June 21st - Member missionary work is essential

Good Afternoon sa inyong lahat!

Don't worry mom, I had it fixed last tuesday and it only cost 1700 pesos (38 US dollars).  She ended up fixing two so 850 for each. It was a very nice home dental place. It was kinda cool though to all of a sudden see Dinah Jane on the big ol' TV they had there.

I miss hearing the Alapa family and their voices. I wish I had a voice like theirs. Tana will do good here and she'll probably always be the chorister because when there's no piano or piano player, the chorister gives the good ol' intro to the song. A lot of people hate it. I embrace it haha. Also yeah she'll probably lose a lot of weight. We went to the gym this morning and I put on my Mountain West Elite football camp shirt. I remember that used to fit like spandex. Now I feel like I'm wearing a shirt 2 sizes bigger. I also decided to do some squats with the bar. A legit real weight lifting bar! (the gym we go to here is a real one at home of a doctor) I put on 45 lbs on each side, which before my mission was a toothpick. Now it's the heaviest thing in the world :( 

Nothing super exciting this week but have increased our teaching pool through our tracting. One of the struggles for us is a member present. That's why I'm so happy to hear that you have been engaged in helping the missionaries. Member missionary work is so essential. Especially in fellowshipping the investigators. There are a few that we are for sure will be baptized and then some we know will take more time. 

Yesterday was the third Sunday, which means Elder Pangilinan and I give a talk. I thought about the work you guys have been doing with the missionaries and I remembered one of my favorite verses that nana shared with me a while ago. It was found in D&C 123:12-13. I started off by telling them how Papa joined the church and his familly. And also how Atonio joined the church. (Hopefully I remembered their stories correctly...and had the right people) To summarize it all up, I stressed the importance of every member being a missionary and we can all be a part of it. This is a work that we should waste and wear out our lives for. There are many yet upon this earth who are waiting to hear it. 

I also added that one of the golden investigators in Oas Elder Lee-Lo and I taught, and also Elder Merrick and I, he was baptized a couple weeks ago. He was taught in November. He never would've had that opportunity so quickly or even in this life had it not been for the courage and faith of one member sitting on a jeepney with him. He was referred to the missionaries. He was a man that was ready and was looking for the truth. I've never seen a non-member study the Book of Mormon with such eagerness and down to the very details of the book. Every verse had a note in his notebook. I am grateful for his example and for the member on the jeep.

Whether it be big or small we can all be a part of this great work! Thank you dad for your example and love you have shared with our small family. Everytime we clean and set up the chapel, I can hear your voice in the back of my head to go set up the chairs. Or if I'm just standing there I can hear you coming to tell me to make myself busy haha. Thank you and love you dad.

Love,

Elder Brown

Our zone took 2nd place in our activity

June 14th - The 5 more important "P's"

Hello Family!

Man I can't believe Alton has already received his trunky letter! He'll soon be "flying into your arms" mom haha. I always enjoy reading his weekly missionary emails. I definitely will miss them.

Well this week was weird because we were only on Batan for 1 day for exchanges with our zone leaders. One of them being Elder Whitney who is really good friends with Willie Uasilaa. Elder Matautia is the other. He said in his family history he has Brown's from Scotland. There's a good chance we may be related I think. So for 6 days we were here in Albay due to zone training, zone cluster conference, and stake conference broadcast. At that broadcast, Elder Neil L. Andersen was presiding and the concluding speaker. Sister Rosemary M. Wixom, the General Primary President also spoke. It was a great conference.

I went on exchanges with Elder Matautia. We had a great time and improved a lot. We had a great tracting moment. We came across these two people sitting outside their home and we approached them and did the usual intro. They were silent and shook their heads. We still stood there and then they showed us their door and it had a sign on there. It was a symbol of the centennial anniversary of the Iglesia Ni Cristo. I was very curious about it and asked about it. They had already made it known that they didn't want to hear anything from us so why not hear from them? The young man continued to explain about it and we became very inquisitive. A good kind. I've always had an interest in learning about other religions. Long story short, his grandpa was very friendly and allowed us to enter their gate. They gave us some magazines (similar to our Liahona, Ensign, etc.) about their church. They allowed us to come back and see them again but as for a lesson, they're not sure but we definitely enjoyed one another's presence, with no hate or animosity, but brotherly love.

While Elder Raven and I were teaching one of his investigators yesterday about the Book of Mormon I felt different and my testimony had been strengthened. I could tell his understanding about the whole restoration wasn't too strong so we did a brief review. He was a very inquisitive man but at the end of the lesson all his questions had been answered. He seemed a bit surprised.

The reason I share these two experiences is because I could feel the spirit working through me and my companion so strongly.I tried to share what I taught to my real companion and the words weren't coming to me. I couldn't do it. I told him he just had to be there. When we were teaching, the words were just flowing, and when questions were asked, I was able to discern and understand. But I also learned another lesson as I reflected on these experiences. I had prepared myself. My companion has been a tremendous source of help too. Together with the spirit and preparation I was able to do something beyond my own strength. I am grateful for a God whom I can boast about and it can never be too much. 

It's very true what Kai Greene said (which is also Alton's favorite quote), "Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance" the five P's. There's also another five more important P's in tagalog: Pananampalataya,Pagsisisi, Pagbibinyag, Pagtanggap ng kaloob na Espiritu Santo, at Pagtitiis hanggang wakas. (The 5 principles and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ)

Thank you for all the love and support and I'm very proud of you all. I love that you are all engaged in the work of salvation! Keep it up!

