He knows us

Hi y'all! Sorry I didnt write last week, I was so busy! So much has happened, but the days all blur together so I will just share a few things! 
Last week, alecs and april blessed their baby in sacrement meeting! (They are dating - april is a less active member and we are teaching alecs right now). Then we had an AWESOME lesson with them about the word of wisdom, and alecs could really relate to the blessings that living the word of wisdom brings. He drinks a lot of coffee to "get him through the day" but we told him that god doesn't want him to have to depend on any substances. We invited him to quit and he said he would try to only drink one cup a day so that's a start. He said the closing prayer and asked god for strength to help him quit and to help him resist temptation. It was so sweet and the spirit was so strong.
And then we got raymond to come to the adult session of stake conference with us! (Raymond is the guy that says the book of mormon names funny and has no teeth ahhahaha) he is so stubborn but at the same time he is making so much progress and says little things here and there that give us hope that he really might have a change of heart. He was super iffy about coming to church with us so we were glad we could invite him to a different meeting. He was telling everyone he met that he has been reading the book of mormon and he was so proud - it was cute. He was also telling everyone that we "had a way of getting him to do things" and that we were so persistent and relentless and that we dragged him there and he thought it was the funniest thing ever. One of the speakers talked about how god can help you quit smoking and drinking coffee which are the two things he struggles with so that was a blessing! He was laughing at all the speakers, even though I'm pretty sure he had no idea what they were talking about cause all of the talks were about temples and temple work (which we havent explained yet). But he leaned over to me and goes "I'm feeling good!!" So that was awesome hahahha. I wish you could all meet him, he is hilarious. 
This week we were painting the ladies nails at the nursing home and sister glenn had to paint this one lady's nails that just got done eating a whole bag of cheetos. She even asked her if she wanted to wash her hands and she said no and used hand sanitizer making it even worse. HAHAHA sister glenn was literally gagging telling me about it. 
On a much more negative note, our friend samantha is going to get evicted in 17 days if she doesn't pay rent...which she will definitely not be able to. She has 3 little kids and a husband that works 2 jobs, so hard to provide for their family. We went and talked with her and she just cried saying how worried she is that they are going to have to go to a shelter and she is so worried for her kids and with the holidays coming up. It SHATTERED my heart thinking of her cute kids in there. We all fasted together on sunday that God would bless them and give them peace and comfort. So keep their family in your prayers please! <3 (p.s. she is on date for baptism!!)
I got to go to Charleston on exchanges this week with sister hiatt! We rode the bus and talked to a ton of people and it was a lot different than my area so it was fun to see! Also I got chickfila - god is good. Sister hiatt said something that really helped me. She said, "we are doing better than we think we are". We can be so hard on ourselves trying to be perfect and to live up to our callings, but God knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts!! We need to compliment ourselves and focus on what we do WELL! 

I witnessed a MIRACLE this week. Sister glenn and I were planning a lesson for someone on the commandment of tithing. I was thinking of the blessings that my family and I have received from following this commandment. My sisters both payed for their missions and I wanted to do the same. I didnt earn as much money as I wanted to, so i have been feeling guilty for making my parents help out. When we were planning, I said in my mind, "tonight I am going to pray and ask god to help me with my missionary fund". It is so awesome that we have the privilege to ask God for blessings. Anyways, that night I got home and was looking through my unopened messages and my mom had texted me, telling me that someone had anonymously donated _____$ to my mission fund. BEFORE I even got the chance to fall on my knees and ask god to help me, he was already 10 steps ahead of me. God knows our needs, better than we can state them. He knew what I was going to ask THAT VERY NIGHT and what I needed at that time! It showed me how he knows me so personally! It shows that god knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts!!! I testify that he does know each of your greatest desires and needs. My sweet sister emma shared this scripture with me this week - Alma 18:33 "Yea, and he looketh down upon all the children of men; and he knows all the thoughts and intents of the heart; for by his hand were they all created from the beginning". And God bless the sweet and generous soul(s) who was in tune with the spirit enough to know what I needed and was willing to help me. My heart was so humbled and grateful. I know that they will be blessed for their love and kindness towards me and for their willingness to help with missionary work. Whoever you are, thank you thank you thank you. I cannot put my gratitude into words! I am so beyond blessed!! 

I know that god is a god of miracles! He will reward you for your efforts and bless you when you do the small things that he asks of you. Have the best week!! I love you all so so much!!! 
Love, sister brinton