4/28/14
This week has been crazy! We had a super hard week last week and knew that we were going to need to work super hard. We prayed and made goals and felt really good about the things that we were going to accomplish. Then, Hermana Endicott got the flu on Monday and that lasted till Tuesday! That was so frustrating!!! We couldn’t do anything! I literally sat at home with nothing to do. Before, that would have been wonderful, but on the mission it is the WORST feeling on the face of the Earth! I cleaned, cooked, read the scriptures, and watched all the movies we have and can watch (which aren’t many) and when they were gone I watched them another 5 times! AHHH! We couldn’t understand why this was happening! We had done everything we were supposed to do. I decided that it was something that I had to learn, like every other trial we face. Heavenly Father was blessing us, we just couldn’t see what it was. Then on Wednesday, we were finally able to go out and work again, and every single one of our lessons fired on us! We were struggling, but we decided that we would be diligent and have faith that Heavenly father would bless us. By the end of this week we had more lessons than last week and had received more investigators. It wasn’t the best week, but considering that we lost the first 3 days and literally didn’t have anything until Thursday, it has been a good week. I know Heavenly Father answered our prayers. Sometimes He doesn’t bless us exactly when we want or in the way we are expecting, but He does bless us. He knows what we need better than we know ourselves. I am truly thankful for the blessings I have received from him.
I started crying in the Locutorio (shop, place where she reads email) when I read Joseph’s letter. I am so unbelievably proud of my brother. He is such a good example of hard work and dedication and doing things that we know will be hard. He is such a good example to me and I know this is a blessing from Heavenly Father. Joseph has been called by God to go to Uruguay, just like I have been called by God to go to Spain. It is where he is meant to be. I have a strong testimony of that. I have met and talked to so many people that I know I was supposed to talk to. Whether it was to help them or for them to help me. This is the most sacred and special experience I have ever had and I know it will be the same for Joseph. I have never felt so close to my Heavenly Father. I can’t wait to see the miracles that will happen from Joseph’s mission. He is a miracle in my life and I know he will be a miracle in the lives of the people in Uruguay. They are so blessed to have him! I remember feeling exactly the way he did. I was unsure at first. Fear and doubt start running through your mind. It is only natural, but even before this life we accepted our calls. Eventually the Spirit starts to comfort you and remind you of the decision you made to serve before you came here. Joseph is absolutely right. I couldn’t imagine going anywhere else in the world but Spain. Our Spirits and the Holy Ghost are stronger than the natural man. That fear and doubt just went away and I was ready to go. I am so excited for him. I can’t wait to share our experiences together. I hope this will bring us closer together as brother and sister and children of our Heavenly Father. It has become more real to me that I won’t be seeing him for another two years and it is extremely possible that things won’t be the same when we get back, but I am excited for the future and I know Heavenly Father will bless us.
Thanks for your e-mails and the love and support from everyone! I love you!
Hermana Brumble
Monday, April 28, 2014
Monday, April 21, 2014
Week 15 in Gijon!
4/21/14
Well, we did it. We made it through Semana Santa (Easter)! This week was so hard! The HARDEST but my favorite.:) None of our investigators could meet with us this week.. So this week was full of contacting! We knew it was going to be hard, and I am a FIRM believer in planning! We planned where we were going to contact the certain times we would spend contacting in that area and a goal of how many people we were going to talk to. It is so much better contacting with a plan and a purpose. When you are just wandering around with no clue, contacting is almost impossible. When I just walk around without my purpose as a missionary in mind, doubts are always placed in my head. I look at someone who I know I should talk to and start thinking "they don’t look like they’ll talk to me", or "you don’t know what to say" or " what if they do want to listen? You don’t know very much Spanish"! So I end up not talking to anyone! Having a goal and a purpose makes it so much easier for me. I have also realized that it doesn’t matter if they say no (that has been a hard lesson). I was so terrified of people rejecting me. But I have realized that they have their agency and our purpose as missionaries is to only "invite other to come unto Christ..." We can only invite. It is sad when they say no, because you know how much this gospel will bless them, but Hermana Endicott always says "it’s ok, the gospel is still true" and moves on to invite the next person. I feel so much more confident contacting now! It also helps to know that you’re never alone. I will always have a companion with me to back me up. I spoke with a lot of interesting people on the street. One man was really Catholic, He was really nice and wanted to learn more. He kept telling us we were apostles! Then we met a woman named Mercedes. I contacted her and said "Hola, buenas. Somos missioneras de la Iglesia de los Santos de los Untimos Dias. Tenemos un mensaje acerca de Dios y nuestras familias. Creemos que Dios es nuestro Padre Celestial y..." (Hello. We are missionaries of the Church of Latter Day Saints. We have a message about God and our families. We believe that God is our Heavenly Father and…) She stopped me in mid-sentence and would not stop talking about how we were "Angel face Jovenes (young people)" Over and over she would not stop talking about how we were like angels and looked like angels and how education and religion is what we need to focus on and how education is the most important thing we can do and how we are just young angels. She kept grabbing my arm calling me Guapa (lovely) Angel! it was funny.
