Week 32

Hello my beautiful family!

First things first...

Bens a Dad...so weird!! But so happy for him and Jules!! Congrats you too, she's ADORABLE!

I LOVE MEGAN KNELL!!! Ahhh the temple is the best, and she gets to go to the NAUVOO TEMPLE?! jealous ;)

Mal Pal...whoa SOOO AMAZING!!!! You wanna know something amazing....I'm singing that SAME SONG FOR THE BARRASS'S BAPTISM ON FRIDAY!!! Coinsidence...I think NOT!! I love you sister!

You have to know i laughed right out loud when you told me about the wendy's naptkin in the air conditioning of my car!!!! BAHAHA! Ya that thing has been ratteling for YEARS! Of course it was a Wendy's naptkin, of course! ;) Thank you for getting it fixed!!! That's so sweet of you!!

ELM= England Leeds Mission

It sounds like things are starting to wind down at the Brown home ha! Mal and Mac will be graduating soon...I can't believe it. And it will be summer!!!

Transfer news is as follows...all went according to plan and me and Sister Hall are staying together!! :D We're stayin in Brid. So I'll be here for another 6 weeks probably and then I'll get transferred. They usually have the trainers stay with their greenies for 2 transfers and then it's good for the greenie to take over the area so I'll be leaving soon :(

This week was an amazing one! THE BARRASS' PASSED THEIR INTERVIEWS!!! MY 5 MEMBER FAMILY IS GETTING BAPTIZED ON FRIDAY!! And the sweet dears asked me to sing, I just love them so much! Things are just booming here in Bridlington. Since I've been here we've had 8 baptisms! 8 Baptisms in 3 months!!! What a blessing! I am so grateful everyday that God send me here to see all these blessings!

Then sings my soul my Savior God to thee...How great thou art :)

I love this song.

It's been on that has been in my head cause I'll be singing it at the Barrass'. The words are just beautiful and it really is how I feel! "Then sings my soul". This past week I've just felt my soul singing! This are really moving here in Bridlington. Not that things are hard, cause ha missionary work is hard...that's why its called work ;) But this truly is Gods work, I know this because I'm so happy! A loving Heavenly Father would want us to be happy. He created us, he knows what will make us that happiest! And those things are church, daily prayer, daily scripture study, following the commandments, and missionary work! With all of these combined we get HAPPINESS AND JOY!

Then sings my soul!!!

Everyday I am so grateful for my mission. I am especially grateful for Sister Hall! We figured out the other day that we are PB&J, the perfect combination. So she has a sister who is serving in the Philippians! (Big deal) and her sister gets home in just a few weeks and she misses her a lot sometimes and the other day she said to be, "I think I know why you're my trainer." ha and I laughed and said, "Ok, why?" She then said this, "You remind me so much of my Sister, I think God knew that I'd have a really hard time going 3 years without seeing her...so he sent me you." And it really got me thinking about the type of person she is and why we get along so well..and it hit me...Sister Hall is just like my sisters...just like my Momma...just like my family. God has sent me my family.

Pretty cool huh? So PB&J and tearing it up here in Bridlington!! Watch out world...here we come!

I hope each of you know how much I love you! Because I DO! And i get to see ya'all in 2 weeks...so crazy...Joey you were right...this goes by TOO FAST! Come Mothers Day I'll have been out 8 months...whoa.

I know what God lives, that Jesus Christ is my Saviour and that I am here for a reason. I am forever grateful that I'm here because it's changing my life everyday!!!

Here's some love to the moon and back!! <3 <3 <3 (those are little hearts btw)

Week 31

WE FINALLY MOVED!!! Oh happy day we are out of that flat on Wellington Road and we are now on Trinity Road :) Our neighbors are a couple of really sweet old ladies (Hallelujah).

I sent some pictures of how everything looks! Isn't it just so great!! We're just so happy to be there and out of our other place. The first thing Sister Hall said when we got all moved in was "Awhhh...it smells like New Investigators" haha oh how I love her! We are just so excited for the adventures, the revelations, the memories, and miracles to be had in this new Flat! SO EXCITED!

This week we found a great chinese family! (There are LOADS of Chinese people here in England) So with that comes the GIANT language barrier. We're going to do the best we can to teach them...pray that we get the gift of tounges ha!

