Sisters Braithwaite and Pena: A Doorstep Invitation to be Baptized . . . She said YES!

This Week in the California/Oakland SF Mission 

This past Friday we were helping a member clean his home before moving and felt inspired to stop by an investigator's home in the same complex to invite him to sacrament. There were lights on in his apartment but he didn't answer the door. We weren't exactly sure he lived there so we knocked on the door right across from his and a woman named Jennifer answered. She is a MIRACLE. First off Heavenly Father made it so Mark didn't answer the door because we learned later he was home but thought we were his friend.

Anyway, we introduce ourselves and Jennifer asks if we were from the Mormon church. She proceeds to tell us that her dad was a Mormon and has come from a long line of pioneer heritage. Her dad went to BYU and did all the "Mormon" things but then got sick of it or something/ When he married his Catholic wife they didn't raise their kids in any religion so she has never had religion besides going a few times as a kid to our church. Jennifer is probably in her late 30s and has a 4 year old. She told us she didn't have much time but she would love to visit with us! Sister Pena then pulled out a Book of Mormon and told her we would love for her to read it, she then invited us in and we discussed it further. She kept saying how she was never baptized and how she now needed religion and wanted religion to be a part of her life so right there and then the Holy Ghost said "Sister Braithwaite, invite her to be baptized"! So I did and she said yes! Crazy. She said that we had good timing because it's just been in the past 3 weeks (that's how long we've been here) or so that her whole mind set has been changed to religion. She wants to have it and more than that she's interested in us because that's her heritage. I have NO doubts that she is prepare and that the Lord does indeed prepare individuals for us. Jennifer is in Utah visiting her dad right now but first thing when she gets back we'll be seeing her! The Lord provides miracles!

Sister Lindsay Waite: The Power of Love

This Week in the California Oakland/San Francisco Mission

God truly loves each of His children. The parents of the Brito Family were near separation. The home was not a place of peace and security, but a place of fighting and negativity. The father drank every Sunday and this addiction was tearing the family relationships apart. Sister Lopes and I found them in this condition and immediately began to teach and testify of the eternal value of families and the power of the Book of Mormon and prayer. The father, at first wasn't open to change because of the power of this addiction, but after watching ´Juntos Para Sempre;´ a film that tells the story of how the restored gospel of Jesus Christ resolves all problems, brings peace to the broken hearted, gives a purpose to this life, and helps us fulfill day to day activities with joy and with a smile;  this family had a ´mighty change of heart.´ 

Each, one at a time, arose and gave their family members a great big hug and saying, ´Te amo.` By the last member of the family, every single one of them had tears in their eyes. At that moment, each knew that God truly knows and loves each of us personally. He will help us change. He will give us strength to accomplish our goals to draw nearer to Him. He wants to see us again.

The words, ´I love you,´ are powerful in every language of the world. How many times do you tell your loved ones, you love them? Do they know you love them?  Never lay your head down on your pillow at night with words unspoken. Today is the day. Not tomorrow. Soften your heart. Cast out your pride and forgive. Live like Christ. Love like Christ. He forgave all. Even those who crucified Him, who spat upon Him, who mocked Him. Be more Christ-like every day and accept the blessings our loving Heavenly Father is willing to give. 

Sisters Anderson and Braithwaite: A Conference Miracle

This week in the California Oakland/San Francisco Mission:

OH man!  Last Monday, Sister Braithwaite and I didn't have any miles left  from our driving monthly allowance, so we parked in the middle of our area and at 6 pm started walking towards our destination, talking to as many people as possible! However, people kept walking past us so we decided to stop and talk to a young woman who was sweeping her sidewalk. 

We started to talk with her and found out that she and her husband were confused on which religion to raise their daughter in. Her husband happened to be in Utah that weekend and expressed to her that he wanted to change their religion to be Mormon AND that he was going to attend General Conference with a friend there. They are GOLDEN!!!!! This woman's husband will not be home until next week but we have an appointment with them. :) We left her a little amazed at how long we had talked to her. We had to run to our next appointment but are so thankful that we witnessed this amazing miracle!