they have a little baby. Well, when we got there, he didn’t really want to talk. He told us that he knew what we were trying to do and he knows that he isn’t doing the right thing by not going to church but he has to run his shop on Sunday morning to fix motorcycles and to make ends meet. He said to us, “When I was a missionary, I didn’t understand either. I didn’t know how it really is. And you can never understand.” Basically, implying that we were too young and naive to understand how life really is. WELL LISTEN BUDDY, I didn’t come all the way to Paraguay and drop my whole life to teach something that I don’t understand. I think he must have forgotten 1 Nephi 3:7, which says that God never gives us commandments that we cannot keep. Or Doctrine and Covenants 130:20-21, which says that only through obedience are we blessed. Or Mosiah 13 or Exodus 20 which talks about keeping the Sabbath Day holy. How sad for him! His family is missing out on all the blessings of coming to Church and obeying the commandments. Maybe I don’t understand his specific situation but as a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ, I do understand what’s important and I will never let go of what I know- my testimony and my desire to serve God. That is something that I do understand completely. I am grateful to be a part of this work. Les amo a cada uno de ustedes. Thank you for your examples.
Love,
Hermana Brittner
Week 32- Happy Spring!
“He softens the winters of our lives, but He also brightens our summers. Whether it is the best of times or the worst, He is with us. He has promised us that this will never change. But we are less faithful than He is…We sometimes neglect God. Sometimes we fail to keep his commandments that He gives us to make us happy. Sometimes we fail to commune with Him in prayer. ..We should strive for steadiness, and for a commitment to God that does not ebb and flow with the years of or the crises of our lives…if we wish to serve Him, we must serve our fellow men…we can make Him the center of our thoughts and His Son, Jesus Christ, the pattern for our behavior.” Thomas S. Monson
Sep. 26, 2011
Familia,
Mbae´ chapa? ¡Feliz primer día de la Primavera! Or in other words, Happy Spring! Spring officially began this Wednesday and it has started to warm up. I’ve decided that I like spring here. This week was super tranquilo. A great last week in Loma since changes/transfers are tonight and I am pretty sure that I’m leaving. Hermana Young is training so that means I will be transferred. I am very sad. I LOVE this area, my companion and my district. It has been one of the most treasured times of my mission. I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.
So the highlights of the week: Little Justo got baptized!!! Whoo!! His parents, who were inactive are now coming back to church and we are so happy. Justo is a very intelligent, funny little guy and I have enjoyed teaching him. Hermano Rojas baptized Justo and it was my first baptism that actually started on time. The Spirit was very strong and little Justo couldn’t stop smiling after he got out of the water. Chulina. Hermano Rojas is in the Bishopric and came to one of the lessons with us. I think that was a key factor in getting Justo’s dad to come back to church. Visits are SO important. Knowing that people in the ward care about you, can make all the difference in coming back to church. It’s like the little flame of their testimony has to be lit again- they need to feel the love of the ward. That one visit that Hermano Rojas went on helped to get Justo baptized and who knows how many more baptisms will come as a result of that. It has eternal consequences.
Justo’s mom, Sonia, is doing very well. She described to us how she felt before we came to visit her, “It’s like I had an unquenchable thirst and hunger. I would eat and drink but I just wasn’t satisfied. Then when the hermanas came, and I started reading the Book of Mormon again and reading as a family, I felt filled. I was hungry only for the word of God.”
The talent show…well, in my view as a professional party planner, I think it was a complete disaster. However, there were some good moments, and I heard some good comments about it as well. For instance, when the young adults did the traditional Paraguayan dance and some primary boys did a really cute dance. What went wrong was that it started an hour late, and then another half an hour was needed to figure out the music after it started. There were no utensils to prepare the food, and some non-members, and a recent convert decided to do a less-appropriate dance. Well, you can always chalk it up to a good learning experience on what not to do next time. We need to work more closely with the leaders.
Cool lesson this week: We have been visiting the family Diez, who’s mom just passed away from cáncer. Hermana Diez and two of the four girls are members but the dad isn’t. We had never taught him before because he would always just say hi and leave. This time he came in and sat down when we arrived. I asked if he was tired from working and he told us that he is unemployed and feeling depressed. He said he doesn’t feel like he has a reason to wake up in the morning, with no job and the fact that his wife just died. He said he felt alone, like God has forgotten about him. Well, I have never had a spouse die of cancer, nor am I currently under the burden of being unemployed so I was thinking, “what can I say to him?” I know that Jesus Christ is the answer, because He always is. Then Hermana Young pulled out an amazing scripture found in 1 Nephi 21:14-16. “But, behold, Zion hath said: The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me-but he will show that he hath not. For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; they walls are continually before me.” Bam!!! He realized that God had not forgotten about him, that He is with us always, in the good times and the bad. Heavenly Father knows each one of us intimately and he never gives us more trials than we can handle. He gives us just enough to make us stretch, try us a little bit. When we pray, we should pray for the strength to make it through.
