Week 59

Hello my dear beloved family!

First, comments on the pictures..

Danny has teeth?!

Mac...you have a beard...? What?!

Ok my Sisters are models!!!

I love mashed potatoes...

 

Now comments on the news...

MARIEL IS GOING TO THE UKRAINE?!?!?!?!?!?!? Oh my gads youre going to love it! There is a Sister missionary here in our mission that is from the Ukraine! She ROCKS!! Her name is Sister Kitchenko. She leaves for home in just a few weeks. Keep an eye out for her!! Congratulations Mariel! I'm so proud of you! The  temple there is gorgious too!

Malory's papers are going in...AHH!! Mal where are you going to go?! We'll find out soon enough!! Maybe you can tell me at Christmas!!

 

Ok so I am in HEAVEN!!! I love my companions, I love my area, and I love the people we're teaching. We are teaching LOADS!! Things are just booming here in Sheffield. We don't really do any kind of finding cause we're teaching so much And get this...Raymond...I'm teaching a HUNGARIAN GYPSY!!! I so wish you were here to talk to her she's so wonderful! Everyone here is either Slovak or Gypsy. (Yes, Gypsy's do exist in the real world not just in Notre Dame) So I literally am learning a brand new language and I love it!! The people here just live in the humblest of conditions and because of their poverty they are so receptive to the gospel. Their faith in Jesus Christ is just solid! Did I mention I love it here!?  I LOVE IT HERE!! We're not sure how perminent the transfer is though. Because Sisters Freeman, Sorensen, and Kitchenko are leaving mid transfer (its cheaper for the church to send them home before Christmas ;( So sad they're leaving!!) So because we're in a 3some it means one of us will be going to fill the spot....not sure how that's going to work....but we'll find out in 2 weeks. I sure hope it's not me!! Just know that your missionary is all smiles and is so happy. OH and our flat address is thus:

 

109 IQuarter 10 Blonk Street

Sheffield, S3 8GB

England

 

Feel free to send me some post ;)

My first week here has been absolutley amazing! It started with an EPIC Thanksgiving dinner at our ward mission leaders home...It was SO GOOD! Every bite was like I was eating America...so good! I just can't believe Thanksgiving is over now!! We then finished our week off by making Standards of Excellence (Joey will know what that is) This is my 1st time doing it my whole mission. I told my dear companions that I want to do it every week the rest of my mission! I've only got 4 months left and I want to work EVERY SECOND I GOT LEFT!! Time is running out...this will probably be my last area and I want to tear this place apart!! Family be looking forward to the miracles we'll be having here in Don Valley...cause there is going to be loads!!

 

I love you all so so so so much! I know God lives. I know Jesus is the Christ. I know our church is true. I know my companions are the bees knees, my area rocks, and I get to room with Sister Hall...man, I am spoiled WROTTEN!! :D Ha God really does bless you when you endure trials faithfully ;) I love you to the moon and back!!

Love, Sister Brown

 

 

Week 58

Dear Familia...

 

DRUM ROLL PLEASE.......

 

I will be transferred....tomorrow...to.....DON VALLEY!!!! I AM GOING TO THE MIGHTY SHEFFIELD ZONE!!!! Things in Sheffield are BOOMING right now! I'm going to MISSIONARY HEAVEN!!! I am also....SPEAKING ANOTHER LANGUAGE!!! :O!!! I am going where Sister Freeman and Sister Stout went...I am speaking Slovakian!!!! Pray that I may be able to have the gift of tongues!!! I am just sooo excited!!! I am going to be in a 3-some with the beautiful (drama free!) Sisters Melander and Benson!! Sister Melander is from...non other...BLACKFOOT IDAHO! And Sister Benson is from Denmark!!! We are going to TEAR IT UP!!! They are having us in a 3-some because there is so much work to do in the area that just 2 missionaries can't cover it all :D (As you can probably tell I'm pretty excited!) And I haven't even told you the best part....I'M GOING TO BE IN THE SAME FLAT AS MY CHILD...MY BABY...THE BEST MISSIONARY (ok I am a little bias...I mean, I did trained her) non other than SISTER (MY FAVOURITE CANADIAN) HALL!!! We're going to be roommates again!!! She is serving in the Sheffield Uni Chinese speaking area and we're all going to be in the same flat together!! We'll be spending CHRISTMAS TOGETHER!!!! :D :D :D!!! What a huge answer to prayer! Don Valley will mostly likely be my last area. I've got 3 transfers left and I'll probably spend all 3 in Don Valley. (But who knows I might have another area up my sleeve ;) )