Easter was kind of a downer... We didn’t really do anything special. I woke up, got ready, and went to correlation. Church was the same. I played Easter songs in Sacrament Meeting that no one has ever heard before! We talked about the resurrection for about five minutes in the Gospel Principles class and that was it. For the people here in Gijon, Easter isn’t as big of a deal as the day Christ was crucified, which is really sad. I still wanted to do something special, so I made cookies the night before and Hermana Endicott and I watched Together Forever and Our Heavenly Father’s Plan. So it was fun, and I dedicated some of my personal studies this week to Christ and the resurrection. They do make these cool palm leaf things here in Spain for Easter. The God Parents buy them for their God children. They are dried palm leaves that are woven in cool shapes and they put chocolate in them. That’s about it. I think they have bigger celebrations in Madrid, but for Gijon it was just another day. I did have to make Easter dinner (lunch, we don’t have dinner here) I make everything! Hermana Endicott can’t cook. It was really scary at first, but I am really good at cooking. I make chicken fettuccini, fajitas, lasagna, rice. I even make cake and banana bread!
I love that talk! (Elder Scott, “I Have Given You an Example” from conference) That is something that I have definitely learned here. We are teaching a recent convert who is less active. He was baptized and right after went inactive because he had a problem with the Law of Chastity. The other Hermanas were teaching him and would only focus on how he needed to talk to President Florin and how he needed to repent. They weren’t making any progress with him and would always talk about how awful the lessons were. When they left they gave him to us and we decided to make each lesson focused on him feeling loved, by us, the branch and Heavenly Father. The lessons have been getting better little by little. If we focus of our love for Heavenly Father and the love we have for the people we teach, they will feel that love through the Spirit and like Elder Scott says, “They will gain confidence in your love and the love Heavenly Father has for them.”
AHHH I thought Joseph would have his call by now. It seems like mine came so fast! I know how he feels! Having patience for that was so hard! I can’t wait to hear where he goes! I know it is the Philippines!! I can feel it! How is he? Is he really nervous? If he is tell him he shouldn’t be. I am not going to lie, the mission is the hardest thing I have ever done in my entire life, but I have changed so much and each day I love it more and more. You are going to be exhausted, but it is worth it! I hope he knows I am here for him if he needs to talk to anyone or if he has questions.
I haven’t gotten any Easter packages yet, I did get the package with the gymnastic shirt in it. If you send them to the mission office I don’t get them until Zone Meeting, which won’t be until the 30th of this month Thanks for packages though, they do make me really happy, especially the ones with pictures. I love seeing you all and hearing about what you are doing. I am really thankful that I have so much support from people back home.
I love you all so much! I was thinking today that the next Mother’s Day will be the week I get home. Time is flying by so fast. I miss you a lot, but at the same time it is really sad. I love being here and I love what I am doing. Being a missionary, wearing this tag, the experiences I have had has changed my life and I will forever look back on this experience with gratitude and love. It is a sacred and special experience that I will never forget. Thank you for supporting me in this decision to serve a mission and encouraging me to serve.
I love you!
¡Hasta Luego! Hermana Brumble
Well, we did it. We made it through Semana Santa (Easter)! This week was so hard! The HARDEST but my favorite.:) None of our investigators could meet with us this week.. So this week was full of contacting! We knew it was going to be hard, and I am a FIRM believer in planning! We planned where we were going to contact the certain times we would spend contacting in that area and a goal of how many people we were going to talk to. It is so much better contacting with a plan and a purpose. When you are just wandering around with no clue, contacting is almost impossible. When I just walk around without my purpose as a missionary in mind, doubts are always placed in my head. I look at someone who I know I should talk to and start thinking "they don’t look like they’ll talk to me", or "you don’t know what to say" or " what if they do want to listen? You don’t know very much Spanish"! So I end up not talking to anyone! Having a goal and a purpose makes it so much easier for me. I have also realized that it doesn’t matter if they say no (that has been a hard lesson). I was so terrified of people rejecting me. But I have realized that they have their agency and our purpose as missionaries is to only "invite other to come unto Christ..." We can only invite. It is sad when they say no, because you know how much this gospel will bless them, but Hermana Endicott always says "it’s ok, the gospel is still true" and moves on to invite the next person. I feel so much more confident contacting now! It also helps to know that you’re never alone. I will always have a companion with me to back me up. I spoke with a lot of interesting people on the street. One man was really Catholic, He was really nice and wanted to learn more. He kept telling us we were apostles! Then we met a woman named Mercedes. I contacted her and said "Hola, buenas. Somos missioneras de la Iglesia de los Santos de los Untimos Dias. Tenemos un mensaje acerca de Dios y nuestras familias. Creemos que Dios es nuestro Padre Celestial y..." (Hello. We are missionaries of the Church of Latter Day Saints. We have a message about God and our families. We believe that God is our Heavenly Father and…) She stopped me in mid-sentence and would not stop talking about how we were "Angel face Jovenes (young people)" Over and over she would not stop talking about how we were like angels and looked like angels and how education and religion is what we need to focus on and how education is the most important thing we can do and how we are just young angels. She kept grabbing my arm calling me Guapa (lovely) Angel! it was funny.
