'Tis the Season!

Wow!  It's almost Christmas!

'Tis the season to do service, run around, and try to be in two places at the same time. But it's also a good time to be a missionary.  You get to help people decorate for Christmas, not worry about making dinners or getting presents, and to always remember what the season is really all about - Our Savior Jesus Christ!

Every Christmas, this Baptist Church creates a set of Bethlehem, and acts out the birth of Jesus Christ. We're going to see it tonight with the Hermanas. I'm excited.  We've been helping out at the Creche for the past two weeks.  It was so much fun...sooo many nativities!  We helped out in the Children's Room. They had crafts and clothes to play dress up. We ran into some other sisters and we took a picture for the nativity.  I got to be a Wise Man (Wise Woman???) and we had three Mary's.  Two little girls wanted to join in on our picture, so they both dressed up as Mary.  For a while, we helped kids play dress up, and we helped to keep things tidy.  It made me miss dressing up...and theatre. Afterwards, there was a marionette show for the story of the birth of Jesus Christ.  It was so cute!  Now I really miss theatre!  And of course, after all our hard work, there is always plenty of food for the missionaries.

This week, a lady we were teaching died of cancer.  We went to visit her a few times. We could tell she was suffering and in a lot of pain.  She could barely speak and wasn't very responsive.  We sang to her a few times and she seemed to enjoy that.  We received a text one morning telling us she had passed away. It was really sad.  I'm so grateful for this gospel.  I know that she was welcomed home by our loving Heavenly Father, and she will receive all the blessings that are promised to her and all of us.  She can now concentrate on learning the gospel without worrying about cancer; and she is no longer in pain.  I know this because we are all God's children, and He wants all of us to return home to Him.

Also this week, we were blessed to hear from Elder Bednar!  It was so cool!  He was really funny and fun to listen to.  He gave us good advice for missionary work and tips for the future.  It was so weird and cool at the same time to see an apostle up close and live!

This has been a busy, eventful week.  But it has also been a good week.  We've been teaching and trying to work with new investigators, and learning more about how we can help others.

Scripture of the week: 

Alma 24:19 And thus we see that, when these Lamanites were brought to believe and to know the truth, they were firm, and would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin; and thus we see that they buried their weapons of peace, or they buried the weapons of war, for peace.

Love, love, love the book of Alma!!! 

-Always, Sister Brown 

Happy Thanksgiving 2016!!!

This week was an amazing week for me. I got to go with Sister Hosea and Sister Riggs to my first area. One of our converts has gotten married! They are both so happy!  This is how it happened - Sister Hosea and I wanted to go on a hike with our investigator. But since he was male, it was decided we should probably get a female to come too. We decided to pick a member who is single, around his age, and it just worked out. After the hike, they started dating. He finally got baptized. And...now they're married!!! They got married on Thanksgiving Day! President Mella was there too! The bishop performing the marriage started his speech, and then said: "Mawidge.... Mawidge is what bwings us togethoo tooodaaaay.... I've always wanted to say that." It was hilarious. 

Wow, I did not realize I was coming to California to witness this beautiful wedding, and the fact that Sister Hosea and I introduced them to each other. They are really happy together. They plan to get sealed in the temple about a year from now. Looks like I'm taking a road trip back to California next year.  

After the wedding, Sister Huang and I went to thanksgiving dinner. It was so good. The turkey made me so sleepy as always. This week was a slow week for the work though. (It's like there was a holiday or something, bajing!) So I began to pray for miracles. A few happened. We met a friendly lady one evening while looking for a potential investigator. She invited us in and we helped her wash dishes and feed her birds. We shared a message with her. She said she's not sure about her relationship with God, but the principles that religion teaches make perfect sense to her. We left a Book of Mormon at her house. She said she's not sure if she'll have time to read it. But she has it in her home. 

Then, last night, we got a call about a referral. We were supposed to get it a few weeks ago, and it somehow never went through and we never received it. So someone called us to ask about it. We worked it out though, and then called the couple (husband is a member, wife is not) and they said we could come teach them! A miracle! 

It's odd though that our area book on our iPads never received it... Stupid Satan! Always messing with the work.  Anyways, some of the awesome things that happened this week. It was good! 

Love yous! 

