We went to the Louisville, Kentucky Temple!

Hey There my people! :)

Thanks so much for sending my temple clothes! It felt so nice to have my own temple clothes. It was really awesome! We went to the Louisville, Kentucky Temple! It is pretty much the same size as a regular church building it is pretty adorable! Then we went to Chickfila! haha. And talked about how crazy missionary mom's are for about an hour haha. It was really awesome to go the temple! 

I've been thinking so much about Dion. I really think he wants his work done. I have really been missing that guy lately. We went on exchanges after the temple so I was with Sister Mumford and dude I love her she is hilarious! We stayed up pretty late talking about crazy mission stories. But anyways we were just driving and I saw a group of motorcycles drive by and they had a police escort for a funeral. I seriously just started crying when I saw them haha it was kind of funny. I was like why the heck am I crying. I was just thinking about Uncle Dion and all his friends at his funeral. I just felt really sad for those guys on the motorcycles. It's crazy like this month it has been two years since Dion passed away. I know that he is here with me along with grandma. It's funny to think that crazy guy is out here with me helping me teach. I really love Uncle Dion and just his giant heart. He always tried to hide it but everyone knew he would do anything for anyone. I really hope you guys can get his work done. I know that’s what he wants he is definitely waiting! 

I've wanted a blessing for awhile so I finally decided to get one so I asked Elder Twitchell after I had a breakdown about Uncle Dion. It was a really awesome blessing and really comforting. 

We had Zone Conference and that was real wild! It was super good! We learned a lot about Joseph Smith like that he ran for president... I had no idea! And President of course had some real bomb talks! We got trainings on how to be powerful missionaries and it's all about planning and diligence. I saw Elder Anderson and we both reminisced about West Lafayette and how the ward is now split which is like the saddest thing ever!

We almost met the standards of excellence this week! Which is 20 lessons we got 19. But also 2 days this week were completely filled with meetings and the temple. So we are going to kill it this week for sure! :) We have a lot of work to do! It is super awesome! I love Greenwood so far! All the people are so kind and pretty open to talking except the Nazerns that hate us haha. 

So Sunday I sort of was asked to give a talk it was more just sharing my testimony and I taught Sunday school. First time teaching alone man... That was pretty wild! haha. 

Tell Grandpa he isn't allowed over if he waste stuffed crust that just isn't right! I miss you guys too! I'm actually a little homesick this time around. But I pretty much just miss being able to call you when I'm sad about Uncle Dion and things like that haha. I miss Dad too! On exchanges we taught this guy named Gene who pretty much looks like a 90 year old version of dad and he spaces out a lot. haha. The whole time he was spacing out just like dad it made me laugh. 

Oh so we had a miracle well actually a lot! But this one is pretty cool. So we called a number that this guy Alex gave the elders. We left a voice mail for Alex and got a call back wondering who we were. He said his name was Derek and we were like oh sorry wrong number but are you interested in hearing a message? Then we taught him over the phone!! haha. Then we were like where do you live and he said Greenwood! Crazy already! So he gave us his address and we went over last night and he said that his grandma who passed away kept telling him that he needed to listen to us!!! So Crazy! haha. So now we are teaching this guy! Pretty wild stuff!

DUDE we have an investigator named Lone Eagle! haha. He is Native American! He loves the book of Mormon for obvious reasons! haha. But then decided to get baptized in a Native American church on the Sunday he went to our church. haha!  So the Elders stopped teaching him but we went over and he told us that he has been reading the book of Mormon everyday! :) We have a lesson with him tomorrow. Sister Petty is going to go with us. But seriously I'm a little too excited to teach this guy! He is such a baller haha. He has eagles all over his house! I'm pretty sure I'll have to wear my eagle shirt over there someday. He talked to us about communists for quite some time. I think he has a lot of cool stories to tell haha. 

Well I love you all so much! It's so great to be back! :)

Stay classy keep praying!

Love, 

Sister Brooks

I'm just so excited to be back! I'm like the happiest person ever!

Well I have one email.... Literally one.

haha. Thanks mom! My friends are lame!

So yeah it is so awesome to be back in Indiana! :) I'm so happy that I'm here in Greenwood, Indiana! It seems like a really great place!

