Hola mi familia y amigos,
Another week has gone by here in the south. It was a pretty darn good one as well. Finished it off with the baptism of Maria. I will tell you more about the week later. Sounds like everything is just moving forward back in good old O town and in Cedar as well. I sure have realized how much I love the good old place of Orem while being out here. I sure do love that place. I sure do love this place as well. I love hearing from all you guys and hearing about the stuff going on back there. Don't worry Mom, I have been keeping all the little notes and letters I get, ha/ don't worry. I cannot believe that little Bridger is turning 1, wow!! I don't like that he is getting big without me. You have to always show him pictures of me or something so that he knows who I am when I get home. That's so crazy that he is so big now. Dad, sounds like you are really enjoying waking up so early every single day of the week. You wake up earlier than me and I am a missionary. I can't believe that it is even possible for Caiden to wake up that early. I have no idea what happened last week with the email. I emailed from here and about 4p.m. so I am not sure what happened. I think it would always be best for you guys to write on Sunday because I never know when I am going to write. We always go at different times. That's weird about last week though, I am not sure what happened. I'm glad to hear that everything is going well back home. That is so cool that so many missionaries are going out from our ward. I sure do love our ward; it has to be one of the best in the church. Tell everyone you can there that I love them. Every single one of the people in the ward I think have had a positive affect on me at one point. What an awesome ward. I was so lucky to grow up in such a great ward. Nothing better than the Timpview 8th ward.
So Dad, I was trying to think of food you could look up to cook, but really everything is not that different. They make so many fries here, ha, just huge plates full of them for lunch with Aji, which is like hot sauce. You can look that up. They put that on about everything; it's pretty good. I like it. Some of my favorite foods so far are...... it's hard to believe, I know, but it is amazing here it is called pie de limon. It's like lemon pie. I didn't like lemon before the mish, but this is just the perfect amount of lemon, oh it's so good. Also sopaipilla, it is pretty much scones. They are so darn good. I love them as well as "Roska" which is like funnel cake. Man, they are so so good. That's all I can think of so far and of course the empanadas; I sure love those. Oh by the way, tell congrats to Ms. T, Brianne for me. That is very cool.
Sorry my emails are a little scattered with the ideas, ha. I just write what I think of at the time. Plus, some times I am thinking in Spanish and I spell or say things weird, ha. It's so weird I think half in Spanish and half in English, ha. Now for the week. It was a great week. We taught a lot and we were really focusing on finding new people to teach because as of now we don't have too many. So it was a fun week of finding new people. We finished the week off with Maria's baptism and it was a good one. I had the chance to baptize her and I had to practice her name for like three days to make sure I got it right, haha. I did though, at least I think. It was a good baptism. It is always good to finish the week with a baptism. Our ward is growing so much and it is becoming pretty awesome. We average about 125 people in the church every Sunday which is awesome. It's exciting to see that. The work is moving forward. I know that if we have faith it will always move forward.
Thank you so much for all you have taught me through out my life, parents. It's because of you two that I am able to be out here sharing what you have taught me with the people here in Chile. This week we taught about temples to Andres and his wife. I learned how much I really am thankful for the power the temple has given me and my family to be sealed forever. I don't know what I would do without you guys. What a blessing it is to have the knowledge of eternal families and for the opportunity we have had to be sealed as a family. Wow, there really is no better blessing than that. Now all we have to do is endure to the end and live the best we can, improving everyday. I am so excited for the day when our whole family can be in the temple together to partake of that sweet spirit together. Oh man, it's going to be so rico. I love you all so much thanks for everything.
Love,
Elder Brown
Sister Brown,
I am glad that all is going well and that you are staying busy down there in beloved southern Utah, drinking the best water on earth, haha. You know what I mean right? I love you sis so much. Keep updating me on everything. Don't go on too many dates. Love you
Love,
Elder Brown
Caiden,
It's good to hear from you bud. I am sorry to say you still won't be able to take me down in basketball, ha, or just basket is what they say here. Keep working hard bud in all you do, with sports, school and most important, the gospel. It will help you through anything and I promise if you put it first everything else, like sports, will work out better.
Love,
Elder Brown
Britt,
Sorry I don't have a ton of time. I sure do love hearing all those great stories about your cute kids. Keep them coming every week. Thanks for your great support. Tell the boys I sure do love them.
