Cookie-cutter missionary!

Yat-teh-hey!

We actually got to do a little bit of "camping" with a member this week at a dinner appointment. The Hansen Family (who are like my favorite ever...like family away from home!) we went down to their camping spot on their property and made ka-bobs over the camp fire and had watermelon and guacamole and fresh homemade salsa! It was great to feel like I was part of a family for a little bit! Brother Hansen also was talking about going by the spirit of the law rather than the letter of the law and how missionaries get so caught up on rules sometimes that they aren't themselves and turn into just another "cookie-cutter missionary"...I really needed to hear that because I realized that that is kinda what I was turning into...a cookie-cutter missionary...I was not being myself...The Lord has called me...sister Brown...he needs Sister Brown...not just another missionary!  This week has been much better than last! 

We saw Vanessa a couple times this week and she is progressing so much! She is so ready for baptism we might just push her date up to the end of August if she is good with it! She is such a sweet heart too! I love her! She gave us some veggies from her garden too!...We got some jalapenos from her!!! :)

Sylvia and Justine are progressing quite a bit too! especially Justine! We saw her earlier this week and she was like...Did Nephi really cut off his head?! and then put his armor on?!...and then take that guy with him?! we were like: "yea, he did" ...haha then she said: "man, this is getting good!"

She (Justine) wants to go to seminary too!...we didn't even bring it up either...she did! Unfortunately one of their uncles died unexpectedly on Saturday so they were out of town with family on Sunday and couldn't come to church, which means they can't be baptized at the end of August like they wanted to (and like we had planned for).

We also had exchanges this week with Hollbrook sisters. I was in Gallup with Sister Southam on Saturday! she is new to the field (only been here for 4 weeks!) She is a sweet-heart though! 

The Elders were finally able to have a baptism this weekend too (which we were able to attend because Deb came along!!!) I'm happy for them! They've been working hard and definitely earned it!

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

Love,

Shidasha Brown

I understand fully the importance of sincere prayer!

This week was a little rough for me emotionally, I won't go into many details, but I want you to know that I have grown so much because of it and I am grateful for the hardships that Heavenly father has given me so that I have the chance to grow! I am so grateful for the power of the priesthood on the earth today and for worthy men who are willing and able to exercise their priesthood power whenever called upon! I know that my Heavenly Father loves me, and almost more importantly I know that I love my Heavenly Father! He has given me everything and I have never felt so much love for him before as I have this week! I understand fully the importance of sincere prayer and how I can turn to my heavenly father with anything! I know that these people in Gallup need me and that my Heavenly Father needs me here to help them find the truth!

We were able to see Vanessa a few times this week and she is doing so stellar! I swear she would probably get baptized without us...She is already living like everything within the gospel! She already had a testimony of the Book of Mormon too, she is just so awesome, and truly a blessing!

Sylvia and her Family are right on tract too! They are stellar people! They were all ready to go to church and really excited to go, but the ride that we had arranged for them never showed up...apparently there was some miscommunication or something!

We also saw Kimiko this week and she is going through a rough time! I just want to help her so badly! We weren't able to have a lesson with her or anything but we were able to let her know that we are here for her and she can give us a call if she ever needs to. We plan on seeing her sometime this week, so hopefully she is available, because she truly needs the happiness that this gospel brings!

Oh also Vanessa has this little niece who is one of the cutest, sassiest little girl's on the planet! She and our ward mission leader's girl would get along very well...both adorable and very much have a personality (think of Macy Knapp with possibly even more little girl attitude)

Deb still wants to be baptized but isn't sure when and she seems to be going about a lot of this logically. We are going to be keeping her in our prayers for sure and are going to have to help her understand that logic can only get her so far. We aren't entirely sure how to help her yet, but we have confidence that she will come around.

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

Love,

Shidasha Brown

It down poured!...monsoon season is here.

Yes...those are spider webbs! gross!!!

Lots of sunflowers grow around here and I love it!

