there's no place like home

Well, i made it home! It has been a strange experience, though not as bad as i thought that it would be. Taking off my tag, as little as that may seem, was one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. The first day or two I constantly had inclinations to back the car, or it was weird to sleep in a room by myself the first night. I had to re-train myself to not internally smack myself every time a song came on that wasn't a hymn. I quickly got over that. I haven't had to worry about that social awkwardness. If anything, I think my mission helped me with social aspects of my life*. So that's a blessing.
I still want to help the random stranger i walk by to take in their garbage. and I want to walk around the farmers market with my family, and hand mormon.org cards to every one i see. I still miss having a companion at all times, that understands random missionary humor and quotes that no one else gets here**. I miss a better morning routine, and a better study schedule. I miss pday sports, as much as they stressed me out. i miss having things in the mail.... sometimes. I miss teaching.
But since i've been home, I still love pdays, and getting emails from missionaries i write! I love talking in church, and teaching gospel principles, and helping with seminary and youth conferences (especially when i get to talk about  missionary work!).
My family has been so loving and caring- making sure that we are not listening to music or watching movies that would be too much for me too handle. They make sure the jokes they tell don't have too much potty humor... little things to help me adjust. it's adorable. 

I am so grateful for everything that my mission taught me. I can't sit still anymore... i need to be going. Which makes me antsy a lot, but i guess it helps me be more productive... ideally.
I love the chance that I got to serve my mission and to serve. so that's my goal while i am home, and forever. to continue serving, and putting the needs of others before my own. It just makes life so much more meaningful!

work hard, and have a great week!

*note: I have not been on a date yet, nor have I really interacted with anyone of the opposite gender relatively close to my age. so that's an entirely different story, that i will inform you on. one day.
**though my family does not understand what i am saying half the time, because i have to transition back from 'missionary lingo', they are wonderful companions when i don't want to be alone.

#nevergoinghome

It's amazing how fast time flies when you're working hard and having fun. Really though. I started my mission on the West side of Albuquerque, and was there for about 4.5 months. Then I spent almost 6 months on the East side of ABQ, almost 6 months on the East side of El Paso, and now almost 3 months back where I started, on the West Side of ABQ. And suddenly, 5 wards and 10 companions later, 18 months has come and gone!

These last few days have been really surreal- filled with goodbyes and 'see you laters'. There have been so many people that have touched my life on my mission. Albuquerque and El Paso are so dear to my heart, and I will be forever grateful to have been a part of the New Mexico Albuquerque Mission!

I thought I wanted to go foreign and learn a language. But what's cool about life is that your Heavenly Father knows what you want, and he also knows what you need. So He sent me to the NMAM, the best mission in the world! He sent me to a place where I could get culture and language and new foods, and all the things I wanted, while still having the comfort of getting mail fast, and hot water, and friendly faces. A place where I would meet people and learn things from them that would change my life forever.

As a lot of you know, I never had any desire to serve a mission. I thought it would be too hard, and just not for me. But the Lord wants us to learn that we can do hard things. Ether 12:27 We have our limits that we set for ourselves, and then we have the potential that the Lord sees in us. He knows what he wants us to become, but He won't ever force us to do anything. He will give us experiences that will lead us farther than we ever thought we could go, down roads we never thought we would travel. And when we want to call it quits, he says, 'not yet. I know you have a little more in you. Keep going!'. And if we trust him- literally take a leap of faith- he will catch us, and mold us. He will be by our side constantly. If there is ever any gap in your relationship with Him, it is because you put it there and let yourself drift.

I have learned that we need to be 'anxiously engaged in a good cause'. Not just busy, but busy with a purpose. Busy in good things, but not the best things, will still slowly let us drift away from where we know we belong. Set goals, and have a purpose. D&C 58:27

And lastly, I learned a lot about charity. You must have it for anything to be done right. If an assignment is done, or correction is made, or teaching is presented, there has to be love present. And not just love, but a true Christ-like love. Those that we interact with can tell a difference. Things are simply more effective, and people are simply just happier, when they know that you love them. Moroni 7:45

'Live in a way that those who know you and don't know Christ, will want to know Christ because they know you.' and always leave people and places better than you found them! And when you work, remember to work hard, but have fun!

Thank you all for your support. My mission would not be the same without the letters and notes and prayers from you!! Keep the faith, and know that I love you, and that your Father in Heaven is indeed watching out for you, and that he has a plan. He knows you, and cares for you. Just trust Him.

Love you!!

Love,
Sister Brown :)

P-day and final stuff

Hi!
Okay, so for a quick pday recap, we went hiking the volcanos a couple weeks ago! That was really cool :) A lot of people didn't want to go... but they did to appease Sister Smith and I anyways ;) It was kind of a pansy hike.... like a mile round trip. But it was a nice walk, and it was cool to be on a volcano (once upon a time). Then last week, we went to the Navajo reservation, to the Acoma pueblo, to a place called sky city (maybe look it up and see what you come up with?). It was so neat. We got to walk around and see all the vendors, watch some traditional dancing, and an LDS family (we didn't know them, but they recognized us), invited us in and fed us! We split into 2 groups, so there were about 10 or so of us that they invited in to feed. It was so much fun! I love that culture :) Navajo's are a neat people :)

This week was really good! I got my itinerary in the mail, and I had my departing interview with president last night. That was weird. I am like, so excited, but it still hasn't hit me. It's just all super surreal.
Things are super awesome here though! Not all the people we are teaching are very committed persay.... but they are good. As for M... the (man) we texted and said he wanted to get baptized? So we taught him the WOW over text.  Well, he is doing great! We taught him EVERYTHING in 2 days, And then he had his interview on Sunday. He's so ready! He'll get baptized on the 20th! And he already friended me on FB, so I'll get to see pics and things right away. I'm so excited :)

This last week is work like normal, Except with more good bye's. Bittersweet.

