Week 68 - Gratitude & Service

LIGHTtheWORLd

November 28, 2016

Familia!!!
So this week we definitely received all sorts of blessings and there are so many things to be grateful for!

Our pensionista made us a Thanksgiving lunch! It was so so good! The mashed potatoes were probably one part butter and one part cream...and then potatoes, but so good. I love that Hermana Wood loves to enjoy all the little things in life!

We did service this week helping Hna D. clean her kitchen and put up her Christmas tree! She has had breast cancer and is fighting so hard! I really, really look up to her and am so grateful for her example.

Now, to explain the Juane picture. One night we were going to our appointments, when by 7:30 all of them had fallen through. That had happened a lot this week and, so, we were praying for strength to keep going. I looked at my planner and decided to go to a contact that we had done earlier that week. We were walking there when I felt prompted to stop at a house. The woman was making Juanes and we asked if we could help! Usually people are quick to say no here, but she let us in and started teaching us how to make them! She loved having us there and we made an appointment to come back. Serving in little small ways blesses the lives of those we serve and our own lives. The scripture that stood out to me a lot this week was 2 Nephi 28:30...line upon line, precept upon precept. We learn everything this way and everything comes in life this way.

As we start the Christmas season keep looking for the little blessings in your life! I love you all so so much! 

Keep smiling :)

Con amor,

Hermana Briggs

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is starting a "Light the World" campaign, Dec. 1st.  For 25 days, follow the example of Jesus Christ, and do an act of service, small or large, to use your light to share His Light. #LIGHTtheWORLD

Click to see how you can add light to this season!

Iluminar el Mundo

Click here for fun kits to guide you & yours in Lighting the World!

Week 67 - Surprises!!

Me & Hma H. saying goodbye:(

November 21, 2016

Hey everyone!!!!

SO couple surprises this week! My companion Hermana H. had changes! I was only with her one change :( But, I know she is going to do a great job in Iquitos opening an area and training. The Lord always knows exactly what we need. I am so grateful for what I learned with her.

New comp Sis. W. & others.

Second surprise! My new companion is Hermana W.!!!!! She lived right next door to me when I started the mission, was in the same district with me in Iquitos, and now is my companion! I don't know why I've had so many gringa (non Peruvian) comps. She also goes home at the same time as me, so it will be crazy to see how things work out. She is also from my same state...just around the corner :) She is so patient with me and is such an obedient and hard working missionary. I am so excited for our time together!!!!!!

Vista Alegre family baptism!

Surprise number 3! So I got to talk to an Elder that served in my first area in Vista Alegre in Pucallpa. I had always been super worried about a family that we had left without leaving enough information to find them because they had moved a lot. I had prayed that God would help them find a way to the Gospel and to be baptized because they were progressing....well, guess what? They found them on the street and his companion had recognized they had come to church and so they contacted them! They started to teach them more and they got baptized this last change!!! This is a picture of the picture of their baptism. God hears and answers all of our prayers! I know they power of prayer is so, so, so real.

Mint brownie Monday!

Surprise number 4! So we made chocolate mint brownies on monday...no more explanation needed  ;)

And surprise number 5! We had a few lessons with our dear amazing investigator B* this week. She has come to church for 4 sundays in a row, even though she can barely walk. The opposition is so real because she went to a naturalist this week to help her with her foot and they told her that she needs to go on this crazy diet where she can't leave the house, can't touch peoples hands and weird stuff like that. We explained and taught the importance and power of the baptism and recieving the GIFT of the Holy Ghost. The spirit was so strong and she started to cry. She said "The diet doesn't matter, I'm going to church no matter what. God will help me through it!" THEN it gets better...we asked her to talk to her "husband" about getting married, even though he doesn't want to listen to us. AND HE SAID YES!! The whole branch is super excited to help them and have been visiting them. I am so so grateful for the ability to repent. Her daughter also wants to be baptized but hasn't been able to go to church because she just had a c-section.

