Interviews with the Mission President - Pictures of Mitchell December 19, 14

Interviews at the Mission Presidents House.  Found these pictures on Sister Dunn's blog page.  The missionaries are performing a musical number.  Mitchell on the far left in light blue tie.  

Meeting at the Presidents House - Elders filling out a survey.  Mitchell in the light blue tie 

Silly Pictures with companion - Elder Maraetetea

Zone Conference - Check out who is next to Sister and President Dunn on the front row with RED socks.
Who's boy is that ????? 

December 15, 14 - Week 64

Dear Mom, 

It has been a good week. I am very glad I got your package. The mice had not eaten the Chex mix yet. It was actually still really good, and I have been eating it!! You asked what was in the package (mailed in August )  there was the chex mix, President Dunn's CD, ties, deodorant, candy, and stuff to celebrate one year!! I loved your decoration of the inside of the box!! I think that everything was in there. All the stuff you had written on the outside was in there. 

I will have to get on and see the pictures from the zone conference. I am glad you saw my new suit. I am also glad you liked my red socks haha!! I have bought a few pairs of colorful socks because I am bored of just black!

Our Zone Conference with Elder Cook went really well!! It was really uplifting and inspiring. We had a lot of cool topics, and things we talked about. It was a long meeting though, like 7 hours!! We didn't have interviews with him though. I do have interviews with President Dunn this upcoming Friday though. 

It was really nice to see other missionaries, and just talk and stuff with them. I had a really fun time with Elder Saunders who was in the MTC with me. I am pretty sure I will do a lot with him when I come home. He is not in my zone, but there were 2 other zones there. My zone I  think is the smallest, or one of the smallest. 

The postal strike must be slowing ending.  Other missionaries have also been getting packages. I don't think any of them are Christmas packages though. I think they are packages that were send back in August, September, and October mostly. I have not gotten any other letter yet. Yeah don't worry about a package. I don't care if other missionaries get packages and I don't. Like we have talked about it can just buy stuff. Things are really cheap here.  You can send my Christmas  package in a couple months when the strike is fully over. 

You asked about what we will do on Christmas.  On Christmas it will be similar to last year. We will be going to Roodeport to meet with like all the other missionaries and have devotional. We will have breakfast in the morning at 9, then watch some Christmas movie, and then finish with playing sports. We will finish that around 1 to 2, then head back to our flat, and then to the church to skype. We also have a Christmas lunch that the stake is putting on for the missionaries that will be on Saturday. 

This last Satruday we had our ward Christmas party. It was ok, but kind of boring. They had like jumping castles for the little kids, and an ice cream machine. But then there wasn't really anything for the adults to do the whole time. It was nice thought to go and eat and just relax. 

The week has been pretty good. The zone conference was pretty good. I guess the work has not slowed down much more, but it is still slow. We have been staying busy with members and Recent converts, and less actives. We didn't teach like any investigators this last week. I think we taught like 10 investigator lessons. Then like 10 member, RC, and LA's. We are still trying to find new people. We have found a few new people this last week. We just need to keep finding those that are prepared. It think this week we will try to just walk down the street and share the Christmas story. 

I guess the big news of this week is I am now in a threesome. I have 2 companions right now. Elder Puis from Kenya has now joined us. He was in Vosloorus 1. His companion was waiting for a visa to Mozambique. He got his visa Saturday night, and flew out this morning. So the three of us now are covering both Vosloorus area's, so that will be stressful. I don't think Elder Puis really likes us(me and Elder Maraetefau) much either. We have gotten along well the past night as we have been together.  We will most likely finish out the transfer in the threesome. We have three weeks left in this transfer.

I think I have become more mature as a missionary from last year, and I think I am doing better than last December when I was in Hospital View with Elder Robins.  Our teaching got really slow and because we were not busy I was missing home and Christmas activities.    

Well I am glad to hear everything is going well there. It sounds like it is a busy holiday season, and you are running back and forth a lot! I pray that you are not too overwhelmed with things you are doing. I miss the holiday seasons. It really is different here. It doesn't seem like Christmas at all because it isn't the same as back home. I guess the Christmas spirit comes with traditions and fun things with family. I guess it is nice I don't really have the Christmas spirit because it would make me homesick. 

You will have to tell Calvin Happy Birthday for me. That is weird to think he will be getting his license!! I hope he enjoys his birthday and doesn't feel like he is forgotten with all the Christmas buzz. 

Well I love you and I look forward to hearing from you when skyping next week. I did get Ashley’s email, and I think everything is set with skyp accouts.  WE will just finalize next monday. I love you and have a good week. 

Love

Your son

Elder Mitchell Brown

December 8, 14 - Week 63

Dear Mom and Dad

Well this week has been a good one. We have been busy this week, and taught more lessons. We have still been struggling a lot with teaching investigators, but we met a lot of recent converts this last week. We have continued our finding efforts, and we have not had a ton of success. We go out for about an hour a day and just walk around the streets and talk to people. This is the most effective way in our area. I really don't like knocking on doors because it just isn't very effective. I have in my past area's, but not really her in Voosloros.  

