June 21, 2021 Grand Island

 Good morning brothers and sisters! Today, I'm a fourth of the way done with my mission. Which is crazy, because it feels like I just started.

For those of you who are about to leave on a mission, who are wondering if you should go, or if you have no intention of going, I want to share a few things that I have learned as a missionary.

1. The work doesn't get any easier. It is never easy to go up to random strangers and try to share the gospel. It isn't easy to tell people that they need to stop smoking or living together. It won't get easier. Don't expect it to.

2. It does get easier to do the hard things. You are never going to feel entirely comfortable, but it will get easier to do hard things.

3. You've got to celebrate things and have fun. If you just focus on working hard, you will exhaust yourself spiritually and physically. 

4. You have to be obedient. Even to the dumbest mission rules. Because, maybe you might not get hurt, but your integrity isn't worth it. 

5. Be honest to your mission president. 

6. You have to choose to love some people. And some people are so very hard to love. You'll have to ask God for help.

7. Be spontaneous. It helps! 

8. Pray. Pray everything and everywhere. Pray for yourself, others, and the Holy ghost.

9. Its really important to keep a journal. Write down someway you saw God's love, a lesson you learned, and the funniest thing that happened that day.

10. You will feel inadequate. (Its because you are and you are meant to be). This isn't your work, its the Lords. Which means that as you do your best, the Holy Ghost will do the converting.

11. Take lots of pictures!

This week had a couple of big things happen. I talked in sacrament meeting about the importance of the book of mormon, I baked a cake (from scratchhhhh), and sister stalker Bro Adams came to church to invite us sisters to breakfast. Also, I saw my first ever glimpses of fireflies this week and I think I fell in love. (They are the reason for the title of my email).

The biggest miracle that happened this week was while we were driving to a member's house, I saw this man trudging along the sidewalk. And I mean trudging- head down, small steps, the kind of walk you see from someone who seems broken. The day was hot, the kind that felt like a wall of heat and humidity the instant you stepped out of air-conditioning, and he was loaded to the brim with grocery bags. I pulled over and told Sister Poulsen that I felt that we needed to help him.

She looked at me, wide eyed and incredously and shook her head.

"Hes just going to say no." She told me. "And he's ..." She trailed off. "You want to go, don't you?" 

And I shrugged a little and told her that he just looked so sad. "But you're also receiving revelation for this area. What do you think?" 

"I don't think we should do this." She replied, unbuckling her seat belt and hopping out of the car. 

I was getting some mixed messages.

But I hopped out of our car and we started walking toward him. He rounded the corner around a building and disappeared out of sight and I turned to Sister Poulsen and said:

"He probably lives here. Maybe we should go." (Sidenote: maybe I'm a big chicken). But sister Poulsen told me that we had come this far so we walked over and introduced ourselves.

His name was Jose and he is from Puerto Rico. He had walked to the grocery store a mile away and was struggling to make it back. We carried his groceries the rest of the way and got to know him and share a message. We got his number and then came back and hit him with a plan of salvation. I think he's really interested. 

(And crazily enough, he's really normal, which is very rare for investigators here in Grand Island).

I want to end with sharing how grateful I am for all of the fathers in my life. I don't know that I realized how important and rare it is to have a good father who loves and leads a family. I am so grateful for my father, my grandpa Bill, my grandpa Herb, my uncle Erv, my uncles and great uncles, friends, and family who have been such a great example to me throughout my life. I appreciate each one of you and the influence you have had in my life and the lives of so many others. Thank you for choosing to be good men.

I also want to make a shout out to all of the elder missionaries (future, current, and returned). You have sacrificed so much to serve and you have and will be a huge blessing to the people you serve with, your family, and the world as you lead and teach by example. I can't say how many people have thanked me for the elders because they bring hope and light wherever they tread. Thank you for serving, I know it isn't easy.

I also want to express my gratitude and remind everyone that there is another father to remember. Our Heavenly Father loves us just as much (and also wayyy more) than our earthly ones. He is proud of how far you've come and He urges you to continue. 

We can show our love for our Heavenly Father by obeying the commandments that he has set out for our protection and growth. 

There's nothing you can do that would make God love you any less but by following the commandments, His trust and pride in you will increase.

I love you all,

Sister Sophie Brice

P.S. Isn't my district the cutest? I love these guys