Wha wha wha WHAT?! Elder Brooksby Throws down!

that's RIGHT!

Ending of the 6th Inning here in Portugal and wouldn't you know it?! MIRACLES!
If you look at the pictures now Im sure you already know. Sheila and Jussy :) I had the privilege of baptising two of Gods most precious daughters :) My first and 2nd baptisms on the Mission here in portugal.

I am going to send a letter talking about them but Im going to review here also :)

Sheila: We found her on the street, one day we saw her and bam spirit hit. Talk to her. We went. She was waiting for her mom too carry somthing so we offered service and carried some fruit and other stuff to their house (a trick i learn from an old fart:)daddy ).

After getting her number we inveted to church and she.. accepted! (little did we know....)
She attended church in which all the member shunned her and no one was talking to her the first hour (relief soc) 2nd hour she tried to leave but thanks to my fast talking comp elder F. we got her to stay for precepts of gosple. which she loved. Then sacrament was testimony meeting. More or less three members talked and were way longggg so it was way bad for our investigators (this is week 2 of portugal BTW)

Anyways she left after church and we thought nothing more then to pas by another day. But I had a good feeling about her. (thanks to the Lord, were nothing without him)
So tuesday we get a text from her to come visit the next day and explain. 

WOW

She slammed us, so hard. She tested us of knowledge of the Gosple for a good hour before slamming each member there and really going into it.! Elder F and I were totally chill though. (thanhks to the Lord) and we shared our testimonies. And the Restoration. From then on we had HASH out sessions with her 3 times where with each lesson she gave us the hardest doctrine to talk about, all which we refer back to the simple and plain of the Gosple of Christ. It was awesome.
Abraham 3:22-23 is what i was so impressed to tell her. So i did. In the end After telling us she was going to leave the church and not hear more. I said "Sheila... I have a question.." the spirit was burning me up like mad and she just yelled "OKAY! Ill be Baptised!!´" we were so shocked after that! Just like... Srsly?! Hahah we were so happy! But Satan always tries us and her, problems came and went and she is a strong member here now :) (Not memeber yet, gets Gift of the spirit next week)

Jussy: sister of Sheila. Miracle. Meet her last sunday and taught all the lessons until thrusday, asked her to be baptsied this sunday and she accepted after a personal testimony of Elder F and I. Was amazing. And REALLY hard work! 

SO much stress to baptise people!! Hahahahaha so many thing go wrong and try their faith right at the beginnig but we got through it all and they are thee two funniest girls and Noble and Great. I love them!

Other then that, I DONT KNOW! Haha Xfers are at 5 today so I will send an email to let you all know if I leave or stay :) I hope i stay.

We have a family of 5 that we pray will be baptised this week, following with another couple of 2 (with faith) and when we have baptisms we use the new memebers to find more people to teach, thats our focus this week. HIT IT HARD! My mind was blown yesterday after baptising two people and running around like crazy! But its going great here and I love it.

I now realise how much # of baptisms doesnt matter... hahahah funny as it is to say, its so true.

Im getting used to the life out here and I almost called the Mission presedent to extennd but.. too soon? hahahah JK

Im a pretty tough person to get along with. I want to do everything 100% and dont know where the line/boundaries are, so I always ask or secound guess my comp. I need to get better..

OKYA

Q/A Time is NEXT WEEK! Please prepare a list of questions about areas and mission and favoirte people ect for me so I can anser all the things! hhahamy brain is toast after reading all your emails! (Toasted with love and Affection;) )

Hmmm Anything more... 
Manuel is no longer speaking with us so thats a dead end :(
24 Inactive is going good, found her dad and tought plan of salvation, just need them to really feel the will to go to church. Theyre lazy :P hehe jkjk

Money here is sparce but we get by! :D I budget like a mad man ;)

So many blessing and so much to tell! The mission is hard and when its hard, sometimes I lose that Drive  to speak, I dont have time to! Only time to get from point A to B everyday and all teh way to Z ahah

Okay Love you all! Look for my email later! and Im sending a pretty cool thing your way this week fambam :)

Love you all!

Elder Brooksby


P.S. Record Breaking Again: 11 People at churhc!! Haha woot!!

