1/30/17
What a weeeeek. Okay. 1. Saw my old companion this week, Hermana Amestica. That was so awesome. She told me that I was a huge help to her in the mission. I had no idea I had any impact with her, but it was such a pick-me-up. She is a great girl. 2. Lito came to church again. He also gave me a copy of his old CD's. He's a "cantante" in case you didn't know. He's also been trying to guess our first names. He is the funniest person I know. Look him up in Google search if you get the chance: "Lito Saravia." His most famous song is "Padre nuestro" 3. The haitians die when I speak in my non-existent haitian. They think it's the best thing ever. I love it. 4. Victoria told us this week she wanted to get baptized like...now. We've been working a lot with her. Her boyfriend, Rodrigo, has been helping a ton. They still need to get married so we are working on that... ;) they remind me of Jakie and Kaleb from the district movies. 5. I really enjoyed the worldwide devo, and for the rest of my mission I am going to focus on preaching repentance!!! Also this morning we did a service activity and we organized food for the people in the south of Chile who lost their houses to the fires that are going on. It was really fun, but really sad to think that they have nothing. So keep my Chileans in your prayers please. XOXO Hermana Brinkerhoff P.S. I hit one year. Yikes.
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1/23/17
Hola!! This week was rather...normal. BUT that's okay. First of all of we had zone conference with Presidente. We got an horario change...so now we can wake up at 7?? Like, what is this world coming to. I still wake up on the dot at 6:30. That's called TRAINED, people. Ah, the mission. Aaaaand there has been a scripture flying through my head all week. We have a new missionary couple in the mission. She is a doctor and he is a psychologist (however you spell that). They are such a blessing in our mission!!! I love them. Elder Atkins talked to us about stress and how to deal with it in the mission. He shared a scripture that I just loved: "Knowest thou the condescension of God? "I know that HE LOVETH HIS CHILDREN; nevertheless I do not know the meaning of all things." 1Nefi 11:16-17 I testify of that. He loves us. That is why sometimes we go through things that are really hard. I know He loves me so He sent me to Chile. In Chile I have been able to learn things that only in Chile could I have learned. I think we go through certain things because we need to progress and become like Him. He loves me so much, and I love Him. We also had a super awesome noche de hogar!! We have a new investigator that needs to get married and then she can get baptized. She's seriously de ORO (golden). And a little misson drama right now...an elder in my zone got hit by a car yesterday. It was wild. He was just standing on the corner and two cars hit, and then hit him when the other car started to spin. It was super, super bad. Luckily he's totally okay. He has some broken ribs, needs stitches, but he'll be fine. Really we are protected here on the mission! love you all with all my...hearrrrt. XOXO Hermana Josie Brinkerhoff 1/16/17
1. There is a guy in my sector who, every time we talk to him, tells me, "I had a dream about your mother last night. She misses you and is looking for you." I asked him what color my mom's hair was and he said, "I can't give out those details." I'm on to him. I love being a missionary in those moments. 2. We did two divisions this week with Hermanas Alvarado and Gubernick. Two of my favorite gringas!!! The division with Hermana Alvarado was awesome because we have about the same time in the mission..so we went crazy. With Hermana Gubernick we had the worst day ever. Everything went wrong. It was so bad, but she's the bomb and super funny so we just laughed it all off. 3. We had a service project where we cleaned the new house of a couple that is coming to our mission. The elders put me in charge of inspection and now my new name is "dicator." I may have been just a little bossy with my power. ;) 4. I asked for a blessing this week from one of my leaders. It was the first time in a long time. I am grateful for worthy elders who literally came running when I asked. During the blessing I could feel the power of the sacerdocio (priesthood) and it was a great experience. It was also in Spanish so that was cool!!! This week we saw so many miracles. We had four people come to church all by themselves...basically people we invited on the street. Then an inactive brought his girlfriend to church which is like the best thing EVER. I am happy, healthy, and—just an FYI—never coming home!!! I love my new sector soooooo much! I've never had a ward so active in the work. It's the biggest blessing. I love you all so much and hope you are surviving the SNOWWWW. XOXO Hermana Brinkerhoff P.S. My district leader tells me every week "Hermana, tell your family I said hi." So Elder Rios from Orsorno Chile says "hi" to you all. ;) 1/9/17
