Maloleilei!

This week was another crazy week! Last Monday, we went shopping with Sister Hosea and Sister Unga. Of course, we had to get Slurpees because hello....7-11 -- Free Slurpee day! We went to the church to play with the Zone. While Sister Hosea and Sister Hughes played basketball, I played Dungeons and Dragons with the Elders. It was hilarious! Elders are so goofy!

This week, we've been doing a lot of contacting. We are working on building our teaching pool. It's been a little rough, but we're working on it. We have faith that we will find people. It is the Lord's work after all.

On Tuesday, we had district meeting, and then we had two appointments in the park but neither of them showed. But later that night, our Ward mission leader invited some members from the YSA Ward to come to the Higham's house and make calls to less active members. They all worked together to try and contact these members. We now have a list of people they were unable to contact. It was awesome!

On Wednesday, we had exchanges with the Tongan Sisters. I was with Sister Unga for the day. I love her! All four of us went to service together and did language study. I got a Book of Mormon in Tongan! We met with some people they've been teaching and I could speak a little bit of Tongan. I can say: Hello (Maloleilei), How are you? (Feifeihaki), good (Sai pe), thank you (Malo), and I'm hungry (fia kaia). Tongan is fun! My favorite word is Ulupala... Knucklehead... Haha!

On Thursday, we tried to visit some of the less actives, but some don't have complete addresses, so that was a little hard. But then we went to Montalvo to do some service. We gathered sticks and helped make a pathway. It was so fun! It makes me miss Westminster when I helped my Dad with the set design for theatre. And since we were outside, a lizard tried to climb into my shoe. I totally yelped and I think I scared it.  Poor thing (Faka Ofa...) there are so many lizards in California! And squirrels!

Friday and Saturday, we did weekly planning. We plan on meeting with some members to teach them about the Restoration. We invite members to share the gospel with someone. It's a good finding idea, but for some reason people want to meet either on Monday night and Tuesday night. Everyone is busy.

On Sunday, we had a crazy day! We went to church and then had a mission stake meeting. All the Ward mission leaders are awesome!!! And then we had dinner with the Tongan Sisters at one of their member's houses. We had Tongan food. It was so tasty I couldn't stop myself! I ate 14 muscles (I think that's how it's spelled), 14! I kept saying: maybe just one more, maybe just one more. But I got so sick after that. But there was no gluten in the food, I just ate too much food- the family was so shocked that I ate 14. Haha! I like sea food...  The father told me I can come back anytime I was hungry and that they would make me New Zealand Muscles. I love that family! One of the ladies in the house asked how many I ate.  I told her and she looked so shocked...her face was priceless! It was so worth the stomach ache!

And that was my week! Love yous! (Ofa'atu!) 

-Always, Sister Brown (Sister Melo Melo)

I'm soooo happy!

This week was cray-cray! 

Last Monday, we went shopping with Sister Hosea and Sister Unga. We then went to a BBQ in their Ward (that's one BBQ) and I was surprised how much Tongan I know. I was impressing all the Tongan Sisters. After that, we went to the Call's house with the YSA to eat some more. (That's two BBQs.) For dinner, we went to eat with Juri and Steven. So that's THREE BBQs in one day! Haha! Fourth of July! After that we watched the firework show at Steven's house. The traffic was stressful and chaotic! But Heavenly Father helped us get home on time. However, the fireworks were so worth it! 

On Tuesday, we went contacting for what felt like all day, but we've been finding people! We are slowly but surely building our teaching pool. Things are definitely looking up! We saw Danielle and Cameron, who are the funniest people. Danielle is a recent convert. Cameron helped her get baptized. He went on his mission to Japan. We have been meeting with an investigator named Patrick. He's pretty awesome! He has a great relationship with God, and he's read a little in the Book of Mormon we gave him. So far, it's been hard to get him to come to church. He's not sure if he wants to be baptized, and it seems he doesn't want to give up his other church yet. That's really hard for new converts.

On Wednesday, we had two less-active appointments. We had gotten to the house earlier so we walked around the neighborhood and ran into someone who seemed to be going through a hard time. The less active didn't seem to be home. So we tried the other and apparently she had moved and didn't tell us her new address. 

On Friday, we went to service and then went to Sister Hosea and Sister Unga's apartment to drop something off, and then they fed us. Haha! We spent the rest of the day weekly planning. But Sister Hughes and I got to know each other better. We had dinner with George and his friend who is less active. It was a fun dinner and Saiah was there. They are so fun! And George is a trouble maker. On Sunday we taught his friend Justin. He wants to believe in the gospel, but is having a hard time letting go of the things he was taught as a child. He's not sure if he can believe it. So we're hoping to meet with him and George again and see if we can help him. 

On Saturday, we found another person! His name is Darin and we ran into him on this corner. I feel like Heavenly Father literally put him in our path. (He has a tendency to do that.) We tried to meet with Patrick that night, but he was busy. We met with a member from Peru. Her name is Martha and she's so cute! 

Yesterday, I gave a talk. The topic was Growth of the Ward through mission and reactivation efforts. But I took my farewell talk and tailored it to fit the topic. This week has been so exhausting but I've been so happy! 

But I've also been so tired...but so happy!  Did I mention that I was soooo happy!

It's weird. That's missionary life for you. 

-Always, Sister Brown

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July! ...and...

I'm halfway through my mission -

Can you believe that?

This week was super busy, and kind of crazy! I have my new companion, Sister Hughes. She and I have a lot of similar interests. She is awesome! We've had a little adjusting to do, but the first week with a new companion is always the craziest weeks of transfers. I've been a little scatter-brained this week. I didn't get to know the area as well as I could have this past month, but now I'm feeling more comfortable with it and confident. I'm driving again! I really missed that.

My STL's are Sister Unga and Sister Hosea! I love both of them!  Sister Unga is from Tonga, and Sister Pokrus finished her training...so...technically that makes us sisters, haha!  Things are looking up. I'm feeling much happier and I'm already seeing blessings from this transfer.

We met a man named Patrick (that is a great name because I have an awesome neighbor back home with that name). Anyway, Patrick seems interested in learning more about the church. He's cautious, but interested. And then we had dinner with a less active member and we invited him to church, and he came! And he even said a prayer with us before he left! His active friend George had to convince him to come, but hey, he still came and that's all that matters!

Today we are celebrating the 4th of July with the STL's. After we're going to Juri's to watch fireworks. I think we're going to have BBQ for lunch AND dinner. Exchanges are coming up. I'm excited and nervous to be in the Polynesian Program for the day....Polynesians sure do love to feed people (ask my brother - he knows!)

Wow, my mind is everywhere this week.  I got a package from my family and it was filled with pictures of camels, representing hump day of course. And candy...and treats!  I LOVE getting boxes from home! I can't believe I'm halfway through my mission!  Ahhh!

- Always, Sister Brown