Nov.7,2011 A visit with Anna

We had a wonderful lesson with Anna Asaf. She is great and she always has a smile and she laughs. I think it's refreshing. She is dating a less active member and he is not making the best decisions such as asking (Anna) to move in with him. We figured that we should talk to them about the law of chastity and how chastity and the Gospel of Jesus Christ intertwine. Well, we first started talking about faith and repentance. Anna has a belief in Christ but not a lot of faith in Him. We are helping her to understand the role that Christ plays in our life and when we are striving to develop faith in Him we have a desire to change our lives (repentance). She doesn't quite believe it is possible so we taught her accordingly.That took up most of the lesson so I thought
," Well, I guess we will wait until next time to teach the law of chastity-
Well, let's just say that the Spirit had a different plan. And he really didn't even notify me (ahead of time) to let me know that we needed to talk about it, because for some reason something that was said made it possible for me to open my mouth and say,"you know,Brandon, you're suppose to wait until you're married to move in with each other". I was shocked that , that statement so bluntly came out of my mouth! It was bold but the spirit was there. He had a shocked look on his face because he didn' t know we knew (they were moving in together) because Anna had told us earlier. He sat there quietly and I continued to talk with great love. I know that it was the Spirit. So we talked for 1 hour and 30 minutes on the law of chastity. After talking about it with him, I knew why the Spirit put those words in my mouth, because he needed to hear what we taught him, as well as her.It was not an awkward conversation as we all know it could have been, but the Spirit had control and it went really well. I'm still in awe about it. When we left the first thing that came out of Sister Alberts mouth was," Wow, I can't believe you just said that. It was so blunt, I was just shocked...". I.m just as shocked, but after talking with each other, we realized that it couldn't have gone more perfectly.

The Spirit November 7,2011

Missionary work here in Woodinville, as the ward members say, is ON FIRE !   The Lord is definitely blessing us. We are having nonmembers coming to church left and right. The members enthusiasm for sharing the gospel has grown a lot. It's cool to see. 
       Missionary work is being in the right place at the right time and following the Spirit and taking the opportunity that is placed before you and then to trust in the Lord.
We had a neat experience this week. We went to visit a less active family on Friday. Their 14 year old daughter,Sam, had a nonmember friend over. The mom, who is less active, started to share the gospel with her and telling her daughter's friend all about what we do as missionaries. We talked to Sam's friend more about (the work). She had never gone to church before. Sam doesn't like church at all, she thinks it is boring so she rarely comes to activities or the 2nd and 3rd hour ( block of Sunday classes). She says that she feels that everyone is perfect. We had a great conversation about that and helped her to understand that none of us is perfect. You come to church and see everyone on their best behavior. You don't know their imperfections until you start to get to know them. "Church is a hospital for sinners not a hotel for saints."
Anyways, to make a long story short, her friend is really interested. You could tell that she is searching, she doesn't seem very happy with life and she is searching for greater happiness. So we kept inviting them to church and they just avoided the question by telling us that they would come to Wednesday's activity. Well, (on Sunday) they all came to church with their daughter's friend and they stayed all 3 hours!!! How neat is that?
They have plans to come to a Young Women's activity on Wednesday. Missionary work is one answer of how it can help strengthen our own faith. To see SAM start coming back to church because of sharing the gospel with her friend, is the neatest thing. 
Miracle! It was all the Spirit. People often say,"good job", and I want to say,"It is not us. It is the Lord's work, we are just instruments in His hands and conduits for the Spirit to work." It is a privilege to be a missionary, to serve and to see these miracles occur.

Monday Oct.31,2011

Saturday night we had a great Halloween party. There were so many nonmembers. We had 3 investigators and their families.

        We finished teaching Morgan who lives in Duvall. It is bitter sweet cuz we love teaching her and we will miss that but sweet cuz she is ready for baptism and she'll be baptized in the upcoming month, we all HOPE! She just needs to meet with President Wilson and all will be a go!
          Today we found out that Sister Alberts and I are staying in Woodinville, this will be " 3" transfers together and that's a long time to stay ( 24/7 )with one companion or anyone for that matter, but it will be good!

We are definitely needed in Woodinville. there is just so many amazing things going on. Sunday, a lady in our ward invited a friend to church and she is interested in learning more, however, she is really busy the next couple of weeks because she is running for city council so after that we will start to teach her.

Scripture of the week: 1 Nephi 15:24 " And I said unto them that it was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction."

I love you all!!! Have a fabulous week and have a
                                  Happy Halloween!     

