Ye need not fear...

Yes, I know that it's late again, BUT we had to race around like chickens with our heads cut off today to find a computer to check our email. Since it is Memorial Day, the libraries and our apartment's office were closed, and we just got back from Downtown Sacramento about an hour ago! It's been a crazy day.

We started off the day normal, with our cleaning and our studies, and then we headed over to the trolley and rode down to Downtown Sacramento to go shopping. It was great! It was actually the first time I walked into a store and was THRILLED to be there, even though I knew I couldn't buy much since I'm still a missionary; and there is no point in buying "worldly clothes" since I'd only be able to wear them on p-days. I ended up buying a few short-sleeved white shirts, which means I might even be able to throw away my old ones (the ones I brought from home that now look discolored... ugh I feel like an elder sometimes! lol). Although, they are so worn that they are really light weight and that's nice for the summer. We'll see. I also bought a couple of colored shirts and a super light weight cardigan. Kim, Katelyn and Kody, you would be so proud of me and the shirt selections I made! I'll get around to sending my memory cards home someday! Promise!

Then we met up with some of the other Spanish Elders, in Old Sacramento, to go to lunch and see the sights on Memorial Day! We all had a good time, but it definitely took up a ton of the day!

This last week was interesting. I wrote about it in Gma and Gpas letter this week; but last week after our Zone activity, we were shopping and I started to feel sick. Before I knew it, it was 8 o'clock and I was super sick and our exchange (who was a nurse) ended up taking Sister Laird and I home early so I could go to bed. By 1 o'clock in the morning, we were BOTH sick, and Sister Laird spent a good chunk of the night in the bathroom sick! We were both feeling really weak, and we both were laughing (even still) at the magic touch of the mom. The most common phrase said between us those couple of days we stayed in sick were, "I want my mommy!!!" You are never too old for your mother when you are sick! But all is well now in Zion; we are both fully recovered and are back too work. I think we both got the stomach virus that's going around. One of the members here had it along with her whole family!

After being in sick for two days, we ended up having one of the BEST lessons with Teresa. She's had somewhat of a rough life, and she told us she didn't know or believe that God loved her. It was one of those times on the mission where I felt the Spirit guiding me to say the words that she needed to hear and promising blessings that the Lord had for her. We promised her that if she had faith and would kneel down and pray to ask God, if she was a daughter of God and if he loved her, she would receive an answer in one form or another (we gave her examples like a burning feeling within your heart, goosebumps, feeling of someone throwing a bucket of water over your head, etc.). She said she had the faith that she would receive the answer, and so we knelt down and we all offered up a prayer. The Spirit was so strong in that room. I could feel the love that God had for her, and I knew she was feeling it too. After a couple of minutes, of waiting for her answer, she looked at us and she had a new light about her. She told us that she felt a burning within her heart and that she felt something she couldn't describe all over. She now has a testimony that she is a daughter of God, and for the first time, in a long time (or maybe even the first time in her life) she knows that God loves her. It was an amazing experience! Danny didn't make it to church yesterday, but she did! (This is significant because, in the beginning, she said she'd go to church if Danny did because she wasn't the type of person who ever desired to go to church every Sunday!) She is such an amazing person and the Lord has been preparing her to receive the restored gospel. I have no doubt that she will soon be ready to enter into the waters of baptism!

I just want you all to know that I know that this is the true gospel of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for the wonderful opportunity I have to share the gospel and see the blessings it brings as people begin to live by it's principles. I hope you will all pray to have more missionary opportunities and take advantage of them. There is nothing that compares to this work! I love you all and I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Love Always-
Hermana Bradfield

PS. Kim and Shelby- Congrats on Graduation! Hope you had a good weekend!

Transfers!

Nothing too exciting to report about transfers this time. All the Spanish sisters stayed the same, as we all expected. I forgot to mention, last week, that this week was transfers. Sorry, I know Mom was probably really sad when my email didn't come yesterday. Just to let you know, this is going to be a short email because we don't have a lot of time. We've spent this morning at the temple and then the rest of the day/afternoon at an English member's home, who has arcade games and all sorts of blow up castle things, and a home jeapordy game. It was a fun afternoon.