Hey Loves!Staying in my area :) Souse the same address!
W same comp :)
Love you all !!!

Elder Brooksby

LIterally. Bases LOADED!

We had a record breaking amount of people at church this sunday, so many that we had to open the doors into the primary and people sat there!! It was AMAZING!!

Oh.
And.

It happend to be the same sunday that I was to give a talk.....     

0.0

Hahahahaha so yestderday(sun) I gace my first talk in portugese! to ov er 80 people (in portugal... thats insaine). It was a blast! I felt so guided by the spirit as our topic was every member a missionary, I was last up to speak.

the first two were how and what we needed to say, the usual dont be afraid and follow the spirit scriptures that give a great base for the people of the ward (10 investigators of ours 1(recent convert got the holy ghost today) of the other dupla).

After a hymn it was my turn... I wasnt nervous.. I felt like I was on fire. I got up the the stand and instantly felt the spirit hit me so hard, everyone was kinda getting to the point of sleep and I wasnt going to have that... so BAM told a joke that had them all on their toes (about my portugese) and after that it just... flew.
I had a really strong impression during the week about abraham 3 22-23. Its been roilling in my head for days and It came out for this talk. Each member of our church here is a noble and great one. Each has a speciality that they can share with their freinds.. I sincerly told them how much I needed their help and without them Our work is nothing. I love our ward here so much. I couldnt help but smile so big while I spoke. There came a point where I stopped smiling to bare testimony of what I had said, one of our new investigators who asked why we need to go to church was there, I looked up and saw a glow in her eyes. It touched my heart. That she... that we all.. never understand why we do what we do.. but that what we do is what God asks us. And after we have faith and do it... He blesses us with a peace that we cannot replace..

I know that this Church is true. Pure and Simple :) Love it.

That same investigator (family of 5) came up to us after and told us we didnt need to repond to her question of why church is important... she knows. Marinanna :)

Work is hard! this week was tough and we were pretty down. Working with lessactive to get more to church and stay with little fruits. This world we live in is pretty tough on familias.

Speaking of, I LOVE YOU GUYS :):) I wish I could tour my area with you all and show you everything and everyone! I love my area and Xfers are in 1 week, so no letters until then Ill know! (xfers are 6 weeks long)

Also a cool thing I forgot to say, our mission is 30 mins ahead, its really light at night so we get up at 7 and bed at 11. so if you get a letter marked with a time i should be sleeping in another mission.. dont worry ;) Im keeping all the rules hehe :) I cant offord not too!!

Were always super blessed here in mission Portugal. It is literally the best mission in the world. You couldnt convince me otherwise:)))||!!!!!!!

LOve it out here and Love the people!

My Comp goes home in 7 weeks and is getting trunky as heck, Im trying to motivate him and that but honestly its the Lord who slaps us around when we need to be reminded! ahaha he is the bomb.com (not really trunky he is just next to me so Im being a jerk hahahaha ;) )

Okay that about does it! Wish me luck and were going to baptise!!!!

Love you all!
Elder Brooksby

Amazing time for Elder Brooksby

Oi!
Fica com mias tempo hoje! Já ler todos suas emails e cada uma foi optimal!

I have some time today! :) Many great emails brief and Inspiring, Thank you all :D

Its funny to write in portugese :P I dont feel like its a real language when I write it hahaha.

So.. wow. This week had some ups and downs thats for sure! But First lest start with a general Elder Brooksby Update!! :)

So each week I have a Major question rolling around in my head usually comes about tuesday or sometimes even the night of Pday while we are working.

Each week I look back at the previos and notice the differences and try to write them in my journal or on my notethoughtbookthing :P

I dont wana tell you everything about it but to say the least I feel like a crappy missionary! :P

This week was the first time I was in charge. My comp had to do splits for an interview and I was left with the other elder in Our Area! It was pretty... interesting hahahah

I wasnt scared!! TO start off with a little nervous to navigate the winding dusty roads alone but I was well equiped with maps andaddresses so all was well!

........... Or so I thought...............

I had no IDEA what all my trainer has been doing for me! Wow! To navigate house to house, make decisions, pray for inspiration where to go, who to pass by, My mind was blown with how much work It took just to get from place too place!