Aurora, our recent convert, who actually just got re-baptized, went to the temple for the first time. We are so happy for her. I love this area. There are so many strong members who work in the temple because it is so close.
So who really knows where changes/transfers will take me or with whom? All I know is that I can trust in the Lord, for this is His work and not ours. Also, I am most likely going to the temple this week (we get to go every 6 months around general conference). Woot, woot! Super excited! And General Conference this weekend! What could be better?
Taylor: “Tere vy’ aiteke, ko nde ara mbotyre!” That’s Guarani for Happy Birthday! Hope it was great.
PS- Stop growing up! You are getting so tall and pretty that when I get home I won’t even be able to recognize you!
Thanks for the love and support! Love you all!
Hermana Brittner
Week 31- Oh, the joy of serving in a manly mission!
“Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another.” Doctrine and Covenants 90:24
Sep. 19, 2011
Hola, Hola, Hola, family! Que tal?
Just so you all know, I am serving in a “manly mission.” That’s what my zone leader called our mission. I was like, “hey what does that make me?” But basically he was referring to the fact that we have to be able to deal with a lot of crazy things to be a missionary here, like dengue, crazy bugs, disgusting dogs, the heat, the cold, the snakes (the human kind) and a lot of other things. So I am proud to say I am serving in a manly mission.
It has been kind of a crazy week. First off, we are no longer in a trio! Hermana Springer left on Wednesday to go to Villa Hayes with Hermana Alvarenga and there is now a trio over there. Special changes. Hermana Young and I started our first two weeks together alone and are ending our three months together alone, after being in two trios (unless we get another change together!) Changes/transfers are next week so we will see. This meant that I got to cross the bridge over the Rio de Paraguay. Wahoo, it was pretty cool and I was eating chipa while we were driving over it. So Paraguayan.
We had some ups and downs this week. We dropped Blanca (24), which is really sad. She has a testimony but doesn’t want to commit to getting baptized because she would have to change her lifestyle. Her friends and her family aren’t supportive. She doesn’t have the courage or the will to take this big step. It’s sad because I see all the blessings she will miss out on but hopefully, someday she will get baptized. We really love her and have become good friends.
Also, cool experience with Miguel and Justo’s family. Both parents were inactive but they are now reactivating. On Tuesday, Justo told us that after asking God if the Book of Mormon is true, he “received faith and happiness.” He’s just 9, but he knows it’s true! When we went back on Wednesday his mom, the less active member said, “Hermana, we have news that will make you really happy! On Sunday, we’re all going to church together, rain or no!” They’ve begun to pray and read as a family. Their father said that there was more peace and tranquility in their home. He thanked us profusely for coming.
We had a Family Home Evening on Friday night with them and the Sanchez family, an active member family. It was about prayer and Hermano Sanchez said he has been putting Miguel and Justo’s family’s name on the prayer rolls at the temple for years and that this is an answer to his prayers that they are coming back to church. It was a special moment. The only damper was that Miguel wasn’t there, he hadn’t gotten back from work (selling gum on the busses).
This Wednesday we are hosting a talent show at a missionary/investigator activity. It’s going to be SO awesome with lots of Paraguayan dancing and singing. We are going to do an act and make brownies! Did you know that brownies don’t exist here, except for when we make them?
District meeting went well. I taught about commitments and started out with an inspired question, “what is joy?” Then we went to the scriptures and talked about how joy comes from repentance and feeling the love of God in our lives. We can help our investigators experience joy by teaching them about repentance and how to keep commitments. Commitments are the little things: reading scriptures, going to church, praying to know if it’s true, that will prepare them to make covenants with God. It’s the little things that make the difference in our testimonies.
One of the members here, Aurora, gave a cool definition of faith in a talk. She said that faith is “que todo va a salir bien”or that everything is going to work out. I guess this could also be hope but they are so intimately tied together that I think it could be either. I like the scripture found in Doctrine and Covenants 90:24. It has become my theme. Tranquilo. Do your part and then trust that God will do his. Don’t become overwhelmed or think that you can’t make it because with God, everything is possible.
I would like to invite everyone to spiritually prepare for conference. Remember to read your scriptures, keep up with your prayers, ponder the last session of conference talks so that you will be ready to listen to President Monson and the other leader’s of the true Church. Take 8 or 10 hours out of your weekend and listen to the Prophet’s words. It’s the most important thing you can do. I am so excited for it!!! Last conference I was in the MTC! How time flies.
