Hello dearest family and friends,
I will have you know I have transferred to the furthest area in our mission.  Baliwag...AND I LOVE IT!!!!!  Oh it is so beautiful here.  Going to some of the places is like being in a fairytale with Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett.  It is so beautiful, and you would know just how beautiful if I had a card reader and could put pictures on but I don't so you will just have to wait yet again.  I am so sorry.
   And before I go any further I must say before I forget that this morning I was reading in Alma 61 and 62 where Pahoran answers Moroni's epistle and then when the fighting is finished and they have Zarahemla back and they have met up with Lehi and Teancum with all the Lamanites surrounded in the land of Moroni.  I just have to point out that Teancum was an excellent man.  A good person and an amazing friend, but he let his anger get the best of him and he was killed because of it.  And Moroni went home after the war and was able to be with his family again, because he didn't let his anger control him.  That is why I like Captain Moroni better than Teancum.  (And I hope the person I wrote this to knows I wrote it for them and that when I read it this morning I yelled in horror, "TEANCUM!  NOOO!!!!"  I truly was devastated.  No matter how many times I read it I am affected.)
   Now I need to give a shout out to my Sister, Kristina, she is 20 today. Congratulations Kristina!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! 
    Now I will tell you about this week.  As I said before, I now live in Baliwag and I have a new companion.(we were totally late to transfers because the DL had the jeepnee go the long way so I didn't know who my companion was until the end.)  Her name is Sister De la Cruz and she is so CUTE!!!  I love her and her personality already.  She is so fun to be around and it has been very easy to open up to her.  In fact I have already cried in front of her on several occasions and laughed too.  And here is the real shocker, she actually knows how much I love to sing...not only sing but sing hymns...really loud.  And she asks me to sing!  Loud!  A LOT!!!  It is weird, but I love it.  We are the only two in our apartment so I only have to worry about bothering the neighbors and they don't seem to mind.  Hey, even if they started yelling at me it wouldn't bother me because I would have no idea what they were saying.  I would probably just smile and wave saying, "Magandang umaga po!" 
   She is just fun and she loves the gospel.  She goes home in April so she has plenty of time.  We are very excited to be a companionship and we are obedient.  We did weekly planning on Friday for the first time.  It took FIVE hours!  Oh my word!  But it was so good.  It was what was needed and we are going to have a great week because of it and we are going to have an excellent companionship because of it.
   Sunday was District Conference.  It was so cool to get to hear from our leaders and President and Sister Sperry.  I love them so much!  I just wanted to share a few of my notes with everyone because they were all really good talks.
   First off, are we professors or are we disciples?  Meaning, do we just profess to be members devout and strong, but when trial and heartache come our foundation is not strong and we fall away.  Or are we disciples through and through?  No matter what happens we will devote our whole selves to Him for His purposes. 
   Next, "holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting that other person to die.  Anger only hurts you."
   SOS
Saving       Service            Save
Of             Obedience       Our 
Souls        Sacrifice          Souls
   Through our obedient sacrifice of service we are blessing others and Heavenly Father can then bless us in return.  And through having this as our lifestyle we can be saved through the atonement of Jesus Christ.

Current                               You can know you are choosing the right
Temple                            when you are worthy to hold a current temple         
Recommend                                             recommend

And one quote that kept coming to my mind was one given by Elder Jeffery R Holland and I hope you all pay special attention to this because I think if people would remember this they wouldn't complain nearly as much and they would stay on the right path more easily.  He said, "  ...Why should it be easy for us when it wasn't easy for Him?  The road to salvation goes through Gethsemane."  No one ever said it would be easy, but they said it would sure be worth it.

   Those are the things I learned from the conference and what I learned from Sister De la Cruz this morning was this quote from President Joseph Fielding Smith.
                  "...No member of this church can stand in the presence of God who has not seriously and carefully read the Book of Mormon."
   That is true.  So are you going to take up the challenge and read carefully the Book of Mormon?  The Book that holds everything together?  Are you going to find out if it is true for yourself and be able to stand in the presence of God!?  Or are you going to trample upon Him by putting things of little importance on your priority list?  It is up to you.

  I love you all very much.  Life is difficult, but ALL challenges are for our good.  We just have to figure out what we are supposed to learn from them.  You are all in my prayers.  You are all special children of our Heavenly Father and he is calling to you, beckoning you to come to Him, "Come back.  Come up.  Come in. Come home.  Come unto me."  I promise you He loves you and that it is not too late to change.  Have a great week!  Smile GREAT BIG!!!

Sister Brittany Nichole Newman    

A card from our girl.

