Final Testimony while on Mission!

Ya'ta'hey!

I know with all of my heart that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true! I am a product of the Atonement of Jesus Christ! I know he lives and that true change comes through him! I know that comfort and Joy is found through Him and his gospel! Challenges may happen in our lives, but there is nothing that we can experience that He hasn't felt already...so you see, we are never alone! I know that the Book of Mormon is true! I love that book and I would not be the person I am today if it wasn't for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ! I know that Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers! I'm grateful that he's been able to work through me to answer the prayers of others. I know that He is in every detail of our life! I love my Savior Jesus Christ and just because I am coming home, doesn't mean that I have to stop serving Him! I can and will serve Him, just in a different way! I love you all and I will see you soon!!!

Love,

Sister Brown

Missionary work is the best work we can ever do!

Ya'ta'hey!!!

It's finally starting to hit me that I really am leaving for home soon and I am flooded with so many emotions that I just don't know what to do with them!

Jori's baptism was wonderful...her mom (who isn't a member) was tearing up as well as her brother! I think they felt the spirit quite a bit! :)

Our scripture study group starts this Tuesday and Friday, so I'll have to let you know how it goes next week! :)

This week was abnormal, but wonderful as we went to the temple on Monday, had interviews Tuesday and had Zone Conference on Wednesday! Talk about a spiritually boosting week! 

We had 2 non-members at church yesterday! Jori's mom came and the Cooks brought Troy again! :) Also Brother Cook is our new ward mission leader!!!  

Great things are happening here!!! Bishop Smith is on fire! He talked to some employee's of his about taking lessons, and He's always so willing to step right in and help with anything! 

The Cooks are working on Troy to have him take the lessons, we have dinner tonight with a family who are inviting 2 non-members to come too! The Snyders invited a friend to church (they didn't come...but success is in the invitation) We got 2 new investigators last Monday and one of them is already in 1 Ne. 12!!!!! The only down-side is we have to hand them over to the elders because they actually live in their area! But oh well, at least they are getting the gospel!!!

Missionary work is the best work we can ever do!!! :)

I sure love you all and hope you have a great week! See you soon!

Love,

Sister Brown

Took my 4th Great Grandmother's name on my Dad's Side to the temple!

Ya'ta'hey!

We got to go to the temple today and I took My 4th great Grandmother's name on Dad's Side...Mary Hunt. As I walked into the celestial room and sat down I began to cry because I was so overwhelmed with a sense of joy, comfort, warmth and peace and I can't help but feel that she accepted the ordinance that I had done for her! I've never felt that way...at least in that degree when I've taken other family names through! It was an experience I will forever treasure!!! :)

I'm happy to report that Jori will be getting baptized this upcoming Sunday Morning and then confirmed in Sacrament meeting after! She is so excited for it and I am too! Scott is doing sooooo well! He quit drinking coffee on Tuesday and as far as we know hasn't had any sense! 

We got to do a lot of service this week...Harvesting the Steeles garden...it reminded me of home and we even were able to take their corn-stalks and make decorations for our house!

We were able to see Hannah (an investigator that we've been working with for a while) this week finally and she brought up that she needs to be reading from the Book of Mormon more, and to pray. We were so happy that the spirit was able to help her realize what she needed to be doing to get an answer before we even had to tell/invite her!

We've been focusing a-lot on finding and as we were praying to know what to do to find more people to teach we had the thought to start up a scripture study class, so that is exactly what we are going to do! We've made flyers and just need to make copies now! We are going to start on the 17th! We hope it goes well! 

I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true! I know that the Book of Mormon is true and I have that book, and prayer to thank for the relationship that I have with God today! I know that Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers! I know that He is in the details of our lives...even when we don't recognize it! There are no coincidences! I know that there is strength that comes through the Atonement of Jesus Christ! I love my Savior and I will do all that I can to serve Him, even though I know I fall short! 

I love you all! Have a wonderful week!

Hagoonee!

Love,

Sister Brown

There are no Coincidences!

Ya'ta'hey!

This week was still a little crazy! We had exchanges on Monday and Tuesday. Thursday we had to finish deep-cleaning the old apartment. And to add to the abnormality, general conference was on Saturday and Sunday (I have to say...I was happy with that though!)

Wednesday we cleaned for a less-active lady that we visit, and got to know her more at the same time. :) We also saw Margaret and read the 1st chapter in the Book of Mormon with her since she still hasn't started reading it yet! Jori is getting excited for her baptism on the 15th of October. We were able to go through the interview questions with her. 

We finally got to see Ken on Friday and he's getting married...I guess he's actually known the lady for 2 years but never dated until now. We got to meet her and she's very kind! 

We also had dinner with a new family in the ward and I love them already! We asked them if they knew anyone that we could go teach (even though we knew they were very new to the area) and there was a lady that came to their minds, but they didn't know her exact address, but they knew the road so we told them we'll just knock the whole road until we find her! Well after General Conference on Sunday we started knocking that road...we both only had 1 Book of Mormon (so 2 total)...Sister Austin had the thought: "We should grab some more Book of Mormon's so we did. Well we were knocking and gave away 2 of them to some people who have some potential but don't seem crazy promising. We were about to head back to where we had parked the truck so that we could make it to dinner on time, but had the thought to knock one more door. So we did...no answer, BUT we noticed a house that was kind of in the back so we decided to knock it too. WELL, a kid who looked to be in about his 20's answered the door. We explained who we were (He'd never met missionaries before!!!) and talked about the Book of Mormon. Come to find out he just barely started going to a church just the week before because his Mom passed away and he's looking for a relationship with God! OH MY GOODNESS! HOW CRAZY AMAZING IS THAT! We would not have been knocking that road if it wasn't for the "referral" from the new family in the ward. We wouldn't have had a Book of Mormon on us if Sister Austin hadn't felt prompted to grab more. And we wouldn't have knocked on his door if we had decided to go back to the truck right then and there! Heavenly Father is really in every little detail! Sometimes we don't recognize promptings right away...we don't always think it's the spirit, but Heavenly father has everything so perfectly orchestrated that it blows my mind! It's like that one talk in conference...there are no coincidences! 

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

Hagoonee!

love,

Sister Brown

Teaching seminary

Conference Sunday

Saturday conference. Sister Austin got a new brace for her foot.

Watching conference!

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