We are the first Sisters in the ward within like 20 years or the first sisters in the 1st ward ever I think. It's pretty wild! So everyone is really excited to have us in the ward! They were telling us that it is like Christmas again! The elders in the ward told everyone they are worried they will never be fed again haha. 

So when I got off the plane in Indiana I pretty much was losing my mind that I was about to see everyone again. As soon as I saw President and Sister Cleveland I just started crying. It was just such a relief to finally see them again! I'm pretty sure the assistants filmed me haha. Then we drove to the mission office and Sister Howard and Barrett were waiting for me!!! Sister Howard did the creepy one eye around the corner thing. She just started crying when we saw each other and we hugged like 50 times like is this real life!?!?!?! They are seriously the funniest sisters! I love them to death! I stayed the night with them and we stayed up all night pretty much haha. I was pretty tired the next day at transfers but it was worth it! We were talking about all the weird amazing times we had in West Lafayette. I sure do wish I could visit there. Someday! 

Transfers were real wild! It was so crazy seeing all my homies! The first person I saw was Elder Johnson and he seriously almost hugged me because he forgot we were missionaries’ haha. I was so excited to see him! Then I saw Elder Romcy who finally left Lafayette and he is a DL now! I got to talk to a lot of people that I missed :) it was awesome!

Then two people from the MTC are in my zone now! So that is pretty wild! We have the Canadian and Elder Twitchell haha. It's exciting!  Also P. Sorenson who I served with in West Lafayette. We had combined District Meeting this week and we pretty much spent the whole time talking. It's just so great to be back! Apparently I'm like a mission legend haha. That is what I have been told. The elders have been talking about me coming back for a while now so some of the members knew about me. Kind of weird but cool.

I'm realizing I hardly know any of the Sisters because we never really serve around each other so you get to know like one person at a time.

I'm working on my slang again because I realize it came back in the three months I was home and it's hard not to say words like shut up sometimes haha. Then I think of Libby and Kigh saying we don't say that word.  

Sister Warner is super nice and the whole mission loves her so I love her too. She is from Texas and we are both pretty laid. So we work pretty well together. She also loves to work hard so that is something else we have in common. 

I keep having a dream that I'm going to give a talk to missionaries and tell them not to take this time for granted. So I have a feeling I'm going to give an actual talk about that one of these days. 

We have spent a lot of our time this week planning since we are both brand new to the area. I think President really trusts me with double transfers because this is my second one and only my second area haha. So that it pretty much my life. I had a feeling I would be opening an area as soon as he said some sisters would be opening an area. I thought it might be Crossroads but I'm pretty sure you would be glad it wasn't because it is pretty ghetto there and they have never had sisters there until now. Sister Howard really thinks that I will serve in the ghetto because apparently I'm meant for it haha!

I'm just so excited to be back! I'm like the happiest person ever! I can't wait to actually get to work because this past week has been a little slow. But we really have so much work to do! It will be awesome for all the single sisters who can't have elders over. 

We met one of our families who is investigating and they are adorable! They are all rednecks like authentic rednecks! Finally! haha. I love them already! They have a neighbor friend who comes over and he has and accent and a speech impediment he is like 11. So adorable! He asked us how you can know if god is really there for sure and he was so nervous to ask. We just want to adopt him haha. So this area is going to be fantastic! Oh also I totally saw Sister Haight! Cray Cray!

I love all of you! Pray always!

Sister Brooks

Tomorrow is the DAY! :D

Thought I would write one more post before I leave.
Let me just say that I'M SOOO EXCITED!!!!! I can't even explain how excited I am right now! I finally get to go back to Indiana and serve my Heavenly Father :) I also just found out I get to stay the night with Sister Howard when I get there!!!!!!!! :D I'm losing my mind!!! I'm so excited to see my best friend and missionary mother! haha. Tomorrow is going to be the best day ever!

I'm so grateful that I get to go back on my mission! It will be amazing! I've been waiting for this day since the day I came home. I talked about the guy I taught on the plane in my blog post about coming home. But I've been thinking about him again today. I just know that Heavenly Father put him in my path for a reason. I remember our conversation and just talking to him about the gospel. I remember him saying he thought it was cool that I had a lot of my life figured out already being only 19. I have been thinking about that. I really don't have a lot of things figured out but I do know that I have Heavenly Father always looking out for me. Talking with James was when I realized I would return to my mission. I knew I didn't want to leave my mission but I didn't know what Heavenly Father wanted me to do next. Being able to teach one last person before I wasn't a missionary reminded me of the love that I had for sharing the message of the restored gospel with others. I'm just so excited to go back and teach. :) I know that missionary work is very difficult but it is the most rewarding thing I have ever done.