Yesterday we taught an awesome lesson to Manuel y Alma about the Word of Wisdom, and Manuel committed to live the Word of Wisdom and not smoke anymore; and he dumped out the rest of the beer cans that he had, in the sink, down the drain! They are such an awesome family! I love teaching the gospel and seeing it change lives. It's going to be a while before they can be baptized, but they truly are a sincere family and the moment that they can be baptized, I know they will be ready and more than willing!

Well, as I said, not a lot of time. REALLY SORRY! We have to go and get our shopping done. I hope you all have a great week, and I'll write more next week!

Love Always-
Hermana Bradfield

Hola!

Just got back from Coloma... It was fun to be with the other missionaries and I'm soaked! Just ask Grandma and Grandpa on Friday for details! It was really fun!

It was great talking with you all yesterday. Glad to hear things are going so well! It went by way fast! So, the next time I hear your sweet voices will be in Oct.

Sunday was great. Teresa and Daniel came again and we asked Teresa for permission to invite Danny to be baptized; she said that was ok and that he was old enough to make his own decision! She is also praying to know if she should be baptized on the 30th. She has to overcome a few things, but I know she will.

I found out today from Elder Hall (old Stockton district leader) how everyone is doing in Stockton. Sounds like some things are good and other things not so good! I'm really sad to say that Martin has taken a turn for the worst, has started drinking again and last time he talked to Elder Hall he wanted to know how to get his name removed! I was REALLY sad to hear that. I mentioned more in my letter to Gma and Gpa, so you can read about everyone else there.

Well, I'm on my way back to Elk Grove, minus one flip flop that was lost to the creek on our detour back in the creek!

Love your guts always-
Hermana Bradfield

Whoop! Whoop!

What a week! We have seen so many miracles. We had 6 people come to church this Sunday. Our Family, Alma and Manuel and their kids, all came again, along with Manuel's daughter from his first marriage. She and the kids LOVED Primary and Young Women's. They didn't want to leave at the end of the second hour, so when Manuel and Alma had to leave for health reasons again, they were thrilled that their kids wanted to stay and very pleased that we offered to find a member to take them home after the last hour. They are such an awesome family, and as long as they keep their commitments by reading, praying, coming to church, and living the commandments as we teach them, I have no doubt that they will get baptized. They already expressed how much they felt a difference and a desire to change their lives around in the first week after going to church! It's been so great to see the gospel changing their lives!

We also brought a new mom and her son to church. Their names are Teresa and Daniel. Daniel wants to go on the Young Men's campout this Friday. Hopefully we can get him set up to go! That would so awesome. Ricki (Our recent convert as of Saturday) did a great job fellowshipping Daniel, and was so great in helping us to make sure Daniel felt comfortable and welcomed and enjoyed church! I love that kid! Ricki is super awesome!

Ricki's baptism went really well. He seemed really pleased with it, especially with the fact that he made me sing in front of everyone for the musical number! I ended up singing River God (even though it's in English. I figured he spoke English and that's what counts!); he seemed very appreciative for the song. He came up to me and told me I did a great job; but it was only a tender moment for 2 seconds before we returned back to our jokes and hard times about who's gonna win the semi finals - the Nuggets or the Lakers. We shall see, but from what I'm hearing, I have faith in the Nuggets!

Things have been going well. I got a hair cut the other day (By the way... I was going to send you a pic over a month ago when I first cut my hair back in Stockton, but I just haven't got around to it!). Anyway, the guy was very nice but did a really fast, quick job on my hair and NOT at all what I wanted. Oh well, give it 2 weeks and any bad hair cut turns into a good one, right! Anyway, don't make fun of my hair when you get the pictures soon (probably not this week!).

Well no one ever said anything about when to call on Mother's Day, so I will just plan on calling around 8-9 your time! Be on the look out this Sunday! Congrats with the move, and I hope you all have a great week!

P.S. I saw Keith Urban has a new cd out, and I just wanted to buy it and listen to it; but I remembered that I was a missionary and that wasn't allowed! Fooey!

Love your guts!

Love Always-
Hermana Bradfield