More crazy news...

Sister Berakdar got transferred as well!! She's going to Herrogate. (If you do want to send her something for Christmas send it to the mission office (The Lister House, Lister Hill address)).  So they're closing Alnwick for 6 weeks. We've got a little bit of a shortage of sister missionaries for the time being, but after the new year we're getting a FLOOD of missionaries. I have no doubt they'll open dear Hogwarts up again. I had a good chat with President about it a few weeks ago and suggested that Alnwick needs Elders. So my guess is that in the new year he'll put Elders here :) There is only so much Sisters can do, and Alnwick would definitely benefit from Elders.

 

Well with all that news done :) On to the email. Man, I cannot believe it's Thanksgiving this Thursday. Everyone eat A LOT of mashed potatoes, gravy, and stuffing for me!! Last year in my email I wrote home about all the things I'm grateful for and I think I'm going to do that again this year :)

 

1. I am beyond grateful for my family. Holy cow...I love you guys!! I could not do anything without you. You're love, support, prayers, encouragement, have carried me my whole life and mission here in beautiful England. I hope you know how grateful I am for each of you. Thank you for your patience during my stupid times, thank you for the laughter, thank you for always seeing in me what I just couldn't see, thank you for being tough on me and expecting my best, thank you for your examples to me, thank you a million times over, thank you.

2. Sunshine. I am grateful for my dear friend Vitamin D ha! Enough said :) It's winter time here in the North so it's like Alaska...we don't see the sun much ha!

3. England. Jolly Ol' England. You're chippy's, way I man, can't be bothered, rubbish, drive on the left side, round-a-bouts, thank you petal, oh I could go on and on!! I love this land SO MUCH!! I will truly leave a piece of my heart here. Thank you England for shaping me into who God saw in me all along

4. The people who have changed my life here. I would be a giant stick in the biggest pile of mud if I didn't say thank you to the Robsons. Thank you my beautiful mission family. I love you! I also need to thank the other members, investigators, my converts. You have changed my life for good. Thank you!

5. Hot Hands. Yes, I still have 2 giant costco size packages of those hand warmers you sent me last year...Wow...they save my life.

6. My Mission. Next to the temple, my time here in England serving my God, Saviour, and the English has been so sacred to me. I will treasure every moment I've had and every moment to come. The lessons, the people, the person God has helped me become...are absolutely priceless to me. Thank you for loving parents to pushed me to serve. Thank you Mum. Thank you Daddy. I love you!

7. "Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to thee..How Great Thou Art." I don't think grateful could possibly describe how I feel about my Saviour. I feel him everyday, he is with me all the time. I am humbled and honoured to be able to represent him. He has changed my eternity. Because of him I can be with my family forever. Because of him I can change...I can be better. I mean the list could go on and on and on of all the things I can do because of him. Thank you God for loving me and this whole wide world so much that you sent your only son. I hope we can each take some time this Turkey season and thing about our Saviour and every reason why we should be grateful for him most of all.

 

I can't believe it's Thanksgiving...I can't believe the Christmas lights are out!! Absolute Madness.

 

I hope you know how much I love each of you! (to the moon and back I do :) ) Have a wonderful week and I'll email on Monday! Cheers!

Love, Sister Brown

Week 57

How is the best family in the whole wide world?!?!?!?!?

