June 25, 2012

Whats going down in O-town?? It's cold and wet here in Calle Calle, like always, but as equally awesome and fun. Sounds like there was a good party going down there at the Brown house on Sunday. I sure do love the members of the ward. It is incredible the amount of support and help that I received when leaving and still are receiving while out here in the mission. Everytime I go to buy food, I always think about the love and sacrifice that many ward members and family have done so that I can be here buying that food. Another thanks to so many amazing friends and family who have supported me and given so much to me so that I can be here. I love you all. I am glad to hear everything is going good there at home.

Now for questions. It's good to hear that you sent the package mom. We will see how long it takes. What happens is they get it at the office there in Osorno and then send it to the different zones. I am not sure how it gets here, but it does ha. I have seen others get here haha. Yeah, I have heard from a few. I always get the wonderful chance to hear from sweet Sister Norris which I love. I also heard from Madeline Ashcraft from Britt and Wade's ward. I haven't heard from Whitney who told you she sent a letter recently, hopefully it didn't get lost. That's about it, oh and Zach Peck, which I loved. His fam is moving to Vernal though, that was a little sad. The people are starting to warm up slowly. It's going well here. We have transfers in like 2 weeks or so. I don't think Elder Contreras will stay here but who knows, anything could happen. My Spanish is improving and I am proud to say that I now think in Spànish! It's really wierd. When I am thinking of things, it's always in Spanish, I love it!! I don't really have any responsibilities in the ward. All who attend do everything. Unless someone doesn't show up to talk. I still haven't had to talk though. I would like to though. I don't know if I am losing weight ha. I am pretty tired now, but somehow I just get filled with energy when it's time to work, so all is well haha. We go to bed at 11. I think that is all the questions. That is so awesome that Brady is in the Olympic trials!!!  WOW, that is so so so sweet. I miss me some sports sometimes haha. It's all good, missionary work is my sport now ha.

Today we saw some cool stuff. I will send you some pics. We went down to the huge river that connects to the ocean somewhere. It was cool. Elder Coria called me today!! He is the AP and he wanted to see how I was doing. It was good to talk to my old friend. I just want to say how much I love my fam. Without my fam I wouldn't be very much. This week was a little bit slower but we are getting lots of investigators going and soon this sector is going to be exploding, I know it. Everything starts in your mind. If you think something is hard in your head, it becomes something hard. If we will just change the set of our minds the amount of things we can accomplish is so much bigger than we know. Change your mind and your heart will follow. The mind is a powerful thing. I hope that I can always have the right set of mind through out all my life. We are here to overcome weaknesses that look so big, we are here to become like Jesus Christ and like He himself asked ¨What class of men ought ye to be? En verdad en verdad, even as I am¨ I can't remember it in English ha. The point is, Christ himself said that we can become like him. We can become perfect, maybe not in this life but it's possible. So we must stop thinking that it's impossible and put it into our minds that it can be done. Put your mind to it and your heart will follow. We will become only what our minds think we can become. My goal is to always remember that I can become like Christ and that all I must do is set my heart right and go out and make it happen. It's that simple. I love you all family. Thank you for everything that you have taught me and keep teaching me.
Love,
Elder Brown

Brit,
The house looks like it is coming a long. It will be so awesome to come home and see it. As well as to see that nice room that you guys are building for me haha, just kidding. I can't even imagine what those two little boys are going to be like when I get home. I can't believe it. Wel,l I love you so much sis. Tell those boys I love them and Wade as well, but in Spanish, te qiuero tio y amigo español.
Love,
Elder Brown

1. I don´t know if you guys know who I am trying to imitate I hope you can guess.
2. Pretty cool boat huh. Its in the river here in Valdivia
2. Sub!! So cool
4.Look at the friends we found there was a bunch of them and this is one of the many I took pics of.

June 18, 2012

Another week gone again. Sounds like it was full of partying for you guys. Ha, I celebrated in my heart. Make sure you tell little, but actually kind of big, Blake happy birthday. The week sounded like a really good one though, and I am glad to hear it. I can't believe how big Blake looks in all the pictures and how skinny Caiden is still, hahaha! Oh wait, I knew that wouldn't change haha. Love you Caid. Oh, and how pretty my returned missonary sister is. Both my sisters are pretty darn pretty. I don't know what happened to me ha. That bounce house sure looked like a lot of fun.