A bit of a disappointment yesterday at church. We only had 2 investigators come to church. In the past we have had about 10 every week. Our investigators aren't really leaving for the holidays, they are just not serious anymore, and we need to drop them. They have been cancelling appointments, and not coming to church. It has been a bit frustrating, but we are working through it. 

At the moment our most promising investigator is Zanle. She has been coming to church for about 5 weeks. She is so interested in the gospel, and has so many questions for us. We saw her 2 times this last week. I will keep you up to speed on a baptism date. 

During the Holiday people go "home", like were there family is from. Most people head to Limpopo. Also people just get very busy with the holidays, so they don't have time for us as missionaries, especially our investigators because they don't really have us at the top of their priorities. The members and recent converts will still let us come and teach them. The children get out of school most of December. Most of them end this week. It is there summer break. So they start into a new school year in January. They only get like one month for summer. 

 I am able to see dropbox pictures.  I really enjoy getting your pictures. It is fun to see family and events that are taking place at home. I will keep trying to take more pictures of my area and send them to you. 

I will put some pictures on later of me getting my package!!! Yes - I finally got the package you sent back in August. It has been all cut open, and then taped back together. I think everything was inside, except maybe some candy. I really enjoyed your fun decorations of the box!! That was a cool creative idea- fun to celebrate my One Year Mark 3 months late. So I guess some mail coming through – did not get any letters. 

It is weird to think Christmas is here. It doesn't' seem like it at all here. I still think it is because it is not cold and there is no snow. That is how I have always known Christmas. I guess either way it is coming. I am sure you are happy to get your decorations up, and the lights on. I miss seeing all the decorations, because really no one here puts them up, and to me that is part of the Christmas spirit. I always appreciated how pretty all your   decorations are. 

It sounds like life is busy, with planning for Christmas parties, and putting them together. I am sure you had the ward amazed at the Christmas party with your nativity. We will be having our Christmas party this Saturday the 13th. I miss the Christmas music – good luck with Messiah this next week.

I can't believe that Calvin will be getting his license possibly next week. He doesn't seem that old yet!! I am sure it will be nice for you so he can help run Carson around and do stuff for you. I am sure he is super excited.  Tell him Happy Birthday and I am sorry I can not mail anything to him. 

The swim team continues to do well it sounds like. I love hearing about there success and that they are still winning there meets. That is too bad they won't swim against Park city until state. I am sure they can beat them if they keep working hard!! 

 It has been pretty hot this last week. We haven't got much rain this week. Some rain comes later in the evenings. Normally it is really really hot from like 10-5, then it will rain. It is still nice in our apartment. We have fans that keep it pretty cool in there, and it still cools off at night. We can open the windows to cool off, but then we get mosquitoes. 

 I am doing ok with my companion. His English is coming a long well. He is still not very good at teaching, so it seems like I am teaching like all the time. I a lot of times just sit there and I have to make him talk. He is getting better at teaching, but he is just not really confident enough yet.

You asked where I took those pictures last week.   The shopping mall we go to is closer to Jo-burg. We email in downtown Germiston at an internet café, then we drive to Befordview to Eastgate mall. It is a really new mall,  really big and nice!! 

Well Vosloorus is like any other township. The standard of living is just like town really. It is all black people that live there. there really are no shacks in township. Everyone has a home, the homes are just small. The blacks really have just as many opportunities as the whites, so their standard of living is the same. The blacks though really don't priorities the use of their money. They buy super nice cars like BMW, Mercedes, Audi’s. They do this while still living in township and living is a small home. The only difference between township and town is no white people, and it is a bit dirtier. I will try to take more pictures. 

I have seen that really without the gospel in our lives there is something missing. I have gained such a strong testimony as I have been here. I really don't think I could ever turn away from the church or it's teachings. Everything just makes so much sense, and I have felt the spirit too many times. I am grateful for the wonderful experiences I have everyday. Thank you for the constant love and support. i am truly grateful for everything. I know the work I am doing is true, even though it gets very tiring sometimes. I am grateful for the gospel in my life. I am especially grateful for you and mom, and the way you raised me. I have known from little what was wrong and right, and how to follow the gospel.

 I do still have my tree, and I will hang it up!! I can print things off, but it gets expensive. I am at an internet cafe to email. If I was at the church it would be free. I would love peoples emails but I will not have time to respond, and if they send messages to print I could print some but not a lot.

