One Month!?!

Sveiki friends and family!!

I have been in the MTC for one month?! It's so crazy to think about! What a month it's been! And what a week! It was a great week and it honestly flew by!

On Saturday night I had the opportunity to role play teaching a less active member. I knew it was coming, but I thought we would talk about it first and how it's different from teaching an investigator because we usually go over that kind of stuff before teaching, but not this time! Brother Curtis told me his name and a little bit about him and then we started the lesson. I said a quick prayer for help and literally just opened my mouth not knowing what I was gonna say. And just like the scriptures promise my mouth was filled with what to say. The spirit was so strong and everything that came out of my mouth were not my words. It was an incredible experience to have and I know that as we follow the commandments we have been given God will bless us. It's always so amazing to me how real role plays and teaching my "investigators" feel. Even though it isn't real Heavenly Father helps me only see who my teachers are playing. Going into lessons I forget that they are my teachers. The love I feel for the people they play is so strong and I know that that love comes from Christ and that it is charity. And how amazing is it that we can pray for charity? I absolutely love this gospel and how much our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love each one of us.

Doctrine and Covenants 33:8

Open your mouths and they shall be filled, and you shall become even as Nephi of old, who journeyed from Jerusalem in the wilderness.

This week Kipris committed to baptism!! There's been some hard things for him to do to get to this point but he wants the Holy Ghost in his life so bad that he is working hard to get there! It's been great to watch his testimony grow and his love for the Holy Ghost grow. I also had my last lesson as an investigator this week and was introduced to my new investigator! I am excited to be able to teach her. Her name is Zenija and I have heard lots about the real her in Latvija so it'll be way fun to teach her. Sister Christensen and I have also been able to keep teaching Danute, are English investigator and it's been way fun to get to teach with Sister Christensen. 

Thursday night I had TRC again. The same returned missionaries came from last week but they both had someone new with them and it went a lot better this week! I was able to teach about how we can feel our Heavenly Father's love through the scriptures. I have gained such a strong testimony of that here and being able to teach it was such a blessing. I was also able to understand a lot better what they were saying and I was able to talk better. It was a great experience and they always teaching me more than I could ever teach them. It always motivates me hearing them speak knowing that at one point they were where I was, struggling to learn Latvian. One of the people who comes to TRC was also a solo when he was in the MTC and it's been great to also hear his tips on what to do to study the language outside of class. 

This week I finished the Book of Mormon and took Moroni's promise and prayed to know about the truth. The next day, Tuesday, we had our devotional. This week Elder Tad R. Callister, the General Sunday School President, came and spoke to us about the Book of Mormon (how perfect, right?). His whole message was centered around the truth of the Book of Mormon. He started out by giving all the historical evidence and how it all matches up with what the world knows to have existed around that time. However, he ended with what was even more important, the witness we can individually receive that the Book of Mormon is true through the Holy Ghost. And how true that is! The fact that we can find out for ourselves through the Holy Ghost that it is the word of God is amazing. I know, through the power of the Holy Ghost, that the Book of Mormon is true and that by reading we will find peace and find the answers to our questions. I love the Book of Mormon and I cannot wait to tell the people of Latvija about it, but also tell them that they can find out for themselves if it's true. I know all those who do read it with a sincere heart and ask God with real intent they come to know of it's truth as well. I wish I could scream it to the whole world that the Book of Mormon is true! But I am grateful I can tell people about it and have them find that truth for themselves. 

In choir this week we sang "Where Can I Turn for Peace?" and it is now one my favorite hymns. The message contained in it are so powerful. We all have hard times in life,we all feel alone and confused sometimes, and feel as if no one understand stands. And the truth is no one else can completely understand us, expect one person, our Savior, Jesus Christ. He understands us completely and He can give us that peace and comfort we need. Jesus Christ suffered and died for each one of us to help us and know how we feel. I love that and I love Jesus Christ. Turn to Him for help because He understands us perfectly and He can heal us. 