Mum the pictures were FAB!!! Every missionary loves pictures! Jillie I got your package with all the pictures!!! AHHHHH KATE IS SO BIG!!! I just can't believe how fast the time is moving!

First and foremost...I have a little bit of business to take care of...

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD!

WE'VE GOT TWO KIDS WHO ARE STINKIN OLD!!

SOUND OFF! HAPPY! SOUND OFF! BIRTHDAY!

SOUND OFF HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JILL AND RAY!!!!!!!

Wow, you two are old...haha no just kiddin ya! I hope you both! Have such a magical day full of wonder! I'll be thinkin about ya all day!! It's also "Bonefire Night" here in England. You know the saying, "Remember, Remember the 5th of November..." Here in England they celebrate Guy Fox night..he's that guy who tried to blow up parlament ha! So there will be loads of fireworks and bonefires just like last year!! The best thing is that I'll be spending Bonefire Night in STANLEY again! We have Zone Confrence in York tomorrow so we're staying with the Stanley Sisters tonight so I'll get to spend PDay with the Robson ;) SCORE!

Speaking of the Robsons, the funeral went really really well. I think it was my first funeral where I actually felt the loss of it all. Singing at the funeral was one the hardest things I've ever had to do, but one of the most spiritual experiences. I just kept praying and praying that I would be able to sing and not burts into tears. God truly carried me through the song, I only cried at the very last sentence. The Robsons asked if I would sing, "Hold of the Light will come"..ya tough one to sing at a funeral. But I made it through. I truly felt your love and prayers singing on the stand, I know I wasn't alone singing. So needless to say Saturday was a pretty rubbish day. Its just tough to see the people you love hurting, but I know if there is anyone who can get through all of this, it's the Robsons.

I really am learning why God sends us trials. I think he does it cause he loves us. I know that sounds totally backwards...but I think it might be true. He wants us to grow, to learn, to experience all the things he's ever experienced...he wants us to become like him. This is how he shapes us, molds us, refines us. The saying, "What doesn't kill ya makes you stronger..." Yup, it's so true. In these moments it does make us stronger or more able to help others. In these moments it's where we turn to God and become closer to him, we plead with him, council with him, and then he sends his sweet spirit to our aching souls. "Be still my soul, the Lord is on my side." I have definitely felt that this week, I know the Lord is on my side, my loving family is on my side, what more do I need? :) I know that God is shaping me into the person and daughter he needs me to be, it's not been the easiest thing in the world...but I am grateful that he loves me enough to mold me.

Just know that your missionary is doing just fine! You know me, I can't stay down for too long. It's a brand new week and I get to be a representative of Jesus Christ!! It doesn't get any better than that!

I love you all to the moon and back and hope you have a brilliant week!!! Cheers til next week!

Love, Sister Brown

Oh ps! About the Christmas package....so I was thinking...sending things here...is really expensive, and I don't really need anything! So how about anything you would send to me, send to Sister Berakdar. Chances are she's not going to be getting anything from her family this year. Send her something and not me. Plus, I'll be getting home 3 months after Christmas and I'm definitely going to be needing a pedicure when I get back and some Cafe Rio ;) We'll just have Christmas in March for me. How about that?

I can't believe it's close to Christmas time!!! I'll be seeing your face soon my beautiful Mum!! I love you so so so much!!! Heres a big hug and kiss from me....can you feel it?! Good, cause it's a big one! ;)

