February 22nd - Our Golden investigator family turning into rust:(

Hello my family! Man sooo much great news from home and the ward! The scripture is definitely true. In Mosiah 2:41 it talks about the happy state of those that keep the commandments of God for they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual. Keep on keeping the commandments of God! The Bountiful 6th ward has some the best leaders around.

Well this was my last week with my trainer and "beloved district leader" Elder Lee-Lo. Man am I gonna miss that guy. I learned a lot from his actions. He always had fun while doing the work. It's gonna be difficult to follow him up because his love for the people and the time he took to get to know them was strong attribute for him. It was a fast 3 months that's for sure! Time flies when you're having fun but even faster when you're happiness is found in doing the Lord's work and walking in His ways. This Tuesday I will find out who my new companion is! We finally baptized one of our investigators who was quitting on us. But slowly the seed of faith began to grow within her. And now she knows this is the true and restored gospel here on the Earth.

I'll be honest I felt like I was the one leaving. As Lee-Lo was saying his last goodbyes I felt like they were mine too. I realized how much I love being a missionary and how extremely blessed I am to be serving in Oas right now. There's no place I'd rather be than here, doing the right thing, at the right time, with the right stuff. I don't wanna come home. I think I'm gonna miss these people more than when I left you all in Utah. It's such a beautiful feeling to be filled with charity and love. You begin to see people as who they truly are and their potential instead of a bad judgement. I encourage you all to strive to fill yourselves with charity and love everyday.

Well some bad news here. Our golden investigator family is turning into rust. We last taught them on Wednesday about the Word of Wisdom because they were so anxious for that lesson. We finished the Restoration and The POS. After that Wednesday night they've been gone. "Wala sila!" (They're not here) is the answer we always get when we go there. It's funny cause we can see the kids looking to someone in there and then turning back to us over and over saying "wala! wala!" Then we caught them hiding too. We didn't mean too but they were there while we walked by. They immediately grabbed their kids and snuck back in the house. I don't know what's going on but I think they've gone back to their former religion. 

It's hard to see this happening especially when they were progressing so well. Nevertheless we will not give up! This work brings the greatest happiness so it's no wonder why I feel such great sadness. I love the work and I love the people. Everything is great in Oas and Polangui. 

I love you all and remember the church is true.

Love,

Elder Brown

Thank you dad. I always enjoy reading your letters. I never thought I would miss when you would make me do things I never wanted to do or had a bad attitude to do haha. I never forgot when you shared something from that making and keeping friends book. Something about remembering a person's name and how important it is and the impact it has. So thats something I always strive to do. I wasn't sure if I was gonna be like you and leave crying when I'm done with my mission but I know Im gonna cry just leaving my first area when my time comes.

Thanks for the clarification on the apostasy. It makes sense now that I understand it was only from the Bible's point of view. 

Maraming salamat po sa lahat! Sobrang nagpapasalamat sa magandang halimbawa na set po ninyo sa akin.

Love

Elder Brown 2

On Mon, Feb 23, 2015 at 2:30 PM, Tomasi Me Email <tomasibrown@me.com> wrote:

That's awesome son.  Great letter.  You always get to learn some great things from your comps and try to incorporate them into your teaching or mission.  Keep in mind the part of the apostasy is mostly talking about the history of the old or ancient world according to the bible.  Just think of it in that context and remember when Crist came to the new world the first thing he did was give Nephi the power to baptize (3 Ne 11:21). Good stuffs for sure.  

Anyway, I know the feelings you're going through.  When you leave your mission part of your heart will stay with those people because you are truly learning to have charity and a true Christ like love for others.  It's amazing how it works.  Love the pics. Glad you're trying to remember those little kids names.  That's important and it will make them feel special and loved.  You'll never know how much or what miracle will come out of that simple gesture.  Keep up the great work son and know we love you and are proud of all you do.  It's always hard losing a golden family, but things happen for a reason and just go by the spirit.  Just move on to the next family that's ready and willing to follow the Saviours example.  Their time will come sooner or later.  K. Take care and good luck with your new companion.  

Love, Dad. 

