Let Us Labor Diligently

hi hi hi!

I know I say this every week, but WOW what a week!!  

     We set a baptismal date with Albert!!! March 18th! WHOO HOOO!!! We taught him the word of wisdom because he had some questions. He drinks coffee. We brought Daniel to the lesson. Daniel had to overcome coffee too! He shared his experience and how he lives the word of wisdom now. He testified to Albert. He said, "Dude, do what the sisters tell you. I am so happy you are here right now." It feels like just yesterday we were helping Daniel overcome his coffee addiction! Now here he is testifying of it! 

     We had three exchanges back to back this week. I LOVE going to the sisters area and seeing them lead and teach and grow. It is way better than having them come to Berkeley and just follow our lead. They grow so much more this way! One area in our mission is called Moraga. They haven't had very many baptisms over the past few years. It is a very wealthy area with multi-million dollar doors that have been knocked and slammed multiple times. The ward has a horrible, negative mindset:
"This ward will never baptize."
"There is no body to teach."
"No one will ever listen."
etc

     There is a new Sister there. I got to go on exchanges with her to Moraga!! It was soooo beautiful. We got to the apartment that night and she said, "I am going to change this area Sister Brinton. I am so sick of people talking crap about it. There are people to teach. We will see miracles." YES! I told her I was 100% on her side and we went to work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You should have seen her planner. Every inch was full of notes and people and addresses. She is so motivated and hard working. She knows her purpose. She has been holding back because she is getting trained, so she didnt want to step on toes. I said, "SIS! GO FOR IT! The Lord is literally waiting for someone to take action and change the area. It's about time someone does something BOLD." We have similar personalities so we get along really well. 

     We expected miracles from the Lord and we prayed for them and WE SAW THEM! The Lord has made us this promise: Ask and ye shall receive. We contacted a less active they had been trying to reach for MONTHS. She answered the door and lit up to see us and agreed to host a Young Womens activity they had been trying to plan for months. We received a referral that day from the elders. That was the first referral she had ever received. We moved around our plans to go contact this lady and we step foot our of our car and she was walking into her house. I said, "Denise?!" She said "Oh yes! hi! I am in a rush but make sure you come back on Sunday at 5!" We stopped by a former investigator they had called a million times before and she let us in her home and we taught her all about families and life after death. She welcomed us back and said she would read the Book of Mormon. We worked so hard that night and on the way home, she was on cloud 9. She said, "this was the best day I have ever had on my mission. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!" I have never seen her like that. I told her, "Every day can be like this. You can see miracles every day, Sis!! This is what missionary work is supposed to feel like." I am so grateful that we can do exchanges this way, going to their area. Their confidence is boosted, they are motivated, and Moraga will see miracles. They are already on the way. I love these precious sisters. I am just treasuring every single minute that I have with them!! 

     We added 3 new investigators this week. One was a member's classmate who she just invited to church! 

     David, Bee's boyfriend, is moving back to his hometown, about 2 hours north. We are so sad to see him go, but we will make sure that he gets integrated to the ward there!

     Ever since Brother Hodges from Salt Lake gave us the training, our tours and referrals have improved dramatically! He put such an emphasis of teaching the ONE and focusing on their NEEDS and inviting with LOVE and testifying with BOLDNESS. 

     Elder Carl B Cook, a General Authority of the Seventy, came to our Mission Leadership Council. It was so powerful to receive training from him. He taught with such love and power. He taught us the importance of emphasizing the Atonement of Jesus Christ in our teaching. He also referenced Mosiah 3:19 and taught us about changing the natural man into a saint. We need to experience this process ourselves, then we can help others experience it. When we are experiencing the Atonement in our lives, our testimony of it will be a lot more powerful! This process is called conversion. At the end of the meeting, he shared a powerful story of his neighbor who had been less active for 25 years. He began to meet with missionaries and slowly take the steps of the gospel: faith, repentance, sacrament, Holy Ghost, endure to the end. He went to church one Sunday, talked to the Bishop the next, and hasn't missed a day of church since. That was 16 years ago. I was FILLED with the Spirit listening to this story. The gospel of Jesus Christ changes out hearts. It has changed mine!!!!!!! I just had chills all over my body and the strongest, overwhelming desire from the bottom of my heart to LIVE the gospel of Jesus Christ. And help everyone to experience that JOY of doing so. This is truly the way to true peace and happiness in this life and salvation in the world to come. I just want to cry out of gratitude and humility for this mighty change and desire I have experienced. Heavenly Father knows us perfectly. He is omniscient and knows what will make us the most happy. So, when He provides a way of living for us (the gospel), He is doing it because He knows what is best for us! The most wonderful thing we can do is THANK HIM for showing us how to be happy and then follow His plan. It's the best plan because it is from the SMARTEST and most loving Father.