Justine! One of my favorite people on the planet! (she is Sylvia's daughter)

Evan! One of the cutest little kids ever! (he is also Sylvia's child)

I am glad I am one of the missionaries that helped get two more people baptized.

Ya-te-hey! 

Funny you should ask about baptisms being postponed  because Bernell and Nichole who were on date for Aug. 30th to get married and baptized postponed until September 22nd because that is their anniversary of being together. And as for Sylvia and her family they came to church this Sunday except one of them and so the one won't be able to be baptized when the rest are because of certain requirements. So they might all potentially get bumped into the first week of September instead.

Words In Navaho that I know are shidasha which means sister (technically little sister) and hagoonee means goodbye and Gamalee (which I've used a couple times instead of shidasha) means Mormon. Atsili means younger brother, Shima means mom.

This week has been full of laughs with sister Hillam...she is so stinking funny! 

We met with Vanessa again this week and she is on date for baptism for September 10th!!! She said that it just feels right! We love her so much!!! Also this week we tried a couple of potential investigators and there was one who let us in and we were super excited only to find out that she let us in essentially so that she could teach us her religion instead and sort of bash on ours. She started saying some stuff about Joseph Smith that was not ok with us. Sister Hillam stopped her in her tracks and hit her with the spirit hard! She Bore one of the most powerful testimonies I have heard in a long time! We don't have her as a new investigator by any means but we did all we could! 

We talked to a kid named Daren and Gave him a Book of Mormon and as we were walking away saying goodbye he said "oh, um and I don't do drugs!" and we had to try so hard not to laugh! we were like "oh....um good! drugs are bad for you! keep it up!"

We taught Bernell and Nichole again and we talked about priesthood blessings. Bernell had gotten a priesthood blessing a while back and he talked about how they put the oil on his head. He was like "I just want to take a bath in that stuff!" Haha, we laughed so hard and explained that the oil on it's own (even though consecrated) wouldn't do anything...its when it's coupled with the blessing and his faith that it works!

Frank and Kim got Baptized this weekend and after the baptism we went into the bathroom to find Kim crying...we asked her if everything was ok and she said: "Yes, I'm just so happy!" I gave her a big long hug and she sniffling said "thanks for everything!" That melted my heart like crazy! She has had a long road, that lead her here and I'm glad that I was one of the missionaries that got to help her get to baptism!

We watched 17 Miracles with Deb this week and she loved it!!!

This week was overall pretty good!

Love you all! 

Hagoonee!

Shidasha Brown

Frank and Kim got Baptized this weekend!

We wrote this with chalk for one of our people that we've been trying and haven't been able to get a hold of.

Ha ha ha Eye lashes on the car!

When missionaries get bored and are waiting for people to show up for their baptismal fitting. The cup game.
Sister Hilliam

6 more investigators!

Yat-te-hey!

This week was great!!! We found 6 New investigators once again this week all of which seem like they will be very solid!!! We also handed out 11 Book of Mormons. We also were able to have a lesson with Belinda again! Sister Hillam is Great! She is a hardworking missionary and very funny too! She's very outgoing and looooooovvvvves tracting...so we did a lot of that this week! haha! 

Carlton and Kimiko are a couple of our new investigators and I love them soooo much! We taught them the Plan of Salvation and the spirit was sooooo strong! It felt amazing! they have a little girl who is two and family is so important to them! Typically you are supposed to start off with the lesson of the Restoration but we felt that we should teach the Plan of Salvation instead and I am so glad we did, because they really needed to hear it! And to make things even better we had another lesson that day with another one of our new investigators name Vanessa. We taught her the Restoration and the spirit was amazingly strong in that lesson as well! That day was sooooo spirit filled! It's days like those that make me completely forget about the bad days! 

As we were knocking doors this week Sister Hillam almost got bit by a dog! I thought it was hillarious...she didn't...haha can't blame her though!

Three of our new investigators Sylvia, Justine and Savannah are already on date for baptism!!! We love it! 

I love you all! 

Hagoonee!