My worlds are colliding in my brain. it's strange.  I had a dream last night that y'all surprised me and came to pick me up... and I was hanging out with some missionaries, and some people from Rexburg. So it was all a little weird. but you knocked on the door, and I was so excited to see you that I went to introduce you to everyone there, and I couldn't even remember their names. haha
I love you!

See you next week!! :D

Love,
Sis. Brown

Miracles and miracles!

Hi!
The birthday was good!  Mostly a regular day.   I got a few small gifts, and cards and messages which was really nice.   : )  A member had posted it on FB so more people knew and texted me.  So, no cake and no singing or anything like that.  But thank you for the cards!  I LOVED them!  : )

Things here are good!  I love it here!  : )  Teaching is slow...fairly.  Like, not too many of the investigators we have now are available, or wanting to meet right now.  So we're working on finding.  Still.  BUT, we were having an average of talking to like, 17 or so people a week...which is average for the area and the zone, but it's really low.  Our standard of excellence is 140/wk.  But this week we worked really hard, and we talked with 46!!!  It was awesome!  We found a new family to potentially teach, and we sent out a few referrals.  So...we didn't teach anyone really.  Well, just not very much.  But we are finding, and working really hard.  It feels so good.  : )
Miracle this week!  We contacted a former investigator a couple weeks ago, and he said that he wanted to get baptized, but he was really short on time.  So he was out of town for two weeks, and then just got back!!!  We contacted him, and we are teaching him EVERYTHING in two days this week, and he is quitting coffee (we taught him the Word of Wisdom over text) and he will get baptized on the 20th!!  Holy moly!  so, I haven't even officially met him yet.  But we are so excited!  : )  We have seen miracle after miracle, after miracle.  Young families moving in when they were prayed for, finding people...just tons of stuff.  It's been so good!  : )

Love,
Sister Brown!

Birthday talk. And crazy, insane, upside down week!

Hi!
22 feels weird to be here already!  It's feels old, but adventurous.  I'm excited!  : )  It's just that, there's a brand new missionary that came in last transfer.  18, graduated THIS year.  He was in 8th grade when I was a Sr.  THAT makes me feel old.  Good golly.  I don't have any birthday plans, and I haven't advertised it too much.  There was a family that was going to make me a cake...but the kids are going to be out of town.  And the family that is feeding us, don't know it's mh birthday.  So, we have district meeting that day so it'll be fun to have a little bit of a party then, but other than that, no real plans.  I don't have a clue what we will do.  lol!

This week was CRAZY.  Like, really out of the ordinary.  Last pday we spent at a park playing footbal and things like that.  One of the other Elder's investigators bought pizza nd watermelon for everyone, and it was a lot of fun.  Today we're going to hike the volcanoes!  So then we switched on Wednesday for exchanges, and lucky me, I got to spend a day in the Volcano Cliffs area!  My very first area!  It was SO cool, and a little weird.  I slept in the same bed that I slept in at the beginning of my mission, and I got to tell stories to the sisters about where different pictures and items in the apartment came from.  And the best part, I got to go see a lot of people that I taught!  I got to have lunch with Christi!!!  That was a HUGE blessing.   It was so, so good to see her, and the way that she lights up.  She just glows with the spirit.  : )  And, she's expecting her mission call this week or next week!  SO exciting!  I also got to have dinner with Bobbie, which was awesome!  She is the same way...just glowing.  Her testimony is so strong!  : )
Well, during the day, Christi texted us to warn us about a shooting that was happening not too far from where we were.  So we texted the sisters that serve over there to be careful.  We went into an appointment, and got done about 8:00.  When we got out, we had texts from them, and our comps.  The first sisters said they were okay, but our comps called 4 times and left a voicemail.  When we listened to it, it said, "Hey sisters, don't worry, but we are at the hospital and possibly moving to a different one soon.  Call us!"  Man, we FREAKED Out!  Turns out they were on their way to dinner and Sister B was suddenly in crazy amounts of pain.  Blessings...when they got to the restaurant, there just happened to be another member there that was a doctor, and was able to asses and tell her to go straight to the hospital.  We eventually found them at the ER and the poor girl was so sick.  : (  We stayed until about 11 when Sis. Miller came to relieve us and we went home in a trio.  We got to bed about 12, and Sis. B finally got home about 3 a.m.  Then we went on a variety of exchanges the next day so she could rest, and we could all make our appointments.  It was crazy!
Then 2nd crazy story, we went to church yesterday, and when we got out of Ward Council, there was a guy there that was clearly a non-member.  So we approached him and he just said that he wanted to come and see what we were all about and what our service was like.  So, we talked with him for a bit, and invited him to sit next to us.  We could tell that something was a little off with him, but we weren't going to turn him away or anything, obviously.  So, he is super fidgety, and can't keep still or stay quiet.  During the sacrament, pretty loudly, he asked my comp if we believed in telepathy...so we told him that it wasn't time to talk right now and we needed to be quiet during the meeting.  So he would quietly whisper, but no big deal...he just seemed off.  Well, after the 2nd speaker, he just stands up!!!  We're sitting in like,the 4th row, and he just got up and stood in the isle and started addressing the whole congregation!!!  My heart has never pounded so fast.  People are looking at us to know what to do because they think he's our investigator, and we're looking at the Bishop, terrified.  He told everyone that he was the Messiah, and that telepathy is real, and that he was here to warn us not to sell our souls to the devil!!!  Anyways, we didn't know what to do. Thank heavens our RS presidents husband didn't miss a beat, and got up and just put his arm around his shoulder and walked him out.  The guy didn't argue until he was almost at the door, but then another man helped and they escorted him out of the building, and stayed outside to make sure he didn't come back.  It was crazy!!!  Later, a young woman told us she tried to share the gospel with him in high school, but he ended up getting arrested and kicked out of school for some crazy drugs he was taking...so  we're assuming that was the case this week.  And of course, it's all on the day that we have a missionary giving her homecoming, and there are literally like 3 rows of nonmembers and visitors.  *face palm.
BUT, Heavenly Father know what he is doing, and everything will work out just like it's supposed to.

