Gozo Gozo Gozo

April 27, 2020

¡hola y'all!!

   How is everyone today?? Soo good I hope:) Before I say anything else though, I have to ask y'all a huge favor!! PLEASE, please, please send me your favorite quotes or scriptures or pictures of Jesus!! Anything like that, you can just email them to me or send them on messenger, whatever is easiest for you! I would really appreciate it:) Y'all are the best!!

    But okay, this week we had SUCH a good lesson with sweet Marleen and Joshua. I literally love them with my whole soul. A few weeks ago we taught them the 10 commandments and cute little hand signs to remember them, and they had been practicing so much and they were so excited to show us. They told us this week that they both really want to get baptized and I think it's the most precious thing on the planet. We also taught our amigo Tino and he's such a homie. I love that guy. So many good times out here in Santa Ana. Wow, I love it! 

    This week I started reading in Alma and also in Romans, I think that the first few chapters of each of them go super well together, so here's my take on them:) In Alma, he talks about how all the wicked people are persecuting the people that believe in Christ, BUT they stayed "steadfast and immovable in keeping the commandments of God, and they bore with patience the persecution which was heaped upon them" (v. 25). And it's pretty neat bc in Romans chapter 2 Paul says that God will "render to every man according to his deeds" (v. 6) so that means that "to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality" (v. 7) their reward is eternal life! 

    They also both talk a lot about how God really isn't a respecter of persons. He doesn't care how society views us or what our material worth is. Just like how Paul says, he cares about our deeds and how we treat others. In Mosiah 4, King Benjamin tells his people that they should "succor those that stand in need of your succor," or in other words to run to the assistance of those that need your help, maybe physically, spiritually, simply, anonymously, whatever way they need. I love that God really gives everyone a fair chance. He doesn't count our obstacles in life against us, like the world may do sometimes, He only cares about how we serve and learn and progress and love. It's pretty cool stuff:)

    But hey I hope everyone is keeping their heads up out there. I love y'all all a whole bunch!! Let me know if y'all ever have any questions about anything and I'd love to help find some answers!

Con amor,

Hermana Brayton:)

golden hour ~trio edition~

had to take the mask off for just one pic 😊

cheeeesin while we were getting distracted trying to make a video 📹

Peter's Canyon que bonito

Butterflies, Fire, and Light

April 20,2020

¡¡hola y'all!!

    How is everyone doing?? SO good I hope:) Well another week down here in lovely Santa Ana, and we're just living the dream. 

    This week was kind of wild. We started teaching a super cool guy named Tino that has been taught by other missionaries on and off for about 20 years! It's sweet bc this is actually such a perfect time to start teaching him bc he's always way too busy to have missionaries come over to his house, but the short little video call lessons that we do are perfect for him! We also got news a few days ago that people can start getting together for baptisms again!! I am soo so excited for this bc our precious little amigo Diego has just been waiting to be baptized. Also today is my bff Joshua's 8th birthday so that means that he can get baptized soon too🤩 

    Also this week, we've been painting a bunch of cute little rocks to leave around town to brighten people's day:) And Saturday, our little caterpillar guys that my grandma sent us a few weeks ago finally hatched from their little cocoons so we had some CUTE butterfly babies to keep us entertained for a day or so. We let them go on Sunday and took some pretty awesome pictures of them with one of the Elder's cameras. 

    Something actually wild though that happened on Friday was Hermana Schade's hump dayyyy!! So a little tradition that some missionaries do when they hit halfway is to burn some article of clothing, and that's exactly what we did hahah but only bc her mom told us to. It's so funny I was actually dying the whole time, good times though:')

    But okay, on a more ~spiritual~ note, I was reading in el Libro de Mormón (who's surprised) in Mosiah chapter 16, and I LOVED a few of the verses I found in there. Verses 8 and 9 say, "But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ. He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death." Wow so good, right? I've already mentioned before that my favorite comparison of Christ is to light bc it really is so true and so beautiful. It's true that his light is one that will never ever be darkened, so that means that if we keep it in our hearts and souls, no matter what happens around us we will never lose it. And because he really did conquer death, our lives don't stop there either. Que milagro, verdad?:)

    I love y'all so so soo much and I really am truly grateful for each of you! I know Jesus loves y'all even more though and that the Book of Mormon preaches and teaches all about him, so if you ever want to switch up your scripture studies you should give it a try! I hope y'all have an amazing week!! Stay safe out there!

Con amor,

Hermana Brayton:)

butterfly babies

butterfly babies

happy 9 months Hna Schade yeehaw

chocolate covered strawberries yessirrr 

sunnies 😎

H O P E

April 13, 2020

¡hola y'allll!

   Happy Easter!! How is everyone doing?? So good I hope! This is just going to be a short little email, but things are so good as always here in the golden state:) 

   I just want to talk for a quick second about hope! Now I could get so deep into this one, but I don't have a ton of time so maybe email me and we can talk more about it next week;) BUT what do you hope for? And what keeps your hopes up? There are so many crazy things happening in the world, and even when the world seems calm we can still have crazy things happening in our own personal lives. I think that having a firm foundation of hope and faith is sooo so important and it's something that's really honestly so beautiful. Elder Jeffrey R Holland just talked about this at General Conference last week and his talk was way good, 10/10 would recommend. He says, "Undergirding all of this is our relentless hope for greater devotion to the two greatest of all commandments: to love God by keeping His counsel and to love our neighbors by showing kindness and compassion, patience and forgiveness. These two divine directives are still—and forever will be—the only real hope we have for giving our children a better world than the one they now know." So powerful, right? 

