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