Dear Aunt Rachel, Uncle Brian, Cameron, & Thomas,

 Oh, she is so cute! I love her already!!!

Love,

Brittany

Dear mom,

  Don't worry mom, I got the shoes. I am telling you it just takes forever for things to get here but it is the only way because I can't pay 4,000 pisos for a package set speedy delivery. Anyway. Hopefully I will get some pictures up this time. I love the pictures you sent me of that cute girl. Cameron looks like the perfect big brother. They are both going to have so much fun with a baby sister and she has two very awesome parents that is for sure. Our new investigator had her baby on Saturday. A cute little boy. He is just darling and she has lots of sisters to help with him. Her husband feels a bit overwhelmed by it, but he loves his son so much and wants to be the best dad he can be.
Please send me as much snail mail as possible. I need them desperately. I am transferring to a new area tomorrow and I fear I am going to need some uplifts sometimes. You know me and change...and some of you know me and drinking fountains. Be assured that those will not be a problem for me here. What is a problem is that this week our drain in the shower...area... was spitting up nasty sewer junk and ...rice...we hardly ever eat rice, and when we do we don't dump it down the drain! Needless to say the three sisters who are staying in this area are going to be moving fairly soon after I do.
We had a lesson with the Pascual family. I wanted to cry. They sang I am a Child of God so loud and with their whole hearts. They really are children of God and I have never been so grateful for my circumstances ever before in my entire life. Then we walked out of Look2 and oh my heavens why didn't we do that before? It was absolutely breath taking. If any of my family came here I would take them to walk down that road. That was incredible.
I watched the O holy night dvd that I had mom send to me. I encourage each of you who have it to watch it as a family and remember your Savior. Not just on Christmas and Easter, but remember Him everyday. Be like the stripling warriors and be quick and strict in the remembrance of the Lord your God. And if you need a reminder of that story you should read Alma 53 and 56-58. Amazing sila!
Speaking of the Book of Mormon and being in Alma I just want to admit that I am really crushing on Captain Moroni. I think it is a righteous crush, but Sister Bird laughs at me whenever I mention something about him. But he is so INCREDIBLE! I love his example and that is the type of person I want to become and whoever I marry needs to have those qualities. Don't worry! I am not thinking about getting married right now. I am a missionary right now, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't getting ready for who I want to become. That is a very righteous desire. And he is just so amazing.
Ok I have tried several times to put pics on but the computer won't let me so I am sorry that it is being silly. Another week without pictures.
I went on exchanges to Sister Wingers area. It was so fun. I felt like I knew the people and it was so fun to get to know them and teach them. I was tongue tied a lot but that happens to me a lot so it wasn't a big deal. But it was just so cool. It kinda showed me what it would be like in a new area.
Church this week made me want to cry. It was so sad how few people were there. It hurt my heart. We worked so hard! People have free agency and that is part of Heavenly Fathers plan, but sometimes the things they choose really hurts other people. I can promise you with assurity that your actions never effect just you. Never.
So, we were talking the other night and Sister Bird asked what I thought when I first saw her. Before I knew she was my trainer. I told her, "I saw all these filipina's and I was so scared. Then I saw this big brown curly hair on this American, and I thought she was someone I would need to know. And I wanted her to be my trainer. My prayer was answered." I asked her what she thought when she saw me. I was the only new sister and she knew she was training me. She got red in the cheeks and said, "Truthfully? I am embarrassed....I thought. 'Oh great, how are we going to ride in trycs?!" I was laughing so hard I thought I was going to wet myself. She told me to stop and said she wished she hadn't told me. She said, "I was really worried! We were opening an area and I didn't know how we would fit!" That just made me laugh more. It might not make you laugh, but we have had some pretty memorable experiences on trycs.
I think that is pretty much all I have to say. You will know who my new companion is next Monday. I love you all and want you to smile and put your whole trust in the arm of the Lord. He is the only way. Trusting in people will only bring you heartbreak and where will you go when they are gone? No where. Trust your Heavenly Father and your Savior. They will never fail you. I testify that God fulfills ALL His promises.
Have a good week my friends.

Sister Brittany Nichole Newman

Sarah Jo, this is for you:

I thought of you while writing about my righteous crush on Captain Moroni and thought to myself, he could never write a book about how to offend women in 5 syllables or less.  He wouldn't know how.  Then I thought that would sound a little too intense and then I thought who cares so I had my mom add it anyway.  Go figure.

This card came with a really nice personal letter. Brittany is doing well. She should have her 1st transfer over now. I'm hoping to hear where she is soon. I will let you all know when I get any news.

