Laimīgu Jauno Gadu!

Sveiki!!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas!! And I hope the New Year is great for everyone! I can't believe 2018 is already over. It has definitely been the fastest year of my life! And definitely the year of most growth! I am so grateful for everything that has happened!!

For Christmas Eve we went to the Mission home and had dinner with President and his family which was so good and so fun! We were able to read the story of Christ's birth together and just play games! On the way home we were walking and in our apartment building area and we saw Santa Clause!! He was trying to get into a different building but we know he came to Latvija! And on the street we also say hello to everyone and had been wishing them a Merry Christmas when this family wished us a Merry Christmas!! That has never happened before and was such a miracle and just made our whole night! 

And then Christmas!!! It was a pretty normal day but any people who were on the streets were so opened to talk!! It was honestly a miracle!  We then went caroling to some of our members which was really fun. We went to one of our members who lives alone and her family doesn't live in Latvija and she was so excited to have someone over for a little bit. It made my day! and then I got to Skype my family!! It was so good to see them! 

This week we went and visited Velta in the hospital. She is in intensive care and can't speak at all. We read the Christmas story with her and it was one of the most powerful experiences. As we read it and testified of Christ I felt His love so strongly for Velta but also for myself. Christ is our Savior and there is no way I could deny that. His love for us is unending. 

We were also walking the streets this week and try talking to this older lady and she just stares at us and says, "Jums nav ko darit?" Kinda just like "You don't have anything else to do?" It was just funny because it's what we do everyday! 

Yesterday at church we also had a miracle! The elders contacted a lady who has been wanting to come to our church and so she came on Sunday! We were able to talk to her for a little bit and she is so excited to learn more! The talks in church were perfect for her and she's been to a lot of churches and just really liked how ours was. I'm so excited to keep working with her! 

One thing President has taught us recently is about Christ. In the Book of Mormon we know the sign for Christ's birth was a day and a night and day where there was no darkness and just light. This was prophesied to the people and the believers faithfully waited. The unbelievers however, had a date set that if the sign had not come they would put all the believers to death. Well, we know that the sign came and from the moment Christ was born He was saving lives. This hit me very powerfully. If we are faithful and hold to the end and turn to Christ we will be saved. He is our Savior and cares for each one of us. I love Him and I love telling the people of Latvija of Him. 

3 And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day.

4 Therefore, there shall be one day and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night; and this shall be unto you for a sign; for ye shall know of the rising of the sun and also of its setting; therefore they shall know of a surety that there shall be two days and a night; nevertheless the night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night before he is born.

I hope everyone has a great New Year!!

Pics:

1: We had mac and cheese from america this week!!

2: face masks!

3: my family!!!

4: our districts christmas party

5: <3

Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus!!

Sveiki!! Merry Christmas everyone!!

I hope everyone has a great Christmas!!

It was another great week here in Latvija with finishing up Light the World and getting ready Christmas!

At the beginning of last week we had just under 300 Light the World cards left. So we set a goal to hand them all out and it made it for the best week ever! So many more people were willing to talk with us this week or just take our Light the World card. It was honestly so amazing to see! I love this season! We also did our last caroling sessions this week which was super sad. It has honestly been one of my favorite things to sing about Jesus Christ and help others feel the spirit and just have a fun time! 

One night we were calling people from the areabook and Sister Boswell was talking to someone and she said something in a funny way and Sister Taylor and I just started dying of laughter and so Sister Boswell just starts laughing as well and can't stop as she's talking to this man on the phone. But good thing he was the nicest person on the phone and just laughed right along with us and now we are in better contact with him - so blessings haha! 

We also had our Christmas party this week with the branch that went super well! Us missionaries had a musical number in it which normally isn't hard for us to do because there is so many of us and if one of us can't sing it's all good but us three sisters cannot sing haha so it's been fun haha but we did a flash mob! Well we tried too haha but it's the thought that counts.

On Saturday we went to a medieval place where they threw a Christmas party for orphans. It was super weird haha and all in Russian but it was so fun to be able to hang out with them! We learned this Russian dance that we all did together and it was so fun haha.

We also had zone conference this week which was super fun. We got to watch Mr. Kruger's Christmas which was so fun, but I also just learned a lot of how to be not only a better missionary but also a better person! 

Yesterday we got to go visit Masa Helena! I love her to death. She is still the cutest lady ever. She just had a birthday and is now 96!! We also had one of our members, she's from China, invite all of us missionaries over for dinner with her friend who is interested in learning more. They cooked us some of their favorite Chinese foods. We had so much food but it was so good!! 

I also finished the Book of Mormon this week and I am just so grateful for President Nelson and for a living prophet. I know the Book of Mormon is true and that President Nelson is called of God! My relationship with Christ has been strengthened so much over the past few months while reading it. I'm so grateful for my Savior and that we get to celebrate Him at this time of year and all year!! 

I hope you all have a great Christmas! I love you all so much and thank you for everything!!

Love,

Masa Brunere

Pics

1: Christmas Tirgus (market)

2: We all matched!

