Picture of Paul's Baptism

The Smell You Love Most

Family!

There is this part in Harry Potter #6 where Hermione makes this new potion. The potion is supposed to be like the best thing ever, and if you make it right, it is supposed to smell like whatever you love the most. For Harry I think it smells like Quidditch or something. I can't remember. Anyway, I had a revelatory moment this week when I smelled a smell that I've come to love the most on the mission. If Hermione were to make me this potion, I'm pretty sure it would smell an awful lot like this.

Let me explain. Paul got baptized this week! (Note, In rereading this, I noticed how strange that sounds. Paul is not my favorite smell. Be patient. It's coming.) He asked me to baptize him, and it was a powerful experience. I have found such great joy in helping Paul, and he will be someone that I tell my children stories about.

The baptismal service began shortly after Rita got to meet Paul. She was really nervous, and it wasn't even her baptism! She is REALLY afraid of water! But the service went smoothly, and great talks were given. Elder Weilenmann gave a talk, and then we moved toward the font. In order to get into the font itself, you have to enter through the restroom, so Paul and I entered in from the back. Right when we entered the font room, they opened up the curtain. Inside the room smelled like chlorine. Like baptismal font water. Like...covenants.

My favorite smell is chlorine, because it reminds me of my covenants and the ones that I have had the chance to help others make.

Paul was baptized this week! I felt so much joy as he entered the waters of baptism. It seems as though each new convert that makes a decision to be baptized brings me greater joy. My very first baptism, I wondered what everybody was talking about when they said missionary work was so joyful. I felt just about the same: tired and a little bit afraid. But each person that makes steps to be baptized gets further into my heart. I think that this whole missionary experience deals more with a sort of slow, yet exponential, growth of joy than a light bulb of joy that bursts to life every time someone receives salvation. It makes me wonder what it's going to be like at the end of my life when I have a family that keeps covenants and I have friends that I have shared the gospel with, etc etc.

I wonder if this is why the Lord wants us to be missionaries forever. It is the only way our happiness can ALWAYS be increasing!

I've included an audio file with some funny stories to go along. I love you all and I'm so grateful for your support!

Love,

Elder Brown

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Family!

Don't you just love conference? I sure do. This will likely be more of an extended testimony than anything, but I want you to know just how much I love the prophet and apostles.

I was studying Preach My Gospel this morning (see Elder M Russell Ballard's talk:)) and I came across a "Question to ask after you teach" in Chapter 3 right after Lesson 1. It stated, "If there were a prophet on the earth today, what would you ask him?"

Whoo. Talk about a loaded question. So many thoughts crossed my mind. So many questions flew through my brain at that moment! I still have so many questions about life after death, life before life, and if I'm actually doing what I'm supposed to be doing in this life that I still don't quite get. I would love to sit down with President Monson and just ask him a million and 5 questions. I'll tell you why.

President Jensen, our mission president, had encouraged us to come to conference with questions in our mind pertaining to missionary work, our investigators, our personal life and goals, etc etc. I brought a few to conference in hopes that I would understand the answers. Right at the beginning of conference, President Monson gave an address. It was two days ago, and I've already forgotten what he said, but I distinctly remember the feelings that I got as he talked. It was a tingly, good feeling that ran down my spine, and my insides were calmed. The typical ball of anxiety that is simply a part of me melted away for a moment, and I was able to listen closely as the spirit of the Lord testified to me that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God. I know this is true!

There is a quote in Preach My Gospel from President James E. Faust that mentions that when the Spirit testifies of something true, it is given to a man so deeply that no earthly power or authority can possibly take it from him. That's how I feel about the spiritual truths I've learned since being out here on a mission. I know truth from the Spirit of the Holy Ghost. If I were determined enough, for I've seen people do this, I could deny those truths and eventually convince myself that they were no more than figments of my imagination, but I would always know that those spiritual impressions happened.

Look at any less active or former member of the church. Look at any non member of the church. Almost every single person on this earth has spent a moment with their Father in Heaven, and they can remember the feelings vividly. They can pinpoint that moment. Those things can't go away. They won't go away.

What a blessing from our Father in Heaven.

I love each one of you. Thank you for your help and strength which you've given me. I hope we will all look again at the conference talks and apply what they have to give us!