Now, all of you know me. When I want to get something done, I dont wait around. So we hit all our appointments right on time and with all the força i could pull outta my body to show how great a missionary I was to this other Elder...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA God knows me a little more then I guessed.

Each and everyone of of appointments fell out. Doors were even slammed in our faces.

And most dissapointing of all... Manuel is no longer going to speak with us...

I was crushed.

His Uncle talked to him and told him all this false info about the church, then told him if he wanted to continue talking with us he would need to leave his house and find a new place to live.

Manuel is 33 years old and here in portugal only for Phisical therapy (2months) so he chose to discontinue talking with us.

It felt like a defeating blow... The Advisary had worked hard to counteract years of preperation of this Amazing man...

I didn´t know what I could have done better. TO make it worse Elder Figerido wasnt there to help. He fights like a Lion for our investigators when they face adversity and I had to do my best to follow his example in love.

/break in the story/ I just want you all to know that I am happy here in portugal and that when I tell you of a big let down I want to tell you all of something that I´ve learned here. Joseph Smith is an amazing man. WHile reading the book of Mormon and the D&C, I replace my name with his or other prophet/missionaries of old. In particular missionaries and stories about people being humbled :P ;) so... when Joseph recived the revalation after asking our Father in Heaven "where art thou?...." The Lords response to Joseph is true to EVERY Single one of us... I know that. /back to the story/ :)

well... we tried to pass by a woman who is marked for baptism but she was pretty scantily dressed so we prayed and hi-tailed it outta there :P

at that point in the day I was in shock. I was so afraid and alone and litterally my brain had run outta of everything I could think of...

6:00PM - Prayer for the mission. Elder Ericksson and I sat down for the prayer to bless the mission.

With a heavy heart and a mind empty of all thoughts and feelings I began to offer a prayer for the mission. which turned into a prayer for me in particular to this mission here in portugal. I was feeling pretty down and expressed this to my Father. He listend to me while I told him about what happend during the day then when I was through.. he taught me.

In our moments of great dispare and when our minds are blank. When we have nothing left to lose or even try. He takes out a what I imagine to be a Blue Marker and writes a few simple things on our white washed boards of our minds. He writes the things that make us grow.

That night I learned how to be a better missionary. I was filled to the tippy top of my body with a feeling I cannot sit here and discribe to you. It stung my eyes and warmed my soul so much that I couldn´t help but smile.~

Not long after this I felt the spirit take over what was a very frail boy at that point. I had a plan, not sure where it came from or why I felt the way I did but I did.

We found 6 new investigators, contacted 4 less active members, shared experiances with them that touched both us and them, even to the spirit coming so abondantly that I wasnt thinking about Manuel. Only what was to come.

Now I will say this. I havent baptised anyone yet. Sooo all this work is good and dandy but Nay Nay Nay I will bring my heavenly fathers Children back to him! Missionary work is Baptisms. If you dont baptie, get back to work. Thats our old Mission pres statement and Its what we stick too.

The rest of the night was a fire of following the spirit unto finding many souls. We returned to the house completing the impossible goal of 6 new investigators in only 3 hours. Literally a Miracle. Each one we felt the spirit enter and exit with us. Each one I will return to and strive to live worthy of the spirit I felt that night.

Now, the other elders dont know what happend. Only that I had a bad start and then "changed".

I know see how missionaries glow.

Its not because they know the language. Its not becuase they are a ZL or Assistant. Its not because they´ve had 1year 23 months on the mission.

Its because they opened their minds to the Savior and were worthy and Diligent in following his commandments.

Trust not in the arm of flesh. It makes you a great robot missionary who can baptise every so often.

Trust in the Lord. A Concept that Nephi knew all too well.

He once (or twice) said "oh how weak a man I am!" we are all so weak compared to our Savior. I am so week each morning when the Alarm goes off.

But he called us.... and when he calles us to a work. Hes ether going to help us, or teach us how to do it his way. If we listen :)

Man I feel like this was a long boring letter so on the upside!

The Bakerys here are AMAZING. 1 euro for like a million things and they´re alllllll SO bad for you!! hahah I love it!!

Anyways! I Gtg :) Love you all!

