Hola!

¡Hola!

this week has been great I'm learning more and understanding much more in lessons and in conversations!

I finished the BOM this week and its awesome! I am now starting to read it in Spanish! Ive also started reading Jesus the Christ which I really am enjoying.

Its hard to get lessons recently because people are always busy and its hard to get them to come to church. So we've been doing a lot of walking!

  It rained on us again but not as hard as last time! The weather has actually been slightly less scorching hot recently!

Sister Cluff, Me and Mayer

We had cake at our district meeting for an Elder's birthday and we had Papa Johns last p day! I love food that's not Chicken and rice for once!

I actually really really like yogurt and cereal now. What will I do when I go home and the yogurt isn't drinkable yogurt??

I'm loving the work and the opportunity to serve the Lord every day. Me and my companion are getting along really well. She loves Star wars and lots of the other same things I like too! Although she wont let me get a good picture of her (example attached).

We have been finishing our planning every night by writing down the miracles we saw that day. Its amazing how much my eyes have been opened to see the daily blessings Heavenly Father gives us every day.

We met a few new investigators this week that I think are going to be really great! There's the Familia Flores and the lesson with them was amazing they all listened with rapt attention and the son who's about our age was very interested in the Joseph Smith story and asked a lot of questions. It would be such an honor to baptize such a wonderful family.

Our mission president recently allowed Disney movies on p day!! As long as we don't ask for them every week or super often but I think were gonna watch Spirit today! Which Ive never seen. I'm excited for that!

I'm attaching some pictures of our house and a bush that looks like a bird and my agenda, which we decorate it}}with pictures cut out of the Liahona. I really like the cover of mine!

Sorry this weeks email was short! I love you all! Miss you all!

Remember to make Christ the center of your life and homes. I cannot express how greatly it can help and bless you in all affictions and trails.

Thank you mom and dad, for everything.

love and luck from Bolivia,

Hermana Brown

Settling In

Not much time this week so sorry it short this time!

Here are some things that happened:

Our investigators the Familia Limachi came to church this week! and they paid their tithing! They have a date for may because they don't have much money to get married but we hope we can get them a date to be sooner. I'm excited for them to become an eternal family.

Rainstorm

We got caught in the rain ! We were soaked and it was very cold! There was a drive by egg throwing at my companion while we were sheltering from the rain. that was rude! But we kept working anyways!

Transportation

Lots and lot and lots of walking I feel like a pioneer. When we're not walking we take the Micro(which is like riding the Night Bus from Harry Potter) or a Taxi(which is like Mr Toad's wild ride) Oh, and seat belts aren't a thing. There was one taxi that only qualified as a car because it had for wheels and an engine.

Animals.

Dogs and chickens EVERYWHERE. and black cats crossing your path a much more common.

Hna Orozco

Our sister training leader lost her mini missionary companion and has been staying with us. She is great and from Columbia. Hopefully,  she will get her new companion soon but we are unsure.

BOM 

I have almost finished the Book of Mormon ! It has been such an amazing experience and I have learned so much! I encourage everyone to read it through cover to cover its great! I know it is true with all my heart.

Food

Is there any other way to drink milk than out of a bag? I had cereal with milk (not yogurt) the other day and it was so weird! haha We eat so many BANANAS we've gone through about 2 dozen this week. (its mostly my companion) they are called waleyley here which is the Ketchewah word.

I am learning top really love the work and the people. I am so happy to be serving the Lord and to be a disciple of Christ. I listen to a conference talk almost every morning and they always give me hope and strength that I need for that day and are answers to my prayers.This is the Mission of Miracles.