We had a lot of other crazy things too...miracles, like members inviting us to lunch when we're with an investigator and it being the perfect fellowship.  And we got a member referral for a SUPER cute family that we are teaching now!  It's just been an insane, upside down kind of week.  But SO good.  : )

I love you so much!!  : )

Love,
Sister Brown

Miracles!

Hi!
So, not really any crazy people this week, but a lot of miracles!  Jennifer, the lady that we have been pulling weeds for weekly for like, the last month, she asks enough questions that we have taught her a few lessons already.  So last week at lunch, we talked about our missions, and then just offered that, as a friend, we would really like to share more with her about what we believe.  She accepted a Book of Mormon, and it was awesome!  : )  We are going to teach her again this week while we pull weeds!  Then Lois...we were checking potentials, and she was nice, but almost turned us away.  We ended up getting in (I still don't know how), and talking with her, and taking her to the family history center.  Then on Saturday we dropped by and went through her pictures and letters from family for generations.  So cool! d Then talked to her about the temples and sealings and priesthood and baptism.  So we're going back to teach her again this week!!!

Other adventures...I went on a random health food craze.  So I made pico de gallo (delicious.  I'll make some when I get home.)  And added spinach and mushrooms to chicken and all sorts of fancy stuff.  Smoothies too.  It was so good.  But too much money.  Ha Ha!

Well, I think that about sums up the week.  I'm so excited for time to go fast, and yet really nervous.  Everything is so jumbled.  It's kind of taking an emotional toll.  It's  all really stressful.  But I mostly just try not to think about it too much.  You know.  I'm trying to leave it all on the field.  Seriously, miracles are happening.  It's been super cool, cause we'll be with a member, and they will be like, "You guys are awesome!  Seriously, everyone loves you!  The ward appreciates your work!"  Things are really good.

There was a missionary that got home a couple weeks ago, and she is just glowing.  And then another sister get home, and it's all her mom can talk about for the last month.  It's really cute. : )  (made me think of you a little, mom.)  haha

Love,

Sis. Brown

Thisheadinghasnothingtodowithhowfasttimeisgoing

You sneaky mom! What a clever title hahaha :) time is passing past though. It's so strange to think that I only have ONE transfer left! I am still here, and Sister Smith is staying too! So I'm really glad about that. The ward is crazy awesome :)

I cannot believe how tall Emily is. I think I refuse to believe that she is growing up. She's like, Jess's height! I think she's grown 5 inches since I left! That's insane! And Ethan too.... blows my mind.

haha man, I love Corrales. I really want to bring y'all to ABQ one day and show it to you. cause seriously, and an alpaca farm would be so fun. (i'm glad you enjoyed the pictures. i thought of you a little when i was taking them ;) But anyways, regardless, I do know that I want chickens! Those look like a lot of fun too! But I don't want horses, and I don't want cows. gross. haha

Studying.... admittedly my studies haven't been very focused lately. But I've spent a lot of time in this last conference's Ensign. And also in 3 Nephi. I'm almost done with the BOM again. I love it so much! This morning I read a verse that i really liked... in 3 Nephi 12:45 (I think). Anyways, it talks about gods love, and how the sun will rise on the evil and the good. We're all his children and he loves us and wants us back regardless of the decisions that we make right now.

Teaching is still slow, but I feel like we're on the horizon of something big. We have a few families in the ward that are hopefully going to be giving us some referrals soon! :)

We are seeing Jennifer this week! Helping her with more of her yard, so that's exciting :) I can't wait! There is seriously tons of service to do in this area... it's a blessing.

This last week was pretty good. We started teaching a lady named Margie that we found a couple weeks ago by trying formers that were in our area book. Anyways, she's crazy. Really nice though. First time we met her, she said she had done a lot of research on the beginnings of the church. She couldn't imagine why any woman would join the church, because her husband would be out wooing another 16 year old girl... yadd yadda yadda. Well, I turned to her and was like, "Margie, in all of your studying, have you read the Book of Mormon?" "No..." "Well, I have one for you. Just read this, and we'll talk about it next time we come. When is good for you?" It was awesome :) She has all sorts of interesting ideas about why would god use gold for the plates, because the conditions for mining it are awful and he wouldn't do that to those people. Or that there is a creator, but not really a god. We live now, and we need to be grateful for this life and not expect anything more... before or after. She just wants eternal rest, with no life after.... on and on. it blew my mind. We're going to bring some really smart people with us next time :) haha
I think that was the most exciting thing this last week. Besides I'm probably not going to lose the weight i
I want to for after my mission. people keep taking us out to eat. Like, lunch and dinner 2-3 times last week. aye-caramba.

Love,
Sis. Brown

End of July...Really?

This week we had a lot of fun! I'll put some pictures up in a minute.... I think I told you about Jennifer. A potential that we tried. anyways, she said that she wasn't particularly interested, but that we cold come back and help with her yard! So we went back this last week, and had a really good time! We helped weed, and sure enough, she started asking questions! We ended up teaching the whole first lesson to her while we weeded! It was so neat! She still isn't too sure about meeting with us, but we will help with her yard again on the 7th :) She is so cool. Also, she took us to lunch at this little place called Perea's, Tijuana Bar. We thought it looked cute, but didn't ever think to go in because it was a bar. But it's actually mostly restaurant with a little bar on the side, and it's a converted old house! (seriously, I can't wait to show you my quirky little Corrales village!)
We helped out RS pres with her alpaca's this week. I think I want an alpaca farm one day. They are so cute! :) I have a lot of pictures from that too.

Sister Smith had a family friend that was in town that got permission to take us out to dinner one night, so that was really fun!