Shidasha Brown

My new companion Sister Hilliam

Sister Cardon and I had an ongoing game of scrabble and she left this on the board before we left for transfers and I didn't see it untill later! love that girl!

Panda Express speaks the truth!

Waiting for the train! #Galluplife

Haha...need I say more!

The Chee's lego temple!

We were tracting and we randomly saw a full on bird wing!
​

Transfer week and I'm Staying in Gallup! But with a New companion!

Yat-teh-hey Hoogan haz'anigii! (hello family)

I am staying in Gallup and sadly Sister Cardon is leaving! My new companion is Sister Hillum who I've been on exchanges with a couple times and she's great so I think we'll get along just fine!!! Actually its kinda funny sister Hillum is coming from St. Michel's and Sister Cardon is going to St. Michel's so essentially they are just switching places! 

I forgot to mention last week that sister Cardon and I taught Young Men's on Sunday and it was a blast! We did a little role-play with them and it was a lot of fun!

This week has been crazy! (in a good way!)  We finally were able to have a lesson with Belinda (who we met my first week here...then haven't really been able to get a hold of too much because she works a lot!) The lesson went really well! She read the pamphlet that we left with her last time and she understands that baptism is a very serious thing and we were able to help her understand that we truly are there for her...too walk her through it all...and that we won't and don't want to force her into anything; however, we know that this will bring her and her family the most happiness!

We also were finally able to get in with the Rangers (a family we have also been trying to see...but were never home) and we finally were able to catch them! Violet a little nine year old in that family paraded us all around her neighborhood introducing us to all of her friends' parents (after there lesson of course)! It was one of the funniest, cutest things ever! Also somewhat effective too! We have a few potentials now!

We've also recently been trying to get to know the ward members better by having a lesson with them every once in a while (other than dinner appointments) It's proven very effective! We've gotten more referrals and member involvement in general and we love it!

On Friday we were going to have a lesson with Bernell and Nichole but they cancelled on us (which NEVER happens with them!) and we had brought out one of the youth with us too, but Because of it we were able to try a few other people and get a hold of a former investigator that we've been trying for ages now and if Bernell and Nichole hadn't cancelled on us then we wouldn't have gotten a hold of them that night!

We had a lesson with just Nichole the night after and she is soooooo ready for baptism!!!! she completely opened up to us and she is so excited to be baptized in August! We also got a call from Deb and she said she had gotten a priesthood blessing and said "I know it's true! The lord will make sure I can be with my boys...he'll make it all work out! I just want to be baptized already! I know its all true!" Oh my goodness that seriously made my day!!!!

This week we found 6 new investigators!!! Two of which we were not expecting whatsoever! ...a member brought a friend to church yesterday and he and his little sister had all sorts of questions! We taught them a little and gave them each a Book of Mormon and set up a return appointment with them! they are soooo interested too!

Oh we also had a lesson with the Chee's and durring the week they had built a temple out of legos! it was legit, and awesome to see that the temple is at the for-front of their minds! Oh also Saturday night as we were waiting for the call about transfers Sister Cardon pulled a prank on me and played our ringtone while I was in the bathroom! I rushed out of there to hear the news just to find out that she was messing around with me! she was rolling on the floor laughing!

We got matching shirts

Our district except the Zone Leaders

The Chee Family

One of the sweet sisters we visit with Sister Cardon

Sun glasses are now approved.

Testimony!

Yat-te-hey!

This week was great! We helped decorate a cake with the Waddlingtons for Antonio's Baptism on Monday

! We got to watch the fireworks from our home after planning! They brought back some old memories! Then Tuesday we had Antonio's baptism! He was soooooo happy!

We had Zone Conference on Wednesday! Which, Oh My Goodness, was so good! Every Zone Conference there is a vehicle competition to see who has been taking care of their vehicle the best and who's is the most clean and whatnot....Sister Cardon and I won!!!! We had a perfect score! 

The spirit at zone Conference was so strong! Especially when the departing missionaries gave their testimonies! One of the AP's bore their testimony and one thing he said hit me so hard! I loved it! He said: "My only regret is that I got to serve my Savior and Redeemer with all of my heart for only 2 years!"

