1-26-15
Hey!
This week has been so much fun! On Monday I spent the day with the Herms in Barrio 6 and thenon Tuesday I picked up my new companion! We had a big meeting with President, Hermana Jackson and the AP's. They talked to us about the importance of training and how it is the MOST important position you hold as a missionary. They said that we were training because we were the most Obedient, Diligent, and Faithful missionaries in the mission and that we are trusted by the Lord to train his Missionaries to carry out his work........Scary! Then we went into the Chapel where all the new missionaries were and sat on the other side. President had a slide show with all our pictures and areas. When our picture popped up, we came up and introduced ourselves, where we are from and what area we are serving in. My picture popped up last! And there were two Hermanas left in the front row. I looked them in the eyes when I introduced myself, they look terrified! ha-ha I got Hermana Spencer and the other Hermana went to the north. Hermana Spencer is from Parma, Idaho and is such a cutie! She doesn’t speak a lot of Spanish and is pretty timid right now (understandable) but she tries so hard and wants to help so much! She's great. As far as I know she really enjoyed the MTC, she had a lot more people in their group than I did. I feel like training changed everything I do. It is really weird, I have to explain things that we do and what they are. I have never had to do that before and it reminds me of when I was in training. Every morning we have our studies, but I have to do an extra hour of companionship study with her so we can do her 12 weeks program and then we get an extra half hour of language study, but we have to do that during medio dia. The work goes a lot slower just because I have to explain everything and she doesn’t speak a lot of Spanish, but we're getting a lot of blessings and Heavenly Father is helping us by putting prepared people in our paths. I really am trying to be a good example. I'm trying to be obedient and diligent, I don't want her to pick up any bad habits. It has really opened my eyes to things that we were doing before that we can better and how I can work harder as a missionary. I think it’s a blessing from Heavenly Father that I'm training so I can finish my mission strong! After I train Hermana Spencer I'll only have one transfer left! AHHH!
Teaching has been good. We are still working with Robert who is doing so great! We helped him understand the Spirit last week, he didn’t really know what it was. We explained who he is and how to recognize that we are feeling him. It was like we opened a new world to him, everything clicked after that and he is so determined to receive an answer and get to baptism. he calls us to schedule appointments! We have also received a lot of part member families from the ward to go visit. They are trying so hard to become a functioning, spiritual, unified ward! They are changing a lot of things, but it’s getting a lot better.
It is so hard sometimes to be willing to change your plans. As a missionary you set things up with people and feel really good about what you are going to teach and you prepare for them like crazy so the feel the spirit and then last minute the lesson falls through. I can't count how many times that has happened to me! You feel so bummed, and here it is hard to visit people last minute, so it is hard to schedule back up plans. Most of the time we end up contacting. You're in a bad mood and you don’t want to do it, but I've had so many experiences through contacting when lessons fail or miracles given to us when we trust in the Lord and change our plans. I know we are guided by the Spirit and if we are doing what we are should, we are blessed no matter what!
I love you guys and I love hearing about what’s going on! Time is flying by and we'll see each other soon! I love you so much and thank Heavenly Father every day for your examples to me! Have a great week!
Hermana Brumble
Monday, January 26, 2015
Monday, January 19, 2015
Week 60 in Spain! (7th Week in Mostoles)
1/19/2015
Hey,
Well I have transfer news:).....but I'm not telling you till the end of the letter! ha
Our investigators and doing great! We've been receiving a bunch more too. It has been really easy getting contacts lately. People have been coming up to us and giving us their numbers.....weird where am I? It feels like a dream. Nothing too different has happened. Maria and Leo are still on a fecha, we'll probably have to change them though, they didn't come to church. We have this really great new investigator named Dora. We received her number from the general offices. She went online and asked for a Book of Mormon. We met with her and talked with her. She is so great and prepared. I was with Hermana Marsh on intercambios who is being trained right now (who is also Elder Nielson's granddaughter) It was the most spiritual lesson I've had on the mission. She reads all the time and is doing great, I hope she continues. Robert is doing really great as well! He's on a fecha for March and is doing so great! We go so slow so he understands us, he laughs at us. We even made a Plan of Salvation for him in Romanian. He is really great and I love teaching him. We teach this cute little recent convert named Amalia. She is 10 and we help her with her English. Her mom is a member and her dad isn't, but he is showing a lot of interest in learning more.
