March 30th - The experience only confirmed the Church is true!

Yes finally! Someone said it! haha. Thank you very much Bishop. I've never been a fan of the tongan funeral style. I like it simple. 

The Philippines is basically Hawaii and my companion is from there so I'm not missing out on anything.

Regarding my dear cousin Aitana's situation which I think it's super cool to be asked to play Aida again, wow.   I'm not so sure. But I do know that things happen for a reason. We learn things from every situation and from every choice we make. Through sincere prayer and fasting one can make known the will of God for them. Especially when we study and feast upon the words of Christ. Ang mga salita ni Cristo ay magsasabi sa inyo ang lahat ng bagay na dapat ninyong gawin. Kung anong dapat ninyong gawin para sa inyong kaligtasan at sa inyong buhay.  Sa pamamagitan ng pagpapakabusog sa mga salita ni cristo malalaman po ninyo iyan at ang tamang direksyon sa buhay ninyo.

This week was interesting. Mostly Sunday because we attended a Mahal Namin Si Lola service (We Love Lola). We just called it their "general conference" because it was just that. One of our investigators invited me and Elder Merrick to come but Elder Merrick was a little afraid, has bad stomach problems and thought it was a waste of time. So I went with one of the zone leaders that we live with and did an exchange. Elder Neville (Oregon) and I went out to Maipon, Guinobatan, Albay about 30 minutes away from us via jeepney and tricey. 

Maipon is just one large compound/colony of Mahal Na Lola members. There was a ton of people. Walking through to our spot there were just apartments left and right and a lot of people staring at us. It's hard not to when you're missionaries and you're with a white guy. We basically sat there for 5 hours listening to an audio recording of Lola from last year. It apparently goes on for 13 hours of straight talking. Lola was busy blessing people in her home. A lot of the things she said and how she said it, hmmmm no comment to be respectful. Lola's also wear these shirts that say "Our beloved Lola of Maipon, Guinobatan, Albay is God's last TRUE MESSENGER, so let us follow her holy teachings to receive TRUE SALVATION without suffering and without death." They believe that by wearing this, you're immortal. After the audio finishes, Lola will come out in person and speak. They don't believe in the Bible. What Lola says goes. 

Our investigator was very kind and all the members there were great fellowshippers. We could definitely feel the love they had for us. Hopefully it was real. What I learned from that experience is that there is only one true church. Ang Simbahan Ni Jesucristo Ng Mga Banal Sa Mga Huling Araw is the one and only. The Book of Mormon is very true too.

Just one more scripture to add. Tana's situation reminded me of it. I encourage you all to study Mosiah 26:13. When "the spirit of Alma was again troubled;..he went and inquired of the Lord what he should do concerning this matter, for he feared that he should do wrong in the sight of God." The question I ask is simple: Who do you turn to when your spirits are troubled? When we have fear? When we have important concerns? Do we turn to facebook? A magic 8 ball? Do we go to those things first? Go to the source who is omniscient and omnipotent: Our loving Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ! Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you. 

I hope you all had a great march. And Happy early birthday to you dad. I'm forever grateful for your example in my life and the life lessons you have taught me and my siblings. 

Love

Elder Brown

March 29th - Church news recognized the service done by the missionaries & members

Click on the link below to read on the missionaries service project.  Elder Brown was part of this service during a hurricane that took place few months ago.


http://www.mormonnewsroom.ph/article/farmers-get-rice-seeds-vegetable-seeds-after-storm-ruby

March 23rd - Elder Malu

I can tell from all the pictures that a lot of great things must be going on at home. I'm not too far cause Sister Vi has been teaching me some tongan haha. This past week we had zone training and I finally met my cousin that has been prophesied to me since I received my mission call, Elder Malu from Australia. He's a really cool guy and typical polynesian haha.

At our zone training we performed a musical number. We sang Ne fai pe mei Kalevale (first and last verse) and then one verse of Folofola mai a Sisu. Acapella. Our little group had Sisters Vi, Matthes, Aholelei, Siilata and Elder Merrick. Then me and Malu. Sister Siilata is from Samoa and is cousins with Pupi and Peka. My two good friends growing up in Laie. Sister Aholelei is cousins with the Makalio's in the Taylorsville ward. Such a small world here on the mission! 

We did some good work this past week. We found a good number of new investigators and one is a family of 6. We're excited and hoping the best for them. As well with all the others too. The biggest obstacle in our way is getting investigators to attend 4 times in a row in order to be baptized on their set day. Many people are busy or have no money. Graduation is near for all the kids and youth here so hopefully we'll be able to teach a lot more families. 

That's about it for the week. In all honesty, I love the mission and everything that's going on right now. Continue to pray and read The Book of Mormon. And ALWAYS go to church. Huwag kayong maging less-active! The church is true and I love the time I have here.

Love

Elder Brown

Sis Matthes, Sis Vi, me, Eld Malu, Sis Siilata & Sis. Aholelei

 My cousin, Eld Malu from Australia, finally met him

March 16th - The book of answer, BOM

Man I highly doubt that I could become a general authority! Thank you though Pale haha. What a great time in Amanaki and his wife's life. The amount of love that Aunty Leima and Danny have for others is endless. I admire that in them and am very grateful for them. Congrats to papa and grandma for hitting the big 50! Congrats to Alton's acceptance into Weber State.

