Favorite Scripture: 3 Nephi 5:13

Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Monday, November 29, 2010

Family and Friends,

These pass couple weeks I have been so busy and I have so much to talk about ha ha ha. So bare with me. I had the opportunity to have dinner with president Watrous. Bobi (an amazing ward missionary that helps us with everything invited us to have dinner with her and the mission president and his wife. Just me and Elder Bannister. I love Bobi but she thought she was doing us a favor and said this is a once in a life time chance to have dinner with the president with just you and your companion. Yes, that was true but I was so nervous and stressed out ha ha. I just told myself to act myself and I did and it turned out great. I love president and Sister Watrous! It didn't turn out as bad as I thought but we didn't get out of dinner in a hour so that was the only bad thing ha ha. Bobi, if you see this "Thank you" for all your work. I was able to finish The Book of Mormon for the third time this year and for the first time on my mission. I love The book of Mormon and the Gospel of Jesus Christ that is in it. I am reading more then I have ever had and I love it. I also love personal and companionship study! We are teaching two young men Zack and Zane!! 13 and 16 years old. We have taugh them almost all the lessons and their baptisms are scheduled January 8th. SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!! We are continuing to teach them and reactivating their father who is an amazing guy. I was able to go on another exchange with the Yale elders over to the Chinese Branch. I was with Elder Ellis and we taught an old 80 year old Chinese man that spoke no English. I just smiled and nodded my head. ha ha. Elder Ellis and I were tracting this one neighborhood or cul-de-sac and we were on one side of the street and there were to girls on the other going door to door also and we met up house to house. Elder Ellis told me they were Jehovah Witnesses. I said, "No way" and started laughing hysterically. How often does that happen! It was like clash of the religions. We tried talking to them but they skipped the house we were at and went to all the houses we went to. It was ridiculous, but funny. I also taught English to a Chinese and Korean sister and they were so funny but it is hard to teach English when they don't understand you and I don't understand them ha ha. By the way, I keep calling exchanges transfers. I don't know why but an exchange is one day but a transfer is at least 6 weeks. I did another exchange with the zone leaders. I was with Elder Lawrence from Riverton, Utah. He has been out for a year and 6 months. We found a lot of potential investigators and talked to a Buddhist monk old lady who hair was shaven and had a sacrifice table. She had all the vegetables she would sacrifice. It was the weirdest thing I have ever seen. She was very nice though. ha ha. Turkey day was the best, it was like every other day ha ha. The only difference was we had a huge Turkey dinner with the Moore family. I enjoyed it because I was able to tell everyone why I was so thankful to have the Book of Mormon in my life and being apart of Jesus Christ's Church. My Parents spoiled me by giving Brother Sparks ( a member of my home ward) a ton of goodies, a toaster and a pillow tie ha ha which he dropped off on his trip through California. Thank you for that surprise Mom and Dad it made my day. I also got a sweet Christmas tree that I adore. I have had the terrible experience of losing three amazing investigators who were my friends and I loved very much. First family I taught Lia and her two children. This week they have been praying, reading the Book of Mormon and committed to coming to church and we were going to set up another Baptismal date. When we talked to them on the phone they said that they could not meet us anymore and that Lia will not let her kids read the Book of Mormon ever again. We went and talked to her and she said that the Book of Mormon was racist and that it was man made. She read the part where Laman and Lemuel skin turned dark as a cursing. She read the whole book in one day marking all the "racist" versus. I have never felt so bad, so sad in my life. She was progressing and doing all the things necessary to gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon. She would not listen to us and said that our whole church was racist and that she could not trust her kids around us. We have done so much service and things for her kids that i really could not believe it. I didn't know what to say. I bore my testimony that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and he loves all his children Black or white, Male or Female, bond or free. She said it was a contradiction to the book that sets us apart from every one else. I told her how much I loved her and her boys and that she would come to an understanding of that in this life or the next and that Heavenly Father love her to. She shut the door and that was it. I did not know what I was suppose to say. It hurt to think that all we have done for her, all the spiritual experiences she has had, she cut it all off because of a misinterpretation of one thing. This is Why a mission is hard. I just need to continue to rely on the Lord and pray for guidance and support and everything will go as planned. I know that we set up a good seed with Lia and she knows how genuine and caring we have been for her. I want all of you to know that The Book of Mormon is another Testament of Jesus Christ and it is the most true book. That you will come closer to Jesus Christ by reading it. I love you all hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and give thanks to all of you. Stay tuned for next week see ya.