 

Other than that not a whole lot happened this week. Sadly alot of the time there is the "After baptism lul" Where we do the whole..."Ok...now what?" And that what is finding :) We just go out and do what we do best, find those that God and the angels are preparing for our message. I know they're out there, we just got to find them!!

Sorry this email is so short! I wish there was more I could tell you! I'm doing just great! Things here in England are still so beautiful!! The church is true...the book is blue...and Moroni is always on the ball ;) I know my Redeemer lives and while He lives I'LL SING He lives my prophet, preist, my King!! :)

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

Love, Sister Brown

Week 30

Family!!!

How is everyone!! Things in Brid have calmed down :) We seem to be over the drama...for now ha Since I've been here there seems to be nothing but drama going on...I'm not sure if it's because i got here...or if it's just Brid. From the sounds of it I think it's just Brid ;) But I truly do love it here! The work is moving forward!! Which leads me to...

DANIELLES BAPTISM!!!! :D!!!! Ohhhh happy days days days! (Malory's baby voice) It was a beautiful service! Full of family, friends, and the spirit. We had it early Easter Morning before church because the English don't put ANYTHING over their holidays (Especially their Easter bank holidays ha) So everyone seemed to be away Friday and Saturday so we felt it best to have it Sunday morning so she could be baptized and have the Holy Ghost ASAP

One of the best parts about the baptism was that Danielles Mom and little sister came. Jane (her Mom) LOVED the service and we got a chance to talk to her about it after words and invited her to take the lessons and to be baptized and she said YES! AND she wants all her kids baptized :D!! So we're teaching their WHOLE FAMILY on Thursday!! Woot Woot! Aw....I love being a missionary. It's the best!

I had the wonderful opportunity in Sacrament Meeting to really reflect on the amazing Easter we had. And I was just filled with the spirit of gratitude. I've been thinking about this time last year...that I'm SO grateful that the spirit knocked me over the head in the temple that day a year ago (Can you believe it's been a year since i put my papers in....ya...it's been a YEAR!) So grateful that I was called here. So grateful for the experiences, the people, the knowledge, and testimony I'm gaining...for the person God is shaping me into. Don't get me wrong, missions are tough and A LOT of hard work. But there is no place and no school, job, dating, no experiences in this whole that world would give me what I'm given each day here on my mission.

I am especially grateful for my Saviour. Just like you said Mom and Dad to us every year at Easter. I especially remember one year that Dad gave us each an Easter Egg and most were filled with candy and toys...but one (I think it was Joey's ha) was empty. I remember Joey being all mad that his was empty, but the lesson you taught us I has always stuck with me. Dad I think it was you giving the lesson. I remember you saying something like this, "Joey, you're egg is the most important. You are the luckiest out of all of us to get the one that was empty. Because each egg represents the tomb of the Saviour. And the miracle is...the reason we can live with God again someday as and eternal family...is because the tomb was empty. Always remember and be grateful that the tomb was empty."

That has always stuck with me, "The tomb was empty". I am eternally grateful that the tomb was empty that our Saviour and Redeemer lives. I know he lives and i love being able to tell everyone the Good News of our gospel, that he lives and has restored the fullness of his gospel through a living prophet. Mom I'm so grateful for Joseph Smith too. What courage he had! He gave up EVERYTHING for what he knew.

I love each and everyone of you SOOOO much!! More than i could even describe...the best way I've found to tell you is I love ya to the moon and back!! And I do!! I hope you all have such an amazing week. Thank you so much for your support and love and especially prayers!! Tell Merrick (Elder Taylor) Good luck from me!! Tell him I said the best thing he can do is follow the spirit and be a BOLD missionary!! He's going to be amazing!

PS Anita your Bday card is in the mail!!!! I love you!!!

Til next week! (Which i think is also i bank holiday so it might be another Tuesday letter..)

Cheers!

Love, Sister Brown

Week 29

Hello Everyone!

 

Welp things here in Birdlington are BUSY which is so great! :) Sister Hall is here and she is so wonderful!! She is 21 from CANADA and has the prettiest smile! She's quiet ha and reserved (ha so I guess there is a reason she's with me because i have NEVER been either of those things) but the spirit is SO strong with her! She is going to be an EPIC missionary!!