Also, we park our car once a week in an effort to find more people, and to save miles. I got quite the sunburn.... so we snagged some aloe from a member, and we're going to invest in some sunscreen today. we were SO sweaty and nasty, and NO ONE was home. I wore a necklace.... and my sweat combined with the metal turned my neck GREEN. It was gross. haha :)

Also really fast, I heard a really cool analogy in sacrament yesterday. He was talking about Elder Uchtdorf's talk, 'you can do it now'. and how we need to keep going and pressing forward... like when you are on a bike. The faster you go, the better this 'invisible force' will keep you on the bike. But if you slow down, you are likely to fall. Works the same way with our lives, so we need to make sure that we keep pedaling! :)

Love you so much!! Miss you!! :) :)

love,
Sister Brown

This ward is awesome! : )

This week was pretty good!! We had 26 oyms (street contacting)!! which, is a record high for us. Nowhere near what we need... but much better than where we have been! We went on exchanges.. that was really nice. I stayed in the area.  I was a little sad about that. The sister we exchange with are in the Volcano Cliffs area, and they visited Christi! (which, she is putting in mission papers in a week! ah!) But, we were trying some potentials out in Corrales..... we met this lady named Jen. She is so cool! She said that missionaries came by like, 5 years ago when she was having a hard time. She said that she is not really interested, and her husband is anti religion... but she did call us, and ask if we could come and help with her yard, and she would make us lunch!! So, that's awesome :)

And did I tell you about the change in our dinner policy a few months ago? We are allowed to have dinners with active members 2 days a week, and the other days they need to be with less actives, or investigators. Or we can be at an active members home, if they invite a less active friend or nonmember. So this last week, we had 3 members invite friends over!!! No new investigators yet... but it was SO cool! I had never had that happen before. This ward is so awesome :)

Tell everyone hi for me!!!

Love,
Sis. Brown

Story from El Paso

Hi!

This week was good!! It's really neat to see the trust build with the ward. We have to build some damaged relationships.... I guess I'm good at that. I've had to do it to some degree in every area I've been in. Replace missionaries that the ward didn't love or trust all that much. So, it's nice when your WML comes to you and says, "I just want to let you know that you're doing things right.... I've gotten good reports from the ward members." Or the members approach you instead of waiting for you to approach them and say, "Hi! I'm sister so-and-so! I've heard a lot about you! Where are you from? :)"  .....it feels really good :)
Also this week we are racing the ZL's for OYM's (street contacts). So that's fun.

I sang in church on Sunday. Sister Smith played, and I convinced one of the ZL's to sing with me.... he didn't think he could sing. It's amazing what a little faith and some practice can do! ;) haha

We met a crazy lady this week.... I think she's schitzo. She told me to go get a boyfriend and have sex, god won't care. But she also told us that she told us that she talks to angels and all sorts of stuff... it was crazy.

A member made me scones, sort of like you do, mom... because I was craving them. And we found a Krispy Kreme :) It was a good week!

Story from when I was in El Paso:

We went over for blessings one Sunday, to the WML's home, and got the pep talk of a lifetime. It was so good :) Anyways, he had us write our full names, and then our start and end date with a dash in between right under. He asked us what was the most important part..... we both pointed to different parts of our names. But he explained that it was the DASH. The time between the start and end date. We have to make every second count, and let the dash grow nice and deep. Appreciate everything, and make the dash count. After that they would always ask us how our dashes were going :)  My dash is going really great :)

Have a fantastic week!

Love,

Sis. Brown

Happy 4th!

Hey there!
Happy 4th!  I don't know that I wished you one earlier.

I love being back in ABQ!  And I think I told you that most of our area is actually a village called Corrales.  It's awesome.  : )  It's so cool because this ward really feels like home.  There are a LOT of things that need some help.  And it's taking  a lot of work to get things going.  But it's really nice here.  The ward is super cool.  : )

Some adventures:
1.  Monsoon season has begun!  We spent some time the other night playing in the rain.  It was the bests.  : )
2.  We are meeting with this man, Gilbert.  He talks like no one I have ever seen talk.  Ever.  Serious, he scarcely breathes, I think  And it's impossible to really talk over him or anything...well, we took our WML the other day and Gilbert still talked incessantly, but he was a lot better.  I guess because he's a male Mexican, he won't be very receptive to meeting with females.  Aye.
3.  A ton o missionaries got our hair cut at the church last week by a lady in our ward.  She brought her friend from school...who is not a member.  So a couple days ago we dropped by to visit her!  She is o awesome, and we are teaching her again next week!...that is, if the Spanish elders don't take her.  That's annoying...they called and joked about us poaching.  It was so funny.  : )
4.  The 4th of July was pretty good.  We didn't really do anything spectacular.  We had to go to meetings that morning.  Those were good.  And then we met with a LA, and also with an investigator.  No barbecues or anything.  But when we got home we sat on the steps and watched some of the fireworks show that was happening at balloon fiesta park in ABQ.
5.  A lesson I learned this week...don't ever pray for humbling experiences for your investigators.  That was a suggestion made to me a while ago, so that they would be more receptive.  Well, we did that...and we had one in the hospital with pneumonia, and the another whose niece committed suicide.  it was sort of a rough week.

Hey, you know how you say that if there are cookies or something that if you just don't take the first bite, then it's easier to not have any, but if you take one bite it's so much harder to resist any more?  You should look up the talk, "Avoid  it" by Lynn G. Robins,under BYU speeches.

I hope that was more detailed for you this week.  I really miss you!

Love,
Sister Brown

Happy July

Hi!

It's been good here. I'm really excited to be back in ABQ.  It was super nice to see a lot of familiar faces at the baptism on Saturday. it felt kind of like going home a little. Sister Carter didn't know that I was going to be spending the night with her, so it was a really good surprise. It was SO good to see her :) And I should be able to see Christi, I just need to let her know that I'm here :)  It's really nice here in Cibola. I serve in ABQ, and a cute little village called Corrales.  It's DARLING. I love it a lot. I got to name our relief societies baby alpaca. His name is Harrison. We volunteer every Wednesday at the Corrales library, and it is seriously the cutest thing I have ever seen. also, it's cool cause everyone here seems so familiar in a way. Like, I know them, or they remind me of someone. I feel like I have a good work to do here.

Sorry things probably seem really scattered in this email... I feel like my thoughts are everywhere.