Love,
Elder Brown (sorry I couldn't write more.)
Sister Norris,
Man, Sister Norris, you are the best for always remembering me. You are so wonderful. I hope all is going well and you are feeling alright. Thanks for your wonderful example as a faithful saint. Thanks for all your updates and support - you are amazing.
Love,
Elder Brown
February 20, 2012
Hola amorosa Familia y Amigos,
First things first mother, I did get the package and right on Valentines day at that. My mom is the most amazing ever. I don't know how you do it mom. I love you so much and thank you so much for that and all the work you put into it. Tell as many people as you can thanks for writing little notes to me. I appreciate all the support and I can feel the Love, that's for sure.
Ok, now for the questions: No, I am not having any problems with bugs, so that is wonderful. Unless you count the huge slugs that we find in the morning in the bathroom. They're the size of my biggest finger, they're big haha. Allergies se fue, they are no more. It's wonderful. I take my vitamins everyday, just so you know. I am not going to lie though, I am becoming a pencil neck! I can't help it and it makes me very sad. I want to cry when I see pics and I look like a twig. That's too bad you haven't seen Hamblin yet. I sure love that guy. Oh and Mom, no love letters, of course. Who do you think I am, ha. Oh man, it sounds like you guys had a fun weekend. One I am a little sad to miss, but I would not change this experience for anything. I love the mission so much. It's not even funny how happy I am even when people are ignoring us, cursing us out, and a whole bunch of other things. I just love it.
Now, for a little bit about the work. We had the craziest weekend ever!! Andres was baptized and it was so awesome. It was the best baptism I have ever been to. Elder Purser had to baptize him 4 times to get him all the way under, it was so funny. It was a very spiritual baptism and then finished it off with Andres' awesome testimony. Wow, it was a good Saturday. Plus, we had an interview for Maria this weekend, the lady I told you about with her little boy and the food. She will be baptized this next Saturday, so we are very excited for that. Sunday just got crazier. We got to be a part of confirming Andres. Then, we were running around getting people to classes, Helping set people apart for callings and getting little kids to go to primary - it was loco. After the hectic but super good church we went and had lunch at Veronica and Andres' house. We ate Chinese food and, oh my goodness, it was so good. I was in heaven. The week was successful in the end and we are excited for another one with a baptism to finish it off. What an opportunity to serve the people here in Chile. I sure love it. One thing I realized that we can always do better at is having our eyes open and seeing other people's needs when we are living in this crazy hectic life. We just need to step back and move a little slower; step back and see the bigger picture. I realized this last week that I was missing a lot where I could have been helping someone. It was pretty hard when I realized things I have missed and things I could have done to help someone. So my new goal is to step back see the big picture and really find people's needs really find how i can help someone. It was a humbling expirience this week and from now on I am going to try my best to see the places where I can help and do all I can to help those people. I know that is something we can all do better at.
Well that's pretty much all I've got this week. Thank you everyone for your support, love and prayers. I sure can feel the strength. I love you all so much.
Oh, and thank you for the friends letters. Oh boy do they crack me up! I am glad to hear they are all doing well. If any of them get to see this email - I love all you guys so much keep working hard! I am glad you are all seeming healthy (Rick Doxey!).
Love,
Elder Brown
Dear Hermana Brown,
Lacee, I can't believe how long you have been home. It's pretty darn crazy. Sounds like you are doing good. I sure do miss you and love you tons. Thanks for the awesome talk, I had read it once before. I am glad I have it to study more. It is so awesome. I love you tons.
Love,
Elder Brown
Britt,
I love getting your emails and hearing about all the cute funny little stories about Blake and Bridger, and thanks so much for the pictures. I love seeing the little guys. They are both some of my favorite kids in the whole wide world. I love them so much. Thanks so much sis for all you have done for me. Thanks for your support and emails. I love them so very much.
Love,
Elder Brown
Aunt Vicky,
Thank you so much for your letter Vicky. You have always been so good to me. You always support me in all that I do. I sure do love you. I am glad to hear all is going well with you. It's good to hear that you get to work at the temple so much. I sure can't wait to go back there. Thanks for being such an amazing Aunt.
Love,
Elder Brown
First things first mother, I did get the package and right on Valentines day at that. My mom is the most amazing ever. I don't know how you do it mom. I love you so much and thank you so much for that and all the work you put into it. Tell as many people as you can thanks for writing little notes to me. I appreciate all the support and I can feel the Love, that's for sure.