-Always, Sister Brown 

Grateful for My Mission

This week went by so fast! The weeks are getting faster! Ahhh!  Last Monday, we went shopping with the Hermanas. I found this Mexican candy I really like called Pelon. It's so tasty! And at a Korean Market I found shredded squid. It's like a beef jerky kind of treat, but it's squid. I have really weird taste... I also like trying new things.

Tuesday was the Relief Society dinner. It was so good, and it was so much fun. They handed out journals and had us write 100 things we're thankful for. One of the things I'm thankful for is serving my mission. 

It's scary to think that if I hadn't come to California, I would not have grown spiritually, I wouldn't have met the people who are now my friends, and I wouldn't have helped others come to Christ. I will always be grateful to have had this opportunity. I'm also thankful for Thanksgiving because it brings the family together, and we get to eat food! Two of my favorite things: Family and Food!

On Thursday, we had Zone Conference. It was really good as always. The new Christmas video is coming out, and we have new Christmas pass-along cards! I'm so excited for Christmas! Lately, I've been reading a lot in Alma. A lot of people aren't really into the war chapters, but I like action stuff. But where I'm at, Alma has been teaching people around the Nephite cities. And I really loved Alma Chapter 7. It talks about the importance of baptism, repentance, the Atonement, and Christ. Verses 11 and 12 really stood out to me.

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and sicknesses of his people.

12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

I am thankful for the Savior and the sacrifice He has made for all of us. It's good to know that He understands me and He loves me no matter what.

-Always, Sister Brown

My New Area...and maybe, My Last!

This week was pretty busy but it went by so fast!  I love my new area.  These statutes are on the lawn of the public library.  They are awesome!  I just had to jump in and become a part of it.  The girl's hand that I'm holding is wearing a CTR ring, engraved on her finger!  How cool is that!

We do a lot of service in this area. One form of service is an English class for missionaries from other countries and a lot of them gather around me for my help.  It's really challenging but awesome to help other people learn how to speak English. Some appointments we've been to for the Chinese Ward, and Sister Huang always tells me they like me. I think it's so sweet, even though all I can do is smile, and say hello, and thank you.

I love Sister Huang! She is so sweet and funny and caring. Her teaching is good too. When we went to teach a member from the Cupertino Ward, it was in Chinese. And even though I couldn't understand what Sister Huang was saying, I could still feel  the love that was being shared through the Spirit.

We had another service with some of the Elders in our zone at a farm. It's really fun. At another service (at a church giving food out to the homeless), we met a young man who was volunteering. He was only 16 and he is in college! He is studying linguistics.  Friday night, we had a potluck for the McMillans. They are moving away, so the Ward put together a dinner.

Saturday was hilariously rough. We had appointments set that got cancelled or changed. We were trying to meet with someone, but we were running late and then went to meet her later. Then her dog was driving us all crazy, and so we tried to get him to go into the other room, and then he attacked me. That was really scary, but it was funny at the same time because his owner got mad at him.  So the dog knew he did something wrong and he knew he was in trouble, so he was trying really hard to be my friend again. But I wasn't so sure about that - kind of lost the trust there.  

Also, while I was driving this week, I got honked at a few times.  Sometimes impatience rears its ugly head.  As I was writing about Saturday in my journal I realized that I was writing it because I want to let my readers know that there are bad days on the mission and in life. Bad days just happen. Then we appreciate the good days more. We are with companions that we may not get along with or understand, but then we learn to love our future companions. God is always teaching us to have patience.

Sunday was a great day! We got to go to the Cupertino Ward, and then the Lawrence Station Ward was having their primary program. They did such a great job!

It was a crazy week! But it was good.

-Always, Sister Brown

Arguments - A Lesson Learned

September 26, 2016 - 

Not much to report this week - but I learned a valuable lesson.  And I hope by sharing it, I can help others learn this lesson as well.

When you’re in the middle of an argument and you can’t speak your mind, I believe that’s the spirit telling you that this argument is not good and neither of you will be enriched by it.  It will bring down both participants and drive the spirit away.  Sometimes during an argument you will be given “a stupor of thought” and that confirms that the Lord does not want either participant to behave in this manner.  So the fact that when you feel like you don’t know what to say during an argument, or that you have nothing TO say, is actually a protection to not say something you'll regret.  So now when I’m in the middle of an argument (which isn't very often really), and that same thing happens, I just smile at my opponent and say, “I really have nothing to say at this moment that is going to make us both feel better, so I just want to say - let it go and let's move past this.”