     I love this scripture and turn to it often:

"My beloved daughter, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God." Moroni 9:6

     I love looking people in the eyes and testifying to them of whatever message I just shared with them, whether it be the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, the reality of Jesus Christ, the peace that comes from repentance, the hope of the plan of salvation, etc. I am so so happy. 

I L O V E YOU!
Love

Sister BRINTON! 

Daniel's ancestors written in Chinese

Exchanges with Sister Rice!

David is moving. :'(

My mom sent me a box mix of Swig cookies.

YUM!!

Bro and Sis Neves made them with me!

AAAAAHHHHH!!!

Time is flying. Exchanges back to back. Lessons. Meetings. Studies. Visitors Center. Planning. Running. Eating. Teaching. Sleeping. Laughing. Texting. Updating. Reporting. Calling. Street Contacting. Praying. Driving. Testifying. AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH

     We taught Albert the 10 commandments and invited him to live them. He said yes. He is doing so well. I love seeing him grow and pray with faith.

     Seeing David, Daniel, and Oscar sitting together on a couch, after three hours of church, after being sustained in their new callings, waiting to talk to the Bishopric about receiving the Priesthood... I thought my heart would BURST!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is the JOY of missionary work! They are so so so so so cute I could die. I love them. They are progressing and growing and will achieve wonderful things.

     I got to go to San Lorenzo on exchanges this week!!!!!!!!!!! It was so fun to be back in my old area. SO many memories. I can't believe how much has changed since I was living in that apartment. I woke up the next morning and had a mini panic attack thinking I was still in San Lorenzo and I hadn't ever left and I had only been on my mission for 5 months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It freaked me out and woke me right up with my heart racing. I loved looking through the area book and seeing all my notes and teaching records and comments. It was so fun for me. I have grown and learned so much since then. I have met so many wonderful people and seen so many miracles since then!!!! 

     I got to go to San Leandro too, but with the Spanish sisters. I secretly wish I was called Spanish speaking haha because I LOVE the culture and the food and the language!! I didnt know what was going on because everyone was speaking Spanish but I loved it. Exchanges are so great to see the sisters lead the area and meet their members and their investigators. I love these sisters. We have such a great group!!!

     We had a representative from Salt Lake, Brother Hodges, who is in charge of Visitors' Centers come and give a training! It was wonderful. The Spirit was so strong. At the beginning we all went around and said what Christ like attribute our companion had. It really united us! There were tears and love in the room. The training was to help us to remember the important role we play at the Visitors' Center. If the exhibits could do the converting, we wouldn't need sisters there. We are there because we can touch these peoples' hearts. We can discern their needs. We can testify with love while looking into their eyes. We discussed all the logistic reasons for having a Visitors' Center, but we talked about the REAL purpose! To bring eternal life. There are steps to get there, but that is our ultimate goal! The training really united us and lifted us up. We have seen miracles since then as we have greeted more sincerely, taught more simply, invited more powerfully, and felt the Spirit stronger in our Zion. 

     Brother Hodges was in a recent conference with Elder Holland. Elder Holland said, 

"God is so easy to please, but hard to satisfy." 

     He is so quick to praise us and lift us up, then He immediately wants us to stretch further, reach taller, grow stronger. "That is wonderful my child. Good job. I am so proud of you. What else can you do?" I have felt this in my life. The second I grow or change or improve, I feel His love and approval in my heart. Then I have a desire to be even better and He helps me do that, too! We have such a beautiful gospel of PROGRESSION! I have seen that with my recent converts: I am so proud of you for reading the Book of Mormon this week. Now are you ready to keep all 10 commandments? I am so proud of you for choosing to be baptized. Now are you ready to receive the Priesthood? God will not force us to grow. He will support us when we choose to grow. Then we will feel that He is proud of us and that He loves us. Wow He is so loving. He is so kind. Everything He does is because He loves us. He wants us to be happy. He loves us SO much that He gave us His Son. THEN He gave us the Restoration and all of its beautiful truths.