Alma 7:11-13

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.

I love the sisters in my room. It's Sister Christensen, Sister Austin, and Sister Smith-Driggs and we all love to relieve our stress together and the best way we have found to do that is by popping bubble wrap. We'll all take our pieces and stand in a circle and begin to pop it and let the stress go. I know it sounds super lame but we usually end up on the ground laughing. We have come up with a new acronym: P.S.B.W (please send bubble wrap) so thank you mom and dad for all the bubble wrap you have sent in my packages. We absolutely love it and helps us a lot throughout the week. 

Latvian is coming well. I was able to better my accent this week and my teacher gave me a way to help me roll my R's. The gift of tongues is real, I have a strong testimony of it. This week I had a cool experience and was able to talk in straight Latvian for 15 minutes about something I have never talked about before in Latvian. It's cool to see my growth in small ways like that and see how God is helping me. I love the language. It's hard, but I know Heavenly Father is helping me, and I learn more and more everyday. Thank you for all the prayers and support, I feel them, thank you so much!! I also got my Latvian tags this week! I can't wear them outside my classroom, but they are so cool!
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I love being a missionary! It's such a great thing and I love sharing the gospel. I know this is the Lord's work and without His help and guidance I will never get anywhere but with His direction I can complete all He asks me to do. I know this gospel is true and I am grateful to have it in my life.

Have a great week!

Love, 

Māsa Brūnere

Pic 1: Our cute decorated room

Pic 2:Our excitement for my tags and my amazing teacher  Māsa Bergesone who I love so much

Pic 3: Latvian Tag

Pic 4: 1 Month!
Pic 5: Temple Trip
Pic 6: New Nametag
Pic 7: Floral Tuesday

The Field is White (Literally)

Hello friends and family!

Another week down, so crazy!! It was a great week!

On Thursday I had my first TRC which is where I teach a lesson to returned missionaries from Latvija. It was nice to have people from the "outside world" come in to know life still exists outside the MTC haha. But I didn't really understand a lot. They speak soooo fast and don't slow down so I just nod like I know what's going on and always just say labi (good) which is the most common used word in Latvian I think and is said after like everything haha. But I was still able to feel the spirit and learn through the spirit which was a great experience and huge testimony strengthener. 

The biggest highlight of this week was our Tuesday night devotional. We knew it was going to be big because in choir we sang Praise to the Man. Sister Christensen and I were convinced it was either going to be Elder Utchdorf or President Nelson. Right before they told us this devotional would be broadcasted to all the MTC's and so we had to go over a bunch of rules of what to do and then they announced who it was and ELDER JEFFREY R. HOLLAND came!! No one could contain their excitement haha. It was such an amazing night. Elder Holland talked a lot about what an amazing opportunity our missions are and how we will never get another chance like this again so we can't waste a single second. Every waking second we need to be focused on the work and the reason we are here. It was really powerful to hear, especially because so early on in the mission we don't see it like that. He wants our missions and the gospel of Jesus Christ to be part of our souls so that nothing, no mountain or fire, can shake that. Even those who don't serve missions can learn from this because we all need the gospel to be part our souls and part of who we are. Each day I know I need to recommit to spending every second of my time bettering myself as a missionary and working hard to find those who are ready to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. After we had sung the closing hymn, prayed, and Elder Holland walked out not one person in the room moved for like two minutes because the spirit was so strong and no one wanted to have the moment end. It was one of the most spiritual experiences. I wish everyone could have been there because my words don't do it justice!

We also got lots of snow this week and it sounds like everyone else did too! It was so fun to watch it fall from my classroom window! It made everything so much more exciting and so much colder as well haha. I still don't know how I will make it through the next winter in Latvija because I am already done with the cold here haha. 

The Gift of Tongues is real! In one of my lessons the spirit directed me to go another way and so I did, being terrified too because I wasn't sure if I would be able to talk about it in Latvian, but I was able to express everything I needed to in Latvian and answer all his questions! Without the Lord, the spirit, or the Gift of Tongues I would not have been able to do that. It was a great learning experience and big confidence booster I needed! So thank you for the prayers!