Now for the questions. Yeah, her family is nice. Really different than my last one, but nice. Papito is really funny as well. Yes, she does all the same stuff my last Mamita did, so that is great and the food is good. Yeah, me and Elder Contreras are working good. It has been a little harder than expected but that's because I am being stretched and learning and I wouldn't want any more than that. I am pretty sure my family, Alberto and Carolina, got married on Saturday. I sure hope so. I haven't heard anything yet. Yes, Elder Frost is an awesome Zone leader. The things that are harder here are the people; they are a lot more closed off and cold, but as we keep woking hard and showing love to the people I know that we will keep finding people to teach and help.

Now I just want to dedicate this little section to my Papa. Something I realized this last weak is that the things that I have learned from the example of my Dad have made it possible for me to still be here on the mission. The example and the little lectures that I always received from my Dad after I got mad at my amazing Mother, have helped me to overcome some big hurdles here on the mission with ease. I have easily been able to let things slide and not get mad in situations where I could have easily risen up and said I am right in pride and caused big problems. Thanks to the example of a humble, loving father that taught me by that example that it is better to let things like that slide and let the contentious situations pass. I also thought about so many other things my Dad has taught me and as I thought back they are not few. Some of the memories that I remember with Dad are as follows: I remember the time that me and Dad went hunting, just me and him bow hunting. The time when Grandpa and Grandma came and ate with us once. I don't remember much but I do remember walking behind my Dad with my little plastic suction cup bow and looking up to my huge Dad with the big bow in front of me and having all the desire in the world to be like him. One other thing I do remember and always will remember is one of my favorite moments I have had with my Dad. I don't remember details or an exact time, but several times I have had the same experience where I can remember driving in the truck with Dad on a mountain and listening to country music with the windows down and feeling so happy to be there. That has happened lots of times and I will never forget feeling that happiness. I love you pops!!! Thanks for everything.

That's why I love the mission so much, because that same happiness that I have felt with my Dad I feel so much here when sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with my brothers and sisters here in Chile. Seeing the change that the Gospel does in the lives of those willing to live it makes me so darn happy. I love the mission life. I love you all family and I love all my friends that support me, and as well are out doing the same thing as me. Thanks for everything.

Love,

Elder Brown

Sorry for no pics I forgot the cord.

Caiden,

Your life sounds pretty awesome right now with all the sports that are going down. I can't wait to play you one on one again, as well as to watch you play. That time will come soon enough but I sure don't want to rush to get there. Love you bud.

Elder Brown

Lacee,

I can't believe you haven't been on more dates. Get going sis, haha just kidding. Keep having a good relaxing summer.

Love,

Elder Brown

June 11, 2012

Hola Familia y Amigos,

Another week come and gone. Weeks just keep blowing by. I don't know how to handle it. It's crazy. I think the time system just changes when you are on the mission and time just goes by even faster. Everything is going good here in Calle Calle. I am glad that you could all see where I am here in chile.

I am going to try to answer all the questions that I possibly can: Yes Mother, I stay dry so the rain has got nothing on me ha. Yes, we are beginning to find people to teach. The hard part is we find a lot of people who don't want to progress, but want to tell us what they think about God ha. But yes, we are finding people to teach. It is a ward here, and oh boy, is it small haha! There is about 20 people on average which is pretty rough but we are working on it ha. I don't see Elder Anderson a ton but at least every Tuesday which is cool. I love that guy. Yes, it is the son of Mike Frost ha. In our house it is just me and Elder Contreres. I feel just nice and cozy there in our house. It is bigger than our last one which is funny because we were 4 there and now we are just 2 in a bigger house ha. We live on the street Uruguay. Yes, I have a different Mamita. She is good. I really like her, she is very loving. We walk most of the time. We don't use too much colectivo. I have no idea the names of the bridges ha sorry. Ok there is all the questions ha.

Wow, some good news from home this week. I can't believe Dalton is engaged!!! I am not going to be there to see my cuz get married ha! I can't believe it ha. His bro won't be there either ha. That is crazy. Thanks Mother for keeping tags on the girls there. Keep doing it. Tell them to go lock themselves in their rooms so that the returned missionaries don't go chasing after them ha. I can't believe I am going to be 20 in a bit either. I still need to learn a lot before I get old haha. Wow, Jordan hit his year mark just barely. That went by fast. It wasn't long ago that we were all over there crying like little babies because we were being separated and we had never done that before. We were all tied at the hips haha.