 

email to her daddy:

 DADDY!!!!! I was totally serious about doing those things with you! Thank you for this long email. I love it! You are amazing. I will so go with you to work out in the morning, it will be hard but so good for us. Don't you worry I got the shoes, in fact I am going to send pictures of them. They are great and it is so nice to not have to worry about buying a new pair every week. I look frumpy but I look frumpie everyday. So what ever. I didn't know Lilly was going to do CNA school. That will be good for her. Is she wanting to do nursing stuff?
Tell Grammie and Grandpa I love them and I hope that the ramp you build them works out nicely. It will be good for Gpa to be able to get out and get fresh air. And they could maybe go on walks together to get exercise and to just talk with each other. It would be good dating time.
Sorry you aren't moving, but when it is time it will work out. Sorry that my car is ridiculous. I am pretty sure she might not make it to when I get home. But we will work with what we have to work with. She has been a great car, and as long as she is still good keep using her.
I am glad you sent me Kristina's address. I will send her letters eventually. I am excited to get the next package, but it might be awhile because I am transferring to a new area tomorrow and I don't know where. I don't know if they will have mail run this coming week or in October. But whatever happens I know it will work out just fine. Man! I sound like a Philippina. They don't worry about how it will happen they just go with it when it comes, which can be both good and bad.
Sorry this email is going to be so short but I have others to write and I still have to pack my bags. Could this day get anymore rushed? I love you daddy. I am glad you are healthy and I am excited to see you again soon. I almost have only a year left. That is so weird. I will serve my very best because I have a dad who taught me how to give my all and to love with my whole heart.

I LOVE YOU!!!! Sister Brittany Nichole Newman

Don't know what happened to the title

Hey mom,

   I would type you your own giant email if I wasn't so slow at typing that there was no time left.  I am sorry about the fact that there are no pictures this time.  The card reader didn't work and I was too chicken to try to get a new one.  How is everything going?  I hope things are great.  I am guessing Rachel has a new baby now.  How fun?  Is she just beautiful?  I have to go, but I wanted you know know I thought of you and that I love you so much.  I am glad you are my mommy and I want you to always stay healthy and strong.  Keep working hard and I know you will be a success in this new job course you are putting yourself on.  I love you and will talk to you fairly soon.

Love your daughter who isn't a baby anymore,

  Sister Brittany Nichole Newman

PS: You will get pics and en email next week on Wednesday. 

 Hello everybody!

   So I will hopefully get the shoes tomorrow because the ones I have on almost have holes in the bottom.  It is ridiculous how quickly I walk through these rubber shoes, but no others fit me.  I hope I get lots of letters from you all too.  Letters would be amazing right now...well all the time to be honest.  They make my week so much better and I get so happy when I know someone thought of me.

   I wanted to mention a few of our people that we have been teaching.  There is a Sister(LA) named Chona, who has been coming to church again and really starting to change.  She did not like us before and would hide from us, but now she comes to church, takes notes, reads her scriptures, and lets us into her home.  She is very nice now.  She is getting ready to go abroad.  She says that it is not allowed for her to have the book of Mormon at that job so she is trying to learn all she can now and she is learning that you should never take the gospel for granted.  That is the truth.  Learn all you can while you can and build your testimony now so when the trials and struggles come, which they will, they won't have power to bring you down.

   We met two new investigators who are so ready for this gospel.  They want the change.  They want to repent and receive forgiveness for the stupid things they have done.  Their names are Melody and Victor.  They are about to have their second baby and they are way excited for that.  We need to keep teaching them to find out if they are really sincere.  Melody has had the lessons before, but she says that this time they feel different, this time she wants to change she wants to do what we ask.

   Amelia and Susan are progressing so well.  The spirit was so strong when they each bore their testimonies of the Book of Mormon and the truthfulness of this gospel.  I don't understand a lot of what they are saying, but I felt the spirit so strongly and I understood enough to know what they were talking about.  These two sisters are so great and I am excited for their baptism.

   Jr, Aj, and Melarose three of my favorite people in the whole world.  They are 10 years old and they want so badly to be baptized, but Aj and Melarose their parents say no.  That makes me sad.  But they keep learning and they say they will keep learning an keep going to church.  They know it is true.  They know it is important and they love it.

    This week I have been thinking a lot about who Heavenly Father needs me to become, and if I am actually doing that.  If I am living up to His expectations of me.  Reviewing my progress, I feel like I am not quite there.  I have so far to go and sometimes I feel like my humanness is a let down to Him.  I am really trying to leave myself behind and become a selfless servant, but I am really struggling with doing that.  I am struggling with a lot of things.  I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions of how I can be better, that aren't impossible to accomplish.  How do I let go of myself and become the daughter He needs?