That’s cool about your meeting! The youth really need good examples of strong couples in the church. It is so hard here. Most everyone's parents are separated and living in different countries. I know your examples have helped me. We need stronger couples right now in the church.
Well, as far as transfers go, I'm staying in Mostoles, and I'm TRAINING! AHHHH I'm so nervous! I can't believe it. Hermana Clements went to Alcobendas to finish training someone and I get to stay here. I am beyond scared! I get to party with some hermanas in Pavones today and then I have to go to the MTC and find out who my baby is. So I don't even know her name right now. It will be an interesting couple of transfers, and who knows she might be my last companion. We'll see what happens! I love you guys! I think and pray for you all the time! Have a great week!
Hermana Brumble
Hey,
Well I have transfer news:).....but I'm not telling you till the end of the letter! ha
Our investigators and doing great! We've been receiving a bunch more too. It has been really easy getting contacts lately. People have been coming up to us and giving us their numbers.....weird where am I? It feels like a dream. Nothing too different has happened. Maria and Leo are still on a fecha, we'll probably have to change them though, they didn't come to church. We have this really great new investigator named Dora. We received her number from the general offices. She went online and asked for a Book of Mormon. We met with her and talked with her. She is so great and prepared. I was with Hermana Marsh on intercambios who is being trained right now (who is also Elder Nielson's granddaughter) It was the most spiritual lesson I've had on the mission. She reads all the time and is doing great, I hope she continues. Robert is doing really great as well! He's on a fecha for March and is doing so great! We go so slow so he understands us, he laughs at us. We even made a Plan of Salvation for him in Romanian. He is really great and I love teaching him. We teach this cute little recent convert named Amalia. She is 10 and we help her with her English. Her mom is a member and her dad isn't, but he is showing a lot of interest in learning more.
That’s cool about your meeting! The youth really need good examples of strong couples in the church. It is so hard here. Most everyone's parents are separated and living in different countries. I know your examples have helped me. We need stronger couples right now in the church.
Well, as far as transfers go, I'm staying in Mostoles, and I'm TRAINING! AHHHH I'm so nervous! I can't believe it. Hermana Clements went to Alcobendas to finish training someone and I get to stay here. I am beyond scared! I get to party with some hermanas in Pavones today and then I have to go to the MTC and find out who my baby is. So I don't even know her name right now. It will be an interesting couple of transfers, and who knows she might be my last companion. We'll see what happens! I love you guys! I think and pray for you all the time! Have a great week!
Hermana Brumble
Monday, January 12, 2015
Week 59 in Spain! (6th Week in Mostoles)
1/12/15
I am doing great! I really do love it here in Mostoles. With the holidays and festivities, It has been pretty hard finding new people, and now that all those fun things are winding we are finally getting back into the swing of things. We had a record of 14 lessons this week for this month! We felt so good about ourselves. It is amazing to me how much the little things affect missionary work, like weather, time of day, day of the week, time of year. All of it makes it so much easier and so much harder to work, but none of it should be an excuse to work any less.