From what I've been told the best thing trainers can do for new missionaries is just get them to do everything as soon as possible ha which makes sense in a way. I mean how are we going to learn unless we actually ACT. (James 2:17-26) You said it perfectly right though, yes i may be training her but in a way she's training ME!! I'm learning so much about myself and about how I need to be better for her! I can already tell we're going to get along great!! She is SUCH a sweetheart, hardworking, so caring, and willing to learn. Like I said, she's going to be amazing!!

This week has been....drama filled. Someday (March 2013 probably ;) ) remind me to tell you all about what went down this week. Keyword: Nanci's Fiance....enough said.

This week I learned so much about how God gives us whatever we need he'll never lead us into the dark without a flashlight. Sometimes we do have to take a walk in the dark (Faith) but his light will always guide us where we need to go...the tricky part is choosing to follow the light or let our pride get the best of us and say, "I don't need help, I can find my way on my own." Time and time again I come to realize that Jesus Christ really is my Saviour. None of us can "save" ourselves. We need help haha and for me I need a lot of it ;) But that is when our testimony is strengthened if we let him help us. Those are the moments where the miracles happen.

I know that God lives, that Jesus Christ is my Saviour, my friend, my Redeemer. Through him I can be with my WONDERFUL, BEAUTIFUL, AND SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO RRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHTTTEEEOOUUUUSSSS (with voice from the turtles from Finding Nemo) family. I love you all so so so much! I'm so grateful for each of you! Thank you for all you do! I love you all to the moon and back! Til next week Cheers!

Love, Sister Brown

Week 28

Hello Everyone!

Welp things here in Birdlington are BUSY which is so great! :) Sister Hall is here and she is so wonderful!! She is 21 from CANADA and has the prettiest smile! She's quiet ha and reserved (ha so I guess there is a reason she's with me because i have NEVER been either of those things) but the spirit is SO strong with her! She is going to be an EPIC missionary!!

From what I've been told the best thing trainers can do for new missionaries is just get them to do everything as soon as possible ha which makes sense in a way. I mean how are we going to learn unless we actually ACT. (James 2:17-26) You said it perfectly right though, yes i may be training her but in a way she's training ME!! I'm learning so much about myself and about how I need to be better for her! I can already tell we're going to get along great!! She is SUCH a sweetheart, hardworking, so caring, and willing to learn. Like I said, she's going to be amazing!!

This week has been....drama filled. Someday (March 2013 probably ;) ) remind me to tell you all about what went down this week. Keyword: Nanci's Fiance....enough said.

This week I learned so much about how God gives us whatever we need he'll never lead us into the dark without a flashlight. Sometimes we do have to take a walk in the dark (Faith) but his light will always guide us where we need to go...the tricky part is choosing to follow the light or let our pride get the best of us and say, "I don't need help, I can find my way on my own." Time and time again I come to realize that Jesus Christ really is my Saviour. None of us can "save" ourselves. We need help haha and for me I need a lot of it ;) But that is when our testimony is strengthened if we let him help us. Those are the moments where the miracles happen.

I know that God lives, that Jesus Christ is my Saviour, my friend, my Redeemer. Through him I can be with my WONDERFUL, BEAUTIFUL, AND SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO RRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHTTTEEEOOUUUUSSSS (with voice from the turtles from Finding Nemo) family. I love you all so so so much! I'm so grateful for each of you! Thank you for all you do! I love you all to the moon and back! Til next week Cheers!

Love, Sister Brown

Week 27

I am staying in Brid....

Sister Stout is leaving me for Don Valley in the Sheffield Zone! She'll be with my first comp/trainer Sister Freeman! And Sister Stout will be speaking Slovakian! So excited for her she's going to be amazing!!!

 

And I...am....TRAINING!!!!!!! AAAAAHHHH!!! :O!!!

I am training a little GREENY!!! Her name is Sister Hall...and that is all i know about her!!

She'll be coming to Bridlington tomorrow!!! So I'm pretty much guaranteed to be here until the end of June. (2 transfers)

 

I'm still kinda in shock ha. I still feel like a greeny myself. They usually dont have people that have been out 6 months train, but i guess when the Lord wants ya to do something you do it!

I don't really know how to feel ha I'm nervous, scared, excited, nervous, so nervous!!

