Speaking of Conversion....

So we visitors Center missionaries get the privelege of experiencing Narnia.  There is a room that is ONLY for us with Kiosks, a TV, a Christus Cut Out and lots of videos. All the Elders are jealous and want to come on a tour of our "visitors center". We gladly give them because we need a  LOT of practice. Trying to convert someone in 20 or less minutes is hard. You should try it.

Speaking of conversion, I have learned a lot about the Atonement the last couple of days. A teacher of mine said, "Repentance is doing ANY good thing that brings us closer to Christ". I love that. As we strive to do what is right, the Lord is aware, and we are able to have the benefit of having the holy ghost. In Preach my Gospel, it refers to repentance as turning away from the lord, the world, and towards Christ (in so many words... don't have it in front of me). I think we all (And I am learning this) need to realize that if we want to change, to progress, and actively strive to do just that, we are using the Atonement. It's as simple as that. Putting one step in front of the other on a path towards Christ is what the Atonement is really all about.

I gave my first tours last night as a Visitors Center missionary. I loved it. I love people. I love that by talking to someone I can learn so much about who I want to be, and also learn some pretty important principles about how I need to progress. People are powerful.

 

I came up with a couple new things for my "You know You're in the MTC if" list.

YOU KNOW YOURE IN THE MTC IF:

 -There is a fire alarm at 10 PM and girls run outside in their towels. ONLY, they have 3 different towels covering their arms, legs, and torso so as to be modest. Pretty amazing. Oh, and the "fire" was burnt popcorn (Yes I sang "Ryan Started the FIIIRE!" From the Office only with "Sisters" instead of "ryan)\ 

-You are SO ready for bed by 9:30 but there's still so much to do

-The food at the Temple is like Christmas

-People look forward to "Chicken Corden Blue" from the Cafeteria like Christmas also. Just FYI it's disgusting. And the chicken looks like a hamster

-You get 2 new sisters in your room from Tahiti, and they speak no English so communication is a lot of smiles. A smile is a universal sign of friendship I think.

Since this will be my last letter from the MTC (My P-Day was changed to Friday because we are in new training for Visitors' Center),  I better say a few things I've learned.

 -The Atonement is real for EVERYONE. It is there for us to use and the blessings if we do are immense. I can honestly say that there have been hard moments, where prayer was needed, and the atonement strenghtened me just simply through believing that it would.

 -People are amazing. Even if we have NOTHING in common with someone, you can grow to love them and they will be your new best friend.

 -Journal writing is important! I'm so grateful I wrote things down that I can go back and read and see how far I've come.

 -Clean clothes is a beautiful thing

 -Thank heavens for good teachers

 -HUMILITY! And not being unconfident, just realizing that the Lord is the one who helps us... we don't help ourselves. We have to rely on him for the things we need.

I've learned a lot more than jsut that, but I've got 2 minutes left on my timer. I love you all so much! I am so blessed to have good friends and family. Thank you for being so supportive. Everytime I get a letter, it is like 5 minutes of total joy as I read them.  Thank you Thank you.

The Gospel is TRUE! I KNOW THAT!! Love you!

Sista Brink

Week 3 Down!

 It's kind of weird because while I have been here for only 3 weeks it really does seem like years. I have gotten used to my normal day:  waking up, going running, going to breakfast, going to class, teaching some investigators, going to lunch, going to class, teaching some investigators, reading the scriptures, going to gym and playing some volleyball (so dang fun), studying Preach My Gospel (if you don't have a copy, GET IT! It's amazing. Not just for missionaries, but a great study tool if you want to really improve the effectiveness of your study), memorizing scriptures, planning for the next day and having fun times with my roomates before bed. Thats a usual day here at the MTC. This week it will change a bit because our Elders leave from our district and we have a week of Visitors Center training. It will still be pretty much the same thing... Eating, Class, Teaching, Studying...Let's all pray my skirts still fit when I leave here. Eating then sitting then eating then sitting isn't the most ideal situation. Especially for those of you who know me well. (Yes, I'm a bit stressed about it! haha).

After a long day this week I looked down at my shoes and suddenly visualized how good they will look after I polished them that night and I said to Sis. Morty: "Ooooh! I can't wait to polish my shoes tonight!" to which she responds "That's when you know you're in the MTC..." So I decided to make a list of How you Know you're in the MTC (These are all things that have happened. Enjoy).

