3rd Week

Dearest Family-

This has been quite a week. It seems each week is more profound than the previous one!! I will start with telling you of the Hoffer's. Wow!! We had our second lesson with them and the Spirit was there just as strongly. We showed them the Restoration video to help them recap and visualize what we taught them last time and gave them the BOM child's reader. It was incredible, the Spirit was so strong, even their 2 month old baby Claira sat up and watched with perfect silence. Afterwards Cynthia (the young mom who I love dearly!!) said she got goosebumps during the vision part of it and felt great peace. Tom, (the father) said that he was amazed at how he related to everything Joseph Smith had said. He said he also had the chills. It was so cool!! I always just want to cry, I can't help it it makes me soooo happy to see people feeling the truth of the gospel in their hearts for the first time. It's sacred. And it causes me to re examine my own testiminy of Jeseph Smith, which is burning brughter than ever now. We also invited the Barnett's, an adorable young couple in our branch, to accomany us because we want the Hoffer's to have some friends in the branch and they got along sooo well!! Afterwards as we were leaving, Cynthia cam running out and said, "Wait what about church?! We want to to come. we talked about it and we're ready. What time?" Ahhh!!!! I was ecstatic. This Sunday was branch conference so it was a good one!! How perfect...They came and sat with us and the Barnett's and it went beautifully!!! Thank you for your prayers about them dad, I can assure you they were answered!! They stayed all 3 hours and we took her and her adorable baby (who everyone loved!!) to Relief Society and Cynthia even signed up to feed us dinner in the Relief Society roster! haha she's already one of us...you would all love her. They are really progressing in learning the gospel. They want to come next sunday and learn more about the temple and gospel principles, Tom is so smart!! He really grasps concepts fast. I love them, I've never been happier. 

Also, our investigator Mary came to church! She has gone through a terrible tragedy, which I shouldn't share the deatils here, but we were able to be there with her and I am so proud of her for letting tragedy bring her closer to Christ, not farther. She is really progressing and has expressed desire to be baptized within the month!!! Oh how I love her...I will keep you updated.

Another story which I must share happened Saturday when we served in the nursing home. We were there painting all the ladies nails (they LOVE IT!! haha they pretend we're a beauty salon its so cute) but as we walked past a very old woman doing a puzzle (over 1000 pieces) I strongly felt the impression, "Brooke, you need to stop and talk to her." So we did. As we started chatting she told us how she was in pain, sha had just had foot surgery and it went poorly. We expressed are sympathies and kept talking. Then the nurse came. She told her she wouldn't be able to get her pain medications for another hour, she was sorry. The woman just put her head down and was silent. I was surprised at this...when she looked up her eyes were full of tears. They were already trickling down her wrinkled face. My eyes instantly filled with tears as well. She was REALLY in pain. She was suffering, now I could see. She then lifted her blanket, still spilling with tears, to show me her leg. Her foot was huge. infected. almost unrecognizable. Her leg was bandaged up, also swollen. Still crying, I knew she needed comfort so I gave her a hug and she hed me so tightly..I could trly feel her pain. She held me so tight she left marks in my arms from her nails. She wouldn't let go she just cried. We both did, and in that moment I could truly feel the Savior with me, with her, I felt His love for her and understood now why He had guided me to her. We never left her. We stayed with her until her medication came to help her through the pain. We made her laugh, we looked at all her pictures, we painted her nails. 

Then an hour later, the nurse came back smiling, with the pain medication. The puzzle woman (that's what everyone calls her there) started crying again. This time with relief. Then she looked at me, right into my eyes and thanked me for not leaving her. I hugged her again, and again she wouldn't let go. Sis. Christian offered to say a prayer, and the old woman just said, "Oh, she (pointing to me) already did." While I was hugging her i said a silent prayer, for her to feel strength and comfort and love from Chrsit, that He would stay with her after we left, but it was in my heart! She had some how perceived it and knew I had prayed. We said another one out loud though. After we finshed she was crying she said, "I love you sisters" then she held my hand and said, "I Love you and I love your Church."

That was the best moment of all. I love this gospel so much. I love the scriptures, the Book of Mormon. I love my Savior. I feel His love for these people, and that makes me feel closer to Him than ever before. I love missionary work. D&C 84:77-89. As we do His work we are His friends and He will stand by us. I love you all.

Also! this week me and Sister Christian were attacked by a snake while tracting this week!! She almost stepped on it but it moved before she did but it was hilarious bc it surprised me so I went sprinting down the road screaming and she just stood there hahaha we laughed the rest of the day about it. We are also teaching a woman who works for Justin Bieber!! How cool is that?! no wonder she is so rich..haha we love her though, she is becoming more active and continues meeting with us, feeding us, and giving us goodies from her botique :)

Love Sis. Bertoldo