I love you so much. 

love,
sister brown

Transfer Time!

Mother!!

Well for transfer news, I'm moving!! and, I'm going North! I'm sad to leave the area, but more excited to be going north again! where exactly though, I'm not sure. normally I would go to transfers tomorrow.... but I guess they need a few of us to go up early so that there are enough seats to go up I guess... or something. So I'm going up this afternoon with all the departing missionaries, in the 'trunky truck'. It's a little sad because I had to try and cram in all my goodbye's yesterday, instead of also having tonight. But it's okay. Bishop had me bear my testimony yesterday in sacrament meeting which was really neat, and then everyone knew I was leaving, so I got a lot of really sweet hugs. I got some sweet cards from a lot of people, and some gifts too. A lei from the awesome Tongan family that helped us put on the luau, and some sage to burn.... it was a good day. The Brown family here that I love so much said that as long as I can get myself to EP, they will provide everything else. They're going to start the adoption papers soon ;) haha

Also a bonus of going up a day early... I get to go to the actual transfer meeting, and see a lot of missionaries I miss so much. AND, I get to stay the night with Sister Carter in my last area tonight!!!!!!!! I can't wait!!!! :) :)

How are all the missionary mom's and their missionaries doing? The sisters in our mission are good. There are a lot, but I know that a LOT go home. There was a time, when I was an STL, that in a matter of like, 3 months I witnessed 6 sisters go home. And since then many more. It's really hard to watch, and I know that we still have a lot going home. But overall I think we average about 90 sisters in the mission, of a total of about 250. So not too shabby.

Sister Mayberry is a little nervous to stay in the area. I feel bad because of all the hype and attention of me leaving yesterday. But the ward loves her, even if she doesn't see it, and I know that things will go really well for her here. Just pray that her new companion is as cool as me haha jk jk ;)

It's still hot here. This week was a little cooler... the mornings were in the 80's, and the average in the high 90's. A lot better than the last couple weeks averaging above 100 daily. But, monsoon season is starting. It doesn't really rain much, but I can feel some humidity setting in.

We found a new investigator this week. I think I'm really drawn to like, the only black people in EP haha. Her name is Annabell, and she is so cute. We helped her bring in some furniture, and they are teaching her the Plan Of Salvation tonight. I'm sad that I'll miss it.

I think that's the biggest news! I love it here, but I am so excited to go see where I will die! ;) haha

love you so much!!

Love,

Sister Brown

It's Tuesday...again

Hi!

Adventures...really not much this week.  Our dinner calendar is a little fuller, so that's nice.  We tried to roast marshmallows...but the guys we were gong to have a lesson with dropped us and no-showed.  And we didn't have a grill or anything...so just look at the pictures for our makeshift smores.  haha  ; )  We went to heuco tanks last week.  Look for pictures of those too.  It was a lot of fun.  : )  I can't really thing of anything else.  It was really slow.  This week should be better.  We came up with a point system for how we will get points when we contact people.  The one with the most points has to buy the other something at the end of the week.  i ow her elephant earrings, or she owes me a scarf.  But the most important part is that we are going to get better at talking to people, an we plan on finding a lot of new investigators.  We'll see.

Love you so much!!!

Love,
Sister Brown  : )

Fun Times!

Hello!
There is not much rain here now.  Like, none.  But there will be a lot more come July and August--monsoon season.  And with those storms, sometimes there is lightning, but not usually any thunder.  I miss me some good storms.  : )

Church is good!  We are working on getting referrals, so we are visiting more of the members and getting to know them a little better, then sharing a message and asking for people to teach.  This ward is so quirky.  I really do love them so darn much!  Brother Brown has a special place in my heart, and said that I have to go see him before I leave.  And I am likely getting transferred in a couple weeks because I've been here for awhile...so I'm eager to see what he has to say.  haha  It's probably a pep-talk about my life : )  lol

Sis. Mayberry and I sometimes get bored, and we have a lot of fun.  Mexican food...seriously, it's so good.  The candy and stuff takes a little while to get used to, cause you need to like chile.  But if you like chile, and spicy foods, everything is good.  Mole, mango, tamales, enchiladas, LOTS of beans and rice, more enchiladas, burritos (anything rolled in a tortilla), chicharrones, valentina (a hot sauce), tacos, horchata, haha...seriously, it's all good.  Lately we have taken to just frying tortillas, and rolling whatever we canf ind in them, and adding valentina.  Bam.  Dinner.  haha  : )  I will show yo of my ways in a few months.  : )  haha

The stress is up and down...it helps a lot to be such good friends with m companion, that's for sure.  But being a missionary in general stresses me out more now than it did at the beginning of my mission...idk.  I love it though, so I should be alright.  I will be super sad to leave this area, but I'm kind of looking forward to change.  Change is such a beautiful thing.  : )   Mom, I know that contradicts, like, all of your beliefs lol, but really.  Change is SO good.

I hope you have a fabulous week!!  I love you!!!

Love,
Sister Brown  : )

It's June...already

HI!

Things are good here.... we are seriously lacking people to teach still. So last week we didn't really teach that many lessons... Tina is really close to baptism.. As soon as she breaks up with her boyfriend. 

We had an activity on Saturday at bishops! We invited investigators for a social.... no one really came except one LA. We had brisket burritos, and had a small water balloon fight. It was a lot of fun. bishop is really super cool. He's laid back, and lets us come over for anything we need :)

We had a bet with Adrian a couple months ago, that if he would keep the word of wisdom for 2 weeks, we would wash his bike. He kept it for a month, and then just went all crazy on us. But, we still owed him a bike wash, so we did that on Friday. it was a lot of fun. 

We also helped out with a stake achievement day activity. We helped serve lunch, and I also sang I Am A Child of God after the short testimony meeting at the end. It was fun :)

We had zone conference yesterday, and it was really good. In a breakout session, Sister Miller talked to the sisters about leaving things better than you find them. It reminds me of how dad would always treat our camping spots. Leave no trace. But, we have to apply it to people and places. Inspiration I received, is that we need to remember to smile and have a good time, and to work hard. Look for the good in others, and TELL them. I like to think of leaving a little trail, where people will know where I have been, because they know how they feel when they are around me, and it helps them to feel better and happier. 