Me and my crew. They call me Elder Frutos now. Sometimes Elder Bingo. Everytime we come down this street all the kids come running like it's the end of the world and climb all over me and screaming my name. They'll ask me  "ano ang pangalan ko?!" (what's my name?!) Every single one of them. I always forget one or two. I'm almost perfect with their names!

The way I give out candy is through math questions, church questions haha, or I ask how much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? Then they're stuck and just say "bonga" (Idk what that is) or Papa Jesus! haha 

Our last district picture, my companion, Elder Lee-lo is leaving tomorrow.  Gonna miss him:(

February 15th - 387 new investigators

Man sounds like the stake conference was very uplifting and edifying! And also the words of Bishop. Nana has a bright future ahead of her in education. She has been blessed to do so and it is a huge part of Heavenly Father's plan for her. And yes. Valentines day is known here. There was a lot of Videoke (karaoke) going on. Videoke is LIFE out here. That and playing the same songs on the radio. People just sing their hearts out like no ones listening. 

Well this week was a good one. Our zone won the zone activity for finding 387 new investigators this whole transfer! This morning we went over to the Ligao chapel and watched Meet The Mormons. After we threw the football around and played some basketball. We ate lunch at a pretty nice restaurant afterwards called "Le Terraza". 

Notable things I have to share is that we hit the Standard of Excellence for Investigators with a baptismal date. We have 10! We feel confident about most of them but some struggle a lot. They want to, but they don't act to do the things necessary. The hardest thing about it is that many people are very poor and live far away from Polangui. 

Tonight we are gonna follow up on our family that missed church this past sunday and have been busy lately. I hope all goes well with them. 

That's a beautiful thing to see Amaleki make the decision through the power of the Holy Ghost to follow our Savior Jesus Christ. I always love seeing that and I love seeing people listen to our message the first time. You become filled with a strong desire to serve diligently and you feel like you never wanna come home until you've taught every single person. The dominant religion is Catholicism. There are many Seventh Day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Iglesia ni Cristo, Mahal Namin Si Lola, and many more. There are also many less-actives and part-member families. I am so blessed to be here in this mission. I love everything about it. Missionaries have been sent out to invite others to follow our Savior. It's the greatest happiness and work in this life.

That's it from me this week. This is also my last week of training and also being with Elder Lee-Lo. He leaves next week Tuesday. I love you all and keep following our Savior. Never fall away from the truth. 

Elder Brown


My companion on the left will be going home next Tuesday.

 Activity day.

February 8th - 3 Nephi 13:25-34 Set things in perspective for you

I know that was a great talk given by bishop! I remember when he shared that with us one time. I really liked it. His message couldn't be any better. I'm not surprised at how great of a man he has become. It started when he was young. That says something. I wish we could've had FHE in Tongan haha.

This week was another great week and we have a good number of investigators with baptismal dates. Most of them are new investigators who accepted baptism from the start. The gospel is what they've searching for! Our golden investigator family is still golden and they loved the spirit and peace you could feel at our church as compared to their former church. We taught a new investigator last night who was a referral of our recent convert. She's preparing for March 21st to be baptized. 

I think it's amazing when you see your recent convert already active in the Lord's work. Roel and his wife (the golden ones ha) invited a friend who was interested in our message because Roel was so caught up in reading the pamphlets and The Book of Mormon that it caught her attention. She will be baptized at the end of this month. It's amazing to see your investigators teach others about what the missionaries teach. The person they taught was Charisse. She once asked us how we joined the church and how long or where it began. I immediately thought about Papa joined the church and shared it with her. She thought it was pretty cool.

I feel improvement with the language but nothing too special. I'm definitely glad that it's a struggle. Everyone wants to be on top but no one wants to do what it takes to get to the top. No one wants to enjoy or endure the process of getting there. 

I challenge you all to study 3 Nephi 13:25-34. It will really set things in perspective for you. We've shared this a couple times this week to those whose struggles relate to this. Whatever it is in life you desire, whether for that moment or for the future, this is the answer. It's one of my favorites in all of scripture.

I love the work and everything about the Philippines!