Easter was kind of a downer... We didn’t really do anything special. I woke up, got ready, and went to correlation. Church was the same. I played Easter songs in Sacrament Meeting that no one has ever heard before! We talked about the resurrection for about five minutes in the Gospel Principles class and that was it. For the people here in Gijon, Easter isn’t as big of a deal as the day Christ was crucified, which is really sad. I still wanted to do something special, so I made cookies the night before and Hermana Endicott and I watched Together Forever and Our Heavenly Father’s Plan. So it was fun, and I dedicated some of my personal studies this week to Christ and the resurrection. They do make these cool palm leaf things here in Spain for Easter. The God Parents buy them for their God children. They are dried palm leaves that are woven in cool shapes and they put chocolate in them. That’s about it. I think they have bigger celebrations in Madrid, but for Gijon it was just another day. I did have to make Easter dinner (lunch, we don’t have dinner here) I make everything! Hermana Endicott can’t cook. It was really scary at first, but I am really good at cooking. I make chicken fettuccini, fajitas, lasagna, rice. I even make cake and banana bread!
I love that talk! (Elder Scott, “I Have Given You an Example” from conference) That is something that I have definitely learned here. We are teaching a recent convert who is less active. He was baptized and right after went inactive because he had a problem with the Law of Chastity. The other Hermanas were teaching him and would only focus on how he needed to talk to President Florin and how he needed to repent. They weren’t making any progress with him and would always talk about how awful the lessons were. When they left they gave him to us and we decided to make each lesson focused on him feeling loved, by us, the branch and Heavenly Father. The lessons have been getting better little by little. If we focus of our love for Heavenly Father and the love we have for the people we teach, they will feel that love through the Spirit and like Elder Scott says, “They will gain confidence in your love and the love Heavenly Father has for them.”
AHHH I thought Joseph would have his call by now. It seems like mine came so fast! I know how he feels! Having patience for that was so hard! I can’t wait to hear where he goes! I know it is the Philippines!! I can feel it! How is he? Is he really nervous? If he is tell him he shouldn’t be. I am not going to lie, the mission is the hardest thing I have ever done in my entire life, but I have changed so much and each day I love it more and more. You are going to be exhausted, but it is worth it! I hope he knows I am here for him if he needs to talk to anyone or if he has questions.
I haven’t gotten any Easter packages yet, I did get the package with the gymnastic shirt in it. If you send them to the mission office I don’t get them until Zone Meeting, which won’t be until the 30th of this month Thanks for packages though, they do make me really happy, especially the ones with pictures. I love seeing you all and hearing about what you are doing. I am really thankful that I have so much support from people back home.
I love you all so much! I was thinking today that the next Mother’s Day will be the week I get home. Time is flying by so fast. I miss you a lot, but at the same time it is really sad. I love being here and I love what I am doing. Being a missionary, wearing this tag, the experiences I have had has changed my life and I will forever look back on this experience with gratitude and love. It is a sacred and special experience that I will never forget. Thank you for supporting me in this decision to serve a mission and encouraging me to serve.
I love you!
¡Hasta Luego! Hermana Brumble
Monday, April 14, 2014
Week 14 in Gijon!
4/14/14
This has been a pretty hard week. We don’t have a lot of investigators, so......we’re hitting the pavement hard! I didn´t see a lot of success in door contacting, so I’ve been trying really hard to work on street contacting. You basically stop someone and see how far you get in the first lesson till they stop you. It is really hard and you have to try so many different techniques until you find something that works for you. It’s an art. We also go through the area book and visit old investigators. It was really interesting this week President Florín and Carmelo spoke to us on Friday and wanted to know what the branch could do to help us. They said that they wanted to change and be more involved in missionary work, but I think it was also them asking us to help them change. Hermana Endicott and I have went through the branch list and list of recent converts, we are splitting everyone up between us and the Elders and we are going to visit everyone! Hopefully that will help strengthen the branch and we can help reactivate the families. Hermana Endicott and I are also working more with the Relief Society and going visiting teaching with some of the women. This branch needs so much help. President Florín wants to do an activity in a couple weeks where everyone is going to split up in groups of 4 or 5 and go street contacting with us for 3 hours!!! Ha, ha street contacting is hard, especially when you’re out for 3 hours, no one wants to do that! We are going to talk to him about doing it is pairs and in shifts, and whoever isn’t out will be at the church and the missionaries there will be giving lessons on teaching and effective street contacting. It will be interesting about how it goes and what happens, I’m a little nervous. It is great that they want to help so much though. The people in the North are really different than Madrid and further South.
I really appreciated that story, it really fits with what I have been experiencing this week. There are so many experiences on the mission where you aren’t sure what the outcome will be of a decision, or you know it could either be really bad or really good. Having faith that everything will work out and that Heavenly Father is going to bless me if I put my trust in him has really been something I have struggled with this week. But every time I take that hit or make that decision, he has blessed me and provided me with the things I need to move forward.
I have really been thinking about the atonement this week. There are days and weeks on the mission where you feel like you haven’t done your best and that you could definitely improve. It is such a blessing that we can kneel in prayer, ask for forgiveness and strength to do better and then say, "Today is a new day." It doesn’t matter what happened before because you are a new person or it is a new week and all that matters is that you are going to try to do better. The atonement covers so much and has been such a comfort and a blessing in my life.
We do have an investigator named Kenny that has a fecha! (baptismal date) She is so cute and is from the Dominican Republic. We want her to be baptized on May 3! I hope it works out. She is so kind and loves reading the Book of Mormon. Please keep her in your prayers.
I am so excited for Joseph!!! I think he is going to the Philippines! Keep me updated and tell him I love him, and ¡BUENOS SUERTE! (good luck) It is so exciting and scary, but let him know that he will be so blessed and that no matter where he goes people are always praying for him and Heavenly Father takes care of all his missionaries. I have felt so comforted knowing that I have so many people praying for me and my success back home. It gives me so much strength. Tell him he looks SUPER GUAPO (handsome) in his tux!
