Moving to a new apartment!

Ya'ta'hey!

We've had a little bit of a CRAZY week! We got a call Tuesday morning saying that we will be moving apartments, since there a lot of things about ours that they don't like. So it all had to be cleaned super well and we've had to pack everything up! They wanted us to move to our new apartment on Monday.  So we didn't have as much time this week to do some actual proselyting, since they want the place spotless!

We were able to see Scott on Monday night and He's still progressing in his own way! Unfortunately he didn't come to church this week but hopefully he'll watch conference this next Sunday! We were able to see Tanner for a lesson too and we are currently working on getting him to the temple by the end of the year! :)

We saw Rhonda this week too and she is doing well. We set a goal with her by which she will make it to the temple. We invited her to also make smaller goals to get there. For example a specific day to be done with smoking, and what she'll do each day to reach that goal. 

We have some members who are going to invite, Less Active members and/or non-members over to their homes to watch General Conference! The ward here is so incredible! They are continuously becoming more involved in missionary work! 

We were able to watch the General Woman's session! Oh my goodness! It was so good! I can't wait for the ensign to come out already...but then I realized that we won't even get that ensign until I'm home!!! So weird!

Oh, also our truck got in a little accident! Someone backed into the back bumper with their trailer hitch while we were in an appointment. No one got hurt and the truck just has a little dent in the back bumper but that added to some of the excitement this week! 

I hope you all have a wonderful week! I love you!

Hagoonee!

Love,

Sister Brown

At the church after General Women's Conference! 

Past challenges are the fertilizer for our growth!

Ya'ta'hey,

Training is going well...sometimes I feel like I'm learning more that Sister Austin is and its humbling. 

Some highlights from this week:

We had a meeting with Bishop on Wednesday night and discussed some things that we can do to get the ward more involved. We have some pretty great ideas, now all we need to do is put them into action!

Scott came to church for all 3 hours yesterday!!! And he has another meeting with the bishop this week! :)

We've been making cookies at night after we get in and are delivering them to active members to show our appreciation, then we ask for referrals and share a thought, song or prayer and we've actually gotten some referrals! We are really focusing on getting the ward more involved in all that we do, and it's only going to pick up from here! :)

I am so grateful that I get to be here in Cortez 4th Ward for my last transfer! The people here are incredible and so loving! 

I know that this gospel is true! I know that Challenges are a part of life so that we can learn and grow and change...if we didn't have challenges we would never become anything special. One lady that we talked to this week said: "The past challenges, and mistakes don't have to define you, they can be used as the fertilizer for your growth!" I really know that to be true, I would not be the person that I am today if it wasn't for my past and current challenges! We are given the opportunity to rely on the Atonement of Jesus Christ in times of trial and can begin to fully reach our divine potential if we choose to rely on Him! I love you all and you are in my prayers always!

I hope you all have such a wonderful week!

Hagoonee!

love,

Sister Brown

Unforeseen opportunities to serve!

Ya'ta'hey!
I love scripture study! It's the best! I love being able to tell others about the gospel and How important the Book of Mormon truly is!

This week has been a little crazy! Sister Anderson went home on Wednesday! It was really sad to have to say good-bye to her! Good news though: Sister Austin and I are staying together for my last transfer!

Monday we saw Scott and he decided that he wants to work towards getting re-baptized and he finally set up an appointment to meet with the bishop! 

Tuesday we had many opportunities to serve (Which is really neat because I've been keeping a prayer journal where I write down the things I want to pray for that morning and then record that night how I've seen my prayer answered and one thing that I've been praying for is unforeseen opportunities to serve...and I've really seen that happen!) 

Wednesday we met with some less-actives named Brooke and Tanner that night and it seemed to get a little contentious because he asked questions in a way as if to test us or to try to challenge our faith and testimonies...But we just bore testimony and I was grateful for the opportunity to stand up for all that I know to be true with a conviction unlike any other! We will be meeting with them again this week and hopefully it will go better! 