Book of Mormon October 31,2011

Tuesday early morning I woke up with a very sharp pain in my low back. I first thought that I just slept wrong, but the pain intensified so after a half hour or so I woke up Sister Alberts by screaming her name. She rushed out of bed and to my side. I was laying on the floor...to make a long story short, she rushed me to the E.R, We called our mission presidents wife at 2:40a.m. after we got to the hospital. I was able to get a room in 20 minutes  which was a blessing.The lady said that if I would have come much sooner I would probably have been waiting for hours, it was a really busy night. That was blessing # 1. The #2 blessing happened as I was laying in bed before they were able to give me any medication, the pain got worse and worse I was crying and praying and asking for my mom (ha,ha) and as I continued my plea to Heavenly Father for help, He answered my cry with a soft impression  to read the Book of Mormon. With tears I turned to Sister Alberts and asked if she would read the Book of Mormon to me (we always carry a copy with us). She started to read and immediately and I mean immediately  peace fell upon me. I stopped crying, the pain was not as severe and I calmed down.It was a miracle. Seriously the moment she started to read the spirit filled the room,and I felt immediate peace and that everything would be okay. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that it will bring anyone who is seeking for truth closer to Christ and bring greater hope and peace into their lives. I've almost always had a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon, however, I am so grateful for this experience that strengthened my faith in the power of the Book of Mormon. On top of everything, Sister Alberts called our district leader at 4:30 a.m. because I requested a blessing. So three elders came at 5:00 a.m. and gave me a blessing. It was awesome! ( by this point I was on meds so I was a happy clam).So shortly after I got a cat scan and the doctors found out that I had a kidney stone 4mm which is medium size. It's a blessing that it wasn't any bigger. The stone passed! I was told that usually it takes a week for a kidney stone to pass. I know God was blessing me and watching over me.

Ooops ! October 2011

Just after we finished teaching a lesson and walked outside into the rain soaked street and just guess who slipped and fell in the MUD ?  ME !

STRIVING

So why I wrote the word striving in the subject box was because I think it sums up what we do as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We continually strive to do better, be better, and to achieve all that God has in store for us, to become more Christlike. We know that as we are striving we must put our faith and trust in our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to progress. I noticed this week as we were teaching people the restored gospel that they often felt very overwhelmed, especially the Jensen family. They want to receive it all. They want to have happiness, be an eternal family, have the Spirit in their lives in greater abundance and feel worthy. I often have felt the urge to try to jump up to the top but we must take steps to get to the top. As we talked about the word  "striving", that it means as we move forward wherever we are on the track as long as we are facing in the right direction we will get there. Scott Jensen (he is so wonderful) said," I want this to be true, I sure hope it is." We invited him to be baptized on December 10th-He accepted!!!

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I love sharing my testimony and bringing others to Christ. It brings me the greatest joy.
A lady in our ward came with us to a lesson. Afterwards, she expressed her great gratitude for asking her to come with us. she said," I just love sharing my testimony. It brings the greatest feelings of happiness. The Spirit was strong during the lesson. Share your testimony, "perfect love casteth out all fear." ( Elder Perry's talk last conference)
The Spirit will convert. The lady we were teaching said," The Spirit is strong, I know this is from God, I know that the things you are saying are true because I can feel it." Those words to a missionary are some of the greatest words anyone could say to us.

We had a wonderful week. I know the Lord is blessing us so much. The work is moving forward. I am so grateful for the trials in my life. I know they strengthen my faith and help to make me stronger. I know God hears our prayers and answers them. I know He keeps His promises as we do our best in living righteously. Thank you for all your love and support and prayers in my behalf and for the missionary work. He will bless us with opportunities to share the gospel as we seek and respond to the opportunities placed before us.

Miracles wouldn't be miracles if they were planned.

Later that night we went to a cottage meeting and Alicia { a recent convert } spoke. She told her story about joining Christ's Church. She was the first speaker and she brought the spirit into the whole room, it was incredible!
I just love cottage meetings. The Spirit is always so strong and New converts tell their stories and their trials that they have gone through and how they kept the faith despite adversity. Each one testifies that they have never been happier in their lives. You could see them just glowing. My words obviously don't do justice to how their words touched our hearts.
One girl had lost her best friend and the relationship and friendship with her parents because she joined the church, but she said," I know this is true just as I know the sky is blue; I could not deny it even though everyone was telling me too."
On Wednesday we had plans to visit an inactive member...we felt lie we were to go and see her but the Spirit prompted us to go at a different time then we had planned (thankfully). Her daughter, Johanna (not a member) was home and we got talking about things and then I brought up the church and asked her what she knows about the church. She said," Yeah, I've always wanted to but I'm on the quiet side and didn't know how to ask." We taught her the first lesson and it went so well, the Spirit was so strong. Yeah, she prayed at the end. For someone that is (admittedly) so quiet to offer a prayer was a MIRACLE!! Miracles wouldn't be miracles if they were planned.

TO THE "BURBS" 10-10-11

This week was suburb week for us and our district as well. We had so many miracles after miracles happen. The last few weeks have been a major trial of our faith. The scripture that has been coming to my mind is the one found in Ether 12:6 ( Book of Mormon). It has been really hard and a little discouraging at times. But we kept the faith and REMEMBERED {keyword}
that the Lord blesses us when we do all that we can, exercise faith, and when we are obedient. Those promises are sure! The Lord helped and strengthened us and guided us to be in the right place at the right time. I know that He leads us to find His children.

October 2011 CALLED TO SERVE

Sister Kimball and her companion,Sister Alberts, stop for a little lunch on the back patio after helping with yard work.
                                     Good work, sisters !