Missionaries Need Their Moms

Whew! So, all I have to say is that allergies are the worst result of the fall of Adam and Eve... I'm thoroughly looking forward to my resurrected body with no sniveling, runny nose, itchy eyes or throat, and sneezing... My goodness!! I forgot to take my Allegra-D on Saturday night, and WOW, that cost me pretty bad. I really have forgotten how badly my allergies can incapacitate me! Elder Barnes and I didn't get a ton of work done yesterday, about when I felt better, we went out to work, and another wave hit me, but we stayed out anyways, and I just said the work needs to be done, and suffered. I just told him to do most of the contacts, since it's difficult for me to do so, blowing my nose every 15 seconds... We did find this family, husband wife and kid, from Mexico City, Mexico, who said we could come back and teach them! The husband understands English well, but the rest of the family doesn't too well. What's funny about that is that Elder Barnes and I were thinking about trying to learn Spanish! He said he'll wake up at 5:30 to do that, and I see no reason why we shouldn't try to learn. Only problem is, is that I'm not sure where to start... Luckily, I have retained some of my vocabulary and very little gramatical skills, but it's better than nothing! So yeah... We'll figure that out somehow, haha.
Brad is doing well! He's all ready and fired up to go to church again. And lately, I did a study about all the war chapters through late Alma to 3 Nephi, and something very interesting came to me as I was reading. In those chapters is a formula to overcome trials, troubles, struggles and addictions. It's actually quite incredible what I found reading about the Nephites and the Lamanites. Who could have thought there was so much to learn in those chapters! I'll send you a copy of my inspiration. I'm quite proud (but give credit to the Lord of course). :)

My favorite thing that Elder Barnes has said recently, was when he looked at the pile of dishes in the sink and the ramen in the cupboards, etc. etc., he looked at me and sighed and said, "Missionaries need their mothers." Haha! It cracked me up pretty good, although the statement is pretty accurate in most aspects.

The work is still going slow. Brad is our most solid investigator, and it seems like everything is falling through, while on the other side of town, they found 6 new investigators this week, which could be tough on Elder Barnes seeing the contrast. We have a lot of potential investigators, the problem is that we can't seem to get a hold of a lot of them, so we are doing a lot of eliminating, and moving on. Something's got to give soon, cause even I'm beginning to stress a little bit, because Elder Barnes needs the practice with the lessons. But I accept too that if this is the will of the Lord at the moment, then it is so, and there is something to be learned by Elder Barnes and I. But it doesn't make it any less frustrating...

Great to hear about Brigham! And Maddie! I'm glad that the family is doing well, I'm always happy to hear that!

When I said I was tired, it was more of an, exhausted in spirit and mind kind of tired. Like, I just wanted one day off to really recuperate; but I'm surviving, so I know the Lord is sustaining me!

You know, Elder Barnes and I were discussing The Holy Ghost and the Light of Christ this morning, and the difference between the two and we had a huge question come up that neither of us could answer... What is the difference between the two, and what is the difference of not having the Spirit with us before baptism and having it after? Because people feel the Spirit before they are baptized, even before they meet missionaries, there is no doubt about that. So what more blessings can members receive from the Holy Ghost that nonmembers cannot experience? Kinda confused on that one. Does it make sense?

Anyways, it looks like I'm having a cry-fest over here on my computer cause my eyes are watering so bad. That's about all there is to write about at the moment, I'm just a bit frustrated about the way things are going right now, and I guess that's a good drive to work to make it better...

LOVE,
ELDER BROOKS