January 26th - Transfer to Donsol & email to the 'Itaaehau family

Hello family!

Sorry I wasn't able to email yesterday. There have been changes in the mission. Transfer days will now be on Mondays and we will have P-day on Tuesdays. So I've been transferred to my fifth area. I'm out of Matnog and I am now in Donsol with Elder Ivins. He's from T-ville Utah and he just finished his training so I will be following him up. I'm excited that I have been placed here because this area has suffered recently and needs work in the area. In this area I will not be the District Leader. It's no problem to me because there is not much of a difference.

I will miss my son Elder Fine but I am excited for him. They should have 2 baptisms on the 13th of February so I am kinda sad that I got transferred. This is what happened to me before when I left my second area so it's no biggie. But in my new area there will be a baptism this Saturday.

I am excited to be in this new area to serve the Lord and the people here. I am grateful for the time I had in Matnog because that was a tough one. No joke I felt like I was in the olympics because our area was like an olympic oval and with homes to our left and right. Everyday we did laps and laps and each strip is about 200 meters. Work was tiring because of the weather and also because we were hardly accepted. We always went out determined that there would be that one special house. Even after hours and hours we still had to push till 9. Although we never found that golden home, we did find people late at night who would let us in to share our message. A big difference from my first transfer there to my last. I'm glad we were able to fulfill our purpose in inviting others to come unto Christ.

That reminds me of what President Guanzon shared with our zone at our interviews this past week. It goes like this:

There was a master and servant. The master commanded his servant to go and push a rock about the size of a regular home for one hour everyday. The servant being obedient to his master went and did so. He pushed the rock everyday for one hour for a long period of time. The people of the town would watch and wonder if this man was crazy. Then one day a man approached him and aksed "why are you pushing this rock? You'll never move it it's too big you can't do it! Just look around everyone is staring at you and wondering why you are wasting your time!" The servant was embarrassed and sat down against the rock. A few minutes passed the master comes by and asks him astonishedly "what are you doing? I thought I told you to push that rock for one hour?" "I did" the servant replied "but why have you stopped" "because it's a waste of time I'll never be able to move this rock, you've just turned me into a fool!" The master being a very wise man then asked him to examine his body "look at your arms. What happened?" "They are bigger and have definition to them. "Look at your legs." "They too have gotten stronger and bigger!" "And what did I tell you to do?" "Just push the rock everyday for one hour" "Did I ask you to MOVE the rock?" "No" the servant replied. Then the master taught him this important lesson "I told you to PUSH the rock, not MOVE the rock. I know you cannot move the rock, it's too big! But I know that you can push it. And because you listened you have been blessed. I don't tell you to do things because I want you to look like a fool but because I love you, and I know it will bless you."

We as missionaries have been commanded to share the restored gospel and invite others to come unto Christ. To baptize them. For me the story and President was talking right to me. Although our message has not been accepted, we haven't been received by all people, people have really told us that we are wasting are time because there are too many of their religion in their area. They have asked us why we waste are time walking around killing ourselves when our work will amount to nothing, when the Mormons are not the biggest group. With that question I stand with Mormon in proudly saying that "I am disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. [And that] I have been called of Him to declare His word among His people, that they might have everlasting life."

"Fools mock, but they shall mourn"

Love,

Elder Brown

Hello Itaaehau family!

Thank you very much for the email and the lyrics. As for you questions I am doing great and loving my time here. My companion and I also are too. The members are awesome I love them here. In all of my areas it has always been very hard to say goodbye to them. Finding and teaching has been a challenge but very good. It's awesome to see the Lord's hand everyday. Whether during the hard times or the good times he's always there.

Just like the song lyrics you sent and the experiences you shared with it. They are very powerful words and bring in a special spirit. It truly is a wonderful that the Savior has completed a perfect Atonement. Oh how we need Him every single day. I have come to realize that so much more here serving in His field. 

 As I was reading this I am reminded of the many times I took piano lessons and never really succeeded at it. My mom would laugh and say I told you so and I haven't told her yet but I really wish I put more effort into learning piano. It would really help in my branch where I am serving and possibly in future areas or any kind of gathering where a piano would be played. 

Thank you again very very much for this and for the love and support, even though I am miles and miles away.

Love,

Elder Brown

January 18th - The widow, Nanay

Magandang Gabi!

Man you guys are lucky you got to hear Voni and Charlotte perform together. I miss musical numbers from the ward. It's good to hear that you guys had a good treat but I gotta tell ya I miss pizza hut so much and also chuck a rama haha. Shoutout to Alton for being smooth on the snow and also with the latinas haha!

This week for us was great because we received 11 referrals from one companionship of sisters in my district. It's in their area but it's hard for them to teach the 11 because of the opposite sex rule and teaching.We have been able to teach 3 of them and they are awesome. One is a member and 2 are investigators who are looking forward to baptism. It's been a real confidence booster and also refreshing to see instant results. One of the hardest parts of missionary work is waiting. But that's what can also make it that much sweeter when the fruit is good and grown. We set a very high goal this week to try and get 201 OYMs in one week. It's high but but highly achievable. 

I received a letter recently from one of me and Elder Lee-Lo's recent convert. She's a widowed nanay who is still strong in the church and looking forward to her one year mark on the 24th. It's great to see that she has been strong up to this point because it is a challenge here in the Philippines; staying active in the church. 

I often like to reflect sometimes during the day about how much time I wasted before I served my mission. It makes me that much more grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ. That He has changed me through serving a mission. I testify that this work is of the greatest importance on the face of this earth. This has truly been the best time of my life because of the man I am becoming. The Savior has truly become my best friend.