3: Sleigh ride

4: We visited on of our members in the hospital and had to wear these protective things

Trio number 2!

Sveiki! Sveiki!! 

What a week! That's all I have been saying this week because so much happened that I don't know how it has only been one week! But I hope everyone had the best week and is getting excited for Christmas!

But today I want to start out with sharing one of my favorite scripture verses about Christ. Because He is the reason for the season! 

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall  bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

I love this verse! It brings the joy and spirit of Christmas every time I read it. Christ came to earth for us! He came so we could have a perfect example to look to, so He could perform the Atonement and understand how each of us feels. He came so we can have joy! Christ is joy!

Okay so this week again haha. It was a party. Every Tuesday we do language study as a district. Well this week we had this brilliant idea to practice a certain principle we were going to do wall sits until each of us had conjugate at leas two words. Well it was hard haha. We were definitely sore for awhile because there was a lot of us and we took longer and squatting got harder haha but we can now say we are pros at that grammar principle!

We also got new missionaries this week! I got to take on of the sisters going to Estonia to one of our members house which was so fun! We also got two new Latvian elders and one of them has us laughing all the time haha.

We also had a lesson with Valda! We met with her last transfer but then she wanted some time to read the Book of Mormon. So we met again with her this week. Didn't read because she couldn't see haha but still has the desire to be baptized! And she came to church on Sunday and brought her son!! Miracles do happen! There was also so many people at church yesterday! It was so amazing! Us missionaries also did a musical number and us three sisters were singing the melody but here's the problem, us three sisters can't sing at all haha. We made it through though and we are hoping they will now realize all the talented singing sisters have left Riga haha.

Wednesday, early early Wednesday, the assistants helped us move back to Center North! And now I am with Sister Boswell. It has been so fun! Trios just have extra power walking down the street I think so it's been a great few days! With the special sacrament meeting on Sunday we are trying to get everyone to come! We have invitations and we have over 200 of them and one week to hand them out. And everyone in Riga will be invited that is our goal!

On Thursday we went to Liepaja! I have been in Latvija for almost 9 months now and finally got to go! All 9 of us Latvian Riga missionaries got in one van and drove the 3 hours to Liepaja and caroled! It was so fun!! We also ate at this restaurant, 3 kungi. Best. Place. Ever. I was in heaven. Latvia also doesn't have Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream, my favorite, but we found it in Liepaja!! So basically the best day ever haha. 

I ALSO SAW SISTER CHRISTENSEN THIS WEEK. She is training so she came to Riga! I love her to death. Made it for the best week! She will be the best trainer! 

We go caroling a lot this time of year haha. But it has honestly been one of my favorite things. To stand there and sing about Christ at Christmas time while wearing His name, there's no words to describe it. I love Christmas and I love Christ. 

Thank you for everything! for the prayers and support! I love you all!!

Love,

Masa Brunere

Pics:

1: The district before transfers happened!

2: My dear MTC companion

3: Mint Chocolate chip ice cream!!

4: 3 kungi!

5: dynamic trio

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Sveiki Visiem!! 

Can you believe another week has already passed?? Who knew time could fly by so quickly? But I hope the Christmas season is going great for everyone!! 

This week was great! We got transfer calls Saturday and I am going back to Center North, my first area!! I am so excited! And I will still get to work with many of the people in Agenskalns, it's the best of both worlds! I will be in a trio with Sister Taylor and Sister Boswell will be joining us! So really it's just going to be a party.

With it being December and Christmas we go caroling A LOT. Walking in a Winter Wonderland, basically will always be in my brain now with how much we have sang it haha. But it has been so amazing to see how many more people are willing to listen to us as we are singing and handing out cookies. Maybe we just need to do that more often haha :) 

I also got to spend a day with Masa Sedziva this week! Always so fun. I love her to death.

One of less actives has been coming to church!! She has been here the last two weeks and it truly has been a miracle. She is the sweetest. And yesterday she came up to me and asked if she could buy the same boots as me so basically next week we will be twinning haha. I'm so grateful for this work!!

This week as I have been studying and talking to people and being in church one thing has really stuck out to me, and that is our worth! We are all daughters and sons of a King! Of our Heavenly Father! We are royalty! And because of that we should not settle for less. Our Heavenly Father has a plan for us. We are part of His plan. He loves us and wants us to return to Him. This knowledge has given me confidence. Confidence to face the unknown and the hardships of life because I know I have my Heavenly Father always looking out for me. I'm grateful for everyone in my life who has helped me realized that. Church leaders, family, and friends. Gain a testimony of it! It will change how you view yourself!

I also thought about what the gospel has given me. And truly it has given me everything. I am so grateful for the knowledge I have of it. A few weeks ago I was reading about one of my ancestors who first met the missionaries and accepted the gospel. How grateful I am for them so that I can have it and be here in Latvija sharing it. It truly is the greatest gift.

I hope you all have the best week! Thank you for the love and support!!

Love,

Masa Brunere

Pics

1: Snow!!

2: Pictures of the temples got hung up around the church and it helps when two of the individuals who helped decide which temples to put up are also from South Jordan :)

3: A church building