Love,

Elder Brown

Zoning Out

So this week was pretty darn awesome. We had a lot lot lot of miracles right in a row. There is a little family that had been taught by missionaries a few times in the past, and we picked them back up back in early December. The lady, A***, is so neat! She has been reading and praying about the Book of Mormon and she just came to church for the first time yesterday. One of the reasons I love their little family so much is that she has a 12 year old boy with Down Syndrome that I keep teaching to do cool handshakes with me. Now every time I see him, he shakes my hand and then pretends like my arm is a rifle. He grabs it with his other hand and makes an exploding noise. I've never enjoyed being shot so much in my life! haha

Now, completely unrelated, we knocked on the door of a couple of college kids right before finals week, and they talked with us for like 5 or 6 minutes. It was weird, cause I was practically street preaching because there were so many of them. Probably 7 people were sitting on the couches just listening to us talk and throw truth at them. Anyway, the girl who lived in the apartment said we could come back. We stopped by on Saturday night and knocked again, and we were able to teach her the whole plan of salvation. I've never felt the Spirit confirm my own words back to me when I was speaking than during that lesson. The Plan of Salvation is so real and true. It makes so much sense! I love it. I didn't have to talk about mom or anything, but I was able to finally, finally tell somebody just how much the plan means to me and why it is so amazing. She listened pretty intently too. When we were about to leave I said, "Well, sorry we took up so much of your night!" And she replied, "No, I actually really needed it. I was super stressed and frustrated before you came, but you guys helped me to calm down."

Those types of comments are what missionaries live for.

I also spoke this Sunday. I've realized a trait about myself on the mission that I never knew about before. I really like to talk for extended periods of time. Elder Ontiveros says that "Elder Brown can fill the air." Now I have finally realized it. I talk way too much.

I love you all! Thank you for the letters and your love!

Elder Brown

Back to the River

Family,

Just a heads up. The Mississippi is still as nasty as it used to be. BUT DAVENPORT, IA IS A BIG CITY!:D

Welcome to Davenport, IA, 100,000 people live here on the banks of the catfish hangout of the Mississippi River. And guess what! It has SUBURBS! After I got called to Iowa, I didn't think I would hear the word suburb until I got home, but I am in a town the size of the Home Land! Good old high rise apartment buildings never looked so grand.

Now, I do have to apologize. Monday was our P-day, but it was President's day, so the Library was locked down. Now usually, Tuesday would be a GREAT day to email! Except that we had this big old stressful meeting on Tuesday with President called Mission Leadership Council, where we talk about what the mission needs to know and how green Elder Brown still feels and we spend a full day out of our area! But, I'm not complaining.

I've never been this busy in my mission. Between new meetings and getting to know my new area, I feel like I haven't even been a missionary for the past week. But let me tell you about my new companion.

Elder Brown and Elder Roybal

Elder Ben Roybal is my new companion. He has already been here in Davenport for the past 3 months. He is such a good missionary, and he has been out for 18 months. Now, I've gotta tell you the back story on this guy. He was in my original zone back in Fort Madison, and Elder Adamson and him were really good friends. They are both SUPER funny, so being around them was a blast. He also trained one of the people who was in the MTC with me, so that is a cool connection as well. I'll include a picture of him. He is so loving to the other missionaries. I want to learn from him how to care for the missionaries. He is a humble, loving, laid back Elder, and I love the guy!

Elder Ontiveros is still back in Kirksville. He's a stud like usual.

There really isn't much more to add. We are just preparing for a big old Zone Training Meeting today for like 3 hours, and then we will FINALLY get to go knock on some doors! Whoohoo!

One of his favorite families in Kirksville:)

I don't think I've ever been this excited to go finding in my life, but I'm just so stressed when we are out of our area this much.

Sorry this is so scatterbrained, but a quick experience.

Yesterday after MLC, I went up to President Jensen and thanked him for giving me Elder Roybal as a companion. It helped to relieve so much stress. He mentioned that he had prayed really hard to know where to put me, and he said, "I felt really strongly that you needed to be in Davenport, and then I felt that you and Elder Roybal would be good companions. I had no idea that you knew him before!" President Jensen is so stinking close to the Spirit. That man receives clear revelation from the Lord. He is teaching me so much about how to follow the Spirit.

Keep on reading, praying, and going to church! To those of you that don't do that yet, Give it a shot! It works every time:)

Love you all!

Elder Brown

Fast Sunday!

Family!

"Hey, Elder Ontiveros."

"Yeah?"

"Why do they call it fast sunday if it always goes by so slow?"

"Funny." (Just a conversational gem between me and Elder O this week :) )

How are you family?!

