The unexpected proselyting tool: Air Hockey

Hello!!!!

We have had a stellar week!! (sorry, it's a lengthy one, but worth the read.)

1. We attended a conference in Indianapolis with Elder S. Gifford Nielson who added gasoline to our flame of faith.

2. I hit my year mark!!!! September 21 has come and gone! (Happy Moroni Day by the way!) ;)

3. We saw a miracle.

Can I just say first that God's timing is so perfect? Alright alright, it all starts Sunday. We planned to go the the Stith's home and to teach them a lesson that day. Later in church, we saw Luz and she asked when she could come out with us (she is a returning less-active member and is getting super excited about the gospel and wanted to go knocking on doors with us!!) We told her that we were going to be in the neighborhood because the Stith family is in the same neighborhood as Luz and that we were planning on tracting anyway after their lesson!!

We got a call from Luz during the lesson and she wasn't sure she could come because her family was having a birthday party for her little brother Ben, but then she said her mom, Sara, said she could come, but her dad, Obento, didn't want her to be gone when they started the party. We asked Obento for permission and he gave us permission to take her! Obento is not a member and hasn't ever been interested in learning either.

We went tracting and no one was home! Maybe it was siesta time? I don't know. The very last door we knocked on was a man we were able to teach the Restoration and give a Book of Mormon to. Right when we were about to leave, Luz asked if she could tell him something. Now, before I tell you what she says, you need to know that she is a very animated, loud person. She loves messing with people and says what she thinks and her personality is exuberant, definitely has a dominant (red) personality. She told this man, that she was in the same situation as him not knowing whether or not the Book of Mormon was true, but that she had us come to her  home and she read and prayed about it and knew it was true and that it would help him in his life. She bore this testimony so humbly, I myself was touched by her sincerity. We left and she was pumped!!! She said "tracting is great!! Missionary work is great!!!!" haha

Her mom invited us to stay for Ben's birthday dinner, and so while we waited for the food we taught Luz the Word of Wisdom, something that she expressed was hard for her to keep because she LOVES coffee. We testified of her to the blessings but she wasn't sure if she would be able to keep it.

They had recently gotten an air hockey table and they were super excited about it and wanted to play us. Luz claimed she was the champion of it and wanted to show us her mad skills. Sis. Alapa played a couple minutes and then it was my turn. Luz was surprised at my defense and how I kept up with her. The score was 3 - 3 and she wanted to make it interesting by "betting something" I told her missionaries don't bet. She said, "It can be for church stuff! What is something that you've asked me to do but I'm not doing??" I looked at my comp and she nodded. I said, "Okay, if I win, you have to quit coffee." She said "WHAT??? Okay okay, you aren't going to win, so deal and if I win, you give me chocolate" (which is something I do already so I was okay with that haha)

The game was super intense and as we both progressed closer to 10 Luz started to freak out. I told her that God was on my side, and I really hoped He was. I was playing for a righteous cause, and I silently prayed for His help. The score was 7 - 7 and then boom, 3 in a row and Luz was defeated. She said, "I'm going through withdrawals already!!" haha and please note, that I am not even good at air hockey! I haven't played for probably 10 years!!!

But then, it gets better. She started playing her little 11 year old brother betting him that if she won, he had to come to church for a month, (I think she learned that when we pursue righteous endeavors God will bless us) they were tied and then Obento came and insisted that he played. Luz was upset because she was in the middle of a bet with her little brother so she extended that bet to Obento. If she won, the whole family had to come to church for 1 month. Obento seemed confident in himself and they proceeded to play. By some miracle Luz won the game. Obento was in denial haha but a deal is a deal.

