From Brenna 10/31/2013

 Last Friday we went to the University to contact and refer people to the missionaries serving in this area. IT WAS THE MOST AMAZING EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD. We just started talking to people. We were in our companionships, and Hermana Gawrych and I were killing it. B) There was this group of guys sitting together that were kind of watching us walk across the courtyard, so we walked right up to them and made a little small talk, then I asked if we could share our message. They said yes and we taught the restoration right then and there! They listened to every word and seemed totally drawn in and attentive to what we had to say. At the end, they wanted to know where the church was! Hermana G. and I were like... uhhh.... we don't actually know. We're new. Hahaha. So we gave them pamphlets with phone numbers for missionaries in Santo Domingo. And we talked to so many more people!!!! Some who already knew about or were investigating the church, some who probably thought we were SO weird. I remember one young lady we talked to. She was sitting alone, and Hermana G. saw her. We walked over and asked her how she was and if we could talk to her. She said yes and started smiling. She had the BEST, most beautiful smile!! She looked so happy that we had come over to her. I don't think she understood anything we said, and we were kind of awkward, but we left her with a folleto, and I still think about her sometimes when I say my prayers. I could feel Heavenly Father's love for her, and I want so badly for her to have the gospel in her life. I want to meet her again! We're going back tomorrow, and although I'm nervous (like I was last time), I really can't wait. In about 1.5 hours, Hermana G. and I gave out 12 folletos y 2 copias del Libro de Mormón. THE CHURCH IS TRUUUUUUUE!!! :D  Hermana Gawrych and I have been called to be the Sister Reps on the Leadership Council. We were randomly asked to attend the meeting with the APs and District Leaders this week, so that's pretty cool. We basically get to help out the other Hermanas (all four of them) with their problems or worries and speak out for their concerns and needs at the meeting every week. So now I have two callings, since I'm the music coordinator for the MTC too. They don't sustain us here, since we have already been set apart as missionaries. We watched another amazing devotional by Elder Bednar this week, as well as one by Elder Scott. I LOVE devotionals. Oh my, I have so much that I want to tell you. When we went to the tienda last week, there was Christmas music playing, and there were decorations on display! Hermano Rodriguez told us on Saturday that here, they totally start putting up Christmas trees in October. Except his family because they're all too lazy. X) And we thought we were bad in America! They have already put up the lights and hung lit angels from the trees in the park across from the temple grounds. The weirdest part is that I love it!! It won't be long before I start having us all sing Christmas hymns at family (entire MTC) prayer every night. I have the power. >:) You guys HAVE to hear about my CCM birthday. First of all, Hermano Fernandez's wife had her baby (allegedly, but pics or it didn't happen) yesterday!!! How special is that?! In the morning, all of the Elders in my district wrote me cute little birthday notes and left them on my desk when I got up to get a tissue with Hermana G. And Elder Santacruz let me have one of the "I Am a Child of God" rubber rings he brought to give to kids. It's blue. :) Then Hermana G. gave me an elaborately colored birthday card with a super special note inside. I am the luckiest of all the companions in the world. En serio. :D I went to dinner last night, and they had cake for me!! I knew there would be, because Hermana Freestone arranged for it since she and President are at a conference. But the whole MTC sang happy birthday, and it was very, very awesome of them. Then, just as we ended family prayer last night, the translator for the Haitian group asked if we could wait a minute. He then translated for one of them as he explained that in Haiti, birthdays are very very special. The entire group of Haitian missionaries stood up in the front and sang for me in French!!! It was one of the most touching experiences in my life.