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.

May the force be with you!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

One of my most favorite days on my mission!

Family and Friends,

Alright, so this week was crazy busy!!!!! I was able to go to the temple on Wednesday and do a session with my District. I love the temple! You can feel the presence of the Lord so strongly. I am so grateful that we as missionarries get to go to the temple and experience that. I had a cool experience after the session where I received revelation for myself on how important being a missionary is. I am so thankful I can help others. I was able to go to the Family History center in the city of Orange County. We had a cool little tour and talked about ways we can help our investigators and potential investigators get involved. I learned a lot how you should get started and I really enjoyed it. We started using that as a door approach telling people we are sharing a message about the family and how we can help them be with their family eternally. So usually when people don't even want to hear a message about the family we know they are not prepared yet. I have had a mormon.org file up for a while and keep forgetting to send you all the URL. Check it out and if you are a member make sure you make one. It is a great missionary tool to help others learn about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. http://mormon.org/me/2K59/
We ate dinner with one of my favorite families in the ward. They have two little kids Max (5) and Fox (2) and they are the funniest kids ever. They remind me of my little cousins back home. They want us to always play with them. They invited us to come for Easter so that we could dye eggs with them. They invited us for Thanksgiving so that we could meet their Grandma and Grandpa. They are just the coolest little kids that are just full of love and they love the missionaries. We were able to sing with them this Sunday. We were part of the Primary Program and we went up to go sing "I hope They Call me on a Mission". When is started all the little kids turned around and were looking at us. I felt like the center of the show. I forgot the second verse so I was trying to mouth it looking at Elder Anderson trying to follow his lead and then I realized he was trying to read my lips also. So ya we failed but it was the thought that counts right Ha ha. But I was glad I was able to sing with Max because he is a STUD! We were able to go to Temple Tour and I was able to see all my favorite Elders in the world! Elder Sumsion, Elder Knight, and Elder Kato. I was so happy to see that they are doing good and having a lot of success. It was kind of like when Ammon and the rest of the sons of Mosiah reunited with Alma the Younger. That is how I felt. So that was great!
Sunday was one of my most favorite days on my mission. I had an amazing experience in Sacrament Meeting, being part of the Primary program and really seeing the pure Love of Christ of all the little children. Jared our Investigator came and watched his daughter in the Primary Program. We learned about the Holy Ghost in the Gospel principles class and it was just perfect for Jared to learn about that. The Spirit was so strong all through church and I know that Jared had a wonderful experience. After Church we prepared a lesson for him and I was praying really hard to know how we can help him progress and come closer to being Baptised. Well we studied up on revelation through prayer and how God gives answers through the Holy Ghost. We brought a member with us. We were ready to go. I remember praying so hard asking heavenly father if he could give us the gift of discernment and help us find out Jared's concerns . I prayed that the Holy Ghost would be with us. We walk in and I saw a totally different Jared. He was a lot more excited to see us. We sat down and he asked if he could say the prayer and we said of course. When he said his prayer the Holy Ghost was so STRONG. I felt it come into the room like night and day. I was just pondering like this is amazing. I could not stop smiling! We followed up how his reading was going and he said he read several chapters. He was telling us in great detail what he read with enthusiasm in his voice. I was so happy. We asked him what he learned in Gospel Essentials class. The topics were about Baptism and the Holy Ghost. He has a great understanding of the Gospel and he has the desire but there was something missing. So we were talking about the Holy Ghost and how through him we recieve answers. I asked him if he had been praying about the Book of Mormon and about the Prophet Joseph Smith. He told us that he hasn't yet. Right then and there we found out what was holding him back. So we shared a scripture and our Testimony on how important it is that we pray and ask. We taught him how he will feel and how he would get his answer. It was one of the best lessons I have ever taught. The Holy Ghost was guiding every word of mine. Elder Anderson taught with such great Unity It so cool. We invited him to be Baptized and he said that if he finds out the Book of Mormon is true he will get baptized. So he has that real intent.
So after that amazing lesson I was able to go back to Fullerton and see my Boy David Get BAPTIZED!!!! I was so happy that I was able to go and see him enter into a covenant with Heavenly Father. He asked me to give the Missionary invite and I gladly said YES. There was great support for David as the room was filled with people. I was able to get pictures with him and congratulate him. It was AWESOME! I was so happy and the Baptismal Service was quite remarkable. Great talks, amazing Baptism, peircing Testimonies, and a wonderful dvd presentation. I was so happy! It was a big crowd and I went up and gave a talk and it felt good inviting and bearing testimony. David has a lot of non-members in his family so it was great. I was able to see my last recent Convert Billy Boy! He is doing great and is still an amazing member that is helping build the kingdom of God. After my missionary invite he asked if he could have a book of Mormon to give to a friend and asked if that was okay. I said of course it is okay. That it is what I was suppose to try to get you to do. I Love Bill. So ya this week was so good. The Lord is blessing me in so many ways I can't name them all. I am so grateful to be on a mission. To see the Tender Mercies of our Savior each and every day. I Love you all. I hope everything is going as good as it is going for me. Have a Great Week!!!!!!!

