Monday, January 28, 2013

A few more Christmas Pictures




A sweet family, the Ryan's, who had Elder Brown and his companions over for Christmas Day to eat with them and let them Skype with us sent me these pictures today.  We will forever be grateful to them for taking such good care of Keegan on his first Christmas away from home.


Spending Christmas morning at an Orphanage
Elders opening their Christmas presents

Candugaro or taxi that the Elders take that are packed with people
 





Pictures Week #35


Pre Lunch Snack

Another view of their snack

Elder Brown and Milena
Night Skyline

Elder Brown loves the African Skies


 

Pretty Crazy End of the Week


 Oi! Family and Friends!

Well this week was pretty interesting and had ton of things happen. But for those first days it was bad. Everyone falling through, nothing getting set up and planned, no one to pass, those are the worse days. But this end of this week was eventful. First, on Wednesday I lost our phone in a taxi. It slipped out of my pocket in the taxi and I didn't realize it until it was too late. We thought we would never see it again. But we were able to talk to this lady who agreed to meet the next day in Golf 2 to get our phone. Which meant waking up early like 5:30 to get there. Luckily we got a free ride from this funny couple to Golf 2. But we got our phone back, but we had to pay 5 bucks for it back, lame. 


Second on Thursday, Elder Pimental arrived and he is now living with us. He is from Brazil, and he doesn't speak English, so I feel bad sometimes telling stories to the other missionaries, that I can't describe in Portuguese, but I'm trying my best. He is super cool though. The night he came, me and Elder McAllister were at Bom Preco getting something and we ran into this drunk at the store who spoke English. It was quite funny, his name was Jimmy, and he would just tell these same stories and ask the same things over and over again. And these ladies were so concerned for us because they thought he was going to try to rob us, but he was harmless. 

Then on Saturday we had our best day in a long time, 4 other lessons, 3 references received, 5 contacted, and 5 new investigators. It was super good, and super tiring as well haha. During one of those lessons, we were teaching Emmanual and his brothers, and were sitting under this mango tree. Midway through the lesson this huge mango, bigger than my hand falls and hits me in the back as I'm leaning over. It just made this huge thud sound, and it felt like someone had punched me in the back with all their might. Haha interesting huh? 

Also we were meeting up this guy named Ocean, and we were meeting him at like duskish time, the sun was still out. And we were meeting near this Praca, and these ladies were really worried for us. They were telling us we needed to leave and get a taxi, because this was a center of robbers and bandits apparently. We eventually get picked up by him, and these ladies are mad at him for having us meet him there. And we asked if it was really dangerous, and he was like yeah kinda, so we are for sure not gonna be out there at night. 

Sunday was really good, had 106 people at church, and a good number of investigators as well. We went to the Smedos for lunch, had a pasta dish, and that snack of a pig leg, that you just cut some meet off and put it on some bread. Then President Thompson and Sister invited us over for dinner, so me and Elder McAllister went and had a really good time. It was a really good time just us two and them, and Sister Thompson made a really good dinner and a dessert. We had some interviews which I always love having interviews with President, because he always has something to say that helps me out. 

Well they drove us home, and right before we get home, a car hits us. We were in the middle of the road waiting to turn left into our condominium, and this guy passes us on the right, and he clips his back bumper on this grill on President´s car and tears half of it off. He gets out of his car mad, really mad. President takes off, trying to lose him, even though it wasn't our fault. They start chasing us. President hangs a hard right trying to lose them, and then we look back and they're coming fast. We start slowing down, the guy gets out of his car with his children, jumps on our hood to stop us, slamming on the window and trying to rip off the windshield wipers, as well as the wife drives the car in front of us to corner us. They start yelling at us and such, and we pull into this parking lot to talk, and then I just take over. I'm talking and arguing and sometimes a bit yelling at them in Portuguese. And I was just getting mad, because they were disrespecting Sister Thompson, and I thought that the wife was going to hit Sister Thompson. The wife was the most riled up about it, but the husband eventually calmed down. It was totally their fault, but they tried to put the blame on us. The wife wanted to call the police but the husband didn't want to deal with it. I was so fed up about it at the end, that I was just like, ok we think your at fault and you think we are at fault, what are we going to do? And the guy said apparently nothing since you guys don't think you did anything wrong. And I said "exactly, nothing is gonna happen just like we wanted in the first place". They drove off, and that's about it. My red side of my personality was out in full force, as well as a little of my road rage I used to have. But that finished up our week pretty much. 

