Monday, March 25, 2013

Pictures Week #43

 
Elder Brown and the Violin's

Elder Brown's side of the room

Salad before

Salad after

Funny little girl
Lili's Baptism

A storm is a coming
Kilamba



Insanity


Oi Family and Friends,

This week. I was on the brink of insanity. A full 7 days of if something could go wrong it did. First for the beginning of the week, we didn't have energy, no suprise. But we usually get it in the night or something, yeah no. Baking to death sleeping is not fun, don't try it. And we can't open windows because they don't have screens so it's just an oven in our house, being eaten alive by mosquitos. So we were dying of heat for most of the week, it was so hot. 

Then on Saturday, we were at this investigator's house, and it just comes down a pouring, I wish I had my camera. Lightning is literally striking above our heads. You see the lightning and at the exact moment you just hear super sonic booms over your head. It was crazy. We had to walk home in this storm, walking through rivers and such, not gonna lie it was actually pretty fun. And then there was just a bunch of other stuff that I can't even remember that went wrong, but it did. But its ok, I made through it, I'm still alive. 

To top things off, a lot of our lessons fell through this week, yayyy. This week has really tested my patience to the extreme, as well as faith and hope. But I made it through, I'm better, and I have a lot of faith that this last week of the transfer is going to go really well. Weird that next Monday we find out about transfers and who my new companion is going to be. 

One bright spot this week is Pacheco´s family. He's already in Alma 26 after two weeks with the Book of Mormon, and his wife seems very interested as well. We're hoping to pass them tomorrow with Presidente Sebastiao because they need to get married to get baptized unfortunately. Other than them, most of our other people fell off the map, which just means that we need to find more people. 

You guys are concert machines, glad you guys are having fun. And you guys are lucky to go to New York for spring break, I've never really seen New York that much at all except for a couple of hours. Also a shout out to Mom for her birthday coming up this week. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM, hope they treat you well:) And congrats to Keller for doing well in volleyball, bet he is tearing it up. 

For cashew fruit. The fruit grows, and there is different colors, like apples, and on the top of the fruit is a nut, and that's where they get the nuts. Oh yeah yesterday we went to a members house out in the nova cidade of Kilamaba, you know the one I went to Thanksgiving with Elder Richter and it was a Ghost Town. Well its not a Ghost Town anymore, its kind of weird. It was weird going back. But we had this super delicious and savory duck yesterday that was so good, as well as maracuja pudding, so good. 

Probably when another couple gets called here, they will be sent to Lubango. Laura's package never got here unfortunately, and I can't think of anything else I need. And thanks Dad for sending me some Kid Cudi updates. Won't be a year until I hear that album though unfortunately. Well that's all I can think of this week. Just rocking it out here in Africa. Love you all!!

Tchau,




Well Mom you are seriously the best ever. You've done everything in your power to take care of me halfway across the world, which I'm truly and deepfully grateful for. I hope you have a wonderful birthday this week and the fam treats you well. You are the best mom ever, and I can always count on you, you are my best friend and I love you!

Com Muito Amor,
Elder Brown

Also just so they don't think I forgot about them, I'm writing birthday stuff about Kell and Ridge next week.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Pictures Week #42

Just out in the road

Just hanging on Zinga's roof

Joy of no energy

New Angola Coins

Games we play

Elder Davis and Mila

A rat they killed in their kitchen-yuck!
 



I Don't Even Know What to Call This

(I make Keegan come up with the title for the posts and that's about how creative he was this week)

Oi! Family and Friends,

This week was pretty good for me and Elder Davis. We set a new baptismal date this week, with Sergio. It was really cool, and I don't think he fully understood the impact for setting a date, but he soon will, I know it. So that pumped me and Elder Davis up this week. We also had this cool lesson with this 17 year old boy named Malu. Pretty much he wants to join our church, haha it was kind of awesome, and took us off guard a little bit. But it was super cool. We also had this lesson with Kevin, an investigator who has been an investigator forever, and looks like it will continue. Me and Elder Davis gave this super inspired lesson that was super good, talking about action and faith. I know he felt the spirit, he just won't act which is sad. 

Lately weve been running into and teaching some weird evangelicals. Like on Saturday, sat down with Jose, weird guy. At the end we asked him to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. He said ok, and then said it right there in a weird prayer. Me and Elder Davis just looked at each other and just bowed our heads. Haha weird. Just some weird people weve been meeting. 

Oh yesterday I had a cashew fruit for the first time, it was super good and juicy. I still need to try this other type of it, but it's an interesting texture to it. I love it out here, I love the Branch, the members, the missionaries, the people. 

Today, we said buy to the Violin's, because they leave tomorrow. The Violin's were the first people to welcome us here to Angola and gave us training and interviews, 8 months ago. Wow. It was sad to say goodbye to them, I love them, and I didn't even get to know them too well, because they were in Lubango most of the time. It's gonna be wierd these next couple of months with 12 missionaries leaving and the Thompsons, and starting a mission, ahhh. So weird. But time keeps on going. 