As for your questions to me mom don't stress and know that what you think I would do, is what I will do.

Love,

Elder Brown

January 10th - The wheelchair

Hahaha tough luck for Alton that's too bad! That's cool to hear that Bishop Fisiinaua is with his former counselors again they will be great.

This past week we weren't able to bring our investigator to church because the wheelchair was not his, but he only borrowed it. It's funny that it was only taken away after we took him to church and I've been teaching him for almost two months and it's been there the whole time. Not a lot of people like us here because we interrupt them when they're busy. We had two investigators attend church yesterday and one of them is an old man that walked all the way. It's pretty far when you have to walk in the sun and you're an old man. He stayed for 2 hours and then left when he found out that we can't pay for him to come to church or to go home. Now he hates us and hates the mormons because we don't give money to people. He's very moody though so I thought he would be over that but we saw him earlier today and he got mad again. Then he started telling people around him and said people are persecuting him for going to the Mormon church. He's the one that usually tells us about what the people are saying about us. So yeah there's that but there's also some good news. 

We have been doing a lot of tracting and have been accepted many times. I remember praying all the time for the Lord to bless us with the people who will let us into their homes and it's been happening. Homes we've tracted before have let us in to teach. Although they do not accept our baptismal invitation, I am still grateful and have a testimony that God will be there to help us and he hears and answers our prayers in his own way and own time. We are still working hard and I love the challenge ahead. It's a great time to grow and rely on the Lord.

Love,

Elder Brown

January 4, 2016 - Gratitude for a living prophet

Wow it sounds like you all had a lot of fun at the reunion and also at sacrament meeting. It's good to see that nana is a crazy BYU fan like me. Maybe even crazier haha. Anyways shoutout to Alton and the chorister and the love at first sight hehe.

This week was great because we had a some growth in our work. We have increased our baptismal dates and have been doing more effective teaching. Last transfer we tracted a 57 year old man who has polio and he's not able to walk or use his hands and arms properly. He's very open and interested in our message. We invited him to church but he did not tell us that he can't because of his body, he told us that he would come if someone would lift him up and put him in the wheelchair. So the next day we went over, got him in the wheelchair and went to church! The poor wheelchair doesn't have any rubber for the wheels so it was a very bumpy ride. It was a great time for him cause he has a lot of friends there who were so happy to see him. For that day I felt like my cousin Suli. 

We also have an investigator who was so sure who was gonna attend church (as he has always told us in the past) but didn't come. We thought for sure he would come because he's an old man and it's hard for him to wash clothes so we washed about 8 of his clothes that he uses most and also for church. We made it smell nice and ironed his shirts and pants. When we followed up with him he gave us his usual reason and that his chest was hurting.

This week I have increased in gratitude for a living prophet today. Many people we teach are surprised when we tell them that there is a a living prophet on the earth today because they believe that they are done and away with. But I have a firm testimony that they are evidence of God's love for all of His children. God loves all of His children and not just the ones who lived before and during Jesus' time. I know that Thomas S. Monson leads and guides us in these latter-days.

Love,

Elder Brown

December 28th - Grateful for the gift of trial

Do I really sound that different? I thought it would be normal now because I'm training a foreigner so I don't speak tagalog 100% of the time. It's been about 9 months since I've had a foreigner. I really enjoyed that talk by Elder Lawrence that one was one of my favorites, about asking the Lord what we need to do to improve. It's something you definitely do a lot as a missionary. That's a great goal that you have set mom so do what it takes to reach it.

That's good to hear that Alton received some good luck from us. I would suggest that he read Elder M. Russell Ballard's talk about following up haha. I'm sure he knows it by heart now. I find it funny that he was trying to set up a date while skyping with his own famliy haha. And Elder Fine said you were right about that, the family history. Truly a small world.

And that soap stuff I don't use it but a lot of people here do. Even my companion. He was so happy that it's cheap here cause like in america it's expensive in Tonga. Or mamafa haha. I've just been using some ethyl alcohol thing. It's what my trainer did and it helped him. Ang guwapo ko ngayon! hahaha

Although Christmas in my area felt like just another day it was still an important day to remember our Savior Jesus Christ. Because of that, when I was approached yesterday at church by the branch president to give a talk, I decided that the Savior would be the center of my talk. It was atonement centered. As for gifts I am grateful for the gift of trial that God has given me. The hardships I have faced on my mission have brought me closer to Him. I am brought back to the story of the gardener and I too can say that I look back today on those days that were very trying, and say thank you to the Gardener above; For the way that he builds those who have a desire to serve Him.

Thank you all for the time we had in our short little skype. I did the math and I will skype you guys again in 5 months. And 5 months after that I'll see you again when I return home.


Love,


Elder Brown

December 13th - Typhoon

Hello Family!

I'll try to be quick in telling you about my week. We are expecting a typhoon, Typhoon Nona, so we are evacuating away from our area because we are close to wear it will make contact and we are close to the ocean. 

Nevertheless we had a great week. Elder Tutor will be transferring and I will be staying here in Matnog. We were punted all the time this week and spent hours tracting. We found among many new investigators, one that is almost golden. He is very attentive and enjoys the lessons. He accepted our baptismal invite for the 23rd of January. The problem is church attendance. The other sisters in my district said he would go to their area to be taught by them to be with his friend but now that we've found him he stays in our area. 

Wish I could tell you more but I've gotta get going. Don't worry I'll live. It's just to be extra safe is all. So control your breathing mom, take slow, deep breaths, and keep a prayer in your heart. Haha. God lives and the Book of Mormon is true. It's very simple but it's very true. 

Love,

Elder Brown