April 23, 2012

Familia y Amigos,

 

Another week gone in Rahue wooo. Elder Hoybjerg is awesome. He is from California and he has 6 more weeks in the mission than me. I have just been showing him around the sector and meeting all the members and investigators. I am the oldest Elder in the zone in Rahue. What I mean is I have been in the Rahue zone for the longest ha. I love this place. I don't really mind being here another cambio. Actually, I wanted to be here as much longer as I possbily could. I love the people here. Everyone was so suprised that I stayed here another cambio. Everyone in the ward thought I was leaving ha. 

Everything is awesome here in the mission. I love being here. I love studying the scriptures everyday. I just love learning now days. It's my favorite thing to do now. Before the mission learning wasn't something that I though was that awesome. Now it's the best thing ever. I love that. Sorry this letter won't be very long or organized. Usually I print out the emails so I can see them and answer all the questions but this morning when I printed them out just Britt's was there. I am very glad that I got to hear from you parents ha. Oh, by the way mother, it's not really a heating system it's like a stove we make fire in, but it does work really good to warm up the house. I thought you were talking about like a heating system built into the house. I haven't heard anything about Mother's Day. I know we will be able to call and I believe that it might be skype. We will have to see. I am feeling just awesome, so don't worry about that. I sure hope I get to be companions with one of the Elders I came with. I love everyone single one of them. I have talked to all of them at least once over the phone; they are all doing awesome. I do miss Elder Turner a little bit, he was awesome. I loved his attitude to go out and work and be 100 percent focused all day. I sure did learn from him. I am very glad to be with Elder Hoybjerg. We will be learning together since we are both young in the mission. I am sorry to hear about all the little troubles that the fam has been having. I am always praying for you all. I know everything will be good. Keep pressing foward.

So, for my little message of the week, or what I learned this week: First off, I am so very thankful for the family I have, for the blessing that we have had to be sealed as a family in the Temple. Wow, I can't think of a better blessing than that. A lot of investigators have been asking about the temple and it has helped me realize how big the blessing of the Temple is. I sure am blessed. Thanks parents for being worthy to enter the temple and do that for me. Secondly and shortly, I love you guys so much. I am so greatful for the awesome family I have, and for the things I learned while growing up in such a amazing home. That sure has been a blessing in my life. I love you all. Thanks for your support. Oh by the way Mom, the package still hasn't got here, sorry ha. I love you all.

Love,

Elder Brown

Britt,

I don't have much time but that story about the bees was so funny. Tell all the boys that I love them. Thanks for remembering me sis. I love you.

Elder Brown

 

Thanks grandma and grandpa Brown for the letter, Thank you Aunt Vicky for your letter, and thank you Sister Norris for your letter. You are so sweet all of you.

Love,

Elder Brown

April 16, 2012

Hola Familia y Amigos,

 

Como estamos? Si po, aqui estamos. That is the normal thing that Chileans say when you ask how they are; "Here we are" haha it makes me laugh. Another week come and gone in what seems like one big day, and even more so, a whole other cambio (transfer) has come and gone in what feels like one week. I have news once again. Elder Turner will be leaving me to go up to be a zone leader in another zone because he is boss. I will be staying here in Rahue another cambio........WHICH IS AWESOME!!!! I love it here. I will be with a young missionary like myself. His name is Elder Hoyberg or something like that. He came to the mission with Elder Anderson. So, that will be sweet. I am really excited. Oh, I don't know if you all knew, but Elder Anderson had surgery this last week. I actually went with him to the hospital for one of his visits because we were on exchanges and me and him were together for the day, it was sweet. Everything went well. Now he is just dying in the house because he can't leave and risk getting an infection. I went over to their house yesterday to study with him during the day for a little, so his comp and mine could go work in his sector and get some things done. Elder Anderson will be leaving this cambio so we will no longer be together, oh man. Ha, but it's all good.

 

Mother for your question, I will be warm this winter. They just installed a new wood combustion heater in our house and it is nice and hot haha. I am thinking about buying a sleeping bag here. Everyone of the old missionaries tells me it will be worth it for the winter so i am still debating that.