Thats cool that Abby got called to Ecuador, a good friend from college also a couple of weeks ago got called to your same mission as well. Dr. Pepper is already gone, and I shared a little bit, it was so worth it, for me at least;) Laura´s Christmas stuff has yet ot get here:( but still hoping it will show up. And for birthday. Idk nothing too specific, a card game would be nice, Bang! or Monopoly Deal. But yeah nothing really else. Well that's about it for my email I think haha. I love you all and miss you so much, but life is going good. Just keeps on rolling. Love you all!:)

Tchau,


Monday, January 21, 2013

Pictures Week #34

 
African skies are amazing

Bros

Amandios/Amancios Birthday Party

Thanksgiving & New Year's Box finally arrived!







Getting Better

 
Oi Family and Friends!,

So the first week of this transfer is already in the books. These last two weeks for me and Elder Mcallister have been SUPER tough, but there starting to come around. It's been tough because our investigators that we did have just weren't solid, or they can't do anything until their married. It's frustrating. And all the contacts we get or references we get, we call them, and either their phone is off or they don't pick up their phone. Even with our investigators, some days we just don't have appointments because we can't get a hold of anyone. But it's starting to come around. 

We got these two new investigators named Emmanuel and his brother Patricio. We sat with them once, had a bomb lesson, and challenged them to baptism. They accepted and their baptims are planned for the 23rd of Feb! So that should be super cool. We also have this 17 year old kid named Wagner who is legitly reading the Book of Mormon, so I just know that he will get a testimony and be baptized also on the 23rd of Feb. 

This past week, not to brag or anything, but my lunch was the best of the week. It was this kind of oriental, thai fish dish on rice that was super good. I'm just trying to try all sorts of different things with cooking so I can cook whatever sort of thing. I am learning to really enjoy cooking, even though it takes a while to do. Just pop on some music and just work and cook, haha its one of my favorite times. 

That stinks with BYU BB, gosh thats a heartbreaker. Good thing I didn't watch that one, hopefully we upset Gonzaga, haha I will be praying for that. And all that other crazy sports stuff is crazy. 

Anyways another exciting thing this week is I got 2 packages:) My Thanksgiving package, and my New Years Package! They were sooooo delightful. Especially the Dr. Pepper. I miss Dr. Pepper sooooooooooooo much! I literally died when I first sipped it haha. And I have already ate alot of my package stuff as well. But that was super good, and thank you Family:) 

That stinks that you have been sick mom, hope no one else gets sick. And the Stake Conference sounds cool. Elder Cook of the 70 is coming at the beginning of Feb for us. Ummm, I can't remember much else. Oh yeah Dad if you could keep me updated on the Tables and such for the African Cup that would be most appreciated:) Well I have learned so much about the Gospel out here, its quite amazing. I can't wait to share with everyone once I get home! Anyways that's all for this week! I love you all and love all the support you give me while I'm out here!

Tchau,

Monday, January 14, 2013

Pictures Week 33




Elder Brown and Jo on her birthday

Elder Brown and Otillia

Elder Brown and a cute little boy
Playing a game

Elder Richter and Elder McAllister



Transfer 5 Begins....


Oi Family and Friends!

Well another week come and gone. Transfers are that I'm staying with Elder McAllister here in Viana. So another 6 weeks here in Viana. Which I don't know exactly how I feel, some parts of me wanted to go, and some just wanted to experience something new and get off this repetitive schedule here. But parts of me never want to leave here because I really do love it here, the members, the people, the area, etc. So I'm good with staying:) And we have some new potential investigators that seem that they could be really cool this transfer. Anyways thats that. 

This week was a hard one for me and Elder McAllister. We didn't get to sit with alot of people like we wanted too, and near the end of this week I was sick so that wasn't too fun. But it's done and gone and we will just try to make this next week even better than the last. 