In my personal studies this week I found so many scriptures about God's love for us. And I have never felt His love so strong as I do now. I know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know and love each one of us individually and if you aren't sure about that read the Book of Mormon with that question in mind and pray and I promise you will feel that love. God is all powerful and yet he still knows and loves each of us individually and perfectly. We have a plan on this earth and God wants to help us, we just need to be willing to listen and pray and then act as we are told.

I am so grateful to be a missionary and be here at the MTC learning so much and strengthening my testimony. I know this church is true and there's no place I'd rather be than sharing this wonderful message and I can't wait to get to Latvija and share it with the people there! I love this gospel and I love my Savior, Jesus Christ and what he went through so we can one day return to God's presence, be cleansed from sin, and never have to walk alone on this earth. 

Love,

Māsa Bruner

Mormon 5:23

Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God? Know ye not that he hath all power, and at his great command the earth shall be rolled together as a scroll? 

Pic 1: The cute shirt my fam gave me for Valentine's Day and just an awkward selfie :)

Pic 2: Our white field :) Also, please appreciate this pic because it was really cold and we got snow in our boots for it haha
Pic 3: Temple and my tag
Pic 4: At the Temple
Pic 5: Valentine's Day!
Pic 6: Plaid Day
Pic 7: Loving the snow - From INSIDE!
Pic 8-15: District/Zone Pics

Missionaries ARE real people

Sveiki!!!

Can you believe I have already been here at the MTC for two weeks?! Sometimes it feels longer and other times shorter, but I am loving it here! I am getting tired of the food though so I am super grateful for the packages of food my parents send me. This week we had Taco Bell, which is normally gross to me, but was such a blessing this week haha. 

One of my favorite things to do at the MTC is participate in the choir. We have choir practices every Sunday and Tuesday night and then we sing at the Tuesday devotionals. I am not a good singer but it's such a great experience. The choir teacher is so funny and has lots of fun stories to tell us.

This week I got another teacher. His name is Brother Curtis, he is also Kipris, my investigator. He was called to serve in the Lithuanian Region, but one year into his mission he was switched to Latvian so he is fluent but does not know grammar and throws in Lithuanian words a lot while he is teaching, which confuses me a lot haha. But it's fun to have two teachers because both of them teach me different and I learn a lot from both those ways. One thing Brother Curtis and I did this week was learn how to street contact. Sister Christensen did it with us, so for the first time it was in English. But I loved doing it! I think it's such a cool thing to do! The message we shared was brief and totally led by the spirit. Doing it in Latvian was a bit harder though, but I will do it a lot in Latvia when riding the bus. Brother Curtis told me a funny story when he was a missionary. One night they were knocking on door after door and no one would let them in. When one door opened, Brother Curtis was tired and when asked who they were just yelled out, "We are people!" and they were let in and taught a great lesson haha. It was funny to Sister Christensen and I because we have this joke that we aren't real people because we don't have time to do normal things. Whenever we are walking back to our residence after class and talking to each other about all the things we have to do we always say "it's okay, we don't need sleep, we're missionaries, not real people." Even though we are being dramatic about everything 100% of the time and it's probably not even funny but we die laughing like every time so sorry if you don't understand it haha. But that's why my subject says we are real people because we are and we are still the same people from when we left, we have stronger testimonies though.