     I am so so happy to have another wonderful week ahead of us. We have miracles planned. We have exchanges and meetings and lessons and shifts where we will see the Lord's hand. I LOVE this work. I LOVE Sister Muench. I LOVE these sisters and these people and my ward. I love the Lord. I know Jesus Christ lives. He is at the head of this work. How could it ever fail or falter? 

Love

Sister Brinton

P-day hike!

Exchanges with Sister Phillips IN SAN LORENZO!!!!

Recent Convert named Linda

I got to see BEN and Sis Jankowski

THORNTONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Signs from Sis Muench! She made me pancakes!

David, Oscar and Daniel meeting to talk about receiving the Priesthood. MY HEART!

Sister Muench

Sister Neves

My birthday was Perfect!

Pineapple from Bro. Aililing

Birthday Package from HOME :)

Gift from my next door neighbor (Susan) in Idaho

View

There's nowhere I'd rather be!

 Hi! It's so rainy, but it doesn't get me down. :) We need to be the bright sunshine since its dark and foggy. We need to bring the light to the darkness. I actually love the rain. 

     We are helping David, Daniel, and Oscar to get the Priesthood. They are all doing so well. They all got callings on Sunday! We had a neat lesson with Daniel. Before the lesson started, he told us that he had waken up at 3 am and couldn't fall back to sleep. He was thinking about his ancestors and was overwhelmed and stressed out about how they had never heard the gospel before. He felt the pressing need that there was work to be done. Guess what our lesson was about? Temples and Family History. We had this lesson planned a week ago. When we were planning out what lesson we should teach, Temples and Family History wasn't next on the list chronologically, but I felt drawn to teach him that. I testified to him that the Lord was preparing him to receive this lesson and to realize the importance of family history and temple work! After the lesson he texted us that this was his favorite lesson so far and all of his anxieties left him. He is SO excited to "baptize people all day." He also bought us a ton of groceries because he felt like thanking us over and over for what we have done for him wasn't enough.

     We are still teaching Madeline. She has a lot of questions and doubts, but she has the sweetest heart. Albert is wonderful!!!! His faith is growing so much. He is reading a chapter of the Book of Mormon and praying every day! He said he is finally feeling like God is listening. AH!!!!!!!!! When we invited him to be baptized, he said yes with no hesitation. It is so amazing to see someone with no Christian background taking these giant steps of pure faith. He is so sincere.

     We were on exchanges and a guy walked into the Visitors' Center who only spoke Chinese. I was with Sister Hsiao so she talked with him. He is from LA, met with missionaries, found out the church was true, moved here, and lost contact with missionaries. He lives in Sister Hsiao's area and wants to meet with them.

     Every single day this week, a member has reached out to us on their own and said something like this, "I have a friend who is really interested in the church and she is coming on Sunday." It is amazing!! This is the best ward! Sister Muench can't believe her ears haha neither can I! We have had 47 members come to lessons with us over the past several months. We are continuing to help them share the gospel through Facebook. I feel so blessed to serve in a YSA ward. At first, I was very intimidated because I was going to be with people my age on a prestigious college campus, but I have learned so much. It has changed my perspective and I WILL be a better member of my future YSA ward because of the opportunity I had to serve here in Berkeley. I am so grateful for the things I have learned. These members are such great examples to me. I know the Lord placed me here so I can be an active participant in my future ward. I dont think I would have felt this way without serving in a YSA ward!

     We were in Berkeley and I started talking about Mauricio. I told Sister Muench how awesome he was and how he was so sincere and how despite what everyone says, I am NOT giving up faith. I thought, ya know what? We are already here, let's just go see if he is home. We pulled up, prayed, and got out of our car. He was walking out of his house. I tried not to puke I was so excited and we talked and talked. We got his phone number and set up a lesson for Thursday. I bore my testimony to him that GOD has YET AGAIN led us together. I told him that God wants him to meet with us, why else would he lead us together so many times. He said he knows and he wont let this happen again. He said, "I always asked you how I can see God's hand in my life, and now I can see it. I am going to read the Book of Mormon. I want to grow my faith again." We said goodbye and just sat in the car SHOCKED!!!!!!!!!! I just thought about him randomly, not thinking it was from the Spirit. I KNOW he will join the church. Miracle. 