I love you guys and can’t wait to hear from you again! Also, Mother’s day is coming soon and I will be able to Skype you guys. I will let you know the exact plans when they let us know! I love you! You are all in my prayers!
¡Les Quiero mucho! (I love you so much)
Hermana Brumble
Ps. We are going to the aquarium today! I will send pictures next week!
This has been a pretty hard week. We don’t have a lot of investigators, so......we’re hitting the pavement hard! I didn´t see a lot of success in door contacting, so I’ve been trying really hard to work on street contacting. You basically stop someone and see how far you get in the first lesson till they stop you. It is really hard and you have to try so many different techniques until you find something that works for you. It’s an art. We also go through the area book and visit old investigators. It was really interesting this week President Florín and Carmelo spoke to us on Friday and wanted to know what the branch could do to help us. They said that they wanted to change and be more involved in missionary work, but I think it was also them asking us to help them change. Hermana Endicott and I have went through the branch list and list of recent converts, we are splitting everyone up between us and the Elders and we are going to visit everyone! Hopefully that will help strengthen the branch and we can help reactivate the families. Hermana Endicott and I are also working more with the Relief Society and going visiting teaching with some of the women. This branch needs so much help. President Florín wants to do an activity in a couple weeks where everyone is going to split up in groups of 4 or 5 and go street contacting with us for 3 hours!!! Ha, ha street contacting is hard, especially when you’re out for 3 hours, no one wants to do that! We are going to talk to him about doing it is pairs and in shifts, and whoever isn’t out will be at the church and the missionaries there will be giving lessons on teaching and effective street contacting. It will be interesting about how it goes and what happens, I’m a little nervous. It is great that they want to help so much though. The people in the North are really different than Madrid and further South.
I really appreciated that story, it really fits with what I have been experiencing this week. There are so many experiences on the mission where you aren’t sure what the outcome will be of a decision, or you know it could either be really bad or really good. Having faith that everything will work out and that Heavenly Father is going to bless me if I put my trust in him has really been something I have struggled with this week. But every time I take that hit or make that decision, he has blessed me and provided me with the things I need to move forward.
I have really been thinking about the atonement this week. There are days and weeks on the mission where you feel like you haven’t done your best and that you could definitely improve. It is such a blessing that we can kneel in prayer, ask for forgiveness and strength to do better and then say, "Today is a new day." It doesn’t matter what happened before because you are a new person or it is a new week and all that matters is that you are going to try to do better. The atonement covers so much and has been such a comfort and a blessing in my life.
We do have an investigator named Kenny that has a fecha! (baptismal date) She is so cute and is from the Dominican Republic. We want her to be baptized on May 3! I hope it works out. She is so kind and loves reading the Book of Mormon. Please keep her in your prayers.
I am so excited for Joseph!!! I think he is going to the Philippines! Keep me updated and tell him I love him, and ¡BUENOS SUERTE! (good luck) It is so exciting and scary, but let him know that he will be so blessed and that no matter where he goes people are always praying for him and Heavenly Father takes care of all his missionaries. I have felt so comforted knowing that I have so many people praying for me and my success back home. It gives me so much strength. Tell him he looks SUPER GUAPO (handsome) in his tux!
I love you guys and can’t wait to hear from you again! Also, Mother’s day is coming soon and I will be able to Skype you guys. I will let you know the exact plans when they let us know! I love you! You are all in my prayers!
¡Les Quiero mucho! (I love you so much)
Hermana Brumble
Ps. We are going to the aquarium today! I will send pictures next week!
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Week 13 in Gijon
April 7th 2014
I am great! This week has been so busy and a little stressful, but it has really been probably one of my favorite weeks on the mission. I was so worried, but I really put my faith and trust in the Lord and knew everything would be alright. The first day was probably the hardest. I was so overwhelmed, because I was trying to do EVERYTHING! We can’t do everything by ourselves. Once I took a step back, prioritized, and relieved myself from some unnecessary responsibility, I was just fine. This week I have really felt the power of the atonement in my life. It covers so much and strengthens us when we are weak.
I am great! This week has been so busy and a little stressful, but it has really been probably one of my favorite weeks on the mission. I was so worried, but I really put my faith and trust in the Lord and knew everything would be alright. The first day was probably the hardest. I was so overwhelmed, because I was trying to do EVERYTHING! We can’t do everything by ourselves. Once I took a step back, prioritized, and relieved myself from some unnecessary responsibility, I was just fine. This week I have really felt the power of the atonement in my life. It covers so much and strengthens us when we are weak.