I love you guys and I am so grateful for your emails and letters! It is such a joy for me to receive your communications and to feel of your love each week! Dad, I am especially grateful for the Memoirs of Mom that you have been sending recently. Each one highlights such a true characteristic of Mom. It's interesting to get inside of each person's head and hear of the things that stood out to them about Mom's personality and features! Some things that I never considered now are standing out to me and I admire them so much more.

As for the weather out here, we just received a WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY for this week. It's supposed to snow a boatload and a half tomorrow, and we very well might be trapped again. We have been stuck inside probably 5 times this winter already, and everyone is saying this is one of the coldest winters we've seen in a long time! Last night on our way home, it dropped down to negative 4 outside.

That's disgustingly cold.

But though the days are cold, our hearts are warm with the light of the gospel! It's cheesy, but it's true! We had a fantastic sacrament meeting yesterday, and my fast was based around a desire for the spirit to be powerfully manifest at our church meeting. Heavenly Father sent in the big guns for this one.

1: On Tuesday, Elder O and I went to the temple with the other Elders, and we had a chance to stop by a little LDS bookstore. I found some SWEET missionary action figures ("with proselyting action!" Says Elder Ontiveros) that I bought on a whim and brought home.

2: President Jensen calls on Friday and tells us that he will be at church on Sunday along with Elder Reall, the presiding area authority seventy in the area. Elder Reall bore a POWERFUL testimony on the importance of family and the reality of the resurrection during testimony meeting.

3: We stopped by Ch**s's house to wake her up during the Sunday morning round up and, on an impression, I gave the missionary action figures to her two boys. It kept them entertained throughout sacrament so Ch**s could listen. After the meeting, she comes up to Elder O and I and says, "So, when am I getting baptized again?"

4: Our previously excommunicated investigator came to church! IT WAS AWESOME! That was a stinkin miracle.

I love this work!

Now another tidbit. After sacrament, I was able to snag Elder Reall for a minute or two to talk. I told him about Mom's passing. His wife passed in June, just like Mom, and I wanted to seek some much needed counsel from him. He told me something I want to share. He said to me, "Sustain your father in every action. Let him know how much you love him, and let him know you approve of his happiness. Tell him constantly that you love and appreciate him, and tell your sisters to do the same. They will have the hardest time accepting the loss."

I testify of that statement! I know all of you people are amazing, but tell Dad how much he means to you, and sustain his righteous actions!

I love you all, and you are constantly in my prayers.

Elder Brown

High Blood Pressure

Family,

I don't think I've ever been so stressed in my life!

But I think I say that quite a bit, so no need to be alarmed.

Ever since last week I have been rather concerned about the lady that passed out in church, and we weren't able to get in contact with her allllllllllll week! It was ridiculous. I am pretty sure I have a bald patch from all the stress and all the hair that fell out as a result of it. Luckily, we got to teach her again yesterday, which eased my mind a bit, but not nearly as much as I would have hoped for! You see, we were figuring out all of her marriage plans once again and solidifying them and everything, and all of a sudden, her mom comes out and starts saying that God would be angry at us for making her daughter get married. 

Preaching to every creature

Needless to say, I prayed for charity during that entire lesson. We ended up leaving the woman with a commitment to research the monetary issues of the wedding and figure out exactly what would be lost if they got married and so forth.

The miraculous part of the ordeal was right after that. We went to dinner with some members, and as I sat there I continued to feel tense and uneasy, but the longer we were there, the more peaceful I felt. I realized that it was simply the Spirit within the home of the members that was truly able to calm me down.

This area has been quite the experience for Elder Brown. I feel like I've thrown myself at this place and given it all I have, and boy has it pushed back. I have learned quite a bit about charity and humility. I think I'm starting to understand why I was placed here. I am a really prideful person! My real question is... Which one of you was supposed to tell me about this before my mission and forgot to?! You could have saved me some stress, whoever you are.

I truly am grateful for the pressures and trials of every area and situation I've been put in. It has been a truly unique experience to be on a mission. You deal with different issues than you would have ever thought possible. The Lord tests you in ways you simply don't understand, and you have to learn to be ok with that.

I'm learning. Slowly, but I'm learning.

I love you all so much. Remember that the Spirit is strong within a member's home. Keep that place as a sanctuary. Invite your friends there! Next to the temple, it's the most sacred place in the world.

Keep reading the scriptures! Don't forget to pray. Go to church. "In this there is safety and peace!" I testify that God is our Father. Jesus is the Son of God. Joseph Smith is His revelator in this day and age. If you don't know that yet, you've got to ask. Please do. Don't put it off.

Elder Brown

Hair cut