     I got to go to the beautiful Oakland Temple today. I felt so much peace and love. When I got set apart as a missionary, my Stake President told me that there were crystals on the chandelier in the Oakland Temple celestial room that twinkled together when the AC blew and made heavenly music. I was sitting there today listening to the heavenly music and was overcome with gratitude for the opportunity I had to serve a mission. Wow. 

     I would love to share something that I have been studying that has really strengthened my testimony. I was reading the Book of Mormon and came across this verse: 

"God also declared unto prophets, by his own mouth, that Christ should come." Moroni 7:23 

I thought it would be neat to read all the prophecies of Christ's birth from different prophets! I had no idea how much this study would impact my testimony of prophets, scriptures, Jesus Christ, and God's love. Just three beautiful references are:

Mosiah 13:33-35

33. For behold, did not Moses prophesy unto them concerning the coming of the Messiah, and that God should redeem his people? Yea, and even all the prophets who have prophesied ever since the world began—have they not spoken more or less concerning these things?

34. Have they not said that God himself should come down among the children of men, and take upon him the form of man, and go forth in mighty power upon the face of the earth?

35. Yea, and have they not said also that he should bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, and that he, himself, should be oppressed and afflicted?

Jarom 1:11

Wherefore, the prophets did labor diligently, exhorting with all long-suffering the people to diligence; persuading them to look forward unto the Messiah, and believe in him to come as though he already was.

1 Nephi 10:4-6

4. Yea, even six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem, a prophet would the Lord God raise up among the Jews—even a Messiah, or, in other words, a Savior of the world.

5. And he also spake concerning the prophets, how great a number had testified of these things, concerning this Messiah, of whom he had spoken, or this Redeemer of the world.

6. Wherefore, all mankind were in a lost and in a fallen state, and ever would be save they should rely on this Redeemer.

     All of the prophets have testified of Christ. Their words were fulfilled. Christ came. He made repentance and salvation possible. He lives today. All of their words will be fulfilled. They are the mouthpieces of the Lord. We are so blessed to have their words and MODERN words from our prophets today. It is beautiful and sweet and sacred and unique. 

     There is no where else I would rather be. This place, these people, this work, and the LORD have my heart!

L O V E

Sister Brinton!

Temple Day...Oakland Zone

Exchanges with Sis. Hsiao

Sis Muench's blue eyes

JOY!!!

Hi world!!!!!!!!!    

   Sister Muench and I got to go to the temple with Mary Beth on Saturday to take out her endowment. Mary Beth is an angel. She is the most kind, loving, fun, humble, and SWEET heart I have had the blessed opportunity to know. Wow I am so grateful for her and her example of faith and enduring to the end and trusting in God. It was raining all week until the morning of her endowment. The sun was shining and the sky was blue. Sister Harper, my trainer who has now returned home from her mission, flew to Oakland so she could come. One of the missionaries that taught Mary Beth in Idaho came!! Mary's branch president, his wife, her home teacher, and his wife all came from Idaho! I can say this was one of the most sweet experiences I have ever had, not just on my mission, but in my life. My H E A R T. We were sitting in the PACKED endowment room holding hands and giggling just waiting for her to come in. She walked in with her escort in all white and she looked SO beautiful and clean. We waved and she almost screamed when she saw us haha. The session was wonderful. I watched her as she walked up to the veil. I said a prayer in my heart to my Father in Heaven of gratitude for Mary Beth and this sweet experience. I opened my eyes just as she entered the veil. I was suddenly FILLED with the purest joy. There has never been a more satisfactory feeling than seeing your investigator walk into the Celestial room. I was getting wave after wave of chills and my eyes were brimming with tears. This is what every missionary dreams of. This is the happiest and most rewarding experience that I am just having a hard time putting it into words. I walked into the celestial room and she gave me the biggest kiss haha I LOVE HER. She was just buzzing around talking to everyone and crying and laughing. I think she hugged me over 15 times. I couldn't even speak in that room. She kept looking at me with her big eyes and thanking me. MY HEART! I couldn't even respond! I didn't know what to say! The joy and peace that filled my heart in that room with her.... wow. I have experienced few things like it. What a blessing. What a miracle. What an opportunity! This makes every single door slammed in my face worth it. This makes every single hate-filled comment about how God doesn't exist worth it. This is a glimpse of true, eternal, lasting J O Y. 

