Elder Brooksby-Training first Greene from MTC!

Its been pretty good week! :)

Well, what can I say?

We gad a division with the Zone leaders this week, they helped us work on the things we can better so that our investigators, will progress better.

It was pretty interesting how the Lord gave us the day away from each other so that My comp could see the difference in the way that I work and the way other missionaries work. At the end of the division a stronger connection was there between us :) Its good to be able too see what you like in others! :)

After finding a bunch of new people this last week, a few of them made it through the hurdle of the first contact to an actual lesson. Speaking of which! We have some new friends here that I wanna tell you all about!

1. xxxxx: Really cool guy from Africa who is smart and has like.... 0 teeth.

2. xxxxx: A 26 year old who on our first contact asked all about the church and had questions like crazy! We had the opportunity to meet with her last night and with our branch president and his wife, it was a really good time and she basically asked for a book of Mormon before we had even started talking about it! :) It was really cool to see the Lord was preparing people for us to teach as we do our best and work hard!

Some really good new training for us as well... Its stuff I wish I had been doing and understanding since day 1! But I know God reveals everything in His own due time. Patience and Humility are two things I'm going to be working on.

I wish someone had come up to me in the street and said this to me in the first day:

"Elder Brooksby, If you are humble you will have the spirit." 

I'm sure someone did though.,... but I was just plugging my ears and running around in a circle screaming nonsense.».«

Ive got a WHOLE lot more too learn... Wow. Sometimes it´s scary to think Ive got this far and Im still a babbling fool at times :D

Lots of yelling at us this week, even the first time Elder Shumway used the phone an older woman yelled at him, then gave the phone to her husban and he yelled at him. The funny part... He didnt understand a word :P

Pray for us, I know someone is because in the moments that are about to be difficult I get this força to keep going.

"When we have faith in Christ, we accept and apply His Atonement and His teachings. We trust Him and what He says. We know that He has the power to keep His promises."

Preach My Gospel.

Love you all! Elder Brooksby

Week 4 Down! One month in Beja :)

Its my first month completed in Beja! I just realised how time flies so fast..

Well this week was pretty chill, we taught a few lessons (6) and found about 3 new people to teach. The progress of the branch is really fluctuating. Some get the priesthood and others fall away!

I was reading this week in the Book of Mormon and I found someone who I feel similar too at times :)

Moroni!
Right when everything was going good after he kicked butt with the title of liberty, the people started rebelling, the laminates started attacking and I'm sure his wife was mad at him for something!
It was a super crazy hard time for him, you can tell, but what was cool to me is how he acted!
He just picked a problem and took care of it.
Then to the next one.
Then the next.
and Done!

The hard part is I cant just put people in jail here! :P:P

Well here its pretty calm. we talk with everyone in the road and were always knocking on someones door :P
Its been a big focus on the mission to get better at teaching.! Its challenging and frustrating when we fail but It helps us get better and do better the next day! The more we practice and study the more we want to teach! Its all about understanding the stuff then it gets super addicting! :D:D

I blew an older mans mind this week Story:
So you know, Elder P and I are just knocking doors on Saturday morning as usual and this older man opens up saying " I am a catholic! You are Mormons! thank you but no! "

after some dancing in the door (talking about other stuff to get him distracted :P) he started talking with us,
the conversation led to the fact he had just turned 41. He seemed worried about what his life would bring him as he was beginning to feel the age.
I politely asked the man a quick question :
"Sir, as a catholic what are your believes on what happens after this life?"
He stopped and thought for a while. Deeply the spirit moved in me and the words started coming out.
After a short pause he began to tell me what he knew.. "Nothing"
I had a great time explaining how this life is not the end and the spirit touched his heart. 
We set up an appointment for this week.

I'm so grateful for the Lord and His promises that If we study and search with all our minds He will give us the words to speak to help His family.

The Part more difficult is Satan is working just as hard as we are. Never more or less. Just as hard. We've gotta beat him out!

Share with everyone!
Love LEder Brooksby

Bem Bem Bem!

Really great week! Really.

 

Well a letter went out around the mission called The Consecrated Missionary.

It was a huge help for me! It literally explained so much of what I was struggling with and how I could become better. Not just better, but that missionary who I want to be. Me :)

 

President came for a Zone conference and we all got to go out and learn a lot. They discussed the concept of a missionary who is really consecrated to the work. It was like an example of how we can be the best we can. Even president was talking about how much he was yet to go! It made us all feel good and really set up some great goals and standards for ourselvs.

 

Well the hard work ensued, we finished off the week pretty weak with no one at church but with a lot more focus on getting people there for this week. We found a really cool young man this week we are starting to teach. We invited him to church only he couldnt find it! He waited around but his phone died! So we were bummed but really happy to have someone with so much desire to come! It was a big blessing for us and our gun-ho! about talking with everyone at all times all things all places.

 

I had so many of my old thoughts come rushing abck to me about how I thought I would do missionary work and It was just like...