Sorry folks the story is not over yet. We were eating dinner and Obento was playing trivia with us all, asking about who was president in what year (he is from Liberia) so he himself doesn't know haha) Luz kept trying to bring it back to Joseph Smith saying, "You know who else lived in the 1800s, Joseph Smith..." and talked about the Book of Mormon, eventually is was us, Obento and Luz and Luz straight up just started teaching Obento about Joseph Smith and what happened to him, we helped Luz teach and told him Joseph Smith's story and what the Book of Mormon is. Obento had never wanted to take the lessons and frankly hadn't been interested but his heart was softened and he told us that he had so many questions. He agreed to take the lessons. By this point, Sara came and sat down and she told us all how this was an answer to her prayers, that she had been praying he would just listen to the missionaries. God is a God of miracles. The evening lined up perfectly, Ben's birthday party had been postponed to that week. Their friends they invited to the party were really late, providing us the opportunity to teach, Luz had become excited about church and was there to encourage their family. They got an air hockey table two days before. We happened to plan to teach the Stiths that day so we were in her neighborhood. God is a God of miracles.

Hartman Rector Jr. in his talk "Following Christ to Victory" says this so well:

"Expect a miracle. All too often we really don’t expect a miracle. We are not looking for it, and so don’t recognize it when it comes. The Lord has commanded that we take the gospel to “every nation, kindred, tongue, and people” (D&C 77:8). So we pray for the Lord to cause a miracle which will break down those barriers that prohibit us from entering the nations where we are presently excluded...we must not overlook our need for help—the help we must have from the Lord—to hurdle the hedge to our next-door neighbor...

When the Lord said, “Lengthen your stride, quicken your pace, heighten your reach, widen your vision, and stretch your capacity,” he was in reality saying “expect a miracle,” for these are the stuff from which miracles are made.

The prophet says, “DO IT,” and he indicates the time is NOW. And expect the miracle."

Look for the miracles in your lives brothers and sisters. I promise they are there.

Serving with a smile,

Sister Bradley

Pictures:

 The only time we will get to see the temple!

Happy 1 year :)

Indiana Facebook Post - Misson tour

Mission tour day two (September 19, 2017) with the Elkhart, South Bend, Columbus, Indy, Bloomington and Terre Haute zones. It was another inspiring and instructional meeting taught by Elder and Sister Nielsen. As with yesterday, we were grateful to have in attendance some of the Stake Presidency members, their wives, and members of the Mission Presidency.

We have arrived Transfer 9

Hello!

Transfers were this week, and I was blessed with a wonderful new companion. Her name is Sister Alapa and is from Bountiful, Utah. Her heritage is from Hawaii, Samoa, and Tonga! I guess Mishawaka needs all the Polynesian missionaries :)

This week we did a TON of finding. We have been seeing a lot of turnover in the investigators we have, and are looking for God's elect. It used to really bother me and would make me incredibly sad when people would reject our message because I know and experience all the blessings they are currently missing, not having the fullness of the truth. However, I have come to learn there is no benefit in wasting time on those who are not prepared and will not listen right now, for "God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth." I have learned to trust in the Lord's timing for these people more, and know that He loves them more than I ever could at this time, and for this reason, " I will give thanks unto my God forever." (Alma 26:37)

This is one of our encounters this week :)

*knock knock*

*opens door*

 Lady: "Are you selling something?"

 Us: "No."

 Lady: "Who do you represent?"

 Us: "Jesus Christ"

*shuts door*

lol

One of the speakers in church yesterday talked about trials and tribulation and his message rang really true to me. He first asked us to think about the results of our lives if we were to only experience complete success: so pride, impatience with others, unsympathetic, laziness because everything is handed to us, no depth of character, intolerance with others and their incompetence, selfishness, and the list goes on.

What are the results of  trials and rejection and challenges in our lives? 

C h r i s t l i k e    A t t r i b u t e s.

Yep. Humility, empathy, compassion, charity, depth in our character, kindness to others who are struggling, a strengthened desire to work hard to progress, and a greater resolve to turn to God and rely on Him. Trials and failure have the capability of molding and shaping us into Christlike individuals, if we allow it to. I have seen time and time again in my life and on my mission that the hardest experiences produce the greatest results. Just the same happened to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The hardest and most excruciating moment of His life, the Atonement, produced  S A L V A T I O N  for  A L L  those who would follow Him. And that very event or "challenge" so to speak, that Jesus Christ so willingly and lovingly performed and endured was for US. All the trials we go through are primarily for ourselves, and maybe close individuals, but His Atonement was for us. The most difficult experience our Savior pursued and successfully committed is the center of every blessing we receive, and how grateful we are for that. Trials bring the greatest blessings.