     We had a wonderful week!!!! I absolutely LOVE being with Sister Muench. We are really really great friends. One blessing of the Visitors Center is that we are around each other all the time, so when Sister Muench became my companion, we were already close. I LOVE her. She is so excited to be in Berkeley and loves the sisters and the ward. We taught a lot of really great lessons this week. Busy busy busy! I am exhausted. and we havent even started exchanges yet! We have been reaching out to some less active members, which Sister Chiang and I didnt do too much of. All of our recent converts (David, Daniel, Oscar) are doing so well! They all spoke at the Why I Believe fireside. Sister Chiang got to face time in from Hong Kong so she could see!! Oscar gave a Book of Mormon to his friend. Daniel came to a lesson with us. He texted us afterwards and told us how neat it was to be "on the other side." Albert is reading the Book of Mormon and praying! His faith is growing! A girl named Madeline randomly came to church on Sunday and we had a lesson with her this week and added her as a new investigator. Wow she is great and I am excited to see her grow! Miracles are ahead!! I am happy, healthy, tired, and FULL of gratitude. In every single prayer I say I thank my Heavenly Father for the opportunity I have to be His missionary. 

     We had one of our members bring a non member to church this week and we have another one bringing a non member next week!! YAY member missionary work!! 

    We have the best bishop. He said, "over my dead body will we make a ward mission plan and not stick to it or not ever bring it up again." I told him that he was the only bishop that has ever said that. He is so great. He is so centered on missionary work! He loves meeting everyone and including everyone and reaching out to the one. Wow. 

    We have a new great exhibit in the Visitors Center depicting the Savior's life. It is a photo of his birth, baptism, ministry, Atonement, etc. It is so powerful!! It is really neat to see photos (taken from Bible videos) instead of paintings. It really brings it to life.

     I would love to share a sacred experience. I was reading the Book of Mormon and I read this verse: 

"And I heard a voice from the Father, saying: Yea, the words of my Beloved are true and faithful. He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved." 2 Neph 31:15 

     This is Heavenly Father speaking! There aren't very many times that we read His literal words in the scriptures and so I just felt the importance and desire to really study His words. I MEAN HELLO! It is Heavenly Father speaking to us!!!! He says two important things.

1. Jesus Christ's words are true.

2. If you endure to the end, you will be saved. 

Wow. So I began to study "endure to the end." 

One definition I love is found in Preach my Gospel:

"To remain true to the commandments of God despite temptation, opposition, and adversity throughout life."

I also loved these scriptures:

"And now, my son, I trust that I shall have great joy in you, because of your steadiness and your faithfulness unto God; for as you have commenced in your youth to look to the Lord your God, even so I hope that you will continue in keeping his commandments; for blessed is he that endureth to the end." Alma 38:2

"And we know that all men must repent and believe on the name of Jesus Christ, and worship the Father in his name, and endure in faith on his name to the end, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God." D&C 20:29

     As I studied, I was deeply filled with a strong desire to endure to the end. I can say, I would have never felt this without serving my mission. I can also say that I don't know if I have ever felt this pure, strong, sincere, deep, heartfelt desire before. The desire to endure to the end. I suddenly wanted it with every fiber of my being!!!! I decided then and there, in a little dim room in the Visitors Center next to Sister Muench, that I was going to endure to the end. Not because someone told me to or because my parents taught me to or because I am scared not to. I WANT to. With all my heart. 

My mission has changed me. The Savior has changed me.

All my heart,

Sister Brinton

Exchanges with Sister Flores!

Geary Gao!!

My new Companion - Sis Muench

Mary Beth

neatest district meeting white board of my whole mission

Beautiful Bay Area

Highlight of my mission: 
Going to the sketchiest burrito truck in East Oakland 
with my Mission President and his wife. BEST DAY EVER!!!

Daniel, Oscar AND David spoke at Why I Believe!!!!!!!!

