Happy New Year! Bring on 2013!

Dear Family, Well, It was wonderful to talk to you all last week. Jules I am so sorry you have been having problems with your kidneys! That is no bueno. Thanks for the Christmas Gifts. They made my day so special. We spent Christmas with a familly in the ward. They were so pleasant and sweet that I forgot all about not being home. The next day we went to presidents house and had a wonderful dinner with a special devotional. I loved it. He is a great president. His wife is very sweet too. We visited with several missionaries which is always nice. Sometimes you feel like no one is having weird things happen to them, however, as you visit them you realize they are. Haha We have a girl we are teaching who has cancer. Please pray for her. She needs every prayer a person can offer. However, although prayers can sometimes be what we want, it is more likely that our hearts will be changed to understand what God's purpose is. Prayer is an interesting, but powerful work we do as latter day saints. I have learned more in the kneeling position than i care to count. Yesterday, I was praying for somethings and the thought came to me...Sister Braten, do you love me? I thought for a second and responded as peter did, Yeah, Lord I love thee. and in thought I added, " feed my sheep." His answer was simple but poignant, "feed my sheep". Immediately, I understood what he was saying. When all is said and done in the day, did you love Heavenly Father by feeding his sheep. As you come to love and serve his children, you will understand the Love he has for you. At the end of the Day or in the middle, I have been asking myself the question, " Do I love him?" If I can answer that question in the affirmative, with the understanding of what that truly means, than I have had a successful day.

Saturday, Every appointment fell through. So, what do missionaries do...they trackt. We were freezing cold. The wind was biting my face, and just about everything else, still we trackted. Each person we trackted into that day, we felt the calm assurance that we were suppose to see them this day. I am learning very quickly that the Lord guides our footsteps very specifically when we are about his work. I absolutely know that to be true. We had some wonderful conversations where the spirit was present. Just so you know how diverse my area is, on one block I trackted into someone from the Phillipines, from sierrra Leon Africa, Nigeria Africa, Albania, and someone from south america. One block. Pretty intense. Another block, we met a guy who said he would read the book of Mormon if we would read the Koran. Why not? I don't have one so after my mission i sure will haha. He was super nice, but very strong in being muslim. Church was wonderful. We learned a lot about grace. I will admit, I didn't understand grace as well as I am starting to. Like the atonement, grace is infinte and eternal. I am so grateful for the atonement and grace. I am learning quickly that surely we can do nothing without Chirst. A scripture that I found this week made me realize how much we rely on him, "Yeah, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the Children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to him." that was in 1 nephi 7:12, the other scripture that stirred my conscious was in Isaiah 26:3-4, "Thou wilt keep in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord forever: For in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength." Each day, as I ask for my Heavenly Father's strength, he gives it to me. A funny experience that happened this week was as we were out trackting, we placed a card in a door the door mysteriously opened, and the card was pulled inside. The door was then shut. HAHAHA some people kill me. Sister Calton was a little weirded out by this, but in the end we had to laugh. Also, paul put some jokes in the back of my binder, which has saved my life, and we had some good laughs at that. Well, I love you all so much. I hope to hear from you soon. Ben and Abe I need your address. Mom did you get that number from my phone? If not, my letter I am sending today has her address. Also, it is the first of the Year. Thus, my gifts will be coming to you soon. The first Gift is love....you should be getting the package this week. Mom, I didn't get an email from you today. Are you doing all right? Love you all. Love Sister Braten

Week 1 in CHICAGO!!!!!! WOOO!!!

