Week 6

     This week FLEW by for me! I can't believe it is already Pday again and i'm at the local library writing my wonderful family! This week I would like to title "Go to the lady on the end!!! She loves Jesus!!" (brought to you by 10 year old english boy who yelled at us while we were knocking doors...who then proceeded to ask me if i had a boyfriend...hahaha! i love children and i love this work!!)

     This week I definitely saw the highs and lows of this work, but an eternal blessing in following the spirit. Yesterday we watched the Thomas S Monson movie with Brian and Danielle so they could have a better understanding of modern day prophets and our current one. i hadn't seen the movie before so i was excited to see it. He told of his experiences with following the spirit EXACTLY no matter how rediculous our "oh so very human" brains might think it is. This is the lesson i learned this week. That now and and for forever i Taylor Jean Brown will follow the promptings of the spirit EXACTLY and RIGHT WHEN I AM PROMPTED no matter how rediculous my logic thinks it is. This lesson comes with story.

Helen...oh Helen. How we love her!

     She is one of our progressing investigators who has quite the stack of medical issues (lupus, MS) and a 3 year old girl who runs around just about as much as Mattie (I'm sure Jillie can relate). but through all this she has the most positive attitude. So with all this we have a heard time progressing her because getting her to church is a struggle cause she has these medical issues that keep her at home. And she can't fully be commited to baptism unless she's been to church twice. So with these obsticles we can't really for sure set a date with her. (well and because she doesn't really know if it's true yet either) BUT the spirit and the will of God always trump what we wee sisters think is right. So friday and saturday me and Sis. F have this overwhelming feeling of "commit her to baptism for October 28th"....in 2 weeks. We try to fight off this feeling with our logic but the spirit tells us again to just do it, we don't need to understand why, just do it. So to have her ready for baptism we would have to teach her Lesson 3, Word of Wisdom, Law of Tithing, Law of Chastity, Keep the Sabbath Day Holy, and the rest of the Commandments...in one week to have her prepared for her baptismal invterview....so with all of that on our plates we trusted the spirit and did what we were told. We then came to learn all the opposition she is getting from her family especially from her Mum. (Her mother in VERY Catholic and is very not happy that her daughter is talking with the Mormons...not good) So we left her very confused as to why we needed to invite her to baptism because she is CLEARLY NOT READY and to this very moment we still have no idea why we were prompted. We hope that someday soon we will know why we were prompted to urnestly to invite her, but all i know is that God is in control. And he knows Helen perfectly, all i can do is be an instrument in his hands. And i know he'll guide us continually on how to best help her!

     I am also learning how the "utah bubble" is not a bubble...it is an ATOMIC CAGE OF PROTECTION!!! haha meaning that i am so grateful that i grew up in a sheltered place where my testimony could be protected from the craziness of this world we live in. Story number 2:

Malcom....haha! OH Malcom

     As you well know i Taylor Jean Brown have not spent any kind of time around people who choose to drink...i have now been privilaged enough to witness the effects of alcohol abuse and how this man was ABSOLUTELY TRASHED!!! Ha i have never seen someone so high up in the sky...no the UNIVERSE as this man Malcom. but with that said i have never had quite the spiritual experience i had because of him before either.

     Malcom was on the "Potential Investigators" list that S. Freeman and her former companion (S.Evens) kept. (people they contacted but never really got around to teaching) so I called him up and he was so very excited to meet with us. So we went over and he was...wasted, but not completely trashed. We tried to teach his the first lesson but he has so many other questions and he wasn't really able to focus. So we set up a return appointmet (which was yesterday) well this time he was TRASHED we tried to watch the Restoration/ Joseph Smith video with him. I think he felt something, but the thing about alcohol is that is really messes up your mind. But while talking with him i felt over come with the love that God has for him. I could feel what God feels for him and how important it was to be patient with him and to focus our efforts to try to get him off of alcohol, that he has been prepared and that he would except our message if he had some kind of clarity. I know Malcom has been prepared, he goes on and on and on about how he has searched his whole life for the truth but just can't seem to find it. I was over come with the spirit and flat out told him "Malcom, God will not show you what your looking for if you are not in a state of mind where you can't recieve it. YOU HAVE TO STOP DRINKING!!" In his drunkin state he promised me that he'd stop-and we have an appoinment set up to see him tomorrow. I PRAY that next time we see him his mind will be clear cause i truly feel he is one of the people i promised in heaven that i would bring the gospel to. i have only had that strong impression twice while i've been here. once with malcom and once with a lady who i don't even know her name...but i will :)

We've been listening to the new Nashville Tribute: for missionary work (you have to get it it's SOOO GOOOD!! Joey would love it!) One of thel lyrics to the songs go like this:

Verse:

I was born in Oklahoma where the hills roll on and on

I was born of humble converts...and i'm here to pay it forward

Chorus:

We are here to serve our King, children of the most high

And this is good news that we bring!!!