I'm still learning the language but I have been talking more in lessons. I cant wait to learn more so that I can share the truth and beauty that is this Gospel with these people.
Bolivia

Bolivia is interesting. I'm in an area where it is very very hot most of the time, and there are lots of mosquitos but we got caught in a rainstorm the other day too. There is a mix of Orange County rich people here but also many very very poor people. All the houses have their front yard gated so we knock at the gate (usually banging the lock against the gate) It's interesting. The houses are usually very small and very humble. EVERYONE litters--and dogs and cats roam the streets all the time. Also, they don't really believe in training dogs, so we get barked at at pretty much every house--because for some reason people have barley a toilet but also like 4 dogs each. At first all I could see were these things. But now I've started to notice how beautiful the sunsets are and because of the wind there is a saying that "in Santa Cruz the clouds are always racing" and its true! I love to look at the sky, and there are so many stars at night. Sometimes I can't remember what it was like to not drink milk out of a bag or to expect anything other than chicken or beef at lunch. The people are very kind most of the time. They always greet with touching cheeks and a kiss. (not with the men of course) they always offer you drink or food or both when you visit and its very bad manners to not eat everything they give you. We live on the third floor of a house building place. Not really sure what to call it but there are to dogs that are very mild mannered and quiet. one is Bruno and the other is Perla and Perla is about as long as my hand. I don't ever want her to get any bigger. The members are very kind. We had a family come to church this Sunday! People are very understand about me learning the language and helpful when I struggle with words. We walk so much!

Bolivia is VERY different from the United States. And it takes adjusting. but I am learning to love this work that we are doing and I am learning to love Bolivia. 

Here are some of my favorite scriptures this week.

DC 31:13

3 nefi 27:21

3 nefi 24:7

3 nefi 18:10

3 nefi 17

Nos Vamos!!! y Bueno Ano!!!

-Hermana Brown

Feliz Ano!!

Christmas

Christmas in the CCM was amazing I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to share the holiday with my family of missionaries. I will always cherish the memories. We did a lot of singing and took pictures and we had a lot of fun exchanging secret Santa gifts. Some people got really creative! I made a gleeking spider man doll for elder Nase. It was pretty impressive I'd say--and I made a stuffed poop emoji out of a sock for Hermana Heartline. That one was good too. There were fireworks across the whole horizon at midnight on Christmas eve. It sounded like World War III. I don't know how anyone was sleeping through it. It was amazing.

Sick and leaving

leaving the CCM was hard--I had many friends there. but I knew it was time to go. However, I threw up that morning and I got a blessing from the presidente and a couple elders form my district later so that I'd be able to get through travelling. It was hard to stand  going through the airport. One Hermana said I looked nearly green. It was not fun. But we had a sweet goodbye from all the avencados as we got on the bus to leave. They sang in a little impromptu choir God be With you till we Meet again. Lots of tearful goodbyes and lots of handshakes that I wish were hugs. How blessed am I to have people to miss.

Bolivia

We arrived and spent the first couple of nights in a hotel! We had a lot of meetings at the president's house the first day! President Rodriguez and his wife are very kind! They gave us Bolivian food for lunch and Pap Johns for dinner! It was great! Although I was still feeling sickish.

Then on Wednesday, we met our new companions and went of to work! My trainer is Hermana Cluff. She is from Utah and she is very patient with me she also loves Star Wars! It's been very hard work and I miss home more than ever, but the Lord is watching over me and Christ walks beside me. I'm grateful to be serving.

The people are great but they are in and out of their houses a lot so its hard to actually have a lesson although we have quite a few contacts. Right now were trying to get the Family Limachi to get married to they can be baptized--and another Girl who has agreed to be baptized and has a date but need to come to church. Mostly I have been pretty quite which gets lonely because I don't understand a lot but as far as I can tell that's pretty normal for the beginning. I talked more last night though at a lesson with another girl named Ana Belen.  She's a very philosophical thinker and has a lot of questions. She reminds me a lot of Kris. 

I think I did well answering some of her questions which I'm proud of! 

Our shower is in the same space as our toilet so that's interesting. Our apartment is pretty nice and pretty large for only two people I hear. I've been decorating to make it more like home. 

I'm very grateful for the sheet that my family and friends all wrote on. It has given me a lot of comfort after long hard days. 