Love, your Teedle Tay

Week 56

Dearest Familia

GAAAA MY LITTLE BROTHER IS MARRIED!!! This is just too weird!!! I absolutely LOVED the pictures!!! Please keep sending more!! Mom that quilt you made...whoa amazing!!! And from what I can see the reception was BEAUTIFUL!!!! Holy cow Tiffany was gorgious and Joey actually had gel in his hair...his hair was styled...whoa. Tiff youre already being such a good influence ;) If you can get Joey Michael Brown to put gel in his hair then you HAVE to be the right one for him :D They both just looked so happy, which in turn makes this English Missionary's heart happy too! No lie, I was bumbed i couldn't be there, but everytime I prayed I just got so much peace. I know, no matter what is going on at home, that this is where I'm supposed to be. There is a time and season for everything and this is my time and my season to be a missionary here in jolly good England. So Jillian is so skinny...super model!, SUCH LONG HAIR, and Kate is HUGE!!!!!! She doesn't even look like the same baby!! Are you sure that's Kate....ha jk I know its her but she's just SO BIG!! Everyone looks so happy and well! It was good to see Nick, John, and Grant! Man I still can't believe they're all RM's...craziness. Steph is HOME!? Whoa didn't see that one coming. Send her my love and a giant hug!! Tell her she needs to get married in April... :) ha no tell her to get married and to just try to remember me when she goes to married land. Ha well it looks like me and Megan are the only ones left....Megan, stay strong at least til April!!! Someones got to help me in the normal world!!! Mom you'll help me right?! Ha no but for serious I'm just so happy for all the good news and craziness of the Brown Family. Time stops for no one...that is one thing I'm learning as a missionary! Time will not stop! :(

Things this week were better! Thanks for putting my name in the temple Mum I've been needing it. We were able to do some work this week and we found out whats been going on with Sister Berakdar so we're in the process of trying to get it all fixed and worked out. We're doin our very best here in Alnwick and even though we haven't been able to do much these past few weeks God is still blessing us for doing our best. We had Greg and 2 less active members we've been working with at church this sunday which was a HUGE miracle! So thank you for your prayers, we feel them and can see them everyday.

This week we had our interviews with President Lindley, don't worry I totally passed ;) I just love this man. I hope someday you get to meet him. He's like a mini prophet. Its the best. We have interviews with President every-other transfer. He's taught me so much and I'm so grateful for his example.

I've been thinking a lot about my testimony and how much it's grown since I've been on my mission, which then turned to this thought: "I know the church is true." This is a pretty popular statement among the Saints. I think my very first testimony was (lets be honest I think everyones first testimony goes a little like this) "I'd like to bear my testimony, I know the church is true, I love my mum and dad...in the name of Jesus Christ Amen." ha I'm sure that's how mine went. I don't think as LDS peeps we realize how bold of a statement, and how profound the statement "I know the church is true" really is. I mean we say it so often, do we really realize what it is we're saying? Do we really mean what we're saying, or are we saying it because that's what everyone else is saying. When we say "I know the church is true" We say we know that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that the fullness of the gospel has been restored back to the earth once again through a living prophet, and that we're the only ones who hold the keys of the kingdom...no one else. If this is what we really believe...how do we show it? Through are example? deeds? choices? our actions? Then my thoughts turned to Elder Hollands talk about how once we have a testimony, once we've been baptized we can never go back...we can never be on neutral ground....we can't have one foot with Satan and the other with God. I feel like my mission has put both of my feet where they need to be. I KNOW the church is true, and because of this my life will never be the same, and I'm so grateful for that. I'm grateful for goodly parents who taught me the truth. I'm grateful for my testimony that  started out as a little seed as a little primary girl saying "I know the church is true", but has now turned into a tree rooted in why "I know the church is true". I'm grateful that my tree can continually keep growing and growing :) Isn't it the best to be a member of this CHURCH?! I love it!! I want you all to know that I know the church is true. I know that God live and that he loves us. I know that Joey and Tiffany are sealed together for time and all eternity by someone who holds the keys of the kingdom of God that were restored to the Earth by Joseph Smith. I know that our family have been sealed with these same keys and I know we'll be together forever!! Yup, you're stuck with me peeps :) I love you all to the moon and back! I hope you have a wonderful week!! You're in my thoughts and prayers always! Cheers til next week!

Love, Sister Brown

Week 55

Hello my beautiful family!!

