Bezerkeley!

Hi! I hope this email finds you happy and healthy! :) We had a great week. We did a really fun activity for a training with the sisters. We made up jeopardy questions and split them into teams. It was fun and everyone loved it! Building unity! :)
     One thing I have come to realize and appreciate is that one doors closes with someone, Heavenly Father opens up another door for you. We waited to have a lesson with Popi, but she never showed up, so we went campus contacting and found SIX people who were willing to meet with us. It is our job to find those who are prepared and the Lord will place them in our path, but we have to open our mouths. Campus contacting can be really intimidating but most people are really nice!! I love meeting all kinds of different people and bearing short and powerful testimony to them. I know the Lord helps me know what to say to each person. Sometimes I feel prompted to randomly talk about prayer. Others, I bring up the Restoration. I love it! I bet we look super weird, but it's Berkeley, so I guess we fit right in!
     We went tracting in Moraga to help the sisters. Moraga is a very wealthy area and is also intimidating to tract, but words that my sweet Daddie told me while I was in the MTC ring true in my head over and over:

"And your whole labor shall be in Zion, with all your soul, from henceforth; yea, you shall ever open your mouth in my cause, not fearing what man can do, for I am with you. Amen." D&C 30:11

     Exchanges are so fun and always present surprises and learning experiences. I love each of these sisters so so much!!

     We gave a tour to two men who speak Farsi. One spoke a little bit of English and we asked him if he would be interested in learning more about our beliefs by meeting with missionaries. He said no. I asked him if he thinks his friend, who speaks no English, would be interested. He said, "Probably not." I said, "will you please ask him?" I didnt want his friend to choose for him! So he reluctantly asked his friend and I could tell he was being kind of short about it and his friend said yes!! So we got his info and are sending missionaries to his home in Germany! Isnt the technology we have incredible?? The gospel is literally filling the nations.

     Stake Conference was great. Mitchell was sick this past week, but made it to church!! Elder Jorg Klebingat, a general authority, came and spoke. He was powerful and he testified of Christ. Seeing him and hearing his testimony got me SO excited for General Conference!!

     One of my investigators in the San Lorenzo ward, Tiffany, finally got permission to be baptized!!! I am grateful for the Lord's timing and that she never gave up hope!

On the morning of my year mark I turned to this scripture:

"Wherefore, go ye and preach my gospel, whether to the north or to the south, to the east or to the west, it mattereth not, for ye cannot go amiss. Therefore, declare the things which ye have heard, and verily believe, and know to be true. Behold, this is the will of him who hath called you, your Redeemer, even Jesus Christ. Amen." D&C 80:3-5

This was SUCH a tender mercy. It renewed my desire to preach the gospel. It reminded me of my sacred calling! It strengthened my testimony of the things I know to be true. It deepened my understanding that my call to be a missionary is from the Lord. I cant forget that! This is HIS WILL that I am out here preaching the gospel and helping others come closer to Him. He is OUR Redeemer. I love Him. I love His work! Another week, here we come!

LOVE

Sister Brinton