I'm so grateful for the friends I have made and I can't wait to see them tomorrow! I'm pretty sure I will be freaking out the entire time! haha. I'll let you all know how it goes! :)

 Love,
Sister Brooks

Image

I've been thinking a lot about change that has occurred in my life. During my senior year of high school I was scared to death what I was going to do next. I knew I would go to some sort of school but that was only because that was what everyone else was doing. So I applied for scholarships like crazy because I didn't have any money saved. I ended up with two scholarships to UVU. So I moved out and all that jazz. I really didn't know who I was or what my purpose was on this planet. I had a really hard time breaking out of my shell and making new friends. I didn't really like Orem mainly because everyone was super Mormon and always told me to go to church activities. I was really annoyed because at this time I didn't think I needed religion. I ended up hanging out with my old friends in Tooele almost every weekend because I didn't know what else to do with Jake as my only friend in Orem when we constantly worked different schedules. I felt alone all the time and couldn't wait for the weekends to come. I ended up not liking myself and just felt stuck in this place of unhappiness. 

My roommate Cassidy was really awesome and I just saw something really cool in her that I didn't have. She was always happy! I swear that girl was always smiling. She started preparing for a mission and I just knew that was what was so different between her and I. I knew I didn't have the testimony that she had. I wasn't living the way that I needed to live to be happy. I was ready to change I wanted to be happy. I just decided I would quit with all the nonsense. I started to talk to my bishop about serving a mission because I was prompted to serve. It was so strange because I wasn't really in tune with the spirit. But Heavenly Father reached out to me anyways for me to change and become a missionary. Thinking about this now just makes me so grateful for the love that Heavenly Father has for me. I wasn't doing what I was supposed to but he still reached out to me. I know he loves each of us and sometimes we don't recognize it. I didn't recognize myself as a daughter of god and I was miserable with myself. I just constantly was worried about my inadequacies and not the person that I could become.

Today I was looking back at old pictures and when I saw pictures of the old me I just knew that I had changed. All I cared about was what the world thought of me, not what heavenly father thought of me. I wanted everyone to think I was this really cool, laid back, and funny girl. But inside I never felt those things. I was scared of everything and what everyone thought. Now today I can say that I know I am his, a daughter of a king. I know that I can work hard everyday to become more like my savior and that my work is never through. I know that I'm here on this earth to learn, grow and love. My mission gave me this knowledge and my testimony is growing everyday. I'm so much more confident in myself and who I can become. I know I say this a lot lately but I seriously can't wait to get back out there and kill it! You are all children of god and I love you!!! :)

The church is true lil homies! 

Sister Sierra Brooks

I'm not afraid anymore.

Or as my dad would say when my mom yells at him "I'm not scared." haha.
Today I decided to spend some time at the cemetery where my grandma is buried. I have always found peace in going to the cemetery. Preparing for my mission I spent a lot of my study time there. It is just a place to get away from electronics, the noise, and just being outside is great! On my mission I could just feel my grandma's spirit helping me along in the work. My grandma was the best example to me of a missionary. I've always wanted to grow up to be just like her. She had a love for everyone around her and showed that love to those around her. 

As I was sitting at the cemetery reading my scriptures I just couldn't help but think of my grandma and her being the first member in our family and how she started it all. I was just reading The Book of Mormon knowing that this is the word of god and I want everyone to know it for themselves. It could bring peace to their lives like I had searched for and finally found. I thought about all those times I went tracting and how scared I was to knock on these strangers doors. But why should I be afraid? I have this knowledge to share with them. This knowledge that can guide them, bless them and bring happiness. This stranger is my brother or sister and they need this message in their lives. I sat there just thinking about how much I love missionary work I mean if there were nuns in this church I would be one! haha. I just had this feeling that I'm ready to return. I'm no longer afraid to share this message. I sat there wanting to run up to everyone in the cemetery to share this message with them.

