Hace Calor? Mí mal

September 30,2019

¡Hola Y'all!

California is still an absolute DREAM y'all I love it so much here:) it's starting to cool off and everything and I'm getting so pumped for Fall and everything coming up! But okay this week was so awesome. We found 3(!) new people to teach and had 2 people come to church, and my testimony that exact obedience brings miracles is growing everyday.

This week one of the people we are teaching moved back to Mexico and it was so sad! Goodbyes are really the worst, but knowing that we'll all see each other again after this life makes it a little better :') Hermana Hinton and I also kind of got stood up for a lot of lessons this week which is un poquito rough, but we were able to talk to soo many people with the free time that we had because of it. 

Also on Saturday we went on exchanges again, and my girl Sister Opfar from Texas came to Bonita Park with me. I was so nervous at first to be leading the area, especially because Sister Opar is an ASL missionary so she doesn't know Spanish, but it was blast and a half honestly. We had two lessons scheduled that were going to be pretty much only Spanish, but during our first lesson with this guy named Juan his nephew Joseph was there, and Joseph knows perfect English and Spanish! Sister Opfar was so pumped about that, and honestly I was too. We planned on teaching the Plan of Salvation to Juan, but then him and Joseph just had so many questions about all kinds of things in our church. We were able to talk about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and what happens after this life, and also about the Book of Mormon and how truly incredible it really is. We gave them both their own copy of the Book of Mormon, and the Spirit there was so incredibly strong. 

And speaking of the Book of Mormon, y'all, I know with my whole entire heart and soul that this book is true. There is so much goodness within the pages of it, and so much to be learned from the testimonies of the prophets that have written in it. For those of you that aren't super familiar with it, the Book of Mormon is a record from the prophets of the Ancient Americas! Super super long ago (600 B.C.) a prophet named Lehi received revelation from God to move his family away from Jerusalem, and the Book of Mormon is the record of their journey coming to the "Promised Land" (somewhere in the Americas), and the civilizations that they started once they got here. The plates that they wrote on were passed from generation to generation and written on by a bunch of really righteous prophets, all the way through A.D. 421, and then all of this was translated by Joseph Smith in the late 1820's. I really, really, really want to encourage everyone who has read the Book of Mormon to read it again, and those of you who haven't ever read it should give it a shot! Like I said before, I know that it's true. I know that we can learn more about Christ and grow closer to him by reading it, and I'm so, so grateful for that :) Also! There are Book of Mormon videos out on churchofjesuschrist.org and I'm so hyped about them, so please everyone go watch them!

Okay but now just my little funny story for the week. On Wednesday we went to visit Karina, and like always she made us some amaaazing Mexican food. Her daughter, Genesis, was sitting next to me being all cute and asking me to feed her, but I guess it was super hot so she spit it out and I was like "Oh, hace calor?" Karina started dyyying laughing. She went and told everyone else in the house what I said, and the whole house was howling at me hahaha. APPARENTLY "hace calor" is only for weather, but when you're walking about food es "caliente" oops. I'm just glad that Karina feels comfortable enough with me to roast me I guess🤠

Anyways, I love y'all so so much and beyond grateful for all your love!! Have a great week everyone!!

Con Amor,

Hermana Brayton:)

One of my skater boy-friends and his Jesus Sticker,
idk why he looks so scared in this though I promise we're homies

Banana tree 

Mexican Ice Cream🤤

PSA dawn dish soap is a bad idea in a dishwasher oops

If You Know, You Know

September 23,2019

¡Holaaa Y'all!

How is everyone?? So good I hope:) I'm not going to lie, this week was one for the books it was sooo amaZING! It started out not so amazing though bc we got into another little parking lot fender bender, but instead of just bending our fender, this little Hispanic lady took our whole front bumper off. I love California drivers :)

Tuesday we had interviews with President Golden, and I swear he's one of the most spiritually intune people I've ever met. He has the best advice and always knows exactly what to say. I for surely got so lucky to have him and SIster Golden here with me, they are just like my third set of grandparents, and their love for all of the missionaries here is so evident.

