Week 23- Special Changes!

Along the pathway of life, you will observe that you are not the only traveler. There are others who need your help. There are feet to steady, hands to grasp, minds to encourage, hearts to be inspired, and souls to save.

-President Thomas S. Monson

July 25, 2011

HOLA!

I have been transferred to a new area, due to special changes. I am now in a trio with Hermana Young and Hermana Alvarenga, who is from San Pedro, Honduras. She doesn’t speak any English so I am learning a lot :) I was pretty sad to leave my beloved Kokuere but that’s just the mission for you. It is the Lord’s work, not our own and He will send us where we need to be. I am now in Loma Pyta North, which is a neighborhood in the northeastern part of Asunción. I am right next to the airport and we see jets flying over us all the time. We are in a ward, instead of a little branch and there are a ton of members who are willing to help us. One thing I am very excited about is that there are a ton of young women who can go on splits with us. I love working with the youth! We have a baptism lined up for Saturday, so pray it goes through. It is for a girl named Thalia, who is 14. Her brother is the only member of her family and he is preparing for a mission. He is going to baptize her on Saturday and it’s going to be purete!

We switched areas with the elders, reason still unknown, probably just inspiration. There haven’t been hermanas here for 8 years and the members are so stoked to have us back. We are living in the old elder’s house and when I got here and saw it, I wanted to cry. It was the most disgusting, filthy house I have ever laid eyes on, with garbage up to your knees. After cleaning for 3 hours, it was livable and we spent a few hours today cleaning as well. I can’t believe that some elders live in such filth. Elders, do the dishes and clean your bathroom! Your mothers would be ashamed! Besides that, it’s a sweet house, with a roof to go on and everything.

I have been studying a lot about faith this week and how important it is to trust in the Lord and his path for our lives. I know that as we obey the commandments and work diligently to do good, that Heavenly Father will bless us and guide our lives and help us in ways that we didn’t think were possible. All He asks is for a willing heart. He will be as big a part of our life as we will let Him be but He will not take away our agency to choose. I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only path to true happiness. No hay otro camino. I am so grateful for this experience to go on a mission and serve my Heavenly Father, after all that He has given me, it is the least that I could do. I am happy and healthy. As they say here, estoy contenta. I love you all!!!

Love,

Hermana Brittner

Week 22- I've Fallen In Love!

Hola, Hola, Hola! I have fallen in love with Paraguay! We have already been together for 3 months now and I plan on a lot longer. We got off to a rocky start with Dengue and all, but I think things have mended. I love the orange sunsets, the scruffy kids playing with kites made of plastic bags in the streets, the futbol obsession, the Paraguayan pride, the Guarani language, the chipa man “Chipa Borrero!”, the laundry hanging up to dry, the mandioca, pan and noodles, the little kids taking baths in tires, their smiles and “adios!” every time we pass, the fact that I can pretty much speak Spanish now, and the faith of the people in Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father.

How is everybody this week? The weeks are just flying by. It was warm this entire week, until Sunday morning when we had a thunder and lightning storm. !Que pucha! You know what that means... terrible church attendance. But we found a family and we are so excited! Luis is already a member but he moved from Olimpia and so we didn’t have his records. We just happened to find his house, which was miracle. He has a wife, who is Catholic and a 17 month old, Luiscito. His wife, Teresa, is now our new investigator! He really wants this for his family. She has already prayed and feels good about the Book of Mormon, and we got to hear her first prayer aloud! It was really hard for her because she was so used to reciting prayers. She had never prayed from her heart before. But with the rain on Sunday, it was a good excuse for her not to go to church. Hopefully this Sunday she will go. Please keep her in your prayers. We showed up to take his family to church and there he was in a white shirt and tie with his scriptures but she wasn’t ready. It was a huge step for him though, since he hasn’t been to church in many years. He had the opportunity to take the Sacrament and renew his baptismal covenants with God after many years and that is something special.

Ismael has moved away due to family complications so he is no longer our investigator. Fabi still hasn’t been to church due to her parent’s restrictions but we have hope that they will come around. We found a boy named Christian who is 13 and his mom is a member but inactive. He says that he has always been interested in learning more about religion and there is just something inside of him that wants to know more. The obstacle is that he plays competitive soccer and has lots of games on Sunday.

All in all, things are good here. It’s so cool just going around talking about the Gospel all day. I know that being a missionary is a great privilege and I’m so grateful to my Heavenly Father for each day I have as a missionary. Hermana Young and I make a good pair and I think having her as my new companion will work out very well.

Happy birthday to my little Jen, Jen, whom I love. I hope you had a wonderful 9^th birthday! I love you and miss you!