Hermana Endicott is such a huge tender mercy. She is so understanding and wonderful. She is from Huntsville Utah. She is the oldest in her family and has two younger brothers. One is 17 and just got called to Peru on his mission, and the other is 11. She went to BYU Idaho and majored in literature. She has been out on the mission for 11 months now, so it is very possible Gijón could be her last area, depending on how much longer I stay here. They lived in Boston and Puerto Rico for a little bit because her dad was in charge of Scouting things there. Also, she looks, acts, talks, exactly like Mallory!! It’s is funny, with Hermana Zitting she was exactly like me, and now I have Mallory! Maybe I’ll get a Sammie... She is a beast of a missionary though. I have really learned so much from her already. With Hermana Zitting I think I learned the basics, kind of like the lower law with Moses and the Children of Israel. Heavenly Father knew what I could handle. And now that I have a little more experience, I am ready for the higher law which is what I am learning with Hermana Endicott. She has changed the way I look at missionary work and has helped my be more BOLD! We had 7 new investigators this week!!!! I really was worried about staying in Gijón because it is such a hard area, but things are changing and I am so excited! There was something President Jackson said that I really took comfort in, he said that he only sends the special missionaries to the North and the fact that I was trained there really meant something. He said that when he made transfer calls he and Hermana Jackson really felt good about me and Hermana Endicott being together. I know Heavenly Father is preparing me and all of us to be something more. We each have so much potential. I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for us.
Conference was amazing! We watched conference through satellite transmission at the church in Gijón. We watch the Saturday morning session live, so I watched it Saturday night, then Sunday morning we watched the women’s conference, then we watched the Saturday afternoon session, then the Sunday Morning session live. We didn’t get to watch the Sunday afternoon. Thanks for the talks. We watched all the sessions in English (huge blessing!) except the woman’s conference, so thank you for taking the time to send me the talks, I didn’t understand a lot. Spanish on TV is hard to understand, even some of the members who speak English came in with us to watch conference because they don’t really understand Spanish on TV. I am excited to read the Sunday afternoon when we get the Liahona. It was so interesting watching conference. I loved everything, and I agree I think the most talked about subject was Christ-like love and standing up for what you believe in. I think standing up for our standards and the church is becoming increasingly more important and even a little more difficult. It is so important. I like what Elder Holland said about defending ourselves with compassion and courtesy, but defending ourselves. I think some people think that defending ourselves means you have to be harsh or unkind, but I think you have a bigger effect on someone when you have compassion. I like President Uchtdorf’s talk about being grateful in our circumstances and Elder Bednar’s talk about how our load helps us move forward. I also liked the talk given about pornography, it was so bold and straightforward! I like the comment she made about how the three things we need in the home are Family Home Evening, Prayer, and Scripture Study. I am so thankful that I grew up in a home where those things were present. I also liked what President Monson said about Christ-like love starting in the home. There where so many things that were addressed that I have been praying about, attributes that I want to obtain, and comfort that I needed. I think it is so cool how Heavenly Father speaks to each of us through Living Prophets.
My schedule changed. We had daylight savings last week and every time we have Conference the mission schedule changes. So instead of waking up at7:00am I wake up at 7:30am and instead of getting home at 9:30pm and going to bed at 11:00pm, we get home at 10:00pm and go to bed at 11:30pm. So everything was pushed back a half an hour because people tend to stay up later during the summer. So that was fun and interesting. I feel a lot more awake in the mornings so that has been a huge blessing!
Well I love you all! I hope you have a great week! I think and pray about you all the time. I´m glad Mal and Rob had a good birthday. It makes me sad sometimes that I can’t do more on those special days. But I pray for them and think about them. I am so excited for Joseph!!! Is he nervous? How does he feel? I remember the feelings I felt. What a life altering experience this has been. I don’t regret anything I have done or have chosen to do. This has changed me in so many ways, ways I probably haven´t even realized yet. This is going to be the greatest experience for Joseph if he stays obedient and learns to be meek and teachable. I am so excited to share these wonderful things with him someday. There are so many people in the world that he is going to come in contact with and bless. HOW AMAZING!
Love Hermana Brumble
Conference was amazing! We watched conference through satellite transmission at the church in Gijón. We watch the Saturday morning session live, so I watched it Saturday night, then Sunday morning we watched the women’s conference, then we watched the Saturday afternoon session, then the Sunday Morning session live. We didn’t get to watch the Sunday afternoon. Thanks for the talks. We watched all the sessions in English (huge blessing!) except the woman’s conference, so thank you for taking the time to send me the talks, I didn’t understand a lot. Spanish on TV is hard to understand, even some of the members who speak English came in with us to watch conference because they don’t really understand Spanish on TV. I am excited to read the Sunday afternoon when we get the Liahona. It was so interesting watching conference. I loved everything, and I agree I think the most talked about subject was Christ-like love and standing up for what you believe in. I think standing up for our standards and the church is becoming increasingly more important and even a little more difficult. It is so important. I like what Elder Holland said about defending ourselves with compassion and courtesy, but defending ourselves. I think some people think that defending ourselves means you have to be harsh or unkind, but I think you have a bigger effect on someone when you have compassion. I like President Uchtdorf’s talk about being grateful in our circumstances and Elder Bednar’s talk about how our load helps us move forward. I also liked the talk given about pornography, it was so bold and straightforward! I like the comment she made about how the three things we need in the home are Family Home Evening, Prayer, and Scripture Study. I am so thankful that I grew up in a home where those things were present. I also liked what President Monson said about Christ-like love starting in the home. There where so many things that were addressed that I have been praying about, attributes that I want to obtain, and comfort that I needed. I think it is so cool how Heavenly Father speaks to each of us through Living Prophets.
My schedule changed. We had daylight savings last week and every time we have Conference the mission schedule changes. So instead of waking up at7:00am I wake up at 7:30am and instead of getting home at 9:30pm and going to bed at 11:00pm, we get home at 10:00pm and go to bed at 11:30pm. So everything was pushed back a half an hour because people tend to stay up later during the summer. So that was fun and interesting. I feel a lot more awake in the mornings so that has been a huge blessing!