 

For a little bit about my super darn awesome week: First off, I got to use the priesthood in a way I have never done before. I had the amazing opportunity to dedicate a grave this past week. Remember Andres and Veronica? Andres got baptized a while back. Well, about 2 years ago their son died, when he was 5 in a crash. They asked if we could have a little service to dedicate his grave, because they never did it. I had the opportunity to dedicate it. Wow is all I can say. I love using the priesthood. I am so very thankful for it. I have been thinking about what Dad told me a while back about how the priesthood makes us better and without it we would really just not be much of anything. I feel more like that every time I get to use the priesthood. It is an enabling power that we have that transforms us from worldy men with nothing but our own power which is not much, and transforms us into men with the power of God to perform saving ordinances for others. What a blessing. I really hope that I will always magnify my priesthood and that I will always be able to mold and transform into a better servant and man of God. 

 

One more fast story that really touched my heart this past week: Yesterday we went to give the sacrament to an old man who can't get to church because he can't walk too well. When we got there he was all dressed in his church clothes ready to partake of the bread and water. As we sat down to get to know him, he had a little tear in his eye. He told us that it hurts him a little that he can't go to church because he loves it so much. He then told us that if he is not able to take the sacrament he feels something missing. He said in these exact words but in Spanish, "I need that thing, that feeling from the sacrament, to prepare myself to meet and get to know Jesus Christ. He said, "I can't wait to go meet Him and those others that are up there". Wow, I could barely hold in my emotions. What an amazing man who knew why we partake of the sacrament. I was amazingly impressed. I could not help but love that little old man. What an experience. We also finished the week with the baptism of Gabriel and old man Benito. It was awesome. Here are some pics. Benito is from the other missionaries, not our investigator. I love you all so much.

Love,

Elder Brown

1. Gabriela´s baptism. I love this family

2. Camila´s Baptism. As well love them

3.Baptism of Gabriel

4.The old man that I told you about with the sacrament

5.Elder Turner and I in centro in the square

6. Intercambios with Elder Anderson and Elder Johnson (who knows Brady Wells because he swam at BYU before the mission)

Oh, and if you want to see more pics look at Elder Turner´s blog

April 9, 2012

Hola Familia y Amigos,
 

WARNING! I am just going to tell you right now that this letter might be a little shorter, and I might not get to write to everyone in the fam today, so this might be for everyone. Don't stop writing me because I like to hear from everyone. I am glad that everyone is doing well. That story about Caiden scoring a goal was pretty awesome to hear. I score goals all the time here haha just kidding. I just want everyone to know that I love you all. I am so glad to have such an amazing support group of friends and family. 

Now for mother's questions haha. I love answering them Mom don't worry. Our living conditions - ha I don't really know what to say. I am telling you, it's a lot different than missionaries in the states, ha, but it works just fine. I never talk about our house because we are never there ha. My house is the street in my sector where I work. The shower is normal just smaller than in the states. A lot smaller, haha. We have our little tables where we study and our bedrooms upstairs and that's about it. It's a good little place. It's starting to get really cold in the mornings, ohh, I don't know what's going to happen when it gets really really cold ha. Yeah, we exercise good in the mornings. We go to the gym and when we aren't at the gym we run and sometimes go play soccer in the morning for the exercise. That's about it for the questions I think. That's crazy to hear about all of Dads work changes that are happening. The church is just awesome isn't it. 

Now for an awesome week to tell you all about. Wow, this was a week stuffed full of miracles. I can't even believe all the miracles that happened this past week. First off, Luis and Yesica got married this past week which is awesome. So Luis, or the Dad of Jose, Luis and Nico, who we baptized earlier, has a date to get baptized this weekend woo woo! As well, Gabriel has a date to get baptized this weekend also. The biggest miracle of all is that Alberto and Carolina, two of my very favorite people, are going to get married so that Carolina can get baptized and Alberto can get the priesthood. Wow, I love them so much. That family has worked so many miracles by their faith. They are amazing. They won't be getting married until June though. That's the earliest date there was. Chile is weird with getting people married, it takes them forever. Carolina said to me the other night, "That means I will be getting baptized the day after right", haha. Wow, they are amazing. Something I have learned this last week is how to make miracles happen ha. First, you have to pray with all the faith that you have for help to accomplish something. Then, you have to go out and work as hard as you can and not doubt, leave it all out on the court (mission field) and then things will happen. It doesn't fail God will help those that help themselves. You have to go out and do something about it. One other thing is this week I made myself a life long goal; That if someone needs a priesthood holder to go out and do something, If someone needs the sacrament or a blessing or anything like that, and they ask for help, I will always raise my hand no matter what. That is one of my life time goals now. Thanks to the example of Andres the new convert who just received the priesthood and he jumps at every opportunity to use it. I love it. I will do that for the rest of my life. Us men hold the power of God here on earth. We need to get out and use it and help others. It is our duty, there are no excuses to not use the power of God. What a blessing we have to hold that power to help others. I am always going to remember that. I love you family so very much. Thanks for everything. Haz lo justo!!!

