Happy New Year!

Hey y'all!

The adventures here in Albuquerque are still just as good as always! Sister C and I are killin it out here! Still have lots to work on, but it's cool to see all the improvement :)

This last Sunday we had an adventure... part way through Sacrament the fire alarm went off!! (and that morning our smoke alarm went off. just because it was expired, but it really wasn't our day). We all jumped and just kind of looked at bishop like, "do we leave? Is the spirit going to protect us, or do we run?" haha so he got up and said we should all evacuate. It was the most organized evacuation I’ve ever seen. We all gathered right outside the building, and sister C and I started singing Christmas hymns, and everyone joined us. It was so cool! (ps- Sister C can sing too! so, we sing all the time together!) Eventually we were all able to go back into church and finish our meeting. It was quite the day. 

For Christmas, it was SO good to see family! We spent the morning at a members house having brunch and Skyping home. Then we visited several members and investigators. It was a way busy, awesome day. Our apartment didn't get cleaned up for days though with the mess we made! haha the memebrs and everyone took SUPER good care of us. We had plenty of gifts to open on Christmas, and more candy and food than we ever knew what to do with. We still have a ton, and we've given away more than we have left. It’s pretty insane really. We’re going shopping today with Christmas money, and everything has just been really great :)

We attended a baptism on Saturday, and had our investigator, D there. It was such a spiritual, wonderful experience. She said that her heart really was touched, and she's not sure when, but she does want to get baptized. 

We spent some time this week as well doing some rescuing of sisters that were struggling. It’s sometimes hard as a leader because you never know best how to help... you feel kind of helpless sometimes, because they are hurting because of their decisions and there's nothing really that you can do to help their immediate situation. But I have grown so grateful for the spirit during those times of need, as well as for the priesthood and it's worthy holders. 

Anyway, remember this wonderful chance that we have to make new goals. Set smart goals, and work hard to achieve them. It is always so worth it to look back and see how far you have come. But there is no growth in comfort, and no comfort in growth. Love y'all!!

Love,

Sister Brown

P.S. (email chain between Sister Brown and her Mom)

Sister Brown: "...... and nervous about transfers."

Mom: "Nervous about transfers?  I guess that will always happen, but I thought you'd be used to the idea now."

Sister Brown: "Mom, I seriously want you to picture the idea of moving every six weeks. Or maybe, you might not be moving. And you don't get to pick who you are going to be living with. You could stay the same, or things could change. You might have one weekend to say goodbye to everyone you love and move to who knows where with who knows who... or you could get left alone. And right now, there is your president, and 3 elders planning that decision in an office all week. It makes me nervous every. time. "

We sure love her.

Christmas time is coming

Well, no epic crashes this week, but we had a pretty awesome week!

Last  pday consisted of washing and waxing our car to prepare for inspections this weekend.  And when we washed and waxed our car, really I mean that we went to a car wash, and then we mostly let the Elders wax our car, and I just "waxed off"  ;)  But then we played a cool game of chair soccer.  It was super fun!

We taught more lessons this week, which feels really good.  We're finally really figuring out how to work with the ward and everything...it's awesome.  Getting everything organized with new ways to get members out is splendid.  We went to the mission office a couple times ths week to run some errands and that was a blast.  The office ladies are a few more of my favorite people on this planet.  : )  We had exchanges again too...they always throw me off a little.  But this time I was in my own area, doing my own thing, and it was a blast.  :)  We are so blessed with the sisters we have.

We went to a "choirside" this week.  So, there was a choir from somewhere in the area.  I miss performing sometimes.  But there was also a bell choir there, and they were AWESOME!  Seriously so cool.  : )  I think I want to join one one day.  haha

ALL day Saturday was a zone conference.  It was a blast.  Elder Foster of the Seventy came and spoke to us.  I got to see all sorts of missionary friends, which is the best ever.  And get super spiritually fed, which is the super best ever too.  : )

Oh also, Sister C's. aunt lives in ABQ.  She leaves us little notes and things when we aren't home.  I haven't met her yet, but shes' super sweet.  : )

Then last night a family we are working with, we went over and helped them decorate theri tree and things.  We made a popcorn and cranberry garland, set up and decorated the tree, and then had hot chocolate and had a ton of un!  I love Christmas.  : )

Hope that y'all are getting ready for the season and having a super good time!  I love y'all a ton.  Remember the reason for the season.  Merry CHRISTmas!!!!  Love you!

Love,
Sister Brown

Sometimes everything in your life gets flipped upside down

Business as usual here in the ABQ. We tried to plan on Monday... but due to visiting sisters and running errands and more meetings... it didn't happen. So that of course threw off our week a little. Tuesday was p-day... so basically, a more stressful day than I would like, but not unbearable. 