This week we did so much. On Monday I got a haircut. It was scary trying to understand everything and I was practicing vocabulary like crazy all week long! It all turned out fine and now my hair is healthy and back to normal, it doesn’t even look shorter:) After that we filled our week with lessons and CONTACTING! I don't know If I've already mentioned him, but our new investigator Robert is doing so great! He is from Romania and speaks only a little Spanish and no English! Our conversations are very, very simple and it really is just him talking in the infinitive the whole time and Hermana Clements and I trying to fill in the pieces. It is hard and sometimes I find myself talking to him like a baby, we have to take it really slow and make sure that we are teaching everything in the most clear and effective way possible. Sometimes we even have to act things out for him. It’s silly, but he really feels the spirit and has a desire to learn and do the things we ask him to do. Little by little he progresses. Hermana Clements and I were talking, He is so willing to do everything, he would probably get baptized in a second if we asked him, but it is so important that he has a testimony and really understands the things that we teach him, and in time he'll get baptized and press forward. It might take a long time, and I probably won't be there to see it, but if we keep remembering and doing what is important, he'll get there.
Maria and Leo (our two fechas) they're doing good. We didn't get to meet them this week which stinks and they didn't go to church (which also stinks) but they are fine. Hopefully we'll get to meet with them more often:)
We are teaching the CUTEST and SWEETEST little boy named Giacomo. He's 9 and his mom is menos activo. He is so sweet, he always gives us besos and carries our bags and coats to the door and helps us put them on. This Saturday we had a lesson with them that was so good. he had just recently became our investigator so we taught lesson one. They were both so focused and interested in it. While we recited the first vision their eyes were locked on us the whole time. I felt the spirit so strong. At the end we were talking about church and how they should come. The mom came in with the excuses, how its early and buses are hard. They live in a pueblo which makes it a little harder to come, but it’s definitely possible. Giacomo just went straight in with bearing his testimony about church and how important it is and how he wants to feel the spirit and sing and learn on Sunday. It was precious and so powerful. Out of the mouth of a nine year old! Christ certainly knows what he's talking about when he says we should become as little children. What a sweet spirit. During the closing prayer, his mom was saying it and he just interrupted her and started saying his own prayer. He thanked God for us and that we are beautiful and there to help them feel the spirit. He said "thank you that they say they love us." And then he continued to ask for our safety and that we would decide to come back again. Then he carried our bags to the door and kissed us goodbye. In the end, we didn't see them at church, but I know He'll soften his mom’s heart, and with a little more work and prayer, they'll get there.
Transfers are this weekend and I think I'm going to leave. It isn't for sure, but the thought of it breaks my heart. The office called us and told us we needed to get Hermana Clements empatronized in Mostoles, which means she'll definitely stay longer. We’ll see what happens, and whatever the decision is, it is inspired by Heavenly Father. I'm called to the area that will help me progress the most and will help my succeed the most. I'm excited regardless the outcome:)
I'll let you know! I love you guys! Have a great week!
Hermana Brumble
I am doing great! I really do love it here in Mostoles. With the holidays and festivities, It has been pretty hard finding new people, and now that all those fun things are winding we are finally getting back into the swing of things. We had a record of 14 lessons this week for this month! We felt so good about ourselves. It is amazing to me how much the little things affect missionary work, like weather, time of day, day of the week, time of year. All of it makes it so much easier and so much harder to work, but none of it should be an excuse to work any less.
This week we did so much. On Monday I got a haircut. It was scary trying to understand everything and I was practicing vocabulary like crazy all week long! It all turned out fine and now my hair is healthy and back to normal, it doesn’t even look shorter:) After that we filled our week with lessons and CONTACTING! I don't know If I've already mentioned him, but our new investigator Robert is doing so great! He is from Romania and speaks only a little Spanish and no English! Our conversations are very, very simple and it really is just him talking in the infinitive the whole time and Hermana Clements and I trying to fill in the pieces. It is hard and sometimes I find myself talking to him like a baby, we have to take it really slow and make sure that we are teaching everything in the most clear and effective way possible. Sometimes we even have to act things out for him. It’s silly, but he really feels the spirit and has a desire to learn and do the things we ask him to do. Little by little he progresses. Hermana Clements and I were talking, He is so willing to do everything, he would probably get baptized in a second if we asked him, but it is so important that he has a testimony and really understands the things that we teach him, and in time he'll get baptized and press forward. It might take a long time, and I probably won't be there to see it, but if we keep remembering and doing what is important, he'll get there.
