Dear
Mom,
Time is really hard to
comprehend. I feel so confused and almost feel I am living in a dream as
I look back over events in my life and have a feeling that it was just
yesterday. It is crazy to look back on school and
feel like it was just a few months ago! It doesn’t feel like I have been out
for 191/2 months, with only 3 to go! I can't believe it has gone so fast. At
the same time it has gone pretty slow. A mission is not easy, and I don’t blame
you for counting down. I guess the
important thing is just not to always be focusing on that- counting down. I know if I did, it would make me super home sick! I can't believe that I am now down to
100 days!!! I know I need to keep working hard, and appreciate this time I have
as a missionary. I will never be able to do this again, or be in this situation
again. President didn't really tell me much in my interview about area's
or anything. I guess from what I have seen on mission I will probably be going
to another area, before coming home.
The question is will I stay here in Randburg for another transfer, and
then to my last area for my last transfer. I guess only time can tell.
I am loving my area! I especially love the members here! We
don't have a lot of people to teach, but we have been working pretty hard the
last few weeks planting seeds, and we can see a lot of potential coming, so the
area should be picking up soon. I would like to stay to see it happen, but I
don't know. Elder Jackson is a fun companion, and he likes to work hard which
is good!
I will
still be here in Randburg on Mother's Day. The transfer ends on the 12th of May. We have
kind of started to make plans for skyping! We have a few members that have
internet and computers that have offered for us to come to there homes. We will
try to start finalizing plans for that probably this next week. I think that
time will work great - 8 to 11 am for you!
I can
not believe it is Finals week at
SUU and that school will be ending! I have now missed two school years! Again
comprehending time is hard, it has zoomed by. I am glad that
Randall and Katrina were able to find a place, and to get all there things
packed into a truck. I am sure that will be fun to have them sleep over for a
few days, and to have them around. You will have to tell Katrina congrats for
me on the Graduation. I hope that Blake can make it through finals ok. I know
he has had some hard classes!!
Baptism went great on Sunday!!! Elder
Jackson baptized Welhemina, and I baptized Esther. The program and everything
went great! We had some good
members participate in the program! It is nice to have a good ward that we can
rely on. All the baptism's I have had previously in township, we as the
missionaries were responsible for doing everything!! They will make some great members!! I hope they can continue
to make good relationships with the members. I think it is a bit difficult with
a lot of the members being white in this ward! On a more spiritual note it was
very fantastic. It is always very special to be able to baptize someone, and exercise
the Priesthood. I always get a bit nervous when baptizing someone, but it ran
very smooth. I could feel the spirit very strong, and it was a wonderful
experience. I guess it was a bit funny on Elder Jacksons side! He was nervous
to baptize Welhemina because she is a bit bigger. When he baptized her she just
basically fell over in the water, and started squirming haha!! She thought she
was going to drown! But she didn't, and it went fine.
Thanks for asking about my clothes. I am doing
alright with clothes. My shirts are all good, and I was happy to get the cuff
link shirt in your birthday package - so thank you! I might have to buy a sweater or two for the
winter! I have bought a few pairs of pants that I wore in the hot months when
we did not wear suit coats. But
really all my clothes are just fine.
Im sorry
I do not have much to report on our teaching, because we really haven't been
teaching too much. It has been a good and productive week, but not a lot of
lessons. We have been working really hard to find people and plant seeds. It is
good because we have seen a lot of potential coming, so I think the next few
weeks will be really good with work. Jackie is doing ok. She didn't smoke for 5
days, which is amazing considering she hasn't gone a day in 34 years without
it. She did relapse a bit, but she is still doing great. I think she is a bit
hard on herself. She is an amazing lady. We always have good spiritual lessons
with her. I just feel such a strong spirit within her. I know that Satan is
battling against her, and doesn't want her to overcome her challenges. I know
that she will be a strong member! She finally came to church this week, which
was amazing. She has missed 3 weeks. She was grateful for your emails, and I am
too! Thank you for supporting her, and bearing your testimony to her. She
always tells me what a strong mother I have, and I just tell here ya I
know!
We found
a good place to do some contacting with our banner! We are going to try and do
it this week on Wednesday, and I will get pictures!
When we
were scoping out where to do our contacting, we met a Korean guy! He was really
cool, and he knew a lot about the church. He was a bit skeptical, but we gave
him a Book of Mormon, and invited him to read it. We have really been praying
for him to call us, and we really hope he will. We talked to him in the mall
for like 25 minutes!
Last
Monday Elder Jackson and I went to the Croc Farm on P-Day! It was a crocodile farm, with
a bunch of different sized crocs. We got to hold a bunch of stuff! Like a baby
croc, a python, and a trianchala!! I got a bunch of pictures, but for some
reason they won't upload, so I will try again next week.
I guess
we have really just been trying to work with members still, because that is all
we can do in this area. We are praying that we will start to get some good
referrals in the coming weeks. I am constantly having spiritual experiences.
Like being guided to certain situations. I know that nothing is a coincidence,
or an accident. I know we are
guided and it is not just by chance that things happen. The Lord really is in every aspect of our work! It is great
to be serving him, and to know that I am doing his work, and that he will
constantly be guiding us if we rely on him. I hope you have a good week, and
know I love you!
Love
Your son
Elder Brown
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