Well I love you all! I hope you have a great week! I think and pray about you all the time. I´m glad Mal and Rob had a good birthday. It makes me sad sometimes that I can’t do more on those special days. But I pray for them and think about them. I am so excited for Joseph!!! Is he nervous? How does he feel? I remember the feelings I felt. What a life altering experience this has been. I don’t regret anything I have done or have chosen to do. This has changed me in so many ways, ways I probably haven´t even realized yet. This is going to be the greatest experience for Joseph if he stays obedient and learns to be meek and teachable. I am so excited to share these wonderful things with him someday. There are so many people in the world that he is going to come in contact with and bless. HOW AMAZING!
Love Hermana Brumble
Monday, March 31, 2014
Week 12 in Gijon, 4 month mark, & a new companion!
3/31/14
This week has been so hectic! Helping Hermana Zitting get ready to go, our baptism, and area training. It is crazy. I am a little stressed out, but I will be fine, if I use the stress to my advantage, this transfer could result in so much growth! Hermana Zitting said the transfer after you are trained is the transfer you learn the most.
The baptism was great! My FIRST baptism!!! And he’s Spanish!! Manuel was so cute! Everything went so well. I gave a talk on the Holy Ghost and we sang Our Savior’s Love. It was the best experience and the Spirit was amazing! I am definitely going to remember that day forever.
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Sending Hermana Zitting home was so hard! I love her so much and am going to miss her. It was really emotional for me. She was so sweet and said so many sweet uplifting things. I was so worried about being without her, but she is so reassuring and kind. She always made me feel like a good missionary and is someone I really look up to. She has a super fuerte (strong) testimony and really teaches by example. She has a lot of love for everyone and missionary work. I am so excited to see her soon!
My new companion just got here this morning. I picked her up in Oviedo. Her name is Hermana Endicott. She is from Utah and has two younger brothers. One is the same age as Joseph and should be getting his mission call this week. She is 21 and went to college in Idaho, I think BYU Idaho. She is a literature major. She is so sweet and I already love her. She plays the piano, thank goodness!!! And she played volleyball in college. When Hermana and President Jackson talked to her about transfers, they said they had a really good feeling about us together in Gijón so I feel really good and I know we will see some great things happen. I am really excited and nervous, but we will figure it out together.
I wasn’t able to watch the women´s conference. That makes me sad, but I will be able to read the talks. I am excited and am sure they are amazing. This week was the time change for daylight savings. It was super rough because it was the night we got transfer calls and we stayed up late packing. So I haven’t really slept for two days because last night I had to sleep on Hermana John´s and Hermana Trones floor in Oviedo. But I will get good sleep tonight! General Conference is in the Capilla (chapel). I get to see all the sessions which is good. It is from 11-1 and 6-8 both Saturday and Sunday! I am so excited! Hopefully I will be able to understand most everything. If not, we get the Liahona at Zone Conference. Because of General Conference our time schedule changes those days from 7am to 11:00pm to 7:30am to 11:30 pm. It is good we get to sleep in, but I don’t really know what we are going to do in the evening. I guess street contacting! Hitting the pavement!
That is so exciting that more missionaries are going out! I email Ben a little and he is really excited to leave. I really admire Senior Missionaries. I love them so much. You have no idea how much they help full-time missionaries. They can be such a comfort. They made me and Hermana Endicott a loaf of bread. I hope I get to serve in an area with Senior Missionaries, they´re great!
It is crazy I have been out for 4 months!!! I am trying not to count, but I feel like each month again is such an accomplishment. I am so proud to say I have faithfully served for four months now. I am definitely not satisfied! I’m pretty sure they are going to have to drag me out of Spain. I don’t think I’ll be ready to leave. At least I will never stop being a missionary. Like Elder Anderson(?) said, we have a tag painted on our hearts! Member missionary dynamite!!! I am nervous, but I am excited for the many learning experiences I will have and how much I am going to grow! I love you guys! I hope everything is great! Say Hi to everyone and that I love them!! Oh, and please tell Grandma and Grandpa Brumble that I got their package and "Muchas gracias!! (thank you very much) Les quiero mucho!!!! (I love them so much) I love you!!! Having tons of fun in Spain!
¡Un Besito! (a kiss) Hermana Brumble
This week has been so hectic! Helping Hermana Zitting get ready to go, our baptism, and area training. It is crazy. I am a little stressed out, but I will be fine, if I use the stress to my advantage, this transfer could result in so much growth! Hermana Zitting said the transfer after you are trained is the transfer you learn the most.
The baptism was great! My FIRST baptism!!! And he’s Spanish!! Manuel was so cute! Everything went so well. I gave a talk on the Holy Ghost and we sang Our Savior’s Love. It was the best experience and the Spirit was amazing! I am definitely going to remember that day forever.
Sending Hermana Zitting home was so hard! I love her so much and am going to miss her. It was really emotional for me. She was so sweet and said so many sweet uplifting things. I was so worried about being without her, but she is so reassuring and kind. She always made me feel like a good missionary and is someone I really look up to. She has a super fuerte (strong) testimony and really teaches by example. She has a lot of love for everyone and missionary work. I am so excited to see her soon!