As we labor, gladly bringing souls to Christ!!!

Last line of song:

We are children of the Father...an army of his sons and daughters....

I love this work!!! I love this gospel. I am truly blessed to be numbered and to be a member of this Latter-Day Army of Helemen. i know it's the only perfect truth we have on this Earth and i love being able to see the change in peoples lives as they except this gospel!

I love you all soo so so so much! To the moon and back!!!!! Good luck this week with all the busy-ness that comes!! Till next Monday!

Love, Sister Brown

Week 5

Hello wonderful family!!

 I would like to call this week "Miracles happen when you're in tune with the spirit"

One of the miracles we saw this week was that Brian and Danielle both cleared Presidents mission interview so THEY'RE GETTING BAPTIZED!!! October 28th is the official date because Brian still needs some time to quit smoking but i know that through prayer God will help him!! Our lesson with Alan...went ok. the spirit was so strong but he still kept saying "That's great, but its really not something that would be important to me" so Sister Freeman said we should probably drop him, but we're going to go back one more time tonight and teach him the Plan of Salvation and see how that goes. We are also teaching a lady named Helen (she is wonderful!) She has a lot of medical problems associated with her lupus so it's hard to get her to church but we had a powerful restoration lesson with her this week where she kept saying "ya that makes sense...i totally see why it would have to be like that" it was amazing!!!

One of the harder things we're trying to work on is finding new investigators. So we've been working on our "door approaches" trying to get some variety so we're not saying the same thing to everyone (because everyone is different and needs different things) and that seems to be working, we have a few really good potentials that we hope will turn into new investigators.

The miracles that happened his week were

1. I feel like i'm getting better at understanding the spirit haha cause when we talk to people we have no idea what they need, but the spirit does. So in deserning what i'm supposed to say is slowly but surely getting better :)

2. (prepare for an amazing story :) ) So me and Sister Freeman went on splits with members on Friday which was a ton of fun. I went with our 17 year old member Jade who is hilarious. So we were knocking a door (and I was by myself so I had no idea what I was doing...man I'm so green I'm glowing!) and this Japanese looking lady answered the door and looked so happy to see us and said "I am so glad you're here!!!!! I've been looking for a church to go to! Come in!!" Ok apparently that is a big deal because I told Sister Freeman and she feaked out and then our DL and ZL freaked out too ha. So we went in and I taught her the first lesson (well at least tried :S like I said I am very new to this mission thing so I think it went ok) she wants to hear more about it and we have an appointment set up with her next Sunday! It truly is amazing what the spirit will do for us, there are a lot of times where i've been prompted to say thing and I'll say it and it will be exactly what that person needs to hear. I do know that if we're constently pleading and searching for the spirit that it will be given to us, and we'll know what to do. We just have to ask and pray for it.

Funny (well I thought it was funny story) of the week

SO yesterday evening we were out in an area tracting and as all of you know, I sister Taylor Jean Brown am not at all aware of my siroundings...well in the process of not being aware I completely stepped in wet cement! WET CEMENT!!! So at first I felt really bad cause I had messed up the cement, so I apologized and tried to make it right-see if there was anything I could do. but the people whose cement I stepped in didn't seem to worried about it. So we walked away and of course I just so happen to be really good at laughing at the stupid things I constently do. so I started laughing pretty hard...Sister Freeman didn't think it was too funny but if made me think about all the rejection, cold, being a greeny things that have been a struggle and how I needed that laugh more than anything. Sometimes we really do just need to laugh about the things that happen and take heart that our Heavenly Father is in control.

To answer your questions, yes you (as in family members) can send letters to my flat (not packages though..send those to the mission home) but every week at district meeting we get our mail from the mission home so even if you do send it to the mission home I still get it that week. I'm gonna end this kinda short cause I want to be able to send you pictures but know that I love you all and thank you SOOOOO much for your prayers and putting my name in the temple. i so feel it here! I love this work and how it is constently pushing me to be and do better. I love teaching the gospel and seeing how it truly changes lives!! Have a great week family and be safe! Take care of Mom everyone for me!!! I love you all to the moon and back!!!

