November 15, 2021 "We Baptized Sin"

 Sorry everyone for not emailing last week. A lot happened including transfers: I'm staying in Bellevue for my fourth transfer and I'm going to be with my companion Sister Parkin again. In the past two weeks, we have been busy!

Cin got baptized! We are so excited and it was an amazing spiritual experience!

Also, three quick stories:

First, there was a couple that we reached out to to try to meet. They were active in the ward (let's call them the Tricks) and it didn't look like they had been met with for awhile. Well, they texted and told us that the elders met with them weekly so they didn't really have time for us as well. We looked over the records and the elders had just recorded it pretty weird and were indeed meeting with them weekly. No problem. 

Then, Brother Tricks texted us about an hour later and invited us over for tomorrow. We asked if this invitation was for us or the elders.

He said and I quote "Well, you wanted to come over, didn't you?"

So we said sure, ok. 

Well, the time came and we knocked on the door. Sister Tricks let us in and we started getting to know her. After a few minutes, Brother Tricks walks in. He stares at us oddly, then asks: 

"What are you doing here? I thought I told you that we were too busy to meet with you." 

"You invited us to come over yesterday." My companion replied, a little confused. We both thought that he was joking. 

"No, I didn't. I told you guys no. So did you think that you could just invite yourselves over?" He asked, with a tone that you weren't quite sure if he was joking or not. I glanced at the rest of the family members, beginning to notice that he aren't joking.

"Uh, I think you may have texted us instead of the elders when you invited them over. It sounds like it was just a misunderstanding." My comp says. 

I told her to show him the texts, but she seemed to shrink beneath his stare, gripping her purse tighter.

"Would you like us to leave?" I asked. He turned to look at me. 

"To be blunt, yes. I'd like you to leave." 

Anddddd, there was another set of sisters at the church who happened to also have some people be rude to them so we all told each other what was going on and then that became a catchphrase of the week. 

Second, a couple of days ago we were in a phone call lesson. I felt like I needed to pause the lesson and pray for Ruby, the woman we were teaching. I don't know exactly how it feels to deliver a blessing, but the instant I opened my mouth, words filled it. It was the kind of prayer that I've never been able to give before. I don't remember all of it, but under the power of the Holy Ghost, I told Ruby how the spirit speaks to her. I promised her the gift of discernment between spirits as she began to read the Book of mormon and attended church, and told her that the secret yearnings in her heart would finally be answered and filled as she read the book of mormon and pondered it in her heart. The spirit promised her that she would find lasting joy only as she began a serious study of this doctrine. It was the most beautiful prayer I've ever said and I had absolutely nothing to do with it. It was an awe inspiring moment that I will remember for the rest of my life.

Third, we had a different phone call lesson with a man named Joseph. He said a couple of things that made my companion and I feel slightly uncomfortable during the phone conversation and at the same time, one of the elder companionships in our building walked up and started blowing bubbles at us.

I'm grateful for good members. For good friends and family which love and support me. For fellow missionaries, including the elders who are so awesome and the sisters who I've only been around recently. (I was in a elders only area for a long time). I promise you that God is in every moment of our lives. And as you are worthy and striving to be valiant, you will be filled with the Holy Ghost which can bring joy and peace no matter your circumstances and by the power of the Holy Ghost I promise you that you will be able to do things you have never done before.

Love,

Sister Brice