Dear Family, How is everyone doing? Besides the General craziness of Christmas? I am so sorry to hear about Brother Teeples. However, yesterday in Church I felt like he was gone. Dad will do an awesome job dedicating the grave. Death is an interesting thing. I have seen a lot of it working in a nursing home, and to be honest it is never easy. However, the powerful message of the Gospel is that because of Jesus Christ we will see our loved ones again. We will be blessed to live with them forever, as we make covenants with Heavenly Father and are sealed to our families. The power and authority in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints is the only way that we can be together forever. How blessed we are to have that assurance. Please give my love to Willie! I absolutely love her and brother Teeples. Mother thank you for the two emails. I always enjoy emails and letters. To be honest, they keep me going on days when I feel so alone. However, I always have the savior and his endless love to rely on as well. Well, I flew into Chicago on Monday, we boarded the subway and headed downtown. We had a wonderful opportunity to share the book of Mormon. However, I ended up sitting by a guy who spoke Chinese. I tried to say ne hao ma...obviously he speaks thia and not mandarin. Joyful experience. However, he took a pass along card and that was that. Ha! I loved visiting with him though in broken English. Than, I had the opportunity to speak to another lady who spoke only french. I contemplated singing "bajor" from beauty and the beast to her but seeing as I had a cold that probably wouldn't fly. We than headed to the presidents house and ate Deep Dish Pizza. It was no papa murphys but after MTC food just about anything tasted fabulous. We interviewed with the President, and went to bed. President Fenn is extremely powerful. He knows the scriptures like the back of his hand. I seriously sit in humble admiration of his knowledge. However, I did experience a lot of that humbling as I would sit and listen to you and dad teach me the gospel. President Fenn told me that the Lord recognized the sacrifices I was making, and that the Lord takes care of his missionaries. It was very kind of him to say. The next day we met our trainers and headed to our area. I am in a suburb known as naperville. My trainer is very patient. Her name is Sis Carlton and is from Kansas. She graduated from BYUI, and is a few years older than I. She's great and teaching me a lot. We had dinner with a family in the ward. They took me to a chicago style restaurant it was amazing. The rest of the week was spent in service and proselyting. We taught some amazing investigators. We trackted and had no success with that, however, it was pretty hysterical. I love it when people tell me they are to busy. We have the most important message in the entire world, and they are too busy. It actually has caused several tears to see the disbelief and lack of desire for the Gospel. Saturday, I was helping at a pantry and ended up having to come home and rest the rest of the day. I had the flu. Pretty rotten, however, I got a blessing from Elder Crosby and Sunday I was doing much better. The Lord has been pouring out tender mercies. A lady in my ward is a personal trainer and is writing workouts for me to do each day. Tender Mercy Check yes. The food is not making me sick, and everyone knows that sis. braten does not eat desert. However, I have been craving home made ice cream. Mother, I request that will be waiting for me in the front lawn when I return. haha. Also, if anyone sent me letters to the MTC for this past week, I did not get them. So, if you write me again, I will write back I promise. I also promise to send some pictures. I have a picture of a University of Nevada Volleyball player who spiked the volleyball into my face. Sister Braten had her sixth concussion in the MTC. My head was spinning for an hour, and I had to teach an investigator fifteen minutes after the fact. Glorious. My companions said it was the most disoriented lesson they had heard. I felt terrible. However, I am doing great now with no lasting problems. I seem to run into people from South Africa everywhere or People who went to portugal on their mission. It's pretty crazy. Mother, if you could ask sister steed who Elder Steed wanted me to contact I would sure appreciate it. Yesterday, a lady in my ward gave a talk, she had just gotten back from South Africa. Her parents are missionaries there. That was crazy. I was eating dinner with a family, and the husband had served in Cabo Verde and Portugal. Extremely crazy. I also seem to have connections with people. A man in our ward is related to Brad Myers and his wife Laurie. Over all, the members are super friendly and I enjoy them immensely. I am learning to be a consecrated missionary. It is not easy, but very worth it. One of the quotes I say daily in my head is this "when obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God endows us with Power." Sis. Braten is far from perfect. Imagine the very worst and you just about have her. However, I am giving my best. I am swallowing my pride, and in my prayers I daily plead for a way to be more obedient. Many times the Lord has blessed me. Many times I have seen his love. Many times he withdraws his spirit until I am humble enough to receive the inspiration he is trying to give me. He always answers. I testify of that. I know our Heavenly Father loves each one of you. I know he has answers to every question you might have. I love you dear family. I pray for you daily, and I plead that the Lord's blessings might be upon you. With all my love, Love, Sister Braten