These are Precious Moments

HI!!! hi hi hiiiiiiiiii   

  Oscar's baptism was AMAZING. There were 65+ people there, the biggest baptism I have ever been to. There were 9+ of his nonmember classmates there! They loved it and told me afterwards that they felt so peaceful. So many of the members were involved with the program: conducting, musical number, speaking, refreshments, etc. His classmate and friend, an RM, Raddison baptized him. His other classmate and friend, also an RM, Avery confirmed him at church. After his baptism, Oscar bore his testimony. He stood up and thanked everyone for coming. Then he said, "I testify that this is the true Church." He talked about how he used to be a Christian, then he abandoned God. He talked about how he feels God give him courage after he prays. It was a beautiful testimony. In Bishop Sherwood's testimony he said that when he was baptized 16 years ago, he said, "It is all or nothing. I am not doing one foot in, one foot out. I am not stopping until I become a Bishop!" So he warned Oscar because Oscar said something similar, like he only wanted to get baptized if he was 100% in haha. Sister Chiang and President Frandsen bore their testimonies!! Daniel said the closing prayer. Oscar's conversion to the church LITERALLY came because Raddison invited him to church one day.

     David & daniel are doing so well! 

     A nonmember just showed up at church yesterday named __ and we are meeting with her this week!

     The Oakland temple is closing February 1, 2018 for a minimum of a YEAR! There are renovating it and re-dedicating it with an open house and everything!

     I am so sad to see Sister Chiang go. If I could become HALF the missionary she is, I would be so proud. Wow she has taught me so much. I grew so much being her companion and serving alongside her. She has taught me how to be a leader, a good example, a kind friend, a goal setter, a hard worker, a powerful teacher. I love her. I admire her. I am SO blessed to have served with her for 6 months!! You really get to know each other living together 24/7 with no breaks haha. Poor thing putting up with me for so long. I cant believe her patience and longsuffering haha. She will continue to change the world starting in Hong Kong. I know it. 

     My new companion is Sister MUENCH!! Our whole missions we have been dreaming of the day we could be companions. That is what is so fun about the Visitors' Center. I already know her and serve with her and have been on exchanges with her. We are really, really good friends. I am SOOO excited to be with her. She is from Oregon and has been out for 15 months. We have both served in Oakland 9th and San Lorenzo! We were both companions with Sister Taylor and Zhong. Sister Muench is probably the most kind, patient, sweet, quiet, thoughtful, and calm person I have ever met! Besides Sister Chiang haha. No wonder I work so well with these sisters..we are polar opposites!! I am loud and sarcastic and selfish and spastic and rude and talkative!! I know we will continue to see miracles in this area. I am so excited to work hard! 