Con mucho amor,

La Hermana Brittner

Week 21- Five Months As A Missionary

¨Those who bring happiness to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.¨ -J.M. Barrie, Author of Peter Pan

July 11, 2011

Hello, hello, hello!

Well I got a new companion: Hermana Emilee Young from the tricities WA area. The funny thing is that I already know her because she was in my ward at Liberty Square at BYU! Haha, small world. She is also in the BYU Nursing Program, so we have some common interests. Her Spanish is beyond amazing and I can only hope to speak as well as she does someday. I think this will be a good change. Hermana Astle went to Concepción, 7 hours north by collectivo with my old MTC companion, Hermana Peel. Lejisismos! Hermana Astle spent 7 months here in Kokuere.

Yesterday morning (Sunday) there was a thunder and lightning storm, so basically that means kiss goodbye any hopes of investigators or menos activos (less actives) coming to Church. I think Paraguayans are allergic to rain! It´s hot today, last week it was cold, yesterday it rained. The weather is unpredictable and keeps us on our toes. Ismael, we don´t know why he won´t get baptized. Maybe he is allergic to water? Fabi still hasn´t been able to come to church due to her father. We are working on finding some more chosen investigators.

One of Satan´s lies is that since all churches worship the same God, it doesn´t matter which church you go to as long as you worship God. Lots of churches, one God. However, there is only one true church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the one with the authority of God, restored through the prophet, Joseph Smith. I know this is true! My testimony has gotten so much stronger as I talk and testify of this everyday. We had one lesson with a lady who said, ¨I am a prophet, you are prophets because you are preaching the gospel.¨ I tried to explain to her that this is not correct, that there is only one prophet on the earth today but she just would not hear it. She did not understand and did not want to hear what we had to say. Good luck teaching the Restoration to her! We tried.

I am learning so much everyday! I love being a missionary! I am grateful for my health once again, for el pan de cada dia, for the Restoration of the Gospel, for the example of my family, my friends and the faithful members of Kokuere. Don´t ever give up the fight and don´t ever forget that our Heavenly Father loves you!

Congrats to my friends Courtney Newby who is going to the Calgary Mission and Lucy who is going to the Hong Kong China Mission!

Cariño,

Hermana Brittner

Week 20- Happy 4th of July from Paraguay!

“I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me. Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me. I tremble to know that for me he was crucified, that for me a sinner he suffered, he bled and died. Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me.” Hymn #193- I Stand All Amazed.

Dear Family and Friends:

¿Mba´e chapa? That is Guarani for “how are you?” Happy 4th of July!! Happy belated Canada Day! To celebrate the 4th of July, we are having a Family Home Evening at Flia. Flores and eating panchos (hot dogs)! We are going to teach about how important religious freedom is and also say the Pledge of Allegiance and maybe sing the Star Spangled Banner. I can honestly say that I have never been more grateful to be American...or just to be from somewhere that is not a third world country. There are SOOO many things that we take for granted...so many. I am grateful that most people in America know how to read...that we have traffic laws that are actually obeyed...that we have WAL-MART...that we believe in education and following our dreams...that we have religious freedom to worship how and what we will...and for many, many other things. Eat some barbeque for me and enjoy the fireworks. I have gained a new sense of pride, appreciation and perspective since spending my days in Paraguay.

So it is now the Copa América de Fútbol here in Paraguay. It’s like the World Cup, but only for South America/Central America. This makes things kind of tricky with teaching appointments because every night, people are watching the game!! And of course, we as missionaries aren’t allowed to watch. It’s a temptation but I am resisting. Also, all the kids are on a 2-week summer vacation so we are looking for more people to teach. This Sunday, Ismael came to church again. This is great...although he refuses to get baptized. He has started doing family history work, going to institute classes and even bought a suit for church. He is just like a member but hasn’t been baptized! We are not exactly sure why he won’t get baptized. We stopped meeting with him a few months ago. Hopefully he will change his mind soon. We have also been working with a 13-year-old named Fabiola. She is so cute and knows the Church is true but her dad won’t give her permission to get baptized. We will see what happens.

I am grateful for my testimony of the truthfulness of the restored Gospel. Working with so many less actives and hearing some of their odd theories on religion have really made me appreciate the simplicity and truthfulness of the Gospel. I know it’s true! I would not be devoting 18 months of my life to a mission if it wasn’t.

Cambios “transfers” are Wednesday and we find out TONIGHT if they will impact us. So nerve wracking! Pretty sure my trainer is leaving- we will see! I will be sending lots of pictures next week so be ready!!

Cariño,

Hermana Brittner