Time for another hair cut!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

A Year Went by so Fast!

Family and Friends,

This week was AWESOME!!!! I have seen so many miracles this week! I am so happy right now! Well remember the part member family that I was telling you about. We ate dinner with them and we had the best tacos ever! Yep, just wanted to throw that out there. Then we shared a message about prayer. We committed them to pray as a family. Well, we followed up with them and they have been praying every night together! Heather (mother) who is a member said that she is seeing the blessings poured out upon them by the Lord. So cool! They are going through a lot of different trials right now and the Lord is really blessing them. We asked if we could share the lessons with her family and she gladly with a ton of energy said, "yes". We are going over there tonight and we are so excited to help Haley (14) and Jake (9) learn about the restored gospel.
Then with our next investigator Jared. We had a great lesson on teaching the ten commandments and focusing on keeping the Sabbath day holy because he needs to come to church. He really enjoyed it, especially his daughter as we taught it by sign language. Really fun. Well the next day HE CAME TO CHURCH!!!! He stayed for all three meetings too! Even better, was in the Gospel Essential class the lesson was on Baptism, Yep! It was Great. He is progressing as he is keeping his commitments we just need to help him recognize the spirit and invite him to be baptized again. At church we were invited to be a part of the Primary program! haha Elder Anderson are going to sing ''I hope They call me on a mission!'' This Primary program is intense! ha ha. We got micro-phones and everything. haha.
We are not finding too many new investigators but our investigators we do have are progressing! Their faith is growing in Jesus Christ and in his Restored Gospel and I am so grateful that I am able to be his Servant! Funny story that made me sick. ha ha Elder Anderson and I were knocking in this apartment complex. It just rained and there were snails everywhere. It was in the middle of the day so nobody was home so Elder Anderson made a deal with me. If he ate a snail and it's shell and everything I will have to owe him a big slurpee cup! So I said go for it. Well he ate a snail and its shell! Yep, the grossest thing I have seen in person. He would do so good in fear factor haha.
It has been officially a year since I have been out in the mission field! It has been a year that went by so fast! I am learning so much and I am enjoying my mission . I am trying to make it the best! I get to go to the temple today. What a treat! I love you all have a great week!

Elder Brown

Ahhhh! California!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Raindrops keep falling on my head.....

