If your ever wondering how my week went but don't have the time to read this letter, I always pick a song that describes how I'm feeling. You can just listen to the songs and get a small feeling of my week.
When my hope is lost
And my strength is gone
I run to you, and you alone
On Monday night we decided to go to dinner at Applebees, because a member was so generous and gave us gift cards there. After we had eaten we went to go out tracting and the car wouldn't start! We were very confused, because we knew that the battery wasn't out, the doors were closed, foot on the brake, in park, etc. So we called vehicle support and were instructed to have towed to the nearest Subaru mechanic. After that call I felt like we should call the elders who were in the area before us. We called one of them up and they said they had never had a problem before, but he did mention that we should try wiggling the wheel while trying to start it. It worked! Turns out this elder loves cars and knew that the wheel was likely locked up. Thank goodness for spiritual promptings. That would have been embarrassing to find out that a simple turning of the wheel would have fixed it. We didn't think of it because it's a 2018 car, so almost brand new.
When I can't get up
And I can't go on
I run to you, and you alone
After our car fiasco we just went tracting and found a few potential investigators. Same with on Tuesday. Tuesday, we had a busy day! We helped a member move some stuff and brought it to goodwill. Then we went to follow up with some potentials, tracted, and then had 2 dinners. Both of the families we had dinner with were super cool. We then went to another members house because a return missionary, that elder Harris knew was there. So we got to meet a new family, and elder Harris got to see an old friend.
Cause my light in the dark
And I sing with all my heart
We then drove down to St Cloud, (about an hour away) for a district meeting the next day. The meeting went really well and we got to have interviews with President Barney. I taught about how being a missionary is all about becoming more like Christ. Repentance is a lifelong goal not some checklist. Speaking of becoming more Christlike, we were able to help dig out the church. The snow has gotten so bad that we had to shovel all around the church because it started seeping water inside. So that was fun. Most of The snow was only a few feet deep but there was a lot of water. So we cleared out most of it. Then we got to give a blessing to a baby. The baby was going to have a surgery the next day to help her back or something. Quite the wiggle worm she was.
Hallelujah, My almighty God divine
Hallelujah, I am yours and you're mine
Thursday was a busy day! We had several teaching appointments and we also helped some more at the church. We decided to volunteer at the salvation army for a few hours. We actually found a couple of interested people that way. We decided to eat at Olive Garden to use the gift card we were given. It was pretty dang good. The active members here are super solid, and super nice to us. After dinner we went to the apartment and decided to clean it because it was kinda grungy. I don't think the elders before us cleaned the bathroom once, cause it was really gross. We spent a couple hours cleaning everything up. I want to keep it nice enough that if an apostle came it wouldn't be embarrassing.
This is all I know how to say
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, you're my everything
Friday was a good day! We went to the church in the morning to run around in the gym for exercise. It's to cold to justify running outside and the treadmill in the apartment gym, is kind of broken. It was nice to just run around. After we got ready for the day we went to the Verizon store to get my companions tablet fixed. He broke the screen while we were cleaning so now he needs to get it fixed. It had some referral information on it so we needed to start to figure that out, so we can get information back soon. We felt very weird when we were in there because everyone was staring at us. Not just the typical double take that we get from most people. Just full on staring, and we just bid them good day, and they kept staring. It was just interesting, and I still don't know why everyone did that. Maybe because it was the first Tongan they had ever seen. Lol.
When I'm plagued with pain
And filled with fear
I run to you, and you alone
We went to go see a member that Elder Harris had met in a different area, that had then moved here. They happened to not be home, so we decided to knock on some other doors in the area. The first person we talked to in that area, seemed really interested, but just has a really busy schedule. We gave them a Book of Mormon and our number to call us if they ever have a time that works. It's so cool to see how the Lord directs us sometimes. He put the thought in elder Harris's head to go see some members he knew, and because of that we met someone who could be interested.
