Week of Miracles

This was an awesome week! I can't begin to tell you all the miracles we have seen! To start off, one of the Recent Convert families that Sister Laird and Bostrom taught and baptized, right before I got here, has a son, Ricki (15), who decided not to get baptized. He was "too cool" to read or pray or do anything. But we've been praying for him individually, as a companionship and as a Zone since the day I got here. Just last Friday, our prayers were all answered. Ricki got into a bit of trouble and his cousin got sent down to LA for it. To top it all off, a really good friend of his died from an overdose. Through all of these trials, it got him down on his knees to pray and ask God if the Book of Mormon was true and if he should be baptized. He made a complete 180! It was amazing! We are now preparing him for his baptism this coming Saturday! I know that this was an answer to so many prayers of faith on his behalf! It's amazing to see the Lord's hand everyday, especially in missionary work! This family is an amazing family!

I don't remember if I wrote you about Manuel and Alma last week (I think I did.) We had a couple of appointments with them this week, but all of them kept falling through for various reasons (either they canceled or we were running late). They called us up Friday night to tell us that they were going to come to our church on Sunday with their family! We were so excited for them to come! So yesterday morning, we went to face-to-face them and they were getting ready to leave. They ended up beating us to church, and after the 2nd hour before they left, Manuel told us that "supposedly" (he did the quotations himself) they were Catholic but they REALLY liked our church and the way we did things and taught things; and they felt really good coming. So they committed themselves to keep coming every week (before we could even invite them!). He also continued by saying that the last night we were going to have a lesson, he was planning on drinking before we came over and that he couldn't do it--1) He felt guilty doing it and 2) he didn't feel like drinking. He doesn't drink that much but he's realized that the gospel can help him to completely give it up! It was a HUGE miracle and I feel so grateful that Heavenly Father led us to that family and that I have the opportunity with Sister Laird to help bring this family closer to our Heavenly Father and closer to becoming an eternal family. We are planning on doing an family home evening with them tonight! It's going to be so much fun! Sister Laird and I just spent our Companionship and Personal studies this morning making up "The Gospel of Jesus Christ Jepordy" game! It's going to be Sa-WEET!

So, as I'm sure Dad has probably told everyone, I have decided to extend my mission. I can only extend 45 days so that means that I will finish on Oct 21. It's a bummer because it's right in the middle of a transfer, but that's alright, I'll take what I can get and I know that President is just thrilled and not stressing so much about the Spanish sisters situation as much now! I was thinking that I will probably just fly home in October and we can plan a trip back later on down the road, maybe after Christmas or sometime next year! That's what I was thinking since Kim and Kody will be in school and all that good stuff ;)

I absolutely love missionary life! This is the GREATEST work in the entire world. It's scary to see it all winding down for everyone I've served with for so long! The clock is tickin' and I'm gonna make sure I live every minute to the fullest!

Last week we ran into an inactive sister who has really struggled through her life with being in and out of abusive environments, drugs, living in the slumps, etc. and how she was having a hard time being able to provide for herself and her family. She met a few missionaries and something happened that really upset her and the way that she felt she was treated and also by the members she tried calling on as well. We had an appointment with her neighbor but they weren't home; so as we were walking off, Sister Laird felt impressed to knock on her door. We went back and knocked it. She ended up talking to us for 20 minutes and we were able to help her calm down and feel better, and to also forgive the situation that happened. We had received a couple of bags full of old toys from a member who moved, and we were able to give those to her and help her out as much as we could. It was a miracle and another testimony builder of how God puts us exactly where we need to be and when we need to be there. All we have to do is listen to the guidance he gives us through the Holy Ghost and learn to recognize those promptings!

I know this church is true. There is not a day that goes by that my testimony is not strengthened on that. More importantly, God is our loving Heavenly Father, who sent His son Jesus Christ to Atone for us that we might be forgiven and live again. I know Jesus Christ lives and that he is at the head of this church, leading and guiding us today through a modern day prophet. I know that prophet is Thomas S. Monson. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God, another testament of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for this opportunity to focus even more on the Book of Mormon as a missionary. It really is the Keystone of our religion and the most true book on this earth. Everytime I read it, new truths are revealed to me! I am so grateful for this simple testimony that I have and the opportunity I have to share it with others. It's been a blessing to see it change peoples lives!

I love you all and I hope you have a wonderful week and good luck with the move to Colorado! Drive safely!

Love Always,
Hermana Bradfield