My cooking skills have been super good this past week. I made two pretty good duck dishes for my roommates as well as this tuna dish and homemade animal style fries which were the bomb, so good! So I will be cooking like a boss when I get back haha;) 

On Wednesday was Jo´s B-Day so I passed by her house and brought some soda and chocolate and such. I love that family:) I took a lot of pictures on Sunday because I didn't know what was going to happen with transfers, so you will be getting some of those today. 

This week I got a letter from Grandma and Grandpa Benham, and Laura´s letter that she wrote on her plane ride home for Christmas break:), and her family christmas card:) Haha she is too funny sometimes for her own good:) But that was super fun to get this week and read, and hopefully packages get here or turn up before you know it. 

We have this really cool investigator named Josue, and I love him so much. He actually comes to things that we tell him about! But seriously, we are going to talk to him about baptism, and getting married and such so we will see how that goes, but he will be baptized one day! 

Yeah the scanned copies of those letters were way too big for me to read so I couldn't read any of them. And thanks for the advice dad, its really goes a long way. It's good BYU BB is doing good and I'm hoping for a miracle this week haha. Life just keeps on going here in Angola. I should be sending that photo card next week so be excited for that! Other than that, everything is good. Love you all and keep up all the good work! and I love the support as well!

Tchau,


Monday, January 7, 2013

Mission Christmas Pictures


Angola Missionaries December 2012
(pictures courtesy of President Kretly's blog)




 



Pictures Week #32

 
Elder Brown riding a zebra

First Christmas in Africa

Elder Brown's Christmas tree


Christmas Day at the orphanage, Elder Brown's best bud!


Celebrating New Year's Eve with the Elders in his house

BYU Takeover at the beach on New Years Day

First Week of the New Year


Oi! Family and Friends!

So we just had the first week of 2013 done and gone. And it was actually pretty good for me and Elder McAllister. So yeah on Tuesday we went to the beach with all the missionaries which was super fun, made me miss home though haha. First walking through the city made me feel like I was in LA and then at the beach is where I would spend the summers with my friends back home. But its all good. We had good hamburgers and such, played on the beach and all that fun stuff. I'm practically black here with my tan haha;) 

But anyways then we were able to sit with a good amount of people, and even got some new investigators that were tender mercies of the Lord. For example we passed by this one girl´s house to teach some of her family but no one was home, right before we left though, her older sister showed up and we were able to teach her. We also taught this guy named Sabino who seems pretty sick, and hopefully he will take off in the gospel. Yesterday we had lunch at the Branch President´s house, we had rice, funge, sauces etc. Funge is an interesting food, and I've only had one type called funge de bom-bom. 

After we taught this new investigator named Doudie and his wife, and we just taught them simply the second lesson because they are very heavily involved in their church IEBA and we just need to build their trust before we go into the Restoration and kind of blow their church out of the water. But anyways after our lesson they asked us if we wanted to stay for a cup of water, and we said yeah. Turns into a meal of rice, beans, and this delicious meat and ice cold Manga juice. It was so good. Haha that would never happen back home, complete strangers just feeding you and talking around the table. It was super good though. Overall a very solid week. 

Oh yeah and on New Years we just stood up until midnight playing a card game and thats about it haha. And this is the last week of the transfer so we will see what happens to me. Could stay in Viana, could go anywhere who knows. But yeah there is a specific date of my release date and its the 29th of May of next year. And I haven't mailed a card yet because I cant find an 8GB card and I need this card to send pictures still so yeah. And boxes have yet to come as well, which is sad but I have faith! haha. 

Sounds like Mammoth was a blast for the whole family, and I'm glad that everyone had a good time, even Ridgely;) That's crazy that Anae is coming back, but we need some results now so hopefully he will overcome his faults from his last couple of years with BYU and give them a boost this next season. And I'm glad that BYU BB is starting off strong in conference, what's the latest on recruiting? Also with Jabari? 

Well hope everything is going well with everyone and that this new year will be good for all of us. It's gonna be interesting what's gonna happen next Monday haha. Love you all and thanks for all the support while I'm out here sweating it out in Africa! haha.

Tchau,