Week 2 in the MTC

Dear Family,

I am so happy you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Rugby and Settlers is probably the best way to spend any Thanksgiving. Mine was wonderful. I spent the day with Elder Holland, my district and the Doctor at the E.R. He was actually pretty dang nice. Very kind and considerate of what I was going through. Mother it was so nice to be able to talk you before and after surgery. President Brady asked if I would like to speak to you, and I started to cry...he took that as a yes, and honestly hearing your voice on the phone brought me to even more tears.

I had the surgery at about 2:00 in the afternoon. The doctor used a sedation that only has 5% of users that hallucinate with it. Of course I was apart of that 5%. Haha. Call me a minority please! Probably the scariest part was thinking I would never get out of this dream world I was in. However, I had some pretty interesting experiences during it. I taught the plan of salvation during my hallucinations as well as other things. I kept crying out for mom, and the nurse had to tell me she was not going to come. Finally, a voice whispered to ask for sister millett, and when I did they said they couldn't bring her yet because they did not want her to be scared by me. Even so when she did come, she was freaked out. However, she said a prayer with me, and I calmed down. She told me that in my moments of clarity I actually had some pretty profound things that I said. I had no recollection. I threw up during the sedation, and I thought my shirt would never come clean...the power of prayer is amazing because my shirt is perfectly fine! Not t mention that I am doing well too. WOOHOO!

Mother, I am so glad that 16 clucking chickens can replace me so well. :) Actually, that is pretty cool. I hope you name everyone of them. Please name one of them Borris in my honor, and possibly Stetson. You also asked if I was feeling all right, I actually am getting another cold, but my hands are healing beautifully. They will be model hands once again. J/k I am also known as the drug queen of the district because if you need cough drops ask sister braten, tylenol, benedryl, ear plugs whatever, ask sister braten.

My district continues to grow strong. We have some solid elders, and sisters . My teachers are amazing. They are so full of the spirit, and absolutely want each of us to succeed. It is kinda cool how you can see their testimony right in their eyes. I see Elder Challis just about everywhere. Which makes me want a picture of dezzy pooh very much. I miss my nieces and nephews. I received a letter from Grandma, Kimber Clayton, Sister Wade and Beth. I also received your package. Thank you so much. I would probably die without that camera in Chicago. I have wanted to take pictures to send, but we all know why I haven't. Letters are so nice to receive because they just brighten your day to know someone thought about you. I promise to be a better writer the rest of my mission, and I will write faithfully to others. Although it is sometimes hard to write back, it is so nice to get them.

My time is running out, but one or two more things to say. # 1 I had no idea you could have a 40lb carry on bag plus your purse. Sister Braten needs to read instructions better. #2 Mom I left my white collard shirt from costco. Could you possibly send it? # 3 I will be calling 6 a.m. monday morning. #4 Amity, Jules, Abe and Ben, could you please send me your email address and home address so I can write to you. I can whip out a letter in about 7 minutes so while I wait for laundry I get about 7 or more letters done. So, I would love to write you.

I grow in my love for the gospel everyday. Totally honest, I have never been so humbled and so built back up in my whole life. The Lord is amazing. I bore my testimony of the atonement to an investigator last night and in that moment the spirit kept confirming to me of the truth of my message. I love you all. You are in my prayers. Choose the Right :)

Love,

Sister Braten

P.S. Ken's words were inspired. Also, I hope Ridley continues to heal well.

Health and Well-Being of the Boo

Boozer had a minor surgery this week! They had to put her under and she threw up like 8 times while she was out. Once she was in recovery, her companions were able to come in and be with her so she was not alone! Thanks for all your prayers for her! She is recovering very well!
Jules

Letter Number #1 First Week in the MTC!!

