March 27th, 2017

Thank you for the package!! It arrived last week! The granola bars are the best, thanks!  I won't need to send those packages yet because I found out I'm staying here with Sister Chandler for another transfer, but very soon so I don't forget.  We don't have as much time today to do so because we had an appointment with a relief society presidency today.

I'm very happy to stay actually!  Sister Chandler and I get along great, and we now get to stay and help the investigators we've been working so hard with!  

Thanks! I'm happy about the haircut too, but it's hard to handle when my hair doesn't want to listen to me and curl at weird ends! :)  The round brush has been very helpful with that!! I tried the brush with Sister Chandler's blow dryer because that's how the brush works. Either way it helps my hair to curl in a similar direction.  Lately my hair likes to curl inward until it gets to the side my bangs are on and curls outward.  Which actually is a fun hairstyle at times until it gets crazy, but it works! :) I didn't tell you I got it cut because I drew a picture in Sarah's letter of us.  I had a pointer at my hair saying "you're the first to know!"  But now I'll show you the day I cut it! A friend of "C's" cut our hair in town for free.  We asked if we could pay, but she wouldn't let us.  

Sorry to hear about Dad being sick!  I sent him an email, so hopefully he'll see that when he gets home.  I'll pray for him too!

It was fun playing the violin, but the baptism itself was the best part!  I don't feel like a fantastic player, but I'm more than happy to play for people when they need a musical number at church.  I told Dad in detail what it was like, but to explain, "H" was so excited!!  That makes me feel good inside.  Not because I think I accomplished anything, but he worked and listened and was converted himself!  He's a great kid!

Women's Conference was great!  I loved President Eyring's talk the most. I found out that Bonnie H. Cordon was missionary companions with someone in our ward, Sister Shaat!!!  That was pretty cool!  And you mentioned Sister Rigby.  I forgot to tell you that she posed for a church painting!!  That's her in the front, kneeling!!

March 20th, 2017

Good morning, Mom!

No transfer news yet.  We're actually in a seven week transfer right now, so I won't find out what transfers will be like until NEXT WEEK. I'm stoked to find out, but every time I predict what will happen it's always the exact opposite.  I was not expecting Sister Settle and I to both leave our area.  So who knows?  Sister Chandler wants to stay here for her last transfer, and I'm not sure what I want to happen.  I've loved both the areas I've been in so far.  We're really excited for the temple open house!  They gave us cards to hand out for it.  We gave one to a potential investigator (she has to ask her preacher before she takes discussions...oh boy), and she was very happy.  She said she was planning on going with her friends in the ward. :)  

This week has been a good one, but a lot of work!  We usually have been allowed 1400 car miles per month, but Salt Lake just cut everybody.  Now we have 1000 miles, and we've already used 600!  We asked for bikes and received some, but we're still going to go over.  Our area is very spread apart.  The other missionaries (except for the Spanish Elders) are right in town or a little farther out, but we're pretty spread out here.  We're going to try biking during the day, but even then some of our appointments are too far to bike over and be there on time.  We also weren't able to get bike racks, so it's been interesting.  I forgot my cord today, so I don't have any pictures.  But it's been fun to ride a bike again (and to get exercise because I'm lousy about that lately.  Before we got our bikes we walked around an area for 3 hours and shared a message with two people.  One member took pity on us in the wind and gave us refreshments, but it really wasn't that bad.  I'm used to walking long distances now because of the walking I did back home, but we definitely need a car.  We still have it thankfully, and we called our mission president to let him know we would try our best but would most likely go over.  

But there's also been a lot of blessings!  There's a family here that nobody thought would ever be interested in the gospel.  I don't know how the parents feel, but their son asked the bishop how he could be closer to Jesus Christ!  He's been reading the Bible and doesn't know that much about what we believe about Christ and His church.  We taught him last Thursday and will teach him the Restoration soon.  We also have a baptism coming up. "H" passed his interview and will be baptized on Saturday!!  He is a very smart kid.  He was in primary when we taught two Sundays ago, and he answered one of our questions right when nobody else did. 

I hope your spring break was great!

~Sister Brinkerhoff

March 7th, 2017

{So, I have found that I've needed to do a lot of editing before posting each email (due to content of a personal nature, not really suitable for sharing with the general public), so some of these posts look rather short!}


Hi Mom,
Things are going well!  We went to the temple this morning and I felt the spirit's presence more abundantly. We did our endowment session at eight and did a few initiatory sessions. I felt that the people I was standing in place for were there too, even though they weren't family.  I love being in the celestial room. All I needed today was some peace from hectic fast paced life, and that's exactly what I got.

We have another baptismal date from yesterday!!!   Mission life is stressful.  But it's been good. My main problem so far since being on my mission is communication, so I'm hoping to get help on that.  We've been making progress on introducing the work of salvation (Dean could probably explain that) and we've also helped the youth share the gospel through social media. We're planning on more of that tonight.

Your letter has been sent, and I hope it explains things ok!

I love you!!!!

~Sister Brinkerhoff