It was so overwhelming to feel this that I'm needed and can return to the mission field! When I first got home I was like okay Heavenly Father whats the plan? Should I stay or should I go? I have felt that returning is what I needed to do and just to have that reaffirmed makes me the happiest girl ever! I'm just hoping it will be soon! But patience is also a thing I'm working on. 

I'm so grateful for all the support that I have in my returning. I love this church and this work more than anything! I'm so glad to have found what makes me the most happy. 
Keep on keepin' on! I love you all!
Sierra Mackenzie Brooks

Brandon Flowers knows whats up! 

Why I'm home... The Real Deal.

Okay so I'm finally writing this... I came home from my mission on medical release a few weeks ago. Leaving Indiana was possibly the hardest thing I have had to do in my young life. How I ended up back in the glorious Tooele, Utah all started at the MTC. So I've always struggled with anxiety and depression something I'm not normally super open about. I have always fought my way through it. My anxiety has always been over the little things and I've been able to get past it for the most part. I mean I would get anxious over asking for a refill on my drink which is probably the weirdest thing anyone has heard. But you know anxiety is a very real thing. Most of the time I find myself making fun of my stupid fears which is a pretty good way of coping haha. 

So anyways in the MTC I started getting panic attacks and I would put every little small thing on myself. I also struggled with thinking I was a terrible teacher and I thought I could never be a missionary. Which is completely stupid! Because you know what? I'm an instrument in Heavenly Fathers hands he isn't going to let me fail his children. I really came to learn that when I got out in field and I want everyone who thinks about serving a mission to think about that. Feeling inadequate can eat at you and its what the adversary wants you to feel. For a time I did let that eat at me and that is where all the craziness happened and that is how I got here. I felt physically sick from the anxiety everyday because I just over stressed about my inadequacies and it was all about me. I worked very hard to push through it. I ended up going to the doctors because I thought maybe he could possibly help... well because that is what doctors are supposed to do. He put me on some super heavy I mean HEAVY medication. 

In the mission field you are only allowed to take this medicine for 10 days to kick start everything. So I did as the doctor directed and we pretty much had to stay home most of the time I was on this stuff because my companion's license expired and I wasn't allowed to drive. It was pretty crazy stuff! I was throwing up throughout those 10 days and just feeling like complete crap. But getting off of the medicine was another story...
My body was pretty much addicted. I stopped taking them on a Sunday and church was pretty much a complete blur. I remember walking down the hallway and how it felt like it was getting smaller and smaller. At the end of church I was so ready to pass out. So I called my mission presidents wife to see what she thought would be best and she said to try and slowly stop. As I did this I wasn't able to sleep for 5 days. I started having the craziest hallucinations, throwing up some more, my heart was beating a million miles, and my eyes were dilated actually up until a few days ago. I was scared! I was laying in my bed thinking that I might not wake up in the morning. 

I had fought so hard all the physical and emotional crap up until this point and I finally decided to call President Cleveland to see what he thought I should do. He told me he was going to call my mom and mission medical in SLC. I had a feeling he was probably going to call back and give me bad news.
I was sleeping finally for a few hours when President Cleveland called. I was barely awake when he told me he thought I should go home. I was so upset. I was like President there is NO WAY! I can't go home! except I was crying my eyes out so he probably didn't understand. I was just thinking there is no possible way I can leave. I love this. I love these people. I love serving the lord. I love Indiana and the tropical weather they were having. I love Sister Howard. I love all the missionaries I'm surrounded by. I'm finally happy for the first time. I need to share this message with everyone! I was filled with so much anger that I would have to go home. I felt like this was my final answer. I just kept telling him no and he was like well okay Sister come to the mission home tomorrow and we will talk. 

As soon as I got off the phone with him I got down on my knees begging heavenly father to let me stay here in this place I love with all the people I love. I need this and they need this. But as I was praying I knew that wasn't his plan and I was so angry. Then I realized it would all be okay. I kept having the spirit remind me of my favorite scripture in John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." The whole rest of that night I kept being reminded of scriptures about peace and I was prompted to read D&C 121. When I read that verse nine really stuck out to me and it says: "Thy friends do stand by thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands." I was so so scared of what everyone was going to think of me coming home early. Living in Utah I have seen the negative way people are treated for coming home early. You know what anyone who has the courage to serve a mission and serve the lord even if it's for one day has followed their prompting and has shown heavenly father that they are willing to listen. I just was so reminded that it doesn't matter!!! Your family is all that matters and they aren't going to think any less of you. I realized everything would turn out okay because heavenly father had a plan even if I did have to go back to Tooele.