This week I had a great hard working week! I went on exchanges with my District Leader Elder Tensmeyer in his area Anaheim 6th ward. I learned a lot from Elder Tensmeyer and how he is a huge spiritual giant. He is just a great example of a humble follower of Jesus Christ. I feel his love and charity towards me and to all those in our District. He is just a great example. We were able to work in the RAIN! First time I have seen rain come down this hard for a while. Like 9 months. So it was cool to see a difference in the weather and tackle the pavement with a downpour of rain as a missionary with a mission to accomplish. I was suprised that nobody let us in. ha ha. I was able to see Elder Tensmeyers style of contacting doors and I learned a lot of cool things. At District Meeting this week we learned that our mission is going to go from 150 Missionaries to 180 missionaries in the next couple transfers. So there are going to be multiple companionships in different wards so it is going to be interesting. There is going to be a lot more baptisms with more missionaries coming in! That is some cool news. Also my trainer and now Zone Leader are going home in 3 weeks. I was with Elder Bannister when he hit his year mark and to think that he is going home is really crazy. I thought about how it was like yesterday that I was with him and now a year has gone by and he is going back to Pocatello Idaho!
We were able to teach one of our Investigators Jared. He kept his commitment of reading the Book of Mormon and everything! We had a great lesson on dispensations and of Prophets. Right now he feels like all churches are good and that there are multiple ways to get to Heaven. So we are really trying to help understand that there is one Lord, One Fatih, One Baptism that there is a Prophet today on the earth. So he is little by little, as he is feeling the Holy Ghost, coming to the knowledge of that. I was disapointed because he didn't come to church like he said he would. He will come next time.
We have been walking dogs Gus and Ricky twice a week for a part member family. They are Boxers and they are cutest things ever. We have been able to gain a really good relationship with the family and they invited us over for dinner. So Elder Anderson and I are really excited to get to know them more and share a spiritual message that will help them come closer to Jesus Christ. We are going to invite them to hear the discussions. We feel that they are ready to hear and accept the Gospel and we are very excited for that.
I am tracting a lot right now. It is not my most favorite thing to do but we are being a warning voice to everyone and it is cool to have the spirit lead and direct us. Elder Anderson and I have been praying for a more effective way to find and teach people. We have come to the knowledge through the spirit by watching General Conference that Family History work will interest people. Opening a gate to allow us to tell them why we do family history work and how it is linked directly with the Restoration of Jesus Christ's Church. I know nothing about it but I am really excited to study and used it as a tool for people to feel the spirit of Elijah. We had a really cool experience receiving an answer to our prayers. Now we just got to capatilize!
Thank you family and friends for your love and support and for all that you do. Talk to you next week.

Elder Brown

Missing my old district...

Monday, October 3, 2011

May the force be with you!

My companion Elder Anderson

"In His Strength I can do All Things"

This week has been an improvement! We were able to teach a couple more lessons and get in with more families! I know that it is going to take a little while to get our lessons numbers up but with patience and having faith in God I know that we will continually improve little by little. We were not able to meet with our new investigator Mario because he accidentally scheduled an appointment with us on his son's Birthday. Oops ha ha. I am getting to know a lot of wonderful families and doing my best to serve them the best I can. We were able to have an amazing treat, to sit back and watch and listen to Apostles and Prophets give us strength and encouragement. While being on my mission I have gained an appreciation and an excitement hearing the Lord's Servants address us! In between the sessions on Saturday , the District went to a burger Placed called 50/50 where its 50 beef and 50 Bacon for Elder Tensmyer's Birthday. I got the most Juicy, sticky, interesting burger ever. It is called Peanut butter and Jellousy Burger. Yep, I had a meat patty with bacon, Peanut butter, and Jelly burger. I have to tell you my experience in two words "Absolutely Amazing" so good never knew that could mix and match like that. I had a good weekend of learning and forgiving and all the topics that were said during Conference. It is weird hitting my year mark. You realize that you have hardly any time left. This last year has gone by so fast. I am so excited that I have another year to serve full time and to show through my actions how much I love the Lord by being faithful, diligent, and obedient. I know as we all strive to be obedient to Christ Teachings, the commandments, and for my case to the missionary handbook we are coming closer and closer to God, doing his will. "I know that I am nothing, as to my strength I am weak, I will not boast in myself, but I will boast in my God, for in his strength I can do all things; (Alma 26: 12) I am so grateful for the Lord and his love! How I am coming to the knowledge how weak I am according to my own strength. I know that I can do all things with the Power of God. As long as I am doing his will, I can do the same things that Ammon and his brethren did, bringing forth many mighty Miracles! I love you take care. I will fill you all in more in detail later.

Elder Brown