Missionary work is hard sometimes but the show must go on!
 

HEY WE FINALLY HAVE SOME PHOTOS!!!!
 

 

I got the package and I am so grateful for every bit of it! I almost cried I was so happy, but one thing you need to include again is ibuprofen. I need lots of it and I don't want to risk running out. I got the package yesterday and the best part about it was all the letters inside. They made me feel so good and so very happy! I love you all so much and I am grateful that you thought of me and took time to do that. I have a favor to ask. There is one Elder in my Zone, he is from China(he was converted in Hong Kong) He doesn't ever get much mail at all so I was wondering it maybe you could send him a letter or something to cheer his spirits. Maybe you could ask Garrett to as well. His name is Elder Wu, and just a note saying that he is doing an excellent job and the Lord is proud of his work and that you as members are grateful too. I don't know, just a quick something. If you want. I know you are way busy so don't feel obligated, I just thought it would help lift a burden. So if you find time that would be great.

The Roque family was baptized! It was so incredible and the spirit was so strong.

 

 I am so grateful that I got to see their conversion and be part of it. Their testimonies blow me away. I also got to sing How Great Thou Art. I told them it was my testimony in a song and I DIDN"T EVEN SOUND LIKE A GOAT!!! I just put all my heart into it, because it truly has become my testimony. I am so happy that I am a missionary. Honestly it is so hard! So hard! And sometimes I almost want to give up, but then we have moments with people like this and the hard times don't seem so hard anymore. It makes it all worth it. And the spirit we felt when they were confirmed was beyond description.

We have another baptism this Saturday. Her name is Melanie and it has taken her a long time to get to this point, but she is fully converted. You can hear it in her testimony and see it in her countenance. She has asked me to sing at her baptism too but I don't know what to sing. Probably How Firm a Foundation. That would be a good one and it is so special to me as well. I love music and I am glad people enjoy it when I sing. It makes me feel really good.

We went to the temple today, which, as always, was incredible and I enjoyed every minute of it.

We didn't make it to the first session, but it worked out just fine. I am having an enjoyable day with my companion. We are going to go shopping after this and then make a dessert to take to our first FHE with the Roque family.

Sister de la Cruz was sick most of last week so our work was not fantastic, but it was still enjoyable for the most part. It really picked up this week with us working better as a team. Our leaders are really pushing us to open our mouths and talk to everyone. Last week and on several other occasions sister de la cruz has just picked someone and said ok you go talk to them. This really frustrates me because if I don't do it the way she thinks it should be done she gets angry and won't talk to me. Well, I told her that and she didn't even realize that she did that. And these past two days I have just initiated conversations with people. I feel so uncomfortable doing it, but we made a goal and I need to do my part or I can't blame her for being upset with me. AND DON"T TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY! Don't think she is awful. She is really great. I am just stubborn and still learning. I would get frustrated being my companion.

I will have you all know I gave another talk on Sunday. This was about unity in the branch and the need for home and visiting teachers.

To end I just want to tell you all how grateful I am for eternal families. I am glad that the sealing power is on the earth again, and I am glad we get to have our families with us forever if we remain worthy. I am grateful to know that to start a family right you start it by being a forever couple. And if you don't start that way you can make it that way. I hope everyone will think about the infinite love and goodness our Heavenly Father has shown for us and that each of us will remain worthy of His blessings.

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!

Sister Brittany Nichole Newman

I felt so spiritually uplifted by conference on Saturday and Sunday. It was truly inspiring and I really enjoyed every minute. That first announcement that made all the boys mouths drop in awe was pretty fantastic. I laughed to myself. I also laughed when Fiddler on the Roof was quoted. "If riches are a curse may I be smitten and never recover." And Elder Holland. Owi! At first I thought he was changing his teaching tactics for this one, that he was going to be calm and not so in the face. Boy, was I wrong! Even thinking about him saying, "Do you love me?" It pierces my heart and soul every time. Every bit of Conference was incredible.

And the Roque family is being baptized this Saturday. They are so ready it isn't even funny. Oh man, this family is so legit. And I know that they are converted to the Savior and His gospel, not to us as missionaries. They are great. They are fun and happy, and the best part is that they are a family and will be able to be sealed in a year after this! I love this! Missionary work is so blasted hard but there is no reward like this. I have never felt so good about something that I helped with, it wasn't even me, it was the spirit and the truth. And this family has just been ready. Their hearts were open and they were able to remember what we were all taught before by our Father in Heaven.