I feel a little sluggish lately, so that's something that I'm working on. Another sister in the ward talked about fake it till you make it. It's hard... but if you look and act happy, you will soon feel happier. Did I tell you about my other studies? You sent me that talk from Elder Bednar about the enabling power of the Atonement. he talks about praying to change our strength, rather than praying to change our situations. We are given specific trials and situations, for specific reasons. So heavenly father isn't going to just take them away from us, but we can ask for specific blessings and support, and that He will give to us.  He wants us to succeed, but he knows best what will help us to do so in the eternal perspective. 

Thank you so much for all you do!

Love,

Sis. Brown

Memorial Day

We built a fort in our apartment yesterday in honor of our families going camping without us haha. So that was fun :)

Are you reading the book of Mormon? cause it's basically the best :)

Here is a suggestion the next time you start the Book of Mormon.  Something our mission does, is the finding Christ activity. So one color for each of the following;

1. Christ's name, or any variation thereof

2. Christ like attributes

3. Joyful words

4. The gospel of Jesus Christ

5. When the lord is speaking

6. verses you like or that speak to you

I have never understood the BoM better :)

Here’s some adventures from the last week:

-we're starting the Hinckley 90 day BOM challenge with Adrian... look it up. It’ll be tough, but awesome. It’s really cool to watch him light up as he learns more and enjoys reading the BOM.

-we made cupcakes.... and I only had ONE. I’m really grateful that I don't frequently have a craving for sweets like that.

-I got a call this week from the mission office asking what airport I want to fly into.... yikes.

-we got a crockpot to make food!

-did I tell you about when we helped plant a tree a couple weeks ago?

-we went over to the browns (love them!) and made cookies on Sunday, to deliver to LA's and people. That was a lot of fun. Did I tell you, and brother brown told me that when I come back to visit El Paso after my mish, he has a hot date lined up for me? hahaha

-the member I offended when I first got here... we had dinner at her house yesterday. I was really scared, but it ended up being really good. I mean, we stayed too long cause I was scared to tell her we had to leave. But I don't THINK I offended her this time. lol

-did I tell you last week about sister miller coming out with us to teach?....

-if you have never had horchata, you should see if you can find some. I don't think it'll be as good there... but it's great. There are SO many good restaurants here. One day we can come back together and I’ll show you how to eat :) seriously Dad, you would love the food here. There’s chili on everything, and it's wonderful :) I’m sending home a package today with a lot of my clothes and stuff... but I’m including some Mexican candy. Some of it is weird, some is good. I don't think the family will like much of it, but you might. Good luck :) and have you heard of chicharones? I probably spelled it wrong.... but we eat those a lot too. Seriously, I love Mexican food :)

Sometimes when we teach people and they don't quite get it, I feel like I’m teaching someone like, Drew’s age (9). Which is so good, because then you just explain it in super simple terms, and that's all they need. And when they read and understand stories and concepts, or come and share insights and what they learned in Sunday school, I just feel like a proud parent :) it's awesome :)

We were making goals yesterday in FHE, and Sam suggested I make a goal to apply what I've learned from my mission, to my workplace one day.  I’m excited :)

Love,

Sister Brown

After Mother's day, and transfer week

Hi!
I was so good to talk to you and see ya'll yesterday.  Oh!  There is a member in our ward, Brother Brown.  (His name is Charlie Brown...for reals.  And they ae one of my FAVORITE families)  We went over there last night, and he said that when I come back to visit El Paso one day, he has a hot date lined up for me.  haha.  : )

I'm glad it's getting warm.  We were in the 90's yesterday.  Here's to a summer in El Paso!!  Yikes.

I can't think of anything I forgot to tell you...things are going good.  We're hoping for a few baptisms.  I've been feeling a little homescik lately...but I think that comes with the package of getting close to the end.  But Sis. M and i are best friends...that makes missionary work a lot easier and more enjoyable.  I'm really glad we're staying together...plus it'll help me with living with a person for more than 6 weeks...I've always had a change.  I don't know how I'm ever going to get married.  haha!

I don't know how I'm ever going to date when I get home though.  Seriously, I like to think that I won't be awkward.  And I might not be in general...but good heavens!  I don't know how I'm going to go on dates.  Talk to boys, yes.  That's fine.  but go on dates and not be awful?  I don't know if I'll ever get married!  : 0  haha

Love you  : )

Sister Brown

It's Mothers Day week!

Howdy!

We went to a Mexican Birthday party this week.   It was so much fun.  Maybe I'll see if I can send home some of the Mexican candy we got in the goody bag.  It's interesting, but pretty good.  : )  Also, we play a game as missionaries, called sandwich punch.  Did I tell you about it?  Anyways, when we are with Adrian and Yvonne, we taught them to play, but we play with any food, not just sandwiches.  It started when Adrian punched my cheesecake about a month ago......so anyways, we're at this birthday party for their nephew. And Adrian wanted us to start teaching his mom, so we took the Spanish missionaries, which also happened to be our zone leaders.  So the 4 of us sat and talked for a long time...anyways, after a while they brought out cake.  and the zone leaders went to go the bathroom.  Well, as soon as they came back, and Elder N took his fork off his cake, Yvonne punched it!  It splattered right onto the floor, and onto his shirt a little.  He was in shock.  It was so funny.  : )  I'll have to really try and explain missionary life and dynamics to you one day.  : )

My favorite person this week was probably Adrian and Yvonne.  They are not new...we've been teaching Adrian since I've been in the area.  But they are awesome!  Yvonne is less active and Adrian is getting baptized....in July.  Hopefully sooner that that though.  Anyways, they are awesome, and so chill.  We've seen Adrian come a long way, and we feel so at home with them.