Joe and Ray: Ok you guys trained right?! Any advice? What can i do to help her learn and grow in the mission!?

 

I just remember my first day here in the field. Oh man I was nervous! I had no idea what to do or say or ANYTHING! That's how Sister Hall is gonna be! Any advice family? Friends? Anyone!?

 

Thank you Mal for putting my name in the temple! That was inspired, I'm gonna need all the prayers I can! I know I'm gonna grow SO much from this experience training her though. I prayed a LOT last night about what I need to do, What God wants me to do for her and I just felt this, "Be an example".

 

I just felt like, "Yep they call trainers "Mum's and Dads" for a reason. She is literally going to do what you do, say what you say, be the type of missionary you are...be an example...she's watcing."

This trainer thing is going to be a lof of responsibility but it gives me an oppertunity to be an example. Isn't that what is about in the wondeful gospel we live it though? Being an example :) We are truly a "peculiar people" but we get a chance to be happy, be an example, be believing, and letting our light so shine!

 

I think sometimes we get so consumed with, "What the world expects me to be/ What the world wants me to be" but we forget that God says, "I just want you to be WHO YOU ARE...be my child, a child of God." We have a divine light within us, we all do!! All he asks is that we let it shine in the darkening world we live in. A lot of the time it's easier said than done, but we gotta do it!! Cause who else will?

 

These next 12 weeks are going to be a huge learning and growing experience for me and hopefully Sister Hall as well ;)

 

I love you all so so so much!!! Keep keepin on ok?! We gotta be a forever family, so do what you gotta do so we can all be there!!

Love you to the moon and back! Cheers til next week!

Love, Sister Brown

 

Week 26

Howdy y'all!

First of all...

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD

SOMEONE HERE IS PRETTY OLD

SOUND OFF

HAPPY!

SOUND OFF

BIRTHDAY!

SOUND OFF HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU DADDY!!!!

Yay I'm glad you got the card!! Did you wear the pin?!? You better wear it to work!!! ;) I hope you have such a great day Daddy and know I love you so much!! I've been thinkin about ya allll day!

 

This weekend was absolutely magical! Nanci's baptism was wonderful! She was SO nervous about the water!!! She just about didn't get in, but seconds before she went into the font I just looked at her and said "Lets say a prayer" So me, her, and Sister Stout got in a circle and just put our arms around each other and said a prayer. The spirit was just so strong!!! She got in the water and it went perfect!

But this is not the miracle. So our precious Nanci before we met her used to self harm by cutting her arms up pretty bad. So when she was wearing the baptism jumpsuit you could see her arms and her scars (she was pretty embarresed about the fact that her arms were showing). The next day we went and saw her and she said, "You wanna know something weird?" Ha we said, "Sure, what's up?" She then explained and SHOWED us....that her scars were gone...yes you heard me...gone! And of course my mouth just DROPPED. I couldn't beleive it so she showed us and sure enough her scars were (for the majority) were GONE! I tell you everyone the gospel is TRUE! This girl has been through so much in her short 17 years and she said it perfectly when she said, "It's like God and Christ are truly giving me a second chance at life...he's taken away my pain and the evicence of my pain. I get a new start."

It's so true. This gospel, the things were know are true give us a second chance. Each week we renew our baptismal covenants and we're given a second chance at a brand new week. What an amazing gift that is. That we're given a clean slate. We can repent and try to better ourselves EACH WEEK!

I am SOOO grateful i get to be a missionary! (Mac-o you'll get to have experiences like this! It's da best!!!!!!!!!!!!!) I'm so grateful for Nanci and the example that she has shown me :)

 

Shout outs!

Gma Taylor: Oh my goodness THANK YOU FOR THE PACKAGE!!! That was SO sweet and clever!! I sure love you lots!!

Gma Brown: I got your letter!!! I didn't have a whole lot of time today to write since it was Zone PDay today but I'll get one in the mail for ya ASAP

 

PS's....so...if your going to send me letters or packages send them to the Mission Home. Don't send them to the address of my flat here in Brid....we're pretty sure our neighbors are stealing our mail....

PSS Next week is transfer week so I'll be emailing on Tuesday. Ha who knows what will happen? Not this girl ;)

 

I love you all so so so much! To the moon and back! Thank you for your love and support always! Cheers til Tuesday!

Love, Sister Brown