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