Wednesday is when the party really started. Haha. So Tuesday night some sister came over and we started an exchange. I went to their area, and it was a lot of fun. I actually really love being able to go and teach and train, as well as learn a lot from the different sisters in their areas. So I was with this sister in the area, and..... I was in a bike area. We spent the better part of the day inside doing training and planning. But it was when we finally went outside that things got crazy. IT was SUPER cold and SUPER windy this week. (Lots of snow starting Thursday.... and this morning was only 10*). So you can maybe imagine what it's like to bike several miles to houses that you're not sure if they're even going to want you there. It’s freezing, we're in skirts, and we're dying. At one point I realized that I wore the wrong shoes... the gear slipped a little, and my shoe went flying! So I parked the bike and went to save my shoe from traffic. I of course parked my bike in front of the one car that wanted to pull into the driveway. THEN, we were riding, and as the other sister tried to go from gravel to sidewalk.... she crashed. In an attempt to not run into her, I slammed on my break. And then, not being an experienced biker, I only hit the brake for my front tire...... you can see what happened next. I had a small wire fence to one side of me, and like 4 lanes of traffic on the other side. As I unhooked myself from the fence, a car stopped and asked if we were okay. I cut my thumb pretty bad, but that was all I could see. We got right back on and kept riding! haha I later found bruises all over my legs and arms.... but I figure, you can't be a true missionary until you've gotten into at least one bike accident right? Haha

So Wednesday while I was gone, Sister J got a phone call from president. There was a sister down south that went home early, and so she was needed as a companion in El Paso the next day. I got home, and we were up LATE packing. then all day Thursday was MLC (our big leadership meeting), and then running back to pick up Sister J and taking her back to the mission home to catch her ride south. It was SO hard to say goodbye, but she's doing great things down there already :) AND, Sister C and I are tearing it up here in Albuquerque!

Friday and Saturday were more of the same. Meetings, we attended a baptism, had a lot of fun, did a lot of planning. Friday night we went to another stake's Christmas party. It was a nativity display, local artwork, and a performance of Handel’s Messiah. It was fabulous! And then Saturday night we had our ward Christmas party... nativities, and then some readings, and congregational singing. It was great :)

Sunday we contacted a referral for a lady named Jackie. As it seems with many others, her life is crazy tough. sometimes I’m super shocked when people tell me about their lives... it's amazing to me the way that Satan works to destroy families and ruin lives spiritually and physically, emotionally... everything. Anyways, Jackie is really great, and we are seeing her again this weekend. 

The baptism that we had originally planned for this weekend on the 14th got pushed to the 4th. 

Everyone else is moving along just wonderfully. I am SO excited for Christmas and really getting a cool chance to focus on the reason for the season this year. 

Love y'all so darn much!!

Love,

Sister Brown

Thanksgiving week

Hey friends!!
So this last week was super good!  Tuesday, Sister J and I spent the better part of the day finishing transfers, and then cleaning our apartment.  It got a little out of hand ;)  We went to go pick up our new companion, Sister C.  So, Sis. C is 6'1", and fabulous!  She's an absolute doll, and I love having her here.  This is her 4th transfer (so been out about 5 months), and I actually took her contacting on her first day in the field!  Quite honestly, when I found out I was going to be in a trio again, I cried.  I was so upset with Heavenly Father.  I loved both of my last companions, but I didn't love being in a trio.  Well, this week I repented for not trusting Him more.  The 3 of us are best friends.   : )  We teach super well together, and we have a blast!

Sis. J is still having a lot of super bad migraines.  Usually she's a super hero and just works through them.  sometimes we stay inside and let her rest up a little.  Those headaches are pretty brutal.  but when we're in, it's another chance to clean a little, get to know each other better, and study more.  Being a missionary is boss.   :)

So it was kind of a slow week as far as lessons go.  We taught a few lessons, but it's tough with the holidays.  Lots of people out of town and such.  We taught Ashley and Tony, and Saturday Ashley also came to a baptism.  It was awesome.  :)  I think one of may favorite parts ever about being a missionary, is to see people change.  I met Ashley for the first time a few months ago, and since then I can really see a change in her household.  I can feel the spirit there, and see how excited she is to learn and grow.  She has hung a really beautiful picture of Christ in her home, and when i mentioned to her that I noticed and appreciated the change, she got a little teary.  It was the sweetest thing of my life.  : )

Thanksgiving was super fun!  We did some planning and such that morning, and then we spent some time with Amber and Phil.  I made the mashed potatoes, and everything was SO good.  : )  They even were awesome, and accommodated when we asked if we could bring another investigator with us to dinner who didn't have a place.  Phil even went and picked him up, and then we all had dinner.  Oh, it was one of THE funnest times of my life :)  We played games for a little bit after and just had a ton of fun.  Then we dropped by a couple members houses that evening and had pie and chatted.  Good times.  : )

President said no Black Friday shopping (bummer!), so I guess we had to change our Friday plans.  Because of transfers, 50% of our district is new.  I am SO stoked for the new zone.  Oh my heavens, we had so much fun.  They are all easy to talk to and get along with, and basically just awesome.  Friday night we had a tender mercy.  We have learned that Sister J. has a one-on-one connection with God when it comes to food.  Seriously, she'll pray for food, and she always gets it!  Well, we got to this house and Sis. J thought she was going to get sick.  She said a little prayer to have something else for dinner.  The sister went to check the dinner, and after even 2 hours, she said that it still wasn't ready, so we should probably order Church's Chicken.  No way, right?!  I swear my comp has a gift.

We went to a baby shower for a neighbor on Sunday too.  Lots of fun things.  :)

Love y'all!!  Keep working hard, and have a fabulous week!

Love,
Sister Brown