That sounds like a good plan for skyping. I think that will work just fine from 7-9. We can plan on that for now, and keep talking about it as we get closer. We will have a Christmas party in the morning and then go to church after  1 which is 5am for you.  I am grateful for your love and encouragement. I hope you have a good week. keep smiling!! You are in my prayers

Love

Your son

Pictures - November 25

At the Mall - Christmas decorations up

Shopping at the Mall in Johannesburg - Christmas when it is 90degrees outside seems strange.

saying "Goodbye" to Elder Zebe who returns home to Las Vegas on November 27,14

December 1, 14 - Week 62

Dear Mom and Dad

The internet here today is really slow, so i hope my email will make it through. I am glad you enjoyed my birthday email. I looked at my planner right after we left emailing on Monday, and remembered it was your birthday. It sounds like you spent some good time with the family. I am glad that Randall and Katrina were able to spend time with you on your birthday. It sounds like Toni is still doing awesome parties and things!! That is really cool that they threw you a surprise party. I am sure that it was really fun. That is funny that Lyn got you Zorro to watch over and over haha!! I actually saw that on at a members the other day, and it reminded me of Grandma. I will try to send a birthday card once I can.

It sounds like the Cedar team keeps doing well. I think it has been since I was a freshman that we could beat all the St George teams. You will have to let me know how they do at the CV invitational. It will be interesting to see how they do up against some bigger teams. That would be really exciting to see them do well at state, or even win.

Yeah dad told me that you probably had like 70 people at the pie party. That is really cool. It has probably been a while since you have seen a lot of those people. Like some of Lyn's kids I haven't seen them for years. You probably had a good time catching up with them again. That is really cool that Sterling and Stanton will be coming home on the same flight. I am sure that will be a great excitement to have them home for Marcus’s wedding.

I'm sure you are nice and full after your two thanksgiving dinners. I hope you had some good family time over the holiday. It sounds like you did some great stuff like hiking and shooting and bowling.

I think you can just stop worrying about the Christmas package. I will be fine without a package. I really would rather just buy things. I don't think anyone else is getting packages.  I have not heard from anyone else that they are getting packages. I think the best thing to do is wait for the strike to end, and you can just send me a small care package even if it is next year sometime. For Christmas I really can just buy things. I would love to hear from people if they want to email, I just may not have time to email back.   I didn't get any further mail this week. I probably wont for a few more weeks, but I will keep you updated. No one else has been getting mail that I know of.

The week has been great for the most part. Transfers on Tuesday was really fun. I got to see a lot of missionaries that I have not seen for a long time. It is really fun to just catch up and laugh and have a good time. I also got to see Elder Robins. I have not seen him since he was my companion. He is now at a year on mission which is just insane. We went out to lunch and stuff, so that was really fun to celebrate his year mark. It is crazy to think a missionary I trained is now at one year. Time really does fly. I said goodbye to Elder Zebe as well which was pretty sad. I will miss him a lot. I think he will be someone I do a lot of things with when I get home. We didn't do anything fun for thanksgiving. We got fed by a member which was nice because that doesn't happen very often.

The rest of the week was just normal in the area. We did teach a decent amount, but it just seemed like a really slow week. We had a lot of cancellations still, but that is normal. We are really struggling to find new investigators. I am not excited for December, and the work getting really slow. We already have investigators leaving for the holidays. I guess we just need to be creative and find people with creative ways.

Our investigators just all seem to be jokers. They aren't too serious. Like Kgaogelo and Manthole. I have been teaching them since I got here in September, and they still aren't going to make it to be baptized this month. I guess we just need to drop them for a while and let them see the importance of the gospel. Also Mandla and Voyage, one of our Father led families, we found out that they aren't all the way married. He hasn't finished paying lobola. That means they are breaking the law of chastity, and can't be baptized until they are fully married. Other than that we do have some good investigators. I just hope they won't all leave the next few weeks. Everyone as you remember from last Christmas leave to go be with family for the whole month of December.  Remember it is summer break here.   I am doing fine with my companion. We really do get a long, and he is a lot of fun. I would rather have him as a companion that a lot of other missionaries. I am really helping him to become better I hope. I will be with him the rest of this month, and his English is better.  

 Our interviews with the president will be later this month. Like in 3 weeks. I think I will talk to him about coming home in August so we can get things planned for that. I guess Marshall has planned to come home early for school as well. If you can find out when SUU starts and let me know what you think.

Because I will be staying in this area we can start discussing Christmas phone call plans now. I will be able to skype I think at the chapel. Really I will be free like all day. Just whenever the best time is with your schedule will work fine with me. Not sure if you have plans for Christmas already, like a Christmas brunch. Just let me know your plans.

Well I am glad once again to hear from you. Just off to the mall and the chapel to play sports. WE do about the same thing every Monday. I might look at buying a suit this week or next week because we have a meeting with the area president, so I will wear it to that, then wrap it up for my Christmas.  I have a big meeting with the area president, so I need to look sharp. I'm so grateful for all you do, and I am constantly thinking about you and missing you. Well I hope you have a good week getting back into the routine after the holiday. I love you and I am constantly grateful for the many great things you taught me. I use the skills you taught me everyday.

Love

Your Son

Elder Brown

Pictures - November 24, 14

I had asked Mitchell about the blooming trees - It is spring there in South Africa.  He was good to take a picture of himself with a flowering bush by his apartment.

Sun Set in Vosloorus, South Africa