We also visited a 99 year old widow (as a service visit...plus bishop asked us to every week) and she is the sweetest lady! She's teaching us how to crochet!

Deb is sooooooo ready for baptism but she has just one concern that is holding her back (I know she'll get past it though) she wants to be sealed to her kids but her husband that she is currently separated from wants nothing to do with the church so that creates a problem! She said whats the point if I won't be able to be with my kids in eternity? We are currently working on that one with her!

Frank and Kim Chee are getting baptized!!!!!!! They have been praying about it and finally decided it's time! (we've been praying and fasting for it too!)

We also re-put Nichole and Bernell on date for marriage and baptism for August 30th (yes they want to be married and baptized on the same day!)

This week has been really good! A lot of hard work and exact obedience, but I wouldn't have it any other way!

I know with all my heart that this Gospel is true! I have decided to live for it! I could die for it and that would be easy, but I don't want the easy road, Christ needs people to live for it!!! I love the Book of Mormon soooooo much! I know that it is true and that Joseph Smith was truly a man inspired and called by God to bring forth the restoration! I know that God loves me and each and everyone of his Children! I know that if I was the only one in the whole universe to make mistakes that he still would have died just for me! I have such a testimony of prayer! I know without a shadow of a doubt that heavenly father hears and answers prayers! I know that he is a God of miracles! We can access the powers of heaven as we are exactly obedient and submit our will to his! I love my savior and redeemer, and I know that I have but little to give in return and that's why I choose to give my all...because my all is the most I can give to him in return! I know that families can be together forever! I am so grateful for that knowledge as well! I wish I had time to share more of my testimony with you.

Hagoonee!

Gamalee Brown

4th Baptism

This week was pretty good! It was full of a lot of exchanges! The beginning of the week I took over Gallup again while sister Cardon went to Mission Leadership Council with Sister Monson.  I was with sister Millard! We visited Bernell and Nichole and OH MY GOODNESS!!! Bernell read 3 pages of the Book of Mormon...he's never really read it so that was incredible! 

Funny Moments
 -- Sister Cardon on Monday morning while we were heading out of the house turned the lights off                            with her nose because her hands were full. haha! I just about died laughing!

                       

  --This black guy came up to us with a confused look on his face while looking at my tag and said:                            "ooooohhhh, the Church of Jesus Christ!....I thought your name was Jesus Christ!" haha, It was so funny! Unfortunately we were in McDonalds (a member wanted something to eat before they came with us to our next lesson) so we couldn't Teach Testify Invite him because it was a business.

For Exchanges I was in Joseph City again and I got to have a little taste of what training might be like, since the sister I was with had only been in the field for 3 weeks! That was definitely interesting!

We have a baptism coming up tomorrow for Antonio who has taken the lessons before multiple times but finally decided that he wants to actually get baptized! Also on our way into the church to be there for his interview, a man drove up in a car and asked us when church was and so we told him and he said that he just really needed a change in his life! We told him we were missionaries for the church and gave him a Book of Mormon with our number in it and testified of the changes that it can and will make in his life! Wow, it's not everyday that people come seeking us out! We hope he gives us a call! He didn't live in the area so we couldn't really set up an apt. with him, but if he gives us a call we could at least refer him to some other missionaries!

Antonio's baptism Sister Cardon and Sister Brown

We also visited a 99 year old widow named Sister Olive! She has been all over the world! She's also the sweetest little old lady! The bishop asked us to visit all the widows in the ward so that's what we are doing now! I read a talk this morning that was titled "becoming a consecrated missionary" and after reading that I could never do missionary work the same....I have taken it upon myself to truly become a consecrated missionary and not just a good or even great missionary!

Zone Conference July 7th 

First experience eating Spam.
Bacon flavor it isn't bad.

My Name painted and given to me by the Chee family.

                               

Staying cool with frozen Yogurt

We taught the Plan of Salvation with chalk!!!

4th of July  Sister Cardon, and Sister Brown