Still enjoying the mangoes!

I know that our Savior lives and that he suffered for ALL of us. Not just the rich ones or the poor ones or the ones who like chocolate...all of us. Thank you all for being such great examples to me and for always building everyone around you up. I know this is the true church on the earth.  In this week of Thansgiving I invite you all to recognize the miracles God does in your every day life. Three every day.

Love you all to the moon and back! Keep smiling brightly and enjoy the bounties of Thanksgiving for me!
I'll keep enjoying the mangos :)

Con amor,
Hermana Briggs

Week 66 - Yuka, Heat and Joy!

November 14, 2016

Hello everyone!! 

So, this week we have changes so we took our last picture together! I love our zone!

We have been trying to visit a less active family but they wanted nothing to do with us. We stopped by again and found out they were going to have a barbeque, so we offered to help peel their yuka...it's kind of like potatoes but not :) We cut up our hands and felt strong after and what's better is that she accepted that we come back! I love little miracles.

Another miracle that happened this week was on Tuesday. I was having a rough morning. My emotions were off and everything seemed to be going wrong. Even the little 10 year old convert told me my Spanish was bad and he couldn't understand me. That broke it for me cause I just want to speak Spanish well....but he's probably right :) I was praying as we were walking down the street and we stopped by a less active to ask her the direction of her niece whom she had given us as a reference. When we got there she had made us little white dollies. That brightened us up and we went to search for her niece who accepted us and now is progressing. Sometimes the Lord lets ups pass through hard time to see if we will put our faith in Him. And then when we do he blesses us in little ways.

I hit 15 months this week and my comp was so sweet to make me this cute card with all of the things of the jungle and this mango. I am so grateful for her and for her thoughtfulness. 

I know my Savior lives and i know that if we let the Lord help us and let him into our lives, everything changes and we are happy...TRUE JOY! I know it's real and that we can feel it every day! 2 Nephi 2:25...so simple, but so true. 

Put your faith in Christ and I PROMISE YOU, you will find joy EVERY SINGLE DAY! 

Love you all to the moon and back! Keep smiling brightly for all the world to see!

Con amor,

Hermana Briggs

P.S.
And also...its always hotter in Tarapoto than Iquitos. Its like an oven here! yesterday it was up to 42 degrees celsius! (107 degrees F)!!

I start my 12 semanas this week...meaning I have 12 weeks until
I come home. It's so depressing, but exciting all at the same time!

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Week 65 - God's Will

November 7, 2016

Found the real "Cafe Rio".

Hello y'all!

So the people here speak Spanish like the Texans speak English :) It's called Chapita, and I love it! 

This family is a family we found from a motokar ride. They got baptized in Moyobamba but then moved to Tarapoto and have become a little inactive. Well, we did service in their home teaching them how to make keke (cake) so they could sell it, and we visited them later that night. They told us they weren't going to come to church but we testified that their situation economically would improve if they did. Well, they showed up at church on Sunday the 2nd hour and completely surprised us! Miracles happen!

A family we found on a motokar ride!

We also have been finding lots of people through less actives lately. Its like a gold mine when they take you to visit their friends. We received a promise from Elder Uceda (a member of the Seventy), that if we put 50% of our efforts in less actives that baptisms would double. I am slowly seeing this blessing fulfilled. First, we are focusing on less actives and we had 12 show up at church on Sunday! 

I have learned a lot this week of the power of being obedient in the little things. My companion Hermana H. and I decided to be more obedient and the day we did we were led to so many people through the spirit! When we make God's will our will, we change. I love this work with all my heart. I am probably going to go hide in the jungle mountains so I never have to leave! Alma 50:37. Alma 5:14

My Halloween treat!

Its mango season here and people throw their mangoes away in the streets, so this bag of mangoes was my Halloween treat! So much better than candy! 

Love you to the moon and back! Keep smiling brightly!

Con amor,

Hermana Briggs