Elder Brooksby

Sorry Last Week Letter!

We get 1 hours to email and it took me 30 mins to read all of them!!! THANK YOU!! :))

So first off, YEAH BUDDY! Great week!! I survived. In fact. I did more then survive. I Had a blast and taught the word of God to a Nation in need! It was a great week.

So IM going to start with the downs first and then move to ups (if they can be called downs):
First Manuel didnt come to church this sunday... :( I was on divisions to help another elder and when I got to church i looked all over not to find him. sigh... i was bummed. but we called him and he was at the hospital for therapy (his leg is pretty messed up) but were meeting with him this week and he is praying for a date we are going to baptise him (this sunday we pray).

2nd is fought a little with my comp, he is pretty chill but when i have an idea to do something I am the "babe" (Baby) so I need to shut up. Finally one day I had enough, an impression that we need to knock doors at a specific place and NOW. So I asked him lets go knock over there? he was like "dont you wanna follow our schedle???!!! why do we make it if you wana do something differant" (we wrote down names of people to try to visit and teach, not much of a schedual :P) but i was like look, i know i suck at this missionary thing... but I know we need to go there. He threw a moster rage fit but I felt the spirit confirm what we needed to do. So i dragged him there....... 2nd door we knocked on... opens to a less activfe 24 yr old woman who with open arms listens as i give an "by the spirit" lesson about ether 12 : 4. how we need the rock of the Savior in our lives. She was hit pretty hard and told us her story. We got a refrence for a nonmemeber (her father) and she is going to meet with us again and start attending church.
I walked away from the door smiling my face off. and my companion told me I needed to let him talk more during that lesson (hehehe... I know portugese... a little... Only through the Lords help though!! Neveerrrr Forget that!!) he apologized and we went to another Woman in the area and had a well awesome lesson and next time we are setting a date for baptism. :)

I have faith for these people we work with to recive the gosple and change. I know its hard. Change is hard. REALLY HARD. Here in portyugal if you dont drink you are pretty much a joke and immorality isnt even thought of as a sin. But The Lord Prepares people and we find them. It,s up to us to teach with the spirit and them to accept. But mostly us :P :)) :D

Pedro. The Investigator w cancer. We visited and wow another 2 hours later and a blessing he was litearally bouncing around his house and wow he is amazing. The power of the priesthood is killing it in that home and they love us! HE jsut started Kimo so its hard to get them to Church but we have faith. They do too :))

D\C sectoin 3. Read it and substitute Josph Smith for Elder Brooksby (Your Name). God gives us gifts and expeects us to use them for good. I had a sweet one. dissernment. but after bragging about it and showing off. I dont have it anymore(during the MTC week 4 until now)... Its really rough. But IM proud to say I dont have it anymore because I know God is changing me to recognise what I do have. Today after reading the sections 3-5 I had an overwhelming spirit of relief and comfort. immediatly after i felt that familiar prompting ive had through my life return. I am so greatful for everything the Lord Gives me. You, my family and friends, and for your love and support :)

I sent a few letters this week so hope you get them :)

TREVAR WEIGHT: Send me your address broskii and your parents emails!! Lov eyou man. thanks for the emails they are my Iron rod in the mission right now.

Sarah: Loved your emails too and your letter. I got it right after finishing with emails so I didnt mention it in my email but wrote you back! :)seriously the coolest things you included and they are looked at constantly.as we say here in portugal Força!! ;):)

Haley: Write stories in a notebook and use it to rememeber what to write home!! Im going to write you a letter today <3 Love you!
I draw power from you in the MTC and cant wait to hear about your first few weeks.


Mom: WOW Loved the emails. I cant tell you how much they make me smile and give me something to stand tall for when the days are long. LIterally when I think of you and Dad. I straighten my back, broaden my shoulders, smile, and run up the next flight of stairs!! ... then I get to the top and wish i hadnt done that... laugh at myself and go on with the day ;) XD :))

Dad: You are Fantastic!! I am sooo glad to hear youve got the fav 5 now hahah I litaearlly screamed yes!! (okay.. no i didnt... :P)

Alrighty packeges mom. Send it to the mission address and incude little things you know i like! Food needs to be nonparishable if you put it in :)) pictures frames cheap and little momentos. (Sarah knows cool stuff) ;) <3

OKAY ROCK ON MY FAMILY!!! BEST WEEK OF MY MISSION YET AND IT KEEPS GETTING BETTER AS I GO!!! (Literally... it gets better each day no matter what happends... I dont know what happends after 2 years...)