    I just want y'all to know that I'm praying for all of you! I'm so happy to hear that everyone back home is okay after that tornado! I love y'all so so much and pls let me know if there's ever anything I can do for y'all!!

Con amor,

Hermana Brayton:)

trio @ the creek

pretty hike from today:')

our festive Easter window

I know y'all have been missing my dog pics and we finally got to pet one today after almost a whole month🤩 

pretty sky

10 Months🎉

April 6, 2020

¡hola y'all!

    Sorry, this isn't going to be a super long email, but I hope everyone is doing well and staying happy out there:) The trio life is still such a party, every night just feels like a lil slumber party and I'm 100% here for it. 

    But yeah this past Saturday I hit 10 months on my mission and that's too crazy. I swear it really does feel like it's flying by, but I'm so grateful for every day (even if it's in quarantine;)). 

    The only big thing that happened this week was General Conference!! I'm sure a lot of y'all saw all my stuff on Facebook, but this conference is so, so cool bc we get to hear from the prophet, President Nelson, and all the apostles and other church leaders. It's honestly such an amazing thing that we have a prophet today that speaks to God and to us in the same way that prophets way back when. I would love to talk to y'all more about President Nelson if you have any questions or thoughts or curiosities, just let me know! But this conference was seriously the best ever. Something that stuck out a lot for me is the importance of having a real relationship with God, so that you always pray to him and can recognize the answers you receive back. This whole process of personal revelation is so vital in these wild times, and we need to remember that it's best to be prepared and know God's voice before we find ourselves up against a wall. BUT it really is never ever ever too late, and I know that. 

    One more thing!: this Friday, our church is planning to do a worldwide day of fasting to pray for health care workers and to pray for the speedy end of this whole hot mess. Everyone of every faith is invited, and I know that so many blessings will come of it!

    I want y'all all to know that I really do love you sooo so much, and if there's ever anything I can do for y'all please let me know!! I hope y'all have a great week and never forget how much God and Jesus love you (bc it's literally so much wow)

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Brayton:-)

How cute are they? ❤

trio selfies

the bonito creek again

Worldwide day of fasting. Feel free to post it everywhere!! 

Teach me to walk in the light

Hermana Wright, Hermana Schade with Hermana Brayton on the ukulele.

Lyrics

1. (Child) Teach me to walk in the light of his love;

Teach me to pray to my Father above;

Teach me to know of the things that are right;

Teach me, teach me to walk in the light.

2. (Parent) Come, little child, and together we’ll learn

Of his commandments, that we may return

Home to his presence, to live in his sight

Always, always to walk in the light.

3. (Both) Father in Heaven, we thank thee this day

For loving guidance to show us the way.

Grateful, we praise thee with songs of delight!

Gladly, gladly we’ll walk in the light.

March 30,2020

¡holaaa y'all!

    How is everyone doing? So good I hope:) This week was another week in good ole quarantine, but it was actually so good I promise. The biggest thing the happened was that yesterday we got put in a trio!! To be super honest, I've been so scared to be in a trio my whole mission, but so far it's been such a party. My girl Hermana Wright from Summerville, South Carolina (yeehaw) is with Hermana Schade and me now bc her cute companion had to go back to Costa Rica:( Hermana Wright and I have actually known each other for quite a while since we're both from around Charleston, and we've just been waiting to be companions so I'm glad it's finally happening!)

    Also, we had so many little lessons this week just over video calls, and I think they're so funny haha. This one little boy we're teaching named Diego always puts his face so close to the camera and I have to try so hard not to laugh the whole time, he's so precious. But actually, though they have been so good. I think some people feel like they can be a lot more open over the phone so that's been super nice. I'm a fan of them honestly. 

    Earlier this week, Hermana Schade and I went on another little road trip to the hills and we found this little town with the cutest little houses. And we found a creek to climb down too that was cool. California is so pretty I'll never get over it. 

    For a little ~spiritual~ thought, the other day I was reading my good ole Libro de Mormón, and I found something I really loved. In Mosiah 3, King Benjamin is talking to all of his people pretty much just laying down the law so they don't have any more questions or confusion. In verse 16 he's talking about little children and he says, "but I say unto you they are blessed." This is actually one of my favorite doctrines from the church, that all little children are automatically saved, and that people born with special needs are literally celestial beings. I think most of y'all know that I'm planning on being an elementary/special ed teacher, so maybe that's why I love this so much, but when I was talking to Hermana Schade about it all I was genuinely getting choked up! And I never cry so it's wack! But how amazing is it the God is so merciful. There will never be a child born that he doesn't love and doesn't have a plan for. Kind Benjamin goes on to say that we should all become as little child, being "submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love," and willing to always submit to the will of the Lord. Pretty cool stuff to think about. 

    But yeah that's pretty much my week in a nutshell. This next Friday is a super important day, so everyone PLEASE mark your calendars for THE Mr. Daquan's birthday. He's the best dad in the whole wide world, so y'all should just drive by and honk your horns or something since he can't have a fiesta in quarantine:/ but hey, I love all of y'all a whole, whole bunch and I hope everyone's doing well:) Have a good week friends!!

Con Amor,

Hermana Brayton:)

HNA Schade and I boolin at the creek (and I definitely didn't fall in aha😅)

the creek, que bonito

selfie in the hills ~at night~

Fake 👍, this thing was awful! Pls don't send puzzles! 😉

Hermana Wright y Schade y yo y Rojas before Hna Rojas had to leave 😢

cute pic of my parents & me from Christmas bc it's almost Daquan's glow day 🌟