YOU KNOW YOU'RE IN THE MTC IF:

 -You're excited to polish your shoes after the long day 

-You argue with Elders at meak times about the lyrics to "Be A Man" from Mulan. (It's BE a Man, not WE are men, right?!) You realize during this argument how useful and lucky we are to have Google. Except we can't access it... SO you people, don't ever take for granted the amazingness of Google.

 -The musical fireside (Where people pick their favorite hymn and we all sing  it...) is the best thing that has EVER happened because listening to music is not allowed 

-You go to morning aerobics with 20 other girls. It's hilarious.

 -[If you're a sister] you get EVERY door opened for you and also get to cut all of the Elders in line for food 

-You have gas from the Salad (they put something on it that keeps it fresh.  Also gives gas... So there's no right answer)

 -You can NOT wait to use a computer for 30 minutes just to be able to have some form of real life -There is always a line of  people waiting anxiously for mail. 3 times a day.

 -Going to bed is such a blessing

 -You look in the mirror and realize your hair is 3 different colors, but, alas... it doesn't matter and you cant really do anything about it anyway

-You miss things that were just mundane before... Diet Dr. Pepper with Vanilla from Sonic, for example. And tootsie Pops. And Modern Family.

 -You miss the un-mundane things too... like family and friends. So much.

 -It's either make-up or hair. No time for both.

 -You become WAY grateful for things. Like conference on couches.

- (I have to throw in a cheesy cliche one) You really come to know the importance of obedience, studying the scriptures, and prayer. So much prayer.

I loved conference. It was written totally for me I think. We literally would eat, go watch it on AWFUL chairs, eat again, watch again... so you can imagine how many notes I took. It was amazing though. I am always so amazed at how personal it becomes. I especially liked Pres. Monson's talk on being grateful. I realize that I haven't been super grateful for things in my life, always wanting the next best thing. I am excited to learn more about being gracious. I love this Scripture in Alma when he is teaching the Zoramites. Alma 34:38. Look it up, its good.

Funny story: Last year during Children of Eden, I had a fan who would come to the show and then write on my facebook wall and just was so funny about it. He is here! It was hilarious because my district was joking about how I have fans at the MTC and I was like "No no...." and THEN up comes this Elder whos like "umm... this is awkward.... but I'm your biggest fan. I came to Children of Eden 3 times just to see you." Perfect timing. SO hilarious (Sean, I mostly wrote that for you...)

 I got to sing "Savior, Redeemer" at a fireside for the Sisters. I am grateful I was able to do that. I didn't think music would really be a huge part of my mission. Maybe that was silly thinking... I love being able to share my testimony through song. Don't laugh, it's true.

Well I need to go! I am so happy I have people supporting me. I got about 30 cards from the MDT program yesterday and it made my day! Thank you! I love you all so much! 

Family- I love and miss you. Thank you for being so supportive. 

COLLEEN AND STACEY I NEED PICTURES! AND LETTERS!

 Love you!

 Sista Brink

I'm a "Special" Sister

Wowwwwww.  Humility is all I can say. 

I really think the thing I have learned most the last 2 weeks is humility. I have a lot of issues with ever thinking that I am good enough, and being here on the most important journey, that issue has been heightened. I have really learned to let the Lord help me and allow him to provide me with the necessary tools I need to teach.  Matthew 19 24-26 says "but with God all things are possible". I truly believe that. I also didn't really think I could learn anything from the people in my district and they have all taught me more than I could ever express. Very humbling.

Speaking of teaching. I love it so much. Sis. Morty and I are doing really great together and we have had some amazing experiences in the TRC (Teaching Resource Center where they have fake investigators for  us to teach) and everytime we teach the Spirit bears testimony to me that I am where I am supposed to be and also how much he loves his children and wants them to return to Him. We really are so blessed to have the Gospel in our lives because it was set up completely for us.  It's such a neat thing to be able to look at someone and really believe they are investigating the church and want nothing more for them than to help them come unto Christ. I love it.  People keep asking me how I am doing with working out and eating healthy which means you all know me too well :) I have been running a  ton during Gym and have made a couple sister running buddies. The meals are rough sometimes, but I can eat salad and wraps most days. Thanks for caring! It makes me smile.

Linz gave me a pen before I left that says "special sister" on it. It's my favorite pen because of how it writes so I get a lot of laughs when I say I'm a "special sister". Pretty funny.

We had the most hilarious meeting last night about health in the field. The Doctor on campus was hilarious and kept talking, very much descriptively about how to avoid getting rectal diseases. Awesome, right? I felt like a kid because everytime he said "stool, rectum, rectal or bowel movement" I about peed myself.