Everything is very different here, and dogs follow you around and bark at you a lot. I'm working on adjusting. I'm proud to be a servant of the Lord.

I've been reading the Book of Mormon and this week I read 3 and 4 Nephi. I loved it. On my first day the scripture 3 Nephi 15:9 gave me a lot of comfort and hope. I'm just starting Mormon right now. I love the scriptures with all my heart and I know they are true. I've learned while reading the scriptures through in order that God has a perfect knowledge of things, and I've noticed if you read how something happens at one point in the scriptures that may be confusing or that raises questions then those questions are usually answered later on and the reason for why things happened makes sense! You just have to keep reading! He does answer our questions and concerns. The scriptures have been such a great resource for those answers and words of comfort I need so desperately. I testify if you read them they will give those same blessing to you as they have done for me. 

I love you all! I miss you all so much! Good luck in the new year! 

Feliz Ano!!

-Hermana Brown

Group Portraits and First AreaPresidente e Hermana Rodriguez

Add caption

Good Afternoon,

Attached you will find a picture of Sister Brown with President Rodríguez as well as a group photo with her and her trainer. She will be serving in Las Misiones in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. 

Presidente e Hermana Rodriguez and me 

Llegada en Bolivia!

Good Morning,

It’s a pleasure to inform you that Sister Brown has arrived safely to the Bolivia Santa Cruz Mission. Attached is a photo of the arrival of their group in the airport.

We’re happy to receive her and serve together with her in the Work of the Lord.

We are going to do everything possible to help her have not just a positive experience as a missionary, but an experience that will serve them for the rest of their lives. We will take care of everything we can for your faithful daughter of God.

Mondays are our preparation days and you will receive notices from your daughter weekly. We encourage you to write and encourage your daughter each week to faithfully serve a full-time mission.

We know that this is the Work of God and that Sister Brown will share this truth with many people here in Bolivia.

Sincerely,

President and Sister Rodríguez

MERRY Christmas and Felix Navidad!

Lunes de LEntes!

what is it? Only the BEST holiday! All the Hermanas wear our glasses on Monday and this last week we got our teachers into it and all of our elders wore their llama ties too! and Hermana Heartline doesn't wear glasses so she borrowed some from Hermana Berg and they give her headaches. But its all worth it for LUNES DE LENNTES! We also took an illegal PICTURE OF IT. WILL GET IT TO Y'ALL NEXT TIME! BUENOS DIAS!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I'm excited to spend Christmas here in the CCM although I know I'll be crying a lot too! But I just want everyone to know that I'm wishing them a very merry Christmas and to remember that revue spirit of this holiday so this is my last few day here in the CCM! and I fly to Bolivia on Monday! I'm so excited! 

Here's what happened this week

Month!

Last week was my 1 month mark and that's crazy! The first few weeks felt so long but it sped up real quick! 17 more to go! My paper says I return April 24, though so a bit less than that.

Soccer

...or rather football as I've gotten in  the habit of calling it. I started playing it during physical activity and its pretty fun! I wish I was better though.

District shenanigans

We had a hear drawing competition where we had to try and draw hearts with only our elbows... that WAS INTERESTING.

Efy medley

we sang the efy medley to the princioantes and at least one cried. It was amazing! I love that song!

Mysterio

Elder Nase forgot his name tag in the bathroom and that caused a wild goose chase of him blaming everyone before realizing he'd been responsible for its disappearance. Then Schiendler questioned why it would have been in the bathroom and he replied "I don't want God to see that" and our teacher Hermana Ferro couldn't stop laughing for like 5 min straight it was great.

Holland

We listened to an AMAZING Holland devotional this week and I cant even describe how awesome it was. He is so awesome. I've earned so much here its fantastic.

One thing I hope everyone can take from my email this week is that I've really learned is how important the BOM is. Please read it, study it and cherish it. There is nothing in this world so inspired. I promise anything you struggle with or have questions about in your life you can find answers comfort and guidance in the Book of Mormon. 