Well, another week in the Lord’s service. Thanks for the package Becca!! You never know how good Snickers taste until you’ve lived in Paraguay for 5 months :) Happy early birthday Taylor!!
Love always,
Hermana Brittner
Week 30- Guten Tag!
“And the Lord said unto him: believest thou the words which I shall speak? And he answered: Yea, Lord, I know that thou speakest the truth, for thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie.” Ether 3:11-12
Sep. 12, 2011
Guten Tag!!!
Yep, that’s German for “good day.” You may think to yourself, “I thought she was serving in Paraguay.” Well, that’s true but this is what people often say to us as we walk down the street. They assume we are from Alemania (Germany), which I guess if you go far enough back, I am, but it’s just kind of funny, because we’re American. The reason they greet us this way is because there is a Mennonite colony up North in the Chaco where a bunch of Germans live and they believe we are one of them. Random, I know.
Well, this week just flew by. We are working with Miguel and Justo, who are16 and 9 years old. Their parents are inactive and the kids aren’t members. Well, Sunday morning we were going to pick up investigators and we see them walking to Church. You may think, big deal, unless you knew that they live at least a 45 minute walk away from church. We, as missionaries have never walked to their house, we always take the collectivo. But they walk because they can’t afford the 2.300 mil (50 cents) it costs to take the bus. They were walking and yelled hello to us. It fills a missionary with joy when they see their investigators walking to church. Little Justo asked if primary was over (church hadn’t started yet) and we said no, and he did a little skip/hop in the air, he was so happy. It was CHULINA! He was dressed in his little white shirt with his Book of Mormon in hand. We visited their family with Hermano Rojas from the Bishopric. It was a great lesson about the Plan of Salvation. We are trying to reactivate their parents. We are hoping they come this Sunday.
Hermana Young´s birthday was Tuesday and we made lemon bars and the elders made pancakes for our district meeting. It was a good day! We made her a feliz dia sign too.
Blanca didn’t come to church this week. But we are still in the fight for her. She has a testimony of the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith but now has a doubt about tithing.
I went out with Hermano Rojas to do visits. I love having members with us, especially return missionaries because they add so much to our visits. I learned a lot. Also, another RM accompanied us to introduce us to his friend- a family with parents and two kids. I will keep you updated if they progress. The members here are great- so filled with the faith and ready and willing to help us.
This week I talked to a man who was very angry because missionaries stopped visiting him 9 years ago when he told them he wouldn’t get baptized, along with a lot of other things. I bore my testimony and explained a few things. I explained how the Church of Jesus Christ is the only true Church and that it is the only church with authority to baptize and that really got him heated. Well, he turned to me at the end of the conversation and looked me straight in the face and told me how “cerrada” I am (how closed I am with my beliefs.) I have been thinking about that and if he is saying that I believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church on the earth today, then yes, I guess you could say I am closed because I do believe that. And that the Prophet of this Church is the only man on earth with the keys to receive revelation to direct the Church, then, yes, I guess you could say I am closed. I KNOW that this Church is true, that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that Joseph Smith restored the Church and I will tell anyone and everyone. I am not ashamed, intimidated or scared to share my testimony and tell the whole world that I am a member of this Church, a missionary of the TRUTH, calling people to come unto Christ and share in the joy that comes from the Atonement of our Savior. I know it is true and I only wish that others would come unto Christ and feel the same joy I feel as I read the scriptures, pray, go to Church and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Something that I have learned since being on my mission is that God always keeps his promises. He always keeps his end of the bargain with covenants. It’s up to us to keep ours. Our baptismal, temple covenants- we are promised certain things when we keep them. The 10 Commandments, words of the living prophets, we are promised certain blessings if we obey them. If we want the blessings, we have to do our part. Also, with trials, we are always promised blessings if we do our best to overcome them and rely on God throughout them. I used to think of blessings more in temporal or literal terms but now I realize that more often than not, our reward for overcoming a trial is becoming more Christ-like and developing these attributes...charity, patience, humility. So the next time you are dealing with a trial or stuck in traffic, you can think about how this is giving you the chance to practice patience :)
One of the members we eat lunch with commented on how amazed she is that we are so content as missionaries. Even though we are very far from our families, we are content and filled with peace and tranquilidad because we are doing the Lord’s work. It is true. Estoy muy contenta. And healthy. I’m grateful to be in this work. Thanks for your prayers and support.
Hemana Brittner
PS Teaching district meeting tomorrow...wish me luck!
Week 29- ¿M´bae chapa? Che porá!
“Let us cheerfully do all things that lie within our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God.” Doctrine and Covenants 123:17
Sep. 5, 2011
¡HOLA!
