Turning 20 and Finally Seeing the Ocean‏

My cute kasama did this

Hellooo! Kamusta kayo lahat? Sana maging maayos kayo doon. So first of all, I SAW THE OCEAN TODAY!!! Second of all, I am 20. I have officially left the teenage years behind me. Thank you for the birthday wishes and thanks mom for the package! I LOVED it! New clothes are much needed and appreciated 9 months into a mission. And of course, the headbands :) To celebrate the big day, we had weekly planning! Only like 34 more of those. But then me and Sister Lisaca had a crazy party! As crazy as it gets for missionaries. We got in our pajamas, ate tons of Oreo balls, and watched The District. Whoa, crazy. I know. 

We didn't get to teach much this week because we had zone interviews, zone meeting, and General Conference. None of our investigators were able to come to General Conference and at first I was kinda sad, but then I was like, "I'm at General Conference listening to the prophet!" It was better than Disneyland. Their were so many great talks! I never wanted it to end! And I wanted to share which ones I liked the most, but I couldn't really decide. So if you haven't already, just watch it. And I'm even kind enough to provide a link so all you have to do is click! https://www.lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2014/04?lang=eng 

As I listened to prophet and apostle speak, I couldn't help but notice a pattern. They were calling for soldiers. They were calling for all the members, but especially the youth, to stand. To stand, strong and firm and courageous. It reminded me of Alma 46, when Captain Moroni calls the Nephites to stand “In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children” Brothers and Sisters, we've been called to stand up for what we believe. The Lord needs soldiers who aren't afraid to stand alone, who aren't afraid to reach out to others, or to do the right thing even when it is unpopular. So whatever your beliefs may be, whoever you are, be true to it. Stand, courageous, bold, and strong. And the Lord will strengthen you. 

I love you all so much and I am so grateful for the strength that you all are to me! 

XOXO, Sister Brown

Jellyfish

Sis Lolita is 80 and still working with the missionaries!

John Michael has Down's Syndrome & he's adorable! He always gives me high fives & kisses on the cheek.

PJ party and the District 

PJ party

New friend Elder Inlayo

Sis Peterson

What the Halfway?!‏

Wow 9 months!!

Hola amigos! Thought I'd switch it up a little this week. ;) But really, how are you? First item of business, HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRONSON AND ZACH! Hope you have an awesome day and eat lots of cake for me. 

So this week I officially hit the 9 month mark in the mission. So if you are still reading these letters and maybe even send one back every now and then, you have passed the test of true friendship! Or you are my mom. But really, thank you for your love and support. It's nice to know people still know your name. 

It was an okay kind of week. We don't really have a lot of progressing investigators right now so we're just trying to find some people. We do have this family, family Legaspi. I love them with all my heart. Their 13 year old, Roniel, is my favorite! That kid is hilarious. The problem is they are super, super busy at work so Roniel is the only one who comes to church and reads the Book of Mormon. But last night, Brother Legaspi read! WOOHOO!!! And our 71 year old investigator (all of the people in Tayabas are pretty ancient) came to church! Miracles really do happen. 

At church last week we learned all about family history. Since the church is the same all over the world, I'm gonna assume you learned about it as well. If you're not a member, I'd love to share. First of all, watch this video. It's pretty catchy. https://www.lds.org/youth/video/find-our-cousins?lang=eng 

Alright now that your life has been changed by that, let me tell ya about Familysearch.org. I know you all have a Facebook, Twitter, InstaGram, Tumblr, and Pinterest account. So hey, why not add one more! It's like Facebook, but for the dead. Only it's cooler than Facebook because people get salvation out of it, not just another life on Candy Crush. You can learn all about your ancestors, all the way back to Adam and Eve! You can upload pictures and write memories and it's just SO COOL! I just wanna do it right now but I have to wait for another 9 months. So family, get started. Just check it out. I promise it's awesome.

Well, I can't even tell you how excited I am for General Conference! It's weird to think a year ago I was sitting in the Conference Center with my bestest friends listening to President Monson in real life.

Love you all, have a great week, and go find your cousins!

XOXO, Sister Brown

My cute companion

Sister Jennylyn

Potol

Typical laundry day in the Pinas

The District

Langka, Cowboys, and Beer Bellies‏

I really like this

Well pamilya and friends, kamusta and week nyo? Mine wasn't too shabby. Let me tell ya about it. So first of all, I tried pusit, AKA squid. It kinda tastes like chewy chicken. I tried langka too. We just walked by and these people were eating this giant yellow thing so I asked what it was and they were like, "You have to try it!" And Filipinos don't back down. So I tried it. It was awesome! 

Also, school is out and summer is in! You know what that means! The Beer Bellies are coming back out. The Filipino men do this funny thing where they roll their shirt up to their chest so their big bellies are sticking out. It must be some kind of self air conditioning. Graduation week also means a lot of drinking and videoke-ing. I love the mga lasing. They are just so sweet! One of our investigators was drunk when we went to visit him so we left. But later he sent me a text that said, "Sister Brownr, ILuvyouk" Then the first cowboy I've ever seen in the Philippines came up to me, asked if I was single, and proceeded to say, "I have a girlfriend like you, but you're a lot prettier. We could date." And I was like, "Missionaries po kami para sa ang simbahan ni Jesucristo ng mga banal sa mga huling araw...." I love the Philippines!