From the sounds of it, things are pretty crazy!! And yes I'm so glad I'm here and not cleaning out Grandmas flat :) Good luck with that everyone! And good luck with everything this weekend!! My heart and prayers are especially with ya this weekend!! Take lots of pictures!!! Where are they going on their honeymoon?! Man, my lil bros getting MARRIED!!! So crazy, but so exciting! Good luck you two! I'm so happy for you!! :D

This week was an interesting one...we were in the flat for most of the week because Sister Berakdar is sick. We're taking her to the Doctor today to see whats going on. We thought it was just a virus but it's lasted 2 weeks and it's getting worse. Keep her in your prayers that she'll get better (so we can work!! I've got cabin fever here!) Ha so I've just been in the flat...cleaning, napping, studying, being bored mostly. I just wanna get out and work!! It's amazing how Heavenly Father blesses us even when we can't work but we're doing our best. I definitely saw that this week. We've got 1 investigator (because we haven't really been able to work for 2 weeks) and his name is Greg. He's 19 and he's such a great kid. He's progressing so well, he came to church on Sunday and loved it! He's looking really solid to be interviewed this weekend and then he's scheduled to be baptized on the 27th of October. Even though we haven't been able to work really, God is still blessing us through Greg :)

We also had an amazing miracle earlier on this week, on Monday. So there is a member in our Branch named John Beaty. He lives in Amble and was on the bus a couple weeks ago and felt prompted to talk to this man about the gospel, and without even second guessing himself or the spirit he went right up to him and started talking to him about the church. By the end of the conversation, he had gotten his address and phone number and invited him to be taught more by the Sister Missionaries (that's US!) So Monday night after PDay we went over and had an amazing lesson with him. He ended up being a VERY lost sheep (Luke 15:4-7). He was baptized in 2001 and has been away from the church for a long time. Moments before Anthony (that's the less active) met John he had been wanting to come back to church. I have such a testimony that God knows and loves us individually. He knows exactly where all his sheep are and he wants us to be happy. He knew Anthony and knew that John would listen to the whisperings of the spirit. I am so grateful that John was worthy to listen to the spirit and that he was guided to find Anthony. And now we're teaching him and his WIFE! His wife's name is Tresa (isn't that just the most beautiful name?! it just makes my heart sing ;) ) and we'll be teaching her the restored gospel tonight :) I love being a missionary. I see these kind of things everyday!! I know that God is so mindful of us and his work and glory is to make us happy. He wants us to be as families forever, he wants Anthony and Tresa to be together forever. I am so grateful to be such small part of this eternal process!

Another thing I wanted to write home about was my mission family the Robson's. I just wanted to give you a little up date on how Gordon is doing...He's not doing very well. He's now got a pretty bad pneumonia that is filling his lungs with fluid. There is not anything more they can do. :( So they've given him 2 days to live. Please keep the Robson's in your prayers as well. They've taken such good care of me while I've been away from my real family, I truly consider them my family as well. They are the strongest people I know, they're faith has never once shaken through all of their trials. If your reading this Robson's know that I love you so much and you've changed my life forever.

I hope everyone has such a great week this week!! I know things will be crazy with the wedding, but I hope everything runs smoothly! Remember..take LOTS of pictures!!!!

I love you all to the moon and back! Cheers til next week!

Love, Sister Brown

Week 54

Oh what reason to rejoice!!! I'll just name a few...

 

1. I'M STAYING IN ALNWICK WITH SISTER BERAKDAR!!

2. KALIN IS GOING TO AUSTRALIA!!!!! AAAAAHHHHHH!!!! Yay for foreign english speaking missions!!! I LOVE IT!!!!! Sad day though...he leaves 2 weeks before I get home. But all is well in Zion because another Taylor will be in the feild or dreams!!! Congrats Kalin, I am SO PROUD OF YOU!!!! We shall Mario Kart battle March 2015!!