We teach about 6 member present lessons a week.  A total of probably about 11 lessons a week.  We need more though!

I'm excited to talk to you on Sunday for Mother's Day!  : )

Love,

Sister Brown

End of April

Hello!
Things with Swa are good.  : )  She has come to church twice, and to our Wednesday class.  We don't have a baptism date set yet, but we're working on it.  She wants to get baptized and we haven't seen Ciller again.  We're really sad about that.  She probably moved back to FL, so we just need to try and get a hold of her and send missionaries to her there.
Journal...not good overall.  But we went to the temple yesterday (!!!!!) and we spent about 10 hours in the car, so I was able to get a little caught up then.  That was nice.  I guess that goal will have to carry over a little.  But one cool thing, is that over  a year ago I started a little journal type thing where everyday I write one sentence about something that made me smile that day.   I accidentlaly stopped that for about 2 months, but I'm picking it back up again, and just those little sentences remind me of so many stories, so that's nice.
 : )

Success this week...we tend to keep running into single men to teach.  So that's a little awkward.  But we met this man named Tony.  He's a single dad...and a little flirty.  So we take guys with us wehn we teach him.  But he is super nice, and very prepared.  He's way cool to teach.  Before we could even commiit him, he told us that he was going to read tha BOM and pray about it, and make any decision he was going to make, based on his feelings from the Holy spirit.  And we hadn't even mentioned it!

Other adventures...Like I said, we went to the temple yesterday!  It was a really, really long day.  But it was so good.  I loved every minute.

Love,

Sister Brown  : )

It's a great day!

Hi!
I don't think I really had any challenges this week.  It was a really good week.  : )

Success: we had a miracle!  We were walking to find a potential, and walked by a lady.  Her name is Ciller.  She commented on Sis. M's skirt, so we went and talked to her.  She's from FL, and so fun.  And black.  : )  She said that there had been a lot of drama, and she was visiting her son and daughter in law. She was drinking a beer, but said that she hadn't done that in a log time...things were hard.  She had just prayed as we walked up and we were and answer to her prayers.  She said that she felt a calm, and when we were getting ready to leave (after sharing a message with her about the restoration) we prayed with her.  She said that she had had a headache, and the prayer worked like Tylenol.  She has been searching, and we were and answer to her prayers.  It was so cool.  : )  She was probably my favorite person this week.

Goal for this week..actually, write in my journal.  Seriously, it's been so long.  We've just been so busy, and people keep calling us at night...our planning takes WAY too long, and we only have time at night to get ready for bed, not really do anything else.  It's ridiculous.

We had interviews with President and Sis. Miller this week.  Yesterday actually.  Something really sweet that Sis. Miller said, is that she referred to Pres. Monsons talk about love, and said that that was me.  That I am love, like he talked about.  I thought that was really sweet.

Also, she talked about patriarchal blessings, and how neat they are.  We are working on helping our members that don't have them, towards getting them.  I love reading mind and knowing about the blessings that are in store for me.  I love the constant encouragement when I read it.  A few months ago Pres. talked about finding our personal ministry...like Christ had a ministry.  I decided that mine is to help those around me feel that when they are with me, they can be themselves.

I'm doing really well.  Like, a million times better than a few weeks ago.  Things are so good.  : )

Love ya'll so much!

Sis. Brown

I think the Elders are late for a meeting.

Q&A

Hello!

 "How are you this week?  Tell me a few things about you..."
I'm doing good this week.  About me...I'm torn between cutting my hair or not.  I love it long, and I love that while it's long...it's easy to put up.  And that will be good for the summer.  But it generally looks lazy and takes a while to do, which is a pain.  I also am contemplating with dying it again...but I kind of want to see how blonde I can get it this summer.  But I'm going gray...no joke.

"What has been your biggest challenge this week?"
Geting member present lessons.  We did a lot of good work this week,, but we struggled to have lessons, and when we did, to hav emembers there.  But, it's not all about numbers I guess.  Also, trying to get better at talking to people...  Actually, I guess in a nutshell a big struggle this week was realizng (yet again) all the weaknesses, and things to work on.  Seriously, there is so much.  And it's so hard to know where to start.  And then to be thinking about school, and just going home and things like that.  It all sneaks up on you so fast.  : (

"What has been your biggest success?"

We talked with Bishopo, and it was really good.  Before, we thought that he didn't really like us.  But now we're not so worried about it.  (I accidentally offended another member.  Sometimes I reallhy wonder what on Earth I'm doing in El Paso.)  So that's a little mess.  But Bishop was SO understanding, and really wants us to reach out to him, and just kind of be his friend.  He wants to help us, and we just didn't know it. 

"Who has been your favorite person this week?  Why?

My favorite person this week was probably Swa.  We met her a couple of weeks ago.  But she is SO prepared for the gospel.  Her and her husband Chris.  They are fellowshipped well from her neighbor, and they are just so awesome.  I think one of my favorite parts about being a missionary, is when you are teaching the plan of salvation, and you finish it, and you ask ho they are feeling or what they think, and they say "I want to make sure I go there!" as they point to teh Celestial Kingdom.  She just gets it!  It's so cool.  And she is South African, and so darling, and they have an ORANGE wall in their house, and she made us homemade fried chicken.  It's the greatest.  :)

"Do you have a goal set for this coming week?  Tell me about it."

To write in my study journal every day, and to talk with my companion to at least 5 people a day.  Actually, that's more of a transfer goal, but anyways.  I LOVE writing in my study jornal as I read the BOM.  I forgot how mjuch more you learn when you do.  I'm really excited to show you my BOM that I've been reading from when I get back.  :)

Lucky you for the super long email today!

Love,

Sister Brown

  

Howdy!