Elder Brown

Special Dinner with President Watrous and his wife

Friday, November 26, 2010



Bobi Rush decided she would love to surprise her 2 favorite elders with a one-on-one dinner with the mission president and his wife at her house. She said that Josh was really nervous but he did great!

November 15, 2010

Monday, November 15, 2010

Family and Friends,

A lot of people are asking me what the weather is like ... ....... When I got to Cali, skies were black and it was raining. It did that for a a couple days probably in the 60's. Then October 27 the Santa Ana winds came in. Hot Air just blew on us first day, 92 degrees. Second day 100 third day 96 degrees. Ya a lot different than Utah. I was on a bike all day with my black back pack. My whole entire shirt was soaked with sweat. So embarrassed going to appointments being drenched. Luckily that just lasted three days and its in the 70's. Best kind of weather. So it has been good. Tuesday I had my first zone conference. We started at 8 am and went until 4 pm. Ya a long time to sit still but it was good. ha ha. Elder Gibbons of the 70's came and talked to us on how we can perfect the missionary work. He has a talk in the October 2009 edition in the Ensign. Spectacular man who knows his stuff. ha ha. Taught us how to use the members more for missionary work and to remind them that they made a covenant to build the kingdom of God. We just have to help them as missionaries to understand and how to do that. I have learned that it is good to be bold and sometimes I think I am too bold with people but its good to stand for what you believe in and let the spirit testify the truth through your words. I learned a lot!!! I had my first exchange on Wednesday Nov. 10 and I went over to the Chinese Elder's Place. I thought with exchanges you just went after all your studies. Actually you sleep there the night before. I was kind of weirded out that another man was going to be sleeping in my bed so we decided to take our sheets and everything. Didn't want his slobber on my pillow you see. ha ha. I went to stay with Elder Kim who is from Korea. He is 23 years old and went to BYU before he left for his mission. Luckily, we got the car so I was able to get a break from the bike. The next day I backed him out and then get in the car. Never seen Elder Kim drive before. I guess he didn't drive that much in Korea or when he was going to school. We get going and HOLY CRAP!!!!!!! It was like a fifteen year old driving a car for the first time getting his learners permit!! Accelerating to fast, braking fast, turning really slow. It was bad! All the unskillful ways of driving. I felt like a Drivers Ed teacher with out any control to brake if needed. We had a GPS and we had to go pick up mail and supplies in Newport beach. We needed to get to the Stake Center on Bonita Canyon right next to the Temple. It's suppose to be a fifteen minute drive and well it takes us thirty minutes. HA. Elder Kim didn't know how to merge over into a lane. He didn't check blind spot or used a blinker. The GPS took us on the freeway for some reason and I seriously saw my life flash before my eyes. Almost got in a accident two or three times. I prayed and thanked the Angels who were on our side. ha. We get off the freeway. Elder Kim laughs and says that was his first time on the freeways. Ha ha. California freeway, first time doesn't know how to drive, cars honking at us flipping us off the whole kaboot!!!!! We finally get there taking many detours. He wouldn't let me drive because he said that he is older and the senior companion and said that he needs to get better. SO I let him and through out the day he did get better. I met a lot of Chinese people, didn't understand anything. ha ha. I got in a bible bash with a born again Christian. I was holding my own. ha ha. Then I saw the spirit wasn't there and I had to testify and then said I had to go and he kept talking so we just left. Ya, so my first exchange is pretty memorable. ha ha. I also have two new people with baptismal dates for December 4 and we had to move back Lia and her kids date back to December 18. So we will have 5 Baptisms before the year is over. Our goal for our mission is to get 600 baptisms in a year. We are at 408 so its going to be a white December folks. Love you all hope all is well!! GOOD DAY!