Love, Sister Brown

Sister Brown in England!!

This is Sister Olsen.  She is the sister I got the very closest with in the MTC She is now in the Scotland Ireland Mission.

MTC

This is our flat :)

Mission President and my companion Sister Freeman

Week 4

oh how i love my momma and my family!!!

first of all HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY TO MY FAVORITE NEPHEW MATTHEW!!!! i was thinking about you all day on the 7th! i hope you had such a great day and that you know you aunt tay tay loves you soooooo much!!!!!!! and don't you worry i'm getting a happy bday card to you today!!!! i love you!!

 

HELLO EVERYONE!!! Have i got news for you and some time to answer all of your questions!!!! :D!

How is your new area?

Wonderful!!! I'm in the northern area of Sunderland! But you will never guess where i am specifically....DURHAM!!!!! coincidence...i think NOT!!! it's the county of Durham but the city of Stanley! Oh its wonderful here!!! Its been pretty cold, windy, and rainy but nothing that this sister can't handle ;) i'm SO glad we got me that coat before i got here, it is working wonderfully!

 Where is Sister Freeman from and how long has she been out?

She is from EVERYWHERE!! she has moved around 25 different times but before she left for her mission she was in arizon..but apparently her family is in idaho now ha. She has been out a grand total of....3 months. So she has been...i wouldn't say freakin out but freaking out that she is my trainer, cause she is basically a greeny herself. Sometimes it's like the "blind leading the blind" but God has a reason for everything!! but even her lack of experience has made me stronger!!! i'm so grateful for it!

 What was your favorite thing you ate this week?

EVERYTHING!! Our ward is absolutely wonderful! We basically have dinner (aka Tea...thats what they call it here) appoinments almost everyday. They feed us alot of vegetables which i love!!! I'd have to say specifically we ate some cabbage yesterday with the Knox's and it was super good 

what was you least favorite thing you ate?

ummmm not really anything yet ha everything has been wonderful!

 Is it cold yet?

ha it's about as cold as st. george gets in the winter, so totally manageable. i do a lot of layering!! :) 

Where do you live, what is the "flat" like, do you share it with any other missionaries?

My flat address is:

12 Ridley Street

Stanly DH9 0PD (that's a zero not an "O")

Co Durham

England

My flat is great!!! and it's just me and Sister Freeman. I'll take some pictures of it for next time cause its kinda hard to describe 

What was Church like?

So great! and a little overwhelming ha there is just a lot of people i dont know but i'm so looking forward to meeing and knowing everyone. i did get to bare my testimony and introduce myself a little bit. but the members are absolutly wonderful and love missionary work. we have loads of members totally willingn to go out and teach with us. its amazing!! 

Do you have a church house like here or is it a branch?

Its like the brick one we have. Little but effective :)

 How far away do you live from the mission home?

We're about 2hrs North of the Mission home

 Did you get your package with the pillowcase and journal

YES!!!! THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!! I absolutly love the pillow case and the goodies ESPECIALLY THE PEANUT BUTTER!!!! i was only able to get a loaf of bread when i got here so i've been living off of PB and J so you saved my life haha. PB is a hot item around here...basically it's golden because it's foreign...i guess the pb they have here is gross so thank you so much for the gold!!! And thank you for the letters i got one from mom, jill, malory, and grandma! than you so much! I'll hopefully have some time today that i can write you all back!!

 

It's good to hear that everyone is doing well!!

 

So this week i would like to call it "knock knock knock knock knock/ learn learn learn learn learn" ha

Everyday the night before we look at our area map and pick streets that we feel God wants us to go because that's where his prepared children are. So we go and we knock ha and a lot of the time either their not home or not intersted but it's the best!!! i truly love it! (joey do you have any good finding approaches i could use??) Or we have some people we have set up to teach...which this week have flogged us (ditched/didn't show up) which isn't the best but you know me..that WILL NOT get me down :) I'm so looking forward to this week cause it will be a week where i actually know what i'm doing ha.

This week i've learned that i MUST COMPLETLY RELY ON THE SPIRIT! i've never in my life had to rely on the spirit this much. i must rely on it 24-7, so it is a change from the normal but i am truly stretching and growing through this work. i know that nowhere else would i be able to stretch and grow this much!!! i love this gospel so much and i am trying every day to bring those to the truth.