¿M´bae chapa? Che porá! That’s Guarani for “How are you? I’m pretty.” That is the response that Hermana Young has been saying to all the Paraguayans who ask how she is in Guarani. Haha. It is the difference of one syllable with “I’m good”, so it’s an easy mistake. It’s almost as funny as the fact that in prayers, I have been praying that the Spirit would please “die”(morir) during our lesson instead of “dwell”(morar). The things we learn learning new languages. Well, I know that you would love to hear about the exciting things I eat in Paraguay but to be honest, I eat noodles everyday. At one of our lunch appointments, however, I was eating some pudding and I took a big spoonful and just before I put it in my mouth, I realized that there was a beetle right in the middle of it. Yep, didn’t finish that dish.
Well, this week has been pretty eventful, starting with conference with Elder Mervyn B. Arnold of the Seventy. We had a special meeting with Hermana Arnold and Hermana Madariaga (misión pres´s wife) and it was really cool. Thirteen of the 17 hermanas were there and it was like a mini-testimony meeting. Each hermana talked about why they chose to go on a misión, the obstacles it took to get here and shared a favorite scripture. I shared the one in Joshua 24:15 that says, “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” I also talked about how working at EFY helped me choose to go on a mission and how I expect that my little sister’s will have the same opportunity to go as well. Elder Arnold’s testimony was really powerful. He didn’t “drop the cane” like we expected, but he was still a pretty serious guy, but with a strong testimony. He encouraged us to get member referrals because those are the people who get baptized.
Aurora Vera was ‘rebaptized-’ haha she was golden! She is the one whose records got lost from 30 years ago. We sang “Come unto Me” /Venid a Mi. It was a nice event and she said that she “felt something wonderful in my chest…a happiness” (the Spirit).
Viviana, one of my converts, moved back to the Chaco to be with her parents. She is the one who speaks only Guarani. It’s really too bad because no in her family are members. Hopefully she can find a chapel to go to and will receive the support of her parents.
Blanca is doing well. She is very up and down about getting baptized. One minute she is stoked and the next she is not sure. She didn’t come to church yesterday, which is never good. But we had a wonderful lesson with her about the Plan of Salvation. Hermana Young said, “we can all be neighbors together in the Celestial Kingdom” and she was pretty excited about that! She has also told all of her friends that she goes to “the Church of Jesus Christ,” not the Mormon Church, because she thinks the first title is more appropriate, which is the truth. Her date right now is for the 17th of September. Let’s hope she keeps it!
Okay, so this Sunday I had the great opportunity to go to Primary. It was CHULINA, as they would say here. There were 25 kids, and only 3 adults, kinda crazy. I led the music to “Called to Serve” and “Army of Helaman.” I also told all of the kids how to say the name of the Church in English. They all looked at me with huge eyes, like “huh?” It was chulina. Then they wrote letters to the missionaries in the field. I haven’t seen a primary program yet, Mom, but I’ll let you know how it is when I do. After church we had lunch with family Adorno, and they have a cute little 4-year-old boy named Giovanni. First he asked me if I had turned 8. Then he asked me if I had a boyfriend. Then he asked for my number and proceeded to show me his two arm muscles. Chulina! It reminded me of the Bowen boys! J
Another Hermana in the Ward, Hermana Nueves died of cancer. She and two of her daughters were inactive members. We visited with her once before she went into the hospital and she had a strong testimony. After she passed away, we went back and taught the Plan of Salvation to her two non-member daughters. What a blessing it is to know that we will be reunited with our loved ones as we live righteously and keep our covenants! What a blessing is this Restored Gospel!
When thinking about the hard time this family is going through, I have been thinking a lot about Satan’s lies. There are two that are pretty apparent.
1. Satan’s Lie: Why did this happen to me? I guess this means that God doesn’t love me/doesn’t exist, because if He did, He wouldn’t let me go through this hard time.
FACT: God loves us and He gives us challenges to help us grow. Our hardest moments are often our most humble, when we turn to God and the Savior to help us, when we learn the lessons our Heavenly Father has prepared for us. He wants us to progress and grow, but often we can only do that through overcoming hard times.
2. Satan’s Lie: If I focus on myself, then I will be happy. I have to focus on my own needs and wants in order to get the most out of life.
FACT: Forget yourself and go to work. Serving others and forgetting your own needs is the only way to find true happiness and become as the Savior. The more you focus on the needs of others, the smaller your own problems will seem and the happier you will be.
Well family, as I am writing this, you are probably at Stinson Beach. I hope you are enjoying the waves and that it isn’t foggy like it is here in Asunción today. The weather here is bipolar. One day it’s super hot and the next, it’s cold and rainy.
Congrats to Aaron Whitman for getting baptized! I know that this important step will change your life for the better.
Thanks for the love and support, everyone!! I’m happy and healthy.
Until next week, Hermana Brittner