Well, a little on this week. We did awesome with teaching. We taught a lot. Thanks in part to a new convert, Abraham, who leaves with us like every day to give his testimony. He is awesome. He is 19 and is waiting for his year mark as a member so he can go out and be a missionary. He is awesome. So, for something I learned this week. It has to do with the same thing that I think I have shared before: 2 Nephi 2:14 - two kind of people in this world, those who act and those who are acted upon. Creators of circumstances and creatures of them. Host and a guest. Just like a host is running around and making things happen. We should be the same. We should make things happen. Get to work and be an actor. A guest are those who sit and wait for things to happen. Those who say "why did this happen, why is this hard?" I have found that when we act, do, and make things happen is when we are happy and successful. When we are doers we do what makes us satisfied. When we are guests we wait for things to happen to us and in the end the turn out is never what we hoped for. Be a doer because that is the only smart thing to do. It's the only thing that makes us truly happy.

 

Love you family so very much. Thanks for all your love and support. 

Love,

Elder Brown

 

Lacee,

I was waiting to hear from you! That's so cool about your friend's baptism. There is nothing better than that. Tell me about yourself Lace. I want to hear about your life right now. Oh, by the way, without fail all my comps have said they are going to marry you haha! Every single one ha.

Love,

Elder Brown

 

Britt,

Sounds like the trip was a good one. I just want to give those two little boys the biggest hugs and kisses. Tell Blakey happy b-day from me and give him a big squeeze. I sure love those boys. Send me a pic of the progress on the house k.

Love,

Elder Brown

Oh yeah I want to hear how Chris Thurman and Sean Davies are doing. If you could get any info on them or have them send me letters and if any of my friends are married ha. 

June 3, 2012

Hola Familio y Amigos,
 
No puedo escribir o hablar en ingles ahora porque todo que yo hablo es español.(I cannot write or speak English anymore because all I speak is Spanish) No, but really, here in the sector , Calle Calle, there is no one to speak english to. But I am really happy to learn so much about Spanish, being totally surrounded by it. Sorry I didn't write yesterday. We got our p-day changed to today for this week only because yesterday we had zone conference. Oh boy was that awesome. The first few days here were really tuff for me and that was just what I needed was a little "kick in the butt" reminder that "I am not here for me so forget yourself". It was also really good because I got to see a ton of missionaries that I know - E. Coria, E. Nelson, E. Anderson, E. Frost (my new zone leader, this is his last transfer), E. Bowers and many more. It was really good. So sorry if you were worried because I didn't write yesterday.

OK, so now for a little bit about my sector. First off, it is really pretty here, you know why? It's because it rains so much here, so so so so much. It's crazy haha. It's not as cold as Rahue but still pretty darn cold. Calle Calle is right on the river side which is awesome. You can try to search Collica dad, that's part of our sector as well. Elder Contreres is good. We get along well. He is an oldy. He is 27 and has about a 1 year and 3 months or so. I am just trying to help him as well as myself to lose ourselves more in the work and forget about other things. We are doing good though. Now for a little bit about the state of the sector. Elder Contreres was here one cambio (transfer) before me with Elder Purser, my trainer. There is pretty much nothing, we are working from scratch. That's why I got a little down when I got here. I left Rahue where we were right about to baptize like 5 people and I get here and there was nothing. I was down. Then I studied about hope and faith. I read If you ask God in faith for something that is right not doubting He will give it to you. I know that promise is true and that's what I am doing. I am trying to forget about how it is hard and pray for investigators now, we are just going out everyday and looking as hard as we can for them. I know they are there. I wouldn't be here if there wasn't people who needed us here. So everything is good don't worry about me, we are just working hard and loving it.

Thanks Dad for that thought. I really liked that. It's true we are here to have joy and the best way to get that is follow Christ and try to be like Him. The progress we make is what brings the joy. Mother, I am not going to do the Garment thing yet. Thanks though. I love you mother. Sounds like everything is just going great and busy there in O-town. Oh and yes, Mom it was so hard to say goodbye to little Carolina and that family. I love them so much. I started to cry when we said bye. Thank you mom for giving me the baby trait.

So the conference we had yesterday was amazing!!! Wow I can't even explain how cool it was. Elder Corbridge came and spoke. He is the area president of Chile - it was so good. I learned a ton and am ready to apply it all. He spoke about a lot of stuff, but one thing I really liked was that the greatest work we will ever do in this life is ourselves. He said that one thing that changes us more than we really realize is what we put in our brains and where we put ourselves. If we go to the temple more we will change for the better, the more we read the scriptures the more the principles found within will become part of us. Even without really realizing it. Loved it!!!

Well, I love you guys a lot a lot a lot. Everything is going really good here. Tell friends to write me haha.
Love,
Elder Brown

Caiden,
Love you bud. Thanks for the email. I can't believe it is already summer there. Lucky dog. It's good to hear that you are healing good. Well, I love you bud keep reading and studying a lot.
Love,
Elder Brown

Jenna,
I sent you letter today so it is on the way ha.
Love,
Elder Brown