I'll admit I felt a little sad when I read that Tidwell is gonna be going to CWood to coach. He's a great coach! And I laughed when I read that Dom is gonna go to Bountiful. I still remember him telling me how he would never go to Bountiful haha! But it's a good move for him. It's nice to see that he chooses the best thing for his future and not for the moment. 

This week wasn't much for me and Elder Merrick. He had to go to Manila for a day. I had to work in another area with 3 other elders in Ligao. I worked with Elder McPherson (New Zealand) Elder Rupp (Cache Valley, UT) and Elder Shumway (California) It was a lot of fun being in another area and seeing new faces. They have a great area over there with great people. 

Last night we taught a 16 year old new investigator. He had a lot of questions concerning religion and reads this book called "Questions People and Churches Ask" by Charles Brock. He asked questions concerning things that his classmates of other religions had told him. I told him that that was the book of questions and I handed him The Book of Mormon and told him that this is the book of answers to his questions. I testified to him that only through feasting upon them and sincere prayer that he would receive answers and a witness through the power of the Holy Ghost that this is the true word of God. 

Even though I'm not good with the language I love sharing my testimony and meeting new people. I don't know a lot of what they say but the struggle is precious haha. That's all for now my family. Continue to hold fast to the iron rod!

Love

Elder Brown

Ps...Hope the list is not too much Mom.

My new companion, Elder Merrick from Hawaii

Riding a Tricey

Elder Rupp is crazy good at skating

A member of our ward made this for us #TNDO

March 8th - "Hey Joe"

Wow that's some great success that the youth of our ward are having! 389 names is insane! That's a great topic that she had. It's always important to remember and have a why in our lives. That's good for Alton. He sounds very excited to go to Weber. I'll be honest though that did sound a little weird when he said he didn't wanna get married without me his "right hand man" haha. I really hope that the YM of our ward and all YM know the blessings that come from putting the Lord first in their lives. I can only imagine what I would be doing right now if I had postponed a mission. My life would be boring now that I think about it.

I really wanna watch "Hey Joe!" because that definitely happens a lot. When I was with Lee-Lo not so much because he was "a massive beast mode beast" haha. Now that I have a palangi companion who's actually from America the "hey Joe's!" have skyrocketed. It doesn't bug me too much but I like to mess with them when they do. I remember this one time someone said it and I acted like I was angry and I said to him "ano sabi mo?" and he started to backup and was legitly afraid. I broke out laughing and his friends too and I told him "joke! Mahal na mahal kita!" just some good fun.

Am I fluent in Tagalog? Nope! Far from it.  I'm pretty good with teaching in the language but it's the understanding a person's reply that's hard. I can tell from the pictures that uncle Kaau and Dallin have lost plenty of weight that's amazing!

Nothing much to share from this past week but going back to what Nana had to speak about me and Elder Merrick were asked why we're serving missions. I asked him "gusto po ba ninyo magkasama ang pamilya po ninyo magpakailanman?" (do you want to be together with your family forever?) He said of course. I explained simply that ito ang ebanghelyo para sa walang hanggang mga pamilya. I shared my love and gratitude for the atonement and how great it is and the love that the Savior had for us. I added also that there are so many people who have no knowledge of this and there are people who are seeking for this and know not where to find it. That's why I'm here. To do just that and help invite people to come unto Christ.

It's awesome being a missionary and I love my mission so much!

That's all from me today. Have a great week! Sorry no pics today, I'll send next time!

Love,

Elder Brown

March 1st - Missing Elder Lee-Lo:(

Aloha sa inyo lahat!

Man it's definitely different without "brother" Lee-Lo. He made a big impact in people's live. One of our recent convert's that he baptized, Sister Laonor, didn't wanna come to church on his last Sunday cause it was too hard for her to see him go home. She got really teary eyed and said she felt like she lost her son. She has a son who's a seaman in Dubai. She's also a widow.

My new companion is Elder Merrick from Hawaii. Except he's palangi. His dad is in the military and has moved a couple times. Also there is a new sister who's been transferred to our district. Her name is Sister Vi from Haateiho. She said something about her aunty Tafa. And she showed me a picture she has of Tofa's family. The one you named. She said she knows the people who live in your home in funga'atele. She said she also met grandma sisi one time. When grandma last went to Tonga. She goes home in July just in time for the king's coronation. Maybe she'll see nana and grandma.

Nothing really notable this week. We have found some new investigators we feel pretty good about. We went from having 14 investigators with a baptismal date and now we are down to 3. None of them show up to church except for one. It's definitely hard.

I'm excited to see what better things lie ahead of Alton and Tana. This past week we shared to many of our RCLAs (Recent Converts and Less-Actives) D&C 58:3-4. It's one of my favorites! It's a very true scripture that has strengthened my testimony. I have learned from experience. Please study and apply it into your life. I know it can change your whole attitude and thought process.

It's all about having faith and patience in the Lord because it's his method of testing us. My advice to all that are facing challenges in their lives would be to wait to see what the Lord has planned for you. He's the gardener here and He knows what he wants you to become. Someday when they become laden with fruit they will look back and thank the gardener for what he did. For loving them enough to cut them down.

Seek inspired correction. It may hurt but hey its like they say "no pain no gain!"  Yes it's gonna be hard. It will be very difficult to accept. But just understand that there's a man with a plan.

Tha'ts all for today. I love and miss you all and hope you all have a great week!

http://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/the-will-of-god-2

My last picture with Elder Lee-lo.  

Elder Lee-lo and Elder Pailate grew up together