Speaking of love, this week I really realized how attached I am to the people Hermana Hinton and I are teaching. Don't get me wrong, I've always loved them so much, but now they really are like my family and I don't want to ever leave them! We went on exchanges on Thursday, so a different missionary who doesn't know any type of Spanish (Bless her heart (she's an ASL Sister)) was with Hermana Hinton for a few of our lessons. That night, both of the people they went to visit messaged me/sent Hermana Hinton with something for me bc they missed me! It was seriously so tender :')

Saturday was really the highlight of this week though. We were able to have Elder Quentin L. Cook (one of the 12 Apostles from our church!) come speak to our whole mission! Elder Pearson and Bishop Caussé and Sister Cook all spoke as well, and they are each so incredible. But when Elder Cook was speaking, I swear I have never felt the Spirit so powerfully in all my 19 years. The room was literally heavy with it, and when he was finished and they all left, all of us missionaries were completely silent and just trying to take everything all in. It's crazy sometimes when things just hit you. Like Jesus Christ REALLY lives. He really came to this Earth and was perfect. He REALLY died for us. He felt every single pain, heartache, disappointment, defeat, insecurity, and guilt.  He felt it ALL because he REALLY loves us. This is something that I've learned all throughout my life, but my understanding and appreciation for Jesus Christ and His Atonement have grown so much in these past 3 months. I am so incredibly grateful though for my amazing parents for teaching me and being such wonderful examples to me. I really owe this all to them and their love and persistence to help me know these things so I can share them with others! Never be afraid to share your testimony of Jesus Christ with the people around you. Everyone needs a little more Jesus in their lives, and after all, if you know, you know!

Really quick though before I go, I don't how many of y'all have seen this, they are coming out with Book of Mormon Videos!!! I am sooo pumped for these, and I'm going to share the link on my facebook. Please check them out when you have free time, they're going to be so good!!

But okay I love y'all muchisimo y les extrano! Espero que tengan una buena semana!!

Con Amor,

Hermana Brayton:)

2500 N Bristol St

Santa Ana, CA

92706

Really Good, All Love :)

September 16, 2019

¡Hola Y'all!

This week was such a roller coaster of a week, but so many good things happened! On Wednesday we found an awesome new girl to teach named Karla, and she has two CUTE kids. During our lesson, her little girl just came and cuddled up next to me, and when we had to leave she just kept saying "no no no" over and over again. My heart broke a little bit. We were also able to visit this cute old lady in our branch and I swear she talked for an hour straight. I realized that paying attention to 20 different stories mashed into 1 and also in Spanish is quite the task. 

Thursday night, I led my first full lesson in Spanish! That, my friends, was scary. It ended up going super well, but I know for sure that the Holy Ghost was helping me because there's no way I could have done that on my own!

Sunday was super cool because we were able to watch a Face to Face live stream with Elder Soares and Elder Christensen and they answered a ton of questions from young adults all over the world. We also took a picture with all of the amazing people in my cute little Bonita Park Branch and I'm going to keep it forever :') 

For my spiritual thought this week, there are so many things that I want to say. But I mostly really want to encourage each of you to read Luke 6 in the New Testament. This chapter is so dang amazing and it shows Christ's example so clearly. One of my favorite verses is verse 35 and it says:

"But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil."

Be kind to everyone!! Jesus Christ was our perfect example of showing genuine charity to all those that we meet. By trying to be more Christlike in our daily lives and reading the scriptures, I know that we will be able to grow closer to Him and we will find so much happiness!

I love y'all sooo much and I'm so grateful for the examples that you are to me! And remember that God loves you!

Con Amor,

Hermana Brayton:)

LOOK HOW CUTE EVERYONE IS esta gente tiene mi corazón para siempre❤

Our faces after un pequeño fender bender oops

Cali trees wow!

My best friend Genesis and I

                 We love a church mirror selfie

Jesus Stickers

September 09, 2019

¡Hola hola Y'all!

