Baptism!

October 23, 2012

Hi family!

We have an appointment that I have to leave for sooner than I'd like so I'll hurry.

It was a rough week through Friday. Most of our appointments fell through and several people we've been teaching dropped us. One guy out in Newberry Springs calls himself a dry Mormon because he's been to church a lot and has been researching Mormonism for years but hasn't joined. He wants to but his family is super opposed so he told us to hold off for now. I'm hoping his family (especially his daughter) will soften their hearts sometime soon.

Besides that, we had a pretty sweet day on Saturday! Vera's baptism was awesome! We met with her on Thursday to finish figuring out all the specifics like songs and speakers and what not and we were talking about who would baptize her, suggesting various members she had gotten to know in the ward when she said to me "well... could you baptize me?" I'd thought about the possibility that she might ask me but I wasn't expecting it. But I definitely said yes! So that was definitely a tender mercy from the Lord that I am very grateful for. She really is awesome. We might get an extra trip to the temple since she and a few other recent converts want to take some names and do baptisms. The Spirit was very strong at the service on Saturday. It was the 4th service I've been to as a missionary but I've never felt it that strongly. About half of the people in attendance were in tears. None of her family came but her dad is more respectful towards her about the church. I don't know if I told you this. I think I may have. She was planning on taking her life just before she found us. Of course I wouldn't have known otherwise, but in hindsight, the bigger picture almost breaks my heart. This truly is the Lord's work. Things happen on His timing. There can be no other explanation. She texted us Saturday night and said "today has been the best day of my life :)." What a wonderful experience.

Well that was the big highlight of the week obviously. haha. Transfer calls came Sunday morning and Grill and I are staying together another transfer. Patch and Newton, my district mates, are both going to be training new missionaries. Newton is getting transferred. I'll continue to be the district leader. According to President Godwin's trend, I will be training next transfer. It's pretty much already decided. haha.

I started the Bible 3 weeks ago and I'm on track to finish it by Christmas. I'm close to 2 Samuel. There are parts that are pretty dry (like Leviticus) but it's fairly interesting. There's a few aspects that I really like and I'm starting to like it more and more as I read it every day.

So we had an odd experience on Saturday. We had spent some time at the library basically researching the issues in our ballots (like I said, we'd already been given permission. haha) and when we were leaving some guys runs up to us and says "hey are you guys on your missions?" We talked to him for a minute and it turns out he was fairly interesting in Mormons and wanted to know more so we gave him our number and he said he'd call us later. So later comes and he calls and asks for me and basically tells me to convert him with my best sales pitch. Over the phone. I'm kinda like uhh... can we meet up sometime? Haha. I'm not a salesman. I'm a young goofy man that has a special truth that I'm trying to share with whoever will listen. So we set up a time to meet but he had a sudden financial emergency and now has to leave Barstow. Hopefully he will find the church wherever he ends up.

So I got the packages. It's still 2 weeks until my birthday so I just opened them haha. The battery fixed the problem... at first. But the same problem came back the next time I turned on the camera. So I knew at that point that it wasn't the battery. I monkeyed around with it for a while and found a short in the circuitry that I was able to jimmy so that now it's working again. So it wasn't the battery. The old battery still works but I guess I'll hold on to the newer one for when the old one does give out. And thank you so much for the protein! I be getting pumped up now. haha. So a while ago I said I had gotten up to 60 push ups or something but they weren't good push ups. I wasn't extending my elbow all the way. So I decided to extend my elbow all the way and I only did like 33. haha. This was back in June I think. So I've been working from that point and just hit 68. I have a goal to reach 100 by the end of my mission and I think I might actually reach it. We'll have to see

I've been talking to Elder Bagley back in Wrightwood. He's training a new missionary that is a big pain. My life is easy compared to his. One of the members even called me and was like can you come back? We miss you and this new missionary is rude and Bagley is struggling. There's not much I can do about the situation besides listen and try to empathize. He's probably going to call and talk to me again tonight.

Anyways. I'm trekin along! Us 4 missionaries sang in church on Sunday. We sang the army of helaman so that was pretty cool. Mom, I felt the same way about all 5 amendments/propositions as you to be honest. It just reafirms how I felt. The benefits just don't do enough to outweigh the negative affects and aspects of those propositions.

One last thing, P day is Wednesday next week because we'll be going to the 8:15 session of the temple! Hopefully. We have to find a ride but we're like 80 miles away so it will be tough. I might be able to get permission to drive the 4 of us myself if we can't find a ride though.

The church is true. This work is the Lord's. I've found that a mission is a 2 year test/trial of faith. That's really all it is. I know I'll be blessed in the end as long as I continue to faithfully do my part.

Love,

Elder Browning