Venir a Cristo

Harrrooo!!!

hey mommatot i haven't heard from you in 2 weeks! are you way busy? did you get my letter home? after i sent it i realized that i used 44 stamp so i don't know if it got to you or not.

we're exactly half way through the mtc tomorrow. 30 days down 30 to go. One of our 'investigators' (who is our teacher) dropped us unexpectedly. He taught us a good lesson about how his roots weren't in Christ, Joseph Smith, or the Book of Mormon. our teacher, Hno. Williams, taught us that as missionaries if our roots are in numbers, baptism, and rules, then we won't stand the next wind storm. He also related the parable in matthew 13:18 about the sower and how we will continue to throw seeds over rocks and thorns. but what we don't realized is that right next to them is a huge patch of good soil. don't get discouraged, vale la pena.

I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon and I know that it is so important to read from it everyday. we can receive personal revelation from it once we begin a serious study of the book. this week we learned the importance of reading the Book of Mormon with our investigators. i know that it is the cornerstone of our religion.

so hows the wedding plans coming? is school way busy? thanks for the valentines day card! the old people on the front were hilarious! :)

love ya,

Hermana cafe

Cookie Monster

Hola mi familia!!! como estan?

This is my 4th week at the mtc...almost half way! Pdays are my favorite because we get to escape and walk to the temple. it's so nice to go outside! i do get to work out every day but there's nothing like going outside. in the mornings they have special yoga/kick boxing/pilates classes for the sisters at 6am and then we have gym time for like 50 mins. ive already set 3 records on the record board cause there aren't many sisters up there.

this week my favorite talk was a rebroadcasted one from Elder Bednar's Christmas devotional at teh Mtc. It was about the character of Christ and how "There would have been no atoning sacrifice without the character of Christ." (Maxwell) He went to explain one characteristic of Christ, selflessness. He said that the natural man is like cookie monster because cookie monster wants cookies NOW! and we, as natural men, want things NOW and need to be more patient. He went on to explain specific times throughout the scriptures when Christ turned out when we would have turned in, selfishly. This week i'm going to look for more characteristics of Christ, more specifically humility, during my personal study this week. Could you study it too and send me your insights? thatd be awesome!!

This week in class we talked about our own testimonies. When was the last time you prayed to know Joseph Smith saw Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father? It is so important to renew our testimonies. I love this gospel and know it is true.

i love you!

Hermana Brown

Harroo!!

Thanks for the update with everything! I bet it is pretty dificult planning a wedding long distant! can u send me a pic of the silk flower arrangements?? that's so exciting!

This week's devotional was Bishop and Sister Edgely of the presiding bishopric. It's so cool hearing from general authorities so often! Bishop Edgely taught us to be bold with our messages we bring. "You come with knowledge. You come with power. You need not be intimidated." I think that is so true; we need not be intimidated to share the gospel because it is true and it is powerful. And the only way someone can come to know of it's truthfulness is doing their part and praying with sincerity and true intent. This week we're working with an "investigator" who doesn't believe in God and he doesn't read the Book of Mormon with sincerity and true intent so that is why he doesn't feel of its truthfullness yet.

I love teaching and helping others come unto Christ. I know that D&C 50:22 is true; as we teach and help convert, both are edified. I know that living the principles of the gospel brings us happiness and peace of conscience.

I love you all! Thanks for supporting me in this great calling! :)

love from,

Hermana Brown

A Dull Pencil is better than a Sharp Mind

Hello fam!

"A dull pencil is better than a sharp mind" is a quote from Elder Bednar. This week we learned about the importance of personal study and how it is truly sacred time to gain a stronger relationship with Christ and learn more about Him. I have a testimony of studying with a journal because revelations in our mind will come and go but we'll remember them if we write them down. And also I learned that we can get so much more out of our personal study when we have a question in mind. Like, "Why does God let us suffer?" or "How can we feel God's love through the Atonement?" The scriptures are truly treasures in our lives and we can learn so much from them.

I love this time that I have here at the MTC because I'm learning so much- not just spiritually but how to be effective with my time and how to plan and how to focus. Last Sunday Elder Nelson and Elder Holland came to speak to us and it was such a neat experience. This is the 50th year of the MTC so they spoke about the history of the MTC and dedicated the new buildings here. It was so cool because we got to hear an apostle talk to God during the dedicatory prayer.

This week we learned that our "investigator" we've been teaching is actually our teacher! It was quite hilarious to find that out because now he is teaching us! It's not been easy trying to teach in another language but every time that I feel inadequate or frustrated, I just remember what President Hinkley's father told him- "forget yourself and go to work." I know that this is truly a marvelous work and a wonder and I am so glad to have this opportunity to serve.

My companion is Hermana Wall and she's from Woodscross Utah- she knows ASL so she's teaching me asl and I'm teaching her Spanish lol.

How is subbing going Mom? What trip is next Dad? And hows baby David? hows wedding planning? Did stu get into BYU-I?

who's getting this email? are you posting it to the blog?

Te amo! Chao!

Hermana Brown

The Orange Juice is Great

Hola mi familia!

Wow it's so great to finally be here at the MTC! I love it. Today is our 4th day in the MTC but i feel like we've already been here like 9 years. We have 4 sisters and 5 elders in our district...the elders feel like my little brothers! It's really great because most of us are going to Dallas. The Mtc is a lot like EFY, no wonder why i love it so much! I take notes like crazy and am improving a lot in my Spanish. I did another interview to see if I could move to the intermediate class but they said I'm still in between intermediate and beginning so it'd be best to stay in the beginning Spanish class. I like to think of it as a teaching opportunity. My companiion is hermana wall and she is awesome. I don't know how i lucked out with such a great companion!

This week I learned about the joy of redemption and how it is literally the purpose of my purpose as a missionary. I am so excited to help bring happiness to people by teaching about the Atonement. Yesterday Hna Wall and I got to teach our first investigator in Spanish. I thought it went really well. I know that the power of the Holy Ghost is real and that we can have access to it's constant companionship if we want it.

And I don't see anything wrong with the oj here...i actually like it haha. I am so grateful to be a representative of Jesus Christ and I absolutely love it.

Thanks for all your support and encouragement!

Love, Hermana Brown

ps. un chiste para ti: cual es la diferencia entre una pera y un novio de misionera? uno es pera y el otro no espera...jajajaja. este chiste es muy popular aqui!