Love,

Elder Brown

June 7th - Be prayerful

Congrats to the batch of 2015 (they call it batch here). Do you know who spoke at graduation? It's good to hear that the sick in our ward are getting better. Little Mason's the man! I miss him and also all of the Tidwell's. I wish coach tidwell the best in his new coaching position. I know he'll not only have an impact on the team's success but more importantly on the individuals. He will always be one of my favorite coaches.

This week was great. We had a hands on submitters family history training this past week. It made me think of nana and all the tremendous work she put in and also with helping our youth become regular temple goers. Keep it up! 

The testimonies that were shared yesterday were beautiful and about the power of prayer. One mother bore her testimony about how her prayers were answered. We have been teaching her son, Marvin, 23, and her "husband". She prayed that one day her husband and son would one day here the missionary discussions. Whenever missionaries would ask to set an appointment with the dad, he never accepted. The first time we met and set an appointment he willingly accepted. Her son was the one I included in the last email that found interest in our lessons. 

She also has asked her partner, June, to marry her but he always said no. In her testimony she shared that he recently asked to marry her. Not only has her prayers been answered but her son's also. She shared that her son approached after he prayed about Joseph Smith and our lessons, and asked her 'mom why does my body feel hot after praying?" Well you know what they sing, the spirit of God like a fire is burning. 

In our teaching we have focused a lot on prayer to all those we teach. I pray that our investigators and members will act on the feelings and miracles they have seen in their lives. Continue to be prayerful in your everyday efforts. 

"Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea,he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto God forever. Amen."   -Alma 26:37

Even on the tiny little island of Batan, God hears and answers prayers. He is no respecter of persons and is mindful of us. All we have to do is ask in faith to the Father, which is right, believe that we will receive, and it shall be given unto us.

Love,

Elder Brown

1 - What kind of food there son?

A lot of foods similar to the lu. like lu sipi or lu pulu. They have a lot of leaf kind food. Also chicken and pork adobo which are super good, fish, crab, good healthy greens. The meat foods here do not disappoint. I love all the food here. I'll definitely miss it when I leave. But rice is always a must have. rice is life. Also we eat with a fork and a spoon. The spoon is the feeder, the fork is the loader so to speak. Its a lot better than just a fork

2- Should Fotu play football?  

11.5. And a hall of fame running back curtis martin once said in his hall of fame speech, that if his daughter wanted to play football, he would let her. Not because of the thrill or the fun of the game but because of what he learned from football and how it built his character. I would say the same thing. I wouldn't be the man I am today without sports. especially football. Just like at how much effort me and alton put into a sport that we knew was so short for us. Alton wouldnt be able to share that his coaches taught and always said to him leave it all on the field if he didnt play football. But just whatever aunty is comfortable with. I think curtis martin might have played with bishop for a year or two maybe.

t's a game that changed my life is what it is. All the injuries, all the blood shed, the sweat perspirated, the swearing from coaches and players, the disappointment, the cheers, the good times, bad times, everything, i wouldn't take back or have it any other way. The coaches and teammates you have and the bond you create are very special and something I will always treasure


Elder Bunag, Wlater and Malu

May 31st - Baptism on July 4th

Magandang Hapon!

Reading Alton's letter today made me feel like I just entered the MTC cause he's almost home. I still have a short time left on my mission but not as short as him. Shoutout to Oko and Rachel and also Lance and his wife! Everything goes by so fast when you're on a mission. I love what Alton shared about testimony. It's very true, you will almost always just here story time about my mission. I'll never forget my trainer's departing testimony. Nor will anyone present in our zone at the training will either. Elder Lee-Lo is the self-proclaimed "king of pasaway." (king of disobedience) And also many other things that were funny but very questionable haha.

This week we assisted in running the branch activity here on Batan. It was on this nice little island that's wonderful only if you're not a missionary cause you can't swim haha. It was a lot of fun and better than expected. On Thursday we helped one of the counselors with lifting thin sized logs or "kahoy" as they say here. We hiked up a mountain and into the forest about 1 kilo and we had to grab and tie 2 or 3 logs and then carry them down to where he needed them. That was quite a long walk also and the logs weren't too heavy. Maybe 60-75 lbs. Felt good to do some farmer carries and fireman carries with them. Afterwards we sat down and tatay Frank (counselor) climbed up a coconut tree and cut some coconuts down. We enjoyed the shade as we chopped open some coconuts, drank the coconut, and ate the coconut with a side of gamote. Kind of like kumala and taro and that one yellow stuff that I can't remember the name. WIth a side of brown sugar. Definitely living the islander life.

This week's work is also good. We challenge families to do a personal study of the Book of Mormon and they have been very good with it. We also taught a new investigator who is the son of a mom that's a member and his dad is someone we've just started teaching also. He said after the lesson that he decided he wanted to be taught too because he overheard our lesson to his dad and thought to himself that our message about our loving Heavenly Father and Families are very interesting and drew his attention. He felt good about it. We've committed him to be baptized on the 4th of July. The spirit was definitely there in that lesson when he explained that he enjoyed our message and when we added testimony. I love the work!

In memory of the passing of Elder L. Tom Perry I just wanna share something I wrote down from his last talk:

"Only we have the eternal perspective of the restored gospel. Let our voice be heard that families are the center of life and key to happiness when centered in Christ."

Love,

Elder Brown

Mayon volcano from Lignon Hill

Japanese tunnel

Sian, the cutest little dude you'll ever meet.  He calls me "Endel Brown"