Thursday we had a very powerful district meeting and I felt such an immense love for my savior and the gospel! He didn't just suffer for us as a whole but quite individually! 

We also got to pick green beans again for the Steeles and they gave us some too!

Friday night we were able to meet with the young men's president and discuss some ways to help a non-member who came to seminary 3 times this past week! He only stayed for the whole thing once, but still!!!

Bishop Smith is on fire! We had ward council with him yesterday for the 1st time and He is so incredibly missionary minded, We are so excited to be able to work with him! We have a meeting set up this Wednesday to discuss some more too!

A less-active named Daeshawn also called us up yesterday and said she wanted to come to church...so she did! And so many of the things that were talked about spoke directly to her! 

We saw the Bells for a lesson yesterday and little Payton made some really good sushi for us for dinner too! We love their family!

I've determined to make this the most enjoyable, fun, and hard-working transfer yet! Satan is so real right now, but I know that God's power is greater than anything and that I can fight against all opposition with the Lords help! 

I love you all have such a wonderful week!

Love,

Sister Brown

Sister Austin, Sister Brown, Sister Anderson

Cleanest car award and canning peaches!

Ya'ta'hey!

We had a great week! We started off the week by seeing Judy Martin and Scott Cox. They are some of my favorite people (although let's be real...I have too many favorites to really have a favorite). Judy is struggling a little but will hopefully keep progressing. Scott is progressing in his own ways, but we hope to really understand what some of his goals are after our lesson with him tonight, so that we can know how best to help him. 

We got to see Rhonda on Tuesday and she had her daughter KaCee over too. We were able to talk to them both about the plan of salvation and challenge them to set a date by which they will work towards to go to the temple! Rhonda has really grown since I've been here and it's been incredible to see the change in her.

We had Zone Conference on Wednesday and it was really good! I was able to receive some guidance and inspiration as to how to improve myself and my missionary work! The spirit was very strong and I couldn't help but tear up a little...as the departing missionaries bore their testimonies I realized that the next time we have Zone Conference, it will be me up there giving my departing testimony and I couldn't help but be sad for the moment that I have to leave this wonderful mission and all the people that I have grown to love so much! 

Our companionship tied for first place for the cleanest car! These are pendents with the four corner states on them.

Sister Darlington and Sister Brown with their companions tied for first place for the cleanest car.

My Zone taken August 30, 2017

Sister Brown and Sister Austin who she is training.

Thursday we had interviews with president Adams and I can't help but feel so much love for that man! He is so inspired and I know that he has been called by God to lead this mission! I know that it has to be exhausting leading a mission but President and Sister Adams are so dedicated to helping each individual missionary in their own progression as well as their areas, that I am so grateful for their devotion and strength!

Friday, we were able to help the Stepp's can peaches, I enjoyed it! We were also able to see the Bells this week and I have so much love for that family! They are all so incredibly strong and even in the face of trial's they still seem to find happiness in the gospel and in the little moments of life.

Saturday we had an interesting encounter with an intoxicated couple...I'm just going to leave it at that for now. 

Sunday we had such a spiritual sacrament meeting! We got a new bishopric and Bishop Smith is now our bishop with Brother Jorgenson (our used to be Ward Mission Leader) as his 1st counselor and Brother Snyder as his 2nd counselor. They are all fairly young and quite missionary minded so I am so excited to work with them! Bishop Cook will be missed though! He is such a great man and has a heart of gold!

This morning I ran 5 miles straight! I was exhausted by the end but It felt so good to have accomplished that! You can do anything that you put your mind to! Satan will try and stop you from reaching your potential but I know that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ that you can do all things! God's power is stronger than Satan's as long as you choose to rely on him!

I love you all and hope you have such an amazing week!

Hagoonee!

love,

Sister Brown

Sister Brown, Sister Austin, Sister Anderson

Celebrating wining the cleanest car competition with Jacque Cook