This week was insane times twenty. Sister Olsen and I have
started to take turns "enforcing," meaning: we need to leave this
lesson at 1:40 to get to this one at 2 and we need to leave this one at 2:25 to
get to this one at 2:30. We taught about 30 lessons this week. The Lord has
been preparing people in this area to listen to our message, and He has been
way too kind, (always!) in blessing us.
Unfortunately, John is going out of town for 3 weeks. I'm legitimately
slightly depressed about this, because we had some great lessons with him and
he is just SO close to committing. I told him not to go see his family on the
east coast, but he did not like that idea. We had a dinner with him and
some members this week, and he brought a head of lettuce. Him and his hot yoga
and lettuce.
THE ENRIQUEZ FAMILY!! This week we taught them a lesson on
the Plan of Happiness, and the Spirit was incredible. After the lesson, Sister
Olsen started crying on our way home because she was so happy. I was too tired
to cry, but I was definitely smiling:) The parents randomly came out and told
us that this is the direction that God wants them to go and that in other
religions, there has been a hole; there has been something missing. When they
said that, I was trying not to burst out laughing and hyperventilating at the
same time. That would have been awkward. But seriously, HELLO WE'VE GOT
THE DIRT FOR THAT HOLE!!! It was incredible to hear someone just up
and ask what it is they are missing, and be willing to act on what we
teach! They came to church in their jeans on Sunday. The whole family walks in
late, and my heart was full. So full:) The whole 3 hours of church
was centered around families, which was perfect for what
this wonderful family needs. The Lord's hand is intimately involved in
helping individuals in this wonderful work!
They were fellowshipped by
our ward SO well, and the youngest one had 20 new best friends after
primary. He also "was a very good singer." I absolutely
agreed. They are coming again next week, and I have a feeling that they
will never miss again:) I'm the happiest girl in the world.
This week a few sisters got in a bad car accident. The president
called us in a panic to go to the ER and help them with anything they
needed. Well. Naturally my companion and I had just been hiking/running up
a mountain, (it was p-day,) and so I'm in my shorts and t-shirt and totally
sweaty. We showed up to the hospital, and about 6 elders had just arrived there
as well. What the heck, Sister Brooks, why are you dressed like that? Oh, and
I'm also in my running shoes that have so many holes that I have duct tape
covering them. I look 100% homeless, and I'm trying to lift up this other
sister to help her off the hospital bed, all the while having the elders trying
to figure out why in the world I was running on my p-day.
Sister Olsen just
laughs and assures me that I will be known forever and always as the complete
psycho-runner. I think everyone at the hospital went home that night
thinking: Wow. Mormons are weird. I'M SORRY, I JUST LIKE TO RUN OK!
So. About the boy we raced up the hill! He allowed us to come
over and teach him and his family, (with special permission from the Zone
Leaders because this family is Muslim.) I had absolutely no idea what I was
marching into, and about the middle of the lesson I was really wishing I had
Tyler Holle on one side of me and Kramer Holle on the other. I feel like they
would have known better than me how to handle the situation! It's difficult to
teach people who are very opposed to the idea of Jesus Christ being the Son of
God. They were shouting questions left and right and I was sweating trying to
keep up and trying to slow things down so the Spirit could be there. The
extended family had also been invited to listen to us as well, so it
was a party! They fed us Iraqui food and prayed in Arabic for us. They have so
many questions about the Book of Mormon, but a lot of the questions they have
are the unanswerable type. The type where all I can really say is: I have
no earthly idea. Ask God.
Really, the answer to most questions is to ask God. He knows,
and I don't. It's an interesting and difficult situation.
The fourth of July was indeed a celebration. I made a
red/white/blue cake and brought it to zone meeting. I was so proud! I also wore
blue bows in my hair like I was 2 years old. Success on all accounts.
Well, my stalker continues to stalk. That's all I'll say about
it.
I learned a really important lesson this week about faith. First
off, I realized how truly little faith I have. I have faith for the things I
want to have faith in, like in other people progressing in the gospel or in
being led by the Spirit, but I have very little faith when it comes to other
things. So here is my analogy on faith:
Faith is taking a step into the dark. Faith is ALWAYS dark
for a second before it turns light, because the Lord requires
vulnerability as we learn to submit our stubborn will to
His. Sometimes it's dark for a long while, because God is the
only One who can turn on the light for us. The light inevitably always
comes on, but most of us are super uncomfortable for that time in the dark that
we are tested. I learned this week that my whole life when I've stood in the
dark about something, I've tried to turn on the light myself. I've tried to
control the situation and I've searched frantically for the lightswitch. I get
myself all up in a frenzy about not knowing what's around me and what exactly
is going to happen with my life. And what a faithless way to live! I think
the key to life is learning how to party in the dark:) We don't have control. I
don't have control at this point about most everything in my life, including
when I go to Brazil, what I eat, or how I spend my time. CONTROL GONE. So here
I stand in the dark, trying to figure it all out instead of trusting that
although I'm in the dark and sometimes I feel alone, God really is in complete
control of what's going on. So what does it matter if I understand? Kaylee, LET
IT GO! Enjoy the dark.
I know that when God wants me to understand the "why"
of something, I will. I know the light will come on about a lot of things I've
struggled with if I trust Him. I know it will be in His timing. I like to kick
and scream and be stubborn and proud, and I think God probably just kind-of
watches and waits for me to calm down. Then He starts talking to me, once I
realize that being in the dark is maybe and probably exactly where He wants me.
I'm afraid of the dark, I'm terrified of it! But He has been teaching me one
thing at a time how to relax and trust His love. It's SO much easier for
me to kick and scream about what I DON'T KNOW. But He is very patient with my
silly mind. And I'm learning how to smile in the dark and stand there calmly, listening
always for His voice in the darkness to make sure He's still right there
with me. I know He is.
I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ. I
know that there is nothing outside the reach of His Atonement. I know that
God listens to us when we pray. I also know that He doesn't do things for us
that we can learn to do for ourselves, generally. I'm grateful for that:) I
talk to Heavenly Father all day every day, and I love Him so much for being my
Father and my Friend. I know that this is Jesus
Christ's gospel on Earth today, because He allows me to feel its
truthfulness everyday. I'm quite determined to be a missionary for the rest of
forever. There is so much joy to bring and to feel:) Have a great great great
week and remember how precious every soul is to our Heavenly Father:)
Sister Brooks
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| Adam and Me holding a Skunk!!! |
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| My favorite couple that I play the piano for every Saturday night! |
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| This was in our mission letter... That's right... My mission encourages running... I'm just being obedient!!! |
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