A Great Week!

Things have been going really well this last week! We have been taking Stockton by storm! There is no stopping the missionaries! Clara, one of our long time investigators, FINALLY got her answer and she's getting baptized. It was SO cool. So last Wednesday, we talked with her about something (and now I can't remember) but then I invited her to read 2 Nep 31 and then make a list of reasons why she needs/should to be baptized, and another list of reasons why she doesn't feel like she should or what other reasons are holding her back (because she had told us that she didnt feel she needed to be baptized again earlier this week). We went back the next day with Arturo (and that's another story all in itself) and followed up with her on everything. She told us she read, but when I asked her if she had made the list she said "To tell you the truth, no. I didn't have time and I didn't need to!" So I continued to ask her why she didn't need to and she said "Because I've made my decision!" We sat in silence for about 30 seconds before I finally broke the ice and said "And what is your decision?" She said matter of factly "Well I'm going to be baptized!" She continued to tell us she read in verse 14 of 2 Nephi 31 that "...if anyone were to deny Christ after baptism, it would have been better if they had never known me..." and she said that that was a big deal and that wasn't a decision that her parents or anyone else could make for her; so she knows she needs to be baptized and that the church is true! It was really great! It was another wonderful experience to see the Lord's hand in the work we do and to see the power behind the Book of Mormon in answering anyone's questions! She's getting baptized this Saturday!

So Thursday Arturo said he wasn't working and that he wanted to help us out! So we said ok and told him we had appointments all day and told him he could just tell us what times were best for him. He said he'd come with us to our first and help us out all day. So we started our day off with Arturo visiting Less Actives, Clara, tracting (knocking doors)at 12 in the afternoon and Arturo was with us till the very end (came with us to dinner and everything) when our day ended at 9 o'clock. And he was still ready to come help us out for "an hour or something"(his own words haha) the next day if we needed him! He LOVED coming out with us and a couple of funny statements he made throughout the day were 1) "I never could understand why the sisters were always late for our appointments, but now I understand!" (A comment he made to Clara because we were late for her appointment and that was because HE was talking with Saul--lol) and then 2)" I work in construction and that's tiring work, but THIS is hard work what you do! I'm SO tired!" I can't help but laugh, he's so funny! I love Arturo. Then Rafael came out with us last night, and he's coming out with us again tonight! Sister Dastrup and I were very blessed to teach these wonderful people and be a part of their lives!

We took Aturo tracting with us that day and we tracted into a young man named Christian. He was really cool and said he wanted to come to church with us and set up a return appointment for Saturday morning. He wasn't there when we went but we went by to face him Sunday morning anyway. (Bonnie and I did because we did splits, since we had to visit a TON of people before church.) I guess he had called Sister Anderson 15 minutes before we stopped by to see if he could still come to church! He was waiting outside when Bonnie and I came, and said he'd be ready to go when Arturo came to pick him up. He came to church, we invited him to be baptized and he said Yes! So we went over to teach him the restoration last night (which he had already studied the little pamphlet we gave him) and also explained the commitment/promise we make at baptism and invited him, once again, to be baptized, and he said yes again! Now he is praying to know if he should be baptized on the 8th or the 15th of February! He's so cool! Rafael was really excited to help us out with Chris!

Well, my time is up but I want you all to know how much I LOVE missionary work! It is the greatest thing I have ever done in my life. I have never been happier! It's hard to not be when you are in the service of others and our Heavenly Father! Don't be afraid to let your light shine and share the gospel with others! It will be one of the greatest things you ever do and just imagine how happy you will be when someone you know and care about receives their answer and comes closer to our Heavenly Father through the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

I love you all and I hope you have a wonderful week!

Love Always-
Hermana Bradfield

Another week, a new transfer

Hey everyone-

Another week in the mission field and things are going well. Stockton is great! I love it here and this transfer is going to be the greatest! It's been really easy to adjust to living with 4 sisters instead of 2. I thought it would be a lot harder, but it's really been great! Sister Turley, one of the English sisters, is a hard worker and I'm really excited to get to see how she works, even though I'm not ACTUALLY working with her. It's been great working with Sister Anderson again too. I love this work!

Yesterday (Sunday) was a GREAT day. I don't know why, but Heavenly Father saw fit to bless us (well maybe more me) with so many different miracles. I was playing piano for Sacrament meeting again yesterday, and as I was sitting up on the stand, I got to watch EVERYONE walk into the meeting. Starting with all our recent converts who were all baptized last week, and our other RC's over the last 7 months. And then, the less actives we've been trying to work with for the last 7 months, 2 of them showed up at church yesterday, both of which I was absolutely ecstatic about; but one in particular, Hermano Flores, practically put me on cloud nine. My heart was about ready to burst out of my chest because I was so happy to see everyone! It was amazing.