Wait.. Why am I not doing these?!? Hahahaha It was like I woke up outta  a dream! Elder Palmer is just tearing it up down here too! He doesnt let anyone walk past without offering to baptise them! hahaha its been pretty good.

With all blessings comes challenges and I know that if things are going ok now I need to take my time and "fortify" my City walls of who I am :)

 

Speaking of walls... :)

I JUST GOT BACK FROM THE CASTLE!!!!!!! :D:D:D:D:D:D:D It was AMAZING!!!!
I AM INLOVE WITH IT.

 

I was walking away talking about personal study inside and when I grow up how I am going to come back and take over and how cool castles are.... I think Elder Palmer was a little shocked at how I just grinned my ears off and smiled and shut my eyes and just ahhh it was so awesome :)

 

 

Its like.. Its just like..

I got to loving again... :)

 

Its not that we cant love in the hard times... Its just we really have to love in the times we have! So we can make memories and change peoples lives.

 

Well I need to shoot. Weve got lessons :)

 

Love
Elder Brooksby

HAHAHAH BEJA!

Wow.

Funny story..

Remember my old area? How I got transfer calls and they said I was going to Beja? Well it was a joke and I came here to Tejo.

Well I got transfer calls this morning and I am going to gues..... Beja! Hahahahaha

Im really mixed up again. Im going to miss this area. I was just getting familiar with it and ready to roll. Its going to be frustrating to see Elder R and his new comp take it in their own direction. (knock doors 24/7) 

I really do wanna do my best out here in Portugal. For My Savoir and Myself! Not because someone wants me too! It was really great to feel so strongly about my mission here but really rough to have it beat on. 

I have a pretty good feeling this will be the hardest time until now on the mission. I figured out 3 ways to base the happiness of the mission,

1. Your Testimony (Personal Spirit)

2. Your Companionship (United or No)

3. Your Area (If you know how to work it or not)

Its a giant balancing act that I am going to try to master this next area, comp and personal transfer 

Im really loving the mission. Wouldn't give it away for anything. Its the growing the learning and everything! Just... I still got quite a few rough edges to work out with the Lord :)

Man I get super pumped to see how Haley is right now! Its the best time of the mission to have that comp you love and everything rolling! Write it down love it and cherish it! Real growth happens when we are happy and stressed ;D

Im going to visit all the member now, cut my hair ( My hair is how I show how I feel hehe ) and pack my bags!

Go look Beja up on the map!! 

Also, Im reading the Book of Mormon Manual. Its been killer awesome. If you guys could get or find one lets read it together!

My New comp I met once, he seems really chill and confident I am happy to go there and see if I can loosen him up a little lovingly hehehehhe.. (turn off the hot water while he is in the shower.. MWAHAHAHAHWHWHAWHAHWashkfjwh... cough cough#)

Root for me in the ups and downs!! Love you Alllllll

Elder Brooksby

Glory Glory... Hallelujah!

You may ask why I have that as my title.

Well,

WE HAD A BAPTISM! :D

XXXXXXXX! A 42 year old sweet lady who works learning houses and grew up gardening! Capo verdinan! She never went to school or spoke Portuguese before coming here and she is really reliant on the help of God! After the first lesson with her, she started dreaming about God and getting baptized...... :D The hard part is... She doesn't speak Portuguese  She speaks the language of Creole (its like pumza´s remember?) but without the clicks and stuff. I cant understand her at all :P Elder Riberio is the one to teach her basically :P haha I just smile and show pictures! :D

The week was SUPER AWESOME! We had the general 70 over our area come and give us a bunch of light on how we can work better. Now were back in the trenches and getting to work.!

I've started to organize a Missionary Prep class for... EVERYONE! haha We want to invite our stake to participate and learn the Hows, Whats, and Whys of missionary work! Pray that I can get it going! Its pretty much a personal project :P hahaha.

As far as missionary work goes we are knocking doors and I'm joking with people on buses trying to get the word out as best possible! :P :D

I was really surprised this week at how much time has past since I taught a lesson, since entering here I've taught about 4-5 1st lessons and only 2 2nd. Its so crazy when we find someone who listens for a little I forget what I am supposed to teach :P :P

Man this week felt so long but I don't have a whole lot to write about today :S :P

Tomorrow is a new year! What are the goals for you all?!

Mine are be a good missionary and a good example for all you stinky butts :P

XXXXXXl: haley got your letter!! :)

I watched the movie of the family! Hahahhahahah I loved it! I especially loved the part where Savannah talked. She is growing up :) Reminds me of Haley a little hehe.

I calle dthe office to see if they have the book articles of faith, if they do Ill grab it here! (good idea Haley) If you all are going to study the Book of Mormon this year I also I will go chapter by chapter with you all! I have a lot more study time this transfer!

Anyways Im going to go wander the apartment now, My comp wants to sleeeeeep :P

I Love You!

Elder Brooksby