Maria and Leo (our two fechas) they're doing good. We didn't get to meet them this week which stinks and they didn't go to church (which also stinks) but they are fine. Hopefully we'll get to meet with them more often:)
We are teaching the CUTEST and SWEETEST little boy named Giacomo. He's 9 and his mom is menos activo. He is so sweet, he always gives us besos and carries our bags and coats to the door and helps us put them on. This Saturday we had a lesson with them that was so good. he had just recently became our investigator so we taught lesson one. They were both so focused and interested in it. While we recited the first vision their eyes were locked on us the whole time. I felt the spirit so strong. At the end we were talking about church and how they should come. The mom came in with the excuses, how its early and buses are hard. They live in a pueblo which makes it a little harder to come, but it’s definitely possible. Giacomo just went straight in with bearing his testimony about church and how important it is and how he wants to feel the spirit and sing and learn on Sunday. It was precious and so powerful. Out of the mouth of a nine year old! Christ certainly knows what he's talking about when he says we should become as little children. What a sweet spirit. During the closing prayer, his mom was saying it and he just interrupted her and started saying his own prayer. He thanked God for us and that we are beautiful and there to help them feel the spirit. He said "thank you that they say they love us." And then he continued to ask for our safety and that we would decide to come back again. Then he carried our bags to the door and kissed us goodbye. In the end, we didn't see them at church, but I know He'll soften his mom’s heart, and with a little more work and prayer, they'll get there.
Transfers are this weekend and I think I'm going to leave. It isn't for sure, but the thought of it breaks my heart. The office called us and told us we needed to get Hermana Clements empatronized in Mostoles, which means she'll definitely stay longer. We’ll see what happens, and whatever the decision is, it is inspired by Heavenly Father. I'm called to the area that will help me progress the most and will help my succeed the most. I'm excited regardless the outcome:)
I'll let you know! I love you guys! Have a great week!
Hermana Brumble
Monday, January 5, 2015
Week 58 in Spain! (5th Week in Mostoles)
1/5/14
Things have been really great here lately! Hermana Clements and I are so happy that the Holidays are almost over! (People are still partying over here...• Kings day...) Things got so crazy during the holidays, but now I feel like I can finally relax and do normal missionary work! Hermana Clements is great! We are having so much fun together. I can't believe transfers are almost here! I really hope we stay together. It would be hard only staying in an area for only one transfer again. But if someone has to go, I hope it’s me, Hermana Clements hates moving more than I do and since I only have three transfers left, it would be easier. It would be great to stay together though! Pray!:)
This week we've been doing great with finding, but finding people who are staying! POR FIN! We've been going through the list of future investigators the old Hermana's had (people they had taught, or just got their number). We've been finding some good people through that and also visiting MA's and part member families. We have two investigators of a fecha for February 14! We're soooexcited. One is Maria, she is from Peru and so sweet. She's tough though. She doesn’t want to do anything until she knows for sure that it is true, but it’s really great because she is so willing to do what it takes to receive that confirmation. I've been getting really tired of teaching people who say "Yea I'll definitely get baptized!" but then they don’t do anything! I definitely don't want to baptize someone who in the end is just going to go inactive! She's a blessing, and I'm excited for her, it might take a while but it will happen.
We've been going out with the youth a lot and helping them. I love the youth here so much! They love the missionaries and each have such strong desires to serve Heavenly Father. It reminds me of when I was in Young Women’s and how lazy I was! I wish I had more of an attitude like them. They are all on such a different spiritual level. I feel the spirit so strong when I am with them. And even though not all of them want to serve missions, they are paying attention and doing what the Lord wants them to do. I really want to work with the youth one day. I love it and they are such great examples.