On Saturday I let myself get offended by something my companion had said about me. And she kept saying rude things and it hurt me. So I told myself that I was not going to be the one to make it right. She needed to learn how to fix it first. I was sick of being the one to take the fist step. I let my pride get in the way. I let it puff me up. That was very wrong. We could not be unified because I was choosing not to rise above and be Christlike instead of snot-nosed-booger-butt-like. And it wasn't fixed until we both came together and admitted our faults. It took humility and love. Sometimes there are people who really offend us or hurt our feelings, but we need to do what we promised to do at baptism. We said we would be like Christ. Rise above. I know we can do it.

I want to share one scripture before I go because this computer shop too is just about as hot as Draco Malfoy.

3Nephi 9: 13. O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?

14. Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me.

15. Behold, I am Jesus Christ...

I shared that with a recent convert the other day who thought he had no more chances. That his case was hopeless and he could not be saved. Satan really wants us to believe that we can't be saved, but I am here to tell you we can. No matter what we have done, His Atonement reaches there and we need to go to Him (repent) and be healed. I love you all and hope your week is brilliant!

Sister Brittany Nichole Newman

Sorry everyone if this email is short but I don't have much time and it is about as hot as Draco Malfoy in this computer shop, man, I tell you what.  So my apologies.   We had tons of people at church yesterday it was so amazing it is nice to see people acting on their faith.  The baptism for the Roque family is still on for the 20th they have made their decision and they are sticking to it.  They are such a great family and they love the gospel.  It is fun to share with them because they actually listen and they read their assignments and pray.  We both love them very much.  This week I will be sending my family pictures in the mail and my mom can put them up when she receives them....there are not pics of the family but someday there will be.
   I sang for one of our RC mom because my companion said I have a good voice.  Sister  Dori loved it and her compliments really boosted my confidence.  Even though this week has been really hard and I have been really sick I have seen so many miracles and tender mercies from heaven.  There has not been a day when we had to stay home.  There almost was on 3 occasions but prayers and blessings prevailed.  I know that Heavenly Father looks out for and takes care of his missionaries.
   On October 3rd I woke up with no voice and on the 6th I sang at a funeral in our branch.  That was a cool experience and I was nervous but it went very well and I was grateful to be able to serve their family that way.
   October 2nd was an amazing day full of miracles and laughs.  We taught tons of lessons and we just worked very well together.  I was grateful for it.  I really love all the people here.  My Grandma is right when she says the more people you have to love the greater your capacity to love.  That is so true.  I can see it everyday.
   My companion is looking out for me.  We bought balot the other day and we were going to both eat it but then Sister said with the way my stomach was that I probably shouldn't.  That she had a really bad feeling about it.  So she ate hers and I opened mine and fed it to the neighbors dog.  We call him our dog because he is so cute and he guards our house but we can't have pets so we just claim him.
   Well this really is short, but I have to go.  We have lots more to get done.  But remember to read the Book of Mormon.  Make it a part of who you are.
    I love you all very much.  Thank you to all those who wrote emails.  I loved them and I am so grateful for them.  Keep working hard everyone.
Sister Brittany Nichole Newman

Dear Daddy,

I just wanted to tell you that we had an emergency meeting where Elder Brent H Nielson came and interviewed missionaries and took those who didn't want to be exactly obedient home. It was an excellent meeting. I learned so much from this meeting. That we give up our free agency when we decide to follow Satan. When we cross that line we are in his power and it is very difficult to get out. Someday I want to share with you my notes from that meeting. We could have an awesome discussion about it. But right now I don't have much time.
If the family is going to be amazing and send me a package for my birthday and Christmas I ask that you include fruitsnacks and natureplex musclerub from walmart. That stuff is so AMAZING!!! You could send 3 tubes and I wouldn't mind. I tried quail eggs the other day. They are actually very tasty...like regular eggs.
Can you take a picture of the family and send it through email. I really just want to see you all. Is it bad that I still miss you all so much. I am trying really hard to not think of you but it is a very difficult task sometimes. You just tell me what helped you.
LOVE YOU DADDY!!!
Sister Brittany Nichole Newman 