Serving with a Smile,

Sister Bradley

Pictures:

 1. Making Pupusas with Luz and the Stiths :)

 2. Aiden and I on chef duty

3. Taaaadaaaaah!

4. Also, GUESS WHO I MET?? The one and only Emily Day's *cough cough, Emily Diamond's* sister-in-law!!! (I'm still not used to the name change haha) I know I know, crazy right?? Welcome to the mission Sister Dimond!

Irreplaceable - Email from Jenny Sept. 11

Friends and family, I know this is Jesus Christ's church. I know it with all my heart. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the absolute only way to sure peace, complete joy, and lasting happiness and I was privileged to witness it first hand this week.

On Saturday, the lives of all who witnessed the baptism of Ryan, Janet, and Aiden Stith were changed. The room was packed with supportive members who were anxious to welcome them into the fold. The Spirit grew stronger and stronger throughout the program until that final moment when they entered into the waters of baptism to make a covenant and witness unto our Father that they individually, and as a family were prepared to follow Jesus Christ's example throughout their lives, to keep His commandments, and always remember Him.

The next day, they received the gift of the Holy Ghost, and I honestly didn't think it could get any better, but wow was I wrong. During Sacrament meeting when each of them individually went up to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost I was touch more and more by the Spirit and the gravity of what was happening. They all were so grateful and touched by their experience of receiving one of the most precious gifts our Heavenly Father has to offer us. Janet leaned over to us after she sat down and  said with a HUGE smile on her face, "I feel different! I feel so good! What a bummer you guys weren't able to experience this as an adult." Ryan said, "I feel like I could go to Disney World!! Except right now it's raining there..." Aiden said, "I feel different, I don't know how to describe it!" Sister Soloa'i and I were overcome with so many emotions. Never in my life have I felt that incredible of a joy before. This I believe is what the Brethren were talking about when they tell us:

"There is no more compelling work than this, nor any which brings greater satisfaction...The Lord will reward and richly bless you as you humbly and prayerfully serve Him. More happiness awaits you than you have ever experienced as you labor among His children." (First Presidency, PMG)

What I believe is more beautiful than this experience is what the future holds for the Stith family. This is only the beginning. God has so many more blessings in store for them as they prepare for the temple to seal their family unit so their marriage is not just "death do you part" but for "time and for all eternity" with their children.

 For a while, I couldn't figure out how I could possess so much love for a family that I knew so little about. It wasn't just surface or shallow, but deep and pure. But then my dear companion opened my eyes. We were feeling Charity, the pure love of Christ for them. I feel so blessed to be able to feel a fraction of the love that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ has for them. 

 God is so good. His love is so great. His blessings are endless to those who follow Him.

Serving with a Smile,

Sister Bradley

Pictures!

 1. We went around to ward members and had them write notes to the Stiths and then Heart attacked them the day before their baptism :)

 2. The one, the only, STITH FAMILY 

 3. Left to right: Aiden, Janet, Ryan and in front is Mark (he turned 7 on their baptism day, next year, Ryan will be able to baptize him!!!! :) Happy Birthday Mark!)

4. Best day of my mission.

Text Message Treasures

Sister Bradley's mom received this video and follow text from a ward member:

"Thank you so much for sharing your daughter Sister Bradley with us.  This was yesterday at the Stith Family's baptism.  We are so glad she will be staying in our ward this transfer.  My husband is the Ward Mission leader and is so impressed with our sisters.  She is a dedicated missionary and a great example to our ward.  Thank you for sharing your daughter with us!  The Sammons"

Indianan Facebook Page - Zone Conference

An inspiring zone conference with these missionaries of the South Bend and Elkhart zones who know their purpose! Tuesday, September 5, 2017.