My new companion just got here this morning. I picked her up in Oviedo. Her name is Hermana Endicott. She is from Utah and has two younger brothers. One is the same age as Joseph and should be getting his mission call this week. She is 21 and went to college in Idaho, I think BYU Idaho. She is a literature major. She is so sweet and I already love her. She plays the piano, thank goodness!!! And she played volleyball in college. When Hermana and President Jackson talked to her about transfers, they said they had a really good feeling about us together in Gijón so I feel really good and I know we will see some great things happen. I am really excited and nervous, but we will figure it out together.
I wasn’t able to watch the women´s conference. That makes me sad, but I will be able to read the talks. I am excited and am sure they are amazing. This week was the time change for daylight savings. It was super rough because it was the night we got transfer calls and we stayed up late packing. So I haven’t really slept for two days because last night I had to sleep on Hermana John´s and Hermana Trones floor in Oviedo. But I will get good sleep tonight! General Conference is in the Capilla (chapel). I get to see all the sessions which is good. It is from 11-1 and 6-8 both Saturday and Sunday! I am so excited! Hopefully I will be able to understand most everything. If not, we get the Liahona at Zone Conference. Because of General Conference our time schedule changes those days from 7am to 11:00pm to 7:30am to 11:30 pm. It is good we get to sleep in, but I don’t really know what we are going to do in the evening. I guess street contacting! Hitting the pavement!
That is so exciting that more missionaries are going out! I email Ben a little and he is really excited to leave. I really admire Senior Missionaries. I love them so much. You have no idea how much they help full-time missionaries. They can be such a comfort. They made me and Hermana Endicott a loaf of bread. I hope I get to serve in an area with Senior Missionaries, they´re great!
It is crazy I have been out for 4 months!!! I am trying not to count, but I feel like each month again is such an accomplishment. I am so proud to say I have faithfully served for four months now. I am definitely not satisfied! I’m pretty sure they are going to have to drag me out of Spain. I don’t think I’ll be ready to leave. At least I will never stop being a missionary. Like Elder Anderson(?) said, we have a tag painted on our hearts! Member missionary dynamite!!! I am nervous, but I am excited for the many learning experiences I will have and how much I am going to grow! I love you guys! I hope everything is great! Say Hi to everyone and that I love them!! Oh, and please tell Grandma and Grandpa Brumble that I got their package and "Muchas gracias!! (thank you very much) Les quiero mucho!!!! (I love them so much) I love you!!! Having tons of fun in Spain!
¡Un Besito! (a kiss) Hermana Brumble
Week 11 in Gijion!
3/24/14
My week has been so busy! Sorry about last week’s letter, Carmelo and Vickie took us to this park and we had a barbeque, so it didn’t leave much time for emailing, but it was really good! Our fecha (baptismal date) is Manuel. I am super excited for him. We have his baptism all planned, Hermana Zitting is going to sing and He asked be to speak on the Holy Ghost.....wish me luck! He had his interview on Saturday and his baptism is on the 29! He has been amazing and such a good influence on Malú. She has changed so much trying to be a good influence for him and she comes to all our lessons with him. She has such a strong testimony, she has just had a really hard life. It is sad when people go through certain trials, but it has been really cool watching her progress little by little. I have really grown to love her. Spencer is so right, I have learned so much to love others. It is hard sometimes when they aren’t doing what you ask them or doing what they know they are supposed to do, you get so frustrated because you love them so much and want them to accept what you’re saying because you know how it will bless them. But people still have agency to choose even though they know it is true.
I gave my FIRST talk yesterday in sacrament meeting!!! It was about following the prophet, I also talked a little bit about the importance of conference and how we can receive revelation and feel the spirit while we watch. It went so well!!! It was ten minutes and all in SPANISH! I wrote it all by myself. I feel so much more confident in Spanish now. It is funny how learning a language works. You feel like you’re not progressing and then all of a sudden you jump up a level. Then you feel like you’re not progressing again, and then you jump up a level again. It’s like a series of plateaus. It is super frustrating sometimes, but it’s good to feel like I’m doing better. Everyone said they really liked it. I told Hermana Zitting that I just need one chance to show everyone how great I am and then they’ll love me. Until now, I’ve been "the one that can’t speak Spanish." But now they know that I can and that I am so great! It is really frustrating at first when you know that people would like you if they could only understand you and you just want so bad to speak English all the time because you can understand them, you just can’t communicate back. But it is getting so much better and I can really tell a difference.
We also had intercambios (companionship exchanges) and I went to Oviedo again, but this time I was with Hermana Johns. She was in the MTC with me and is really self-conscious about her Spanish. It was terrifying being the stronger one. But I did it. We had a couple of lessons and we taught English class. It felt like I was training, I definitely am not ready to train, but I feel a lot more confident.
This Monday is transfers and Hermana Zitting is going home! I am so excited for her. I really didn’t want a companion who was going home because I felt like it would make me want to go home. But I am really excited for her and It has made me want to be the best missionary I can be so when I go home I will have the chance to feel like she feels and feel accomplished. It has been a huge blessing. I love Hermana Zitting and am going to miss her so much. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about my next companion. I had it so good with Hermana Zitting. But I know I am going to love her no matter what! I think I am mostly nervous about area training and being the one who knows more about the area. Because I dont know a lot. It will definately be interesting.