Elder Brown

Monday, November 8, 2010

November 8, 2010

Family and Friends,

I have been bless to find a family that wants to hear the words and teachings of the Gospel. Lia and her children are open to everything and ask many questions. We taught them twice this last week and taught them about baptism and how important it is and the significance. They understood why we wanted them to be baptized and make those covenants with Heavenly Father. We then taught them the first half of the Plan of Salvation and about Gods plan for us. We taught them about the Atonement and Bobi Rush (our wonderful ward missionary) invited them to church to see why we take the Sacrament. They were so excited we showed them a picture of a congregation in sacrament meeting and Sebastian the 9 year old said "We have to dress like that!" We told them just to wear their nicest clothes and he looks down and says "this is my nicest shirt!' and it was a blue monster shirt so we laughed. We went to different families in the ward to see if they had any clothes that their kids grew out of and the Remington and the Yost family got us some white shirts for this little family. We surprised them Saturday and gave it to them and Lia was so happy and Avaro was to. But Sebastian has a phobia of button up shirts with collars and it being "to tight".(Ha ha that is how I was as a little kid). They came to church the next day and they looked like a happy family besides Sebastian. Lia was fellowshipped and I think she felt safe and had a good time. After we talked to Avaro and he said he loved it and was so happy (he is seven). But Sebastian said they made him sing in primary and started to cry to his mom. So there were ups and down. ha ha. I am just praying that Sebastian will grow to love church. They are our only investigators that are progressing. We have found a lot of potential investigators but its so hard to get a hold of them. Every one is at work all day until 5pm then everyone goes to bed at like 8:00pm in Irvine. So we only have a two hour window to see people on a regular basis. Because we eat Dinner at 5 or 6pm. Let me tell you something, I have had some amazing food. I have been introduced to a lot of new foods. I had Banberry Pie at Poly's Pies and it is now my new favorite dessert! Nothing beats it! It is the best, I want it right now as I speak!!!! I also have been going out to eat at a Restaurant called "Claim Jumper" and oh Boy!!! It is really good but expensive. Let's just say I have been spoiled. I ate dinner at Ali Reza's house and he made Kabobs and Tedic. A Persian cuisine and it was amazing. Tedic means bottom of the bowl. It is basically rice but there is this stuff on the bottom that make it "da BOMB"!! Then I tried Persian Yogurt. Nastiest thing I have eaten here. Lets just say I gagged. Its plain yogurt with cucumber and dill pickles in it and ya, Joshy NO Likey!! I put some on the plate and Ali said "Elder Brown, eat the rest of the food on your plate" I looked down at a huge dollop of that yogurt and a little bit of rice. And I looked up and grinned and said I would love to eat the rest of it and I pounded it down, so ya that has been my experience with Persian foods. We have found a lot of them and they are very interested in learning more about the Church. An experience I had tracting was we went to this one home. We knocked on this house and a Indian woman answered the door. We asked her if she wanted to hear a message of Jesus Christ. She was kind of tentative looking back. Then I see a man in the back ground shewing us with his hand to leave. I asked him whats wrong. Then he pushed, I assume his wife, out of the way and walked onto the porch shutting the door behind him asking what do we want. We told him we were teaching people about Jesus Christ through the Book of Mormon. He looked at us and snatched a Book of Mormon out of Elder Bannister's hand and grabbed it like he was going to rip it then instead tried to steal my Book of Mormon ha ha. Picture this guy trying to steal my precious book and pushing him off me. Then he backed away knowing i would not let him take it and he yelled, "Only Bible and Jesus Christ". We told him that he can have that Book of Mormon and call us if he wants another one. ha ha. Then he started bashing on us. I was getting really mad I was about to say something but Elder Bannister looked at him and said "You know what have a nice day"! We turned and left and I was impressed on how Elder Bannister was able to smother him with Love. HA HA CRAZY Day. I have been riding my bike constantly. I have holes in my pants already from riding it and dogs chasing us down. Makes it an adventure. ha ha. I am having some good experiences. Highs and Lows. This is how time goes on a mission. Elder Bannister and I have a new saying " The days are Long, the weeks are fast, the months are faster, and years don't exist" Ha Ha its true. Just working hard and trying to do our best to find as many people to and invite them to come unto Christ.

