Week 16.. Chicago dog :)

Well My dear Family,
How are you all doing? I honestly received one letter this week from you mom. So, I am hopeful to receive them this week. I had basically the weirdest week of my life. I thought things before the mission were weird but geeze this week proved that wrong haha. I did go to the doctor, I am now on birth control. He was pretty worried that if I continued the way I was going that I would have ovarian or uterus cancer. Studies show that the more issues you have the more likely you will get cancer. Thus, he started me on a different birth control that should work nicely. I have a blood test tomorrow. I will probably pass out. Just kidding. He took me off metformin because he told me my passing out is because I am hypoglycemic....perfect. LOL! I never realized what a mess I was. haha. Any way, he will check the blood work and get back with me. We will have an appt. in like 2 or 3 months. unless, something is iffy with my blood work.

I was praying about what was going on and this thought came to me... you are not working out as hard as you use to in order to relieve stress. It is true. My comp hates working out. So, I try to workout on my own, but my dvd's are not cutting it because of the lower amount of cardio. I was wondering, mom do you remember that lady telling you about insanity? How her son used it on his mission and did lots better? I don't know how great that dvd is or not, but I hear it works you out super hard. Don't know if there is any way you could get that for me. If not, don't worry about it. I do have someone coming to visit you in about two weeks so please be home. It is a young family who is in my ward. Bro and Sister Pocock. They are super nice and will be bringing you something from me. I am sure you will love them. She is basically the nicest person. Well, One of the nicest persons. Anything you want from Chi town? I have some things for you but any particular requests? Deep dish is not that great so I wont be sending that. haha
Jules asked if I have had a Chicago Dog.......NO! haha I was going to but opted for a hamburger instead, I was super low energy and needed some B-Vitamins....the hamburger worked.
I am sorry about no letters. I did send one today and will try to write better. I had a crazy week and p-day was spent at the temple. We had a zone activity which was a lot of fun. We went to a Chinese restaurant (cheap of course since we are missionaries). This chica brought tea and tea cups in. A sister in our mission said very rudely we don't need those. We don't drink tea. The Lady was super embarrassed, so my zone leader, elder hunsaker asked for Marshmellows with his tea. I may have died of laughter. He and Elder Gonzalez are solid zone leaders. So obedient, but also very encouraging. I appreciate them a lot. My comp and I, unfortunately deal with the Zone Leaders and District Leaders a lot because we may have the craziest area in the mission. First off Corinne, and then we had an investigator go psycho on us. LEGIT PSYCHO, to the point where we had to destroy all contact. It was crazy. Any way, so they get to talk to us a lot.

Saturday, we went to a Less Actives home and helped her pack. She is so awesome. She came to all of Church on Sunday. Super happy about that. We then went and set up an appointment with one of our investigators who is from egypt. He is basically awesome. I am super excited to teach him. Pray for the softening of his heart so that the spirit may penetrate. After that, we had lunch and had been invited to another investigators home at two o-clock. We took another set of missionaries with us, because we both felt prompted to and President gave us permission. We essentially contented with the adversary for two hours. I kept trying to leave because of the feeling I had, but the others wanted to stay. However, I was the one who was bearing testimony, and having to confound them with scripture. All of them afterwards thanked me, but man was I drained. However, I was grateful to Heavenly Father for allowing me the opportunity to share my solemn Testimony. I did not argue with them, but I did testify strongly of what I know to be true. We do what is known as teachifying, we end up testifying, edifying and teaching at the same time. I kept praying through out the lesson, and my body started shake as I spoke the truth to them. It was pretty amazing. I felt the spirit encompass me, but I also saw that it was not penetrating them because light was completely gone from them. They chose Darkness rather than Light. I honestly did not argue, but just bore my testimony the whole time.

I went home exhausted. Some more things happened, but I'll tell you about them probably after my mission haha. or maybe on mother's day. Umm....I had a pretty strong study in the bible, the book of mormon and the doctrine and covenants as well as the pearl of great price. I am learning how little I know. Thank Uncle Kevin for the Dictionary. I ended up using that to quiet some peoples fears. Pretty awesome. It is amazing when people say that God does not change his mind, I say true. He just doesn't reveal everything at once. Think of Isaac and Abraham. Did the Lord Change his mind? Nope he just hadn't revealed everything yet.

Any way, I know more than ever before that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is True. I know it. I do not hope it, I know. I know that truly it is the most important thing in the entire world. I know the book of Mormon to be the word of God. I know came forth as Joseph smith said it did. I know that those who truly want to know will know it is true, but God is loving and does not give truths to swine. In other words he does not cast his pearls before swine. You must honestly desire more than ever before to know it is true and then pray about it to know if it is true, and then act on whatever prompting you get.

Mom, I am sorry to hear about your chicken. I was super sad to read that too. Don't worry it is not silly to be sad. I am often sad, but not discouraged. haha. I hope that everything is going well. I hope that you all are finding happiness in each and every day. I pray for all of your success and happiness. I know God is watching over you, and I know that he loves you all very much. Even more than me, which is nuts cause I love you all a whole lot.

Love Sister Cissily Braten