#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!