Hola - Email from Jenny Sept 5

Buenos Dias!

I went on a Spanish Exchange, and because the sisters were in a trio I was rockin' it as a third wheel, who spoke very broken Español :) apparently we got told the Book of Mormon is "death"...whatever that means, and I had no clue! Also, you want to know how many people I kissed that day?? LIKE AT LEAST 15 (on the cheek of course haha) apparently if you don't greet or say goodbye that way they think you have a hidden agenda. I learned pretty quickly to not feel awkward about it! Also, we had a very interesting dinner. We ate tostadas with spanish rice, which sounds all nice and normal, but then we added mash potatoes to it...weird right? It was pretty good though still :)

We also went on an exchange with the sisters in Warsaw. Sister Soloa'i had been dying to go to Warsaw her whole mission and her dream was finally coming true! Apparently Ben Higgens from the Bachelor is from Warsaw, Indiana and they totally went and tracked in his neighborhood trying to meet his family. Sadly, they didn't get to meet him. Meanwhile, while they were in a booshie, high class neighborhood. We were livin' the dream in a trailer park :) to be honest that was the first time I tracted in a trailer park and it was very interesting. We tried talking to everyone without much success. But of course, the very last people we talked to happened to be interested, had just barely moved and were looking for a church. Once again a testimony that God rewards us for our diligence :) We had a lesson with them later that week and they even came to church!!! :)

The Stith family...I don't even know where to start with them. They only have one lesson left, and THEY ARE SO READY!!! Last week, they were feeling kinda nervous, questioning if they were really ready for baptism, but as they pressed forward and kept learning, kept reading the scriptures, and kept choosing to keep the commandments, they now feel excited and ready to be members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Yesterday, in church, Janet even stood up and bore her testimony and told her story. I think the way I felt might be the equivalent of what a proud mom would feel as their child stood up for the first time to share their testimony :)

This week I have pondered the concept of consecration. I feel that on my mission I discover something I can do every day to be more consecrated. Looking at where I began my mission versus now, I am a completely different missionary. Our missionary handbook says "righteous conduct with influence your effectiveness as a missionary and your personal salvation." (page 7) If we can't be as obedient as possible for just 18 months or 2 years, why would God trust us with anything bigger in the next life. The first law of Heaven is obedience. To be with God, we must perfectly obey His laws. Am I perfect? Nope. Far from it actually. But, there is repentance, and the Atonement of Jesus Christ to carry us through our imperfections and allow us to change to become better, more consecrated, and more like the Savior, until we are perfect as He is. Neal A. Maxwell sums it up perfectly:

"So many of us are kept from eventual consecration because we mistakenly think that, somehow, by letting our will be swallowed up in the will of God, we lose our individuality (see Mosiah 15:7). What we are really worried about, of course, is not giving up self, but selfish things—like our roles, our time, our preeminence, and our possessions. No wonder we are instructed by the Savior to lose ourselves (see Luke 9:24). He is only asking us to lose the old self in order to find the new self. It is not a question of one’s losing identity but of finding his true identity! Ironically, so many people already lose themselves anyway in their consuming hobbies and preoccupations but with far, far lesser things...

Thus our deepest desires determine our degree of “obedience to the unenforceable.” God seeks to have us become more consecrated by giving everything. Then, when we come home to Him, He will generously give us “all that [He] hath” (D&C 84:38).

In conclusion, the submission of one’s will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God’s altar. The many other things we “give,” brothers and sisters, are actually the things He has already given or loaned to us. However, when you and I finally submit ourselves, by letting our individual wills be swallowed up in God’s will, then we are really giving something to Him! It is the only possession which is truly ours to give!" (Swallowed up in the will of the Father Neal A. Maxwell)

Serving with a Smile,

Sister Bradley

amo a las hermanas españolas! Can you spot all the mosquitoes?? 

Pupusas - Pictures from Jenny Sept. 4

Pictrures from Sara Garay of us making Pupusas!! It was so yummy!!