Then to top it all off, we are teaching Saul's mom, who actually didn't like us at first, how to read; and yesterday she said she wanted us to teach her about the gospel, and she said a prayer thanking Heavenly Father for the change the church has brought in her son and his family's lives. She continued to tell us that just days before we knocked their door, they were actually talking about separating, but then we started teaching them and now they are married and they do everything as a family. Yesterday was one of those days where God gave you a huge peace of humble pie. Probably one of the greatest days of my mission!

Well, I have to go, but I love you all and I hope you have a great week!

TRANSFERS!

So Transfers... Sister Dastrup was transfered to East Sac again, and I am staying down here in Stockton--same area, but covering half of another area for 6 weeks until we get more Spanish Elders, and serving with Sister Anderson again (My "Mom" AKA trainer) for her last transfer before she goes home. They are also bringing down another set of English sisters again, so that should be interesting... Lots of changes but I know that we are going to learn a ton!

So this last week was NUTS! Sister Dastrup and I were so busy planning the wedding for Saul and Maria and teaching all 6 of our firms getting them ready for their baptism on Sunday. IT WAS AWESOME! and let me just say, the Lord had EVERYTHING to do with it and Sister Dastrup and I had NOTHING to do with it. We both agree that this was our worst transfer personally. There was so much opposition and so many times when we were just waiting for it all to come crashing down around us; but it's true what has been said, "Nothing can stop the work from progressing" because if it could, we might have ruined it long ago... Anyway, the WEDDING was awesome. So many members were so helpful and the wedding and reception only cost $20 in total (for plates and cups); everything else was donated from other weddings and borrowed from everyone! It looked way good. We are going to get a copy of pictures from Rafael and I'll send them to you! It was so great to see them married and the Spirit was so strong because they were doing something God wanted them to do.

Then Sunday they were baptized along with their son Sesar, Maria Patino's mom, Antonia, and Jose and Leticia Martinez, two kids from a member family! It was a great baptism and the members were all extremely supportive! It was such a wonderful and humbling transfer. I can't tell you why Heavenly Father blessed us so much to get to know these wonderful people and be apart of their conversion, but it has definitely been a very humbling experience.

I don't really have anymore time to write, that's how crazy this day has been. So I'll close for now and write more next week. Let me just say, Stockton hasn't gotten there yet, but it's about ready to bust through that barrier that's standing in between average missionary work and the missionary work where MILLIONS of miracles are waiting; and I'm gonna be here to see it and be a part of it!

I love you all! Have a great week

Love Always
Hermana Bradfield

WOW! It's been a while!

WHAT A WEEK we are going to have this week! We had to drop Carla and Rafael last week because they weren't progressing and immediately after that, Saul and Maria decided they were ready to be baptized! Them, their son, Antonia (Maria Patino who just got baptized before Christmas), and Leticia and Jose Martinez (Two kids from a part member family who just got back from Mexico 5 months ago! They are 9 and 10) are all getting baptized this Sunday and Saul and Maria are getting married on Saturday! This is going to be a BUSY week!

I can't believe that we are being so blessed to be working with these amazing people and their families! It's very humbling. It's not going to be easy though! Saul and Maria need to get their marriage license but he doesn't have valid photo id so he may have to go to the Consulate in Sac to receive a Matricula which is an identification card for Mexican Citizens so that they can get there license but they couldn't get an appointment for 15 days so we need to look for another way to get some form of valid photo identification! But we have faith that if God wants them to get married and baptized this week, it'll all work out! They really are an amazing family!

Last week an Elder here in Stockton was hit by a car on his bike. He broke his Clavicle and was scraped up good but that was the extent of his injuries. I felt bad for him especially since this was his first transfer in the mission but he was a sport about it and came to hang out with the Zone last week, even though he could barely walk, before getting transferred up to sac with another missionary who can't proselyte right now! I felt really bad for the Elder but even worse for his companion. His trainer Elder Rich, has only been out for 6-7 months when president assigned him to be a trainer and then his trainee got hit. He was seriously traumatized for a while. We felt so bad for him but I think that they are both doing a lot better now, which is a good thing!

We've been reading the Book of Mormon as a zone this transfer, trying to finish it by the end (I'm no where close this time) and I was reading in Mosiah 23 and 24 the other day about Alma and the people who fled with him to Helam (I think) from the evil priests of King Noah and how even thought they were a righteous people, God still allowed them to fall into bondage once again but because they were so righteous and stood firm in their faith and love of God and with good cheer and patience bore their afflictions, God delivered them out of bondage once again. The way they were delivered was even better. All God did was put the Lamanite guards under a deep sleep so all they had to do was walk out! The Lord truly delivers His people who are faithful! I hope you will all take a minute to read that story, its a good one!

Well I have to go but I hope all of you have a great week! I love you all and when you next hear from me, I'll know who my new companion is and if I'll be staying or going! Love you all! Until next TUESDAY!

Hermana Bradfield