I figure I'm in Texas now, so I could probably start talking like a true Texan.  ;)

It's been a pretty good week.  It's been a really long week for some reason.  Maybe because it's the beginning of the transfer...I dunno.  It was also a weird week for lessons.  We didn't teach as many as we would have liked, and they weren't all that great either.  But we set some goals, and wrote some good plans to get everything done this next week and make it super boss.  :)

We taught Rocco once (first time in the last 3 weeks) and did a turnover lesson so the Elders could teach him, because it was getting really awkward with us there.  So that seemed good.  We also had to give a man named Eddie to the Elders because he actually lives in their area.  I'm super sad about that, because he is AWESOME.  So cool to teach and so prepared for the gospel.  The Elders are some lucky bums.

We're trying to do more walking lately.  It's getting warm though.  Well, I guess lately it's been really nice.  We're hanging out in the 70's mostly, sometimes the 80's.  it's great.  :)

We were planning outside yesterday, and a 14yr old boy came up to us and asked us if we wanted to pet his dog.  Of course we said yes, and talked with him for a little while.  he was really curious as to what we were doing.  We talked for awhile, and we're going to meet with him again on Saturday at 5 :)  Miracles!  I think those are the most important things...at least for right now.  My comp is awesome, and we have a lot of fun, and get a lot of work done.  it's great.  : )

I still feel a little stressed.  Just with training, and general mission things.  But about a month ago, I definitely would have been at a red stress level, which is dangerous, and now I'm around a yellow, which is a lot better.

I hope that all is well with y'all.

Love,
Sister Brown

Still having fun...and transfer week. The real one

Hello again,

I am doing awesome :) Sister M and I have SO much fun, and I am so grateful to be working hard. I mean, there is a lot of room to improve... we set a lot of goals each week to do better. But we laugh a lot, and we get a long super well. And our DL (district leader) has told us several times that the lessons that we are teaching is the most the area has seen in a LONG time. I see a lot more potential though too, so we're hoping to get work done. Me and Sister M. are both staying. But Elders S. and P. are both leaving. That is a really sad day :/ but it'll still be good. We're having a good last pday for them :)

We have found a few people this last week. One of them is black man. His name is Chris. We assigned him to read 3 Nephi 11, and he said that he was really excited to read and to some research. We came back less than 24 hours later, and he had read through chapter 27. Such a cool guy. And, he's black. Which makes me really happy :) haha

Also we met a neighbor named Mary. She's 93, and SO cute. We borrowed her little hand mixer so Sister M. could make cupcakes. It's a little hand mixer like gma has, so it reminds me of her. And it gives my arm a serious workout :)

I can't think of any more adventures right now. so i hope that suffices for now :)

Love ya'll!

Sister Brown

Rules and Adventures

Hi,

So, we have a new dinner rule, where we can only eat with active members 2x a week, and LA (less active), investigators, and PM (part member) families the other 5 days. We only have ONE scheduled meal this week..... maybe this will be good for me to lose weight ;) haha So anyways, we're gong to be making some calls to LA's so that we actually have dinners.   The dinner appointments.... well it's a way to help find. President told us that if we will follow this rule, that our baptisms will double. if we are teaching LA's and using our dinner effectively, ideally our teaching pool will really increase, and we will have lots more people to baptize! So, we're pretty hungry right now. But the ward will catch on soon :)

El Paso is growing on me. I don't think that I would ever really like to live here, but I do like serving here. I've made some good friends, and had a good time. Sister M. and I get along really well, and we have a lot of fun so it's good. I still feel stressed with training and things like that... it's a lot of work to make sure that you get everything done. And it falls on your shoulders if it doesn't get done... yadda yadda. It's a lot. But she's catching on, and we're getting alot done. It's mostly just staying organized so that it all continues to stay done. We also have to hand over several of our investigators this week to other missionaries to teach.. Because we were accidentally teaching people not in our area, or they are being awkward so it's better if we have the elders teach them.... we have a lot of finding to do haha. 

My week was really good :) Sister M. and I get along really well. So we're having all sorts of adventures! :)

1. We watched a baby snake eat a baby mouse. That was fascinating. And a little gross.

2. We helped a guy take in his groceries, and now we're meeting with him, and his roommate, and his roommate's GF. And we're having a movie night with them tonight (because it's our 'day off' haha). Little do they know, that we will be watching Joseph Smith, Prophet of the Restoration :)

3. We made cupcakes yesterday while we were planning. But we didn't have a hand mixer. So we went knocking on our neighbors doors to meet them and ask them for a mixer. We met this SUPER cute old lady that is turning 93 on Sunday. And she didn't have an electric mixer, but she had one of those old fashioned hand ones. I got really buff when I was mixing the frosting :) haha

4. I got another wedding invitation this week..... yikes. 

5. We played lava tag last pday. I have a lot of bruises on my shins. But it was a lot of fun. 

6. Also, our district has matching bags and crazy straw glasses. We're taking a picture today. it's a lot of fun :)

Have a great week!

Love,

Sis. Brown

Time is flying

Hi ya'll,

 I am doing so good :) considering. I'm a little overwhelmed, but really I feel so much better. I'm realizing that the stress I was feeling before, was slipping into distress. Like, I really was trying to work hard to be happy, but it just wasn't the same. I feel bad about it still sometimes. But I'm so grateful that that weight is finally gone :) President and his wife came down to El Paso yesterday and did interviews with each of us. They met Sister M., and it was really good :) I'm always grateful when I get the chance to meet with them. Sister Miller (Mission Presidents wife) gives the greatest hugs :)  The training really is going well!! Sister M. is so willing to work and be obedient. When she meets new people she observes a lot more, but once she's comfortable she is super cute and fun. So she and I laugh a lot and have a blast :)

Time is going by SO fast! Yesterday was St Patty's Day, and I remember spending that day in the MTC a year ago. Yikes. Yesterday was also exactly 6 months from my homecoming date. I don't really like to think about that much to be honest... I feel such an urgency to get so much done!

We're probably gonig to be passing Rocco off to the elders... we have a feeling that he is kinda crushin on me. And Sister M. it was just me, and then got worse for both of us when she came. I love teaching him a lot, but it's getting awkward...... #sistermissionaryprobs. haha

Love you!

Sis. Brown