    In the scripture I have been reading this week Look and Live has been mentions a lot.  It is talking about when the children of Israel were in the wilderness for 40 and I think the snakes made them way sick and they would die.  But if they would just look upon this snake on the cross they would be healed, as a promise from God.  It represents looking to Christ.  He is the way the truth and the light.  He is our ONLY way.  If we look to Him, follow Him, and endure to the end, only then will we be saved.  Otherwise we won't.  But he loves us enough to let us choose.  This morning I read in Alma 37 and 38 that it is easy to follow Christ.  WHAT!?  Yes, it is.  In the eternal picture of things it is so much easier to follow Christ.

    For those of you who think you are following Christ.  Look at the way you are living. Examine yourselves.  Are you a reflection of what he is and does?  Or are you reflecting something else.  Christ was baptized to fulfill all righteousness.  We are to do the same.  Baptized into this, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  But after we are baptized and receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, it is not over.  Part of it is enduring to the end.  2Nephi 31:19-21.  Read this.  It is short but to the point.  Follow it.  And those of you who refuse to read it, well that is sad, because you are probably afraid that you are going to realize that it is true.  Good.  Because it is and I love you too much to hide the truth from you.  Don't deny it.  Please get on the path.  This, the only path, that leads to Eternal Life.

   Look and Live!

  And to my friend who is having struggles worse than I could ever imagine.  I am sorry I am not there to help you.  But know that you are always in my prayers, and I am grateful for all you have done for me.  I forgive you and I am not mad at all.  Here's the thing, "crazy like a straw" happened this week and I couldn't be as good a friend as I wanted to be.  But, we're cool. 

   I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!  KEEP GOING!!!! KEEP HOLDING ON!!!

Sister Brittany Nichole Newman

I think if we huddle right here, we can keep from getting wet.

I wonder how well this rule gets followed?

 Daddy,
   Don't you worry about me I didn't even know there was an earthquake.  I am doing well except for some stomach issues, but I expect those to go away on their own.  We just went to the temple which was so awesome and we got to go to the doctor.  He gave me some medicines to try for my stomach.  It is good to hear from you.  I haven't gotten the shoes yet but I got one card with stamps.  Are you really moving?  I should get the shoes on mail run which is the 11th I think.  Yes!  But who knows if they are here yet.  Work is going pretty good.  I wanted to tell you one pretty funny story.  We went to fhe at a less actives house.  It was way fun, their kids were crazy and it was full of laughs.  I was reminded that we are in the philippines when the 3 year old gets his potty chair, puts it in the middle of the floor, sits and smiles.  Then both his parents look at us and his mom says he has to poop.  THE KID POOPED IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR LESSON!  And boy, was he proud.
   Anyway...this is just real life.
   I love you dad.  It is good to hear everyone is staying productive.  That makes me happy.  Just keep working hard.  How is the getting healthy thing going?  I am getting better.  I didn't even buy creamos this week.  HOORAY!  Hey I was wondering, how is Nathan doing learning the trumpet?  I was excited he decided to do that and I just wanted to know how it was going.
   Can you believe I am almost done with my training?  I have just over 2 weeks left...ok close to 3 but still.  I am growing up in the mission.  Pretty soon I am not even going to know where the time has gone, and then I will be home.  CRAZY!  You should tell all my siblings that I have a big surprise for each person who reads the Book of Mormon all the way through while I am gone and emails me their testimony.
  Well, I don't have much time, but know that I love you so much and pray for you always.  You are one of my best friends and my favorite man in the world right now.  I LOVE YOU MY DADDY!!!!

Sister Brittany Nichole Newman

MOMMY!!!!
  Ok, first off take a deep breath.  I didn't even know there was an earthquake, so don't worry. We had temple p-day this week, not transfers.  Transfers are on the 20th of this month.  I am glad you are getting so much done!  Keep it up.  That is so awesome.  LOSING WEIGHT!!!  Go mom! I have not received the package yet, but I only get mail every two weeks so I wouldn't be too worried yet.  I should get it soon.  I hope you are sending lots of stamps because I owe Sister Bird 12.  I had to get up at 2:15 am today so if this seems a little scatterbrained that would be the reason.  Did the lease thing work out? I am asking a huge favor from you at this moment but will you print off pictures and send them to me.  Like of the family Mcayla no braces, new babies, growing up, holidays.  I don't want a ton of packages while I am here, but I really need letters.  It kills me when I don't get mail, and I want to see pics!  I am so selfish, but it would make my whole two weeks without mail that much easier to go to the next two weeks.  I LOVE YOU!