Wednesday is my 4 month mark!!! Can you believe it? 4 Months!!!!! That is so crazy! I am almost a third of the way done. Time is flying by so fast, which is sad because I love it here and I love being a missionary. It really is crazy how fast your mission flies by. I feel good though, things are going great and I’m doing a lot better with facing disappointments and rejection. You get to the point where it is sad, but you know you did your best.
Well, I am so excited to hear more about the family and Joseph’s papers! Tell everyone Hi for me and that I love them!
I love you guys! You´re in my prayers!!!¡Les amo! Hermana Brumble
My week has been so busy! Sorry about last week’s letter, Carmelo and Vickie took us to this park and we had a barbeque, so it didn’t leave much time for emailing, but it was really good! Our fecha (baptismal date) is Manuel. I am super excited for him. We have his baptism all planned, Hermana Zitting is going to sing and He asked be to speak on the Holy Ghost.....wish me luck! He had his interview on Saturday and his baptism is on the 29! He has been amazing and such a good influence on Malú. She has changed so much trying to be a good influence for him and she comes to all our lessons with him. She has such a strong testimony, she has just had a really hard life. It is sad when people go through certain trials, but it has been really cool watching her progress little by little. I have really grown to love her. Spencer is so right, I have learned so much to love others. It is hard sometimes when they aren’t doing what you ask them or doing what they know they are supposed to do, you get so frustrated because you love them so much and want them to accept what you’re saying because you know how it will bless them. But people still have agency to choose even though they know it is true.
I gave my FIRST talk yesterday in sacrament meeting!!! It was about following the prophet, I also talked a little bit about the importance of conference and how we can receive revelation and feel the spirit while we watch. It went so well!!! It was ten minutes and all in SPANISH! I wrote it all by myself. I feel so much more confident in Spanish now. It is funny how learning a language works. You feel like you’re not progressing and then all of a sudden you jump up a level. Then you feel like you’re not progressing again, and then you jump up a level again. It’s like a series of plateaus. It is super frustrating sometimes, but it’s good to feel like I’m doing better. Everyone said they really liked it. I told Hermana Zitting that I just need one chance to show everyone how great I am and then they’ll love me. Until now, I’ve been "the one that can’t speak Spanish." But now they know that I can and that I am so great! It is really frustrating at first when you know that people would like you if they could only understand you and you just want so bad to speak English all the time because you can understand them, you just can’t communicate back. But it is getting so much better and I can really tell a difference.
We also had intercambios (companionship exchanges) and I went to Oviedo again, but this time I was with Hermana Johns. She was in the MTC with me and is really self-conscious about her Spanish. It was terrifying being the stronger one. But I did it. We had a couple of lessons and we taught English class. It felt like I was training, I definitely am not ready to train, but I feel a lot more confident.
This Monday is transfers and Hermana Zitting is going home! I am so excited for her. I really didn’t want a companion who was going home because I felt like it would make me want to go home. But I am really excited for her and It has made me want to be the best missionary I can be so when I go home I will have the chance to feel like she feels and feel accomplished. It has been a huge blessing. I love Hermana Zitting and am going to miss her so much. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about my next companion. I had it so good with Hermana Zitting. But I know I am going to love her no matter what! I think I am mostly nervous about area training and being the one who knows more about the area. Because I dont know a lot. It will definately be interesting.
Wednesday is my 4 month mark!!! Can you believe it? 4 Months!!!!! That is so crazy! I am almost a third of the way done. Time is flying by so fast, which is sad because I love it here and I love being a missionary. It really is crazy how fast your mission flies by. I feel good though, things are going great and I’m doing a lot better with facing disappointments and rejection. You get to the point where it is sad, but you know you did your best.
Well, I am so excited to hear more about the family and Joseph’s papers! Tell everyone Hi for me and that I love them!
I love you guys! You´re in my prayers!!!¡Les amo! Hermana Brumble
Monday, March 17, 2014
Week 10 in Gijon!
3/17/14
Dad,
I didn’t have time to e mail others, so please share this e mail with everyone. It still might be pretty short. I will tell you about the important things. First, Christian, the ten year old boy is getting baptized on the 23rd. He has such a strong testimony and loves learning. This is going to be a huge blessing in his life and for his family. He is such a good example to his parents! Next, Manues is getting baptized on the 29th! He is truly a miracle. He went from not believing in God to quitting smoking, reading the WHOLE Book of Mormon and committing to be baptized in two weeks! It is all because of the Book of Mormon. He is so ready and wants to be baptized so bad! I have seen so many miracles being here, but this is so amazing. I have grown so much and have seen how important the Book of Mormon is in this work. I love you and pray for all of you! Thank you. I will send more next week!
Love Hermana Brumble
Dad,
I didn’t have time to e mail others, so please share this e mail with everyone. It still might be pretty short. I will tell you about the important things. First, Christian, the ten year old boy is getting baptized on the 23rd. He has such a strong testimony and loves learning. This is going to be a huge blessing in his life and for his family. He is such a good example to his parents! Next, Manues is getting baptized on the 29th! He is truly a miracle. He went from not believing in God to quitting smoking, reading the WHOLE Book of Mormon and committing to be baptized in two weeks! It is all because of the Book of Mormon. He is so ready and wants to be baptized so bad! I have seen so many miracles being here, but this is so amazing. I have grown so much and have seen how important the Book of Mormon is in this work. I love you and pray for all of you! Thank you. I will send more next week!Love Hermana Brumble
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