Another great thing this week was Sister Christensen and I get to teach an investigator together in English!! Her name is Danute and we have taught her one lesson and it was so great. It was my firstt time teaching with her and with a companion it was so nice haha. But the experience has been great because I am able to focus more on my teaching skills than the language. I have learned lots from it and grateful we have this opportunity. I know the Spirit is the real teacher and I am so grateful that I can feel the Spirit and be directed which directions to take in lessons. Teaching alone in Latvian is hard, but I know if I give it to the Lord and put all my trust in Him I will be directed in what to say and how to say it. It is truly amazing to experience. I know that I have been called to serve my Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that Heavenly Father is helping me and guiding me in lessons and in learning the language. I am so grateful to be a solo sister and have the one on one time with my teachers. They are so amazing and could not do it without them. We have such a strong relationship together because we are working towards the same goal and growing closer to our Savior. The gospel is an amazing thing we have been given. I testify that the gospel is for everywhere, no matter what is happening in your life. And the gospel will be able to help anything we need help with. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know and love each one of us individually. They want what is best for us. Please turn to them in prayer.

Another great thing I get to do is be an investigator! For a few weeks my teacher, Sister Bergeson will teach me! We are doing this because I will be able to understand better how investigators feel and what they kind of go through. I am so excited for it, and am able to do because I am a solo! Then in a few weeks she will become another investigator I will teach. 

Every Tuesday night we have devotional. Last night Elder LeGrande R. Curtis of the seventy came. The whole night was centered around the Book of Mormon and what a great conversion tool it is. It was such a powerful night. After the devotionals we meet with our districts and review what we learned. I always learn more at those. The spirit was so strong last night. I have a strong testimony that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that Joseph Smith was a prophet, and that he did see Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and translated the Book of Mormon. I know that the Book of Mormon contains the fullness of the gospel. I invite you all to read it, whether you already have or not, and to start every chapter by sincerely thinking and asking this question, "Is this written by God or man? Could man have written this?" I testify that if you do this, you will come to find that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church. You will develop a stronger testimony of Jesus Christ, the Book of Mormon, and Joseph Smith. I know the Book of Mormon is true and that by reading we will find the answers to questions we have, we will find peace, and we will find truth.

The language is still hard, but I am learning a lot. I know know say all of the First Vision and Moroni 10:3-5 in Latvian. The Gift of Tongues is real!

I am so grateful to be here and to be a missionary! I love this gospel and I love you all! Have a great week!!

Dievs mīl jūs!

Love, 

Māsa Brūnere

Pic 1: It snowed so we wore Christmas colors!

Pic 2: Floral Tuesday with Sister Christensen
Pic 3: District at the temple
Pic 4: Roommates in mission shirts
Pic 5: Mission shirts with Sister Christensen

Surprise Video

A good friend, former ward member, and bishopric counselor, works for the church and is often at the MTC.  He ran into Kellie today and sent us a pic and video.  Thank you Justin Wilkins - I can't stop smiling!

Masa Bruner's email address

It was so good to hear from Kellie this week!!!  - - - IT WAS THE LONGEST WEEK OF HER PARENTS' LIFE!

If you want to send Sister Bruner an email, here is her address:

kellie.bruner@myldsmail.net

Week One!

​Sveiki! 

Hello friends and family! What a crazy week it's been! There's so much that has happened that I don't even know where to start haha! Wednesday when I was dropped off it was hard saying goodbye to my family, but they really do put you right to work! I got my name tag and room key, dropped off my luggage, and was in class! I am considered a "solo" sister because I am the only missionary in the whole MTC learning Latvian. In class it is just me and my teacher. My wonderful companion, Sister Christensen, is also a solo which is a such a blessing because we go through being alone together haha. She is going to Lithuania and from Utah. Being a solo is weird because I am all alone in my classroom for like two hours most days and I walk around the floor my classroom is on all alone too. I get some weird looks sometimes haha. The first day was so powerful though seeing all us new missionaries coming together for such a great work. I am in the new building and I love it. The windows are colors and pictures are amazing! I get distracted by the window a lot though by the all cars driving by haha.

Thursday is when everything really hit me and I realized what I have actually gotten myself into haha. It was a rough day. I had my first language class which was about three hours. Thursday night I learned a big lesson. I had kind of been zoned out for most the day because I was having such a hard time, but I learned that I need to forget myself and give all I got to working hard. I know I have been told that a lot but it finally makes sense and I have applied that every day since and it's been so great!! 

