It´s wrong how much joy I find in a can of Diet Coke.

....so wrong it´s right? :)

So, yeah. It was kind of one of those weeks where I was feeling very...broken and incompetant and just kind of not worthy of all the blessings we are receiving, BUT. It was wonderful and we were SOOO blessed that I don´t even know where to begin. 

JOJO IS GETTING BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY!!! Oh my heart. It´s too good. Seriously, he is SO elect. I honestly think he is the most elect person I have ever taught. It´s a dream teaching him. A dream. About the commandments, he´s just like....if God said it, then we have to do it. And we were teaching about repentance and enduring to the end, and afterward, he gave the most wonderful prayer asking for forgiveness of his sins and for strength to always do what is right and to be able to stay on the true path until eternal life. Oh, my heart--when people really get it, like actually understand what we are saying and apply it in their lives, it is the BEST.

And, he has this friend, Tony, who has a family that is SO elect and so wonderful, and oh I just DIED teaching them. Literally, there is nothing better than kneeling down with the whole family and saying that closing prayer after a really powerful first lesson and their 11 year old daughter saying the most amazingly sincere perfect prayer I have ever heard. And, when we invited his ´wife´ (the quotations are there, because turns out they arent married yet, so...wedding plans!!!) to be baptized, she just looked at us with the most intent eyes and said, ´Of course!´ And then when we were leaving, she looked at Tony and said, ´You´re going to get baptized on the 28th too right?´ And then she looked at us and winked. Oh, my heart. Seriously, they are the most amazing family. Nidia and her two children came to church on Sunday, and afterward, Nidia goes, ´Do you have it every Sunday?´ And then she said (about her 11 year old daughter Diana) ´She really liked it and she wants to be baptized in this church.´ Ahhh!! Yes, absolutely we can make that happen. Open the heavens are just opening and pouring down blessings on us. They are the most precious family. I love them so.  

It´s the month of invites, so I´ve been thinking a lot about the importance of the Sabbath day and how we can keep it holy. On the mission, every day is kind of like a sabbath day. So, I was trying to think about how we can make sure that we never forget God. And that´s when it hit me. He literally made it impossible. Like, He gave us a day to dedicate to Him so that we COULDNT forget him. Oh, He is SO good. And so smart. And then, everything we do on that day should be to show Him that we haven´t forgotten Him and to serve our neighbor and to share the gospel and to do visiting teaching or visit less actives or make cookies for someone who needs a little pick-me-up, and then I got sooo excited for Sundays :) Hahah I love Heavenly Father. I am SO grateful that He loves me despite all of my imperfections and weaknesses. 

Thank you for your love and your prayers. I really felt the power of your prayers this week. I can´t really explain it, but between your prayers and the enabling power of the Atonement, I had the extra strength and energy that was so beyond needed. I know that through Christ, we are capable of all things. I know that this is the most important work on the earth. I know that Christ lives and He loves us and He is aware of us and He is by our side every step of the way. 

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH. So. so. SO. much. I dont think you will ever know how much I love you or how much you all mean to me. 

xoxo,

Sister Brooks