Ok, now for the questions: No, I am not having any problems with bugs, so that is wonderful. Unless you count the huge slugs that we find in the morning in the bathroom. They're the size of my biggest finger, they're big haha. Allergies se fue, they are no more. It's wonderful. I take my vitamins everyday, just so you know. I am not going to lie though, I am becoming a pencil neck! I can't help it and it makes me very sad. I want to cry when I see pics and I look like a twig. That's too bad you haven't seen Hamblin yet. I sure love that guy. Oh and Mom, no love letters, of course. Who do you think I am, ha. Oh man, it sounds like you guys had a fun weekend. One I am a little sad to miss, but I would not change this experience for anything. I love the mission so much. It's not even funny how happy I am even when people are ignoring us, cursing us out, and a whole bunch of other things. I just love it.
Now, for a little bit about the work. We had the craziest weekend ever!! Andres was baptized and it was so awesome. It was the best baptism I have ever been to. Elder Purser had to baptize him 4 times to get him all the way under, it was so funny. It was a very spiritual baptism and then finished it off with Andres' awesome testimony. Wow, it was a good Saturday. Plus, we had an interview for Maria this weekend, the lady I told you about with her little boy and the food. She will be baptized this next Saturday, so we are very excited for that. Sunday just got crazier. We got to be a part of confirming Andres. Then, we were running around getting people to classes, Helping set people apart for callings and getting little kids to go to primary - it was loco. After the hectic but super good church we went and had lunch at Veronica and Andres' house. We ate Chinese food and, oh my goodness, it was so good. I was in heaven. The week was successful in the end and we are excited for another one with a baptism to finish it off. What an opportunity to serve the people here in Chile. I sure love it. One thing I realized that we can always do better at is having our eyes open and seeing other people's needs when we are living in this crazy hectic life. We just need to step back and move a little slower; step back and see the bigger picture. I realized this last week that I was missing a lot where I could have been helping someone. It was pretty hard when I realized things I have missed and things I could have done to help someone. So my new goal is to step back see the big picture and really find people's needs really find how i can help someone. It was a humbling expirience this week and from now on I am going to try my best to see the places where I can help and do all I can to help those people. I know that is something we can all do better at.
Well that's pretty much all I've got this week. Thank you everyone for your support, love and prayers. I sure can feel the strength. I love you all so much.
Oh, and thank you for the friends letters. Oh boy do they crack me up! I am glad to hear they are all doing well. If any of them get to see this email - I love all you guys so much keep working hard! I am glad you are all seeming healthy (Rick Doxey!).
Love,
Elder Brown
Dear Hermana Brown,
Lacee, I can't believe how long you have been home. It's pretty darn crazy. Sounds like you are doing good. I sure do miss you and love you tons. Thanks for the awesome talk, I had read it once before. I am glad I have it to study more. It is so awesome. I love you tons.
Love,
Elder Brown
Britt,
I love getting your emails and hearing about all the cute funny little stories about Blake and Bridger, and thanks so much for the pictures. I love seeing the little guys. They are both some of my favorite kids in the whole wide world. I love them so much. Thanks so much sis for all you have done for me. Thanks for your support and emails. I love them so very much.
Love,
Elder Brown
Aunt Vicky,
Thank you so much for your letter Vicky. You have always been so good to me. You always support me in all that I do. I sure do love you. I am glad to hear all is going well with you. It's good to hear that you get to work at the temple so much. I sure can't wait to go back there. Thanks for being such an amazing Aunt.