Love you all
Elder Brooksby

Week 2.5 in Portugal

OKAY!

IM here! IM happy :) and I,m tired as karn :P

Its been a crazy cool week. Already everything is getting better! Wow i have so much respect for anyone who served a mission honestly and wow these guys are cool.

First off its pretty rough out here! The streets are narrow, people short, and sun... bright! haha but all is well is Zion!

I learn a lot each week. this week was i have so many blessings. ive always been blessed to have a drive for the things i do, to better myself and others around me! but to have this also i had a family who loves and supports me! here its a little different! The World of Portugal weighs on me! So it feels like :P I need to pow! baptize and confirm and POW! be the best missionary I can! But HOLY COW its crazy! Had a day wehre EVERY single appointment fell through... and when that happends.. knock doors and talk to peopl ein the street for a good 7-8 hours! hahah okay so yeah its dissapointing and frustrating and hard and ive talked about that but..
its amazing.


number one ive never cried more in my life. hahahah i know righ?? what is this?? but no really the hours of 7-11 of study are really amazing times to get closer to our savoir and learn more of his kingdom. :) So sometimes when I get hit really hard with a freight train of spirit i got a little teary at how amazing and wonderful this gosple is. and you NEED IT. when you hit the pavement at 11:30 the people will tear everything you love away from you in a few curt words. or try too :P but they can,t take away those moments where you have come closer to your and our savoir. They cannot. 



DOnt worry about me! I just realised all i do is complain here! hahahah I LOVE MY MISSION XD So rememeber that! If you gave me a plane ticket home I would laugh at you! 
If it wasnt hard and our work was easy then I would not be having a good time! Challenge Accepted ;)

I pull a ton of streigthn out of books written by our prophets and church histories. Ive never known what a blessing they are!

So Experiance time:
Manuel.
45, we stoped him in the street and gave a 3 min lesson on baptism and repentance and asked him to be baptised after praying to know that these things are true. to which he responded yes too. This sunday after several attaempts to contact him we got to have a lesson and he came to church.

I will never forget looking down a dirt road to see him. Crutch in one hand, Book of Mormon in the other. The bisggest smile on his face as he struggled so hard to make it up the hill to attend church. Its litterally imprnted on my mind. 

You never know with people.. what they are capable of. try everything for everyone is what im learning. never give up. when the people who are most strong investigators fall out.. reach inside for moments of joy and press on! 

I need someone to write dallan vale bales and thank him for singing the best church music in the world. thanks to good music i can sleep with the spirit literally resting on my chest :)

My area is Africa! Everyone will atlk to you but your word is worth nothing :P Commitments don,t excist so its just happenstance that you get a 2nd lesson :P :) hahah but everyone is so open here. We take 10 mins of someones day that i know in Vegas would rather chew dirt then talk to us hahaha but Its so great to see.





My Companion. Really Really good missionary! He is litearally the tesxtbook contactor. He can get anyone, anywhere, anytime, anyplace. Ive knocked on a door for 10 mins because he said too and the people finally let us in the teach... :PPP hahah not something i would do but.. not it is! hahah

okay, letters here are expensive to send but im going to mail one this week (today or tomorrow) so look for it sometime in 1/2 weeks! My mailing adress is only good for 1 1/2 weeks now until we know about xfers! 

hmmmm what more...
during the week I think of stuff but i forget here.

OH! Time.
Its literally slow when our brains are being used less. so when you work and and fast. it CRUISES!
I love teaching lessons. I cant understand and say everything but its great the spirit and fun to help people pray and come to know God not just believe in him :)

I get better at portugesse a little each day and its fun to use more words. at times i dont talk much because my brain is dead but its getting better!

okay love you all!!

Elder Brooksby!

PS. Monday is P-day and im 7 hours ahead of you there :)
PPS Lov eyou all really do :)