Friday was kind of like our first real day because we were on the same schedule as the rest of our zone. I love my zone and how kind and loving everyone is. My district is great too but we aren't that close because we never see each other because Sister Christensen and I aren't in the same classroom as them so we hardly ever see them. My district consists of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and different Russian speaking missions so we're all spread out. But we are coming up with creative ways to get closer! I taught my first lesson in Latvian to Kipris. He's from Latvia and is interested in the Book of Mormon and approached the missionaries first. He's not a real investigator but I don't think about that a lot because I want to see him as an investigator and do my best to improve being a missionary. I have to teach alone which is good and bad. It's bad because I don't know a lot of Latvian and don't understand a lot of what Kipris says but it's also good because I have learned to only rely on the spirit to touch Kipris's heart and to help me with the language, and it has been a huge learning experience! 

Saturday was basically the same as Friday and the rest of the days of the week haha. Our schedule stays the same for the most part. Sunday was such a blessing though because it was relaxed in the morning and then we had church. Sacrament is a great experience because we all sing in our languages so it sounds like a bunch of gibberish haha. But the spirit was so strong and I was so grateful to partake of the Sacrament! Sunday nights there's devotionals and some BYU singing group came which was way cool to here. 

The food is better than I thought it would be and there's so many options so that's nice. We had CHICK-FIL-A this week! what a blessing haha. Meal times are some of my favorite because we always laugh so hard and are able to relax for a little bit because every single second we are awake we have something we need to be doing and if we don't do it it gets so stressful. However, Sister Christensen and I do get more study time than most others because we are solos. I don't really understand how or why but we do. Expect it's basically all personal because we can't help each other much, but we do our best. Studying for three hours straight can be long but we try and switch up where we study each day and when we are in our classrooms we wheel around on our wheely chairs and have races haha. We make each other laugh all the time haha. Sister Christensen and I are a lot alike and I am grateful I am a solo to be able to be her companion because I couldn't do it without her.

My teacher, Sister Bergeson is wonderful. I love her and she has made class my favorite part of the day because it's more like talking to a friend the whole time because it is just us too. She teaches just the way I need it and was a solo too so she understands what I am going through haha. One day this week me and her walked around our building and looked at the pictures because about 4 of them are Latvian sister missionaries and one is a field from Latvia. Sitting in front of those pictures I was able to ask all my questions about Latvia to here and I am so excited to go there!!!

I have also learned a lot of Latvian! I still don't understand a lot, but I can pray, say the first half of the First Vision, teach lessons, sing like two songs, and bear a simple testimony. Latvian has a lot of sounds we don't have in English so my mouth is struggling with those sounds haha but I am slowly learning! It's a beautiful language and I love love love learning it. I am also grateful for the Gift of Tongues and the Spirit because I would not have been able to get through some of the lessons without them! I know Heavenly Father is helping me! 

One thing I have learned this week is that I need to be my first convert and not only come closer to Christ but become as He is. One thing I studied about this week was all the times Christ turns outwards when us as natural men would turn inwards. When things get hard we need to look outside oursevles just like Christ. I'm grateful for my Savior and the love He has for me and each of us. I am excited to teach the people of Latvia about their loving Savior.

Being a missionary is awesome and each day here gets better and better.

Love,

Masa Bruner

Pictures (not necessarily in the order she lists): one is what Latvian looks like, the next is me and my comp at the map, the next is me at the map, the next is my tag. My name will change a little bit and the white sticker just shows that I am a solo and can be alone. The next is just me in the dress that jake and his mom gave me. The next one has the Latvian flag in the back if look close enough haha. It was out like twice this week! Next, me and my comp. The next is one of views from where we study. the next is my district and then all the sisters going to the baltic mission. The next is the view from my classroom. I've seen two girls I went to high school with during class haha. The next is all my books. The last is the picture of Latvia that I love. I can resend them if i need to!​