...sorry not much time today! see ya next week IN BOLIVIA!!

Hermana Brown! 

Hola! Victory!!

HOLA 

VICTORY

OK.  we had a roll-eating contest last week with our district and we were the ONLY ones in the cafeteria because it was a day after all the old people left and so the elders sat on one side of one table and we sat on one side of the other so we could face off and THE HERMANAS WON! I'M SO PROUD. I ATE 12 ROLLS AT LUNCH and as a whole we beat the elders by 2 rolls!!!! with 4 Hermanas we ate 62 ROLLS. I know its insane but we had to beat Elder Ashman who ate 32 plus his whole regular meal all on his own... and he eats like that almost every meal too. So that was great.

 

NEWBIES

We got to stay up to welcome the newbies at 3 am, but our teacher Hermano Palasios yelled at me and my roommates (not like real trouble though--we're good) but that was funny. There are 4 new girls in the 6 week program and they seem awesome.  It's weird being the oldest ones here... and our district leader elder Nase is now the Zone leader so that's cool. Our new DL is Elder Ashman and he's doing a great job. 

Butter Birthday

speaking of Hermano PALASIOS--it was his birthday this week! So what our district did was smuggle about 39 little packets of butter out of the cafeteria and we wrote messages on them like "comocomocomocomo??" cuz he says that a lot and "happy birthday" and other funny inside jokes and we hid them ALL OVER the classroom I'm talking in the ceiling tiles, behind the TV, under the table, there was like 12 behind one sign so when he moved it there was like a cascade of butter. We keep having to tell him "mas!mas!" and he was like "mas!?" It was really funny and I think he loved it a lot. My companion says she thought she saw him tearing up. MY HEART! It was fun

he took home a big bag of butter as our birthday gift.

MUJER

So the other Hermanas in our district they were teaching and weren't prepared, so Hemrnana Heartline tried to tell him "well prepare a better lesson for you next week" but ended up saying "well prepare a woman for you" and he was like "a woman?" That cracked us up for a while.

Proselyting

WE ESCAPED THE COMPOUND. We got to leave the walls and go proselyting this last Saturday and it was so amazing!! We waited in the chapel for our leaders to show up for like two hours and we just sung a bunch of hymns with the elders it was actually pretty cool . And then me and my companion got to go out with Hermana Ballard! Who was an avacado who just left last week but this is her mission so we got to teach with her and lewanr about the field life!! It was so cool and her trainer is on FIRE--she walks super fast and is so good with the people. She is so cool. There's one Hermana leader in the whole mission and it's her. I learned a lot from her like the best ways to walk fast. And we taught two lessons! To REAL PEOPLE! The first we helped a man write his first talk for church the next day! That was so cool! And then we taught his recently baptized sister a lesson!! They were very nice people! their house was very very small though so at first I wasn't sure how I could relate to them because we come from such different lives, but then I saw the proclamation to the world on their wall and I remembered that they are my brother s and sisters. I understood most of what they said and I bore my testimony a couple times--it was great!

Secret saints

I've got really creative ideas to make awesome presents for our roommate and district secret Santa's I'm really excited. I'm proud of my cleverness of using our limited resources. Will have pictures later.

Family

Our district had such a wonderful district meeting last night. There were a lot of tears lets just say. We all feel like a family now. I feel like I was raised my whole life with these people and couldn't imagine a different combination of souls in our classroom I love them so much. I know that each one of them are someone who was meant to be in my life. We will miss each other a lot, but were already planning our reunion in 2 years. We made a rapping video that I might have to send next week.

This week I've realized that the lord is always helping me, because every time I've starting to feel at the lower point of life he sends exactly what I need to lift me right back up, even higher than before. I know that all your prayers are reaching me, and I am so grateful. I could not do it without the strength of the lord or your prayers. I love my district--they rock and I am so excited to get to my mission. I

love you all! 

Hermana Brown <3