In front of the Manilla Temple

Dear Mom and Family and I guess the other people who read this too,

   Yes, the shoes need to come from America because they don't carry the right shoes in my size.  It was a last resort to ask you to send some because I know it will take fund and things that we probably don't have and I felt really bad, but you can take money from my account.  I am not using much personal money yet, and I only will withdraw every 30 days so it doesn't close.  But I thank you for being so kind and searching for them for me.  I hope I get your letter and stamps soon I can't send anymore letters home until I do, but that is ok because we still have email.  Will you send the info about the blog to Brother Trebas at ptrebas@gmail.com  He was one of my teachers at the MTC and I can't email him, but he wanted to hear from us, so the blog works. 

    I LOVE THE PICTURES!!!!  Everyone is so big!  And Eigen has hair?!  When did the happen?  Ty is my bunkerbean and I miss him, but time is going so fast, I feel I will be home sooner than I know.  I am so grateful for our country.  More and more every day.  We live in an amazing place where we can actually sit on the toilet.  ...  You all better start preparing now for the bathroom to be out of service for a few hours.  It would be one thing to squat over a hole, but we have to squat over every toilet.  It sucks and I am going to enjoy sitting when I get home... In a long time, but still, it is nice to think about.

   We have had a fairly good week.  It has been amazing once again to see the hand of the Lord providing a way for us.  One of the sisters in our house has been really sick so we have had to go and split our days, and we are still getting decent numbers.  We are able to get to Heavenly Fathers children even with our shortened time.  It amazes me. 

   I wanted to share one special thing I learned this week from my personal study and then I am going to send more pics this week.  Sorry for the short email, but the pics will be awesome I promise.

   Doctrine and Covenants 84:77

         "...I say unto you my friends, for from henceforth I shall call you my friends,...become even as my friends in days when I was with them, traveling to preach the Gospel in my power."

   We are His friends, and we need to teach as if he is right there physically with us.  I know for certain He is there.  I love Him.  I am so grateful for Him.  He makes this possible.  He is my Savior and King.  And I am so proud and grateful to have Him call me His friend.  I will live to remain worthy of it.

   I love you all!  Stay happy and in tune with the spirit.  Seek to see the miracles!

Love,

   Sister Brittany Nichole Newman

P. S. Next week is transfer p-day on Wednesday so don't worry when there isn't an email. I didn't need the driving thing from triple a because I will never drive here.  There was something else I felt I needed to tell you but now I can't remember what it was.  How obnoxious is that?  ... Well I can't think of it so read Alma 26: 1 and 2 and count your many blessings.  write them down, and realize that our Heavenly Father is amazing.

I love you!
Sister Brittany Nichole Newman

Letter from President Sperry that Brittany shared with us:

Sister  Newman :

Just a few years before the Savior visited the Nephites Satan had great power over the people and led them into all kinds of iniquity. In 3 Nephi 6:28,30 it says, “they did enter into a covenant one with another, yea, even into that covenant which was given by them of old, which covenant was given and administered by the devil, to combine against all righteousness…And they did set at defiance the law and the rights of their country…” I would like you to notice two things. First, they defied the laws of the country. Defiance is one of Satan’s most destructive tools. People who are defiant are uncontrollable and can’t be governed. It is a satanic attribute. Secondly, they entered into covenants to combine against all righteousness. I have wondered why the Lord called them secret combinations. This verse gives a possible answer. They do things in secret and they combine against all righteousness. They are united in their efforts to fight against anything and anyone who is righteous. In D and C 38:12, the Lord warned Joseph that the enemy is combined. I think that means they are unified in what they do, but I also think that there is more to it than that. In D and C 6:34, the Lord said, “fear not little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for it ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.” They aren’t just united with their associates on earth, they are united with Satan, and do his bidding. What a combination—the wicked and vile of the earth combined with hell and Satan. I don’t know if that is why they are called secret combinations, but it helps me see the danger we are in when we allow these combinations to exist in our midst.

Because they are united and unified, we must also be united if we are to succeed in the battle against them. In D and C 38:27, the Lord said, “…be one; and if you are not one,  ye are not mine.”  It is essential that we be united in the fight against Satan and his hosts, but the Savior indicated that it is also necessary for us to be united with Him (John 17:21). It will take a combination of earth and heaven to beat a combination of earth and hell. We must unite ourselves with heaven if we hope to overcome Satan. We can’t hope to win without heaven’s help. It is necessary that we live in such a way that we are worthy of and merit the help that we need. If we do then the promise to us is that earth and hell cannot prevail against us.

Please help our mission to be united with each other and with the Savior. We love you and thank you for the sacrifices that you make to serve others.

President Sperry