Elder Brown

Halloween 2010 Irvine,California

Tuesday, November 2, 2010





The Yost Family had us over for dinner, carving pumpkins and we gave a lesson as the little tricker treaters came by.
November 1, 2010

Hello Family and Friends,


I have been so busy I hit the pillow at 10:30 and I am out. I have been talking to a lot of wonderful people and not so nice people. ha ha. I have been doing a lot of tracking and have talked to people about their religions. It amazes me how many religions there are. I have met Hindus, Muslims, Jew's, catholic, Buddhist, all different kinds of Christian Churches. I have got to talk to a lot of Muslims and they are very nice and gentle people. They are a lot nicer then people that call themselves Christian. We can't teach them about the gospel unless they come to us because in their country, if they found out they left practicing Muslim, they would be put to death. Another lady we talked to, who was nice, said we needed to read the Bible but we told her about the Book of Mormon. She asked us if we believe in the gift of tongues and we said yes. Then she started to scream making all these weird noises and said she was getting revelation through the gift of tongues. I was scared I thought she was going to pass out and die. Then she told us how she is Mary and that Jesus lives inside her and she was crazy. We explained that through the power of the Holy Ghost we can get revelation through Jesus Christ. Then she said sorry because we believe in the Book of Mormon. She said we look like good young men but said we were going to hell. ha ha. So that was interesting. On a better note I have had the opportunity to meet and teach a man name Ali Reza. He is from Iran and was baptized there in the 70's. When the Revolution happened there he was put into prison for two years and was tortured because he had a testimony of the power of the Book of Mormon. He escaped and has been living here in California as a refugee. He is so enthusiastic about the Book of Mormon its amazing. I can only understand half the things he says but he is awesome. To see his trials and standing up for what he believes in has strengthened my testimony. I was able to teach my first lesson to an investigator. It was a miracle how we contacted her through the power of the Holy Ghost and obedience. We were knocking on doors late on a Saturday night. It was 8:50 and we needed to get home by nine. We were about to leave but my companion and I had a impression to try one more door that was upstairs. We knocked and met Lia and her two kids. She said that we could come back and teach her and her children. We taught her the first lesson about the Restoration and about Joseph Smith and placing a Book of Mormon in her heart. We have been taught to invite people to be baptized and so we did. She said yes and Alvaro is turning eight next month and so we set a date for November 20. Since we followed the prompting of the Holy Ghost and we worked all the way up until 9 we found somebody who would accept the Gospel and I really believe that it was a miracle or a Tender Mercy. I am having a lot of good experiences. The Asians make up about the 1/3 of population and they have their own ward. They are very nice people. Those are some of my experiences thus far. It is hard work but its worth it when you get to sit down and bare your testimony of the truth. Thank you for your letters and all that you do. Make sure when you send letters that you send it to Elder Joshua Brown because there are 4 elder Browns in my mission. There has been a lot confusion. ha I love you guys and hope you are staying close to the teachings of Jesus Christ and reading, pondering, and praying about the Scriptures and especially the Book of Mormon. Love you all!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope everything I said make sense. ha ha

Elder Brown

On Mon, Oct 25, 2010 at 11:48 AM, Joshua Brown wrote: