December 23 - Week 14

12/23/13

Merry Christmas from Africa!

I am really looking forward to talking to family on Christmas. This week has been an ok one. A bit of a rough week, but it was expected. The week right before Christmas is pretty slow around here. Everyone is gone so there is no one to teach, and the appointments we did have mostly cancelled. We normally only have 2 lessons a day. I am having a good time with my new companion Elder Robins. He is a really great kid, and we have really been getting along. We have really similar personalities so it works out well. He is still quiet in lessons, but that is really normal for new missionaries. It has been great for me because I have had to start teaching everything in lessons. I have been relying a lot on the spirit to speak through me. It has been really awesome to do this.

I am doing great, and am really enjoying the work i am doing. I know that even when there is no one to teach we are out planting seeds for the next missionaries that will serve here. I will hear from you on Wednesday. We have mostly just been walking around and wishing people a merry Christmas. It is very weird doing this because we are sweating as we walk around in about 90-degree weather. It doesn't even seem like Christmas here, but I think it is a good thing. If it seemed like a normal Christmas I would miss home a lot more.

Training has been really fun. It has been fun to take elder Robins to all these new places, and to teach him new things about the culture. It is fun just to see his reactions about different things that I forgot were different about home. He is an awesome kid, and he has a great desire to serve. He is 19 years old. He is from Burley, Idaho; it is a small place like Cedar. He went to one year of College before he came. I really have been enjoying working with him.

Well it was a National Holiday last Monday: Reconciliation Day. Everyone I asked didn't even know what the holiday was. All they knew is it was a Holiday and they could have fun. About Mandela stuff has been everywhere. Everyone is still celebrating his life and things. Whenever we would walk into anyone's home the TV would be on with a program about Mandela. It is getting a bit annoying. Even the people here are getting annoyed by it.

I have been getting a whole bunch of ornaments this past week. My tree is overflowing, and I have been sticking them on the wall around it now. I have gotten them from cousins on the Jones side mostly. I will try to make a list of everyone, and send a picture. Thank you for all the wonderful letters, and notes.

So our Christmas schedule is pretty relaxed. We have a Christmas Devotional in the morning at 11, and then we are eating with all the other missionaries. We then have the rest of the day to do whatever we want. I think it will just be companion and myself, so we have all the time we need. I am planning on us being on around 8 am your time.

I am really enjoying this time of year here. It doesn't seem like Christmas at all here, but it is to the people. It makes it easy to just walk up to people’s doors and say "can we share the Christmas story with you." We then share with them in Luke 2 about Christ’s birth. It has been really nice to spread Christmas cheer and to somewhat feel of the Christmas spirit. I really look forward to hearing from you on Christmas. Today I am going to get myself a present. I am going to finally buy the black shoes I asked about. I love you and I'll hear from you on Wednesday.

Love

Your Son

Elder Mitchell York Brown

Thank You for the Christmas Ornaments and Christmas messages - Hanging on my Tree

December 16 - Week 13

Dear Family
Thank you so much for your word of support as I am starting training. I do still feel like a new missionary, but as I have had to take on responsibility it makes me feel more comfortable here. My new companions name is Elder Robins. He is from Idaho somewhere. He is an awesome kid. (Trainer is the dad, trainee the son or kid) We have had a lot of fun together! One new thing about my area is we got a new bishop. The first councilor that has been running the ward He is now the bishop. I think this will really help our area, and improve the work.

We have been opening Christmas gifts! I opened a few with elder Brasher, but now I am opening them with elder Robins. It is really fun, and fun to read the hints and things. Thank you for all the hard work you put into putting them all together. It is something fun for both of us to do!  Elder Brasher is now in Sunnyside Pretoria. I am not sure if this is a town or a township. But I told him thank you a whole bunch he was a great trainer. 

I have received all three packages you sent, and i don’t think they were missing anything. I really enjoyed all of them. We have watched a few of the movies already, but I think we will save one for Christmas day. It is really weird because it is less than ten days from Christmas, and it doesn't even seem like Christmas time. Without snow it is very different. The people really don’t act like they are in the Christmas spirit either. I think we will try to share some Christmas messages, and hopefully I will feel of the Christmas spirit. 

 My Fabric tree has been up since the first of the month! I got a lot of ornaments this past week. I got yours with you and dad, Calvin, Carson, Shasta, and Lucy last week. I will try to put a picture on drop box of it today with all the ornaments on the tree.  Thanks to everyone that sent a note and/or ornament. 

So we are going to go to our church to call and skype.  The church has internet, and i think it is semi fast, so I hope I will be able to see you on skype Christmas day.  

So this week has been good, but not very productive. We had transfers on Tuesday, so we didn't get to the area tell very late, and it had been raining all day. The people we had scheduled to meet were in dirt areas, so we couldn’t drive to them, and we ended up cancelling. The rest of the week we have also had a bunch of Cancellations. Around this time of year everyone is going home with family for the holidays,  and so there is like no one home. The most lessons we had this week was 3. So it was a bit disappointing because we normally have like 6 or 7 a day. It was a good week though with elder robins, and we are having fun together. All around the mission the work slows down in December, but this is normal.
 It will be wonderful to have a new bishop! This will be great because we will be able to push forward with the work and get help from the ward. I don’t really have anything too exciting to tell you, so sorry. Our area is still struggling, and its been a long time since we had a baptism. A lot of our solid investigators have become flaky, so we have been trying to find new investigators this past week. 
One thing that is very good is i have not been feeling homesick, or missing home this week. I think taking on the responsibility of being the trainer, and the one in charge, I have gotten over my homesickness. This has made it a really good week.

Thank you for all the updated about things.  Love you, and miss you.

Love

Elder Mitchell Brown

December 9, 2013 - Week 12

The big news this week in South Africa was the passing of Nelson Mandela. The Death of Mandela has not been to crazy. 

We haven’t really done anything to special for his death. We got a text from the president to make sure we were careful, and watched for people rioting. He has been everywhere in the new here. Every home we go into has on the news, and he is on every single program.

The weather has been good here this past week. We have had a lot of cloudy weather, and it has kept it nice and cool here. I am really grateful for the nice weather. It has rained a bit, but not a ton.  I wish we had snow here, but I am glad it isn’t cold. It is weird for people to be talking about Christmas because there is no snow. It doesn't even seem like Christmas time. Not having a white Christmas will be weird.

Thank you for the Christmas presents. We have been trying to open a present every night. I am grateful just to have a tree and presents, so don’t worry about it being made of fabric.  It means a lot to open a present every night. You but a lot of effort into finding all those scriptures for each one.  I will send a picture of the tree next week.

It doesn’t seem like Christmas. We see a few houses with decorations, but not many. In the malls there are decorations all around, so it brings the Christmas spirit a little bit.

So big news about the new companion. I am going to be a trainer. I get to train a new missionary that is just coming out of the MTC. I have a training meeting later today, and then I meet him in the morning. I am pretty nervous about training. I hope I can be a good example. I feel like I still don’t know what I am doing as a missionary, but I guess if president was inspired then I need to train. I will let you know next week who my son is. In mission terms you call your trainer your father, and your trainee your son.

Thank you so much for the packages. I got 2 of them this week from you. The Mexican food, and the DVDs. I ate some Mexican food, and it was really good! I miss Costa Vida a whole bunch, so it was good to have some Mexican food.

I am missing you during this holiday season, but I know I am where I need to be. I hope everyone is doing well. I love you and I am hoping you can continue to stay positive.

Love Elder Mitchell Brown

Mitchell Thanksgiving Meal - Hawaiian Hamburger

This little boy is a members son. He is so crazy. He always is running around the neighborhood, and he is always dirty. When we drive up in our car he always opens our door, and he climbed up on my lap. 

December 1, 2013 - Week 11

Dear Family and Friends 

All is well here. My week has gone much better than last week. We still are struggling with lessons cancelling, but even the lessons I do teach are helping to uplift me every day. This is what keeps me going is feeling the spirit speaking through me during lessons. I am pretty exhausted every day, but it is a miracle  I keep pushing forward no matter what. 

We went out to eat with one of our good members brother Thato on Thanksgiving. Other than that we just had a normal day.  I was very thankful for all i have. I love this time of thanksgiving. I have found as i pray when i pray for more i am thankful for it helps a lot. The weather hasnt been to bad lately. It is really cool all the lightining we get here. Joberg is the lightning capital of the world. It reminds me of the lightning storms we had before i left. 

I have gotten better at teaching the lessons.  when I first got out I would just sit during lessons, and bare testimony of the things Elder Brasher had said.  Now I am leading lessons and sometimes doing most of the talking.  this has made the work lots more fun.  The days go by much faster.  When I start speaking my mouth is just filled with words.  On some lessons I can just keep rambling on about one topic. I know I am being helped. 

Our area is going well.  We have several investigators we are meeting with.  In our area of Hospital View there are many different situations of living.  The people are very interesting.  There are some nice homes, one room homes, and then tin shacks.  We are meeting people in all sorts of situations.  I see the humble situations people are living in and it is very humbling.  They have no idea of the things they are missing out on.  They are still very happy with what they have.  There are townships and squatter camps.  The township has electricity and the squatter camp doesn't.  

The activity in our ward is really down.  We have working hard to get some members back to church.  Our ward is still struggling but definitely improving.  We do have some really good member families.  We probably get fed around 3 to 4 times a week.  

Thank you for everything you have done for me. Thank you for the support as I am on my mission.  I miss you but know I am doing the right thing.  

Love 

Elder Mitchell Brown

Pictures November 25 - Streets Hospital View Area in South Africa

November 25, 2013 Week 10

The weather seems to be really hot here. I don’t know if it is just that my body is getting ready for winter or what. It is nice because we have the car everyday, but when we are teaching lessons in tin shacks they just heat up like an oven. There are just a few members we are meeting with that have started coming back to church more which has been great. The reactivations have been going well, it just makes the other work go slow because all our time is focused on them.

Transfers are on the 12th. I think I will get a new companion and stay in this area. But I have no idea. A lot of different things could happen. Funny story we thought thanksgiving was this last week, so we went out and ate, and I missed the family a lot. But now we found out it isn’t until this week, so I hope I am not to homesick again on this Thursday. I know if I truly give thanks for all I have been given it will go much better.

The teaching is going well. It is a bit frustrating sometimes because we have a lot of jokesters that just cancel on us. But we are working a lot with the ward right now, so we don’t have a lot of baptisms scheduled. 

Just know all is well, and the work continues. Tell everyone I love them.

Love 

Elder Mitchell Brown

Week 9 - 11/18/13

The week has gone well. It has been kind of a long week though. I am very glad that it is over and a new week has begun. We had some tough lessons, and just some really long days. I have been pretty tired this whole week, and I'm sure this is why I am catching a cold.It has deffinetly been getting much hotter here. The heat is getting pretty bad, and it is pretty hot with a collar on. There have been no mesquitos in my area, so no worries about Malaria.  I miss the snow, and it would be nice to have right now because it is so hot. You asked about some of the people we are teaching. In my area it is all black. I have only seen one other white person there.  All the people we teach are black. We have a lot of investigators, plus we are busy visiting less active members in our ward.  The people are humble. In the area we serve we drive about 18Kilometers to get there.  Most of the homes are one room , but I wouldn't exactly call them shacks.  Most have one big bed,  a little makeshift kitchen with a cooktop and little oven, some chairs, and believe it or not a TV.  I feel very humble and grateful because these nice members these small homes still feed us a big meal, even if they don't have much.  All of these little room homes have electricity.  Water and toilets are outside the home and shared between homes.  I see a change in peoples eyes as I teach them.  I know I am doing the Lord's work.  I miss home but know I am doing the right thing.LoveElder Mitchell Brown

Pictures November 11,13

Missing the cold weather in the States.  The elders cleaned out their freezer and had a bucket of ice that they made into a SNOWMAN 

Week 8 - November 10,13

Dear Family and Friends                                                        November 11, 2013

               All is well here. My week has been great. We actually got a lot of work done because we didn’t have a lot of meetings. We had six investigators come to sacrament yesterday, which was great. Our ward is still kind of struggling with activity. 

               Our weather is fairly nice. This past week it has started to get pretty hot. I don’t know if it is just cause my blood is getting thick because I’m used to cold at this time or what. But our apartment does not have an AC. It is a lot like Hawaii nowhere has ac. But it has a lot of windows, so it hasn’t got to hot there, and luckily we are never there in the middle of the day.

        Well I am not eating anything weird. The only different thing i am eating is pop. The only way I can describe it is like a little bit harder type of cream of rice. I actually like it, and it is pretty good.

        I am actually using my ancestor book every few days. In my personal study I read a story almost every few days. It is really cool to learn more about my ancestors, and I am really grateful for them. Thank you so much for making that book for me.

      The discussions are going well. With Partson we have ran into a problem because he is not legally married here in South Africa, he was tribally married in Zimbabwe. So until he has a marriage certificate he cannot get baptized. This is kind of sad because he was progressing so fast. We have a few other investigators, but non-that are really progressing fast.

       We have been working with less actives to try to boost our ward. In lessons I am doing much better. I am actually leading lessons like doing most the talking instead of just sitting there. Before I would just bear testimony on things. I have learned to open my mouth and the Holy Ghost has just filled my mouth with what I need to say. This is really cool because I am learning to trust the lord. This also referees back to my patriarchal blessing when it tells me in the second or third paragraph to trust in the Lord. I am learning this principal.                   All is going well here. Tell everyone Hello for me, and that I love them.

Love 

Elder Brown

November 4 - Week 7

MITCHELL SOUNDS VERY GOOD AND UPBEAT- EXCERPTS FROM HIS FAMILY EMAIL AND A FEW PICTURES OF HIS FLAT (APARTMENT) 
Had a Halloween  meeting with Elder Bednar  and it was very cool. So he pretty much stood at the pulpit and taught a class. We could stand and ask questions the whole time. My district sat on the front 2 rows, so i was right in front of him. This was very cool to be so close to him, and I could deffinetly feel of his presence. Most of the missionaries met in one chapel, but the missionaries that are way up south were in another chapel, and they recieved it by broadcast. This was such a cool experience. After our distract went to a resturant called Spur, and ate unlimited ribs and wings for our Halloween party, this was very fun.
I have been blessed a lot because I have not been to homesick. I do think of home a lot, but not in a bad way. 
The weather here is very nice. It gets pretty hot some days, but if it is really hot in the morning then we know it is going to rain latter on. The rain is very nice because it keeps it cool. It isnt too much of a burden when it rains because of our car full time. It doesn't get too cold either.  So i do drive every other day. We trade off every other day. Our car is a piece. It is a Chevy Aveo. The cars here are so week, and the engines are so small. I miss my fast car. But i have gotten used to the left hand side of the road. Even in my dreams i dream i am driving on the left side. But driving isnt to crazy. Just like home. This week has gone well. Kind of a slow week because we went to the missinon office twice this week. Once for new missionary orientation, and the other for Bednar. So this made our number of lessons this week pretty low. But we have one very great investigator named Partson. He was supposed to be babtised the end of this month, but we ran into one problem. He was tribally married in Zimbobwe, so it is not legal in South Africa. So we are trying to get him to pay Lebola which is like giving cows, and then get a marriage certificate so he can be babtised. We have a few other investigators, but not any that are as good as him. I am deffinetly being blessed, and the spirit is guiding me. I am being comforted, and not missing home to much. I am getting into the work well. 
Love Elder Mitchell Brown

October 29- Week 6

Well South Africa has been pretty sweet so far. It doesn't even feel like I am in Africa. I have really been enjoying my mission so far. The time is flying by, and before I know it I will be on my way home. 

The area I am serving in is named Hospital View. This is also the name of the ward I am serving in. This has been such a great area for me to start off in. The people are some of the nicest in the world. The African people are so humble and willing to listen to our message. Most of them already have a background knowledge about Christ. This makes things much easier when teaching. The only thing that makes it hard is understanding people. Mostly everyone speaks good english, but they all have heavy accents. 

The place I like in is about 20 min from my area. I like in a very nice place in Kempton Park. I feel very safe here. I live in a super nice flat(appartment). 

I have an awesome companion who I really enjoy. His name is Elder Brasher, and he is from Idaho Falls, Idaho. It is very nice to have an American Companinon to aclimate me to the culture. 

I haven't eaten anything to interesting. The only knew things here are POP and Kota. They are both pretty good, and not weird. 

I am really enjoying mission, and my testimony is growing.

Johannesburg Temple

Elder Brown

BAPTISM - OCT 19

10/26/13 Week 5

All is well here.  You asked if i could understand people -Everyone here speaks english. I have learned a few words in Spadi because that is prominent in our area. But the click language is Lossa, or something like that. I have learned a few words, but with everyone speaking english Im not picking it up too fast. The only "weird" thing i have eaten is pop, and Kota. Kota is this weird meat sandwich with slap chips(french fries). You'll have to look it up online. They are pretty good.   Elder Brasher and I have become great friends, and we take care of each other a lot. He has made me feel so welcome, and we have become brothers.I have gained a testimony that this life is not easy, and if we endure we will be greatly blessed. I am not just enduring, i am actually having a lot of fun. There are still those hard days, but I make it through. I know I am doing the right thing, and the people here really need the gospel in there lifes. 

Week 4 - October 14

Mitchell first Baptism 

All is going well here, and time is flying by. This next weekend I am babtizing one of our investigators. His name is Sindisani, and he is a great guy. He has been teaching me so much. I feel kind of bad babtizing him because Elder Brasher my companion was one of the original missionaries teaching him. Exciting Stuff.

I really miss seeing mountains let alone going up. I miss just riding up the mountain in the truck and enjoying the cool air.  I hope the deer hunt goes well. I will miss those early mornings riding up the mountain. Hunting season is one of my favorite times of the year.

Most the people speak Zulu in our area, but most do speak english. Some do not understand english very well, but for the most part they do. I have been able to understand most people very well. The one thing we have to do in our lessons is teach very simple. We must almost teach like they are children so they can understand.

I have definetly been very humbled by peoples living conditions. They do live in mostly huts, but some are more like homes. The plumping is mostly outdoor water, not in there huts. There are running toilets in most places that are shared by a few homes. There are also some very nice homes we visit, so there is a great contrast. I am very greatful for a our big home, and I know people would be amazed at the living conditions I come from. But my flat is very nice. Just like living at home. 

Everything has been going pretty well. I have realized this is very hard work. I miss you and everyone else very much. You are on my mind all the time. I think of you constantly. I have been working hard, and it is making the time pass very quickly. Thank you very much for your encouragement, and your great example all through my life. I realize now how good i had it growing up. Yesterday in church was the primary program. This reminded me of you mom a whole lot. I miss you singing primary hymns, but the little kids made me happy, and i enjoyed the program.

Mitchell Week 3 - October 7

So my area is called Hospital View, and its a part of Tembisa, which is all a part of Jo-berg. My companion is Elder Brasher from Idaho. He has been a great trainer. We have had some awesome investigators so far, and Sindisoni is on track for babtizm the end of this month. Hospital view is a township. So it is some homes, and a lot of make shift homes, but everyone has electricity. It has been very humbling to be in these areas. The people have been very awesome, and very kind. Except for the drunk people. 
My living circumstances are great. We stay in a place called Kempton Park wich is about 15 min from Hospital view. Our flat is very nice. New appliances, two bathrooms, nice living area. It is like a condo. In Hospital view there are a lot of different situations of people. Some live in shacks, but some are very nice homes. Everything has fences around it here. Even the little shacks have fences. Everyone here has a tv even if there home is small, and like a shack. Most the streets are paved, but very narrow. The driving here is crazy, and pretty mush anything is legal. The taxis are allowed to just turn on there flashers, and that means anything goes, so they could just cut our infront of you. We also have a car everyday. In our flat it is just me and elder Brasher, so just a 2 man flat. 
My health is very well. We shop at a grocery store like in the states.  The food is different brands, but mostly the same. In our place we have a stove, oven, and microwave.  My flat is very nice. I will try my best to stay healthy.    I have been blessed my whole life, and being out here I see all I  have been blessed with and I am very humbled.

Mitchell is wandering among the shacks, tin roof houses and decrepit structures of Tembisa, North of Johannesburg, South Africa

Tuesday October 1 - Mission Home and Assigned 1st Area and Companion

Mitchell Companion and Trainer 

 Elder Brasher from Idaho Falls, Idaho.  

Assigned to serve north of 

Johannesburg in the Centurion Zone. 

Mitchell arriving at the Mission Home- Happy to see he has luggage.

Mitchell and companion/trainer - Elder Jacob Brasher

Mission President - President Craig Omer and Sister Omer

MTC Choir - September 29,13

Today the MTC choir performed in three sacrament meetings.  Sister Reber sent us the following pictures.  It is fun to see Mitchell.  Sister Reber said they sounded wonderful and looked amazing.

THEN AND NOW -Elder Brown

The MTC President and his wife are amazing people.  Sister Reber the Presidents wife has kept us connected to our elder by sending many photos, and communicating with us by email.  She is doing a presentation to the elders as they leave the MTC on Monday. She asked for a photo of our missionary before they left on mission doing an activity they enjoyed.  We sent a couple of pictures of Mitchell and this is the photo Sister Reber picked.  We think she did an awesome job of getting the corresponding picture of Elder Brown with his scriptures.

Mitchell MTC Group

Johannesburg Temple - WEEK 1

Elder Brown Week 1

Mitchell sent his first email from the MTC on 9/26/13

He answered all the questions we were worried about in his 

travel and getting adjusted to mission life.

He got his luggage a few days after arriving, he said 

the food is good and he has slept well.  He likes his

companion and gets along with him, and really

 enjoys the other elders in his zone.  The days are long 

and sometimes boring he said, but he is learning a lot. 

 It took him a few days to catch up on sleep and get

 over jet lag.  He caught a cold but feeling well now.  

They went to Johannesburg temple and he said it was awsome. 

Two native elders went through the temple for the first time.  

Mitchell will leave the MTC on Tuesday October 1.  

His p-day will then be Monday so we will not hear 

from him until the following week.  He sounds 

and looks happy in these pictures.  

Appreciate Sister Reber the MTC presidents 

wife for emailing us picture.

Elders visit the Johannesburg Temple

Mitchell peeking out at the end

Johannesburg South Africa Temple

Candy Bar Treat - MTC