So the next day we drove to the mission home so that I could talk to president. I still didn't want to come home because mission life is the life for me even if it was difficult. We sat down in the front room and he told me he had never been in that room before... haha in his own house he had never been in his front room! I thought that was pretty funny. He started talking about how great of a missionary he thought I was. It was funny because he always talked about this specialized training that we had. We were roll playing and he knew how much I hated and got really anxious about roll plays. So what does he do?! sits down and decides to roll play with me?! haha. But ever since then he always tells everyone about that roll play. I've had so many missionaries ask about it because he always tells everyone how great it was. Anyways he then started telling me that he had a feeling I needed to go home the morning before and it was the first time he had a feeling that I needed to go home. He told me that I was the first Sister that he had seen push so hard to stay here being sick. He was just like look you have been sick since November 20th and you can't be sick anymore, I look at you and I can see you are just exhausted. I was like oh thanks President! haha. He then was like I know how much of a desire to stay here you have so as a friend I have you up on the transfer board with another companion. 

So he did give me that option and I just thought about my next companion and how I would drag them down because I still wasn't feeling well. I couldn't do that. Take someone who is so willing and able to serve and make them stay indoors because I felt like crap. So I told him you know what you are called by god so I should really probably listen to you... haha I finally got it. I knew I couldn't get better in the field. I really didn't want to know that but I guess I had to. So he called everyone and I thought that I would have a few days to say goodbye to everyone.

I was still in shock that I would be leaving soon I didn't know how soon but leaving my mission in general just seemed awful.... Not going to lie and say that I don't somewhat feel that way still. 

We were in our apartment because I still felt awful and we get a call from President and he says my flight leaves tomorrow. TOMORROW!?! I freaked out I just started panicking and I couldn't control my tears. I had no time to say goodbye. I couldn't even pack I was so freaked out my heart was running a million miles and I was staring at the wall. I just wasn't there at all I felt so numb. I started calling everyone to say goodbye.

My companion Sister Howard is seriously the best person ever! She packed everything because I was so out of it. I just sat there like man I'm leaving! I had the Zone leaders give me a blessing and it was such an amazing blessing I felt so much better about leaving. It was really sad they were both crying and told me that they really thought it was cool how I could be myself and a missionary. It was cool hearing that. I called everyone in our zone to say goodbye and they all came over. It was so awesome to have their support. I called Elder Romcy and Elder Johnson at 9 and Elder Romcy with his sweet Brazilian accent answered he was like " Noooooooo Man! You can't go! We come over.... looks at clock oh no man it nine.... we come anyways." hahaha I laughed my butt off! But really the best young women and men our out on the lord's errand and I love them all!

The next day we were off to the airport at 6:30 am. I was SO exhausted and completely out of it due to the medicine withdrawals. Me being me tried to act like I was all cool with leaving. But I was so upset. They dropped me off at the curb and it was so sad. :( I just wanted them to stay with me forever! I know realistic. I got on the plane to Minnesota which connected to Salt Lake. I sat by a guy named James and I actually taught him a full Restoration lesson and got his phone number to give to missionaries where he live. I also happened to promise I would find him a woman. haha Jokingly of course. I knew that heavenly father still wanted me to be a missionary no matter where I go. 

When we arrived in Minnesota I was so out of it that I managed to space out so hard that I missed my flight. So I sat in Minnesota for 3 hours eating PB&J like a five year old crying looking through my journal. I asked the lady at the front desk to let me use her phone so I could tell my mom I wouldn't be there until four thirty instead of one thirty... So lets just say I had a lot of time to reminisce and it got ugly sad. When I finally got to Utah I was just so mad that I was there. I wanted to be in Indiana and Utah was disgustingly hot! I was being such a punk to my parents and I'm sorry mom and dad but I love mission life more than Tooele.