This week was my 3rd Zone Conference! It's weird to think that I only have 2 left. It was kind of sad because President Peterson was really sick and couldn't come. I really missed him and Sister Peterson. They only have 3 more months here. I am so thankful for the 2 of them and the huge help they have been to me in my mission. I look up to them so much and I hope that one day I will grow up to be like them. I know that they are a big part of the reason I was called to this mission and I love them so much! 

Even without them there, we still learned things. We talked about the sacrament, the atonement, and repentance and what I got from it all was I really need to work on my relationship with my Savior. I don't think that we, as members of the church, realize just how amazing the sacrament it. Heavenly Father gives an opportunity EVERY single week to start over. How many times do we just take the sacrament and not even think of the Savior? I know I've done that too many times. But try this this week. Before you take the bread and the water, just hold it for a second and think about WHY you're doing it. It makes all the difference.

Thank you for all of your love and prayers! Have a fabulous week and be a good example!

XOXO, Sister Brown

Language study

One of our investigators sign shop

It was a long day...

Past companion #2

REUNITED

Zone Con Batch Pic

Past companion #1

Cute companion now..

Moses: Prophet and the next Michael Phelps‏

These kids all listened in our lesson so we taught them all how to pray

Kamusta na po kayo? What did you do this week? I planted 1,500 eggplants! With my bare hands! And also ate Pancit Hab-Hab. Also with my bare hands. Pancit Hab-Hab is the specialty of Lucena. It's name comes from the noise you make while you eat it out of your hands haha :) Filipinos are so creative. 

We also taught some people this week of course. My favorite lesson was with Felipa. She's like 70. Right in the middle of the lesson she covers her mouth and says, "Sisters! Nahihiya ako, nakalimutan ko ang ngipin ko sa labado!" Which translates to, "I'm embarrassed, I forgot my teeth in the kitchen!" Then later on I asked her if she knew what Moses did to the Red Sea. This was her immediate and very enthusiastic reply: "He went swimming!" Who knew?

I also finished the Book of Mormon again! This time as I read it I focused on "The One," those people who stood alone and made a difference. Some of these people don't even have names. They are simply known as "The servant of Helaman" or "The one Amalekite who was converted," but their acts of courage and faith had the power to influence everything. For example, there's Alma the Elder. He was the only one who heeded the words of Abinadi and because he wasn't afraid to stand alone, thousands were converted. And there's Abish, whose actions also resulted in the salvation of souls. But then there's also the Daughter of Jared. Her actions led to the destruction of an entire civilization. Sometimes I think we underestimate the power of "The One." Sometimes we think that we can't make a difference. But Nephi teaches us, "...By small means the Lord can bring about great things." (1Ne 16:29) Don't underestimate the power you have to influence others. You CAN make a difference. For good, or for evil. That choice is up to you. 

So use your agency and influence the lives of those around you for the better this week. The Lord will make you great.

Love you all more than the universe! 

XOXO, Sister Brown

My favorite Dr. Seuss house 

Brother Oliver's farm

Planting 1,500 eggplants

We rode in this thing

Rodilla's Restaurant

Surprise Attack‏

Elder Milligan!!

First off, the E on this keyboard doesn't work vry well so sorry if this is missing a few E's. Kamusta po kayo lahat? This week I got a new foot! So bet ya can't beat that. Bishop Sacil is sobrang malakas and well, I'm not. So he helped me switch it out and then I left the old one with them as a remembranc of me. I literally left a part of me in San Jose haha :)

Which brings me to the next story, leaving San Jose. I was sure I was safe. I was in the middl of training and it was already 8:30pm. Then the phone rings. And water may or may not have started running down my cheeks. What do the twins say? My eyes startd sweating haha :) And my heart broke a little bit. I loved my short time in San Jose. I would have served the rest of my mission there gladly. The members in San Jose were probably the kindest, most loving people I've ever met. They will forever be a part of me. I am grateful for all that I learned in San Jose and for the pople I met there. I can't even express it really, so let's just leave it at that.

I am now in Tayabas, Lucena. It's the biggest city I've been in so far but it's still not really a city. It's kind of like Roy. All of the houses here are so colorful and they're kind of crazy shapes. It's like walking around in a Dr. Suess book. There are hundreds of little kids here. And hundreds of old people. All of our investigators are like 70+. We also have a pet rat that runs around in the ceiling at night. But I'm pretty sure it's not just a rat. It's an RUS. It sounds like I human being is charging around up there. 

My companion is Sister Lisaca. She is 25 and has kind of an interesting story. She is actually my batch (meaning she wnt to th MTC at the same time.) But she was assignd in Tacloban for 2 months and got sick and went home. Then she served in Bacolod short term because of Yolanda. And now she is assigned here. I'm still training since she is batch of my anak. She is my ampon. She is super nice and she is basically alrady traind. I am excitd to have her as my companion! Oh, and she's finally going to teach m to cook!

So this week was a little rough with the surprise attack and heartbreak, so I watched this.

http://www.mormonchannel.org/mormon-channel-daily/198?v=2176618422001

 I think you should watch it too. Have a fabulous week! Mahal na mahal na mahal ko kayo! 

XOXO, Sister Brown

New house

Hanging bamboo bridge

Sis Lisaca

JR, Oliver, Nico, Sis Seastrand, Baby, Ako

Rhea

Don't see this everyday...

Mateo and Eva

Mateo

District 3

Sis Hingano, my favorite missionary!

Anak ko

San Jose last Sunday

Nico, JR, Johnathon