“Before you speak.  THINK!”

T  is it True?

H  is it Helpful?

I   is it Inspiring?

N  is it Necessary?

K  is it Kind?

- Always, Sister Brown

September 30 - One Whole Year!

I can't believe it's been a year since I entered the MTC. That was so fast - and yet sometimes it doesn't seem fast at all.  But now I'm on the downside - only six months left!!!  I love my mission and I hope I can really make these last six months count. I have met so many amazing people, and I feel like I've grown so much and learned so much more. Woohoo - bring it on!

A Positive Perspective

So I'm a little bit behind in reporting my mission events... I'll try and catch up.

September 12 - A crazy and busy week!!! We went on a Zone Hike on the Los Gatos trail last Monday. It was nice. I LOVE this Zone! Elder Summerhays chased two deer. He has so much energy! 

On Tuesday, we picked up our new Sister, and now we're in a trio! She had been serving at Temple Square for 13 months. She's from Gunma, Japan, nearby Tokyo. She is so sweet and fun! Sister Hughes and I loved her at first sight! She has a lot of experience, she's confident when she teaches, and she speaks great English. 

On Wednesday, we got a lot of work done and taught a lot of lessons. We have someone who is getting close to baptism. His date is still set for the 18th, but it's still a little up in the air. Some people jump into baptism without testing the water, and others take "longer to cook", as my mother would say. He just may need some time to stop and think about his relationship with God. After all, that is what's most important. 

Friday was crazy! (Did I mention my whole week was crazy?) But we accomplished a lot. We did service at Montalvo, which is an amazing place for student artists! We help cook and clean. It's fun! We had a BLITZ with the District. The Elders in our district came into our area to contact and make visits for us while we were making visits. It seemed very successful and they found some potentials for us. We were able to get things done too. 

On Saturday, we got to go on a Temple Trip! We had fun with some friends of ours. While we were there, we had the opportunity to teach them more about temples, family history, baptisms for the dead, and eternal marriage. This was a really happy week. I'm thankful that I strive to always have a positive perspective. 

I can recall how the temple has blessed me in my life, and I was able to share that. 

I remember when I was six, and I was walking home from school with my brother and my friend. We were met by my sister on the way, and she told us that our cousin, Aaron had passed away. He was only 14 and was not a member of the church. To my dismay, my sister took us home....the plan was to play at a friend's house. But Andrew, my brother, definitely wasn't up to playing when he found out. I was too little to really know my family in Canada, but Andrew was old enough to remember Aaron and how much he loved him. This devastated him. But years later, when Andrew and I were old enough, our family went to the temple. My other brother, Bryant had the opportunity to perform the baptisms. I remember his face as he looked up at the screen and realized who he was baptizing proxy for. 

As I type this story, I can feel the Spirit. In fact, it was a little overwhelming (in a good way), but I felt so warm and so at peace. How can anyone deny The Spirit? 

I know this gospel is true. I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live. I love this gospel. I love going to the temple and the work that is performed there, I love my family, and I love my best friend, Jesus Christ. 

Psalm 27:1

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 

Isaiah 12:2

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. 

September 19

Not much to report this week. We did the usual chores on Monday. We went to the Mitsuwa Japanese market. It was so fun! I bought dried squid. I haven't eaten it since I was fifteen and I remember liking it. It's really tasty! 

This week was a little rough though. We've been contacting all week and meeting new people and getting numbers. But we also faced a lot of rejection and met a few atheists. Some just said they didn't believe in God, others would try to argue with us. One man told us he didn't believe that Jesus Christ doesn't exist only because "they didn't have last names back then." 

Another lady told us she was Christian. As we introduced her to the Book of Mormon, she told us to put it away and read the bible. 

At first I was feeling discouraged about this week. But last night, I remembered that discouragement is one of Satan's most powerful tools. I'm glad I remembered it and recognized who was making me feel this way. So I started counting my blessings. I have two awesome companions who want to help me, more people know who we are, even if they didn't listen to us, and our potentials list is growing because someone did listen to us. We didn't have many lessons this week, but we worked a lot and did our best. 

Another positive note: we got to sing in sacrament yesterday. We sang "Savior Redeemer of My Soul."  Our new companion played the piano and it was beautiful! And then we got to sing at the Why I Believe Fireside.  It was very beautiful and spiritual. 

Again, not much to report on this week. It's a new week, so it will be better.