Love,
Elder Brown
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| Jose and Nicolas Baptism |
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| Elder Anderson and Elder Brown |
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| Andres' Baptism |
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| Camilo, Elder Brown, Andres, Purser, Corio, Nocho |
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| Elder Brown and Elder Purser |
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| Elder Brown and Corio |
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| Joes, Nico, and Mom |
February 13, 2012
Hola Familia y Amigos,
Another amazing week has gone by here down south. The weather has been nice. We have been working hard, and WE HAD TWO BAPTISMS! I will tell you more about the baptisms later. First, thanks so much for all your great emails. I love to hear from all you guys. Caiden's pics are awesome. I want those white jerseys, they are so cool! I was pretty jealous to see that. We played basketball today for p-day and that was way good. As well, we also cleaned the house a little bit. It sounds like everyone is doing really well and I am glad to hear it. That's so cool to hear that Cayden had his farewell. He is such a stud. He is going to just rock it out there in Paraguay. Well, it is good to hear I didn't cause too much damage to him according to his parents, haha. I hope you get a hold of my picture card soon. I hope it didn't get lost among the dying missionaries or that would be two cards lost. I don't think that happened though. Sounds like work, doctors appointments, callings, and sports are taking up most of the time back there at home, so it doesn't seem like a ton has changed. Except the little boys, they look so much bigger. The pictures that Britt sent me last week blew me away. I was amazed. Caiden just barely caught up to me when I was in ninth grade haha. Hearing about sports is good. I miss me some good competitive sports, haha. I am loving everything else out here though.
Now for a little bit about what happened this week. It was a crazy week trying to get the two boys ready for their baptism, trying to find them every day to teach them and always trying to find new people to teach. It's tuff work. That's why I sleep like a baby at night with out my water bed, haha. I led my sector again on intercambios (exchanges) with Elder Bowers, the new comp of Elder Anderson who took Hamblin's place. That was fun. He is from Vegas like mother. Then Saturday came around and we were going like crazy trying to get everything done. Then while we were out contacting for a little bit we get a call from Elder Bowers saying that the baptismal font wasn't working and it wasn't getting filled up. So we ran up there to the church, which is a good run, because we have to go to another church because the one right in front of our house doesn't have a font. We get up there are decided that we would go to another church like 10 minutes away. So we changed comps and me and Elder Anderson ran over to the other chapel to see how high the water is because luckily Elder Bowers had called another companionship to go turn it on. When me and Anderson got there the font was pretty good but there still wasn't enough. My comp and the other Elders were at the other chapel waiting for everyone to show up. Once everyone got there they marched everyone over to the other church. Once Jose and Nico got there I rushed them into the bathroom so we could change into the white clothes. They were both really excited but a bit nervous. They are both really shy but they were just talking up a storm to me while we were getting ready. The baptism ended up starting an hour late, but we had it. I baptized both of them and it was sweet. Their names were really hard and long but I got close enough I guess, ha. It was a great experience and on Sunday afterward I was just so happy to see them both receive the Holy Ghost. It was an awesome experience. Now we are getting Jose ready for the priesthood. It will be sweet. They have grown so much in just the last month, it is so crazy. I have been seeing so much change in people's lives. I love it. There really is nothing better than the Gospel and the change it can bring to one if they live it, no matter how old you are. Oh yeah, right after the baptism Andres had his interview and he is going to be baptized this next Saturday. We are very excited to get to see him take that step. He is amazing. We taught him the commandments and he is going to live every single one of them. He is just pretty much perfect. He even stopped smoking. Like I said, the change the Gospel and the Book of Mormon brings is awesome. We did not do a thing except to ask these people to do some things and follow the example of Christ. What an opportunity to see so many people make such great steps in their lives. My faith grows every time I see some one take a step of faith of their own. I love missionary work.
Well, that's all I got for this week. I haven't got the package yet Mom, but I am sure I will later this week. Oh yeah, I have one question for you. Will you ask Brother Pranger if he had a companion when he was here named Elder Tronkoso. He is the stake pres. here and he went to this mission. Oh, and please add this address to your list when you send this email out: jakecross9290@gmail.com. I love you all! Thanks for all you do.
Love,
Elder Brown
Lacee,
I am so glad to hear from you. I am glad you are doing good down at school. That is so cool that you are the trainer for the soccer
team. I hope all goes well there. I love you so much,
Love,
Elder Brown
Britt,
I love to hear all about your cute little boys. I sure love those little boys. I love hearing all about what is going on over there in your
home. I love you tons.