     I just have to give you all the details about one of the most amazing lessons I have ever had on my mission!! Top 5 easily. It was with our investigator Albert. He has no religious background. Please keep that in mind as I tell you about our lesson. One of our wonderful members, Tyler, came. He served his mission in India and is a powerful, Christlike teacher. The lesson started off great and I explained that scriptures are the teachings of the prophets and God's words. I asked him, "why do you think scriptures are so important to us?" Like it was a no-brainer, he said, "Because it is the word of God!" Kind of like, "why wouldnt you read the scriptures?" Imagine that. He has never even heard of God and here he is stating the importance of them himself. We began to read 3 Nephi 11, which is Jesus Christ's appearance to the people in the Americas. We read the verse that explains the "small voice that did pierce them to the center." Since I wasn't in the first lesson, I asked him if Sister Chiang had explained a little bit about the Holy Ghost. He said, "Yes, isn't it like a Spirit in us? And it's the way that God communicates with us." YES. We read on and he paused us asking why it took the people three times to hear the voice. HELLO! WHO ASKS THAT?! He is amazing. Tyler explained that we build up layers caused by distractions, sins, etc, where it is hard to hear the voice of the Spirit or the voice of God, but as we read the scriptures, go to church, pray, etc, those layers are peeled off and we become more able to hear the voice of the Lord. We read the part about Jesus Christ coming down and I bore my testimony to him that even though I wasn't there and didnt touch the prints in Jesus Christ's hands and feet, I know that He lives. We asked him how he thinks we could come to know that Jesus Christ lives if we cant touch Him or talk to Him directly. He said, "I actually don't know!" He was literally on the edge of his seat. He was following along intently with his finger on each verse we read. He was looking at us so sincerely, just wanting to know the answer!! I could FEEL it!! We asked him, "Do you want to know that Jesus Christ lives?" He said,"Yes," before we could even finish our sentence. We explained that by reading our scriptures, praying, and coming to church we can come to know. Tyler asked him, "So what do you need to do to come to know that Jesus Christ lives?" He said eagerly, "Well I need to read the Book of Mormon and come to church and pray each day!" We asked, "What will happen if you do those things?" He said, "I will come to know that Jesus Christ lives." I COULDNT BREATHE. The Spirit was so so so strong. We testified to him that, yes, he will come to know that Jesus Christ lives. We read the part where Jesus Christ teaches them how to baptize. I briefly explained baptism and then asked Albert, "Why do you think this was the first thing that Jesus Christ taught?" He paused and said, "He wanted to teach everyone how to have a relationship with God." I almost PUKED. I couldnt believe what I was hearing!! Albert has NO religious background!! I didnt know what to say. I just said, "YES ALBERT. That is exactly why Jesus Christ taught about baptism. Yes." I wanted to cry. We asked him how he felt about baptism and he said that it is something that he wants to do. We finished reading and we were all just soaking in the Spirit. I asked him how he liked reading from the Book of Mormon and he said that he felt peace and the questions that he had had for months were answered. I testified to him that prayer is a two way communication! We pray to God and He answers us! One way He answers us is through the scriptures. I said, "We didnt know what questions you had, but God did. He knows you and loves you and He answered your prayer today through the scriptures." He knew what I was saying was true. You should have seen his eyes. We invited him to read the Book of Mormon each day and pray to know if the Book of Mormon was true. I asked him, "Albert, do you think God will answer your prayer?" He immediately said, "Yes." I said, "How do you know that God will answer your prayer?" He said, "Because he just answered my prayer today through the scriptures!!!" NO RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND and here he is, telling me that he knows that God will answer his prayer. So sincere. So powerful. I just wanted to HUG HIM!!! Wow. The Spirit really really touched him. There is no other way he would have been giving us those answers. 

     After the lesson, we talked with Kaity. She was the one who shared the gospel with him through Facebook and brought him to church. She was amazed at the lesson and what she was hearing. I just thanked her over and over for being in tune with the Spirit to invite him and being a missionary. Tears filled her eyes as I testified to her that his life is literally changing because of her. Just that lesson alone changed his life because he felt the Spirit and is coming to know God. Imagine if she wouldn't have met with us. Imagine if she wouldn't have sent that video to Albert at the time she did. What if she would have let fear overtake her? What if she would have let doubt fill her mind? Albert's life is changing. This is the gospel. This is the joy. This is His beautiful work. It is real!!! It is taking place all around us! This is the BEAUTY of member missionary work. There is no better way to do it. PLEASE reach out to your non-member friends and neighbors! There are HUNDREDS of Alberts out there searching for the truth, but they know not where to find it!! What if you are too scared to invite someone to church, so you dont, and they never experience those blessings? What if you are too embarrassed to share your beliefs, so someone remains in darkness, when they could be experiencing the light of the gospel! Pray for your eyes to be opened as to who is prepared. But you have to pray with real intent, meaning that when you ask Heavenly Father, "Who should I share the gospel with?" you are going to act. He won't give you a name if you aren't going to do anything about it! These are precious moments. Our testimonies of and LOVE for the gospel and our relationship with God will grow as we share His gospel. 

     Mary is taking out her endowment this Saturday!! Sister Harper is flying back for it and Sister Muench and I get to go!! How SPECIAL! These are precious moments. This is the joy that the gospel brings.

I love you. I love this city.

Sister Brinton

Morning Departing Sports

Radison, James and Oscar

Bee and David

Berkeley Relief Society

Bro Aliling

His RM Classmates Avery and Raddison

Oscars Baptism

Mission Leadership Council

Bye Sister Wirthlin

Exchanges with sister Flores

District

Bob Ross Painting Activity

Elder Nielsen

Exchanges with sister Munoz

Elder Neves

Elder Ward

Elder Ward

Michael Angelo

Davion's Baptism

President and Sister Frandsen

Michael Brooks (a hilarious member of the Oakland 9th ward)

Zacharys Pizza

Creepy hall in the Oakland 9th apartment