Through all of this I have really realized that this is what heavenly father wants for me and it is important to align our own wills with heavenly father. I still am struggling with that because I much rather be in Indiana. I know that I will be able to go back out and that I will go! Heavenly Father has told me this is just a brief moment in the blessing that the Elders gave me and through my studies and prayer. A mission is all I want. I want to serve I want to help others. I have also come to know that we are all children of god. Learning that has helped me to love others, better serve others and just seeing people the way god sees them is MAGICAL! Check it out! You can't hate anyone seeing them in that light. I really do love everyone! I'm grateful for the knowledge of the restored gospel and the overwhelming happiness it has brought to my life and that is why I even want to be a missionary so my brothers and sisters of the universe can find it for themselves. Isn't it the coolest?! We all can know for ourselves! Not because some guy told us. 

Leaving Indiana was so difficult because I just wanted to continue in teaching but I have learned that I can teach anywhere. The home is the most important place to teach and I think that is why I'm here is to strengthen my family so that I can leave them and not worry.
I just have to say that this work is the best work and I know that it is a never ending work. I'm just so thankful to have found what I did on my mission. Before my mission I wasn't happy and now I'm pretty dang happy I would say! I just can't wait to get back out there and serve!

I love all of you! Thanks for the support and if you read this you are one cool cat!
Peace and Blessings
Sierra Mackenzie Brooks

Elder Romcy at 9:10 haha

Elder Johnson (he was actually in my YSA ward before the mish) and Elder Romcy

Sister Howard is a sad Tunia.

Family really is everything…

Mom! 

I'm so glad that everything seems to be going so great at home! :) I can't believe you are giving a talk! I feel like you would never do that haha. I'm a proud daughter. I went to a member’s home and they had one of your signs and I freaked out! haha. I was like thats my mommy!!! I'm trying to spread the word to Indiana about your creativeness :)

Sister Correll she is basically my mother out here haha. She is pretty much like the best person in the world! She bore her testimony on Sunday about missionary work and how grateful she is too be able to teach with us all the time and to have met such an amazing family. Lisa is so amazing! I think I'll be here for her baptism but you never know! Transfers are on the 12th and I think Sister Howard will be leaving me. :( I'm hoping I'll be with a younger missionary so I don't compare myself to these all stars.

We have had a lot of good people help us out this week with getting us place to place. The Elders were even nice and got me Theraflu and 7-up. Sister Robertson hooked us up with chocolate cinnamon bears and chocolate covered Santa. She has a storage of sweets candies she orders from Utah because you can't get those things here. She brought some to us last night she drove up to our door and we just went out and got them. She is like a Sweets dealer here for all the Mormons who know about that stuff haha. Also she is a McDonalds’ Diet coke addict.... So looks like I'm finding you more best friends. She is seriously awesome! :) I just think it's hilarious she has like a food storage of chocolate covered cinnamon bears! haha. 

I pretty much love like everyone in the ward they are like the best people I've ever met. They are all so willing to help in missionary work and being motherly. Sister Couts is our grandma basically :) I can't remember if I told you she taught us how to knit with our arms and she is like a super amazing quilter. Also she is like the funniest person ever! haha. When we first met her she was all formal with us and then we just became best friends! 

I'm feeling a little better. Still can't drive but I'm planning on a better week. One day I had like the most amazing day because I could just feel Grandma helping me. I think of her like always because she really was a missionary to everyone. She has influenced me to be a better person.  We can't find true happiness in worldly things and I think I've come to realize how much you all mean to me. Family really is everything…tell Dad that is not a stupid quote haha. 

We talked about temples on Sunday and I thought of our family and how much temple work there is to be done! I was thinking about how me going on a mission got you guys back to the temple :) Good things are happening. The gospel can really give you confidence and I think you are finding that. :) I am too. It takes time and a lot of work. But it is all worth it. I really hope my brothers can find that. I think about those weirdoes almost every minute haha. I want them to realize what we have and stop taking it for granted.

I miss staying up with you too Dad! Insomniacs for life! haha. I won't be moving away when I get home I'll live with you forever! haha. I told Sister Howard I'm going to be rich enough to have a big house where I can take care of my parents in. I hope you are okay with that. :) I love you guys so much! 

Keep being Legit! 

Love,

Sister Brooks