I love missionary work and I love being here. My companion and I have become so close and I am so grateful for that. She has blessed my life in so many ways and so have the other sisters in my district. We all have our own weaknesses and we help each other out.

I wish I had more time to write, but the ticker is-a-tickin. I love receiving letters! It's a breath of fresh real-life- air, so thank you! I feel so loved and blessed to have the support of so many.

Love,

Sista Brink

Do You Always Shake Your Voice Like That?

Why, Hello!

Sister Brinkerhoff here. Holy cow, it is crazy that it is all readyTuesday and I haven't even been here a week yet. Time is flying, yet going so slow at the same time. They say that the days go by slow and the weeks fly by. I guess I'll tell you if that's true when I've actually been here longer than a week.

 

I miss you all so much. Yesterday in particular I had a moment where I realized that 18 months DOES seem like a long time. I gotteary-eyed for a second, and then I was OK. I have to be honest, I really do love being here and love what I am learning BUT I really do miss home. Feels like I've been gone WAY longer than a week, so I can only imagine how much I will miss you by the time it's time for me to come home.

A couple things. FIRST off: There is a website called Dearelder.com.I totally forgot to tell you about it when I left. You can get on there and write a letter to me and they deliver it the same day. I know you didn't know about it, so I won't be mad that I was the only missionary in my district who wasn't getting letters everyday (Except for Cameron, my old Roomie Lauren, Todd and Mega, Jere sent one to my actual box... These people knew about it- and I LOVED getting letters from them- OR they love me more than my own family....just kiddin. Karen Merrill also sent some cookies and a letter with Brad that was delivered to me. So sweet. ) from you all. Get on there and send me letters! It really is amazing how much those letters motivate me and give me a breath of relief for a few minutes.

My MTC address (Mom- You should have it, do you not?) is Sister

Bailee Alise Brinkerhoff MTC Mailbox #170 CA-LA 1013

2005 N. 900 E.

Provo, UT 84604- 1793

Feel free to send anything :) I get it the day it gets here, not just mail days.

SO now that that stuff is over, I'll share what it's been for thefirst couple of days here at the MTC. I walked in, and it's true what they tell you, the spirit is dripping off of the walls. It'spretty crazy. I got directed around by another Sister who was VERYexcited to help me (thats a common trend... people are just happy here.) get all my things to my room and such and then we went to our class. My teachers-- Bro. Oldham and Sis.Tan-- are really great. They totally get me, and I appreciate that Ifeel I can talk to them about things. I loved my first couple ofdays. SO much. I was so excited to learn, excited to grow andanxious to get teaching. My companion-- Sister Mortenson (I refer to her as Sis. Morty in my journal because it's too long to write)-- is really great. It's funny to meet people who don't know me at all. I always feel alittle bit apprehensive about some things. Talking about myself, for example, because I feel like when I say things like "I study Music, Dance Theatre" people don't take me seriously.

At one point,  after a hymn, Sis. Morty said "Do you always shakeyour voice like that?" I laughed pretty hard. I'm singing in churchthis Sunday so the word must've gotten around that I sing. I kind ofthought I would leave that part of me at home, but who am I kidding? I was born to sing! I am grateful for the opportunity to share my testimony with my talents. I think it will be a huge blessing while I am here.

 

Anyways. Wednesday and Thursday were REALLY long. Class, group meetings, learning things about the MTC... Thursday night we had interviews with our Branch Presidency and I love them. Their wivesare involved with us too and they are really great. I was called asthe Coordinating Sister of my Branch which basically means I am responsible for the other Sisters' obedience, well-being, and some logistical stuff. I thrive in leadership, I'm learning. I really like being able to be focused on other people, it takes away from me being so dang focused on my own faults.

Sunday was amazing. I was in meetings ALL day and it was reallygreat to meet Sisters from all over the world. Our Sacrament meetingwas so empowering. A few elders sang a medley and the spirit was so strong. I was really humbled. Probably the thing I have felt most this week was humbled.

I have taught 4 lessons now to investigators (people "acting" like investigators. But they really make it seem real...) and I am learning so much about teaching with the spirit and having it direct the lesson rather than following a lesson plan. I love it.

My time is-a-tickin. I want you all to know how much I love you andam grateful for all of the people in my life who are supporting meand have shaped me into the person I am. I love you all soooo much. Thank you. The church is true, I promise you that.

Love

Sister Brinkerhoff (weird, right?)