Que pasa?‏

Well, this week was a little bit of a struggle. We are having a really hard time finding people to teach. Sometimes being a missionary is hard. But I still love it! Thank you for the letters/emails! They really make me happy! Probably more than is normal, but it's cool...

A few things that happened this past week. Hmmm... You may like to know that I don't like Dr. Pepper anymore, or any carbonated drink for that matter. We went to Mcdonald’s the other day and I got a large Dr. Pepper like I used to. I couldn't drink more than 3/4. It was disgusting. It like burned my esophagus. I've just gotten so used to water. I got orange juice last week and it was gone in approximately two days... So I think I will stick to juice and water from now on.

Sister Titus was cursed by a four year old multiple times. Long story short, he came to church with his dad, but his mom is a wiccan. He was quite aggressive with Sister Titus. So if anything bad happens, you know why... ;)

Don't worry about me on Thanksgiving! We have a lunch 12, Dinch at 2, Dinner at 5, dessert at 7, and something else at 8. So no need to worry on that! I'm excited. We have one of everything: Less-active, active, investigator, part member and active. It will be a good day. They are all really good people.

Look what street I found!

Go Mustangs!!

I have made it through one transfer as a missionary in the field! (a transfer is every 6 weeks) We are staying in Greenville, but Elder Tanner and Sister Robinson are leaving our district. And a bunch more from the zone. We are having a zone party thing today before everyone leaves. So basically we will play sports then go to downtown and sing songs/ do my cotton-eye-joe dance and Irish jig. It will be fun, but we will miss them when they leave. They are great missionaries.

One thing I've been doing this week is reading the Book of Mormon. Elder Bednar said that if we read it with a certain subject in mind and mark everything on that subject, we will understand better and grow closer to God. He also said if we continue doing it we will never fall away from this Gospel. My topic is trust and the blessing that come from trusting in fully in God. I have already learned so much.

Something that stuck out to me today doesn't have to do with trust, but is found in 1 Ne 17:19. This is the chapter that Nephi is commanded to build a boat. Nephi is very trusting and very obedient, so of course he does what he is commanded. When his brothers realize what he is trying to do, they start murmuring/complaining against Nephi. This makes Nephi very sad. Then his brothers rejoice in his sorrow and say, "Wherefore, thou canst not accomplish so great a work." They continue to say all these other things he has done wrong and how foolish he is.

This really hit me because that is not how God talks to his children. That is 110% Satan. And sometimes it is hard to tell who is talking to us when it is really happening. This week I felt a lot of "you can't do this because it's hard and you aren't strong enough" and I had a hard time telling who was talking to me. But when I read this scripture I knew that it was Satan. If sometimes it feels like you are trying your best to keep your covenants and just choose the right, but you still get the little voice that says, "You're not good enough. This is too hard for you. Just quit." Keep going. Ignore it and press on. Because it is not true. Not at all. And you CAN do it. You CAN be a faithful servant of the Lord in all you do. Just read your scriptures, say your prayers, go to church. Just do what you know is true. I know that if you do this that the adversary will have no power over you. You CAN be noble, valiant, courageous, and bold in the world. You CAN. That is why you are here. You were meant to stand out. And I know that if you are always standing in the Lord, you can stand out in the world. And you will be so incredibly happy.

Just trust and have faith, and everything will work out. Just keep doing your best. If you fall, just get back up. Use the atonement with all your heart, then get back up. Heavenly Father will help you through the rejoicing and sorrowful times if you rely on him. I know that this is true.

I love you. And I love being a missionary. Have a good Thanksgiving.

Sister Broadbent :D

I sent you pictures first!

Just a road we drove down that

was super pretty and fall-y a

couple weeks ago

This week has been fantastic. We had a bunch of meetings so we didn't get to talk to new people much, but it was still good. I'm trying to remember all the things I did this week.

Me and Sister Ramstedt in Simpsonville

Well, on Tuesday I went on my first exchanges  ever with Sister Ramstedt in Simpsonville. Basically it's a missionary sleep over and we work with other sisters in their areas for a day. Its a good way to get ideas. It was pretty fun. We knocked on the door of this one guy who seemed really interested and we taught him the first lesson (the restoration) on his porch. The end was a little awkward because as we were praying his wife drove into the driveway. But other than that it was good! I think the Simpsonville sisters were going to go visit him again.

I also had my first interview with President Holm this week! He is very nice and very concerned about all his missionaries, but he is very one on one. The meeting went well. He asked me if I have been obedient, and I said yes. He then told me that he knew I was an obedient missionary from the moment he met me at the airport. So, ya. No pressure there... He is really a good guy though.

We went to help a less active move out and she

totally had an old school push lawn mower!

I'm not sure why I’m standing the way I am...

One of my worries was that we were going to be orphans on Thanksgiving because nobody had signed up to feed us/ have us over. However, we got a call on Wednesday and got invited over to a member’s house for dinner. I was super excited! Then on Thursday we got another invitation for dinner on Thanksgiving. So, we will be going around seeing people and have a couple dinners at least. We won't be orphans! Prayers are answered!

We went to the relief society president’s house for a

meeting. She has a Mastiff, it was the biggest dog ever!

 His name is Mark.

The best part of this week was that we got to see an apostle. Guess who it was? David A. Bednar! It was so good. We drove down to Columbia and met with the whole mission, about 250 missionaries. Then we asked him questions and he answered them for three hours. It was great. One of the things I got most from it was that we need to jump out of the boat. What does that mean? Well, when Peter was so scared to get out of the boat and trust on Christ to walk on the water, he still did it. But as soon as he moved his vision from Christ and looked at the water he fell in. The same is for us. We need to identify our boat, the thing that is holding us back from growing toward Christ, and we need to have the faith and the trust that we will not fall. If we keep our eyes locked on Christ we will not fall.

We will struggle, but we won't drown. Maybe just choke down a little bit of water. But he will not let us drown if we are trying our best to follow him and are always making that conscience effort. I know that if we take that leap of faith to jump out of the boat, the water beneath our feet will be firm. And if it seems like every time you jump you always fall in, look back and see the little increments of growth in the struggle, and keep trying.

One time we went to the temple.

Sister Titus and I at the Columbia SC Temple

Because the more you keep at it the little increments of growth that come through the struggle will become big increments. And you will be able to walk on the water without a problem. As Jesus Christ's representative I promise you that you will not drown. You will not. I promise you that if you jump out of your boat, you will be carried by the wings of angels across the water. Just have faith and trust in Jesus Christ because in him we cannot fail. We can only succeed.

I hope that made sense... I love you all. Jump out of the boat!

Sister Broadbent :)

Sometimes on Sunday nights, we have a hard time focusing.

We go to church for three hours, come home have lunch, and then

do studies for another three hours. Sometimes it’s a struggle ;)

A note from Sister Broadbent's mom (I know she is still Missy) she would really LOVE to get mail from you! She actually enjoys regular mail more than email because she can only get to a computer once a week.  Let's all show her how much we love and support her. 

Send her a letter! 

Her address is on the right hand side of this blog.

Thanks,

Monica