Love,
Elder Brown

BALL IS LIFE (Yes. It's true. I dunked the air)

Service project

This is tatay Bernadino Reton. He's 84 and he's really funny. We always have to remind him about how to pray. He once prayed and said "these 2 guys are walking a lot and are so tired. You should probably give them an airplane or something" except in tagalog haha. Out of nowhere he starts talking about "chicks" and how he wants a 16-18 year old girlfriend! Hahaha and he said I'm an artista like James Brown and he thought we were related. He said im an artista cause "may kasalanan [ako]" I have sin haha. He's really good though. Hard for him to come to church cause he's far, poor and very hard to walk. He wants to be baptized though

Elder Lee-Lo had a bad stomach ache

February 1st - Roel, prospective baptism on the 28th

Good for Nana. I know she will score higher than me and Alton by 10 plus with the way she works and studies in school. I also feel strongly that Alton will be accepted. I really hope so. What Sister Lutui said about the poverty and the happiness of the people in the Philippines is so true. The kids are so happy and they're always having fun. The only people who complain are the foreigners haha. Where is Lynn serving her mission? Haha man they're not my words they're the words of story one of my football coaches, Coach Jorgensen, once shared with our team. I feel honored though haha. I know they'll have great success!

This week was great! We were one shy of last week's total lessons. We hit 35 this week. I also had a temporary companion because Elder Lee-Lo was going to Manila for fingerprinting. Elder Lesatele too, so I became companions with a Filipino, Elder Bunag. Man was he helpful. I really hope to have a Filipino follow up companion to really help me with the language and the culture. We tracted this man in Polangui named Roel. (Me and Elder Lee-Lo's second area we cover) Man is he GOLDEN so far!! First time we saw him he came out with a cigarette and he was hiding it behind his back. Very respectful. Next thing you know we're teaching him and he's wondering why there are so many churches? He's gaining an understanding of the Word of Wisdom too! Long story short he came to church yesterday with his wife, he's been reading the pamphlets, because he asked for them, and also The Book of Mormon. When we taught him how to pray he loved it so much when he closed our lesson. He said it feels so good to pray from the heart and not something repetitive. Every time we teach him his kids are always climbing all over me and they're always sad when we leave. Roel can't help but smile when we are there and teaching him. His wife is good too. Elder Bunag and I committed him to baptism on the 28th of this month. I would be surprised if this date doesn't fall through.

Another quick story this past week. There were these group of teenagers smoking and calling us from a distance "Hey Joe!" over and over. Me and Lee-Lo went over and when I thought Lee-Lo was gonna do something wrong we turned it into a positive. We tracted them and told them our purpose.We ended up teaching two specifically while everyone else just stood around doing their own thing. The 2 men appeared to be almost confounded and humbled from our lesson. We taught the first two principles of the restoration. I thought about Papa and how he was similar to these young men. As a 14 year old boy he would tease the missionaries and now look at the fruits of his labor. He became a very powerful instrument in the hands of the Lord. Never doubt what a person is capable of becoming. 

I remember a video I once watched. It was based off of Elder Russell M. Nelson's talk "With God Nothing Shall Be Impossible"  Think about a pair of binoculars. One lens will be our sight and the other will be the Lord's sight. When we look through ours, how do we observe those we see? Are we quick to say, "oh this person is trouble. There's nothing good about this person. Why would anyone want to be around this person?" Now think about the Lord's perspective. What does he see? He sees the goodness in this person. He sees them as his children. He is the gardener and he knows what he wants them to become and how to grow into their full potential. He sees how wonderful this person is and the happiness they can receive through His gospel. Now if we put both of these lenses together we now have "an eye single to the glory of God". Together with your perception and His perspective, nothing shall be impossible and you will see His personalized plan for you.

My mind reflects on verses 8-10 of the 29th chapter of Alma. I feel as if I were Alma in these verses. It's amazing how helping others along the path to eternal life can bring us such joy. 

Continue to hold fast to the iron rod family and friends. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest thing we can ever receive in this life. Don't let go and don't lose it. Stay faithful and be strong. Till next time.

Love,

Elder Brown

The humble version of America's Gold's Gym

 Poor little cat, got hit by a car

 Papa, I designed this just for you....LAIONE!