Love,

Elder Brown

Anyone who has wrote me a letter or email who is not the fam I am in the process of writing you by hand!!! 

Oh and sorry I didn't get any photos on here it's not letting me attach any right now. Sorry next week it will be.

April 2, 2012

Hola Familia y Amigos,
WOWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's all I have to say about this past week. I would have to say one of the very best weeks in my mission so far. I have never felt so uplifted by one weekend in my whole entire life. Wooo, it was a good one. I am glad as always to hear that all is going well and that you all enjoyed conference. I was thinking about all of you sitting together on my favorite couch ever just watching on that nice TV of yours. I enjoyed every single session out here in Rahue. That's cool that mom got to go back to the MTC. That is now my favorite place in Utah valley I think, ha. The MTC is the best. That was a cool story Mom of that cleaning check that you did with the guy that was getting baptized; it really is just one of the best things ever to see. To see someone making changes in their lives that you know will have an eternal impact on their lives. Thanks for sharing your stories and experiences of the week with me.

Ok, now for a little bit on my week. WOW, it was awesome. First we taught a lot this week and found some really cool new people to teach. Then Friday, like I told you, we had Zone conference and it was amazing! So much amazing instruction from our inspired President Rappleye; he is such a smart guy and he just knows a lot about how to be succesful. It was an awesome conference. We were so busy that day that we had to have the Assistants to the president, Elder McCormick (Fredonia Arizona - was set apart by unlce Matt) and Elder Gomez, went and filled up the baptisimal font for us. We ended up just having two baptisms, Gabriela and Camila. It was a great baptism and we had like 10 missionaries there because of conference and even Presdient Rappleye ended up coming with his wife. It was sweet. We were a little sad that one baptism didn't happen but we will be working to have it for this up coming week. Now for conference. OH MY GOODNESS, I have never been more excited for conference and I have never been so impacted by it either. It was one awesome conference. I loved every second of it. The first session we watched in Spanish but all the rest we watched in English. Wow, I loved every talk in a different way. It seemed like almost everyone said something about the families. My testimony has grown stronger of the families. M Russel Ballard said, ¨The family is the most important cause in our life time¨. I love it. Elder Cook said one of the most important things that we can do in the family is family prayer. One of my favorite parts of the whole conference was like Caiden said, Elder Hollands talk was bomb. I loved how he finished. Don't wait, it's getting late, in the name of Jesus Christ Amen. All I said after that was wow! Ha, we can't wait; we have to repent and improve ourselves now, we have to work as a family to do it too. When he did that I just felt like he just hit a walk-off home run and just walked off the field, ha. It was an amazing conference and I could share thing after thing but I don't have that much time. It was pura revelación. Elder Turner  and I, in between sessions, would go work. One time we even went to centro and sang in the center of the city, haha, it was funny. What a good week. 

I love you all so very much. Thank you all for your support. I would just ask for two things. I think I need an electric razor. I have to shave so much, and if you could please send me my line of authority. I love you!!
Love,
Elder Brown aka Oso (bear) that's what everyone calls me ha

Caiden,
Wow, I loved your story of giving a Book of Mormon out. I was so proud to hear that. Keep inviting him to read and pray about it. I love you bro, you are so awesome. Keep working hard in sports and everything.
Love,
Elder Brown

Britt,
Thanks for your email. I love hearing about the funny things that Blake says; what an awesome kid. I can't believe that Bridger is so big. I love your fam so much. Keep plugging along. I love you all.
Love,
Elder Brown

Grandma and Grandpa,
I wanted to write you all and tell you how much I love you. I am so very grateful for the strong family that you have raised. For the example of the saints. You all have always been "enlisted in the conflict". You all are so amazing. I love you both so very much. Thank you for everything you have taught me in my life. Thanks for your support, love and contribution to help me to be out here on the mission. I love you.
Love,
Elder Brown
I hope all is going well in Grandpa's world.