This week in my part of the world... 1. I called the hermanas that I'm in charge of, who just so happen to live in my old house with the good old Hermana Rodriguez. Upon telling the hermanas that I am their sister leader I hear screaming.... "MOMMMYYYYYYYYYY! Mommmy I love you!!" I died laughing. She literally started crying and told me she missed me a lot. I have to say that my first baby is one of my favorite people in this world. She even made me promise not to get married until she can come to the wedding. Love that cordabasa. 2. The hermana leaders had breakfast with Hermana Woodward. The assistants made it for us and served us. Those elders are high on my list. We talked about some of the issues the mission has and our plan for this cambio. Best of all I saw GROVE CITY!!!!!! (Shoutout to the Grover family in Gilbert) We've come a long way since our MTC encounter one year ago. Then we met with all the zone leaders and made plans for 2017!!! After the meeting la Hermana Zapata told me, "Wow I missed you! You know how to get stuff done." Haha, she didn't like her divisions with some of the other hermanas. 3. I had my first division with la Hermana Chimbo. She is also from Quito Ecuador!! This girl was the bomb. She's a convert to the church and almost became a nun. I really enjoyed being her comp for the day. This week we found some of the greatest people. We were able to find 28 new people to teach and had a new haitian friend at church. I've been reading the Book of Mormon in Creole. and I'm starting to understand. Maybe I'll speak three languages when I get home?? My haitian friends are helping me. :) We want to make this area a stake!!! That is the goal for El Abrazo this year. We've got to work hard. The church is true. This is God's work, &&&& I love my mission. Read the Book of Mormon or...you lose. It's the most clear and perfect book!!! XOXO Hermana Brinkerhoff Fotos: Elder Jennings after telling me I can't have the package David and Shayla sent. Make this picture famous!!! Blackmail. He eventually gave it to me Thank you Katie, Brad, Shayla, and Dave for all the wonderful gifts!!! It cheered my missionary heart!!! Best meal evaaaaa. I need to wash my backpack more... 1/3/17
This week was probably the hardest of my mission. Okay, now that I've got your attention. I love my new sector!! I still don't understand it all, but I'm learning. The ward is fantastic!!! My new comp is from Ecuador (shoutout to Hermana Williams in Quito!!!!) She's very, VERY sweet. Knows PMG like a bible and I've learned a ton from her thus far. The carpeta (area book) was terrible when we arrived, so we have a lot and I mean A LOT to do. I've only cried once. ;) No, really I'm good. I've also been called to be a sister training leader ;) I told the zone leaders I didn't like their jokes when they told me the news, but they weren't joking. I'm excited to help other hermanas in the mission with their progression. My new motto is bring it on, I can do anything the mission wants to throw at me at this point. I've also been talking in my sleep lately...in english. It's getting weird. My poor latina comps are a little freaked out. It was a week of contacting, changes, adjusting, moving into a new house..to-dos. We saw so many miracles and somehow had two people at church in a whitewash. The year 2017 kinda scares me. Last year, 2016, was the year of my mission and I will hold it forever so dear to my heart. It was a very special year. BUT I'm excited for ya, 2017. I'm going to keep working my tail off here in Chile for the next 6 months. Other exciting news....after much thought and prayer I've decided to head back to UW. I love that place. Too bad all my friends and roommates are married and on missions, I may be a loner for a semester, but I'm excited for this year!!!!! XOXO Hermana Brinkerhoff Fotos: I made my district leader sing Happy Birthday to me over the phone. It was great. Also a sweet hermana in our ward gave me banana bread!!! I think I'll be Chilean FOREVER!!!! These are the hermanas that are going to train at the same time as me!! Two of my greatest friends!!! |
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