Homeward Bound

Last Day In South Africa - Night at the Mission Home

August 2,15 - Final Email

Dear Mom,

It has been a very surreal week indeed. To be honest it still doesn't seem like I am coming home. It just seems like I am approaching another transfer. It seems like my mission will never end. Non the less I am so grateful to be returning home in a few days. I am eternally grateful for the experiences I have had over the last two years! I have learned so much, and have grown a lot. I don't see a lot of that growth now, but I think as I return home I will see much more of it. I am sad to be leaving so much behind here. I have met so many wonderful people that I am going to miss dearly. I know I will keep in contact with them, and we will stay together in the gospel. My testimony has grown so much, and I am just so grateful for this wonderful restored gospel. I just pray that I can stay strong in the gospel. 

It is so weird that this is my last email.  I am also having mixed emotions about coming home. I think for the most part I am very happy and just excited to see you especially, and the rest of the family. I am just relieved though to be done with my mission. It has been a hard two years, and I have learned so much. I am just so grateful for the gospel and all I have learned. I have really seen how living the gospel can bless me, and also others. It has been a blessing to see the gospel effect others.  I am sure I will be emotional returning home, so don't judge me if I cry like a baby ;)

 I will spend the night at the mission home. We will go there tonight and have dinner and stuff with the President and Sister Dunn. 

 So today I will just finishing packing, because I am already mostly done. We are then going to the restaurant Carnivore to eat some exotic meat. We have to be to the mission office at 4 pm today with our bags. We are then being transported to the mission home. Tomorrow morning we will go meet with the new missionaries from MTC , then begin our transfer meeting which starts at 10:30. I really don't know the plan for Tuesday afternoon.   I know we might go to the apartheid museum with the Dunn's. I think you probably know more about that from looking at Sister Dunn’s  blog. We will be doing the same thing the other departing missionaries have been doing. We will then be dropped off at the airport on Tuesday night probably a few hours before the flight. We leave Jo-burg at 7:20p.m. and as you said that will be 11:20 am for you . 

It has been a good week. I guess there has been a lot of tying up loose ends. I have really just been trying to focus on missionary work as it was my last week as a full time missionary. We are still teaching a lot of investigators. I had my final interview with President Dunn on Friday, so I missed my last District meeting. It was a great interview, and he just gave me great council and advice about returning home. I am so grateful for him and Sister Dunn. They have been such a great support to me, and really just a great example I want to follow. 

I don't really know what else to tell you. WE are only staying for a short time at the internet cafe today.  I will tell you more about the week when I see you on Wednesday. It has just been a bit sad to say goodbye to people, but I know I will try not to loose contact with them. I am so excited to see you in a few days time. I pray that you will be kept safe and well until I return home. I love you and I am so grateful for all you do for me. 

Love

Your son

MITCHELL HOMECOMING - SUNDAY AUGUST 9

Jackie Baptism and reuniting with old friends

July 27, 15

Dear Mom,

It has been a good week, and I am so excited to be coming home in 9 days!! It is so weird, and it really doesn't seem real to me. I guess it will start to feel more real as this week goes on. 

Jackie's baptism was wonderful, and it was an amazing experience. It was just great to see her finally make it to baptism. She has wanted it for so long, and it is great she has finally made it! The ward was great to be there to support, and it was really fun to see a lot of the ward members again! Jackie asked me to give a talk on baptism, and it was good. The program went well. The spirit was so strong at the baptism, and I am just happy. Jackie and Nathan were very excited to see me. 

Elder Bua was supportive, but it seems like he didn't really want to be there, grateful he was willing to come with me to the baptism.

 The week went well. Our best investigator still is Paballo, and he is a sweet young man. He will probably be baptized the week after I leave, but it is ok. Probably one of the coolest experiences was returning to Secunda this past Thursday. It was just sweet to be back out there, and to visit people. The coolest people to see were Fortune Mnisi, and Steve and Leoba. I baptized Leoba, and I was teaching Steve and he was baptized right after I left. They now have a pretty big group in Emba. Remember when I was trying to start that. Steve is also the group leader!! It was just so great to see how strong Steve and Leoba are now in the gospel!!

We have few other ladies that we are teaching that are coming to church. They might also be baptized next month. Most of the investigators we have are part member families. This one lady named Joyce is a mother to a member, and she loves the gospel. It is just annoying that people are so slow to understand! I get frustrated sometimes, but I am trying to be patient. It is so great to teach and I still love sharing the gospel. I don't think I will ever get tired of sharing the gospel. I would love to go out with the missionaries when I get back to just have those teaching experiences. 

I have not started to pack andI have not given away too much yet.  I will be more focused on packing this week and giving things away! I think I will give away a lot of my dress clothes. 

I am thinking about buying another suit??  I looked at my suit and it is made out of cotton, and it is starting to fade, and the suits here are really cheap. I can get a nice polyester suit for about 1750 Rand, which is $145. I know I will get another suit soon after I get home anyways, so it would be cheaper to get a new one here.

 Next Tuesday there are 22 of us leaving at the same time. There are a lot from my MTC group that will be going with me. Loveless will be on the plane with me, and Pederson. I know sister Dunn will post all our pictures on her blog that last Monday, so you will see everyone. I am not sure how many will be coming to Salt Lake, but I think a lot. 

I don't think there is anything I need. You can make a dental appointment with dad for me to get a check up, and to get my teeth cleaned sometime soon after returning! Thank you for asking about Elder Bau.  We are pretty much the same I would say! Like I have tried to talk to him, but he just ignores me. I will not give up and try to get him to open up this week.   I wish I knew what is wrong. I just have to endure the last week though, and it really isn't too bad! I have a lot of other people to talk to. Thankful for the other missionaries in the building. 

Excited to have Randall and Ashley come to the Salt Lake Airport.  Tell them thank you and send me their phone numbers so I can contact them if I need to.  I am super excited to be returning home soon. I am just trying to work hard, and prepare to return home. I am sad to think this time of service will be ending, but I know it is time to move on. I have learned so much, and my testimony has grown so much. I wouldn't have been able to learn what I have learned anywhere else! I am excited to share all my different experiences with you and the family upon my return. I hope you have a good week, and don't stress to much about preparing for me to get home. I will be happy to just be home with you. 

Love

Your Son

Elder Mitchell Brown

Email from Bishops wife in Mitchell Ward - July 26, 15

Sister Brown
It was wonderful to have Elder Brown attend Jackie's baptism today. She has a great love for the missionaries and for Elder Brown in particular. He played a big part in preparing her for baptism. We wish him well for his last week on mission. I'm sure you are excited to have him come home. 
Love 
The Pienaar Family