3. FUTURE GENERATIONS OF MISSIONARIES CAN GO ON MISSIONS RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL!!!! OH WHAT JOY FILLS MY SOUL!!!!!!!! THEN SINGS MY SOUL!!! AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

My first thoughts at the announcement: "Malory is going on a mission....at the same time that Mac goes!!! They will be serving at the same time....TWIN POWER!!!!" next thought "I bet Malory is calling Brother Graff right now..." next thoughts "Man...JEALOUS!!! That would have saved me SO MUCH TROUBLE if i would have gone right out of high school...like....SO MUCH TROUBLE" haha! But everything happens for a reason for sure! I am here at the right time in the right place :) Did everyone scream at the news cause i definitely did...I may have done a Tiger Woods fist pump...in front of a few missionaries....and members....in the chapel... (some things never change :) ) This whole weekend I have just been filled to the brim with JOY! I am just beyond excited for the church and all of Gods Children because the number of soldiers will I'm sure DOUBLE! We need all the soldiers of God to strengthen our army!!

Man I wish I had more time to go into further detail of my feelings but alas I do not. I will next week! Just know that your missionary is filled with joy! I love each of you so so so much!! I can't wait to kick-it in the eternities with you all!! sending love from the moon and back!! Cheers!

Love, Sister Brown :)

Week 52 but really written on August 28th

Hello everyone!!

Yes transfers happened!!! Sister Delucchi is going back home and I am staying at Hogwarts. And I am getting the beautiful Sister Berakdar!!! She is from Germany and is an epic convert to the church. You need to know a little bit about her. I am follow up training her so I'm kinda her step mom :)

She comes from a home that absolutley despise that she is here. Her whole family disowned her because she joined the church so she has no one. No family, no support, no post, no packages, no love, nothing. SO you get to adopt a missionary!!!!!!!!! :D Luck you! I'm going to get her email and you're going to adopt her (sorry you don't really have a choice. :) ) She needs love, packages, and post and lots of support. KEITH: If you read this you have to adopt her too! She's from Germany, write her a letter in German! She's having a hard time cause she gets no support, but oh don't you worry she's getting a lot of sunshine from this Sister!! :) I'm really excited, we're going to tear Hogwarts up!!! Her email address is: yvonne.berakdar@myldsmail.net (Just do like get to know you questions. Ask her about her life, her conversion story, her week, how she likes Alnwick.) And can you just keep email her until I get home???? Like truly adopt her??? Is that going to be ok? I know if you do you'll get more blessing then you'll know what to do with!!! Just remember Charity is the pure love of Christ! ANYONE WITHIN THE SOUND OF MY EMAIL!! WRITE MY COMPANION!!! Everyone needs a pen pal right?!

Sister Berakdar

England Leeds Mission

Lister House, Lister Hill

Horsforth, Leeds LS18 5AZ

This week was epic! We had a wonderful week full of new investigator and teaching!! Norman is doing to great! He's still looking good to being baptized on the 22 September.

I want to center my email on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know it is real because I have lived it. We all make mistakes. Hello!!!! Anyone who hasn't made a mistake please raise their hand...that's what I thought. NO ONE!!!! I have such a HUGE testimony of the Atonement because I used it before my mission and I'm using it now and I'LL USE IT FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!! The atonement isn't just a one time thing. It should be an everyday thing!!! Jesus Christ came to this earth because we make mistakes. We CANNOT save ourselves. The Debt has already been paid. We just got to use it, THEN LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES AND NEVER GO BACK!!!!!!!! As long as we're learning from every mistake then we're growing, we're progressing, we're moving forward. No mistake done (minus murder and denying the Holy Ghost) can't be fixed. As long as we're using the Atonement when we make mistakes we're never taking a step backwards. Yes for that moment when we continue to sin...yes we go backwards. But when we repent we're always stepping forwards. "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, what do we do we swim, swim, swim." (thank you Dori ha)

I know God lives, Jesus is the Christ and through him all is made right. All is made clean. All is sunshine, unicorns, and rainbows :)

I love you all to the moon and back!! Cheers til next week!

Love, Sister Brown