When my days are few
And death is near
I run to you, and you alone
The reason I get excited to find new people that could be interested, is because there are so many people who are very religious and committed to their church here. A lot of them are very nice and thank us for spreading the joy and love of Christ to others, but they don't see why they need to change their church or values. I understand that sentiment fully because when I am comfortable with life I typically don't seek change. That is literally the reason God gives us weaknesses and trials. He knows that when we are humbled we can then be taught the truth. I am still glad to meet a member of any church, because you can just tell that it is helping them be a good person. It's just sad that they don't have a fullness of the gospel, but rather they just have bits and pieces.
'Cause your my light in the dark
And I sing with all my heart
On Saturday we didn't think we were going to find many people because there was a St. Patrick's day parade, and lots of people here love to drink, especially on a holiday like this, but we actually found 4 interested people pretty easily. We haven't had a real nonmember lesson yet but next week we have at least one every day so I'm pretty happy about that. We ended up having a member lesson with the bishop who just got back from a vacation in Belize. They were pretty cool, and helped us know about what the locals typically already know about Jesus Christ and the gospel. Its nice when members help us out and give general knowledge of the area. Especially since we were whitewashed.
Hallelujah, My almighty God divine
Hallelujah, I am yours and you're mine
This is all I know how to say
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
The holy ghost definitely has helped us as we have asked for his guidance. Often times we find people when we didn't intentionally go to tract. It really is important to always be in missionary mode and talk to everyone. We have exceeded our weekly goals just by talking to people wherever we go. Whether we go to a members house to teach them a lesson, or by doing service at the food shelf, or going to buy some chocolate milk. If we listen to the spirit then we can find new people everywhere.
When trouble comes and goes
And when the cold wind blows
I lift my hands up, I lift my hands up
Even if people don't get baptized or people ghost us, it is just our job to bring others closer to Christ and to set a good example of our church to other's. Sometimes Satan tries to discourage us, by making us feel like were doing nothing. But I promise as you seek to do the Lords work, he will bless you with someone or something.
When sorrow knocks me down
And you pick me off the ground
I lift my hands up, I lift my hands up
I had an awesome experience on Sunday! Honestly I had a tough time Sunday morning, I didn't really want to get up and do stuff, and church seemed kinda long. Then we went to teach a person that we met last week and he wasn't there. A little disappointed, we decided to just tract around the area. We spent 2 and half hours just knocking on every door, and everyone was just not interested at all. We needed to go home to go get dinner and on the way home Elder Harris had an impression to have us knock on just two more doors. So we decided to do that. The first door, again was just not interested. But that very last door we knocked someone came out and seemed interested and we are meeting tomorrow, which usually means that they are actually interested. We were humbled by the Lord. We both felt that the Lord had truly blessed us. "...faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." Ether 12:6
Hallelujah, My almighty God divine
Hallelujah, I am yours and you're mine
This is all I know how to say
Hallelujah, By the grace of God above
Hallelujah
After having the Lord bless us with that opportunity, we got dinner, and went out to J_____ house. We met J_____ just the night before when we met with the bishop and his wife. J_____ was one of the neighbors that we knocked on while we were there. As we taught the lesson we felt the spirit so strongly that both of us felt weak afterwards. We taught the restoration and explained more fully the Book of Mormon and how our gospel centers on Christ. J____ seemed to understand it all and truly seemed ready to change. We committed him to read the Book of Mormon, and at the end of the lesson he said this. "I will try reading, no, ... I will read the Book of Mormon and pray about it." I am just astounded that the lord placed J____ in our lives. It just awesome to see that the Lord truly prepares all to accept the gospel. I feel that the Lord has truly blessed us.
I'll shine a light cause am loved
This is all I know how to say
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Last of all, can I just say how much I enjoy being a Facebook missionary! I get to formulate a gospel message in one packet of doctrine and share it to all. Being able to see how much it can uplift someone is really cool too. I used to think that no one would ever care or see any posts. Even if one person is uplifted and brought closer to Christ, I'd say my work here is done. Thanks to all of you and all your letters. I love hearing from all of you and I wish you the best of luck.
This is all I know how to say
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
You're my everything
-Elder Brown
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| My and my companions bikes (Mine is the orange one) |
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