MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Alright guys MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

A lot has happened this last week so lets give you the update. First off, this last week we hardly had any lessons because everyone was gone or didnt have time, so we walked a lot. However thats alright because the lessons we did have were amazing. Our area is progressing a lot now. We have 5 investigators with baptismal date for January and we will rescue one less active member this week. Also we had transfers this last week. I got a new companion, Elder Paravincini, but they also took out the other two elders in our ward so we will work their area as well (this means we get to steal all their investigators, hehehe). I am still in the same area as zone leader but my new companion and I will now open Jardines 2.

On Saturday we had our Christmas zone party. We got to watch a movie as a zone, Finding Dory, and it was awesome. We also had a dinner and a gift exchange. It was good to get together one last time before transfers because half our zone has transfers (9 missionaries).

I also saw my first llama here in Peru this last week, thats pretty neat.

Also, I never thought I would say this but Americas firework display on the fourth of July is pathetic after you spend christmas in Lima. I cant even describe it you just got to look up a video because for about 2 straight hours the entire sky was lit up and their were just deafening explosions all around. I am pretty sure it could give you PTSD its that awesome.

I LOVE YOU,

Elder Brown

(and yes this week I have photos) 

ALMOST CHRISTMAS

Alright guys its the week before christmas. This week has been insane because we have had a lot to plan and organize to get ready for christmas but at least we finally see the light at the end of the tunnell. This last week Elder Arrieta and I revisited one of the eternal investigators. Her name is Sharol. Sharol has been coming to church every week for about 4 months but couldnt be baptized because she was living with her boyfriend. She has also wanted to get married because she has a kid with him and doesnt want to raise the kid alone but he doesnt want to commit. This last week he left her and sharol turned to us. She told us that she isnt concerned for herself because she doesnt really have feelings for him but she is worried for her daughter. We assured her that the family is the plan of God and that if she pushes forward in faith she can trust he will take care of everything. I believe that this is the opportunity she needed to be able to progress. Hopefully there will be more about her to follow.

Merry Christmas and with so much love

Elder Brown

12 Days of Christmas

Alright guys Its Christmas time. This week my loving family sent me a wonderful christmas package for myself and my companion, wrapped up to save until the 25th..... It made it one afternoon.

This week we got to go to the temple (for our mission when you are in a zone in lima you can go for one P day every other transfer as a zone) We went on thursday and it was such an amazing experience, of course it always is. I always learn something new when I visit the temple, as I am sure we all can. Living in Utah there are temples all over the place, the sacrifice we have to make is nothing compared to what some people have to do here. My invitation to you all is to not take this wonderful opportunity for granted, use the temple, frequently.

As I believe I have expressed in past letters this new area didnt have much going on when I first got here. However, I bring thee tidings of great joy, behold this day in the city of Lima, Elder Brown and Elder Arrieta have found two new families and now have an investigator with a baptismal date. The area is improving which is so great to see as missionaries, It is hard to not see any rewards for the work you put in, as I am sure you all know. We also have a couple of less actives who are making real strides to be active members in the church again. One of them is Limber, he is 18 years old and when we taught him the first time he really showed he wanted to come to church again. Over the last week we have visited him and his family a lot and we are now trying to involve him in the missionary work because we think that he can prepare for a mission. He is really interested in teaching the gospel, he has given us refereals and asked to go contacting with us.

Alright I know it was short, again, but know I love you and will write again next week.

Love your missionary,

Elder Brown

Gringos!

Alright Its got to be another short one this week guys.... Sorry.

This week as usual has been full of a lot of fun, crazy, stressfull, awesome zone related stuff. We are kept busy here, I honestly do not feel like there is one free second here in Villa Maria but I love it.

Enough about that, lets talk about Christmas.

Now this is gonna be the most gringo spanglish you all will ever here but give me some liberty here. In spanish "Mas" means more, so lets make this ChristMAS a time to have more Christ in our lives. How can we do that?

Remember that the real reason we celebrate Christmas is because Jesus the Christ entered into this world and was born of a woman Mary in order to fulfill his lives purpose to atone for us and save us from everlasting misery. It is only through him that we are able to be saved and return to the presence of our ever loving heavenly father. This time of the year we remember that he willingly entered this world, knowing his lives purpose would be to leave it in the most painful manner, and that he did all this for us.

We celebrate christmas with an abundance of gifts for friends and familybut the greatest gift is Gods gift of his beloved son. I urge you all to remember this in your lives as we prepare for Christmas day. As you lose yourself in the Christmas spirit remember that your loving brother was born to suffer for you and that this time of year is the time when you can truly remember why his gift of his life is so important.

Love Elder Brown

Happy Thanksgiving

Hey guys hope yall had a great thanksgiving! It is different celebrating thanksgiving here because, well... it doesnt exist :(

However, it was good. I bought a pizza for Elder Arrieta and on Thursday explained to him the purpose of this holliday (and I jokingly tried to convince him that it is a mormon tradition to make up for all the 12 fast sundays of the year in one day- he didnt buy it). It was a good opportunity for me to take a little more time in my prayers and really thank the Lord for everything he has given me. I would try to make a list but I am so blessed it would take all day and I only have one hour to type. One of the things I am most grateful for though is you guys. Thank you for all the support you have given me. Though we are half a world away I feel your love and your prayers while I am out here. 

This has been a very crazy week, it flew by. On tuesday we had leadership training, a great opportunity to look around and once again realize I the youngest zone leader here, at least in terms of time in the mission. However, it isnt important, the Lord cares not for age or experience. To name just three examples we have the boy prophet Samuel, the nephite commander Mormon, and of course Joseph Smith. All of whom were young and inexperienced. However, they were all able to be shaped by Christ into who they were made to be. As a missionary they are my examples, I know my weaknesses, I know I fall short in so many areas, I know I am inexperienced, and I know I make more mistakes in a day than I can count. But, I know the Lord will shape me into who I am meant to be.

Until Next Week, Love Elder Brown

P.S. Elder Brown told us while chatting that his new pensionista makes him mountains of food and he is gaining some weight back! Just in case any of you were concerned!

Hola

Alright I dont have much time but I will include pictures. Just know the life of a zone leader is the coolest and most stressful thing for me right now. I love it but man we only get 7 hours of sleep at night if we are lucky. I love my new area and the members here are awesome. We didnt have many lessons this last week because the area is struggling but hey we can change that. Love You!!!

Elder Brown

Ok nevermind with the photos, I just got a virus and it erased all my photos from the last four months.... Crap

Eating with the district