Well Brittany,
The best thing that I can tell you is get into the work. Work hard, focus on the work you are doing, don’t think about home things except on P-day then you can write letters and do other work to prepare for the following week. We love you and always will love you, we will send letters which we have and emails and care packages, relish these things when you get them but don’t make it your main focus. The time you have left out in the Philippines is short compared to how long your life has been and the time you will be able to spend with us when you get home. Strictly obey all the mission rules, obey the commandments, love the people as much as you love your family here on earth. I know it is hard to not get mail and email every day, but your mission is not about the communication with us; it is about communicating the truth and testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer. I know you have a testimony of this, share it as best you can. Remember when you have disappointments like investigators that decide not to be baptized, it is ultimately their choice and we need to respect that, but never stop praying for them. You are planting seeds of truth whenever you teach or bear testimony, and while you may not always see them come to fruit the seed is planted and will someday come to fruit for those who are prepared.
Your new companion sounds wonderful; do you get along well? Do you have flooding in this new area? Do you have a ward or branch? How far are you away from the temple? Well there are a few questions for you, now about what else is going on here. Grammie decided not to have the ramp built for Grandpa. We may be going up there for conference, we will see how it all goes. I think moving will be good for our family so we've decided to do it. Lilly is watching Annette’s boys before she starts school on the 15^th of Oct. McKayla is doing pretty good in school and will be having Christmas concerts soon. Nathan is doing good in school, he loves science, but it is still difficult to get him to do his math. Kristina is having a tuff time with her accounting class but her test scores are still real good.

 Mom got into the Timpanogos Coral and is enjoying it a lot. We are busy with work, mom finished her real-estate license last week and has already shown a house with Brad. Christmas this year will be quite different from past years because, we are getting a house and increasing our rent, so close to it. We will probably buy paint for the kids rooms, in the colors they want of course. Also we will need to paint the front room with an accent wall probably red or brown. We will need to clean the kitchen and bathrooms real good too. The first place that needs to be real clean is the house we are in now. I got a cortisone shot in my knee today, it is Wednesday now by the way. It is seeming to help so far. J Well we got our membership to the Fitness Center and we have been every day since. I have already lost about 10 pounds. J I think this will be very good for our family. I love you tons be good ttyl.

Love Daddy

Family and Friends,
    The baptism that was suppose to happen this coming Saturday is not going to happen.  The young man who felt the spirit so strongly and was so ready to take this step decided that he doesn't want to risk having his allowance taken away so he just wants to have bible study with us.  But the reason I used that subject title is because the first thing he told us was that he prayed to have a dream and remember it in the morning and it didn't happen so this must not be true.  But he already had his answer, he told us he did before.  Elder Jeffery R Holland advises us not to doubt the answers we have received from heaven when life gets hard.  I hope that each of you will always remember that.  Sometimes our memories act like a shrinky dink when sitting in the oven to long.  They shrink and contort.  And sometimes they begin to mean less and less as time goes by.  Like in 3 nephi when the people forgot the signs, or they decided they couldn't really mean what they thought they meant.  Don't be fooled by that trickster.  That father of ALL lies.  You make sure to remember and write down those answers and impressions you receive.  The more you write them down the more you will recognize and receive them.  Be watchful.
    Now that I have gotten the sad issue out of the way let me tell you about the Roque family.  They are so amazing and very excited for their baptism on the 20th.  We are excited for them too.  We have seen how they are changing and love watching them gain these beautiful new testimonies.  It is incredible!  I believe this is a family of finishers, and that is what God needs.  "Finishers Wanted"  (Look it up.  It is by President Monson and it kept me moving this week.  You can bet your little Christmas cookies I am going to be a finisher.)
    We missed being tour guides at the temple because I got sick.  I have been sick my whole stay, but sometimes it is worse than others.  It was sad because I love temple tour and we were going to be at the temple recommend station and I firmly believe that worthily holding a temple recommend is one way of knowing you are on the right path.
     Yesterday I wore my red dress and got my happy birthday wishes again, but the best part was when we were walking to catch a jeep and this kid on a bike speed up really fast and as he road past he slowed down and yelled, "SEXY LAAAAAAAADDDDDDDAY!"  I laugh so hard, but I had to include this, number one, because it was so funny and, number two, let it be known that I got called sexy....me or Sister de la Cruz.  She is pretty cute.  Maybe he has a huge crush on her.  oh well, a girl can hope.
      TAPOS!  On one of our visits this week we met the brother to one of our less actives and he has downs syndrome.  And he keep touching my hair during the lesson, but I was trying so hard to focus.  Then he would start talking to me so I did what Sister de la Cruz did ,"Shhhh. mamaya."  Just fine right?  WRONG!  Turning out he was asking me if I would go on a date with him to SM(mall) and I told him to shhh and later.  And I was only told after we left.  Oh dear.  Then on Sunday when they made me sit on the stand and bear my testimony he came up and started playing with my hair.  I told him to stop and go sit down, but he wouldn't listen to me, the 2nd counselor had to help me.  This boy is a sweetheart, but it interrupted the meeting and I felt bad.
      I implore you all to read the talk "The Purifying Power of the Atonement"  Even if you have read it before.  Read it again.  Study it.  Soak in its goodness.  You will be glad you did.
     Have a great week and everybody work hard!
Sister Brittany Nichole Newman