Yeah Mom you got it, those are the people living there now. Hope Ridgely had a good time at Mormal, almost done with high school. Keller and Kaden surviving. And I'm surviving myself. Also btw packages aren't banned. There has yet to be anything official. So anyone can still send packages. And I will do that with that BoM, for sure. So when exactly am I getting these things from Sis Freeman? When does she come back? Well I think that's pretty much it. I love you all, and have a great week. Good Luck to Hayden entering into the MTC this Wednesday, the beginning of an adventure of a lifetime. Well love you all!!

My testimony couldnt be ever better than it is now, and I'm working hard. It's hard, being away from you guys, this week was little more difficult than others missing my family. But I'm working hard and trying to serve and love and bless this people. You two are the greatest parents in the world, and I love you and miss you soooooo much. I can't wait to talk to you guys in May. Just keep supporting me and praying for me, I really need it. Love you Mom and Dad!

Tchau,

Monday, March 11, 2013

Hey It's March!


Oi Family and Friends,

This week has been pretty good, and a blur. We had some good lessons, so so lessons, etc. We are really hitting hard on finding and contacting and that's beginning to yield some results. Like Sergio and Fide, they are so cool, we only sat with them once, but when we sat with them they had already read a good portion of the beginning of the Book of Mormon and were able to talk about Moroni´s visits to Joseph Smith, and asked questions about the first couple of chapters of Nephi. It was so cool and was such an amazing lesson. 

This past week it was also just me and Elder Davis, Elder Ndala got emergency transfer out, and Elder Tingy and Elder Walker moved back in. Out here in Benfica its just as hot as Viana but maybe a little cooler because of the ocean breeze. 

Yesterday kind of stunk because no investigators showed up to church, which is going to be our focus this week. But we ate at President Sebastiao´s house which was super fun and funny. Haha he is so funny, I love him. I'm also mad at myself because I forgot to put my photo card in my backpack this morning, sorry mom:( 

But I finally did remember these things that I should have talked about a couple of weeks ago. First my last Sunday in Viana I gave a Sacrament talk, I was so nervous but I did it, and I thought it was alright haha. Second, I realized my drivers license expires pretty soon, just a heads up Mom and Dad. Third, our branch has a facebook page, Ramo Benfica Luanda-Angola, I already have a picture of me up there from the district conference. Lastly, I would like a guacomole recipe haha. 

And right now Party Rock Anthem just started playing in this internet cafe in the middle of Africa, haha. Well that's really cool that Ridgely and Anna are rooming, I've met her plenty of times up in Utah, those two should have fun. What dorms are they staying in? Sounds like everyone is doing good. 

I love you mom, thanks for the spirtual thought and all the little adventures and such you have;) Well I love you all! Crazy I turn 20 in a month, seems like yesterday I was having sushi with Laura in Provo. Loving it out here, even though it gets hard living wise, Spirtually I'm just growing and I don't want to stop. Until next week.

Tchau,






P.S. Missionaries can now email family, friends, and priesthood leaders, new church policy.

Monday, March 4, 2013

New Everything


Oi! Family and friends!

This week has been very interesting. So I got to Benfica on Wednesday. The house is the best house of all the missionaries, for sure. We have hot water, tons and tons of closet and drawer space. Just tons of space. So it's nice to come home and always have energy, a nice big kitchen etc. So the house is the bomb. 

Our area is so so. We just have a lot of so so investigators who won't make it to church alot. So every day from 10 to 12 we go contacting. Haha we are actually knocking doors, something I didn't think I would do here in Luanda. But first door we knock, this lady invites us in, brings her nephew and son over and we sit and talk a little bit. Gives us water and we gave them copies of the Book of Mormon. So we are going to sit with them tomorrow so hopefully this will be the starting point of the turnaround for this area. 

Other than that, we did alot of walking this week. Our area is kind of spread out, but it's ok, walking is good. We take taxis, but alot of it is walking. Benfica is like right on the ocean so it's cool on taxi rides to drive by the ocean and such. Elder Davis is really cool, he is excited to go home in 4 weeks, but he still works hard and he is not trying to think about it as much as possible. In our house there is me, Elder Davis, Elder Ndala until he gets his visa, Elder Harper, and Elder Perry. And our house is the closest to the Thompson´s house. The branch is really cool, it's seriously the most legit and organized branch out here because of the Branch President Sebastiao. We actually have meetings, a program, etc. It's so great. 

Yes I got my bday package so I will open that up in a month, And I will take pics of me with it. And yeah sorry, no pictures this week because we didn't have energy so I couldn't use the copier. It does feel a little weird in a new area, but I already love it. 

Glad Keller is doing well in volleyball, Kaden is enjoying life, and Ridgely is finishing up Senior year. Well I've really felt this past week the spiritual strength I needed to keep my head above water in this area, and I know it will get easier and easier as the time increases. I should have some cooler stories next week once I really get to know some of our investigators. On a side note, I did buy a really cool red and black Dodgers hat haha. Well thanks for all the support and love!! Love you all!!

Tchau,