Dear Family and Friends,
So this is probably the first you will hear about the fire that has just happened in my mission. A sister's Apartment caught and fire and destroyed everything in it in church yesterday (luckily the four sisters that used to live there were at church so they were all safe) but they have lost everything besides the clothes they took to church and the bags they had with them. It just so happens that I am one of the sisters that lived there.

From what the firemen think, it was an Electric box in our Apartment that pretty much exploded and started a huge fire immeditely. The fire and smoke and ash destroyed everything in our Apartment: Furniture, clothes (even the ones in drawers), books, Pictures, letters (so sorry to all my friends. I swear I had letters ready to send you but you'll probably have to wait a while longer to actually receive any letters from Sister Briscoe). All my clothes are gone. This is why you should wait to buy really cute and modest clothes from Europe until you are nearly done with your mission! Never buy them before. And don't care about material Things, you can still preach the gospel with just a few items as a opposed to many.

So sister Bartholomew and I were walking home after church and had planned to get her some Soup (cause she was sick). we saw our Windows flapping open and our neighbors standing outside. They were giving us weird looks and so we asked them what was up and they told us that our Apartment (just our Apartment, not the Building) had caught on fire and the firemen had been there and a few of them were still there but they also told us we were not allowed in our Apartment. Now at this point, I was picturing a Little fire. Like maybe the other sisters left the stove or oven on when they left for church and it started a small fire. But eventually, Sister Bartholomew and I convinced the fireman to let us go look and see the damage. I felt like I was walking into one of those crime scenes you see on tv where the person burns Down a place to hide evidence. Every singel inch of wall and ceiling was Black. some furniture was destroyed and they let us look at our clothes: all ruined. The Pictures I'm sending are from another sister's camera (mine was in the Apartment when it burned. I don't know where it is or if it's alright). The biggest bummer is the clothes. What a shame that all that Money is wasted. Now I know not to buy stupid stuff anymore.

But we called president, told the other sisters and then all four of us cried. We cried, prayed and cried some more. We cried because of the Financial loses and we cried because we are so grateful to just be alive. It was a freak accident and if it had happened while any of us were in the Apartment, "it is unlikely we would be alive" (quote from our friendly fireman) And we have so much to be grateful for. The members here have seriously stepped up immediately and donated old clothes and food and a place to stay and dinner appointments. I'm touched by how much people have helped. It makes me think of Doctrine and Covenants 84:77-91. The Lord knows that I, Sister Murray and Sister Hall, and Sister Bartholomew need clothes and food and so He blessed us to be in the most amazing and wonderful area where we already within 24 hours, have so much, definitely enough to get us through as missionaries.

I'm also grateful for the gospel. I am so grateful to be a missionary and to be sharing this wonderful gospel that I know is true. I know that Christ lives and that He still has disciples on this earth. I know them, they've given me food and clothes and a place to sleep right now. It's interesting and humbling being on the receiving end of so much love

and charity and kindness. I'm overwhelmed and I don't know how on earth I will ever every repay them back. To whoever reads this, don't take the most important Things for granted. Please don't forget that God has a plan and it involves the most important thing ever: our own families. Because of the gospel, God has given us temples and priesthood power where we can be with our families for time and all eternity. I know with my Whole Heart that the temple is the Lord's House and that we should do everything we can to learn about how wonderful the temple is and how we can get there.

I love you all so much. I'm so eternally grateful for you in my life and I pray for your safety! Please pray and thank the Lord for the members in Odense Denmark that are taking care of four homeless sister missionaries.

Much love, Sister Briscoe