I can't believe it is 2015! That’s the year I come home! I never thought it would come and now it is here! We didn't do anything too special. We live right next to a cafe bar that all the young crazies go to every night. Sometimes it can be a little intimidating walking past all of them to get to our door, so we decided it would be a good Idea to not stay out too late. The ward had a party that started at 1 in the MORNING! They all tried so hard to get us to come, but we chose to be obedient.:) We definitely heard all the parties! I'll be glad when people put all their cherry bombs and bottle rockets away, those are super annoying!
I decided that for a New Year’s Resolution/Goal to the end of my mission, that I am going to become a "Christ-like missionary." Not that I'm not being one right now, there is always room for improvement. I was reading In Preach My Gospel, and there is this little tiny point that says "Ustednecesita ser un misionero semejante a Cristo, no solo hacer la obra misional" or "You need to be a missionary like Christ, and not only do Missionary work." I have seen a big difference in the work and the way I feel, when I try to be a missionary more like Jesus Christ and not only do what the white handbook says or president says.
I love you guys and I'm praying for you always. Tell everyone hi and that I love them!
Thanks for everything! I LOVE YOU
Kenzie
Things have been really great here lately! Hermana Clements and I are so happy that the Holidays are almost over! (People are still partying over here...• Kings day...) Things got so crazy during the holidays, but now I feel like I can finally relax and do normal missionary work! Hermana Clements is great! We are having so much fun together. I can't believe transfers are almost here! I really hope we stay together. It would be hard only staying in an area for only one transfer again. But if someone has to go, I hope it’s me, Hermana Clements hates moving more than I do and since I only have three transfers left, it would be easier. It would be great to stay together though! Pray!:)
This week we've been doing great with finding, but finding people who are staying! POR FIN! We've been going through the list of future investigators the old Hermana's had (people they had taught, or just got their number). We've been finding some good people through that and also visiting MA's and part member families. We have two investigators of a fecha for February 14! We're soooexcited. One is Maria, she is from Peru and so sweet. She's tough though. She doesn’t want to do anything until she knows for sure that it is true, but it’s really great because she is so willing to do what it takes to receive that confirmation. I've been getting really tired of teaching people who say "Yea I'll definitely get baptized!" but then they don’t do anything! I definitely don't want to baptize someone who in the end is just going to go inactive! She's a blessing, and I'm excited for her, it might take a while but it will happen.
We've been going out with the youth a lot and helping them. I love the youth here so much! They love the missionaries and each have such strong desires to serve Heavenly Father. It reminds me of when I was in Young Women’s and how lazy I was! I wish I had more of an attitude like them. They are all on such a different spiritual level. I feel the spirit so strong when I am with them. And even though not all of them want to serve missions, they are paying attention and doing what the Lord wants them to do. I really want to work with the youth one day. I love it and they are such great examples.
I can't believe it is 2015! That’s the year I come home! I never thought it would come and now it is here! We didn't do anything too special. We live right next to a cafe bar that all the young crazies go to every night. Sometimes it can be a little intimidating walking past all of them to get to our door, so we decided it would be a good Idea to not stay out too late. The ward had a party that started at 1 in the MORNING! They all tried so hard to get us to come, but we chose to be obedient.:) We definitely heard all the parties! I'll be glad when people put all their cherry bombs and bottle rockets away, those are super annoying!
I decided that for a New Year’s Resolution/Goal to the end of my mission, that I am going to become a "Christ-like missionary." Not that I'm not being one right now, there is always room for improvement. I was reading In Preach My Gospel, and there is this little tiny point that says "Ustednecesita ser un misionero semejante a Cristo, no solo hacer la obra misional" or "You need to be a missionary like Christ, and not only do Missionary work." I have seen a big difference in the work and the way I feel, when I try to be a missionary more like Jesus Christ and not only do what the white handbook says or president says.
I love you guys and I'm praying for you always. Tell everyone hi and that I love them!
Thanks for everything! I LOVE YOU
Kenzie
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