Sister Brown in the Philippines: Another one bites the dust! Or the mud... there's not much dust‏!

Cabuyao Zone

Ang ulo ko ay kiti-kati. Or something like that. It means my head is itchy. (She's had a cold all week!) Today was zone P-day and we hiked to the hot mud springs in Makiling rain forest. Sounds pretty legit, di ba? It was. But it was also exhausting so I hope this letter makes sense. We had curfew at 6 pm 3 days this week because it was Halloween, All Saint's Day, and elections and people like to get crazy. So what did we do with our 2 extra hours? We had a Halloween party in the 'Bang! Which consisted of us making tacos and putting on mustaches (thanks mom!) and taking lots of pictures. Then we made cookies 3 at a time in our little toaster oven. All while wearing a malong, which is like a laba-laba, Filipino style. It doesn't get much better than that. We also did some more tracting this week. Man I love tracting! It's kinda bad though because I can no longer take it seriously. There was one guy who put in his best effort to teach us about Jehovah and invite us to his church. It was honestly like he didn't hear a word I said and when we walked away I burst into laughter. I couldn't help it, it was funny. There will definitely be more tracting to come!

So we didn't get to teach a whole lot this week because of curfew and also because everyone goes back to their home province for All Saints' Day so no one was home, but Joel and Arianne are doing great! They just get it, it just makes sense. And this week they asked us if we had a church in Cavite. Why you might ask? Because they actually have a house there. They've been living here for a couple of years with a relative and are planning on moving back this next year. So do you think it was an accident that they were here when they were. Cause I sure don't! They continue to share stories with us about how the Book of Mormon is strengthening them as a family and individually too. They are so much happier, they have so much more light. And they had light before. But now it radiates. I just love them!

President Peterson and Sister Peterson came to our apartment to practice teach this week. They are just the most amazing people! Practice teaching with the mission president is when you realize you are being a missionary all wrong. So let me share with all you future missionaries (which is all of you because everyone should be a missionary!) the real purpose of missionaries. Sometimes, especially as sisters, we get all caught up in telling people how the Book of Mormon and the gospel can change their life and they can feel closer to God and they can just feel good. That's true and that's important and that's definitely a part of it. But what is the purpose of the Book of Mormon? I'll tell you. It's the evidence that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. It's to convince people of Christ. It's to help people know that this church is the only true church on the face of the earth. And telling them to read it because they'll feel good just isn't why we're here. We are here to help people know that this church is true and that the ONLY way they can know that is to read the Book of Mormon. Who would've thought the purpose of being a missionary would be to help people know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true? It was a good reminder.

And here is my favorite thing. President Peterson told me this awhile back and he told us Canlubang sisters again. Just think about this. Why is it that Heavenly Father didn't just have the pioneers stop in Nebraska? There was no one there, it was good land. But instead they had to go across the plains and over the Rocky Mountains, into the barren desert we call Utah. Fewer people would have died, the journey would have been easier, so why? Why does God make us go through trials, especially ones that seem above our ability to bear? Well I want you to think about it yourself. But this is what I came up with. He knows what you can become. He knows how strong you really are. And He knows the things you are going to face in the future. So He prepares you. I firmly believe that the struggles I went through in my life that seemed unfair or unnecessary prepared me to deal with the things I've had to deal with as a missionary. And I know that every trial any of you have ever been through has made you stronger, has helped you become closer to the person you are meant to become. God doesn't give us trials just for fun, he does it because He really truly loves us.

Have a fabulous week and enjoy your snow storm!

XOXO, Sister Brown