 

The people we're teaching (prayers needed)

Brain and Danielle: are people that S. Freeman had been teaching. Danielle is scheduled for baptism on the 22nd. Brian still has some repentense things to work out but we WILL GET HIM THERE

Allen: is someone we found while i was here :) our first lesson with him will be tonight on the restoration. pray that he feels the spirit of this message!

For now that's it...our goal is to get NEW INVESTIGATORS!! so we will have more for you to pray for :)

 

i love you all so much! i'm gonna try to get some pictures on here for you so you can see some MTC and here pictures. Thank you for the love, letters, and prayers!! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo!!!! Till next week!

 

Love, Sister Brown

Week 3

HELLO EVERYONE!

OK I KNOW IT'S ON CAPS BUT ITS A LOT FASTER TO TYPE ON A UK KEYBOARD IF IT'S ALL IN CAPS :) I DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF TIME TO ANSWER ALL YOUR QUESTIONS CAUSE THEIR ONLY GIVING US 15 MINUTES TO JUST TELL YOU WE'RE LEAVING THE MTC TOMROROW TO BE OUT IN THE REAL LIFE MISSION FEILD!!!!!! I'LL BE LEAVING FOR LEAD AT 7:30AM TOMORROW. PRESIDENT LINDLEY WILL BE PICKING US UP. I'LL FOR SURE GET YOU MY FLAT ADDRESS ONCE I KNOW WHAT IT IS. NOW JUST A LITTLE BUISNESS TO TAKE CARE OF...GRANDMA I GOT YOUR PACKAGE, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! A LETTER IS ON ITS WAY TO YOU! AND ANOTHER LETTER IS ON IT'S WAY TO THE HOUSE AND I'M GLAD CAUSE IT GOES INTO FULL DETAIL OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED THIS WEEK AND TODAY I WON'T BE ABLE TO DO A WHOLE LOT OF THAT.

I HAVE LEARNED TO MUCH HERE AT THE MTC! I'M NERVOUS BUT SOOOO EXCITED TO GET OUT IN THE FEILD. I FEEL LIKE I'M AS PREPARED AS I CAN BE AND I KNOW THAT THERE IS STILL SO MUCH MORE FOR ME TO LEARN BUT THAT'S LIFE HA. IF WE'RE NOT CONSTANTLY LEARNING AND GROWING...WELL SOMETHINGS WRONG THEN HA. IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO SAY GOODBYE TO ALL MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS HERE BUT THE GREAT THING IS THAT WE'RE ALL MOVING ON TO THE WORK OF OUR LORD. I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS GOSPEL, HOW GRATEFUL I AM TO HAVE IT. I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH AND I'M SOOO GRATEFUL FOR EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND KIND WORDS. OH PS STEPH IS GOING TO JAPAN!!!!!!!!!! HOLY SMOKES THAT ROCKS!!! TELL HER I LOVE HER AND THAT SHE IS GOING TO ROCK JAPAN!!!! I'M SURE NICK IS THRILLED! AND KARLY....HOLY...SHE'S A MOM...I DON'T KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT THAT...LIKE SHE'S GOING TO HAVE A 1 YEAR OLD WHEN I GET BACK....WHOA. SO CRAZY! OK I'VE GOTTA JET BUT I LOVE YOU ALL SO SO SO MUCH!!! I'M NOT SURE WHEN MY PDAY IS GOING TO BE BUT THE RUMOR IS THAT IT WILL BE THIS WEEK....SO I'D SAY THURSDAY OR FRIDAY...?? MONDAY??? I'M NOT SURE BUT YOU'LL KNOW SOONER THEN LATER :) WISH ME LUCK IN THE REAL WORLD!!!! LEEDS DOESN'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HIT THEM...BUT IT'S SISTER TAYLOR JEAN BROWN AND THEY'RE ABOUT TO GET WET!!! (A LITTLE BAPTISM HUMOR HA ;) )

LOVE, SISTER BROWN

PS HOWS MALORY DOING?? THE PLAY? JETETTES? HOW'S JOEY? ANY GIRLFRIENDS YET? ANY MARRIAGE YET ;) HOW ARE MY SIBS???? AND MY NEICE AND NEPHEW!!! GIVE THEM ALL A GIANORMOUS HUG FOR ME!!!!

LOVE YOU ALL! THE CHURCH IS TRUE AND DON'T BE AFRAID TO SHOUT IT TO THE WORLD