Hola Familia,
So, I am sitting waiting for laundry right now, and I decided to take the opportunity to write. Mom you should've gotten a letter from me in the mail. If not, I sincerely apologize. The MTC is pretty intense. Honestly, no amount of preparation can prepare you for the emotions you go through. However, I have never felt so stretched in my life. I have been told you have to go through Hell in order to experience Heaven, I have a firm testimony of that now. My testimony is growing, and I am so grateful for that. To be honest, I have never felt the direction of the spirit so strongly in my life.
Now that you have heard my testimony, I will try to answer some questions. Mother, I really haven't been eating much. They have healthy options and I choose them, but somehow have lost my appetite and can't eat. I hear my appetite will return, but when Ice Cream doesn't even sound good you sometimes question that haha. My cold ended the second day, praise the Lord. I have seen Elder Challis, Elder Harris, Elder Ericson, Elder Mataele, Elder Myers, Elder Warr, Elder Eves, Sister Albrecht, and sister Davies is my zone coordinator. I saw elder harris as I walked into the MTC with the Elders. He was like holy smokes HELLO, and I honestly started to cry to see a familiar face. Elder Challis I saw Thursday night, but I haven't seen him since. I gave him the awkward handshake, and wanted to give him a hug because again it was much needed to see a familiar face. However, I believe the MTC president would've shot me. He was doing well. Looked like a missionary and acted like one too. The other elders are either football players I taped or friends from the ward.
My district is so amazing. I am in a threesome. Sister Clarke and Sister Millett. I am the senior companion, and It has been quite good. I honestly love them to death and know they will be life long friends. In my district, there are 6 elders and my companionship. Elder Hooper, Elder Miller, Elder Finlinson, Elder Kay, Elder Alshengiti, and Elder O'dell (not related to ray but looks exactly like him haha). Elder Finlinson is from fool creek utah, and is solidly the most hilarious person I have met in my life. He has some quotable quotes that I will send you in a letter. Elder Alshengiti can do comparisons like no ones business. The other day he said in the mtc it feels like we just got our drivers license, "WELCOME TO NASCAR". Elder Hooper is solid in the gospel. Elder O'dell is the same. Elder Kay is our district leader, and elder miller is probably the second shyest person i have met in my life, but he is growing and that is awesome.
How is everyone at home? Mom is there anyway you could send me my camera, don't know how i forgot that. Also, i need grandma stotts, amity and Julia's address and ben and abe's. What are you all doing for thanksgiving? and where? I definitely will miss home made ice cream and apple pie. Mom, I think I have never appreciated you more than in the MTC. The fact that we discussed the scriptures so much has helped me amazingly. Yesterday we were teaching a progressing investigator, as I listened to the spirit, immediately scriptures came to my mind. But, the sweetest experience came when into my mind came my companions name and that my companion had an experience to share. I looked at her and said Sister Millet has an experience to share. She at first was confused and than into her mind came a story that she had experienced. I started to cry as I saw that I had understood the spirit. I never have felt so much gratitude in my life.
K family that is all for now. I love you lots and will try to send a letter today. Hope all is going well, you are in my heart and in my prayers always.
Love, Sister Braten.
P.S. Benton, good thing I made a decision to stay before I got here. I am not saying, I am just saying:)

...The MTC...

Papa, Mama, Boozer and Dezy Girl!!

Aunt CC and Dezy girl hanging out at Zupas

Sister Cissily Braten entered the MTC yesterday! But not before stopping and saying Hi to her favorite Provonites.

Her Favorite Provonites!!

We went to Zupas for lunch and Dezy played with her Auntie CC for last time for 18 months! I will be posting her emails as soon as I get them, along 

with any accompanying pictures! Feel free to comment anything you would like to have said to her in her emails! I will be sure to send it to her!

Thanks!

Jules

Sister Cissily Sarah Braten

Called to Serve

Chicago Illinois Mission

November 14, 2012-April 2014