Love,
Elder Brown
February 6, 2012
Hola Familia y amigos,
¿Como estan ustedes? Oh my goodness!!! How I love missionary work. What a good week it has been. I am for sure excited to start this week off as well. I will fill you in on everything later in the letter. First off, it sounds like everyone is doing good back home. I am glad to hear it. Now, for all of your questions mom. I am just going to start straight up answering them all. I love the letters from the friends. It takes me awhile to read them. I just go slow and read them when ever I have time, which is not very much. That is so cool that Brady went to Hamblin's farewell. I love Hamblincito so much. What a great guy. Yeah, I cut Purser's hair today. I really like cutting my own; it's sweet. I haven't lost that much lately. I am just slowly losing any muscle that I had before the mish, ha. Uh, sometimes we take naps on p-day but not much. I took like a five minute one today ha. It's so cool about all the ward boys getting mission calls. It makes me so excited for them. There is nothing better. We do have a big week coming up this week. I will talk about that later. We do walk a lot but it's not that bad. I know President Rappleye all right, but I have only had one interview with him. But we do email him every week. It's good to hear a little bit about sports. I sure do love them and miss some of them once in awhile. Sometimes I just get the urge to tackle people, haha. I do love that talk that Lacee gave me. It turns out I had already read it. I am glad she sent it to me because I needed that copy. Thanks my sister Lacee. By the way, I am sad not to hear from you this week lacee, but I know you are busy with school and work (weird).
Ok, now for a little bit on this past week. First, we have 4 people with dates for baptism and they are all making great progress. So we have been running all week long trying to get to each of their houses and teaching them and helping them prepare. Plus, we have been trying to find new people to begin teaching to fill the spots of those who will be baptized. This work is crazy; always running non-stop! That's what makes it so fun. This week we will be baptizing two kids of 12 and 9, Jose and Nico. I will get to baptize them both. My first time! I am so so so stoked. What a fun thing to be able to see their family grow together and become stronger. It makes me so darn happy I can't even explain it. Their dad will be baptized, he just needs to get married first. Then we have an older man preparing for baptism; the husband of the lady we found who was really struggling. Andres is preparing for the 18th. Wow is all I have to say about them both. Andres and his wife have changed so much and we have only taught them like 7 times. They have progressed so much and are stopping smoking now. I know that it wasn't us that made that change, not at all. All we did was listen to them and then after listening applying a gospel doctrine to their needs. It is so fun to see them grow closer to their Savior. The other day his wife, who is a member, was having doubts about some stuff and her husband, not a member, held the Book of Mormom and said "all you need to do is read this Book", ha. I was like, ok lets leave they have it in the bag. It is so true - all the change that has happened in their lives has been by the Book of Mormon and the Spirit. I am just so happy to be a part of it, just to be able to see it. I don't think I have ever been happier in my whole entire life. Wow, it is amazing. I know I am away from the people I love most, my family and my friends, but to be able to bring that joy and knowledge that a family can be together forever - There is no greater joy. Especially with Andres and his wife because they lost their 5 year old son. The chance to help them receive the covenants they need to live with their son again. Wow nothing, nothing in this world is better. What a joy! I am so dang happy I can't even explain it. I love it so much. I love this Gospel so much. I love my Savior and all He has done for me personally. He loves His children with a perfect love and the chance to feel a tiny bit of that love for other people is an amazing feeling. That's what I get to feel. I love it. Every second of it.Yeah enough of that ha. I am going to cry in the cyber we are in ha.
I love you all so very much. I have the best family ever. Thanks for all your prayers and support. It is working because some how people are listening to some big ole gringo lug that can barely speak their language. I love you all and miss you.
Love,
Elder Brown
Caiden,
Thanks for your letter bud. I hope everything is going good with school and sports. Sorry I can't write a lot more but I sure do love you bud. One thing I am very excited for is to be able to play basketball with you again sometime and maybe have you get a little closer to beating me haha. I love you bud.
Love,
Elder Brown
Brittany,
Wow the boys have changed. I cannot believe it. They are so so so cute. I love them so much. Make sure they know that. I love you so much as well. Thanks for always remembering me and sending some info on the fam. I am glad to hear about all your good experiences. You are such an amazing Mom. It's so darn amazing. You amaze me sis. I love you and your fam a ton.
Love,
Elder Brown
Cayden Brown (the other),
Oh man, I am so glad to hear from you my friend. I don't have a lot of time, but I will give you any tip I can that I have learned in the short time I have been here. Use every minute you have to study. Every different kind of study there is. You will have a lot of time to study and it will be hard to stay focused. Have fun but also study. You will learn to love the study if you put all your effort in doing it. Stick with Spanish, it will come. Love to work; don't endure it, love it. I love you man. I will have more for you next time. I am so excited for you. Keep plugging along.
Love,
Elder Brown
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