Another exciting week down here in the Golden State! This week we had zone conference which was so cool because we were able to meet together with around 50 other missionaries and learn a ton of things from our Mission President and his sweet wife. Something that stuck out to me during that was that we can all seek confirmation for things in our lives through prayer. Prayer is such a simple, incredible blessing that we can use at any time no matter where we are. I think sometimes we tend to forget how powerful it really can be. Also, right after that, we all had to get to flu shots, so don't worry mom I'm safe;) 

On Friday, Hermana Hinton and I volunteered at the Red Cross, so that was fun to switch things up a bit. We got to talk to some super cool people. This one lady worked for Disneyland and told us we could come whenever and she would let us in for free, so hopefully, that promise is good for another 15 months! Haha - rip. But afterward, we went to see the sweetest old lady in the entire world that we just started teaching this week. Her name is Martha Sophia and she LOVES brownies and I LOVE her. 

Saturday was a party, literally. Our stake did a Dia de Hispanidad and there was sooo much good food and traditional dancing and singing. It was so dang fun. Also that evening, we were walking around an apartment complex where we go kind of often, and all the sudden we just hear someone yell "Mormons!" So we look back and there's this gang of 10-year-old skater boys coming towards us. But don't worry, we're all homies. One of them comes over to us and just says, "stickers?" and luckily my Aunt Beau (aka Kim) is a saint and sent me some Jesus stickers the other day, so now all of the cool kids of the North Hills Apartment Complex have Jesus stickers on their skateboards and love missionaries!!

For my spiritual thought this week, I want to share this verse in Mark Chapter 14. This is when Jesus Christ was in Gethsemane, enduring all of our pains and trials and sins. It says, "And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt." This scripture is so powerful. Jesus Christ is the most perfect person this world has ever known, and to know that He carried my own sins and afflictions, despite the unimaginable pain it brought, is so crazy to me. That kind of pure, unconditional love is the ultimate comfort. So remember please everyone that Jesus loves you and that Heavenly Father is here for you no matter what! There is nothing you can do to change that! 

I love y'all so dang much!! Talk to ya next week!

Con Amor,

 Hermana Brayton:)

Zone Conference!

Hermanas!!

The cutest chunky baby

The best chunky burrito

Fifi!!!

Golden hour

Sit down, be HUMBLE (& bold)

September 2, 2019

¡Hola Y'all!

     Holy dang moly this week feels like a dream. It started with us road tripping down to Irvine for an eye doctor's appointment, which was a straight party because I have the best brother and aunt in the world and they sent me TONS of good music. Out here on the mish we really just listen to uplifting and Christ-centered music, so if y'all have any good stuff feel more than welcome to email some my way:) 

     Okay but basically my biggest goal this week was to love people enough to be bold with them. Weird concept, I know. But usually I am not the confrontational type (ESPECIALLY not in Spanish) but there were a few times this week where I just had to put all of my faith in Jesus and trust that he would help me to know what in the world to say to these people. There's this quote in the book Preach My Gospel that says, "Your confidence and faith should be in Christ, not in yourself," and that is what I'm striving for here folks. And so far, every time when I have been practicing that humble boldness it's gone super well:) As long as people can feel the genuine love that you have for them, the unconditional love that God has for them, and the Spirit, they are so much more willing to listen to what you say.

     This Wednesday I hit my 3-month mark of being on my mission, and can I just say ¿¿Perdón?? I can't believe it's already been 3 months, but I guess time flies when it's the Lord's time, ya know? Really though I can't even explain how much I have learned already. Every day I'm just more and more grateful for this opportunity. Every conversation, every experience, and every verse leaves me with something new to think about. Like this week we started teaching a man named Carlos. He and his oldest son left their family back home in Guatemala and came here to earn any type of money they can for them. He has no idea how long he's going to stay here, but he has so much faith and hope that everything will work out. There's also a guy we met the other day named Fernando who's a beekeeper and literally one of the kindest people in the world. These two men are so humble such amazing examples of love and hard work. I LOVE these people here y'all. 

      But hey I love all of you too, especially my amazing family:) You are all so important to me and I hope that everyone has a killer week and that you put your whole soul into everything you do:) Les amo muchísimo!!

Con Amor,

Hermana Brayton

We saw the ocean, I almost cried.

My first transfer district (RIP Elder Hart)

Fernando😎

I'm sorry I take so many sunset pics but also not really bc LOOK how gorgeous